General Chat

Evening All,

No I'm a Celebrity' here either! I think OH would look at me in disbelief if I said I was watching it. I did watch the first two but didn't like watching people eat those wichetty grubs!!! yuk!

Liz I did mean 19 .........it was the age of one of the cats!! lol. There was a lady there aged 87 though who was a real character.

This morning I went to another art group's exhibition at Peckleton. I went to it last year and enjoyed it and it was just as good this time. On the way back I thought I'd take a short cut up a lane named after the village I wanted to head to next and that I hoped was a shortcut. Well it started as a nice wide lane past some houses then got narrower and narrower and more and more pot holey. I kept going, as you do, well to be honest it was too narrow to turn around, and eventually came across a couple about my age who were walking in the middle of the lane with their backs to me. I was only tootling along slowly and with their woolly hats on they didn't hear me till I was right behind them. All of a sudden they saw me and each leapt to the opposite sides of the lane. It was like a sitcom and I just couldn't keep the big grin off my face as I drove by and even they were laughing. A bit further along and round a corner I was hoping the lane would widen out again but it got worse as it petered out into cart tracks next. Then round another corner it was completely blocked off where concrete posts and rubble had been laid across it and the tracks turned left off the lane into a field where I had to turn around to go back. Of course then I knew I would be coming across the same couple again. Well, judging by the amusement on their faces they'd anticipated what would happen when I got to the end and the laugh was on me this time as they gave me a wave. lol. I must check when I next go by as I don't recall it saying it was a no through road.

Then this afternoon OH took me to a craft fair at a place with kennels and horses on a farm. They had one of those hydrotherapy pools for the dogs and the craft fair was held in a training showring in a new big building. It was in aid of an animal rescue centre. One of the stalls had very nice prints of paintings the stallholder had done and OH pointed to his address and it was a few doors away from where I lived before I moved here......small world isn't it?

Yes, I slept quite well after 2 bad nights Mel. I'm still intrigued with what you are making. Will you be doing your lovely wreaths this year? I was thinking of setting too and painting a snowy winter scene to hang in place of another picture over Christmas. I'm still thinking about it at the moment though.

All I've done for Christmas yet is order the Turkey. ;-) I used to decorate the Christmas tree when I was about 7-8 years old. It was a tree like I'd imagine Mr Bean having! It was about 2 foot six inches high and the straight, green, bottle brush style branches were twisted wire with a single red berry at the ends. I still loved it though.

I've told OH I've had a good idea for his Christmas present. I said I was thinking of getting him those 'For Dummies' books so he can set up and use all the gadgets/dvd player I've bought him the last 2 years and that are still waiting to have life breathed into them.. ;-) :-) Well, it made him laugh!! lol.

We've had 5 cats, 6 dogs and 5 horses over the years!! My parents had 9 cats over the years (we were fond of cats!!!) and one dog inherited from my Granny. So we've always had animals around.
I think the wind has dropped, so let's hope tonight is a bit more peaceful!

It must be a 'man and his dog' thing Liz! I knew a man who I helped with driving his pony after he had a heart attack and I rode as groom at a few shows with him including Windsor Park. He had a Labrador who would fetch whatever tool he asked for and also had a little grey terrier that would sit on his knee and growl back at him when he growled. They would keep it up for a few minutes and it would get very loud. Then he'd just say 'friends now' to the dog and it would go all soft and smiley looking and lick his hand. :-)

OH sorry Ann, I didn't read it properly!! I thought you meant a person aged 19 who amazingly had all their faculties!!!!

You have made me laugh Ann with your story of the lane. You were lucky there was a field at the end or you wouldn't of been able to turn round. I'm still giggling now :-D :-D ;-) ;-) at least the couple saw the funny side to it.

You were saying the other week that your OH hasn't bothered with a few things you've bought him in the past, now he'll have no excuse will he? He probably thinks you're joking, but it would be quite a surprised if you actually did buy the book and a good joke present too. I often buy presents as jokes, it makes people smile ;-) ;-)

Signing out now, see you all tomorrow
Night Night

Good morning all. Just been lying here awake for quite a while waiting for the day to begin. I know it has started without an alarm clock when I hear the Metro train running again. It's not far from here. Runs from South Tyneside, South Shields to Newcastle Airport. Starts about 05.30 Funny the things your ears tune in to when it's otherwise silent.
Everyone remembers Andrews Liver Salts and Eno Fruit Salts, how about Fynnin Salts? What were they for. The only "drugs" my Father took were Aspirin and Beecham Powders. Never needed anything else. <3 :-D

Morning David morning all

The weather is quiet today after a lot of wind last night, it was worse than the night before. As far as I can see there's no damage to anything, although most of the apples are now on the lawn off the big apple tree at the bottom of the garden, so they'll be picked up today.

I've never heard of Fynnin Salts David or Eno Fruit Salts, but I have heard of Andrews Liver Salts. I agree, it is strange the sounds you hear when everywhere is quiet, things you don't always notice during the day.

I've decided to wrap up Sandra's Christmas presents while she's still asleep, I don't expect her to be up for a couple of hours, just enough time to wrap them and hide them away, ready for Santa LOL :-D :-D ;-) ;-) <3 <3
BBL

I seem to recall that Fynunn Salts were in a kidney shaped tin and used by those prone to aches and pains like fibroitis (sp)

The other salts were to help assist you go to the toilet.

An apple a day would have had the same effect. :-D

I remember the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" Now I know why David LOL LOL

I'm still wrapping up Sandra's presents, it's taking a bit longer than I thought, hope she doesn't wake up and catch me :-) :-)

Morning you two and all and evening Kim,

I remember all those names David for the different salts but the only one I had in the cupboard when I first got married was andrews which came in a tin.

Not saying it loudly but the suns out at the moment and I hope it stays as we are due a nicer day.

It was probably Andrews Mel, all these tinned versions were predecessors

of Alka Seltza and the like

Morning All,

I remember the Fynnon Salts and Andrews Liver Salts David. I think dad swore by them! Do you remember this one too?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4640079936_51ff7b3f81.jpg

It seems it was all tonics of some sort then or salts to get things back in balance. I was saying to OH the other day how medecine and tablets always came in brown or blue glass bottles and mum would hand them back to the chemist for recycling.

We have a railway line about half a mile away and a footpath next to a bungalow crosses it on a little crossing. Every morning very early a train comes through and does a toot as it warns anyone near the crossing and I hear that when I'm awake really early. I know then that there's plenty of time for me to get some more sleep.

I hope you got your parcels wrapped and squirrelled away before Sandra was up Gill! Yes, one of those books would be a surprise for OH but maybe he's need a 'Dummies Guide' to Dummy books next! He's not good at reading instruction books and has a 'plug and go' attitude to anything with a plug on it. :-S I've just remembered and sent you a PM.

We've had 3 people come to the door already this morning including a neighbour. I said to OH with all this traffic to the front door they must like seeing him in his dressing gown. The neighbour had remembered to tell me her drive is being cleaned so I could move my car this time so I was pleased about that as it was so hard to get the splats off my car last time. We are off to the cinema after lunch to see The Van Lady. I'm looking forward to it as Maggie Smith is the van lady! It'll be like 'riches to rags' after her stint as the Dowager Duchess in Downton.

Great emails again to start the day with a chuckle Frank! I've passed them to OH to brighten his day too.

Morning all, Evening Kim,

My you have been busy chatting.

Christmas never started for me until I was SEVENTEEN. When I was invited to a girlfriends home for Boxing Day. Her M & D had bought me MY real first Christmas Present. As a child it was never really celebrated in our house, No Christmas tree, lights etc. It was always said by my Mum "It's another day like any other" If we were lucky we would make paper chains from coloured strips of paper and glue them with flour and water paste.

Once I left home and set up home, I always spent as much as I could afford on "CHRISTMAS" When the children came along, I would decorate the tree and room at the beginning of December. On Christmas Eve night, the tree lights would be left on. The children would have a few presents in the bedroom, then it was wash and dress, breakfast in the kitchen. Then let them loose into the lounge. Their little faces were something to behold. Such wonderful days and memories. <3 <3 <3

For TWO SOLID HOURS last night there were fireworks being let off, not too far from where we live. I was jumping all over the place with some of the VERY LOUD BANGS.

You were an early bird this morning David. Do you manage a rest during the day. ??

Ros has got up this morning with a terrible cold. Sneezing everywhere. She says every bone in her body aches. I asked if she would like a good rub down with an oily rag.?? That didn't go down well .
:-D :-D

In my previous marriage I had three Labradors. With Ros in the last 38 years we have had three poodles and two cats. We baby sit friends and family pets, but won't have any more of our own.

Ann, That will teach you trying to find a short cut. My, you did make me laugh. I bet that couple thought you were going "FLY TIPPING" ;-) ;-) ;-) I bet the car needed a good clean after that venture !!

Woke to bright sunshine this morning. Now it's black clouds all around. There is no wind here as yet, so there's nothing to blow the clouds away.

David I remember all those salts being used in the household, together with Glober salts. Mum used to take a spoonful every morning with her first COT. I think that was to keep her regular ;-) ;-) ;-)

Well I had better pull my socks up and get in the shower. See you later.

I'll whisper it then Mel. It's sunny here too with just a light breeze. OH has just got all the apples up off the lawn, I can only see a few left on the tree now, so it won't be long before they're all gone. There's still a lot of leaves on the tree though which is unusual for this time of year, it's the same in the neighbours gardens so doesn't look much like winter yet.

Sorry to hear Ros is under the weather Frank, hope she feel better soon. It sounds like you made Christmas very special for your children, you are a good dad aren't you? If it wasn't for my mum we wouldn't of had a Christmas as my dad wouldn't of bothered. I remember making paper chains with my mum, but you licked them to stick them together so no need for glue. Sometimes if you licked them to much they would come apart on fall down, which gave us a fright.

I know how you feel about the fireworks, we're all jumping here too with some of them, the bangs are really loud.

I laughed at your comment on buying a Dummy's Guide to Dummy's books Ann. You are funny. I don't think I've laughed this much in a very long time.

I've finished Sandra's presents.....well the ones I had put aside, but realised that there was one missing. I bought it a while back and probably more knowing me, so now I've got to go on the hunt to find them. She was very good, I was on the last one and heard her get up so asked her to stay out of the living room for a while, she knew I was wrapping her presents up today so probably guessed that's what I was doing and stayed out of the way until I was finished. I had to pass her room to put them away so said close your eyes and bless her she did.

I'm just having a break and a cup of tea then I'll get on with the rest of the presents I have for everyone else. I'm on a roll now so should have everything wrapped up by the end of the day, then I can make a start on my Christmas cards ready to post in December.

Christmas was always fantastic when I was a child. My S.Father would always bring the tree in about a week before the 25th and the three of us would decorate it over the next few days, wrap parcels and put them round the tree. I always made a nativity scene on the window sill in my bedroom, and we always sang carols round the piano that my mother and I (in those days) used to play. My bachelor uncle, also a piano player, used to stay with us, and my other uncle and aunt + two very young cousins used to come us, or we to them, on Christmas morning, usually staying for lunch. We always went to midnight mass, although I didn't go till I was old enough. They were very happy days as we were a much bigger family then and perhaps more easily pleased!!! Now we're a bit thin on the ground and singing round the piano would be considered really weird!!

Liz as with most of you, you had a very happy childhood. I suppose due to the war and post war, there wasn't that much around and having FIVE children with only SEVEN years between oldest and youngest, there wasn't the money either.

After the war, my father was at sea for many years on the "TRAMP STEAMERS" around Europe. Only coming home for the odd day every couple of weeks, so we didn't see him much. My two eldest brothers both married in 1946, and didn't have a lot of time for us youngsters. My elder Sister and her husband took the five of us to a pantomime or Circus every Boxing day. They always managed to produce Oranges and sweets. How they did that I don't know.

Singing round the piano was all the rage in the old days Liz, When we were allowed to sit outside the local pub, while M & D had a drink. The old "JOANNE" was always on the go, and everybody singing along. Us kids would sing along outside, with our lemonade and packet of SMITHS CHRISPS with the little blue bag of salt.

I'm all showered and shaved, just going to sort out what to have for dinner tonight. A man's work is never done :-D :-D :-D :-D

Still very dark here,

We used to sing around the piano when we went to aunt Kits for Christmas. She was the mother of my aunt Joy's hubby, Phil. they had this huge house in Chiltern Way Woodford Green. Frank may know that. I think it was near The Horse and Hound pub.
They also had a HUGE shepdog like the Dulux dog called Lucky. There was a big round mat in the hall and lucky would curl up on it and take it all up. He was a lovely old dog but he died before they came down to Buckland Brewer. Uncle Phil, Kits hubby, owned a building busness and sold up to become a farmer down here. They were great Christmases at the farm too.

I was very lucky Frank, as I know I've told you. The fact of being an only child meant that my parents only had one to worry about!! Also my mother had an allowance for me from the RAF including my education as my father had been a Commissioned Officer when he died. That is one of the reasons my Step father didn't adopt me. I think your mother must have been overwhelmed by having so many of you! The washing alone must have been a nightmare without modern facilities, never mind feeding, clearing up and, last but not least, disciplining you all, particularly with your father away so much! (I know you weren't in need of any discipline, but an eye would have to have been kept?! ;-)
Windy here today, but quite sunny, and not cold.

Lol all that talk of an apple day, if that didn't work try prunes ;-)

I recall my Mother kept the ultimate for such a dilemma

a white emulsion called DELAX :-S :-S

I remember having to take Friars Balsam as a child I think it was for sore throats.

We always had a good family Christmas with the 2 grandmas and 2 single aunts, no television then but we played games and always had a sing song finishing with auld lang syne.

There are two planes that go over every evening one at 10.15 and the other at 10.30 as the TV goes off at 10 you can always hear them On Monday mornings the Broadmoor siren goes off at 10 am and the all clear soon after.