General Chat

Good news, I've just found the brown paper, so that'll save OH trying to find it in the loft :-)

We're just taking Sandra's bed apart to put the frame in the garage, it's in front of the radiator and we were told to move everything away from all the rads. OH is in work this afternoon, we're out tomorrow, so OH only wanted to move things out of the way of the pipes in the loft before we went out and he's back in work on Thursday so we only have this morning to do it.

Sandra should be ok sleeping on her mattress for a few nights, or if she prefers she can sleep in the spare bed now all the Christmas presents have been taken off it, although she says that room is a bit to cold for her, so it's up to her where she'd like to sleep for the next three nights. So much for not having much planned for my day LOL.
Better go and help OH, see you all later.

Morning all and evening Kim,

very dull here this morning and I don't think oh is going to let me go shopping today as very high winds are forcast getting up to 70 miles an hour.

I need to turn the light on its so dark.

Yes the things I am making are for Christmas but they are not my wreaths yet although I have wired a few cones when I open the shed to feed the robin.

Must go and pick some moss and moss rings ready so that may be a job for today if he won't let me out.

Glad you found your brown paper Gill. Don't make the parcel too heavy as the postage will be expensive.

We've just ordered a new log burner! As we get all this free timber.we're getting one with an oven on the top and two rings. We had one years ago and it was very successful, so we're getting another. It should be here at the end of next week and is olive green. Our old one will be on eBay fairly smartly which will help with the cost!
Raining hard here, but not much wind - yet!! OH took Cas for a long walk this am, so it'll be a short trot for her for the rest of the day.
No shopping here till Thursday, and then only Waitrose which OH will help with. It isn't that far so won't be a problem whatever the weather.

Afternoon everyone,, Hello to Kim

Coming down with a cold I think , can't stop sneezing, and Brr it's cold,

we bought a new TV last week , and it's taking me quite a bit to get the hang of things, but it's fantastic , so clear and sharp ,looking forward to see all the DVD's we have at Christmas, THE POLAR EXPRESS< MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL, FROSTY THE SNOWMAN & FRIENDS,

Katherine has updated her mobile phone and has given me her old one.
I Must be getting old cos with this cold I can't concentrate very well and there's so big a change from my very old outdated one, will take me awhile to sort out what is what, so have decided to keep using my old and reliable trusted friend (Nokia) till if I ever do get use to the other one, :-S :-S :-S :-D

During the war Dampney Paint Works wasn't bombed, but just a mile away Manors goods station was heavily bombed and not too far from it Vickers Armstrong and the Tyne's bridges were targets to sever connection between north and south. Fortunately
on that raid the enemy were off target, but they destroyed a lot of houses.
Never nice when civilians are targeted :-(

Morning all my friends, and Evening Kim,

It's almost dark here, and raining. The wind seems to be getting up as promised. So not a day to be out and about. :-( :-(

David, When I worked in London, We dealt in Oils and Fats, feeding cake, Tallow, Whale oil, In fact you name it and we dealt in it.(We were classed as PRODUCE MERCHANTS) One of the oldest City firms. We supplied all the major paint Manufactures, including Berger Bros. Leyland Paints which I believe are from your part of the Country.??

Carolyn rang this morning. They have gone out to do a bit of shopping. The way Ros was coughing this morning, I would have thought she would have put it off.

Gill. If you are having your loft insulated. You do realise you will have to clear everything out of it, and you won't be able to put things back in there, as it will crush the insulation. That's why I didn't have mine redone. If I couldn't put anything back up there, I just don't know where we could put everything. So mine in the fluffy stuff that's between the joists. When I had someone check it, they said it was sufficient for the regulation insulation.

How's our Jane this morning ?? A bit better I hope.

Mel, I am sure you won't mind not doing the "DONKEY RUN" today, with the weather you have down there. Keep warm and dry in doors. <3 <3

Liz, that sounds a very interesting bit of KIT. A log burner with rings. How do you adjust the heat ?? When in the RAF at Old Catton, Norwich our cooking stove was coal. like an Arga. but nowhere near as efficient. It had to be lit every morning by the duty Airman, and stoked all day to be able to cook on it. We also had TWO FIRES around the camp for Hot water. these again the lit each morning, unless you were lucky and could catch the dying embers from the day before. Just shows a little mention from you, brings back these memories. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Doing a Roast Chicken for dinner tonight. with roast pots, parsnips, and various veg. Ros bought a French butter loaf on Saturday, so I might make a B & B pudding.

Just had a call from a roof panel firm, trying to sell Solar panels. THE 2nd word OFF !!! and I slammed down the phone !!!! They just won't give up. No matter how many preference schemes you are on, some still get your number.

Stay warm and dry today folks, see you later.

Very very windy here now and oh won't let me out so Donkey Day is off and may not come till Thursday as tomorrow is supposed to be as bed.

I have a fish type kite on a cane in the garden which tells me which way the wind is blowing. Its been there well over a year at least but today it has blown over. I think the cane has broken at the base.

How about this then? I picked my last tomato today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had'nt taken the old plants down and had'nt noticed any toms on the plants but there it was shining at me when I fed the bantams. I don't think I have ever picked a home grown tomato on the 17th of November befroe even when I grew them in the tunnel.

Liz is the wood burner for the kitchen or the lounge? and which one is it please?

Nice colour olive green.

I'm very careful what I buy to send to Australia Mel, unlike about 20 years ago, when I bought my friend a massive, heavy present and it costs me more to send it than the gift cost, so I learnt my lesson then and keep to lightweight things now.
I've wrapped up the presents in the brown paper this morning and popped in a Christmas card too, so that's ready to be posted nearer Christmas.
I don't blame your OH for not letting you go to the shops, it could be quite dangerous driving in high wind and pouring rain, best to go another day when it's safer to do so. At least you have things you can be getting on with at home instead.
That is very late in the year to still be picking tomatoes, it'll be nice on a sandwich for lunch.

So new gadgets at yours then Fiona? I did laugh when you were talking about your old Nokia, I have one of those and much prefer them to the modern ones. The modern ones only last about five minutes anyway before they break or are outdated. So long as I can text and ring someone that's all I need a phone for, I don't use it for the internet or any of the other things todays youngster use it for. Good job too as mine hasn't got any of those things on it anyway :-D :-D :-D

The log burner sounds wonderful Liz, but like Frank said, how do you alter the temperature?

Roast chicken for dinner Frank, I'd better not tell Sandra, that's her favourite ;-) ;-)
So Ros isn't any better? She'd of been better off staying indoors and keeping warm.
We're not having the loft insulation done yet Frank, I tried to get a grant for it online but they said they'd ran out of funds, so I'm going to have to look elsewhere.
OH has to move our stuff away from the pipes in the loft so the new boiler can be done. That's being done on Friday so he'll have to move everything out of the way tomorrow while he's off work. He's moved some furniture away from the rads today before he went to work and cleaned the top tiles in the kitchen for me because I can't reach them. He's in work on Thursday too, so he's having to fit all these jobs around work. Now the furniture has been moved I've managed to get around with the hoover better, so everywhere is a lot cleaner. No doubt it'll all need doing again once the boiler men have gone, but at least it's clean for now.

Hope Jane is feeling a bit better today and Thomas hasn't had her up to early, she's needs her sleep to get better <3 <3

It's gone very dark here now, we've had to put some lights on and it's pouring with rain. Little Rosie jumped onto the living room window sill again, she hasn't done that for a while, so I put her nuts on the doormat just inside the kitchen door as it was far to wet for her to eat them outside. The poor thing slipped off the window sill onto the patio, but she's ok and has now gone away with a full tummy. I doubt I'll see her again until this rain has died down a bit.

I still haven't washed my hair yet, so I'd better get on with it.
See you all later <3

Mel and Frank, I've sent you an email with details of the log burner. As we're completely openplan, sitting, dining, and kitchen all in one, it will be in the sitting end as we need to keep the cooker in the kitchen for use in the summer. OH is convinced that we shall have an arctic winter with endless power cuts!!! Not sure about that really, but anything that saves our electric bill will be welcome!!
Wind has really got up here so OH has gone to get Merlin in, then a quick run for Cas, and that's us done with outside for today

Well that's a first. I had to sign in, before I could post.

Liz, I have replied to your email. I'm very impressed with the LOG BURNER. It just goes to show what these designers and engineers can do today.


Well dinner all prepared as is the B & B pudding, I have added a sweet apple in amongst the bread and sultana's, so hopefully they will cook o.k. and add another taste.

Ros and Carolyn weren't out for long. She is now giving out the ZZZZ on the sofa. Sitting up with her head on her chest.

It's been decided that J & C will come down Sunday for their Christmas Dinner. Bit of a blow really as I would have gone to the pub to watch WEST HAM V SPURS. I will catch the highlights on BBC 2 later in the evening.

It's been Rain on and off all day here. The wind is certainly started to get up. They talk of 50/60 mph during the night. So batten down the hatches. !!!

Mel I bet that tomato will taste even better being it's so late and so fresh.

I did some runners that Ros bought at the weekend. I decided not to use them after I had top and tailed them, they just didn't look fresh enough. So did swede in their place.

I send cards to Australia but not presents. The postage is far too expensive. They are pleased to receive a card as I am with receiving theirs. It goes to show that you are thinking of each other.

Have you got your hair washed Gill. You could have stuck your head outside to wet it added the shampoo and then go outside to rinse it. Rain water is very good for you hair :-D :-D :-D ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Hope the rain holds off when I walk to the pub tonight.

ooh what a rigmarole .Have been trying to get on here for ages.I have now got a new password .
Well I feel fine today .Just the painful hip which is the same as yesterday :-S

Liz I too would love to see what your new Woodburner is like please :-D..I have been trying to picture it.I bet your old one will sell quickly on eBay.

Fiona I am still getting to grips with the new TV we had months back LOL....I'm hopless...I used to have one of the old Nokia phones.But have had an iphone now for about 3 yrs.Once you get used to the one Katherine has given you I reckon you will love it :-D

I have been and done my blood donation this afternoon :-D..There were 2 fainters and one bleeder there today !!!!.So that is my deed done now until the next time in March.

The wind is really picking up now and the sky is full of cloud whizzing along.
I can't see Thomas wanting to go out again if this keeps up.So I will have to give him a good bit of playtime later with his feathers on the stick .

When I was in the car on the way to give blood I drove past Wicksteed Park and as Frank will know there are so many trees up there .All the pavements were totally covered in leaves.There was a poor lady in her mobility scooter who was stuck because of the number of leaves all banked up around the front wheels on her scooter.
Luckily a bit further on there were men from the council clearing the pavements.So I pulled over and called to one of the men and told him someone needed to go and help the lady.On the way back from 'blood' I was pleased to see the lady all the way up London Rd and all leaf free :-D

Gill ,just a couple more days to go now without heat and hot water :-D :-D
As for sending parcels abroad.I sent one the Xmas before last to Cape Town.It cost me over £20 to send it and it never got to the destination :-S :-S.It arrived back to me 6 months later!!!!!!!!!!!.

The sky here now is so clear .All the clouds have blown away and the moon is looking very pretty.It is the shape of one of those Lemon Jelly Sweets you get at Christmas(half moon)
I must get a box of those Orange and Lemon Sugared Jelly Sweets.Christmas isn't right without them lol also a box of Turkish Delight...I wonder why we tend to just have them at Xmas time .

Frank I hope Ros doesn't end up with that cough again that lasted for months.

Mel I think you are much safer staying at home in this weather,especially where you are.Im sure you have plenty of food to keep you going for now :-D
Is there not a Cinema in Bideford? I remember when I stayed with Aunty Betty there was when I was 15 that there was one down the end of the town near the park.I went there and saw Carry on Camping :-D :-D The one with Barbara Windsor when her Bra top flew off when she was doing those excercises :-D :-D

Frank I had to log in as well. I wonder if its to do with the weather?????

I went out to corn the chickens and nearly got blown backwards. They came out when they saw me and I put their corn in thier house. It was so funny because they wanted a drink of water but kept getting their feathers blown the wrong way and kept turning around then another one came out so that was three out of the four. With that the wind took the paper hanky out of my pocket and the girls thought it was somethinjg for them and rushed towards it faster than they meant too as the wind took hold of them. I had to shepherd them back to the house and then two of them decided to have a drink from the feed pan which was filled with rain water. I waited and waited as they slowly drank their fill being blown around whilst doing so. when they turned to go back to the house the wind caught them again and this time it nearly blew them away. I managed to get them both in and shut them in for the night and put their water drinker in the house with them. They will probably poo in it all night but at least if they don't they will have a drink for the morning and they have plenty of corn in there too.

Liz it dos'nt look very large are you sure it will be big enough. Neat though and would fit nicely where your burner is now.

Evening All,

Brrrrr! It's not often I feel chilly but that wind is flapping the bathroom blind!

It's good your tum is feeling better Jane and that was good of you to get the council men to help the lady. Do you often get fainters or bleeders when you give blood? lol OH would be a fainter I think!

OH is going out in this wind to watch a match tonight........how the ball will stay on course I don't know. He wants to see the man there that drove the minibus he went in to a few matches and give him some programmes for the shop. He is the poor chap who has throat cancer at age 39. Since OH last saw him he's been told it's terminal and that he only has 6-12 months.

The 40 winks will do Ros good Frank with her not being well. I see you have dinner in hand as usual. We had the fav carvery today with a bonus of lamb that they only have occasionally. I had a nice home made spiced apple crumble to follow which was delicious.

We just once had our own tomatoes at Christmas Mel, but they were ripened indoors in a brown paper bag. You are lucky to pick one off the plant this late.

Well Joe is extremely happy I've agreed to do this chat thing and now I am wondering what I have let myself in for! I remember how he underplayed how much blood we would be giving when we did the study, a couple of teaspoons I think he said beforehand and then they filled about 8 thick phials each day!! As long as it doesn't involve a microphone I'll be fine! :-S

We are still getting charity post for MIL. I never realised there were so many. :-S Some post is still going to the house which isn't good when you've paid for redirection. We are calling in tomorrow to check again as we are going to the solicitors to do with the house sale......MORE EXPENSE!! :-S

Gill it sounds like you were ending up with a very busy day today. I bet you are really looking forward to getting the new boiler and back to normal again. It will be just in time for the colder weather too.

Fiona I loved my Nokia too! My current phone is 5 years old and you can use the internet on it but it's expensive to do that and I don't really need to. I got it for the good camera on it, but the Nokia was easier to use. I still don't know how to get the keyboard up on this one when I'm listening to message instructions and it says something like press 3!! OH says his Blackberry is much easier. :-S

Evening all,

I've had a job to sign in too ,i had to have several goes, it kept saying it was the wrong password ,which it wasn't !!

Winds really picking up here now ,we've had a few light drizzly showers during the day .
Today was haircut day day so i feel a bit bare round the neck now .

Liz i'd love to see what the new Wood burner will look like too please ,the color sounds nice .

Not to long to wait for the new boiler to be fitted Gill ,i bet you carn't wait , you'll soon heat the place up and be nice and warm again.

Frank, i like the sound of the B&B pudding with the apple added i should think it be nice and tasty ,i think i will add some apple when i make one .

Your poor girls Mel nearly getting blown away ,i bet the wind really ruffled their feathers ,at least they are now tucked up for the night .
That's late for tomato picking !! good job you spotted it as it might have got blown off with the wind !!

Ann , fancy OH going to a match in this wind !! as you say the ball will be blown about .
Did you have the bathroom window open making the blind move or have you got a gap some where or the wind to blow in ?
Oh you might have to use a microphone .....better start practising with the old hairbrush !! :-D :-D

Hello Jane, pleased you're feeling better

Frank I remember women washing their hair in rain water. Remember when they
permed their hair themselves? Twink or Toni? it used to pong. Sorry ladies. :-)

No it's not that big Mel! The fire bit is.about the same size as the one we're replacing which isn't that large but heats the whole bungalow without any extra heating! These log cabins are so well insulated, that they hold the heat, to the point of it being too warm! and the triple glazed windows are designed to let heat in from the sun but not to let it out. We are having a glass front on the fire bit, as we like to see the flame as it looks more cheerful!!
OH is taking Cas out again tomorrow! Let's hope it's a better day!!

Ann ,you will be brilliant at doing the 'chat' thing.Well done for agreeing to do it.You have a very quiet voice so you might need a mic :-D :-D :-D
How terribly sad for the chap so young with Throat Cancer :-(..He is just so young.

It is not that often I see fainters at blood donating .Today must have just been a bad day.As for the bleeder I think he hadn't held on to the pad properly after the needle came out.The whole seat he was in had to be dismantled and cleaned !! (it was 2 men fainters today).Maybe they were first timers.

We have just got out some lamps and torches just in case the leccy should go off .Better safe than sorry :-D

We've had the torch on charge just in case ,we have a light that has two fluorescent tubes in that we've charged up and that gives of a lovely bright light ,i'am not that keen on having to many candles about .

Liz that's a nice little wood burner ,i would have to have the glass in the front too as i like to see a flame , i had imagined it being bigger with having an oven and the price is good too !!

In the RVI before the IV drip saga a nurse a phlebotomist I think she was took a large blood sample out of me every day. I was not only injured I was unwell and worried :-S