General Chat

No Gill.Hannah won't be home until Monday.I'm not sure if she will get in touch with Nicola but I did get a mobile phone number.So it is up the her.I have a feeling that they have really lost touch over the years

Golly you will be all Turkey'd out by Xmas lol

Yes we did enjoy it at the pub.It wasn't rowdy (thank goodness).Just everyone having a good time.I did think that the men in their Christmas Jumpers might have got a bit warm though.At least the Wood Burner wasn't lit :-) otherwise they would have been sweltering .
I'm just watching the news and see that A&Es are expecting a night of drunk revellers.I don't envy any staff working tonight.I had actually forgotten all the pre christmas do's and parties I used to go to in my late teens.I certainly partied ,but never got into any bother.There never seemed to be all the fights and trouble that happens now.They were all happy drunks.

Frank, Chris cut the back lawn this afternoon !!!.Just a quick one.He hasn't done the bottom lawn .He hurt his bad shoulder trying to start the mower
:-S.Took him 8 pulls to get it going.It is incredible to think the grass is still growing.I think the 18th of December will go down in our history for cutting the grass.

Yes Cats have no modesty to they Gill.Mind you neither do dogs.Good job us humans don't do the same thing :-D..Now that wouldn't be good :-S

We went to the garden centre this morning and oh bought me some bits for my crafting for Christmas. Then we called in MOle Valley Farmers because he wanted to buy me a new coat for the garden when I go round to the chickens. The one I use is about 28 years old and is not waterproof but it is warm. Got one in MVF and when I went to pay for it they told me it was 50% off so I got £49.95 off it. That was what I call a good saving!! Then we went into the town and brought fish and chips home. I just muddled around this afternoon and read the mag I bought, Land Love.

Liz we shall all be thin king of you and Ian and I hope the tests go ok for him. It must be such a worry for you both and we shall expect to hear from you soon. Sending love and wishes. <3 <3 <3

Have to make a sandwich now.

Frank be carefull with the mushrooms if you use those on the lobster tails and if you do get the chestnut mushrooms as they don't bleed black which would spoil the look of the lobster. You could try breadcrumb mixed with a little garlic butter but not too mush to overtake the flavour of the lobster. I don't like lobster or any kind of shellfish.

Good Evening All

Sorry to hear you are feeling down Liz, hopefully your fears will be unfounded and you can feel happy in time for Christmas

Jane pleased to hear you enjoyed your meal and how nice to catch up on the news with one of Hannah's friends from school. All three of my cats do their washing of their bits in full view sometimes all together, Amy is a very noisy washer and when she flashes her parts it's not a pretty sight :-| :-|

Frank your Christmas tree looks wonderful, our road is all lit up with Christmas lights now

Gill you are enjoying a lot of pre Christmas turkeys this year.

Richard has gone out to the Comedy Club and burgers at South Hill Park for the evening afterwards they are going to the cinema to watch the new Star Wars film he will be home about one am, his boss is paying the bill, I hope they can stay awake during the film as he was shattered when he got in from work there are four of them going as its only a small firm.

My brother in law was Father Christmas at his youngest granddaughters nursery
he did wonder if she would realise who it was but when he met her afterwards she was so excited telling him what present Father Christmas had given her

Evening All,

I thought you might be wrong Jane!! lol. Where we went yesterday is in a small village too, but when I was working we would usually travel out to country pubs or restaurants for our Christmas Lunch. We did arrive at 11.30am yesterday though, well ahead of everyone else and were on our puds when the noisy lot arrived!! As you say, crackers banging, party poppers going off and people almost on your lap taking photos! lol. :-)

No wonder cats and dogs like to wash and brush up their downstairs furniture.........I'm sure we would too if saying 'hello' meant bum sniffing!! :-S

How worrying for you both Liz. Not long to wait for Monday's test and I hope it goes well. More (((hugs))) for you and I quite understand how unsettled and unchatty you must feel right now. <3 <3

What a shock too for your sister's son Mandy and how scary. I hope he gets as much of his sight back as possible. I know OH was very scared the time he woke up with double vision and the hospital were checking him for a stroke but it was migraine. Then to find he has a heart murmur too.

Fiona, the garden centre just down the road was advertising for Santas the Christmas after OH retired and I said he should apply as he already had the beard but he was having none of it!!!!! lol. :-) I know he wouldn't be an elf either and no way would he ever dress up as a woman!!! He did wear a Santa hat at work at Christmas though. ;-)

Glad you had a good night's sleep Frank. Who would have thought you'd be thinking of lawnmowing this near Christmas. I noticed last time we were at MIL's how long the grass was getting. We may have to get the gardening man back to give it a mow as we don't possess a mower and sold FIL's.

Gill, I eat Turkey most weeks, but I think the Christmas one is always the tastiest!! We were saying the other day that with everywhere doing sprouts just now we have never eaten so many before Christmas!! I said to OH we may need to have some different veg for Christmas Day this year. :-) I am sending you a PM.

Just thought of Mel's OH as I was sitting here eating a veg pasty from the farm shop earlier and a pea rolled out, dropped to the floor and disappeared! :-S

With all that we've had on this year I had accidentally let one of my investments go a couple of days past the maturity date and it had automatically rolled on into another. I'd then closed the account as we may need some dosh handy to cover FIL's care home till the house is sold. Anyway, closing the new account before the end of the term had then incurred a penalty of £167 pounds!!! I decided to write to them agreeing it was my own oversight but explained what had happened this year and was there any way they could reconsider the amount. This morning a lady rang to say they were refunding me all of it!!! :-)

I gave up trying to get to Nuneaton this afternoon as they were queuing from the A5 all the way in to the town and went to a big garden centre a few miles further where they've already reduced their Christmas decs to half price. On the way there and on the way back I had to pull over to let flashing light police cars through. As Jane says it won't be great in A&E departments tonight.

Frank I can tell you who the card was from that was'nt signed!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS FROM MAUREEN

I had a robin card from her with a black background and the same stamp on the envelope. I kept it to show to oh as I had never seen one like that before. A long stamp and mine had a redwing bird on it.

Oh my goodness.I go off line for a little while and come back to see several posts.
Liz ,hopefully the raised level with the PSA test is not too bad.Maybe it is just a slight rise and nothing too much to worry about.
You know my number if you need to 'unload' <3

Mandy my Hairdresser woke up one morning with no sight in one eye.Frightened him to death .But they found no cause. I think it might have been one of these Ocular Migraines...Hopefully this is what your Nephew has had and it hasn't been a stroke.
Saying that my Sisters OH had the same a couple of years ago and it was some kind of stroke but with no long lasting effects.It just affected his eye.He has been totally fine ever since :-)
Anne ,My Hannah often goes to these Comedy Clubs in London. I imagine the new Star Wars film will be quite loud so hopefully Richard will be wide awake LOL
Have to say Star Wars is not my kind of thing..Chris has suggested we go an see it ,just to see what all the hype is about....I have declined :-D..He can go by himself if he really wants to see it. It doesn't float my boat (as they say)
I think James is just about ready to set off to Kent so better go and wave him off.

I'm so sorry to hear about the PSA test Liz, sending my best wishes. Don't worry about coming on here, we all know you'll come back when you can. Hope the test on Monday is ok for him <3 <3

Not such a good day for your family either Mandy, sorry to hear about Neil, yes he must of been very frightened when he woke up, hope the test he needs will help to work out why he had a stroke. I'm sure once he goes to his doctor his heart murmur will be looked into properly, the hospital wouldn't of sent him home if it was really serious, so please don't worry to much. Sending best wishes to Neil too <3

I've replied to your PM Ann

Don't know what happened there, but a whole page didn't show, I'll read the posts on this page now as they weren't there a minute ago......very strange

Well, I had a daft idea, my Christmas tree lights have gone out so I thought I'd take them off the tree without taking the other lights off or the baubles and other ornaments, what a mess I'm in now LOL not sure how I'm going to get them off. I started at the top then when there was to many to hold I started at the bottom now I have two large amounts of lights and there are still some left in the middle of the tree tangled up around the ornaments and the other lights, this could take a while to sort out, even OH is having problems. I don't know why but I've got the giggles and it really isn't funny :-D :-D :-D

I haven't had a chance to read the posts on this page yet apart from yours Jane right at the top. It was a good idea to get hold of the mobile number for Hannah, lets hope she rings her friend and they can meet up. I'll read the rest of the post a week on Thursday LOL when I've got the rest of the broken lights off the tree :-D :-D :-D I've had a glass of wine or two so maybe that is causing the giggles, OH is not impressed ;-) looks like I might have to take off some of the ornaments to release the rest of the lights, could be a long night LOL

We've finally got the lights off, but there is snow everywhere off the tree, I only had to take a few ornaments off and OH and I threaded the lights through to each other, we've got red marks all over our arms now, I didn't realise how rough the Christmas tree was. At least we don't have 200 dead bulbs on our tree now.

Just going to brush the floor, as it's to late to hoover now, then it's off to bed. I'll sort the tree out tomorrow.

Night Night see you all in the morning ;-)

Morning all and evening Kim,

It's really dull here today and dos'nt give you any hope of it brightening up. We have the lights on its so dark.

I could'nt get my hooks I wanted yesterday for the new swag I bought this year to go over the double doors in the kitchen diner bit.

Mandy you saying about Neil's eye, waking up blind in his eye, well my friend Di had that a few months ago but in both eyes. It frightened her so much and must have been a really awful thing to happen to anyone. She had to go to the hosp and had eye drops and they xrayed behind her eyes like they did with mum and she had had a bleed. Her sight came back after a while with the drops and she was able to drive again. It happened again a few months later.

Wrote this post and forgot to post it!!

Morning from an almost dark Northamptonshire, Evening Kim.

I wish I had stayed in bed. I've got all the lights on, as I am going from lounge to kitchen.

I've decided to leave the gammons till Monday. Instead I will prepare the vegetables for tomorrow. I will get the Lobsters from the freezer to thaw. then I can prepare those and put then in the fridge in the garage. All I will need to do then is cover them with the mixture and pop them under the grill.

Julia won't eat shellfish so Ros has bought her some Brixworth Pate (Locally made) (Jane has no doubt had it.) I can't put cheese on Harvey's Lobster. I think I would have been better getting a few tins of soup opened ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Sorry to hear about Ian's test results Liz, Lets hope they improve, and it's just a blip. <3 <3 <3

It must be terrible to wake up and be blind :-0 :-0 :-0 Lets hope it all gets back together again soon.

Gill, The only way to remove those lights was in reverse of how you put them up. What a mess you must have been in. :-D :-D :-D and with a couple of glass's of wine, you must have seen the "FUNNY" side of things !!! New lights today then. :-| :-|

Thanks for sorting out the mystery Mel, Poor old Maureen must have had one of those moments !!!!

While I owned the local Post Office Stores, I was asked to be Father Christmas for the local play school. The first year I was all set up around all the presents, shouting HO HO HO. At that time I wore thick rimed glass's (JOE 90) One little boy sat on my knee as I gave him his present, and said "THANK YOU MR BEDFORD" I whispered in his ear not to tell anyone, When I saw him in the P.O. with him mum, I asked how he knew it was me. His reply "YOUR GLASS'S" from then on, I never wore my glass's ;-) ;-) ;-)

Well must get on, lots to do. See you all later.

Thanks Frank, I'm sure it'll be okay, but these things are always a worry. Mel I've pmd you.

Good morning all. Hello Gill, Gill I saw a large advertisement in yesterday's paper, either The Mail or The Express. It said sell your house in 28 days at full market value. Property Surveyors estate agents etc. I was going to message you yesterday but the relevant papers been thrown out. One of the thread may have seen the same advertisement. There would be a fee of course, but then there always was.

Do any of you remember malt followed by worm cake?

Just stopped for a break. Have been in the kitchen since I left here.

I have done half cwt of spuds :-D :-D Loads of Brussels, Broccoli, Carrots and French beans. Boiled all the veg offcuts to make a nice Veg water for the gravy. Made the breadcrumbs and chopped up loads of Chestnuts. I will do those with some of the Brussels fried in butter. Ros will bring home fresh Parsnips, which I will do later.

The lobsters are out of the freezer. I will prepare those in the morning. She will also bring the mushrooms. I hope she doesn't forget the Pate or she will have to go out again.

I am still considering whether to part cook the Beef this afternoon, or leave it until tomorrow.

I hope they appreciate all the work I have put into this, and see if we can go forward from here.

As you can see I haven't gone to the pub for the football. I am now going to sit down for a hour and wait for Ros to bring home Lunch. Rolls, prawns in sauce and salad. In the meantime I will have s nice cold beer.

David I remember the Radio Malt and Virol, which we took during the war, but can't recall WORM CAKE. Was it for what I am thinking it was for ???

Liz, You know I am here for you if you want to offload your feelings. Just PM me. <3 <3

Is James staying away for Christmas then Jane ??

I had a card from my niece in the Boarders this morning. The card was signed by her and three children and the two eldest boy and girl friends. I didn't know either were courting. Shows how out of touch I am. !! Mind you they must be in their late 20s or early 30s. Like Jane's Two. lol

Still very overcast here, I have just seen a bee flying round the conservatory. What's he/she doing out at this time of year ?? You would think they would all be tucked up for winter. :-D :-D :-D

Enjoy the rest of the day, whatever you are doing.

Afternoon All,

Dull and dismal here too! :-S OH is going to a match at Brixworth today Frank. ;-)
I think it's a good idea doing as much as you can in advance for the meal. My word that's a lot of spuds!! You have been busy getting all that done. I like bread sauce with onions in so I will get that done this weekend and freeze it. I'm also going to try preparing the roast potatoes in advance of Christmas day this year like I saw on a tv prog last year. They can be par boiled and splashed with the rapeseed oil and frozen ready. OH always does the veg on Christmas Eve so there won't be too much to do on the day.

I can only remember the cod liver oil and malt, dished out on a spoon David and I really liked it. I've heard of worm cake......doesn't sound appetising!!

Think I shall nip out for a while now before the promised rain arrives.

I think the malt was to strengthen the bones and improve the general health. As for the worm cake, it looked and tasted like a piece of chocolate and was to kill bum and intestinal parasites possibly ingested from cheap cuts of meat available during food rationing.

Afternoon Everyone.

I bought some Brixworth Pate the other day Frank for Xmas :-D..I do find it quite a strong Pate though .So Head Chef is a busy boy today :-D :-D

I have just fried shredded sprouts,shredded shallots,bacon lardons for later to go with sausages.I think that will go well together.

Fran,James and Jess as well as Hannah will be here for Xmas.I know James is going be house sitting for a friend but he won't be staying at the house every night.Definitely not Xmas Eve.

I feel a bit wishy washy and woozy today.I don't know why.I have so many things I need to get done too.I think Chris can help me out tomorrow with some of the housework :-D..he doesn't know that yet ;-)

I am sitting here watching the film..The Queen.

Hello Everyone

Jane your meal tonight sounds really appetising.

Frank it sounds as if you are cooking for an army, at least getting as much as you can ready now it will be less stressful tomorrow. Hope all goes well and they appreciate all your hard work preparing for their visit

One of my B.I.L and his 2nd wife have just popped in for quick visit they were here for about 2 hours which was nice, they have just been to Cheshire to see two of his adult children and saw my eldest sister in law in Leominster for a couple of days as well, they are on their way home to Horsham now. It's sad that he wont have any grandchildren as his eldest daughter has Downs syndrome and his other daughter and son are both gay, his 2nd wife has 6 grandchildren so that is good as they see them quite often.

Reading your posts has just reminded me I need to put pate on my Sainsburys order for Tuesday.