General Chat

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to wish you all A HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR for 2016 before it becomes unfashionable!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and that Santa was kind to you all. We have had a mixed time, Christmas Day spent at daughter Dorothy's with her husband David, plus little Grace and her Mummy, Sarah. We didn't stay too late, once Grace had gone to bed (sleep-over time) we left around 8.30pm for home and did our own thin. Hot drink, and TV, you might guess.
Wednesday was a family day at Dorothy's, which also included granddaughter Siobhan (just over a knee operation) ., her hubby Matt and children Ralph and Maggie. We haven't seen them for months as they now live out at Measham, but Maggie is turning into a little beauty, both in looks and in nature. Also that day, Carmel's sister Vera was over from Ireland with her 'chap' Brian and once again, Sarah and Grace were there - another plus was our grandson Craig in the mix. It was a lovely day except for the weather that had turned from gales to lashings of rain.
We just have to catch up with grandson Matthew and his new bride Emma, both who will become parents later in the year. (Another great-grandchild!!!) Hopefully we shall meet up on Sunday either at their house or with them here for a meal.
Hanging over all this has been problems over in Dublin with Carmel's brothers (Harry) wife who has Alzeimers. She been in hospital for ages, not an easy patient (won't go into details) and just before Christmas Harry managed to get her into a new built care home. She didn't settle well (understatement) and after only days in now back in hospital with no end of infections. Apparently she weighs about 6 stone and has such a lot of problems, we fear more for Harry who has a long history of severe medical problems. Having said all that, they are a couple who have been 'joined at the hip' over their long and happy marriage, so when Harry was told a few days ago that it was a matter of a very short time to the end, he was at a low ebb. All very worrying and a late phone call from him will leave Carmel without any sleep here.

Well, I'm sure that has cheered you all up no end, but I feel I can offload to you all in understanding, whereas we have few people who we can talk to otherwise.

Please, don't let me put you all over enjoying the rest of the festive season, we will all be 'back to normal' soon, whatever that it. Myself, I can't tell one day from another, but maybe get the weekend over and things will slot back into place.

Once gain, our very best wishes for 2 0 1 6, may it be a good one for us all. I was going to send out some photos from my garden but my email was playing up. Will try harder, as they say. With this crazy weather, nothing seems right!
T T F N

Evening All,

Had a very lazy day today. Jan cooked a nice Roast Pork Dinner for about 3.30 and a fruit crumble with custard. The Crumble has been repeating on me for the rest of the day.

Still raining here and turning colder. I see Northampton is 5 degrees tonight where as we are showing 11 degrees, So we have a shock coming when we come home SUNDAY.

We are of to Tenerife next Friday 1.35 pm flight. It's about 28/30 out there.

The girls are watching E>Enders on catch up. So that's why I am on here.

Sorry to hear about your fish Mel, Sounds like a Mr Nasty to me too. We had a MINK in our fishing lake, and it did so much damage.

Sorry to hear about your troubles in Ireland Will. Hope it coomes to a peaceful conclussion, for all concerned.

Ella has just gone to bed and is playing up. Conrad and Jo are up there with her, and it doesn't sound that good, with plenty of crying and tempers, from Ella. Jan has now gone up.. By the sound of things it's over a STORY that Conrad had read to her. Screams now carring all over the house, SPOILT OR WHAT !!!!! You know me,

See you in the morning, if I haven't run away ;-) ;-) ;-) <3 <3 <3 :-D :-D :-D :-( :-( :-(

Evening all,

Phew i'am worn out, the little ones are so full of beans i don't know where they get their energy from ,the beef was so good ,son carved the meat and said it was the best meat he had carved .
We all just about cleared our plates and left room for some pud ,little ones had profiteroles and the adults Xmas pud as the pud had Cider, Amontillado Sherry, and Ruby Port in :-D

Gill i think cushions are the best thing to start on with the new sewing machine as it's all straight stitching and will get you use to the feel of the new machine .

Oh goodness Jane one minute they are splitting up and now they are engaged :-S bit sudden !! i expect you will hear all about it when your sister comes on sunday
I have got through several table cloths ,i had to use two long table cloths on the table xmas day as one didn't cover the table when it was extended ,they went in the wash and we used one for me and hubby during the week and then we used two again today ,with the little ones here you can be sure one of them will spill a drink !!
Poor Hannah getting all those Mozzie bites ,makes me itch just thinking about it , and that Deet !! cor it don't half pong you would think the Mozzies would be put off by it .

Oh no Mel what a shame losing more fish :-( is there any thing you could put over the ponds to stop more being taken ?

I meant to say this morning that we had a very sharp frost this morning every where was very white when we got up.

Evening All,

Lots of fireworks at midnight, but we didn't get up to look either. They started here about 11.30pm which was a bit early.

OH fetched ice out of the water feature this morning so is hoping his mum's house will be ok if we get frosty weather. We have no idea how to work or set the boiler there anyway. I think he will be contacting the estate agent Monday as the silence from them the past few weeks has been deafening!

Some of the fields around here have standing water in them now and the farmer has taken the cattle out of the field at the back of us. It's like a mud swamp near the gate for about 15 feet! I bet it will put the dog walkers off, you don't want to go A over T in that lot!

Jane you are quick off the mark with your hols! Only this morning OH was asking when we are going to Cornwall. lol I'm speechless as to what to say about William!! He doesn't believe in taking anything slowly does he.

Some of the wool I sent away for has arrived and is vacuum packed and like a solid lump!! Goodness knows what it will be like when I open it?

Mandy I always have trouble doing the sky on jigsaws too. :-) Unless I do mine in the daylight, the light above shines and reflects on it so you can't see it properly either which doesn't help. :-S

Gill that's great news getting your sewing machine. I can see it's going to be like the factory in Corrie at your place with your machine whirring away.......only I don't expect it will be knickers you're sewing!! lol.

I see you have had a busy Christmas William, catching up with all the family and seeing the little ones.

What a shame about your fish Mel. It must be really hard to keep something like Mink out as well. I hope you can save the others.

We've had a lazy day with lunch of Barnesley chops, stuffing balls, pigs in blankets, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, roast pots and parsnips followed by a pecan meringue thing with fresh cream and toffee sauce inside, desert was courtesy of Aldi and very nice. :-) Not too many chocs, nibbles and biccies left now which is good and the after eights were polished off while we played the Ticket to Ride Game. At last we seem to have got the hang of it now, but I find there's too much to think about.....it does my head in! :-S

OH trimmed his beard right back short yesterday and I have cut his hair the same so it's like having a new man!! lol It's all snowy or gray now yet it was jet black when I first knew him........I still like it though. :-) He's looking at new glasses as well tomorrow. I'm hoping the ones he picks are less severe looking as his present ones are a bit Joe 90ish.

I shall be a bit on edge the next 2 weeks as the Research people have asked me to be available in case the press want to speak to me about the study I volunteered for. They don't think it's likely but you just never know!

That was a rich pud Mandy......I bet it was lovely!! :-)

I think it was an otter that had the fish as we found paw prints inthe mud in the orchard a little way away fromk the half eaten fish. They were quite big and I looked up otter prints on the pc and they look to be the same as we have.

So nice to hear from our William and know they enjoyed their Christmas with family.

We still have a pud to eat but after our dinner I am too full to have the pud. Still it will keep as we hav'nt started the second one.

Gill it is good to start on cusion covers and an easy way to do them is to overlap the backs so you don't have to use zips if you know what I mean. something like a pillowcase with a good overlap.

Signing out now so saying night night.

It sounds like you've had a busy Christmas William, we had a quiet one for the first time in years and it made such a change. Sorry to hear about your problems, it must be quite a worry but you know we're all hear should you wish to talk.

Yes making the cushions will be a good start to get used to the sewing machine Mandy. It's been years since I've used one so it'll take a bit of getting used to. Straight lines shouldn't be a problem though and it'll be a lot quicker than making them by hand.

So it's quite noisy in the house Frank, you did make me laugh when you were talking about running away. Not long to go before you're back home in the peace and quiet again. The weather sounds lovely in Tenerife, can I come with you? LOL.
It said on the internet that we are going to get more storms and possible SNOW, although I think the snow will be further up than us, which Sandra wasn't to pleased about. She's still hoping we get some, so she can build her snowman ;-) ;-)

So your OH has trimmed his beard Ann, I remember my OH shaving off his moustache, I hated it, so he grew it back. He's always had one and it was very strange to see him without it. To be honest I don't think he liked not having one either. You can get glasses where the frames hardly show, my OH has a pair and it doesn't look like he's wearing any, maybe your OH could get some too.

Off to bed now, see you all tomorrow
Night Night

Mel. I was thinking about you. Sorry about your fish.
Would a fox take your goldfish? Otters are rare away from their dam.
There's a fox comes scavenging in my garden before dawn.
A heavy gauge mesh over the pond would prevent a reoccurrence.
I hope everyone's alright.

Morning all and evening Kim,

Well I hav'nt set foot outside yet today. It is not windy and not raining but still dull as dish water out there. I kept looking out the back door last night and had the outside light on till 1.30am when I went to bed. I did see the fox in the orchard but he seems quite happy with eting the apples like the deer.

David I don't think Otters make a damn, you must be thinking of beavers. There's some of those in the wild now too!!

Gill so you liked the fairy houses did you? You can make them the same but to your own designs if you know what I mean.

Did'nt get round to seeing Dickensian last night so I have that to watch tonight and last weeks Countryfile.

Must get the steak out the freezer for tonight.

Yes Mel, beavers is what I meant Mel, sorry, I didn't you have so much wild life down your way, must be fascinating,

I once seen a flock of linnets strutting around on the ground at Plessy Woods. I watched them for quite a while. They're the only red breasted bird in the UK other than robins.

I was standing next to my desk last night imagining it was the side of a car. Had a picture of a Volvo on the monitor, door open. Hand on the roof of the car, hand on the car door. Reach into the foot well with straight L leg. Put my bum on the drivers seat, swing R leg in, close the door. Seat belt, turn the ignition etc.
I theoretically can do it. A LHD car would be easier but I can do it. :-D

Afternoon All,

A poached egg start to today and very nice they were too!! :-D It's dull and drizzly and chilly here and OH has gone to a match in Bedford with his pal. They were going to Stone in Staffordshire but the pitch isn't fit with all the rain. So I'm 'HOME ALONE' as Frank would say! But I think I shall go to the nice huge Garden Centre at Somerby about 20 miles away and see what they are selling off. It's a nice run there through some nice villages and I can play my new Adele CD in the car!!. :-)

Gill my first OH had a moustache and neither of us liked it when he shaved it off so he grew it back, OH occasionally shaves his beard completely off in very hot weather but it grows back within a week. His gets a nice shampooing in the shower every day and he doesn't smoke. I imagine some men's beards aren't very fragrant!! lol. Cushion covers are a good project to start with like others have said and I've done mine like pillow cases in the past like Mel describes. Double check you have the folds the right way before you sew......nothing worse than having to unpick things.

I hope your other fish will be safe if it is an otter Mel. Could you set your camera up to see? I imagine it will hang around now it has been able to get some of them. You certainly get some varied wildlife in your garden.

David, if it's doable you should make enquiries and see if a suitable car can be adapted for you. A car would make so much difference to your lives!!

I'm wearing my snowflake necklace I've finished now. It's a bit blingy but I want to test and check it stays in place if you know what I mean!!

Better get going now. BBL :-)

I know what you mean about your necklace stayig in place. Wehn I wore my diasy chain one I made it kept twisting.

I had TWO eggs today but none yesterday. At least I have enough of our own eggs for our big breakfast tomorrow. You just can't beat your own eggs.

Bet Gill is playing with her new sewing machine....... :-) :-D :-) :-D

Yes David living out in the middle of nowhere we do get a lot of wildlife in the garden.

We have roe deer, badgers, hedgehogs, stoats. lots of different wild birds, foxes, grass snakes, sloworms, squirrels, herons and now otters and thats apart from the rats and different kinds of mice. What I would really like to see is a dormouse, that would really make my day as I have never seen a wild one.

Get a couple o big semi feral cats Mel. They wouldn't want to come in much and they would feed off mice and rats. Not sure if your hens would be safe though :-0

I emptied my PM inbox so I about guess where you live.

Afternoon All

Well the rain has just arrived and it looks set to stay now :-S..The lights are on and the fire lit.I am getting a very strong pine smell now from the Christmas tree.It makes feel a bit yuk.So after Janice and Larry have been tomorrow it will becoming down first thing on Monday morning.
We have had a busy day booking Hotels and trains and cattery.So it is 4 nights in Avignon and 3 nights Paris in May :-D :-D.It is still too early to book the Eurostar as you can only book 3 months ahead .
Then Chris booked a night for me at Kings Cross for when I go to London to see Eddie Izzard with Hannah on the 5th Feb.There will be no more trains running home by the time the show finishes.It is a twin room,so if Hannah is planning on coming back with me the next day she can stay there too.
So now it is time to relax .It has taken hours but job done now :-D

David ,now you know it is possible and doable why don't you investigate getting yourself a car now.Just think of the freedom it will give you and Ellen.Even if you are unable to walk far just being able to have a drive out somewhere would do you the world of good and out of those 4 walls :-D :-D..Go On You Know You Want To :-D :-D

I had a call from Rachel's brother Mark in Washington DC.we did face time so I could see little baby Freya .She is 2 months old today :-D.She does look very cute.They are hoping to come over to the UK in February so we should get to see them then.

Chris had a moustache when we first met.He then grew a beard shortly after that and has had it ever since.I couldn't imagine him without it now .
I remember Dad shaving off his beard and Mum going mad LOL.He did it without telling her and he hadn't thought that because his face was so tanned that every bit under the beard was so pale.He soon grew the beard back again..I have a feeling my sister cried when he shaved it off :-( (she was quite young then)

I am looking around this room and it is so untidy.My Christmas presents are still on the floor by one of the settees :-S.I must move them ,and also plant the Amaryllis which is still in tis box!!!!! Shame on me .I usually have a good clean up before Janice comes but this time I just can't be bothered lol I know she isn't even going to notice :-D
Fitz rang earlier and asked if we would all like to pop down to his tomorrow before lunch for a drink and to see Janice and Larry.So I will get everything prepared for our meal before hand and put the meat in the oven before we go as that will take just over 2 hours.I may even suggest we go down in 2 cars so that I can slip away a bit earlier to check on things here.I think they still have the tree and decs up so that will be nice and hopefully the big log fire will be lit :-D :-D.I think Georgette will be there too.

Ann, I can't wear necklaces now as I have some annoying skin tags on my neck and they can get caught on a chain and it's blooming painful.I have so many necklaces too.
You have made some lovely necklaces at your classes and the ones I have seen you wear (when we have met up) look so nice on you.

I need to put my Xmas lights on.I changed the batteries last night and didn't set them to come on again.So now they will be on for 6hrs and off for 18..Just like yours Mandy.

I have forwarded William flower pictures to you all. O I may have left Anne out, sorry. If I have left anyone else out just email me and I will reply with Williams email to me.

He can't seem to do emails at the mo so I emailed him and he replied with the pics. Its the only way that works.

I need to change the batteries in a couple of my sets of lights now too and then I can recharge those I take out . I have loads of rechargable batteries.

Evening all,

Been dull here most of the day with a little rain.

I have taken down and put away the decs we had up in the conservatory and bits i had in the kitchen and hall now i just need to dust !! :-0
Might take the tree down tomorrow and leave the cards up until twelfth night ,all the holly we had in has gone out onto the garden to stop next doors cat from doing what cats do !! the trouble is all the bulbs are now coming up and the cat keeps scraping the soil next to them so i'am hoping the holly will help.
The outside lights have been put away too ,i did remember to take the batteries out as i don't want them turning on in the box ,they are the ones like yours Jane 6 hours on and 18 off.

Ann i'd like to see your finished snowflake necklace if you have a photo ?

I wonder if Gill has been stitching away today :-D

We had lovely bubble and squeak tonight with the cold beef ,there's still enough beef for tomorrow .

Thanks for sending Williams photo's Mel, with the mild weather so many flowers are flowering ,son even had Dandelions in the garden that have flowers on !!

Evening all,

Have been to the local pub to watch WEST HAM beat LIVERPOOL at lunchtime. The Manager reconised me from last year, which was very nice.

An old chap sat next to me just before the match finished, he reached for his beer and knocked the glass over, spilling a pint into my lap. I had to walk home with soaked trousers, socks and shoes. I was glad to get a shower and change.

Ibdian and Chinese takeaway tonight, which we all enjoyed.

It sounds like ELLA is playing up again tonight, a good smack across to bum wouldn't go a miss. !!!!

"NO LIKEY NO LIGHTLY is on T.V. He is one person who makes me cringe and I can't watch.

I am so looking forward to going home tomorrow, Enough is Enough.AND FRANKIE BOY HAS HAD ENOUGH !!!!

Goodnight all, speak tomorrow, when I get home.

Oh Frank, what can I say! :-) A pint in your lap must be the last straw and not nice to sit or walk in wet trousers. As for Ella it sounds like they pander to her too much. :-S

The chap that collected OH's car last Spring said he was taking it straight to auction. I notice the garage I bought my car from have kept it and are selling it themselves, even though it is 8 years old which is old for a main dealer to sell a car. I had enquiries about the mileage on it as obviously it was a bit suspect to having been 'clocked' with it being low for it's age. I should have tried selling it myself really like I have other cars but couldn't be bothered this time with all the other things going on. The garage are asking 2 grand above what they paid me but no doubt someone will beat them down on price.

Jane, OH had a few of those skin tags on his neck, but the doc removed them for him. He found them to be a nuisance and kept catching like you say. My sister can't wear many necklaces either as her hair gets tangled in them. :-S She tends to stick to pendants with chains. As for mess, I think this is the messiest, laziest Christmas I've had!! We have stuff still lying around too and the tablecloth needs washing and the floors are so dusty now. OH has his self assessment to complete, stuff for his dad to sort and notes to catch up on and the bungalow needs a good clean through or 'bottoming' as my first MIL would say. I already have a long 'to do' list!! All we need now is some motivation and energy. lol. :-) :-)

Thanks for forwarding William's photos Mel. I must go and see what flowers we have coming out in the garden. We noticed daisies coming out on a verge we passed by and there's lots of gorse in flower.

Safe journey home Frank and hope to see you in the morning. Calm down its not long now.

love mel <3