General Chat

Good morning all. The sun is shining but it is very cold, only a light breeze and the birds, mainly goldfinches, blue tits and blackbirds are around the feeders. Daughter said the path front of house looks icy but there was no frost on the grass or rooftops.

They have hair appointments this morning. I was going for a wander round Workington while they were there but have decided to stay home and pack. I had a bad night so am tired. Too much rich food eaten late didn’t help.

Yes, if it was too bad we would delay a day, same for them coming back. It is the first hour this end which is the problem across the A66 which runs near the northern mountains.

Morning all,
Lovely sunny morning but very frosty and cold ,I nipped out to bring the bin in that was emptied first thing ,we were going to sons and do a bit of shopping but son messaged and said I'd keep in if I were you as the roads are very slippery, we might wait until later and just nip to the co op down the road as we need milk and a TV book .

Anng I hope the weathers OK for you travelling home tomorrow and that your daughter can get back OK too ,it looks like the North is going to get the worst of it .

Good morning all
There’s a very heavy frost this morning and it’s sooo cold but the sun is shining and the sky is a pale blue. Safe journey back tomorrow AnnG. The main roads will probably be fine but if it is bad would your daughter and sil be able to wait an extra day or two before bringing you home?

I had very little sleep last night so feel very heavy headed and can’t seem to get myself moving today. Like AnnG we normally leave our decorations till 12th night but I might make a start taking them down. Enjoy the day whatever you’re doing and stay warm.

Glad you had a good day Vera and the journey was ok.
Getting a bit bothered about our journey on Saturday, looking at the weather. Hope the forecast is worse than the reality.
I see all the decorations are coming down I do still try and stay with tradition and keep them up until twelfth night.

Gosh, it’s been cold today - a real shock to the system, but it’s been lovely to see some sun at last and beautiful pale blue skies.

You’ve been busy today Mel. Your mincemeat slice sounds good. I like the sound of that lemon ice cream/sorbet as well.

I’m glad your coughs and colds are getting better AnnG. That must have been frustrating to lose a post this morning.

We had a good drive to Southend and back today. There was plenty of traffic but no hold ups. We got to our friend’s house about 11 am and left just after 2 pm.so plenty of time to get home in the light. I was glad we went as he hasn’t been very well and lives alone so was glad of the company. We exchanged Xmas presents and came home with some nice smellies each, a box of chocs and a box of tea time goodies; jam, lemon curd, shortbread, a rich fruit cake and tea bags.

I haven’t done much since we got back, apart from spending half an hour on the phone with my daughter. I’m ringing her every day at the moment.

iPad is telling me it’s -1 and feels like -7. It makes me think of when I was young and I’d have my coat put over the bed as an extra blanket and in the morning there would be ice on the inside of the window. I’m glad those days are gone.

Evening all,

Very frosty here this morning but it soon cleared when tyhe sun peeped through , I decided to get all the lights in the front garden down ,it didn't take long to get them off the shrubs and off the Christmas tree, we then brought the tree round into the back garden so we can cut it up another day, I then got all the inside decorations off the tree and all the other bits and pieces put away ,it's all done just got the big box with the tree in to go back upstairs ,tomorrow we're off to sons for a coffee and do a bit of shopping .
The lemon sorbet sounds nice ,I bet its quite refreshing on a really hot day .

Yes Ann ths jigsaw puzzle will be out in a day or two ,just wanted to get tidy around the house first ,I had the Christmas China and cutlery to get away in the cupboards and catch up with the washing.
The fire has been going over Christmas its been quite hot at times when it turned a bit milder, Jake brought grandad a new pair of fire gloves ,he was pleased with those as his other pair were beginning to wear on the fingers , he bought me a book ,Air fryer recipes and chocolates for both of us .

Yes I hope Vera got home in daylight and had a good catch up with her friend .

Anng thats good the coughs and colds are better ,when do you travel home .

Mel you've had a busy day cleaning ,the mincemeat slice sounds nice ,was it clotted cream ,I bought some clotted cream to have with Christmas pud .

The lemon sorbet would be lovely and thirst quenching on a hot day Mel. Your pony was about the same size as mine which was 13.2 hh so an inch smaller. Big enough for us shorter girls though and easier for us to get on! I can well imagine yours keeping that set distance from the road edge. Once they learn what you want and it becomes a habit they try to stick to it and are reluctant to change. You've got a lot more done than me today.

That's good that the coughs and colds all seem to be better now AnnG. We thought about popping to the Costa here, but worried about being stuck on the retail park with all the sales shoppers so stayed in.

I hope Vera had a good journey and got home in the daylight ok.

The frost was not too bad this morning and it has been a nice sunny day but cold out of the sun. We just had a quick trip to Costa for coffee and Asda for a look round but only bought a cheap torch as my one I was using here needs new batteries.

Coughs all seem to be better now and SiL’s daughter has gone home.

Annx the lemon ice was a sort of sorbay looked just like compacted snow. My pony was only 13.3hh and was broken to a cart before being ridden hence whenever we went on a road ride he would always be about 3' 6" out from the kerb allowing for his cart.

I have cleaned both bathrooms windowsill and hand basins, then I made a big mincemeat slice. Had the cooker on while the sun was shining so was'nt spending hardly anything on the leccy. Had a nice chicken sandwich for lunch and a bit of the slice for dessert with a little cream. Did'nt get around to making my mince pies this year so I thought I woud get more out of the sheet of pastry than individul pies. Its only 1 degree here now and we've had sun all day but its so low in the sky at present. Theres not a cloud in the sky. Makes such a change from endless grey skies and rain and wind.

Going to corn the girls now.

Afternoon All,

I didn't get to sleep very early and so didn't even wake till 9.15am but feel quite refreshed today. We ordered food in to save me cooking and I did a very quick hoover round just to pick up the obvious bits. OH is watching a match on tv and working on his tax return now and I am doing some paperwork. It's only 3 degrees now, but the PC says it feels like -4 degrees and the bit of sun we had has gone already. ERNIE has been less generous this month, just £50 but better than nothing. The prize money they give keeps going down, but maybe people cashing in their bonds will follow and so increase the chances of winning something.

That's another icecream I haven't heard of Mel! So your pony could be driven too between the shafts. I would have loved that! How high was he? The lemon icecream does sound delicious and I would have enjoyed that.

That's a nuisance losing your post AnnG. I expect you have had a good frost at your daughter's and we are all going to be cold the next few days. I hope the coughs and colds are improving.

I bet you are all cosy with the logs burning Mandy! Will one of the jigsaws be coming out soon, or have you already started? I put mine away again as I didn't want OH trying to lift the board it's on with his bad back. I might get the cane table in out of the conservatory to do it on. OH uses the dining table as his 'office' and will be piling his things back on it again soon so I can't do it on there.

Just remembered I need to start the food order for the delivery this weekend. A COT first though.

Morning all,

Very very frosty here tis morning pc is telling me rain on Saturday and its 0 degrees and mostly cloudy but at the mo the sky is pale bluewith a couple of clouds to the north.Nopthing planned for today but need to do some of that horrid stuff HW.

Good morning all wrote a long message then Safari couldn’t send it and no way of retrieving it

Where I kept my pony that family had an icecream round it was called Dellamura. They used to have a van outside my infants and junior school and thye made the most lovely lemon ice. it had pieces of lemon with the rind on in it. When their son got married my pony pulled a cart for the bride and groom.

I thought I'd just check and Rossa's are still trading here but have a kiosk nearer the centre of the city now. They came here from Italy in 1896. So there is Rossa's and also Rossi's and I hadn't heard of that before.

Vera, we lived behind Marconi’s and off a back road to Galleysood where it was all fields. I guess there will be large housing estate there now but I must ask a friend who still lives in the road we lived in. I am still in touch this time of year.

The last time we went to Chelmsford which was about late 90s I was totally lost. We did continue to visit a friend who lived in South Woodham well into the 2010s but only visited Basildon from there.

Yes it was Rossi's icecream at Southend as Vera said. Iv'e never heard of Rossa's icecream.

I am stuffed full and shan't need anything else today but I may have some grapes later and maybe a pear. Iv'e enough left for tomorrow as well so no cooking tomorrow.

I have Sense and Senibility on in the background for a little company.

Afternoon All,

Happy New Year Florence and I wish the same for you in 2025 <3

I didn't get to sleep till gone 1.00 am and couldn't settle as I kept expecting more fireworks.

We had our Barnsley lamb chops yesterday, nice thick ones and very tasty, with green beans, broc, cauli, a little cabbage, onions and carrots. I used to buy lamb shoulder, but it seems too big for us now as we don't eat very much red meat these days. Now it's usually the chops or lamb shanks or lamb mince. We used to have lamb's liver sometimes, but I rarely see it in the farm shop now. My first OH loved it with cubed potatoes, swede, carrots and onions!

OH was expecting the match may be cancelled Vera, but as it turned out the match has gone ahead after the 11.00 am pitch inspection. The awful wind in the night had stopped this morning but OH has wrapped up well. I hope the 'lake' has drained away now and that you have a good journey to Great Baddow to see your friend tomorrow. I don't think I've ever been to Southend.

Mel do you mean Rossa's award winning icecrem or Roses? Me and a friend used to walk the Alsation that belonged to the branch of Rossa's on the city outskirts near where we lived when I was about 12. He was a beautiful, shorter coated one, black with lovely sandy markings.

Edit: I see Vera has called it Rossi's icecream.

Well I've not achieved much today except cleaned the kitchen sink and wonder what the best way to clean the wire oven racks is! Oh I have ordered a top online as well.

Thank you LaGooner and Florence.

Mel, did you mean Never Never Land at Southend? It closed in 1972, then was reopened in 1987 before finally closing in 2001. You can still get yummy ice cream from Rossi.

AnnG, it’s a while since I’ve been to Great Baddow as the two friends I had living there moved, both of them to be nearer family. I’m not sure whether Gt Baddow itself has changed much but you wouldn’t recognise Chelmsford now. On the very rare occasion I go there I feel completely lost.

Under normal traffic conditions it takes us about 75 minutes to get to Southend so not too bad. We want to get back before dark and before the rush hour build up.

I’d better go and give my stew a stir and wrap the presents I need to take with me tomorrow. We usually meet up before Christmas but didn’t manage it this year (oops, last year).

Happy New year to all on here, wishing you health & happiness in 2025 <3

Thanks Mel, yes it was until IPad spell check decided differently