General Chat

I expect if he was working today and mending cars Stu might not have been able to let you know sooner Mel or maybe his ex didn't let him know sooner if she changed the time. It's the eating that late that I couldn't manage these days.

Your kitchen will be smelling nice with the Turkey cooking Mandy! Now I'm using the enormous tin, I've decided to cook mine tomorrow. it's ready just to pop in the oven, which OH usually gets up to do, but to be safe and having to line it up to slide the tin on the runners I think it's best we both carry it. I cooked the gammon, but my word it really shrank and I could tell by OH's face he was thinking there wasn't much and I won't be freezing half for New Year's Day like I usually do! lol. I expect the younger grandchildren in particular are very excited now and I was imagining young Lewis's face when he sees his bike. :-D

I poached 4 eggs from the farm shop earlier and all 4 had double yolks which was a surprise.

We drove south today to a garden centre at Beethsm for coffee. We went across the lake by car ferry the fells we drove through were shrouded in mist but had a certsin different type of beauty. Both daughter and SiL now have my cough (daughter) or cold (SiL) I am still coughing but not so much now.
It has been foggy all day here. But the lake was clear. There are a lot of hardy walkers up here despite the damp and murky conditions.
We have just been listening to carols from Kings on the radio so it is Christmas.

Merry Christmas Ann

Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2025 to you Ann as well. <3 :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all <3 <3

Oh Mel ,I wonder why he changed the time ,you'd have thought he would have let you know before and not at the last minute .

Turkeys still cooking its big so I think its going to need at least another hour .

There's me all ready to go and I have just had a text to say he is coming at 5.30ish for a 6.30 ish dinner so thats messed my day up and I shall have to do my cooking for tomorrow now.

Stu is supposed to be coming to pick me up at 11am but he's not here yet.

I am just rying to remember all I have to take with me so will be back later. Have a great day everyone only one more sleep to the big day. It seems to have come around so quickly this year and as its in the middle of the week I suppose thats why.

Morning all,

Cloudy here but quite bright and it's not so cold .

Made my yorkshires this morning so I'll get them in the freezer ,I suppose they would keep ok in the fridge ,I'll have to have a Google.
The turkeys in now I put a piece of parchment paper on top first as I always find the foil sticks to the top .
Son and family are coming later to do the veg ,I had my orders to leave the veg and they will do them .


Vera thats good your daughters going to have company for the day its going to be a tough day for you all ,sending love <3

Mel is it lunch your having today or a meal later tonight .

You did the best thing going early to get your meat Ann I bet its getting busy now, Colins going round with the hoover and I'm having a rest for five minutes ,then it will be coffee time .

Well I can't believe it! I was convinced I had a tin big enough for the Turkey crowns we have now and thought I'd used last year, but I think I must have imagined it! So plan b is to use the huge and extremely heavy big tin that came with the cooker for spit roasting and which slides in on the sides and fills the whole width of the cooker. I've never used it before, so it was squirrelled away and is covered in dust!! It's in the dishwasher now on a hot wash. I've warned OH it will take two of us to lift it out of the oven with the Turkey in it, so we'll have to mind our backs and that the Turkey doesn't end up on the floor!!

Morning All,

Another dull but at least a dry morning.

That's good your daughter has support around her to help Vera. OH and I would each have to cope on our own. As soon as your daughter has the death certificate things can start to be organised and I can understand her wanting to be at home for Christmas where it's familiar and it will help for her to have company. Her daughter did well to tackle that 8 hour drive and it was kind of her son to get a stock of easy cook meals in. I think your OH is sensible to drive back in daylight. It's not pleasant driving on busy roads that are unlit in the dark now being blinded with those dazzling headlights on newer cars. Everyone seems to drive at the maximum speed limit too.

We were at the farm shop to pick up the Turkey at 7.50am and there was already a small queue waiting outside. All the new houses that have been built will mean more demand I suppose. Luckily they weren't all picking up meat, so I was second to be served! Then to the shop where we got a paper and more bits!

OH will do the veg after we have a brunch and I just need to get the Turkey ready and foiled and that's about it and we can relax then. He's been flying round with the hoover this morning.

Morning all,

Really miserable out there this morning. WhenI got up and look out the window to the west there was a mist lying about a yard off the ground it looked quite magical. Its 11 degrees and pc is telling me near record temps today.

Sounds like your getting well organised with lots of help from the family Vera. You'll all be together for oneof the hardest parts. Sending love and wishes. <3 <3

Must get on as I must get ready.

Pleased that your daughter is coping with the help of daughter and son Vera And you and she have Christmas under control. Hopefully the medical examiner will sign off for the death certificate fairly quickly as she will be wanting to get things sorted. Take care driving to your daughter and back again.wise to stick to daytime driving now.

Thank you all for your messages of love and support which are much appreciated. My daughter is coping well in dealing with everything but now she is waiting on a call from the medical examiner before she can register the death and I doubt if he will call till after Christmas. Her daughter tackled an 8 hour drive and arrived at her mum's on Friday evening and is staying for a few days. Her son drove from Yorkshire after work on Friday. He had to go back last night but on Saturday took himself off to the shops and stocked his mum up with quick cook foods.

Daughter wants to have Christmas at her house so we are going there. Her partner's mother, who lives nearby will join us for dinner that day. We will stay overnight. OH has just decided that the time has come for him to give up driving after dark so we'll come home in daylight on Boxing Day.

Just done my pigs in blankets in the air fryer. Only took 10 mins. They said on the telly 6 mins but mine were'nt done enough so I upped the temp and gave them a few more mins. I am taking some to Kate's tomorrow and some to BILs on Christmas day.

I always have mixed feelings when we go to the museum cafe for coffee. The museum is right next to the time shares where we had a week in June for thirty years and a week in February for about six years. There is a river that runs through the time share (The Leven) and we would sit on our balcony looking out over the river. Sitting in the cafe looking out at the tuver brings back happy memories but it is hard. Driving there this morning through the forest there was a beautiful cock pheasant I a field standing watching us.

Yes full of energy as is Senua but Inara was not well before we came away so we won’t see her until they join us for lunch on the anniversary of daughters late OHs death. I am sure they are causing mayhem for the parents thus week they are both very excitable. It will seem strange not seeing them opening some of their presents.

Afternoon All,

We were up just after 7.00am to shower and go to Sainsbury's for a few last bits before we had the coffee and bacon buttie offer at Costas on the retail park for when they opened at 9.00am. We were at Sainsbury's by 8.00am and it was already packed to the gills in the carpark so we drove straight out! Plan b we went to the big Co-op on the main road which was as quiet as normal and we got our few bits and made it back to Costa and parked easily as there are no food shops in that area of the retail park. Tomorrow will be an early start to pick up the Turkey Crown and other meat and no doubt more bits we see and that's it!

Mandy I didn't know you could get rolled Turkey Crowns, but it's a good idea as I imagine they would take less room up in the oven. I'm glad the tablets are working now. My doctor's always try and fob me off saying they won't help as it's a virus, but my wise old doctor, (now retired) would say wait 10 days and if it's no better would give me antibiotics which always worked. He said that although a virus causes it, after a while bacteria can set in as well which do need antibiotics. I see Jake has been putting the hours in, but I expect he will be pleased to get some extra pay. It's handy having him work at the butchers and I bet he sorts you some good cuts of meat.

That's good you have more things for the postie now Mel. The things you make seem to sell really well. I have visions of all the doll's houses having well stocked dining tables! :-D I seem to remember Jane putting conkers on windowsills to get rid of spiders.

I watch the roast potatoes I have for the same reason as you AnnG. I love them as well and roast parsnips which are just as bad! I expect Inara is very excited now. Is she still full of energy?

Afternoon all,

Very overcast and grey today ,very chilly too.
Went out and took a few cards but we went in the car and just put them through the letter box ,called at sisters and gave them their presents and picked ours up then home for a nice cuppa to warm us up.
I have the gammon cooking in the oven half an hour more then I can glaze it ,while the ovens hot I'll make a few sausage rolls and get them in the oven.

I am feeling better now Mel I have one more tablet to take to finish the course .
My friend use to put conkers round the house but it didn't really work .

So there's no seeing the snow on the hills today then Anng ,car parks are going to be busy today I saw on fb that our Tesco's is gridlocked , I suppose some people have to leave their shopping till the last minute if moneys tight and they have to wait until pay day .

It was dry when we left for Ulverston this morning at 0900. The car park for Booths was pretty full but the shop was not too bad and we picked up the ordered meat and some extra bits and pieces. We didn’t attempt to go in their cafe for coffee but drove on the way bs k here, to the motor museum at Backbarrow where we used to have our time share. We knew they have a good cafe there so we had our coffee and daughter and I shared a scone.
Looking out of the window now the lake and valley have disappeared into the mist.