General Chat

Morning all

It's been like Christmas morning here today, Sandra has just finished opening all her presents and cards. Thanks everyone she is thrilled with them all. Thank you to AnnG and Mel for the lovely presents as well and a thank you from me for the light up key ring, both Sandra and I love them Mel. Sandra also loves the fluffy pen and all the other presents off you and loves all the card making things off you AnnG. We are hoping to take her to Chester Zoo soon as the weather was far to bad to take her yesterday as we'd planned. The rain was still heavy at 2am this morning so it must of been around 24 hours of none stop rain, pleased we didn't have a flood, we think the new extension next door is keeping most of the water off our back garden so that's good.

I have a leg of lamb cooking slowly in the oven, it's been in there since 8.30am this morning so should be nice and tender by 1pm when we eat. Then Sandra is going to enjoy her pizza and chocolate cake tonight. She's also happy because her dad managed to find the code for the radio CD player in the car. We had to have a new battery and didn't know the code to put it back on, but the other day he noticed a bit of paper under the dashboard with the code on, so now when we go out she can listen to her CD's in the car. So all in all she's a happy bunny and is listening to her new CD in her room, she's been waiting for ages for it, then she's going to make a start on reading her Famous Five books we bought her.

Thanks everyone for making her day special and also a thank you to Vera for the lovely note in your card, she said she is going to keep it, along with all the beautiful cards everyone's sent. <3 Sandra said to let you know Vera that she does get those birds in the garden and loves watching them.

SNAP posted the same time Gill.

We posted at the same time Mel, I've just shown Sandra your post and she loves it. <3

snap here too lol <3

Morning all,

I had a good lie in this morning. I woke at 20 to 8 and thought I would have another 20 mins and then get up. Did'nt work I woke at 10 to 10.

Gill did she like the hedgehog bookmark and the mini tapes for her card making and the stickers. The pink snail is to put on the egde of your mug so you can twist your teabag string around it or put it on your glass so you know which is yours.

The light up things are to put on your zips.

Morning All, and a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to SANDRA :-D. I am sure today is going be just the best what with all her cards , pressies, Pizza, and Chocolate Cake.What could be better <3 <3 <3 <3.

Mel yes I was serious about the doll :-D :-D.I think it would nice hanging up in one of the windows in the Summerhouse.

I can't hang around now so will be back later today when H&G have gone home.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA" I hope you have a wonderful day, xxxx

Good morning you all.

My runny nose has turned into a full blown HEAD COLD. I am stuffed up like a Turkey at Christmas. lol lol I did stay up until 9.45 last night, watched a bit of Torvill and Dean film, but not really my sort of thing. Read for a good hour, then to my amazement Ros came to bed. UNHEARD OF before 12.30 or later.

I had a job sleeping, sneezing and coughing, but Ros seemed to sleep through it. This morning I am struggling to breath through my nose. I will see if there is anything in the cupboard that will try to ease it.

I love the sound of the waves, breaking on the beech/sea front. After my experience of being adrift for 19 hours in a gale force TEN , I have the most respect for the sea. It worries me to see these surfers, fighting the waves, to get out into the rollers, so they can ride the waves. But if that what turns them on, who am I to say anything. It does sound you have a perfect spot to enjoy this, AnnG when are you returning home.

Jane that was nice of Chris. considering it was his present. It's good the lads had a day out together, I expect it will happen again, with Chris. invited next time. !!

Yes the shortening of names is so natural for Children. I know Ros got annoyed when CONRAD was called either CON or CONNIE. ;-) ;-) ;-) Harvey also has the same trouble with Julia always calling him HAV. and LEWIS lewie. That's one good thing about my name, how do you shorted it. ?? I hope LAV doesn't get used to often. :-D :-D

I see that MEGAN's BABY is due today. I expect we will hear about it, when it happens.

Good ol' WEST HAM. they beat SPURS at their new Stadium. They did it to the ARSENAL when they moved to the Emirates Stadium. Bit of useless info for you non football fans. :-P :-P :-P

Still quite windy here. and it looks like rain could turn up at any time. It's turning very black overhead.

Last night I scrapped a load of Jersey Royals, did the Cauli and Broccoli, brussels, carrots and Runner beans. So this morning I only have to make the Pudding, and CHEESE SAUCE. (Would you like some JANE ???) I picked lots of mint also. Put some in the spuds, and made a mint sauce for the leg of lamb.

I watched a chef on James Martin this morning, who did a Very big Breast/shoulder of lamb in so many spices, and Chick peas and onions. He cooked it at 120 degrees for 8 hours. When it was cooked, he broke it into pieces and fried it in more spices. I would hate to think what that tasted like. The chick peas and onions was put in a blender to make a SLUDGE that went on the plate with grilled Corgetes (sp) Certainly something that I wouldn't want to try.

I think I will go and put the lamb on a low heat, and let it simmer away for a few hours.

Stay dry everyone, and enjoyy your day, especially SANDRA. xxxx

Yes Mel, Sandra loved everything you gave her, she's put the pink snail on the top of the lamp, does it glow in the dark, she asked me but I didn't know?

Oh dear Frank still not feeling very well. I know it sounds daft, but it works, put some VICK on the bottom of your FEET it will clear your blocked nose and help with your breathing. We do that, especially at night and it really does help. Our lamb is smelling lovely at the moment and will be ready around 1pm.

That would be nice if Megan's baby arrives on Sandra's birthday, unfortunately babies rarely arrive on their due date, but still it would be lovely for Sandra as she was talking about the Royal baby the other day.

I'm watching the Marathon and a poor woman collapsed a couple of steps before the finish line and had to craw over it, everyone ran straight to her then and helped her, she looked in a bad way, I hope she'll be okay. I also saw one of the wheelchair people with a puncture right at the beginning so needed help changing his tyre, all the rest of them had gone and he had to start again from the start line once his wheelchair had been fixed. I felt so sorry for him. They are showing the masses now, I think some of them dressing up in big costumes is a bit silly, but all the good causes are going to do well, there are so many runners raising money for them.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 Happy Birthday Sandra <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Hope your enjoying your birthday ,it sounds as if you've had lots of lovely things and i bet your looking forward to Pizza and Chocolate cake later :-D

Afternoon all,
Bright and breezy here with a light shower now and again ,family came this morning as they usually do on a Sunday apart from that we haven't got any thing planned for the rest of the day ,Colin is watching the F1 on sky we don't have the sports package but he can still get it live on the sky sp F1 channel 406 i don't know if you can get that one Gill ?

Oh poor Frank it's awful when you get a blocked nose and feel so bunged up ,dose yourself up and i hope you soon feel better .

No Mandy we can't get that channel on Sky so will be watching the F1on Channel 4 later.

Yes, Sandra is looking forward to her pizza and chocolate cake, it's become a tradition over the years and she always looks forward to it. She's enjoying herself reading the Famous Five books in her room at the moment. That's the thing on her birthday once she's opened her presents she always goes to her room as we always buy her the next one in line of the "That's What I call Music" CD's, she's just got the 101 one and I've got the 102 put away for Christmas, I think there are 3 or 4 out in one year so I always put some away for Christmas and keep the last one ready for her birthday the following year. I used to try and give them to her in order but they didn't release them in time for her Birthday and one year she was disappointed she didn't get one, so now I always keep one to one side so she's never disappointed again.

The sun has finally made an appearance, we ended up with rain for about 24 hours in the end yesterday so it's nice the weather has improved, all we need now is for it to warm up so we can take her to Chester Zoo, she's really looking forward to that. :-)

Well pudding and sauce made, I am sitting watching a Scottish Football match, with a beer, while Ros has popped to Tesco for some bits we need. It will save her going out tomorrow.

Oh how chilly it is. Even with the heating on, I am not warm. I put it down to the cold in my head and general feeling S@@@.

I have had a sniff of VIC inhaler, it has eased my breathing a little. As a child it was always CAMPHORATED OIL on the chest and feet. It was an old Mothers remedy,but seemed to work. I might put a bit of VIC in my socks, that might be a way of keeping it in place.

Absolutely horrible day out there. I bet the runners who have finished, will look forward to a nice wash down, and a hot drink and a meal. Nicola, our ex next door neighbour is running today. We have been keeping an eye open for her, but with over 42,000 runners, theres not much chance of seeing her.I will FB her this evening to congratulate her, and see what time she finished in. Assuming she did finish. lol lol She does a lot of running all over the world. She is a Air Crew supervisor with Virgin Airways.

While we are away in Spain, Martine has offered to call in twice a week to do the watering of the baskets,pots and greenhouse, plus the borders and veg plot if needed. It will save asking neighbours, who would do it. But better to have someone who has offered, then you don't feel bad, asking anyone else.

I bet Sandra has been on cloud 99 today with all the excitement. I do hope she has had a nice day.

<3 <3 <3 <3HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA XXX <3 <3 <3 <3.

Hope you are having a lovely Day and enjoying the Famous Five books also the pizza and cakexxx

Afternoon All,

First ..... <3 <3 <3 :-D :-D :-DHAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA :-D :-D <3 <3 <3 It sounds like she is having a great birthday with all her cards and pressies......favourite meals and pizza and chocolate cake to follow later!! Bliss!! Then Chester Zoo to look forward to soon!

Sorry you are feeling rough Frank and have a head cold. Put your feet up (it will keep the Vick in place!! lol) and take it easy today. All this talk of Lamb is making my mouth water!! Your mint is doing well if you have cut some.....mine is only a couple of inches high. :-(

Mel the doll you made was good! It looked as if it would be quite fiddly to get it just right.

AnnG, we have been to the same place for 10 years, so much the same! You sound as if you are in a perfect spot so close to the sea though. The weather seems mostly good the rest of the week here, so hopefully it will be the same where you are. Wasn't the Bridport Dagger a hang rope or something? It's what I think of when I think of Dorset.

We have been to an Open Garden at Market Harborough this afternoon. It's the first time they had done it, and it was a lovely bungalow and plot, but I thought it looked quite neglected considering it was being opened to the public and needed more plants. There was a beautiful, friendly cat there though and a pair of Mallard ducks that apparently return every year, probably attracted by the pond. We passed The Waterside pub/restaurant on the way back which I think is where Jane and Fitz go.

Jane did you see my post the previous day, where they were having fisticuffs when our neighbour was going to remove his fence panel so he could shove the bins back? We keep well out of these things as the way our neighbours go about things, you can imagine it leading to things like this. Fancy getting things like this noted against you by the police and you never know how things might be exaggerated in statements people give. It doesn't give the Police the right impression when they see things painted on the road outside your property either. :-S

OH is watching footie now so I'd better tackle the paper pile in here!

********** HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA **********

I hope you are having a lovely day. Enjoy the pizza and cake <3

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA. Hope you are having a great day.

Poor you Frank a head cold is not nice at any time of the year. My nan always put Vick on my feet and chest when I was little. Later when I was in my teen she gave me a hanky with eucaliptus oil on it to sniff.

My oh has just made me a cuppa so I sat and read the posts while I drank it.


Ann the doll was fiddley but now I have to make another for Jane. I have made her boobs and have been making the St Bridid's cross as I need it to dry out a bit.

Its been raining here all day. It quite fine but steady.

Afternoon all we had a trip to Lyme Regis today. Parked outside the town and walked down (and subsequently up) 114 steps into Lyme bay. Had a coffee then walked out to the Cob. bought a pasty for oh and a crayfish sandwich for me and sat along the prom to eat them, keeping the food well covered between bites. Saw an ice cream lifted out of a young man’s hand by a screeching seagull. He and his girlfriend thought it was very funny. Drove back for a cup of tea and then went down to Burton Bradstock bay. A very calm sea today, light wind, high cloud and patches of blue sky and sun so very pleasant. And there were a few in the water swimming at Lyme. We sat eating a really nice tub of ice cream, (honeycombed and salted caramel). Then went for a walk on the beach watching the gentle waves, so different to the last few days. It was warm in the sun even though it was 4pm by then. We sat on a seat overlooking the beach watching the people and the many dogs running around. Dogs will not be allowed on the main beaches after 1st May.


I am pleased that Sandra liked the craft stuff. I cut off the tops of the packs to save postage and space so hope it all arrived ok. Pleased that she is enjoying her day too.

It sounds as though you had better weather than us today AnninG. It’s been grey all day with showers and quite cold winds again, but the sun has just come out. I am glad you are able to get out and about so your holiday hasn’t been spoiled by the weather.

I’ve been very droopy and headachy all day because I had a terrible night. OH was sleeping in a different room so at 5 this morning I put a note by the kettle asking him not to wake me when he got up and made tea. I think I eventually fell asleep about 6 am but I was still awake at 8.30. I think we are soulmates Frank as you don’t seem to sleep well either.

Sorry to hear you have a grotty cold and hope you feel better soon I’ve heard about putting Vic on your feet but have never tried it. I wonder how it works. My mother was a great fan of camphorated oil rubbed on the chest and keeping the chest warm, so in winter I’d be sent out bundled up in a vest, liberty bodice (remember them?), thick dress, woollen cardigan, wool scarf crossed over the chest and pinned at the back, and thick coat. It’s a wonder I could waddle down the road.

I do hope that poor doll doesn’t get nicknamed Lav or, even worse, Lavvy ;-). We called our son Neil, thinking it wouldn’t be shortened. It wasn’t but my father often called him George and at school his friends sometimes called him Nelly!

Sun has already disappeared behind a big black cloud so I had better get the dustbin out before it pours. Our cul-de-sac is unadopted and anyway it’s too small for the big bin lorry to get up here and turn so we have to put the bins on the edge of the recreation ground at the bottom of our road. It’s usually OH’s job but his back isn’t good today so it’s down to me. I wonder if his back is bad because I suggested we spring clean the conservatory this week Suspicious aren’t I? :-D

Morning all

Sunny here at the moment but not very warm, it's forecast for rain later and the rest of the week with a north wind so very cold. I hope it warms up soon so we can take Sandra out for her treat. She enjoyed her pizza and cake last night then settled down with her popcorn and big bar of Aero mint chocolate we treated her to.

How are you getting on with the doll you are making for Jane, Mel? You are very clever with the things you make.

I meant to say yesterday Vera, OH had nipped out for a few minutes and while he was out a bird like the one on your card went on our bird feeder. Sandra noticed it and said look it's the same as the one on my birthday card, she mentioned this to her dad when he came home and I said yes it jumped off the card and went to eat off the feeder, Sandra thought this was really funny and started laughing saying no it didn't it was a normal bird. She did have a lovely day and said she was enjoying the Famous Five book she started.
Hope your OH can help you clean your conservatory this week and you managed to catch up with your sleep last night.

It sounds like you had another nice day out at Lyme Regis AnnG, I don't blame you for keeping an eye out for the seagulls. My MIL is terrified of birds and was eating fish and chips by the seafront once with family, the seagull came around her so she just threw the food in the air saying have it and ran away, I know I shouldn't laugh but the way she told the story was really funny, needless to say the seagull enjoyed them very much. Yes all the craft stuff arrived okay, she was thrilled with it all.

Sorry to hear you're still not feeling to good Frank, did the VIC work? I hope you feel better today and had a good nights sleep. How did Nicola get on with her Marathon, did she manage to finish and get a good time? Was she raising money for a Charity, I noticed the Billion pounds mark had been reached this year, for all the Charities everyone has been raising money for since it started.

Did anyone see the man dressed as BIG BEN he couldn't get underneath the clock timer at the end and needed help, I guess he didn't think about his costume being so tall and how he was going to get across the finish line.

How are things in your Road now Ann, hope they have calmed down and there's no more fisticuffs. There's no workmen next door so far today, so maybe the inside jobs are finished. OH has gone to his mates today, he tries to go once a week. It's nice for him to have a bit a male company with living with two woman, they can chat about football and man things lol :-D