General Chat

Not nice to stand around in the wet at the grave side Vera. At least you will have given your support to the family in the church.

Second lot of wa\hsing in this morning and I have been out to the post van so look out for your cards as they will be arriving soon.

Hope Jane can rest today and dos'nt have many side effects from the first lot of treatment. Sending love to you Jnae if you look in.

Off out to the shed in a min so shan'nt be around ofr a while.

Hope all slept well last night and that Frank's eye is clearer again today. sending love to your sister Frank and hope they can keep her pain free.

MESSAGE FOR SANDRA
Thank you for your lovely card which has just arrived. You have made the inside look very pretty with the Christmas bauble stickers. We are going to put your card right in the centre when we put up our cards so everyone will see it first. Love Vera xx


We are off in a few minutes. OH is just putting on a suit and tie. I can see why granddaughter needed a large kitchen, there are lights and cameras everywhere!! There was a minute’s panic when they found the uni people had put the wrong batteries in the bag and E. thought she would have to drive all the way back to Cambridge, get the right ones and drive back again which would have taken her a good 3 hours but the lad with her managed to adapt it somehow with some connectors and our extension lead so they could plug it in to use it.

Here’s OH now so we’re off

Afternoon all

We've had a bit of fine rain but it's stopped now. The wind has died down a bit to. It must of blown quite a bit last night as there's hardly any leaves left on the neighbour's trees. Thankfully not many blew into our garden this year, so that's less for us to clear away from the drains.

Sandra's pleased some of you have received your cards and hope the rest arrive today.It's funny how they arrive at different times when they were all posted together.

I know I shouldn't Mandy, but I did smile when you were telling us about Max and the toilet rolls, I can imagine him sitting in the middle of the shredded bits with a look on his face that says "It wasn't me" lol :-D :-D :-D

Yes, Sandra wanted to put the snowman sticker you gave her in your card Mel, she had fun using her stickers for the insides of all the cards. She didn't put any on the outside as she said she wanted it to look like a proper Christmas card. I said they were proper Christmas cards no matter what she put on them and that you'd all love them either way. Pity you didn't sell as much as you'd hope for at the craft fair, but with a bit of luck you'll sell the rest at the shop.

Hope the weather isn't to bad for the funeral Vera, at least you have decided not to go to the grave side, so you shouldn't get to wet if it rains.

What a pity you didn't make your trip out Ann, lucky though that your OH remembered his dental appointment or he may of been charged for not turning up.

Sorry to hear about your sister Frank, at least your nephew rang you rather than you having to do the ringing for a change. Not long now to your laser treatment, just make sure you don't have another accident before then, you don't want to have to wait again. Yes, I was wondering what the 12 days of Christmas dolls would look like and what they were made of. I'd love to see a picture if you take one.

It sounds like you have a very busy family AnnG, having to change the day of their visit, I'm sure you'll all have a great time together at the weekend, pity DIL can't make it though.

Thinking of Jane and hoping she's not feeling to bad today <3 <3

You posted just before me Vera.

I've let Sandra know your card has arrived, she was starting to get a bit worried. She thought they would of all arrived at the same time, so I had to explain that isn't always the case and that everyone will receive their cards over the next day or two.

That was lucky your granddaughters friend could adapt the battery for her, it saved her a long trip back and forth. Good luck with the filming.

Hope all goes well at the service and the weather isn't to bad.

Gill tell Sandra not to worry, the mail is all over the place already before getting to the busiest time. Please tell her not to worry, I have not received mine yet so I have longer to look forward to seeing it. I thought I would let you know as I didn't want you to think I was not thanking her for it. Hopefully tomorrow............

Just back from the hairdresser so hair all nice and short for Christmas. Horrible out, very cold rain and still dark.

My sister had some good news yesterday, as you may remember she was diagnosed with Terminal lung cancer (secondary breast cancer) almost 3 years ago. Well, yesterday she had the result of her latest scan and she is in remission, she is on medication and apparently there is no sign of the tumours in her lungs at all, completely gone. Of course she has to keep taking the medication because it could come back but it is a great Christmas present.

Yes, son is quite high up in an insurance firm and has been writing some big reports for even higher up people. He has to be at a big meeting Monday now - He says they need him there to be somebody to blame if necessary. I say that is why he is paid as much as he is!! Not sure what DiL is doing but I know she would be here if she could.

Had lunch and now going back to the shed.

SORRY FRIENDS. I have been sitting here typing since 12.45. with all my thoughts throughout the night. I HAVE LOST THE LOT. Thinking about it. IT WAS A GOOD THING. I am sure as much as you understand, you don't want to read Chapter and Verse of the thoughts of me remembering the DEATHS of my family.

I finally got to sleep at 5.30 am and slept till 10.15. So you can imagine I feel like a wet weekend. !!

I must thank Sandra for such a beautiful card, it bought tears to my eyes. HUGS to you my sweet girl.

If I feel a bit better later, I will try to get back. In the meantime lots of love to you all, and thanks for being there for me. xxxx

THINKING OF YOU JANE.

We are always here for you Frank. Sorry you had another bad night, maybe you will sleep better tonight.

Just my card not arrived yet then Gill. :-D

We have just come in and I am on the computer upstairs so that I keep out of the way as the two film-makers are still hard at it.

I am sorry you lost another post Frank. I hope it helped you feel a little bit better putting your thoughts into words even if you lost them before you could post. Don’t worry about expressing your feelings to us. When you feel down have a moan on here; we’re all on your side.

The service was very nice. It was in the same church and with the same vicar as the funeral we went to a couple of weeks ago and the vicar just seems to have the right touch. I did get the giggles while we were waiting for the service to start. I could just see on a pew to my right a cat curled up asleep. It seemed very odd particularly as it wasn’t moving at all. I pointed it out to OH and just at that moment a lady picked it up. Would you believe it was a black fur handbag with a tail hanging down from one corner. Of course OH whispered “Should’ve gone to SpecSavers” and I got giggly. Luckily I managed to sober up by the time the coffin was brought in.

After that we went into town for OH to pick up some glasses from the opticians and to collect a parcel from the post office and we went for a coffee and I ordered a large slab of carrot cake expecting OH to share it but he didn’t want any so I had the lot. It was delicious but I feel a bit overfull now.

When we got back I couldn’t recognize my kitchen at all. Everything has been moved about and it is full of lights, cameras and cables. The kids have been working non-stop and are not finished yet but they have just decided to break for their first cup of tea. They haven’t eaten at all yet though I had left food in the fridge for them. I think when they are nearly done Grandad will go and buy them some F & C. We would take them to the pub for a meal but E has to drive them back to Cambridge and get the equipment back to uni and I don’t want her doing that too late at night.

AnnG, I’m delighted to hear about your sister. I expect that’s the best Christmas present she has had in years. How lovely of your OH to book something special for your diamond wedding. I have told my OH and said how much I would like a surprise like that. That’ll give him 3 years for the idea to sink in and by then he will believe he thought of it all by himself. I reckon young Gill must think we are a right bunch of old codgers.

I am now going to tiptoe down and see if there is going to be any chance of me getting back in my kitchen before next Wednesday week

Afternoon All
Just touching base now to let you all know I am ok.Not feeling too clever today but I think this is to be expected after having 2 days of Chemo and twice daily Chemo tablets.It has been quite a week .
Thankyou for all thinking of me xxx

Evening All,

Thanks for letting us know you are ok Jane. Not surprised you don't feel too clever and it has been quite a week for you as you say. You must be feeling you are always at the hospital. At least you can relax now and rest up and have a lie in tomorrow. xxx <3 <3

Good to see you Jane you have been uppermost in our thoughts. Hope you will feel a bit better tomorrow Stay strong <3 <3

Evening all,

Jane thanks for letting us know how you are <3 we have all been thinking about you this week and wondering how things were going with the treatment ,it must have been quite a week for you ,i'm sure it's been quite a week for the rest of the family too ,you rest now and just pop in when you can even if it's just to say Hello <3 <3

What a nasty old day it's been ,first thing we had quite heavy rain and the wind has been bad too , we haven't been any where today we stayed in the dry and i have made a start on Katie's birthday cake .

Sounds as if you have quite a house full Vera ,can you get in the kitchen yet ? :-D
I bet the F&C will go down a treat if they haven't eaten all day .
It's awful when you get the giggles at the wrong time but the handbag must have look real if you really thought it was a cat ,it made me think of the spec savers ad with the vet and the hat and they show the cat at the end that gives a big
swallow LOL

Oh Frank another bad night ,it's awful when your mind wanders onto all sorts ,i'm sure you must have had your sister on your mind after the news you had ,i hope tonight will be a better night for you .

Mel that was a shame you didn't sell as much as you hoped but the fair wasn't on for very long was it ,perhaps if it had been a whole afternoon they might have had more people turn up and you would have sold a bit more .
What happened with the lady had she copied any of your ideas ?

AnnG that was lovely news for your sister as you say a nice Christmas present

Gill ,hope your all feeling a little better today .

Ann were the cats about today at the beading house ,i bet they were inside if it was weather like we had ,they don't like the rain do they .
Hope OH's filling has stayed put .

Isn't it annoying when you just finish a long post and whoosh it's gone!!

First Gill please thank Sandra very much for her lovely card. It had arrived when we got home this afternoon and it was a lovely surprise to see all the decorating she'd done inside. Lots of writing too and I see she hadn't forgotten the kisses!!! I have put it right at the front where I can see it. XXX <3 <3 <3 Yes OH was glad he had escaped a fine at the dentist! How are all your throats today?

That's great news for your sister AnnG. She can relax and and enjoy Christmas now. It's a shame your son can't make it on Monday, but at least he can come the following Saturday with the grandchildren. What a pity DIL can't make it too though. That is something OH would say when he had contentious meetings coming up......'they pay me to carry the can!'. lol

Frank don't worry about having a moan as we all do our share on here at times. With hearing the news about your sister it isn't surprising you had a bad night with all these thoughts. I found myself thinking about my sister the other day as she loved Christmas. A silly thought, I wondered who had the pretty, blue, beaded bauble I made for her a few years ago now she has passed away and whether they knew who made it. She made a special decorated box to keep it in so it would't get broken. I think it will be good for you to get away at Christmas and especially when you can see better after the lasering.

Vera I would have had a job to stifle the giggles too! I see your place has become a film set and they must have been working hard if they didn't eat the food you left. They will be ready for the F&C though.

Mandy did you get your indoor tree put up today and the decorations on it? I had to smile at Max and his attempt to become an Andrex puppy with the toilet roll!

We were a bit late for lunch so went back to where we had the freebie! Different staff so no problem! It poured with rain while we were there and puddles covered the full width of the road in several places on the way back. I wanted to go to look at some glasses but no way in all the rain so we came home.

We did some crochet at our group this morning. The lady whose house we were at is very good, the other 2 who came today had never done it and although I made a dressing table set and some mats decades ago I have never held the hook properly to do it so wanted to learn as it's quicker to do then. Well I found it so strange and difficult having learned to do it the wrong way and suggested sellotaping my fingers to the hook in the end! It was a good brain workout for us all though and I shall have another go when watching telly tonight.

It was a shame you didn't do so well at the fair Mel, but 2 beading friends reckoned sales have been poor at the 2 fairs they did this year. One has a stall tonight at our village garden centre so I will get to know how that one went. Did you see what that other lady had made? At least you can get on with your wreaths now.

Mandy the little cat adopted after their neighbours left was miaowing at the outside door to come in, but not quite brave enough, although she did hang around miaowing while the door was open which she hasn't before. The other two were fast asleep all the time we were there and didn't even open their eyes! To think they used to run off as soon as we came in! Yes OH's filling is still ok at the moment thank you.

I'm so pleased for your sister AnnG, what a wonderful Christmas present. Sorry to hear you haven't received your Christmas card off Sandra yet, hopefully it'll arrive tomorrow as it looks like everyone else has received theirs. If it doesn't turn up Sandra said she'll make you another one.

Thanks everyone for letting Sandra know your cards have arrived, she's pleased as punch you all love them.

Nice to see you Jane, I can imagine you do feel under the weather at the moment, I've been thinking about you all week and was wondering how you were. Keep strong, Sandra and I send you lots of hugs and kisses. <3 <3 <3

I've just read your post out Vera about the so called cat and your OH's comment, we couldn't stop laughing. Good job you stopped laughing before the coffin turned up. It's sounds like it was a nice service. How did the filming go, have you seen it yet? We have a while to go before we get to our Diamond wedding anniversary, our next one is Ruby (40 years) but that's not for just over 7 years. We married in January and it snowed.

How lovely to see the adopted cat Ann. The other two must be used to you all now if they were asleep. My mum has tried to show me how to crochet years ago, I did manage a bit but have forgotten how to do it now. OH bought me a crochet kit last year for Christmas but I've been so busy with his family tree this year I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. You have just reminded me about it, so I might take a look and have a go. I have lots of kits for learning new crafts that I haven't looked at properly yet, (all bought for me last Christmas) so I think I'll take a look at them all soon. It'll be a nice change from the family tree. I've almost finished OH's tree now, so it'll keep me busy next year. I have a few more kits he's bought me for this Christmas to. I'm sure you'll get used to holding the hook correctly soon, I did smile when you said you needed to sellotape your fingers to the hook lol ;-) ;-) I can knit and did lots of knitting orders when the girls were young and I can sew to, although I'd love to learn how to make clothes as I can never find anything that fits me properly in the shops so it would be nice to make myself things made to measure. I'm sure Sandra would like me to make her some clothes too. So lots of new skills I'd like to learn when I have some free time.

How are you getting on with your Christmas decorating Mandy? I bet it's starting to look lovely now.

I'm so glad I did ours the other week as we're all feeling so rough at the moment. One good thing, Sandra is starting to feel a little better so hopefully she's over the worse now, but OH and I feel like a wet weekend. I had a bad nights sleep last night and didn't fall asleep until after 5.30am, I just couldn't regulate my temperature, I kept going from very hot to shivering and today I've been so tired with a terrible sore throat and headache. OH has been dosing off on the sofa for the last few days and has been very cold even though we've had the heating on most of the day and he's been taking two hot water bottles to bed every night for the last few nights. Hopefully we'll all start to feel normal again soon.

Frank you know we don't mind you venting your feelings on here. It helps to get it off your chest and out of your head sometimes if you share these troubles. I hope you can sleep better tonight.

Lovely to see our Jane has popped in to let us all know how she got on this week. Still sending love and wishes. <3 <3 <3 and gentle hugs and kisses xxx.

There seemed to be more grown up people at the fair yesterday and even some of the children from Shebbear Colledge which I hav'nt seen before there. No the lady had'nt taken any of my ideas. She actually makes some very nice bags and is a whizz at quilting which is her main passion. A lot of her stuff she had last year and in the shop and the only thing I can remember her having new was some cone Chritmas trees with a white sparkley pom pom on top. The trees were just covered in patterned material not even Christmassy. I don't think she sold any of those. I did'nt like to ask what she had taken. At one point I asked her how she was doing and she said she had covered the money for the table which is £5. She went round with her ipad and took pics and I asked her if she would send me them as I only managed to take one of my stall before the onslaught.

Sounds like the filming went ok Vera but what a long time to work with nothing to eat I am sure they will enjoy or have enjoyed their fish and chips.

Gosh did I laugh at the cat asleep in the church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your hubby was quick with his reply just like Ann's G.

I took 7 rings up the shop about 4.30pm and tonight I rang Erika to see if they wanted the special one this year and Andy told me yes please but they had forgotten to ask me for one. Well thats all done so I shall take it to them when I go to the shop tomorrow. Thats eight so far and I have three oasis soaking for some candle arrangments too.

Morning all,

We have susnhine this morning hip hip hooray! Do people still saay that? I don't know why that popped into my brain.

Not dressed yet so I better get myself into gear and do that in a min

I think last night was the first night in years I did'nt get up in the night for the loo.

Morning Mel and all

No sun here but at least it isn’t raining. Glad you had a decent night Mel. I went to bed about 11 pm but OH was making weird clicking noises in his sleep; not loud but constant. It was like trying to sleep with a tap constantly dripping. At 1 am I went in the spare room and read till 2 but then I slept till 8 this morning so I got a good 6 hours.

Jane, great to hear from you. Take it easy and rest up now.

We’re off to town now. I want some veg in the market and then we meet up with the gang of friends for coffee. See you all later

Just had a phone call from Frank to say he had a new hub fitted last night by Jonathon and he can't get on the web today and Jonathon has gone to Doncaster today so just to let you know they are both alright and he will post as soon as he can get on here.