General Chat

O so lovely to hear from you William. Sending Christmas love to you both and I hope you have a lovely Christmas together and a happyier new year. <3 <3 <3

I meant to say the sun came out this afternoon for a while and then later we had a rainbow. Its not so cold during the day but it gets very chilly at night.

Evening all,

Lovely to see you popping in William ,i hope you both have a lovely Christmas and a very happy new year <3

It's been a very wet day here ,Colin's brother came this morning for coffee and we exchange cards and he takes some to pass on to other members of the family for us , so that was the morning gone.
After lunch we went to Morrisons to get some last minute bits and when we came home i made a couple of Madeira cakes,one for us ad one for son ,i'll put chocolate on the top with Marzipan fruits so it's like a Tunis Cake .

Mel the cyclamen was a nice pressie ,i can't have them in the house as they like the cool don't they and the house gets so warm now we have the wood burner so they don't like it .

Frank it sounds as if the concert went well for the ladies ,did they raise lots of money ?
We used Blue tack and found it took the paint off so we use Command Strips now they are brilliant ,i think Jane put me onto them a couple of years ago .

Gill i hope the sore throat doesn't come to any thing it does sound like it might be the painting that's caused it ,trouble is this time of year you can't have windows open to let fresh air in and get rid of the fumes .

Mandy I don't have heating in the little loo so its fine in there and it faces north. the big bathroom rad dos'nt work bu t we do put an electric fan heater on when we shower. but I think it should be ok in there. I have to keep turning them around or the leaves go towards the light but thats not a problem. They like a temp of about 55 degrees.

Can we have a pic of the Tunis Cake please? Mum and I always made marzipan fruits at Christmas from when I was a child. I made some last year but they did'nt get eaten for some reason and the birds had them in the end.

Morning All

The sun is shining !!!!!!!!! What a difference from yesterday.

Merry Christmas William .I hope you and Carmel have a lovely Xmas. <3

I cant remember who is going away other than Frank. Is it Ann or Vera? Honestly my brain is just like a sieve at the moment. But I just wanted to say that I hope you have a wonderful Xmas with the family and a safe journey. I know it is tomorrow that Frank goes and then us on Monday.

I had better crack on and get in the shower now.My hair really needs a wash.

Morning Jane and all,

Sun is shining here too this morning and like you say it does make a change. It makes you feel like you want to do something instead of just sitting around in the gloom.

Are we all getting excited? Shortest day today so the evenings should be gettting lr from now on and perhaps the chickens will start to lay.

Good morning all, sun is shining here too. Yes we go tomorrow Jane.
Jane have a lovely family break.

Not a lot to do today except pack!!!!

Safe journeys for all who are travelling away over Christmas and hope you all have a lovely time with your families.

Suns still out here. :-D :-D

DAM and BLAST. I have just lost a long post. So will come back later to try to fill you all in what's been happening. NOTHING BAD !!!!

Afternoon All,

After torrential rain all yesterday it has stopped at last today. The fields here are flooded worse than I've ever seen in over 58 years and coming home after lunch at the Manor yesterday there were little rivers running across the lanes. Some of the floods were deep enough for OH to decide to come home another way on higher ground.

Ho Ho Ho to Mr Roe too!! :-D You do well to look after Carmel so well Will and cope with all you do. I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and hopefully a better NEW YEAR 2020.

I hope you are all packed now and ready to go tomorrow AnnG. I hope you have a good journey, also Jane and Frank and that you all have a nice break with your families. :-D

Not another present lost Mel. You are catching up with me with lost things as I now have 2 things that I've hidden and can't find. That was handy that there was 1 wreath left for Em and some mistletoe to have in exchange for a donation. I had to smile at the mound of FREE carrots at the Co-op this morning for children to take one for Rudolph! You are having some very strange dreams lately. I've slept badly the last 2 nights, but it may be because I'm a bit stressed at having the palaver of trying to get an appointment at the doctors on Monday. It will mean getting to the surgery for when they open to make an appointment, then going back later for it.

We are like you now Frank as we have had a card with a lovely handwritten message.........but no names!!. I have another parcel to collect in the morning and can't remember what I sent for as there have been a few things over the last few weeks?? :-S

As we were setting off at lunchtime yesterday the man next door trotted across to tell us not to both if we were thinking of going to Sainsbury's down the road. Apparently he had ridden round their massive car park 3 times trying to find a space and had given up! Goodness knows what the queues were like inside.

Yesterday the lady whose house we usually do beading at gave us another crochet lesson! Two of us have done it before years ago but are rusty and I never managed to hold the hook properly and 2 have never done it before. The lady showing us was a teacher in a previous life so is very patient. I managed to swerve the mince pies and choccie biccies, but did have a cheesecake when we went for lunch so it's meagre rations today. :-S

I have finished my lariat necklace now so may take a pic to send if the light is good enough.

Afternoon all

The day started off lovely and sunny so we tackled the hedge down the side of the garden. OH was chatting with Mr Grumpy's son-in-law yesterday and was told our neighbour is going to stay with his daughter for a while due to his ill health, which is why we did the hedge today while he's not there to complain. So that's one side of the garden looking much better now, the hedge on the the other side isn't to bad and is behind the big long border, so we decided to leave that one until the spring as it's doesn't really need doing right now.

How lovely to hear from you Will, I hope you and Carmel have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

Safe journey to everyone going away, hope you all have a lovely time with your families. Nice to see you on here Jane, hope you are feeling a little better today.

Sandra received a Christmas card off the BIRDS today thanking her for putting food on the bird table for them and there were some lovely kisses made from their feet. She loved it as it had snow falling down and she said she's going to keep it forever.......bless her. She's asked me to ask everyone on here if one of you sent it to her as she's like to say thank you <3 <3 <3 <3

My sore throat seems to have gone now Mandy, so it must of been the mould spray and paint fumes that caused it, I thought that might be the case. I'm not very good around things like that. Your cakes sound nice, did you take a picture? I'd love to see one if you did.

Your plants sound nice, dotted around your place Mel, we have a few in our bungalow, including a 5 foot palm tree type plant which at the moment has been put in our bedroom as we have the Christmas tree where it normally goes.

Pleased to see the concert went off well Frank, standing room only like last year, so everyone must know how good it is if it was standing room only again this year.

I've had a message back from a tree match with some information I couldn't find for OH's tree, so I'm going to add that once I've done another load of washing. OH has nipped to the shop for me to buy the last of the bits of food we need for Christmas, then we'll be ready for the big day. I've asked him to see if he can get hold of two big boxes for Sandra's presents. When she's opened them I don't think she's going to have enough space in her room for them all until she's sorted out some of her cupboards and draws. I'm certainly prepared for every eventuality aren't I? lol ;-) ;-)

All I need to do now is my usual baking on Christmas Eve, which Sandra will help me with, then cook the Christmas dinner on the big day. There's a lot of work involved for Christmas Day isn't there? It's all worth it though, just to see the look on Sandra's face, she's still doing the countdown and is getting more excited by the day.......bless her <3

Now I wonder who could have sent the card like a snow globe to Sandra?

Sun only lasted till about 12 noon and then it came over dark and dreary again . I went up the shop for the paper and popped into Em's with some window stickers and four candy canes for them all. I had bought the big box of candy canes to make something for the stall but never got aruond to doing them so off I set to the shop. Whilst in there the Saturday girl who told me months ago she had a Mrs Tiggy Winkle 50p I had been looking out for had acrually remembered to bring it in today so she had the first cane plus the money for the coin. Looked around the shop for the bits I wanted and a little girl came in with her dad so she got the second one. O as I parked outside the shop a young man came out with his shopping and smiled at me so he got one too.

I left two in the shop for Anne and Keith and had two left by the time I was on my way home. Ah ha a dog walker, She got the next one and further down the road there was another old lady walking her dog and she had the last one so the long and the short of it is I shan'nt find any sticky melting candy canes later next year. Everybody wished me a Merry Chirstmas and it made me feel really good to see peoples faces.

O and now its raining. :-( :-( :-(

That was a lovely idea to give the candy canes away Mel. Someone in our village has been leaving little presents around the village for anyone who finds them. I think it is lovely to spread a little kindness around. :-) Was it you who sent the snow globe card to Sandra? I must admit I wish I'd thought of it!! lol.

Did you check the postmark on the envelope to see where the card was posted Gill, as that might have been a clue? I'm not surprised Sandra is keeping it. That's good your sore throat is better in time for Christmas and you are right about the 'big day being a lot of work. If I start to say it is to OH he will say he will do it, but he hasn't a clue what's involved or how to cook anything and never remembers when you tell him. He does do all the washing up that can't go in the dishwasher and does the veg so that helps. I asked him to get a Dickinson and Morrison pork pie today while he fetched some milk. He came home with 2 small ones as that was all they had which would have been ok, but guess the expiry date......today!! :-S I've put them in the freezer. I could do with another box to put the extra Christmas food in. I keep it in the conservatory out of the way and temptation till nearer the time.

I wonder what Frank was telling us when he lost his post?

Oh Frank another post lost. do you by any chance press the review instead of the submit button> I have done that, I have also done the same as you do on facebook to add a post (press return) and assumed it to be submitted. Look forward to what you were telling us anyway.

Ann and did you mange to work out the crochet. I have nver progressed further than a chain, just can't seem to get it then I lose patience and give up.
Sounds like the flooding is really bad your way.
The car boot is absolutely full of presents. My case and OH's suit carrier is going to have to go inside on the back seat (strapped on with the safety belts)
the pork pies with todays date is the sort of thing my OH would do, especially if they were reduced!! He loves the reduced shelf.

Mel, what a lovely thought, no two lovely thoughts. One to send Sandra the card as I suspect you did and two to give out the candy canes. did people look surprised? Were they people you knew?

Gill lovely for Sandra to have a surprise card like that. Adds to the magic for her, like Annx I wish I had thought of it too.

No I only knew the two people in the shop and the girl behind the counter. Never seen the little girl before or her dad and did'nt know the two lady dog walkers or the young men. He came back to the car when I went out and asked me if he had seen me in Sainsburys yesterday to which I said no. Could'nt tell you the last time I went in a Sainsburys. They all wished me a Merry Christmas which made my day anyway.

I wonder who sent that card to Sandra?????? It must have been the birds after all.....

Just shows you they like the food she puts out and wanted to reward her back with a little thing that will keep her occupied for a while.

I have just sorted out what clothes I shall be taking away.Chris and I will be sharing a suitcase(first time ever). I dont think there will be room for 2 cases what with everything else. James is taking my car too and that will be full. I now need to get the cat basket out and hide it so Thomas doesnt get a whiff of it and decide to disappear.He has to be at the cattery tomorrow for 10am.
Tablets need to be sorted and packed. I just have 3 days left of the chemo tablets and then have 7 days free before the next lot which I will be given when I go for Chemo on the 31st.

Dates on food are so short aren't they and it is all the things we want to buy for Xmas. I am sure they do it on purpose just to get us back to the shops again .I noticed to today that many had today or tomorrows date on.It was very quiet out today but apparently yesterday was crazy.I spoke to someone who said it took her an hour yesterday just to get from one side of town to the other.

Hannah and Gareth are now down at Gareths parents.I think they will be glad to be out of London now and in the country :-D

Sandra will be itching to open all her presents Gill :-D :-D Did she manage ot get a feel of them ?I remember doing just that and getting caught out. Some presents I have bought I have put in boxes to disguise what they are.(like a shirt)

I wonder if that Naughty Elf has been at your house Mel hiding your missing presents.Or maybe as you said you really do have Borrowers :-D :-D

Just watching Swallows and Amazons now.

Evening all,

Nice to see you posting Jane ,i hope you have a lovely break away with the family ,just sit back and be waited on :-D
Your christmas tree looks lovely and Fitz's tree gets bigger every year :-D
I think your right about the dates on things at christmas ,it's quite funny though how everyone reaches to the back of the shelf to see if they have a good date on them and they are all the same date .
Will Gareth's parents be with you at the cottage over christmas ?

I think you must have kept that naughty Elf Mel and it's hiding all your things :-D
The naughty Elf's at sons ( they now have three ) has been up to all sorts :-D today they had tied them selves to the christmas tree ,yesterday they has made snow flakes and thrown them about and they have been at the breakfast cereal filling dishes up .

How lovely Sandra getting a card from the birds ;-) i wish i had thought of it too .
Mel i bet it gave you a good feeling giving the Candy Canes away and i bet the people who got them felt it too ,it was a lovely thing to do ,your act of kindness for the day .

Oh Ann OH tried didn't he LOL ,at least he didn't come home empty handed :-D i very often have to say to Colin check the date as he will just pick some thing off the shelf with out checking and bung it in the trolley .

Oh that naughty elf Mandy! I bet the children are up early to check on what he's done each day! :-) Do you store a lot of the children's presents before Christmas? I was just thinking that there would be a lot to hide! Yes, OH did try as you say and he did look pleased with himself that he had found the pies! I've drummed it into him about checking milk dates and with any ready meals, but with pork pies he obviously needs more work!! :-D

I don't think I am very sure of what your regime is Jane as I didn't know you had tablets at home as well as at the hospital. Do you have to take vitamins as well or anything else? Just keep well away from any sneezes or coughs while you are away won't you and relax and let the others do the work like the others say.

I have sent a pic of our little group from yesterday and written far too much....sorry!

Don’t apologise Ann I enjoyed your essay :-D nice to hear about your friends.

We have just watched Ball and Boe did anyone else see it. I recorded it last night. Dame Shirley Bassey was on, what a wonderful voice she still has

MESSAGE FROM SANDRA

Thank you Mel for the lovely snow globe Christmas card, I've never seen a card like it before. It's very pretty and I'm going to keep it forever. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

As you can see Mel, she loves it and thinks it's great getting a card off the birds.

Going to watch Michael McIntyre now, I'll catch up with the rest of the posts tomorrow.