General Chat

Good afternoon all

Did you get to Holsworthy Mel? Is your jarred tooth still sore? I hope it doesn’t stop you munching on all the Christmas goodies. Your cake looks very pretty. We don’t usually ice ours and this year we haven’t bothered to make one at all. It never gets eaten till January anyway. That was a nice gesture to give away the candy canes - you must have put a smile on lots of faces.

Your Tunis cakes look good as well Mandy. My mum never had them at Christmas but I’ve occasionally bought them in the past. Can you still get them in the shops? I was interested to see you still use a pressure cooker. I’ve still got my wedding present one in the back of the cupboard but haven’t used it for years. When I used to make Xmas puddings for all the family I always cooked them in the pressure cooker.

Ann, thank you for the photo of your group of ladies. Now I can put a face to your name which is great.

Your tree photos are good too Jane. Fitz’s is ENORMOUS. They both look pretty. I hope you have had a good journey to your holiday cottage. Now it’s time to just relax, have a bit of fun and let yourself be pampered.

I’m glad you both arrived safely Frank and AnnG. You had some nice birthday pressies Frank. Rhubarb and Custard sweets - there’s a blast from the past. It sounds as though you’ve got enough to last you till next birthday.

Now Gill, what’s all this about a sore throat and being sick? That won’t do. You can’t be poorly this week. I hope you are feeling better already. Seriously, you do seem to be quite susceptible to all these bugs and they must pull you down. Would it be worth asking your doctor whether a blood test might show if you’re lacking a vitamin or mineral that would boost your immune system a bit? Stay warm and take care.

Well, it’s been a hectic couple of days for us. Saturday morning was lovely so we walked into town and back, about 3 miles in all, which is amazing when you think that 6 months ago OH was flown back from Austria in a wheelchair. I think he’s doing better than me now :-)

On Saturday evening we went next door for drinks and nibbles with the rest of the neighbours in our little Close. I still had a few jobs to do and thought we would be about 2 hours max. Nearly 5 hours later....we came home. So I had to get up at the crack of dawn on Sunday to do the jobs before my visitors arrived.

Everything went right on Sunday. The roast and all the veg were cooked to perfection and the Victoria sandwich I made rose well and was really light. You can’t always say that about my cooking. We had roast pork, apple sauce and gravy, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, steamed carrots, leeks, cauliflower, broccoli and mange tout; followed by lemon cheesecake and fresh fruit salad with cream.

This morning I did a couple of loads of washing and hoovered round, then OH washed the floor for me while I popped to Sainsbury’s. I went about lunchtime, thinking it wouldn't be so busy then. Wrong !!! I had to queue to get in the car park and queue to get out and queue at the checkout. The annoying thing is I only wanted some milk and a very few other bits. I was tempted not to bother but once I was in the queue to get in the car park I couldn’t turn round to get out. When I got back I did a bit more present wrapping. I still have a few to do but I should have a bit more time tomorrow.

I had a bit of sad news over the weekend. When I was doing German at school I got a German pen friend and we hit it off immediately. We spent time with each other’s families and have seen each other occasionally since marrying and having children. I had wondered if something was wrong as her emails were getting briefer and less frequent. I hadn’t heard from her for some time. At the weekend her husband emailed to tell me that, as well as being physically frail now, she has dementia and has gone downhill rapidly. Her memory is all but gone and he has to do a great deal for her. I must admit I had a little weep.

On a happier note, in case I don’t get back on here for a few days, I wish you all a problem-free very, very happy Christmas <3

Afternoon All,

I think I got some of those embroidery patterns years ago free with Woman's Weekly Mel. They were printed on a tissue weren't they and were usually flowers. The only embroidery I have done was to do a candle on the corners of a red tablecloth years ago, but I never got any further than doing just the one!! lol. We've started doing some on felt in the craft class now though. Your cake looked brilliant and a nice change from the icing and Christmas tree scenes I used to do! :-D How is your tooth today.....any better?

Mandy I have replaced those same bits on my pressure cooker before, but mine also has a valve you can adjust where you can also let the steam out and it's that bit that has cracked through the plastic so it leaks too much steam. I think mine was bought in the early 70s so I can't complain. I'm going to look in the Curry's sale after Xmas and I have some vouchers for there too that I can use. I love those Viennese fingers too, especially when the ends are dipped in chocolate.

We collected the Turkey crown this morning and it is bigger than I was imagining so will be fine. OH was a real pain moaning about the traffic when we went for lunch today and saying I should have got going sooner etc. so he got a flea in his ear when we got there quickly and the place was nearly empty! ;-)

Sorry you are poorly again Gill and I hope it doesn't last over Christmas and spoil it for you. No I never got under my desk in the end as OH reminded me we were moving all the furniture to clean the dining area in the lounge today and unpacking the new chairs, so I didn't want to jeopardise that with a bad back or knees! It is where OH sits to do his work so I can never get to clean that end of the room properly and I was horrified at the 'fur coat' under the 2 small sideboards at the end! It is all hoovered, dusted and the floor washed now so that is a good job done. Then we had to move the heavy table off the rug so he had to clear all his stuff off there first. We had to get the stud things off the chair legs so I could fit the pads I had cut and there were nails underneath that had to be got out as well. It is all done now and the old chairs are in the conservatory ready to go to the tip. What a palaver cutting and flattening the big boxes the chairs came in. I took my eyes off OH for 2 minutes and only caught him slicing the joins in a cardboard box with one of the quality, nearly new knives out of the knife block!!! What are they like??? We have loads of older knives in the drawer too. :-S We'd had enough then so OH will unpack and assemble his computer chair tomorrow.

It sounds like you had a good journey AnnG . Do you know the area where they now live well or will there be new places to walk off your Christmas lunch? :-)

Vera that was an ungodly hour to be baking a cake! I would be sure to forget one of the ingredients at that time of the morning.

It sounds like the sweets were the heavy present Frank. They are going to last you quite a while aren't they. Hopefully you and Jane have arrived at your destinations now and are settled in.

Frank, I had a senior moment there. I was sure I had seen a post from you saying you had arrived but I think you were just saying you were travelling today.

I hope the journey wasn’t too fraught and that you do arrive safely.

O what sad news about your friend Vera. It was nice of her hubby to let you know though and to know she is being cared for.

It was busy out. I got the chickens food and then just up the way to Waitrose. Could'nt find what I wanted in there so it took a while. Got back to the car and put my three bags in the boot and then thought I had'nt got his ciggies so I went back in and had to queue again but not for long this time. The silly man behind the counter could'nt find his brand and picked up 2 x 100 and still looked for the extra three packs as he has 160 a week usually. Anyway I was so fed up with him sreching all the cupboards I said I would take the 200 it just means I don't need to buy him so many next week. Back to the car and back to Mole Valley as Waitrose did'nt have a small gammon joint, ........neither did Mole Valley!!

When I got home my lips were so sore and dried out I had to put some vasaline on them and my blimmin tooth was throbbing like anything. Oh made me a drink and I only had three bags to unload. So here I am.

When we sat down with our cuppa the phone rang and I said to oh "that will be Joy" it was so I still have to go to bideford tomorrow with her presents and collect mine. May pop into Maorrisons to see if they have a small gammon joint then I am all done and need to get back home to do the baking.

Hope Frank and Ros and Jane and family got to their locations ok without to much traffic and it would be nice to hear from them to let us know they arrived safely.

Hope AnnG is having a good time with her family.

Oh your post was there before I finished mine Vera and I didn't spot it. What a shame about your German penfriend but at least you know the reason her emails became less frequent. It is amazing how well your OH is doing now as you say. I would love to be able to walk that far again. He must be so pleased he has recovered so well as it must have been worrying at the time.

It has been busy today hasn't it and it makes you wonder if it will be even worse tomorrow. Mel I couldn't find a small gammon joint anywhere either and ended up with a medium one and cut it up to freeze.. OH likes the small slabs of Christmas cake as we don't eat much, but they were all sold as well, so he got a fruit cake instead.

Not sure if I like this new Scrooge on TV but will see what the second part is like tonight.

Evening all,

We seem to have been here there and every where today ,we called in to see Colin's sister and then on to son's and then this afternoon we went to see my sister and BIL
Cooked my Gammon but couldn't use the pressure cooker as the Gammon was to
big !! so it had to go in my big pan and then in the oven with a Honey and Mustard glaze.

Vera that's sad news about your pen friend but at least you know why you haven't heard from her .

Ann that's the sort of thing Colin would do use a best knife on a box ,what are they like
I had to smile at your "Fur Coat " dust :-D I will remember that next time ever I dust and it's a bit thick Lol

Tomorrow Jake is coming to help to do the veg ,I can't remember the last time he came for the day so it will be lovely to see him here for the day ,he will have his meal here and then go home when son and family come early evening before DIL goes in to work ,I think she can go a bit earlier as the surgery will be closing early .

Nice to see them all up here. One three year old who was here this morning is way over excited.

Annx we have spent a couple of holidays quite a few years ago in the general area here but don’t know it well. We won’t be walking the meal off though as we won’t eat until about 6.30pm. It takes ages for all the presents to be opened.

Today we drove across country to Keswick. Parked the car and had a walk round the town which was quite festive with its decorations. My favourite shop was Friars which sell all sorts of chocolates, tables and tables of them. One wall was covered in small compartments each holding different flavours of jelly beans. Daughter bought some sweet tree decorations. The shop was crowded so they were doing well. The wind was really cold and quite strong coming off the nearby lake. We had coffees and shared scones then collected the box of veg ordered from Booths.Grandson had arrived with a Christmas cake made two years ago by his 94 year old Grandma who died last January, but we needed marzipan. The shop had sold out so it will be a naked cake.

Gill sorry you are unwell again hope you feel better by Wednesday.

Vera that was a good walk that your OH (and you) did, he has done very well.

Mandy nice to have somebody to share veg prep with.

Mandy we don't hear much about Jake now. He must be a teenager by now so I supose he has his own friends to spend time with. How old is he now? I think we all need an up to date pic of them all please?

Struggled through Lasagne tonight with soft garlic bread and the strange thing is the tooth is better now than it has been all day. Think a little drop of whiskey to swill around it tonight may be a good thing.

I am going to have a go at the Scrooge program now as I hav'nt seen the first one yet.

Does anyone know when the Christmas Ghost story is on. I heard it advertised on the telly but don't knwo what its called or when it is on. I wonder if Sandra may know?????????

Hope Gill feels better tomorrow and for Christmas Day.I bet frank was shattered after the long journey and hope we hear from him tomorrow if he took his pc with him.

Love the fur coat of dust I get that soemtimes in the bedroom if I forget to do the top rail on the bed. It comes off dark grey and I think its from oh's fleeces he wears. Get it on the white cistern top too.

I meant to say that oh keeps asking if he can have a bit of Christmas cake and I reply NO not yet. Tonight he said to me at one minuet past 12 tomorrow he is going to cut himself a slice.

I don't know if I already said Mel, but my OH has been the same only about the gammon. He decided he would start it today, yet he has always had it Xmas Eve before! It's because I've already cooked it, but you should have seen his face when I said it was all in the freezer. Lol They can' wait can they? Will you be doing your sausage rolls tomorrow? They have a way of disappearing when you aren't looking.??

Yes it would be nice to see a pic of the children Mandy. They are growing up fast. It's great that young Jake will be helping do the veg. How is DIL liking her job at the surgery? I imagine it is a busy time just now.

AnnG it would be a bit late for stepping out after your meal as you say! It sounded nice at Keswick and the shop with all the chocolates must have been a sight to see.

I have managed to finish off a bracelet I started a while ago tonight so must take a pic to send with the lariat one tomorrow.

Morning All,

Lots to do lots to do as the white rabbits says.

Yes making the sausage rolls and mince pies today later this afternoon. Aunty Joys first nd a few bits in Morrisons and then home to bake. Thats my day planned out so I wonder how it will go.

ONLY ONE MORE SLEEP TO GO SANDRA!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

A grey day here quiet at the moment. Grandson’s fiancée has taken little on to see Frozen at the cinema, grandson is working (working from home yesterday and today) daughter is cooking gammon and sorting out red cabbage. Son in law is reading the news on his phone, my OH is fitting a cat flap, I am on here. At 1pm we are off to see Cats at the cinema.

At least hopefully the cinema will calm one excited three year old down, she is mega excited.

Morning Mel, morning all

Sandra said you beat her to it, she was going to say one more sleep Mel lol :-D :-D :-D We'll be starting our baking soon, Sandra has just woken up and the postman has just given me my parcel from Australia so that's been put aside for tomorrow with it's Koala bear wrapping paper and a Christmas card of Santa on a surfing board. I still can't get my head around the fact it's summer over there, so I have a sunny Christmas card on show now. Sandra said it look strange.....bless her.

Sandra's just looked in the paper and thinks she's found the programme you were asking her about Mel, it's called "Martin's Close" on BBC4 tonight at 10pm. It's about Ghost stories. Is this the one????? It might be worth looking on the TV as we've noticed the paper isn't always right, a few things have been changed since the paper was printed.

I see you have someone who eats the sausage rolls as you're baking them to Ann. It's the same here. OH's just said it's the naughty elf.......who's he kidding lol :-D :-D :-D I smiled at your comment on the 'fur coat' ;-) ;-) ;-). I have that occasionally to.
I've got a temperature and earache which is what I think is causing my throat to hurt, but I'm dosing myself up and carrying on, Christmas Day isn't going to wait for me to feel better. OH and Sandra are going to help with the baking today so it's not going to be as busy for me this year, which is good as I think the heat from the oven might not be nice if I'm in the kitchen all day. This way I can leave the room from time to time to cool down. I had an early night last night and slept well so thankfully I'm not as bad today. Your OH using the good knife is the type of thing my OH would do, I hope it wasn't ruined.

Sorry to hear about your German penfriend Vera, at least you know the reason for the emails not being very often now.

Hope the journey was good for Frank and Jane yesterday and they all arrived safely.

The sweet shop sounds lovely AnnG. Sandra said she'd love to go to a shop with tables and tables of sweets......bless her. I think Sandra might have to stop opening presents to eat her Christmas dinner then start again later in the day, She has so many we wouldn't be eating until midnight otherwise ;-) ;-) Everyone sounds busy, good idea to go to the cinema I'm sure it'll calm the excited people down.

That's nice of Jake to help you with the veg prep Mandy, it'll save you doing it all by yourself. It's nice when you have some help isn't it?

We gave up on the Christmas Carol programme, we watched the first one and then started with the second one, but it was very slow so we all watched Paddington instead that I recorded ready for Paddington 2 when it comes on. Sandra and I had seen Paddington a while back but OH didn't so Sandra wanted him to watch it so he knew what was going on before we watch the next one.

Right I'd better make a start on the baking. Sandra has got everything out ready so I'm going to talk her through baking her very first cake, then I'll get on with the rest of the baking with some help off OH and Sandra. I have a long list of things to get through, including sausage rolls and little quiches, plus some little pizza's Sandra wants me to do.

Morning all from Gloucestershire :-D The journey yesterday was uneventful until we were about 10 miles from the cottage when we came across a flooded road and so had to find a different route.The cottage is so lovely.It is actually a converted Chapel. Real Xmas tree and some pretty decs :-D.
I will send some pics .

At 1.30 we are meeting up with Janice,Larry and all their family including little William who is now 6 !!!!. His hair is even bigger than ever :-0. Later this afternoon H&G are going with Gareths parents to family friends on the farm for dinner. James is cooking for us.It is just the 5 of us for Christmas day here and on Boxing Day Janice Larry ,Liz and Gerald(Gareths parents) will come to us.Possibly Janice's youngest son and wife too. At least we have plenty of food!!!!!!!!. So much in fact we had to put some in sealed plastic boxes and put outside as there was no more space in the fridge.

Gareth has gone off with his camera to take some pics around the village.It is quite bright now after some very heavy rain first thing.

Gill I am sorry that you have a temp and sore throat still.I would do just what you have to do today and no more.You need to be on top form tomorrow :-D

What is it about sausage rolls that are so irisistable when they are just cooked. I think it is the smell.Cold ones aren't as nice as hot.

James is busy making individual Cheese and Mushroom Souffles for tomorrows starters :-D

I may be back later . But if not I wish everyone of my friends a Very Happy Christmas .
Enjoy tomorrow whoever you are with <3

I hope Frank arrived ok yesterday.Maybe he will put in an appearance later.

Afternoon All,

Phew everything is ready now thank goodness. Turkey with it's bacon wrap is in the tin, pigs in blankets are in their tin, veg all done. We stopped for a brunch of bacon, eggs, baked beans and some left over potato browned in the bacon fat and then finished the cleaning between us, fetching the settees out to clean underneath.....more fur! lol. No energy left to go under my desk so that can wait a few days now. I still need to write OH's cards but will do that later.

The little one is just the age to be mega excited isn't she AnnG! I remember my little brother shaking with excitement on Christmas morning at that age. I held his hand to help him downstairs and he did his one step at a time so fast to get to see what Santa had left under the tree!! Because he was too young to read he kept trotting to me with presents for me to look and see if they were for him. It seems your hubby is doing a good job fitting a cat flap while he is there.....kitty will like that!

The cottage sounds nice Jane and it sounds like you have stocked up with plenty of food. I hope you have enough chairs for Boxing Day!

Did Frank managed to squeeze his laptop in the car I wonder as it would be nice to to hear from him. :-)

It's going to smell lovely in your kitchen this afternoon Mel, sausage rolls and mince pies....mmmm!!! It's good your tooth seems to be settling.

I see Gill is baking too and how nice that Sandra will be baking her first cake. She will enjoy it all the more having baked it herself. :-) I hope your earache and temperature don't last Gill and are better for tomorrow.

Time for a COT now. :-)

Back unpacked and seen Jane cottage she is staying at. Joy kept me there for an hour nattering. She is a real chatterbox but I suppose she's like that because she lives on her own. Mind you she always did chat a lot even before she was widowed. I said to her shall we go now so you can get your prescription? By this time it was palting down with heavy rain and wind and she said I don't think I will bother now. Thats the only resson I went today so I could take her down the hill to the town for her script. It costs her about £6 to get a taxi as she dos'nt drive and she is 85.

Cam e out of hers and had a queue of traffic to the bridge to right over the other side and all along the quay to Morrisons. Not too bad in there busy wise and I got everything I wanted and anything I have forgotten we will do without.

I am now going to start baking.......................

Sorry your throat is still sore Gill and Sandra will be so pleased she has cooked her first cake. Tell her I think thas the right ghost story I was thinking about and thank her very much for letting me know. xxx <3 <3 <3

I'm away now but will look in later.

Afternoon all,

Just having five minutes before we start to get tea sorted ,we're having a chicken curry tonight .
Jake has been a good help, he's done the carrots ,sprouts and potatoes ready for tomorrow, we've also made a trifle and the Base for Banoffee pie .

Jane it looks a lovely place we're your staying thanks for all the photo's, have a lovely time with all the family sounds as if it will quite a house full .

Just looked over and Jake's fast asleep LOL

We had rain this morning then the sun came out but it's really chilly out now .

We have been to see Cats at the local cinema. Really enjoyed it, despite the bad press it has had we thought it was excellent. We once saw the stage show and didn’t understand the story. It was much easier to follow in the film and the dancing both ballet and tap was really good. Dame Judy Dench was good too.

Now I have just peeled just over two and a half KG of potatoes.

Iv'e made 21 sausage rolls, 18 mince pies and two small quiches and now I am having a rest. We have eaten four sausage rolls and oh has had a mince pie.

SIL rang earlier and we had a talk for a while and oh was asleep. She rang to thank us for her birthday card and present.