General Chat

Sorry to hear that Larry's mum died Jane and they are going to have a lot to do so not such a good new year for them. 97 was a very good age. Send them my love when you speak to them please.

So much for all the baking I was going to do as I hav'nt touched it.

I never weigh anything out with dumplings its just two heaped tablespoons of self raising and one of veg suet and a pinch of salt and mix with water. Sometimes I don't even put much suet in just the flour and water ans salt.

I just can't get into anything today. I did have a little fiddle with my new paints on a dragons eye but apart from doing the chickens and lunch and washing up I hav'nt done anything else. I am still waiting for oh to take the tree to bits and put it back in the loft.

Sorry your not feeling well today Frank lets hope you get a better nights sleep and feel more up to scratch tomorrow. <3

I really must go and wash my glasses so I can see through them properly for Call the Midwife tonight. Looking forward to that and Father Brown tomorrow.

i’m sorry to hear about Larry’s mother, Jane, and also about your sister Frank. I hope she can be kept comfortable and pain free. I hope that you are both feeling more the ticket tomorrow.

That was good of Chris and James to get the tree down and all the decs put away. It won’t matter if they are in the wrong boxes; you won’t want them for another 11 months. While OH was having his usual Sunday lunchtime pint with our friend I dismantled our tree and got all the baubles and lights packed away. After we had eaten OH got the tree out of the lounge and took it straight down to the council Xmas tree recycling point which is only a couple of minutes from us, so we are back to normal now.

I’m pleased that you are feeling better already Gill. It’s surprising the difference a few little tweaks to our lifestyles can make. As you are prone to get migraines they are unlikely to disappear altogether but, with luck, they’ll be fewer and farther apart. AnninG is right about flickering screens, they can affect you more than you realise. I don’t watch a lot of telly anyway but I keep away from screens if I even have a hint of a headache.

I have been watching TV this afternoon as I wanted to see the Christmas edition of Call The Midwife which I recorded. I see a new series starts tonight so I shall be watching that, tissues at the ready ;-)

I was amazed to learn that you can buy ready made dumplings. They are so quick and easy to make that I wouldn’t think there would be a market for them but clearly there is. Still, as AnninG said, each to their own. It would be a boring old world if we were all the same.

Weather wise it’s been a nothing sort of day - a bit grey, a bit of drizzle, a slight breeze. The forecast for tomorrow is much the same so boring again.

Think I’ll go and make a CoT to cheer myself up.

Evening All,

Sorry you are so low Frank. It sounds like you have picked up a bug ( I put BUS here first so that made me chuckle the thought of you picking up a BUS!!) I hope you soon feel a bit better, but resting will help.

Gill, you seem to be a bit better now so that is good. Careful not to overdo things now as you are like a whirlwind compared to me and must wear yourself out which won't help. Thank Sandra for mentioning 'Vera' will soon be on as I enjoy it. <3 She's doing a good job making sure we don't miss things she knows we like! :-D ;-)

We had lunch out today and it was quieter thank goodness, then OH cleared the soil that had collapsed onto the path and I cleaned the microwave, the warming drawer and glass oven door. I got carried away then and cleaned the sink and wiped the tops down and then changed the bed. :-0

Now I'm going to see if a cardboard box I got yesterday will be useful to keep something tidy. :-D

Looking forward to Call the Midwife.

Oops I didn't send my post for ages and there's been more chat!

Sorry to hear about your sister Frank. MIL only lasted 8 weeks after the same diagnosis, but it was a blessing as like your sister, she wasn't at all well.

Just be careful on the stairs if you get a bit dizzy Jane and sit down. We don't want you going A over T. That was nice to come downstairs to find the Aggie and Kim fairies had cleared everything away. :-D I shudder to think how our baubles would end up if OH packed things away, so they will have to be extra careful how they get them out of the loft next year.

Sorry to hear Larry's mum has died, but as the others have said she did well to reach 97. Once they have sorted everything it will lift a lot of worry and stress from them and at least they haven't got a house to clear and sell. OH donated most things to the home when FIL died as they were always short of clothing.

Morning all

Another still sort of day so far today, but they say we're in for heavy rain and high winds, I don't mind the rain but hate it when it's to windy. I noticed a piece of our screening has broken and fell down near the bottom of the garden so that needs fixing and putting back up, for now we've lent some wood on it to stop it falling any further. If the weather stays like this I might make a start on fixing it this morning, but it's not very warm out there so it might not be done. I'll see how I feel after another cup of tea.

I hope Frank and Jane are feeling a little better today and managed a good nights sleep. I've woken without a headache again.........I could get used to this. Less screen time seems to be doing the trick and eating more regularly is definitely helping.

I've noticed there are a few people around here who still have their Christmas lights up, next door has them in his back garden and the people over the back have some around their bedroom window. I wonder if they'll take them down today. It still looks quite bare in our living room but I'm sure we'll get used to it again. At least it's clean now which is great and I've noticed OH isn't coughing as much so the hidden dust must of been getting on his chest, now it's all gone he seems much better.

Yes, Sandra knows most of what you all like to watch so lets me know so I can tell you. I'll let her know you said thank you. I don't watch Vera, but Sandra does and remembered you all liked it. I woke up this morning and she had put a list of things I like to watch on my laptop, with dates and times, how kind was that. We asked her if she could check her calendar for Mother's Day and Easter today, but she must of checked after we'd gone to bed as those dates were also on the list. She's very organised isn't she.......bless her.

Right I'll go and have another cuppa now, then make a start on fixing the screening. I don't particularly like that job, so the quicker it's done the quicker it's out of the way. Let's hope the weather stays calm while I'm doing it.

Morning Gill and all,

Windy here today and we have bursts of sun and then the clouds come over and the sky out the front to the north is grey grey grey.

I was going to clean the chickens out this morning but with the wind it makes it harder to do blowing the shavings about and in my face so it may be left and I may just put some fresh shavings in there for a day or two till the wind stops.

I also have the baking to do today and if I don't do sausage rolls we can have sausages and bubble and squeak for dinner tonight so nice and easy.

Oh has just put the tree in a box and its bag ready to go up the loft for another year so I can now clean that corner up by my desk and put my filing cabinet back there from its holiday in the lounge.

Morning all

Started grey this morning but it’s lovely and sunny now, though there’s a cold breeze.

I hope you are all well this morning. I won’t be on here for long as I didn’t listen to my own advice to Gill and had a few chocolates last night. I went to sleep about 11.30 but woke at 1am in excruciating pain. I couldn’t even bear the pillow touching me so had to sit up. I fell asleep again around 6 am and slept till 9. Now it just feels as though my head’s in a vice and, believe you me, that is an improvement over last night. I am angry with myself as I should know better.

Have a good day everyone. I’ll be back tomorrow.

Its been chucking it down here. So much for a sunny start to the day.

Hoovered and got the tele base out of the kitchen and my filing cabinet back next to my desk and now I am going to do soup as oh asked for it and watch doctors.

Good afternoon all, we have just been to Dobbies to check out their sale stuff, got a few useful bits so worth the trip. OH is now hammering at something in the garden, not sure what.
Sorry you had a rotten day yesterday Frank, hope today is a better one for you. At least your decs are put away now. And your stick came in handy.
Jane we don't have dumplings often but it is handy to have some in. I have made my own loads of times but Aunt Bessies seem to cook better in the slow cooker for some reason, they don't take so long to cook in there. so I shall continue to be lazy and use them :-D
Is the dizziness caused by the chemo or because you are or have been not eating much so your blood sugar is low?
Poor Larry, it is always hard to lose a parent, but what a good age she lived to, I expect there is going to be a lot of sorting out for him now.
And good that your decs have been put away. I am sure they knew that you would be trying to do it if you were up and thought it better that you rest. I am sure you will find them easily next year.Annx you were busy yesterday and have a nice clean microwave (must do mine) and oven door (ditto!)

Gill did you get your screening back up? I bet you did you seemed determined!

Oh dear Vera but chocolates are so hard to resist. I have had to shut mine away in a drawer so I don't take them on impulse, trying hard to reduce my blood sugar and to lose the 2 pounds put on over Christmas.

Poor you Vera I hope you feel better soon and stay off the chocolates!

Good afternoon all

What a bitterly cold wind out there today. It's almost dark here, Ros had to be at the hospital for 11.00 am. So I offered to go with her, as Carolyn is still away. She still has a water infection, the nurse is contacting the doctors to issue more anti-biotics. Later this month she has to go in hospital for half a day to have a camera put in her bladder, hoping to find what is causing all these infections.

As for me, I ate very little last night. I have saved the meal, and will try to eat it tonight. This morning I did have cereal, and Ros is warming up some rolls so I will eat those with cheese and pickle, and a coffee.

Still very shaky end not good on my legs,so I have done nothing but sit, since we came home.

I hope you are all well, and keeping warm. xxxx

I hope Ros gets some help with these infections as they have been going on for months and months now if not years. They must be missing something that should have been seen to a long while ago. It must be awful for poor Ros so please give her my love and wishes for a speedy recovery. <3 <3

Its good you have eaten something Frank you have to keep your stregth up you know.

Thinking of our Jane too and hope she is feeling less dizzy today. <3 <3

Had our lunch and I am saving Father Brown for this evening.

Ah childhood memories. An everlasting one for me was riding around Chester zoo on an elephant! Sadly health and safety came into effect and so it only happened for a few years.
Does anyone else remember this?
Kind regards to all and a very happy and healthy year in 2020.
Harpist.

Oh Vera, I know exactly how you feel, it's so easy to pick at the chocolate left over from Christmas and not realise how much you're eaten, then regret it later. I hope you start feeling better soon. I fancied something sweet after my lunch (yes lunch, I don't say that very often lol) so had some Jelly Babies, I know it's not chocolate but so far no headache, so I guess that'll be my sugar fix until they've all gone. I find if I sit outside and get some fresh air that normally helps with my migraines and a small drink of cool water helps to, not to much water in one go though as that can make you sick. I really really hope you feel better very soon. Sending a gentle hug <3 <3 <3

I see you were at the sales at Dobbies AnnG, I had to smile when you said your OH was hammering at something, it reminded me of "The Repair Shop" over Christmas where one of the men said they were making MAN GLITTER (sawdust) lol :-D :-D Every time I hear one of our neighbours knocking and banging, that saying pops into my head. Do you know what he's banging at yet?
Yes, the screening is all fixed and back in place now. OH was out when I made a start, but helped me finish it when he came home. We finished just in time as the rain started a few minutes later. We have sun at the moment but the wind is picking up and it's still not very warm out there, so I'm glad the job is out of the way and hopefully won't fall down again.

Sorry to hear about Ros Frank, I hope she can get some help and the water infections stop, she's had them for so long it must be getting her down by now. I think sitting down is good for you if you're still feeling shaky, the last thing you need is to have another fall. Rest up and have a good read until you feel a little better.

I can imagine you getting covered in shavings if you tried to sort your chickens out in the wind Mel, good idea to just add a bit of fresh stuff for now, it won't do them any harm and will be a bit quicker for you so you're not out in the cold for to long.
I'm not doing any baking today as I've done a pile of washing I want to get dried and sorted, plus spent a few hours in the garden this morning, so that's me done for today. My foot is still a bit sore and I irritated it climbing on the ladders earlier, so I want to rest it before it gets any worse.

Sorry for being wary Harpist but have you ever gone by any other name I see you have been a member since 2004 but I don't recognise your board name. Forgive me if I should.

Gill he was in the conservatory sorting out some of the positions of electric sockets. We have lights out there all the time and he wanted the sockets in a more accessible place.

Afternoon All,

Cold and windy here earlier, then rain but all is calm and dry again now.

Oh it's horrid when you feel like that and know it's self inflicted isn't it Vera. More than once I've said never again, then forget. I hope you are feeling better by now.

I hope they can sort out what's causing Ros's bladder infections Frank. She must feel quite poorly with them. I hope you have a bit of appetite for your meal tonight as you need to keep your strength up.

We went to the retail park just down the road this morning to look at glasses for OH at Boots. He found some he liked straightaway and chose some sunglasses as well......... so MORE EXPENSE as Frank would say! I reminded OH his hearing test was due so that is booked for next week when we go back for his glasses. Then we looked in Primark and M&S but 2 tops I got will have to go back. Then we called at the garden centre on the way home and had jacket potatoes and I was glad of a rest.

The neighbour in the corner came over when we got home for OH to sign some papers for a passport which we can do having been civil servants and he was telling us there had been more bother between the same man as before in the new bungalow and our next door neighbour over accusations of allegedly tying his bins to the security gates! The upshot is our neighbour and the people in the 3 new properties have had warning letters from the police that they could be arrested if there is any more trouble over the bins. The neighbour we were talking to said the police had been to check his security camera footage which is how he knew about it. He also said that a vehicle parked at the other end of the close where we drive in had had it's tyres slashed. We'd noticed a vehicle there with flat tyres the other day. Our quiet close is turning into the Wild West! :-0

Oh dear Ann, I'd feel very uneasy living in your close now, the last thing you want is to get caught up in other people's disputes. I hope it's all sorted soon so you can relax again. Didn't you say you were thinking of moving if you could find the right place to move to? We are thinking of moving this year, but like you haven't found anything we like yet. We're not choosing an area as we'd rather choose the right property, obviously we'll check the area out if we find something we like and hopefully the area will be a good one. There's no rush, but we have decided we'd like to move sooner rather than later and settle in our forever property. We feel very uncomfortable living next door to our new neighbours with their camera's and we think he stands on the other side of the fence listening in on our conversations when we're outside, couple this with a comment he made to OH a few months ago asking if there was any gossip about the neighbours (he'd been away for a month) we feel like we're being spied on all the time and Mr Grumpy is hardly home nowadays so we think his illness's are quite serious with him having to spend so much time living with his daughter, if the worse was to happen to him his place may go on the market soon and most people tend to do lots of work on new properties after they've moved in, which may put potential buyers off buying ours if we have it on the market at the same time. The last thing we need is people viewing ours, while there's knocking and banging going on next door.

So your OH wasn't making MAN GLITTER AnnG lol :-D :-D :-D Good idea to move the sockets so they're easier to get to.

Harpist Not Chester Zoo but London Zoo I had a ride on an elephant with a chair on its back that took a couple of people both sides and then a ride on a camel.

Are you a Harpist please? Any more memories??

I am sitting here having a nice COC........

Evening all,

It's been quite a bright sunny day here but quite chilly with the wind ,we got the outside christmas tree chopped up today ready to go to the tip on Wednesday .

Sorry to hear about Larry's mum Jane ,she go to a great age didn't she .
That was good that James and Chris got all the decs put away for you it's one thing less to have to do when your feeling so dizzy .

Sorry to hear about your sister Frank and now poor Ros with this water infection again .
Hope your feeling a little better and have managed a little some thing to eat tonight .

Oh no Vera you've given in to the dreaded temptation of the christmas chocolate ,i hope your head is better now ,we'll have to remind you next year to not have the chocolate :-(

All happening in your close then Ann :-0 fancy tying the bins to the gates :-D
I'm going to Norwich with DIL on Friday and we're going to have a look in our new Primark ,this one has three floors !!!!
DIL gets the children lots of bits in there ,the girls like all the bags they have ,i got Katie a nice Harry Potter back pack in there for christmas and she used it today for school .
It's Lewis's birthday next week he will be five so i hope i can get some clothes for him ,i got one of those magic pads for his birthday like Gill got Sandra for christmas
I also want to see if i can get myself a new pair of shoes .