General Chat

The sole isn't flapping around AnnG, it's just unstuck on one side towards the front so if I'm careful it shouldn't come off completely. Sandra's trainers only move around not come off so I'm okay with them for now. Our Tesco's only sells food not clothes or footwear so I'll have to go to a town to buy anything I need.

I'm the same as you Vera where clothes are concerned, nothing seems to fit me very well. I did want to learn how to make clothes but the shop that teaches you how to sew charge £35 an hour which is a lot. OH booked me into a one off lesson a few years ago and all they showed us how to do was a dart on a scrap of material, I thought that was a waste of money so never bothered going back. I might look online and see if I can teach myself.
Sorry to hear you couldn't give a donation to the Charity. At least you can send a cheque so they'll still get the donation. Did you mention in the letter you had problems on their website, they might take a look at it and sort any problems out so you'll be able to do it online next time? I hope you manage a decent nights sleep tonight and don't end up with a headache.

Yes, I've been thinking it's been a while since Jane posted on here, I hope she's okay. Sending love to you Jane <3 <3 <3

So the girls are all spick and span now Mel, it sounds like it was a big job if it's taken you most of the day. Did you make anything nice today when you were playing? Were you using the clay?

Well, I took a look in the cupboard in the dining room ready to sort it out and it didn't need doing, so I've just been messing about online looking for something to do. I thought it best to keep myself to myself today rather than chance upsetting OH, I seem to manage to upset him even if I'm not in the same room as him, not sure how I'm doing it though. He's been in and out all day so I've hardly seen him and Sandra has been busy doing her thing, so I've been on my own most of the day.

Evening All

Here I am :-D I have had a really good week so have been out and about shopping for clothes and cooking some meals for the freezer.I just wanted to make the most of it as it will probably be getting on for a fortnight before I can do it again.Next chemo on tuesday. Fitz is going to pop in to see me for a little while whilst I am hooked up .He came for lunch on thursday which was nice .

Gill,what size shoe do you wear? I am a 6 and if that is your size I would happily pass on a pair I no longer need.I am really sorry to read what an unhappy time you seem to be having at tthe moment .Being cooped up in the bungalow for more than 3 weeks without going out can't be good for you or Sandra.Seeing other people is so important even if it is a trip to the library to get a book or two.I would go stir crazy if I couldn't get out at all. You seem to work so hard all the time in the home you deserve a bit of 'you time'.

Frank I had that email about getting a refund too. Mine was for £550 !!! Good job we realised it is a scam. Glad you look so handsome and young with your new teeth :-D :-D

Vera that is a long trip for your OH to do to take and pick up his friend from Chemo.I am so lucky here as the hospital is only a 10-15 minute drive from home.

Mel I loved your Dragon Eyes and the Wolf Moon.
I need to think about dinner now so will go. It's blooming freezing outside I bet there will be some icy roads tonight.

Frank I think I need some teeth like yours if they make you look 10 years younger! :-) Do you look like this now. :-D :-D. lol. You must remember our lovely Maureen that used to be on the thread. She used to paint us some lovely Christmas cards and had 3 cats. One was a kitten she called Alfie that got thrown out of a flat window that she took on and he had to wear a bandage round his ear to stop him scratching it, probably nerve damage from a the fall. She left the thread when she was too busy as she was helping a son do a loft conversion. Jane and I met up with her at a garden centre once and she was the one who got me into painting by encouraging me to try it. :-) We tend to get those scam Tax Refund emails this time of the year. I had one a couple of weeks ago.

Vera, I've reached the stage with clothes that if I find something that fits well I try and buy two! I don't buy anything much that's long sleeved as they are always too long and in most places the trousers are too long as well. I'm envying your slim figure though! How many are in your gang you meet up with? Your hubby's friend he takes to appointments sounds as if he is having a tough time and all the travelling must be tiring too.

I see you are finding more bargains AnnG! I must have another browse at our M&S as they have probably added more to their sale since I last went. OH got himself a Pringle shirt for £10 at Edinburgh Mill the other day. Let us know how the air fryer is when you try it! I had to move stuff to make room for my new pressure cooker, but instead of having a long handle it has a small one each side which helped fit it in.

I think AnnG's idea to get some trainers is a good one Gill. The supermarkets have some for under £10 which is good and you should be able to find some that fit you better than Sandra's do. I often buy cheap beach shoes with just a broad strap across for summer slippers around the house as they last me longer.

Mel I'm looking forward to hearing how your new oven is for baking the clay. How big is it? I'm thinking it would be good for making clay beads, but I'd also like to use the silver clay and don't know much about baking that yet.

I had a little drive to a local church today that usually has masses of Snowdrops but not one was showing yet!

Lovely to see you on here Jane, we were wondering how you were. I envy you all having shops close by you can go clothes shopping, I can't remember the last time I bought myself some clothes. I did make myself a dressing gown a while back with a bit of pretty material I'd had for years, but I didn't quite have enough so it doesn't go around me that well. It does as a spare, so it worked out okay in the end. Thanks for the offer of the shoes, do you want anything for them? I'm a size 4 or 5 but have found if I wear two pair of socks I can wear size 6 and they are comfy. Boots and trainers are okay as I can fasten them and it doesn't matter if they move around, but shoes are a bit of a problem to find as they just fall off, which is dangerous. I've got odd feet and have always found buying shoes a problem, my mum hated taking me for school shoes as it was so difficult to find any that fit both feet, which is why for the past few years I've worn size 6 with two pairs of socks as that seems to work.

Is the next bout of Chemo your last lot, I think you said you had to have three sessions and if I remember correctly the next bout will be your third. Sorry if I've got that wrong.
Good luck for Tuesday, I'll be thinking of you. <3 <3

I’m not too sure about slim Ann ;-). Bits of me are thinner than I want while other bits are expanding. Arms are like matchsticks covered in chicken skin while waist has grown by a few inches. I brag that I still weigh the same as when I was my daughter’s age but where the weight was muscle it’s now flab. As for “the gang”, if everyone were there it would be 12 or 14 people but it’s usually fewer. People just turn up if they feel like it. There are more ladies than men - this morning there were 6 ladies and 3 men and the men chat at one table while we ladies have another table. We meet at Wetherspoons because the tea/coffee is cheap and there are big corner areas where we can sit. We meet up onThursday and Saturday as these are market days in town so we all usually do any jobs in town on those days.

Gill, you are a bright girl and good at crafts so you could teach yourself to sew. I did and I am not very good with my hands. When my two were little we didn’t have much spare cash and a cheap remnant of material from the market would make a little dress for my daughter. I soon graduated to making my own clothes as well. There were a few mistakes along the way, but you learn from them and don’t make them again. I eventually made my daughter’s wedding dress which got lots of compliments. Sadly now I don’t have the inclination or will to make my own clothes but if I could do it, so can you. Give it a go, I’m sure you'll do well.

Good to see you posting Jane and great to know you’ve had a good and busy week. We’ll all be thinking of you on Tuesday.

OH is watching something on the TV that doesn’t interest me so I’ll now sit and catch up with something on iPlayer on my iPad. Hope you all sleep well tonight. It’s supposed to be a cold one so stay warm and cosy.

Vera as you are a 12/14 you are slim compared to me, especially with your height.

I have trouble with and rarely wear dresses because I am short waisted, even though I am only just over 5’2 I can’t wear M&S short trousers but I have no problem with tops so that is what I often buy in sales.

We used the air fried tonight with fish goujons and they turned out very well from heating the fried to 170 and cooking they took 15 minutes and were crisp on the outside and soft and moist inside. So that is a start.

Jane great to see you and know you have had a good week. How many more sessions have you got after Tuesdays? Hope all goes well this time. When is your next scan?

Lovely to hear from our Jane and good you have been able to go out and about. we will all be thinking of you on Tuesday. when do you get the results from the last bout of chemo?I hope its as good if not better than the last results.

Morning all

Woken up to a frost today, it's white everywhere and very cold.

Did you use your oven yesterday Mel? I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on with it. Do you have anything in mind to make in there?
I hope you don't mind me asking but have you sent the purse clip you said you had, only Sandra's been asking about it, so I said I'd ask you.

I hope you had a good nights sleep last night Vera, there's nothing worse than not sleeping properly and you don't want another headache. Yes, I think with a bit of practice and some knowledge I'll be able to start making a few simple items of clothing soon.

How are your new teeth today Frank, I hope the Fixodent worked for you.

I see your air fryer is working well for you AnnG, they'll be no stopping you now.

Funny you should mention Maureen Ann, I was updating all my contact information for my Genes friends and noticed I still had her. Yes, she was always a busy woman, I wonder how she is now. Also Fiona as she hasn't been on here for a while either, then there was Ruby. So many people have left, but now we have new people to chat with, which is lovely. <3

I forgot about my cup of tea and it's gone cold, so I'm going to make a fresh one.

Morning All

It is a bright ,sunny and frosty morning. I will be off to M&S again shortly to take back some leggings.They looked ridiculous on me.
Gill I sent you an email last night of trainers I have .Let me know what you think and I will send them. I don't want anything for them.

This is my 3rd cycle of treatment on Tuesday .If the scan I have is positive then I will have another 3 cycles.Tomorrow morning I see the consultant and have my blood taken.Everyone has to do this the day before treatment.

Mel I did smile when you said you thought of me when you saw Blood Oranges :-D :-D I went straight out and bought a couple of net bags of them. I have juiced some and frozen the juice,and today I will use the rest in that lovely meal I did before with them. Sicilian Chicken ,blood oranges and Fennel .It is a one tray dish so no pans and other stuff to wash .

I hope everyone is having this lovely sunshine today.

Morning Gill Jane and all,

We have the same again this morning white frost and golden sunshine. We have a stripe across the garden where the sun has'nt yet reached it all.

Gill I hav'nt sent the purse clip yet as I did say I have to get to the post van before 11am and I don't get time always to get up there as I have to do the chickens first and I don't get up early. I will post it and I will let you know WHEN I have done so.

Jane I do always think of you when I see the blood oranges in the shops as I know you had that lovely recipe.

Well better get on as I hav'nt done the girls yet and they will want to come out on a sunny day. I am getting one, two or three eggs a day from them now so have some for Em each week if I don't use a lot.

Do you realise we have two posts from Jane on one page on here!! Great to hear from her and sending love. <3 <3

Must try that recipe sometime Jane it sounds moreish!!

Why do leggings always look good on other people but ridiculous when we try them on? I think if you can wear a longish top over them it is better. Were you thinking they would be comfortable for when having treatment?

A busy two days for you now then. good luck with it all and will be with you in thought. <3 <3

a brilliantly sunny but very frosty morning here, 2 degrees out there. OH is tackling the conservatory leak so I will go and make him a coffee. I have a load of bed linen in the washer and have dusted downstairs. we were up late so a bit behind today.

I've replied to your email Jane and to yours Ann. Thank you both for all your help.

It looks like I got your treatment plan slightly wrong Jane, sorry. I hope all goes well, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. <3 <3 <3

I'll let Sandra know you haven't sent the purse clip yet Mel and that you'll let me know when you are sending it. She doesn't have a good sense of time, which is why I think she asked about it. It sounds like you're getting quite a lot of eggs now, so that's good.

I hope your OH manages to sort out the leak AnnG and it's not to cold for him. He'll be grateful of a hot coffee.

Afternoon you lovely people,

Great to see our Jane on here so early in the day. My best wishes for Tuesday. Jane if at anytime you need someone to run n errand or to take you anther, you know where we are. xxx

What a FROSTY MORNING. The road and grass looked like it had snowed.Haven't been out yet. We are both lazing around reading the papers in our dressing gowns, I will get showered and shaved when I have posted this.

My new teeth were in all day yesterday and felt so comfortable. I was tempted to wear them through the night, but thought better of it.

No Takeaway last night, neither of us fancied anything. So I did Eggs on toast around 7.00 pm and Ros got some cheese and biscuits later. Was up until 10.00 pm (late for me) Slept very well, and feeling a little more relaxed, It could be the MEDS are kicking in.

I don't have your ladies troubles with LEGGINGS. I don't wear them. LOL LOL
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I must admit I am feeling quite peckish, possible because I had no breakfast this morning, and looking forward to our lunch. I might even have a starter today, and be tempted to a sweet also.

Ros is on her 36th poppy, I don't know how many she is aiming for . but at this rate it could run into HUNDREDS. She was lucky Friday, she picked up three balls of red wool for a £1.00 She will keep her eye out for more. She is also going to make a wooden jacket from a pattern from SIRDAR. Two other women want the patten so I have printed them off.

Jan and Jo were coming to visit Kerry this weekend. Jan will stay with a friend, as her ex husband is visiting also. and they don't get on. I doubt they will get to see us. They will have a four hour drive back to Devon.

Well I suppose I will love and leave you and get in that shower. Have a great day all, and stay safe and warm. xxxx

He is still up the step ladder steps outside now, he was inside with the top windows open. He still isn't sure he is going to fix it but he is certainly going to give it a good try.

I am doing a piece of gammon in the slow cooker, it is only a small piece and this time I am doing it in water not coke so hoping it will be ok. My reasoning being if I was going to boil it it would only be in water.

Then, I intend having a go at doing roast potatoes and carrots in the sir fryer to see how that goes.

Frank you said Ros didn't like the way the chips tasted in the slow cooker, was that in comparison to deep fried? It does say chips won't taste the same as when they are deep fried they absorb all the oil. Air frying they don't. It suggests you add more seasoning, herbs etc when you air fry mixing the herbs in with the oil that you toss things in.

It’s very cold but brilliant sunshine after a very frosty start.

I don’t think leggings really suit ladies “of a certain age”. I think perhaps legs change shape a bit as you get older. They don’t always suit youngsters either when you see the size of some of their backsides and thighs!

It’s good you are getting on well with your teeth Frank. Ros has been busy with her poppies. A couple of years ago, for the centenary of the end of WW1, lots of ladies made poppies and they were attached to some sort of netting, then the fire service hung them from the top of the church spire in the centre of town and they draped right down over the stonework of the church. It was stunning and when they came down they were stored and brought out again last year, so I guess they’ll put them up end of October again this year.

OH has just come in and chicken is nearly ready so time to make the gravy. BBL

Afternoon All,

Sharp frost here this morning too but nice and sunny.

Vera I agree re the leggings! :-D Long, slim, toned legs that are straight look good, but not the old dear I saw tottering along today wearing them and who had some of the skinniest legs I have seen! I don't have the thighs for them, but a friend wears mini dresses over hers and they look good on her. OH's black long johns are a tight fit like leggings and he always reminds me of Max Wall till he covers them up with his trousers! :-) That is a good arrangement with your 'gang'. It is similar with our bead group in that it is flexible with some not coming some weeks. It would be a tie if it was expected.

I see Fiona on FB Gill and Maureen contacted me last year but is still very busy with her children and grandchildren. Yes I wonder how Ruby is and there was also the other Anne with Ruby the dog.

AnnG I hope your OH manages to fix the leak this time. They can be hard to find where the water actually starts coming in sometimes as the leak then comes out in a different place. The air fryer is sounding good, but how much oil do you actually use? It is a similar amount to what you would use for a tray bake of veg?

That's good you have had a good week Jane and been out and about. I hope the third bout of chemo goes well too and with good results. Fitz is good to pop in and spend some time with you at the hospital. Has Chris not spent any time with you being as they are long days to spend there? I know when I was on the research trial it was a very long day from 7.00am till 4..00pm.

That's good your new teeth are fitting well Frank. I expect the loose tooth will tighten up a bit as it settles down. Were they ok to get out at the end of the day? I was wondering how Ros was doing with the poppies and she doesn't let the grass grow under her feet does she having made 36 already! One lot of poppies in one of the villages are still on show after 2 years. They are all fastened onto railings. The council here still haven't taken the Christmas trees down they fix to the lamp posts!

I see you are getting plenty of eggs now Mel......lovely for the BIG BREAKFAST! :-)

Had our lovely roast dinner now with a couple of glasses of rose for me, followed by fruit and ice cream and a cuppa. I was ready for my meal after a busy morning. I changed all the bedding and struggled getting the duvet into a clean cover. OH has been cleaning the bathrooms on Sunday mornings recently but today he decided he had hurt a rib so wouldn’t be able to do them. I managed to do the bathroom and the en-suite upstairs, including washing the floors which he doesn’t do. So how come his rib was OK to walk to the pub to meet our friend for their Sunday pint? Men!! (I’m not including you in that Frank :-))

Now he’s put the snooker on the television and disappeared. He’s probably upstairs on the computer. Another little episode today:

OH: have you got a phone number or email address for P.?

Me: why would I have those details? She’s your cousin and I met her once at a wedding 25 years ago.

OH: (sounding quite cross). I thought you would have it. What’s her surname?

Me: I don’t know. You just introduced her as your cousin P.

He did know her maiden name of course and the area she used to live so I put my research hat on and found her marriage and using her married name found a likely address. OH then gets his phone out and guess what? He already had her details in his contact list :-|. And did I get an apology or any thanks for all my searches? Of course not :-P. Moan over but if you read of a Suffolk woman arrested for murder you’ll know who it is.

Annx with the fish goujons yesterday we didn't use any oil. I haven't looked at the recipe book that came this morning yet but from what I have seen on line the amount of oil varies but the most I have seen is half a tablespoon, sometimes it is a teaspoon full but with things that have fat in already like sausages, mince etc no oil is needed. I think 'frier' is a bit of a misnomer as it doesn't fry as such it is the hot air circulating all round the 'cage' that cooks the food.. with potatoes for example you cut them fairly small and then put them in a bowl with a small amount of oil (I think depending on the size pieces of potato you have cut, you shake the potatoes in the oil, then put them in the frier.

OH worked on the leak all morning and found a few places to fill in. It remains to be seen now whether it is fixed or not.

Lol Vera I can just imagin your face when he told you he had it in his contacts list!!

We had a card from oh's uncle and aunt this year and she had put his previous wifes name on it so he took it away with him into his study muttering they must be getting old now. We have been together for 23 years now and its never happened with his aunt and uncle before. It did happen two or three years ago with his oldest sister and she did the same and he threw that card away. She is only a couple of years younger than me, slim as she never eats enough food for a mouse, and dresses like a teenager.

Going back to the leggings, I bought some last year to wear under my trousers as they are cotton ones and they make a lot of difference but I don't think I could wear them on their own with a long top as I have such a big tum. Even the doc said I thin legs and looked like an apple on sticks!!!!!!!! Blimmin cheek, its only me who is aloud to say things like that.

I do agree that some of the bigger girls who wear them should'nt and wonder if they know just how silly they look. There again you do see some sights down the beach too but thats another tale. I thik if you are tallish you can get away with more things than a shorter person can.

I did my first baking of my clay bit today and they did'nt come out too bad but I am not sure if they should have been a bit harder?????? Still trial and error and they were only test pieces. I have sone something else but I have to bake it again now before I paint it.