General Chat

Morning AnnG, Mel and all

We never seem to have the same weather as you. It rained overnight but is bright and sunny and 9 degrees now.

Hope your son has a safe journey AnnG.

I’m just doing odd jobs this morning but OH wants to fill up with fuel later so we’ll also go to the garden centre and pet shop. I want garden vouchers as a Christmas present for step-grandson and his fiancée who are moving into a new build house this week and I need mealworms for the birds. I also need to pick up my meds from the chemist. Funny how these jobs used to be a chore and now they are an outing ;-)

OH is taking our friend to the eye clinic again tomorrow. The appointment is for 9 am so OH will have to leave here just after 7 but, all being well, this will be the last visit to the clinic for them.

Right, better get on. Enjoy your day everyone.

Afternoon all

Nothing much to report from this end, just looking forward to January really - onwards and upwards :-D

Thank you all for kind comments re my bunting.

I wish the spammer would rein it in, it puts me off looking in.

I wish you all a happy day x

Island, not sure what you mean about a spammer? Do you mean on GR?

Vera, yes thanks son got here OK. He is now on the way to Bournemouth, He is leaving his current firm so as he had a flat in the Bournemouth area which he rented, he is going down to clear that out and say goodbye to people who worked for him there. Also meeting his new boss from January, who was his old boss until last May.

Was just feeling tearful after he left because he brought an extra present which is one he and daughter and a nurse have organised with T. What a lovely thing to do.

O thats lovely anng what a great thought.

Still dull and dreay here.

Lovely to see you Island.

Well I am giving up today. I have posted THREE TIMES and they have all gone to somewhere beyond where I can get them back.

Try to see you tomorrow,

Afternoon All,

Quite heavy rain here now and getting dark already!

I had an email this morning that took me aback........it was from DAVID who passed away in October!! The email address was 'crudens2000 and something', (deleted it so can't remember it all). All it had was a website to click on but I think it was spam. I get strange emails at times since all the trouble with talk.talk and they said I was one whose details were stolen at the time.

Gill I hope I will be asked to go to our surgery for the vaccination and not the hospital in that case. If it is the hospital and there is a queue, OH would queue for me and ring me when he was getting near the front of the queue. I know the hospital in the city where they are doing them quite well as it is where I go for the Research meetings and public lectures. The city has 3 big hospitals with different specialisms. I read this morning that they have more covid cases now than ever before. It doesn't sound promising for restrictions being lifted anytime soon when you see on the news that only 50% of asian and other ethnic minorities will be willing to have the vaccine and also only 75% of the rest of the population. Apparently according to one woman they asked, she believed God would look after her.

I checked the mouse proofing this morning and everything was still in place, not a bit of gravel moved so I think they have given up trying there now. I said to OH that once they couldn't get in through the 'back door' they probably went round the front to get in under the garage door! I think I need to re-bait the traps behind the garage door with something more tempting like peanut butter as we've only caught one in those recently. The loft ones have caught a few.

I have to agree Vera, the mundane trips we saw as chores have become highlights now! My highlight this week is the hairdresser tomorrow and later the surgery to drop our prescriptions in.

I hope the wheelie thing they are bringing for you to try will be a help Frank and stop some of the falls you keep having.

Your bunting was lovely Island. It is surprising what you can turn odd bits of material into! I found my rag wreath I made last year and put it up in the hall this morning. Hope you have a nice day too as the Americans say!

Good idea to get LPAs sorted AnnG. We did ours 5 years ago after the in laws both became ill. Luckily they had already done theirs or we would have had huge problems as they quickly became incapable.. How lovely that the nurse, T and your daughter had sorted a present for you.

Oh Mel I hope nothing got spoiled in the fridge. It is so easy to knock the adjuster and I have done it before as well. I watched The Full Monty on Ice too and felt so sorry for the one who lost his dad and then his younger brother at age 19.. Most of the others were in tears too.

Better go and listen to the Christmas coronavirus update now! At last many are seeing the rules aren't such a good idea.

That special present must have been a lovely surprise AnnG. What a thoughtful thing to do. I’m not surprised you were a bit teary, I think we all would have been. Yes, it’s wise to get LPAs set up. We both had them for our fathers and we have them set up for each other with our daughter as back up in case we are both incapacitated together. A friend of ours didn't have an LPA and her husband went downhill very quickly and had to be put in a dementia care home. She couldn’t touch his money so all his needs had to be met out of her pension for nearly a year till it got sorted. I know she had to go to the Court of Protection and it worked out very expensive getting permission to administer his affairs. I believe she has to pay them an annual fee as well.

Your OH had a long wait for his vaccination Gill. I must ask my granddaughter if she has been given one yet. I know she has been tested weekly. I’ve no idea what is happening round here. There’s been no mention of vaccinations at the hospital or doctor’s surgery as far as I know.

Maybe your mice have moved house Ann. I wondered if we would see any in the garage after we lost the last of our cats but so far we have stayed mouse free. What a shock you must have had seeing an email from David. I saw the news programme that was saying how many people don’t want to have the vaccine. I will have it if it’s offered but I can understand people feeling there hasn't been enough testing, we don’t know about the long term effects, etc and I can even understand someone feeling they must put their trust in God, but I cannot get my head round the people who won’t have it because they believe the government aren’t giving us a vaccine but instead are going to inject us with some sort of chip that will track everything we do and say. If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.

Oh that’s frustrating to keep losing your post Frank. When is the lady coming for you to try this seat walker? It will be good if it proves to be suitable for you and stops you falling so much.

I’m going to walk round the Close now and hand deliver cards to the 5 neighbours. I wanted to wait till dark as I knew my next door neighbour would come out if she heard me and I don’t really want to stand and chat. She is a lovely lady but doesn’t keep any sort of distance and as there are always different workmen, hairdressers etc in and out of her house I am a bit wary.

Right, have a nice evening and sleep well tonight everyone.

Luckily our finances are ok. I have managed to pay credit cards even though in The name as although we each have our own accounts the main account is joint. We did put off doing LPAs and had intended doing them in August but Sod’s law meant we didn’t. SomI decided I should take advantage of daughter being here and she sorted it all. We did look on line but it was all complicated. Done now

Thank you Vera for your card, it has taken 10 days to get here.

Yes it was a lovely thing to do. Apparently when daughter spoke to the nurse last Friday she asked if Twas lucid enough to answer a question.she said she would try. So she said could L get a present for me from him, he didn’t need to choose what to buy. And he answered, yes please she will know what to get. The nice thing about that is it sounds as if he really did know what was going on. And was not as confused as we thought.

Thank you for your pretty card with sparkles Mandy! :-)

A card from an old work friend had some sad news that she had had to have her horse put down. He was a 17hh beautiful, black Thoroughbred and was aged 26. I remember her decision to buy him after her previous horse died while, as she put it, 'she could still get her leg over!' :-) Gosh that was 19 years ago..........where does the time go! :-0

Ha ha Vera.......OH nipped out to post our neighbours' cards in the dark last night for the same reason!

The new Yorkshire Watercolour Landscapes course came on line today so I have signed up for it. That is 2 courses to look forward to in January.

Morning all,

Dull and dreary but dry at the moment and 7 degrees out.

Had a lie in this mroning and hav'nt been up long.

Need to do some house work today so will see how I get on. The windows need cleaning in the kitchen and the front door and I need to hoover.

Good morning all, I was up early but somehow neglected to come on here. Lovely sunny morning, not that I am going anywhere, the number of cases in the adjacent Gloucester ward is very high so I am staying put. If I am unwell there is nobody now to look after me. 7 degrees out there so colder than yesterday.

I have just put the slow cooker on cooking mince, carrots, leaks, mushrooms and home made tomato sauce to make chilli for tonight. Hopefully going to make some shortbread later on.

One thing about the Christmas period is it keeps us in touch with friends old and new and some as Ann has discovered have bad news to tell us. so sorry to hear about your friend's horse. I know nothing about horses, is that a good age for one?

I have had two bit of bad news, the wife of a fellow that T worked with in the 60s/70s apparently died last year, she would have been in her 70s. We didn't have a card from them last year so that explains why.. And the husband of a penfriend of mine died in November this year, he would have been in his late 70s/early 80s but had apparently long term lung cancer.

But I have also had some lovely notes and emails regarding T and wishing him well and me too, It is very heartening to know that people take time in their busy lives to show that they care.

Hope you all slept well, I didn't sleep too badly, have a good day all.

Good morning Mel, AnnG and all

A nice bright day here after a gloomy start. It’s a bit nippy out but I don’t mind that while the sun is shining. I didn’t have too bad a night and got up when OH went out just after 7 to take our friend to the specialist eye hospital. I’ve no idea when he’ll be back but he usually rings when they are leaving the hospital.

I thought I’d take the opportunity to wrap his Christmas present while he was out. I only got it a couple of weeks ago but could I remember where I hid it? Could I, heck! I wasted a good hour going through cupboards etc before I suddenly remembered. Anyway it’s all wrapped now and back in it’s original hiding place. I only hope I don’t forget where it is again.

I’m now going to try to sort the freezer out a bit. When we moved here I decided we no longer needed our big chest freezer as we’re close to town and can pop to the shops frequently so we got rid of it and just have a large American style upright in the kitchen. I didn’t bargain on not being able to shop so since March I’ve been stuffing stuff in the freezer wherever I could find a space. I looked in one small half drawer yesterday and discovered it contained Tupperware containers of soup, some green veg, some Yorkshire puddings and, for some reason, one doughnut :-S. So I am going to have a coffee and get sorting.

Have a good day and stay safe.

PS OH has just this minute rung to say they are ready to leave. He’ll probably be home about 12.15

Love your bunting Island, you're very clever

Thanks Mandy and Ann for your Christmas cards, they're lovely. Sandra loved the one you painted Ann and said to say thank you. She's put it in her bedroom.

For anyone interested I watched Christmas at Hampton Court last night and they had their Shire Horses on it. Two foals this year and they had them blessed as they do each year. Then I watched Gregg in the Viena Christmas market and he visited the Spanish Riding school and you saw the lovely Lipasana horses. They were magnificent.

Then I watched Christmas at Highclear House.

Wow, that was a shock. OH just phoned me. Had quite a long chat and very difficult to understand him but he says he is ok. He also said a nurse had him up on his feet this morning. and also when I asked he said he had tested negative. still frustrating and no mention of the fact that it is two weeks since he phoned. But he was concerned that I was alright and said he struggled to get the phone to connect but his phone is charged. Asked him what it was like there and he said . it was alright. so now I am totally confused

Afternoon Everyone,

I slept quite well and it is so gloomy here now I have drawn the curtains. Quite chilly too.

AnnG what a nice surprise T ringing you out of the blue! You must be so pleased to have heard from him though and bless him for being concerned you were ok! It's good if he has tested negative now and not got mixed up as he should be out of isolation and they can concentrate on what he needs treatmentwise and to get him walking again. Does he still have the headaches and back pain do you know? So you have had some sad news from folk as well. I think mid twenties is quite a good age for a horse, I know her pony she had before lived to about 30, but I would think tough little native ponies may well live longer than a Thoroughbred as only the fittest of those survive to breed. I had a King Lear email this morning and they are running another competition.

Mel I missed those 2 progs so will have to see if I can find them on catchup. I had recorded the Highclere House one. Good luck with the HW!

I'm glad Sandra liked the card I painted for her Gill. That's nice she has put it in her bedroom. :-) I thought she would like the snowmen on it.

I went to the hairdresser this morning, but as expected they were busier and two others were in there as well as me, but we were well apart. The hairdressers had masks on as usual but the face shields have been replaced with large eye shields that are more comfy to wear and you can hear them better with them on. They have started serving refreshments again now, which I didn't think was such a good idea as customers were pulling their masks down while they were eating and drinking. Since the first lockdown there have been no newspapers or magazines and they tell you in their email instructions not to bring any with you. One woman had brought a book with her though and had pulled her mask below her nose so she could read it without steaming her glasses up. Not quite the right idea! My hairdresser said they were expecting to be closed as soon as Christmas is over. She lives on her own and said she is spending Christmas alone, rather than with her parents, brother or friends. She is having her favourite lamb, slowcooked and will have a duvet day once she has switched the slow cooker on! Thinking of all the things to be done on the day I was a tad envious! When I got home OH had dusted the rest of the lounge diner and put up more xmas decs, the 2 sets of reindeer and sleighs and other bits and bobs so it looks more festive now.

Good luck with the shortbread Vera! I used to make it every Christmas when I was first married and it always turned out ok, so I'm sure yours will. I'm glad you found the well hidden present and have it wrapped now. I have done the same myself and yet you are convinced when you hide something that you will remember where it is! Well, those mice seem to have given up on trying to get in where I plugged the gap with the pan scourer, so perhaps they have found a more desirable residence!!

Grrr, I am about to scream very loudly. A post I was still typing has suddenly disappeared into the ether and I can’t get it back. Then I had to sign in again even though I hadn't logged out. Stupidly I was doing the post on the thread instead of typing it elsewhere and doing a c&p. I’ll have to try and come back later.

Evening all,

Oh AnnG i'm so pleased you've heard from T you must be so relieved to have heard from him what a lovely surprise ,it's good too that the test was negative ,will they be moving him again now do you think .

Vera perhaps you should say on here where OH's pressy is hidden and then you could always look back on here to remember where to find it :-D
How did you get on sorting the freezer ,i really need to tidy ours as we have a large chest freezer and a smaller one and they are both nearly full but i'm sure if i really tried i could make a bit more room ,i need to make my batter puds over the weekend for christmass day and get them in there .

Mel i missed the Highclere House one but i did see there's going to be a new Chatsworth House one on soon .

Ann i'm glad the scourers are working at keeping the little visitors out :-D
That's good you got your hair done but it seems odd them serving refreshments when they ask you to wear masks ,not a very good idea .

It's been a really lovely sunny day here ,i went out early to Aldi and it was so quiet ,got some veg that will keep like carrots ,parsnips and swede but the green veg i will get next week .
I finished off the christmas cakes today ,i need to get the little Viennese fingers made for son and family i always make them some as they love them .
I have a whole pack of Marzipan left ,i bought two as i was going to cover the whole cake and then decided to just do the tops ,anyone got any ideas what i could do with it ,i did wonder if i could add a little bit into mince pies .
Then i thought about making a battenburg cake but it's a bit fiddly to do .
I wrapped two presents today and must get some more done over the weekend .

Mandy you could make mazipan pigs for the children if they like it or some fruits or pop some inside dates once the stones have been taken out and then roll them in coconut. Or make some little lozenge shapes and melt some chocolate and dip all in on the end of a wooden stick or just cover half of them. Stick a walnut on top and dip in choc too or a cherry.

I have mixed my Christmas cake today and now I only have to add the flour and eggs tomorrow and bake it. I have hoovered up many little spiders and cleaned the glass hob which needed it. Still not got round to the ironing though. Lamb steaks for dinner with new pots and peas. Can't be bothered to do anything else with it.

Vera it is unlike you to write your post on here whatever made youchange your routine? That'll teach you to stick to what you know works. :-S

Anng at last you have spoken to T and it must be a relief to hear his vioce for the first time in weeks. I am sure that him being tested and is negative must also put your mind at rest. I hope he continues to improve. Sending a gentle ((hug)).

I am going to watch Insdie the Savoy at Christmas tonight at 9pm ITV but if oh is still watching Master Chef I will watch it on catch up when he's gone to bed.

Better get the dinner on now. Will pop back later to see if anyone has posted.

Thanks for the e-card AnnG, we all loved it and Sandra watched it twice. We loved all the carols <3 <3