General Chat

The little skank didn't bat an eyelid! :-0
I've left the foam cushion out to 'aeriate' - I don't think it was affected but just to be on the dainty side.

That’s lovely to hear AnnG. You must be so relieved to have had a chat with him and find him lucid. I have heard that Covid can give you brain fog so perhaps some of his confusion was down to that. I have everything crossed for a steady progress for him now. I sometimes get a call that goes to my mobile and my iPad at the same time and trying to sort it out I usually end up cutting the caller off.

I am not surprised your OH is worked up Gill. Your imagination can run riot when you don’t know what’s happening and the chances are he is worrying over nothing. Island’s idea of using PALS is a good one; the hospital website probably has a number for them. Did you say OH has another brother? Would his mother have named this brother as next of kin? Even if there is some friction between them, he would probably tell OH what the situation is if OH contacts him and asks. I hope you get some answers soon.

I am glad you are feeling a bit better today Ann. I loved your “Arkwright’s Store”. We have one of those in our garage. I have a big kitchen with quite a lot of storage but I often bulk buy things on special offer if I know we will use them so our garage is currently housing some giant sized cleaning products, enough baked beans for a few months and several cartons of long life orange juice. There are also 2 large tubs of fat balls and 1 large tub of mealworms for the birds.

Oh Island, I know I shouldn’t laugh but I can just imagine your doggy putting on a “butter wouldn’t melt” look. Poor you having to nearly remake your sofa.

I’m sorry to hear that you are not feeling great Frank but it’s good that the doc is checking on your bloods. It’s sad that you haven’t been able to go to Devon but best to be careful and stay safe. Do be careful meeting up with your friends. Even in Tier 2 we are not supposed to meet with another household indoors so you shouldn’t really be eating with John and Carolyn, though I understand how you feel. There are times I think I am going stir crazy, hardly going out and not seeing friends at all. I know I get a bit snappy with OH sometimes. I hope you enjoy your birthday whatever you decide to do.

I’ve had quite a busy day today and feel really tired now. We changed beds and I got four loads of washing done. Then I dealt with a few financial matters and responded to some important emails that were hidden amongst the millions trying to sell me last minute gifts. We had an early lunch and then I needed some shopping. We had a delivery a week ago but my next order is a click and collect on 28th December. I am quite well stocked but wanted to get milk, bread and some veg. I had a few other things on the list but all things we could do without. We went to Sainsbury’s or rather we drove into the car park and straight out again. It looked so busy that I wouldn’t go in the shop. We decided to just check out the Co-op. There was hardly anyone there and I got everything on my list except Boursin, which we can do without,so I was very pleased. Not so pleased when we got back and saw our neighbour had visitors again. She has said to me on the phone that if we can’t go to our daughter’s on Christmas Day we could join them after lunch for drinks and maybe a game of something. I don’t think so!!!

Since getting back I have made a big apple and mincemeat pie to freeze for us on Boxing Day and some jam tarts for the next couple of days, and prepared our meal which OH is now cooking.

Enjoy the rest of your day and sleep well tonight everyone

Evening all,

AnnG it must have lovely to hear from T and it sounds as if he was having a good day and wasn't so confused .
Ann if he can use FB and has messenger you could use messenger to do the video call ,son has set that up for us so we speak to the children and can see them too .

Frank i do hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy your birthday and christmas in some form or other.
How was the new car ? does Ros like it ?

If anyone is interested if you go on you tube and put in A carol service for Dereham and district 2020 you can see the little school where Lewis goes and where son works .
The whole school sang The Twelve days of christmas .
The song is at the end of the church service ,Lewis is at 46.51 he is on the left in the green christmas jumper with a dinosaur on the front ,he sings five gold rings .
He's on again at 49.13 and son is on at 49.52 you can't miss him as he's the only man :-D

Vera you've had a busy day ,Mum use to make little jam tarts at christmas with pastry left over from the sausage rolls and mince pies .
I went to Aldi again this morning and it was early when i went and so quiet i couldn't believe how quiet it was i was quite ready to do like you did drive in the car park and drive out again .
I only needed green veg and some creams but found plenty of other bits had crept in the trolley when i got to the till :-D

Oh Island poor little doggie perhaps he was dreaming he was outside and just went One little wee has led to a major remake .

Sorry to ask but what is PALS I've never heard of it?

OH never did get through to the Liverpool hospital, but did manage to finally get in touch with his mum on her mobile, she had not long arrived at Chester hospital, her battery was flat which would explain why he couldn't get through to her. He asked her what was wrong with her, but she didn't seem to know so he's going to ring Chester hospital tomorrow to see what he can find out.

As for his brother, he won't give OH his number saying it's because they haven't spoken for years. Sandra tried asking his wife for the number but she replied "No" so that was the end of that. His sister hasn't rang either so all he can do is ring his mum or the hospital for answers. As yet he still doesn't know what's wrong with his mum and is still as worried as ever as she said she is now completely blind in one eye and is still having headaches. Hopefully he'll find out tomorrow when he rings the hospital ward exactly what's wrong with her. He's just left for his night shift so it'll be tomorrow afternoon.

Gill, I've just copied this but if you put PALS into google you will see the full explanation. They are there to help patients and their families.

"The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers.

You can find officers from PALS in your local hospital."

Thanks Island I'll let OH know, it sounds like they'll be a great help with his siblings not keeping him in the loop and not being able to visit his mum in hospital because of Covid. He's very worried about her and can't seem to get any answers into exactly what's wrong with her and what sort of treatment she'll need. He's working nights tonight so I won't see him until tomorrow afternoon unless I'm awake early when he comes home. Thanks again, you're very kind.

Morning all,

Dull and dreary but not raining yet.

Asda are coming earlier today so I am all ready for them when they arrive.

Slept well so feel quite refreshed this morning and ready for the off as my dad would say. Lots of subs and we hav'nt got our lamb shoulder. They have subbed my wine with one I don't like much so I am sending two bottles back and keeping jus the one. Mint sticks are now after eight mint thins so thats ok and oh's smoked salmon (yuk) is 200g instead of 120g so he is pleased. His Spitfire beer is subbed for Bishops Neame which he likes too so thats ok and the Aberdeen Angus diced beef is subbed too but I can put up with that.

We had four deer across the garden this morning.

Hope you all slept well or got enough to take you through the day.

Good morning Mel and all, was up early as I didn't sleep that well and woke early even though it was really dark.

That is a lot of subs Mel, I wonder why Asda have so many Tesco have been really good so far. annoying when you can't get the things you want.

Dry here but very wet under foot as we had heavy rain last night and yesterday evening. Flood warning in the areas of Gloucester that are prone to flooding.

Morning All,


<3 <3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK <3 <3 <3

I hope you feel a bit better and enjoy your presents. It's good the doc is checking your bloods and keeping an eye on you.

A nice sunny one here, but it's colder today. We were up early for our outing to the pharmacy for our meds. No-one else was there so OH was pleased as it is a tiny pharmacy that serves as a Post Office as well. It seems to be the way things are going round here as one of the other nearby villages has a pharmacy and PO in the same shop. In our village the PO has a corner in the Co-op.

Mel, OH has started having a bottle of Spitfire each week as he likes it too. I find Asda's system a bit confusing, as what has happened this time is that something is supposed to be out of stock so I deleted it and found an equivalent. Then the equivalent became sold out and when I went back and looked at what I'd originally ordered it seemed to be back in stock. I just don't know if I'd left the original item on my order, whether it would then be included again when it came back in stock? :-S

I hope your OH gets somewhere with calls today Gill. You'd think his brother would have let him know more about their mum being as she is in hospital, even if he didn't want any other contact, but family members or indeed people don't always behave how you would hope, however urgent the matter is.

AnnG, it sounds as if T had a bit better day and was taking interest. I hope it is a sign of improvement for him and that it continues.

Naughty dog Island. I wonder why it happened? I hope it was a one off or you will need a plastic sofa or rubber sheet. It's good you can tackle the repair though and make it good again.

Mandy weren't the children lovely, all doing their bit of the singing! I spotted Lewis in his dinosaur jumper and your son as well. It was great seeing them acting out what they were singing too like 'the lords a leaping!' They were really enjoying themselves and it was a great idea. :-D

That's good you got some financial things sorted out with your daughter's help AnnG. We have things arranged in an assortment of ways that I need to revisit really. A while ago we made some things like the phone contract 'joint' as I never had the 2 bills evidence you need when opening some accounts. With SKY being in OH's name, we had to write and give them permission to deal with me as well as him, as it was always me that had to contact them as he was travelling distances in his job and never here to do it. You don't always think about these things now companies are so twitchy about data protection and it can cause problems when the account holder is out of action or not around for whatever reason.

Better start lunch now. It's a routine that happens every day and gets in the way of doing nicer things!

<3 <3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK <3 <3 <3
Hope you have a nice day and had a good sleep. xx

All delivered and wiped down and put away. The only thing that was wrong was I ordered 3 4pint milks and they only sent 2 and I have no way of getting in touch with them as I only realised when the driver had gone. I did send two bottles of wine back but he has'nt credited me yet. I wonder if they will. I know they are busy but it was a different driver again and no mask on. I had to ask him to put the shopping in my plastic boxes as he dumped them in crates first at the step.

I expect they have a lot of relief drivers on this week Mel and you have not 'trained' him!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK Have a lovely day and I hope you feel better for your birthday <3

ann it is always the food prep that gets in the way isn't it? still we have to eat. pleased that you got your prescriptions with no crowds.

T phoned again this morning and requested his blue tooth keyboard so I am waiting for somebody who is going to take it in for him. He is funny on the phone, I have to let him rabbit on as he just has to say what he has been thinking of saying and occasionally will say to me "are you listening".

Vera I leave things on the list when they say out of stock and they come sometimes. I think having a delivery on a Tuesday it gives them time to have their deliveries in at thed begining of the week so something thats out of stock after the weekend is often in stock when the delivery is due. Does that make sense?

<3 <3 <3 :-D :-D :-D HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK :-D :-D :-D <3 <3 <3

I hope you have a lovely day.

Mel, it wasn’t me who said about ordering replacements for out of stock items. I think it was Ann. I’ve just cancelled the click and collect slot I had with Tesco for 28th Dec. as I’ve managed to get a Sainsbury delivery on the 29th. I hope people don’t start panic buying again or there might not be much left to deliver.

It does sound as if OH is beginning to perk up a little AnnG. I’m pleased for both of you.

Mandy I hope to have a look at Dereham’s carol service this afternoon. I love seeing the little ones so I’m looking forward to picking out Lewis.

I had a reasonably good night but got severe cramp when I woke up. I very rarely have cramp so I said a few very choice words. What with a painful left foot and now an aching, sore right leg I am hobbling about like an old woman (hang on, I am an old woman). Just call me Hopalong ;-)

Sorry Hop Along I must have thought it was your post but I see now it was Ann's.

Just cleaned the bantams out downstairs and washed the water drinker thing and changed their dirt in the scratch tray so thats nice and dry now. It had got so wet with all the rain and wind and there's only a 3 inch gap at the top of the polythene I have round them.

Going to do luch now. Nice chicken sandwiches and soup.

It's the not knowing though isn't it Mel and whether to order something else in place and then end up with too much. I just looked at my order again and 8 more things are out of stock including the pigs in blankets I wanted, streaky bacon and Maris Piper potatoes. I've managed to find alternatives but warned OH that we could be having ANYTHING for Christmas Dinner at this rate! :-S I'll be glad when the order gets here tomorrow now. It's a 10.00am slot so we need to be up early again like today. I bet the Bantams are liking the fresh stuff to scratch and being cleaned out.

Vera that cramp strikes viciously without warning doesn't it. Then, as you say, it doesn't go away completely for ages and leaves a horrid soreness. I hope you have stopped hopping now!

AnnG that's good getting another phone call from 'T'. He does seem to have picked up a bit. Maybe some of the problem has been the effect of Covid like Vera suggested. Yes we were surprised to find the pharmacy empty and that they had all our meds. There was a queue outside the butchers there, but OH said the carpark behind the Co-op was almost empty as far as he could see. I think a lot of people were present buying at the retail park where Boots and M&S would be open. The traffic there has been bad the last few days according to the news. Yes everything 'food related' from planning meals, the prep as you say, orchestrating the cooking and the online order take up a lot of time and thinking. We do have to eat as you say though and at least OH does the veg, gets pans out and washes up the measuring jugs and steamer or other pans afterwards.

We had our last bin collection before the New Year this morning and managed to clear some more things from the garage to top the bin up with. It is annoying to find things that you had bought more of, simply because you either forgot you had them or couldn't find them at the time. I think if we keep fishing out things that can go we might be able to make some inroads into the rest and finally clear a lot.

Well, after trying to dig under the pan scourer, no activity the night after, then coming back for a more half hearted attempt, the mice seem to have finally given up on the hole in the wall. :-D

Good afternoon all,

Thank you all for your cards/greetings. I do appreciate them.

We went out this morning to do a few errands, and was going to have such out. But decided not too. WheIn I got home, Ros got out from the fridge, the BIGGEST PLATTER of prawns I have ever seen. I sat and worked my way through half of them. The rest I will have either tonight or tomorrow.

We had decided to have a Takeaway tonight. MY CHOICE.

Still having these funny turns, which I forgot to mention to the Dr this morning. Will see how they go on. If they persist I will arrange to see the Dr.

Time for a COT. Stay safe. xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK hope you have a lovely day <3

I thought the same as you Ann that his siblings would of been in contact but sadly that's not the case at least he spoke to his mum on her mobile in the end and now knows she's at Chester. He's not long woken up and has nipped out to bring Sandra home, she's gone mad at the shops and can't carry it all home, so I think he'll ring the hospital when he comes home. Sorry to hear you've had mice, nice to know they have given up on the hole in the wall now. You've just reminded me I need to check when our bins are being emptied over Christmas and New Year.

Pleased to see you've heard from T today AnnG, it sounds like he had a lot to say.

Hope the cramp has gone now Vera (Hopalong) lol. Maybe a warm bath will help with your aches and pains.

That was naughty of the delivery driver not wearing a mask Mel, I hope he kept his distance.

I missed you there Frank, the prawns sound lovely. Enjoy your takeaway later. Maybe you should get back in touch with the doctor to let him know about your funny turns, you don't want to end up ill over Christmas. Take care of yourself and enjoy the rest of your birthday.

Afternoon all,

<3 <3 Happy Birthday Frank hope your feeling a little better today so you can enjoy your day .

I seem to have been on the go all day ,we nipped out to put some family cards through the door ,rang my sister to see if they were there and she was just going to ring you see if we were in ,in the end they came here or rather sister stood in the garden and BIL kept in the car just had a chat for five minutes and they went home.
Colin's sister rang she told us her daughter has the virus she had the test last Tuesday as she felt off colour and then lost her taste and smell, so she's now isolating but is feeling much better so luckily it wasn't to bad a dose .

Son came to put Lewis 's bike together he came in the gate and went down the shed did what he had to do and then went , poor Max can't understand why he doesn't come in now .

It was nice to see all the little ones singing ,I liked the little boy who sang pear in a part tree bless him .

Just having a cuppa then I'm making a shepherds pie for tonight ,hopefully if I make a big enough one there will be enough for tomorrow too .

I have just watched the carol service Mandy and is'nt Lewis like his dad? Lovely to see the children all singing and acting. What a lovely thing to do......... <3'd it.

Chilli for us tonight as i have done the icing on the cake this afternoon. Dos'nt time fly when your having fun?

Could'nt get very inspired this year but oh keeps asking if we can have a slice yet and so I want a present? I keep saying no and no not yet. I have taken a pic of the cake.

Mandy do we get a pic of your cakes please?