General Chat

Mandy, are you going to invite me to tea? I love anything gingery and your cake looks good. You can keep the crab though; I’m allergic to shellfish.

I know deer can be a pain when they eat your plants but it must be lovely to have them in your garden Mel. I want to know what you are making with your clay or are you going to keep us in suspense? You’re certainly getting ready for Christmas good and early.

Oh dear AnnG, your poor grandson. First Covid prevented him taking up his job in Beijing and now this scam. It’s good he found out before he lost any more money. We all think we won’t get caught out but some of these scams are so clever and so hard to detect. I always think that the scammers could achieve something really worth while if they put half their brains to doing something legitimate.

I hope the hair colouring went well Gill. What colour do you use? I imagine you as a dark blonde or chestnut but I expect I am completely wrong lol.

Did you get the shredder Frank? Did you say you were going to Tesco’s as well? I reckon Ros must keep your local store going – what on earth does she find to buy? I have to admit I hate shopping and would never go from choice but I can understand that some people like shops and it must give her a break from the house. I also remember you said how careful she is with masks etc. and as long as she is really careful she should be fine. What about your oven? You don’t want to pay out for a new cooker if it is something minor that can be easily fixed. It sounds as though it was a bit frightening.

I hope you got your jab OK Ann and didn’t have to queue or stand around for long. It sounds as though I was lucky as the person who phoned with OH’s appointment suggested I was done as the same time. It was at our doctor’s surgery and the doctor who gave us the jabs said they find it quicker in the long run and more efficient to do couples together where possible. Your OH was unlucky with the length of time his optician’s appointment took and I can understand why he hasn’t yet chosen frames. Both OH and I were out in about an hour. During that time we both had photos taken of the back of the eye, pressure tests, field of vision tests and the normal eyesight tests with the optician, and chose and paid for our new glasses. Admittedly I didn’t linger over choosing frames. I was told I could try on as many as I wanted but not to put them back on the rack. I just looked around without touching and then chose 3 pairs to try on. I decided to do everything I could while I was there, rather than have to go back again. We have specific appointments for picking the glasses up.

I had a poor night again but don’t feel too bad today so I have got some jobs done. Towels are washed and dried, and all the sinks, basins and mirrors in the house are cleaned. I only intended to do our en-suite but then I just kept going. I’ve descaled the kettle and sorted out my order for tomorrow’s Sainsbury delivery and managed to book a Tesco one for 17th Feb, the earliest I can get with them but I’m hoping to get another Sainsbury one before then.

Then I had a phone call from my aunt, who was more like a big sister to me as she was only 6 when I was born. Sadly as well as the physical disabilities that she has had since her 30s she now has some dementia. It’s her birthday today and I had posted her a card which arrived yesterday. Yesterday she rang to thank me and told me she had moved and she didn’t know how I knew her new address when I sent the card. I just said she must have given it to me but, in fact, she hasn’t moved for the last 25 years. Today I had another call from her thanking me for her card and saying she hadn’t spoken to me for ages. Why do these horrid diseases always afflict the nicest people? She really is a special lady with a beautiful smile and everyone loves her.

I was a bit upset after her call and wandered into the garden and was immediately cheered up by a lovely birdsong. It took me a little while to see the bird but it was a wren sitting on a branch of a neighbour’s greengage tree that overhangs our garden. I couldn’t believe such a “little brown job” could produce such a loud beautiful song.

I apologise as I see I’ve written reams again. Where words are concerned it’s a case of wind me up and let me go. A few days ago I decided I ought to write something about a trip to Russia we made in 2017 before I started to forget all about it. So far I’ve written three pages and we haven’t left the house to go to the airport yet!!

Enough!!! I can almost hear your yawns of boredom from here. Take care and stay safe. Bye for now.

Vera I never get bored with your long posts they are always very readable. Yes it is sad that he got caught out. He not only had to give up Beijing’ but he also had an offer for Japan just before the three week lockdown and decided it was not sensible.
He is very laid back and although disappointed says it could have been worse.

What a shame about your Aunt. Hopefully she is not aware of the mistakes at the moment so it won’t upset her.

You have certainly been busy today and got a lot of cleaning done and here was me feeling virtuous for hoovering all downstairs. (That has not been my job for over 20 years.)

I love your long post Vera so son't stop writing long ones.

They worked ok but they are a bit bendy and I wish thye had gone harder. I.ll take a pic and send it. They are something I already have for my tree but my others are so old and only made of rolled up paper. I have had them over 22 years cos I had them before I was with oh.

Trouble with Annx and I we both have toy boys so thats why we can't have our vacs together. He's in a different age group to me being 4 years younger.

We hav'nt heard from Ann since her jab have we?

Mel, I'm in a different age group to OH as I am nearly 5 years younger than him but the surgery offered me the jab so I accepted the offer.

Vera your very welcome to come to tea for a slice of cake but you'll have to get your skates on as we've nearly had half of it :-D
We didn't enjoy the crab today it had been frozen and just didn't have the taste of a fresh one .

Hope Ann is OK and we hear from her later .

Colin is seven ýears older than me so I don't think we'll go together for our jabs .

Sent more of the deer a bit later on when the sun was out and my things I made.

I suppose it just depends on your surgery and how many they are allocated in certain weeks.

Come on Ann we need to know you are ok.

The deer are loving the sunshine Mel one looks like he's nodded off .
Love the candy canes .

Evening All,

I didn't sleep well thinking I might oversleep, but I was up before 7.00am and it was dry too. Very good organisation at the racecourse, they asked on the carpark about mobility and directed us close to where the entrance was. They said to sit in the car till 5 mins before my time so just a tiny queue of half a dozen people and we had to remove our masks before queuing and take a free surgical grade mask provided to wear to wear. Sanitised and temperature taken, we were then called inside in turn (we were given numbers like raffle tickets) and taken to a free station. They were asking whether you were white british etc as they are now collecting info on how many of the different minorities are turning up for vaccination. I'd say there were about 150 people inside being vaccinated. People were keeping well over 2 metres apart including the seats where we waited 15 mins after and our hands were sanitised again when we left.My appointment was 8.35am and my vaccination time was 8.39am so it couldn't have gone better, Mel they asked me which arm I wanted it in and I barely felt it.

I hope Frank got his shredder ok and that Harvey can sort the oven out. You can't be without that for too long.

Mandy Max must be quite a big boy on the sofa now. If he got on our small sofas there wouldn't be room for us. :-) Does he still try to get on your knee? :-D Frank will be envious of your fresh crab if you got one and I could fancy some of your ginger cake now. It looks perfect and very appetising. I was thinking the same about needing more paint, but have been doing smaller pictures instead lately! I also need some smaller brushes.

The deer look lovely and quite at home in your garden Mel. How nice to look out of the window and spot them! I take it that it is the clay that is in the oven? I wonder what it is you are making?

AnnG I expect your sleep will be a bit erratic just now. If you could keep up a bit of walking it might help you sleep better. I remember MIL doing accounts for the home.

I was trying to post a few times but OH kept coming in and chatting! Just seen your pics Mel and I love the deer having a snooze......so relaxed. The candy canes are great and you got the stripes nice and even too.

It is so hard to write This

Not unexpected but very sad to tell you that my beloved Tony died about half an hour ago.ago. Needless to say I am devastated.



Sent from my iPad

Anng, I'm so sorry and saddened for you <3

Oh Ann I'm so sorry for your loss ,it must be so hard for you not being able to be there with him at the end ,sending my love to you and your family <3

Ann, I am so saddened to read this. My thoughts, prayers and love are with you and your family <3

I'm so sorry to hear such sad news AnnG. It is such a shock to hear however much you know it will happen. Lots of love and know we are all thinking of you and sharing some sorrow too. <3

thank you all. xx

Just seen the news AnninGlos. My heartfelt SORRIES to you and yours.

I just popped in before going to bed. Not the best of days for me. I feel so tired, and listless, I just hope I can sleep tonight.

My poor old dads death is on my mind. 63 years ago when the police got us out of bed to get to the London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, where we sat and watched him pass away. He was everything you could ask for, in a Husband and Father. He would work his socks off to make sure we had food on the table. He ruled the NEST with an IRON ROD., but was everything, I hoped I grew up to be. Missed everyday even after 63 years. I just hope I am half the man he was.

As mentioned before it will be my Daughters 57th birthday tomorrow. I miss her so much. I would like someone to let me know she is healthy and also my THREE GRANDSONS.

Good night GOD BLESS to all of you. xxxx

O Anng I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Sending many gentle (((hugs))) and you know we are all thinking of you and are here for you whenever you need us. <3 <3 <3

Thank you all. Frank a sad time for your memories <3