General Chat

That does seem odd Vera if you have never, ever been the registered owner of a car. Your name and address would be on their records with having a Driving Licence though. I wondered if it was a scam as they are getting sophisticated these days. Are any DVLA phone numbers shown with the letter and do they correspond with those on line for DVLA? I was thinking that if you couldn't pay it in if you tried there might be a phone number to ring that could lead to a scam somehow. Otherwise it may just be a simple mistake at DVLA. The owner of the car could be someone with the same name as you, but maybe they pulled up and transcribed your details to the letter by mistake when searching for the car owner in their records? I would just send it back as you intend to do. I don't think there's much point in an explanation as they could say anything vague like 'an admin error'. It could just be a trainee getting to grips with their systems and screens.

What great news you have your grandson's wedding to look forward to! That will be nice to plan for over the coming year. Do check they won't be having a colour theme for guests though. I don't know if it is a new trend, but a friend of mine went to a wedding before Christmas and had bought a dress, crocheted a pretty cardigan or shawl to wear with it and had already got shoes and bag all well ahead of the big day, when she was told it was a navy and silver theme. She had to buy everything again!

Colour theme for wedding guests? :-0 How cheeky! That's just not on.

Just a thought Vera, maybe, if you send the cheque back put a line across it so that nobody else can cash it. Still seems to be a genuine mistake though but a careless one.

Frost this morning but a pretty pinky blue sky.
Still got lots of bits to do, I think we are pretty well finished with the funeral arrangements, except we are waiting for Grandson's fiancee to do the oreder of service so we can print them off and I need to order new ink. One thing with being constrained by numbers we know we don't have to do a horrendous amount of printing.

Still thinking about whether or not to go back with daughter, mainly because they like their house cooler than ours.I think there are pluses for both going and staying but I have another week to think about it. The empty house is not really a concern, I have done that for almost three months. Hmm have to see.

Good morning to you all,

No frost here, just a dull, damp morning. , Ros is all ready to go to meet Martine. We hv made a list of odds and sods that we need, including a shoulder of lamb for Sunday's dinner. It will make a change from Beef or Pork.

I just caught a bit of Cricket on TV. Root is on over 200 not out. and England have over 400 for four. So looks like we are putting on a good show.

I see the 6 Nations Rugy is on today. Having never played or followed Rugby, I doubt I will sit and watch it. but hope England do well.

Oh how I miss the pubs being closed. Saturday lunchtime Pint or two with a bit of banter with the lads. I expect things will get back to normal sometime in the future. I do feel for the shop owners who through no fault of their own, they are seeing their business's going to the wall. I am so pleased I am not a shop keeper /Postmaster any more.

Pleased to hear everything is going to plan with the funeral arrangements `AnnG. When is the funeral, ??

Time for another COT and a bit of toast.

Take care everyone. xxxx

Good morning to you all,

No frost here, just a dull, damp morning. , Ros is all ready to go to meet Martine. We hv made a list of odds and sods that we need, including a shoulder of lamb for Sunday's dinner. It will make a change from Beef or Pork.

I just caught a bit of Cricket on TV. Root is on over 200 not out. and England have over 400 for four. So looks like we are putting on a good show.

I see the 6 Nations Rugy is on today. Having never played or followed Rugby, I doubt I will sit and watch it. but hope England do well.

Oh how I miss the pubs being closed. Saturday lunchtime Pint or two with a bit of banter with the lads. I expect things will get back to normal sometime in the future. I do feel for the shop owners who through no fault of their own, they are seeing their business's going to the wall. I am so pleased I am not a shop keeper /Postmaster any more.

Pleased to hear everything is going to plan with the funeral arrangements `AnnG. When is the funeral, ??

Time for another COT and a bit of toast.

Take care everyone. xxxx

Morning all

Foggy here.
I woke up at 5ish and went to the spare bed - doggie was squeezing me out! I'm told it's because he loves me and wants to be close. I was in danger of falling out of bed!

Vera, I've re read your post. didn't realise it was from the DVLA. Give them a ring, they'll probably tell you to tear it up as they will cancel it.

I'll send a photo of a plant later, I need an i'd please.

Morning all,

Wet wet wet here ,I just went to the post box to post your card Mel before the snow comes ,don't know how long it will be about so thought I'd get it in the post in case I can't get out .

Vera I'd check the phone number on the letter that came with the cheque against the phone numbers on your own car tax reminder papers ,see if they are different then you'll see if it's a scam ,seems a bit odd to me .

Not a lot happening here ,we need to get the snow shovel up from the shed ,we're hoping Colin will be able to get to have his jab tomorrow it's a very bad road to get to the surgery all back roads and the road always gets blocked off when there's a good bit of snow .
We have no way to contact them to change the appointment as when they rang it came up private number .

Frank the funeral is the 12 February at 2.30pm

Good morning you lot,

You have been busy chatting while I was having a lie in. We have lovely sunshine today with blue sky and big white clouds but how long it will stay like that who knows?

Anng the tribute to T is lovely with some good pictures on it you have some lovely memories and the poem made me cry. <3 You seem to have had such a love between you and I know he will never leave your side wherever you are.

Frank oh like rugby better than football. He's never been a footie fan but will occasionally watch rugby.

Edit wrote this at 20 to 11am and forgot to post it.

Mandy, If you don't receive what looks like a card from me (probably Bristol postmark), by Tuesday would you let me know, I just can't remember if I actually did send one or just thought I had to send one. :-)

Island you were up late last night or should I say this morning. As to a colour themed wedding it must be like being back at school all in uniform colours. How silly.

Ok thank you AnnG i'll keep an eye out and let you know .
Lovely photo's on your tribute to T ,nice to see your wedding photo ,i too had a lump in my throat when i read the poem ,very moving .

I have a cake in the oven Marmalade fruit cake ,looks yummy on the picture it was in the WW this week ,made with Gluten free plain flour and mixed fruit but i just used normal plain flour and sultanas .

Grey and damp here again today, but it's not really cold. It certainly doesn't feel as though there is a load of snow about to be dumped on us. I am really concerned about the forecast for this area because of getting to the funeral on Monday. It will break my heart if we can't get there. OH has got the car ready, filled the tank and the water bottle, checked the tyres and put a shovel and a couple of pairs of wellies in the boot. I can't get mine on but luckily he has 2 pairs so if necessary I'll use his spare ones even though they are a bit big.

Island, have you tried phoning a government department lately? I'd be lucky if they answered this side of Christmas. My strange letter doesn't have any phone numbers on it but neither did my last letter from them which was definitely genuine. I don't think this letter is a scam. On the back of the envelope was a return postcode for undelivered mail so I googled it and it was the DVLA Returns Dept in Carmarthen. I also went on to the DVLA website and put in the vehicle registration number on the letter and it told me it was a Silver Toyota, first registered in March 2020 and it had been untaxed since 14th January. An "Administrative error" I think, though goodness knows how it could have occurred.

AnnG, thank you for sending the tribute page for T. It's very moving and the photos are lovely. I am sure you must have some wonderful memories to sustain you.

Mandy, I love the sound of your cake. I like anything that uses marmalade, particularly if I can use the more bitter ones. I occasionally make a marmalade ice cream which is a sort of grown-up ice cream and is yummy.

Mel and Mandy, I have posted cards for you but with the current postal problems and the promised snow I have no idea when they will arrive.

I think colour scheming for wedding guests is a bit 'orf' but it reminded me of a wedding we went to several years ago. We weren't told of any scheme but when we got there all the principle people i.e. the couple, the bridesmaids, parents and grandparents all wore combinations of red, black and white and the decorations were all in this scheme. It was a bit disconcerting to find ourselves using black table napkins! For once in my life, I fitted right in. By coincidence I had worn a black skirt, patterned in red, with a red silky top and a lacy black cardi :-)

Time to go and sort something out for tonight's dinner. On second thoughts it's time for a cuppa and a cake first ;-)

No Vera. I've had no need to. Just trying to be helpful - like everyone else.
PERSONALLY, I'd hang on to it just in case it is genuine. It would be a right palaver if you sent it back and it turned out you were entitled to it.
But hey......

Hi Island, I hope I didn’t come across as though I was getting at you . If I did I apologise. I was trying to be jokey!

I don’t think I could possibly be due tax back on a car when I have never owned a car. I must let them know so they can put it right as some poor person somewhere is waiting for his refund.

Could.nt keep my eyes open this afternoon so went ans threw myself on the bed with oh. He got up but he woke me at just after 6pm. Don'nt know if its the jab or just me being tired. Arms still a bit achey.

Vera I think the best thing you can do is send the cheque back in the undelivered envelope and a note explaining that you don't have that car. It must just be an error. It could be someone who has had corvid and died and thats why they hav'nt been on the road since January. It must just be a blip in the system somewhere along the line.

Oh has just said to me that someone may have been using your name and address as those departments don't usually make this sort of mistake. Please be careful. <3

Evening All,

We had thick fog this morning, but it's cleared now. We were both up just in time for lunch!! OH went up the close to post some letters for me while I got us some scampi, wedges, cauli cheese bakes and mushy peas. Which reminds me I never answered Mel about chicken strips! No we haven't tried them yet, but they sound good to go with the rice dish I make, I usually get the chicken pieces that you cook from frozen. They are nice too, but a bit big so I have to cut them up once cooked. The strips sound better, so I've put them on the next list! :-) I meant to ask if your cold has gone now.

The poem was lovely AnnG as were all the photos and it was nice to see Tony in his uniform looking so smart!

Mandy your marmalade cake sounds nice. I will have a look in WW! I love bread and butter pudding made with marmalade, but OH doesn't! :-S I hope Colin can get his jab before any or much snow comes tomorrow. We are hoping the same for Tuesday when OH's is. It is about 10 miles to the racecourse and across country through small villages. It might be an idea to take a shovel in the boot if there is much snow about.

I have been sketching a Clematis picture from the photo the teacher sent and it's taking ages, so I will finish it tomorrow as it's for Monday. I think it will take ages to paint!

Oh Frank I don't miss cricket, rugby, football or pubs, except those with restaurants of course! :-D Hubby is watching footie and rugby in the spare bedroom. I think women tend to meet up more in cafes or garden centres for a natter. I know when I visited pubs in my job and sometimes would be there with my laptop for a few hours, some men still looked at you as if you had no right to be there on your own as a woman! Ros seems to always be needing a lot of bits and bobs? Did you manage to get the heating fixed?

Doggie was probably dog tired with you keeping him awake too Island! :-) I'm curious about your mystery plant?

I hope Sandra has been sensible and decided to go back to her mum and dad's. There won't be a happy ending with her so called friend. I hope Gill is feeling a bit better too. She seems to pick bugs up when there is a lot of stress.

It was very nice Ann ,son said he would come and take Colin he said he'd wear his mask and he's tested twice a week ,he said he'd piggy back him there in his wellies if he had too .

Ha ha ha Annx!
That dog sleeps for the world once his head hits the bed. He tucks himself into the back of my knees and does that space invader thing that some people do in supermarket queues, when you move away a bit because they're too close and they close in. He's a dead weight when he's sleeping too and I'm not into weight lifting when I'm half asleep.LOL

I'll get that plant photo sent later when I've sorted dinner -I'm a bit lax today :-0