General Chat

We waited in all day Tuesday as we were told our DPD delivery was due, eventually got a message on Wednesday to say it was arriving. Driver then demanded my first name and then never posted the confrimation of delivery.

Told him I wouldn't give my first name but said I was Mrs... He claimed he needed to know my name as there possibly lots of people in the house with the same surname. So I eventually told him 'M' as he asked for an initial. M being the first letter of Mrs.
I've given totally false first names before ;-)

Amazon deliveries in Scotland may change as they are closing one of their sites, in the west I think.

I've ordered many things from Amazon in recent years, and they've always arrived very quickly and with no problems via either Royal Mail or Evri.

However, something I ordered on 5th January, and which was originally supposed to be coming by Royal Mail, and should have been here by now, is now apparently coming by DPD, and isn't expected to arrive until possibly 19th January, which is disappointing.
I don't think I've ever had anything via DPD before, so don't know whether to trust their word or not.

That's a good result about the high chair, Linda.


EDIT (13 Jan):
My parcel arrived today!

I admire people who are artistic. Any cards I made would end up looking like nothing on earth :-(

The saga of my parcels still goes on. It took a few emails to get the people who sent the high chair to understand that I was keeping it and needed to pay them again because .they had already refunded the money. They couldn’t work out how to do that so told me just to keep it.
The company who I bought. My son in laws present from offered me a discounted price just to keep,it, but I have no use for it, so just want a return label. That was fine until they sent a link to a label but they are using DHL and the nearest drop off point is a twenty minute drive from here. All of the drop off points are places where I have no reason to go, so I told them they were joking if they expected me to do a long round trip just to return their parcel.They sent the replacement by Royal Mail, so I asked why I can’t send it back via them, or Evri as there is a local drop off for them. I think they will have suspended their Evri contract after all all the problems they have caused them. They replied offering to let me keep it for only £15, a pretty good discount as it was £50 originally, but I don’t need it, so have said that if they insist on using DHL, they will have to wait a few weeks until I need to go to one of the locations . I await their reply today.

good afternoon all. I think we have your gales and rain here Florence, would you like them back? It was really nice first thing but by lunch time it was horrible and still is.

Your card sounds really nice, I hope your friend is pleased with it.

I still have 11 cards missing, at least one that I know was posted from very local to me.

I had very nice carrot and coriander home made soup for lunch. I made enough for two days and today was the last day so all gone now.

Afternoon chit chatters.
Well finally the gale has passed and the weather has settled down. The rain during the night pelted my window and was so noisy, I never slept that much.

Today I made my first birthday card for a friend in February and am quite pleased with it. A pink card, decorated with purple butterflies and a border plus little gems down the side. It took me about 1/2 hour before I was happy with the layout and then stuck it al down.3 pink feathers fanned across the middle.

Hall cupboard needed a sort out and we have now put up the xmas decs back in the loft. We are selling the xmas tree as we want a change but its still in good condition so hoping someone will buy it.

The postie has been with very little since before xmas. So I'm wondering how long before all the backlog of letters are delivered? I still haven't received 2 birthday cards, my dad did not receive my sons card and son never received his grandads card. I posted a birthday card mid Dec for a friend on New Years Day and it hasn't arrived either.

No veggie soup left but a little mackerel pate still in the dish for later just not sure what else to have today.

Hope all's well with everyone

Florence in the hebrides

I have been in a similar situation before with Amazon and they always say keep it, but these two are small firms. I want to keep the high chair, so may need to pay them again, but I don’t want the other one. I just want a postal label from them.

Some years ago, I had a similar situation with something which I'd ordered but which hadn't turned up.
The suppliers sent out a replacement - and both the original order and the replacement arrived a few days later, both on the same day.

I asked the supplier what to do, and they said just to keep both, at no extra cost, as they had already claimed on their insurance .

Fortunately, it was a duvet, and I didn't mind having an extra one!

I had a surprise this morning when Evri turned up with the four parcels missing ifrom before Xmas. Two were for me and two for my daughter. One of mine was the dolls high chair for Esme’s new doll. I am pleased with that as it is much bigger than the smaller second hand one I managed to find for sale locally. Her new “ baby” is a life sized newborn and she was struggling to fit it into the substitute chair. So now we have two highchairs so even more clutter.

I had a refund from the company so I have had to email them to ask what we do now. My second parcel was my son in laws main present.As that had gone awol, they sent a replacement out after Xmas with parcel force That came in a couple of days, but now the original has turned up. I have had to email them as well to find out what to do about that.As it was reasonably expensive, I assume they will want me to send it back, but I am not going to pay the postage

One of my daughters was her partners main present from her, so she is pleased it has turned up as ge is going back to London tomorrow. The other one was a dress she had ordered for Eve to wear at an Xmas party, a bit late for that now

It is dreary and dismal here, really dark, so we need the lights on

Good morning everyone.

Had to get up as the noise of the wind and rain lashing on my bedroom window woke me before 8am! Its been a vey stormy night. But at least we have power!

Daughter came home on Saturday with a great present for me......she has a dreadful cold and cough/flu virus. She tested negative for Covid, so that's a relief but still, I cant afford to catch this so she's staying in her room mostly until it clears up.

The first person I have said happy new year too face to face!

Off to the shower soon and then might make a birthday card for a friend in February and see how I get on with all me new accessories I bought.

Have a good Sunday all

Joan, thank goodness for that!!! The thought of having to go through that senario again getting a farmer to help would have been awful!

I did venture out to the bins awhile ago but wrapped up in a huge scarf. Was great to get some fresh air into me lungs, fresh being the operative word lol So didn't hang about for long.
I noticed a rose bud about to open :-S :-S :-S Noooo this isn't supposed to happen in January!

Good afternoon peeps.
The sun is out but by golly its a chilly wind outside!

JustGinnie, ouch that is awful, but I hope the antibiotics have started to work.
Yes I long for the day I can put out the washing, roll on good drying days.

Well I was busy yesterday. I had to take down all the xmas decs on my own as daughter elsewhere so started around 9.30am and was nearly 2pm before I finished.
I was exhausted. I had to move or rather swap over the 2 coffee tables but hoover first in the corner where the tree had been.

Its all back to normal now but although looks clean and tidy, its very bare looking!
I have cut the few cards I received and made tags using my pinking shears. The box was very much depleted so this had restocked a little.

On Sunday, call the Midwife returned and I love this programme so Sunday eve now has something good to watch.

Hope everyone is ok and keeping warm as although the snow has gone, the temperature is quite low!

Florence in the hebrides

Hello all, hope you are well;
OH finally received his appointment with the Urology Consultant after being referred in mid 2021, next app. in approx.2 weeks for more tests.
I managed to get an app. with the GP on Tues. and now have a course of antibiotics as have cellulitis on my leg. It started around Christmas but couldn't get an app. before due to holiday etc. Our GP is quite good but has to rely on locums as the other Dr retired just before Covid hit and not been replaced.

Another grey day here with showers so washing drying on the airer again. would love a nice day with a good breeze to dry outside. Everywhere is so damp . Will I be moaning in the summer about being to hot I wonder .lol.

Take care all.

Sorry to hear of your bad couple of days, Florence.

The Chinese takeaway may have had lots of monosodium glutamate in it, which is notorious for causing problems.

Even though you made the chow mein yourself, and wouldn't have been putting MSG into it, some brands of soya sauce do contain it.

The Kikkoman brand doesn't, I believe.


Cheesy potato pie sounds good!

Afternoon all
Not been well last 2 days as had a bad migraine which sadly i think i caused myself!! On NYE, I made a chicken chow mein for myself with basmati rise and naan bread. I went to bed at 11pm as did not want to stay up on my own.

New Years Day,I felt my head really sore and tried to be busy and ignore it but it got worse and I felt sick.
Sun eve, i phoned dad at 10pm but after 10 mins had to get off the phone as rushed to be sick. I got into bed cold, shivering and my head was pounding.

Yesterday, it was improving but really was only today I can say, my head is now normal and I feel ok.

This happened the last time we got a Chinese takeaway months ago and I developed a migraine hours after so am now wondering if its soy sauce or Chinese 5 spice that caused the migraine?? Either way, I shall not eat it anymore, its just not worth the pain however much i really enjoy it.

I was supposed to go out for the day today with a friend at11am But last night her FIL who is terminally ill at home, had a fall and was in a lot of pain so today was cancelled as they didn't think he would make it through the night, so sad for them.

The rain came and melted all the snow & ice which I'm glad about as it was a skating rink outside me front door but it is still very cold brrrr.

Ironed a basket of daughters things today so up straight once again.

Cant wait for her to come back on Friday, just so lonely here with no visitors about.

Making a cheesy potato pie with grated carrots and onions for tea with baked beans, yummy.My fav comfort food.

Hope everyone else ok.

Florence in the hebrides

I have two freezers Joan, or at least one and a half. I have a large fridge in the kitchen. A door goes into the double garage and just inside the garage next to the door, I have an upright freezer. Next to that I have a tall half and half fridge freezer.

I got the second fridge freezer at the start of the first lockdown as we had the whole family here and I needed more fridge space. Even in normal years, the extra fridge is very useful at Xmas. All of the Slimming World recipes I cook are serves four, so we eat half and I freeze the other half. It saves on cooking when I can just use a frozen meal

Happy New Year everyone.
Last night the time passed quite quickly. We played Cluedo and a other new board game which Eve had. It was almost midnight before I realised the time.We shared a bottle of bubbly and watched the London fireworks on tv. I turned in about 12.30, surprisingly I don’t feel too tired today.
I have just had a big soup making session. I made bacon and lentil, carrot and red pepper and leek and potato. I have fifteen lots to go in the freezer. Hopefully I can get them all in. That will keep us going for a while, but we do eat a lot of homemade soup.

Happy New Year to all :-D

I wonder what your present will be Joan, very mysterious!
Enjoy your Sunday roast and all the trimmings.

As I'm home alone and have been since Thursday, its very quiet here. Haven't seen or spoken to a soul except my dad on xmas day.
Last night went to bed at 11pm. When you are on your own at midnight, its awful and so went to bed and forgot it was New years Eve!

Beautiful winter, snowy crisp day here today, got some cracking photos.

Put on some washing and off to be busy dusting.

As for tea later, not very hungry so crumpets and marmite for me.

Hope everyone else enjoyed their New Year however you celebrated.

Florence in the hebrides

We came home yesterday evening, the girls had missed us. It was nice to get back into my own bed as the one we use at my son’s is too hard for me, it makes my hip ache.

I did yet more supermarket shopping this morning and I went out this afternoon and picked a large bag of litter from the locality. It was dreary and dismal out there, but it was better than just sitting in them house.

I feel like an early night, but that won’t be allowed, I will have to stay up for New Year .

Afternoon all
Well got so excited when I saw the postie :-D
he brought me my new binoculars, my stacking craft boxes and some craft cards in pastel colours.

Have just sat down after transferring everything from an old cardboard box into the various compartments. Its great and all tidy but.....I didnt notice the measurements so it was actually a lot smaller than I expected but it actually was ok and everything fitted in the compartments.

I can now see the shore and the sea through the binocs and can see the birds very clearly, what a difference they make.

Linda, I hope you are enjoying your few days away. I used to be a member of national Trust when i lived down south. Saved so much money on visiting places.

Joan, Ann, JustGinnie, hope you all are ok and had a lovely festive.

Damp & cold here but no sleety rain today.

Putting on the heating soon as my hands are cold and so is my back.

Right away to take out the rubbish now.

Florence in the hebrides

I am glad that you had a good time Florence I am in Evesham for a couple of days visiting my son. We have just been to Hanbury Hall a National Trust property. It was interesting, but very cold . The biggest problem was that they were refurbishing their large restaurant, so only had the little stable cafe open. They only had a few tables inside, so we had to sit outside to eat. Not terribly pleasant on a very cold day, but we managed. We did a long walk through the grounds with the dog as well.

I am glad to be back in the house where it is warm