General Chat

Happy Birthday Florence.

Sending warm greetings even though you have received few cards.
I hope you enjoy your day.

"Doing our bit for the environment" sounds better than "It's too expensive."

Every year our church organises a village Christmas lunch, and this year , for both those reasons, we've decided not to have Christmas crackers.

I don't think anyone will miss them.


Happy birthday, Florence!

Good morning
What a beautiful day, sunny & bright but crisp.
I was disappointed when the postie came yesterday and never had a single card for my birthday today!!!
However, my daughter gave me a lovely card and gift and she also had a card from my son, so I was thankful for those.
3 friends messaged me to say they are not sending Christmas or birthday cards any more as doing their bit for the environment :-S :-S

Why don't we just not celebrate anything anymore then, but will that save the planet??

Anyway, had 2 bunches of gorgeous flowers and they are now sitting pretty in my lounge windowsill

Seems snow is forecast this week in Northern Scotland, but I think it will miss us.
A dusting on xmas eve would be pretty though.

Happy Sunday everyone

Florence in the Hebrides

Very worrying for you Linda with StrepA about, hopefully it is a different bug but wise to keep an eye on it. Pleased that Esmeralda is better though.

Thank you Florence. Esme is very chirpy and eating again, so she can go back to school on Monday.
Eve is attempting to eat some of my lentil and bacon homemade soup. It is smooth, so, easy to swallow. The rest of us were having pasta, but she said that her throat was too sore for that.

It is really cold here, I ventured out to the supermarket, but was glad to get back. It is forecast to be even colder at the end of the week

Oh, Linda poor lassies and what a worry for you!

So, hope they make a good recovery very soon.

Florence in the Hebrides

You are all so organised with Xmas, I am only just starting to think about it.
Esme has been off school for two days, she had a runny nose, but then started being sick. She must have thrown up about a dozen times on Thursday. We put bed pads on the bed, but she still manages to get the bedding, so there has been lots of washing. She spent all day yesterday in her bed as well, refusing to eat, just having drinks. Thankfully this morning she is a lot better and has been up playing and is eating again.
In the meantime Eve got it. She wasn’t very well on Thursday evening and came through t9 wake me up at 1.39am because she had a headache, very sore throat and a high temperature. Poor thing was very ill yesterday, but she managed to sleep last night and is better today, but still not well. With all this talk of Strep A, we are keeping a good eye on her. Poor thing was supposed to have been spending the day at Ripon Cathedral with her school choir on Friday, but she missed that of course

Good afternoon, all.
Well, the mince pies turned out fine and I managed a wee while ago to walk round to no 1 and give them a pack of 6 plus a handmade card. Shes lovely my neighbour and thanked me before I tried to hurry back lol stick in hand as the blooming rain started.

I swear it waits for me to leave the house before showering down on me!

Ann, I had my eyes on Charlie from the beginning to win but feel maybe the Indian chappie could snatch it as he is really good.

Just Ginnie, my mums flat is completely empty now. We had estate agent round to value and they suggested a coat of white paint all over the walls etc and the ceiling before putting it on the market. So, brother has an estimate from the decorator to do this including paint £1800. It will be spring before it gets put up for sale as the chappie is fully booked until end of January!
We had about 20 boxes that went to various charity shops and hospices.

Joan, glad you are nearly at the end of your leaf clearing system. You deserve a good break after all the work you have done in the garden,

All my cards have now gone Ann as well, but nothing is getting through to us!!

I'm all for workers standing up for themselves and fighting for decent wages but why couldn't they have done this at a less busy time of year. I mean we are spending huge amounts of money sending things and not getting the service. It's very mean.
Apologies to all posties but it's not very Christmassy without cards, and not fair on kiddies who don't get their gifts from families living away is it?

I'd better start in Jun next year and send everything by 1st October grrrr

Florence in the Hebrides

Good morning all. grey and cold here but dry.
Florence yes I am watching masterchef. some of the food looks delicious.

I posted my cards yesterday goodness knows when they will get there as the post offices all have large backlogs.

Ginny glad you have the house contents sorted, one thing off your mind. Hope the new neighbours turn to to be nice it makes such a difference.

Expecting my son to come for an hour or so in a minute to collect their presents and bring mine.

Joan, best stay indoors in the warm.

Good morning everyone, hope you are all well and reading previous posts it seems you have all been keeping busy getting ready for Christmas or tidying your gardens.

We have new neighbours yet again, I haven't met them yet but OH has spoken to the chap and said he seems ok. lol. A man of few words my OH unless it is about football or racing.
I am so not ready for Christmas, haven't got anything sorted at all. Must get a move on or it will be jam and toast for dinner. Haha.

Finally finished sorting my sisters house contents out. Boy did she have a lot of stuff that I had never seen her wear. A bit of a shopaholic . All now is being done by the solicitors re probate and house sale.
These last few years haven't been the best have they for anyone and with all the problems with cost of everything it looks like it isn't getting better any time soon.

We had a chap come round from a charity asking if we would be interested in joining a scheme for housing a homeless young person if we had a spare room, which we don't . Not sure we would want to as OAPs and not being as mobile as we were. Not really sure if it was some kind of scam either just seemed strange thing to happen out of the blue.

Anyway have a nice weekend all and take care .

Ginnie


:-D :-D

Good morning peeps.
Still grey and overcast here and quite chilly so not a very inspiring day to get things done!

The last of my parcels, daughter took on the bus to the Post Office. Oh my, I was beginning to get a bit fed up with all the parcelling, never mind the wrapping!

Every year, I say, I will cut down but when you have children to buy for, I hate just giving money or a voucher as it's not very exciting for them on xmas day!

I also have only done 60 cards this year as a few haven't sent for 2 years, so I crossed them off my list. I'm getting annoyed with a few friends who decide to tell me after I've sent cards, they are not doing cards anymore!

I seem to send plenty but am not seeing so many coming here but I don't send to get back its just the principle of it.

Making mince pies tomorrow for my neighbours so looking forward to that. I shall pop round in the afternoon with 6 each and a xmas card.

What's everyone else up to?

Anyone watching the MasterChef finals week?

Florence in the Hebrides

good afternoon, folks.
Overcast and grey here but less windy and dry for now.

Since I had a visit from the nurse for my Covid jag, I felt awful for 2 days. Felt sick and had a blinding headache and just out of sorts. Today I'm feeling almost back to normal but hated feeling like that. Don't think I shall have any more boosters.

Some of my parcels have been sent but still a few more so was busy earlier finalising the packing etc. I just don't seem to be as organised this year although I started quite early!

Joan, I planted lots of little anemone bulbs in a tub and they have grown so quick!! Eek was supposed to be flowering in Springtime. If we get frost or snow, I do wonder if they will survive?

Good that you got some outside work done Joan. The trees must be nearly bare now. I'm thinking mackerel pate with toast and salad, or a cheesy potato pie made with grated carrots and onions too. Have that with baked beans.

Choice's choices. I do feel I need something hot & filling as not eaten much as wasn't feeling well so think cheesy potato pie it will be.

Linda, your trip to York sounded lovely visiting the xmas markets. i have never managed to do something like that but would love it. All the hot food and xmas lights, mulled wine etc.

Hope you got a pair of boots sorted now.

Ann, how are you doing and anyone else looking in? What are your plans for Christmas? Are you getting visitors or going away?

Christmas day will just be myself & daughter and then shes off elsewhere so shall be home alone over New Year :-(


Take care all

Florence in the hebrides

It hasn’t been a bad day here, just a bit damp. We we went to York and got there just before lunch. It was incredibly busy with all the Christmas markets on We couldn’t get in from lunch in the first couple of places we tried, but ended up in Wagamamas which the girls like. We were after an Xmas party dress for Eve. She had ordered one from Monsoon on line, but she is so slim, that it was too baggy, so had to go back. We went to the Monsoon shop in York, but incredibly found that it was closed for an hour because they were short staffed! The only thing we got was an Xmas jumper and some ordinary tights from Primark. We tried a few shops for a dress for Eve, but with no luck. There is plenty of stuff for small girls, but she takes age 12 and there is nothing at all. Her mum will just have to try and order some dresses from Amazon and hope we can get one to fit.
I wanted to buy a replacement pair of black ankle boots from Hotter while they were in the Black Friday sale, but they didn’t have my size in the shop. I could get them online, but the discount is only thirty percent, but forty percent in the actual shop, so I will wait until after Xmas

It was dark by mid afternoon, so it was nice to see all of the lights

Afternoon peeps
What a horrid dull dark wet & windy day it is and am so glad I don't have to venture outside.
It just seems the gales have last day & days, ferries cancelled etc and shelves in places are depleted.

Joan so glad the tanker got out of the bog and moved away from your driveway. So lucky there was a farmer able to help!!

I'm waiting on my neighbour who is coming for coffee at 2pm. It's been so long since we had a catch up, I'm really looking forward to seeing her. Shes the lady who was taking us swimming, but we haven't been in ages.

So, it will be good to get some fresh news and maybe learn something new.

Yesterday we were Sooo busy. Wrapped lots of parcels, stamped cards and then......we put up the xmas tree. A little earlier than usual but so glad it all done.

Don't think I have ever put it up before my birthday but makes the room look lovely.

A nurse turned up without any phone call yesterday as well to give me my 3rd Covid jag. I'm ok but my left arm is quite sore so leaving the basket of ironing until tomorrow as just couldn't face it. I didn't sleep a wink last night either, so not sure if that's related to the jag or whatever?

Can't believe the month is nearly over, it has flown by and with all these postal strikes coming up, I just wanted to get things away asap and then no one will be disappointed.

Happy Sunday everyone and stay safe

Florence in the hebrides

Joan, hope the tractor managed to get the tanker out of the mud? Hope he had already delivered your oil though!

Oh Joan, what a nuisance. How is it stuck? Are the wheels sunk in the verge of the path or something. Surely the guy delivering your meds could park and walk up to your house? It would be awful if he just drove off and hubby didn't get them.

Actually, I'm waiting on my prescription being delivered and they haven't come back to me so I hope I get it by Monday latest otherwise I shall run out of one of my meds.

Florence in the Hebrides

Afternoon folks.
Well hardly slept last night as the wind & rain kept me awake. When I got up this morning all was calm but now it has blown up again and some hefty showers.
Daughter went to town on the bus to do some coop xmas food shopping as they do a free home delivery later this afternoon.

I now have nearly all the xmas presents and so tomorrow shall be sorting them and wrapping ready for sending beg of Dec. With more strikes maybe coming, I don't want to disappoint anyone if their parcels don't arrive.

Have been having a deep clean of the kitchen cupboards and work surfaces today as so many crumbs behind the toaster and biscuit tins!!

I couldn't find the cellotape and then remembered it was in a box in the hall cupboard. Oh my! I had to practically empty all the boxes before I found it along with the parcel tape right at the bottom. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to put it there???

Hope all ok with everyone.

I think it's time for a sandwich and a cuppa as time is marching on.

Florence in the Hebrides

Afternoon peeps
Well the rain is still here and by golly its brrr, wouldn't be surprised if it snowed.

Postie just came and left a huge box in my porch, but it was very light. I opened it to find a 2023 calendar and a small canvas picture. Both xmas gifts for children.
But honestly, all the paper packing and the size of the box was so unnecessary!

It would have fitted in a box half the size or maybe an A3 padded envelope, such a waste of cardboard.

Tesco came early at 10.30 after saying 11-12pm but I didn't mind as it meant I could get on with other things and not hanging about waiting on them.

Was watching a new drama last night before and after the news at 10 called Tokyo Vice. It was really good and as it continued after the news, it finished late but just had to keep watching! Think there are 7 more episodes to watch.

Made some bagels (see other thread) but was disappointed with them as too stodgy!!?? Going to stick with scones and sponges me thinks.

The only bread I have made that worked was during lockdown. I made soda bread and added lemon juice to milk to make butter milk. It was tasty and rose well. Bread has never been a favourite of mine and never works. Not sure what I do wrong, but I shall just buy my bread in the supermarket as less hassle.

Hope everyone else well and fine today

Florence in the Hebrides

Good morning peeps.
It is hosing it down today and poor daughter got soaked whilst waiting for 5 minutes for the bus, poor lass.

Had quite a busy morning so far and not lunchtime yet.

Had to phone sols and try and locate mum's lease as they don't have it and the estate agent asked to see it. So various phone calls made and have located a copy so that will suffice.

Had to call the landlord as daughter showed me green mould in the corners of her window ledge in her bedroom behind the silicon seals. They were very quickly on the phone arranging for someone to come on Thursday to deal with it. I shall get them to check all the seals on the windows and make sure non elsewhere.

I think it's the seals outside under the window where the problem is.

Tesco coming tomorrow so have just completed an order so thats that ticked off my list.

Courier will be here soon with some deliveries as I just got a message. I had ordered various things from Amazon & Studio for xmas presents. That means as daughter is away until Friday, I can get wrapping without her seeing anything.

Having another bowl of my soup for lunch and will finish it for tea so no cooking today...yay :-D

So, a very busy morning, but the time passes more quickly when you are busy.

Hope everyone else having a good day

Florence in the Hebrides

Oh Joan, that's quite a common but annoying occurrence here too!

One summers day it was beautiful, no wind, no rain just sunshine and then the power was off for about 5 hours. Couldn't understand why or how but later found out a bird's nest at the top of a pole had gone on fire so they had to find a replacement pole!

There is a website that shows the areas without power in Scotland and if an engineer is on site. It's called SSE Power Track Map. Google it and have a gander. So, if yours goes off and on, in-between that you can google and see if an area close by is off.

I decided to make a leek, potato, lentil and any veggie soup this afternoon. I grated the carrot, and it was very tasty with crusty bread. There is enough for 2 bowls tomorrow. yummy.

Florence in the Hebrides