General Chat

Afternoon folks
Very misty, damp day with that continuous rain where you don't realise you are getting wet!
The gale didn't really materialise as such, very breezy but not the extreme winds they forecast (usual story).
I have packed most of my case, sorted out handbag etc so quite organised.

Did a bit of ironing to keep it up straight as well.

I have also written out most of my xmas cards now, so they are ready for posting when we come back.

I so hope I don't have to have a repeat Lumbar Puncture as the very thought makes me feel awful!

It's so quiet here just now, I'm really looking forward to being somewhere busy! Sounds strange but we need some interaction with the outside world. I'm looking forward to a KFC and a Macdonald's filet of fish.

To most that doesn't sound very interesting but it's over 2 years since we had any kind of fast food, so will be a real treat.

What's everyone else been up to, anything exciting?

Florence in the hebrides

Afternoon peeps.
Well, the calm before yet another storm as tomorrow it's going to be blowing a gale, so the forecast said. This will last a few days so think the ferries on are alert....again!

I sorted out lots of paperwork to do with mums' estate on the computer and now have everything in its own file. There were so many gas bills and electricity ones, some were copies so trawled through everything and now all filed neatly just as I like it.

Created a file for Probate correspondence/solicitor and that's made it easier to find things quickly. In the beginning SIL would WhatsApp me images of bills etc and I would download and just put them all in one folder named "Mum." But very quickly it became so disorganised. Anyway, job well done and kept me busy for ages.

Its ben raining nearly all day and although calm, it's so dark and overcast that I have had kitchen light on all day!

I have done the washing, but the bedding will have to dry out in the boiler room for a bit and then tumble to finish off.

Enjoyed my mackerel pate last night with toast and cucumber and there's a bit left so that's my quick tea tonight. A week today, we shall be away to the bright lights of Glasgow...yay can't wait!

no cooking, cleaning or housework for 3 days, just brilliant.

Off to have a cuppa now and might flick the tv on as feeling quite tired.

Hope everyone else keeping well and ok.

Florence in the Hebrides

Well Joan it was a lovely surprise and she stayed nearly 2 hours, so we chatted very quickly in that time to bring each other up to speed with our lives.

The sun came out briefly and the rain stopped so daughter and I managed outside and cleared the weeds from the flowerpots. The roses and fuchsias had lots of that little weed that spreads so best to nip it in the bud.

Still can't believe all the flowers and lobelia that's still in full bloom...complete bonkers for November. Also, more rose buds about to open too!

Daughter has made a roast pork joint. Its huge but it was half price so she can make a few meals and freeze. I have marinated my 2 salmon fillets with soy sauce and pepper etc, mushrooms and onions for tea later and peas. Just don't fancy potatoes today so a low carb meal with few calories. I seem to be putting on weight with comfort food and little exercise!

Good idea Ann re the light. Don't think I have seen a battery reading lamp before. I have so many candles its looks like the Vatican City here in a power cut so we can read and play cards etc.

Have to say though since the scare in the previous house with the stove, I am very wary of lit candles and setting off the smoke alarm. So, we have lots of ornaments mainly for xmas, that have lights inside and are all battery operated as they are safer than open flames.

Have a good afternoon, all

Florence in the Hebrides

Still on lights I have just ordered a small battery desk/reading lamp. Hoping that if there is a power cut I will have enough light to read by from it.

Good morning, folks.
Well horrid day here, as pouring hard and very grey and dismal.

Not many fireworks here last night. The old school had their usual display early about 6pm and 2 gardens up the rd had some but that was it. I mean, who can afford fireworks when people are struggling with food and bills etc?

Names thank you for the info, I found them on Amazon.

Decided I shall change my Avatar picture to reflect the time of year etc so found this picture of deer in Autumn setting.

Joan hope your hubby had an enjoyable day yesterday and enjoyed the balloons etc. Did you bake a cake?

I had a lovely visitor yesterday evening, a colleague whom I haven't seen in 5 years. We used to work together years ago. She was passing by and decided to knock on my door. Was great to catch up and reminisce about the kids we taught and the funny stories etc.

So, ironing and a bed to strip today to do and hope I can hang out the bedding tomorrow!

Hope everyone ok

Florence in the Hebrides

Amazon!
Pack of three criacr motion sensor light cordless battery powered LE D light with 3m adhesive pads. £12.99.

We don’t have pets anymore so can have it low down at the base of a bookcase on the landing. It also gives us enough time to get back into bed after a little nocturnal journey.
We had one in the porch as well so she could switch off the hall light but still have enough light to work the keys. That one used to fall off sometimes.

Good afternoon, folks
Names the one I have, had a sticky thing on the back and whilst it's still going and I can replace the batteries, I had to find some picture strips to stick it on the cupboard wall. The sticky things it came with didn't last as long as I thought they would.

But your one sounds good. What's it called and where did you buy it from as that would save on batteries as it only comes on when required.

Not a bad day here today, bright and breezy and a little chilly but no rain so that's a bonus.

Well, it had to be done! Feeling a bit bored as daughter elsewhere, I decided to move the coffee tables around in preparation for the xmas tree to go on. So....yep,I moved things about, huffed and puffed mind you and now the tree is standing on the rectangular coffee table and smaller square one in centre of lounge.

Noooo I'm not going to decorate it yet it's just it was in daughter's bedroom and taking up lots of space so that's why I moved it. Anyway, nothing wrong with being organised lol Thats my middle name anyway!

Hoping my friend is coming later on for a coffee and a natter for an hour, she said hopefully!

Not sure what's for tea but had some of my lovely bread with brie for lunch and was delicious mmmn.

Right off to do a bit more organising ;-)

Florence in the Hebrides

We have a battery powered motion detector light on the landing. We bought it when our daughter ( then living with us)so she wouldn’t disturb us when getting up for a really early shift.
It is still useful - so we don’t need the upstairs light on as the little light comes on when we get near the top of the stairs and stays on long enough for us to get where we are going - then we can put that room light on.

Really pLeased we have it - u til the battery runs out and when there is no sticky left :-(

I am just looking over our lawn and there are lots of leaves for OH to rake off. We have a row of tall Beech trees at the end of the garden, they are still covered in leaves waiting to come off. If the leaves are dry, OH often uses our lawn mower set to a very high cut. It doesn’t touch the grass but picks all the leaves up and that is far easier than raking them up.

My son and his wife and crazy dog arrived at a holiday cottage on the moors yesterday. It is about a forty five minute drive from here. They always go to a cottage in the middle of nowhere over Bonfire night as at home, it is non stop fireworks and the dog goes crazy. They came here today and we went to the local garden centre for lunch. It is full of Christmas stuff already. They are going to the beach tomorrow, then we are all going to meet up on Saturday for a day out, then again for Sunday lunch. It is nice to see them as we don’t get together that often, although we Face time every week.
It us a shame that the weather has turned so suddenly as it has been so nice until, now. It is dark, cold and drizzly now, which it should be in November, but we have been spoilt this year

Joan have you thought about getting those battery lights i bought last year that can stick on a wall or just lay beside you on a table? I need to buy a couple more but the one in my hall cupboard is so bright, it brilliant.

I have also about 50 small batteries for all the little ceramic xmas lights i bought and about 100 candles so well prepared now.

But I need to buy 2 large flasks, something I don't have so hoping when we go to Glasgow in 2 weeks, I shall find some there.

Florence in the Hebrides

I thought in the afternoon the electric was going to go off as it was so wild and torrential rain, so shoved lots of comfort food in the oven and we had it early. Cheese & tom pizza, veggie spring rolls, handful of the last chips in freezer.

All went down very well and a cuppa coffee.
The wind and rain have settled down for now so glad for that.

Lots of goodies tomorrow once Tesco have been mmmn

Florence in the Hebrides

Just had a thought, seeing as we didnt have any kiddies for halloween, i have a spare tub of celebrations to be eaten ;-)

The weather is awful today, gales again and noticeably much colder. I read somewhere online that it may snow mid-month! Eeeek hope not as I'm away 15-17 Nov and praying the weather will be settled.

Feeling very sluggish today so small light chores and nothing strenuous.
Need to finalise Tesco order that's coming tomorrow and also, I have a tel call with Solicitor tom at 11am so need to get some papers ready for that call.

We filled a bag for the charity shop and daughter away to town to get rid so that made a bit of space.

Took the cakes round to my neighbour and she said her daughter and 5 friends walked up and down the village for Halloween and not 1 person opened the door to give them any sweeties! Found that a bit hard to believe as we are a small village, and we know most families anyway she thanked me for the cakes.

Joan, you must take care you don't slip on all those leaves in your garden and driveway. Sounds a never-ending job but it gets you outside and some fresh air I guess.

Local school is having its usual firework display after none for 2 years. Its free to watch but there is a bucket for donations. They sell hotdogs and burgers etc as well. It's too far for me to walk to and don't think I can stand in the cold for any length of time so quite happy to stay at home really.

Well cuppa nearly drunk so off to tidy up and clean the sink etc then the bathroom and that's me finished with the chores for today.

Hope all is well with everyone

Florence in the Hebrides

It is the trick or treat fad that came from USA that causes problems in some areas. Apparently somebody on the next estate had her house egged. we didn't have any visitors last night in this road. I and my neighbours didn't have any Halloween ornaments etc on view. It is the done thing to only call at houses that display Halloween things. Most of the ones who go round I believe go in groups with adults present. and they only expect sweet/fruit etc not money.

I did one year before OH died, have a rather large teenage boy knock and growl 'trick or treat'. I said 'Oh of course have a treat' and gave him the same sweets I was giving out to little ones. he was so surprised he muttered 'thanks' and left. he was not dressed up either, just had a mask on.

Guising was what we did in Scotland - and some still do , but not nearly so much now.

Yes, it was done before 5th November, going round with a cart or old pram or similar, containing a home-made "guy", and collecting (begging if you like) money for fireworks, etc.

The same term was used at Hallowe'en, but then we dressed up in home-made spooky costumes (an old sheet or maybe something more imaginative).
Money wasn't involved, at least as far as I was aware.
And we didn't expect something for nothing.
We had to perform some sort of entertainment for the householder, telling a joke, reciting a poem, singing a song.
In return, we were rewarded with apples, nuts, sweets, and so on.
No threats involved!

Any Excuse!

I have to say recently Halloween and Guy Fawkes seem to be the same thing? Halloween was trick or treating where mostly you got sweeties given to you.

Guisers were those who go round collecting what we called "a penny for the guy". The money would be used to buy fireworks for bonfire night. We also made a guy and either pushed it in a pram or on go cart.

So, Guisers at Halloween?? Is this something new? And why are fireworks being let off at Halloween?

I had no idea that jokes and singing were part of it. Never heard any singing at any neighbours.

The kids don’t even Carol sing at Christmas nowadays. The last few just sang ‘ we wish you a merry Christmas. We used to go round and sing proper carols and that song was a thank you as we went back down the path.
I remember one year when the kids at he door demanded a donation in both collecting pots. So their own charity? ;-)

Sorry peeps, phone rang so had to dash off.

Yes, it was considered begging knocking on the door and expecting something in return, so we were not allowed.

I was hearing on the radio yesterday of someone in Wales who turned their garden into a Cemetry I think with really disgusting gory ghoulish things and people drove 50 miles to come & view!!! Would scare the children to death and not just the children. So over the top and yes, The Americans are to blame for that.

Look at Dundee last night and trouble the youths caused there. Throwing fireworks at police etc and burning bikes causing roads to be closed, what a disgrace! The locals are dreading Bonfire Night.

I had bought a tub of sweeties too but shall keep them for xmas now.

Think I may go outside for some fresh air as still lovely day. My head is so sore as sinuses are dreadful.

Florence in the Hebrides

No guisers here last night.
I don't blame them - it was far too wet.

Not that there are many normally now in any case.
Parents don't want to let their children go wandering around in the dark these days, nor knocking on random doors.
We used to enjoy hearing the children's songs and jokes before they were rewarded with apples, sweets, etc.

I greatly dislike the American "trick or treating" which has taken over.
It's unfriendly and threatening, demanding money, with the threat of retribution if you don't pay up.

When I was young in S W London Halloween just didn’t happen except for one birthday party where we just did things like apple bobbing. No ghoulies or Ghosties.

But there would be lots of ‘penny for the guys’ a few days later and fireworks in the garden.

I still don’t get involved in Halloween - a money making event for some.