General Chat

Afternoon all,

We have a very cold rainy day ,son was coming to get the Christmas tree in its stand ,we always have the real tree stand one side of the front door with the lights on but I messaged him and he's now coming another day perhaps tomorrow as its going to be a drier day .

Anng that must be quite a sight to see the big ships come into port, hopefully all on board will be home for Christmas now until they sail again .

Oh Mel you had quite a day yesterday with one thing and another ,hopefully fingers crossed you've solved the problem with the car now .

I was going to dust and hoover upstairs but I got side tracked by going in an upstairs cupboard and getting the Christmas lights out ,I've checked them all to make sure they are working and left them in a couple of shopping bags in the conservatory, I can get them up when i want now a few at a time .

Mel the miniature programme is on at 2 o'clock today .

I'm up to 13 degrees now but it is like Gwyn dark and very windy. My dad was in the navy as was his brother and their father. Dads brother died on the Archeron just off the Isle of Wight on I think the 27th Dec.

Gwyn amd the two big carriers look even larger when they come through the fairly narroe entrance. I would have loved to have been there yesterday.

I just took a look Ann.
Great pictures of the homecoming.
I used to love to watch ships coming into harbour in Portsmouth.
They are so close, because of the natural narrow entrance.

A gloomy dark day here with really howling and whistling wind.
I think I'll be staying in.

Morning all,

Overslept this morning did'nt wake till 10.18am and I wanted to go to the post van today but there no way I am going to get there now. I have 10 old pound coins to change up ( found in a box of change in a draw) and wanted to post a little parcel.

12 degrees here and pc is telling me rain ahead.

I am going to turn on my red ceiling lights tonight the ones oh put up years ago and said he was'nt taking them down. I have used them every Christmas since and only at Christmas. They're a terror to clean as the spiders love them.

Just had a memory moment looking on line . A set of wonderful photos of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales returning to Portsmouth yesterday after a 6 month (I think ) draft away. I can remember waiting on Plymouth Hoe to welcome back HMS Eagle after a 6 month draft. <3

Good morning all and 'white rabbits' or whatever. December already, always glad to see the back of NovemberA particularly horrible month of November 2020 to remember, not that December was much better and January 2021 when T died was even worse. Still I won't dwell on that, it does get easier to live with memories.

Nothing planned for today it is 12 degrees so not cold but very very wet. I think Louise who I went out with yesterday is going to pop me round the chemist to put my order in for my next prescription which I should be able to pick up next week when I go to the hairdressers.

Slept ok, Had an hour in the middle of the night when my wound was hurting and I had not taking pain killers before bed. So gave in and was able to get to sleep once they worked. I have been taking 2 at a time I think next time I need a dose (I am not taking them constantly from today, I will see if just one works. It doesn't seem to be just the wound that hurts but all round that bit of my leg so I am assuming it must be where all the injections went in (I lost count of how many).

Mel that was quite a day that you had maybe the clutch on your new car has to be fully engaged before it will start. Do you have a book for the car? That will tell you. If you think that the car will stall if you try to engage gear without putting the clutch in then that might remind you.

And it is not good to go so long without eating, You will make yourself ill and you can't afford to do that with being on your own. At least have a banana which will give you energy.

Gosh what a day I have had. Slobbed around a bit this mroning then had a nice long shower and did a wash. Fed the girls and the Robin and Wren and then I thought I would try the car again. No luck still would'nt start. Came in and took my pill about 1.36pm and thought I would get something to eat. Sorted out some mealworms for the wild birds and then BIL arrived while I was on the phone to his youngest sister so I hung up and he rang on his phone as mine on speaker is so quiet. After that he said he would be able to fix oh's pc up for me and transfer my data onto it. we went in the study and I switched it on and everything is working ok. He has a horrid mouse on it thats a gameing mouse and it moves from one screen to another so I keep losing it as the cursor disappears so fast with the slightest touch.

I had still not eaten then BIL tried to start the car and it went first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He did it three times and then I noticed he had his foot hard down on the cluctch and he had waited till a lot of the lights on the dash had gone out. I think that may be where I was going wrong. Anyway he said he would take me down the church to put the Advent ring up so we drove down there and I did that. Coming back up to the car I could see BIL taking to Susanna who had the donkey and a pony I had'nt seen before taking them in for hay. The donkey dos'nt like a lot of people but I went up to him and he had a nice nuzzle about my coat and I tickled his muzzle and we got on fine. Susanna said she has a girl coming to look after him but Zebadi dos'nt react to most people like he did with me.

BIL brought me back and then left. Still not eaten I thought I woud go and try the car again to see if I could get it to start and blow me I did BUT the seat was too far back for me to press the clutch right down and I think thats where I was going wrong. I put the seat forward and tried again and it was ok. Then I had to take the recycling up the top so I went up in the car and did that. Corned the girls an dcame in and a parcel arrived. Came on here and I still hav'nt eaten anything so now I am going to go and do a nice bacon and egg granary roll.

I'm posting this before it disappears

It’s been a sunshine and blue skies day but so cold. At the moment it’s 5 degrees but feels colder. I should have taken the opportunity to get out into the garden this morning but somehow I just couldn’t get in the mood.

Annx and Mandy, I had never heard of Shein so thought I would have a look at their website. I never did get a look at it as each time I tried to get in I was forbidden access. I wonder what it is about me that they don’t like?

AnnG, it sounds as though you had a nice little trip to Dunelm. We don’t make a special trip there as one is at Colchester and the other at Bury St Edmunds and neither in the town centre, but if we do happen to be in the area we usually pop in and have a look around. They have some nice bits and reasonably priced.

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble starting your car Mel. Is this your new one? I hope Stu can sort it out for you quickly and cheaply.

Annx, you mentioned that I, like AnnG, seem to be out and about a lot of the time. That is true but the reason is that we try to do as much as possible while we still can as we are aware that when we can no longer drive we will be very limited. Our bus service to anywhere isn’t good. We are already limited by not driving after dark anymore so we can only go to theatre in, say, Colchester in the summer for a matinee. I’m not even sure about my next hospital visit which is mid-afternoon so it will be dark when I come out. At the moment it looks like a taxi each way which will be at least £80. Our friends are mostly our age and don’t all drive so we can’t rely on them for lifts. This is why we get out when we can, even if it’s just a cup of tea with a local friend.

First thing this morning I repotted an orchid. I am an orchid killer but I’ve managed to keep this for a couple of years and it has bloomed twice. I am hoping this one will survive my handling and bloom again. A granddaughter bought it for me so I’d like to keep it going as long as possible.

I also managed to write half a dozen more cards though some of the addresses look as though they have been written by a drunken caterpillar. I meant to sort out label printing so that I didn’t have to write the addresses. For some reason our printer, just a normal Epson, doesn’t want to print on any normal size label. Needless to say I forgot that I intended to sort the printer until I was starting to write the cards and then couldn’t spare the time to fiddle about with it.

I’m feeling very full up at the moment. We usually have our main meal at around 2 pm on Sundays and as I gave OH stew last Sunday I decided to give him his favourite roast dinner today. I like a roast too. We had loin of pork with potatoes, parsnips and carrots all roasted and a big helping of cabbage; apple sauce and gravy as well of course. That was enough but we followed it with apple strudel and cream. I usually have a glass of wine but today I had 2 glasses and we finished up with a large mug of tea. Now I can hardly move!

On to the next job now, a bit of filing and admin. First, I have to pay the Council for another year of garden waste collection as the invoice comes to me. It seems to go up every year. For this coming year it is £69 but we couldn’t manage without it as our only other choice is to take all our garden waste to the tip the other side of town.

Temperature has gone down another degree just while I have been writing. Snuggle under that duvet tonight and stay warm.

Evening All,

I was expecting rain today but we haven't had any. The wind is getting up now though. OH has gone for a short walk. He wasn't keen till I said I'd get him a hot chocolate when he gets back. :-D

I haven't done much today. We had lamb shanks for lunch with plenty of veg. It's good to see OH polish his food off now. I did parboil some potatoes that are cooling before bagging up with a drop of cooking oil for the freezer for Christmas dinner A roast chicken sounds nice Mandy and there's usually some for another day or sandwiches which is good. It's good you just need to finish the tassles to get Chelsea's blanket done. You've done well to get three made and I wonder what you will do next. I still remember the pretty fabric Christmas trees you made one year, You've made some fantastic things over the years.

I like Dunelm and my current duvet cover is from there. I haven't been for ages though as the nearest one must be 10 miles away and means driving through the city which isn't pleasant these days with so much traffic. AnnG you seem to always be going somewhere like Vera, but when OH was working full time, being on my own a lot, I too would find somewhere to go a lot of days. I still would if my knees were better, but at least I can still potter more than some.

The ginger and white cat was in the garden earlier. I think he must have still been a kitten before as he has filled out and grown now and looks very well cared for. He keeps on the move though so no chance of a photo yet!

Mandy for somebody who doesn't get out a lot Dunelm is a treasure trove.. I did manage to buy something I wanted, a small stir fry (wok) pan. I still have the large one we used when T was alive but it is too big for one. So that was a good buy, and had a really good look round, friend bought a step stool and a Vileda mop.

Foot is still sore but not as bad as it was.

Morning all,

3 degrees here and I think there was a slight frost when we got up but now we have a clear blue sky with hardly a cloud.
We were going to sons for coffee but son reminded us this morning that the town is closed today ready for the lights switch on later so the traffic will be diverted so we decided to stay home .
We're having roast chicken tonight so I need to get the veg done and I need to get the tassels on Chelsea's blanket and its finished .

Anng I've never been to a Dunelm but I do look online and they have some lovely
things ,is the wound less sore now .

Mel I think it sounds as if you need that PC man in to sort out your PC and the one your OH used too before it really gets so you can't get on it at all.

Well the last day of November and just 25 days to the big day I really don't know where this year has gone its passed so quickly.

Morning all,

Cold this morning and could'nt tell if there was a frost or not but its 4 degrees and pc saying rainy days ahead so no change there then. At the mo the suns shining and theres blue sky with little white and grey clouds.

Pc still playing up can't get on the net or even on here and I have to sign in every time I ccome on here. Wish BIL had'nt got a cold and could come and look at it.

Good morning all. only one degree this morning but I was surprised not to wake up to a frost. When I got up for the loo at 3am the sky wasreally clear and I could see so many stars it was beautiful. I stayed looking for quite a long time then went back to bed and slept until 7am.

This morning friend over the road is taking me with her to Dun Elm for a look round. She knows I don't like being in all the time and often takes me with her when she is going to the out of town shops. Not sure what she needs there but it is a way of getting out and we can have a coffee and a chat in dun elm.

Thanks for the mention of the progs Mandy. I will see if I can record them next. I bet the girls find some lovely bargains for themselves on the site, but not so good if you want something in a hurry then. I found a popup Christmas card with a piano on it for Terry last year. Fancy all those bulbs going so close together. I bet you couldn't believe it! This afternoon I cleaned a dangling spider's web off a kitchen light fitting that's only been up a few months. It was from right inside the bulb holder and I thought I didn't want him fusing the lights!

Just noticed Kirstie's Handmade Christmas is on this coming Thursday channel 4 at 8 o'clock it's just the one programme.
Also the Marvellous Miniature Workshop starts on Monday BBC 1 at 2 o'clock.

Ann the girls have a lot of things from Shein but I think you have to wait for things to come sometimes as they can take a while .

Mel be careful using the other toaster in case it's got damp from being in the caravan ,you don't want to blow your electrics .

We've had three bulbs go lately ,one was the cooker oven bulb ,luckily I had a spare and then two bulbs in the conservatory light went one night and then the following night another went ,there's three bulbs in the light so we're just waiting for the other one to go , so while son was here he ordered some more from amazon.
I also ordered some little stitch in fabric labels so I can add them onto the things I make .

Can you turn the toaster down a notch, Mel?

Maybe there were crumbs caught, which burned.

I bought an oasis ring to make the wreath.
I would have put white or red candles, but the vicar gave us purple and pink, with the centre one white.
All news to me, so I will look up the meaning of the different colours :-S

Guess what ??? The toaster is now burning everyhing so I have to keep my eye on whats in there or it burns. It was ok with my crumpet as I stood and watched it. So it looks like I now need to buy a new toaster, but wiat I think there's a little one up the caravan. Shall have togo up there tomorrow and have a look but I think it only does two slices and sometimes I have three.

Finished mine, It just has to be taken up the church now and wired onto my stand which is already up there.

There's always problems though. I went to go up the hsop thgis morning and the car would'nt start. Just like when I came home from Stu's with it yesterday. I did'nt find out till after Stu had closed for Saturday but my neighbour Aaron had just come down to tell me he was about to cut the tree up I told him he could have. He said he would go and get the car and take me up the shop. After that he took me to Stu's but all he said was to ring him on Monday. Not helpful!! I shall have to ask Aaron if he will pop me up the church if I can't get it started tomorrow and if not I shall have to walk or ask Em if she's not at rugby with George. So fed up think I will have a cuppa and a crumpet with loads of butter on it.

Gwyn what are you making the Advent ring on?