General Chat

Good evening everyone.
Sylvia, enjoy your family time together,it will pass so quickly.
Extra hugs and kisses for MJ XXXXXX.

Huia, what a lovely surprise receiving the quilt. It will keep you lovely and
warm on the cold evenings,you could wrap yourself up in it and snuggle down on the sofa.How on earth did the mailman manage to get in your mailbox.
I hope you find Phil in good health on your next visit.
Good on you for keeping up the exercycle,just dont overdo it love.

Sallie, I have had a day of from the decorating. We went to see our daughter,who is due to go to Lanzarote on tuesday. You would never believe it, they e.mailed her yesterday, to say that they had overbooked the hotel,and that they would be moved to another hotel. But, they are booked for 10 days,and the new hotel is only booked for 7. So it's been a nightmare trying to get everything sorted, even now, we don't know if they will get their full 10 days. They have offered to refund the holiday, but they cannot get their money back for their flights. I am just glad it's not us having to go through it all. Just as well we don't go abroad for holidays,at least if it's in this country, we can stay at home,and get a refund.
My grandaughter is in Turkey at the moment,and of course there has been all the problems about the airline going bankrupt. Well she has been lucky in as much as they will honour the flights home. But had she been going to fly out this sunday rather than last sunday,she would not have got a flight out.
I don't envy anyone who has got a holiday booked for this weekend. The company only declared the bankruptcy on Friday. How do these companies not know they are going to the wall any sooner than that. I am sure they do, but dont say anything.
No news on my nephew I am sorry to say. The family are not very forthcoming on the subject.

Tea time now,so I will speak to you tommorrow. Love Mo xxx

Hi Everyone,

Huia, even though the antiques fair at Aukland was very similar to the one in Drury, I'm sure the outing will have done you some good. What a lovely surprise you got when you got home. It was very nice of your niece to send you one of the quilts she makes, it's something that's very useful for you and also special, knowing all the time and work she had put into making it.
I hope Phil will be more alert and responsive when you visit him tomorrow. Take care!

Sylvia, I know exactly what happens to empty drawers, lol!! I think the more space we have the more space we need. Richard moved to London eight years ago, when he went to University, and Jennie moved out over five years ago, and we're struggling for drawer space.
It would be nice if we see you the odd time, but we all understand how difficult it is when we have family staying. I hope you'll all have a lovely time together and make the most of seeing MJ for five weeks, it will be lovely for both you and OH to see him every day. Take care all of you! Sending more hugs and kisses to MJ, xxxxxx----just in case you don't manage to get back on.

Love and best wishes to everyone. Sallie.xxx

Hi everyone

Marie .... that was very much an "OUCH"!! I do hope you are feeling ........ and looking ................ better.


The "crew" arrive on Monday, so we are busy trying to get the room ready.

When J left after her marriage 11 years ago, she literally took everything in her room with her, except for a desk that had been built in place, and a shelf and drawer unit in the closet. So we started from scratch ....... we only do have 2 bedrooms in this house, but we decided to turn that one into a den/spare bedroom, with a hide-a-bed (do you call it a sofa bed?), thinking we would get more use of the space than if it remained a dedicated bedroom.

I was determined that the 3 drawer + 4 shelf unit would be left empty, so as to be available for anyone who came to visit.

Later we bought another little 3 drawer unit on sale from Ikea .... so there would be 6 empty drawers for visitors


Well, we all know what happens to empty drawers and shelves don't we???????????

We've had to find room elsewhere for the 3 boxes of books, and 2 boxes of other things, plus some of my clothes, that had slowly crept in there!!

J and MJ are here for a toal of 5 weeks, M here only for the first 3 weeks. ........ so they will need places to store things!

Sallie ...... thank you for all the hugs and kisses for MJ


I'm not sure how often I will be able to pop in for the next 5 weeks or so ..... I'll do my best.


Meanwhile, please all take care of yourselves!




sylvia
xxxx

I went to another antique fair this morning. This one was in Auckland and I drove there. Luckily it was an easy place to drive to, and there was parking. It seemed to have much the same stuff as the one at Drury. When I arrived home there was a big parcel in my mail box. The niece who had visited Phil with her mother the other day had sent me one of her quilts. She does a lot of them. I think she even teaches quilting. It was most unexpected to receive it.

No, Sallie, I havent done any walking yesterday as it was very wet, apart from 3 quick walks around the outside of the house before the rain started, and today it is showery so I will probably just hop on my exercycle a few times.

I will be visiting Phil again tomorrow. I could have visited on my way home today, but I was feeling tired.

Huia.

Ann, we would miss our bus passes too. I use mine a couple of times a week, and Alun always uses his to go up town on a Saturday morning, with it being market day, he can't always find a parking place, so it's less hassle to get the bus.
As I've already said, I was feeling a bit on the sensitive side yesterday, so probably took her the wrong way, so I'll see how things go the next time I go. With one thing and another, I just didn't find the time to go to Derby as I said I would, but I'll deffinitely go before I see her in two weeks time.

Liz, up until Thursday I had no trouble with the counsellor, she's been really good, and I've got so much better since seeing her -----although as you all know on here, I still get some bad days, but even those, are not as bad as they were before I started to see her. After talking to Janet ( my friend ) and Jennie about how I felt, they both said that because I hadn't done the task that she had set me, that maybe the counsellor felt that we couldn't move on, until I have.
You know the saying 'sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees' ,
well I think that was me yesterday. Now that it's been pointed out to me, I can understand----silly I didn't think of that myself.

Mo, you are certainly very busy, decorating the spare bedroom. I think that your holiday did you good, the sea air and the rest has given energy. I wish you could bottle some and send it to me, lol! Are you going to do the wallpapering yourself?
I always did ours, but at the moment I can't even think about it, alone , doing it.
Have you heard how your nephew is getting on lately? I would have thought that he'd have been back to the hospital for a check up by now. I hope things are going okay for him.

Marie, I hope you're feeling a bit better after your fall, and that you are taking care. How are things with your new grandchild? Also hope that Nancy is now feeling a bit better.

Debbie, hope Daniel and Matthew got off on their school trips okay. Let's hope that they'll both have good weather, and that they'll enjoy themselves.

Jean, hope that both you and J will have a good and safe journey to Llandudno, and that you'll have a lovely week there. Take care!

Huia, I hope that all is okay with you. Have you managed to do any walking over the last couple of days? I hope you have, as you said you felt better after going for a nice walk. When do you go to see Phil next? I really hope that he'll respond to you better than he did the day of the party.

Sylvia, not too many days now before your family arrive. Oh, I bet you and OH can't wait to see them. Hope they'll have a good and safe journey. Hugs and kisses to MJ. xxxxx

We haven't seen Marilyn on here for a good while, I hope she's alright.

I'm off to bed now, so speak to you all tomorrow.

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

What a whole bottle of wine Ann. Tut Tut, it's a good job you had T with you to hold you up.
I do hope they don't take the bus passes away from us. I believe I saw on our local news,that they are talking about raising the age limit for the bus pass to 65. It's a good job I have got mine now, or I would have to wait just over another year before I qualified.

I have been a very busy bee. I have stripped all the wallpaper from the spare bedroom. Today I painted the ceiling in there, and tommorrow, I hope to start the glossing
I can't believe how much I have achieved today. First thing this morning I did all the washing,and got it out in the wind to dry.
Then I did the weekly shopping,prepared the lunch, and painted the ceiling
and of course done the evening meal. No rest for the wicked. LOL

I hope everyone is well. Lets hope for a nice dry weekend.
Bye for now, love to all. Mo xxx

Hello all, Maybe you mis-read what the counsellor meant Sallie, as you say maybe you were feeling a bit sensitive. Next time you go I would tell her how she made you feel. Did you have time to explain about the deaths and that you had not managed to fit in the visits on your own. Will you manage it before you go next time do you think?

We have been to Cheltenham shopping today. I have read in the paper that the Condem Gov intend to talk about doing a means test for free bus passes. That will hit us, we are bound to just skate into the 'better off' because we have some savings. We will then not be going so often to town so, if all pensioners are the same as we are the shops will suffer. And if we all then take our cars into town, what about our 'carbon footprints'? We love our bus passes and use them at least once maybe twice a weekl.
Anyway we had a good look around and bought a few things, I got a pair of trousers and a light quilted jacket in M&S and a reduced top in house of frazer. Then we had lunch in Wetherspoons plus a bottle of wine. (being on the bus we can do this.) Got home about 3pm.

Marie, I am sorry you had such a nasty fall and hope you will feel better soon, it's such a shock isn't it and the bruises come out and hurt more sometimes till they heal. So glad you didn't cut yourself really badly as you broke the glass etc could have been so much worse, but bad enough and having to go to a and e is always horrible, I find.
You take care, treat yourself gently and let others give lots of tlc

Sallie, that's not the way your counsellor should make you feel, they should never be judgemental. Maybe she isn't the right one for you. Why did you only get 15 minutes, don't you usually have more time than that, it isn't really long enough to be productive I wouldn't have thought.

As for Llanelli, we were there in 2006 and 2007

Have a lovely holiday Jean,

love to all
Lizxx

Oh my little black eyed girl Marie,what are we going to do with you. Take more water with it next time, or open your eyes love. You are a dough nut arn't you, falling over your own two feet.
It's not long now is it till your daughter see's the specialist, I hope they get her sorted out soon.

Ann, what a shame about not being able to see the family at the weekend.
But there is no way that you and T want to get it.
If it stays dry perhaps you could both still go out and about.

Huia,the party at Phil's place sounds like it was fun. Did you manage to give them a song or two.
What a shame that Phil was a bit distant on that day, it would have been nice for his sister to have seen the good side of life in the place.

Sallie, you take your time, in doing things. The counsellor should be proud of what you have achieved, not decry you just because you had not been out alone. That will come when the time is right for you.
Take it easy love, and don't fret over what she thinks. Perhaps she was pre/menstrual,when you saw her. LOL

Hi Sylvia,hows you today. Are you ready for the families arrival.

I wonder if Jean has finished her packing yet. Have a lovely time Jean,speak to you when you get back.

Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi All,

Oh Marie, I hope that you're feeling a little bit better after your fall. It sounds as though you gave yourself quite a bang on the nose, especially having to have stiches. Pleased to hear that Nancy is recovering well after her operation, I'm sure you're all very relieved. You rest and take care for a few days until, until you've got over your fall.

Ann, I have keep at making the cards, otherwise I know they won't be done in time. My problem is, knowing how many to make, I don't want to seem too mean by not making enough, but I don't want to go over the top either.
Oh well, I'll see how it goes!
Sorry you aren't able to go and visit your family in Milton Keynes, as you had planned. On the other hand you don't want to pick up the flu bug off them. There's always another time, when everyone is feeling better.

Liz, it looks as though you and your OH know Llanelli better than I do. It would probably be a nice change if you haven't been there for a long while, to go down that way this year. As you know,there are some lovely places around the area, for you to visit, and it would also be great to see some of your family.
I went to see the Cousellor this morning, but I was only there for about 15 minutes, I think that she had expected me to go to a couple of places on my own, since I last seen her. I had intended to, but the time went by so quickly and also with the two deaths in the family, I didn't get round to doing it. I'm sure that she was a bit annoyed, and couldn't get me out of there quick enough and that I had wasted her time. Maybe I was feeling a bit too sensitive.

Mo, Jean, Sylvia, Huia and Debbie hope all is well with you and your families.

I might look in again later.

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Ouch Marie, that sounds painful, What had you been drinking in the glass huh?????? Hope it soon heals and the aches go. ((((hugs))))
Sallie, you are very industrious making lots of cards. I hope to get back to my scrap book this week. We were supposed to be going to see the grandchildren & family in M Keynes tomorrow for the weekend but they have got some sort of flu bug. Disappointing but can't be helped.
Mo glad you got the washing dry, it is very showery here today with heavy showers so i didn't attempt anyw ashing.

Huia, the 'party' sounded fun for the residents, or maybe it could be confusing for some of them with so many people they didn't know. Maybe that is why Phil wouldn't look at people, in their minds perhaps it if scary for them.

Hello My friends,You all sound very busy, Liz, re date we are a day ahead of you , todays date is the 15 July and it is 8 Pm. Nancy Is ok just looks a bit Pale.
My daughter Kathleen 's headache is inproving she see's the specialist next Wednesday the 21st July.

I had a Fall last night I decided to have an early night, I picked up a glass and a mug that I had used earlier in the night while watching Tv, as I walked to the kitchen area the shoelace on my sneakers caught on the ironing board and as I stepped forward I fell and I smashed my nose on the the crockery drainer, which was empty, the cup & glass smashed, I got a small cut on my index finger and also hurt my hip, my nose has a large cut on the bridge , they dont think it is broken, they stiched me up, I look dreadful I have 2 black eyes, and I am sore and sorry,I have never seen so much blood. It took ages to stop it,I was lucky I was right next to the sink I turned the cold water tap on and kept pouring the water on my face I also had blood coming out of my mouth. I was able to ring the top house and Brian came down and helped me , Victoria and my daughter were hot on Brians heels.They got me to the Emergency Dept and they soon fixed me up.

Sallie I am very sorry to hear of the deaths in your family .I hope you will be ok,as you say work to keep your mind off the sadness.
Mo you are a bit of a sausage,, you will have to learn to relax, didnt they have a library or a picture theatre you could go to?Pleased to hear you got your washing dry.
We are having a hard time getting it dry over here as it is still raining. I have turned my spare room into a drying room, I have a large clothes airer and I load it up , turn the heating on in that room then close the door. It works very well, anything very long I put on a coathanger then I open the sliding doors of the wardrobe & hang them in there.

I am having trouble with the screen it is moving all the time so I will say Bye, to Deborah, Huia, Sylvia,Ann,June & Marilyn
Love & Hugs Black Eyes MarieXXXXXXOOOOO

Huia, glad Phil looked better to his sister but a shame he didn't look at them. It was nice that she and his niece came to the party tho and they could see efforts were made to get everyone together and a cheery atmosphere for them. How sad about B. Bella, it's sad that the illness makes some people unpleasant when they might have been the loveliest person before. Hard on the staff tho.
Glad you are able to get out and walk still, take care and enjoy seeing folk when you can


Sallie, yes I got o.h. to take me on holiday to Llanelli a couple of times, found beautiful apartments overlooking the estuary each time and met up with the relatives, my late Dad's cousin and his family, I hadn't known them till my Mum died and I took over her address book. The cousin is a lovely man and his wife really nice, we spend a bit of time with them when we go, and I think we might end up there again this Sept as we haven't sorted out a holiday yet. I so wanted to go away in June for a change to take advantage of the longer days but with the wedding (more about that soon) o.h. couldn't cope with anything else to think about. Not that he has to think , only approve and pay for whatever I find for us on line in the way of location and accommodation, but he has a problem concentrating on more than one subject at any time. He is supposed to be doing a course for work next week, unfortunately only locally and not miles away like last time lol, but he is getting very stressed about it as he knows his memory will cause problems and he won't easily remember what the tutors say. it's a 9 -5 course so I will be stuck with him at both ends of the day instead of him being on late shift so I can relax more with him out of the house and have/make calls without him earwigging and commenting and I will have to cook every night.

Last time we went to Llanelli I organised a meet and we had a good turnout and lots of folk met up.

Mo, you sound like my son, he does go away and is ok if he goes with his mates I think, but does like to get home again. I always thought he might go travelling but realised as he got older that he is a home bird, he is Cancerian so can't change the way he is. O.h. is the same, not really bothered about going away altho he does enjoy it once he is there. He hasn't even booked time off yet so we will have to sort something out soon.

I will try and get on here earlier tonight and update you all re the wedding, what a farce it is all turning out to be, even o.h. said to me, Is it in a Registry office, and when I said yes, he said he thought it was all a bit over the top and wasn't so important for the son to get here anyway, but too late now, he has paid the halfshare for the fare.

He will be getting up soon so I had better sort out some more emails,
as so many to read still, and he hates it if he comes down and I am still online

take care all, have a good day, been a lot cooler and wet here in Norwich


Lizx

Hi Huia,

Just missed you, sounds as though there were a few fun and games with Belligerent Bella. It looks as though the carers have their work cut out trying to dodge her. I'm sure it was nice to get a little get together, and it was nice for Phil's sister and niece to see him looking so much better.

Take care! Love, Sallie.xxx

Hello Girls,

Sorry I've not been on here for a few days, I've been busy making birthday cards, and of course some for the church. Since hearing about my cousin, I've tried to keep my mind occupied, with less time to think.

Mo, sorry you weren't too keen on your break away, but I'm sure the rest did both you and Roly good. Glad to know that you also got all the washing dried, like you, I hate wet washing draped about the house, it's bad enough that we have to do that during the winter, but I feel that we shouldn't have to do that, at this time of the year. Shame the weather doesn't come to order, lol!!

Sylvia, not too many days now before your family arrives. I bet both you and OH can't wait to see them all, especially MJ. I'm sure that you'll see a big difference in him, they grow so quickly.
My older cousin had been out the night before with a couple of her friends. It looks as though when she got home she made herself a cup of tea and sat down on the settee to drink it, and then died.

Liz, Alun and I are from SE Wales, from a town that was part of Monmouthshire, until they started changing the county boundaries, we then became part of Mid Galmorgan. A lot of people didn't like that, including Alun and myself.
We lived in Neath for five years, as we both worked in Swansea, before moving here. Llanelli isn't too far from Neath, so we went there a couple of times, but don't remember it very well. Have you ever been to Llanelli at all?

Debbie, did Peter and Matthew catch any fish?I've been wondering if they
had managed to catch any. It's going to feel strange in your house while the both boys are away at the same time. At least you have the younger two still there.
Hope they'll both have a good time, while they're away, but I'm sure they will. Let's hope that they both get some good weather, dry at least.

Huia, hope things are alright with you. Have you seen Phil over the last few days? It's really great that he was speaking to you when you visited him, although it wasn't awlays easy understanding what he said, it must have been lovely to get a response from him.

Ann, pleased to hear that you have a new pc. Hope that you have managed to get family tree maker working okay. I tend to leave all that to Alun, and he leaves all the family research to me, so I think we're about quits. lol!

Jean, great to know that you're feeling so much better now that your new tablets have 'kicked in', so to speak. Hope you have a lovely holiday in Llandudno, and that the weather will stay dry, at least. It 's good of D to lend you her notebook to take with you, it will be nice to hear from you while you're away.

Marie, hope you are feeling a little less down than you've been. Hope your new grandchild is fine, and that your daughter-in-law is now feeling a lot better after the operation she had after the birth.

I'll speak to you all tomorrow. Take care everyone!

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Hi there. I went to the mid winter Christmas party in Phils wing of the residence. There are 2 halves of the wing, about 14 residents in each half and for the party they bring them all into the one lounge. There were also a lot of relatives visiting, so it was quite a full room, though still room in the middle of the floor for a bit of dancing. Some of the carers get some of the residents up for a gentle dance around. There is a musician playing and singing.

One of the residents from the other half I call Belligerent Bella as she always has a belligerent look on her face, and the attitude to go with it. She was screeching things at one of the carers. She tries pinching them, and occasionally a hand swiftly swings at them but they are good at dodging.

Phils sister and her daughter came, but Phil wouldnt look at them and he wasnt talking so much, but at least his sister could see that he looked so much better than last time she visited. That was several months ago and he looked ghastly.

The sun is up now and shining in my window, so I must go and have my daily walk soon.

Huia.

Hi everyone.
I am pleased to say I got the washing dry,at long last.
I have been stripping all day, and before our esteemed Jean says anything, I mean wallpaper stripping.
I got up this morning full of the joys of spring,and decided that it is about time the spare bedroom,was freshened up a bit.
I have washed the big curtains from the room,AND got them dry.
Only one wall left to finish, then I can decide wether to just paint it,or wallpaper it again.

Jean I have ordered good weather for you,so remember to put your bikini in the suitcase. We will miss you. I am so pleased you are feeling more like your old self again lovey. The break away will do you both the world of good.

Debbie, my problem is I am a bit of a home bird,and like my home comforts to much.
The boys will thoroughly enjoy their holiday I am sure.I hope it stays dry for Sophies BBQ.

Ann it's good to see you back. It sounds like you are having fun with the new computer.
I wish Roly was technically minded,he might be more help to me,when I get problems on here. Instead I have to wait for the children to sort any problems I get out for me.
Some times I think I will go to night school to learn a bit more about it,but then I change my mind.

I hope our Sallie is o.k,as we have not heard from her for a couple of days.

A big hi to Sylvia ,Marie, Huia, Liz and any of our friends I may have forgotten to mention.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

Hello everyone, Ann it is Llandudno, watch the weather change, but never mind we need to get away, I am feelong tons better the new tabs I have seem to suit me better than the first ones, vertigo is not as bad , although I have just had a perm and was a bit wobble when I stood up, but good excuse to sit and rest...lol...Debbie, can you put some of your energy in a bottle and send me some please, oh to be young again....I am borrowing D netbook so hope fully I can keep an eye on you all especially you-know-who.....
love to Huia, Marie, Sallie , Sylvia and of course our leader, Mo.....
and anyone else who may look in .

Jean xx

Sorry not been around for a few days. Now have thenew pc up and running with most of my stuff loaded onto it. Next challenge is family tree maker!

Mo, sorry you didn't enjoy your break, you really must cultivate the ability to sit and do nothing for a while ("what is this life etc!!!!) Hope it has stopped raining today so you can get the washing dry, wet washing hanging around is annoying.

Sallie, I am so sorry to hear about the deaths in your family, two more links lost to you. Extra sad that one was young as well.

Debbie, Sounds like you will be ready for your holiday. Please get all the rain out of the way now so it is dry for when we are there!!!!

Jean, if it is this weekend you are away I hope you have a great time. Is it Llandudno this time?

Sylvia, yes we have lost our heat too. Strange how we complain when it is hot then again when it is too cool isn't it? Are we never satisfied? Obviously the weather is obeying J's command to cool down. MJ is a bouncer isn't he? You will see a difference as they change so quickly at that age.

Huia, hope all well with you. Good that Phil talks more now, even though you don't understand him, it shows his brain is being stimulated by something.

Speak to you all later.

Morning All,

Mo, you sound fed up - and you were the one who wanted to get back from your hols - is there no pleasing some people LOL.

We had a lot of rain yesterday and it's been on and off today. We need it as the reservoirs are getting low, but it does rather disrupt summer plans. At least the older 2 managed their Sports Day in the dry yesterday. I hope it holds off for tonight as Sophie has get a Brownie BBQ in the school grounds.

Daniel & Matthew go away tomorrow for a week on Activities Week. Daniel is off to Austria and Matthew to Ireland. They have such packed agendas sorted out that I think they will be very tired when they get back home. Which is a good thing. The other 2 will have broken up by then and enjoying their holiday time. We go away on 30th as a family.

Sallie, how are you and all the family after your very sad news? I hope that all necessary plans are going ok.

Jean, are you feeling better these days? I think you are due to go away shortly, so you may not even be able to read this for a while.

Huia, I hope that Phil is doing ok at the moment. It must be encouraging that you get a response out of him sometimes. Makes visiting more worth while, even if you can't always understand him.

Sylvia, MJ is certainly growing well, and I am sure it will be very exciting to have him over your side of the country for a while. He will soon be off the percentiles if he carries on the way he is developing. At least he should be fit and healthy when the really bad winter weather sets in, and able to fight off any colds or coughs.

Right, I'm going out to the shops, have to get some food for the BBQ tonight so want to get it organised before I think about our dinner and lunch boxes for tomorrow.

Take care everyone.

Debbie xx

Whoops, sorry, I forgot Liz and the ongoing saga. I hope that things are turning out positively and that the family are all now agreeing on matters. Such a pain when people can't agree and it causes such disruption.