General Chat

Yes just watching that Ann ,did you read that Tom Daly is going to host a new knitting programme ,not sure when it's on ,probably in the new year.
I was watching a Mary Berry programme that we recorded and she made a nice looking soup ,I might have a go at that but can't do it until I shop as it has a tin of green lentils in it and I don't have those in the cupboard

I suppose christmas will add a few days onto OH getting his results back .

Gwyn I've just added some 8p Brussel Sprouts, carrots and parsnips to my Asda order for tomorrow's delivery so thanks for the mention as I hadn't realised it was Asda as well. I figure that if they are selling well they should stay fresh in the fridge and, if not, I can freeze them!

Yes the hospital said the results should be back in a week Mandy, but I don't know if that was allowing for Christmas. I doubt it. Are you watching the Christmas Great Sewing Bee? OH says he'a recorded it for me.

Gwyn I noticed they were 8p ,I usually have a look at aldi online leaflet and saw then on there .
Son said he would get any veg and other bits I need when they go on Saturday, I expect it will be very busy then but they always go nice and early as they drop Jake off at the butchers about seven but he'll probably go in before then .
Nice that you can have a christmas dinner at the school ,roasties are my favourite.

Ann let's hope OH soon gets the results of the xray and can get some treatment for his pain .

Anng that sounded a lovely drive with beautiful views ,glad your cold is no worse so you can enjoy christmas.

Seems we were too quick buying veg, for 15p.

ASDA and ALDI have cut theirs to 8p :-0 :-D

Other supermarkets have offers too.

Not all have the same vegetables on offer, but all have what I would call 'the basic ones' for a Christmas dinner.

Evening All,

We had a downpour this morning but no hail. I didn't go out today but OH said when he went out to the bin it was freezing cold. He's been for his xray at the hospital, but said the traffic was awful. He took cash with him in case he needed it for parking but said they have number plate recognition now and because he was less than half an hour it was free.

A man called to drop his new ipad off this morning so he's managed to switch it on and enter his password up to now!

You sound a lot like OH with your back just now Vera. He keeps having to get up and take painkillers at night. He got up on a stool to get something out of the high cupboard in the bedroom yesterday so it's been worse again today and then he had to lie on a bench for his xray today which didn't help either. I hope yours soon gets a bit better, but there is so much to do this time of the year which doesn't help. I do love a cheesecake! I wonder what flavours you make.

That sounded like a lovely drive this morning AnnG with nice scenery in the sunshine. It's good you aren't feeling too bad. Maybe the last cold has given you some immunity that's helping.

Mandy what a palaver trying to get an appointment and being passed from pillar to post when you aren't very well. At least you got some tablets though. They sound like Doxycycline that I used to have for the bad chest infections I used to get that would last months! Mine were for bacterial inections which my doctor then said could set in after a viral infection. More recent doctors have insisted I've got a viral infection and wouldn't give me any for weeks, I bet you will start feeling better in a couple of days now. Lewis will be thrilled with his new bike. I think my bike was one of my most exiting presents when I was young. When my brother had a Raleigh Chopper for Christmas aged 6 he fell asleep next to the Christmas tree in the morning holding it. I bet Chelsea's nails were pretty with flowers on. My hairdresser has some interesting patterns on hers and a friend had pictures of her dog put on hers!!

I agree with Mandy too and find a stew seems tastier the next day. We had our chicken one in the chicken tonight sauce with swede, carrot, onion and parsnip today.

It sounds like you got a generous lunch Gwyn, all nice and freshly cooked too! The childen round here all break up tomorrow till the 6th January.

So you have some of your foliage table decorations done today Mel. I like a Savoy cabbage and January King.

Beautiful sunny day here, the views driving across the north lakes were fantastic. And then a glorious sunset. A bit chilly though with a cold wind.

Pleased that you enjoyedyour lunch Gwyn.

Working hard on the decorations Mel, well done.

Mandy strange instructions but hope the anyibsvwork and you soon feel better. I am still sneezing but feel ok in myself, hope it doesn’t go to my chest.

Vera sorry your back is bad and does that maybe interfere with your sleep? Hope you get a better night tonight.

Thanks for your card Gwyn it arrived today. Nearly blew up the garden as its so windy today and the winds bitter proper brass monkey as Frank would say.

That's good that you have some antibiotics Mandy.
Hopefully they will do the trick and help you get better before Christmas.
They are strange instructions, but I remember thinking just the same, when I had some with those instructions :-S
Keep out of the sun !

Vera, Sorry to hear that you have been in pain again. It must be especially difficult, when you have a lot going on. I hope your back has less pain and that you can get a decent night's rest.
I bet your cheesecakes are delicious. I haven't made one for years, but you might have just jogged me into doing so.

School Christmas dinner today, all freshly cooked on the premises. I went in for the morning, then stayed to help. The adults all waited on the children and then at last sat down to have lunch ourselves. Normally we go up and collect our own dinner, in the same way that we did to serve the children, but one of the classroom assistants brought me mine, before I had a chance to do that. I think she over-estimated my appetite :-0 It was lovely, but I did have to leave one of my many roast potatoes. I couldn't manage any more.
Still feeling full, so I won't want any tea ;-)

Walking to school this morning, the sun was peeping through the clouds, - quite literally. There was a lot of darkish cloud with an eye shape in amongst that, where I could see the sun was shining brightly behind. Later there was blue sky and more bright sunshine, but definitely a brisk cold wind blowing.

Forgot to say, ... Went shopping in Sainsbury's last night. They have some really good meat offers if you have a Nectar card. We also bought parsnips and carrots at 15p a bag to make some pre-Christmas soup and will go back nearer Christmas to buy more and the other veg. offers for dinner.

Gosh that sounds strange Mandy. Never heard anything like that before.

I have been in the shed all day making table arrangements got two done and one started but now I have to do the tatoes for tonight. BBL.

Oh Vera sorry to hear your back is still bad hope you can get a better night's sleep tonight .

I have been and got some antibiotics got to take two today and then one a day so fingers cross they help .
Quite strange how I have to take them ,a full glass of water but in an upright position and not let the sun on my skin and no sunbeds

Afternoon all

Sorry to hear you are still poorly Mandy and hope your docs can give you something to help.

I’m also sorry I haven’t posted for a couple of days. I’m OK, apart from not sleeping and my back playing me up a lot this week. However, there is a lot going on at the moment and things are a bit hectic.. By the time I’ve been free to post it’s been late at night and I have been too tired. I have just caught up on everybody’s posts so I know what you have been up to.

We had heavy rain and strong winds during the night. It stopped early morning and has been dry since, We’ve even had a few gleams of sunshine but the wind is bitter cold. I’ve got half an hour free so I’m off to prepare a dinner for tonight and crush a load of digestives to make the base of a couple of cheesecakes that I am hoping to get made in the morning.

Rang the docs and they are full they suggested I go to boots ,did that and they said I need to go back to docs as they think it might be a chest infection , rang docs again and she has triaged me and will get back to me after getting advice ,hopefully they can give me something

Morning all,

Lovely sunny day here but very chilly ,I don't have any energy this cold seems to have drained me again .
Son called in with Lewis's new bike he's stored it in our shed until Christmas eve.
Chelsea came later she had been and had her nails done ,they are so pretty all white with little white flowers on ,they cost an arm and a leg but good old dad paid she knows just how to get round her dad lol

Enjoy your stew tonight Mel ,I think stew is better the second day .

Yes hope Vera's OK I expect she's just busy .

As I posted the heavens opened to hailstones they're bouncing off the windowsills but its still bright.

Morning all,

Its quite bright at the mo but how long wildl it last as pc is saying rain on Saturday and it says 6 degrees and l;ight rain today.

I have to finish of the stew today and make some colcannon mash I have also a savoy cabbage and I will make dough boys.

I have to do some things for the shop and mums and Oh's graves so thats going to keep me busy today.

Hope Vera's ok as we did'nt hear from her yesterday. Hope she's just been busy.... <3

The stoat is also brown but it has a black end on its tail. It turns white in winter and that the pelts on the Emine robes of the Royals. Just think how many it took to edge those robes!!

You aked what time I went to bed last night it was 2.10am. Naughty girl but I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

You'll have to keep your camera with you if the Stoat and Weasel are becoming visitors Mel. I thought Stoats had bushy tails but not sure? I watched a lovely film of a family of Stoats once and they were playing with each other and racing about so fast.. It sounds like Stu has a busy social life! Like you say, the irish stew will be fine to have tomorrow. All of our berries on the Holly have gone now and I saw a Blackbird in the Berberis this morning in a right thicket of the thorns, but it saw me and flew away. That only has just a few berries left. I've recorded Stacey Solomon's craft prog tonight and also The Dog House which I love to watch.

I wonder what Vera's Secret Santa presents turned out to be? I haven't had a Secret Santa present since I was at work and it was called a bran tub! Once I had a Rupert Scarf and I remember one year getting black socks with Robins on to wear to my Tap Dancing evening class!! lol. We used to draw a name from a hat and buy for that person.

I keep meaning to say I had a little Weasel on the bird table two days ago. I had put a bit of ham fat on there so think he may have gone up there to eat that. Hazel up the top said she had one who used to look in all the cracks in the stonework behind her pond and she had a little vole that lived there but she had'nt seen that lately so she thinks Weasel has had that for dinner. It was a darkish beige with a beautiful cream tummy and qhite a busy tail for a Weasel so it could have been a youngster. It saw me and I could'nt make out what it was at first and it spun around and shot off the bird table into the box hedge.

Its so annoying when that happens Annx. I have worn the e out on my keyboard and when BIL goes on it he can't find the e. It looks like an I now. The D is wearing out too but all the other keys are fine. O no I have just noticed the R looks like a P.

I lost the sound on my pc on Saturday and was so cross I could'nt find out what I had done so rang Em but her hubby was in Brighton at a rugby thing with there eldest sun. Em said soemthing about on hers she presses the F!! or F12 and gets in that way. Tried that and it did'nt work. I then looked hard at the keyboard and noticed some buttons on the top I never use and low and behold I must have touched one of those when moving the keyboard to dust the desk and bingo I had sound again. Silly old woman I thought to myself. :-(

Stu is not coming tonight as he has a date. Someone he knew 10 years ago has split from her hubby and he is seeing her tonight and Friday night so he's coming tomorrow. I had the lamb out of the freezer so had to make the Irish stew and I can probably have it tonight and there will be enough for the two of us tomorrow too. I may not do potatoes just some dumplings.

Needless to say with all that ringing and waiting to be rung back I hav'nt got any flower arrangements done. I have start one and wired 12 bunches of holly berries (plastic ones as the birds ate mine in the cold spell) I even put plastic ones in the church advent ring as last year a mouse ate all the berries off the ring and nobody noticed but me.

I think I could do with a cuppa and a crumpet now amd maybe make some bows.

Morning All,

It poured with rain here last night and was raining when OH got up to shower and go to a meeting, but it had stopped when I got up. Now the sun is actually out. I've been to the shop and there seems to be less staff every time I go. I said to the manager that he seemed to be doing 2 people's jobs rushing around and he said he has to check in the food the lorries deliver, serve and fill the shelves as well as other things as well as split his time between 2 stores now. He said if he complained or didn't do it though they would just get someone else who would. I never see the handyman there now who used to clean the floors and weed the carpark, sweep the paths and clip the hedges. Everyone is making cuts. My art magazine I have is being amalgamated with another they publish.

Mel OH has warned me last night that both the DM and Telegraph have given a slamming report of Strike, so he told me not to get my hopes up! As you seem to have enjoyed it we'll have to see when we watch it over Christmas. Yes I record Canon Farm and the Yorkshire vet as I like the Greens. Sometimes they seem to add in a special episode. I watch Canon Farm videos on FB too.

It's horrid when you get a bunged up nose like that AnnG and it isn't surprising your operation has narrowed the nostril. I have always had trouble with breathing through my nose properly, especially at night and think I breathe through my mouth more, which I know isn't good. I must have narrow nostrils! My worst nightmare scenario is being robbed and left bound up and that gaffer tape stuck across my mouth as I'm sure I'd suffocate! I suppose some of that Vick may help at night too.

I'm a bit fed up with getting meals just now, and fitting round OH's times of being out as it makes it difficult to get on with things I want to do, so the slow cooker is going on shortly to do a chicken stew for tomorrow and I'll freeze half for next week with rice and we'll have a salmon traybake today. I have to be in in the morning for someone to drive here to deliver this ipad he needs to have, as he's out. Sometimes I feel as if I've replaced his PA .Still mustn't grumble as he runs me about when he can.

After a lot of googling I managed to find some drivers needed updating on my laptop and tentatively did that but it still hasn't cured the numbers that stick on my laptop. I've already tried shaking it upside down in case it was crumbs under them but itmade no difference. I rang someone in the village who does repairs but they can't look at it till the New Year now, but after a chat about it he thinks it may need new parts. I wish I'd kept my old seperate keyboard to my old PC now as he said plugging that in to see if it worked would have helped. I'm going to have to change my PIN to one without the tricky numbers too before it gets any worse and I won't be able get in at all. :-S