General Chat

Afternoon all.
Aw Linda, that was a shame about the ice rink melting. Glad Esme liked the panto. When I used to work with special needs, we always had seats near the exit incase the children didn't like the loud music etc and we could then slip out if needs be. But they always enjoyed the pantos and laughed a lot.

I had 1 xmas card today so far that's 13. 2 xmas parcels via royal mail have not yet arrived and I don't hold out much hope but......the Amazon things I ordered a few days ago, oh yes they were delivered just now!!

For some families like yourself waiting on gifts, just awful.

I have stripped my bed and tidied up in the kitchen. Tomorrow I have 2 visitors coming at 1pm which will be lovely. Thursday, I'm making my xmas cake and then decorate on Friday.

Daughter struggling to get some fresh veg as the shelves are pretty empty because the ferry didn't sail overnight for the freight! We shall just have to make do with what we have and that's it.

I have to admit, I'm frustrated that I cant do the food shop myself. I use to enjoy it and seeing lots of people in the shop ,stopping for a natter.

Well better make a sandwich as haven't had any lunch yet and as for tea later....who knows?

Take care all

Florence in the Hebrides

Very windy here and the wind is icy col. daughter out meeting friends this afternoon so,I stayed in reading. SiL was doing some book work in his office.

Florence what sort of accessories have bought for card making? Is this a new hobby? If it is and you have any queries, it has been my hobby for about twenty years. I am no expert but happy to help if needed.

AnnGloucester ....thank you for your message. IO received a card from Shaun the other day, but not sure if he received mine. I will write to him and give him my phone number. He did say he does'nt use his pc now.. :(

Wow Christmas day is sooooooo close!!
We went to Straford Upon Avon yesterday to meet up with our daughter Lynsey and family, they came from Dorset. I have to drive everywhere at mo as Vic had a cataract removed which left the eye too sore for lens to be replaced. Hopefully about 2 weeks to go. Some drivers on the roads are mad and dangerous, it was'nt a pleasant journey home!!
We are at Dans (son) for christmas, so still have that awful M6 to drive on.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and an even better New Year.
Take care everyone.

jude & Vic and Mindy Moo Bags the cat...xx

Hi Jude

I think Von is going to phone him maybe she will check we have the right address. Tell me about the M6/we were on it yesterday and will be travelling back down it before long. Nightmare, especially when there is a rail strike.
Have a good Christmas and hope despite the post strike you get my card.

Joan better to receive them too early so you can keep them until the day, than getting them too late or not at all.

Good afternoon peeps.
Well my visitors came and stayed for 2 hours. Was lovely chatting & laughing away. My friend has offered to take me out next Wednesday for lunch and a look around the shops. That brightened me up hugely. :-D

Joan hope your mince pies turn out ok and I dont suppose they will last very long, they dont in this house anyway.

At least you're getting your birthday cards early Joan, I'm still waiting for 2 cards sent in November. Is it on xmas day? If so do you have a set place for your birthday cards separate from the xmas cards? Always feels a bit unfair having a xmas birthday.

You will looking forward to seeing your son & his young lady too, will you make soup or something for them?

I just remembered about 1/2 hour ago, I was to make me xmas cake eeekk!!! I had completely forgotten with my visitors here but its all under control.
Fruit etc all boiled and cooling in the pan and then once its cooled properly shall add the flour, eggs etc and in the oven it will go for around 2 hours.
I wont put it in the oven until after we have had tea as I need the oven for tea first.

Then hopefully, its icing day tomorrow and job done.

No more washing now until Monday, I'm on holiday lol.

Its been a damp day and the gale has passed, almost too quiet for here! I think there is windy weather though on its way tomorrow and snow showers xmas eve, we shall see.

Ann, I ordered things like feathers, butterflies, washi ribbons of all sorts, bows etc I have plenty of cards left to keep me going for awhile. But thankyou for your offer of help, I shall indeed come to you if i get stuck ty.

Well better sort out another quick tea tonight. We are just eating very light meals as saving ourselves for the big one on Sunday!

Hope all ok with everyone else.

Florence in the hebrides

I hope you get two lots of presents Joan, one for your birthday and the other for Xmas.

I went to get my hair cut this morning, Eve came with me as it doesn’t take very long, then we took the holly wreath to the cemetery to put on my parents grave. She always likes to go and we take some water and a cloth to wash it down.

We always have a jigsaw on the go at Xmas. It is on the coffee table in the lounge and ever just has a go at it when they are near. We have been doing that for many years now, it has become a family tradition

Wishing everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and may 2023 be kind to us all.

Joan I wish you a lovely birthday as well.


Best wishes all.

Ginnie

Afternoon peeps.
Well my turkey is nearly ready We have prepped all the veg and dishes are in a pile to be washed.
After tea tonight, we shall set the table with everything.

Still get excited looking at the gifts under the tree and daughter cant wait to open them and me too. lol

I wish everyone a Happy Christmas for tomorrow. I hope that whatever you do or however you celebrate, you will have a lovely time with whoever you share it with.

Florence in the hebrides

You too, Florence - and everyone else!

Happy birthday tomorrow Joan and Happy Christmas to everyone

It is the calm before the storm. Esme slept in this morning, but you can bet she will be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to open the mountain of presents

It wasn’t too early a start, just before 8 am. The girls were very pleased with all their gifts, Esme’s main one was a Baby Reborn Doll, only £200! It is amazingly realistic, all hand painted and the size and weight of a newborn . She has called her Katie and is absolutely besotted with her
We had lunch at 12.30 as they have to drive over to Chester this afternoon to see Grandpa who is 97. He lives on his own with carers who come in three times a day. They are staying in a hotel overnight and will be back late tomorrow

We have just washed up and tidied the mass of new toys. It is nice that it is so peaceful in the house.

I hope that everyone is enjoying their day as well

Good afternoon everyone

So xmas done & dusted for another year.
We had a lovely dinner on xmas day but I was too full for my xmas pudding!

We opened our gifts after the kings speech. I received some lovely things and with an Amazon voucher, I ordered the one thing I didnt get...a pair of binoculars so I can see the birds at the bottom of the garden and also the top of the hills opposite me.

Postman delivered 2 cards yesterday and nothing else. probably be mid January before it all catches up.

I also ordered this stacking organiser for all my crafty bits & pieces. It has removable pieces so you can put longer items into it. It has 5 tiers. Cant wait to empty all my boxes of things and have it all in one place, so much tidier.

It has been pouring hard with sleety rain here and very windy so not nice at all. Daughter away now until 6 th January so that's me alone until then unless my friend offers to take me out for a day.

I hope everyone is well and had an enjoyable time whatever or wherever you were.

Florence in the hebrides

I am glad that you had a good time Florence I am in Evesham for a couple of days visiting my son. We have just been to Hanbury Hall a National Trust property. It was interesting, but very cold . The biggest problem was that they were refurbishing their large restaurant, so only had the little stable cafe open. They only had a few tables inside, so we had to sit outside to eat. Not terribly pleasant on a very cold day, but we managed. We did a long walk through the grounds with the dog as well.

I am glad to be back in the house where it is warm

Afternoon all
Well got so excited when I saw the postie :-D
he brought me my new binoculars, my stacking craft boxes and some craft cards in pastel colours.

Have just sat down after transferring everything from an old cardboard box into the various compartments. Its great and all tidy but.....I didnt notice the measurements so it was actually a lot smaller than I expected but it actually was ok and everything fitted in the compartments.

I can now see the shore and the sea through the binocs and can see the birds very clearly, what a difference they make.

Linda, I hope you are enjoying your few days away. I used to be a member of national Trust when i lived down south. Saved so much money on visiting places.

Joan, Ann, JustGinnie, hope you all are ok and had a lovely festive.

Damp & cold here but no sleety rain today.

Putting on the heating soon as my hands are cold and so is my back.

Right away to take out the rubbish now.

Florence in the hebrides

We came home yesterday evening, the girls had missed us. It was nice to get back into my own bed as the one we use at my son’s is too hard for me, it makes my hip ache.

I did yet more supermarket shopping this morning and I went out this afternoon and picked a large bag of litter from the locality. It was dreary and dismal out there, but it was better than just sitting in them house.

I feel like an early night, but that won’t be allowed, I will have to stay up for New Year .

Happy New Year to all :-D

I wonder what your present will be Joan, very mysterious!
Enjoy your Sunday roast and all the trimmings.

As I'm home alone and have been since Thursday, its very quiet here. Haven't seen or spoken to a soul except my dad on xmas day.
Last night went to bed at 11pm. When you are on your own at midnight, its awful and so went to bed and forgot it was New years Eve!

Beautiful winter, snowy crisp day here today, got some cracking photos.

Put on some washing and off to be busy dusting.

As for tea later, not very hungry so crumpets and marmite for me.

Hope everyone else enjoyed their New Year however you celebrated.

Florence in the hebrides

Happy New Year everyone.
Last night the time passed quite quickly. We played Cluedo and a other new board game which Eve had. It was almost midnight before I realised the time.We shared a bottle of bubbly and watched the London fireworks on tv. I turned in about 12.30, surprisingly I don’t feel too tired today.
I have just had a big soup making session. I made bacon and lentil, carrot and red pepper and leek and potato. I have fifteen lots to go in the freezer. Hopefully I can get them all in. That will keep us going for a while, but we do eat a lot of homemade soup.

I have two freezers Joan, or at least one and a half. I have a large fridge in the kitchen. A door goes into the double garage and just inside the garage next to the door, I have an upright freezer. Next to that I have a tall half and half fridge freezer.

I got the second fridge freezer at the start of the first lockdown as we had the whole family here and I needed more fridge space. Even in normal years, the extra fridge is very useful at Xmas. All of the Slimming World recipes I cook are serves four, so we eat half and I freeze the other half. It saves on cooking when I can just use a frozen meal

Afternoon all
Not been well last 2 days as had a bad migraine which sadly i think i caused myself!! On NYE, I made a chicken chow mein for myself with basmati rise and naan bread. I went to bed at 11pm as did not want to stay up on my own.

New Years Day,I felt my head really sore and tried to be busy and ignore it but it got worse and I felt sick.
Sun eve, i phoned dad at 10pm but after 10 mins had to get off the phone as rushed to be sick. I got into bed cold, shivering and my head was pounding.

Yesterday, it was improving but really was only today I can say, my head is now normal and I feel ok.

This happened the last time we got a Chinese takeaway months ago and I developed a migraine hours after so am now wondering if its soy sauce or Chinese 5 spice that caused the migraine?? Either way, I shall not eat it anymore, its just not worth the pain however much i really enjoy it.

I was supposed to go out for the day today with a friend at11am But last night her FIL who is terminally ill at home, had a fall and was in a lot of pain so today was cancelled as they didn't think he would make it through the night, so sad for them.

The rain came and melted all the snow & ice which I'm glad about as it was a skating rink outside me front door but it is still very cold brrrr.

Ironed a basket of daughters things today so up straight once again.

Cant wait for her to come back on Friday, just so lonely here with no visitors about.

Making a cheesy potato pie with grated carrots and onions for tea with baked beans, yummy.My fav comfort food.

Hope everyone else ok.

Florence in the hebrides