General Chat

Hi Mo, and everyone

glad to see you got back safe Sallie

Huia ............. glad to hear that Phil is a little more alert, and paying attention to you. But sad to hear about the possible bowel cancer. Make sure they do keep him comfortable. OH's father had that, it was diagnosed when he was about 74, they operated but didn't get it all, decided not to give him any further treatment thinking that would be worse for him. He lived another year, but I wouldn't have said that he had the best quality of life. Maybe m-i-l didn't help too much!! For all that they were both pharmacists, she was pretty useless in some areas!


Mo ....... I hate going to look for clothes for special events. I can never find what I want!

We've been invited to a friend's Golden Wedding do in July ..... buffet dinner and dance. I have not the slightest idea what to wear!

I guess my old black evening skirt will come out from the cupboard once more, if I can't think of (or find) anything else.

It's chilly, and wet again today ..... and the central heating is on again.


who would believe that it is June tomorrow?!


sylvia
xxxxx

Well here we are girls,the first of June,and it's raining again. Oh when are we going to get some permanant good weather. I am fed up of still wearing winter clothes,and having to put the fire on.
We were both sat here this afternoon freezing,so on goes the fire yet again

Sylvia,I cant really wear an evening skirt to the events we are going to,unfortunately.
I am toying with getting another decent pair of black trousers,and a top.
I thought by now I would have been able to buy some new dresses,but it just is not warm enough. Being a chilly mortal,I need to have my arms covered.
If I bought a dress,it would need to be a maxi length anyway,As I hate showing my knobbly knees off,and the varicose veins have a lot to answer for as well.
Oh vanity is my name. LOL

Everything is well at Jeans house. She sends her love to you all.

Now where is Sallie and Liz. Huia is probably still stuck in her new Photo site. Hi Huia if you are looking in.

Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi Girls,

The weather has been the same here today, chilly and raining. Alun was home from early today, and like you Mo, we had to put the fire on. I think the weatherman said it's getting warmer through the week, let's hope he's right.

It's very quiet on the boards lately, I wonder where everyone has got to!
Mo when we have a do on now, I tend to wear a nice pair of black trousers with a dressy top. I feel a lot more comfortable than in a skirt or dress.


Glad to hear that all is well with Jean and family. It will be nice when she's better and will be back with us, we miss her on this thread.

Sylvia, the weather with you seems to be just as it is here. It would be nice when we get our summer, so then we can start saving on our energy bills.

Huia, it looks as though you are still enjoying the new photo site. Hope you are okay!

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

Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

Hi all. I have been trying to look at my hot matches, but sometimes the computer is so slow that I have given up for now. We had a very wet (and cold) day yesterday, so as the sun is now shining, when the clouds dont cover it, I might go to visit Phil again. Just hope it doesnt come on to rain again while I am out.

Huia.

Hi all, just a quick visit as I have a million emails to respond to, or so it feels lol

I am a bit down, will explain more when I get round to it, more hassles over this blasted wedding, and all it entails, not my problem but I get the backlash when things don't work out the way he wants, and now his ex is hassling him for money for the son to come over from NY - long story but will write more another night.

Huia, I am sorry if I have tempted you away from essential chores and such. It will be a nice site for you to use when the days are colder and you can't get out perhaps, looking at the flowers will cheer you.

I am glad you are finding Phil more alert but do hope things aren't as bad as seems possible, poor man, hasn't he enough to cope with? Have the hospital found out what was causing the itching yet and is yours gone now?

MJ sounds lovely Sylvia, I adore tiny babies, they change and develop so fast and are so fascinating, watching and hearing them discover the world and themselves is the best time, I wish I had been able to have a bigger family, or at least that my son would meet someone and start a family so I get some time with them, I will be too old to enjoy them if he doesn't get a wriggle on, excuse the expression lol It wasn't meant, but conjured up an image lolol

I need to look out for something to wear, our local Co-op dept store of years and years closed down last year and Vergo took it over and still had some nice clothes in stock, I used to like the stuff the Co-op stocked. Now Vergo is no more so I want to get there soon and check out the sales of clothing in case I can find something suitable. I also have to sort out something to wear for the darned family meeting/barbeque on June 12th. I hope the weather will be warmer by then otherwise it will be a miserable do, and I just noticed that the England/America football match is on that evening so I expect we will all get chucked out early so the son can watch and the other son in NY will be wearing his England shirt his bro sent over for his birthday and cheering England on, hope he doesn't go out to a bar to do that! I must get a haircut before the barbeque and colour it too so I don't look like Winnie Witch.

love to all, hope our Jean is looking in and is feeling a bit better, more another evening, it's light now and misery guts (so aptly named Mo lol) will be getting up for work in a bit, my cue to go to bed.

Have a good day folks

Lizxxx

Phil was not very alert when I visited this morning, so I didnt stay very long. The woman in charge of the wing says that the tests they sent off for scabies came back negative, but they are still going to treat everybody for scabies, residents and staff. Perhaps they should treat visitors too. I can treat myself though, still have loads of the malathion left. I wonder if there is some other mite that burrows under the skin, as scabies mite does? It has to be something like that, I feel.

Huia.

Hello girls.
Well what a day today has been.
It started with my son's fiance,having to have an emergency scan,as her doctor thought she was having an ectopic pregnancy.
She has been having lower abdominal pains for over a week now.
The lady who did the scan was not amused with the doctor who had referred her.
She did the measurements,and said that the baby is 6weeks and 3 days in gestation,and is NOT ectopic. And all she has got is wind,and she reckons the doctor should have known this.

What a shame Phil was not very alert when you visited hin Huia. It does sound like the place where Phil is,is trying to hide something. Why are they treating everyone for scabies,if the tests came back negative.
I know that it is better to be safe than sorry,but poor Phil suffered all that time,and they didn't do anything about it at the time.
Have you tried to google,to see if there is any other burrowing mites,that could cause the same irritation as the scabies mite.

Liz, let mr misery guts sort his ex wife out himself. Don't you get yourself in a pickle over it all. If he wants to pay for the other son to come over from
N.Y,then let it be on his head. And if it goes wrong,just tell him you washed your hands of it,and it's now down to him.
Get yourself out there and buy yourself a wonderful outfit for the BBQ,and the wedding. Wow the pants off the lot off them,and let ol misery make a prat off himself when he gets near the booze.
When you see he is heading that way,take yourself up to your hotel room at the wedding, and leave him to it.
Take it easy love,dont let the B**ger get you down.

I wonder if Sallie has been on while I have been writing on here. I had to have a break in between as two off my daughters phoned me. It's sods law,when you get down to doing something you want,that the phone will go.

Hi Sylvia,Marie, Ann, Debbie and off course our Jean.
Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi Mo and everyone

I'm knackered today!! I felt pretty good pretty good yesterday, so I went to the reception for the Honorary degree people last night. I had a great time, met some really neat people (in addition to friends) BUT i did have to stand for about 2 hours. Boy, am I paying for it today!!


Mo .... I wear long skirts (no shorter than about 3" above my ankle) 90% of the time in the summer, and almost invariably when we go out in the winter.

I love them, and am very comfortable in them. My "evening skirt" is a polyester "wool look", slim (not straight), and with a split up the back. Comes to about 2" above my ankle.

I could wear it to work if I still worked! I just wear different kinds of tops to dress it up or down.

I find I am uncomfortabe in pants when it gets hot ........... and I have difficulty finding comfortable knee high boots to wear with a skirt in winter, otherwise I'd be wearing skirts more often in winter!



Take care everyone


s
xxx

Hi Girls,

Mo, is your son's girlfriend alright now? I hope she is! I expect the doctor thought it was better to be safe rather than sorry, so sent her for a scan, just in case.

It's been my usual sort of Wednesday, a couple of odd jobs, then the weekly shopping trip to A--a's, and then went to see Jennie and Michael.
Oh, I lead such an exciting life! lol's!

Liz, as Mo pointed out, let the OH sort out the travel costs and arrangements, for his son living in NY, and then if it all goes pear shaped, they can't blame you. Just concentrate on getting yourself something really stunning to wear, and sod the lot of them!

Huia, sorry to hear that Phil wasn't as alert today as he's been lately. It seems strange that they are going to treat all the residents and staff for scabies, when the results came back negative. Whatever the problem is, let's hope that it will get sorted soon. I hope the itching is a lot better with both you and Phil.

Well, it's late now, so I'll speak to you all tomorrow.

Love and best wishes to you all. Take care!

Sallie xxx

Hi Sylvia,

Just seen your post, I hope you'll feel a lot less tired tomorrow. So glad that you enjoyed your evening out, it's lovely to meet up with friends and have a good natter.
Take care!

Love, Sallie xx

Hi all, glad the baby seems to be ok Mo, but the announcement came rather early didn't it, she could only have been a couple of weeks pregnant when she told you if the baby is only 6 weeks. Our lot waited for the 12 week scan before they told anyone to be sure all was well.

The reason I am stressed over the son's possible visit is if the wife from NY comes too, which the ex told me was definite, at least when I asked if she and her toyboy - 16 yrs younger than her, o.h. was only 3 yrs younger - were staying at the hotel where the reception is being held, on the night before as well as the night of the wedding, she said No as S. and C. will be here (meaning staying with her and her partner)
We decided to stay both nights at the hotel so we are on the spot as the wedding is 12.30am and any hold ups would make people late or they have to hang around near the R. Office if they arrive too soon. It's a 45 mile journey to the Reg. office. Knowing how my o.h. leaves everything to the last minute we would be arriving after the bride so we are staying the previous evening.
If this woman comes over with the son, they won't have any spending money as the son hasn't worked since he went to stay with this woman, in Dec 2008. He might have a job coming up but they may not like him taking time off as soon as he starts the job. The woman is a teacher but for some reason has been working as a barmaid and a cleaner to make ends meet instead of teaching, but they are so much in debt that they will probably have to move into her parents home with her two daughters unless they can get money coming in soon. To encourage them both to come when the little girls have to give up their home seems wrong to me, and if she comes, o.h. will put huge pressure on me to take most of my things out of this house and there will be a frantic rush for him to finish the bathroom update which he started in 2007 and to do other things at the house to make it presentable, it is a tip, in the kitchen diner he has the same orange and brown axminster cpt that was in the house when he bought in early 1980s and it's threadbare in places, and clashes with the carpet in the adjoining lounge, that was done out with my help when I first met him but he didn't continue the work through the kitchen diner, the kitchen is falling apart, cupboard doors all tatty, and old fashioned, and the house needs lots of work to get it looking nice, I have given up trying to encourage him as he is useless at doing things or even making up his mind.
Means all the pressure will be on me and I won't have a summer, it will be all work to make things the way he wants just to impress the girl.
If the son comes alone, which is most sensible, altho the brother doesn't seem bothered if he doesn't make it even tho he is best man, it won't matter so much what the place looks like as he will be at his mum's most of the time and also staying with his brother and pregnant wife, wonder if she is happy with that extra work poor girl? Last time the bro stayed there, he upset the girl so much she went and stayed in an hotel overnight to get away from him.
Lovely lot!
off to bed now as the idiot is getting up

love to all
Lizxxxx

Hi everyone.
Ooooh I am so pleased with myself. I have managed to find a nice skirt,and two yes two blouses. The skirt is a maxi length,and is in a lovely turquoise blue,and the blouses are just plain white, but different styles.
I walked from one end off town to the other,and ended up back in the first shop I went into. LOL
I have never known me to be so indecisive on what to choose.
But I am now sorted. Anyone would think I didn't have any clothes at all,but I just wanted something new for a change.

For goodness sake Sylvia,will you never learn. You are NOT supposed to be on your feet for that long. No wonder you are cream crackered today.
Still you enjoyed yourself at the time didn't you. And it's so nice to meet up with friends and chat about old times together.
Now for lords sake,sit yourself down and relax.

Liz,if Mr misery,is so ashamed off the way your home looks,let him arrange for someome to come in and do whatever is neccessary. I would refuse to do it,if I was in your shoes. If he was prepared to just let you live in the house as it is,he should be ashamed off himself,if he has got to try to impress a comparative stranger,by doing certain aspects of the home now.
He appears to be just thinking about how it will make HIM look in other peoples eyes,and not taking your feelings into the equasion. After all. you have had to put up with it the way it is,for so long. Bless you mate,go on strike and refuse to do anything.

Bye for now,must go and do some dinner. Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi All,

Mo, so pleased that you managed to get a skirt and two blouses, so you are now set up ready for the do's that you've been invited to. It's good to know that I'm not the only one that ends up going back to the first shop I went in, and bought what I first seen.

My brother and sister-in-law are coming up tomorrow until Sunday. He feel's like a change before he goes in for his op, a week on Monday, so my sister-in-law will have to do all the driving this time. Really looking forward to seeing them both, as we haven't seen each other since before Christmas.

A week tomorrow, we are going down to Richard's just for the day. He has to go and have a tooth out, and Christie can't get the time off to go with him, so Alun is taking a day's holiday, so that he can go with him. Richard tends to faint sometimes after having a tooth out, so needs to have someone with him.

We haven't heard from Marie lately, hope all is well with her.

Sylvia, hope you are feeling less tired now, after standing for so long at the do. Hugs and kisses to baby MJ!

Liz, try not to worry about getting the house sorted ready for your OH's son and his partner. Your OH should have started thinking about doing the decorating before now, if he would like it done and he can't do it himself, then he'll just have to pay somebody to do it for him.

Huia, hope you are alright, and if you've visited Phil, found him a bit more alert than your last visit.

Thinking of Jean, Debbie, Marie and everyone else.

Going to make a cuppa now, Alun is out tonight, so I have to do it myself.

Love and best wishes to you all.

Sallie. xxx

Hi Gals, yes, it's me, that bad penny that keeps turning up just when you had lost all hope of hearing from me again!!!!

Well, I have read all of the posts, but won't make too many comments, other than to say, I hope, Huia, the itching is sorting itself out and that Phil is more comfortable. Good that you are able to walk him around, even if you do have to go in reverse.

Life here has been busy but fun. Daniel has been away again - Mo, he was at the Julie Rose Stadium last weekend. He did really well in his races and has now qualified for the UK Championships in August, though we are not sure he will attend as we only just come back from hols that same week and poor Daniel will have missed 2 weeks of training. He is now 27th in the UK for 1500m and 64th in the UK for 800m running. But those positions change on a daily basis as more races are run through out the UK. We are very proud of him.

Half term at the moment and I am just off to Pound World with Luke & Sophie as they want to do some painting and crafts. They have made a load of clay figures and want to do things to make them into a zoo or farm. At least with only paying £1.00 for items, it won't break the bank. Daniel has gone to the beach and Matthew is at the Sports Centre with friends. I think they have opted for indoor activities as it is so hot outside. Peter is playing golf all afternoon so a very lazy household today.

We have had scorching weather recently but at the start of the week, just in time for the Bank Holiday we had our first rain since Good Friday - you can imagine, all the reservoirs are looking a bit dry and we have all been asked to be careful with our water consumption. We have the swimming pool up in the garden, but the pump is very efficient and cleans it out quite well, so as long as we make sure it is covered when not being used, we do ok for keeping the same load of water in it for quite some time. The children love it.

I seem to have been really busy recently buut not sure how. My Dad isn't so good at the moment, but I think he is just getting tired with life. It is such a shame to see. He does not make the same effort as he used to and I think to a certain extent, Mum is almost giving up on trying to encourage him. They both seemed to be very lethargic when I saw them yesterday. I think it is ok if they slow down, so long as they still have some quality of life. I am sure they both have many years left in them, but I do wonder sometimes if I am being optimistic. Dad is 81 and Mum 76.

We are still waiting to hear the outcome of things following Peters fathers death at the start of March. Some years ago he signed his house over to the three offspring, so they are all joint owners of that at the moment. It is rented out as the rent originally went some way towards the Nursing Home & Hospital fees, when F-in-L was being looked after. I don't think there is any oney to speak of so the house will stay rented out for the time being adn will be sold probably at the end of the current lease, unless there are bills etc to settle before then.

Why does life have to be complicated? All the more reason for getting all of our affairs in good order throughout our lives then our children won't have too much to worry about eventually - hopefully many, many years down the line.

Anyway, enough morbid talk.

Mo, my Mum went to Alderney the other day for a Darts Tournament. She wasn't actually playing but fancied a Jolly, and used the excuse of going to support her teammates!!!! She had a lovely time, they stayed overnight and had a couple of days away, so it was a nice break for her.

Right, I'm off now, I'm being pestered by Little People to go to Pound World, so I suppose I had better honour my promise. Their clay fugures have all dried nicely in the sun.

I won't leave it too long begfore I am back again. Best wishes to you all.

Take Care. Debbie xx

Hello everyone.
Before I go any further, I would like to send my best regards to Jean and Liz. I hope you are both feeling better very soon,we miss you both.

Debbie it is good to hear from you. We were all wondering what had happened to you.
Daniel is doing especially well,with his athletics,please send him my congratulations. I expect to see him competing at the Olympics in 2016.
How did the painting off the clay models go. I bet it kept Luke and Sophie
busy for a wee while.
I do hope that your dad perks up soon. Bless him.
Good for your mum,going away for a couple off days. I bet she thoroughly
enjoyed herself, being with the girls and letting her hair down.
I hope you get Peters fathers estate sorted soon. He wont be able to say a final goodbye until it is finalised.
Have you decided where you are going for your holiday this year.

Well tonights the night girls,we are off out to a fortieth wedding celebration.
They are having a disco,and I just hope and pray it is not to loud. It drives me bonkers when music is blared out. I like to enjoy it,not be deafened by it. And fingers crossed they play sixties and seventies music,not the tunes where you cant understand a word off whats being said, thats what I call todays music. I am an old fashioned gal at heart.

Well my friends,I must go now. I have got to prepare the dinner,and get myself ready. I need hours just to put my face on.
Love to all. Mo xxx

Hi Mo
xxx

and everyone
xxxx


Have fun tonight Mo



We've had two disturbed evenings ..................... the alarm on the house across the street went off just before 11pm on Thursday night, and then again about 9 pm last night!

It is a horn on the outside of the house, that sounds a constant note. Turns out the people have been away in Hong Kong for the last 4 weeks (they're not very talkative or noisy neighbours so we hadn't even noticed!).

They had told their next door neighbour Joe that they were going away, and that a relative (b-i-l) would come occasionally to check the house ............... but they didn't give him a contact phone number

Anyway ..... we ended up having a neighbour chat fest on the street as we waited for the police to come, both evenings!

The first time they took about 30 minutes to arrive, then this fast car appeared, swooped into the curb and parked, and out jumped two hunky men in jeans ............... more like undercover cops than plain clothes! They said they would search the outside of the house to make sure there had not been a break-in, but we might be stuck with the noise.

Somehow, someone phoned the owners in Hong Kong, got the name of a person living nearby here who knew b-i-l and where he lived. That person went over to get the b-i-l ...... and the alarm was turned off at 12:25 am

Last night, OH went for a relaxing bath, then came to tell me the alarm was on again. He let me go outside to check, while he phoned the 911 number ............... and then he got back in the bath, while I and 2 other neighbours (all women) talked and waited for the police! This time they arrived within about 15 minutes. Fast car again, swooped into the curb ..... and a young man and young woman got out, dressed in jeans. Gawd, they looked young! Again, they said they'd check the house, make sure no break-in but .......

Then they gestured to a guy on the other side of the street ................. all details must have been in the computer they have. Because that turned out to be the man who was involved the previous night in getting the b-i-l. They told him in no uncertain terms that he had to get the b-i-l, get him here, turn off the alarm, and then get an electrician in to get it fixed!

Of course, there was a bit of a language problem .................

It was turned off by about 9:45 pm ........... and I peeped out to see 4 people about to go into the hosue.


As one neighbour said, at least it was earlier last night!


We're out this evening, but hopefully there'll be no more alarms!!



sylvia
xxxx

Hi all. I have just had a shower and smothered myself in the Malathion again as I had a letter from Phils hospital to say they have 2 confirmed cases of scabies and were treating residents and staff on Fri 4th, so advised us to treat ourselves if we have visited in the last 2 months. Not that it is a real treat, it is not the nicest smell, but I hope this will knock it on the head. I dont think I will be holding Phils hand for quite a while! I dont want to risk getting it again, or giving it him.

It is miserable cold wet windy weather today. I have spent much of the day sleeping as I didnt sleep well last night. Because of the weather I decided not to visit Phil. I might go in a couple of days if the weather is less wet and blustery. I printed off a lot of photos, 2 to an A4 page, and put them into a clearfile folder for him. If he cant manage the A4 size I can cut the pages in half and put them into an A5 folder that I have. I hope it will stir some memories for him.

Huia.

Hello everyone.
Well we had a wonderful evening at the 40th wedding celebrations. We know a lot off the family off the couple who's party it was.
The music was all 60's and 70's,and was not to loud.

Sylvia,I do hope you get some peaceful nights soon. It must have made you feel like going and smashing that flippin alarm yourself.
I hope you have a lovely evening out tonight. Is it a special occasion.

Oh Huia, how disgusting that the home never acted on your warning that it could have been scabies in the first place.
I cant smell you from here so thats o.k love.
I hope Phil gets some enjoyment out off the photo's you have done for him.

I have to go girls got company turned up. See you later. Love Mo xxx

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO OUR jEAN.
lots and lots of love and very best wishes Mo + Roly xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEAN
xxxxx



Mo ............... it was one of our regular nights out, we have season tickets to the Vancouver Opera, and this was the last opera of the season. More than a month late, the season usually ends in early May. But there was a Cultural Olympiad connected with the Winter Olympics, and all "normal theatre activites were put on hold for 6 or so weeks as we got all these extra things in town.


We saw the most fantastic performance of Madama Butterfly last night. The soprano Mihoko Kinoshita who played Butterfly was awesome. The whole house rose in a spontaneous standing ovation for her at the end. There was a smaller standing ovation for tenor James Valenti who played Pinkerton, and a roar of approval for Zheng Cao who played Butterfly's maid Suzuki.

I have not seen a whole house standing ovation in the more than 40 years we have been going to Vancouver Opera, not even for world superstars like Joan Sutherland.

OH said that he would never have believed that the opera he likes least would provide him with the best performance of any opera that he has ever seen. I'm so glad that I went ...... I nearly didn't.

I wasn't too impressed with the scenery which was very bare and modernistic, but the performances were all sooooooooo good.


Tomorrow, we're going to meet up for lunch with a friend from old FR days .............. we've "known" each other since about 2005, and met for lunch in London (with 3 others) in 2008. She and her husband are visiting with friends in Seattle, and those friends are going to bring them up to Vancouver



It's raining again!


Had about an hour long chat with daughter ........ they're all doing well, and MJ is having fewer and fewer gassy problems.



s
xxx