General Chat

Hello Everyone,

I was typing out a message to you all last night and just I got near the end, the whole lot disappeared. I was too tired to type all again, so decided to wait until today.

Mo, you're right about what the men are like once the TV goes on. I sometimes think that Alun has forgotten I'm there, lol. Well at least a lot of us have the same problem. Have you finished all the painting now? If you have, I'm sure you're pleased that it's now out of the way.
I've spent quite a bit of time ringing up family members this week, finding out how all the 'patients' are getting along.
Yesterday, I went to Derby to a parchment class in a craft place there. It was very good, and I enjoyed doing it. One of my friends came with me, so we went early so that we could look around the shops and then have an early lunch, before going to the craft place.

Liz, I've been to see the Counsellor today, I have two more appointments left with her, so I don't know what happens then. Although, I feel much better than I've been for over a year. There are things that have come to the surface that I wasn't even aware of, all linked with other things that I thought was a seperate issue. Over the last ten years I've seen other Counsellors, although they were all nice, they never made the difference that this one has. Take care and try not to let things upset you.

Huia, good to hear that Phil fed himself while you there, and that he took interest in the photos and showed some response to them. I'm sure you felt a lot better when you left him. Are you still having very cold weather there? Hope the problem with your scanner is sorted, and that you have found a way to do what you wanted it for.

Sylvia, I'm certain that you are looking forward to having the family to stay with you. It will be lovely to have your daughter and MJ to stay on their own for a couple of weeks, as you don't get to see them very often. Good luck to your son-in-law with his exams or what ever it is he has. Glad to hear that OH's eye is a lot better.

Marie, have you finished the cushion for Abbey's birthday yet? I'm hope she'll have a lovely day out for her birthday, the little ones enjoy going to somewhere like that, rather than have a party. Is your weather still as cold as it's been? If it is, I hope you are you managing to keep warm, as you say the cost of electricity and gas is awful, it makes you frightened to use it too much, in case the bill is more than you can afford. It's just the same here in Britain!

Jean, if you're looking in, I'm still thinking about you and hope that things are getting easier for you.

Debbie, not heard from you for a few days, hope all is okay with you and your family.

Ann, we haven't seen you much lately, hope you and T are okay.

I'll speak to you all tomorrow.

Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

Hi Ladies, here I am again. Life has been in the fast lane the past week or so, and I'm just catching up with things. So much going on here that it is like reading a book every time I get back onto the thread.

Huia, you had a lovely time with Phil and looking at the pictures in the books and photos. Treasure those times and be positive. It is a good memory.

Mo, we stayed near to Dymchurch many years ago. I think Daniel & Matthew were still in the double buggy at the time, so about 13 years back. The little railway line is lovely, there is also the Bluebell lne around there, but I'm not sure of the stations it uses. Also, at the coast end of the Dymchurch/Romney line there is a lovely restaurant in an old Lighthouse - I hope my memory serves me correctly. It was very popular, and the food there was lovely - a lot of fish dishes.

Talking of fishing, Peter took Matthew & Luke out on the boat last weekend and they caught their first mackerel of this season, so tea was good that evening. It was Luke's 9th Birthday, so he was happy. They saw seals whilst they were out at sea, so that made for a very enjoyable day for the three of them. I stay on land with Sophie as we aren't keen on the boat. Daniel had athletics, so had to stay behind.

Athletics has taken up most of my days recently. Daniel & Matthew have both been competing at Individual level and also for their school. Daniel has made his place for the trip to compete against Guernsey schools next Thursday, but I'm not sure Matthew will make it this year. He will find out at school today. He is running quite well considering he had such a lot of time off with various joint & bone problems. He has taken up javelin throwing again, which is good and doesn't put as much strain on his legs.

The rest of us are keeping fit and well. Sophie was officially enrolled in the Brownies on Wednesday. She is very proud of her uniform and really enjoys her evenings with the other girls. Prince Edward & Sophie are coming here on 29th June and all the Brownies in the Island are gathering together to give a presentation. My Sophie is so excited. I am sure Countess Sophie is equally so!!!!

Had to have a tooth out thismorning so am feeling a wee bit sorry for myself. I had all 4 wisdom teeth out some years ago as there wasn't room for them, but my two top gaps have grown extra teeth, meaning that I had 6 wisdom teeth!!!!!! The extra bits aren't fully formed, so one of them was taken out today. Hopefully there won't be any more underneath it. The one on the other side is ok for the moment. It depends on how it grows as to whether it will have to come out as well.

I must look up that Vancouver Demolition that you have all seen, and see what you are chatting about. Isn't the internet amazing for anything and everything?

Sorry to say that the World Cup has hit our household, and I do actually enjoy the games. We are in a Fantasy Football league with some of Peters friends from his snooker team. At the moment Matthew & I are leading by a long way with Peter & Daniel in 2nd place. So much for Peters mates thinking it would be a good thing to do, they aren't exactly showing themselves yet. I am sure time will tell something different as we get through the tournament.

Anyway, best be off. I can't eat or dink anything for a few more hours, so I'm going to read my latest book whilst pretending to have lunch.

Keep well, all of you.

Debbie xx

Sallie, I was there on this thread just before you. I am fine thanks.

Hello girls.
I am a bit earlier today,because I am totally bored out of my tiny little scull.
Football on BBC 1 ,Ascot on BBC2,a repeat of Midsummer Murders,on ITV. Hou**w**k done, so now I am waiting to cook dinner.

Ann I know what you mean about being like ships that pass in the night. I take myself upstairs to watch t.v,if Roly is watching something I don't want to see. Or I take my laptop up with me,for a bit of peace and quiet.
Roly has the telly up so loud that you cant hear yourself think,so sometimes it's a relief to go up there.
I am so lucky with my girls,they are so thoughtful. We initially thought that the weekend away,was a fathers day gift for Roly,but no,our daughter bought her dads present over at the same time.

So Sallie please explain,what do you do at a Parchment class. How does it work is what I am saying really. I do know that parchment is paper,but what do you actually have to do with it. I know,I know, I am a real thicko.lol
Will they extend your therapy sessions,if you should need them. All I know is,that you sound so much more confident,than you did a few months ago.
So the sessions have obviously done you good, well done love on getting as far as you have.

Hi Debbie,it's so good to catch up on all your news.
Well done to Daniel,for getting through to the Guernsey school meet. I hope he is very successful there. And brings home a medal to show you all.
Javelin throwing may be Matthews Forte,until such time as his joints become more stable. And there is always next year for him to compete,in the running events when he is a bit stronger.
Ah bless little Sophie,I bet she looks a picture in her Brownie Uniform. It's so nice when children take up an interest like that.
I hope you don't suffer to much pain from your teeth extractions,when the gums come back to life. That is the one thing I don't like about having extractions done.

Well I must away now. Take care all. Love Mo xxx

Hello again everyone.
I have just had a p.m from Jean. She would like me to let you all know,that her tablets are beginning to work,and she is starting to feel a little better.
She sends you all her very best wishes,and will hopefully be back with us all soon.
Take care of yourself my friend,see you very soon. Love Mo xxx

((((((Hugs)))))) Jean. See you soon.
Good to see you Debbie, goodness you are a bust bee.

Mo, Wonderful isn't it, football and more football and next week Oh joy, the tennis starts.

Hello Ladies,

I'm late again sorry, once I start on the cards I lose all sense of time.

Huia, I'm really sorry to hear that you are suffering from depression, it's a horrible thing to have, it stops you getting on with life as you would like to. If only we were living nearer you we could all meet for perhaps lunch and a nice long chat. As you said we are all here to talk to, but it isn't the same as face to face. Perhaps there is something that you could join, so that you meet more people, there might even be someone in the same position as youself, that would be glad of your company as you would of theirs. I hope the tablets will start to kick in soon and that you'll start to
feel better.

Mo, that was a lovely surprise for you and Roly, the change will do the both of you the world of good. Parchment or Pergamano as it's also known, is embossing and pricking onto parchment paper, although I only did the embossing on Wednesday, I was quite pleased with what I did, as it was my first go at it. Are you enjoying the football? I'll be glad when it's finished.
Glad to hear that Jean is feeling better than she's been and that she'll back on here soon.

Sylvia, hope you both have a good trip up to the cabin, and that the weather will be good for you. We'll miss seeing you on hear for a few days.
Love and hugs to MJ. xxx

Debbie, you are having a very busy time at the moment. I'm glad that Sophie enjoys going to Brownies. Jennie always loved going, she started in Rainbows, then moved up to Brownies and from there to Guides. Richard first started in Beavers, then Cubs and finally Scouts. All of the groups were attached to the church we went to. They were lovely years, I don't know where the time has gone to.

Ann, it's nice to know that you feel the same as me about the football. I'm sick of hearing about it. I won't have any problem with the tennis because Alun doesn't like it, thank goodness. I'm sure the television company cater more for the men of Britain than they do for us ladies.

Liz, I hope you are starting to feel a bit better. I know it isn't easy and I do feel for you, as I do for Huia.

Marie, thinking about you and your family. Keep yourself warm and take care!

Jean, pleased to hear that you are feeling better, looking forward to seeing you back with us all.

Well that's all for now, ladies. Speak to you tomorrow.

Love and best wishes.

Sallie. xxx

Sorry that was me deleting, I posted twice. Just noticed that
we are on page 180.

Love, Sallie.xxx

I have had a couple of good nights sleep which has been great, none of this dozing for an hour then waking up and being unable to get back to sleep for ages. I feel quite a bit better for it, and for the walks I have had, though it would be nice if I had somebody to walk with me, just to encourage me to keep going, but then everybody seems to walk at such a quick pace and my legs cant keep up. Anyway, I am at least making a start.

I visited Phil again this morning. He was not quite as responsive as the other day, but not too bad. Tomorrow if it is not too wet I will go to plant native trees in a park, but if it is pouring I might just go for a drive instead. There are quite a few big parks in the Auckland region, they used to be farms but are now being replanted with native trees by volunteers. The one I am going to is about an hour away from here, by the sea (the Firth of Thames, looking over towards Coromandel peninsula). We have planted there once before. It will mean leaving here about 9 a.m. so I must go and put my gear in the back of the ute ready for an early start tomorrow.

Huia.

Cheers Ann,you have really cheered me up now. Why oh why,are the t.v stations so sport orientated. ITV have three other channels they could use,and the BBC has a further three as well,so why cant they leave the normal programmes we are all used to alone. All the soaps have been thrown out off sync,and I am really peeved about that.
I know,I know,I am a sad person,my life does not revolve around them,but I have a lot off elderly friends,who really enjoy them,and are most upset about missing them.

Sallie thank you for the explanation of the Parchment classes. It must be very time consuming though isn't it. But the end product must be beautiful.

Huia, it's good to hear that you are getting more sleep now. It makes all the difference doesn't it. You tend to wake more refreshed,and ready to face the day.
What a shame that Phil was not so communicative on your last visit. Just take each visit as it comes love. He is bound to have good and bad days.
I hope it is a dry day tommorrow,so that you can enjoy your tree planting.
If I remember rightly,you did it last year as well didn't you. But I think that Phil was with you on that occasion.

I will have to go for now,but I will pop back later.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

Just read in the mail that next week there are 100 hours of sport in 5 days TV. Wow, how absolutely wonderful. No doubt they will say that viewing figures show it is what people want. As there is hardly any alternative how can they judge. I can't understand why it is always the soaps that have to suffer as if the people who watch them don't matter. with them being on at all different times, cancelled etc I am sure some elderly people must be very confused. Incidentally did you know Corrie is on on Sunday?

No Ann I didn't know Corrie is on on Sunday. I know they show the omnibus edition on that day,but does it mean that it's just going to be a catch up on that. Or are they showing the continuation of it. Oh I hope you can understand what I mean,as it sounded double dutch to me when I read it back.

I think it is just an extra half hour episode on Sunday evening Mo

Oh thanks Ann. I will have to watch out for it.

Hi Girls,

It's a bit cooler here today, sunny, but there's a bit of a wind that's keping it cool.
Apart from going to Morrisons and then Jennie and Michael's for a short while, I've been busy making cards most of the day.

Mo, doing Parchment is a bit time consuming, but is also relaxing---mind you I'm only doing the simple Parchment, so don't know what the more advanced will be like, still I've got a long way to go for that yet.

Huia, glad that you have had a few good nights sleep and that you are feeling better. Isn't there anyone living near you that would be happy to go for a walk with you, somebody that goes the same pace as you. Nice to hear that although Phil wasn't as respnsive as the last time you visited him, he wasn't too bad this time.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the rain will keep away so that you can
plant the trees.

Ann, like you I shall be happy when the football has finished. It's not only having it on the TV, but everywhere we go the first thing that everyone talks about is the way that the England team is playing. It's very disappointing that they aren't doing better, with them being the only British team, they have a lot more people supporting them.

Hope everyone else is okay. Speak to you soon.

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

The weather is looking rather damp at the moment so I am not sure if I will go to do the tree planting, but then things could clear up in the next couple of hours so we will have to see. I have most of my stuff packed ready and will drive round there anyway and see what the weather is like. The park is at Tapapakanga - get your tongues around that!

Huia.

ps, to pronounce it, divide it up into syllables, each vowel is the end of a syllable.

One good thing about being in a country that is not very soccer mad ............................. it's shown on only one sports channel, live from 4:30 am to about 1pm, then a repeat in the evening. But there are many other channels to watch. So it's only a problem if you want to watch that one channel ...... and it isn't one that we often do watch!!!

It is actually quite ridiculous ......... none of the other Canadian stations can show the highlights until after 10pm in the evening! So they can talk about the games on the 6 pm newscasts, but not anything else. The station we usually watch has been using Lego to make little people (soccer players) to demonstrate the highlight of the day. Pretty funny to watch!!!



Not a very good day today for me.


want to wrap me up in cotton wool????


I fell getting off the bus coming home from a lovely time downtown .............. my left knee got that pain at the back of it as I brought it down to the ground, only this time it also gave way and I went sprawling on the ground. No other injuries, don't even seem to be bruised, but the back of my knee is very sore. All kinds of people came dashing to help ....... and one lady even went "round the loop" to find me after she saw me fall. She caught up with me at our corner (just a block away from the bus stop, but on a side street). She stopped her car, came over to me, was all ready to take me home.

OH was just leaving, and had got to the end of the back lane when he saw me, he stopped the car right there, and came running up the street. Got me in the house, helped me lie down, then had to go off. I iced my knee, put on arnica, and an analgesic cream that contiains aspirin, tried a few exercises (no no no!!), wrapped an elastic bandage round it



..... and am now spitting feathers 'cos it's hurting when I try to stand up and walk! Doesn't hurt when I'm sitting down!


Then I came on the computer for the first time today to find an email telling me that an internet friend of some 6 or 7 years died during the week after an operation about 2 weeks ago for liver cancer. There had been complications, a couple more operations, but to no avail. One of the complications would have meant that this lady would not have been able to walk if she had survived. She would have hated that.

She was Quaker and had quite a fatalistic attitude, plus a great love for her religion.


I shall miss her as she had become a good friend over the years. I nearly met her face-to-face when I was in London in 2008, but unfortunately she got some bug or other and couldn't travel to London for a lunch several of us were having.


ah well





it's Father's Day tomorrow ...... and I'm hoping that daughter will phone her dad.

I got an email from her on Friday saying she didn't know whether they would have time to phone because it was a "big" day for the in-laws. She said she would try to phone on Monday. I suggested that she'd better do her best on Sunday! There will be words if she doesn't .

........... OH is very forgiving, but this is not the first time this has happened. The in-laws are more vociferous about what must be done and when, we tend to be more easy-going, and do understand the problems of being away from parents (after all we moved away from our own parents!) .......... but this just seemed the last straw.




It's a lovely Saturday evening.

It's summer on Monday!




sylvia
xxxx

Oh Sylvia, you certainly do have problems, dont you. I think we will have to find a minder for you. Perhaps a nice strong young man?

Huia.

Who is Sylvia, what is she that all the saints commend her?
Is she wise as she's fair? The heavens such grace did lend her.

Now, Sylvia, you are not living up to the song. Call that grace, falling flat on your face in the street?

Huia.

lol!


Huia

a nice strong young man might just be what I need when I go out!


s
xx