General Chat

Hi all
xxx

we have the central heating on again, it's that chilly!


Huia .. it sounds as though NZ is following along with the US and Canada


George Bush was persuaded some years ago that extending the daylight savings period would save money and energy.

So he got it passed in Washington, and persuaded most of the individual states to also vote for it ...... then Canada also had to vote for it because so many things here are closely tied to the US.

Like the US, we are really a federation of states / provinces, and those states have lots of rights and control over things. So the Federal government in Ottawa voted for it, then the provinces had to also vote for the change, and some didn't!

So the new laws came in ................... daylight saving would last 6 months.

This year it started on March 14 and ends November 7


Problem is .............. a report issued last year after 5 years of this has shown that costs have INCREASED, and so has the use of energy.

Not surprising, as March 14 is still winter in large parts of the US and Canada, and is not even warm enough to turn off the heating here in Vancouver. Plus dark mornings mean more lights are needed. Same in November


Guess which lobbyists persuaded Bush?

Yep, energy providers!


It really makes it difficult working out what time it is in other parts of the continent, but especially overseas!


Grocery shopping later this afternoon for us.

We've always done it on a Friday, but we used to go out for an inexpensive meal then do it. After OH retired, we changed to him meeting me for afternoon coffee about 3 pm on a Friday afternoon, I'd have the shopping list, would have been to the bank, etc, and we would then go to do the grocery shopping.

Both times are relatively quiet ...... sometimes VERY quiet!!

We now still usually go out for an inexpensive meal but AFTER everything has been put away in the cupboards etc. It's a good way to end the week. :))



sylvia
xxx

Hello Sylvia (and the others when they wake up).

I did the washing this morning and hung it up indoors. Then after lunch I was feeling cold. Since the winds dont seem so blustery now I decided to light the fire. I havent had it going while we have had the very bad winds. (burp, burp). I just wish we could have some sunny days as I am not getting enough exercise. I get a bit bored hopping on the exercycle. It is much better if I can get outside in the sunshine and go for a walk.

Huia getting stir crazy.

Hi Huia

we're entering our cool or cold weather phase!!

I've worn a high necked (turtle neck) and long sleeved swaeter the last couple of days!

I do hope that it warms up for you soon, and that the sun begins to shine.



I realised as I was talking to OH about daylight savings time earlier this evening that we actually have 8 months on DST, and only 4 months off!




sylvia
xxx

Good morning all.

I had a busy day today. I visited Phil before lunch, then returned to Papakura for my lunch. At 2pm our genealogy group went to a shop where the Lions Club had had a big book sale. Unfortunately they hadnt advertised it well enough so there were heaps of books left over. They donated them to our group for our next book sale, as they didnt have storage for them. There must have been about 100 banana boxes full of books. We had several vehicles to carry them to Drury where one of our members has a huge barn which is not very full at present. Drury is a small town just a few km south of Papakura.

Tomorrow I hope to go to Pukekohe where the Franklin Hist. Soc. has a display of old photos and stuff. I am not sure if they have any of my dads photos. I have put them onto a CD.

Huia.

GoodMorning All,have just pop on to tell you i have updated thread for Caz told her i would do it tuesday ,but with having appointments myself i dont want to forget so thought i would let you no
Mo theres nothing they can do for me its the nerves pressing on my spine which is causing me pain and cramps in my feet ,i have seen specilist in the hospital and he had alook at the MRI scan and xray of my feet .but he said opertion was out for both as i would be in more pain than i am now so thats it,but have appointment to see docter on another matter which my close friends no about mybe she can help me
Mo i had my cartledge out but later one had new knee done about 5yrs ago i think
Jean nice to see you back and your bruises are going
Sallie how are you im still doing cards not quite as good as you and Jean but getting there,done do yesterday for my M.I.L and she want to pay me for them i told her no but she would,nt have it she put money in moneybox we have ,mind you its realy nice of her
Abit of good news so far so good going to be great grandmother for the 5th time Danni my g,daughter is due in April
Liz my friend will ring you tuesday night to let you no how i got on ,that is if K is on late shifts just text me to let me no
My son who i have just got in contact with after 10 long years he keeps ringing me up asking me am i ok ,and that he loves and misses me ,i told him its ok we know were each of us are now,he wants me to come and live with him so he can look after me ,i tried to explain i could,nt but he said im your son, but i hope to see him soon as he,s not well
anyway love to everyone ,Ann,Sylvia,Tess,Maria,Huia and anyone i may have forgot .stay safe and better days ahead
Love Dutchxx

Hi everyone, had a good day yesterday. Had a look round the Jewellary Museum in Birmingham, with a guided tour (all free). Then went to a local Caribbean Cafe for Jerk Chicken with rice and peas - yummy. To cap it all son then took me to The Hawthorns (home ground of my football team, West Bromwich Albion) They were playing away, but sop was open so had a little look. There are a few big t.v. screens in the shop which were showing the match reports. While we were there Albion scored two goals! It increased my euphoria to watch customers and staff, leaping up and down, cheering.

Now that my computer is working again I need to go back to working on my tree and sorting out my paperwork. (a never ending job I fear)

Joyce, have you been referredanywhere for pain management? I don't know much about it, but do know that there is help out there.

Huia, just as well that your friend has room to store all those books. I tend to be a bit of a hoarder, and books are one of the rhings that I find it difficult to disguard,
In fact, if I was able, I'm sure that I could quite easily keep a barnful of books, just for my own pleasure!

Sylvia, I can never understand just why the clocks have to change. There are still the same amount of daylight hours, no matter what. If you want to get up an hour later or earlier, that should be your own choice. (Moan over)

Good afternoon everyone.
It was good to catch up with all your news.
Next time they have a book sale Huia, they will have to do the advertising in big bold print.
At least now your shop will get all the profits. But as you say, the storage is a problem. I tend to buy and donate my books back to the charity shop.
Roly has a big library of books in his room, it's the only place we can store them. But at least they are on a bookcase all neat and tidy.

Good luck for Tuesday Joyce, I hope you have a good outcome.
I can understand your son being worried about your health, and about his wanting to care for you, but, you have your life with Jan ,and the love for your partner has to come first. As much as we love our children, they end up leading their own lives don't they.
Your son probably feels that you would get better health care treatment here in the U.K.
There are times when I don't see my lot from one week to the next, and I then question myself to see if I have done or said anything to upset them.
But thats just me worrying over nothing,and then they will ring me up out of the blue,and things are back to normal.
We worry about our children when they are youngsters, but the worry does not go away when they become adults does it. Thats us mums for you.

It sounds like you had a great day yesterday Tess. The camaradery (sp)
during a footie game is something else isn't it. Everyone cheering for the same reason.
The Jerk chicken, rice and peas sounds delicious. Is it a really spicey meal. I like curry, but cant eat it unless I make it myself. If there is any onion in it, I suffer for hours afterwards.
IBS has a lot to answer for.

It's a really horrid day here again, we have had rain all day, and it's so dark
that I have had to put the table lamp on.
I went with Roly to the club today, for a game of darts. I must get some practise,as our darts season starts on the 4th of October,and if I play like I did today, I will be dropped from the team for a week,and I don't want that to happen.
My sons fiance had to spend the night in hospital last night. She's had a kidney infection for a week now. And yesterday she had bad pains.
When they examined her, they said that the baby's heart rate had slowed down, because she has also got the kidney infection.
S has got to finish her anti-biotics,and if she feels no better, she must go and see her doctor again.
When I saw baby on the scan just a week ago, she was fine, so now I have got everything crossed that all will be fine.

Well I hope everyone is well. I hope to hear from you again soon.
Love and best wishes everyone. Mo xxx

Hello Everyone,

I've been quite busy the last few days, making cards, had Jennie and Michael come for their dinner two days, and Alun and I have been out a fair bit and in between getting some housework done.


Dutch, that was very nice and thoughtful of Jan's mother, it shows how she appreciates the time and cost that you have put into making the cards.
Bless her!

It's a shame that they can't do anything about the cramp pains you are suffering, but if an operation will only make the pain worse, then it just isn't worth it.

Joyce I'm sure your son means well, but he has to realise that you are married to Jan, and that's where you want to be and where you are happiest.



Huia, you have been busy today, and it looks as though you are going to have another busy day tomorrow. It's good to get out and about and meet people.
Hope that Phil was a bit more responsive today, it makes it a lot nicer for you while you are there.




Sylvia, it's got colder here over the last couple of days, so we've had the fire on in the living room, it isn't warm enough to sit without any heat at all.
I have stated wearing a top with long sleeves and a high neck over the last couple of days, too.

I love your idea of going out for a meal when the shopping is done and put away on Friday----that would be a good idea when Alun will eventually retire. One of my pet hates, is having to make a meal after we've done the weekly shop.

Hope all is well with J and her family. Hugs and kisses to MJ. xxxx



Tess, you certainly had a lovely day out yesterday, by the sound of it, it's really done you some good. Do you like watching football generally or only when West Bomwich Albion are playing.


I've never tried Caribbean food and as far as I know I don't think we have a Caribbean Cafe anywhere in the area that we live. Is the food spicy and what kind of ingredients do they use?

My son is like you, he won't get rid of any books. While he was out of work, he couldn'tafford to buy any books, but I'm sure that now he's working again and gets his first months wages, he's bound to buy one.



Jean, I hope that you have recovered from your fall and feeling a lot better. Are you managing to make any cards now?



Mo, how are things with you? I hope that your leg is a bit better than it's been. I hope that you are keeping it elevated, even though it's easier said than done.
Have you started on any knitting for the two new babies due in 2011?



Ann, hope your holiday is still going well and that the weather is still good for you.


Liz and Debbie, hope that you are both okay. It seems a long time since we heard from you both.



Well, I'd better go and make our tea now, but I might look in later on.


Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Mo, just missed you. I hope all will go well for your son's fiance, and that they can clear the kidney infection up quickly.

I know it's very painful, as Jennie had one when she was eight. She was in agony, bless her!


Sorry Mo, I know you've already told us, but I can't remember when the baby is due.

Please give her my get well wishes and wish her all the best.


Love, Sallie. xxx

Hi Sallie.
The baby is due on the 20th of January. Our great grandchild is due in May.
I have not started knitting for the baby due in May yet,as I don't want to tempt fate.
My knee has not been to bad thank you. I am still waiting for the MRI scan date. I have not kept it elevated all the time, only doing it when it starts to ache. I am not the type of person who can sit on my btm for hours on end I'm afraid.
Just going to make the tea. See you later. Love Mo xxx

Hi, everyone, it is lovely reading all your news good or bad at least we are able to be here for each other, my bruises are fading now but the fingers are still sore, Sallie I have managed some cards Just sent the pics to caz and Joyce, wondered if you would like to see them too. I dont want to clog up your mail box...
Mo, glad to hear the bad leg isnt holding you back, does it hurt when you stand to throw the darts? still praying for you and your family... aslo alll our ladies over the waters, got to stop now.... ouch..... sore fingers
take care all loveJean xxx

I was not very impressed with the Heritage displays in my home town today. The one on the councils had very little in it, and the old photos at the library were still being put up when I arrived, and still had not all been put up (as far as I could see) 2 or 3 hours later. Very few shops in the main street had bothered, either. I will be going to an aging expo in the town on Friday. I went last year, so I hope it will be just as good this year.

This evening I scanned some of my dads old negs, and a glass plate (3inches x 4) which mums grandparents had. It dates to about 1914, judging from the fact that mum is in it in her High School straw hat. I love old photos.

Huia.

Morning Ladys ,Tess docter said he could send me to pain clinc but he would,nt because i am already on morphine patches for the pain and they would just up the morphine ,and being diabete if i cut myself or something then i would,nt feel it because of the morphine takening over my body ,and then i would be in trouble so just have to live with it
Mo hope your son girlfriend feels abit better my grandaughter had to go the hospital on sat as she saw alittle bit of blood and was worried so her partner took her to the hospital and they said the babys ok ,shes only three months and due in April ,i had g,daughter on the 7th may and her brother my g,son was born on 4th of may,but i have to say on the 7th of may i won 50 thousand pound on one pound scratch card in 1995
Jean its pleasure to see your cards hope i can get as good as you and Sallie
well this is only short one as got to do some houswork even though the docter said i cant but hey who will do it if i dont
best wishes to everyone who i have,nt mention take care and stay safe
Love Dutchxx

Hello Ladies,


Not a very nice day here, it's damp and miserable, so I'm glad that I haven't got to go out today, and that I did the washing over the weekend.


Huia, sorry that you had a disappointing day yesterday, it's such a shame that there wasn't more old photos of your home town.

Like you, I love old photos, I have several books with photos and information of my home town, although I've looked at the photos many, many times, there are still times that I still love to look at them. In two of the photos, it shows two of the houses that my gggrandparents lived in.
As they were demolished when I was about three or four, I couldn't ardsremember them, so it's great that there are photos of them in the books.

I've also been able to send some copies of them to my cousin and his wife living in Ohio.



Dutch, I hope that your granddaughter is okay now, it's really worrying when that happens. I sure both her and her boyfriend were upset, at least they did the right thing by going to the hospital. Let's hope that she doesn't have anymore trouble, fingers crossed.

I'm not that good at making cards Joyce, I've only been making them since March, so still have a lot to learn. Still got a long way to go to get as good as Jean.

Good luck for tomorrow, I'll be thinking about you.



Jean, I would love to see more of your cards, please. I really hope that I can do the same back when Alun finally decides to get them on to the computer for me.



Mo, I hope that son's fiance is alright now, I'll keep my fingers crossed that she won't get anymore problems.




Well it's back to making cards now, so I'll speak to you all later on.



Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

Sallie, on their way ....

Sallie your in for treat Jeans cards are loverly never get tired of seeing them even Jan said there good ,
Love Dutchxx

Hello all.
Joyce, my son was on Oramorph(sp), oral morphine, when he had his discs in his back operated on. He was on it for ages,and had to be weaned of off it gradually. The trouble with that is, it rots the teeth, and he has had any amount of problems with his teeth and gums.
It seems like May has been a very good month for you in the past. My great grandchild is due that month as well. Well thats what my grandaughter believes, but I think she is a bit further on than that, so baby may be born in April. Still it will arrive when it's ready,and not before.
I am glad your grandaughter is o.k though. It's such a worry isn't it.
Good luck at the doctors tommorrow.

Sallie you are so lucky, the same as Huia, to have photo's of your ancestors, plus where they lived.
I think my family must have been camera shy, or they couldn't afford one.
As I have very few photo's of my grandparents. I have one of each of my dads parents, and one of my grandfather on mums side, and two of my grandmother on mums side.
The whole family do appear in mum and dads wedding photo's though, so at least I do have that as a memento.
I believe I told you, I tried to find the road where all my family lived, only to find it had been demolished,and been rebuilt on. So nothing was as I remembered it.
How's Richards job going Sallie. Is he still enjoying it. Will he be working any closer to home when he has finished his qualifying period.

I say, I say, how come I don't get to see the cards everyone is making. I did see the lovely one that Joyce did on our behalf, for Jean. And I have received a card from Jean in the past. BUT, I feel left out now boo hoo.
Both Tess and I don't get the privilege to get to see them, sulk sulk.

Ann if you are looking in, I hope you are both well,and still enjoying the lovely sunshine. ( says she full of envy )
Just to let you know, the weather here is bl**dy awful. Winter has started really early this year.

I wonder if Marie has found herself a toyboy yet.

And where is our Sylvia. I wonder if she has gone into hybernation.
Cooeee Sylvia, how are you both. Hows MJ keeping,any more progress news on him.

Tess, I hope you are still feeling o.k. Have you been out and about today.

Huia did you manage to get photo's sorted out.

Well girls, nothing exciting happening here. Sons fiance S, came to visit us today. She is still getting the kidney pains, but they have told her that baby is laying on a nerve in her pelvis,and that is not helping her with the pain.

Speak to you all later. Love to one and all. Mo xxx

Hi all

spent time this weekend trying to sort out photos on my computer .. including giving them titles!

I am really lucky in that Mum and Dad used to go on holidays (Wakes week!) to Scarborough every year in the late 20s and 30s ........ with Mum's parents and her brothers.

So I have some lovely snapshots from those holidays ... did you know people used to sit in deckchairs on the sands wearing a costume (2 piece suit), and hat????? And I do NOT mean a swimming costume!

Not many "formal" pictures though.

Then OH"s mother sent a little suitcase over here over 20 years ago ... we only looked at what was in it about 2 years ago

............... 40 or 50 photos, most studio type, no more than 3" by about 6" but mainly smaller, mainly of father-i-l's family. But all from about 1850 or 60 to about 1920.

The upsetting thing is that we can't identify about half of them .... and obviously neither could the in-laws because the others have names and relationships written on them!

I did spot one funny thing ............ 2 studio type photos of 2 sisters, identified and one a direct ancestor of OH, ca 1880...... and they are wearing the same dress, but one neglected to button the bottom button on the over jacket!


Grey and dull here today, and even rain!

Both of us have dental appointments today, mine is in about half-an-hour, 6 monthly check-up

OH's was more drastic and his face now looks like a one-sided hamster!

One root canal, and a tooth where a cyst was removed from one of the roots

Got the estimate for the floor covering, have to go to the store to talk it over with an estimator (company policy), and sign .......... seemed pretty good to me:-

12' x 15' kitchen ............... new vinyl covering, approved underlay, labour (including moving & replacing 2 appliances, and cover plates at the 2 doorways), and all taxes ..... just under $1500 (or ca. £800)



have to go to get ready


see you all later


s
xx

Hi again everyone,

Jean, I've just seen the pics of your cards, they are absolutely beautiful, I love them. You are a very clever lady! I hope that one day I will get as good at making cards as you are .


Joyce, you were right, I was in for a treat looking at Jean's cards, they are gorgeous. Let's hope that you and I will get as good as Jean, one day.

Jennie's birthday is on May the 29th, both her and my friend Janet are on the same day.



Mo, sorry to hear that your son's fiance is still in pain. Of course, these babies, most of the time, will only lie the way they are comfortable. Never mind about the pain and discomfort that poor mum has to put up with.lolol!!

Talking about birthdays Mo, it's your birthday soon isn't it?


Richard, is enjoying his new job so far, the only problem was, that on Friday it took almost an hour to get out of Harlow and on to the M11, him and the ones he gave a lift to, were all fed up. This week they are in the new store which opens on Friday, so that will make it easier. What
training they have now will be done in this store, someone will go in on certain days especially to train them all.


Sylvia, hope you got on alright at the dentist. How is OH's face now? It must be very painful---hope that the dentist gave him something for the pain.

I wonder why years ago, they wore such formal clothing to sit on the beach. I've seen photos of men sitting in a deck chair, wearing a three piece suit, collar and tie and a hat. lolol!!!


Tess, Huia, Ann, Liz, Marie and Debbie thinking about you all.


I'll say goodnight now, take care everyone.


Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

Hi Liz if your looking in remember i text you saying going to bed now well dont no why i bothered it was 10.45 our time and i still have,nt been asleep so came down made acup of tea ,added to Caz thread and put one up for friend of mine,so going to finish my cuppa and try again to get some sleep
Goodnight all or should i say goodmorning
Dutchxx