General Chat

Mo, Ann and T were down in their daughter's this weekend, and getting home sometime today. I think it's next weekend they go to London, it's their Golden Anniversary gift off their family.

Hope you had a good game of darts. I'll keep my fingers crossed for for tomorrow night.


Huia, I hope that you'll have a good journey down to your son's at the end of the week. It will be change of surroundings for you, even though you'll be on your own part of the time. Although I'm sure that the dogs will be good company.


Well, I'll speak to you all soon.


Love, Sallie. xxx

Hi Mo,

Meant to ask you if you enjoyed the dancing last night.

I don't watch it, but Jennie rang to let us know that Ann Widecombe and her partner were iust about to start their dance. What did you think of them?

I like Ann Widecombe, she's very straight and to the point about different matters, people know exactly where they stand with her---she's also a very good sport.

Alun and company, are now happy with the colour of the club shed, so there shouldn't be another Sunday morning painting, at least not for a long while.lolol!! Fussy lot of men!
But as you say, it's sometimes choosing the right shade.In the past we've had the same trouble with a particular room.

I'm going to have a shower now, before it gets any later.

Love and best wishes to you all. Sallie.xxx

I wonder what flower I would be? Perhaps a sunflower. Big, bright, in-your-face. I have always wanted to grow some but one time I planted seeds and soon after they came up something chewed the stalks. I will have to buy a ready-grown one but it must be the giant sort. That is what I want. When I was young I was like Theresa, a shrinking violet.

Better go if I want to get my radiator sorted.

Huia.

Full marks Sally. Yes we were in Hampshire yesterday and today to stay with our daughter and to go today to a birthday lunch (70th) for an old school friend of mine who we don't see very often. Part of the pleasure was seeing her two daughters and their children. We had never met the children and they are now teenagers!!!

Ann, Glad you and T enjoyed your weekend at your daughter's.

It's lovely meeting old friends and their family. The trouble is we tend to think of the children as looking as they did when they were a lot younger, time passes so quickly that we get quite a shock when we meet them years later.

Love, Sallie. xx

Hi all.

We're having some glorious Fall weather ...... bright blue skies and sun. It is getting down to 4 or 5C overnight and upto 13C or so during the day.


I have no idea what flower I am or was ....................... I am shy in terms of making friends, but also I've never been too shy about speaking out, either in a group or in public.


We eat out most Friday evenings at one of two local places. Last Friday we went to the "bistro" and they had Terducken on the menu.

This is the latest thing here. One local butcher was advertising it for Thanksgiving last weekend, and wanted 2 days notice because it is so time consuming to make it. The bistro was making their own.

It is a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey, with layers of stuffing between each one. The birds are cut open down the breast and all the bones removed, then the turkey is laid flat, a layer of stuffing placed over it, the duck laid flat on top of that, a layer of stuffing, the chicken laid flat on top, a layer of stuffing spread on top. Then they are either rolled up or formed into a semblance of a turkey.

I would have loved to have tried it, but wasn't quite hungry enough for a big meal! It wasn't a bad price ................ $20 (ca £12 or so) for the meal with a potato and yam mash and veggies, or $25 for their special 3 course meal.


I talked to J earlier .... they're all well, although MJ is cutting his first tooth. H seems to be reacting by being "not quite his usual self". They had a big nor'easter storm go through on Friday and Saturday.


OH is "working" this weekend ....... at the Apple Festival at the Garden. They buy their apples in from local growers, preferably organic growers, and NEVER have the kind that you buy at the supermarket! I think they have something like 60 varieties on sale this year!


The flooring looks good ..... but it's one of those things that looks different colours in different lights, or where there are shadows, and is almost impossible to photograph to get a true indication!!


Our friend's Celebration of Life is on Tuesday afternoon. We came home on Friday to find a message on the answer machine from last weekend's party girl to say "can we make a deal for Tuesday? I'll phone you at a later time".

She still hasn't phoned ....... but I know they will undoubtedly be coming over for the memorial.

I think what she is going to suggest is that they come to the house and then we combine cars ................ we are actually between the ferry terminal and where the memorial will be held, so it makes perfect sense, and we have done it many times before.

I'm just going to have to say "Fine. Great idea. Just close your eyes as you walk through the living and dining rooms. And please use our bathroom, not the guest one"!!!!! :)))


Take care everyone


sylvia
xxx

Afternoon ladies.
Sallie, I really enjoyed the dancing last night. I am pleased that Paul Daniels went. What was it with all the magic tricks he tried to do before he danced. The competition is supposed to be about dancing, not magic.
He had no sense of rythm at all,and walked his dances through.
Sorry to say that I did not rate quite few of the dancers this week. Apart from a couple of the men,who's names I can't recall now. Scott was one I believe, he from Eastenders fame.
Ann Widdecombe,is good entertainment value, but must not win,it would be so unfair on others who are taking it seriously. (just my opinion mind)

Huia, I could definately see you as a beautiful Sunflower,reaching up to the sun.
How did you get on about your radiator. Was it the O-ring in the end.

Ann, I am glad you had a nice time at your daughters. I was not completely right in my assumption, but I could recall your saying that you were going to London during the week. Silly me.

Sylvia, I had heard of the terducken before,I believe I saw a programme on the T.V, where the chef was showing how it was put together and cooked.
It would be far to big a meal for me to eat as well. Not that I like a lot of meat to eat at the best of times.
The prices were really good though, much cheaper than we over here would have been charged.
Oh poor little MJ, teething is such a terrible time for babies. Both my boys teethed with bronchitus, but the girls were fine. Apart from being fretful I mean.
Teeth are a pain coming,and going arn't they.
I shouldn't worry to much about your friends coming to you, before the memorial service. They obviously realise you are in the midst of a lot of upheaval,and take you as they find you.

Well ladies I must go and do the dinner. Oh by the way, our darts has been cancelled tonight by the opposition. So I shall have a night in, in front of the T.V, and on here.
Take care all. Love Mo xxx

Oh d and b I seem to have lost a posting, unless it is floating around somewhere.

Will try again later.

Tess

I always liked daisys but also like colour .. So I think that I would be an Anemone - there is even a St Bridgid variety (not that I am a Saint - far from it)
Like me, they don't grow very tall, and most varieties like to be in the shade.

Huia, a Sunflower sounds good to me. Always something rather uplifting about them. Makes me smile when I see them, they brighten up the day.
I hope that you get your car rad sorted soon.

Here in the U.K. we are told that we are in for a cold snap. I suppose that it is nearly November and clocks change soon, a real sign of winter.

EDIT ... I found it again!

Sallie my sis bro-in-law and their family are steam and model railway buffs.
They are all keen on the Severn Valley Railway, and the Model Railway track that is at one of the stations.

Have also got cousins in Colarado who are also keen "followers"
Lots of money and time devoted to this "Hobby"

Coz has a garden railway in her "back-yard"

Tess

Mo, alas it wasnt the O-ring. The radiator core was rotten. I phoned son who ordered a new radiator to be sent to the garage. I was lent a car to get home. It was a nice small car, but it was an automatic and I have never driven one of those before. I had intended to do a little bit of shopping before coming home, but having had trouble working out how to drive it and had people behind me honking their horns I decided to come straight home, or as straight as the road would allow. I arrived without crashing it. Now I just have to get it back in one piece when my ute is fixed. It should be today or tomorrow. Norty son paid for the radiator. I told him I am not a pauper yet, not needing to eat grass and snails, but he and his wife both work and the only dependents they have are a couple of elderly dogs. He is like his dad, very generous and helpful.

Must get off the computer in case the garage is trying to ring me to say it is ready to collect (says she hopefully).

Huia.

Hi Girls,

Mo, I don't watch Strictly at all, but I wanted to watch Ann Widecombe. I have to agree with you that she shouldn't win, but she was a good sport . I wouldn't dare do what she did.lolol!!

Sorry to hear that your darts match was cancelled for tonight, at least it gives you another week to get a bit more practise in.



Sylvia, our weather over the weekend has been quite nice for this time of the year too.

Did your OH any of the Terducken? It sounds lovely, but might be a bit too much for me.

I hope MJ has cut his first tooth by now, bless him! Sending him hugs and kisses. xxxxx



Tess, it sounds as though your brother-in-law and Alun should get together some time, lol!!

Alun is a keen fan of GWR, so of course, both his layouts are GWR. As you say it's a very expensive hobby. He and a few club members have gone to see some layouts tonight, not sure where, I only know that he lives about an hour and a half away and that whoever he is, writes in some of the Model Railway Magazines.



Huia, I hope you've had your car back by now. I can't drive, so wouldn't know one car from another, but I do know there are some very impatient drivers on the roads these days.
Your son and daughter-in-law sound like very kind people. I know you say that you're not a pauper yet, but it's nice that they think about you, and like to help.
Hope Phil will be up and about when you next visit him.


I'm off to have a shower now, before Alun gets home.


Thinking of all our absent friends.

Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Hi Mo
xxx

and everyone
xxx


The friends are not coming to stay, or even visit. Phew!!

When she phoned on Friday, they were considering not bringing their car over, so I think the question was "Would OH meet them from the ferry?". However, by last night, they had decided to bring their car, drive up to the Celebration of Life, then back to the ferry for the 5:45 pm ferry.

It's going to be at least 2 weeks before we're back using the kitchen ........ the cabinet maker told OH yesterday that he should be ready to bring the cabinets over on Thursday this week .... but OH is not sure if he will be in that day. The counter tops hopefully will be delivered early next week. The cabinet maker will come back to install them and cut the hole for the sink. Then we have to arrange for the electrician and the plumber to come back.

We're using local tradespeople, not one compnay, OH is doing a wodnerful job of the contracting of jobs. BUT it is harder to coordinate the work into one short spurt.

It isn't too bad though ....... we decided not to change the fridge and stove. The stove is only 3 years old and the fridge 2 years old, and I felt no need to change them. It would ahve been different if I had wanted a cook top and separate oven, but I'm quite happy and comfortable with a regular stove. So we can cook and keep food just as we normally do.


The place is just in a bit of a mess!!


and we keep forgetting where we have moved this or that!


Unspoken is the problem of painting ................ OH has a great tendency to get things to usable state, and then put off doing the finishing touches. J said yesterday that if "Dad" hadn't done the painting by the time they came out here next, she and M would do it for us.


They don't plan on coming out here until summer 2012!


OH went to the dentist again this morning, and had surgery again


The one-sided hamster is back


Only this time it is the other cheek


The dentist told him to eat soft food for about 3 days, and not to chew on this side until the stitches come out in 7-9 days


Major problem



he can't chew on the other side either 'cos there are not enough "meeting" teeth!




We're having an omelette for dinner tonight


Daughter phoned just before we went out for coffee this afternoon .........


She offered to send OH some of the food she's preparing for MJ who is now just beginning "proper" food, and said they would have a plentiful supply of such food at Christmas if necessary



She was laughing away as she planned all this



OH did not think it was sooooooooo funny when I told him :)))



sylvia
xxx

Poor Mr. Hamster, eating a pureed Christmas Dinner!

I imagine daughter feeding MJ first (with a flying spoon) and then turning to Dad "open wide, yummy dinner!" etc

I hope that the next 7-9 days wizz by and that he is soon able to eat normally again.
Meanwhile he may need to eat a lot of eggs, mashed potato, minced meat, rice etc.

Any suggestions Ladies?

Tess

You can do an awful lot with mince ( chilli, curry, bolognese, shepherds pie etc etc.) Then there is salmon if you like fish, that doesn't need chewing. Cheese and potato pie, tinned tuna in mushroom sauce on pasta.

My mum used to always cook mince when I had been to the dentist. I still love mince and have it often.

I got the phone call to say my vehicle was ready, so after lunch I drove into town. The automatic wasnt quite so bad as I checked out the controls before I started and had a better idea of how to drive it, but my right hip was getting sore. I probably should have adjusted the seat. I did some shopping and came home in our lovely old manual drive vehicle.

Tomorrow I will be going to visit Phil, then going to the Super Clinic to have an annual check of the lichen schlerosis. The next day I will pack and head off to Rotorua for the dog-sitting. Busy, busy, busy.

Off to bed soon. I hope I sleep better than last night.

Huia.

Hi ladies, how are we all today.
I have had an e.mail from Marie, she is home from her holiday,and will be back with us as soon as she gets herself sorted out. We all know what it's like, getting back from a holiday,getting the washing and house sorted.
Plus catching up on all the things we put on the back burner whilst we are away.

Hi Sallie, it's good to hear that Alun and the others got the painting finished. Alun certainly enjoy his trains hobby doesn't he. Well it keeps him amused,and allows you to get on with your card making. Have you nearly finished the lot you had to do for your brother yet. Are you making christmas cards,for him to sell for his church funds.
How's Richard settling in, in his job now. His training period must now be long gone.

Phew, I bet you breathed a sigh of relief when your friends decided not to visit Sylvia.
Your OH is a very brave man taking over the overseeing of the job himself.
It takes a lot of organising to get the different trades in at the correct time.
My goodness another two weeks, before the kitchen is completed. You are one patient lady, I would be pulling my hair out by now.
My sons customers think they are hard done by,when he tells then it will be a three day fit to do everything.
You know what it's like, " oh how I am going to manage " but they do.
It will be lovely when it's completed though love.
Lets hope your OH has taken into account that he will have to do the painting, as you don't really want to have to wait till 2011 when J comes to see you,do you.
Poor OH having to put up with mush for food, for the next three days. But as Ann and Huia have said, there is always a soft diet he could eat.

Ann, in case I don't get a chance to speak to you before you go to London, have a lovely time. But take it easy on the wine,and look out for any hidden steps. LOL We don't want you having any mishaps when you are away.

Huia thank goodness you have got your own vehicle back. But sorry to hear it was a bigger job than suspected.
Our car is an automatic,and is easy to drive when you get the hang of it.
But as you have a problem with your right hip, it would have been awkward
for you to drive.
I hope you get on alright at the super clinic,and that you find Phil awake and alert.

Hi Tess, I hope you are o.k. Have you been up to anything exciting. Have you been out to the caribbean restuarant lately.
We are going out for a meal on friday, I will let you know where we go, as it is a surprise for me.

Now where has our Jean got to. Coooeee Jean, what are you up to. I bet you are packing your suitcase ready for your holiday.
I do hope the weather cheers up for you soon. It's been an awful day here today, it's been chucking it down with rain,and is very very chilly.
I will miss you when you are away,so have a lovely lovely time MWAH.

Right girls I am off to do the dinner. Take care. Love Mo xxx

Hi Girls,

Sylvia, your poor OH, I feel sorry for him having all this trouble after going to the dentist.

I can't suggest any other kind of food, than already has been suggested by the others. Hope that it will get better a lot quicker than it did last time.

I didn't realise that they would be so long doing your kitchen for you. Never mind, I'm sure that it will all be worth it when it's completely finished.



Tess, Alun didn't get home until after twelve last night. The chaps house was in the middle of the country, Alun said it was a big house, and that both he and his wife were very welcoming. The one layout was in a 'shed' 35ft.x17ft. and Alun said the layout was marvellous, never seen anything like it before. I think they all left there looking a slight shade of green.lolol!!


Huia, hope all will go well with your check up at the Super Clinic. Enjoy your few days away and take care of yourself. Hope that all will be well with Phil when you visit him.



Mo, how are you and yours today? I hope that all is well.

It was quite nice here first thing, but started to rain mid morning. problem is, once it starts to rain it doesn'tknow when to stop.

Alun has got a days holiday tomorrow, we have some business to sort out, so if the weather is okay, we might go somewhere nice, after it's been sorted. I love Bakewell, so we might end up there.



Ann, do you go to London on Thursday or Friday? I know you've already told us, but my memory is not as good as it was.lolol!!


Well, I'm going to make our tea now, but might look in again later on.

Love, Sallie. xxx

Mo, just missed you by three minutes. Going to do the tea now, so I'll speak to you later.

Love, Sallie. xxx

Mo, Richard seems to be getting on alright at work, he likes working there. I think he's just so glad to be working again, after being unemployed fo most of the year.

Oh yes, Alun certainly loves his trains, earlier this evening we sat and watched a DVD of steam trains that ran in the East Midlands. Must say, it was quite interesting.lol!

Thanks for letting us know that Marie is home safe and sound, I hope she had a good holiday. Shall look forward to hearing from her once she's sorted eveything out.


Hope everyone else is okay.

Thinking about all our absent friends.

Love and best wishes to you all. Sallie.xxx

Mo, Thanks for letting us know that Marie is home.
And you are not going to let me forget our Bristol weekend are you?

Sallie, we go up to London on Thursday, 10.45 train from Gloucester to Paddington.