General Chat

Hi all


am making short visits to GR at the moment, in between doing things like getting wash bag set up

.................. I only use soap, underarm stuff, toothpaste, and a moisturizer



so why does it take me 2 hours to set it up?????????????????


......... getting ready also includes getting stuff ready to put in the safe we have in the basement ........ things like all the bmd certs I've bought, any bits of good jewelry, etc!

......... and backing up the hard drive onto an external one "just in case"



Plus helping OH when he comes in asking "where is .....", "what shall I do with ....."



Several of you have asked for my email ........ Marie, Sallie (I think) ......... I will get around to it, but probbaly not until after we return in January


I'm spinning in little circles at the moment



Tomorrow, I have physio, and we also have to pick the last couple of items to take away ....... some very special "cooking" chocolate for making extra special desserts and some chocolates only made in Vancouver for J&M ..................... wich means I'll be out of the house most of the day.


On Tuesday, we want to get the 6 pieces of baggage to be checked down to the station by noon. Then come back, have bath/shower, finish packing the carry-on bags, etc.

Train check-in is about 6:30 - 7:00 pm, and there is no dinner served, just snackies with a glass of champagne as we leave Vancouver. I can't eat the snackies ........ they always have cream or cheese in them!

so we have to eat something beforehand.

We think we'll go to our local coffee shop (where we go most afternoons) at about 4:30pm, and have an early "dinner" .......... they have just started making what is said to be a very nice chili. Then back home to get ready for the taxi which we'll order for about 6 pm



Just in case I don't get back on here after tonight



MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
xxxxxx




sylvia
xxx

Have a nice trip, Sylvia. Do you put your external backup hard drive in the safe too, in case of burglars? Or fire? When I went to Rotorua for a few days I took mine with me, 'just in case'!

Mo, it was still alive, caught by one foot. I think it was a small rat. It was inside an aluminium carry basket that Phil made years ago for me to take all my food/drink stuff with me when I went to town for the day, so I took most of the stuff out then carried it outside and got a heavy woodsplitter to try to kill the beast. I eventually succeeded, but not before breaking a bit off the trap. Now I just have to find how they are getting into the house.

Huia.

Morning All
Have a lovely time with your daughter and family Sylvia. My hubby would love to do your train trip. We have only been to Toronto and a little of Ontario so far as my reklatives are all around there.
Huia I hope you sort the rodent problem soon. It must be hard as there is only you to deal with it.
Mo I didn't get the paperwork sorted, but I did get a lot of books moved around, from one bookshelf to another. No news on Dad so will see what today brings.

Have a good day everyone

Linda :o) XxX

Good morning, hope all are feeling well or better than they were this morning. foggy here at the moment but OH has gone to golf for the first time in 2 weeks.

Marie, many thanks for your letter, I was away all weekend which is why I had not said anything before. Your family are lovely and the 2 little girls so pretty.

Huia Ugh, I don't envy you one bit having to deal with the rat, but I suppose if you didn't nobody would.

Sylvia, I said farewell and good wishes on another thread. I do hope all goes well with your trip.

Mo, I don't know what to say about your granddaughter. It is difficult we love them and hurt for them, but can't live their lives for them. All you can do is be there for her if she needs you. Hopefully he will get his come uppance at some stage.

Jean, I had an e mail bounced back from Marie but when I checked I had put one n instead of nn in the address. have you re-checked that you have the correct address in your address book?

Marie have a look at your e-mails, I have tried to send again and up to now they havent been returned, so hun, fingers x, let me know please.


love Jean xxx

Good evening girls.

Huia, well done on catching the dreaded rat. If it's only a baby one, check that it's parents are not still hanging around, after all it's got to have adults for it to be born, ( not meaning to sound condescending when I say that love.)
I hope that it didn't P in your basket, you have to be careful of wields (sp)disease, from rats urine. oooh yuk.

Hi Ann how was your weekend away.?
I agree with you over my grandaughters boyfriend, I would like to kick his backside for him, but that would not solve the problem.
My daughter is in a state with worry about what he's going to do next time.

Marie, I didn't get the photo's that the others have spoken about, ahhh poor me. I did get your Christmas message though, thank you for it.

Well girls I have to go, I have to get my bath ready for darts tonight.
Jean save your money honey, we may call a halt to the game,as the team we are playing tonight,have got a bit of a reputation for talking on their mobiles during the game,and also for going outside for a smoke, other teams have made complaints about them, and if they play up to much we may cease the game.
I will let you know what happens tomorrow.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

Hi Mo and all.

I think I need to go to town to get more rat traps, or see if there is a rat poison that wont affect the cat if she eats any dead rats. Something set off a mouse trap I had set in the dining room last night, and has also tried to chew its way through the lid of a plastic container in which I keep the cat biscuits. When we first got the cat she was great at catching rats and mice, but she hasnt been doing it for about a year now. I guess like me she is getting old. Or perhaps there are far too many rats and they gang up on her, so she keeps her distance now.

I have finished my breakfast now, so must get moving. I might go to town after doing the dishes to investigate rat poisons or get more traps. Then I am going to be moving lots of things around trying to find where they are getting in.

Have fun girls, and dont do anything I wouldnt.

Huia.

I didnt buy any rat poison. The corpses have to be collected and either burnt or buried. I dont want to play 'hunt the needle' (corpse). I bought 2 more traps which are now set in the kitchen. I also bought some insect repellant and since putting it on my feet and half way up to my knees I havent noticed any more fleas getting on me. It doesnt mention fleas on the tube, but I am hoping that it works, or that the flea powder has killed them all, which I doubt. Flea eggs can remain dormant for a while and then hatch when you walk around.

I didnt move things to look for the means of entry, I was just feeling too weary with the heat.

Huia.

Oooh Huia, my blood has run cold, talking of rats and mice.
I think you will have to be very careful, if you did get the poison Huia. Cats can be very nosey little things, and it would only take for the cat to lick her paws,after treading in it,and it would be bye bye puss.
When our rat got caught in the trap, we phoned the environmental health people to ask what we should do, to get rid of the rat, and were shocked when they told us to put it out with the normal rubbish.
Now rats are vermin,and should be treated as such. It was of our opinion
that the environmental rat man, who came to put the rat bait out in the first place, should have come back and removed it.
So it's warm over there is it, no wonder the Flea's have been biting. It will be the heat that has helped to hatch them out.

Well girls, I got my teams mixed up last night, we had not got the bad reputation team, but a very nice local team.
And, our Jean will be chuffed for me, we won 4-2 and 3-0.
It's bitterly cold here again today,and more snow is forecast for Thursday.

I hope you are all well,and that Sylvia is now enjoying her great train journey.
Bye for now girls. Love Mo xxx

I didnt catch anything last night, but another flea on my leg this morning as soon as I came into the room. I have now applied the insect repellant.

A neighbour wants to come up to visit later in the morning. I told her the place was plagued by fleas but she still wants to come. I am not going to sweep up the flea powder, why waste it? Hopefully it is still killing some of the blighters.

I have now received Christmas cards from Gloucestershire, Kent, Nederland, France (the woman I helped Marilyn), plus the newsletter from Marie in Oz and an ecard from Jean. I wonder what today will bring. I must be better prepared for sending cards next year.

Huia.

Hi Girls,

Mo well done to you and your team on winning the darts match last night. Keep it up girls, so that you'll get the trophy at the end of the season.

I can understand how worried your daughter is about your granddaughter, I'm sure she's thinking all sorts of things that could happen. It's a shame your granddaughter doesn't see her boyfriend for what he' is. Maybe she's thinking and hoping that once the baby is born he'll change his ways----going by what you've told us about him, I don't think that is likely to happen, he obviously has no respect whatsoever for her. I really hope that in the not too distant future, she will see him for what he is.



Huia,the pm I sent you on the 6th December, was to let you know that I had already posted your Christmas card, I hope that you will get it soon. I know the last day for posting for NZ and Oz was 7th Dec, so posted a card to both you and Marie.

I hope that the flea and rat problem will soon be sorted out for you.
You are brave dealing with the trap with a dead rat in it.



I hope Sylvia and OH will have a good train journey to their daughter's.
It must be lovely travelling on the train for 5-6 days, it's all part of the holiday.


Jean, when are you and J going to Southport with your friends? I hope that the weather will be okay, and that the snow and ice will keep away for you.
Have you finished the two albums that you were doing , yet? Can't remember if they were a Christmas present for someone or not.



I heard from Liz today, she's very fed up and feeling very down. She was saying that she feel's cold in the house, they have no central heating only a gas fire and a very old gas heater in the kitchen/dining room. She also has a very bad cold that she can't shake off at all----OH has been on different shifts so she hasn't had much time to herself.
She still hasn't seen the baby because of the heavy cold she has. so poor Liz, all in all she's very fed up.



I met my friends Janet and Helen today, for lunch out, we had a good natter and a laugh, so I felt so much better after our get together.

My brother is back in hospital, he has a stone blocking his bile duct, so they have to sort that out first before they can sort his gall bladder out.
I've been trying to get in touch with my sister-in-law to find out what's happening, but can 't get a reply, so I'm a bit worried as she should be home form the hospital by now.


A friend of Michael's mum and dad died today, he'd been suffering from cancer for last eighteen months, he was only in his middle fifties. He was such a nice person, always happy and jolly. I feel very sad for his family.
It was also one of their son's birthday today, so not a very happy memory for future birthdays.


Marie, I haven't checked our emails yet, but will let you know if your letter has come through. Thanks for trying again. Hope you are okay and that the rain has stopped. It's such a shame that the farmers have lost all their crops.


Ann, when do you go to your daughter's for Christmas? Let's hope that the snow will keep away until you get there. According to the weather forecast on TV, the UK are going to have a white Christmas, although I think we've told that in the past. lol!


Joyce, hope you are not in as much pain as you've been in lately.
Thinking about you, take care of yourself, speak to you soon.


Caz, I also hope that your pain has eased to what it was. Have you managed to get some of your written yet.
I still have some to write, but not too many now thank goodness. I'm
going to post your card tomrrow, I needed to get a big envelope, so that's why it's a bit late.


Tess, how are things with you? Are you going to stay with family for Christmas, or are they coming to you?
We'll only have Jennie and Michael this Christmas, because Richard is working Christmas Eve and the day after Boxing Day, so they decided to stay down---they might be going to Christie's nanna's for Christmas dinner.


Well, I'm going to have a cuppa now, so will speak to you all tomorrow.


Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

My friend wants to visit me today after she has had a long walk. She is trying to keep fit for a long walk her family are doing in Jan., the Kepler Track in the South Island. Phil and I and our friend did it a few years ago. My friend says she will be here before lunch, 'about 12'. I have usually had my lunch by then, so not sure whether to wait and offer her lunch, or have it early. I have decided to visit Phil tomorrow instead of today. It is cooler in the morning, although it is far from cool now. At least I have tidied up a little bit, but still leaving the flea powder on the floor.

Huia.

Hello All,
Sallie, I have reposted your letter once more, I have been in touch with Caz she is not well and in a lot of Pain so she needs our prayers and support .

Mo I am wishing for a Dry Xmas thank you , good on you I hope your winning streak continues

.Dear Joyce I wish for you , a Xmas that is less Painful ,I hope that the doctors have given you extra pain relief.

Jean thank you for the Beautiful card and the Photos of your work no wonder the church is wanting you to do cards for them, they are beautiful.

I am sorry to hear that Liz is feeling so down and also not well , did you get my Letter Liz, I am feeling a little down also as my girls will be all away and my sons and daughters -in-law both know that I will be on my own for Xmas Day but they havent invited me to their homes, so I will be on my own and feeling sad about the situation. I guess that,s how the mop flops.

Huia,I hope you are not on your own for Xmas.

Hello Linda, have a great Xmas.
Merry Xmas also to you Ann.

I have to go and have some Breakfast , then hang the washing out and change the sheets on my bed.,DO SOME MORE CARDS , go and put them in the post and also find a small present for my Grandson.
later I want to do some weeding in the garden as it is a sorry sight
Love and Hugs .
Marie The Xmas Snow Fairyxxxxxxx

Hi Marie
I do hope you will not be on your own on Christmas Day. I will be sending silent thoughts to your sons that they think of you.
My hubby will be working on Christmas Day starting at 2:30 in the afternoon getting home about 11:30 in the night. But I have been invited to my DIL sister in her new home for the day. Both my daughters are going to their other halves Mothers, but they too said I would not have been alone !! and could have come to them. Nice to feel included.
Boxing Day he has finally managed to get off and all the family will be here, 8 of us altogether.
New Years he is working Early shift up at 5:00 and home around 3:30 pm.

Hopefully next year he will be retired. Then I will have to give up my babies too. Having done that for 23 years will be hard.

I wish for pain relief for Caz and Joyce and allothers in need I send healing thoughts too.

Take care all

Catch up tomorrow

Linda :O) XxX

Huia, hope you enjoy your friend's visit, it will be nice to catch up on some of each others news.
As you say, maybe it will be better to visit Phil in the mornings, when it is so hot. Hope he will be awake and alert when you visit him and that he is well. Take care!


Marie, just sent you an email, letting you know that I have received your email. Your letter is lovely and your granchildren are all beautiful.

I'm really sorry that you ill be on your own for Christmas, if you were living here in the UK, then you could come and spend Christmas with us, you would be more than welcome. You never know, maybe they will invite later on in the week, I really hope they do.

Well I'll say goodnight to you all now. I'll be in touch tomorrow.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Marie, apart from my visit to Phil on Christmas day I will be on my own. How about popping over here to stay with me? You can take my rats and fleas with you when you go home again, if you wish (PLEASE).

Huia.

Sally, your card came today, it quite took my breath away. Such talent and patience. Now I know what you card-makers get up to. I have made some in the past, but they have not been ornate, just a copy of my granddads paintings so that my cousins can share in them.

Off to bed soon, must unwind first by reading a bit of fluff as I call the love stories. It soothes my mind so it stops ticking over.

Huia.

Huia, so glad that your card arrived safely, it's taken 10 days to get to you-- don't know if that's about how long it normally takes.

Over the last month or two I've been having trouble getting to sleep at night, my mind is too active that's the problem.

Hope everyone is alright. I've got a few jobs to do, so I'll look in again later on.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Hello All,
I have had a wonderful night , Barbara,Kathleen, Brian and their children and myself had our Xmas to-night, & I received the most wonderful presents , included in the presents was a return air fare to Brisbane to visit my favorite cousins for a week, this includes Xmas Day. I will be flying to Brisbane on the 21st of December.
The girls said I will never be on my own for Xmas ever, if they happen to be away for Xmas my present will be an air fare to visit my Family up north.
I was speechless and I almost cried , but now I am so excited to be going to my family, we have always been close and it is some time since I have seen them. Barbara Kathleen also Brian are so good to me.I would be lost without them as it is obvious my son's dont feel any thing for me.

Sallie, I will most likley get your card soon as Huia got hers to-day so mine can't be far away.
I went to Water Arobics to-day it is helping my leg which is starting to feel much better.. It has been a very busy day so I will close as I am very tired.

Huia I would rather not have your problem thank you very much for your (Kind offer) Not. LOL.
Love to you all Marie *******the Xmas Snow Fairy********

Marie, I am so pleased that you will not be alone on christmas day. What a lovely surprise for you. I hope you have a wonderful time. Well done girls and a black mark for your sons.

Huia, did my card ever arrive? It was sent quite a while ago.

Sallie, I find that if I spend time on the computer before going to bed I have trouble getting to sleep because I can't 'switch off'.

It has turned cold here now, we have just been to the local garden centre to meet friends for coffee, the husband has a lung problem so has to wear/carry oxygen. He is feeling the cold because he can't move around a lot these days.

Tonight we are out for a Chinese meal with friends from the golf club, about 10/12 of us. I really don't like turning out in the evenings these days, much prefer to socialise at lunch time but we couldn't refuse to go really. Just hope we wont be too cold getting there.