General Chat

hi brenda I am sure that you look great with the new hair colour have a wonderful vacation, glad to hear that sylvia's husband is home the new glasses sound very smaer. well good to see fred back on line what a busy fellow you are all that painting and preparing vegatables as well. I spent about 45 minutes this am cleaning the snow and about 2 inches of thick ice off the car. it was quite a chore there as about 2 feet on the car and around. they have ploughed out the parking lot very nicely. the snow held off during the day so I was able to go and finish the xmas shopping for the children. they say we will get more snow overnight but maybe they will be wrong . it is supposed to be the coldest winter in a decade sounds grand I don't think. I am going to try and think about other things to pass on other than the weather. fred do you have any new recipes for parsnips I do like them but the family are not too fond of them. bye for now dorothy

HIya,thank you all for your good wishes for my holiday.Have finished work and started the last of my ironing just having a "tea break".Had to drop the car of at the garage again this morning,and they found a fault they did not see last week.!! They had to replace what I can describe as a wire with a plug at each end ,it is called something like Laudom something or other ,and all together cost me £130.08. plus the £240 from last week means i have spent more than enougth on the car this year.
weather rather wet today,but brightened up a little after lunch..Must get back to the ironing and packing,Speak to you all later.
Brenda

Hi everyone
It's raining here and some 15,000 people are going to have a rather wet evening at the Bowl of Brooklands listening to Elton John. Up until yesterday (Wednesday) the weather has been quite hot and now the rain is here through to the weekend. Mind you the gardens need it and so do the farmers who are experiencing drought conditions.
Our carolling is going well four homes down another 13 to go.
John in NZ

hi can't sleep it is midnight so I was reading the messages boy brenda car repairs world wide are expensive but what can we do we need the cars to get around, nice to hear from john even if his weather is wet. this evening there was a craft sale in the social area of the complex it went quite well I bought a wooden christmas tree complete with decorations for 4.00 dollars it is on top of the tele just a little one but it was cute. it is the christmas dinner on saturday evening about 65 people are expected. the management put it on you get to meet people who you never see usually as they go out to work I was speaking to the lady who is the on site manger she does most of the cooking she is doing three 27 pound turkeys with all the trimmings should be fun. well I think that I will try and get to sleep the cats go to the vets in the morning I brought the carriers out to-day but they were not impressed to see them guess they know what is coming for them goodnight all dorothy

goodmorning brenda have a great trip everyone must be busy since I last posted. this morning our down town area has suffered a major fire for any one who knows the barrie area it was at the corner of bayfield and dunlop started at 11-30 last night and is still on fire at 9am this morning. the wellington hotel built in 1880 quite a landmark in the area is gone it housed the royal thia resturant, the apartments above are gone but no loss of life human or animal so that is great. it is the second major fire in our area in 10 days a large part of the beach shops in wasaga beach are also gone. as we live close to lake simco the fire dept ran hoses down the major intersection to the lake to obtain additional water to help put out the fire, several shops have been lost difficult at this time of year. I have had many phone calls this morning as some of my friends think I am close to the area but I am about 15min away so I was not involved. with all the big malls aroung the area downtown areas have to struggle to maintain a special way of life this is not going to help. anyway I hope you all have a great week-end bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone
The sky is a lot clearer than Thursday this week. The Elton John concert played to some 15,000 loyal fans who braved the elements wore raincoats of various colours and the footwear accessories were gumboots. Pictures in the paper on the Friday showed people in all kinds of wet weather gear some with plastic sheeting wrapped around the waist. There was limited seating hence for the array of wet weather protection, the seating that was there were for the premium and gold ticket holders. Two loyal fans won a competiton in the States flew to New Zealand to meet Elton and go to the concert. This was one concert we didn't want to go to but we do occasionally here music coming from the venue where we live, this time however the wind seemed to keep the sound in the venue.
Syliva the carolling is going well. One thing Gayle and I miss is the brass band at church (Sallies) and that is something we miss at carolling time. Our voices are getting a good work out - last evening for example someone requested we sing 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and by the end we were exhausted. As for singing outside your door it might be a bit far to come.
Until next time,
John

goodmorning I see that john had elton john in his area we had bon jovi in ours I quite like that young man and his music. last night we had the christmas dinner in the complex turkey with all the trimmings it was a good meal and considering one person the manager does allthe cooking she did a great job. I was not sure I would make it as I recieved a distress call the youngest grandchild was ill so could I come over for a couple of hours while the others went to their actvities. not sure what he has quite an upset stomach headache etc. he knows my routine well he took one look at me and said I guess it is one ounce an hour right grandma , the cats have recovered from the trip to the vets though I have been ignored for a couple of days except at feeding times. guess everyon is busy with the holidays coming up . I am going to wrap some more presents to-day bye for now dorothy

Hi all,just to let you know that i am still here,but have been very busy with the decorating.
Have to go now ,but will be back this afternoon now the panic is over lol.Badger.

Morning everyone ,cor ,what a cold night[up here anyway].
Looks like i will have to de ice the car windscreen before i can go anywhere this morning.
Looks as though today is the day for making the main cake,full of brandy and lots of other goodies[yum],this is the job of Liz by the way,i do the meats ,veggies and other bitws and pieces like sarnie fillings ,sausage rolls and trifles.cheesecakes and the like,i do not have the stamina for stiring cakes and the like,even if we do have a big machine that will even blend dough.
The house is almost ready for Christmas,only the two new doors needing a coat of paint on the edges,and all the decorating stuff is away until after the new year.
Nothing special for dinner today,bubble and squeekwith an egg ,and a couple of slices of bacon[streaky]
The cat [Hissy] is having a mad half hour ,the little bag has nicked a bauble off the tree and is chasing it all over the front room,hee hee,when the boss comes in she will go daft,it took her two hours to put the tree up lol,the funny thing is ,she has two proper little balls that she normally plays with ,but ,i suppose ,a toy she shouldn't have is more exiting.
Her other little toy which she is so fond of is a little duck,a soft toy we found in the pound shop in Newcastle,she carries it around jaws wrapped round it's neck ,worrying it like a dog with a rabbit,so ,i quess ,if she ever gets out ,the bird population is in bother ,lol
My rose cuttings have rooted well so it looks like they will be ready forthe garden come spring,six roses for nothing lol.
Time to go and do some work,i'm sure the boss has something in mind so that i don't get lazy hee hee[chance would be a fine thing.
Have a nice day all.Badger.

goodmorning all fred as usual you are making my mouth water my favourite bubble and squeck, glad to hear you have finished the decorating it sounds grand. at the moment I am packing for three days back in brampton visiting friends and delivering there xmas gifts we are supposed to get more snow but not enough to stop me travelling down the 400 highway. the family are taking it in turn to be under the weather Lindy came home from school yesterday and andrew sent her off to bed it sounds like a 24hr bug Ian has recovered and is back to normal. it seems like all the regulars on line are busy at the moment . on saturday andrew and lindy are going to toronto to see the play dirty dancing they have had tickets since april. and they will stay overnight with all the travelling andrew does he gets some free nights at hotels so they may as well make use of them I shall be back to stay over and have a great time with the children and check out the xmas tree they get a live one every year and each year it appears to better than the year before. so bye for now dorothy

Goodmorning all
Fred you really keep yourself really busy I know its not interesting of talk of weather all the time But Yesterday we had a real scorcher 32 C and humid
unusual for us Not a good day for plants or people ! so Im off out to garden now to water my pots and baskets before the day warms up ! Margaret

Hi all,
Fred, your cat knows that "forbidden fruit is tempting". Cats love all the sparkling things in the Xmas tree. My daughter's cats pulled the whole tree down once.
My help, Anita, who has a large dog thought it was time to open his Xmas present, so all the Xmas presents lying under the Xmas tree had all their paper ripped off. Apparently the daughter of the house had been playing with him the previous day and wrapping up dog biscuits in paper. No wonder the poor hound went hunting in the parcels of Xmas paper. Actually this happened last year.
I had Johan's ex colleague for dinner today and he brought me a lovely zinc bath of various plants, including hyacinths and narcissus. My flat looks so nice now with lots of colour. I have bought red and white cyclamen and red Xmas Star. On Thursday we hope to get the Xmas tree up. Johan put up some decorations today, but at our age we cannot do too much in one day - little by little. Tomorrow we both have to see the cardiologist.
See you tomorrow.
Sylvia xxx

goodmorning wll it is early but the roads seem to be clear at the moment though more snow is expected later in the day so I shall head out for my 3days in brampton it is going to be such fun to see my friends and have a good natter. enjoyed reading about bill's travels and sylvia and her husband seem to be doing well be in touch when I return bye for now dorothy

Another cold day and dull. Visited the cardiologist and both Johan and I have to have an echo made next January 16.
When I told him I was tired he said I was strong to have survived what I have done these last few years.
Still enjoy life so will carry on!
Tomorrow we are decorating the Xmas tree and put up the last of the decorations.
Have a nice evening.
Sylvia xxx

Bill Pity that you didnt say when you were passing through Ashburton could have had you down for a cuppa ! Thats the life travelling where and when you want OH would have liked that
Enjoy your time NI Of course Im biased You have seen the best in South
A refreshing drizzle this morning after heat of past 2 days
Margaret

Hi all,
Isn't it quiet at the moment. It is quite cold here with frost at night.
Our Xmas tree is now up and lights flashing - well apart from one bunch of lights. Johan said he will buy another set tomorrow!
Our Xmas has now been settled. We are driving to Limburg on Boxing Day to my daughter and taking our grandchildren, her children. Linda our granddaughter will probably be driving both ways as she says that "grandpa drives too slow on the motorway". Yes, grandpa is 82 and doesn't drive so fast as the young ones. His reaction of course is not so quick. Better safe than sorry.
We will have Xmas Day on our own, which we wanted anyway.
We will be meeting our grandson's girlfriend for the first time.
Have a nice evening everybody.
Sylvia xxx

hello I am back after a couple of nice days with friends in brampton, we had a good visit and got caught up on all the news one of my friends has the news of a new grandchild on the way so she will have them from age 24 to a new born. she married young and had her family young. came home with some xmas gifts will have to try and not open them as yet the drive home was not bad only took an hour it was windy but no snow that is to come late sat and sunday. recieved a nice card from brenda hope that whenshe returns she is feeling well and had a good holiday, sylvia your xmas plans sound great to-night it is going to be -21 a bit nippy I shall turn on the heating pad and warm up the bed bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone,from a brilliant Tennerife,its really lovelly weather,and hotel is fine.Had a couple of drinks and som e great meals.
Speak to you all when home .Brenda

Hello peeps,can i join in for a few minutes lol.
Glad to hear that the trip is going well Brenda ,it sounds nice and warm,but don't get too used to it,you have to come home to a cold spell ,don't forget.
Glad to see you are organised Sylvia ,mind how you go on your journey boxing day,and arrive safely,[please].
Badger has now finished the house till after the new year,having got Seand room ready for his return on the 21 for christmas at home.
i was up bright and early and crept out to the greenhouse to turn the corned beef in it'ssealed container,must admit ,it's looking good.
We did get through to Shields yesterday.but it was a bitterday,minus 3 at ten oclock ,so we did what we had to ,and came home,
It looks like time is catching up to me,lol,i can remember when i was working outside at minus 10 ,not turning a hair,hee hee,perhaps it's time for badger to hibernate for the winter but it's hard to admit you are past it after working outside in the open all your life,and even looks like the end of my winter fishing trips [sniffle]
Have to go now ,and give Liz a hand in the kitchen,i can't leave it all to her.
I did my bit a couple of dsays ago,i made a lovely cheese pudding that went down a storm,and today i am doing home made meatballs,with spaghetti ,with a nice passata sauce,easy ,simple but nice and yummy.
Catch you all later,have a nice day,but don't let the day creep up on you [9 days] left to get yourselves organised.Badger.

goodmorning one and all fred glad to hear you are now able to relax now the decorating is done. so you are having some cold weather so are we -21 last night I spent friday till monaday am at andrew's as the storm came and dumped 30 centre metors of the white stuff onus the snow blowers got quite the work out, andrew and the missus did drive to toronto to see the play I thought they were out of their minds but off they went they did get back safe and sound, as I left the house the morning to return home the snow banks on the side of the driveways were about 6ft high I dropped the children off at school and came home. they had not cleared out our parking area ton's of snow so I grabbed a spot underneath in the visitors lot till my spot is cleared out. I really don't have to go out till friday so it can sit there till the lot is cleared. hope brenda is still having a grand time bye for now dorothy