General Chat

I have decided that I have to wait till later in the day to read fred's menu's this reading them at my breakfast time is not on any more what a wonderful read though I envy liz having such a good cook on hand, sorry that your weather is so bad we are about 20 degree's and that is nice sunny but not too hot, I shuddered to read margaret talking about snow as I am sure we are in for it this winter, yesterday celery was on sale so I bought two bunches to chop and freeze to add to soups and stews, having fun getting some things into the new chest freezer in preperation for the winter, one of my friends chops and freeze's mushrooms have never tried that but they are so expensive in the winter. to-day is the luch out so I shall go and get ready had the hair cut yesterday so am feeling a bit smarter bye for now dorothy

Morning Dorothy,Jons recipe sounds good ,what are you complaining about.
Me ,i love Lamb ,but i'm only allowed it for a special treat because it's the worst meat going for anyone with angina.
Nothing special for us today,just two sliced potatos ,bought to the boil ,and then drained [so that they are sure to be soft when the dish is finished.
one large onion sliced the ssame way,and some cheapish luncheon meat ,small cubed.
I just put a layer of each into a casserole dish.sprinkling some powdered Dill,Corriander,Chive ,and milled black pepper and rock salt on the layers,finishing off with a little veggie gravy,before putting a good layer of potato on top covered with a brushing of olive oil,lid on and into the oven for 45 minutes on a regulo 7 gas ,or 190 electric.
Nic e and cheap,idel for the cold weather ,so ,i am trying it now to see if there are any changes to do to the recipe.
I have done a little cabbage ,and carrot along with some new potatoes to go with it,but next time ,i think the carrot will go into the dish.
It's official ,the worse summer for a hundred years ,and the wettest August ever,my tomatoes are still green ,so it's out with the old newspapers ,for wrapping them,and onto the kitchen windowsill,that usually works okay,and liz does a wicked green tomato soup,and there's always green chutney too,so any that don't ripen won't go to waste.
Time for me to start the dinner ,so ,that's it for now.
Have a nice weekend all,despite this ruddy weather [brrrrrrrr].
Fred.

goodmorning fred I was not complaing about the recipes just that they sound so good and I always seem to read them at breakfast time my time, but you have just given me some great info I did not know that lamb was bad for folks with angina that is very useful info, I agree this summer appears to be the worst for rain both in england and my part of canada, the farmers are just bringing the tomato's into the markets and they are somewhat cracked looking that is the field ones, my mother in law made the best green tomato chow chow as she called it. taking a friend who does not get out much to-morrow to see momma mia my 2nd time but she has wanted to see it. bye for now dorothy

Hi all,
Well was up early this morning to make an appointment to see my doctor because I have a lot of pain in my muscles. She thinks I may have fibromyalgia. Johan had this a few years ago. Anyway, I have to have my blood pricked next week. I have to have a grommet put into my ear next Wednesday so whilst at the hospital will have my blood pricked. The day after, Thursday, I have to go to another hospital for my bladder rinse. What on earth do I do with my time?
I managed to get a permanent in my hair today, but sent Johan to the market for fish. I went to the supermarket after the hairdresser. My hairdresser comes to me every week, but I always go to her for a perm - she can clean up the mess!
The weather should be improving after the weekend, so let's hope they have it right this time.
Sylvia xxx

Morning all ,from a sunny newcastle [reels in shock and spills tea all down his white top lol].

Has anyone else seen Ediths chairs that she painted ,wow,that Lass is a real artist and the chairs look beutiful,i would love one for our kitchen ,but it's far to far to send one .
Hi dorothy,yeah ,any animal fat is bad news for angina sufferers like me ,but beleive it or not ,lamb is far higher in fat than any other meat,and much as i like a lamb chop ,i do them on the B B Q , the only way to remove nearly all of the fat.
In the old days ,we used to buy a sheep.cheaper than lamb ,far bigger ,more tender and far less fat.
These days ,looking for sheep is like looking for hens teeth.
I have been inspecting my veggies this morning and notice that my oz bred cauli' are doing very well,there will be a couple of cauli' cheese being done before long [the luxury version ,with chopped onion and mustard in],and there will be plenty of heads left to put down in the freezer.
I suppose i had better make toad in the hole for dinner ,or tea seeing as we have Chris coming for a couple of days ,and he won't be pleased if grandad dosn't do his fav' meal lol.
I reckon it's nearly time to put the patio furniture away in the shed,it was only 9 c last night,August yet [shudder],autumn has come early here,the cherry trees are blushing because their branches are bare,the local mountain ash are covered in berries,and the plane trees are changing colour ,well early,think we are due a long winter,but wether it's a hard one ,or not remains to be seen.
Must go now,time to gather a bit of veg' for the dinner,and decide which sort of spud to do ,along with the roast,either new ,or mash ,hmmmmmmm?
Hope everyone is relaxed and enjoying the weekend.
I am looking forward to Cala ,Gran ,and the first time i will have ever seen the illuminations lol,roll on the 4 oct he he.
Fred.

we have a lovelly sunny day here ,still a bit chilly but at least its dry.
Not many in this morning at work,expect they will be here later to get their, dvd's etc for the long week end.
Always busy and organised Fred,the pototo dish sounds great.
Well don eon the freezing Dorothy ,hope your weather stays warm.
Hope all your appointments work out ok Sylvia.
Not doing much at the weekend just trying to catch up on house work which wasn't done in the past few weeks.
Seeing my friend for lunch on Tuesday,and going to the cinema on another night.
pc at home not working unless David has sorted it out this morning. So not sure when I woill be back.Have a good weekend Brenda

goodmorning I hope that you all have a good bank holiday and that the weather remains good for you, fred I was surprised to hear that the temperature was so low for you the other night and the idea that you may have toput the garden furniture away all ready sounds surprising, brenda I hope that you take the time to have a rest this week-end you need it. my little group of friends over here are getting ready for the democratic convention next week (on the tele) now that obama has picked his vp choice it is so important that the republicans do not get in again american politics do have a bearing on the canadian way of life wether we like it or not. the system that we and the brits have is the better way I think though none of them are perfect, then the tennis will be on again the us. open lets hope roger can get his number one status back again and that murray plays well, your vacation plans sound wonderful fred I hope that you have a great time, the sister is in california at the moment I will see her in oct, it will be fun to see the rockies I have never been west before, bye for now dorothy

Uuuuuuup we come ,had a heck of a job locating the thread lol.
It's been one heck of a weird season here Dorothy,most of the last two months the temperatures have struggled to get out of the 60's F,and it's been very dismal,the worst August for 100 years,and thewettest on record.
The sea hasn't had a chance to warm up,and so ,the wind off the sea is chilly ,not warm like usual.
I reckon we are going to get a long winter this time,but wether it will be a hard one remains to be seen.
I was talking about putting the furniture away because it's been so wet ,we have only used it once since March,still ,there is time yet ,lol,it was nice yesterday ,we even got sun ,[yippee] but today it's back to normal,threatening rain,cool ,and yukky.
I was going to do a Bacon Badger for dinner today using some veggie suet which cooks as well as the beef stuff,but looking in the fridge i find that there is none.
I don't know,i do the cooking ,take Liz shopping and it looks like i may even have to make out the shopping list in future [grumble ,humph ],he he.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their long weekend ,but i bet that Brenda has been working again,?
Looks like time to go and get the shopping done,i need to buy some core drills from Aldi so that i can bore a hole in the kitchen walls to put in an extractor for the cooker before winter sets in,it will save a lot of steam forming in the kitchen while cooking.
Take care all.be back shortly.
Fred.

goodmorning maybe the weather will improve for the last day of the bank holiday it was very humid here yesterday I even put the air conditioning on I don't use it very much as I usually get a good breeze up here on the 11th floor, wehad a bad accident on the highway yesterday and traffic was backed up for 4hrs I felt sorry for the folks trapped on the highway for that long in the heat, to-day the tennis starts for 2weeks the us open and the one of u.s conventions starts so I will enjoy both, the grandchildren are getting ready to go back to school on the 2nd of sept so I will spend the day with them to-morrow and wed as lindy has to go to school earlier all the teachers are in a week earlier to set things up so we should have fun. they were all at the cottage on the week-end a last fling I think going sailing or canoeing and biking around bryan the oldest is doing well in the kayak ., fred my tomato plant has given up the ghost but I did get a good crop off it, but the green pepper plant is producing a 2nd crop not bad for one little plant I should have more to freeze bye for now dorothy

Morning all,
fred was working Saturday,as it was my day to work,but not on the bank holiday, don't give them any ideas.... we already do some Sundays !!

Had a look round for a new gas fire as we stopped looking ages ago ,but need to get some advise so Johns nephew by marriage who is a corgi registered fitter is coming to tell us what type we need etc.
Also looked at new dining tables but did not see any I liked all to modern for me,also too big for my dininfg room.!!!
Speak to you all later,off for a shower then out shopping again .
Brenda

hi tues evening took the boys ten pin bowling to-day laura was at a friends then we had luch out so it was a fun day but I came home to a bit of a mess, one of the cats had been sick in about 7 places a bit here a bit there then I went to change into the clothes I had left on my bed this morning a t-shirt and pair of pants and they were soaked in urine again not sure who did it as they are not confessing, so I have a vets apt to-morrow to see who is perhaps having a bladder problem the one cat sascha he drinks a lot and they are going to be 15 soon, so of course I will have to have tests done on the both of them heavens knows what the cost will be but apart from yearly check ups they have never cost me money before so we will see what happens to-morrow, plus in the am the water will be off all day the town is doing something lots of houses and flats without water till at least 6pm should be fun, I have the three children to-morrow as well so we shall see how the day goes, hope you had good results with your shopping spree brenda bye for now dorothy

hi well what a day I have had off with two of the children to my own doc's for 10am then took them shopping back by noon as the furnace had to be checked then at 2pm off to the vets the boys were not happy ebing there to cut a long story short they are still there having tests tot he tune of 800 dollars about 200 pounds each but there is no other way to see who has the health problem they may get home to-night (wed) by 7pm but more than likely stay till to-morrow if after all this I find it is behavoural then it will have been an expensive way of finding out they were being just plain mad with all the accidents. it is cheaper for humans to have tests anyway they are important to me so hang the expense I guess bye for now dorothy

morning all,hope you are all well and happy??
weather could be better but it is dry ,
On work at 2pm til and have been doing some phone calls and writting letters connected tpo Dads estate as they put it.
Not been on "word " for ages and got a bit messed up with the font size!!!
Also had to print some attachements from an email of for my sister .she did not tell me it was nearly 30 pages and it was coloured as well.
Hope your cats are ok Dorothy i am hearing nothing but bad news about pets at the moment.
Going out agian on Saturday to look at the fires and also some new curtains for the bedroom,(I ruined the others in the wash).
Need to shower and get ready for work.see you soon ,Brenda

hi wed eve, well I have ot had a good day most of the cat's test results came back sasha is in kidney failure in the early stages but we may be able to control it with some special food but the vet said she can't say wether it will move along slowly or quickly, simon is also in kidney failure but not as bad as sasha but he also has a bladder infection so to-morrow starts on antibiotic's, we talked about quality of life and of course the expense as they will ned 2/3onth blood work and urine cultures to date the bill is about 400 pounds with more to come, so I had a rainy day account for a plane fare to england sometime next year if anne is still unable to visit and that is now goen, they don't seem to be in pain but not actin there self the big problem is that incontinence can become a issue I don't mind if they miss their boxes it is if they christen the furniture so I am going to try the food for a month and see how they do I am booked to go to calgary in oct and if they start to fail I can't leave the care of them to the neighbour and the family the vet said to take some time and then decide if 15 yrs of a good life is long enough and to think about maybe putting them to sleep if they do not improve, if I was a drinke I would have a good shot of brandy but those days are over sorry to be so down but I had to vent to someone, and don't want to talk to the family as I think I would just cry bye for now dorothy

Hi Dorothy ,what rotten news,you can come on here and vent all you want,!!!
My neighbour across the road lost her cat yester day he was 21,but had been ill a while.And my friend came round last night and was up set about her sisters dog having to be put to sleep due to cancer.!!
So Its not been a good week for pets and there owners/carers.
TAke caer brenda

friday evening 10pm well the boy's are on the new food and simon has started his antibiotics so we shall se what this treatment does they are very quiet and just want to be cuddled and that is not like sasha he is usually very independant, we had a rain storm this evening this is the last long week-end before school starts, my grandchildren went down to the school to-day they have the classsroom lists posted as to what teacher they have and who is in the class with them apparently two out of the three are pleased the youngest is not according to their mom they have managed not to get the teacher ian has been assigned before anyway he may not stay in her class long as he is being tested and would be very bored in her class, they have put this off beofre but this will give them the push to get it sone he is quite broght and needs to be encourged to explore his ptential not given anything to dowhen he is finshed the term work very quickly well have a good week-end bye for now dorothy

nudge

Hi all,back home for a few days now,as it's not worth going back up to the holiday park until Tuesday afternoon,after Liz has been to the dentist.
Sorry to hear that you are dealing with two unwell family members Dorothy. i know it comes to us all,but that dosn't make it any easier to cope with.
As Brenda says ,let it all go lass ,we understand ,and it's no good bottling it in,all you can do now ,is make it as painless as you can for them,and when the time comes ,relax in the knowledge that they had a lovely life ,where they were loved to bits,you will be blessed for your love and kindness.
We have had a great time so far,the weather has been pretty good,and we did manage to walk along to Newbiggen,although Liz was so tired by the time we got there ,that we had our coffee,then got a bus back.
The two large wind turbines that were put up off Blyth three years ago ,will not now be dismantled as first thought,but have been bought by a major electricity company,and new cables are to be laid ,this time in channels cut by dredger so that they cannot be damaged again.
These generators are proportedly the largest in the world ,and will provide a lot of power to Blyth township.
We were lucky enough to see them turning [slowly] yesterday as the engineers made sure that the gearboxes were still free,and working properly.
No doubt when the yanks get to hear that their wind
turbines are smaller than the brit's ones ,work will start to make sure their's are bigger than ours [ every thing is bigger in Texas ] lol.
I have been busy in the garden till now ,mowing the front lawn,doing the edges,doing the little flower border and rockery .and cutting the haulms back ,in the far tattie bin[ they are now covered with the lid] ,and await our pleasure at Christmas.
The first three boxes of kit -cat have arrived and have now been put away until December ,so the family will do nicely for biscuits and the like.
Have to go now ,and find something for the tea,but have to admit ,that the thought of a couple of pieces of fish sound good lol.
Catch you all later peeps ,hope everyone is having a nice weekend.Fred.

Just added a long message and it disapeared,so will just say hello to you all,hoping things are going ok with Dorothy and her boys and fred and his garden am very tired as did not sleep at all last night.
Brendah

sat evening hi brenda and fred thanks for the kind words the "boy's" are just resting and eating a small amount of the new food simon is taking the pills quite well, I agree they have given me a lot of love and companionship over the last 15yrs many memories of my mother are tied up with them, I shall keep them as comfortable as possible till the end of the month (sept) and then see what may need to be done, to-day we had a lovelyday weather wise so all the people at the cottages will be enjoying the day, I watched tennis murry almost lost then came charging back a good match, fred it sound like you enjoyed your days away and liz as well thats good take care all bye for now dorothy