General Chat

Gooood morning all you cold /warm /hot people ,[just to make sure i have covered everyone] lol.
Bit chilly here too this lovely morning .
The poor plants outside are drooping their leaves covered in a very hard frost ,but ,at least ,after today ,the brussels will be well tasty,they always are after a good frost..
Made a nice soup yesterday,he he ,it started off aas a leek and potato,but after i had blitzed it i changed my mind,adding some tomato purreee ,some herbs ,saly ,pepper,and mace,broke a few strands of spaghetti into it ,turning it into a sort of ministroni,it turned out well too ,so a largish bowl today for dinner ,with a nice fluffy dumpling will hit the spot.
I prepared the dinner yesteray morning for the wife to cook [my day off oven chores.
The fresh chicken ,i prepared be shoving two small [cut ] oranges up it's bum,after dusting the inside with course salt,and then put in 2 shallots[onion would have been too strong for the oranges],put oil over the breast and legs folled by table salt ,and strips of streakt bacon ,over the top ,and thighs[the chickens ,not mine] lol.
Veggies , i pepared it all for her ,fluffy roast potatoes,ditto parsnip,,put the brussel,chopped cabbage ,carrot batons ,and calabrese into the steamer ,with tatties for the mash at the last minute.
The boss did well,timing it nicely so that it all came together.
Not too happy with the rumour that the membership is reportedly going up to £20 a year,if that is the case ,Fred is def' out of here ,there are other sites cheaper ,and just as good,and why should us daft bu****s pay to keep the other ,sister site going at our expense,.they should be paying their own way.
I have made my views known to G R,and just in case ,i have uploaded my tree to my harddrives ,just in case it is the parting of the ways.
Well peeps ,not long to go now,so ,i will leave you for now while i go to feed my birds who are lined up on the fence [as usual].
Hope hubby is recovering well Sylvia,a bit of a worrying time for you,all should be fine,and if there are no setbacks by the end of January ,he will have a new lease of life,and will have you on your mettle lol.
Fred.

Well back to work today and what do I feel like,absolutley shattered¬!!!,just checked my emails and put a message on here then bed for me.!!
How come its going up to £20.00 Fred,how do you know??
Hope all is ok with everyone else.
brenda

Just popping in to say Good Luck to Johan for his operation today. Sylvia I will be thinking of you.

Don't like this new set-up, it is such a strain on the eyes.

Hope everyone is keeping well.

Love
Kathleen

Afternoon everyone and hello to Kathleen,hope you are well and the family as well.
Thinking of Sylvia and Johann as well.hope it all goes well.
I am out tonight it is a mini christamas do from work.wasn;t going originally ,but someone dropped out and I was offered the place so am going.It a sort of Indian buffett but no alchaol,so it will not be a late night.Good thing as I am working again in the morning all day like today
Be back tonight if \i am not too late/Brenda.

goodmorning it is cold but dry so that is a good thing last evening I was over at the family to have dinner and help to trim the tree, each year I don't think that they can go one better but the tree they chopped down on sunday is a belter about 6ft tal and bushy a scotch pine smells wonderful it is quite something the age of some of the ornaments. I had given them years ago a lot of my parents and some of mine and then lindy has some of her grand and great grandparents, plus ones made by the children over the years so It was a good evening, I have a favourite one that I put out each year it is a decorated soup can that andrew made his first year at school silly but special to me. the children had a good laugh as well as once again my former husband and I sent the same card to andrew and lindy we live miles apart but seem to have the nack of doing this every year he will be joining the family for christmas so there will be 12 at the table with lindy's mom and her sister and family. to-day I am taking a lady to the hospital for physio and if the weather holds the ladies will be up for lunch to-morrow I am really looking foreward to that, fred next time I cook a chicken I will try the insertion of oranges that sounded quite good bye for now dorothy

Have a few minutes before lunch is over,will be busy at home tonight ,so might not have time to get on here,
The Indian buffet was good,most things too spicy for me but it was different. It was great to catch up with people and have a chat.
Have to wrap some presents tonight as they will be getting delivered tomorrow.Also need to start icing the cakes!!.
See you all soon,take care ,Brenda

goodmorning I hope all is well with sylvia and her husband,glad you enjoyed your night out brenda good luck with the present wrapping I am somewhat disapointed this morning due to the weather my friends are unable to come for lunch yes we had more snow and they don't want to tackle the highway I don't blame them but would have loved to have seenthem all, ah well we can always celebrate xmas after the fact but I do always try to get their gifts to them in person before xmas if the weather changes maybe I will try to have a quick run down on monday we are in for another storm on friday so that depends on how much snow comes down great for the ski-ers though, the children finish school on friday so they will be heading up to the hills I am sure. Ian the youngest has recieved his test results he is now officially listed as gifted both lindy and andrew are meeting with the school board to see what can be offered to him , ie extra work in the classroom moving up to another grade in january or moving out of the area to a school for gifted children and that is about an hour away, lindy now that she is in the teaching proffesion would rather he stayed in the same school but perhaps moving up a grade, so we shall see what happens Ian remains unconcerned by all this just says he would like more work as he is bored and does not like being used as a teaching assistant as he puts it I would just like to learn more grandma!! well now the day stretches ahead of me so I will have to think of something positive to do to cheer myself up bye for now dorothy

Goodmorning to you all I havent been around here in ages But have paid up once again
Its summer down under and I have been really busy out in our garden !after OH spent the winter confined to house with shattered ankle I really thought wed have to downsize to smaller place less garden etc
But now that hes mobile hes made a real effort ! and both veg and flower garden are coming on very nicely We prob would both have missed it and really gives us incentive to get up and out into it early these nice days
This morning its wet but wont complain as rain needed and we are already on water restrictions as far as hosing goes
A very Merry Xmas and a bright new year 2009 to all Margaret

hi everyone hope you all are well especially sylvia's husband, to-day we are being hit by a big snow storm one of three one to come on sunday followed by one on christmas eve it will be a very white xmas, toronto is supposed to get more snow than us and they can keep it there, I would like to wish all of you wherever you live a very happy christmas and a wonderful new year bye for now dorothy

Welcome back Margaret,it's nice to see people coming back instead of leaving.
Morning Dorothy,brenda,and ayone else that may look in.
Sorry for being so remiss for the last week,but i am so busy at the minute what with getting ready for the expected company,last minute shopping and whatever lol.
I will be going out later this morning ,hopefully for the last time till boxing daywhen i may go to the local pc world hoping to buy a new laptop for when i am on holiday this next yyear ,so that i can keep in touch.
If ,however ,they are too dear ,i may settle for a Blackberry phone ,which can be used to get on the net ,and send emails,there are some good deals out there,so i may be lucky.
Liz and i had some fun with Hissy last night,for some reason she decided to sit under the tree ,a little hissy claus so ,having taken a photo of her ,we decided to try putting a santa hat on her ,but she lived up to her name ,and hissed at the brave missus ,who had the hat in her hand,mind you ,after looking at her eyes ,and the fact that her fur was coming up i decided not to try he he.
We have christmas sorted now ,we are going up to the daughters for dinner,and Stephens for tea, then,boxing day ,we have Stephen for tea ,with the bairns ,which will be ace,and we have the other son Martin ,his partner and children for dinner.
New years day we have the daughter and family all day,so ,none is left out..
We fly on the 7th of January and the wedding is on the tenthso it will be a good test for the new camcorder ,which has the new style disc in for recording rather than tapes,much lighter ,and easier to use [i hope].
I will have to see if my son can find the code for office powerpoint ,rather than me having to buy a new copy,i have lost the original disc which had the code on the case ,what a bummer considering how much it cost,i will probably come across it somewhere in the house,you know the feeling ? putting something away for safekeeping ,and not being able to find it when needed , grrrrrr.
I managed to find the case for the cam corder when down town yesterday,a nice case which supposedly is guarantted [spelling, oooops]for ten years so i will be holing the camers shop to that,any way ,it's another little pressie for the boss to open.
Sounds as though the boss is getting up ,so i had better get myself mobile lol,hope everyone is orted ,including Sylvia ,and hubby ,who hopefully be feeling a little better by now,But you take it easy Johan,it gets a lot better and easier after a few short weeks.Fred.

Good evening everybody
Our son arrived around lunch time today to spend Christmas with us. We are all going my brother's place on Christmas Day for lunch, and that evening will be at my Mum's place. On 27 Dec, Craig is taking back to Auckland for a week and bringing us back a week later.
Like many people around the world this Christmas is going to be a lean one fewer gifts being bought and given - a sad fact of life.
Heard from a friend today who's husband was made redundant from his job in November and being older there isn't much offering for his type of skills.
With the next few days being all go - I take this moment in time to wish you all a happy Christmas and joyful New Year. God Bless you. John

goodmorning from a very cold barrie it is -26 and that is not taking in the wind chill factor I don't want to know what that is, I will wait till this afternoon when it will be a balmy -13 to go and clear off my car as we are due for another 10-20cm on sunday. brenda thankyou for the card it arrived yesterday and fred thanks to you and liz for the lovely e-mail card you will soon be off for the wedding that will be wonderful for you who is looking after hissy, the children and lindy are now on christmas vacation I would think that they will be off to the ski hills this morning, I have had word that father christmas is coming through with an electric guitar for Ian ,he has been saving up for one Ian had figured it would take him about 4yrs to save allhis pocket money and any money gifts to buy one so he will be surprised, it also includes 16 weeks of lessons santa is a good old chap is he not well that is it for me for to-day keep warm all of you in the cold area's bye for now dorothy

Hello Everyone,its chilly here today ,but robably warm compared to Dorothys weather,!!butHope wherever you are and what ever your weather you all have a merry christmas and a happy and healthy new year.
John you are right in what you say about cutting back,we have and next year when I will be officially retired it will be even more so.
Margaret nice to hear from you hope you get to enjoy your garden for a long time yet. I know I am looking forward to spending our summer outside.
Fred ,s busy as ever ,John said he fancies a digital cam corder so i looked at the Which magazine in work,I had no idea they could be so varied!!!
Dorothy ,thank you as well for your card and Fred ,for the email card.
Sylvia,hope you and Johanne are feeling better and had a good christmas.
Have aother busy day ahead so going for a cuppa and then get started.
Speak to you all soon,take care ,Brenda xx

hi sunday evening 7pm my time well to-day I ventured out to see if I could dig out the car it was quite the job the snow was up to the start of the windows and over my knees all around the car my version of digging is to use the shovel like a golf club just whaling away at it I managed to get it out and as luch would have it there was a spot under a canopy (cement) that is basically for visitors but the manager said to put it there till the smallplough ploughs out all the parking spots. but at least it started on the first turn over, the weather has been a balmy -9 to-day , anyway enough about the weather it is the same all across the country, Ihope you all are well and warm and not too hot in the warmer places bye for now dorothy

well it is a bit warmer today but wet as well.was watching the weather in USA on TV earlier they had 3inches of Snow in Las Vegas.Hope its stays fair near you Dorothy.
Off to work soon,on till 8pm hopwe it stays quite ,as its been a bit of a hassle in this library over the past few weeks.!!!
Almost finished the gift wrapping ,mainly due to fogetting where I had put a bag with things in!!!
See you all tomorrow,take care
Brenda

hi brenda hope all goes well for you at work that is a shame that you have to stay till 8pm I have some books in at my library but am not going out as guess what it is still snowing I believe we now have recieved 40cm since friday, I will call and see if any one else is in line for the books and if not they can re-issue them for me. I am lucky that I don't have to go out having stocked up well on groceries etc and andrew will pick me up on christmas eve day if the driving is a bit tricky, so it's lots of eastenders holby blue and casualty for me the other night we had two hours of the vicar of dibly the one where she is getting married quite funny well that is it for me don't work too hard bye for now dorothy

Hi all,
Well Johan is now back home getting used to everyday life again. He went to the shops today and picked up his two new pair of glasses - so that he can see his Xmas presents better!
I had my household help and then did some washing and ironing. I was going out but decided I would go tomorrow and then no more shopping until after Xmas. The mechanic came to repair my scootmobile and has made some adjustments so will try it out tomorrow. I must not forget to take my mobile telephone with me in case I break down somewhere en route.
My neighbour who was in the ward next to Johan is also coming home tomorrow in time for Xmas.
Need some more packing paper which I will have to buy tomorrow, Had one or two surprise Xmas cards from people I haven't heard from for years.
Have a nice evening everybody. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Sylvia xxx
I don't like this new set up either and it takes me so long to find our place in the thread.

Not been on this thread for months but just wanted to call in and wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and to wish you all the very best for 2009.

Ann
Glos

good morning everyone ,and a special morning to Anne for remembering us at Christmas.
Nice to hear that hubby is home Sylvia,along with the new lease of life the op has given him,and if he wathes what he eats ,there is no reason why he should become unwell with the ticker again.
I thought i would spend a few minutes on here this morning because as from dinner time ,i will be very busy getting ready for the 25th lol,cooking maily,i have salmon rosties to make ,the second batch of beef to cook,stuffing for the pork and turkey to make ,ham to cook ,pork to see to ,and many patries to get on with.
Not all for this household mind ,there is a load for the daughters and sons [ dad is still the best cook for the home made stuff.
The mince pies i buy ,too busy making other stuff to bother with them,but i do enjoy the home made pork pies ,sausage rolls ,salmon fish cakes ,kilties and whatever lol, the wife is BANNED from my kitchen for the next three days he he ,she hasn't done a christmas dinner in thirty years,or new year come to that,apart from once when i had flu over the holiday.
Commiserations to the poor people in the states ,who are having a horrendous time ,in Portland and Maine, with temperatures 40 c below freezing ,with thunder and lightening storms and snow together ,3 inches in an hour,cor ,are we in britain lucky .
Well time to go and peruse the other thread before getting to work,and you hang in there Edith old friend ,Liz and i are thinking of you in your snow world,you can keep your white Christmas if it means weather like yours.
Merry Christmas all of you,be back later [i hope] lol.
P/s ,anyone coming for dinner boxing day,we kick off sharp at midday . Fred.xxx

hi everybody oh fred I would love to come to luch on boxing day I am sure it would be a meal to remember, as usual the menu you have planned for over the holidays sounds wonderful a quick weather report we are to get another 15-20 cm to-day and perhaps snow and rain on wednesday. I have the car protected so should be able to load it up on wednesday afternoon and make my way over to andrew and lindy's, I believe my former husband is coming up by train so that should be an ok trip for him and andrew will pick him up at the station he does not drive anymore. the only thing left is to figure out if lindy's family can make it up from bolton and kitchener lindy's mom lives the furthest away so we shall see what happens, sylvia how great that your husband is home and one the mend you will have a special christmas seeing that you will spend it out of the hospital. once again I wish you all a merry christmas and may 2009 be a good year for all bye for now dorothy