General Chat

The roses do sound nice AnnG. That's another thing learned then, how to get to the bulbs in the fire! We have a hole in the wall open gas fire with artificial coals on and oh they do get so dusty!! I still feel a bit overwhelmed when I see a rainbow and wonder what our long ago ancestors would make of them.

I'm glad your doctor is keeping in touch and that you get phone consultations Gill. It is no wonder you have been so anxious and depressed this year, so much has happened for you to be worried about! I hope your OH has more success getting through to the hospital tomorrow and can find out what the position is with his mum. Hubby was shocked to see all those people crowding together in London last night too.

A footie friend of OH's wanted to give him lifts to matches or meet up with him there when the pandemic started, but OH declined the invitation and went to different matches. He told me that the friend was sensible and would be being extra careful though as both he he and his wife with diabetes were vulnerable and older than us. Well, when he spoke to him on the phone this week it turns out the friend and his wife have been gadding around everywhere as normal and mixing with friends, sharing cars etc!! You just don't know what some people are doing do you. I agree with Vera, you just can't understand their thinking or lack of it. It seems unless they actually trip up over bodies in the street they won't take it on board. Is it that they grow up thinking their 'rights' are more important, but then it isn't just younger people is it.

I hope you have a good weekend too EOS. Weren't magic moments chocolates?

Well done your OH fixing things Vera! He is a star isn't he! :-D

I've had a trying afternoon waiting for my computer Win 10 to load. It took 6 hours! Not happy that the sound icon doesn't work, but it seems to be a known problem, but I'll still see if they can fix it remotely.

I seem much better now so am defrosting the ham hocks for tomorrow!

We will miss the bigger telly this Christmas, so it will be the smaller screens like the old days!!

I wonder if Frank is okay after his last fall.

Yes it is pieces of real coal so I laid them on newspaper. And it was fine.

Oh Gill you will know how Insympathise with your OH we were told the bestbtime yo phone was the afternoon but you know we have had big problems until the doc phoned daughter. He can only keep trying.

I haven't seen the news Mel, but OH was telling me he heard on the radio there were lots of people leaving London before midnight last night before the new rules came into force, there was no social distancing as there were to many people, so no doubt the new strain of the virus will be spread far and wide soon. I believe this new virus is in other countries to, but I'm not sure which countries it's in though. I will watch the news later to find out more. There's also talk of food lorries not being able to enter our country so there could be more panic buying soon.

OH has been trying to ring the hospital for hours and no one is picking up, he tried ringing his mum on her mobile but it was either switched off or she's got a flat battery, so up to now he still doesn't know what's going on. He's going to ring the hospital again tomorrow when hopefully someone will answer, in the meantime he's so stressed he's becoming quite snappy and grumpy. I feel sorry for him as he's obviously very worried about his mum and not being able to get through to the hospital isn't helping.

Your rose's sound lovely AnnG, yellow is a lovely cheerful colour isn't it? Good on you for sorting out the bulb in your fire. I used to have an electric fire with real coals, it was a job and half to keep the dust off them I had to lay them on kitchen roll and be very careful no coal bits fell on the carpet. Now I have a new fire I don't have that problem anymore.

Thank you Elizabeth for your message, I hope you have some magic moments to.

Hello Elilzabeth thank you for your message and I am sure there will be magic moments for most of us and you too I hope.

Are you on your own for Christmas? or is it just you and oh as it is here?

Stay safe. <3

Its good to hear you are enjoying your roses Anng. Are you looking all cosy with the village all set up?
Clever girl doing the fire. We have one with real coal on the top which you have to take off to get to the bulbs but we don't use it and the coal is out in my shed and the fire in the uti room in a corner.

Have you seen all the silly people going away for Christmas. No social distancing and crowds at stations.

Dear All

Hello

Hope your week goes smoothly and that you have magic moments.

Take gentle care
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Vera you look after that handy fellah, They are much missed when no longer here.
I was cursing last night as I unloaded the ‘coals’ from the electric fie and took it apart to get to the bulb that had one to change it. Another job I have not had to do before.

I am sure you have made the right decision about Christmas. I know it is sad for people and inconvenient, short notice and an expense but it is better that we try and contain this mutant virus.

The roses are beautiful, they have a very slight perfume but being dark yellow they really light up the room I love them

Sorry to hear your neighbour has got Covid Mel. I hope she has a mild dose and soon recovers. It’s very unlikely that you will have picked anything up as it doesn’t sound as though you were close enough or with her long enough.

That was nice of the lady to bring you the roses AnnG. Have they got much of a perfume? I had to smile at your custard powder sub. I suppose it is mostly cornflour but did the packer think you’d want sauces or your baking sweetened and coloured yellow? I only had one sub in my order on Tuesday. Tesco sent 12 large free range eggs and just charged me for the 6 I had ordered so I came out the winner there.

Gill, I hope OH’s Mum is improving. I don’t suppose he’ll hear much over the weekend but hopefully he can speak to a doctor or nurse tomorrow. There’s quite a few people around like your mother. I am not sure if they don’t really understand the rules or whether they think the government is just giving advice which they can choose to ignore or whether they are being pig-headed or what it is, but they just seem to go their own way. My next door neighbours are like that. They are lovely and apparently intelligent people but they worry the life out of me. They are on the government vulnerable list and have access to delivery slots with Tesco and Sainsbury’s, yet they are always out shopping. There are people in and out of their house all the time, painters, bathroom fitters, carpet layers, a hairdresser, a nail lady and a lady to do the ironing!

I am sorry you seem to have lost your appetite Ann and hope you are feeling less out of sorts now.

Frank, have you had that bang on your head checked over yet? What is happening about your trip to Devon tomorrow?

After yesterday’s new rules I had a long chat with son in the evening and with daughter this morning about Christmas plans. Son is now very unlikely to come south as he had planned. We were only seeing him and family for an hour on 27th but, not having seen him for 14 months, I was really looking forward to it. I am sure he has made the right decision and we are now planning a family get-together at Easter. Well, we need something to look forward to.

We are still going to daughter on Christmas Day but will no longer stay overnight. There will just be the 2 of us, daughter and granddaughter. They are only a 40 minute drive away, we are both in Tier 2 and we don’t have to go through any other tier en-route so we should be OK.

Btw, OH seems to have sorted the kitchen heating so we will cancel our Jan 4th visit from British Gas. He may not go in for big, romantic gestures but, by golly, he’s a handy fella to have around.

I can’t believe this is the start of Christmas week and presents won’t wrap themselves so I’d better get on.

It's nice and sunny here, but I think it's forecast for rain later.

Thanks Ann, I felt bad when I realised what I'd done. I'm pleased you enjoyed it, I agree it's one of the best finals I've seen to. I hope your OH's back isn't set off again going in the loft. I'm sorry to hear you haven't got much of an appetite and hope it changes soon. I've been like that since February and have lost over half a stone, the doctor is a bit concerned and wanted me to go into the surgery to be weighed, but I'm to nervous to go out so I'm weighing myself at home and will let him know how my weight is doing. I have phone consultations. He's put my daytime meds up and is going to do the same with the night time ones in a few weeks. He doesn't want to put them both up at the same time incase I react to them or he won't know which one I've reacted to. I've been suffering with anxiety and depressions with everything that's happened this year and have not been eating or sleeping properly, hopefully the new meds will help, he said when the night time meds go up I should get my appetite back.

I'm pretty sure my mum won't change her plans, she even goes into other areas for a game of bingo and then complains when we go into lockdown. It's people like her that are responsible for lockdowns and the rest of us who do everything by the book have to suffer to, but she won't be told and has excuse after excuse for her bad behaviour. My sister is just as bad and visits mum all the time, I wouldn't mind but she's a carer like my OH and has also refused the vaccination. I don't understand them as mum is thinking of not having the vaccination as well, they're both as bad as each other.

I haven't seen mum for almost a year trying to keep OH safe, knowing what his job is and the potential of him catching it and passing it onto the home. I'd never forgive myself if I caught the virus and passed it on to other people. Maybe I just have a different outlook on the situation. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed, my mum and sister don't catch it and decide to have the vaccination later down the line.

You've been busy today AnnG, you'll sleep well tonight. How lovely to see a rainbow, pity you didn't have your camera with you though. Fancy having custard powder as a substitute for cornflour, silly people. At least your neighbour had it so it didn't go to waste.

I see you've had a rainbow to Mel. Your cards sound very festive.

Well at 0915 it was dry and sunny with blue sky so I did an almost mile walk to the post box on the next estate, not that it will go out today but it was a bit of exercise. while out there was a little sprinkle of rain and the most beautiful rainbow and I didn't have my camera with me.

I have since tidied out the bottles (alcohol) cupboard in the kitchen, got dinner in the slow cooker for tonight, checked my on line listing for things crossed off (just one third week running tempura prawns) and applied for a credit card in my name. I can still use the cards that we already have but it is difficult when they are on line to check and pay them as they are in OH's name and on his bank account. Just have to wait for it to come in the post now. A bit laborious to apply but it all went ok and I was accepted with no problem.

Had coffee and a piece of shortbread and now off to dust the bedroom.

Ann hope you get your appetite back soon and hope OH has not hurt his back. I could get up into our loft if I could only figure out the knack of opening the trap door, OH's job (one of many) so a good job I don't need to go up there.

Morning Ann and Mel,

It's sunny here too!

No Sunday lunch for us today as I am still a bit out of sorts without much appetite. I think some soup will be enough and OH will sort himself out with a jacket potato and salad. We can have a nice lunch tomorrow.

OH is in the loft looking for tinsel! His back was twanging after going up there the other day so I hope it doesn't set it off again.

Better get showered and dressed now.

Morning two Ann's and all,

We've got sunshine again this morning here in deepest Devon, whats it like with you lot?

Just been looking at my lovely cards everyone has sent me. Nice lot of red and green ones this year and some with glitter just as I like them. Nice lot of robins too.

While I have been typing its come over dark out the front and its started to rain and we have a rainbow right over the garden to the south.

Oh yes Ann, I agree with OH, I am sure they are told to do that. I shall have to keep checking mine and re-ordering today as my delivery is tomorrow. As it is only me I am not too bothered but it must be awful if you have visitors expected for the meal.

I had a strange thing this week. Two weeks ago I ordered cornflour, the order came, I wiped down and put away. A couple of days ago I needed the cornflour and when I looked it was Birds Custard powder. I had not noticed and am sure the sub was not noted. How can they substitue custard powder for cornflour.? I never make custard, and certainly won't now for just me so I gave the tin to my neighbour who shops for me so it doesn't get wasted but how strange!

Pleased you were still able to enjoy Strictly it certainly brightened up the evening a bit for me.

Don't worry Gill, nothing to forgive. I bet l've done it myself sometimes too! I watched later and l think it was one of the best finals there have been.

I think s lot of people are like your mum! People have been visiting neighbours today and some have been going inside (not allowed in Tier 3). I bet so many won't have thought to get some food in just in case rules changed.

AnnG I have noticed this past week that lots on my order is sold out. There were 10 items today alone! Even a turkey crown, so I'm glad I ordered an alternative. It does seem wrong that online customers suffer but I suppose they couldn't save things with sell by dates coming up. OH has a theory that they often substitute things with their own brands when they haven't run out as well!

I'm so so sorry Ann, I thought everyone would of been watching it. I wouldn't mind but I don't normally give out results, but with everything happening with OH and his mum my mind is all over the place at the moment. Like AnnG said it's still worth watching though. Sorry, I hope you forgive me.

Oh that is a shame Ann I am always wary not to give out the results of things in case people are recording and watching. Still be worth watching though as the dancing was all good.

Arrrgh! I had it recorded to watch later! Glad he won though. I have watched Bill on TV for years with watching QI and always liked him. He isn't showy or full of himself.

Gill we wanted Bill to win and we were so pleased wehn he did. Well done Bill and oti (sp)

Ann I have emailed you.

Bill Bailey won Strictly, I'm so chuffed, it's about time someone older won. It's well deserved, he is a great dancer. :-D :-D