General Chat

Yes Mel, beavers is what I meant Mel, sorry, I didn't you have so much wild life down your way, must be fascinating,

I once seen a flock of linnets strutting around on the ground at Plessy Woods. I watched them for quite a while. They're the only red breasted bird in the UK other than robins.

I was standing next to my desk last night imagining it was the side of a car. Had a picture of a Volvo on the monitor, door open. Hand on the roof of the car, hand on the car door. Reach into the foot well with straight L leg. Put my bum on the drivers seat, swing R leg in, close the door. Seat belt, turn the ignition etc.
I theoretically can do it. A LHD car would be easier but I can do it. :-D

Morning all and evening Kim,

Well I hav'nt set foot outside yet today. It is not windy and not raining but still dull as dish water out there. I kept looking out the back door last night and had the outside light on till 1.30am when I went to bed. I did see the fox in the orchard but he seems quite happy with eting the apples like the deer.

David I don't think Otters make a damn, you must be thinking of beavers. There's some of those in the wild now too!!

Gill so you liked the fairy houses did you? You can make them the same but to your own designs if you know what I mean.

Did'nt get round to seeing Dickensian last night so I have that to watch tonight and last weeks Countryfile.

Must get the steak out the freezer for tonight.

Mel. I was thinking about you. Sorry about your fish.
Would a fox take your goldfish? Otters are rare away from their dam.
There's a fox comes scavenging in my garden before dawn.
A heavy gauge mesh over the pond would prevent a reoccurrence.
I hope everyone's alright.

It sounds like you've had a busy Christmas William, we had a quiet one for the first time in years and it made such a change. Sorry to hear about your problems, it must be quite a worry but you know we're all hear should you wish to talk.

Yes making the cushions will be a good start to get used to the sewing machine Mandy. It's been years since I've used one so it'll take a bit of getting used to. Straight lines shouldn't be a problem though and it'll be a lot quicker than making them by hand.

So it's quite noisy in the house Frank, you did make me laugh when you were talking about running away. Not long to go before you're back home in the peace and quiet again. The weather sounds lovely in Tenerife, can I come with you? LOL.
It said on the internet that we are going to get more storms and possible SNOW, although I think the snow will be further up than us, which Sandra wasn't to pleased about. She's still hoping we get some, so she can build her snowman ;-) ;-)

So your OH has trimmed his beard Ann, I remember my OH shaving off his moustache, I hated it, so he grew it back. He's always had one and it was very strange to see him without it. To be honest I don't think he liked not having one either. You can get glasses where the frames hardly show, my OH has a pair and it doesn't look like he's wearing any, maybe your OH could get some too.

Off to bed now, see you all tomorrow
Night Night

I think it was an otter that had the fish as we found paw prints inthe mud in the orchard a little way away fromk the half eaten fish. They were quite big and I looked up otter prints on the pc and they look to be the same as we have.

So nice to hear from our William and know they enjoyed their Christmas with family.

We still have a pud to eat but after our dinner I am too full to have the pud. Still it will keep as we hav'nt started the second one.

Gill it is good to start on cusion covers and an easy way to do them is to overlap the backs so you don't have to use zips if you know what I mean. something like a pillowcase with a good overlap.

Signing out now so saying night night.

Evening All,

Lots of fireworks at midnight, but we didn't get up to look either. They started here about 11.30pm which was a bit early.

OH fetched ice out of the water feature this morning so is hoping his mum's house will be ok if we get frosty weather. We have no idea how to work or set the boiler there anyway. I think he will be contacting the estate agent Monday as the silence from them the past few weeks has been deafening!

Some of the fields around here have standing water in them now and the farmer has taken the cattle out of the field at the back of us. It's like a mud swamp near the gate for about 15 feet! I bet it will put the dog walkers off, you don't want to go A over T in that lot!

Jane you are quick off the mark with your hols! Only this morning OH was asking when we are going to Cornwall. lol I'm speechless as to what to say about William!! He doesn't believe in taking anything slowly does he.

Some of the wool I sent away for has arrived and is vacuum packed and like a solid lump!! Goodness knows what it will be like when I open it?

Mandy I always have trouble doing the sky on jigsaws too. :-) Unless I do mine in the daylight, the light above shines and reflects on it so you can't see it properly either which doesn't help. :-S

Gill that's great news getting your sewing machine. I can see it's going to be like the factory in Corrie at your place with your machine whirring away.......only I don't expect it will be knickers you're sewing!! lol.

I see you have had a busy Christmas William, catching up with all the family and seeing the little ones.

What a shame about your fish Mel. It must be really hard to keep something like Mink out as well. I hope you can save the others.

We've had a lazy day with lunch of Barnesley chops, stuffing balls, pigs in blankets, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, roast pots and parsnips followed by a pecan meringue thing with fresh cream and toffee sauce inside, desert was courtesy of Aldi and very nice. :-) Not too many chocs, nibbles and biccies left now which is good and the after eights were polished off while we played the Ticket to Ride Game. At last we seem to have got the hang of it now, but I find there's too much to think about.....it does my head in! :-S

OH trimmed his beard right back short yesterday and I have cut his hair the same so it's like having a new man!! lol It's all snowy or gray now yet it was jet black when I first knew him........I still like it though. :-) He's looking at new glasses as well tomorrow. I'm hoping the ones he picks are less severe looking as his present ones are a bit Joe 90ish.

I shall be a bit on edge the next 2 weeks as the Research people have asked me to be available in case the press want to speak to me about the study I volunteered for. They don't think it's likely but you just never know!

That was a rich pud Mandy......I bet it was lovely!! :-)

Evening all,

Phew i'am worn out, the little ones are so full of beans i don't know where they get their energy from ,the beef was so good ,son carved the meat and said it was the best meat he had carved .
We all just about cleared our plates and left room for some pud ,little ones had profiteroles and the adults Xmas pud as the pud had Cider, Amontillado Sherry, and Ruby Port in :-D

Gill i think cushions are the best thing to start on with the new sewing machine as it's all straight stitching and will get you use to the feel of the new machine .

Oh goodness Jane one minute they are splitting up and now they are engaged :-S bit sudden !! i expect you will hear all about it when your sister comes on sunday
I have got through several table cloths ,i had to use two long table cloths on the table xmas day as one didn't cover the table when it was extended ,they went in the wash and we used one for me and hubby during the week and then we used two again today ,with the little ones here you can be sure one of them will spill a drink !!
Poor Hannah getting all those Mozzie bites ,makes me itch just thinking about it , and that Deet !! cor it don't half pong you would think the Mozzies would be put off by it .

Oh no Mel what a shame losing more fish :-( is there any thing you could put over the ponds to stop more being taken ?

I meant to say this morning that we had a very sharp frost this morning every where was very white when we got up.

Evening All,

Had a very lazy day today. Jan cooked a nice Roast Pork Dinner for about 3.30 and a fruit crumble with custard. The Crumble has been repeating on me for the rest of the day.

Still raining here and turning colder. I see Northampton is 5 degrees tonight where as we are showing 11 degrees, So we have a shock coming when we come home SUNDAY.

We are of to Tenerife next Friday 1.35 pm flight. It's about 28/30 out there.

The girls are watching E>Enders on catch up. So that's why I am on here.

Sorry to hear about your fish Mel, Sounds like a Mr Nasty to me too. We had a MINK in our fishing lake, and it did so much damage.

Sorry to hear about your troubles in Ireland Will. Hope it coomes to a peaceful conclussion, for all concerned.

Ella has just gone to bed and is playing up. Conrad and Jo are up there with her, and it doesn't sound that good, with plenty of crying and tempers, from Ella. Jan has now gone up.. By the sound of things it's over a STORY that Conrad had read to her. Screams now carring all over the house, SPOILT OR WHAT !!!!! You know me,

See you in the morning, if I haven't run away ;-) ;-) ;-) <3 <3 <3 :-D :-D :-D :-( :-( :-(

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to wish you all A HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR for 2016 before it becomes unfashionable!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and that Santa was kind to you all. We have had a mixed time, Christmas Day spent at daughter Dorothy's with her husband David, plus little Grace and her Mummy, Sarah. We didn't stay too late, once Grace had gone to bed (sleep-over time) we left around 8.30pm for home and did our own thin. Hot drink, and TV, you might guess.
Wednesday was a family day at Dorothy's, which also included granddaughter Siobhan (just over a knee operation) ., her hubby Matt and children Ralph and Maggie. We haven't seen them for months as they now live out at Measham, but Maggie is turning into a little beauty, both in looks and in nature. Also that day, Carmel's sister Vera was over from Ireland with her 'chap' Brian and once again, Sarah and Grace were there - another plus was our grandson Craig in the mix. It was a lovely day except for the weather that had turned from gales to lashings of rain.
We just have to catch up with grandson Matthew and his new bride Emma, both who will become parents later in the year. (Another great-grandchild!!!) Hopefully we shall meet up on Sunday either at their house or with them here for a meal.
Hanging over all this has been problems over in Dublin with Carmel's brothers (Harry) wife who has Alzeimers. She been in hospital for ages, not an easy patient (won't go into details) and just before Christmas Harry managed to get her into a new built care home. She didn't settle well (understatement) and after only days in now back in hospital with no end of infections. Apparently she weighs about 6 stone and has such a lot of problems, we fear more for Harry who has a long history of severe medical problems. Having said all that, they are a couple who have been 'joined at the hip' over their long and happy marriage, so when Harry was told a few days ago that it was a matter of a very short time to the end, he was at a low ebb. All very worrying and a late phone call from him will leave Carmel without any sleep here.

Well, I'm sure that has cheered you all up no end, but I feel I can offload to you all in understanding, whereas we have few people who we can talk to otherwise.

Please, don't let me put you all over enjoying the rest of the festive season, we will all be 'back to normal' soon, whatever that it. Myself, I can't tell one day from another, but maybe get the weekend over and things will slot back into place.

Once gain, our very best wishes for 2 0 1 6, may it be a good one for us all. I was going to send out some photos from my garden but my email was playing up. Will try harder, as they say. With this crazy weather, nothing seems right!
T T F N

Evening all

Oh no Mel, your poor fish, lets hope you don't lose anymore :-(
Thanks for the emails, they are great, can't wait to make some with Sandra. Where did you find them? I've not seen anything like it before, good idea to use up what we'd class as rubbish. e.g toilet rolls and egg cartons.

Well I guess the first thing I'll be using my sewing machine for is cushion covers. Mum rang me earlier and asked if I could make her some. I am going to alter lots of clothes I've had hanging around after I've done mum's cushions ;-) ;-)
I've been watching some programmes with Sandra today, the Hedgehog and panda ones, weren't the panda's cute?? Sandra loved it, then she had us watching Take That, the pop group from the 90's, that I recorded for her just before Christmas, so as yet I've not had a chance to use my sewing machine as I thought it might be to noisy for Sandra to hear her programmes.

Going to get something to eat now, then catch up properly with the posts later <3

Ha !!!! David

I had a Renault Scenic.The third one .But this one was a rogue car.It kept over heating.After several times of taking it back to the Renault garage and having all number of experts looking at it,I was given a full refund....A month later I had a phone call from someone who said his friend had bought my Renault Scenic at Auction.But was curious as to why I had got rid after less than 12 months.I explained the over heating problem and that nothing could be done and his friend had bought a right DUD.
If only I had had the call before his friend bought the car.I would have said not to touch it with a barge pole :-S :-S

I know Mel but I can see trouble ahead :-S :-S.Hopefully not but I won't hold my breath.

Oh No !!!! your poor fish.Sounds like it could be a Mink.I am sorry it seems like you have had a massacre in your pond :-( :-(

I think the rain might just be here :-S

Thank god I do wake up Jane, no where to go at 2am or 4am lol

Here's some info for you all. You know when you send something back to a retailer or wholesaler, for whatever reason?
They don't bother the manufacturer who has bigger fish to fry. They send it to an auctioneer who disposes of it to the highest bidder.

If you browse John Pye Warehouse Actions you will find scores of Dysons , computers, washers, phones, you name it. Even repossessed cars.

Have a shufti :-D

William's dad wants to make his mind up Jane for the sake of William.

Well something has had some of my gold fish. There are scales leadin g away from the pond and half a shubunkin on the grass in the orchard., a dead fish on the plants at the side of my pond and another in the other corner. Oh thinks it could be an otter or a mink. The pond looks very disturbed too as there is weed everywhere.

Not a good start to the new year for my poor fish :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

Afternoon, and a Very Happy New Year to one and all.

Well we woke to a very frosty start to the New Year.That has gone now and it is just a grey day with the rain on the way .Working its way up from Mel and Liz.
Hannah and James and Jess al had a great evening last night.Hannah on the beach and James and Jess in the Champs Elysee.Hannah says she is covered in mozzie bites already :-S,even though she has plenty of Deet and a Mosquito net at night.

I decided to pop out earlier and went to Next.There was only me and one other customer.Everywhere was dead !!!.Lots of people out walking though.

Was Cas itching to get out then Liz with the fireworks?I only heard a few which is most unusual.

Frank I am glad your meal out was a huge success.I love a good Rib Eye Steak.JJ was a happy boy then with his nice juicy fatty bits :-D

Mandy I haven't attempted the sky yet on our puzzle :-S.Still struggling with the rest of it LOL.I would love a Roast Beef Dinner right now.But it is going to be Ham and eggs again for us tonight.I have this 3 Bird Roast for Sunday when Janice and Larry come.
I must take the table cloth off (it has been on the table since Xmas Eve !!!!! and is looking a bit mucky now to say the least.I think I might leave the table extended though as I might see if I can find last years racing reindeer .That would be a bit of a laugh :-D
I got rid of this years ones as they were rubbish .

We have decided on one holiday.Mid May to Avignon for 4 nights and then 3 nights n Paris. Then later in the year it is looking likely Dubrovnik .Not definite though at the moment.

Frank when are you off to Tenerife ? Is it later next week?

Liz you are so right about care of other animals in China...One of the things I absolutley hate is all the little caged birds in terrible conditions.Not to mention anything else.
I want a Panda :-D :-D.Are they just not the most amazing creatures.The way the Mum s cared for the babies was a bit like some of the big Apes.So gentle and loving.It was a brilliant programme.
Thomas is in and out like a YoYo today.He must have the fidgets .

Ahh David you will be remembering your Mum today <3..You do wake awfully early in the mornings don't you.Are you ever able to back off to sleep ,or do you have to get up?

My Sisters eldest(Williams Dad) got engaged yesterday........Not sure what my Sister thinks about that to be honest as they were only breaking up a few weeks ago !!!!.
Watch this space lol

Miserable morning here too Mel, grey and cold! We watched the Pandas and really loved it. It's a pity the Chinese aren't as caring of other animals, but I suppose it's a start .
Nothing interesting happening here today, so this afternoon we shall probably watch one of the DVDs we were given at Christmas.
We saw lots of fireworks last night, they fairly lit up the sky over Bristol and Marlborough. Cas wasn't too amused! I think she thought the shoot was beckoning!!
The old wind is getting up, and it looks like rain!!

Morning all and Happy New Year,

Bit cloudy this morning but we have seen some sun ,got the family coming later today for roast beef ,we will eat about five as the children are hungry by then.

I heard a few fireworks last night but i didn't look out as was really tired and that might have woken me up and then i would have been wide awake.

All the veg are done so we having a go on the jigsaw ,i'am on the sky and its slow going .

How is the new sewing machine Gill? have you tried it out yet ?

Oh hubby's just made a coffee so i'd better go drink it .BBL

Good morning all, Evening Kim

"A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL"

We all walked to the restaurant last night, as it was dry. The meal was excellent and so much of it. We all ordered RIB EYE STEAKS. which came with your own bucket of fries, tomato, mushrooms, various sauces amd colsaw. Even Ella cleared her steak and trimmings. We managed to bring some fatty rdges home for JJ. Who thought Christmas had come again.

That Panda programme was wonderfull, I couldn't believe how small the babbies were when born.

Raining here this morning. and looks set to stay. So it will be T.V. and my computer.

See you all later

Good morning all, Evening Kim

"A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL"

We all walked to the restaurant last night, as it was dry. The meal was excellent and so much of it. We all ordered RIB EYE STEAKS. which came with your own bucket of fries, tomato, mushrooms, various sauces amd colsaw. Even Ella cleared her steak and trimmings. We managed to bring some fatty rdges home for JJ. Who thought Christmas had come again.

That Panda programme was wonderfull, I couldn't believe how small the babbies were when born.

Raining here this morning. and looks set to stay. So it will be T.V. and my computer.

See you all later

Morning all and evening Kim,

Pinch and a punch all all that mumbo jumbo. Not a very good start to the new year weather wise as its dull and miserable so no change there then. Sky is battleship grey without a break in it.

We had a load of fireworks going off around here last night but unlike usual I could'nt see one. I usually see them over the big house which is sort of next door but I did hear a couple of bangs from there but nothing going into the sky. Then I could hear some bangs over the college way and the village but no rockets flying up into the sky so a bit disappointing really.

I really hope we have a better year weatherwise this year to what we had last year as it has been so terrible for many families last year with all the flooding and various disasters like earthquakes and terrorists attacks to quote but a few.