General Chat

Kirsties handmade Christmas tonight at 8pm on channel 4.

So its just as well you asked Mandy or you would have been waiting for them to contact you. The trouble is when you ring and speak to someone they are usually in another country and have no idea where you have to travel to. They told me it was 15.8 miles to Barnstaple but they give the miles by the way the crow flies and don't take into account all the twisty winding raods some of us have to travel first. Its way over 15 miles to Barnstaple from here.

Been down the post van and posted the cards to the overseas people and bought some stamps.

Popped in the shop and picked up my scripts and then went down the church with the advent ring and remembered my camera so I will send out the couple of pics I took in a mo.

I expect Anng has had her hair done by now.

Morning all,

Oh Mel your poor knee it does look nasty ,moss can be very slippery I hope it soon heals and that your hip is ok .

Well we are both jabbed now it was nice and easy no queues and plenty of parking ,the only thing was when she looked at my card I was one day early but she went and asked her supervisor and she said I could have it done so that saved me going again tomorrow ,we told the lady about the appointment I had booked for Colin and she looked and it wasn't there so good job we didn't rely on that.

Coffee time now .

Morning All,

Quite chilly this morning, but no rain, even though everywhere is damp, so that is good

Oh that was a nasty fall Mel and I bet you will have some bruising around it soon as well. Put some antiseptic cream on if you haven't done already. I know what you mean about getting up if you fall. I find it easiest to roll on my tummy first. I think you have just been unlucky to have slipped this time. Do you have to drive to the church with the ring? Maybe someone could help with doing it?

We went to the factory shop first thing in my car and the blasted tyre pressure warning light was back on again. The garage only had it in 6 weeks ago and them pumping the tyres up seemed to fix it for a while. I am wondering now if it is a leaky valve or a slow punture, but will have to check them first and see if the pressure has actually gone down in any. The annoying gthing is that the warning light doesn't show which tyre it is. We saw 2 people going in the shop without masks as we were leaving. My hairdresser has emailed me to say we must all wear masks now, but everyone one has all through the pandemic whenever I've gone. Maybe some had stopped wearing them in his city salons when it wasn't mandatory.

Enjoy a bit of pampering at the hairdresser AnnG.

I have a zoom with a few freinds now, the first for a few months.

Ouch Mel... Your leg looks really sore. You certainly gave it a real bash.

Good to read though that you had a good night's sleep, which will help you through today.
I hope it doesn't stop you getting done what you need to do and that it will soon heal.

My sleep is very erratic at the moment, it usually is at this time of year, when dates start getting marked off with different events happening. Last night I woke up and randomly remembered that I need to buy a Golden Wedding card, which is needed for the New Year, so will need to be posted before Christmas..... Why did that come to me at 'silly o'clock' in the morning? Anyway, I've marked the Christmas card list with an asterisk so far and a note to buy a card, so I'll get that sorted at the weekend, as I don't want to be remembering that each night from now!

Thank you for the hint about apple in with mincemeat. That sounds a great idea, as the pies can be very sweet. In more recent years, I quite like plain Greek yoghurt or a small topping of Creme Fraiche with them, which again cuts into the sweetness a bit.

Hair day then for 2 of you.
Mine probably won't need cutting until into the New Year. It doesn't grow very quickly.
I will wash it and sort it myself in the meantime.

Off to sort out writing another batch of cards later.
Some need a little letter, so that takes a bit longer, but it's good to keep up with friends who now live far away.

Morning Anng and all,

Dull, misty and damp here this morning and they pc says 10 degrees. I slept well and did'nt get up in the night for the bathroom at all. It took me quite a long while to drop off but once I did I was in a deep sleep.

I need to wash my hair today and try and get the ring up th e church so we will see what I actually get done.

You'll feel nice after your hair appointment Anng and be all ready for Christmas.

Good morning all, grey here and looking a bit damp but 7 degrees so not too cold.

Hair appointment at 12 o'clock otherwise nothing on today.

You certainly hit your knee hard, I didn't realise it was on tarmac, I hope you got all the grit out. Hope it soon heals.
Pleased that you liked the card, I thought you would appreciate the owl.

With all the upset of slipping over onto the tarmac road I forgot to say what a wonderful card you made for us Anng. Its so Christmassy and the owl is beautiful. Its something that will go up every year. He's sitting on my pc box watching over me.

I have taken a pic of my kneeand I seemed to have rolled the skin off as there was a long bit on the end of the graze. I think I must be getting like our Frank with these two falls I have had now. Trouble is when I go down I can't get up easily because of my knees and hips. Needless to say I never got up the church with the advent ring as oh would'nt let me out of his sight after that. Goodness knows what its going to be like tomorrow.

Yes AnnG, I soon worked out how to stand it up. OH likes it and the way it stands up too and says it won't fall over like some do! He is used to standing out at football matches in all weathers so is used to the cold and the biting wind at times, but he forgets he walks about to some degree if he gets chilly at those, which he can't in the schools. I noticed tonight he had a flannelette shirt on and his big anorak over his jacket. He wears his hat and of course he has a beard and that helps too. I don't think he has many more school meetings before Christmas.

Yes I hope we hear more from Gill, once she has her home straighter and more of it done. We do miss hearing from her and about Sandra as you say. Frank doesn't even seem to post on FB now either. I hope he is ok too.

Gosh your OH needs to be careful he doesn’t get a chill, not good to get too cold for long periods. I hope his meeting is not too long.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we had a full thread again like it used to be. Remember when we used to live throgh Sandra’s e. Itement for Christmas and the lights et c, there was always such a lot of chat on here. Frank really seems to have withdrawn from us I hope he and Ros are OK.

Glad you liked the card Ann. Have you worked out how it stands as an easel?

Oh no Mel, I hope your cuts are not very deep. I told OH it was slippy on the patio today. Have you managed to clean the cuts up well? As the others say, do get them seen if they are very deep.

That's good you were able to enjoy your meal AnnG. Thank you very much for your pretty card I received this morning, you put a lot of work into them.

That's what I used to do when I made mince pies Vera, get them in the freezer quick before we ate them! Like Gwyn I can eat them any day of the year.

OH is at another meeting at a school. I asked if this one has any heating on and he said the heating goes off once the children have left unless there's risk of pipes freezing. The PC says 0 degrees here now so he will be chilly when he gets home.

Oh dear Mel, I hope that your cuts don't need stitches.
We have not had any snow here except for one short blizzard shower that didn't lay at all.

Well I am back and it was fine. As I left it to get there to the last minute, everyone was clear of the room where they had to wait so were standing around chatting. They were all sitting round the tables, anyone still moving around including staff had masks on, even those who got up from the table to buy wine at the counter. the large round tables were well spaced out and there were 7 on my table but I was only near the people either side of me. the meal was very good the mushroom wellington was mushrooms wrapped in spinach and then in Filo pastry so was not heavy. The I had roast and boiled potatoes, the roasts were nicely cooked, a carrot, swede and parsnip mash and sprouts. I normally like sprouts but these were so under cooked I could not even cut them to eat, I managed one but I left the rest and I noticed I was not the only one. the Christmas pudding was really nice, little individual ones and then we had mince pies and coffee. After we had finished eating we moved into the large hall and were entertained by a 17 strong Ukulele band They were local, they may even have been from U3a but I only recognised one person. They were all 'oldies' and were very good. I got home at 4pm and felt no less in danger than I would in a garden centre. In the big hall I actually sat more or less on my own. It was an entertaining afternoon. And I didn't win a raffle prize.

OH Mel, poor you. Make absolutely sure the cut's very clean won't you and if you think it might need a stitch or two ring your surgery or get to A & E. I hope it doesn't hurt too much and I hope you haven't hurt your hip again. Sending you a hug <3

I am sure you are right AnnG - friend's gift will be coming from China. I told my friend and we agreed that it was a good thing we got the order in early. As it's not wanted till the beginning of March there's a little leeway if it is delayed. I hope you enjoyed your lunch.

Gwyn, I always put a little unsweetened apple, usually Bramleys, in with my mincemeat as we both find it too sweet otherwise. I made 6 normal sized pies and 6 really deep ones which I cooked in muffin tins. We had a deep one each at lunchtime and I have left out a smaller one each for tomorrow lunchtime and the rest are in the freezer.

I've just received the annual bill for the garden waste bin and I'm pleased to see they have deducted a bit for the collections they missed at the beginning of the year.

I hope Frank is OK as it's a while since he popped in.

We're having a lamb casserole tonight. It's all prepared but I'd better go and get it in the oven.

Just slipped over turning round from my shed on the mossy mat and landed on the ground. Cut my right knee and leg badly.

I wonder if Island's had any??

O yes Happy Birthday Vera's son. Vera my son is 53 next May. Where have the years gone?


Camera battery has never failed me before but I suppose its about 3 years old now. Its sitting on my desk charging as I am going down the church with the ring and I want to get a picture.

Everyones had a little snow except me then. :-( :-( :-( We only had heavy hail showers the other week.

Afternoon everyone,... No snow here, in fact it's quite pleasant and we have bright sunshine.

Mel, thank you for the photos of your rings. They are lovely. What an excellant variety of different evergreens you found for them
The church one will look wonderful with it's candles lit.

I hope you enjoyed your lunch AnnG. Your choice sounded tasty.
Mandy's soup sounds good too.... and as for Vera's mince pies, well... I could eat mince pies any month of the year.!

Afternoon All,

I didn't realise we hadn't all had snow. We had a bit more overnight, but just a sprinkle this time. PC says 3 degrees here now.

I wouldn't go either Mel. Too much mixing and risk for me and some might be there and have covid but be asymptomatic. If some men haven't been careful about mask wearing, they may not be careful about other things like using sanitiser? Do be careful AnnG and leave after lunch if you are at all concerned.

I see 50-60 have suspected Omicron in Norway after attending a Christmas party. None are seriously ill as yet, early days, but I think as soon as alcohol is involved and people are 'in the moment' they drop their guard and forget to be careful. I think it would be sensible to make any events alcohol free for now. They say pubs etc make more on soft drinks so they wouldn't lose out. I see 10 areas have Omicron now.

Well the Pigeons have wolfed down today's offerings, but crumbs fall through the mesh and the little birds wait in the border to dash out and grab those.

OH was frozen after his 3 hour meeting last night, so no heating was on Mandy. He does think the cold speeded things up though! :-) I think he may be getting out his long johns for the next time! :-D

Mel, it's handy to have a spare battery for your camera. I keep one and always keep both charged and keep the spare in the camera case ready to swap. I hope you get the ring sorted at the church today. I bet it will look lovely.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Vera's son. It must be strange when your children reach those ages. I remember when I was around that age thinking that mum didn't realise I also got aches and pains as well! lol. :-D I hope the weather doesn't hold the workmen up doing the road.