General Chat

I can see it on Anglia News now...thousands of Genes Reunited people take over Norfolk!! It is a nice place to live, we're about 15 minutes from Wroxham.
Pam. ☺

Hiya Ros,

It's too cold to sit up here we have been having highs of 15 and lows of 4 but during the day it's warmer outside then inside.

Most evenings I am downstairs in front of the fire as this year we have decide not to use the electric heaters to save on our electricity bill.

Hope you are keeping well.

Lindy xx

Morning Pam, 16deg outside, 17 in so not exactly hot. It will be a couple of degrees warmer in Funchal, was quite warm when we went in yesterday. It's not sunny though, and the forecast is for cloud, but no rain. Will gear myself up for more weeding. Having spent 5 weeks in the UK one or two plants have taken on triffid like proportions!!

Rosalind

Hi Lindy, same here it is warmer outside than in. We don't go that cold in winter, higher up does, but 10 is probably the lowest and it doesn't last long.
As we were away for so long OH didn't get the wood in early enough so it is probably a bit wet, still burns though. Will make sure we get some more for next year and that will dry out a bit more.

Electric bill averages 54euros, will go up now as no sun means no hot water so electric immersion.

Rosalind

Hi Rosalind, do you live permantly in Madeira then? That's the one thing that people always say about the island isn't ...the flowers. They were really beautiful I have to say. They tend to grow quick and rather big then!!
Pam.

Hi Pam, yes we are permanent here. Moved out 3 years ago and wouldn't go back, although you can never say never at the moment this is home.
Things to tend to grow rather big and quickly, what is a conservatory plant in the UK can be a weed here!!
The plants was the reason for moving as my OH is a horticulturist and worked in Ghana for 5 years, he wanted to grow hibiscus like he had there, but didn't want the heat and humidity so we decided on Madeira.
Sometimes the bureaucracy is a nightmare and you feel like you are banging your head against a brick wall, and other times they are really helpful and friendly.
Rosalind

Think we've all at one point thought of moving abroad, especially after all these 'Start a new Life Abroad' programmes on the telly! Sounds like you're both settled, and especially good 'cos of your OH being a horticult...(good with plants!) Enjoy your gardening Ros, and hope to speak again soon.

I must say I do remember as we were about to land at Funchal, the pilot sayig 'For all those first time visitors to the island please don't be alarmed as we land, as we will pass rather close to some properties!' There were a few alarmed loooking faces I can tell you!...But it was fine.

Pam.☺

Rosalind, I love hibiscus, had two beautiful indoor ones, well they went outside in summer, one summer I was away for a few days and idiot o.h. forgot to water them. I came back to find them shrivelled to nothing and couldn't revive them. I love all the different colours of them when I have been abroad and would certainly get more indoor ones when I get back to my own house.

Lizx

Have a lovely Christmas Rosalind and all the others who've posted on here. ☼

PS I've got rid of my hearts...♥

Christmas greetings from me too, to those on here who I don't have addresses for.
Still writing out cards, always end up doing them at the last mo!

Lizx

Happy Christmas to you all.
Much warmer the last few days and haven't needed any heating.
In Funchal most of this weeks as OH is in the Nativity!! and also we have a Carol Service on Saturday evening for which I have made some of the mince pies.
Feliz Natal.

Rosalind

Hi Rosalind

Hope that you had a good Christmas and Happy New Year. We've had some really cold weather these past few months here in the UK.

hope you're keeping warm.

Kind regards

Pam.

I've dropped the ♥'s