General Chat

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

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

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

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

PS I've got rid of my hearts...♥

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

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.☺

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

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 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

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

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

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. ☺

If you ever sort out a Norfolk meet, let us know, we'll combine it with another trip to the Suffolk Records Office to research Steve's Laflins in Stowmarket!

We've been on loads of Broads holidays, love Stokesby, Loddon, and Wroxham :-)

-S-

Morning all, hope everyones keeping ok. what's the weather like in Madeira Rosalind? Got to be brighter than here!

Liz it is an expensive place to shop, my daughters' worked there since it opened. I've been there about twice and then I couldn't find my car in the carpark!! Tend to stick to shopping in the smaller towns closer to home as I get older...my world is quite small now really! That's why I like Matalan...you park outside and can't get lost. lol !

Last shift today for this week, then i'm done until Tuesday.

Take care, hope the gardenings going well Rosalind.
Pam.

Hi Bev, there are some nice villages around that way, personally I would love to live at Heacham or Hunstanton, might still manage it in a few years.
Saw on the news about Norfolk Lavender laying off staff, what a shame.
And yes, I have done the roundabout, several times, I hate it but like going into Lynn as well as up the other way to the bird sanctuary etc.

Guess you will be busy on Saturday but if you think you might have time later on Sat pm, ask me for me mobile number as I may well be in the city too.

Lizx

Pam, I haven't been to Matalan in Yarmouth for ages, last one I visited was in Wales when on hols there. And I can't afford House of Fraser either, only walk through it if I use the carpark lol

I feel a trip to Matalan in Yarmouth coming on before Christmas...I park outside and don't have to walk too far! My daughter works in Norwich, House of Frazer, bit to expensive for me!

Both my two children are grown up now, son is 28 and daughter 22...I loved those days when they were younger ( cos I was too! ) I'm still close to them and they've turned out ok. So I'm very lucky...enjoy the days when they're young- they grow up so quick!

Keep warm girls!

Pam.

Hi

Purple Sparkly Diamond,

I am about 20 minutes from Heacham, traffic jams permitting!
If you have been to Heacham you must have been on the chaotic Hardwick Roundabout at Kings lynn!

There doing roadworks again there for 17 weeks! takes me an hour to get into town for a 5 minute journey!

I live 3 miles from there just of the A47 which goes to Norwich, in a really nice village.

Let me know about the meet up.

Bev x

Hi all

Miserable is an understatement, walked my daughter to school this morning and it was absolutely freezing with the wind blowing the rain everywhere.
Not so bad going but a icy headwind on the way back, not looking forward to going back out in it later.

Have always found for some reason the weather takes a turn for a worse at 3.15pm when the kids get out of school!

Probably off to Norwich Saturday to do some more shopping, got to go in Primark, dreading the Queues!

hope the weather is better?

Bev x

Morning all,

what a miserable day here in North Norfolk. Work later. Hope everyones well.

Keep safe...and warm,
Pam.

Rosalind, that's one place I always fancied visiting, Madeira! It certainly sounds warmer than here and this house has no central heating, have an oilfilled rad next to me as I type but my feet are like ice.

Bev, I holiday in Heacham sometimes, I love the area. Sounds as tho you might be that way too. Next time I come up there will get a local meet arranged and will try and do a Norwich one in the Spring when the days are warmer and longer.

Lizx