General Chat

Mum and dad always took me , as a child to a Christmas play somewhere, where the children would play the parts of the nativity. That was always magical to me and a treat to be out t night , in the dark........... My parents were not church goers and I never went to Sunday School either. My son did though and he was in the Christmas play at Sunday School. He played Joseph.

I went to Sunday School too Mel, I can remember getting a stamp every week, and sticking it in a red book - not sure what happened to it when it was full!! My Granny was the real churchgoer in our family and would never have missed a Sunday Service, after she was widowed aged 56, she spent a lot of time with us, so on Sunday's she and I went to church, while my mother cooked lunch! Having said that my mother went to Holy Communion at least once a month, usually with me, and, when they were older, M & L, right up until she died. I'm afraid I have lapsed badly since then, but still like to go at Xmas and Easter. L takes the children now and again which is good.
I'm with you Mel and Frank over the X.Factor! we've only watched it once with P, and it isn't for either of us!!! mind you we don't like any reality/soap TV shows, luckily we both feel the same and like the same things, so rarely clash on that front.
Today we have the hospital in Bath for a 6 monthly check up - shall be glad to get it done and dusted! Like you Mel, a lovely day here, washing all done over the w/end, dried and put away!

Must get down the post van this morning and post some cards.

Never got my tinsel up to put the cards on or had my lights on last night.

Now here is a question for you!!

Why are dusters nearly always yellow??

I had some pretty flowery ones once and some in pink blue and soft green. These were my favorites.

Morning/Evening All
What a beautiful morning.I have done a bit of handwashing and it is on the line.Trouble is I can't squeeze the water out very well so it won't dry easily.

I have started doing about 4 different things.Washing floors,cleaning out the fire,the washing,and sorting some things upstairs.But why can't I just do one at a time and get it finished :-S.So now I am having a coffee while floors dry.Next it will be re arranging the furniture in here to make room for the tree.I will take the opportunity of doing a good hoover in the places I won't be able to get to until after Xmas.

Church at Mid-night on Xmas Eve .Yes I can't remember how old I would have been when I first went with Mum and Dad.It was a fair walk down to the Church.It was at the top of a steep hill on the cliff.So no street lights.Several families in our road would all meet up and set off together with torches.There is something special about that service isn't there.
I haven't been to that one though for many years.

Right ,I wonder if the floors are dry now.
Mel I have often wondered why dusters are yellow.I have some turquoise ones too.I don't think I have seen flowery ones.

I think the sun might be going :-S :-S

MORNING ALL,

Lazy old whatsit this morning. Didn't get up till 9.45 am

Last week Ros bought a "BLANKET"" for the bed. We only ever have a throw type cover.(BED SPREAD) She bought it because I complained that my feet started to get cold in the night. Now the bed is so warm, I don't want to leave it ;-) ;-) ;-)

I have had a look on GOOGLE and can't find why dusters are yellow. Someone must know ???

I was never a church goer, and still not. I can say a prayer sitting in the chair or lying in bed. which I often do. !!!

Thanks for photo Will. You look set up for the Holiday season.

Ann, I love your way with words, and the way you describe things, I suppose that's where a good education comes in handy. I find I explain myself very basicly, but I know you all understand me.!!!!

Ros was sitting on nthe sofa this morning, and couldn't understand wht the TREE looked odd. One of the branches had come out of the stem, and was flopped over. She has now put it back and redressed the area with the baubles and she's happy now.

I have thought of trying to contact "MY" children before Christmas, but i'm sure it will end in heartache, so I might as well not bother. It hasn't worked in previous years, so why should it work now.

Very bright, sunny morning bhere, frost still on nthe paths, and parts of the lawn.

See you later.

I would if I were you Frank, then it can never be said that you were the one to completely shut that door; If they choose to, well, it's very sad, but not your fault.
Back from the hospital, and all is well, which is a relief. No more appointments needed, just a 6 monthly blood test at the surgery, so that's good. Still very bright here but cold! I'm not completely convinced about the Almighty, but at my time of life I feel it is better to keep all options open!!!! Did anyone watch the programme about Westminster Abbey on Friday? I visited it way back in the mists' of time, but had forgotten how fabulous it is.

Afternoon All, :-D

You must both be so glad for the good news from the hospital Liz, now you can focus on Christmas with that out of the way. I have recorded that programme about Westminster Abbey......thought it looked good.

I never went to Sunday School either Mel, and my parents never went to church. The first time I ever went to church was to Leicester Cathedral at about age 12 to our school Founder's day service. I remember being very nervous, not sure what to do and in awe of the grandness!! I did try a few night time prayers as a little girl.....mostly to ask for new parents or a pet cat, dog or pony......they weren't 'heard'.

I'm glad you like my writings, Frank.....really I just tell it how it is, the same as you do! lol. No fancy education for me, thanks to dad, but I did go to grammar school as he couldn't stop that. You have reminded me of my first week as a Civil Servant and how my fingers and thumb were so sore from all the writing!!!! No computers for many years. I had a bad back too from lugging all the dusty papers in and out of cupboards and drawers. Some were stored on other floors and you would be up and down all day searching for stuff. I thought it would be a sitting down job too!! ;-)

Shirl, that is a nice pic of your daughter, she has good looks like her mum! ;-)

William you are another that seems to be all ready for Christmas with your decs. They look very nice and the pretty cloth on your mantlepiece reminds me of one I made a few years ago. No mantlepiece now with a 'hole in the wall' fire, so I gave it to my sister. :-)

Jane, I can just picture you in your marigolds with suds up to your elbows!! lol. Hope the socks weren't too whiffy. :-S

Good question about dusters Mel.........I have no idea why.

Oh Ann, your childhood sounds so sad, I can't imagine what it must have been like to be asking God for new parents!! Mind you,' I''s parents, although they were 'grand'(!!) were completely uncaring of their children (and each other) particularly 'I' who was the eldest of three. Boarding school for him at 7 years old 2 months old, love and affection were in VERY short supply as the parents were abroad (with the two other siblings) and holidays spent with Granny. Then the divorce (why weren't we surprised!) and their father marrying again, and virtually deserting his children. Mother, frankly a complete b... - not my favorite person at all. ' I' always thought that his parents simply didn't like or want him and completely gravitated to my parents who had enough love for both of us and more besides. Not to have had loving parents would have been quite awful, and has always made me realise how very lucky I was with both of mine.
Yes it's a great relief that' I' will clearly live to fight another day! I've put my lights up to celebrate!!

Evening everyone,

Well i'am glad some of you have had some sun, we've had a dreary old cold day with a couple of heavy showers and a while ago we had some hail!!

William , thanks for the photo's ,nice to see your decs ,how's Carmel today ? any better ?

Here you go on the /duster front ....
Dusters are always yellow because when they originated, they were initially used to reminding people of spring-cleaning. Since the colour yellow denotes spring, its use has been kept to date. The yellow fabric used was also cheaper and thus preferred.

Doesn't the colour come out of the dusters when you wash them !! even after several washes .

I sat and wrote my cards this afternoon , oh it makes my thumb ache gripping the pen, and i use one of the thicker pens for a better grip .

I'am afraid the Sparkle Ball is still in the bin ,i couldn't get it out as things had been dumped on top of it .

I didn't go to Sunday school either , my grandmother was very religious ,i still have her little bible in the drawer ,and a big Family Bible that she gave to her parents as a present ,sadly no family names in it though ....i did look.
I usually go to Midnight mass with my sister ,but we haven't been the last two years as she has worked ....it's not like i have far to go !!! as i back onto the church !!!

I like reading Ann's posts , she has a way with words and can put things down well , were as i get all muddled up :-S :-D

Did anyone watch Inside Claridge's last week? second one on tonight ,cor how the other half live !!
£6,500-00 a nigh tin one suite ,mind you you get your own butler for that !!

Hey where's our smiley face with the Christmas hat got to this year :-D :-D

Liz good news from the hospital then for Ian. That will make your Christmas complete now in your l;ovely new home too. No caravan this year thank goodness.

Shirl thanks for the pic of Daughter. Is that your monsters mum? Have you just the one dau and two boys?

Done the weekly shop ad it is all put away except a couple of bits of tin stuff, soups mostly as I like to have a good BIG pot of soup for the week. I add to it each day.I buy packet soup and the big soup tins and mix them together and add some of that chicken stock granules and some tinned mixed veg and it goes a long way then.

Had trouble with my car starting again this morning and it was'nt the battery as we suspected. We think it is the alarm system playing up as when I try to turn the key I get a high pitched noise of an alarm. Anyway we locked the car up and unlocked it and then it was ok!!

Mandy thats just what I was thinking about the chap with the father Chrsitmas hat. I think we had it in December last year but now they have done all the work on the site perhaps we ar'nt going to get him this year??? :-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-S :-S :-S :-P :-P :-P

I looked back on the thread to last year thought i might be able to copy and paste from last year ,but the hat has gone from the old posts ,so carn't do that either :-S :-S :-(

Thanks Mel. Your car sounds as if it has the same problem as my old Kia had years ago when I was at work, going from client to client on a tight time schedule! I'd come out from doing whatever, to find the b...thing wouldn't start! the demobiliser took it's demobilising duties a bit too seriously! it made me late again and again, and when I got to the point of tearing my hair it was sent on it's way and a very reliable 'Justy' replaced it - I really loved that car, and it did me a good turn for the rest of my time at work.
'I' has just gone the road to pick up some mistletoe!! supper is ready, and have told him that if he hangs around chatting it'll be ruined, at least his will be, as I shall get on!!

YES MEL THAT'S THE MONSTERS MUM AND I HAVE THE THREE SON'S

Mel!! You mean to say you don't make your own soup?? ;-)Phil Vickery did a nice Slow Roast Veg soup on tv this morning.

Great news Liz.That is a great Xmas pressie.Now you are all sparkling too :-D :-D

I have been feeling off this afternoon.Few visits upstairs to the you know what :-S and I have been Burping like nothing on earth :-S :-S :-S.Good job no-one could hear it.
It seems to be settling now so I will just have a bit of left over roast beef and some mash and gravy.

Furniture in place now for the tree.Cor ! isn't furniture heavy to lump about :-S.My thumbs are hurting now lol.
Mandy I know what you mean about thumbs and writing.

Man coming tomorrow to hopefully give us the all dry thumbs up.Then no more dehumidifiers and fans.I shall certainly be glad to see the back of them.They have almost become part of the house.I never want to see them again!!!

Please can someone send me the pic of Shirls daughter?

William thanks for your pic of Christmas Decs.A lovely display :-D

Ann i bought the 'real' Marigol** .The last gloves I bought were rubbish and left half of the inside coating on my hands.The smell of Dref* in the bowl took me right back to the old days....But saying that I think Mum actually used Lu*

I meant to say the other day that I saw a family of Dad ,3 children and a baby in a buggy.ALL were dressed in Santa outfits lolol,including hats.It was lovely to see :-D

Hi folks,

Thanks for all the well wishes for Carmel and for the chlorestrol advice for myself. Friday night, my loose crown finally came off just as I was going to bed. It was swinging back and forth like a trap door but the dentist said he wouldn't force as it might be difficult to reset it. So I went along this morning and he fixed firmly back in place - so I'll be able to manage my Christmas pud after all.

Carmel has been just a shade better today but still looks as white as a sheet. She was determined to get out for a little while today so we just went to our little town 5 minutes (if that!) away for about an hour. Picked up 2 more Christmas pressies and I finally got a card for her. I don't know why, but this is the second year I've had trouble getting a decent card for wife? We are also trying to get a ''daughter & husband/son in law' card, but they are even more elusive. You can get all sorts of daft things - grandson and partner, neighbour and partner and all sorts of whacky things. I'll be getting back to making and printing my own cards next.

Oh yes, thanks for all the nice comments about my sky photo. It was well received here and on Facebook. I'm glad I saw it and snapped it when I did, it was gone in no time. Also pleased to know so many others appreciate the sky above. The thing is, landscapes stay much about the same, the sky doesn't - and it's the sky that makes the landscape change. Without going back through the threads, I think two of you said if you tried to paint them, no one would believe it. That is so right. As an artist myself I know that it can be hard to emulate the sky/clouds. Nature can mix colours that pigments couldn't, you'd end up with a totally different colour. Mother nature does it best.

Ann, I'll let you into a secret. When we moved in here 27 or so years ago, that wall had just an ugly metal electric fire on it. We brought that fireplace with us, it just sits flush against the wall. If we need to decorate, I just undo 2 screws, move the fireplace, decorate, put it back, then use the same decor in the fireplace background. It looks like theres just a wall behind it. As the Meerkat's say - simples. . .

Thanks Mandy......some of your retorts to Frank have me in stitches..........shame about the sparkle ball......now we won't get a pic and I was so looking forward to it!! :-D ;-) The Claridge's programme is another I've recorded, but I'd forgot it was on again tonight so thanks for mentioning it.

What did we have the year before last.......was it the same Santa? I can't remember.

Don't talk to me about SOUP today, Mel. :-| :-| After OH went to tonight's match, I decided for quickness that I would just have a tin of Pea and Ham soup. I opened the tin and went to tip it into a glass jug to heat up in the microwave. Well, it was in a solid lump in the tin and started to slide nicely as I tilted it. The next moment it shot out of the tin at speed, luckily hitting the bottom of the jug, but the force caused mini splats to shoot up in the air! They went all over my top, in my hair, on the floor, cupboard doors and draining board. When I touched my hair it felt just like it did when I got those splats in my hair from that cow!!! It was about the same shade of green too!!! lol. So much for quickness.....what a mess! Luckily OH is bunged up with cold so he won't smell anything 'funny' in my hair later.

Hope your 'visits' have seen it on it's way, Jane and that you feel better soon! I know what you mean about the cheap gloves and the powdery bits. I always forget about gloves until my hands are wet! :-S Will send you Shirl's pic.

Glad you got your tooth fixed William.....no windfall from the Tooth Fairy this time! ;-) Such a good idea with the fireplace.....nothing worse than trimming wallpaper round one.

Ann,your mentioning all the paper work prior to computers reminds me.
In the mid seventies a large plumbers & builders merchants name of Graham Moat went afire at the Wallsend branch near the Tyne,
They had a large office block removed from the ware houses.Up in the roof space they had tons of old documents going back years.
An electrical fault up there cause a fire that burned the building down.

Ann, no Tooth Fairy indeed. I learn from the little girl next door that the going rate from the Tooth Fairy is £2 per tooth! Gosh, is there no end to this inflation :-D

Please excuse the laughter, I was just visualising you with the soup incident! We had soup but it was lovely Campbells soup out of a carton and it didn't fight back ;-) ;-)