General Chat

Frank, I think they were very cruel to try and make you write right handed. It wouldn't happen today. My granddaughter is left handed, and completed uni and is now a successful school teacher (not bullying any of her left-handers!). Compared with her brother, who is right handed, I'd prefer to read her writing and watch her write anyday. He has the most peculiar way of holding a pen and you need a magnifying glass to read what his written.
So, they may have tried to torture you at school, but here you are writing loads of messages for us all to read and enjoy. Bully for you, you won in the end.

Oh Frank! Would I do that ;-) ;-).It's just 2 doors away so I should be ok lol
My sister always says I have a good memory.But it is always for things in the past,not for things right now.That's not really a good sign at my age :-S :-S :-S
I'm just trying to decide whether to put some slap on.I think just a little mascara and eyeshadow.I wish Hannah was here as I can never see a dam* thing in the mirror without my specs,and she often comes to the rescue.
I used to do Mums eye makeup for her.Spitting in the mascara lol and rubbing that little brush in the pot.GROSS!.How things have changed.She always had wrinkly eyelids and it was never easy getting her shadow on.Then dabbing my little finger in the rouge pot and dotting 3 dots on her cheeks and trying to blend it nicely,on top of her foundation and powder.I have never used face makeup.(think I have said that before) .
I can't believe Colin and Norma have been married for 50 years.They seem so young.Fit as Fiddles the pair of them and always on the go.Puts me to shame really :-(.The party is from 6pm ,so I think we will go about 6.30.
If their dog is a pain with all the people we will bring her here to stay with Chester.I have told him his girlfriend may drop in lol

William,I was never forced to use my right hand at school.I think that practice had gone out of fashion by then.I think it was a terrible thing to do.
My son holds his pen really strangely.His teacher would try to get him to hold it 'properly',and his handwriting was atrocious .Needless to say ,he still holds pens the same way now.Why try and force something which is not the natural way for the child.I used to get quite cross with his teacher ,and in the end told her not to try and change the way he wrote.
My Dad could never bare to see me cut bread or use scissors lol I was Cack handed.It still bugs me that most things are still made for right handed people.
There ,that is my little gripe over ;-).Off to make myself glam :-D :-D

Sadie The Bra Lady's Consett branch has been robbed
300 brasseiers(sp) and 100 pairs o pants.

That woman still works 6 day a week and she's 74

What pets did you have as a child?

We had a lovely black and white cocker spaniel called Sally, a ginger and white tom cat called Tibby, 2 goldfish and a green budgie called Peter, bred by a neighbour.

Sally was a smashing dog and lived til she was 15. She used to guard my pram when I was a baby, so Mum said. Not at all aggresive until the gypsies called one day and she wouldn't let then down the garden path.

She loved to sit as close as possible to the coal fire and often her fur would get scorched!

Tibby often tried to cuddle up to Sally, and she would sit up in disgust!

Tibby was a theif....Mum often caught him drinking from the jug of milk on the kitchen table. He also liked to sleep in the coal house and in the airing cupboard...usually after he had visited the coal house :-(

I remember one very cold winter the 2 gold fish, Jack and Jill, ended up frozen solid in their fishtank. I was in tears thinking that they had died, but no, Dad thawed then out and they lived for many miore years. :-D

Peter the budgie loved to fly around our front room and loved to sip from a cup of tea. He adored my Mum and would sit on her shoulder and nibble the arm of her specs.

When I was about 9, I had an angora rabbit, called Dusty. He would thump his feet in his hutch if you went by and didn't speak to him.

He was daft as a brush and used to let me dress him up and take him for a walk to the village shop sat in my dolls pram :-)

Next door 's children used to come to the village shop too, Lorraine with a guinea pig in her dolls pram and Christopher would bring along one of their chickens.
What a sight we must have looked.
:-D

Thanks William, Even though my writing is not good, I tend to print things anyway, can't remember when I used "JOINED UP WRITING".

A story in this evenings local paper. A preganant woman (8 months) had a punchure in her sports car. She was trying to contact someone, when a White Van Man and his mate pulled up. CHANGED THE WHEEL, then pinched her car. Why oh Why are these thugs allowed to live in our society.! The woman is not in a good way.

X factor on TV not my cup of tea, all this shouting and screaming. to old for all that. :-D :-D :-D :-D.

Friend boughjt round a load of beetroot this evening, We have boiled three saucepan loads, and still got some left. Will take some to Harvey tomorrow, and give the neighbours some. I said to Ros we should have given them away RAW. saved our GAS BILL. lol lol

Jane, Ros still knits with needles. At the moment she is making childrens bobble hats to sell for the Scout fund. She knitted me a jumper a few years ago, and everybody wanted her to knit one for them "ON YOUR BIKE" she said. It took her months to do, and cost a bomb. I do recall, on a cold winters night sitting in front of the fire holding out my arms holding the wool, When your arms started to drop because they ached. Mum would say keep your arms up.

Another memory while I am at it. When times were hard. Dad would get all the coal dust from the bunker, and mix it with wet cement. That would go into flower pots to dry. Then used on the fire, they spat a bit. But beggers can't be choosers. Even as young as six/seven I would go out and drag fallen branches home, so the could be sawn/chopped up for logs. Can you see kids doing that today. Thank God they don't have to.

Well I am home ,all in one piece FRANK!!!!
Had a great evening .They are just trying to work where all the youngsters are sleeping tonight lol.I think the floor ,as they refuse to sleep in the tent as the air bed has a puncture. :-S
Teresa.I had a cat called Peter and two goldfish called Pinky and Perky.A bit later we had a white rabbit called Tufty.He was a devil and would burrow under the lawn ,causing it to cave in when we walked on the soft spots lol.My Dad would have loved to have a dog ,but Mum put the stop on that as she was scared of dogs :-(
It is now midnight so I'm off to bed.Chris has just gone and Chester has done his last wee and is tucked up in his bed.
Night Night xx

Oh Poor Sadie !!!!! David.I will keep an eye open for knocked off bras lol
On a serious note though ,that is a dreadful shame.

When I was very small and living on and off with Grandparents, they had a dog called 'Billy', a sort of rough haired terrier type!! and a ginger cat called 'Michael.' For some reason I called the cat 'Girlamb'?!!!! heaven only knows why, I can't see how you could get 'Girlamb' out of 'Michael'! but there you go! he lived till he was 19. Billy came from the 'Covered Market' in Oxford; my Grandpa saw him on his way to work, looking lost and folorn in the Pet Shop window aged ?, but VERY small! On the way home the same day, Billy was still there looking even sadder, so Grandpa went into the shop and bought him!!!! Not sure that my Granny was that pleased to be presented with a puppy, but she loved animals so it was that dogs lucky day, he lived to be 11 and was much loved and mourned! Later on, after Billy, they had another puppy, this time a Cocker Spaniel (Black) called Judy. After the Grandparents died she came to live with us and died when she was 13 and I was 17! We also had an assortment of cats, goldfish, and at one stage I had a tame pigeon which I picked up in the garden with a broken wing. After I went away to School, someone broke into her aivery and stole her, probably for breeding as she couldn't fly. I remember being SO upset, and my father offered a reward for her return, but she never re-appeared. So, even in those days there were some pretty horrid folk around! mind you these days I expect we would have found her with her neck wrung in the garden! I've always just hoped that she went to a good home. Doing a lot of sorting out today; just can't believe that in three weeks we shall be away, and that after all this time, we're just about there!

Morning been up a wile and it is very wet outside but not raining now. OH shot a big rabbit this morning on the front grass so thats one more bit the dust :-D

Sun is out at present but don't know how long it will last. OH off ringing for chrch in a minuet. Just asked me where all his money was? I had put it in the draw with his mints tidying away yesterday :-)

Pets I had were a white rabbit called Pepe, a big one! We had goldfish in the pond then in my early teens I had a guinea pig called Jenny which my nan took over and she lived in the front room of nans in a big wooden draw on a tray with a fire guard in front . Nan would buy her half a cue and sit with Jenny, who would be wrapped in an old towel, on her lap in front of the telly.

We went to the fair every year and would sometimes come back with goldfish which were put in the pond. Dad always won us a coconut and soemtimes a doll for me. The doll was made out of material with a pointed head type hat on, no hair and I think they were stuffed with wood wool.

Morning Jane
Not a bad day so far, dry and the sun keeps peeping through, OH cleaning his 2 fish tanks out and inbetween boiling fresh water he is taking my gray trousers up.

Teresa, I had a cocker spaniel called Ginny, a budgie called Joey, a white rabbit called Snowy, several gold fish I won at the fair, and hamsters.
The folks on here have seen pics of Ginny , we bought her in cornwall when I was six and we had some great times Ginny and I running along the beach on our morning walks. at bed time she would come and babysit. lie at the bottom of my bed on an old blanket and stay there till i was a sleep then leave the room and scratch on the living room door for someone to let her in.
I was a bit rotten to her at times would dress her up in a hat and stick her in my dolls pram and go for walks up and down the street,
she died on my 18th birthday. she was 12 years old.

Can't exactly remember how old I was when we had joey, he had a bright blue Chest though and yellow fethers, when he was allowed out of his cage he would fly around the room, but we were always scared in case he got out of an open door,he hated going back in the cage , used to sit on top of the curtain rail and would not come down,

Snowy was in a hutch in the back garden and I used to take him out and let him run around the lawn until one day one Auny Dorothy(no relation all the next door neighbours were called aunty) black & white cat Tinker,(was a flaming pest of a cat poked it's nose into everything.) had been sitting on the garage roof watching Snowy, and I turned my back for 2 mins and the D*mmed cat killed the rabbit.

I forgot I had a load of mice too which I kept in my old wendy house dad made out of fish boxes. At one time I had 57. All colours and I bred white mice with black eyes.

Liz it must be quite exciting now you know you are definately on the move and not long either :-D

Morning Liz ,Mel and everyone.
Slow start this morning.Chris has just gone out with Chester and it has just begun to rain.Not heavy .I hope it will pass over .
Mel Chris still hasn't managed to hit a rabbit !!.We just seem to have the one at the moment ,quite a youngster.
I now have the huge decision of whether to Cook for Lunch time ,or this evening.Mmmm,I think this evening sounds good,and lunch can be some nice Olive Bread and Cheese.That's that sorted.

When I finally get dressed I have some bags of clothes and shoes to go to Hospice Charity Bin.They are just cluttering up the place here.
BBL

I grew up with an Alsatian dog called Tony. I would sleep in his paws up the garden on the lawn at 3 months old. When I awoke Tony would bark to let mum know I was awake. We lent him to someone with a pub who had had three burglaries in as many weeks. One day when mum went to see him they had moved and taken Tony with them!

We also had cats. I remember Susie a tabby and many more kittens which died quite quickly and then we had Micky a black and white long haired cat which I would put clothes on.

Morning All.

I have been busy the last couple days...New blinds have been ordered for kitchen diner,,,then yesterday flooring for the bathroom...so next week I should have some proper flooring in the bathroom..I am back to school PT tuesday so they will have to work around me.

It was overcast this morning then then sun came out...so I decided to wash a dark load..Hey Ho it is rainging now :-(

I had a cat called Sylvia a tabby why it was called that I dont know and a little dog called Buster.

When my children were small we had guinea pigs ,,hampsters,, gerbils and a cats..When I was married first time round we had a pond with 2

north caroline ducks...When the children came along the pond was filled in and the ducks donated to a farm where children stayed to do projects.
The first cat was called Cindy a torteshell sp and then a black cat called Sooty..

I now have a pond again with about 18 fish well we did until frid. evening...Found 2 gold carp floating on the top...why 2 I dont know....Hubby has thinned some of the plant out and cleaned the pump and filter..then had to clean the filter again as the water went so cloudy..fish look ok now,,

Must go and put wet washing on airer..I dont haver a tumble dryer...

bye for now

Hello people,

I see we are on to pets. As I have no news and having a VERY quiet time at the moment, I would love to talk about our pets.

I can remember a silver tabby named Cuddles when I was a baby. Someone threw hot oil on her and that was that. Never found out who, we were living at Botany at the time with my godparents. We had two budgies Jerry and Peanuts a green boy and a yellow girl. Jerry lived until about 12. We had numerous cats mostly black and white. Smokalina was my favourite and such a funny girl. During the 70's my father had a budgie named Bluey. He was more white than blue, like a little snow owl. Well he could swear - terrible language and always asking my mother "Where's your sense of humour" and to my fiance he would always say "you stupid bas***d. Have no idea who taught him that ;) Dad would get him out at night and give him a drink of beer. He would then crash into his cage and fall off the perch. Quite a sight to behold. When my brother died, the priest came to the house to plan the funeral, but the bird had to go outside because he called the dear man so many ^$&^&()()_)#*+ names. He was the talk of our suburb and my dad loved him so much. Was heartbroken when he died at age 13. Then Wally came along, but he could only say a few things - swear words too!!

We had lots of mini foxies - Toppy 1, Toppy 2, Spot and Buffy. When I was little they had a blue heeler who used to bite my ankles when I was a toddler in the backyard. He was sent out to the country to my grandparents.

When I got married I had a cat named Cointreau and another called Boots, two budgies Ziggystardust and Hazey Fantasy. My first husband was a David Bowie fan. Candy came along in 1988 and she lived until 18 - a beautiful cameo tortoiseshell (sp). Loved all my pets, but there are some very cruel people out there. Two cats now and they live indoors for their safety and our peace of mind.

Lovely sunny day here. Keith & co. had a late lunch at a waterside restaurant at Budgewoi for Father's Day.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. Best wishes to all. 9.59 pm EST

Pat you reminded me, we also had a guinea pig named Stanley and a black rabbit called Thumper Blackie. He was always trying to bite me. We sent him off to the country too.

Today it is not raining even though the weather forcast said it would. I have washed and dried a load of washing and sorted clothes ready for hols. Managed to squeeze things from small kitchen freezer into large garage freezer so could clean small one and leave it switched off whilst we are away ( economising) I am typing this in the garden as it is so mild but very overcast now.

David Was saddened to hear of Sadies break in . I think I have allready told you all that she was a friend of my mums and a very hard working lady indeed.

Jane We are going to America on Thursday for 3 weeks but I do have some strong support tights to wear which I bought sometime ago as I do not expect to get the prescription ones until we get back.
On the subject of pets; I have always had animals around until the last few years. My dad bred boxer dogs and then changed to Alsations when I was older. Two that I remeber especially were Simba, who was white and therefor no good for breeding. He was a wonderful dog but he hated the hoover and I remember my mum teasing him one day with it so much that he pinned her up against the wall, she never did it again. I remember him coming with us to the caravan at Blyth and having a wonderful time on the beach and drinking water from the tap next to the prom.My parents also had another Alsation, Dale, much later in life who was a failed Police dog and he was a gentle giant and I remember going to visit hubbies parents on Boxing day one year and taking both our dog and Dale with us and they ate all the deserts in the kitchen whilst we were having dinner!!MIL still talks about that.
Our dog was an Elk hound who we got from a dog rescue centre and he was the boss from the moment he walked into our house. Hr was a wonderful companion and loved Benjamin when he arrived. he died aged 14 years old whilst hubby was away and I was the one who had to say to the vet to let him go. I have never forgotten that day and we still have a portrait of him in the sitting room. Now we have no pets other than the frogs in the garden as we feel it unfair to keep leaving them.Gosh but I have rambled for ages sorry :-)

Pouring with rain here, hope its's fine where Lewis has his football tournament. I have spent many a Sunday cheering on my lad and his team at these tournaments. It's quite a social event.

I'm not a great opera fan Anne but I do like Andrea Bocelli. I have a couple of his CD's and Il Divo too.

My mum was totally left handed it by-passed me and my brother but one of his girls and one of mine are left handed, it must be hereditary. I've noticed a lot of artistic people are left handed, and actors, well I guess acting is an art. My dad said mum had two left feet as well, she wasn't much of a dancer ....

Knitting seemed to come back into fashion a while ago, one of my girls knitted a beautiful blanket, with the help of mum, showing her how but she soon picked it up, just got stuck trying to read the pattern. It is really expensive though, cheaper to buy ready made.

I'm going out for dinner in a couple of hours with son and family, to a carvery. I'm not keen on roast dinners so will probably have the salad again. The last time we went I had a sea food salad and it was a miracle the waiter got it to the table without something falling off, it was huge.

There was always a pet cat in the house when I was growing up and we had a goldfish called Moby Dick. My dad finally got his beloved dog after waiting for the last cat to die. A golden labrador called Daniel, an absolute nightmare to take for a walk, he could never be trained to walk nicely, where was the dog trainer when you needed him ........ The only one who could tire him out was my brother, he used to go for mile runs with him and it was funny to watch them coming back up the road, my brother still running and poor old Dan lolloping way behind.

Put wasing on the line and had lunch and oh said watch the weather as it's going to rain. He was right as I have just had to go and get it all in as it's raining. There's a fair wind too and it would have smelt lovely blowing in that.

When I got married we had an Alsatian called Sultan he came from the PDSA when I worked there and then we had Hollt an Alsatian then Tilly Trotter a Jack Russell later. Tilly had 6 pups five of which were girls and one dog. I kept the littlest one called Shammrock (Shammy for short) and I came down here to Devon with Tilly and Shammy, two cat uncle and nephew (Pudwood and Dizzy) mum already had a cat Prudence Kitten and a dog a X alsatian Sam. Plus I had the chickens I brought down with me. Mum would'nt let me bring the two goats, Barnie and Katie so I had to find a home for them. Holly had died before I ame down here.