General Chat

2026 Happy New year to those I missed last night I am hoping it will be a year of contentment and good or reasonably good health for us all. Long May GR continue so that we can meet daily on here and also welcome occasional visitors.

I am not long up showered and hair washed, but I didn’t get to bed until 1am and lay awake for a while then. We watched the soaps and then watched Bodyguard which we had never seen, the the New Year show with Ronan Keating who was surprisingly good. At 12 we stood In The doorway and watched fireworks out over Workington..

I hope Mel is starting to feel better now. If you look in Mel, a happy new year. <3

Morning all,

Happy New Year to you to Gwyn <3 and everyone on the thread .

Ths fireworks woke me but they didn't last long and I soon dropped off again ,got the family here again for the day so must get on .

Hope Mel is feeling a little better.

Happy New Year :-D <3

I hope it's a good year for you all.

I'll drink to that Mandy. Another year of friendship and chat will be great. I'm not going to stay up but will stay awake reading or watching something on my iPad until midnight when I expect I'll hear a few fireworks, though they are not usually too bad round here.

Happy New Year to all my regular friends on the thread and to Elizabeth and William and other droppers-in. I wish you happiness, good health and peace in 2026 <3 <3 <3

<3 Happy New Year and Best wishes to all on the thread for a good 2026. <3

Mandy we can never manage to stay up these days and the fireworks have started here, but not many yet.

I hope Mel has started to feel a lot better. <3

Happy new year Mandy <3

Don't think we will be staying up tonight but I expect the fireworks will be going off so will probably wake then

I'd like to wish all my friends on the thread a Very Happy New Year ,here's to another year of friendship and chat <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

It's good to hear that Mel is OK in hospital. Thanks for passing on the news Mandy. I hope the hospital has the bed space to keep her in for a day or two as I am sure when she gets home she will be going out in the cold to see to her girls and will be trying to do too much too soon. Mel, if you get to read this, take things gently and give yourself time to get better.

I ration my chocolates to 2 a day as well. Chocolate is addictive and I know if I don't strictly ration them I will have too many and end up with a migraine. Christmas is the only time I buy any chocolates, just to be able to offer visitors a sweet. Trouble is OH will dip in if they are there so they don't last long enough to be offered to visitors.

I made the greengage jam. It made the amount I expected so I probably took it off the heat at the right time. It seemed very sweet and a bit sticky so I'll have to wait until it's completely cold and then try a bit on some bread or something.

Just as I finished potting the jam my neighbour next door phoned and talked for 55 minutes. I heard about her shopping at Tesco, her shopping at Aldi and a visit to our local garden centre but I still don't know why she rang. Then I had to make a call to a friend who is not at all well. It was good to talk to him but it was another 30 minutes gone. Now I see it's getting on for 5.30 pm and time to start cooking dinner. Enjoy what's left of the day and of the year. I may not be staying up to welcome 2026.

Thanks Mandy. Pleased that you heard from Mel and that she is in the best place. I hope she doesn’t discharge herself before she really should.
Gwyn 2 chocs a day! I do ration myself but it would be at least three. I had two boxes of milk tray one large and one huge. Not opened yet, plenty of celebrations here to pass around.

Afternoon All,

Thank you for letting us know about Mel Mandy. While I was out at the shop there was a missed call on the landline from an unknown number which might have been Mel. I'm glad she's ok and will hopefully soon be home again. <3

The rooftops were white all over this morning, but the frost soon melted. It's still chilly and the PC says it feels like -4 degrees. OH managed a short walk and broke it up by popping in The Works in the warm for ten minutes. Our Co-op, which is normally kept cold, was absolutely boiling when I went in there and I soon took my scarf off and nearly abandoned my basket with having to queue so long as there is only one person serving now. The asian girl on the till had a short sleeved tee shirt on so, as she was on her own in the shop, I suspect she'd turned the heating up. I didn't bother looking to see if they had my magazine in the few they stock now as the magazines are on a shelf that's too high for me to reach now. I did get some salmon today though.

Vera that was good news for your OH too. It's reassuring for him to know he is 'normal' in that regard. I know I'm slower recalling some things now and forget names so not 100% . My word you are cracking on with jobs and getting things done. I must strip the bed and get the thicker throw out ready for the colder blast that's coming at the weekend and next week.

AnnG another positive is that your own house is staying as clean and tidy as when you left it with being away! I suppose everyone else feels like a rest after all the activity, but it's a shame it's so cold for having a walk. It feels even colder with a bit of breeze too. We seem to be lucky this year as they decided to collect both the rubbish and the recycling bins last week and this week instead of just one and alternating them.

Gwyn I wish I had your willpower! Did you say two chocolates or two boxes a day! lol. We didn't buy or receive any boxes this year. OH shouldn't have many ,so he had small bars of his favourite turkish delight instead which don't tempt me and my expanding waistline had to be satisfied with a small box of Ferrero Rocher as I wanted the handy polythene box!

I think you might need some hiking boots Gwyn with all those chocolates :-) we've got lots of chocolates here too ,I buy them for the grandchildren ;-) I think I've eaten about half a dozen Maltesers over Christmas, I love chocolate but I don't think it likes me as I always feel quite sluggish the next day .

Yes it was good to hear from Mel, she said Em had been feeding the girls ,perhaps she will carry on doing it for a few days after Mel gets home so she can keep in the warm and rest up.

So pleased that you have heard from Mel, but sorry to know that she is in hospital.
I hope she stays long enough to be well on the road to recovery, because once home there is quite a bit for her to do, day to day, if she is not feeling great.
She will be concerned about her girls though, so I hope she gets well soon.

A lovely bright day here, after a frosty start. Daughter and I wrapped up warmly and went for a local walk and we could feel the warmth of the sun on us. We thought we'd get out while we could, as we have a weather warning for later in the week :-|

AnnG, I am sitting here next to a large box of Lindor chocolates and there are 2 more boxes in the house. They were gifts to me for Christmas or birthday and I ration myself to no more than 2 a day. I also have an unopened tub of Heroes and boxes of chocolates from neighbours, which should last us through the year :-0
I think I will need to do some serious walking too!

Mel just rung me ,she is in hospital with the flu , she went to the doctors and he said she should go to the hospital and they could put her on a drip to get antibiotics into her quicker .
She said she spent a long time in a chair and didn't get a bed until late ,she's in a room on her own and they haven't put her on a drip , she has had an antiviral tablet and I think she said an aspirin twice but thats all they have given her , she's hoping to come home later once she's seen the doctor ,her BIL will pick her up .

I told her we'd all been worried and thinking of her ,she said the Internet doesn't work in there and she hasn't got her tablet with her anyway so she couldn't let us know .

She said to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hopes to be back on the thread when she can .

The strange thing about being away this time of year is, while it is lovely to be with family, have company and good food cooked for me, It is conversely, as mostly we sit reading as I do at home, it is frustrating hearing about everyone doing jobs etc when I know there are things to be done at home. And I can feel the weight piling on as I sit and do nothing. Not even the weather for walking up the lane as it is so cold and I can’t walk fast enough to keep warm. Our trip today was a quick one to Lidle and a side trip to the ztip. Lidles was cor both daughter and I to buy birthday cards for granddaughter in law whose birthday is tomorrow. I can’t remember when I last bought a card so it was a pleasant surprise that the card was only 99p. I usually bring her card with me but forgot it.

We’re all on tenterhooks about Mel. I think it’s likely that she is in hospital. If she is home I hope someone is checking on her regularly. If you are able to look in Mel, I’m sending love <3

It’s a bright day but very cold. I’ve only ventured as far as the garage and couldn’t wait to get back in the warm again. I’ve washed the towels and they are going round the dryer. I’ve also taken greengages from the freezer and stoned them and got the rest of the ingredients ready to make jam after lunch. The recipe I’m going to use says the stones will float to the top during cooking, then says they might need help to detach them from the fruit. That sounds fiddly and very hot so I’ve stoned them before cooking. I’ve only done enough for 3 jars. I’ve got enough fruit in the freezer for another 5 or 6 but I didn’t want to lose it all if this recipe is no good.

OH has just bought lunch in so I’m signing off for a while.

Good morning all from a fairly bright Cumbria. There was a hard frost this morning and the birds are in a feeding frenzy. At least four blackbirds, goldfinches, Great and blue tits, robins to name a few.

Worrying that we have not heard from Mel, hope we hear something soon.

Not sure if we are doing anything today it is too cold for walking around so it may just be a visit to Lidl and I know we need to go to the Tip as there is no collection of general waste for two weeks now and we were left with all the wrapping paper etc from both young families who had their presents here.

Morning all,

Very cold here this morning with a sharp frost, suns shining so once that hits the frost hopefully it will go ,got the family coming tomorrow so lot's to get done today

Hope we hear something from Mel today .

Just popping in to see if there's any news on Mel but I see there's nothing ,she's got to have been taken into hospital or she would have rung one of us by now , sending you love Mel in case you can see this but can't post . <3

I think we are all getting concerned about Mel now. I keep checking to see if she has posted. She does have internet problems from time to time but, as you say Annx, she usually manages to get in touch with one of us if that happens.

That was a quick response to OH's blood test Annx. It must have been a bit alarming to get a message like that but good that the results were normal. It's good news about your leg as well AnnG. I hope it soon heals up and becomes less painful. In fact it's good news all round this week. OH got a copy of a letter the consultant at the hospital sent to our GP surgery as we asked to be kept informed. Our hearts sank when we saw it as it was 3 pages of technical jargon and we feared the worst. However, the upshot is that he has Mild Cognitive Impairment (probably just down to age) and he has been discharged from the Memory Assessment and Therapy Service, though our doctor can refer him back at any time and he won't have to go to the bottom of the list again. The consultant had put a note on the bottom of the letter saying it had been written from one professional to another so if we didn't understand anything to get in touch with her and she would try to explain. We now have to wait for a report from the neurosurgeon at Addenbrookes but have been told that is not urgent so it might be a long while before we hear anything.

It's been a bright, sunny day but very, very cold. Late morning we went into town to pick up my script and walking from the car park to the pharmacy I developed a headache because of the icy air on my face, particularly on my temples. Town was quite busy.In fact it's been a busy day altogether. I got the bedding washed and dried so that just leaves the towels for tomorrow, did the ironing, sorted out and disposed of most of a big pile of catalogues that have been mounting up in the study and did some general admin and filing. I also got a load of chopped leeks in the freezer to make into leek and potato soup and prepared some parsnips and got those in the freezer. While I was doing that I also got tonight's dinner ready so I just have to put it in the oven. I think I should get a gold star for that lot ;-)

Fingers crossed that we'll hear from Mel soon.

I'm quite worried about Mel now, as she always lets us know with a text or email when she can't post. If she is in hospital there is often no signal for a mobile, but if she's back home, hopefully Em or BIL are checking she's ok.

That was excellent news to have heard the report was good and not worrying AnnG. Maybe as it heals more it will get quicker and the walking you do must help.

After OH's blood test on Christmas Eve and the repeat one yesterday morning the nurse told him he would only hear from them if something was wrong, so he was a bit shocked when he found a text from them later yesterday, on the same day, but it said everything was normal this time and no further action! I never knew GP surgeries could get blood test results back the same day.

Mandy you were right to get the lights in now you've had a shower. it might be worth your son phoning the pharmacy to check they have the insulin in before going to fetch it. I know our chemist sometimes doesn't get deliveries till late in the afternoon.

The boots on on their way back now and OH came with me as they do nice cobs in the shop part of the Post Office, so they were our lunch today! I was queuing down the narrow space to the PO counter with my parcel and nicely spaced from the chap in front, as was he, when this older silly woman squeezed alongside me and put her arm round me pulling my head too close to hers and breathed in my face to tell me she was going further along to get money from the machine. She then broke into the queue further along to use the machine at the side and caused both the man in front of me and me to have to step backwards to make room for her. She didn't tell me she'd left a full wire basket on the floor immediately behind me did she and I nearly fell backwards over it!

We called at 2 different Co-ops on the way home as I wanted some salmon for tomorrow and I couldn't believe how bare a lot of the shelves were. Only smoked salmon so no joy, but I got a few toms I needed. It's much quieter in the shops and Post Office this year as well.

Your daughter is doing well with the dogs isn't she Vera and it's a good idea to get them gradually used to her going out and leaving them so they are used to it without fretting. The camera has given her peace of mind too.