General Chat

Hi hello to everyone sorry I have not been on the web again my husbands been really poorly so he went off on a few days golfing holiday he was bad one day and then was coughing his guts up.

Andy Williams died .

I have been a bit down in the dumps since my holiday what with hubby being ill then I got a phone call from Beryl then April rings me up telling me Tootsie Sue her friend at school sister had a ranch in Denver.Sue and her brother
Dexter asked April to go for a visit so off she flew rode a horse bareback backwards and fell and broke two fingers. I was making a Jelly for the old peoples party along with cheese straws and dashed to the phone and got that message disgusted she was allowed to do something so stupid and said calm down April because she was shouting and crying. I said I am sorry pet go and have a rest in bed and calm down. So April runs from the phone to Jess she said I hate grannie she told me to drop dead. She was too busy making jelly for a load of old crusties.
Ryan said do not be so rude and April lunged the remote control at him hit me on the forehead nearly knocking him out she got grounded for a week and shes been banging on the door two days .Jesicas been walking round in headphones for two days .Then young Mat got stung by a insect on the finger and Jessica could not hear his screaming. Ryan came in and said my son is screaming his head off and so Jessica went off at him you told me to ground April he said do you have to do everything I tell you women
hamster got out of his cage and peed up a electric socket. cat Merlin grabbed the hamster and nearly had him for supper. Ryans moved out to a friends and Jess is left with a very bad tempered April with broken fingers and is having to take Mat to the doctors for his sting. I got Mum I want to come home and a very loud scream down the phone.

Not phoned since I told my neighbour and she said lets go out so we did last night and drunk rather a lot of Budweizer I felt funny today but happy.

OH GOSH sorry about the advertising. expect me message will go.

I think it was fairgrounds that had the first electricity. What a sight that must have been for folk to see before it was in their homes. My gran never did have electricity, didn't trust it. I often compare my own dad with FIL as they were born the same year, but my dad died in the 70s. The things FIL has seen that dad didn't. Mobile phones, video recorders, cd players, ipods, laptops, home pcs, all the tv stations, cable tv, aircon in cars, microwave cookers, washer dryers, 24 hour shopping, to name a few.

It was doing FH and finding all the people in my tree that had fought in the wars and lost their lives that made me really think about their poor families and the impact it must have made. No equal pay then and men were the breadwinners in most families. All the children whose fathers never came home and even if they did, the adjustment to a father some hardly knew. Some couples would have grown apart, some men would find their wives' necessary independence hard to deal with. Some women would resent losing their jobs to men now they were back from war. They must have been very difficult times one way or another.

Jane I had a kidney removed and i got all kinds of weird pains it should settle
I am fine in that area a pity about the rest of me though. trying to read some threads now have ani ce evening.

Do you wany some company MEL. Ros is watching the recording from last night of "HOLBY" I will go back when Mrs Biggs starts.

Sorry for the co#k up earlier. I don't know what happened.

About the old days. Mum went into Service aged 12 years. A the "BIG HOUSE" as she refered to it. I think that when she was in Coopersale, Epping Essex. I don't know when she moved to Canning Town. Dad's dad was a grocer, so he worked in the shop, till he joined the Navy aged 15 in 1901. He has told us many stories, that in today's . world would seem unbelivable.
But when you think that in the War years, most people still had gass lighting, and cooked on the coal range. I know my Gran did till the early 50s. and she never had a bathroom or inside loo. It was out back and the TIN bath hung on the fence in the yard. which was about 10 foot square. She lived there all her like and died in 1954 aged 86.

What a way to earn a crust. Laying on your back for an hour !!!!. I had one a few years ago and my God did it make a row, I remember having a button to press if I wanted out. They kept saying "you are doing well Frank, not much longer" It seemed an age. But they did find I had a BRAIN. lol lol

Picked some beans today, and a load of tomato's still a bit green, but Ros likes them like that.

We both ache tonight. As I cut down the branches Ros was cutting them up and putting them in the green bin, That's full now, so anymore rubbish will have to go in neighbours bins,

Hope James finds other Employment. They do say, it's easier to find a job when you are in work, than when your not.

I don't think my SONY has a delete feature. I will have to have a look on line at the DESTRUCTIONS. Why is it Men never read these things, I only read instructions when I can't work it out for myself :-D :-D :-D

My National Service Medal turned up today with the RAF ribbon attached. I have ordered a "Cap Badge" so that should be here soon. I have also applied for the MOD medal, that I was entitled to but never claimed. They will be something to pass onto Lewis.

Lewis had a great birthday yesterday. The cake was taken to football training last night for all his mates to have a piece. He also had £60.00 Thinking back I would have had to work 43 weeks to earn that when I started work in 1953. as an apprentice wood machinest. 11 1/4d an hour.

I did a nice Roast chicked tonight with Roast pots, runner beans, peas, carrots and cabbage. Loads over for a Curry tomorrow night.

Hope you all have a good night tonight. Sleep tight.

ANN,THE ELECTRICITY USED BY THE SWINGS AND ROUND-ABOUT AND SIDE SHOWS AT FAIR GROUNDS IS PRODUCED THROUGH GENERATORS OR THE ENGINES OF THE LORRIES THAT TRANSPORT THEM FROM TOWN TO TOWN.


IN THE HOUSE I LIVED IN AS A CHILD THE LIGHTING WAS FROM BOTH GAS AND ELECTRICITY

Yes and before that it was the Showmens traction Engines that provided the electricity. When most people had candle or oil lit houses it must have seemed magical to see the elctric fairy lights when the fair came to town.

My parents had all electric, but gran had gas lights downstairs and it was candles like wee Willie Winkie's with the 'cup handle' to carry them with for upstairs! She had a gas cooker I never saw her use as she cooked all the meals I saw on the big black lead range. She did her washing in a copper, scrubbing it on one of those ribbed metal boards (what are they called?) Then it was put through the mangle with a big winding handle. No indoor toilet either so the beds all had a Po under them. Squares of newspaper on a nail in the pitch dark soil toilet outside. I remember trying to locate the toilet seat with my eyes before shutting the door as it was so dark in there. I was always scared of dropping through the hole in the seat when I was little as my feet would be well off the ground and it was quite a balancing act in the dark. Not a place I would stay in longer than I needed! :-S

Maureen I spent ages trying to sort my mobile out yesterday. Somehow, but gawd knows how I had managed to change the ringtone, switch on the vibration and increase the volume to deafening!!!! lol I tried for ages to sort it to no avail and then the penny dropped. It has settings for all these things under no less than 6 different categories!! Eg Normal, Outdoors, Meetings etc. I had managed to try and adjust it back on one of the other than 'normal' categories!! :-S

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SORRY my annual payment is due decided to quit nice to have known everybody
take care have a nice year from SHEILA.

Good morning everyone, what a beautiful morning for a change. Sun bursting through the curtains here, no clouds in sight, what a lovely change. Just hope those poor folks who have been flooded have some let up and try to salvage their homes.

Andy Williams has sailed off down the Moon River and has left many happy memories for us all. I used to watch his TV shows way back when and remember he had a lovely French wife (who's name escapes me) and she used to be on his shows with him, although I sadly add, she was not much of a singer!

Please don't say anything about the William Roach WDYTYA prog, I've yet to catch up with it on our recorder. We are both looking forward to it even though I don't watch Corrie any more, I leave that to Carmel.

Frank, my mother used to be in service too. She worked for a hotel or pub in Bethnal Green when she was young. I wish now I had asked her more about it when I had the chance but like young people these days, I just listened, accepted and got on with what young folks do, live for themselves. I guess when you get older and look back on your own history, that's when you think of your forebears and wonder what life was like for them, where they came from, what they did. I know we use the census of the past to walk our way through their lives, but I often wonder what happened during those ten year periods between census returns. Whole lives could have changed, people died, new lives started, folks moved, got new jobs, history changed. The only thing I can do is research my family, document what I can and leave the legacy for my children so that one day, when they get like me, they will have a good starting point. I have made a folder with all my relevant photos, milestones, documents, sketches et al for them to see what life was like for me and where I can, for my Mum & Dad.

Have a nice day everyone.

Morning still catching up on your posts as you have all been very busy typing away.

Good to see Sheila posting after her latest experiences. Poor girl it must be very hard with Jess so far away and April acting up again.

Oh is teak oiling the table in the kitchen and it stinks so think I shall have to vacate soon.

Morning all,

Lovely day here too, plenty of sunshine streaming through the windows its really warm on my arms through the glass.

Oh i see sheila has gone :-( what a shame will miss all her goings on with Beryl and Donnie :-D
Hope you come back one day Sheila.

Oh that Teak oil does stink Mel, turns my stomach !!

Got the family coming for tea today ,Jacket potatoes were requested ,i usually ask what they would like ,then there's no groans when its some thing they don't fancy on the day !!

Look at the time !! better get some jobs done .
BBL

My foster family who I was with for the first 4 years of my birth,Kept in touch with them until the foster parents died, then managed to find the brother and sisters when I got the computer and signed on to genes reunited,.I had the pleasure of meeting them again.

Pamela nee Alway
Wickens (married surname)

Interesting comment of yours Ann about poverty
On my Mother's side my GF rented a house that he shared with my Mother and my Aunt's family.So there were lots of people in that house.
In the kitchen was a large iron range that was black leaded regularly.There was a large scullery where all sorts went on,mostly washing.There a boiler and a poss tub and a posser and a wash board.The washing was hung out in the back lane.
When there was loads of washing my Mother would use the public wash house in Gibson Street where there were facilities for washing and drying.I'd imagine that being a real hive of activity.This was way before washing machines and launderettes.
Gibson Street wash house still stands as a listed building almost next door to St Dominic's Church.
Hard Times

On my Father's side my GF was a docker at Port of Belfast,hard work,hard times.

My GGF is listed in the 1911 census as aged 72 general laborer.Hard Times

Afternoon All
I am in a bit of a hurry as I'm off to get my hair cut and roots sorted so I'll just be quick now.

Pamela ,How lovely for you to have met your Brother and Sisters after all the years.I found my Brothers too when I joined GR :-D

Oh Sheila ,is that you leaving for good?.That is a shame .We will miss all your posts with the funny tales of Beryl and Donnie,and all the latest news from April and Jessica.
Maybe you will change your mind and come back again.
I wish you and your family all the best <3

Right I must fly now.I'll catch up with everyone else later.

Afternoon all,

Just a quick word..Was in bed by 11.pm last night, terrible indigestion, then the runs. sat in the lounge, till 4.30 am so as not to disturb Ros. In and out like a fiddlers elbow. Managed to sleep till 7.00 then out again. I now feel as weak as a kitten, and tired out. Everytime I drop off the toilet calls.
Have taken two imodiu#, Ros is doing herself a curry tonight, I said I will PASS.
No pun meant.

Try to catch up later

I think you are quite right to pass on the Curry Frank :-D.You have a had a few tummy upsets recently haven't you :-S.Water and dry toast for you I think from now on :-D

My hair is done at last.I hadn't realised how bad my roots were. :-S.It was very noisy there today.The music was up loud ,and then with all the hairdryers blowing you could hardly hear yourself think.One of the young girls did my colour and Nigel did the cut.
Lauren (young girl) apparently has been going out with Nigel's son Ollie for the last 2 years.I'm surprised I hadn't heard that before.

I didn't know anyone in my family who had no electricity ,although I do recall using an outside toilet at the end of someone's garden(can't remember who though.I would nip in and out as fast as I could as I thought it was scary in there.Lots of spiders :-S :-S
Chris has been home today so it has been great to use his car.I went to Waitr*** this morning and bought lots of nice meats .One was my favourite Lamb Kleftico.I now have 2 in the freezer.Another was a deboned Chicken with a sunblush tomato and Parmesan marinade.We haven't had that one for a very long time.I will do that for dinner tonight and know James will be really pleased :-D.Everything else has been stashed away in the freezer.
There is a massive problem at Waitr*** with static shocks.I got so many when I was pushing the trolley and so strong they made me yelp.I wasn't the only one.I saw several people suddenly whip their hands off the trolleys.The staff say that they think it is to do with the flooring and an investigation is going to take place to find out and then do something to rectify it.It was sooooo bad. :-S

Afternoon Pals :-D

Oh dear Frank, best to rest up and keep near your white friend today. No wonder you feel weak. I just can't get off to sleep lately. Two nights this week I have still been looking at the clock at 3.00am. It is driving me mad because I feel shattered when it is time to get up. My body clock must have a broken spring!! :-S lol.

Sheila, sorry to see you are going. We have really enjoyed and will miss your posts about B & D!! I hope your poor hubby is better soon and that you soon feel better too. April isn't helping things is she, causing her mum more stress! Try not to overdo things won't you.

Yuk, I hate that teak oil too......reminds me of cod liver oil!! That seat and table were a bargain though Mel.

Oh yes those ribbed boards were called washboards weren't they. Used by Skiffle groups in the 60s!! lol.

Our talkative electrician arrived an hour late this morning, most unlike him as he usually arrives on the dot of when he says he will. Well, when he apologised for being late and told me why I had to turn my face away before he saw me stifling a laugh! He said the nextdoor neighbour had kept him!! More likely they other way around I think. :-Dlol. All went well till he tried to put wires in a connector, then the head of screw broke off so he had to go to get another. By the time he came back, we had gone out, but it is all finished now. All I have to do is switch the waterfall on and see if it works ok!!! I think will wait till OH gets home from Melton first. :-D

I thought I'd better do a bit of jewellery wirework yesterday to toughen my fingers up ready for class!! I did my first lot of earings since those I made on my first lesson and am quite pleased how they turned out . I might do some more beads the same way and make a matching necklace. Will see if I can send a pic.

I haven't seen WDYTYA yet either William. I'm not that keen on William Roache......especially after the recent boasting in the papers about all his women!! That is a really good idea recording things for future generations, something priceless to hand on. An idea I think would be good would be to record rellies voices onto a CD. Just imagine being able to hear your ancestors' voices and accents and the 'in' phrases of their time in a few hundred years time!!! I know people use video cameras and the films will be passed on, but often there isn't much talk on a video!!

Better go and sort my bead stuff I want to take tomorrow now. OH is at a meeting at Melton, meeting his colleague who is the other Independent Person.

I bet your hair feels lovely now Jane. :-) I think our hairdressers gets noisier with the music. It seems louder every time I go.

It was in the paper the other day about a paedophile being jailed who only lived about a mile away from here. It was the usual thing these days.... grooming young girls on the internet. Lived very close to a school too and not far from where Colin Pitchfork murdered 2 young girls many years ago.

Oh dear Sheila, I will really miss your posts they have always been so entertaining, hope you will come back to us to let us know how you and the family are doing, and to know Beryl hasn't killed off Donnie.

Did you get your mobile sorted in the end Ann, sometimes I manage to do something by pure chance so next time it needs doing I still have no clue how. Have finally worked out how to put more credit on there, didn't realise you could scroll down and there were more options ....Doh ............. Hope you have a glass of something bubbly for the switching on of the waterfall.

They don't seem to be delving too far back in this series of WDYTYA, one theme that appears to be running through a lot of them is how strong the women in the family were. I watched William Roache on Piers Morgan, a bit of a womaniser in his day, not my cup of tea but he does look good for 80.

Hope you are feeling better Frank, do you think maybe you are overdoing it, put your feet up a bit more.