General Chat

Heard today (from friends who were coming to see us) that our ex village has been badly hit by the floods! our old neighbours (!) have had water up to their French Windows, and in under the front door!!! the chap who bought our house has had the same! To say that we are glad to be out of there is an understatement! I can't believe how lucky we were/are.
Rained hard here all night and blew a gale, rain easing off now and wind dropped right down, luckily no damage. Hope everyone is warm, dry AND safe.

Morning all and evening Kim.

Jane I had heard of Scarletina...They do like to change the name..Chloe Ellies sister ended up with tonsilitas.. She is a little better..She is having a party for her 8th birthday today..

My daughters dogs and mocha quitened down after about 30 mins.....Mind you my house is smaller so they cant chase around a lot.

Mind you my other grandchildren are all getting over coughs..One was sleeping in our room as well....They are allplaying on their game sets..Not one to one with me like Gareths girls...I will save that when they come down for new year..
we are all off to see my brother now..Enjoy tthe rest of the day.

I have my other son from Paris and family comming to tea tonight...I shall be worn out then lol

Morning/Evening Everyone
No rain thank goodness but the wind !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it kept me awake on and off all night.I heard the recycling bins blow over and then the heavy trolley,what a racket that made :-S..But it feels so mild.

Liz you had a lucky escape didn't you :-D Phew ! James is driving to Cambridge Services to pick Jess up.Her Step Dad will bring her as far as that and then he is off to a footie match(I think maybe Norwich).I told James to keep clear of High Sided Vehicles in this dreadful wind.

Pat I think you will be more than worn out lol by the time your last lot of family have been and gone.A well deserved rest in order I think :-D :-D
I hope Chloe feels well enough now to enjoy her Birthday Party.

I am half way through a hoovering and quick flicking of the duster.I'd like it looking at least half decent when Janice comes tomorrow.The trouble with Christmas is with all cards ,decs etc you can't have a good clean.But I don't really care lol

Chris is working and when he gets in I will go and get my potatoes and veg.
Have we heard from Kim since Christmas?????

Still raining here and I have to go up the shop........ :-|

I heard from Kim today. I had sent her a pic of the wand.

Just looking in, before I shower.

Had a lay in this morning 10. 00 am. Got Lewis his bacon sandwich and milky coffee.

Ros and Lewis were off at 11.00 am Cinema aqgain, then a bit of shopping.

I have washed and stuffed the turkey (Onlt a small one) added fresh tyme and parsley, and sage. to the stuffing. All covered in Streaky bacon and Tin foil. Sitting in the Fridge ready for tomorrow . Will do the veg in the vmorning.

Jane, It's tipping it down here, and the wind is blowing a gale, but as you say it's mild.

Glad everyone seemed to have had a good few days. If you are travelling in this wind BE CAREFUL. we don't want any accidents.
'
Loads of GONGS being handed out this NEW YEAR. where's Mine ???? I have been a good boy. Well today anyway !!!

Morning All,

Yes, blustery wind all night here too!!! I was still awake at 3.30am. Our bins are out for collection and I heard one go over with a mighty crash. I had to weave around a few as I drove up the close this morning. It is lashing down with rain again here now. The Camel Laird footie match that OH has gone to is still on....he texted me about an hour ago.....he said it wasn't raining at Chester either.

Oh Liz, how lucky you were to get out of your last home when you did!! I don't feel sorry for your old neighbour though. :-| I think floods on top of the stress he caused would just about have finished you both off!! It would have made it much harder to sell your house, once there was a history of the river flooding it too. You got out at just the right time. :-D :-D

Poor Chloe Pat, tonsillitis can be very painful. Any jelly and icecream at her party should soothe it!! I can't keep up with you now, with all these comings and goings and never a dull moment. You and Mocha will need a rest after all your 'partying' and playing with the grandchildren.

I always scoot past those high sided lorries very fast Jane!! So many of them seem to blow over and, even if they don't, they get blown out of their lane into yours. :-S.

Liz was certainly lucky to get out when she did. I hope the ditch flooded well into the horrid neighbours garden and got in their house........ ;-)

Not a nice th ing to say but I think they deserved it with all the heartache they cause Liz and Ian.

Frank, when OH sees the New Year Honours List it will be the usual exclamations and TUTS!! He turns into 'Victor' when he sees old work colleagues getting awards.....'I don't believe it'!! I have to agree with him having worked with some of the same people. Last spring when I met for brekkie with some old work friends the first thing one said was 'One of you tell me, how on earth did ******** get an OBE'. It was someone we had all worked with.

Mel, just a thought as my 'experiment' with Jane didn't work.

I can't see your photos in the email itself when I get them and when I click on them in the heading a message comes up asking what I want to do. When I click on that, another screen comes up with a file reference and I have to click on that to open each one. Then if I want to send one of your photos on I have to copy each opened photo, save it to where I have my photos in my pictures folder and then attach it from there to a new email to send. If I just forward them, it doesn't work.

Why not try copying and pasting your photos onto a word document and then attach that document to your email and see if that works?

Otherwise, why not copy your pics for emailing into a folder under 'pictures' which is in the same dropdown list as 'documents' on my PC. Then you can attach them from there to your email. Just a couple of ideas that might work ok. :-)

Well I think Chris has lost the plot....he has gone for a long walk :-S :-S IN THIS WEATHER.I got back from Tes** after leaving a nice tidy lounge to find James and Jess had arrived and the lounge looking like something had exploded in it.It was just like Christmas Day again with wrapping paper ,ribbons,bows (chester was wearing 2) and all Jess's belongings all over the place :-S :-S

Frank how on earth did your name get left off the New Years List :-S :-S. Must be a mistake ;-)

It is still the filthiest day here although I think the wind has died down .I have been watching the Gt Spotted Woodpecker trying to work out how to hang on to the coconut which is swinging on the branch.Quite amusing :-D.It has given up and gone elsewhere :-(

GOT IT ANN :-D :-D
What a clever OH Mel....Lovely wand :-D

Just going to make Lamb /Mint Pinwheels.Jess loved them last time she was here and asked James if I had any more :-D.But I also have to do a couple of minced beef ones for James as he is a fussy B***** and doesn't like Lamb.I will put Thyme in with his.

I could do with a wand to wave here! The cards and decs do mean lots of mess and dust. Still at least it is an excuse not to bother!! I don't think they will be staying up till the 6th this time!! I'm keen to get back to normal and so is OH.

Oh Jane, I suppose it isn't surprising......I think you said before that Jess wasn't the tidiest of people! I don't mind a bit of untidiness as long as it isn't left for someone else to clear up! It must be nice having a woodpecker to watch. All I saw through the patio doors ths morning were 5 fat and fed up looking grey Pigeons at the top of the trees. It makes you wonder where they shelter when it is coming down like stair rods. I often wonder where all the birds go at night in the winter too. With all the leaves gone, there never seems to be many sitting in the trees.

Here I am, Brams and list. Had a great time down the pub. The lads all wanted to buy me drinks, bI got in before them and bought a round for all present.

Still no sign of Ros and Lewis, thank god. I have the T.V on amnd have that Riur fellow on with all his music, sounds great.

Have lost another pair of slippers, I swear the fariers are collecting them. AND THEY ARE NEW.

Just had a call from Ros, they are on thier way home. Wish me good luck.

LOL Frank what are you like.How many pints have you had???.I have just poured myself a glass of wine while I made the Pin Wheels.I say just poured.Have had 2 :-D
Very nice it is too.
I think it will be saute potatoes with dinner.I'll just give them a mini boil ready to slice .They just take so long to do in batches.Never mind I know they will be appreciated.I will chuck some Thyme and garlic in with them just to give a bit of a kick.

Well where are those slippers then???? I am in desperate need of a new pair....didn't get any for Xmas :-S :-S

Ann I should have had my sensible head on and not bothered clearing up this morning.I have to say Jess is a nightmare for leaving a trail of detritus .Typical student :-S.I just wish sometimes that she would think about tidying up behind her seeing she is in someone elses home.
We have some very soggy looking Wood Pidgeons.As you say Ann where do they sleep???I don't know.They plod around the garden hoping for pickings under the Peanut ball,but the Magpies tend to beat them to it.I saw a Magpie snatch a big bit of something from a Pidgeon and fly off with it.It looked like a big piece of the inside of the coconut.
Chris is still out.I hope he gets back before it gets too dark.He has taken his silly walking pole lolol.He bought it when we were in the Lake District.There really is no need for it here :-S

I'm looking forward to Janice and Larry coming tomorrow.Must remember to take the meat out of the freezer.Fitz might pop up to see them.He has a house full at the moment.Georgette's sister,OH their daughter her OH and 3 children and possibly their son and girlfriend.Also Fitz's son and Fiancee (who live in Oxford)
Fitz may need a little escape lol

Oh no not more slippers missing Frank! I hope they aren't glass ones or Prince Charming might be knocking on your door soon. :-D At this rate you will have a pair for each day of the week. :-D I hadn't realised Andre Rieu was on or I'd have had him on too.

Afternoon everyone,

Well it's been a bit breezy here but it's dry and so mild when we were in the car this afternoon it said 13 degrees !!
Sounds as if some of you have had very strong wind if it's blowing bins over .

Frank ,what are you like losing your new slippers ,are you sure you haven't left them at the pub !! :-D :-D your second home :-D :-D LOL


We went to Fakenham this morning and bought a new toaster to match the kettle ,our old toaster was getting a pest it wouldn't shoot the toast up and you had to keep an eye on it or you would get black offerings!! plus it kept setting the smoke alarm off!!
We also bought a set of three nest of tables in solid oak ,i have wanted some for ages so we were pleased we got them for £140 in the sale ,some are well over two hundred pounds .

Got sister and BIL coming this evening ,we are going to have a game of cards and might have a go with the Banangram.

Well Liz, like Mel i don't like saying it but at last your neighbour has got his comeuppance !! :-P

I watched Andre the other night.Brilliant :-D :-D.I even caught Chris stood at the back of the room watching lol.
Mandy is that your own Mince Pies I can see ??Look tasty :-D

Chris is back.He saw a Herd of Deer and met a 'Foot Hunt'....It was men in hunting outfits with dogs but no horses!!.I don't quite understand that.Mel do you know why they do that without horses?Being a country gal I think you might know.

Jane, the Beagles go hunting with huntsmen without horses. Ask Chris how tall the dogs were! :-D

Afternoon all. Just to prove I'm still around and reading 'THE thread', I'll give you an update on what's been happening in our world, rain or no rain.

Day after Boxing Day was our 'family day'. Daughter had been working Xmas Eve, Xmas Day & Boxing Day. She is at the residential RNIB school/home here, and someone has to look after the kids. Think I've told you all this before. So we were at her place on Thursday for a nice dinner all together. Our little great-grandchildren were there too and were lovely together. I'll email out photos of baby Grace being looked after by here cousin Maggie, really nice to see. Just got to get them off my phone first. We also had quiz games which are always fun and a great laugh. We finally left about 10pm ish and there was hardly anyone about on the roads.

Yesterday was another treat for us. part of MY family (from Hornchurch area Essex) had been visiting in Nottingham and called in here for a day with us. There was my niece Tracey, her little boy Robbie, her chap Mark and my sister-in-law Chris. We hadn't seen them for four years, not since our granddaughter got married in Coggeshall. So it was great to catch up with all the news and I do so love Robbie who is now 9. I took Tracey, Robbie and Mark up to my den (my Minimobileum) to see all my models that are on display while Chris and Carmel stayed downstairs and caught up on the 'details'. Robbie has a problem where he can't eat most 'normal' foods and his Mum has to bring special foods so there isn't much of him. He is very good and with all the models around, he didn't touch anything, but would raise his hand like he was in school to ask a question, bless him. Chris said she had never heard him chat so much and that he must have a special rapport with us, but we told he he was like that the last time he called to see us with Tracey. There was only me and my brother, and since my brother died before Robbie was born, I suppose I like to think I'm the next best thing he has in that way. I wish he was nearer, I'd love to be more a part of his life. I'm filling up here, daft thing, I'd better move on. Anyway, they finally had to get on the M6 headed south about 4.30ish, but helped make this mast Christmas just GREAT for us.

So today we have just been to the local shops for a few essentials and being good Samaritans to our neighbour Lynne, whose little girl, Kiera is poorly again. It was nice to get a few things for her so that she didn't have to drag the poor child out in the rain. You can tell Christmas is over, not much on the telly tonight, unless you like sport! I think we still have some things on the recorder to catch up with though.

Mandy, I was fast asleep when at 4.15am someones wheelie bin went over outside. It's 'green bin' here today and all the plastic bottles and papers where streeling up the close when I looked out to see what had happened.

OK folks, I'm signing out now to have a go at those photos. I'll look in again tomorrow. C Y A L

It could have been Beagles hare hunting, or Bassets hunting hares or rabbits, they always do that on foot and do it round here now and again, but mostly here
it's Foxes, they were up and down today and it was SO wet, sooner them than me!I'm glad they don't stag hunt where we are now. I think Somerset is the only place left in the country to have a pack of staghounds. I know they have to be culled, but hunting them wasn't for me!
Well, I have to say I have little or no sympathy for our old neighbours, as you say, cumuppance, frankly, serves them right!!!