General Chat

I goggled the Golden Eagle , what a long ship, and i see it was used for Troop Transport too......very interesting Frank.

I could just eat a crumpet !! we're having Chinese later ,sister and BIL will bring it with them when they come about seven .

I wonder if Liz has gone to visit her OH this afternoon that's why we haven't heard anything from her , hope he's still getting on ok .

Chilly outside now .

4.56

I think this pooter is on a go slow/stop today.Also I keep losing the signal.
We sat and watched Carry on Cabbie earlier.It was funny,and I hadn't seen a Carry On film for ages.We have had trouble getting warm here it is just so cold.Chester keeps going from his bed to the fire and then back to his bed.Saying that I think he is awake now and it looks like he is up for some play.

Ann I hope your FIL wraps up well for the footie.Fitz's wife was a supporter for the Poppies for many years,and in the cold weather she always took her hot water bottle lol.There is no way you would find me at a match in this freezing temp.I remember freezing everything years ago standing on the side lines supporting boyfriends while they played in matches.I must have been mad.But it was probably love lol

Yes I hope Ian is good and well enough to go home now.I suppose Liz could always ride Merlin if she hasn't got the car lolol

17.11

I bought some crumpets this morning!!

I went with hubby to see Norwich play years ago ,never again , it was so cold ,and there were no seats !! when it was time to come home my legs and feet were so cold i could hardly walk !!!!! but as you say Jane it was for love as we weren't married then lol

Same here ladies! I only ever went to a match once with OH and that was in the very early days. The best bit was having his arm wrapped around me to keep me warm. I couldn't even tell you what match it was or the score.....I bet he could!! I never went again. lol I still can't believe I married a football fan......how did that happen?????? They say love is blind don't they. He wants me to go to Workington on the coast in a few weeks time (another match)......now that IS a cold place. He says we could stay overnight and look at the Lake District. The journey is great with stunning views, as I went with him before, but I think my answer may be that it would look even better in the Summer!! Will see what the weather is like nearer the time.

I might suggest a hot water bottle Jane!! lol The amazing thing is his dad (90 next week!!) has gone with him. lol He does sit down in the stands though and takes a cushion in a carrier bag with him and some chocolate or sweets.

I haven't seen a Carry On film for ages. I always think of Kenneth Williams saying 'Infamy, infamy, they've all got it In for me' when I think of them.......and Barbara Windsor losing her bikini top doing keep fit in another!!

I recall one day I went with a boyfriend to watch him in a match.I think he was called Charlie.He had a Mini and the fan belt went half way there.I am pretty sure my tights came in handy lol.I wonder if it was the women playing ,would the men spend the afternoon/morning stood in the cold supporting us .Or would have something important they had to do!!
Talking of sport.My sister used to run for Devon Schools,and always said she didn't want anyone of us to go and watch.But Dad (bless him ) would drive to wherever it was and hide behind people to watch her.I 'm not sure if she knows that.I will ask her next time I speak to her.She went like the wind !
17.54

Carry on Camping was the Bikini top flying off B Windsor Ann.I remember going to see the film in Bideford on my own when I was staying with my Aunty Betty.I think i was about 15 then.Barbara Windsor hasn't really changed much since then has she.

Chris has blown out his Candle.I didn't get a cake ,but a massive Muffin with fresh cream in the middle.I didn't have enough candles to put 58 so he just got the one.Hannah, Chester and I all sang Happy Birthday lol.Guess who was the high pitched one !

I didn't like any sport at school, i didn't mind the shot as you didn't have to put much effort into it lol
I hated the showers after sport ....everyone looking at you !! use to run through and grab my towel to cover up ,some times i'd be sent back to go through again .

Jane , you should have got one of those candles that keeps relighting ...then he could have blown it out 58 times lol

Evening all
Been out with OH from 1.00 this afternoon shopping trying to buy some smart trousers for me. I'm having problems trying to get size 8 trousers short leg, I usually buy my trousers from Ma*ks because of the short lenth, but went in 3 shops and not one pair of trousers, managed to get a pair of jeans and a bathing costume though , think I will need to order them in the shop or on line.

Happy Birthday Chris, a cream muffin sounds yummy

Hi Everyone, Just to let you know that Ian came out of hospital this afternoon. My lovely neighbours up the road took me in and bought us back. He's looking very frail and tired, actually he looks about 90, but at least he's back and is now in bed fast asleep. We've got lots of lotions and potions to contend with, but it takes me back to my days in Care, so not too daunting! Ride Merlin?!!! blimey, you'll be lucky!!! I think I'd rather trust Tesco's 'On Line'!!! Millie is pleased to see 'Her Dad', and has been very good on the 'not jumping up' front. I used to love Sport at School, not too bad at that but hopeless at Gym, always frightened of falling! I was once, reserve for Berkshire County under 18s Hockey Team,long time ago though!

Lol ,Mandy the showers !!!! I think most of us hated that.How many notes did I forge from Mum to say I couldn't shower because of my 'monthlies' lol.I must have had them permanently.

As for sports I loved Netball,and was quite good.I was goal shooter even though I was one of the shortest.I must have had good eye/goal thingy.
I used to like the Javelin until I split my ear once as I threw it.I nearly whipped it off lol.Hockey was far too rough and scared me to bits.I had too many bashes on the ankles from other peoples sticks.
I had a go at Judo .That was too rough as well.I think I was a bit of a wimp really.I also tried Fencing.I think I quite enjoyed that,but once when I forgot my kit,I was made to fence in my Navy Knickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I don't think I went back after that.
18.30

It was quite the thing to use tights as fanbelts years ago wasn't it. I hope he got you some new ones Jane. Your sister must have been a good sprinter!! I was in the schools county hurdles once......and won a few races in a school swimming gala. I was so shy and unconfident I would never enter myself.....it was the teachers or other kids that entered me. lol Oh I did play in the school hockey team, but was too short for netball, too many elbows in my face.

Mandy, yes, the dreaded showers......I cringe thinking about that!!! Some girls with 'plenty' others with 'nothing' and all feeling embarassed, whichever they were, about having it on display. That moment when the towel is dropped, the sprint through and covering it all as fast as you could again. Do schools have cubicles now or is it still the same?

Liz it must be good to have Ian home where you an keep your eye on him.

Just made a nice beef curry for tonight and it's bubbling away happily on the cooker.

BIL came again today for some eggs. stayed a while.

18.40

That is good News that Ian is home now Liz.Maybe a few days of being home will make him feel better.Sometimes an op and especially Anaesthetic (sp) can knock you for 6.Just peace and quiet may help as you never get any decent sleep in hospital.

Welcome home Ian.............glad he is home now Liz. I bet he feels whacked poor thing, but being at home will be a boost for him and the lovely welcome from Millie too. I bet you feel tired after the last few days. Good of your neighbours to help out.

Badminton was my best sport and I loved it, but I didn't take it up till I was 29. I eventually played at a college club in the league, mixed division 1 and ladies division 2. The students were all about 10 years younger than me!! lol I used to run about 3 miles several nights a week then as well. I was about 7 and a half stone ......what happened!!!!!! I still have my racket and some shuttlecocks somewhere.

Just seen this and it sounds good to me.

Hot chocolate, the sort you get in Demel in Vienna, is little more than grated chocolate, sugar and milk, and yet, even served in tiny cups, it manages to warm and nourish in a way no cup of tea or coffee could ever dream of. Perhaps this is why it was, until the 1900s, thought of as medicine. Victoria Moore in How to Drink (Granta, £12.99) says the drink is perfect "as a remedy for a dank, grey morning when the wind and drizzle seem to creep through the window frames into your skin".

The recipe

Grate 50g of dark chocolate into a saucepan containing 250ml of milk approaching the boil.
Stir until the chocolate has dissolved and the drink has slightly thickened.
Stir in sugar to taste, depending on how sweet your chocolate was.
Spoon in a tablespoon of double cream if you wish, and serve.
Enough for one.

The trick

Most chocolate has too much sugar in to be satisfactory for making a hot drink. It ends up more like something you might pour over your profiteroles. If you want to take the drink seriously use the most bitter chocolate you can find (70-100% cocoa butter), then sweeten it yourself. You may be surprised how little sugar you need. Don't let the mixture boil once you have added the chocolate. To get a creamy head, beat with a small whisk as soon as the chocolate has melted.

The twist

Ground cinnamon, added after the chocolate, is popular, as is a scraping of nutmeg on the surface, but we can do better than that. Many of the flavoured, high-cocoa-butter chocolates about at the moment will add intrigue to your drink. Try chilli, lavender, Arabic spice or caramel flavours. Cardamom chocolate gives a wonderfully heady drink.

19.13

Mmmm,sounds tasty Mel ,but a lot of faff .I think I will stick to Cadbu***.Unless someone would like to make it for me lol

Just ordered 2 pairs of trousers on line , will pick them up next friday, great.
want to try them on in the shop.
going to watch the TV

Glad Ian is home Liz, you can now relax.