General Chat

Jane, we live just a mile from Junc 3 of the M6, you should have popped in for a cuppa!!

Frank, just read your latest emails, they always make me smile. The photo with the sunglasses on the dogs backside had me laughing out loud. I never knew I was a 'cat person' in my younger life until one singled me out and decided to sit on my shoulder, be about 10 at the time. The lady of the shop we were outside said he never usually went to anyone. We always had dogs so I suppose I never knew that I had 'cat magnetism'. I could tell some doggy tales on here too but I don't want to start sounding like Johnny Morris!

OH and I were chatting over breakfast this morning and she said she'd like the bedroom re-decorated. Jokingly I said, how about brown and green, meaning that's all we ever saw regarding paint in the war years. Don't think she liked that idea much!!! I suppose as everything in the war was camouglaged they only made green and brown paint! Just a thought as I don't recall seeing any other colours.

She said her friend was going to re-decorate their kitchen black and white because her friends daughter had done their bedroom black and white. I'm sorry, but if that's the only choice you might as well be colour blind...
Anyway, my OH and I can never agree on colours, being artistic I always think one thing, being a woman she always thinks something else. You know what - I always let her win... Re-decorating takes a long while in this house from conception until we finally agree (I capitulate!) and the choice and selection are made and the job is done. I guess it's an emulsion conception cos it takes about 9 months!!!

Black marauding moggy put in a brief appearance this morning but made a hasty exit when the exploding bird lime went off, the cat raid siren sounded, three highly trained Magpie's swooped in on him and the dustcart arrived at the same time. Methinks he is slowly getting the message that he's not too welcome using our bird table for brekky and our borders as his own private loo. Watch this space.

Anyway got to go do 'other things' now, I'll be back later to see what you've all been up to. TTFN

Oh, forgot to mention Frank. Put a new cartridge in my printer and it's not printing very well! I've done all the 'clean print heads, diagnostic, sample, etc' and it is still pretty naff. Unless it's an old cartridge, the only thing I can think is that you've passed on a 'printer virus' on here. I'll have to put the garlic out again LOL

Will keep you posted

Hi everyone sent two threads but I think they removed them on Genes because they both disapeared but I think William and Jane saw the one because he commented on my dads Javlin car which I thought was sweet of him.I did comment twice on a sad event there in Bewdley which had not been resolved.

I had a lovely holiday which I went on to give my dog Teddy some life due to the fact I was told he had a week heart and would only live a year but he lived only a week and two days he passed away when I returned in the lounge with Jasper close by. I think the poor diet and never going out for a walk made the dog die early although twelve is a good age. I had him from a lady who was old and she did not look after him well.I tried to improve his lifestyle.

Bewdley was very cold and then I came back to snow it was freezing.
I went into the garden one day and found some snowdrops I had to take the snow off them .It gladdened my heart to see them .They were my mums and I forgot they were there. However loved my break the cottage was great but the loo was only workable outside in a courtyard. My ho would not get up and go outside so he purchased a plastic bucket. bright
canary yellow with eyes and a mouth on the front. i would not use it
but only woke once and had to visit the toilet. I had visions of it watching me. Thank goodness it was not metal. ho was out of bed every hour after consuming a large amount of beer.

I went to see the War Horse film again yesterday with Beryl .I found it tugged at the old heart strings the second time round like it did the first time and weeped all the way through it. Those poor horses there was the
english dashing along with bayonets on horses and there was the Germans firing there guns the poor horses had no chance of survival and I thought what a waste of such beautiful animals that did not have a choice wether they lived or died . I loved that film and for days did nothing but think about it.

My family have gone now to the States they went yesterday we went to Manchester airport to see them off. April hung on to me so tightly poor Ryan had to prize her little fingers from my coat. There is room for Grampies in the plane she said me and Mat can sit on there knees. I had to explain she had a seat and Matt sat on mummies lap. I am afraid she was having a real crying session when she went which set me off and when Jessica said mum I do not want to go now I had to say .You must
you will be fine and all I wanted to say was do not go then.
Two phone calls later they are settling in the floors been completed in the house and Jessica says its far to remote stuck on a Island thats for holidays and she will not like it.

I said give it time to Jessica. Poor Ryan he seems to think he will be looking for an apartment in New York he said Jessica hates it where she is. Michelle said she is so ungrateful my sister but when you think she was living an idealistic life not long ago in Wales with a lovely smallholding and a very nice husband and now shes in America and with a man shes known not a long while really with two children it must be scary. Me I would love it but Jessica had that illness a long time ago and I sometimes worry she finds things hard to deal with. I have always been on the phone and up to see her when anything went wrong.

Beryl was sweet yesterday I felt a little tearful when seing a family in the cafe a lady who was a grannie with three small children. The little boy was in a high chair throwing everything on the floor and it was all landing close by Beryls feet. The small lad went to throw his bake beans on the floor picking up the whole plate and Beryl not liking small kids shouted Dont you dare throw those beans you little horror . I have had keys straws and chips and goodness knows what hurtled at me sonny pack it in then
the little lad thought it was funny and grinned all over his face turned round
and threw his teddy and Beryl being Beryl picked it up and said teddies staying here with me now you little horror . I nearly died and the lady with
him said . Excuse me he is only eleven months old whats your problem
you silly women . Oh that did it. Beryl was up.You should have stopped him at chips and had some control instead of feeding your fat face.

I am afraid I left at that stage to pay the bill and left Beryl and the women
shouting to the amusement of other people . The lady called Beryl an old witch and she called her a stupid old mare. Meanwhile little Willliam sat laughing very amused by the whole thing. I knew his name I heard her calling him to turn round and eat his dinner. Beryl went on about it all the way home until I reminded her when she was seventeen she threw her
glass of gin and orange all over her boyfriends head because he eye balled another girl. I went home thinking why do I bother. I bet Donnie was in for it when she got back poor man but up until then she was so sweet about Jess leaving.

Kim my e mail is not working at the moment to send a message I have to sort it out now Aprils gone did get your thank you for the card I sent and I am so glad you received it so soon and enjoyed it so much. Simple little cards sometimes make you feel better dont they and I hope you are feeling better soon. I am very down at the moment will be glad of the rest
but gosh it seems so empty in the house now.

I had to sort out the problem of April gelling the hair of those two young girls with marmalade trying to be Jedwood yesterday there mothers were not amused and it seems April invited them for tea today but I had to say well shes gone now to America.

Had better end now .I hope the doggie with kennel cough was ok
Jasper had it last year and I gave him cough mixture in his water
and it went after a while. He got it from the pets parlour and later on a nasty sore private part rash and had to have a coller. I dont go there now.

How brave you were Sheila seeing Jess and family off at the airport, don't think I could have done it. I really hope they settle and have a good life in America, it's not the same as getting in the car and driving to Wales but flights are quite reasonable these days, it just takes a bit more organising. It won't take April long to make new friends, they love our English accent out there, she will be very popular at school, unless she tries to turn them all into Jedward :-0 You've still got Beryl the Peril to liven up your days, alright in small doses I would say.

It will be a brave cat that ventures into your garden now William. I remember all the interiors of the houses in our street were all painted either brown or green, there's a bit too much choice now. I've gone for a neutral colour throughout and then went a bit mad in the bedroom, can't remember what they called it but it's a light aubergine colour.

Hope you are feeling better Mel, you're better off staying in the warm till that cold's gone.

Hi Everyone,

Phew!! Don't think I shall want any tea now after a rather tasty lunch with Jane and Fitz! Frank, no wine for me,I have been TEETOTAL ......for 5 years now.....I had some nice apple juice instead. I'm not telling what Jane and Fitz had, but there was a small flow of red and white!! Boy, it was chilly this morning and a lake I passed on the way was frozen solid all over.

Sheila, it will take a bit of getting used to without Miss April and the family there, but at least it should be more restful for you. It's early days for them yet in America, so try not to worry about them. Beryl is a bit of a nightmare isn't she shouting at the lady.......I would have sneaked off to pay like you did too!!

Hope your nasty cold soon gets better Mel. The one I had over xmas was the same with my nose bleeding a bit for a few days. I think it is because the tissues in the nose get so swollen and inflamed.

William, that cat probably thinks you have called the SAS in! As you say, he seems to be keeping a low profile anyway!!

Hope your daughter takes to her new job Kim. It will be a bit of extra money for her and get her used to the world of work! I think Joel won't be doing the same again in a hurry.

Better sort my stuff out for tomorrow's class now........we are using safety pins! Hope I don't end up with a 'punk' necklace!! :-0

I haven't moved outside the door today, apart from going to the tumble dryer in the garage. Must go and empty it !!!!

William,My wife's father had a cat. He lived in Earls Barton, and worked at Barker's shoes in the village. Every lunchtime when the hooter went, the cat would run down the road, and jump on his shoulder and be taken home. The same thing happened in the evenings.

When his wife died we got him another cat, it was as mad as a hatter. It would climb up the wallpaper and curtains. And if he needed tablets, you had to smother hinm in a towel, and fight like mad with him.

Did you buy your printer ink on line ??? I bought some for my old printer, I swear that's what Buggered my printer up. Now I will only buy genuine manufactures replacements. You learn from your mistakes.

Are you home yet Jane.???

My dad managed to get hold of some CREAM GLOSS during the war. Gallons of it, so every room was decorated in it. When you could get wallpaper. He bought some that was about 8" wide, and made an arch type design with little decorations in the corners. I also remember he decided to "STIPPLE" the walls with gloss paint and a piece of sponge. Dissaster didn't come into it :-D :-D :-D :-D never again. The only thing you could use on the ceilings was distemper. It stunk the house out.

BBL

As Ann says Phew!. I think I will be watching everyone else eat tonight.I'm still full after a very nice lunch.It was great to see you again Ann and I know Fitz enjoyed our little get together.
No snow yet ,but I have seen a few tiny flakes.

Sheila ,It must have be tough to say goodbye at the airport.I hope Jess can settle and enjoy her new life in America.I'm sure April will makes friends at school.She is obviously a very out going little girl.

As for dear Beryl!!!!! I think I would have legged it too from the Cafe lol.She does get herself into some scrapes doesn't she.

James has gone to pick up Jess from Northampton as she is coming to stay for a few days.They will be home shortly so I had better start the dinner.

BBL

Yes, it was good to see you again Jane, glad Fitz enjoyed it too.....a nice way to while away a few hours!! Glad I don't have to cook lunch.....OH has 2 meetings tonight so has sorted himself out foodwise and had already left when I got home. I must say I feel quite tired and could easily have a little doze now!! :-D

I always remember the walls at my gran's house being a sort of pea green. It made the rooms seem very dark. When I moved into my house previous to this one, all of the woodwork, doors, frames. windows, skirtings and the stairs were in that brown grain and varnish effect paint. It took ages to burn and strip that all off!! The upstairs ceilings and walls were lime washed I think. I know it was powdery and came off in flakes and I had to seal the surfaces before the paint and wallpaper could get a grip. It did have a distinctive smell when you wet it.

How nice Maureen, hope you have a lovely day tomorrow with your daughter. Did you settle on an outfit for yourself or are you still looking?

Maureen I do hope your shopping trip is not halted because of snow tomorrow.
I'm just watching the forecast.Now I'm not sure that we will get too much ,it looks a bit more to the west from here.Bet my sister gets a fair dollop.

Just looked out the back door and we have snow!.Just a light covering at the moment.

Frank, it was a genuine HP cartridge but I was sorting through my stationery drawer and it sort of appeared from the back! That's what makes me think it's old stock It's kinda OK but doesn't look too good when printing anything photographic quality. I do have an unopened twin pack so I'm not too bothered if I have to ditch it. I do a lot of graphics printing as I do all the leaflets etc for both the Carers Group I help run and also the Model Car club I belong to. As they say, it keeps me off the streets, keeps my grey matter working and saves both organisations a shed load of money. Also keeps my old professional skills honed and I hate to not be doing something. Hence, I'm often on here sprouting a load of gibberish.
The cartridge that's suspect is one of several I got when I was visiting the Staffordshire/Mercian Regiment Museum near Lichfield with my grown-up grandson. They had a table with books and all sorts of stuff that was donated and on sale to raise funds for the Museum. That's where I saw the cartridges and they just asked for a donation so I got them for a song really. If nothing else it raised a bit of cash for them. MY GS's wife is in the TA with the Mercian as a musician so it was sort of a benevolent gesture on my behalf. If I take it out it will go off to Tes*o recycling and get OH 100 points anyway, so I get something out of it whatever way you look at it.

I remember the old stippling too, and my dad used to 'grain' the brown paint on the doors by using this ridged rubber faced comb that he wiggled up and down in the wet paint. After the war, it took him ages to get it all off as we had a heck of a lot of woodwork in the house. We used to have a sort of wooden dado in the hall about picture hook height, I think it may have been to stand decorative plates on. From there down ran spaced vertical wooden slats which gave a sort of panel look. Anyway, at one point the woodworm got in and in the long run did Dad a favour. By taking all the wookwork out he saved himself a load of painting in the future.

Anyway, others things to crack on with - catch you all soon

You never spout gibberish William :-D
Now I need advice quick!!!!!!!!
My Freezer is suddenly making a heck of a racket .It sounds like the motor.
Do I turn if off or leave it to burn out or whatever it might do.I don't want it catching fire in the night.HELP!!

William, what gibberish? We must all be the same as I hadn't noticed any. lol :-D I had trouble with a cartridge recently. I had just changed it and couldn't get it to print properly either after doing the head cleaning thingy and jet cleaning. ( It was a cheap version not the recommended ones) Then I had a good look at the box it was in and found a 'sell by date'.......you guessed, it was WELL past it!!!lol I put another cartridge in and it was ok then. As you say though, you may as well carry on and get some use out of yours if it is good enough for what you want.

Jane, I would switch it OFF!! It is probably overheating if it is clattering. Sounds like another thing for your 'to do' list tomorrow!

Think I am off to bed for an early night so will wish you all goodnight.....no more snow here yet when I just peeped through the curtain.

Snowing here as well.Very fine but settling

Done some ironing today to warm myself up in between blowing my nose. went to the library and got myself two new talking books so that helped with the ironing. Oh did the chickens for me today so I did'nt have to go out after doing there mash and water this morning.

It has started to rain a little tonight.

Sheila I am sure once they all get settled in out there they will be happy. At least they all have each other and you are only an email away. It is bound to feel strange to them all at first and you also having had them stay with you for a while. give them all my love when you get in touch with them.

Jane and Ann I am glad you enjoyed your day out and your lunch. Jane hope the freezer is ok!! or it will be MORE EXPENSE!!!!!

Maureen have a good day with your daughter. Don't spend too much

;-)

Mel i think the freezer is in it's death throws.I have managed to transfer all the important things like meat joints into the small freezer (that was Hannah's).I will turn the big freezer off before I go to bed.If I leave it on I will be awake all night worrying :-S.......So yes I think more EXPENSE .I rang Fitz to see if they have any spare room in their freezer,but no theirs is full :-S
The snow seems to be getting thicker now.I won't be taking Chester out in the morning.He keeps yelping with pain in his front left leg.I think he could do with a walking stick at the moment.

Janice had to cancel her Consultants appointment and her first Hydrotherapy session today as she has been being sick.She thinks it is all down to her medication.I feel so sorry for her.It must be miserable feeling like this all the time.
Chris has gone to bed ....difficult day at work.
Jess(James girlfriend) is having a nice bath with my lovely bath foam.She had quite a journey up from Kent today.
We forgot to chuck the rock salt on the drive tonight.Could be a bit iffy in the morning car wise :-S :-S
Mel I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Morning everyone,

Sharp frost this morning , there was a light flurry of snow last night but it didn't lay .

Hope your cold is a bit better today Mel, i thought i was in for one ,my throat was a bit dry yesterday but it's ok today .

Jane, you could have just left your freezer contents out side ,i don't think they would have thawed lol has the freezer been defrosted lately ? only DIL's mum 's freezer was making a funny noise ,so they turned it off ,once it had defrosted they turned it back on and it's worked fine since .some times just a little bit of ice around the lid or door will make it keep running .Also was the quick freeze button on, this will keep the motor running and make it work over time .!!

Food in the freezer will keep frozen for at least twenty four hours if the freezer is full and you DON'T open the door/lid !!!

Not doing much today , would you believe my back twinged again this morning !!! i bet it was cleaning that blooming oven out .

Oh suns coming out .
BBL

The postman has been and i now have a pile of pink and white envelopes ,i think they might be for me to open tomorrow :-D :-D
There was a white envelope came last week ,and i thought i'd better not open it ,it felt like a card so that's on the pile too :-D :-D

Also its Toby's birthday today !! he's 11.

Happy Birthday Toby hope you get spoilt today. XXX

Morning All,

I am not quite so stuffed up this morning but still have this blasted cold.

Well it rained last night and it is still raining this morning also dull and miserable.

Mandy I am glad I am not the only one that saves her cards till the right day. I have two waiting in front of the telly already.

Is Toby doing anything special for his birthday??

Wonder what Ann is going to do with thoe safety pins today??

Morning Mandy ,Mel and all

Happy Birthday Toby .Are you baking a cake Mandy? lol
Mel the weather sound miserable down there,all that rain.We had another 2 or 3 inches of snow last night,so that is now lying on top of the frozen stuff :-S.
It is quite bright now but I don't see anything thawing.

I think I will be looking for a new Freezer today.Mandy the one that was making that racket last night hes never been that good,and I have never been happy with it.Maybe a slightly smaller one as I have Hannah's small one now.I think a 5 drawer one should do .

Coffee time :-D I didn't realise the time ,and I have done nothing so far except feed the birds.
BBL