General Chat

hi brenda I hope you enjoy your birthday and have a great day, glad you enjoyed the snow I had a lovely day with the family and lindy cooked a great meal the turkey was very tasty, the children have gone snow boarding and ski-ing to-day their two girl cousins stayed over so they are making a day of it, lindy's mother still downhill skies and she is 70 and very good at it, I am more the stay in the chalet in front of the fire type. holiday plans were discussed at the meal, andrew and family are looking at going out west for three weeks with the big trailer it sleeps 6, they have done the east coast twice, it enables the childre to see a lot of canada and it also helps education wise then the children go to camp for 2 weeks the one their mother used to go to for all those outdoor activities, and andrew is looking to book xmas in the uk as fast a s possible, I think they plan on leaving on the 18th of dec and back on the 31st, he has given up the idea of staying in bed abd breakfast and resigned himself to staying at his siter in laws 4 adults and 6 children bedlam as he puts it, I am tempted to think about coming and staying at anne's I have to admit I have never had a xmas without andrew it will seem very strange, but that is months away having a lazy day to-day bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone,was busy doing nothing again today and fellasleep watching tv late in the aftenoon,so not tired now.!!
Have visitors calling during tomorrow as its my birthday,should hav been going out at least twice this weekend but they have been postphoned due to having the op.
have loads of flowers now,and chocs plus an egg, but am not in the mood to eat the chocs.!!!
Will be hoping the snow holds off it was really amazing to see it today!! think it was more than what Anne said Dorothy but not as much as you are used to,Enjoy the meal with your family.
Brenda

hi well I recieved an early morning phone call from anne in bury to say she had about 2 and a half inches of snow in her garden she as so excited but it was allready melting she was trying to match the 6 and a half foot that I have, hope you all have a nice easter sunday bye for now dorothy

Hi all,
Well Johan's birthday is now over and we are left with lots of food. I thought this would be the case because it is Easter weekend. Never mind, it was nice for those who did come to show their faces.
I don't know yet when I start to use the catheter. I don't like to have to do it, but have no alternative, other than major surgery. After the last operation I am still dozy in the mornings and cannot seem to get going. I hate myself for this and wish I could move quicker.
My granddaughter Linda brought her new boyfriend to see us. He is a lovely lad and gave me a hand when he came and a kiss when he left. I don't mind him as a toy boy if Linda doesn't want him.
Today is going to be spent just lazing around, but still have to get showered and dressed. We have had breakfast though.Have a nice day everybody.
Sylvia xxx

hi brenda and one and all I have arrived back from my 4 days in brampton I had a great time, the retirement dinner went well at least the social part of it the less said about the food the better fred would have been horrified, then isobelle and I spent some time with other friends and got caught up on all the news watched a few movies plus an old morse from the library that I had never seen it had a very young amanda burton in it. the drive back was allright cold but lots of sun and no snow, to-morrow I am having easter dinner at my families house along with the other grandma lindy's sister and husband and girls and oh yes the former husband, should be fun and I don't have to cook. sylvia I hope that they get the bladder situation cleared up for you, I used to teach children as young as 3 to catheratize themsleves so I am sure you will catch on, the young ones who were handicapped in one way or another did well at it, I always thought they were amazing. fred as usual your dinner sounds great I hope the weather improves for you, well that is it for me take care bye for now dorothy

Afternoon all.well I am now more than confused as I KNOW put a message on here yesterday,brief but still a message.!! Anyway nice to see you kathleen,we have also had problems with a russian vine from the garden at the back and we also used something like Fred has suggested.
Hope you mange with the catheter Sylvia,can't be pleasant.
Have a nice weekend ,weather permitting ,Brenda

Morning all a lovely day here 'so far lol,but ,it's veeeeery windy again ,so no garden for Fred today grrrrrr.
Kath' if you have no shrubs ,or plants too close on your side of the fence use a systemic weedkiller ,such as deeproot or simular,either sprayed on ,or watered on.
This stuff goes in through the leaves and kills the plant from the inside.
For brambles you may need up to three doses over two monmths,but you will get there.
I remember using creasote on weeds up the garden where there was nothing closeto the place i waqnted to treat.but the only downfall is ,nothing will then grow there for years lol,okay if you don't wan't to use the area again..
The sysemic's will not harm the soil in any way,and if next door won't do their duty ,then tough on them if a few plants die off.
I used systemic on blackberry bushes to great effect in the allotments some years back ,so ,i know it works well.
Looks like i will be needed to drive for another week which i can manage okay,nothing long term,this time ,thank goodness.
We have the family coming for dinner and tea tomorrow,so i have got the turkey in ready to cook tonight,there is sliced pork and ham in the big freezer,and there is plenty of veg' to hand,cauli' brocc',parsnip ,carrot and peas,which i will cook ,and put in tureens so that peeps can help themselves to what they want,and i have honey in for the parsnips.
We have some christmas pud's left from Christmas ,and some apple pie for thosewho prefer it,so there should be plenty to go round.
Sunday,we will be goibng to the sons for dinner ,so i am going to get the day off from cooking,sounds good lol.
'Eck,how the weather is changing over the years,i bet a few people can remember years ago ,it being lovely and warm at easter ,the boys in shorts ,and girls in their short summer frocks and dresses he he,try it now you young'uns ,and your knees will get frostbite.
Fred has done two hard boiled eggs to go with his salad for dinner,no chocolate eggs for mr [snifle] not allowed lol,i really must find a shop in town that does sugar free sweeties ,so that i can have a couple now and again.
At the moment ,the only easter eggs i can eat ,are the ones i'm having for dinner,but ,never mind ,i will enjoy them with some lettuce ,cellery,and tomato.and ,a little spring onion and mayo' sauce i have made up,yummy.
Think i may go to See Peter in hospital this afternoon,he isn't too good,the abssess is not resonding to treatment at all .and the anti biotics are doing nothing for him.
They are going to operate some time next week to clean out the hole he now has in his foot,removing the sack and packing it out so that it will hopefully heal up,but him being type 1 diabetic ,it isn't easy,and i am now worried about mrsa with the antibiotics not working.
.Maybe ,i should sneak him in an easter egg ,that might cheer him up a little lol.
The cat is relegated to the kitchen tonight lol,much as i love her ,i wass not amused to be woken at three with her playing with my ear at three this morning grrrrr,he he, it's a good job she couldn't understand english lol,her ears would have burned .
Time to go peeps ,there is housework waiting for me, mutters under breath lol.Fred.

Hello, have not been around for some time computer problems. It was really annoying as it took forever to get online and then couldn't get any web pages up.
Brenda, hope you are feeling a little better everyday, just take it very easy and don't try to do too much too soon.
Sylvia, you have been unlucky with your health lately but at least you know now what the problem is. Don't like the sound of having to use a catheter 4 times a day but if it helps I guess it will be worth it.
Dorothy, just reading your messages about all that snow gives me the shivers - much prefer the sunshine. It is very cold at the moment down here and has just stopped raining, it was really heavy for about 3 hours but has been raining steadily since about midday.
Fred, you can come and cook for me anytime you like. Could do with your expertise in the garden as well. At the moment most of mine is in real need of clearing and digging over. Just a couple of beds with spring flowers coming through and the clematis has started into life again. The forsythia is looking good though in need of a good trim once the flowering is finished. Would really like to take most of the shrubs out as they have outgrown their spaces and are a bit old (like me!!). The garden that backs onto mine is the bane of my life - they are too generous with their brambles, ivy and elderberry which grows over, under and through the fence. I keep trying to kill it off but there is too much of it and seems I'm fighting a losing battle.
Had about three weeks of that awful virus which just would not go away but can finally say I am over it now, but it does knock you for six.

Hope everyone enjoys the Easter weekend, don't like it when it comes this early.

Take care
Love
Kathleen

Hi all,
Brenda, I too had two funny faces come up on my screen and had to close the machine down because I couldn't do anything else.
Hope you are feeling better now. Takes time, doesn't it?
We had a lovely wedding anniversary and our flat looks like a florists now.
Today I had another blow to my health. I had a Urodynamic investigation and they discovered I cannot pass urine at all. When my bladder is full it leaks. It is no wonder that I have had cystitis for more than a year. Foul urine in the bladder which couldn't get away. The specialist doesn't advise an operation for me as it is a major one. It is like being fitted with a pacemaker to stimulate the bladder. He advises me to use catheters 4 times a day and I am going to be taught how to do this. Well, don't have any other option at the moment.
I sent my two daughters and granddaughter Easter flower arrangement - white and yellow flowers with eggs inbetween. This was a surprise for them. They thought it was a lovely idea.
Must go to the market tomorrow and Saturday is Johan's birthday, so won't have much time.
Have been reading all your texts. For all those "under the weather" keep smiling the sun is just hiding temporarily. It does come and show its face now and again.
Sylvia xxx

Afternoon folks,did type out a message yesterday ,then my pc seemed to have a bit of a wobbler and froze with a pop up sort of thing for searching on the site!!!
Turned it all off and left it guess the message is now in outer universe somewhere.
weather sunny but still cold I am told as I have not been out apart from the doctors yesterday ,I have a sick note for four weeks.
I am being really boring and not doing anything,its still painfull to sit here too long so will have to pace myself.
Hope everyone is ok.brenda

hi fred (tues eve) not to worry I amsure I will be back on line as soon as I get back to-day we had ice pellets and then a small amt of snow but it supposed to be fine to-morrow so the highways should be in good shape, one of the ladies will be looking after the cats for me she spoils them quite a bit bye for now dorothy

Cor ,we are going to be a bit thin on the ground for a few days,lol,i will have to look in ,in the afternoons for a few days ,at least.
Peter ,the bro 'in law id back in hospital with a nasty abssess mainly due to a useless doctor who mucked up his medication and treatment for same.
So,it's me up at six for a few days and out at seven thirty to drive his van again to help out.
The son has gone out today to organize a pidgeon [clay] shoot ,so Liz and i are picking up the grandson from school again.
These are both for family members so there is of course no charge for serives rendered,BUT ,Martin has promised four pounds of assorted ,home made sausages for my appraisal,so i wasn't turning those down.
I turned out the other potato barrel yesterday ,after i got the other one started off again,and was suprised to get two carrier bage of lovely clean potatos out[must be about 25 pounds in all,not bad for now't is it he he.
Must go now,,shopping to do before we pick up Chris and come home to my cottage pie and peas which i made yesterday afternoon.
Catch you all later.Fred.

hi monday evening I had a nice chat with brenda to-day I gave her a phone call she is doing better though still uncomfortable it was great to speak to her , hope you all are well I am planning a few days away from wednesday to saturday I have a retirement dinner to go to on thursday evening will see some of the nurses I have not seen in ages and some not since I retired in 1999 so I am looking foreward to that bye for now dorothy

afternoon all.just another few lines to say i am still here.Having a bit of a see saw with the pain etc.But am learning I have to take it easy.!!!
See you tomorrow,brenda

Evening all,wow ,what a weekend ,the grandbairns here from ealy Friday,and wev'e just taken them home,lol,a fun time had by all ,but ,by 'eck it makes me realise that i ain't a spring chicken any more.
Liz made us a lovely pudding for dinner which we had with roast potato's and parsnip,xsteamed cabbage and broccolli.
The pudding i can pass on to anyone who fancies making it ,,ingreients? cooked chopped up bacon [boiled],chopped leek ,or onion,cooked liver and kidney finelly chopped,just mixed into bread crumbs ,and put into a steamer or microwave for five minutes.
It comes out a lot like a leek pudding but is much easier than mixing pastry,i have to say that i was most impressed ,it turning out to be veeeeery tasty to say the least.
We finished off the dinner with a christmas pud that was begging to be used up .along with a brandy sauce.
We have been watching sports Relief since we came home,and what an acheivement by our younger people ,thousands taking part, it makes you realise that there is hope for the world yet,and these young'uns are not nearly as black as they are painted,we could have done as well years ago but didn't bother to our shame.
Off to make the tea,tomato suop with a slice of bread .
Be back later,hope everyone had a good weekend.Fred.

hi everyone well we had a nice day to-day no snow and the sun was shining and the teperature wa 2 degree's it was almost balmy, nice to see john back on line, I do hope that brenda is resting and feeling somewhat better nothing else new at the moment bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone
It's been quite awhile that I was on GR and thought it was about time I visited. I have been kept busy helping at the Sallies and editing the Sunday newsletter. Gayle is going to a Move It and Lose It group for exercise on Tuedays.
Tuesday just gone Gayle had to have an injection in an eye because of a weeping tearduct - not a nice procedure. On the same day I flew to the Auckland limb centre to get a new knee in my leg.
The WOMAD festival is in New Plymouth this weekend with acts from all over the world performing - we aren't going but no doubt will hear some of the music from our place. Westlife will be performing in New Plymouth in a few weeks, I quite like their music but won't be going to the concert. These days one has got to pick and choose which events to go to.
Easter is only days away and Craig will be coming down for the weekend.
Catch you later
John

hi brenda glad to hear that you are home I am sorry that you had to endure the open op but at least they have fixed you up, I started a thread called brenda from friends and neighbours and 11 people sent you messages of good wishes maybe you can find it when you feel better, reat up and take it easy bye for now dorothy

Pleased to hear that all went well and you are now on way to better health
Margaret

Helloeveryone,i am home,but svery sore,ended up with open surgery not key hole due to an abcess being attached to the gall bladder.So I have a loverly scar right across mt tummy at waist level,plus the two incesions they did for the key hole.Apparently they were surprised i had not had more problems than I had had,if you know what i mean.Not sure when I will get back as its rather uncomfortale sitting here.
Brenda