General Chat

Snap ladies, I had porridge too. I slept a bit better last night so I’m a bit more with it today.

It was so white this morning that I thought it had snowed but it was just a really heavy frost. We got to the heady heights of 3 degrees earlier but the temperature is on the way down again already. I think we’re going to miss most of the snow but the forecast is for sleet through most of the night so I think the paths will be icy again tomorrow.

I hope AnnG got back safely.

I’ve had a morning of doing all sorts of odd jobs including taking down all the cards, candles and odd decorations I had put up. We’ll deal with the trees and lights tomorrow. My next job is to sort out dinner tonight. I bought 2 thick pork chops yesterday as OH likes them but I’m not very keen on them so I’ve taken a small piece of chicken from the freezer for me. I’ll freeze one of the chops for OH to have another time.

Ann we had porridge this morning too ,mainly to use some milk up as it was getting close to the date but it is nice and warming for the tummy this time of year .
It will be good if OH can get a nice warming cuppa up I the boardroom with his friend ,it must be cold for the feet standing out on the cold grass .
I'm hoping we will be on the edge of the snow and that we don't get much ,I must admit I really don't like the snow or frost never have done even when I was little I never liked sliding along on ths ice ,even more nervous now since I fell and broke my wrists much rather be indoors looking out lol

Afternoon all,

Did a post and lost the lot ,we were going to sons today but with the icy weather we're staying in , I have a parcel coming so need to be here really if its left on ths step it might get taken.
I ordered some of those big laundry bags to put the Christmas tree in ,the box is getting very tatty and it's so heavy to get up the stairs ,I usually slide it down but taking it up is not so easy so if I can get the branches in a couple of bags it will be easier to carry bags up.

I expect Anng is well on her way home by now they usually leave early .

Mel I meant to say there's a new lot of Father Brown starting next Friday lunch time I know you like that programme although I didn't think the last lot were as good as the first ones .

Afternoon All,

I didn't wake till gone 9.00am, but it didn't seem as cold and there was less frost, at least by then. PC says 1 degree but feels warmer. Freezing rain and snow expected tonight. OH's match is off though, so he is going to another at Nuneaton. He'll see a friend there who is one of the officials I think and so will be able to take OH into the boardroom at half time where he will get a free hot drink and a bun!

We are trying to start getting back on track now so had porridge this morning and I had blueberries with mine.

Mel we subscribe to 2 other papers we have which saves about 30% of the cost, but I don't do it with DM as I don't have it every day, so just go and fetch it from the shop. It is annoying when they sell out and sometimes it is quite early in the day when you don't expect it.

I hope AnnG is well on the way back by now.

Morning all,

Still frosty out there but not such a nice morning sun wise. Its grey skies right over. Pc is telling me 1 degree and snow on the way so I better get up the shop for my paper once I have defrosted the car again.

Hope you all slept well and safe journey home for Anng and family. You mind the roads ar'nt too icy.

I actually heard his car come down the drive and the top part of me was dressed soo I bunged on my toweling robe. Is'nt it annoying when your paper is sold out! The frost went today from lots of places the sun dos'nt reach and I needed to go up the hsop so ran my car for a while to defrost it but it took ages. I even had to squeegy the inside of the windscreen. I got there safely and back again sso that was good. Nice you found a good dessert in the freezer you had forgotten about makes it all the more special.

I was cross I had slept so long this morning after putting the heating on at 8am something as it makes the day so short.

I hope you have a good and safe drive home tomorow Anng. Will they spend the night with you or a few days before going home? Wish them a Happy New Year from me please?

Nothing much to interest me on the telly tonight so I am watching the Harry Potter bakers. They have made some amazing cakes in the 6 hours given them.

Evening All,

We slept quite well and lay in this morning watching tv with a COT while the heating warmed up! :-D There was a good frost but the condensation that forms on the bedroom windows wasn't frozen like it would in years gone by in our childhoods. There was a thick frost everywhere on cars and rooftops and on the pavements. The sun came out and thawed it except for the shady areas. We had home made meals from the freezer today with rice. Still a few things to eat up but not much and I found a nice lemon, cream and meringue sort of roll in the freezer I'd forgotten all about so we can have that on Sunday.

Like Mandy I decided to pop to the Co-op later after some of the frost had gone, but the roads were clear and not many cars about. The roads are very shiny with wear around here as they only patch the holes now, so could be lethal with ice on them. I just cruised gently around the bends! I got milk and bread, plus a few requests for OH, but the papers I wanted were all sold.

Mel that was a close shave with BIL arriving and nearly giving him an eyeful! ;-) You need one of those cables across your drive that trip an alarm bell warning. He's very good starting to do some more jobs for you so soon after the new year though and on such a cold day. You do have some lovely birds on your feeders. I meant to say that I used to make a similar slice with bought puff pastry, but added some cooked apple to the mincemeat. It was nice with cream too.

I expect you are almost all packed now AnnG. OH was looking at the forecast for tomorrow round here for footie tomorrow and after some fog in the morning it doesn't look too bad, but the weather will be worse here on Sunday now. If you are going back tomorrow, I hope you have a good sleep tonight and a safe journey home. It is a long journey.

Vera I'm sure your daughter must appreciate your daily calls just now and knowing you are there to listen. Sorry you had a bad night's sleep, but we have also both felt so lethargic the past few says and not motivated to do anything much, so I hope getting back to more normal eating and moving more will give us back a bit of energy.

Mandy I hardly ever wait till the twelth night and once I even took everything down on Boxing Day! I think I wanted to start to redecorate or something like that before I went back to work! Jake got you both some thoughtful and useful presents didn't he. Does he have a girlfriend or does he not say! :-)

BIL just gone he did a lot of clearing out in the garage and took some pics just before he left of the birds on the feeder and hedge and will send them to me. We had four robins under the feeder and the Woodpecker on it and long tailed tits blue tits and sparrows but he never takes a pic of the sparrows.

BIL is hereand I'm not dressed I was just going in the shower.

Morning girls,

Woke early and went to the loo and there was such a hard frost I thought I'll turn the heating on and go back to bed for half an hour. Woke at 9.43am so must have fallen asleep again but at least it was warm when I got up.

Sorry to hear a couple of you had bad nights. You all stay safe inside today if its really bad round you.

The pc says 1 degrees and partly sunny but the suns been out since I first got up for the loo at 8.36am.

Going to keep my lovely cards up till the 12th night and not got much more up anyway just put some lights away and garlands.

You all keep yourselves nice and warm today and don't risk going out in this icy weather till its thawed a bit if you have to.

Good morning all. The sun is shining but it is very cold, only a light breeze and the birds, mainly goldfinches, blue tits and blackbirds are around the feeders. Daughter said the path front of house looks icy but there was no frost on the grass or rooftops.

They have hair appointments this morning. I was going for a wander round Workington while they were there but have decided to stay home and pack. I had a bad night so am tired. Too much rich food eaten late didn’t help.

Yes, if it was too bad we would delay a day, same for them coming back. It is the first hour this end which is the problem across the A66 which runs near the northern mountains.

Morning all,
Lovely sunny morning but very frosty and cold ,I nipped out to bring the bin in that was emptied first thing ,we were going to sons and do a bit of shopping but son messaged and said I'd keep in if I were you as the roads are very slippery, we might wait until later and just nip to the co op down the road as we need milk and a TV book .

Anng I hope the weathers OK for you travelling home tomorrow and that your daughter can get back OK too ,it looks like the North is going to get the worst of it .

Good morning all
There’s a very heavy frost this morning and it’s sooo cold but the sun is shining and the sky is a pale blue. Safe journey back tomorrow AnnG. The main roads will probably be fine but if it is bad would your daughter and sil be able to wait an extra day or two before bringing you home?

I had very little sleep last night so feel very heavy headed and can’t seem to get myself moving today. Like AnnG we normally leave our decorations till 12th night but I might make a start taking them down. Enjoy the day whatever you’re doing and stay warm.

Glad you had a good day Vera and the journey was ok.
Getting a bit bothered about our journey on Saturday, looking at the weather. Hope the forecast is worse than the reality.
I see all the decorations are coming down I do still try and stay with tradition and keep them up until twelfth night.

Gosh, it’s been cold today - a real shock to the system, but it’s been lovely to see some sun at last and beautiful pale blue skies.

You’ve been busy today Mel. Your mincemeat slice sounds good. I like the sound of that lemon ice cream/sorbet as well.

I’m glad your coughs and colds are getting better AnnG. That must have been frustrating to lose a post this morning.

We had a good drive to Southend and back today. There was plenty of traffic but no hold ups. We got to our friend’s house about 11 am and left just after 2 pm.so plenty of time to get home in the light. I was glad we went as he hasn’t been very well and lives alone so was glad of the company. We exchanged Xmas presents and came home with some nice smellies each, a box of chocs and a box of tea time goodies; jam, lemon curd, shortbread, a rich fruit cake and tea bags.

I haven’t done much since we got back, apart from spending half an hour on the phone with my daughter. I’m ringing her every day at the moment.

iPad is telling me it’s -1 and feels like -7. It makes me think of when I was young and I’d have my coat put over the bed as an extra blanket and in the morning there would be ice on the inside of the window. I’m glad those days are gone.

Evening all,

Very frosty here this morning but it soon cleared when tyhe sun peeped through , I decided to get all the lights in the front garden down ,it didn't take long to get them off the shrubs and off the Christmas tree, we then brought the tree round into the back garden so we can cut it up another day, I then got all the inside decorations off the tree and all the other bits and pieces put away ,it's all done just got the big box with the tree in to go back upstairs ,tomorrow we're off to sons for a coffee and do a bit of shopping .
The lemon sorbet sounds nice ,I bet its quite refreshing on a really hot day .

Yes Ann ths jigsaw puzzle will be out in a day or two ,just wanted to get tidy around the house first ,I had the Christmas China and cutlery to get away in the cupboards and catch up with the washing.
The fire has been going over Christmas its been quite hot at times when it turned a bit milder, Jake brought grandad a new pair of fire gloves ,he was pleased with those as his other pair were beginning to wear on the fingers , he bought me a book ,Air fryer recipes and chocolates for both of us .

Yes I hope Vera got home in daylight and had a good catch up with her friend .

Anng thats good the coughs and colds are better ,when do you travel home .

Mel you've had a busy day cleaning ,the mincemeat slice sounds nice ,was it clotted cream ,I bought some clotted cream to have with Christmas pud .

The lemon sorbet would be lovely and thirst quenching on a hot day Mel. Your pony was about the same size as mine which was 13.2 hh so an inch smaller. Big enough for us shorter girls though and easier for us to get on! I can well imagine yours keeping that set distance from the road edge. Once they learn what you want and it becomes a habit they try to stick to it and are reluctant to change. You've got a lot more done than me today.

That's good that the coughs and colds all seem to be better now AnnG. We thought about popping to the Costa here, but worried about being stuck on the retail park with all the sales shoppers so stayed in.

I hope Vera had a good journey and got home in the daylight ok.

The frost was not too bad this morning and it has been a nice sunny day but cold out of the sun. We just had a quick trip to Costa for coffee and Asda for a look round but only bought a cheap torch as my one I was using here needs new batteries.

Coughs all seem to be better now and SiL’s daughter has gone home.

Annx the lemon ice was a sort of sorbay looked just like compacted snow. My pony was only 13.3hh and was broken to a cart before being ridden hence whenever we went on a road ride he would always be about 3' 6" out from the kerb allowing for his cart.

I have cleaned both bathrooms windowsill and hand basins, then I made a big mincemeat slice. Had the cooker on while the sun was shining so was'nt spending hardly anything on the leccy. Had a nice chicken sandwich for lunch and a bit of the slice for dessert with a little cream. Did'nt get around to making my mince pies this year so I thought I woud get more out of the sheet of pastry than individul pies. Its only 1 degree here now and we've had sun all day but its so low in the sky at present. Theres not a cloud in the sky. Makes such a change from endless grey skies and rain and wind.

Going to corn the girls now.

Afternoon All,

I didn't get to sleep very early and so didn't even wake till 9.15am but feel quite refreshed today. We ordered food in to save me cooking and I did a very quick hoover round just to pick up the obvious bits. OH is watching a match on tv and working on his tax return now and I am doing some paperwork. It's only 3 degrees now, but the PC says it feels like -4 degrees and the bit of sun we had has gone already. ERNIE has been less generous this month, just £50 but better than nothing. The prize money they give keeps going down, but maybe people cashing in their bonds will follow and so increase the chances of winning something.

That's another icecream I haven't heard of Mel! So your pony could be driven too between the shafts. I would have loved that! How high was he? The lemon icecream does sound delicious and I would have enjoyed that.

That's a nuisance losing your post AnnG. I expect you have had a good frost at your daughter's and we are all going to be cold the next few days. I hope the coughs and colds are improving.

I bet you are all cosy with the logs burning Mandy! Will one of the jigsaws be coming out soon, or have you already started? I put mine away again as I didn't want OH trying to lift the board it's on with his bad back. I might get the cane table in out of the conservatory to do it on. OH uses the dining table as his 'office' and will be piling his things back on it again soon so I can't do it on there.

Just remembered I need to start the food order for the delivery this weekend. A COT first though.