General Chat

Just put some stuff in the freezer and flipped a plastic pack of mince . Came out in the kitchen and my finger was stuck to my thumb. Iv'e cut myself on the pack and am bleeding all over finger and thumb....... :-|

Just read your posts as I have been out since 2.45ish. I went to Bideford again to get another throw I bought in Morrisons and a couple of glasses that went with them I bought the last two with the fir trees on them. One for SIL and one for Kate (Stu's wife) who is cooking me a dinner on Christmas Eve. Spent loads again as I don't have a delivery till the third of Jan. I bought just what I fancied and a lovely sausage meat and cranberry wreath to cook and take with me too. There will be 6 of us at least and not sure if Kates mum will be there too. Got back home at 6.30pm did'nt like driving in the dark but I had to go today as all the other days are taken up with stuff I have to do. BIL is coming tomorrow as I rang him and said I was going out.

I could just go a bit of lemon cheesecake now Vera. I did treat myself to some creme brulee, hav'nt had that for years and it makes a nice light dessert.

Better get unpacked now as there's still stuff in the bags..

It sounds as though your weather is horrid AnnG. We had a heavy frost overnight but blue skies and a little bit of sun first thing. However, it soon became grey and dreary with a bitterly cold wind.

Mandy, take Colin's advice and just rest. Don't go outside in this cold weather. Hopefully a couple of doses of the antibiotics will get to grips with the infection and you will start to feel better.

You've been busy again with your candle arrangements and settings Mel. What a shame the shop didn't let you know they weren't going to have wreaths this year.

Your school Christmas dinner sounded great Gwyn. I bet the children loved it. I think school dinners have probably improved a lot since my day. I lived just across the road from my primary school so went home at dinner time except for one day a week when my mother visited my grandmother. At grammar school I had school dinners for a year and then decided I wouldn't eat them any more and my mother agreed I could take a packed lunch.

Annx, I hope your OH's back improves soon and his chest x-ray results are OK. Strangely, my back doesn't give me much trouble at night. In fact, laying down is fairly comfortable so it isn't that causing my sleeplessness. Standing, and in particular ironing, is the worst thing. It's aching badly at the moment but I stood at the work surface making cheesecakes and then stood and prepared our veg for tonight and enough veg to go in a stew for dinner on Saturday and Sunday. We also like Savoy and January King cabbages but never seem to see January Kings in the shops. I used to grow them when I had a veg. garden. You asked what flavour cheesecake I would be making. Years ago I used to make all sorts, including a lovely apricot one and a traditional German Topfentorte but these days I usually do a lemon one. It's become my "signature" dish and I regularly get asked to make it for parties. It's easy to make and is a bit lighter than most cheesecakes. It freezes well.too.

I've been up in the study for quite a while now doing some banking and filing and sorting out a few things and I'm getting a bit cold now so I think it's time for the kettle to go on. Stay warm ladies.

It is an absolutely foul day here today torrential rain and dark although not cold-we have just been to Lakeland in windermere getting there via the car ferry. Bought a couple of bits ut mainly the trip was to take :SiL’s youngest daughter to catch the. BUs home. She spent the night here last night. Actually it has stopped raining now and there is s glimmer if sun across the lake

Yes take his advice Mandy and have a restful day.

I did take pics of my things but am busy at the mo so will send them later.

Got three candle arrangment down the shop. Still no wreath down there so I asked him and he told me the girl was'nt doing any htis year. He could have told me earlier and i could have done some.

Morning all,
Little bit of sun this morning but very frosty when we got up.

I didn't feel to bad when woke and got up but all of a sudden it seems to sweep over me and my energy just drops ,my chest feels sore and tight so I'm just sitting in the chair and ive had my orders from Colin thats where I have to stay

Morning all,

Dull and dreary again here htis morning and 8 degrees. Ther ewas a glimps of the sun earlier but its gone now.

I had'nt heard about the cheap veg and I must have missed Gwyns post.

Stu and I had a great dinner yesterday evening and he stayed a bit later last night. He said he would ring me and let me know what time he would be picking me up on Tuesday.

I do hope you feel better in the next day or two Mandy so your cold or whatever it is dos'nt spoil Chirstmas for you. Does he know he's getting a byke for Christmas?

Hope oh can get some results about hi s back pain soon as there's nothing worse than back pain. I had it for years from the age of twenty one with a young child to cope with as well. Still get it when I bend a lot or even walking about.

Have a nice day today Anng whatever you are doing. The views sounded nice on your trip out.

Must get on I want to finish this larger arrangment and get them up the shop.

Yes just watching that Ann ,did you read that Tom Daly is going to host a new knitting programme ,not sure when it's on ,probably in the new year.
I was watching a Mary Berry programme that we recorded and she made a nice looking soup ,I might have a go at that but can't do it until I shop as it has a tin of green lentils in it and I don't have those in the cupboard

I suppose christmas will add a few days onto OH getting his results back .

Gwyn I've just added some 8p Brussel Sprouts, carrots and parsnips to my Asda order for tomorrow's delivery so thanks for the mention as I hadn't realised it was Asda as well. I figure that if they are selling well they should stay fresh in the fridge and, if not, I can freeze them!

Yes the hospital said the results should be back in a week Mandy, but I don't know if that was allowing for Christmas. I doubt it. Are you watching the Christmas Great Sewing Bee? OH says he'a recorded it for me.

Gwyn I noticed they were 8p ,I usually have a look at aldi online leaflet and saw then on there .
Son said he would get any veg and other bits I need when they go on Saturday, I expect it will be very busy then but they always go nice and early as they drop Jake off at the butchers about seven but he'll probably go in before then .
Nice that you can have a christmas dinner at the school ,roasties are my favourite.

Ann let's hope OH soon gets the results of the xray and can get some treatment for his pain .

Anng that sounded a lovely drive with beautiful views ,glad your cold is no worse so you can enjoy christmas.

Seems we were too quick buying veg, for 15p.

ASDA and ALDI have cut theirs to 8p :-0 :-D

Other supermarkets have offers too.

Not all have the same vegetables on offer, but all have what I would call 'the basic ones' for a Christmas dinner.

Evening All,

We had a downpour this morning but no hail. I didn't go out today but OH said when he went out to the bin it was freezing cold. He's been for his xray at the hospital, but said the traffic was awful. He took cash with him in case he needed it for parking but said they have number plate recognition now and because he was less than half an hour it was free.

A man called to drop his new ipad off this morning so he's managed to switch it on and enter his password up to now!

You sound a lot like OH with your back just now Vera. He keeps having to get up and take painkillers at night. He got up on a stool to get something out of the high cupboard in the bedroom yesterday so it's been worse again today and then he had to lie on a bench for his xray today which didn't help either. I hope yours soon gets a bit better, but there is so much to do this time of the year which doesn't help. I do love a cheesecake! I wonder what flavours you make.

That sounded like a lovely drive this morning AnnG with nice scenery in the sunshine. It's good you aren't feeling too bad. Maybe the last cold has given you some immunity that's helping.

Mandy what a palaver trying to get an appointment and being passed from pillar to post when you aren't very well. At least you got some tablets though. They sound like Doxycycline that I used to have for the bad chest infections I used to get that would last months! Mine were for bacterial inections which my doctor then said could set in after a viral infection. More recent doctors have insisted I've got a viral infection and wouldn't give me any for weeks, I bet you will start feeling better in a couple of days now. Lewis will be thrilled with his new bike. I think my bike was one of my most exiting presents when I was young. When my brother had a Raleigh Chopper for Christmas aged 6 he fell asleep next to the Christmas tree in the morning holding it. I bet Chelsea's nails were pretty with flowers on. My hairdresser has some interesting patterns on hers and a friend had pictures of her dog put on hers!!

I agree with Mandy too and find a stew seems tastier the next day. We had our chicken one in the chicken tonight sauce with swede, carrot, onion and parsnip today.

It sounds like you got a generous lunch Gwyn, all nice and freshly cooked too! The childen round here all break up tomorrow till the 6th January.

So you have some of your foliage table decorations done today Mel. I like a Savoy cabbage and January King.

Beautiful sunny day here, the views driving across the north lakes were fantastic. And then a glorious sunset. A bit chilly though with a cold wind.

Pleased that you enjoyedyour lunch Gwyn.

Working hard on the decorations Mel, well done.

Mandy strange instructions but hope the anyibsvwork and you soon feel better. I am still sneezing but feel ok in myself, hope it doesn’t go to my chest.

Vera sorry your back is bad and does that maybe interfere with your sleep? Hope you get a better night tonight.

Thanks for your card Gwyn it arrived today. Nearly blew up the garden as its so windy today and the winds bitter proper brass monkey as Frank would say.

That's good that you have some antibiotics Mandy.
Hopefully they will do the trick and help you get better before Christmas.
They are strange instructions, but I remember thinking just the same, when I had some with those instructions :-S
Keep out of the sun !

Vera, Sorry to hear that you have been in pain again. It must be especially difficult, when you have a lot going on. I hope your back has less pain and that you can get a decent night's rest.
I bet your cheesecakes are delicious. I haven't made one for years, but you might have just jogged me into doing so.

School Christmas dinner today, all freshly cooked on the premises. I went in for the morning, then stayed to help. The adults all waited on the children and then at last sat down to have lunch ourselves. Normally we go up and collect our own dinner, in the same way that we did to serve the children, but one of the classroom assistants brought me mine, before I had a chance to do that. I think she over-estimated my appetite :-0 It was lovely, but I did have to leave one of my many roast potatoes. I couldn't manage any more.
Still feeling full, so I won't want any tea ;-)

Walking to school this morning, the sun was peeping through the clouds, - quite literally. There was a lot of darkish cloud with an eye shape in amongst that, where I could see the sun was shining brightly behind. Later there was blue sky and more bright sunshine, but definitely a brisk cold wind blowing.

Forgot to say, ... Went shopping in Sainsbury's last night. They have some really good meat offers if you have a Nectar card. We also bought parsnips and carrots at 15p a bag to make some pre-Christmas soup and will go back nearer Christmas to buy more and the other veg. offers for dinner.

Gosh that sounds strange Mandy. Never heard anything like that before.

I have been in the shed all day making table arrangements got two done and one started but now I have to do the tatoes for tonight. BBL.

Oh Vera sorry to hear your back is still bad hope you can get a better night's sleep tonight .

I have been and got some antibiotics got to take two today and then one a day so fingers cross they help .
Quite strange how I have to take them ,a full glass of water but in an upright position and not let the sun on my skin and no sunbeds

Afternoon all

Sorry to hear you are still poorly Mandy and hope your docs can give you something to help.

I’m also sorry I haven’t posted for a couple of days. I’m OK, apart from not sleeping and my back playing me up a lot this week. However, there is a lot going on at the moment and things are a bit hectic.. By the time I’ve been free to post it’s been late at night and I have been too tired. I have just caught up on everybody’s posts so I know what you have been up to.

We had heavy rain and strong winds during the night. It stopped early morning and has been dry since, We’ve even had a few gleams of sunshine but the wind is bitter cold. I’ve got half an hour free so I’m off to prepare a dinner for tonight and crush a load of digestives to make the base of a couple of cheesecakes that I am hoping to get made in the morning.

Rang the docs and they are full they suggested I go to boots ,did that and they said I need to go back to docs as they think it might be a chest infection , rang docs again and she has triaged me and will get back to me after getting advice ,hopefully they can give me something