Genealogy Chat

roast lamb for us later today

wonder where Frank is?



Don't know whether any of you like opera, but .....

We saw the most fantastic performance of Madama Butterfly last night. The soprano Mihoko Kinoshita who played Butterfly was awesome. The whole house rose in a spontaneous standing ovation for her at the end. There was a smaller standing ovation for tenor James Valenti who played Pinkerton, and a roar of approval for Zheng Cao who played Butterfly's maid Suzuki.

I have not seen a whole house standing ovation in the more than 40 years we have been going to Vancouver Opera, not even for world superstars like Joan Sutherland.

OH said that he would never have believed that the opera he likes least would provide him with the best performance of any opera that he has ever seen. I'm so glad that I went.

I wasn't too impressed with the scenery which was very bare and modernistic, but the performances were all sooooooooo good.



Anne ........ that sounds a fantastic day! So will you recommend that clients take the owner's suite whenever possible??



s
xxxx

Cynthia - where did you sneak in from

Thank you for the offer - but couldn't eat a thing - well ok if you really insist I could manage a small portion.

Think I will give the wine a miss though.

We arrived at the restaurant & all the ladies were escorted to the table by the crew in all their finery full whites, cap under their arms - chair pulled out etc and serviette place on laps. We were given a rolled up scroll (our menu (took mine home) We had a choice of main beef or fish.
1st course accompanied by white wine was Black Pepper sauteed Salmon with fennel & potato salad (i missed that one the wine was nice & the fresh bread)
2nd course accompanied by a different white wine - white asparagus cappuccino , asparagus salad & tarragon foam - with fresh baked rye bread - absolutly out of this world ( i could have had 2nds)
3rd course accompanied by a third different white wine - warm potato ravioli with black truffle sauce & fresh bread (to soak up all the alcohol) It was lovely and the sause unbelievable.
Now I know why they go on so much about the food it was unbelievable so tasty and we couldn't stop talking about it & the soup.
4th course (main course) butter sauteed seabream,mascarpone mousseline,overnight tomatoes & red wine butter sauce with a different white wine OR
grilled hanger steak & guinness braised short rib, grain mustard mash, jus natural with a lovely red wine (i had this option)
Amazing is the only word to describe it (food that is) I could have had 2nds it was so good and tender
Then the waiters cleared the table & brushed it down & changed the cloth
5th course & dessert wine - hot bittersweet chocolate souffle with baileys sauce & cream - boy was it bitter sweet too (bitter at the top & very sweet at the bottom - our own waiter came & punched a hole in the top & poured in the sauce & handed us our spoon.
6th course petit four with liquer & coffee

Then we went back to deck 4 & our tender back to the hotel - it was a lovely day to mess about on the river - very hot & sunny

Afternoon tea in the hotel & walked back through the gardens to the underground - half the group went on to other things in London - Paul & I back to Victoria & he got off at East Croydon as he had a hot date. I arrived home around 6:30 with at least 2 blisters.

I am officially worn out & detoxing - it was a lovely day and very nice to be treated like royalty - off for a rest now

Wow Anne, quite a day for you. Couldn't you have squeezed some of us in as well - I'm sure no one would have noticed.



Frank is a mystery at the moment. I'm missing his teasing to be honest.


Just popping the potatoes in for roasties.......beef tonight. All welcome. Cx.

What a very quiet thread this is - everyone having an afternoon doze then

Where is Frank - surely the baby shower wasn't thast bad.

Trying to have a quiet day today - exhaused from yesterday.

Didn't realise how much fun Canary Wharf was - its got a lovely park with water features and a big shopping mall.

We (6 of us) met up at Brighton Station at 07:30 for the train - went & picked up some fruit & water for breakfast - arrived in London around 9 - wizzed off to the underground - squished on the tube - changed at Westminster for Canary Wharf - when we got there 2 went to the lift as don't like heights - the 4 of us went on the escalators - up & around & came out at the south end. Waited for the others at the lift - found out there was a west one as well - so we all went to that one - no-one there.

A kind person said there was a noth one as well the other side of the garden - so off we went. Lovely walk it was in the warm sunshine - still missing the other 2 = found the north lift - nothing - so some bright spark (me) said why don't we call the mobile - they went to the sout to look for us - we passed like ships in the night either side of the gardens. They told us to stay where we were - then we had a walk to the four seasons hotel -10 mins later we had checked in - passports - passes (quick trip to the ladies - sat down with biscuites & coffee (or minted water in my case - very strange) Glass samovar full of Ice with loads of fresh mint leaves at the bottom -
Then we were met by the cruise director who took all our details & we went for a trip round the hotel & gardens down to the river & off to the tender and a loely little trip down the Thames to Greenwich & the Ship.
We disembarked and had to go through customs & security - airport machines x-ray etc and then we were on board (we walked up the red carpet) We were on Deck 4 - upstairs to deck 5 - and the restuarant where we were going to have lunch ( he told us about the history & diementions etc
Then up to deck 6 and the lounge & bar, casino & out to the terrace plunge pool - whirlepool's etc in that heat we all needed it. Off we wnt again looking at all the artwork & sculpture - it had that new car smell everywhere - up to deck 7 - quick look around the cat 1 cabins for normal people - less room than a travel lodge & small bathrooms with a large window - then we went to the theatre.
Then we had a look around the shops and coffee lounge & computer lounge etc The jewelery was amazing - no prices on anything - wonder why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Up to deck 8 and a Veranda suite - not bad nice little terrace bigger room with a glass wall between the bedroom & lounge bigger bathroom. Then we visited the top class suite around £35,000 for a 7 night voyage. I took a real dislike to it - no idea why - it felt very claustraphobic - largeish lounge - small terrace - another terrace with a whirlepool bath glass walls - the bed room looked so small - large bath room & big walk in closet - still didn't like it.
Then we went outside to the pool area & pool grill (awful smell of fish being cooked) champagne & fish canapes (i couldn't eat them) as we walked around in the baking heat - more champagne - looked at the pool & bar - more champagne - went up to the next deck - lovely views up & down the Thames - putting green - shove hapenny & games area - off to the solarium & spa - had a good look around there, up down 2 or three flights of stairs to view the treatment rooms & gym & out door spa villa. Back to the pool deck - Bucks fizz this time x 2 - one las t look at the owners suite - now this is where i want to stay.
It was a corner suite whith a wrap arouns balcony - go out the lounge exit & walk round the side to go back in the bedroom door. When you go into the bathroom you can walk through to the closet & then the 2nd toilet and out into the hall - it was lovely & cheaper than the other suite. We went up to deck 10 to look at the buffet restaurant & open eating terace & the little bistro restaurant. Then back to the pool & sundeck for more Bucks Fizz or champagne till lunch - we had free time - so we lounged around - had our photos taken on our own & in our small group - holding our champagne & with sunglasses on sitting by the pool in our finery.
Then it was lunch down 3 floors (never walked up & down & around so much in ages - surprised we could all stagger around so much)

Goo afternoon one and all. It's been dull here this morning but the sun is now trying to break through.


Sue, do you remember when a lot of people use to make their own clothes? It seems to have gone out of fashion nowadays doesn't it? Good for you for having a go.


I understand that frustration Sylvia. When I reply to those who have replied to old posts, I suggest that they start a thread of their own telling us who/what they are looking for and GIVING US ALL THE INFO THEY ALREADY HAVE!!

Can't say it works though!


Late meal today so a sandwich for now. Hope you are all well. Back later. Love. Cx.

Hi all


it seems here that people ignore car alarms, but a house alarm going off does attract attention.

Plus this is a friendly neighbourly block! We do all look out for each other


The one way that the owners of this house failed, is not giving their neightbour a contact number for the person in Vancouver who had access to the house. They did tell Joe that they were going away, and that a relative would be stopping by every now and again. But that extra little bit of information would have helped.

It's a lovely sunny day here, about 20C.

We're going to the Vancouver Opera tonight. Madama Butterfly. This performance has had some rave reviews.




There are some psoters who drive you to distraction ...................... the ones that particularly bother me are the ones who post "I want to know about Joe Blow b.ca 1880, Warrington. He married Ann Smith".

That's a reasonable amount of information.

So several helpers set about finging the information.

Only to be told that "I have all that"


I could wring necks at times!


off for a mooch


s
xxx

I often wonder if people take much notice of burglar alarms to be honest....Sylvia and her OH being the exception of course! They seem to ring and nobody bothers much. (loved the comment about OH getting back in the bath...lol - he obviously gets his priorities right then?)



Funny things threads aren't they? I have mixed feelings on the subject; sometimes I feel very sorry for the posters and the next minute I could willingly knock their heads off!!

Nice to see you all....going for a browse. Cx

Hi Everyone

I have had a great day today,Had a look in on the boards this morning for a while then off to visit the family.

It was quite sunny today but I thinkl the rain will be back tomorrow night.

I really started something off with the helper thing,did not mean to,I just think if they are doing things wrong by all meens tell them but in a nice way.
I do hate hurting peoples feelings ,Can't help it !! thats me !! I guess.

I am going to the big smoke tomorrow,I can't find any loose fitting dress here at the moment as it is Winter and all the shops have winter fashions in .
We are going to Bali in Aug and it is very hot there ,you really don't want any cloths on you at all it is that hot and humid.
I am going to make my own ,I used to sew years ago so I can't see why I can't still do it.
The eyes may have other ideas of course but I am going to give it a go.

Might go and watch a bit of Football,I am waiting for the French open clay finals tonight,are Girl is in the finals.
Love to everyone.
Suex

EDITE
Our nextdoor neighboors house is a holiday home for them and we look after it for them.
They have an alarm that goes off now and then but we just have a look around the property .
The alarm sets off there phone up in his house up in Perth ,he just rings us to check and he turns it off from up there in Perth.
Just a thought.

Good morning everyone.

Burglar alarms are such a pain. Hope your neighbourhood one will be sorted today, Sylvia. One over the road to us started up one Good Friday and I seem to remember it went on until Easter Monday because the family had gone away for the long weekend. Longest weekend I've ever known.

Regarding my earlier criticism about harsh comment on Trying to Find threads - can I take it back please? It was obviously not aimed at any of the helpers on here who are patience personified. After seeing KiwiBird's post I had a nosy around and now wonder at the fact that there are fewer harsh comments if that is the sort of thing that goes on. Fingers crossed you good people receive more acknowledgements and gratitude from those you help in future.

Jeanie
xxx

Josie

That seems to be happening quite often these days, as I tried to say in my earlier postings.



same bloomin' alarm went off again about 9pm ........just about 1 hour ago

OH called the police ...... plain clothes cops in unmarked car turned up within about 10 minutes.


Probably a fault in the electrical system.

It seems that last night, a neighbour phoned the house owners in Hong Kong, got the name of a person (A) in the neighbourhood, who was contacted and he then went over to wherever the brother-in-law of the house owner lives. B-i-l then came here , opened the front door, and that turned the alarm off .................. by which time it was about 12:25 am

The person A walked past as I was talking to the police this evening, they called him over, and told him that he had to contact the b-i-l NOW, and tell him to turn off the alarm permanently because they did not want to keep getting calls, it was a nuisance to the neighbours!

They could then get an electrician tomorrow morning to sort it out, if possible.

Poor old OH was having a relaxing bath when he heard it start up!

So what did he do???

Came to tell me, and then let ME go out on the street and look around. He phoned the police ......... then got back into the bath!!!

It's still going on now ..... as one neighbour said, at least it started earlier tonight!!


It's just stopped!!! Literally ,as I was typing the above line!!



sylvia
xxx

Hi Everyone,
It would appear the newbie I tried to help, sadly deserves all the rude comments she has received I have found more than 6 threads she has started on the same family in the last 2 days and has only bothered to acknowledge on one thread.
All the regular helpers are just about ripping their hair out about her.

Just a quick visit before OH and I go to visit some family thought I would pop in while I wait for the Sultana Loaf baking in the oven to be ready.

Where are you Frank??? we miss you.

Catch you all later Josie

Enjoy your mooch Sylvia ........ hope there's lots for you to search - you're getting quite good at it actually.........lol

A long day folks so good night friends, one and all. Cx.

Hi all

We had a little bit of neighbourhood excitement last night. Just before 11pm, we heard a siren outside. Turned out it was coming from a house across the street that had an alarm horn on the outside of the house. Iain and I separately walked around to the back of the house, no sign of anything. Our very elderly neighbour Joe then said the people had been away for a month, due back today, but he had no contact number for the person looking after the house. Another neighbour called the police.

So there are neighbours out on the street, chatting, a young man just passing by stopped to watch. An unmarked police car arrived about 30 minutes later, and 2 guys in jeans jumped out. I'd guess they were more like undercover than plain clothes! They said they would look round the house, make sure there were no signs of a break-in, but if not then they couldn't go in themselves. So, if it was true that the people were away, we'd just have to put up with the noise.

We all left them to it.

About 12:30am I suddenly realised that the noise had stopped, no idea when!

Anyway, we met some new neighbours who'd moved into the renatl house 2 doors away a couple of weeks ago. Seemed a very nice couple ..... and they are working on the garden which has been much ignored (apart from mowing the grass) for the last 10 or so years.



off to make my lunch, and have a mooch around the boards



s
xxx

Sue.....red wine?


Evelyn, that watch sounds like a super idea - hope he likes it and gets to grips with it too!

I'm up for a party in Weymouth - just give a little bit of warning - and I'll jump on a train. It will be nice to meet your brothers and your friend too. Liver and bacon sounds delicious, it was one of my mother's favourites and my daughter enjoys it too.

I wonder if Frank has been away for a week's hols. If he isn't back by next week........???

Glorious here again today. I have washed my dining room curtains and am plucking up the energy to go and iron them...or maybe not. Have spent ages on my desktop computer designing a card for my grandson and feel my brainpower has ebbed away.

Will go and have a browse around. Cx.

Good afternoon everyone,
visited the passport office this morning we were told that the passports are taking about 4 weeks at the moment but if we wished we could pay an extra £35 each and get ours in 2 days. We are booked to go to France on July 1st so fingers crossed lets hope the powers that be will speed things up because of course Ron said NO to the extra money.
I have bought Ron a watch for his birthday hope he likes it, I got the most simple one that I could so that he can manage to alter it when the clocks change, he makes such a fuss when he needs to change the time, the watch I have bought is Eco-drive as well so no need to have a new battery installed.
It would seem that a party in Weymouth is on the cards then, would anyone object to my 3 brothers coming to join the celebrations? as they all live just 4 miles outside Weymouth,I also have a friend in Weymouth that I should like to invite,we have been friends for 63 years, we went to school together and also worked together she is the closest I have to a sister, she is a widow and my eldest brother is a widower so I asked her to phone him and they got chatting and have now been together for about 5 years, they each have their own house but dont always spend the night at home, nudge nudge wink wink, Margaret is 76 and Ian is 79 and I think its lovely for them to have each other, they both enjoy foreign holidays and cruises how nice to have company.
Liver bacon and onions for tea, not too keen on liver but it does make a change and its Rons favourite so I have to spoil him sometimes, out for lunch on Sunday on the birthday.
Hope everyone is fine on this beautiful day.
I am rather worried about Frank I wish he would just pop in to let us know he is O K .
Must go now, love to you all my friends
Evelyn XX

Hi Everyone

Just had visitors over for a barbie.
My neighbour is 70 and just had his birthday on monday so the OH and I thought we would invite them over for a barbie tonight.

It has been the most funny night .I don't think I have laughted so much in years.
They are 10 years older than us but funny ,can't think of a more funny night than this one.

The man in Cumbria is all over are news ,....what ever happened to him ,does any one know ?
It must have been something very difficult fo him to deal with to kill so many people for nothing.

I am sorry for bringing up the story of the poster but I just don't think the older members remember how hard it was to use the boards, they have forgotten.
The thing is this member that gave the girl the harsh treatment was new herself two years ago and I remember her pm/ing me about how harsh they were on her and she is doing the same thing to new members.

Anyway new topic

Sallie nice to hear from you and please don't be a stranger,Jayden is fine and doing well ..
Giveing his parents a hard time at present as 15 year old do.

I am of for a shower and a little red wine before bed....I know it may give me a Migrain but we have to live after all.

Love to you all.
Suex

Flying visit - again

off to London tomorrow - visiting the ship - she has her name day today - quick clout with a bottle of champers.

So won't post till Sunday as we have a Champagne reception & full lunch on board

Robert & Josie - google Sebastian - You will see what I mean - One who lives in his shell - except sebastian isn't as shy & reclusive as Robert - but he is very wise.

And on that note - I am away back to the madhouse

Hi everyone

I was very pleased to see your last posting Cynthia. I just took a quick look at one Trying to Find recently just because there had been so little activity on it. One 'helper' on there was, I thought, extremely harsh in her comment. Grant you the original poster did not seem to have returned to the thread but that might have been because of ignorance. I felt like sending a PM to the person making the comment that it might be easy for her to go and look up this, that, and the other but she could have no idea of the abilities of the original poster. Youngsters seem to pick things up easily, while oldies take a little longer - in some cases a lot longer - and not everyone is born with a high level of intelligence. Think if people are going to get so upset that they lead off in that fashion they should consider finding something else to occupy themselves.

And NO it wasn't you Sylvia. I'm sure you are the soul of kindness.

Almost finished my Maureen Lipman book. Not quite as funny as ones I've read before. As you obviously enjoy a good laugh Cynthia I'm going to give you a recommendation ~ (with an extract when I've found the book). I always have to prepare myself with a box of tissues before I read chapter 3 to wipe away the tears of laughter. Might cheer us all up a bit after the terrible happenings in Cumbria.

Jeanie

Hi Josie, glad to see that you are feeling much better and brighter today. That situation in Cumbria was absolutely dreadful and beyond belief. It's a couple of hours away from me. On the tv this morning an 'expert' was commenting on how we may never know what made this man 'flip' and that when he did, he wouldn't have been shooting at people on purpose but into an empty space as he would see it. We just can't tell how certain situations will affect people...some will cope and some won't I guess. Those poor families though, it's heart breaking for them.


As for the thread thing.....I have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes, like you Sylvia, I think there are some very idle posters out there who know full well how to look for things but would prefer others to do the work for them. I've seen some of them and can recognise the names.

On the other hand I realise, from experience, that many new folk come on here never having heard of Freebmd or Familysearch etc ( I hadn't a clue) and yet some of the helpers seem to think that we are all born with that knowledge.

I like it when something is found for someone and then the helper explains where it came from and gives them the site details so that they can do more for themselves.

I also wish that some helpers would explain a little bit about the census to those who are obviously new. Not everyone can work it out straight away and to be faced with a couple of pages of all that typing must be quite daunting. I've noticed that you're good at explaining things to folk though Sylvia. [gives pat on back]

Well, our electricity is going off for an hour now so I will spare my battery and be back later. Cx