General Chat

Sylvia, sorry to hear about the break in such an inconvenience. Sounds like somebody who is maybe homeless gathering things to make a camp as you say. Don't suppose theyw ill catch him/her/them.

Huia, Both my Minolta SLR and my Panasonic Lumix FZ45 will take black and white or sepia photos as well as colour and that is how I took those B&W. Other times I have changed the photos to B&W or sepia on Picasa but taking it on the camera gives more definition. Some subjects seem to cry out to be in black and white.)

Sylvia, my deepest sympathies. There are some horrid slime-balls around.

Jean has just put an update on Jeff on the other thread.

Hello everybody when you get on here.

Huia.

Hi all
xxx


we came back a day early ... Monday instead of Tuesday. The weather was pretty bad, and it was chilly. We had the wood stove lit for a lot of the time!

OH picked up the computer from the computer hospital this morning. Thye found a few nasties on it, cleaned them out, cleaned out some programmes that were no longer needed, installed a dvd player and burner .. and it seems to be working faster!


no invasions from pack rats .......................

............ no attempts by bears to get in the cabin, or to play football with the water collector



BUT



some 2-legged animals did get in

They left all doors wide open ........ it must have been quite recently as there were no sign of any animals having got in (ie, droppings or "nesting"), and no soaking from rain.

They left all the cupboard doors wide open, but didn't do any damage, or leave much of a mess around

And they chained up the farm gate after leaving

Very strange, and weird!


They stole, among other things:-

one Camp Lantern (Coleman white gas kind)
one 15 m extension cord
3 tarpaulins
6 floor runners (very cheap and on their last legs)
1 large plastic box containing among other things ............ 6 battery operated closet lights, 3 battery operated mosquito swatters, suede leather fire gauntlets (for loading wood into the wood stove) and 3 sun hats and 1 ball cap about to be thrown out.

We don't leave much of any value up there over winter!

We had to go to bed early on Friday night 'cos we had no lights


We then had to go into town on Saturday, to report the break-in to the RCMP (ie, Mounties) ......... he had the same idea as me .................. it looked like someone trying to set up his own cabin or for camping

................ and also to buy replacement lantern, lights, tarp, mosquito swatters, etc

Not covered by insurance of course as the cabin is so remote that the cost is prohibitive


We had picked up our brand new generator in the town on the way out to the cabin, and had the trailer filled with boxes containing mattresses, sleeping bags, etc etc ........... and would normally leave those up for the summer


............ but they all came back home with us!!


OH was not too happy ........ he'd planned on also leaving the trailer up there, and on having some space in the basement here to sort out other stuff!




love to everyone




sylvia
xxx

Ann, I looked at your photos last night. I was a bit puzzled as some are b&w. Do you have a separate camera to take those, or does your camera have a setting to change it to b&w, or do you change it when you put it on the computer, or.......?

I was going to put more photos on my blog last night but the @&%*$% computer froze on me. I had intended to add one we took when flying over Tarawera back in 1988, showing the split when the mountain erupted. I will have to have another go today.

I also started a blog of Phil's photos of building dams in the Hunuas. He took so many photos of the 4 dams being built, although some of them are poor quality - spotty, or not very significant, but I felt that the good ones were worth 'publishing' on a site. Another fellow has a website on the building of one of the dams, with info plus photos. He has now included some of Phil's photos on it.

Huia.

Hi all, hope the new meds work for you Linda.

Mo, Yes all unpacking, washing and ironing done now thank goodness. Also took T's car for MOT and service today so that is that out of the way.

Sallie, why on earth have you lost confidence in your card making. Your cards are lovely. Why not just make some simple designs, say with toppers to get back into it. Has anything specific put you off. I finished one of for our son today, just a simple decoupage car but black and white so effective. Other than that I have not had time to make any more.
I hope you enjoy the photos, it is just a small selection of all that I took. :-) :-)

HI Girls,

It's very quiet on here lately. Hope you are all okay.


Jennie seen the Consultant today, she told her that the tests that she had last week showed that there was slight inflamation., but seeing that she is a lot better she doesn't have to have a colonoscopy for now. The Consultant told her that if she doesn't get any better than she is or if things start to get worse, Jennie's to ring her secretary and she will then have to have a colonoscopy.
So we are all hoping that she will continue to improve.


This morning I went to Chloe's sports day at school...she came 1st in one event and second in another, so she was pleased with herself. It's a good few years since I went to a sports day there. Both Richard and Jennie went to that Junior School, so it brought back a lot of lovely memories....I can't get over over how quickly time has gone by. There are parts of the school that has been changed.....it's an old building and all the alterations and the extension they've done have been made to look like the original part of the school. It looks lovely!




Huia, you had a bargain buying those boots. Well done!

I've always had and still problems buying shoes. I only take a size three
(UK sizing) but find that most of the size threes are too big for me. I have tried a childrens size two, they are long enough for me but not wide enough.
When I mange to find a pair of shoes that fit OK, I tend to wear and wear them, until they are starting to fall apart.lol!!

Hope all was alright with Phil when you last visited him.



Mo, I hope you are feeling better. Are you still having problems with GR?
I still have the odd problem with the site, but it's a lot better than it was. The only thing is, it's very slow at times. It drives me scatty.

Joyce, still can't get on to GR, I think it's been a couple of weeks since she
was able to get on here, Although she's not been on the computer herself, Jan has been trying to get on GR for her, with no luck.

I spoke to Joyce this afternoon, the results of her xray are alright, so that's good. She sounded fed up, and is thinking of not posting on GR again(of course, that's if Jan can get onto it) she's not too keen on the new set up of the boards.



Linda, pleased to hear that your Dad is now home from hospital, I'm sue he is happy to be in his own home again.
Let's hope that he will soon be well enough to be able to care for your Mum at home, too. Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to you all.

Glad to hear that the doctor has given you more tablets, let's hope that these will sort the problem out for you.


Ann, hope you and T are back into routine after your holiday. I haven't had a chance to look at your holiday photos on your blog yet, but I'm sure that they are lovely. I'll try and look at them when I've finished on here.
Have you made any cards lately? I haven't made any for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost interest and confidence in making them, and thinking of giving it up. I'll just wait and see how I feel.




I think Sylvia and OH are due home from the cabin within the next day or two. I hope they enjoyed a restful few days there and that they had some good weather.





Caz, I hope that you are starting to recover from the stress and worry of Phil being in hospital. Also hope that things are going OK for Phil at the Warfarin clinic. Thinking about you both and sending you lots of positive thoughts. Take care.




Tess, how are things with you? I hope that you and your family are all alright.



Jean, hope that Jeff is still making a good recovery and that he will soon be home with you.Sending you all lots of positive thoughts. Take care!



Thinking about Marie, Jude, Liz and Betty. If you're looking in, hope all is well with you and your families.



Well girls, I'm going to have a cuppa now, so will speak to you all soon.



Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Hello everyone.
Thought I would just pop in quickly to say hello to you all.

Linda, thank goodness you have got more tablets, to get you through this bad period with the giddiness.
Have they said what the next course of treatment will be, if they don't clear it up completely.
It's good to hear that dad is now home, even though they have still got to get his Warfarin sorted.
The best place for mum at the moment, is in respite care. At least that way, dad can get back on his feet properly, before he has to take over mums care again.

Well done on get the Hiking boots Huia. You got a bargain there love. It's not very often that you find something in the right place at the right time, is it.

Hi there Ann. Hows you and T keeping?. Have you finished that unpacking yet.

I hope that everyone else is bearing up.
Take care one and all. Love Mo xxx

Morning everyone
Well I have been back to the Drs and got some more tablets for the dizzyness, I hope that it sorts itself out soon.
Thanks for all the kind thoughts for my parents. Dad was allowed home yesterday. Not sure when he will be well enough to look after Mum so she is still in respite.
It is a damp dark morning here. Nothing like Midsummers day should be and it's the longest day too.

Have a good day everyone

Linda :-) <3

Some of the Lake District photos are on the photo blog.

Well done Huia, that was quite a find for you.

Hello all.

I bought a new pair of tramping (hiking) boots at the hospice shop. I dont think they have been worn for more than a few metres by the look of them, just like new. They cost me $20, a very good buy, as they fitted me perfectly. Most unusual. I usually have trouble finding anything that feels comfy. They will be great to take when I go to the Chatham Islands next Sept/Oct.

Huia.

Good morning all, nice and bright here so far but the usual rain forecast for later. I ought to be getting on with finishing the unpacking instead of being on here but I am still catching up with things.
Jean, I will pop over to Caz's thread to read about Jeff. Hopefully he will be improved enough to go away in October but, as you say, one day at a time.
Mau, hope your cold gets better soon. Annoying to have a cold in the summer. Although, as it is more like winter maybe that explains it!!!
Sallie, yes our holiday weather was very typically British weather. And, if I am honest, in the 25 years we have had that time share apartment, we have only had three or four weeks when the weather has been good. It is usually colder and wetter than we think it should be.

Good morning girls.
I have got my mask on so that I dont spread my germs over you all. I am still full of this cold/flu virus,and feel pretty grotty, but I will survive.
Jean I will send the photo on to you in a minute, thats if I can get it to send.
I am having problems with adding e.mail addy's it just wont allow me to add any new ones.

It sounds like you had a great time Ann. I bet you are looking forwards to the next one now.

I must go now girls, I have got to blow my nose again. Think I need a nose bag, to catch the drips.

love to all. Mo xxx

Morning everyone, Just updated YC s thread for jeff,, so I wont add it here... Ann, lovely to see you back and now will look forward to all the lovely photos... you sounded as though you had a great time...we should be going away in Oct but we will have to see how things go we had been warned it will take quite a while for Jeff to recover, so one day at a time.....
Mo, wheres my pics of the babies, you know I love photos, hope you and Roly are well and enjoying your darts...also how the rst of your family are doing...wish we could meet up in Oct , but as you know we will be away fingers x

Big hugs to everyone else too, hope all is well....

love Jean xx

Ann, good to see home and to know you had a good week, even though the weather wasn't what we should be getting in June. Still, I suppose it's typical British weather.lol!!




Mo, I've seen the photos of your two babies, they are both gorgeous little girls.

How is your granddaughter's boyfriend now? I hope he has recovered from the "flare up" and is back home again.



I'm going to have a shower now, so I might look in again a bit later on.


Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Hello ladies, we are home. Got home at 12.45. One load of washing done and also most of the unpacking. But I had to have a rest so have spent an hour catching up with e mails and GR.

We had a lovely time. Sunday 12th was wet and also Monday morning, so we went to the craft shop (Paper Warehouse), and Lakeland and had lunch in Mo******s. Tuesday was glorious so we had a freedom of the Lake ticket and went from lakeside to Ambleside and back enjoying the beautiful scenery. The boats were full, mainly with coach loads of japanese tourists.
Wednesday we met friends for lunch then drove round to Brantwood (John Ruskin's house) in Coniston, another nice sunny day.
Thursday was fairly bright but cloudy, a few sunny periods. We Walked a mile or so at Elterwater, then drove into the Langdales where we had a picnic lunch, then walked another short way to take photos of surrounding hills and fells, then drove to Rydal water and walked about another mile to Grasmere Lake and took more photos. Had a lovely day. Friday we went to Arnside, it was a bit showery but no real rain, then we drove to Fellfoot on Windermere and it was sunny. Our daughter and her husband joined us friday evening and Saturday we all went out to Cartmel and grange over Sands finishing up eating our lunch at Bradsea, near Ulverston sitting by the sea (which was in, it is usually mud) in the sun, even eating an ice cream. We then went and looked round the local Budhist community grounds which are lovely and were able to see the temple they have built which is wonderful.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were all sunny evenings when we sat outside at the bar by the river with a glass of wine.
Saturday evening daughter treated us out to a meal for Fahter's day.
It was drizzly rain when we left at 0915 this morning but soon dried and it was dry all the ay home.
It has been quite cold all week though, not really flaming June, except for Tuesday.

I am so sorry Mo, you must have caught it from me! I am coming right now though. I might visit Phil today and do some shopping then when I come home I might have a shower and wash my hair. I havent done it since I went down with this bug.

I have started a new blogspot, buildinghunuadams, with photos Phil took many many years ago, in fact in the early 50s. I had found another man had a website on the building of the Wairoa Dam which is just down the road for us. I emailed him some of Phil's photos, which he has now included, but decided to get photos of the other dams onto a blog. There are 5 dams in these hills and Phil was involved with the building of 4 of them and took hundreds of photos.

Better get on with my breakfast.

Huia.

Hello everyone.
We have just come back from our grandsons birthday party. He thinks it's great as he is now 11 years old.
He's so excited as he goes up to the senior school in September. My son took him out this morning to buy him some new clothes for his birthday. He is such a lovely child, I dread to think how much he will change when he goes to what we class as the big school.
At our ages, we all know that children do change drastically, in a very short time. I just wish I could wrap him up in bubble wrap, and let him stay as he is now.

Marie, I wouldn't blame anyone for not getting on a plane, with all that Volcanic ash hanging around.
Are you having a holiday this year Marie?. We are going up country to Blackpool in October, to Jeans neck of the woods. But the way things are, Jean will probably be away on holiday by then. Especially if Jeff continues to improve the way he is.

Caz I hope that Phil is continuing to improve. And that you are managing to cope on your own.

Sallie, I am fed up of this site, like you I am cheesed of with writing out long posts, and then they vanish before I get a chance to send them.

I have got a raging sore throat, streaming nose and headache at the moment. There is a viral infection going around this area, and it feels like I may be going to suffer with it. Oh boy, just what I needed.

Take care girls. Love to you all. Mo xxx

Hi Girls,

I had just finished writing a message to you all, and just as I pressed submit, I lost the internet. Sorry I'm too tired to write it all again tonight, so will send another message tomorrow.

Caz, sending love and positive thoughts to both you and Phil. Hope he will soon be home wit you. Take care.


Jean, hope Jeff is still making a good recovery and that he'll be home with you soon. Take care.


Thinking about all my friends on here. Take care everyone.



Love and best wishes. Sallie.xxx

Hi girls, thank you for your comments and thoughts for Philip, I went to see him last night and he looks better, he will be in over the weekend but I won't be able to go see him as I have no one to take me. I can't use a taxi as I have to have someone with me all the time as I am so unstable on my feet and crutches, can't use my wheelchair with fibro in my arms. I am missing him and the flat feels empty so I am hoping he can come home soon, but only if he is better. I am managing to muddle through but if I didn't have my sister nearby I would be stuck.

Love Caz x