General Chat

I hope that the weather for the fete is better than the weather in the West Midlands yesterday.
It rained (a lot) I kept falling asleep on the seatee.

Have also had some problems with my computer (off-line for much of the time).
Although now back on-line, have still got some things to sort out. Need to have my brain in full working order to do so.

Bridget, it sounds like you have put a lot of work into the Fete, you really do deserve it to be a success.
I hope that your husband has a good day too, and that he was able to pass your ticket to someone else.

Sat out in the back garden in the sunshuine today. Weather forecast tomorrow is for rain.

My favourite sports person at the moment is Denise Lewis, a young lady from the Midlands, in England.
Presently a presenter on athletics, she has in the (recent) past, been an all round athlete. Taking part in the Heptathlon. She won Olympic Gold in Sydney in 2000.

Mother of three, she is now an Ambassador for sport, encouraging children to take part in some sporting activity.
She is not afraid to leave her comfort zone, and has taken part in Strictly Come Dancing (if memory serves me correct, she camr second).
She also encourage people to take part in the big "Bollywod Dance" in Birmingham last year.
A normal girl, from a single parent family, she has worked hard to acheive all that she has.
Despite her sucess she still comes over a a lovely, hard-working woman.
Well done Denise Lewis OBE

Annin Glocs, val in South Africa,TheresaAkaBridgetThe fidget
and anyone else who is still posting thank you for all your messages.

The fete was a great success so the hard work was worth it but we have also learnt how it can be improved next year. Not sure how much money we took but as all the food was given to visitors etc free of charge I do not expect to make a profit and that is nt the purpose fo the event.feed back from the residents has been good so all the effort was worthwhile.

I went to work today but had to leave just before midday as I have a shocker of a cold and am dosing my self with Hot water and Lemon and a well known brand of pills for colds so hope to feel better soon.

If I feel better later I will write my peice as suggested a page or two back, if not I will have to do it later in the week.

So bye for now everyone and i hope that you have had or are having a very pleasant day.

Bridget

I do hope you are feeling somewhat better to-day Bridget
Nice to hear that the fete was a success that always makes the effort worthwhile and serves as an encouragement for the next event.

Yesterday we had a real wintry day, freezing cold and a strong wind blowing but to-day is beautiful just right for a walk on the beach.

There seems to be end in sight to the strikes and the private hospitals and the army are helping at the state hospitals. The sad part of all this is that at least 10 adults and I'm not sure how many babies have died. The striking hospital staff stop those who want to work from entering the hospitals, at one hospital even the ambulances were prevented from entering.

I have had a sore shoulder for a couple of months and this morning it was worse than usual so I took myself off to the doctor. Well if I thought it was painful before I visited him it was nothing compared to what it feels like now! He gave me two cortisone injections into the shoulder so will see what happens.

I had a lovely surprise on Sunday when a friend of mine came through for the day, it was really good to see her. Her grandson was attending a surfing clinic, so we went down to the beach to watch but even with binoculars we couldn't pick him out of the bunch, they all looked like seals in the water!

I am off to settle down with my crosswords which arrived to-day, that should keep me out of mischief for awhile.

Take care all.


Val.

Bridget, what's all this about next year's Fete? You will be in Spain!

So pleased that all went well, the residents must have had a good time, something hopefully, that they will remember for quite a while.
I wonder how many of them wanted to join in the musical items?

I hope that you soon feel better, it sounds as if your bady is telling you to slow down. You need a rest to recharge your batteries.

Val, I hope that your shoulder feels better soon. I had heard that cortisone injections were painful (haven't had one myself) but they are also very effective for pain relief.

I need you all to cross your fingers for me! Have got a new computer and will be trying to set it up today, so will have to disconnect this one.
My late Mum bought this one for me, so rather mixed feelings that if I get the new one sorted, I won't be using "hers" any more.
Mum also taught me how to send emails, so I have a lot to thank her for.
Ann (not) in Glos, hope that you are having a good time on holiday, taking it easy and enjoying yourself.

It is another pleasant day here. Went out this morning and bought myself two pairs of sandals as they were 2 pairs for the price of one which I thought was a bargain, they cost R100 which I think is just over £8. I just love shoes.

My shoulder feels a little more comfortable to-day thanks Tess. This was a first cortizone injection for me it wasn't too bad as it had local anaesthetic with it. I am still having difficulty lifting things but I guess that will pass.

My daughter has introduced my to a game called Bejewelled and oh my is it addictive I just can't stop playing, and I am wasting so much time.

Good luck with your new computer Tess

I didn't realise Ann was on holiday - hope you are having a, lovely time.


Val.

Sorry I am rather late today.
Val I share your love of shoes and tend to hoard them as well!! I also have been playiing bejelled and I love it, I also play scrabble on my IPAD it is great.
Theresa, good luck with your new computer I am still finding my way around mine and have had it a quite a few months now...
Yes I will be back in Spain next year but others have learnt quite a llot.

well off to bed now, I am still on the antibiotics and also have had conjunctivities so feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Good night everyone

Bridget

Just a quick Hi!

Tried setting up my new computer a few days ago (after disconnecting my old one). Was going okay till I realised that the cable to connect me to the internet seems to be missing.
The one on my old computer does not have the right connector thingy to fit my new computer.

Have now set up my old one again, and have two monitors, and two keyboards on the desk, as well as a mouse and a tower ... so rather overcrowded.

Didn't get a packing note when computer arrived, so don't know if the cable should have been supplied as standard. or if I should have ordered one separately.

Will try to sort it out tomorrow, ready to make phone calls etc on Monday.

Tess

How is everyone this morning?
It was a very quiet weekend here, did nothing and went nowhere, did however, waste more time playing Bejewelled!! My computer was reformatted recently and I lost my Scrabble which I enjoyed playing as well, in fact I love any word games.

I was fortunate enough to find information on Wills which I would like to order, the problem though is that the Probate Offices only accept cheques and Postal Orders and not credit cards which might present a problem.

I hear a cup of tea calling!!!!


Val.

We have all been very busy, or so the lack of messages would seem.

I am now getting to the end of all the paperwork I have had o introduce to the staff where i work and some people hhave really taken to it and have a sense of ownership, where as others are more sceptical.

so here we are in september and OH returns to Spain on the 25th. I have managed to get hs last week here off as holiday so we shall go somewhere to simplyrelax and have some quality time.

I shall miss him even though we will talk to eah other most days. It will seem starnge to be alone again until the end of February.
Valerie I hope that you manage to get all the information you are ordering,
Tess good luck with the computers, I am really dire with computers but hope to learn more in the next few months.

Well I wonder who will be the first to write a story or an account of something that interests them I will write something on Sunday...have some thoughts but nothing concrete yet.

Good night everyone

Bridget

Whenever people ask me why I like ice cream so much, I tell the how I can remember going to Hertford in Hertfordshire UK to meet my sister who llived with hher dad, i would have been about 3 to 6 and we used to eat icedcream in a posh tea room and could eat two ice creams whilst she was still eating her first one. Now this was happening in 1949 to 19532/3 aand ice cream was a real luxury. So when I eat Icecream I almost feel a child again.

I can also recall going to Finglas on the north sied of Dublin every year to see my fathers family. rationing was still on in England but not in Ireland and the joy and amazement when i saw the sweets remains in my mind. My aunty also ran the shop so more rich creamy ice cream and sweets!!

My memory of flavours is vanilla, and chocolate until I found caramel OOOOOOH I could have eaten it all day.

It is still one of my favourites.when I was about twelve a friends' father used to make sorbet and then I learnt something wonderful...this was even better that ice cream...

Their surname was Sorentino and they had an Italian Cafe in our local market and everything was freshly cooked and or home made. That sorbet lead me into an unbelieveable world of taste and texture.


Now after all this writing about Ice cream and sorbet I am going to eat a magnum Gold

so bye bye for now,

Bridget

Good morning everyone and I hope thatbyou all have a splendid day.

I cannot tell you what sort of day we shall have here in the Hastings part of the UK as it is still rather dark, but I cannot hearbrai or high winds, the birds are clearly talking to each other and the general feeling is that of peace and tranquility.

Today I woke feeling somewhat better than of late, I felt calm again so hopefully my difficult couple of weeks will be coming to an end. Must stress that the difficulty is only caused by a resident where I am working.

On Monday I shall put into writing my intention to leave on the last day of February 2011! This time I will not be deterred, I have offered to work over Christmas and return home for New Year for about 10 days. I have also requested the week off before OH returns to Spain.

Looking forward to new written pieces from you all, hope you enjoyed my Icecream tale.

Well of to have a cup of tea before the day gets going, enjoy your days and take care.

I am also going to have my 10 minutes of quiet time.


Bye


Bridget


intention to leave

it's a dull sort of day here and a bit windy at the moment, however I think it is going to clear later and be quite warm.

Good to hear that you are feeling better Bridget, strange how just one person can upset the apple cart!! I didn't realise that you were only finishing your job next year I thought you would be leaving before Christmas.

Talking of ice-cream, I don't eat a lot of it, but my favourite is also caramel. We get something here called a caramel crunch, it is an ice-cream on a stick and is covered in this lovely crunchy caramel, simply delicious! We lived in East London (SA) in the 1960s and 70s and there was (and still is to-day) a place called the Friesland Dairy which made their own ice-cream, quite the nicest I have tasted, they are also well known for their milkshakes.

We haven't found a replacement gardener yet, I need someone reliable and trustworthy and they are rather scarce.

Our friends from the UK who usually come over in October/November every year will not be coming this year as finances do not allow and we are really going to miss them.

We shall be spending a quiet weekend, hope you all have a good weekend.



Val.

I have written a longbentry and twice I seem to hsvevdeleted it instead of submitting it! Now I know that age is catching up with me but this is sad!


So I am going to have a coffee and then I will be back and try again

Bridget

I have written a long entry and twice I seem to have deleted it instead of submitting it! Now I know that age is catching up with me but this is sad!


So I am going to have a coffee and then I will be back and try again

Bridget

Where are you all???? I do hope that everyone is keeping well.

I managed to get home today by 17.30hrs which is I think a record for me...so i really am trying to keep to my own decisions.

Tomorrow I am going to write about the topic that I wrote 3 times, yes 3 times yesterday and then managed to press the delete button instead of the submit button!!!!

May I be allowed to claim it as "It must be my age"

Bridget

Sorry Bridget, I am a bit of a misery gut at the moment. Will be back when I am more cheerful (and more alert).
Hope that you are all well,

Tess

Good morning,

Tess I am sorry you are not well at the moment, hope you feel better soon, take care.

Bridget, don't feel alone, you wouldn't believe how often I hit the wrong button when using the computer, it is such a hopeless feeling when everything disappears before your eyes!!

Things here are quiet. Weatherwise it is a cloudy day but still no rain and our garden is really looking very sad. I would love to put in some bright plants but I am afraid I simply cannot carry buckets of water which is the only way we are allowed to water the garden.

I am still wasting time time playing Bejewelled, no will power!!

Bye



Val.

Val, I also play Bejewelled and it is both fun and addictive so I also have no will power!

Tess, I do hope that you are feeling better, do let us all know even if it is only a line or two.

Now my news. I had a long talk with my boss this week and it went very well, at last he has accepted that I am returning home early next year, end of January or February. So now not only do I know that he understands but also he knows that I mean it......yippee.
We have agreed that staff will not be informed until December, and the residents and their families will be told at the same time.
I have offered to assist the new manager in the induction process and to visit for a few days for the first month or two to help her through the minefield of paperwork. The person can also have my telephone number, just in case, so all in all I trust it will go smoothly.

As I sit here at the side of my window the weather looks grey, damp and makes the surrounding trees and houses look very miserable. Even the seagulls are not on the roof tops this morning....so I wonder what do they know that I do not...more rain on its' way I suspect. It is also quite cold , certainly cold enough to have to put the central heating on.
The wet summer has certainly helped all the trees to stay green this year and the variety of shades of green from almost yellow to dark solemn green is quite striking.
last night when we came back home for a coule of hours out as we drove down the winding drive to the building we live in we saw two badgers running along and as the car came nearer the ran into the bushes,,it was a beautiful sight for just the few moment that we saw them.

Val I do hope you manage to find a gardener soon whom you can trust. Is your garden very large, it must be soul destroying to see your garden suffering from the lack of water, are there any friends or neighbours who could help until the new gardener is found?

Well everyone

Take care and I look forward to hearing from you all very soon.

Bridget
from cloudy grey, east Sussex.

Hope things are better for you to-day Tess.

Bridget our garden at the front of the house is about 2 metres wide and about 35 metres long along the wooden fence, we have some honeysuckle which are kept pruned and then shrubs and flowers and then the lawn. The weeds grow at a rate of knots they don't mind the dry conditions. At the back we have lawn and citrus trees, but here too the weeds take over, next to the trees I have a patch where I had planted some vegies but all that's there now - more weeds. I am great at giving the orders for the garden - plant this there, take that out etc etc.! Our neighbours are all elderly and there are not any school children nearby who might like to earn some pocket money.

To-day was quite cold and we had a little drizzle this afternoon, it was more like winter than spring!

It's nice that you have been able to sort out matters about going home, must be a weight off your mind.


Take care.


Val.