General Chat

Berona
You must have been very young when you first started to drive...50 years is a great length of time. I learnt to drive in my early 20s and hsven driven wherever we were But last year when away from home I completely lost my confidence. However I will drive again when in the UK and maybe that will help me to drive here. It does seem sill not to drive after 42 years of doing so!!

Independence really is so very important to us all, and we should fight hard to maintain it

Berona - I have been driving for 40years and last year sold my lovely car, but I am fortunate OH lets me drive hers. What I did discover is that we didn't need two cars! and that I did too many short journeys instead of walking.

Bridget - I will look as requested at your tree - but you really need to get to Matthew Norris first as directly as you can and then to me as directly as you can, and then you can fill in as many other relatives as you wish! :-)

For everyone else I spent most of the day in my black bow-tie helping out with my voluntary work with a function at their premises - to raise funds as the local council have cut their funding by 80% in these difficult times.
I am now back home on a beautiful warm sunny afternoon, with blue skies and white fluffy clouds, sitting in, waiting for a phone call!! :-(

Hopefully better news tomorrow

Gerard

Never before have I found two trees that are definitely connected so difficult to complete maybe I need to calm down first.
Gerard, whose son is mattes Norris , then maybe I can unravel everything. Maybe it is the excitement of finding a new person after so long

Quite agree with Gerard about not needing two cars. We have one between us know and has not been a problem. Is it still possible in the UK to get free bus passes,only I would li,e to get one and ad I still have a part of a house in Norfolki would like to get one on my trip back.anything else worth having??

The noise all night has been both fun in the early hours and a BL...y nuisance from 2am until an hour ago.the Moors and Christians parade is always worth while but is this build up to it really necessary.maybe it is because I am older now that it irritates me!?

Bridget

Bridget is getting closer to joining me onto her tree - yippee - well done Bridget!!

Had the day off from voluntary work yesterday - so I spent the afternoon with OH finally finishing off the shed prior to making it more homely. Sealing the inside with concrete and then finishing off the floor tiles by covering them in a thin layer of wet concrete. Guess what!!?? This morning I have a designer floor - complete with cat's paw prints. I have checked out my four cats - not guilty!! :-)

Going in later to work to help prepare for a function tomorrow evening which is very close by to us in the local Roman Catholic Church Hall - a multi-cultural affair to help Somalian refugees.

The weather is beautiful today - the sun is shining there is a beautiful blue sky and the last international cricket of the season is today. OH will be pleased!!

Until tomorrow

Gerard

Well Gerard
Thank you for the good comment about moving forward!
Please look again this morning if you have the time...poops just realised you will be busybtoday! I would be happy to finish everything asap so that you can keep you living people protected.
I normally ask people if the want or need to have their images public or not, thankfully most of mine are not worried either way.

It is another hot day, and as we were out last night until about midnight the family apart from me did not get up early.

I am very impressed by the amount of your time that you spend for the benefit of others! I have normally involved in quite a few projects etc but since beingbrather unwell last year, I have put everything on hold. However when we do return to the UK permanently I will do some voluntary work.

I must go now but will be back later

Maybe someone else will post on here today!?

Berona, what are you upto today?


:-D :-D

Have been rather busy since returning from my holiday in Devon.
What a missed opportunity, neglecting to put the exclamation mark following Westward Ho!

I didn't realise that it is the only place in the world with one, but think that I must have heard the question in some quiz or other.
thanks fpr pointing it out (reminding me) Gerald.
You do seem to be very busy with your voluntary work, helps to keep you active and aware. Well done.

You should be able to use your bus pass in Devon and in all parts of England. As long as it is a Pensioner/special consession pass, and it is deemed a local journey.

I used mine in Somerset, quite a bit too.
Have got some food in the oven at the moment, so may suddenly sign off and come back again, if the timer starts bleeping.
Went to Stone in Staff. with my sister and her O.H. on Wednesday. Hoped to link up with cousins from Colarado, who are on a canal boat holiday here.
Luckily to have got some more cousins living in Stone so we chatted to them will watching the boats on the canal.
The ducks were having a great time going down the overflow slope when there was a rush of water. A lot of chatting and laughing and some eating in a canal side pub. Unfortunately the American cousins didn't make it .. they phoned me later at home to say that they had been held up by high winds and engine failure.
Not sure if they were talking about the plane or the canal boat.
Hoping to catch up with them at the Severn Valley Railway Gala in eight days time.

Been out Monday, tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. This is very good for me.Needless to say, I am now tired and rather stiff.
However, a couple of hours ago, I tried digging up some potatoes I had planted earlier this year.
The fact that I didn't know what I was doing is proved by the fact that I only found three marble sized potatoes!

Will try again another time, in a larger patch of land. (Giving them more room to grow, I hope) So wish me luck.

Bleepers going, so back later.

Back after eating my dinner and having a few phone calls.
My American cousins met my Staffordshire cousins yesterday. They were most apologetic about being (a day) late, but the rest of us are quite lais back about it.
Still hope to see them sometime over the Severn Valley Railway Gala, but will not be on Saturday, as will now be seeing yet another cousin, and taking her around town.

Have also managed to extend the tree of my English Family, all the way to the present day.
It seems that some of them are living in Birmingham (like me!)
Not sure if we will ever met, but am already in touch via FB with one of them.

I still have nowhere near 20.000 people on my tree, even counting thoses that are living rellies, who have not given their permission (as yet) and who are only on my "paper tree"

Will be back over the weekend.

Hello every one.

Gerard, believe it or not I have lost Juneau with our connection on my tree, so went to my tree on Ancestry and discovered that I have a lot of your family tree on there already, so added the extra people you supplied and now......it is complete. I will print it off in the next day or so and use it as a framework for getting my tree on her corrected!!

The weather here is cooler this morning and we are having a lazy day as we shall go into town for the Moors and Christians Parade which is a highlight of the year. I have written about before, on this thread, so will not give a great deal of report unless anything changes.
The parade is billed as starting at 19.00 hrs but has never started at that time in the years we have been here.

Of to the UK next Friday, shall have a look around Attleborough to see what the house prices are doing. I know we are not moving immediately but I like looking!!

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable day

Bridget

Another busy day ahead - the main deal today is to get the equipment necessary down to the venue - that'll be second thing this afternoon!

Before that - the final throes of cricket season, the 40 overs final between Surrey and Somerset and Football, my beloved Arsenal at Blackburn Rovers.

Weather is set fair for the final weekend of the summer, but being England that could change in a trice.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend - wherever you are - and whatever you are doing!! :-)

Soon be off to Church - the weather is beautiful again first thing - perhaps it will stay nice today.

Yesterday's football was a disaster my beloved team lost 4-3. The cricket was rain affected but at least there was a result.

At least the moving of the equipment to and from the venue went well.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying their weekends

Maybe be on again tomorrow :-)

Gerard

My team lost too Gerard, (West Bromwich Albion) to Swansea 3 - 0

Dry at the moment so washing on the line, just hope that it stay that way.


Not a church goer myself, but two of my sibs. are.

Hoping tp have a "pottering" day today. Lawn badly needs mowing + + +

Paperwork (esp for family tree) needs sorting. I have recently got a wealth of information, but all on sheets of paper, not in any order. Trouble is, once I am on a run, I just don't want to stop.
One day I will sort out a good filing system.


Like Berona, I am reading my books for the greaders group. Have got both of them, but the one I am reading at the moment is a hard-back with smallish print and over eight hundred pages!

You may enjoy it Gerard, "London" by Edward Rutherfurd.

Need to stir myself (with a nice cuppa) before getting down to "potter mode"

Tess

Sorry everyone, I am rather late today. Stayed up late last night, went to the Moors and Christians parade last night. Nowhere as good as usual, which was disappointing, new scheme in place for the displays and not as many people in the parade. The outfits were as stunning as usual and we went into town early so we could have a table and supper. Then the rain started at about 21. 30 so as soon as the last group went bye so we left. Some people left even earlier.
Came home, had some wine and nibbles then went to bed. Was woken by the firework display which lSted an hour the the individual party groups let off their fireworks. Nearly two hours of huge fireworks has I think put me off them forever.
Managed to console Jet and Joe by putting all the shutters down and allowing them to sleep under the bed!!
today the weather is cool. We took son, his wife and Jet and Joe to the rugged side of the beach and J and J loved swimming in the sea, do not go As far out as they used to. Then we walked along the beautiful rugged beach with the protected hills and flowers until the wind was just a walk to far!

Then went shopping for fresh milk etc, came home and DIL put J &J in a bath which they love, then a good dry with one of my hairdryers.

The sky is quite bluish grey and you v
V
Can almost smell the rain in the air, I think that the real summer is over.

Oops have to go as shakes falling over in the garden

Bye bye for today

Bridget

Hi everyone

Just back from a few days away with OH in Suffolk, oh I know its only over the border but it is very pretty in parts and we got a good deal on a hotel and stayed in Lavenham, for anyone who doesn't know the area. Lavenham is full of Tudor houses and is very pretty, as are all the villages thereabouts, Clare, cavendish, Long Melford etc. Long Melford is in the are where they filmed Lovejoy. We had great weather and I managed to walk with the aid of a stick every day and walked a lot...so I feel really good. We had not had a break for 3 years so were overdue......it was lovely too not having to think of what to cook every day. Now back to reality,,,,with cooking, washing etc. Glad to read that you are all OK.....Bridget my tooth came out well tho I have a rather large gap !!! and had to watch what I ate.. so ta ta for now

Regards Jan from Norfolk UK

Hello to all. Hope everyone is well and happy.

Tess - the copy of London which I have is paperback size, with over 1300 pages in it - and is difficult to handle, it's so thick!

We are having beautiful weather here at the moment - averaging 26c each day and no wind (except on the waterfront). Whilst it's ideal now, it is only the first month of Spring - so I hope it isn't a sign that Summer will be very hot!

Hello every one I hope that you are all enjoying the day. Here the sun is back and it is a pleasant day.
It was wonderful to be able to sleep all night without fireworks or temps too high
We will be leaving for the UK on Friday morning at about 04.00 hrs so that we have a reasonable drive to Calais ready for the first part of our journey.
I am so looking forward to seeing everyone.

Had a great message on Thursday from a direct relative who I was unaware of. I also have a tree on An....try and he found me, he lives in Australia. We are having a great time with messages flying back and forth.

Son and daughter in law are having a fun time in the pool, OH is one one of the computers and me, well you know what I am doing!

We are having a BBQ lunch today so all prep has been done and son is going to do the cooking.

I feel very fortunate to have such good children, one hears of so many family's where the children seem to be distant from tne kin...so sad.

On Tuesday it will be the 40th birthday of my eldest son who is still in India on the Clean Water project so we will call him to wish him a happy Birthday.
I hope to see him in October, I cannot be sure until he turns up because he is always off on another proje t or two..still he and his partner are kind sensible people so I cannot ask for more.

Well enough from me, looking forward to reading more entries.

Enjoy your day

Bridget :-)

What a shock it was when I learnt that one of the places in India which has had an earth quake is where my son is!!

I tried to call him but no reply, I am sure that all parents will know what I was imagining.
Then I went on FB but nothing on there.
By then I was convinced that something terrible had happened and remembering that this time 40 years ago I was in labour and very ill.
I prayed a few times then my son who is on holiday with us tried again and thank goodness he was able to get through.
We learnt that my son L had decided along with two other couples to leave the place they were in because they felt in serious danger. The place they were in was so far away from any town, or village that no one living there had ever seen a White person before did not have any communication system and did not want them there. They all carried some form of knives and had heavy wood implements as well.
The group had started drilling and digging to start building the Water Hole but after the local people came on mass they decided to leave and did so just about 6 hours before the earthquake
They are now all well and in Goa where they will remain until it is time for their flight home.

I cannot tell you what a relief it was to talk to him. I am sad for so many people whe went on this trip full of desire to help people, who worked hard to gather the funds required by the registered organisation who managed the event, who had such aspirations to help improve the health of others.

Form Bridget who is now going to have a large G & T.

:-)

Nudge

I forgot this weekend to let everyone know that my great niece who has cystic fibrosis has just had here 2nd Birthday. We remain hopeful forbthe future but her last examination last week shows that she has in factbdeteriorated re
Re her lungs.
So thank you to everyone who Remembers her and please keep those positive thoughts flowing.

Bridget

Hi Everyone
Not been on here for ages - it has been too hot in this room . but the last few days the temp has dropped a few degrees and it is such a relief - I am not dripping everywhere !!
Well Friday night we went into Denia to meet with our friends who are over in Spain for 4 plus weeks. They have rented a large villa between Moraira and Calpe and invited their friends - at different times - to spend some time with them. We are off on Sunday for 5 days. Really looking forward to it. It was their Ruby Wedding anniversary on Sunday and they decided they wanted to celebrate by renting a villa and having friends stay with them and ofcourse family. It is Peter who has Parkinsons - he is coping well but is obviously slow at doing anything and the muscles in his face have been affected - such a shame how these things happen to the nicest bloke anyone could wish to meet. Anyway we still managed to have a good laugh with them - we call it the chuckle factor !! Will let you know what we get up to when I come back home which is just in time for my birthday. Nextdoor neighbour has decided to cook a meal to celebrate as it is her birthday too - same year - how spooky is that.
Well, must be off - ironing etc. to do. Enjoy your hols in UK Bridget - drive safe and come back refreshed. Although if it is anything like our hols in UK we were shattered !!
Love Mary xx

Hi Everyone

Well I had an interesting day yesterday. Went with the OH for company as she was going for a job interview arranged by the Job Centre for Premier Inns. Well, when we arrived I sat in reception whilst OH went in for her interview. The lady from the Job Centre asked me if I would like an interview too. So I filled out an application form and handed it back and got an interview time for 3pm (about an hour and a half later). I stayed in the reception area waiting for OH when I was told that a 1.40pm appointment hadn't arrived, and would I like to go in now. Well I had a great interview (only the second one since April last year) and in the end OH was waiting for me. I don't suppose I will get the job, but at least I had an interview.

The weather in England for the last day of summer is dreary and disappointing, but it doesn't matter because I am at my voluntary work, in the IT room doing 'Job Search' (but of course I am on here) - I have applied for four jobs so there can't be any complaints. At the same time I am looking out for the Car Park and any visitors as there is nobody on the Reception.

I'm off to church tonight to support the OH with her Adult Confirmation class, which she is looking forward to greatly (It means that I miss the football but her need is greater than mine) - she should get confirmed in January 2012 by the Bishop of London.

Bridget I was sad to hear about eldest son and his OH in India, but I am so glad they are safe from both the natives and the earthquake. I expect they felt a bit like the early missionaries to far flung places where the inhabitants had never seen a white person! At least I know my prayers for them worked as they are safe!!!!

Tess I was sort of right about Westward Ho! It is the only place name with an exclamation mark, but I have discovered there is a place name in Canada with TWO (Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, in Quebec)

Jan I so used to love Suffolk when I was so much younger. I used to stay with my mum's cousin and her husband and children in Lowestoft, and I used to explore on the Bus and on the bike. There was a little hamlet called Covehithe with the biggest church (in ruins) and they had built a small church within the big one. When I was six I stayed at the Elephant and Castle in Eyke, near Woodbridge. I remembered it being a really big pub. I went recently with my OH and discovered it was a tiny, tiny pub.
I also love Old Felixstowe and even Ipswich has something going for it. I must have travelled on the Felixstowe-Ipswich line on numerous occasions, when I used to deliver cars to Felixstowe

Bridget sorry to hear about your great niece - cystic fibrosis is a horrible disease - I will say a prayer and light a candle tonight when I get to church. I expect at a later stage there might be a possibility of a lung transplant?

Must go now - OH is letting me know there is activity in the Reception!

Gerard :-) <3