General Chat

I am sure that I am not alone in saying we wish everyone that has problems will be in our prayers ...I shall think of my friends on GR when I go to church tomorrow.

OH lit a fire this afternoon, it is so lovely to see the glow, better than central heating any time... we are lucky enough to live in an old house, so still havve the benefit of an open fire. Pull the curtains and vegetate bliss..............

Have a nice weekend.

Jan X

Congratulations to Jan for being the first person on page 93, we are creeping nearer to the 100th! Never for one moment did I think we would still be on here for this amount of time. Of course I am delighted that it has survived and what a lot of "pen pals" I now have.

I have been trying to think of some new or newish subjects we could all write about, any suggestions welcomed, for example

1.Where is my dream holiday and why?
2. Where was my best holiday and why?
3. What is my most treasured item and why?
4. What advice would I give to a newly married couple and why?
5. My favourite Author and why?
6. Describe the area I live in, the good, the bad and the indifferent.
7. If I could choose where to move to it woul be ............and why
8. When I was young I thought.........................
9. On a Desert Island I would choose these four songs...........these fthree books, these two photos, and if only one item what would it be and why.
10. How I would like to be remembered and why?

All other suggestions to be considered and please give answer by today week.

Now I shall be expecting some very interesting answers


Son from Amstedam and family should be arriving at about 2 pm but the weather here is not very pleasant, hifpgh winds, rain, and chilly to say the least.
Roberta, who is two can now speak very well in both Dutch and English, so we will be having lots of fun. I have decorated the Christmas cake and put together a few little presents she can open whilst here. They go on their journey home on Thursday morning very early.
Daughter in law has to go back to UK to see her mother who is terminally I'll, we are praying that she survives to see Christmas with her granddaughter.

Well time now for a coffee, but will be back some time later today,


Bridget in Spain

Hi Everyone

Firstly I have been informed by the Jobcentre that all successful candidates have been informed - which obviously means that I have not been successful. Mind you as they haven't bothered to let me know (three weeks waiting) after promising that they would let all of us know - I am probably better off not working for such a firm. I am in the middle of drafting an E-mail to tell them how disappointed I am with them, and don't you worry I haven't stop looking and applying every day for jobs. I still have my two days a week at my voluntary work (at least for a few more weeks - until they run out of funds [council cutbacks])

So glad the twins are progressing well and are over their illnesses.

Cancer - I have discovered in my life that Cancer is just not fair. It picks on people who have healthy life styles, and people you know and love and it picks on celebrities, usually ones you like too. In our small immediate family, my mother had cancer when she was 54 and was given only a few weeks to live - when my oldest brother was getting married - she had not visited a church since my christening - but she was let out of hospital for the day and she was wheeled everywhere. After the weekend, tests had shown that the cancer had miraculously disappeared and she lived for another 35 years! My oldest brother recently had prostate cancer - he has never smoked has a healthy lifestyle and is exercising (playing golf) regularly. My other brother and I had terrible lifestyles early on although I have now given up smoking (5 years) and heavy drinking (sometimes a glass of wine or a beer - but no trips down the pub) and have become a vegetarian who eats fish (it has a posh name), not a sign of cancer for either of us (thank God).

I am off to church shortly (I am reading the first lesson today) - I shall be lighting a candle for all those who need our prayers.

My beloved Arsenal won 3-0 yesterday against West Bromwich Albion. So one of us has to be disappointed!

As regards the topic, I will go with the flow - mind you when I was young I thought ...................................... :-)

Be happy - keep well
praying for you if you need it
thinking of you anyway
Gerard <3

Hi all

I am ready and now waiting for my friend Karen to get here. She said about 11-11.30.She dont live that far from here.but we could never get a date that we were not doing anything at same time.
Sofabed now gone so place is a bit safer now for me. Put a chair on there as well that i dont use.Only for pile of clothes.


Bridget mine would be numbers 6 and 7. Hope the son shines when your son gets there. Have a great time.

Gerard good old Arsenal :-D

~~~~~~~~~~to everyone else.
Hazelx

Gerard, Thank you for your message and the info re your family and Cancer. It is indeed a dastardly disease but people do make amazing recoveries, so we will just have to wait and see.

I was always aloud to have a sip of whatever my grandparents drunk and also what ever my parents had. Mind you we did not have alcohol most of the time except for mu grand mother who had to have her Guinness every day and she was nearly 90 when she died and Grandad enjoyed a decent Gin, which is also my tipple two or three times a week.

Thank you for thinking about us in your prayers, I do not go to church these days and strangely my faith has grown even stronger...

Re Football, at least my team west Ham are in second place in the ratings but oh dear they should never have gone down!!!

Hazel, I am going to keep a list and see what is the most popular, that is if anyone else has preferences...thanks for getting people started.
Enjoy your time with your friend and have a splendid catch up time.

My choice would be 2 and 4.
Come on Gerard you must have a preference and if not please add to the list!! Mrs Bossy Boots is back!!!

Son has been delayed slightly due to the high winds but should be here between 15.30 & 16.00 hrs so meal prepared oven will be turned on soon and I must NOT NIBBLE before they arrive.

It is still very very windy, could and grey here!!

Bridget




<3

I was browsing my paperwork and found this. Between the age of 4 years and 10 years we still gas lamps for all the lighting in our house in the east end of London.

this reminds me so much of those years!!

Gas lighting
Gas was first used for street lighting in 1807 and was adopted for home use in the 1860s. The introduction of the incandescent lamp (light bulb) in 1879 spelled the beginning of the end for gaslight.

Even so, gas continued to be a popular choice for home lighting until the 1920s. Even though electric service may have been available in your town, conversion to electricity was still expensive and was generally not undertaken until a house was sold to new owners. The invention of the gas mantle in 1887 improved the functionality of the typical gas lamp, and this kept the gas lighting industry in business a bit longer after the light bulb came along.
A gas mantle is a cotton mesh "sock" soaked in minerals. When placed inside the gas lamp, the cotton burns away, leaving a chemical mesh that glows brightly when heated by a gas flame. A mantle can increase the light output of a gas lamp tremendously.

I have a few other bits and pieces about those days and just reading them makes me wonder how people would manage today if we had to return to those times

Bridget

Bridget - I must have been a bit subtle with my preference - it was definitely there if you read carefully (but if it is too subtle No.8).

I can't believe how miserable Amos the prophet was - this morning's reading had the words 'hate' and 'despise' in it. Any way I must have done a fairly good job of reading it as so many of the congregation came up and told me so. Candles lit and prayers said too. Bridget - Don't worry about Church, Jesus is everywhere and with us all the time, and I am sure He is helping your faith to grow stronger.

Sorry Jan about the football - didn't mean to rub it in! and you are right about West Ham, Bridget, but with the Sontaran as manager you were destined for the drop. Sam will get you back in the Premiership (where you belong)
Gas mantles - that reminds me when I was small we had gas lighting in our street, there used to be a man on his bike with a pole who used to go round and light the mantles. My Gran only had gas in her house (no electricity) - gas lighting and coal fires (and cold bedrooms) and a tin bath on Fridays!, and when Grampa died and she went to live in Hythe, then and only then did the landlord electrify the house and put in a bathroom, obviously to sell the house for a small fortune.

Every time I see someone with an iphone it makes me feel old - and when I remember gas mantles, I realize I am old!!!

Gerard
:-)

Good morning to you all. Here the sun is shining, the birds are singing, jet and Joe have had breakfast, a quick walk and are now in the sun whilst dozing.son and family just rising and OH on the computer!

Yesterday my (step) son, who I refer to as son, and my husband put the Miele cooker in for me.,
Some of you may recall that son brought his friends here when they last visited and I was moaning about my cooker which was nearly 40 years old. The young couple said that they were having an Aga fitted and did not know what to do with the two year old Miele cooker.

Well son brought it with him and it is now in place and so is the hob which the couple also gave to me!

I have written and called them and they said they had intended to take it outside their house to give away, so decided to give it to me., they love their new Aga

Looking forward now to using it.

Not much news so far today so wish you all a happy and pleasant day


Bridget.

Good morning everyone - it's a miserable overcast drizzly day in London, and I have been up since 3.30 am because I took the OH to work this morning in the car. I fed our four cats before I took her to work (at about 4.15am) and at about 6am they were asking for more food (thank goodness I can get some cat food on special offer somewhere every week (2 x 12 sachets for £5.00 in Sainsbury's this week!) - but we wouldn't know what to do without them!

Poppies seem to be causing a stir this year (or the banning of them) - firstly Poundland, the Body Shop (falsely accused) and now Football's governing body FIFA have decided that England players can not have poppies on their shirts (perhaps it will offend the Germans - oh that's right the head of FIFA is a German!) - I am still unaware that there is any religious or political significance to the poppy - I thought it was to remember the dead. I am using a picture of my Uncle George on my Facebook Profile - he was killed in the Desert in 1942 - it is my way of remembering him - OH is using a poppy as her profile picture!

I sent my Email to my 'who I thought might be prospective employers' - telling them how disappointed I was with them and kept it very diplomatic (mustn't burn bridges)

I keep looking at my garden - but only looking - must be brave and get out there and finish clearing up at the back - maybe this weekend!

That's all for now
Keep well
Gerard :-)

Gerard
You are right about the Poppy.
It was chosen as a symbol of those who died serving for their belief in their country as the red Poppies are thought to be the colour of the blood.

It has absolutely no connection with government etc.

I will wear my poppy with pride, and I expect most people will do the same.
As for the position of FIFA, words fail me.
I have pictures and one wonderful painting of direct family members who
were or are in the forces and they will all be on display on the 11.11.2011.

Good for you Gerard for sending a message to the people who did not have the decency to inform you of the outcome of your interview. When I interviewed I always told them that if they had not been selected by a given date they would know that on that particular interview they had not been successful. After the first interview everyone would be contacted by either a telephone call or in writing. Where have good manners gone to??

Beautiful weather here today, with temps in the low 20s and no wind whatsoever.
Family go home early on Thursday, and friends from England arrive tomorrow!

Must go now as OH is calling

Bridget :-)

it seems we have all been busy too busy to post on here ! I was always told that we have poppies because the poppies grow in the farm fiels where so many died.

Re your idea Bridge mine would be 2 and 10

Come on Gerard you are letting the side down, there will only be twice as much to do later in the garden, and it will be cooler. Here in Norfolk it has been very mild, and we have been sweeping up leaves again, they all seem to have fallen into our garden this year !! No wind to blow them somewhere else !!

Have a good weekend

Regards Jan

Just showing the flag. Nothing to report only that we finally seem to be getting our usual type of Spring weather. Beautiful at the moment with no rain, temps of high 20's and overnight temps of up to 18. I wish it could stay like this, but Summer starts in less than three weeks and the temps go higher and higher.

We do need the rain and no doubt some areas will get more than they want, but it's a big country, so we get a bit of everything - usually the wrong thing in the wrong places!

Ok everyone, it looks as if there are 2 votes for two and then several others. Given that only a few of us suggested votes I think we could all write our own choices...hope you all agree.

If we started this from next week we should be able to have them all by the end of the month and who knows, others my join us.
Does this idea suit everyone? Our visitors leave next Wednesday so I will start mine next Thursday. Looking forward to reading your entries.

At last we as a family are receiving good news! Our expected grandchild is developing very well, and I shall be receiving the next scan next week, my granddaughter is improving and appears to be coping very well even with the occasional not so understanding comment. Son in Amsterdam arrived home safely having stopped over in France on his way home.
Son in Barcelona, doing very well in his new work place and has received his permanent work documents, son in Wales sounds very relaxed and business doing quite brisk sales, andArmy son called yesterday to say thet he has received his official letter confirming that the Army wishes him to stay in the Army until at least ...2025! So no worries for him about what the future holds, especially as many soldiers are finishing their 12 year co tract and not being renewed.

So maybe the good times are back at last.

Today it is very chilly, but the sun is shining and I hope it stays that way for our rememberance gathering. We have our poppies and OH will were his fathers medals, as he promised he would.

Then we are back home and there will eight of us for lunch. Legs of lamb pre pared, veg prepared so not difficult.

Take care everyone and have a good day.

Bridget

Sorry not been on lately missed it somehow. However I will endeavour to write something but not now as I am off to get the evening meal. Somebody give me a nudge if I forget. :-D

I am writing this at some ungodly hour - OH had some bad news this week her second cousin Peter lost his battle with the Big C, we heard the news from a friend (who had read about it on Facebook) rather than from the family. Unfortunately, OH has been ignored by her family once again, but she is putting on a brave face! For myself, I am sleeping really badly at the moment, I don't understand why, I always sleep so well (and snore a lot), perhaps being without work is getting to me.
We had a wonderful Remembrance Sunday service at church and we had a proper trumpeter for the last post and reveille, brought tears to my eyes, said all my prayers and we lit two candles, as one doesn't seem to cover all the people we need to light one for!
Bridget what wonderful news about your sons, you must be so pleased that the sun is shining down on them.
It is good to know that Ann is still with us - how do you get a nudge?
Jan - you are right, I am a disgrace, but OH had me using the incinerator in the garden last week, getting rid of some old papers and the wardrobe they were kept in (in the garden) - the papers weren't suitable for recycling because of their colour and content, and the wardrobe was disintegrating because of weather damage.
Berona - you talk of spring weather, here in England except for the fact that all the leaves are coming off the trees (into Jan's garden!!) you would hardly think it was November, yesterday beautiful blue skies and sunshine. We have only had two mornings with a frost and they were in September! No doubt we are in for much colder times later.
Hazel - Just love those twins - how are they now - are they at home yet?
Must sign off now, can hear OH stirring, she will be off to work shortly and I am going to accompany her on the bus. Can't go in the car as it was behaving terribly yesterday when we went to church, probably needs a good service (as well as its annual MOT)
Back soon :-)
Gerard

Gerard a nudge would have to be by PM I think if I don't get around to writing anything.

We used the Poppy poem from Favourite Sayings and Poems thread (or whichever way round it is !!) it went down really well, tears in eyes, in our service at church yesterday, then my OH gave an address (hes not a priest) about the origins of using a poppy, all were surprised that it started in the USA.

It is still very mild here....Gerard glad to hear you have been at work in the garden even if it was only the incinerator !!!

Horrid that your OH had to read on Facebook the news..why do people find it easier to tell the world rather than their nearest and supposedly dearest....would never happen to us on here...I do not say anything that I would not say to the person concerned,,,what do others think ?

Regards Jan

Advice to a newly married couple.

Think of your marriage as starting a journey together, it is exciting, you have no idea what lies ahead. Right now you know that you love each other and you need to build on that love. You need to have trust and respect for each other and you need to have patience and you need to mix all that with a sense of humour.
You don’t have rainbows without also having some rain or, as the Minister told us at our wedding fifty one years ago, Life is not all leaning on stiles and gazing at the moon. It is the problems that you solve together, the occasional disagreements and the making up afterwards, that go into weaving the tapestry of your life together.
But, make sure that you laugh with each other, take time every day to talk to each other, always tell each other how you feel. It is bottling up feelings that cause resentment which can grow into a huge issue. Resolve not to give up too easily on each other should you find that you have problems, don’t be afraid to ask the senior members of your family for help, parents and grandparents have been there before you.
Most of all enjoy each other and enjoy a long and happy life together.

Well nobody else adding. I have written my favourite holiday but it is going to take four posts. Are you sure you want that much Bridget. I won't post until you say so.

Sorry I have not been on here earlier, entertaining friends from UK, yesterday we also used the poem put on here recently, very well received, then expected 8 for lunch but in fact that turned into 10! thank goodness the new to me cooker worked very well and the English lamb was a great success.

Gerald I do hope that your OH is recovering from the ;loss of one of her family. I will keep you both in my Positive thoughts and prayers each day.

Ann, your advice about marriage is so true, and I hope that we are all able to remain content in our relationships. I feel quite sure that none of us would ever have thought that we were marrying someone who would not be with us forever. Unfortunately it does not always work out, as both I and my husband know. Neither of us expected the failure for one reason or another but we still cherish that time of our life, it helped us to be the people we are now.

Ann You could also post one piece of your story each day, rather like the story of the week on the radio... so looking forward to part one!

We had a dreadful fall of rain last night...it woke me with quite a start, I could hear water cascading down or stairs from the road down to the bottom garden and swimming pool/ At first I thought that maybe someone from the top of our little mountain was emptying their pool but no it was good honest rain!!! it went on for hours but no lightening and then this morning it had stopped and we have had a sunny day.

Not much more news at the moment so will say goodbye for now but may have another look later on.

Please take care of each other and yourselves.

Bridget