General Chat

HI Fred and all the others who pop in.

The Balcony garden is now great Fred, I have 11 toms on one plant
with many more to come. 2 feeds of green onions so far.
Rosemary and basil shooting all over the place. Parsley, thyme and
oregano still slow. Tried the cucumbers but it was just too cold so
will try again next year.
Flowers are georgous and my hanging baskets are fabulous.
Must go,time for a cup of tea. See you soon. Edith XXX

well people ,looks like one of those days again lol,i typed out a message for this thread and was just about to put it in ,when whooooosh,off it went grrrrrr,i take it from past comments by others that this does happen from time to time but it's darned annoying he he.
Hiya Edith old buddy ,how is the garden on the balcony going ? you know ,i mentioned this famed balcony to my younger son a few weeks ago ,and how you ,and one or two others grew essentials in small places ,and he got smitten he he.
So far ,Liz has taken him down three tomato plants ,basil,corriander,mint ,chive,parsley and even two pots with perpetual onions in, which he has placed all around the back yard ,he is chuffed to bits when he comes to do a meal,walks out back, and collects his own herbs. which are of course nice and fresh,he is even using a very large bin box like i have out back and is growing radish and lettuce in.
Sorry to hear about your bro' in law Les,and yes ,family cannot be ignored ,but you know ,seems like you have another travel epic in front of you ,and many new sights to see anyway.
Perhaps if you have a cam corder with you ,and do a nice recording of your travels ,you could put it onto disc when you get back ,and sell a few copies to swell the funds from a future garden sale and sewing bees, i for one would go for that,the thought of some of the lovely scenery and places you have over there make my spine tingle when i see them.
The garden is now fully planted out and the greenhouse is nice and clear except for peppers and young herbs,and i suppose i had better get used to it,i have been told by the boss ,next year ,i have one corner for starting my onions and leeks in Jan',and that's it,everything else ,i have to start natures way ,out in the open,hmmmmm,.time for a rethink methinks.[hey ,that ryhmes] lol.
I expect to do very well with the dwarf beans this year with all the rain we are getting,three plants to a pot ,and eight pots to the row,that's a lot of beans he he,and the parsnips and carrot are doing well too ,maybe a bumper crop this year.
I found my recipe folder at last ,and am now adding sauces ,marinades and other stuff to the list,so that i can recall them any time i feel like it.
The new lime and corriander marinade my son does for the marinaded B B Q chicken is a must as i really liked it last week when he made it,he has a few others sorted out for me as well .
The new Perscription sunglasses are great ,they will come in really handy when we get some sun [when being the operative word ] but i will be taking them to cyprus with me so they will have SOME use this year.
I took Liz to town with me to pick them up ,lovely sunny morning,and warm when we started out so i went out in a cotton ,casual shirt ,shorts ,and trainers,we got into town early ,so we had a walk round the farmers market ,you know the sort of thing ,all meats ,cheeses and butters,and truck garden plants ,home made fudge ,and farmers from Germany,France ,Ireland and the like.
Finishing there ,we went to pick up the glasses and then went to MacDonalds for dinner because we had coupons for half price meals and free java.any way,sitting there eating and looking outside we saw the clouds rolling over ooooer,no car ,and looking like rain,,might have known it ,we walked out side as the BIG drops started to fall and by the time we reached the bus stop ,it was like a mini monsoon [ i kid you not having seen them before],so ,at 'tother end when we have to get off said bus ,it was howking it down even harder,and the ten minutes walk through the fields to the house ,well,let's say ,i could have done with wipers on my glasses he he ,it was indoors ,clothes off ,such as they were ,and into the washer with them,to spin the water out.,next time i go to town in the summer ,i take the car he he.
Well ,that's it for now ,time to get myself a cuppa and biccie ,a treat for me 'cause i have been a good boy ,lol,down to twelve stone for the first time in twenty years ,and my blood sugar going back to 6.2 wahey,see you later chums .Fred.

C'mon all Let's hear if you are all still with us.

Stay well !!!!!!! Edith

Darn it VP, Alaska would have been great. So sorry about Norm's brother - age is a butter. All you need now is a powerful engine and some floatees and you could keep on going to see your Dad in the UK lol. Seriously so sorry about is all
Happy Canada Day to you all
Evening Badger and other UKers and good half way through hte morning downunderers
JA

hi happy canada day to one and all I have spent the day watching the tennis wimbledon has to be the most wonderful two weeks of the year for me, leslie sorry that you have to change your travel plans but as you say family come first, my family are going to england and france on the 9th of july the first trip over for the three grandchildren I shall house sit for them. the oldest one graduated from public school last wednesday it was a great ceramony I did as asked and di not cry1 they play pomp and circumstance and that always sends me off, I took over an album of his fathers graduation at the same age the children loved the old photo's especially seeing dad without his mustache something they have never seen before. well there will be fireworks to-night down by the lake I feel sorry that the toronto plans for to-day had to be cancelled due to the strike bye for now dorothy barrie ontario

Norm and I are in the PA Canda Day parade today. Norm is dressing up. Our theme being the Trash and Treasure weekend he is going as a cross between Rod Stewart/Captain Kid/Osama!! I will take pics.
Me ....I am just wearing a purple hat and purple socks. Hat has a black net veil and hopefully it will stay on my head as it is meant to be warm today.
As with all things, sometimes life sends a curve ball. Norm's brother, in Quebec well near Ottawa really, has more heart problems and is inoperable. So we have decided to trek east now and not to Alaska. I am quite sad about that but family must always come first. We hope to make a quick jaunt to the Maritimes so that will mean our journey will literally be from the Pacific to the Atlantic...wow!!!
So its off to the parade!!
Lesxx

Helloooo where are you all???? Just returned from a 10th birthday bash.
My great nephew had a laser tag party. This consists of a huge gun and
an activated head band..After 80 hits you are disabled and have to get a
reload. Lord to be 10 again.!!!!!!!!! 7 boys of the same age ripped around
the bush for 2 hours before they finally ran out of steam. After cake and ice-cream and a "loot bag" to take home it was all over. The quiet was
deafening hee hee. My niece and I also collapsed but her 2 boys were
playing a Nintendo game for another hour before they too hit the hay.!!!!!
Weather is the absolute pits again, this is one summer I am sure we will forget quickly. Little sun, little rain, little cold etc. can't seem to settle on any one thing, so we suffer.
Enough blather right?? off to watch some telly and then to bed.
Hope everyone is well Edith

Same here' heatwave? WHAT heatwave?,it's been drizzling all of 16 hours,and still at it .the cat isn't impressed and ,come to think of it ,neither am i.
I made a lovely soup with the chicken carcass,leek ,diced potato,lentils,salt and pepper,and a little corriander which will come in handy for the tea.
B B Q is out ,so i am doing toad in the hole for the grandson [requested ] with mash cabbage ,peas and slice green beans ,a nice easy dinner .
I can't even get into my garden ,so i'm sitting here in shorts ,knees losing their tan ,and cold ,lol,so i think it's research time ,or a visit to t'other site [facebook] which i am still trying to sort out.
Off for a look about ,hope you people down south and the west country are getting better weather than us ,shocking it is for poor northern folk.
see ya later Fred.

Hello everyone, well its quite miserable here today, damp, foggy and very warm so I think a thunderstorm is looming. Haven't done much family reseach the last couple of weeks, seem to have come to a bit of a standstill, so I'm giving it a rest to see if I get a new set of eyes when I start again. I have been helping my cousin with old records. He had boxes and boxes of vinyls lps and singles and wanted rid of them so we have been searching the net to see if there are some rare ones, most of them are run of the mill 1960s and early 70s but there are a few that seem to be collectors items so who knows he may get a few £s for them. Hope everyone is OK. How was your meal Mary? Fred I'm looling forward to our heatwave, although I am not holding my breath.
Been watching TV about Michael Jackson its such a shame, because regardless of his "strange" personal life, he was a very talented singer and brilliant dancer. Well thats it for now Have a good weekend everyone ....

Morning peoples ,from a veeeery damp Newcastle O T,where old git Fred is getting ready for the monthly freezer shopping.
We will be out of here by 0845 so we are at the shop Netto,and Aldi by 9,am,
Netto have 2kilo chucks on offer at £2-30p [two of those] one for the pot ,one for the freezer,lol.
Netto do a very nice Chicago Town Lasagni which i cook ,cut into four and freeze down,lovely with a salad ,and Aldi do a nice veggie on which i do the same with.
Must get some new penn pasta too ,liz gave me a break with tea last night making a bacon ,cheese and leek pasta ,so nice ,and light,and very very tasty,a nice change from the tuna and sweetcorn on which we use pasta shells for.
Lokks like we are going to have a heatwave next week so i will be firing the outside B B Q up at least once to do some nice tasting low fat dinners,with maybe a jacket,some chicken ,or a coup-le of snags and a nice ,slow cooked beefburger ,complete with bun,and oh ,the wife wants warmed garlic bread, sounds good to me.
The garden is doing well now ,the roses are out just in time for the sun,and the scent of them and the dianthus will be lovely as the heat of the day subsides.
Just in case though ,the big pedestal fan is ready in the bedroom,so that we will be able to get some sleep,and as a last resort i can get the portable air conditioner out of the cupboard downstairs if it gets naughty.
Last time we had the fan on though ,i noticed that when i woke up ,Her Majesty was laid out at the bottom of the bed ,paws in the air and the breeze from the fan ruffling her fir,this cat has been here before lol.
We have to be really crafty now ,as she is herself,lying in the patio doorway from 7 pm so that we can't shut it to keep her in,he he ,any movement to close it,and she is on the patio in a flash ,looking at us with that [noooo ,too slow again]look, little B****r.i usually go through to the kitchen ,get her biccie box out and give it a shake while the wife shuts the patio door till there isn't enough room for the cat to get out of ,lol,get a different sort of look from her then ,a foiled again sort of stare he he.
Blime don't time fly ,in five months you will all be complaining that Chistmas is too near ,and i will be starting the search for the new car again.
Well ,that's it for now ,apart from wishing everyone a quiet relaxed weekend byeee.Fred.

Morning all.. We have another mild day..love this winter..lol..

Fred You seem to be getting in on the new age phones.. I am happy to stay with my little prepaid mobile that just sends and receives phonecalls....lol.. I am not techy minded like you and so will just stay put..It took me ages to learn how to send a message on my phone,,lol.. only did it as people kept sending me messages so had to learn how to reply,,,now have the hang of it but only just,,,hee hee hee,,,

Going to a concert at the Conservatorium Of Music this afternoon to hear my grandson play the violin in the Sydney Little people Youth Orchestra... Then we are off across the road to the Intercontenental Hotel for dinner as its my DIL 40th birthday also so we are celebrating with a slap up dinner..John isnt coming as he could not cope ,,it would be a long day for him..much the pity..

Les Sounds like you are getting serious now re the trip..lol getting all the gear ready makes it seem like it is happening soon.Glad the bed was cumfy...Hope you make sots of money with the aprons,,,

Well better get showered and ready to go out.. Have a lovely weekend everyone ..Our lovely JA is on holidays visiting her daughter..

Hope all are well and hugs for them that are not ...

Love Mary xx

Morning Les' nice to see you again ,busy as usual,and getting ready for the trip.
Anyone out there in the ether,using skype ,with a skype mobile? Fred has just bought one and was interested to note that anyone with a skype enabled phone is able to call another skype phone anywhere in the world free of charge ,now i'm all for that ,so ,any offers
My new phone is just a normal contract phone ,set on 100 minutes a month and so many texts for £7-50 a month,but pressing the skype icon opens the programme up ,which is free to any skype number.any scot's ears prick up at the mention of free ,i'm no different he he.
Well ,i got up really early and got the back garden watered with the idea of getting the front hedges trimmed ,but it now looks like rain ,so it looks like i am going to get rained off lol.
Off to town this afternoon to pick up my new glasses ,plus my new reading glasses,so i am now set for the summer ,[when it arrives].
off now for a mooch round the boards before i couple my phone to skype on the puter so that i can see who is active that i know ,and of course ,put my number in.
Back later ,have a good day all .Fred.

Hi Guys, after weeks of dry hot weather it is raining today....finally. We really need it. Even tho we water our plants they like the real stuff better I think.
In case you wondered where I was...I am back sewing. I am in a weekend sale affair on July 11 and 12 and want to beef up my stock a bit. Then It will be back to genealogy as I have a new hot lead from Curious Fox and am anxious to persue it.
We are playing classical music on and off all day in the green house. My tomatoes are now to the roof and are covered in toms as well as flowers. Norm and I always wondered about the truth of music for plants....we think it works.
We are gradually getting our stuff together for the big trip. While we were over in Vancouver we went to Mountain Equipment and got bear spray, a canvas bag for me as I hate wearing a fanny pack and this little number goes crosswise over my shoulder. We also got a large first aid kit and a few other bits and pieces. Yesterday we installed a bra over the front of the van to protect against rock chips.Next we will protect all of the tanks and pipes underneath especially the propane and the air shocks. What a palava. You would think we were going to the end of the earth....hmm! maybe we are!!
While we were at the kids we slept in the van, close quarters but comfy. In the morning Rhian (and her Dad) brought us coffee in bed. We all sat in the van watching the raccoons in the yard next door (hard to believe this is in the heart of the city!) Anyway pretty soon the raccoons were having a little early morning nooky and Rhian says to me Gammie what are they doing? I reply playing. Rhian says what game is that?.... errr! where do ya go from there. We all just chuckled and Rhian climbed up into the pop top bed and seemed content to let it go.....whew!!!
That's me for today...off to sew.
Lesxx

hi Edith ,Mary [who ,by the way Edith is keeping quiet about her beef and ale casserole so we don't get any sniff] lol
It must be upsetting to see animals hit on the roads Edith ,i have seen the odd hedgehog ,rabbit,and fox killed this way ,but only once did i see a deer hit in scotland ,and the bairns were in floods of tears,not a nice sight at any time.
Off to ther metro centre this morning early to buy a new mobile on contract ,this one will do all that my old phone does and goes cross network at no extra cost,of which i get 300 minutes of calls per month,and it has sat nav on board in case i get lost in town he he.
Best of all though it is Skype enabled allowing me to call anywhere in the world free of charge using the usb cable and the lappy ,how neat is that?,could even phone you two while on the caravan patio in Blackpool,[with my little stick of Blackpool rock] tra la la la laaaaa.
Well ,apart from the beetroot ,all is now planted but i had bother with loads of the seedlings this year ,so i landed up putting the brassica apart from the kale. in as seed straight into the buckets.
If this works okay i may well do a lot of planting straight to buckets infuture ,leaving the boss more room for her flower seed.
I think it may be the potting compost ,i havn't used that brand before but i suppose it's one of those things.
We have pumpkins wahey ,the bairns will be that chuffed when they come up next seeing as they started them off at school as a project and bought them home during the holidays.
The wife is doing realwell with her strawberries ,apples,peppers ,corriander,parsley and other herby stuff,that i think we will eat well this season,even the tatties are already at the top of the barrels,and looking really good.
I am thinking i should have put a date palm in the front garden with thw way this country is warming up lol,more free fruit ,and i am very fond of dates after getting the taste for them overseas.
It wouldcertainly be nice to see my orange tree bear fruit ,but that is well in the future it being only three inches tall at the minute.
Looks like being another very warm one ,but no matter,the old shorts are out ,the garden is watered and Old Fred is having the day off,even down to eating in the town,and this evening just having a bowl of corn flakes for tea ,no cooking at all ,yippee, too hot to cook,apart from Snags and a burger outside on the patio,maybe tomorrow.
The little indoor B B Q/grill we bought for indoor use when the weather is bad is very good ,i did snags ,bacon rashers and egg the other evening using no oil at all ,just that spray on ,low cal stuff ,and the natural fat out of the meat meat did the rest ,even the ebbs were beut' not greasy and cooked to perfection ,yes ,a really good buy.
Afterwards ,a quick wipe down with a damp cloth ,and good to go again.he he.
The cat got locked out last night night because she refused to come in when called,she was not impressed this morning when i opened up lol,she came barrelling in the door tail up ,and made a beeline for her breakfaast,after which she shot upstairs and jumped onto the bed,and went to sleep ,poor little thing ,he he,i don't think she will pull that trick again for a while ,she is too used to her comforts, one veeeeery spoilt Kitty.
Think we will do very well this autumn ,looking at a bumper crop of carrots ,parsnip,potato,and leek if this weather keeps up,soups wahey ,slurp.
Hope your back is getting better Mary ,nowt worse in the world than having trouble ,sitting down, trouble sitting still .and trouble getting up again [hugs] been there myself as you know and am now twinging in sympathy ,take care of yourself and get better soon.
Must leave you now ,and get ready to go swanning off for this phone ,free calls here we come he he.Fred.

Morning all Been nice weather here lately..only a few showers and in the high teens temperature wise..not bad for a winter..though it will get a wee bit colder in the next month or two..
Nothing much happening here at the moment..pulled a muscle in my back,,dont know how..but it has been giving me gyp for a day or two,,a bit better today but last night I had to take something for it to get to sleep..did some shopping today and dont think it helped,,carrying heavy shopping bags..but there is nobody else to help so I just get on with it...

Fred It must be lovely having the grandies there ..At that age they are great fun and quite helpful around the place..

Edith Time to get out the bikini...lol..

Hope all are ok and enjoying life..

Love Mary xxx

Morning all, Sitting here in my cool apt. not looking forward to another hot

day. We expect another 28 or 29 to-day, I'm just not a summer person.

All the balcony plants are over growing their pots, toms coming along

really well. I agree Fred all the others seem to be on holiday, they need to

let us know how they are !!!!!! Lots of animals on the highways as the

bugs are driving them out of the bush, sadly a lot of them are dying as


















they are being hit by the big transport trucks.

Wish my grandkids were younger Fred as they are fun to have for

visits.

Hope to hear from the rest of you soon. Bye for now. Edith XXXX

Helloooooo,anyone there or are we all on holiday ?he he.
We had a pretty good weekend despite the lousy weather ,with the two grand bairns to keep us on our toes,and young Chris even helped me in the garden between showers with the planting,which helped me a lot.
After i had taken them both home last evening ,i got stuck in to it again ,and now just have the beetroot to go in ,and one row of late cabbage ,sorted.
We have young Sophie next weekend along with Chris ,so if it's nice ,i think it,s picnic time at Tynemouth,with plenty of sarnies and cakes ,and maybe ,if the big van is parked next to the church where the bro' in law was married ,we may get a bag of chips apiece.
We still have dull weather and drizzle hanging around so Liz and i will more than likely get a bus into town and have a mooch round the markets,that way getting our walk ,and staying reasonably dry at the same time.
I have my new glasses ordered ,a pair of reactrolights for the sun [and Cyprus] but i have been warned that they are no good for driving in sun,so the second pair are distance glasses too,and i have a pair of clip on sun shades that i will leave in the car at all times even got a new pair of reading glasses thrown in so i did pretty well i reckon.
Off for a saunter now ,enjoy your day all,and take it easy ,Fred

Morning all well ,we are now getting back to normal after getting back from the funeral and my missus picking at her tea,and eating very little.
She watched her cooking programmes last evening but didn't see anything ,if you know what i mean,and so at 9pm i had had enough and packed her off to bed to sleep it off.
I reckon her cousin Pat ,being four years younger has made Liz feel a bit vunerable ,but hey ,she is a spring chicken compared to a lot on here lol.
Edith ,the sensible one ,you did the same as we did when we went to the lion park ,stayed inside the vehicle with the windows up he he,but i have heard of a few daft b****s getting out of the cars with cameras,idiots all.
With the granddaughter here for the weekend ,and Chris arriving at around 10-30 ,it's full house ,lol,but it's what the missus needs to make her take an interest in things again.
I think i will do French Onion Soup for dinner ,along with french stick coated with Parmasan cheese ,and for tea ,a nice fresh curry ,either Khorma ,or Madras both of which the bairns like.
What a weekend this is gonna be. 20th of june ,nearly midsummer and i have the heating on 'cause it's ruddy freezing up here.he he.
This could be because the Hoppings started last night and traditionally it rains all week,so that any daft perisher going to the fair has to wear wellies to trudge through the muddy fields.
This has been going on in Newcastle for close on 200 years ,lol,some people never learn,or is it that Fred is getting past it? he he ,bit of both i reckon ,but i do admit on having some nice memories of walking round it with the mum and dad in law many years ago with the wife and brother in lawin tow ,mum im law winning things on the tombola and lotto stalls ,she was a pretty lucky lady in many ways [well ,look at the son in law she landed up with lol].
Going to take the boss a cuppa up now ,be back later.Fred.

Morning all.. We have rain.then sun.then rain.then sun..wish the blurry weather would make up its mind...
Went down to the big Mall and got a slow cooker which was on special..$49 down from $80..A good size to as I can make a big meal and freeze half for another time..Got a haicut and a few other things I needed..Was going to buy a book with recepies for the S/C but thought I would find more on the web so didnt bother..next thing is a new mattress but to get John out of bed and ready to go shopping is a task in itself..nothing happens fast in this house when it involves John...lol..

Fred A smaller van would be a lot easier to manover..Ours was 17ft and that was big enough for us..it was very cumfy with 2 lounges,one behind the table and one oposite..so we could both put out feet up in the evening and watch the telly..cor I miss that van..
Sorry to hear about Liz's cousin..Big hugs for her...and glad you are looking after that hand..

Les.. WOW That was a big sale you had..Did it all go or are you stuck with stuff still..enjoy your trip to see the kids...

Edith..Near enough is not good enough...Hee hee hee...glad you have your camera ready....Hope you are well..

Hi Diane. Is Durham not far from Fred,,who is up north there somewhere...you must be sharing his sun...

Well have a love day all..

Love Mary xxxx

Morning everyone, Fred, if I see a bear it is from inside my car !!

I have watched the tourists walk up to them and snap a pic in the face.

Many of them(tourists) run for their vehicle, but don't try it a second time.

We were taught very young to respect wildlife, it's their plot leave them

alone. Lovely day coming up sunshine and warm temps

My herbs are growing like wildfire, basil is busting out of it's pot and

I had to put the parsley in a larger pot too.

Have 2 toms on one plant and lots of blooms so it may be a banner

year for the "balcony garden" . Must get on my way this a.m off to our

nearest town for shopping. See you all soon. Edith XXXXX