General Chat

Morning all from sunny [not] Newcastle where Fred is wishing it was a bit sunnier and warmer ,i am longing for the spring mornings when i can sit out back among my birds to eat my porridge or toast.
We discovered some jams ,and marmalade in Blackpool that have a greatly reduced sugar content,but stil tasty,so i can have toast and whatever now,and not just vitalite .
Yeah Mary i can see where you are coming from,the english language strikes again he he,over here if you ask for a mince pie you get meat,if you wan't the other sort [fruit] you have to ask for sweet mince ,very confusing for a lot of people.
I took some of my corned beef down to the sister in laws,AND,some home made peas pudding which for some reason you can't get down in Lancashire [funny lot down there'lol.] they don't know a good thing when they see it ,but ,i suppose ,they have nice things we don't have up here,like the Lardy cake ,which i shouldn't have but hadn't had since i was last in High Wycombe.
I bought home two little tv tables from Blackpool too ,and thought they would be handy for supper by the fire,nice when we occasionally have a sarnie or something with toast while watching something on t v.
But ,i have another use for mine lol,it's just the right size to sit my lappy on ,complete with mouse which is a lot faster than the onboard one.
Chris is plased mind ,he can now shove his grandad out of the way when he is here ,and hogs the puter most of the time,which is why i decided to go wireless ,plus a mobile internet connection,i can even use it in cyprus as Sean has a wi fi connection too,best of both worlds.
Nice to see you back sylvia ,take your time Lass ,a little at a time is the best way,and we all like to hear from you ,as ,and when you like.
Poor Edith ,all that snow ,and there's our Mary hogging all that sun [shouln't be allowed ] when us canucks are all freezin' our butts off.
Not to be dismayed though ,we are sliding our way towards spring ,while mary slides tother way he he,the shoe will soon be on the other foot har har .
Hows Ya Doin' Les,you managed to get your car out of the drive yet,or are you still snowed in?,weve been lucky here ,not much snow at all,thank goodness,once Christmas has passed ,if i don't see any until next November it's too soon,which reminds me ,only another 11 months to Christmas [here ,Fred ducks to avoid all the missiles coming this way he he.
Just in case ,i will bog off now ,and do some house work lol.
Be back later peeps.Fred.

Morning all.. YYaaayyy we have rain..well a little anyway...

Dont fancy the poor things in the tennis in the Australian Open..gonna be 40c for the next 4 days,,not real tennis weather..bad enough now to see the sweat pouring off them during a match...and its only in the 30c's..

Glad to see you are ok Sylvia..sorry to hear about your friend..big hugs..

Fred. My Tom Tom mate....glad you are happy with it..my brothers all have Tom Toms and would not have anything else..I am using the nice English mans voice and love it when I bamboozle him by not turning when he says..hee hee hee..The good thing is if you do make a mistake it soon gets you back on track..Glad you had a nice holiday..Those pies sounded great..nice when you can actually see some REAL meat in them..a chap I know went into a shop in New Zealand and asked for a meat pie..The lady said sorry we don't have any meat pies,,he said..what is that in the warmer,,she said,,Oh they are MINCE pies..looks like the Kiwis call their pies by a different name..hee hee hee..and only put mince meat in them..

Ian Nice to see you popping in..Hope you are coping with the heat.

Les Has it arrived yet...

Edith My snow bunny..Are you out in that white stuff and shovelling it off the car still ,,lol


Hi to Christine and Dorothy...

Well I suppose I had better get some of this dreaded H..,,,k done..Have a nice day or night and roll on winter as this heat is to much..

Love Mary xxxx

Hello Everyone and thanks to you all for inquiring about how I am getting on.I am not doing too badly thanks, except for a few tears every now and then My family are all very supportive but not one of my neighbors has spoken to me or even asked how I am, but I expect you remember how nasty they were about the retaining wall that had to be built a few months ago. I am not letting them worry me though. As long as I can drive I can get out of here and visit friends or the shops.
I had some very bad news this week, a very dear friend of mine has just been diagnosed with Liver Cancer. She and her husband were our first neighbours when we came to Australia 35 years ago and we have been good friends ever since.
The weather is still quite warm here, but is only 30C today which is just nice.
Thank you for phoning me Joan. It was so nice to speak to you.
Love to you all from Sylvia XX

G'day all,well the prolonged Christmas Holiday is over lol,and it's back to the grindstone[not].
Liz and i had a great time in Blackpool and Fleetwood ,where we did a bit of sightseeing as well as shopping.
I discovered a great Home bakery in Cleveleys that bake all of their own products,the bakery is right opposite Tescos ,on the main drag ,and it was a place of delights,i tried a meat and potato pie which was do die for,pure steak,i think ,skirt ,layered in the pastry with sliced potato[like a hotpot top],and then covered with more steak.
They were soooo good that i bought three of them home with us for tea Saturday.
My son says that they also do a veeeery mean cheese and potato,so,next time down ,i will try one of those too.
The cakes in the place looked heavenly ,but i thought of the diabeties and left them there he he.
The new camera works well too,i took a mundane piccie of the big ferry at fleetwood as it left the harbour ,and pulled it in so far it filled the frame.
Mary old buddy,i treated myself to a new Tom Tom after your recommendation ,thinking of my return toCyprus and the car hire,it has the whole of central and western europe on it but for some reason Cypres didn't load,so i have sent an email to support asking for advice .
The rest works fine ,and i have to admit it is far better than the one i had,and when we came home from blackpool it actually showed us the drive of the house and told us we had arrived as i pulled up inside the gate .
Last evening i made the greek tomato salad i had while in Cyprus ,beef tomato,onion rings ,and a balsamic vinager /mint dressing,that's all there is to it ,but lovely and refreshing.
Today it's a full green salad with feta cheese cubes and hard goat cheese cut in thin slices,drizzled in a little olive oil and mint chive dressing ,lovely ,just the job to go with A Summer B B Q.
It isn't a bad morning here ,a little damp,but pretty mild,a far cry from the weather Edith and company are having in Canada ,and the northern states of the U S a are getting,but never mind all of you.it's OUR turn next ,for the balmy weather while parts of oz and the place over the pond will be getting.lol.
Time to go ,or to get the lappy out as Liz wants my puter [waaah] lol,sorry by the way that i didn't get on line in Blackpool ,which doddery old git forgot the power lead [doooooh]
Fred,Hissy and Liz,hissy has forgiven us for being away for so long ,largely because my son and Chris came by every couple of days and sat and played with her ,bless 'em,will be making it up to her today ,he he ,the fish is in the pan lol.

Hello everyone. Seems all of Canada is freezing again.

Hopefully we will warm up for Valentines. Yes, Ian staying warm by

reading a lot. We have electric heat in the building so no wood fires but we

are warm.

Great to see all the posts and to know you are all well. Waiting to hear

from Fred soon.

The 1911 Census is addictive isn't it.? Found a few more for my tree

also relatives who lived next door. Seems they stayed together in those

days.!!! If they did move they more than likely emigrated.

Many of my ancestors lived less than a mile from one another, made it

easy to find them!!!!

Must get back to my book so bye for now. Edith XXXXXXXX

Good evening all, I hope everyone is well. I'm glad to see that you're coping well Sylvia. Edith I hope that you're all rugged up and that you've got plenty of wood for that fire.

Best Wishes
Ian

hi lesley thanks for the info I also saw on genes this new map thing they have so playing around with that as you say it is still cold -14 here this morning and it snowed last night, my son came over yesterday and spent an hour digging out my car as I had not moved it all week being under the weather, hope to get out on monday all being well I must admit I think the worse has passed a case of the norwak flue I guess not a pleasent thing. I hope that my sister is enjoying the weather in the caymans they do not return to calgary till feb 3rd bye for now dorothy

Dorothy it is at www.1911census.co.uk
You can search the listings for free but you need to buy credits to view the transcript or the original document....and it's very expensive.

It is powered by findmypast and I believe by the end of the year you will be able to access the census with your fmp membership. I have a membership so I will let you know when that happens.

Cold snap here today probably down to minus 10/12 last night and still foggy. Spring, spring where art thy sting.....what ever!!!
I am off to sew.
Lesxx

hi to christine c. how does one find out how to access the 1911 census is there a web site regards dorothy (canada)

Muriel I have pm'd you.

Have been busy doing nothing, as the song goes. It has been foggy here, below zero and generally uninspiring.

I have found a fabulous site that sells fabric in the USA and so spend many happy hours trolling thru swatches of fabric......and buying lots!!! Have a couple of special order aprons to sew and that's about it.

Have read the last and newest of Jodi Picoult's books which means that I have all of them. We gave away about a quarter of our library to a charity book sales last spring....but I am rapidly filling the spaces on the shelves. Naughty Les!!!

If you have ancestors who lived anywhere in and around London then you can do your bit to stop the Heathrow expansion. I have a huge interest in this as from the mid 1700's to the mid 1800's I would be related to probably 50/60% of Harmondsworth Village. Harmondsworth sits in the middle of the new runway. If you would like to help go to greenpeace.org.uk and join the Airplot. It is free. Emma Thompson and three others have bought a piece of land in the middle of the new runway and are hoping to stop the expansion. Of interest also is a known fact that the incidence of cancer, especially brain cancer is the highest in Britain around Heathrow and the most used flight paths from that airport.

When you have looked at this and if you are in agreement then please pass the greenpeace site along to anyone you know who will be supportive.

Luv to all.
Lesxx

Hi to all Canadian cousins,
I don't like to but in but could I pick your brains for a moment?
Can I look up a Canadian Birth from the 1920's for free on any site that you know about?
Have always believed this girl was adopted and last night I found her marriage on Google (Toronto Marriages) also a probable birth of her to my GFather's brother and wife.
Now I am so interested as I could have blood relations in Canada!
I don't like to trouble people with look-ups if I can find them myself.
Hoping one of you can point me in the right direction.
With thanks

Hello Everyone, not been too well so haven't been on site. Looks like everyone is busy in their own lives at the minute, Fred with his family, where are you Lesley are you sewing???? I too watched Obama and his wife, they do make a handsome couple don't they.. I remember when Tony Blair became our Prime Minister and everyone thought he was going to make such a change... Well he certainly did that!!!!! No more to say on that..
Its not so bad here this morning, fresh, thats how I would describe it. All the bulbs are starting to grow in the garden and we have a lot of birds around at the minute, loads of collared doves and plenty of little finches, hope there's not cats about without bells!!!
Thats it for now. Take care ........

hi well the weather in barrie on the week-end was awful we recieved another 25cm of snow so my trip to visit friends did not take place plus I spent the day int he bathroom I will spare you the details it is now wednesday and sill feeling rough, but watched the tv all day long yesterday what a great couple they make and what an inspiring man he is. to those of you in australia I watched the young 16yr old play tennis to-day I think you have a champion in the making in him I do love tennis he made a good showing for you you all take care bye for now dorothy

Don't worry Edith - we are still hear in Dundas

Weather has been very cold and snowy - not really condusive to going out and about very much.

Like many people I took the day to watch the TV for the Obama inauguration. - Very interesting and what a lovely family to watch over the next 4 years. I just hope that he gets on with job.

the 1911 census is now available in UK and my cousin has been going great guns searching (at enormous cost), she has come up with 2 of my grandads sisters, one a Matron in a hospital and the other married with a child and living not 10 miles from near where Keith and I lived in the UK at one time.

I think I will have to indulge myself and spend some money on a search or two.

I need to find out who owned a particular property in Wroxham, Norfolk as we have found in my Aunts belongings a postcard to another of my grandads sisters living at Hartwell House, Wroxham, I suspect as an employee of the owner. I googled the house and came up with a lovely Edwardian home built in 1897 which is currently up for sale for offers in excess of 1 million pounds!!! what would we do without the internet.

So far I haven't been able to find the property on the 1901 census for Wroxham so may have to ask for some help from genes members with that.

Keep warm 9or cool) and keep safe.

Veronica

Hallooooooooo Surely Les isn't stuck in the mud on the coast?
As usual I have been busy with the volunteer stuff I do.
Had to take some time last night and catch up to the new President, she is a lovely lady isn't she. They seemed to have fun dancing even after a long long day. Oh to be young again !!!!!
Where are the rest of you? I know we have had horrid weather coast to coast but you do have to surface soon. !!!!!!!!! How's things on the prairie
Teresa? How about southern Ont. Veronica and Dorothy? I guess Fred is still busy with the newlyweds, and will be back soon.
Mary our temps have mellowed but it looks like they are headed down the tubes again. Hopefully, they won't go as low as before.
Guess we will have to do a "rain" dance for you, to give your garden a wee drink.
Let's hear from you. Love to all Edith

Hi everyone...Where are you all....

You must all be freezing oop there in the top of the earth while we are all sweltering down here in the south..No rain to speak of and everthing is dry and scorched..my poor little garden is in great need of a drink...

Hope all are well and and hugs for them that may need one..

Love Mary xxxxx

Hi everyone Sorry I haven't been her for a few days but I have had a few visitors and been busy with lots of other things..Our weather is going to be in the high 30c's all this week so I think the air con will be getting a good workout..

Sylvia Glad you are feeling a lot better,,There is a lot that has to be done when there is a bereavement in the family..but take it slow and try and get some rest..glad the family have been so good as that would help a lot..

Edith Glad the calender arrived and hope it lets you see where I live is quite a nice place..with lovely beaches..and hot in summer...lol.Those foxes must be the most spoilt foxes in Canada..and the best fed,,hee hee hee..do you do the same for the bears also...lol

Fred..So glad the wedding went off so well, and Sean and his new wife are having such a good holiday with you and Liz.. I think you will have to go on a diet when they go home,,,hee hee hee..

Les.. Has your calendar arrived yet.. I posted it a few days ago,,hope you are not sewing yourself crazy...Have you got that trade name registered yet...

Hope everyone else is well and keeping warm...

Love Mary xxxxx

Good Morning to Sylvia,Edith and everyone else .
I iiiiis Back,lol,loads of piccies of the wedding and Cyprus,wonderful memories of a fantastic island ,and longing to go for a longer stay already he he.
My Laptop is now on the mobile internet ,so even if i'm not in a wifi area ,i can still go online.
We took Sean and Sara Out for an indian meal at Solomans last night hosted by son Martin,and His partner Jackie wher we had a lovely meal [as always] from this venue,and this evening Myself and Liz are hosting a family get together and wedding reception for the couple and 20 guests ,in china town ,where we are going for a buffet lunch.
By the time i get them thier promised Christmas dinner tomorrow to boot ,i reckon they will be a bit heavier flying home than when they came from Cyprus with us he he.
What a lovely island Cyprus is,Limmasol, Larnica,Pathos,and Nicosia are huge,but are lovely and clean ,with arab style souks in their markets.
The bakeries are a revelation compared to ours,each one only doing their own products ,apart from biscuits,many delicious types of bread,and racks upon racks of cakes ,all homemade and so colourful to look at,[pity i'm diabetic] he he and we fould the shop keepers so friendly and helpful.
The country side was fantastic,the houses being built on rocky outcrops and hillsides to save growing space.
The little valleys among the hills grow oranges,grapefruit ,lemons and olives all ablaze with colour, while the sandier areas grow dates,and peaches.
The little valley areas seem to grow ,potato's green veggies from huge cauli's ,cabbage ,carrot,onion,celeriac, lettuce and the like,plus all year round strawberries which feature in so many of their cakes.
The only downside i could find was lack of transport,no intercity busses or trains,and the txies are darned expensive to hire.
However ,car hire is plentiful and reasonable but i am lucky again ,because when Liz and i go back tater in the year ,we can hire a car pool car from the base at Akrotieri which will be cheaper again.
Petrol is pretty cheap too so hiring a car for 3 or 4 weeks will be no problem.
Well ,time to go, as i have promised to get the wife grilled sausage ,bacon and egg for her breakfast.
We Took Sean and Sara to Solomans last night for an indian meal,hosted by my son Martin ,and partner Jackie,and tonight it's my turn to host the couple and 20 guests at china town in the city for their engish wedding feast,a buffet style meal with enough dishes to satisfy everyone[i hope],and the place we are going to are giving us large enough tables to seat everyone together.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend ,and i will be back on line next week,after taking the couple back down to Manchester for their return flight home.
We are then going to do a shoot up the m6 to Blackpool to spend a few days with sis' in law before coming back.
By the time Sara And Sean have their promised Christmas dinner tomorrow ,i reckon they are going to be a lot heavier going home than when they came lol.
Catch you later lovely peeps,.Fred,Liz & Hissy xxxxxx

hello sylvia glad to hear you are feeling a little better 42 degree's sounds wonderful to me at the moment it is soooo cold in my part of ontario and we had snow again to-day, will be watching the tennis next week bye for now dorothy

Hello Everyone. While you are all talking about minus temperatures it has been 42C in Perth Western Australia today and there are several fires burning. I think it is going to be cooler over the weekend and I certainly hope so. The Air Conditioning in some of the stores is not coping very well.
Thank you for your kind wishes earlier on and I am sorry I have not thanked you before. I didn't realise there was so much to do after a bereavment but I am coping so far and not feeling too bad..
Love to you all from Sylvia XX