General Chat

Genes sure is slow tonight. I have had to type this twice as I keep getting an error message when I try to post.

We have just come back from a lovely four days in Saskatchewan visiting our son Michael and his girlfriend Stephanie in their new home. It is the first time I have been to Saskatoon, lovely but cool and windy. We had Stephanie's mum with us so that we could all celebrate Thanksgiving together. Lots of good food and family time. Even the almost seven hour drive each way didn't seem so bad!

My husband Bob was able to give everyone some good news last week as his blood counts still show no change so he will still not need treatment for his Chronic Leukemia. It is now 3 and a half years since he was diagnosed so we are very relieved at this news.

Angela is settling in with her friend in Toronto, Ontario. It was hard to see her leave home again. She is coming home for Christmas on the 14th of December and by then will probably decide if Toronto is to be her home. At least it is not as far away as Australia. I think she has another trip planned for Australia or New Zealand next year some time. I am not sure when she will decide to settle down. We just call her a drifter.

We have finished decorating the Christmas shop at work and it opened on the weekend. I bring a little more glitter home with me each day. My clothes and car are covered in the stuff .

Les, sorry we couldn't get together. I ended up working much longer hours than I though I would.

Is Fred still away, I haven't noticed him post in a while.

Must get to bed.

Teresa

hi lesley all that jam sounds wonderful good luck with the vote it is a long day for you but worth while I am all packed for the trip to calgary to-morrow we ended up with a temperature of 27 yesterday unbelievable weather for this time of year in barrie good for the folks closing the cottages I will be back on the 28th bye for now dorothy

Hi Y'all,

Well lots of jam in my kitchen - about 18 jars of peach and 30 of plum, plus several containers of baked apples frozen ready to reheat. I also froze some plums just halved and pits removed. I want to make plum clafouti this winter (several times!!) so plums just awaiting....and that is the kitchen saga for now.

Now I am sewing as I am in an Artisan show on Nov 1/2 and I have nothing made. Spent last two days cutting out the aprons but now it is nose to the grind stone...or the sewing machine...lol!!

There is however a small glitch. I will be a Deputy Returning Officer in the elction tomorrow as will Norm. We have to be there by 6.15am and likely will not get home until 8/9pm. We do get paid but now I realize not enough. We went to a training session and as we left they gave us a manual. I have just looked thru it and I realize that they probably only explained 25% of what is in the manual so the latter part of my day, today, will be studying....oh the joys!!!

Thanksgiving today. Norm and I are having turkey breasts with all the trimmings. Hopefully there will be enough left over to make all the copious sandwiches that we will need tomorrow....we are not allowed to leave the polling station at all!!! More on this on Wednesday.

Keep well you lot and Happy Thanksgiving.
Lesxx

goodmorning i hope everyone who are celebrating thanksgiving had a good week-end I had a great turkey dinner with friends yesterday the family went to the cottage but I decided not to go as it is closing up week-end and with my daughter in laws sister and family and her mother plus my lot it gets crowded and busy as they go about closing up for the winter plus I wanted to pack for my trip, the tree's around the barrie area are wonderful the colours are impossible to discribe mother nature at her best, to christine c. the new baby in england is well going on no news is good news the cousin the baby's grandmother is not one for sharing news it goes through another cousin and then comes to me. well I leave for calagary on wednesday looking forweard to it spoke to my sister yesterday and she said it was a bit on the cool side bye for now dorothy

Morning all,
Just a very quick post to-day. Up early to get the bird in the oven(turkey) that is.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canada folk. Hope you
enjoy the day.

Back soon. Edith XXXX

G'Day All,
I just popped in for a flying visit - I hope that everyone is keeping well and I'll catch up with you all later.

Ian

Hi all...Not winter woolies Les..summer clobber...we are having lovely weather..

Had daughter and son with families her for dinner last night,,12 around the table.. 2 grandsons birthdays to celebrate, and a good mess to clean up when they left...but a good time was had by all..don't see daughter to often as she lives up country..300km away....

Has anyone heard from Sylvia Do hope she is ok.. If we don't get a post from here soon I will email her to check up..

Hope all the Canucks and UKers are keeping warm and haven't lost a fortune on the stock market...

Love Mary xxxx

Hi everyone, hope everyone is well... Its been a broth making day for me. Now the weathers cooler it seems to be a comfort thing!! All the plants are dying off in the garden now and there are some lovely shades of gold and yellow in the trees it is nice to see (from indoors)!!! Hope you all have a good weekend - Take care

Hi Everyone, where are you all....digging out your winter woolies eh???

Edith I read about the strep infection in your part of the world. How is it in Sioux??? Hope you are all well.

We have 18 lovely jars of peach jam and so far, no plum....maybe today. It is amazing sometimes how time just slips thru your fingers. Norm and I are going to work at the Election next week. I am a Deputy Returning Officer and Norm a Poll clerk. It will be a long day but lots of fun I think.

I am off to the salt mines.
More later
Lesxx

We must all be very busy. VP sounds a lot on your plate. badger sounds to be having a good time.
Hope all are well. Wondering how Sylvia is going with Norman - hang in there and take care
~~~~~~~~~~~everyone else
Must be cold with you Edith - take care
JA

Hiya,

Jam day today so we are off to buy yet more jars. We give so much away and never get them bak....good thing they are cheap. So peaches today and maybe some plum. I promised Norm we would have pizza for supper that way we don't need to slow down.

Went over to the other side of the Island yesterday. beautiful day in Qualicum, a little windy but sunny and warm. We had lunch in a little bistro called Gary's and watched a great battle over the patio door. This woman would get up and close it, then the waitress would open it, close it, open it....it went on for maybe 30 minutes. By then we were snickering.

Then we met this lady in the most amazing disabled persons car. It was shaped like a little egg on wheels, totally enclosed, with cute little windows. I didn't like to ask the lady in it but I bet it cost a small fortune. Everyone stopped to look. I think she probably just got it. She told us that it was made in Korea and that they were allowed on the road there. Meanwhile I read in the paper that BC has passed a law that allows slower electric vehicles on designated city roads. If that is so I am getting a golf cart....I have always wanted to careen around in one of those...and NOT play golf of course!!!!

OK I am off to the jam factory. Luv to all.
More later
Lesxx

Hi all,Fred reporting in while the missus and sis' in law are at the hairdressers.
Liz and i went walkabout on Monday in nice sunshine and not too much of a stiff breeze.
We walked [if you cab call it that] between Fleetwood ans Clevelies,along the coastal lancashire way .
A lovely walk with many seats on the way [thank goodness ]seeing as it took oveer 4 hours and a good bit at our pace.
I saw the remains of the fleetwood pier after the fire ,what a shame toobecause i can't see it being rebuilt,but i suspect that it was an insurance job,very simular to the Newcastle Councils and their myserious fires that happen whenever they want to redevelop and can;t get what they want,no different i suspect than what happens in other countries from time to time.
The weather has been kind so far ,onlyone day of unrelenting rain,today and tomorrow promising good amounts of sun and dry.
I will have to play catch up when i get home ,but i notice certain peeps travelling around off road he he.
I remember my missus wrecking our first car shortly after we got married ,her being the navigator ,taking me off a slip road on the way back to Wycombe from Brighhon,ther was Fred ,running behind time ,late in the evening joining the other motorway [that wasn' t yet ready ,hurtling onto the carriage way onto hard core and nothing else,cor ,i wrecked the suspension and tyres and faving a three mile walk to the nearest town and a hotel.
Still ,the wife made it up to me that night in our bedroom,nudge ,nudge ,wink wink ,lol.
I had a hard time convincing the insurance company as to what happened ,he he ,the agents must have had a darned good chuckle .
Must go now ,as i am taking the missus and sis' in law out to lunch,Catch ya' all later.Fred.

Hi all.. We have lovely weather here in ole Sydney town..Our spring is just right and the temps have been between 20c and 30c.. with not much rain..

Les...I think a bit of Cathy has rubbed off onto you...ppppp Just loved the weigh station story,,poor Normie,, hope he is now ok,, Your story reminds me of when we did a tour of Europe 25 years ago,, we were hurtling down a big highway in Germany and I kept seeing this sign that said,,AUSTFART ,,or something similar..my German is not to good,,in fact non existing...and after a while I said to John,,there's a lot of roads leading to Austfart,,must be a big place,,,then I found out that it meant EXIT ..felt a bit stupid...but had a good laugh..proves that I don't get to Europe very often...lol..

Fred seems to be having a great time on holidays again...Is that man ever home...hee hee hee..ok I am jealous..I admit it...pmsl...

JA Enjoy your week off..You deserve it..

Hi to everyone else .. Am off to bed so see ya all soon..

Love Mary xxx

goodmorning from barrie it was -1 this morning though the sun is shining I loved the story of the weigh station and the visit with your daughter, this week-end will be busy around here as people drive by to close up the cottages for the winter a tradition on thanksgiving week-end, so I am off to do my shopping don't like to be near the stores on a holiday week-end now I have just heard the weather is going up 20 on the week-end, the tree's around here are in wonderful colour bye for now dorothy

Gooday everyone, after a lovely warm week last week today we have a lazy wind with a temp of around 13 c - last week we had one day at 30c

They are forecasting a hotter spring than usual for us as the Indian ocean is much warmer than normal - and it is the westerlies which influence our summer weather most.

VP - I did laugh about the weighstation - can only imagine Norm's face and then being nonplussed by your laughter:)))) Good to catch up on msm this morning thanks for the cheer up

I have this week on leave also and now GS has gone north am doing some FH and I think a nap this afternoon
~~~~~~~~~to everone

JA

Hi Guys,

Normie and I got home last nite....exhausted. We have decided that we won't do these long driving days again and, in truth this is a good thing as Norm did not travel well at all, so I did much of the driving.

And speaking of my driving...... I was barrelling along the Trans Canada, pouring rain, poor visibility, on our way to Nicky. I said to Norm watch for the 160th. turn off. The sign flashed by and then there was an exit lane. Norm says come off here. I shot off the highway and then bounced over something quite large, and then bounced over something else. Norm is yelling slow down Les its only 50 on this ramp....what ramp???? I bounced over something else and by now all of us including the car have been shaken to pieces. I was still going 80 and I shot out back onto the highway. Obviously that was not the 160th. exit....I had just charged thru the weigh station. LOL....quite a Chevy Chase moment. Normie was extremly PO'd with me and all I could do was laugh. We got to Nicky's and she laughed in fact everyone laughed!!! except Norm.

Had a great visit with Nicky (daughter). She and I and her s-i-l went shopping. I was anxious to go to Fabricland. Neither Nicky or Sabrina sew but we left there an hour later and both of them were loaded with fabric....chuckle. The lady who served us rang in my modest purchase of about $30 and when she hit total the till said $356.....er....no!!! So pretty soon we were in hysterics as she couldn't get it right and all the other customers were giving us a wide berth....did we care????

Back at Nicky's we pepared to make a stew...another rainy day so comfort food required. I had bought a bottle of Okanagon wine on the way thru. Nicky and I started to sip and sip and soon we were rolling around the kitchen, chucking things in the pot. It is a wonder we didn't cut off our fingers....but!!! what a fabulour mother and daughter meal!!! Norm and Klaus watched us with sly smiles...of course, being men, they are never silly....sorry Fred!!

Then it was off to visit the lovely Rhian and as soon as we arrived all she could say was Gamma's house....non stop. She loves our old house. Lots of exciting corners and room to run, plus the "car" (Playskool) tucked away in the shed. By the time we left she had worked herself into a fine state about coming to our house....but there's always another visit, isn't there?

Dorothy, I think it is still warm in Calgary. I did watch part of the debate and was impressed with Jack Layton and Elizabeth May. Maybe I could give them a half a vote each???? I am not impressed with the USA election at all and, thanks to their stupidity, they have hurt our economy and, as Chrisitne says, economies globally. It is a bad situation and it is far from over. Gird your loins is a phrase that springs to mind!!

Diane I will check out the Cyr's for you and see if I can get any other info. If you can tell me where they are buried and when they died I can work with that a little also. Just pm me.

Love to everyone else. I have a busy 4 weeks ahead - jam, pies, aprons and the garden but I will pop in each day if I can.
More later
Lesxx

Crikey cant believe it is so long since I posted..We have had some lovely weather and if anyone is thinking of coming to Aussie this is a good time..Not to hot and not to cold..lol

Glad to say that the blurry throat is now cleard up and I will go back to the doc to hear what the results are,,Dont think it was to bad so am happy about that..


Diane So glad that you are making progress with your search..I have a distant granfather who is leading me a merry chase but I am hopeful that I may have found him under another name,, have been down this path a few times and it has fizzled out so hoping that this one dosent do the same,,

Tassie Our Socialte...lol.. Glad you had a great time in Melbourne..

Fred.. Safe travel..

Les.. Gonna be quiet when you get home after being at Cathys..Bella is gonna sulk for taking her away from her pal to..saafe trip home..Sorry you didnt get to speak to Teresa.. never mind..next time..

Edith.. Are you having bikini weather still..lol..cant believe that you are having snow so soon in October..In OZ..come the first of September the shops put out christmas decorations for sale..some may wait till fathers day is over which is the first sunday of Sept. but it is rediculous to have them out so early..Are the bears about still..Will come and see them one day..

Hi to Dorothy and Christine..Keep warm..

Love Mary xxxxxx

Hi everyone

Well thats my big weekend over with and gee I had a great time.

Christine the function I went to was a football function as in AFL/Aussie Rules. I am a very passionate supporter of my club, as Mary could tell you, she has seen my place with a wall full of photos of the players, a lot of them are also signed, well the function was for the best and fairest awards there was over 1300 supporters there, everyone had to dress up a bit as it was a shirt and tie dress code, a lot of the young girls went right out to dress up in very nice dresses, probably trying to impress their footy idols lol. Me Im not a dressy type of person so no way out evening dress for me, just black slacks/trousers, shirt and jacket.

Edith hee hee Im glad there is someone who thinks like me. Yes Id love to press all those try me buttons all at once, must omit when all the Christmas decos come out I cant resist in pressing the buttons, but one at a time just to listen them all, my other fav is Elmo, a Sesame Street character you may have heard about, I just have to press him to start him off giggling when I can, my OH just walks away when I start them off hee hee.

Fred enjoy your trip away.

Hope all are well and having a good time. Cheers Sue

Hello everyone. A lovely warm day for a nice change.
Sadly the reds have gone from the trees and it is only the birch and poplar now. Although they are both bright yellow it is just not as showy as it was last week.
Also I notice in the long range forecast from
Canada weather "snow" on the 14th 15th and 16th
No summer a very short fall and now winter ughh.
I think some kind of rebellion is in order.!!!!!!!!
This time of year is a nightmare of holidays, the stores have Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas.
wares all stuffed into various parts of the building.
Just can't seem to get my mind around it all.
Have any of you noticed that a lot of the toys have "try me" on them. I am sorely tempted to get the lot going and then leave quickly heehee.
Probably blame it on "old age"
I'm not sure who wanted Fred's soup recipes but do ask him for the leek and potato.It is the best tasting one I've ever had.
Mary, how is your throat, better I hope.
Are you home yet Les? Christine,Diane, J.A,
Teresa, Dorothy stay well.
Time to get some things sorted so bye for now.
Edith XXXXXX

hi christine I did vote in the advance poll though it took a lot of thinking I am not sure my little vote will not make a differance but felt I had to take part, another cold and windy day here in barrie but the sun is trying to try come through, does anyone have any exciting plans for thanksgiving week-end it seems to have arrived very fast this year and the stores are full of xmas stuff well it is going to be lazy sunday for me a good book and coffee bye for now dorothy