General Chat

Glad you enjoyed the meal , but a shame you were squashed together, I hate that, and like my own space, not juggling with somebody elses elbows.
You could soon get back in shape - regular regime at the gym with OH - early morning jogging with Allan, and a diet of crispbread. Figure like a 16 yr old in no time.
Just spoke to my sister in Doncaster, she has snow too. The wind will arrive from Russia tomorrow they say.......what fun....wrap up.

Tec

Good morning/evening all. After reading about your weather - dare I tell you that it reached 42 here yesterday? As a stark contrast, to-day is only expected to reach 24 and it is raining now - very lightly. Barely enough to water the plants, just enough to hold the humidity down a little.

Perse. I think that church is trying to talk modern talk, but it's missed the mark. Seems extremely poor taste to me. I don't know how the elders agreed to allow it, but they may be desperate to get the numbers these days. A lot of people have changed their outlook on religion particularly as more and more historic facts and translations have been discovered.

Linda and Tec - I really do wish I could send you some of our heat. Tec, you should have your nightcap and socks soon. That should help.

Diane - go for it girl! Get into those air-conditioned stores and stay there all day! That's what I used to do in winter before I had air conditioning - go shopping! I didn't necessarily buy anything, except perhaps lunch.

Alison - we're pulling for you. Stick it out and it will soon be over. Keep counting down to the end of this treatment - and do try to eat a little. Love to you.

Good Morning Berona,

Don't think I could cope with 42c, but 24c sounds perfect, just right for us Poms.
Eagerly awaiting arrival of the hat and socks - thank you, you are indeed an angel.

Tec

Hello, lovely people.

It's cool and raining quite heavily here. Yesterday we had a thunderstorm like you had Berona. A couple of thunderclaps, 5 minutes of big drops of rain and that was it. The most dramatic thing was we had a black-out that lasted over an hour. Luckily we had just finished cooking tea. We ate outside on the verandah because it was so hot inside and at least there was a breeze outside. Funnily enough for the first time we spoke to the fellow over the road who moved in over 2 months ago and the people about 5 doors up who have lived there awhile. The house over the road has been a rental for a number of years and we get very blase about yet another tenant.

Persey - I would find the billboard offensive if I saw it. I'm not overly religious but I see no need for that sort of thing. I would find the Asda Christmas card very offensive.

Carole – I’m glad your husband had a lovely birthday. You certainly spoiled him rotten. I bet you do that with all your family:-))

I don’t think we’ll hear from Diane for awhile – she’ll be so shopped out and exhausted that I can see her flopped on the lounge too stiff and sore to move:-))

Snow sounds so lovely and romantic. My OH assures me it’s not especially when it gets slushy.

Sue xx

Thank you Tec. Me, an angel??? Don't try to put me on top of the Christmas tree - I'd squash it!

Hi everyone,
I'm sorry that I haven't been around this week but I'm been busy wrapping pressies etc. I'm more or less ready for Christmas.I finish work on Tuesday until the 4th January!
Pat x

Hello, Pat - we were wondering where you'd got to. It's such a busy time of year but it's great that you've got such a lot of time off. Are you planning any nice?

Sue xx

I'm going to Portsmouth to see my sister, Brother in law ,niece and nephew on the 23rd and They are coming back to Topsham on the Sunday. Tim's Mum and Dad live there and They'll bring me back. I'm just chilling out then until I go back to work.
I've got a lot of books to read and I'm meant to be clearing out my bedroom because that is being decorated in thw New Year sometime.

Hello to all

Sue, I readon the internet news that 4 houses had been destroyed in bush fires in NSW. I hope that doesn't pressage another bad season.

The cyclone currently sitting of the WA NW coast has been downgraded to a category 1 but the fear is that on it's current track it could move out to sea again and intensify.

Funny really, we in Oz are talking about extremes fo heat and wind (and associated rains with the cyclone) and peeps in Britain are talking about extremes of rain and cold.

I just wish the two extremes would merge and cancel each other out.

Pat, nice to see you back.

Alison, if you are looking, in please have strength and try to stay positive. Our thoughts are continually with you.

Allan

Allan,
I'm sure climate change has got a lot to answer for but I've heard about the winter of 1947 and that was really awful. I wasn't around then.

Pat - my mum's ancestors came from Lympstone and Topsham eventually moving to Dawlish. Is it still a small village? Lympstone is lovely. Your time off sounds lovely and I hope you enjoy every minute of it.

Allan - the houses were lost near Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria. I'm listening to the news now and they've announced another fire in Victoria started by a spark from machinery used in logging. I really worry about Carole and Mick from the Bush and other people who live in the bush-fire areas of earlier this year.

The weather is definately changing again. Snow in areas in the UK that haven't had snow for awhle and temperatures here where I live that we usually get in January/February. Temperature over 30 degs. used to be unusual here for more than one or two days at a time but now we regularly get these temperatures for days on end.

Allan will the cyclone affect where you live?

Sue xx

Pat, I was born in March 1948 and I remember the tales of hoe various visitors to see my mum struggled through the snow and ice.

I was born in Prestbury Cheshire, and my family lived in Manchester so back then it was quite an epic journey.

My Uncle (mother's brother) was OK as he had been in the Navyon Arctic Convoy duties!

Allan

Good Morning Sue,
Good Evening Pat,

Sue it's good when you get to speak to new neighbours - we have a house near us that is rented, at one time an amazing turnover of tenants, but the latest couple are very nice, and related to the owner,so things may settle down for a while.

Hi Pat - Wondered where you were - you sound very organised for Christmas - hope you have a good time at your sister's, and can catch up on your books after Christmas.

Berona, We've found the old fairy - so you won't have to spend an uncomfortable Christmas up on the tree.
Those needles would ladder your tights anyway.

Tec

Sue, Any effect from the cyclone will depend on its track. We are not usually affected except by wind and heavier rain than normal, but back in the early eighties Cyclone Alby moved much further south than is usual and caused widespread damage to the SW

Our main problem is storm surges being pushed down the coast, combined with high tides. Thes affect coastal ares with floodng ans an increase in mosquito breeding which then leads to an increase in Ross River Virus and Barnmah Forest virus

Allan

Hi Tec,
You ok?

Good Morning Allan,

Because I am so old.........I can clearly remember the winter of 47/48

Hope you are not affected by the cyclone - seems we are all having weird weather......

Tec

I'm fine thanks Pat, now that I'm warm with my knees up the chimney near to a lovely fire - bliss

Tec

I've just been reading a couple of my last posts

I wish my fingers could keep up with my brain.

I seem to have invented a new form of shorthand

Allan

I'm going to wash my hair now. It's the work's christmas dinner tomorrow. We finish 1 pm.
I'll catch up with you all over the week end!
I hope the cyclone thing dies down and the snow doesn't cause too much bother. Personally I hate the stuff!

Goodnight Pat,

Enjoy yourself tomorrow - take care,

Tec