General Chat

It hasn’t been a bad day here, just a bit damp. We we went to York and got there just before lunch. It was incredibly busy with all the Christmas markets on We couldn’t get in from lunch in the first couple of places we tried, but ended up in Wagamamas which the girls like. We were after an Xmas party dress for Eve. She had ordered one from Monsoon on line, but she is so slim, that it was too baggy, so had to go back. We went to the Monsoon shop in York, but incredibly found that it was closed for an hour because they were short staffed! The only thing we got was an Xmas jumper and some ordinary tights from Primark. We tried a few shops for a dress for Eve, but with no luck. There is plenty of stuff for small girls, but she takes age 12 and there is nothing at all. Her mum will just have to try and order some dresses from Amazon and hope we can get one to fit.
I wanted to buy a replacement pair of black ankle boots from Hotter while they were in the Black Friday sale, but they didn’t have my size in the shop. I could get them online, but the discount is only thirty percent, but forty percent in the actual shop, so I will wait until after Xmas

It was dark by mid afternoon, so it was nice to see all of the lights

good afternoon, folks.
Overcast and grey here but less windy and dry for now.

Since I had a visit from the nurse for my Covid jag, I felt awful for 2 days. Felt sick and had a blinding headache and just out of sorts. Today I'm feeling almost back to normal but hated feeling like that. Don't think I shall have any more boosters.

Some of my parcels have been sent but still a few more so was busy earlier finalising the packing etc. I just don't seem to be as organised this year although I started quite early!

Joan, I planted lots of little anemone bulbs in a tub and they have grown so quick!! Eek was supposed to be flowering in Springtime. If we get frost or snow, I do wonder if they will survive?

Good that you got some outside work done Joan. The trees must be nearly bare now. I'm thinking mackerel pate with toast and salad, or a cheesy potato pie made with grated carrots and onions too. Have that with baked beans.

Choice's choices. I do feel I need something hot & filling as not eaten much as wasn't feeling well so think cheesy potato pie it will be.

Linda, your trip to York sounded lovely visiting the xmas markets. i have never managed to do something like that but would love it. All the hot food and xmas lights, mulled wine etc.

Hope you got a pair of boots sorted now.

Ann, how are you doing and anyone else looking in? What are your plans for Christmas? Are you getting visitors or going away?

Christmas day will just be myself & daughter and then shes off elsewhere so shall be home alone over New Year :-(


Take care all

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning peeps.
Still grey and overcast here and quite chilly so not a very inspiring day to get things done!

The last of my parcels, daughter took on the bus to the Post Office. Oh my, I was beginning to get a bit fed up with all the parcelling, never mind the wrapping!

Every year, I say, I will cut down but when you have children to buy for, I hate just giving money or a voucher as it's not very exciting for them on xmas day!

I also have only done 60 cards this year as a few haven't sent for 2 years, so I crossed them off my list. I'm getting annoyed with a few friends who decide to tell me after I've sent cards, they are not doing cards anymore!

I seem to send plenty but am not seeing so many coming here but I don't send to get back its just the principle of it.

Making mince pies tomorrow for my neighbours so looking forward to that. I shall pop round in the afternoon with 6 each and a xmas card.

What's everyone else up to?

Anyone watching the MasterChef finals week?

Florence in the Hebrides

Good morning everyone, hope you are all well and reading previous posts it seems you have all been keeping busy getting ready for Christmas or tidying your gardens.

We have new neighbours yet again, I haven't met them yet but OH has spoken to the chap and said he seems ok. lol. A man of few words my OH unless it is about football or racing.
I am so not ready for Christmas, haven't got anything sorted at all. Must get a move on or it will be jam and toast for dinner. Haha.

Finally finished sorting my sisters house contents out. Boy did she have a lot of stuff that I had never seen her wear. A bit of a shopaholic . All now is being done by the solicitors re probate and house sale.
These last few years haven't been the best have they for anyone and with all the problems with cost of everything it looks like it isn't getting better any time soon.

We had a chap come round from a charity asking if we would be interested in joining a scheme for housing a homeless young person if we had a spare room, which we don't . Not sure we would want to as OAPs and not being as mobile as we were. Not really sure if it was some kind of scam either just seemed strange thing to happen out of the blue.

Anyway have a nice weekend all and take care .

Ginnie


:-D :-D

Good morning all. grey and cold here but dry.
Florence yes I am watching masterchef. some of the food looks delicious.

I posted my cards yesterday goodness knows when they will get there as the post offices all have large backlogs.

Ginny glad you have the house contents sorted, one thing off your mind. Hope the new neighbours turn to to be nice it makes such a difference.

Expecting my son to come for an hour or so in a minute to collect their presents and bring mine.

Joan, best stay indoors in the warm.

Good afternoon, all.
Well, the mince pies turned out fine and I managed a wee while ago to walk round to no 1 and give them a pack of 6 plus a handmade card. Shes lovely my neighbour and thanked me before I tried to hurry back lol stick in hand as the blooming rain started.

I swear it waits for me to leave the house before showering down on me!

Ann, I had my eyes on Charlie from the beginning to win but feel maybe the Indian chappie could snatch it as he is really good.

Just Ginnie, my mums flat is completely empty now. We had estate agent round to value and they suggested a coat of white paint all over the walls etc and the ceiling before putting it on the market. So, brother has an estimate from the decorator to do this including paint £1800. It will be spring before it gets put up for sale as the chappie is fully booked until end of January!
We had about 20 boxes that went to various charity shops and hospices.

Joan, glad you are nearly at the end of your leaf clearing system. You deserve a good break after all the work you have done in the garden,

All my cards have now gone Ann as well, but nothing is getting through to us!!

I'm all for workers standing up for themselves and fighting for decent wages but why couldn't they have done this at a less busy time of year. I mean we are spending huge amounts of money sending things and not getting the service. It's very mean.
Apologies to all posties but it's not very Christmassy without cards, and not fair on kiddies who don't get their gifts from families living away is it?

I'd better start in Jun next year and send everything by 1st October grrrr

Florence in the Hebrides

You are all so organised with Xmas, I am only just starting to think about it.
Esme has been off school for two days, she had a runny nose, but then started being sick. She must have thrown up about a dozen times on Thursday. We put bed pads on the bed, but she still manages to get the bedding, so there has been lots of washing. She spent all day yesterday in her bed as well, refusing to eat, just having drinks. Thankfully this morning she is a lot better and has been up playing and is eating again.
In the meantime Eve got it. She wasn’t very well on Thursday evening and came through t9 wake me up at 1.39am because she had a headache, very sore throat and a high temperature. Poor thing was very ill yesterday, but she managed to sleep last night and is better today, but still not well. With all this talk of Strep A, we are keeping a good eye on her. Poor thing was supposed to have been spending the day at Ripon Cathedral with her school choir on Friday, but she missed that of course

Oh, Linda poor lassies and what a worry for you!

So, hope they make a good recovery very soon.

Florence in the Hebrides

Thank you Florence. Esme is very chirpy and eating again, so she can go back to school on Monday.
Eve is attempting to eat some of my lentil and bacon homemade soup. It is smooth, so, easy to swallow. The rest of us were having pasta, but she said that her throat was too sore for that.

It is really cold here, I ventured out to the supermarket, but was glad to get back. It is forecast to be even colder at the end of the week

Very worrying for you Linda with StrepA about, hopefully it is a different bug but wise to keep an eye on it. Pleased that Esmeralda is better though.

Good morning
What a beautiful day, sunny & bright but crisp.
I was disappointed when the postie came yesterday and never had a single card for my birthday today!!!
However, my daughter gave me a lovely card and gift and she also had a card from my son, so I was thankful for those.
3 friends messaged me to say they are not sending Christmas or birthday cards any more as doing their bit for the environment :-S :-S

Why don't we just not celebrate anything anymore then, but will that save the planet??

Anyway, had 2 bunches of gorgeous flowers and they are now sitting pretty in my lounge windowsill

Seems snow is forecast this week in Northern Scotland, but I think it will miss us.
A dusting on xmas eve would be pretty though.

Happy Sunday everyone

Florence in the Hebrides

"Doing our bit for the environment" sounds better than "It's too expensive."

Every year our church organises a village Christmas lunch, and this year , for both those reasons, we've decided not to have Christmas crackers.

I don't think anyone will miss them.


Happy birthday, Florence!

Happy Birthday Florence.

Sending warm greetings even though you have received few cards.
I hope you enjoy your day.

Happy birthday Florence. Enjoy your day :-D <3

Happy birthday Florence. Have a lovely day

I don't buy the 'doing their bit for the environment' Although that is something different to the 'giving the money to charity. If they can't afford the postage ok I understand that but for many of them it is just they can't be bothered. I don't mind if they let me know before they receive their card from me. But usually they don't. And with birthday cards I think it is mean. I do know, according to members of my family in their 30s, that age group don't believe in sending birthday cards and don't want them themselves. they prefer emails.

Anyway Florence Happy birthday have a good one. <3 <3

I used to get an unsigned Christmas card so that I could reuse the following year.
So, if I did, I would have to run round trying to find an envelope it would fit :-(

Happy birthday Florence, I hope some cards turn up tomorrow

OH and I have both now got the girls lurgy. OH has been in bed all day. I have c,ea ed the bathrooms, done the ironing and made the meals!!!!

The girls are much better , so hopes will be able to go to school tomorrow, that will make things easier for me.

Names :-D :-D :-D
Poor you Linda, oh I hope you get over it fairly quickly but at least it won't spoil your Christmas, but better having the lurgy just now albeit it horrid to have it at any time.

Oh, my I have been a busy bee today!

Pre xmas spring clean etc. Stripped beds, did 3 loads of washing including tablecloths and then dried and ironed it all! . I'm sitting now as legs and knees are sore and I burnt myself on the iron!!

My school collegue/friend came with a gift last night and a huge bunch of flowers which were beautiful. That was a lovely surpise :-D

Its forecasting some snow here tomorrow but think the highlands including you Joan will get it and we shall only get a dusting.

Just written the final xmas food list as lots now in the freezer so quite organised. Just got 2 dozen crumpets that daughter bought all reduced to eat up as no room left in freezer lol. So, crumpets for breakfast, dinner & tea for a couple of days but they are my favourite with marmite or marmalade.

Don't want any huge dinners now until xmas day and hopefully will lose a few more pounds, that way, we can have a huge blow out haha.

Hope everyone else keeping warm as its def winter now

Florence in the Hebrides