Genealogy Chat

Now Frank, what am I supposed to be googling?

Anne's neighbour?

The Goosefat Fairy?

The diabolical waste of taxpayer's money?

The Tour De France?

St. Swithin's Day?

Johnny Hoogerland?

Percy Thrower?


Don't tell me you have your very own DIY website.....Frank's Pranks?


Okay, I give up!

Well that's another wasted morning at the court. :-( :-(

I suppose the good news is that we will not be needed for jury duty again for two years... :-S :-S

That was fifty people being paid at least 4 hours loss of earnings for five days with only one jury being formed and dismissed after only twenty minutes............. that's a minimum of £6,000.........shocking :-0 :-0

Now then, a few words about Goosefat.................

The Goosefat Fairy visits lots of lovely cooks who wish they could make magical, crispy roast potatoes. With one twitch of her wand the Goosefat Fairy magically allows all the clothes in your wardrobe to be reduced in size while unfortunately not bestowing the same magic on the cook's waists. :-D :-D :-P

I've been keeping tabs on the Tour De France as my dad always goes "home" to France for a look as it goes through his own area.
He stays with his sister near Roanne and they all head off to make a day of it. We keep checking in case we see him on TV. ;-)

That was an awful crash the other day in the St Flour stage when a camera car overtook then collided with the lead riders with poor old Johnny Hoogerland being thrown through some barbed wire ............ :-0 :-S :-S
Thankfully the car and driver was banned from continuing with the race.

Cynthia my dear, Google, google, google............. :-P :-P :-P
It's amazing what you can find. :-D

Anne! WHAT WAS THE END OF THE STORY?????

How on earth could you stay in bed with all that rumpus going on?

I don't believe it! You're letting the side down y'know ;-)


The front of our house is on a main road and I am at the window at the slightest screech of brakes etc.etc. :-D


Had a visit from my brother and sister-in-law today which was nice. We rarely see them as they live near Cambridge. Caught up on some news and talked a lot about family genes because my OH and his brother are very similar and there is a striking resemblance to their father.


After a beautiful day, the rain has arrived and more is forecast - wonderful - it's St. Swithin's Day today :-(


Frank, or should I say Percy Thrower, is there no end to your talents?

The only Tbar I know is one were you can get a drink. :-D



Bye for now ~~~~~ Cx

Sue - i think they woudl get on very well

Have a fantastic evening out

Goosegrease - there is a website - it may help

http://www.goosefat.co.uk/page/history

Quite a nice peaefull couple of days at work for a change - will not use the other Q word as I know it will go manic

Looking forward to a couple of days off - even if we can't really relax that much & its a longish drive - looks like its going to tip it down all weekend - i think the weather god has it in for all us workers

Its a lovely day today - sunny - but a little humid - I need a bit of fresh air - so will pop out to the shops for some sweets

Will start my diet & exercise next week :-P :-P :-P to the fitter ones in my office - my mate has just gone to her yoga class for her lunch break - its the 3rd class she has attended this week - always in her lunch hour - far too fit for me

Well off for a wonder around

Will try & pop in tomorrow if I can

Take care all <3 <3 <3 <3

Hi Everyone

Anne what a good story.

Your Oh and mine would make a good pair,our main bedroom at the front of the house has three window going around in a half circle so My oh can see around corners.... he does not miss a thing and is always shouting out to me ! come and look at this ! It might only be a car going down the road he has to tell me to come and have a look at what is going on.

We have neighbours up from us who have a domestic every now and then you should see him peaking out of the curtains it is really funny to watch ...I just stay in bed and let him get on with it

I think you are correct it seems to be men that like doing this going on what some of my friends tell me.

We are out for dinner tonight next door so no cooking for me tonight,.

I am still a little stiff from getting wood yesterday,he is talking about getting more on Sunday may have to talk him out of that one .

Frank I love gardening..more so in Summer as out gardens don't have a lot of colour over winter,I still like to Potter in the Winter just to keep the weeds at bay.
I am addicted to Roses thanks to my Mother in Law god bless her,I think I have grown on her ...only been married to her son for nearly 42 yrs mind you.

Cynthia I have not hung my Curtains yet as my OH all of a sudden decided to paint the room again so down they came until we finish it,they looked good for a while anyway.
I hope you have a lovely time with your family.

By the way I have never heard of Goose grease what is it ?.

Check in later .
Still watching the Tour DE France,keeps us up late though.

Have a good weekend everyone
~~~~~~~ & <3 to Evelyn and Reece.

Suex :-) <3

Thank you for the gardening advice - Its a day dream at the moment - to get it looking somewhere habitable one day - so we can sit out there - I'm sure it gets bumpier more & more each year - just to annoy us.

Had a bit of excitement yesterday - well between 1 & 2am next doors dogs (little & large - Dalmation & Pug/chihuahua) created such a racket it woke me up (they have never barked or yapped at night before - during the day yes ) a real painfull howl - OH never heard it - was temped to have a look out but decided i wanted to stay in bed more than investigate.

One of my neighbours is a nurse & she does the night shift - so her car wasn't there when we went to bed - could have been the daughter arriving home drunk (again) but the dogs are usually very quiet when she comes home. Decided to forget it & go back to sleep -

Anyway sort of forgot all about it - said to OH in the morning -he told me I should have got up & had a look - might have been interesting. MEN

Thought nothing more about it. Well last night i felt really tired so went up to bed early (9:45) OH was watching Traffic cops (not my thing) - I saw Dinnerladies was on so watched some of that before dropping off - No car next door so she was working again - anyway around 10:15 i was woken by the howling & barking again & OH's thundering footsteps on the stairs up to the bed room.

He burst in to the bedroom - he had just gone to shut down the house - close windows etc when he saw this large van arrive & park outside our house - then the dogs started - so he ran upstairs to have a better look out of the study window.

As we all know men are not nosey at all

He wondered what was going on next door - well a hospital transport van had parked up outside & was delivery our male neighbour back in a wheelchair (hence the noise from the dogs - my OH said he looked like a little old man (he is younger than we are) & they deposited him & then went off - he was all of a flutter - wondered if he should go next door & offer help (at that time of night) persuaded him to leave well alone - they knew where we were if needed help.

Funny enough he is home most of today & was going to do some work inside - but suddenly changed his mind (at bed time) & decided he is going to work outside in the garden (front & back) & may get to speak with our female neighbour at some point if he happens to bump into her. He is so eager to find out what is going on. Now me on the other hand would just leave it be - not really interested - where as he wants to get all the info. he speaks to the neighbours a lot - I don't tend to have time for that sort of thing - I leave it all to him.

I am sure he will have the full story when I get home tonight ;-)

Looks like another lovely sunny day down here - quite humid & stuffy this morning - lots of ironing to do tonight & some packing - shoudl have left a few things out for the OH - but can do mine tonight. You wouldn't believe we are only goning for one night & to the SiL.

With all the excitement next door its a wonder the OH wants to leave the house for a night at all.

Well better go & get some work attempted

Take care all <3

Hey Mrs Marshmallow woman,

We use 15 good men (and women) up here in the north............... :-P

We almost started a trial today but just as we were all getting excited, it all fell apart and we were once again sent homeward at 11.30am. :-S :-S

Back in again tomorrow at 10.00am. :-D

By the way, I prefer the goose fat roast potatoes in my tum rather than on my chest.

I just love doing gardens, probably because I don't have one but when I was over in America at my daughter's, I had a great time removing tree stumps with a saw and spade as well as digging out all the miriad of tree roots. For three days I was in my element as I'm quite happy working away on my own ;-) :-S :-S

Finished up by digging the garden over and chasing in some channels for retaining walls with T-Bars as their garden is also on a slope and the old wooden sleepers were slowly moving down the hill.
The previous owners had not put any T-Bars in to hold them in place.

Unfortunately I was not able to stay for the installation of the new sleepers and my son-in-law felt that he could possibly get away without T-Bars so next time I'm over we will have to dig back into the bank and put some in as the sleepers are starting to move again...........

There's a lot of information online about retaining walls and terracing although you have to be careful as there is a lot of weight in the soil at the top of the hill when it's trying to follow gravity.

A lot of it is advertising services but you will find plenty of good advice.
Drainage also has to be considered otherwise your nice little terraced wall will get washed away if you haven't laid any pebbles, stones etc into the base or allowed gaps in the sleeper wall.The water just builds up behind it when it rains and eventually pushes everything down so plan it out carefully before doing anything.

Don't know about chalk Anne but their garden was loads of clay...... :-S :-( :-S :-0

I can't possibly read a sad thread about a labrador - I am far too sentimental for words when it comes to dogs. Can't watch vet's programmes or anything like that. Soft as marshmallow...that's me ;-)



Sue, I've ended up putting my old curtains back up and they really look ok. I will know when I see the 'right' ones.


I don't envy you your garden Anne.....we used to have a very large area but now......just a patio. Much easier to manager. Especially when one is...er...getting on a bit :-D


Yes Frank, goose grease is good for roast potatoes ...but not after it's been on your chest. Hope you can use your 12 Good Men and True skills soon :-D


Absolutely beautiful day here today so more washing got done....I just can't help myself!


Have got my brother and sister-in-law popping in tomorrow. We only see them once every blue moon so it was a good excuse to wash the cushion covers don't you think?


Hoping to enjoy a nice relaxing evening......love Cx.

Hi Everyone

We had a hard day today ,out into the Forest for some more wood ...we now have more than we need for this Summer but while he is home we thought it a good idea to keep filling up the wood heap as we use it .

It was a lovely day today no rain and just a bit of sunshine to keep us warm enough.
We do however have a big storm front coming for tomorrow,starting about 5am so I think I may be up early in the morning for a Cuppa.

Anne our house is the same we have so much painting to do ,we have been in this house 7yrs and it all needs freshening up a bit .

My garden is wonderfull so I will miss that when we do sell...we can't have everything can we .

We are looking forward to the next stage of our lives though I don't like getting older it really tells on us after going out for wood and my OH is a nervous wreck after using his new chainsaw for four hours.

I am off for a nice bath ....I think I deserve it :-D

Suex <3

whooooooooooopeeeeeeeeeee There are people here

Sue - sorry to hear about your dog - i still miss mine all these years later - don't read the poem on the labrador thread until you are alone with a box of tissues. Brought back thoughts of the cats & the one i only lost a few months ago - i am going to be sobbing here at work if i keep this up -

Its a wonderful poem & i hope its a true one

Frank it must be so very annoying - can't you find a nice juicy case & get yourself voted on the Jury

Sue i know what you mean about men underfoot - I ahve been trying to get the ironing done - but OH had a canx lesson 2 nights running - i just can't get intot he swing of ironing when he is around - so I am going to do another load of washing & then get it all done on Friday - he can go & pack for the weekend - gives him something to do

Friday is his very quiet day - so he is going to spend the afternoon cutting the grass - it would be ok if we had a flat lawn - but we don't - its a bit like a rollercoaster - we got a quote a couple of years ago to level it off & do a bit of terracing - as you could make three diffferent levels in out garden - £4000 - it was too steep for us then (the cost & the garden) it certainly is now & we can't do it as its mostly chalk under the little bit of soil we have.

Our houses & gardens were built on the old resovoir of the Brighton Workhouse - the workhouse is now the General Hospital - perched right on top of a steep hilll. the gardens all slope down & are full of downland grass.

So at the top of ours we have the shed & a large Lilac bush, on the next level is another lilac bush with a 18-24 inch slope between the 2 all grassy sort of - then its a very gentle undulating slope tot eh wirly airer also slopeing at an angle & then undulating slope to a small wall with paving slabs on top - so its all at an angle. We tried to do some planting - very little grows in chalk except grass & weeks & lilac bushes.

Our neighbour got a couple of friends in & dug out 5 foot of his garden & pushed it a fair way back with a supporting wall - had two large skips to take away the chalk - then he paved the area & bulit steps up to what was left of the garden. he must have bought what looked like 2 ton of soil & sort of leveled it off into a gentle slope & then paved the top of the garden for a green house & two sheds. It took him ages as he could only work on it on a Sunday. His patio looks more like a junk yard every day much to his wifes disgust.

There are so many project we need to do - but no cash to do them with & OH can't do the digging - don't think I am built for that either - we don't even know a few lads who do do with a bit of cash in hand either theses days.

Wheres Frank when you need him

Ah well only two more days & two days off - well sort of -

Better get back to work - nice to know I am not the only one still around on this thread

Hugs & waves to Evelyn & Reece ((((((~~~~~~))))))

Waves to all the others absent for a few days ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Will check back in later if I can

Take care all <3 <3 <3

More jury duty and still not been called. :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

Tuesday I was in the court for two hours and although a jury was called, I wasn't in it.
We were sent away at 11.30 so by the time I got my bus home and changed, it was 2.00 before I got back to work.

Wednesday was the same with no jury being called as they were having problems with witnesses so back to work by 2.00.

The Tuesday case which was supposed to last two days actually lasted 30 minutes before the defendant changed plea to guilty so the jury had lunch before going home. :-D


Tomorrow we are in at 10.00 am so perhaps we will have a case to try. ;-)

All the more annoying as I am still trying to shake this chesty cold and sore throat and I've not had any goosegrease.......... Anyway, isn't that what you cook roast potatoes in ? ;-) :-D

The weather has actually been dry and sunny this week but the weekend is to be wet and windy.
My daughter in Washington is having 93f with a wee thunderstorm thrown in. :-S :-S :-D

Hi Everyone

I had a lot of trouble posting on this thread for a while but it seems ok now

I will talk to you Anne,had a busy one today with the OH home.

I can't get my work done when he has a day off he seems to be under my feet all the time.

Sent him outside to give the car a good clean it really needs it.

Work has gone a bit quiet at present but when you work for yourself these things happen ,next week he will be flat out again.

Just realised last night that I have lost the diamond out of my engagement ring sometime the day before.
Went to the jewelers today to get a quote to replace it $350 dollars do you mind ,I will get it replaced but I feel so sad as I have had the ring for 44yrs and this is the first time I have had to get it repaired.

The wedding ring is very thin too so may get a new one with the old one melted into it.
I am very sentimental with things like this and I hate losing things.

I have not read the story yet on the Labrador I lost my dog a few years ago so it is still quite painful to hear stories of dogs dying if that is what happened ...will read it later meanwhile I had better get dinner going ...very late tonight.

Love to you all.. you are not going mad Anne .
Suex ;-) :-) <3

Ok where is everyone

Am I just going mad - talking to a little white box all the time

Is this a sign of madness talking to yourself for days on end :-0

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh knew it would hit me at some point - didn't think i would be this young though :-0

Will go away & contemplate my thoughts - not my life as i would get even more depressed :-P

Tries to think of the good times in life & when I had chance to enjoy things - far too long ago for that to work - gives up & goes back to work ;-) :-S

Back to the drawing board - where is Freud when you need him :-P

Will someone please talk to me - its so lonely in this little white box

Take care all <3

Just popped in to see if anyone was around -

Anyone got any tissues

Just read the thread on General chat about the poorly Labrador - I defy anyone to read it & not end up in tears - the poem is lovely - but heartbreaking

Off to sort myself out before OH comes home

Silly fool that I am - far too soft for my own good

;-)

Than you for the knind thoughts Sue

Its nice you have you little trips out with your M in L - how is your SiL doing haven't heard about her for a while - hope she is getting on well.

Its still very hot & humid here - never know what to wear at the moment

At least you seem to be getting a proper winter Sue

Well off to have a look at the boards - see what is going on around here

Take care all ;-)

Hi Everyone

Went to the big smoke yesterday with the Mother in Law for a day of shopping .
I had some new curtains on order and they were ready to be picked up .

It poured with rain the whole day so getting in and out of the car at different shops was a bit of a pain but we did not get to wet and we had a Hungry Jacks Burger ,they are just like your Burger King over in the UK.

We are getting some nice decent rain at the moment so lets hope it keeps going so when summer gets here we won't have water restrictions

Reece it so nice to hear from you ,Penshurst Place sounds right up my ally,I love Tudor Gardens and old buildings,I think I was born in the wrong era.
We have Time Team on every day at 6pm over here at the moment and I never miss it.Phil is my favorite.
My Oh also loves his trips to the UK as he was born in OZ and they seem to knock down buildings over here when they are about 30 yrs old so hence no history to speak of .

Frank sorry to hear you have been poorly but you deserve a rest after all your reno work so enjoy it .
I have a Ken wood but it is one of the old ones I have had it for years ...it never seem to wear out and I hope it never does.

Cynthia glad to hear Sylvia arrived safely,it sounds like William and Kate had a wonderfull time in Canada and the US,aren't they a beautiful couple for once a royal marriage that may last they really look in love .

Anne you do need a rest ,I do hope your trip to the Out laws is a very nice one and my fingers are crossed for you to win Lotto if anyone deserves to you do.

I am off to get diner started ...very cold today and raining again so the fire stays lit......I don't think it has gone out for two weeks.

I hope the rest of your day is nice and warm for you all.

Suex :-) <3

Reece - lovely to hear from you - hope you enjoy your visit to Audley end as much as Penshurst

Frank - never mind at least you get paid for Jury service - never have been called - always wanted to

All those cakes your wife makes - no wonder you are on a permanent diet.

Haven't used my kenwood for ages - not really been home a lot to do anything

Off to the outlaws this weekend - sort of a break - in theory

Cynthia - sounds like you are the person everyone keeps in touch with - keep up the good work

Very humit & sunny yesterday - very dull but again very humid - stupidly just looked out the window this morning - thought i will ware a long sleeve top today.

Got out & in the car & its quite warm still - its baking in the office today - yesterday I nearly froze to death here - sleeveless top - so thought be prepared today & they ahve switched the recirculating air vent off

This place drives you mad - we are all in the lotto again tonight - we all want to win the big one - even our head of dept wants out if we all win - which was a bit of a surprise - she has been here over 20 years - I am on my 16th - i have now been here as long as i was with BT - thats over half my lifetime - if I was younger - i would look for a move - its itchy feet mode again.

At least here there are plenty of opportunities to move around - Just can't afford to lose the overtime at the moment .

I am forever optomistic & am always looking for that new open door around the corner - the one with the greener grass & the rainbow - one day my ship will come in when I am least expecting it

Our luck must change for the better soon - I know I didn't break a mirror & OH swears he didn't - but one of us must have done by accident - will see if I can calculate when the 7 years runs out - hopefully its this year or the next - can't keep this up for much longer - :-(

No - won't add that statement - far too depressing for this time of the morning - trying to stay upbeat for the lotto tonight :-)

Well enjoy the day eveyone - will pop back in at lunchtime if I can

Take care all ;-)

Well Reece, she's absolutely over the moon with her new Kenwood as it even has a cover for the bowl which means you can add ingredients without worrying about it all ending up on the worktop or having to cover the bowl with a towel.
She enjoys baking and makes a lot of cakes.

Now she wants an AT340 Slicer/Shredder Attachment for it............ :-S :-S

Sat in the Sheriff Court for three hours on jury duty without being called so had the afternoon off work.

Back tomorrow for more badyins.................. ;-) :-D

Hello friends, I have received a message from Sylvia to say that she has arrived safely.

She was extremely well fed on the plane apparently so she was very happy. Seems as thought there was so much salad she could well turn into a rabbit!

I have told her that we look forward to welcoming her back soon.


Reece, it sounds as though you have had a lovely time and I hope your time at Audley End is equally enjoyable.


It has been another lovely day here - lots of washing and ironing done. Am now settling down ready to watch the next episode of New Tricks later.


Take care all. Cx

Hello friends,

I thought I had posted after my day trip to Kent but obviously dreamed that one!

Sorry to hear you are laid low with "the lurgy" (does anyone use that phrase nowadays?) Frank - best wishes and hope you are up and about soon. I thought of you when I was reading Kate Atkinson's "One Good Turn" set in Edinburgh with hero Jackson Brodie and finished it very early this morning. Yes, I know ... the bird song wakes me up...

Oh Anne - barbecues - I seem to get all sorts of weird and wonderful smells - find myself thinking aloud now "what on earth are they cooking? " as you say old tyres or whatever they have handy! I think it is time you had a few days off - relax and smell the roses. I have some beautiful yellow lilies you would really like and white nicotiana in pots and the scent is just lovely at night.

Cynthia, I'm sure your friend really loves and appreciates your friendship - such kindness is way beyond the price of gold.

Penshurst Place was lovely - Tudor gardens, unrestored house with lots of linenfold panelling in the rooms and a toy museum full of the toys of yesteryear. We all really enjoyed it very much and this Thursday I am going with two friends to Audley End and hope to enjoy that, too.

Thinking of Evelyn and hoping Josie gets that job and settles in to her new home. Hope for good news for Sylvia, too.

Ah Frank - the "new ones" are never loved as much as the trusty old ones - I know the feeling I had a Sunbeam Mixmaster for 35 years and I don't feel the same about the replacement. Mind you I don't use it much!

Best wishes to you all.

Love,
Reece