RootsChat.Com
General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: louisa maud on Monday 29 May 23 07:51 BST (UK)
-
Morning folks
Unbelievable we are almost into June.
Yesterday I thought was quite warm but it was cold in church despite the sun outside, PM I felt very cold and decided to have a bath to warm up.
I have 6 perennial plants to put in that should last for a long time, just trying to cut down the amount of annuals I put in every year, I Iike them and the colours but my legs and back make if more difficult, I will still have some bedding plants but nowhere near as many as I usually do, my husband doesn't like gardening so it is down to me, I am trying to make life easier for me..
My grandaughter roaming around Asia will be home first week In July after being away for 6 months, she is in Bali now and I think she is ready to come home, I will be pleased to see her.
Hope everyone is feeling chipper this week , hoping for some wamer weather, about time .
Take care
LM
-
We’ve had sun all weekend which is lovely. I bought some plants for my boxes on the patio but am lacking the energy to plant them.
My pain medication was changed a week ago and it has been a disaster I’m back where I was months ago. Why do they change something when something else is working well? Anyway after only 2 hours sleep last night I decided enough was enough. I found the consultant’s letter in which he says I can go back to the old medication so I have which will no doubt take a while to have any effect. I will contact the Pain Clinic tomorrow and see what they say.
I’ve done very little for the last 3 days, I did make it to church and luckily there was only 2 families there and they’re lovely so it was quite easy for me.
Think I better have some lunch, my appetite has also deserted me so it’s a question of what’s easy!
Hope everyone is enjoying sunshine and no rain and doing all they had planned to do.
-
Gibel, hope you get your medication sorted quickly, rest up and take it easy.
Sun out today, very breezy and cold in my opinion, I have a fleece on indoors today so it must be cold, roll on summer
LM
-
Sorry to hear your medication has affected you so badly Gibel, I hope the pain clinic can sort it out for you. I'd be tempted to ask why it was changed although I suspect the answer might be to do with cost. I know finances are tight for the NHS but they need to take into account the cost to your wellbeing,.
LM, it's been lovely here in the frozen North, , I've been in the garden wearing shorts and a strappy top. However, the wind is coming from the East so if I went down to the beach it might be rather cooler!
* * Added - But the house is quite chilly tonight!
-
Thank you Roobarb for your book recommendation on the last thread of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter. I am about a quarter of the way through. It immediately piqued my interest as I like books set in the places I have researched. My x4 great-grandfather's true baptism is a bit of a mystery but I think it might be the one at North Sunderland, Bamburgh, Secession Chapel of Burgher. Other people have him as the son of the engine keeper at Seahouses, but that one seems to have died at 13. Early in the piece, I had to sort out Sunderland from North Sunderland.
Helen Gaynor's books:
https://www.hazelgaynor.com/book-series/books/
-
Been a strange weather pattern, although the sun was out yesterday I found it quite cold, this morning , cold again but looks like rain , roll on flaming June.
LM
-
Nova, I'm pleased you're enjoying the book, I'm finding it very absorbing. And there's the added historical interest in the area for you, I'd never heard of North Sunderland until I read the book. Northumberland is such a beautiful county, I remember in primary school going on a trip to Bamburgh, I was so impressed with the castle, also visited after that with my parents.
Cool here too this morning LM.
-
I wonder what my great-great grandparents made of the beaches of Newcastle, New South Wales after leaving the Northumbrian Coast.
Happy to receive any similar recommendations!
I had certainly heard of Grace Darling.
-
Hi all
We’ve been shopping for bits and bobs today in a big shopping centre. You can tell it’s a while since we went bits and bobs shopping - the MandS shop has done away with all its tills and its machines only. I asked about it and was told there’s no tills with staff . The one assistant will assist folk in difficulty, but it was clear the help was intended as a one off of ‘let’s show you what to do so you can do it yourself next time. ‘
Feel so sorry for those who have difficulties and the screens weren’t clean either. Wish you could wear a glove or something , but as they’re touch sensitive screens, I don’t think that’s possible.
-
I don’t drive and I use a big canvas shopping trolley with a cover and put all my shopping in that as I get my groceries. I like to go early in the day to avoid too many people but this is when they prefer you to use self-serve or the 12 items or less aisle. These checkouts do not cater for packing though but that must be the same in a regular shopping trolley.
I also hear what you are saying Candleflame.
I guess they can employ less staff by using these too.
-
I'm all in favour of things that make life easier but I really don't think the self service machines do that. On the rare occasions I've tried to use them they just seem to start acting up and an assistant has to come and sort the darn machine out. Not that I go supermarket shopping these days, since starting during the pandemic to order my groceries online I've continued to do so as I hate supermarket shopping. I know some people like the social interaction of visiting the shop but if there are no staffed tills you wouldn’t get that any more. They can spout all they like about how important their customers are but really they only care about looking after themselves.
-
Roobarb, I was checking out some shared DNA matches and worked back on someone's tree and they are related to:
https://www.theblacketts.com/node/111
I particularly got excited (about the whole thing) ;D but especially the last bit as I was born very, very near that lighthouse. It is such an iconic part of my hometown.
I am now checking out if my closer family any get other Blackett matches. I may never connect all the dots... but we do get some.
Maybe you can recommend more books to people to discover their ancestors and set yourself up at genealogy fairs, or fayres :-*
One day out from winter here and the forecast is 20 degrees. Has been wet and overcast this past week. Trying to sound more Diary-ish.
Wake up Roobarb and read this.
-
Supermarkets
Because I am not doing the same journey to my usual store I have been shopping locally, I was at the store just after 8am on Friday no cashier on the till, all self service, I had to call for help 4 times, I said I will never use a self service till anymore, everytime there is a problem, plus the more we use them the less staff will be employed, I would rather shop online in future but I do like to go out shopping
Another cold morning and looks like rain
LM
-
Supermarkets also employ people with disabilities. The more automated, less jobs.
-
For the Rootschatters who showed an interest in my accident saga I have had a reply from the company dealing with my claim after my insurers have shoved it on to them, they are disputing his liability , how can they, he admitted it twice in front of my passenger, I am really upset about it to be honest, 57 years of driving and never a blemish, I am not a happy bunny.
LM.
-
Oh ,and I thought it was all sorted L.M!
I am sad for you about that, some people have no conscience!
Dullish day here, cold too.
Good journey back from Sussex after a difficult one going.
Note, follow road signs and ignore the sat nav!
Lovely time with the family ,had fun with the water magnet and Kyra was not sure about the dolly but loved the pram.
She liked the asleep face better than the awake one .
I took the little family out for lunch on Saturday .
Flash Harry can eat for England ,Kyra had one chip and a lot of ketchup!
We were in a posh fish and chip restaurant “ The Codfather” in Sudbury .
Eighteen pounds each for fish and chips!Fish Goujons ie tingy wingy bits of fish in batter.Not full fillets!
I had forgotten my smelling salts too!
Kyra did have some fish ,a grazer rather than tucking in.
Had fun with the water magnet, got some rusty nails,a rusty drill bit and a small padlock ( from my handbag,the key had been lost,F.H. did not know I had planted it.)
Lovely to see them all.
Hope everyone is well,almost June ,gosh how time flies.
Look after yourselves everyone .
Cheerio,Viktoria.
-
Viktoria I am claiming my eccess, .
LM
-
Roobarb, I was checking out some shared DNA matches and worked back on someone's tree and they are related to:
https://www.theblacketts.com/node/111
I particularly got excited (about the whole thing) ;D but especially the last bit as I was born very, very near that lighthouse. It is such an iconic part of my hometown.
I am now checking out if my closer family any get other Blackett matches. I may never connect all the dots... but we do get some.
Maybe you can recommend more books to people to discover their ancestors and set yourself up at genealogy fairs, or fayres :-*
One day out from winter here and the forecast is 20 degrees. Has been wet and overcast this past week. Trying to sound more Diary-ish.
Wake up Roobarb and read this.
Nova, I've been awake for some hours but have only just looked in on Rootschat, wishing I'd looked in earlier.
What an exciting find for you, I love the name of the lighthouse! ;D I think you must have been meant to read the book, I'm so pleased that not only have you enjoyed it but that it led to these links. I often recommend books to friends but I don't think I'd be able to come up with enough for genealogical fairs! :D River Tyne Lass often recommends books, I bought one that she mentioned, it was about Durham miners and a number of my ancestors were in that occupation.
LM, unfortunately that's what insurers regularly do, they often work on a knock for knock basis. Annoying I know, when you've done nothing wrong but try not to see it as a personal insult, they just don't want to pay out.
Viktoria, pleased to hear you enjoyed your trip to Sussex.
-
Viktoria, many years ago my aunt made fish sausages to entice her children to eat fish. I do not know if that worked!
Mystic Roobarb… has a nice 👍 ring to it.
-
I'm sorry that this communication from the insurers has (understandably) dampened your spirits LM.
As Roobarb says try not to take it to heart. You know you have always been a good driver. I suspect this is less to do with the truth about liability and more to do about money. Take what they say with a pinch of salt; you know the truth on the matter.
-
You have worked hard LM to get over the accident ,don’t let another’s lack of honesty knock your confidence, you did not need to be untruthful,the truth was in your favour.
Flash Harry has a good appetite and enjoys a good variety of food.
Little Kyra not so much ,but at 18 months and still teething ,she does eat pretty well really.
It amazes me the really sour things they eat, not had a lot of sugar .
Lovely day, treated myself to a new SS kettle and toaster to match the storage canisters that were a present from my eldest son at my request .
Gone off the red stuff.
Had a visit from the very deaf and almost totally blind lady , she is amazing how she gets about.
Pork chops in mushroom sauce - Delia Smith’s recipe for tea.
Mashed potatoes and sprouts with more mushrooms.
Must check on the cooking
Look after yourselves folks.
Cheerio,Viktoria.
-
Mystic Roobarb… has a nice 👍 ring to it.
;D ;D ;D
-
LM so sorry to hear the insurance saga has ended up like this. As others have said, try to stay positive and also focus on the fact that you have your own car back to enjoy driving in .
-
Sorry to hear about your continuing insurance saga LM. Just remember that you know the truth but insurers like to wriggle out of things.
Sounds as if you had a great time away Viktoria.
I loathe the self service checkouts Roobarb, I swear they take one look at me and decide to go wrong. I was talking one day to the lady supervising the M&S ones who was telling me that they have their regulars who come most days and perhaps just buy a couple of things but have a little chat at the tills and she said they know if they haven’t been. They worry if they don’t come. All those regulars like the proper tills as it is someone to talk too. It got me thinking how for so many older people speaking to the person on the tills will be their only chance to speak to someone each day.
Must get myself organised to go and do a family history help desk at a local library but before I go have a telephone hospital appointment about something that was discovered when I collapsed last year. Nothing to worry about thank goodness.
-
Good news! After over a year of central heating not working properly / at all, can put out to graze the fan heaters and electric plug-in radiators we've bought and been reliant on during the entire chilly winter saga - lovely new Heating Engineer has fixed it all, bless his little socks! Hottest week of year so far, and we sweltered when hi switched it all on again to check for leaks. How I wish we'd found him over a year back!
-Could do with Air-con now, I think!
Out to sit in shade in garden. Whoopee!
I refuse to shop if it's only self-service checkouts. I've left shopping at several over the years. Shop assistants and check out operators need jobs, and we customers need and appreciate them. Forward the revolution! Bring back real people.
TY
-
Hottest day TY, where do you hail from?, it started off gloomy earlier for the 2nd and 3rd day running and has been cold and breezy, washing loves it dancing in the wind, sun comes out much later but not a lot of warmth
I wholeheartedly agree with you about self service tills I have told more than one member of staff these machines are doing people out of jobs, I heard yesterday on TV that there is a shortage of staff in shops and hotels and they can't recruit, they should do flexy hours, or it might be called nil hours where the staff will fill in for things like school holidays and parents need to cover for their children
Years ago when at school I was a Saturday girl in our local F W Woolworths, I went straight from school on a Friday to do 2 hours and then my usual 8 hours on a Saturday, and school holidays to cover for staff, it did mean we had to be paid more for our NH stamp to be adjusted, absolutely suited me, gave me an extra 5s a week, they thought so highly of me they offered me a job in the office and I became the youngest head cashier in the whole of FWW running an office at about 18 years old, I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it, sadly had to leave when I got married, my intended didn't want to live in London.
No shortage of staff in those days, why now?.
LM
-
Hear hear !
(Oops ought that to be here here?)
I get quite flustered at the self check outs especially if there are impatient people waiting after me.
A short while ago, in Morrison’s I put coins in the slot where that is on Tesco machines ,only in M’s it was for coupons so I lost £5-80 !
I am still lying down in a dark room!
Another glorious day here but again a cool breeze.
Washing almost ready to hang up.
Son off to Chiropractor ,stiff neck and shoulders from hours on the computers. He had worked at home on four since Covid and no sign of them going back to the office either.Only three here so a bit harder .
Not had long to wait for the appointment ,I am glad to say, I can see it is really painful.
Hope everyone is alright, thanks for the news ,all welcome .
A little cheery note to end on, I inadvertently cut the leading stem of my Captain Sir Tom Rose, however it has come back really sturdy ,I am so pleased, good thick dark red stem so not a wild shoot .
Cheerio.
Viktoria.
P.S .L. M. —- So many people on benefits and unemployed I do not understand it either.
This is not a criticism of the unemployed because I have never been that so have no real idea what is wrong, but somewhere something has gone wrong .
That there are staff shortages yet people drawing unemployment pay.
It is understandable that bus fares etc eat into pay and it might well be more economical to not work and get paid less ,yet end up a little better off.
It needs sorting out !
Viktoria.
-
When I was able to shop in person, I always checked that there was a cashier operated till, if not I walked out. On the odd occasions that the manned till closed before I finished my shopping, I would just leave the shopping and walk out.
I worked on the basis that if I gave a shop my custom, the least they could do was provide me with some service. On one occasion when I left my shopping and went to leave, another customer asked me why I was doing so, I explained and she promptly did the same. I bumped into her a few times after that and we always had a laugh about it and wished we could have been a fly on the wall when the staff found all our abandoned shopping.
Now all my shopping has to be done on line, so at least I get (usually) good service from the delivery driver.
I am glad I'm unlikely to still be alive when AIs take over completely.😂
-
Phew, another hot day. It's practically a full time job watering the pot plants. Picked up the plastic watering can middle of the afternoon and had to drop it immediately because the handle was so hot.
the washing line has been extra busy today due to extra laundry.The reason for the extra laundry was due to Mr Nobody pressing the wrong button on the automatic washing machine, which meant that it became confused whether to wash the contents or just keep filling and emptying the machine and disobeying a human's order to stop.
Hard luck ref the motor insurer not paying out. It's not surprising when one sees the TV programmes that demonstrate just how many dishonest claimants there are - for instance local cameras show drivers deliberately driving into a wall or pals organising one car hitting another car in the rear all for insurance claims.
-
Saw something that amused me this morning.
Opposite me is a house for sale.
It has been fully re- furbished .
The owner had called - does not live there now.
Was leaving with post etc and closed and locked the front door .
Then went through the ritual that Edie Pegden did, Wesley’s wife played by Dame Thora Hird, in Last of the Summer Wine , check the lock, then the knob, give the door handle a good rattle then bang the door with her bum ,then to make sure it really was secure do it all again .
I do part of that ritual ,check the handle but it was so funny to see it fully done by someone else and as thorough as Edie Pegden did!
Sunny and not such a cool breeze this morning .
Must drop my prescription in at Health centre.
Not sure of son’s plans but I will shoot off in a moment and whizz round with my trolley .might drop into Church for a coffee ,did not get there last Sunday as I was in Suffolk.
Hope everyone is O.K .
Look after yourselves folks
Viktoria.
-
Oh ViktorIa, I am one of those people who check, when I was almost to work once, maybe twice I came back to check the back door, I still do it now sometimes, I think the thing is to lock up and don't think anymore about it because the more you think the more you worry about having done the right things.
If we are on holiday we often pop into a church for a coffee, seldom get bothered about religion but they are always keen to show you around their church .
Started off so cold this morning I wished the heating was on but it is feeling a bit warmer now, weak sun trying to come out
Don't know what is planned for today, probably nothing as usual.
Have a nice day folks
LM
-
Lovely sunny day here so a bit of weeding, wash the car and then the FA cup final for us today.
-
Rena, I checked your whereabouts when I read your comment about the heat, couldn't believe it was Lancashire! Or where you being sarcastic? ;) Middle of the week was like winter here, better yesterday and summer seems to have arrived today, although the wind is coming straight off the sea so I suspect the beach will be a bit cooler.
-
We had a high of 25 degrees today in Adelaide :o - and they call it winter. Very unusual.
-
Been to Adelaide, enjoyed it, well I fact I enjoyed it all
LM
-
Yes blazing sun and little wind so very hot.
Watching M.U and M.C ,a bit lacklustre I feel.
Son lost his wallet today whilst doing some shopping ,I was in Morrison’s.
We had got home when he realised ,I tried to phone the store but a long diatribe recorded about deliveries so he went back.
He had just withdrawn at the cash machine ,plus contactless cards anyone can use!
The door bell rang and a couple were at the door and asked was he in, I said no he’d had to go back to Ramsbottom as he had lost something ,they held up his wallet, his driving licence was in it.
I thanked them ,they had phoned him ,number must have been in something.
I asked for their details but they did not want any reward, so I asked what charity they supported ,so Bleakholt our nearby dog sanctuary and rehoming kennels will get a donation from us,I told a big whopper, said to son we would have to visit to make a donation.! ::)
With a bit of luck we will look around and perhaps his interest will be roused.
Score :-ManC 2 Man U 1.
Salmon for tea in a lemon ,butter and bay leaf sauce.New potatoes and new peas. Yogs for dessert.
Back to the match ,but it does seem a bit lacklustre .
Cheerio.
Viktoria.
-
Wow Viktoria
Did they have your sons address from his wallet?, I never carry my address in case I miss lay my keys as well as my purse, , my husband lost his keys during lockdown and my daughter found them shown on Facebook
How lucky was your son Viktoria?
Sorry, not interested in football
XXX
-
Really nice to hear that Viktoria, it restores your faith in human nature. :) Hope you end up getting a furry friend.
Oh to be in Adelaide,now that winter's there ;D (With apologies to Robert Browning).
Not quite 25 here but warm enough for sunbathing. And gardening.
Football doesn't float my boat either.
-
Lovely and warm here for the last few days. I was out at 9:30 wearing a short sleeved t shirt and skirt and I was more than warm enough. People are still walking past in t shirts and shorts. In fact it’s been lovely all week. Makes a change for half term to have such lovely weather.
-
I felt quite silly today, I walked to my local shops with an anorak on, I was so cold passing people in sleeveless summer tops, but I didn't care, it was very chilly out of the sun.
LM
-
There’s one problem with having a lovely sunny week - the gardens are suffering. The grass has a distinct brown tinge and some of the plants are looking a bit wilted. I might have to get the hose going tomorrow.
-
This address was on his driving licence, L.M.
The wallet was on the pavement outside an antique/junk shop where he had just bought something.
So lucky honest people found it.
In it was a card for the bank where the cash for the house purchase is —— I hope to goodness it is not a contactless one !!!!!
Oh turn back the clock Pleeeeeeeeeease!
Viktoria.
-
The limit per transaction is £100, that might just about purchase a doll's house. ;D
And you can't draw cash without entering a PIN so I think he's quite safe on that score Viktoria.
-
LM, that is lovely that you have been to the City of Churches/Festival State. This is what is coming up this week weather-wise:
http://www.bom.gov.au/sa/forecasts/adelaide.shtml
So, don't get too excited! A lot of overcast weather lately, but not yesterday. I will need my collection of wellies/gumboots and an array of water-proof coats.
Roobarb, I finished the book during the week. I will tell one of my Ancestry cousins in Ohio about it as it is set in Northumberland and USA - I think this may appeal. We share Northumbrian heritage. I noticed on Free Reg that the burials for Matilda and James Dawson are Davison :( But correct on FindMyPast. A match to descendants of Jemima and Eleanor Blackett with me and my mum respectively, but do not know if we have any common ancestry. Jemima and Eleanor connect to the Farne Islands Blacketts.
We have just started using electronic medical records at work. I feel really sorry for people that did not grow up in the computer era at school (me included). I went to uni as a mature-age student and the internet was just coming in then and my degree was library and information-focused. I am still finding the transition stressful. Worse for those who only use the computer at work when they have to and don't have confidence. I know some people still struggle with emails.
-
Well Viktoria, leant something, I ever knew my address was on my driving licence, just checked but I don't carry mine around with me
Looks like a better morning it not divesting to much as I know my church will be cold
Have a nice e day folks
LM
-
What a contrast in the weather - yesterday was lovely, today it's freezing cold and overcast!
-
Blazing sun here in Lancashire , just fed the fish and the oxygenator is whizzing away ( solar powered) .
Watered the miniature Iris plant ,it is not in the water ,but in a container on the edge of the raised pond ,lAm working on son that he needs to do his bit for the environment and have a sunken pond!
One nearby has frogs and taddies in season ,I love tadpoles always brought the school ones home at Summer holidays then all schools had to have a
pond ,in a safe enclosure .
I used to love looking after it and only brought the taddies from the classroom home to my pond and then transferred them to a mill lodge nearby,when they were froglets.
It had a dry end like a little beach so they could get out of the water .
I looked after tadpoles as an evacuee, in a big two pound jam jar and brought fresh watercress every day for them ,it grew nearby , then put them in a huge pool which had served the lead mine for steam power.
Oh well, time to get ready for Church and if possible to persuade my son to go to the Dog Sanctuary to donate as I promised re the returned wallet.
Hope all are as well as can be given many have long term illness ,and your weather is good ,but that won’t be for all I can see !
Cheerio.Viktoria.
-
Weather not a lot different in San Sebastian, where I am on holiday.
24C yesterday; 21C and cloudy at the moment; forecast to rise to 22/23.
We have escaped from the madness of TT at home :D
First time ever, there will be racing on a Sunday; but it will be safer than the usual Mad Sunday.
Loving the food! Pintxos (Basque tapas) are excellent; wine is cheaper than coffee ;)
Sample bill: 8 glasses of Rioja Crianza @ €2.30
4 Pintxo Normal @ €2.60
2 Pintxo Especial @ €2.90
Nice evening out for 2 at less than £30 ;D
-
Nova, you've beaten me to it with the book, I've had a busy time lately and not been reading as much as I'd like. Managed to relax in the sunshine yesterday and read a chunk though. :) I hope your Ancestry cousin enjoys it too, I love the descriptions of the Farne islands. Interesting info about the Dawsons and the Blacketts.
I think I'll give Adelaide a miss, not liking the forecast. ;)
Although I didn't grow up in the computer era I don't do too badly with them. I'm pretty much self taught on things like spreadsheets and Word documents, a few more complicated things I learnt by picking up tips from people at work. With everything backed up there's not too much to worry about.
KG, that sounds wonderful and what prices! :D Enjoy the rest of your holiday, I'm sure you will.
Candleflame, weather here is usually pretty much the same as yours, overcast today but not freezing, the cloud does seem to be coastal. Hope it warms up for you.
-
Here on edge of Pennines, into 2nd week of generally hot dry weather. Who needs the tropics? Just I don't want it to get any warmer.
TY
-
Who needs the tropics?
TY
Those of us in the North East!
-
I would have said that if you hadn't beat me to it Roobarb! ;)
-
Who needs the sun …..I cleaned the cooker instead !
-
Church this morning was hilarious, the Sunday School children came in to join the service.
A baby ,hard to judge age but 12-14 months I’d say,came in to Church with Mum.All the children were given flags,but not the baby!
Whew ! Didn’t she let us know what she thought of that!
She can scream for England, ,ear splitting.
Was given a flag but would not give it back!
She hung on tightly .
So funny and she played to us ,knowing we were laughing.
Gorgeous afternoon and I am roasting a chicken.
Decided to use a roasting bag,don’t fancy a big oven clean.
Well things coming together so need my undivided attention.
Cheerio .Viktoria.
-
The limit per transaction is £100, that might just about purchase a doll's house. ;D
And you can't draw cash without entering a PIN so I think he's quite safe on that score Viktoria.
Yes,I seem to remember that if you pay contactless you can’t get cash back ,must do it with PIN number .
We were lucky though were’nt we?
V.
-
You sure were V and son
I decreased the amount on my card, no one is getting my money without my say so !!
LM
-
Actually that is a good idea,LM.
My current account ought to be less for safety reasons ,it only needs the average amount of my monthly outgoings .
I just hate all the numbers I have to remember etc .
Oh turn back the clock,pleeeeeeeeese .
I hate it all.
So simple with cash and cheques.
I know I am a dinosaur , but things have changed so quickly .
Viktoria.
-
Such good news re wallet and honesty, Viktora, sorry your car insurance news not so positive LM. Luckily our insurance is covering our car key loss, an 8 week wait for replacement to come from Europe at cost of almost a grand then extra cost to have programmed in for our vehicle which is too specific for any of the local and possibly cheaper options.
The week ending 4th has gone with family comings and goings, more lunches dined out than eaten in and staying mostly around home over the King's Birthday Weekend and holiday Monday today NZ. Honours announced this morning, nice to be able to congratulate a long time family friend for her mention in list.
We left family in north last Monday after the birthday girl had been dropped off at school, her younger sisters both had needed an extra help with tissues to noses, so inevitable I guess that I had a sore throat Tuesday night and was 'ploughing' through tissues Wednesday and off colour, covid test negative Thursday morning and just ENT type virus nearly worked through.
3 early emergency alert notifications on our mobile phones Wednesday with a very large scrapyard fire relatively close and warnings to avoid toxic smoke, stay indoors and windows closed etc, very disruptive in morning for those nearby with train cancellations and schools having to close. Not noticeable by us at all, though apparently was for a few others, wind shift etc. All under control by next morning, though same yard has several previous fires! Our annual emergency mobile alert test was done early Sunday evening, mine came through about 2 minutes behind phones of husband and daughter which both went off together. Anyway, apparently reports of a big success latest test with 9 out of 10 having received alert or been with someone who had.
Lovely surprise to catch up with a friend I haven't seen in person for many years, first time for her and husband attending buffet lunch with his and my husband's old colleagues. Looking so fit and young for her 85 years, goes to gym 3 times a week and putting me to shame really. She reckoned she made me cry all those years ago when she showed me the ropes on my first job out of school, can't say I remember that but she did teach me well. I babysat for her when she left to start the family with her then husband and we've really only kept in touch with cards over the years, maybe not have recognised each other if on the street!
Happy new week all ….
-
Gorgeous weather again, but lots to do indoors ,keep sneaking out!
Watching plants grow can be very addictive !
No news yet re house purchase but land searches re old mining have to be done and as the house has not changed owners for many years the vendors have to get gas and electricity safety certificates as there are none.
It will all fall into place eventually.
Daughter phones tonight as usual.
I don’t know where she gets her energy from !
Up at six to do special flexion exercises with the new horse.
Home,shower, work ,home ,cook, then horse attended to again ,some housework and bed!
And all that with Pernicious Anaemia!
The horse was backed too soon in Ireland the Newmarket Vets said,he is also a year younger than was declared.
They got the Irish stud book ,not available I don’t think to most people .
Anyway he is coming along very well. Has formed a great bond with my daughter and her husband ,they have to slowly and gradually increase the weights they put on his specially made saddle —- thank goodness for full insurance.I go white when I hear the costs !
Soon she will be able to lie across his back for a few minutes increasing the time by a few minutes every few days .
All that and running BMW’ s best franchise!
She won’t be beaten , as a little girl was just the same ,stubborn but not negatively so , more to achieve really.
Well I must get on, nice to read all your news folks ,a nice start to the day.
Cheerio.Viktoria.
-
Just in T.V news The annual Whit Friday Brass Band competition at Saddleworth and surrounding villages .
An amazing event ,some of the best bands in the country.
They play as they walk from village to village,the judges have no idea which band is playing as they are in tents and can’t see the bands.
It is a bit of a shambolation ,lots of pubs along the way and it is thirsty work!
Thousands of people descend on the route ,a wonderful Northern event.
Did not see anything of it on Friday ,a bit of a puzzle.
I love brass bands, and the annual Manchester Whitsuntide processions of Sunday School children 20’000 very often ,from outlying churches to The Cathedral were a lovely spectacle ,the girls in long white dresses with posies etc ,holding on to the banner ribbons
My grandad was in Culcheth Prize Band , that was the most sought after band .
Oh happy days.
Viktoria.
-
As a child I lived in London , I would walk with brass bands with my dad for miles, even now I find it quite emotional hearing or seeing brass bands, nothing quite it .
With all you folks suffering heat waves it is very cold today.
LM
-
Well, what a change in the weather, woke up to grey skies and much cooler.
Had done washing yesterday evening , thinking a bright sunny day again today - however it looks as if it might brighten up so washing on the line.
I am a trusting soul !
No news re next door ,son sent an email to solicitors but no reply yet!
Got to think of an imaginative way to use up chicken from Sunday.
Quite a bit left,curry? chicken and mushroom pie!?
Documentary re The Steeltown Murders,BBC1 tonight, only saw last night’s episode and a bit of the first ,it seemed so dark ,the lighting .
But I wished I had seen it all .
I like Philip Glenister,hilarious and quite good looking in “ Life on Mars “ .
Putting a substitute barman in a pub where known criminals met ,he told his Sergeant to arrest the barman, “ On what charges.” —— “ Cattle rustling “—-
Well the pub was in Great Ancoats Street near Manchester centre, not a blade of grass to be seen ,it struck us,who knew the area very well ,as really funny.
“Fire up the Quattro”.
In one episode my mother in law’s house was on screen and the recreation ground where O H and his brother played football .
With the huge gasometers in the background “ Ooooo! it’s your Mum’s!”
Hope all are safe ,especially those where extreme weather is causing havoc.
A bit brighter now .so perhaps a nice afternoon.
Might ask neighbour who is so,poorly sighted but so brave stepping out for a walk, to come and sit in the garden .
She is very lonely. Does not see one daughter who lives relatively near and the other has moved very recently to Cumbria!
Son who did everything for her died after only 36 hours in hospital ,just last year.I think he ignored serious symptoms as he knew how little help his Mum would get from his sisters.
What a shame.
Well this is not getting on, so I shall get “ wired in” and do some serious housework but brekky first as I have to leave at least an hour between food and tablets ,honestly ,how are you are supposed to fit it all in ?
Don’t spend so much time on your iPad! ,I tell myself but I don’t listen!
Viktoria.
-
We have a new week's diary Viktoria, the weeks seem to fly round don't they?
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=873472.0
How about chicken and pasta bake for the leftovers?
-
Good idea Blooblarb — my son’s name for Roobarb at 18 months old.( modified - Rhubarb)
Just spent the morning sorting out a suspected scam ,purporting ( my big word this week, ) to come from my bank, I phoned abd was advised to forward it to them.
It mentioned “ secure portals “ well, as far as I am concerned that is my locked front door !
I think it is sorted now but will go to the bank asap to transfer from my current account to something else , so there is just my monthly needs accessible by card.
Oh for the banks on the corner ,and the majority of transactions by cash !
Mind you they closed at Three O’Clock!
They kept asking me had I clicked the link ?- Well, I could not remember!
Anyway all sorted now I hope.
Eye check tomorrow, so up early to get there.
I do get transport ,and feel awful that I do but it is a journey of a couple of hours ,poor connections between two different buses and a quite a walk from the bus station to the hospital and after numerous drops instilled there etc I don’t see well for a good few hours ,so coming back is more difficult than going.
Well washing might be dry enough to iron ,will go and see.
Sorry about the wrong week folks.
I must be getting old or something.
Cheerio.
Viktoria.( I think)