what you doing at the moment??

[cnc]

Just to make a change, I'm going to post some good news from me!!

Doctor has signed my medical forms so I can go to Madagascar (the joys of seeing a doctor who doesn't really know me!!), and has giving me stronger drugs for the pain, so hopefully they'll work (they contain androhylsed lactose, but hopefully not too much).

And my DSA equipment should be with me on Tuesday :)
There was something else, but I can't remember what!!
Take care all :)

[Copper]

Good news at last Claire - hooray

:bounce:

I had missed Gill and Zoefruitcake - so welcome back Zoefruitcake. Please stay :)

[linny]

GREAT NEWS CLAIRE!!!:lol2:

We're in the midst of a penguin project - it's even coming away with us this weekend! I'm beginning to love penguins!

[cnc]

Penguins!! I like Penguins!!
I miss chocolate Penguin biscuits as well.
I wonder how many times I can get the word Penguins in to this post :D

Have I really been that fed up recently?!

Linny I don't think there are any more penguin photos now, as my friend is back in England, I can however send photos of about 10 fluffy ones, that are currently inhabiting my room :D

I apologise for my penguin post, I'm bored and reading about absorption spectroscopy....

Hope you all have a nice weekend (Enjoy the penguins Linny!!)

[paranoidangel]

I miss penguins (the edible kind) as well. I saw someone with one the other day and the packet looked like it had changed out of all recognition. Still made me want one though.

Claire - that's great news.

Zoe - that migraine experience sounds horrible

I'm just glad it's the weekend!

[Fozzybear]

Penguins were really nice, really chocolaty! Better to be well though!

Haven't posted much recently as not much going on here. I pulled a muscle in my hip/leg last week (I'm suspecting my computer chair so am on a hard wooden chair and only for short periods) so haven't done much, only work and a little photography (well, a fair bit really!). I had a mild reaction to either some Tesco tinned beef curry or McCain potato wedges mid-week, but that's pretty much cleared up now - I don't feel 100% but fairly close to it.

I took a day off work today as I wanted another long weekend. Had a fairly easy day and rested this morning but went into town after lunch and took some photos of flowers, insects and ducks and geese. Will stick those in the photography thread in a minute.

Heading into Colchester tomorrow to meet up with a friend and my brother. Hopefully we'll go and take some more photos around the old Augustinian Priory ruins but I reckon we'll be spending the rest of the day looking in the shops and sitting in the pub! :D

[Caroloujo]

Have a nice day fozzy.......:)
I not posted in this one, so i do it now.....lol
Today and all week been working,. so glad it's friday and bank hol time, does go quick thou don't it...Anyway i not up to much this weekend, just chilling at home...Doing bit of tidying up the garden, but i sooo do hate it, so boring really....Not planned ought either so i have a nice break from everything....:)

[matt]

oh good lots of good news...

fozzy £5 says it was the mcain wedges....

right i'm off to kew this morning. little worried about the drive but will stop several times. camera will be clicking away like mad. though i bet her maj will end up with the best one! let her loose with my old point and shoot digi. she's happy as larry clicking away. will i look daft if hers is better!!!:o

and so nice to see certain individuals who have been hiding... you can run but you can't hide, we'll come looking for you!!:lol2:

hey all penguins are edible...just with some the feathers don't get stuck in your teeth!:mellow: :lol2:

[yvie]

Lovely to read all the good news!

Ill add to it a bit then!

Yesterday went to see my friends little girl in hospital, armed with bags upon bags of presents, and got there as she was told she can go home! 5 days after the op, Open heart surgery.... she can walk a bit and is doing the usual ablutions (!) so I helped them pack up and we all left at 2.30! She cant go out for 4 weeks, cant bath for 10 days, has heaps of drugs and no school for a t least 2 months, but shes home and safe and we are all relieved!
On top of that as we were leaving Haylie said 'mum look its Phillip Schofield' lol so I went up to him, told him about Carrie and he hugged them both (well, he was VERY careful with Carrie lol) and let us take pics and signed photos. He is a lovely man. I apologised for catching him as he was obviously at the hospital for a reason, but he said it was fine and he was glad to have lightened Carries and our week as he was sure it had been tough!. What a star he is and yes I do fancy the pants off him lol

After seeing them off in the car I took H back into town and we went to Buck house and the millenium wheel and played tourists for a few hours in the sunshine and came home utterly exhausted!

There. more nice things, spring DOES make everything ok..........sometimes!

[Copper]

Excellent news Yvie. It is amazing how quickly you can recover from such a major operation.

Yes a bit of sunshine makes us feel better - well it works for me anyway :)

[matt]

excellent news! and phil scholfield star bloke, never heard a bad word about him.
lovely day at kew yesterday, not as warm as it's been the last couple of years and the bluebells not out yet, so spring atleast a fortnight delayed. but still a great day out.
bit of flare up from ibs but no hospital trips after the drive!!! was i nervous last night?:eek:

wish it had helped me sleep more but nevermind, quiet day today.
hope everyone elses saturday and sunday going well. anyone going to grace chat at 2? the terrible twins are busy terrorising scotland so no lan or lydia. unless they make a special trip online from the prison cell.:lol2:

[Lou C]

The bluebells are just starting to come through in my local woods, spotted a few while driving past yesterday. Went out for a meal last night with my family as my Mum will be 70 on Thursday. I decided to buy her a digital camera as she is rubbish at taking pictures, always cuts heads off etc! At least now she won't waste her money getting a film developed with only a handful of decent photos on! I got her one of the kodak packages a 5mp camera with the little printer it was on offer in dixons for £129.
We bought ourselves a HDD digi camcorder aswell this week, wanted one for ages and was supposed to get one before christmas. Bought one in Dixons in town on Thursday for £409 (20GB and 25x opt zoom) the next model up was £649. Got home and looked on net and the £649 one was £465 online! Sent Paul back Friday, got a refund and have ordered the one online (30GB and 32x opt zoom plus other features not on the other!) just got to wait for it to come now.
Going to do some tidying up in the garden today, had a conservatory built and new fencing last year and still have bricks and old fencing out there, need to get srted quick and get the lawn returfed, can't bear another summer not being able to sit in the garden in the evening.

[Pam]

We are busy re-laying our drive way to make it look nicer (a bit tatty and uneven at the moment), then it should have more kerb appeal when the new house photos are taken.

I'll come to Chat this afternoon to liven things up if I can but hubby has just reloaded the computer and I'm not sure if all the bits and pieces have been installed to make chat work, it has only got very basic software on at the moment. I haven't tried playing games yet so I don't know if they are working.

After speaking to his mates, who all advised him to change estate agents, hubby is now coming round to the idea (when I suggested it he was opposed to it), so it could be all systems go for this week.

The weather is quite bright out there this morning but the forecast wasn't too good for Sunday/Monday so I hope it stays fine for today at least.

[paranoidangel]

I'll probably be in chat, but will be in and out as I'm currently defrosting the fridge (my landlady has her own fridge and my housemate would never think of defrosting ours, so it's up to me).

Only after hearing that I was planning on doing it did my landlady tell me that she was having people round for lunch and didn't want stuff all round the kitchen - she thought I was going to defrost it with everything still in it. Admittedly, she did then tell me it has a defrost button (which doesn't work), but surely everything would get wet from the ice melting?

[Copper]

Yes it would all get wet!

I might be in chat for a few minutes - got up late today and nothing has been done yet today. Need to make bread and flapjacks.

[rebecca c]

The boys managed a 7 mile walk in Ashdown forest today, so proud of them. We are more tired than they are!

[bella]

It sounds like you all different kinds of weekends! I worked yesterday and today So Ste, kids dad went to Blackpool with them. First stop was the car boot/ market near the windmill. Any of you know that? And then the plan was to go to Blackpool Zoo. It started raining really hard ( i could have worded that different but i dont think swear words are allowed here!) It took them 1 and 1/2 hours to get off car boot car park so they gave up on the Zoo and went to ToYs R Us instead. So no money saved there then> any one eles think that Toys R U are slighty expensive and have lots of the same toys covering soooo much more floor space?

[matt]

lou always buy electronics off the web, stupid but true that it's always much cheaper and half the time easier as you don't have to deal with spotty brain dead shop assistant. have fun with the new toy.

PA did you manage the defrost? damn hard without emptying fridge. not too practical. no sign of you in chat so that doesn't look promising.

long time since i braved toys r us. damm expensive and not worth it. if you know what you want go internet if not then a huge place like them will just confuse you!

well i took my masculinity and threw it out of the window. baked two loaves of bread for daughter ( she wont eat ordinary bread at lunchtime at the moment, fickle?) a batch of chocolate cream biscuits for her, then some free from damn near everything shortbread biscuits for me. thankfully daughter not allergic to anything but means i have to look at stuff i can't eat.:(

apart from that tried to recover from the day at kew.

raining hard here now...might have to put idea of bournemouth on hold. too many tourists wandering around in the rain:eek:

[Pam]

I never made it into chat, I think I was at B&Q at 2pm yesterday. We have re-laid our drive this weekend to give a bit more kerb appeal, now I need a couple of connifers in pots or something similar as it is too early to be putting bedding plants out yet. We need to get a big bag of gravel delivered to finish it off. I managed to get the little gate painted yesterday morning with the intention of doing the drive gates painted after B&Q but it started spitting so I painted one under a tarpaulin shelter and had to leave the other one when hypothermia set in. It is looking a little wet out there this morning so I probably won't get the other side done today. I painted over all the bits of bare metal where hubby had ground the rust off so it just needs a coat over the rest of it to make it nice and shiny again.

[Lou C]

Wow Pam, you've achieved a lot in one day!!!! We managed to lay a couple of slabs yesterday so we could move the rabbit hutch, we lost our patio to the conservatory last year but the bottom of our garden is nicely paved so we just have to get rid of the shed now and we have somewhere to put our table and chairs out again, bbq season here we come!!!!
Abigail and I got rid of all the weeds and dead plants from the raised bed in the front garden and Paul put up some wall baskets, Paul painted the walls last week, so we're all ready in the front garden for when we can plant out. It's looking quite nice out there. When you've finished your gates do you fancy coming round here Pam, that's another job on our list!!
Putting a built-in bed in Jacob's bedroom tomorrow, so gonna empty his room and dismantle his existing bed today then go shopping for some nice new bits and pieces for his room, kid's staying with Grandma tonight, so will be a nice surprise for Jacob when he gets home after school.
Busy Busy, but Paul goes back next Sunday so the race is on!!

Ooh and on a totally different subject, Zachary started walking a few days ago:clap: .............my baby's growing up:( and I'm not allowed any more!!

[Pam]

We went to Ikea last week and the kids were busy compiling a whole shopping list of things that they want when me move house (if!). They have some great stuff there for kids (even big kids like me).

The gates are a pain - wrought iron should be banned - it takes far too much painting. My hand seized up after doing it for 4 hours - what a shame it is raining today lol!

[paranoidangel]

The fridge is defrosted - it didn't take too long in the end. I completely forgot about chat though! I remembered at 4pm - I was just busy spending all my time checking on the fridge and reboiling the kettle, and doing it round my landlady, her friend and her daughter who were having lunch (at 4pm) and watching TV (and smokiing).

[Pam]

Estate agent has now complicated things by setting up a viewing. We were all set to change agents this week and told the existing ones that they had to come up with something good over the weekend or we were going to the other one. Today we get a 2nd viewing arranged for 2 weeks time. The 1st viewing was 2 months ago and he said that he certainly wouldn't pay the asking price but wanted to bring a builder (dad) with him to look at the work he wanted to do. We'd given up any hope of him ever coming back.

So what do we do now? Still move agents and hope that if he really is interested he will come looking for us? (there's only really 2 agents in our town) or hang on for another couple of weeks and risk this being another fictitious viewing or "I'm sorry he's had to cancel he can't make it" type of thing. I think if he does come for a 2nd look he will offer a ridiculously low amount so I'm tempted to change agents anyway but I'm a bit worried now that if he does buy from us eventually we will get saddled with 2 lots of estate agent fees - one for the introduction and one for the handling.

I'm not convinced that this is a genuine appointment, we've previously had 2 no-shows with very poor excuses given by the agents - the agents had the wrong phone number written down for one and the other apparently cancelled the appointment - but he must have had his crystal ball polished that day because he cancelled the appointment before it had even been booked according to their dates. I just don't trust them any more at all.

[Caroloujo]

Oh dear hope you get sorted out soon....
Our house up for sale too, been just over 12months now, and we changed agents too.....Had a viewing , we was told they sold there house but they havent, getting our hopes up, think she was just a timewaster....Dont you just hate those.....Anyway we just have to wait now, thats why i cant get on pc in the daytimes with the dail up thingy, have to wait for the evening to get on here......

[Lou C]

I would go with your gut feeling Pam and move agents regardless. As you said everytime you have mentioned changing agents, they suddenly come up with a viewing that doesn't materialise. Have you got your pots yet? A couple of nice lavender bushes would be nice. That's what I'm going to get this week I've got pretend trees outside my front door at the moment, I spent a fortune on some buxus last year and I killed them! Lavender don't mind not having a lot of water (good for me as I always think I'll do it later!!!)

[Pam]

We went to a couple of garden centres today and looked at conifers and boxus but decided that if we spent £30-£40 on plants and pots they would probably be stolen within the week, so we decided against it in the end. Unfortunately the tubs and baskets can't go out for another 3 or 4 weeks yet until we're sure that there won't be any more frost.

Hubby was driving home from the pub last night (hadn't had a single alcoholic drink) and saw what he thought were ping pong balls bouncing down the hill, lots of them. He even came and woke me up to tell me, which I was really grateful for!!!!

So this morning we had to go hunting the white balls just for him to prove a point and we saw one or two golf balls with the name of the local golf driving range printed on them. We think someone must have stolen a box full (a few hundred at least) and tipped them down the hill, then the majority must have been collected again before we went out this morning because we only saw about half a dozen. Maybe there will be something in the local paper on Friday about them. The things people get up to.

[matt]

the phenomenon of random golf ball falls!!!!:lol2: :lol2:

personal, cynical opinion pam? well i would change agents. damn good coincidence that they produced a viewer... fake viewer? even if he's real likely to offer way low. not like he can't find you again if he does come back is it.
i've never understood the people who view to just be nosey with no intention of buying. odd.

sounds like several of you have been damn busy. well done.

my plans for a trip to bournemouth went out the window. close friend needed to talk so 1 1/2 hours on the phone later my plans were disrupted and i need things to be set out and planned.. stupid but there it is.
so went for a walk in the woods and placed a couple of new geocaches instead. lovely spots with great views.:) and nearly killed me with all the walking even with loads of stops for sit downs.:o

so today try to recover. was lovely and sunny from about 9am though!:cool:

[cnc]

Change estate agent Pam, they're messing you around.

Busy day for me, not good!! I've lectures 11-1, then 1.30 I've four hours of training on my new computer and stuff that is coming today :D then I've got to attend a formal meal, for the third year. I'm not going to be a well person after all that!!

Hope people are doing ok :)
Take care

[goose]

Very funny Matt:lol2: , no we did not get locked up and was very well behaved, just for once!!!. Will be posting some pics of the weekend on the site soon once i sort them out.

We did have a great time, ate too much, walked too much and SPENT too much. Although didn't managed to see Nessie.:D
Hope everyone had a good weekend and hope chat was good on Sunday, dont worry Matt, back as usual to chat this Sunday.:p That should liven up the afternoon chat!!!!

[zoefruitcake]

Love the idea of the golf balls bouncing down the road, one of those times when you need a camera on you.

I was in Manchester this weekend for a gig, managed to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe without any apparent harm, which surprised the hell out of me. Also went to a great Italian across the road from the Library there. They had a 3 course set menu for £8.95 and I managed to have all three courses (with some kind omissions of cheese and cream on their part)

[ellsie]

Stick to your plan Pam and change agent. I am about to do the same as our house has been on for 9 weeks and we only had a few viewings at the start. Even if these people make an offer after you change the old agent still gets paid for that, but move on if you have lost confidence in them. Mine have lied to me and that is a hanging offence in my book!:uzi:

[goose]

Have posted some pics of a Monk Abbey that Lan and i visited, on our weekend, We did think about visiting confession..... but we though it may take longer than one afternoon:o

[Steve]

Nice to see you back on the site Zoe.

Can't see any photos for you lydia, leanne took a few so we'll have to get her to post then on the site.

[matt]

so the girls managed to have fun up north and not get themselves arrested! wonders will never cease.:lol2:
as long as there are some tales to tell. who's going to tell on who then???:o

those golf balls would be like that advert with all the multi coloured balls bouncing down the hill. very impressive and so on as long as it didn't hit your car!

well quiet day for me trying to recover from saturday and monday. so nothing to really report from yesterday. feel a little more human today at 3:30 am!!! surely that's an oxymoron? or is that just me.

zoe. who'd you see? anyone good?:cool:

[goose]

Matt, us women never give away secrets:p

Photos didnt download properly, so will post them again today at some point.
Unfortunately it's back to work for me today. hope everyone has a good one.:D

[Lou C]

Well we got Jacob's bedroom done, and I have to say it looks great. Jacobs thrilled to bits and couldn't get to sleep he was so excited. Think I'll take some photos of it tomorrow, while it's still tidy!!!! Just to remind him what it should look like, when he let's it get messy!
Been to Ikea tonight, got a few bits and bobs for Jacobs room and the conservatory/playroom......what with that and the trip to Next yesterday for the bedding and curtains etc. I'm positively skint!! Bread and Water for the next month I think!!
How's everyone, been a bit quiet on here today. Lou xx

[matt]

nice walk in the countryside for me. cuckoo calling and loads of other birds. had to move a geocache of mine as some kids had found it and tried to make it impossible to retreive.. little angels.
found a wild bee hive (see photos) blackthorn in full blossom. sloe gin this autumn??:eek:
then madam from school
back to school this morning then a trip to bournemouth for me traffic willing. grab a couple of geocaches then maybe a little browse through the shops, might even buy something not that i need anything. since when did that stop me?:lol2:

have a good one all. meant to be nice today with thunderstorms for next few days....

[Pam]

When I drove into the car park at work yesterday I saw what I thought was a filing cabinet outisde the front door, then realised that it was a charred object. On closer inspection it was actually the UPS (uninterrupted power supply = batteries) cabinet. There had been a fire in the server room at 7.30am which had been dealt with quickly by 2 crews of firemen (I missed them, damn!). So the whole morning was taken up with various people coming and going, needing information, needing equipment, taking statements etc - all very exciting. An extension lead is thought to be the culprit. 4 people were in the building at the time but they all got out safely and the damage was more or less contained within the one room.

In the afternoon the electricians were working on the electric supply, trying to get things up and running again but we will have no computer network until the end of the week. As all our work is done on the pc it means a very boring few days coming up.

Apart from that, nothing much is happening at the moment. I'm going to talk to the new estate agents today to see what they suggest about this 2nd viewing that has been set up by the old agents.

[Copper]

I couldn't tell where the bee hive was exactly. I thought that it might have been in a tree but then the moss worried me. Put me out of my misery Matt and tell me where it was please.

[goose]

Where has everyone disappeared too, it's like a ghost town around hear recently.:( !!!

Well i unfortunately lost a client due to ill health today, which wasn't great. A nd yesterday almost broke my neck falling down the stairs. Something tells me,it's not my week.

Still having problems downloading the photos at the moment, may need to get steve to sort that out for me.:cool: But did manage to update profile pic, with Nessie's head missing,....Well at least im in the pic, with a smile!!!!!

[paranoidangel]

Nothing's really happening in my life at the moment. The most excitement I've had was a wasp in my room, that I nearly touched because I didn't look at it quite closely enough! Luckily I realised just in time and managed to pursuade it to walk onto a magazine before putting it out the window.

[matt]

well i was looking for a good place to hide a plastic container, so the fallen tree lookked ideal.. then i got a bit closer and saw all these flying things.
second time i've found a wild bee hive.
all the while listenening to a cuckoo and loads of other birds. very nice afternoon.

yesterday had a walk around bournemouth and found three caches. resisted the jacket in a sale as was still £90! very nice though....:( then home to sit in the sun. except that 5 mins after i took the chair out back the clouds came over. nevermind.
quiet day today until madam from school then swimming. can listen to three new cd's that arrived in the post. two by "3 doors down" american rock. and one by "house of pain" not as bad as they sound honest!!

sorry to hear of your woes goose. be more carefull !!!

and pam if you want to see firemen you have to be more carefull with the timing device!:lol2: :lol2:

[matt]

i agree goose by the way. looks like a rpeat of the old "where is everybody?" theme we used to have!!!

[Pam]

We've now got our pc's back on at work, so no excuses for not working now but it still stinks of burnt plastic at work. I have sacked the estate agent(or rather got hubby to sack them) and arranged for the other agent to get it up for sale next week.

[cnc]

That's good to know Pam.

Sorry I haven't been posting much, but due to a slight decline in my health over the past few days, my life has consisted of sitting here and revising, and that's pretty much it!!

[goose]

Good for you Pam, get someone in who know's what they are doing.

For me today is a qiuet one, few clients to do throught the morning, then im off into town for some retail therapy.... well im missing Lan already and could do with the excuse!!!. Going out for a meal with the girls tonight, and then off clubbing on Sat night,
So everyone have a great weekend and will catch up with whoever is around for chat on Sunday.:D

[Jazzingal]

Hey Guys if it isnt one thing then its another lol been busy with assesments this week for uni, rehearsing all day everyday kind of thing, actual performance was yesterday and at it was a scorcher! (we were worrying about it raining!) didnt actually think about it if it was sunny, we all nearly passed out after our final run of our choroegraphy. Think i ended up with heat exhaustion was not very well yesterday evening at all!

How is everyone? glad to hear you had a good time goose!

[matt]

so lydia she's on her way home then is she? and no gossip or tales to tell? not even via pm? you're no fun!!!

and it's abouttime pam. hope the new one proves worth while. can't be any worse than the first one. they had just lost the incentive and weren't trying. at the end of the day the yshould be giving feedback to say why the house wasn't attracting attention or offers.

so jazzingal when do you hear the results of the assessments?

well day pottering in the garden for me then collected madam as normal. hurrah. day of mucking about today then take her home:(
ex's birthday so enforced smile and best wishes.... be a shame if it rains wouldn't it!!! evil bugger that i am.:D

[Jazzingal]

Well matt we shoud get feedback for it within the next couple of weeks, butwe won't actually get a result for because of the teachers union thing where there boycotting our assessments by not giving us results back! but anything handed in before this started will get marked but if not then it wont until this gets sorted out :(!

Well looks like its another boring day for me in work 12-10 wooo not!! And i wanna be out in the sun :unsure: missing out on a bbq and a party not a happy bunny lol!

[yvie]

Im off out with the girls for a meal tonight to celebrate my friends birthday. My 1st night out with the girls and without Haylie in 2 years lol but its for Indian food and im not keen on spicy food, but hey! who cares! A whole night out talking adult stuff (well, 8 girlies so maybe not all that adult hehe)

Not looking forward to my birthday 0n 22nd as I have 3 days in court 19/22/23rd for divorce finances and contact, so my eldest daughters are planning events for the next few weekends instead! Middle daughter has booked tickets to see Paul O Grady show on 22nd then realised I cant go, lol so shes hoping they will change them to another day.
Its great actually......usually birthday is just one day isnt it? but as its all a bit yuk, they are spreading it out for me! Dont want a repeat next year though....Ill stick to the one day.....: )

So off to get myself painted and papered over the wrinkles now!

Have a nice weekend all

[yvie]

ps Jazz my middle daughter graduated from Laban twice in the last 2 years, one dip and then ba.... shes teaching contemporary to 5 - 9 year olds and doing her teacher training in pilates now. You are right....dancing is a way of life!

[goose]

Bit of a quiet day today, Out late last night with the step children for a meal, which they loved. But im feeling a bit under the weather thanks to having something off the menu i shouldn't have, but i enjoyed it at the time, and i couldn't resist which is my own fault.:(

Off out with the girls tonight, catch up on all the gossip, And no Matt im not telling!!!!!:unsure:
Have a good one all, x

[rebecca c]

Having a good day doing festival things. Youngest did the kids parade this morning and eldest did a drama workshop. Tonight we are going to Stomp.

Had a meal out last night and it was Thai which I do not normally react to, but I am so fragile after all those antibiotics it has given me quite a range of symptoms. Face had just gone down and now its coming up again. Heh ho. Maybe the blood tests from the dermatologists will help with the continual unravelling of my situation.

Tomorrow Mike is going to see Arsenal play their last game at Highbury so he is excited about that. I have so much to do but the way I feel I'll probably end up sleeping all day.

[matt]

well what to say?
yvie, look at it this way once it's over that's it. real pain for it to be over the birthday but think of it as a present to be able to put that behind you. well as much as you can as i know it's not one of those things that just goes away....:( twice weekly at least i get to see the ex getting slowly bigger.

day of drizzle yesterday. but still had fun with caitlin. garden centre then mucking about at home. before taking her home early for ex's birthday.

jazzingal, so it'll be arked eventually and results count ok but at the moment they won't as they are in dispute? poor little dears is the summer off not good enough for them?:o

going to be good today and get some open uni work done. assess to be in by 16th.
that and chat at 2 of course! couldn't miss that:lol2:

have a nice morning all and see some of you in chat.

[Pam]

It didn't rain until late afternoon here so I got lots of washing dried outside. This morning is rather wet though.

Our new look drive is finished now (the rain should have washed the gravel nicely) and we bought a couple of pyramid shaped buxus for that all important kerb appeal. All we need to do now is clean up inside the house for the next lot of photos taking tomorrow. We're off to see a couple of mortgage advisors tomorrow too so that we know what price houses we can look at buying.

Eldest son is away camping this weekend with the air cadets, I bet he's glad it was only for one night when it is raining like this.

[cnc]

Matt, we've been through this several times. Many uni lecturers don't get the summer off, ok they're not teaching students, but first and foremost lecturers are academics, not teachers.

Seems you have all been quite busy, hope you manage to get the house sold this time Pam.

I've been mostly stuck inside revising for the past view days. :(
I need to go out at some point, but its raining still so I might wait until tomorrow.

Take care all, and I'll probably catch some of you at 2.

[Copper]

You tell him Claire!

Pam I hope the house gets sold quickly now.

Rain what rain? I rushed around (well as much as I could) Friday afternoon getting tubs and hanging baskets planted. I thought they would all be watered further by the rain. It rained for 1 minute yesterday morning. It is sunny here as I type and I will have to go and water a few plants in the borders later.

I might not make chat as I have promised to write to a new found relative and tell her about our ancestors.

I am always very tired these days - I have come to the conclusion I am suffering from a food intolerance ie one I have not identified as yet. This has been going on for years so it must be something I eat daily :( Do I want to find out? It would be nice to have some energy - I can just about remember what that feels like.

[matt]

copper it rained off and on all day here yesterday never really hard but drizzle. all the way to christchurch so not that local.

i don't mind people complaining about low wages but i don't think uni lecturers are that low paid. and i do not agree on principle with strikes. not popular i know but that's what i think.

managed an hour of open uni this morning, need another two hours to finish assignment. mean to rain tomorrow so should be able to finish ok.

good luck with the photos pam and hopefully the fresh approach with fresh agents will pay rewards.

sunny and clouds today so far. in chat with claire. with gardeners question time on radio! god i feel old. knackered after a huge 1/2 mile walk!:o can't walk now the distances i used to run!!

trouble with cutting anything else out copper is that you'll end up on rice and water! maybe lamb as that's fairly safe. bit boring though.
i wonder if it's not so much the food as our bodies? eliminate one thing and then the body looks for something else to react to?
could it be a bad reaction of immune system?

thing with me was that i kept on removing stuff from diet and still get some reaction. either still have a problem food or is it in my imagination, like the doctors said! well i've managed to put a little weight on so not point rocking the boat.

think i'm up to 7 footballs from next door at the moment built up over the last 3 weeks. wonder at what point they will ask for them back:lol2:

[paranoidangel]

It chucked it down here! I went out shopping in Reading, and it rained from when I left till when I got back.

[yvie]

happy sunday everyone.
Ive got Carrie here for the first time since her op.....they have to play calmly lol but its so nice to see her BORED witless and desperate to play again. THey are upstairs playing quiet games but only after scaring me on the swings lol
Just had to go and buy a sonic cat scarer as Ive tried so hard with the usual products but still cats poo on my garden and twice had wee-ed in the conservatory in an effort to get my budgie.....its working! one cat has been sitting right at the top staring down the garden so I took it up towards it and it ran away! lol £30 well spent I hope!
Had my first Indian resturant experience last night for 15 years.....boy doesnt heartburn....hurt! lol

[linny]

We've had a weekend watching birds!! Feathered ones before anyone asks!!!!!

Yes we have baby blue-tits in our nesting box.:lol2: Yesterday one parent was hopping out taking food from the other and going back in to feed to babies (we think!) :clap:

This morning it was POURING with rain and the poor little mites were still feeding them - in and out of the box every few minutes. :wub:

Don't know how long it will be before the young come out, I'll have to look it up. They were doing some cleaning too a feather got thrown out!

[goose]

No input from Matt today, not like him.:unsure:

Well today was ok for a Monday morning, sun was shinning all day reached 12 degrees by 9 this morning, so that Aberdeen had it's summer for this year.:lol2:
Very busy day at work, so i might go out and about and take some photo's tomorrow afternoon, with a bit of luck i may take some half decent ones to show in the gallery.:rolleyes: Hope everyone had a reasonable start to the week ,

[Copper]

I am soooo tired - Claire has my sympathy. I am just glad that I don't have to revise for any exams. I find shopping with no brain tricky. I am going shopping three times this week :eek:

[matt]

after my essay sunday i thought i'd give you a rest from reading my dribble!!

linny why not pop to the petshop and buy some meal worms and do the blue tits a favour? they'll gobble them up and makes raising a brood so much easier for them.

got my open uni assess finished and sent yesterday. must do some reading to catch up.
hoovered out the car!!! well it is spring. and zapped with a good dose of oust! that'll cover me until next year.

might get out my mountain bike today and give it a damn good sorting out. not ridden it for years but should be a gentle exercise i can do. assuming that my thumb doesn't start to hurt. wimp aint i?

and baked a fruit cake. sorry not dairy or wheat free. bribery for meeting of geocachers on saturday. "please like me as i've cooked a cake for you!" ignore the fact that i'm insane!!:o

right have a good one all

[cnc]

I wish I could go back to normal tiredness. I have been up an hour and a half and have only been able to make breakfast so far!! Oh and strap my knees and ankles up....

Not much going on in my life. I went to see Ice Age 2, very silly film. (Also very silly for me to go, especially after having been to lectures, I must learn to pace better!!)

[rebecca c]

Work is good. Learning curve still massive, 600 kids names to get to know and dozens of kids to get to know indvidual learning needs for. Had some interesting lessons so far this week. Especially last lesson today - it would have been good if I could have been told about the lesson in advance as many of the kids could of done with some structured help. Discipline is an interesting issue for me as I have to work around the teacher but need kids to have respect for me.

I am annoyed with my sons school as he has year 6 sats this week with the last test on Friday morning and they have organised a disco for Friday afternoon. How do they expect the kids to concentrate when they are excited about the disco? I am hopping mad for a few reasons so have written to the head teacher.:mad:

[Copper]

Finishing exams = celebration. Well it certainly was for my two especially after uni exams.

[matt]

well got some weed suppress fabric down and a tayberry planted! then needed to strech the painfull scar so walk to one of my caches in the forest to replace the pen that some idiot had walked off with!

couple of photos taken see gallery.

then later changed the tyres on the bike. so i'll not have much of an excuse to not go and try it out but not today as i have to do some open uni reading. then place another cache then get madam from school. stick then two rewards....:o

tomorrow or friday need to make the sponge cake or individual sponges not sure yet. for the meeting on saturday. they better be appreciated! trip to godalming in surrey for the day.

weather meant o be getting better as days go on so we will see.

oh and waiting to win the lottery for a change...

tried maple syrup on my cornflakes this morning... very nice.

[rebecca c]

I think the disco is a great idea but am unhappy it is on the same day as their last test.

My face is coming up badly again, I shall expect some abuse from the kids at school and I havent had the results back from the hospital about the last time so I need to chase them today.

Wednesday is a madly busy day for me.:o

[linny]

Went to the optician today.:( I am quite badly long sighted (have been since I was 4) and have problems getting glasses to fit, something to do with arthritis in my skull and jaw I think. Chose a pair £99 including 'standard' lenses. After adding the 'very thin 'n' light reactions' lenses I need (so they don't fall off my nose!) the bill is £224. Can't really afford them but will have to. I was in there 1.5 hours and the optician came out to help me choose the right size frames so I actually look through the middle of the lenses. The staff are all really nice - shame about the bill at the end.

According to the rhuematologist I should have a test every 6 months as I could get uvitis. I have them done every 2 years and that's too expensive. The optician has told me the symptoms of uvitis in case I develop it. I'm not even legible for a free test.

We also have a wren's nest in the garden and we're enjoying watching the blue tits - I hope we see some of the chicks leaving the box - should be about 19 days we've read.

[Copper]

Last year a balckbird insisited on building a nest in the garden. The cat was sleeping indoors most of the time at that point. I tried to put this bird off but she was determined. Well the chicks hatched and the parents were busy feeding. The cat was out and soon realised that something interesting was going on. We went out one morning and found the nest at an angle and three chicks on the ground dead :( The poor things were quite big and had some feathers. We have no nests this year thank goodness.

[matt]

well i put up two boxes on the back wall meant to be good at attracting the sparrows. endangered? not in my garden! nothing so far and it's getting on a bit to have any takers. they have mostly settle down by now. never mind.

did my open uni reading then set off to go for a walk in the woods and place cache. all ready for all the rain they predicted, so melted in the sunshine! not that i'm complaining.
then daughter from school and an afternoon playing before getting her into bed.... with me a hour behind. in a couple of years she'll be putting me to bed the ngoing back to watch tv!!!!:lol2:

today madam to school then another cache before coming home and getting a couple of things ready for a day out on saturday.
and if it's sunny maybe a sit in the garden enjoying it for a change.

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: cue the downpour....

[yvie]

I have a cat problem too! lol they are not my cats but they poo anywhere they can sit, and have wee'd in my conservatory and extension. They sit and look in the door and you can see them thinking.....'theres a budgie in there and its gonna be mine!'

So........after 2years of spending a fortune on cat repellent I invested £30 in a sonic one. Cat repellent that is lol.

Said sonic one was in the garden.....cat walked along......stopped suddenly.....looked across at it..and I swear it shrugged....and carried on walking down the garden and promptly sprayed on a shrub!!!!!!!

Later that evening I was sitting here, on the pc, with the doors open and the cheeky cat walked behind my chair towards the bird cage! I yelled arrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhh at it ( like you do) and it just stopped, looked up at me, and calmly turned round and walked back out with a big speech bubble next to it saying 'I'll be back for it!'!!!!!!

Helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lou C]

Get a Dog Yvie!!!!

[linny]

Or dare I say 'Get a Cat'! :o

I've got the squirrel problem again today. There were 3 on the bird seed this morning and I've found out I'm a lousy aim with the stones! I ended up throwing water over 'Ratty' (he has a rat's tail). Even sprayed WD40 on the wire that they get down on - it probably makes them slide down even quicker GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!:mad:

[jill]

I bought a super soaker water pistol last year to scare away the cats that were pooing on my newly seeded lawn. (This was at the recommendation of some cat owning work colleagues) First attempt at firing it, I got a wet sholder (sp?) as I had it pointing the wrong way round!!! When I did try scaring one particular cat away I missed, but I think the owner must have seen me as he hasn't spoken to me for over a year now. Bit of a shame really as although he was a pain at times he was a good neighbour when needed. So if you haven't got a cat problem but have got a neighbour problem get a super soaker!!.

The cat still poos in the garden! We bought the house next door to us last March and have knocked them both in to one. (Long term renovation project) The particular cat used to live in the house before we bought it so I am surprised it comes to poo in what used to be its home. The neighbour also catnapped it from the previous owners!!

On the bird topic, I have watched two crows building their nest in another neighbours chimney over the past couple of weeks. There are 4 chimneys in a row and they have used the same chimney as was used by two crows last year. Quite amusing really watching them popping in and out with large twigs that won't fit unless they drop them in vertically. I can't watch them now though as the chimneys are blocked from view by the leaves on the trees.

I'm just lazying at the moment, conserving some energy for my exercise class at 7pm. Might be a bit warm tonight for prancing around!!

[matt]

cat problem solution. buy some cat food. when it trusts you loads gentle get hold of it stroke it and relax it... then stick on a box. drive 30 miles open box.

see how long it takes the little sod to find it's way back.:eek:

those sonic scarers are a con as you've found out! the alternative. buy the cat food and lace it with very strong laxative... see how they like it in their houses!!! then it'll never need to go in your garden as it'll do it at home instead.:lol2:

geocache placed yesterday and bike fixed. and a short flat slow bike ride. scar ached as did the legs but i survived.

got some scheese to colelct from health food shop today then daughter after school. hurrah. then a trip to guildford area tomorrow for geocache meeting.:cool:

[linny]

We're thinking of getting a supersoaker for the squirrels!:w00t1:
We had 3 of them on one feeder yesterday. We're thnking of taking the feeders down in the summer as the birds will have enough natural food.

On the bird topic, I have watched two crows building their nest in another neighbours chimney over the past couple of with large twigs


Jill, it must be great watching bigger birds making a nest because you can see what they're using.

Nothing much planned for the weekend - forecast is rain, better make the most of today. Megan has cricket today as they have a cricket coach going into school for the term. Yesterday was athletics, oh I wish I was young and fit again!!!!!!!!!!!!!:violin:

[jill]

No Cricket please!!!! Its a bit of a sore point in our house at the moment. Paul is secretary to the local village team and the county league. Only thing is because he is often at work on a Sunday morning and in an evening it ends up being muggins here who gets all the phone calls. Well I've decided this year they are just going to have to lump it when they want telephone numbers to cancel matches, cos i'm not answering the phone!!!!! The village team is pretty useless at organising anything its always been just 1 or 2 people who do everything, Paul has had enough of this aswell but the same happens every year and its always left to Paul to sort things out!!!!. Guess I'm having a bit of a rant here!!! Sorry

[linny]

Sorry!

Record and ansaphone message with the phone numbers on and then turn the phone ring tone down to low!:naughty:

They didn't have cricket as they're not allowed to use the field as the Year 6 kids have their SATs this week. Year 4 have been promised 2 sessions of cricket next week. I hope the weather is good enough.

[Lou C]

Ooh Matt you are cruel sometimes!!
Well last night our cat, (well actually she's supposed to be my sisters but she left home last year when they got a new kitten and decided to move in with us!!) decided to bring us a present, we had left the back door open for her. in she came with a mouse in her mouth, we jumped up to send her out and she dropped it in the dining room, thing is is was alive, luckily Paul grabbed it pretty quick and put it outside (over the fence into next door's garden), she must have managed to catch it again though as it was dead outsde the door this morning, poor thing.
Done a bit of tidying up in the back garden today before the weather changes. A bit of cleaning up planned for tomorrow and a trip to the shops.....what an exciting life I lead!!??? Have a good weekend all, Lou xx

[matt]

cats are solely responsible for the huge reduction of our songbird population.

not a great cat fan i'm afraid.

well madam ate something that didn't agree with her so she ended up going home last night as like any kid she wanted her mum though god knows why. so i'll be going to guildford on my own today...:(
would call it off but have made cakes so shame for them to be wasted.

assuming the weather holds that is.

birds come to rely on the feeders even when there'splenty of natural food so suddenly removing them causes stress.
takes lots more effort fo the adult birds t ocollect sufficient food for chicks and themselves naturally. bird feeders mean they have an easier time of it.

[cnc]

My life has consisted of books, for the last few days. Timed coursework pieces are not fun and are slowly making me more ill!! Which is wonderful....

You all seem to be having lots of fun with the wildlife.
Hope you all have a nice weekend. Back to the books and 4000 words to be produced on some bizarre ecology topic. 'Sucession' as metaphor is not relevant to contemporary biogeography.... Anyone got any advice?! I shall resurface on Thursday (I may manage to call into chat briefly on sunday)

[Copper]

Steve thought that the cat had something in his mouth this morning so he would not let him in. Later I discovered the darling cat had caught a large slow worm. Sadly it is very badly damaged and will not survive. He keeps eyeing up the fish in the pond which has to be netted at all times.

[jill]

I have been informed today that we have a blackbird nesting in our hedge. Guess I won't be trimming it for a while - Shame! - not one of my favourite tasks) Paul spent some of yesterday watching both the male and female birds poping in and out for food. The female flies straight into the hedge, but the male always rests on a little wooden fence we have before flying in.

[Steve]

Steve thought that the cat had something in his mouth this morning so he would not let him in. Later I discovered the darling cat had caught a large slow worm. Sadly it is very badly damaged and will not survive. He keeps eyeing up the fish in the pond which has to be netted at all times.

I've had cats bring in slow worms before. At the moment if i get up in the morning and there's no dead creatures in the house it's a plesent surprise.

One of the cats brought in a live bird this afternoon, if anyone can tell me why cats look proud when they dump a dead/half dead creature in front of you then let me know.

For any cat owners here i would recommend looking at this. Very funny but also very true :) Hallmarks of Felinity (http://www.student.ipfw.edu/%7Eosbodr01/hallmarks/hallmark00.html)

[matt]

the cats look so pleased with themselves because they are bringing you a presnt to show how much they like you. and how miportant you are to them. which doesn't make me like them any better. i could understand if they did it for food but they do it just to show they can. :mad: :mad:

i'm shattered. two longs drives and an unexpected long walk yesterday as had only inteded to do a couple of short caches but got stuck doing a long one.
then today have to drive to take madam out as she was really upset to not go. lovely to see her but i could do with a quiet day doing sod all. so not likely to be in chat i'm afraid. so safe for you all to go!:lol2:

nice day though and the cakes were gobbled up double time. need to start charging for them i think!

succesion in biogeography? what as in evolution succession? or indegenious populations being moved and changed?? have fun. i've just been through thin section and double refration of light and pleuroism.....crystal structures and so on.... should make sense... i can see their lips moving but all i can hear is blah blah blah!!:lol2:

[Pam]

Steve thought that the cat had something in his mouth this morning so he would not let him in.

What was our Steve doing at your house Copper????? Shall we start a rumour?

We had a surprise house viewing yesterday. When we sacked the original agents we told them to cancel the viewing they had set up because we really didn't believe it existed anyway. The new agents were fully aware of this. Yesterday the young man turned up for his 2nd viewing as they had obviously not cancelled it so we sent him away and told him to make an appointment through the new agents, just to put everything right. The new agents rang to arrange an appointment closely followed by a call from the original agents to apologise for not cancelling - it was an error!!! and to say that they would have to take over the sale if he made an offer. After ringing the new agents in panic they told me to get the manager of the original agents to ring them so that they can sort something out if necessary. Why is it all so complicated?

[Copper]

I have a Steve of my very own here :)

[paranoidangel]

I've been spring cleaning this weekend. I've not even finished (I've got a bit to do next Sunday), and between this weekend and last when I did some binning of things, I've filled up 3 black bin bags so far!

I'm knackered though. I have a job interview on Wednesday which I have to do a presentation for. I've started on it, but there's quite a lot of work still to do so that's what I get to spend this evening doing.

I've bought some of that chocolate people have been saying is nice, which I forget the name of but is sold in Waitrose, and it is really nice!

[matt]

morning all. quiet day yesterday took madam to salisbury, wandered around the shops and tried some new bikes out for size for her.... birthday coming soon.:)

trying to recover from saturday still. quiet day of reading open uni today i think. cancelled a trip to see a friend tomorrow so will rest then as well.

you're a spoilsport copper, you could have let us start a rumour or two. just imagine steve hopping into a car and driving to poole from wales for secret laisons....:lol2:

wheres the new job PA? better i hope. mind you can't be much worse than the one you've got.

good luck pam. lets hope someone puts in a decent offer soon. who cares which agency supplies it.:cool:

[rebecca c]

Clare - I studied sucession etc at college but it was a long time ago. I guess one argument could be that succession is not an acceptable metaphor because things are not allowed to reach the climax community because man inevitaby interferes at some level.

I did not think sucession was a metaphor just a term to describe the changes as an ecosystem changes over time.

So is it a metaphor at all? Does man halt the progress of succession to such a degree that it is no longer a valid concept?

I dont envy you that piece of work. Although loved the subject at college.

[cnc]

I had some inspiration late last night about this Rebecca, I'm heading currently towards, it is a metaphor on certain scales, the developement of Biogeography from Lyell to the current ideas is a form of succession, as ideas are 'disturbed' by greater knowledge and the most adapted to the environment suceeds (can you tell it was late when I was thinking about this?!)
Also similarly, succession can be seen as a metaphor for the development of ideas, and it can be a metaphor of itself.... I've got 4000 words to fill, so it was likely to be bizarre!! I've actually got to work out what contemporary biogeography is yet!!
Part of it will also be no its not a metaphor, because it was the name given to a process, so how can a process be a metaphor!!

Only 1700 words to write today, and then 2000 tomorrow :D
Hope you're all having more fun than me

[linny]

Hope all is well with everyone.

Found a tiny greenfinch in our flowerbed yesterday. Hopefully it flew off somewhere. Megan and her friend found a field mouse in the garden and were trying to entice it for a 'photo shoot' with a piece of cheese, no luck surprise surprise!

Boiler gave up on Saturday morning and EVERY plumbing trade counter was shut. We've had no hot water or heating since. Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. No-one had the part we needed. Our GOOD plumber we found, never turned up when he was booked to fit the final part and he seems to have fallen off the earth. Ian should have become a plumber - they work when they like and charge what they like as far as we can see.

[paranoidangel]

The job I'm going to an interview for is in Thame - so not far away. The recruitment agency rang me up today to make sure I was ready (which was nice of them - they've actually been quite good, which makes a change) and the guy told me he reckoned I was in with a good chance because I was miles better than any of the other candidates. Although whether he was just saying that I don't know.

[Copper]

Oh Linny how awful. The good plumber has turned into a bad plumber now. We don't need huge numbers of kids to go to uni we need them to train to become skilled plumbers, electricians etc.

Good luck with the interview on Wednesday PA.

Pam I hope your house is sold soon.

[matt]

claire i know your saying something as i can see your lips moving but all i can hear is blah blah blah!!!!:eek: :lol2:

good luck managing to make that make sense in an essay!

plumbers and builders... get you training done now. they recon that if we think it's bad now wait a year or two. then when the olyics draws near we will suffer a huge problem as they will all be working on the olympic village etc.

good luck PA. if they didn't think you had a chance then they'd not put you up for it. and you know that you are capable of more than you are doing now.

linny it's a fallicy mice don't actually like cheese all that much! chocolate however...:lol2: not that any mouse has a chance against yu lot for the choc!

quiet days of open uni reading and trying to fix the damn pda. now it's got battery power but won't let me look at the maps! where's that hammer?:mad:

[linny]

Hubby bought the 'bit' the plumber said we needed and fitted it. We all enjoyed our showers and them 'poooof' it switched itself off and won't relight. :mad: :mad: Hubby nearly threw the thing out the window - and he's not the one with the bad temper. Tonight we're going to ring another plumber!!:rant: :headbang:

I have raging face ache today. Rung my GP and she thinks I have a gum infection. One side of my face resembles a hampster. Got to have dreaded anti-biotics now!:(

I'll be glad when May is finished ..... but then again I said that about April .... and March and .........

Looking forward to our holiday in June even more now.

Megan is off to the Isle of Wight on a 4 day school trip next Friday so I'm slowly getting bits together for that. By the time she's taken all her tutt she'll need a trunk!:o

linny it's a fallicy mice don't actually like cheese all that much! chocolate however...:lol2: not that any mouse has a chance against yu lot for the choc!


Yes, I've heard that Matt - we had a mouse indoors once and put chocolate on the trap.

[rebecca c]

Clare well I could just about understand what you are talking about so maybe my brain is finally getting back into some sort of shape.

Linny you are having a nightmare time. I hope Megan has a good trip - My son is going to the Isle of Wight soon - maybe the same place. Although maybe I wont chat about that on the internet.

I have been trying to get my results from the dermatologists. They left a message on Friday to say results in post and nothing to worry about, but would I like another referral to the new immunologist (in addition to having seen the people at Guys). Today I chased the results as they havent arrived and the secretary gave me my eosinophile result. If the secretary read it out right it is very high indeed but she says the consultant says it is high but not high enough to cause my facial problems. So I have asked for a full print out. Sounds like they dont know what they are talking about or the secretary read it wrong. Just want to know my results. Have no faith in this particular department so I dont think I'll worry about their interpretation of the results.

Have asked for the referral anyway. Pehaps someone out there will have more of a clue. Deeply suspect that I have more idea of what is wrong than they do and it will probably only become an identified condition in a few years time, although it does exist as a diagnosis its just none of them seem to think I'm ill enough or the results are bad enough etc etc.

Good day at work although I am struggling because I am expected to work with kids the teachers have had to pratically give up on and when I try to get the teachers advice on what work to do with them they havent got anyadvice to give. But that is just more of a challenge for me to do a good job. The really tough kids just make you appreciate the lovely kids all the more... including your own.

Sorry bit of an essay.;)

[matt]

linny you have my sympathy. i've got british gas cover. worth the cost as means that if anything goes wrong i just call them. touch wood. plus gas hot water but electric shower. chances of both going kaput? well proabaly in the sods law world fairly high but i'm optomistic:)

as you say best not to mention exact details of the kids trip to the isle, you never know who's online browsing though not all that likely. safe than sorry. hope they have fun though. used to go regualr with my nan loads of fun at blackgang chine etc. seeing how much more had fallen into the sea from the previous year!:lol2:
now involves a damn expensive ferry ride. one of the highest in the world mile for mile apparently. lots of caches over there but can't be bothered to grab them.

watched "kiss kiss bang bang" last nigh. amusing enough but nothing really special.

going to buy a hard hat today as field trip to kimmeridge on saturday. so we get to look dopey at the cliff wearing yellow hats.
:o

that's if it doesn't rain.

rebecca, good luck sorting out the problem. keep going and eventually you might find someone who knows and can offer help.

[Lou C]

Apparently they're paying retainers to tradesman already for the Olympic work!
Paul was supposed to be leaving the Navy last year and he qualified as an electrician, unfortunately he had an accident, injuring his knee and requiring surgery so wouldn't have been able to get a job as couldn't climb ladders or bend down, so he withdrew his notice. He got a job offer a couple of months back for £1000 a week on a minimum 5 yr contract, much more than he earns now, sods law! The notice period for him is 1 year and because he's withdrawn it he can't resubmit it for 18 months, so it's not worth it now as he has just over 7 years left to serve to qualify for his full pension (about 2 years of that he will spend underwater!!). So I'm destined to be lonely for quite a bit longer!!

[matt]

but just think he'll come out when they are absolutley desperate for the extra electricians to finish of the project on time. and he'll be able to charge the earth everywhere else due to the shortage.
best way to have a marriage without arguments!!!:lol2:

rain stopped play yesterday, no fun hunting tupperware when it's pouring down with rain so din't. the car has a problem with stering fluid so todays fun also out of the window to garage instead to get them to have alook. under warranty so should be ok.

where's everyone else? just one other post after mine???:o

[Lou C]

I think he'll just miss out as it will be 2013 when he leaves. We are hoping to emigrate then though, we want to move to Cyprus, the electrics are the same there, so he should be able to get work over there and I can just enjoy the sunshine!!!
We do okay being apart I just get very fed up from time to time! When he's at sea theres no contact as such for 3 months, I'm allowed to send 40 words a week which are read by about 3 people before him! If he died Iwouldn't know til they got back, they'd just pop him in the freezer till they got back!!
I've been keeping an eye on the Garmin Gekos on e-bay, something to keep us busy over the summer....then I'll be asking loads of questions!
Take care all.....if there's anyone out there??????
Lou xx

[cnc]

I am still out here!! I have just resurfaced from coursework week!! It is done now :) Just needs printing and handing in at 2 now (not very good coursework, but it exists). I have been doing nothing but that and sleeping so haven't had much to report!!

[linny]

Claire, the penguin project is all finished now - the photos look REALLY impressive!!:lol2:

Rebecca - we're not even told where our kids are staying. We are phoned on the 'ringing tree' and we are given a mobile contact no. of a teacher on the trip. We were told the town they're staying in after a lot of asking. It's a sad world isn't it?:(

Matt - I remember Blackgang Chine - I think they've got a roller-coaster there now. My brothers (as I was too young!!!) paid to collect coloured sand from the rocks in Alum Bay - no wonder it's almost disappeared!

Been a bit ill for the last few days as I've got arthritis flared up in my jaw again and maybe a gum infection. I now have anti-biotics again and full doses of pain-killers.:( I'm trying the last resort in anti-inflammatories too. They're only making me feel sick at present which is a lot better than the agony. A lady I know with the same illness described the pain as 'having an abscess on the root of every tooth' which is true. Thankfully I've only got it in one jaw joint. Great way to lose weight too!:(

[Lou C]

I have to say I'm rather shocked that you are not being told EXACTLY where your children are going, I don't think I would allow mine to go if I didn't have full details. Jacob's recently been on residential and all parents were given a Parental Consent Form, part of which we had to sign and return the other part had all details of where they were going, the itinerary and several contact numbers, as well as the names of all staff responsible and staff to child ratios. We were also able to view risk assessments. I would have thought that this is good practice if not a legal requirement. The form we were given was a standard form from the Education Dept, who also were sent a copy.

[paranoidangel]

I've been totally wiped out by this interview, what with preparing for it and worrying about it. I think it went well but I'll have to wait and see.

[matt]

fozzy :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: i've heard of the gas board but the smelly sock board!!! next time let some gas out to double check the odour or just wash your socks more often!!!

PA sorry meant to wish you good luck before... well hope it all went well and let us know when you know. when did they say they'd call?

kids aaway on the island... peace and quiet!!! no i'd miss my horror too much. going to be terrible this summer when the ex takes her away for a week. but why the school wants it such a big secret as to where they are going??? suppose it's to stop parents calling all the time.

linny you have made really sure that those anti inflam tabs have no milk haven't you? does get used to bulk them sometimes.. could explain the feeling sick.

lou... cyprus. lovely. few years back went to pathos. brilliant holiday doind sod all but lay in the sun and drink the local spirits.
no probs if you get a geko. my first gps. gone onto a gps 60c! sure i can give you pointers. and help.

[matt]

well thought i'd make it two posts to celebrate the milestone of what is it 2500 posts... all that typing and no substance...:lol2: :lol2:

going to see 2nd hand pushbike for madam today for her soon to come birthday. then get her from school after having to see the ex:(
swimming tonight then kimmeridge tomorrow for field trip for open uni. assuming the rain holds off as i like the subject but not enought to stand on the top of a cliff getting very wet and cold.

so hope that the posts aren't all a total waste of peoples time. and that there are the occasional snippits of useful info within the otherwise insane ramblings....:lol2: have a nice one all.

[Pam]

My little madam will be 7 on Sunday, I'd bought her a Furby as she has been asking for one for months, then my mum said she had also bought her one, so I had to take mine back and get something else (Grrrrrr!!!). I got her a baby furby and will have to buy something extra as well!

We had an offer on our house yesterday, it isn't really as much as we would like but we have yet to negotiate as it only came through at tea time. We also need to know if the house that we want is definitely coming back on the market and for how much so there will be a bit of talking before we progress. Maybe things are starting to go right for us at last.

PA, I hope the interview was successful.
Everyone else - hope you are feeling better from your various ailments soon.

[Fozzybear]

Matt, I couldn't tell what the smell was - my sense IS really bad. It didn't come from anywhere but from near the under-stair cupboard and given that it didn't smell anything like the clothes I'd dumped in a chair, wasn't in that area and I'd had trouble smelling a leak in the past I think I did the right thing - I couldn't be sure what it was! I spent about 15 minutes trying to work out what it was and really didn't want to call them but I thought it was better to be safe and wrong than end up blowing up the house.



Never mind... I've deleted the post, it's probably too open to ridicule and I'm not in a mood this morning where I can take it lightly.

[Lou C]

Better to be safe than sorry Fozzy, but you know it will annoy the hell out of you till you find the source, no doubt the smell will come back!! Unfortunately for me, since having the M.E. I have developed a heightened sense of smell, not very pleasant as I can smell nasty things that others can't, perhaps I should come round and hunt sown the source for you........or maybe not!!!!:eek:
When Jacob went away we were told not to phone them, and they weren't allowed to phone home as it can make them more homesick, but we did know exactly where they were.......just a mobile number is not sufficient, there is always a chance that the mobile won't work for whatever reason.
Paul lived in Cyprus for a couple of years as a child as his Dad was posted out there with the army. We got married in Paphos, in the Panayia Chrysopolittissia Church (the little one by St Pauls Pillar for those who have been there) So Cyprus is quite a special place for both of us.
Good luck with the negotiations on the house Pam.
Lou x

[linny]

We've been told that they're staying in a hotel where they've taken a group of kids for years. They take over the complete hotel for the 4 days. It's something to do with parents turning up whilst they're there. My niece's sea scouts had a 'live in a cardboard box' night and someone's extremely drunk father turned up to claim him when custody has gone to the mother etc etc. and the police had to be called to sort it.

We've met all the teachers/helpers that are going and had a meeting with them and everyone seems to be fine. The teachers are all the year 5 ones that we and the children all know from that school plus the secretary and go every year. There's about 40 - 50 kids going.

Please don't make me any more worried!!! - I'm worried about her ear problem but would never not let her go due to that. :unsure: I'm trying not to be too over protective but it's hard. She's the only kid round here who wears a cycle helmet, but I've been with her in the kid's head/neuro ward at Kings for 5 weeks and insist she wears it.

Hopefully they'll all have a great time and we won't need to contact her during the 4 days. They've got about 4 contact nos of ours and medical consent form etc.

[Copper]

Phew Fozzy thank goodness you deleted your post (which I had not seen) I thought I was going mad. Well actually I thought Matt had gone mad talking about socks in a random manner.

I have 6 weeks left at work. Management have decided that my job is so important that they are not going to replace me. Well - not strictly true. I work as a science technician so I deal with chemistry and biology. I look after the chemicals and I am on top of all the health and safety issues. My replacement will work in animal care - cleaning cages and feeding animals. They will be expected to do DIY - as in make your own rabbit hutch from scratch. In a spare moment they can pop over and do a bit of science!!!! Why am I bothering to leave everything clean and tidy and all health and safety paperwork up to date? I certainly know why I am leaving.

I am still stupidly tired and have had a headache for two days :( I think that I have another food intolerance. I guess that I will work out what it is eventually.

[paranoidangel]

Changing estate agents, definitely seems to have had a positive effect, Pam!

The company I interviewed at said I'd know in a week. Although the recruitment consultant rang me late this afternoon when I was trying to get a load of work done by the end of the day, so I told him to call me back at 6 o'clock. Given that I'm still waiting, I guess he's not going to. I suppose, though, it won't make a great deal of difference to him if he waits till Monday morning.

[matt]

fozzy to start... you should know by now to not take what i say too seriously. not trying to annoy anyone just tongue in cheek. hope no offence taken?:(

pam excellent news! via the new agent or the old one? if they want the place they will up their offer, they might have been told that as it''s been on the market for a while you'll be desperate and will take a really low offer. play hard ball and get it upped.

PA hopefully good news on monday then, fingers crossed.

cyprus. well i stayed just outside of the town near the valley of the kings or something. with several trips to the coral beach hotel or something furtherwest. no culture involved. beach, bars and clubs. not on the lash like 18-30 idiots just relaxing no stress time with three friends.:)

copper, got the leaving party organised yet? going demob happy yet? last week then we'll see how diligent you remain!!!

everyone seems to be going to the island.. my nephew is there or was during the week, the elder sister of cailin's swimming friends there now ,,, peid piper of the isle of wight???!!!

got a brilliant bike for her birthday yesterday. 4 years old but ridden once!!! immaculte? you'd never know it had been sold. £50 was going to barter but couldn't bring myself to. birthday present sorted.:) :)

[Pam]

We have sort of accepted an offer on our house, not quite what we hoped for but it is still workable (even if it does leave a bitter taste). All we need to do now is find a house to move to.

[goose]

Hello to one and all, have not been around lately, pc was away getting reinstalled due to too many crashes. Hopefully back on track.:rolleyes:

Nothing new to add, had a pretty boring week, Hope everyone has a great weekend x:cool:

[Copper]

Just watched Euro vision - what a hoot. Must go to bed now to recover.

[matt]

eurovision... paint dry... tough one.

welcome back goose was wondering. boring good better than the excitment of things going wrong!

didn't go on the field trip went to town instead and spent a couple of hours mucking about with madam. got mum a microwave she needed. resisted spending loads. just a book from oxfam.

gentle day today due to the walking i did yesterday and the rain that is due any time now.:(

have a nice one. anyone going to be in chat at 2??:D

[Pam]

My daughter's 7th birthday today, she has got a Furby and a Furby Baby and a recorder so there will be no peace now.

We went house hunting yesterday, saw one very nice one and one complete minger (wipe your feet on the way out type), we were still choking from the stink an hour later and were considering washing all our coats to get rid of the lingering smell. We will have to wait another 2-3 weeks to see the one that we really want, so it is going to be a waiting game.

No chat for me this week as we are going to try bridesmaid dresses on at the White Rose Centre. I hung around chat for about 30 minutes last week but nobody turned up.

[jill]

Happy birthday to your daughter.:birthday: Hope she enjoys the Furbys, my niece Emma, has one, looks sweet but rather annoying!.

Hope your house hunt goes well.

We bought the house next door to us last year. It was a long term dream to buy to convert it back into one property. Paul had been to view it inside about a year before but it was too much money. When the price was dropped in February 2005 I put the offer in without me actually going inside. It took around 3 weeks before I actually got inside. First instinct. Oh my god what have we done!. Not exactly what I was expecting, filthy, kitchen covered in grease. Cat hairs all over. Silicon sealer used everywhere possible. But we still bought it. It took me over a year to pluck up courage to clean the cooker. I can hear you all saying we must be mad, but to us it is just four walls attached to ourside of the house. Looking back now, the house was habitable back then, it looks a bit different know that we have started the renovation process.

Hope you have a good shop at White Rose. I've been their a couple of times myself. I'd really like to get out into the garden but I expect we'll have another wet day

Hope everyone has a nice day what ever they do
Jill

[Caroloujo]

Well today i aint been well...Woke up with a headache right between me eyes...Had a bap, but chucked it back up(sorry..lol)....Had a hot bath still wasnt any better.....Went back to bed feel bit better now, after a nice cooked chic dinner(only a bit thou)....And now im on here......
Oh happy birthday to your daughter Pam....:)

[Pam]

She had a lovely birthday, the oldies all made a fuss of her at church and sang happy birthday to her, then there was a cake because one of the ladies was 80 today, so she got to blow out candles and have cake. This afternoon we went bridesmaid dress shopping so she was centre of attention again and thrilled with all the girlie frocks. She got a dress from Adams in the end (White Rose store has an Occasionwear section) and shoes from BHS. Everyone in BHS was looking at her and saying how gorgeous she looked but unfortunately that dress was the wrong colour, even though it was her favourite.

She came home for a birthday tea with dairy free chocolate cake and candles, we read one of her birthday books, furby got fed, then off to bed (where she is still messing about!).

I went in Sainsbury's whilst at the White Rose Centre but couldn't find their free from aisle. They used to have quite a good one too but they have changed the whole store around since last time I was there.

[bella]

watched quite a lot of the eurovision too. and also needed some sleep to recover from it!!
how bad was it???
Our entry was quite bad but how on earth did

the monsters manage to win?

[matt]

good to hear the party went well and the shopping trip. what more could a girl want to do on her birthday!!!

spent the day looking at the horrible weather! had a hail storm that was very impressive. the heaviest i've ever seen for just 5 mins.
watched "war of the worlds" then "lord of war" on dvd. both ok but nothing special. imho

today the car goes to get the steering looked at and need to do open uni reading. well the weather is rubbish again so not a problem. just wish we'd have a nice day so i can do some caching! no fun to get soaked and try to write in log book when hammering down.

[Pam]

The weather is miserable here too as it has been for the last few days. I hope it improves because our eldest is going on an activity trip from school tomorrow and wednesday - canoeing, climbing, mountain biking etc It would be a shame if it rained for both days.

I'm really struggling to get a good night's sleep at the moment, with everything on my mind (house move, birthdays, weddings etc) and my aching shoulder and hips. I don't like taking the tablets to help me sleep but it might be the only way to get the sleep I need in the short term, I just hate the zombie feeling the morning after.

[Lou C]

I am fed up of rain, rain, rain!! I really need to clean the rabbits out, but rcan't face getting soaked, and the kids are driving me mad as they can't play out.
Sounds like a good shopping trip Pam, I only live 5 mins from the White Rose, but haven't been for ages. You would be hard pressed to find the Free From section in Sainsburys, it's not a partularly big section!
I've been sending letters off to try and start the ball rolling to reclaim my bank charges for the past 6 years, it seems that loads of people are doing it and with lots of success as apparently they are unlawful, a bit complicated to go into here, but if anyone else is interested in finding out more you can visit the www.bankactiongroup.co.uk (http://www.bankactiongroup.co.uk)
Gonna do some tidying up today, the kids and I are hopefully going away with my friend and her daughter for a few days next week and I want to be organised.

[linny]

I wonder why Thames Water have decided not to apply for a drought order!!:o

Got a letter from British Gas to say they'll give me a £90 discount next winter, also got a £50 compensation offer from the dreadful plumbing co.

Glad your daughter enjoyed her Birthday. :) They do have lovely Bridesmaids dresses in Adams. Stumbled across them when I was hunting for ordinary dresses for Megan. Ended up in Matalan for those though. What colour is she going to wear?

Eurovision! I thought the 'Twist' song from denmark was good but knew Finland would win. I have a Finnish penfriend and they go into the contest in a very big way - parties etc. Pleased for her that they won. At least it wasn't just through political voting that they won. Nobody seems to like the UK!!!!!:o

Hoping the torrential rain eases before the weekend or the kids will need a ferry to get to Portsmouth.

Good luck with the house hunting Pam - we saw some filthy places too. Amazes me how some people live. When we movd in here we wore gloves and masks to take out the kitchen and bathroom carpets,:( it had been empty for a year though.

[cnc]

I got very confused in White Rose Sainsburys I managed to come across a half aisle, was very bizarre!! (Was actually the free from aisle as it happens!!). Its so confusing in there now.
Things are quiet here, lots of revision supposedly being done, although I kind of collapsed in a big heap yesterday afternoon, so gave it up as a bad job and slept the afternoon away....oooops!!
Today, I had smoothies for a break at 9.30 (am), and then went for more acupuncture after that. Have a meeting soon, with my tutor to sort out bits and pieces and revision for the rest of the afternoon. As you can see my life is thrilling at the moment :D:D
Hope the house move goes ok Pam.
Hope everyone else is getting on OK.
Lou- send the kids out in the rain and then make them go straight to the bath tub!!

[Copper]

Eurovision - well what can I say? Before the UK entry was on all of the songs were bland and bad. The ones that stood out were -

The Germans singing a country and western song!

The girl from Malta? I think the lyrics were essentially the grass had not grown from under her high heel - really bad.

Another girl whose singing was flat.

Rap is not to everybody's liking - it is certainly not for me.

The men in suits singing a Eurovison version of a football chant - yuk

Finland - wow. They were funny. They stood out as different. They deserved to win.

[goose]

Good luck with that house move, always a stressful time for anyone.
Nothing exciting planned for this week, except work, work and eh... more work. monthly meeting this morning. thinking of changing the uniform. yah, like wearing a dress to give some one a bath is a really good idea. Men how come they seem to be full of them!:uzi:
Weekend plans going well but night out with some girls from work so getting all jived up for that one.
hope everyone has a good day.:D

[Lou C]

Written a couple more letters today re getting my bank/credit card late charges back, and it's only just beginning, will be worth it in the end though, I reckon if I succeed it would pay for a little holiday, so its got to be worth the effort!
I'm going to the Playhouse tonight with the theatre group that's attached to our M.E. support group, we get discouted tickets to some performaces, can't remember what I'm going to see though?????? But know I have to be there for 7.30, will be back later with my review!!
Still waiting for Zacs test results, he seems to be getting worse at the moment, need to open all the windows every time we change a nappy, and his bottom's getting very sore despite my best efforts, poor thing.
See you later, Lou xx

[paranoidangel]

I'm having a bad day. I didn't get the job I went to an interview for, because the person who had left decided she didn't like her new job and wanted to come back!

Also, there was no work to do at work (and I did try to fin some!) so I had to pretend to work all day while surfing the internet and thinking of all the things I could be doing if I was at home.

Then I spent half an hour and three phone calls trying to get into my Barclaycard account online, all because they'd changed their website and managed to lock a whole load of people out. Which is helpful.

And now I'm going to eat the chocolate I've been wanting since mid-afternoon (when I heard about the job).

[matt]

bad luck PA but if that was the only reason then at least you know that it wasn't anything they didn't like about you. keep the chin up and eat the chocolate. they'll be another job along soon.

bank and charges... go to a good bank. went to first direct 15 years ago or more as i got charges some stupid charges by natwest. free overdraft. brilliant customer services. i would thoroughly recommend. if anyone interested let me know as if i introduce you i think we both get cash incentive. can't recommend them enough.

goose it's not the fact it is a bloke it's managemnet. they need to do something to explain their existence hence useless meetings and ideas that are hiopeless.

weather meant to be rubbish for the rest of the week.:( going to have to wrap up and go for a walk regardless or i'll get cabin feever!

car had new steering rack yesterday. thank god for a warranty!!! or i'd be £700 down!!!:eek:

right chin up everyone. get the bad weather gone and bank holiday weekend nice.... well we can dream.

[Lan]

Sorry to hear about the job. Not good when people change the minds. Maybe it just wasn't to be and it wasn't the perfect job for you.

Keep trying.

Lan.

P.S. The chocolate was a really good idea and hope you enjoyed.:lol2::lol2::lol2:

[Pam]

Sorry about the job PA, I hope something better comes up for you.

Lou, I hadn't heard about these bank charges being reclaimable. We had a year or so when we were just married when we had to pay £30 per month for being overdrawn, but we are talking about 15 years ago.

Daughter's dress is cream with gold detail on the top and tulle over the skirt. Unfortunately they don't show it on the Adams web site.

[Lou C]

Matt, our main accounts are with First Direct and I have to agree they are the best bank in my opinion, and I would reccoment them. The issue of bank charges though seems to be accross the board. Apparently, they are only legaly enforcible if they reflect the true cost to them of you being late/overdrawn etc. and since most if not all things are automated they really can't justify charging say £25 for you being over you limit for a couple of days. It's quite a recent thing that's come to light I think Pam. Anyway worth a go as far as I'm concerned, better in my pocket than theirs!
Sorry about the job PA, as others have said it just wasn't meant to be, onwards and upwards as they say!! Keep your chin up!
The play wasn't that good last night although it was thought provoking.
Sing and sign this morning with zac, then off to ikea for some bits and pieces. ta ta, Lou x

[goose]

Sorry to hear about the job,PA...:( Something better will come along.
Chocolate supplies are a very good idea.

Well i reckon everyone needs to come to Scotland for the summer, the temp aint too hot, but at least we dont have the rain:D

Banks hate them all, they are only nice to you for your money

[goose]

ooh, have added a pic of leanne and myself on our trip round Scotland last month incase anyone wants to have a look, in the gallery

[rebecca c]

Had a good day at legoland on Sunday but got very wet!!!

My face has come up again and I am feeling generally run down with quite a bit of back pain.

Got fed up waiting for the doc to send me my results so I went to pick them up.. good thing I did as another blood test needed doing while my face was up. Despite the fact the eosinophil count was high (they said slightly raised my research shows very high) they dont think it has anything to do with above and beyond it being a sign of allergies. Starting to get annoyed with this attitude as it seems to be more than just ordinary allergic reactions and a very high incidence of eosinophilia. Anyway pehaps the immunologist will know more. I think someone needs to be more thorough.

Work is good - just hope that I can keep it up.

Copper - if you read this- Did you turn out to be allergic to sunflower oil?. Just asking becuase if it is allergies I need to find out what is making me react again.

[matt]

the bank charge thing has come out in the last fortnight. comes on the back of the charges of credit card companies for missed payments. judge ruled that it was only fair to allow charges that were justifiable not just a blanket one charge fits all.

had a series of just overdrawn get charges a firtune when i first started working. saw the nmanager got them refunded and left immediately to go to first direct. always someone on the phone or via internet now. very friendly and helpfull and can't remember the last time i got a charge.

lydia you trying to scare people? :lol2: just kidding. anyway why would we want to go to scotland? too damn cold and then for the fortnight you call summer too many midges!!!

come down south, i've a spare room and a back garden you can pitch a smallish tent in. 6 miles from the coast. short drive to the ferry to isle of wight or southampton/bournemouth. reasonable overnight rates:lol2:

hurrah wednesday so i get my daughter tonight. excellent. half term next week. planning on trip to kew on thursday hopefully.

pottering about today.

oh while i think about it. tesco's now do a value round shortbread biscuit that's dairy free. big 400g boxs. for anyone who's interested.

[goose]

Now there is an offer i cannot refuse, Matt offering of his back garden. Only problem with down south Matt is the pollution, very bad.:p

Leanne stop getting up at stupid o clock, only Matt does that.:cool:

Another sunny day today, short day at work so out to take some photo's at some point, have a good day all.

[zoefruitcake]

Hardly any pollution in this neck of the south, every town here is surrounded by countryside:)

Seeing the mention of possible allergy to sunflower oil, I was really ill a few weeks back after having eaten a bag of crisps (a very rare treat) they were Walkers, cooked in their new 'sunseed' oil. It was the only thing that I ate that I didn't prepare myself, and that my husband didn't eat, and I was as sick as a dog. Not going to have those again :eek:

[rebecca c]

Thanks for that info Zoe - I have been eating them so I'll be careful with them.

[Copper]

Hi Rebecca - I never really managed to get to the bottom of the sunflower problem. All I know for sure is that Walkers S&V crisps make me ill. I thought that maybe it was the sunflower oil as everything else in the crisps is ok as far as I can see. I don't have them anymore. I am fine with McCoys S&V crisps which have loads of chemicals in but are cooked in vegetable oil.

[linny]

Funny thing is I had a dodgy stomach after eating some ready salted Walkers crisps the other week. I've eaten them for ages and then they changed to sunseed oil. I thought it may be the fat but there is supposed to be less in the new type:confused:

[paranoidangel]

Thanks all for your support on the job front.

My work is crap at the moment because I've not had any to do. There's only so much surfing the internet while pretending to work you can do before you get bored stiff.

I think I've been a bit dodgy after eating Walkers ready salted crisps since they changed them. But then all sorts of random stuff seems to randomly make me feel a bit dodgy, so who knows on that front.

[Lou C]

Right Matt, when's the spare room free, I think I may pop down for some wheat and dairy free cokkery/bakery lessons, and a nice break at the same time!! I'd love to live nearer the coast, it's about 1hr 45 away from us, so by the time I've driven there, spent the day on the beach etc. I'm too knackered to drive back!
I'm just taking a break from the washing up, had a kirchen full!!!! (I only have a very small kitchen!) I've nearly cracked it! Then it's empty the bins and bed!!! Acupuncture in the morning.
I'm going to the seaside next Wednesday with the kids and my friend and her daughter, staying at Haven, Reighton Sands for 3 nights, dead cheap as her friend lets her have the caravan for £25/night, so we're just splitting that down the middle. Just hope the weather picks up?
Anyone else got plans for Half Term? Lou x

[matt]

used to cycle to the beach all the time as a nipper. then muck about all day in the sun and cycle back. suncream? what's that then. red raw so often! only ever burnt once a year though!!

pollution? nope i'm just upwind of esso fawley refinery. we've litchen in th trees which is the best indication that the air is pure. think about it the main direction of the wind is from the west. what's there between here and the atlantic? not much.

wheat and dairy free cookery school? now there's an idea.

PA you're not trying. i waste 6 hours plus a day on the internet!! must try harder. try listen again for alex lester radio 2 if they let you.

only plan so far is kew on thursday next week. haven't gt her mon tue or wed.

going to risk a cache trip today. not been for one since before the stone/tumour. down bournemouth way several that i want to grab then home to collapse.:lol2:

have a good one all

[Copper]

The college does not have a half term in the summer term. I will be working as usual next week. I will be resting on Monday unless the weather is nice in which case I might get a spot of gardening done.

[goose]

Looks like im going to have a busy holiday then, in past Lou's for chocolate, down to Matts for a couple of day's then off to Wales to stay with Leanne.

Was planning on a long walk and take a few photo's today until heaven's opened, so a afternoon in cleaning was plan instead.

almost the weekend, anyone got anything planned !!

[ellsie]

Sounds great goose, wish I could come too!

[paranoidangel]

I don't get half terms, just 25 days holiday a year :(

I can't listen to internet radio at work, sadly. Although it might look a bit fishy if I did and it didn't look like I was doing anything else!

[matt]

waiting for the booking form and deposit for the visit the goose!:lol2:

weather was lovely yesterday. went caching in and near canford heath north of poole. damn tired but lovely long walk with several stops. kill or cure time. fed up of sitting around all the time. get out once a week for a good long walk of caching. i've my little fold up stool to rest on.

was going for a bike ride tomorrow but the weather now looks horrid so will have tofind something else to do with madam.

nothing much planned today other than recover from yesterday and pick up some scheese that is on order at the health fod shop. oh the excitment. then madam from school to swimming then home.

have a good one folks. hope the sun comes through eventually....

[rebecca c]

kids are going away for whole half term with my parents.

Was looking forward to week off then Mike said he could have time off. Now he says he cant again so feeling bit fed up about that.

Have to decorate bedroom, revise for exams and do paperwork.. Due to see the dietician in London on Thursday which is a good excuse to do some galleries/go shopping and we are going to see a band called the Guillemots in Kings Cross on Wednesday night.

My sister has been diagnosed as coeliac so I am having a fit of jealousy becuase she has a complete diagnosis and I am still being passed from one doctor to another. The allergy people say I dont have allergies the dermatologist says I have allergies....I feel like I am sitting on a see saw. The only sensible one among them is the chest consultant who is supportive but doesnt know what is wrong.

I know these feelings will pass but just fed up at the moment.

[goose]

No problem Matt, i'll hire a mini bus and pick up a few lodgers on the way down, booking fee will be cheaper:lol2:

Off out for some retail therapy today, and a long walk round the park.

Have a great weekend folks.:D

[matt]

best i get baking then!!!!

felt knackered yesterday after the caching but worth it i think. well i got out in the sun so what more could i ask?

negotiated having madam for 1/2 of next week. hurrah. kew and a family fun day to do so should be fun. took some doing while the ex huffed and puffed... but then she'd have done buggerall with her...

not sure today until i see if it's raining or not. might be going out for a gentle bike ride with her might not...

when is the good weather coming? ever since they have been moaning about drought warnings it's not stopped raining!:(

[Pam]

I've got lots of paperwork to sort out and the 20 page questionnaire for the solicitor (what are you leaving, have you had any disputes with neighbours etc), I need to do loads of filing and then start clearing junk out so that there is less to move.

[jill]

I'm just going to have half an hours kip on the settee. Been on the go all morning, I've painted a radiator, moved some bricks, done loads of weeding in the garden, cut all the leaves off my daffodils - I can hear all you gardening experts saying its too early, I know Monty Don said 6 weeks, but 3 is long enough for me, they look such a mess when they die down. I know its only half past 2 but a little sleep will get me going again. Might do some more painting later?

[Lan]

Hi all,

Well I am off up the club tonight and tomorrow and then relaxing the rest of the weekend. Have been off work sick this week and may need another week off, so can relax even more then.

Oh well, off to get ready.

Have a great Bank holiday folks!!!

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2:

[matt]

trip to the market for me as the weather said rain so cache cycle trip put off. then of course only had a few drips. bloody forecasters!

still had a nice day with daughter though. ending with a cuddle on sofa watching charlie and choc factory for god knows how many time...

then struggle to get t osleep with all the noise from rude ignorant next door....

today have to take her back but she should be here again on wednesday. might go to salisbury as there's a new cache to find...

excitment!!:lol2:

[Pam]

We are going to the steam fair at Nostell Priory today, I promise not to joyride on any of the steam rollers this year! (I'll let someone else have a go). It all looks quite bright outside for now, hopefully it will stay dry today.

[rebecca c]

We are going for a walk and a big breakfast at a bikers cafe (no we are not bikers).

Have an ear infection but luckily have an appointment with GP on Tuesday morning.

Kids are having a fine old time with my parents, however I have been looking forward to a weeks break for ages and of course now I am missing them so much it hurts.

Who would be a parent Hey????? I shall just have to remember how much I missed them when they come back so I appreciate them even more when they are here.

I am going to keep telling myself it was the right thing to do to give them the chance of a holiday with their grandparents and give myself a chance to have a bit of space.

[Copper]

I am sure that the boys will appreciate you more too when they get back. They will have lots to tell you as well.

[paranoidangel]

I spent yesterday in a pub in London, where we got to watch it raining really hard at times - sometimes it was more like a sheet of water than rain.

[matt]

yeah the boys will appreciate you for about ten seconds!! just like you'll be wondering when you will get peace and quiet agian.... :lol2: good for them to get away and be spoilt for a week. enjoy it while you can. i'm a fine one to talk as i mark my weeks by the days tll i next get my daughter... good breakie with the bikers? transport cafes rare things theseddays. but the best for fried breakiies

PA anything good in london? shopping or what?

steam fair any good pam?

lovely morning for me with my daughter. found a new cache saw deer and egret. then had to drop her off:( got home to see the chavs next door erecting trampoline:( so bye bye privacy. positive thoughts please for the lottery draw on wednesday....

today open uni reading and maybe a bake of some cookies for me...

[Pam]

Steam fair was good, the engines weren't doing much driving as the ground was quite soft. Not as many stalls there either due to the poor forecast but we still managed to spend too much money. I came home with a stinker of a headache and went to bed for a few hours.

Got to tidy up today for the surveyor coming tomorrow morning - I hope it is quick and painless and he doesn't find anything that our buyer will try to knock us down on.

My mum invited me to use her spare ticket for the walk around Kirklees Priory today (a private estate reputedly home to Robin Hood's grave, seldom open to public access) but hubby had a strop because he wants to go too, so I cancelled and said we would go another time - it wasn't worth the sulks. If I'm lucky he and one of the boys will go to the allotment and I can stay at home and do ironing instead!!!! Such an exciting life I lead!

[jill]

Well I'm going to go and finish making the fish pie I'm doing for tea, then get in the garden to start cutting the hedge. We haven't seen the blackbirds for a couple of days so hopefully they have gone from the nest. The hedge is such a mess, but I've been using the blackbirds for my reason for not cutting it.

I got up this morning with my mind positive about loosing some weight again!!! Lets see how long it lasts this time!!! I could really do with loosing about a stone. We have been invited to 2 weddings in August so if I can keep my mind on it hopefully I should do it.

[goose]

Looks like typical Monday holiday weather for you lot down south today, :(

nothing was planned for today except work:mad:
mind you ill be off when you lot go back tomorrow:D , have a good one all.

[paranoidangel]

I did go to Sainsburys in Whitechapel and buy up their kosher sausages and chicken soup. But other than that I spent the whole day in the pub :)

Today I went to Wycombe and amazingly managed to miss the rain! Once I got to the (covered) bus stop it hailed, and rained not long after I got home!

[matt]

wycombe any better these days? my old stomping ground...wont say what the exact descriptive term was used when i first arrived a litle too graphic for family site!! pretty accurate though!

weather was lovely and sunny one moment then torrential downpour the next!

goose... well i'm off as well.... no change there then. have a nice day off... from the old fogey down south!

jill they do say that you shouldn't cut the hedges until spring so you could have put it off for 10 months!

open uni reading and a walk in the woods with all the grockles yesterday. more reading and shops today... ticking off days till get daughter again...
just over a day to go. hurrah.

[jill]

Matt I only got half of the hedge done as I was rained off, does this mean I should leave the rest till next spring? I'm not at work today either so I might finish it off later.

We always get 2 days off from work when it is May & August Bank Holidays.

I need to go and put 2 cheques into the bank for the grand sum of £3.52, then I might do a bit of retail therapy. I've already prepared some pasta dishes, couscous and potatoe salad for tomorrow nights tea. Now I have had 1 good day back on my "healthy eating weight loss plan" I like to plan what we eat so we don't end up in the chippy.

I've been having a tough time at work lately (got promoted - finding it hard going) so having 4 days off has been good even though I haven't done anything exciting.

[Copper]

Got up this morning to find some yob had snapped the car ariel off. I had pushed the thing down as far as it would go but not enough obviously. This will cost me just over £52 to get fixed and a nice jaunt to Wimborne next Thursday grrrr

[goose]

The youth of today, dont you just love em!!!:(

Enjoyed the day off today, went shopping with the ex and had a walk round the park before the rain came down,

when we getting summer weather, im sick of wearing my winter jacket, it's May for god sake!!!:rant: :rant: :rant:

[rebecca c]

Somebody dented my car over the weekend quite badly. Its only and old banger anyway but now I cant open the drivers door properly.

Went to see the GP this morning and he was supportive and kind. Understanding of my anger and frustration. Pretty impressive since he has never even seen me at my worst as always end up having to see somebody else then. He is going to send some letters off to hassle people to being more thorough and moving things along.

Today I popped into college and did a bit of revision and now I am decorating. Tax return later so its fun fun fun.:)

Matt - bikers cafe was closed!! but had a nice walk. Trampoline sounds like a nightmare but probably no worse than the footie and they cant do both at the same time. Can they???????

[Copper]

Rebecca, at least you have a nice GP which is good.

I am starting a new policy tomorrow - I am not going to let people out of side streets if they have those ridiculous England flags stuck to their cars. I am bored with this football thing already and it hasn't even started.

[goose]

I fully agree copper, anyone would think England and Wayne Rooney were the greatest things on earth,:fart:

You may need a hand to build a fort round that house Matt, fingers crossed for that lottery win on wed,

[bella]

I agree with copper too.
I am sick of football before its even really started.
I will probably get abuse for this But are the England team even any good?

[Pam]

DEPT OF TRANSPORT INITIATIVE - MAY 2006.

Information Release.


There is concern over the current driving standards in England, so the Department of Transport have devised a scheme to identify poor and dangerous drivers.

This system will allow all road users to recognise the potentially hazardous and dangerous ones, or those with limited driving skills.

From the middle of May 2006 all those drivers who are found to be a potential hazard to all other road users will be issued with a white flag, bearing a red cross. This flag clearly indicates their inability to drive properly.

These flags must be clipped to a door of the car and be visible to all other drivers and pedestrians. Those drivers who have shown particularly poor driving skills will have to display two flags: one on each side of the car to indicate an even greater lack of skill and limited driving intelligence.

Please circulate this to as many other motorists as you can, in order that drivers and pedestrians will be aware of the meaning of these flags and the threat to their safety they may bring.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Department of Transport


The flags hanging from bedroom windows are such bad taste too, they make me cringe every time I see them. I will not be sporting any flags, car, bedroom or otherwise. I will not be watching any football either, just moaning about all the programmes that I would have liked to have watched that got shoved out of the way for the matches.

We have had surprisingly good weather all weekend. Saturday was dry but windy, Sunday the same again, Monday had mixed weather with a few heavyish showers that didn't last long, today the odd spot of rain but nothing much until about 9pm. I even got sun burnt at the steam fair.

Back to work for me tomorrow, I got 2 bank holidays too. Hubby only got monday off but as he works for a neighbouring local authority I'm sure he will get his extra day at some other time (either August or Christmas when I just get the minimum). I got the tuesday at easter too when he didn't, but I'm sure his council give a full week at Christmas, I get 1/2 day for christmas eve then christmas day and boxing day. Kids going to school holiday club but eldest might be going flying on Thursday with air cadets - lucky thing!

[paranoidangel]

Wycombe just the same as always really.

I saw an excellent car today, driven by a bloke. It was white, with flags either side. Inside there was a pink pair of dice hanging off the rear view mirror, another pair round the back of one of the seats and the wheel had a pink furry cover.

I need to work out when the England matches are on, so I can go shopping. I know there's one on 10th June during the day. Last world cup I went to Tescos when an England match was on, and there was only one other person there apart from the staff.

I'm just hoping it's not going to cut into the Wimbledon coverage on the radio, otherwise I'll have no idea what's going on while I'm at work!

[ellsie]

Is this High Wycombe the most hideous place on earth where I used to work that we are all discussing?:eek: Weird people there!

[Lou C]

I went in Sainsbury's whilst at the White Rose Centre but couldn't find their free from aisle. They used to have quite a good one too but they have changed the whole store around since last time I was there.

The free from stuff is on the same aisle as the bread and jams and the baking stuff, there isn't much though, most of the dairy free stuff is mixed in throughout the store. They have a reasonable frozen range there though, in the 1st row of freezer cabinets, at the top end on the RH side. The Swedish glace stuff is with the other ice cream. They have the ice cream in vanilla and chocolate flavours and they also have the Swedish Glace equivalents to "strawberry cornettos" and "magnums".

Hope that helps, Lou xx

[matt]

yes ellsie high wycombe. when were you there? 94-2001 for me. i could describe it properly but i'd be here all day and i would get banned!!

bikers cafe shut on a bank holiday ? what is th world coming to?:o

everyones been busy in the last 24 hours 47 posts to read!!!! excellent.

i am that rareest of men. can't stand football. love rugby union. just never got into footie and can't understnad the violent mentality that goes with it.
those flags do a good job of identifying the lower elements of the gene pool. thought the sort that resort to them are failry easy to spt anyway.

can't play football and use trampoline. you'd think so wouldn't you when the garden is only 60-20 but they manage. probably going to be worse as they appear to be doing keepy uppy. guarentees balls high in the air.

sorry just had a heart attack to see bloody great spider on the desk next to me!!!!!! not a spider fan!!!:o :eek:

bad luck copper.

not much going on today till i get madam at lunchtime. assuming all is well.

have a good one all. the sun is meant to be shining and getting warmer.:cool:

[rebecca c]

Off to London after some accupuncture.

Going to see a band called the Guillemots tonight in Kings cross.

Seeing Dietician tomorrow although starting to doubt how much she can do to help as she doesnt know about eosinophils.

Then pehaps a bit of shopping - its what I am best at after all.

[goose]

Had a nice run to Huntly to visit a family friend, Met a new client, then a little walk round the park, At least the weather seems to be improving.

Men with England flags is a sign of how intelligent they really are!!

Enjoy the band Rebecca.

[ellsie]

I was there aroung 1988 working in a pizza shop with a red roof. For my trouble the customers would push me in the salad cart as they legged it without paying! HW was the worst place I ever worked in, and I have worked in some strange places.:taz:

[Lan]

Hi all,

Strange jobs, hey? In the past 13 years I have worked in the following:
Newsagents
Greengrocers
Clothes shop
Hotel in Guernsey
Brick Merchants
Customer Services Department
Fraud Department
Cabinet Office
Legal DepartmentSeems I have had varied jobs. Anyone else done the same?

Lan

[matt]

i think i can top that.
bar man
bar manager
labourer, hospital kitchen, clerk with dss, insurance clerk, police, worthless layabout...

wycombe didn't get any better when i was there. just a little pop quiz. remember a small scottish town centre drunk? or maybe he wasn't as well known back then.

well didn't do much yesterday. tried painting fence and had to give up after two panels as too tired. then walk but the wind was cold... then finally the daughter arrived.:)

off to kew this morning for the day. will pay for it tomorrow but nevermind. sun is meant to be shining.
have a good one all

[ellsie]

There's a small scottish town centre drunk for every town in the land Jimmy!:drunk: and he always wants to be your friend!

[goose]

Very true, in this case his name was Matt!!:lol2:

Dont blame us scots for taking over, it's you English that come to Scotland and get lost on the hills.

Weather seems to be improving at long last, shopping trip planned for tomorrow afternoon, nothing like a bit of retail therapy.

[bella]

JOBS!!
Newsagents..My dads.
Stables in St Albans.
Back to newsagents.. for a week.
Stables in maidstone.
Stables in Folkstone. & jewellers for 2 days.!!
Bar work near home, Bolton.
Stables in maidstone again.
Stables in Belgium.
Bar work in night club.
Back to newsagent, pub & video shop all at the same time.
more stables in Bolton.
& now own & run Boarding kennels & cattery.
How boring was that job run down!

[jill]

Well I've been in the same job for the past 18 years, how boring is that!!!. I'm a Steelworks Chemist, (and not the type that gives out drugs). I analyse samples to do with Iron & Steelmaking.

[matt]

nowt wrong with doing the same job for 18 years if you like it. hell if i could be paid to go mucking about on volcanoes i'd be ahppy as a pig in ....

that's the big kid in me!!

well kew was fun but cold and cloudy. and had we stayed at home we could have sunbathed in glorious sunshine!!! DOH!
meant to be good all weekend though.:cool:

today no idea as maddam gets to chose and she's fast asleep.

nah never been town centre drunk. the one i was thinking of was danny. famous in wycombe.
if scotland is so dam ngood why do so many of them come here? or emigrate?:lol2:

[cnc]

Matt, you'd hate mucking around on volcanoes, they smell, you'd get too tired, be too mucky for you!! You'd spend all day whinging!!

That reminds me, I should be getting back to my volcanic hazards and risk management :)

I don't think that many move here Matt, proportionatly a lot more English folks emigrate than Scots (Australia- full of English people, who emigrated years ago!!).

My job list involves: Cafe place (1.5 weeks), WHsmiths (part time 2.5 years). Odd summer jobs working with children. Now student and unemployed!! Actually I'm still technically employed by the city council....
6 days till my exams, its dragging now, want to get it over and done with, but on the bright side 25 days till I go to Madagascar (hmmm this is rapidly seeming a daft idea!!)
Hope you all have a nice Friday

[zoefruitcake]

I've got 4 jobs, all at once. Full time day I'm a librarian in a technical library for an engineering company, 1 or 2 evenings a week I work for a travel company processing their brocure requests, 3 evenings a week I compile circuit boards with my mother and when I can fit it in I do typing for a marketing company.

No wonder I am always tired.

What's the strangest job people have had? I used to calculate the statistics on chocolate sales, that was pretty odd:lol2:

[goose]

It's ok Claire , if he is down a hole then he's less likely to cause and havoc around the place.:D

Beautiful day today, even managed to get a wee tan, too many midges though:uzi:

Start of another great weekend everyone have a good one, xx
:lol2:

[jill]

I wouldn't say that I have been in the same job for 18 years because I enjoy it, alot of it has been more for convenience. This was mostly due to IBS symptoms that really knocked my confidence to an all time low. I am a completely different person now though since I know that the problems are down to lactose intolerance, and that it isn't all in the mind (which I knew anyway but convincing doctors was hard).

Been out on the bike tonight, did 7.85 miles, not bad for a starter its only the second time I've had it out this year. I want to build up slowly and harden my bottom up a bit, I can certainly tell I've been sat on a bike.

I've also cut the grass and hopefully if it stops fine I will get the rest of the hedge cut this weekend. Sunday I'm going to a Dolls House & Miniatures Fair at York Racecourse. Its one of my crafty hobbies that keeps me sane!!!!

[matt]

i'd still love to study volcanoes....hell i can't get n a ferry at the moment let alone fly to a volcano...:o

ah scotland freezing cold then it gets warm and full of a huge flying blood sucking swarm....

strangest job i've ever done....where do you want me to start? policework is diverse and unsettling!

baking cookies with a nearly 8 year old then a bike ride with her. all well and good this week as she can't go fast on that bike so quite relaxing really. next week she gets the new one:o ! i'm going to suffer.

sun going to be shining when it finally gets up! family fun day to attend today. then got to hand her back for normal weekly prisoner hand over!

have a good one folks, enjoy the sun while it's here:cool:

[Pam]

I wouldn't say it was strange but when I was a police civilian I used to check all the counterfeit currency that came through West Yorkshire. We handled thousands of pounds every week in dodgy banknotes, had to check that they were actually dodgy, record serial numbers etc. I always made sure that I checked my cash from supermarkets and cash machines after that. I also worked in VIP protection for a while and had to inform all the relevant departments whenever cabinet ministers or other VIPs were visiting the area so that armed officers could accompany them if necessary, I never got to deal with royalty though.

We are house viewing again today (2nd viewing on 2nd choice house) and hoping to view our 1st choice again later this week so hopefully by next weekend we will have had an offer accepted on one or the other. It is Cleckheaton farmer's market this morning but I don't know if we will get there - depends what time we finish viewing.

The weather looks set for a good weekend so the guinea pigs might get a bath if I'm feeling brave enough.

[matt]

lovely day at the family fun day. lovely and sunny getting dragged around...and seeing a chinook land from 100 metres! those things kick up a hell of a wind! impressive.

loads of photos, will sort through and post some in the gallery later today.

best/strangest... picked up a bloke at marlow regatta one year with a tiny bit of cannibis. wll we were bored so nicked him to get the hell away.. went to do house search..see above reason.... knocked on door sister answered ( early 20's) explained why we were there. she stormed off into the kitchen! came back a few seconds later with a freezing cold bag of "e"'s and another of cannabis! "well you would have found them anyway!" nope, until then had never bothered to search the freezer! did do every time after !!!:lol2: :lol2:

day or two trying to recover now in the sun. hope the sun's shining for you all. see some in chat later hopefully if you can drag yourselfs in from the sun.:cool:

[Pam]

I don't do sun - it burns me far too easily. It dried all my washing though, just need to iron it all now.

[Lou C]

Jobs:
Selling newspapers in reception of office block
Temp in marketing dept of finance company
Saturday job on cash desk in Top Man
Call centre - authorising instant credit and card sales
Telephone Debt Collection
Nursery Officer
Customer Services, Telelphone and Correspondence
Learning Support Assistant
Virgin Vie Consultant
Volunteer for a local charity, fundraising etc.
Oh and a mum to 3 monsters!!!!

Had an okay few days away, weather beautiful when we were on our way home!!!! Now got to get the house clean and tidy as have the other volunteers coming for a committee meeting at my house tomorrow. Oh and need to go shopping for kids pack ups. Exciting life I lead!!!!

[paranoidangel]

I've just been home for the weekend, so Copper did lots of baking. She made some free-from practically anything (honestly, I'm amazed there's anything left in it) with some gluten-free bread mix and her new breadmaker. And it actually tastes quite nice.

It was good to have a nice relaxing weekend as well.

[Caroloujo]

Well i been busy on here tonight......lol.....
Im off shortly up early for work in morning......:(.....

[matt]

relaxing day pottering in the garden getting stuff out of pots and into ground. easier to keep watered later.

pretty much the same today. finish off getting stuff into ground but try to not catch the sun on my shoulders again! ouch.

not complaining. i love this weather, just wish it was like this all the time.:cool:

i might do some baking later, make some more free from biscuits. like pa said suprised they actually exist they lack so many things!

chat was fun. same four faces as ever. not complaining as it's nice to keep in contact. might go for google talk ! we could have a conference call for free!:eek:

[goose]

Well spend most of saturday and sunday not feeling too great, stomach cramps,headache,feeling sick and back pain, i think i finally found the cause, i had not changed no food items so dairy foods was out the question but did buy a different kind of mouthwash, which contained alcohol, so that got thrown in the bin this morning . will find out when i visit the gp, left kidney feels a little on the swollen side so think this was the cause.:(

Trust me after 8 years of using a mouthwash with no alcohol i go and change it. ah well it just shows how easily it is to forget these things.

Same old faces your right enough Matt, where does everyone go on a Sunday, it should be law to join chat on a sunday, thats if me and lan can stop logging in and out long enough.

[Lou C]

I'd love to join chat on a Sunday, but we go to Mums for Sunday Lunch so am never around at 2, if it was later (about5ish) then I'd be there!!

[linny]

Haven't posted for a while as half term and several visits to dentist - have a swollen gum now and my dentist wants the hospital dentist to look at it asap. Can't even get through to a human at the hospital. Maybe my dentist should try to ring them!!!!:rant:

Had a starling in the chimney yesterday - he came out and was sitting on the curtain rail at 6am this morning when hubby got up. He tried to grab it but eventually flapped up the hall and out the door. Very clean starling as all he left behind was soot.

The blue tits have flown the nesting box so we've cleaned it out. Really amazing how thick the nest was they must have been in and out millions of times. We saw a chick being fed at the hole in the box one day and they had gone by the next day.

'Kids' (big ones!!) have made a hole in the garage roof again so have had to try to sort that.:mad:

Brought my old folding bike back from my parents and had Megan and her chums wash it. I'm going to TRY to ride it, not sure what it will do to my spine. Surely cycling is non weight bearing exercise though.

Megan thoroughly enjoyed the Isle of Wight - address of the hotel was on the luggage tag we were handed - so we did know where they were.

Off to see to Megan as she has a bad throat - supposed to take her to St Thomas' on Thursday - mmmm!:o

[jill]

Linny - I know what it is like to have birds come down the chimney, this happened 3 times when I was still living at my parents. On two occasions I was the only one in the house, and I was greeted by some sort of bird when I came down in the morning. Can't remember having too much hassle getting rid of them, or having a lot of mess. It intrigued me how they actually managed to squeeze from the chimney into the room past the gas fire?

We often get pigeons sitting on our chimney, I don't fancy one of them dropping down particularly if we have a coal fire at the time. Our blackbirds have flown the nest which they built in our hedge so I managed to finish cutting it on Saturday morning. I also got told that the birds that made the nest in the chimney of the house opposite were jackdaws and not crows.

I've been for a ride on my bike tonight, only 4 miles, better than nothing. I don't like to go too far on my own, I prefer it when Paul is at home but he is 2 x 10 for the next 3 nights.

Had a nice weekend, decided I need to chill more instead of concentrating on the house renovation, saying that I did wash the walls in the dining room before I went out on the bike tonight so that I can start painting soon.

I tend to be busy on a Sunday afternoon, so I can't see me joining in chat, I have ventured in once but nobody else was there.

[matt]

heck sunday afternoon is just when i go there. if other times are better for others then arrange away... all it takes is an invite on this thread , i think there's already a girls meeting on a monday evening isn't it???

:o

bike riding can be ok for the back as low impact but if the bike os too small then you bend over alot and that can strain the lower back...

goose....if it aint broke don't fix it! good that you are feeling alittle better as was concerned...:(

garden, reading and short walk in the woods for me. two muntjack flew past at about 10 feet away. will try to download a couple of the shots onto the gallery.
not much more planned today really, short shopping trip to tescos... but going to enjoy the sun and try to get a little more brown... wel ok i'll probably end up burning as i never really bother with suncream.:o never have never will. if you use suncream you don't make vitamin d!!!! that's my excuse.

[goose]

I know Matt, but to save time looking in another shop for the usual, i just picked up the next best thing, Did'nt get too good a sleep last night, kidney's still sore but have the gp visit tomorrow morning so thats a relive. Hopefully drinking plenty water will fix things.

No, girly chat is now on a tuesday night, had to fit it round Lan's busy social life!!. We did use to go on chat, but because only three of us turned up we changed to msn, but more the merrier and we can shift back to chat for the girlies.. We do like a good gossip.:D

Good weather seems to have travelled up north long enough, for a walk along the beach and get the washing dryed. been very cloudy last few days, so intend to enjoy the day, have a nice one all.

[linny]

My bike is an old 'shopper' style so I won't have to bend over when I ride it.

Not feeling very happy today as Megan is off with a sickness bug and hubby has had a chest xray (he has sarcoidosis) and they've found a 'black spot' on the lungs.:(

Can't wait for our hoilday - need to chill out.

[matt]

i've been told that it will be esasier for all if the sunday chat moves to msn so i'll download the lartest version... i've not used it in a year or more and we can host the chat there...make no difference to me. and then maybe you wont drop offline so much!!

dull day in the garden agai nfor me yesterday getting slightly burnt while pottering about.
all peace and quiet until the neighbours.....buti can't be bothered...i think they live in a parallel universe... their garden must be 5 times as big as mine that'll be why they need to shout to hear each other....:cool: to:eek:

but madam from school today:) cakes to make for the birthday celebrations...

hope all feeling well and that you are getting to enjoy the sunshine...it's that bright shiney thing behind the clouds goose!:lol2:

[Pam]

I don't do msn so I can't join you to chat (didn't often manage the sunday ones but there has been nobody there on the last 2 occasions that I've tried).

We have had an offer accepted on a house that is already empty, so we are hoping for a quick move. We see the morgage people tomorrow and hope it will be plain sailing from there on. (do these things ever go smoothly?)

Lovely weather here for the last few days, good for getting the washing dry, shame I have to go to work.

[linny]

Great weather here too :lol2: A bit TOO hot to go to London (St Thomas')tomorrow though, can't stand the underground so will have to wear my walking shoes and dose up on painkillers.

Meg is a lot better but still weak, I also think she has bad hayfever this year, poor soul is rubbing her eyes like mad.

Great news about the house Pam - Good Luck! Where's the new place?

[goose]

Ah that's what twinkles behind the big bad clouds, see thats the problem with living so far noth and beside the sea. All we get is wind all the time.
Never mind, hope everyone is enjoying it anyway.:p

Glad to hear Meg is on the mend Linny, good news all round.

Hope the moved goes well Pam fingers crossed for you.

Matt dont forget the high factor suncream, protection is always needed.

[Jazzingal]

well hello everyone!!! its been ages since ive been on and posting anything, just been so busy with auditions for uni for next year and getting further training for work i havent had anytime to myself really to chill and catch up!!

How is everyone? have i missed much? lol read through some of the posts but theres tooo many lol! ps ive put a post in the asda thread! so u can catch up in that!

[Copper]

Good news Pam - I hope it all works out and quickly too.

Linny - good luck tomorrow. Poor Megan, I hope she feels much better tomorrow. Yes the dreaded hayfever has started :(

I have laryngitis at the moment :( Just to add to my woe I have a poorly car too. I spent a couple of hours in the blazing sun this afternoon at two garages. I met some really nice helpful guys - two in QuickFit and then Mick the Irishman in a tiny little garage. Verdict - middle and end section of exhaust needs to be changed but as we are trading the car in for a Toyota in about 4 weeks we will try to make do. The car also runs on 3 cylinders every now and again - today was very bad. Verdict a sticky injector but if it plays up again I can just hit the injector with a screwdriver. Mick says as I am trading it in it is not worth paying out money for it to be fixed. What did all this time and work cost today? Zero.

PS I don't do msn either Pam. There was me thinking that once I become a lady of leisure that I might do chat :)

[Lou C]

Come on Pam and Copper, get yourselves on MSN, it's easy and it don't cost anything, no excuses!!!!
Where's the new house Pam? It's good that thinks are finally moving, let's hope it moves quickly for you.
I've planted a few wall baskets and pots up today and been to Ikea for a few bits (another £60 on nothing!!!) Acupuncture tomorrow, then a trip to the Next staff shop with my best buddy......or should I say sister in law;) se if I can pick up a few bargains. Then got the mountain to climb which is the ironing pile, I'm sure if I stacked it all it would touch the ceiling!! Busy weekend!!

[matt]

pam excellent news hope it all sorts out with the purchase....

and yes download msn it is easy and then we can make the little dears happy and have chat via that!!

don't moan about the heat... we get so little of it that people should just enjoy it. ok so it can be oppressive but it's possible to enjoy it without having heating on or worrying what clothes to wear....:cool: just got some suncream... factor 6 well better than nothing. and i don't normally let myself burn. too busy..hyperactive to sit for ages these days.

goose.... well move south. watched spring watch... oddie sat in t-shirt and that other bloke in the shetlands wearing wolly hat !!! there's a good reason to emigrate.

CT scan, mum to family friend funeral and madam to school this morning. oh and a new geocache only a couple of miles away...butdo i have the time to grab the first to find prize!!!!! somehow i think i'll manage.:lol2:

[cnc]

The little dears happy Matt?! It's you that moans if we don't turn up!!

What Matt doesn't realise is we'll make him sit in the chat room in case someone else turns up, and then we shall all invade!!

Sorry I've not been around much, my exams start in a few hours yipeeeee!! So I might not surface again for a while either.

Take care all.

[Copper]

Too much excitement for me again today. I went to work this morning to help fill at least 20 black bags with rubbish. We have now finished throwing away years of accumulated piles of paper and assorted rubbish.

This afternoon I had a 10 minute drive to a nice garage in Wimborne so that they could fit the replacement aerial. They thought the engine sounded rough (well it does) and found it needed 3 litres of oil. Sadly once they moved the car out of the workshop - job done - they found the 3 litres of oil on the workshop floor. A leaky switch is to blame and Seward have not got one in stock - no surprise there. Seward have promised to try and get a switch out to this garage tomorrow morning.

I might even get the car delivered back to me at work - why can't all garages be this nice to their customers. I hate my car - there I have said it now.

I still feel ill too which is not good when it is so hot down here.

[goose]

Another wonderful day hear today, enjoyed going round the clients and getting a wee tan at the same time.

took my best friends children ten pin bowling in the afternoon, although it was great fun, it just reminded me, why never to have kids and was glad to get them home safely in one piece.:unsure:

And if that wasnt enough for one day i had an hour long jog round the park in the evening, which i feel ten times better for doing. Must try and do more exercise.....ah, maybe next week:lol2:

[jill]

Linny, I think your starling has found its way up to Scunthorpe and down our chimney. I don't believe it as I left a message about birds down the chimney only on Tuesday. At 9pm I went into our dining room which I am in the process of painting and saw some animal droppings on the window sill. Paul has just checked and discovered a bird upstairs. He managed to get it out no problem, but how spooky is that. I often talk about something and then it happens, one of the girls at work often refers to me as a witch.

Been to my exercise class tonight, it was a bit too warm for prancing about, so I didn't stop for the floor exercises.

Still finding things a bit difficult at work after my recent promotion. I have no intention of going any higher but my boss won't accept this. So I have spoken to someone else today, I am finding things rather frustrating. Why won't they accept that not everyone wants to go into management and that some people are happy just to do the work!!! My job is lab work plus some admin which I am relatively happy with. I don't want to become sat in an office all day sorting management problems out. Just needed to get that off my chest as I've been bottling things up lately and I can see me making myself ill if it doesn't get sorted out.

[matt]

well i had a scan done yesterday that i will get the results from in a few weeks.... bit of a farce but got it done in the end.

two cakes to decorate today then two hours in the sun watching kids doing country dancing outside... we're going to fry:cool:

goose, your own kids are worth it. i wouldn't be without caitlin. 8 on tuesday! where the heck has the time gone?

just had a look at the number of pages this thread goes to... it can't be healthy for the forum or search so i am going to close this one and restart on a new thread.
so the chat thread is dead...long live the chat thread!!!

enjoy the sun it'll soon be raining again!:lol2: