what you doing at the moment??

[linny]

Pleased to report that hubby found an oil filled radiator and borrowed it from work so we won't freeze. Things may be a bit 'frosty' in here at 8am when the supposed plumber is supposed to turn up!

Go on the arcade claire it does you good to bash or shoot someone now and again.

[cnc]

That's really good news :) I'm afraid to say the pun was appaling!!

[linny]

Sorry about pun! Best I can do - sarcasm is more in order tonight:angry:

[Lan]

Hi Linny,

I hope that they turn up to fix your boiler. Sounds like they may be a bit dodgy. Have you tried anyone else?

Anyway, hope all is sorted soon.

Take care,


Lan

[goose]

good luck linny, looks like your gonna need it.
feeling bit better today, nose still a bit red and raw with all the blowing, and to my partners joy, ive lost my voice completely, just hope it's back in time for work tomorrow, or im gonna have a joyful day at work.:D

[linny]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

Had they said at 3.00 that they couldn't do it today we would have tried someone else. But it's a real nightmare getting a plumber round here. They all seem booked right up and nobody wants small (here's hoping!) jobs. They also charge extra for coming out after 4.00pm!! Hubby is definately in the wrong trade.

If anyone lives in my area and knows a decent plumber (ie one who turns up and does the job) please let me know.

[matt]

hoping for a good result for you this morning linny. bunch of ba£"%%ds all plumbers.

i suppose it would be an idea to learn where the stop cocks are...usually under the sink aren't they?

so the excitment for me......nope just the normal walk yesterday and bad ibs agravating my already tender intestines!!! could be worse i suppose.

just wish i was seeing a doctor so knew if it was safe to do more, healing well or whatever. but nhs just casts you loose unless you rant and rave at them.:(
don't see the doctor coming out to just check me over.

it's friday folks. last day for the normal people before the weekend. poets day!!!

[Lan]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is getting better this morning.

Poet's day? I'm a poet. Does anyone else write poetry?

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2:

[cnc]

No poetry for me!! I'm not a poetry fan (destroyed in school).

Packing today, but as its pouring down with rain I'm not too upset!!

Matt, can you not ask them to send a nurse over, just explain you're concerned, or tell them it looks funny!!

You going to post some of your poetry then Lan??

[yvie]

Yes Lan I like poetry too. You post yours and Ill post mine hehe
Im still all 'fluey' .... cor dont it HURT!!!!

[cnc]

I've managed to avoid this fluey thing, evidently my flu jab was quite effective :) However, I'm with you on being in pain, it's nasty!!

Poetry got destroyed for me as all you ever do in school is analyse it, and I really don't care whether love is like an onion, or whatever!!

[ellsie]

Love is like an onion? Don't fancy your social life!:D
Hope you are dry and warm by now Linny, sounds like a rotten nightmare.
And hope you all pick up over the weekend with your symptoms.
I write poems occasionally as part of my creative writing class. It's very enjoyable and frustrating.:rolleyes:

[cnc]

I've just been told the story of my friends who were on a field trip to Mallorca, and one morning were told to sit on a rock and write a poem about it :unsure: She couldn't do it!! I think if it had been me, I would have just walked off and refused to do it. In comparison the field trip I was due to go on apparently they were out in the field from 9-6, and working in the evening as well (think I may have actually done better not going).

It was something to do with layers, but I think a group of us decided it was because they both make you cry, and someone was confused about the idea that love smelt nasty!!

Packing is being done slowly (its going to end up being piles of stuff that need to go different places).

[rebecca c]

Just bought the Harry Potter goblet of fire dvd - that seems to have made the house really quiet.

Eldest was poorly again today.

Also I am feeling bad because I left my car lights on and had to miss the last lesson waiting for the RAC and driving round to recharge the battery. Not a great end to my second week. But nobody seemed to mind. Apart from that a good day today.

Hope you are better soon Goose and Yvie. It really is one of the yuckiest bugs we've ever had.

Linny what news on the pipes? Hope you got it fixed today.

Matt take it easy for a bit longer. Wont be long now before you are back to normal.

[Lan]

Hi all,

My grandfather was a poet and during the Miner's strikes read his poetry around clubs in support of the miners, as he himself was an ex miner. He sat me down aged 7 and said write a poem about the miner's strike, I did and the talent has remained.

I also write stories and plays. I entered BBC talent but didn't come to anything. May post some on here. Have a range from over the years. Just comes to me and have to write it down.

When my grandfather was dying of cancer I wrote a poem about him and won romantic poem of the year. His death is what triggered my allergies/intolerances etc and the rest is history.

Take care all.


Lan.:lol2::lol2::lol2:

[Fozzybear]

Oh Linny what a nightmare. I hope it gets fixed very soon.

Fozzybear - yes I discovered it was still a cold wind when I left work at lunchtime. It was very hot in my room at work as the sun had been shining through the windows. My room is a bit like a greenhouse!

Annie Lennox - oh yes I like listening to her. I am on a tight budget so no spending for me :( You had a sausage roll? Does the pastry have dairy in it? I look longingly in the cake shop window once a month - they always have iced buns in the window, I used to love them - sigh!

I checked the allergy/ingredients before I bought it - it was a Sainsburys one. I don't go near bakery food now - I'll only really eat stuff that I know for sure is ok, which means it has to be raw ingredients cooked myself, or packaged and well labelled or on the dairy-free list in the wetherspoons pub. I never ate cakes much before anyway, but I get sad whenever I'm in Ipswich and can't have a cornish pasty from the oggy oggy shop!

I watched a bit of my Seinfeld dvds last night and was creased up laughing! I decided that I really want the other DVD sets so had a look around town on the way home. I managed to get the season 4 box set from Smiths for £15 (one copy was priced £15 and all the others were marked up at £20!) and looking online I've just found the two box sets for seasons 1/2 and season 3 for £11.29 each, so I've ordered those! I'll have to hold off watching any more of my season 5 and 6 set until I get the early sets though and watch them in order. It's cost me about £75 for six seasons, which isn't too bad at all! I'm quite lucky in that I live a fairly cheap existance with no big expenses (no car or big holidays and I don't have a big social life) other than running the house, so I can normally afford to indulge in dvds and toys every now and then without too much worry.


I've just found an episode guide:

http://epguides.com/Seinfeld/

when I get the sets I've just ordered I'll have 110 episodes of Seinfeld! :D I will watch them though - I've watched all six season box sets of The West Wing twice and they've got twice as much material in them (44 minute episodes compared to 22 minutes for Seinfeld). I've seen some of the Seinfelds before, on Paramount and I saw some really awful VideoCDs of some of the episodes a few years ago. The DVDs are really top quality though - they remastered all of the episodes and it really shows as they look fantastic.

[Copper]

Poetry - hmm I have the same feeling as Claire. I can remember dissecting poems at school. The teacher would ask "what is the poet saying here?". My answer - if it isn't obvious then
a) what is the point
b) only the poet knows

I have the same feeling and thought about this modern art. What is artistic about an unmade bed for example?

I admire the skill and techniques used by the great artists like Constable. I look at their paintings and I can imagine myself there.

[linny]

it's friday folks. last day for the normal people before the weekend. poets day!!!

I don't think Matt meant anything about literature when he said this, it's to do with being Friday and tomorrow being Saturday isn't it Matt??!!:lol2:

I cannot forget 'Ode to a Grecian Urn' the most boring poem ever written.

Re: THE PLUMBER. Nobody turned up at 8.00am so I rang at 8.45am and the girl denied knowing anything about it (different luvvie to last night). I actually cried on the phone - pathetic eh! She did arrange to get a plumber to us for 12noon!! They said the one that was sent yesterday wasn't CORGI registered - well why the hell did they send him to mend a pipe leading to a gas boiler??? All fixed - just £112 for 40 mins work and a bit of new pipe and an elbow. :crying:

Have a good weekend all, don't forget we lose an hours sleep on Sunday morning, not really fair as it's Mother's Day.:o

[cnc]

No apparently poetry day is in October, but I enjoy the chance to slate poetry when I can!! I must the conversations about poetry made a change :)

Glad you got the boiler sorted, at least you'll have heat and water over the weekend now.

Packing still not done, but I'm off to make pancakes again :) Take care all.

[goose]

Managed to struggle back to work today, with a little voice back, although had to shout alot so everyone could hear me, but the bug seems to be shifting. oh no not an hour less in bed, what a treat on a sunday morning...
will miss mum on mothers day, shes off to london for 3 weeks on work business,
hope everyone has a cracking weekend.. enjoy':lol2:

[Pam]

P*** Off Early, Tomorrow's Saturday

therefore Friday is POETS day.

[cnc]

I don't get weekends. All the days here are the same. Studying and sleeping :( Oh apart from today and tomorrow when its sleeping and packing/unpacking!!

[Copper]

Glad you get your water problem sorted out Linny. Workmen don't you just hate them! Why does nothing work anymore and why do we have to put up with soooo much stress getting simple things sorted out?

Claire - good luck with the travelling tomorrow. I hope that you get some rest over the Easter break in between the revision.

[cnc]

Revision won't be happening until I finish the coursework!! It's due the second day of term, which is a bit silly as that gives one day to do it and the software can only be found on the university intranet, but I've done my technical stuff so now just need to do the write-ups.

[Jazzingal]

Glad to hear it got all sorted linny, sounds like your having as much fun as i am claire with all the work and revision thats got to be done! bad news lol think ive got the bug thats going round, had a banging head ache all day, feeling very tired with a sore throat and feeling like a hamster with my glands swelling :( wot a fun day of putting up with that at uni and work! gotta work tomoz and sunday as well:crying:. Good to hear your getting better Goose, there is gonna be some hope for me lol!

[matt]

yeah pam got there. what were you all thinking assuming i was being literal and educated????

so sienfield dvd's are the order of the day for the nxt few weeks then?
trouble with buying stuff like that is that you often only watch them once or maybe twice.... big expense for little benefit. as long as you enjoy them though and feel that it was worth it....

so not feeling quite so sorry for myself today as had daughter overnight. will be able to spend most of today with her making acake and popping to the shops maybe if i can get big brother to drive me. need to get mum a bottle of wine for tomorrow.

keep her happy.

the wuestion is how many will visit the chat room tomorrow and not be too busy having themselves treated by the little angels?:lol2:

burnt toast and all pots used in the kitchen!!

[cnc]

yeah pam got there. what were you all thinking assuming i was being literal and educated???? Thought maybe the time you've spent recovering you've been educating yourself!!:lol2:


the wuestion is how many will visit the chat room tomorrow and not be too busy having themselves treated by the little angels?:lol2:

burnt toast and all pots used in the kitchen!!
Oi, some of us are young enough to be the little angels in question :p I am quite capable of not burning toast, and making a meal only using a few pans!! However, think I shall delegate and make my brother make dinner :lol2:

Home today. Probably should carry on packing, parents will be here in just over an hour, and they'll help with the rest of it.
So you can expect lots of posts from me complaining I'm bored, and getting confused doing statistics :unsure:

Take care all, and enjoy the weekend.

[Copper]

I have a sore throat today :( It isn't too bad so I am hoping it will go away. I have not got time to be ill as amongst other things this week I have a tooth filling booked.

I by passed the system at work and managed to get the store tested for asbestos and it is fine. I now have to clean it :(

Unison - crap union! Some people at work have not been balloted for a strike. Nobody has told us about the strike on Tuesday apart from the management at the college. I have resigned from the union and I won't be the only one. Some people have had problems and have been left high and dry by this union. They have got too big and are not interested in people like us - nurses and other high profile workers, yes.

[yvie]

well today Im still fluey.......and My eldest daughter and son in law have taken Haylie out mothers day shopping.

My ex husband has for the first time in 3 years bought a card and present for her to give to me so I have had a wonderful belly shaking laugh at that while sitting here all fluey on my own (its for the courts you see to make him look like a good thoughtful father) lol lol lol

Tomorrow I have to look forward to........breakfast in bed made by Haylie (last year it was bread and butter (ohhhhhhhsooooooooo much butter and notalotofbread) and a glass of water, but this year, I am hinted at...it will be cereal! and then all 3 girls are taking me out to sunday lunch. (not sure about the sons in law presume they will be either off taking their mums out or will all be having TWO sunday lunches! hahahahahahahaha

I so hope I can act my way through this flu to make it a good day. I cant take any more vitmin C or garlic lol Im amazed im not bouncing off the wall!

Anyway. Hugs to all the mums for mothers day, we are all wonderful people! lol
(dads....your turn in June!)

[paranoidangel]

I've been getting more tired all week, and I've had a cold since mid-January (I did actually speak to my doctor yesterday who said it was just a cold). Although given how crap I feel now, I think I might have flu. For only the third time this winter.

[cnc]

I got home safely :)
Hope people with fluey stuff get better soon.

Will post more later, but I'm too tired.

[Pam]

Change your location now then Claire

[goose]

Well hopefully if i dont suffer from too much loosing an hour in bed, ill be on to chat for a while, although this time Matt you must be on your best behavior, you put us all to shame last week.:lol2:

Flu is slowly getting better, relived to the fact i have my voice back, but the cough is always the worst, hope everyone is recovering well.

[Copper]

My sore throat will not turn into flu as I had the jab this year :lol2:

[cnc]

Yes Pam, give me a chance!! Wasn't with it enough to do it earlier, actually I'm worse now, but will give it a go!!

Think I shall sleep well this evening, a couple of days off, before I have to return to the books :cry:
Feeling rather worse for wear at the moment, think hot chocolate is in order :) (an order I think is needed for many people on here!!)

[matt]

late winter colds and flu...the last ditch cold spell in march often seems to be like that! feel better soon all.

we made a cake yesterday that after madam had tried a piece she changed her mind about giving a 1/4 to her mum!! can't say i argued too loudly she made a card and that's more than will happen for fathers day. so the ex lost out there!! shame.

ventured out to buy a bottle of wine for mum. big brother drove me to the shops. i'm totally knackered now!

and i put you lot to shame last week on chat!!! what by being too innocent to understand some of the topics! talk of large rodents.... being better than men. well a nice rabbit pie can be tasty....is that what you all meant?:lol2:

[Copper]

My sore throat has gone away :)

I was half asleep this morning at 9.30am summer time when the doorbell rang. Himself went to the door and took delivery of a flower arrangement for me from the youngest daughter.

PA gave me a card which was very funny - made me laugh.

Going to do some housework now and if I rush I can get it done this morning. I intend to do some family history this afternoon. I need a rest as this week will be busy. My mother is currently on messenger so I will have to rush even more with the housework. I have to take her shopping tomorrow and change the clock on her boiler. They have installed the most complicated clock they could find. I need to retire :lol2:

[cnc]

I shall be spending most of today, resting. I'm exhausted, my eyes won't stay open!!

Hope everyone has an OK week and people are getting over their various illnesses.

[matt]

well chat was fun. lots there and the conversation stayed clean this week!

mum liked her bottle of wine.

no walk for me though as too wet to drag my weary backside out the door. no fun walking slowly down the raod when hacking down with rain. must try harder today.

did get to see jurassic park3 for the first time on itv2 so not a total waste of the afternoon...... god did i just say that? send help soon.:lol2:

i'll be looking forward to phiilip and fern soon.

[Pam]

There was nobody in chat when I visited just before 2 so I went away and did something else instead, then it was too late when I got back. Suppose that shows who lowered the tone last week then!

[goose]

Now Matt if you had said Richard and Judy, i would have been a little worried!

Well Monday again, aint have come round quick, at least it's one less week until my holidays.:thumbsup:
Hope everyone has a great week and all flu's seem to be disappearing.

[cnc]

Back home, so that's a different place to study in!!
Walked all the way to the post office today (about 5 minutes), but it was cold and rainy!!
Went to buy a rucksack on wheels thing for my trip, am glad we went as it was the last one in stock, and they're not getting any more (plus the shop was about £20 cheaper than anywhere else).
Accupuncture tomorrow, see if it can do anything for the pain :unsure:

Matt I seem to be spending a lot of time watching day time tv as well :)

[Jazzingal]

Aww sounds like every one is gettin better! lol just found out ive got tonsilitis again! woohoo! lol :mellow: my tutors have banned me from going near the dance classes until im better! so i wont give it to every one else:( hehe sounds like i missed a good chat again! stupid work lol! Wheres the nice weather gone!!!

[linny]

:headbang: Well I've spent a morning waiting for the plumber!!:mad:

Yes the pipe is leaking again, only a little this time though, and the boiler switched itself off at about 8.30 last night and will not re-light! I'm not very happy to say the least.:angry: The luvvie on the phone said he'll be round this morning (it's now 12.45pm) but he'll ring first to let me know he's on his way. Well I'm waiting .................................................. .......:rant:


I love your new avatar jazzingal. What dancing do you do? Hope you're feeling better soon.

[cnc]

Jazzingal, at least it means you get a break (can catch up with all your work!!) you must be heading home for Easter soon as well??

Linny- I hope you get the plumbing sorted soon. Ring them again, and find out where he is!!

Right time to go and do some work :(

[Jazzingal]

Hey thank you linny, yeah its a poster on allposters.com, stole it for my computer by saving it on my computer hehe. I do comtemporary dance at uni, its really good and interesting, thanx. Hope you get your plumbing sorted for good soon!

Im heading home on the 10th of april as we finish on the 7th of april! sad part is i only get to go home for 5 days as ive got to come back and work! yeah i got some work to do but think i may just sleep it off today! and do work tomoz
How are you today anyway claire hows the work going?

[goose]

Linny, i think you should give up and try and fix it yourself.... you'll probably do a better job. PLUMBERS!!!:hammer:

[linny]

It's now 3.05 and I'm VERY ANGRY .... hubby phoned 'he does know about it he'll be there soon' was the reply. I'm now going to the school for 10 mins - sod's law states....... If he doesn't wait I'll be on the news for murder tonight!! I'M SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: They charge more after 4.00pm - he can TRY!

[paranoidangel]

Linny - I hope it gets sorted out. Murder is starting to sound like a good way to go :)

I had the day off today with my throat (and other assorted symptoms) so I did a bit of daytime TV. I was most upset there was no Pet Rescue, though, that's usually on when I'm off ill! I only watched Doctors, though, which was better than I expected for a daytime soap.

[cnc]

PA, I watched Doctors as well!!

Linny- hope you got your plumbing sorted, I'd recommend duck tape as an emergency patch job, if you get really stuck.

Did a tiny little bit of work today, couldn't really concentrate, head was rather foggy.

[Copper]

Linny - I hope that the plumbing gets fixed again!!!! Workmen don't they just make you cross and stressed.

[matt]

linny did the git turn up?

i've got a maintenance contract with british gas so anything goes wrong and out comes an engineer. had a leaky radiator phoned on friday nad they came out yesterday. not sure how much it cost but was worth it.

daytime tv is like quick sand. you know it's dangerous as you'll be sucked in but you can't help yourself!!!
no richard and judy just paul ogrady on both sides!!!! not if my life depended on it.

doctor out yesterday, i'm on the mend and the side effects though nasty are to be expected and should go away....just a matter of time and gentle exercise now.

so sounds like we are all the the slow mend. lets hope.

anyone taking part in that strike today? or geting effected by it?

[Pam]

I'm on strike! Under the new proposals if I retire at 60 (as was promised when I signed up 20 years ago) I will lose more than a quarter of my pension. All the stuff about council tax going up to pay for it is rubbish, our pension scheme is currently making a profit of something like £150m every year. There are 2 exempt workers (they provide an emergency call centre service for elderly and disabled) in our building, one non union member and 2 managers coming in within our building - if they get past the picket line! My youngest 2 go to a school which is closed due to lack of lunch time supervisers so I would have to take the day off anyway.

[goose]

Good luck on the strike today everyone hope it does some justice, I think we should sack everyone from Parliament and start again.:bash:
Linny hope you finally got those pipes fixed and dare he try and charge you extra!:rant:
Was planning an afternoon at the park taking some photos but ive been rained off for the day. Hope everyone has a good tue.:)

[linny]

I am now so angry I have broken the phone and am having trouble talking to anyone.

At 5.15pm yesterday the manager promised an engineer first thing today. I rang at 9.00am and she said he should be with us by noon. Asking about their 'service' she said it wasn't worth talking about as it was covering old ground. I'm now trying to get a refund but she said she doesn't think that is an option as they've tried their hardest to get an engineer to us. A letter to Watchdog and a relevant ombudsman is in the pipline once I have calmed down a bit. If the plumber doesn't arrive by noon she told me to call the customer services dept. Hubby will have to as I can't stand listening to any more lies.

Still freezing cold with no hot water, will have to go to my parents tonight to have showers etc.

It's a lovely sunny day here, hopefully it will last til tomorrow as Megan is off to Hever Castle.

[goose]

Personally Linny i would take this to Trading Standers and Office of Fair Trading, see what they can do for you. Either that you can always send them to Scotland, im sure a few Glaswegins would be happy to help ya.

[linny]

Trading Standards sounds like a good idea. Especially as they have a 2 page ad in the Thompson Local phone directory stating '24 hour service 1 hour callout'.

[cnc]

Linny, I agree as well, Trading Standards would be a good idea.
Hope you get it all sorted soon.

Been stuck full of accupuncture needles, hopefully it will do some good (can't make the pain any worse at least!!).

Need to get some more work done today, may try and do a little bit before lunch.

Take care all.

[Jazzingal]

Aww it sounds like you arent having a good time of it linny, send them to me ill sort em out lol! just need to get ma bad temper flaring lol!

Hope the acupuncture will help claire.

my tutors were on strike the other week and now there threatening to boycotte our assesments! meaning if they do, some people will not graduate on time!:o

[cnc]

Ours went on strike a few weeks ago, so just rearranged our lectures so that we didn't miss out :D

I've just come across my timetable for next term. I have a grand total of 6 lectures!! At least that means I should have plenty of time for revision etc.

[Lan]

Hi all,

I have been on strike today. Was meant to go to a march but friend was ill and didn't want to go on my own, but support it 100%. Not many people from my office went on the picket lines as not enough staff!!!

Looking forward to getting back to normal tomorrow though, although someone has mentioned it may be strike action all week. Will go in and see what happens.

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2:

[Copper]

I was not on strike as I have resigned from Unison. The regional bloke is useless as were his predecessors. We now have no union steward on our site. We had two but they gave it up as they were never kept informed. We feel that the union has got too big and can only cope with high profile groups. We are support workers in an FE college and don't fit into any group. Two more people are going to resign today :(

[rebecca c]

I'm on strike too. Went on demo. Havent heard anything about strike extending all week, would have had to be in ballot if they were going to do it. After we got back I was completely wiped out. Still have this chest infection with pain in my ribs, it has improved slightly but no sign of it going completely. I hope it does soon so I dont have to take anymore antibiotics next week. Just want to get better so much to do and have to keep putting it off to rest.

[Pam]

It said on the news that there would be a 2 day strike in early may if things weren't resolved. I'm a bit brassed off with the slant that all the news bulletins are putting on this. They make it sound like we are asking for something special - not just asking them to stick to their promises. One man phoned into radio leeds and said that we get enough benefits anyway, why should we get anything else. Excuse me, what benefits are those? I don't get a christmas bonus, trips out, hospitality of any sort, free entry to sports centres (as he suggested). So what, apart from my pension do I get other than a reasonably (but not guaranteed) secure job? If they get their way I stand to lose up to a quarter of my pension if I retire at 60. When I joined the scheme they told me exactly what I could expect to receive in my pension (as a multiple of my final salary), now they are changing the rules and that promise will no longer stand.

I'm off to visit the Unison site now and see what they have to say about today.

[Copper]

I forgot to mention that Unison did not tell us we were on strike today. The first we knew was when management at the college wrote and told us!!! I know that some members were not even balloted. I was not balloted the last time (last year) and that was when I decided that I should try and complain - I did and got nowhere.

We had no pickets, no demos and no information. Today was like a normal day at our site.

This pension thing does not affect me as I would never be able to meet the 85 rule as I took time out to have children. I went back to work part time too.

[matt]

how did the accupuncture go claire? forgot to ask.
linny plumber been yet?

strike...well i understand why but have never really supported the idea...

mind you they are shafting me aswell. i'm on medical pension suppliments my income that i've lost due the assault. new rules. when i hit 65 i'd no longer be earning ...so the medical pension stops....so from 65 i'm on poverty line with sod all pension, so much for put your life on the line and we'll look after you for life.:angry:

on a lighter note i made some wheat and dairy free cakes yesterday very nice. doves flour receipe.

have a good one all.

[ellsie]

mmmmm cakes eh! I like cakes. Pass them round!;)

[linny]

Plumber came back at 1.00pm!! Said the leak wasn't the pipe he'd fixed (now how did I guess that he'd say that). Funny thing was he put a new washer on the joint he had fitted??? I'm working on a letter to the manager who I eventually spoke to yesterday. She said that no actual times had actually been booked in for us throughout the whole charade, she was confused by the lies told by the office staff. DON'T USE 1ST ACTION PLUMBERS!!!:mad:

The problem is that the boiler needs fixing now. We called a different plumber at 3.00pm yesterday and he came out at 5.30pm - now that's service. He's going to give us quotes today - something about the boiler over heating and shutting itself off. We can use it for about 15 mins at the moment and then leave it to cool - oh what fun. Can't spend too long in the shower!

Megan's at Hever Castle today so hope it stays fine - it's bright and quite sunny here.

[matt]

popped back to the site thisafternoon.

been for a little trip on the bus... oh the excitment! got my hair cut before the easter rush and got some probiotics. knackered now though but i have done something practical today so hurrah.

might treat myself to a cake later!!!:lol2:

[cnc]

Matt, accupuncture was much fun, I resembled a pin cushion, plus had the fun electric pulsing stuff :) Think I ended up with about 12 needles from my knees and below!!
Making cake this afternoon, not just for me though- am hopefully going to see Lou tomorrow, so am bringing cake :)

Glad you got the plumber sorted, and hope you get a letter sent off soon. They need sorting out :poke:
Had my hair cut as well today, and then went to have some passport photos. Was having many problems with my glasses- they couldn't decide whether because I have to wear my glasses I had to have my photo taken with them or not. So I think I'm going to have my passport application checked as I really can't risk a faulty application coming back :unsure:

I shall go and locate some energy to make cake, and then have a quiet afternoon!!

[goose]

Two visits in one day Matt, you really are spoiling us.:lol2:

Claire dont sound like much fun, sound like torture!!:(
Now that sound more like it Linny, i would tell the manager that not only have you send a letter to himself but to Trading Standers too for bad advertising , that should shake him up a bit.

[paranoidangel]

I usually take my glasses off for passport photos, otherwise they tend to catch the light. The passport control people don't seem to care. Mind you, until recently my passport photo was of me when I was 16 - I've changed a lot since then so I used to get some really funny looks while they worked out whether it was still me!

Acupunture sounds like torture to me too. I'm perfectly capable of sticking needles into myself when I'm cross stitching, I don't need someone else to do it too :)

Linny, at least it sounds like you're getting somewhere!

I went back into work today because I realised there's some stuff that needed urgently doing, and if I didn't do it no-one else did. My boss greeted me by telling me I looked awful. I felt it as well. I feel much better now I'm home, but as he's off on holiday on Friday I have to go in tomorrow as well, even if it's not for all day.

I am now entirely addicted to Doctors. It's not good.

[cnc]

There was debates about whether I should have to wear my glasses or not, was very confusing, so hopefully they'll accept the photos. I'm going to have to have them countersigned as I look nothing like I did when I was 14.
It really doesn't hurt. I've got a few pin marks still, but compared to the scratch down my hand they're nothing!! The only one that felt weird was one in my foot, but that was because of the electric impulses. The best thing about it is that you get nice and warm :)

Hope you feel better soon PA.

Doctors is great :) Then followed by Monk and then kids TV!!

[matt]

i tend to watch channel 5 . well it's sci fi so what do you expect then over to itv 2 to see due south! oh the excitment.

had accupucture done a few years ago without much joy.

not planning much today after yesterdays excitment. just normal short walk.

really need to do some more open uni reading to be good.

and we all know i'm a good boy at heart...not.

maybe a potter in the garden if dry.

[cnc]

I only have channels one to five. I'm currently being 'entertained' by Frasier.
Quiet afternoon for me I think. Need to get some of this work sorted, although I made the grim discovery yesterday that all three pieces of coursework need statistics!! Why do I choose such silly things?!

[goose]

Sound like you have alot of study to do Claire.
i have sky and all that channels and not a thing to watch but repeats!!
I had a bit of a boring day off, did a little shopping. that was about it, wether permit i may try and take some photos tomorrow.

[linny]

:mad: Typed the 3 page complaint letter today - quite a task for me and my bones these days. Hopefully I'll get some compensation back.

:) 'Good' plumber is coming back tonight to fit the 2 new bits and then we should be back to normal. He got us partial use when he spent 30 mins here the other night. So we've had hot water and 'bursts' of heating, until it overheats and switches itself off. I spent most of yesterday trying to light the pilot light - there's a shut off thingy when it gets too hot. Anyone realised yet that I don't really know what it's all about!!

School breaks up at 2pm tomorrow for 2 1/2 weeks. Hoping to make Easter cakes and choc novelties with Megan and her friend one day.

Spring must be here - all these hair cuts and cake making.

Enjoying watching the blue tits nesting in our box at the moment. :lol2:

The rotten squirrel has dug the bulbs out of our tubs and I'm so fed up with re-planting them. We've got 2 blackcurrant bush 'sticks' we won from the Ribena cartons. Not sure where to plant them - I can just see the squirrel sitting up the tree chewing on one.:uzi:

We alo have a nasty sparrow hawk round here. He got a pigeon the other day - what a noise. The poor old pigeon was far too slow.:unsure:

[Copper]

I rushed around after a very short lunch - not a good move. I managed to get the chores done before I went to the dentist, only to be told he was running very late and would I mind making another appointment. I gave it 2 seconds thought and agreed that I would much rather go home and go back to the dentist another day. I might have my tooth filling replaced 12th April but the dentist's wife is expecting their first baby on the 17th!!!!

I was very good when I got back home and made some fairy cakes and muffins.

We have another week at work before our two week Easter holidays.

[goose]

Everyone is baking this week... well all im going to say is, i hope everyone is well stocked up on brown paper, boxes and ribbon to do the parcel round!:p :lol2:

[Lan]

Here, here Goose. Any dairyfree cakes would be gratefully received.

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2:

[paranoidangel]

The schools break up round here tomorrow, for Easter.

I should definitely not go into work when I'm ill. I really don't know why I do it given that I hate the place and my job and really don't care. The trouble is that my boss is a bit useless, so I know that if I don't do urgent work on my projects, it won't get done. I gave him one simple task to do on Monday and he didn't quite do it properly! Only good thing about it is he thinks I'm really good, so after about three years of no pay rises, I got a big one back in October and I'm getting another small one in April.

Today I had a client constantly changing her mind about what she wanted doing, and everytime it was a half hours work. I was thinking I might be able to escape after lunch, but no it was 5.30. And then I discovered she'd been trying to get in contact with me after that! I have an email telling me to ring her first thing tomorrow. As I'm technically off sick, my first thing and her first thing might not quite agree... :)

[matt]

PA ever thought of going freelance? atleast you get paid extra for all the extra dedication......

sparrowhawks taking out winged rats otherwise known as pigeons. good for them. big fat useless things. that stuff all the food and let everything else go hungry.

give away my cakes??!! hard enough to get me to make them, trying to force myself to eat them and put extra weight on! extra heck any!

might venture onto public transport again today if dry. just to escape the cabin fever and wander into some shops. euro lottery ticket maybe... well it is £50million the fun that i could have with that!

nothing new to say about yesterday. walk to mum's and back so hardly earth shattering news, and got spiked by useless nurse who couldn't take blood properly. hopeless.:o

[rebecca c]

Went to see stiff little fingers last night with all the other old punks. Luckily I'm a bit younger than most of them.

Last day at work yesterday but kids are in school today so I have a day of head space. Got told what work I'm doing after easter in the geography department so that was good. Looking forward to it.

I think the chest infection is finally lifting, but I'm off to the doctors today to get a top of antibiotics because I dont want to stop taking them until a couple of days after the symptoms have completely gone and I still have slightly sore ribs.

Parents have got a new puppy so we will be off to see him week after next.

[Pam]

Stiff Little Fingers? they must be nearly drawing their pensions now! That's a blast from the past. Hope you enjoyed it.

[cnc]

Sorry Goose, my cake was given away, and then there's just enough left for a few slices for me!! Was hard work making a cake, so not likely to repeat it for a while.
Going into my old school today to talk about university, and then have a manicure and pedicure (the beauty therapy school needs volunteers for the assessments).
Glad the infection is going Rebecca and I hope you enjoyed the music last night.

[goose]

Well at least the thought was there Claire, :(
Went for a stroll, took some photos, which look not bad in case anyone wishes to check out, there are in the Gallery. they were the best of the worst bunch. Im just learning so give me time peeps.:unsure:

Apart from that im having a lazy afternoon, have a good weekend everyone:lol2:

[paranoidangel]

PA ever thought of going freelance? atleast you get paid extra for all the extra dedication......

Ugh, no. Apart from the fact that I want a different job entirely, that way I'd have to deal with even more clients (at the moment I mostly deal with people within the company). And I'd probably end up spending even more time at home.

[linny]

Claire hope you enjoyed the pampering. I was supposed to go for a maincure on Tuesday - a Birthday treat from my sister (I've had the voucher since Nov!) and guess what I had to cancel it to wait for the stupid plumber!!!!!!!!!!:angry: :mad: :angry:

Heating and water now fixed approx £300 total, we're hoping to get something back from the complaint letter.

I got a 50p coupon off Alpro milk through the post today. They're advertising the low fat one but the coupon can be used against any of their products.

Have a good weekend all!

[matt]

things seem to be getting better for people. hope it continues.

ok news. it was cancer but they are as happy as they can be that it hasn't spread. huge relief!!!

just need to work on getting better now and maybe a look at the lifestyle in the near future. oh and getting used to regular check ups with the doctor i hope.
think i've used up all my good luck now. managed to dodge death twice !!!!

or maybe it means i'm even luckier than average...where's that lottery ticket.:lol2:

[Pam]

You must be a cat in disguise Matt - you've got another 7 lives to go at yet. It sounds scary stuff, I hope you have seen the last of any bad cells with your recent op. Will they be doing any radiotherapy or anything just to make sure?

I got 4 numbers on the lottery last week and was all excited until I found out that I only get £28 - I haven't rushed to cash in the ticket yet. I could do with a bit more so that I can move house and forget about this one that still isn't selling (price reduced again this week!).

I got something from Alpro in the post yesterday too but I haven't actually looked at it yet, I forgot all about it last night.

[Copper]

Good news Matt, what a relief. :hug: I bet it has been stressful waiting for the all clear. Hopefully you will be feeling much better without that hanging over you.

Life can only get better now.

[goose]

Congrats on the news Matt,:thumbsup: lets hope it stays that way, have good recovery time now.

[ellsie]

Glad to know that Matt as I had been wondering. Do you need more treatment now?:)

[cnc]

Matt, glad to hear things are on the up for you.

Pampering was quite nice, although the nail painting left a lot to be desired, so I re-did it myself (it was that bad!!), but was nice to have some time out.

Optician informed me, that there is something faulty in one of my eyes, something about it not having enough cells in it, and so I won't have totally sharp vision until I'm well again, as my other eye was compensating for it before, but now it can't or something!! (I'm sure I should be put down!!)

Off out for dinner tonight, should be nice, we're celebrating everyones birthday as we didn't manage to get a meal for mine (and maybe Dads) at the end of last year!!

[Lan]

Hi Matt,

Glad it's good news. Take care of yourself.

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

[Copper]

Oh Claire you are falling apart! Take care and enjoy your dinner out tonight.

[matt]

no idea about the further treatment or what checks they will do until i get the appointment on the 26th. but should be checked for the next few years.

nice walk in the sun yesterday and potted up some bulbs that were meant to go into a new flower bed....that now won't be dug this year or atleast until it's far too late to plant the bulbs. so will have a nice display if we ever get a spring and summer.
the combination though has knackered me! could be worse.

well done on the lottery win pam. something better than nothing. blow the lot on the next draw and see what happens!:lol2:
hope the spring weather gets the people out and looking at our house.

meals outfor claire. any good?

who's for chat at 2? see you all later

[cnc]

I do seem to have developed quite a comedy list of ailments!!
Meal was very nice, wrist was causing problems so was having a fight with some of the cutting!! I made my dad taste one of the things that came with my main course, it looked like salmon, so he offered to try it, and wasn't impressed, we later discovered it was actually pickled ginger!!
Been out for a little walk around the shopping centre today, didn't buy much, but it was nice to get out. Made me tired though.

[matt]

sounds like a nice meal claire. good plan with the ginger. not sure what something is then get unsuspecting parent to try it for you!!!

but if cutting food is too much effort things must be getting bad! mash potato from now on or soup.

chat was civilised again yesterday...so either it's pam or lan that cause the converssations to deterioate. or maybe the pair of them together!

not much planned today. should get on with open uni course. will wait to see the weathr and decide. will still do a walk as normal though.

have abearable monday all

[Pam]

What are you trying to say, Matt? 2pm on Sunday isn't a particularly good time for me, we quite often go out as a family on Sunday afternoons. I will try to get there to lower the tone next week but it is hubby's 40th birthday on Thursday so we might go out at the weekend to celebrate. I fancy the eat all you like chinese restaurant (don't know if he will, but if I organise, I choose!).

[cnc]

It was his own fault, he likes trying other people's food so what does he expect?!
Actually just had him on the phone, wants to borrow my car tomorrow, as the main one needs to go to the garage. Thankfully I didn't have anything planned.

I'm not eating just mashed potato (not a huge soup fan)

Plans today- make a phone call!! (how exciting is my life?!) and then I'm going to try and get some more of this coursework sorted out. Wish me luck!!

Pam I like the idea, tell him it's a surprise venue!!

Hope you all have a good week (my last quiet week before Mum gets half term off!!)

[Copper]

I had a busy morning at work - nothing went to plan but that is life. I think that I should do some spring cleaning this afternoon.

I have made a few new contacts on the family history front so things got out of hand yesterday - so no chat for me.

Last week at work before my two weeks of unemployment (Easter holiday). Only 10 more weeks of work left after the holiday. Sadly I seem to have sooo much to do at home that I will be fully employed from now until Xmas I think.

I can't believe how quickly the plants have grown in the garden. The rhubarb is big enough to use now - I feel a crumble coming on :) How is the tree fern Matt? I have a couple of plants that have been killed by the bad frost so I will have to sort them out soon. My magnolia is just coming out in flower now. The sun is shining so I feel better - I am easily pleased.

[goose]

The sun did decide to shine for yet another day today (two days in a row) we are getting spoilt!! although by lunch time the heaven opened and it started to snow, oh well thats the joys of living in the far north of Scotland.

Nothing seemed to go right today, i managed to burn two slices of toast, dropped cream all over a clients carpet including myself and burst a catheter. Mondays dont you just love em:(

hope everyone has a good week, enjoy.:rolleyes:

[cnc]

I'm having a bit of a stressful time with studying at the moment. Coursework is going slowly, and the people I'm going to Madagascar with were on the phone today as well, so trying to get that sorted as well. All will be fine though and I'm just working at a slow pace :)

Take care all.

[paranoidangel]

I'm feeling much better today - it almost seems strange to be able to think properly again! I don't remember much of last week, though.

I thought today at work would be hideous, but it actually wasn't as bad as I expected. The only annoying thing was that I wasn't really sure what was going on half the time. What doesn't help is that it's my job to keep track of the timings for all the projects that pass through our department. The project managers don't like to tell us if the timings change, but I would have thought my boss might have managed it while I was away. Can't imagine why I thought that.

I have ordered myself 2 months worth of Scheese from the local health food shop. 5p cheaper than Copper gets it as well :)

[rebecca c]

Matt - the regular check ups will be good news, it will help contain the anxiety. I'm sure you will be fine now - Hopefully you'll be taken a bit more seriously now. Dont overdo it - pace yourself even studying can be really tiring.

I am finally feeling better. It feels so good. Did loads this weekend to celebrate, dug up a couple of shrubs from the garden - one big Forsythia and a Kerria (hate the things) and painted my sons bedroom. He chose the colour and it looks great. Mike took the youngest to the arsenal for the first time and looked after the kids, shopping and cooking yesterday so I could do the painting. We had time for a walk too. My youngest came back from the footie with a fiver which he got for helping somebody place a bet on the score and guessing the score right. He is a monkey!!!

Glad to hear you are feeling better PA.

Clare make the most of all the TLC, you deserve it.

[matt]

well my tree fern survived so far as i set up a poly tunnel sort of arrangment in the back garden. worth the hassle as it's kept all it's leaves even all winter.!!:)
not going to bring it out yet until no frost possible.

yeah i'm happy that i'm going to be monitored. not confident that the nhs couldfind their arse with both hands and a map but they can't keep on missing stuff can they?
not sure if they will take me any more seriously but you never know.

wentto the local health food shop and they agreed to get in some scheese saving me a long drive to my normal shop. not sure how much they will charge....here's hoping not too much. as i can't drive so no other options yet.

anyone know how to stop ignorant brat kicking footballs into gardens? another 5 yesterday and a space hopper!!!! how the hell????? a long summer of arguments to come as the parents think I'M being unreasonable to get annoyed!!!:mad:

open uni reading today and a walk to the chemist.

[Pam]

Tell them they can have their balls back if they bring their parents with them. Mums and dads will soon get fed up of having to retrieve balls and kids will not do it any more.

Save a pile of fresh cow muck to smear balls in before they are handed back and tell them that they just landed in the wrong place.

Hide the ball before they come to collect it.

We insist that people come and knock on our door before retrieving footballs from our garden, that usually stops them doing it as it is too much of a pain having to knock and wait every time.

[cnc]

My parents always insisted that kids knocked on the door before coming to get their balls, so we never seemed to get that many.
Citizens arrest for tresspassing Matt?!

Man has come to see about the fire today.... Think I over did it yesterday (I stayed in pretty much all day :( ) as I have a sore throat, and eye pain, which is normally a sign I over did it!!

Yet more coursework today, and a maths teacher from school is calling round tonight to see if they can provide some assistance.

Take care all.

[goose]

Woke up to lovely snow this morning, although doesn't seem to be lying for long now the sun is up.:D

Busy day, with organising gp home visits for clients and getting prescriptions. and tyring to find somewhere for Lan to stay. Looks like she'll have to doss at mine, and find out all my bad habits!:lol2:

Have a good one everyone

[matt]

footballs yet another yesterday so that's 8. oh and it was the father playing with them this time!
tried the sensible approach last year. they cannot see why i have a problem with the balls. they feel that as he's a kid he should be allowed to do whatever he wants. they ended up having a screaming fit at me in the road.

too much hassle and stress which i can't deal with. i moved here for peace and quiet didn't sleep well last night due to it. but not going to bend over and be ...... as then i may as well take down the fence and let them use my garden as well.

neighbour dispute a complete nightmare as no law to cover it. trespass no illegal. criminal damage to plants very hard to prove.:mad: :mad: would put up trellis but it would be knocked down inside a week.

walked too much yesterday so need to rest today. but have daughter coming after lunch so hurrah. something to look forward to.:)

[Pam]

ASBO? Not much you can do when the parents are just as bad. Is it private accommodation or is it rented? If rented get onto the landlord. It really annoys me when other people won't respect your privacy. I think I'd be tempted to collect some poo from some animal or other for the purpose of smearing their ball - oops, it just landed in the wrong place! Or a bit of wet paint/creosote?

I'm working short days yesterday and today due to out of school club being closed with a d&v outbreak. They gave me 90 minutes notice that they were closing so I had to find someone (me) to pick the kids up from school. Fortunately my boss is sympathetic and I don't have to be in meetings this week - next week would be a different story. Thank goodness for flexi-time and the bit of credit that I had built up.

[cnc]

Matt, just don't hand them back, that way they either lose out or have to come and ask you for them. You could padlock the gate, and then they'd have no option but to ask you to let them come and get them. They'll get bored soon enough!!

I didn't sleep well last night, but I overdid it sometime earlier on, possibly Monday, maybe Sunday, oh and I've got to the visit the dentist. I like dentists about as much as I like doctors- lets see what this one says is wrong with me.

[Lou C]

I think if I were you Matt the balls would make their way to the bin, somehow getiing a few holes in on the way. How about getting a big nasty dog!!!!

[paranoidangel]

I am so looking forward to my holiday. I'm really busy at work at the moment because my boss is off and I wasn't there last week. So it's really not helped by people doing things like emailing me at lunchtime to inform me they've given up on a project and want results on the partial data today. Not even a 'have you got time' email. As it happened I didn't (I have started but it's a big project and there's loads to do on it) but I haven't told them and they haven't hassled me. We'll see who cracks first...

[cnc]

I survived the dentist!! Although both her and the dental nurse could tell I wasn't happy :) But I was told that whatever I was doing to my teeth, to keep on doing it!!

Other than that, I've done nothing much, apart from stress over coursework.

[paranoidangel]

Wow, I wish I'd ever been told that by a dentist!

[matt]

well maybe i should have a sweep stake on when they will knock on the door and say sorry.
nothing yesterday but we're up to 9 balls and a space hopper!!! :o how many footballs can one kid have!

not goingt o do a damn thing til someone comes and says sorry.

good to hear the dentist went well claire.

PA hope that they crack first. atleast you haven't wasted too much time i hope?

weather lovely an sunny yesterday caitlin had loads of fun riding her bike up and down the road and to and from my mums when i was with her.

what to do today? might go for a walk and let her cycle. simple things but she's happy so that's all that matters.

you never know maybe i won the lottery last night and can move to a detached house with no kids next door!!!:lol2:

[cnc]

Matt, let Caitlin play with the balls and stuff instead!! No point them being unused :)
Accupuncture and visit to a friend today, so nice and peaceful.

Finally got the approval for my DSA application today, apart from for the taxis, so I need to see what's going on.

Take care all

[rebecca c]

Unbelievable - I have cold symptoms. I think it is a cold but had a curry on Tuesday night and specifically asked for dairy free but I dont think it was. It gave me all the usual symptoms of dairy. Think the cold is something I picked up at school though. Bound to get new bugs I suppose just hope I can keep it off my chest!!! I shouldnt think my immune system is all that robust at the moment after its recent hammering.

Oh well the sun is shining and I got so much done at the weekend I dont need to worry too much. Just be nice to be well again I was so enjoying it.

[Copper]

I have been cleaning the chemical store at work. This afternoon I did some spring cleaning at home and at the same time did some baking - multi tasking it's a woman thing :lol2:

[goose]

All im saying is, im glad there is no kids in my street. id be busting the footballs.:angry:

[paranoidangel]

They did crack first! They asked me when they might get their stuff, just so they could plan their time, I gave them a realistic answer, they were happy. Mind you, I also went in early, only had half my lunch break and stayed late. In theory I might get all of the weeks work finished tomorrow as long as no-one else decides they need anything else. So unlikely then.

[cnc]

Have done very little today, had my accupuncture, then saw a friend (made me lunch) and then had orange juice with Lou.

My disability officer has sent a 'lovely' email to the guy from my LEA asking why they're refusing to give me any help with transport costs. She's not happy about the situation. Has annoyed me a bit, but not as much as my hip, which is making it impossible to sit anywhere comfortably....

Take care all.

[matt]

well psycho woman next door came and ranted at the front door. really the way to endear people and get favours done!!
waited a few hours then got caitlin to throw them over....

cue mad woman on the door with son. all sweetness and light. full of apologies and promises to not happen again. sorry to hear about the op and so on.. she's nuts. so how long till one comes back then people???

claire don't despair they will have to change their minds if advisor on your side. the award is there to cover additional expenses incurred due to the disability and if you need to use taxi's they will have to approve. i'm assuming you can't catch a bus easily to go to the same place??? if you can then they will say that you could catch the bus like any other student. it's only to cover costs that you wouldn't incur if you weren't disabled.

daughter had a great day on her bike and on the CBBC website playing the games. and some time with me of course!!! happy for her to see my place as a quiet refuge from the noisy world....

it's friday folks so give a smile and make the buggers worry you know something they don't:lol2:

[Pam]

My kids have found a great game on the Blue Peter web site, I think it is called Microlife. You have to raise these bugs and help them defend themselves, whilst feeding them and keeping them healthy, then they all have to build a boat and escape. I love it. There's a variation of Tetris on the CBBC site too called Headrush which is quite a good one.

[cnc]

How about claiming that they never came into your garden, maybe the wind got them and they drifted further down the street?!

"It is reasonable to suppose that a student with CFS will from time to time find a 1.7 mile (or more) walk twice or more in a day too much for them. There is a bus service free to University members (citibus 4) which stops close to Robinson College, but does not stop anywhere near the Geography faculty which is on a far corner of a site inaccessible to public road users, (such as buses) but accessible by taxi. Nor does it stop anywhere near any of the Institutes she is likely to use. It is the Only bus which passes near Robinson. Bicycles are a preferred mode of transport but not necessarly appropriate for someone having a bad day with CFS."
Think we have a reasonable case for the transport!!

As yet we've had no response to the email, but will see what happens.
Quiet day for me, my aim is to get one piece of coursework completed.

Take care all :)

[rebecca c]

Claire good to hear someone is helping you put some pressure on.

I'm off to bully my doctor as my chest is bad again this morning. Feeling quite low but trying to keep my chin up. Boys are helping.

I think I shall hold Matts smile comment in my head to keep the blues at bay - it made me laugh, thanks Matt.

Multi tasking - tell me about it raising two children through flu and chest infection 2 courses of antibiotics and 3 of steroids having an interview and starting a new job.

[cnc]

Rebecca, sorry to hear you're feeling bad again. Try not to let it get you down, hopefully they'll sort something out for you.

I can't multitask any more :( I attempted typing whilst eating toast and dropped the toast :)

[linny]

I went shopping with Megan yesterday and came back feeling very weak, a bit worried why all my tendons seem to ache.

Megan fell off her bed on Wednesday evening - she was standing on it to put her glasses on her shelf before getting into bed. She fell against her door and hit the wall with her cheekbone. She has a big graze and a purplish/blaack eye! Had to go the the optician to get her glasses straightened.:(

Today we made little cardboard baskets with rabbit faces and a cotton wool tail! Megan designed the 'net' for the shape. We're going to fill them with sweets for her grandparents. Quite therapuetic for me - I enjoyed it.

:o Ian has found out he has to open on Easter Monday - and 'a very happy Easter to his bosses' that's what I say, bet they won't be working. He supplies garages with car parts etc and none of his customers will actually be open. He's salaried so doesn't get any extra pay either. Also not allowed to take the Tuesday off either. He's off on leave next week to do some decorating - only wish I could help like I used to. Megan's getting good at pasting and painting with emulsion - start em early eh!:lol2:

Sorry to hear you're feeling ill Rebecca, try to rest and lookk after yourself, I know it's hard though.

Pam I'm going to have a look on the Blue Peter website sounds good.

:) I seem to on a winning streak - no not the lottery I'm afraid. I won a spa smellies pack from a Superdrug competition and a Braun digital thermoscan that's a themometer you use in the ear, from an Asda comp. It's so much easier to use to check kid's temps than the one they hold in their mouth. Perhaps next I'll get a tv, car, money ........ dream on eh!:rolleyes: Or maybe a new boiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rebecca c]

Had a good day in the end the doctor was really good and we've done what we need to do to make sure its not the infection or white blood cell stuff back again - will find out in a week or so.

Took the boys to Lewes where we had a great lunch and took in a few shops and went to see a piece of environmental art by Chris Drury called Heart of Reeds.

Off to stay with friends for the weekend tomorrow.

[cnc]

Glad you got something sorted Rebecca.

[Copper]

Great to hear that your doctor listened to you Rebecca. I hope that you feel better soon.

I hope that you get your taxis sorted out soon Claire.


I am unemployed for the next two weeks :lol2:

[Pam]

Well done on the comps Linny, I wish I could win things - I never win anything!

I'm looking forward to the next strike day on 27th April - there are strikes over 3 days in different parts of the country unless the talks are productive before then.

Next week myself and a colleague are going to decorate my boss's office with easter chicks, bunnies, daffodils etc. We did his office at christmas and he came to see us last week jokingly saying "you're not going to decorate my office for easter are you?" in the "please do it" sort of tone. I think he loves having a fuss made of him really - bosses seem to miss out on so much - they aren't allowed to be silly themselves so need someone else to do it for them. So I could do with a few of your craft ideas, Linny. I've bought some bendy neck straws to make daffodil stalks and will stick petals and trumpets on with coloured paper. Perhaps I should print out "I wandered lonely as a cloud...." to stick on his office door, then when he opens it he will see the "host of lovely daffodils".

It was hubby's 40th birthday yesterday, so we are off for a birthday off roading session (that's driving, nothing kinky!!!) tomorrow in Derbyshire followed by a pub meal with our 4x4 friends. He cleaned the car today ready for the before (shiney) and after (caked in mud overcoat) photos - it's a man thing!!!! The tank wears its mud with pride lol!

[matt]

say belated happy brthday for me pam. what you got 4x4 wise. i keep pondering an old range rover. just nervous about reliability and would probably have to keep my other car, which seems silly when just me. but since when do i care about silly.

and decorating bosses room!!! heck someone who likes their boss. i suppose it had to happen once.

good and bad news linny. hope he injured small one not too bad! lots of choc will make her be happier!

well i went to the local health food shop and got my scheese, much easier than trying to get it back 25 miles without it geting warm and a few pence cheaper. result. then the daft bugger there claimed they no longer make parmezano so couldn't order it. not accordingto mh foods. nevermind one problem solved.

i'd rant about the damn footballs but you've heard it all. needless to say one back already. the only reason not more was it began to rain!:mad:

day to myself today then caitlin back tomorrow. so time to waste. or rather time to make an easter egg for her. milk choc on outside and white in the middle. oh and some small ones... spot the sucker!

have a nice saturday all. try to not spend too much in the shops. and sorry it's my turn to win the lottery this week. then good luck to you all from wednesday :)

[Pam]

Ours is a Nissan Terrano long wheel base (7 seats to keep our kids nicely spaced in order to minimise fighting) and it is very capable off road (can outdo a landrover in some circumstances, but the short wheel base one is a bit better than ours). We only do fairly tame stuff as we can't afford to do to much damage when hubby needs it for work. Big puddles, steep hills and bumpy tracks are the order of the day with a bit of mud if we can find it. We get 24-28 mpg around town so it isn't too bad on fuel and certainly isn't the rogue that the anti-4x4 crew would make it out to be. (Better mpg than many family saloon cars and better all round than luxury cars eg jags, big mercs and rollers). Range Rovers are very thirsty, expensive for maintenance, rust buckets etc Discoveries are very poor build quality and unreliable. If you're having a plaything you'd be better off with a proper landrover that you don't mind spoiling the paintwork on (or an older Terrano - not that I'm biased!)

[Copper]

I have resigned from Unison so no striking for me. Unison do nothing for us or even tell us we should be on strike!!!! Some were not even balloted :( I am not the only one who has resigned.

Pam would you meet the 85 rule then? Those of us who have resigned lately would never meet the 85 rule.

[cnc]

So cold here, and my shoulders have now started hurting, as well as my knees, hips etc.... So feeling a bit sorry for myself, however one piece of coursework is nearly completed, so that's something :)

Take care all.

[goose]

well i awoke to yet another snowy day, but the sunshine soon sorted that out
Awaiting the Grand National to start as have a wee flutter on that one. my footie coupon is on and i put on two lucky dips on the lotto, well i did awake feeling lucky this morning

[paranoidangel]

That's good news Rebecca.

Claire, it's a nice day, how can you be cold?

I went to Sainsburys and got all excited by them having an entire section of the freezer full of their own brand free from, and some dietary specials stuff. Sadly, though, as exciting as the wheat & gluten free pies & pizzas look they all have milk and most have egg.

I am off to London tomorrow, though, to stock up on sausages and chocolate spread (I've had no chocolate spread for over a week!). I might see if I can find a Fresh n Wild too, to see what they do. I also need to get some fruit & veg, which Sainsburys couldn't quite manage. So basically, I'm going to London for food!

[paranoidangel]

Awaiting the Grand National to start

I'm really annoyed the BBC are showing that instead of the Davis Cup tennis. I wasn't in yesterday and am not in tomorrow to watch it, so I was looking forward to a nice bit of doubles.

[Copper]

I spent all morning baking. This afternoon I have been potting on my seedlings - my back aches now. My red hot pokers have not grown so I have sowed some more seeds. My canna lilies are growing very fast now. I have yet to pot up the summer flowering bulbs :(

I will be doing my family history this evening and listening to the coldplay concert on radio 2.

Himself has run out of ironed shirts. Guess what my first job will be after breakfast tomorrow?


My hands have never been very happy peeling potatoes and now my left hand comes out in hives. :(

[cnc]

How can I be cold?! We've had snow and hail today!! Plus because I can't move round that much, I have problems keeping warm.

Copper, hope the hives get better soon. My hands itch when I'm playing with potatoes.

Gardens?! It's still winter round here....

[paranoidangel]

You had snow? I hung my washing out, and it dried!

[matt]

morning all. it was lovely and sunny down here but the wind was enough to make me cold.:( i feel the cold too easily anyway. longish and slow walk for me and started a certain little girls eater egg with the lakeland moulds. yearly requirement milk and white choc! fun to see her face when she gets it though means much more than a bought one. but she's a kid so it's all choc!:lol2:

PA one heck of a trip to go shopping! i'm sure you could find a shop nearer!!:lol2:

Pam if i got a rover it would be a very old very cheap one pref diesel so that i can part fuel it using veg oil! can't fit in landy due to length of legs. not tried a terrano. going to visit a nissan and VW dealer soon to try out some of their commercial one as they tend to be more sit up straight type cars.

caitlin back sometime this morning so might not be in chat later as if she's in play mood then i'll be busy. sorry.

nearly bought a bet on the national but backed off in the end. would have done it on line as have never placed a bet in my life. can't think of a time i've been in a betting shop though i'm sure i must have at some point.

not checked the lottery yet. here's hoping.

right enjoy a lazy sunday. might go and feed the local ducks later before it becomes too dangerous to aproach them!

[Pam]

We had a good day yesterday, the weather was a mixture between sunshine and hail stone blizzards and there was a lot of snow over snake pass as we were going down to Derbyshire. I even had a go at driving yesterday and found lots of muddy puddles to splash through and did both an ascent and descent in low box. We got stuck in a muddy field though as our tyres are quite worn and one of the others had to tow us out - must get some better grippy tyres next time!!! A good time was had by all though.

[Fozzybear]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun Pam!

I had a quiet day in yesterday playing with my new macro lens:

http://static.flickr.com/41/125046236_8f54884e47_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulforsdick/125046236/) My computer mouse :lol2:

and working on photos to upload to flickr. I finally bit the bullet and paid for a pro account with flickr as I'm approaching the 200 visible photos limit and am finding the limited number of sets (only three) a pain. Plus I can upload huge images now and can send 2 gigs of them a month compared to 20 megs on the free account. I've been looking through my old photos again and worked on a few shots I'd taken on film and scanned in ages ago. I really must start scanning my old slides again as I've got loads to do and have barely scratched the surface!

I should go out today as it's quite nice at the moment, although I don't think I'll do loads as I feel rather tired this week. Might just walk down to the village and go in Somerfield.

Oh yeah, and I watched the War of the Worlds last night (the Tom Cruise/Spielberg one) - very good! I had to look in the spare room for martians when I went to bed! ;)

[Pam]

Copper, I forgot to say, yes I do qualify for the 85 year rule. I already have 13 years service and have another 20 years before I'm 60. Even if I work until I'm 65 I won't get a full pension but it won't be far off.

[Copper]

I took 10 years out to spend time with my babies. Then I went back to work but part time. I am 52 and we have worked out that even if I stayed on until I was 60 I would not gain much more in pension. In other words it is not worth the stress to stay at work beyond this term. It might be different if I enjoyed working.

[cnc]

This pension talk scares me!!
Struggling through my coursework again today, quite glad I'm not outside, its horrible outside, snow, rain and apparently hailstones!!
Quiet week with my mum, going to Cleckheaton to get some cheese and stuff tomorrow, then I'm going to the Turkish Baths on Tuesday :)

[Pam]

I took 7 years out then had another year out of the public sector but the rest of my working life has all been contributing to my local government pension. I'm not giving up without a fight. Unfortunately I can't do picket duty as the kids will be at home due to strike action at school.

[Lou C]

Had an afternoon out today, took Jacob and his friend to the West Yorkshire Playhouse to see Eoin Colfer Live, he was quite funny. I've not read his books yet but Jacob and Paul (hubby) have and they both enjoyed them. Had some books signed afterwards then went to the pub for tea. Home and straight into my pjs for a night in front of the telly. Going to watch Ghost Boat, will probably end up not sleeping for a week, seeing as Paul's a submariner!!!

[cnc]

Ooooh I'm going to be watching that as well. Evening off for me.

Take care all

[matt]

sorry not in chat, 7 year old comes first, but then it was probably nice without me!

eoin colfer good? love his books wonder if he's coming this way. yeah i know they are meant for kids so ideal for me really.

pension talk. well claire sorry to rain on the parade but if you don't think of it as soon as you start working you will be in trouble by the time you retire. getting more and more unlikely that you'll have a state pension by the time you reach that age.

war of the worlds good is it? keep meaning to get the dvd. will get it this week if i venture for a walk as far as the local blockbuster. not too far away but damn big hill. 4 days till i can drive!!!!

day with daughter again today. made mum an easter egg yesterday. will finish caitlins later when she's not here.

hope you all have good monday what ever you're up to.

[rebecca c]

Not feeling my best but not awful. Had a nice weekend with friends near Wantage. Boys had friends to play with so we did very little indeed. Off to my parents this morning - hate the drive but once I'm there I can relax for 3 days. Plus new puppy to play with. Hopefully I will return fully recovered.

Getting the bedroom floor sanded while we are away.

Woke up to a skimming of snow this morning!

[cnc]

I know Matt, why do you think I'm staying in Education for so long?!
I think my NI contributions currently stand at about £1!!

Going to Cleckheaton sometime today, get cheese and whatever else I can persuade mum to buy!! Combined with more coursework :(

[paranoidangel]

PA one heck of a trip to go shopping!

Having been, I agree with you. I completely failed to get half the stuff I wanted, and half the tubes were off for engineering works. You'd think this would suggest they should put extra ones on the other lines, but obviously not.

[matt]

PA what planet are you on? this is the UK. now in tokyo or anywhere else with a tube they'd do that... in london. just be gratefull they didn't fancy the day off and strike!
surely there's somewhere nearer andeasier to get the stuff from?

bus to shops yesterday then a walk while daughter cycled to see ducks again. still safe for now. no bird flu just yet!!!! half dead me though after all the walking.

so chores and course work today for me. but then it's meant to rain later so not eager to go out in that.

did manage to swap some biscuits yesterday. tried the tru free bourbons but didn't like so took the other two boxes i had and the health food shop swapped them for the custard creams:)

hope you all survived the monday ... 2 days till i can drive again!!!

[Copper]

hope you all survived the monday ... 2 days till i can drive again!!!

Not that you're desperate :lol2:

I managed to do some gardening yesterday. The seed I put on the ground for the birds when it was very cold is growing nicely :( I removed 4 flower stalks from the rhubarb. The cat was busy too, sunbathing :rolleyes: A couple of plants in the back garden look dead but I will leave them a bit longer just in case they sprout.

It is going to pour with rain this afternoon and I have to take my mother shopping - great.

[cnc]

I'm tired, and was having a restful day, so not amused!!
Had accupuncture, and then a nice time in the Turkish Baths, which was more tiring than I expected, not sure why as all I did was sit down and then move occassionally!!

I've had curry this evening (told you it was a lazy day) and then coursework tomorrow.

Weather has been horrible here for days :(

[matt]

sounds like a busy day of being pampered claire. was it al it's cracked up to be? or too tiring?

copper you were sunbathing yesterday? it was damn cold here. went for a walk and nearly froze.:eek:

did some open uni reading but kept getting nodding dog syndrome! will try some more today.

24 hours to go.....:cool: then in car to collect daughter and maybe a little outing to celebrate. otter sanctuary or hillier gardens in romsey. weather depending.

look at it this way folks. get to lunch time today and it's all downhill to the weekend.:)

[Pam]

We had lovely weather on Monday Claire - how can you say it was horrible. Yesterday was a mix between good and bad and today is starting well. Did you get to Cleckheaton yesterday? Get anything good?

Not long till you can drive now Matt

[cnc]

Monday, was lovely, but that was the exception. It was the only day so far that there has not been snow!!
Went to Cleckheaton on Monday, stocked up on cheese.

I aim to get another piece of coursework finished today. So I probably should spend less time sending these messages and go and do it!!

[Copper]

Matt I didn't sunbathe - the cat did :) I did some weeding in a border where the sun was shining and I was too hot in my summer T shirt and a fleece jacket.

Yesterday I went mad - well for me - Amazon sent me an email telling me that the Panasonic bread maker was on a special offer. I read loads of customer reviews and himself told me to order it, so I did. I always do as I am told :D

Then I had another message to tell me that a watched item on ebay was due to close in a couple of hours. Nobody had put in a bid so I put a bid in for 99p and won. I will be the delighted owner of a small copper rose bowl. I have never placed a bid on ebay before - it was a mad turn on my part.

I did do loads of work yesterday too. I cleaned and took my mother shopping to B&Q and Tesco. It was cold out and raining so I got very cold - great.

[Fozzybear]

Which Panasonic did you get, the 253 or the 252? Both seem to be a pretty good price. The coating on my pan is a bit scratched as I think the granary flour I tried had rather sharp grains in it! Still working well though - must go and set a loaf going for tomorrow as I'm out of bread (bar burger buns!).

[Copper]

I ordered the 253 as that was the one on special offer. It has been sent out today so it should arrive early next week.

[paranoidangel]

Hang on, Copper, what's wrong with the bread maker you've already got? Speaking of buying things on ebay recently, I bought a book for 1p :)

I won't be in here for a bit because I'm off to the Lake District on Friday, for a week and a bit. I am going to be taking plenty of snacks with me. I'm so looking forward to getting away from work and home.

[matt]

PA don't moan you might get the old one!! staying with friends or hotel in the lakes?

panasonic damn good make for the bread machines love mine. must be nearly six years old now. pan is scratched but does the job just fine still.

the only thing i buy from amazon at the moment is too many books. easier than going to book shop and a little cheaper.

went for a walk yesterday fairly long walk but several stops. not much improvement for a while but then i'm not moaning as i'm mobile and alive!!
can drive today... hurrah. collecting daughter later then take her out somewhere for treat assuming she's not too tired. heck even a drive to tesco's will be exciing for me. no longer reliant on public transport.

so i take it for most it will be the last working day today? got plans for the long weekend? or just sit down with rubbish tv and too much chocolate?

have a good one all:eek:

[Pam]

No plans for the weekend other than tidying up. We've got a house viewing on Monday and due to lack of interest we've let things slip a bit recently, so we have a lot of cleaning and tidying to do, hopefully this will be the one.

We decorated my boss's office for easter and he was so thrilled with it that he has shown everyone around it. Still no easter eggs in my direction though.

It looks like the next lot of strike action might not happen as talks are going on with the TUC now, so the strikes for the end of April have been suspended.

[Fozzybear]

Hope you have fun in the Lake District PA! Would like to take a trip there myself sometime, lots of superb locations for photography. :D

No plans yet for the weekend but I'm making it a long one by taking off the Tuesday and Wednesday as well. I'll probably end up seeing my brother in Ipswich and go to some other places with my camera, maybe southend/leigh-on-sea if the weather is ok.

Sounds like you're addicted to car travel Matt!

[cnc]

I went shopping today, so I'm expecting my energy to disappear very soon.

Plans for the weekend, involve: Coursework!!No surprise there really.

Hope you all have a lovely long weekend.

[Copper]

Pam - I hope you manage to sell your house on Monday.

Claire - I hope the course work goes well and that you don't get too tired.

My Panasonic bread maker arrived this afternoon :) PA it has a gluten setting so I can experiment some more. The booklet suggests using the gluten free packet mixes eg Trufree so I will have to give it a try when you come home again. We can even experiment with added flavours etc to the gluten free.

Off to mother in laws for dinner now :(

[cnc]

The email alert I got said the message was 'sell your hose'!!
I'm already tired from todays shopping trip, had fun though, so I can't complain too much!!

Hope the dinner wasn't too bad Copper.

[Copper]

Hmm sadly the spell checker did not pick up the typo but I spotted it as soon as I had submitted it :(

The dinner was not as bad as it has been in the past. I get to wash and dry up too :(

DD2 due home tomorrow :) I intend to spend the weekend doing my family history - when I am not cooking, washing up or ironing. DD2 will be revising for yet another accountants exam.

[matt]

not addicted to cars just allergic to dirty over crowded buses etc!:(

and far easier to be able to go to a shop when you want. i went to a tescos yesterday that took me 20 mins to drive to for their free from section. on the bus? i'd still be travelling now!!:o

copper you can use doves farm bread fllour which i think is far cheaper than the ready packs. recepe on the side of packet i think or at their website.

good luck on monday pam. time to get the house doctor in.:eek:

went to the otter and owl sacntuary yesterday. and might go for a walk by the river at bucklers hard today. well i'll go for a sit and leave the walking to over eager 7 year old. she has fun even if daddy is a wreck who needs to rest loads!:(

[paranoidangel]

To answer Matt, I'm at the National Rotaract Conference in Windermere this weekend, then I'm staying in a B&B.

Although leaving here's proving a bit of a problem so far! Carrying heavy stuff doesn't do much for my back, and it's chucking it down with rain at the moment, so I thought I'd get a taxi. The local taxi service, though, have decided not to provide any taxis today. So I'm having to get a slightly less local one, and it's a bank holiday, so I dread to think how much that'll cost.

[matt]

only one reply ??? what did the rest of you get up to? hope good friday was more interesting for you all.:lol2:

we dodged the showers and spent a while at bucklers hard where they used to make the boats used in the battle of trafalgar and so on. don't bother with the river cruise if you ever go. very dull and rubbish commentary.

hoping for some sun today, walk and look at a car i can't afford. deliver an easter egg to mum, well rather give one to caitlin to give her. might make some jam tarts this morning with her.:D that or may just make some for me tomorrow.:cool: that or a form of mini bakewells.

then have to drop her off at the witch in laws later.

hope no one needs shopping. the headless chickens are in the shops. i mean the supermarkets will be closed for a whole day!!!:o

have a good one folks.

[Copper]

What is it with people and shopping? Bank holiday Mondays are another time to avoid the supermarkets. I had to pop in one Bank holiday Monday for my mother and although it was hot and sunny outside the queues at the tills were half way down the aisles!!!

[rebecca c]

Hoppity Easter everyone.:) :bounce:

Hope you all get lots of lovely goodies.

I am still not feeling quite right but well enough to have a good time. Think it may be a reaction to some inadvertant dairy.

Pam I hope you get a good offer on Monday.

Claire and Matt have a day off and relax.

I have bought the boys eggs and I am sure the youngest will make himself sick tomorrow. I have made myself some meringues.

We had the bedroom floor sanded last week and the bedroom looks much better, just the decorating now................

We are planning a good length walk on Monday with a picnic to give tired legs a rest.

[matt]

copper sunny outside always means huge queues, the idiots suddenly decide to have a bbq. hence the desperate need for 300 sausges, 200 burgers and a lorry of lager. all of which is wasted as they always get the cheapest of each! why not go for a really nice steak and some quality chops? with a decent bottle of wine. and why not have them in to avoid the rest of the lemmings?

daughter made jam tarts yesterday from scratch but they weren't quite good enough for her, mr kipling to blame. so she gave them away as easter presents! she loved her egg though and has nearly eaten one half already. she'll be bombarded with them today. cheap imitations of the special home made one! like she cares, at 7 it;s all chocolate!!:eat:

might go out today to some gardens if they are open. as close as a day off for me as any.
easter bunny missed me as normal:( but then i suppose i don't really eat choc, he could have dropped off some freefrom bakewell tarts or something! git.

well i hope not too many over filled kids today! what out for the sugar monster.

[cnc]

Im having a bit of a quieter day today, couldn't make breakfast this morning, thankfully I'm at home so am being looked after!!

One Kinnertons egg for me, shame I'm not really up to self-indulgence at the moment.
Hope you all have a nice Easter break :bounce:

[paranoidangel]

I'm having a good time up in the Lake District. I have a whole story to tell you all about food, but I'm too tired (staying up late drinking, getting up early for conference sessions, and a fire alarm last night) so it'll have to wait until I'm feeling more awake. Which'll probably be once I'm back in a week's time.

[matt]

we shall await the story from you PA. something to look forward to.

i went to the harold hiller gardens near romsey. loads of flowers, lovely and sunny. took loads of photos including some of a grass snake. will edit them all later and post them maybe this afternoon.

so managed to walk slowly around. 300 metres then a 15 min sit down to recover!! but i made it.

home in time for chat and where were you all? too much choc or kids to nurse back from turning green?:D

going to take the parents to a garden centre today. well it's traditional isn't it? couple of plants i want anyway. if i can get them in around dad's wheelchair!

so all the eggs gone yet?

[Pam]

I didn't get any eggs and couldn't make chat as we went to the allotment instead to pick rhubarb (but had to go there twice as neither of us took a key for the gate the first time so we ended up walking twice as far).

Got to go and do a big tidy up now for the house viewing. Fingers crossed that this one wants to buy, it is really getting me down now.

[Lan]

Hi Pam,

Good luck with the viewing. I hope they buy.

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2:

[Pam]

No show - again! I think it is the estate agent making viewings up to make us think that people are interested. This is the second time we've had a no show after we have threatened to sack them.

[Copper]

So are you going to sack them and get another estate agent? I would.

[matt]

i'd second that. they aren't doing a damn thing, go to another agent it's not like they've done much to help so far. sorry it was a wasted day.

hellish trip to the garden centre with a petulant git of a father. enough said :mad: :mad: :mad:

got a couple of buddlias so with any luck if i get them into the ground i'll have some butterflies this summer.

mum got me a bar of plamil choc on way home!:) easily pleased me!!! not that i;ve tried it yet. treat for later.

might go to a funeral today of someone i knew a little bit. really nice bloke though..... i know i should but you know how it is.:( and i need to do some open uni work or i'll be behind.

[Pam]

Are you back on the chocolate now Matt? It's good that you can have a few treats once in a while.

Hope the funeral isn't too traumatic.

I might ring the other estate agent today and ask their advice. I think our house is in the paper this week so we'll have to wait until the end of next week before we sack them. We went into the office and they phoned the "viewer" who apparently rang to cancel on Wednesday as he had found something else - but he only made the appointment just before closing on Wednesday.... fishy? The house that we wanted is sold now too - bum! So even if we sell there isn't anything that we really, really want at the moment and prices seem to be going up all the time whilst ours is going down.

I'm trying to be positive and thinking that everything happens for a reason but it is damned hard sometimes! My life is in limbo and I just want to move house. We are putting off buying a new car or making any holiday plans until we know about moving but at the rate we are going it looks like neither will be happening.

[matt]

didn't g to the funeral did a geocache put out by the bloke instead as a weird form of tribute that didn't involve me getting stuck in with crowd of people.:(

pam what can i say? sounds more than fishy. personally i'd not wait for the following week, just go and get it on someone elses books. straight away. i mean it's not like they have been sending loads of people around, it's been on the market for ages. unless there's a nuclear dump next door why is it not getting any viewings even?:(

watched serenity and meeting the family stone last night. well worth it.

caitlin tonight hurrah.:)

[Pam]

We were originally a 2 bedroom house but we partitioned the second to make it into 3, unfortunately you have to walk through the second to get to the third. We also don't have our own back garden but have access rights for bins, washing lines and according to the deeds "any other reason" - so a nice space with no responsibility. There's a wood burning stove too which you either love or hate. It is priced the same as some much smaller 2 bedroom houses with no garden and no parking so we can't understand why it hasn't sold. A true 3 bedroom house accross the street with no parking and no private garden was up for almost £20k more than ours is now and sold straight away, so it isn't the street that is putting people off. It was originally marketed as a 3 bedroom house but we have now changed it to 2 to 3 bedrooms. We are at a loss completely.

[Lou C]

Apologies for my ignorance, but what is a geocache??? Lou xx

[cnc]

Pam, change estate agents!!

Lou, Geocache- use GPS (Uses satellite to locate position of the unit, I shall be using one for my dissertation, so you might get to see one soon!!) systems to locate plastic tubs in various areas of the country. It helps keep Matt out of mischief!!

[Copper]

I have just had a lie down for 45 minutes in a dentist chair. I now have a lovely white filled tooth and a fat lip :lol2: My usual dentist is off with a broken hip so I saw a younger model. He used a rubber dam for the job which takes some getting used to. It is used to keep the tooth isolated but also has the side effect of forcing you to keep your mouth wide open!

That is the total excitement of my two week holiday I think. We are going to venture out to Castlepoint tomorrow afternoon. This is a large shopping centre on the fringes of Bournemouth - famous only for the car park which is falling down. The centre has only been open for about a year. The reason for the visit is for me to dawdle through the Lakeland shop. I will also visit the Asda there in case they have anything exciting in their free from range.

[rebecca c]

Pam, I agree with the others its time to change estate agents. You are being honest about the houses drawbacks it will still suit someone down to the ground - just as it did you when you bought it.

Copper I am glad you finally got your tooth sorted. I took the boys and me to the dentist on Tuesday and we all got a clean bill of health. My dentist has agreed to look at Mikes teeth who hasn't seen a dentist for 20 years so that could be interesting for him.

Matt glad you are out and about again, take it easy though - should you be pushing a weelchair?

I had a reasonable holiday, feel like I planned it well but suffered a bit from not planning for Mike to be around a bit more. Never mind it means he has got more leave left for the rest of the year. His at the Arsenal tonight so he will be happy!!:) They have decided they have to have a lucky curry before all the champions league games because that was what someone did the first time they won one.

We saw a lamb being born on Tuesday which was a nice end to the holidays!!!

Enjoyed being back at work today - working on my own now and getting used to my new regime. It is a nice way to get my brain going again, stretching me just the amount I can cope with on top of my other responsibilities.

[Copper]

Glad you had a good holiday Rebecca. The birth of an animal still makes me marvel at how wonderful it all is no matter how messy :)

This was third time lucky to get this tooth filled. First appointment the dentist was running very late would I mind cancelling - err no not at all. Second appointment cancelled as his first baby (son and heir) arrived two weeks early. I already knew it would - sixth sense and all that.

I have 10 weeks of work left :D

[matt]

well so many questions... goody gives me something to do this early.

geocache, well think treasure hunt but with handheld GPS unit. hence the signature line of using military satellites to locate tupperware hidden in the woods! see www.geocaching.com (http://www.geocaching.com) put in your post code and find the nearest one to you. kids love it.

i didn't push the wheelchair i had to let mum do it which wasn't much better and must have looked terrible, this 6'7'' bloke letting a frail looking woman push a fat git in his wheelchair.

pam, ditch the useless agent. they are not marketting it right can't see why noone is interested. they can't be pushing it well. or maybe they are using it as a base mark to sell the more expensive ones...see what more you can get sort of thing? either way get rid of them.
and wood burning stove. i'm envious as would love one.:)

copper, can't decide whether to go to salisbury or castlepoint today after dropping off caitlin. decisions decisions. i'll be there much earlier than you should i go though.

great evening with her last night. really missed it while was ill. wish i could win the lottery now as she's asking for me to move back to the same town as her to see more of me:(

oh well such is life. atleast i can drive again.:)

[goose]

Hello to one and all. have not been around much this last week, really stressful few days at work and overdone it, which brought on a happy couple of days will IBS for company....:(

But glad to report im fine and back to my usual annoying, chatty self.

Matt good to see your on the mend again.

Have a good one.:cool:

[Copper]

Ok been to Castlepoint now and don't feel the need to go again. You have to walk miles outside and it was cold. Asda was useless for dairy free as there is no dedicated "Free from" section so you have to trail up and down the aisles. I did buy a cross stitch magazine in there as Smiths was useless. Lakeland was like Aladin's cave once we worked out how to get there. I was very good and only bought two things in there.

We stopped off at the local shops on the way home as my other half wanted to buy a magazine - Castlepoint was useless for that too. My car also needed petrol and we were shocked to find a queue for this at our local Asda. By the time we had bought his mag the queue was very short so we joined it. I now have petrol so I can get to work next week.

[cnc]

Copper my local Asda has a free from shelf!! There doesn't seem to be much of it!!

Packing and coursework at the moment, not a good combination :(

[Copper]

Asda in Poole are rubbish too. Obviously there are no allergy/intolerant sufferers down south then. :angry:

Highlight of my day today was admiring a green woodpecker in the tree in my garden. I have never seen or heard a woodpecker in our area before. It is a lovely bird with a long pointed beak - perfect for making holes in tree trunks :D

[bella]

In my dad's garden we see the occasional woodpecker with its young babies. also lots of jays which are quite rare so we are told. and loads of magpies, they are horrid!!!!!! My dad gets lots of fox and squirrels too. Two herons have also started to make a home in our field, unforntunatley the large puddle will dry up soon so the herons will have to find somewhere eles to live. How lucky are we to see all wildlife everyday? and we take it for granted.

[Copper]

I have seen a jay once on my fence too. I think they are a rare sight these days. I never get any sparrows in my garden!

I noticed a big decrease in butterflies last year. We have stinging nettles behind our fence and they are usually eaten by the caterpillars but not last year. I used to get lots of butterflies in the garden but again last year they were a rare sight. I wonder what will happen this year as again the spring has been cold, even down here in the south.

I heard a fox the other night it sounded like somebody was being strangled :D

[matt]

went to salisbury in the end and popped into the waitrose store. lovely free from section and got a nice bar of organico swiss choc. which will sit in the cupboard till i can build up the resolve to try it!:o

a few odds and sods from the main shopping and resisted the cd's!

then home to order some scheese from local health food shop. god i live life on the edge!!

all i get in my back garden are sparrows and big fat pigeons. i've been tempted on more than one occasions to get rid of the fat sods...

would love more wildlife but not foxes. damn vermin....

psych assess this morning..... send file in cake i might be locked up by lunch!

then daughter from school.:) :)

[matt]

oh yeah good to see you back lydia. had been wondering but so hard to keep track of who's been here and who hasn't

[matt]

i don't know. no one's done anything in the last 24 hours then???

well escaped after the assessment. thank god for the care in the community and funding crisis. or i'd be locked away by now!!:lol2:

madam's swimming went well. just need to teach her to stop swallowing so much of the bloody pool! still she now enjoys going under water when it wasn't long ago that she wouldn't put her face in!

was going to see ice age 2 today but the ex got a pirate copy so madam had already seen it....
so no plans yet. might have fun day at home pottering in the garden. things needing to be done. whether i can do them is another matter. child labour time. plus a trip to a garden centre to try to get a witch hazel.

have a good saturday all.:)

[bella]

What have i done in the last 24 hours? Let me think. Not a lot!!! I worked all day Friday, From 6.30am to about 6.30pm so i was knackered last night. We had a take away and went to bed. How boring is that? I am gonna get ready soon and back to work. Mac will come with for a bit and then my friend is hopefully taking kids to pictures to see Ice Age 2, but same as you, they have already seen it. The picture wasnt brilliant though. I Read some earlier posts, Dont know how i have managed to start typing like this!!!! about some books you have read. Have you read Where Rainbows End, or it could be called When Rainbows End. Anyway its by the same author as PS I love you. Its a really good book, easy to read. Right I had better get ready to go to work. Bye for now.

[goose]

I agree Matt where has everyone been, it's like a ghost town around hear recently.

Well for me Friday consisted of working in the morning, went for a little walk round the park as there was a bit of fog around which meant the park was reasonably quiet.

Then re-arranged some bedroom funiture around, which resulted in yet another injury to add to the collection.

Today will be working most of it, but i should be around for the two o' clock chat on Sunday. Hope to see a few there, have a good weekend everyone.

[linny]

Hi all,
the decorating is still not completely done as the whole flat is in turmoil because we've emptied our bedroom and are waiting for the new carpet. I'll be glad when I can find things again. I can now get to the computer cupboard but can't sit down or move the keyboard and mouse to the table!

Spoke to my neighbour last night and she and her 3 year old daughter have had an interview and picture taken by Allergy UK to be printed in this week's Sunday Express. Serena (3) has lots of allergies including dairy and the interview was about how they find food shopping etc. They were asked to go on GMTV but aren't brave enough! The Allergy UK office is only a couple of miles from here.

Hope all is ok, I couldn't possibly read 353 new posts to find out all the latest news!

[cnc]

I have been packing. Or more specifically watching mum pack my stuff for me, and then unpack it all again at the other end. I feel bad letting her do it, but I can't do it myself, so I don't have much option. Have tried to do as much as I can though!!

I may make chat on Sunday, if I am awake enough to.

[Copper]

Poor mum - still that is what mum's are for :) I hope she wasn't doing all of the driving too!

I have been spending time with my deceased ancestors.

I have made a white loaf in the new Panasonic bread maker - it is yummy. I am now baking a brown loaf. The thing I like most about the Panasonic is just how quiet it is - we used to shut the door on the Morphy Richards :lol2:

I just need PA to come home now and then I could try a gluten free loaf in the Panasonic.

[cnc]

Yes she did drive down!! Then my brother and dad moved all the boxes, and then mum did a lot of the unpacking, although there is still a lot to do!! Ah well, I'm only here for 7 weeks!!

Have you found any more interesting stories Copper?

[Pam]

Bella, I've read both of those books by Celia Ahearn and loved both of them - the sort of books that you can't wait to get to the end of but wish there was more when you do. I'm into sloppy romance. I'm not reading anything at the moment though, I never get to bed early enough to read and don't have chance during the day.

I went to work yesterday followed by a trip to the supermarket. Today I've done loads of washing (now either drying or waiting to be ironed. Went to a suprise 60th birthday party at church for lunch. Shoe shopping for eldest and then a shuffle around the allotment to see how things are progressing.

Why have all my rhubarb plants grown seed heads? (I pulled about 6 heads out today and 4 the other day)

I suppose I ought to think about making some tea for the tribe now.

[Copper]

My rhubarb has gone mad this year too and sent up 4 flower heads - I pulled them off sharpish.

Off to watch Dr Who now :)

[matt]

rhubarb...http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/content.cfm?series=4&item=523&Parents=0%7C67%7C121 seems something to do with the winter... maybe they are getting old? or they've run to seed as have dried out. happens to lots of veg.

i'm more sci fi in my reading. currently kevin anderson. though i have been known to read alan titchmarsh!!:o

claire that is in deed what mothers are there for! she's happy to do it and it's her only way to help you while away. soon enough you'll be wishing whe would come round when you get you own place and she's saying get in a cleaner!!!:lol2:

linny, you lightweight why can't you read all 300 plus posts? gives you something to do!

well lovely day of sunshine here yesterday. walk in the woods. a potter in the garden and a bike ride for a certain young lady before we had to take her home. not much planned today until the chat at 2. asuming there's anyone there today when the sun's shinin in the garden. you'll all be outin the sun with a drink and straw.:cool:

[cnc]

Matt, stop bullying Linny!!

I've still not done my unpacking, need to get it done soon, but was hurting too much yesterday so didn't bother.... Hopefully all my new stuff will come as well soon.

Chat to some of you later hopefully.

[Pam]

Rhubarb - they probably are getting old, we've had them for about 5 years and the allotment belonged to someone else before us, but whilst they are still producing a lot of shoots we'll hang onto them. I suppose this year has been a bit dryer than normal so far too. I know that if we have a major dry spell and then get rain we get seed heads coming up.

[Copper]

New family history stories hmmm. Somebody was told a story about his great grandparents. His great grandmother and my great grandmother were sisters. He was told that when his great grandmother died leaving several children my great grandmother left her husband and moved in with his great grandfather. Now this sounded like the sort of major scandal that some of my rellies would have had fits about and would explain why we were told not to trace this side of the family.

I have just heard that in fact this was a just a story as the man in question did marry again so my great grandmother was not naughty after all. It doesn't really explain why she and her husband are not together in 1901 - heck they are not even in the same county.

It just goes to show you can't believe everything you are told :)

[bella]

My dad grows tomatoes every year and they tatse so much better than shop bought ones. He used to grow rhubarb years ago. I love growing flowers from seed, but havent planted nothing this year. My dad has planted sunflower seeds with kids. Last year one grew to about 13 foot.

[bella]

Pam, How long did it take you to get that high score on Screwball????? I have been playing it for about 10 days and although I am getting much much better i am still about 4000 off your score!!! It doesnt help that I cant read the instructions cause they are in japanese!! I think!!

[matt]

pams been playing it far longer than that......addicted??? you decide!

quiet day yesterday shops with ma then garden centre to get me a daphne and a tayberry. apart from that just a little pottering in the garden. thinking what i'd like to do. cover the lot then gravel!!! far easier.:lol2:

nothing at all planned today... tidy up maybe and some open uni work.

[Pam]

I usually only get something between 2 and 3 thousand. The trick is to get as many sequences set up as possible so that when one colour is knocked out the balls at the sides match up, you score much higher amounts that way. (I usually try to set up a whole line of just 2 colours alternating between 2 of one colour and 2 of the other, clearing all other colours out of the way). The clear balls take out all the other balls of the colour you thrown them at. If they come round on the spiral leave them as long as possible, if they come up in the centre choose the colour you most want to get rid of.

I think a lot of it is luck, particularly with the number of clear balls that come out. More colours are introduced the longer you play, then it gets harder.

[linny]

Went to see friends yesterday and they have a 9 week old kitten - yes it's gorgeous and Megan wants one!! Thing is we live near a fairly busy road.

My neighbour upstairs and her daughter were in the Sunday Express yesterday - a really nice picture of them and an interview.

New carpet is being fitted on Wednesday so I've got to try and shuffle everything into the other rooms. Don't try to move anything heavy hubby says - well it's all heavy!!

:lol2: We're off to Herne Bay to my parents' caravan for the weekend so I'm trying to arrange too many things at once and getting nowhere. Hubby just phoned to say the plumber is coming tomorrow evening to fit the (hopefully) last part to the boiler.

That rotten company that we had trouble with never even answered my complaint letter - should I bother sending another ??:confused: It causes me so much stress just to think about it.:(

[Steve]

Just taking a break from work. Been building some circuit boards up. I now remember how hard it is to solder surface mount components by hand.

Attached is a photo of two of the resistors i'm using to give an idea of the size of the components. Next to them is a 1p coin.

[yvie]

Today I am waiting for a call, as my best friends 9 year old daughter is, as I type having open heart surgery in the Royal Brompton.

My cousin died yesterday so I am all at once, upset, and worried.

Trying to sort out paperwork for a particularly nasty divorce/custody battle and trying to put that into the box it deserves and concentrate my energies on being positive for my friends.

So this week is going to be a confusion of thoughts and activities and trying not to show it to my daughter.

Had a lovely afternoon saturday, took both girls to the park in the sunshine for a couple of hours. THey had a great time and I hope it won't be too long before I can take them both out again. It was a pleasure to watch them running around and so hard knowing one of them won't be doing it again for a fair while.

Roll on summer and sunshine and happier times all round.

[Copper]

I know how you feel as my mother had a triple heart by pass a year and a half ago. As I told my mother at the time you don't hear of people dieing in the op. My mother was up and about quite quickly and she is no spring chicken :) I am sure that your best friend's daughter will improve quite quickly and will surprise you all. At least she will have the nice weather on her side which I am sure helps too.

Let us know how she is doing.

Your life sounds a tad stressful at the moment. I hope things improve soon.

[matt]

yvie what can i say... it'll all sort itself out hopefully soon. all the best to the friends daughter.

steve that's why they made robots! and small asian men willing to work all day for £3.50!!!! but if you insist then have fun.

nice little walk and a visit to the library yesterday, borrowed cd of nickleback and dvd of northern exposure.
i know how to live life on the edge!

[Pam]

Yvie, I hope your friend's daughter makes a good recovery. I'm sorry about your cousin and I hope you manage to get your divorce/custody sorted out without too much trouble.

Makes my life seem very boring really.

I arranged for another estate agent to value our house this friday, she already knew the price of house so she is obviously on the ball, but she did think it was a back to back (it isn't, it is a through terrace on the corner of an L shaped terrace). That maybe explains why we haven't been getting the viewings. We said from the start that the photo was wrong. I'll see what she says on Friday, but she was trying to compare us unfavourably with a house in the next street that is much smaller than ours just because they have a very small garden at the back - so our front garden, drive and shared rear garden obviously count for nothing then! I can see me falling out with them and sticking with the current agents unless she changes her opinion. If anyone wants to give me their opinion pm me and I'll tell you where to find my house on Rightmove.com.

[yvie]

Hi all, Many thanks for your wishes and sorry to have offloaded like that. I did feel better when I had written it down though!

Carrie came through the operation, was stirring last night, and now I wait for the call to say all is ok. We can't wait to see her, Haylies head master has given her friday off so we can go up there, loaded with presents and balloons and....stuff!

Pam, I would PAY MONEY for boring!!!!!! lol
Also don't forget, the Agent is working for YOU. YOU are paying them to sell YOUR house, so don't let them kid you into thinking they are in charge. They are LUCKY to have your property to sell, and should do everything they can to show it in its best light. (yes I was an agent, and a good one, and it annoys me when you get one that doesnt seem to realise they are working for YOU!)
ANother rant over, lol

[goose]

Well i spent three long hours this morning trying to figure out why i could not connect to the internet, only to discover that i had disenabled the modem connection!!!!:confused:

Then took a little frustration out on the hoover with a clean around the house.

may have a wander round the park today since the sun is shinning. (yes matt this has been since Sunday!), it will be raining by the time Lan arrives on friday.

Have a good one.

[bella]

Hi everyone. How you feeling yvie? I hope you are okay? Well pam, I am nowhere near your high score on screwball yet. I think I might be better finding another game that at least I can ptetened to play. Not done much today, went to wacky warehouse this morning with Mac, Jack who is Macs age, and viky, Jacks mum. The kids are getting old enough now so we can talk more than childmind. I take macs own biscuits and his friend has them es well so there is no problem with mac eating summat he shouldnt. We are lucky cause he has never, TOUCH WOOD, just picked food up and eaten it. Mac went to nursery this afternoon and I went to work. Kids are in bed and we have just had tea. I am gonna read for 10 mins thin bed. I am up early tomorrow. Im reading "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult. Good but bit depressing cause it quite easily happen.

[matt]

yvie no worries about you offloading that's what the thread was for, good bad indifferent news and chat. so that selfishly i have something to read at stupid o'clock!!
pam like yvie said these people are trying to earn themselves some money so should be pushing your house. my worry was that the agent you are currently using are using yours to sell others... ie you could have this one but for a bit more you can have this one.... portraying yours as being a bad buy.

lydia, lack of rain does not equal sunshine. :lol2: on a side note where's lumsden in relation to you? a friend lives there.

RIGHT important bit, got an email from trufree. competition for free tickets to allergy show in olympia in june.
email them at trufree@nutricia.co.uk add "Allergy Show Competition" in topic line. then give them you name and address. first 1000 get free tickets.


doctors for me this morning to get told oficially the results and longer term stuff. have a nice long list of questions to ask. but doubtr the monkey will be able to answer and no chance of seeing the organ grinder!:(
maybe they will suprise me and actually offer so proper after care not so far though. had cancer and have no idea what futher treatment i'm getting!!! or any contact from specialist or team since op. ho hum

[Pam]

Good luck at the doctors Matt, it sounds a bit poor that you are not given a follow up at the hospital. Even if they don't think you need any further treatment you should surely be having screening every few months to check that all is well. A GP isn't qualified to deal in specialisms like that, he can only read out what is in the notes. I would ask him when you should next go to the hospital and if not, why not.

I'd love to go to the allergy show but unfortunately it is too far away for me.

[rebecca c]

Matt, I agree with Pam, if they are not going to give you follow up treatment ask them why not, I cant think of a good reason. If you still disagree which seems likely make a stink, take it to the health trust if you have to.

My face has swollen up. I may be able to get a 24hour SOS with the consultant to have a look at it it depends if it was more than a year ago I saw them - I cant remember.

[Copper]

I hope it went as well as can be expected this morning Matt.

It sounds as though you are suffering too Rebecca.

[Lou C]

geocache, well think treasure hunt but with handheld GPS unit. hence the signature line of using military satellites to locate tupperware hidden in the woods! see www.geocaching.com (http://www.geocaching.com) put in your post code and find the nearest one to you. kids love it.

Had a nosy and looks like good fun.......now where do I get the equipment and how much will it cost me?
Quite a few very close to me as I live only a mile or so from both the M1 and M62 where there are quite a few "drive by" ones hidden, a good start me thinks!! Something to do in the next school hols!

We've had a nice weekend, went to stay with some friends we met on holiday last year. Kid's enjoyed playing, we enjoyed a lovely curry, nice wine and a soak in the hot tub in the garden till 3am sunday morning!
Back to reality now though, lots of jobs to do in the house and the garden before Paul goes backon 7th May. The Navy Housing called us today, we could be waiting up to a year for a house in Scotland so will be here in LEeds for a while yet. Need to get things up to scratch so we can get it on the market as soon as we hear as can't really afford to pay the mortgage here and the rent in Scotland

Pam I think I found your house on Right Move. The 4x4 in the drive gave it away!!! It looks really nice and well presented. The only comment I would make is that perhaps they need to rephotograph your front garden as the shade on the photograph makes it look a bit drab.

Off to Sheffield tomorrow, do a bit of shopping in Meadow Hell, my Mum's 70 next week and I need to get her a nice pressie, any ideas???? Then to see a relative in hospital.

I hope everything went well with the doctor today Matt.

Lou x

[matt]

lou to cover the geocaching first. a garmin geko 201 would do you fine brand new theycost £85 from http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/search.php?search=geko
but easy to get them from ebay or 2nd hand from army buddies local adverts etc. once you've got it they are pretty much indestructable and don't get defunct with updates like mobile phones. from there you can spend as much as you want to get better models.
loads of fun and great for the kids. and the kid in you!:lol2:

sorry folks my bad description yesterday, it was with the specialist at the hospital. bit of a waste of time though. as until they do a further CT scan... next month or two. they don't really know that they've suceeded. then get monitored for the next 5 years. nhs aren't miracle workers. a cancer can be damn small and invisible to scanners. but no point worrying for the next 40 years... well no more than i do now anyway!:lol2:

daughter off school with " sore tummy syndrome" yesterday "can't eat without feeling sick" according to ex. didn't find the choc muffin a problem at lunch or the chicken and rice in the evening.... guess who's off to school today?
she will be if she wants to go to kew on saturday.

feel like a wander round the shops today. not that i'll waste any cash:D

[Pam]

"We know where you live" I can't hide now can I Lou? Yes, it sounds like you found my house. That front garden photo was taken last October first thing in the morning when we don't get sun on the front and it was only taken as an add-in. We're going to see what the other agent says tomorrow then demand that the brochure is changed or we are leaving them.

Matt is a Tom Tom car sat nav any good for geocaching or doesn't it have the definition needed? Sorry you didn't get to find out any more info from the doc yesterday, it seems to be the case on most occasions that you go to a hospital, you're lucky if you see someone who actually knows your case.

[Fozzybear]

Matt, that's not £85 it's £100 plus £3.47 postage.

[cnc]

Well, I've been having a busy few days, getting settled back in, and doing various other things.

Yvie, sorry you've been having such a bad time, I hope things improve soon.

Rebecca, I hope you managed to get a meeting with the consultant and that the swelling is not causing too many problems.

I've also been having fights over my field trip. Apparently my Director of Studies was totally against me going, but after about 10 minutes I managed to convince him that I should be allowed to go. I'm going no matter what really, whether they approve or not!!
Hope you all have an OK day :)

[rebecca c]

Claire - too right you're going!

Matt I am glad they are going to monitor you. What is the scan like, I get bad claustrophobia and I think they would have to knock me out to get me in a scanner.

I saw a registrar and consultant this morning, they are still not sure what it is now they have seen it. They have done some more blood tests. The main thing was they treated me with respect and dignity and listened to me, thats all I ask really. The consultant understands my need for a diagnosis. One solution may be a facial biopsy but we were both reluctant to rush into that before the blood tests results come back.

My face is not too painful and hasn't stopped me getting on with it and I know it will go down.
My only real concern is that I suspect it is a symptom of a wider problem (like the eosinophilia) and if it is I want to know about it so I can deal with it.

Anyway a reasonable day apart from all of that and a lot of driving about in the car solving mini crisies for various children.

[goose]

Hello peeps, just thought id pop in to say that Lan arrived in Scotland safely, having a great time in Edinburgh, although will not arrive in Aberdeen until tomorrow.

Taking her to see some local sights over the weekend including Nessie, up in Inverness hopefully, weather permitting.

You go Claire, you deserve the trip, just becareful, we want you back in one peice.

Matt not too sure on lumsden's location i know it's in Aberdeenshire, ill need to check it out
Hope everyone has a good weekend, Me and Lan wont be around for chat on sunday, so at least the conversation will be lunchtime viewing.:lol2:

[Jazzingal]

Hi guys!

Dont actually know how long ive been missing in action on this:unsure: lol just been having a busy few weeks, with uni work, work and problems to deal with when i was at home! how are you all? have i missed anything? i signed in and had 199 msgs and thats alot!! lol may take me sometime to read through that lol! whats been going on?

quite cheeky of me lol but if any of you get really bad migraines have you had a nose bleed with it? just a bit worried

[paranoidangel]

We're such an unhealthy lot. Every time I have catching up to do it seems like just about everyone is ill or off to the doc's.

I'm currently ridiculously busy at work - I went in at 8.30 this morning, left at 6.30 (so home in time to tape The Avengers) and worked through half of lunch. It's partly because I was off last week and partly because one of our departments is also a separate company who gets their own work in, which we also get to work on. Sadly, they don't feel the need to tell us too far in advance (like beforehand, for example). They also like to hassle us a lot, so today both me and my boss didn't get much work done because we spent half our time fending off them asking when they were going to get stuff - not helped by them asking me twice, then deciding to ask him. And our server is being really amazingly bad - in the hour after lunchtime I got about 10 mins work done, in about 5 different bits.

I'm so looking forward to a three day weekend - I'm off to London to the theatre and a friend's party.

[matt]

jazzingal, i've never had a nosebleed with mine but there are so many different types of migraine. one for each person. see this link to http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=migraine+nose+bleed&meta= (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=migraine+nose+bleed&meta)=
i'd mention it to the doctor asap though. better safe than sorry.

have a nice weekend PA, and everyone else for that matter!:)
and lock up your sons scotland!! those two loose on the town, god help the police! let alone the single men!!

well the scanner is not fun but i think it'll only be the chest again so don't need head in it. MRI is far worse the magnet thing is much bigger CT is only about 8 inches from front to back. odd stuff to drink before though and injection. i can't drink much so trying to get a pint in me the night before is hard.:o

yeah i know i looked at the price again for the GPS, second hand units easy to find.
tomtom as long as you can take it out of the car. there are some that you can drive right up to but most involve a walk. if you're good at map reading it's posssible toget damn close without a GPS at all but you need to be very good. it'll take you to some great places that you never knew existed and teach you some interesting facts and history of your area... then you et addicted and look for caches wherever you go!:eek:

was good yesterday and didn't spend too much. kew gardens tomorrow! early start long drive, scared little me as the last time i went on long drive i ended up in hospital!!!:mellow:

[matt]

was having a wander through the site and realised that not heard from kamagrian ( gill) for a while and can't email her. anyone able to check she's ok?

[yvie]

Morning all
We are just off to London to see my friends little girl in hospital, armed with BAGS full of presents and cards and letters from all her school friends, so thatll keep her occupied, opening that lot lol

Re migraines and noseblleds, like Matt says they can be different with different people, but if you've never had a nosebleed with it before then I'd go and get it checked out.

Scans are ok if you can just shut your eyes, listen to the music, they put glasses on you with a mirror so instead of feeling like you are in a tunnel, all you can see is THEM behind the window! I fell asleep, as I kept my eyes shut, liked the music, and also counted backwards from 2,000 lol I kept forgetting where I was and woke up as they finished!

Have a nice weekend

Yvie and H

[zoefruitcake]

Hello everyone, anyone remember me? :lol2:

The lovely Matt emailed me and reminded me what I was missing here, so I though I'd better call in on you all.

I've not read back on all I've missed, so I hope you are all ok. Thinking of migraines, I had a blinder last week whilst out at Hever castle which resulted in having let my husband drive my car home - uninsured :eek: (had it 18 months and he'd never driven it) - whilst I vomited into a bag :yucky:

Hope you all have a lovely weekend :)

[cnc]

Jazzingal, nice to see you back, hope things are going ok!!
Matt- Gill is OK, recovering slowly (I will nag her again just to pop in and say hi) Oh that does remind me she said to tell you all 'Hello' the other week, and I guess I forgot!!
Yvie, I hope you're friends daughter is recovering well.
Zoefruitcake- I had been wondering where you were, but I'm a little forgetful, so kept forgetting to ask sorry!! Hope you're doing ok, and are going to be staying around.

Back to the doctors for me today, hopefully get some stuff sorted there this time. If not I shall be rather angry!!

[linny]

Haven't read news for a few days so sorry if I'm out of date.

A CT scan is fine my daughter had about 3 when she was 4 yrs. At Kings College they got her 'herringbone' plait in it and they made a big thing of it! (Had an African lady on our ward who loved Megans long blonde hair so did lovely plaits for her!) MRI is a bit worse, when I had mine I kept my eyes shut and went through every Christmas carol I knew (in my head I didn't sing them!!!!!).

Carpet is now down and decorating finished. :) I'm now frantically packing to go to Herne Bay for the long weekend. The weather forecast changes by the day - they now say rain for late Sunday and some of Monday down here.:(

Must go as I've got to pay some bills on the bank website before we go. Hope you all enjoy your weekend.