WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014

Hello folks,  Margo glad to hear from you.

Weather here today has been grey all day after yesterdays frost and some sunshine.  Tomorrow is promised - gloomy.

Managed to do 10 lengths in one go today so have upped my personal goal a little, then did 6 and 4 so now up to 20 which equals about 5 lengths in a full sized pool.  Getting better but not olympic material!!!!

Just got to order a few more presis at the beginning of next month then that's me done for Chr.   However, am having problems with one firm - they normally take 3-5 days to deliver and have had no trouble in the past with them but this year the courier has still not delivered and it is now 12 days since I ordered the goods.  Will get back to the Customer Relations department and tell them, then wait and see what happens. Right ho, enough of my ranting.

Take care all.

George – A few closed churches here were used as art gallery, restaurant or bridal boutique, but most that survive are converted into homes. Add a mezzanine for bedroom, build on extra rooms or patios. How successfully I don’t know, not having been in any. HERE are pics of one that was for sale 3 years ago.

Liz – The twins are almost 6 months old. They chatter away, roll over, smile . . . when they are not screaming <sigh> Nanny help finished last week & Dau is waiting to hear if she will get an extension. Meanwhile family & friends are on a helping roster. Yesterday pm was my turn; between dishes, washing, etc Dau & I played swop the baby as one or other needed bottle or breast or pureed vegies. Miss J still has reflux & I spent a lot of time walking her around the house to settle. Oh my aching shoulders & knee today! L is 18 lb, J is 15 lb. There was a brief lull from screams & feeds when both slept, I sent Dau off to bed too and I tackled the ironing with Miss3 babbling some involved story/game at me. I came home to peace & fell asleep over my book.

Margo – Travel-Friend & I have booked a 10-day bus tour to western Victoria next Apr/May, staying in Hamilton & Stawell, visits to Portland & Port Fairy on southern coast, Grampians, Warrnambool & much more. I dare say you’ll get the usual saga when I return!!! There are also a number of interesting day trips to choose, plus a weekend in Mount Gambier. I can’t wait for summer to be over when trips resume.

Linda – Welcome home. How are your webbed feet? LOL

Evening all:  Am off to Ventura (30 minutes down the road) tomorrow to see if I can find a specific toy for Ms. D.  It's a little model barn with a girl, a horse, and all the accouterments that my daughter has for her horses. It's made by a German company and looks like good quality, but I've never bought their stuff before.   As it turns out, my daughter's horses will likely be going back to Arizona with granddaughter, her partner and Ms. D when they head home after Christmas (daughter will apparently be going too to "ease" the transition - or that's the word on the street anyway - though I foresee all kinds of bumps in that road).  This plan has been in the works on a theoretical basis for a while, but granddaughter et al are finally moving into a larger house on 10 acres that comes with a barn, workshop, large garage "and room for a pony" as Hyacinth Bouquet used to say of her sister's house. Two ponies in fact. Not only that, the Arizona contingent is planning on stopping at Disneyland en route here and my daughter is allegedly meeting them there for the day. Nothing like cramming everything into one week!  Christmas is hectic enough all by itself.  Some to-ing and fro-ing logistics are looming on the horizon with yours truly wondering at what point I'll be sucked into this ambitious whirlpool of activity.  I'm just a little apprehensive to say the least. 

Heather: You didn't sound grumpy at all, but I can see that 19 years in the same vacation spot could just get a little too predictable.  :-)

Margo: Great to see you've been out shopping with your sister. I remember your outings from previous years and how impressed I was by your tactical approach.  I've employed a similar approach this year, but can't imagine getting it all done in 5 hours - or even 5 days.   Our truck isn't strictly a piece of art, but it's been parked in the same location for eons and could pass as a permanent exhibit.

Lindybird: Welcome back - that was a fast week!  A shame about the weather and, of course, if you'd packed the raincoats, it wouldn't have rained at all.

BrendaH:  Amazing to hear your dog was trained to wait for dirty feet to be cleaned before he entered the house.  Why can't children be taught to do that?  It's probably too late to train Diesel and I'm sure Margo would have no luck at all with Billie - cats and all that. :-)

Lynette: What's the most lengths you've managed to swim? Seems you used to do more (or was that someone else - dibnlib?).  Good for you anyway. Hope you get Customer Relations sorted out.

AQ:  I can see you living in one of those converted churches  - the perfect match!  The redo of the Houghton church looks wonderful, especially where they've retained the look of the original, for example in the windows of the conservatory. You'd never expect such a sleek redo from the exterior. The grounds are gorgeous.  But I wonder are these buildings listed and did they have to get permission to knock that hole in the stone wall in the living room and to make other upgrades. It's got a lovely open - if somewhat exposed - feel; I tend to prefer more cozy rooms - and seating fabrics (not a fan of leather - I find it slippery and cold) and wine doesn't last long enough in our house to warrant its own room....  Wonder why they kept that ancient bathtub when the rest of the house is so modern.  Still, as with so much else in life, nobody asked me!   I see it sold for $910,000 Australian; that's $777,000 US and 495,000 pounds.  Hmmmm.   Do hope Dau is approved for more nanny help, for everyone's sake.  I'll look forward to upcoming saga from western Victoria!   :-)

OK, must get all this paper on my desk organized into piles or something.

Have a good Wednesday everyone.

Good Morning, everyone. Dull grey & damp here. Went to see Friend yesterday, & ran around supermarket for supplies. Suitcases are still on the dining room floor but most of the laundry is done & dry. Must clear up last of stuff this morning, and then am off Christmas shopping & lunch with Friend. Lovely to see your photos of the twins, AQ, and to hear that you are still booking trips. Margo - congrats on getting your gift shopping done in virtually one go!!

Good morning all -

Ditto weather here, cold damp and very poor visibility. I have promised Sheana that she will get a visit today. When we returned home there were three answer phone messages from her, wondering if I was going to visit. I had phoned her from Tenerife,put a sticker on her bits and pieces box (which is always beside her) and written on her calendar. All was forgotten but when I spoke on the phone yesterday she sounded bright and had managed to go to the dining room for lunch.

MARGO - That was brilliant work doing all your shopping in five hours. I must get going.

LINDA- Welcome back! I have not finished the ironing of holiday clothes yet, so so tempted to put all ten of OHs short sleeved shirts away unironed but he has a separate hanging rack for shirts and the sight of them would cause me more grief than ironing the darn things.

OG- It took a few moments for me to work out the 'cooking on gas' I must be slowing down :-(

AQ - So happy that your daughter is well supported, it would indeed be great if the nanny help could continue. Do take care of yourself and those precious knees. Am I remembering correctly that they're replacements?

LYNETTE- You and DIBNLIB put me to shame with the swimming! It is said to be the best all round exercise,isn't it?

BRENDA - I hadn't realized that it has been a year since your OH had to stop driving. He must be looking forward to starting again.

ANNETTE- Amy is now only getting one sleeptime check, at midnight. My understanding is it is necessary when starting with the insulin pump because there is a slow constant infusion of insulin over 24 hours and all the insulin is the same now, NovoRapid. No 'background' insulin (Lantis) at night anymore. The consultant needs to know if the blood glucose levels are satisfactory,if not she would change the dose that the machine delivers.

EVERYONE have a good day!

My OH is having a cataract sorted on Friday.

Good Morning Everyone. To quote the weather forecaster, "it is a murky, grey and dank day." We still have all our lights on.

AQ, We have many TV series here that show people buying, converting or building homes and so many include converted churches. I have seen some, where the garden is actually the graveyard and of course, cannot be altered. Some of the conversions look exactly as your link shows.
I shouldn't be surprised to read that you have already planned your next trip. LOL

Annette, My head is whirling with your daughter / granddaughter's plans for Christmas. I can see you being involved :-)))

Enjoy your day, Everyone

Heather, Pleased to hear that your OH is to have his cataract sorted and I hope all will be fine for him.
Sheana obviously misses you, when you have been unable to visit. I hope you find her in good spirit today.

Good Morning all and very gloomy and damp this morning but it is not raining at the moment and somewhat warmer than yesterday. Hopimg westher will be faily decent Friday and Saturday. It is OH's birthday on Friday and we will be going out to lunch. On Saturday our friends from London are visiting so we will be going out to lunch again and we usually take them out in the New Forest to a pub so it would be nice to see a bit of sun.

Heather you are certainly not a grumpy old lady. Sheana must  have really missed you. Hope you find her as bright as she sounded. Good to see Amy's regime is not as tiring as it has been. Must be so worrying for your daighter as well. Delighted to read that OH's cataract removal is to take place on Friday. He will I hope notice a hige difference.

Lindybird pleased you had a relaxing break but shame about the rain, S... Law reared its ugly head re your lightweight rain jackets, of course it would rain. Enjoy your Christmas shopping and lunch with your friend, hope you have a successful time.

Brenda OH informed me this morning that Tottenham are playing tomorrow evening and on Sunday and both matches being televised. The IPod will come into its own and I will listen to music. All I hope is they play well. Some of their matches have been dreadful of late. Your weather is the same as ours and there are showers forecast but not raining at the moment.

Lynette well done on achieving more lengths in the pool. I do hope that your parcel will turn up soon. Touch wood I have never had any problems ordering on line.

Have a good day all and take care.

Hello again

In case I don't get online tomorrow- HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY to our friends in the USA xxx