Weekly Chat, Sunday, December 26 2010

Hello.  Nice to come on and see warm fuzzy puppies!  Thanks Gary!

Well, it's thawed here thanks to all  the drizzly rain we've had, and so there are only small pockets of snow left visible  and the world is now grey and damp, instead.

Was sooo mad yesterday, when my screen froze - had taken just a few precious minutes to come on here, and had not time to reply to you all. (Yes Diane, I thought the pc was showing its superiority but in these cases I show it mine, by unplugging at the wall, and shouting  "Ha!! see how you like that!")

We enjoyed our Christmas Day, had our Eldest here with the New Girlfriend who obligingly ate all put in front of her.  We drank Bucks Fizz as they arrived, and then sat down to our lunchtime meal. The turkey was a great success, and the new stove pronounced also a triumph.   We had individual Christmas puddings after the meal, (from M& S!) with brandy sauce, but I could not eat all of mine so Husband obliged and finished it off.  After the meal we retired to comfy sofas and ate some chocolates with our cups of tea & coffee...  ("well, just one then....").  They then stayed until about 6.00 pm when they returned to Son's house (20 mins away from us) and we all slumped in front of the 'Strictly Special'  in our own houses, before stating that no one could possibly eat any more.... We had a small piece of quiche with a tomato at about 8.30 pm and ate nibbles for dessert, with a stiff drink.

On Boxing Day we hosted for a small group of friends who came around for drinks, and talked once again about how we could not possibly eat any more...  as we served nibbles & nuts.  After they departed, we had a small turkey sandwich & Husband had a big bowl of turkey soup which we had made on Christmas Day, from the remains after he had taken all the meat from the bones.  That evening, I had a vegetable Cup a Soup with a small piece of bread, as I really couldn't face food any more....

Youngest Son has been in touch on the phone all Christmas, from his in-laws house.  We set up the Skype on Boxing Day and saw our grandson looking like a round faced satisfied Mandarin, full up and fast asleep in his Daddies arms.  We have the fun of giving them all their presents, later, when they return to their home around about Thursday.  Yesterday we went to two local Garden Centres, to look at the Sales - I bought some half price Christmas Cards!  and a wonderful Christmas Stocking for Sweetpea, with Santa Embroidered on the front. Also picked up some half price outdoor Christmas lights to put on the front hedge next year.

Must go and get dressed now, will pop in later with those replies.  Hope you have all had a happy and peaceful Christmas!

Morning all ... dark and wet here this morning ... but I'm not complaining, because the snow is beginning to melt :-)))

Gary - more gorgeous puppy pics! Glad to hear that you are surviving your snowstorm ... and playing with your new snow toy!

Linda & Alan - thanks for the Monday jokes!

margobird - pleased to hear of the slight improvement in your sister's condition, and glad you were able to enjoy some of your Christmas and Birthday weekend. What a super present of the bird of prey flying and training.

Thanks to all for chat.

Take care.

Hello one and all.  The snow began to melt a bit yesterday, but the ground was hard enough to enjoy a 1.5hr walk to a pub, which although open sadly wasn't serving food!  The tread under foot was much softer on the return journey.  Today after a dry start, we have had some slight drizzle, but the fog is coming down now.  Hurrah, we have been reunited with our car which is now safely tucked away in the garage.  The snow/ice has melted sufficiently to get the grip required to safely go down the slope to the ditch bridge and up the other side.

Gary, I see you are still tugging at heart strings with the lovely photos of the puppies.  Although I heard that the east coast had received some 30 inches of snow I see you are clearly dealing with it in a manly fashion with your plough and blower!  As you say, a novelty for a while, but after a while it becomes dedious.

So glad to hear that others are now enjoying a gentle thaw and are finding life much easier to cope with.

Lindybird well done in setting up Skype - I guess it's the camera link on the computer?!!  We have a skype phone link which I use for talking to my friend in Scotland.  Our calls can regularly be up to 45 minutes and as far as I can gather they are free!  Lovely to be able to see Sweetpea at Christmas!  It certainly sounds as though you have been very busy.

I went to bed before OH last night - left him catching up with cricket highlights - and noticed the outside security light come on.  A beautiful fox was caught in the light!  He was wandering thru, sniffing at anything that looked like food I think.  I wondered where the late handful of bread, potatoes and apple I threw out as it was getting dark disappeared to, now I know!  Diane I've heard foxes calling at night, a most eerie sound, but I imagine coyotes must be quite frightening to hear at night.  I know you said you hadn't seen any prints, but do they get close to you?  A sparrow hawk has just flown along the hedge.  He must have been around longer than the time I had noticed him, as the birds had suddenly disappeared.    No meal on the table for him this time.  A great spotted woodpecker has just arrived on the nuts.

Am now thinking about the menu for Thursday night when friends, and the daughter I accompanied to LG in April, are coming for dinner.  An early New Years Eve celebration as we have my nephew's wedding to go to on New Years Eve itself.  Can we really find enough room in our tummies for another big meal....!!

Right - now, where was I,  yesterday?   Its been nice to hear how you have spent your Christmases around the world.  Lots of similar things, and lots of different sounding things, too!

Diane:  It must have been a wonderful sight to see those Red Cardinal birds in the snow - thanks for the mental image.

auntie - your Christmas Eve sounded a very nice way to spend time - singing carols and seeing a wonderful sight in the snow on the way home, too. Hope you have not had to work for too much of the holidayl

AQ:  We did not have any toys on display in the street, either - not many children around here, and those that there were, were not in evidence.  Did enjoy your sharing of the photo of the family engrossed in their game - a true story of a family Christmas.

margo - I'm green with envy at your lovely present of a visit to the Birds of Prey!  how lovely. Hope you enjoy your trip the Magic Circle show.

Alan:   We loved the 'Strictly' on Christmas Day, which was a nice bit of froth, and surprising how well they all danced, with apparently, little practice.  Thought the best man won, although he did seem to have a bit of an unfair advantage.

Thanks to Wendy for her lovely pics of the snowy and freezing river.  Britain at its best in the Winter!

See that Sheila has been snowed in, and has seen a fox out of the window - I have only ever seen one in the far distance.

We are to have a bit of a rest, and just potter about in the next few days.  There are certainly a lot of bits of reading matter lying around the house, waiting to be read or thrown out. What a relief to be just 'cold' now, and not half frozen by the cold!  I await with trepidation the return of the colder weather, which we are promised will return in a few days.  I think I shall be tempted to hibernate when it does.

I know just what you mean Lindybird about hibernating if the cold weather returns!  But on reflection, perhaps I can cope with cold, but not the return of snow.  I am just glad I don't HAVE to go out  just as long as the freezer is relatively stocked I think I can cope.  I have meant to say the OH's card to me was not really a Christmas card.  It had a lovely picture of an osprey on the front, and when you open it the call of an osprey comes out!!  Not sure how long the battery will last though.

I bet that you cannot wait for your birds of prey experience Margo.  A very thoughtful present from your OH.  I hope you are continuing to get more positive news of your sister.

Mmm, now what can I do with cold goose tonight?

Patricia I've just been reading about the burst water pipes in Northern Ireland and the chaos and damage being caused.  I do hope you are all right.

Hi folks, just logged on,   do hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.

Aware of the problems in N.Ireland re burst pipes and hope over there are managing and not flooded out.

Will catch up with your news in a moment.

Well, I've read through all your posts, apologies if I don't mention you all, but thanks for all the pics etc.

MARGOBIRD - A very belated Happy Birthday, and so pleased to hear that your sister has shown improvement.  Obviously it is going to be a long haul but with faith, the doctors , and modern medicine I'm sure she will come through it.  Glad you had a lovely Christmas Day with Rhys and the rest of the family.

Gary - what gorgeous puppies, keep the photos coming.

Alan - thanks for the picture from Dunedin.  Not too long now to wait!!!!!!!!!!!

Had a lovely CD with son, DiL, and step-grand-daughter. They came over to us. Cooked dinner etc and was almost a resounding success, I always manage to end up with a turkey that is a bit dry, never mind they enjoyed it all.  Made panacotta and wondered why it wouldn't set, of course I had forgotten to get some gelatine and put it in. Had to whip it up stiff and Dau# and grand-dau# had it like that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Went up home to see my brother and partner and had a nice meal out at a local pub and then home for presi time.  In all a very enjoyable two days.

Hi, all.  Been reading but not writing.  General thaw, but with icy patches - and a dreich day.  Plenty of birds about, but nothing unusual.  Been re-organising recipes folder.

Love the pics of the Spey, Wendy B.

Alan - watched Strictly today as had taped it. Yes, it was brilliant.  Vince Cable was a surprising contender. They all did well.

Gary - hope that "nice man" cleared your driveway OK and that you are not too snowed in.

Keep smiling everyone even if the weather is damp, cold , and thoroughly miserable, not long to go now before our Ospreys return.