Starting things off this week with a reminder to check the last of the posts for the week of the 15th so you don't miss any of the excellent information being shared. I hope this week we'll have check-ins from Cirrus, George G and some others who have been quiet but to whom I'm sure we all send our good wishes.
Happy Sunday Everyone!
Morning all; Well, looks like rain has stayed just north of us again. Lotsa wind and dark clouds skimming across the tops of the hills, but that's it.
AQ: Like the idea of the gift certificate reverting to purchaser. Re the brides-to-be, do they have this "weddiing registry" thing down under where they can go to a store and sign up for various items they like? Because if it's a hardware store, you do face the risk of them buying - dare I say it? - a leafblower (a favorite among young marrieds so I hear). :-)
Alan: What!? Only 26 days to Christmas? And I heard it here first! I'm impressed with the sherry and mince pie offerings; here we'd have to sign all kinds of insurance waivers or arbitration agreements and somebody would sue the store for endangering holly branches or for discriminating against port.
Gary: I used to do a lot of damage at Nordstroms in my younger working days; now I balk at paying full price for anything (although Nordy's does have great sales). These days you can find me with my nose in the racks at TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Nordstroms Rack (their outlet store). We had a huge Nordstroms at South Coast Plaza, just half a mile from where I worked in Orange County, and a wonderful Rack just across the street, which made for dangerous (and extended) lunch hours. I always felt like a country bumpkin when I went to SC Plaza - talk about conspicuous consumption!!
Off to see poor, exhausted, depressed daughter today who has spent every morning and evening dressing her horse's leg and keeping him moving. He's improving slowly, but she's going broke in the process. She has, several times, tried to sell her thoroughbred, Miss Molly, but (and I don't know if it's the same in CT) so many people have their horses up for sale, apparently because of the economy that there's a glut on the market. It's so sad to read the ads; we look at craigslist and I've never seen so much horse stuff advertised. And of course, everyone wants their horses to go to a good home. We have some "rescue" ranches around, but they're jammed to the gills and hurting financially as donations drop.
Oh, and grandson left a message to say that he'd seen a Cadillac Eldorado for sale and would we consider helping with that? No mention of an old Toyota or Honda. I'm beginning to rethink this whole situation! :-)
take care all
hi all Back from Mums, it is never an easy visit now as she has pre-alzheimers. i am sure that she has a bermda triangle as everything I need to use seems to disappear. I couldn't find her latest address book (found 6 old ones) so i do not know how she will send her Xmas cards. Also my brother visited and told me that he and his wife of 27 years have split and there is no going back - very sad.
Annette of course there are doggie treats in Dillons advent calender. Sometimes i keep them and put my own treats in but I obviously threw last years out.
Seen the upside down tree and i am not sure, but of course the decorations will hang better!!!
Just booked for "The Priests" at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in May. Will take Mum as a very belated Mothers Day pressie.
Annette, I confess to only ever buying one thing in Nordstroms! But my sister in law has pots of dosh so when she comes over she always visits and last time had a "peronal shopper" to help!!!!! She always trys to get us to buy some stuff (to take the heat off her with the OH) but we always reply "we have a horse"!
As your poor (and I don't mean financially) daughter knows they eat up the cash faster than we can print it.. It is never easy when they are long term sick and the bills don't get any less. Still, they are one of the family. I know here in CT there are plenty of horses for sale so it isn't a great time to sell. Can you see the old guy getting better soon ish? She sounds so devoted to him which is wonderful as I'm sure some people would not be.
Oh, and I would have LOVED to have had the chance for a hardware store to be on our wedding gift horizon. Just how much kitchen stuff do you need that you never use.
Sorry about the car hunt. Perhaps you should give a few parameters as it's your cash!!. Hate to think how much that would be to insure and tax as well.
Hi Dibnlib. Welcome back!!
Sorry about your mum, and your brother. As you say, very sad.
I think we may need to see a picture of Dillon and his advent calender soon:)
Quick hello!
Back from E'burgh. Very cold - foggy and near freezing first half of journey - but 5 degrees at home. Had a great time last evening with the boys and, in the end, both girlfriends! Saw the city's Christmas lights too from taxi on the way to eat. Yes folks, there were six of us so we splashed out on a taxi from their flat and a city centre dinner! Grandson #1 has his birthday Tuesday, so it was quite a special evening - he'll get another celebration when his parents visit next weekend! Today's meeting was good too - so a successful visit to our capital city - but I still don't like the traffic there! Living in a small town, I find cities intimidating.
Saw a huge bird near Lockerbie on Friday's journey - could it have been an eagle? Haven't heard of them around here, but there are moors not too far away, over by Eskdalemuir and Langholm. OH is convinced he saw a peregrine chasing a smaller bird near the Pentland Hills - I missed that one, but there were plenty of buzzards and kestrels about.
Won't know about son's interview for ages - other candidate was sick, can't be seen for several weeks and has to be given a chance - by then, they'll probably forget they have seen him - not the first time this has happened to him.
House is getting warm now, so might take my coat off, unpack my hot-water-bottles and creep into bed!!
G'night all!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Afternoon all: Just home and don't care if the sun is over the yardarm or not but have poured a nice glass of Syrah and unearthed a remnant of Brie and some crackers.
dibnlib: Oh dear; too bad about your Mum. And your brother. Oh dear again. What a shame. When my Mom was failing; instead of worrying about people stealing from her, she was convinced people were coming into her house and leaving things (clothes she'd bought, etc). And she started keeping food in the (unlit) oven, instead of the refrigerator. It's just awful. Are you or your bro close enough to pop in regularly? It wouldn't be good for her to start leaving the gas on, etc......
Gary: Pots of dosh! Ooooh. Never heard that before. What a fun expression! Don't worry. Parameters for car are definitely set, as I reconfirmed with him today! Oh yes, insurance is a bear - especially for teenage boys. We have an old Toyota that we're halfway thinking of letting him have - you can do a family transfer with minimal costs, but we aren't sure about that yet. Not sure what's going to happen with the horse...
OG: Oh good. You all had a nice time, in spite of the cold - a cab sounds like the only way to travel.
Casablanca is on the Turner Classic channel - a great accompaniment to Syrah and crackers and cheese! Maybe a bit of dark chocolate too? Going to put on some comfy clothes and relax!
Evening all. I always seem to catch the late (UK) shift. After an extremely busy few weeks - Steed's 50th birthday, daughter's 15th, friend's daughter's 21st, nephew's wedding yesterday, sister-in-law's birthday today, other daughter's new boyfriend introduced (Royal Marine only 19years old and already done a tour of Afghanistan) - I hope you'll understand my absence. Been following the chat though. 26 days until Christmas - help! I am so envious of all those who have started the Christmas preps and hope there is still time for me to catch up. I must say I was unaware of the situation with the horses and how difficult it is in the recession. Horse-riding is very popular in Scotland and some of my daughters' friends have several ponies/horsies - mostly those living on farms. Vet bills must be huge. As a city dweller I am more aware of the number of businesses folding. Our cities won't be the same in a year or two. Everyone will be online shopping and goodness knows what will fill the commercial property. More parks perhaps. Wouldn't that be a blessing.
About to start a new thread.