Hello Everyone

well it is more yuck weather today. dark and dull
my son told me yesterday when I said I would love a steak to go to a reaturant on my own., or cook one at home. I cannot believe the pain he causes me
just wish David was here

   Hi Everyone and we have another rainy day.  Last evening it was dry, but I went and picked up a couple of bowls of the bird food and put them under the shelter, because I just had that feeling we would get more rain and didn't want that load of food wasted - after all, it is expensive enough to purchase and on Monday I will try and get out shopping early and got to top up the bird food first of all in B & M, get to the bank and pay in a £10 cheque from Age UK from a win on their lottery.  Mind you I usually pay in £8.68 each month and only ever win £10 about once every 18 months, but all for a good cause.  After that got some top up shopping to do and then to the club.

With all of the jobs here and there I am doing around the house with the mini spring cleans, I don't seem to have managed to get one room completely done. After changing those bedroom curtains and doing some dusting in there, I had to bring down Henry for vacuuming and picking up more tinsel downstairs, so my bedroom really didn't get completed and was up early this morning stripping the bed and getting that load of laundry in at the cheaper rate, but at least got the bed remade, but still need to do more dusting and vacuuming in there.  Before Henry goes upstairs again I have got to completely vacuum downstairs as I just seem to be finding more clearing out to do - like yesterday the kitchen and dining room was nearly completed, but decided to tidy up some photo frames on some shelving next to the computer and that meant also pulling out a box from the bottom shelf which contained put aside paperwork, which again started a good clear out of a lot of garden catalogues and travel mags, which again led to me pulling out a lot of pages from them (flower and Christmas designs, etc., which will do for decoupage crafting), so still more clearing to do from that, but at least I have a nearly cleared box to put current paperwork in and a nearly full up recycling bin..

I suppose I am getting on with so much clearance, but it still doesn't feel as though I am getting anywhere fast.

Jean, I shouldn't bother to make those remarks to Paul - don't give him the chance to upset you.  I know you do like going out as often as possible,  but you have found the club and church to go to, plus the outings with them and do you still go to the Ladies' evenings near you?  Now I never mind staying indoors and always enjoy finding things to keep me busy.  Anyway dont't give him the chance to upset you.  How is your hand?

Dian, plenty of words of wisdom in that last email and liked a lot of them.  Glad to read that you enjoyed yesterday out with your daughter and friend and the day was a dry one while you were out and your granddaughter joined you.  Hope the last exams goes well for her with regard to the nursing and then she will be fully qualified, so good wishes to her and yes, that time has flown.  Those scam calls are such a nuisance.  I got one the other day and usually I let the answerphone take them and of course, no messages left, but saw the number and knew it was probably a scam and felt like making the caller's life difficult and yes, it was one - male voice with Asian accent telling me that at 10.30 the evening before, someone called David had tried to purchase something from my account with Amazon, so told him he was a scumbag and was there any other scam he wanted to try while he was on the line and of course, the call was cut off- how pathetc can they get   So true, changing curtains is time consuming, but glad I got that lot sorted yesterday.  Today started off wild and wet, but then you got sun - here it was the same, with plenty of rain, but all we got was cloud when the rain stopped.  See you were having a lazy morning, but jumping into action this afternoon.

Barbara, Glad to read that you didn't get blown away when you and David went for a walk, because those gusts were really strong here too.  Funnily enough nothing seemed to get blown around the garden, because the wind seemed to be quite high up, but you could hear it roaring.  Good that you enjoyed the visit from your sister and had a good talk and laugh together.  I reckon you should phone again on Monday, which you plan to do and speak to that receptionist and say you were doing what the doctor asked you to do and you do expect a callback from him, but I think we are all in the same boat with regard to our GPs and very surprised how easily Jean got to see her doctor for the tetanus shot - she was lucky,

Well Ladies I must away and just hope I can complete one room at least today.  

   Hello Ladies.  

With all of my plans ready for today and up early to go to the centre and then to the club, well all of those plans fell by the wayside.  Received a message from Amazon to say that a delivery planned for tomorrow was due to arrive today and the order is being sent in two parts with another package possibly arriving today or tomorrow.  Now I have to be in for the delivery, as part of the order was a set of 4 cheese knives, plus some DVDs and I have to show ID to receive the knives (good to know that Amazon are being careful about knives), but this has really messed my plans up with their early delivery - only put the order through on Saturday) and it could also mean that I have to be here tomorow also, because they haven't made it clear which parcel the knives are in.  If they arrive today, then that is okay and if the parcel tomorrow is just a couple of DVDs, then that will go through the letterbox and it won't be two days wasted and means I can get to the centre, hopefully before we get the threatened snow!!!

In a little while I have to phone Margaret as I got a message from another member yesterday, asking me to let them know that he had unexpected things to attend to today, so he wouldn't be there and now I have to explain why I am not there.  Got my hair all set ready for this week, but that is going to stay in rollers now, with a scarf over it, as I might be doing some more dusty work.

At the moment I am going through the two crates of car boot items to see if any of these can go to charity or our raffle, plus there is at least one item I am going to put on Facebook Marketplace to sell and that is the video of Brian Dennehy in the film To Catch a Killer (playing the part of John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer) and this is very hard to find now and has turned into a collector's item, so I will see if I can sell that and possibly might find a few more items that will sell.

Barbara, I see you and David got on with your normal things yesterday and just hope you had more luck when you were going to phone the surgery, aking for your GP to get back to you.

Jean, thankfully your s-i-l's brother wasn't on that flight in Nepal and I must say, with him visiting every year because of his daughter having died there and what with the bad safety record of Nepal's airline, that sounds a very dangerous place to visit on such a regular basis.  Good to know the meal was okay and now that will be something carried on every month.

Dian, a cold frosty morning for you, but the sun has now arrived.  I see they are threatening us with snow now and apparently there are so many places flooded again.  As you say, you are glad when January is over, because we do seem to have gone through the worst of the weather by then.  As you can see from above, the hair got set, but as this is a wasted day, the rollers are still in, covered by a scarf .  Well done you for getting in the garden yesterday and lifting the last of the leaves and dead plants and getting that all in the bin, which has been collected.  Bet you were pleased to see it looking much tidier. That is more than I can say about mine.  Hope that ice does clear away in the sunshine today.

Well ladies I must away and just got this finished before midday and now off to phone Margaret.  Hope all of you have a good day.

Good Morning Ladies.

Yesterday both packages arrived from Amazon, so I am going out to do the shopping I had intended to get yesterday.  Very heavy frost this morning, but think I had better get supplies in because of the winter weather forecast and will go out well wrapped up.

Yesterday because I was stuck indoors I managed to get the lounge more untidy because I started going through those two boxes of carboot items (that had been hidden behind the bar) and decided that several good items could go to the charity shops today (DEBRA and Barnardos behind Lidls), then into Lidls (after emptying the trolley) and into the centre to visit Tescos and the Bank (got the £10 winning cheque to pay in from Age UK) and finally go across to B & M to get the necessary bird food (and think that will be really needed with the weather that is forecast).  Then home to get on with the sort out.

Stephen and Rachel phoned last evening - they are home after a wonderful holiday and both admitted they had put on weight with all of the good food and I know that during the coming weekend Rachel has got two late Christmas things to attend, so looks as though we can get together to celebrate Stephen's birthday possibly the following weekend and will sort that out with them later in the week. Good to know they are home safely and had such a great time.

Barbara, four seasons for you all in one day.  Here it was cloudy all day, with a bit of rain thrown in, but early evening I took some recycling out and was surprised to find that everything had dried up from the rain, but the lids of my recycling boxes were firmly stuck down with frost, although it wasn't glistening or apparent and the bird bath had quickly frozen over - at that point more like black ice, but a heavy glistening one this morning.  Should be collection of the recycling today, but as mine is only two thirds full, I think I will leae that for two weeks time.  You got on with your exercises and attempted the cryptic crossword and after doing the essential shopping, David went into Croydon to buy some new trainers and got a sturdy pair in M & S.  You got some reading in and also the usual computer work. At least you felt you had left the message with a more capable receptionist, but didn't get any call back from your GP and just hope you might get that today.

Jean. yes much colder again today and that is why I will get well wrapped up and get that shopping done, because we are forecast even worse to come.  I do hope that Carol is okay today when you phone her.  See you didn't sleep too well after the phone call from her.  I still have that horrible shoulder and arm pain and the arthritis attack seems to be going across the back and into both arms and I get several bad nights because of it - finding the best way to lay and having to get up every couple of hours, so possibly could be that for Carol with the drop in temperatures and an attack of arthritis.  I know my heating bill is going to be so high at the end of this month, but just cannot let my house get coid, beause I would end up crippled with the pain.  All this advice to keep the heating down and getting wrapped up in these furry things that are being sold, absolute nonsense, because if you do have the onset of arthritis or already suffer from this, you just have to keep moving around and from what Barbara writes you can see how she keeps up with the exercises and walking around, even if it is indoors.  Perhaps it would be a good thing if you did phone her early today, because staying in bed, isn't what she needs to do.

Dian, I expect you have another busy day planned.

Must away now Ladies (and finally my hair is out of rollers and set is good) and off to do that shopping.  Hope all of you enjoy your day.

 Hi Ladies.  Such thick white frost this morning and there were also a very few small snowflakes apparent on the bin lids, but all cleared now with the strong sushine, but it is still very cold out there.

Yesterday I did achieve all I wanted to do while I was out and even got the cushion insert pads I was after, from B & M, £5 for 2, as two of the cushions in the lounge had got a bit lumpy with their filling, so another job to be done.  There were some items still unavailable, one of those is the coffee whitener (Tesco's own brand) that I keep in the cupboard as a standby and now the Carnation Coffee Mate isn't available.  Found some reduced bargains, so a fairly good shop. Paid in the cheque to the bank and dropped off the items to the charity shop, but didn't leave there without parting with some money.  Got 10 DVDs for £1 (had a good search to find some I had never seen) and then bought a large bunch of artificial poinsettias and a beautiful door wreath full of red artificial berries of all sizes, both at a low price - thinking ahead of more crafting for next Christmas and always need to start on that early.

Finances to sort out today and get on with the sort out of the car boot items to see what else can go to the charity shops or be used in our raffles.  

Although I started this in the morning it is now afternoon - got a phone call from a friend and had a natter for a while.

Dian, yes that was such a scary film and Brian Dennehy acted the part so well of such an evil person. So far no request for this, but only been on the marketplace for a day.  I had to laugh about Stephen and Rachel putting weight on - he said they had both brought home clothes they couldn't get into now!!!.  Hope the weather your way doesn't stop you getting to your club today.

Barbara, same here yesterday, the frost didn't clear from the grass at all, but today it has thawed fast as the sun seems much warmer out there.  This weather certainly doesn't help with our aches and pains and see you felt you were getting stiffer than ever.  Thanks for your remarks about the pain I get, but just one of those things with age, the colder temperatures and also the dampness affecting the arthritis, so keep moving as much as I can.  You got through your exercises yesterday and the usual things.  David did the necessary shopping and both of you watched the bowls on the t v later.  Still no response from your GP - how annoying is that after he wanted you to speak to him.  Hope you keep trying.

Jean, yes that sun is much stronger this morning, so expect you got out for a walk with Peanut and hope you enjoyed that.  See you had taken Barry to the club and that Carol was feeling that much better.

Off to make a hot drink and then on with the sorting out.  Enjoy your day Ladies..  

   Good Morning Ladies.  I was up early and carried on with sorting out the inserts of my lounge cushions and satisfied with what has been accomplished so far and decided that I need another double pack from B & M, as I was happy with the pack I bought the other day.  Also did a few more sewing running repairs e.g one of the tree fairies dressed in red velvet with white fur trim, had a golden gauze stole stretched across thin wire and this needed repair, so now that is done and she can be put away and another Christmas decoration box closed.  Gradually getting there with the fiddly jobs and the sorting and clear out.

Have also caught up with the emails this morning and after posting this I will got out to Aldi to get a couple of things I need there, then back to B & M to get that double insert pack (and will be warmly wrapped up).

Yesterday was the type of day I had been waiting for, no wind, warm sunshine that cleared the thick frost quickly and left everything dry, so took the opportunity to make up the oil spray I have to use on the cherry trees and get both of them treated.  That should have been applied in December, but the weather hadn't given me a chance, so another job out of the way.

Jean good luck at the dentists and hope nothing needs attention, yes need to be warmly wrapped up when you go there, but at least the sun is out again this morning.  To save my knees knocking I will have the leggings and long socks on under the trousers

Dian, cold and frosty for you yesterday, but with a lovely blue sky - we have the sun this morning and there was a brilliant blue sky, but now we have clouds coming over.  No win for you yesterday at the club with the bingo, but your friend had one and once you were home you were going to make a warming cup of tea.  Hope today the weather stays bright again.  Thanks for the two emails and love those Friendship ones and thought those cartoons were brilliant.  How is Duke at the moment?

Barbara, same weather for you yesterday as it was here and this morning it is much the same and the frost wasn't so thick.  Usual things for you and David yesterday and you also got some reading in and David watched the bowls on the t v and you had an eye to that also.  Still nothing from your GP and how annoying is that.  It is a bit like the problem I have - once those blood tests were done and the GP put me on two different types of tablets, he asked for me to have further blood taken 3 months later.  I did this and asked the receptionist to ask him to let me know the results.  Well that never happened and now I have to get a review about those two other tablets, before I can order them again.  Well I am going over to the surgery and will say that I too would like to know the results and whether those tablets are working, or whether it is a waste of time for me to take them.  They were supposed to be for lowering cholesterol and for mobility - well the mobility bit I know isn't working!!!

Enjoy your day Ladies and I am off to get ready to go out.