Morning all.

Nice to see you posting ucra - hope all is well with you.

Just retrieved my dustbin - thank goodness I put everything in bags before it goes into the bin otherwise I would have a real mess.

We will have to buy extra rubbish bags if we need them. I'm pretty good at one bag but lately in my clear-out I've used more. I recycle as much as I can - have 6 bags of paper out today. Made three trips to the charity shops. Now they want you to fill out gift aid forms.

I find it incredible that after all this time so many people spend so much time arguing about what John does or doesn't mean in his tweets. Have to agree with ucra - I'm just glad to hear that he is alive.

Will have to record Strictly this week as we are having our drinks party. It's from 3 to 6 but people always stay until 8 or 9 pm. Will have to record it.

Have to agree with you augusta - we need bblover and her expertise at finding suitable seasonable music. I have been singing carols and my husband has told me 'politely' I'm giving him a headache - bah humbug!

All is well,just been busy with finishing college.I meant to send you a pm.Will get round to it later today.

Can't believe I am chatting about bins but I felt I should praise our council, who have issued us with three wheelie bins.....green for recyclables which are collected fortnightly, black for 'rubbish' (ditto), and a small green one for kitchen compostibles, collected weekly. In addition you can purchase a brown one for your garden waste .....collected fortnightly with the green one.

I may be a sad person but I just love this system

Hope you enjoy your drinks party annie - Strictly will wait!

Sad isn't it. Ours is very hot on recycling but they are going to charge us for our garden waste bags! Really bad.

Have just started the second book of the Cairo Trilogy. Hopefully I will be finished with it before too long.

Spent the morning making the onion topping for the tart which will be cooked on Saturday. Made a cannelli bean dip thing which is quite good if I say so myself. I added some paprika to give it a kick.

Meeting a friend for breakfast tomorrow - our garden centre does wonderful breakfasts - and I can stock up on things for the garden like weedol etc.

Guess there is no news from John. Oh well ---- off to do some ironing!

sounds lovely .....im sure an artificial tree will be fine...

we have a real one, waiting outside for next weekend..but I am starting to wish we had an artificial one....

the real ones do smell lovely and give an authentic feel, but...its such a waste of a tree... and the ones in pots have never survived

you sound busy....

This is the first year we have even considered not having a real tree......but it feels as though we've done our bit and want to try something new........having said that, you can't beat the aroma of a real tree......and I'm sure yours will be lovely. Like you, we never put the tree up until just before Christmas, when we usually play carols and generally (hopefully) get in the festive spirit

Annie always is, isn't she? Puts me to shame

Hope you dont mind me sharing.....


I am kind of in an odd mood......


I just found out that my dad, who is in his 70s has now got secondary cancer in his lungs, and now needs to see the specialist to sort out what happens next...


life can get pretty complicated and uncertain sometimes....


now I know why so many people try so hard to keep cheerful to distract themselves!!!!!


At least its christmas next week....

I've seen a spray that smells like pine needles and also yankee candles have pine-smelling candles. Perhaps that could help?

A while ago I went to my local garden centre and they had bayberry candles - wonderful!

Thinking of you at this difficult time augusta. Life can be so difficult at times. Try to keep strong and remember all your cyber friends are with you.

Don't ignore the bad news but make sure you try and do some nice things together while you can and make sure you have some time to yourself too. I've seen a few friends with cancer and they have found incredible strength. I don't know how they do it.

Sending you a big cyber hug. . xx

If I didn't keep busy I'd sit and watch TV all day and let life pass me by. I guess as you get older you want to cram more and more into each day.

Marion, I am so sorry to hear this. It is so difficult when anyone we love is seriously ill, and when it's a parent, I think it tends to affect our whole view of the world. I hope your dad gets to see the specialist soon and you can begin to make some practical plans (well, for what it's worth, I always find that helpful). Christmas will be difficult for you this year ....on the one hand a distraction, and on the other, it's a time when emotions tend to come to the surface.

Will be thinking of you and hope all goes well. Please don't hesitate to PM me if I can help / do anything

Love, Lindy xxx

Thanks - we have a local garden centre that seems to sell lots of this kind of thing - I think I'll be there tomorrow

I agree where are you BBlover?

Sending good wishes
i,m so sorry to hear about your dad
if you ever need a chat don,t forget we are here, or pm me if i can help
all the best
georgyxxxxxxxxxxx

Hii Augusta sorry to hear about your dad.

thank you for all your good wishes...

its nice to have you all to chat to...

thank you....


and georgy I cant pm you for some reason......

Thinking of you and your family Try to keep strong and try to do some nice things together over this xmas.

cyber hugs and xxxxxx on your way.

I can never pm Georgy for some reason.

could it be because she is so deep and mysterious?


maybe we will have to go via twitter!!!

you should be able to now
i've added you to my buddy list
thats only, if you want to be my friend
Do you

Nor can I .......I think she likes to be mysterious.......

Added you to my buddy list as well
so hi five new buddy

Friends

Now you are already on the Buddy list
so with you lindy
i haven,t got a clue

shall have to look in to this, and make sure everything is set up right