Brilliant episode of Downton Abbey tonight, had me tearful and smiling in turns!

Off to bed now...:yawn:

Hope everyone's well.

Sleep tight :sleep: :sleep:

Lindy xx

do you think, we can put this song down
as one of johns 8

Good Morning JJat

what awful weather

son starts his work placement this week
he is so nervous, lots of talking and supporting to do
on all fronts, thats me to

sorry about your drain Nyannie, ours does it to
think its fat that causes the problem

Augusta no satellite, not sure my family would know what to do with themselves without it but i agree that stop,
starting is so useful

So Julien went on strictly, think it was the right choice
out of the bottom two, and a liverpool draw, not really
what we needed, but never mind

hope Lena is alright
she also had this nasty cold thing, that does seem to
linger, hope to see her soon

off now got things to do
will be back later

Morning all

Can I echo your sentiments georgy? Hope Lena J is OK. The cold/virus that is going around seems to linger and linger. Get well soon.

O/H managed to clear the drain but need to get some drain cleaner - he is hobbling around after bashing his foot on the table - should wear shoes inside I guess.

Need to concentrate on housework today! How a house can get so messy with only two of us, I don't know.

Hope your son enjoys his work placement georgy

. . .and guess that song will count as one of John's 8!

See you later.

Good morning everyone......Run for cover, I'm back!!!
Thankyou all for your get well wishes. I can honestly say (to quote my dear old nan) that I have felt like death warmed up.
I really thought I was feeling better when I posted last Monday evening, but by midnight I could barely see out of my eyes and my ears felt as if Dynorod had been through them.

My o/h is off for a few days so the house is now full of paint fumes which is playing havoc with my sinuses and throat, still it's got to be done and it is looking nice so I mustn't complain.

Put my laptop on for the first time last night so I have a lot to catch up with. My email inbox is huge, full of junk that I have apparently signed up to. This has happened since Sky switched to Yahoo, who have sold our details to all and sundry.
I have never had so much fishing for bank details (including accounts I don't even have) and offers from magazines in all my life!! Even had one this morning from a mag group which is apparently attached to this site...needless to say I have unsubscribed....AGAIN!

I've finally set up (well actually my son did it for me) a googlemail account so now I'm feeling better I have the arduous task of informing all those that need to know - this could take a while. :yawn:

Have lots to catch up with so will read through and post again later.

Did I see we've had some tweets from John and a possible song for his list?

Have a good day, back later.

evening all, well after telling me she wasn't interested in doing anything with the extended family,,...now daughter has decided she would now like to do something for her 21 st....so I think a tea party here in December......then all the new babies in the family can safely come!!!!


I spose its a girls privilege to change her mind .!!!!

Hi Lena Glad you're feeling better Don't go overdoing things now, will you? It's tempting, I know, when you suddenly feel up to doing a bit

Morning all.

So glad you are back to the land of the living Lena - we have missed you!H

Guess it is a girl's privilege to change her mind - at least you have had some notice.

We are still not feeling 100% this end but we are managing to go to work - and do housework!

Have bought some things to send to friends overseas for Christmas, but best send them this week to make sure they get it. Sent some calenders to New Zealand last week - printed paper, surface mail - and they were £2.80 EACH!!!!! Think I will be bankrupt with all this before too long.

Must get going - having a snoop around the new Tesco superstore with my friend next door.

Good morning JJat

welcome back Lena
was getting a little worried, these flu type bugs can turn
so very nasty

weather not good here,
sort of a curl up in lounge wear
good book, warm fire kind of day

have fun with your neighbour Nyannie

of course it is Augusta
but it can be a little annoying
for the people around her

but a 21st tea party sounds lovely
that will be such fun

Im looking forwards to doing the tea party.

Ive been doing a course today on Safeguarding, one of the issues we were talking about was internet safety for kids, and how easy it is for them to give out info online...and reminding us to advise kids about internet safety and security......

It was fascinating, but....I somehow feel that the pandoras box has already been opened, its so easy to say that kids should be careful.....but they aren't .....peer pressure and the general lifestyle means that most people tend to be far too open online...

And its hard. because on one level, I don't think there should be too many secrets and information should be open.....And I often feel in real life that I am too cautious and reticent about things. Today we were told for instance, even saying what job we do could be a useful bit of information for someone looking to groom a child....which I sort of see, but.....I tend to think I am unusual at times, as I do tend to be fairly private, I have seen some people online say so many things that are much more easily identifiable....

the internet can be incredibly useful at times, yesterday I managed to invite almost all our relatives to this tea party using private messages on facebook.....That would have taken hours on the phone......


But it is also extremely dangerous as well in the wrong hands....

Nyannie the price of postage is getting silly isn't it......you can almost spend more sending something, than you did on buying it in the first place......

Oh and as an aside.......we were told today to be especially cautious of any private fostering arrangements, children were involved in., ie any cases where children aren't being looked after by blood relatives.........as in this case social services have to be involved., and check the family out properly....cos of cases like Victoria Columbie...


My mind went at a tangent , and I ended up wondering in this case ...whether a film like Love Actually now should be withdrawn , as isn't the small boy in the story living with his stepfather, after his mother has just died....They didn't say anything in that film about social services needing to be involved in this case of private fostering.....!!!!!

Morning

Fostering/adoption is a can of worms augusta. You are right, the boy in Love Actually WAS staying with his stepfather - and Danielle Steel wrote a book about a stepfather who adopted his stepdaughter.

Personally I think it impossible to be 100% sure.

Did anyone hear the rain last night/early morning? Hurricane type rain.

Off for my scan - see you all later.

Morning everyone, o/h went back to work this morning so I'm a free agent again.
I spent the day papering the hall, to say I'm a bit stiff this morning would be an understatement.

Very blustery here, was dry and sunny but now it's showery.
Dry clear starry night, why can't it be dry during the day? I've got washing piling up and there's only so much I can hang up indoors at a time.

Back in a bit, got to do a few chores....including going outside to fill the bird feeders. They've emptied the lot again!

Thanks for all your welcome back messages, I'm trying not to overdo things (says she who was up and down steps yesterday) but things are piling up here and while I may not be the most house proud person (just ask my sister who is the 'dust spotter queen') there is a limit even for me!

How is your son getting on with his work placement georgy? Hope it's going well for him and that he's enjoying the experience. Isn't it funny how even when they're all grown up we still get anxious for them? Guess that's what being a mum is all about.

My wretched laptop has been screaming for me to update Java and Adobe and now I've done java it's telling me there's a problem.

Still, help is at hand as my techie son has just appeared (as if by magic)

Back later (I hope) when he's sorted it out.....AGAIN.

Is it me or does he have that weary look as I explain my computer problems.

Enjoyed reading all your desert island disc lists, some really good tracks in them.
If we were all stranded together I think we'd have quite a good juke box going on.

Finally, better late than never and after much deliberation and deleting here is mine:-

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley (struggled between this or One Love)
Hello Again - Neil Diamond
A Soft Place To Fall - Alison Moorer
Maybe Tomorrow - UB40
The Impossible Dream - Elvis Presley
Love Of My Life - Queen (how do you choose just one Queen track)
Adagio - Il Divo (could listen to them all day)

It would be a whole lot easier if I could cheat and have double A sides.

I LOVE your desert island discs. I agree with you about Queen - and that Roberta Flack track reminds me of my Aussie boyfriend who died.

OH no!!!! Heavy rain again!!!! It is really dark out too. . .

I really hope you are getting enough rest Lena. Don't overdo it.

My computer is playing up to - I keep getting these pop-ups saying my plug-ins have been disabled as they aren't safe and to get an update. I have downloaded the updates but can't get them to 'update'. Wonder if it is Firefox?

Oh well, it means I have to activate Adobe Flash Player every time I want to watch youtube!

Just finished wrapping a few presents that have to go overseas - have to do things gradually as my hands and neck hurt. The joys of getting old.

Oh well, hope you all have a lovely evening - a new Poirot is on tonight.

oh brilliant , what time is Poirot ? I went to get some more beads today, this first craft fair is coming together,

But its all the extra things like how to display things that is taking the time....!!!!!


I spent ages in the cake shop as well, looking at decorations, for this 21st cake, I had almost decided to do a 2 and a 1 cake to make up 21, but im having second thoughts....a round cake might be a lot simpler..or even a heart shaped one....which I do have somewhere......


Lena Im impressed with the decorating, Im not allowed to do any decorating around our house, I got sick of being told I had done it wrong.......just cos there was a tiny run in the paint...so don't volunteer now on principle!!!.

very well thank you Lena
but it has thrown me a bit of my stride
finding it hard to concentrate on things
with the worry of it all

but he is ok
he will do two different placements both lasting ten weeks
for the first week he will have a teacher with him all day
and then they slowly withdrawn the support, as he becomes more confident

but he was very pleased because they gave him a trainee badge, t shirt and a free hot choc, came out walking tall
and very proud of himself , and he should be.

it really is a fantastic course for young adults with special needs

pleased to hear you are feeling so much better

morning all

i need to do a food shop the cupboards are bare
just managed to put together a breakfast

a couple of pieces of toast
and a small glass of fruit smoothie, that was it for me
well thats all that was left

loved reading everyone music list
and we have some sun this morning after all that rain
the storm here scared me, its usually the thunder, but the lightning really frightened me

hope all have a good day
Xxx

Afternoon all

I have been reading but not posting for the last day or two ( was already very busy preparing a new training course .....and now it looks as if we are about to put the house on the market again ) So many decisions to make, so much to do.......

Hope everyone's well. Nyannie, how did your scan go? Lena, hope you're feeling better. Augusta, wish I had your creativity. And Georgy, good vibes to you and your son. It sounds like a great course and I think you both should be proud of yourselves!!

Will be back later

Lindy xx

Afternoon
Tried to post this morning but message kept saying I needed more characters.

So pleased to hear about your son georgy - he SHOULD be proud of himself!

Augusta, why not bite the bullet and buy Betty Crocker cake and frosting mix, then all you will need to do is decorate the cake with some of the beautiful things they sell in the supermarkets - gold or silver balls, edible glitter, stars etc etc. I've made some cookies and put the things on them and they look terrific.

Nothing official but I still have a very small tear in the ankle tendon, but the tendon is intact so who knows what will happen. Waiting to hear from the consultant.

Hope you all have a lovely evening - I want another couple of songs - Greensleeves and Scarlett ribbons - both remind me of my father.

See you. . .

What a positive up beat few posts...

nyannie your ankle is getting better, and georgys son is doing really well...


Lindy, If you need me to come and do a location location location trip, Im happy to help, as a family we managed to live in some of the most popular and highest scoring locations around London, so searching for suitable properties is almost in my blood, as a child I can remember avidly scanning and reading the estate agents blurb...!!!

well ive spent this afternoon baking, ok so it is a week until I need the cake, but She is coming home again this weekend, and I am busy most of next week , so I am going to make the cake and freeze it, and then defrost it when I need to decorate it next week. Im changing my decorating scheme.......I think this one is going to be a heart shaped cake, with a 21 on it in icing on the top, the lady in the shop said, less is more, so I don't think its going to need much else. maybe a few polka dots to make it look colourful.?


Lindy if you are writing a training course, when are you going to be retiring?

Good to hear, isn't it?

Re the house- hunting, we are only just agreeing on an agent to go on the market ourselves.....and then transport links are going to be our priority, as well as hopefully more ground floor space than bedrooms, for living and entertaining Thanks for the offer Augusta, I may well seek your advice. In the past we seem to have done the opposite to you, and moved out of an area just as it started to go upmarket!!

Re the course ......I didn't know the moving house issue would come up again, when I agreed to do it Am committed now though so need to get on with it. Hopefully this will be one of my last pieces of work.....I get less enthusiastic with every year that passes....:yawn:

Good luck with the house hunting. I got a map showing all the rail stations in the South East. O/H and I are going to choose a few and then start looking at areas - probably Surrey- you can always take taxis to the train station. I want to be within easy walking distance of a town centre so I can see life! Almost 20 years of staring at hedges is enough for me!!

I know what you mean about not being enthusiastic about work - I have been offered another project and have turned it down as I have a busy few months. Ballet, tennis, art exhibitions etc.

Must get going - cleaned house and washed floors yesterday, today do the upstairs loos!!!!!