Thursday 26 November

[Kath Mulligan]

I am in a state of shock after watching the BBC weather forecast after the 6.00pm news tonight. They are threatening the Peak District with some sleet/snow on Saturday! :shocked::bolt::hurt::smow:

I know it is much colder up here at the moment, but I wasn't expecting that. Elizabeth is quite excited to think that she might be able to get out and about with her new camera again though.

Suppose I should have known it would go cold though since I am having my hair cut tomorrow, and I am notorious at my hairdressers for taking bad weather with me. :redface:

Kath

[Linda]

I know you dont want the snow Kath, but after all we have had up here it would be welcome relief...we are looking forward to roof repairs on both the roof and the sunroom at the weekend... groan!

We had sun today though oh it was so nice! Uplifting!

[gloria townsin]

I have to say the temperature seems to have dropped here today. Quite an edge to it. Hope it doesn't turn out too bad for you Kath.

[Kath Mulligan]

Elizabeth and I have just been over at the cemetery putting a Christmas wreath on Vin's grave. It was sunny when we set off but there was a sudden downpour as we were at the graveside - only rain but it was like being hit with icy needles, so wouldn't be too surprised if it does turn a bit wintry later.

Kath

[jane jackson]

What an absolutely foul day here in PZ!!!!!!!!!!! Raining very heavily almost all day. I've been wrapping Christmas Presents so I've stayed indoors in the warm. Bryan is on his course so I expect I'll get a call around 6pm as he'll need a lift home or he'll be drenched...........

Hope everyone is keeping warm, dry and cosy ~ thinking of Eddie here Gloria ~ hope he's got the heating going or perhaps he's back home with you.

[gloria townsin]

No he's still at Bryher. He's cleared out the kitchen as far as he can as they will start bashing it to pieces on Monday. He said he didn't know I'd got so much down there. Men never seem to realise what it takes to run a kitchen...or am I just making excuses for my kleptomania?

I think he's just about keeping warm as long as he stays in the bedroom or the one he's turned into a TV room. He's coming back on Tuesday as there will be no heating after that until the new boiler is fitted which is aeons away....so we'll either be staying at The Cove or the Travel Lodge on our visits. Will be down before Christmas and again just after. A big gang of workmen are supposed to be working there on Monday. Think he'll be glad to be coming back now, he took my KA out for a spin today then it goes to the garage to have a little spot of paintwork fixed and it will live there until it can go back to Bryher. The front garden is full of skips and builders vans and equipment. Part of me would like to be there to see it and another part is glad I'm not there in the midst of it all.

[Kath Mulligan]

But the exciting thing is, Gloria, that it is finally happening - just when we had nearly given up hope.

We managed to escape the snow in New Mills but friends in nearby Glossop and Buxton both said it was snowing there this morning, although it was very wet and didn't lie for long. Wet and windy again tonight.

Kath

[adesmith]

As we were driving to West Wales yesterday we were surprised to see snow at the side of the motorway around Swansea!

Anyway we were very lucky because the rain stopped and we were able to enjoy our day without getting wet. It was dark, cold and a bit windy (and the sea was very rough) but we had a good time. We visited the new Flying Boat Centre in Pembroke Dock which has displays about Short Sunderland Flying Boats. My Grandad was a wireless operator on one of those during WWII and was based at PD for a time. There is a Sunderland in the sea nearby and they are planning to raise it in 2011. Really interesting and they were pleased that I was able to give them information that my Grandad had left.

We then went on the Pembroke Castle which is huge and we had it all to ourselves to explore (the good thing about visiting in November). After that we went to St Govans Chapel, a chapel built into a cliff just above a rocky beach. That was where the sea was so stormy and dramatic!

It was a good day out and only started raining again as we left Pembrokeshire!

[jane jackson]

You sound as though you all had a fantastic day Adrian. Just as well you weren't in West Cornwall with all our torrential rain. It's still a bit windy but dry for the moment. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[adesmith]

I think it has just arrived here Jane! It has been raining heavily all morning. We had to abandon getting to church after sitting in traffic for 50 minutes between Newport and Cardiff (we go to church in Cardiff). We came off at the next available junction to go home but decided to go to the garden centre on the way. Whilst in there the heavens opened and the sound of it on the roof was incredible. I did think of Kath and her garden centre experiences at that point!

[jane jackson]

Just realised that I've gone from an energetic black cat to a lounging around one! Must have been chatting a lot!!!!!!!!!!:gossip:

This one is more like ours in this wet weather as they're staying inside and sleeping in comfortable places a good deal ~ very sensible pussy cats, as Bryan would say.:wave:

[Kath Mulligan]

Wet, wild and windy up here today too - a day to pull up the drawbridge and stay inside! Just ventured out to put the wheelie bin ready for collection tomorrow morning and had to put my heavy raincoat on to drag it a few yards to the gate.

Was the garden centre nice and festive for you, Adrian? I succumbed to the Christmas spirit at Morrisons the other day and bought a bright red poinsettia, first time I've had one for a year or two since I got so bored of the last one when it was still red and blooming in July the following year that I threw it out! Couldn't resist this one though since it was a large healthy plant for just £2.50 and smaller versions were on sale at the garden centre for more than twice the price.

Kath

[Linda]

we have had a dry and bright day wth sun but the wind has turned an easterly and so is very cold and biting.Still at least things should dry a bit with the wind.
Jeff was repairing the roof and went to check on how it was doing today,went to get some bits and pieces and came back to find the ladder had clattered down and hit the satellite dish so now hes repairing that...

:fie::painkiller::wacko::faint:.
..will make some :tea:

[gloria townsin]

You certainly get out and about Adrian. Although come to think of it we used to go out when the boys were small taking them to things of interest and just for fun. Now, especially with the weather as it is here, I just want to go no further than the computer. Have wrapped a few Christmas gifts and that's about it......lazy ol' me!!

[adesmith]

Yes Kath it was Christmassy although this year there seemed to be less decorations for sale than normal. There was a Welsh foodmarket set up and they actually had the most gorgeous donkeys and goats in a pen (not sure why they were there other than to advertise a 'farm park' that we had never heard of before). There was of course Father Christmas as well and we nearly took Rupert in but didnt in the end because we didnt have our camera and we didnt feel Christmassy enough. It was nice in there but we couldnt hang around long because my sister was coming down to visit. The Chrysanthemum in the hall is looking a bit sorry for itself and Rachel said that she would get a Pointsettia to replace it before long.

Linda I do feel sorry for Jeff. That sounds like my sort of DIY, fixing one thing only for something else to go wrong! Hope that you managed to get things sorted and glad that you had a dry and bright day.

Gloria to tell you the truth we didnt feel much like going yesterday. It was 120 miles and we are both a bit tired at the moment. I had promised the chap at the Flying Boat Centre and so felt that we ought to go. However as is often the case we were well rewarded for making the effort. Rupert loved it in Pembroke Castle because there was so much to explore. Rachel got fed up with climbing towers and spiral staircases though. She is a good wife for all the things that she does for me!

I can see why people liken West Wales to Cornwall. It is very beautiful. BUT dont worry they wont convert me!

[Kath Mulligan]

I can see why people liken West Wales to Cornwall. It is very beautiful. BUT dont worry they wont convert me!

We spent a holiday in Saundersfoot a good few years ago and thought it was a lot like Cornwall in terms of its rugged coastal scenery - but as you say Adrian, it is NOT Cornwall! It has its own charms but nowhere tugs at my heartstrings in the way that Kernow does.

Kath

[Annette]

Lovely sunny day here today but my goodness its cold with the wind from the North, had to dash around outside doing my animal jobs this morning. Just having a bowl of homemade leek and potato soup and listening to "the holly and the ivy" on classic fm.

Perfect day for writing Christmas cards and doing a bit of internet shopping.

My cats haven't moved from the front of the fire yet today, every time I go in to add another log they give me the do not disturb look.

[Kath Mulligan]

I've just been doing some internet Christmas shopping too, Annette - much better than being pushed and jostled in the shops.

It started off dry and sunny here today, although very cold but has now clouded over and it is looking increasingly wintry outside. I suspect if we get any precipitation now it may well be sleet or snow rather than rain - the sky just has that look about it.

Am just about to make some tomato soup for later, then I may well tackle my Christmas cards too.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Sounds as though you 2 are having a good day in the dry (so far!) and getting all christmassy.

Our cats are going for their annual check up and injection tomorrow morning ~ but don't tell them................... I had to move lots of stuff to get to the under eaves cupboard to uncover their baskets which I've kept out of their sight.

We took Rosie and Jessie out for a very short walk this afternoon, just round the block, as they hadn't been out since thursday. It's just been so awful. We've never known it to rain quite so hard continuously and for day after day after day. All 4 of us having got wet we're now back in the warm and dry. We're out this evening at a Nat Tst talk on Trerice and the Tudors at The Queens Hotel but I think we'll be driving instead of walking.

:rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain:

[adesmith]

Log fires and homemade soup, it all sounds very cosy!

Well we had a dry day which was a relief after yesterday which was terrible. It has turned very cold now and there was talk of a frost on the radio.

Jane your talk sounds fascinating. Wish I lived closer! Trerice is one of my favourite National Trust houses. Possibly because of its connection with Winston Graham and Poldark (I have probably rambled on about that on here before!) but there is also just something about the place. When we visited in the summer they were talking about how some of the other rooms in the house may be opened up. Please let us know what you learn about the house Jane!

[jane jackson]

It was a very interesting talk with slides Adrian, given by James (didn't catch the surname) who must be the Manager as he lives in the flat on the top floor with his family.

The rooms they're talking about opening up are the ones right at the top but don't think they're safe enough to at present.

They've had a survey done which has thrown up more questions than answers. 3 out of the 4 plastered ceilings have turned out to be Victorian reconstructions so only 1 is the original from the 1500s but that is in fact in the best condition of them all. They think the restored ones have used some of the original work and it will have been a replica of the original pattern.

This survey also queried the Minstrals Gallery - that may well be Victorian too! He showed a photograph of 2 sections of a wall of the building where they join with the left side a rough stone more like a cornish field wall and the 1 on the right with flat neat cut stones. They had believed the one on the left was the original and the flatter neater one the newest but it's the other way around!

They've done really well with their work with the local school involving the children in Elizabethan gardening projects including making a replical of the water spout. They won an award for innovatative work with the school.

It was actually a DRY evening with the lights of Newlyn sparkling well. We drove home the long way round and came up Market Jew Street to see the Christmas lights which were beautiful.

[Barbara]

Thank you all for your Christmassy posts.
Like Adrian pointed out, all this talk of homemade soup, log fires, wind and rain outside and cosiness inside, Christmas cards and snow. I'm enjoying every minute of it.
We put our Christmas tree up last night. Natalie and her partner came for tea and she and Lachlan trimmed the tree.
They do it together every year. This year Lachlan was too big for Natalie to lift up to put the star on, so he had to get a chair.
Now, as you all know, I have one very scampy kitten who appears to have taken up residence inside the branches of the tree...I knew it would happen....I've been here before. I have told Lachlan not to get to worried when she climbs the tree and things start falling off - we'll just pick them up and put them back on.
Happy days.
:jester:

[Kath Mulligan]

Our cat never climbed into the Christmas tree, Barbara, but we had a Nativity crib scene that one of my sisters-in-law gave us for our first married Christmas and we used to arrange the figures on the floor underneath the tree. Cindy thought it was great fun to wait until I had managed to balance all the kings, shepherds etc (they had pipecleaner style bendy legs and arms), then she would calmly stroll among them, knocking them all over. After doing her demolition job she would sit amidst the chaos, washing her paws as if to say, "there, now you will have to do it all over again!" Amongst our old, non-digital photos we have got several of her under the tree, will have to see if I can find one and scan it to put into my album. We are planning to put our tree and lights up this coming weekend.

We have our first hard frost of the winter today, but at least it is dry and bright before back to the heavy rain tomorrow apparently. Looking out at my car there will be quite a bit of ice scraping required before I can go anywhere this morning.

Kath

[jane jackson]

It went down to 0c last evening and there was frost on the car but it had gone by this morning. I wish I'd taken note of temperatures when I was in Herts and Exmoor with freezing outside taps and ice on water troughs etc but we didn't seem to have that awareness, just what we expected in the winter ~ it was either freezing or not freezing. It would be nice to compare with now. Minus 8 or 10 sounds awful but perhaps it was what we had anyway especially as we would have thought in fahrenheit so it wouldn't have been a minus.

We got the cats to the Vet ok. I get so stressed about catching them but it usually works out fine. This time of year is best as they're usually waiting for their breakfast and can be shut in our very small utility area without getting too hot as it would be in the summer (well a proper summer that is!) We also got the dogs on the beach in the DRY so they've enjoyed a good run.

There were lots of fishing boats out last night making the most of the change of wind and calmer conditions. They've been storm bound for about 10 days. We could see their lights as we left the Queens Hotel so they weren't very far out.

Hope you get your car windscreen scraped ok Kath ~ safe driving.

[gloria townsin]

I'm sure Eddie will be glad to be back later today, especially if the temperature dropped that low. Ice to clear off Nina's car this morning before she set off.

There was a winter - oh dear how many years ago? We had our ponies at Micklefield Farm near Chorleywood/Sarratt. The fields were down near the M25, in fact the land had been purchased from the farm to build the carpark it's become. The weather was so cold the water trough froze solid and a broken pipe had cascaded water into the air where it also froze like some water feature captured on film. It was like it for at least a couple of weeks. So we had to put buckets of water in the field although nothing lived out. I wonder if you remember Green Street Farm Jane....Micklefield was owned by the same person. I often look at the fields when I'm driving to Sarratt, no horses there now, and think of that awful Winter.

[jane jackson]

Yes I remember Green Street Farm ~ top of the road down to Chorleywood village?

It's absolutely foul down here now. I set out for my German class, parked in a road in Newlyn and started to walk to The Centre. There was a flood taking up half the road on my side and 2 vehicles went pass slowly and avoided it but a "charming" man in a white taxi drove straight through it without slowing down and completely soaked me from the knees down!!!!!!!!!:angry::hurt: At least I had my brolly which was trying to blow inside out but it protected the upper part. There was no way I could sit in a class for 2 hours like that so I'm home and about to sit in front of the fire with all my wet clothes around it.

Do hope Eddie has an uneventful drive home to you and gets there safely ~ HORRIBLE WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Annette]

My goodness, the weather does sound grim in Cornwall. Its been a nice sunny day here today starting with a sharp frost. It is cold but I have been outside planting up some half price tulips.

I love the snow but it seriously disrupts animal jobs, probably the worst thing that happens is the frozen water troughs as horses and sheep drink lots especially when they are eating hay.

Muddy dog paws are another matter, I couldn't cope without mopable floors :D

[adesmith]

Yes it was a very sharp frost here in Newport as well. Quite an appropriate start to December! Back to rain now though.

Jane that is really interesting about Trerice. Thanks for reporting back. I had heard about the upstairs rooms being opened up. I think they said that they were higher status than previously thought and therefore of interest. That is also interesting about the Minstrel's Gallery and a bit disappointing that it may be so recent!

Sorry to hear about your experience with the puddle. It was a bit mean of the driver.

[Linda]

Jane do you believe in Karma? ...hold that thought the taxi driver will be repaid! ( it usually works on a ten to one ratio!! :):) )

[Kath Mulligan]

It's a nice bright morning here after overnight rain so I am heading off to Buxton shortly and am determined not to come back until I have finished my Christmas shopping - hmmm, I may be out for some time then!! At least I have now decided what to buy for everyone so that's a good start. I hate aimlessly wandering around the shops waiting for inspiration to strike me.

The annual petit fours session will be taking place this weekend so colourful hands and nails will be the order of the day! Also putting up the tree and lights so we should be feeling quite Christmassy by the end of Sunday - and, of course, we started on the choccie Advent calendars yesterday - yummee!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Kath you should take orders for your petit fours, boy folks did they look delish at the AGM .... they wouldn't have lasted two minutes in my hands I can tell you.

Hope all shopping achieved, I did a few bits when we were in Cornwall a couple of weeks ago and now wish I had got a couple more Cornish things.....we will have to go to Bryher in the not too distant future but whether it will be in time to buy Christmas gifts I'm not sure. I should know by now to strike while the iron's hot....missed opportunity and all that.

If you've come back with all you need Kath you will be able to sit back with a nice cuppa and feel quite pleased with yourself, if not, never mind there's always another shopping trip.....

[jane jackson]

We were going to put out tree up on sunday but we've been out and ordered a new "thin" TV for the lounge which wont be delivered until next wednesday. The tree will be in the way of the chap setting it up and us cleaning out behind the old one so will have to be patient.

Hope you managed to get all you were looking for Kath and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

[Kath Mulligan]

Yep, managed to get all I went for, and a bit more besides - typical!! Ended up not going until this afternoon as I had an email advising me that the camera tripod I had ordered for Elizabeth was going to be delivered sometime between 08.00 and 15.00 today. Murphy's Law, it didn't arrive until 2.00pm - I could have been to Buxton and back well before then if I had known. Anyway I shot off as soon as the delivery man had gone and with it being Wednesday afternoon it was fairly quiet, so I did a whistlestop tour of M&S, WH Smiths, Rymans, Superdrug, Boots and Dorothy Perkins and managed to get all that was on my list so am feeling quite chuffed with myself. Need to finish writing my international cards tonight as I am taking Mum to the PO in the morning so can get them away. Suddenly I am far too organised - it won't last, something is bound to throw a spanner in the works!!:tongue::D

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Kath you should take orders for your petit fours, boy folks did they look delish at the AGM .... they wouldn't have lasted two minutes in my hands I can tell you.




I'll bring you a small box of your very own to Memorial Weekend next year, Gloria - just don't tell anyone! :girl_wink:

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I'll bring you a small box of your very own to Memorial Weekend next year, Gloria - just don't tell anyone! :girl_wink:

Kath

Oh Kath!! Really? Wow - Memorial Weekend can't come quickly enough.........Thank You So Much.......:kiss: :clap2:

[adesmith]

Gosh you are all very organised! We are hoping to do a bit of shopping on the Internet but we also have the annual Christmas shopping trip to look forward to on Saturday (he says with a strained smile on his face!!!). We usually go to Cribbs Causeway in Bristol which is only 30 minutes over the bridge from us and the good thing is that it is all under one roof. You can also load up the car as you go. We get there very early and because we tend to buy other presents on line we hopefully dont have too much of a big list. The only trouble is that you dont have the smaller and more individual shops there.

Tree number 1 will be going up a week on Sunday. I think I have talked about this before but that is the artifical one in the sitting room. Tree number 2 will go up the weekend after I break up from school and that one will hopefully be a real one for the dining room. Its a sort of happy compromise between Rachel who likes it up a few weeks before and myself who would happily do it Christmas Eve. Also it solves our real Christmas tree problem in that I love a real tree but dont like it when it has dried out and died before Christmas day. Obviously putting it up later means its fresher on the big day (I am very fussy!!!).

We are all getting very excited now. This evening I told Rupert that Christmas was about Jesus being born and he sang "Bethlehem, Bethlehem". It turned out that he had learnt Little Donkey at Caerleon Cherubs (Playgroup). It was so sweet that it brought a tear to my eye. I think we are going to have a great time this year!

[Kath Mulligan]

Christmas is a very special time when you have very young children, Adrian, so enjoy it to the full now because it somehow loses a bit of its magic once they are too old to believe in Santa (don't let Rupert read this bit!!):girl_wink:

Sounds like a good compromise having two trees. We have always had an artificial one because it used to have to stand right next to a radiator and I couldn't see a real one lasting five minutes in those hot conditions. Nowadays I just prefer to have less mess to clean up to be honest. I don't usually put our tree up until two weeks before Christmas, but Claire is coming this weekend, and is busy the weekend after, so she has requested that we do it early. You see, I have taught my girls well, they are still big soft kids at Christmas, just like me! :jester:

Kath

[Annette]

Our Christmas tree usually goes up on or around the 20th. We have a farm about a mile away that grows them and cuts to order, it takes my Sister and I ages to chose ours and we usually go back to the first ones we saw in the end :haha: .

I love the smell of a really fresh cut tree, along with the turkey giblets cooking for gravy its a real scent of Christmas. The mess isn't usually too much of a problem for us as the tree stands in a very cool corner and is on floor boards rather than carpet.

I am feeling quite smug at the moment as I have actually written and posted my cards :biggrin:. The joy of not going to work !.

[Kath Mulligan]

I bought some cinnamon scented votive candles in little red pots from Morrisons which I have just unwrapped and stood on a red tray on the mantlepiece, and the perfume is so strong that it is filling the room even before the candles are lit! Think I had better just light one at a time, otherwise it could get a bit overpowering. Also got some gold sprayed twigs and fir cones so we are beginning to look quite festive now.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Not sure why I'm not quite feeling it yet.....perhaps it's because Jeff and Nina won't be here and as soon as they get back they will be organising their flat in Basingstoke, so the new year is a wonderful beginning for them but will take some getting used to for us. Although I am happy that they will be getting on with their life together, it's as it should be.
I suppose I worry a bit that once we've moved to Cornwall Matt will be rather isolated here, but I hope he'll come and visit us lots of times.
Also we need to visit Bryher before Christmas, there seems so much to fit in and I can't seem to concentrate on Christmas. I've sent our parcel to America and wrapped some others, not a card written yet though!! Must get on with the task. Might get some of the decorations sorted this weekend, as it's more than likely our last in Croxley I want Eddie to put up all the outside lights this year, he didn't put them all up last year for some reason, so this will be a last fling. Once at Bryher for Christmas I want the lights put in the trees on the Cornish hedge they will look so pretty there.

[Mary Young]

Gosh Kath all christmas shopping done! How i envy you. Weve been to toysrus tonight and came back loaded with toys for the grandchildren so I suppose thats the important ones done. Still have loads to do though.
Sounds like your house is getting christmassy. I could just smell those cinnamon candles.

[jane jackson]

It all sounds lovely Kath. Perhaps it's the awful continuous rain that's stopping you feeling Christmassy Gloria? Though saying that it's been a pretty good day today with just the one heavy shower late afternoon. I went to M&S and Wyevale while waiting for Bryan who was talking boats and charts with a Coastwatch collegue. Both shops are really bright and cheerful with lots of Christmas things around and I took advantage of my free coffee and home made mince pie at Wyevale courtesy of my Gardening Club Card.

We've just come home from being entertained by Pam Ayres at The Hall for Cornwall at Truro. She was excellent as usual, the whole audience was laughing with her all evening. Wonderful dry evening for the drive with a glorious full moon.

[gloria townsin]

Pam Ayres is great. I saw she was appearing there and I think you mentioned it a while ago Jane. Did she recite her poem about her children when they were young? that one is a bit of a tear jerker and reminded me of happy sea-side holidays when our boys were little.
I have a Wyvale card as well though I preferred it when they had their 10% off on Tuesdays if you are a certain age!!
You might be right Jane I will galvanise myself into Christmassy Action this weekend and then I'll be in tune with the rest of you.........hey need a Santa smilie at this point....could you just imagine one please?

[jane jackson]

Ok Gloria, I'm imagining the Santa smilie! Pam Ayres told lots of stories about her sons from young children to grown up and she did recite quite a few poems with them as the subject along with one about losing your precious dog after a final visit to the Vet. Hope there wasn't anybody in the audience who had recently lost their dog as it was quite emotional.

I'm even more in the Christmassy spirit having spent a couple of hours this morning having coffee and shortbread with Patricia and Monty at Bumblebee Cottage. Patricia has already decorated her inglenook for Christmas and it looks really splendid. She's had to remove a Santa figure which she's had for years as Monty decided he rather fancied chewing it and was relunctant to let go of one of the boots!
I had a tour of her cottage and studio and it all looks very cosy and comfortable.

I took the 2 Tangye paperbacks which she'll pass on to Jennie.

It's been dry here today apart from the very occassional slight drizzle but no sunshine.

[adesmith]

Is it the Wyevale near Lelant that you go to Jane? I like that one. Rachel has a Wyevale card and some of the offers are quite good. We havent used the free mince pie voucher yet but I did get the free violas in a pot that came in with the last lot of vouchers. They were very nice but they have stopped flowering for a while (we need some sunshine!). We usually get a £1 or so in vouchers but that doesnt buy much so I can see why you preferred the 10% day Gloria (something for me to look forward to!).

I am going to climb into the loft in a moment to bring the decorations down ready for next weekend. I want to check the lights. Christmas shopping tomorrow :frown:

[adesmith]

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-003.gif

Not sure if you can post smilies in but if it works here is one for you Gloria.

[gloria townsin]

Hey Adrian - just what I was hoping for.........Well done. Steady as you go up and down the loft ladder.....Eddie has worked on ladders most of his life so it's nothing for him to bring boxes down almost on his head.....I go up three rungs with my nose hitting every one above it and then I can't go any further.......such a woos.

[Kath Mulligan]

You can go two rungs higher than me, Gloria! I was putting away the garden chairs on the top tier of my wardrobe this morning, standing on a chair and very nearly came a cropper. I have never had any sort of head for heights. If a light bulb needs changing Elizabeth has to do it - heaven knows what I shall do when she decides to move out - burn a lot of candles perhaps?!:girl_wacko:

Enjoy your Christmas shopping Adrian, have to say I don't envy you having to battle the crowds on a Saturday. I will think of you tomorrow afternoon when we are relaxing and making the petit fours.

Kath

[adesmith]

Survived the ladder! I am not too good with them truth be told and Rachel usually has her heart in her mouth! All the lights work and all of the decorations are now sorted for next weekend. I also found a small Christmas tree for my desk at school.

Unfortunately it has to be a Saturday these days. Before I was a teacher I used to take a holiday day from work. We will leave for Cribbs Causeway by about 8.30am and hopefully the bulk of the shopping will be done by 11am. It does get really busy so in the last couple of years we have been away by lunchtime. Anything we dont get we will pick up at the supermarket or order on the Internet. I will grin and bare it and look forward to a cosy evening in when we get home!

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-008.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-005.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-012.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/weihnachten/xmas-smiley-010.gif http://www.smilys.net/christmas_smilies/smiley1838.gif http://www.smilys.net/christmas_smilies/smiley523.gif

[jane jackson]

I love those smilies Adrian! ~ just great.

Yes it is the Wyevale at Lelant. good luck with Cribbs Causeway tomorrow.

[gloria townsin]

Now look Adrian...this is Christmas Smilies gone mad, far outstripped my earlier plea for a Santa :dance3: Fantastic Fun.

Isn't it weird Kath how just standing on a chair makes you feel as though you are at least 10' off the ground? All I can suggest is that you buy a cottage in a certain county which will look lovely by candlelight when Elizabeth moves out.

[Kath Mulligan]

Now look Adrian...this is Christmas Smilies gone mad, far outstripped my earlier plea for a Santa :dance3: Fantastic Fun.

Isn't it weird Kath how just standing on a chair makes you feel as though you are at least 10' off the ground? All I can suggest is that you buy a cottage in a certain county which will look lovely by candlelight when Elizabeth moves out.

:D:D:D Nice idea Gloria, not sure I could exist by candlelight all the time though!

Love your Christmas smilies, Adrian. By now you should be in the throes of your Christmas shopping, so hope all goes smoothly for you.

Kath

[Barbara]

Hello all,
Good to hear you're all getting organized for Christmas. I'm way behind - the only thing I've definitely sorted out is Lachlan's Lego train..which I can't wait to have a go at.
I like the Christmas Smiles, Adrian.
Listening to you talking about lofts and things got me thinking how interesting houses are in Britain and Europe. As you know, houses in Australia are mainly bungalows, although people with loads of money build multi-storey houses. I read somewhere, last week though that new Australian houses are now the biggest in the world per square metre. I can believe it too - people want at least four bedrooms and goodness how many family rooms, this, that and the next thing - and they have these tiny little gardens now because a whopping great house is taking up all the room on the block.
Anyway, got to go as the kitten is mounting another attack on the Christmas tree. I thought we would manage to keep the tree looking all right despite her forays, but it's looking more bedraggled by the day.
:juggle:

[gloria townsin]

Is that how you feel Barbara? Juggling all the things you have to do and keeping them all in the air at the same time? - Know how you feel then..........:D

[adesmith]

Well we managed to do all that we set out to do and we were home by 2pm! It is well worth setting off early. By the time we left it was very busy but it was quiet for the first couple of hours.

Rupert likes Lego as well Barbara. In fact he spent the remainder of his birthday money on some today. Being 3 he has the big bricks (Duplo?) and absolutely loves it.

I am afraid my experience of Australian houses is limited to what I have seen on television (Ramsey Street and Summer Bay when I was younger!) and yes I noticed that most were on one level and quite large. American houses whilst not all on one level have quite a spacious floor plan as well. I wonder if it is to do with them both being such big countries and therefore more land? The UK is quite a crowded little island. I also wonder that if the size of houses depends on the climate as well? Smaller houses are easier to keep warm? The other thing is tradition I guess. Our house is a very ordinary 1970s semi detached with 3 bedrooms but we do have a good view of the River Usk. As they say 'Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home'.

[gloria townsin]

Lego was one of our boys favourite playthings. The worst thing about it is if you tread on it in bare feet in the dark when you're checking the children are asleep...........Ouch!!

[Mary Young]

Well Barbara those lego trains must be popular this year as thats what weve got for one of our grandsons. All those miles between us and we have the same toys on the wish lists!

[Barbara]

Yes, the wonderful world of Lego.
My daughter used to love playing with Lego when she was young - she'd play for hours and hours. It is our good luck that she went for all the "Boyish" Lego characters...pirates, musketeers, etc and policeman and things like that. I kept her huge bucket of Lego. For years it sat in a cupboard..I suppose I was keeping it to hand on to the "grandchildren". Then along came Lachlan. We waited until he turned four (because there were very small pieces in the collection) then gave it to him.
He plays with it endlessly and ,of course now we have added to the collection. I'm not a fan of plastic stuff, but I make the exception with Lego. I think it gives free reign to their imagination - they can create whatever they desire and then they get to play with their creation. So, to me Lego is many things, including the most agonizing torture product ever devised for the sole of the foot(I agree with you,Gloria).
Adrian, I think you are right about the size of houses being related to the available land and also about the heating. It makes a lot of sense for smaller countries to build upwards.
Dave and Mary, it is a small world isn't it? It just goes to show how much western countries share in common especially in the marketplace.http://www.friendsofminack.org.uk/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Kath Mulligan]

Our girls used to have loads of the Duplo Lego when they were small and we had endless hours of fun with it, along with some plain wooden building shapes. One year they had the Fisher Price airport and FP garage as Christmas presents and Vin came home early from work to find us on the floor surrounded by a complete "town" that we had built. 'Nice to see all you children having fun' was his comment!!:tongue: Happy days.

We put our Christmas tree up yesterday and all the lights so we are looking very sparkly and festive, in complete contrast to the miserable grey wet day outside. For some strange reason I've been wide awake since 5.30am so I've been busy finishing writing cards and letters, and am about to do some present wrapping.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Kath pass me a bit of your energy......for some reason I seem to have run low on it. A couple of late night's and one when I couldn't sleep haven't helped.

We had the FP garage and it was played with for years even after the original little characters were grown out of, it doubled up for inclusion in other games. As you so rightly say Kath - Happy Days indeed.

[Linda]

:hug: for Kath

:)

[Barbara]

Lachlan had a set of Fisher Price "Little People" and we bought a farm, fire station and zoo to add to it. It was all a lot of fun - instead of buying more buildings, we decided to make some of our own out of cardboard, paper, glue and paint - that way we could make whatever we wanted.
So we made a tudor cottage out of a big toaster box, a very eclectic castle and a Norman church...we have a big green mat in the sitting room and it was the perfect setting for our village.
Lachlan has outgrown these play figures now, but we did enjoy them for a long time. We still have the cottage which looks so quaint. I remember wondering what I could glue on the roof to look like thatch and eventually glued an old handtowel on and painted it. It looks great because it follows the contours of the roof
:)

[gloria townsin]

The glueing, painting and imagination models are always treasured because you remember the excitement and sense of achievement in making them. I kept a wooden sword for ages that Matthew had made from two pieces of rough wood, in fact wouldn't be surprised to find it in the loft when we get all the boxes down to move.

[Kath Mulligan]

Doesn't it make you feel very sorry for today's generation of parents and children who, in many ways, are missing out on these creative play activities because, from necessity, both parents are having to work full time, so just don't have the freedom that we stay-at-home mums had to play with our children.

Rupert is a very lucky little boy, Adrian, to have you and Rachel giving him so much quality time and so many experiences to remember when he grows up.

Barbara, it sounds like you and Lachlan had a wonderful time too with your Tudor cottage etc. It's amazing how creative you can be with an old cardboard box, isn't it? I blame it on Blue Peter!! The number of their activities we had to try to replicate - some were quite successful, others a bit of a disaster area - but we had great fun trying. :dance3:

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Blue Peter and Tony Hart were wonderfully inspirational and programmes I always sat down with the boys to watch.

Paul had a marvellous book of scientific things to make and do when he was about 9 or 10. He made one project and took it to school to demonstrate, it was constructed using one of Eddie's empty Gaviscon tubes and other odds and ends - it was brilliant! I feel I was completely lucky to have been able to be at home with them. Things weren't easy then and living on one income was a juggling act, but we managed somehow, moving twice and increasing our mortgage to a dizzy height, well we thought so at the time, it's less than peanuts now, in fact laughable. I have to say Eddie worked and worked putting in lots of hours on his decorating business, allowing me to be a stay at home Mum and indulging in expensive hobbies i.e. Ponies and all that goes with equestrianism.

[Kath Mulligan]

Awww, bless Eddie, he's a man in a million Gloria.

Kath