Hi Dita and all

[dita]

Hello Penny, Vannin and all. Oh! Vannin, I am so sorry, what a tragedy, words and sorry seem to be not enough but, alas it is the only thing I can think of. Maybe the fact that they are now together is a little consolation. (Hugs) Andere hope your hubby feels easier today, reacting to antibiotics is not pleasant and he has been in enough pain already without that. How are you Penny? what have you been up to I wonder, worried now in case you have come down with something, Chilly but sunny walkies today, hubby obliged because although I am starting to feel better, giving myself another couple of days before I venture out. Big hugs on the way to you Take care of yourself Penny, Vannin and all xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh, Viv, how awful. 'Sorry' just doesn't say enough but you have my deep sympathy over the loss of Pat. It's awful to lose a friend but to lose two in succession is truly the fates being unkind. Her poor children must feel terrible - so much sorting-out to do when one parent dies; for the other to go so soon after will be the sort of bureaucratic nightmare that can drive you crazy.

Slightly better news of OH today. He's a lot more cheerful following today's trip to the hospital. The leg doesn't look any better and his skin rash looks much worse but the consultant said, 'oh, it'll get worse before it gets better. Don't worry about it'. Yeh, well; it's not her that's covered in red blotches so she can say that. It's a relief that he's not so 'down' and washed-out. Indeed, he's just gone off for a little walk to the local shops and said as he went out of the door that it does now feel much more comfortable to stand on than it did 24 hours ago.

Lucy K is mostly staying in out of the cold but she's turned very lively and playful, rushing up and down the hall and stairs, chasing her tail, pouncing on elastic bands and even hoicking out one of her old toy mice from under the TV stand to play with. It's definitely a day for keeping warm, though. There seem to be draughts everywhere at the moment - just because of the wind direction I think. So stay in and snugged-up, Dita and let Mr Dita do the dog-walking for a while longer. I bet Trixie's happy now the mite-season is over, MM? Penny, I hope your bruised rump is feeling easier now?
Hugs and warm wishes to all.

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, at last able to relax. Started the marmalade early and the blasted electricity supply played up. Took longer than expected. My daughter phoned, can I borrow etc. OH done nothing but sit today except make a cuppa at four. Cheek, just put his head round the door and told me it was tea time. I am so sorry at your news Vannin, what a dreadful month for you. Seems we are all having problems in November. Do hope your hubby is a little better Andere. We moan about them but would be worse without them. Hope you are on the road to recovery Dita. Big hugs for doggie, sorry for being late and big kisses for puss. Take care all, only want good news for the rest of the year, says she, hopefully. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny, so pleased you are ok, was just beginning to wonder. Isn't it odd, just when you think you are doing well something happens to put a spanner in the works. Usually its fellows peeping round the corner indeed and telling you it teatime Grrrr! Chop his pocket money off Hugs from doggie xx

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all,. had to laugh at chop off his pocket money, Not quite what I would like to chop off. Had a busy morning with help from HUBBY. Prepared about 25lb apples for the freezer. He doesn't mind helping with this, as you know he is a food faddy, plus he stands there, puts an apple on the end of the machine and turns the handle. That's it. I do the rest. I don't mind, saves some time. We are going out for lunch today, I told him I am whacked after yesterday and as long as he gets good food he is ok. about going out. Hope doggie enjoys walkies today, big hugs to help along, not too bad here, a bit cloudy, still very cold. Do hope all are recovering and feeling better. Kisses for puss if about. Do hope your chest etc is getting better Dita, been quite a time now. Take care all, and have a good weekend. cheers Penny

[dita]

Morning Penny and all. Thought you would take the remark about his pocket morning in the way it was really meant That is quite an ammount of apples you have in your freezer, good to know he does help out a bit when it suits him, it is the same here. Last night was the first time I managed sleep without the hacking cough so hopefully it is on its way out, over a month is long enough. Our weather sounds the same as yours, not a bad day for doggie walkies, she did hurry back to send you some big hugs Penny. Hope you are having a good lunch today, after all your hard work in the kitchen you deserve it. Keep your chin up and take care Penny and all.

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, all! It's a lovely day here, too. Lucy K is dozing in a patch of sunshine on my bed. It's so warm here in the south-facing bedroom that I've turned the radiator off. Earlier, Lucy was sitting outside on the windowsill and the sun was shining behind her making a halo effect of her fur, absolutely beautiful but by the time I'd run upstairs to get my camera, she'd jumped down and refused to get back on the sill and pose for me!

OH not too bad today, resting quietly with his leg up and the mottled rash more splendid than ever. This morning, I did check that he has had measles because that's really what it looks like. He assured me that he did, along with his brother and that they nearly drove their mother crazy in 1950-something. The leg looks about the same but, right now, merely not getting worse seems like a good thing. Ho-hum.

Penny - do you freeze your apples raw? I didn't know you could do that; I've always cooked them first but there are times when it'd be nice to have whole, raw apples in the freezer - to do baked,stuffed apples for instance.

Have a good weekend everyone and keep warm in the northerly winds.

[Penny]

Hi all, pleased you are on the mend Dita, Had a very nice lunch, came away with a bag of chips and leftovers from our plate. The birds seem to know when we bring back chips. So pleased doggie got her walk and puss managed a little sunshine. Been very dull here. Very cold too. I'm pleased your hubby is able to rest quietly now, fingers crossed for a full recovery. I do hope Vannin is o.k. what a dreadful week for her and the family of the deceased. Hoping to watch motor racing this afternoon. Just come back and of course, hubby shut himself in the lounge for his 40 (so he says) winks. Take care all and keep warm. Hugs and ,kisses as usual. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny, Andere and all. Very morbid sort of a morning here, walkies was short and sweet today, an invasion of lads on bikes helped create plenty muddy patches around, police helicopter hovering round. Big hugs on the way Penny, and hello to Lucy Katt. Hope hubby's leg not so angry Andere. I have been wondering too how Vannin is, so sad. Hope you are not spending all your Sunday in the kitchen Penny, we seem to have gone off the motor racing at the moment, as far as I am concerned it is so boring, so no loss. I get the crossword out which is one on my kindle. Keep smiling Penny and take care all.

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, not a bad morning, still very cold but that is expected now. Just cooking roast pork for lunch. Hope all are feeling better and hubbies improving. Nice walk for doggies with hugs to help along. Might watch the last of the motor racing for this year. Sorry did not reply to your question about apples Andere. The apples I put in the freezer are raw, cut into rings and put into plastic bags. My machine is actually a coring/peeling one for apples and potatoes. I have never frozen any with the skin on but in case you don't have any handy I have put one in the freezer today to do a test. Went thro' my library this a.m. and not one book mentioned raw apples, I have been doing it for years. Anyway, we will see how it turns out in a weeks time. All I did was to wash the apple and dry it. Hope all have a lovely weekend. Big hugs fordoggie and big kisses for puss. Please take care all. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all. Delay in walkies today due to showers, it is brighter now so will be off very soon after sending many big hugs to you Penny. I always cook my apples before freezing, must have a go at leaving them raw. Trying to get enthusiastic over xmas, must say I do find it a struggle knowing what to buy, it has got far too commercial and spoils the atmosphere and pleasure we should feel about our festive season. Hope anyone still poorly improves quickly, I am coming round but it is still hanging around. Keep your chin up Penny take care of yourself and everyone out there.

[Andere Richtingen]

Hello, everyone - no showers here today, thank goodness but it's still perishin' cold - cold enough for a walking stick, as my Dad used to say. A quiet Monday; got my grocery order delivered, including a big veggie box so I've been busy putting together a casserole and making soup to keep us going for a while.

OH seems much more cheerful and like himself; the rash has almost disappeared and the swelling is diminishing a bit, I think but he's still uncomfortable if he stands or walks for very long. Dramas when the district nurse arrived to do his IV antibiotics and the cannula was blocked so she sent him off to the hospital to get it replaced. Fortunately, it was very quiet in there for once and he didn't have to wait long.

Oh, Penny - thank you! I hope your experimental whole frozen apple works out OK and doesn't have to be sacrificed when the trial freeze is over! That's so kind; I'll be really interested to know how it turns out. We don't have our own trees or anything but there's a superb apple farm up the road near Chelmsford where they grow some really lovely and 'different' varieties and most years in the autumn I go and buy a stock of Chelmsford Wonder and Lord Lambourne and cook and freeze as many as I can find space for as well as keeping some to eat raw, but they don't keep forever even in the cellar.

Sleepy Lucy K sends warm and sleepy purrs to all ...

[Penny]

Hi all, sorry to be late, thought I had posted this morning. Before I forget, hugs and kisses for doggie and puss. Have checked the apple so far Andere, looks fine. Time will tell. One thing I will add, Just in case Dita puts down raw apples. I have never had any problem with them, the only thing I do to make certain is to put other stuff on the top to keep out the light as I use the freezer a lot. Anyway, we will see at the weekend. Did a quick check this a.m. and it was lovely and solid. Hope everyone is well and hubbies on the mend. Do take care, cheers Penny

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, lets hope this goes in first time today. Do hope you are well on the way to recovery Dita. Take care. Very cold and frosty here, out for lunch today. Going to the club, Hope doggie has a nice brisk walkies today, big hugs to help along. Have just given OH haircut. like me, getting a bit thin. Do hope you are all keeping well and OH's getting better. Anyone watch Gareth last night, very good indeed. Take care all and stay warm and well. cheers Penny

[dita]

Morning Penny and all, bit of a frost here too, doggie not been for walkies yet, but anytime now, need to wrap up well too, lots of hugs on their way to you Penny, Hubby shaves his head and I have to do the back of his neck, sometimes think about going round the front too I seem to have plenty of hair come out when I brush it these days too, keep wondering if I'm getting a bald patch. Hope you enjoy your lunch, we've not had a meal out since September, keep meaning to then never do it. Keep your pecker up Penny and take care of yourself, also anyone popping in.