Hi Dita and all

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, lovely and sunny but Oh so cold. Can't get warm at all. Hope every one is o.k. Nothing planned, just washed hair, hubby out for lunch so nice and easy day for me, so far. Should be nice day for walkies along with lots of hugs to keep warm. Hope puss is looking at the sunshine too, big ,kisses from me. Did anyone watch Last Tango , last night, getting very complicated. Take care all and do keep warm. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Thank you for doing that experiment, Penny. I shall learn from your experience and carry on cooking before I freeze and just rely on fresh apples for doing stuffed apple. That's made me fancy a nice spicy, stuffed apple so I think I'll use up a couple of the ones I've got left later on and have them for pud.

It's still grey and a bit drizzly here, real Depressing December, ugh. Lucy K keeps going out, not liking it much and coming back in again! OH still slowly improving but getting fed up because it's not happening fast enough and because his other leg now hurts due to the odd way he's walking and standing at present. Aaaagh!!! I've threatened to shoot him and put him out of his misery.

Hope your water man got the blockage sorted out, Dita. That happened here a couple of Christmases ago and the sewers backed up on 25 December!! Essex & Suffolk water were brilliant and got it sorted very quickly considering the date. It turned out to be due to someone flushing nappies down the loo although, interestingly(!) I don't think anybody ever owned up to it. A pretty horrible task for the water people; they really deserved their mince pies and seasonal snifters at the end of the day.

The groceries have just been delivered so now I'm spoiled for choice about what to have for lunch. There's something very satisfying about a full fridge! Keep warm everyone and hugs and purrs to all.

[dita]

Morning Penny, Andere and all. I have a trouble keeping warm too Penny, despite having heating on, ok while I'm sat with mi legs curled up but when I get up I get the shivers, lovely sunny walk though enjoyed by little doggie today, big hugs on their way Penny. Sure signs your hubby is getting better Andere when he starts getting on ya nerves The blockage was not anything to do with the village, when they moved the treatment works to further away from the village , the pipe work ran about a quarter of a mile through an area consisting of bushes and an avenue of trees, they did used to blame the village for the occuring blockages and indeed we have at times had to pay because of a small part of it was a private main. Last year Anglian Water decided to take over the private bit which meant we would not be responsible, and we thought that was good. Odd isn't it that we have now found out that the village was not to blame for these problems with the sewage, it seems it is roots from trees. As you say about the flushing of nappies etc Andere, that was what we were led to believe. Gonna make a cuppa now, keep your chin up Penny and take care Puss, Andere and all.

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, very windy and cold. First time this year we had to leave the heating on overnight. Pleased your drain problem is being sorted Dita. My son had exactly the same problem and expected to pay quite a bill, then it was taken over by Anglian water and done free. Good thing too. Hope not too windy for walkies today. Sending lots of hugs to keep warm. Looks like everyone is too busy getting ready for Xmas, to post. Do hope all are O.K. Last week was so busy had to wait everywhere so decided to make our visit much later today. Son at meetings in London so won't be meeting him today. Spending the morning writing Xmas cards. Feel rather stiff again this morning, must be the weather. Do take care Dita and keep warm. How is your cousin getting on board. Forgot to tell you, our doctor has bought a barge and took a three month sebatical, said she went through well over a hundred locks. She did enjoy it tho' Not my cup of tea. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

G'morning everyone. I trust everyone's battening down the hatches ready for the upcoming gales? I've already chased our dustbin across the road twice. Funny how the wind always gets up just after the bin-men have been and there's no rubbish to weight the bins down! Currently, it's beautifully sunny but so-o-o-o-o- cold when you go outside due to the wind. There was a really lovely sunrise this morning; I have an east-facing window in the bedroom and I opened the curtains at just the right moment today. Gorgeous! Lucy K isn't impressed with any of it. So far as she's concerned, the world's a better place when you're curled up with your nose tucked under your tail.

OH has gone to the hospital for a progress check; still having a lot of pain in the other leg. I do feel for him, really I do but I feel so helpless. There are some things wives just can't do anything about even though our blokes like to think we're infallible and incredibly wise - well, except when it suits them to think otherwise! He went down to Daughter's house yesterday to sort out her car problems and stopped off on the way home to buy me a pot-plant, a pretty white chrysanthemum, a mass of lovely blooms. He knows how depressed I get this time of year and how much I love to have flowering plants around in time for the solstice (which I celebrate instead of Christmas) so it was very much appreciated.

Keep warm and keep safe everyone; hope the roof tiles stay on and the trees remain upright. (Heavens! I just heard on the local news that Essex Fire & Rescue service are evacuating all the residents from Jaywick-on-Sea because they're now seriously concerned that a tidal surge will wipe the place out).

Special greetings to Viv and a big hug. I do hope you start to feel better after the funeral is over and the formal 'goodbyes' are said.

[dita]

Good afternoon Penny, Andere, we are in the midst of gale force winds at the moment, overturned lorries, trees obstructing roads, the Humber bridge is shut. Flooding feared later down the east coast and the River Trent, cousins boat is on the Trent at Newark, not heard from him, hope he is ok. So my cousin is not the only one enjoying being at sea Penny. I am attempting to get my xmas card written too, have a couple of letters to include, dont think I've hand written one since last year - have almost forgotten how to write. Doggie was blown there and back for her walk today, enjoyed the hugs it was a bit chilly too, sends you hugs back in case you feel nippy tonight Penny. Lucy Katt is very sensible Andere, nice surprise from your hubby, is he keeping you buttered up . Keep smiling Penny and take care Andere and all.

[dita]

The leccy went off just as I posted the wind was pretty scary, Leccy just come back on 18.58, At Burringham on the edge of town they are being evacuated because of the Trent coming over the banks, we are ok mi thinks.xx

[Penny]

Do take care a keep a look out. we are very lucky here, seem to be on the edge of most things. Hope Jan is o.k. now and life getting back to normal. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

The wind here has dropped a lot although they say it'll be reaching its peak along the Essex coast in about an hour. Keep safe and keep dry, everyone.

Some good news from the hospital that I thought I'd share before I go to bed: OH is now off the antibiotics and officially pronounced cured of the cellulitis. Phew! He has an appointment with a dermatologist (in February!) to try and sort out the eczema on his lower leg which is still rampant and painful. For the moment, they've told him not to bandage it but to let the air get to it and, hopefully, dry it up - he's muttering that he doesn't fancy wearing shorts in December. I don't fancy him wearing shorts at any time but that's a separate issue ...

Fingers crossed that this progress will spur him on and the pain will lessen soon. I've been jumping up and down and shouting YOWZA!!!! but he's not joining in just yet!

[Penny]

What super news. Hope all continues well. Put some nettles in his cushion, might help him to jump up and down. cheers Penny

[dita]

Morning Penny, Andere and all. We have got problems with the floods in North Lincs, roads near us are still closed and villages still struggling to clear out the water from their property's. Folks next door to us have lost lots of roof tiles, we are ok, thankgoodness. Burringham, Keadby, South Ferriby in trouble. And Winteringham(where my son lives) is cut off. It is all go. Quick walkies for doggie, she sending big hugs Penny There is some folk in our village still having problems with their electric, ours is ok now but theirs did not come on after the power cut we had yesterday. Good news about hubby Andere. We are keeping fingers crossed that the tide today does not break through already weakened defences around our area. Hope you all ok your end, sun shines here which is good for folks drying out their homes, Keep smiling Penny Andere and all. Like your idea about the nettles Penny

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, how dreadful for all those affected by the floods. As I said we are very lucky here. No sign of anything. Been lovely and sunny all day but now turning dull and cloudy. Thought we might have a good day today but daughter rang, got a puncture so hubby has had to fix a time to collect her and then pick he up etc. etc. She works such odd hours, one of these people who call to see if children are o.k. Had one or two bad cases lately, had to go to courts etc etc. She has to go to work on Sunday this week so it is all difficult. Her partner's father has been diagnosed worth a brain tumor and only has a fewmonths to live,he has been moved to a hospital nearer. Daughter is having a job between arranging hospital visits and those to children. She is the only driver so hubby has the job of keeping her car on the road. We got her a new one a few months ago but of course, she had to go and get a puncture. What a month. Do hope Jan is o.k. Sorry doggie had such a rough ride this week, lots of warming hugs from me and if we can find out where pussie is rolled up big kisses wending their way. Take care all and my thoughts with all the poor folk who have had their homes inundated with water. Do keep warm and pray for a better ending to this month. cheers Penny

[dita]

Good morning Penny and all, things are calming down in our area now but some roads are still shut and for some it has been devastating as they now battle with insurance companys and as already bought xmas presents are ruined they have to start again. Last night it was another 5hrs without electricity for us which is nothing compared to others. Penny your daughter has a very responsible job, so very sad to hear of her partners father's illness, she will need all her energy and patience during the coming weeks. I remember her getting the new Kia, near the time when we got ours. Lots of clouds around was a bit chilly for doggie walk today, she will be happy to have your hugs and also give you hugs back Penny. Been wondering how Viv is, not seen her post the last few days, hope she's ok. Keep your chin up Penny take care Andere if you are around, and all.

[Andere Richtingen]

Hello, all - I'm so glad you were OK in the floods, Dita . I heard on the radio about the flooding at S Ferriby and Winteringham and wondered if you were all right. I was concerned about some friends who live quite close to the sea in Southwold but they were lucky; their house is on slightly higher ground. You feel so sorry for those affected because, apart from the cost and the insurance hassle, it all takes so long to dry out before you can properly refurbish the damaged parts. I read somewhere that one unlucky pair in Norfolk were at a charity event to raise funds for (of all things) improving coastal flood defences and, while they were out, the cliff their house stood on crumbled under the force of the waves and the house fell into the sea.

Very quiet and grey all day here. Quite cold, too. OH feeling rather better but still suffering the after-effects of the antibiotics so we didn't go on the vintage bus run that we'd hoped to as it might mean he would be too far from a loo when necessary!

Sorry about your daughter's F-i-l Penny - I wish them all well.

[dita]

Hi Andere, although antibiotics aree wonderful they do have a down side especially if we take too many during our lifetime, your hubby is doing well though thankgoodness. The road between South Ferriby, Winteringham is due to be shut quite a while, the chicken farm near there looked terrible too. Bus travel is badly affected round there as well. We live on a hillside so apart from the electric problem and wind damage the village is ok, we live halfway up a large hill on Winterton road the 1077. Still not seen Viv, and Penny has not been on either. Love to Lucy Katt and to yourself of course. xx