Hi Dita and all

[Andere Richtingen]

I found last year that the price of a pork pie here rose by almost 50%, from $7.65 to $10.45 (3.50 to 4.90 pounds uk) - needless to say I haven't bought one since !

Blimey!! I'd want it gold-plated for that sort of outlay! I buy a supermarket own-brand pork pie, 275g which makes lunch for two with some salad, for £1.99 (AUD 4.22) but even the same sized Heston Blumenthal premium brand one is only £2.69 (AUD 5.71). I'm just wondering if there's any scope for air-freighting a load of pork pies to Sydney in a refrigerated container because, even with the cost of transport and a profit margin added, we could still undercut the local supermarkets ....

Hi, all. A grey, squally day again with occasional flashes of sunshine. I've been for my contact lens check and everything is fine. The tablet arrived this afternoon and is now charging for 8 hours as in the instructions. OH's eyes nearly popped out of his head when I unpacked it but he was just on his way to an appointment so he couldn't hang about to poke his nose in . I might have a fiddle late this evening or I might leave it until morning (just to annoy OH!) .

Be kind to yourself, Dita and I'm glad your OH is being supportive. It always seems harder to lose people this time of year - something to do with a feeling of the year and everything coming to an end, I suppose. Big hugs to everyone and best wishes for a warm and snuggly weekend - with or without a gardener in attendance!

[dita]

Oh! Penny and there I was trying to cook something up for another gardening session of sorts, didn't mean bread either never mind something may pop up during the next couple of weeks.??
Can imagine by now you are busy sorting out your new machine Andere, would have liked to have seen your OH's face gaping at your new gadget. Hope you enjoy using it. Hope you all have a great weekend. xxxx

[Andere Richtingen]

Whoohoo! My first post with the new gizmo. I'm feeling revoltingly smug that I've got this far but there's a way to go yet before I can call myself competent. Night-night, all and gentle purrs from LK to everyone.

[Penny]

Brilliant Andere. Pleased you got to use it first. Morning Dita and all. hope all are well and keeping warm. Not very nice today but no rain as yet. Feel a bit brighter today but this weather makes my limbs ache. Just about to make mid.morning drink. hugs and kisses for little ones. Take care. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, your weather sounds much like ours just a yucky day. It does seem to get right into the bones. Nothing planned apart from watching the last NZ v Eng Rugby which has just started. Clever dick Andere it didn't take you long to get your new machine up and going, watch that LK if she is anything like Dolly she will be happy to have a jump then sit on it when not given enough attention?? I hope you are watching the match Penny, they are having a right scrap hee hee. keep smiling and take care all xx

[Penny]

Hi Dita, OH was busy watching motor racing so missed the match.Son rang, grandson is playing ruby in Oxford this p.m. and wants us to pick him up from school later as they are all going to Twickenham to watch rugby with the Saracens. Their favourite team. Weather really nasty now. Cold and raining. Hope all is well your end and you are keeping warm. No word from chappie yet boo hoo. The fellow who does the big trees phoned so he will be here at the beginning of December. No chance there, his wife is also a tree surgeon and comes with him. Not my year is it. ha ha. Take care now and keep smiling. cheers Penny p.s. been trying to find Monika's pics, no luck. What are they under?

[vannin]

Well done Andere, for getting your tablet operational! Dita, I hope you are OK today

Penny, my gardener will be doing her year-end jobs here on Monday then be off for the winter. The thought sets me panicking about the fast-approaching 'season', yet I should not have to panic this year as I will be in London for the nights 24th and 25th. (weather and red alerts permitting) In the 47 years at this house, there were only three times when Christmas was spent somewhere other than this house.

Those times were: following my mother's suicide 1973, following my son's death 1995, (had the 20th anniversary last month) and following my husband's death 2008. This time it is not for a sad reason but purely because we all need a change and my s-i-l has bad memories about the oven blowing up, last Christmas Day!! He is on the wagon these days. Not that his 'upset' was in December, it was in April.

Trixie will be all right for the two nights, though she was my first concern especially with the late continuation of her allergy. Touch wood, right now she is fine!


Viv







Viv

[dita]

Hi Vannin, I'm having to appear positive for my OH's and sons sake, did ring ex's present wife as a gesture to see if there was anything I could do, she is a very positive Scottish lady we are friendly enough and it must have been hard coping for her lately, she seems to have everything organised. Like you we are usually always here for Xmas apart from a couple of times, we are usually alone and are used to it but do spend hours on the phone over the holiday. Pleased that Trixie is fine bless her.
Penny I think Monika has a problem posting her painting if I read what she said correctly, good Rugby and we won we must find ourselves some kind of entertainment to keep us well perked up during the winter months. What do you reckon?? xx

[dita]

Monika has managed to post her painting Penny and its lovely . xxx Take Care

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, horrid murky old day no floods here as far as I know, hope it is same where ever you live. Terrible in Cumbria though. What with the weather and what has happened in Paris leaves me with little more to say at the moment. Make the most of your weekend and keep a grin on your face Penny and take care all.

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all. What a dreadful week. I just cannot believe all the dreadful things that have taken place. Keep wondering if we will be next. As usual, we will act too late. I still think all our borders should be closed. O.H not in a good mood and then to cap the lot my tumble drier gave up on Sat evening so have been left with a huge amount of wet stuff. It would happen when I changed all the bed and bathroom stuff.. Think I am going round the bend. Anyway, just roasting pork for lunch. Made a large cheese cake yesterday so am O.K. for deserts for a day or two. ( my own simple recipe). hugs and kisses for little ones. Take care all and keep warm. Still dreadful weather but mainly gales. Cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

........my s-i-l has bad memories about the oven blowing up, last Christmas Day!!
Viv

Hardly surprising!! It's enough to turn anyone into a nervous wreck. But, seriously, I hope you enjoy your time away, whatever you get up to.

Weather here is dry but mostly dull and quite windy but at least nothing like so dire as the north-west regions have been getting. Tumble dryers! Isn't it wonderful the way they always give up the ghost just when you've got the maximum amount possible of seriously wet laundry and no chance of getting it outside for even an hour? Hope you get it fixed/replaced soon, Penny - this is not the time of year to be without.

OH went off shortly after breakfast for a day with his vintage radio friends, all sitting around putting the world and a load of old wireless sets to rights. So I'm having a nice peaceful day, catching up on this and that and probably not achieving half the stuff I intended to but, what the heck? Who cares? I shall go and stuff my face with chocolate digestives in a minute - because I feel like it!!
LK is snuggled up on my pillow so not much companionship from that quarter ! Glad to hear that Trixie's feeling better now - I guess that's one household where you'll be crossing paws and fingers for a long, cool winter!

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, we got a little watery sunshine here today. Sorry to hear your tumble drier has zonked out, My condenser one is ancient I try not to use it because they do eat up electric, have to sometimes though. Years ago before digital came out Andere I had a scanner which picked up all sorts of people, radio hams included I loved it, it lies unused in a draw now. Purrs to LK from Dolly xx. Hope you haven't eaten all that cheesecake Penny take care all xx

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all. Weather nice and sunny at present But very windy in patches.. OH ordered new dryer which will be hereTuesday morning.. Wretched pain, got stuff drying all round by the radiators. Put heating on early morning. My Machines have been used well over 20 years so must not grumble at that... Fingers crossed only washing up machine left to go.
Still got some cheesecake left Dita. Care to collect. Am an idiot, always forget to make a smaller one. Miss chappie. He used to brighten up the place. Will be pleased when cold weather Is over and we can get back to normal. hugs and kisses for little ones. Now, take care all and keep warm. Bet Andere is having fun using her new gadget. Hope all keeps well vannin. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everyone. A very grey and gusty day here with just the odd 5-minute burst of sunshine. I'm just grateful I'm here in Essex because two of the places I've been this year were flooded over the weekend - Gargrave and Machynlleth. Worrying how often this happens and much of it must be down to too much intensive building on flood plains ....
I've been shopping; had to go and buy some new underwear - not because I'm expecting a hunky gardener or anything but because the existing stuff is only fit for floorcloths. There's tons of stuff on display that looks gorgeous but you know id going to be really uncomfortable to wear but all the stuff that's comfortable looks boring and frumpy. I came home with a bagful of plain white and very boring stuff but, hey, OH never notices these days whether I wear lace or a liberty bodice so it probably doesn't matter
There's a lovely beef and vegetable casserole cooking slowly in the oven - the time for winter comfort food is upon us.
Dita's account of her scanner reminds me of when we moved to this house. There used to be a pillar box on the corner, about 50m away, and there was almost always a teenage lad, about 16, out there with a scanner on top of the pillar box, listening to the aircraft passing overhead. Didn't matter how foul the weather was and he'd always move aside if you wanted to post a letter. After about 3 years he just stopped appearing and we often wondered: did he move away or did he discover girls and had no time any more for listening to aircraft?
Bet you'll waiting eagerly for the new dryer, Penny - still, 20 years isn't bad! Hope the new one's as good.