Grandma Chat Space

[Daisy]

Good morning everyone.

I must make some more mince pies - we've eaten all the last batch! I'll pass on the coconut tarts, though! That means more for everyone else!

I can't think of anything that would persuade me to go into a supermarket at the moment. We can do without anything we haven't got. I have been lucky though with getting delivery slots from Sainsburys, and I know that's not been true for everyone. I've got a prescription to get from the chemists, but they're pretty careful, and sometimes deliver.

Plant I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Sepsis is lethal and can happen so quickly. It was really amazing that Oma's B fought back from it when he was so ill. Sending hugs. xx

Gem - the garden centre sounds lovely, and how garden centres used to be. We've got a fantastic Plant Centre locally, and it's where I go if I want good quality garden plants - no tea room, no 'fripperies', just a few polytunnels.

It's pouring with rain here, and still dark. I'd like to take Eva to the paddock if it stops raining, but we'll have to see. I've also got a few jobs to catch up on - yesterday wasn't very productive!

Stay safe, everyone. xx

[Plantaholic]

I think we are all mince pied out, we always enjoy them before Christmas, there are so many other things on Christmas Day. It is a horrid dark wet day here, sometime this week I have to act as Santa, delivering presents to DS's family and GS1's family as we now can't see them over the Christmas holiday. I will pop them on their doorstep and ring the bell.

I love a fruit loaf Nanto and toasted teacakes, must have a go in my breadmaker.

I am not going to a supermarket this week, too risky. If I need anything I will go to the farm shop. I need to get the soured cream for the blinis and might need some veg.

[Daisy]

A quick message from Sunshine. She's ok, but her internet is down and she's not sure why. I've suggested the switching off her router routine, and if that doesn't work speak to her provider. She sends her love to everybody, and didn't want you to think she's ignoring us.

We had a lovely chat as well - bonus.

[Mimi]

Thank you admin for the beautiful email and lovely message. Its so lovely to know that you are all such thoughtful and caring friends.

Plant so sorry to hear about your friend.

We haven't been to any shops let alone supermarkets since February, we aren't about to change that practice any time soon.
We have been for a walk this morning. There were lots of people about, most of them carrying shopping bags .
We have had a weather warning for Wednesday as its forecast a very rainy day . The river has burst it's banks so we are expecting things to get worse . We are OK where we live but my friend only moved back into her house back in the spring as she was flooded out last Christmas. What a horrible year it has been all round.

Keep safe everyone

[Enfys]

Good afternoon. We are safely back home, left there in sunshine but the weather changed dramatically in the way home, dense fog and dull and dark now.

Plant, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Sepsis is terrible, P was hospitalised with it but luckily we caught it in time.

I arrived home to a pile of lovely cards from some very thoughtful friends (thank you Daisy for yours). I had told friends I wouldn’t be sending any (couldn’t face just putting from just me) this year but I had some lovely messages. People are so kind.

[Nanto2girls]

Mimi,sorry to hear about your friend being flooded again.

Oma, the jam is inside,covered with a mixture of coconut,sugar,egg and butter/marg/spread.

Hairdresser was due to come on Thursday, but she rang to see if she could come today.
Which was better for us.

[Sunshine]

Well, I have got my internet sorted now and I’m back on line. Lovely to chat with Daisy earlier today.
I love the Jacqui Lawson Christmas card. Thankyou x

[Lizzie48]

Mimi, my mother always made those coconuts! I make them as well, so do the grandchildren.

[Daisy]

Sunshine - so glad to see you're back in the (sur)real world. It was lovely to chat this morning. Afterwards we went into the village - me to the chemists and OH to the Post Office, filled OH's car up and then took Eva to the paddock. On the way over the heavens opened!! But by the time we got there it had eased off and wasn't too bad at all. Eva, of course, had a wonderful time. She's now stretched out on the sofa, recovering!

Apart from finishing the ironing and vowing to do no more washing this side of Christmas, I haven't done much today. I meant to get the bottles box sorted out before it went dark, but forgot! We can do it tomorrow before the lorry comes round.

As shortest days go, this has seemed shorter than average - dull, gloomy, wet and lights on all day. I hope everyone's staying safe. Who knows what will come at the PM's press conference in a few minutes. Rumours are going round about the whole country being in Tier 4.

[Gemini]

You are wise to avoid shops as much as you can Mimi.
Welcome home Enfys. People will understand about the cards. It must be so hard that first year.
Sunshine, welcome back, we don't want you cut off!!
Your baking looks delicious Nan2.
Who knows, as you say Daisy.

M&S was busy, I wouldn't want to do that again! Anyone who has been to Disney or Universal parks will understand when I say it was Disney style queuing. Queue outside not too bad at all. Go in when it's your turn , to discover the queue snakes right to the back of the store and back winding around before finally ending up at the food hall!! It's to keep us safe I know but it takes so long. That was Monday morning, heaven forbid anyone needs to go on Christmas Eve! We got everything on our list apart from the chocolate covered panettone which had sold out. We will do without. The nearest supermarket slot we could get was December 14th, so we had to do some in person shopping nearer to Christmas. I have a Sainsburys Click and collect on 27th, so we will be fine with what we have until then.

It was very quiet at the library. I only had 2 customers all afternoon, and one of them dashed in and out quickly to pick up a reserved book! The librarian and I had a good chat and put the world to rights, and I left at 4.15. She said there was no need to wait until 5 on a wet dull quiet day. She has to of course but let me go. So I am home warm with a cuppa now!

[Nanto2girls]

Good to see Sunshine back online.

Welcome home Enfys.

I forgot to say earlier, thank you for the cheery e-card.

[Gemini]

I won the quiz
As I got zero points last week I am jubilant. Won by a lot too!

[Daisy]

Gem - well done on winning the quiz - from zero to hero in a week. Great.

Welcome back, Enfys. I think you were right not to send cards - it would be too painful, I'm sure, and your friends will understand.

Gem, what a performance at M&S - I can just picture those theme park style queues. They never look very long until you go round a corner and see the rest of the queue. I suspect those who leave their shopping until Christmas Eve will find the shelves empty. I suppose it will be worse because people who thought they'd be away for Christmas perhaps can't go now and have to organise food quickly.

Mimi - how awful for your friend if she gets flooded again. It's a dreadful thing to happen at any time and takes so long to put right, but at Christmas it must be even worse. Everywhere is flooded here, but not enough to put houses in danger of flooding.

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, well done for winning the quiz.

Looks like its going to be a bright start to the day.

[Gemini]

Good morning Nan2 and everyone else.

Dentist this morning. That filling that I lost a couple of weeks ago. My ex next door neighbour lives not far from there so I am dropping his card off today. It would have been a coffee and chat, but of course now it will just be a talk on the doorstep.
This afternoon I will ice the Christmas cake and prepare a treasure hunt for the GC's Christmas party tomorrow.

Have a good day everyone. Keep warm, safe and well.