This is YOUR Chatbox!

[Nanto2girls]

ZIZI, your new oven has done you proud. That cake is a smasher.

[Gemini]

Hi everyone.
I am fine, having a great time. Finding it hard to drag myself away from the pool and 2 gorgeous grandchildren is my excuse for not bring here, plus a patchy wi fi connection!!
I hope everyone is well, I will try to catch up tomorrow

[Daisy]

Nanto - I'm so sorry to hear your friend is back in hospital, but it sounds as though they've done a god job of stabilising her BP again, and I do hope she will be home soon. xx

Gem - glad your having a good time, and fully understand we at GRU have strong competition from two gorgeous grandchildren.

Qwerty - I'm sure your friend enjoyed your company. xxx

Zizi - love Sadie's cake. I'm dreading what kind of cake my GD1 will ask for when her birthday comes round next month!

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning, the sun is shining.
Shopping today for us.

[ZIZI]

Nanto - I'm so sorry to hear your friend is back in hospital, but it sounds as though they've done a god job of stabilising her BP again, and I do hope she will be home soon. xx

Gem - glad your having a good time, and fully understand we at GRU have strong competition from two gorgeous grandchildren.

Qwerty - I'm sure your friend enjoyed your company. xxx

Zizi - love Sadie's cake. I'm dreading what kind of cake my GD1 will ask for when her birthday comes round next month!

Years ago I would decorate cakes from scratch. I have made a Cranky Crane from Thomas the Tank Engine, a train complete with sweetie filled trucks, a horse with a mane made of liquorice strands, a ball gown dolly cake, a fairy, a "garden" cake, a heart cake for a raffle for the Royal Bromlton Heart Unit etc. It is much easier these days to go on the Internet and buy a sugar paste figure and just make a normal cake. I have bought tools and paste and am practising making figures myself. The pony on Sadie's cake cost £14 including the postage and I am sure I could have done it myself if I had enough time. Watch this space!

[Gemini]

Good morning

Our villa is lovely and pool warm, the warmest I have ever been in on the med, usually they are flippin freezing! Children are adorable. The baby is not quite 4 months old, but taking all changes to his routine completely in his stride.
Travelling about is hilarious however. We decided to book one large vehicle. 4 adults, one child plus luggage for us all, a baby and all his requirements calls for for something large. We didn't get what SIL booked, this is more like a small bus. Finding somewhere to park is a challenge. We are amused to think of OH and SIL turning up to the golf course on Monday in this bus, then just 2 of them getting out

Coffee and croissants call. Back later !

[Daisy]

Good Saturday morning, everyone, although it's been raining and is quite cool here. I hope that's not the end of summer.

Zizi - I made birthday cakes as well for years, all from scratch. I only had one disaster - a VW Beetle in the blazing hot summer of 1976 melted and I had to pin it together with cocktail sticks. Over the years I made boats, cars, a cassette player, an adventure playground. The hardest was Concorde!! More recently I did Peppa Pig which was easy. Yours sound even more adventurous, though.

Gem - the picture of two people emerging from the bus made me smile.

Nanto - I hope it's exciting shopping not the supermarket run.

My halo is shining because I did the housework yesterday! Today I'm going to make a congratulations thingy for GS2. I've got several ideas floating round at the moment, but obviously it will have a music theme. I've got a large heart-shaped wooden blank so I'm going to use pyrography for the design and then paint it. If I can get it done this week-end i can post it so it's there when they get back from holiday on Thursday.

[Plantaholic]

Sounds lovely Gemini.

Tizzy and Daisy you are very clever ladies, can I put an order in for a 21st cake for my youngest GD

[Clover]

Good morning(just) everyone.
The sun has emerged here and it's pretty warm.
Zizi that cake looks stunning. I'm well impressed with how tall it is. Mine seldom rise to the occasion if they are for something special but if I just knock one up for everyday it rises like a bird.
A quiet day here as I'm studiously ignoring the hw! We have been for the paper and our usual walk along the cliffs. I've made a Shepherd's Pie for later and got bread in the breadmaker.
I want to get on with some patchwork this afternoon but the sun and garden are tempting me and I must pick the Sweet Peas. I wish they lasted longer indoors but by the time they are past their best a new flush is ready.
Enjoy your holiday Gem and I hope everyone else has a stressfree day.

[Oma]

Not as bright today but no rain , final push in Utility today just cupboard doors to put on and it's done , spent a couple hours altering some work trousers for SIL they are the type with lots of pockets and padding in the knee , the padding pockets were too low down for SIL s have had to cut legs and re attach lifting the padding higher , a blooming nightmare so much to go through a domestic sewing machine but I managed then had to let the hems down , why he couldn't have taken them back and bought shorter ones is a mystery , then he had the cheek to as me to wash them for Monday 😲😊

[ZIZI]

Clover this is the first cake made in the new kitchen. In my old oven you never knew what you were going to get, it was a full gas hob and oven and the door didn't shut well if at all, whereas the new one is a gas hob and separate oven. Well two ovens and the one I used which is the only one connected (due to needing new fuse board) is fan assisted electric. I have never had an electric oven before and this is an all singing and dancing thingie. I thought it would be difficult but it was just a read of the instructions (alien to blokes I know), set the timer, press the peepy thing to tell it what type of cooking and temperature I wanted and bung the cakes in. Then it peeps to let you know it is ready. Perfectomondo. The other oven is smaller and is a microwave, grill and cooking type oven. No I am not sure why we needed two ovens either with only two of us here but it looks nice even if it doesn't fully function yet

[Nanto2girls]

Daisy, it wasn't really exciting shopping, most of it was for hubby's mam. Did call in the supermarket on the way home though.
Oma, good to hear the utility is finished, and I'm sure SIL appreciated the work you did on his work trousers.
Clover, i love sweet peas indoors. Hope you got some patchwork done today.
Not had any rain today, been plenty of sunshine, but it was cool when cloud came over and the wind was blowing.

[Nanto2girls]

The sun is shining. I think we are doing some gardening later.

[Daisy]

Good morning everyone.

The sun is shining here as well, Nanto, and I have a rare day at home with just Eva for company. OH is demonstrating at a craft fair all day, and Eva and I are having a relaxing day at home. I'm going to put the finishing touches to the project I started yesterday and then may do some painting. It's nice to have a breathing space before the start of another busy week.

I hope everyone has a lovely day and the sun continues to shine for the holiday makers.

[Oma]

Morning ladies off out soon to meet friends for coffee and catch up then pop into M&S for few things , After lunch my nephew bringing my Brother over he's feeling much better but can't drive for another 2 weeks be good to see him , I have phoned or text him every day but haven't had time to see him much . Sun is out have a good day whatever your doing Daisy enjoy your free time xx