Chatbox 2

[Daisy]

Nanto - I love that wallpaper, even though I'm not a great fan in principle. I love the nice bright touches of colour, and I'm sure it will look gorgeous.

Plant - I agree - Zizi's energy is phenomenal.

This year we have agreed that grown-ups in the immediate family won't exchange presents, and also a friend suggested we enjoy a drink together rather than buy stuff the recipient probably doesn't need/want. OH keeps saying it's going to look very bare under our tree this year, but it has eased the shopping (and financial) burden a lot. I bought him a book by his favourite author on Thursday and offered to wrap it for him or let him have it straight away. He chose to have it there and then, so he missed his chance to have at least one parcel under the tree.

Both GSs are at the stage where they'd prefer to have money, so it's just a few stocking fillers for them. GD2 will have a pile of big boxes no doubt, and then 2 days later another pile! GD1 is having a big main present from her mum and dad (some sort of gaming console) so we will give her a game for it and probably money to spend how she wants (plus stocking fillers, of course).

There are a few people we'll be getting wine/biscuits/chocolates for, so it should all be fairly easy this year.

[Daisy]

Gem - What a pity about the ice sculptures.

At lease OH's golf bag will look very festive! I hope she has a good game.

[Oma]

Nanto that is sooo pretty I love it .
Gem we were just saying today it's far to mild today I'm not surprised the sculptures are melting .
Daisy GS1 is at that awkward stage he just wanted vouchers from us to buy his own clothes etc

[Clover]

It's been too wet to venture out today. I did just make a dash to the local shop for a paper but since then I've hibernated
I will pop into town on Monday to get the last(I hope) bits and pieces.

Gem, I hope your DD's have a fab time I'm sure they will.How on earth did they get tickets! What a shame about the ice sculptures.

I hope to put up the tree tomorrow. No other decs apart from the cards.

[Gemini]

Clover, it's a bit like Wimbledon tickets, you apply but most people are unlucky. DD1 applied and was lucky. They went to London last night to stay overnight so they could be up and in the queue by 6.30 am to get their tickets verified. Some people queued overnight so those people must be at the front!!

The ice sculptures are on display tomorrow too. Presumably they will go into freezers tonight!!

[Plantaholic]

Entree is quite close to us so DD and GD didn't have to go far. They get quite a few tickets for show recordings at the BBC. We have only been successful a couple of times for Wimbledon ticket.

When I was in the house alone this evening we had a power cut, no light from outside and I am night blind . I started to get to my feet to get a torch and realized I couldn't see a thing and thought I shall just have to sit there until it came back on. Then just at that moment DD and SIL came home and brought me in some candles. It went off again for a short time just before Strickly. GD brought home a takeaway Indian which we enjoyed and shared a bottle of wine. DD and SIL were out meeting friends.

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, a pity the ice sculptures were meltin,but it is warm for the time of year.
Oma, i think the wallpaper will look lovely,but it would be over the top for a whole room.
Just put a joint of beef in the slow cooker, so thats getting on with what it does.
Quite a few jobs to do today,so must crack on.

[Oma]

Morning ladies mild day again , DS taking me to MIL,s this morning pick up a food parcel from Germany , it's like being in the war getting food parcels 😀 all scrummy German food . Then DD taking me to Hospital full day again .
Has anyone heard how Wee Granny's husband is ? I was thinking about them last night .
Plant how nice to have a takeaway and wine with GD, by candle light was it 😊xxx

[Daisy]

Good morning, and thank you Nanto for another lovely picture.

Oma, I bet your food parcel is full of delicious goodies - hopefully some of them will tempt Brian. How is he today? I haven't heard anything about Wee Granny's OH - I hope he's ok.

Plant - you were wise not to go groping round the house in the darkness! But it's frustrating when you don't know how long a power cut will last. We get a lot, although not as bad as it used to be, and I've got candles and matches all over the house!

Clover - I hope it's a better day for you today and you can get out a bit. xx

Well, my good intentions to write Christmas cards and sort out the boys' bedroom for next week-end have been thwarted - by OH wanting me to take photos of a whole load of stuff he wants to get on eBay today - It's boxes and boxes of Meccano, all very fiddly to shoot. Hey ho!

[Clover]

It's a much better day today with a clear sky and a glimpse of sunshine.
Oma if you haven't gone yet please give my best wishes to Brian and hope he has a good day.
Plant that was very wise to stay put in a power cut. It's not knowing how long it will be that I hate apart from the obvious inconvenience. Makes you think what it must have been like in the "old days" We just take these things so much for granted,

[Gemini]

Good morning everyone.
Sunny today, even worse for the ice sculptures!!

Plant, I'm glad you stayed put and didn't fall during the power cut! It sounded a nice evening in the end.

Oma, I hope B is OK today. Will he be able to enjoy any of the German food? I haven't heard anything from WG, no.

Enjoy you Sunday roast, Nan2

Today we intend to decorate the Christmas tree, do a little shopping and visit my mum. OH is coming as she needs to stick back some loose wallpaper in mums bathroom. I may take that time to tell mum about my surgery etc. I know she and DD3 are going to a carol concert before Christmas and I would hate DD to let it slip if mum didn't know.

[Plantaholic]

I hope Brian will enjoy the German food Oma and that he is feeling good.

I have been wandering about WG and her OH. Her DD lives quite close to me but I am not sure quite where.

[ZIZI]

Busy day so far. Went to see Joe and Sadie 8.30am. Joe is the star in a semi professional production of Elf starting on 22nd November so he has a lot of rehearsals and was off to rugby this morning. We haven't seen the children since before our holiday and Joe has shot up to eleventy nine foot two! they were delighted when I gave them their Christmas Eve boxes but were warned NOT to open them until the right day. Conversation with Sadie "grandma are we going to put your tree up when we have our sleepover?" Me "yes of course" S " Mmm can I choose the diary please?" Me "of course" S "it doesn't have to be the sMe on e as last year does it?" (We have two) me "Sadie pops you. An have whichever fairy you want" S "oh good, can I also have fish fingers for tea that day please?" It was such a smooth change from Christmas fairies to fish fingers it almost took me by surprise! Joe has requested beef burgers as he has gone off fish fingers and also they are only for children apparently.

Then we went to see Ben and took his box (oh and they all had their pocket money, sweetie bag, a Christmas biscuit I bought and a Christmas iced bun bought by husband yesterday - all very nutritious NOT!

Eldest son and wife are having heir kitchen extended and rebuilt - it is a mess thre to be honest and I a, quite certain it will not be finished by Christmas, good job they are all going out to a hotel. Youngest son and his wife are moving to a lovely big house in Shepperton just after Christmas but have hit a snag. BUilding control have no paperwork on ther extension which was done legally and with experienced builders. They may have to pull some plaster off one of the beams to prove it is strong enough and also find the soak away which was in the documents originally sent to building control. Son is not to bothered about it. Says if he has to pull a bit of plaster off and redo it it will be worth it in the end, he just wants to get moved in. Ben was proudly showing off stmas decorating skills (in his bedroom) and his fish tank which he got for his birthday.

Then we did a quick Tesco because I dropped a bottle of mayonnaise on our "take no prisoner" kitchen floor, it is still greasy now even though I have washed it several times and vinegared it and we also got a coule more bits for Christmas. Came home, sent him into the loft to get the pictures and kitchen utensils down. Some time ago we had bought some really nice rustic wood "general store" storage crates so put the wine in one for youngest and cellophaned and ribboned it, looks nice. Put some washing on the line and updated my freezer list. It is relatively warm here so hopefully it will dry. Also put all the wine in the wine rack

We heard today that middle son will be in Ireland for Christmas. I don't expect we will see him at all, that will be a year. Maybe I should just accept it but I cannot help but hurt.

On on Christmas day youngest son and hugs wife are hosting breakfast so all children will be in one place. Unfortunately the "other mother" will also be there for a while. The boys are going to hers this afternoon for what they call "death dinner" I will leave you work out what that is...........

We are having roast chicken for early evening dinner yum yum. Tomorrow I have lots to do before trotting off up to town for my company lunch. Don't know where to start really, so much to do with a deadline for Christmas.

[Oma]

Unfortunately he can't have any till he's well Gem, so it's all packed and in the freezer .
He is very depressed today fed up of feeling ill ,sick and isolated we had a few Tears from him while there . He was falling asleep when we left won't have any lunch and his hair falling out now . Spoke to ward sister as we left she said when he woke she would go and have a chat and jolly him along , such nice people

[Libra Gran]

Poor Brian my heart goes out to him, he has been through so much and been so braveno wonder he is feeling depressed poor man. I really hope he picks up again soon, and at least can stomach some healthy food. Has he a TV in his room OmaI know ot doesn't compensate for missing his family and home comforts, but it would give him something to watch and take his feeling of isolation away a bit.