The all new Chatbox!

[ZIZI]

It is 1.25 pm here and lovely and warm. Home tomorrow unfortunately. We have talked around the possibility of spending a couple of months a year here when we finally retire. It is quite expensive here to be honest but if it is timed right we could miss the coldest couple of months in the UK. Our friends daughter runs rental properties and she says that as long as we are not too fussy she could get us somewhere at a good price especially if we were prepared to forego Sea view etc. I know it is is a long way off (4 years) but it has cheered me up no end!

I became a mossie restaurant last night, I have not been bitten that much this holiday so I suppose the flipping things decided they had better have a feast before I go!

[Gemini]

Nice to see you Pearl. You are still a member even if you haven't posted for a while, so we won't forget your birthday
Zizi what bad luck be bitten on the last day! You almost escaped.
Plant, have you heard of Boccia? It is a form of seated bowls, and something our library is trialing,

We had a nice day
Went to M&S and did some shopping, then to Next but OH didn't like what she had seen the other day once she went back and tried it on!
We had lunch in M&S cafe then on to Vue to See Murder on The Orient Express, which we enjoyed very much. OH must be one of the very few who didn't see the 70's version, so she didn't know who did it

[ZIZI]

We used to have boccia at Time To Shine. It was very good for the non ambulant kids and it is now a Paralympic sport.

[Nanto2girls]

Enfys, good to hear things are getting back to normal
Hope all goes well with cardiologist appointment tomorrow.

Turned realyl cold this evening.

[Daisy]

Zizi maybe it was a lady monkey with a hot date later and wanted to look her best with soft hands

Well my Babies have just gone home and the sitting room is like a bomb hit so I'm having 5 mins before I clear up .

Lunch and Cake ate and at least 6 rounds of Happy Birthday sung very loudly
DS cant make the meal tonight but at least he had time with his Dad and ate cake

I packed them of with sweets and lots of hugs and kisses then had to be a Zombie chasing them to the car amongst lots of squeals lord knows what the neighbours think of us the children squealing and us walking around like the living dead hahahaha

Oma - I'd love to be your neighbour - apart from anything else the goings on would be better than the telly!

Avo - your take on Macaroni Cheese sounds really delicious! I'm feeling hungry already. Well done on getting the air fares refunded. It's sad that a good airline went out of business when there are less good ones still operating.

Enfys - so pleased to see your OH is back on the road, and feeling more like himself. Good luck when you see the Cardiologist.

Migraines are horrible. My DIL2 gets them, and sometimes she's ill, in bed, for 3 days. As you all say, you need to take the meds very early on.

Plant - what a good job you were around to let the electricians in.

Zizi - the thought of spending a couple of months of the winter in the Caribbean sounds wonderful! Don't forget to factor in the savings of not having to heat your home in the UK (or only minimal to stop pipes freezing). My OH's oldest brother and his wife go backpacking for 3 months every winter - usually to Asia, but last year they had to go to the Bahamas to sort something out (they lived there for 20+ years) and then went on to Mexico, and other places (can't remember where). They live very simply abroad, but actually save money doing this, although the main reason is to escape the UK winter.

Pearl - we're always delighted to hear from you, and I often wonder how your lovely GCs are. x



Today has been interesting! I offered to take GD2 for playgroup this morning, since it was the first day they had taken the new puppy into work, and obviously GD1 also had to be taken to school. Everything conspired to make the family late, and then DIL and GD1 got soaked, literally to the skin on the short walk to school. There was no way Cooper was going to 'perform' outside in that downpour so we had to hastily set up a puppy training pad area in his playpen. DIL had to go home and get dry clothes (GD1 changed into her PE joggers and spare socks). I eventually got GD2 to playgroup at 9.40 - only 40 minutes late. Fortunately they were very understanding, and GD2's friends gathered round her to hear about her new puppy. I than went to Christchurch to get dog food and a collar and harness that fitted (the ones they got were too large, but he'll soon grow into them) plus toys, treats and carpet cleaner. I had a quick lunch with DS and DIL and then went to collect GD2, took her back to her house, then half an hour later went back into town to collect GD1 and got back to their house in time to get the girls' dinners ready. DS and DIL took Cooper to the vets (just routine, and all good,) although they were shocked that he's put on ½ kg in 3 days! I finally got back home just after 7 pm, made bread, got dinner and am now ready for bed!!

[Plantaholic]

And breathe Daisy. What a day you had dealing with children and puppy.

I haven't heard of Bocco, it must be played with carpet bowls. The bowls we play with are the same as green bowls. Sound fun though

[ZIZI]

Plant I am sure you saw Boccia when you came to Stoke Mandeville Stadium that time to see T2S, we always had it. When get home I will look through my pictures and see if there is one there.

Daisy my downstairs neighbour has her heating so high that we have ours on “miser rate”. We have a “Nest” so when we get to Gatwick we can go on line and turn the heating on so by the time we get home the flat is toastie. 2 months in the Caribbean a year will do me just fine and now he has said it I can assure you I will not let him forget it even if it means that we cannot do any other trips during the year.

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning ladies.
What a night. I didn't get to sleep till about 3.30.Woke up again at 4.30.
I had been down for a cuppa and a biscuit at 1 o'clock.
Anyway, i have plenty to do,to keep me awake.

[Gemini]

Morning all, just waiting for the carpet man to arrive and measure up. Back in a while!


.... I'm back

Nan2, you must be tired, take it easy today, if you can!
Safe journey today Zizi (Is it today??)
I had a text from Qwerty yesterday, with pics. She and hubby looking happy and relaxed, great stuff!
Daisy, what a day for you yesterday! I hope today is a lot easier.

I was up and ready for the carpet man, who has measured the living room/dining room.
In a while I will walk to the village and go to the bank, I have cheque to pay in (Oma knows all about it!!)

This afternoon I will be at GS1's school. They have a Daily Mile initiative at school, I will write about it in a separate topic. Parents are invited in this afternoon to hear about it, then join the children on the walk. I am going in lieu of a parent. You can walk or run. GS tells me he will be running, Grandma will not
GS back to his after school I should be home around 7.

Have a good day everyone.

[Nanto2girls]

A busy day for you Gem. Enjoy the school walk.

Hubby out this morning,so i have got a fair bit done.
Pie made for dinner,just needs baking.
All downstairs has been cleaned,including steam cleaning the kitchen floor.
Going to have a cup of coffee soon,then do the ironing.

[Oma]

Morning ladies been out to Smyths toys ,
GD decided to give us another list of things she wanted so when the princess asks Granddad provides

Its freezing cold windy and sleet so extra cold ,

Off to have another diabetic blood test at 2 fingers crossed its down .

GEM GET THAT CHEQUE IN FOR GOODNESS SAKE

Daisy did you have time to breath , my goodness you were busy ,
Nanto I know how you feel at some point today the tiredness will hit you , have a nana nap ,

[ZIZI]

Morning 6.50am here. Yes Gem today is going home day. We went out for a really nice dinner last night and got back about 9. Half watched something on the TV while chatting and were in bed by 10.30. Everything except a few bits and bobs packed, Have the room until 12 noon so will do a last bit of laying in the sun then store the suitcases, walk to Chatttel Village* for lunch and then come back for our cab at 2.40. We are confirmed in World Traveller Plus going home but husband has looked at the loads and we are first priority for club seats for staff so hopefully we will get them. If we don’t it is fine but if we do we will both be pleased. Get back to Gatwick early hours tomorrow.

*Chattel Village is a collection of small quite pretty wooden “houses”. In the village they are all purpose built commercial concerns but in real life the houses were made to be able to be put up and taken down easily as the workers moved around the sugar plantations on the island. A lot of the population live in them still in various states of repair or mostly disrepair. In the village there is one particular house that has Lulu Guinness goods in. Husband does not like me going in there!

The infrastructure in Barbados is quite poor. Pot holes like you have never seen! Very poor street lighting. I always have a torch with me when we go out in the evening as husband cannot see in low light levels. On the way home last night we passed three policemen who mentioned about the torch I was shining in front of husbands feet so he didn’t trip on anything. When I said that he cannot see in the dark they insisted on helping us back to the hotel using their much stronger torches, how sweet of them.

[Daisy]

Zizi - safe journey home today. It's good to make the most of the last few hours - I always try to do that! How kind of the policemen to help with their torches.

Nanto - I hope you get a rest this afternoon - and sleep better tonight.

Gem - a busy day for you, too. I can just imagine your face when GS said he'd be running the mile!

Oma - I hope your blood sugar levels are down. xx

GD2 said she wasn't feeling well this morning - tummy ache, but she's perked up since we got home and was well enough to tell me I drive too fast!!! This was after following a brand new Merc doing less than 30 mph (in a 40 limit) for about 6 miles!!!

Must go and start cooking some lunch, though. Then back to collect GD1, give them their teas etc, back home, cook dinner for us and then dog training. I might not be back on here until tomorrow!

[Gemini]

Busy day again Daisy! I hope you can slow down a bit for the rest of the week.
Fingers crossed for the bloods Oma.
How nice of those policemen Zizi.

I never got to the bank or library - they are on tomorrow mornings list now!
Lunch then off to GS's school, in my trainers

[Mimi]

Afternoon ladies , its a cold dull day here.
We have just got back from town Christmas shopping yet again, one more present and then I am done,.
We went to M and S food hall to see what delights they have in the way of nibbles for us to take as part of our contribution to Christmas at DS and DIL's , we are going to stay Christmas eve through to Christmas night as I don't like to turn up empty handed.
They didn't have much there, just the usual crisps, nuts ect, OH suggested we went to Waitrose but DIL shops there so there is a chance I could turn up with what she has already brought !

Oma I hope your blood test comes back ok.

My word Daisy you do like to keep busy

Zizi have a safe journey home.

Gem you are another busy lady, making lists of jobs for tomorrow that you haven't completed today !

Have a nice day whats left of it ladies