The all new Chatbox!

[Oma]

Plant funny you should say about Whiskey glasses , the other day we were passing one of our charity shops and a lady was taking a set of six really expensive looking ones out of the window obviously someone was buying them at only £2.50 the set , they also had some lovely shot glasses and would you believe Babycham glasses in

[Daisy]

Qwerty - so glad you enjoyed your holiday. Looking forward to hearing about it properly when you do your journal. There's no rest is there! Straight back into child care for you, m'lady! It's nice to know you've been missed by the family as well as us grannies.

Oma - I hope you and Storm get a nap today!

Plant - what a lovely idea to display the Christmas trees, although I have a mental picture of people wobbling around carrying them to their proper homes. Good luck with the Whiskey hunt - oh, sorry, whiskey glass hunt. I think you'll need to check out that they function properly before you pass them to your GD.

Enfys - what a good idea to get on with your decorations. Yes, I think it will cheer you both up. Sending hugs. xx

Gem - did you get your mincepies finished?

[Gemini]

Mince pies are done Daisy I need to put them in the container, labelled nut and animal fat free, and drop them off at someones house.
Plant , my middle daughters village has one of those Christmas tree displays in the church every year.

[ZIZI]

We have just ordered new wardrobes for our bedroom. Very pleased but took longer than I thought it would so havent seen the children today. Will call the dils tomorrow and suggest taking them for tea during the week. Quite expensive as well (wardrobes not the children) but will help to get our storage problems sorted. They cannot start until the second week in January but that is fine. We have to arrange for the carpet to be taken up and a new floor fitted afterward then start on the children’s room.

I have checked re their fitters and explained why I am so pedantic about knowing who, where, what and when and I have checked their Trust Pilot reviews as well. I certainly do not want a repeat of “that” kitchen company and their antics. Not a lot more that I can do really. Deposit is paid and of course there is the “cool off” period but husband and I have just been talking and we are happy with our choices. It is rare for us not to agree on what we want. So we are having Matt white wardrobes with plenty of hanging space and corner thingie and one small wardrobe with shelving. We are paying extra to have them go to the ceiling as well. I really favoured handleless but the sale person said it would greatly hike the price so not handleless.

feeling quite happy even though I have been relieved of a lot of money.........

[Nanto2girls]

Wardrobes sound lovely ZIZI.

We went into town shopping today.Stocked up at the butchers. Some of it is in the freezers,will do the rest tomorrow.
While we were out,the last Christmas present that was ordered on line, arrived.
Had dinner in Morrisons,so got my shopping there.
Ordered an online shop for the 19th, all we need from now till then,will be bread and milk.

[Qwerty]

Babies sleeping the one that said he wasn’t tired funnily enough went to sleep first, we read the book Highway Man by Julia Donaldson who wrote Stick Man its a cracking story well it would have been if I hadn’t had to read it by torchlight seemed a good idea at the time, I have payed the electric bill, the kids were overcome by excitement at having a sleepover and there was I wondering if they remembered us 😅

Enfys I must look back at your posts sounds looks you are a bit down and something else has occurred health wise hope it’s bothing too bad

Nan2 my xmas order is the 22 nd of course we will be there in person lol on the 23rd for bits and bats , bread ordered from the nice cottage bakery in next village and we are at Dd for Xmas day

Gem I can smell those mince pies from here , get a move on Plant Gem is beating you

Aaahh Brasso for me we do have a lot of brass but like Plant got fed up with cleaning it , sits on the top of my wardrobe, but I do have a brass fender you probably saw it on my fireplace pics it really is stunning when it’s cleaned and I know a man that does a good job 😉

Wardrobes sound nice Zizi it’s funny with wardrobes we do seem to keep them much longer than other furniture, OH built ours and built a bed to fit in too, the beds been gone a long time but I love my wardrobes

[Daisy]

Qwerty - I always seem to be reading bedtime stories in the dark with the book upside down! GD2 adores the Stickman, it's her favourite story. I'll have to get her The Highway Man. Of course the twins wouldn't forget you!!! Ever!!!

As we still don't know what we're doing for Christmas there's no point in planning shopping or anything. I'd be quite happy to have a quiet peaceful day at home and a rest for one year, but I think OH will want to make some arrangements.

Zizi - how lovely to be planning new wardrobes. My dream would be a walk in wardrobe!

[Plantaholic]

Christmas trees at the church were very good, the ones from the various children's groups were lovely. I was very impressed with our WI one. 4 dozen mince pies made, 2 dozen frozen and the rest to be eaten now. Family not back yet, they ave been to London to see the show Wicked and were then meeting GD2 and GS2 for a meal. I am taking my youngest but tallest GS out for lunch tomorrow, his parents are in Rome.

How lovely to have furniture made by your OH Qwerty. Hope those darlings sleep well.

All change for you Zizi, sounds exciting

[Mimi]

Good morning everyone

I noticed in the news that Cashpoints will be replaced with supermarket cashback within five to ten years, under plans being drawn up by Britain's biggest ATM network.

The idea will see shops told to offer free cash services to members of the public with no requirement for them to buy items first.........So a bit like a bank then.....the sort that are being closed down up and down as I speak......Is it silly to think just keep the banks open then ?



How is everyone this morning, it doesn’t seem so cold at the moment.

We plan to decorate the tree today and hang the wreath on the front and back door, not forgetting Rudolph our wooden reindeer. He will have pride of place on the patio He has been hiding in the shed since last January, I think I will get OH to get him, you never know what is lurking in those dark corners .

[Nanto2girls]

Morning everyone.. Mimi, we have just said the same thing,doesn't feel as cold.

Dinner is prepared. Chicken in the slow cooker. Potatoes are ready.

[Daisy]

Good morning early birds, Nanto and Mimi, and everyone else.

I don't see how supermarkets can be made to offer cashbacks, although it does save them money - handling cash (banking it etc) is very expensive, but I have no idea how much more they would have to keep on the premises to meet demands for cash. They could well have to put in greater security, better safes etc. It's shocking how many bank branches have closed over the last few years, and more are closing every day. We've lost both of the banks in our village and it's a battle to keep the post office open.

As usual I didn't do everything I wanted yesterday, so I'm having a bit of a catch up today before going to introduce Eva to DS2's puppy.

Have a good day everyone.

[ZIZI]

When the banks are moaning about redundancies etc they somehow forget that they were the ones who encouraged internet banking. These days you can do anything on line with the banks. I haven’t been inside one for about five years and that time was only because my current account got hacked. Yesterday when I ordered the wardrobes I paid the deposit there and then via my iPad at my dining table and the chappie said that they do not take cards of any sort but they do take cheques. I cannot remember the last time I wrote a cheque, I don’t even know where my cheque books are!

I do not like the idea of supermarket check out staff being the only source of cash. It kind of leaves us open to fraud doesn’t it? Plus how would it work? Would we have to stand in a queue like in a bank in “olden days” if so where is the advantage to the customers?

[Gemini]

Good morning Nan2. Mimi, Daisy..... and those to follow

Did the twins sleep well Qwerty?
I hope Eva and puppy meeting goes well.
Happy Christmas decorating Mimi.
I wish my dinner was already sorted Nan2, but I'm still in bed

It is not as cold and the forecast for this week isn't too bad either.
Today I am cooking Sunday lunch. Roast pork, followed by cherry pie and custard. A bought pie I'm afraid. It tempted me in Sainsburys yesterday. We have invited my mum over for lunch. She and OH love snooker, so I may get some online time later while they both watch!

Have a good day everyone

[Plantaholic]

I am taking No4 GS out to lunch so no cooking for me today. Drizzling here at the moment, I hope it is dry for our trip to B'ham tomorrow. I must get SIL to get my Christmas decorations down from the loft this week, I am forbidden to go into the loft.

I am sure your mother will enjoy her lunch and watching the snooker with OH Gemini.

I haven't heard about the closing of cash machines but our Waitrose and JL have cash machines inside the shop.

[Gemini]

Have a nice lunch with GS Plant, what a kind Grandma