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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: louisa maud on Monday 22 July 24 07:22 BST (UK)
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Morning folks, here we go again yet the start of a new week.
The sun is what I call watery and it is cooler, most welcome in my opinion.
Hope everyone is feeling better this week, the warmer weather might have perked some people up, it is nice to see the sun but I don't like the high temperatures .
Take care
LM
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The household is now back to its normally peaceful mode. The family from Oz (all five) have been here since 4th July. During that time we have visited together, The Westbury White Horse (Bratton Camp) and then Avebury, three days at Watchet (on the West Somerset trains), Minehead and Dunster Castle and a special day back at Bradford on Avon (where we lived for the first 32 years of our married life), to sprinkle Jane's ashes on the River Avon, in the same place as where we did for Nick a couple of years back. Mark and his family came down from London for this also. Lots of walking, some of which I gracefully (and gratefully) declined, down to Cheddar and the Gorge Walk.
Andrew, Celine and the two younger grandchildren flew back to Oz last Thursday- just missing the computer chaos as they arrived at Sydney Airport and are now safely backm in their own home.
Jackson, my eldest g/son stayed with me until this morning ,when he caught the train back to London to stay with a friend before flying out on Monday next , to stay for a couple of months in Thailand, with a friend and then with his other grandad.
What a pleasure to have them with me, albeit for such a short period. Looking forward to their next visit, whenever that might be.
rj
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Glad you have had such a good family get together Jeff,, some sad but also a pleasure in that you were all together.
Well a rainy cold day, such a change .
My sister ruined yesterday’s evening meal, phoned as I was right in the middle of it all.
I did say but she just went on and on ,all about her very spread out family,her teeth ,some work on her house etcetera .
The chicken was not as tasty as usual but it was done as usual,but I did not baste it as was stuck on the phone,I really think had I put the phone down ,attended to the chicken it would have been O.K.and as she did not stop for breath she would not have known I had left the phone!
Soooo many appointments ,twice there are two on the same days!
I shall be getting Hospitalitis!
Hope all are alright.
Cheerio ,Viktoria.
Well,
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I have a relative who always phones around 5 o'clock, when I am preparing the evening meal. Frustrating, isn't it, when what you are cooking really needs your attention. Thanks to M&S not much preparation for tonight's meal, but new potatoes to wash and peas to shell. No puddings, as we have given them up for the sake of our figures.
I hope that the computer malarkey doesn't affect GP and hospital appointments for any of you. I have an appointment for 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon - didn't know consultants worked at weekends!
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Jeff how lovely to hear about all your excursions with your family from down under and your special trip with them all to scatter your dear wife’s ashes joining Nicks in the ether.
It always leaves a big hole when they travel back to other side of the world and I have great sympathy with you as I know just what it feels like… my son lives in Brisbane.
Looking at a globe and seeing the Antipodes just hanging onto the edge you realise just how far away it is! But living in the modern world as we do it’s just a flight, although a long one, away and what would we do without FaceTime, WhatsApp, zoom etc to enable us to see each other in real time to talk.
I’m sure you’ve enjoyed some special time with your eldest grandson before he flies out.
Many of the places you’ve mentioned visiting I know well as I was at boarding school near Watchet and have had nostalgic trips back in recent years.
Our weather here today has been quite windy but dry and sunny… sure it won’t last!
Hope all those with hospital visits don’t suffer from the glitch from last weeks issues and my heart goes out to all those who’d hoped to fly off for a weeks holiday…
We’re off to Canada in mid August and my daughters going to Sicily so 🤞🤞all will be well by then!
Viktoria & Gillg … what you could do with is a phone you could put on speaker when your sister/ relative calls enabling you to talk but continue with what you’re doing! I do that all the time…
my daughter & I have been known to have long chats whilst both of us are cleaning our houses just taking the phone with us!
In fact my daughters a dab hand FaceTiming me and I’ve spent many minutes in her larder whilst she’s talking and getting stuff out 😂😂.
Caroline
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Jeff, how wonderful you had all your family around you, what memories.
Church bazaar this weekend, busy time, short of helpers, same old story.
Take care
.LM
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I don’t make full use of all the facilities of my “ gadgets” ,but do need to concentrate these days!
Well a lovely sunny morning !
Was up at six, could not get back to sleep.
Just had a warning re low power on my iPad so must charge it up.
Hope son brings his bedding today so it can go on my line, I keep asking but he is so busy ,he sleeps next diir niw and gets ion with jobs in the evening
but works in his computers here and eats wuth me.
He has no broadband yet in his house next door.
I had to laugh at what my daughter told me last night ,Kyra is a VERY determined little girl ,refuses to sit on the potty, and so some pretty panties bought ,but only to wear under her nappy —- when she remembers to say she needs the toilet then the nappy is taken off and the panties can be seen.
On Sunday she was very good and charged in to my daughter’s, holding her dress up” Nanny,Nanny look at my nice Knick knacks”
She will go far,so like my daughter and my grand daughter ,very determined but can that can be channelled .
Her mummy is not my grand daughter ,her daddy is my grandson .
She was a Nursery Nurse at our local top rank nursery,and is so gentle and patient.
Well must go before my iPad dues.
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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Church bazaar this weekend, busy time, short of helpers, same old story.
Take care
.LM
LM
Same old story, as you say. We volunteers are getting older and older and there don't seem to be many younger ones willing to take our place. Most of us are now in our 70s and 80s, but still going strong!
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Yes Gillg, it really is frustrating , we don't have any meetings anymore, the one who is in charge of fund raising has now dropped out of the kitchen, 2 slightly younger ones have taken it on, been dropped in it in my opinion but they did well in April, 2 just had opps so can't do much, I really don't want to lift boxes of books because of my back but will do so as to not cause a problem, we do have a couple of men who will put the tables up for us, that is a good help, no younger ones coming up, we are all over 70, 1 over 80 (me) and one almost 90, if they want the church to stay open they ought to think about helping, same old story, we buy to give, we buy at the bazaar and give a lot of time, someone recently said "we might as well write a cheque every time" but it is also all about the community and the village, unfortunately no one passes the door, I do all the posters and get people motivated to put it on social media, in my opinion we can only do our best.
LM
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Same story at our Church,no Mothers’Union or Ladies’ Group.
We did all the fairs etc,baked ,set up stalls,served refreshments ,and cleaned up.
It was very companionable I loved them.
Quite a few newcomers who do a lot ,some Churches in the group closed and quite a few have joined us.
They are very welcome
.Our nice new Rector and his wife are very friendly but he has four Churches to minister to.There were five but St. John’s ( In The Wilderness) was closed due to dry rot ,now flats!
A nice pleasant day,sunny but not baking hot.
Hospital Heart Failure Cllinic tomorrow ,hopefully I can do a bit of shopping when I change buses on the way home .
Eye Clinic at Rochdale on Thursday and Scan at Bolton on Friday .
Rochdale on 9th August for Iron Infusion.
Such Ann exciting life I lead.
Well, kitchen is tidy and so just a TV evening, will continue knitting bootees for baby expected in November ,I keep dropping stitches!
Grand daughter can knit beautifully ,but these are just a little bit of fun.
BabyGrows don’t need bootees really.
Look after yourselves folks.
Cheerio,Viktoria.
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Same story at our Church,no Mothers’Union or Ladies’ Group.
We did all the fairs etc,baked ,set up stalls,served refreshments ,and cleaned up.
It was very companionable I loved them.
Quite a few newcomers who do a lot ,some Churches in the group closed and quite a few have joined us.
They are very welcome
.Our nice new Rector and his wife are very friendly but he has four Churches to minister to.There were five but St. John’s ( In The Wilderness) was closed due to dry rot ,now flats!
A nice pleasant day,sunny but not baking hot.
Hospital Heart Failure Cllinic tomorrow ,hopefully I can do a bit of shopping when I change buses on the way home .
Eye Clinic at Rochdale on Thursday and Scan at Bolton on Friday .
Rochdale on 9th August for Iron Infusion
Such an exciting life I lead.
Well, kitchen is tidy and so just a TV evening, will continue knitting bootees for baby expected in November ,I keep dropping stitches!
Grand daughter can knit beautifully ,but these are just a little bit of fun.
BabyGrows don’t need bootees really.
Look after yourselves folks.
Cheerio,Viktoria.
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Just got soaked in the supermarket car park. It was fine when we went in, but heavy rain when we came out again and it hasn't stopped raining since. Oh, these lovely British summers! At least the reservoirs are almost full now, so there shouldn't be any bans on hosepipes and car cleaning.
Trying a courgette and tomato gratin tonight, which also involves Mozarella cheese, egg and breadcrumbs, or polenta flour - couldn't get any of that in the supermarket, unfortunately. New potatoes from our garden and fresh garden peas. We love veggie dishes in our house, although we aren't committed vegetarians and we also eat chicken and fish. (I'm copying Viktoria and giving you our menu details!)
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Tonight ‘s meal involves sin getting in to his car with a “ keep warm “ bag .
Queuing for fish and chips, mushy peas and Irish curry sauce!!!
I have a small portion,very small.
That costs £10 —— oh where dud two pennorth of fish and chips go to?
Waiting for transport to Rochdale to Eye Specialist ,but it is cutting it fine !
I can’t see well at all after the number of drops put into my eyes and I can be four hours .
Son is not always here and does work at home so is not free ,computer conferences etc.
I have phoned and was fourth in the queue and so pressed 1 so they would phone me back but nothing as yet .
I managed to get to Fairfield hospital yesterday but was very breathless in arrival and was told off fir not booking transport.
Son’s car was in for service yesterday and is not back yet.
I must now phone the department to say I will be late , I don’t want to miss this check up.
Not dull but not real sunshine and very fresh this morning .
What odd weather.
Well,will try to phone again
Look after yourselves .
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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Trying a courgette and tomato gratin tonight, which also involves Mozarella cheese, egg and breadcrumbs, or polenta flour - couldn't get any of that in the supermarket, unfortunately.
Semolina: Fine or coarse semolina can be used as a substitute for polenta flour in some recipes. Semolina is made from wheat, but its texture is similar to polenta. Users have reported successful results using semolina in place of polenta.
Zaph
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Thanks for the hint, Zaph. It's in the oven already and have just used plain flour, as nothing else seemed to be available. I'll see what it's like and then try to find the polenta flour or semolina in another shop. The two flours were supposed to be used for dipping in egg, then flour.
Semolina - ugh! - it used to be a frequent pudding at school and was served with a small spoonful of red jam. However, I think it can be used when making shortbread and other similar crispy things.
Viktoria, best of luck with all your clinic visits.
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Many thanks, Gilig, well all very satisfactory with my eyes, the wonderful, pleasant kind Mr. Agrawal was overjoyed, he has been marvellous,so caring and concerned and I owe him a great deal.
He had to take a Sabbatical as he was exhausted,but he gives everyone 100+%,whilst making everyone feel they are his special patient.
Bolton today,but problems yesterday as my transport did not arrive, I phoned and phoned and eventually an ambulance came.
I had booked it and today’s well in advance ,so will check when lines are open .My son is here but not free to just run me about, in contact with others who are all now working from home but daily group “ meetings” too.
In the letter from Bolton Royal it says to allow at least 2.5 hours for the visit.
I will take a book!
Well, I must get on,but will have to check when lines are open re the transport booking given yesterday’s fiasco
A sunny dry day ,but very “ fresh’”- ie cold!
Hope all are alright and as well as can be expected given many are coping with health difficulties
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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Just reporting on the courgette gratin recipe - We both agreed that it was delicious and it turned out to be rather like a lasagne, but with thin slices of courgettes instead of pasta. The best bit was the crunchy topping of breadcrumbs and parmesan. Included in the recipe were also tinned tomatoes blitzed into a sauce like passata, mozzarella cheese, basil and garlic. Simple!
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That sounds delicious , worth a try.
Well after Mammogram and screening etc and several other tests all is well the fluid in my upper arms is from my heart failure ,I did think it not a coincidence that it is much less now I am back on Spironolactone, a very strong diuretic .
The Heart Failure team can not understand why it was ever discontinued by the Pharmacist at my Health Centre without an examination !
Day turned out nice , sunny but not too hot.
Olympic Opening ceremony today.
Who remembers the one that opened ours the last time it was here ,Danny Boyle’s masterpiece ,amazing.
Had a nice chat with a lady at the hospital ,who had also lived in Belgium,but Machelen, - Malines in French .
Well son away now until Tuesday and as I now have all my stuff back that I have waited for so long I can do the bedroom where he works all day .
I can get everything back in the storage room/big walk in cupboard.
Phew, I am glad that is over.
Might watch The Opening Ceremony,
Cheerio folks.
Viktoria.
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Viktoria
So glad to hear that your hospital visits went well.
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Thanks Gillig,it was all very quick and each stage of the three examinations / scans etc were negative .
I was prepared for a different outcome , well I felt I was but perhaps I wouldn’t have been .
I wished the ithe other women well, that they would get the all clear too.
Aren’t we lucky to have all the modern diagnosing machines .
The three processes did not take long and my ride back came very quickly .
All done and dusted in about 1 1/2 hours.
A nice sunny evening ,must make out my shopping list for tomorrow- or I will
surely forget something .
Heerio again.
Viktoria.
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Viktoria, so pleased your visits to the hospital went well, one less worry.
Yesterday was the church bazaar, very hard work but at the moment it is thought we made about £750, don't ask me how as to be quite honest there was not a lot there, hundreds of books, difficult to get rid of, I had some very nice crystal glasses, not real crystal , they had been through 3 previous bazaars, I had decided this would be the last time, one artistic person arranged them in a basket looking very nice, I was offering them for £5, the person offered me £10 so if course I accepted it, swelled the coffers a bit tiring, I must admit but it is only 3 times a year.
Seems very hot today so I am indoors, not really interested in todays Olympics, Friday equestrian, that is what I like,
Hope everyone is well, and if you have high temps keep cool.
LM.
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A lovely day here .Church this morning, a lazy afternoon and a light evening meal ,son is at Head Office tomorrow,so travelled Friday.
I was able to tell him scans etc all O.K. when he phoned to let me know he had arrived.
We are having a “ Heritage “ event at our Church ,little tasters of the many events held over the years to raise funds
We did a lovely one, a display of our Wedding dresses etc and one to commemorate all the tea and refreshments we have served over many years , dedicated to all our past Ladies ‘ Group and Mothers’ Union .
We had tea cups,pretty - ones with little posies in them ,we all made a good few and cakes made from flowers etc .
It was very popular and part of Ramsbottom’s Flower Festival,
.Our local Dairy Farm took part, they have been on T.V. ,the daughters cooked agains Gordon Ramsey and came out best,they said to him at the end’ “See what can be done without swearing!”
So we will resurrect some of our events in a big display.
We did a Village Wedding where roles are reversed ,I was the Bride’s father !
with a big handlebar moustache and a suit of my husband’s ,well walking home of a lovely Summer’s evening —- I was offered quite a few pints as I had three pubs to pass, a Summer evening and people outside .
People were laughing so I said” Look in The Bury Times on Thursday “- as their photographer took photographs.
But of course —— it was not in!
Hope all are well.
Look after yourselves.
Viktoria.
P.S.After Church we have coffee and biscuits or cake if anyone chooses to bring some if it is their Birthday.
Just before the start of the Service a man and two young women came in and stayed for the service .After they stayed for coffee and the man introduced himself ,a parent from School and his two daughters,his son lives down South, a very intelligent family of well behaved children.
I was amazed - I retired in 2002, it was lovely meeting them again .
Their mother helped the School Secretary , wore a lovely perfume.
What a nice thing.
I just worry that I was a wrinkled old lady 22 years ago!
I wore a dress today,I mostly wear trousers ,it felt quite nice.
Weather really lovely . Had to water containers .
Cheerio,Viktoria.
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@Victoria
Just as a side note:
- Machelen is a municipality near Brussel, in the province of Vlaams-Brabant.
- Mechelen (French name Malines) is a city in the province of Antwerpen.
Two different places.
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This must be in answer to a post of some age.I can’t find it .
There is also Machelen on the River Lys , my husband’s second factory was there. Oost Vlaanderen .Near Deurle. Not far from Gent.
The breed of dog known as “ Chien de Malines” is also known as “ Mechelse Herder “in Flemish speaking areas ,well in Gent -as far as I remember .
I used to have some lace ,made in Mechelen , very old and I can’t remember where that is ,given to me by an old English lady a WW1 bride.
She and her husband lived in Ronse and we visited them as she had lived near my Grammar a school but we did not meet until I went to live in Belgium and we met at the Protestant Church in Gent.
He chauffeur drove her every Sunday from Ronse.
This was 1965-1976.
Viktoria.
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It started off a really nice day, stripped the bed thinking I might get washing out but now I see a black cloud coming from the north hope not.
I was out at a coffee morning yesterday, we were recalling C&A, now only found abroad apparently , I bought my very first new coat from them when I started work, often wonder why they moved out of England but can be found abroad.
To all who are feeling down I hope they are feeling brighter now, take care.
LM
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This post is week ending 28th JULY 2024 though the weather down here is better than we had in the summer
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Well spotted my mistake but no prizes for the error!
LM
Think I am a tad confused here?