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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: louisa maud on Monday 22 December 25 08:51 GMT (UK)
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Good morning folks
Well, here we are on the countdown to Christmas, I have not got one thing wrapped, I can see there will be one big scramble
Today i am sick visiting, isn't local so takes up quite a long time, I going with my Rev, I know this woman and he very sensibly asks me to go with him, so my husband can't go to the gym today, another religeon as golf is, Come rain shine and whatever my OH, MUST go the the gym, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for cardio, that cuts out any time we we want to do something together, but if it keeps him happy who am I to spoil it for him, so tomorrow he will go to the gym but not the next day as he has blood tests, my feeling is he will be at the gym on boxing day if they are open.
All those off away for the season take care and enjoy.
LM
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Our longest day yesterday and another week so quickly upon us!
A couple of get-togethers with family members well spent already, the production was so was so well done and enjoyable with our family of 5 in the north participating on stage, the little ones held out so well over the 4 shows and all the long rehearsals.
They'll be joining us for a few days at home here Christmas afternoon and then all out to rest of family for Boxing Day together, traditional meals together at the table. Fingers crossed for good outdoor days for the many who choose bbq or picnic family time at the beach or parks in preference.
Have a happy and safe Christmas however you celebrate and wherever you are ...
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Morning folks
Glad to get rid of 21st, was my mother's anniversary yesterday.
Went sick visiting with the REV yesterday, very sad but we do manage to get to see her from time to time, sadly on the way back a woman decided to have an altercation over a car park space, she was very rude to the vicar, absolutely unnecessary, solely her fault, so we didn't even get out of the car we came home, very sad that people behave that way.
Should be getting busy but somehow the flesh is week today, not even wrapped a parcel so far.
Take care everyone who is travelling, travel safely.
LM
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Glad to have got that shortest day over with. Final drawing in my Advent calendar sent off to the people who get it as e-mail attachment each day. Really tired.
TY
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Well mince pies all done, cake marzipanned, with marzipan “ fruits” on top.
I think I must have baked the cake in a larger tin than usual- :-ie a ten inch tin not the usual 9 inch .
it is not very high and now the paper that lined the tin and sticks a bit to the cake is off,the cake ie looks very well done and rather flat!
I have so little enthusiasm for it all.
Well only one day more and as my card ribbons are by no means full I must think people are just not sending cards,the postage is expensive though so understandable that many don’t .
Daughter in law is doing the meat and sausages etc ,me veges stuffing,apple sauce ,no pudding this year after last year’s pudding drama, so an orange fool which is fresh and cool.
Well must soldier on , hair cut tomorrow, a cancellation so I took it .
Then next week a blow dry New Year’s Eve ,another cancellation !
Off to posh sister’s New Year’s Day —- it will be nice but she does probe so .
Well back to the grindstone , cheerio.
Viktoria.
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Sorry to hear you’re feeling underwhelmed LM.. I think sometimes everything can get a bit much and the body just says give up!
Viktoria I’m sure your cake will still taste delicious despite your reservations.
TY impressed you draw a daily advent calendar and email it.. no wonder you’re tired. It’s still getting dark early and dull miserable days don’t help!
Mare - lovely pics of the trees remember them well my son had one in the garden and it looked just beautiful at this time of year.. I know what they are but spelling it is not my forte 😂. Hope all is improved for you now.
Well finally finished all my cooking.. up at 7.45 this am ( OH out to golf!) gammon in slow cooker with its 2 ltr of cola and 7 hrs cooing, tastes delicious now glazed and cooling ready to take tomorrow.. more sausage rolls & mince pies made. Lemon Swiss roll done and lasagnes assembled and ready to take. Just need to find a card for OH then I can sit down for the first time today..
I wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas and hope you can all enjoy family time together.
Caroline
🍷🥂🎄🥳
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You folks are very organised, I have just wrapped up parcels, I ordered a voucher for someone else but ordered it to be sent to me, it makes no sense and I can't print it off, talk about not making things easy for someone like me, I am frazzled.
Been a very miserable day today, very dull, after yesterday being so nice as well
LM
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Come on, folk! Don't let yourselves get worn out before the Big Day! Just enjoy your families around you and let them get on with the hard stuff. ;)
I'm sad that I missed all the concerts and carol singing this year because of my croaky cold, but have been making up for that now, singing along with Classic FM as I wrapped up the presents and sorted out my fridge. A relaxing morning tomorrow, followed by a Scandinavian style Christmas meal on Christmas Eve at my daughter's. (She once had a Finnish boyfriend and was rather taken by his Christmas customs.) A chance to eat up left overs on Thursday morning, when all the presents will be opened. I'll take my cake along, too. It's much too big for us two to eat.
There are too many boxes of chocolates around - after a year of denial it's very hard to resist them. My husband was in town earlier this week in his usual café when a woman came up to him and presented him with a box of After Eights! "Why?" he asked her. "I just like giving people things," she replied! We speculated on her motives - were they poisoned? came up amongst other ideas. Anyway he gave them to a busker/homeless man he saw on the way home. "I don't suppose he will be getting many presents", he said to me.
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Morning Folks
Looks like a dry day which will please me, last of the washing till after Christmas.
Hospital blood tests for my husband today before he has both cataracts done on 29th
Take care everyone and enjoy the next few days.
LM
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Well, what a surprise, we allowed ourselves an hour to do a 15 minute journey due to what we thought would be heavy traffic towards an outlet area, my husband got to his blood test appt 30 mins earlier but luckily they allowed him in, he also had to have a prick test for his op on Monday , we were in and out in a flash, then decided to get a few bits at the shops, once again, hardly anyone about, gone it appears are the days of pushing and shoving around the store.
Back in the late 50's I was head cashier is a large store, my assistant and I had a male deputy of the shop shadowing us around the store as we collected cash from the tills, huge crowds and every year was the same, where is everyone?, well I imagine lots have had home deliveries but there is no atmosphere.
Beautiful sunny day but very windy, I have pegged my washing on the line with so many pegs but it is a lovely day.
Take care everyone, safe journeys if you are out and about
LM
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I have got a message informing me I am not allowed “to alter just any post”-
I was not aware I had, I changed one word in a post of mine ,not aware I had altered anyone else’s ——— would have thought that was impossible ——
Oooer !
I must search through .
Viktoria.
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Sorry about that Viktoria wasn't aware we are able to, don't worry about it, just enjoy your christmas.
LM
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Poking my nose in here..... :D
You can edit your own comments for up to 24 hours after posting.
You certainly can't edit comments posted by anyone else!
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That is what I thought, will be interested in any other replies.
LM
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Sunny day but rather chilly. Hope it keeps that way for the next few days, but the sea water will be very cold for the Christmas Day swimmers (son-in-law and others, but definitely not us two).
Have a lovely time, everyone. :D
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The hardy folk around here participate in the Boxing Day Dip, I don't know how they do it, the North Sea is always freezing, brrr!
Hope all you cooks and bakers enjoy the fruits of your labours, my mince pies and Christmas cake come from Tesco. :)
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Hello RC diary keepers, :)
I have, at last managed to fight my way back onto this site.
Wishing everyone a merry Yule, and joy through 2026. ::)
All the best to each of you.
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Nice to hear from you MH, take care and greetings to you and yours
LM
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Good to see you back MH, hope you're in better health. Very best wishes to you :)
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A very Happy Christmas to you all. :) :)
I hope you all keep well and none of you will feel the need for indigestion tablets at the end of the day. ;D ;D ;D
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The Christmas Day swim has been cancelled! Apparently it's too cold today. Hundreds of people will be disappointed; it's quite a sight to see how many people usually take part. Our son-in-law has been preparing for it by taking a cold shower every day. He says the trick is to start by getting cold water on the back of the neck! :o
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. :D :-* :D
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No swimming for me, does not appeal to me at all.
It is a sunny but very windy day today and last night was a bitter wind, looks nice if one doesn't have to go out.
I have just done my braised red cabbage, my entrance gift to my daughter otherwise i am not allowed in.
Enjoy the day everyone whatever you are doing.
LM
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Welcome back Mowsi,
A Happy Christmas everyone, hope all are warm and comfortable, with nice food and hopefully not alone .
Viktoria.
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I did the Boxing Day swim once, many years ago, when I was in my teens. Once was enough. 😱
The next time I went in the sea at that time of year was a long time later in Avarua in the Cook Islands, much more my idea of an enjoyable experience. ;D
At least it has been dry and sunny today here on the South Coast.
Hope you all are having an enjoyable Christmas? :)
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Hello All
I have been reading up who likely has cake hidden near their tree.
I've got Special Branch working on the locations.
I didn't think they would make it rain over England today and because I woke about 6am thirsty, I went downstairs and put the kettle and the washing machine on too.
Went back to bed with a tea, drank up and fell asleep again into dream sleep.
Washing was almost dry by early afternoon, got it in, onto coat hangers and airer, so pleased.
Went bitter cold outside later.
Best wishes Mark
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Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas day how they would prefer to spend it.
Church first and the priest managed to incorporate 3 children's gifts into a short sermon, one child had a Pokemon dictionary, one child had a talking sunflower and the curate's daughter had an F1 electric type car,, very clever the way he did it.
Christmas dinner at our daughter's, 8 of us and I must say our 2 grandchildren were such a good help in the kitchen, was a very nice time had by all..
Take care everyone if you are travelling.
LM
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Well, the Christmas Day swim went very sadly wrong for swimmers at nearby Budleigh Salterton, when the huge waves swept several people away and left two men missing. The swim at Exmouth and in other places had already been cancelled because of the danger to life. It will have been a sad Christmas for some families. We were glad that our son-in-law's swim was cancelled - they went for a long walk in the countryside instead, as it was a beautiful sunny, if chilly day.
We are having a quiet Boxing Day at home today and are looking at our presents and cards in more detail. We seem to have received mainly clothing (our choice) and far too many boxes of chocolates. My favourites are always dark chocolate coated ginger. :-* Warm jumpers are the order of the chilly day. OH has gone out wearing his new super-warm woolly hat. I'm considering showing off my new boots.
Hope all is well with fellow Rootschatters. Stay warm and keep away from people with coughs and colds - I picked up a throat infection from a fellow choir member recently and was unable to sing in any concerts as my voice was reduced to a croak, but luckily it was better by Christmas Eve.
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Sad about the swimmers , that swim should have been cancelled, makes it all the more worrying for us as my daughter and family are on their way to Cornwall to surf, idiots in my opinion but they do it every twixmas.
My brother in Teignmouth recently had knee op after 2.5 years waiting , this week he went out for a walk and the wind was so strong it blew him over, doesn't think he damaged his new knee but has lots of bruises, a friend has now lent him a mobility scooter but it has really worried him.
Sadly Christmas is over so quickly after all the running around but as long as we enjoy it that is all that matters.
LM
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I agree L.M.
We have much to be thankful for , haven’t we.
A bright bitterly cold day here ,I am doing fresh veggies although quite a lot left from yesterday .
I must say roasting the potatoes the evening before worked ,they heated up yesterday very crisp and nicely crunchy .
Daughter - in - law did the meat , it was nice but I had no fat from that to roast the potatoes so used crisp and dry with some butter and they were perfectly O.K.
A bitterly cold day but very bright and sunny .
Hope all are comfy and warm ,I know quite a few have health issues to contend with and hope you re alright .
Cheerio.Viktoria.
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I was very sad to read the tragic news about the missing swimmers in Devon and that the search has been called off. What unbearable news for the families, or possibly both from the same family.
The boxing day dips here took place this morning without incident, thank goodness, a lot of brave people taking the plunge in the freezing water. At least the sun was shining for them although it's still quite cold. Nothing in the local rag about it, they're always last with the news, had to read about it elsewhere.
Gillg, I caught a nasty cold before Christmas, I think I picked it up when I went for an appointment at the hospital. That was despite the fact that all the staff were wearing masks due to the high levels of patients with flu. I also wore the mask that the doctor handed to me. Oh well, I tried my best to avoid it. :(
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Very tragic for the families of the two lost men… all those people out looking for them on Christmas Day too…
I have to say I wonder what goes through peoples minds when they see the conditions..a challenge perhaps but so many left behind for, in my opinion, a senseless activity in poor conditions.
Lovely time with the family on Christmas Eve and C. Day…three of us worked in the kitchen and managed to feed all twelve of us!
Many mms and ahs and quiet whilst it was all being consumed! All prep had been done the night b4 so it went very smoothly..
at one point my daughter wondered if we’d missed something as it seemed much easier than in some previous yrs!
We had to go for a walk before we sat down to puds! First time daughter had made a Christmas pud along with youngest grandson and it ALL went also the ice cream and lemon curd filled lemon roulade!!
We came home last night as they have their Swiss in-laws staying all 6 of them so ‘no room at the inn’..
My OH was quite happy to drive home for the peace and quiet we’re enjoying today instead of the noisy mayhem..
quite surprising how busy the roads were until we got further away from London!
Lots of nice pressies.. like you Gillg clothes and far to many chocs.. all delicious but not for the waistline..
Bitterly cold here today so nice and snug with log burner going.
Sorry to hear some are suffering from colds.. have to say I’ve done a lot of sneezing so hope it doesn’t develop into anything…
Take care and enjoy the rest of the festive season.
Caroline
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I had a really good laugh yesterday at my own expense!
Eldest son had made a collage of family photographs and sent them off to be made into a jigsaw.
Well one of me when I was 80, is hilarious, still dark hair , glasses and a dead ringer for Mrs Brown!!!!Mammy !
Except I don’t swear!
Bitterly cold here but bright and dry.
Just watching “The Great Escape”—- however did our forces manage to escape , make civilian clothes etc ,forge passports and identity cards ——,absolutely amazing !
Were there any such escapes by WW1 prisoners ?(of whom one was my Dad),
That probably saved his life ,he missed “The Somme “and Passendale .
Cheerio folks, hope those unwell are soon much better, and that no one is lonely ,what a boon RootsChat is .
I think of members we no longer get posts from ,Skoosh comes to mind, and hope they and many others all are O.K.
Viktoria.
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It is nice that people are able to spend time with families, not everyone wants to or have family but I hope they managed to have Christmas they like and prefer.
Yes, some members Viktoria haven't been around lately, just hope all is well with them
I had an A4 size jigsaw made for a neighbour, wasn't till he recognised the trainers that he said " that's me" all good fun, he liked it so much he had it framed.
We are dog and cat sitting at the moment till my daughters house sitter arrives.
Take care
LM
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Watched “ The Italian Job “ this afternoon and this evening ‘ The Great Escaper” , Michael Caine , sad to see “ heartthrobs” aged, but it happens to us all !
Just had a slice if Christmas cake ,it is good,was worried as the oven had played up ,but got it fixed after that .
Well ,Saturday tomorrow, just ordinary shopping to do for the weekend and New Year’s day at my sister’s so no big roast again although my d in law did it for yesterday ,some advantages and vice versa, but a kind help.
Look after yourselves folks.
Bitterly cold today but no frost .
Viktoria .
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Disposed of last elements of Christmas dinner etc - I'm a lousy cook, but having to tackle it for the first time fully this year. Last year OH was able to help/supervise me, but he can't seem to manage it this year! Cats enjoyed their prawn breakfast yesterday, a ritual all our cats have had; first time for this pair, been with us almost a year now. (Wonder whatever happened to the "Cats Thread"? Seemed to fade away.... otherwise they'd have been on there, boasting about prawn breakfast, and finely chopped up venison.....
All washing up and tidying up done, need to tackle a boring supermarket shop next. Sic transit gloria Christmas day!
TY
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I managed to rescue the turkey carcass from my daughter and it’s now simmering away smelling delightful making beautiful stock 🤞…
We had venison steaks in pepper sauce with sauté potatoes, mushrooms a broccoli spears last night… they need so little cooking and using my thermometer took them out at given time and they were delicious..
Today it’s going to be turkey curry, what’s left will either be made into turkey and ham pie or risotto.
The cola cooked ham tastes very good… who would have thought!
I’m not sure we’re going to get through the chocs we’ve been given or the cheese also given in hampers… need to host a cheese and wine do… but most friends our age don’t eat that much cheese!
Miserable weather today, chilly and windy…
I’m having fun typing this as my iPad has a crack in the corner and it’s spread across the screen… now covered in sellotape until I can take it to our little repair place… think it must have got damaged at my daughter when left on her kitchen island without its cover on 😩..
it’s not been a lucky iPad as not long after I got it my husband opened a cupboard door in the kitchen and a bottle of pills fell out and cracked it!
I’m hoping theres not going to be a third time!!
Well must away and ready for Tesco delivery of essentials only.
Take care
Caroline
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I'm enjoying a quiet day after doing two washes and putting them out on the line for a blow on this chilly but sunny day. I've been catching up with my fiction reading before my library books are due at the end of next week and reflecting on a happy and pleasant Christmas time with the family. I always give my grandchildren a "Santa Grannie stocking", actually a large gift bag full of small items, some useful, some amusing, and this time my 14 year old grandson said his favourite Christmas present was a telescopic ball point pen which converted into a back scratcher! I must say that one of the most intriguing presents I received was also something quite small - a block of Shea butter with lavender fragrance. It looks like a bar of soap, but you just hold it in your hands and rub it round them, resulting in scented and soft hands. Sometimes the simple things are the best! ;)
Almost time to say "Happy New Year" to everyone and wish them good health and happiness in 2026.
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...And to everyone else who normally appears on here!
TY