It was a nice lunch  - chicken with mushrooms, onions+ potatoes & vegetables followed by damsons with a cake topping + custard. (The damsons were from another person at church who I also helped with her tax).

 

That sounds like a nice lunch mmmm hungry now Death by pancake.. Now I could invent a desert called death by pancake This is my first quiet spell today, but everyone has been lovely Who's going to watch Dancing on the Edge tonight?

Summer, I've been watching Dancing on the Edge and caught up with the 3rd episode last night. Intelligent well written drama which is what I would expect from Stephen Poliakoff. One of the tiny number of writer/directors whose work I am inclined to watch purely because it's by him. The first drama of his I saw was Caught on a Train (1980) which had Peggy Ashcroft and Michael Kitchen which is exceptional.

If you've never seen it, it's worth watching.

On Youtube in 8 sections:

http://www.youtube.com/playlis...XRdh7H2inlPEq2IV2Jtb

Hi all 
First chance i have had to post, been busy with the family.
Weather has been lovely , hope it continues 
I have missed Dancing on The Edge. missed the other episodes so no point watching it now. Can always get the DVD, if there will be one. 
Murder mystery sounds great Summer  
 

*night owls* and sweet dreams hugs for each of you Skylark, I hope you get some time to yourself shortly El, thank you for that link! I'm going to add it to my YouTube list. Mr summer stayed up past his bedtime to watch the show tonight, he wants to know whodunit! Skylark, I'm sure they'll repeat dancing on the edge soon I hope everyone has had a good day, yogi it's unusual to not see you here later, I hope you're ok

Sorry Summer, I was knitting and then son and I got nattering and the time just ran away from me. Thank you for the night owl hug. Here's one for you too.

Skylark, hope we can synchronise our next forum visit.

Goodnight everyone. xx

I love it yogi! I'm heading off, I'm almost asleep. Sweet dreams

Good morning everyone, I'm up early because my grandson has got a dental appointment, he had 2 fillings about 3 weeks ago, one came out over the weekend that's awful isn't it?  He has also had another abscess blow up so hopefully the (new) dentist can sort that out.  Not surprisingly he has lost confidence in the first dentist and is now seeing a great South African guy who I have seen and seems very competent.

 

I shall be a little nervy because I have a long-standing appointment for a diabetes eye test one hour and 15 minutes after he is due in to the dentist, about 7 miles away.  Life gets more complicated all the time

 

It's a tiny bit frosty here but I think we are promised a nice dry day, hope it is where you are too

Good morning everyone

 

Squiggle, I hope your grandson's dental visit amd your eyetest go smoothly

 

Here it's frosty and there is some mist. Eventually the day should be sunny and average temperature but tonight it becomes cold and cloudy.

 

Skylark, all the episodes of Dancing on the Edge are on iPlayer until 4 March:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/e..._the_Edge_Episode_1/

It's released on DVD on 11 March and the music is available on CD and MP3.

(nothing to do with the CD of the same name by Roy Buchanan).

The last episode next Monday is 90 minutes long.

Good morning Good luck today squiggle, I hope your test goes well and I hope your grandson gets on well at the dentist Ooooh a 90 minute finale, that's exciting! I'll look forward to that very much It's miss bramble's first birthday today she's oblivious of course, but she rolled on her back while I tickled her belly and sang happy birthday Tuck in everybody

Good morning everyone. Another frosty and bright day.

Squiggle, I hope all goes well at your eye test, and that the new dentist is able to sort out your grandson's dental problems.

 

Hapy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday Dear Bramble,

Happy Birthday To You.

 

Got her a special cake, suitable for doggies.

Happy Birthday to Bramble

 

 

Aaaaw so cute! Thank you yogi I'll show her when she wakes. If she licks the phone, I'll know she likes it I had a nice surprise this morning; I was buying a newspaper and with no people waiting behind me I decided to ask the lady to check my lottery tickets. I occasionally buy a euro lucky dip, put it in my purse and forget about it for ages. I had 3, so thought I'd get them checked.. I won £58 from a draw on Jan 4th that's the most I've ever won!

Thanks el

Morning 
Hope all goes well with your grandson and yourself squiggle at the medical visits x
 Yogi
Thanks El, on info. I can watch iplayer if computer not playing up. I may get the DVD x
Good for you Summer, on the win 
Happy Birthday to Bramble x
 

I see that the BBC has announced today that they are going to make a new 6 part series of Tolstoy's War and Peace for BBC1 due to be shown in 2015. It's to be dramatised by Andrew Davies. It was last made back in 1972 which starred Anthony Hopkins. It's likely to be the drama event of the year. It's too early for any casting news. I didn't see the Anthony Hopkins series but have seen the 1956 film (Henry Fonda & Audrey Hepburn).

 

I have also seen the colossally long Russian film made in 1967. At around 7 hours long, it must be the longest mainstream film ever made though is constructed in sections.

As you are unlikely to see that film I will post the opening credits of 5 minutes. They are rather unusual. Allowing for inflation, the film is probably the most expensive film ever made.

I've been saying (for years!) that I'm going to read the book, but I may watch the  BBC series instead,El.

 Well done on the win, Summer.

Yogi, War and Peace is one of those books renowned for people having the book but not reading it (like me )

I bought a nice book stand from a charity shop. I have War and Peace which i bought years ago. Read it? Eh no  Terribly pretentious ? Yes probably 

Well done Summer on your win

 

War & Peace, I have never fancied reading it and I don't think I would want to watch it either, doesn't appeal.  Doctor Zhivago always left me cold so I think it's not on my wavelength.

 

Poor grandson looks like a hamster his face is all blown up on one side.  The dentist has given him a week's antibiotics and an appointment for next Monday.  I think there are two dead teeth and I think my grandson said he is going to remove the roots?   I dunno whether he can do that and leave the teeth or whether he intends to remove them, grandson just wants these abscesses to go away, so do I.

Poor grandson, abscesses are so painful. I hope the antibiotics kick in quickly for him. Have they given him some painkillers, too?

 

Did your eye test go okay, Squiggle?

 

Aw i feel for your Grandson squiggle. Is this the same one who had problems? Why do you think he has an abscess again? If the roots are dead then the tooth or teeth have to be removed. Its not good for his health to have rotten teeth, i expect he knows that.Although i have heard of dentists who can treat the root and transplant the tooth/teeth. It may be costly, of course, but if he isnt working etc, he can claim on the NHS, regardless or not if the dentist is registered to the NHS or not. It may be different where you are, of course, but it shouldnt be x

Yes thanks Yogi it all seemed to go well.  Skylark he did neglect his teeth for a while and he is paying the price now unfortunately.  We are placing our trust in his dentist, we always knew that he had quite a few abscesses, the first dentist he had wasn't on top of the job I think.  He is claiming Jobseekers and the dentist is a NHS one. Yes it is the same grandson, he is a walking disaster at the moment, but we are both battling onwards (and trusting in God - he is coming to church on Sunday, let's hope we both get there this time).

 

I have been up since silly o'clock so I'm having an early night.  Happy night owling and big hugs to you all   You are lovely supportive friends.

Have to sign out, son doing a Health and Safety thing, that has to be done online. Plus he is the "First Aider" at work  I say that because he would faint at the first sign of blood  Very good with a crisis though, so all good.. i think...
Goodnight all  

We posted at the same time Skylark, hope all goes well for your son. Sleep well.

You've had a busy day Squiggle, I hope you get a good night's sleep.

 

Good luck with the H&S course to your son, Skylark.

Summer, my DiL mentioned a game for the iPad called Candy Crush. I downloaded it tonight - it's very addictive.

I hope Miss Bramble has has a lovely 1st birthday.

Leaving you a night owl hug, catch up tomorrow.

*night owls* thanks yogi, sweet dreams Oh heavens squiggle, your poor poor grandson where in his mouth are the 2 teeth? I hope the medication reduces the swelling promptly, and I hope they give him the best treatment available. Poor lamb I'm pleased you're eye test went well though, well done Skylark, lol at your son, lets hope he doesn't have to give first aid in any bloody situations. he does sound like a great lad though, he deserves commending for taking the time to study I've never read war & peace, it's huge I believe..? I hear it's quite heavy going too..?

P.S. candy crush.. Right I'll check it out! Miss bramble said to tell you she had a lovely birthday thank you Night night lovely friends

I'm still laying in but mr summer says it's sleeting outside, it's not laying though. I bet it's cold! Bramble has come up for a morning snuggle-only permitted on days off Help yourselves

Good morning everyone. No frost today.

Lovely pic of Bramble. Enjoy your snuggle and your day off, Summer.

Thank you for breakfast, it looks delicious.

Good morning everyone

 

Cloudy here, not particularly warm but no frost. The real cold starts tomorrow.

 

Thanks for breakfast, Summer

 

Skylark, War and Peace is a long book - the first published edition was 1,225 pages long but is shorter than Lord of the Rings where the first edition was 1,571 pages in total. Les Miserables the novel by Victor Hugo is similar in length.

They are dwarfed by Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past which was 4,215 pages long and holds the record for the longest novel. (And no, I haven't read it and have no plans to ) There have been film and television versions but not of the complete novel.

 

 

Good morning everyone, a bit of a frost this morning but soon to burn off and another lovely day looks on the way, I am thankful every day for this weather, it makes you feel better, I have been able to get some outside jobs done (with lovely grandson's help).  It's two bottom molars Summer, the whole of the left hand side of his face was swollen though.

 

I am glad Bramble had a lovely birthday.  How is she doing on the 'place in the pecking order' training?  It must be difficult for her to understand why there is a sudden fuss but there again one year old babies don't know what all the fuss is about when they have their first birthday.  I was able to meet my grandson's girlfriend's toddler for the first time yesterday.  What a cutie, she has huge very blue eyes and you should see my grandson with her, he is so good with her and you can see she adores him.  He is not the father and indeed he makes it clear that there is no real romance in his friendship, he is still carrying a torch for his first girlfriend.

 

Have a good day everyone, grandson and me are off M & S shopping soon.

*gives squiggle my shopping list* I can't decide if having the 2 teeth in the same section of the mouth is better or not, I suppose he can eat on the other side, but the left side will be so painful. Will he be able to leave a gap and it not be seen, or some false teeth in their place? It's a shame your grandson doesn't feel that way about the girl, I'm sure she & her son are lovely, but you can't force the heart can you. I'm sure he'll meet someone when the time is right I've got to pop out, and will walk the dog at the same time, I'll be back in a bit

Sqiggle, it sounds like your grandson is a good friend to the girl and her daughter, even though there is no romance on the cards.

Oh please don't give me your shopping list, the bill adds up horrendously You may know that I keep my family going, my little bit comes to about a third or less of what I spend for them.  But to know that my grandson is going home with lots of lovely stuff to keep them going for days eases the pain, and I only go about every 2 months - which makes me feel a bit better

 

Yogi I think you are right, I think the girl would like it to be more but he knows his own mind.  When your new granddaughter is born I know it will touch your heart too to see your son with this new little life.  I know that the little girl yesterday is not my grandson's but to see him being so tender and loving with her touched my heart in such a special way.

I got a big lump in my throat when reading ^^^^ Squiggle.

 

Your family are lucky to have your support, I know it can't be easy for you.

At long last my neighbours have started looking at the shared drive between their's and my house. The previous owners never got around to it and it is in a very poor state. My use of the drive is less than theirs as I park on my forecourt but they park one of their cars on it - they don't have a forecourt but a lawn. The father of the girl next door knows some people who do building and maintenance work for the buildings which his employer use and has been in touch with them. I'm going to get my forecourt replaced at the same time by them as although it's OK it it's concrete and is old.

 

I'm looking for something which has reasonable drainage and is reasonable low on maintenance. Someone from the builders came here today along with my neighbour's father. Paving blocks are the recommendation. Although not the cheapest option, they are better than concrete and tarmac for drainage, and although gravel is better for drainage, that's more likely to need maintenance and in any case wouldn't suit my neighbour for the drive as she has high heels. We should get it cheaper than the normal rate due to the father's connections.

It's good to get the shared drive sorted out.  I agree with you about gravel, not suitable for someone with high heels and quite a bit of maintenance I would think.  Block paving is probably a good choice but there must be careful preparation otherwise weeds will drive you mad.  We thought long and hard when we replaced our front garden and drive in our old house and settled for really good quality crazy paving.  A wonderful choice, the guy who laid it, and built our front and side walls, was a real craftsman and made a wonderful job of it.  It was a real selling point when we came to sell. Good luck.