I have returned from the frozen wastes.

There was a lot of snow in the hilly part in the middle. I would say around 2 feet lying in the fields. But the roads had all been ploughed and gritted, so I had no problems getting there and back.

It was a bit warmer today coming back, and the snow seems to be begining to melt. Although theres every bit as much snow here at home as yet.

I had a good time. A lovely meal, 7 of us round the table, and a relaxing morning today, before I came away home.

Glad you had a good time with all your littlies Hicky.

And have a good break at butlins Mollie.

I've just been catching up with some things on the iplayer that I missed Yesterday; namely Doctor Who and Gavin and Stacey.
My Freesat box now gets the iplayer directly. I've got it hooked up to my router with a long ethernet cable, so it's easier to watch it on the big telly.

Seasonal Felicitations everyone.  I hope you're all enjoying the Christmas holiday. I hope those of you who had to travel in difficult conditions made it to your destination safely.  My house has been pretty much like Paddington station, but I've really enjoyed it so far.  I ventured out to watch Derby lose to Blackpool today, which wasn't so enjoyable. 

Hi to Mollie Emptybox and Boldjohn.

Have a good time Mollie, see you when you get back.

Glad you made it ok to your Brothers Emptybox, the main roads should be ok by now.

Hi Boldjohn,
I had a good time, a bit of a rest today, it will be a bit hectic here tomorrow with the little ones back again.
I'm sure Derby appreciate your dedication.
Hope you have enjoyed Chrismas anyway.

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►*♥*♥* Good Afternoon Everyone *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope you are all well*♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* It's very nice here today  3.3 C*♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Happy Sunday to you *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope you all have a lovely day *♥*♥*◄
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Hi Hicky and boldjohn.

Been raining and snowing here today, but the temp is above zero, so things are starting to thaw.

Not been doing much. Been listening to my Xmas CDs and ripping them to my computer and MP3 player.

Not decided what to have for supper yet?
As I was away for Christmas dinner, I don't have any leftover turkey.
That's both a good and a bad thing.

Hi Emptybox.
It's just been a bit wet here, not all that cold though. 3 deg C outside but it feels warmer.
My O/H got an ipod thingy from one of my lads for Chrimbo so she can put some more songs on that, my lad put a load on it already.

I didn't have any leftover Turkey myself, probably because I didn't have a Turkey as I took it to my lads and we all ate there.

146889

Coronation Street bosses have decided to bring Margi Clarke back to the Weatherfield soap, claims a report.

The 55-year-old actress is to reprise the role of Tyrone Dobbs's outspoken mother Jackie.

Sources have said that Margi has already returned to the famous cobbles to film scenes for the soap.

It is believed that Jackie will appear in the ongoing affair storyline which features Tyrone's cheating wife Molly.

A Coronation Street source told Digital Spy: "With Tyrone and Molly's marriage potentially in jeopardy, how will Jackie's arrival affect the course of events?

"More to the point, why does she even return?"

Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone, had frequently lobbied Corrie bosses to bring Jackie back to the soap following her departure from Weatherfield.

He said: "I'd like to see Margi return full-time, but whether Tyrone as a character would is a different matter!"

Corrie fans will see Margi make her return to the soap in February.

Kym Marsh for Celebrity Big Brother 2010

December 28th, 2009 by Lisa McGarry.

Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh seems to have admitted that she will be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house next week.

Kym posted a message on her Twitter page which revealed that she would be taking a few weeks break from Corrie and she joked that she would be getting herself a ‘reality check.’

Big Brother bosses must have spotted the message, because Kym deleted it just minutes later and replaced it with:

“just been told off! Feel like I had been sent to the head masters office!”

In later responses to fans she also posted:

“Im not doing anything on new years eve! As I cannot risk having a hang over, as I have a busy couple of days after!”

then “Lets just say 2010 is going to be a BIG year right from the start! x”

and “Im only taking a couple of weeks off, You might even see more of me! x”

and finally “Thinks it might be a good thing, I wont be near my phone or laptop for a couple of weeks next month!” It looks pretty clear to us!

Afternoon Hicky.

Everything is in deep freeze here today.
It's been sunny but the temp is -3 at the mo, and was colder this morning.
The snow has frozen solid. It's like an ice rink.
I haven't ventured anywhere today.

I like Kym Marsh, so it's great that she's going into CBB.
Unless Endemol stop her now she's let the secret out of the bag?

Hi Emptybox.

It seems to be hovering at about 0deg C here, a gritter lorry passed me before when I went out for the paper.

I'm out tonight at a Birthday party anyway but don't think i'll be staying all that long.

Kim Marsh seems nice, they know they aren't allowed to say they are going in the house.
Don't know why it matters though.

Alex in Barbados.
------------------
It's all right for some.

Well it was a good party, lovely to see all the relations again.
Good Music and food, what more do you want.

MIL was up with a group doing Line Dancing, very good too, my Lads girl sang a couple of songs, very good, so talented, and joined in with the Line Dancing as well, she's also a Dance Teacher and a Swimming Coach.

It's freezing out there, only -1 though, not too bad.
The forecast has snow down for Wednesday and freezing again at the end of the week.

Hope your Holiday is going well Mollie, keep wrapped up if you go out.

Sounds like a good party Hicky.

Everything still in deep freeze here. The thermometer in the greenhouse was reporting -4 degrees an hour ago.
I've switched the heating on anyway. No point in shivering during the day.

I'm running low on heating oil, so I'll have to buy some early in the New Year. Unfortunately it's pricey just now, so I'll just buy enough for a couple of months, and hope the price comes down in the Spring.

The other consideration is that VAT goes up by 2.5% on 1st Jan.
I thought of ordering before  then, but the tank is covered in frozen snow at the moment, and the filler cap is frozen solid, so the guy wouldn't be able to fill it anyway.
I suppose I could go out with an extension lead and the hair dryer and defrost it, but it would just freeze again over-night.

Hi Emptybox.

No frost here or snow, nothing really, overnight frost has cleared.

How much oil does the heating take?, I suppose the cost is equal to what it would cost if you had gas.

It's going to be a nuisance this vat change again, it will give me a lot of work changing it over at work for the new invoices.

I would have thought they would have put an extension on your fuel filler intake then you could have covered it to keep it frost free.

Just seen the feller on 'Myth Busters' on tv using the Laser Thermometer during a test using a frozen pipe and testing to see if your tongue will stick to it, and it did.

He had aimed the gun at the post to see how cold it was.

Hi Hicky. I seem to be using around 250 litres of heating oil per month, at this time of year.
The price is about 45 - 50p per litre (inc VAT) at the moment, which is the highest it's been this year. .
Back in May it was 10p a litre cheaper.

Just had a phonecall from my Brother.
They are all coming to stay with me on Old Year's Night, and see the New Year in.

Not really geared up for guests though.

That doesn't sound too bad Emptybox.

I suppose the price you buy it as makes a big different, and also the size of the tank to take advantage when it's cheap, no point if you can't store enough.

Would imagine you should buy the majority in the summer when demand should be lower.

Don't you just love the 6 day weather forecast.

It has been saying Snow for here today up to today.
It's pouring with rain, though I would see if it still says Snow, why, it's changed to heavy rain, isn't that a marvel of science.

Have a look what it's like in the morning and change the prediction.
Love it.

Yeah, well they were predicting another frost last night for me, but we've actually got a big thaw.
It's well above zero, and we've had some rain as well.

Least it means I won't have any trouble getting the car out to go for some provisions.
Also my oil tank is unfrozen, so I ordered 500 litres. Might not get it till Tuesday, but at least I won't run out now.
(It's a 1200 litre tank.)

That'll last a couple of months, when hopefully the price will be a bit lower. No guarantee of that though, it was up at 65p in the summer of 2008.

Oh heck, that must think your still in a Hotel.

You'll need a few provisions that's for sure.
Hope you know what they like to eat and drink.

It's a bonus the weather getting a bit warmer.

It's about 3 deg C here but feels a lot colder if you go outside.

Well I went out and did my shopping.
We have had a few snow flurries, but the temp is 3 or 4 degrees here as well.

I think I got them all catered for, and my bro is bringing a steak pie for one meal, so that should be a help. Also I made another of Mollie's crumbles for them.
Not sure how that'll go down, but I can blame Mollie if they don't like it.

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►*♥*♥* Good Afternoon Everyone *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope you are all well*♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥*  It's a lovely Sunny day here *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Happy Thursday to you *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope you all have a lovely day *♥*♥*◄
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Good evening all

Emptybox
Glad you got the your brothers for Christmas, and had a good time.
I bet that was a bit of a shock when all the family said they were coming to you for New Years. Don't worry too much about catering and accomodation for them, I am sure they won't expect 5 star standard when you have not had much notice, and are not used to catering for a family. I hope you enjoy their visit. And I really hope they enjoy the crumble.    Warm it up in the microwave and serve with some nice ice-cream or custard, and I am sure they will be impressed with your culnery skills.

Hicky..
Glad to hear you enjoyed the birthday party.
Your lads gf sounds very sporty, and your MIL sounds like she had fun.
Thanks for the Corrie news. wonder if Kym will be on CBB? I would of thought she'd be too busy on Corrie to do it?

Boldjohn
Glad to hear you have an enjoyable Christmas.
Best wishes to you for the new Year.

We had a great holiday. It was a lovely new hotel. However in the early hours of the day we were due to leave I woke with a bad stomach upset. The 4 hour drive home was a nightmare for me, I was vomiting in a carrier bag.
OH thinks it must of been food poisoning, because I only ate hotel food, which was good food, that we all enjoyed. The only food I ate that the rest of the family didn't eat was the salad, so it must of been that. I still feel rough today, only ate a bit of dry white toast today.

Hi Mollie.

Glad you enjoyed your stay, strange about the Salad, don't know how that could make you sick really.

I had the little ones here most of the day, then I had my lad and his lot here for Roast Turkey Dinner at 5.30, very nice too.

My other lad is back here tomorrow with his G/F and 3 little ones.
They are staying all day and staying over tomorrow.

I had one 4 yr old little girl sitting on my shoulders while I was peeling a load of spuds, they are so funny aren't they.

It's freezing outside, about -3 deg C at the Mo, but on my roof on the steel part it's -5C.

Only an hour to go now, will have to go and get something to eat, don't drink these days but had a nice Shandy with my Dinner.

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►*♥*♥  Happy New Year Everyone *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope you have a great 2010 *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope all your wishes come true *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* And hope CBB is good again *♥*♥*◄
►*♥*♥* Hope work is more plentyful *♥*♥*◄
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Thought this was so funny, the remark Katy made on her twitter, as below.
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SICKENINGLY loved-up Russell Brand and Katy Perry are enjoying a romantic holiday in India.

After frolicking in the London snow, the showbiz pair jetted off to sunnier climes to continue their fun times.
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Happy New Year!, hope you all have a wonderful 2010.


Yum Lily Allen on BBC2 now

Happy new Year in the chat room

Happy New Year folks.

Everybody has gone to bed, so I'll make a quick post.

We've had a good time here.
Everybody said they liked the crumble, but I made a mistake and heated it up in the oven, and the top went a bit hard. Should have done it in the microwave.

Sorry to hear of your stomach upset Mollie.
They do say salad can be the worst for that.

We've had a lot of snow here today. At least 5 or 6 inches. My Brother had trouble getting down my drive. But apart from that, his drive across was OK.

Hope you enjoyed your shandy Hicky.
I may have had one or two 'shandies' myself.

Happy New year Hicky and  Everyone All the Best in 2010

Wishing you all a Very Happy and Prosperous 2010.

Hicky..
Glad to hear you had a good day yesterday with all your visiitors. Aaaww at the littlie wanting to sit on your shoulders whilst peeling. They are so cute at that age.   Hope you have a lovely new years day with your visitors today.

Emptybox...
Glad to hear you all had a good time celbrating New years Eve at your place. I am sure no-one minded your error in reheating desert in the oven instead of microwave.  If it only came out a bit too crisp,it should still of tasted good. I bet the fresh snow fall looks really pretty there. Have your family gone home now, or did they stay overnight?

Hope you both enjoyed your shandies.

Darloby, muf and Marguerita.
Happy New Year to you too.

I am feeling a bit better today, but still weak.
I wish that now, like the rest of the family, that I had gone for the junk food instead of the salad now. Yes Emptybox, OH also tells me that he has heard you can easily get food poisoning from salad if it is not washed really well. It looked clean, but must of had a problem, because I had not drunk alcohol, or eaten anywhere other than than the hotel resteraunt, and I just do not get stomach upsets normally.

Have a good New Years Day all.
The weather is lovely here today, sunny and cool.

Happy New Year to all that called in last night.
That is Darloboy, Muf, Emptybox, Marguerita & Mollie,

Hope you all had a great night.

Nasty do with that Salad Mollie, it might not have been washed enough to remove the bug treatment.

Just had a light brekkie, soft boiled eggs with toast.

Here's a Glass each for the Toast.
---------------------

Afternoon.

My Brother got away earlier this afternoon, but not before we spent ages digging his car out of the snow and clearing a path up the drive. He still needed a shove to get back on to the road.
He was OK once he was on the road, but he took it very carefully for the first few miles because there was lying snow on the road..
They had a snow-plough out earlier in the day, but it hadn't made a lot of difference.

I'm still effectively snowed in until I can dig my own car out.
I just hope it thaws a bit so I can get my heating oil delivered next week. Wouldn't want to run out.

The snow is the very dry powdery stuff (ideal for skiing ).

Glad you're feeling a bit better Mollie.

Hi to darloboy, Marguerita and Muf.

Enjoy your visitors Hicky.
I would toast you, but there appears to be a frog in my glass?

Good evening all.

Hicky...hope you have had a good day with the family.

Emptybox...Glad your brother got away ok. Fingers crossed that oil gets out to you ok, because I have checked the forecast, and it looks like the cold weather continues. Do you have any skis in the shed, or a sledge? We have a sledge, but we never get to use it now we don't live in the mountains.

I am managing to eat today, but only very light plain food. I'd better feel better soon, because I need to make a start on all that dirty washing.

Looking forward to seeing Gavin and Stacey tonight, and Corrie, of course.
But mostly am looking forward to CBB on Sunday.
Hicky... can you give me the link to your CBB thread please?
Time for my dinner... slice of white bread toasted, with thin layer of marmite. Same as I had for lunch, and brekkie.
That is the last time I ever have salad in a public help yourself resteraunt. It'll be chips with the rest of the family, instead for me, next time.

He must be one very drunk frog by now.

Well, Happy New Year, not a bad start, could be worse I suppose.

Looks like Emptybox has all the snow.

Made a roast dinner for my Lad and his G/F and 3 little ones, had to go out for more veg.
Made some more Choccy Chip Cookies as well, the mixture was frozen all ready, you just get the 72 pieces in a box.
It only takes 20 minutes after the oven is up to temp.

They are all sleeping here tonight.
--------------
Forgot the link to CBB.
It's only in the BB UK Forum here.
http://talk.gagajoyjoy.com/dis...7#138500220575528977

I watched Gavin and Stacey.
Seems a bit daft having a half hour episode as the final one. They could have easily run it to an hour?

Does CBB start on Sunday?
I guess I'll watch it. The house looks interesting anyway, even if the celebs aren't.

I hear that Kym Marsh thing was a hoax, and she says she was never going in? Unless that is a double bluff?

I recorded Dr Who earlier, so i think I'll watch that in a bit.

This salad episode will be a good excuse for you to indulge in chips from now on Mollie.

Good morning all
Frosty here today, but nice and sunny. Son tells me the theromometer was reading minus 7 on the ground before we went to bed last night, which is very cold for round here.

Hicky....hope the family enjoyed staying over at yours last night. I bet the littlies all enjoyed the cookies, and the adults enjoyed the roast dinner.
Thanks for the CBB link, I will go and check it out .

Emptybox...
wonder if you have had more snow?  When is your oil due?  You certainly do not want to run out of that this winter.

Yes CBB due to start tommorrow, hope we have a good interesting mix. I somehow think Kym Marsh was never due to go in the house ,she doesn't need to, whilst she is busy filming on Corrie.  We usually seem to only get the celebs who have not a lot of work on at the moment, going into the house.

Yes its chips all round for me with the family from now on, no more help yourself salad ever again. I still don't feel quite right, can only eating light bland food.

I heard some science bloke talking on the radio today, and he was saying that this cold winter here is good, because this country needed a proper winter.  Not only does it help kill all these cold/flu type bugs, it is also good for gardens because it helps kill these type of foreign weeds that have been crippling our gardens,and thriving in the recent mild winters. He also said it is good for our traditional fish in our rivers too. Can't remember the name of the plants he mentioned, do you know what I mean Emptybox?

Hope you all have a good Saturday.

Emptybox..
I agree, I think they could easily have stretched Gavin and Stacey to an hour as the final episode.  at her wedding dress, and wedding taxi.  A lot of the areas on the show are not far from round here, and where we take the dog a walk.