both

Hicky

well after yet another day of rain for you, let's hope you do get that dry day tomorrow so the guys can get your work done. It was nice and dry here today.

Emptybox

I bet that frost looked pretty.

Felt cooler here today, but nowhere near below freezing. Dry at least though

Yes good news that Louisa won. Thought the other 2 a ridiculous act to have made the final.

I don't really watch the dancing as on too early for me, have to look after my mum. The carer today had bought mum some Christmas tree crumpets, and some Cadbury Christmas cake, there was a pack of choccie wafers in a snowman, and one girl said she wanted to meet me next weekend as she had bought her some pressies from Disney when she went away a few weeks ago. Those girls are so sweet buying mum stuff when they don't earn much.

Goodnight both xxx

Advent day 13, and this young lady has come to send you both Seasons Greetings,

Hi Mollie.
Thanks for another advent girl pic. Looks like an old style Hollywood film star that one.

No frost today, just a dirty murky damp day.
Didn't do any work, but went into town to collect my prescription, pay a bill and do some banking.

Lovely carers you have for your Mum.
Not sure what she'd do with Disney stuff though?

Think I'll watch Nigella at 8pm, then Guy Martin on CH4 at 9pm, then maybe the prog on CH5 at 10pm about bad 70's TV?

all

Emptybox

sounds like typical winter like weather by you. Much the same but wetter here today. At least you got your bits and pieces done in town.

I am watching Corrie, Martin Lewis, then a show on bbc2 at 9pm where they showed you what people ate at Christmas in the past.

Hope it was dry enough for Hicky's guys to get the work done.

As it was wet, I stayed in and did some Christmas cards/wrapping, and caught up with washing.

OH had terrible commute this morning, accident on M4 around 4am. 2 hour delays by the time he got there, and around 13 mile tail back later. Monday mornings are always bad on M4 as lots live in Wales now but travel back down the M4 to London for work in the week. So took him 3 hours to get in today, but at least he had a better journey home again.

Have a good evening both xxx

Advent day 14 and a nice housey piccie.

Evening Both.

At least it stayed dry for most of the day, the workers came and did more on the walls.

I cut the Asparagus plants down, covered in manure and put the metal mesh over the raised bed.

Finished putting the spike strips on the fence as well.

Went out for tea, just had Gamon, Double Eggs & Chips, with curry sauce.

Going to Costco Wednesday for a few bits, and the Belly Pork.

O/H's car was iced up this morning.

Evening Both.

We seem to be out of step somehow.

A dry day here, not really cold either, cloudy though.

The workers came and did more, they said they will be able to do more before Christmas.

Nearly finished the platform on one side of the Gazebo, only one side is damaged, the first one i did as well but i have plenty of stuff to repair it.

I wish they would put the day and time against the post, what is the point of saying how many hours ago, it's easier to put the time up.

So nice of the Carers Mollie to buy your mum stuff, i wonder if she realises.

Thanks for the advent pics, lovely.

I really can't follow these posts, i'm scrolling up to find a post, by the time i get down i've forgotten what it said.

You aren't going to get a lot of work done this weather Emptybox, the ground is wet, the leaves are off, the grass is a mess.

7 Days and it's the run up to Summer.

I put my baby Fig trees into the shed, they had lost their leaves, now one is growing, oh dear, getting new buds and leaves.

Cut the Asparagus do down, or did i say that yesterday.

both x

Hicky

glad you workers managed to come round and do a bit more today.

Must of been cold if your OH's car was iced up. Nowhere near that cold here yet, which is odd considering it is December. So good to hear it is downhill to summer soon , as we are so close to getting that shortest day out of the way. Do you think you will be able to keep your fig tree going now? 

hope you had a good day Emptybox.

My brother came today, had a good but tiring day. He treated me and daughter  to lunch at the Weatherspoon, when we met him. He thought it was dead cheap compared to London. Caught bus to mum's flat and met her there when she came back from day centre. OH dropped him back for his 6pm train. I didn't get home till late as I had to stay with mum.Lucky daughter made me a nice tea when I got in.

Goodnight both xxx

Advent day 15, and it is flower day.

Hi guys.
Another dull damp day here, mildish though. Not much happening.

Glad your workers could get on with the wall Hicky, and you got your asparagus bed sorted.

Sounds like building this platform is more trouble than actually repairing the gazebo?
Would a simple step ladder not fit the bill?

Not sure what you're supposed to do with figs over the winter, but should think they'll be alright in the shed.
No, there's not much to do for me at this time, just a few jobs to fit in before Spring.
Can't wait till the days start getting longer again. Should think we've got the coldest weather to come yet though.

Hi Mollie. Hope your OH had a better commute today?
Glad you had a good day with your Brother. Yes, I think London prices are much higher than anywhere else, even in a Wetherspoons.
Another two nice advent pics.

Didn't find much to watch tonight. Just some nostalgia type progs.

Evening Both.

Had to reboot Firefox, it gets slower and slower, for video's i use MS Edge.

A warm dry day here, 14C anyway, went to Costco, got my Belly Pork, have cured it and used the vacuum bag to seal it away, it's in the fridge for 5 days.

Got some Choc Brazils as well.

Finished building the platform, just a few more screws to stop the boards moving.

Mollie, yes, wasn't expecting it to freeze, so warm during the day, but if you get clear skys then it will freeze.

That was nice having a meal out with your Brother and Daughter.

Emptybox, I can't reach enough of the gazebo roof from a ladder, also a platform will give lots of support from which to work from and i can put the new roof shingles onto the platform, and all the tools needed, so hard working from a ladder, I'm using a step ladder to get onto the platform, the height is 1.7m.

Out in the morning with my lad and his Mrs for Brekkie, O/H can't go as she takes her mum shopping Thursday.

both

Emptybox

yes I agree, we must have some cold weather to come sooner or later. It is way overdue now. I too can't wait for light nights. That was one of the things I hated about Oz, such dark nights all year. I love the UK long light summer evenings.

Hicky

take care using that step ladder for the gazebo roof. There is some real nice stuff in Costco. Bet you enjoy your pork when it is ready. Enjoy your brekkie out with your lad and his OH.

Mum ate well tonight, she didn't want to leave her raspberries and cream so I was still feeding it to her whilst the taxi driver was wheeling her down the garden path towards the taxi.  

Busy tonight, as at last we have managed to fit in a visit to OH's family before Christmas. 
we had to postpone last time as daughter had a cold, niece had tonsilitus and floods too.
Leaving tomorrow morning, only going for 2 nights, but got carers sorted. Next 2 weeks I am going to have to cover a lot of hours with mum as carers want time off for Christmas hols, so am glad to be getting away for 2 nights, whilst I can.
See you both in a few days.

Advent day 16, and as it is far too mild for this time of year, we have a glimpse of the snow in our piccie today.

Evening both.
Mild here again as well. Misty and damp though.
I hope the mild weather continues till after Christmas, so I don't have any worries about burst pipes etc, when I'm across at my Brother's

Didn't do much except got my tax return submitted online.

Nice snow pic Mollie.
Enjoy your trip to North Wales.
Sounds like you are going to be busy with your Mum over Christmas. Hope you get plenty of family time as well.

Hi Hicky. Yes I suppose the platform will be easier to work on the gazebo from than a stepladder.
With my habit of falling off them, I shouldn't be recommending a stepladder to you anyway.

Look forward to hearing how your bacon turns out in five days.
Enjoy your brekkie out tomorrow.

Good result on The Apprentice. Really glad Vana got to the final.
I'd have liked it to be the two girls, but you can't have everything.
Find the interview episode a bit boring, but it'll be the final task next week, with all the candidates back to help.

Just to wish Hicky a very Happy Birthday for today

By the way, two tips on making Firefox faster. One is to clear the browser cache if that hasn't been cleared recently. The other which is less obvious is from Firefox Help menu select Troubleshooting Information. Then click Refresh Firefox. It restores Firefox to its default state whilst saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs. 

Yes.  to Hicky.

Another dull wet mild day here.

Got my tree and decorations put up. Have put them up exactly the same for about 12 years, apart from having to buy a new cheap set of tree lights last year.
Thought I'd lost a bit of red tinsel that goes round one of the pictures and was panicking that I'd have to buy another bit, but found it in the end.
(I'm not miserly.....honest )

 Not much on the box tonight. Suppose it'll be Alex Polizzi then Ben Fogle?
But the Ben Fogle thing is a repeat, so I might just click about.

Good evening All.

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes.

Had a nice brekkie this morning.

Got a nice grafting knife off my lad, some money off O/H.

Did a bit more work in the garden, noticed the Squirrel had run across the slate rather than dodge the fence spikes.

Haven't seen the cat on the spikes since i finished them.

Been doing more work on the Vine bed, making the growing wires more suitable.

It's sure warm for December, not that i'm complaining.

Mollie, Enjoy your visit to O/H's family, they will be pleased to see you i'm sure.

Emptybox, Will you be able to turn the water off before you go to your Brothers, a sudden lowering of the temperatures could be bad news, mind you it wouldn't show up until you have a thaw.

About the Apprentice, i wouldn't have though LS would go into business with either, i wouldn't anyway.

Glad you got your decorations up.

El Toro, Thanks for the Birthday wishes.

I couldn't see where you clear the Cache, didn't even see a help icon, am i missing something here?

I usually have about 14 tabs on Firefox and 6 tabs on MS Edge at the same time.

It's running better, looks like we had more MS updates.

Hi Hicky.

Another drizzly dull but mild day here.
At least the mild weather means I'm not burning as much heating oil as previous years.
I'll probably need to order another load early in the New Year though.

Glad you had a good Birthday, and got nice gifts.
Sounds like the fence spikes might be doing their jobs deterring the cats and squirrels.

Found a mouse under my car bonnet yesterday. Better than rats I suppose.
It was on the opposite side of the engine block to where I have put the ultra-sonic device. I guess that doesn't work too well if there are objects in the way of the sound?
Might try buying some peppermint oil or mothballs. The smell of those is supposed to put them off.

Haven't done much today apart from some dusting and hoovering. Just in case anybody pops in before Christmas (not very likely ).

Lots of pics of the CBB House have been released.
http://bigbrother.channel5.com...-2016-house-pictures

Very fancy, with all those fake shop-fronts, and what looks like a mini stage in the bedroom.

There's this 'Text Santa' thing on tonight, I suppose.

Hicky, I think the menu bar in your Firefox has been hidden. That would be why you can't see Help. If you want to see the menu bar for a short time but not always press Alt. You should then see the menu bar and Help is the last item.
To get it back on a more permanent way click the Open menu icon - that's at the far right and has 3 horizontal lines. Then click Customise which is at the bottom left of the small menu which is then shown. You then get to a full screen. Go to Show/Hide Toolbars which is at the bottom left of the full screen. Click on that and then put a tick next to the Menu Bar. The menu bar should then appear at the top. Click on the Open menu icon again to close that screen.

Instructions on clearing the Firefox browser:
https://support.mozilla.org/en...-clear-firefox-cache

Good Evening All.

Hope Mollie is enjoying her break.

Not a bad day, dry for most of the day.

O/H put the lights up on the guttering.

Did a bit more work on the Grape vine beds.

Meant to say yesterday that i have ordered a Meat/Food slicer, mainly for the Bacon when it's ready, i left the Rind on but not sure how hard it would be to slice it by hand.

The fuel oil should be pretty cheap this time anyway.

Thats strange finding a mouse when you thought you had a rat under the bonnet, don't think they mix do they? not sure i could tell the difference if they were small.

Love the new CBB house pics, thanks for that.

El Loro. Thanks for that, i have found my way round the pages, I'll see if the browser slows down again then i can try those fixes with the cache.

As they keep updating all the programs it is likely they debug it also, which is one of the reasons they do that.

Glad you got the dry weather Hicky, and were able to get on with the vine beds.

Yes, the heating oil is cheaper than it's been for years.

It's about a month since I saw signs of rats under the bonnet, so the mice probably thought it was their turn now.
The rats were much bigger than the mice.
Hopefully I can deter both types of rodents before they mess up my electrics.

The new CBB House certainly looks colourful, doesn't it?

Watching Text Santa. It's alright I suppose.

Afternoon.

Very windy today, but dry with hints of sunshine.
Very mild again. It's almost warm in the house without the heating on.
Normally at this time of year I stay in the dining room during the day, as it's the warmest room (best double glazing), but at the moment I don't have to.
Still got the heating coming on at 5pm for the evening though.

Forgot to say the other day but yes, I always turn the water off where it comes into the house, if I go away for a few days. don't usually drain the whole system though.
Usually at Christmas I leave the heating and hot water on, just in case the temperature plummets, but I'm hoping that this year I won't have to.
Think the forecast is for a wee bit colder next week, but not much so. But might be stormy.

Hope your food slicer comes in time for your cured bacon being ready to slice.

Unfortunately no Doctor Who to watch tonight, but there's a couple of good films on.

Hope Mollie is having a good time in North Wales?

Hicky, thanks
There's been a major release today by Mozilla with Firefox 43. There are 2 versions, one for 32 bit computers, but there's now one for 64 bit computers. I've made a topic on the Big Brother forum about this and you may want to have a look at it:
https://www.gagajoyjoy.com/topi...ith-64-bit-computers

Evening All.

Hope Mollie isn't too stressed out while away.

A dry day but was up early because we had 2 little ones dropped off as my lad and his O/H were aware on a company night out, they stayed at his place but this morning his step daughter brought them to mine at 7am as she was going to work, we ended up with them all day, i sorted their brekkie and that, they were no trouble.

The new CBB house looks great, not seen it like that, can't wait.

Do the rice/rats like your car because your not using it much?

The bacon slicer came today, it's got 3 blades, nice machine, didn't think it would be easy to cut the bacon by hand.

Just watching Strictly.

EL Loro, I'll look into that 64 bit Firefox, my Puter is 64bit, would have thought it would tell me if the 64 was available, maybe they are perfecting it?

Thanks for the link and i can always find that, i have read what you posted.

Very strange that Firefox has taken so long to bring out a 64bit version?
I've been on the 64bit version of Google Chrome for years. On the desktop computers anyway.

Thanks for the info El Loro.

Hi Hicky. Nice for you to have your 2 grandchildren for the day.
Glad your bacon slicer came.

Yes I think the rodents can set up camp in the car because I only use it at the weekend usually.
I don't get the same problems in the van, although I have seen droppings under the bonnet of that.
Also the van is parked close to the house, but the car further away.
I'm checking the car every day now though, so hopefully they'll get the idea that they're not welcome.

Watched The Hobbit film. Seen it before, but it's good enough that it can be watched again.

Evening Emptybox.

Not too bad a day, got some jobs done in the garden

Installed the 64bit Firefox and it seems ok at the mo, if it can run the videos without messing up and slowing down/crashing i will be able to stop the MS Edge.

O/H made a lovely roast lamb dinner.

The Final of the Apprentice at 9pm, wonder which will win.

Not long till CBB 5th of Jan, can't wait.

Strange about the rats/mice, hope they don't chew through the wires, not sure why they do that anyway, in houses they can get electrocuted but in a car it could burn the car out.

both

I'm back, had a lovely few days away,

Haven't had chance to read back yet, but will do so tomorrow.

Been busy looking after mum today, so didn't get home till late.

hope you are both well. xx

Have missed a few advent days, so will quickly post advent day 20...gosh only days to go now...

Hi Mollie and Hicky.
Horrible stormy windy day today. The rain was really lashing it down at one point.

Glad you enjoyed your break Mollie, but straight back into caring for Mum.
That's a nice snowy scene. Doubt we'll see anything like that over Christmas.

Hicky, glad it was dry enough for you to do stuff in the garden.
That roast lamb sounds nice.

I think rodents teeth continue to grow through their lives, so they've got to continually gnaw stuff to keep them down and to keep them sharp.

Last episode of the Apprentice was good. Suppose it doesn't really matter to us who wins, as it's Lord Sugar who has to deal with them from now on?
I liked sulky Vana by the end, but it was nice seeing Charleine again too.

both x

Firstly...as I was away...for Hicky....

Glad you had a good day.

That is good if El Loro has helped you sort the firefox problem out. Mine had been slowing down too, not sure if I have that 64 bit thing though, will have to ask OH. Hope you enjoy your bacon, and you are pleased with your slicer when it is all ready.

Emptybox

Many thanks for the CBB link, at least that gives us something to look forward to after the Christmas break. The designers are brilliant with that pub/theatre/Victorian theme. The lounge is certainly OTT on the decor. Can't believe how all the rodents in the area seem so attracted to your car. Sounds like the mint/mothballs are worth a go anyway. What day do you leave for your brother's? And how long will you stay? Yes as you say, the cheaper oil and milder weather is good for the heating finance. But does make you wonder if and when any real cold spell will hit?

We had a lovely couple of nights away, took us 6 hours to get back, as we had to come through Shrewsbury and Hereford with the floods in mid Wales.
OH enjoys talking his first language to some up there and we loved seeing his family.
Daughter found a cardboard grotto in The Range, that we bought for little niece. Son and OH put it together and then niece colours it all in. A simple inexpensive present that she really enjoyed hiding in, as it even had windows and a little door.
We took niece for afternoon tea with santa. Niece was so excited to see Santa, then dried up when it was her turn to speak to him.   I loved the cream cakes/sandwiches with crusts cut off for the adults.
Next day we went to the slate museum. OH met someone working there, from his same village, who knew his family and like OH and his dad, this man used to work in slate mine.
  A catch up day for me today. Not sure when it will be best to get our food shopping in, as it will be busy.

Not sure what to watch on tv tonight, now shows all changed.

Enjoyed the Apprentice, although I am not sure the candidates were of a very high calibre this year.

Have a good day both xx

and thanks to El Loro for the techy hints and link.

Thanks for your thanks

Mollie, if you are running Windows click in this Microsoft link. After the introduction there's a box which automatically checks if your computer is 32 or 64 bit version of Windows.
There's also how to check manually if needed,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/827218

El Loro posted:

Thanks for your thanks

Mollie, if you are running Windows click in this Microsoft link. After the introduction there's a box which automatically checks if your computer is 32 or 64 bit version of Windows.
There's also how to check manually if needed,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/827218

Many thanks for that El Loro.

That was easy, even for me.

Yes mine is a 64, so all I have to do now is follow your instructions like HIcky did.

Evening All.

Not too bad a day, the wind spoilt it.

Didn't do much really, cut a few small dead branches off a silver birch tree that is on a bit of land outside the garden, don't know who owns it.

Had to reload MS Edge to run the live streams as it was hopeless on Firefox.

Made a beef stew for tea, something to do, i do everything in the oven as it's cheap to run, the hobs are expensive to run as they don't have thermostats, they just stay on.

I suppose gas is a lot cheaper for heating/cooking as a KW of Electric is about 15p and a KW of gas is less than 5p.

Mollie, Glad you enjoyed your days away, also thank you for the Birthday wishes and Advent cards.

Emptybox, Yes, rodents keep chewing to sharpen their teeth like you say, that couls do serious damage to a car loom, and it's a massive job to replace, although you can mend some, depending if you can get at it.

I wouldn't have had any of those lot investing with me, can't see them making money at all (Apprentice)

I'm not enjoying this fixed posting box, i need to be able to move it up the page, they update the site and it's gone backwards, can't keep scrolling up and down the page, it's like taking 1 tile at a time up onto a roof to reroof it.

Advent day 21, and look.....he is off to visit Emptybox's car.

Evening.
Mixed day here. Mostly rain, but with glimpses of sunshine.
Sent off my last couple of Xmas cards today, to people who sent me late ones that I wasn't expecting.
Probably too late for them to get there before Friday? But it used up my last 2 Xmas stamps anyway.

Mollie, quite a detour for you to get back home. Didn't hear about flooding in Wales on the news.
Sounds like your little niece really appreciated your visit, and her present.

Supposed to be going to my Brother's on Christmas Eve afternoon, and probably coming back the day after Boxing day.
That's supposing we don't get very stormy weather, or I'm not feeling well.
(Been having quite bad symptoms the last few days)

Hi Hicky.
Which live streams are you having difficulty viewing?
Yes, I always make stews and my bolognese etc in the oven. Mind you, my cooker's all-electric anyway, so probably no price advantage.

Watched Food Unwrapped, then the thing about Gorillas on BBC2, now watching the Downton thing on ITV1+1.

P.S Thanks for the mouse Mollie. Don't think I really need any more of those little blighters though.

Evening Both.

A dry day but windy which spoilt it.

Did a bit of work in the garden, but too windy for the gazebo roof.

Finished my beef stew off, very nice, put too much pepper in tbh.

Have taken the new bacon out of the sealed bag, have washed and dried it, now it needs 24hrs in the fridge.

Thanks for the advent picture Mollie.

Emptybox, what symptoms are you having? do you mean with waterworks.

don't go if your not OK, always best to be ill at home.

The live stream is the same as video, i don't download it it just streams it, i get lots of video's from the USA, most are gardening ones but it makes no difference, they work fine on MS Edge.

Yes, using the oven does pay off.

I often see the Food Unwrapped, it's good learning.

Winter Solstice today, shortest day, it's all in a run in to summer now, yippeeeeeeeee.

both

Emptybox

sorry to hear you have been feeling unwell. Do you think you have been getting stressed about going away, and that has aggrevated your condtion again? As Hicky says, maybe it would be better for you to stay home over Christmas? Hope the rodents are keeing away from your car. And hope you feel a bit better soon.

Hicky

glad you managed to get out, but pity it was so windy. It has been very wet here yet again today. Hope the wind goes, so you get on with the gazebo roof soon. Not long now till you get to sample your own bacon.   Hooray, so glad to hear we have at last got that shortest day out of the way. Downhill to summer. (but a bit of CBB first is fine).

Went to Sainsburys for a few food treats, then looked after mum. Every time I go to her flat, there is a new pressie added from the carers, those girls are so kind.

Goodnight both xxx

Advent day 22, and snowman piccie time.

Hi Hicky.
Very wet and windy here overnight as well, and quite wet during today as well.

Really hope the bacon turns out tasty. Not may people can say they make their own bacon.

Yes it's mostly waterworks symptoms. Needing to pee often, with some discomfort inbetween. I'm sure you're familiar with that.
I seem to get these bouts of symptoms every couple of months now, and they usually only last for a few days. Think I'm doing better today, but things change day by day. Ibuprofen usually helps the discomfort, but it's a great nuisance having to run to the loo all the time.
Plus, as my Brother is going to have a house full on Christmas Day, it wouldn't be fun at all.
But fingers crossed, hopefully I'll be not too bad by Thursday.

That's great that we've got the shortest day out of the way. Always more cheerful as the nights get longer.

Ah right, it's gardening videos and similar. I thought you might be watching live streams of some reality show that you hadn't told us about.

Treated myself to watching a DVD in the afternoon. Felt almost decadent.
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. Must have had it sitting here for nearly a year, waiting to be watched.

This evening watching CH4. 'How the rich live longer', 'Supervet' now 'That's so last century'.

Hi Mollie.
Glad you could get some food treats from Sainsburys.
I bought some smoked salmon on Sunday, just in case I had to stay home, and could at least have a treat on the day.
Otherwise I'll just have it for my lunch when I get back.

Yes, stress might have played a part in bringing on symptoms, but the last time I had a bad bout was in October, and before that it was in August. So it does seem to be every couple of months at the moment.

Hicky, there is mention on the Social Strata site that they may change the posting box to be floating which would suit you. It's not happening yet but it is under serious consideration.

On a computer if you have a wide screen monitor it is possible to have two screens open at the same time each with half the screen. Then you could have the posting box visible on one screen and on the other scroll around the forum page. Not ideal and no good for tablets/phones as screen size would be too small.