Hi both.
Nice sunny day here, although I didn't venture out.
Mostly just watched telly, and one of the DVDs I got for Xmas (Star Wars: The Last Jedi). Watched Doctor Who on the telly, and also the film 'The Revenant'.

Back still bad. Funny, it was at it's worst on Friday, then was considerably better on Saturday, but has got worse again since then. At least i know it can get better I suppose.

Hicky. Thanks for the New Brighton info. I thought it must have been named after Brighton.
The was good of your OH exercising on New Year's Day. Nice that you got a lie-in till 11.30am anyway.
The back pain seems to move from one side to the other. It started on the left side, but it's now mostly the right side that is sore.. It's a very tight feeling across the lower back, just above the pelvis. But if I sit in the right position it's OK.

 Mollie. I might have to get one of those Tens machines if it doesn't ease off soon.
It was quite funny for a couple of days, having to move about like an old man, but it's getting tedious now. Just a good thing that I don't have to work at the moment.
I think I had a bad back around this time last year for a few days, but can't remember it lasting as long as this.

Don't think my local Hospital does a walk in physio thing? I looked up the hospital and "physiotherapy", and it said that, although you didn't need to be referred by a GP, you did need to book an appointment first.

A meal out at the pub sounds good. A good way to bring in the New Year.
I bet you were watching the Vienna concert on BBC2 today?

Evening Emptybox.

0c to start here but 5c later.

O/h's car screen iced up this morning when she went to the Physio, she has been signed off, sees the specialist or surgeon Tomorrow.

went to the eye clinic, o/h took me in the car, had some tests, eyes ok at the minute no injections needed this month, they will check again next month.

Had a bacon and egg on toast for brekkie, just got Chicken Wings in the oven for tea, with a bread roll.

Going to Sainsbury's Friday for a few bits and brekkie, yummy, although i have loads of food in, it is just noce to get out.

I don't blame you staying in if you have no good reason to go out.

That back pain should be decipherable if it goes from one side then to another side, surely that should give more clues to what is causing it, will look into it.

I watched a program about Ken Dodd the other day, he must be the only one who can tell non stop jokes off the cuff for hours upon hours, sometimes for 4 hours, I was in stitches and only heard 5 minutes, i remember seeing him at a garage opening by where i was working in Speke Liverpool, he was a scream.

both xxx

Emptybox

sorry your back is still bothering you. Yes I do remember your back bothering you about a year ago.And I think you had symptoms problems too with your usual problem, after visiting your brother. Your back is obviously not connected to work right now, as you finsihed some time ago. So could it be connected to the visit to your brother's? eg the drive? the bed? a long walk in different shoes to what you normally wear for walk? Kidneys complaining after not drinking as much water as normal? (but partaking in a little Christmas alchohol?).  Hope it does settle, but it sounds muscular if it eases when sitting in a certain position. Try a hot water bottle, and as you have had it a few times, it sounds like it would be worth investing in the £12.29 to give the TENS a go?

Good idea to stay in today, especially as it has gone so chilly.

Looks like you could make an appointment at the physio dept if it doesn't ease as they should be able to work out about the back problem. If not, they would soon tell you to see the doc.

Did you enjoy the Dr Who episode, or not find it as good as the other ones?

Hicky

glad to hear the eye visit went well. Its good your OH was able to drive you there.

Hope her visit to the specialist tomorrow goes ok.

What was the toaster you bought some time ago? And are you stil pleased with it, as ours is playing up and need a replacement.

That is interesting you saw Ken Dodd, he was indeed a brilliant comedian.

It was frosty here too this morning. But carried on to be a lovely sunny day, so got lots of washing pegged out to dry.

Then went to asda food shopping, quite busy there today.

Did anyone watch Breaking Dad with Bradley Walsh and son? I thought it really good.

Watching Millionaire now.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening.
Quite a nice day here again. Didn't see any frost, and there was some sunshine.
Went into town and bought some clothes that were on sale.
A couple of fleecy zip neck tops, a pair of Chino trousers and a new woolly hat.

My back felt a lot better today. I can still feel it, but it's gone back to what it was like on Saturday. Keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't go back to feeling bad tomorrow.
I had to take an Ibuprofen this morning for my peeing symptoms, so that might have helped the back as well? wouldn't want to have to take that every day though.

Hicky. Pity your OH had to scrape the screen this morning.
When you say she's been signed off, do you mean that she's still signed off work, or that she doesn't have to see the Physio again?
Anyway hope her appointment tomorrow goes well.
That's good that you didn't need an injection at the eye clinic.
Yes Ken Dodd was a legend.

Mollie. Not sure about the cause of the back pain? If it was purely muscular I would have thought it would stay on the one side and not move across. But I don't think it's anything to do with internal organs. My kidneys seem to be working fine, and it's too low down for gall bladder.
Might be caused by the long car journey I suppose, as you are sitting in the one position for a long period. Or I might simply have twisted something getting out of the van.

That's good that you got some washing dry outside. Unusual for this time of year. I suppose people were replenishing their supplies at Asda, after having them depleted over the festive season.

Yes I really enjoyed the Doctor Who episode. The Dalek was great.
Didn't see that Bradley Walsh thing. Didn't even know it was on.

I've been watching Millionaire as well. It's only really good when they get beyond the easy questions at the beginning, so I enjoyed last night when the woman got up to £125,000.

Evening Both.

4c here today max, sunny, wind of 5.

Stayed in, had soft boiled eggs for brekkie with toast.

I was going to do a lamb chop roast dinner but it has been delayed till tomorrow as o/h has to go see the consultant at 6.30pm.

I had a pack of crab white meat but when it is on bread it loses its interest/taste.

Will be going to Sainsbury's in the morning for a few bits.

Mollie, The Toaster i got was the Dualit Classic 4 round, they male smaller and bigger as well, the elements don't glow, they stay dull, these toasters don't pop up, you set a timer when it runs out it switches off, you soon get used to it, you can replace the elements and the timer if it ever goes, I use the Dualit Classic Kettle as well, you can replace the element if it goes, i bought them from Amazon but i'll post the company site so you can see what they make, i got the 4 slice but there is a switch to use 4 or 2 slices.

https://www.dualit.com/products/classic-toasters

No, didn't watch breaking bad, it's not reality is it?

Emptybox, Thats good getting some new clothes, all set for the winter now.

I wonder if the back pain is related to the waterworks? can't think what it could be.

When i said she was signed off, i meant from the Physio program, she was signed off from work for 3 months which is the standard recovery time to resume working.

Hi Hicky.
Not bad day here. Quite cold, but didn't see any frost to speak of. Rather dull skies.
Didn't go out, except to take my bin along to the end of the road.

Back not bad again today. Fingers crossed I've turned a corner with it, so to speak.
I suppose it could have something to do with my Prostate problem, though not sure what.
The pills I'm on say back pain is a possible side effect. But i used to be prone to occasional back pain long before I got this condition or started on these pills, so hard to say if they are having any effect.

That looks like a nice toaster. Looks a bit like the professional ones we used to have in the Hotel, where you have to pop the toast up yourself.
You'd want to be able to repair it, at that price mind.
That's an unusual time for a Consultant's appointment? Hope your OH got on OK.

Another 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire' on tonight.

both

Emptybox

Phheww thank goodness your back is on the mend again. Now that is an interesting thought, that it could be connected to the usual problem, as you did suffer with that last time you went to your brother's and did wonder if it was due to overindulgence there and the long drive. But let's hope it disappears completely soon.

Glad you enjoyed Dr Who again. I wonder is it 3 watches to come, or just 2 of this episode?

Hicky

gosh your OH has done real well to be signed off the physio already. I bet that is the quickest sign off of a knee replacement they have ever had!

Hope your OH gets on ok with the consultant.

Thank you for the toaster link, they do look like the best make all round. Did you see this? ...They have an interesting history too.

https://www.dualit.com/our-story

Do you have any of their other products? I remember you did buy some of their toaster accessories.

Today I actually pushed myself to go to the aqua fit, there was only about 10 people there instead of the usual 30! Thought I had better go as I have the physio tomorrow and she is bound to ask how I am getting on with my exercise programe. And I have a feeling going to Christmas meal with the aqua fit class and stutffing my face does not count!

Washing didn't completely dry on the line today, but half dried so it won't take long to dry indoors now.

Very cold here today, but at least it was dry.

Daughter looking after neighbour's dog again, so is sleeping at their house with doggie, then we share the dog's care in the day.

Not much of interest on tv tonight, but Watched Back In Time tonight, quite interesting, about schools in Victorina times.

But I am looking forward to The Voice and Dancing on Ice this weekend.

Goodnight both. xxx

Hi Mollie.
Yes, I'm hopeful that the back problem is on the way out now.
I deliberately didn't over indulge over Xmas this time, so only had a couple of drinks each night. But even that is much more than I'm used to nowadays.

Pity you couldn't get your washing dry. But only to be expected at this time.
That was very disciplined of you going to Aqua Fit. Hope you get on well at the Physio tomorrow.

There's more than a year till the next series of Doctor Who, so I might even give this episode 4 watches before then?
Didn't watch that Back in Time thing. I watched Celebrity Mastermind, then some of the cruise thing before Millionaire.

Evening Both.

5c today, sunny intervals, winds of 6.

Went to Sainsbury's for Brekkie and got a few bits and pieces, got some fresh tuna and Sea Bream and some nice sized prawns.

For tea i cooked some lamb chops, steamed some sliced cabbage, mash with nice gravy.

O/H saw the consultant, all good, she next sees him in 10 months.

I have dropped the Goats milk as i didn't find any changes that helped any, i was watching on tv the problem with the Lactose problem, it seems if you have a swapped gene then you could be Lactose intolerant, but it seems that it is mainly in countries abroad and not in Europe that the population has this altered gene, some countries are 95% intolerant.

Mollie, That is interesting about the Dualit toast etc, i have the sandwich cages as well, these, i have 2, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duali...dualit+sandwich+cage

I use the cage for thin bread, crumpets or anything small, to make toasties you need medium bread, i also have the plate warmer cage but haven't used it yet as i just put a plate on top of the toaster to warm.

Good on you going to the aqua Fit, it's for the best, Christmas does make it easy to fall behind in fitness.

Emptybox, Yes, hard to understand your back pain and if there's any relation to the prostrate problem.

I think you should keep a log of what happens when, so you have something to show a doc or consultant, it all helps to locate of decipher what is going on, record date and time and what discomfort or pain, and how long it stays and if you took any tablets.

There are very few, if any toasters that you can replace the elements yourself so i thought it ideal, there are 2 types of elements though, an end one and a non end which of course means single or double sided, and with the kettle you can replace that element as well, which is ideal for me as i love mending things.

With the price of the Dualit kettle i took into consideration that previously i have had loads of kettles, which in itself is expensive.

A bit like my new frying pans, if the guarantee for 25 years lives up to what it says then it will save me replacing them every few years like i did in the past, i had lost faith in non stick but so far i am very pleased with the new ones.

both xxx

Emptybox

glad to hear the back problem is nearly gone now. As Hicky says, it might be worth making notes when you get a back problem, or your usual problem, along with whether you had been working or doing anything else different, eg more driving, or if it very hot.

As you have such a long gap, it does not surprise me that you may give Dr Who 4 watches this time.

Hicky

that is great that the consultant said all was good with your OH.

Always a nice treat to go out for brekkie. I have noticed the Sainsburys brekkie does look nice, I quite fancy the halloumi one.

I am still using goats milk as I do enjoy it in my coffee, interesting what you say about the lactose thing. I think I too heard that very few in UK actually do have this. I am sticking with goats milk not only because I like it, but I think they inject and overfarm cows so much that the goats stuff might be better. I do love goats cheese too though (especially on pizza) as it has a strong taste.

Thanks for the link to the toaster cages, they look very usefull.

I think we are best to go for the one that takes 4 slices at a time.

Looking forward to watching Jane Mcdonald, I enjoy her cruise shows.

Really very cold here today, but nice and dry and bright.

Saw physio and she signed me off, based on the agreement I take up the GP exercise referal scheme, which I now have the paperwork for. So I have to build up the incentive to go for that soon. She said to keep mobile, but not to overdo it though, to rest if joints swell or ache at the end of the day.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
Not too bad day here. I didn't go out, but printed out an invoice, did my December accounts and paid my tax bill online (just a small one).

Back a bit sore again today, but not too bad. I've been using a walking stick in the house when it's been bad. It just takes the strain off a bit when I'm walking around. Even though it's come a bit sore again, it feels quite stable. Previously I've been getting a jolt of pain when I bend down wrong or knock my foot on something. But I haven't had that today.

Hicky. That's nice that you got brekkie at Sainsburys.
Pleased that your OH's consultant visit went well.
Keeping a log about my back condition sounds like a good idea, but I'm not really a log keeping type of person, so I doubt that I will TBH.

Humans were almost all originally Lactose intolerant. That means that although they could drink milk in infancy, they lost the ability as they grew up. Only a small percentage retained the enzymes that could break down Lactose into adulthood.

But around the time that farming started a few thousand years ago, it became advantageous to be able to drink the milk of their cattle and sheep etc in times of hardship, so the trait of Lactose tolerance began to spread and become dominant in those areas that adopted farming.
But in areas where farming wasn't adopted, or only adopted more recently, Lactose tolerance didn't confer any advantage, so remained at a low percentage of the population. Like in parts of Africa and Asia and among Native Americans and Australian Aborigines etc.

However even in farming areas like Europe there are always a small percentage of people who are Lactose intolerant.

Mollie. I think you are getting it colder than me at the moment. I saw on the forecast that you are supposed to get a frost tomorrow, but it'll be milder up here.
That's good that you are signed off from the Physio too.
Yes keeping mobile and not overdoing it seems to be the key. That is the advice I can find online about my back pain as well.

Watched celebrity 5 Go Camping on CH5 then Millionaire, then I watched the Doctor Who episode for the second time.

Evening Both.

Not too bad today, didn't go out but it was 8c cloudy and winds of about 9.

I had boiled black pud with bacon and toast, nice.

It was a fish tea today and tomorrow, i did the tuna with a baked spud, tomorrow i will have the whole sea bream as i can't freeze it.

Have got some fruit, Strawberries, Nectarines and a mango, not very tasty though.

The darts are on tonight to fill in any dead gaps in the tv.

The Voice at 8pm tonight.

Mollie, If 4 slices is the max you do at once then thats fine, but remember, if you use the 2 slice setting to make 2 rounds then use the 2 slots again while hot it will burn if left on the same setting and not watched, i usually turn the setting to defrost first before i put the bread in so the toaster is warmed up.

I enjoyed watching Jane on the cruise, with it being in Oz really, o/h watched it as well.

Got another video and some pictures from my lad, the little one is coming on so well, they were on a ferry thingy and it looked like the little one enjoyed it, his o/h goes back to work Monday and she wants to find out when she can take holiday and for how long, that would most probably control our visit.

Thats good getting yourself signed off, you can sort your own physio out now, yes, just don't overdo it.

Emptybox, Your back pain is very confusing, wonder what it is and how you got it in the first place.

Unlike you, i love keeping logs etc, i write every thing down.

It's strange about the Lactose Tolerance, with certain countries having cows as pets and not eating them probably played a part in them being Lactose Intolerant, and of course with people moving countries the gene pools got all mixed up, you could have 1 mutant gene from 1 parent or 2 from both.

both xxx

this site has really annoyed me tonight, taken ages to get here and in the end IT son had to help, as not only did I have to accept their privacy thing (yet again!), then it asked me to sign in again, but when I tried it said I couldn't because I had to have some cookie thing. Never had that before, so son has had to sor it.

Emptybox

2 watches of Dr Who already. Plenty of time till 2020 to get quite a few more views in by then.

Hope the back has eased. I know you say you are not much good at a journal, but by telling us here each day if you have a problem, and why you think you have it, you are keeping a journal of a sort. You could just copy and paste a page at a time of your entries here to Word with dates if you are discussing a back (or symptom problem.  Then you have it saved to look back on .But you would have to remember to tell us when you do feel off. (which we always tend to do with each other anyway).

Interesting what you say about lactose intolerance in different areas. So it does sounds like it is a very small amount of people in this country who'd actually have it then.

Hicky

I wonder if the reason the fruit was tasteless is because it is out of season? Daughter and I did the smell taste for the strawberries and they failed, so we now know tasty strawberry season is well and truly over. When we checked they were from Egypt, didn't look tasty as well as not smell tasty, so we got raspberries instead.

That is usefull info about the toaster, wil have to remember that thanks.

How nice you got the see the baby on the ferry. Let's hope his mum can sort her leave out and you sort out when you are going now. Any news of whether or when they are moving interstate yet?

Wow at the Voice tonight, I thought it really was brilliant. Tom Jones and Lonny Donnegan;s son singing and Tom's story about the song.  And the last singer with Jennifer. So great to have judges who are wonderful singers, and we actually got to hear them sing with the contestants like that.

Quite cold here again, yes Emptybox, we have been having some real cold days and nights recently. But at least no rain, which is good for a change.

Me and OH went out for brekkie at the garden centre. We love their brown seeded fried bread there.

Then me, OH and son went to see the play Matilda, it was very good, Daughter was the one who really wanted to go but she had a cold, so OH had to have her ticket. It was about 18 months ago she suggested we get these tickets, so I knew she would be dissapointed. But although it was a sell out, when I went online I found 2 seats together that must of been last minute cancellations for next week, so I got them. So at least she gets to see it. It will go back to London after  next week so it  would of cost us a lot more to go and see it there.

Watching Millionaire, wish they would get up to the big money a bit quicker though.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening.
Not bad day here. Didn't do an awful lot, but took down all my Xmas decorations and tree this afternoon.
Typing this has reminded me that I've still got all my cards up, but I'll take those down tomorrow.

Hicky. Fish teas two days in a row sounds good.
That was nice to get more videos and pics of your Aussie Grandchild.

Yes, the Lactose intolerance thing will be a bit mixed up nowadays with people moving around the world.
I think only 5 % of people in Northern Europe (presumably including the UK) are Lactose intolerant, whereas about 65% of the wider World's population is.
It's probably one of the most recent example of human evolution, happening within the last 5,000 years.

Mollie. Pity you had so much trouble getting into the site.
That's good your family got to enjoy the Matilda play, but a real shame your daughter had to miss out because of her cold. Lucky you could get tickets for her for next week. Hope she'll be feeling up to it by then.

 This year there'll be the last ever series of Game of Thrones, so I think I'll be occupied by that, and probably won't give Doctor Who much thought till it comes back next year.
I'll keep all the episodes on my PVR for now anyway, in case I want to watch them again.

For the record my back was a bit sore today, but i don't think that would be very useful as a record to look back on.
Yes it was great to see Tom and Lonnie Donegan's son singing together on The Voice.
Going off the series a bit though. The interaction between the judges annoys me, especially Olly Murs' nonsense.
Also I thought the audience were making too much noise during the performances, so you could hardly hear if the acts were any good.

Evening Both.

Just had to sign in again also.

9c today, wind 5.

Didn't go out, stayed in bed till 11.30am, nice.

Then had scrambled egg on toast.

Will be having fish for tea as can't leave it uncooked for too long.

Had a delivery, it was some wipes for my glasses with cloths and a ball of string i want for the kitchen, to wrap meat, got a belly pork and going to layer it with stuffing then roll it and tie with the string, have been practicing the butchers knot, can do it perfect now.

Mollie, Yes, my strawberries were from Egypt also, dreadful, tasteless, hard and hot grown outside.

The Voice was great, loved the duette's, very good last night, looking forward to DOI at 6pm also.

Good to see you all getting out for brekkie and shows, why not, and pity daughter not well again.

I saw a couple on millionaire but it's just too hard, they obviously can't afford you to wind, don;t wonder, most shows have trouble paying out £10,000.

Emptybox, Yes, the problem with fish, doesn't last long unless frozen.

It's amazing how much the babies change in such a short time, so nice to see.

Our cards have been put away a while now, glad we don't have a tree to put away.

both

And because today is Three Kings day, an excuse to post a piccie again... so,

I usually take them down on 1st Jan, that way I don't forget when it is 12th night time. (and I certainly don't want the bad luck it could bring for leaving them up!).

nice, after all those years of getting up so early, that now you are retired you can  treat yourself to a lie in when you feel ike it.

Not a bad day today, misty but dry. Son is back at Uni tomorrow and had to do some sound recordings on the beach (he is hoping to work as a sound engineer after Uni). OH helped him by digging sand and dropping stones, and other son held the equipment, whilst I stood and watched. But I did manage to join them for chips, mayo and ketchup whilst sitting on the seafront later. 

Great to have such  great tv at weekends now, with The Voice last night and now Dancing on Ice.

Hi both.
Dull and mild today. Up to 7c when I went to Lidl this afternoon.
Back not too bad today, but I was still grateful for the support of the shopping trolley.

Hicky. That was good that your deliveries came.
Pity Millionaire has finished now. I love that show.

Mollie. I think I asked about 3 Kings Day last year, so i won't bother asking again. (I'll google)  
That was good of the whole family (minus sick daughter) helping your son with his uni project.
I'm sure you helped consume the chips and mayo afterwards.

I haven't decided on how to watch Game of Thrones yet. I usually buy the series on Amazon and watch it on my Fire Stick, but not sure if it'll be available at the same time as it's broadcast. I don't want to wait either.
The other way I was thinking of was to buy a Now TV stick with something like a 2 month Sky Entertainment package, which would have the Sky Atlantic channel.
I see Argos are doing them for only £15. But you'd have to buy it just before the series aired, to make sure you got all 6 episodes.
https://www.argos.co.uk/NowTV

Watched Dancing on Ice, really just to see Saara. She was good, but wasn't all that confident I thought.
James Jordan was by far the best..

Evening Both.

11c today, light rain, winds of 21 though.

stayed in, was expecting re-delivery of the travel cases, got an email that tracked it but said parcel had been delivered, wrong, rang the UPD+S company and told them, after a few phone calls it seems the driver had delivered to the wrong road, wrong name and got a signature from someone, they said they would ring me when it had been picked up but no call yet, the delivery time had been 13.44.

We had sausages and tinned toms for brekkie and for tea we had Ribeye steak with onions and baked spuds.

Got my next eye appointment, 1st Feb.

 Mollie, 3 Kings day, thats a strange day. thanks for the picture.

Yes, i can notice the difference in the little one in each video, amazing how they look around and move.

Thats interesting about your lad wanting to go into sound engineering, i watched a program about how they make sounds for films etc, very interesting.

I don't blame you for joining them for Chips on the sea front, why not.

Yes, i also enjoyed DOI, just what we need when not much on. 

Emptybox, Glad your back wasn't too bad, those trolleys certainly help.

I was rather shocked when James got that score from Jason, if he had seen the tweets about him after he gave the first skater 3 when the other gave 5,5 and 6.0 and 6.0, i even posted on the twitter with the hashtag #doi which goes to the site.

both xxx

Emptybox

hope the back has continued to improve today.

I know just what you mean about being grateful for having a supermarket trolley to use for support. I do that all the time, but at least I don't need my stick when I can use a trolley.

thanks for the Argos link, looks like a good method to watch Game of Thrones without the delay.

I found more out about 3 Kings day. (12th Night). Someone told me it was Russian Christmas Day today. And they were right....see here..

https://www.euronews.com/2019/...ans-in-st-petersburg

So wishing you both .....

"Schastlivogo Rozhdestva!"

Hopefully that translates as Merry Christmas in Russian ....And with that Christmas Russian doll, is our final Christmas photo of the season until Dec 1st 2019. (unless I can find another excuse to post another one!).

Hicky

how annoying your parcel was delivered to the wrong adress. Hope it gets sorted out now.

I missed that programme about sound engineers for films, that is what son was working on. He wants to work in it for film/gaming industry, and he can do some composing too if needed. He has done (and is still doing) quite a lot of studying yet though. Can your remember what channel you saw the programme?

Yes Jason's scoring was odd when he only gave a 3, but then an 8 to James later. Looks like James has the poise and strength needed for ice skating from his land dancing, and it has paid off , even when converted to ice. 

Dull, damp, drizzly and mild today.

Cooked family roast dinner, did paperwork for accountant and hung some washing on the airers. And looked after neighbour's dog for a short while whilst daughter had to go out.

I am watching Manhunrt with Martin Clunes, very interesting, but unsettling as it is a true story.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening.

Very wet to start with here, but dried up later.

Went into town to get my prescription and do some banking.

Tried to put a couple of cheques in through the machine, but it just swallowed one and spat the other out. One of the cashiers had to go into the back of the machine to retrieve it. Then I just had to put them in over the counter as usual.

She said they'd been having trouble with the machine and had called an engineer out. But they were still letting customers use it.

Hicky. That's bad news about your delivery going to the wrong address. You seem to get a lot of that.

Mollie. You seem to be trying to extend Christmas there.

I think it's just a coincidence that Epiphany is on the 6th Jan and the Orthodox Xmas Day is on the 7th? Might be wrong.

Well done getting your paperwork done.

Yes I've been watching Manhunt as well. Very good.

Evening Both.

Weather not too bad today, 9c sunny intervals and winds of 17 dropping to 8.

Had a bacon sandwich for brekkie.

Did a machine of washing yesterday, it's dry now and put away, dried it indoors though as no heat in sun.

Made a Lamb Chop roast dinner, o/h does enjoy those.

The cases arrived today, i had spoken to the UPS company last night when she didn't ring me back, she said she was sorry she had been busy but they had picked up the package again and will deliver today, when the driver came i asked him what had happened, he said the loader at the depot has 5 lorries for this area standing with the doors open, so they all look the same, but each has an area code to deliver, there is no marking on the wagons they all look the same, the loader looks at the first part of the postcode then throws the parcel into the correct wagon, he had thrown it into the wrong wagon, the driver looked at the first part of the address and on his round, which he does every day there is only one road that starts like that so he took it there, he hadn't noticed the postcode was wrong because every parcel in his van has the same postcode on it so they don't need to look, he said they have 50 vans on the road, but only 5 cover thie area each delivering a different postcode area, at least i go to the bottom of the problem, all because it ended up on the wrong wagon, it would never have come to me because the driver who had it was delivering to Moreton and it's a different postcode.

Mollie, Thank you for the Russian Christmas doll picture, i assume theres another doll inside.

No idea where i saw the sound effects, but i'll show a few videos to watch,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elcOxmCBr3U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLLbTTmje-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_tqB4IZvMk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZbCY-PrH5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDy5j0c6TrU

I could go on, Yes James will do well, not sure if the public will get behind him though.

Emptybox, You would think the bank they would turn off the machine if it can fail, crazy.

There must be loads of items miss delivered every day, similar to luggage going astray from flights when you change planes.

I'm at the Dentist tomorrow, he was going to tidy up the top front teeth, they have been messed up since i was pretty young and although they have been mended many times the mend always comes off, it is no good trying to add back the tooth area that is missing so i'm going to get him to take off the area of tooth that is sticking out, same on both teeth, if they had better ways of mending them that would be great but the glue they use just isn't up to the job, you would think we would be more advanced in 2019 wouldn't you.

both xxx

Emptybox

Sorry you had trouble with the cheque machine. I hate those damn machine things they are trying to get us to use instead of humans. Seems they rarely work properly, and you can't even have a chat with them about the weather! Give me the counter service any time.

Hicky

thank goodness the cases arrived. What a mix up that ended being.

Thank you so much for going to the trouble of looking for all of those videos for me, I will enjoy looking at each of them.

Good luck at the dentist tomorrow, hope he can sort out what you need doing ok. Yes indeed you would think by now they would have an excellent glue!

Cold here today, son struggling at Uni first thing in the mornings, as he said he had coughing fit in class today. I told him to apologise and just leave the room for a drink if it happens again. It improved a bit after that in the afternoon. But this cold has left him very tired. So hard this time of year to shake colds off. And it has gone very cold here today , minus 5 tonight expected.

With extreme cold in Canada and the states recently , and now in Europe too, it is now becoming increasingly obvious that we are in that Grand solar minimum and this global warming is a cover up by the powers that be. We are powerless to change the sunspots. After I read some reports about Grand solar minimum last year, I have believed we are entering this.

Gosh Manhunt was excellent, heatbreaking at the end seeing the photos of those poor gilrs who were murdered by that monster. Thank goodness nothing would stand in the way of Inspector Sutton in nailing him for these awful crimes.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi both.
Lovely day here. A bit frosty to start off with, but turned into a sunny day.
Did a bit of tidying up outside.

I was waiting in for an Ebay parcel but it didn't arrive. I don't think the seller has even sent it. I'll have to get on to them. Only a very low value item, but annoying. The listing said it would arrive by last Saturday.

I checked online, and those cheques have gone into my account, which is a relief. I should think I'll be more wary of the automated machine in the future. I do like it because it gives you a detailed receipt, whereas the tellers don't even stamp your paying-in book anymore. And I quite often have to ask them for even a squigly signature.

Hicky. Glad you got your cases in the end, but it sounds like a really stupid system that delivery company have. I'm surprised they were honest with you about their shoddy methods and didn't fob you off with some flannel.

Glad your OH liked your roast dinner.
Sorry to hear about your teeth problem. Pity there's not much they can do about them.

That reminds me, I've got a load in the washing machine, so i must remember to put it on overnight (for the cheaper electricity tarrif). It's been sitting in the machine for a couple of days, but i keep forgetting to set it going.

Mollie. Pity your son is struggling with a cold. Never nice.
The solar minimum might make it a bit cold for a while, but doubt if it'll have any effect on long term global warming.
I agree that it isn't as cut and dried as some would have us believe, but don't think it's a conspiracy as such. there's too much evidence of it. What with ice sheets breaking up in the Antarctic etc.

Yes, I really enjoyed Manhunt too. Pity it didn't go on for longer.

Evening Both.

An interesting day here, cool at 6c sunny with light winds of 6.

Didn't have brekkie with going to Dentist, he talked through the options, he said he could remake the teeth, i said if you use the same glue as the others then the outcome will be the same, he said well i could grind them smooth and even them out, i opted for that, when he did that, i was very pleased, he said because it was so quick he could now look at the gum disease measures, he said the teeth need deep cleaning below the gum and it might be less painful if he deadened the gums first, i said, try it and see how it goes, anyway it wasn't so bad so he did all the teeth and i don't have to go back next week as it's all finished, he said my gums are in good condition, not sure what bad condition is mind.

Then we decided to go somewhere to eat, it was just before midday by this time, while i was in the dentists o/h went for a 2 mile walk, wow, on considering which of the many places to eat we were going to get fish and chips from Parkgate but as we passed the closed sign was still up so we went to the end of the prom to the Old Quay and had a Carvery as they serve it every day of the week from 12 noon, we were first in the queue, yummy.

Rang the gardener but had to leave a message.

Mollie, It's strange how a few showers or cold spots cause such a problem, imagine what has happened weatherwise over the last few million years and we complain, cities buried under ash, the ice age, just a pity the countries don't prepare for bad weather.

Thats bad news for your lad having a coughing fit, not sure what the answer to that is, i always wonder why people say, when you are coughing, have a drink of water, you cough because of something going down to the lungs, a drink goes down to your stomach, please explain.

Emptybox, Don't Ebay tell you when an item is dispatched, not good staying in for a parcel if it hasn't been sent.

I found out how the UPS system works from the driver, he said the feller throwing the parcels into the vans have the same 5 vans every day in the same order, but as we know human error accounts for about 95% of all errors and accidents, strange that, i wondered why everything is going over to automation, i blame humans, if we didn't have tea breaks, time off, worked 24 hrs a day, and don;t get paid then we could keep humans, maybe, and i found out, robots don't have a union so that same them money.

And i wrote programs that replaced humans, my programs usually had a few bugs but once spotted and corrected worked faultlessly for many years, i bet many of my programs are still working in various parts of the country.

Never been so happy about a visit to the dentist, success, i have a teeny filling 2mm diameter in a tooth at the side, hardly noticeable, i asked him how old he that that was, he said 60 year, i said i got it in 1961, 58 years ago, he wasn't far off was he.

Yes, washing machine do a much better job if you switch them on, but it's important to take the stuff out as soon as it's finished or it will crease dreadful, thats what o/h tells me anyway.

Hi Hicky.
No frost this morning, and a reasonably nice sunny day.
Ordered some heating oil. It should come in the next few days.
I rembered to set the washing machine going last night, so now the things are drying on a frame in the back kitchen.

Didn't get the Ebay item in the post today, so have now started a 'request' with Ebay. The seller has 10 days to get the item to me or Ebay will refund me.
It's the seller that has to click the box to say they've dispatched the item, but this one didn't do it. Mind you, quite often they don't tick the box and the item still comes.

That's good that the dentist was able to improve your teeth quickly. The gum cleaning doesn't sound pleasant though. Don't know if I'd fancy that without numbing.
At least you don't have to go back for a while.
That's good going for a filling, lasting you that amount of time. Nearly as old as me.
I think most of mine have been replaced over the years.

Well automated systems are OK until they break down, as I found out with the bank machine.
That's a good testament to you, that your programs are still working round the country.

Think I'll probably watch Kirstie and Phil at 8pm and then that Cleaning Up thing with Sheridan Smith at 9pm.

both

Emptybox

glad you remebered to sort that washing out in the end, and good job your cheques have gone into the account.

As Hicky's OH says, if washed washing isn't taken out, it does get creased, and on occasions I have forgotten and left it in the machine overnight, I have had to wash it again, as it can start to smell musty. But as you hadn't actually washed it, none of that mattered as you eventually remembered to turn it on and take it out to dry.

Seems silly how that ebay seller has messed you around and very annoying for you having to now try and get your money back.

Hicky

that's good the dentist visit helped sort your problem out so well.

And nice you managed to fit a carvary in after.

Your programs must of been good if they are still doing so well all over the place.

Gosh can't believe your OH had a knee replacement for recently as she waked 2 miles!

When my son was young and saw a doc with bad cough and sore throat doc  explained why extra water was essential. He said the phlegm just gets thicker and thicker and more irritating and blocks noses/throats more if we don't have enough fluid to make it looser.

I went to aqua fit today, didn't feel like it, as it was so cold today and it starts at 9am, but was glad I did.

Luckily son didn' t have a coughing fit in Uni today and feels a bit better now, but when I offerred him a carvery out, he said he did not feel up to it yet. (unusual for him). Luckily my money off voucher for Toby lasts for a couple of weeks yet.

Daughter now feels worse as she has so much gunge in her throat, she has lost her voice. So she stayed in neighbour's house all day today looking after neighbour's doggie.

Watched Breaking Dad again, such a good show. That Route 66 looks dead boring, so flat and just sand. I wouldnt like it in temperatures of 50c! I think Bradley is brilliant in this show.

I too am watching sheridan Smith now. HOpe it is good, but she is a good actress, and versatile too. She was great in lead part of Funny Girl when we saw her at the theatre.

Have you tried freekeh Hicky? They were testing healthy food on This Morning and said how tasty this was.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi Mollie. That was good of you, getting out to Aqua Fit even though it was very cold.

Pleased your son is feeling a bit better, but a pity your daughter isn't. Does that mean she may miss out on seeing Matilda again?

I thought the Sheridan Smith thing was quite good.

I'll probably watch the Bradley Walsh thing when it's repeated. I saw last week's one that way.

Evening Both.

Just had a round of toast for brekkie as gardener rang and said he could come round, o/h was out taking her mum shopping, old routines are back.

He is marvelous, he moved the Olive tree and the apple tree, spaced the plum trees out, weeded everywhere, emptied the compost area into the raised beds.

My Vivaldi seed potatoes came today, so got to sort them out.

For tea we are having Spring Rolls, home made and a Box of Crevettes i got for over Christmas, still got loads to eat though.

Mollie, Very pleased with the work he did on my teeth, they look the best they have been for many years.

I'm a bit confused with the cough and the water, i suppose it depends on what is making you cough, i assumed that it was in the airway where the tickle was and the water just goes into your tummy.

Good on you going to aqua again, and glad lad didn't have another coughing episode.

If daughter doesn't get better soon she might need some antibiotics, she could have an infection.

Emptybox, Hope your heating oil isn't too expensive this time.

I wonder what happened with the ebay thing, strange.

I wanted to try the gum cleaning first to see how painful it would be, but i could stand it so i let him carry on, freezing all the gums is a pain, and it last for so long after, thats a pain as well, the biggest problem is the amount of water and suction they need, good job done though.

Yes, not sure what happened with the cheque reader, why it failed, i would have thought it was because it could read or understand something on the paper, because a cheque doesn't have a chip to be read or a barcode telling the machine was is on it then i suppose the failure rate could be quite high, thats just a mis communication problem, usually most failures are mechanical.

Hi Hicky.
No frost here today, but a dull cloudy day.
Did some more work outside. Cutting back herbaceous stuff in a bed and raking it up.
Didn't want to do too much as my back is still not quite back to normal, so I don't want to set it off again.

That's great that you were able to get help from the gardener today. You wouldn't want to be trying to shift those trees on your own.
Pleased that your seed potatoes came. I tend to just save some from this years crop and plant them next year.
Glad you are pleased with the dental work you had done.

The oil was still quite expensive. A bit cheaper than last time, but still just over £300. I seem to be able to get by with 2 deliveries a year, so just over £600 a year for heating and hot water. Then of course I've got to pay for electricity as well.

The previous time the cheque reader failed I think it was because of bad handwriting on one cheque so it couldn't read it. But that time it just gave me back all the documents.

This time, when it swallowed one cheque and retained it and only spat one out, the teller said it was something to do with the rubber roller accumulating dirt and things sticking, or something like that.
You'd think they'd keep it properly maintained though.

both

Emptybox

good idea not to overdo work until your back is back to normal. At least it is gradually improving.

£600 a year is expensive but unfortunately all sources of heating are now, and our heating bill is certainly more expensive. (but there are 5 of us).

Yes the banks should indeed pay out to ensure their equipment is working well. They always seem to have mounds of cash to pay the bosses their bonuses!

Daughter a bit better today, so hopefully she should be ok for Saturday. A couple of days resting at neighbour's house whilst looking after their doggie was the best thing for her. But as you say, HIcky when these things don't go, eventually anti biotics needed, so am hoping by tomorrow she is a bit better again.

Hicky

that is good you managed to get the gardener over and was really pleased with what he did.

That is great your teeth was looking the best ever. Such a good job you thought out exactly what you wanted doing and got a dentist good enough to listen to you and do the job well. It must of felt real strange having all the gums frozen though.

I think the water and the cough thing is to do with mucus to be produced in future, rather than what is already there. So new mucus has more water added to it, so isn't so thick.

Watching the back in Time about schooling, very interesting, Tonight was showing how they had to carry gasmasks and evacuation. My parents were evacuated as children in the war to the countryside.

Had to go to solicitor today, still tying up things to do with mum's estate. The problem today was sorting HMRC out! Solicitor couldn't work out why they had sent a cheque, then a bill for the same tax year! He tried to ring them, too long a wait (as usual), so I offerered to sort it at home as they had sent it to me. Luckily in the end I was spared the fun of ringing them as son worked it out when we got home by comparing their 2 statements and they had failed to take into account mum's pension income in the first statement, so had to claim it back later! Idiots.

Really very cold today, but dry at least, so washing dired quite well.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi Mollie.
Well I hope your daughter is feeling well enough by Saturday to go and enjoy the show.

 Just 3 years ago the heating oil was only costing me £360 a year, so it's gone up an awful lot since then.
Having said that, it was previously more expensive, so it goes up and down like a yo-yo.

That's good work by yourself and your son to work out the HMRC puzzle with your Mum's estate. Strange that the solicitor couldn't.

 Watched 'Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun' then Hunted, now watching Question Time with Fiona Bruce. I love Fiona Bruce.  

Evening Both.

Didn't have brekkie as we were going out earlyish shopping for food, not that i need any, weather not too bad, 9c light cloud, wind was 10.

Got a bit of shopping, went to Asda, o/h not impressed, probably too used to her normal place.

Did a few jobs in the garden, i can do whats left now, might take a while, added manure to the raised beds, collected loads of leaves, got a few more jobs to do, put the Vivaldi seed spuds out in an open tray with a bed of shredded card, got some work to do on the watering system before the Spring as when you move trees around of course you need to rearrange the watering system.

For tea had an orange and a banana then a burger with a sausage, some mushrooms and a little pack of frozen microwave chips.

still got quite a bit of food in the garage freezer to use up before i start cooking new batches again, got loads of bags of stewing steak, chicken breasts, fish, spring rolls, beef mince and enough frozen veg to make a meal for the whole village, think i have omitted a lot as well, as can't remember whats if the freezer.

Mollie, Yes, now the gardener has been i can prepare for the spring planting as the compost pile has gone, also with the trees moved i can work on the watering system, he did say the best way to cut up the leaves if with the leaf vacuum, i have one of those but it used to get jammed, he has one as well, says his doesn't give trouble, will try mine first though, last time i tried it it worked fine but i was picking the leaves up from the slate and of course it picked the slate up as well.

I didn't have my gums frozen, he thought i would need to freeze them but i wanted him to try without, which he did, it was fine.

I see they say drink water and a spoon of honey for a dry cough, but it's all to ease the throat, not sure how that solves the airway problem, they seem to be saying there is something in the air causing the cough, sometimes when i have a sip of water at night a drop goes the wrong way and causes me to cough, drinking water wouldn't help as my body is trying to get rid of the water that went down the wrong way, it went into the airway to my lungs.

I wasn't evacuated during the war, i just hid under the stairs when the air raid siren sounded.

Glad you sorted the HMRC out, they really aren't on top of the job are they, i've still had nothing telling me what tax i owe for 2017/18 they really are hopeless, if i don't hear soon i'll have to try and get it touch, but that;s such a problem because they don't want you to.

Emptybox, Glad your back isn't too bad.

I have loads of spuds from last years crop that i didn't eat and they are sprouting but haven't really got much room to plant them, unless i use tree tubs with leaves in, have got loads of those.

The heating oil works out at £11.50 a week, not too bad really.

I don't wonder the cheque reader failed if it's reading hand writing, but sticky rollers wont help as it can't release the cheque, certainly sounds like lack of maintenance.

both xxx

Emptybox

how is your back now?

Gosh the oil has gone up a lot. Shame you can't predict if it is likely to go up or down in price and stockpile accordingly.

The solicitor couldn't work out the HMRC bill because they had sent the statement to me showing the calculations, and we had just given him the cheque to put into the estate. It wasn't till we compared the 2 statements that we could see the error.

Hicky

I understand why your OH would not fancy going to another supermarket, as it is always a lot more diffiult to find stuff in a supermarket you are not used to.

That is good you were able to get in the garden and do a few jobs now the gardner has done what needs to be done.

at you having enough food to feed the whole village. Might be very handy for when this bad weather they are predicting arrives.

Oh yes, drinking water would not be good if it does go down the wrong way and causes you to cough. But would be useful to keep the throat moist, I guess.

Can you remember having to hide under those stairs during raids? My mum did not stay evacuated for long, as her mum missed her and her sisiter too much and the girls were crying to come home to her. Also at the time they were sent away not many bombs were being dropped, so their mum (my nan) bought them home again. However when they got home was the time the bombing increased. So they made use of a shelter in the garden.

Be careful HMRC don't try and penalise you if you do owe something and its not paid till after 31 January, as our accountant said that was the cut off for payment for 2017 -2018, and my mum's tax form also said it was due by 31 Jan. As you say, they certainly don't want anyone getting in touch as they haven't the resources to deal with any queries at all, and no one wants to work for them!

Spent half hour on phone trying to sort out mum's flat deposit return. That is someone else who is useless. The landord agreed back in Feb to repay it all and they have been messing about since then with me and solicitor having emails and letters and phone conversations trying to sort it.

Had to plough through a new work contract to check it for OH's next contract. Then send it to our insurers to check. So boring trying to check all the legal woffle. Unfortunately OH will have to be working away for his next contract, but he does have to do this now and again if nothing local is around.

Me, OH and my friend went to see the Banksy today , as it is not far from us.

Its on an ordinary housing estate by the steel works, the end garage of a row of garages. Unfortunately they have put plastic sheets to guard it now, so that somwehat spoils everyones photos, but it was still good to see it. There was a little old caravan with one guy who lives in it guarding it. He had a bucket collecting for cancer research (good idea), so we put some change in that. There was about 15 people there to see it, so not busy and easy to take photos. We chose to go today as it was nice and dry. When we were walking down the estate road to see it, a couple of locals stopped us a few times and said "are you here to see Banksy", and they pointed us in the right direction. The little village has never seen so many strangers call in. Very impressive graffitti art work it is too.

Watching Jayne Macdonald tonight, I really enjoy her cruising shows.

Went to carvary for tea and we took a doggie bag with us to bring home for the doggies tea. Doggies really enjoyed it.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.

Dull day but fairly mild.
Didn't do much, but made a big batch of mince that I'll turn into bolognese sauce tomorrow. But I had a portion of mince and tatties tonight.

Hicky. Hopefully you'll now be able to cope with the rest of the jobs in the garden without the help of the gardener.
I've still got a bit to do in my own garden, including pruning the apple trees.
I've never used a leaf vacuum or even a leaf blower.

I suppose that figure per week for the oil doesn't sound too bad. It has been more expensive than that in the past though.

Mollie. My back has been a bit stiffer again today. Maybe I overdid the gardening yesterday.
I usually buy the oil in 500 litre batches as that's expensive enough, but it's a 1200 litre tank. So I suppose, if it ever gets very cheap again, I could get a fill up, which would last a year or so.

That must have been interesting going to see the Banksy. 
Yes, I expect it's become a big tourist draw to the area.

It would perhaps have been easier to hand all the documents to do with your Mum's estate over to the solicitor, and let him get on with it? Would save you a lot of phoning and having to deal with the shady landlady etc.
That's a pity that your OH will have to work away from home for a while, but can't be avoided I suppose.

Watched Celebrity 5 Go Camping then Grantchester.

Evening Both.

10c today but cloudy and windy, 21 wind changing to 40 at 1pm, back to 20 at 7pm.

O/H went to Sainsbury's for a few bits that she didn't get yesterday, she also gets her discount as well of course.

One of my lads text me yesterday asking if it's ok to call round Sunday with his family, i said yes of course, he said around 11am or 12, he has a girl and a young lad, one from each marriage and a new o/h, he used to be a chef same as one of the other lads from my first o/h.

Just had bacon and egg on toast for brekkie.

Did a bit of work in the garden even with the wind, just a bit of tidying up, will do a bit each time the weather is reasonable.

Just making a loaf, haven't made one for a bit as i wanted to use the bread up that o/h had put in the freezer fro Christmas.

I wonder why the spell checker is hopeless, surely it's possible to get one for the English Language, whatever i type it flags it up and comes up with crazy options and wants me to put it in the dictionary.

Mollie, I'm not too sure what happened in the air raid, we had an air raid shelter over the road, can't remember too much though.

I was hoping HMRC were going to send me a document or email telling me what tax i owe, i am now on Simple Assessment but on my account it only has a link for self assessment which isn't me, if i don't get anything next week i will check the account again to see if it has any info for me, if not i'll have to try and get in touch.

I can imagine the village with the Banksy stuff gets a lot of visitors, but unless they are spending money in shops then don't think they will be very welcome. 

I would be a bit suspicious of you taking food home from a carvery, it means you took too much so you would have enough to take home, didn't even know you could get a doggy bag for a carvery. 

Emptybox, Never thought of pre-cooking mince to use later, because it only takes a few minutes to cook i only use 250g at a time.

The leaf vacuum is also a blower, but this electric model is pretty heavy, i converted it to just suck, only stopped using it because it was picking up slate, never thought of putting the leaves into a container, which i am going to try, the sucker chops the leaves up into little bits, similar to what a mower does to them as well.

Just going to make some food, not sure what to have yet, the bread is in the oven on very low heat to prove, then i'll bake it.

both xxx

Emptybox

hope you enjoyed your sphag bol and beer tonight.

Pity your back is a bit stiffer again, looks like you will have to be careful not to overdo your gardening until you are sure it is better again.

Yes pity we had not handed over this tax statement to solicitor, but we didn't think he'd even need it, so we just gave him the cheque. Never mind, he is going to pay the bill so hopefully that will be it for that part, then just the rent deposit to get paid in.

What was Grantchester like? I watched episode 1 of the last series, but gave up on it, as didn't find it that good. I see Vera is back, that was quite good from what I recall.

Hicky

that's nice you have some family visitors to look forward to tomorrow. Is your lad not a chef any longer now? I know the problem with that job can be the unsociable hours as my cousin is one. Interesting how one lad from your 1st wife was a chef too, and then the lad from your current OH is too. I think you said you have 5 lads. How many from your current wife? Is Ozzie lad your youngest?

Hope you enjoyed your loaf.

Hope HMRC can sort things out for you, without you having to chase them up. Its no fun having to ring them!

Gosh no, we didn't take any extra at all at the carvary, Daughter was not sure whether to go or not with us, as she was still getting over a cold. But she needed to get out of the house. But the end of this cold, meant she couldn't even eat the small amount of meat the chef had put on her plate, when she tried to eat it. Although she only helped herself to her normal amount of veg yesterday, she couldn't manage to eat all that either. (she is not a good eater normally though). Also some of the carrots were a bit too hard for me, so I left some. But by making use of the doggie bag, (it was only a few scraps though), at least the bits left on our plates were not wasted and was enjoyed later by the dogs. Our doggie is only a small dog, so even the few scraps we had went a long way, added to her normal food. I always cook her chicken breast or salmon to go with her veg at home. She gets a bad stomach if she has dog food. Dog food is expensive and a lot of it is full of rubbish type food that many dogs are sensitive to.

Daughter and I went to Weatherspoon today, (before we went to theatre) and daughter had chicken. It wasn't a carvary, but again she couldn't manage to eat all they gave her, so the little dog got lucky again, with half a chicken breast going into the doggie bag, meaning at least it was not binned. I ate all mine though, I had an halloumin wrap with sweet chilli sauce. So that would of not been suitable for the dog anyway. I found it real tasty though.   I love halloumi.

Daughter really enjoyed Matilda, so I was glad she was well enough to go this week, so she didnt miss it. Lucky I managed to get cancellation tickets as it was a sell out. She has still got a cough that she said she found awkward to control during the performance, but drinking lots of water did help.

Enjoyed the Voice again, good to see Tom Jones singing on it again.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi both.
Not too bad day here. Didn't go out anywhere.
I defrosted my freezer as it had got iced up. It seems to need doing every year or so, otherwise the drawers become impossible to slide out. It's really just the fast freeze bit at the top that collects the most ice.
Also I made my big batch of Bolognese from the Mince I made yesterday..

Hicky. That's nice that you'll have family visitors tomorrow.
Interesting that two of your lads ended up being chefs at one time or another.
That's good that you got a bit of work done on the garden.

I make mince more like a casserole, in the oven. I have one portion, then I turn the rest into my version of Bolognese the next day. That's the way my old Mum used to do it, so I just follow the same recipe more or less. Works for me.
Don't really bother with a spell checker. If I don't know how to spell a word i just google it.

Mollie. I'm a bit the same as you with Grantchester. I don't really follow it. Just watch it now and again if not much else is on. I do like Vera though.

Pity your daughter is still off her food, but at least she got to see Matilda with you.
I only caught a bit of the Voice tonight.

Evening Both.

11c today, cloud and gales, the wind is around 45 all day.

Didn't have brekkie with my lad coming, we were going to eat after they went.

They arrived at around 12 noon, he text me when he left home, he has a big Porsche Macan or something like that, massive tyres i saw that, he had his o/h and the young lad, his daughter had stayed over with a friend, she is 16 now, the lad is only 4.

We had chicken for tea with veg mash and gravy, nice, o/h did it.

Too windy to bother with the garden.

The loaf i made last night is nice, i did it the way i saw on the program of the bread factory, when i put the dough in the baking tin i cut it into 4 equal pieces and turned each round 90deg and fitted in the tin side by side then oiled a tray and put on the top, then after 1 hour baked it still with the tray on top, it worked fine.

Mollie, This lad that came started as a chef but he started a company, he is now a director of a food company making Smoothies etc, they now sell to a few countries including china, and in uk supermarkets, he is son No. 2 he is 50, my lad in Oz is No. 4 son, he is 40, No. 1 son is 57.

Shame your daughter didn't feel like the dinner, no fun being felling unwell, i'm not keen on veg that is too hard, carrots i can eat raw but don't like them undercooked.

The doggie won't be pleased when daughter is better.

Glad she was able to enjoy Matilda, yes, The Voice was good, DOI tonight at 6.00. 

Emptybox, If you don't defrost the freezer when it builds up the door can get jammed and then it all freezes up, such a mess because the motor can';t turn off and can burn out.

Warm air and humid air rise so the freezer always gets ice at the top.

I see what you do with the mince now, i usually just fry it then make a meal.

Yes, sometimes i use google to spell something, the spell checkers are hopeless, if i can't be bothered i change the word.

Just had a couple of rounds of my bread toasted with some Salsa and cheese.

both xxx

Emptybox

You were quite busy then cooking and sorting the freezer. Not a nice job defrosting the freezer though. We are lucky in that we don't need to defrost our freezer, but now and again I do need to clear out food that has been there for months and months!

If it is not a family secret, what is your mum's recipe for the mince in the oven? Often mum's old recipes are the best. I have some mince (quorn). I am looking for ideas of how to cook mince, as I will get the family some ordinary mince, but was not sure what to add to it, to cook it in the oven. 

Hicky

hope you enjoyed your visitors company today. Were they lucky enough to sample your home made bread?

Me, OH and son went to costco today for food shopping and a few other bits and pieces. Its so useful to buy in bulk there with a big family. Plenty of nice free little food samples too today, eg lentil curry, cheese, custard tart, cereal, fish. Trouble is, we usually end up buying some of them, which is why they do it I guess

We bought the dogs got 2 cooked chickens between them from there, so that should last them a few days, and saves me cooking it. OH also got some of it too. He likes the skin best.

Daughter still off with this cold, her voice and appetitie not come back properly yet, so she stayed in with dog for a rest.

Drama lad was at rehearsals all day today. He auditioned some weeks ago and got a part with a 2nd drama group he hasn't been with at all before. It was his first audition going for a part involving solo singing, (not a big part, but he was still dead nervous). He had to auditon in front of 5 people and they were running half hour late. He did know the lines, but by the time he got to audition, he forgot the words. But with the help of the script to start him off, he still got the part. But I have since been told by a professional this even happened to him at an audtion for a professional part on a cruise line ,and he still got the job.

Enjoying watching Dancing on Ice, then like Emptybox, it will be Vera for me to watch. I enjoy the whole show, but love to see the professionals dancing at the end. They are just so gracefull.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi both.
Very windy here today, but at least it was dry and not too cold.
Went to Sainsburys this afternoon.

Hicky. Pity you missed out on brekkie because of your lad's visit, but bet it was nice to see them.
That's good that the recipe worked well for your loaf.

Mollie. The problem with defrosting the freezer is there is no way to stop water going on the floor. I put down paper and a tray to catch the drips and melted ice etc, but the carpet tiles always get a bit wet.
However it's all nice and clear now for a while, until the ice starts to build up again.
I put the food into an old chest freezer. It doesn't work any more, but the insulation in it stops the food defrosting.

Glad you enjoyed your Costco samples. Sounds like the dogs got a treat with the chicken.
That's great that your son got the part despite being nervous at the audition.

For a batch of mince I use 500g of beef mince. I usually buy the 15% fat one as it's cheaper and doesn't matter for mince. I use a big glass casserole dish.
I crush and chop up one bulb of garlic and put it in the dish then I chop and lightly fry one large onion.

While the onion is frying I chop up two large sticks of celery and 5 or 6 largish mushroom (or more smaller ones) and put those in the casserole dish.
I put in salt and pepper to taste and also some Worcestershire sauce.
The I add the mince, and then the 'secret' ingredient. A tin of Campbell's condensed mushroom soup. :wink:
I then stir all the ingredients until it's well mixed.

I put in in the fan assisted oven at 180c for half an hour till the meat is no longer pink, I give it another good stir then I put it back at 120c for another couple of hours.
I then take it out and give it a good mash down with a fork to make sure there are no lumps in the meat and all the vegetables are breaking down. Then I put it back in while I am cooking the potatoes and veg.
I have one portion of mince then keep the rest for making my 'Bolognese', but if you were using it just for mince it should easily feed 4 or 5 I would think.

I put the rest in the fridge overnight.
The next day I add more mushrooms (at least as many as yesterday), a couple of spoons of pesto, about 10 cut up black pitted olives, a sprinkle of chilli powder (not too much) a teaspoon of Turmeric powder, a few squirts of tomato paste and a 500g jar of Dolmio original Bolognese sauce.
I stir that up well and cook it at 140c for about 40 minutes.
I know it isn't classic Bolognese, but it's the way I do it.
I have it with about 4.5 ounces of gluten free spaghetti.

Watched some of Dancing on Ice. I was only watching for Saara really, and as she wasn't skating for the competition this week, and was only in the demo bit, I didn't watch much else of it.
Really enjoyed Vera afterwards though.