Evening \both.

10c today with light cloud, sun and some drizzle.

Had chopped up bacon with beans on toast for brekkie.

Didn't do much, had a lay in till 11am, for tea i decided to amke a kind of casserole with my lamb leg steaks as i had carrots, celery and salad potatoes, and made my special gravy, mine you i had 1 portion and theres 1 to freeze for another day.

Been watching the darts again, so recorded all yesterdays shows, same today.

Mollie, Yes, never even noticed that, 02.02.2020.

Hope you get some nice goodies from Costco.

Baz, That was nice having your Spa, so relaxing, hope the shopping arrived ok.

Yes, they said Caprice has left DOI, wonder what happened.

It's hard to believe that they can lose a payment after they cashed the cheque, it only has to go against my NI number, what can be hard about that.

Don't know what system they are running but they said i can't pay by card, i can't pay by bank transfer, i can't pay online via my tax account, i can't pay over the phone, i wonder if other countries have the same problem paying their tax?

A problem similar to this happens every year, it was fine until i retired, now it's a nightmare.

both xxx

Baz

Glad to hear you went to your spa today after your emotional day yesterday.

Hope it stays dries for you to pop into town tomorrow.

I guess we should not be surprised Caprice has left DOI again.

I too am watching DOI now and will watch that bbc2 programme later.

Hicky

sounds like you will be due some nice spuds again later this year.

My bed too was very comfy last night, so that's good.

I see HMRC are giving their usual standard of customer service with you. Can't believe how useless they are, and so annoying that you have to spend so much time trying to get themselves to get their act together!

The darts are certainly giving you plenty of viewing time.

Went to costco for a bit of shopping, got to enjoy a few free food samples.

Also had my usual lunch of jacket potato but had cheese and coleslaw this time. And a caramel sauce ice cream.

Our neighbour's doggie is a lot better, so we took him to visit some of his relatives at their house. He loved going in the car when he realised that for once he was not going to the vets! My daughter has done so well nursing him, she managed to get all his meds down him at the right time, and got him to eat by offering him different foods. Back to the vets on Wednesday for a check up.

Have a good evening both xx

Evening Mollie.

Yes, i enjoy the darts, can record the other stuff.

From what Caprice was saying they have to sign a clause in the contract that says none of the skaters can say anything, so Caprice can't get any backup from the skaters.

We haven't heard the end of this.

No wonder you shop at Costco, it's like shopping in a kitchen.

Glad the neighbours doggie is coming on, wonder what the problem was, mind you if it is getting on then thats a problem on its own.

Hope my lads Hip Op went ok today, he was probably going private as i imagine he has plenty of health insurance with being a company director.

I will send him a message tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Hicky

hope your son's hip operation went well today.Was it arthritis he was suffering from or a sports injury?

Be back later. x

*mollie* posted:

Hicky

hope your son's hip operation went well today.Was it arthritis he was suffering from or a sports injury?

Be back later. x

Ditto from me 

Evening Mollie & Baz.

9c today with sunny intervals with a fresh breeze.

Had a video call from my lad in Oz for half an hour, also go some pictures of the granddaughter from the new Nursey, it's on the same network as the other so i didn't even have to sign in, great.

He mentioned about our next holiday, we said it is too hard to go back to Oz so he said find a nice holiday resort with all inclusive somewhere and we'll gothere, not sure if he meant this year or next tbh, don't think we can afford it this year.

Then i thought of my passport, it runs out in March so i looked online and was filling in the form when i realised i need another photo so got a taxi down to Sainsbury's as they have it all inside.

Got the photos but the new system gives me a code, first it checks with the gov department if the photo passes and then she gave me a code to put into the application, sorted, so easy, now just got to send the old one back.

Had eggs and tomatoes with toast for brekkie but for tea had peppered chicken wings.

Ordered my repeat meds online so o/h can pick them up tomorrow.

Mollie/Baz. Had some messages between myself and my lad this morning, he had done some physio and was ok today, not so good last night, he said it was a lovely place, lovely staff and good food, we stopped messaging when he said his Rump steak and salad had arrived, that was 12.22 what a life.

It wasn't a sport injury, must be arthritis i suppose, he should be out Wednesday.

Have a good evening.

Think i have caught up on recordings, had another delivery, only 5 Staedtler permanent, mainly for the garden plant tags.

Evening Both.

Hope you are both well, i came back last night Mollie but no sign of you, hope all is ok.

9c today with rain and a strong wind so stayed in most of the time.

Had soft boiled eggs for brekkie with toast.

after telling a camera company that supplies trail camera what i thought of their braket have asked if i would test one of their new ones for them, i keep sending them ideas of how i would like the fixings, the camera is ok and looking at the new one on the web i found a video showing the fixing, it seems to have a small modification.

I have got the envelope ready to send back to the passport office, can't believe they have "The Passport Office" in the address, what kind of security is that, so anyone seeing the envelope knows what is inside, crazy, also the whole of the code i have that identifies who the passport is for is included in the address to send it to.

And they say they take cloning serious, utter madness.

Its probably with me being in the job i had in the military that security stands out to me as so obvious lunacy.

Midday, well 2pm i had the rest of the spiced wings i did the other day, i thawed them out then relised i had another bag of peppered wings thawed out.

I have opened the pot of lobster meat, not impressed really wouldn't get it again, had a couple of sandwiches but the meat is in so much liquid when it's thawed out.

Did some messaging with my lad in hospital, he did have arthritis but went private, cost him over £12,000, his insurance wouldn't pay because it was a pre condition, he didn't want to wait for the NHS.

Have a good evening.

both

Baz

hope you had a good day. Did you get out and about today?

Hicky

Think I got interrupted by family or doggie last night, so forgot to post, but back again now. Always something going on here....have to pop over road to see daughter with neighbour's dog, son out at rehearsals for plays most nights, OH watching footie tonight, our dog wanted feeding, she had sweet potato and chicken breast tonight...

how nice you get to see your grandaughter at nursery and a nice chat to your son.

Glad the passport office are a lot more efficeint than HMRC and you have your passport sorted already.

Are you meeting somewhere half way betwen Wirral and Sydney to save such a long journey?  It does sound not good for security the way you have to send the passport back though.

That would be a nice little project for you if it can be arranged with the camera company.

Shame about the lobster meat, so annoying when you buy something and it is just more full of water.

Glad the hip op went ok for your lad.

£12k for the op is a lot of money, typical of insurance not to pay out though. I bet it would of been a really long wait for nhs, so money well spent for him to get him out of pain, and ok to carry on working when healed.

Not a bad day here today , bit of sun and no rain.

Watched the naughty dogs being helped on C5 (or the owners being sorted, as the guy says), then A and E.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening \mollie. 

You have been busy, mind you there's never enough time in the day for me.

I saw an email sent to the passport office asking why they want the passport back just to cut the corner off, he estimated it cost the public hundreds of millions of pounds a year to send them back, then they send them back to you again.

I got a letter today telling me to send the old one back and more or less saying until they get it they won't send me the new one.

Yes, Lobster a disaster, i only ate it as it cost about £22, not worth 50p. it wasn't pieces, it had the inside of 2 claws and the rest was like shredded duck, only Lobster, not sure how you get shredded crab?

My lad said he was in a bit of pain today, but it depends on your body, he might have had muscles, i don't so it might have been an easier op.

Just watching recording, 8 out of 10 cats does countdown, then at midnight i watch a 24 hrs in A&E,

Have a good evening/sleep.

Afternoon Mollie and Hicky  Beautiful sunny day here ....I’ve got hyacinths , miniature daffodils and crocus all starting to flower ...so spring is definitely on its way Hope you are all having a sunny day too I haven’t done much , just some washing and ironing ....and the usual everyday housework . Sammy isn’t speaking  to me again ,...cos I trod on her paw this morning I felt really bad , but she seems ok ...it’s not stopped her jumping up on  the window ledges  etc , so I presume she is ok 

Mollie , hope you and your son are fully recovered now I watched A&E too....makes you realise how lucky we are , despite everything . Don’t forget it’s Pottery tonight Hicky , glad your son is progressing ok  ....although I agree with Mollie about the 12K 

Anyway , Pottery for me tonight ...and probably either the Yorkshire Vet , or Canada a year in the wild  Wharever you are watching I hope you both have a good evening 

Evening Baz.

I posted my old passport off today as they won't send me the new one without it, it cost me £6.60 as it has to be in a heavy duty envelope.

That was on the way to the farm shop/butchers, got more Kiwi and a big lamb leg steak, also a few pies and celery, sweetcorn, crumbly cheese, easy peelers, bon bons, granary bread.

9c today with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.

Did 2 loads of washing, didn't put them outside to dry, some in bathroom on overhead dryer thingy that raises and lowers by cords and the rest in the lounge on an opening out frame, we don't use the lounge anyway.

Those are nice flowers you have coming up, o/h planted tons of bulbs in the autumn and they are all showing now, she will be pleased.

I don't blame Sammy not talking to you, she doesn't know it was an accident.

My lad is home now but in a lot of pain, strange how everyone is different, i never had any pain at all.

I'm recording the Pottery for watching at a later date.

Have a good evening.

both xxx

Baz

your garden waking up for spring sounds just delightful.   We too had a wonderful sunny day, and you could actually feel warmth in the sun. Not long now and we'll be moaning its too hot.

Aaaww poor Sammy and poor you too for feeling so bad treading on her paw. I have been known to do that to our little doggie and felt awful when she yelped. Good job you didn't trip over her though. As you say, if she is jumping on the window ledge though, she must be ok.

Yes thankfully son and I are fully recovered at last.

I'd forgotten about the pottery again, so will watch in plus 1, so thanks for the reminder.

Hicky

Gosh at £22 that lobster was overpriced for such rubbish.

Sorry to hear that your son is in pain, but I guess it takes awhile to settle after such a big op. Hope he feels better soon.

Your farm shop list sounds rather good. I love that crumbly cheese.

That's nice your OH's bulbs are looking good too.

Shouldn't be long till you get your passports now. Any idea where you plan to go yet?

So nice to see the sun today. Viewed a house today, but not suitable as nowhere at all for the cars and too much work needed doing on it. Will keep looking.

Daughter took dog back to vets and I went too. Vet thinks he might have problem with oesphagus as sometines he is still vomitting, so may need to go in for X ray next. We want it sorted as soon as we can whilst owner is away, as he is much more settled when daughter takes him to vet, than when the owner does.

Enjoyed "Breaking Dad" tonight. They are so sweet and amusing together. Can't believe the stuff the lad encourages his dad to do. No wonder he broke his back last week, as that was so dangerous.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Mollie.

Yes, didn't realise the container with the lobster in would be filled with liquid, because when thawed not sure what you are supposed to do, maybe squeeze the water out somehow.

 The strange thing is, after my hip op i never had any pain, it may be down to you body build.

Well, holiday wise we had only planned to go back to Suffolk for a break, and take my disability badge, but talking to my lad on the video call the other day he was asking where we fancied to go, he said find an all inclusive resort within say a 4 hr flight which is like Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Greece and plenty of others so we have plenty of choice, but we hadn't planned on a holiday with my lad and his family from Oz, so not sure, i don't mind anyway and if we went all inclusive then the food bill wouldn't be much.

Yes, a house without parking facility no use, yes, i think the dog has a more serious problem than first thought.

Catching up on recordings, wow, got 38 of the "How do they do it" love that program as well as loads of others.

I watched Love Island tonight and have recorded it also on +1 because when they put the names etc on the screen it is so quick and when a person is on and their name comes on i can't see it fast enough, with having bad eyes and being colour blind i miss the name so i have to control the recording so i can see what i missed.

Have a good evening.

Evening Both.

Nor bad today at 9c and sunny with hardly any wind.Didn't do a lot, had cheese on a bap grilled, then at midday had a pork pie, for tea defrosted a pot of jellied eels and a beef and mushroom meal, just cooked some rice in the cooker.

Am defrosting the small block of crab meat, to see if its better than the lobster, the problem with seafood if is peeld or whatever and washed then all the flavour is washed away.

Heard nothing from HMRC, and hopefull they got my Passport today also.

The dentist tomorrow, last time they did a filling but the next day it felt like i had another filling needed or i had a hole somewhere that needed attention but i couldn't be bothered ringing them up, will see what they say.

I had a swing in the sun for a while then had some more ideas on arranging the veg tubs for the spring, will move the 2 fig trees so i can make the single 5 veg tubs into a double line like the other 8, 2 by 2 as it will make it easier to run the watering hose, its called a soaker hose, it is a special on which is perferated but as it passes between tubs of course i will have to tape it up.

Been watching team Train Britain now abandoned Engineering, so interesting.

Have a good evening. hope you are both well.

both xxx

Baz

hope you are having a good day, and Sammy has forgiven you now.

Hicky

hope your crabmeat is better than that lobster disappointment.

Good luck for the dentist tomorrow, hope it doesn't cost too much either!

What channel is Train Britain on? I enjoy programmes about trains.

I had cheese and potato pie and veg again for tea. A meal I always enjoy.

A nice sunny day here again today.

Love island time. Glad I am following this now, as not much else on tv tonight.

Goodnight both xxx

Afternoon Mollie and Hicky  Another lovely sunny day here , but looks like it’s the calm before a very big storm on Sunday I HATE high winds I’ve not done a lot today , just the usual housework and washing ...and spent a fruitless 10 minutes trying to capture Sammy so I could brush her ...for a slightly overweigh moggie she can’t half shift when she wants to!Anyway , I hope you are having a good day ,whatever you’re doing 

Mollie , glad you and your son are fully recovered now What did you think of the Pottery ? I thought the right one probably went , but think Jacob was a very worthy winner . Glad you’re enjoying Love Island , but it’s not my cup of tea I’m afraid  Hicky , hope you got on ok at the dentist todayHow is your son today ? I can’t remember if you watch Best Cooks or not , but Mary Berry is REALLY getting on my nerves with her bias towards Georgia By way , I saw something about C4 considering buying BB again ....I’m crossing everything that they do 

Anyway , have a good evening both . It’s Yorkshire Vet , Susan Calman and the Ritz for me tonight  Going to try and enjoy the calm before a very big storm on Sunday 

By the way , the news about Philip Schofield was a bit of a shocker , eh 

Evening Both.

Quite nice today, cool at 8c max but sunny most of the time with a moderate breeze.

Had some food after the shopping arrived, had a salad bap, just ham, lettuce and salad cream, that is near enough.

Went to the dentist, knew i would need another appointment so pointed out that i could tell there was a hole in a tooth near to where he drilled the last one, he said it would seem an old filling was the cause and it would need the filling taken out and redoing, next appointment late March because i can only get there when o/h is free, just £62.10.

My shopping that came consisted of gravy granules, boiled ham, crumpets, hot x buns and maltesers, i have so much food in all ready, you can tell.

I was going to see what i could find for tea when o/h said i could have the chicken breast she bought at the farm as she didn't need it now as she had bought something else, i chopped it up and marinated in a very spicy mix i made, then did a portion of rice and opened a post of Balti curry sauce, i fried half the chicken fror tea and then fried the rest to freeze, it was very nice considering i don't really like chicken breast.

Edit: forgot to say, did a breath test last night, the one that you blow in the meter, it used to read 250 each time and when i tried it went to 255, wo, a 5 increase, o/h used to blow 500, and when one o my lads tried he did 700.

Mollie, The crab-meat is defrosted but i haven't tried it yet as i am trying to find a space to eat some, will have some tonight but with it being in one big block that is crazy, will be telling them as well when i ring, lunacy as i had to defrost it all at once.

Steam Train Britain, is just finishing, it is on Channel "Yesterday" https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/s...steam-train-britain/ 

It's on now at 11pm as well.

Wow wasn't Love Island exciting last night, and tonight, wow, it gets more exciting by the day.

I don't think i have had cheese and potato pie, strange, maybe i have.

Baz, Yes it looks like Sunday is in for a battering according to the forecast, but things can change.

Most animals don't like to be caught as they know they lose control.

I didn't ring my lad today, i don't like to keep bothering people, i always think it is inconvenient.

I went off May Berry and the finicky cooking they want, its all to make a program, they don't really care about the people or the items they cook or they wouldn't tell them to make 5 dozen or some stupid number.

I read about C4 rumouring that they might redo BB again, think i read it a month ago, i wouldn't be surprised really, they look at Love Island and think, we are losing money doing nothing, i wonder if it would be worth ITV looking into it as well, they do LI ok.

Yes, i saw it on the news about Phillip, he has hidden it all his life as he must have been too cared to come out, he has a lovely wife and lovely children, all done to hide his problem i imagine, how awful to have to suppress reality because the world doesn't condone it, or didn't used to.

Have a good evening both.

both xxx

Baz

yes  a nice few days here too, but as you say not looking good for Sunday.

at cheeky Sammy trying to escape you and the hairbrush. She sounds a bit of a character.

Oh I forgot to watch the Pottery, must remember to catch up as I recorded it.

Can understand why Love Islander does not appeal, as they are all a bit shallow...  looks is their be all and end all and I find it hard to work out who is who as they all look similiar but it is a bit of light tv I can dip in and out of.

I am currently eating a Cadbury caramel egg my daughter bought me, yummy.

Wow, C4 thinking of buying BB, that would be brilliant. I did read something about Davina saying if it returned, it needed updating and she would be interested. So sounds like it could be hopeful.

Hicky

hope the dentist went ok and hope your son is coming on ok and out of pain.

Today we took neighbour's dog to visit my friend, he loved it. Daughter looks after him when we go out, so he got a few walks in too. His owner doesn't take him out, so it was a real treat for him.

For tea daughter collected the Toby carvery as a take away. The containers are so big, I have enough for tea tomorrow too.

So nice to see the sun again today.

Goodnight both xxx

Baz posted:

By the way , the news about Philip Schofield was a bit of a shocker , eh 

I feel sorry for his wife, because surely this means he has deceived her for 27 years of marriage? (or whenever he told her the truth?)

Evening Both.

Not too bad today with 10c and sunny intervals with a fresh breeze.

Had a video call from Oz, granddaughter so funny, but so good to see them all.

Had bacon on toast for brekkie, cooked the bacon in an oven/microwave bag, it came ot quite moist, rather nice.

Spent some time in the manshed, thinking as usual.

For tea decided on getting some scallops from the freezer to do for tea with some of the crab meat i put in butter, made some dip sauce to ge with it, simple like a normal prawn cocktail sauce but a bit more bite.

It was Mayo, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper.

Had a couple of samll hot x buns, o/h got me a pack of 9 mini fruit ones, taste the difference, sure can, fantastic.

Been building the Gingerbread House and Sleigh with trees etc, wow, a lot of parts and 6 bags of sweets for decoration, 2 massive tubes of icing to act as glue, mind you it kept falling to bits, think the instructions should say 10 minutes not 1 minute to let the icing set, i put the roof on and the building fell down twice, i spent 3 hours, a couple of hours needed to finish now, will post on twitter and here when done as my lad and his lad want to see it as he got it for me for Christmas or Birthday, can't remember.

Mollie. Have to return to the dentist as i thought, an old filling needs replacing but can't get back till late March as can only make it afternoons.

Didn't message my lad about his pain, will message tomorrow, don't like to keep bothering him.

I feel sorry for the dog if the owner doesn't take it out, shouldn't really keep it.

I didn't know you could get a takeaway carvery from Toby.

Baz, I think it must have been so awkward for Phillip all his life, a wife and children was the only way out as any other way was not a reality, there must have been thousands trapped the same way and couldn't say anything, and in many countries it was fatal to reveal those thoughts, it's only lately that a few countries and even military are a bit more understanding.

But he did what he had to, he would have still adored his family anyway.

Have a good evening both, good TV, The Masjed Singer on now.

both xxx

Baz

did you go out today? Hope Sammy is being good.

Hicky

missed your post last night, as it appeared above mine after I posted.

Glad the dentist said they could sort your problem out and not too expensive either. Do you have an nhs one? They are practically impossible to find here.

That's good news your breath test has gone up, even if it is just a little.

Thanks for the steam train link, I will watch this, I love trains, especially steam ones.

Hope your lad is coming on ok now. Do you know how long he is in hospital for?

Yes Love Island was really good when they came out of the villa.

I had the rest of the Toby carvary from last night reheated for tea tonight. So that ended up being good value.

My friend's kiddies (age 8 and 10) came for the day, we had promised them party food, which my daughter cooked them. We then took them to the local park, with the neighbour's dog we are looking after. So I am done in now, they have boundless energy, so had to help daughter watch them, whilst she cooked their party food.

Hope you have both had the beautiful sunshine we have had here today.

It was so warm in the sun, sheltered from the wind, that I took my jumper off, then my long sleeved polo top and ended up doing a bit of a sunbathe in my vest top.

According to the forecast, could today just be the calm before the storm though?

Enjoying watching The Masked Singer, then the Voice after. I hear they are going to do a 2nd series of The Masked Singer, which I think is great news, as I love this show.

Have a good evening both. xxx

Afternoon Mollie and Hicky What a 24 hours  I hope you are both  ok . I have come out of it relatively unscathed ....except for losing two of the slats on the pergola But in the grand scheme of things I can’t complain ....I’m just glad the winds dropped now ...although it’s going to be gusty for the next couple of days ....and even snow is forecast  Anyway , I’ve been to the spa and had a lava shell massage , and an Indian head massage , so right now I’m feeling no pain 

Mollie , did you watch Pottery yet ? Has it been windy where you are ?  Hicky , I bet you got it even worse than me ....hope your greenhouse is ok 

Anyway , take care both . I’m going to watch DOI and the second series of Monty Halls My Family and Galápagos tonight . I really enjoyed series 1 Have a good evening .

Evening Both.

12c today, rain showers and gales 50 to 60 mph until Tuesday evening.

Had crumpets for brekkie with butter soaked crab meat, finished it off.

Didn't do anything outside, prepared some salad spuds and carrots, chopped the carrots then did them in the potato peeler, worked fine.

Finished the decoration on the gingerbread kit so i could post a picture for the grandson who got it for me, will post at end if i remember, but being half blind and colour blind didn't help.

Made a nice meal with the spuds carrots and the lamb leg steak, in fact it made 2 meals so will freeze one.

Had 2 small hot x buns now having some crab sticks with my new spicy dip, wow, nice.

Mollie, Yes the dentist is both, nhs and private but i go nhs, they would love me to go private of course, have never been to another one, all the dentists from the same practice died years ago or retired of course, this is a young man, very nice, i went there as a child but of course i liked a short walk away then.

My lad left hospital on Wednesday, been in a lot of pain though, messaged him today, he is up and about though, strange i had no pain, i won't mention that, i did before his op though as i thought it was normal.

That was a lovely treat for the children, party food, love it, and the park, how nice and with the doggy as well, no wonder you are done in.

Loved the masked singer then the voice, i had recorded love island so watched that.

Just watching DOI, then Love Island.

Baz, Bad news having slats come off your pergola,but a nice spa and facial can't be bad.

My manshed door was open this morning, no damage done, the wind must have rattled the door and the little swivel lock had turned, the door is one of two as its a double door really, but it doesn't fit too well in the winter, it needs resetting.

Have a good evening both.

)

Hi both xxx

Baz

Yes indeed, a very stormy day, but not so bad as they predicted here. (Not much rain). Shame about your pergola, hope it can be fixed ok. Glad you got to enjoy a relaxing the lava  shell massage and Indian head massage. (not sure what a lava shell massage is, (something to do with seaweed or seahells?).

Have caught up with Pottery show (the flower vase one), but just realised I think I am a week behind! Haven't recorded it, so will watch on catch up soon. I am so glad I have you here to remind me to watch it. Life is often chaous in my house with 5 of us, an elderly dog and house rabbit and now the neighbour's dog to look after too, so I do forget stuff. I loved Clare's winning vases though.

I see Gogglebox is back on Friday, hooray.

Hicky

our posts must of overlapped again, as I have only just seen yours from yesterday.

It's great you get these regular video calls so don't miss out on your little grandaughter growing up. Any idea where you will go on holiday to meet up with them?

HOpe it was nice things you were thinking about in the manshed.

Your prawn sauce recipe shounds very tasty.

I too love those Taste the Difference hot x buns, they do seem to have a good taste, probably because they have extra raisins in them.

Look forward to seeing the finished gingerbread house.

Did you get it windy/wet up there?

It was windy but not much rain here. I watched the livefeed from the coast (where my son was in rehearsals all day) and the sea was real rough, so much so, they had to move the spectators away from the seawall for safety.

I stayed in today, didn't fancy going out in the wind.

Caught up with washing, have hung it round the house, it doesn't take too long to dry this year as we need heating on 24 hours.

I had baked caemenbert , oven baked rolls and some lovely tasty on the vine mini tomatoes. Very nice, especially as son prepared it all for me.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Mollie.

Didn't you see the picture of the Gingerbread house etc at the end of my last post?

Rather stormy here today, 7c with hailstones at 3.55pm and just gales all the time.

Had eggs on toast for brekkie, decided on a steak with salad for tea.

It looks like the HMRC have found my cheque as when i went online to my account it said a owed nothing, they didn't ring me though.

Also had a couple of emails from the passport place, 1 saying it was being printed and another saying it hqad been sent.

My lad said he would pay for the holiday, so we are all looking at places like Portugal, Barbadas etc all inclusive of course, i think o/h was thinking of it being during our winter but he may be looking at during summer, probably when they can get time off, not sure now.

Yes, everyone loves to stand by the sea wall looking out at the waves, crazy.

Those oven baked rolls are great, we often have those, and baked cheese and toms, very nice, your lad is very handy.

Enjoyed dancing on ice, wow, some good skaters.

Hope Baz has been taking it easy in this stormy weather, bet Sammy didn't want to go out.

Have a good evening both.

both

Baz

hope you had a good day today. Did you go out? I didn't bother today, as it was still a bit windy and showery.

Hicky

your post with the Gingerbread house appeared after I had posted mine, so I have only just seen it.

It looks lovely, so no wonder it took you awhile to complete it. Can't of been easy to make with your eye problems.

What a shame your lad is in so much pain, let's hope it eases soon. Odd how it was pain free for you though.

Good job your manshed was undamaged when the door blew open. The door on our shed blew open too, but it was ok.

Fancy HMRC not even bothering to ring you to say they had credited your account. Useless!

An all inclusive would be ideal for you, as I am sure you will enjoy eating what you want, when you want.

That's nice of your son to pay for you. It will be so nice for him though to see you and your OH, and spend time relaxing together.  Portugal would not be too far for you to fly. But Barbados sounds lovely too, even if further away, it is closer than Oz. Hope they can sort dates off ok with work.

Helped daughter look after neighours dog today when she had to go to town. The vet rang her and made an appointment with her for the owner to take dog to vet to get the teeth sorted, so am hoping this means they will get it done this time. Poor dog.

Watched Coronation stree, then Cold Feet, so enjoyed both of those and have recorded Love Island, I enjoy watching that when I grab a quick rest in the afternoon.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Mollie.

Yes, we must have posted together again, the biggest problem with the gingerbread house etc was building it when the icing really needed overnight to set, also building it then trying to decorate it, not the right way so have a left a message review stating my thoughts.

Yes, my eyes made it a lot harder than it should have been because i could only use 1 eye and of couse you can't judge distance so i didn't know where the icing was going, and most went on the table.

It is strange my lad having so much pain and i didn't have any, it will be down to the body makeup and your strength, i have none.

I can't wait to see the granddaughter and my lad and his o/h, on my computer background i have pictures from the various holidays over on our travels so i see all the places we went to, fantastic, have got so many from my phone and from o/h and my lad.

Yes Barbadas would do me, so would everywhere else as i only want to be on a sunlounger by a pool with a sun thingie and lots of food and soft drinks so it doesn't matter where i am.

It must be awful for the dog if it needs his teeth sorting, that would make it rather upset.

Watched Love Island and aftersun, a good night.

Sleep tight.

Afternoon Mollie and Hicky  Hope everyone is having a good day . Much quieter here weatherwise, but I think it’s supposed to get wilder again this weekend Still , rubbish bin got out and in again this morning without any mishap  Apart from that I’ve been out to lunch with my friend ....hic ....it was really lovely  to catch up ....and then we went for a little bit of retail therapy Now I’m stuffed  , and broke  

Mollie , your house sounds very busy....but hope the neighbours dog finally gets his teeth sorted . When are they back ? Glad you got through the storm unscathed . Have you had any snow ? We had some yesterday ....it was quite heavy , but didn’t lay for long . Yayyyyyy for Gogglebox coming back next week .

Hicky , nice gingerbread houses I’m sorry your son is in pain ....I hope it settles down soon But the holiday sounds fab . My husband and I liked Portugal , although Greece and Cyprus were our favourites . We never did the Caribbean, although we went to the Florida Keys ....and travelled extensively around the American South .

Anyway , enjoy your evening ....I’m not sure what I’m watching yet 

Evening Baz.

Very stormy here with 6c and gales all day, and tonight as well, scary, this started Sunday., it hasn't eased.

For brekkie i had a black pudding i gently boiled and some toast.

Had a sit in the summerhouse but its scary as the 22 windows aren't glass they are acrylic and are just jammed in with thin wood slats so they rattle.

For tea i got a premade meat Balti curry form the freezer, just made a rice cake to go with it.

Been eating my fruit up ready for new stock, love those Kiwi, so tasty.

Had an email from HMRC saying my tax will change as they have changed my tax code, it must be due to either i've got a company car or other benefits, my job or my wages have gone up, or my pension has changed.

The passport office emailed me to say they sent the passport, that was yesterday, today i contacted the secure delivery people who said they hadn't seen it.

It's good to get out with your friend, just take it easy, retail therapy, yes that is good, for a while till you realise what you spent, why not.

I had some of the ginger bread trees dunked in tea but there is far too much, now i don't know what to do with the rest.

I have got Greece in the list of possible holidays, the problem is the distance to places from Sydney, it's ok from most places to the UK but we didn't want my lad to travel too far but most of the easy to get to places are rather risky at the moment, also o/h is so fussy on food that that even restricts places i suppose.

I'm watching the Vet, i just search on the guide then stop and watch, if in doubt i select 1 program then search on in case there is a better program.

Have a good evening.

Hi both

Baz

Glad the weather is calmer, and how nice you got out for lunch with a friend. Was it an online friend, as I know you hav quite a few close friends on here? Did you buy anything nice on your retail trip?

No snow here, which is a shame as it is so pretty we just got boring wind and rain.

The dogs owners get back on Friday, my daughter will miss the doggie, and I am hoping the owner ensures the poor dog does get his teeth sorted and gives the food the vet said said the dog should have now. I have made sure the SIL and another of my neighbour's friends are aware he needs to have his teeth done, so hope this makes it harder for the owner to get out of it.

Sounds like you are well travelled. Where was your favourit place?

Hicky

you must of had a lot of patience contructing the gingerbread house. I hope you enjoy eating it now.

Probably best not to sit in the summer house until the winds subside.

You just reminded me that i haven't eaten my kiwi today, so will eat it before bed. I read how full of vit c they are too.

Wonder why they are changing your tax, you'd think it would stay the same now you are retired.

Yes that is the trouble with Oz, it is such a long way from anywhere in Europe. If you have an inclusive somewhere in EU, they should have a good choice in food for your OH. How nice you have so many photos to remind you of your last holiday with your family, especially as the baby changes so much at this age.

Hope your lad is feeling a bit better now.

Daughter had to go out today, so I helped look after the dog, and got some washing out on the line today in between the showers. It dried quite well in the wind.

I watched the funny dogs on C5, recorded A and E, and watched a drama on bbc1.

Have a good evening both xxx

Evening Mollie.

I won't be eating any more gingerbread, i tried the dunking yesterday, that was ok, but not much taste in it even with the icing, will probably dump it.

I bought 8 Kiwi last week so i could have 1 a day, must have missed a day so had 3 today, i scrape some of the furry stuff off then cut the ends off, cut the fruit in half lengthwise and eat it like an apple.

I have had 3 email letters from HMRC telling me to go and look at my tax account as my tax code has altered due to certain changes, well i had a look at 3 sections of the tax, and i printed the pages, the tax code has altered because the personal allowance has changed, my little teeny private pension has changed, my state pension has changed so of course it means my tax free amount which comes from deducting the personal allowance from my pension gives me a taxable figue it also give me a tax code which they send to the pension people to tax my little pension, they tax that at 50%, why they don't take it mall i don't know then i would owe them less at the end of the tax period.

All the money i receive from my little private pension they take back in my tax bill anyway, crazy, but the funny thing is after all this it actually looks as though i will pay less tax in the 2019/20 period by £32.

I was even looking at Greeze, will have to ask him what is the furthest distance he would go.

O/H gets nearly all the photos we take on holidays printed into those free print packs, they are really fantastic, and we have pictures from the USA etc on cushions so we have every holiday in albums now.

Your daughter will miss the dog when they take it back.

Couldn't put my weekend washing out as we have had gales sing Sunday morning, lasting till tomorrow morning.

Have a good evening.

Hicky. I just wandered in here and noticed you wondering why they didn't take more than 50% in tax. That's a fixed maximum by HMRC. I think they do that as for some people that could really hit them hard if their regular income was under half.

Also, if HMRC reduces the tax code during a tax year, that will be done on a "week 1" or "month 1" basis rather than for the year to date. If they were to do it on a year to date basis someone could find that their next pay was wiped out by the back tax. Where the tax code has been reduced, the notice will give an estimate of the amount of tax which has been underpaid and say that their tax will be looked at at the end of the year. As an alternative HMRC have been trying to collect the underpaid tax during the rest of the tax year by a reducing adjustment to the tax code - that's called an in year adjustment.

Evening El Loro.

Tenks fot that, very helpful info.

HMRC have been sending me an email daily to tell me of a tax code change, it changes nothing as the private pension can't take more and i pay what i owe at the end of the year, i am now in the Simple Assessment group, i checked their figures and i expect to pay less this year that last, why they call it PAYE when it isn't as i only have a pension, i had to ring them in January as they kept sending letters saying i hadn't pain my tax, they had made me send a cheque in November but they couldn't find it in their records, it is a sad affair tbh, i have this problem every year, at the end of Jan they said they would ring me when they found the money but they never did, i had to send them all the bank into so they could trace the cheque, i assume they found it as when i looked in my hmrc personal tax account it said i didn't owe anything.

Evening Both.

Storm has eased, 6c today, some sun and gales ealy then dropping over the day.

Went to the farm shop today, just got fruit and veg rally, i still have Bramley apples in the fridge from Christmas, so will have them with pork Sunday as o/h said she will do a roast dinner.

My passport arrived, got a text message from the courier saying it would be delivered before the 13th, when i unlocked the outer door at 08.30 the passport was hanging out of the letterbox, no need to sign for it, don't think much of that security, say it was the wrong house?

The new passport has no mention of the European Union on it, Yes.

For brunch i had a steak & gravy with a pork pie, for tea decided on chicken soup with a big plate of salad.

Hope you have both had a good day and are safe from infection and storms.

Have a good evening.

both x

Baz

hope you are having a good day. Did you go out today?

Hicky

that's good the storm there has eased, and you got out to the farm shop.

How odd the security is so lax for a passport, I am surprised you dont' have to sign for it. At least you are all prepared to go on hols now. Is it the new (old style ) blue coloured type instead of the dark red EU one now?

I guess it doesn't matter you don't eat the gingerbread house, the fun of it was the making of it, and it looks so good.

Greece sounds good, you should have a good choice of fully inclusive places with pools to lie next to in Greece. I find tripadvisor very useful to help choose hotels and places to visit, and like to read the ratings and helpful comments others put up on there.

Seems unfair how they take so much of your private pension off you in tax. The tax system is so complicated. And so is the NI system. I checked my pension forecast and it says I have 39 years of contributions, but still need to add 2 years, and pay £725 by 2025, esle I will be £10 a week down in my state pension. Our accountant thinks that is not right as she thought it was 30 years needed, but I looked it up and it said it changed to 35 years after 2017. So it stil doesn't make sense. I thought I was down because of the few years spent in Oz, but it still doesn't make it right, as I have over the 35 years. Think I will have to phone them. Oh dear, should be fun.

Went to Tesco today as daughter wanted to get some decent soft dog food in for neighbour's dog, to try and encourage the owners to carry on with it when they return. My friend came for coffee this morning and I gave her her fave brekkie that she likes ...cheese and tomato on toast, followed by a hot x bun today. She bought her daughter's dog too and he loved playing in the garden, looking for scraps of chicken we threw there for him.

It was a nice day weather wise, although chilly, we got some sunshine.

Watching Corrie, then that true life drama.

Have a good evening both xxx

Evening Mollie.

The passport looks exactly the same as the new ones from a couple of years ago but the words on the front page don't have european Union any more, don't know what colour it is didn't notice, gave it to o/h to look after with hers, its the same colour as o/h's.

I've sent the links to my lad to look through, so many good places, i just go alojng for the ride.

I thought the insurance contribution used to be 40 years, no idea what it is now, when i could draw mine i didn't bother and when they offered me a lump sum i didn't take it as it would ahve been taxed anyway, so that gave me extra money when i drew it.

But if they say you need to pay money i would pay then worry about it, you don't want any reduced pension.

Years ago i thought it used to be, for private pension, for every £20,000 in the pension pot you got £20 a week pension, no idea on figures these days.

Cheese and tomato on toast, yes, one of my faves too, no wonder your friend comes over, and a hot x bun, wow, she will want to move in.

Watching the Coco Cola company.

Sleep well.

Afternoon Mollie and Hicky  It was lovely  weather here earlier ....but now it’s overcast and feels colder all of a sudden ! How is you day going ? I’ve not really done a lot today ... I had to wait in for two deliveries .....one has arrived ....one still to come ....so I’ve had a lazy one  As has Sammy , but no difference there 

Mollie , yes , I went to town yesterday....I needed to post two parcels before the next storm arrives What did you think of pottery ? I don’t think Rosalind deserved to be potter of the week , as much as anything cos I can’t stand her I was sad to see the one  who went as well  I was in the same boat as you with my state pension , cos for several years in the 1990s I was in higher education and didn’t have enough NI contributions . Good luck with contacting them 

Hicky , how is your son doing ? I agree the security on that passport delivery was awful I too have to pay tax on my ....or rather my husbands ....private pensions , which always strikes me as unfair because we paid tax on the original contributions ! 

Anyway , it’s Best Cooks , and Secret Life if the Zoo for me tonightHave a good evening both . Take care  

Evening Baz.

8c here again, light rain showers early on with a moderate breeze.

I had a delivery today as well, a bottle of Linghams chilli sauce which i love and the one i have is almost run out.

I haven't rang my son, don't like to keep bothering him.

You pay tax on any income from pensions is because when you pay into pensions it is tax free, the payment into the pension is not taxed, it is added onto your tax free allowance and only the rest of your income is classed as taxable, it's always been like that as far as i know, thats why mine is taxed.

Have been in the summerhouse again, planning where to grow all the veg this year, i also have some seeds from Ohio which i am going to try

For brekkie i had sausages, bacon, egg, tomatoes and toast, for tea i had chicken soup and made another salad, jusr making my shopping list out, only need bread, no crust and a seed loaf, 15 eggs, double cream and 3 packs of mini choclate bars, i have everything else in stock.

Have a good evening and take it easy.

both xxx

Baz

good idea to have an easy day at home after you went out to town yesterday.

Oh dear,  I only went and forgot the pottery show again, and I can't see it on catch up as C4 had some disagreement with Humax so you can't get C4 or E4 on it as catch up.

I was tempted to watch the Zoo programme, but went for Brits in the Sun instead tonight.

Hicky

I am sure your lad will enjoy looking at the holiday links you sent, and looking forward to seeing you and OH soon on holiday. Did you send places in Greece, Portugal or both for him to consider?

Its nice for you to spend time in the summerhouse planning.

Yes I will definately pay up to make up for lost NI years, as they only give you so long to do so, and if you miss it, you can't make up for it after.

Think I will watch the new series of The Hunted tonight, I enjoyed it before when it was the public, but wasn't keen on the celeb one.

Goodnight both xxx