JillyBurg7 Member

There are indeed some very sad stories. One of my friends at my workplace was slightly older than me. Her Eastern European parents emigrated to one of Canada's prairie provinces and were very poor. As a child she had to walk a long way to school. She had to walk in normal everyday shoes because her parents couldn't afford…

PATSY, I received your input. I think life will be easier with the new iPad and that means once Mike has fixed it I should be able to settle down and do some REAL work! So give me a couple of days because of Reno's and thanksgiving and elder sons visits etc and away we go! Carrying on with the theme above and old memories…

When I was a child in Yorkshire we did all the things LIN mentions above. My dad actually wore a woolly hat to bed in the winter. The parents bedroom faced the North Sea and he said the wind was blowing straight from Siberia. Once when first married we visited and we were put in that bedroom. The bedroom was so cold we…

Me again. Excuse me please but I have to boast a little. My groceries just came and the delivery man was full of praise for my new deck and stairs calling it a wonderful job and actually asking who my contractor was. He also mentioned they'd missed my weekly order and now they know why! Sorry, I'm not usually given to…

Good morning Sneakers. A rainy start to the day but warms up later in the afternoon. It was lovely and balmy yesterday and Mark was here painting window ledges and a new door for my garage which he is installing. I was out picking yet more tomatoes which are still ripening and cutting back dying foliage like the peonies…

Early morning comment. Bean and I went to bed. I was just falling asleep when she had me wide awake with loud barking. We sleep at the front of the house and our bedroom window is just above the new stairs. Someone was climbing the stairs and walking across the new balcony/deck. A trot around the deck and then they walked…

JACKIE, so glad Bernie got sorted out. Many years ago my friend Penny who passed a few years back had the same problem. Panic stations when she realized her British Pension wasn't arriving. I think you had to fill out the form every 5 years back then. With the exchange rate its hardly worth all the bother of filling out…

JACKIE regarding British pensions. Earlier this year those of us living overseas received a form to fill out to send back to the Pension Office UK within 3 months. If the Pension office didn't receive the form they would presume we had died and cease sending our monthly payment. It's to stop people other than the pensioner…

SANDY, my front door is about 5 ft above the ground so the new deck, railings and balcony is outside my front door at the front of the house. 5 wooden stairs to climb up [or down]. Its larger than the old construction which means Me and the Bean can have a small table out there for my coffee and a chair which also means we…

Well, joy oh joy the balcony, deck and railings are finished! Just need staining but that won't be until next spring. they are painted with a wood preservative for now. It was nigh impossible to take photos because the sun was so bright. Mike said next time he's over he will take photos and try to get them on our Sneaker…

No problem with emails as far as I know PATSY. However, that is to say I haven't had any since Wednesday when my cousin emailed me from Australia. I presume she got my reply. Now the BIG NEWS. The balcony/deck/stairs should be finished tomorrow. I'm thrilled to bits with what is already finished, i.e. half the railings now…

JACKIE the problems you describe with MFP are exactly the same as I have had for a long time. So frustrating that one gets so fed up one feels like giving up the idea of our Sneaker post altogether. It happens to me on average every 2 months and I wonder if it is to try and get us to subscribe. Both you and LIN give…

I don't know how cold it gets in Chicago SANDY, but here in Canada which can get really cold the mums I've been given in the past all thrive in my garden in the warmest part which gets the most sun. I have michaelmas daisies outside as well which all survive. They go dormant in the cold [not a leaf to be seen] with new…

Sad news to begin with. Yes, Marias husband who had Alzeimers has died. We had a long talk and she cried a little. She asked if in future she could walk with me and Jilly Bean most days and being somewhat doddery these days I will be very glad of her company and friendship. Michael came over and we had a bacon and egg pie…

All things are quiet on the sock throwing front LIN. We've just been out picking tomatoes in fairly warm afternoon sun. Yes, I got everything I wanted at dear old Organic Garage including some delicious cookies with strips of ginger running through them. They are called Tates Bake Shop and are gluten free and absolutely…

PS. Oh girls I almost forgot to warn you! I got the "grandson calling Grandparent" scam phone call yesterday. He started off by saying "Hello granny, this is your eldest grandson phoning". He had me fooled just for a moment! I asked him what his name was and after hesitation he replied with my sons name. "I don't have a…

We are down to the daytime fifties now temperature wise. Quite chilly in the morning. Mark is taking me to the Organic Garage today and then he's galloping back to make a start on the railings. Jilly Bean likes to have the front door open so she can watch proceedings. Its getting a little chilly for that. Furnace off and…

JACKIE, boy - do I know the pound has slipped! with the exchange rate! Oh well, still glad I paid in, all those years ago! Its the pension I'm talking about. We've got typical October weather here as well with lots of rain. The holly bush is laden with red berries which I guess says it all according to my Dads long gone…

Well, I'm still busy. Did a huge wash and Mark and Mary jo showed up to put plastic bags on the sticking up posts on the new deck because rain was forecast and they didn't want the posts to become sodden before the railing is installed on top. Opening the front door for them standing on the new deck I realized the way I've…

IF I'm correct and I hope I am: HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LIN. Hope you have a wonderful day relaxing, eating your favourite meals and generally relaxing. JACKIE, than you for the photo. My cousin Judith lives in Otley. She is my artist cousin who taught art in Turkey once upon a time! I Wish I had known you were passing…

And a third thing just happened. My old friend Flo phoned me all upset. Her son turned up at her place this morning and announced "No arguments, I've placed you in a home and you go on Monday". He has power of attorney. Her son and daughter were there clearing all her things out of her home as she talked to me. Apparently…

Whilst I was out gardening, our old neighbour Joe turned up. The new folks are having issues buying the house and can't move in until 10th October, IF the house is even sold. Loads of people in black at Marias house on the other side which makes me wonder if Tony has died. The good news, Derek my grandson is here helping…

Hello everyone. We have a FROST warning tonight. Mark is working hard to get as much of the deck done as possible today because we are also predicted heavy rain tomorrow. I am so impressed with my youngest son. He was a chartered accountant until his back injury put paid to that. Despite still under physio he is a gifted…

Hello everyone. Loved all the photos. I had trouble getting in again but think I've made it! Things are all go here as the Ms try to get the deck finished before the bad weather sets in. Its going to be really nice, in fact by the time they finish I should be living in a very small but very nice house. It was only 41…

Very sad news this morning BARBIE and JAKE. Thinking of you both as you mourn the passing of your little pet and friend. Anne.

JACKIE, you said exactly what I wanted to say. I was so proud of Great Britain, and yes, me who hardly ever cries, did, and especially when the first hymn was the one I chose for my parents goodbyes, "The day thou gavest Lord is ended". I too noticed King Charles hair seemed to have turned white overnight. I think you will…

Just me popping in again. Apart from the corgis and the pony did anyone else notice that the Princes wives were wearing jewelry given to them by the Queen? Kate was wearing a beautiful choker necklace and Harry's missus was sporting pearl earrings given to her by the queen on the day she married Harry. All sorts of little…

I was up at 5 am to watch Queen Elizabeth's funeral. It was wonderful - absolutely perfect and well done. I liked the last part the best. Lovely family service at the St Georges Chapel, Windsor. And wasn't it wonderful to see her two corgis on the castle steps as she was driven past and her pony. All those perfect soldiers…

No we don't need a permit SANDY because the Ms are merely replacing what was there already. The Ms are now home because its raining as predicted. The old neighbours are back clearing out the last of their stuff as predicted. The ex mayors mom lives just around the corner from us, so she was just having a nose. She is no…

Hi JACKIE, so you can see why I get a little homesick. It should be quiet at Alnwick Castle with the family down in London for the Queens funeral. The saga continues here girls. It started with our departing neighbour asking Mark if he'd like an enormous ladder which Harry the horrible had nailed to our fence with enormous…