Lyra, Oggs, Berrie, Zeb (and Binkle) ....

[oggsfrog]

...... do you realise we've been chatting now for almost 18months .

Berrie, thankyou for the very kind offer to mug your children. It's much appreciated .
Tbh the car only cost £150 last year so it's reached the end of it's days I'm afraid - we need to get another one.

I know the feeling though - I think I've done really well at the shops sometimes, but try as I might I can't get it below £100 a week. Must Try Harder.

Hello!
Work day = internet access. Still not connected at home due to incompetent b$£%^&8s at Tiscali.
I have also been incredibly busy. The good news is we have a kitchen at last andf it's fabulous. They finished putting it in on Tuesday and they're coming back to do the tiling hopefully before the weekend. I can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to cook again. I've been using just a microwave for weeks. We also have a new central heating system. The two things were both done last week and every inch of the house was complete chaos. Plus DP was away all week covering the US election, so I was on my own with the boys. Hell.
How are you all? I'll have a read through the thread and catch up.

Wey Hey! Lyra!

Sounds awful Lyra, glad you are getting a bit sorted though. What colour is your new kitchen?

I've got oak cupboard and drawer fronts (Ikea, Ulriksdal), white stone worktop, high gloss white shelves, white stone effect vinyl on the floor, stainless steel appliances (American fridge, range cooker and hood and dishwasher) and a big white ceramic sink with a tap with the dangly shower attachment. It looks amazing. The boys have been having great fun with the water/ice dispenser . The builder who installed it is going to put it on his website so I'll put a link up when it's done.

Hiya Lyra! So are you all settled in the new house now?

That sounds really great. Do put the link on, I can't wait to see it!

(small voice) Hello?......

Sniffle...

Anyway...I've just cleaned out the pantry, thrilling eh? Now there is actually proper things in there rather than a tangle of wine making equipment. DH didn't make any this year so I've bunged it in the caravan.

I have sewed some gold egding onto ds's angel outfit. Did I tell you about that? He does not want to be a fairy and is not impressed. My Mum fashioned some little white trousers from an old tablecloth and I've made a tunic. Trouble is it has a few stains on them. I've washed it hot, washed it with pre treatment spray, washed it with a glow white sachet...have not tried a stain devil because I don't know what the stain is. DS wouldn't appreciate a star or something put over it I don't think...will have to sort it soon so that I can put the edging on that too.

It's ds's B'day on Monday. We are doing an evil playbarn party I couldn't face having one here. Trouble is I'll need to go straight on to choir if I go and I'll miss present opening. I didn't go last week and MFL'sF is going to be there between jobs this week and it would be nice to see him...

I've got an even more evil playbarn party to take him to this afternoon...sigh. Dh is out taking his Dad to a scout reunion and tomorrow he is flying. I was dead grumpy this morning every time I felt he wasn't doing his share Poor DH.

Anyway...that's all my chatter.

Zeb...where the devil are you?
Oggs, what's up with you as well?
Lyra did the Tiscili people not manage it on Friday?

Woooo.....ooooo....oooooo

(The ghost of conversations past haunts the thread)

How did you get on at the evil playbarn party?
How old will ds be? 6?

We had architects here yesterday for a discussion about house plans and my head was spinning after they left.

Db was rushed into hospital on fri with throat absesses. He couldn't talk and when he tried to swallow anything it was coming out of his nose his throat was that swollen .
He's had them lanced and drained and has been on drips, but hopefully he will be able to come home tomorrow.

Other than that I've been getting Xmas presents sorted and made.

Oh dear poor db. What caused that then Oggs?

Playbarn was not as vile as last time I went there as not as busy but our own play barn party is tomorrow. Ds will be 5.

I bought the ingredients for the Christmas cake today. I shall observe with interest whether there will be enough brandy left to do the final feed...

What have you been getting ready? I feel like this is the first year that I can sort of 'do' nice chrismassy things. For the past 5 years I've been either working or up to my eyes in babies / toddlers.

I have just failed in my final attempts to get the stains out of the table cloth angel outfit. Do you think it will spoil my proud moment if I can see it from the audience. It's not too late to start again...

Oh oh...how exciting about the house? tell me moooore!

We've lost Metal Petal.
It's my fault. I cleaned out the house on Staurday night and left the hatch closed so othat night they must have slept outside (though inside the run) The next day I let them out to free range but they hung about outside the door as their house was still shut up. Anyway, by the time we noticed there were only 3 hens. Either she's found somewhere to brood something has had her. I've searched out back and there are no sign of any feathers. Could something take her with no feather loss? It's such a shame as she is dd's hen and our broody for the spring.

Dd was in agony with earache last night. It wenr on and on until 1 in the morning and there was nothing I could do to help her. She seems ok this morning but taking her to the Doc's later.

How is your brother Oggs?

Sorry about Metal Petal Berrie - has she still not turned up?
It is possible for a fox to take a chicken without leaving any feathers I'm afraid, but equally she could have wandered off to lay somewhere.
Can they get out of the garden easily?

Hope ds had a lovely birthday ; that dd's earache has cleared up, and that you are not too frazzled.

Db is much better and back home thanks.
He had more than one abscess apparently and a grape he cadged off his neighbour in hospital managed to pop the one down his throat, so after 30 mins of spitting up the yucky stuff he felt much better.
He's on antibiotics and hopefully that is it over with. Sounds awful.

We need to sumbit house plans to get planning permission (after almost 10 years of temp plannng they are wanting us to go for permanent) - hence the architects.
Trouble is we can't afford it and are runnning a mile from the idea of a mortgage, so are looking at cheapest/easiest options for dh to build it himself.

Good news about db!

No sign of metal petal We have not told dc yet.

Would you get one of those wooden kit houses or build a traditional brick house?

DD won't take any more antiboiotics...any ideas?

Our garden is open to an area of trees and open land beyond. It was too large an area to fence when we started and also rather difficult as it's brambly and branchy on the other side. I guess we will have to do it if we want them to be able to free range though it's not going to be a six foot fence and I expect the fox would be able to get in if he wanted to.

House still under discussion at moment - it won't be brick built and it won't be a kit.
Dh will be building a wooden frame and at moment idea is to clad in tin/wood

Dd - bribery is surely the way forward?

Dh shot 2 of our knackered chickens yesterday - there wasn't enough meat on them to make a worthwhile meal unfortunately. Two more are in the firing line for today, one of which he will dress and we will eat.

Wonder what's happened to Zeb?

Shall I text her?
Will it be single storey?

Mmm, maybe. I de-registered from Facebook so can't check if she's active over there.

Yes, single story with room to expand into roof.

Ok have texted her.
Stupid old fox...he'd have had a better mouthful if he'd taken Snowbell. She looks delicious. Metal petal was all feather and bone as she was broody. Silly old hen, it would be her, she was always the victim.

R.I.P. Metal Petal.

We had a power cut yesterday for 6.5 hrs. I had a bath by candlelight and read Harry Potter (very nearly set my head on fire) .

Yikes!

Nothing from Zeb. Thought I ght e-mail but can't remember which of you she is...