The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

Emptynester

Ivyleaf my machine is a John Lewis one, made by Janome. I was overwhelmed by the choice available and as I wasn't sure how much use I would be able to make of it. (I can only sit for limited amounts of time.) I didn't want to buy a very expensive one and risk it turning into a white elephant Then I saw this JL110SE which had lots of good reviews and I decided to treat myself. It's fairly basic for a modern machine with only half a dozen stitches but it suits my requirements and is smaller and lighter than my previous machine which had exactly the same stitches.

Skirt progressing slowly.

nursemaggie

Lyn we went on one of those. We went to the Netherlands supposedly the bulb fields. They picked up on M1 in Nottinghamshire at supposed to be 2.30am but then did not turn up until 4am. We finally got to out Hotel at 9pm. We had not stopped for a meal at all. I was feeling very ill as I was expecting DS at the time. I was desperate for sleep but also very sick after not eating for over 24 hours.

They gave us "kids" bunk beds and my ex was too long for the beds. They were also very narrow beds. If we had gone any further north and away from the bulb fields we would have been in Germany. We were woken very early the next day because we had to travel the whole length of the Netherlands to the bulb fields. We only saw them miles behind houses could not really see them . We then were taken to a sort pf park which we had to pay to go in and it was filled with flowering bulbs. It was identical to one we had been too in Spalding, Lincolnshire the year before.

The food was better in Spalding too. We got back to our Hotel at gone 10pm too late for dinner again. We were supposed to go to to Amsterdam the next year but we could not hack that long Journey again so we stayed in the town where the hotel was. It was a bit like Matlock in Derbyshire. We lived in Derby at the time.
I have never been on a coach tour since and I never will.

I have been round the charity shops in my local area this afternoon. When DS moved out he took all the cereal dishes. I bought my self 4 nice blue and white ones for £1. Unfortunately two of them are chipped but they are very nice with blue flowers and I think the two chipped one may do for plant pots. I don't need 4. I bought two pots for DS to put his utensils in. They have lids but I think they will be just the thing for him or if he does not like them he can have my stone wear Jam Jar and I will keep there.

I also bought myself two skirts and a Slimming World cook but, for DS one with stir fries, and lovely book for GDS from the Science Museum experiments for all ages. It has CDs in it. All are in mint condition and they only cost me 80p.

I then went for a long walk.

looks like I brought home some washing up and some washing as I got 2 skirts and a lovely pink broidly angles (sp) duvet set.

[Deleted User]

We had the same thing NM the coach hadn't stopped for more than a 'loo break' and when we got to the hotel the chef had gone home. The coach driver shut himself and his pal in the coach and wouldn't come out so I went and talked to the hotel receptionist who said they could call the chef back but it would only be soup and bread and it would be 9 Euros and 50cents each extra charge but we were all so hungry that no one blinked an eyelid at paying it. On the way home the only stop was at the 'booze' place, we had been promised a trip to a hypermarket but a couple of people on the trip were so insistent on the booze that he went there instead. Disastrous and we won't go on another coach trip ever again either.

nursemaggie

The final straw was when we got home and fell into bed the alarm clock went off at 1am to wake us up to go on the trip. We had forgotten all about it being set.

Nargleblast

Fence spammers? That was brave of them, trying it on here!

I have received a lovely PM from a Fencer who knew someone who survived 15 years after being diagnosed with the same as my OH, so there is hope. Just waiting for the oncologist appointment to come in the post, we won't know the full picture until we've had that appointment.

Today a Community Macmillan nurse came round - she is sorting out a prescription for Zomorph capsules (slow release morphine), seeing as he is finding the liquid version the only thing for the pain. It is so comforting to have people and services in place when you need them.

He even drove his new car today for the first time - the driver delivering it last week left only 35 miles worth of diesel in the tank. We went to a garage 5 miles away and I filled that tank up to the top. That did hurt financially, but I wanted to see how much it would cost to fill it. That full tank will last him a couple of months easily (thank goodness), as he does not drive every day.

I am at work tomorrow. Food and snacks are in the fridge, easy stuff for him to get. His tablets are in a dispenser, sorted. He knows where the Oramorph is and how much to take.

Thanks to all for the good wishes, every one plays its part in focusing healing energies. This is indeed an Enchanted Garden Fence with magical people.

monnagran

Yes Nargle, and you are one of the most magical, so don't forget that.

Well the day has been busy but all is prepared and bakewell tart for 50 has been cooked, cooled, wrapped, packed in bags and shut in the downstairs cloakroom safe from the marauding hound. After the debacle of the coffee and walnut tray bake Im not taking any chances. Unless Millie has learned how to pick locks since then all should be well. All we have to do tomorrow is the lasagne.

nm I do those surveys about comparing brands too. It makes me laugh when they give you about 3 dozen brands and ask which ones you have discussed with your friends in the past month and which companies you would advise your friends to work for. I have this image of all my friends sitting round earnestly comparing brands of detergents or TVs while a queue forms outside the door of people wanting my advice on which company they should work for.

Islandmaid, enjoy the car. You might as well, as filling the tank up isn't going to make your little heart jump for joy. Look, new anythings don't come along that often so make the most of it

I've never been on a coach trip and reading these horror stories I don't think I will start now.

Brain has parted company with my body so I'll say goodnight..

Softstuff

I'm not imagining many bakewell tarts Monna, just a gigantic bakewell tart filling a dining table :rotfl: I used to love bakewell tarts, it reminds me I did see a low carb version and might add that to todays todo list.

In other todos today I have 2 bedside tables presently covered in organic paint stripper and cling film in the garage. All reviews suggested leaving them like that overnight for better results. Today is the scraping and most likely cursing and sanding. Thing is, I only want them to look like they've been refreshed.... but to do that had to remove the original coating.

Shame I missed the fence panel spam, I need some fencing

My mum and I go on coach trips when I come over to England sometimes, some are better than others. We do a nice one to cheshire oaks usually, that gives us a few hours there. Years ago though we did a Belgium booze and cigs trip. That was literally hell on earth.

nannywindow wrote: »

Thanks Softstuff, nothing is ever simple, is it ? Distracted by bacon ? Would you mind if I used that excuse too ?

Feel free to share it and insert different foodstuffs as appropriate. It's not only an excellent excuse, it's entirely the truth :rotfl: Todays brekkie included black pudding. Would you believe that a local butcher here in Australia makes the best black pudding I've ever tasted. His bacon and sausages are to die for too.

Sayschezza

Witless wrote: »

I love Bruges and Aachen too.

There's a lovely wee place between them, Valkenburg, which shades them both. Definitely worth going via if you're travelling between Bruges and Aachen.

It's about 2 1/2 hrs from Bruges, about 1/2 hr from Aachen.

Love Valkenburg and go each year if I can. The caves are amazing (not the one where the Christmas market is held) and I always find a couple or so of new visitors to take there.

Just behind the church in Aachen is a small restaurant who does amazing curry worst. Back over in August and can't wait.

I love coach trips but I suppose it makes a difference where in the country you start from. We don't have a very long journey to Dover or the Channel tunnel so never have had to endure the horror stories that have been mentioned. The coach companies we use have always been brilliant for stops etc, and we have never driven for longer than a couple of hours before stopping for food and/or comfort breaks. Home pick ups also help. Will shut up now as I sound like a travel blurb.

Softstuff

I have 2 stripped bedside cabinets, hands that look like a builders, more curse words than a navvy and an aching back. Frankly the worst DIY jobs are not the ones that go wrong, but instead they're the ones that go so well, but are a pain in the bum to do, and you know you'll end up doing again at some point. Ho well. I've seen bedside cabinets that look like mine do now at pottery barn for $800 a piece, mine will have cost about $150 for the 2, including the stripper, bits and bobs and new handles, so I really shouldn't whinge. But I am looking at the bookcase and stool I also have to do with more than a bit of trepidation.

monnagran

I don't envy you Softstuff. I love the idea of upcycling but every time I do it I remember that the last time I had vowed "never again." Still, as the poet said, 'hope springs eternal in the human breast,' and I caught myself, only the other day, eye-ing a battered chest of drawers speculatively.

Millie must have sensed that I have to leave early this morning to get the bus because she woke me at 4.30! I really must get her a watch.
So, I've had my first coffee and piece of toast and any moment now will have a boiled egg as it's going to be an exhausting day and I need the sustenance.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

If you feel hurt by people, recognise that you are not hurt because you are you, but because they are them.