Dear friends, I have had a wonderful day of cards, gifts, face time and the doorbell never stopped!  So Lisa sent me afternoon tea for two and champagne, Faye sent me beautiful Philosophy Grace box set and what did hubby get me?  A parcel arrived, so big I couldn't lift it, I dragged it into the kitchen and he went (Oh S"""). Its supposed to sit on my worktops, my heart sank as whatever it was I was going to have to re arrange my kitchen!!  So he tells me, it's an ice maker, how is that keeping me warm I ask, because every time you have a gin you go in the garage and freeze the house out!!  So really a present for us both, he looks crestfallen but when we unpack it it's not as large as it seemed, I inwardly sighed with relief and it's a thoughtful gift, so an hour later it's where it looks good, you know what I mean girls, we like our worktops to look streamed and nice.  We've just had a takeaway curry, a gin is now awaiting me and thank you for the birthday wishes.  Xx

Well happy birthday wonderful lass ... 21 again I see ... well have a lovely day ... and make the most of it ... I'll have an iced lattee from your new ice maker ...   ; ))   xx

Hi carol, birthday girl.Sorry I'm late for the party hoping I'll be there next year and we can have a dance together.Make Norman jealous, take care.

Love Billy xxxx

Thanks Billy and Chriss, this ice making machine has turned out to be a load of work and stressful after  an hour and a half hubby tells me Prouldy that I have a bucket load of ice cubes.  Brilliant I say, get a bowl and put them in the fridge he tells me, I look puzzled, they won't stay ice cubes in the fridge, yes they will he retorts, no they won't, can't they be left in the machine.  Apparently not as once they've been made you switch it off, pull the plug out, empty the water and clean it until next time, so guess where the spare ice cubes are, yep in the freezer in the garage!!  So I'm instructed I need to have a gin to use the ice, so my birthday gift to keep me warm has caused me a bucket load of work and will turn me into an alcoholic!  To say things are strained is an understatement.  What a waste of money and time much easier buying a bag for £1.  He's decided we need to hold a party to use them, yes that will be good during lockdown. This will be like the chocolate fountain I bought, now in the garage.  I've never been a gadget girl, so this will now sit looking at me on the worktop until the end of time!  I know I sound ungrateful but I would have preferred a personal gift.  A foggy, wet day so stuck at home, Lisa is off to the beach to give Zippy a run, I said they'll probably end up running up and down the beach whilst he sits warmly in the car watching them, he's a big softy and doesn't like the cold weather or the wet.  Have a good day, love Carol x 

Update!  Having left him to think about it hubby has now come to the conclusion that the ice maker should be on the bar in The Bay Horse pub!!  

Well well well ...   ; ))    ; ))   ; ))  

All I can say Carol .. is let us all know which pub it's going to . ...   and we'll all meet there for a drink ... mines an old fashioned snow ball .... xx 

Mind you would have been amazing prezzy in that little heat wave we had.... my ex hubby first Xmas pressie to me was a brand new iron .... lovely any other time but Xmas... nearly threw it at him ... but remember saying ... well let's get the washing done so I can use my brand new iron Xmas afternoon .. 

Needless to say , it only lasted 27 years ... never improved lol ... 

Well meet you at the pub then .... Chrissie x 

I didn't post yesterday as I felt really unwell, my head was pounding and I felt under the weather but I'm a lot better now.  We did the usual bloods, all the oldies stood outside again but it filled some time in!  I said to hubby if I could have gone for a swim I would have worked the pain away.  So my walking boots were put on today and I had a hike around the nature path, it was very muddy.  When I got home Hermes were delivering Faye's Christmas present, can you stand still the lady says, I need to take a photo of your feet!  That's a first, apparently it's proof of delivery.  I'm watching, My new puppy, on the TV, they are hilarious, it's like watching Zippy, chewing socks, throwing his bed around, it certainly makes you smile.  Chriss, he's made more ice today!!  So by 2pm we had a bucket load that then melted and went down the plug hole, I give him one of my looks, it'll come in handy in the summer he tells me, got to love him, he never gives up.  So as there is very little going on that's it!!  Carol x

It hasn't got light today and it's depressing.  I ring Maggie and tell her the ice making machine tale, she reminisces about Paul buying a slow cooker and an iron for her Christmas present, she was not amused, just like you Chriss.  My wicked stepmother once gave me a Christmas gift in a black bin bag with a bow on top, inside was a flip top plastic bin!!  Hubby and I just looked at each other flabberghasted.  We'd had our kitchen done and had bought a stainless steel Brabantia push top bin, so needless to say the plastic bin went in the main bin along with the bin bag, we still laugh about it today.  I've had a walk but it's just mud everywhere, hubby collected me so he could escape for ten minutes.  I did the two minutes silence this morning but then hubby showed me the online video of XR trampling the Cenotaph to make their point, why aren't these people fined?  Tea is left over meatballs and spaghetti as I still cook for 4 people!  Take care, Carol x 

Dear Chris, sad times and miserable days, these are the times when it's raw for you and your family, it doesn't matter how long it has been, my Mum died two days before New years eve and despite the years I still feel like it was last year, I do hope your grandson is OK but the young ones seems to fight it off, just everyone else around them have to be wary.  I haven't heard from Jean's son again so I have no idea what is happening but I know how hard it all is especially at this time.  I'm worried about Mary, she never rings me and she keeps saying she is scared but I can't help her if she won't even see me, we could go for a walk but she won't even do that and it's very difficult.  I will have to leave her to work it out herself, I have enough to deal with.  Norman is having treatment today but his veins are not doing well and it causes him a lot if pain when they keep stabbing him.  If we come out of this lockdown I am going to try and see the girls but like you my grandson is at senior school and you never know what they may have.  So take care and know that I think of you.  Love Carol x