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[Stuart]

I've never had an iPad but am looking for something when I go travelling to write on. Is an iPad a decent alternative to a laptop do you think?

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I bought a laptop as i don't like writing lots of text on the phone or tablet, despite the predictive text

[Stuart]

Certainly leaning towards laptop but just not sure how hardy they are in extreme temperatures and humidity. May have to go with good old fashioned pencil and paper!

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Stuart wrote: "I've never had an iPad but am looking for something when I go travelling to write on. Is an iPad a decent alternative to a laptop do you think?"

I bought an iPad for my husband when his apple laptop ‘died’. Cheaper and more practical for everyday but with writing books perhaps the extra keyboard might be something to think about. There’s some keyboards that double as a case/ stand for not a lot of money

[Stuart]

Thanks Lynne. With my propensity for losing things, giving things away and basically being rubbish with material stuff I think I should maybe accept that the pad and pencil route is the way to go. It's taken fifty-one years but it seems at last I'm developing a little insight!

[M.T.]

Roast chicken tonight. Hid the leftovers in the conservatory because it's a tad cooler than the fridge. Door was open 3 seconds max. No sign of McCat but the little bastard is obsessed with the lemon grass plant in there and got in without my noticing.

Predictable results. Lemon grass is fine but I think he's nibbled a little bit of the chicken. On the up side, most of it is unsullied but he may have licked some bits but hasn't broken the skin. The wussy McOthers refuse to eat it though. So pissed off. There was no sign of the little bastard anywhere, went off to watch antiques roadshow and McMini found the little sod plastered against the door like Dustin Hoffman at the end of The Graduate, begging to be let into the warm. It's his own fault. Mind you, our old cat would have had a good munch too, if he'd got in there. It is annoying though.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I told my lot off for leaving the lid off the butter and please use the butter knife. I hate crumbs or unidentified food in the butter or butter in the jam etc. Somebody had used a serrated knife who ever it was. Have you ever noticed how rough a cats tongue actually is?
Leaves marks just like a steak knife. :0)
I’ve just seen a twitter video of cats reacting to durian fruit. It’s really quite funny. You’ll have to put some in the fridge that will fix the little so and so.

[M.T.]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "I told my lot off for leaving the lid off the butter and please use the butter knife. I hate crumbs or unidentified food in the butter or butter in the jam etc. Somebody had used a serrated knife w..."

Mwahahargh! There's one bit that's a bit pressed in - but that might have been me picking it up and turning it over. I always put it in a bowl, bottom up, so all the juices drain through the breast meat. Some of the skin, where it was broken by us, looked a bit ragged - as if someone had chewed some bits off. But mostly I think he went after the lemon grass. If he'd done anything more than the tiniest nibble the bowl would have been on its side, and on the ground probably.

I have the serrated knife marks in butter too!

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Just got our appointments to be jabbed on Saturday. I’m treating myself to a nice g&t and making a pizza. OH has been on the garage roof re-fixing ridge tiles. I daren't have one earlier until till he’s come down the ladders, since my brother in law fell off a small set of steps and ended up in the Radcliffe for weeks with a shattered pelvis we’ve been ultra careful with risks.

[Pam]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Wow, been a hectic morning, and have another meeting yet! Going shopping for 4 people after work, it's my nephew's 8th birthday tomorrow, I have to get him a cake (sis has given me the money) - he ..."

Sorry have just seen this Desley - was going to say I think Marks do one of those chocolate caterpillars or maybe Sainsburys

[Pam]

Jim wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Morning all, we went for a walk in the wind, the cafe wasn't doing the food we wanted due to the weather, so we just got a hot drink - I got a black forest hot choc wh..."

Hadn't come across that expression before Jim so looked it up and found quite an interesting article - https://wordhistories.net/2016/12/27/cold-as-charity/

[Pam]

M.T. wrote: "Roast chicken tonight. Hid the leftovers in the conservatory because it's a tad cooler than the fridge. Door was open 3 seconds max. No sign of McCat but the little bastard is obsessed with the lem..."

Sorry about your chicken, but this did make me smile esp. the image of him plastered to the door - had a vision of him completely flat with legs in all directions!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Hmm, seems I forgot to post at lunch! Felt quite drained even though I slept through till 5.30, so it felt a long day at work. Ordered some new walking boots on Sat, I had two delivery options, went for standard which is 5-7 Feb, got home at lunch to a note through the door saying a parcel had been left with my neighbour, was my walking boots! Even if I'd paid for express delivery it was supposed to be 3rd! Glad I didn't pay the extra money.

[Jim]

Pam wrote: "Hadn't come across that expression before Jim so looked it up and found quite an interesting article - https://wordhistories.net/2016/12/27/....."

Fascinating, thanks for that. Obviously it comes from when charity meant love rather than charity as we think of it

But I heard it as 'as cold as charity, and that's cold'
So it seems to have grown out of the ones you discovered

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I watched a programme about the spread of the plague the other night. The word ‘promiscuous’ was used a lot from old documents but in the sense of being in casual proximity not in the sexual connotation more common now, promiscuous mingling brought me mental images it didn’t intend . It livened it up though,
It drew parallels with the current pandemic so if I tell someone not observing social distancing that they are promiscuous I’m likely to get into trouble.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Morning all. Raining again, can't believe how wet it's been this winter.
Apparently it's Groundhog Day today. My first thought was only today?

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Poor ground hogs would need aqua lungs here. It’s so wet again. .

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Woke up to snow this morning but a bitter wind causing snow drifts - phone said it felt like -6, was rather glad of working from home! Went for a little wander at lunch, was rather slippy in places, it was safer to walk on the road. Just started raining and it supposed to warm up, so hopefully won't have an ice rink tomrrow.

[Alicia]

Went for a ride around the greenway on Maggie today; it was 16°C out and very calm.

Had my usual fun of showing off my steed - and being a ham. It's harmless and people smile and ask questions, though I rarely induce them to try a little ride.

Thursday is our second dose of the vaccine - and then two more weeks and we'll be in best possible condition. I read that people who are vaccinated don't get nearly as sick if they do get the disease. Here's hoping.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning, just got back from dropping my neighbour off for a second attempt at her operation! I didn't have a good night sleep, so work will be interesting, but I couldn't face a 4 day weekend with nothing to do, so I'll just have extra caffeine. Now waiting till it is time to start work

[Kath]

Morning each. A touch milder this morning but still raining - although the forecast is for snow later. My gran used to call forecasting 'prophesying'. She'd say 'They're prophesying rain again today. Keep warm, everyone.

[M.T.]

I do sometimes think that predicting the weather is a very inexact science. Prophesying, scrying and similar seem to be a more apt description - certainly from the point of view of accuracy!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, neighbours surgery went well and she had a good night sleep, just waiting to hear when I can pick her up. There is an m and s food in the hospital, so going to nip in and see if they have anything nice. We actually have blue sky and sun, did yesterday too. Kind of had a lie in, woke up at 4.30, got back to sleep at 6, then got woke up at 7.50 as I'd forgot to cancel an alarm! Got a couple of things to do, but can't plan anything.

[Jim]

We had blue sky but thick black cloud is drifting in from the east.

[Stuart]

Aside from another horrific trip to the dentist, this week has seen me finish the first draft of one novel and write the first two and half thousand words of the next. A painful yet productive few days!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Got a text from my neighbour after morning rounds, there had been a complication during surgery that needed monitoring, so they wouldn't discharge her today, hopefully tomorrow, although since then they have put her on a drip as she is dehydrated. I did ask colleagues if they wanted me to change my holiday to half a day, but they said not. I felt too drained for a walk, but did go to the coop and back and done some things including my working from home tax relief and finishing my book so can't complain.

[Alicia]

Hope your neighbor is okay, Desley. 'Complications' is such a scary word.

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Got a text from my neighbour after morning rounds, there had been a complication during surgery that needed monitoring, so they wouldn't discharge her today, hopefully tomorrow, although since then..."

Actually I think it's probably comforting that they are keeping her in. Too many places have kicked people out too soon because of worries about covid.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning, waiting to hear whether I can collect neighbour or not, and the rest of the Zooplus delivery is due this pm, suspect the times will clash, so will have to ask a neighbour to take it in for us. Also it's raining today, so not the best day to be doing a 30 min drive each way on the motorway. Not sure if I can do my usual Sat walk either, hopefully i can to try my new walking boots.

To be honest Jim, initially she was supposed to be in for 5 days, when they revised it to keyhole and we thought she was coming home the same day, I wasn't happy, as I've seen people end up back in as they have been sent home too soon, so I am glad she's stayed in another night, even if she isn't. I know Covid is a risk, but she's on a neuro ward, so little risk of covid patients.

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Morning, waiting to hear whether I can collect neighbour or not, and the rest of the Zooplus delivery is due this pm, suspect the times will clash, so will have to ask a neighbour to take it in for..."

Glad to hear she's on a good ward Desley

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, timings kind of worked out yesterday, friend was late getting up, parcel came when we were 10 mins from home, but luckily a neighbour took it in for me, I'd just sat down with a drink and some food when my neighbour rang to ask if I could collect her. Turns out that while we were told it went fine, they could only do half what they wanted (and she was still under the time they said she would be) and had quite a few reactions to the anaesthetic so she doesn't want to go through that again. They actually asked her to stay another day and she refused, which I wasn't happy about and haven't spoken to her today to find out how she is, although she has got up. She's more mobile than I expected, so looks like I won't be needed for as much. Randomly, she can't lift anything heavier than a kettle for 6 weeks, but can drive after 2-4 weeks

[Kath]

How do? Blowing a hoolie here but what's sitting on the roofs is hail, not snow. I think it's not quite cold enough - but the wind-chill makes it feel arctic.

Hope everyone's warm enough.

[Jim]

Kath wrote: "How do? Blowing a hoolie here but what's sitting on the roofs is hail, not snow. I think it's not quite cold enough - but the wind-chill makes it feel arctic.

Hope everyone's warm enough."

It's cold here as well especially with the wind. There was snow in the wind, not a lot but enough to notice

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Yes, bitterly cold wind and trying to snow here too. Neighbour is fine today, she wants me to get her chippy for tea, don't fancy going out in this weather, but can't really deny her, there weren't many vegi options, so she's pretty much just had toast and jacket potatoes while in hospital.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

We've got -15 deg wind chill here today according to my weather station on the roof and no real snow but showers of that stuff that looks like polystyrene packaging balls. At least the rain has stopped - four days with hardly a break. The golf course is flooded and they've closed four holes. As it's all on sand that's a pretty unusual occurrence.

[M.T.]

We've got the same balls as Ro and it's blowing a hooley here and all. Dead cold. I've been out to the bins and that's about it. Cat went out stopped dead turned tail and fled back indoors as if Lucifer, himself was on his tail. Am reasonably warm though. Wearing many jumpers.

[Jim]

I do like the polystyrene packing balls description, we've had a little of that

[M.T.]

We have quite a lot now but it's melting fast - although at minus two, I'm not sure how. That said, the wind's gone round and for about the first time ever we have an east wind and the beet factory smoke is coming straight over us so it may just be that. I'll take a walk over to the other side of town later and see if it's melting there too. I suspect it won't be.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

No snow here. I’ve been looking at the Sahara sand clouds in France. If that mixes with our snow it should be interesting. There’s a photo of the snow in the Pyrenees totally orange/brown.
We’ve had our vaccinations. OH felt quite poorly yesterday. I felt a bit lightheaded but he said that wasn’t unusual for me. He’s living dangerously.
Stay warm.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, we've had pathetic polystyrene type snow most of the day, it is finally getting heavy, dreadful wind chill again, phone says -1 feels like -7. Highest we are going to get this week is 2 on Sun, not supposed to get above freezing tomorrow and more snow forecast. Had to go to the hospital to get some more eye drops at lunch but had a proper jobsworth on the phone 'no, you can't come and get some without giving us the empty bottle' - well it isn't empty, just nearly, wasn't going to wait till it was! Eventually they relented and sent a prescription to the hospital pharmacy for me. Just waiting for my neighbour to get up so I can see what I'm needed to do.

Glad you've only had minor reactions Lynne.

[Jim]

You do wonder at some people Desley
Demanding the empty bottle and leaving you without medication for an unknown length of time!

[M.T.]

Even though my hands are like blocks of ice within two minutes of leaving my house if I don't put gloves on, our snow is melty and claggy. Was going to go to Mum's tomorrow but apparently there are abandoned cars a couple of miles down the road on the A14 so it must just be the Beet Factory heat bubble. Will have to ring Mum and cancel for tomorrow. Feel guilty. Will probably tell her I will see about coming later in the week. Glad I went last week now though.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Sadly it seems I can't delete spam from this thread either.

This is not the place for self-promotion Elie - there are plenty of options for that if you care to explore our forum a little more. But multiple postings is not going to help with popularity...

[Alicia]

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "Sadly it seems I can't delete spam from this thread either.

This is not the place for self-promotion Elie - there are plenty of options for that if you care to explore our forum a little more. Bu..."

You did delete it. I can't see it. Thank you for doing the work. And it IS work, I'm sure. Unmoderated forums are useless within very short times, hours sometimes.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Slightly more snow today, but very fine snow, so though it looked white and pretty, it disappeared, despite being below freezing.

Jim, the nurse did ask if I could come today instead, I pointed out government guidance is to only leave your house when necessary and I have to go in the office on a Mon, so wanted to do it all in one day rather than go out two consecutive days, thought that might work on an NHS worker. Sorry it doesn't look like you will be able to see your mum this week MT. It appears you did R, if I hadn't seen the e-mail, I'd have wondered what you were talking about :-)

[Jim]

Big cheer for Rosemary who deleted the spam :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Afternoon, not sure how the snow has gone when we haven't had above freezing yet! We have blue skies at least

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I’m a sinner - last week I got chastised for filling the kettle too full, this week guess what? Not enough water in it.
Flushing the loo the wrong way last night What the heck.
I shall be needing an alibi and a new patio with a discreet builder if this continues :0j

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Lynne you must have the patience of a saint. But despite all that we put up with love them.

There have been a couple of spammers this week. They have now removed themselves from the group, having had a (very gentle under the circumstances) pointing out to them how we like to do things here 😀

We have some snow here, a very rare event. Coinciding with half term which is lovely for the wains.

[Jim]

Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) wrote: "We have some snow here, a very rare event. Coinciding with half term which is lovely for the wains...."

My daughter sent me photos from where she is to the west of you, they were promised 'a sprinkling of snow' and got six inches of it