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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Love the cartoon Gary, even though I have never had a dog. ButI did see a similar one that had the bed divided into various areas for cat activities like scratching, washing, lying on its back etc and the area designated for the human owner was about 6 inches wide!
ReplyDeleteOh, our bed ALL belongs to Merry! 🐱
DeleteOh this is the normal situation with Lady, although here in Cornwall I am in a massive bed, and for the first time in months I am not having to fight or plead for some space.
ReplyDeleteIn my earlier married years, we had a fold up bed in an alcove less than four foot wide and by morning we would have husband and self plus toddler with very wet and stinky nappy a dog and two cats.
Most of the male members of our gathering went on the Boxing Day Big Swim at Poldhu cove, the one girl who intended to swim chickened out in the end. Most of the rest of us were spectators.
In case anyone was wondering, I'm fine - even enjoyed Christmas Day in an odd sort of way, following as it did a strangely relevant midnight service, and the beautiful, cloudless sky was a great help. Just not feeling very communicative.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandable Sarnia but so pleased The Midnight Service was a comfort to you 🎚and certainly the Christmas Day weather ☀️ was a bonus and helped you through your first Christmas.
DeleteHave not listened to TA for 3 nights now. Have missed it, but will catch up eventually. The reason being:- a Wonderful Christmas. It was Great Fun, with family members + others, which was so relaxing, and full of cameraderie and love.
ReplyDeleteAt least will be sleeping in my own bed tonight, and my "pusscat" survived fine, as was left "home alone" for 2 days. 😺
DeleteSarnia, thinking of you. That first Christmas is hard.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, good to hear from you and that the service spoke to you.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, gros bisous xx
ReplyDeleteJ'vous remercie, mon vieux.
ReplyDeletea bit less of the "vieux" svp...! 😉
DeleteAh, we speaks funny old French to these islands, us!
ReplyDelete...and funny old English sometimes as well, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI thought 'mon vieux' was a term of affection ! ( like 'old boy' & 'old girl' in English)
DeleteOld bean😅😅
DeleteSarnia (26th, 7.21pm), glad to hear that the service resonated, keeping company with your mood & reflections. There will likely be many moments & memories in this first year, but Christmas, whether we like it or not , is so pervasive.
ReplyDeletemy reply was tongue in cheek! 😘
ReplyDeleteI know. Perhaps Walter Gabriel would translate it as 'me old pal, me old beauty'!
ReplyDeleteOh, Christmas was surprisingly positive. Encouragingly sets the tone, and all that...
ReplyDeleteI see that.
Delete.. me old fruit, ma grande !
ReplyDeleteGary, your picture is amazingly true! I can’t understand how a little dog can have me hanging off the end of my king size bed! Last night I had two dogs as Buddy decided to sleep on my bed! Happy New Year to all!
ReplyDeleteHaving missed The Archers, nearly all of this week, am looking forward to the Omnibus tomorrow morning. Will listen before going out, for yet another family get-together and a wonderful Family Sunday Lunch.
ReplyDeleteCan I take another great meal? - yes, is the answer.
PS Have a very difficult jigsaw on the board. It's going slowly 😣
Oh, Miriam, you have had lovely family time just lately. Enjoy! In December have had contact with two American ladies. One, in Dallas, is the daughter of long-standing friends we stayed with in New Orleans. The couple met Mike, my husband, in Be rmuda years ago and were so welcoming. Sadly Joel died in August and her daughter e-mailed to let me know. I sent her greetings not really knowing her and got a warm reply. Like me she is a dog lover and I met her daughter a few years ago when Bert and Joel brought her to London to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah (think it is same spelling for girls!). Eve, Joel’s daughter, would like to stay in touch so that will be nice! The other lady I met in Italy in June and she works with Shih Tzu rescue in the US. It was a together group and multiple e-mails flew around with Christmas greetings. In the melee, Sandra and I made contact again with much talk about dogs! Looking forward to future contact with both of them. It makes so much difference to reach out if just with words online which is why I appreciate the blog so much!
ReplyDeleteI sent Eve greetings in December as of course Jewish friends also celebrate at that time of year!
ReplyDeleteThat should be Bar Mitzvah of course! Must have pressed the wrong button!!
ReplyDeleteBar Mitzvah for boys, Bat Mitzvah for girls, Ev!
DeleteMany thanks, Archerfile! So by accident I got it right first time!
DeleteMy "Christmas Festivaties" this year, have been so amazing and wonderful, and thank my family so much.
ReplyDeleteThe best Christmas gift I received, has to be:- a years membership for Chester Zoo (only a 12min drive away from my home), starting Jan 1st. Just need to go, get a photo taken, and get my 2020 card. It will be well used, as already want to go and see the new 5 otter pups, only about a month old.
Hello All, from warm, sunny Dubai. (Sorry, shouldn’t have mentioned the lovely weather, but it’s such a treat waking up to a beautiful blue sky!)
ReplyDeleteIt was a very long day on Friday, travelling here. Left home at 8.30, arrived Dubai 23.30 (it’s 4 hours ahead here). Problem was having to wait almost an hour around the luggage carousel for our cases to appear. Fortunately I had booked a wheelchair so I was Ok, but by the time we emerged to find our son, he had almost given up and gone home!
Was unable to sleep at all Friday night due to severe pain in leg after such a long flight sitting down, then the extra time at the airport. However, dosed myself up with painkillers last night and feeling a bit better this morning.
Enjoying our son’s new house which is in a small complex of 16 villas set around communal gardens and swimming pool. It’s very pretty with palm trees and bourganvillia and it’s all looked after by a gardener so no work for the residents. It has proved to be a much better location for the grandsons as there are several children of the same ages living here and they have made friends which wasn’t possible at their last house. Also, their school is literally at the end of this complex on the opposite side of the road so they can both walk to and from school.
I am very restricted in movement now (the many stairs in the house are a bit of a problem) so my daughter in law is hiring a wheelchair (very cheap here by the week) so I can visit some of the interesting places here and go with the family to the beach and/to eat out.
I just keep hoping that if we are ever able to visit again, I shall be totally mobile next time!
Oh dear Archerphile, what a pain, literally for you! At least a wheel chair will help and you can get out in the sunshine and be warm. 🌞🌝 Heat should help with the pain once you’ve settled from the exertion of the travelling.
ReplyDeleteHave a good time with you’re family away from the grey misery we have here.🌫
Archerphile...how lovely to see your family at this time of year despite the pain. Hope the wheelchair helps. Keep dosed up with the old pain killers. 💊🦽
ReplyDeleteI like to read people’s travel blogs, keep us up to date.
Miriam....I too started a Christmas jigsaw yesterday....had to cos husband and son were watching bloody cricket again!!!!.....mine is also proving more difficult than I remember from when I got it 2 or 3 Christmas’s ago.
If cricket appears on the telly today I will be locking myself in the dining room with it. 🧩
I am also doing a Christmas themed jigsaw. I picked it up in a charity shop and it is challenging. Made more difficult when the cat interferes and I have to redo the pieces.
DeleteIn between I’m reading the newspapers and a Denise Mina who Dun it.
Great to hear from you Archerphile 🤗
ReplyDeleteHow long have you gone to Dubai for? It all sounds idyllic and a real treat for you all to be together for New Year 🎊
Trust you have a wheelchair booked for your return as well - a wise move. Were you able to board earlier as a wheelchair passenger?
Yes, Lady R, assistance booked at both airports, out and return. I’d never have made it at Heathrow as it was a marathon walk to get to the boarding gate, including getting on and off a train. Exactly the same at Dubai, but there the service was impeccable and my ‘pusher’ very polite and friendly and insisted on taking me all the way to sons car on top deck of the car park. At Heathrow, last time, I was turfed out in baggage reclaim and it’s still a long walk from there to the taxi.
DeleteStaying here for two weeks - home on 10th, full medical assessment at Hampshire Clinic on 14th, op on 22nd and bingo! 6-12 weeks recovery and I’ll be a new me. 🤞🤞
Yes 🤗 roll on the 22nd Jan to have to have waited months as you are now would have been just too awful 😱
ReplyDeleteAnother discreet meet up today between Sarnia ( visiting relatives in nearby town ), and MrsP.
ReplyDeleteA most enjoyable coffee event.
Biscuits, no cake !
And Lady ( mostly) behaved herself.
👏🏻 Lovely to hear Mrs P and much appreciated by both parties I’m sure. Have you met before I cannot remembe as there have been quite a number of meet ups to date 🍪☕️
ReplyDeleteIt is so lovely to hear that Archerphile is now in Dubai, with her family, and that You All, have had great family times, in this festive period. I call it "The Twixtmas Period", ie, between Christmas + New Year.
ReplyDeleteHad another great "Family Day" today, with yet another roast dinner, and fun with all 3 family generations.
Normality tomorrow, as need to put on the washing machine, for a big wash (as no more clean knickers) 😣😣 😂
.
Great to hear you are having such a lovely time with your family Miriam, usually Twixmas is a rather dull time for us, but not this year.
DeleteAlso, so pleased to hear that Mrs P and Sarnia had a convivial meeting - I’m really looking forward to meeting some of our members this year (having been dubious before!). Now we have all
been ‘friends’ for so long it would be lovely to put faces to names. Hopefully I shall be mobile in time for any arrangements that are decided upon.
I am also hoping to have a meeting for Hampshire (and nearby) Archers fans in the Spring as there are several locally based fans on the Ambridge Addicts FB page who would like to meet up, together with some of our bloggers perhaps.
Archerphile, I would definitely be up for a Hampshire meet-up, work commitments allowing.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a fairly quiet but enjoyable and relaxing time “chez Nuts” which has suited me fine. My neck is feeling better every day and the scar has stopped itching.
KP - may I recommend Magnesium Oil on that scar, once daily on damp skin.
ReplyDeleteI used it on my knee and every doctor that has looked at it is amazed by its almost invisibility.
In answer to Lady R, no, not met, but have been having telephone conversations.
I do hope the Hampshire meet up happens this year, and widening it out towards other TA forums will be interesting.
MrsP I thought it would be better to comment here on your comment on extinction rebellion regarding global warming.
ReplyDeleteThere is in my mind no doubt about GW and the implications for weather and our whole way of life. But they should/be targeting the capitalists who continue to extract, sell and use fossil fuels instead of investing in alternatives to keeping a healthy eco system. Tying oneself to an electric bus or preventing workers from going to work is confused, the message in taking such action is not coherent or clear and looks messy.
We all need to do our bit and I’m sure many try, but the key is education and yes confrontation but target the exploiters who rake in easy money.
Hope you had and are having a good Christmas.
Happy new year.
I agree that it is all about big business and money. We can only try to do our bit. We try not to buy products with palm oil as forests are being cleared to facilitate the growing of it. Last year in Sandown I went to buy fudge and found in a big sweet shop it all contained palm oil which is a cheap substitute for butter. This is one example but it is all about cutting down costs in production while still charging the Earth for the finished product. I have just bought a copper based pan to make my own fudge with butter!! I’m not sure what we can do about greedy big bosses except to avoid buying their products and time consumingly reading the small print!
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, am doing a challenging jigsaw, which is not helped by my "pusscat", now 14years old, and who insists on sitting on it, whilst trying to do it! Fun times, though.😊
ReplyDeleteAlso, trying to get on with my knitting - a chunky cardigan/coat, which started last year, but will soon be finished. I am having to use a size 6mm circular needle, to knit the back, due to the number of stitches, the pattern and the chunky "wool". It's different, but now have adapted to it, so going well.
KPNuts, 8.56 am
ReplyDeleteI will certainly post on here, if we are able to arrange an Archers fan meeting in the Spring. The consensus on the FB site seems to be for a meeting in one of the cafes in Winchester which seems to be easy for most people to get to. I think there are 4 or 5 ladies interested and hopefully some more from here. I hope that when the FB people meet up they will be interested in joining us too.
I don’t expect it will be until early April, hopefully I should be able to drive and get around by then.
The ladies from Ambridge Addicts come from Andover, Romsey, Basingstoke and Winchester amongst other areas but obviously anyone able to get to Winchester would be welcome.
There has not been any doubt for me about changes in weather patterns, ( now called Global Warming) loss of Insect life or changes in flora for the last forty years.
ReplyDeleteI have disliked the emerging society and the increasing greedy consumption of every thing from new clothes, exotic foods and cheap holidays abroad, arrived at by air, (when the passenger concerned frequently doesn't even know the name of the country they are visiting, simply the name of the resort to be visited ) and talking about our need to 'go backwards ' since my mid thirties.
And I've been told many many times that ' going back' is not possible.
'Man must progress, it's in his nature to do so'
Now at last, society is being informed that the only way forward is to 'go back' and relinquish much of the good life acquired by many in the last four to five decades.
In that time, I have most years bought one new item of clothing, and am still wearing some clothes that are over thirty years old, travelled by air three times, did not drive until I was fifty, and put in massive effort to recycle not only my own stuff, but regularly stuff discarded by others. ( for over fifteen years I collected discarded duvets, washed them and turned them into pet bedding for the RSPCA hospital in Putney. I did the same with discarded clothing and took it to charity shops). I still only buy fruit and vegetables when in season, and do not expect to eat out of season strawberries flown in from foreign climes.
I have also saved every drop of water possible and re used it if clean. And am still doing so.
I can't save the world all by myself, but ask some of these ER campaigners to give up one of the family cars, or to forego a holiday abroad, and one is abused.
I know this because I live in the town where two of the founders of ER reside. And boy do they retaliate if questioned about their own use of the bounty of the globe.
When the referendum results were announced my two granddaughters were outraged that ' their' opportunities to study in Europe were going to be prevented. IMO an attitude of insolent expectation of many of the young today.
In earlier times young people got there educational experience by picking grapes in French and Italian vineyards.
Re Wilding is indeed 'going back' to times before, but looking at doing so by different methods of management. It is not new, some aspects of this form of ecology has been progressing for forty years. And some of us were talking about how such changes could be made way way back even before Silent Spring was published.
My personal feelings are that the sooner the human race is wiped out the better.
We have trashed this planet with our need for progress, and many now seek to conquer other planets in order to do the same.
Hopefully we will all exit in time for this Earth to recover.
Without us.
I think it’s a bit extreme to look for the extinction of the human race but have for many years been concerned about the increase in population which demands so much more from the planet. At school in the fifties we were told the population of this country was about 50 million but now we are in the mid 60 million and rising. In India it has topped one billion. The conundrum is complex as one factor is improved medical care and we, the baby boomers are living longer. Birth rates must be looked at too and if you want more children than the average you need to support them without state help. Global warming is happening but climate changes have always come in cycles. We don’t help of course with pollution and again some of that comes back to density of population. No simple solution I’m afraid!
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ Ev.
ReplyDeleteThe extinction of the human race seems to me the simplest of solutions.
I think you have hit the nail on the head,Ev.
ReplyDeleteBirth rates need to be looked at.
I agree with you regarding the idea that if you want more than a certain number of children then it is up to you to support them.
This is a risky discussion to have, but I have to say that I feel the global problems we face lie with the growing elderly population. We are living too long, requiring expensive medical treatment, staying in our larger houses so that more houses need to be built. Most of us expect to have our own car.... I don’t claim to have any solutions, but I do believe that humans are an inventive bunch so I won’t give up hope.
ReplyDeleteI agree KP that people are living longer thanks to medicine, but I have a feeling that things will eventually change.
DeleteThroughout history world population has been kept in check through natural and man-made disasters e.g.. famine, earthquakes, floods, disease, infant mortality and of course war.
The epidemic in the developed world today is obesity. This is growing at an alarming rate and as obese parents have obese children ,according to the experts, life expectancy is expected to start dropping as the fallout from the health problems associated with obesity start to kick in.
Here in Dubai, we have been discussing climate change etc with our son and d.i.l.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty horrified that here, there are no concessions to reduce carbon production at all.
The city is one great explosion of light after dark. Illuminations abound, e.g. every palm tree along the streets is bedecked with lights around the trunk and up into the leaves - admittedly it’s very pretty but the cost in electricity must be enormous. The city is choked with cars, it takes ages to get anywhere because of the enormous traffic jams, especially at this time of year with so many tourists.
All the public vehicles, buses and most trucks, building and construction vehicles are diesel, belching out fumes like we used to see years ago in the UK. Apparently climate change is not discussed at all and most residents either are unaware of the potential problems or just don’t care.
It is very sad (and a huge worry to our family) that nothing is being done here to help.
Oh Archerphile, please send us some of your heat.
ReplyDeleteOur Central Heating has gone off.
I presume the boiler has broken.
Someone hopefully will come out before 3pm!
I went out into the garden earlier to get warm.
At the moment I am wrapped in a woollen shawl with a warm gilet over it.
Feet in woollen socks -cold though.
By golly though it does make one realise how fortunate we are to have a home.however cold it may be .
So sorry to hear of your chilly plight Lanjan. It is not hot here, but pleasantly warm, about 21C. Unfortunately, it is perfect for mosquitos and I have already been bitten in several, very inconvenient , places! I have to be very careful not to scratch because I won’t be allowed my operation if I have any skin , for fear of MSRA.
DeleteThe wheelchair my family have hired has proven very useful, enabling me to reach places I couldn’t walk to. But Mr A and I are now much more aware of the problems disabled people face getting around - no dropped curbs where you need them, meaning being wheeled along a busy road before reaching the pavement - steps into shops and restaurants, being wheeled over very bumpy surfaces etc. I shall be far more sensitive to such problems that wheelchair users encounter when we get home.
It gets worse.
DeleteA plumber has been and says it is a job for an electrician.
The electrician has just left and said it is a job for a central heating engineer.
Hopefully at some point central heating engineer will be able to do something .
Oh Lanjan have you got hot water at least..hot drinks and hot water bottles😟😟
DeleteOh Lanjan you have my every sympathy, boiler problems not good at any time of the year but Christmas/New year just awful 🙁 I do hope you are sorted by the end of today 🙏🏼 🤞
ReplyDeleteJust to add, we are supposing to be going to a huge firework display tonight, to welcome in New Year. Apparently it is a spectacular sight, but the traffic jams to get to the front will be horrendous so we are going to try getting a place on a very high arched bridge near the family home in order to watch the skyline. I doubt whether I shall go because of mobility problems but I am sure the grandsons and rest of the family will think it’s wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSo it is time for me to wish all Archers bloggers a very happy, successful, peaceful and healthy 2020. May you all achieve everything you are hoping for, whether it is better health, family harmony, financial security or just a thoroughly enjoyable year. And thank you all for your friendship and support throughout our blogging year. My love to you all. 🥰
Interesting to hear from Archerphile about wheelchair use. I came across this, with my late father. I hadn't realised how difficult it was with parking, access to premises, kerbs (but soon learnt going up backwards, always worked), and also the strength needed pushing a wheelchair. It certainly opened my eyes, to disability access and how important it is, hence my posts about - how would Ambridge manage?
ReplyDeletePS I ended up with severe shoulder tendonitis, which took months to sort out!
Thank you ,bloggers.
ReplyDeleteUpdate.
No heating engineer today or tomorrow or..........
We need a new pump
It will take a few days at least.
It is not the end of the world.
We have an immersion heater and electric fan heaters.
Before central heating, folk often only had one fire and cold rooms.
Not looking forward to being woken at midnight by the fireworks -neither is Percy cat.
However I hope that 2020 will be a happy healthy year for all Ambridge bloggers.
Why do these things always happen on Bank Holidays? Hope it get's sorted and you and Mr LJ can keep warm. I remember as a child in the '50's/'60's, there was one coal fire, a paraffin heater, and baths in front of the fire. In the mornings, there was ice on the inside of the windows. How times have changed...
DeleteGosh I have digressed 😣😣
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year To All.
🎉🎉🍾🍾🥂🥂 🤗🤗
2020 is a good year for me, as finally my SSP due date is in September, with the first payment in October. It's been a long wait. 🤣🤣
I am lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but unfortunately like everyone else my life
ReplyDeleteis work home work or other obligations. The last few days after lunch, however, we have driven 10 minutes to the nearby lake in the mountains. I call these excursions "life doesn't get much better than this" days. Clear blue skies, snow capped mountains and fir trees together with the clear water of the lake.
For these couple of hours you just enjoy and appreciate the beauty around you and all the troubles you have endured throughout the year , be it health, financial, relationship or loneliness are forgotten for that short time.
I wish all of you many days like these in the new year where you have the good health, financial security and the love of family and friends to make every day a " life doesn't get better than this" day
Cin cin🍸🍸💕💕Happy New Year!
Thank you Autumnleaves a lovely post and much appreciated 🥰
DeleteHappy New Year! Hoping that everyone has the 2020 that they need...xx
ReplyDeleteWell folks, 2020 and we are all still here and providing each other with wonderful knowledgeable and witty conversation. This has been a year of ups and downs and for Lanjan no heating. Keep warm Lanjan and cuddling up should generate some heat. At least Percy has fur.😻
ReplyDeleteI hope the New year brings joy and contentment, and that we can all make a contribution to the world 🌍 and make it a healthier and better place to live.
To heal the and the pursuit of happiness.
Cheers🎉🍾
Well put Stasia..
DeleteAm looking forward to a new "grand niece" due in 7 days time.This is an exciting start for 2020 for me.😁😁
Thank-you Gary G.💕💕
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have done a brilliant job as administrator, on this wonderful site.
I so appreciate the time you put in, and the many wonderful page photos/videos, you have done. Just so entertainy + spot on.
Have a Wonderful Hogmany..
PS Are you still in contact with Ruthy? - and if so - how is she?
Thank you Gary for all your good work in keeping us together as friends and companions throughout 2019
ReplyDeleteI wish a healthy start to each and every one and whatever 2020 brings to you and your loved ones, make the best of it that you can.
I shall be in bed long before midnight and wish you all a warm and
HAPPY NEW YEAR
✔✔✔ 🤗🤗
DeleteWishing you all a happy and healthy New year.
ReplyDeleteI may not often contribute to the blogs, but I love to read your comments and conversations and feel part of a lovely supportive community.
I hope 2020 brings good times to you all xx
✔✔✔💟
DeleteI was glad to read some bright posts here tonight - cheered me up a bit.
ReplyDeleteRough here : we went to Dr. this am with bad chest infections : Mr C. packed of to hosp. in ambulance, low oxygen count, chest infections being bad news for him, with the COPD, I was told to go home, rest, with antibiotics, paracetamol & Vicks vapor rub. A good friend picked up some things here & went to visit him. Oxygen level slightly improved, & he will bring Mr C's car home tomorrow. He may well be home by Friday
So New decade starts for us with a bang AND a whimper !!
Take care, one & all, with best wishes for 2020.
💕💕 my thoughts carolyn. Keep strong.
DeleteTake care Carolyn, hope you and yours are soon better. Big hug!
DeleteWishing you all a very happy and healthy 2020, and might I add my thanks to you Gary for caring for this blog and for us.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteMy best wishes to you and Mr C.
After your very painful attack of shingles (which gave me the impetus to have the injection) and now Mr C’s illness ,2019 has not been the best of years health wise for either of you so I hope that 2020 is a much better year for both of you.
Several bloggers have not had a good year for one reason or another and no doubt will be looking forward to a new decade in a few hours time when hopefully things will improve .
Thank you Gary and Ruthy too if you are looking in.
Many thanks for kind thoughts. It's a comfort when you're feeling low & weak ( but, yes, Stasia, strong inside, I think, despite appearances saying the opposite !)
DeleteBonne et heureuse année à toutes et à tous, good health and happiness to all ❤️🍾
ReplyDeleteA very happy and healthy New Year to you all and I add my thanks to Gary for our blog.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year one and all.
ReplyDeleteAnd to those who have had a difficult year, heres whishing 2020 will be much better for you all
Like any other years this one will have its ups and downs so just wishing you all strength for the downs and delight in the ups! It is a fresh page with much to look forward to, reflections on the past, enjoying the moment and savouring future plans. Wishing you every good wish for 2020!
ReplyDeleteVery very true and superbly put Ev I second all that you say and return your good wishes 💕
ReplyDeleteWell, friends, I have just experienced a very unusual New Years Day!
ReplyDeleteIt started off with being wheeled along the edge of the Persian Gulf sea front in Dubai, and finished by being wheeled along the edge of the Indian Ocean in Oman!!
Our son had bought a new 4-wheel drive car just before we arrived and was keen to try off-road driving in it. Such cars are a necessity out here with the road conditions as they are.
So we started in Dubai, then went through Sharjah and inland to the Haddar Mountains which run down the spine of the UAE peninsula. This is not a very attractive area, the mountains look more like high coal or slate slag heaps; dark in colour and very rough and covered in boulders and rubble.
But here is where we ventured off-road, along long rough tracks, past many stunted juniper trees, the odd camel, donkey or goat and eventually stopping in a completely deserted Wadi for a picnic lunch under a sparse tree. The minute we got out of the car we were mobbed by flies which were a pesky nuisance, got into the food, our eyes, ears and any other orifice and rather spoilt the romance of a desert Picnic. We had to watch out for scorpions and snakes hiding under stones but we all survived and we were soon on our way out of the mountains and down to the coast on the opposite side of the peninsular where we had tea (at a restaurant called Shakespeare and Co.!) on the beach in Oman, overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Driving back to Dubai at sunset was spectacular, with magnificent red and orange skies behind the black mountains, like nothing I have ever seen before. As we approached Dubai, out of the desert, the spectacular light show from all the skyscrapers, and the Burj Kalifa sparkling light a giant Christmas tree, was breathtaking, but we all contemplated what such an extravagant display of wealth was doing to the planet.
All in all a New Years Day to remember!
Next week, down to earth and back to our normality in wintry Britain!
That sounds amazing, Archerfile . How lovely that you are able to celebrate New Year with your family in Dubai.
ReplyDeleteI hope that 2020 is good to you, and that you will soon have your surgery, resulting in pain free mobility.
Thank you so much Zoe, and have a wonderful year ahead too.
DeleteHave thought about the last decade today.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many wonderful memories:- 3 weddings, 6 new births, many "big" birthday and wedding anniversary celebrations, new homes, new jobs and new "retirees"...
My only sad thoughts are, my Mum + Dad, are sadly no more.
I just hope this next decade, is just as enjoyable, with many more happy events.
Happy New Year All.
Wish all health + happiness.
PS It was lovely seeing in the New Year, with new eyes. It was so different to last year.
Thanks to the NHS for 2 very successful cataract ops - minor I know, but it has changed my life. 😁😁
To add. I drove in total darkness two days ago. This was for the 1st time in over 18months. Had no problems at all (was wearing my new driving glasses which have anti-glare lenses). Such a difference..😀
DeleteI had the same from the optician this year Miriam but have only managed to use them once. By the time I am able to drive again it will be spring and I'm unlikely to be driving in the dark again until next autumn.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, what an amazing day out for you all.
I shall attempt to follow your journey on google earth.
Thank you for writing about it in such illustration.
Back to normallity today, after a wonderful + brilliant Christmas + New Year.
ReplyDeleteA supermarket shop today, along with sorting the ironing out, to do tomorrow. Then sorting the next "washes" out, bedding + then towels.
Normality is starting, again 😁
Am off to think about, as to what do I cook + create, using a 500g 2% pack of turkey mince?
Meatballs are the No 1 idea, but might turn into a chilli, lasagne, or a "spag. bol".
Any other ideas???
All thoughts, greatly received.
We have not heard from Spiceycushion since December 20th when she made a comment about TOIL - time off in lieu
ReplyDeleteShould we be concerned ?
People are preoccupied over Christmas but hope Spicy is OK.
ReplyDeleteHave just read another book by Judy Leigh “Five French Hens” about 5 friends who go to France on a Hen party. All are over 70! Very entertaining and a good read.
Just back from Wales, spending New Year with son and d-i-l, so nothing as exotic as yours, Archerphile, but restful - just strange making the round trip by myself and driving past the hotel where we've stayed for years, because there's room for just one extra in the house.
ReplyDeleteI had a most enjoyable couple of hours with Mrs P on Dec 29th, exchanging experiences and setting the world to rights - a perfect foil to the hour of silence shared at my hosts' Quaker meeting, which I thought it politic to attend.
Miriam. 5.35pm.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest a chilli 🌶 with the mince. Turkey is such a boring meat and chilli plus garlic and onions will add a lot of tangy flavour. You are a brilliant cook so I’m sure you’ll come up with something tasty.
Sarnia: 10.36, last night.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a restful Christmas with your son, Sarnia, but it must have been very difficult making that trip on your own. How lovely that you and Mrs P met up.
I may be having some unexpected and exotic experiences, but they are coming at a cost. Our son’s house, beautiful though it is, is infested with mosquitos and I am being bitten to pieces!
Unfortunately I seem to be allergic to mosquito saliva (it’s true, as diagnosed by local GP!) and every bite on my legs has swollen to about 2” across, is very dark red, painful and itching like billy-oh!
I can’t sleep, sit still, walk or do anything much. The antihistamine tablets and creams aren’t working apart from making me very drowsy and I desperately just want to go home. I’m really concerned the hospital will take one look at my legs and refuse to do my knee operation in case of infection.
The strange thing is that Mr A is being bitten too, but doesn’t have the severe reaction I am getting, just an itchy spot that disappears in a day. The family seem to be immune, I suppose that we visitors are juicy new meat for the mossies! 😡
It might sound a bit extreme, Archerphile, but my huge, red itchy swellings respond best to boiled water, as hot as I can bear it - which is pretty hot to start with as I can't feel it due to the histamine being generated. Applied several times a day that usually defeats the poison in just over 24 hours - by which time I have new ones to contend with!.
ReplyDeleteMany heartfelt thanks Sarnia - I am willing to give anything a try - just going to ask the d.i.l. to put the kettle on!
DeleteThat's an interesting tip Sarnia.
ReplyDeleteI suffer very badly when bitten by mossies or anything else, and have done so since early childhood, and I have noticed relief from a hot flannel in the past.
I shall definitely try this tip and thank you for passing it on.
Pleased you enjoyed your break in Wales.
I can imagine the strange feelings as you passed that hotel.
I had my plaster off yesterday.
Very stiff fingers and wrist and my hand feels very vulnerable, but I was told to keep moving the finger. So far none of them are at all easy to bend.
It will improve.
I was told by a Greek that mossies don’t like the smell of lemons and so rubbing your skin with half a lemon should work. Otherwise suggest repellent which you should be able to get from a pharmacy. We used strong ones with deet when we went to Africa. If you can access a pharmacy there they will have appropriate repellents for the local needs. Good luck! Mossie bites are horrid even without reactions like yours.
ReplyDeleteRegrettably have not yet managed to find an insect repellent that doesn't contain any of the chemicals on my 'forbidden' list for allergic reaction.
DeleteMay I join in the tales of woe? Thank you...
ReplyDeleteOn New Year's Eve I was diagnosed with an eye infection called Pre-Septal Cellulitis - this basically means that my eyes were on fire, incredibly itchy and spectacularly painful! Managed to get down to the Dr's with a letter from my optometrist and get the required prescription in time. I am now on a course of heavy duty pills commonly used to treat malaria amongst other things, and they do NOT agree with me. Main side effect being the feeling that I have almost constant heartburn. Not allowed under any circumstances to take any form of medication to counter this!
It should clear up in a few days, (fingers crossed) so in the meantime I am reading & cooking like there's no tomorrow.
But already feeling better & am concentrating on doing what I did this time last year - have giving up fags, alcohol, meat, chocolate AND crisps! We will see how I feel in a month's time....
Sounds horrible, Gary. Poor you!
DeleteOh Archerphile will it ever stop for you 🙁 your cruise outings were curtailed by your knee problem and now horrid mosquito bites. Fingers 🤞for your skin recovering by the 14th because as you say it must be in tip top condition for an op. Can understand your need for home just now and such a shame that precious family time has been blighted by your condition. Take care 🌻
ReplyDeleteThanks once again for your concern Lady R. Must admit I am feeling a bit blue at the moment (as well as red and itchy) because this visit hasn’t turned out as hoped. But looking forward to the summer when, hopefully, the family will visit us in our mosquito-free zone.
DeleteI was about to post in a similar way Lady R. but you beat me to it...but so agree with your thoughts. I always take + use, a 1% hydrocortisone cream (easily available now) on hols, for insect "bites". It works so well, when put on as soon as "bitten".
DeleteArcherphile. I so feel for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare, you are going through.
My thoughts are with you, so "Take Care".
This may not be in time for your predicament now Archerphile but for anyone who is planning a trip in the future to mosquitoe infested areas, I can recommend Skin So Soft from Avon. I lived in Louisiana for a few years and I remember when my first daughter was a baby we used to actually bandage her legs every night to stop her scratching. Someone suggested skin so soft and it was a godsend..it's a bath oil but we rubbed it on our legs and arms because down on the gulf you were eaten alive.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they still make it but if anyone's going somewhere tropical...then that's what to take.
Gary ...hope your on the mend!
Thanks - and I believe the Army are still given Skin So Soft on manoeuvres! I have used it on my hikes and cycles and it worked a charm!
DeleteOh goodness me, dreadful bites for Archerphile as well as a not so happy visit, and now Gary with a strange eye condition. Not to forget PtbY and her Thyroid eye, which I imagine she is still suffering from.
ReplyDeleteSympathy for all from me and best wishes for some recovery soon.
A couple of us have been in touch with Spiceycushion who I am sorry to say, has had a recurrence of her horrible skin condition.
After all the weeks of treatment on steroids, and the accompanying side effects, she is very much in the doldrums and feeling far too negative to join in any discussion on the blog.
She is however keeping up to date by reading, but please do not expect any response from her to any goodwill messages.
I'm sure we will all hope that yet again her physicians will find a solution for her condition that this time eliminates the cause.
I should of course also mention Carolyn still at home with a chest infection, with her other half in hospital.
ReplyDeleteYet again..... sympathy by the bucketload and the best of recovery Carolyn, for you both.
My difficulties of coping with daily tasks with only one hand seem minor in comparison to the serious ailments of others.
Oh dear this is not the start we bloggers were hoping for is it 🤦♀️ Sending warm thoughts to all of you who are experiencing either new or reoccurring health conditions may you see improvement soon 🙏🏼 🦋
ReplyDeleteHello Spicycushion!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Mrs P., for contacting Spicy, though how we all wish it wasn't such bad news. It's been like this for so long - 1 step forward, 2 or more back. A breakthrough this year, surely.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your troubles, AP. At least you've received loads of tips about the bites today
Gary, what a rotten & unusual thing, where the treatment sounds almost as unpleasant as the painful eyes.. Hope by tomorrow, it's all settled down somewhat. And there's me, thinking you were invulnerable, apart from the occasional hangover !
Yes, Mr C being monitored carefully in hosp. 'our' severe chest infections is worse in his case because of some underlying conditions, making for complications. I'm muddling along at home, not allowed to move, but good support from friends, Son & d-i-l.Think antibiotics started to kick in today.
2020 can only get better for some of us !
Gary for acid burps a banana can be effective if you are allowed one! Hope it improves soon. Best wishes to Carolyn, Mr C, AF and Spicy and of course to you, Gary!
ReplyDeleteBananas for breakfast it is! Thanks Ev! 🍌🍌🍌
DeleteOh, why can't we all just feel great? Grrrrrr.....
So sorry Mrs P forgot about your hand! Hope it will get better very soon!✋😊
ReplyDeleteO la : sending positive waves to all sufferers.. 💕
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Poor Garry, your eye problem sounds awful and I’m so sorry you are suffering. You HAVE to get better in time for the Archers Conference!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn and Mr C, my hopes for a quick recovery from you chest problems and a return to full health as soon as possible, especially Mr C, still in hospital.
Spicy, my thoughts are with you and I sincerely hope things will improve very soon and that you will feel like resuming your participation on this blog.
Mrs P, here’s hoping that every day will find you more adept at the one-hand way go doing things and that you’ll soon be back to two!
To everyone who has sent suggestions for alleviating my mosquito bites - THANK YOU!
I think I have heard of the Skin So Soft solution before. Unfortunately I can’t get hold of any out here but will certainly get some when I reach home, if it’s good enough for the army......!
I now have some very strong antihistamine tablets and cream which seem to be helping. They are only available on prescription in the UK but available over the counter here.
Another small problem happened this morning (don’t laugh!) - I had a heavy fall, tripping over a curb when getting out of the car and into wheelchair and crashed down onto my knees. Result, scraped hands and very painful knee, which I cannot even stand on now!
But hey-ho, only only 18 days until the operation (if I get that far) and all will be fine again! 🤞🤞
What on earth is happening to us all? New Years are not supposed to be like this are they?
Hopefully everything will improve for us all very soon.
To all suffering from, Bites, infections, inflammation, falls, pain, allergies, operations, I send my commiserations and sympathies. I hope you will all be feeling an improvement in you symptoms. I’m keeping everything crossed that all ailments disappear soon.
ReplyDeleteSpicycushion. Keep reading, we are thinking positive thoughts.
Wishing You All Well - literally😁
ReplyDeleteJust Take Care + speedy recoveries to everyone who are suffering.
How is Janice doing??
Thanks Miriam. I consider myself lucky compared to some of the others. Yes, the doctor uses words like heart failure but it is not, I believe , the kind that lasts forever, and I am progressing well. My son knows my aim is to one day climb our local tor again, and so last week he drove us down a track on the moor to get close to and practise on another very very little tor and with much encouragement from the three youngsters, and very slowly I might add, I amazed myself by getting to the top. The view is amazing and I nearly cried I was so happy at making it and seeing it again. Happy New Year to all of you, and I sincerely hope everyone's health improves.
DeleteAlong with my fellow bloggers I hope that those who are experiencing poor health find their symptoms improve as the new year progresses.
ReplyDeleteYours too KP, and Janice, well done Miriam for adding Janice to the list of those of us in recovery.
ReplyDeleteI did a massive washing up today, and managed a wash through the W machine, then celebrated by being able to put hand cream on to my hands.
So I am now being able to use both hands with caution, but still wrapping the damaged hand up when out and about, as it is still swollen and feels vulnerable. No pain other than stiffness in fingers though.
A new friend with another dog from Rumania has taken Lady and me up to the common and then shopping this afternoon. I think I've finally got all that I need, including thank you presents for all the help I've received.
Well Done. It sounds you are well now on the mend..🤗
DeleteSo Wish others the same 💕✔✔🤗🤗
DeleteMy family in OZ, relocated from Victoria to Queensland in November. They would have been in the "fire zone". They always had to have emergency packs, for themselves, their 2 sons + the 2 cats, packed ready, for an immediate evacuation, probably with only 30 mins notice. 😳
ReplyDeleteNow having moved, they are totally safe..
But what awful scenes + sites are being seen, along with loss of lives, in OZ.
Glad to know your family are safe Miriam -it is just so awful in parts of Oz right now 🙁
DeleteSo sorry to read of all the health problems and setbacks so many are having to deal with this new year. Sending heartfelt wishes to all for better health soon.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile there are no more words 😱 but sending much sympathy. You are certainly going to get your moneys worth from Mr Stranks 🤗🦵🛏 🩺
ReplyDeletePlease get home in one piece 🙏🏼
So many bloggers and their loved ones having health problems sending ❤️ to one and all - glad you have some improvement with your hand Mrs P.
🤞 for this to be the case for everyone sooner rather than later!
If anyone is in need of relaxation, I would heartily recommend the "slow TV" show that was on Channel 5 earlier today that took you the entire journey from Fort William to Mallaig on The Jacobite steam train. 2 hours of Scottish heaven!
ReplyDeleteAhh, wish I had noticed that was scheduled...I have just been catching up with the reindeer herders’ sleigh ride. Two hours of calming bliss. Night night.
DeleteWe watched it last week Gary first time on - agree restful, Archerphile & Mr A would enjoy I’m sure (on catch when they return home.)
DeleteOoo yes! That sounds exactly my sort of programme! I would LOVE to take that journey for real, being a steam train fanatic (and avid train spotter in my youth!)
DeleteThanks for recommendation Gary, will watch on catch up as soon as poss.
By the way, Gary , does the train go anywhere near Plockton, a place I should just love to visit because of it’s Hamish Macbeth connections?
Ah Gary ,my son when he was about 7years of age was invited to accompany the driver in his cab for that journey whist the rest of his family were sitting in the ordinary carriages.
ReplyDeleteIt was a diesel train though.
He also accompanied a friend of ours who drove a diesel train on his entire shift between two towns in the north west of England..
He loved it.
Not any more -health and safety
(Like our Central Heating can’t be mended at the moment - health and safety - because it requires access into the loft which is not floor-boarded ) ,
Don’t tell me you are still without heating Lanjan! That’s ridiculous, are you supposed to go to the added expense of boarding the loft to get warm?. If you don’t mind some mossie bites, come out here and join us, it’s not hot but nicely warm. You'd be very welcome.
DeleteLanjan, you're still without heating???! I hope it can be repaired soon. Do you have hot water?
ReplyDeleteTo all bloggers and readers with health problems, I wish you all speedy recoveries and a return to full health. 💐 💐💐
Yes ,we are still without our Central Heating ,Zoetrope.
ReplyDeleteNo hot water-the immersion heater packed up yesterday!
We don’t have a dishwasher.
but
We have two little fan heaters
We can have a nice hot shower
The weather is mild
We have got someone else to come out to try and fix it tomorrow afternoon.
Hopefully it can then get fixed -on our Wedding Anniversary!
I know mornings are not my thing Lanjan 😴 so I am confused as to how you can have a nice hot shower when your immersion heater has also packed in?
ReplyDeleteWedding Anniversary tomorrow? 🎊 💞 “Congratulations” lets hope you have a present of heating etc reinstated 🤞
Different system fortunately Lady R.
ReplyDeleteOn a different subject late last night whilst using my iPhone suddenly up popped a message saying “ Your iPhone has been compromised/ immediate action required” press ok.
ReplyDeleteOf course I did not, and when I investigated via google a scam as suspected. So as I do very often anyway I went onto settings, Safari, clear history and website data then double click home button and swipe away anything currently open. Which is what google site said to do. Whew...
I also had a call earlier in the day which I did not get to in time (thankfully ) which seemed odd number wise when put into google it appeared to have some connection to Amazon but not happy (I had ordered some books but they had arrived that day) so got rid of that too!
I think Apple is more secure than most which is why I was particularly wary!
Well done Lady R, for doing what you did so not scammed. I always do, as you, when get a dodgy message or e-mail, to check it first.
DeleteHope you reported it to Fraud Alert..I always send a report, no matter how trivial, as it can help others.
Lan Jan, I am pleased to hear that you can at least have a hot shower. Presumably you have an electric shower system.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how testing it is to be without your heating system and now hot water as well.
H&S has become ridiculous.
A recent local post was for a plumber who would be prepared to take the side off a bath as the plumber she had called to attend to a leak refused to do so as he said it wasn't part of a plumbing job. What is the world coming to ?
Hope the next person to come is prepared to do the job, and that you will soon have heating and hot water.
After hearing about LanJan's heating problems, I am so glad that I have a maintenance package set up. It is quite costly, but covers all my CH heating/hot water systems/electric supply, plus all the drains + pipes, both water + sewage, on my property. As a single, female, home-owner, it really helps knowing things will be sorted, within 24/48 hours with just a single 'phone call.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well Lanjan and your heating is back on soon.🔥🔥
Miriam - we have one of those insurance packages too, especially because we are not on mains drainage and have a septic tank system. So we had to find find one that would cover pipes from house to tank and any problems with the system - which we have had in the past. We chose the Saga policy as it covers everything that could go wrong in house and garden.
DeleteIt proved invaluable when Mr A was away last year and there was a flooding problem with the loo - the plumber was out within the hour and put everything right for me, which I could never have done on my own.
I have had so many things done - new HW cylinder, new CH pumps and valves, room thermostats, radiator valves, to name but a few, and always done swiftly + perfectly. Have had brilliant service, + worth the monthly cost. Just feel am protected.
DeleteWe have a Home Emergency plan.
ReplyDeleteWe have used it several times without any problem.but nobody has had to go into the loft to mend anything until now.
We assumed wrongly that the problem might be with the boiler but it was with the pump.
The pump is in the bathroom.
The engineer bought the pump with him to put in.
However the loft was not floor-boarded and the water tank is up there .
If you have an Emergency Home Policy ,please check the small print to make sure your loft does not need floor boards.
If your loft hasn’t been floor boarded it might be an idea to get it done-at least round the water tank) - in case the same thing happens to you.
Very good advice Lanjan.
DeleteWhen we had our bathroom refitted a couple of years ago and wanted a proper shower, we needed to have an extra water tank put in the loft because, being very low roofed, there was not enough height above the bathroom to make a shower work without a pump, and the pump required much more water to run it without stopping the supply of water to the rest of the house (are you with me so far?)
It was a massive job getting another tank and pump up into the loft as we only have a tiny trap door and there is no headroom to stand up in the loft because the roof has a very shallow pitch! How the plumbers managed the job I shall never know. But with much in-drawing of breath through clenched teeth and swearing they did. And the loft is not boarded either, so I reckon we had a superlative set of plumbers who were determined to solve all the problems of installing modern plumbing in a 200 year old Cottage.
They got a very big tip!
We don’t have a water tank in the loft. Water comes in from the mains and is heated as it is drawn off. An electric shower is a good standby and we do have one in addition to our main shower which comes from the mains and has good pressure. Hope you will be sorted soon Lanjan!
ReplyDeleteMy water tank above the ceiling of the bathroom was bulging and about to burst when I had work done on my cottage. That part of the building is not boarded in the roof space, too shallow to be called ' loft' but my plumber and builders managed to strengthen the structure in order to prevent future damage and installed a new tank.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tight fit, but they managed.
I am a "saddo", as I bought 3 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper today, for a total cost of 75p.
ReplyDeleteA true bargain.
The thing is now:-
a) to remember have bought them
and then....
b) where did I put them?
Will know the answers in 11 months time.