Morning all. It looks as though there might have been a slight frost overnight, so the geraniums that shelter against the front wall of the house will have to be moved undercover if we wish to use them again next year. An item in the French news was about how people have been stocking up on candles just in case there are power cuts this winter. We were asked to save on electricity by 10%, and I think I noticed somewhere that so far usage has come down by 8.7%. There are people out there that need it to keep the machines going that save their lives, so any inconvenience that we might suffer is secondary to their needs. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Cold and grey outside, so think that this weekend might be a good time to get the wood burner up and running. My son-in-law who is an expert with the chain saw is spending Christmas with us, so I am hopeful of a good log store. The first cards have arrived from England, with our friends taking heed of the warnings to post early. Normally it takes three days for mail to arrive from across the Channel, but this year it is taking ten. We posted our ones for friends over there last week while we were in the country, so hope they will arrive, and not get lost in a sorting office. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. Brighter, but temperature is hovering around the zero mark. Christmas is now in full swing in the large supermarket in town. Lots of shiny snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, then having brushed through the faux greenery arches, you are confronted with the largest collection of chocolate you are likely to see. It piled high half the length of the main aisle, yet you know that if you have a sweet tooth and can wait until January, then there will be plenty left with 50% off. Have a good day everyone.
Very cold here... and at £1 an hour to heat the house..... brrrrrrrr............ I really feel for poor and elderly people
Much the same here - we have the CH on for around 12 hours a day. It doesn't 'heat' the house though - it just 'warms' it a bit. We have it set at 17C during daylight and 18C at night - any higher than that and it just becomes unaffordable. We are far from poor, so how on earth those who are poor are coping I do not know.
I see that games are postponed due to frozen pitches at many of the smaller clubs. I wonder what it will cost Watford to have the undersoil heating on?
More sad news: Actress Ruth Madoc, who starred in the BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!, has died aged 79, her agent says. Her agent said she died in hospital on Friday afternoon after surgery for a fall she had earlier in the week. Phil Belfield of talent agency Belfield & Ward Ltd described her as a "unique talent loved by many". He paid tribute to her "iconic" TV performance as Gladys Pugh in the 1980s comedy Hi-de-Hi!, about a holiday camp in the late 50s. "It is with much sadness that we have to announce the death of our dear and much loved client Ruth Madoc," he said in a statement. Describing her as a "real legend of the British entertainment scene", Mr Belfield said she was "gone far too soon". Her fall forced her to withdraw from performing in the pantomime Aladdin at the Princess Theatre in Torquay, Devon. Screenwriter Russell T Davies described her as "funny, kind, salty, shrewd and beautifully uncynical" in a tribute on Instagram. The Doctor Who writer and It's A Sin creator said she was "one of those great old troupers who loved the business, loved the stories, loved acting and actors". "She starred as Myrtle in a series I wrote calle
My friends elderly mum is spending £13 a day on energy currently...... not sure how she will manage.... but she feels the cold so much. Meanwhile my grandson has just gone home...so time for watching a bit of cricket before the game
Morning all. It is cold, very, and there was a heavy overnight frost. My daughter in Gloucester has just sent some pictures from her house, where there is a healthy covering of snow. Still not long before we have the shortest day, then we can start looking forward to the Spring. Have a good day everybody.
My wife and daughter set off to do some Xmas shopping in Elgin an hour ago and arrived back empty-handed about forty minutes later. The main road was closed about half-way there due to heavy snow - yet here we have nothing but a -4C temperature. Hopefully it's not heading this way as I'm expecting a grocery delivery within the next hour...
Morning all. A bright but frosty start to the day. According to the forecast, we will not be seeing sub-zero temperatures again for some days now. I had the wood burner going last night, and it was warm enough for Mme to consider taking her jumper off. She didn't! Now a trip to the baker as our bread dispenser is not filled on a Monday, then a trip to the physio with Mme. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. A light frost on the cars this morning, but Mme's car started, so she has pottered off. 8°C forecast for today, so it is warmer, but not warm. Lots of jobs to do that will not give me time to feel cold. Have a good day everyone.
Just received this from Facebook - along with a threat that my account would be deleted if I repeated the 'infringement'. Rather ironically, the video in question was one of those Nazi film clips that you can add your own subtitles to...
Morning all. Quite a change in the weather today. It is raining, dark and depressing, but 10°C. At least that puts less strain on the generators that are struggling rather. 50% of nuclear power stations are out of action, due to maintenance or repairs. The cooling towers of the one we see, that is 30 miles away, hasn't issued any steam for about a year. Cracks were found in some pipes that need welding, but there is no news of when it will be operational again. Let us hope it stays warmer. Have a good day everyone.
I have a sine-die ban with zuckerburgs dimwits. Absolutely no idea why neither despite trying to find out what I did wrong. Absolute t0$$€r$ In my book.
Morning all. Overcast, and the temperature has dropped again. Come the weekend it is expected to be up to Spring time numbers. It is little wonder that some of the plants get confused, and flower at the wrong time of the year. Physio this morning, followed by some Christmas shopping. Oh, what joy! At least we have agreed what we will be trying to find. Have a good day everyone.
i had something similar last week... I 'complained' because i could not see and was not sure what they had removed... . and a week later i got an email asking me to show them what they had removed...at that point i gave up
Darts night tonight. Okay so it's the local village league and not many of us are any good, let alone any good on the night. Thirty five minutes for a single leg with both pairs "in the madhouse" is a bit embarrassing even by our lowly standards. Can't say I'm not a trifle ashamed to have played my part. And we lost that leg too. Ultimately the match as well. FFS!
Morning all. Bright sunshine, but cold at -2°C. Yesterday there was a knock on the front door from a member of the town council. She had brought us our annual Christmas gifts from them. Two festive boxes containing all sorts of goodies, a bottle of red and white, chocolates, biscuits, duck pâtés and nuts. A box for each of us, as all retired people receive. Being EU citizens it all seemed quite normal, but now as migrants we are still treated the same as those who were born and grew up here. The locals still do not understand what England and Wales chose to do to itself. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. A heavy overnight frost that is keeping everything white despite the bright sunshine. I have booked my place with Jon Marks for the game this afternoon. I hope it is worthwhile, and we see some goals from Watford. Before then, I have instructions to measure the mattress on the spare bed that our visitors for Christmas will be sleeping on. I think Mme has ideas that she wants to buy more bed linen. Maybe it will be my present. Have a good day everyone.
