We were commenting earlier how several Christmas cards have arrived this year without the name of a sender written inside and we,re hoping this is just seasonal pressure and distraction rather than more of our elderly friends suffering from dementia. We usually listen to the Nine Lessons and Carols ...

I couldn't help noticing this morning the first tiny red camelia bud trying to pop out of its greenery. It,s far too early! I'm in two minds about-the Buckingham Palace Christmas Speech Christmas tree. Why dig the poor tree up just for the sake of a brief photo opportunity and then replant it? Dont ...

Such a lovely thought and gesture.
People are usually so wrapped up in their own arrangement it,s easy to forget how much it means to housebound individuals to be remembered by somebody else.

Geoff. I smiled about your comment ver the sprouts being cooked since September. My husband always swore his mum put the veg on to boil shortly after putting the Turkey in the oven so my tendency to cook certain veg only al dente was quite a revelation. His mum always mashed the swede and he loathed...

Agree about the simple things and good food cooked well. I,ve been regaled by various more mobile friends than I am now relating stories about their various disappointing pre Christmas meal gatherings in restaurants this year Poor service, expensive or badly cooked food. . It,s no fun running a rest...

Bad luck Retropants! Take it easy, plenty of bedrest, sleep and vitamin C if you can and hope you,re both feeling better by Christmas Day. Guess the restrictions on who gets a free flu jab this winter may be taking its toll. I don't know whether any regulars on this forum are going to be on their ow...

Prepare for a visit by the men wearing blue helmets and prepare to point to this posting as a sign of your innocence,. I once found what aI thiught was a cannabis plant growing in one of our borders! Surprising as I thiught they required consistent heat but it was located near our bird feeder at the...

Why is it young lads never seem to want to wear a winter coat? Is it some form of masochism? I watch a lot of lads walk past our house these winter mornings and no matter how low the temperature, few of them still seem to be wearing any protection over their school blazers. Still I suppose they're a...

I smiled about your "work clothes" Clive. Not long ago I threw out my disgusting torn old gardening anorak which had actually started life 57 years ago on our honeymoon!
My husband laughed and asked "Are you sure you don't want to keep it a bit longer?"

Afraid I'm not in your club Breq as although one year I grew a range of chillies, we found the majority of them were far too hot to make our food enjoyable. I ended up settling for the Hungarian (Hot) Wax variety which I think is regarded one of the milder varieties. Althiugh interestingly, every so...

One of life's great ironies. Now that I,m too disabled to garden, I,ve just won a £40 voucher from our local gardening nursery in a Christmas raffle!, I might be able to use it on vegetable seedlings if Mr Primrose is still able and willing to try some veg growing next spring but I guess we,ll be re...

Frustrating as it may be the above, ie keeping off the plot is sound advice. Longer term raised beds might be a so,ution, and to grow vegs which like moister soil in the worst affected areas. If you,re on an allotment, this really ought to be a matter for committee discussion as bringing in other he...

Just go ahead and book it. Don't fret about their religious views. View it as a business transaction only as they probably need the money like any other organisation to help pay for their council tax and overheads. But obviously check if there are any hiring restrictions first like No Alcohol as tha...

Best wishes for a happy day from me too!

Many Happy Returns. Hope you have a good day and a dryer one than we,re having here !
Do stay in touch with us all !