OH. I think back to my childhood years and never recall a home so loaded with superfluous "stuff" as most people have now. Nobody seems to ponder how its all going to be disposed of once its useful life has come to an end. i,m amazed how many people, for example, upgrade their kitchens and...

Interesting comment about debris in outer space Westi, of which I think there is already rather too much but we dont yet seem to have got to the point where anybody is policing it or trying to regulate it. As here on earth, I guess every nation will be looking after their own interests. But once aga...

Not a good time to be a farmer or large scale grower of agricultural crops where don't think you can insure against potential weather damage to your harvest. That alone is going to make the cost of food, and potential food shortages a major issue in the years to come.

Westi, I think it takes most of us a while to "join up the dots" on unusual weather years. It probably needs the scientists who keep annual records to point out the stark facts that "unusual years" are now happening on a regular basis. For us it,s the small observations that the ...

Westi, re rats.. I ,m beginning to think that over time rats develop an immunity to rat bait. We put it down regularly and it all goes but we never see any dead rats. Perhaps they go off and die elsewhere but we never see any evidence of this these days. Which we used to. Does anybody know if the re...

Can't recall the last time we had a really thick and prolonged fog round here. I recall the bad yellow soupers we had in the late 1950,# before the clean air act was introduced. I would come home from school my face and outer clothes thick with grime.

As you say Westi- that,s Christmas Day virtually over. One wonders why everybody gets so het up about it and spends so much money on it for the few hours involved.. Think it will probably be leftovers day here tomorrow too!

Greetings everybody. Have a peaceful and happy day wherever you are. A wry smile to share. Our Christmas gifted poinsettia shed its last leaves and wilted flowers today. Definitely a case of "sic transit gloria mundi" when it comes to keeping these plants alive beyond Christmas . Does anyb...

Better to stay warm than die of pneumonia Robo., There nothing quite like feeling the heat of a traditional fire. We,ll all be turning up at yours next time there's a power cut and the heating goes off, (and probably a good place for getting that winter laundry dry when it's pouring with rain outsid...

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...