Leaderboard

The last week has been pretty horrendous, with a dear friend in hospital, seriously ill, and all manner of other things going wrong. Last Sunday, I removed my friend's 2 cats from the house and took them to stay with my friends who run cat rescue locally. Within 36 hours, Humphrey, the 12 year old tabby, managed to dig his way out of the pen and escape. No sign of him has been in evidence for a week. Today, although I wasn't planning to, something made me drive over to check my friend's house. As I walked up the drive, I was amazed and more delighted than w

A few years ago we were left a fair amount of money (all gone now though). We paid a one off fee just over £7000, for both of our funerals, cars, services, Flowers, songs the lot. All the kids have to do is make a phone call to start the ball rolling and all we have to do is leave a bit of cash around for the folks to have a party. No graves, we want to blow in the wind. Instructions left for when the last one of us goes, and the place of scattering is a location in Ingoldmells, the kids know where. Top secret in case of gate crashers. Death does not worry me, it's the bit before it that I do

Lizzie, your'e not under weight - your'e over tall!

Visited Mrs PP twice today at the hospital. The hospital charity provided an excellent dinner and two nice presents. hopefully she will be home tomorrow then we can open our prezzies together. It is suspected that her infection was caused by damage done during a routine endoscopy carried out last Thursday. All very sudden and at the worst time of the year. We should have spent Christmas in N Somerset and then gone on to London on Friday to see the ballet at the Royal Albert Hall. Looks like we will be cancelling that too If she is home tomorrow all the family will be dropping by

How fascinating ....... a thread about unwanted Christmas presents turns into the the cost of funerals! However, I’m thinking of my good old Dad as he would have been 96 today, but been gone nearly 5 years now. God bless him, he was a good un and always there for me, brought me up to be respectful and he loved me unconditionally. I remember Ann Swaby and David W helped me an enormous amount when trying to sort out information I needed for his headstone at Wilford Hill. Forever in your debt you two.

Undertakers around here will charge £80 to convey the ashes from the crematorium to their premises for you to collect. Considering they are in & out of the crematorium every day they have made a nice little earner. The price of wreaths, flowers from a florist is scandalous.

Earlier today, returning from the hospital, I exited the A38 at McArthur Glen. It's Boxing Day and I thought, at first, there had been an accident as traffic was backed up approaching the island. As I inched closer, I saw that the gridlock was being caused by cars trying to get into McArthur Glen car park, which was full. Vehicles were abandoned on the pavement, on the island itself and on the road. Yet still they swarmed in droves, blocking the way for those who wanted to turn right, as opposed to left into the retail park! I know I have a dim view of the h

Like you say Fly you have to make arrangements to avoid a burden on your family, it's not the cost aspect of things with me, more I see it as a waste of money. Even the last two vans I bought a Vivaro and this year a Renault were a nice shade of black, I have used vans all my life so may as well go to the crem in one. Lizzie please be careful what you wish for as long as you are healthy was a couple of ounces

Whiskas, Brekkies and the odd saucer of milk..... I don't think that'd work Lizzie.

LL I have to agree with your thought's on coffins, to me it is just waste disposal, so here is an idea, green bin for general waste, brown bin for garden waste, grey bin for recycling and black bin for the dead...... I have left strict instructions that not a penny more than is absolutely necessary is to be spent when I die.

No thank God! Think I may have mentioned on here before that in the Miami Costco they sell coffins (full size ones), in all sorts of colours. We were astounded to see them stacked up alongside the catering size packs of all other necessities. Wonder if people buy one and keep it in the shed, just in case?

I'm impressed with your knowledge Ben. I checked and Wiki says Third Test vs Australia at Melbourne[edit] The Third Test cemented the "Typhoon" reputation. He took 2/68 in the first innings and at the end of the fourth day Australia needed 240 to win and were 75–2, with Tyson on 1/11. Over 50,000 Australian fans came on the fifth day to see Neil Harvey and Richie Benaud knock off the remaining 165 runs, but what they got was 'the fastest and most frightening sustained spell of fast bowling seen in Australia'.[28] as Tyson took 6/16 off 6.3 overs from the Richmond End. His 7/27 in the

Pleased to hear the good news, PP. Visiting my friend in hospital yesterday, the staff were pulling out all the stops to make things festive, despite being very busy. I helped out a bit by feeding a couple of people their lunch. Even crackers and presents had been provided! No one wants to spend Christmas in hospital but it wasn't too bad.

'All's well that ends well' can sum up our Christmas Got a lively Mrs PP back home from hospital this afternoon and we had and excellent take away with family this evening. I am so happy

It’s ridiculous, I agree with you Jill. The big stores have had a Sale going for weeks already and McArthur Glen sells stuff that nobody wants to buy in the city centre stores anyway. We went nowhere near the shops today, but we did walk on the beach and that was busy enough!

Don't worry Ben. All us Nottstalgians wiil say nice things about yer. I'd even come over from Ga if somebody pays me fare. . But wait!!! You might outlive all of us. i've a plot already bought and paid for in Canada. Next to me first wife. Hope they don't forget and bury somebody else there. They'd have to bury me next to somebody else. Lovely topic to start the new year.

Lizzie, reading older post I noticed you had already mentioned how things follow on, as they say great minds think alike. Gem

Did someone not say a while ago mention one thing (coffins in my case) and a whole new subject pops up, that's why this site is so interesting and diverse. Lets all make sure it continues.

If anyone has any qualms about the cost of their own funeral, then the simple answer is to take out a savings scheme with the Funeral Directors, or a small insurance policy. I did recently, and mine will be paid for next summer.

Going back to my yesterday's post about the chap from Nottingham I met in St.Just , I remembered he said he had written a couple of books that had a Nottingham connection. This is the guy : http://colinbacon.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/vivian-and-i.html?m=1 One book was a bio of actor Vivian Mackerrell who was supposed to be the inspiration of the film Withnail and I . More recent photo at the bottom of his page .

I want a big wake everybody weeping and whineing, and generally distraught, f me ive been good to so many, lol

Way to go Humph'. Glad you got him back. I wonder how many of his life's he went through? Hope your friend comes through ok.

Twycross is a shih tzu.

I think he's got one, seen his physog on here.

Is that with or without Canada Goose crap??

A bit before my time, but....

Thanks Oz, as a kid i was cricket daft,last few years ive largly lost interest, think there are too many competions in interbational and the domestic games, Used to look forward to tests against Australia, now they seem to be playing them all the time, My interest started with grandad taking me to trent bridge early 50s,

Stay warm Margie !

Humble Pies no doubt Oz !

Never a great cricket fan, but I'm DEFINITELY loyal and patriotic. To me, the selectors always seemed to be overly concerned with how many unnecessary Christian names a player had, and whether or not he attended the 'right' school. They spend too much time thinking up childish nicknames for each other.

Without looking it up i now think Tyson skittled the Aussies down under in 1954, And Jim laker took 19 wickets in one match over here ib 1956,

One of the cars is probably mine, as we frequently pop in , and during the summer months, dine outside. There's also a short walk starting there, taking you through the surrounding fields. Well worth a visit.

My late friend, Rob 237 must be turning in his grave. He was a cantankerous old boy at the best of times. These current poor showings really must be making him squirm. Probably even putting him off his beer and Parkies !

Thanks Fly2. Just had a look on street view, quite a few cars in the car park and it looks like it has a nice outside area. Next time I'm over to see my brother I'll take up your recommendation.

Oz, just around the corner from Goverton on the Bleasby road is 'The Olde Tea Shoppe' at Manor Farm. A good Full English and fabulous cakes on the menu. So, if ever you're in the area, pop in.

Phil In my youth 1960's I often used to ride my bike through Oxton, Epperstone, Gonalston, Thurgarton, Bleasby and on to Fiskerton to go fishing, and I can never remember a village called Goverton. Looked on Google maps and street view and sure enough there it was. Just shows you never stop learning. If I ever went back to the UK that is where I would like to live.

NBL. I suppose I was thinking of the Cambs and Lincs fens which. of course, are low and flat with all those huge fields and wide skies (getting a bit poetic here!). I know that people who were born in these places love the landscape but I much prefer the woods and hills in Notts and Derbyshire. We live in a village which is mainly on one of the hills near Ely so when those sea levels rise and if the sluice system at Denver fails, we will just escape being flooded (although would eventually be surrounded by the original marshy fenland...). Ugh! All those eels....

PP so pleased your wife may be able to go home tomorrow. Best wishes to you both..

All quiet Mum and Aunty have gone to bed very tired, gin can do that to you. After lunch I found the channel that has the old movies so t hey were happy, we had a quiet day spoke to my son when he called his wife nice end to Christmas Day. PP ..... pleased to hear your wife is improving, hopefully you can start your Christmas tomorrow.

Our thoughts are with you both PP.

I’ve got everything crossed for you Terry in the hope that Marion is discharged tomorrow. Maybe you’ll still make it to the ballet, do hope so.

^^^^^^^^Good news PP glad the lady is making progress.

It must be extremely difficult to buy a present for a man who has everything, including a foot massager.

Cast your mind back to your early years When you believed in Santa and his reindeers You went to the Co-op or other store Where in his grotto Santa you saw Of strangers you had been told, wary be But you were encouraged to sit on Santa’s knee Seeing this strange man in complete disguise Upset some children, giving them butterflies When they would cry, kick and scream And down their face tears did stream But although frightened you sat on his knee And to his surprise, on him you did pee At school you had Christmas parties With trifle, jelly and some Smarties And whe

I hope you'll enjoy your Christmas lunch with your son, Lizzie. I'm sure it will be good to spend some time with him. I suppose we are fortunate (although some on here might not use that particular word!) in that our son's wife comes from a very family orientated background. Her siblings and her mum and dad all live locally and the families still do lots of stuff together. We went to a pre Christmas get-together on Friday at our son's house here in the village. There were only 11 adults, 4 children and a baby this time. We had jacket spuds with home made chilli + other bits

The weather in Jan & Feb can be quite mild, a few years ago me & Mrs C had a wander along Trent Embankment one Feb afternoon, some people were wearing shorts & T-shirts. lovely weather.

Happy and relieved to know that our son is relaxing in an hotel at the bottom of Kilimanjaro. We’ve just had a chat with him now that telephone reception is marginally better. All 8 of his climbing group made it, but lots didn’t get to the summit. He said he got a really bad headache as he reached the top, due to lack of oxygen. He reiterated that this challenge has been the most difficult thing he’s ever do.

The only good rat is a dead rat, I know the emoticon is a mouse but they are a smaller version of the rat,shot a lot of them anall Rog

A few years ago bonded wharehouses were being demolished on Newcastle quayside. When the first one went down rats were everywhere you couldn't see the road my daughter was in the hotel and said it sounded as if they were screaming.