General Chat

O Ann what a todo with your lunch thinking of it I may just go and get myself F & C's as the vans there tonight. You've made me fancy it now and I have a nice bowl of strawberries for dessert.

Afternoon All,

We were up early again as OH had an appointment to get his blood test and was then going to pop to the shop for me afterwards. It was pouring with rain, which he hates, so was wrapped up in waterproofs and hat. When he got back he said the traffic was awful and he went a different way to the shop after seeing traffic queuing as far as the eye could see on the main road. It had caused him to do a detour last night when he had a meeting and he only got there just in time as everyone else was taking the same route.

We decided to have F&C for lunch, so he popped to the local chippie, to find it was shut despite checking the website and seeing it open today. So next we ordered online from another place, but soon after they said they couldn't fulfill our order. I suspect they were closed too, but why don't these companies update their websites? So, we got out of our 'round the house scruffs' into some decent clothes and went out to the Best Western to eat there. Well the day didn't improve. We ordered the F&C from the light bite menu as there is a discounted pud wth that if you want and asked what the pud was. Sharron went off to find out after leaving a jug of water and glasses. Then another waiter came and noticed we had no cutlery so went and got some for us. We were both looking at the vicious steak knife he had given me in error and didn't notice him waltz off with our glasses! Sharon came back with our pot of tea but forgot to ask what the pud was and said she'd bring us some hot water to top up the teapot and more glasses . The man who brought the cutlery realised he'd given me the wrong knife and exchanged it, then we got the pot of water, so I asked Sharon if they'd stopped giving biscuits with the drinks. No she'd forgotten, so went to get some, including the extra ones she always gives us along with extra teabags. The F&C arrived then with homemade tartare sauce and were very nice. We had to ask again about the pud, but, as it was a meringue filled fruit and cream, I decided not to risk having cream and OH wasn't fussed so we came home.

Today's trip round a house is a good idea for a rainy day AnnG and will be easier on your leg while it improves too.

Vera, some roads in our village are impassable for ambulances and fire engines because of cars parked both sides of the road on pavements. I don't know what the answer is either. Hopefully it won't be to force all of us oldies off the road! How sad your 94 year old friend has passed away and another funeral attended.

Mel the stag and young bunnies always look cute, even though I know they are such a nuisance in a garden like yours and can increase rapidly.

Mandy I got some pale lemon wool and some that was a greeny grey. I wanted small balls really, but they don't have any now. We still have 2 garden centres with The Works, but they have closed in another. They've stopped doing the packs of 5 little detail paintbrushes that I used to buy and just do packs of mixed sizes now. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jake! He seems to be doing really well now and enjoying his job. Yes, he'll have to get a bit quicker with his sausage making won't he.

Its just started raining here as I was going to corn the chickens. we've had sun most of the day till now.

Thank you Mel for the photos of your 'visitors'. So lovely to see wildlife like that from your window.

We haven't had the heavy rain experienced by others, but the morning was overcast with dark clouds. A very brief shower at lunch time soon stopped and the sun is now shining brilliantly. There's a fair breeze, so it's probably not that warm yet, but I'm busy indoors anyway.

Morning all late on parade as I had two parcels to do up and get down the post van.

Mandy I did that once with a hammock I threw myself in it and it split right down the middle and I ended up on the grass and had to roll out. I still have a rope hammock but don't dare put it up now so think I may give it to Em.

Vera you've had a couple of very busy days so sad wehn an old friend passes. <3

Anng you have been very lucky with the weather and been to some lovely places so a day inside a house will be good out of the rain if you get any.

It was slinging it down here this morning so hard and windy with it but its brightened a bit now after the downpour. The sky is still grey but its much much lighter now and I think the suns trying to come out a bit.

Went up the post vasn this morning and it did'nt rain then so that was good. I had to rush around and do the parcels up as I had'nt done it last night.

It is so annoying when a shop you like disappears and you lose all the bargans and bits you used to find in there. I found that when we lost the Factory Shop in Holsworthy but its back again now but I don't think its as good as it used to be.

Well I be3tter get on and do something today as I did'nt feel like doing much inside yesterday goin inthe garden and doing some out there. I have piles of ironing to do so I think thats what I will be doing today.

Glad you liked my little stag and Winking Blinking and Nod. Thats what mum used to call the three diamonds in her engagment ring so I called mine the same. They would be good names for the new chickens too? Hmm may have to think about that.

Morning.Anng Morning all,

Wet morning here so no going out in the garden not that I feel like doing much.

Hope you enjoy the walk round ths House Anng at least you'll be in the dry if it's wet .

Vera mum use to buy the broken biscuits in Woolworths and the slab cake ,there was fruit cake and is it called Angel cake the tree colour one .
We use to have the smell of Macintoshs chocolate factory in Norwich oh the smell was so strong .

Mel lovely photos of the deer and bunnies your garden is their restaurant.

Ann I always make sure I've had some food before my tablets .
Oh another book and a thick one too but that was a bargain for three pound, I see you have some wool what colour did you get , sadly our Works shop is now shut and I use to get lots of nice little things from there especially at christmas ,when ths children were small I use to get the children's books 10 for ten pounds .
Oh I'd never get out of a deck chair now lol ,we use to have some of those little fold up chairs for the beach ,we'd had them for several years and one day on the beach one of us i can't rember who now sat down in one and the whole seat rip and ended up with legs in the air .

Brightened up a bit now since I started typing but it's still raining .

Good morning all. Not dressed but awake. Not raining yet but forczdtvwas not good. We are off to a NT place today so as it is not a garden as such but a house we will be in the dry.. we can’t or shouldn’t complain as we have been so lucky so far this week. I am reading posts but it finding time to reply sometimes. Mandy hope that you are feeling better.

Thanks for the lovely pics Mel. It must be annoying when the deer and the bunnies chew your plants but it is lovely to have so much wildlife around.

It sounds as though you have had quite a good day AnnG but maybe you have overdone the walking and need to have an easy day to give your leg time to recover a bit.

Yes, Annx, it is a shame when the front gardens of houses are left untended or else become glorified car parks but I don't know what the answer is. Cars are a way of life now, particularly if local public transport is poor and people have to put them somewhere but a lot of people don't seem to be bothered about the appearance of their homes.

We have had quite a busy couple of days again. Yesterday we had to go to a funeral in the morning. The lady was 94 and had been in poor health in recent years but she had once been a member of one of our clubs and had come on all the outings and holidays with us and until the pandemic got a hold she would join us at our Thursday coffee meetings so it was very sad.

We got home from the funeral about 1 pm, grabbed some lunch and then I managed to get 3 loads of washing done and on the line before cooking our evening meal a bit early as we had a club meeting last night. Our speakers were a husband and wife talking about walking part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. It was quite interesting and they showed some nice slides.

This morning we had to go to the travel agent in the next town to sign a couple of forms and take in our passports for them to take down the details ready for our trip to Vienna. I had a short shopping list so decided to go to the large Co-op there. As I couldn't get the first 3 things on my list I gave up and went to a nearby Morrison's instead and got everything I wanted. It all looked nice and fresh. This afternoon I spent doing various admin jobs and rang the hospital as a couple of weeks ago my next eye appointment was cancelled. The email I had was very vague with no mention of whether I would get another appointment. The chap I spoke to checked and said I am definitely on the list for a new appointment but he had no idea when it would be. Goodness knows what is happening there as they are usually very good with their appointments.

I've spent a while this evening trying to find a suitable present for our dil whose birthday is on Sunday (same as OH's). In the end I decided to send her flowers in a gift package with a bottle of a cocktail based on tequila which I think she will like. I've not used this company before so I hope it's OK and arrives at the right time.

Tomorrow I must try and have a h/w day and also do something in the garden, weather permitting. At the moment it's still raining. Oh, and I will have to go into town to pick up my script as I will run out of one of my tabs on Thursday. Right now I think I'll go and have a wash and then maybe read for a while. Sleep well everyone.

Just come in from the garden again and cut down nettles and brimbles from under the two seater chair under the arch in the orchard. A nettle has stung me on the back of my finger on my right hand and it feels like a fairy with hobnail boots is walking over them.

I have sent pics taken through the bedroom window when I got up this morning and this evening as I was washing y hands on coming in from the garden on the grass from the kitchen window I saw first one then two then three Winking, Blinking and Nod. Blast so the rabbit population is now increasing rapidly as I saw two bigger ones round by the chickens this morning too and Big Mumma.

It has been dul here today 14 degrees but it stayed dry. That was the IPad era and I had not noticed.
Seahouses (And it did it again), was very crowded and quite cold. We had a walk round the town and down to the harbour, looked in a few shops then had a nice coffee in the cafe bar attached to the leisure centre as we had been unable to find anywhere else. We then drove to a beach that is the extension round a large bay of the beach two minutes walk from here. I need to check out the name of the place as I have forgotten.
We came back to our lodge for lunch then later had a walk out across the sand dunes. Daughter and SiL walked on further than me. My leg is playing up a bit this week and is wuite painful at times. Not sure what causes the pain. I turned back and took my to
I e taking photos of some of the wild flowers.

Edit Beadnell is the name

Evening All,

It's been a drizzly day here and cooler. We were up early and went to a Dobies near the other bathroom shop, but the traffic was bad through the village, so OH went another way and that didn't work as a road we wanted was closed! Another detour down a bumpy little lane and we eventually got there and had brekkie first and a browse round The Works. I got some wool and OH found a bargain £3 book he fancied that was an inch and a half thick! Then we went to the bathroom shop, but it wasn't as good as the one near us. As we weren't far away we drove past OH's old house and were shocked at how the little close of new houses he lived in had gone downhill and was mostly a park for cars. His house was at the end and had a long half moon bed that was just a bed of knee high weeds now. and the front border with the wavy path we made with a silver birch tree in front is just a patch of gravel with a car parked on it. As his parents used to live not far away we went to see what their house looked like now and it had 2 cars parked on the front sticking onto the pavement. The porch had gone and the windows and doors were replaced and most of the front gardens on the road had been turned into parking spaces.

Mandy have some food when you have the painkillers and try an extra pillow if you haven't already as it may help. My word, Jake is nearly as old as my first OH when I started seeing him! Money always goes down well for teenage birthdays. A lot of the pleasure is deciding what to buy! I can imagine you trying to get out of those chairs as I would be the same so it's good your son can use them now. We have had some lethal garden chairs in the past, starting with deck chairs. Others have started folding up as soon as you move as well. Yes, I did think about tacks on the drive, but then I would get punctures driving over them as well!

I'd forgotten all about the Lincoln biscuits that Gwyn mentioned. I liked them too and the Nice ones although I was never sure what to call them. I didn't like to say, but a girl I used to work with called Garibaldi biscuits fly cemetries! I like bourbon biscuits, but OH doesn't and we both like jammie dodgers.

I remember hunting for the salt in the blue paper in the dark at the cinema with first OH when he was my boyfriend. I never used it though, just threw it away. We have the Walkers factory in the city, so I've always liked their crisps. Like Mel I never liked cheese as a child, except the dairylea triangles, but my favourite crips are cheese and onion and even more the plain cheese ones that Walkers no longer make sadly. I used to ride on the bus from school past the Frears and Blacks factory and in the summer when the windows were open the whole area seemed to smell of custard creams.

A nice day at Alnwick gardens then AnnG. I remember it had some interesting water features, but like you I never got to go round the poison garden. It had a locked gate when I went to make sure no-one wandered in. It must have been warmer there than here if you were able to sit on your balcony.

I'd better go and check I'm set to record the sewing bee now.

Evening everyone

It wasn’t a bad day yesterday - cool in the morning but warm in the afternoon and dry all day but today’s not so good. It was grey and cool till late morning, then light rain and heavy rain since lunchtime. That put paid to my plans of doing a bit more in the garden.

I hope the stronger pain killers are helping Mandy. It’s hard to believe that Jake is 19 already. I hope he has a lovely birthday tomorrow.

You are working hard on your land Mel. I don’t know how you do it. I struggle to keep up with the jobs in our tiny patch. Be careful of your knee. You don’t want to be hobbling around again.

I laughed at your typo, AnnG, or was it an iPad autocorrection? I imagined you galloping across the waves with your seahorses. I hope you enjoyed your day at Seahouses and the weather was kind to you.

You have all started some memories with the biscuits you like. I had forgotten Lincoln which I liked. I think as a child my favourite biscuit was Marie. I haven’t seen either of those in the shops for years. When I was young we lived near the Chiltonian biscuit factory and my mother used to be able to buy a very big paper bag full of mixed broken biscuits for a shilling so we always had a great variety of biscuits. Occasionally we even found a whole one and thought we had got the jackpot.

I am typing this while trying to cook dinner and things are starting to boil over so I’ll post and maybe come back later.

We,ve got thunder rumbling around but the suns still out.

Bless him Mandy it would be good if he could break the record and get his name in the guiness book of records.

Got hot strimmed all the trees in the orchard and some of the side and top by the wall.

Oh the little blue bag in the crisps ,the times I pick it out and bit into it before I realised.
Jake will be nineteen he's a lovely young chap ,I asked him if he'd seen the young lad on the tele the other day he had done a record of making 85 sausages in a minute for
the Guinness book of records ,Jake said I think I could make about 50 so he has a way to go :-)

O yes Lincoln biscuit that was another I liked as a child but I hav'nt seen those for years. I seem to have mostly liked the plain biscuits.

When my best friend and I used togo down the local stables to look after the horses we would look around for lemonade bottles and take them back to the hsop and get the 3d back on them and go to the offy and get three huge osbourne biscuit as they were 1d each. If we found two bottles we would get a packet of Smiths crisps for the 3d and lick the biscuits and put the little blue bag of salt over the biscuits and we thought that was lovely!! Then they brought out flavoured crisps, I think there was bovril or beef ones and cheese and onion ones. I did'nt eat cheese when I was young hated it.

I have taken it easy today but the suns still shining and I have the urge to go and do a bit of strimming as I can't see the plnts in front of my shed the grass is so high. I also want to go up and take some pics of my bearded iris which I keep forgeting and I have roses out on the wall. The lantern bush is covered in flower this year. I have also had a blue iris out in the garden it flowers before the bearded ones and was given to me by a friend who is sadly no longer with us but I always think of her when I see it in the border so thats nice.

DIL and son will be glad of those garden chairs if the weather holds. How old is Jake tomorrow I lose count.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW JAKE, HAVE A LOVELY DAY.

Morning all,
Very dull here today and we should have rain later.
Had a better night woke at twenty to three and had a pain killer then woke just after six,got out to the loo and felt very sick but it went off .

Son ,dil and Jake its his day off on a Tuesday they called in with a bag of dog food and dil went to boots for our tablets, tomorrow is Jakes birthday so we gave him his card and money its hard to know what to buy him now as he's earning he gets what he wants .
We also gave them two garden chairs as we'll never use them now as they have the bit at the bottom that comes up for your feet and we find it a job to get up out of them now .

Take it easy today Mel with your knee have a rest today and do a bit more tomorrow.

Gwyn I haven't heard of those Lincoln biscuits ,good you mentioned your bin ours needs to go out today and I said to Colin he needs to do it before the rain comes .

Anng sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday a nice look tound the gardens and water features, a nice lunch and a nice evening on the balcony.

Good morning all. Another sunny start. Seahorses today I think. Yesterday was lovely at Alnwick gardens. It is too early for summer flowers so it was mainly looking at the formation of the gardens and, the bit I liked, the wonderful clever water features. Sadly we didn’t get to go in the poison garden. We went for the 12 o’clock tour but that one was cancelled and there was a half hour wait for the next one. We walked into town and had a lovely lunch in The Tavern daughter had mussels. SiL had sausages and I had a really tasty shepherds pie with red cabbage. We then visited Barter books and I bought three, so it was a good day and the sun shone with a clear blue sky until 10pm. It was warm enough to sit outside on our balcony but not hot.

It's interesting to read about your favourite biscuits. My family also like custard creams and the malted milk, but I don't think they do the nibbling. Daughter bought some of the sports picture biscuits just last week. When I was young, I liked the iced gems, which we were sometimes bought for a picnic with our friends in the garden.I also liked Lincolns - a plain standard biscuit with raised dots all over one face. I haven't seen them for years now.

A dull and really dark day here and light rain started about 20 minutes ago, but at least I was able to put the bins out for collection without getting wet.