General Chat

Morning all,

9 degrees and cloudy and its really dull outside.Was awake so thought I would get up as otherwise I would sleep till about 10am.

Sitting here with a nice COC and my nose is streaming.

What a nightmare you had with the journey down to Cornwall Ann. Such a shame when you look forward to soemthing and the weather lets you down but here is Devon we had quite a nice week via my diary.

My goodness Annx, it sounds as though you need a holiday to get over your holiday. I hope you are both feeling better and a bit more relaxed now. You're probably wise not to advertise in advance that you are going to be away. I don't think we'll need to worry about that as we haven't made any arrangements for a break of any sort this year. As a friend of mine always says, we'll be staying at windowsill bay (and you'd be surprised how many people ask where that is).

Mel, I've only ever seen a goldcrest once and, sadly, that was dead. We found it just by some glass doors in our old house. It hadn't been mauled in any way and there were no feathers lying around so we think it must have flown into the door. It was such a tiny bird and such beautiful colours.

I had a better night last night though I still kept waking up very hot. That's the problem with having a room under the eaves; the heat rises to there and has nowhere else to go so it stays in that room. It's not even easy to sleep with a window open. There are 2 windows and they have roller blinds. If the windows are open the blinds rattle like mad. I've looked at curtaining instead and that would be OK on one window but the other is set between two sections of sloping ceiling and there is no easy way to hang a curtain. When it's really hot I either open the skylight in the en-suite and leave the door into the bedroom open or I have to put on a fan.

I've had a nice day. There hasn't been a lot of sun but it's been very warm and dry all day. I've mostly been wearing 2 jumpers but yesterday was warm enough for a cotton shirt and a jumper and today I was able to go out in a very lightweight blouse and a cotton cardi. It was our friend M's birthday yesterday so today 7 of the ladies went out for lunch to celebrate. One of them drove M & me to the pub she had chosen where we all had a really nice meal . I was in a veggie mood so I had a cauliflower cheese and caremalised onion tart which sounds odd but was delicious and it came with a huge plateful of new potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and peas with a jug of gravy and a pot of onion chutney. I didn't use the gravy but made inroads into the chutney and the veg were cooked just as I like them. The problem was that it was such a big helping that I couldn't get through it and I hate wasting food. All the meals came up together and they were all piping hot. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food.

We didn't have desserts because we all went back to M's house for tea and cakes with lots of chat and laughter. We all see each other so frequently that it amazes me that we still find so much to talk about. When the party broke up I decided to walk home although there was a lift available for me. It's probably less than a mile from M's house to mine, it was a comfortable temperature and I am not getting much exercise at all lately. Although it was only a short walk I enjoyed it though my back was aching when I got back. I must try harder to fit in some more walking. I badly need the exercise. I must work off the calories I've just put on by eating a large slab of "Sticky Guinness Cake" which our neighbour made yesterday. He's still bringing us goodies from time to time, bless him.

Tomorrow will be hectic as I've got a few things I must try and do as well as sorting out bedding etc for granddaughter and her partner. I'll give them my room as it is easier to give visitors their own shower etc. as I can use the one in OH's room but it does mean I have to clear anything I might want over the weekend out of my room. I'm also not sure how long they are staying as granddaughter said they would stay for the weekend which usually means they leave Sunday, probably after a midday brunch. But I only realised a day or two ago that Monday is a bank holiday so maybe they will stay till then. Well, I'll find out when they get here.

Right, I'd better go and let my dear OH know that I still exist, as I've hardly seen him today. I hope you all sleep well and, in case I don't get online for the next couple of days, I'll wish you all a good weekend.

Just come in from the garden doing some tidying on the front of the bungalow raod and as I walked up the steps onto the patio there was the little Goldcrest fliting about. I have managed to get a couple of pics but they are not very good.

Oh Ann that didn't sound a relaxing holiday for you both with all the traffic and weather so bad and then to cap it all off the loo trips ,I hope your both feeling better now your home .
It's best not to advertise when your going away you never know who's reading posts on here .

It's been a really lovely day here again I started off in a long sleeve top but after sitting out putting the little greenhouse up I had to get a short sleeve top on I was so hot .
Not sure I will get the plants in tonight as we might have some storms overnight and I don't want the plants knocked about if the wind gets up .
Ann the plants were selling well so I wouldn't leave it to long before you go to your aldi to see if they have them in .
I want to see if they have the Geraniums in again this year as they were good plants ,I was hoping they might have some trailing Geraniums in.

Afternoon Everyone,

We got back from Cornwall yesterday and I didn’t mention us going till we were back, as this is a public site anyone can look in and we didn’t want any occasional browsers finding out our house is empty!

We went on Friday and what a journey from hell it was with so many roadworks and traffic at a stop start crawl for miles (5 lots I think OH said), 50mph limits in places, a lane shut due to a car breakdown, then a go slow with a car in a ditch. It took 8 hours to get there and normally it would be 5 hours!! Some roadworks (without a single worker in sight!) won’t even be completed this year, but why start them at the start of the holiday season? We spent the next day recovering, then the rain started. Sunday we had a nice Sunday lunch and a ride around a few pretty villages. Monday it rained all day and, I had to pay visits to the ‘white friend’ like Frank used to say. Tuesday was windy and rained heavily all day and we stayed in and I was happy to be close to my ‘white friend’ in case, but was ok. We were worried about the journey back, knowing the nearer the weekend we left it the worse it might be with the Bank Holiday coming up, so we decided on Wednesday and it was better, more like a normal journey. More ‘white friend’ visits when we got back, so I’m wondering if it was bought sandwiches I had on the two occasions, but I feel ok again today after a good sleep. That ended up being a short break and we think the fuel we used getting there would have got us home as well normally. Neither of us are keen to go back any time soon and decided we have seen most of what there is many times now. A change to some places with easier or shorter journeys we think.

Lovely sunshine here and I looked at the Hostas this morning, expecting them to be bare of leaves, but whatever was chewing one seems to have lost interest and left it alone now and it is recovering. Plenty of weeding needs doing now!

Mandy it will be good to get your little greenhouse up for your plants. It works really well and I think that’s what I will get when I get rid of my glass one. Thanks for mentioning the Aldi plants. I might pop and see if ours has them in. I always remember getting those pink Geraniums you said about a few years ago and they were really good. I have recorded the prog now, so thanks for saying about that too!

AnnG that lovely ship must be like a village inside and I would certainly get lost with my poor sense of direction. Yes, it would be good if you could get your lawn cut before going away. At least you have less of it to cut now and less of it to grow while you are away which is good. I must get some washing done!

I’m hoping the mop on a stick will be good for removing condensation on the inside of my windscreen as well, as it seems to often get it in the winter. Gwyn I’m still deciding where to keep it! It might be in the porch cupboard as you are right about all the clutter we end up with. My car has a big spare wheel sitting in the boot as well as the air pump, a cool bag, scraper, plastic sheet for putting plants I buy on and endless shopping bags that need sorting out. Lol

Mel the sunset pics are gorgeous colours. I hope that Sparrowhawk doesn’t hang around just as the Robin might have chicks. At my old house one used to sit in the tree next to the bird table. Could you get a pc hub to plug in with more sockets?
I think I will have an egg custard and COT now.

Robbie has been taking one or two worms off with him this morning so I am wondering if he is feeding his wife or a baby soemwhere in the box hedge. He still flies to the same place the orchard side of the hedge.

Glad you're ok Mandy we do all worry about each other you know.

Wonder if Vera had a good sleep last night?

Not seen Willie Wagtail anymore today with his offspring. They usually nest under my solar panels. I should think its nice and dry under there and maybe a bit warmer too.

I am now going to do some casting.

Afternoon all,

I'm OK thanks just trying to catch up with lots of garden jobs and then tired out at the end of the day so we've had some early nights .
Been shopping this morning and Aldi had bedding plants in so got Pertunias, Lobelia and bizzi lizzies 1.89 for ten so a very good price and I've had them before and they were lovely plants .
Called into Roys and got some slug gel to put round the hostas as I see the ones in the front have one or two tiny bites so it needs nipping in the bud before they munch the lot ,also put two bags of clothes into the salvation army clothing bin at behind Tesco's.

There's a nice little programme on in the afternoons at four o'clock on channel 4 called Narrow escapes it's all about people living and working on the canals ,we record it and watch it later its a nice little programme.
We want to see if we can get the little green house up this afternoon and then I can get the plants I bought this morning under cover .

I hope that old sparrow hawk has moved on Mel don't want him getting your Robins.

I had forgotten to check which vaccine we were given this time. We always have had Pfizer with all the originals and boosters but just found that this time it was Spikevacc which used to apparently be Moderna.

Must have had a better offer I suppose.

Still 9 degrees here and cloudy its been raining a bit and all I have done is feed the robin and the fish. Must go round to the girls. I saw Willie Wagtail feeding baby on the edge of the pond so went to get my camera and dad had flown away. I waited but then baby went onto my pond edge and still dad had'nt come back so I gave up as baby had gone behind some plants. I did get a pic of the chick though.

No we didn't hear from Ann or Mandy so hope they are both OK. Not raining here now but looks very threatening. at least we didn't get the thunderstorms they had south East.. 12 degrees.

No Ann either???? Hope they are both ok.

Morning all,

Started raining here last night before I went to bed and I don't think its stopped since. Pc says light rain and 9 degrees but I feel cold tis morning so I have the heating on for a while.

Had a dram about boats . One was'nt there at night but was there in the morning it was a little white dingy with a pale blue stripe aroung the top edge and it was called Ewen. As I passed by I said that was'nt there last night and look its called Ewen and I looked up and there standing at the side of the bank was a young lad in blue jeans. Then I woke up.

Hope you all slept better last night.

Did we hear from Mandy yesterday? Sending love and wishes. <3

Good morning all. Not unexpected but disappointing, back to normal and woke up to rain. Slept well until 0430 then not that well after that.

You still got a lot done Vera despite not having a good night. Hope last night was better for you..

It doesn't look like a gardening day, I am hoping to get the lawn cut by the time I go to daughter's so would like a few dry days. I thought about it when I came back from the shops yesterday but was too tired. so today will be paperwork, admin and a bit of H/W. I have the bedding in the wash so the bed will get changed.

May has started with wonderful weather, really warm and sunny at the moment though it clouds over every so often. I hope it continues through the month.

I had a really bad night. I slept for an hour but then woke up feeling very hot and couldn’t get back to sleep. I gave up at 3 am and got up, made a drink and sat reading till 5 when I went back to bed and slept till 7 am.

Later on we went to the shops and got a sack of sunflower hearts for the birds and a pack of 24 tins of Heinz baked beans which saved me a few pounds on Tesco prices. We did go on to Tesco where I filled a trolley. Since getting back we’ve had lunch and I’ve prepared dinner and done a bit in the garden. I’ve cleared 2 half barrels of tulip bulbs which I’ve put to dry out before storing them and done a bit of weeding.

Sorry, eyes have gone squiffy and I can’t see properly. Will have to stop.

That be song and if youappoointment it wood have ben.

That must be so annoying Anng and if yoou had had an appointment it would have been worse.

It still going bonkers I shall have to see if I can get the new keyboard on but I don't really want it plugged into the front of the box as I use both those ports for charging things up. There must be one at the back but not sure if I can reach it.

That silence is horrible. We had it once after a visit from a sparrow hawk.
Back from town now. Buses going in all up the creek. waited 40 minutes for a bus on our 20 minute service then two came at once. Not sure why. Understand them being disrupted because we have a detour on part of the route (Cheltenham way) because of a dangerous bridge that is closed but not sure why one is so way over its time. and this is not the first day this bus has been 20 minutes late. Strange.

My Robbie is'nt taken worms away and I have just seen the sparrow hawk fly across the garden again. This is the second day he's been like this. There are no birds singing or round the feeder.

Washings in I just have to check if tomorrow is bin day and get the bin out the front.

Hoover next and clean the little loo.

Feed the wild birds so BBL.

Morning all,

Quite bright this morning pc says 10 degrees and mostly cloudy but at the mo there is some sun.

good morning. 'Pinch punch White rabbits' whatever. 1st May I do hope this means better weather, maybe a proper spring day or two?

I slept quite well woke before 6 and couldn't get back to sleep so up early. Sunshine and 8 degrees at the moment Could change of course.
I think I am going to pop into town this morning. BBL