General Chat

Morning all,

12 degrees here and cloudy much like it is with you Anng.

It was a good night last night I sat with 4 girls I did'nt know and one had a birthday that day. I think I knew Erica as she used to work as the cook in Black Torrington pub where we used to go after ringing. Julia was the birthday girl, then Sarah I think and Anna, all young to me and Julia called us the odds and ends. In the last lot of questions which was one liners there was Happy birthday and the whole room sang it to Julia.We had 69 points and two other teams had 70 so there was a tiebreaker and the queston was "How many goats have I got" they call him Dave the Goat. Its a shame we were'nt tin the tie breaker as I knew he had 24 goats. one team said 15 and one said 16 and that was my neighbours team who moved in in April. They are off around the globe today going off for the winter to warmer climes as they are still livving in the van with the house still not fitted out with a proper kitchen and bathroom or even has ceiling int he rooms.

Anyway we came third so not that bad.

Good morning all 10 degrees and looks like another grey day like yesterday. ok in the mornings but horrible afternoons as it gets so dark indoors. Again nothing planned for today but hopefully can get a bit more done in the garden if it doesn't rain.

Vera, it was when the man pulled out the fitted dishwasher we saw the plug behind it was sooty. He said that was the problem with plugs that are fitted behind as the dishwasher gets very hot and it can almost be touching the plug. He'd been called to some where the plug had caught fire and of course being behind the dishwasher you wouldn't see the sooty signs of overheating. If yours is in the cupboard like ours is now it shouldn't be a problem. I should be able to switch ours off now and like you I switch the washer, microwave, cooker and toaster plugs off but hadn't thought about the dishwasher.

The fireworks have been going off for a few hours now.

What a miserable day it’s been - mizzly, drizzly and cold. That’s when it hasn’t been raining harder, so neither of us has done anything outside. OH has spent most of the day reading and I have caught up on lots of silly little jobs that keep being put off.

We all seem to have had a good year with tomatoes. We are still eating the home grown ones but will finish them during the coming week.

Annx, you have made me think I ought to check on my dishwasher plug which is in the cupboard under the sink. I haven’t noticed it looking sooty round the plug but I should check as we don’t often turn that plug off. It’s strange because I always turn the washing machine and the dryer off at the machine and at the switch on the wall but the dishwasher usually only gets turned off at the machine. I suppose it’s because the plug is hidden in the cupboard. Out of sight, out of mind.

Mel, I hope you enjoy it tonight. I am sure there will be people you know there and if you end up sitting with strangers it will be a good chance to get to know them.

Meat pie tonight from the shop so I only have to put it in the oven. I don’t like potatoes and pastry together so no spuds but lots of other veg. I haven’t decided whether to make full use of the oven and roast most of the veg or microwave it which doesn’t take long or add much to the fuel bill.

I think I’ll go and put the oven on, get myself a glass of wine and read the paper while the pie is cooking.

Hopefully you will find somebody Mel, is there a limit on the numbers in a 'team' for the quiz. Get there early so that you are already sitting at a table then people will hopefully join you, better than getting there late and having to search for a seat.

It stayed dry but was horribly dark all day so gloomy. I got the bit of garden cleared I wanted to, Spent an hour sorting out at the top of the garden. Cutting down the peonie and weeding and clearing up to the gravel then making a path with 8 of the left over old stepping stones. If I complain of back ache tomorrow do remind me of what I did today. The stones were dumped round the garden by Jake when they dug them up so I had to collect them (about 6" square). then spent the afternoon making cards. Until Tesco came and I had that to put away.
raspberries and blueberries both dated for 3rd. Driver refunded without me saying anything. Actually he picked up the blueberries, I didn't. Blueberries they told me out of stock. I didn't cancel but did order some different ones and two lots came. Driver said it is happening a lot lately. Anyway have had confirmation that both refunds have gone through.

Not done a thing again today but fish leaves out of the pond. I did do a little gold painting on a staff figurebut not varnished it yet.

I know I will know a lot of people there but its who I am put on a table with that worries me. Lets just hope its someone I do know.

Afternoon All,

We've had that fine, soaks you through in no time rain here this morning but it's stopped now. It's still very dull and looks like there could be rain later. We went to buy some things OH can eat next week before he has his tests. It seems he can eat all the unhealthy stuff, so he will like that. We noticed the leaves off the trees fluttering down so gently too. All the lamp posts in the next village have poppies tied to them now and the Halloween Yarn Bomb hasn't been taken down yet and was looking a bit soggy and wet. Did you get to see your poppies in place Mandy?

Next I was going to empty the top shelf of the cupboard under the sink ready for the boiler man, but OH said he would do it. I wasn't keen, as he doesn't notice where to put things back so I know where to find them, but I left him to it. A bit later I found him emptying the bottom shelf and he said he thought he would empty the whole cupboard so it could all be sorted. Why do men do these things without saying anything? I wanted it to be a quick job without stuff all over the worktops till after the man has been on Monday. Anyway, he's made himself the job and moved all the contents into the conservatory out of the way for now. I've also decided to get some polythene baskets from the factory shop in the meantime, to make things easier to pull out from the shelves to see what we have. We seem to have quite a few duplicates/triplicates of things I obviously couldn't see or reach for at the back of the cupboard. On the positive side the leak doesn't seem to be with the pipework in the cupboard. I also rediscovered the dishwasher plug the fitter moved from behind the dishwasher to the cupboard for me as he said they can overheat and start fires there. The sooty mark round it convinced me! Now I can leave room to switch it off at the wall when not using it.

OH is on his way to a match so while he's out I've sorted the freezer part of the fridge freezer and bagged up what's to go in some polythene bags things were delivered in. I'll staple and seal the bags with sellotape so the bin will stay dry and it won't smell or get messy. He likes to leave these things till nearer the bin collection day, which is a good idea, but I need to do it while I'm in the mood!

Next I'll do a letter to send about my thyroid test as no-one seems to be answering their phone and I've made several attempts now.

That's strange Mandy. Did my email arrive at all or was it just the photo that wasn't there? It's good your back is ok and might have just been how you slept and good that Colin is coughing less. I see you have more gnomes in the pipeline and now you have your book so you can do some different ones. I thought of you yesterday as the WW had a page with some books with discounts off and there was one with patterns for knitted gnomes, but when I looked at the book online, the pictures showed them all in browny and beige shades and I thought they weren't half as nice as the ones you have been making.

It's good your back held up well after the gardening Vera, but perhaps it's as well it's too wet to do more out there today and will give it a rest.

I hope it stays dry for you out there AnnG.

Have a nice time at the quiz tonight Mel. It helps when you already know some that will be there but you will soon make new friends if not. A change of routine does us good as well.

My father would have been aged 104 today, possible, but not likely. Instead he didn't reach much more than half that.

Been to the shop and still tried to get to know someone who is going tonight and there dos'nt seem to be anyone so goodness knows who I shall be with.

Its 12 degrees here and cloudy and cold out there so I don't feel like doing anything out there but think I will have some lunch and maybe after that I will feel like sucking up some more leaves.

It is still cloudy here but dry and 11 degrees. I have been down to return a couple more books to Irene and it was not cold at all. I am now going to have a coffee and see if I can get a bit more done in the garden. Hoping it doesn't decide to rain before I can get out there.

Morning all

It’s wet, wet, wet again :-(. I was pleased at how my back stood up to some gardening yesterday and planned to do more today but it’s far too wet. It’s annoying as we still have so much to do outside before winter sets in. There’s always jobs to do indoors but I’m not in the mood for h/w. I expect I’ll find something to do. I hope it’s dry for everyone else. Enjoy your day.

Morning all,

It's a little brighter here this morning I can see blue sky and thd suns trying to shine .

Mel I watch the leaves come down off the sycamore tree in the churchyard from the kitchen window they just seem to drop even when there's no wind ,we have lots of the little aeroplanes from the sycamore tree and by the spring I have to pull loads of seedlings from the garden .
I have one dish of tomatoes left from the greenhouse ,I just threw away a few green ones that had rough skins.
Hops you enjoy your evening out tonight and have a win in the quiz.

Sorry Ann still no photo of the pendant , your back in the beading mode now I see you said you've found another necklace to finish off .
My back was only twingy for that day so I wondered if it was because I went to sleep on my side and I usually sleep on my back ,Colins cold seems to have turned a bit chesty but he's not coughing as much .

So far we haven't heard any fireworks ,most of the displays are in the surrounding villages the town doesn't havs any where really to hold one.

My new gnome book came yesterday so I'll be having a read through that this afternoon ,I've finished the stripy gnome and started another snowman gnome .

Morning all,

I am still eating tomatoes too Anng and have loads. I am going to take some to the wine and wisdom tonight. Its 11 degrees here and as dull as dishwater but no wind.

I experienced soemthing I have never seen before the day before yesterday and I kept meaning to to tell you and forgot. I went round to feed the chickens and it was dry but I could hear rain falling. BIL and I put the old chicken fence around the pen so I have to go and take down the end to get through to the gate so if they come out they are in a second fence and have access to a bit of grass. I stood by the fence and when I looked up at the oak tree it was shedding leaves and they were trickling down through the other leaves on the tree and falling to the ground like rain. There was no wind at all and it was a bit eerie but at the same time beautiful to see the leaves falling through the leaves still on the tree and fluttering staight down to the ground. Ususally its blowing a gail so you don't see that. Its the first time I have seen it in all my 75 and a half years.

Good morning all. 10 degrees here and very cloudy, looks like another day like yesterday very dark and lights on indoors very early afternoon. Nothing planned for today but hoping it stays dry as I do still have some gardening to do before bad weather strikes.
I have pulled up all the tomatoes now (but not yet removed the sticks etc. I am still,though, eating the last of the ripe tomatoes.

Vera I had to rewrite that post I did about my morning appointments. Thats why I was cross with the pc and the post I did afterwards was'nt as long cos I could'nt be bothered.

BIL arrived while I was having a wash this morning. When I got back from my jab his car was here but he was nowhere to be seen. He had gone and talked to Janine and Simon as Phil was'nt there today.

Mandy I'll reduce the picture size in case it was too big and try again. Yes, keep looking out for that lady!

Vera you have had a busy day and I expect the garden is looking more ready for winter now. My kitchen window could do with a clean as OH slops water everwhere when he washes the things we need everyday. His first reaction when anything goes wrong for him is to shout me, as if I lnow what he's done, where something is. Get him to put the number in his mobile as well. He can find it then and will have it if he ever needed it while he is out.

Well, it's been a dull day here again and my motive seems to have gone walkabout lately and OH is the same. I haven't even been outside today and there are jobs staring me in the face, but I haven't done any today! I hope tomorrow is better as I need to empty the top shelf of the cupboard under the sink ready for Monday so the boiler man can check for leaky joints to the tap as I hadn't thought the leak may be under there, but I haven't noticed any wetness at the front of the cupboard, so fingers crossed it is above the worktop.

I've found a half finished necklace I started on one holiday ages ago as well, so while I'm in 'beading mode' I might see if I can pick up where I left off with the pattern and finish it off. It's more subdued colours than the pendant.

Mel you've had quite a 'medical day' and been very busy, but it's good to get a few tasks done like that and lucky to meet the friend and be able to ask to get your heater looked at as well.

How is Colin now Mandy and has your back stopped twingeing? I like honey and lemon for coughs or sore throats, especially at night when they seem to be worse. I hope his hasn't got any worse That's interesting that the lady who didn't pay for your things she took might be that same lady who stole from Poundland! If it is, she may well have stolen from other places too. I doubt people would suspect someone in a wheelchair.

I hope you found some books you haven't read AnnG. You get through quite a few, just like my OH. It's a good idea to borrow and return like that. OH gets some from Charity shops, but all those he parts with go to Charity shops so they can be read again by someone else.

I've just been looking at the new Sharp Airfry Microwave Oven MA262. I'm not thinking of getting one as other manufacturers are bound to follow suit and some might be better, but I would consider one in future instead of my big oven. It microwaves, grills, works as an ordinary little oven and airfries as well, just by changing the innards.

Gawd the fireworks have started here, but I hope it won't be till late. So much for people being hard up!

Nothing has come through Ann ,strange as I've had other emails .

Vera what a busy bee you've been today you've got loads done ,I think Colins cough is a little better he's been having some cough mixture for a couple of days which seems to have helped .
I'm sure I saw that lady ride down the churchyard her husband has a scooter too and there was a chap behind her , she seems to be keeping away from coming this way ,but I'll catch her one day .

Its been a really cold grey day and even with my warm jumper on I've not felt warm all day ,I think tomorrow should be the same .

I agree with you all about the pendant. It is great and I told Annx in an email that I too love the colours.

Oh Mandy, that naughty lady. There's no excuse for stealing even if you are really hard up. Is your OH's cough any better?

It's good that you got your screening, your jab and your feet all done today Mel. I'm a bit confused. What was so bad that it made you want to throw the PC out of the window? Did I miss something?

I've had a busy day today. The weather hasn't been good; it's been cold and grey with a real nip in the wind but at least it stayed dry. We both worked in the garden for a while this morning. I cut various plants back, tidied up all the hostas, cleared a half barrel of marigolds and pulled up all the rest of the antirrhinum plants as well as sweeping a lot of the leaves up and bagging them so that in a couple of years they will have made decent leaf mould. OH concentrated on three tall grasses, dividing each of them into half and planting one half back. He won't cut them back till there is new grass growing in the spring and they give a bit of movement in the winter breezes but they do look rather tall and thin now.

After my stint in the garden I came in and cleaned the kitchen and uti windows. Then after lunch I flew into town. I quite like Waitrose fish but it is so expensive that I only buy it on a Friday when it is 20% off. I go about once a month and buy several bits. I also popped into Roys for a couple of bits as well and bought a new baby card to send to my son's stepson and his wife. Got back to find OH in a bit of a paddy. He had discovered that a payment for diesel was on his bank statement even though he paid by credit card (he said!) and he'd been googling for some while and couldn't find the number to ring the bank, blah, blah, blah. It took me 2 minutes to sort out that he'd actually paid with his debit card but rather longer to convince him. I also pointed out that in our filing cabinet we had a file marked Bank; and right at the front of that file was a card with the Over 60s customer help line number. Do all men get worked up like that rather than calmly sitting down and thinking it through?

After all this I remembered that the only postal collection round our way was at 7 am tomorrow so I had to quickly write the card I had bought and walk to the postbox with it. Also this morning I had a text telling me that a play granddaughter is appearing in at the Edinburgh Horror Fest is being live streamed tonight. Granddaughter had told me about the play which I think is a 2-hander that lasts 55 minutes (all the productions at this Horror Fest have to be between 40 and 60 minutes). To get the link to view it you have to make a donation of at least £1 but I don't know if the money goes to the group putting the play on or the organisers of the Horror Fest. The play is described as "One workshop. Two women. Three bodies. A dark, psychological tale of the relationship between the sculptor and her muse". Could be a bit creepy.

Well I'd better go and start cooking our meal if I want to cook, eat, clear up and be upstairs at around 7.30 to view this "psychological tale" on the computer.

I've forwarded it to you again Gwyn.

Yes, I got the 'reply all' mesage too, but not the photo.