General Chat

Evening all,

It's been a bit windy here today and not as warm as they said it would be ,it was suppose to have been 20 degrees but even with the little bit of sun we saw it was nowhere near 20 degrees.

Dil was pleased with her presents and we had a good chat over coffee I don't think we will see them tomorrow but they did say they would come one day next week to put the canopy on the gazebo.

Vera are you any good at knots I think I would tie those secateurs on a piece of string in the shed and just long enough to reach the garden path and not the garden then you wouldn't have to worry about Mr crewcut doing any damage :-D

Ann I swear they hold post back we had a lot the other day and they were saying on the news the other day about all the appointments that were missed because of the post not arriving in time .
So it was a bit like blow football at the match OH went to ,all that was missing was the straws lol

That's right AnnG! I didn't even realise there was a second St Ives till he told me. He said the wind made it an interesting match as no-one could tell where the ball would blow.

The Peacock butterflies are obviously out and about now Vera with both you and AnnG seeing them, but just not in our garden. I had an inspection of the Hostas again but couldn't see any snails and I haven't noticed any ladybirds yet either, but you are further south than me so might see them sooner. You did well to get a bit done outside as it's been a nice day and not cold. My back is a lot better today so I might do a short stint in the morning if it's dry. You'll have to keep an eye on Mr Crewcut if you see him with the secateurs. ;-)

We ended up with a Daily Mail delivered instead of our local paper this morning and we already had a DM. The local paper is discounted and paid by direct debit so OH will have to ring them on Monday to get a refund.

We had a great pile of post today and think some had been held back for over a week as OH gets a weekly request to buy something from one of them and had two letters from them today. It's not really good if you are waiting for something important. I can see a man turning up to mend our front door lock before we get the appointment to say he is coming.

St Ives Cambridgeshire??

Yes personal first hand knowledge is great. That is if she is interested of course.

Vera I took it that, although she couldn't read and write until she was 15 (I think), she was able to paint and illustrate plants and shells etc and that is how she published when her painting were seen. But, yes a good story. Yes Kya was her shortened name.

You were busy in the garden then, We have wind but not as bad as promised. I think they said it would be calmer and a nicer day in the South East.

Sounds as if OH is enquiring about pruning.

Just getting settled in to my miniatrues and BIL turned up and said he was going to mow.

He did a bit and then came down here to tell me the mower had gone wrong again. Its not a wonder when he drives over all the fallen branches and twigs off the trees. Now he hs los a nut from a pulley that maakes the deck mow so now no tention on the belt. Well I can tell you theres tention on me!!!!!!!!!! Its just one thing afteerr another the way he drives the mower. He won't cut it long and then a bit shorter next week no he has to shave it down to the roots. Its just not good for the mower. In all the time oh mowed our lawns he never had this much trouble with the mower.Now its parked outside oh's workshop where I keep the chickens food and he put it right in the middle of the road so I had to ask him to back it up to the other door so when Asda come they can turn around.

Moan over but I hav'nt done anything to my miniatures which is so annoying.

Afternoon All,

Very windy and I can't believe it's 18 degrees here! I got quite hot and bothered just changing the bed. OH has gone to a match at St Ives, but not the one in Cornwall.

AnnG having looked at some photos of hen backbirds I think that is what it is. Some of the hens in the photos have much more tan colour on their fronts. I just read a little about the book you mention and it sounds good, but quite a sad story.

I remember weekends being very quiet on my own. I think it's more noticable when everywhere, except at home, is busy with people not being at work.

On Ancestry last night I found one of my grandmother's gt gt granddaughters descended from my eldest uncle born in 1899. I thought she may not know much about her gt gt grandmother and father or their lives when I knew them, as my uncle was married with 5 children by the time my mother, his sister was born. I'm going to ask her if she she knows anything and if not, I shall write some memories down and send them to her. Things about their house, work they did, what they wore and ate and my grandmother's muddling of words like calling ointment ornament. How I would sit in a large galvanised bucket at grandma's to be washed after playing out, so mum wouldn't know I'd got dirty and tell grandma off! They are the sort of things you won't find on FH sites.

I'm going to order some of the jeans I wear next. They have gone shockingly up in price like everything else has, but are half price at the moment, so a saving too good to miss. I don't have to turn them up either which makes a change.

I'm always happy to get book recommendations AnnG so keep them coming. In fact, I did read Where The Crawdads Sing quite a long while ago. One of my granddaughters recommended it to me. I did enjoy it but found I felt irritated by the way the girl - was her name Kya? - went in no time at all from being an uneducated person who had to be taught to read and write to a published author of scientific volumes. I'm probably just being picky and I'm glad I read it. It was a good story and a bit of a tearjerker as you say. I'm sorry you didn't have a good night and hope you sleep better tonight.

Happy birthday to your dil Mandy and very well done on passing her Level 2. Now she has really got something to celebrate.

It was beautiful here first thing - just like a June day and I managed to spend quite a while in the garden. One thing I did do was put gravel all over the troughs with mini hostas in in the hope of keeping the snails off. When I had a veg patch I used to put gravel round the cabbages when they were tiny and it did help. I think it's uncomfortable for the snails to slither over. I've never seen so many snails around as there are this year. Has anyone else noticed how many ladybirds there are as well? I also saw a large peacock butterfly this morning; that's the first one this year. Our crab apple tree looks marvellous at the moment as it is completely smothered in blossom and the bees are buzzing all round it. Unfortunately the wind has got up again and is already blowing the blossom down. . It's still very warm but the sun has disappeared and the wind is picking up and is supposed to be gusty later.

OH has just popped his head round the door and asked where I "keep the gardening books these days". That'll be the same place we've kept them in the 10 years we have lived in this house. I'm wondering if I should start hiding some of the gardening tools till I know what Mr Crewcut has in mind, lol.

Vera I have just finished reading an excellent book I think you might like. I have to admit here that I struggled with the fists chapter and thought about giving up but I am so pleased that I persevered. First book in ages to actually make me cry.

One of the reviews says. Painfully beautiful, at once a murder mystery, a coming of age narrative and a celebration of nature.

The author is a Wildlife scientis.

Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens

I believe it is also a film.

Happy birthday Mandy's DIL hope you have a great day and lots of lovely presents. <3

Morning all,

Brightish morning here but very windy and we have a yellow warning for the wind and its 14 degrees.

Just to pop up the shop this morning and then the rest of the day is my own to do just what I want to.

Hope you all slept better lst night.

Good morning all sun is shining at the moment, wonder if it will last. had a rotten night last night slept ok until 4am then no way could I get back to sleep. finally got up at 0715 as couldn't lie there any longer. Nothing planned today just a long boring day stretching in front of me. I really don't like weekends since T died. Strange how when I worked the weekends were special, looked forward to and enjoyed. Now it is the opposite. Well for me anyway.

O great news that you DIL passed her Level 2 course, well done and a Happy Birthday for tomorrow. 5 ***** <3

Thank you Anng I'll pass on your birthday wishes .

That's two things this week we're not sure what they are ,the plant and the bird ,will there be a third :-)

Mandy well done to your daughter in law. And a happy birthday to her too.

Ann have you looked that bird up? Maybe it was a female blackbird with mis colouring.

Thank you Ann I'll pass on your birthday wishes , she was determined to pass by easter so she could work in ths nursery when they go back.

Oh Well done to your DIL Mandy and Happy Birthday to her for tomorrow! Two celebrations! She must have worked hard with all her family commitments to achieve it and must be really chuffed that she can do the work she wanted to now as well. :-)

OH always blames the washing machine! :-D

Evening all,

Just lost a whole post .

Been a nice sunny day here ,windy but definitely warmer .

Vera we had a morning going through one of Colins wardrobes ,sorted out all sorts for the clothing bank and old stuff for the bin , some of the t shirts he can take in for work jobs and some apparently had shrunk :-S :-D

Dil has passed her Level 2 course and has her certificate now to work in the nursery at school , she worked hard to get it done so we're proud of her , it's her birthday tomorrow so we're off to theirs for coffee in the morning .

Think I'll post this before it goes again

Afternoon /Evening All,

A very windy but quite warm day here. OH had to fetch the washing in before it was dry as it was blowing round the rotary drier and up in the air so hard we thought it would take off.

Mandy your unusual bulb had me stumped as well. I tried to look it up as well but no success. I did wonder if it had a smell if you bruised the leaves, but a trip to the garden centre will hopefully identify it like others have said. Yes, it seems everyone you ring uses foreign call centres now. I find people with foreign accents seem to speak so fast as well, it's hard to decipher the words. Some must either wave phones about or turn their heads to and fro the way their voices go soft and loud as well.

I didn't feel great this morning, tummyish, weak and shaky, but it seems to have worn off now and I feel much better so maybe a bug?

Vera, my bank isn't Natwest. That is a great idea for them to have a helpline for us older folk though and it sounds good. My OH tends to throw out the things I wouldn't, but hang on to some of his old tat. With having to empty the wardrobes he uses in the second bedroom ready for the new ones to be fitted last year he had a big clearout. I was shocked at how little was left, as even new packs of three shirts were in the charity shop pile. (his neck is too big for them now!) Lots of his ties went too. I did convince him to hang on to his fleece tops for round the house in winter with the heating turned down since prices shot up, as they are less cumbersome, light in weight and dry quickly. Sadly his clearout meant he passed some of my things that had been squirrelled away with his and my wardrobes are already crammed to the gills, so I need a clearout as well!

The blind man came at the start of the 3 hour slot we were given for yesterday and said a clip was missing on the rail for the blind so he's coming to fit a new rail next week. No cost as it's under warranty. It looks like we will need a new barrel for the front door lock, so they should be in touch soon with a date to come and do it.

I hate having to put craft stuff away till I finish something Mel. It seems such a waste of time to have to get it all out again.

Your garden is really taking shape AnnG and is going to look great this summer. It sounds like you should soon get your appointment at the hospital now they have the dates you aren't available.

I saw a strange bird in the garden today. It was on the bottom fence for a while then flew into the big Camellia. At first I thought it was a hen Blackbird, but it's chest was the wrong brown, more a palish orangey tan colour similar to a Fieldfare but it had no darker streaks, blobs like they have. I saw another Brimstone butterfly as well.

I couldn't think what to get for my meal tonight so I have got one of the pre cooked meals I had put in the freezer. this is mince and swede so I need to find something to go with it.

I have emailed bookings at the hospital to tell them my holiday dates and had an acknowledgement that it has been forwarded to 'head and neck' admissions.

I have also just sorted through my Christmas cards, some will go to Irene so she can find somebody who will re-use them and I have put some away for me to re-use next year.. For lunch I had some home made soup I had frozen.

I also spent 20 minutes out in the garden re-planting a helebore that got dug up when they put the new rail post in. It is very windy here but the wind is warm.

Sounds as though it would have been quicker to do that job yourself Vera which is probably what your OH planned. :-D :-D

BIL and SIL and Isla just gone. Toenails all nice and tidy now and now I think I will get myself soemthing to eat as I only shoved a slice of bread and Marmite down my throat before I went.

Vera men never look ahead to the good weater if we ever get any this summer. He will be glad of those T shirts if it turns hot. At least you got him to part with some things. It made me laugh at your conversation.

I had a good tidy up when they rang to say the were coming as Isla is only nearly four so I had to put all my miiatures away. Now I need to get them all back out again so I don't forget where I put them and have to do a big searc for te things I want. I did give Isla some little plastic cups saucers and a cuttlery tray and a little teapot for her to play with in her wendy house. They came in a job lot I bought that did'nt haveany size on them and they were doll size not 1/12 scale.

Now to get something to eat and sort out what to have for dinner tonight.

14 degrees here and windy.

Good afternoon all

It's another funny old day - it can't decide whether to be summer or winter. We had a lot of heavy rain overnight and this morning but it has been dry since then. Now it's alternating between sunshine and grey cloud. It's apparently 17 degrees so should feel really warm but there is still a cold wind (the weather app calls it a fresh breeze).

I had a mad moment this morning and hoovered right through the house. While I was doing that OH asked if I wanted some help, so I pointed out that every cupboard in the house needs sorting out and decluttering and he could make a start with his clothes. I explained about putting back anything he wears regularly, putting anything he doesn't wear but is in good condition in a charity shop pile and putting anything that is tatty in a "fabrics for the tip" pile. He finished in about 15 minutes and all I could find was a pair of leather slippers that were too small put out for the charity shop. Everything else was still in the wardrobes. So I explained the system again and he had another go. The following conversation went like this:

Me: Why are you throwing out that big pile of T-shirts/polo shirts?
Him: I can't remember when I last wore them
Me: Through the whole of last summer. Put them back but what's that other big pile?
Him: It was at the back of that shelf. I thought they were the ones I wore.
Me: No, they were very old ones I threw out last year. How did they end up back in the cupboard?
Him (looking innocent): I've no idea.
Me: What about these trousers (2 pairs)?
Him: Oh, they are good trousers. I'll keep those. I might want to wear them.
Me: Have you worn them in the last 5 years?
Him: No
Me: So what makes you think you'll want to wear them in the next 5 years? Give them to the charity shop where they will do some good for some hard-up soul.

..........and so it went on. I didn't win over everything but a couple of the wardrobe/cupboards now have a bit more space in them and there is a large sack of stuff for the charity shop.

Now I am waiting for Sainsbury's who should be here between 3.20 and 4.20. There are 3 subs this time and I seldom have more than 1. I want to look at 2 of them and see the dates on them and exactly what they've sent before I decide whether to keep them. The other sub is fine.

BIL and SIL are here with little Isla. Foot doctor at two and BIL is going to take me.