General Chat

Mandy, I used to use a Culinaire "Easi Can" and then it went missing one day so OH bought a new tin opener that was a great chunky, heavy thing and I couldn't get on with it at all, so I went out myself and bought another "Easi-Can". My wrists and hands are not very strong but I get on well with it. Of course it's impossible to say whether you would like it but it might be worth a look. I think they are not very expensive. How did the cake turn out? We both like a fruit cake too though I haven't made one for ages. I laughed when I read you thought it might be dry as Old Harry as I had only just said to OH that our meat might be tough as Old Harry.

Is it just a conventional ballcock and arm in your cistern Mel? If so, it sounds as though you just need an adjustment to the arm. Will you get the plumber back?

I have done a few minor jobs today and managed about 15 minutes in the garden. I didn't do anything strenuous, just cleared 3 troughs of annuals that were about finished. They were the sort that barely have any roots so I didn't have to bend and tug them and more or less just picked them up. I do think my back is very slightly better today, although I have to rest for a short while after every job.

I'm going to prop myself up in bed now as it's telling me it's had enough for one day. I don't feel ready to sleep yet but I've got 2 books on the go and plenty of programmes to watch on iPlayer so they'll keep me going until I feel sleepy. I hope you have a better night AnnG and the rest of you sleep well. Night, night.

Evening All,

A nice sunny day again and quite warm. I like it when it's like this as it isn't too hot but makes you feel like doing things when there's nice sunshine.

Mandy I will send you a pic of my tin opener. It's a sturdy one that grips well on the side of the tin, but I can't see any make on it unfortunately. I have had trouble with tin openers too. Some don't cut through the lid, others seem to twist off the tin or you can't seem to position them to grip. I didn't really like an electric one I had years ago and used to hope we didn't have a power cut when I needed to use it! I bet your fruit cake will be nice. OH really loves a fruit cake. When I've overcooked one and made it dry we've had it with custard! lol. You have got a few jobs done today. I've had my beads out again and decided what to make but need to sort out if I have all the kinds of beads I need to make it.

Mel do you think you need a more robust mower for cutting all your grass? My sister's OH used to mow for ghe council and had a quite small tractor thing that towed several sets of mower blades at once. First a Kingfisher and now Nuthatches! We never see anything like that here. Was the cistern making the noise straight after the plumber did it? I hate it when the water doesn't shut off properly, especially with being on a water meter.

I hope you have a better night's sleep tonight AnnG. I'm sleeping better lately, but have had nights with no sleep sometimes and felt useless the next day. I hope ypur leg is a lot better now.

Hopefully you have eased up today Vera and not aggravated your back. I know how hard it is looking at jobs you want to get done, but know it's too soon!

Well my cake finally cooked the recipe was one I haven't done before and it said to cook it at 140 for an hour and a half ,we'll it was no where near cooked so I upped the oven to 160 and it finally got there ,I bet it will be dry as old Harry I thought 140 seemed really low ,I must remember to change the temperature on my recipe .

Can I ask what tin opener everyone uses ,my tin openers are useless I must have spent ten minutes trying to open a tin of tuna ,after a few choice words I got there but I'm really cheesed off with the two I have ,one is like a flat one that opens the tin or should open the tin on the side ,the other is one of those cheap basic ones and to be honest I use to use that one with no problems ,I have been thinking of getting an electric one but I remember having one years ago and not getting on with it ,I don't know what it is with me and tin openers they just don't seem to like me ,or me them :-(

Afternoon all.,

Lovely sunny day and warm out in the sunshine, got all my washing dry and folded ready to put away .

Thank you for Colin's birthday wishes Ann I have a nice Manor house fruit cake in the oven now and I'm sure Colin will enjoy a slice later .

Good you have the plumber coming Mel I'm sure he sort your cistern out sounds as if something is sticking or not cutting the water off properly.

Anng you'll be ready for an early night after that bad night's sleep .

Vera I hope you've behaved yourself today and not done anything to aggravate your back ,trouble is with a nice sunny day you feel like doing something and then you pay for it later .

I cut the front grass when we came back from sons and washed a few pots that had the cucumber plants in so I've done a bit now sitting having a cuppa .

Morning girls,

A beautiful sunny morning here and its 11 degrees but still feels quite chilly. I have Norman and Norma Nuthatch at the bird feeder together. I got a pic of the two of them there the other day and I think BIL was trying yesterday but not succeeding as he was standing out there too close. They were coming one at a time and not two together.

I have to have a good clean up today as the boikler man is coming on Monday afternoon and the kitchens a mess as its where I live most of the time and cast in here too and paint.

Still not happy with the new cytern inards Chris the plumber put in as it spend most of the day swizzling after I flush it. I do so hate it when you get an annoying noise that carries on and on.

Good morning all
Sorry you had such a bad night AnnG. Will you be able to have a little nap during the day? It’s cloudy and 9 degrees but I haven’t stuck my nose outside yet to see what it feels like. I haven’t got any plans today apart from booking a delivery for Tuesday from either Sainsbury or Tesco. I’ll see what my back feels like after I’ve got dressed and had some breakfast before I decide what else I can do.

Good morning all quite bright and 7 degrees out there, very autumnal looking.
Nothing planned today which is just as well as I had a really lousy night. Just could not get to sleep, int he ens only had 3-4 hours sleep if that. I was not aware that my brain was over active but maybe that was the reason. also, it is strange but, when I eat a good meal at lunch time and a light snack in the evening I often don't sleep well.
Must walk down to Irene's though as it is book stall weekend.

Your friend has had a horrid year AnnG so it was great that she spotted a coat she really liked so quickly and bought. Some new clothes will be a confidence booster, especially now she has lost some weight which suits her.

As you say Vera, either the computers don't talk to each other or maybe the computer operators are not talking to the computers. I had a letter from the Thyroid register recently telling me my annual blood test is due. Obviously no-one at my doctors has let them know I had a test twice in the past six months.

OH still hasn't been called back by the Physician Associate he saw a fortnight ago about the pain in his side, so he re-checked his results online today, which as well as saying his urine test result was normal showed they had cancelled various blood tests that he was told they would do and now said 'No further action'. He still has the pain and they still haven't diagnosed what's causing it!! When he rang them today and fully explained what had happened and that he hadn't ever thought it was a kidney problem, the receptionist was trying to fob him off with a telphone appointment with the Physician Associate again!! How on earth can anyone examine him in a phone call?? He's decided to go and queue ready for when they open on Monday and insist on seeing a doctor. I shudder to think how we will go on when neither of us can drive or have all our marbles. :-S

Ouch, just be careful with your back Vera or you will be back to square one! Best not to push your luck as you say. You've been busy today too and I would have enjoyed your meal out. Then a bonus of the 2 lovely gifts of chocs and cake! Yum yum.

Washing all dried and most put away. There's a bit of ironing this time, so OH said he will do that in the morning as I think he wants to iron one of his new shirts.

ve to ask Stuart if he can do anything with the older one which BIL also put out of action.

Done it again..........................lost the post.

BIL did'nt get all the mowing done as the mower broke down up the top so he had to push it all the way down here. I may have to ask Stuart if he can do anyything with the older one BIL aloso put out of action.

Gosh Vera slow down, although I don’t think you will be able to move far after that lovely sounding lunch.
Happy birthday to Colin.

Mel glad BiL got the mower moving soon be an end to grass cutting I think. And my mower will be redundant I am glad to say.

<3 <3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR MANDY <3 <3 <3

K
Just come in from the garden where I have been doing the pond filters and cutting back the hosta's I now have to empty the wheelbarrow and cut my broken nail off and have a nice well earned cuppa.

I’m glad your bil got the mower to start Mel. Lovely to see the kingfisher. I’ve only seen one in the wild and that was in Devon at Lydford Gorge many moons ago. There was nobody else around and OH and I kept very still and watched him for ages.

Your OH’s comment about money laundering made me smile Annx. He’s very quick witted. By the time I’ve thought up an apt remark the moment has gone. I’m not surprised he was annoyed to get a txt about his phone payment when everything was OK. I had a letter today telling me my eye test is overdue and how important it is to look after my eyes blah, blah, blah. The appointment was booked a good 3 weeks ago and I actually had the test on Wednesday and have another appointment scheduled for 11th October to collect new glasses. This is with Boots. Clearly their computers don’t talk to each other.

Happy Birthday to Colin. I hope he is having a lovely day. At least he has had some sunshine :-)

It sounds as though you had a nice lunch with your friends AnnG and a mooch round the shops as well. It’s good to hear that your friend is doing well after such a difficult time and refurbishing her wardrobe will cheer her up.

Yesterday I had a mad moment and cleaned my en-suite and the family bathroom. I didn’t feel too bad for a couple of hours but then the back pain hit me hard again . Stil I didn’t feel too bad this morning so I got the towels washed and did the ironing and some mending, while OH got the gutters all cleared, then we went out to lunch. I had an enormous main and decided to have a desert as well so I won’t want to eat for the rest of the day. I had a cauliflower cheese and caramelised onion tart with a dish of mixed veg and new potatoes and a little pot of caramelised onion chutney, followed by orange and date slice with a jug of cream. Delicious. I did wonder whether to do a bit of gardening when we got back but decided not to push my luck.

It’s a good job that neither of us are on a diet as last night our neighbour knocked with a big box of chocs to thank us for watering their garden while they were away and just now our other neighbour knocked with some Guinness gingerbread he had made.

I don’t want any more to eat but I think a cup of tea might go down well so I’m off to put the kettle on.

It was lovely and sunny when i went to town and while there until about 2pm when it clouded over and it is cloudy and feels quite cold here, although Aleaxa says it is 16 degrees.

Had a lovely lunch of haddocl and chips (too many chips to eat them all) the batter was beautifully crisp and I am sure I should not have been eating it but I did and thoroughly enjoyed it. so will steer clear of the scales tomorrow.

Had a good mooch around the shops before and after lunch, before on my own and afterwards with two of the friends Never before have I shopped with anyone who walks into a shop, spots a coat on the rail nearest the door, tries on two sizes and buys the first one she tried. Just like that. It actually looked very nice on her. This is the friend who has just completed chemo and RT after having a mastectomy. She is very tall but has lost quite a bit of weight which suits her, so is busy buying a whole new wardrobe. Lovely to see her well and happy after a horrible year.

Afternoon All,

A lovely sunny day here too and 15 degrees now. We were up early and off to the retail park at Grantham, but I only bought two bras in their sale at the huge Boundary Mill and a few cards. Now they have gone upmarket, it is all sectionned off into the different brands for clothes and you have to walk too far for me to look in all the sections if you are say looking for a coat, whereas before all the coats would be grouped together. OH said the book selection was poorer than before and dominated by children's books now like the Works. We did have a nice brunch while we were there though and it was a nice drive in the sunshine through some lovely scenery.

I set the washer going when I got back and OH heard tinkling in the washer when he went to take the clothes out and found 2 pound coins in the bottom. He brought the now sparkling clean coins to me and asked if I was money laundering!

He wasn't best pleased to get a txt saying his monthly phone payment had been refused again, having sorted it and given his new card details last month. The air certainly had a blue tinge as he needed to make some calls. When he got through, everything was in order and they didn't know why he'd been sent a txt??

A nice F&C lunch with friends sounds lovely AnnG! I've tried keeping lists for the freezer but am not very good at keeping it updated. I have 2 freezers in the garage and try to keep similar items together in the same drawer. I haven't labelled the drawers though, so OH just puts things where there is a space.

Mandy, :-D HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Colin :-D. Have you made him a cake? It's a nice day for tidying the garden, but it is tiring as you say.

Mel, dad's motor mower was always a 'heart in your mouth' moment starting it. Sometimes I had to get dad to start it as it was one of those pull cord jobs then. Does yours start with a key? How lovely to see a Kingfisher! I have never seen one only on tv.

Afternoon all,

Lovely sunny day so we've been outside ,Colins cutting the logs and I have emptied all the hanging baskets and now I feel tired out .
Son came this morning with presents and cards as its Colins birthday today ,he stayed and had a coffee then he went back to work and we said we would call into theirs tomorrow so we can see the grandchildren .

He's just got it going......

BIL is here and he can't get the mower to start.

I was outside looking at the pond when a bird flew towards me whistling and then flew away to the big beech tree with a irridecnt blue back. It was the Kingfisher. We've had it here before. Of course it was to quick to get my camera which is in the bedroom.

Good morning
Bright but chilly at the moment. Slept OK but don’t really feel rested. I don’t have any plans for the day though OH wants to go out for lunch. Enjoy your lunch with friends AnnG

Morning all,

Enjoy your lunch Anng.

Another bright sunny morning here and its 9 degrees. This is the first time this autumn I have seen condensation on the bedroom windows. Pc says partly sunny.

Must have a tidy up aas BIL may come today and I have a plumber coming on Monday to service the boiler. I want to see if he can stop the dripping tp in the little loo too.