General Chat

Good morning all, drizzly rain, dull and 13 degrees. Slept OK in the end until just before 6am. I hope all the weird prickly sensations under that dressing mean it is healing ok. Nothing as bad as an itch or tickle where you can't scratch!

I too couldn't make out what the row of letters was on Mel's parcel Ann. Maybe Mel can explain.

What a shame that you can't get to enter the show Ann but it does seem as though it is not very convenient. Maybe that is why there were few entries the past two years. Perhaps somebody should point it out to the organisers.

Well done your OH for clearing all that garden space. Off you go now, to buy more plants to fill it. :-D

I went to bed half an hour ago but my nose blocked up and I couldn't breath so go up and came into my office. It is clear now, I bet it blocks up again when I lay down. Strange that!

Hope Vera's eyes are not to blurry and she has not developed a headache.
Better have another go at going to bed.

Evening All,

I’ve never, ever heard the expression ‘little tacker’ so I wonder if it is a southern expression. Mel it might be a good idea to look at your account online and see just what you do get with your new contract so you don’t miss out on anything as you must be paying for the service the man offered as part of your package. It sounds like it was a good job you went back to BT, because as far as I am aware, if you have a new sim card you usually have a new phone number and lose all your contacts. We asked to keep our phone number when we changed our phones, so kept our sims. I don’t see what a line of letters has to do with the parcel going? Why was it refused to be signed for, did you get the address wrong? I wouldn’t pay more postage and send it again without finding out the reason or you could just be out of pocket again.

It sounds like you have a few more poppies in you Mandy at least till you run out of wool! It’s good to help people as you say and they are going to look great when they are all tied on. You will have to see if you can get a photo to show us. The book of knitted gnomes sounds good as well, something to enjoy making when the nights are drawing in. It’s good to have a sort out of bulging drawers isn’t it and my pants drawer is like that now. Several pairs need chucking, but I keep wearing those on days I don’t go out anywhere. lt Doesn’t matter if the elastic goes then! Lol.

AnnG I bet your tomatoes with onions and basil did smell lovely. I like them with oregano too. It’s good to have been able to use them up and not have to waste them. It should help your legs to keep pottering about in the garden shouldn't it, but you don't want those branches near your face without a motor clycle helmet on! Did you manage to make some cards? I think it helps to do something absorbing while you are at home all day.

I wonder how Vera got on today and hope her eyes aren’t too blurry.

Well OH was out early weeding/clearing a lot of the bottom border which had a lot of brambles from the field and he has cleared behind the side of the shed where the water butts are and behind it. I can start planting the end of it up now as there is a big space where we took a shrub out that had died a couple of years ago. I think our Rhubarb can go now or at least two thirds of it, as we haven’t used any the last two years. I add orange juice when cooking it, but it still needs so much sugar added it isn’t good for our blood sugar levels we both need to watch now. It’s moved home with me three times.

I got all my entries for the village show ready yesterday, but after looking at the website today and the booklet with entry form in, I’ve decided not to bother. All the sponsors seem to have stalls selling their own goods there as well and there look to have been very few craft entries in the last two years (I didn’t even know there had been shows then!). I think the little carpark will be packed and there’s likely to be a cricket match too with all the players parking in the same carpark as well as all the visitors to the show and the stalls and there isn’t other parking near enough for me to walk. It opens at 1.00pm, but even if I was early enough to get a parking space, the presentations don’t begin till 4.00pm and I couldn’t stand around all that time and there are no seats. If I managed to move my car to come back later, there would be no parking spaces by then. Straight after the presentations all your entries have to be cleared or they dispose of them, so I couldn’t even wait to come back to collect my entries till some had gone and the carpark was clearer. It is a shame, but maybe the council will start holding their shows again next year. They were much bigger and had a café where I could sit and was where I won the Chairman’s Cup that time.

BIL has gone and I feel really sleepy. I picked up lots of dead branches and twigs off the big Ash tree just before he mowed the orchard. Now he has taken one of the pairs of steps so he can cut his hedge.

I also picked up all I had cut off the thug rose and put it on the big trailer and he wheeled it round to where I have my bonfire as I never seem to get up the top outside the wall to light the other one.I have posted the parcel again but still not heard from the buyer. I did'nt have a very long line of letters on it so I am hoping its going to go this time I always send them signed for now and this parcel was refused to be be signed for.

Sauce ready to go in the freezer now. It tastes really nice. I added a teaspoon full of sweet chilly sauce to it.

Mel are you sure it's the right address because it could be returned again and your paying for nothing ,was it because the address couldn't be read .

Oh Anng I bet it's smelling good in your kitchen I love tomato and basil.

Lovely sunny day and quite muggy ,washing all dry with the good blow folded and put away with nothing to iron .
We've been sorting drawers out upstairs ,got two bags of Colins socks ,shorts and swimmers all good so they can go in the clothing bank near Tesco's.
I have my draws to start on next it's getting so I have to push things in the draw to close it .
We found sons premium bonds in one of Colins draws goodness knows how they got in there under clothes, they were some we bought him when he was little ,I can only think they laid on the bed and clothes got put on top of them and gathered up , I messaged him and he checked the holders numbers to see if he had won anything , he messaged back saying I won't be buying the Range Rover yet lol so we'll keep them in the safe for him.

You have not said why it was returned Mel. Was it a problem with the address?

I have just picked in another small bowl of tomatoes. I had some shop ones that have been very good (Spanish) from Tesco bought before 1st august when I went to daughters. They are simmering with basle and onion to make a sauce for bolognese. Smells nice.

Hope you can manage to get the poppies down in time Mandy.

BIL is here and mowing.

I had a parcel returned yesterday and re addressed it and went up the post van with it today and I had to pay the postage again! so that parcel has cost me £10.18 to send and if it comes back this time I shall not be sending it again as she only paid the £5.50 poostage and pcking and I shall loose out now.

I shall have to ask if I can charge for the postage again.

Its 16 degrees here and quite bright with a bit of sun but still that wind.

Mandy yes, I am mostly staying away from where things are blowing in the wind. I intend making some tomato soup and maybe a small amount of sauce for the freezer, then I have a new baby card to make in anticipation of September when great grandchild number 5 is due, and then maybe start on Christmas cards.

Morning all,

Very windy here this morning but not cold ,I was warm in bed last night I had shut the window because of the wind and it was supposed to rain but it didn't until just as we got up ,I have just hung some washing out but must keep an eye on it or I could be chasing it round the churchyard .
I'm glad you all like the poppies ,I like to help people out if I can and it will be nice to see them displayed on ths netting .

Hope all goes well at your hospital appointment today Vera .

Oh Anng do be careful in the garden especially with the wind it could easily blow something into your face .

Hope you can get your parcel posted again Mel what was wrong hadn't you printed the address plain enough .

Ann I'm not sure when I shall get the poppies to the lady there's only a two hour slot when the crafters who will take them in for the lady are there in the library and I keep missing it ,I get busy doing jobs and then the time has passed .
Hooe OH got on ok at ths dentist .
I have found another book on amazon with little knitted gnomes so I'm going to get son order it today.

Morning all,

Yes good luck with the eye appointment Vera hope its good news.

Quite bright here this morning but its only 15 degrees here and does feel rather autuminal out there.

I have to try and repost this parcel today so I am not hanging around but will be back later.

Good morning all slept well once I got to sleep but woke early at 0620. My nose was blocked, and of course I can't blow it, so I got up as it clears then. 16 degrees now but feels a bit nippy.

Friend came round yesterday afternoon for 2 hours chat so that was nice.

Mandy all those poppies, they look great, well done.

I think I am going to start on making my Christmas cards today, that will give me something to do to pass the time. Plenty to do out in the garden and that is hard to ignore but I can't risk it. I did sneakily get a few branches down yesterday off one of the buddleias but had to be really careful.

Good luck with the eye appointment Vera.

You are a little devil Mandy the picture you sent of all those poppies and you're going to make some more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's no stoipping you is there?

I had a thing in the post today asking me to send back something to do with the phone but I never had the new one when I changed to EE and then cancelled it. I had to ring BT again to ask if my package contained an antivirus as nothing was mentioned about that. Anyway it was a very nice chap called Phil who was very clearly spoken and he told me I have antivirus and to ignore the return package that came to me. He also is going to send a man round to check my pc and make sure everything is running ok and its free so He is coming on 2nd Sept and will come annually. Now thats what I call good service.

Afternoon all,

We had a shower of rain first thing and it's been dry since ,well until I now got the washing in as it really clouded up and I could feel a few spots when I went out to pick some runner beans for tonight , it's very windy too.

Son took me shopping as they are still using our car ,they are waiting for a part to come for his which should be today or tomorrow.

All this talk of scones makes me want one now with some lovely cream and jam ,might have to make a few tomorrow.

Poppies all done 100 ,but I still have some red and black wool so I'll make a few more ,something for my fingers to do while watching the tele .

O gosh I have just had a parcel returned and it was a signed for one. The address has been scribbled through and Tim the postman has been asking all the houses round me if they sent it!! Luckily I always put my post code on the back.

What a todo... There's always something that makes me stop what I want to do. I'm glad you liked the Little Tacker expression, its strange how these little things come back to you with just a few words. I envy you your scones...... may have to treat myself to some and some clotted cream and my homemade plum jam.

Mandy since the op my legs have gone back to where they were in June, quite stiff and achy which shows the lack of exercise. Although I do make sure I mover around, walk down the garden a lot. Maybe I should have some of Max's tablets.

Ann Yes I have liquidised the whole tomatoes in the past so will probably do that. I am hoping my friend is calling round tomorrow and have asked her to get me some basle. I might make some soup, not sure. I have also got some shop tomatoes, bought before I went to daughters and they are ok so might liquidise then too.

Mel you just made me smile, a blast from the past, you mentioned a little tacker. I have not heard that expression since many years ago from T's father in Buckfast. Love it. Pleased that you had a nice evening.

I have two scones and cream etc left to eat today, the scones are not huge and are very light so I am looking forward to them, one lunch time and one around 4pm I think.

Vera hope all goes well with the eye appointment tomorrow. And enjoy your coffee meet this morning. :-)

Morning girls,

I had to read all your post from yesterday as I turned the pc off to do some painting yesterday and then had to get ready to go to Stuarts for dinner last night.

Its so horrid when you get an itch you can't scratch but it is a good sign its healing well. Not long now before its checked out and you are managing enough sleep. As to your tomatoes I always think the best way to keep them is to freeze them and put them in stews and casseroles as Ann said. I used to cook them and pop them through a stainer and drink it as tom juice with a bit of Worcester sauce. A nice packet of crisps to go with it. A smashing suprise with the scones and jam,cream and shortbreads. What a nice thing for your daughter to do. You just enjoy being spoilt.

I enjoyed my night out at Stuart's we had pizza and beef dripping chips which was a change for me. The only thing was he left the pizza in the oven a bit too long and it was a bit hard on the base for my poor old teeth. His son (one of the twins) ate with us too and his friend so it was quite a party really. Then the other twin came down and chatted to us. She is nothing like her brother and I had 'nt seen her for years since she was a little tacker. His third child was at her mums for a sleep over so I hav'nt met Ruby yet.

Its supposed to be 17 degrees here and cloudy and they are just about right today but its been raining and windy and the rains blown all over the patio and its still wet.

Morning All,

Much the same here, 16 degrees and a bit windy but no rain yet, although the sky is very grey. Not sure if we are going out as OH is at the dentist for a check up at the moment.

AnnG after fiddling skinning tomatoes to freeze in the past, latterly in the pandemic I just washed them and liquidised them skins and all, very simple and froze them in portions for a sauce. You can't tell the skins are in the sauce and I used them added to lamb mince and rice or chicken or made lasagne. My tomatoes were the smaller than a golf ball gardener's delight. I'm glad you got some sleep again last night and hope the dressing isn't too irritating today. I could well imagine your SIL having been a rugby player in the past. We would love to make our garden walled all around, but it would be very expensive to do, so I am envious of walls too! They shelter as you say and hold the heat from the sun too which helps the plants. Your daughter does have a big garden if that is just a part of it.

Well done! You've made the 100 then Mandy! :-D :-D When will you give them to the lady? I bet her face will be a picture when she sees how many you have. It's good that vets can help ease things for dogs these days and I think I could do with something like that for my knees, although I do take glucosamine with chondroitin tablets. He's a bit older than I thought now, but the time seems to fly lately.

Vera enjoy your coffee meeting. You must be glad of it being a bit cooler after sweltering for so long. Fingers crossed you might be discharged from the eye hospital tomorrow. :-)

Morning all

There’s a real change in the weather for us today. It’s grey, wet and windy and feels cold although my iPad is telling me that it’s 16 degrees. I think you’re right AnnG about the temperature starting to drop in the early hours now.

I hope your nose isn’t too uncomfortable this morning. I’ve made tomato sauce with excess tomatoes as well and sometimes just frozen them if I am in a rush and then used them in casseroles. That probably wouldn’t work very well with tiny tomatoes.

Your tumbling tomatoes have plenty on them Mandy. Naughty Max, I shouldn’t think green tomatoes would be very good for his tum

I worked really hard at h/w yesterday so don’t plan to do much today. We’ll meet our friends for coffee as usual and will get some fresh veg while we’re out but that’s all I’ve planned. Tomorrow I have an appointment at the eye hospital. I keep hoping that they will discharge me. I thought the first appointment was a one-off to sort me out. I didn’t dream I would still be going 2 years later. They always put in several different drops so I may not be posting tomorrow. It depends how blurry my eyes are.

Good morning all. A mixed night and one time I was actually cold when I woke up so the temp must have dropped, around 3am I think. But I did get some sleep. My problem last night was waking and my nose was blocked as if I had a cold and my throat was dry as I had been breathing through my mouth. I do get a blocked nose sometimes and I can clear it by blowing my nose. something I can't do at the moment.

Mandy I will think about tomato soup but I may make a tomato sauce and put in the freezer, that is what I often do. I am not sure the tiny currant tomatoes would be any good for that though as they don't have a lot of pulp.(think red currants).

Ann yes Sil is very tall and broad, not really fat although he could lose a bit of weight. He is not a big eater though, was a rugby player in his youth (Rugby League). He is being trained to assist with gardening and has taken on the lawns. That is only about a quarter of their rear garden, they have a corner house with a large plot. And the wall (of which I am very envious), Because it is sheltered the plants do very well there and are often advanced on mine even being up North.