General Chat

Sounds nice to have riends round for tea and cakes so that should rest your chat and don't do anything to annoy your back.

Had a dig out of the pile of mud where the chickens go in their house it had built up quite a pile and I scraped mud off the paving slabs in front of the shed and outside the run the grass had grown over the paving slabs so I pulled all that up and put it in their run. They love to have a good sratch in that and find the worms.

It started to rain just as I went round to the girls and when I came back I had to get the washing in as it was blowing the rain onto the patio. Just going to iron those few bits now and then have a hoover and dust.

Good afternoon everyone

About 8 degrees and dry so far but no sign of any sun and computer is telling me we have another 4 rainy days starting tomorrow. I can't wait.

I hope your OH gets on well with the nurse at the hospital today Annx, and hope that your foot isn't too painful for the drive. I was interested to see what was being said about the pensions. It's dreadful that people can't retire as planned because their pension isn't organised yet. You mentioned your pension provider is now Capita. OH's pension was with Capita and a couple of years ago their systems were hacked and all OH's data, along with a lot of other people's, was stolen. You can imagine how much information pension providers hold on an individual so it was a worrying time. We are now in the second year of Capita paying a full sub to Expedia on our behalf so we can be warned immediately if any companies do a credit check on us which could mean that someone has applied for a loan or mortgage etc in our name. OH's company moved their pensions to another provider, Having said all that, this is probably the safest time to be with Capita as their cyber security will be extra tight now.

Yesterday my dodgy back muscle went into spasm again and by evening was so painful that I was in bed by 8 pm with pillows supporting my back and a wheat bag pressed on to the bad muscle. I was also dosed up to the eyeballs with pain killers. Thankfully it seems quite a bit easier this morning. I just have to be careful. Needless to say, I had a lot to do this morning. I've left most of the washing; I've just done a load of shirts and OH has washed the part of the downstairs tiled floors where the dogs had been in and out with wet paws. I managed a bit of hoovering as that didn't involve much stretching and bending. Now OH is getting us an early lunch as we have 4 friends coming for tea and cake this afternoon. I had intended making a cake but I ran out of time and energy so it will have to be shop bought. Luckily I've got a selection in the freezer so have taken out some jam tarts and some mini cup cakes.

I'd better go and tidy myself up and change out of the old clothes I'm wearing. Then we'll have this snack lunch. I've invited our friends for 2.30 but one of them is always very early and is likely to be here at about 2 pm. I'd like to be ready.

OH is not going to be quick like I hoped. He just contacted me to say they want an
x-ray now and blood tests. I popped to the shop on the way home and saw the crocus in the village were all out. They planted them in circles around the Cherry trees that are in a row on a little green in front of the old folks bungalows with the brook between them and the bungalows. I always thought the bungalows must be nice if you were housebound with the nice flowers in spring and the ducks visit there to be fed as well.

Mel you have motivated me to change the bed now my foot has eased a lot......well until tomorrow morning when it will stiffen up again.

Morning girls,

Dry start and the sun is trying to put in an appearance but there's also grey clouds out there. Its 8 degrees here and I have turned the heating on to take the chill off the house.

HW today I think, need to change the bed and do some paintwork wiping down of the doors in the hall as I noticed they look dull and dusty.

Good luck for G at the hosp today and hope the sppointment is a quick one.

Morning AnnG and All,

Dry here and soon we'll be off to the hospital. OH will have a trek as where he needs to go is the other end of the hospital this time. I was awake at 5.00am and didn't get back to sleep, but at least pottering about a bit has eased my foot ready for the drive. Not sure whether to come home and go back to fetch him or to wait in Morrisons carpark. As it's to see the nurse and not the rheumatologist I have a feeling it will be a quick appointment. He was hoping to discuss the scan results and I doubt the nurse will do that. Not sure what we will do after.

I think we were with CSP and have changed to Capita now AnnG and something to do with a huge backlog of cases. I'm glad we haven't been affected. I think some people have been waiting months and had to get loans to tide them over. Imagine if you had big mortgage payments. I see Irene collects all kinds of donations and some things are free too. Its good that things like the books get shared around between people. It encourages recycling too. I hope the wound is healing and becoming less of a nuisance as it's been quite a while hasn't it. You've reminded me to write out a new 'list' later. There sre plenty of sitting and sorting of papers kind of jobs I ought to get on with and are mostly sitting jobs to give my foot a break.

Good morning all A bit grey out there but so far it is dry! 7 degrees so not too cold. Nothing planned but a long list of jobs needing doing, however most have needed doing quite a while I have only just listed them to see if I can get some of them done. Otherwise they will remain out of soght out of mind. A lot of them involve sorting paperwork followed by shredding!!

I had not realised there were problems with our pensions Ann. I am not even sure that I knew there was a change of provider. However I would notice if the pension didn’t arrive. But what a worry for new retirees and should not happen surely. All that should have been tied up before any change in provider.

My wound looks as though it may be very slowly healing but it is still there. Still a nuisance.

The books which cover three trestle tables but in boxes for easy moving when they put them out once a month. The books that are taken are usually returned and people put books in they have bought as well. There are some hard backs and I have taken quite a few of mine down there too. I never take the hard backs to read as I find them too heavy to hold.

Lots of people take her bags of stuff which she distributes to various charities. Sometimes she puts small stuff out on her wall free to anyone who wants them. I have acquired one or two useful bits and toys as well. In the warmer weather she sometimes puts a trestle table of stuff out. No cost but there is a box by the door for donations which are used to provide warm meals and soup for the homeless. The same with hats, socks and scarves. Other stuff goes to the S Army charity shop.

Afternoon All,

Another wet start to the day although a bit like Mel I didn't stir till gone 10.00.am. Still having to lean over the bed and hobble with the left foot for a few minutes and almost too painful to take weight on it at first. It very gradually eases so I can walk carefully by the afternoon and after doing a few stretches, but is such a nuisance and stopping me from doing so much. We had the barnesley lamb chops today with parsnip, onion, carrot, green beans and brussel sprouts. OH tries to help, but with all the questions he has to ask about every single thing I'm convinced he walks around never noticing anything I do. Perhaps it's a man thing. :-S He was home earlier than I expected after the retirement do last night. Apparently the retirement has been cancelled for now anyway due to the problems with the Civil Service pension provider changeover and problems making payments to new retirees. Apparently the husband has retired but had no payment as yet, so his wife has had to cancel her retirement now as they would have no income otherwise. I think OH said they have a holiday booked too so it must all be a worry. Luckily those of us already retired and on the system are ok.

Mel those were great pics of the Sparrowhawk and pretty rainbow.

You are getting your admin straight AnnG and I am tidying in here so I can find everything easily. It's handy for you having Irene with a supply of books to read. Do a lot of people bring books to swap and for the shop? It's a good idea. Our local shops are getting fussy and some will only take paperbacks for some reason and OH gets quite a few hardbacks which only one shop will take and only then if they have space. I keep meaning to ask if your wound is healing better now?

It sounds like your son has got on well with the media wall Mandy!

We are back at the hospital tomorrow as OH has the texted appointment which will be to see the nurse. He never did receive the appointment letter. Not such an early start though as it is 11.00am ish so we should miss the rush hour traffic and at least the weather here says no rain.

Had my late breakfast and am now thirsty. Its nearly dark now at 5.29pm Yes the washing did go out and yes it did rain this afternoon.

Started taking a cast of my little old dolls house bottle and thats about it for today.

Oh I don't think I would like that Mel, that is a lot of time lost do you then feel fulll of energy or heavy headed?

I managed another walk down to Irene's to take back the 2 books I had read and another one off my book shelves to add to the stock. I did also get another couple of books

After I had drunk my coffee I sorted the stuff waiting to be shredded and took out all the bits that didn't have my personal info on them and they went in the recycling, then I shredded the remainder.
I also then sorted anf filed a small pile of things that were sitting on top of the safe ready to be filed, so that is all clear now.
There is a lot more that I could be sorting but that can wait a while.

I have also prepared the veg to have with my meal this evening. (chicken leg) swede which I have cooked and mashed with pepper and butter) and baby sprouts.
I had to cut (with difficulty) the swede they sent me in half, if was very big, even though I had asked for a small one. Delivery driver said they were all huge this week whereas a couple of weeks ago they were so small that they were giving two for one.

well, I have done another bit of admin so I am going downstairs now to read my book. and have a cup of tea.

Morning all,

I got up while it was still dark for the loo and could I go back to sleep, no, so I lay there getting more cross with myself and trying to block the light out and I must have dropped off again as I woke at 10.45am.

Its a lovely bright sunny morning here but not sure how long its going to last and I have slept through most of it!!! I need to get some washing ont he line as pc says partly sunny and its 9 degrees. It also says light rain around 4pm.

Mandy glad you liked the little video shame there was'nt more of it. It really made me laugh at the end.

Morning all,

When we got up it was a clear morning but now it's turned very foggy and you can hardly see down the road , we're off to sons later for coffee and to see how the media wall is coming along ,he said yesterday he has a few tweaks to do to it .

Mel that was a lovely shot of the rainbow and I bet it was brighter than it looks on the photo ,they never look as bright on a photo fo they.

Better drink my tea then get sorted out .

Good morning all 6 degrees here and still very grey, supposed to get a few dry periods today (how grateful we are for small mercies! I hope to return the 2 books I have found already read some time back and then to continue with the sorting and shredding. But first a shower and hair wash I think. so better get on.

I sometimes seem to wake up 'pulling' myself out of sleep with a really weird heavy head, not a headache but like pressure on my head. It clears as soon as I get out of bed but is really odd. it usually happens after dreaming a lot.

Well OH has set off now looking quite smart in warm jacket and mainly plum coloured tartan shirt. He sorted out just one main course he can have on the menu. So much is in sauces with cream added, or chips cooked in beef fat, so are not heart healthy, or have spices added, particularly chilli he doesn't like. As it's a retirement do this time I think more people will be there and he will probably know a lot of them so will be catching up on what they are doing now.

Vera your daughter has done really well with her musical talent. One of my schoolfriends played the clarinet and I know she passed a lot of exams. Was it Acker Bilk who used to play the clarinet? I think that was the first time I heard it played on it's own and I thought it had a lovely sound. As you say it is expensive to support a child with a talent to achieve their best. I'm still in touch with a schoolfriend who was really good at sport and her parents couldn't afford the cost even of driving her everywhere they would need to. I have a photo of her at our school in the county athletics in the hurdles beating a girl called Pat Lowe. Pat Lowe went on to compete in the Munich Olympics. I had to chuckle when you ended up talking to yourself in the garden after the little dog had deserted you and gone back in the warm. They seem to have happily accepted being left with you now which is good.

Mandy that was good son got the logs under cover before the rain. With still not knowing exactly what will get done when in the garden and whether I get rid of the greenhouse, I might at least grow a few courgettes and tomatoes in pots this year and I can always move the tomatoes outside if we get as far as someone taking the greenhouse down. I fancy a few more flowers to attract the butterflies this year too. It would be great if you get some plants to grow from your saved seed. It's good you have finished those rabbits etc so you can concentrate on a new project now. You are more disciplined than me as I always have things I take ages to finish!

I need to have one of those 'sort outs' too AnnG. I always used to do it between Christmas and the New Year while watching tv, but not since I've been with OH. I need to check if old insurances for the car, house etc need shredding and to get rid of instructions for things we no longer have. At least that would be a start.

Oh his little head when he pops out the bottom :-D

One of mine never had any post marks on it either Mel.

Ann I thought I might try to grow some different tomatoes this year ,I do love the little sweet ones so Sungold is a definite, I did save some seeds from one of those long red peppers so I'm hoping I can get a couple of pepper plants ,don't know if they'll ever get peppers on them as they will want the heat .

Vera thats good the little dogs settled down again ,they remembered they came last time and mum came home for them .

Now I'll see what Mel has found on you tubs

Not from me Mel.

Its in an envelope about 22cm x 22cm and its not got any post marks on it.

BIL has been here we had lunch and he showed me how to send emails a diferent way. Iv'e had nothing done to the pc but today BIL deleted all my empty files of photos I had deleted giving me more room.

You must take a look at this it made me laugh so much my sides ached.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Fctwa6TxD6s

We had a dry period between11.30 and 1215 and I just managed to walk down to Irene's and take a couple of books down for the stall and brought 8 back. As I guessed however I had already read two of them, they were quite old books so I am not surprised and they can go back either tomorrow or Monday.

I have done a bit of admin, not my favourite, sorting out stuff that is kept for safety in my fire protected safe. so that is a bundle of House indurance stuff filed and another bundle of finance statements. and now there is a pile for shredding. There is more to sort in the safe but hopefully I can get that done tomorrow.

I have sent both yours and mel's cards Mandy but Mel I don't think mine was in a large envelope (how large is large?)

Mandy you have been busy knitting then and keeping quiet about it. Well done for getting the logs round so they are covered from the rain.

Ann don't blame OH for watching footie on TV, no point in getting wet.