General Chat

Afternoon Everyone,

Well it was glorious when we went out this morning, sunny, calm and warm. I thought I could get the washer on when I got home, but no, It's very dull and cloudy now and the PC forecast was hours of rain soon! :-( We went to the retail park down the road and OH managed to dive into a parking space behind one of those security vehicles that dispense cash to shops. A man in hi viz appeared and asked him to move as they had a problem with the vehicle. All of a sudden a bellowing loudspeaker on it burst into life saying 'Help, help, call security, call security'. This kept happening every minute or two so was obviously the problem! OH went off to do his errands and I went to W H Smith to look at magazine files, only the W H Smith shop was empty!! A lady saw me looking puzzled and said they had moved further down, which luckily wasn't far for me. There was lots of what I wanted there when I looked online, but just one metal mesh type on display. We called in Boots nextdoor then and went to Sainsbury's next where I found a suitable, sturdy magazine file and I might need another, so better decide and go back tomorrow if I do as there was only one more left.

So you had one good night but then back to a poor sleep last night again Vera. It's annoying when you just can't get back to sleep when you wake and just lie there waiting for morning. By the time it's time to get up I usually feel sleepy! OH had another migraine in the night, but it soon went off. He picked up his other tablets today so we'll see how he does with them. Neither are beta blockers after all. One is a statin and the other tryptophan which he doesn't really fancy after reading possible side effects!

AnnG it does sound like arthritis pain like you say. I can remember being told exercises for my thumbs when I used to have trouble with them and my back during the menopause, but neither seem to bother me much as much now. You have a good selection of sticks to choose from. I'm sure there must be a better way for them not to be so cumbersome. It's like handbags when you go for a meal anywhere and they put you on a table for 2. (we always try for a table to seat 4). Where do you put your handbag on a table for 2? I hate putting mine on the floor where it could be dirty and prefer it on a seat where I can see it as well. The places that had a hook to hang it on under the table a few years ago seem to have gone now.

Mandy just the grass now then and your front garden will be nice and tidy. It's good to get rid of the weeds that aren't yours and stop the seeds blowing into your garden. My first FIL, who was a good gardener, always said, 'one year's seed means seven year's weed! He was right. Your toms, cues and beans are coming on and you'll soon be picking them. I'm missing not having any this year, but maybe next year when we have less to do.

Mel I expect 2 different sections deal with your solar and standing charges and aren't connected. It's not great though when they are slow to pay you on the one hand, but want money from you with the other. How long do you think the two hens will stay broody? Let's hope the third one doesn't join them.

Must get on now. A few miore tweaks to the bathroom and see if I can decide about walls and floor. OH has decided he would like a walk in shower instead of a sliding door after all, which is fine by me......less to clean! :-) I can call in the morning after my haircut which is on the way and get booked in for the fitters appointment. as well.

No sun here now, it didn't last long although it has stayed dry. I think getting up early addled my brain or at least confused it somewhat.

I am making a wedding card so had been concentrating. Looked at the clock in my office and thought, time for coffee. Went downstairs, tidies away a few things in the kitchen, thought what am I having for lunch, got the stuff out prepared it, sat down and ate it while reading my book. spent about an hour reading eating and resting. cleared stuff into the kitchen glanced at the clock, thought that clock has stopped. Looked at the cooker clock, no, it said the same. My brain was telling me normal time if I had an early lunch, the clock would show 1.10pm but it was 1210pm. Worked out I should have had coffee but I had had lunch.
Just had coffee now and I am back in the real world. :-D

Well we filled two tubs with weeds but didn't get round to cutting the grass so hopefully that will get done tomorrow weather permitting.
The clouds are now turning very grey but the suns still shining ,I did try getting a bit of sun in a jar to send you Mel but it slipped out when I tried to get the lid on :-D
We have some tiny cucumbers , flowers on the tomatoes and we counted about eight beans on the runners so things are coming along but a bit slowly.

Afternoon all,

Grey dull dreary and cold here and its supposedd to be 16 degrees but there is a biit of wind and thats cold.

Had to go to the post van first thing this morning. I also need to go to Holsworthy today as I hav'nt any books to read and they were'nt open on a Friday and I was'nt going on market day as you can't get parked.

Four hours is good for you is'nt it Vera? annoying when you can't get on with other things though.

Still got the two broodies which is very annoying but had two eggs today and am hoping that Em dos'nt need any till later in the week. I have half a dozen for her anyway to tide her over if she does need some.

Can you two girls with sunshine please send me some as I get on so much better when the suns out. I do have some ironing to do and some repotting so I think thats two jobs for today.

Good morning

We’ve got the same weather as Mandy. Yesterday afternoon we had heavy rain, thunder and bright sunshine all at the same time. It was weird. I expected to see a rainbow but there wasn’t one. It’s supposed to start raining again by lunch time so I’m hoping the washing will be dry by then. Two loads are on the line and the third is in the machine.

It’s good that your leg didn’t give you any pain last night AnnG. I slept well for about 4 hours but I woke at 4 am and that was it for the night. The annoying thing when I’m awake at that hour is that I can’t really get on and do anything in case I wake OH. I can iron but I didn’t have any ironing to do or I can get our main meal prepared but I did a casserole yesterday to last 2 days so I didn’t have that to do either.

You’ll have a very tidy front Mandy if you manage to get everything weeded before the rain returns. If you run out of weeds to pull I can offer you a job here. OH is moaning already about all the tiny seedlings that seem to be growing in spite of us trying to deadhead things before they drop their seeds.

Right, I had better check the washing machine and see if the last load is ready to hang out yet. Have a good day everyone.

Morning all,

Nice bright sunny morning here ,yesterday late afternoon we had thunder and lightning and heavy rain ,what weather for July we should be complaining about the heat not having to put a cardi on .
We're going out in a while to have a good weed along the outside of the garden wall along the path not our job really but it keeps it looking tidy and we also need to weed in the front garden and cut the grass before the showers start later .

good morning all. 8 degrees here, that is the lowest it has been for a long time. I think the seasons are getting really mixed up, we seem to be heading back into spring with the temperature. At least it is sunny so that is one thing. But tomatoes etc will be set back if it stays colder like this. I slept well last night but woke early and no chance of getting back to sleep. Leg didn't hurt at all in the night.

My leg started hurting occasionally but it got worse when on holiday as I couldn’t really have days to rest it. About five years ago I had a few eeeks of my other leg hurting at night. But that suddenly stopped. I have had sessions at various time of ankles hurting the. That eases snd disappears. The same with my thumbs and hands so my best guess is that my body has a tends cy to have arthritis.

Vera good that you had a good night.

I have changed the bed and washed the bedding as well as walking down to Irene’s to take the books back I had read so that is my exercise for today.

Ann I actually have more than one stick. I have two walking poles. the other I bought in Northumberland, it is more modern, slimmer but both are good. Then I have the folding stick which is useful. I also still have T’s walking pole and an old wooden stick that eas my Dad’s.

The board did'nt work as I had the two broodies in the nest box one sitting on an egg and the other with nothing under her. I threw them both out of the box and closed the door. So one egg today then I thought but as I had cleaned them out yesterday I open the front of the house and there in the far corner was a lovely brown egg. Got out my much broken small dung rake to get it out and hooked it perfectly but whilst bringing it within reach I dropped it and it cracked so I had it for lunch.
My chickens run has bean netting over it so they can't fly out but I have never seen any of them even attempt to fly out. They do come out the gate into the run if I don't shut it behind me but if I have some nice tasties I throw in the run they rush to get those first.

Been sent another leccy bill today saying Pay Now but I think its to the potting shed and its only the standing charge but they make me so cross as I sent my solar reading in on 20th June and its says you'll get paid within 5 to 7 working days. Apparently they are changing their system and are now sending cheques out but still not got mine yet. My money is making them money while its in their keeping and not making me more money. It makes me so cross so I think I am going to withold this bill till I get my cheque. This is an expensive month for my as I have had to pay the car insurance and the Ancestry sub and the leccy bill for the house and the phone bills.

For once I had a really good night and got about 7 hours sleep. Shame it’s not like that every night. I’m sorry your leg is waking you AnnG and hope you get a better night tonight.

This morning it was cloudy with just a glimpse of sun now and then but it was dry. OH got a bit of deadheading and weeding done but by midday it was raining again and poured most of the afternoon, stopping just a short while ago. It’s none too warm either. Have we had summer?

I didn’t do our usual Sunday roast this week. Instead I shoved a big beef casserole in the oven. We've had that today and there’s half of it left for tomorrow. I dug a square of home made lemon cheesecake out from the freezer and we had half as a dessert and the other half will be a cake for later.

I also got all the towels washed and tumbled them dry so I’ve just put a nice big pile away. It’s somehow very satisfying to see a pile of freshly laundered, nicely folded towels

You seem to have a lot of subs Annx. Do you have Asda? They seem to be the worst for subs. I like the Tesco site best as you can not only say you do or don’t want subs but can also do notes for the picker e.g I buy Benecol spread and I put a note saying they can sub with Flora ProActiv but not with anything else. It’s a really useful feature. I wish Sainsbury’s did it too.

Not sure what I am going to do for the rest of the day but I hope you are all enjoying your day.

Afternoon All,

It poured with rain half an hour ago but now beautiful sunshine. I did put socks on today though when I got up as it was cooler than yesterday. Waiting for the food drop now and not happy with some of the 5 subs. Instead of skimmed milk they've sent 3 semi skimmed milk which we never have, so 2 can go back and we'll keep one to use today as we've run out. They sent their own brand of course which lasts nowhere near as long before going off as well. I asked for beetroot juice, so they sent prune juice which can go back as I eat 2 prunes a day, so don't need juice!

I don't know that much about chickens, but when one of mum's chickens was broody she flew out of the 6 foot high run and made a nest in the orchard bit of the garden with long grass and had laid a lot of eggs before I noticed her. I don't think I used to count the 2 dozen chickens when feeding them and then shutting them in as they all came running when I would appear with their chicken mash. The rats from the brook at the bottom of our garden were a pest when they thought there might be leftovers, so I was surprised the broody hen's eggs weren't eaten by them.

It's a nuisance your leg is waking you at night AnnG. It's good to keep exercising it and I find when I get up my knees are stiffer than by lunchtime, but then they can worsen again and ache if I do too much or I'm on my feet too long. I can't remember now, but did the trouble with your leg start gradually? I know what you mean about a stick being a bit of a nuisance carrying things. I found the same with a nordic pole despite it having a hand loop. I could collapse it down to carry though, similar to your stick folding. I remember MIL forgetting she had hers and leaving it behind in toilets. etc!

Oh has pulled the foxgloves up before all the seed drops as we already have dozens of baby plants growing from last year. I think some cutting back of the shrubs is needed, especially those overhanging a path and which will help fill the garden bin again.

We have a young magpie visiting at lunchtme to poke around looking for food. He's soon learned to dunk bread on my poor little waterlily to soften it and then carry it off to eat.

That could be the answer then Mel, I sat making cards yesterday afternoon.

I am just back from walking down to take back the books that I got Friday that I had actually read before. The sun is shining now 15 degrees but still doesn't feel that warm. The trouble with using a stick is that you only have one free hand to carry things. 4 paperbacks are quite heavy to carry as none of them seem to be slim copies these days. I also picked up a 250 piece jigsaw (large pieces for my friend's friend who is bordering on dementia. this is an older large piece puzzle but that added to the weight.

Sounds worse than naughty children and putting them on the naughty step Mel :-D

Morning all,

Suns out here at the mo but pc is saying heavy rain soon, O it has just changed to light rian and its 14 degrees but dos'nt feel that warm. I am thinking of wearing a jumper today as I am freezing in this cardy.

Ann I find with my knee and hip that if I walk around its much better than if I sit nearly all day doing my miniatures.The board across most of the nest box did'nt fool one of the hens as as soon as I let them in one got in the nest and this morning there are only three hens out so two must be sitting. I was hoping as I had sprayed in the nest box well that it would put them off but I think it may be a stint in the old banty coop may do the trick.

Good morning all 12 degrees and a bit wet out there.

Didn't sleep that well last night leg was waking me up, goodness knows why as I didn't do any walking yesterday. As soon as I get up and walk around it is OK. Slept in two hour slots.

Cynth should be back today, at least I had two days with no watering.

The suns out at the mo and its lovely out there but I did get wet cleaning the girls out so had to wait for it to stop.

I'm pleased you were able to walk over to the fete and have a look around the stalls etc. shame you did'nt find anything to buy not even some raffle tickets? Its such a shame when it rains these things off. I seem to remember that when we had our fetes in Alphamstone we could take out an insurance for if it rained?

I too have been thinking of our Jane today it seems funny not to be sending out two cards. Its also William's birthday on St Swithen's day and I do hope it dos'nt rain that day.

I shall be glad when all this sport is over at least I don't have to watch it now but I do miss the motor racing and also like some of the horse shows and dressage.

So did you go to Irene's with your books in the end Anng?

Its was a funny thing as it was 8.24am when BIL turned up and I was waiting fo rhim to come in but he did'nt I went and looked out and there was no car so he had been and gone. He probably brought petrol down and put it in the old chickens shed. Anyway I was at the pc l;ater on and heard a car and it was him again I think he came for the cans the first time and then brought them back filled but this time I shot out the front door and caught him. I said to him why did'nt you come in the first time and he said he thought I would still be in my jim jams that early. Anyway he did'nt mow but did get the strainer out of the top filter box which I can't reach and we cleaned that and the big filter. I can now see the bottom of the pond whicvh is a first for this year. He also went and picked up all the brimble and weeds and nettles I had cut down the other day two trailer loads and dimped it round by the bonfire so that was good. I asked if he wanted some lunch but he said no as he was going to go home and have a sleep before going to collect the wife from work.

Cleaned out the big girls this afternoon and I missed Fatty Arbuckle so looked in the house and she has eventually passed away. I was going to ask if they would take her when I had the new girls but thought she may as well stay and live her life out here with the other girls. So now I am down to 5 and two of the new ones are broody so I have had two eggs today one brown one and one white one and I know which of the black hens is layingas when she went in the house after I fed them this morning I had chucked the two broodies out and she went in so I shut her in the hosue and went back later and let her out gave them some mash and shut the house up again. No doubt when I corn them they will want to go back in but they are going tohave a shock as I have put a bit of board up and the nest entrance with only a space fro one to get in there. I will let you know if it works.

I am going to post now but I have been copying it incase.

The rain stopped while we were having lunch so we grabbed sturdy shoes and waterproof jackets and trotted down the road to the field. It was wet and muddy but not the quagmire I expected. There were quite a few people there though not as many as usual and the ice cream van wasn't doing any trade. The number of stalls and cars selling from their boots was definitely down and there was no sign of the silver band. I suspect they may have cried off at the last minute but our local marching group were there, bless them. I would guess most of them are aged from about 6 to mid-teens. They had just started performing when we got there. A group of drummers did their bit and very good they were too, then the marchers came on with their multi coloured pom poms and did a routine. One or two of the littlest ones went the wrong way once or twice but that just made people smile. At least they didn't make them perform in their usual outfit of T-shirts and short skirts or they would have been frozen. Instead they had trousers and hooded tops with the group's logo. I didn't buy anything and feel a bit guilty as the Ladies Club run several stalls and run the refreshment room and I usually make cakes for them. I didn't do that this year as we were going to be in Norwich today. Oh well, at least I showed my face.

The wind is still a bit wild but it hasn't started raining again yet and we've even had a gleam or two of sun in the last hour.

Annx, I've never seen that clause in the Conditions of Sale before. When big items are being delivered there is usually a driver and another man with him to offload stuff. I wonder how someone living alone and perhaps disabled is meant to deal with a delivery. Perhaps you have to pay for a second man to accompany the driver.

I now need to get our dinner sorted as OH would like to finish eating by 7 pm so that he can watch the Tour de France highlights. He has motor racing recording and has been watching some Wimbledon this afternoon - and he isn't particularly "sporty"!

Afternoon All,

Very black clouds here with patches of sunshine between. The garden's had a good soaking at last though and now it's dry again. What a shame for the fete Vera and a good idea to wear some suitable footwear for if it's muddy when you go to show your face. When I discovered my wellies when we cleared a lot of the garage last year I chucked them out as I knew I wouldn't be able to get them on. Yes I always remember Jane's birthday with it being so close to Fitz's and mine. It was so sad what happened to her just when she had so much to look forward to. Thank goodness she didn't have to suffer the loss of her son too.

I nipped to the shop earlier and OH has gone to a match. They have started putting the yarn bomb up in the next village.

I had a shock when I started reading the bathroom place's Conditions of Sale. They say unless it is specifically agreed, the customer is responsible for providing adequate labour and facilities at the delivery points for unloading goods ordered by him! I need to make sure exactly what goods they mean as I've never seen that suggested anywhere before. We may be starting from scratch again elsewhere at this rate as we couldn't unload the items! I did ask how long it might take Mandy, but we got sidetracked with something else. I will make a note to ask next week when I go in. I suppose it depends how many men they send.

Yes, it's a miracle he didn't find a book to buy in The Works Mandy! It's only a small area at this garden centre though. The two others we go to are much bigger so he usually finds something in those. I like looking in the sale boxes too. You can find some good things in them. Have you filled a bag yet?

Yes, I couldn't understand what had happened to Emmerdale either AnnG. It's marvellous how they can bump other, longstanding programmes around so they can fit the footie in, even at the last minute. I know what you mean about sitting watching people. I used to love getting a magazine or the paper and icecream, then calling in a park with the carpark along the edge on the way home to sit and watch the dogs chasing their balls and the little children scurrying as fast as they can to the swings on the other side. There were nice shady trees along the edge if it was hot. Now the carpark is often crammed full with cars spilling along the roadside too with all the sports or events in the village hall.

I expect there are other jobs BIL can help with if it's too wet to mow Mel. So you have less eggs just when you wanted more with a new customer. Isn't it always the way!

I'd better finish the food order next and remember there isn't much room in the fridge since we went to the farm shop.

Do be careful if it is mussy Vera. Hope they still make some money anyway.