General Chat

Meant to say BIL turned up a while ago out of the blue bring more petrol for the mower. While he was here he got the top filter thing out and cleaned it as I can't reach that or even if I could I can't get my fingers round to get it out. Then I aszked him to get the chickens food out of the car which he did and put it in the bins for me and then two bags of potting compost taken down my shed and the potting get put in my bin in there so I don't have to fight with any of that.

The something has been in the strawberries again so I am going down there now to put the ones with berries on in my shed.

Yes, I think we all agree about the poppies. They are great.

It is difficult to know what to wear to weddings these days. So much depends on where it is being held, how formal the bride and groom want it to be, what sort of reception there will be etc. Once upon a time the mothers of the bride and groom had something new to wear and all the guests came in their Sunday best but I think the suggestion of nice trousers with a pretty top will fit the bill Mel. You must send us a picture of you in your wedding outfit.

The weather is very “heavy” today. It’s around 22 degrees so quite hot but it’s dull and muggy and we have had 2 or 3 heavy downpours. I faffed about this morning but didn’t seem to achieve very much. This afternoon I’ve had a go at sorting out a cupboard under the eaves in the study. It’s quite big and goes back a way but is only as high as the point where the roof slopes. You have to crawl backwards and forwards to get at the junk in there so my back is aching and I feel exhausted now. I feel satisfied though as it’s another job done. We now have a bit more room in the cupboard, more stuff for the charity shop and a lot of stuff for recycling. For some reason we kept lots of boxes from tiny to large size thinking they would be useful some time. Well, I have been quite ruthless and just kept a couple of particularly nice ones. All the rest are flattened and put out for recycling.

The show last night was very good. You know how there’s always a bit of controversy over who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays. In this Anne Hathaway, speaking after Shakespeare’s funeral, claimed she wrote them. It was both beautifully written and acted but there was only a tiny audience. The theatre is small and only seats about 150 but I doubt if there were more than about 30 people there. They were an appreciative audience though and clapped long and loudly at the end.

I think I might have a quick wander round the garden and do a bit of deadheading before we have another downpour and then it will be time to sort out tonight’s dinner. I hope it’s not too hot overnight and we all get some sleep.

Don't complain about free grapes. Its nice when you get soemthing not expected and you don't have to pay for them.

What a nuisance the appointment coming when you were in Northumberland.

Tesco was here at 3.15 (for 4-5 order!). No problem with that as I was here.
But I wonder where the punnet of seedless grapes came from. Just checked the confirmation list no grapes mentioned and nothing missing. I fact a pack of mini magnum ice creams that they had said was unavailable and would be removed, was not removed and was available. So free grapes but how odd.

Yes the poppies are lovely. Well done Mandy.

I was taken to the local garden centre this morning by Cynth so was able to buy some replacements for the gaps where things have failed.

I thought I said Mel, at the beginning of the week I emailed the booking office who assured me that I am on the list and that I am waiting for three appointment. 1) a telephone consultation!!!! 2) the op appoitment and 3) a post op appointment with the consultant. But the booking office don't handle appointments for ENT, they have their own booking office. I am assured that all is ok but I do now have the email address of ENT. I will give them another week and if not heard then will see what they have to say. I can see what the problem is, unlike those with their own transport I need an appointment in Glos royal not any of the other hospitals scattered from here to royal Wootton Bassett. Also I guess that being ENT most of the appointments could be cancer related (More than mine is) and therefore more urgent. And I bet 'my' consultant only works one or at the most 2 days a week with NHS. So more patients to fit into fewer days. I do recall him saying it was not urgent.
to be fair they have come up with 3 appointments over the two months, one in the wrong hospital and two when I had told them I was in Northumberland. An annoying thing is, they had an appointment for me, which I didn't know about, on 11 June but cancelled it before contacting me to 'bring it forward' to??? you've guessed it, a date when I was in Northumberland.

Hav'nt you heard anything more about your appointment Ann. I would get in touch with the hospital again if I were you.

I have decided on trousers and a pretty top if I can find one I like and its in my size. Trouble is I have a big tum and bust so can't buy a trouser suit cos I only take a 12 or 14 in trousers. I think I shall have to go to Barnstaple and have a look around. As you all say I want something I can wear afterwards or its money wasted.

Been doing the big pond and now I am going to have some fish cakes for lunch.

I did reply to Mandy's email but ar'nt the poppies great.

Is the wedding in a hotel Mel? Or registry office.. What about shoes? Sandals would be fine. Is this the first time you have seen family since OH died.

I have the wedding in August, in cumbria. difficult to be planning for it knowing that a hospital appointment in the wrong place could change all my plans.

Oh morning Mel you popped in while I was typing.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Very overcast here today and its 14 degrees.

You were saying about marigolds ,I put two lots marigold seeds in a couple of trays and not one has come up but I did have lobellia and pertunias in the trays so they must have been in the compost from last year ,the marigold seeds were from last year but must have been past their best although according to the packet still in date.

I was going to say I expect the bridesmaids are going to be in those colours ,I think unless your the bride or grooms mother people don't seem to really dress for weddings any more they wear something that can be worn again .
Some nice trousers and a pretty top would be fine I would think ,I can't remember the last time I had a dress on and I don't think I have one in my wardrobe, but I did havs a look at the dresses in Bon Marche the other day as they had one on a stand that just caught my eye it was really pretty.
We were only saying the other day that we haven't seen a wedding at ths church for ages ,years ago we have seen three in one afternoon.

Yes Ann I've been getting on with ths poppies ,ill send a photo of them .

Morning all,

Yes I had thought of that Anng and think I will go for black or navy trousers and a pretty top. I have a denhiem jacket I can wear if it chilly.

Its 15 degrees here and there's a picture of a full sun so I hope its going to be a lovely day.

Just the shop to do this morning and maybe out in the garden this afternoon. I stillhav'nt got my 7 sweet peas in. Those begonias I bought in a pack of three arn't doing well one took a long while to shoot and the other two I put outside but they have been battered by the wind and they just don't look good. I also have the little Nemsia to pot on that I bought in plugs they have made nice little plants in the shed. I wonder what this new potting compost is going to be like? I am just on the end of an 80 litre compost I bought two years ago. They did'nt have that one so I had Westlands or something like that. Its peat free with John Innes in it too. There's so many to choose from now and I must admit to having a bale of peat inthe shed which has been in there years. Its only a small one but I may put some around the Rhodos.

Good morning all 14 degrees so far. I thought I was up early well before 7 o'clock, but I have already seen on FB that my sister and my son and wife are all up already too.

Mel, I expect her bridesmaids/ Maid of honour are wearing mauve/lilac colours. Maybe you could wear something pink or blue but deep shades of those colours. Maybe black or Navy trousers with a pretty top.
I am wary of buying clothes on line but my sister buys a lot from Freemans and she always looks nice. Although she is the opposite of me and could do with puttting on half a stone. :-(
Whatever you buy Mel, make sure you feel comfortable in it and that it hopefully will have a life after the wedding.

The wedding is oh's youngest sisters daughter. She booked the weeding before oh died and its down here in Devon thinking he would be able to come. The thing is she's asked if people would not wear mauve or lilac and thats what I mostly wear. I could have worn my nice thin MAUVE velvet trousers and a fancy mauve dressy shirt oh bought me a few years ago. Trouble is if you buy things online they don't always have the fit you need so it may mean going to Barnstaple.

I am glad you said that Ann I thought I must have missed mention of a wedding for Mel. Nice trousers and top and maybe a jacket would be fine. I never wear hats to weddings, they don’t suit me.

I am hoping we get some rain for the garden soon.

I'm glad your migraine has gone now Vera. It sounds like a good night's sleep is what you need next. Today being hotter has made me very tired, plus little sleep last night. Oh no, fancy your OH's trousers going missing. Your happenings and mine sound like a tv farce sometimes. I do hope they soon turn up. There are two Waitroses not too far from here, so I must have a look at their fish, as we like fish and get a card and remember the 20% off Fridays. That was a good saving you got. I tend to forget about the shop since the one in the next village became an Iceland.

You have had a nice little shop for things today Mel. I don't recall you mentioning a wedding, so who is getting married? I tend to wear comfortable trousers and a loose top that won't crease for any dos these days as I don't wear dresses anymore or even skirts, now I can't do 'heels' with my knees. Unless it's a posh wedding, I think a nice top and trousers with sandals,as it's August, and a bit of jewellery would be fine and few people wear hats these days unless you wanted to. You could keep an eye out when weddings are held at your church and have a look at what the guests are wearing.

Started to rain here about 15 mins ago so I thought I better go and pick my strawberries. I got 4 and 12 hulls so something has had a good feast.

Went to Holsworthy today as I needed chicken food and some compost. I needed to take my three library books back too but they are not open on a Friday so I had to leave them in a safe box never done that before.

Bought chicken food and a little oyster joint of ham, some drawstring bin bags and some bird seed. Two sacks of compost but they did'nt have the one I like so I got Westland mult purpose peat free and 4 4' canes. Then I went into town to look at tops for the wedding in August. I don't know what Iam going to wear as I don't do dresses and I have put on a lot of weight lately so now I must try and be good and not buy cream cakes or have butter on my toast etc. I am sitting here with a black coffee after eating a bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich and two crumpets. I shall have the quiche again tonight and that will be it.

I bought two nice smooth skinned pears in the greengrocers. I don't like the rough skinned pears they make me shudder. Always been the same with rough things, like stockinged feet on a carpet when you turn. I think it was ever since seeing tripe in the butchers shop window as a child.

Bought a pretty apple green top in The Factory Shop and then went and got some diesel. Now all I have to do is get the chicken food and compost out of the boot and into two sheds.

Your school journey was similar to mine AnnG as I caught a bus into the city, then walked to the bus station and caught another bus home to the outskirts of the city. Then my parents moved to a village about 8 miles from the city and the bus would take a while as it called at other villages on the way too. My parent's house was in a group of 6 houses midway between two villages and surrounded by fields between the villages. The only streetlight between the villages was just one that was outside our group of houses, so it was very dark walking home in the winter from the bus stop in the centre of the village.

The dentist fixed OH's tooth but wants him to ask the hospital about the extraction of two loose ones next time he is there in case they think he should be referred to them to extract them rather than him, due to the medication he's on for his osteoporosis and the fact they are getting small flare ups of infection.

His scan results are back and they told him to book a telephone appointment which he's done now. I got a letter today telling me the bowel test, which I had returned to them yesterday is now 'on it's way' to me. :-)

Next task is the food order.

Afternoon everyone

I slept OK last night and the migraine is almost gone now but it’s left me completely drained. I feel exhausted yet I’ve hardly done anything today. We went into town this morning and OH took some stuff to a charity shop and went to the gentlemen’s shop to pick up some trousers that were being altered to fit him while I went to Waitrose. His trousers appear to have gone missing but that’s another story. I wanted to stock up with some fish from Waitrose. Their fish is good but expensive. However on Fridays it’s 20% off if you have a Waitrose card. I paid £47 for my purchases but full price would have been £59 so it’s a discount worth having.

When we got back I cooked our main meal as we are out tonight so it’s easier to eat at lunchtime today. We’re going to our little local theatre to see Second Best Bed which is a one woman show. She is supposed to be Anne Hathaway talking on the night of Shakespeare’s funeral. I’ve got a very vague feeling I’ve seen it before but OH can’t remember it so perhaps I’ve muddled it up with something else.

Annx and AnnG, it’s a pity about your French marigolds as mine are doing well. I can’t grow them in the ground as slugs and snails demolish them as soon as they are planted so I’ve got them in a half barrel with copper tape round it. I’m trying to think what compost I would have used. I think it would have been a mixture of old stuff used before, some new compost which would have been a cheap one from Roy’s and a few handfuls of gravel to help with the drainage.

You are getting on well with those poppies Mandy. You must send us some pictures when they are on display.

I’d better go and find something to wear tonight. We certainly don’t need to dress up and I’ll probably only wear trousers and a shirt but I do at least like to look tidy when I go out and the “home” clothes I’m wearing at the moment are decidedly scruffy.

True we always grew French marigolds and put them in the borders with lobelias and other small plants and always had a lovely show. Maybe I should fill the pots with garden soil. I did notice when I planted them out, and they were flowering and looking good, their root systems were not developed very well, just tiny thready roots yet the plants had grown too big not to plant them out. And mine came from two different garden centres. So frustrating.

Yes we used to finish school at 4pm and the school buses would leave from outside the school at 4.15. Other than very local children all pupils would be on the buses as it was a High School that took pupils from a wide area. My bus journey was a bout 45 minutes and then I had to get another bus home from town. Hard to imagine 11 year olds doing that now.

That's interesting AnnG as the french marigolds I put in pots aren't thriving. Some that I haven't got round to planting and are still in the nursery tray look far healthier and are flowering well despite being very cramped now. I was wondering if the move away from peat was part of the problem, although years ago I planted my own French Marigold seed in ordinary soil and they were fine. It is strange and even the front wall pots are not doing as well as they usually do. The petunias in a big pot are flowering, but seem to be standing still. I know it isn't slugs or snails and I haven't seen any weevils in any of the compost.

It seems you also have the traffic backlogs at school finishing times too, so it must be general. OH's meetings are often at the end of the school day so he has the problem travelling to his meetings as the parents are all picking their children up. Half hour journeys take an hour now because of it. When we've been out for lunch, we've seen laybys full of school buses waiting to set off. School days seem shorter at least at senior schools these days. We see the children walking past our close by 3.15pm whereas we didn't finish till 4.00pm and would catch a 4.15pm bus.