General Chat

Hope you enjoyed your tree Vera. You got a lot done today so I hope you get another good amount of sleep tonight.

BIL came earlyish just after I had showered and got dressed. We nattered for a bit and I asked him if he would help me get the leccy chicken fence out of the lawnwhere he has been mowing around it. Anyway with the two of us we managed to sort it out and we have put it all around the chickens run nad to the nest box so I can go in and not worry they are going to rush out around the garden as its not easy to get them in now. I have to take something round we me to throw in the run so they all rush to it or they get under ny feet. I could now while I am round there lett them have a bit of grass before I feed them.

He put te garden vac blower thing together and promptly went out to try it and shoved it into a load of big wet leaves that have very long stalks and he bunged it up so had to take some of it apart again to free it up. I told him not to do wet leaves. Anyway it working now I just have to wait till the leaves are dry.

Its been a super sunny day and cos he came early I forgot to put the rest of the washing in ther machine so it going now with no time to dry it outside. But that was two good jobs done today, the vazac and the chickens fence. It would'nt have been in such a mess if he had'nt caught it with the mower int he first place but it did need two pairs of hands to sort it out I could'nt have done it on my own. Then we came in and I did cheese and pickle rolls. O first we were chatting and when I looked on the pc I had 5 mins to get to the shop for my paper. He took me he said do you want me to whiz you up there. Well talk about drive slow I could have got there quicker myself anyway I just made it.

Machine has just sung to me so thats another job done now but I don't think its going to do much drying out there now even thought the suns still fully out. Theres now wind today and still 14 degrees here.

It was foggy again first thing but it sort of cleared after a while. I say sort of because, although there was no more actual fog, it has stayed murky and grey all day. We’ve also had drizzle on and off all day as well and it’s supposed to be 14 degrees but it feels colder to me. Probably because there hasn’t been even a gleam of sun since we got up this morning.

I’m glad you eventually managed to get some sleep AnnG and your jabs went well. We had SpikeVax last time so I expect it will be the same this time when we go. Great that your dil’s mother has reached her 100th birthday. It sounds as though she is having a lovely day. Today would have been my mother’s birthday. Sadly we lost her just over 50 years ago now and I still miss her. You never forget your mum, do you.

Mandy, garden gnome is another good one. I love his loppity hat. How many gnomes is that now? It must be annoying to be woken by the neighbour’s milkman. Our newspaper delivery often comes around 5 am but we’ve never had a delivery as early as Annx. Our delivery man comes by car but he’s very quiet. I sometimes hear him if I’m already awake but he’s never woken me up.

I hope your garden vac. didn’t have any broken bits this time Mel and bil has got it all put together for you. You’re going to need it over the next few weeks to gather up all the leaves that are falling.

It’s a nuisance that OH needs more tests Annx but a good thing that the doctor is really trying to find out what is wrong. The sooner the medics can pinpoint the problem the sooner they can start to put it right. I’m glad you found the car keys. That’s one less thing to worry about.

I had quite a good sleep last night. I woke a few times but got back to sleep quite quickly. So I had a bit more energy today and between us we tidied, dusted and hoovered the whole house and I’ve prepared tonight’s dinner. I’ve been deciding whether to go out to the bench in the garage and do some potting up of cuttings. but I feel a bit tired now so I think I’ll leave that till tomorrow. 2 or 3 weeks ago when I was in a rush I just chopped a dozen bits off some Argyranthemum and shoved them in a jar of water. 5 of them are no good and I have thrown them out today but the other 7 have all got good roots now so I am quite pleased.

Guess what I am going to do now. That’s right, I’m going to make a pot of tea. I haven’t had a cuppa since 1.30 and I’m getting withdrawal symptoms.

That is the jabs done. didn't feel either of the injections. Again super organised, I was 10 minutes early getting there. and was out 5 minutes after my booked time.
The covid jab is Spikevax JN1

My daughter in law's Mum is 100 years old today. Ruby has had a ride in a limo and a lovely tea put on by her residential home. She is my inspiration.

Mandy, yes it has healed as much as it is going to, I won't know any more until I get that replacement appointment.

Not sure an extra hour is going to make any difference to me. I seem to sleep a certain number of hours whatever time I go to bed.

It is not foggy here but is sort of misty. the sun is breaking through so I have put in a small wash that will dry in the conservatory. I have retrieved the folding airer which I had put away in the garage when using the tumble drier. Just waiting now for Paul to get the new one. It is on order.

Morning all,

Foggy here again ,it is clearing a bit at times and the sun had a go at shining but has gone again now ,hoping to get out in the front garden to get the old leaves off the hostas in the pots and there's a few weeds to get up in the garden if the grass is not to wet .

Ann hope you managed a better night's sleep last night , what a time to deliver a paper we hear the milkman come to the house over the road sometimes, its one or two o'clock when he comes and he's not quiet he slams his door .

Anng good you managed to get to sleep in the end ,you'll be able to catch up with sleep tonight as the clocks go back and we get the extra hour .
I keep meaning to ask , has your nose op healed OK now .

Mel hope all the bits are in the box and bil can get the hoover together for you .

Vera that was a good price for two courses shame your salmon was a bit dry ,take it easy with the jobs today don't go and strain your back and side again .

Good morning Mel and all, 9 degrees here and so far dry, sort of cloudy bright. Nothing planned for this morning but covid and flu jabs this afternoon and then Tesco so hope the vaccs queue is not too bad. Also hope there is no reaction with this one.

Yes Mel, got back to sleep when I went back to bed, woke a couple of times but didn't stay awake long.

Morning all,

Hope you managed to drop off again after your post in the early hours Anng.

Its 8 degrees here and I think there was a frost as there's patterns on my car roof. It was misty too when the sun came up. Pc is saying mostly cloudy so we'll see how the day progresses. BIL comes today to put the garden hoover together so lets hope this one is all in one piece and he's successful.

Just havig my coffee and I'me going in the shower.

Well you can probably see the time I posted this. I slept from 1045 to 1215am then couldn't get back to sleep so came in to my office to look on here now 1253 so I had better go back to bed and see if I can drop off.

It was foggy this morning but cleared by about 10 am and turned into a beautiful day. I was picked up just after 11.30 by my “chauffeur” who then picked up another 2 ladies en route to the pub near Bury St Edmunds where we were meeting up for a friend’s birthday lunch, 7 of us in total. 3 of us decided on the 2 courses for £12.99 special and we all chose the salmon fillet as a main. The other 2 were happy with theirs but I thought mine was well overcooked and very dry. I had apple crumble and ice cream for a pud. That was nice and not too sweet.

Then it was back to the birthday girl’s house for tea and cakes and giving her our presents and lots more chat. I got home about 5.30 pm.

Considering that all I’ve done today is sit around and eat and drink I feel very tired. I hope I sleep OK tonight as I really need to get going and do some h/w tomorrow. I hope you all get a good night too.

Evening All.

Dry here today and not too cold. We were at the surgery earlier and OH is being referred on the 2 week pathway for further tests. The doctor wanted to get things moving to establish what is wrong which is why she brought the appointment forward. While we were out, he got another call from the surgery and had to go back as another blood test was wanted. His blood tests showed anaemia as he has Thalassaemia trait inherited from his mother which means his red blood cells are smaller than normal ones. I suspect the nurses don't always pass this on when they send the samples for testing and I don't think OH always reminds them. He mentioned it to the doctor this morning, so that may be why they need another blood test, but men don't ask enough questions do they.

We called at a garden centre cafe after and had a coffee and egg and mushroom roll, then looked at The Works and OH got a small diary he keeps in his car to record mieage for his work. I got a small board for doing my paintings on, which is bigger and firmer than the cardboard backs of my paintpaper pads I've used before.

I slept badly last night and was doing Sudoku puzzles from 1.30am. I heard a car outside later and went to check the letterbox and it was the local paper being delivered at 3.45 am!! :-0

One good thing today was that I found OH's spare car key in my handbag. It had somehow gone round the corner at the bottom of one of the zipped pockets so I hadn't felt it before, so that will be less expense! Now I just have to hopefully find mine. There will be more expense though, as I've noticed drips of water are trickling from a joint on the kitchen mixer tap and forming a wet patch around the base of the tap. When I ring to get the boiler serviced next week I'll ask the man if he does plumbing as well or if he knows someone local.

Mandy the gnome with a moustache will be interesting to see! Max is so clever isn't he. I bet he knows when it is biscuit time without needing the clock as well. I can just picture him dropping the biggest hints by sitting by the biscuit cupboard and then trotting to remind Colin and going back to the cupboard again to wait for him. I expect napping with his head on your foot, he gets to know when you move.

Oh heck no Emmerdale or Corrie, just as things were getting exciting in both. I was hoping to watch them in bed soon. At least there will be Corrie tomorrow as AnnG has updated those of us that watch.

I hope the birthday lunch went well Vera and that the birthday girl liked your lovely gift. It is a nice idea to have a little group like that.

Mel BIL obviously didn't come as you went to Holsworthy and had a good spend getting some gifts for Christmas. The Hamper is a good idea for Em with some goodies you know they like. I didn't think I'd like like Hardacres after watching the first episode, but it is slowly growing on me. I haven't caught up with All Creatures yet.

I'm off to bed now and hope to have a better sleep tonight.

Just got back from Holsworthy where I spent a lot of money on things I did'nt need and things I did need. I bought a few Chirstmas presents and sme sweets I like (peppermint creams and cherry liquoirs) some sweets for the boys to go with their money and a few bits for Em and Ed. I like to give them nice things to eat for the Christmas holiday, sweets cheese truckles, some of the mixed Border biscuits I bought them lst year and ~Em said last year where did I get them as they were so nice I have bught them again this year. I shall make up a hamper with some wine and cheese biscuits pickles and beer for Ed.

Just having a cuppa and I will corn the girls then dive down the freezer for something for dinner.

Anyone watching the Hardaches ? Did'nt think much of All Creatures last night too much walking about and not enough vetting etc.

Yes I noticed it was football tonight but didn't notice that coranation St was on on Sunday so thanks for the reminder Anng .

No Corrie or Emmerdale tonight but be aware that Corrie is on on Sunday.

Afternoon all,

Very foggy here first thing but now the suns shining and I can see lovely blue sky.

Ann my arm was just tender and felt bruised after the flu jab ,I can still feel it slightly if I touch it .
Yes Max lays at my feet a lot ,if I sit with my legs crossed he'll rest his head on my foot and nod off ,he's quite comical if he's waiting for a biscuit and Colin usually gives him one after we've finished eating he sits in the kitchen waiting and if Colin doesn't come through I only have to say we'll you'd better go and ask dad and Max goes shooting off to ask him then comes shooting back and sits by the cupboard where the biscuits are .

Mel the next gnome is called Garden gnome and he has a moustache and wonky hat .

Been baking this morning for the family ,cold tea loaf, jam sponge and Mars bar cake .
I keep thinking this is Saturday and nearly said don't forget yto alter the clocks tonight but that's tomorrow.

Really windy here and 15 degrees pc is telling me Rain next Monday.

Morning girls,

Nice bright sunny morning here so far and pc says as ususal mostly cloudy and 13 degrees.

Don't know if BIL is coming today or tomorrow and if it is sunny he will probably go over the moor for more photos.I have to stay in as this parcel is coming and I wanted to go and get chicken food today as up tll the 31st you get £2 off a bag of layers pellets and corn which is a good saving. The layers pellets is over £10.

Good morning all, still quite dark here and 14 degrees so not cold.
Seems strange looking down on the garden and not seeing any lawn but I am very pleased with it. they worked hard and got it done although Jake had forgotten the extra bits he was supposed to do. (weed killer on the patio and drive) so will come back in a couple of weeks as he is away next week. Only hope we have a few drt days that week for him to do it.

Mandy good idea to rest if you feel like it, no point in overdoing it.
Mel that sounded like a nice meal.
Ann yes, there are still a few weed cropping up in the left hand side gravel, although the very first lot of gravel, the large bed that Andy did, has had very few weeds right from the start. This time I asked Jake to use stronger membrane which hopefully he did. the main problem that side is the celandines that were consistently growing in the lawn.

Evening All,

Dry here and sunny now so the washing is dried on the rotary as there was a slight breeze. I slept quite well and so did OH although I woke up dreaming that I and someone else were loading things into our car boots and they kept putting my cases and bags in their boot by mistake and I had to keep getting them back out again. All the cases and bags were black so I had to keep opening them to check whose they were. We were up too late to go to Aldi as it gets very busy with long queues so will go another time.

OH had a phone call first thing to bring his appointment to discuss his test results forward from next week to tomorrow and to see one of the senior partners. That got him a bit worried, but an hour later they rang back to rearrange that appointment, still tonorrow, but to see the original doctor he saw who organised the tests.

AnnG, we found changing to gravel meant using weedkiller on it the first year or two, but once most of the weed seeds had grown and been killed there was less to do after that. It sounds like it will soon be finished for you now now and then you won't have any mowing to do which makes life a lot easier. Mrs O has even covered her narrow border now (as well as where the lawn was) with a different coloured gravel and just had a few shrubs amongst it. I'll be glad when we finish our front garden now, but it is deciding exactly how to have it that's holding it up.

I see you are hopefully getting a replacement garden vac tomorrow Mel. I hope BIL brings it soon so you can use it before all the leaves are down. Yes they are stupid expecting us to carry hot plates, but I'll ask for serviettes next time if there aren't any put out to use.

Vera I had to smile when I started getting a lecture from OH about being more careful with car keys as he is the only one who has lost car keys since I've known him. It might be me that has mislaid them though so I'm going to have another good look tomorrow in all of my coat pockets and handbags and look under the car seats and in the boot too. They aren't cheap to replace these days, but I think there is a key policy with my car insurance so I can check that as well.

I hope your jabs haven't given you any trouble Mandy. I wonder where all of our get up and go goes to! :-) It sounded nice and relaxing you crocheting and Colin doing some of the jigsaw. I expect Max was flopped at your feet having a nap! I bet the children will love some of your home made cakes!

Iv'e had three callers today. First it was Vron who runs the 100 club at the village hall so we had a god chat and not soon after she had gone Em turned up for eggs. I just had a dozen and one but had'nt fed the chickens. We had a good natter aand she told me that at her father in laws house they have a blck pheasent that comes in his garden. They are going to send me a picture of it nd if its there on a day BIL comes I am going to ask if he can go round for a picture.

After those two came the posty came with a little parcel for me.

I have been fishing leaves out of the big pond many times today and when I do it the fish think they are going to be fed. I did it first thing after the first lot of leaves were gathered and then missed quite a few times and then they had some more food in the afternoon. Its been dry all day up until it got dark when I could feel rain n the air. Its still 14 degrees but I have had the heating on for a while as I felt cold.

As to the garden vac, BIL rang today and said a new one shoud be coming tomorrow and to wait till he gets here to open it and he will put it together for me. I have to put it all back in the box as it was and the postman will come and take it back.

They should give you something to hold those red hot plates with in the carvery as someone with very sensative skin could get badly burned. I think its a disgrace to ask you to hold hot plates while they serve you. You'll have to take some oven gloves if you go there again. What a silly idea to take away the rubber trays. Perhaps you should buy some of those silicone oven things and keep them in your bag. I wonder how many plates are going to be broken with people dropping them because they are too hot to handle!!!

Just doing my smoked haddock for dinner with some nice tenderstream broccoli and a jacket potato. I am also having fruit and custard for dessert.

Vera I hope you have a better night tonight sleep wise. Sounds like you lways find lots to talk about even though you see people a couple of times a week.

Mandy whats the new gnome? you have been doing today?