General Chat

Good morning all 4 degrees so far but I am up early (getting in practice for Monday)

Slept well but woke feeling very down at having no family near to help me through small crises. I miss T so much when having one of these BCC episodes, not only because he would come with me to the appointments but he always was able to keep my spirits up. The strange thing is that I don't have any fear of this first appointment, it is the jumping through hoops to actually get the appointment, then the failure of the hospital to find me one after the time (10,15) I requested and the lack of anyone to drop me off at 0945 so that I have to get a bus at 0850 and then walk a good half mile to the hospital.

Mel, you got a lot done with BiL yesterday that is good.

BIL did come today and quite early this moring as he wanted to mow. He is'nt picking up the cuttings so gets it done much quicker. He did'nt want lunch as he had a big breakfast wit his wife thie morning out as it their wedding anniversary. He also did the big pond filter with me and he can reach the top filter box and get the strainer out which I can't do, not tall enough to reach it. After that he took a look at my TV ariel and has got it working for me but I think he may have changed the colour on the telly as the blue is very bright now and the red on some programs but at least I don't have to watch everything on Ipayer now.

The winds been so cold out there today ever BIL put a gilet on and he's usually in a T shirt.

Going back to The Yorkshire Farm Ruben was on one of the programs ages ago and now that tractor is fully restored and all bright and shiney. I love the way they alway give Rob and Dave a challenge on the programs like making a wreath or something like that.

Thankfully our schools broke up today so it should be better on Monday. Although I don’t look forward to having to catch the 0850 bus to town and pay the fare.

Vera that sounds like a lovely time with son and DiL nice meal too by the sound of it.

Good afternoon all

It's good that you at least have your appointment sorted out at last AnnG. It's a shame Cynth can't take you but, like you say, she has a life of her own. I am dreading the time when we no longer drive. We have a lovely group of friends but we can't take it for granted that they will be able to help. They are all getting older too and may not be driving themselves for too much longer.

Annx I laughed at your OH’s comment about lunching with Mr Bean. It would apply to my OH as well. If we are out to eat I am on tenterhooks all the time as he waves his arms around when talking and I find myself grabbing wine glasses and getting ready to catch flying cutlery. One of our acquaintances calls him Semaphore Joe. I hope your OH’s parking ticket gets rescinded (is that the word?). It seems stupid to put up a QR code and not draw drivers’ attention to it. Your salmon tray bake sounds tasty.

Oh dear Mandy, they did have a job getting blood out of you didn’t they? I hope you haven’t got a large bruise.

It’s been a funny day today; sunny and cloudy in turn and warm when the wind drops but really cold when the wind’s blowing. I just pottered about first thing, then we went to our small local garden centre which was absolutely packed. We had to park in the farthest corner of the overflow car park. I just wanted a few herbs. My thyme, which is 6 or 7 years old, died this winter and I have no idea why and a few days ago I noticed a small potted sage was looking a bit sorry for itself. Anyway, they had some little herb plants for £2.99 each or £10 for 4 so I got 2 different thymes, a little sage and a small pot of apple mint. I already have a large pot of ginger mint and an ordinary garden mint but apple mint has always been my favourite. I potted up the thyme and the sage into bigger pots. I also got some big pots washed but I came in after that as I was getting a bit chilly.

I also spent some time going through all the photos on the iPad and deleted over half of them as I either didn’t want to keep them any longer or they were almost identical to other pictures I’ve got. I’m still getting ready to set up my new iPad and I don’t want to waste space on it by transferring a lot of stuff I no longer need. I’m gradually getting there.

My migraine was just in the background when I got up yesterday and by the time son and dil arrived I was pretty much back to normal. Son had booked everything online and picked what he thought looked a good restaurant. By chance it turned out to be in the same road as the theatre and right next to a convenient car park. How lucky was that! The restaurant was Turkish (we think), it could have been Greek, it didn’t actually say anywhere. The other 3 had starters but I just stuck to a main course which was more than enough. I had Kleftico which is a lamb dish and it came with a bowl of potatoes, carrots and celery in a sort of thin tomato sauce. The waiter then arrived with four separate large moulds of rice and a big salad to share and also offered us bread. It was all delicious but there was too much of it and It was very wasteful as all the rice went back untouched and there was only a very little taken out of the salad.

We had really good seats at the theatre and the play was so funny. I had read the book of The 39 Steps donkeys years ago and had seen a couple of old films but they certainly weren’t played as comedies. There were just 2 male and 2 female actors and they played every part between them and their timing was superb. A door would apparently be opened during a gale so that the wind blew in and everyone shook their coats or scarfs at exactly the same angle for the same length of time and you could almost feel the wind blowing through their clothes. Two or three of them might be on a train, basically just sitting on a couple of wooden boxes but their movements were so well timed and so precise that you could imagine them juddering about as the train went over the rails and then being jerked forwards and back again as it came to a sudden halt. We were all very impressed.

Son and dil dropped us at our door around 11 pm and set straight off for Yorkshire. I think my dil did all the driving. She has lived overseas in Europe and America quite a lot and is a very experienced and good driver but she must have done about 600 miles yesterday. Son only had soft drinks so he could take over the driving if she tired but she seemed fine. It was a lovely Christmas present as they wouldn’t let us pay for a single thing.

My goodness, this is turning into a long post. I’ve done it on Word and will c&p rather than risk getting that huge empty space again.

The schools here finished today Mandy, but we always seem to be out of step with everywhere else. I'm glad someone else forgets things too. If I don't do something straightaway or make a note I just forget it and OH is just as bad, but at least he can blame having work stuff on his mind. It's good your ariel is being fixed as I think it's supposed to get windy again.

All those jabs in your arm to find a vein can't have been very nice. Your arm will be all colours. OH would have been about fainting as he hates needles. I've had a letter today to book my annual thyroid test, so I'll be hoping my veins won't be hiding when I have mine done.

I see they aren't giving covid boosters to everyone this Spring, just the most vulnerable people. The over 75s will get them so OH will miss out this time.

Afternoon all,
Suns trying hard to appear but there's a lot of cloud and first thing we had a few spots of rain .

Anng thats good you now have your appointment all sorted ,not long to wait and it should be easier with the schools on holiday too, the schools here don't finish until next Thursday.

Went and had my blood taken ,he had a job to find a vein, three goes to get it he tried both arms and ended up going in the first arm again in a different place slightly on the side .
We have the ariel man here putting a new bracket on the chimney ,our ariel had gone over slightly when it was windy .

Blow me Ann you reminded me about the farm programme and then i forgot .

Afternoon All,

Sunny and 10 degrees here. The washer is on, but I think we may be due rain here later as well.

OH spoke to the council about his parking ticket and they are going to see what they can do about it for him as £60 is a lot to pay when he was authorised to park there. Apparently there's been one of those Q codes in the room the meeting was in to register for the last 2-3 meetings, but no-one had told him and he is usually first there early to make sure he doesn't miss out on the bacon butties. Typical though these days isn't it that they assume everyone has smart mobiles and knows how to use Q codes.

Yes, that's one blessing AnnG that the schools will be off when your appointment is. It makes a huge difference here too and cuts journey times in half.

Mel I've heard a mower going this morning so it would be good if BIL came and could get your lawns mown before the bad weather. It's quite a big job if he does your field as well.

I watched the Yorkshire farm prog last night and hadn't realised it would be about other farms too. It was lovely to see young Rueben as keen as ever to sort out the old tractor.

Better dish up lunch now. It's a salmon tray bake with peppers, onions,tomato, courgette, parsnip and a few small potatoes with garlic.

yes sunny here and 11 degrees. I have managed about 40 minutes pottering out there but need to get ready to go out, have lunch etc soon so came in before I got carried away.

Suns out now......

Morning all,

Dull and grey here this morning and pc says rain and 9 degrees. It would because I think BIL may come today and as it has been a bit dry over the last few days he could have sone some mowing. Still perhaps he will help me with the side of the road as its very overgrown with weeds.

Good morning all, looks like drizzly rain at the moment, I am hoping it will stop as forecast as it is photography group. We have moved our meeting place from this month and it is now easy walking distance for me. but that will be no help if it rains.

Yes it is a nuisance but she is not my taxi driver she has her own life to lead. I can get the bus although it is hard that time of morning. the fault lies with lack of appointments when I can get there easily. Luckily the schools are on holiday so traffic should not be too bad.

Forgot to say its good you now have the appointment Anng but what a nuisance Cynth can't take you again.

Ann yes I did get my meds ok but they have sent me the capsuals of paracetamol instead of the caplets which I prefer never mind they sent me two boxes of 100 so I shan't be wanting those for a while.

Did any of you see the Country File program with the dentist and about national health patients in Devon and Cornwall? If you did that is my dentist in Torrington so thats where I shall be going on the 8th April. I have only just watched that program on iplayer.

Evening All,

Rain and sunshine here today but it's going to get colder tomorrow if they are right.

That's a nice treat with your son and DIL Vera. I hope you enjoy the show and meal. It's good you are much better now after the nasty migraine.

I think I might just grow the short french beans this year as the Cobra climbing ones I grew last year didn't do well in that awful compost I used . They only reached about 4 foot the year before but had quite a few beans.

Mandy have you finished the cat cave and, if so, did it turn out ok? Did you knit the 4 strands of colour together with big needles, or was it stripes of each colour?

Hurrah, you got an appointment at last AnnG! It's a pity it wasn't at the time you requested though. It's a shame Cynth won't be able to take you as well, as that would have been ideal.

You've been busy today Mel. I must get the washer on in the morning. Did you get your meds ok in the end?

My haircut is due next week as well, so I'll feel it if it's still chilly. We had another 30% off voucher for the carvery, so went there for lunch. It was really nice today, but OH managed to drop some of his on his lap, luckily it landed on his napkin and not his smart clothes for going to a meeting later on. Then he managed to get what he dropped in his lap all over his hand and mopping that off managed to nearly knock my glass of water flying. I just caught it before it spilled right over. He looked at me and said 'going out for lunch with me must be like going out for lunch with Mr Bean'. :-D.

OH wasn't laughing when we got home and he opened his post to find a parking ticket for parking at the Marriot Hotel when he went to a business breakfast held by the local council a few days ago. He goes regularly to these meetings, but has never had a problem before, so I suspect it's something new. He asked them at reception whereabouts the meeting was, so they knew he was there for that. I suppose he'll end up paying as you probably have to sign something when you arrive, but no-one said so. He's going to contact the council tomorrow and see if anyone else has been ticketed. You'd think that as they hold their meetings there they would have warned everyone. Another letter said his car needs to go in for an update again. It had two done recently so he needs to check this isn't for one they did before.

Thank you I will see what I can get next time I am in a garden centre.

I now have a hospital appointment for 10 o’clock Monday 25th. I guess they ignored my request for after 1015 so I will have to get there somehow. I know Cynth can’t take me as she has a hair appointment. Will have to get the bus and pay the fare as I have to leave before 0930.

Anng the Safari french beans I just had in a trough and didn't have any canes but the Cobra grew about four foot or so in a long tub but I think we liked the dwarf ones better and had more beans from them .

Not very mild here Mel and we've had some rain .

The ones I grow in a big pot is called Ferrari and they produce nice beans and many of them. I ususally grow about just 5 in a large pot and pop four or five small canes round the pot with some string around to support them. They grow about 2 to 2 and a half foot tall. I like them whne thye are really skinny so get a nice lot.

It will be lovely to see your son after 6 months Vera and so nice to go to a show and have dinner out too. Enjoy it sounds relly good.

Iv'e had sun on and off today and its been quite mild with not much of a breeze even. Done a load of washing and cleaned both pond filters properly and fed the wild birds and chickens and fish. I have just finished doing a load of ironing so think I am giong to corn the big girls and then have a nice COT and a cake.

Thanks Safari sounds more the sort I want. They are to go in the large planter I had made for where the greenhouse was. Thank you. Did they need any support I see it says they are bush variety.

although, how tall did Cobra grow? Just out of interest

Anng i think the dwarf french bean i had was Safari my last lot of French beans was Cobra but that was a tall climbing bean like a runner bean that needed canes
We had some good pickings from the Safari dwarf ones .
Mel might know some good ones .

Ah good to read it eventually I did scroll down but obviously not far enough.

Hope you enjoy the meal and theatre trip with son and DiL, how lovely. But also hope they have safe journeys.
Hope by tomorrow that the migraine will have disappeared. Such a nuisance, especially as you don't know what the trigger is.

Mandy, my hair is due cutting next week, I am hoping against hope that the long awaited appointment doesn't come through for the same date.

Mandy or anyone Do you have a recommendation for a reliable not too tall growing French bean?