General Chat

Afternoon All,

It poured with rain during the night, but it's been lovely spells of sunshine today. I did think about going to Swinford with my camera as there are some lovely trees there that would be looking good with the leaves turning, but decided by the time I got there it would probably be dull again.

A man and 2 youths turned up after lunch yesterday to do the door, but only fixed a new door strip as no-one had told them about the door sill needing replacing and they hadn't got one on the van. :-S They are going to look into it and will get the company to arrange another appointment, but confirmed the door will have to come out. So another day of thumbtwiddling to look forward to from 8.00am in the morning. No-one rang beforehand like we were told they would either. I just hope they don't refuse to do it as we were told it had been agreed to do the work over the phone and I have nothing in writing.

I was off my food and woke with a headache on Thursday and yesterday Mel and put it down to a bug. My jabs were a week and a half ago. I hope you soon feel better. Can't you cover the pond with some fine mesh or plain net curtain when the leaves are coming down? How is your smaller pond doing and have many of your baby fish in there survived? You must have quite a few now if they have bred the last few years. Did you ride the pony before he eventually became yours then Mel? I still miss mine. He was always pleased to see me or the titbit I would have and was a great comfort as well as a means of escape for a sad teenager. Yes I would like to see the pics please. :-)

Mandy there were two Squirrels at the same tree yesterday. One was burying the nuts in the flowerbed in the grass verge so they will get fetched out when the council whip the plants out soon. I used to find buried peanuts when we first moved here.

How interesting to see a great grandson AnnG and seeing the generations unfold. You have managed to do a lot in the past week. I hope it's fine for your trip home again.

I hope your head is better now Vera and that you got all your shopping at Sainsbury's. Fancy your OH digging up your Sea Holly you carefully nurtured! They don't learn do they and I'm not surprised 'words' were said.

BIL has sent me pics of a Buzzard and the Northan Light from Barnstable if you would like to see them let me know.

BIL turned up and did'nt do anything with the mower but he helped me sweep leaves off the decking up to the pond filter shed and we did te filter and he got the top filter out and cleaned that. then I started to get the big net into the pond to fish out lots of leaves it was so heavy he had to take over and empty it on the lawn we did it a couple more times so at least some of the leaves are out of the pond now ready for tomorrows big wind which will blow more down and into the pond. He also took off the roll of wire that was hanging outside the filter shed which I keep banging my head on when doing the scimmer. I swept all the leaves off the back shelf up towards the end where he swept them onto the decking and then on the grass. So quite a bit done outside today I just have to pick up all the leaves off the grass and dump them in the leaf mould bag. He also took away two huge pc boxes to go to the dump and a petrol can to get new fuel for the mower. I think he added and addative to old petrol and had been using that in the mower so when he gets the fresh petrol I am hoping the mower will work ok.

Suns still out here and we had a sit on the long bench by the pond with our coffee soaking up some vitamin D. I do feel better today and I had painted a barrel before he came . I had some toast for breakfast and think its about time I had something else to eat and take my pills. I will say this though if I don't take my pills at lunch time I seem to get more done. I do take one in the morning with my coffee.

Good morning

It's not too cold but is very grey and very wet so nothing will be done in the garden today. OH did quite a bit yesterday and the garden bin, which was emptied on Wednesday, is nearly full again. I did discover later in the day that, without saying anything to me, he had pulled up and binned some sea holly that I had nursed along from a couple of tiny cuttings I was given and which had done well this year. Words were said!!

I developed a migraine so didn't get my shopping yesterday which means I'll have to go out today. I was going into town but I've decided it'll be a quick trip to our nearest shop which is Sainsbury's. You are right about the veg sometimes looking past its best Mandy. There is a family business that have 2 big stalls of fruit and veg in our local market and the stuff is usually very fresh and good quality, though expensive. The market is there on a Saturday but I really don't feel like driving to town, trying to park and then traipsing round the market in the rain, particularly as I will still have to stop at Sainsbury's to get milk.

I hope you are feeling a bit better today Mel.

t will be lovely to meet your great grandson for the first time AnnG. I hope you have a good journey to Portsmouth and don't get caught up in the possible crowds that Gwyn mentioned. I didn't know there was a Great South Run. It doesn't seem to be as well publicised as the Great North Run which we usually have on the TV.

Right, better get on or I won't get to the shops today either.

Morning all,

Suns coming up and burning the mist away its 12 degrees and pc says mmostly cloudy. This date is the first day I had my pony all those years ago and I still remember it. He was MINE at last I had my dream.

I wonder if BIL will turn up today? and try and do something with the mowers. We'll see. I hate having to wait to see if he's going to come and he never ever leets me know what day or even if he's coming and I have asked and asked him to text or ring but no he just turns up when he wants to.

I hope you soon feel better, Mel.

AnnG safe journey to the hotel.
I hope you don't meet too much traffic heading to Portsmouth for the Great South Run. That usually draws quite a lot of people.

Hope you feel better tomorrow Mel, maybe after effects of the flu jab??

I thought I said We are having a night in a hotel near Portsmouth tomorrow and going to see the new great grandson. Maybe you missed it. So going home on Sunday.

Mel thats probably the reaction from your flu and covid jabs ,they can give you cold like symptoms and make you feel off colour ,hope you feel better tomorrow.

Safe journey home tomorrow Anng. Sounds like you had a really good time away and saw lots of places.

Mandy I did'nt cook in the end I did'nt feel too good. I was going to cook chicken mini fillets to make a chicken and broccoli plate for the freezer but did'nt in the end. I think I have a cod as I keep sneezing and have had a bit of a headache which unlike me.

I did'nt watch All Creatures last night so am going to see it this evening.

Friday 18 October very Misty first thing but it turned into a beautiful day and we drove to Lymington. We didn’t want to go far with needing to pack this afternoon. I had no idea which way we would go so was surprised to be driving through New Milton. Could have been embarrassing as I have a pen friend who lives there but I am almost sure that she is in Portugal at the moment.
We walked right through the town from where we parked near M& S food shop. I had forgotten it was hilly but it is a long time since I was last there. Lots of boats of course at the quay. And trains seemed to be quite frequent. Nice to see so many people sitting enjoying the sun.

We had lunch in the ship. Daughter and I had pork belly and scallops with broccoli, carrots and dauphinoise potatoes plus apple sauce and a lovely gravy, then we shared a very good and quite big apple tart tatin and ice cream. SiL is not often hungry mid day so he had chicken salad sandwiches and chips and a beer. Daughter and I had a white wine with our meal and we then had a cocktail each she had a espresso martini and I had a chocolate orange martini. It was a slow walk back up the hill to the car. Back then to pack.

You certainly filled your day yesterday Anng ,oh it will be lovely for you to see your new great grandson ,hope you can get a few cuddles in .

Mel what did you cook this afternoon something for your meal tonight or something to freeze for when Stuart comes .

We had a good morning, we got the canopy down and packed away I did have to leave it in the sun for a while as it was quite wet with the heavy dew .
I got a couple of cuttings potted up a Geranium and a hydrangea and have got the seed from Gwyn in a tray .
I watered the toms in the greenhouse the toms are still ripening well so I'll leave them for another couple of weeks .
I got two lots of washing out and they all got dry so they are all away in the airing cupboard, never got round to hoovering but I can do that in the morning .

YOu certainly crammed a lot in yesterday no wonder yu slept well last night. Sounds like you really enjoyed it. It will be so nice to meet the new great grandchild and perhaps give her a cudle.

Not done much this morning I did go up the post van with the two little parcels and had a natter to my neighbo0urs who were coming back from their dog walk on the way out and then when I stopped at the shop for some rolls and bread I saw Sheila our reader so we had a few words between car windows till someone came up behind me so I had to go.

I'm going to do some cooking this afternoon but just having a sandwich now.

Good morning all. I never go to bed early when I have had a bad night, was in bed at 1045 and must have been asleep by 11pm. Woke for the loo at 1.30 and went straight back to sleep and woke at 0715.
Mist this morning looks as though it is clearing now. It is dry anyway.
Last day, the week has gone very quickly but we do have an extra day as tomorrow we are staying at a hotel overnight near Portsmouth and going to meet the new great grandson.
We had a good day out yesterday r. Left accommodation at 0930 had a twenty five minute hold up in Lyndhurst, Then arrived at Beau-lie at 1105am. It was a lovely sunny day and warm in the sun. After a coffee we had a ride round the site on the mono railway. When we got off that we caught the vintage London bus to the house, where we had a good look round. Next we found the exhibition about the training in WW11 of Special Operation Executives which was very interesting. So many agents trained and many lost They were so brave. We next explored the old abbey buildings before having a picnic lunch. After lunch Lyn and I looked round the gardens. Our final visit was to the huge motor museum. It was a full, interesting and very tiring day.
Tuna jackets for our meal this evening.

Morning all,

Suns shining it is clear one minute and quire misty the next a proper autumn morning ,trees are really turning now the one near the Bell tower of the church is getting very thin I can now see the sky through it .
We need to get the canopy of the gazebo down if we can ,it's a bit of a devil with the tiny screws that need to be undone son usually does it but he's so busy we thought we'd try to do it we can take our time but it's the reaching up that gets us even though we use the steps.

Hope you can find some nice fresh veg and salad Vera ,sometimes it looks like its been hanging about for a while .

Mel thats why we didn't want the two jabs together just in case they play us up ,hope your arms soon ease off so you can get your jobs done .

Better drink my tea now before it gets cold ,I like tea nice and hot .

Morning all,

Bright morning here and it was misty when I got up for the bathroom at goodness knows wat hiour. Its 12 degrees and pc says mostly sunny rain by 4pm.

Yesterda I could'nt lift ither arm up properly and they still hurt this morning. I don't think its good having two together and the one that hurts the most is the one I lie on my right side.

I found loads out for the oseph Wilson but need to try and get some info on his surviving sisters as I don't think he had any children. The 1911 says his mother and father had 8 children 4 living so I think I need to see if any of those married and had children.

Good morning ladies

Foggy here this morning but hopefully it will clear in the next couple of hours. I don’t have any plans for the day apart from a quick trip to one of the shops for some fresh veg, salad and milk. I hope you all slept well. I had a so-so night. I got some sleep but was awake and reading for quite a while in the middle of the night. Have a good day everyone.

He was born at Exeter, Devon and in 1911c he was living at Withycombe Raleigh in Devon. His father, William Wilson was born in Jamaica and was a naval pensioner in 1911.

That sounds like a good meal last night Mel and in good company too. I'm glad your jabs weren't too bad and hope the aches ease up quickly.

Sorry to hear you had a bad night AnnG but I hope you have had a nice day. Perhaps you can get an early night or sleep in a bit later tomorrow.

I hope you have a better night too Annx. It's annoying when firms don't give you a better idea of the time they will come. I know they can't give an exact time but you'd think they could narrow it down to morning or afternoon. I hope for your sake this is the last visit they have to make to fix your door.

Gosh, that bang must have startled you Mandy. It's always a bit worrying when you hear things like that and you don't know what has caused them. I smiled at the thought of Mr Squirrel hunting for his monkey nuts and wondering why he couldn't find them, though I think they forget where they have hidden a lot of the nuts they hoard. We are always pulling little walnut plants out of our tubs and pots where our visiting squirrel has hidden them and never come back for them.

We went out today as planned. My new back pain is giving me a bit of trouble and I've really struggled to get in and out of the car or even lift a leg to put some socks on, but walking around isn't too bad. When I'm walking it just aches and I can put up with that. At the outlet village some shops I liked have closed and others have opened up but M&S are still there and I managed to get 2 pairs of trousers. They are only everyday round the house or popping to the shops trousers, not for going out anywhere smart. I'd have liked a bit of colour but 1 pair is navy and the other dark grey but I'm not complaining as they were only £15 each and they fit me round the waist so I won't be constantly hoiking them up. I was so pleased to find something to fit but I definitely mustn't put on any weight as they are size 12 and there isn't any room for extra inches on my waist. I also got my 3 Secret Santa presents. The Ladies Club suggests a limit of £5 on their Secret Santa and in M&S I got a lovely hand wash and hand lotion set with a Christmassy design and nicely boxed for that price. The other 2 things I got were a set of 4 Christmas themed place mats and matching coasters and a nice mug that had printed on it "Oh no, not another mug". I'll put some tea bags with it. I also went in to my favourite cook shop there and for the first time ever came out without buying anything. Our whole morning's shopping cost less than £50.

Instead of using one of the eating places there we got back in the car and drove for a few minutes to a very nice pub we know. I had smoked haddock and spinach fishcakes which came with extra spinach, tenderstem broccoli, little potatoes and a dish of a creamy, slightly cheesy sauce. It was delicious and very filling so I couldn't manage a pud.

The weather has been good today as well. Slightly cooler than yesterday but still warm and quite sunny so it's been a very satisfying day.

My jabs were'nt to bad but they both ached this fternoon and still do.

I want to see the photos of the toadstools Anng took. I love pics of fungi.

One of the people I watch on Youtube found a service medal and tried to look it up as they had the name and service number. I had a look but could'nt find anything at all about him. He was Joseph A Wilson 1899. Think he came from Devon have his service number and supposidly born 8th June 1899. They say he was Joseph Alexander Wilson and they had his assention record but I could'nt find that either.
He was in the Duke of CornwasllLight Infantryfrom Sept 1914.

Ann I'm still finding monkey nuts in my pots that the squirrels have been hiding I feel a bit guilty digging them out the poor things will be hunting for them ,they will still have a dig as they won't know I've removed them .
Yes Max did bark when the boom went off ,I think because we both jumped up and said what the devil was that and had a look out the window.

I took my jeans and one top back to Bon Marche today and got some more ,one jumper was fine but the top I thought felt as if it was twisted when I had it on ,I didn't want to chance it again so got another jumper ,the jeans I needed a size up as I got the skinny leg ones ,I normally just have the straight leg ones ,anyway all good now .
It always seems a long day when your waiting for people to come ,hope they can sort the door without any problems .
Yes bil likes the scooter and Colin had a go on it as he has trouble walking for to long it would be handy for him if we need to go to town as its a bit uphill and is a bit of a drag .
Mel that sounded a nice meal you had and quite a party with all of you there , you'll have to write down things that you don't like and get Stuart to do the same that way neither of you will end up with something you don't like.

Hope you had a good day out Vera and your back didn't play you up to much .

Hope you have a better night's sleep tonight Anng and you've manage to last the day ,early night tonight me thinks .