General Chat

Good morning all A bit brighter out there this morning, not so overcast. But still only 3 degrees. PC says it will get to 5, oh goody almost summer!!!

Slept well last night went back to sleep at 7 and woke at 9am, good job nothing important planned for today, just a long list of smallish jobs.

Mandy I thought you were on Omeprazol my doc doubled my dose when I was getting heartburn and indigestion from the painkillers I was taking.

Well I have done the rad three times now and its still burping.

I can't get into Channel 5 iplayer which is annoying as I wanted to see the Madam Blanc Misteries. It keeps tell me about a code and to reregister and all sorts. Why do they have to keep changing things?

Evening all,

The day started off sunny then went downhill, its trying to rain now just fine rain but the sort that clings to you.
We've got on well with the jigsaw today we must have done a good third of it and I expect tomorrow when dil comes she will put quite a few bits in she's so good at finding the pieces .

Anng thats a good start with the meeting numbers ,I'm sure as the word gets round a few more people will join up .

Ann thats a good idea making the fleeces into a draught excluder, our front door has a slight draught near one of the hinges but we have a nice thick curtain up so don't really notice it ,it's only if your hand goes near the hinge you can feel it .
So your friend used a pot of wax to break the ice lol that certainly got people talking .
Is sky your behaving now .

Mel thats lovely the little Robins are waiting for you to feed them each day ,they soon get to know don't they.

I too had an odd dream ,mine was that someone or something had brought a rat in and Max was sniffing at it but the next minute it had gone and I said has he eaten it ,but it had gone beside the fridge and was now a tiny little bedraggled kitten ,I tried to go round to next door to ask her what I should do with it and I couldn't get round there as there was a huge lorry tipping out some shingle ,then I woke up.

Yours was an odd dream Vera but they seem so real at the time though don't they.

I think I need to go to the doctors as I'm having a lot of indegestion with so much heartburn it's getting really uncomfortable and I find it a job to know what to eat ,I do have a little gavescon after meals but it's not really helping ,I'm also tired all the time and have been tired like that since I had covid .

It sounds like they didn't quite finish off the polishing then Mel. It must be annoying as you say. My ttongue is always straying to the tooth I broke in half biting a mince pie 3 years as it is quite rough. Maybe the bit of air that came out was all that there was. You will soon tell if it stays quiet now.

They are not so much sharp as rough. Its the front three you bite with my tongue keeps finding them and its annoying. I don't think I could file them down at all as they are the ones I bite with they must have done it when thye put another skin on the top plate mending the break thye next but two teeth is like it too. They need a polish not a filing down. I am hoping the toothpaste will do that for me over a few cleans or it will be out with the extra fine grade sandpaper.

Well I tried to do the rad but it had'nt gurgled since I turned it on and when I did it hardly any air came out but at least it was a bit.

That's great you have some people wanting to join in AnnG and I expect once the word gets around a few more will join.

It's not surprising you couldn't remember reading the book. Your mind must have been all over the place at that time. OH keeps records of all the matches he's been to, the dates and where the ground was. he's very interested in the grounds and buildings with the old architecture and tries to find new ones to see.

I've planted the snowdrops but they are very snug in the pot, so it's good it's only a temporary home for them.

I meant to ask how your teeth are now Mel and wondered if you could file a little off the sharp bits.

I have just sat around today apart from going to the shop and hoovering the kitchen and diner, empty some wast bins and feed the wild birds (twice) and the chickens. I have a pair of Robins round by the chickens and I keep a tiny jar of fat sticks and sunflower kernal in my pocket and they are both waiting for me when I go round there sitting in the holly tree. Sometimes they can't wait and are down before I have enough out for them.

The rad in the kitchen dos'nt have the usual bleeding point its supposed to be self bleeding but if I want to do it I have to find a big screwdriver. I have bled it before so know how to do it. I may just go and find one now as I need to turn the heating back on as its getting cold and dark.

Have found myself a my kind of film to watch on the telly tonight so I started it to see if I was going to like it and I do so htats the evening sorted.

Right lets find the screwdriver.........

The meeting went off OK. Strangely though out of the 13 there, There were three of us from the photography group. And four of us from the group of 6 U3a members who have formed the group outside of U3a that go on trips to museums, cathedrals cinema etc. In fact there were only 4 that I didn't know to speak to. We are going to meet on the last Saturday in the month so the next meeting is 24 February. I suspect once we have had a few meetings other things will come of it.

when I got back I walked down to Irene's with 8 books that I have read in the last month.
When at daughters I read a couple of books off her 'books to read' shelf. One I left there and one I have just finished. I always keep a spread sheet of books read, dating back many years. when I entered this one up (Into the Water by Paula Hawkins) I saw that I had read it before. I had no idea, no memory of the plot or characters at all. I checked and I read it in 2021. I wonder how many other books I read in the months following Tony's death that I didn't take in at all?
It is still only 3 degrees here, very grey and very cold so the heating is on 45 minutes early.

Afternoon All,

It's 7 degrees here now, positively balmy. OH has still wrapped up well for the match at Solihull though as it will get cold later. I hope he manages to find somewhere safe to leave his car.

Our old front door was draughty from the letterbox AnnG, but there's none with the new one. The UPVC back door has rubber seals and is fine. The culprits are the 2 doors that open into the unheated conservatory, one from the lounge and one from the kitchen. They were ok till we changed from carpet to hard floors which has left a slight gap under them. We could fit more brush strips on them, but want to change the doors once other work is done, so my homemade excluders will do for now.

The new U3A group idea sounds like a really good one as it is easy to become isolated when you are on your own. Some people I've known won't go on their own to anything, and some people who go with a friend to a group don't seem to mix and just talk to each other, so it's easier to break the ice if you are all in the same boat so to speak. That's just reminded me of friend I made who used to come to the beading group when I started there. She had a brilliant way of breaking the ice with any newcomers that joined. We were encouraged to wax our beading thread before threading our needles. Her pot of wax was different to ours and for some reason when she started to wax hers it would make the loudest, rudest noise and set everyone off with the giggles! I hope the idea goes ahead.

I thought the same that your radiator needs bleeding Mel. As Vera says you should have a key that fits the top end, but turn it slowly and hold an old cloth underneath as water will start to dribble once the fizzing of the air stops. So you are a cobbler today then and making some boots for the Tudor man! I look forward to seeing him when you have finished him. :-)

Two of you had strange dreams last night. I lay awake till about 2.00am, which is good for me, as too often I'm awake all night, but I then slept through till 8.00am. I don't often remember dreams, but they are usually what OH calls anxiety dreams. I get lost in a strange place at night or am out and need a toilet, but when I find one it is overflowing.

Yesterday I discovered a pack of snowdrop bulbs I'd forgotten to plant, so my next job is to pot them up and put them in the conservatory till they have flowered, then I might have a better idea where to put them in the garden.

Good afternoon all

I had the strangest night. I turned the light out about 11.30 and went straight to sleep but woke at 12.15. From then on I woke at 15 minutes past the hour right through the night. I didn't miss a single hour till I got up at 8.15. In between all this waking I had a continuous dream. I was apparently spearheading some campaign (don't know what campaign). I had to get some important legal letter delivered but neither I nor a great hall full of people with me dared go out as we were being watched. So I employed 2 primary age schoolchildren to deliver this letter. Their names were Colville and Danny Bryson and they wore a grey school uniform with a red and silver striped tie. They delivered the letter and got safely back to the hall but I have no idea what happened after that. Weird or what? I can't usually remember much about my dreams but this one is clear as daylight.The only thing I can relate to anything that might have been in my mind is the name Bryson. I have recently re-read a couple of Bill Bryson books.

I've given the downstairs cloakroom a spring clean this morning and washed a load of towels. I've also watered and tidied up some indoor plants and repotted one of them.

Your possible new U3A group is a good idea AnnG. It's so important to keep social connections going when you are on your own. I hope if anything happens to me my OH will carry on going to our Thursday coffee meet. Pre-Covid we used to meet on Saturday as well. We have a couple of divorced ladies, a couple of widows and a never married lady in our group and they are the most regular attendees. I hope you can get it up and running.

Mel, it sounds as though your kitchen radiator just needs bleeding. I expect you've got a radiator key and it will only take a minute to do. With the weather getting colder you'll want the radiator giving our its full heat.

OH has just yelled lunch is ready. He gets it pretty much dead on 1 pm every day. At least he does if it's just a sandwich or similar. Funny how I always get it when we're having something cooked ;-)

Morning all,

Woke at 8.20 for the loo and turned the heating on and popped back in bed wile it warmed up. Fatal woke at 10.29am so I am sitting here talking to you lot with a nice cup of coffee.

The rad in the kitchen needs some attention as it has indigestion I can hear it tummy gurgling as its the first one off the boiler.

Just the shop to do today and perhaps I can get on with my little man. I have to finish his boots today he needs them soling.

Dreamt I was with oh last night telling him about Zeus.

Good morning all. slept really well last night, up but not showered or dressed yet. Being picked up at 1045 to go to the local community centre for the meeting of people interested in a new U3a group MOTO (Members on their own). To discuss ideas for meeting for coffee and chat on Saturdays. the worst days if you are on your own are the weekends. Even if you go out everyone seems to be with somebody.

Ann well done for upcycling, luckily our front door doesn't let in any draught. with the old door we did have an excluder, in fact if necessary I still have one, I have not got rid of it as it is one with a golf saying on it. We also used to have heavy curtains but that fell down the first year I was away after Tony died and I have never had another one put up.

I was going to suggest one of those cheap, stiff glue brushes Mel. I use one for brushing between my keyboard keys after turning it over and shaking it. I also use it to clean a crystal waterlily candle holder.

That was a long wait at Dobbies Vera, but ours is not good either. They have the menus on the wall behind where they either serve you or you order, so you queue there while some people can't make their minds up what they want or are served if it is something on the counter. They write what you are having on paper they give you, then there are drinks being served both to your right and left, so you decide which queue to join and people flit from one queue to the other carrying their trays if they think one queue is moving faster than the other. Once you have your drinks you move to yet another queue to pay. Then you find a table and wait. Of course after all that queuing, you don't have to wait long for your meal.

Speaking of food and having said how much more expensive the carvery is now, we both got a 30% off email today, so we'll be taking advantage of that next week. :-)

I managed to cut two draught excluders from the old fleeces and have pinned them ready to sew tomorrow when OH has lifted the sewing machine out of the cupboard for me. I think we are going to need them after looking at the forecast. After Sunday it shows the next 3 days frost as -2, -4, and -6 degrees round here. :-S We've covered the outside tap and just need to see how hot the outlet pipe from the boiler gets and lag that if we can. It's never frozen yet as it's in a sheltered spot, but you never know.

Vera yes I do appreciate the fact that I get taken to spend time with daughter. I think it is possible that I won’t see them until May now . Son I only see about four times a year. Sometimes only for an hour or so.

It is strange how all Dobbies restaurants are different. Our nearest one we go into the restaurant and are seated (this is if we are eating a meal). Our order is taken and paid fir at the table and delivered to us quickly as the order goes straight through to the kitchen. The one near Carlisle we go to has allied on display which you order and get on the plate but you are still in the queue to get drinks,then to pay by which time the food is cold,

I did'nt get my shower earlier but have had one just before it got dark and after I had corned the chickens. It was lovely and I was in there quite a while. The down side is that I forgot to turn the heating back on so felt quite cold when I came out.

Mandy the best thing to dust your little cottages with is a paintbrush because it gets into all the little creases. If they are really dusty have the hoover going at the same time with the snout on it. It dos'nt have to be a big brust just a stiff artists one.

I have a nice piece of smoked haddock out of the freezer for tonight which I will have with new pots, a nice fresh poached egg and maybe sweetcorn or peas.

You must be pleased as punch to have a decent water flow at last Mel. I bet you enjoyed your shower. Yes, it’s worth asking for some compensation for all the hassle you have been through. They can only say ‘no’. At the very least they should adjust your bill.

AnnG, it is bound to be quiet now you are on your own again but be glad you are able to spend time with your family. I only get to see my son and family 2 or at most 3 times a year and it is usually just for a weekend. I know I am seeing son and dil in March but I think they can only stay one night. I haven’t seen the 3 girls since October and have no idea when I will get to see them next. I’m jealous but aware that I still have OH so I am pleased for you that you can spend a week or two with your family every so often.

It’s been dry today but very overcast and cold. The window cleaners were here early this morning before I was dressed and when they had finished we went into town and got my glasses adjusted again. They seem much better now. We then went on to Dobbies at Bury St Edmunds. They had a lot of pre Christmas stuff they were selling off cheaply but nothing that I wanted. I did get 3 packets of seeds that were going half price and OH picked up some plant supports he wanted. Unfortunately they were full price and expensive. We then decided to have lunch there as well. Their prices seem to have gone up a lot in the last year and they no longer have the special offers they used to have. The worst thing though is the system. You find a table and decide from the menu what you want. Then you have to join a long queue at the counter where there is one girl. She makes all the drinks, takes the food orders and takes the payment. When OH eventually got to the front of the queue he ordered ham, egg and chips for me and sausage and mash for himself, only to be told they hadn’t got any sausages. The only other thing on the menu he could remember off the top of his head was lasagne so he ordered that. It took half an hour from him joining the queue at the counter to him walking back to the table. To be fair, once the order was placed it wasn’t long before the food came up and it was very good but I do think they need to sort out their system.

We are now back home and I am wondering what to do with myself for the rest of the day.

Afternoon All,

It seems to be a very dull day here and cold as well. Today's Normandy pork type dish done in the slow cooker yesterday went down very well with OH. The addition of some low fat fromage frais after heating it up makes it very tasty. Mel I add butter beans or red kidney beans sometimes too if I don't have enough veg, as OH loves them and they are good for us to have. I put gravy granules in at the start and usually use the high setting. OH has been beavering away all morning doing reports and notes and this afternoon will be the same.

That's a shame about Jake (I got it right this time!) AnnG. These things can take a while to heal so I hope he hasn't done too much damage to it and will be able to get back to some kind of work before long. I expect being home after a break does seem quiet at first, but you will soon be busy and meeting friends.

Mel, your water pressure is back at last! It does sound as if they make a cock up of fixing things before as well as the leak causing such a big bill. Was the water meter they'd fitted causing the problem? I bet your shower felt wonderful :-)

I need to sort some financial stuff next and then make these draught excluders for 2 of our doors ahead of the cold weather we are told is coming shortly. We both have tatty grey fleeces we were throwing out and I thought they could be cut, sewn and re-used.

Afternoon all,

Not so cold here today we have had a very light drizzle first thing then the sun came out ,its now clouded over and looks very black in the distance .

Mel thats good you now have a good water flow, you'll be able to have a lovely shower, it's been several weeks now that you've been waiting for them to put it right I'd definitely ask for some compensation, you know what they say don't ask don't get .

Got a sausage casserole in the slow cooker for tonight ,will decide later if I do veg with it or we have some rice .

Anng it must take a while to dust all those little cottages and figures before you pack them away ,my little Lilliput Lane cottages get dusty and they are so fiddly to dust .

Thanks Mel, I am not too bad as I have been busy but after 3 weeks it takes some getting used to. I have just spent two hours taking down my little tree and packing away all the cottages and figures. Takes a while to sort out how they all fit into the two over the wardrobes cupboards but I have done it now. Just going to jave another coffee then I will clean the room. It looks bare now of course.

Great Mel that you now have water. It was obviously their fault then. As I said you should get some compensation. :-) :-)

they have just gone and guess what? I NOW HAVE LOADS OF WATER COMING OUT OF ALL THE TAPS. They disconnected the meter thing they put in last time and dug another hole outside the bathrrom where the water comes in and put a log wire thing up the pipe turned the water on again and it came out how it should so now I am going to have a nice shower I hope. We will see....... :-D

Don't feel on your own Anng we are all here for you so just post if your feeling lonely. <3