General Chat

Good afternoon. It has been a lovely day here until about 2pm. We had clear blue skies and sun. Very warm in the sun but there was a cold wind. Still it was good walking weather.T and I were always going to walk round Buttermere when we got too old to walk the high fells. However events overtook us. We used to walk with daughter and first so. In law but that obviously finished when he died. Then we still had dreams of doing it but we got older and didn’t walk so much when we were up here. The complete utter mere round is four miles. My limit now due to dodgy ankles and other aches is three miles. So today we drove to Buttermere village and managed to just get a place in the NT car park. We then walked down to the lake ( a quarter of a mile then partway or one and a quarter miles round the nicest side of the lake which is surrounded by high hills and mountains, then back again. Sat on rocks in a beach area to have our lunch, then walked up the road to the pub. Sat outside in the sun with a glass of wine then back to the car according g to daughter’s watch that was exacltly three miles. It was really nice and an ambition almost fulfilled for T.
This evening we are going to an Indian restaurant. Treating it as a last night as tomorrow we have various family members calling in.

Morning all,

Nice and bright here today with blue sky and big thin white clouds so I am hoping its going to stay nice so I can get some HW done and see my spider webs.

Woke up terribley dry this morning and feel like I have indigestion so plenty of water for me today.

That sounds a good day out AnnG. We had an interesting day that started badly but ended up well

This morning we thought we would go to Alfriston. Our friend Val had said it was a nice place and we could see that it was in a river valley so probably had some nice walking. There is also a 14th century clergy house there that is the first property acquired by the NT. It’s also less than 5 miles from here so we set the SatNav and off we went.

Over an hour later we were still trying to get there. Every route the SatNav tried or we looked up in the road atlas had major road closures. In the end we drove back, parked further up the beach to where we have been before and had a good walk along, stopping at the yacht club on the way back for a sandwich and drink. While there I remembered seeing a leaflet for Paradise Park Gardens. A bit of googling and we found it was only 3 miles away and looked worth a visit. It definitely was worth it.

The huge garden centre and restaurant are of course free to enter but there is an entry charge for the rest of the site. There is a very interesting area, sort of covering natural sciences, all about the earth, the sun, meteors, plants, sea life, animal and bird life and finishing up with man. We were the only ones in there and it took us an hour to get round even though we missed out some sections and rushed through others. Then that led us into plant houses that were like a mini version of the glass houses at Kew. From there we moved into the gardens area that was arranged around short, medium or long heritage trails. As you moved around you came across little garden areas with wonderful models of mostly local landmarks with explanatory boards. Because of time we only did the short trail (and a bit of the medium because we got lost, lol). We ended up in the garden centre proper where I was very tempted by a couple of penstemons, one blue and one white. OH said to get them but they were expensive so I just made a note of the names and will look for them in the spring.

Now we’re back and are going to have a wash and tidy up before going for a meal to the place where we had Sunday lunch. OH liked it there and said he’s happy to drive.

It’s still warm but with a bit of breeze so quite pleasant. I just wish it would cool down a bit more at night as I really could do with more sleep. At least it’s stayed dry for us.

I hope everyone else has had a good day too.

We had a nice day out today. Caught the train from Workington to Ravenglass. About an hour journey the journey takes you all along the coast. Today the tide was in and the views were beautiful. Had a long leisurely lunch of beer battered fish and chips with mushy peas. Beautifully cooked and I could not eat all my chips. Daughter and I then shared sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. We also had a glass of wine each. SiL had beer. While we were eating it drizzled a bit but otherwise it stayed dry we had a walk on the beach then, while waiting for the train we watched a lorry and crane unload replacement engine and trucks for little Ratty the miniature train that runs from Ravenglass to Eskdale. Coming home the tide was out so not so pretty but we still enjoyed the scenery. Looking to the hills and mountains they looks glorious. Also on the trip home we saw a lot of Canada geese and also quite a few cormorants.
Now we are home, the sun is shining.

Done my filter on the pond and on the washing machine AGAIN still grit coming out I am wondering if its in the washing powder now as when I look in the box there are little black bits in it. I think I am going to try the capsuels (SP) next time. Never used those before.

Shoppings been and no subs so that was good. I think now I am going to have a cook up while the suns shining and I am not using leccy.

Turned nicer here now but we did have that fine rain this morning.

Been up the post van and did the little parcel.

Now waiting for the shopping.

Good morning all windy and cloudy sun here, definitely cooler too. Going on the train that runs down the coast to Ravenglass this morning and having lunch out in a pub there.
Didn’t sleep too well last night, awake at 2.30 and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Morning All,

Dull and grey here this morning and it looks wet out pc is saying 15 degrees and cloudy.

Shopping comes today and I have to get up the post van before it comes.

Only HW planned for today with SIL coming on Friday I better show willing.

Sounds like a full on day never been to Newhaven but I liked Brighton the times I have been. How er quite some time since we were last there.
We just went to a large store I. Cockermouth where I found the small saucepan I wanted. And a few Christmas presents. We had coffee there with a toasted tea cake, then went home for lunch and spent the afternoon reading

Good evening all

It’s been a better day weatherwise. It’s still very warm but there’s been more of a breeze so it’s been more comfortable.

Today OH decided he wanted to get the bus into Newhaven. I hope I don’t upset anyone from there, I am sure there are nice areas, but the town centre is a dump and we didn’t stay long. We got another bus into Brighton. Of course there is plenty to see and do there and we walked miles. We had a good lunch in a pub in the Lanes so we don’t need much tonight. The meal we both chose was a lamb shank shepherd’s pie. When it arrived it was a whole shank with the meat loosened from the bone. It was in a bowl with peas, carrots and gravy and the whole lot covered in mashed potato crisped up and topped with chopped parsley and mint, just the bone at the end of the shank poking out. It came with more veg and another jug of gravy. It certainly looked different and it was very tasty. Brighton is a bustling, lively town but didn’t seem as exciting as I remember it from years ago, but I’m probably looking through rose tinted spectacles.

It took us quite a while to find where to get our bus back and we eventually got back around 5.30 pm.

Mandy, I didn’t paddle yesterday but will probably wet my feet before we go home. OH won’t. He used to swim in the sea but he went to work for the Water Authority in the early 70s and hasn’t put a toe in the sea since!!

After talking to my friend so much yesterday, by the time I went to bed I had lost my voice completely. It’s back to a squeaky croak now. I’ll probably be fine by Wednesday when we’re meeting up again and I’ll end up with no voice again. OH is smiling at the thought of a quiet couple of days after that.

Morning all,

Overcast here and cooler out but the house feels really muggy and humid when you come in .
I've just been out and hung washing out and also did a little dead heading while it's overcast once the sun comes out and it's trying to peep though the cloud it will be to hot to go out again ,should be 28 today .

Oh Mel those old gnats have got in your hair ,good idea to get a hat on especially later in the day when they start getting about .

Vera sounds as if you had a lovely day with your friend yesterday, did you have a paddle in the sea ,i love how the salty water makes your feet feels so soft and comfortable it's like walking on air

Morning all,

Grey and overcast here this morning pc is saying 17 degrees and mostly cloudy so I think we are in for a cooler day today.

I have to order more meds today and do a parcel up I think but Iv'e not checked yet.

I also need to wash my hair as being out in the garden quite a bit in the early evening I have been bitten by the midges and my scalp itchy like mad. I must remember to wear a hat.

SIL rang this afternoon and we chatted for ages. Sun came out this afternoon and I did a little more inthe garden along the edge of the road to the shed. I did'nt do it last earso it was very grown over the edge of the bricks and into the tarmac.

No more rain today but it was cooler out there this afternoon but has got mugged tonight.

Must get a drink as I did'nt have one with myt tea.

I think it has been very slightly cooler outside today though still very hot but the house is like an oven. Once the sun had gone I opened the bedroom windows in the hope of cooling the room down a bit but it doesn’t seem to be working. I believe it’s been even hotter at home. I hope my potted garden plants aren’t all dying. I thought my neighbour was back from her holiday yesterday but apparently she isn’t back till Tuesday so it could even be Wednesday before the poor plants get a drink.

We have had a lovely day. I talk about my friend as we were at primary school together but I should say our friend as I introduced OH to her almost as soon as I knew him so he’s known her over 60 years. She arrived here at 11 am and we had coffee and lots of chat. Then we went into town for a nice Sunday lunch I had booked. Then it was back here for more coffee.and chat. She left about 5.30. I don’t think we stopped talking and laughing the whole time. We are seeing her again on Wednesday when we are going to her and having lunch out with her and her man friend.

We did have a little walk along the beach early this evening and it felt a pleasant temperature but I feel as though I am melting now. That sounds like a real downpour you had Mel. It must have cleared the air a bit.

I’m going to go and see if I can persuade OH to have a think about what we might do tomorrow. Stay cool and have a good night everyone.

Good afternoon all. Sounds as if you had a good holiday Ann. I think a lot of extra things in holiday let’s we’re removed during and post Covid, and have not been put back. But leaving at four obviously worked for the journey home.
You mentioned getting pasties at the Lizard. Was that from Ann’s pasties? Always Tony and my favourites even when they were sold from the house. Just as good when we had them last year from the shop.
Yes Inara has grown a lot since April and looks as though little one will be the same.

Mandy it is obviously hotter where you are must be too sticky to knit much. We look forward to the finished creations.

Mel gosh that must have been a cloud burst to put an inch and a half into the pond.

Went up the hsop for my paper as I forgot yesterday and just as I went out the door it started to rain great big spots. Got to the car and it fell out of the sky but by the time I was at the shop it eased off so in I went and got my shopping. Came out and got in the car and it started again so heavy you could hardly see with the wipers going full pelt. drove in the garden and it stopped with just some big spots so I got in ok than it came over very grey and a huge downpour again with plenty of thunder this time which knocked the leccy out. It filled the pond up by zn inch and a half in that short time so I don't have to top it up today.

Sky is still grey but its not raining at the mo.

Morning all.,

I don't like to moan but this heat us just to much ,you only have to move and it's so draining, we've had lots of extra drinks and water to keep hydrated, the fans are going but it's just warm air they are blowing about .
Poor Max was hot last night ,I got a wet cloth and wiped him over and sat him near tye fan to cool him and eventually he settled down .

We don't intend to do much today just sit in and try to keep cool.

Lovely to hear from you Ann sounds as if you enjoyed your holiday looking forward to seeing the photos .
Can I ask where you got the little fan from it's sounds good ,I've heard about standing a frozen bottle of water in front of a fan to cool the air but if it fits in the fan it sounds better.
I said to Colin yesterday I bet a lot of people will go shopping to cool off lol its lovely in Aldi with the air con but my goodness you feel the heat when you come out .
Yes to hot to do to much knitting but I am getting them done ,three boys done and three girls so three more to do .
Just watching the Great North run ,one old chap 101 is running ,I'd be lucky to do even half a mile :-0

Vera it sounds a lovely place your in ,have a good day with your friend .

Mel we've had a lot of those old daddy long legs in having the windows open and the lights on at night draws them in .

Anng sounds as if you had a nice time with the little ones ,they grow up so fast I can't believe the youngest is nearly two.

Time for more liquids I think ,keep cool everyone and enjoy the day what ever your doing .

Morning all,

We've had rain in the night here and its 19 degrees but we are in for heavy6 rain later according to the pc.

Ann I am pleased you had a nice time in Cornwall even though there were changes in the lodge do you think you will go there again? Will love to see the pics you did take. No I still have Gwain and Emlin I can't seem to part with them yet they are on my desk keeping me company.

I have my SIL coming next week with her hubby but only for the day as they are staying somewhere in Cornwall. they will stay with BI for the first night and then come and see me before going off to the place they rented. So that will be two fleeting visits from both SIL's.

Must get on as I wnat to have a good clear up today ready for when they arrive as I see I have lots of 8 leggedfriends hanging around is strange places. You see them more when the sun shines. I shall have to put all my craft stuff away too so wish me luck.

Hi Everyone!,

I thought I'd pop in this time for an update.

We came home yesterday at 4.00pm in the end to miss the heat and roadwork holdups today and after getting throughTruro we sailed home with 2 stops in 6 hours. Since night time streetlights have been mostly switched off, I was surprised there were so few on the motorways, especially as the lane markings were worn off in some places. We were wishing we were still there today when it got up to 30 degrees and not a whisper of any breeze and I saw it was only 24 degrees where we stayed!. I took a little 9 inch square desk fan I'd bought, that you put frozen bottles of water in, but never needed to use it all week, but I had it working today in the study and it made quite a difference blowing on my face. With all the rich icecreams this week it has confirmed in my mind what I suspected a few years ago after eating cream that I seem to have lactose intolerance! I looked it up tonight and I have the symptoms again. Now I'll be back on my diet again I should be ok. What remained of our plants in the pots that we'd more or less given up on with all the work we were doing are now burnt to a crisp, so they can go in the garden bin before it's emptied on Tuesday. There's a pile of washing for tomorrow and OH has work stuff to get on with now the schools are back.

The place you are stopping at sounds nice Vera. We found that a lot of the extras at the lodge we stay at had been cut back even more. There wasn't even a washing up bowl this time and not even a plug for the sink! It does have a dishwasher, but if you only have a couple of plates and cups it seems wasteful. They had renewed the microwave and kettle so I had to see how the new microwave worked! I don't bother with the oven or hob as it is an electric ceramic one and seems slow after using a gas one. Like you we eat out mostly. You do well to be walking around the shops, but with it so hot in the south you must be getting a bit acclimatised? It's good more shops are air conditioned these days. We nipped out to the co-op today to cool off in there while we got a few bits. How nice you will be meeting your friend tomorrow. Lots of catching up to do.

AnnG young Inara is still growing fast and is big for her age. I was always one of the smallest in my class! It's good she found some playmates and burnt off some energy. I bet she enjoyed getting surprise gifts too. It was good you got to hold the baby, another twig on your tree. Are the pussycats finding the cool places in the house this weather, although it could be cooler as you are further north?

I think Mandy is about level with us heatwise so she must be sweltering too. Knitting all those rabbits can be hot holding the needles and wool. I hope the neighbour doesn't want them too quickly. They are so lovely and would make great gifts for Christmas.

Mel your BIL is doing well keeping up with the mowing, especially as he has a job as well. It must be responsible as you say, as you can't make mistakes with something that flies in the air. What a worry for you with these big bills turning up. Did they ever find out out exactly where the water leak was? Hopefully it will soon be the end of it and get sorted as you shouldn't have to pay for the water that's still leaking anywy. As for the electric, I wonder how they arrived at such a big amount as you have solar panels and your heating is oil. Your miniatures are doing well and keeping you busy. Have you sold the Tudor Man or Woman yet?

Better get off to bet with my bottle of water out of the fridge now! I've written far too much. I'll see if I can send a few photos tomorrow but I didn't take many.

Its still 22 degrees here but the pc says rain coming. I have been clearing te edge of the grass where it meeets the road down to my shed.