General Chat

Phew, it is hot. Weather app is telling me that currently it is 26 and feels like 29 degrees and in the next hour it is going up to 28, feeling like 33. OH has been in the garden cutting back a large choisya. The other large one we have still has blooms so he’ll do that one later. He cuts them back hard every year. They are against the back fence. He takes a bit off the height but leaves them at least 6ft tall and he cuts a lot off the sides and front or they would just take over the garden. I don’t know how he could work out there this morning. He’s in now and showering.

I’ve made a large banana loaf for a coffee morning next weekend. It will have to go in the freezer for a few days as I know I won’t have time to make one later in the week.

Life of Pi is a strange book AnnG. I really enjoyed it. It made me think but it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

It sounds as though your arm needs resting Mel so take it easy and don’t overuse it and, fingers crossed, it will recover quickly.

I’ve got an appointment at the hospital tomorrow morning to see the doctor and find out how my eyes are doing, then hopefully I’ll be able to get my glasses sorted out. Then in the afternoon we have been invited for tea and cake at a friend’s so I won’t be doing any washing or h/w as I usually do on a Monday. It wasn’t a difficult decision - tea with a friend beats h/w every time ;-)

Try and use the other hand/arm Mel.
It is 23 degrees here, grey sky and we have just had a heavy shower, not enough but it will help.

Morning Anng and all,

Quite sunny here but not full sun. Pc says 16 degrees adn partly sunny.

Arm is ok while I am in bed but the minuet I get up it starts aching again especally when I stand or start typing or scrolling the mouse so I am going to have another day off the pc but will look in now and then to see what you have been up to. Its such a nuisance when I want to do things in the garden.

I really need to have a tidy up in here so maybe a little of that today will be ok and if it really starts I shall stop.

Good morning all, I had to check Alexa twice as I thought I had read it incorrectly but it is saying the temp now is 21 degrees PC says rain coming which will be good, we did have a shower yesterday evening which didn't do a lot for the garden but everything smelt fresh.
Not a lot to do today. I was going to change the bed tomorrow but My best watch has stopped so I now need to go to town to get a battery. So I have stripped the bed and the bedding is in the washing machine.

Vera Glad you enjoyed the film, I chose not to go when it was here. I read the book a long time ago and can't say I enjoyed it, found it very strange. Our studio is like yours, the last time we were really cold as they had not managed to get the air con right. Of course, especially these days, they do need to get air in there but it doesn't need to be icy. And, with my aids the sound is too high. Lunch sounded nice.

Mel, hope your shoulder/arm is easing off now.

It's 27 here at the moment as well and iPad says it feels like 30. I had one quick walk round the garden and came back in. I think it's going to be a warm, muggy night tonight so I have got the fan out ready. I had a reasonable night. I woke a lot but managed to get back to sleep quite quickly and my head feels easier today though I did take a painfiller before I went out.

We got to the car park across the road from the theatre at about 10 am and there were still plenty of places so we parked, crossed the bridge over the road to the theatre and had a cuppa in the restaurant there before going to the studio for the screening. It was the National Theatre performing at Wyndham's Theatre in the West End and it was wonderful. If you don't know Life of Pi it is a strange story and you are left wondering if what Pi is saying is true, or in his imagination, or is the author using it as an allegory. The script for the play attempts a bit of an explantion which I thought was a shame but maybe theatre goers don't like being left with an enigma. That was the only slight criticism I have. Apart from that it was superb. The acting, staging, sound effects were all wonderful and the animals were the sort of puppets they used in War Horse. It was well worth seeing.

One problem was that the air conditioning was going full blast and it was freezing. We had thought of this and taken warm jumpers but there were people in sleeveless dresses or T-shirts who were coming out shivering. Also the volume was a bit high for us as we both have good hearing. I realise that the theatre has to cater for those who are hard of hearing but most people with that sort of problem have hearing aids of one sort or another. and we did feel a bit deafened at times.

We had ham, eggs and chips in the theatre restaurant when we came out and it was a very generous helping. Even OH couldn't finish his chips and he usually clears his plate. Half the amount would have been fine for me. We got back just after 3 pm. I feel quite tired now even though I've had a very relaxing day. I don't have to do anything for the rest of the day, not even cook, so I think I'll carry on relaxing.

I hope your shoulder and arm are feeling a bit better today Mel. Take it easy and don't be tempted to do much outside.

I think I'll have a nice cold drink and a read of the paper now. Stay cool and enjoy what's left of the day.

Even hotter out there now 27 degrees and very close. I am waiting until later to put plants in, I got two in and other pots prepared but it was just too sticky hot out there, despite there being a breeze.

gosh it is hot our there, alexa says 22 PC says 24.

I have been out there in the shade, sorting out the tubs to put the pl;ants I bought yesterday in but I won't be doing that for a couple of hours now I think.

OK Mel we will know why you are missing. make sure you don't use it more than you absolutely have to. <3

Morning Anng and all,

We have light rain. well its on the car but the raod looks dry and the sky is that funny yellowish grey colour. Pc is now saying light rain and 16 degrees. I think the garden will welcome it and the lawn looks better already.

Still have the dreadful arm and did'nt know what to do with myself yesterday evening so I think I am going to stay off the pc today as acrolling on the mouse seems to annoy it. Pc is now saying thunderstorms.

Good morning all. Sun is shining and it is 11 degrees so looking like another warm day.
Vera, pleased to hear that your head was a bit better, hope the improvement has continued as you don't need a bad head before watching a film.
Surprising how we can ache like anything after coming in from a stint in the garden, but feel better in ourselves for doing it. (despite the aches). Enjoy the screening.

Mel, having so much land is a bit of a problem for you this time of year. you are very lucky to have your BiL to help you. Goodness knows how you would have managed without him. It is bad enough for me and I only have a medium sized garden,

Went up the top to the village hall this afternoon to cut some things back and did just that BIL said he would bring up the big trailer and move the stuff I cut down. Got on well till I got a bit of wood stuck in the blades of the electic pruner. Could'nt find BIL anywhere and got worried so came down the house and got the strimmer still no BIL so went bak up and looked up the road, no one about, thne Em came past from picking the boys up so I flagged her down and told her if he was talking with her dad could she send him back here please? Yes he had got held up with his tongue right enough. While I was waiting I started to strim outside Les's place so BIL could see where the edge was as he was going to mow another strip. The blimmin battery ran out after I had strimmed a foot. I came back down the house and did manage to get the wood out of the jaws of the prunner and put the battery on charge. Did'nt get back up there as it was soooooo very hot but BIL picked up what I had cut off and dumped it on the bonfire outside the wall. Then he finished mowing the orchard and left. His first job this morning was to get the air pump out of the filter shed as it was too heavy for me to do and he brought it in and fitted the two new disaphrams for me. We plugged it back in and it worked perfectly so thats was a good job done and I managed to clean the filter out properly as you need the air going through the filter to clean all the little plastic bits out that filter the water. At least I don't have to pay the pond man to do that for me.

Salad for me tonight, I have boiled an egg and I shall have a small tin of red boneless salmon with it. I have a few bits of new pots from yesterday to make a bit of potatoe salad to go with it and will add some chives and mint out of the garden.

How things change - after several days of grey weather and temperatures around 13 or 14 degrees, it started to warm up yesterday and today it's hot, currently around 22 degrees.

It wasn't a very good night but I don't feel too bad today. My head is not quite so painful. I didn't get on very well with the extra pillows. They helped my head slightly but made my shoulders and back ache so at 3.30 am I threw them out and went back to just one pillow.

I hope your shoulder is a bit better now Mel. Are there any pain killers you can take? As AnnG says paracetamol alone won't do much for muscle pain; even the NHS site says that. Years ago, before I had bp pills, the doc used to prescribe Naproxen for me as Ibuprofen upsets me but that's another one you shouldn't take if you have high bp.. Last time my back was bad the doc told me to take the strong co-codamol that is prescribed for my head pain. Are you able to take codeine? Not everyone can.

You were wise to shop earlier today Mandy. I got a few bits in yesterday morning. I wouldn't want to be going out now.

First thing this morning I decided that, back pain and head pain regardless, I must do something for my own mental well-being so I decided on some gardening before it got too hot. I started about 10 am and came in at 11.15 when the temperature was rising. I ache and am tired now but glad to have achieved something. I cleared away some dead stuff and planted the two plants my neighbour gave me. It was difficult to know where best to put them as I am not sure what they are :-S After that I dealt with some heuchera. We had odd little bits of a dark red one scattered round the garden and not growing well because they were getting buried by other bigger shrubs so I've dug them up and replanted them all together in one area. They might all die on me as I doubt if it's the right time of year to move them but they are not doing anything where they are.

Tomorrow morning we are going to a screening from the National Theatre of the Life of PI. When I booked the tickets I wasn't having too many problems seeing. Goodness knows how I'll get on now. I may have to sit in a darkened room looking at the screen through sunglasses! It's not at our local theatre where we usually go but in Colchester. You have to park in a multi-story across the road but you can get a parking pass at a very good rate if you get it through the theatre when you order your tickets. If you pay at the car park it would be £6.50 for 4-5 hours, through the theatre it's £2.75 for all day from 9 am on. The only problem is you are not guaranteed a place. For an evening or Sunday performance it's not an issue as there are loads of spaces free at that time but it might be difficult on a Saturday morning. We'll have to get there a good bit earlier than we need to in case we have to find another car park somewhere.

Dinner's all prepared so I think I am going to get a cold drink and read for a while now.

Afternoon all,

Lovely warm day ,I've just been shopping to get a few bits so I don't have to turn out when it's supposed to get hotter tomorrow .

Mel I know just how you feel as a couple of days ago I pulled a muscle in my neck ,it so painful for a couple of days but feels OK now ,I only turned my head down to look up at something didn't hurt at ths time but it was the only thing I thought could have caused it ,hope yours soon feels better .

Have you tried a heat pad Mel, sounds as though you should rest that arm for a day. You could try asking a pharmacist or your surgery what pain killer you can take for it with your meds. In my experience paracetomal doesn't touch muscle strain. have you got any deep heat?

Morning Anng and all,

My pc is saying thunderstorms and high pollen count and 12 degrees and mostly cloudy. Its not tht bright htis morning so maybe we have a break in this lovely weather.

Arm still hurts right up my neck so not stayingon here much today. BIL should come today.

good morning all the sun is shining and it is 12 degrees so better get dressed and do another round of watering. I have found that a few of the plants I put in pots are surviving well so are ok for dry conditions, but one or two don't like it too dry. Of the Osteospernums I have put in pots two are fine the third is not happy so maybe it is just that particular plant. I am going with a friend to the local garden centre today but not until this afternoon. Have a few things for the charity lady so may walk down there later.
Vera I hope that the pain in your face has eased this morning and that you managed to sleep ok.

Not done much today did a bit of casting and went in the garden and picked up the sticks off the big ash tree as its windy here today and they always come down in the wind. BIL should be here tomorrow but the grass is'nt growing much so I want to ask him if he will come up with me to cut some of the stuff down by my gateway as it very over grwon there and he dos'nt cut down the side past our gateway and thats now about a foot tall.

I hope the pillows work for you tonight Vera and you get some sleep and the pain eases for you.

Still got the pain in my shoulder but I can't take Ibuprofen only paracetamol because I am on BP pills.

I got distracted and missed the post :-( We only have one collection a day and the time keeps changing. It was 4.15, then it was 4.30, then 5.30, now it's apparently 5.15 pm. I got distracted and didn't get to the box till about 5.10 and it had already been emptied so I wasn't very pleased as it won't go now till tomorrow evening. With luck E will still get it on Monday but I will text her Monday morning anyway.

Yes, the migraine pain always affects the left hand side of my head and the centre of the pain is always above my left eye but it usually goes once I am up and about again. This time I'm up and functioning but the pain is still there which is why I think it's being affected by my eye problems at the moment. I normally sleep with one flattish pillow but I can sometimes ease it if I have my head higher up so I am going to try extra pillows tonight.

It sounds as though your meeting went well. In every group there is always one person who dominates the conversation. My sister in law is like that, you can't get a word in edgewise but she is a lovely woman in every other way. I'm sure those plants will strengthen up and flourish for you. You seem to do well with plants - you must have green fingers :-)

You are lucky to have a post collection at that time. Last collection time around here is 9am so it has to be posted the day before.

That face/head pain sounds nasty, Is it associated with the migraine? and have you had it before? I hope it eased quickly for you.

the meeting went well. they do all tend to talk at once and we have one dominant lady who likes to hold forth and it is difficult to get a word in sometimes. she also 'knows' everything. other than that she is a kind person. Not that it makes any difference but she is South African. there were lots of free plants up for taking I had to take a few that were left over so I will see what happens with them none of them are very strong.

My goodness, there's a change in the weather today. There's still a nip in the breeze but otherwise it's sunny and warm

I had quite a good night last night. I still got up with severe pain over all the left side of my head and face but it does ease up a bit once I'm up and about. I'm sure it will be fine once I can get my eyes sorted. Today, I had a message on the answering machine from the eye treatment centre at the hospital.. My heart sank as I thought they were going to cancel my appointment on Monday but thankfully they were ringing to confirm it.

I hope your garden group meeting went well Ann. If your weather is anything like ours you have a good day for it.

I'm sorry your shoulder is still painful Mel but now you know how you did it you will be able to avoid doing it in the future. Do you have any anti-inflammatory pills like Ibuprofen or something like Voltarol Gel? (Don't use these without speaking to your doctor first if you take pills for high bp.) I hope you feel better soon.

I'm just going to walk down the road to post a birthday card to another granddaughter. Her birthday is Monday but these days I never know when to post cards or what stamps to put on them. Put a 2nd class stamp on and it arrives the other end of the country the next day, put on a 1st class and it takes a week to be delivered 10 miles away! Better get this one written quickly or I shall miss today's post.