General Chat

And more presents Vera, and bottles too!!! Well done.

Had a nice day with the grandchildren and got a lot of jobs done too which was good. and they also went away with a couple of suitcases out of the loft so that is a bit more gone now. The only downside is they bring the dog. she is lovely a cross with a bit of Alsatian, a bit of lots of other dogs including a foreign hunting dog but althouggh not very big she is very boisterous and not trained so wants to play and jump up all the time. she is a Romanian rescue two years old.called sigfried.

Lovely to hear about your special meals and time away, Vera. It's a shame about the weather, but you certainly didn't let it spoil this special celebration for both of you.
How lovely to come home to even more presents too.

A bit calmer here today. Yesterday was grim and the weather was wild for most of the day. I did manage a short walk, when the rain had at last stopped and it was great to see that our annual nesting pair of swans are back and have rebuilt their nest in the usual place. It always amazes me how close they are to the footpath ( about 1 foot away ) but some countryside project workers always make sure there is a hazel paling fence between them and the path....Great for a bit of protection, but it still enables really close-up pictures of the young cygnets, when they hatch.

Afternoon all

Another morning of rain and it's been surprisingly cold as well. The computer is saying it is 9 degrees but it certainly doesn't feel anything like that. I think there is a big wind chill factor at the moment. It has stopped raining now but is due to start again later.

We haven't seen Mandy for 2 or 3 days. I hope she is OK.

Mel, your bil is good to visit you so often to sort things out but it must be a bit annoying if he is spending money buying tools and parts that you already have.

I hope your grandson and family arrived safely today AnnG. Enjoy their visit.

I timed it so that I ran out of fresh veg and salad stuff before we went away so I had to pop to Sainsbury's this morning to stock up, then I made some soup for lunch and did a few other jobs. After lunch I booked a slot for a Tesco delivery on Wednesday and got that order more or less sorted out. So it's a normal day today and I've come back to earth with a bump. I did tell OH that I had got used to being a lady of leisure and suggested to him that he might like to provide waiter service at the breakfast table and then make the bed and clean the en-suite but I won't tell you what his reply was ;-)

I had a nice surprise in the post when we got back yesterday. The old girl's association of my old school run one of these schemes where you can pay so much to be entered in a draw for money prizes. With ours we only pay £12 a year. Half the money raised goes to the association and the other half provides prizes for a draw two, or it might be three, times a year. A couple of times in the past I have won £25. In the post yesterday was a cheque for £35 from the draw at the March AGM. That was a lovely extra anniversary gift.

Then today as we were finishing lunch, a Royal Mail van arrived with a parcel for us and it was a bottle of Champagne, and one of the top brands. It came with an anniversary message from OH's sister and bil. It meant a lot that she remembered as she was a 7 year old bridesmaid at our wedding (OH was 18 when she was born).

I think we had better have a party as we have now been given 2 bottles of champagne and 2 bottles of wine. People are so generous and kind.

I still have jobs I want to do this afternoon so I had better get on Enjoy what's left of the day and sleep well tonight everyone.

Morning Anng and all,

It WAS a bit brighter here this morning when I woke up but now it clouded over and is raining I think.

BIL may come again this morning to start sorting the garage. He will keep buying things to use on the mowers when we already have them but he has'nt looked properly. He wanted some kind of lifter so bought one, not cheap, and then looked in one of the tool drawers and low and behol;d there sitting in the tray was a lifter!!

Good morning all 8 degrees but really grey here so far and rain forecast. Last time Grandson and wife came here it snowed and they took ages to get here, just hope the rain doesn't delay them today.

So pleased your time away worked well for you Vera, the meals all sounded lovely. Sad that the weather was not kind but it seems that it didn't spoil it for you. and lovely to come home to flowers etc. Back to normal now and, no doubt, it is still raining.

Sounds like you enjoyed your time away even though it was very wet. Its nice to just get away sometimes and this was a special time for both of you. The soggy box was also a treat to come home to how thoughtful of son and DIL to send that. The hyasinths will smell wonderful when they come out. Mine at the bottom of the patio steps are giving off a wonderful scent when the wind blows or I walk past them. Glad your home safe and sound and hope you sleep well tonight.

Last night we had another very good meal with a bottle of wine. OH had scallops as a starter, then pepper and honey glazed duck. I started with smoked duck breast with a blackberry, walnut and radicchio salad, then baked salmon fillet with a Parmesan and herb crust and a spinach veloute (a fancy name for a creamy sauce with green flecks in it :-)). A light desert for me and cheeseboard for OH. We both slept a bit better last night.

It was raining when we left the hotel at 10.30 am. We decided to drive to Woodbridge anyway and spend some time around town, have lunch there and then go on to the big Nottcutts garden centre just outside town. Well, it rained all the time we were in Woodbridge, not heavily but constantly so we got pretty wet. After buying a couple of things in the shops we went to get lunch. We decided on a restaurant we had been to a long while ago which was just out of the centre but on the way back to the car park we were in. Restaurant was still there but changed hands a couple of years ago and now only does spicy food such as Thai, Burmese, Malaysian. I chose a small plate of the least spicy thing on the menu, sweet chilli beef. I managed most of it but I did struggle as I’m not a fan of chilli and I’m not a big meat eater.

By the time we got back to the car it was pouring so we gave the garden centre a miss and started driving home. I don’t know how OH managed as, with the rain falling down and the lorries and other traffic throwing up spray, we couldn’t see a thing. As we neared Hadleigh it suddenly stopped so we stopped there for a nice pot of tea. Then the rain started again :-(

We arrived home to find a large, soggy box on the doorstep. Inside were 18 pretty pale pink tulips and 12 hyacinths, not bulb plants but cut stems. They aren’t opened up yet so I don’t know what colour they are. There was also 2 bottles of wine, a red and a rose, and a box of chocolates. They were from son and dil.

So that’s our big celebration over. Back to real life again now

BIL came today and we just talked. Em came later for eggs and took three dozen which has left me with one. I also gave BIL six so I hope they lay well tomorrow.

Morning Anng and all,

Its dull cloudy and very wet and very windy here this morning 9 degrees and it says rain coming soon. I think its a bit behind as its been raining since 7am when I got up for the loo. No heating on so I went back to bed.

Had an email from SWW this moring which made me laugh. This is what it said.

Hello,


Our water resources are under increasing pressure

Thank you for everything you’ve been doing to help reduce demand since last summer and save water. The South West remains in drought following some of the driest conditions in nearly 90 years. A continuing lack of rainfall means our reservoirs have struggled to recover to the levels we need going into the summer. As of the 29th March 2023, Roadford reservoir was 63.7% full. For up-to-date reservoir levels, please visit our current reservoir levels webpage.


Now more than ever we need your help to Save Every Drop

To help us maintain and deliver the water you need, we continue to offer a wide range of support, everyday tips, advice and water saving devices that can help you reduce your usage at home with minimal effort and change.

What’s more, if you’re on a meter then any further savings you can make at home will result in savings on your water bill. Using less hot water will make savings on your energy bills too.

Small steps can make an extraordinary difference and we continue to ask everyone to save every drop by reducing their water use.

Thats only the first part but its the bit that made me laugh because there are water leaks evrywhere down here and you see the water running down the roads but they don't mend those leaks. If they read the meters every 6 six months like they should they would detect more leaks to fix and save water. With all the rain we have had lately you can't tell me the levels are down in the reservoirs they should be overflowing.

Moan over..... I have to go up the post van again today as I sold the Easter Treats yesterday so need to post them to Belfast.

good morning all. 9 degrees and a bit grey here at the moment. Nothing planned, if it stays dry I need to get to the post box but other than that there is a fairly long list of bits needing doing before next week when I go away.

Vera, I guess I would not have slept well either after a heavier than usual meal in a strange bed. But you seem to have had a good day out and I hope the meal last night was equally as good. And make the most of that view before you leave it today. safe journey home. :-) :-)

Thank you all for your anniversary wishes.

Dinner last night was good. Tiger prawns for OH, followed by breast of guinea fowl while I had chicken liver parfait with spiced fruit chutney and toasted beer bread, followed by grilled hake with veg including asparagus and a cream and tarragon sauce. Then a light but fancy desert for me and cheese board for OH. The wines were very expensive but we had a very palatable bottle of the house white between us.

OH didn’t sleep well, which is unusual for him, and I had a dreadful night so we were both a bit grumpy this morning. Not a good start to our day but once we’d got ourselves together and gone out we perked up. We had a nice drive around and then went to Snape Maltings and wandered in and out of various art and craft shops, galleries etc and had a short walk across the reed beds by the river. However we didn't go far as the paths you must follow were very boggy from all the rain that had fallen. It was also very windy. After a sandwich we came back here and walked up to look at the scallop shell sculpture on the beach and then back, hoping to go into the medieval Moot Hall which contains a local museum but November to April it is only open at weekends. Next it was a walk up to the parish church. There is a lovely stained glass window which was installed in 1980 as a memorial to Benjamin Britten. OH took a photo and I bought a postcard but it doesn’t really show the depth and intensity of the colours.

We got back to the hotel about 4 pm and had a toasted tea cake and pot of tea. Since then I’ve had a lovely shower and am now sitting up on the bed watching the sea washing up the pebbly beach. It’s very relaxing.

We have to check out at 11 am tomorrow but we probably won’t go home till much later in the day . We want to make the most of our time away.


,

Morning Girls,

Windy wet and very cloudy here this morning and pc says 10 degrees. I am going to attempt to post myarcels today and hope the van turns up, we will see.

Its also library van today so a lot to think about and get done this morning.

Happy Anniversary Vera and hubby for your diamond wedding. May you have many more.

Must get myself ready to try the post van.

Sending very best wishes to Vera and OH hoping you have a very special Diamond Wedding Anniversary today.
I hope the sun shines, so that you can really enjoy your holiday.

good morning all. sort of cloudy bright and dry so far here 9 degrees so not at all as cold as it has been. I think forecast is for rain though.

I hope you enjoyed your meal last night Vera and that you were able to have a good sleep in that big bed. Oh and lovely to wake up to the view of the sea. I would enjoy that. sounded a bit 'brisque' yesterday though. Still, no doubt it blew a few cobwebs away.

If today is your anniversary, Happy anniversary and enjoy reminiscing. Have a great day, nothing planned for today except doing a load of washing.

Hi all

AnnG, your tour sounds so interesting and just my sort of thing. I’m pleased you enjoyed the day.

I hope your water leak isn’t too costly for you Mel. I think I remember you having a nasty leak once before. Are they very old pipes?

We left home this morning in rain but it had stopped by the time we got here. We knew we couldn’t get in to our room till 3 pm but checked in and left our case in reception, then went to the bar for a light lunch. I had cream cheese and smoked salmon sandwiches. Delicious :-). Then we went for a walk. Oh my goodness...the north wind was blowing a gale and was freezing and the sea and beach were completely shrouded in a heavy sea mist. Whose bright idea was it to come to Aldeburgh in March? Oh yes, it was mine.

After about an hour we went back to the hotel and collected our room key. It’s a lovely room just across the road from the sea. The bed is huge and there are enough drawers and wardrobes for a year’s worth of clothes. There’s even a pair of binoculars for our use and a nice box of chocs to enjoy. I’m already looking forward to my dinner. I could get used to this life.

At the moment we are sitting in armchairs by the window. While I’m typing this OH is reading and trying not to doze off. We think we’ll go to Snape Maltings tomorrow. We haven’t been for a few years but there are craft shops and galleries to go into if it’s wet and it’s a nice area for a walk if it’s dry. We might also have a look at Thorpeness and see if there is anything much there apart from the House in the Clouds which is a private residence so you can only see that from the outside.

Just noticed OH has dozed off. I think I might go and wash now, then we won’t be wanting to use the bathroom at the same time.

That sounds a really interesting tour and especially good that you had access to areas that are normally closed to the public.
I would have enjoyed that visit too.

We had a real pea-souper of a morning- not the best for travelling to an early appointment in Canterbury.
I felt sorry for the few newborn lambs we saw on our way home, chilly and damp for them in the open field, but the sun gradually burnt off the gloom.

I noticed in our garden that the bluebell stems are getting quite tall and the flower heads fully formed, so it won't be long until they are out.

Mel, I expect your garden is lovely and spring-like with all your flowers. I wondered if the cold would kill off our forsythia flowers as it started blooming so early before Christmas, but it is flowering full out at the moment, so a lovely splash of colour.
I will take some to the church for their Easter display, which is traditionally yellow and white.

Had a brilliant day in Gloucester. It did rain and we were walking in it for about an hour with stops under cover when we could. Had a really good guide who told us lots of information that none of us knew. But the best bit was, because it was so wet for the last half hour he took us into the antiques centre (If you watch Antiques road trip they went in there last week. But instead of just going to the first floor he took us right up to the fourth floor and into all sorts of places where only staff can go, store rooms and the maids' sleeping and living quarters in the top of the building. To give you an idea how interesting it is:

26 Westgate Street contains beautiful and outstandingly well preserved Tudor roofing and windows, vintage industrial equipment and boasts fantastic views of Gloucester Cathedral.

"No 26" is a historic gem in its own right, adjacent to the bewitching Maverdine Lane, once thought to be the site of the military headquarters of Colonel Edward Massey commander of the defence forces against the King's main army during the siege of Gloucester in 1643 (conventional wisdom now says he was based outside the city walls).

There are four ages of development of Maverdine House. The oldest part of the building dates to 1470. The internationally recognised Tudor part was constructed around 1540. In the late 18th century, these two houses were joined together, extended to the rear, and upwards to the attic. During the tenure of the Winfields in the 20th century, an additional extension was put on the back of the previous extension.

The building has, during its history of more than 500 years, been a merchants town house, an apothecary, a merchants' guild and a clothier. For more than 120 years it was home to seed merchants, the Winfields. For many locals, it is this use that stands out in the memory. In 2000, the building was used as a book shop, then left empty for several years until the Gloucester Antiques Centre moved in in 2015.

The building is so old that the stairs are very uneven and there are higgledy poggedy stair cases, It was a great 90 minutes all together. We then had lunch booked in a restaurant I have not been to before, omelette and chips was excellent. tired now with all the walking and stair climbing.

Just sent my solar reading in.

O I had'nt heard that Mandy and yes he was great with dogs. Such a nice man RIP Paul.

Not done much today just can't seem to get into anything. I did clean the loo and wipe the shower round but thats about it. Still can't find that extension lead so may have to take the one down off the patio roof which oh had a wifi thing plugged in for when he worked up the caravan on the laser cutter.

Morning all,

Dull morning here and looks more like rain is not dar away ,not sure how cold it is as I haven't been out yet .

Vera safe journey today and Happy Anniversary for which ever day it is while your away.

Enjoy your tour Anng i'd take a brolly with you just in case .

Mel didn't you have trouble with a leak a while ago, that's a lot of money so I hope they can soon sort it out for you .

Sad news about Paul O Grady dying suddenly I liked him in the For Love of Dogs programme, he did a lit of good work for Battersea dogs home .