General Chat

And anyway the order arrives at 11.20 because the driver rushed so as to not be late. Nice young man.

Morning all,

Very dull and cold here nothing planned for today just keeping in the warm.

Gill sorry to hear your OH got covid again, so that twice then ,how lucky were you not to get it ,I hope he's feeling better now .

Mel hope your bil can sort out the mower for you the lawns won't be long before they'll need cutting again ,I heard the chap cutting the churchyard on Friday, I don't think they usually start cutting this early so it must be growing well.

Anng I see you've been getting a few plants ready for your garden ,that was good tesco let you know about your order being a little late you'd have been wondering where it was .

Vera I meant to say that will be lovely to be by the sea for your wedding anniversary, don't think we've ever been to Alburgh but my friend use to stay in a hotel there overlooking the sea they use to love going .
Poor old pigeon bet he had a sore head after ,it must have quite a wallop to leave a mark on the glass.

Better get a coffee now ,I've just had a hoover though as tomorrow I have my tablet review mid morning ,I'm hoping the snow won't be here so I can walk to the surgery, I think they said if we're going to get any it will be about Tuesday.

Just had a message from tesco

Hi Ann,

We're contacting you with an update about your Tesco grocery order.

We're sorry to advise that your driver is running late due to technical issues at the store. We expect your order to be with you by 12:15.

The best way to get order updates, like if there's any delays, is by adding a mobile phone number to your delivery address. You can do this by following the steps below:

Log into your Tesco.com account
Click on 'My Account'
Click on 'Address book'
Click 'Edit' on your 'Delivery address'
Add your mobile phone number and click 'Save changes'.

If there's any further delays with today's order, we'll be back in touch - you don't need to contact us.

Many thanks

*** *****

It just doesn't occur to anyone that some people won't have a mobile or, as in my case only use them for texts. They have my landline number and have used it before. I am not giving them my mobile number. but they are supposedly only 15 minutes behind. never had this before.

Good morning all very grey here again and only 2 degrees so another cold one. Tesco due today to look forward to, no subs and only one unavailable and that was miniature Easter eggs so not important. But how can they be unavailable already they can't have been in the shop long?

Good to see you Gill. Sorry OH had Covid again, I assume it was in the home so their precautions were not working well if a member of staff caught it. Anyway you don't seem to have caught it so that is good. Looks like you are slowly getting things done in the bungalow. soon be out in the garden. Well you will if things warm up a bit. Are there any snowdrops in the garden?

Mel doesn't your BiL get fed at home? :-D You make him too welcome. Sounds like you need a mower expert to look at both mowers before you spend too much more money on bits that are wrong.

Vera, yes it has been a bad winter (an expensive one) for the garden. I am pretty sure I have lost two penstemens and I also lost a hardy fuschia that was in a pot I brought into the conservatory. plus several geraniums that in previous years have spent winter happily either in the conservatory or unheated greenhouse. I also think I have lost a large Cordyline that is wrapped in fleece. It almost makes you want to give up and just rely on annuals.

the plants I bought Mel were not Crocosma. they were:-
Coprosma.
Coprosma Repens is a species of flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Coprosma, in the family Rubiaceae, native to New Zealand. Common names include taupata, tree bedstraw, mirror bush, looking-glass bush, New Zealand laurel and shiny leaf.

Unfortunately they are only half hardy so I won't put them outside just yet

Good to see you back Gill. I'm sorry to hear your OH had Covid but pleased he's negative now. It seems to affect everyone differently. OH and I both had it mid-October. In a week he was fine again and he said it was no worse than a heavy cold but it knocked me for six and it was weeks before I got any energy back. I hope your OH doesn't overdo it for a little while.

I've had a pottering about day again. I got rid of some dead plants and cuttings in the conservatory and washed the pots. It really has been a bad year plantwise. We think we've lost a whole load of low growing hebes that edge a semi-circular gravel path and I think I have lost a lot of penstemons and a rhodanthemum. Oh, and a potted fuschia that is supposed to be hardy but we brought into the unheated conservatory anyway and the ungrateful thing still died :-P I also sorted out a box in the garage and found some seeds so I need to get sowing those.

Some of you who used to post on the garden thread might remember that when we moved to our current house with it's tiny garden we put in a "pond" which was a large round plastic bowl only 12"-15" deep. It came from a garden centre but was just like a very large washing up bowl. It was great when we started on the garden but over the years, plants have grown up round it and we can't really see it now. We're also in danger of stepping in it and falling every time we do any weeding or planting over that bit of the garden. So we went out and had a look at it and think about it, took the decision to get it out and went indoors.

I was amazed a little while later to look out of the window and see my Mr. I'll-Do-It-Tomorrow tackling it today. So the "pond" has gone and the large hole left has been filled in. It will need more compost or earth as it will settle and sink a bit but we are on the way. I now have 2 bird baths and, when it's warm, I put out a very shallow saucer of water for insects so they don't need the pond anymore.

As OH had been so good I decided that today he could have pizza. I'm not a lover of pizza but he does enjoy it. I thought we would have it at lunchtime and have something snacky tonight, so I took a large one from the freezer thinking I would give him 2/3rds and I would have the rest. I wish I hadn't bothered. It was an own label one from one of the major supermarkets. The tomato sauce on the base looked like a smear of thin orange paint and didn't taste at all, then there was a sparse helping of smoked ham and pineapple and it was supposed to have mozarella and cheddar cheese. Well, we saw no sign of mozarella and the cheddar was a few flakes of cheese on the top. OH likes his cheese so I did grate a lot of extra cheddar on his portion. At least he got the taste of cheese. I won't be buying that one again and it's a good job I had done a large mixed salad to go with it so we had something nice to eat.

I've been upstairs in the study for a while now without any heating on and I am getting cold so I am going off downstairs now to find a nice hot drink. I fancy a hot chocolate but I don't want to risk a migraine so I think it'll have to be tea or coffee.

O good we've heard from Gill. Hope you get some well earned sleep tonight Gill after looking after oh for the week.

BIL left a little while ago so I am on my own again now. He was trying to get the younger mower to start. He bought two new bits for it and both are nothing like what on the mower. One was a starter switch as he is frightened he is going to break the key in the one thats on the mower. I can't remember what the other bit was but it should have had three wire connecters in a line and it did'nt so he did'nt know where to connect the wires to. Anyway here most of the morning fed, watered and sent home none the wiser about the parts and still I hav'nt got a mower that works and the grass is growing!!!!!

I did go to the hsop for my paper and delivered Em's eggs and we had a chat till the boys called out when are we getting lunch?

I am now sitting here with a nice cuppa in the quiet. BIL is lovely but he can't half talk. He did also have a go at a better picture on my TV though so its not so blue now. Sold tiny Ted on ebay this morning so he has to be wrapped up ready to be posted on Monday.

Hi all

Sorry I haven't been on here for a while. OH tested positive for Covid so I've been looking after him and before that we had a couple of workmen here sorting out the back door and putting up new guttering. OH had a negative Covid result today so is going back to work tonight. He was lucky as work rang him and asked if he'd like to take his sick days as holidays which he said yes, so he hasn't lost a weeks wages.

I've been doing a bit more DIY in the kitchen, both window sills need a bit of work doing to them, so the paint stripper has been out and the filler ;-)

With OH testing positive for Covid we never went to the kitchen place in the end so will do that next week, providing it's not snowing as the weather man said the weather is going to change and become very cold with possible snow. I thought the bad weather wasn't going to happen, but I guess it was just a bit later than it said online.

I've not slept very well lately, nothing new there, but I've had bad dreams when I have fallen asleep, so I'm shattered now. OH thinks it's because I was worrying about him being ill. I think he might be right as his chest was pretty bad and he was coughing each night. At least he's well now. He caught Covid from work, that's twice in 10 months. He was quite shocked when he took the test (they have to do a test before going back into work after days off) and asked me to take a look just to make sure he was seeing it right and he was right it was positive. He wasn't a happy bunny.

I'm glad my card arrived Vera, it sounds like you had a lovely birthday. <3 HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY <3

Going to grab a drink now.

Vera, thank you, I am so pleased somebody gets what I am saying (well a couple more of the friends I was with agreed with me as well But that is two museums and two exhibitions where the very same or similar reasons for paintings have been used and the actual paintings could not have been more different, both more abstract than an actual picture I hasten to add. Why do they have to have a reason connected with their perceived life to paint. Just do it!!! :-(

I am just back from the local garden centre where I had coffee with two friends and then bought three plants as they were on offer to members. On the three plants I saved £16. (Hellebore Snowdrift , and Coprosma Repens one Pacific dawn and one Pacific night.) It was good to have a chat but it was really cold walking round the plants even with a thick sweater over two other layers a scarf and a winter coat. Nice and warm when I got back indoors.

Good afternoon

It’s another cold, grey day with occasional light rain. I did see one gleam of sunshine a short while ago but it didn’t hang around for very long :-(

I know what you mean about the museum AnnG. I like a lot of modern art. It makes me think a bit more deeply but I don’t see why there has to be an explanation of the work that relates to slavery, race, a traumatic event in the artist’s life, a tortured childhood etc. Can we not just look at something and see a brilliant piece of work from a brilliant artist? Sometimes it seems to be that being white, with a happy childhood and a certain income level is something to be ashamed of. Being the best you can be is what matters, not whether you are black, white or anything in between.

Someone has just arrived and OH is answering the door so I’d better get off my high horse and go and say hallo.

I was thinking back to the museum yesterday and the contrast between what it used to be like and how it is now. It used to have a lot of old "we used to have one of those" objects which I enjoyed seeing, now nothing like that on display. It used to have lots of old paintings hanging in one room permanently on display. None of that now.

It is all very modern thinking I suppose. It has always had and still has the beautiful Arts and crafts furniture and I did think that room of displays was a big improvement.

I suppose it is more of an art gallery now than museum. However no permanent paintings on display but (in common with the museum we visited last week) there are collections on display, a room showing one artist or type of artist or a room showing similar exhibits (etchings, photos, prints etc) All very interesting, very talented people. Seeing many exhibits of the same type does emphasise it on your mind. I think the idea is to watch for collections and visit when the type of art you like is on display in a collection.

One thing I have noticed lately in our PC world. A lot of art exhibited is of ethnic origin, some very beautiful but none of it seems to have been painted or drawn or worked in other mediums for the sheer joy of doing it. all of it has explanations of deeper meanings. and those meanings all have a feeling of accusation of some sort of 'slight' against the artists colour, religion, race. sometimes I just long for a Constable, a Monet or whatever who painted what they saw because it was beautiful and because it was there. I suppose I am just old fashioned. and I admit much of the ethnic work, especially some we saw yesterday is beautiful but it is the colours and designs that make it beautiful not the hidden meaning behind it

I will get off my soap box now. :-D

Morning Anng and all,

Dull and dreary here this morning and pc says 4 degrees and partly sunny but Iv'e not seen a gl;impse of it yet the morning just grey miserable skys.

Shop and egg delivery this morning and then the resto fthe day is mine. don't think BIL will come today expect he will go over Exmoor with his camera.

Enjoy your garden centre trip Anng.

Maybe she has trouble with her lap top again. Or it is probably that they are trying to get things finished so they can get out in the garden. But I hope that they are OK.


Good morning all only 2 degrees here so far no sign of frost though. Slept OK but woke with a pain in my shoulder and neck, I think it might be wearing my cross body bag (which is not light) for too long yesterday. (Old bones can't take it!)

All being well I am meeting a friend for coffee at Norton garden centre this morning. I suspect they have lots of spring plants in so that will be a temptation.

We've not heard from Gill for ages now. Hope they are both ok.

It was a good day and I didn't have to get the bus home as friend's appointment was cancelled. Our surgery must be very bad at infection control as we are always being told re appointments etc sorry for the delay/cancellation/whatever which is due to staff sickness.

Anyway the museum/art gallery was very interesting. I used to belong to the friends there many years ago but that lapsed although I still visited the museum. However, since then it has had a complete refurbishment and is very up to date and smart. My favourite area is the Arts and Crafts room, I love the beautiful furniture and anything connected with the movement and they have a very good collection.
We had lunch in their cafe (Quiche and chips which Was very nice and gave us time to chat. Only five of us for lunch but seven to see the museum. After lunch Friend and I went to M&S for a look round but they have a sale on which is fine but it takes up so much of the floor space and the sizes I need are never there as they are the most popular. I did get three little baby things (don't know what you call them, rompers? vests with poppers?)

Good morning AnnG and all

3 degrees, very grey but dry today.

That’s good that you didn’t get caught by that scam Mel

Enjoy your visit to Cheltenham AnnG. I haven’t got any plans for the day. I think it’ll be a potter about sort of day.

Morning Anng and all,

Very frosty again here this morning but the suns out so it should soon burn it off I hope. Its 3 degrees here too and pc says partly cloudy.

I have another parcel to post today as I sold something else.

Enjoy Cheltenham Anng, shame you have toget the bus home.

Hope you all slept well. I went out like a light last night after all the activity yesterday and disappointment at not winning a prize.

At least you were prepared for that Mel so well done on not being caught.

Good morning all. 3 degrees here at 7am. Being picked up by friend at 0930 to go to Cheltenham, our group is visiting the museum there to have a good look round. We are trying to make up for the fact that we tend to visit places away from home but never places in our own area. Unfortunately I will have to come home by bus as friend has to leave early for an appointment elsewhere. Just hope the buses are behaving themselves or it will be a taxi.

I have heard from the people and it was a scam.

Ok Mel if you are sure that is fine. Well done

I hav'nt stopped all day. After I went to the post van I came home and Hazel rang me to say he wouldcome and cut my willows down at the back of his garden. Fine he cut them down plus some of the slow that had come from his garden and he and his son dragged it all down to my bonfire outside my big arch. Came in and the phone rang, it was the roofer saying could he come over and see if they could get the digger started, be over in about half an hour. I said yes. Had some lunch and they turned up so we all went over to the digger and his nephew had brought a battery and jump leads. The leads were'nt working . Had I got any jump leads, yes and a battery mobile jump starter. Got the battery jump over there first but that would'nt start it so I came back to the garage and got the jump leads. Still she would'nt start. They undid the injecters and pumped fuel up and still she would'nt start. They even put some of my diesel in it. Anyway they have left it that I get someone to get it started and ring them back once its done. On the way back to their truck the big bloke had a tug at the trailer and thats ceased up so needs its wheels freeing.

After that episode I went back up the top the Hazel and Jonathons and took them 4 pints of beer. He has one son at home who worked with him on the trees.

After lunch Em and Ed came and had a look at this prize thing and he said he thought it was genuin as I watch these people on Youtube every week and I know they give things away sometimes. They make jewelry out of the things they find, they are a mother and daughter teem.