General Chat

Hope you enjoyed your coffee withy your friend Anng.

Vera it is nice to see a little colour coming back in our gardens. I have the tete e tete in the tubs flowering and some in pots on the patio and I had two big daff out in the orchard on Friday but could'nt see them yesterday so I went up there and with all the mizzle they had hung their heads down onto the grass so I picked them because the slugg would have had a good night out on them. They are in a vase on the windowsill so I can enjoy them hole free. My hellebores are out too as well as loads of snowdrops and quite a lot of crocus now.

Afternoon all

It’s a beautiful day, bright and sunny and quite warm in the sheltered spots. It’s apparently 11 degrees though there is still a nip in the breeze so it feels chillier in the open.

I hope bil can get your mowers sorted out Mel. You need them with all that grass you’ve got.

Gill, I can’t believe you have been in your bungalow for 2 years now. Where has that time gone?

I have just had a walk round the garden. My early daffs are starting to bloom now, there’s hellebores in bloom and winter aconites and they are all looking good but I have lost a lot of plants this year. I am pretty sure I have also lost a rhodanthemum which is a tough old plant. It’s been growing in a narrow gap between a path and a low wall, is evergreen and throws up little white daisy like flowers all year round. Now it is looking very brown and dead :-(

Time is getting on so I had better get our dinner underway. We usually eat around 2 pm on Sundays. I’ll try and get back later to tell you about my day yesterday.

Morning Anng and all,

WE have a brighter morning here at the moment but pc says mostly cloudy and 8 degrees so how long the sun will last I don't knwo.

Did some washing yesterday but did'nt put it out as the mizzle was blowing right under the cover outside the back door.

Think I will have a hair wash today and see how the mood takes me cos if it is nice out there I may just clear the front of the bungalow a bit. I started the other day when it was a bit warmer out there and moved a barrow load of moss and mollis (that would be a good name for a pub) so if I did another one today I may get another 4 foot cleared.

good morning all/ Glad you got the house warmed up eventually Mel/ Hopefully BiL will be able to fix the mowers on a better day weatherwise. Those mowers seem to have always needed a lot of attention/

I have a friend coming for coffee this morning but she won't be here long as she has to be somewhere apparently at 12.30. Still it will be nice to have a natter for an hour. If it is nice enough I might do a bit more in the garden. I'll see.
My lodger cat actually went home to see his 'mum' yesterday evening, Had a fuss, eat a good meal and a drink, sat for a few minutes with the other cats, then wandered off again. she messaged me and said "I'll see him in 6 months".

BIL did'nt get either of the mowers going today the old one needs a new cog on the starter which he had got but he could'nt get to the starter to take it off and it was a miserable day with mizzle and rian so he gave up and went after I gave him lunch.

After that I don't know where the afternoon went but I did do a little painting and put some more coats on my new moulds.

I now see it is time to get something to eat as its well past 7pm and I don't know what I want. I shall probably do egg and something, perhaps bubble and squeak and beans, nice and easy.

Mel Lol, that was a mistake and only you there to blame for your chilly house. Hope it soon warmed up anyway.

gill is it really two years, goodness that has gone quickly, and you never thought how long it was going to take you to get sorted I bet!! You might not have bought it. Still when you have finished you will have a place to be proud of as you will have done so much of it yourselves. Well done!! Hope you can find what you want in the kitchen shop.

Afternoon all

Finally got some free time. All the floors, apart from the kitchen, are now finished and OH got a number off a work mate the other day for a kitchen place who's prices are reasonable so we're going to take a look on Monday as they were only open half day today and I had some washing to do this morning. We're hoping they can do the kitchen floor as we're really fed up of cement boards now. His mate told him they do everything, including electrics and tiling, so they may do floors as well even though we don't want tiles on the floor in the kitchen. I guess we'll find out on Monday when we go there. Apparently they do kitchen plans as well, so hopefully they'll come up with something nice we can afford and the kitchen will be done next.

Everyone is going to love all the goodies you've made Vera, I'm like you and make more than is needed with plenty to choose from at least then you know everyone is happy. I posted your birthday card a couple of days ago I know it's early but with having to empty our bedroom to do the floor and the place being upside down I didn't want it to go missing.

I'm pleased to see my card arrived Mel. Is your roof finished? I hope there's no more leaks and it's all water tight now.

I noticed what look like some yellow crocuses in our back garden near the bottom, at least I think they're crocuses, they're a bit far away from the bungalow to know for sure, but seeing a splash of colour looks very pretty. Hopefully it won't be to long before OH and I can go in the garden and do some more work, once the weather is better.

Nearly forgot to say, it's two years today since we moved here. Time has gone by so quickly.

Morning all,

Was up at 7.40 and thought I would go back to bed for 20 mins till the heating came on. Bad move went back and cuddled in but only lay there waiting to hear the heating comeing on. Got up at 8am no heating on. I had turned it off at the switch so Acho could'nt turn it on for me. Silly b**ch.

I started this post at 8.30 ish and BIL turned up and we have been chatting away and had coffee but now he has gone into the garage to start sorting some things.

BBL

Good morning all 10 degrees here and although very breezy, it doesn't look too bad out there. I am not doing anything today but can't go out as I am expecting an amazon delivery. so it will be a pottering day.

Mmm Vera, that used to be a family favourite but it is years since I last made it. Not sure I would know where to start. Still I hope your friends enjoy the goodies, you are certainly spoiling them. what will your OH do while they are there?

Yes it is AnnG. Evaporated milk, orange jelly, tin of mandarins and just a little lemon juice. It’s easy to make, looks attractive and most people like it. I had the juice of 3 large oranges in the freezer and so I defrosted it and put it in the jelly and that’s added some extra flavour. Trifle is half made. I’ve just got to put some custard on it tonight and top it with cream in the morning.

I know I’ve got too much but I like to give people a bit of choice so we have raspberry trifle, mandarin cream and chocolate mousse with a lemon drizzle cake and a dozen small cup cakes with various fancy toppings (not home made). For anyone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth there’s a variety of cheeses with crackers and grapes.

While I was doing the desserts OH took a buddleia out of a wooden half barrel that had fallen to bits and potted it up into a very similar one that was going spare and then had to clear up all the mess that made so he has worked hard today as well. We’ve just been having a cuppa and a 30 minute break. Now I had better go and make the custard for my trifle and then cook our dinner.

Vera is that mandarin sweet made with evaporated milk?

Well that is your spring cleaning done. good to have visitors sometimes isn't it?

We’re busy again today Mel. Between us this morning we’ve dusted and hoovered all the downstairs, given the other en-suite and the little cloakroom a thorough clean and washed the tiled floors through the hall, kitchen diner and utility. Now we’re having a quick sandwich before I go to the shops. Then it’s back to make a trifle and a mandarin cream. I changed my mind about a fruit salad. Mandarin Cream is quick and easy and I’ve got all the ingredients in the cupboard.

Must get on

gosh Vera you were a busy girl yesterday.

Morning Anng and all,

Not a nice morning to wake up to as there fine rain blowing in the wind but it is 10 degrees same as you Anng. I don't know where this week has gone there seems to have been so many people here and things going on it sped by and now there's another egg delivery to do tomorrow and go up the shop for the paper.

I think Hazel is coming down later today as she came on my birthday and there were all the men around doing the roof and asking me questions she rushed off. I have four bottles of beer waiting in the kitchen for her hubby and son that they should have had at Christmas so she'll take those out of the way today hopefully.

Now I see Vera had posted after I turned the pc off yesterday so I must read her post and get my coffee out of the microwave.

Good morning all.10 degrees here and dry so far though it looks as though it might have rained overnight. Hair appointment at 1.30, it is only 5 weeks but it is getting very thick and long again so not before time.
Otherwise I need to 'do' the lounge and dining room so had better shower. get dressed and get on.

You got a lot done Vera after your 'second wind. :-D

Sorry, didn't come on earlier as I have been busy today. I had a really bad night and got up about 8 am feeling really grotty but after a couple of hours I had a burst of energy and got going with some housework. I washed a load of towels and bathmats and then gave the main bathroom and one of the en-suites a really thorough clean. That took me till lunchtime. After lunch I did all sorts of odd jobs that needed doing, made some phone calls and prepared and cooked our evening meal.

I've just spent a little while on the computer tidying up some files and downloading 3 books to my kindle. At least I should have downloaded 3 but only 2 have appeared. This happened once before and the missing book appeared on my kindle after a few hours so I'll leave it till the morning before I contact Amazon to say I haven't got it.

Something else we did today was to sort out what we are doing for our Diamond Anniversary - at last. I'll tell you about that another time. (Don't get too excited - it's nothing exotic or adventurous.)

I'm going to be busy tomorrow as well as I want to do a bit more cleaning, then I need to shop for fresh veg and milk. After that I'll need to get a trifle and a fruit salad made for Saturday.

It sounds as though you had a good day out AnnG.and your talk yesterday at the U3A sounded interesting. I think I would have enjoyed that.

I'm feeling very tired now so I will say goodnight, sleep tight.

Yes it is where are they all? Such a shame it used to buzz on here. Never mind we will keep it going even if it does make it look like Billy no mates.

Just as well there's you and me Ann.

Sounds like you had a wonderful time Anng out with your friends and enjoyed a nice lunch too.

I am boiling myself an oyster joint from Mole Valley. I like those and there will be enough for sandwiches when BIL comes over.

Just got home. The Picton garden snowdrops were lovely, so many of them and all named in their groups. Apparently they have 300 different. Amazing to see some really tiny ones (Incidentally to buy just one plant of those was £80). And also some really large. Lots of other spring flowers as well, lovely crocus, a few iris, some primroses, lots of cyclamen all colours and two or three Witch Hazel trees in flower. I am so pleased I went. they let us in to the gardens for £4 each instead of £5. then the four of us in Jane's car went to the same cafe for lunch as we went in September after seeing the Michaelmas Daisies, Just toasties for me Ham and cheese but plenty of filling, the ham proper cooked ham and nice cheese, plus a side salad and coleslaw. and sat there for ages afterwards just chatting