General Chat

Gosh what a lot of memories today.
We had the Bunty delivered, which my sister and I shared. I remembered the little ladybird pin, but wondered whether I had mis-remembered that, because I remembered that back in late 50s / early 60s we had a talk at school about the work of the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Sussex and their symbol was also a ladybird, which were like a little stick pin and many of us bought them to contribute to their funds.

I don't remember us regularly having annuals for Christmas as children, but our son looked forward to receiving his Blue Peter annual each year.It became a family challenge to look out in charity shops for the ones from previous years, before he started collecting them.

What a dismal day today and very chilly too. We've had really fine drizzle for most of the day and yet there were many people out and about without coats and even in short sleeved T- shirts, no jumpers :-0
We went to a nearby town and yet again I looked in several shops for basic household disinfectant, but it seems there isn't any to be found in any part of the county, ehat I've looked. I used to buy it in Morrisons, Tesco or Sainsburys, but none of them have it now :-| :-|

Mel, Does your GP know the pharmacist has a problem supplying your medication? It seems very unsatifactory if your are left with none of your required tablets. I wonder if there is a safe equivalent that they can prescribe.
So far, I have not been without necessary tablets, but the suppliers have changed at times.

Like Mandy on repeat I feel as though my needle has got stuck in the groove when I keep saying it's been grey, dreary and chilly, though it hasn't rained so that's a blessing.

I used to have the Rupert annual when I was quite young. I had School Friend and Girl comics though I don't remember ever getting the annuals. AnnG, I am glad you mentioned The Children's Newspaper. I used to get that but I've never come across anyone else who has even heard of it.

Your garage must look lovely and tidy now Mel. I wish ours did. We have a fairly large double garage and the car goes in one half. The other half is a glorified shed cum junk room cum storage facility. It needs a good sort out as I am always having to clamber over things to get to whatever I need. I see you had trouble with your scripts again. What is happening lately? We all seem to be having problems. I went to our pharmacy today to tell them I need to collect my next batch a week early. The girl looked me up on the computer, told me I was on the batch system (which I knew of course) and said to just go in when I want it and it will be got ready for me straightaway. I hope she is right but I have my doubts.

Annx, I am convinced all men are selectively deaf or they have a built in mechanism that tunes out their OH's voice. I have heard about using vinegar on weeds but haven't tried it. If you use it please let me know whether it works or not, though I think I'd need a whole vat of the stuff to clear some of our weeds. I can't believe you are still having problems with the door company. If it's a small local outfit I guess you'll just have to keep nagging and complaining but if it's a fair sized organisation write direct to the CEO. We had a problem at one time with Bathstore replacing a piece of rubber seal. In the end I got so fed up that I found out the name of the CEO and wrote to him. The following day I had a phone call of apology from his secretary and next day the seal was fixed.

We had our jabs this morning and were in and out in a matter of minutes. I was very relieved to see we had one of the doctors and not the heavy handed nurse we had once before. We were asked if we would like the two jabs in one arm or one in each arm and we both opted for one in each. We hardly felt the jab being given. No effects for OH so far but my flu jab arm is very sore and achy though the Covid one is fine. We came home and I hoovered through downstairs before my arm got too sore.

Then OH suggested we go out for lunch so we went to a pub 3 or 4 miles away. It's usually quite busy and I wondered if there would be a table free at 1 pm on a Saturday, but it was nearly empty. It made for a bit of a dead atmosphere but the food was excellent. We both had Parma chicken. This was chicken fillet coated in parmesan flakes and baked, then covered in pomodoro sauce which in turn was smothered in melted cheese. It came with a bowl of very nice chips and a good salad. I'm not convinced it was chicken fillet as it was so enormous, I think it must have been ostrich breast. It was so good I struggled through it and cleared my plate but couldn't even manage a coffee after it let alone dessert.

On the way back we called into town for me to go to the pharmacy as I said above and then we went to the Cards for Good Causes pop up shop in the library and bought 60 Christmas cards. These are just for far flung friends and family that we hardly see. Some years ago I stopped giving out cards to all the local people from clubs etc that we belong to as I can wish them Happy Christmas to their face. We make a charitable donation instead and give them all a note of our chosen charity that year.

My gloves came out for the first time this year. As we were walking back through town to the car park at about 3.30 pm it was only 6 or 7 degrees, dark and gloomy and for the first time I felt that winter had really arrived.

Stay warm everyone and sleep tight.

Afternoon Everyone,

Brrr yes a bit chillier this morning and only 8 degrees now. I popped out for the paper and a few bits this morning and they were gearing up for the remembrance parades that the local villages do now. I saw a man scrubbing the whilte fence over a bridge of poppies and I even saw Santa (bit early for him!) at a stall of some sort outside a village hall.

Dad always read the Dandy and Beano, so we had those and the Annual sometimes. I remember having Girl. It had a girl's head on the front and she had lovely wavy hair. We also had a bigger comic, 'The Topper' and I remember Big Uggy, the caveman and Sir Laughalot in that one. I used to enjoy the Rupert Annual each year. I had a Rupert Scarf that I wore to work and now have a Rupert Teddy Bear OH bought me a few years ago. I was a bit old for Bunty when it came out, but my sister had it.

Vera I don't think our OH's listen to us! Remember me cleaning the awkward kitchen window with the pole thing a few days ago? Well I asked OH nicely to be careful when he washes up the things in daily use from now on as it is he who dirties it. Walked in the kitchen after he'd left for footie today and it's covered in splashes again. :-S I still have some Allium bulbs to plant, but may put them in a pot this time as I ought to have what shrubs I want bought and planted to know what spaces are left to plant them in.

After all the trouble we've had with the front door and them agreeing verbally (but not in writing) to replace the sill, they are now saying it can't be done as something else could have caused the patches of deep scratches after this time. We are not happy and will send a complaint as I don't know what else could cause the scratches other than in manufacture or transport. Plus, why have they only just let us know months after they were sent photos?

Well enough of my moans for now. :-) The Magpies have been busy looking for food round the guttering and rocks. I love how they twist their necks to peer into every crevice. At least our food supply is more reliable.

Better recheck the food order now and see if I can add some white vinegar. I've read that it is good for killing weeds, so want to try some out on the drive where it can't harm any plants.

I just remembered I had'nt picked up my scripts from the shop this morning so shot down there before they closed at 2pm. A small bag was passed to me to which I opened and none of the pills I need were in there. Its the heart pill I need and a message on the bag saying one missing. When I got home and looked in the bag they have sent me disperable asprin instead of the gastro resistant one. I already have plenty of the other two they did send. It seems we are all having trouble with our scripts lately.

I am so cross they tell you to order 5 days in advance and I ordered well over that as I know they have trouble getting one of them.

I also had the Rupert annual and when eldest grandson was born I bought Rupert annuals each year but none of that generation were interested in them they are still in my cupboard. I used to read other comics (Girls' Crystal, Beano, Dandy, Eagle and Girl but didn't have them delivered.) I also had The Childrens Newspaper.


Back from town, it was cold, only 7 degrees here even now. Bought the annuals and had a quick look round, didn't even stop for coffee as wanted to catch the bus. the only run half hourly on Saturdays.

I think the first gift on the Bunty was a little ladybird pin.

BIL gone now we unwrapped the new grass collecter and the attatchment to scarify the grass and swept the garage out and moved the big bench over and now its all stored away in there in the dry. Now we just have to wait for the mower to come back and we should be all ready to mow again.

I have a huge cardboard box that some little kids would like to play with and make a house or den. May ring Vron as she has small grandchildren. Seems a shame to burn it.

BIL turned up just as I got back from the hsop. Met the posty in Shebbear and he gave me the parcel. BIL is clearing out the garage and chucking loads away.

Morning all,

I feel like I'm on repeat when I say it's dull and dreary here again .

Vera hope the jabs go OK for you both and there's no waiting around .

I had the Bunty and every now and then you had a little something given away free stuck on the front of the comic ,I still have a little ring in my jewellery box haven't the heart to throw it away , son always had the beano annual every year for Christmas and we still have then stored in a cupboard upstairs.

Better get on I need to hoover and iron and I've got a second lot of washing now spinning but don't think I'll hang them out they can go on the airer

Morning girls,

Dull and dreary again but dry so I suppose thats a blessing. Its 9 degrees and mostly cloudy here and pc is telling me near record of a high temp of 15 degrees tomorrow.

I wonder if Stu will turn up today? as promised. Bet he has something else on. Thing is he still has my grill element to put in as I am still working onthe inner small grill at the mo and its been weeks now.

Just the shop to do this morning and there's a parcel coming today between 10.30 and 1pm. so I better go down early. I don't ike to as everyone and his friend go early thats why I usually go at 1pm.

I have not heard any fireworks this year or even seen a rocket go up.

I used to have the Rupert annual when young and then the Dandy and Beano and I had the Bunty comic when it first came out.

I was just reading on F book about the annual School Friend which finished being produced in 1963. How I loved getting one of those every Christmas. And how cross my Mum used to get when I read it in a day. She saw that as a waste of money. However it was always read and re-read. There used to be so many annuals to choose from in the 50s, 60s and then 70s when my children were young. I don't see quite so many now.

Good morning all 6 degrees here so another chilly one although probably right for this time of year. slept ok last night once I got to sleep around 12.

Yes Ann It was good to have a proper roast lunch with all the nice veg and tasy meat, not something you can do when on your own I just had a bowl of soup (tinned as I have not made any fresh lately) and a slice of toast in the evening. I have to have something or I don't sleep properly.

Vera we did have a good chat about old times and old work friends, plus learning about their time spent in Italy where they have a house.It is strange how we only meet up once a year but withing five minutes we are chatting as if we met yesterday.

I am just going to go into town on the bus this morning to go to the post office and get a few bits. expecting an amazon delivery but hopefully that will be after I get home.

It has been cloudy and grey all day with the temperature staying at around 10 degrees, though it’s now dropped to about 7. I think 10 is about the average here for this time of year so it’s to be expected but it would be nice to see a bit of blue sky instead of this low grey cloud. I was surprised when you said your temperature was 2 degrees this morning Mel and imagined it must be very icy but I see you later amended it to 12.

You’ve been busy making marmalade and clearing cupboards Mandy. Kitchen cupboards are awkward things. I’m tall but I have to use the kitchen steps to reach the top shelves in the wall cupboards and I hate getting down on the floor for the lower cupboards, particularly the two corner cupboards I’ve got. I have to tie a cloth on to something with a handle in order to reach into the far corners. I’m glad you feel a little better today.

It sounds as though you had a nice lunch out AnnG and I bet you found plenty to chat about. It’s nice that you also met up with your friends yesterday Gwyn. Up until just a very few years ago I used to meet up with girls I was at school with in the 1950s. We were the gang of six who had always kept in touch with each other and, in spite of the fact that we were scattered round the country, we used to meet up once a year (often including husbands/partners). In later years we would meet in London as wherever we lived we could get to London by train. Sadly now some no longer drive, some are not in good health and three have lost their spouses, two in the last year. I think our days of meeting up are past now.

Yes, my OH is very willing and good about chauffeuring people to appointments. As a group of friends we all try and help each other out when necessary but of course we are all much of an age and finding driving any distance a bit of a trial and some are no longer able to drive at all. Luckily most of us that still drive can manage to get to our local hospital (local being 20 miles away, though in my case I have to be sure of getting there and back in daylight. My OH is the oldest of our group and seems fine with driving at the moment but he won’t be able to carry on for ever and then I am not sure what we will do.

Anyway, his trip to Papworth went well today. Apparently there was a lot of heavy traffic going but they got there in time. While our friend went for all the various tests he has to have his wife and OH sat and had coffee in the hospital café and then when they both went to see the doctor OH was able to sit in a warm waiting area. Just after 12 friend texted to say they were on their way home and OH came in around 1.15 pm.

While he was away this morning I spent quite a while sorting out the bulbs he managed not to plant the other day. We now have 3 pots each containing 12 mini tulips and another pot of little bulblets that are unlikely to flower but should develop a bit more into decent sized bulbs. I also sorted out a pot of muscari and a small pot of squill. I’ve still got 3 different sorts of daffs and a nice upright white tulip to get into pots but we’re getting there.

As well as the garden jobs I got a king-size duvet cover washed. I’ve had 2 hanging around waiting for a good drying day but there never seems to be one so I gave in and got one of them washed and dried it in the tumble dryer. I also made carrot and ginger soup which we had with a crusty roll when OH got in. I made enough to put 2 lots in the freezer.

After our early start this morning and quite a busy day I’m feeling tired now so I think it’s time for a hot drink and a chapter or two of my book in bed. We’ve got our flu and Covid jabs tomorrow morning so I need a good night tonight in case achy arms keep me awake tomorrow night.

I had to break off for a while mid post AnnG so hadn't noticed you were back. It sounds like you had a nice time and a nice meal with a large pud! Yes I was surprised what was at the back when I emptied my cupboards under the kitchen sink including duplicates of things I'd not been able to find!! I'm dreading the boiler man pulling the fridge freezer out next week. Goodness knows what is behind that.

That was good of your BIL to pay for all those mower repairs Mel, so I suppose he does own the majority of it now. I hope it purrs along next time he uses it and that there will be less problems with it.

Afternoon All,

Another dull day and it's only reached 9 degrees here so chilly. We were going to The Range this morning like AnnG suggested, as I saw online that they had a good choice of baskets that might be ok, but we were so tired when we woke up we lay in for a while instead and will go next week.

Yes we were both very relieved to have good news about OH. He still has his back and side pain to sort that she thought may be from his hip, but she wanted to rule out the main concern first. The doctor was good, but It's shaken my confidence in using Physician Associates, if they miss potentially serious things and delay diagnosis like they did.

I envy you a nice carvery AnnG and it will be nice for you to catch up with old friends.

I see you are getting winter ready with your gardens and we must make sure we get our garden bin filled, as the next collection will be the last until next spring. Vera your OH isn't doing well with your bulbs is he? I can imagine my OH doing just the same though. Your OH is so good though in helping take people to hospital appointments, as it isn't easy without someone to take you. I hope he doesn't have to wait too long. The lady I sat with at the hospital said she worried about what they will do about hospital trips when one of them can't drive.

Mandy I meant to say that I had a little Citroen years ago and it was really good. OH has had different ones for many years and has one now so I hope Jake's is good too. I hope you are ok now after your vaccination. Ours was a different one, the same as AnnG's so I wonder if some can be more of a problem with effects. I'm having the same trouble with high cupboards too now as I can't stand on a chair like I could once . Sometimes I wish I was a few inches taller!!

I hope your busy day got everything done that you wanted Gwyn.

Mel that was a treat seeing the Stoat and I wonder whether it will be around again. I bet your BIL would like to take a photo of that too.

Better do the food order now...........seems to come round so quickly.

Had a really nice lunch. They picked me up at 1215 (they are always early), and we were at the Dog at Over by 1230 so were seated early. The carvery was excellent (actually it could be a little bit hotter) We all had beef, it was not pink but was sliced thinly and was very tender and tasty, veg was all nice including cauliflower cheese. I surprised myself and ate every scrap on my plate and then had a rather large honeycomb dream (an ice cream sundae thing which was huge). We shared a bottle of red that Sandra chose.

Mandy Kitchen cupboards can be a pain, the wall ones are usually too high for me to reach the top shelf easily without a stool and the low ones I can't get down to them to reach to the back. goodness know what is in the back of mine.

Mel, I suppose it is fair enough for the mower to now belong to BiL if he has paid a lot out on it. Now it ceases to be your responsibility and he can continue to look after it while still cutting your grass because it is stored there.

BIL just gone. We had a bit of a tidy up in the garage because he wants to get the mower in there now he's spent all that money on it again. He's now bought a new engine for it and goodness how much that cost plus what this other chap has done to the rest of the mower. He now says that the mower is his now.

He found a little drill in its case in the workshop which I did'nt know oh had. there are drills and different bit with it that hav'nt ben used and I am hoping they fit my dremel as I did'nt have any extras with that.

Before all this he came in and had two big bowls of homemade soup and two thick slices of bread. He kept saying it was cold today so the soup warmed him up and I know he likes it so I stretched it a bit today so he could have two bowls and added more pepper which I know he likes.

Going to make myself a drink now and have a biccy.

I got some marmalade made ,had a tidy in one of the kitchen cupboards as I was fed up with having to pull things out to get to what I want I have a mixer in there my fryer and a big bowl I mix the Christmas cakes in and I store the preserving pan in the big bowl plus a lot of other bits dry goods and the cereals ,I moved things round a bit and it seems better now that is until I want something from the back again ,why does everything get to the back I suppose it's because I can't kneel jdown to get to things like i could ,all these cupboards and they are all full of bits and pieces I don't use very often.

Just lit the fire and will settle down watch the news and do some crochet now .

Still only 8 degrees here so not very warm at all. No wind or rain though so I think I can manage with a short jacket when I go out.

Good luck with your busy day Gwyn I hope you get done all you planned.

Its still saying 12 degrees here but it feels really much colder than that. There has been rain in the air when I went out to fish the leaves off the pond and feed the fish.

O its now changed to mostlly cloudy but when I started this post it said partly sunny so if it was I missed it. :-(

Annx They seem to have been very thorough in doing investigaions for your OH and I'm pleased for you both that the results were so reassuring.

Vera, Your OH is so kind to take your friends to medical appointments and not for the first time, so I hope they have a stress-free journey today. I can however well imagine your feelings and frustration when he decides to help you. We think we have covered any necessary information and instruction and STILL they go their own way :-|
I'm sure you garden will be lovely, - just not quite how you planned ;-)

Mandy, good to read that you are feeling a bit better today.Taking paracetamol to take the edge of the symptoms was a good idea. I hope you both feel better as the day goes on.

AnnG.. I hope you enjoy your lunch with friends just as I did when I met up with 'The Girls' yesterday locally. Wishful thinking rather regarding the name, but that's how we have always refered to our meets in recent years. We have been friends since our children were at primary school together back in the 80s.

Mel, Your brother-in-law is a huge help to you, so I hope you both manage to get some more jobs sorted, when he comes.

A real chill in the air today and only 9 degrees and very dull, but at least it's dry.
It's going to be a very busy day, so I'd best get on.