General Chat

Just got in. 7 of us for lunch so an awful lot of chatting. I feel quite exhausted, not spoken to anyone except a couple of friends for an hour or so and Cynth on the doorstep for almost 2 weeks. Nice light lunch. I had smoked ham and cheese panini and rhubarb and ginger crumble and ice cream. The rhubarb was really sharp.

I make sure I bring the board in late afternoon and I empty the tin which I attach to the board with a reusable twist tie .

Clouded up here now and the wind seems to have got up a bit which helped to dry the washing .

I made a lasagne for tonight and there will be enough for tomorrow too we haven't had ones for ages .

Mandy that was not good. Make sure you empty the tin regularly. I hope that you can catch the lady. Perhaps say she could always knock the door another time if she doesn't have change to pay.

Mel, no the reason I was waking is because my nose is so blocked even when on three pillows, I have to stay up until it has cleared. I thinit may always be like it now because of the narrowing of the nostril on that side.

Morning all,

Per haps the day out was on your mind and thats why you had a broken nights sleep Ann. Hope you get on ok and have a nice time at Wallsworth Hall.

Its 14 degrees here and pc says sunny so perhaps we are in for another lovely day like yesterday. I will have another go at my road edges today and sweep up the weeds I strimmed down yesterday and have a bit of ascrape and see if it looks any better.

Iv'e got a couple of red roases out on the wall and lovely Rudbeccia daisy's and Helleniuims out on the border and a pink Phlox and yellow evening primrose that the deer has'nt eaten yet and the ice plants are coming into flower which the bees love.

Morning all,
Bright morning here with sunshine and should be another nice warm day .

Vera I saw a bit of the show you went to on the local news last night so uou never know you might have been on there in the background, they were talking to Adam Frost.

Anng enjoy your lunch out today perhaps you could find a table so you could sit with your back to people although you shouldn't have to but people do stare they did when I was all bruised from my fall that time.

I had my board out yesterday with a few bits on to sell and a lady on a mobility scooter helped herself to one of the little rabbits a little elephant and a Teddy face and didn't put any money in the tin ,she has had a few bits from me before and has always paid so next time I see her I'm going to ask her if she's going to pay for the bits she took ,I know for certain she didn't as I checked on the camera to see who had bought the rabbit when I saw it had gone ,everyone has been honest and paid one lovely couple even put extra in as they said I wasn't charging enough .
I was charging 5 pounds for a rabbit so with the other two bits that wax 6 pound fifty pence she had , she comes up the road every week so I'll catch her one day ,knocked me a bit thinking someone would do that ,if someone said I can't afford it I'd willingly give them something but to openly steal ,well .
I did leave the board out incase she didn't have change and was going to put it in the tin on her way home ,I made sure i took the other rabbit off the board in case she took that on her way home, sorry rant over :-(

Good morning all. strange night's sleep last night, 2 hours then awake for a while back to sleep, awake at four, couldn't get back to sleep so up and walk around and sit in my 'office' and look at the computer for almost an hour, back to bed at 5am and sleep until about 7.

Glad you found the name of the plant Vera, it is attractive. And the garden show you visited sounded a lovely day out. A smaller version of the large garden shows like Malvern.

I am being picked up for lunch at 12.30. Going to Wallsworth Hall (Nature in Art), for lunch as a pre birthday celebration for a friend. Not sure of the age but could be 80. She has also just completed RT the final treatment for the breast cancer she had so it has been a not very nice year for her. She persuaded me that I can go. Just hope people don't stare too much.

Not sure what to do with myself until then though. Sure to find something.

I'm glad you managed to get your hair washed without getting the wounds wet AnnG. You probably feel better for that. You did well to get a walk as well and your legs will ache if they haven't had as much use as normal. Just don't be tempted to do too much.

What a to-do getting a bit of compensation for your internet problems Annx. Talk about getting blood from a stone! What happened to customer service? While I've been out today OH has been arguing with our car insurance company who have really hiked our premium up this year. Yes, we are pretty elderly now but we do a lot fewer miles than in the past and what is the point of insuring us for work journeys when OH has been retired since he was 63 and I left work at 65? OH did get them to drop the premium by nearly £100. We used to shop around more but new companies don't want to take you on when you reach our age so we think we had better stick with the company we've got.

I have replied to your emails about my plant. Thank you all for your ideas. As I said in my replies I am opting for Mel's suggestion of Phygelius.

I have had a very nice day at the Gardeners' World fair at Audley End. Some of the people from the TV programme were there and giving talks or doing Q & A sessions but they were mostly doing them in a marquee that was only open to subscribers of the GW magazine or members of English Heritage (Audley End is EH) so we didn't hear any of them. There was, however, loads to see with all the different plant stalls and specialist nurseries and all the peripheral garden things. There were also a few small show gardens. We certainly didn't get round to every stall, there was so much there. 3 of us went round together. I was very taken with a white and purple agapanthus called Fireworks that I want to get, There were some beautiful big specimens for sale but they were pricey. The same stall had packs of 3 small plug plants for £12 but they were quite tiny and probably wouldn't get to bloom for 3 or 4 years so I'll see what I can find online. By the time we got back to the coach to come home I was tired and my feet were aching from strolling around in the heat for a few hours.

I'm feeling a bit peckish and have just realised that all I've eaten all day is 2 ham sandwiches at 12.30 so I am going to go and find some food now.

Glad you managed to get your hair wshed without get the wound wet. It must feel nice now and you also had a walk.

It should be better roiund the shops if the children have gone back to school in your area Ann. I hate it when all the teens are about in the town when I go in. They've no manners these days and look at you as if you should'nt be there.

I have been strimming and sweeping the road each side but I am worn out now and I don't know what to get for dinner. May have a couple of boiled eggs I think and some plums and custard for sweet. How does that sound?

BIL cut all the lawns and went off about 4pm.

No sneezes today although to a certain extent they help clear my nasal passages a bit while I can’ blow my nose

That's good you managed ok without wetting the wounds AnnG. I bet it was nice to have that walk on a nice day after not going out. It's not surprising your legs were tired as they haven't been used to going out for a while, but they will soon get stronger. We ate out at the carvery for lunch yesterday and there is a long uphill slope to it from the carpark and even walking slowly I was a bit puffed by the time I got to the top as it is a while since we've been there. I hope you haven't had anymore sneezes.

Ann yes I probably could do that with a mask. However I managed to wash it over the bath without getting either wound wet so that is ok. I walked down to Irene’s with charity stuff this morning and my legs are really tired. First time out if the house except for the hospital in eleven days.

Morning All,

Sunny here and OH is out weeding the front again. He has found and dug up some more Chionodoxa bulbs with the pink flowers I like, so he hadn't thrown them all away after all! Next he'll be moving the other plants I want to keep.

Just a thought AnnG, could you use a covid mask covered with clingfilm or put the mask in a small plastic bag to wear over your nose while you wash your hair to help keep water off it?

The schools here went back on Tuesday this week. so OH has already been to two meetings. This term up till Christmas always seems busier for him.

Gwyn OH only travels a fraction of the distances he used to travel to matches now. In the past, I would often go with him before my knees got too bad, and visit NT places or garden centres, shops after dropping him off at a match and pick him up to go home afterwards. We have gone to Workington, Leigh, Scarborough, Ellesmere Port, Benendon.etc. Other times he'd take pals or they'd take him to cut the cost. He still thinks 50 miles is 'just up the road to him as before he retired from his full time job, he was based in various offices in Derby, Northampton, Luton, Stoke upon Trent and commuted every day.

I had another phone call over an hour yesterday to find out what is happening about the compensation for lack of service I was told we were due after losing our broadband a few weeks ago when they used our line to repair next door's broadband. At first they said we didn't meet their criteria for any payment, which is not what I was told at the time and would really annoy me as our neighbour got compensation from their provider for the time they lost service while they were transferred to our line. Anyway I was quite firm, explaining we never had an error and the issue was caused between them and Openreach taking our line (OH could hear and said I'd got the bit between my teeth!) and we had suffered the inconvenience as a result and should even be considered for compensation for that error as well as loss of service. Eventually the matter was escalated higher up while they discussed it and I held on. The outcome is that yes, we are due compensation for loss of service and this will be calculated in a week's time and they will also consider compensation at that time for the fact we should not even have had an issue. They also immediately sent another £20 goodwill payment. Fingers crossed it works as they have said this time.

Mel, you are more than welcome to the heat we've had here this year. I don't think you would have got so much done outside as you have in some of the temperatures the rest of us have had. I am fine with 20/21 degrees or a bit warmer if there's a breeze, but once it's above 24 degrees I wilt and am useless.

Vera I've answered your email and am envious you have my favourite Gardeners Delight toms ripening now.

Mandy your crops are all doing well too and you must have have quite a few beans, which I love.

Better make another phone call now about the front door lock yet again! I nearly got locked out the other day! I wish they'd send someone other than the grumpy one that's been before.

I'd just check that he likes anything spicey Mel.
Did you notice Doctors was back on this week Monday to Thursday.

Zzzzz I played near a river with a bog which my mum went into up to her knees and I had to run and get my dad to pull her out, everything is for health and safety now and someone might sue.

Well I cut a lot of leaves off my toms so hopefully they'll get more sun and start to ripen at last, didn't get round to hoovering and the ironings still looking at me :-D

Yes I asked him and he said he eats most things I did mention a meat pie but am now thinking a chilli and rice as thats easier and I can put some of the chilli in the freezer.

ZZzzz I think we all played in what would now be called dangerous places. We used to play and paddle in the river Roding and get leeches on our legs so always took some salt with us to get them off.

BIL is mowing and I now need to do us some lunch as he is in the front garden and I can gatch him while he's down here.

Had to smile to myself earlier this week when I was told that where I grew up the ditch at the bottom of the garden has been filled in because it is dangerous, we used to play in that and neighbours used it to dump there old furniture, oh and it was rat infested. lol.

Morning all,

Sunny here with lots of blue sky , 22 today so should be a bit cooler than yesterday .

I want to cut some more leaves off the toms so the sun can get to them ,I need to hoover through and there's some ironing that's been hanging about so I have a few jobs to start the day .

Sounds as if you had a nice meal last night Mel , what will you cook for him next week did you ask im if there's anything he doesn't eat .

Morning all,

Sunny here at the moment and its 11 degrees. There was a very heavy dew this morning so I think we may have an early Autumn this year. I am hoping for a nice september and a St Luke little summer in October. We've just not had a good summer here you lot up country have had all the hot weather and we've only had a few days here and there.

Went to Stuarts for dinner last night we had pasta in a cheese sauce with bacon and sweetcorn and peas and very nice it was too. A small glass of cider to go with it.

Not sure if BIL will come today o I shall have to wait and see.

Hope you all had a good nights sleep. I went out like a light after good company and a meal I did'nt have to cook. I have asked him here next week.

good morning all only 7 degrees here \t 0810 so a bit nippy, but the sun is shining so hopefully it will warm up. Got to try and wash my hair again without getting face and neck wet. I do have a hair appointment next week, hopefullt that will be ok.

Evening all,

It's been another hot day ,we did the shopping this morning and got the tablets from boots .

Oh Anng I hope you don't get anymore sneezing fits ,at least the stitches are out now but it must still be very uncomfortable when you sneeze .

No Gwyn I still have all the poppies as its only on a Wednesday when I can drop them off ,we use to have the toppers on the post boxes and lots of other knitted bits in the trees and draped round the town through the summer and at Christmas but a lot were vandalised so the ladies that made them said no more ,it was awful for them to see all their hard work just pulled about and even stolen which was such a shame as it really brightened the town and brought people in to see them .
I think our children go back to school on Wednesday or Thursday next week ,I know son and dil have training days Monday and Tuesday .

Vera hope you enjoy your day out tomorrow , handy not having to travel to far on the coach to get there .

Ann what a palaver getting an asda order placed ,you'd think they would make it easy to get peoples custom.

Lovely sunny evening with just a little cloud ,better do some watering tonight ,the toms are now beginning to turn I've picked two tumbling toms and about eight sun gold ,loads of cucumbers I've been giving them away but the runners have slowed up .

O I see.