General Chat

Evening All,

I lost a post on thursday an gave up then! Yesterday I had some upsetting news, as a good friend that I made at a beading course years ago and aged 71, passed away on Wednesday. She was out riding on Saturday and was feeling well and positive when she went into hospital for the operation on Sunday. I didn't know she was having an operation, as she never used to mention things like that, but I knew she had scans from time to time and was being monitored after having lung cancer about 3 years ago. I don't know if it was connected to the operation this time though. She was lucky they found it at that time as a scan after a DVT in her thigh picked it up early and it was operated on and she didn't even need chemo or radiaton afterwards. At the time I knitted her some of the fingerless owl gloves from a pattern of Mandy's and she was over the moon with them and wore them round the house when she came out of hospital. She was a lovely lady, kind in word and deed and always helping people. She had an allotment, but gave most of what she grew away. She lived on her own and never complained or said anything unkind. She did circle dancing, african drumming, sang and played guitar with other musicians, morris dancing. I could fill a page with the things she did to help others. I will really miss her.

Did a bit more cutting down in the garden today. Tired now and going to dive down the freezer for something to eat. Knees a bit sore.

Afternoon all,

Yes just busy Mel we've been out in the garden getting the boarding on the wall ,we were out for most of the day yesterday and it was lovely and warm now today the weather is back to cloud and its quite chilly ,I had just made a coffee about eleven this morning when it started to rain so we had to come in ,Colin did get the brackets up on the boarding and I was hoping to get the little light strings up, I might see if it's stopped now and go out to do them.
I got my tomatoes potted up into the bigger pots and got the plants we bought the other day planted in the pots too .

Oh suns trying shine I'd better get outside and do the lights .

I was about to say Good Morning but I see it's afternoon already. Where has the day gone? Time does seem to rush by when you're busy.

I was awake for part of the night yesterday but did get some sleep so I feel a bit livelier this morning and we've both carried on with kitchen cupboard cleaning. The trouble is these days we can only do a couple before we are aching and tired, particularly if we have to get down on the floor. Pathetic, isn't it. OH cleaned a single cupboard that has some crockery in it and a big double cupboard that holds pots and pans and I cleaned out two sets of 3 drawers. I put a couple of bits out for the tip as each time we clean I put them back but I never use them. I've also put aside a couple of better quality things for the bric-a-brac stall that the ladies club run at the local fete. We also organise the books and plants stalls and run the refreshment room so I think our group do their share for the neighbourhood..

I understand what you are saying about incorporating important anniversaries into general school life somehow AnnG, and I mostly agree with you. It would be easier if there were still a daily whole school (or even part school) assembly. At my school special news or announcements were given out at assembly, sometimes with a brief explanation, and usually followed by a relevant hymn or prayer. Something like that could still work I think if the school were assembled together.

I occasionally make Frittata Mel. It makes a change and can be useful for using up oddments of veg.

It's come over very black and windy and looks as though it's going to rain at any minute. The computer says it's 14 degrees and cloudy, one weather app says it's 15 degrees with light rain and the other says it's 16 degrees and mostly cloudy. I'm not sure how they can all differ like that but I think I'll just stick to looking out of the window to check on the weather.

I can hear movement in the kitchen so I think OH is starting to get lunch. He usually gets our lunchtime snack for about 1 pm and I'm quite peckish today. Enjoy whatever you're doing for the rest of the day. I hope the weather is kind to you - it's getting blacker and blacker here. I might need a light on to see what I am eating.

I meant to say we did'nt hear from Annx yesterday or Mandy I hope they was just busy and nothing is wrong. <3

Morning all, Blue sky with huge white clouds here this morning and the suns out most of the time. its 15 degrees and pc says mostly sunny. Don't think I will be doing much inthe garden today as my knees ache from yesterdays bending and moving all those grass cuttings and I forgot to take my jointace last night so may take one this morning and one tonight.

Just the shop to do today for the paper and my doughnut and then I may do some casting as I need some little foaming tankard to go with some Bartmann jugs. I also have to do a Clarice Cliff sugar bowl as I did the jug last month but I am not very happy with the size of it so may cast another of those.

Good morning all a bit grey here, no sun yet but it is early 13 degrees, I think forecast said a degree or so below the normal June weather. But, although I remember June when I was young being 'flaming June', the past ten plus years it has not been a good month. we bought our time share in the Lake district in June 1986 and, at first it was a lovely sunny week. Gradually though each year it got colder and wetter and we started to exchange the week for Lanzarote. Hopefully it will buck up and we will get some sort of decent summer.

Yes I agree we probably do wish too much of the young generation, although many by their 'me' attitude don't help themselves. Unfortunately it is probably not the fault of the current generation, it started a few generations back.

I do know how the schools are overloaded with lessons to be taught. I was not thinking the schools should have a new lesson inserted into the curriculum, but rather that when the anniversaries of the important wars etc are 'celebrated' the meaning should be woven into existing lessons. So at least they would have some knowledge of things.
Some school/colleges obviously do as there was one group of boys who could explain very well all the meaning of d day and that part of WW2.

Thanks for the wave and hope you sleep well tonight to Vera.

Been out in the garden and had a scrape of the front of the bungalow and cleared up a great haystack of grass cutting from the orchard and started a bonfire and piled them all on top hoping they will slow smoulder away over night. There's still stuff in the orchard needs raking up from where he cut down all the snowdrops and daffs.

Now I am going to get some salad and have the rest of the thing I made at lunchtime which BIL ate two thirds of. He had'nt had it before and thought it was very nice. A Fratarta (sp) it had peas, potatoe, toms, mushrooms, bacon, cheese and 5 eggs and a little milk. When I popped it under the grill and we went outside and talked I only just caught it when we came in befroe it burnt. Lets put it this way it was a little darker than it should have been but tasted great.

Good afternoon all

It’s a lovely day here, a bit nippy when the sun hides behind the clouds and the breeze is blowing but otherwise a pleasant 16 degrees.

Wedneday night was a really bad night for me. I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t stop my legs jumping at all. Usually the muscle spasms and “jumps” will calm down if I walk about for a while but it didn’t work that night. Eventually I fell asleep at about 5 am and got up at 7 am feeling as though I had run a dozen marathons. I went to our usual coffee meeting but I was like a zombie and didn’t contribute much to the conversation. I also got some strange looks in the café as I had to wear my dark glasses. In fact I am still wearing them now as my eyes and head are painful at the moment.

Last night started badly as well and I didn’t fall asleep till getting on for 3 am but then I slept right through till 9, which is unheard of. I must really have needed the sleep. When I got up OH was cleaning some more of the kitchen cupboards for me, bless him. He did one of the food cupboards, a medicines/first aid cupboard and 2 containing china and other tableware. After he had done it all I did have to take everything out of the cupboards again and put everything back in its correct place but I’m not complaining as everything was nice and clean, but I did laugh. All the stuff that gets used once in a blue moon – goats cheese baker, fancy cheese boards and knives, “posh” toast rack etc – was all nice and handy on the bottom shelves; everyday stuff such as grater, gravy boat, lemon squeezer were all on the top shelf that I have to get steps out to reach!

I’ve worked in the garden for about an hour and a half this afternoon and am beginning to feel we are getting somewhere at last

As I didn’t feel all that bright yesterday and as my eyes were giving me trouble I didn’t watch the D-Day programmes AnnG which is why I couldn’t comment. However I have now seen them on iPlayer and yes, they were very moving and the youngsters giving those long stemmed white roses to the veterans was a lovely touch. Did you notice Brigitte Macron trying to grab the Queen’s hand and hold it and the Queen trying to avoid it? Bit of a faux pas there Madame Macron! I agree that it would be great if young people did know all about D-Day and other events of the first and second world war but I wonder if we expect too much of them and of the schools. How much did our generation know of the major events 80 years earlier or of the first world war? The schools have a pretty full curriculum already and can’t be expected to teach everything. What I would like to see encouraged in schools is the attitude of those brave men who were there on D-Day. I’m not running down the role of various therapies, sometimes they are necessary, but I do think a bit more stiff upper lip and just getting on with it wouldn’t go amiss these days. That can be a therapy in itself.

Do we have to curtsey to you Annx now we know you are semi-royal? I think the best I can boast is a few black sheep. About my only claim to fame is that my 3 x great grandfather was on the stage between roughly 1820s and 1840s and was well-known in his day though no-one will know him now. I do have a photocopied letter that he wrote to Joseph Grimaldi, the great clown. The original letter is bound into a book which is held at Harvard University but when I explained my relationship they kindly sent me a copy.

I’d better start thinking about tonight’s dinner. I took some chicken out of the freezer this morning but I’ve no idea what I am going to do with it so I think I’ll investigate the depths of the fridge and see what veg I’ve got hanging about. Maybe I’ll put the kettle on first – I always think better after a cuppa.

Sending a quick wave ~~~~~~~~~ to Mel, Mandy and Gwyn.

Your Dad was a hero then Mel. All those little boats. Must have been very scary.

Post van was there today so that was good. It was last Friday he was'nt going to be there. The weeks pass so quickly I thought it was this week. Anyway parcel posted so I don't have to go to Hosworthy.

BIL is here and mowing. I am going to go and do the pond filter and then strim.

Morning Anng and all,

14 degrees here but feels clder and yesterday the breeze was really cold pc is saying sunny 36% and there is blue sky but not a lot of it and white clouds.May try for the post van today and see if its up the village.

Nothing else planned jus t do the girls and the pond filters.

My dad was captain of a motor tordedo boat in the war and mum told me he went over to France to pick up some of the soldiers. It was'nt a big boat and he only had two or three crew.

Good morning all. 12 degrees very bright and sunny but feels cold. Slept badly as leg played up a bit waking me every 2 hours or so. I think my mattress needs turning but it is not something I can do on my own it is too big. Needs turning round not over. Supposed to be done every few months and not been turned for over 2 years now.

Nobody commented so maybe nobody watch the D day programmes. I suppose the veterans will be returning to UK today. It was sad to read that one of them died on the journey, somewhat strange to think he actually died in a German hospital. He was 102 I believe and so excited to be going.

Ann our local garden centre had a lot of larger geraniums. I wonder if people have switched to buying them because they lasted the weather better last year.
You have some interesting input to your family tree now then. Nothing interesting at all on mine except for one fellow who was in at the start of making cricket bats.
:-( :-(

Potted on three tom plants and a cue. Took the Christmas wreath apart in the shed too and put it away for this year. Cleaned out the nest box and I think one of the new girls has gone broody and I did'nt think these chickens did that but she is always in the nest box whether theres eggs in there or not and she is clucking softly like they do with eggs or chicks.

It's definitely not the Asian Hornet Mel. No yellow feet as you say and the asian one doesn't have those black dots on the abdomen. It's still big and not something you want to be stung by though! Your jar is a good idea to trap them and the flies. It's good you got the damaged pieces varnished again and that was handy finding some more authentic tudor patterns for your work.

Apparently Diana is my 13th cousin once removed, so we can't share many genes that far back! I know there were some others including an American President, but I'll have to see if I can find them again and print off the results. I think the american one must be connected to the Quaker ancestor that settled in Pennsylvania. Again from my paternal grandmother's side. Up to now I've found nothing of interest on my mother's side of the family.

Two garden centres I've visited this week had almost no bigger geraniums, just the trays of seedlings sown this year. I can't decide whether they've sold them all or lost a lot during last winter like I did.

I've faffed about and couldn't get into anything this afternoon, so an early night for me I think. OH did go out and pull some big weeds from the bottom border and says the garden bin is half full now, but it will sink down in a day or two leaving room for plenty more!

I see you are going up in the world then Ann with Princess Diana connected to you and Ginger Rogers too!! Mum used to like Ginger Rogers. Apparently somewhere down the line I am related to Roger Moore but only by marriage.

Have sent a pic of the hornet and I don't think hes got yellow feet but it all wet now and mainly its dead. I always get a lot of them round the backdoor as I have overlapping tiles on the gable end of the bungalow. I caught one earlier on in my plastic sweet jar with a large hole drilled in the lid which oh hung on the wall up the top and BIL got it down for me last year. It also has lots and lots of flies in it. I charge it up with cheap jam, sugar and beer if I have any or cider and apples or plums as they love those.

Well done a bit of varnishing of the things I messed up yesterday and a tiny bit of painting and looked on the net for more pictures of Tudor slipware and found 4 more patterns I think I could manage to paint so they are filed away in my Tudor Ideas folder.

I thought just the same as the others about your Hornet Mel as you are supposed to report them to Defra. They will find the nest and destroy it, as they will kill all of our native bees which we need to pollinate our crops. If you still have it look to see if it has yellow feet which the Asian Hornets have. There has been a sighting and nest found in Exeter, so your's could be one of the Asian ones too.

I see Dr Michael Mosley's wife has reported him missing after he went for a walk in Greece. How worrying, especially in a foreign country.

Mandy do you know where he was in 1939 or would that not help if it's his 1921 whereabouts you want to know. I've only recently been looking at my tree since I had an email about people I was related to, two of which were Princess Diana and Ginger Rogers! They (Familysearch) had shown the family trees to see the connection and now I have more to add to my tree. It's all on my paternal grandmother's side.

Afternoon all,

Cloudy here with just a glimpse of the sun ,we did our shopping and then we went to the little garden centre in the car park of the football ground ,don't know if he was there when OH came there for the football game Ann.
I bought another blue Lavender to go in my tall pot which will match the other one I already have ,I also bought a white Lavender ,another Hydrangea which is blue and another Canna called Bronze peach with darker leaves than the red canna I have .

Mel I wondered if it was one of those invader hornets they were talking about them on the news the other day ,I forget how many honey bees they said they could eat in a day but it was a lot so you've done the right thing putting it in the water .

Ann I saw that about the military records on Ancestry but I have to say I can't remember when I last did anything on my tree it would take me ages to get back into some of it now and work out who was who again .
I would just like to see the 1921 census to see where my dad was and who he was with as his mother didn't look after him he was born November 1920 so he would have been a few months old .

Mel,

If you do have Asian hornets nesting, it would be helpful if you reported them.

https://www.bbka.org.uk/identify-report-asian-hornet

I hope you get your plumbing job sorted soon. My girls were fiddling around with our cistern last weekend and now it gives a much shorter, although adequate flush.
That should please the water company, who say that we use a lot of water :-0

Just swept a bit of my road down the steps off the patio and now have back ache so I am going to have some lunch too.