General Chat

Happy anniversary Mandy and Colin.

I hope the sun shines for you on your special day <3

Morning all,

A much better morning today with some sunshine but still the pale grey clouds too. Pc says 12 degrees and partly sunny so maybe a stint in the garden again today.

I slept well but after my visit to the loo I went back to sleep and dreampt of David Beckham just him amd me by a big pond or canal and showing him how to fish with this big long pole with nothing on the end. Very weird as I don't really like Beckham.

Gosh Ann I that was a long post and lots of interesting things to read about. Glad you found your charcoal. As you say you paid for a lesson to be told about the organization so I hope you don't get that on the next one.

Evening All,

A good start to today with a nice £900 for me from ERNIE this month. We went to the garden centre and had a bacon sandwich and were joined by a Robin that was eventually hopping onto our table! There was another one as well and they have put signs up asking people not to feed them as I expect they are a bit too bold now! Then we went to look at the sprayers for the weeds and OH changed his mind after he looked at the one there that he saw online and bought a lighter one that was half the price. We got some moss killer and a small weed spray to use on the borders on some deep rooted weeds. Needless to say, the same as AnnG, it started raining and rained all afternoon. Still at least we are ready for action now.

How brilliant your granddaughter hopes to study Astrophysics Vera. It's good to see women doing these things nowadays and I was only reading about Cecilia Payne, who was an astrophysiscist born about 1900, the other day who never gets a mention or a plaque, yet she was the first person to discover what the earth and the sun were made of and I think that the stars were mostly hydrogen. Her mother wouldn't fund her education, but she didn't give up and I think she completed her studies in America. Imagine if a man did all that and never got mention. It wouldn't happen would it! That was quick service for a boiler service tomorrow, but I suppose they are less busy this time of the year. I hope you don't yawn too much at tonight's talk and singing!

I watched them too so have recorded the Strawbridge prog Mel. Did you see that there won't be more series of Rueben from The Yorkshire Farm? I suppose losing his friend to lorry driving wouldn't help. I've read that he may do Strictly or go into the Jungle prog.
That'd good you have the bathroom lights sorted now and gave the chap some tins of lager for his help, plus the bathroom is sparkling now after your efforts, but it must be annoying you forgot about the heater in there.

I hope you hear very soon about your hospital appointment AnnG, as all this waiting with it on your mind isn't good for anyone. I would perhaps think about phoning them soon to make sure it hasn't been overlooked somewhere along the way, as these things do happen. A prompt can also help move it along!

Your wedding anniversary gifts from your son and family sound lovely Mandy. Are the lanterns the sort you put candles in? What sort of cakes did you make for them?

I found my charcoal in that high cupboard this morning and cleared the decks and tidied so I could fit my big pad of cartridge paper in front of me. I nearly didn't manage to join as my Zoom decided I needed to do updates before it would let me, but it finished just in time. The teacher is nice, but goes so fast several of us could hardly keep up! The trouble is, if you look down to draw, you miss what she is showing you and her paper kept moving out of range of her camera. You needed to watch closely as she was doing lots of measurements with a pencil. There is one man in the class who apparently had done something like it before and seemed to me to be a bit of a clever dick. He always seemed to finish each task first and was adding things we weren't asked to do. There's always one isn't there! lol. We have to practice doing a man this week and send her our efforts. It was a bit annoying that she had to spend the first 20 minutes of the lesson telling us about the history of the organization that runs them, when what you have paid for is to be taught the whole time. I think they should just give a link that tells you about it instead.

OH called to see the event at the council office about the latest propsed new development of 800 houses this afternoon. He got chatting to a nice chap who was one of the facilitators, who was trying to tell him about section 6 and OH had to tell him nicely he knew all about it with dealing with schools. Then he started to explain what part the council played and the process and OH had to point out that governance was his forte in the work he did before he retired and that he did work with councils now so was aware. The chap then wanted to know about OH's past work so they had a good chat. It seems that until the council produce their Local Plan for the land in their area, no actual planning application can be made, so nothing will happen till 2026. The proposal is just to find out people's concerns and suggestions so the eventual planning application can try to address things before submitting a planning application.

Goodness that lot must have sent you to sleep, so I'm off to bed now and hope you all sleep well. :-)

That was nice and quick for your boiler service Vera. This electrician I have known since he was about 5 years old. He is the youngest sone of the person who taught oh and I to ring back in 2000. I remember him starting to ring and oh made him boxes to stand on cos he was so short but now he must be 6' plus and towers over me. He only lives in the next village. All the family ring bells his mum and her mum and dad and dads brother and sister. All passed now except for Ali's mum.

Hope your club man is a bit better than when you saw him before and you can enjoy the evening.

Neighbour ran to ask if I had a sack barrow they could borrow as their funiture and fride and cooker is comeing tomorrow so I told them to just come down and take it and told them whre to find it in case I am still in bed.

Did a bit of painting today but not much as I mucked it up so I was cross with myself.

Shopping came and no subs so that was good and a driver I like Carl who had a young lad trainee with him today so not a nice long natter.

Better have a look in the oven as I have pork and leek sausages and roast tatoes and carrot in there and broccoli on the hob.

Evening all,

It's been quite a muggy day here with a little sunshine at times then about three o'clock we had a little shower .

Son and dil called in this morning ,its our wedding Anniversary tomorrow and they came with two nice lanterns for the garden, chocolates and a card ,they are both working tomorrow so won't have time to call in then.
I baked some cakes for them yesterday so they took them home .

The forecaster wasn’t far out. It’s been raining since about 4 pm

The post came at 2 pm today and there was a letter from British Gas saying our boiler service was due. OH rang at 4 pm and quickly got to speak to a real, live person and our service is booked for tomorrow morning. How speedy is that! It certainly makes a change from the normal snail’s pace of these organisations.

It’s quite a pleasant day out there at the moment as the sun is now shining after a cloudy morning and it has been quite warm. Unfortunately, the wind is now getting quite blustery and the computer is telling me that it is going to rain in 42 minutes. How can the forecasters be so exact?

I had a better night last night, sleeping from midnight to 5 am and then dozing on and off till 7. I’m still yawning and still headachy but at least I have got a bit more energy today.

We went to Perrywoods, our local garden centre this morning. It sure is easy to spend money there. I just wanted a few more Bizzie Lizzies to fill another trough or two as they grow quickly, keep blooming and are colourful. I ended up getting 3 packs of 6 and then we bought 6 good-sized coleus to fill 2 large pots. It would have been about £45 but everything I chose was discounted for customers with one of their loyalty cards so the bill came down to £36. OH is planting everything up now though I made sure in advance that I put the relevant plant by the pots or troughs where they should go, lol.

I am sure your electrical man appreciated the lager Mel. OH has at times done odd jobs for an elderly spinster lady of our acquaintance and, of course, won’t take payment from her so she usually buys him some beer. Unfortunately, she always gets a citrus flavoured one that he isn’t keen on at all but he hasn’t got the heart to tell her so he just thanks her and accepts it. Mind you, he was very touched when she unexpectedly bought him a very nice bottle of red wine for his birthday.

We have a ladies’ club meeting tonight. It is a chap talking about music hall and he sings a few songs but I saw him years ago at another club we belong to and he wasn’t all that good. I will go as I think if you join clubs you should support them if you can but I’m not particularly looking forward to it. Maybe he will have improved since the last time I saw him.

I hope everyone is free of aches and pains or they are at least improving. I’m now going to get the vacuum cleaner out and hoover around upstairs as I haven’t done any h/w for the last few days. I can’t say I’m very enthusiastic about h/w but needs must so here goes.

raining here now. friend called in earlier so that put paid to my planting of the stuff I bought yesterday and now she has gone and it has just started to rain. At least if there is enough I won't have to water the plants already in pots.

Morning all from a grey morning with slight rain.

Its 15 degrees and pc says heavier rain soon. Not nice after the lovely weather we have had recently. I may have wasted a gardening day yesterday doing the bathroom but I am pleased its done and will just need a quick once over daily now. I only use the bathrrom for showering and the loo in the night otherwise I use the little loo. I forgot to say to Nick yesterday that the bathroom heater has packed up too, he could have tested that while he was here and told me if I needed a new one or not. He would'nt take payment but I gave him 4 cans of lager which he accepted.

good morning all, I am awake early and couldn't get back to sleep so I thought it would be better if I got up. Rather than lying there thinking about whether I am ever going to get this hospital appointment sorted.
Very grey out there but 13 degrees already. If it stays dry I can hopefully get the new plants in. I know it seems that I have spent a lot over the past few days but really it is no more than I would have usually spent as I didn't buy plants early on tp bring on in the conservatory and greenhouse. I decided to do it a different way as it was a 3 week break and Cynth next door was away for one of those weeks. It just means that I am late starting. By now my baskets etc would always be well on the way
Hope that you were able to sleep better last night Vera. I woke once for the loo but otherwise slept onish.

It’s been quite a pleasant day today but it is still 17 degrees and a bit muggy now. I think it’s going to be a warm night again. Like Annx, I got quite hot last night. In fact I had an appalling night yesterday, hardly sleeping at all so I was very sluggish this morning and am drooping again now. I haven’t been a good sleeper since my twenties but I am definitely getting worse.

Once I managed to get myself going today I did get quite a lot done. I changed the beds and did 4 loads of washing which all dried well so I could bring it in by about 4 pm. I had a walk round the garden really looking at what we need to do to improve the look of it and decided that a large fern will have to come out by next spring and various other plants reduced in size. We have 2 large clumps of day lilies that were a sensible size when we put them in a few years ago, now they are threatening to take over so they will have to come up and a couple of smaller bits put back and so on. I am trying to think what I did after lunch. I know I kept busy so you’d think I’d remember what I did but I think it was a bit of this and a bit of that.

You all seem to be doing well with your gardens. I’m amazed at how much you manage to do Mel. I’m exhausted just thinking about all your work. Your new plants sound good AnnG. I am sure your garden will look a picture.

That’s good you’ve got your bathroom lights sorted Mel. As you say, at least you will be able to shower after dark now. My OH isn’t too bad round the rest of the house but he always puts all the lights in the living room on and sometimes it’s like Blackpool illuminations in there.

I hope you found your charcoal and that you enjoy the drawing course Annx. We’re all looking forward to seeing some of your work again. Yes, granddaughter loved her earings. Even if she hadn’t she would have thanked us and said they were lovely but we have had two very happy texts from her saying how much she loved them, that they were stunning and “timeless” and she will be wearing them forever. I am very relieved as I wasn’t sure if they would be to her taste. You asked if she knows what work she wants to do. She will definitely be going to uni. Her A-Level subjects give her a couple of options but she is most likely going to opt to read astrophysics. She has got offers from several unis conditional upon her A-Level results and the entry requirements are high. Her first choice wants 2 As and an A*. As an insurance she has also applied for a slightly easier course that doesn’t have quite such a high entry requirement. She is a bright girl and deserves to do well as she really puts in the hours and works very hard.

Right, I think I am going to get myself ready for bed and hope for a better night. Sleep well folks.

Well we both had an energy slump after lunch, but I did plant up the pot and also another one for the other side of the arbour. I pulled up a few more weeds and so did OH so the full garden bin is on the front now ready for tomorrow's collection. We got out the weedkiller to both to make a start on the gravel at the front, but I hadn't realised it was the sort you spray so we'll get a sprayer tomorrow morning while we are out. OH insists on getting a 5 litre one, although I found a smaller 3 litre one on online that would be easier for me to handle. I suppose I could just half fill it if I use it. He's keen to keep the gravel and drive weedfree now he's seen what hard work it is after things have been let go, but I'll have to watch he's not waving the spray over the plants and not looking what he's doing. He will get the big areas of gravel and the drive done much quicker than I would though and I have to say that doing short stints every day is having some impact now and not putting us out of action for days afterwards.

We were surprised to see that Mrs O's side border on the front that she created a few years ago has now been planted with three berried shrubs and covered with light coloured gravel. It had no plants last year. Her OH came across to OH while he was on the front and said she had been asking him to do it for ages. It looks like we are all trying to reduce some of the work and watering since the heatwaves!

I still haven't found my charcoal yet but suspect I must have been banished to a top cupboard in the study, so will look there tomorrow. I don't know how this teacher will do things, but I might need it if we have to use it during the class. With the last teacher, if we wanted we could listen and watch and then do what we were taught after the class.

Is that the thumb that was hurting Mel? You need a finger stall or a finger cut off a rubber glove, but I suppose with tiny things to paint it would be a bit clumsy if it is your painting hand!

It's interesting what you say about plants doing well when they are happy where they are Vera. We have a huge patch of lily of the valley, but not planted by me, who has tried to grow them in the past and failed! No these have decided they prefer our garden position to our neighbour's garden and come under the gravel boards to catch our south westerly sunshine. They've been neglected, the soil isn't good there as it's behind where the raised beds were with the soil trampled down. OH even chopped them off with some of the soil with a spade last year to try and reduce the spread but they have come back as strong as can be! You have got a lot done and watering for your neighbour too.

You have bought some nice plants while you were out with your friend AnnG. I have to admit that I bought the smaller compost bags last time for the same reason as you. Now you will be busy planting tomorrow.

He's done it for me and now I can shower when its dark if I want to. I told him that it worked ok when the tree bulbs had gone so he disconnected three of the ceiling lights and now it work ok. It was always too bright in there when all the lights were working but that was oh as he needed a lot of light he said. I am so very pleased I can use the lights again now before the winter arrives with the early darkness. I have been without them since a year February last.

Got all the bathroom done in the end so that a good job out of the way and now its too late to do anything else so I shall cook my dinner and relax for the evening.

I don't know if any of you knew but Dick and Angel have another program on about their travels around France. I know M<andy used to watch them .

May have been misread as the 1st !!! My knees are letting me know they are there after yesterdays garden work. I am nearly through the bathroom just the shower doors to do which I hate and the handbasin all the rest is done and scrubbed and it won't be getting again for at least two apart from the loo. I bet when he comes he will turn it on and it will be ok.

My thumb has decided to skin itself and the palm of my hand. Jane's used to do the same all around the thumb nail. I have some cream to put on it but if I am casting in plaster I can't put it on as if I get a little tiny bit on the plaster before painting the paint won't go on.

Hope you find your charcoal Ann.

More money on the garden Anng hope you enjoyed your retail therapy. YOur warmer than me today as its only 16 degrees here and still cloudy but bright if you know what I mean.

Right onwards and upwards and get the blimmin bathroom finished.

Friend came round and we went back to Norton, our local garden centre and I spent another £40 on more plants and a small bag of compost. about a third the normal sized bag so an expensive way to but it but at least I can lift it. I will mix it with some of my own compost.
The sun is shining now, it has been cloudy all day. It is 20 degrees and 'muggy'.

I bought two packs bedding begonias, marigolds, an Ostiospernum , a small verbena to go with two I already have in a large pot, four bedding geraniums, parsley and celery leaf. So I know what I will probably be doing tomorrow.

Hope the course is good tomorrow Ann, strange those eggs were reduced. Maybe they realised they had too many or maybe it was a mistake, a happy one for you.

Afternoon All,

It's dull and 16 degrees here. I woke up hot in the night and had to push the duvet down. Slept well though and when OH suggested we leave going to the farm shop early this morning we both went back to sleep. We popped to the Co-op shop and I got some of their organic eggs on the reduced shelf. They were best before 10th June so they seemed to have reduced the price a bit soon on those. They made us nice sliced mushroom and grated cheese filled omelettes with gammon and baked beans for lunch.

It sounds like you have one of those coughs that linger a while AnnG. Good idea to sleep propped up a bit higher. At least your leg wasn't too bad so maybe that is getting better now.

I hope your granddaughter liked your birthday gift Vera. Does she have any idea what kind of work she would like to do eventually?

My knees are complaining this morning after my short stint in the garden yesterday Mel. I don't know how you manage to keep going for hours like you do. Does your leccy get easily overloaded only it seems to go off a lot? Ours only goes off if there's a power cut.

Well, after getting one of my pots ready for planting I'd better go and put the plants in next. Then I need to hunt out my charcoal that I may need for tomorrow's drawing class. I haven't used charcoal since school and hate the mess it makes. Maybe I was less careful then though.

Morning all our skies are a bit grey today its 16 degrees and pc says mostly cloudy so we'll see how the day pans out.

I have the electrican coming tonight about 6.30pm if he remembers to take alook at the bathroom light switch which knockls all the leccy out whenever I turn it on. There is also supposed to be another pull cord switch in there which has never been put in.

Knees are a ittle sore today but I am not surprised as I got so much done in the garden yesterday.

good morning all. sunny and pale blue sky so far and 13 degrees, hopefully another nice day today but I didn't like the forecast for later in the week with a blast of cold winds from the arctic. We just may have had our summer by then.

Belated happy 18th to your Granddaughter Vera.

I slept really well last night and couldn't believe it was gone 0600 and I had not got up for the loo in the night. My leg was not too bad either. Still sleeping on 3 pillows (one is fairly thin) because of the cough.

One or two outstanding jobs to do in the garden and hopefully my friend is coming to see me this afternoon.

Evening everyone

It really has been a lovely day though it has been almost too hot this afternoon. My head is still not good but I got the garden tools out and a kneeler and planted up a trough with dwarf antirrhinums I had grown from seed and did plenty of deadheading, particularly of my patch of pink scabious which bloom like mad for months on end if you keep deadheading. Our garden is so overgrown. A few things don’t like our soil but once a plant decides it’s happy here it just takes off and cutting them down just makes them put on a growth spurt.

OH cleaned another cupboard and some shelves for me and I went through all the stuff on the shelves and managed to get rid of 3 recipe books. I also cooked the full roast dinner that OH likes and made a plum crumble. I thought I’d better spoil him as he is helping me with the cupboard cleaning. After we’d eaten I went and watered my neighbours’ pots and tomato plants as they are away, then washed out a load of our pots. Now I feel shattered.

It sounds as though you’ve all been busy in your gardens as well and getting lots done.

Well done to your son Mandy. It’s great to see that all his efforts are being recognised. The school authorities are lucky to have such a good worker.

Today is youngest granddaughter’s 18th birthday. We’ve had lovely texts from her thanking us for her card and the money we transferred to her bank account. I don’t think she’s got the jewellery I sent yet, she should be getting that tonight. I know she won’t see this but Happy Birthday to our lovely E-R.