General Chat

Hello all

We got home at about 1.30, uneventful journey, lots of traffic, lots of mph at 40, 50, 60 no hold ups or accidents.

I have felt fine today, well my leg is still painful and still got a blocked nose, I slept well and the vertigo didn’t bother me but, I discovered when shopping in local Tesco that if I bent my head down I almost lost my balance. And that continues when trying to sort out some of the garden, that was almost immaculate before I went away. It is a jungle over run by triffids. I have already one third filled the bin with huge sucker branches that had grown on the rambler. And daughter has strimmed the lawn edge, SiL
will mow it tomorrow for me.

Have you got a cold or hay fever Mel.

Iv'e been in the garden trying to tidy up the old Albertine rose and mend my little plastic greenhouse but after all the tying up of the rose bush I now have prickled hands all over and my back hurts so I came in for a rest and see what you lot have posted but see it only Vera keeping me company so far today. Hi to Vera you've got a lot done today so I'm not surprised your back is aching. I did do a bit of painting this morning before lunch and as I said before Iv'e been up the post van. Popped in the shop first to sample their new bakers wares. I bought some more of the rolls I had on Saturday as they were lovely and I have put those in the freezer for Saturday when BIL comes. I also bought a doughnut and a cream pecan cake like an Eclair with icing on the top and nuts. I shall have that tonight after my Cottage Pie. So 4 rolls seedy ones a doughnut and a cream cake cost me £6 exactly. The new stuff does look good and the sausage rolls are longer than the other from the old place and the meat inside is pink instead of grey. I did'nt know they were going to do cream cakes again as its years since they stocked those. I must admit it is very large this Eclair thing.

I now have to find a couple of blocks of wood to put under the central cane I have had to put in the little greenhouseas its not quite tall enough to keep the middle point up. I have had to tape two canes either side as the old metal frame had rotted off at the top and I have to tape the cross bar on to keep the sides out.

Where is everyone today? I hope you are all missing because you're busy and not because you are unwell. AnnG will have been travelling home and I hope her vertigo has gone. It's horrible having to sit in a car when you aren't feeling very well.

I spent a couple of hours in the garden this morning to make the most of some dry weather and then came in and did the ironing and I am paying for it now. My back is really sore but I can't just sit around and rest all the time so I just have to grit my teeth and get on with it. I'm sure you're all the same. We'd probably be better doing just a little each day but that's not possible in this country when you can't rely on the weather.

I've also washed the towels, done some general tidying up and also done some filing and admin, and prepared tonight's veg. It's a shop bought meat pie tonight.

I am sure there was something I was going to tell you but it's gone completely out of my head which is a bit like a sieve these days so instead I'll wander down to the post box with youngest granddaughter's 18th birthday card. Her birthday is on Sunday so I want her card to arrive by Saturday. I'll send it 1st class but it ought to go tomorrow. Our only collection from the box is before 9 am in the week. I doubt if I'll be out that early in the morning so I must get it in the box by tonight. At least as her birthday is on a Sunday she will have time to look at her cards and presents and won't have an A-Level exam that day..

Morning all,

A brightish morning with sun and cloud and blue sky. Pc is saying 14 degrees and partly sunny so I hope the day is better than yesterday.

I slept right through till 7. 49am and I think thats the first time for ages I have not had to get up in the night. I feel quite refreshed today but still sneezing and blowing my nose.

I have a little parcel to do up this morning and get down the post van so BBL.

Yes I had too laugh at that sub too. I think they just grab whateveris in front of them when they have missed something off the shelf.

Its blimmin cold here and I may haveto turn my little leccy oil filled rad on for this evening or put a blanket over my knees.

I've just checked again Mel and I've got your email and pics now, but it didn't arrive till 16.42pm so came after I asked Mandy to send them to me. Thank you and thank you Mandy for forwarding them. The tiny shrew would have been a surprise to see when you opened the door! I haven't seen one for years,

I know what you mean about missing your own veg you grew Vera, as I did the same. Even when I lived on my own I used to grow enough toms, lettuce, runners, black currants, goosegogs and rhubarb to supply mum and the ladies she looked after. I'm the same as you now and couldn't do it on that scale anymore, although my head says I'd like to! Fancy someone thinking sticky toffee puds would be a good alternative to veg! :-)

I am more or less ok now, just tired as I didn’ t get much sleep at all last night. Hopefully I will be fine tomorrow.

Mel your BiL is a real asset isn’t he? Bless him.

I think any travel pills I have will be out of date. I used to have the. In case I needed them for flying but that was 4 years ago.

Ann I did see your email and I had sent the mail with no pics attached first so sent them all again I don't know why you did'nt recieve the second one with pics attached as yours is always the first email I put on.

Well Janine came down for her eggs and then the man and van delivered a small thing I had ordered but I did'nt hear him com down in his big black van but I was having lunch and saw a dark green baseball cap go by the window. Went out the front door and could'nt see him at all so I called out and he came from behind the van. It was only rubbers for my air rifle as everytime BIL pulls the plug out after pumping it up he twists the plug and breaks the rubber washer.

Shopping came too this morning but later than usual and with the grumpy driver. No subs and nothing missing and it was quite a big order today for me.

Its rained here all day so far so I don't think it is going to stop now.

Anng so sorry to hear you feel so unwell and you have lots to do too. As Mandy said a travel pill could help a lot for the journey home. Hope you feel better soon.

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling too good and had a bad night AnnG. Try and get as much rest as possible and fingers crossed that the journey home won’t be too bad for you.

Mandy, I’m jealous of your beans. I love runner beans but don’t think I’ve had a decent one since we moved here and I had to start buying them from the supermarket. I’ve got used to it now but when we came here over 10 years ago I really missed our home grown veg. I had a big vegetable patch and grew nearly all my own. The disadvantage was that it was hard work and I wouldn’t be able to look after such a big patch now even if I had the space.

We’ve had a couple of really busy days. I wanted to get in the garden this afternoon but the weather has put paid to that. It’s been raining on and off all day and it’s not very warm at all and a bit breezy.. Maybe I can get out there tomorrow though the forecast isn’t good for the rest of the week. Right now I’m waiting for Tesco to arrive. I got the receipt by email this morning and there’s nothing missing and no subs so that’s good. When I was doing the order I came across something that made me laugh. Going through the lists of products I saw a pack of vegetables of some sort - I can’t remember what - and the text underneath said the product was out of stock and suggested we substituted with…….wait for it ………sticky toffee puddings :-S. I can just imagine what OH would say if I served him with a plate of meat, potatoes, sticky toffee pudding and gravy, lol.

Sent Mels photos Ann

Afternoon All,

Three scam emails yesterday and two today up to now.

It rained most of the morning here, but we braved the weather to go to the factory shop as I hadn't been for quite a while. We didn't buy anything even though we had a £5 off voucher. I saw a couple of things, but not in my size. They'd had a move around too so nothing was in it's usual place which doesn't help. The thatched pub that burnt down a year ago has re-opened and looked very smart from the outside.

Vertigo must be horrid AnnG and a bit scarey if it was worse than you've had before. I hope you have started to feel better now and will be ok to travel home. I hope your leg is improving too and that you are managing the stairs ok.

Those beans sound good Mandy and Mel, especially if they are nice long ones.

While we were having lunch I noticed a Pigeon pulling at a patch of golden leaved Candytuft in one of the island beds. The little devil seemed obsessed with it, tugging away at different bits till he got some in his beak and flew off over the bottom fence with it. Seconds later he was back, stamping all over the plant and pulling at other pieces till they broke off and he could carry them over the fence. OH saw him fly in the direction of the tree just behind our fence, so we think there must be nest building going on. I wondered if he liked the smell of it as it has quite a distinctive smell..........'room freshener for the nest!'

Mandy could you send me the pic of Mel's shrew please? I got the email but no pic was attached. I let her know, but I don't think she's seen my reply yet.

Oh Anng you don't need that when you've got to travel ,I hope it soon eases off for you ,they do say if you take a travel sickness tablet that can help with vertigo.

Well we got the canes across the top of the runners and I planted up my sweet peas the next job will be to get the cucumber plants into their bigger pots but that's for another day as I've had enough now and it started to rain , it's a steady rain and the wind seems to have got up.

Mel have you seen the little shrew any more , how's your knee today.

Good morning all
Not feeling very bright this morning as I woke up with vertigo at 1am and, although it has eased off I still have it. Only just managed to dress and it is a busy day as I have to pack. Only ever had it. Ildly a couple of times before but this attack was not mild. So got very little sleep.

Morning Mel,morning all,

We woke to the sun but it's now clouded over ,we should have sunshine and showers all day .

Morning all,

Wet this morning here so I am pleased I did a bit in the garden yesterday. Pc does say rain to stop and 14 degrees.

Just the Asda order today and my new neighbour is coming down for eggs.

Hope you are all feeling well today after a good nights sleep.

Iv'e grown Benchmaster and they're lovely long beans so you get a lot out of them and only need a few for a meal for two.

Did some more weeding and picked up some stuff I had swept up the other day. Took the recyling up and had a chat to Janine and Simon who said they had a baby bunny visiting them. They have bought a trap to catch it and take it away soemwhere and I said no bring it down to me and I'll deal with it. It will only come back or give soemone else trouble in their garden. Hav'nt seen Winking Blinking and Nod tonight but did see one this morning by the ponds so perhaps they have split up.

I've not heard of those beans Mandy, but it's a good idea to save your own seed. Yes cutting newspaper shapes is a good idea as well. It all helps with seeing what space there is between things especially when you have quite a small bathroom like we have! I've done a plan on some squared paper to get some idea. I did that at my old house.

We had more rain but it dried enough later and was sunny so OH did some more weeding in the back garden and the bin is nearly full again.

Ann the beans are Benchmaster we always leave some beans on the stalks and use them the next year ,we haven't bought seed for a few years now .
Well we got the lights up on the gazebo and I got all my washing dry before we had a shower but the canes never got done but there's no hurry really it was only the ones to go across the top .
Tomorrow should be wet so I can't see them getting done then .

Ann thats a good idea doing the mock up with the boxes you can see how it will look and you might be able to turn things to suit you better ,I have done it with newspapers taped together and cut to size .

Been out in the garden since after lunch and done some weeding onthe rockey bit outside the kitchen window. I had some more ground ;elder in there and have dug out what I can see but no doubt it will be back. Now I have to empty the barrow and pick up all the stuff I left on the grass after filling the bucket I was using.

Have come in for a drink and a sit.

Hope you get on ok with your mock up of the bathroom Ann.

Right drink I think.

Afternoon All,

What a mix of weather! Dry first thing, so out went the washing, then it rained after a while, then dry, spit a bit at lunchtime and now it is sunny and the washing is dry and put away.

Hat on and leather gloves first thing and another small humper filled with OH helping the last few minutes. I had to come in then as the bending over so soon after my tablets early in the morning makes me feel queasy and dizzy. Wish I could still squat or kneel! Anyway a patch more looks better now and the garden looks quite colourful from the lounge.

Then after a shower we went out to call at the hewsagent first. None in the shop speak or seem to understand english, so OH puts the coupons in an envelope for them with a calculation he's done and on his note says he will do a bank transfer for the balance. I assume the owner understands english and they give it to him. Then we called at the shop and I got some dried skimmed milk I forgot to put on the order and a few eggs to save going to the farm shop till the fridge is a bit emptier.

We had a salad for lunch, a ready made chicken, bacon, pasta, lettuce and tomato one but I added avocado, radish, cress, coleslaw and beetroot to it.

It sounds like your OH had a nice birthday and meal yesterday Vera and the thatched place sounds nice. I find the same with emails. As I do most ordering of things, I get all the follow up ones asking for reviews or trying to sell me more things.

Clever Robbie finding a new source of food Mel! He must have fancied a change!

What kind of runners did you get Mandy and do you grow them in the ground? I haven't planted any yet, but will be tempted to get some when I go to the garden centre this week.

I've cleaned the ensuite sink but seem to have run out of steam now and feel tired although I slept well for once last night.

Well it's back to the drawing board with the bathroom next and I'm doing a mock up of it in the lounge with cardboard boxes. Having told me to do it as I wish I hope OH realises there is a difference between what you want and what is available. I don't think he will fancy sorting through the 322 page catalogue himself though. ;-)