General Chat

With what you say your pain does sound like a strain AnnG especially as you had been doing some awkward gardening. Hopefully it will settle down soon with resting it when you can and taking the strain a bit with your stick. I've been thinking and remembered a long time ago we stayed at Alnmouth for a few days near Alnwick on that coast and I remember there was a nice beach there and easy to access it. It's the only time I have visited that bit of coast though.

It's good you are feeling a bit better Mandy and worth being careful what you eat if it has eased the pain. I hope you get your scan appointment soon.

You've been busy Vera! I came across our out of date covid tests earlier this year too and ditched them. Then I bought a fresh one just in case. I've still a cupboard to do in the ensuite and haven't started on my clothes yet, so you are well ahead of me. I have some ancient perfumes I should probably get rid of as one certainly doesn't smell like it used to and the can go off can't they. I only use them in winter now since I had that nest of wasps sting me.

I was late sending my post so didn't see yours Mel. That's good the new neighbours have given you some of the wood chippings. They should smother a lot of the weeds as we find bark chippings where we have them mostly do the trick. We need to put more down though now. Yes, the spirit is willing but the body isn't rings bells!

That bark will be very handy Mel. Good to have had it done for you as it is expensive to buy.

There are some lovely beaches on that coast Ann long sweeping sandy bays. I was surprised at how beautiful and unspoilt the whole area was.

I don’t think it is a sprain, nothing is swollen and the pain travels from the back of my y high/knee to the top of my foot just below my ankle. I have been using my stick indoors which has helped. It feels like a strain and it really started after a two hour gardening session when I had to get into an awkward place. Hopefully it will go soon, it was worse yesterday after sitting so long in the car.

I expect you were pleased to get the wood chippings Mel. I know what you mean about getting cross when you can’t do things. I think we’re all the same as we get older. I find it so frustrating. I always walked miles; now I barely reach the bottom of the road before I need a rest. OH has offered to buy me a stick but I’m not using a stick till I absolutely have to.

I’m pleased your pain has eased a bit Mandy and AnnG’s leg is a little less sore. Both of you must take it easy for a bit longer till you’re fully recovered.

I went out to get on with some gardening first thing. I planted the dozen nemesia I bought, cleared a load of wilted daffodil leaves, did a bit of weeding and deadheaded some plants that were needing it, mainly a load of pink scabious. I also moved some pots about to improve the look of the garden. I did about an hour and a half when the rain came down. I was secretly pleased as it gave me an excuse to stop. My back, legs and head were all aching so I was glad to come indoors.

This afternoon I’ve carried on with decluttering my bedroom. I did the units in the en-suite. Before I started I thought it would be a quick job. Wrong! There’s a range of low cupboards running along one wall and it seemed to take ages to remove everything from the cupboards, wash them all down, sort out the contents and put it all back again. I’m glad it’s done now as I got rid of all the useless stuff which gave me more room to arrange the stuff I need to keep. The bric-a-brac stall at the village fete will benefit from some unused bath and shower smellies and a couple of nice china pots for pot-pourri and why on earth have I been keeping some COVID test kits that are over a year out of date?

Son and dil sent OH a box containing several bottles of different beers and a glass and a friend dropped by with a bottle of wine for him so he’s well supplied with drink for his birthday tomorrow. I didn’t know what to get him so I’ve got a gift voucher from a local independent men’s outfitters. They do really nice stuff and he’s bought things there before so I’m sure he’ll find something he likes.

IPad is telling me that it’s 17 degrees but it doesn’t feel like it. I’m feeling quite cold and thinking of putting on a fleece. A nice hot stew would be good but I’ve organised a salad for tonight - bad planning on my part.

Afternoon All,

It was dull this morning but is lovely and sunny now. A Pigeon was sunbathingon the gravel earlier which I haven't seen them do before, but I expect the pebbles were nice and warm.

I popped to the shop after my shower leaving OH in bed with one of his headaches and some paracetamol. I pulled up by a field with a couple of horses in on the way back and had a quick scan of the newspaper. I was surprised the horses both had rugs on in this warm weather and they weren't the rugs to keep midges off them that can cause sweet itch. They were a handsome bay pair and hung close to the fence, probably expecting a titbit!

When I got back OH had got up and was attired in his gardening garb of old jeans and T shirt and ancient, Bill and Ben sunhat. He'd half filled the garden bin again with weeds and bramble and moved some of the disintegrating york stone rocks from the front garden round the back. Then he told me he'd found the bulbs I was worried about and said 'come and look'. Vera will recognise the apprehension I had of what he had done! Using the trowel instead of digging them up in a clump like I intended, he'd unearthed a few and just left them on the surface in the sun. I just told him to cover them over for now as we need to weed where they are to go. I knew there were some next to the Fuschia but he doesn't realise it's the ones that have spread from there in all directions that will probably get chopped up. I didn't say anything, as he looked so chuffed to have located them and had worked hard with all that he'd got done. I was quite glad not to be there when he dug out some of the perennials I told him needed to go, as I was fond of them and some were ones you don't see in the garden centres very often. Some were leggy though, others five minute wonders that look a mess the rest of the year, so won't really fit in the minimal maintenance, tidier front garden we want to create now.

I know what you mean about the lovely terracotta pots Vera, but it's not worth injuring our fragile backs even to move them a small distance is it. We just buy the plastic ones as well now, which I have to admit are much improved these days, although like everything else the prices have shot up. It was a good night out watching the Carpenters' Tribute Band then and a nice if hearty meal beforehand.

I had to smile at your youngest's comments about the house smelling. They just say it how it is at that age don't they? My sister was one for tactless remarks and never one to be shy and quiet like me and my brother. Being nine years older than her, I often had to look after her and so my friend and I would have to take her with us if we went out. I remember one day when she was three or four, we walked to see my friend's aunt who I hadn't met before. We'd just said our 'hellos' and sat down for five minutes when my sister loudly asked 'are we going home now?'. As a young teenager it was embarrassing and rather spoilt the visit knowing my sister was itching to leave!

AnnG it sounds like you may have sprained your ankle somehow with the pain it is giving you. Is it swollen at all? If so some ibuprofen might help if you can take it. The trouble with ankle/knee injuries is that the other leg starts to hurt from taking the load from the bad leg. A friend has sent me some photos of the beach at Seahouses where you visited and I couldn't believe how few people were there and what a lovely big beach there is. It looks like somewhere we'd like to visit with no crowds.

BIL Went at 4pm so now all is quiet again. He mowed the orchard for me today and the top field and the new neighbours gave me two of my big trailer loads of the wood chippings from when they had the big ash tree down by my gateway into the gardens. I laid a bit of old pond liner in the corner of the top wall and its been dumped there so I can move it easily from there to where I want to put it on the border and perhaps I won't get so very many weeds.

I had a little rake up of the long grass cuttings in the orchard but the knees not good today so did'nt do too much. Last time it was better the next day but not this time.

I get cross with myself not being able to do as much as I used to but I suppose it comes with older age, the minds willing but the body is'nt!!

Pc is telling me Rain and 16 degrees and although there are pale grey clouds in the sky its still bright.

Afternoon all. Sunny with some cloud and fifteen degrees. Just drove to Maryport parked near a coffee shop so a short walk with my stick then after a nice coffee we drove down and parked at the harbour, daughter and I walked slowly along looking at yachts and paddle boarders when zi had walked far enough SiL brought the car along to pick us up. A nice bit of fresh air and not too strenuous. Now I am sitting in the dining room with the door open while Si
L mows the lawn and daughter strims the edges. Yesterday my leg was really painful after travelling in the car for 3+ hours but it is a little better today.

Morning all,

Mel, could we have some of your sunshine, it's raining here and should be like that all day when it does brighten up it seems to rain harder .

Anng sounds as if you need to give the leg a rest today hope it soon feels better .

Pain killers seem to be helping now I had quire a good day yesterday, just have to be careful what I eat

Morning all,

Nice bright sunny morning and BIL is supposed to be coming early today. Guess what he has just pulled up outside. BBL

O it did'nt post

Back to daughters until next Wednesday Vera..
Those terracotta pots are heavy to lift so plastic is a good idea.
My leg is still painful but the worst part now is that my left lower shin and ankle and top of foot are really painful and won’t take my weight so it really makes walking painful especially going up and down stairs. Luckily we have nothing much planned these few days and it is half GDA. So the world and his wife is up here

Good evening

This is the first chance I’ve had to get back online since I dashed off a bit rapidly this morning. I needed to be very sure that my dearly beloved was going to put the right plants in the right pots. I sometimes think Annx’s OH and mine must share some genes somewhere along the line. They do seem to be two of a kind. I don’t think mine has fallen in a pond yet but I’ve lost count of how many jumpers and shirts he has ruined by catching them on bushes and branches. He never seems to just cause a little snag; he always goes the whole hog and gets a great big tear. Of course there is a bag of old painting and gardening clothes in the utility but he often thinks he’ll only be outside a few minutes, not worth changing.

Mel, you really are getting a lot done outside. Could you send some of your energy this way please. Your poor knees must ache at the end of the day.

AnnG, I’m glad you got back safely. I can’t remember if you were going back to your daughter’s or if you were going home. I hope your cough is a lot easier now and your legs aren’t so sore.

I hope Mandy’s feeling much better and the painkillers are helping.

I got some bedding washed and on the line and that dried nicely; then OH came in and said several of our bigger terracotta pots were falling to bits and we needed to get some new ones. Of course he wanted it done immediately so off we went to our nearest garden centre. I really like proper terracotta but they are so expensive now and they are so heavy to move that we bought 4 plastic ones. I still have some pots and troughs to try and fill and I saw some pretty nemesia so I also got 2 packs of 6 plants. I have a Dobbies card but that’s miles away and we only go there when we are going to the hospital nearby, yet I’ve never got a card for our local garden centre that we use all the time. Anyway I joined up and was glad I did as it saved me £4 on my bill today. On the way back we popped into Sainsbury’s for a few bits and pieces and the rest of the day I’ve been doing odd jobs.

Yesterday we went to the theatre at Colchester. We got there about 5.30 and went into the café bar where I had ham, egg and chips and OH had scampi but the helpings were enormous. Even OH had to leave half his chips and he usually clears his plate. The chap who served us and cleared the plates when we finished said he keeps telling the chef not to dish up so many chips because they just get wasted but the chef keeps piling them on. The show was excellent if you like Carpenters music. There were 7 very good musicians who seemed to be able to play any instrument and act as backing singers too, and an excellent singer. I had to laugh though. As the Carpenters were very much from the 60s and 70s I don’t think there was anyone in the audience less than late middle age and it did look funny with all these grey haired old dears and bald headed old men swaying and waving their hands in the air to the music. There was a standing ovation at the end and you could almost hear the joints creaking and the groans as people tried to stand up.

Annx, your story of the 3 year old’s embarrassing remark made me chuckle and reminded me of a time when my two were around 3 and 5. The Irish couple 2 doors away had just had their 5th or 6th child and I was invited in with my two littl’uns to admire the new baby. We had barely got inside before my youngest, in his loudest voice, said “Mummy, this house smells” (it did!!). I had to try to wriggle out of it by saying something stupid like “That’s a lovely, milky, new baby smell”. Thankfully he was distracted by one of the other children showing him a toy and I bent rapidly over the cot so no-one would see me blushing.

Time is getting on and I still have things to do this evening so I’ll bid you all goodnight. Sleep well.

Iv'e cut down loads and filled the big trailer up and left loads onthe grass cut down the Weigela as it was dead at the back. cut more off the fig tree and dead stuff out the border. Had down some huge thistles and a sycamore tree out of the Xacodia on the corner. Cut a hawthorn ouut of the borderbut had to come down for a drink and my left knee is hurting so its time to stop.

long a biut further and found my poor Gloxinia

Blast lost the lot I give up.

I can't settle to what I should be doing either Mel. I've just knocked a pile of papers off my desk and now they are all mixed up including the food order I need to add to and the bits of paper to do with the bathroom. I think OH must be having a nap as he hasn't interrupted me for ages! I think I'll get a COT and start again. :-(

That's good you are back and settled now AnnG and that you found a garden centre to have lunch at on the way. Yes I have an idea some were behind a Fuschia so I will have to have a careful poke around as you say. Come to think of it, he's also removed the dying leaves from some pink bluebells that have travelled with me from other house moves, but I know they are under the sprouting leaves of a cordyline that's regrowing, so I can dig those out giving the clump a wide berth with the spade. I should have known what he would be like in the garden when we got together and he 'helped' weed my garden years ago and he told me proudly that he'd cleared the weeds I had in an old half buried metal bucket. It was my mint I had carefully planted in the bucket so it wouldn't spread everywhere! Another time he came to help, I left him to halve a big clump of yellow flags in my small pond while I popped out on an errand. When I got back I was surprised to see him at the pond sporting a pair of my very bright floral shorts! He'd only managed to fall in the pond hadn't he. He'd had to go and rummage in my drawers to find something to wear and the shorts happened to fit hm ok.Turning around I saw socks, jeans and underpants drying on my rotary line! lol

As the others have said Mel, it is easy to accidentally log on to American Amazon. Just make sure it has UK in the log in line.


Oh dear Ann can you remember roughly where the chinodoxia are? If so dig loosely with a fork and see if you can retrieve some bulbs. Then put a marker there

We had an uneventful journey back. Stopped for a hour and a half at a big independent garden centre for lunch. Now all unpacked and settled back in.

Yes that made me chuckle to. Three year olds are so knowing.

Even though BIL is'nt coming I still can't get into anything and I should cos lots needs doing inside and out. May just go and cut off the big thistle heads so they don't self seed all ove the garden.

Afternoon All,

Still dull, but dry and no wind. OH and I popped to the shop, then had lunch and now I really must send an email to bathroom place for more answers! Speaking of which I have now had 5 more scam emails today. I can't believe all these prizes I am supposed to have won!! lol. They've all been reported now.

Yes, Vera is right Mel. It sounds like you missed clicking on the UK Amazon account. I have done it myself before now.

I hope you have a good journey back AnnG and that your sore throat and cough are much better now. The white Peacock sounds nice, I have never seen one, but wonder if it has the coloured tail. I love to watch the baby bunnies together.

Mandy I hope the painkillers are helping with the pain and that you are getting on better with them now. It's a devil when you take something to help you and then that gives you a different problem.

Vera, I thought the front garden had got away unscathed from OH but was wrong. He's managed to dig up a big patch of small, yellow flowered little alpine type plants with leaves like small irises that I specifically told him to leave as I haven't got any in the back garden and was going to move them there. There are 3-4 tiny pieces left so I will have to nurture those. I asked him to leave the pink Chionadoxa leaves that were dying off so that I would know where they are when I dig them up. No chance, every trace of them gone now, so I will probably chop the bulbs up when I go digging. The garden bin was collected this week so I can't try and find anything in there to rescue either. Perhaps I should have married a Monty Don or Alan Titchmarsh! Still, he won't mind me buying replacements.........but you can't always find them to buy these days.

I read something in the paper yesterday that made me chuckle. You may have already seen it. A man said that they had a friend who, unannounced, would often just pop round for a chat and coffee. They heard his car pulling up one day and the man was really busy and didn't want to be held up, so told his wife to duck behing the sofa and they both touched their lips to indicate to their three year old to be quiet. Eventually the man drove off again. When he turned up the following day, they let him in and the three year old immediately piped up and said to him 'don't worry, we aren't hiding from you today'. Imagine the embarrassment and the shock on the visitor's face!

Thanks Vera I will try that.

BIL just phoned and he's not coming today so I can get on with what I want to do. Done some ironing so thats out of the way.

A bit dull and cloudy at the moment but not too cold. Mel, are you going into Amazon.com? If so try going into Amazon.co.uk and the prices should be in sterling.

OH is calling to show him what I want done with some plants. BBL.

Morning Anng and all,

Quite a bright morning here and pc says 12 degrees and partly sunny. BIL is due today so another day I shan't get on.

I shall have to ask him about my Amazon account as when I go into it it gives me all the prices in dollars and I changed it to pounds and pence but it keeps going back and telling me it can;t ship to my address. I hav'nt been on there for months since Christmas.