General Chat

Good evening peeps from a blustery corner of the uk! Its about 45mph so a stiff breeze just now but its howling and the racket from my air vent in the ceiling is dreadful. Anyway, power has stayed on so far so thats a bonus.

Anyone been watching one of my fav programmes Shetland. The final episode was last night and as usual was very good.The next series starts in the new year. Ive just finished my latest peter james novel re Inspector Grace. I have now read all the books in the series and watched the first televised episode a few months ago.

The soaps are ok but Emmerdale is a bit slow just now and corrie and eastenders are drifting along, nothing special.

Celebrity Masterchef is quite good at the moment too.

Hope the xmas viewing is going to be entertaining, really need something funny to cheer us all up!

Florence in the hebrides

Hello everyone, Lovely sunny day here, put some washing on earlier but don't think it will dry outside as our back garden gets very little sun at these time of year the front garden gets sun all day but I'm not one for putting washing out front for the world to see plus being on a busy main road it would be as dirty in no time lol. We did have a neighbour years ago that would put an airer out with her (not so small) smalls on. Think bloomers lol.

Anyone watching anything interesting on TV, I have been watching WDYTYA and have enjoyed most of them. I am also watching Portrait Artist of the year but every week I chose a different artist to the judges. Art really is in the eye of the beholder . I have no talent what so ever for painting or drawing I just like to see what the artists come up with.
Apart from the 2 soaps Corrie and Emmerdale there not much that I have watched and the soaps are not as good as they used to be.
Good job I like reading .


Take care all.

Just seen a weather warning for my corner of the world for this Friday! 74 mph NW winds. Thats freezing and stormy brrr and possibility of snow too.

So plenty of warning to get organised.

Im so fed up of being indoors, im going to town wed I think, taxi there & back. If I dont get a change of scenery and some human interaction, think I may well go mad!!!

I could manage to go around the big coop, albeit very, very slowly and at least i could finish off a couple of gifts from the factory shop within the store. It would be a huge boost to me which justifies the money spent on taxi there & back!

Got 2 bass filets baking in the oven with mushrooms, peas and onions, no potatoes today as trying to lose some weight. Anyway cant wait to eat as im starving.

Hope everyone else ok.

Florence in the hebrides

Oh Joan, the jam sounds great. Dont know why people think its complicated really. As long as it boils, simmers and passes the crinkle test its ready. Hope you enjoy some once its cool.

I really have not much energy today, the dusting was enough. Im attempting a jigsaw puzzle i bought daughter for her birthday. Its 500 pieces that are a double sided picture of a fish supper. Really difficult but keeping me brain working lol.

Enjoy your evening

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon folks. We have just had the most horrendous shower like a power shower on full blast!!

So glad I managed earlier to go outside with the kitchen bin rubbish as otherwise would not have got rid of it. The wind is howling too and the sky now is getting very black.
I decided to polish and dust all the shelves and bookcases and now feel everything is sparkling again. Not feeling very hungry at all so no idea what i shall make for tea tonight, something light anyway.

I had to laugh just now as the neighbour has returned after not seeing him for 2 weeks(he works away !)he was washing his car and then opened all the doors and went inside. Suddenly saw him run outside when the shower came, slammed all the doors and ran inside. Why would you want to wash the car on a day like this beats me!!

Might do a bit of family tree research later as not looked at some for awhile now. so may find something new hopefully.
Have a good weekend all and stay safe.

Florence in the hebrides

Morning everyone.
Joan re the jars, i havr been saving all my sliced beetroot jars as well as the odd marmalde ones. I also had some local chutney in small jars, Im saving them for the next time.
Had more sad news, a step great aunt who i grew up with sadly passed away. She apparently had a small stroke, went to hospital caught covid and died.She was so healthy up til then and used to ride her bike 2 miles to the village shop and she was 90!!
We had more hailstones last night and a heavy shower earlier. They are forecasting snow i think end of the month...its cold enough brrrr.

Ordered 2 beanie hats for my grown up children but they had a bright led light at the front of the hat. You charge it from a USB. It will be good when they are walking in the dark from the bus stop and its very bright. A really useful gift.

Was thinking about a baked fish tonight with peas and a few new pots so better take the fillet out of the freezer for later.

Can I have some of you energy Joan please
Have a good day all. :-)

Florence in the hebrides

Good evening peeps
Well shock of shocks...loud noise on my kitchen door so i put the outside light on to see....blooming large hailstones battering down brrrr. Hope it goes away else im in for a sleepless night!

Joan. all you need for jam is one pound of sugar per one pound of fruit and 3 lemons.
No need for special sugar etc just a lot of patience. I only use stork but the tub not the block as its easier to cream with sugar...

I made a grave error with my large shop on Saturday! I completely forgot to buy laundry liquid & softener. Thought i had 2 bottles under the sink but it would appear I have used them.

I have enough liquid for about 2 washes but no softener so asked my friend up the village if shes going to town fri/sat to get me some.Im very cross as normally my stocktake of the cupboards is done often but hey ho thats how it is today.

Poor you & the leaves Joan
Enjoy the rest of the evening

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon all.
Well still coughing but feeling a little better so decided to make my summer berry jam.
Its gone well and made 6 jars so i am very happy.

I let it cool and just now decided to have some toast and the jam and it was delicious. I shall give my neighbour a jar and my friend up the road plus one for another lady and then keep the rest for ourselves.

As Im home alone until next Tuesday, i have just pottered about starting one job and then starting another. I do this just to keep me from getting bored. Half the xmas cards are done but needed a break from that.

i ordered a scrabble 2007 game off the internet & it arrived today so going to try that out in a bit.

Oh Joan yes you will be glad once all the leaves are down. Its rainy and windy here today and quite chilly too but i agree it gets you outside for exercise and fresh air.

Got the better quality pastry now so may make mince pies again tomorrow and see how they go.

Ginnie, if i hung out my washing, it would probably land up in Iceland lol(not the shop hehe)

Stay safe all

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning all.

It is dull and damp here today not a day for hanging washing out that's for sure.

The council gardeners have been out cutting back the shrubs across the road from our house, the noise the cutters make set my teeth on edge. lol.

Florence I hope you feel better soon.

Joan I bet you will be glad when the leaves have finished falling, hard work sweeping them up isn't it?

Hope everyone has a pleasant day.

Good afternoon to all.
Florence...so sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather, coughs are so disturbing, I hope you are rid of it soon.

Beautiful day here, lovely sunshine,no wind & warm. I have been outside again this morning & cleared some leaves, it's never ending at the moment, & it must have rained during th enight as the leaves are soaking, not easy to sweep them when they are sooo wet.
I will be very glad when the last leaf falls!!

Hope everyone is well, be sure to take care.

Joan.

Good morning all from a very sunny and bright place for a change. A lovely Autumnal day.
Was going to make my berry jam today as got Tesco delivery on Saturday but not feeling great as ben coughing all weekend.
Daughter returned from elsewhere and gave me this dreaded cough she brought from "afar".
So sleepless weekend and feeling quite weak but it will pass Im sure. Drinking lots of iced water.

Hope everyone else well

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon peeps from a very dark village. Feels like the middle of the night already.
Oh my Joan, some job you have sweeping the leaves with the gales blowing them all down.
Your wellies that you planted primroses in sound lovely and once I had an old tyre. We turned it inside out and painted it white. Then we put lots of small bedding plants around the outside and put bigger plants in the middle. They look amazing once the flowers bloom.

Poor hubby, he had better hide them from you lol.

I had a busy day really indoors. Lots of washing & drying plus 2 dozen mince pies and 2 dozen vegan cupcakes.

Have to say dont think much of the coop shortcrust pastry or their mincemeat! Robertsons is far tastier and Jul roll frozen pastry is far better quality. Anyway next time i shall buy the better stuff.

Tomorrow, think i shall be ironing for Scotland lol, its piling up..
Hope all is well with everyone else.

Florence in the hebrides

Hello to all.
Another pleasant day here, not as bright & sunny as it was yesterday but nice all the same.

It was VERY windy here on Sunday night & it continued all through Monday, leaving a huge load of leaves everywhere!
Most of the leaves had bypassed the different parts of the garden but had banked up like snowdrifts all around the edges, it was very hard work trying to clear them.

The front path was lost in a sea of leaves as was the drive at the back of the house, spent Tuesday & Wednesday continually filling up my 2 pop up garden sacks & then scattering the leaves in my "wild life" area between trees.
Some went onto my bonfire as well.

The last of them were cleared away today but there are still a lot waiting to come down from the trees so I will be kept busy for a while yet!
I will be glad to see them all down & away.

The weekly shop done this morning, managed to get what I was needing except for some crisps, not much to choose from in my Morrisons or Asda again today.

Planted up some planters yesterday with Primroses, they look lovely.
My next planting job is to plant up 4 old car tyres that I rescued,going to fill the inners with some bulbs, Bluebells in one, Snowdrops in another, Grape Hyacinths in a 3rd & some Woodland Hyacinths in the 4th one.

I recently planted up my old Floral patterned wellies with some Primroses, they look really attractive sitting outside the back porch.
I have got my eyes on hubbys old wellies now, LOL.

Joan.

Well, sad day for me indeed.
Put the car up for sale yesterday, a guy rang about it. He called today and bought it. Came back 2 hours later with the cash and now its away :-(

Im struggling with the fact, i shall never be well enough to drive ever again as the dizzy spells are random and cannot be cured.

No word of brain MRI yet, so until then ,Im stuck indoors and going a tiny bit mad!!!

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon to anyone looking in today. Made it through the storm and although around midnight it was about 60-70mph was not as bad as it has been in the past.
Daughter checked around the house this morning and all bins still in the place as well as all my flower pots thank goodness.

Having a cleaning day today of things one doesnt do everyday.

Very overcast and quite dark looking so have had the lights on nearly all day but at least the wind has died down.

I have to finish my online Tesco order today and then one less thing to worry about. I put on it stamps for xmas cards and a xmas pudding incase they sell out!
Xmas isn't xmas without the pudding, thats the best bit for me.

Joan, hope its not too stormy with you as i think it was moving your way today. Take care and dont go clearing leaves else you will be blown away!

Stay safe everyone

Florence in the hebrides

So been busy making food ahaead of the storm. Its alreadfy blowing a hooley and has been lashing down in frequwnt showers.
So pan of lentil & veg soup all done. A pan of sweet & sour chicken now ready, naan bread on a tray and basmati rice in a pan. I filled the new flask for the first time and so glad daughter bought it as think we made be needing it later.

Got all the washing & drying done so all up to date.

Now my legs are aching for standing so long, so gonna sit on comp for awhile until daughter returns about 5pm. Wish she would get back sooner but she cant..buses on saturdays are much reduced here!

Only heard a couple of bangs last night as hardly any displays and dont think you can buy fireworks here in the shops now.

Heres hoping electric doesnt go off but if im not on for a day or two, you know why.
Stay safe everyone

Florence in the hebrides

It was very dull here this morning. the sun has been in and out this afternoon and it is 12 degrees so not to bad. I have been doing all admin jobs indoors, I wanted to give the lawn a final cut but it is too wet. There was a slight frost last night. Now I am about to go and wrap some presents.

Well all is still calm....for now. Advisory of winds up to 80 mph coming this way later and tomorrow. Daughter decided to stay elsewhere until tomorrow as the high cases of covid are scaring her and thinks the town will be emptier tomorrow in a gale!

Anyway, im use to it. have plenty of xmas battery lit ornaments, torches and hundreds of candles. Talking of candles, we have smoke & heat detectors in every room so if i light a candle, or 2 will that set off the alarm? Dont want to try as i know all the alarms are inter connected and if the candle did set say the lounge one off, all the others would go off and i cant reach or climb a chair to reset them. It would make a terrible unnecessary noise.

So Ive done most of the drying of the clothes washed yesterday, made 2 fruit loaves which turned out great. I have eaten 1/2 of one already lol.
Gonna make a sweet & sour chicken dish in a bit for later and then all sorted if the electric does go off. Got flasks too for hot water to make coffee.

Ann when daughter was little, she wouldnt care if she had 20 little parcels with a matchbox containing 10p, it was the excitement of seeing lots of gifts to open.
As she has become so anxious and very down, i have bought her, paints, brushes & sketch pad as think this will be calming & therapeutic for her.
Also Mrs Hinch's journal is also very helpful too.

Mini fun jigsaws of Pringles & a fish & chip supper. These will keep her busy and look fun too.

Hope everyone else keeping well and staying safe.

Florence in the hebrides

Florence yes, we used to make the most of Christmas on here back then didn't we, I loved the pantomimes and remember one with BC as the old woman who lived in a shoe, and Allan was on that thread and Barbra, it was so funny I was in hysterics. We seem to lack a sense of humour on here now but maybe that is because we are all older.

As it is the 5th tomorrow (Friday), maybe some people will change their parties from Saturday to then or is it going to be wild then too.

I always buy several small presents for my daughter, have done for years and she does for me as well, When I add them up after buying them it would quite honestly be cheaper to buy one present but not as much fun. :-D

Good afternoon peeps.
Well I slept til 9am so eventually got off to sleep. Yes the computer does keep the mind active Ann but was just a distraction from laying wide awake!

The wind has finally gone down...again but the forecast for Fri/sat looks awful.Gale force winds for Sat eve so dont think too many fireworks will be going off. Not many shops here still selling them actually so less of a worry for pet owners etc...

Was trying to finish off wrapping last few gifts but now i have every spare drawer full with little piles of parcels mainly for daughter as havent bought one big gift this year but many smaller gifts as i know she appreciates this more.

Just washed kitchen floor so on here waiting for it to dry.

Ann yes i do remember how fast the threads use to go, was hard to keep up sometimes. Do you remember the conga thread at christmas? So many people long gone now that were characters.

Well got a couple of letters to reply to so better get my typing fingers on.

Florence in the hebrides