General Chat

They are younger than we are Ann, he is retiring this week. They both had swish cars, better than ours, I think they must just be mean :-|

We went over to play with Esme today, just to help occupy her as her parents both work from home. I just love playing schools :-)

On the way back, we called into a kitchen showroom which had been recommended to us, but it looked to be a bit expensive. I wonder if anyone on here had a Which subscription as there is an article on kitchens which I would like to read

We also went to a blind showroom to get some ideas. There is one type which I particularly like, but I don’t think they will fit on the type of windows we are going to have. There was only a young girl in the showroom and she was pretty useless. I will ring up and try to speak to one if the owners , so I hopefully will get more sense out of him.

It was absolutely throwing it down as we drove home, we came cross country instead of on the motorway and the flooding in the roads was dreadful

Linda, it sounds as if they are going to be short of money when they move. Are they an older couple? Maybe if they had to drop the price they are trying to recoup some of the money they lost.

I noticed that in two bedrooms that the curtains match the duvet covers, so that is why they will be taking them, but as you say the chances of them fitting new windows will be slim.
On the property form, curtain poles are something you tick to leave or take. They are taking the dishwasher as well which is annoying. Having said that as one of the first things we are going to do is to put in a new kitchen and their dishwasher is not fitted, so would have to be replaced anyway.
My daughter reminded us that they have two sets of stick on blackout blinds which they used to use in holiday flats, so at least we can use them in the bedroom

Linda are they allowed to do that these days? I thought any fixtures had to be left. When we moved here they took most of the light bulbs and, even though they said they were leaving the garden shed, they took it.
It doesn’t make any sense taking curtains as they rarely fit.

Linda, when I first moved to a rented house, the bedroom upstairs had no curtains at all. Infact there was only one old pair in the lounge.

So the next day after moving in, i went to a good charity shop and found 2 pairs for the bedrooms, I found a sample of a good linen curtain that did the bathroom. There was no rail so I stuck into the wood with drawing pins lol.

I did over the next few weeks buy new curtains for the lounge and kitchen.
But when I left that house to come here, I left the curtains upstairs and the kitchen one just to help the next occupant until they got organised.

I mean, taking the poles as well??? Thats quite mean really..

Decided on a rectangular pizza with baby corn cobs and a few oven chips...comfort food as its blowing a hooley and pouring hard now.

Stew and dump sounds yummy Joan. I found some liver in the freezer, so we are having liver onions and mash.

Your post office sounds as useless as ours Florence, they should have told you about the customs declaration. We have an excellent post office in a village just over a mile away and people go there in preference because they are so helpful.

We just got a load of forms from our solicitor. Among them was the contents for the new house. The current owners are taking all the curtains and curtain poles. The curtains aren’t very nice, but at least we would have had something. I can’t believe they are taking the poles as well, no doubt they will leave big holes in the walls. They had new windows in 2021 and had not put any blinds in the bathrooms since then, so we knew they were to do. We will have to hang some sheets up in the bedroomsuntil we can get new blinds fitted. Just one more thing to add to the massive list of things to do :-(

Hello.
O my Florence what a disaster for you, very glad that we don't have anyone abroad that need cards or parcels, too complicated for us to deal with, not to mention the costs incured.

A very wet day here, been raining through the night & still going, very disappointing after having 2 nice dry sunny days even if cold, I had outdoor plans for today, but hey ho, back to the Crosstitching instead.
I have put together a stew today & will probably make some Dumplings to go with it.

Joan.

Good afternoon everyone. It is dreary and cold here. We have been taking it easy, OH has been sitting around which is just not like him he is normally always doing jobs.
We have been going through all the paperwork and throwing out lots of old statements etc, We went through lots of old packets of photos this morning and threw quite a lot of also rans away I just have one more shelf to go through, then the study will be totally sorted. We have three bookcases with doors on the bottom half. There is lots of empty space now, so I will be able to use one of them as a temporary measure in the dining room of the new house until we get some built in storage made

I need to go to the doctors this afternoon for a blood test. Normally I would walk, but I don’t feel up to it, so will take the car instead, not that I will be able to park there as half the car park is cordoned off for building work. I will probably have to park in the town square and walk, but it is closer than walking from home.

Afternoon everyone.

I am fuming :-P :-P :-P

The postie has just come and shock of horrors, the package I sent airmail to my cousin in Australia a week ago has been returned to me!! It has an orange sticker on saying it was refused by customs as it did not have a form stuck on the package with a list of the contents.

I did write on the front printed matter only as it contains that plus 2 wooden hand made coasters and a mounted print so nothing hazardous.

When daughter took it to the PO, the cashier asked what was in it and then said that's fine. it cost me £14.35. So I looked it up and I have to fill in a customs form listing all the items but the bug bear is.....I have to pay again!! It didn't even leave the UK so paying what I did to go to Heathrow Customs probably is extortionate.

As you can imagine I'm not a happy bunny, because the cashier should have asked daughter to complete the form there and then instead of wasting time & money.

Dear oh dear, what is the world coming to?

AnnG, I have a ledger book I fill with all my income and outgoings and then balance that against my bank once a week. It is a bit old fashioned I guess but it teaches you to budget and spot if anything amiss. I know people who never look at their statements and just rely on the bank etc never making a mistake.

When you are on a budget, you have to keep track unless you are really rich!

Anyway moving on...

Its gales force winds here which I wasn't expecting. thought the storm was only down south unless this is just our usual weather for November lol

Home alone until Friday but its fine as I have several things to do at my pace and less washing and housework to do. Can't make up my mind what to make myself for tea. I was thinking of a stir fry with veg and rice maybe, just fancy that.

AnnG, I hope you don get wet going to the hairdressers. Can you get a taxi back so your hair wont get ruined in the rain?

Hope everyone else looking in is safe and well.

Florence in the hebrides

Very windy here so far today although not gale force. Looks threatening for rain and it is forecast showers this afternoon. Unfortunately tomorrow I have a hair appointment so will have to walk out in it even if it is raining. The joys of having no transport. Still I accept that was my choice so will put up to it.

there is always something to do Florence isn't there. I suspect I make a lot of admin jobs that many of younger generations don't do. I wonder if it makes any difference. Every month I balance my bank accounts, the on line statements against what is in my accounts books. I like to keep a finger on the pulse. Actually in a masochistic sort of way, I enjoy it, the arithmetic keeps my 83 year old brain ticking over.

So far today I have just read the DM on line and answered a couple of emails. Plus moving a lot of garden tools from my shed out to the empty garage. The shed is starting to creak and leak and I am waiting for an estimate for my friendly gardeners to demolish the shed and attached lean to greenhouse and put up a new one. This will be in the new year but I want to clear as much as I can out of it before winter sets in.

Now I am going to continue making Christmas cards. :-) :-)

Joan, no worries with this storm as it wont affect you or me....for a change if thats reassuring for you :-D

As for being busy, I sometimes think that although I retired 2 years ago, I do as much paperwork, tel calls etc plus keeping the house clean and tidy as I did back then.
However it is nice to feel useful when people ask me to sort out problems for them.

I do have a wealth of experience and knowledge between my banking days and my education years.
I am very good with words so can help people with difficult lettters ie complaints etc

I am also good on the phone and never let anyone fob me off lol.

If I didn't have so many things to deal with, I would maybe get a bit bored and me brain would fall asleep and I cant have that
:-D :-D

Good afternooon.
Another dry sunny day here but colder than yesterday.

I spent the morning in the garden clearing up leaves from other parts of the garden, I filled up 2 garden sacks again today, just a couple more sections of the garden to do then I will probably have to start all over again.
Clearing the leaves here is a bit like when they used to paint the Forth Rail Bridge, by the time othey got to the end they had to start all over again, LOL.

What a busy lady you are Florence, always on th go with so many things.
The next storm due isn't supposed to affect us, hiope that's true !!

I hope all is well with everyone on the thread.

Joan.

Afternoon all
I have done my ironing and housework and now sitting as Im so out of breath!
We have found a new solicitor and he is very reasonable too!

Spent an hour too sorting out some forms that dad has to complete, then emailed them to him and he is not feeling good today. That's always a worry but hopefully his stomach will settle.

Blue skies and was sunny but now a heavy shower on. I was out at the bin but it was very windy and by golly it was ccld brrr.

Hope you and hubby Linda are feeling better.
Joan, hope all ok with you.

There is a very bad storm called Ciaran heading towards the south coast Tues eve/Wed am and winds maybe 80mph!! My dad is opposite a harbour on the south coast and I told him to stay safe indoors and not venture outside until its safe.

Think its then heading towards Wales and NI. So if anyone is in its path, please take great care.

Florence in the hebrides

Florence I did enjoy the darts . I didn't see it all but what I did see was good.

Good to here you have your app. for your test and hope all goes well.

Not doing much today , did do a bit in the garden yesterday but today is very cold so will be staying indoors .

Got a bag of sweets for tonight in case the little ones from next door do Halloween .

Ginnie

Linda, mon tv for me is brill.

Eastenders 7.30pm BBC 1

Corrie 8-9pm ITV

Masterchef 9-10 BBC1

So that took care of my evening!

That is good news Florence, hopefully things will be fine.

Well that is the end of a lazy day. I managed Tescos, but was glad to sit down after I got back. Monday night is always a to watching night as Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge are on straight after each other.

Well....result!

Just got a tel call this afternoon from the medical secretary. She had received a tel call from my GP and so they have given me 21st Nov for my Echo. Amazing what a tel call does!!

Still daylight here but heavy black clouds. We had a few heavy showers today but a massive rainbow.

Off to eat leftovers from the cheesy pie from yesterday with some baked beans yummy.

Good afternoon everyone.
Well it's a much better day here today, after a dry night the leaves have started to dry up nicely making it easier to sweep them up.
It's a nice dry today & bright but there is a chilly wind, but I have been out & cleared the leaves from the front path,the flagstones around the P shed & some from one side of the front garden.

Done quite a lot, I am now having a sit down with a cuppa but Ijust might go out again & lift the leaves from the other 1/2 of the front garden, that will then just leave the side area & the drive to be done another day.
No doubt though & will have to start all over again at the beginning once all the first lot have been swept up, LOL.

I hope you & hubby are feeling better Linda, a bit of "fresh" air might actually help !

Joan.

Our flu jabs were about a month ago Florence, so it isn’t that. I am not that bad and we need some milk, so I will go out this afternoon

The post just came and we got our letters for the winter fuel allowance, £250 each this year.

JustGinnie, what did you think of the final? Really good and entertaining I thought.