General Chat

You could do cuttings and have a little table outside with some for sale.

It brightened again this afternoon after 4pm so I shot out and did the big girls.

You are sounding more positive already Gill.

I know Sandra does it but do you like or have you tried colouring in? I find it very relaxing to do.

And do you read? Not heard you talk about reading but it would make a change to binge watching TV.

And you can be planning your garden write down what you want to change and move etc, what plants, colours etc. And spring will soon be here.

I assume the solicitor didn’t phone today?

I have hopefully sent a photo of the blanket out. Let me know if you get it. I am worried that it might be a bit large to download. I have washed, dried and am airing it. It will then reside on the settee in the conservatory. I couldn’t get rid of it in the end and it looks a lot brighter for a was.

Love the blanket. How on earth were you thinking of throwing it away? It looks great after its wash and will do nicely for the settee in the conservatory. <3

Gill, of course you will miss Sandra, she has been such a big part of your life, but try to start thinking of all the things you could do now now you haven't the responsibility of caring for her. Mel's idea of doing crafts is good to start with as you get a sense of achievement from it and time just flies as Mel says! You can learn to do all sorts from youtube videos. Put some music on or the radio if it seems a bit quiet. In time look online at Wirral Learning as they do sewing technique courses and upcycling clothes and are free if you are on a low income.

I'm glad Sandra stuck up for herself but fancy them saying things like that to her. They sound like bullies, trying to alienate her from you and desperate to have nothing go wrong with their plans. It sounds like they are worried she might overhear something they don't want you to know and will tell you. I worry about Sandra and wonder how they will be once they have done whatever it is they are planning. I agree with AnnG that Social Services should know what is going on.

AnnG you have had a busy day shopping. We have a memory foam mattress and it is great, mind you it is an orthopaedic one, so not much give, but it has proved to be great for my back. That was a nice little blanket you had as a baby in all those colours. I tend to just keep a photo of most things as a memory now. There's been lots that would be nice to keep in one way, but I'd rather use the space for new things! :-D I expect most of our stuff will end up in charity shops or the tip once we have gone anyway. I have kept a few bits but not many.

Lots of floods around here, even the 6 lane dual carriageway down the road was flooded one side yesterday and they signed and coned it off. Some idiots just moved the signs and cones and drove through!! Goodness knows what it will be like after more rain the next few days. I feel so sorry for all those poor people with flooded homes though.

OH's cough is getting better at last and he has actually caught up with some of his work today as he has felt so much better.

Morning all ,

AnnG that blanket has come up well,how you were talking I had visions of it being really holey and ragged, I'm glad you've decided to keep it ,it's a bit of your family history ,it's the sort of thing that people are taking on the telephone programme The Repair shop.

Bright and breezy here I've just hovered through and now waiting for the washing machine to finish so I can hang the towels out and hopefully with the good blow they will get dry ,oh just finished as I was typing so I'd better get them out .

Morning all,

Bright then dark this morning. The sun is trying to shine here and there but the wind is still blowing a bit.

Ann you were an early bird again this morning could'nt you sleep?

Gill when did you say G starts his new job?

Gill yes go on youtube and watch some videos on the things you think you would like to have a go at. I spend lots of time looking for ideas on Pinterest for my polymer clay creations.

Morning All,

No sleep before 6.00am this morning and then a workmen's van had a radio blaring from 8.00am so I'm in the land of the Zombies this morning. Part of the reason was my back and knees hurting. We had a big trolley when we were shopping yesterday and I'm sure it was from pushing it round the corners as it was very full. It needed power steering! ??

Quite sunny just now so I'd better see if a shower will perk me up next before we go to the carvery. We have small plate ones, but the chef knows us so well now that she gives us too much meat really and asks OH if he wants a bigger plate for his with having a Yorkshire so there's room for his veg! So he has a medium one for the price of a small plate!

BBL as he's put the shower on for me!

Oh dear Ann, you could have done with not being woken up with that radio blaring out. Will you be able to get a bit of shuteye this afternoon?

I am still having back problems and am managing on a combination of anti-inflammatories, pain killers and heat pads. Funny thing is I am sleeping better than I usually do. Must be all the pills :-). When I have had back problems before they usually get better in a few days. As this is dragging on a bit I had a look at back pain on the NHS site and it tells me that most back pain will get better by itself in a few weeks or months. Months!! I shan’t be a happy bunny if it lasts months :-(

Visitor at the door so will post this in case I lose it and will BBL.

Good afternoon AGAIN dear friends, I have lost BIG POST and the pAGE CHANGED TO THE WEATHER PAGE.

NOT BEEN IN A GOOD PLACE THE LAST FEW DAYS. SATURDAY NIGHT (Sorry)I had four what I thought were HEART ATTACTS within two hours. My left arm went dead with pins and needles. I just laid still and relaxed, and I dropped off to sleep again. Sunday night I just could not sleep and clock watched the whole night through. Last night I slept until 2.00 am and got up and read until 5.30 am and went back and slept until 8.00 am.So not feeling my usual self. I also trapped my finger in the bedroom door. I went to pull open the door, and tripped against the door with my finger in it. It's turned all the colours of the rainbow. So will keep an eye o it.

I quickly flipped through the posts, and see you have all been chatting away. I see things could be better for Gill and Sandra. And hope a resolution can be agreed very soon. It can't good for either of them. Pleased to hear G has got a Job, Gill.

So our Max is FOUR. It doesn't seem five minutes ago, that you let us know you had him, Mandy. I trust he is well xxx

Oh what terrible weather we have had again this past weekend. I trust you are all safe and sound, and no damage has been done. Denis next door, had FIVE FENCE PANELS blow down onto Ros's shrubs and trees. Two trees have been broken at their trunks.

Carolyn went to see a friend yesterday morning, who lives in a village close by. She has a lot of space, where people store their caravan and other things. One must be a builder, as when Carolyn turned round, her foot went heavy down on the accelerator and crashed into A PILE OF SCAFFOLDING, it collasped all over her car and has done a lot of damage The JAG is les than a year old. !!!!

Jan just rang from Devon, all is well, and her daughter Kerry. is coming down today for a break until Saturday.

Time for a sarnie and coffee. See you soon.xxxx

Good afternoon. Funny day weatherwise, one minute sun then a shower then back to sun and also windy more like a combination of April showers and March winds.

We drove back over the the Cheltenham M&S Home store to order the new mattress which will be delivered some time Monday. If I remember correctly (It is on OH's email) between 0800 and 1800. So a wide time span. they will bring the mattress up to the bedroom and take the old one away. we will have to change the beds over on Sunday though as we want our mattress on the spare bed and the spare bed one to go.We had to go fairly quickly as there was a sale on of mattresses.

I then went mad and bought a complete new set of bathroom towels, bath and pedestal mat. I decided that it was time we had a change of colour, we did have all royal blue I have now gone for a pale turqoise colour for the towels and teal for the bath and pedestal mats. It will make a change anyway.

Next we went to Dunelm for a mattress protector and managed to find one that is 35cms deep instead of the usual 30. The new mattress is deeper than the old one which with the topper is 30cms.

Frank, Oh not a good few days for you, not helped by jamming your finger, I bet that is sore. Hope it soon heals and that you feel better soon. When we didn't see you Gill suggested that maybe you were off bell ringing :-D

Annx And a bad night for you as well, hope you can enjoy lunch and have a better night tonight. I slept OK but was dreaming all the time and woke up feeling quite confused and out of it and couldn't remember why I was feeling upset and couldn't remember the dream.
I have been getting rid of a few bits of china that were wedding presents and also some of my Mum's stuff, that has all gone to the charity shop.

Mandy when I first found the blanket buried in the bottom of the airing cupboard where it ahd been a few years covered by all sorts it looked a sorry sight, it was crumpled and dull. I couldn't believe that I just threww this all wool (wool from the 1940s) crocheted blanket into the washing machine on 30 degrees wash, then into the tumble dryer, it didn't dry very well at first so I then dried it on higher heat and it has not stretched or gone out of shape or matted. And it is still bright and the colours look quite modern. There are several smallish moth holes that now it is on the back of the settee are covered by cushions.

Jane, I expect you are feeling grotty and dizzy and not sociable. Just to let you know that we are all thinking of you <3 <3

Mel Have you been crafting at your smart new tables. what are you making today?
I have bagged in cello bags ready to take to my friend for selling for charity: cards, 13 birthday,2 wedding, 1 congratulations, 5 Easter, 1 Mother's day, 1 thank you, 1 Anniversary and 7 general (non specific). Just have to find the time to get them down in the village to her.

It's me again.

I have been speaking with my old friend in Kettering, Jane knows him. His daughter lives in the USA and has 4 children. All grown up, only one living at home. She has found that her Husband of many, many years, has made contact with an old school Girlfriend, after FORTY YEARS. It appears he went to see his Father who loves miles away, and arranged to meet up with "HIS FRIEND" It now appears he has FOND MEMORIES of her, and is constantly in touch with her. Her son, the only one living at home, can't be in the house with him. When he is in, the son is out. He the husband is sleeping in the spare room, and divorce would look like the next step.

The friends daughter is 55, my daughter is 56, and Simon my son 54, so they all new up together and went to the same infant and Junior school. it has come as a big shock to me, as I thought of them, as the perfect "FAMILY". My friend and his wife are devastated. Not sure if and when they will fly out to be with their daughter.

Well the weather seems to have held up today, quite a cold breeze, but DRY.

No sign of Ros yet, I suppose she's at Carolyn's having a COT and more nattering.

She out tonight at Mothers Club. So I am on my "JACK JONES" lol lol
Won't be late tonight, as I feel tired out,and keep feeling my eyes shutting.

Not dry here Frank it is lashing down. Thinking of the poor people already flooded and now more rain.

Sorry to hear about your friend's daughter.

Oh my goodness Frank, you have had a rough few days. Shutting your finger in the door must have felt like the last straw. I know just how painful that can be. I managed to shut my thumb in the car door a couple of years ago and said a few very unladylike words. I hope you are feeling generally a bit better now. It sounds as though your neighbour needs to put up a new, strong fence. Poor Ros, she works so hard to make your garden lovely that it seems really unfair that her plants and shrubs should get damaged.

AnnG, your picture of the blanket only pinged into my inbox this afternoon. That’s the second time this week that something has taken a day to reach me. The other thing was a WhatsApp message. It’s good that you have found a use for it as it would have been a shame to get rid of it, particularly as it has washed up so well. I like the colours you have chosen for your towels and mats. It’s nice when everything matches or blends well. I try to make sure I have matching stuff out when we have visitors but most of the time it’s just a hodge podge.

On the subject of towels does any one have any ideas for brightening up white towels that are beginning to look a bit grey? I have 4 bath and 4 hand towels. They are good quality (Christy) and are still thick and reasonably soft but have lost that bright white look.

Gill, it sounds as though Sandra is fairly happy at the moment which must reassure you and it’s good that she has made it clear to Michelle and Michael that she has a mind of her own. That might make them think twice before trying to manipulate her. Has OH got a starting date yet for his new job? It will seem strange at first as he has been at home for quite a while but you will both soon get used to it. As well as an income it will give him back a bit of self respect so he will probably feel a bit happier and that will be good for you too. It’s natural that you will miss Sandra a lot but, as someone on here said, most of us with children have to face the “empty nest syndrome” at some stage, although I admit the actual leaving isn’t usually as traumatic as it was for you.

My OH has been a star today. He has dusted and vacuumed through downstairs and then gone over the tiled floors with the steam cleaner. They could do with a really good scrub - what OH calls “a hands and knees job”, but it is such a big area and takes so long to do that neither of us feel up to it at the moment. He even drove me to the pub I am lunching at with the girls tomorrow so that I could take them a list of the meals we are preordering. I could have easily driven myself but he is more worried about my back than I am. He has even offered to cook dinner, sausage and mash tonight. All I have to do later is a tiny bit of ironing and make a trifle. He has certainly earned some brownie points today.

Well, I’ve done my usual job of chatting for England. Lots more I could jabber on about but I had better stop before you all fall asleep.

Wondering if Gill has heard from the solicitor who was supposed to ring yesterday.

Vera, your email with the blanket photo was sent after the rest as I sent the first lot from the Ipad which for some reason didn't pick up your email address.
Well done you OH for doing all the housework, he is repaying you for looking after him when he had his back problem

I think you can buy something that is supposed to brighten whites , usually see it where they sell dyes. Haven't tried it myself

My problem is having quite a few towels to get rid of when buying new. We had quite a lot in reasonable condition just not needed any more. I have sent some to the charity shop in the hope that, if they don't actually sell them they will have somewhere they can send them to.

Dogs homes will usually want towels AnnG. You have been having quite a spring freshen up today with your purchases. I like turquoise towels and mine are a duck egg blue. Like Vera, I try to have my better matching towels out if we have visitors coming, but normally I still use my ancient ones in the kitchen. I had the same problem with the mattress depth when we changed ours a few years ago. None of the fitted bottom sheets or protector fitted! Luckily they still fit our other bed which had the same colour sheets.

Vera you must be fed up with your back by now. Mine's eased up a bit now but OH has hurt his! He thinks it is from carrying bags of shopping from the car to the kitchen yesterday. He tries to carry too much at once and has probably twisted it. He had a lie down with a hot water bottle and ibuprofen this afternoon.

Sorry you have had a bad few days Frank. I think I would see the doc about these 'attacks' you have had and get checked over. Then trapping your finger....that must have really hurt! Sorry to hear about your friend's daughter and husband, but they say you never forget your first love don't they. People thought me and my first husband of 21 years seemed a perfectly happy couple too and were flabbergasted when we parted, especially my sister and mum, but no-one knows what someone else's marriage is like. At least with the children being grown up they will cope with it better.

We had a shock reading the local paper this morning. It said 2 people were in hospital after an incident on Sunday with cars racing and guns being involved and 2 had been shot! It was only along the road our close leads onto, a quarter of a mile away!!!!!!! We had noticed a Police car parked across the entrance to the travellers park opposite the school yesterday and wondered if something had happened. We were amazed they allowed the retrospective planning tor the site (moved in and put a road down on a Bank Holiday and moved vans in) being opposite a school. The site looks smart and clean, but they arrested someone to do with a slavery gang a few years ago, then there was a feud and a caravan being towed was damaged. Recently the council were looking to evict some as they weren't travellers but said to be living there permanently. It just seems a coincidence the police were there the morning after.

Jane your poor niece with all that floodwater. I wouldn't know where to start and it will take ages to dry out. Are they still staying in the house?

I have managed to get everything ready for sewing my latest applique for tomorrow so am pleased about that. It will take a while to sew though as there is a lot to do.

I think I shall be in bed shortly as I've been yawning my head off and it is making my eyes run.

Did the shopping and no I hav'nt had a chance to work on my new tables yet with putting all my stuff away in those boxes. I still have loads to put away as I did tend to start something and leave everything out for it and then start something else!! Naughty girl I hear you say.

Its been wind and rain and some sun here too all day but Bideford was quite quiet even though its half term. I could hear the boy playin gin the garden this morning.

Vera I would just boil the towels a few times that should bring them back up bright and you could add a bit of soda crystals which may help. You sound as though you have enough for a boil wash so go ahead and try it.

Frank we were getting worried about you and I am so sorry you have shut your poor finger inthe door. My son shut my thumb in the car door once and it split just under my thumb nail. It all went black, blue and yellow so I know what its like. Funny thing was though I did'nt lose the nail.

Hope you get a good nights sleep tonight Frank and Ann and Vera too. Is the back easing a bit? Wish my other half would do some housework for me.

Oh Ann you'll be out for the count tonight with not having much sleep last night ,i wonder why your having these sleepless nights .

Oh dear Frank your not having a very good time ,catching your finger in the door is a pinch i did that a while ago too.
Poor Ros she must be upset about the fence coming down on her garden and damaging the trees .

AnnG i bet you wondered how you would find the blanket when you opened the washer door so it's good it survived the wash intact.
It's nice to have a change of colour with towels and bath mats although i find some of the bath mats are so thick and stay quite wet when you stand on them

Vera you need to use the old Blue Bag in your final rinse :-D :-D
I think you can buy Vanish stain remover for whites ,i've never used it so can't say what its like but it might be worth a try

Been raining here this afternoon but dry at the moment ,i can hear that the wind has got up in the last hour .

Mandy I was thinking about Blue Bag but when I have used it in the past it made things look worse not better.

Your poor niece Jane I was only thinking about them yesterday and thought we had'nt heard from you so perhaps she was ok. What dreadful havoc this rain is causing and so many families have their homes destroyed my heart bleeds for them. I just wish this rotten weather would stop and we could have some dry days to give the water time to go down but its done its damage now.

I tried hand bell ringing a few times but stuck to bell ringing in the end. Oh and I both did it with our friends. Aunty Joan had bought a new set of hand bells but she came from a whole family of ringers. Aunty Joan has since died and her funeral was in a cathedrel and so many people went there were 100's there. Oh went but I had to stay to look after mum.