General Chat

Son has been and gone, just have to wait now until he lets me know he is safely home. His cough is not too bad but he is right, I don't want it. Hopefully the bugs were blown away.

Been up the shop and the farm I pass just before the crossroad has a building down where he parks some of his tractors. It has'nt had sides since they had a fire there years ago when I spotted the smoke and told oh I thought it was Diamond's and he went up there and helped them get the cows out into the field. One of the tractors (a new one) had caught alight. Anyway it is now all lying on the floor blocking an entrance into the farm. They have two other entrances and two big sons and a daughter to help clear the mess up.

When I came back from the shop my potting shed door was open so the wind had blown that open and stuff inside that oh had put up in the rafters has blown down. I don't know half of what is up there as he did t when he first moved in and I think its a lot of his stuff out of his house when he sold it.

When I got back as the decking was dry I went and did both pond filters and fished all the leaves out of the big pond and fed both lots of fish. The wind had blown the filter shed door shut so tight I had to get a crowbar to it to get it open. It must have slammed it shut and the door was stuck on the cable to the skimmer pump which is rubber. Took me a while but I did it in the end.

Now I am hungry................................

Cynth just rang the door bell to say she just rescued my green bin which had blown over and skidded across the drive. It is almost empty so very light.We have wedged it into a corner now with the blue bin. Hope this wind drops before tomorrow evening when all the green bins will have to go out. The wind has really come up since this morning when it was very calm.

Evening All,

Just wrote half a post, the food delivery came and I accidentally shut my screen and lost it! Silly me I should remember to paste in a word doc first. A few subs as usual and I've claimed a refund for a very dented tin of toms.

The rain was lashing down again all morning and still windy, but it's dry and calmer again now. I must go up the garden in the morning and see if anything's blown down in the greenhouse. We are lucky to be able to keep our bins at the side of the bungalow between it and the neighbour's tall wall by her footpath. The gate is at the back of them, so they are sheltered, but only till we push them down the drive for collection. They are on a bit of a slope there and blow over more easily.

I hope with some rest and paracetamol your throat and cough soon go Mandy, but better to have it now than it spoil Christmas. OH has dosed himself up with Ibuprofen for his back today and we just carried the food delivery in from the crates, rather than carry the crates.

That was a good idea to have a door visit by your son rather than risk you getting a cold just when you will be going away AnnG. I make sure OH washes his hands when he gets home from meetings and he's really got into the habit now.

It sounds like you have quite a bit of clearing up to do once the weather improves Mel and an apple tree to dispose of as well now. Would a lumberjack firm do it for you? For our Pine tree and our neighbour's Pine tree to both be cut down as well as shredded and the stumps ground down below the soil surface cost £650 for the two and they even swept up afterwards.

I was watching Love Your Weekend earlier and they were at a Christmas Tree Farm talking about looking after them. They actually prune them each year to get a good shape which stupidly had never occurred to me and sow clover in the grass pathways between the rows that acts as a fertiliser. What was lovely was that they put Shropshire sheep where they are, as they have soft mouths and will eat everything except the Christmas trees, so they effectively weed round the trees including the baby ones without damaging them and get nice and fat on the clover too.

Windowcleaner is due tomorrow. We'll have to be up early to shower before he arrives, but who knows whether he will come. He might decide to do our close as it is all bungalows and no climbing up ladders.

Good morning all. still grey here and 7 degrees but the wind seems to have dropped and, as far as I can see no damage in my garden, looking out of the window.
Just general pre holiday packing to do today I think. Oh yes and a walk around the close to deliver some cards.

Morning all,

Showery here this morning, not feeling to good I keep cough cough cough.,I did a covid test but that was negative so that was good.

Mel just rang me to ask if I could tell you all that she hasn't got any Internet this morning so obviously can't get on the thread

Morning all,

I have just phoned Mandy for her to let you know I have no internet this morning and then I clicked on What kind of things and got right in. Mandy has a really nasty cough and I hope she can get rid of it for Christmas.

Have to try and mend the fence round the big pond today if I can find some small cable ties and need to find a bit more of that fencing as its split on the end that keeps it to the filter shed.

Oh glad your back online Mel ,sorry I couldn't talk but my throat feels like it has a razor blade in it when I talk and swallow and all the coughing doesn't help.

Oh dear Mandy. I do hope you feel better soon. drink lots of liquids to help your throat.

Just when I was getting sorted with the things that need doing today I get a message from my surgery to say I am due a blood test. I only had one in September so I don't know why that is.I checked the dates available and there is nothing after the 4 January so I will have to sort that as I will still be away then.

Vera and Gwyn thank you for your cards. I had a little bundle today so the post is looking up.

Vera thanks for your card it arrived today and is hanging up with Anng's in front of my pc.

Done a bit of painting today just two very fiddley things. Swept the leaves away from the back door and now I am going to get some dinner. steak and kidney pie sprouts and new pots.

What you all been up to today? I know Mandy was going to take it easy today.

Mandy, I hope you soon feel a lot better. It does sound sore.

I have had a croaky voice since last week, but it was only a little bit sore for about half a day. I have been having lots of warm honey and lemon drinks and have sucked Hall's menthol sweets or honey and lemon Strepsils and have managed to ward off any further symptoms.

I had a busy day Mel. I went round the little church and put away all the chairs after yesterday's Christingle Service. Yesterday was horrible weather and it was more important that people got home safely, before it was completely dark, so I said I would tidy up today. On going to put away the few coffee mugs left overnight in the draining rack, I noted that several already in the cupboard had nasty stains in them, so I had them all out and rewashed several. How do people think it's OK to leave them like that :-0 I don't have a dishwasher, but I can't stand stained cups. Anyway, they are already to use now.
Brought the teatowels and a couple of hand towels home for washing and sorted the out of date posters for recycling.
On the way home, I delivered some magazines to a friend's house.

I passed the narcissus garden. At least 9 stems have muliple flower heads on them now, so pretty.

I had soup lunchtime and now I am really hungry. Just waiting for my sprouts. They were huge this week more like small cabbages. Found some nice meat gravy in the freezer looking for my steak and kidney pie. I like the pukka pies you can do in the microwave.

Evening All,

Another dull and grey day here with rain and still a bit windy. No windowcleaner which is not surprising with the weather. All we did today was nip to the shop. OH had a bad night again so has decided to forget the loft for a few days and see how things are then. The cards might be our only decorations this year, but at least neither of us would make a fuss if that's what we need to do. He struggled getting out of bed and the car today and sensibly decided to stay warm tonight and not go to the match.

Mandy that sounds like one of those horrid throats and a persistent cough that wears you out so stay warm and rest with drinks as much as you can. With those kinds of coughs I like to mix a bit of honey and a few squirts of lemon juice with some water to sip. I normally don't like honey, but it helps soothe the throat and reduce the coughing. I hope you are a bit better tomorrow, but at least you know it's not covid.

That was good your internet came back Mel. I hope you managed to fix your fence as you don't want the Heron spotting an opportunity! I bought some sprouts this morning, so I hope yours are nice with your meal. I seem to keep thinking it's Sunday today for some reason.
I noticed Mrs O on the front today, picking all the leaves individually off her gravel in bright orange gloves.

Fancy getting a message about a blood test and when you weren't expecting one AnnG. As you say, something else to sort when you are busy (sorry that came out as 'busty' at first!!). I must check when my blood sugar levels one needs doing next time.

I'm flying on, saying hello and flying off again. It's been a very busy couple of days and I've been struggling with a really bad back, though I'm not aware of doing anything that would have made it flare up again. I hope your OH's pains have eased a little now Annx and Mandy, look after yourself, stay warm and hydrated and rest as much as you can. That sounds a really nasty cough.

I am feeling so tired now that I am going to get a hot drink and go to bed. With luck tomorrow will be a little less busy and I'll find more time to come on the thread. Sleep well everyone.

Good morning all. still very dark out there and 5 degrees. I woke up early and decided to get up and change the bed so the bedding is in the wash. Busy pre packing day today plus hairdresser at 12 and I also want to get my next prescription if they will let me. Plus Tesco order this afternoon and try and make an appointment for this blood test.
Ann my blood tests are usually annually so why 3 months with no pre warning I have no idea. And communication with the surgery is so difficult these days. To most people it would not be a problem for a simple blood test. And the test doesn't bother me at all. But the rigmerole of trying to contact the surgery (Phoned yesterday and they were shut for training), plus actually getting to the surgery for the test is frustrating. The only bus that passes there is hourly and to walk would take me over half an hour on a good day. If it is wet , icy or snow not nice at all.

Gwyn you had a very busy day. I hope the hall people appreciate your help. Or they probably don't know you have done it.
Those narcissi must look beautiful.

Vera I hope your back has eased up a bit today. Sounds like you overdid things (again).
Mel your meal sounded nice.

Morning all,

Woke early for the loo and went back to bed, fatal slept till 9.50am. Just had a message from Asda to say I have one sub and what is it? my tabacco which I don't funtion without and I am right out. So that will be going back and I shall have to go up the shop and get some at an exuberant price.

:-) Mel, I am so used to being with non smokers, none of my family smoke cigarettes these days, one vapes. It just seemed odd that the sub was tobacco. what did they sub it for?

Grey and cold today and a bit damp, but there has only been a bit of drizzle

Thank you for your card Mandy which came today. I hope that horrid cough is easing a bit and you are getting some rest. Stay in the warm. Have you tried Broncho-Stop cough lozenges. They are herbal, based on Thyme, but I’ve found they work better for me than a lot of the other cough sweets.

I hope your croakiness is getting better as well Gwyn. The honey and lemon should help. I can’t bear honey, even the smell of it makes me nauseous. I buy it for OH who occasionally fancies a bit of bread and honey but he has to prepare and eat it well away from me. You were very good to do the clearing up after the Christingle service and I agree with you about cups stained with tea or coffee .

Have you got your blood test sorted AnnG? It’s strange the surgery have requested another one so soon after the last one. You will be away for quite a while at Christmas won’t you. It’s always good to be able to spend time with family

How is OH’s back now Annx? Is the Ibuprofen helping? Years ago I used to have Naproxen when my back was bad but once I started having blood pressure pills I was told not to take anti-inflammatories with them. Would your food delivery driver not carry the crates in for you? Perhaps you prefer not to have the drivers come in. Tesco and Sainsbury drivers carry our crates into the kitchen for us so we only have to lift the stuff from the crates to the work surface and often they help with that.

Mel, you put me to shame. You are always so busy with your garden and ponds. I don’t know how you manage it. Then you somehow find time to make your miniatures and cook. I’m also intrigued to know what Asda substituted for tobacco, unless it was cigarettes or did you mean they didn’t have your favourite tobacco so substituted it for a different brand.

I’ve been really busy the last couple of days yet when I list what I’ve done it doesn’t really seem that much. Yesterday I did the week’s washing, apart from towels and I also had a big Tesco order that came to nearly £250 but there were no subs and nothing was missing so I was very pleased. I also spent some time researching different presents online. As we won’t be seeing any family and I can’t post parcels all round the country, this year they will either be getting things that can be delivered straight to their homes or vouchers. I got most of that sorted online yesterday

Today I had a very slow start as my back was so painful but eventually got my act together and got out. I needed to go to Waitrose, Sainsbury, the Co-op and Roy’s as each shop had different things that I wanted and I also had to go to the pharmacy and OH wanted to go to a specialist electrical shop. The pharmacy had my tablets at last. I checked while I was there that I’d been given the right ones. It was very odd. All the time I was walking, particularly when I was going a bit faster, my back didn’t hurt much at all yet as soon as I stopped the pain hit again.

I’ve got dinner all prepared so I’ve just got to cook it now. It feels as though it’s getting colder again so keep warm and comfy and have a good night everyone.

Yes my sub was for my tabacco and they sent a different brand so it went back. Put the rest of the shopping away which was'nt much this week.

Iv'e done a load of washing this morning and its dried quite a lot on the line as the wind was blowing from the west today. Thats now on the airer infront of the little rad in the hall.

Put some more coats on my moulds I am making and went and did the wrong one on one of the things I had'nt varnished, by mistake. That mould had a dent in it so the cast came out with a dent in it!! When I took the first coat off it took the paint off her so I had to paint it all over again, find the right one to mould and start again.

Fed the wild birds and the chickens twice and went up the shop for some tabacco,
the right kind but gosh its so dear in the local shop and I only bought a little one.

Iv'e now got my red lights on in the ceiling to make it cosier in here as there's been a areally icy wind today.

Sold three lots on Ebay and been paid for the tudor feast and table so thats parcelled up waiting to go.

Hope the backs are better tomorrow for Vera and Annx hubby. My hips have been giving me gip over the last few days and mostly my right one which is unusual as its usually the left one.

Meal for one Mac cheese tonight and I will put a couple of franfurters sliced up in it and some little vine ripened toms. Makes it a bit more and spices it up a bit.