General Chat

Morning all,
We have sunshine and blue sky but it does feel cooler mainly because I turned the heating off yesterday as it was milder and we had the fire lit and then I forgot to put it back on auto for this morning so I quickly turned it on when I came down, wind has dropped too.

Ann hope you've both manage to get a better night's sleep and OH found a comfortable position to get some sleep .
Yes at the moment I'm knitting a doll for Colin's sisters great granddaughter ,I took one of the little rabbits I'd knitted and said I would knit a doll for her .

Anng we like Dad's Army too always get a laugh with those .

Morning girls,

Cold and frosty morning here but the suns out, its three degrees and the pc is telling me we are going to have rain for 6 days won't that be nice.

Hope A and G slept well and he could find a comfortable spot. Its so awful when you are bruised around the chest to as every breath can hurt if you're not in a good postion. I hope you're feeling a little better ow you're home and in your own surroundings.

I just have the shop to do today and then the rest of the day is my own.

I just looked up the garden and Phil is sitting on top of the wall sunning himself. No fool is he?

Annx
So pleased that OH is safely home and that you found a sensible and thorough nurse at the surgery to prioritise your appointments. That was thoughtful of her to think of you needing to talk to someone too.
I hope you both managed to get some decent rest last night and that he continues to heal well.

AnnG,
The proposed photography subjects sound interesting. I remember when I was in secondary school, my friend and I went down Castle Street in Portchester, where you will know they have some quite old properties. Our art teacher had tasked us with drawing interesting doorknockers, ( no moble phones back then ;-)
We found some interesting ones, an anchor, a dolphin etc.but I don't know where I'd look round here. I'd probably take myself off to Canterbury and look around the side streets off the main city, just as we did when grandson had an I-Spy book many years ago and we were looking for foot-scrapers outside front doors.

Mel
Good that you didn't have chickens roaming free, because as you say the fox may well be about.
I know we talk about cunning foxes, but I'd never seen them really 'at work' until the time I went to look at a field of young lambs near here. I stood watching from the roadside, as they played and jumped about. They were at the stage where they leapt into the air periodically. As I watched, I noticed a fox watching them too and he was mimicing their play. He would jump in the air, just like them, but every landing took him just a bit closer to the young lambs.
Luckily, on the far side of the field, a farmer must have seen this too, because suddenly a loud warning gunshot sounded and the fox quickly ran away.

Mandy
Your roast sounded good. We have haggis ready for our Burn's Night meal today. Daughter is always keen to acknowledge her paternal Scottish links ;-)
I can imagine the little one will be thrilled with her new doll. You make such lovely toys.

Another quiz for us last night, - a fun-raising event near son's house. Thank goodness the weather had improved and the rain and wind had eased. We are forecast more wild winds in the next few days though. Our pyracantha and it's supporting wall have parted company :-0 but not for the first time. As daughter says, it may need 6 hands to make sure it's secure again, so we will wait until someone can help us. It's such a prickly job, so usually I man the long-handled broom and push the plant towards the wall, so someone else can tie some strong wire round and fix it to the wall.

Wall to wall sunshine here today and although not actually a lot warmer, at least it looks cheerful :-D

Yes the sun certainly cheers things up. I just walked down to take some books back to the book stall lady, next book stall is 7-10 February.

Yes Gwyn and Ann, interesting photography subjects. Door knockers does mean I need to wander round some of the older parts of town. Modern houses tend not to have knockers put on their nice new doors. So they are few and far between. I guess the illustrate a song etc will take some thought.
Old things, well this house is full of them, just need to choose what to take.

I hope OH is continuing to improve Annx and was able to get more comfortable last night. You must both rest and relax as much as you can. The nurse you saw sounds both efficient and kind. It’s good that she thought of the effect on you as well. Sending lots of good vibes your way <3

A Humax, ladies, is just a type of set top box/recording device. I think it came out years ago when Freesat came into being.

Enjoy your haggis tonight Gwyn. I have Scottish neighbours and we had haggis, tatties and neeps in their house a few years ago, followed of course by a wee dram.

It’s very cold again today but beautifully sunny. We have vertical blinds in our lounge and when it’s sunny like this we pull back the ones at the garden end of the room which cover 2 floor length windows and patio doors so the sun shines in and brightens the whole room. The trouble is we then waste.too much time watching the birds on the feeders.

We are waiting for friends to come for a cuppa and a piece of cake so that will pass a pleasant hour or two. Blow me, I’ve just heard their car draw up. OH will let them in. Enjoy the rest of the day.

Afternoon All,

I think someone asked, but OH never had any heart trouble before. The surgeon even said his cholesterol levels weren't bad. He doesn't smoke and rarely has a drink. He has put a couple of stones on so that needs to go. He said he had a restless night, but he had a long nap in the day. I just couldn't get back to sleep after 2.00am. He's usually on the go and doing things, so is frustrated his back is such a problem. His meds have been added online now, so we can order more of those they only gave him half a dozen of. He said again to thank you for thinking of him. Gwyn I was quite relieved that nurse did what she did for me. She said I need to 'talk it all out' with someone.

I hope you enjoy the quiz Gwyn and I like your method for dealing with the Pyracantha!

Well it will be hunt the doorknockers for you AnnG. They are more rare aren't they now and video ones are getting very popular round here. I suppose old cottages and terraced ones may be a good bet as many have no front gardens so you could get a good shot of them. Yes, the April one will need some thought, but will be interesting to see what the others come up with for it. We both enjoy Dad's Army too. :-)

Oh those little Rabbit dolls were lovely Mandy and the little girl will love it when you give it to her! We needed some heat today didn't we as it's frosty, but it's a bit of a shock to get out of bed and find it's cold!

Mel I haven't seen a fox round here for a few years now since all the building in the area, but you don't want one after your chickens. Fancy Phil dropping by for a bit of sunbathing! Not daft as you say. :-)

I expect OH's sleep pattern was disrupted in hospital and will take a while to get back again. at least he is home anyway.
It is good that you will be able to talk to the doctor and hopefully he will be able to put your mind at rest and allay any fears you are harbouring. 'talking it out' is good. I often feel I am doing that on here so thanks to all for continually listening.
I got my months mixed with the photo subjects. February is 'old things' and March is door knockers.

Vera nothing wrong with spending time watching the birds feeding, very good for you.

Talking of foxes. I was amazed the other day, looking out of an upstairs window into our Close at 11AM There was a fox calmly walking down the road from the cul de sac towards the main road. I have seen them in the early mornings around 2AM but never in daylight.

Coming back from the shop today there was a lady walking towards the church at the crossroads and when I pulled up at them I saw it was a lady I know . Stopped and chatted a bit and she was going to walk down the church to retrieve a wreath from her brothers grave. I asked her if she would like to come and have a cuppa with me and she said yes. She did'nt want a lift to the church so said she would be round in about 20 mins. I went in and tidied round a bit and when she came it was lunchtime so I asked her if she would like a ham roll with her cup of tea and she said yes please. So we had unch and a very good kong natter and she had a look around the garden and at the chickens after our lunch and thne she walked home. I used to teach her daughter to ring and she even had a go but was a bit frightened so did'nt come anymore once Frankie her daughter got to know us a bit. She is on her own as her son lives with his partner and Frankie the daughter is away from home too. She said if I ever need to be taken to hospital she is willing to take me and I asked her if I go to a garden centre would she like to come and she said yes so that will take some time out for both of us. She lives opposit the Shebbear Colledge so not to far away from me.

I'm pleased oh managed to get a good nap in today Ann as sleep heals too. Hope you get a better nights sleep tonight. As ever thinking of you both and sending wishes.

I have a good small knocker on my shed door which was oh's I'll send you a picture of it. Its only very small but very strange too.

I missed you there Vera with not sending my post straightaway. Thank you for your good vibes and we are trying to relax. Mind you It doesn't help though that the hospital only sent enough of a couple of tablets to last till Monday, and because the surgery didn't include the new tablets online till yesterday, we couldn't order more till then. I need to phone the pharmacy to see if they have them in stock first on Monday, then ask the surgery if they can authorise their issue to us sooner. These problems don't help with relaxing do they.

I like watching birds on the feeders too.......very entertaining. Thanks for explaining what a Humax box is. I can't believe I hadn't heard of them.

You are right AnnG as hospitals are so noisy at night. Yes, I hope the Doctor can allay my fears and I can say and ask him things I'd rather not mention to OH. It's good to have a bit of an outlet for concerns on here as you say.

I'm off to try and get a bit more sleep again now.

Good morning all. Just taken me half an hour to get on here (and facebook) I guess the weather is affecting something somewhere as all programmes were affected.

4 degrees here, very dark rained overnight and we are promised heavy rain today.

Ann I am sure that in your situation we would have the same or similar fears and worries as you. <3

Anyone else having to wait ages to get on here this morning?

Morning AnnG and All,

Looks like we will get a lot of rain today and I can hear the wind outside. I saw on the news this morning that the winds will be bad in some areas and may cause outages, so that may have been your problem as you say AnnG. I am charging the phone bank in case we have any here and will charge my phone next. Edit: I managed to get on here ok, but the weather isn't too bad here.

I was awake again from 3.00am but OH managed to sleep a bit better after painkillers, despite his back pain. He is better sitting up or standing. We are going to see if he can get an appointment at the doctors again in the morning and get the scan they plan after physio brought forward. He's eating ok but fancied a jacket potato, with tuna and a salad for lunch and that will be easy for me to do as well. I got a food delivery booked for this afternoon and will ask them to carry it into the kitchen this time.

I've just put a wash on, but it's not going outside in this weather!

Morning all I forgot to post this morning.

Its extremly windy and dark here with lashing rain dos'nt make you want to do anything. We have a wind yellow warning and its 8 egrees here now.

Pleased to hear that oh had a bit of a better night last night after the painkillers for his back. Hope you manage to get him an appointment in the morning. I am wondering if he has a trapped nerve as they can go on or ages. Enjoy our jacket and tuna salad. Nice and easy and tastey.

I'm still worried about this parcel but can't do anything till tomorrow and I am hoping Tim the postman brings the label with him tomorrow. If he dos'nt I shall have to try and rebook the collection.

The fence that BIL and I put up on Friday is now down again because I did'nt go down and put cable ties on it thats what we were dong when the postman came on Friday.

Ann good that G managed a good sleep. Hopefully once you have had a chat to the doctor you will start to relax and sleep better. At the moment your body is taking the minimum amount of sleep to keep you going so that once you wake up, you don't feel you need more sleep and you start over thinking things. Just relax through the day and try and read or find something on TV that doesn't take a lot of thought. Lunch sounds good, very nutritious.

Mel oh door fence down again, it is so blustery that maybe leave it down for now.
Hopefully the postie will bring your label back tomorrow as I assume you have paid for it.

It is raining and dark here fairly windy but not abnormally so and 7 degrees.

I am making cards.

Morning all,

Very frosty here overnight and this morning but it's gone now and ths sun keeps trying to peep through but its quite cloudy so not a lot of chance of that happening.

That's good OH got a better night last night Ann ,if only they could now ease his back pain ,hopefully you'll know more tomorrow if you can get an appointment.

Anng I had no problem getting on here ,it must be your weather affecting it .

I have just made some nice orange buns ,only made eleven just not quite enough mix for twelve so we'll have to fight over the odd one .

Mel I hope you can fix the girls fencing that old fox could still be about , can you fix it on your own .

Its not the chickens fencing that has blown down but a bit in the back behind my pond. The chicken run was ok this morning but I had to wait for the lashing rain to stop and then it did and the sun came out for a while now it grey again but no wind. It was just as though someone had turned the switch off when the wind suddenly stopped, wierd or what?

The orange buns sound nice Mandy can I please have the odd one?

Just thought not taken this morning pill and now its time to take another so I better go and do that and make something to eat as my tum is rumbling.

Afternoon all

Woke up this morning to a cold but sunny day. That didn’t last long. It came over very grey and the wind started to get up again. I decided to go down to the post box before it got any worse and the wind was icy and getting stronger by the minute. The rain is now lashing down and it’s blowing a hooley. Roll on spring.

I do hope something can be done to help OH’s back pain Ann. It would be good if the docs could find out what is causing so much pain, then they will know the best treatment to give. Hopefully you can get him another appointment tomorrow. It will be good for you to be able to talk all your worries through with the doctor tomorrow. Fingers crossed that he can explain what’s going on and reassure you.

I’ll fight Mel for the spare orange bun please Mandy. You’ve reminded me that I made a nice orange cake a couple of times but I haven’t done it for a long while so I must look the recipe out.

I hope you get your parcel sorted out Mel. I’d be inclined to leave your fence until this wild weather eases up in a day or two.

AnnG, I haven’t had any problems getting on the site at all, either first thing this morning or just now.

We usually have our Sunday dinner around 2 pm but it’s going to be late today. We went to Homebase who are selling everything off cheaply before they close. OH wanted some more moss remover stuff that we bought there about a month ago. Of course they had sold out and I didn’t see anything else that I wanted apart from some big terracotta pots that were 50% off but though they were good value we really didn’t need them. We were there a long while because we bumped into our neighbours from where we used to live. We haven’t seen them since we moved 11 years ago so there was plenty to chat about.

It’s time for my beef to come out of the oven now to “rest” and the rest of the veg to go on. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.

mm Vera, roast beef sounds good, especially if somebody else was cooking it.
I have a duck breast that was lurking in the freezer. I have prepped the veg, cauli, sprouts and leek and the duck only takes a short while to cook in the air frier.

Now now ladies no fighting over my buns :-D

Enjoy your beef Vera and your Duck Anng ,we have cold chicken and salad tonight

Wind has really got up here now and its just started to rain .