General Chat

Morning Anng and all,

Its a lovely bright sunny morning here and its 5 degrees and pc says mostly cloudy and rainy days coming.

Slept well but got up three times for the loo. Had a lovely meal with Stu. He had done his chicken dish but put more herbs and spices in it this week. I know he uses olive oil, grainy mustard and maple syrup, chilli flakes, tarragon and BBQ sauce, sounds awful dos'nt it but it tastes great. We also had roast pots, leeks, carrot, celery which had been steamed. A small bakewell tart for sweet and a few grapes and a hazelnut biscuit which was a bit hard for my teeth. He also gave me a drink to taste and it was lovely, it was raspberry vodka and lemonade so I had a very small one of those too and a glass of water.

I just looked out the window as I thought a car was driving down as I did a deer shot off into the orchard so I don't know what the noise was unless it was a plane but the deer heard it too.

There's wall to wall blue sky at the mo.

Morning Anng ,Mel ,morning all,

Lovely sunshine and blue sky but there was a frost first thing ,I think it should be sunny all day .

Enjoy your lunch and the theatre Anng ,hope the Pc can be fixed or it will be more expense as our dear Frank would say ,perhaps it just needs a good clean to blow any dust out they run hot sometimes ,I know son use to get a can of air to blow all his keyboard and take the back off to do something in the back as his would run hot at times.

Mel you sound as if you enjoyed your meal last night and even had a little tipple too ,some of these sauces are lovely with all the different herbs and spices .

Hope Vera has a good journey home.

Son called in and checked my form for my licence ,he went away with a big piece of gammon a big box of biscuits for cheese a box of chocolate biscuits and two packets of cookies all from Christmas, we'll never eat all those biscuits and the gammon was a spare piece I put in the freezer so they will eat it up .

Morning All,

Sunshine here too! It's a shame about your PC AnnG, but it might be something easy to fix so you don't have to change it. I'm still having trouble with the numbers on mine and would have taken it in if events hadn't happened. I might see if they can look at it next week. With needing to use numbers with all the codes we have to use now and PINs, they need to be right. It's a nice day out for you with lunch and then the theatre. I have never seen Pirates of Penzance.

Mandy they've issued him with codeine at the moment and said to have paracetomol with them, so I think Tramadol must be stronger. I think my sister had those for her back. He did have a better night again last night, so is making sure to take more (within the instruction) now. I started off sleeping, but then woke up a bit dizzy and hoped it wasn't the start of a panic attack, so I sat up and put the tv on and did the breathing exercises and was ok. I actually feel a bit calmer today. I keep meaning to ask about the lady too. At least if you can catch her and let her know, it should put her off doing it again. I bet son was pleased with the gammon and goodies to eat. I'm not much of a meat person either, nor smelly cheeses, but I like the others.

That sounded a lovely meal Mel, without chilli for me though! I tend to throw things in sauces without telling OH till after he's eaten, so it doesn't put him off. It's surprising how a bit of this and that can add flavour.

I hope Vera has a good trip home as well.

The lady that runs the groups rang today and she thinks it is too soon for them for me yet, and booked me in with the surgery counsellor first instead.

One of my toes is black where I caught it under the edge of the bed yesterday, it did hurt a lot when I did it!

Today's trip out is to the dentist for OH, but it isn't far, so that's good as it will be dark when we come back in the rush hour. It's engaged every time he tries the Eye Hospital, but his eye is no worse.

Wishing oh good luck at the dentist and hope he can have his loose tooth out. They won't take my loose one out they want to take all I have left out. I suppose its cos I am a national health patient and thye don't get as much money for my treatment.

Stu makes all the sauce so not shop bought. He reacons it was the best one he made yet and we've had it a few times now. I think the first one was the nicest but I did'nt tell him that.

I too hope Vera has a safe journey home today and that the weather is as nice there as it is here. Its still lovely and sunny and its 8 degrees now but feels chilly indoors so I may turn the heating on for a while.

Yes Ann Tramadol are a lot stronger and Colin and son have them for their back .
Hope OH got on ok at the dentist and they could ease the toothache for him .
That's good you managed to calm yourself so you didn't have the panic attack ,they must be awful when they occur.

Mel it sounds like Stuart likes to experiment with the herbs and spices when he makes a meal ,different taste every time ,he probably can't remember quite how much he used last time so each time it tastes slightly different.

I meant to say the other day I read we had had an earthquake just off the Norfolk coast, it was about 4.30 Sunday morning so we would have been fast asleep .
I can remember feeling a tremor several years ago now when son was little it was a strange sensation everything shook for a few seconds so I think a full scale one must be terrifying.

We couldn't believe it was so quiet trafficwise when we went to the dentist and I found a parking space right outside. The dentist said he was happy to take two teeth out as they are both loose, but asked OH to just clear it with the cardiologist first to be sure and booked him an appointment to do it anyway. I suppose they need to be happy about him bleeding with being on blood thinners and with his osteoporosis meds, which can cause problems with healing. I think the regular painkillers now like you said Mandy has helped with the toothache as well as it's not bothered him much today. He seems a lot happier now his voice is back properly and he's had two phone calls enquiring about him today and offers to meet up with people he works with when he's ready, so that was good. Yes I was glad I was able to calm down Mandy as that stops them getting worse.

I can remember, probably the same tremor, in the night years ago that rattled the long wall mirror and was so strange as you say, as you couldn't tell what was moving at first.

I wonder why they won't take just the one tooth out for you Mel. A dentist told me once that it's best to hang onto as many teeth as you can. I wish I'd looked after mine better, just like Pam Ayres said.

Stu is good making his own sauces and I should do that, but am a bit lazy or too busy. I just add things to the packet or bottled ones lately. I meant to ask you what the cooked celery was like? I love cream cheese and chopped celery sandwiches and like it in a salad. I used to drink Vodka when I was young, but the raspberry one sounds nice.

Good evening everyone,

Ouch Ann, that toe looks painful. I bet you muttered a few choice words when you did it. I hope it isn’t too sore when you have shoes pressing on it. I’m glad OH got on well at the dentist. Fingers crossed that the cardiology people give him the go-ahead to have his loose teeth out. You did very well to nip that panic attack in the bud and it’s good that you feel a little calmer now.

Oh dear AnnG, I hope your poorly PC is recoverable. Quite apart from the expense, it’s such a hassle getting used to new systems. If you have to replace it will you get another desktop or go for a laptop? It sounded a nice lunch and theatre trip out for you today. Did you enjoy it?

Stu sounds a good cook Mel. Can I borrow him please? A good sauce can turn an ordinary bit of meat or fish into a really tasty meal. I’m not a fan of chilli but I like herby flavours and quite a lot of the spices.

I had intended to tell you about yesterday but I am struggling to keep my eyes open at the moment. I had virtually no sleep last night and it has suddenly hit me how tired I am so I think I am going to take my pills, get a hottie and maybe my wheat bag as well and get myself to bed. I’ll try to come on the thread tomorrow and tell you how we all got on yesterday. Sleep well, ladies.

The cooked cerlery was nice I did'nt like it when I was younger but Stu steamed it and at the moment the cerlery from Lidl is very tasty. I do love it with the boursin cheese spread up the hollow stalks though and I think thats my favorite. I do put it in soups too. If I put it in a stew oh liked it so I fished all the cerlery out for him. I never ate it much as a child. You should dtry it Annx.

I have hoovered today and cleaned the vac out each time I did a room. My old hoover I bought in Morrisons for £49.50 has done me well but it does throw out a lot of dust so I have to hoover first and dust afterwards but that did'nt get done today as there is always tomorrow.

Have any of you watched TheCastaways on channel 5. Its the last one tonight and I am going to watch it on iplayer.

Mandy yes I am looking for to Sunday nights program Miss Austin I saw it in the Saturday papers tv programs.

I am also watching Granchester.

Good that the dentist will take the teeth out for OH Ann. That is twice you have got a good parking space..
I hope that tie soon heals it does look painful.

Vera I am sure the last couple of days has taken it out if you hopefully you will feel better tomorrow.
I would prefer a desk top I have had a lap top before and couldn’t get on with it.

It was a very nice afternoon, lunch was nice food was excellent.I had a lovely piece of haddock cooked with really crispy skin and served on Morelle maxed potatoes.,the flavour was beautiful, so deep yet so delicate. Then I had two scoops of really nice ice cream. I also had a lovely special gin. We were lucky as one lady who goes to this Brasserie Blanc quite often had a Black Friday offer. If we bought two courses the main course was 50% off. And she had a similar offer on theatre tickets with stall seats for £20.

Good morning all 6 degrees here so no frost. Yesterday was lovely, sun all day which was good as it was a fair walk from the restaurant to the theatre.
Today I have two men coming to see me. One this morning and one this afternoon. This morning’s visitor is from U3A to show me how to action something for my groups on the website which has just changed.
This afternoon is, cross fingers please to check if my desk top can be revived. Or if I have to get a new one.

Morning Anng and all,

Anothr bright sunny morning here and thed temp is 8 degrees and t says to expect light rain and mostly cloudy so I hope its wrong again.

Anng sounds like you had a smashing day yesterday was the show as good as the meal seemed to be?

I have to pop out and get my scripts today, its only one I have run out of so I may do that earlier. BIL usually comes today and I need some milk as I forgot to order it this week. How that happened I have no idea as thats the first thing on the list usually.

Hope Annx and Co had another better night. Sounds like you were very lucky with the parking places.

Also hope Vera had a good journey home and perhaps we will hear from her today unless she stayed longer at her daiughters.

Mel Vera was on here after she got home.

Yes the cast were very good and the singing excellent. Gilbert and Sullivan I always remember being with bright costumes for the pirates and a bright stage scene but, in common with all things these days it was very minimalistic. Hardly any scenery and drab costumes.

Good morning from a cold (4 degrees), very gloomy and very wet Suffolk

Mel, I did post last night but perhaps you missed me. Anyway, here I am again now. Could you order your pills a little bit earlier so that you don’t run out? You don’t want to run out if you are supposed to take them every day. I’m not sure how your system works as I don’t have to order mine. It’s all done automatically and I just have to collect them from the pharmacy every 28 days.

I see it’s your day for men AnnG. I hope your PC can be brought back to life. I prefer a desktop as well.

Regarding the last couple of days, things did not start well. We had both showered Tuesday night and all our clothes and bits and pieces were laid out ready so Wednesday morning we just had to have some cereal and a cuppa, get dressed and go. I set the alarm for 7 am. At one point I woke with a start and the room was pitch black, too black. Then I realized that there was no glow from my bedside clock. Panic!! If the clock had broken down how late was it? Switched on the bedroom light – no light. Then I realized that the power must have gone off during the night and wasn’t yet back on. So I carefully staggered downstairs in the dark to my phone and found it was only just 6 am (Memo to self: No sense in having all the torches downstairs, put one upstairs!) It wasn’t much fun trying to get dressed properly in the dark but we managed and had a glass of water and some cereal with cold milk. Just as we were leaving at 8.15 the power came back on which was a relief because I had been worried about my freezer but could see that it was still registering -6. I think the power must have been off quite a while as it is usually -18 so the temperature had risen 12 degrees. I didn’t have time to check on anything else and we got on our way.

It was good we had left plenty of time as, with work and school traffic and one set of road works, it took us 20 minutes longer than usual.

(Just had a 30 minute phone call to interrupt me here)

The chapel for the service was at the funeral directors so the coffin was already there. There was no point in bringing it all the way to daughter’s so that we could follow it all the way back. Instead they sent a large funeral car which took S’s mother, brother and sister,, his ex-wife and my daughter. We followed in grandson’s car with him and our granddaughter. Everyone else had just been given the time of the service so went straight to the chapel. It was a lovely service, very personal to S. He didn’t have a faith so it was non-religious except my daughter had asked the celebrant just to include the Lord’s Prayer for anyone who felt they would like to join in with it and most people did. At the end all those not attending the burial were invited to go to the large pub where the reception was being held where they would be able to get coffee and tea and wait in comfort in the room set aside for us.

So to the actual burial. It was another half hour’s drive to the woodland burial site. This time there was the hearse, the funeral car and about 5 others following and I was very impressed at how respectful and courteous other drivers were. At roundabouts people seemed to know instinctively which cars were in the funeral group and let us all through in one stream so no-one got separated or lost. This was a lovely little ceremony in beautiful sunshine in a spot S would have loved and at the end there was a moment that made us all smile. A large Chinook helicopter flew over quite low, hovered over the field for a moment and then flew off. It would have appealed to S’s sense of humour – his own personal fly past.

I won’t bore you with details of the reception except to say the pub did an excellent job with the food and we were all given a specially labelled packet of cornflower seeds which were S’s favourite flower.

I got virtually no sleep that night as, released from driving, OH had had a couple of large glasses of wine at the reception and once back at daughter’s house he and grandson were making inroads into a bottle of port. Consequently, though OK in himself, he did snore and snort and grunt all night long. Just before 6 am he quietened down and I had just dozed off when he leapt out of bed with cramp. At that point I got up.

We came home to a very cold house. The power cut had knocked our underfloor heating off. We got it back on but it takes forever to heat up from scratch. Then I discovered by chance that the water heater which is usually on from 6.30 am for an hour was on late last night so I think it had reset itself to be permanently on. This morning OH has had to spend a while resetting all the controls and timers.

Well I have rabbited on for far too long. I can’t think you really wanted all the funeral details but it helps me to remember if I write things down. I’m now going to go and sort out some vegetarian recipes as veggie granddaughter is coming on Monday. Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

Oh goodness Vera, that was a cold dark start to the day. It sounds as if the funeral and burial were all done very well. I have been in a couple of woodland burial centres and they were both very different. Where Jon is buried is real woodland, a forest with graves among the trees and from autumn it is hard to find the graves. In the Isle of Wight we stayed next to a woodland burial site and walked round one evening. This one was a bit more formal and lawns not trees. Both were so peaceful though.
I am pleased it all went off well.
I am sure that your daughter is feeling a bit lost today now there is nothing left to be planned.

I have had the first male here sorting out the U3A problem. Only hope I can remember what he did when I get a proper Pc

So this is going to be an adventure/ long learning curve. Not to say frustrating.
Computer is done for, hard drive is also done for. Although Dad’s fired up when Dom looked at it, it is too old to replace mine as likely won’t easily take W11 not having been used for over four years.

Soo Dom is sourcing me a new computer, almost as slim line as the one I have. The one he is getting is one he has put in for a lot of people it is a Xenta. No I have not heard of it, apparently it is British from a small British firm. He will also organise new office for me (ours is out of date now) He will order it and Office and hopefully have it next week. He is going to send me the estimate with his work today (about two hours)
And all the rest.

I had read Vera's post so why I said that in my post I don't know.

I waited for BIL to arrive or at least phone me but he did'nt do either. I could'nt settle into anything as I thought he ws coming so hung around till the afternoon and went and picked up my meds and from there I went to Hatherleigh for deisel as the car was extremly low.

Souds like you may have an expensive bill from Dom. My pc is ancient but if I have to have a new one I always have oh's in the study which already has Windows 11. I am still on w10 at the mo.

When I went to pay for my fuel I spied on one of their shelves Nik Naks which I have'nt seen for years and I used to like those so I bought myself a packet of the scampi and lemon ones which I used to like also a packet of scampi fries which I have eaten reading your posts. Not bad for a person who dos'nt like shellfish of any knid.

I must get a drink now as I am as dry as the dessert after those fries.

Not planned anything for dinner shall just dive down the feezer and come up with something, biut like a lucky dip!! :-D :-D :-D

We've had another sunny day all day but it still bitterly cold out even though when you're in the sun you can feel wwrmth from it.

Vera if you took you phone to bed with you you would have the torch on it to use if the leccy went out. Hope the house has warmed up for you now.

I’ve never heard of Nik Naks Mel. I’m jealous of your sunshine. Even when it’s cold a bit of sun seems to cheer everything up. It did stop raining earlier today but it just stayed grey and damp. I deliberately don’t take my phone into the bedroom. I’m so often awake for long spells in the night that I would be tempted to start scrolling and I don’t want to do that. I can easily put a torch in my bedside cabinet.

Shame about your computer AnnG. I must look that company up as I’ve never heard of them either but it’s good to buy British if you can. Don’t worry about W11. OH put it on our PCs almost as soon as it came out and I had no problems with it. Things might look a bit different but you will soon get used to it.

With the woodland burial it sounds as though it’s very much like your late sil’s AnnG, with the graves under the trees, but it is being developed as it goes along. The original area is now mature woodland and the area where our neighbour was buried about 15 years ago is well grown as well now. S is in an area of grassland that is currently about a third full. A sapling is planted by each new grave and as they grow it will become woodland with the graves among the trees. It’s a lovely spot by the River Stour and very peaceful.

I was getting low on fish in the freezer so we popped out to Waitrose and stocked up. Their fish is expensive but you get 20% off on Friday if you have a Waitrose card and it always looks so fresh. I got some veggie bits as well. OH managed to notice that they had his favourite beer on special offer so just had to get a few bottles “as granddaughter’s boyfriend might like it”. They are only here two days and we don’t even know if he drinks.

I suppose I had better start thinking about dinner. I am beginning to get a bit peckish and it will be another hour before we eat if I start getting it ready now. If I leave it any later I’ll be diving into the biscuit tin.

Evening All,

We had rain this morning and it was much colder than I expected.

What a start to a day Vera with the power off! We started putting a torch in the drawer beside the bed after we had a power cut at night and were groping our way round the bungalow. I can just imagine you trying to dress in the dark! The woodland burial ground sounded very nice and I like the idea of a tree planted beside each grave to mark it. Your OH sounded like a sit com with his nocturnal noise and then cramp! I hope you had a better night last night!

I didn't have a great night as OH was uncomfortable and I think a bit unsettled which is only natural. We made a bit more progress today as I suggested instead of ringing the ward, (hard to get through) to ring the switchboard and ask to speak to the cardiologist's secretary, so he could leave a message o ask for him to clear it was ok for the tooth extractions. He did this and she said she would find out and ring him, so he's waiting for that call now. We've also started his eyedrops again as the eye was painful again and already it is looking much better. He's seeing them on Monday but we thought it best not to let it get worse. This appointment will be at yet another hospital. He had a pack of leaflets and a chart come from the hospital today. He should have been discharged with it as he's supposed to be taking and charting his BP since he came out.

I remembered this morning that I hadn't collected my prescription. so we did that and I now have yet another make of one of my meds and with a change of shape to the pills. It was raining today so we went in my car and him crouching low to get in isn't helping his back, so tomorrow I'll at least sit in his and make myself familiar with the controls and it's gizmos and quirks and may drive it to the shop. It's much narrower than mine and displays what's behind you on a screen so is easier to park and being tall, easier to get in and out of. If I'm ok I can drive him in it instead of in mine for the time being.

I've had the slow cooker on with chicken thighs, a made up sauce and veg this afternoon. I weighed myself the other day with not wanting to eat much for so long and found I'd lost 11 pounds in 11 days. I'm going to lose weight anyway with OH's new regime that will suit me too, but that was a bit drastic!

I like raw celery, so will try some with that soft cheese which I like as well Mel, as it will be similar to what I have on a sandwich. I've never heard of Nik Naks either.

AnnG that's a shame you will have to change your PC, but don't worry too much about W11. I held off having it at frst, but they sorted the early glitches with it and I think you may find it easier than you imagine to use the sites you usually do. You can always ask on here as well if you do get stuck with anything.

I'm getting fed up with companies wanting Apps to be used and payments with your phone. I really don't want to do banking on my phone. Today I tried to close a small monthly savings account online that had matured. They aren't daft these banks. It took ages to find in the menus where I could cancel it. I had to ask google in the end! I suppose they don't want people to cancel, but it isn't good custmer service to hide these actions away in obscure menus.

Off to bed now and I hope we all have a good night.

Brrrr on this cold and frosty morning. Everything is white this morning a d its 4 degrees. the front of my car roof has a crew cut its all sticking up in tiny peaks.

I have to go to the hsop today and thats all I am glad I went and got my deisel yesterday.

How did you all sleep?

Only 11 months till Christmas and a pinch and a punch and all that.