General Chat

I think we can put shredding in small quantities wrapped in newspaper in recycling but at one time we’re told too much clogs up the machinery. I am afraid some of mine will be going in general waste but small amounts in my compost.

Well I was on my way to bed in that last post. Slept, except for one loo trip until 0515 then, after another loo trip slept off and on until 0815.
Good morning all, no need to say what the weather is like, we are trapped in this very low cloud dark weather.
I am holding my breath because, fingers crossed, so far I have been able to get onto the internet.
Nothing planned for today except to continue with the shredding and get the house tidy for the meeting tomorrow. Not that they can see a lot of the room with 12 of us in it.

Interesting that the Wifi has been very good for the half hour since I got up and looking out of the window, two of the cars that I assume belong to people who work from home are missing. Maybe it is 'visit office' day.

Morning all,

A nice bright morning for a change here today. its 4 degrees and pc is saying feels cold outside more like -3 but I did'nt see any frost.

Have to find out if its dustbin day tomorrow or not as I don't always put it out as there's not enough in it to bother so I lose what is bin day as it com es once a fortnight.

Still having trouble eating so if I go to Stu's this week I hope its something soft.

although it is only 5 degrees out there, it is not too cold as there is no wind so I spent about 30 minutes sorting out the compost bin and emptying some pots into it which were showing no signs of life. the bin is almost full so I need it to rot down a bit more and hope it is making some good compost for my pots in the summer. I also added a small back of shreddings as that helps break it up.

Its 6 degrees here now but there is a little very bitter wind so your hands get so cold when out there. The birds have turfed out more moss off the roof and that needs sweeping up badly.

For soap watchers, the things you learn from Facebook. Hope and Joseph (in Corrie) are twin brother and sister in real life surname Flanagan. April in Emmerdale is their sister in real life.

don't watch any soaps.

Clouded over a bit here now after a nice sunny morning and its still bitterly cold. The wild birds are feeding like crazy.

Evening All,

It's been cold again here and dull but no rain. I slept quite well again last night and we went to the surgery again for OH's annual review this time. I put my trapper hat on today as it was so cold. His repeat blood test was back and normal this time and he didn't need to have the other blood tests she normally did, as he'd already had those recently! He managed to book an appointment to see a doctor this afternoon as no-one has called him to discuss the results they have regarding his pain. He got the last appointment left so we were back again this afternoon. The doctor he saw was good and she said she would refer him to a Rheumatologist, as all his blood tests going back to last summer showed body inflammation. (so why didn't they do that before now?). As there could be quite a wait, he is going to see if he can use the tiny insurance we pay to at least see someone privately to get a diagnosis quickly first. We called in and got further meds at the pharmacy, but need to go back tomorrow for some. He's getting no pain at all from the tooth extractions and I baked cod portions with no batter or crumb for lunch with mushy peas, mashed potato and swede and carrot mash with hollandaise sauce that was easy to eat and he ate it all and enjoyed it.

It does sound like your neighbours may have been in the office today AnnG. You will have to see how things are when they are working from home again. I saw that April and the other two were brother and sisters in the soaps too, but hadn't realised that Hope and Joseph were twins. It's interesting they all wanted to be actors but I don't know whether their parents had acting careers. You were brave outside in the cold emptying some pots, but it didn't take too long. I must empty my pot that's broken. At least it should be easy to get the black grass plant out of it now (begins with 'E' but I can never remember the name. Why is it always a favourite pot that breaks? I must have had it more than 10 years though. Is it the garden group meeting tomorrow? It's a big group isn't it. At least this dull weather doesn't show the dust up so much.

I had 3 new tops from Bon Marche delivered today, so must unpack them. It was free delivery too so that was good. I have a few tops that need throwing out now, so must get round to sorting those drawers and wardrobes. Tomorrow I should be able to do more shredding first. My knee will benefit from a bit of rest. OH's car may be better for getting in for OH but I can barely touch the ground getting out and my leg that's left behind gets stuck getting my foot over the sill. I must try twisting round and swinging both legs to the side together and slithering to the ground over the hump at the side of the seat!

Let's hope Stu does something with pasta for you to eat if he makes something this week Mel. :-)

I hope so Ann I am going tomorrow as he cold'nt do tonight.

Iv'e got a meal for one tonight beef stew and dumplings which is easy to eata and I have carrots and brocc to go with it.

I did'nt know blood test could show body inflammation!!

Same old, same old weather today; dark, dreary and cold. We also had some light rain on and off although there was none forecast. Getting up to this miserable weather didn't cheer me up at all after I had another dreadful night. I think my sleep gene has left home :-( Consequently I've had a stonking headache all day. I decided there was no use blobbing about hoping it would go away so I got on with various jobs I've been meaning to do. I did a bit more washing (where does it all come from?), gave the hob a thorough clean and finished off the bathrooms. OH had offered to clean them for me and he did make a good job of cleaning and disinfecting 4 toilets and 4 wash basins so I was pleased about that. But, bless him, as far as he is concerned that's the cleaning done. He never thinks to dust the rungs of the tall radiators or sweep the floors, empty and wipe round the little waste bins or check there are spare toilet rolls in the rooms. Oh, he does clean the mirrors. I'm glad he's prepared to help as my neighbour's OH refuses point blank to do anything in the house.

I hope your wi-fi is still working OK AnnG and I hope your meeting goes well tomorrow. Is it the garden group or the photography group?

I'm sorry your mouth is still sore Mel. If it doesn't ease soon I would give your dentist a call just in case there's a slight infection there. If you've been to Stu's for dinner I hope he did soft food that didn't need much chewing. EDIT I see you're going tomorrow

It's good that OH is no longer in pain with his teeth Annx. It sounds as though he is beginning to enjoy his food a bit more now. It's good, too, that his blood test was normal and that he is being referred to a rheumatologist about the signs of inflammation, but you'd think someone would have referred him before now.

I've got a Sainsbury's order tomorrow afternoon and I want to add a couple of bits so I'd better get on and do that now. Sleep well everyone (me included I hope).

good morning all. 3 degrees and (guess what?) it is dismal and dark, low cloud no hint of sun and, last night no sign of the full moon.

I have the meeting this afternoon, gardening interests (photography is held in the local church hall, too many for my room. twelve expected, the absolute maximum number of seats I can get into my lounge and that is using one of the garden chairs and two chairs from the conservatory. It will be lively and interesting as one of the 12 is the daughter of one member who is visiting from where she lives in Canada.
Ann I was wondering if the 3 young actor's parents were actors as well. I suppose they were all sent to drama school but all have been in the soaps since they were really young.
Why on earth didn't they send your other half for further tests re the body inflamation. I think this is a knock on effect from always seeing different doctors but it should still have been highlighted.

Mel there are quite a few people who don't watch the soaps or who only watch one or two of them. I watch three and I have to say during the past 4 years, particularly at first, I have been so grateful for the soaps that kept me 'company' in the evenings. I know some people look down on them as if they are rubbish. Well sometimes the plots are over the top but, I have to say, mostly the acting is really good. And if they are rubbish, they were what I needed at the time. Even now they fill some evenings for me.

So far the Wifi seems OK. a couple of the work from home neighbours are not in but the others are. :-)

Morning Anng and all,

Sorry Anng andanyone else who has a dreary day but at the mo I have beautiful sunshine which woke me up so I had a lie in and watched the rainbows round trhe room from the crystal hanging in the window.

Pc is telling me its 4 degrees but feels like -5. Funny how I get nice weather and Anng dos'nt as we are not really that far away from each other.

Yesterday evening early after I fed the girls thier corn I swept up all the moss off the road in front of the bungalow as I don't want it getting run over by the cars that come in as it gets into the tarmac and then grows weeds. Well I swept up a whole barrow load used my scraper to pick it all up and swept a bit of the middle of the road and took the barrow over the orchard and dumped it on the wild side bit. This morning when I got up I could hardly walk and my right hip is so painful it must have been the bend to pick the stuff up and the pushing of the barrow across softish grass plus the actual sweeping that always plays the hips up. Anyway I am hoping it eases off as I have to drive to Stu's tonight.

Hope Vera had a better night last night and that others slept well.

Had a Jackie Lawson card from my cousin in Ohio this morning and could'nt resist opening it. It played the tune of an engish country garden and painted all the flowers and there was a little lady in gongalongs with a hat on just like the one on the card Annx sent me last year. I'm saving my other for tomorrow.

Morning All,

It looks a bit brighter here today and is 4 degrees now but the forecast suggests it will be a frost in the morning. Little chance of rain though so that's something.

I hope Vera had a better night last night. I was hoping to catch up on some sleep, but OH woke me at 2.30 am. I just couldn't get back to sleep at all afterwards so am a bit of a zombie today. I've put washing on the airer, done some admin and have hoovered and flashmopped the kitchen. Later the shredder can get busy again. :-).

Yes, some areas of the NHS aren't so good are they. I think a lot of people need a double appointment but don't like asking for one or are worried they might be told one wasn't necessary. Doctors are then diagnosing without a full picture of all the symptoms. OH managed toast this morning by eating on the other side of his mouth.

That's a lot of chairs AnnG and I would have to use most of the garden ones. It sounds like it will be interesting. I watch a couple of soaps, Emmerdale and Corrie and have done for decades. They've changed a lot over the years and have got better I think. There's no swearing in the two I watch and some of the storylines are good and can be informative. It was nice and familiar knowing I'd have them to watch when I lived on my own.

Mel after my mopping and hoovering my back and knee were achey and ready to stop, so I was wondering how you did all that sweeping and pushing the wheelbarrow........then you said about your hip playing up, so I decided you were just the same! I'm glad you mentioned the gongalongs, as I was trying to remember what you called them the other day. :-D

I'd better sort lunch next.

Ha ha ha yes my gongalongs. I only wore them once last year as it was'nt hot enough but they are so ovely and cool on a really hot day.

Its now down to 3 degrees here and the winds really bitter but the suns shining so I suppose we can't have everything. It does make you feel better when the usn shine.

Last night I watched Drew Pritchard on Quest. He has bought a house in Bath and is restoring it. It mus tbe nice to have money to do a project like that. He went to Ireland to see a fireplace of the period but it was too small. He fell in love with one which was £18,000 they also had a metal filler for it and a small fireplace for one of the bedrooms. In the end he bought the three things for !5.000. He has replaced all the sash windows with the right ones which match the rest of the houses. Its going to be an awful lot of work. He also had a chap make a dummy of the railing outside as some were broken and he made such a good job of it they cst it and the man who made it said they would be able to sell some to other householders who had broken one. The more you have cast the price comes down.

That should have bee £15,00. Fancy spending that on two fireplaces?Its going to be worth a mint when its done.

It's good to see an old place brought back to how it was originally or even better Mel. The reclamation yards have some real bargains too. I enjoyed the Chateau with Dick and Angel and I'm looking forward to seeing how pottery Keith and his wife are doing with the old chapel. :-)

Well OH rang the health insurance and the GP and the doctor will send the referral form to them. The NHS waiting list here is apparently 18 weeks just for the diagnosis so hopefully he will be seen much quicker this way and no cost.

I never got any shredding done, but I did manage to register for HMRC after a few attempts!

Oh dear, it’s another cold, dark, dreary day but it hasn’t rained so that’s a bonus. Next time you get sun, Mel, could you send some this way please. I’m beginning to forget what it looks like.

I hope the gardening meeting went well AnnG. I bet there was plenty of chat and noise. I have plenty of chairs though it can be a squash to get them all in our living room. In there we have a 3 seater sofa, 2 recliner chairs and 2 footstools that can be sat on but I have 10 chairs in the kitchen/diner and another 4 in the bedrooms so we manage a crowd pretty well. As to the TV soaps, I don’t watch them myself but I would never say they are rubbish. They give a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. My daughter and Ross Kemp (from EastEnders and other things) were at the same school and I remember going to see a production the school put on based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Ross Kemp played Chaucer and my daughter played The Wife of Bath. I remember saying then that he would go far as even as a young teenager he had a real stage presence.

Your cousin in Ohio chose a very appropriate card for you with the gongalongs and flowers, Mel. I’m not surprised that you are achy and sore today after all that sweeping and barrowing. I wish I had half your energy. OH quite likes Drew Pritchard as well but I find him a bit irritating though I admire his knowledge.

Sadly I didn’t have a good night again so I am a bit headachy and heavy eyed but not too bad. Perhaps I’d have more energy if I got more sleep. After being awake for a lot of the night I fell asleep sometime around 6.30 am, then woke with a start at 8.30 am and found myself having to dash around before going out at 10.30.

I’m sorry you had a bad night too Annx. I am sure half the problem with not getting the referrals you need is not seeing the same doctor each time. With only 10 minutes or so per appointment the doctors don’t have time to read through all the notes another doctor might have put on the system. I don’t know the answer to the current NHS problems but something needs to be done. Perhaps we’ll end up moving to a more continental system with private insurance. It’s good your OH might get seen a bit quicker by using your own health insurance. We have an insurance like that and the one time I could have used it I forgot we had it. Doh!

This morning we went for our usual Thursday coffee meet and this afternoon I had a delivery from Sainsbury. I had ordered enough stuff for 2-3 weeks and there were no subs so that was good, It’s getting a bit late for an afternoon cuppa but I think I’ll make one anyway. I hope you all sleep well tonight.

Well, the gardening meeting went well, twelve of us crammed in my lounge. Quite back aching moving all the chairs from dining room and conservatory plus one garden chair. They are heavier than they look. Still clearing away was good as one member, a few years younger than me, put all the chairs back for me. And Anne carried the tray of cups in from and back out to the kitchen.

Feeling quite sad as she goes into hospital Monday to have her knee done and won’t be able to drive for six weeks Not sure when I shall be able to see her.

Anyway there was a guest with us, the daughter of one member who lives in Ontario Canada where apparently they have just had 40cms of snow. She has not seen her garden for months as it has been under snow and with horrific low temperatures something like -10 in the day and -25 at night but sometimes even lower. She has not liked our wet/damp weather. She usually does a lot of gardening in her Mum’s and sister’s gardens but has not done any.

Evening all,

Yes another dreary day here too and it's been really cold this afternoon when I nipped out to the bin you could see your breath .
We went shopping to Aldi this morning and I'm sure there was no heating on and as you go in they have all the salad and veg behind the glass doors and raw and cooked meats ,well going down there my hands were frozen if I had had my gloves in my pocket I would have put them on , I said to the young lad on the till goodness it's drafty in here and he said yes its not very warm is it.
Talking to a neighbour she was saying she went in our Factory shop and they didn't have any heating at all as someone had stolen their oil .

Ann I hope OH can be seen quicker than that 18 week wait ,that's badness that he wasn't referred by the doctors before now .
It seems that even going private though that there's now quite a wait as Colins nephew is going private to have his hip replaced ,he knew before Christmas that it would be in April so he's having a long wait but better than the wait to have it done on the NHS that was a lot lot longer ,it's about seventeen and a half thousand for a hip now, when Colin had his done years ago it was four and a half thousand .

Anng six months seems a long time to have to wait to drive again after a knee op it's usually six weeks but I suppose it depends what your friend is having done .
Sounds as if you had a full house today with the meeting ,I bet there was lots of chatter about all that snow and the low temperatures that they have and we moan about our minus temperatures but that's cold -25 .

Mel I hope your hip pain eases ,it was probably pushing the barrow on the grass ,hard going this time of year , hope you enjoy your meal tonight with Stuart and it's something soft so as not to aggravate your gum .

Vera sorry your having these bad night's, I don't know how you manage to get through the day after a bad night and with a bad head too ,it must be heaven when you do get a good night's sleep .

Mandy sorry that was an error I will amend it to six weeks