General Chat

Gosh, you've been busy today Elizabeth. Are your roller skates turbo-charged? If you are old-fashioned then so am I as I clean my windows and other things with vinegar as well. I've not tried citronella or pine oil. I just add the tiniest squeeze of washing up liquid.

AnnG, you brought back some memories for me there. When I was first introduced to OH I wasn't overly impressed but talking to him I found he went every week to a trad jazz club. I had wanted to go there but not on my own and I hadn't been able to persuade any friend to come with me so thought I'd let him take me the first time and maybe introduce me to a few other people and then I could quietly drop him. That really wasn't very nice of me.............but the rest, as they say, is history Chris Barber and Monty Sunshine were regulars, along with Humphrey Lyttleton, Ken Colyer and others. We also saw Ella and Oscar Peterson at the Festival Hall in London twice. Happy Days.

I love all kinds of music except the extremes. I was never a heavy metal fan and one or two of the modern "classics" sound so discordant that I can't get on with them. Unfortunately, any musical talent in our family seems to have skipped a generation and missed me out as I can neither play an instrument nor sing a note in tune.

Dear Lady Mel and All

Hello

Hope you are okay.

I know exactly what you mean about cleaning the fridge.

It is on my to do list. :-D :-S

I have washed the lace curtains and heavier curtains in all of the rooms.

I also cleaned the bottom windows and washed the window sills.

I use my old-fashioned distilled vinegar and several drops of
citronella or pine essential oil.

I am on roller skates doing the housework chores! :-D :-S

May your evening be a contented one and have a peaceful night of restful sleep.

Take gentle care
Love EOS
xx

You've all be wondering what I have done in the garden today ......NOTHING!!

I have been playing with my polyclay making mushrooms and carrots. I washed the bedding this morning and thats nice and dry now. The shopping came and it was quite a lot this week so that took a while to ut away. I also had the fridge out and cleaned all the inside and boy did it need it. Its one of those jobs that dos'nt take that long but you have to feel like doing it, well I do anyway.
Now I have just seen the time, time flys when your having fun, and I hav'nt corned the girls yet.

My blueberries don't seem to want to riped this year even though we've had sunshine but the Blackbirds not fussy about them being green. I must get a net out and cover them up. One only has a couple of berries this year but the other has a nice lot.

I have fed the patio plants and the toms and cue, beans and courgette so I have sone something in the garden today.

When I fed my fish I wa slooking at the plants and on the netting was a big dragonfly under the netting. Forgot to go and get the camera and take a pic. It was beige and black and I have never seen on that colour before.

Well I managed to miss you Vera. It's good to get a bit done in the garden, but I didn't do much but it all helps. It will be good to get your conservatory all looking nice after your efforts cleaning the inside a little while ago. Congrats to your granddaughter on her engagement. It's an exciting time for her with her trip and now engagement. Yes we do have a cinema five minutes away opposite the retail park. I have seen an Andre Rieu Concert there once, but haven't thought to look for ballet or opera before so I will have to keep my eyes open.

I feel so weary I think I will have a shower next and go to bed. The fitter will be here at 8.00am and it will save me getting up so early if I shower and wash my hair now.

I actually enjoyed the experience Vera, it is good to open your mind to new things. And a plus was it was held in the Pottsville pump room I’m Cheltenham which is a beautiful building we don’t often get to look in.

I would go to a piano recital (I enjoy listening to the piano) if it was of more popular classics but that would be a bit too low brow for Cheltenham festival.
Before we were married we went to several concerts at Portsmouth Guildhall but these were all Traditional Jazz. Chris Barber and Monty Sunshine and other Jazz like Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald.

It's good you enjoyed the concert AnnG. I remember being amazed at how fast the young boy Sum moved his fingers on the Piano programme. It must be wonderful to have a talent that makes it look easy, although how on earth do they remember all the seguence of the notes. Like you say some things you wouldn't want to go to regularly but it's interesting to have a taste of different things. How was lunch? I see we have Emerdale tonight at last.

The men finished early today as the plaster they filled in has to set now. Tomorrow they will put the shower base in and start fitting the wall boards so I'll start to get some idea how it will look then. They fitted a stop switch on the mains for me so if the water needs turning off we just flick a switch instead of struggling to turn those wheel things which won't be easy as we get older. We went out and did a bit of weeding and started sorting stuff to chuck out from the shed and OH has filled a lot of the rubbish bin with things this time. There are a lot of old garden tools that were FIL's that can go in the skip if there's room. Some are big and heavy or worn out and are rusty so we won't use them. I have to watch OH as he is more keen to chuck my stuff out than his. Where the shed is rotting and split round the back, a bird had got inside last year and built a nest on a shelf.

The Magpies were back today, ducking and splashing and trampling the poor Lily in what's becoming their Lido. :-0

I hope you enjoyed the piano recital AnnG, particularly if it’s something new to you. Annx, do you have a local cinema or theatre that might sometimes screen opera or ballet productions? If so, try one. You might enjoy it. Our tiny local theatre sometimes screens productions from venues like Covent Garden or the National Theatre. Tickets are normally about £16 and it’s only a 10 minute drive so well worth it. We used to go to the theatre a fair bit and see musicals, plays, opera and ballet. We were regulars at The Mercury at Colchester but now neither of us drive at night we can only get to the occasional matinee.

Colin must be pleased that his eyes are no worse Mandy. You are getting on well with the blanket already. I’m looking forward to seeing a photo of it when it’s all finished.

I bet you’re gardening today Mel. Take a few rests so you don’t put too much strain on your hip and back. I managed an hour in the garden this afternoon as well but had to come in around 3 pm as I was getting too hot and my back was feeling the strain. At least I got something done out there. OH picked another big bowl of blueberries.

While we were in the garden the window cleaners came and OH asked them to give us a price for giving all the gutters a good clean and cleaning the roof of the conservatory inside and out and one or two other things. We agreed the price so they are coming at 8 in the morning to do it all for us. Then there will just be the walls to be painted.

I had a What’s App video call early this morning from the granddaughter who is going to Hong Kong. I had to call her back once I’d worked out how to use it. She started the call by waving her hand at the camera and that hand is now wearing a very pretty engagement ring. She looked very happy and we are delighted for them both. They won’t marry for a couple of years as they need to save and entertainment is a very precarious profession.

I think it’s now time for a cuppa and I fancy a ginger biccy with mine.

Edit. Sorry AnnG, I somehow missed your last post. Solo piano is not my favourite instrument and 2 hours is quite a long stretch. Maybe try something orchestral next time?

Back from consert and late lunch. The pianist is very taleted, He (I may have said) is Georgian and is only 25, he won the Georgian the voice when he was 13 then went to the Paliashv999 Central music school for gifted children and he has won numerous prizes since.
He is obviously very talented and I can't imagine how he manages to get his hands and fingers to move at such speeds.
I didn't recognise any of the music and probably would not if I wee to hear it again. He played for roughly 2 hours (2 and a half hours but an interval. I enjoyed it as a one off. I don't think I would go to listen to similar music but I would like to hear him play pieces I recognised.
He looked so young, tall and with a mop of long bushy hair T shirt and trousers. I am glad I went.

It's good that there was no change with Colin's eye test Mandy. I know what you mean by chilly as I had to put my fleece on some of the time this morning. There's quite a breeze too so after a few more weeds got pulled I'm waiting to see if the wind drops before I get the weedkiller out to tackle fresh plants of the nasty weed that have sprung up. The post was quick if it's your card wasn't it. OH hides any cards I get till the day. The squares you've knitted sound as if you chose the colours well as you can now see what they knitted up like.

Morning all,
Clouded up here and quite chilly we had to go to the Aces eye clinic for Colins appointment again this will be three times no Glucoma just a slight cataract which they told him all this last time anyway they will see him again in nine months time , I sat and got quite chilly in there as they had the aircon on was glad to get outside but that wasn't much better so was glad to get back in sons car .

Ann that could be my card that was pink with first class stamp , posted it yesterday about half eleven so that was quick .
Yes I've done two squares so far I think it will look nice .

Going to have my coffee we're late having it with going out .

Morning All,

It's quite cool here this morning, but is expected to get hotter this afternoon. I didn't sleep very well as the ensuite door has been taken off as it was in the way, so daylight flooded in early and unsavoury smells were wafting in the bedroom despite the small windows being open! The main toilet pipe has been completely taped up and a bucket put over it, but I tracked it down to another pipe the water meter pipework comes through. I stuffed a polythene shopping bag round that and it was much less then!! Phew!! OH has gone for a walk into the village for the paper again while it's cool. We seem to be getting in each others way in the shared bathroom already, so I don't know how we used to manage before!

Yes, since I saw the beading I was quite keen to do some Mandy and one simple one is nearly finished, so I might get chance do that one today. Have you started the blanket squares yet? Yes, there is fine dust everywhere Mandy and Mel and all through the bungalow as they've had all the doors open! I'll need a damp duster in each hand for a week when they've finished. :-)

It should be interesting to hear the piano recital as something different AnnG. I sometimes wonder whether the piano concerts Fitz goes to might be good to go to, even if it's just once. I have also never been to a ballet or opera. Nice to have a lunch out too. I bet your son is enjoying some lovely views on his cruise. It's such a clear, sunny day.

I wonder what Mel is doing in the garden today? You did well to fix the wire so it at least works, but isn't it annoying when you can't find something. I am hoping to be better organised as we sort things and have a clearout here. I expect you are gradually doing the same as you free up more space.

I had a pretty pink envelope arrive today, so am saving it for the 'day'. :-D Not sure we will be eating out then though looking at the temperatures they expect.

Morning all,

Nice day with plenty of the yellow stuff as Frank woud say. 17 degrees so comfortable.

Shopping came early so I hav'nt got it all away yet and there was quite a lot this week.

Hope you all slept well.

Annx are they still getting on well with the ensuite. Are you coping with the dust?

Son is on a cruise to Norway so I am getting lots of beautiful photos. I am very envious.

Good morning all, up early as going out later being picked up at 0945. Got to water my toms before I go. Thanks good ness only mine now as Cynth is back.
I am going to Cheltenham to a piano recital by a fairly young Georgian pianist. It is Cheltenham music festival. It is not the sort of concert I would normally go to but we are trying to spread ourselves around getting new experiences. And at least my hearing shouldn't prevent me hearing this. then we hare having lunch back in Churchdown at a local pub. I will tell you all about it later.

I think its supposed to be lucky if a bird messes on you Mandy.

I have had Phil Pheasent in the chicken run for three days so tonight I thought I would wait till the girls had gone to bed and see if I could shut them in and open the door and lure Phil out. Every time I got him near the door the girls attacked him and he went right up the end of the run.

So I just stepped out of the back door onto the patio and who should stroll across the back lawn but Phil. I had to go round and make sure it was him and it was so then I haad to close all the top netting up as best I coud with weaving sticks through it as I could'nt find the small cable ties. One of the top supports has broken too and I got that back together with cable ties but I am not strong enough to get it over the top wood so its against the wire netting with two cable ties together and round the wood.

Hope you all have a good night tonight and don't wake with too many aches and pains myself included. See you all in the morning.

Ann sounds as if they've made a good start ,is there much dust .
That will be different a bit of beading I haven't heard you say you've done any for ages .

We were sitting out but it's turned quite chilly now so in we came ,I was watering away near the greenhouse when I felt this plonk on my back I put my hand up the back to feel if it was water from a drip off the greenhouse and my thumb was brown ,an old gull that was circling had pooped all down the back of my top but I had to smile as Colin said " and he didn't even apologise " :-D

I just read what it said in The Mail and OH read it in The Times or Telegraph. If it is right, what a silly thing to write a book and have a film made. People were bound to check the validity of both. I suppose more will come out about whether it's true or not now.

Well it's peace and quiet here now thank goodness! Dave is very thorough and has removed some boxing in of pipes up to the ceiling in one corner and sunk the pipes into the wall instead and the same with the radiator pipes and also the pipes down to the shower so it will be neater. He had a lad with him who was very polite, obliging and nicely spoken. Adam, the electrician came later and has removed the fan cover and moved the shaver point. We showed him what else we wanted doing and he's coming back after his holiday to do the other jobs.

The Magpie nest is being added to, but not by the Magpies. Two Pigeons that have been hanging around in the garden have been carrying twigs up to it today. I must keep an eye on them and cover the plant that was decimated last year if needs be.

It's rubbish bin day tomorrow, so we threw out a lot of flimsy and perished plant pots and other things from the greenhouse. They soon accumulate. I have made more progress dealing with paperwork and filing it away and have found two half made necklaces and a half made bracelet I want to try to finish off this week.

Just found the report in the mail on line as well. To me the strange bit is the fact that right in the beginning when she is alleged to have embezzled a lot of money she was, let off by somebody paying it back to her empler, they she was expected to repay it as a loan from that person. If she had no job, how was she expected to repay that person. But the really odd bit is about his illness, he obviously had something but did they get the original diagnosis wrong?

By the way, I still enjoyed the book and the film.

Vera the one that you can see is the replacement for the one that disappeared. :-D

It's probably me AnnG; I expect I've got hold of the wrong end of the stick. Confusion is my middle name these days, lol. I thought you were saying that you had responded to my post on the book thread about Fiona Valpy but that it had disappeared into the ether. I was puzzled because I could see it there or was that a second one after the first disappeared? Now I'm confusing myself even more.

Annx, I hope the workmen get on well and you don't end up with a cold house with having doors open all the time I wish OH a speedy recovery from his current aches and pains. He really does need that rheumatology appointment.

Considering I didn't sleep much I have got on well this morning. Beds are changed, 2 loads of washing are on the line and a 3rd lot is in the machine. When that is hung out I'm going to try to do a little bit of deadheading and/or weeding and then shower. By then it will be lunchtime and I can decide after that whether to go out for some fresh veg and fruit or whether to leave it till tomorrow.