General Chat

Morning all,

Gosh there was a hard frost last night and its still on my car roof. Its 5 degrees here and mostly cloudy.

I did'nt fall asleep till after 2.48am last night well that the last time I looked at the time. Woke at 7.58am for the loo and went back to bed as it was cold and woke at 9. 47am and here I am after having a nice coffee. Have fed both Robins and Jenny Wren out on the patio and am now going to get dressed!!

Glad you had agood night Anng. Hope too the the tap is fixed today and that will be another job out of the way. Anng hope for you too that Jake turns up to see to the garage roof where its leaking.

Stu is coming tonight as he had his girlfriend there yesterday and she goes home today so he will be on his own which I prefer as we can just chat between us without interuptions.

Need to have a tidy up and a hoover and dust and do some pots for tonight. May do some stuffed jackets and cakes too.

It is still only 0 degree here.

They have been to look at the garage roof. I think it is going to be an expensive job.
. They have gone to get some sheeting to cover the drive then they have to remove all the black tar stuff and some of the wood. The wood underneath the tar has rotted and is crumbling. they showed me photos. And also the facia round the garage is rotten so they will replace it with the white modern facia. (We have to think the facia is going to be about 40 years old and the last time the garage roof was tarred was over 10 years ago.) They only guaranteed it for 10. I remember that. I am certainly getting the more expensive jobs needing doing now. I bet the next thing will be a new boiler. Anyway they will strip all the stuff off then nail down thick sheets to replace it while they get the new wood and other stuff so more than today to do it.

It is obviously worth having it done. If I had tried to sell the house that would have caused problems. :-)

So you now have to have your roof done. Mine was expensive too but that was over the huge lounge I have.

Really miserable here and its gone down to 5 degrees

When I put the bin bag out last night the windscreen kept frosting up and when I got to the top to turn on the carpark to come back in I heard an almighty crunch. Breaked right away and reversed but could'nt see anything I had hit so came on back down. This morning I looked at the front of my car and the sort of bumper bit had a hole in it and had come away from the side. There was a bit missing so I drove up to the carpark and had a look and I must have slid across the road as it was so frosty last night and I hit the bank. I could see in the daylight that I had loads of grass and stuff on the nearside front so walked across the road and low and behold there in the bank was my miss bit. I shall have to ask Stu if he can do anything about it even if its only to get the front back where it should be.

Good afternoon all

It looks beautiful out with blue skies and bright sunshine but gosh it’s cold. iPad is telling me it is 6 degrees and feels like 7, phone is telling me it’s 4 degrees and feels like 3. I know which one I believe. There was a heavy overnight frost and at 10 am the roofs (or is it rooves?) were sparkling in the sun as though they were coated in diamonds. It looked quite magical.

It’s good that Jake and the other chap (is it his Dad?) can fix your garage roof for you AnnG. It does sound expensive but a necessary job. Isn’t it amazing how all the expensive jobs seem to need doing one after another? You are very good with all your Christmas decorations. I regret now that we haven’t collected a few more over the years. Some of them seem so expensive now. We have always had our cards on display, usually in the hall, and a few bits of tinsel and baubles around but our main decoration was the tree. We used to have a 6-7 ft Nordmann fir with lots of lights and red and gold baubles Red and gold is “old hat” now but I still like it as I think it’s warm looking. Last year we decided just to have a smallish, pre-lit artificial tree and I didn’t like it at all.

Mel, enjoy your meal with Stu tonight. I didn’t realise he had Parkinsons. It must make life difficult for him. It can’t be easy getting meals if you don’t know when he is coming but having stuff ready in the freezer is the best thing to do. Mince is a great standby as you can turn it into so many things. That was a shame about your car last night. It’s so easy when it’s dark to slide on a frosty or icy surface.

Don’t wear yourself out carting your logs round Mandy. You don’t want to put your back out again. Let your son do the bulk of the work.

I hope your boiler man has got your tap sorted out for you today Annx. I do feel for your OH when he gets a migraine with the flashing lights and ziggy zaggy lines. Sometimes if that happens to me and I lie down or sit quietly with my eyes closed it will stop after about 30 minutes and I am OK again. Sometimes it will develop into a full-blown migraine. For years I had triptans to take but now I just have a strong co-codamol. I’m functioning OK now after the one I had Sunday and Monday but I still have a pain over my left eye and my head still feels as though it’s full of cotton wool.

We went for our usual Thursday coffee this morning. 3 couples and one single lady today. On the way back I picked up some fresh salad and veg and then called at the PO to post 2 cards to Australia The cards were from one of my charity packs and cost about 80p for the two, postage for the two was £5.60!!

Sun has gone now and it is getting colder. Since I started this post it has dropped from 4 degrees to 2 degrees. Time to make a hot drink I think. Stay warm everyone.

You too Vera. I have made an apple and blackberry crumble for dessert and manazged two tiny strudles but they may be a disarster as I think I have put too much apple in them, they'll probably burst but it was just using the pastry up. Apples and blackberries out the garden. I must freeze some apples as I like apples and custard.

Better get on now as I may make a few buns while the ovens on.

Temp here has not risen above 2 degrees all day and the fog only lifted for about an hour all day.
Yes it is expensive £4650 but if I had left it , it would have had to be fixed if I or whoever inherits it sells it, it would have needed doing first. And it will be a completely new roof, gutters, and facials it is actually two thirds of the garage as a third is under a small bedroom. They have completely covered it and tied the covering down as they can’t get here until 12 tomorrow as they have another job on.

Vera pleased the migraine has gone and hope the thick head soon follows.

I have now finished all my wrapping except for two or three coming from Amazon.

Good Afternoon All,

I was awake till the early hours too, but was up early to shower and was surprised to see the thick frost everywhere, but no fog. (I can never remember either Vera so solve it by saying rooftops!) That was a shame you caught your car Mel, but easy to do if the car slipped. Hopefully Stu will be able to sort it for you.

The tap is fixed and Reilly was right on time although it was his second job today. It only took half an hour and off he went on his way wishing us a Merry Christmas! I need to sort out the cupboard contents and fill the 2 baskets I bought next. It will be good to just slide those out to find things rather than me bend double and stoop trying to see. Now those fit quite well I might get some more for the top shelf, as it would still save me emptying half a shelf to see what's at the back.

Now the front door lock is playing up again and the key has started sometimes nearly sticking again! It's like a never ending saga!

Not what you wanted with your garage roof AnnG, but better to get it sorted properly and it will be good for many years and unlikely to have problems then.

Vera when I tried to post cards for Canada today they said they couldn't take them as there is already a huge backlog due to their postal strikes! Yes I was shocked at the cost to send cards to Australia too. Our decorations were very low key last year too. Apart from cards, wreaths and a few ornaments, we didn't even get the little trees out last year. I don't like the idea of OH risking his back going in the loft this year either. I do like the little pottery cottages I've seen that you can put a tealight inside so I might have a look at those if I see some tomorrow.

Mandy I hope all of your wood is safely stacked away for the winter now and that it stayed dry while your son helped you to do it. Your latest jigsaw sounds an interesting one to do as well.

We saw the big Squirrel again while we were having lunch and after I had put just one fat ball in the feeder in the new further away position. Well he jumped on one of the big pots, then leapt to a tray on the feeder and climbed up to the top, but when he leaned over to grab the feeder it was too far for him and he half fell and decided to get down. A few minutes later OH said he'd seen a rat!! I asked him if he was sure and he said it had a thin tail. I could see nothing but went to get my camera. Then I saw it scuttle across the gravel, change it's mind and run between the shrubs!! It must be the one that was making a hole under next door's fence near the feeder. I think we need something heavier to block the hole off again and to stop feeding the birds for a while. I told OH we need a Jack Russell really and he gave me an old fashioned look!

Gosh i'm full up. Stu really enjoyed his dinner tonight and the crumble and cream afterwards. He's gone now as he was so tired and wnated to go home and have a shower and flop. He said he had been very busy at work and he had done a big shop today and spent £280 but there was Christmas things on it too.

Iv'e had a form to fill out online for a new licience and just hope I can do it right. Cn't be bothered to send it off in the post. At least I don't have to get a photo done now.

Good morning all. slept well again last night, in fact I don't remember getting up for the loo but I am sure that I must have done. 5 degrees here, no fog and no frost what weird weather, Hopefully it will stay dry so they can continue with the roof. Although they won't be here before twelve.
Had a problem with bank transfers. Hadn't realised that I have a daily allowance and to increase that need to use my card reader which, when I tried to do so wouldn't work so battery has obviously gone. Ordered a new one now but wonder how long that will take to get here.
I maybe will start to sort out my cottages today doing it gradually.

Morning Anng and all,

No frost here this morning either and now its 12 degrees and very cloudy. Still have a little of the Blackberry and Apple crumble for tonights dessert jus thave to think of something to go with it.

I gave Stu a book about crs that oh had and he said he would like it and then promptly left it on the table.

Must write more cards today and BIL may come as its Friday. I don't know where this week has gone!!

BIL rang to say he's not coming as he is full of cold and wifes had it too. Pleased as I don't want it. Guess what??? He has only gone and bought a new mower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why has he done that Mel, I thought the old one was ok now.

I am shattered. just putting the cottages into place. Got them down out of the cupboard this morning and putting them in place this afternoon but they all have to be carried down from upstairs. I have actually always done all this on my own, usually when T was at golf but it gets harder each year. Trouble is I always want it all done quickly and I can't do that any more.

Afternoon all,

Very frosty here first thing but by the time we went shopping the frost had gone and its been lovely and sunny but very chilly .
We were going into the church to look at the trees but after stacking all the wood yesterday we are both feeling tired out so we'll go in the morning .

Oh Mel that was a surprise a new mower , I thought he had done the old one up ,maybe it was a good black Friday deal .

Anng could you bring a few of your cottages down each day when you get up ,have a box downstairs to put them in and when you have them all down then set them out , I have a shopping bag and bring a few bits down like the tree lights and the outside lights and the decorations for the tree are all in a box so when I have them all down I make a start ,its hard work keep going up and down the stairs .

Oh goodness Ann I hate rats that's why we took ths feeder down because we saw a rat ,the birds were dropping the seed and he/she was coming in to get the seed and then I saw it climb the feeder ,it didn't take any notice when I banged on the conservatory window ,just sat looking at me .
Next door feeds the birds and the squirrels and we know the rats are still about as we have a rat box that Colin fills with the bait ,the bait blocks slide on a meta pole bit inside so they come in one end of the box eat the bait and go out the other end ,only this week Colin looked in the bait box and all the bait had gone .

Mel, I am moving down to live with you. 12 degrees at 10 am when you posted! The warmest it has got all day here has been 7 degrees and it has dropped to 5 now. Still, it has been bright and dry so it could be worse. I too thought your bil had just had repairs done to your mower and got it working and wondered why he bought another one. It sounds as though you and Stu had a good dinner yesterday. I like the thought of apple and blackberry crumble and cream. I like anything with apples.

AnnG, you’ve made me think that I ought to get a spare battery for my card reader. I don’t think I have a daily allowance but I do get asked to use the reader if I try to transfer an unusually large amount, particularly if it’s to a new payee. On one occasion the payment was blocked and the bank’s fraud department rang me. As soon as I explained why this largish amount was being transferred the payment was unblocked and went through. It was a pain but all done very quickly and I was pleased that their security was tight. They were really only making sure I wasn’t being scammed. I’m not surprised that you are tired after carrying your Christmas cottages and things downstairs and getting them set up. I think we’re all the same and still expect to be able to do what we did easily 20 years ago.

Annx, it’s good that your tap is fixed but I can’t believe you are still having problems with your front door lock. What a saga that has turned out to be. I smiled when you wrote you had seen your big squirrel as earlier that day I had been banging on the window to frighten off our resident squirrel. It didn’t work – he just sat up and stared at me. He buries walnuts everywhere so in the spring/summer we are constantly pulling up little walnut tree saplings. This time I thought at first he was burying a nut in one of our troughs. Only then I realized the cheeky thing was trying to dig up the daffodil bulbs I had recently planted. You know the effforts I had to go to get all those bulbs planted so I was not pleased. Eventually I frightened him off but I am keeping a wary eye out for him.

I just paused to go downstairs in search of the tea OH was making nearly three quarters of an hour ago an hour ago. The tea was made but the man who was supposed to be bringing it up to me was nodding away in front of the television. What would you do with him? I am now drinking my stewed cuppa.

To be fair to him he has used a lot of energy in the garden this morning. We have 2 physocarpus shrubs in opposite diagonal corners of the garden. It’s only a small garden but they must each be in their own little micro-climate as they have grown differently. One is fine as it is at the moment but the other one is way too big. OH has cut it down and thinned it out for the last 2 years but it just seems to give it a new lease of life and it grows even more. This year it has grown to over 7 ft and extended a lot widthways so it has to go. Today OH has cut all the branches off and chopped it down to ground level and cut everything up and stuffed it in the garden bin which was empty and is now very full. It took him most of the morning. He still has to dig the roots out. I wouldn’t let him touch the shrub till we had agreed what was going in its place as, left to his own devices, he’ll plant something that doesn’t look right at all. We’ve decided that in the spring we will move a fuchsia with delicate white flowers from a strip down the side of our garage to the back and plant something else by the garage. I couldn’t find the name of the fuchsia but looking online I think it might be Hawkshead. At the moment it’s about a metre tall, though I expect we’ll need to cut it back a little bit when we move it but a metre or just a little taller will be perfect where we want it to go.

Mandy, I don’t think anyone likes rats much. We had one that used to come in the garden but by watching it OH realized it was going under the back fence and under the shed in the garden behind us. OH told the nice young couple in the house at the back of us and they put bait down and we haven’t seen a rat since, thank goodness.

A couple of days ago it was the graduation ceremony for one of my granddaughters who graduated in June with a degree in performing arts. She sent me a very short video of her throwing her boyfriend’s mortar board in the air and him catching it. So I texted to thank her and asked where her cap and gown were. The answer I received was that she hadn’t bothered with the cap and gown as she liked what she had chosen to wear and wanted it to be seen. I had to laugh as this is so F. She has been Miss Independent since she was a toddler. I could just imagine all these students going on the stage to collect their degrees wearing uni caps and gowns with F. in the middle without hers. She would certainly have stood out. She later borrowed boyfriend’s and someone snapped her wearing them so we do have a photo of her looking like a graduating student.

About time I stopped typing I think. You must be going boss-eyed reading it all and I need to think about starting to cook our dinner. I hope you all have a good night. “See” you over the weekend.

Afternoon All,

A chilly morning here but dry and no frost. We had a better journey than expected as it usually takes an hour, but OH said the schools were closed today, I'm sure he said so the teachers could do Christmas shopping, so there was no conjestion round two of the village schools we have to pass. I'd forgotten how steep it was from the carpark to the doors and then the whole site is so hilly inside and outside. I was shuffling downhill to the restaurant and wondering if I'd manage to get back up! Brekkie was cosy and nice being locally sourced and the windows look out over countryside. The big fish tank was emptied during the pandemic but has those fancy fan tailed goldfish in again now. The display was good but like most places not as good as in the past, except for the model village which was still good. I took some pics but there were too many people at one end of the village to get close enough. OH put me off the ceramic cottages with a barage of questions, was it just for Christmas time, where did I intend to put it (don't tempt me with an answer I thought, but didn't say!!). It gave me chance to see more variety than locally though and I think I will still get a small one online. I wasn't keen on any of their Christmas cards and I don't know where all the glittery ones have gone. We then tramped down to the bottom and up the steep slope where other older ladies were clinging to the bannister as they shuffled down too and to the end where the jigsaws were. Were being the operative word as none were to be found. OH discovered that they'd been moved to the childrens' area at the far other end of the shop, but as it was still a trek to the tills I decided it was too far and I would order one on line instead.

Mel what made BIL get another mower? Is it better for him in some way as well as more reliable? He does well to manage to help you so much with having Parkinson's. Hopefully the mowing will be easier for him next year now. It sounds like Stu really enjoyed the meal you did for him. I was surprised not to need a new photo last time I renewed my driving locence as well.

I hope they've managed to get on with your roof today AnnG. It's a cost you could do without, but once it's done and good again, it won't be hanging over you to become a worse problem. I know you have a lot to wrap presents for, so you must be glad to have almost finished now. I can see it must be quite a job going up and down stairs to bring your cottages down and set them out. We are hoping to move our Christmas decorations into the garage once we eventually get them down from the loft, so it will be easier to get them when we need them. I must admit I hate my rarely used cardreader because I forget what to do with it. I bet the batteries in mine are nearly flat too.

Mandy, much as I know rats are clean and intelligent, they don't go in clean places do they and I could never have one as a pet. Our neighbour the other side of us took his bird table down years ago after seeing a rat on it. I think the fact there is a ditch in the field behind our bottom fence encourages them especially as it is overgrown. The neighbour the other side of us puts food out all the time. I think we may have to get some bait too. I don't like harming anything but they can breed so fast you can soon become overun with them.

I'll seeif I can send some pics now, probably more than one email.

All pics recieved Ann and thankj you for sending them. It is not BIL who has Parkinsons but Stuart the chap who does my car for me.

Well its been cloudy all day and we've had a little rain but its still 12 degrees here now, at this very moment!! Sorry Anng.

Vera the Hawkshead Fuschia sounds just right for your corner and it has such love pure white flowers.

That muted thing has gone from my thread tab now.

I have a nice piece of natural smoked haddock for tea tonight and I will finish up the last of the crumble.

Thank you for the photos Annx. It looks an interesting place.Shame about all the change of levels for you. The wash basins remind me of the ones they had in Dobbies in Ashford, - I rather liked the colourful pansy one there.
The colours of the tree are the modern look and although pretty, I prefer a traditional green tree.
The photos came through just fine, although I never did get the ones of the pendant :-S

I think we all get exasperated, when we find difficulty in completing a once-easy task.
I'm sure carrying things up and down stairs is really tiring, but you will enjoy looking at your cottages AnnG.

Vera, I had to smile at your independant grandaughter. She saved herself a lot of money by not hiring a gown. I know when our youngest graduated over 20 years ago, I thought it was expensive and the cost has bound to have increased greatly.
Sounds like your OH has been really busy in your garden. He sounds very eager, even if he does get carried away at times ;-)

Mandy, I see you too are preparing to decorate for Christmas. We display our cards, but haven't really decorated, as such for several years now.
The school caretaker went off to buy the school Christmas tree on Thursday, when I was there, so I expect that will be up and decorated, when I go in next week. The school hall usually looks lovely during December and the children are usually allowed to wear their Christmas jumpers from 1st December until the last day of term. That's Friday 20th this year returning on 6th January..

Mel, I would love your crumble. :-D I didn't freeze any blackberries this year, but there is some apple ready in the freezer, so maybe a crumble could be on the menu here too. We don't usually bother with a dessert after our evening meal, but in this cold weather those 'comfort' puds are very welcome.
After my blood tests next week, when I know that amongst other things they will test cholesterol levels, maybe I can indulge ;-)

Silly me Mel losing the plot and mixing up your BIL with Stu!

I will send a few pics of the model village tomorrow and read the other posts.

I've just tried sending the necklace again Gwyn.

Morning everyone, Chilly, but still and dry here, so should be OK for getting on with our really busy day.

Mel, Are you making your Advent ring for the church this year?
I know you usually do.

Good morning all. 10 degrees here so should fell mild but as it is still early it is hard to tell. Jake and dad coming back this morning to finish the job not sure what time. Then Tesco 4-5 this afternoon. Probably set the figures out with the cottages. Have a couple to check though as their lights are not coming on. A loose connection or maybe a bulb gone could be the problem. If I can’t fix it they will have to stay without lights.
Mandy if I carried them down and left them in a box I would need a very large box. They are all in individual boxes, the largest of which is 10”X8”. Actually I am up and down the stairs all the time as my office is upstairs and I spend a lot of time up there. It is probably good for me. Good job there are only7 houses though as I only carry one at a time.
Vera, My card reader is sealed, no access for a battery, I just have to send for a replacement when the card packs up. Which I have done. I can’t remember where I found my daily limit but I did eventually find ‘manage limit’ so will increase mine when I get the new reader.
Ann thank you for the photos, that looks an interesting place, lots of Christmas decs to look at and love those bowls. Shame it is so hard to walk around though I would find that very tiring and I also, these days, find it quite frightening walking down steep slopes. There is one coffee shop we like in Maryport which is at the top of a hill from where we park the car, ok (If a bit breathless going up but quite frightening walking back down.
I actually wonder about putting the cottages in the garage but there is no internal door so that would also be a trudge to carry them all in. I will think about that.(once the roof is finished).
Gwyn I can’t imagine not decorating at all for Christmas, even though I am away for the main event. We always loved Christmas. Luckily we had put all the main decs down from the loft before T died. I can;t remember as 2020 is a bit of a blur but I think I still put a few things up in 2020 even though T was in hospital. Since then I have gradually got back to what was our normal albeit with a smaller tree as the one we had is still in the loft.