General Chat

She was 72, I don't know if it was Natural causes or what. I suppose we will learn that from the news later.

Lovely afternoon still. Ros is still busy in the garden. I bet the "WEEDS" say, "WATCH OUT HERE SHE COMES"

I am at the T.V. Arsenal are one up at half time.

Thanks for all the advice, I had a feeling I'd have to have plans drawn up before I could proceed any further. I'm sure the council will let me know the order I have to do everything in as I explained in my email to them that I have never had an extension done before so needed some advice off them and also the order in which things need to be done. Hopefully when they reply I'll have a better picture of what to do and when. The advice you've all given me on here is a great help, thank you.

Yes I've got the news on now and it's all about Cilla. She was 72 and is believed to have died of natural causes....Such a lovely lady RIP <3

My OH will be please that Arsenal are winning at half time, he supports them but unfortunately has to work till 8pm tonight so isn't watching it. Hopefully some of the residence at work will be watching it, so he might catch bits of it while he's passing their rooms.

At least she is now back with her Bobby. RIP Cilla.

Maybe, Maybe not Mel! I don't actually believe in an after life. I don't think you know anything before you're born, and I don't think you know anything after you're dead. That's just my opinion of course.
Winds dropped at last and its turned into a nice evening! Time for a handy!!

What is a HANDY Liz ??? Were you thinking of a "hand shandy" or a beer shandy ???

Just finished a nice pork toast, with all the trimmings. Blown out now, so will get in my arm chair and relax.

Have a nice evening all.

Shandy Frank! This wretched kindle!! Have just been reading about Cilla and sadly it seems that she was quite an arrogant unpleasant lady as she got older particularly to her staff and other minions. Success and money can often do that - sad really.

Evening All,

For what it's worth Gill, we did extensive alterations at my previous house, including an extension and the first thing my first hubby did was meet with the planning officer at the local council to discuss it all and find out what sort of things we could and could not do and what regulations we needed to consider so it might be worth having a chat with them first which wouldn't cost you anything. One thing we did not want to do was pay more council tax and he was able to tell us how much extra space we could gain without doing that! There's all sorts to consider, we had a drain run along where we wanted to extend and we had to encase it in a foot of concrete so we needn't reroute it, so have a look to see where your drains go! The regulations change too and the builder who is wanting to build at the end of our close hasn't included conservatories this time because of complying with new legislation. You may not need building regs as well for a conservatory, depending on your council and how big the conservatory is, but you would for a sunroom I would think as that is more substantial.

Mel, you really should see if you can get a a dentist appointment. If you have an infection it can spread to adjacent teeth as well and you don't want that to happen.

We were both under the weather and felt exhausted yesterday so had an early night and feel better for it. I haven't needed painkillers or a heat patch on my back today but have still been careful! FIL was discharged back to the home Friday but they found him asleep on the floor yesterday but they don't think he fell, he'd just been quite drowsy. More floods of tears too. Looks like MIL will be discharged possibly on Wednesday, but they think she only needs 3 carers a day now not 4. :-S Things are getting quite complicated now, Pension Credit people need info we can't give as we are still awaiting a new social worker for FIL, he also needs reassessing we think and they can't do that till he has a Social Worker so we don't know where we are with costs. :-| :-|

BHF had taken lots of things from MIL before, but not furniture. The chaps who did come and collect it seemed to suggest they had only got more fussy recently. We'd used them ourselves with no problem in the past.

Our answerphone went on the blink yesterday, phone worked but not the answerphone and we can't do without it as things are at the moment, so I went and got another from Ar*os on the retail park. Got it home and went to set it up and the instruction booklet was missing, so that meant another trip and queuing! Got it all set up now.

The last 4 hours we have been unable to watch tv or have our windows open. There is an Indian bash of some sort at one of the big houses on the main road and the noise is so loud. We are about 100 yards away so goodness knows what it is like for the people nearer. :-S Looks like we won't be listening to the Agatha Christie prog tonight. :-S

It was sad to hear about Cilla. She was very much my era and I loved some of her songs. She'd said she didn't want to live beyond 75 and it seems she got her wish. She was big pals with Paul O'Grady I think.

I'm doing more clearing out in the bedroom tomorrow and took 6 bags to the charity shop on Saturday.

I expect Jane has been hearing all about her sister's hols today! :-)

What's a NICE PORK TOAST Frank, shouldn't that of been ROAST. What with your toast and Liz's handy, you're a right pair aren't you LOL.

I've been looking into the cost of an architect and of course the actual build and it looks like it's going to cost more than we have in saving's. OH doesn't want to get another mortgage as we've not long finished paying off the one we had. So it was back to the drawing board on how I'm going to get a bigger kitchen.

I'm now thinking of changing the back room into a kitchen as we'll be able to afford that and it'll be quicker..........Hopefully.

I think I might need building regs so will have to speak with the council, but it should cost about a third of the price of an extension and I can also keep my big garden which I'd be able to make a start on altering at the same time. BONUS. Plus I can then use the old kitchen as a utility room. Another room I've always wanted.

What do you think of my ideas? Now I just have to persuade my OH to agree :-D :-D. Unless I do it on the quiet while he's in work.......Do you think he'd notice LOL :-D Sorry I'm in a silly mood, but I do think it might be worth looking into, as we don't use the back room and it seems a shame not to use it.

I think your plan2 sounds far more sensible Gill! I don't think you'd need building regs to convert or push your kitchen into another room, but I'm not sure. It would be much cheaper and MUCH less stressful. If it were me this is the option I'd go for.
We're watching Fake or Fortune. We love this prog, a picture or anything can be worth millions or very little depending on whether it is a fake or not. The experts have to decide!

You do your thing Gill. I can't think for one moment that OH won't know what's going on :-D :-D :-D

Is our Jane back home yet ???

Regarding Cilla, I could take or leave her. She always got on my nerves with that Accent. I'm sure it was put on for effect. !!

I'd see what an estate agent thought the effect on the sale price of your house would be if you do that Gill. Losing say a bedroom to gain a utility room and bigger kitchen might not add value or even recoup the cost if that matters to you. Not that that would matter if you don't intend selling though. :-) Your head is obviously buzzing with ideas at the moment! :-)

Is your garage attached to the house Gill, could you convert your garage into a new kitchen or bedroom?

It's been a lovely evening ,still quite warm out there , the clouds have been lovely to look at ,all fine and whispy .

If it's anything like we get here with the big house it will go on till the early hours fo the morning and start again very early in the morning if you know what I mean.

Our wall acts like a big ear so we hear lots of whats going on over the big house when they have roudy guests in. Shame our wall dos'nt go down the east side of the garden and perhaps it would block it out a bit. There's a big porchy bit out the back of the big house and I think they go there to have a smoke when its wet.

Swelling in my mouth has gone down a lot today and I did manage a little soft cheese and biscuits tonight without my teeth in!!! I ate on the other side. It is to do with my receeding bone in my jaws. I still have pain up the side of my nose and into my left eye.

I do hope MIL will be able to cope with just 3 carers a day. Does this mean there will be someone to put her to bed and can she manage on her own?

I wonder if FIL thought he would sleep on the floor so he would'nt fall out of bed? Bless <3 <3

Glad to hear your back is feeling a little better today Ann, don't over do it when you sort out your bedroom, you don't want to hurt it again. I bet that was a shock finding your answer machine wasn't working and then having to go back to the shop because the instructions were missing. You do need the answer machine with the way MIL and FIL are. Hope things work out ok for them both and that MIL will have enough care with just 3 carers instead of 4.

Hope things go alright for you too at the dentist tomorrow Mel. I'm sure they'll take a look if you explain how much pain you've been in and for how long.

I'm gutted now, OH has just pointed out the width of the room is not big enough to make into a kitchen :-( :-(. Never mind I was excited for a few hours LOL. I think you're right Ann it might de-value the property losing a valid room just to gain a utility room and like OH said I wouldn't have much work top space either and when I was in the room measuring I felt that if I was cooking in there I would be away from the family. At the moment the kitchen is off the living room so I feel like the two rooms are one when the door is open, if you get what I mean.

So it doesn't look like I'm going to get my bigger kitchen after all as an extension is out of our price range at the moment and I doubt if we did ever sell this place we'd get our money back. OH mentioned a conservatory as his mate, our neighbour, has one which OH has seen and he said it opens into the kitchen and makes the original kitchen look bigger, I was surprised OH mentioned that after saying he wasn't keen on having one. He must of seen how disappointed I was.

So he's going to have a word with his mate and see if I can go round to take a look. The only problem with that is he has a vicious dog, but OH has assured me that his mate will put the dog outside while I'm there as I'm nervous of dogs like that, after being bitten by an Alsatian when I was three years old.

The garage is separate to the bungalow Mandy, which is a pity as it could of been converted otherwise.

OH is happy at the moment, he's put Arsenal on the TV and just caught the first goal, you should of heard him cheer. He'd missed the beginning so that was good timing as the TV had only been on a couple of seconds when the goal happened.
Well, the highlights of the match are finished now and OH is happy as his team won.

Going to bed now, see you all tomorrow, hope Jane had a nice time today
Night Night

Morning All, Evening Kim

Pills have kicked in and I am managing to get back to normal living well as normal as it can be of course,

Had a lovely weekend, went down to Lancashire to see MIL, she is still not well she has good days & bad days. another 3 weeks to go before she goes back to see the specialist as Preston Royal Hospital,
We went out to lunch with the whole family, Mum, Paul & Lesley and my niece Holly and her fiance Kristian, was great to get together,
we are trying to make the visit , every 2 months, as Franks mum will not be able to make it up to us for her summer hols, this year,

Well would you believe it,!!!!! :-0

I managed to get into Glasgow shopping with Katherine & Jake last Friday, Katherine wanted a dress to wear at her friend's wedding which was this weekend gone, I was treated to coffee and then lunch ,paid by them,
We trailed around the shops and she finely managed to get a navy and white shift dress 1960's style, she had all ready bought a new pair of orange and fawn leather sandals from her work, so she was going to match it up with a orange little jacket, (orange seems to be this seasons colour this year)

Well wait for it, !!!! would you believe Katherine thought the wedding was on the Saturday so off they went on Saturday all dressed up and 15 mins into the drive into Glasgow , Katherine looks at the Wedding invitation and it says it was Sunday (yesterday Not Saturday) :-S
so seeing as they were already dressed the ended up going out for lunch instead,
Katherine was working yesterday, so she didn't make the service but they went to the night time do.
I am waiting to hear from them to find out how things went,

Poor Katherine Fiona, wedding's are normally on a Saturday so I can see how she could of made that mistake. Good job she checked the invitation or she could of ended up at someone else's wedding. Glad to hear you're feeling better now, it seemed strange not seeing you on here. Nice to see you had a lovely weekend, it'll be lovely if you could do it every 2 months. Hope all goes well for your MIL when she see's the specialist.

The weather here is rain again, it was forecast to be dry today, so I was going to do some gardening. I'd got everything out ready then as soon as I went outside the rain started so I put everything into the greenhouse for now, if it brightens up later I'll try again.

I'm still waiting for the drains people to arrive, I was told 9am and it's gone 9.30 so I might give them a ring in a minute to see how long they are going to be. I've got a feeling they might have to take up some of our patio to gain access to the turn in the drain for the liner, hope that isn't the case, I shall have to wait and see.....well, that's if they turn up.

We are going to give our agent the 14 days notice today to take the property off the market. I thought it might be better if OH took the letter as last time I tried to do it they wouldn't except it and just kept going on about the benefits of staying with them until in the end I gave up and stayed with them. OH won't let that happen to him. I just hope the agent signs the copy of the letter OH is taking with him, as that will be our proof we have given them notice.

Well, I think I'll give the drains people a ring now, see what happening and what time they are likely to arrive. The rain has stopped and it's brightened up a bit, although there are lots of clouds around so how long it will stay dry is anyone's guess, hopefully long enough for me to do the job I wanted to do ;-).

Hope Mel, managed to get into the dentist
BBL

Morning all and evening Kim,

Quite windy here today but it is dry and it's not cold. I hav'nt got around to the dentist yet as I slept till 10am. Face still hurts today up to my eye.

Oh is expecting a parcel delivery today so we have to wait for that to come as it has to be signed for.

Fiona I am pleased your feeling a lot better and it sounds like you have had a great weekend and been treated to lunch was a nice surprise. What have those lovely grandchildren been up to lately??It's a shame MIL can't come up to you for her holiday this year and I hope she gets on ok at the specialist.

Gill I wish you luck with the drain men and hope they turn up and you don't have to have the patio up. Surely the insurance would cover azny work that has to be done in that repect and have to put things back properly afterwards.

Morning all, Evening Kim.

Good start to our day. Ros had a very bad night with her legs playing up. She forgot to take her tablets last night. So she was in a lot of pain, and had to keep getting up. Silly woman didn't realise she hadn't taken her tablets.

She got up at 7.30 put the kettle on and BLEW all the electrics. I got up at 8.15 to find her up the steps trying to get the trip switch back on. I took over, and after going round turning all the wall plugs off, I managed to get the trip switch to hold. I put on the kitchen light (if the switch blew the lights would go out) I then proceeded to put on each wall plug. When I got to the KETTLE it tripped the switch. So that is now in the dustbin. MORE EXPENCE now for a new one. Boiling water in a saucepan for now. !!

I do hope MIL can manage with the three carers instead of four. Who will look after her in between visits ??

Mel, there must be something wrong somewhere for you to be in all the discomfort. HAVE YOU RUNG THE DENTIST ??

Nice to see you have been our and about Fiona, what a bummer the wedding being on the Sunday What's the old saying "ALL DRESSED UP WITH NOWHERE TO GO" lol

Our "BIG HOUSE" use to have a lot of PARTIES with M. Thatcher and loads of MPs When they still went on at TWO in the morning. The village were up in arms. The police would be all around and the security guards. IT WAS BEDLAM . The local paper ran stories and comments from villagers. Quite a lot of publicity. A similar thing happened with the Harold Wilson happenings in the 70s
Famous or what !!!!

I see they are giving up THIS MORNING to Cilla Black. You would think the Queen had died, what a load of twaddle :-P :-P :-P

Gill I think at this moment in time, you should concentrate on getting the garden sorted and planned how you want it. Then when that's all done you can think of another project.

Morning all, Evening Kim.

Good start to our day. Ros had a very bad night with her legs playing up. She forgot to take her tablets last night. So she was in a lot of pain, and had to keep getting up. Silly woman didn't realise she hadn't taken her tablets.

She got up at 7.30 put the kettle on and BLEW all the electrics. I got up at 8.15 to find her up the steps trying to get the trip switch back on. I took over, and after going round turning all the wall plugs off, I managed to get the trip switch to hold. I put on the kitchen light (if the switch blew the lights would go out) I then proceeded to put on each wall plug. When I got to the KETTLE it tripped the switch. So that is now in the dustbin. MORE EXPENCE now for a new one. Boiling water in a saucepan for now. !!

I do hope MIL can manage with the three carers instead of four. Who will look after her in between visits ??

Mel, there must be something wrong somewhere for you to be in all the discomfort. HAVE YOU RUNG THE DENTIST ??

Nice to see you have been our and about Fiona, what a bummer the wedding being on the Sunday What's the old saying "ALL DRESSED UP WITH NOWHERE TO GO" lol

Our "BIG HOUSE" use to have a lot of PARTIES with M. Thatcher and loads of MPs When they still went on at TWO in the morning. The village were up in arms. The police would be all around and the security guards. IT WAS BEDLAM . The local paper ran stories and comments from villagers. Quite a lot of publicity. A similar thing happened with the Harold Wilson happenings in the 70s
Famous or what !!!!

I see they are giving up THIS MORNING to Cilla Black. You would think the Queen had died, what a load of twaddle :-P :-P :-P

Gill I think at this moment in time, you should concentrate on getting the garden sorted and planned how you want it. Then when that's all done you can think of another project.

I got cut of in my prime, it just posted I was going to ask how Jane enjoyed her day out.

The T.V. is off and won't be on again till all this Cra# is over .