General Chat

Not too much vinegar Jane and very little salt!!! Years ago we used to use a lot of salt and sugar, but we don't use salt for cooking at all these days and use very little sugar, none in tea or coffee, just a very small amount on cereal and puddings. We started using less when I developed hypertension and over the years have managed to get it down to nil. we're both overweight and do make a concertive effort to be careful what we eat and drink.
Poor Kim! I hope she's ok, she's had so much trouble with her health, I do wonder. Time for the news. Ian's favourite programme!!!

Jane did you mean bottie? Bless..................love to Aggie <3 <3 <3

Gill my oh had three stent round his heart and only stayed in the day. Went in early and I waited there for him to drive him home.

Afternoon All,

It's got colder and colder here today. I started a pretty daisy flowered bracelet at beading class today. We all seem to be working on different things at the moment as some have missed some classes and some of us are slower (like me!) and have things we've yet to finish.

They never did find FIL's teeth Mel and have an appointment scheduled for a dentist for some new ones, but somehow I doubt it will happen. OH visited this morning and was told the doctor was calling to see him this afternoon and that they'd ring OH after he'd been. He was in bed and unresponsive, just opened his eyes briefly, didn't know OH and then was asleep again. The home said he'd eaten a tiny morsel today but that was all. Maybe not having his teeth was affecting him eating, but he wasn't even taking drink from the special spouted beakers. They are getting him a hospital bed now and keeping him comfortable and turning him every couple of hours. I think the home is a more caring place for him to be than the hospital. They seem to have taken to the old boy with him being cheerful and not complaining. :-) We didn't go to the cinema as the home will be phoning. Thank you all for your kind wishes. I think we are both feeling the strain a bit after the events with one parent and now another. OH said today that things will have been full on for a year by May and before that the previous few years were pretty eventful. I think although he'd always do what's needed, he's really had enough of sitting at bedsides now.

I hope your MRI scan comes through quickly Frank and hope you have a nice break with Jan etc!! :-)

Your plants sound a pretty selection Anne. I love to see tubs of colour like that.

Mel I once emptied a packet of teabags I didn't like around the base of a Camellia and then covered them over with the bark chippings!! lol. It didn't seem so wasteful then. Our used teabags mulch the runner beans in the summer.

Gill, my OH has no 'vision' either, I think it may be the same with a lot of men! When we moved here and I was planning the rooms out I would use cardboard boxes to mock up where walls would be, how furniture would fit etc so he could 'see' it better! I even drew scale plans, but that was no help as he couldn't imagine how those would look either! As for how colours would look, he was a nightmare, but now he just about trusts my judgement and hasn't wanted to change anything I've done yet. I found him a real obstacle at first after being used to my first OH being delighted and really liking whatever I did. It's most frustrating isn't it! It's a good idea to still get plans as it might help him see the possibilities. :-)

Ann,I think not having his teeth is now nothing to do with him not wanting to eat.He is just slowly fading away now.I do think it is very bad though that his teeth were lost.It shouldn't happen :-S
It will be so sad for OH to lose his Dad so soon after his Mum :-(.........I think it won't be long by the sound of it...Maybe soon you and Gordon should consider having a bit of a break away.It will do you both good.It has been a tough several years for you both.

oops Mel ,yes is was meant to be Bottie :-D...Haven't managed to get hold of my Sister yet to see how Aggie is.

I hope our Kim is ok but I suppose hospital is the best place fo r her if she is'nt well with all the trouble she has. Sending love to Kim and hope she feels better soon. <3 <3 <3 <3

Tea leaves are very good for Camelias. The tea plants draws up a lot of minerals and nutrients into its leaves and of course the tea plant likes acid soil too.

My Leonard Messel on the top west wall is all in bud at the moment and some of the flowers are just bursting. On the way to the dentists there was a huge one and lots of its flower buds were on the ground after that very high wind we had this week.

I saw on TV today about using tealeaves and mashed banana for Orchids. I haven't had an Orchid for ages now .But when I do have one I will do the tea leaf and Banana thing :-D
That is a shame you lost a lot of the flower buds off your plant Mel.I reckon a lot of buds have been blown away these last few weeks with the gales :-S

Did anyone watch Pompeii last night with Mary Beard? It was brilliant :-D

Yes we did Jane and yes it was brilliant! Mary Beard does these programmes so well, and we would love to go to Pompeii, as we both find it fascinating.
Scrambled eggs mushrooms and bacon for supper, cooked by Ian! Shetland tonight!

We also watched Mary Beard's programme about Pompeii and really enjoyed it.
Watching the final of Shetland and Mastermind later..

I haven't used salt in cooking for ages because of high blood pressure but now I've been told I have low sodium levels hence the blood test on Wednesday. I haven't had the results yet, I've been told they will ring me if the reading is still the same.

I know Anne! You sometimes feel you can't win!!! I think really it's a case of moderation in all things! You do find that you get used to less favouring in food and we find now that we only like a smattering of salt. Sons partner is very into health food which is a good thing as he tends to put on weight even though he still plays squash and football regularly. He does like his beer, which could be.the reason!!!

Mum said she should be in and out in a day Mel, although she has been told to take an overnight bag just in case. She is second on the list but the doctor doesn't speak to the patients until everyone has been seen. If the blood runs through okay then she won't need anything further and will be able to come home straight away.

Sorry to hear about your FIL Ann, it does sound like he's nearing the end now. Hope it's peacefully in his sleep, I'm thinking of your both <3
I've found another bungalow that I think OH might like better but it does mean having to get a small mortgage. He'll be in from work soon so I'll see what he thinks and if he likes it I'll book a viewing. I must admit it's better than the one I liked and is in the same street as OH's work, so he'd be able to walk to work in less than 5 minutes. I'm even thinking of driving again and would be able to do it if OH doesn't need the car for work. The bungalow is ready to move in to, so no work, apart from making it ours, decorating wise. There maybe a possibility of making it into a three bedroom bungalow as the living room is very long and wide so can be split into two, but that would be something for the future.

It sounds like OH is in from work now, so I'll go and show him what I've found.

I never got round to filling in the forms from the solicitor but we can't take them in to him until Monday so there's no rush.

I went to Pompeii with a friend back in the 70's.I LOVED IT :-D..I am sure there is much more uncovered there now.I have a lovely teeny water colour of part of a fresco from one of the villas.It is of Cherub and Chariot.It is on the wall in the study.I bought it from a man who was doing his paintings in Pompeii.

I haven't used salt in cooking or at the table since 1969 when I was first married. I've never put it on F&C. Mum always said it raised blood pressure, but dad would always add it. They were encouraged to when he served in the army in India for 5 years and I think it was an ingrained habit after. As for sugar I stopped having any in tea and then coffee when I was aged 13. I have always bought sugarfree fizzy drinks since you could get them, have orange juice with no added sugar and I don't have sugary cereals or add sugar to them. I must eat more salt now I eat out more though as you don't know what's in what you are given do you, I can't resist chocolate either which is not so good.

We recorded Mary Beard on Pompeii and are watching it later. :-) Jane saw a very good Pompeii exhibition in London didn't she.

David, that sounds like a possibility........try one out for getting in! ;-)

Yes Jane, OH's birthday is the same as Hannah's. :-D I went with him today to choose some books......he got 3, all about 3 inches thick and very heavy!! I don't know where he squirrels them all away. I noticed the top one was a politician's autobiography......I shan't be borrowing that! lol

I hope Kim is ok, poor thing. She has more than her fair share of health problems. <3

Morning all and love to Kim,

Rained last night a bit and then with a little sleet. Today is grey and a bit windy. There is a tiny bit of blue sky but not really enough to make a sailor a pair of trousers.

Nothing planned for today except at some time I need to do some ironing. A visit to the shop for my paper and then just muddle about on the pc taking to you lot or making my little craft.

Ann love the pic of FIL on your avatar and all that hair!! <3

http://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/8/88/Irvine-1049-1.jpg

I had hoped this would display a picture of my Father

it does.

Thamk goodness I managed that Mel.

Why didn't the photo display? Did I miss a step?

The Peugeot 1007 Dolce hasn't been manufactured since 2009

Display where David?!
Not a bad morning here; bit chilly but not too bad. I tried to take some pics first thing of Ian putting Cas through her paces, but they were too far away and I don't think they're worth forwarding!!
Nothing doing here today. Ian's in his workshop, and I'm about to hoover!!!

Afternoon all,

Wet here ,it's been raining all the morning so we have decided to stay put ,we have all we need so it will be a film in front of the wood burner .
I have made a nice Shepherds pie for tonight with carrot and swede mash and cauliflower.

Poor Kim i hope it's nothing to serious <3