General Chat

Good Morning my sweet things, Evening Kim,

Nothing special weather wise, we had a drop of rain in the night. It's quite overcast but not cold. I have the job of washing out the two BIG bins. (Garden waste and paper and tins.)

Hows our little RUBY this morning Anne, I hope she had a good night, and hasn't had any "SNACKS" today.

Ros is at Mother's Club tonight. Val next door will call round 7.15 pm. I will have to record her SOAPS so she can with them when I go to bed.

Gill You can get a tree bloke to come and grind the stump right down to ground level, I don't think they would charge to much, as most of the work has been done.

It sounds as though Thomas is getting better, if he is chasing toys around the lounge. You should be like us, I do the washing up most evenings, Ros dry's and cleans down (I don't do it RIGHT) !!!! The DW is only used if we don't feel like washing up on Sundays.

I hope you enjoy your lunch at the "BRIDGE" Jane, have a toast for me in memory of the times I have eaten there ;-) ;-) ;-)

Madam is back in the garden this morning already, I don't know where she finds the energy.

I have my Kindle on charge. With the lettering on full size, I might be able to read a book which will be nice. We are ringing the Optician today, to get my eyes retested. I will then be able to read again. Yippee.

Onwards and upwards as they say, see you later.

Be careful with those bins Frank, it's started raining here, just light rain for now though.

I bet you can't wait to be able to read properly again without the lettering on full size. Hope you have an appointment with the optician's quickly :-)

We were thinking of getting someone to remove the stump completely but thought it might damage the roots of the conifers behind it, which is why OH is cutting it down to ground level, then we can plant some ground covering plants to grow over it to hide it, like you mentioned. I just hope there aren't to many roots in that area as I'd like to make a new border to put some of my large plants in.......time will tell I suppose, once I've removed the grass and start digging. We're using the grass in another part of the garden so until it warms up we can't make a start on the border, other than cutting the stump down further.

Good afternoon all

Another good night, she has settled in really well, fast asleep on my lap at the moment, no snacks yet but only because they were picked up as soon as she had been.

I hope Chris isn't in too much pain with his ribs Jane, is it true that doctor's don't make good patients? I hope you enjoy your meal today. So no dishwasher at the moment.
I do use mine all the time I got in the habit when working full time plus when I cared for Peter when the brain tumour caused his dementia, fortunately there is room in the utility room along side the washing machine.

Ruby is waking up so after she has had her mad half hour then it'
s soup time for me, she was fed just before her little nap so has probably slept it off

Ros has just come in from the garden. She went out at 10.30 am. She has painted FOUR more panels, and has run out of paint. She will go to B & Q tomorrow 10% off day for OAPs. to get more. She had cleaned the bins by the time I went out to do them. I wish she would let me do the jobs I can. !!!

Trying Venison this evening. with curly kale, brussels, runners and carrots. I have done sliced potato's in butter and cream. I will sprinkle some cheese on part way through cooking.

Glad Ruby has settled in well Anne, it must be lovely having her company on your lap for a little sleep. You are making me jealous <3 <3 <3 CUDDLY FROM ME please. xx

Gill, it will take a few weeks for you to get the garden back to normal, but knowing how hard you work, it won't take long.

I wonder how LADY JANE got on at Huntington.?? I hope she behaved herself. lol

Done the shopping......................... Rained here all day that horris fine stuff that makes you wet and you don't realize.

Oh's new suit came today and fits well so he is all kitted up for Friday now. Which reminds me I had better make sure my cloths still fit as I have put on so much weight!!!!!!!!!!

Curry night for oh and I don't know whether to have a couple of deep pan pizza with pepperomi or a couple of nice boiled eggs with some new bread, decisions decisions...

Ruby certainly seems to have settled in well with you Anne and not bad at night either. Give her a little squeeze from me and a big kiss. Ooooo I can just smell that puppy smell now........... <3

Evening all,

Another beautiful sunny day ,we went to the range this morning with son and DIL ,i had to take my coat off it was so warm .

I had a list of all sorts we wanted ,Egg cups as we only had two left from over the years and i must have thrown them out when Colin had a couple of boiled eggs ,he asked for boiled eggs this morning and i couldn't find the cups any where so we got some more of those , Colin wanted some hinges ,didn't get them as the aisle where they were was closed off, Wild bird pellets ,they didn't have any or the wood glue Colin wanted , a new fly screen for the back door ,couldn't find of them ,we did get some new mugs and another ball for Max ,so we didn't spend much at all ,son on the other hand bought all sorts !!!
He was saying to have your tonsils out you have to have five bouts in the year ,so far he's had three ,his throat looks nasty .

Mel i bet the eggs won :-D

That a devil about the dishwasher and don't you miss them ,hope yours can be fixed Jane .

Oh dear little Ruby she is being a good girl , has she had a little bark yet ?

You'll be glad to get some new glasses Frank although it's more expense !! but it will be nice to get back to your books .
Ros has been busy in the garden ,i haven't got round to doing my weeding yet.

Evening All,

It's getting a bit breezy now, but I didn't need my coat when I went out earlier with OH to the carvery down the road. Not so good now the nearby Toby Carvery clientele have migrated there. Too noisy and busy for us, even though we get there as early as possible. The veg I had today on my small plate were red cabbage, cauli, brocolli, green beans, parsnip, carrots, brussel sprouts, sweetcorn and peas with 2 thin slices of turkey and a sprinkle of gravy. :-) Then I went and spoiled it by letting OH tempt me with what should be 2 scoops of icecream (but they always give you 4 scoops!!) Salted caramel and Belgian chocolate for me and all Cookie Dough for OH. :-S No wonder my weight isn't going down!

Speaking of which.........OH said the other day he must see if his 'funeral suit' still fits Mel as he is heavier now too.

Good that little Miss Dynamite Ruby is taking to you and her new home like a duck to water Anne. She seems particularly good doesn't she and the fact she doesn't get anxious might be a sign she will be less likely to suffer from other kinds of anxiety. That seems a good plan to try, getting to those snacks before she does! I bet Becky and Abby can't wait till they see her again.

Gill we had to chop down 2 Cordyline trees in the front garden a few years ago. The trunks were about a foot wide and a gardening firm that comes regularly to do a couple of the gardens in the close charged £10 to do it. They didn't cut them level with the ground so OH had to do that (which was awkward to do being close to the ground). We had slate chips around them, so built those up around the flattened stumps and the plants that were round them have now spread over them. One keeps trying to regrow though and because OH liked the palm trees he keeps 'forgetting' to treat it to kill it off!!

Ros really is a dedicated gardener Frank to be out and planting as much as she does and painting the fence panels too. I was looking at some pretty primroses today to put in my wall pots, only £1 each. I didn't get any in the end because I just couldn't make my mind up what to choose!! They come in such a wide variety of colours and patterns nowadays!!!

Oh Jane I would be lost without my dishwasher now! I hope it can be fixed!!

OH and I have both said that people can wear casual clothes to our funerals, in fact the less formal the better. As a family we've always said that, as funeral clothes are so gloomy and its expensive to have to buy clothes that you hardly ever wear and will probably grow(?!!) out of!!
Well, the Bassetts came, and no, they didn't even see a hare :-D. OH went out with them, Cas went as well so she's nice and tired! Very windy here tonight and the forecast is awful!
Hope everyone is ok!

Good evening all

Your carvery meal sounds really appetising Ann, I much prefer vegetables to meat unless it's chicken or bacon.

Mandy, has quinsies been ruled out with your son's throat problem only my niece had this last year and it sounds very similar. I used to get tonsillitus a lot as a child but never had my tonsils out .

Ruby is fast asleep on her bed after attacking Richard's feet and having a manic runaround she is funny when she tries to growl and she also manages a fearsome bark

My grandfather had a fatal quinsy way back in 1949. They are very nasty, but these days quite curable. His was in part caused by his having been gassed in the first world war leaving him with severe respiratory problems.
The wind is really howling out there! Our cabin feels really warm and comforting! Just about to watch the South Downs.

I agree Liz.......I'll just be thankful if anyone turns up at my funeral, let alone be fussed at what they wear!! Just be comfortable is all that matters to me! OH wore a suit but not black for his parents' funerals but we knew from other family funerals that his family were quite traditional. We were a bit concerned they wouldn't approve of the fact OH's parents' funerals were not religious, even though we had a couple of hymns his parents liked. As it turned out it seemed everyone liked the lighter atmosphere and emphasis on memories of his parents and their lives. OH has a black suit and tie from when he would be required to attend funerals and represent work and standards were expected then. The worst occasion I remember was the week he retired. He was doing the last round of his offices that week and called at one early in the morning to find paramedics working on one of his members of staff on the floor next to his desk where he had collapsed. Sadly they couldn't save the young man. He left a widow and two young children. I remember OH composing a lovely letter to his widow a few days later offering any support and help if she needed it. That was more important than all the work he had on to tie up loose ends with finishing work! :-)

How was the venison Frank? It's supposed to be a healthy meat to have. I have only had it once in a pie, but liked it! It was at the pub in Exford. I think Liz might know it. I bet you will be counting the days till you get some new specs.........then you will see so much better.

Oh Mandy isn't it a shame when your shopping list fizzles out like that........you think was it worth bothering!! Better luck next time! Your son's throat must be so painful as there must be a wound there now I would think. I have a little egg cup I bought years ago. It has a ginger cat on it and this rhyme you will all remember I expect.

I love little pussy
Her coat is so warm
And if I don't hurt her
She'll do me no harm

Morning all

Lots of rain here at the moment and windy too. There is a weather warning out for most of the country as there is a storm on it's way, so that's put paid to doing anything in the garden for a few days.

I was on a roll yesterday with my family tree, I have a back up one too so I'm having to do everything twice, plus check it's all correct by trying to find all the relevant records. I'm copying everything onto my Genes tree at the moment which should take a few days to complete, so very busy. OH has just gone to work and Sandra is asleep so I'm just going to get a cuppa and carry on copying.

Hope everyone is okay and your son's throat heals soon Mandy, it sounds like you had a bad day shopping, lets hope next time is better.

Morning Everyone
I am still in bed having a cuppa. Lunch yesterday was very good ,as you say Frank it is 'quite up market' .It is not somewhere to go on a regular basis though as it was so expensive. I had Cauliflower Croquettes to start,and Chicken stuffed with Spinach Risotto,buttered green veg and Chantenay Carrots.The Chicken was out of this world.
The men had Beef Wellington(for 2).Chris had the same starter as me and Fitz had Whitebait.I tried one but it was too 'fishy' for me and it was looking at me :-S
One thing there that really put me off was it is right beside the A14 and the traffic noise outside was dreadful so it wouldn't be peaceful sitting out in the summer.

Yoy are getting along Gill with your Family Tree :-D.It must be so satisfying each time you can add another member.

It is so good Anne that Ruby is settling in so well so quickly.I think you have picked the best of the bunch :-D :-D :-D.I hope all her siblings are doing as well with their new families.

Ann,4 scoops !!!.That made me giggle. I do like Salted Caramel things. You did very well with your main course :-D :-D

How is your son today Mandy ? You say he has had 3 bouts of Tonsillitis already this year,but did he not have other bouts towards the end of last year. That would make 5 or more !!!!

My tea is getting cold. I think the wind is picking up a bit now.

Morning All,

You are an early bird Jane. Your lunch sounded very nice, but I wouldn't have fancied the whitebait either. OH loves it and used to have it quite often, but I would find myself 'drawn' to it somehow and find myself looking for the eyes peeping out of the batter!!!! lol. Did you resist having a desert?

We were going to the cinema today, but when we got up this morning we both decided there wasn't anything we particularly wanted to see and changed our minds.

I haven't had whitebait for ages, you've put ideas into my head as we used to love it!!
Hope your dishwasher is easily mended Jane, you do miss these machines when they're not working particularly if, like us you use it all the time! There's no room in our kitchen area so ours is in the utility room along with the washing machine, chest freezer and Cas's crate, so it's quite a squash! To be honest, since years ago, coming down to a catastrophe (washing machine!) I've never left any machine, even the slow cooker, on overnight, just too risky!!
Very windy here today, so we shall batten down the hatches. OH is busy with eBay, while I shall sort some more family photographs!
Hope everyone has a nice day, whatever you are doing.

Ann,non of us had a desert .I could barely finish my main.I forgot that the men had Garlic Bread to start too. Chris had to have a lie down when we got in.He noramlly has a salad at lunch times so I think it was all sitting a bit heavy.

I need to go and get some veg and things but my knee is so darned painful .The last couple of days (and nights) have been awful,even with my strong painkillers and Voltarol Gel and heat patch :-S :-S.I think I will just drive to to the nearest mini supermarket where I should be able to park right outside and hobble in.

It was raining quite hard earlier but it seems to have just about stopped now. Chris is on a walk .Not such a long one as normal today.

Morning to my Friends, Evening Kim,

Another dreadful night last night. I stayed up until 11.00 pm was up again at 1.00 am just as Ros came to bed. She was talking to herself about something, but never answered when I spoke. I watched T.V. until 3.15 and dropped off as soon as I got to bed again. I woke Ros at 7.45 as she was going to LINUS with Margaret at 8.45 I slept in till I was woken by a dog barking at 9.00 am.

Horrible windy morning here. They say some of us will have winds up to 80 mph overnight and into Thursday. So batten down all loose things in the garden. !!!

Yes Jane, One wouldn't want to eat at the BRIDGE to often unless you have a 2nd Mortgage ;-) ;-) ;-) Of corse when I visited in the 60s, there was no A 14 as we know it today. What a surprise "WHITEBAIT" tasting FISHY :-0 :-0 :-0 What are you like !!!!

With Ros out last night I was able to relax with Robson Green and Martin Clunes with their very interesting programmes. Robson was around the coast where I would visit as a your man. Southend on sea Leigh on Sea (COCKLES CRABS and lots of sea foods.)Took me back to happy memories. It's a pity both programmes finished this week.

I was delighted to see the reserve GOALKEEPER for Sutton United has resigned or sacked. What a disgraceful thing to do in the middle of a match. He might have been needed if the goalkeeper had been injured.

Ruby is settled in so well Anne, I bet you are spoiling her a lot, and why wouldn't you. ??

Mandy, They have one of those "RANGE" stores close to where Jan and Conrad live. Ros loves to get in there, and wanders around for ages. Hows your sons throat this morning ?? a bit easier I hope.

Still haven't rung the opticians. Must do that today. I can have my eyes tested 6 weeks after the operation It's 5 weeks today since I had it done. So plenty of time then. !!!

I think I will do a sheep s==t pie tonight. We both enjoyed the venison last night, I think that will go down on the regular shopping list. The curly kale is OFF THE LIST. it repeated on me something terrible last night, and made me sick.

Home alone today, so might try reading my Kindle.

Morning you early lot and all,

The wind is blowing a gale out there and there's that fine rain blowing across like curtains in the wind.

Anne you seem to have a true little treasure there with Ruby. She just sounds adorable from what you tell us I can just imagine her tearing around having a mad fit and then crashing out afterwards for a nice sleep. When my Russels had a mad fit they used to run round the back of the settee and make us laugh so much till tears ran down our faces.

Meal sounded nice Jane and it was a good day out with Fitz. Yes did you have a dessert?

Liz the Bassets were good then and not finding any hares was a relief I expect. We hav'nt seen a hare around here for years now just rabbits. I must admit I hav'nt seen the amount of rabbits in the garden since catching 8 but the fox was up the garden again the other day so maybe they have had the last of them. I hope so as I may get a decent border this year without so many. Just the deer to cope with.

The Blackthorn is blooming down here and I saw lots on the way to Bideford yesterday and the gorse is out of course so yellow and white hedgerows.

Mandy you would have thought there would be egg cups in the Range. It is disappointing when you can't find things you need that are on your list. You'll probably find them somewhere nearer home in a local shop.

Must have a hairwash today as its getting on my nerves and after it will be all soft and fly away and I shall have to put combs in the sides to keep it in place.

We love those programmes too Frank and always watch them, also the wild life progs on geographic channels which I know you like too
Cas has a new bone so she's super happy!