General Chat

Oh yes I was going to say there is nothing nicer than a good bit of Bacon :-D.I don't buy it often ,but I know I have some in the freezer that I bought from a Farm Shop last year.I think it is time it was used :-D

My Niece also rang(Janices daughter Rachel ) to say that they have just heard today that Finn has got into the first choice Grammar School for September.So that was great news.They have been waiting so long to find out which school he has been allocated.

Meatballs for Chris and me tonight. James is having the left over Beef with Mash and Brocolli .
It is still a lovely evening here,even if a little on the breezy side. I got 8 big bath towels dried outside today :-D
Broadchurch tonight :-D :-D.Looking forward to that.

It sounds like you've been busy today Frank. With having a new cooker it doesn't take much to keep mine clean, part of the insurance we bought with it includes cleaning so I don't need to worry about it to much. So JJ has gone home now, you'll miss him but at least you know he had a good time with you. Thanks for the offer of a photo I look forward to seeing it if it can be done.

It sounds like Thomas isn't quite sure where Benjy is if he's looking everywhere for him Jane. Looking at the video you sent he was certainly a lively chap wasn't he? You did well getting into the doctors. So more goo to put on, you're going to end up slipping out of bed at this rate LOL. Pleased to hear Finn got into the school he wanted.

How are you getting on with your sorting Ann? It is a nice feeling when you've done it, at least it was for me, although I forgot a few things, hence why I still have a few more bits to do. Shame you couldn't find the right vases today but at least you had your bacon. I find when I'm looking for something I can't seem to find it and only find it once I've given up looking. Mind you, isn't that always the case?

Carmel is being spoilt by you William, you are a good man, it'll make her feel more at home too and you can't beat a good cup of tea.

I find bacon a bit irresistible too Mel, but I try not to have it too often......those preservatives in it aren't good. I also have a bit of craving for beans on toast just now!! lol :-) I have felt very hungry today so maybe it's the sunshine giving us more energy to do things that's making us hungry!

Jane I would be just the same shaving hair off and OH would be saying just the same as your OH!! Another cream now then for your hands. I hope this one helps as you are using your hands for nearly everything you do. I had to smile at Thomas looking over his shoulder!! I bet he was looking for the pesky little torment wanting him to play all the time. :-) I'm loving Broadchurch too and wasn't the first episode of Line of Duty gripping!!!! That is good that Finn got into the grammar school.

I take joint supplements too Mel and it was only a few weeks after I stopped taking them once that I realised why my knees started getting worse. A few weeks after I restarted them things were a lot better again so I keep them up now.

Frank, oven cleaning is such a thankless job. :-S Mine does itself as I've said, but not the wire racks which is a pity. I often wish they would fit in the dishwasher! It's usually a Brillo job, but takes an age to do. I think it's a good idea to get some professional cleaners in especially when it really needs doing.

Gill I still have another wardrobe rail to sort and one more drawer under the bed so like you there's still a bit to do. When we moved here there wasn't much wardrobe space compared with what I was used to so we raised the top rail in some and put another rail underneath lower down so it doubled the hanging space for all my short tops and cardies. It's spoiled me since I've seen the vases I would like at the carvery down the road!! They are silver and browny grey with a rippled surface and are tall but flattened front to back and have big tufts of grasses in them. I've told OH I am going to ask them to look at the base of one and see if it has the manufacturer's name as I can't find them anywhere.

I think Robert Winston is on tonight with Children of our Time so that should be good. I think OH said they are aged 16 now.......where does the time go!! :-0

Evening all, Broadchurch is on, which I haven't watched from the beginning, so I am out of the way.

Had words with MADAM this evening. She has her soaps on from 7.00 pm till 9.00 pm. and what does she do ?? KEEPS DROPPING OFF TO SLEEP. I said if you are going to do this I will either go out, or sit and watch something in the conservatory. That went down like a LEAD balloon. !!!

Jane I thought you said "If I came and cleaned your OVEN you would put up the conservatory" It must be an age thing. Anyway Harvey would be quite able to do it. I would pay his daily rate for how long it would take. It would be cheaper than getting one of the Conservatory firms in.

Yes I saw that Robert Winston is on, but that clashes with something Ros is watching.

I am one for a BACON SARNIE in the mornings. This morning I had sausages with Brown sauce. It made nice change, from Bacon or toast and My Mate.

This morning while looking for Mr Mussel I opened two cupboards under the sink and they are FULL of bottles of every CLEANING AND POLISHING PRODUCTS you can imagine. I told Ros to use them up before buying NEW PRODUCTS. That will be like water off the ducks back. LOL LOL.

I can just see Thomas looking everywhere for BENJI. I bet he will miss him not being around. WHY don't you get a little puppy for him to play with . ;-) ;-) ;-) I don't like your answer . :-P :-P :-P <3 <3 <3

That dogs trust sounds a good idea. Last year we did look into Baby sitting small doge while the owners where on holiday. But with all the questions and paperwork we decided not to bother.

I think an early night is due for me, I feel so tired and irritable, I will be better off in bed out of the way. I think I have pushed myself too far today, and my body is telling me. !!!

Sleep tight all, see you in the morning. (Mum and Dad's last words, before we went to bed as children) xxx <3 <3 <3

Morning all,

On this grey day. It rained yesterday evening a bit but no ttoo much. Evrywhere out there looks really miserable again so I suppose you lot are going to tell me you have lovely sunshine today.

Shopping day again. They seem to come arouind very quickly at the moment. No sooner am I stacking the fridge out than it is empty again but for a bit of salad stuff.

Good morning all

Cold and overcast here this morning so I'm pleased I did some gardening yesterday. Just had mushrooms and tomatoes on toast and then a handful of blue berries while Ruby is asleep.


I have a local chap who does oven cleaning who is very good he usually does Doreen's my next door neighbours at the same time, I only have it done once a year he charges £45.00 as I have a double oven.

I not surprised you miss JJ Frank have you thought of contacting the RSPCA to do temporary fostering? I would love to see a photo of him too if Harvey can do it for you

So Thomas is missing little Benji Jane I think our two would be putting the flags out if Ruby left home ;-) ;-)

I wish I could get the Gill bug but I try to do sort outs little and often but at the moment when Ruby is asleep I go in the garden. can't let her out with me because of the bottom pond , she only goes out in the fenced off part where I do have a few pots.

Pleased to hear Carmel enjoyed the treats you took in for her William, I haven't come across Irish tea either. do you get it sent over from Ireland ? We do like Yorkshire tea though, I'm sure the meals would be much better in the respite home but it's good to know she hasn't lost her appetite

Am I the FIRST>???? Good morning all, Evening Kim,

Rather cloudy here today, I expected to see rain because that was what was forecasted . It might be a bit late coming !!

Didn't have a very good night last night. I was in bed by 10.00 pm still awake when madam came in at 1.00 am. Had to get out at 4.30 and just dozed and looked at the ceiling till I got up at 7.00 am.

Strange not to have JJs welcome when I came into the lounge :-( :-( Jan is on the phone at present, saying they had a good journey home Three and a half hours. But they do drive at well above the speed limit.

I should go to get my glass's today, but I feel like a pile of you know what this morning, so might leave it till Thursday, as Ros is out tomorrow. I am managing well enough without them, and am still able to read my book with these old glass's.

Ros has a list of fluids that she is NOT allowed to drink. She has a prolapsed bladder. No Chocolate drink, coffee, tea, fruit juices, tomato juice. Tea and coffee is allowed provided it's decaffeinated. No GRAPEFRUIT, which she loves and has one every day. So fun and games at this house. It sounds a bit like you MEL.

What are you all up to today ??

Just thought I would post this as an afterthought as I didn't want to risk losing the first post

When I spoke to my eldest SIL yesterday she told me of a surreal experience the younger SIL had when going to see a well known medium at the local theatre it wasn't a private consultation so there was a fairly big audience. Anyway he asked if anyone knew a William who was known as Bill, he said he had an unruly boxer dog with him and another dog with the markings and size of a dalmation, when described it fitted the dog of her daughter's that had died last year, {another Benji]
He also described the interior of Diane's house including the small bedroom where she had all the family photographs on the wall. There was also a few personal things mentioned, Everything fitted exactly to my Father in law, they had boxers like us and the last one was a handful, he also mentioned that he knew that for the last couple of days they had had an unpleasant smell in their home that they couldn't locate. Believe it or not It does seem very strange, having experience the Ghosts of where I worked at South Hill Park I can't really discount this out of hand.

Frank, Mel and I have already posted this morning, sorry to hear you had trouble sleeping last night, poor Ros there isn't much she can drink at the moment is there.
I know I can't have grapefruit something to do with one of the medicines I take.

I can't have gratefruit because I take statins. That was my favorite fruit and drink. I have never been a one for fizzy drinks at all. I asked the doc if I could drink Ovaltine drinking choc that you jsut add water too and she said yes. So in the morning I have a mug of hot water with milk in it and in the afternoon I have a chocolate. All the rest of the time I drink water anyway except on a Sunday when I have a glass of orange juice with our breakfast.

Frank I was wondering if I had what Ros has actually some time ago but the doc did'nt mention anything about that.

Anne I have experienced ghosts too. Years ago I went out with a lad whose mum and dad ran the caravan sales on the Eastern Avenue, just before Charlie Brown's Roundabout. Frank will know it. I used to meet Don down there after his mum and dad had gone home and we would go out from there with the gang. This night I went down as usual and walked round te locked gates as I could get through the gap. Looked up when I got to the path and saw Don standing waiting for me with our friend Dave who had a car we went out in to the youth club. Dave was dressed in grey trousers, white t shirt and those beige shoes, I think they called them dessert rats, Dave was also blond. The boys turned aroundand went to the little tea caravan. There was spot lights on the caravan which is why I could see Don and Dave.

When I got in the caravan I asked Don where Dave was? He told me he was'nt comeing out tonight so it was just us two and we woudl have to walk to the youth club. I told Don that I saw him standing with Dave when I came through the gate and he said no he was on his own. We got out of there as fast as we could!!

When I told his mum later in the week she told me that Charles Roth who owned the caravan site was dead and he looked just like Dave who we were friends with.

Needless to say Don and I never met at the caravan site in the dark anymore.

So you see strange things do happen and most can be explained.

There are other stories but I hav'nt time now to type them as I need to get out for the hsopping.

Afternoon All,

NO sunshine here Mel!! lol. It's very dull and looks as if it might rain soon. :-S

I'm sleeping better now but still take a while to drop off. Three massive lorries were reversing and beeping 20 foot from our bedroom window this morning between 8-8.30am. The first was collecting a skip from the building site, what a clatter that made and the others had cranes on and were delivering diggers and materials. Our poor tree on the front gets it's branches scraped every time and is looking a bit sorry on the road side of it. The window cleaner was due this week on Monday but didn't turn up so OH has had to be up early to open the gate for him and each morning since which is a nuisance. He still hasn't been either so gawd knows when he will come now. You just don't know when to shower if you think he is coming!!!! :-0

I bought a couple of the yellow leafed Bacopa for the front wall pots next month and a dark pink Azalea this morning at the nursery the other side of the village, only £4.60 for the lot. I'm replacing some of the nice Hebes I had that the cats have ruined. They seem to have left the other Azaleas alone so hopefully they won't touch this one! :-)

Oh Frank I know OH wouldn't want 2 hours of soaps on!!! I usually record the 2 I follow and/or watch them on another tv or he will go and watch something else on another tv. I think you need a 'man' shed with a comfy seat and a nice telly in it. :-D Yes it would be nice to see a photo of JJ if Harvey can sort it for you.

It sounds like 'Miss Dynamite' is too full on for your kitties Ann. I expect as she calms down as she gets older they may venture into her 'space' more.

I have tended to not believe in ghosts, but years ago as a teenager, when I went to stay with my friend at her mum's holiday chalet in Norfolk we would take 3 lovely Samoyed dogs from a farmhouse for walks along the beach. It was a very old farmhouse on the edge of the cliffs (probably gone over them by now!) and we were told it was rumoured that there was a secret tunnel from the farmhouse but they didn't know where it was. They did say that there was a room that none of the dogs would go into though and that they suspected the tunnel was probably behind an old bricked up fireplace in the room.

I did have a weird experience in the first few weeks after I moved into my previous house. The old man who had lived there originally lived in the bigger house next door and had our house built for his retirement and the decor etc had stayed pretty much same since he'd moved in 30 years before. Of course as soon as we moved in we started big changes, knocking walls down and repainting some rooms. It was dark and dingy inside with grain and varnish paint everywhere and I got home from work one night and swore I saw an old man standing in the gloom at the top of the stairs for a few seconds!! Several nights later I woke up in the middle of the night with a horrid sensation of someone's hands pressing lightly around my throat. I sat bolt upright and put the light on but it was a few minutes before I felt I could swallow without a catch in my throat. I told my then first OH that if anything else happened I wasn't staying there and we'd have to move again!! Luckily nothing else did happen.

Well Frankie boy has been busy. I managed to get THREE more panes of glass in the greenhouse. The only trouble is, they are not as long/tall as the others, so I now need a small piece 11 mm x 61 mm to fill the top. I expect it will be the same when I do the other side. Bl@@dy "DORIS" caused this damage.

Ros as usual is jobbing round the borders. She has been weeding my Vegetable Patch. There is a male Blackbird at her side picking up every grim and tiny worms. When he can't get anymore in his beak, he fly's off, and is back in minutes for more. We have both been sitting watching him. I bet the babies have never had so much food in a short time. <3 <3 <3

Jan and Jo have phoned today to thank us for having JJ. He settled in his basket for the journey home, and they only had to stop once.

Mel it sounds very much the same as Ros, that's why I mentioned it.

My Mother had experienced Ghosts. Where they lived in Rathbone St, Canning Town, East London. one of the rooms had a blood stain on the floor boards. At the same time every year, the house was a nightmare with screaming and banging coming from that room. Nobody in the household would sleep in that room, and it was boarded up. It makes your blood turn cold !!!!

Ros is in charge of tea/dinner tonight. She is doing one of her pasta's with Bacon, onion and mushroom, in a cream sauce. It makes a change for me not to cook.

Ros is over at "LINUS" tomorrow with Margaret, so I will be "HOME ALONE" till after 3.00 pm. and Thursday it's "STITCHERY DO" so it will be the same. I will be able to get the lawns cut (weather permitting) and have a good read of my book. It says I have ELEVEN HOURS PLUS to read. So won't be finished this week. !!!!

David Attenborough on shortly, so will settle down and enjoy him for an hour.

Well Frankie boy has been busy. I managed to get THREE more panes of glass in the greenhouse. The only trouble is, they are not as long/tall as the others, so I now need a small piece 11 mm x 61 mm to fill the top. I expect it will be the same when I do the other side. Bl@@dy "DORIS" caused this damage.

Ros as usual is jobbing round the borders. She has been weeding my Vegetable Patch. There is a male Blackbird at her side picking up every grim and tiny worms. When he can't get anymore in his beak, he fly's off, and is back in minutes for more. We have both been sitting watching him. I bet the babies have never had so much food in a short time. <3 <3 <3

Jan and Jo have phoned today to thank us for having JJ. He settled in his basket for the journey home, and they only had to stop once.

Mel it sounds very much the same as Ros, that's why I mentioned it.

My Mother had experienced Ghosts. Where they lived in Rathbone St, Canning Town, East London. one of the rooms had a blood stain on the floor boards. At the same time every year, the house was a nightmare with screaming and banging coming from that room. Nobody in the household would sleep in that room, and it was boarded up. It makes your blood turn cold !!!!

Ros is in charge of tea/dinner tonight. She is doing one of her pasta's with Bacon, onion and mushroom, in a cream sauce. It makes a change for me not to cook.

Ros is over at "LINUS" tomorrow with Margaret, so I will be "HOME ALONE" till after 3.00 pm. and Thursday it's "STITCHERY DO" so it will be the same. I will be able to get the lawns cut (weather permitting) and have a good read of my book. It says I have ELEVEN HOURS PLUS to read. So won't be finished this week. !!!!

David Attenborough on shortly, so will settle down and enjoy him for an hour.

Afternoon All

I can't believe how late it is. The skip arrived just after 8 this morning. The chap had 3 more to drop off.He did say this is about the busiest time of year for people having good clear outs. Chris was out there putting stuff in and a van pulled up outside .I knew even before the bloke came in that he would be asking if there was any scrap metal. I am pretty sure I have seen him around these parts.I reckon he just drives around looking for people chucking things out.

Ann ,Johnny's Mum said they wouldn't be able to take the Cross trainer/bike.But James is going to take it down for Jess's Mum at the weekend .So I am pleased it will have a new home. The skip is almost full !!!!!!!.
I bought some muscle relaxing salts this morning so Chris can have a nice bath .I reckon he will need one after all he has done today. Fitz came up for lunch.He said he wouldn't stop long but has just gone nearly 4 hours later LOL.He was in good form ,but a bit scatty today.

I am loving all these ghost tales. Not a believer really but I always have an open mind .I know I must have told this tale before on here,bjutsome might not have sen it.
When I was about 5 or 6,we had a school friend of mine stay with us for about a month as her Mum was ill in hospital . Now my Mum was never into Ghosts /Spirits etc.But it was only when I was probably in my 30's that she told me about one night when Carole was staying that she woke in the night to the sound of footsteps in the hallway.She got up to find the front door open and also the bedroom door to my room (where Carole was also sleeping)..It was the next day that Mum and Dad were told that Carole's Mum had passed away in the night.......Now was that Carole's Mum coming to say goodbye to her??? We will never know.

Sorry I haven't read all through the posts properly yet. Will do that shortly.
Chris has just asked where those bath salts are I bought this morning .I can't remember !!!!!!!. But he is running himself a bath now so I better find the salts quickly :-D

Hannah and Gareth will be in Amsterdam now, hopefully on the Houseboat :-D

I hope they have a lovely stay Jane. I saw some of Amsterdam on the telly last week and it looked quite nice apart from the red light district.

Done the shopping and its all put away now. Oh is still outside fiddling with the mower as the other barings arrived in the post just before I went out. so it should be all up and running smoothly now without any grating noises.

I thought it would be busy in Bideford today as the kids are off school now for Easter but it was'nt too bad. I even managed to park in the along the front to do something there.

The sun came out as soon as I reached Bideford and its still out now I am home so the day brightened up after all. Its warm when you are in the sun but chilly in the shade as there is a bit of a breeze thats very chilly.

Starting a new craft project soon. Just a little something I fancy making for myself as I have already done one it shouldnt take too long.

Well I am going to have a mug of hot water with milk now and tell myself its a cup of tea..............................................AND TWO ECLAIRS as all I have had today is two slices of toast and marmite and now my tum is rumbling.

I can't remember if I have asked you girls this before but what are your favorite colours?

Mine are lilac green and pale blue. Mostly lilac and green.

My favourite colours are all shades of blue and some greens including Jade.
Turquoise is my birth stone

Mel,my favourite colour is green,then purple ,turquoise blues .But Green is the top one.
The red light district in Amsterdam is a very vibrant area .Clubs ,bars etc.But then there is the bit where the girls are sat on a chair/stool inside glass fronted doors in skimpy underwear plying for customers . That is the part Chris found upsetting when we found ourselves in this particular street.He said they were all someones Daughter /Sister .

Hannah and Gareth have been to Ann Frank's house this afternoon. I just remember how moving it was ,and Hannah said she felt just the same.It is just somewhere that you can't hold back the tears knowing just how life was and what happened in that house :-( :-(

Purples, fuschia pink, raspberry, burgundy, royal blue, turquoise and teal are the colours I like best. :-)

I'm so glad you found a home for the cross trainer Jane..........just hope James doesn't get a hernia getting it there!! :-S You must have cleared quite a bit of stuff if the skip is nearly full!! I bet that chap follows skip lorries to see where they are dropped off. lol.

I had to smile today when I was parked next to the cricket field and watching people with their dogs on there. A lady walked onto the field with 3 dogs on leads, a golden lab, a black lab and a working cocker spaniel. She stopped and they all stood like statues while she slipped their leads off. I expected them all to go tearing off with noses to the ground like most dogs do....... but no, they all stood still where they were watching her every move!! Each waited patiently until it got a titbit and then went tearing off!! :-D

Oh had his usual curry tonight and I had a lovely yellow 3 egg omelet with granary bread.

It was obviously a ritual Ann with her three dogs.