General Chat

Frank I will have to keep a close check on my tax from now on and keep records. They say most people won't pay interest on their savings but I'm one that will!! Now the banks and building societies aren't taking tax off savings interest, HMRC are supposed to adjust your tax code the following year. It's a system I hate as it makes it more difficult to check that your tax code is correct. I do wish they had let well alone!! :-S I don't blame you for reconsidering going to Spain this year. I must admit I don't have any enthusiasm for going abroad unless I could just shut my eyes and time travel.

When OH called in a local shop to get me some throat sweets this afternoon we had a hailstorm and he got soaked! It's sunny again now though.

I forgot to say that when I was at Nuneaton yesterday I saw something I found quite worrying. When I got back to the carpark I noticed 2 children were on their own in the car parked next to me. There was a little girl aged about 18 months strapped in a car seat in the back and a boy of about age 9 in the back with her. He was leaning over the little girl who was shrieking and sobbing. He hadn't noticed me slip into my car and the car windows are tinted quite dark. He started to push his arms around her and I thought at first he was comforting her..........but no!! He was forcing his lips onto hers snogging like boyfriend and girlfriend and trying to hold her head still. The poor little mite was wrestling to and fro violently to try and free herself and move her face away and crying all the time. I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first, but he kept relentlessly persisting ignoring her distress. I was hot with anger at his abuse, as it wasn't like little 5 year olds playing at being boyfriend and girlfriend. He knew the child was too young with too little language skills to be able to tell her mother and ignored all her protests. I didn't know what to do for the best. Would I be believed if I waited and told the parent when they returned if the boy denied it which he would? If I tried to film it on my mobile and someone saw me then all hell could break loose with me in big trouble! I had just thought about going to one of the nearby shops to fetch someone to back me up when a cross looking woman came towards the car. The boy knew she would approach from that direction where the shops were and was facing that way and so stopped as soon as he saw her. The little girl was still crying hysterically, but the mother just jumped in the car and said 'we're going now' crossly as if she assumed the child was bored and drove off. It made me wonder what else that boy got up to when mum wasn't around and what his behaviour might lead to in the future. I wonder how many parents miss what really goes on with tiny tots in their own homes.

O Ann that was'nt nice to witness at all. I can understand your concern about telling the mother what was going on and I suppose now you will keep thinking of the incident. I do hope the little girl will be alright. You should have taken her number plate and popped into the police station and explained your situation and what you had seen.

Ann, like you I would have been concerned. What sort of child aged 9 would have those thoughts going through his mind. Being a very spontaneous person, I think I would have opened the car door and rescued the baby. It makes you wonder where these children get these ideas. Surely he must act in the manner when at home, and how the parents don't see it, I will never know. It really makes you think of the environment these children are bought up in.

That wind is still blowing from the north. We had a very heavy shower earlier, but now have sunshine.

There are matches on tonight, but I don't think I will venture out in th cold.

Afternoon all

We've had sun all day and it's not so windy so it's a bit warmer than it was yesterday.

What a horrible thing to witness Ann. Like Mel said you should of taken the car registration and reported it to the police and social services. Sorry to hear you have got a sore throat, hope it doesn't go as bad as my OH's. So you're been doing more sorting, I must get on with mine but don't feel up to it at the moment.

I've recorded Little Boy Blue Frank so haven't seen it yet. I need to watch a couple of Masterchef's with Sandra as we're falling behind with them. Sorry to hear about your sister, hope she gets better soon with her tummy and manages to get to the stroke unit. Hope you feel better soon too. 5 hours sounds a long journey, I don't blame you for not going to Spain, better to stay in this country, there are lots of nice places to visit without the long tiring journey.

I've just had a sleep for an hour and a half but it hasn't made me feel any better, still got this horrid sore throat and now have a tickly cough to go with it. I've got a headache that just doesn't seem to want to leave me alone too. :-(

Evening all,

It's been a funny old day here one minute the sun is shining and then down comes the hail, it's been really chilly too.
We're looking at buying some new chairs or the conservatory now Max has just about finished his chewing spell and popped to Aldiss at Fakenham this afternoon to have a look ,the roof on the building is like a see through sheeting and when the hail started you could hardly hear yourself speak !! i wondered what the noise was at first and then realised it was the hail !!!!

Oh gosh Ann what a thing to witness ,i don't know what i would have done you have to be so careful what you say and do these days ,like the others have said i suppose you could have taken the number of the car and told the police but at the time i suppose you were so shocked to see some thing like that going on you didn't think about doing it .

Colin has a hospital appointment tomorrow to have his ears sucked out :-S so we will do the park and ride i think it's so much easier than going round and round the car park trying to find a space.

I meant to say yesterday ,did anyone notice it was 9 years ago yesterday that Mel started this thread <3 <3

I never thought to get the car number, but even if I'd reported it I expect the boy would have denied it. Frank, they say very young children are accessing internet porn on their mobiles nowadays, also that puberty is starting earlier so maybe that had something to do with it. I wondered if the little girl cries as soon as she knows she will be left alone with him.

Gill, my throat is no worse at the moment, but my joints felt very achey by the time we got home after lunch. I wanted to do some more sorting but like you didn't feel up to it. OH had a headache so we both went to bed for a while and I've only just got up!! I do feel a bit better now but I still feel tired. I hope you soon feel better as you and your OH seem to have been poorly for quite a while.

It's good you can risk getting some new conservatory chairs now Max has stopped chewing them Mandy. It must be very hard to stop them as puppies. The park and ride to go to the hospital sounds a good idea as it is so hard to find a space you can be late for your appointment looking for one.

OH has been watching his footie on the telly tonight Frank.

Mandy I did'nt even notice!!!!!!!!! How great is that that we have been together all those years.

The pie went down a treat with Jersey Royals cabbage and carrots. I only put the pastry on the top of the meat that way its not so fattening. I did make a pastry case with what was left over so I think a quiche is on the cards with that. If not it will be another Lemon Maringue pie.

Sowed some seeds this afternoon in my shed. Calendula and Cerinthe. I am also trying some long beetroots in a big pot.

I hadn't realised it was 9 years either! The time has flown by! I grew those longer beetroot last time I grew beetroot Mel. I liked them better..........more slices!! lol. Those Cerinthe have those bluey, bell like flowers don't they? I've never grown them but I think I've seen them in gardens we've visited.

Off to bed now..........OH has a migraine so went a while ago.

Hi all,
Just to let know all know that Carmel will be coming home tomorrow after 43 days away from home since her accident resulting in her broken hip bone. I've brought what I can home and an ambulance will call for her at the home between 10am and 2 pm and bring her back here. We have had several briefings today and what has been arranged, medicines etc and her care for the next six weeks.
Her care and comfort at Linden Grange has been wonderful, the staff very caring and helpful and the food excellent. I can vouch for the later as they have fed me most of the time as well. But even at that, there's no place like home. This is the longest that we've been apart in 40 years and although I've seen her every day, it's not like having her at home.
Thank you all for your messages and support, it has been a great help.

Missed your post Ann but yes they have glaucus foliage and mauve bracts and I just love them in the border and I thought that maybe the deer would'nt eat them. I like a few old fashioned marigolds too as I pick their petals off and add them to a salad or make a Calendula cream with them. Its good for cuts and sores and all sorts.

I have big bunnies in the top garden and have seen two big ones run across the garden. Oh has had the fence down between the two gardens because he had to buy a new pump for the well as the old one had broken off at the actual pump and had been pumping and going round and round down the well. When he put the new one on and it pumped the water into his pond it came out all muddy which did'nt please him at all. Its cleared now but he had to change the time clock to an hour instead of an hour and a half. He has it set up so he can top his or my pond up. When he vacs the ponds out he does it so the water goes down about two inches and then the well tops it back up again.

O William thats lovely. I bet she will be so pleased to be home once again andI know you will be pleased to have her back with you. Sending lots of love and wishes. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Morning all,

It is glorious sunshine yet again this morning. I arose this morning with a dodgy knee!! It has given me a bit of jip over the last few days but this mornig it feels like it wants to fall off. No it goes click every time I bend and straighten it. I darent turn quickly on it as I know its going to hurt and make me cry out.

ONLY ONE MORE SLEEP TILL SANDRA'S BIRTHDAY HOORAY!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
She will be so pleased bless her.

Not sure what I shall be up to today but I have some washing to go on the line first and then I may clean the loo's but definately no hoovering as I don't think the old knee would take that.

I keep meaning to tell you this. Robby is eating from my hand again. this has been going on for about a week now. He is feeding babies and the back of his head is bald again. If he survives this season I bet he will be bald all over again except his wings and tail.

Good morning to you all, Evening Kim,

Mel, send your sunshine up here please, it's windy and very cloudy.

I did venture out last night to watch the football. Very cold north wind for the walk down. Ros picked me up when I rang her.

Slept for 8 hours straight off last night. This morning I feel very faint, I almost passed out in the kitchen this morning. So I will be sitting in my chair when I finish here, and doing very little.

Good news then WILL, Carmel home where she belongs, and save you that journey every day. Give her my best wishes. xx

We haven't seen our Robins since they flew the nest. I expect they are in the bushes in the garden, and Mum and Dad are keeping them well fed.

Ros has gone to Tesco's we are out of nearly all the veg, and I need some frozen peas, and cooking oil.

Hope you are all keeping well, and that Jane in enjoying her break. I expect we will hear all about it on her return.

See you later.

O dear Frank feeling faint is'nt good. I hope you feel better later on. Our sunshine has gone a bit now and its still cold out.

Oh is still working on this new old mower.

Good afternoon all or as one of my ex bosses use to say "The Suns passed the yard arm"

I'm now getting Ruby to come for a walk every morning and she is enjoying it, we are only out for about 30mins but even that tires her out. We had a little Robin running along side us better than yesterday when a large rat came out of the bushes at first I thought it was one of the many grey squirrels that we always see

William what good news that Carmel is coming home at last, both of you must be looking forward to it and gives you more time to relax at home, without all the travelling..

Pleased to hear you had a good nights sleep Frank it does make a difference but feeling faint could be to do with low blood pressure, hope it soon improves.

That wasn't nice to witness Ann and I could understand that you weren't sure what to do, with hind sight maybe you could have tapped on the car window to let the child know you had seen what he was doing, it's a shame you were unable to have a word with the woman. I wonder if they were even siblings.

Had the Sainsbury delivery this morning but the original driver had had a nasty fall
and because of this they were running late as they had to send out another who had to step in at the last minute.

Just going to have some potato and leek fresh soup with a granary roll, followed by an avocado and kiwi fruit

Hope everyone's sore throats start easing today

I made a quiche in the end and we had it for lunch with plenty of salad.

Anne I wonder what your normal driver has done to himself when he fell?

Knee is still playing me up so no gardening today. It is really cold here now the sun has gone and we have grey clouds in the sky.

Afternoon All,

I took paracetamol last night and had a glass of milk, had the bedroom window open and a hot water bottle and slept right through till after 6.00am. Still have the sore throat, but it's not any worse and the achey joints and flushed face have both gone so I'm hoping it won't get worse now. :-)

Great news that Carmel will be home or on her way now. It's good to hear such positive news about her care Will and it will be nice for you to get back to 'normal' again. :-)

Mel how do you make the Calendula cream? I like marigolds and often leave the odd seedling to flower. I have that clicking in the knee as well as some crunching and know what you mean about being apprehensive when turning, especially with a loaded supermarket trolley at the ends of the aisles! Your hubby seems to have improved the water system with the ponds so they can both be topped up more easily. It's very handy having your well for topping up too. He seems to be giving the new old mower a good overhaul!! What is the name of this new one?How is the smart meter doing! I imagine my washer uses a lot of power, but they say the things we leave on standby use quite a bit over time. I'm guilty of leaving things like the tv switched on at the plug.

Frank, you take things easy so you don't risk falling with your new knee. It's horrid when you feel faint like that. Maybe you need to eat something. It's a shame you didn't get to see the baby Robins when they left home. Maybe they will lay again and you will get a second chance?

Gill, how did it go with Sandra's camera box? Have any birds been going in it yet? I bet she is SOOO excited about her birthday tomorrow!! Will she be awake early do you think! :-D

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