General Chat

The sun came out this morning after the rain stopped and so I put my boil wash out and by lunchtime the sky looked grey again so I brought it in and it was nearly dry. Glad I did as when we were having lunch it rain again quite hard. Then this afternoon I did a quick wash and put that out and the suns still shining at the moment.

Our leccy went out three times after lunch while the machine was on and it was very near the finish. When it had I went out in the garden and took down the stalks of last years sweet peas, replenished the soil and put this years in there. They are in a deep green growing bag out the front.

I have partly dead headed the Rhodo in the back garden but got so dry and my back ached I came in for a drink.

I'm pleased you mentioned Martin Lewis, I was trying to remember the programme to tell OH the other day but couldn't remember his name. It was when I was doing the car insurance. I was telling OH that he had said that if you want a cheaper quote off the company you're already with you had to ring them and if you still weren't happy give it a couple of days and ring them back, then you get someone else dealing with it and they will reduce it. This is what I did with our car insurance company and they reduced it another £100. Unfortunately it still wasn't enough and when I rang around other companies I got a further £200+ off. Needless to say that is the company we are now going with. All the paperwork turned up this morning but I need to ring them as they haven't quite got our bank details correct. It's a joint account and they've only got OH's name down. Everything else is correct and we've got until the 1st July to sort it out so I'll do that once my tooth isn't so bad.

In answer to your question Frank, no I can't see into the hedge enough to spot the birds nests, the hedge badly needs cutting and if I look to much inside it I might frightened the birds. I'm sure once the little ones have flown the nest the birds will stop going in and out of the hedge. I'm keeping an eye on them everyday so I'll soon notice no more activity when they've gone, then I can cut the hedge without disturbing them.

Your dinner sounds nice, I'll be having scrambled eggs and buttered soft bread. I had a bit of soup earlier but even that irritated my tooth. I'll be glad when it's better so I can finally eat properly again. At this rate I'll waste away to nothing :-|

You've been busy today Mel, hope your leccy is okay now.

I've just been going through my emails and noticed some lovely pictures you sent the other day Ann. I showed OH and said wouldn't it be lovely to wake up to that view every morning. Sorry I didn't notice them earlier, I've had a few emails off Mel and a friend of mine and your email had gone down the list, so I've only just noticed it <3 :-)

Where were you all yesterday ?? GOOD MORNING ALL, Evening Kim.

Not the best of mornings here, very windy and clouds rolling in. They say we will get showers, some thundery, and maybe sleet. Great for mid May. !!!

Spoke with my sister last night, she has water on the lungs. She sounded very poorly. She has been put on WATER TABLETS. I rang again just now, she has been up most of the night peeing. Paul (her son) gave her a couple of sleeping tablets and managed to get some sleep in between the toilet runs !!! I will of course keep ringing every other day to keep a check on her. xx

We are getting a lot of POLICE reports about break ins,, car theft, around the local villages. There has only been two reports in the village, so that is good. We do have a good neighbourhood watch team in the village, and we are always keeping our eyes open for any strange vehicles in the village (NOT NOSEY)

Ros is out for her usual shopping trip with Martine, so I am not sure what I will do this morning apart from getting showered and dressed.

What are you lot up to today. ???

Morning Frank and all,

We have showers this morning but the sky is quite bright with lots of blue patches and a light breeze.

I am up to the usual for a Saturday morning, egg delivery and the local shop for the paper. Then I want to do some repotting in my shed and sort out my strawberry barrow as I have other plants on it at the moment. I did put my long beans in yesterday in my big tub oh made me last year. I found another orchid in a pot with an evening primrose in it so I put the primrose in the border to save the orchid. These orchids came down here with me from Suffolk in some pond plants I brought down. They have very fine seed that blows on the wind and they have them now over the big house carried on the westerly winds.

Oh is out in his workshop fiddling with something. Probably Gramham's piston thing off his dumper as he can't seem to free it.

Afternoon all

Rain, rain and more rain here today, at least it'll do the garden some good.

Oh your poor sister Frank, if it isn't one thing it's another, hope she improves soon, it must be awful having to get up to the loo all night, she'll be shattered with no sleep. Let's hope the tablets work quickly then she can have a decent nights sleep again and of course her son too. Keep an eye on your car if there's a spate of thefts, you don't want to wake up one morning and find it's not there. Let's hope the police catch them soon.

I've been in the greenhouse all morning sorting out the plants in there. I watered everything and tied up the tomato plants as they were starting to fall forward. I had a table in there but the tomato plants are getting so big now that I've had to take the table out to make room for the growing plants. The sweet peas I planted the other week, which are also in the greenhouse, are starting to grow.....Sandra is thrilled and is counting them as they poke their heads above the soil. When they are a bit bigger I'll put them outside, otherwise they'll take over what room I have left in the greenhouse.

My tooth is much better today, the abscess popped last night when I was brushing my teeth, not a pleasant experience, but at least I'm no longer in pain which is good. It's a bit sore but I should be able to eat properly now, so looking forward to the roast dinner tomorrow. I'll take it easy with the eating today just to be on the safe side. I wouldn't want it to flare up again.

It sounds like you've been busy in your garden too Mel. Good idea to take the evening primrose out to save the orchid.

I forgot to mention the other day Mandy the Cana Lily has seven shoots growing this year and I've still got some of the seeds left over from the ones you gave me, so I might plant them up next year as it's a bit to late to do it now. I also collected some of the seeds off the lily last year so can plant them too. Mum was saying the other day when she came to visit, my kitchen looks like a potting shed with all the cuttings I've got on the window sill. I'm always taking cuttings all year round and most of them are turning into some lovely plants. I had to re-pot some the other week and they are outside now, that left some room on my window sill for me to do more cuttings :-D I could start up a business if I get the hang of it LOL and make my millions :-D :-D :-D

Afternoon all, I went to get the mower out this morning,then we had a shower. Being it's an electric mower, I wouldn't take the risk of using it. Just this minute looked out again and there's another shower. So no mowing today. Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny all day. I might have more luck then.

You are busy with all your cuttings Gill. Mel you seem to be busy also. I think it's time I put my runners in, they are getting very big in the greenhouse.

We are having JJ from Friday until Monday. Jan,Jo and Ella are coming up for Alexanda's 2nd Birthday. We have been invited over to Mark and Kerry's Sunday afternoon for a BBQ weather permitting. We have asked Carolyn if she will have JJ for that afternoon, that way he won't be left alone. She was as pleased as punch to be asked. <3 <3 She adores all dogs ;-) ;-) ;-)

I am still looking for my camera, so I can take a picture of this flowering plant in the front garden. I have no idea where it can be. !!!

Done the delivery and the shop and had lunch and the sun is shining so I think I shall go out in the garden and have a potter. Must sort out the strawberries as they have little fruits on them now so if I get them all on the barrow I can put netting over it to keep them safe from the blackbirds.

I have 16 bunny rabbits to plant too so may get those in the border and see if they get eaten. I have only seen one rabbit lately but we have had the deer in the garden over the last few days.

Bonjour All
Can't believe I am home again so soon. A week goes so quickly. Three o clock already and I have been chasing my tail all day so far,so time to stop for a breather.
We got home last night about 9.15 after a long day of travelling .We just dumped everything and went straight to bed.
The holiday in Lyon was smashing.It is a lovely city with plenty to see .Bit difficult to explain the lay out of it but it is a city of two halves with a strip in the middle of 2 rivers.The Rhone and the Saóne.Our Hotel was on the strip(so river either side) and plenty of bridges to get to everywhere.Old City (medieval) was so interesting and just my kind of thing.Silk making in the 1700's was a huge thing.Tunnels and passages were made under houses to transport silk to keep it safe from weather.
The weather was not good for the first couple of days but then got hotter and hotter up to about 29 degs. Now I am not great in those temps ,but even Chris found it hard.I suppose traipsing around sightseeing doesn't help :-D. Food great,but we didn't go for some of the traditional Lyonaisse food. Pike Dumplings,Calves Brains,Offal Sausages,(apparently Donkey Snout) thankfully we didn't see that on any menu. Chris's favourite was Veal Liver in some kind of sauce.
I just had one complaint and that was that the Hotel did not have the Air Con on :-S
Apparently it is turned on at the end of the month. I would not have chosen that hotel if I had known that.

I haven't really got around to sorting pics yet .But will do and send a few on.
I must say thanks for the lovely pics of Princess Katie, Princess RUBY ;-) and Ann's beautiful photos of that stunning scenery. All those shades of green Where was that Ann?

I have only looked at the last couple of posts and see your poor Sister is not so great again Frank. I wonder if she changed the time of taking her water tablets she could maybe get rid of that excess water during the day rather then nighttime.Or does she have to take them at particular times?

Gill ,what a relief it must be now that the abscess has burst on your gum.How long did you have that?

I had to go to the Surgery Pharmacy this morning to collect a prescription, but they didn't have it :-S :-S. Luckily they had an out of hours thing so I managed to get a few days tabs from the duty DR to last until tuesday.While I was in there I got her to look ay my little finger as I had a nasty infection going on in the nail bed (full of pus) red ,swollen etc. I did send poor Ann a pic last night ,but won't share it again as it was nasty).She said it shocked her !! So I have a course of antibiotics now ,and Chris stuck a needle in it for me just now to release the nasty muck.
I do think being away ,not doing anything in the sense of housework ,shopping cleaning did help my fingers .Also the warmer weather.But already things are beginning to break and flake :-S Enough of that.

Picked Thomas up this morning :-D.I think he is pleased to be home but wary I might ship him off again LOL. He is in the summerhouse now.
The washing machine has just finished (AGAIN). Shame I can't hang things out with these sudden heavy showers . The tumble drier will be on for hours.

Welcome home Jane, I'm pleased you've had a nice holiday <3 Fancy the hotel not putting the air con on especially with it being 29 degrees, you'd think they would of realised how uncomfortable it must of been for everyone. Your infection sounds nasty, hopefully the antibiotics will start working soon, at least you had Chris to help release the nasty muck. Pity the weather isn't good now you're home then you could of popped the washing on the line. Driers do take much longer don't they? I'm sure Thomas will be okay with you once he realises he staying put for a while.
I'm looking forward to seeing all your pictures when you have the time. :-) :-)

16 bunny rabbits to plant Mel ??????? that's a novel way of getting rid of them LOL :-D :-D Sandra's strawberries are doing well in our greenhouse so it looks like she might have quite a few to eat soon. Covering yours up with them being outside is a good idea to keep the birds off them.

So you're having JJ again Frank, I bet you can't wait. That was nice of Carolyn to have him while you go to the BBQ, now all you need is the nice weather. Good idea not to get an electric mower out with the rain about, best to leave it until it's safer. You'll never guess, we only got a new renewal notice off the AA today after I'd rang them to say we were going with someone else, I'll have to ring them again on Monday to let them know we won't be having our insurance and breakdown off them this year. What a waste of a phone call, it's only been a few days you'd think they'd remember what was said. The breakdown renewal was done on the 5th of May so I was expecting that one, but the other was sent on the day I cancelled with a new price on it........silly people. :-S :-S Never mind it'll soon be sorted and if not I'll just cancel the direct debit after the final payment for this years insurance.

Well, I've had a programme on pause for a while that Sandra and I were watching so I'd better get back to it.

So Lady Jane is home ?? Glad everything was good apart from the Air.Con. Most hotels have Air.Con. controls in each room, so you can adjust it to your liking. Sorry your finger is still playing you up. I thought about mentioning about putting a needle through it, to release the puss and pain. I remember spending an evening/night in Lyon with my EX and the children on our drive to Barcelona many years ago. I remember going into a bar/restaurant and having my FIRST bottle of French wine. I would hate to think how many since. LOL

These drops are making it difficult to see. I have tried the new glass's to read the paper, but everything is blurred. I tried my old ones, they are a bit better, but give me a headache. So at the moment I'm not using any.!!! I am like the little blind mouse LOL LOL ;-) ;-)

Gill you know what Mel means when she says "Bunny Rabbits" don't you. We have had more showers this afternoon,so not been down the greenhouse to do anything. Our strawberry plants are in flower and Ros hs some more in a tray to be put in.

Indian delivery/takeaway tonight. So no going out.

I thought it was the cup final today, but it's next weekend. Silly boy :-| :-| :-|

Get another goodnight's sleep again tonight Jane, you will then be ready to get into the throws of things.

Good afternoon all

We have had sunshine and showers again today but I did manage to give Ruby her walk, she's fast asleep on the settee at the moment. Yesterday she managed to jump over the stair gate which as she was upstairs looking out of the landing window, I had closed so I could go out of the front door to move a couple of plants with out her help, I heard the crash and found her in the hall none the worse for wear and very pleased with herself, she must have launched herself from a few stairs up. The sitting room looks like an explosion in a toy shop as she has tipped her toy box up and managed to spread them everywhere, just like when the boys were young.

Please to hear you enjoyed your holiday Jane and looking forward to seeing your photos. What a pity your finger was so sore hopefully the antibiotics will soon put things right, Thomas must be pleased to be home with his Mum & Dad, you can never tell with cats.

Sorry to hear your sister is poorly again Frank, not nice when you keep having to go to the toilet in the night

Peter's eldest sister has had phlebitis a couple of times and was advised to put her leg up. I hope Ros soon gets It sorted .

Gill have you tried putting oil of cloves on and around your tooth? You can buy it at the chemist.

We are having an easy dinner today just sausage, chips and baked beans.

Pleased you're home safe and sound Jane. We have all missed you with your posts.
Finger sounds really nasty. Good that Chris helped by stcking a needle in it at least that gave you some relief. When I had a rabbit with an abcess on his face I had to break it open each day and clean it out with peroxide.

Shame about no air con in the hotel. You would have thought they could have turned it on for the guests a bit earlier than the end of the month. It sounds like you enjoyed your stay anyway and thas the main thing. Good to have you back on board though.

I have had a good go at my plants this afternoon. First I have had to repot some of the ones from the patio which I had put on the strawberry barrow. Nearly through that lot now and I have one soak tray to wash and get on there.

I bought a cheap bag of compost in Lidl last year to see what it was like......no good as it has so many sticks, plastic, stone and even half a red plastic peg in it and some bits of glass so I have had to sive it to get the junk out and add some John Innes to make it back up to spec. I would'nt mind but do you think I can find a decent size sive?? The one I am using is about 6 inches across. There's bound to be one up the potting sheds but I don't want to walk right up there.

Evening all,

It's been a lovely day here lots of sun shine and nice and warm to sit out , there's now lots of black clouds about.

Nice to see you home safe and sound Jane , you would think the hotel would have put the air con on with it being so hot like that .
Your poor finger i hope the antibiotics soon do the trick ,it's good that Chris can use the needle to get the pus out for you that must have eased it a little .
I don't think i would have tried the traditional food either :-S
Poor old Thomas i expect he will take a while to settle again but i bet he'll soon be after the bunnies again .

Mel you'll have to remind me what the Bunny Rabbit plants are ? i think i asked you last year but carn't remember what you said they are now .

Anne what a little monkey Ruby is !! fancy leaping over the gate :-D she's a little dare devil .
So far Max hasn't tried to get over the gate ,i remember son saying how Toby use to jump the gate they had, they would leave him in the kitchen when they went out and when they came back he would be looking out the lounge window waiting for them to come home .

Oh Frank i bet you carn't wait to have little JJ again ,he does settle in well with you now doesn't he .

Gill you were saying about your Cana , mine looks dead :-( i do have some seed i saved so looks like i'll have to plant them up.

Tipping it down outside now ,i said the sky looked black .

I,m jealous as my Canna seeds never came up...... :-(

Mandy they are Antirrhinums or Snap Dragons. I think it was my grandad that showed me how to make the flowers open their mouths and show me their little teeth inside.

The other thing I have out at the mo is Lady in the Bath. Do you know what plant that is?

Answer a bit later.

Managed to get all my strawberry plants on the barrow in the end but it was late by the time I had washed out the tray and swept the barrow. I shall give them a good feed tomorrow with tom fertilizer.

Fancy little Mischief jumping over the gate!!!! I am pleased she did'nt hurt herself. I hope she dos'nt do it again.

Dicentra spectabilis, Bleeding hearts.................................................. <3

Morning all,

Another day of sunshine and clouds at the same time so sometimes its bright and then it goes darker with grey cloud in the sky. Then out comes the sun again. A proper mixed bag as they say.

Well today my fingers are not good. They ache like Billy O. I don't know if its the gardening or the new pills I am on. I have been on these ones for two weeks now.

Lovely pictures Jane. The Cathedral ceiling was beautiful. Was that a scene from your room window?

Afternoon all,

Another nice sunny day , the family have just gone ,we sat out for our coffee and the children played with the garden toys .

Oh thats right Mel i remember you saying it was the Snap Dragon.

Lovely photos from Jane, the cathedral ceiling was beautiful.

I thiñk Colin is going to put the Runner Beans in this afternoon and then we'll take Max for a walk.

Afternoon All

After a sunny morning it has turned cloudy now.Probably because we put up the patio table parasol. :-S
I was a right lazy so and so this morning.I sat in bed and watched all 3 episodes of Three Girls. My sister had said how good it was .I thought it was done brilliantly .
Finally after a shower and hairwash I emptied my suitcase .By this time it was gone midday !!!. Another shop then as Fitz is coming tomorrow for a bit of lunch and to hear all about our holiday.So it is Pizza and Salad and no doubt a drop of wine lol. I had to buy more of that as we were right down.It was so busy everywhere,I was glad to get home.

That ceiling in the Cathedral was absolutely stunning wasn't it.I could have sat in there and looked at it for ages.But would have ended up with a stiff neck :-) It was just beautiful .
Mel we didn't have a view from our Hotel room,just the side of the Theatre.

Everyone in Lyon ,children and adults use those little scooters to get around on. Not the ones that the children here have to play on.These are the real deal .I even saw adults in their 60's using them. Scooter shops all over the place .I wish I had got a pic of an adult on one.Shopping bags hanging on the handlebars.It is a great way to get about there on the pavements.

I can't believe how much everything has grown here since we went away. It must have been all the rain !. Looks like no more rain now though for a while.Hot temps coming up .I think I saw something about it maybe being 28 degs !!!!. Phew!

Frank,how is Ros? I saw that she has Phlebitis .Not nice and painful too. :-(
Is your mouth ok still Gill after the abscess burst? I hope so.

I did have a giggle Anne at Ruby taking a leap over the stair gate :-D :-D. Quite an athelete LOL.
Thomas's hair is turning ginger in places . It looks really strange,but I think it is to do with moulting.
I have just realised that I have a load of washing to come out of the machine.It finished hours ago !!!

Afternoon All,

Glad you have some antibiotics for your poor finger Jane, it did look sore! Now the pus has drained hopefully it is less painful. :-) Thanks for the pics, the Cathedral ceiling is beautiful. I canoed with the school from Lyon down the Rhone to Avignon when I was aged 15. I remember it being quite fast flowing. All I remember of Lyon itself is very old cream stone coloured buildings. Mind you that was a LONG time ago!! lol. I think I would have given those things on the menu a miss too. You asked where the photos were of of the countryside........it was Burrough on the Hill. I watched 2 episodes of The Doctor this morning.

Fancy the intrepid Miss Chevious jumping the stair gate!!! She did well to get over it Anne. I bet she was pleased with herself. :-)

I confess I'd forgotten what Mel's Bunny Rabbits were too! I love the smell of them!

Sorry to hear your sister is so poorly Frank. I hope the water tablets will make her feel more comfortable. I see little JJ is coming to visit. Did we get to see a pic of him? It would be nice to see him........oh that is if you have found the camera yet!

We went to Rutland to an open garden at a vicarage today. Blow me, we just got up the driveway under a big tree and there was a sign saying 'Bees at Work'. There was a box up in the tree with them all buzzing round. I soon scooted past that!! It was quite a small garden but very nice and private with big trees around the edge. We went through an archway into a wilder corner and blow me again, 3 beehives in a row so I did a quick reverse out of there! They were doing drinks and snacks in the church so we went in there and I have never seen such an array of home made cakes all set out on long tables about 12 foot long altogether! It took us a while to decide on the coffee and walnut cake!! Then we came home a round a bout way so we could see some of the tiny villages with nice thatched cottages.