General Chat

Poor you Frank at least its over for another couple of months. It makes you feel so akward when you have to keep asking people to repeat themselves.

Oh has brought all the blocks he needs down here down. The next stage is to start laying them. He is just having a rest after lunch. It is'nt too hot here today but just comfy.

I am going off to do a bit of ironing and then I want to do a bit up the border if thats at all possible. Shall see how I get on.

Afternoon All,

Lovely sunny day here. I slept well last night but we were up early to go to McArthur Glen retail park off J28 of the M1. We went early to make sure we were gone before the window cleaner arrived so he would just clean the front windows this time as he usually does when he finds the side gate locked. There was no point him doing them all with the man coming to grind out the mortar tomorrow and all the dust he will make. Sod's law though when we got back and OH went to warn our neighbour there would be dust about tomorrow in case she wanted to move her car, she said the window cleaner had got in round the back! He did this once before ages ago by sliding a fence panel up from the neighbour's side or so we thought. Heaven help him if she'd spotted him doing it!!!! He's not done it since though. Now it makes sense that he's actually climbed over the tall wrought iron gate we have at the side, because after being fine for many years, for some time now the catch has jammed against the post, which makes it very hard for me to open!! He's a really hefty chap so I suspect that is how he got in. Even more annoying he'd shut down the conservatory little windows and left them like that so it was like a furnace in there which was not good for my plants and wooden bird boxes I have in there ready to paint!! The heat will warp and twist the wood. :-S

The flat sounds lovely Jane and at least they got the best views and no noise from above! She got a bargain with the paintings didn't she, what were they of?

I must pop to M&S down the road later as I have a £5 off £35 voucher to spend. I also need to get some biccies in for the workman tomorrow!! :-D That will please OH who will no doubt make sure he gets some too!! lol.

Oh Frank it is horrid having all those drops in and the bright light and 3 hours is a very long time to be waiting in hospital. OH always takes his sunglasses with him for afterwards. As you say the lawn stripes would be skew whiff if you tried to do it so best to rest up till your eyes are more normal again. At least if they think you might have glaucoma they have picked it up early.

Anne I find after a few bad nights it takes a while to get back into your usual pattern again. I hope you soon feel less tired. Fancy Ruby trusting Paul with her favourite squeaky toy! As you say he is very honoured!! Poor Becky stressing with her exams. I used to worry terribly over exams and would be off my food with a churny tummy and wouldn't sleep well. Getting the first one over with will be good.

Afternoon all

Sunny here today so I've kept busy re-potting some of my plants into the pots I bought the other day. Didn't have a good nights sleep so I'm feeling really tired now. OH is the same, he was tossing and turning all night and when he did sleep he was mumbling in his sleep. He says he's okay but I think he's just being strong for his mum.

OH's brother lives in Ellesmere Port which is about a 20 minute drive from here, he has to go to Clatterbridge hospital for Chemo and is just waiting for the appointment to come through.

Belated birthday wishes to William and Lacey, hope they both had a lovely day <3 <3

Sorry to hear you're still feeling under the weather Anne, hope you manage to have a good nights sleep tonight, it would make you feel much better. Bless Ruby sharing her favourite toy with Paul. Exam's are a stressful time, I'm sure she'll be okay. I'll keep my fingers crossed for her.

Hope the scan results don't take to long to come through Mandy, but like Jane said if he was rushed through to the scan then they'll probably rush the results through too.

How is your eye Frank, it sounds like you had a lot of drops. Good idea not to chop up the veg, using a sharp knife when you can't see properly wouldn't of been good.

It sounds like you had a lovely weekend Mel, apart from the fine rain wetting your camera. Loved the photo's of the fox.

Did you manage to find the vases you wanted Ann? I bet you find them when you stop looking, that's always the case isn't it?

The flat sounds lovely Jane with excellent views. Shame they don't have the use of the garden though. Hannah found a bargain with the two pictures and how handy was it there were two nails just in the right places to hang them.

Afternoon Everyone

I hope Becky's Mocks went well today Anne. Just the thought of any exams puts a shiver up my spine . I never did well in any of mine. Probably because I didn't do the revision .I stupidly wasted my time at school . I think I just got 3 O Levels but 10 CSEs.not that they counted for anything really. The best thing i did really wasn't until my 20's when I went into nursing.Good job I did otherwise I wouldn't have met Chris and had Hannah and James. :-D At least they didn't waste their eductaion like me.

Gill I hope the Chemo will help OH's Brother and that he will be able to carry on a good life for a long while yet. People live with Terminal Cancer for a long time sometimes .I suppose it all depends on what and where it is. But I am sure all will be done to help him.

Ooh Frank, your poor eyes.I think leaving sharp knives alone tonight is a very good idea :-D :-D.

Mel I got a few pics of the flat .So will forward them on.They still have things to do and sort . I thought that they were on the top floor BUT there is a couple with an 8 month old baby above them. They leave the pram down inside the front door of the house. Hannah said that they have only heard the baby a couple of times so the sound proofing must be quite good.Then there is someone in the basement too. So 4 floors altogether. Whoever owns that house will be making serious money each month on rental charges !!!!. The house is on a nice leafy street all residential so nice and peaceful. They don't really mind not having a bit of the garden even though it would be nice. But there are a couple of little parks within spitting distance I think that they can take a picnc. But they love that big window seat (which is in the bedroom).The window ledge is so deep they can actually put small plates of food on it and a bottle and glasses ,so on a nice evening they enjoy sitting there.

Shame you couldnt have put the window cleaner off Ann . Mucky windows tomorrow !

I am hoping James has been ok today after the accident yesterday. I meant to ask him this morning if he had any neck pain (whiplash) as if he does he should see someone . I did ask if he slept ok and had no nightmares. He answer was GOD NO MUM . He can't tell me he wasn't shaken up because I know he is lying. Being hit from the back by a range rover when you are doing 70 in the middle lane and the range rover must have been going faster in the fast lane is no joke .

I have just looked at the time . It has gone half 5 and I thought it was half 4 !!!!!!!
I need to get the oven on. Will send a few pics in a bit.

It sounds a terrible accident James was involved in Jane. He's probably playing it down a bit for your sake so you don't worry to much. I'm sure he'll get checked out if he feels he needs to. Try not to worry, he sounds a sensible man. It sounds like he was very lucky from what you have written about the accident it could of been a lot worse, so maybe he just wants to forget about it. I'm sure if he wants to talk about it he'll come to you.

Hannah's flat looks lovely, is the grey sofa the one they had problems delivering?
I love the large plant in the corner :-)

Just noticed the lovely sunset picture you sent the other day Ann. I wish my camera was as good as yours. :-)

Jane the flat looks nice and relaxing with the soft grey colours. Is that your old settee in the too? Like the H G on the mantel. Is that one of the pictures on the wall in your pic?
I like the kitchen which looks very roomy and clean. Nice cupboards.

Ann you should have left a message for the window cleaner not to do the back then he would'nt have climbed over the gate.

Done lots of ironing today and then after lunch I pottered around the garden a bit but was so tired. Did'nt cook any dinner so I had scrambled gets with brown toast and oh had toasted cheese sandwiches which he will always have if I don't fancy cooking.

Gill how is your mum now? I hope she is feeling better and it was just the heat that made her ill.

It sounds like you've been busy today Mel. Mum is much better now the weather has cooled down. She's a lot like me, we both suffer in the heat. OH and I are going to do a bit more in her garden when the weather is better, it's forecast to rain for the next few days and mum wants her fences painting, so we'll have to wait for the sun to appear again and the fences are dry.

Going to bed now, I didn't sleep very well last night and I'm absolutely shattered now. I hope I have a better nights sleep tonight.
Night Night

Morning All,

Dull here, but at least it is fine at the moment while the man is grinding out the loose mortar. Our cars are out of the way at the top of the close! I spoke to the lady with the dog next door last night to let her know about the man coming.........I knew it would be a waste of time!!! :-S I said what had happened with the bees and that the man would be here this week to repoint all round. She knew what I was driving at and interrupted me saying, 'oh the dog barking'. I said yes as the man would be down the side near her pathway. 'Don't worry about it' she cut in, 'he went mad when Albert up the road had his back garden landscaped a few weeks ago, just ignore it'. I then said that I'd wondered if she would be out as the dog seemed to get very distressed at times till she got back and would be barking and whimpering all the time. She seemed surprised and said she knew he barked when she went and when she got back but not inbetween. I said he seemed ok when she left him indoors, it was just when he was outside. 'Oh I don't leave him outside if I go out 'she said. (not true as we have seen her come back when the dog has been in the garden barking!) She said 'Don't worry about him barking' as if she thought it was me that was worrying about upsetting her little pooch!! She must have thought I was joking when I said I'd better tell the man to bring his ear muffs then........I wasn't!! She just doesn't get it that his continuous barking is problem to anyone. :-S :-S

Well, the man is getting on well and seems to really love his work. His main work is in dry rot and timber treatment etc, but that involves building work too. He loves the view over the field we have at the back and he was very interested in my crown chimney pots in the garage!! Oh, oh, we've just had a sharp shower so that might scupper things with using the electric grinder.

I hope Frank has his proper sight back again now and that the rain hasn't reached his lawns yet!

OH is getting on with his last lot of notes, then he will get a break before the autumn term starts.

Jane that bump would have shaken James up. I know when that lorry side swiped OH on the motorway it left him quite shocked. His poor PA who was in the passenger seat and nearest the lorry was certainly shocked. It is the thought of what could have happened. Lucklily he is fine even if the car isn't. It will affect his insurance at renewal even though he was not at fault and even though he will keep his no claims bonus. Just being involved in an accident at all is considered to make you a higher risk by insurance companies.

Two things have been really annoying me lately. One is the number of times I keep reading of carers who thieve the money from elderly and vulnerable people. It never seems to be for necessities either, the last I read it was for fabulous holidays and jewellery, so is basically greed. The other thing is the growing, awful thing of (usually men) throwing acid and disfiguring the looks of their ex partners. The punishment never seems severe enough to me for the premeditated inflicting of lifetime consequences to another.

Morning Ann and all,

I agree with you Ann it makes you wonder just what the world is coming to. They show all these aggresive films and things on the telly and it gives people with small minds ideas. They fine innocent people for taking their children out of school in term time for a holiday and fine them heavily and then give a silly short sentance or fine to someone maming someone else or even in rape cases. They will be telling us next how much air we are aloud to breathe in a day.

Wether not too bad here and at least its dry with some short burst of sunshine. The cement mixer is twirling away so I think some blocks are going in today. He will use my plastic shovel. He lost the one I gave him so I bought him another one but it has deeper sides than mine. I also noticed yesterday that it has a large chip coming on the corner. These corners I use to get in the corners of the chicken house. :-| :-|

Good morning Beautiful people, Evening Kim,

Well I had a good night last night. I rested all evening reading what I could of my book, and a bit of Tele. Was in bed by 10.00 pm and slept until 7.00 am. Had a wee and dropped off again until 8.50 . Ros had made my tea, and got my Aspirin and tablets ready. I got myself a bacon sarnie and another COT

I got the mower out and did about 5 stripes of lawn, when it started to drizzle. Ros said "IT WON'T BE MUCH" I said rain and ELECTRICITY don't mix, and unplugged everything and put it back in the garage. I will go out again later to finish off.

Not good for James being shunted from behind. The other driver should be done for DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION.
:-0 :-0 :-0 It does seem wrong that James the innocent party will be penalised by the Insurance Company as it wasn't his fault. I haven't looked at the eMails yet, but will do so when I come of here.

Ann, it your neighbour THICK or what ?? Does she not understand when someone is making a complaint ?? silly MOO. I don't envy the workman, if he has to put up with that all week !!!

Gill, I expect both you and OH are bound to be worried about your BIL. that could be a reason for not sleeping well.

I know I am old fashioned. But these thieving Carers should be made an example of. Take of one FINGER on each hand, then people will know who they are and what they have done. I think it's beyond contempt what they do to these poor people who rely on them.

It's PEEING DOWN here at the moment. So no lawn cutting, me thinks !!!

Ros was very sick last night. IT MUST BE HER COOKING ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) <3 <3 <3
She was also complaining of being cold. So I got her a fleece to wrap herself in, and she went to sleep for over an hour on the sofa.

Lewis rang last night. He is off on holiday at 3.00 am Thursday morning with Four friends, with another TWELVE going out on Friday. Somewhere on the Greek Islands. I have told him to behave and be CAREFUL with his money. A lot of notice he will take of PAPPY. !!!

Rain is settled in now and it's hammering on the conservatory roof. :-( :-( :-( :-(

Yes I agree it does seem unfair they do that with insurance Frank. I had a lorry clip my wing mirror when my car was parked and I wasn't even in it and they told me that was the reason my renewal was much dearer than I expected, even though I had kept my NCB. :-S

We haven't had any more rain YET, so the man has finished the grinding and has started the repointing. He's getting on well as he didn't expect to finish the grinding for another hour. Just shows how crumbly the mortar was! The dog seems to have gone out with the neighbour today so peace reigns!!

A few weeks ago when we were riding through Rutland in the car I spotted a saddlers that used to have a shop in the city many years ago. I had thought they had closed down and didn't realise they had just moved. Anyway it was the same people that I bought the old saddle from in 1965!!! I have just sent them an email to ask if they can repair it and what it might cost.

Well Ann, it just shows how these companies keep going. There must be a great call for their work in the Rutland area. There is a lot of horses and Studs in that area.

Well have have finally got the back lawn finished. It has taken FOUR ATTEMPTS between showers

Just looked out of conservatory window and saw a blue tit go into Tony's nest box, surely they have finished nesting, it's the end of JUNE. :-0 :-0 :-0

It has been a real sultry day here, rain and sun, sun and rain. I wish it would make up it's mind, what it's going to do.
Roa went out with Carolyn at 11.00 am this morning, I don't expect to see them until close to 5.00. Gawd only knows why they need to be out that long. She will be complaining tonight that her back and legs ache. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Pork ribs, chips, sweetcorn and peas tonight. Nice and easy and not a lot of washing up.

Hope everyone is fit and well. Might see you tonight.

Afternoon all,

Pouring here and has been since about lunch time, poor Max really wants a wee he keeps going to the door asking to go out ,hops out and back in without doing one .
We've also had thunder and lightning at times ,it makes you jump when it flashes.

Jane poor James what a fright for him ,he was very lucky wasn't he it could have been so much worse it doesn't bear thinking about.

So the workman is getting along nicely Ann ,plenty of tea and biscuits and if there's any left after OH has had them there might be some for the worker :-D

Thats good you managed to get the lawns done Frank ,hows the shoulder and neck today?

Colin has now come in for a cuppa ,he's been doing some thing in the shed in the dry .

Mandy, Poor old Max, walking around cross legged.

I thought how good my neck and shoulder were this morning, but now I am not so sure. Lugging the mower around has upset it, and it's aching like mad at the moment. I have that collar thing back on.

I have just set up the sprinkler to give the back beds and lawn a soaking. SODS LAW it's just started to rain again. If we get what Mandy\s getting it will be a good waste of time and water.

Madam is home, complaining about back ache. I said well you will go out all day walking around. Her reply was I don't want to be like you, stuck in doors all day. So I had better be careful what I say this evening, or I can see a bust up coming. !!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

I slapped his hands Mandy when I saw they were hovering near the biccies and said 'LATER' to him!! Poor Max wanting a wee but not in the rain!! lol.

We had no more rain earlier which meant the workman could really crack on. The grinder went through the mortar like butter and took a fraction of the time expected. By 3.00pm he had finished the lot and done the pointing as well, all 200 odd feet in length! He did work hard though and there was no skimping as I had a good look when I was ferrying the tea and biccies out to him!!! With the job being charged by the day it has now cost less, so we gave him some extra, as he could have spun the job out. We'd certainly use him again, so he'll get some good feedback. :-) We just had another short shower, but it hasn't wet much of the mortar so it should be ok.

Yes, it is a very horsey area isn't it Frank. They have just got back to me and thought it a lovely story that I'd bought it from them over 50 years ago!! They want to see it so they can see what's involved before they quote me, so once we can get to it past all our and MIL's stuff in the garage I'll get it down and take it over there. You were very lucky to get your lawns done between the showers. It's really good that Ros is out and about and has so many interests though. We all have to do what we can despite the aches and pains. I hope the collar helps your neck.

Afternoon Everyone

I think the rain is just about to arrive now. Frank. Why did you bother wit the sprinkler? We are due loads of rain !!!! I think Anglian weather have put out a weather warning :-S. Thomas has been in and out today and has gone again,but I reckon he will be hot footing it in very soon. We nipped down to my neighbours to check the plants, post and to put the bin out at lunch time thinking it was going to pour down then. They had cancelled their daily newspaper but as usual I found one on the mat. I shall have to pop the the shop tomorrow and say they have been cancelled for a week !This happens every time :-S

Frank you were sick the other night.Now Ros ,I wonder if you both had a bit of a 12 hr bug.

Ann that was lucky to have spotted the Saddlers.Great to see they are still in business since you bought your saddle.Does it need a lot of repair?
As for the lady next door .I think she is deliberately awkward and downright selfish .She knows her dog barks ,and it's like she has just stuck her fingers in her ears .Not interested. I wouldn't leave it. Have you thought about recording the barking at all on your phone . That might be a good idea.

Our window cleaners were here at 7.40 this morning (a week early) One of the men had a voice like a flipping fog horn. I was still in bed and hadn't even had my first cuppa :-S

The sofa in Hannah's flat IS the new one that they had trouble getting up the stairs.
The brown leather chair is one of our old ones ,but the cushioned arm rests are missing as they must be in storage.
I got Gareth to send me a pic of the two men who had to partly dismantle the sofa the second time it was delivered. They had to do it on the pavement !. Will send pics.

Hopefully James will have heard back from his car insurance people today to tell him where he needs to take the car for repair. I do hope that his insurance doesn't go up too much.That would be so unfair.If you are not at fault you really shouldnt be penalised .

Has max been for a wee yet Mandy? You will have to go out with an Umbrella over him :-D. I used to have to do that with Chester sometimes lol.I have just made sure the litter tray is sorted as once the rain does come Thomas will NOT be venturing out.

Chris ordered a rather nice striped Blazer for Matthews wedding. He ordered it last night and it is here already. I am still trawling through all the sites for a dress.

Mel I didn't understand what you meant by the H G on the Mantle? No the pic you could see wasn't one that she bought yesterday. I think that was one of Gareth's .I hadn't seen it before.

Yes he's been LOL i use to take the brolly out with me when he was little and he wanted a wee .

I meant to say Jane Hannah and Gareth flat looks nice ,i like the colours on the walls.
I think Mel meant the G and the H initals on the mantle piece .
They really had to take the sofa apart didn't they ,you can see all the framework !!

Colin has a doctors call booked for tomorrow for the results of the scan ,i'm hoping it's nothing serious as it's a phone call ,surely if it was some thing more he would have Colin in to discuss it .

Still raining but not as hard

Mandy I had to look back through the photos and now see the H&G LOL I never spotted them yesterday !
I hope the phone call tomorrow from the GP will be good Mandy. I would have thought if it was not good news it woudn't be discussed over the phone. I am sure it is playing on your minds at the moment.
So Max is no longer desperate for a wee :-D. That is a relief ;-). We still haven't got the rain !!! although it looks like it might be the very fine stuff. I will leave the back door open for Thomas. He caught a little mousey creature this afternoon when it was raining just a little. He dropped it in the patio and was meowing like crazy. It was as though he couldn't decide whether to eat it or come in because he was getting wet.
I just kept calling him and he came in. Poor little mouse was flat on it's back with all 4 feet in the air.I think it was dead.Chris put it on the top of the compost heap rather than in the bin just in case it came ot life again .He said it was warm and eyes hadn't clouded....I still think it was dead.

Those men did a briliant job with the sofa. You wouldn't know it had been pulled apart and put back together. Gareth couldn't get over the fact it all happened on the pavement . But then there was nowhere else for them to do it. Just thinking when and if H&G move out it will have to be taken apart again :-S