General Chat

Di called in this morning and opened her birthday presents and we had a coffee and then walked round the border as her car was parked up there. she stayed quite a long while today.

I then had lunch with oh and then off shopping quite late.

I still don't see how your insurance can go up when the accident was'nt your fault. I hope it dos'nt make too much difference for him. Poor James. <3

None of my dogs worried about going out for a wee in the rain. They just had to go out. When it was raining and I went out with them always and came in and wiped my feet Tillie would wipe hers too. She looked so funny scratching her front and back paws on the mat.

It is raining quite hard here now and I have just got soaked corning the chickens.

Jane there is two little H and G things on the mantle shelf. You can see them in the picture. Its a good thing it was'nt raining when they arrived with the sofa if they had to do it on the pavement!! It does go well in there though and I think they made a good choice.

Silly women Ann. She must think the dog dos'nt bark when she's out. She has got so used to it I suppose she dos'nt really notice it now. I think a recording could be a good idea as Jane suggested.

Sorry to hear your neck is playing up again Frank after cutting the lawn. Give it a nice rest now the jobs done.

I think I better go and change my clothes as I have lovely wet knees and shoulders as the coat I wore to do the chickens was'nt waterproof.

Nice easy meal tonight, curry for oh a ready meal that goes in the micro and I shall have a cod piece in breadcrumbs with salad and a nice slice of brown bread and butter.

Hope it is ok for Colin in the morning Mandy. Keeping my fingers crossed.

It does sound less worrying if the results will be given over the phone Mandy. We'll all be thinking of you both tomorrow. <3 I bet Max felt better after that!! lol.

I don't think the saddle needs much repair Jane. I lent it to a friend years ago for an event and didn't get it back from her for months despite asking. When she did bring it back I realised why as a strap that connects it to the girth was broken off and it had lots of scratches and scrapes it didn't have before. Although she offered to pay for it to be repaired, I never knew where was best to take it with it being quite 'antique' and didn't want it to be ruined so it was never useable after that. It was the most comfortable saddle I ever rode in, especially for longer distances, as it held you in place. Also the leg chaps meant your legs never touched the horse and your clothes stayed nice and clean.

Will James get a courtesy car while his is being repaired ........or will you be losing yours for a few days? Insurance is unfair though isn't it. It's supposed to be based on 'risk' and women have less accidents than men, but they still hiked up women's insurance to that of men to be 'fair' in what we all pay. Mine didn't go up much but I was miffed it went up at all!!

The dismantling of the sofa did look a bit drastic didn't it! I like the colour which is nice and neutral.

Mel, how is Di now and what did you get her for her birthday? Is it usually a surprise?

I've been trying to find a nice ring or other jewellery as OH wants me to have something special for my birthday this time. I fancied something marcasite and art deco, or vintage and found one or two possibilities. When I asked OH what sort of price range was he thinking, he gave a figure which was a price with more noughts on the end than the ones I'd been looking at!! :-0 Maybe I need to look at matching earrings and a pendant and bracelet instead!! lol I worry about losing anything that's too expensive though.

I need an early night tonight after 2 with little sleep and early starts. OH said it will be nice to have a lie in tomorrow. :-)

Ann I still have my saddle. Why is it we just an't part with them. My grandad gave me £20 for clothes when I left school and started work. I did'nt spend it but later bought my saddle with it. It was £19.19s 6d. Unfortunately it was serge underneath and the and the moths got in it all around the stitching. I did ask how much it would be to have it lined in leather and at that time it was £20. Just more than I paid for it in the first place. As I never had another pony or horse I did'nt have it done.

Jane I keep meaning to ask how your fingers are now?

Di is the same age as me just a few months between us. I bought her a bag like the ones I have in a rusty colour with biege trims and beige hearts on it, a box with little cards in about her zodiac sign of Cancer, a big box of all different kinds of cream for your hands and emmery boards, some little hand wipes for your bag lemon scented and a nice soft scarf in redish tones for the winteras she is a cold sole.

Off to watch a bit of telly to relax before bed now so see you all in the morning.

Morning all,

So where did June go?

Mizzle here this morning and I did a load of washing last night hoping to put it out today. No chance of that. Had a good lie in this morning after yesterdays adventure shopping.

Still itching........................................ Its as if the blood tests have spread the itch as it is now on both insides of my arms.

Good morning my little flowers, evening Kim,

Another good nights sleep, It's becoming a habit. LOL

Rained here most of the night by the look of it. Jane the reason I put the sprinkler on is that the bushed down the side beds protect the ground underneath from getting a good soaking. This is the only way I can do it.

Roa bought some irrigation things yesterday. (more rubbish) You screw a bottle of water to them and put the spike into the pot, and it soaks through to the compost, SLOWLY. It's suppose to last up to two weeks. I can't see that happening. :-P :-P :-P

The road works continue in the Close. They have been relaying the paths. I see last night that they have marked the path outside our bungalow to be resurfaced, so that's a good thing. We didn't think they were doing our end of the close. When they do the pot holes is another STORY. If and when they do it will be PATCHED.

Ann it will be nice to have your saddle repaired, you can then put it away knowing it's in the best condition it can be after all those years.

Jane only one of your Photo's came through, the one putting it together again. Glad they are settled in. The view over the greens are nice, it's a pity they can't have use of the garden. They might well get invites to a BBQ if the other tenants are young like them. I sure they will fit in with the others.

Good job we aren't going out. They have put a barrier across the drive, while they dig up the path. The neighbours Pam and Dennis went out shopping this morning, when they got back their drive was blocked off. I haven't seen where they have parked their car. Somewhere down the close, I expect.

Sheep S@@t pie tonight. I have minced the cold beef from Sunday, with carrot and onion, and Tomato's I always add a few drops of LEA PERRING and BROWN SAUCE. Adds a bit of extra flavour. I will do the mash later.

Morning all,

Still coming down ,i woke several times in the night and each time it was pouring as i could hear it on the window , every thing in the garden will come on in leaps and bounds with all this rain weeds especially.

Max is pacing again ready for a wee ,he just doesn't like the rain .

Royal Norfolk Show today and tomorrow what a wash out ,one year when it rained the car park was a mud bath and they had tractors pulling the cars off the field .

Still dull as dishwater here but its not cold.

Afternoon All,

They were nice gifts for Di Mel. :-) Fancy both of us keeping our saddles!! lol. I still have a bridle too but I think the stitching needs redoing on that. I also kept kept my rope halter and an original beige bag with grooming kit in it. They are in the loft. I still get a hankering to use it all again sometimes, but it is hard work caring for a horse and it wouldn't be a pleasure riding on the roads round here nowadays. :-0

What a shame about the weather for the show Mandy. I always feel sorry when the weather spoils these things. Sounds like Max is hanging on again!

We had a load of rain last night and this morning but it doesn't seem to have touched the pointing. I went to sleep earlier than usual and then woke up at about 5.00am. At 5.25am I heard a car drive by and thought it very early for someone to be about so got up and looked through the window. A large black VW had driven onto the building site and parked outside the house that's built now but empty. I went back to bed but was puzzled why they had come and so early as I didn't recognise the car and the workmen usually arrive at 8.00am unless there's an early delivery. I was just wondering if they were up to no good when I heard the car moving on the gravel about 20 minutes later. I got up to have a look as it drove by our bungalow. It seemed to be an estate car and had what looked like dining chairs crammed in the back behind the front seats. Goodness knows what that was all about!! I hope they weren't nicking the furniture if there was any in there.

Our neighbour in her mid 80s seems to be having all her back garden cleared as there are some workmen there and a shredder. We noticed her greenhouse had gone a few months ago. She is friends with Albert up the road who has had all his back garden landscaped so maybe she is doing the same. I've said before she is looking more frail these days. I know a few years ago all her back garden was veg she grew. There was no lawn.

Still have my beige canvas bag with my grooming kit in it too Ann. Main and tail comb two brushes. Koachalene (sp) and saddle soap for the saddle, hoof pick that folds up and rubber curry comb and a metal one. I did the seat of my saddle in Koachalene and the rest in saddle soap or neats foot oil.

Doctor has just rung ,Colin has a kidney stone and a cyst on his left kidney so nothing to serious which is good ,the stone can be lasered at the hospital if it gets really painful , and the cyst doesn't need any treatment so we're both relieved it was nothing serious, it was good the doctor pushed it through so quickly for him.

The rain has eased a little ,it's more like a heavy drizzle now..

Afternoon All

Oh what a relief Mandy. Thank goodness it is nothing serious. I bet you both feel much happier now. The kidney stone may even pass on it's own eventually if he doesn't have it lasered . Yes what a wash out for the show. I bet the numbers will be down.

It is a right old miserable day here dark ,dreary and drizzly. I had to go to the Dr about my little finger.The one which the nail came off. It is still a bit infected and even though I am on the second lot of antibiotic tablets is still is a little mucky and inflamed .So I now have antibiotic cream to rub in. He took a swab of the bit of pus I squeezed out.
The rest of my fingers are still dreadful and the fingertips on 3 are so painful. I am fed up wearing these flipping gloves all the time as it is so difficult doign things. But they do protect the skin and It does mean I can pick things up and do some jobs without them hurting too much.

Ann did you happen to get the number plate of the vehicle that had the furniture in? All sounds a bit strange to me.

Frank. I can never understand why some potholes are just patched up several all close together. I would have thought it would be far better to do a whole large patch of new tarmac rather than the piddly little patches as they always break up and the same problem remains . That will be nice to have the pavement sorted outside yours. Our pavement from the top of the road to the bottom is in a right old state .But i can't see anything being done about it any time soon.

They were nice pressies for Di .I bet she was thrilled with them Mel :-D

Just remembered I have a basket full of wet washing in the garage. I took it out of the machine before I went to the GP but forgot to get Chris to put it in the dryer.So that needs sorting now .

Mandy that is good news for you and Colin. I had Kidney stones and had them lasered. Not very nice but well worth it when the pain stopped.

It has been a horrible day here also, shower after shower, but as Mel said not cold. I have been in shorts all day, but just put some joggers on.

The Road works start around 9.00 am and they pack up at 2.30 pm. So they aren't putting themselves about to much. ;-) ;-) ;-) They have done TWO neighbours paths outside their bungalows, so with a bit of luck it might be our tomorrow.

Well Ann and Mel, when are we going to hear that you have been horse riding ?? No time in the new future, ME THINKS :-D :-D :-D

Ros was dusting and polishing this afternoon and caught the switch on the wall and turned of all the plugs, including the computer connection to the router. It took me ages to get back on line. I won't repeat what I said under my breath. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Football on T.V tonight, if I want to watch it I will go in the conservatory, but I don't think it's an exciting match, so might not bother.

I can't believe it's only 5.00 pm. and we need the lights on. !!!

O what good news Mandy. I bet you are both relieved to hear it is a kidney stone and a cyst and nothing worse than that. Love to Colin.

Oh has just told me that the swallows in his shed have hatched and there are two or three chicks. I shall have to go and have a look later as I have just sat down.

I have had the freezing compartment of the freezer out this afternoon. Chucked a lot of very out of date stuff and now have loads of room in there. Then I cleaned the rest of the mealworms out and washed the sink and only have to wash the big bin in the bath.

Washed oh's bait box and a bird feeder and am now sitting down and going to have a drink.

Jane are you still drinking wine? as I thought you shoud'nt drink while taking antibiotics.

Oh I bet you feel so much better now this isn't hanging over you both Mandy. You will sleep well tonight! :-)

No I couldn't see the number plate Jane as the narrow blinds were in the way and I didn't want anyone to see I was watching them. I thought if there had been any theft the police would be knocking at doors but no-one's been. Your poor fingers sound so painful and you must be really fed up after all this time. I can hardly imagine what it must be like wearing gloves all the time. I had some on yesterday when I was cleaning the bathroom (with the man coming!), I had to wear some because I'd ripped a bit of the quick at the side of a fingernail and it was taking ages to heal. I know you should wear them anyway, but I find it hard with them on to feel the surfaces properly as I clean.

Ann, when you pull that Quick on the side of a finger or thumb it is really painful.You wouldn't think such a tiny thing could hurt so much. I would tape it over for a while it I were you. Gloves are so restrictive. I get so frustrated .

Mel It is ok to have a little wine /alcohol on these tablets. I did check :-D.As long as it is in moderation :-D :-D.. Not sure about tomorrow when Fitz comes for his birthday lunch :-D.We will give him the painting Chris has done for him for his 70th.I have a bottle of bubbly in the fridge ,and lunch will be a simple meal of cold meats, cheeses, and various salad dishes.Nice biscuits for cheese and a big French Stick . I will get the French Stick tomorrow morning in Lidl as i want to go back and buy some more little Oregano Oil sprays which were half price today. There weren't many left .I bought 2 today. If there are any left I will snap them up.I just love Oregano.We grow our own in the herb bed but it would be nice to have this infused oil for when our own plant dies off.

Mel will you try and get some pics of the baby Swallows ? :-D

There's four chicks in the swallow nest. We went in the shed as oh had to do the filters and the parents were'nt about. He fluttered his hand over the nest and four little yellow beaks rose up open wide.

Yes |Jane I will when I can next get inthere but ahall have to have oh with me to flutter his hand.

Who's late on PARADE ?? Good morning to you all, Evening Kim,

Slightly better morning here. No wind or rain but still overcast. I have been out and fed the birds. The Blackbird was in the tree beside me, talking away with a beak full of works, could he still be feeding the young ??

The workmen have put a barricade across the driveway, and asked if we could move the car down the drive a bit so they don't catch it with their machine. I GOT THE KEYS opened the car, took the hand brake off and let in roll down the drive. The first time I've been behind the wheel since my Stroke in 2004. Roa stood at the door, doing a bit. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Nice that the swallows have hatched their babies. Look forward to seeing Photo's when you can.

I hope Fitz will like Chris's painting, Did you say it was of a place where he lived years ago ?? Lets hope the weather brightens up, so you can sit outside.

Pam next door in popping in for a catch up and a coffee in 10 minutes. We haven't seen her since we got back from Devon.

Lamb Shanks for tonight. I have got them out of the freezer and they are in a bowl of cold water thawing.I will make them into a casserole with loads of Root veg and Mash.

Almost another week over and apart from my eye appointment, I haven't left the house. Madam keeps onto me to go out to the pub and see the lads, but I can't be bothered.

What are yu all up to today ??

Morning Frank and all,

I hav'nt been up long!! Still dull and overcast here too Frank. Not much breeze as the trees are hardly moving.

Trying to think what to get out the freezer for tonights dinner. It maybe sausage toad.