General Chat

Oh sent it for me and I had trouble sending him the pic. In fact I had to tell him how to get it to download!! Anyway he did it for me as he has the account but he forgot to put my name to it and he had sent the order in. Thats why *I said to look out for the postman.

Anyway I am glad you liked it. xx

Morning my little beauties , evening Kim,

Very warm morning here, we are having to shut everywhere up soon as we are meeting Simon and Sally at 9.30.

How strange that TWO of you had to send your meals back yesterday. It just shows everything can't be perfect every time.

The little hog seems to be holding his own Mel, will he just disappear or hang around to be fed every night ??

Gill, I know what your OH is going through. You can imagine me at 17 being the only child to take care of my father for almost two years, nursing him through CANCER. I slept in the front room with him every night. to be with him for all his needs. Then worked during the day, when Mum took over. When he was hospitalised I would walk from my office in the city to the hospital in Whitechapel, and sit with him until I went home to bed. You might find that you Oh will want time on his own. He's not ignoring YOU just taking time for himself. Sorry I have gone on a bit.

Off now see you later.

Again, a lovely morning here so we've been up and about since 7.30! OH has been to Waitrose and done a big shop which we've just put away. I've watered everywhere, changed the bed, put on yet more washing! taken Cas for a run and cleared the veranda as today we are pressure washering it and the car!!
I loved games at School! I played hockey getting into the first X1! both Junior and Senior; I played right Inner Ann and we always had to wear shinpads!! I played netball at the same level and rounders. My big love though was Tennis closely followed by swimming. I got into these teams at both levels too and kept them up after leaving school. My mother was a good tennis player and she and I used to play locally in the summer holidays when I was home from school. However, unlike elder granddaughter, I wasn't that keen on gymnastics!! although I wasn't too bad at it, I just preferred games. OH was good at, and played a lot of sport and gymnastics, like me he loved swimming particularly diving! but I was better at Tennis!!! Both our offspring are into sport as well, L riding which she excelled at, and M football which he now coaches locally.
Mel, anyone! Did you watch 'The Spies of Warsaw'? with David Tennant. It was brilliant it is on channel 4 catchup and well worth watching.
Hope your meeting went well Frank. Better get on as OH is ready with the pressure washer!!
;-)

Morning all

Cloudy here so far today but very warm. No gardening for me today as I don't have the compost to finish the re-potting of my plants, so I'm going to take a look at my family tree and watch a bit of TV, I've got quite a few programmes on my planner, so that'll keep me out of mischief :-)

Thanks everyone for your kind words, OH is feeling a little better today, he has good days and bad days so I just take it one day at a time, being there for him when he needs it.

Yes, Frank I have noticed he's been going off on his own every now and then and thought he needed some quiet time to himself. He's a very private person and doesn't show his feelings, so yesterday when he told me how he was feeling it was quite a shock. I'm pleased he can come to me rather than bottling it all up. When his dad passed away a few years ago, he was very angry for ages and even though he didn't mean to he took it out on me, not in a bad way but being snappy all the time. He said he'd try not to be like that again and so far he's kept his word, but I would understand if it happened again. He said he knew it was Cancer when his brother had the mass in his stomach so wasn't surprised when he was told. I've been expecting a reaction like yesterday ever since he was told, but like I said he's much better now and has gone to see his friend for the day. He'll be home later for his dinner.
I think you were wonderful the way you looked after your dad, it can't of been easy, especially at such a young age <3 Enjoy your time with Simon and Sally today.

I was thinking about the little hog Mel, how is he/she doing? Will the big hogs bother it with it being so small?

All this talk about sports, I was the same and didn't really like it, I wasn't very good at it which didn't help. That's the one thing I never missed from my school days. I much preferred Science and Maths. I wasn't really into History until I left school and started my family tree, then history became very interesting and not just with my tree. My geography was never good in school, but again, because of my tree, it's getting quite good now. OH laughs at my sense of direction and often says I could get lost in our bungalow it's that bad. I seem to be better with the areas I've never visited and all because of my tree. Funny how life turns out isn't it?

Morning all

Frank will have toddled off now to meet up with Simon and his wife for coffee.

I bet he will enjoy it. It would be nice to be able to see his narrow boat so perhaps one day he will.

Bit overcast here today with grey sky and I thought as I went to see the little hog this morning I detected a little fine rain in the air. The hog has buried its self under the news paper today so it must be quite cosy.

Nothing planned for today so will just see how the day unfolds.

It sounds like you had fun with all your sports Liz and was very good at it by what you've said. I forgot about gymnastics I did it in primary school, I did enjoy that and got a few badges which I sewn onto my leotard, I used to be able to do the splits, if I tried it now, I do myself an injury LOL :-D :-D
You've been very busy so far today, good luck with the rest of the jobs. You'll sleep well tonight :-)
I didn't watch The Spies of Warsaw. I have so many programmes to catch up on, but may take a look if I get some time.

Pleased to hear the little hog is doing well Mel <3

Well, I am back after a very pleasant time with Sally and Simon. We had a good look round the plants and Sally saw a Jasmine that she liked, so Ros bought it for a late wedding present. We went into the coffee shop and ended up having a Early bird Breakfast, Egg, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast and baked beans, and a nice cup of coffee.

Sally bought us a photo of their wedding, Ros will get a frame for it, and it will go on the wall with all the other special photo's.

They left at 11.15 as Simon had to get home, change and get to work for Mid day. I'm not sure when Sally starts work today, or if she's got a day off.

Gill, You will just have to be there for OH as and when he needs you.It must be so hard to see his brother like that, especially if they were close.

Liz, It's nice to get things done before the day gets too hot. Will Cas get under the water when Ian is pressure washing everywhere. My little poodles loved being hosed down and would BITE at the water as it came out of the hose.

Just picked up our prescriptions from the Drs. two bags full, and one item of mine MISSING. Hardly a month goes by when something is missing from either Ros's or mine. Who checks them I don't know !!!

I trust you are all well and enjoying "THE SUMMER" <3 <3 <3

It sounds like you had a lovely time with Sally and Simon Frank. How nice to receive a photo of their wedding day. I'm sure it'll take pride of place on your wall. Nice of Ros to buy the Jasmine Sally liked. Hope you managed to sort out your prescriptions, it must be annoying to have things missing all the time. You'd think they'd check it before passing it on to you.

Sandra and I are catching up with Gogglebox, we love that programme and have quite a few on the planner, so that'll keep us busy for a few hours.

So glad your morning went well Frank, I think you are home and dry now with your rekindled relationship. How brilliant is that!!
The veranda looks SO much better for its clean and no, Cas was kept out of the way as she does tend to get under your feet when you're trying to do a particular job!!!OH is doing the car this afternoon - we won't know ourselves!!
M rang this morning for a quick chat. He is very busy with work so he wasn't on the phone for long, but it's good to hear from him.
Guess what! We were having lunch when who should ring us but the surgeon who operated on my hip!! He rang to see how I was and to make sure that I wasn't having any problems! Wasn't that kind!
Not so hot today but still very pleasant. The vehicle looks better already! :-D

Afternoon All,

That was kind of the surgeon Liz. I was just thinking too how well you have done and how much you can do now.......you put me to shame as you can do more than I can!!!

Did anyone watch WDYTYA with Charles Dance? Well worth a watch but I won't say more in case anyone has it recorded.

Jane I love the earrings and they don't look too flash or 'Bet Lynch' at all!! They look as if they would go nicely with your latest dress!

OH was up with the lark this morning to water the back garden. We are still waiting for the rain and storms that they said we would get!

One of my beading pals made a lovely wedding cake and made and edible decoration of flowers on it. They looked so real.....will see if I can send a pic. The teacher is a lot better now but was really ill. She has very low immunity and had picked up a chest infection that laid her really low.

Frank you were a very good son when your dad was so ill. Not many young men could bear to watch their father decline like that and be so supportive and 'hands on' at so young an age, no matter how much they cared about their father. Your mother was lucky to have you at that time. <3 <3

I never got to the farm shop the other day so I will scoot off there now. I must ask them when the new tearoom they are building will be open. They still give free plastic carrier bags there which is useful as we use them in our small kitchen bin after and haven't had to buy any bags for it yet!

Yes, we watched Charles Dance last night and yes,it was very good!
It's really blowing hard here so nothing like so hot. The waggon looks very clean and quite smart, I doubt it will look like that for long though!
C.O.T time so better go in and put on the kettle!!

How nice to get a picture of their wedding Frank and to add it to your special pictures on the wall. I often have to go back for something left off our scripts as they hav'nt got it in. It is usually there in a day or two though and its only up the road 2 miles.

I saw Charles Dance last night and yes it was very good and moving for all concerned. He must have been really pleased with the outcome in the end. That was well worth doing for him.

The road men have been doing the road that runs from our crossroads towards Black Torrington. Oh was up the top and a man came in and said could we use 8 ton of tarmac? As it is Friday they had that over and they did'nt want anything for it!!!!!!!!!

Of course he said yes please, and they laid it from just before our big workshop up towards the road the only hting is the road was'nt clean but they put a nice thick layer on and rolled it well afterwards. I have asked for a quote for down here at the bungalow and he took my name and address and phone number and said he would come down and take a look next week or the week after. There were five blokes doing it so I gave them £50 for a drink.

What this about a latest dress and earings then? I have no pic of them??

All I have managed today is to wash a load of hog bowls, feed the chickens, do one lot of wshing and do lunch. Methinks I need to get up the border and do a bit up there now its cooled down a bit.

Well Mel, All your Christmas's came at once. * tons. That must have covered a fair bit. I bet the men were well pleased with the "DRINK" That will buy them a few beers on the way home from work tonight. How nice of you to do that xxx

Yes, not so hot and sunny this afternoon. I sat and had a rad for a while, then went out and watered the front garden and pots and baskets, then the patio. I have watered the bottom of the garden (veg patch) Green house and flower beds up one side. Couldn't do the other because a certain LADY was trimming and weeding. She said she would do that side when she is finished.

Pleased to hear your have got all your pressure washing done Liz, Yes, I expect Cas would be under your feet, so she was better out of the way.

How's your OH today Gill. ?? I know from experience that it's best left for him to come to you rather than you saying "Are you alright" He will always answer yes. but deep down he will be thinking NO. I still remember the nights when I have stood in my mum and dads garden and screamed at the moon, and cried like a baby, knowing there was no more I could do to help him.Even after 60 years it still brings tears to my eyes when I think of him, in that dreadful state. You can't wish anyone to live like that. I am always here for you if you need to get an ear to bend.

This morning was very enjoyable and relaxed.I feel sure our relationship will continue to grow closer. I didn't ask about his Sister, he will tell me about her, in his own time, that's if he is still in contact with her. Sally is such a nice level headed girl, I am sure she is a good influence on him. His adopted children from his previous marriage are very close to them. One of the lads is married and have a daughter, which it appears they dot on. They have lots of photo's on their cameras.

Me's thinking I might have a stroll to the pub tonight, for a pint or three. Will put an end to a very good day. !!

Afternoon Everyone.
I hardly know what to do with myself as i am so hot and sticky. We never did have any thunder or rain last night.I think tomorrow is supposed to be alittle cooler.I can't wait.

So a successful morning with Simon and Sally :-D.I am really happy for you Frank. How far away do they live from you?

Clean veranda AND car Liz. OH has been busy :-D. My car is so filthy at the moment ,just covered in a dust,mainly from the Yew hedge .If we don't get any rain soon to wash it all off I will have it done when I go to Tesco .The men are briliant there and do your car while you shop.

Gill I bet you are so relieved that OH has told you how he has been feeling. If Chris is worried or stressed about something he never talks. If I ask what the matter is he will say " nothing" ,even though I know darned well something is up. Eventually he will tell me but it has to be in his own time and without me badgering him. I just wait patiently until it all comes out. He isn't bad now but when he was still working it happened quite often.

Larry's Mum (95/96) is on her way to hospital for a blood transfusion as her bloos test showed a very low Haemoglobin and she is so breathless . I think it is a combination of Aneamia and Heart failure. She told Larry on the phone she has been waiting for a taxi since lunch time but she thinks everyone must be at the Tennis LOL . Hopefully the AMBULANCE :-) has arrived now.

I have just put a hot water bottle in the fridge to chill for tonight. I keep forgetting to do that.

Jess and Benjy are here.I picked them up from the station at 3. Thomas inspected Benjy, sniffed his nose and then his behind and then wandered off lol

I'm glad it all went well meeting up with your son today Frank. I have occasional 'breakfast' meetings with some old pals! ;-) It's nice to have that photo of their wedding too. I think taking things gently seems to be working well!

That was handy getting the tarmac laid Mel and so cheaply!! At my old house we had the same happen when we had just widened the drive and put the hardcore down. Some men called and said did we want the drive doing with what they had left over when they finished the job they were on. We came home from work a few days later and it was all done. It's still there now 38 years later.

Gill I think lots of men do tend to react differently and talk less about these things than us. All you can do is give him plenty of space and make allowances while his head is full of thoughts about it and he tries to come to terms with it. We can all be cross about things we can't change and irritable with people interrupting our thoughts when they are only trying to help!!

I didn't watch the Spies of Warsaw either Liz. I was in the rounders team at junior school but we didn't play it at grammar school. I loved that satisfying smack when you hit the ball hard! Not so good when you missed it though! Best of all I loved Badminton, which I didn't learn to play till I was about age 27. I got quite good at it, being a semi finalist in a regional work tournament and also in a public tournament. I played at a city college club with the young students in my 30s. I played in mixed doubles matches in League division 1 and in ladies doubles in division 2. In my first doubles match with the club I played against my old coach from the nightschool classes where I learnt to play. It was a shock to see him as I had no idea he was in the club who were our opponents. We just lost against him and his wife, but he was so pleased how well I had come on he picked me up and carried me off the court!! lol.

Seems to be cooling down now so I'll go outside and water some pots.

I did'nt get up the border. I did go down to Prickley Hollow though and cut back some branches on the camelia which were overhanging the feeding arc and the other two hog boxes. It looks much clearer down there now and I cut the long grass around the houses where the mower dos'nt reach.

Oh has ordered a strimmer on wheels which was sup[posed to come today but it seems to have got lost along the way. Just as well because they would have had to drive over the new tarmac and its still a bit warm.

We have a wasps nest outside the uti room at the back of the bungalow. Oh said he will deal with it tomorrow. He has layed some blocks today but then it got too hot so he mowed wile I gardened. I hav'nt got anything out for dinner tonight so he is having toasted cheese and onion sandwiches and I will probably have eggs some way.

Hampton Court flower show tonight. Thats the only thing I shall watch.

Ann it was well worth watching, a real nail biter!! You sounded a very proficient badminton player! I used to play it at home on the lawn, but not in a big way! Yes, hitting that rounders ball was very satisfying!! The way I'm so slow at the moment it's hard to believe that I raced around all those years ago! I think that you are more sprightly than me, although I get there in the end!! Thank you for the pic of the cake, it looks fantastic. Also Jane, the ear rings look lovely and the dress very glam!
I've been really saddened by the death of that little boy from Neuroblastoma. What a vile disease and what a brave family.
Nothing on TV tonight worth watching, so it's wildlife on geographic for us tonight.

Sounds like Thomas is treating Benjy with disdain Jane. lol Still that's better than them scrapping. I hope Larry's mum has been collected now. Ambulances take longer and longer nowadays. More worry for Larry, I expect he's travelled up to see how she is.

No, my sprightly days are over too Liz!! If I sit for long my knees seize up and I struggle to stand up again!! I can't run anymore either and I can't stand for too long or my knees ache. I'm sure if I could lose some weight it would help so keep trying. The Badminton coach who taught at the nightschool class I went to asked me if I'd come and help him with other classes. Typical of me then, I had no self belief, and thought I wasn't good enough so said no. I regretted it after. He was a really nice chap, very happily married and won ballroom dancing trophies with his wife. I realised years later that he wouldn't have asked me if he'd thought I wasn't good enough! I still have my Carlton racquet and a couple of the skirts I wore, in the loft. It was all whites in those days with special kind of trainers that had extra leather stitched on top of the area around the front and side of your big toes! I think it was to stop them wearing through with all the sideways movements on your toes. My ex learned to play at the same time and we would sometimes knock a shuttle to and fro when we went caravanning. I remember once looking around and we had gathered quite a little audience of the children on the site who had turned up and sat down to watch!! lol. It sounds like your place is all spruced up now with clean verandha and vehicle! Our patio and cars could do with the same. We might do the patio now the pointing up on the bungalow has dried out.

OH is calling so I'd better go and watch a recording with him. It seems a lot cooler now so hopefully a good night's sleep.

I have just come in from the garden. I swept the bantams out as they had all gone to bed and it was still light and then I watered the beans strawberries and courgette.

I had a blimmin gnat flying wround me when I came in but I have just clapped my hands on it by the screen. That'll teach it but I just hope it did'nt get me first.

All hot and sticky here in the kitchen even though the fans on so I am going in the shower.

Love the dress and the earings. You're going to look great.

Good morning Flowers, evening Kim.

Nice breeze this morning. I opened everywhere up when I got up and the wind just whistled through the bungalow. How nice was that. we at with our cot in a nice cool lounge.

I didn't go out for a pint last night. By the time Ros came in from the garden, we had a bite to eat, I washed and wiped up then went back outside to finish the watering. By that time it was too late to get another shower and get dressed, so I showered and put my shorts on, and called it a day. I was in bed before 10.00 pm.



No FISTY CUFFS then Jane, Thomas had the right idea, have a sniff. and go and do his own thing. Sorry to hear about Larry's Mum, how far do they live apart.??

All you sporty lot LOL LOL. I was mad on football and cricket from around 5 years of age.I was captain of both football and Cricket at Junior and senior schools. and continued to play when I left school, and went into the RAF. Playing for the camp sides in both sports. I was well in my 30is before I gave it up. But did play a couple of games in my 50/60 at the local football club for charity. and did the annual BLISWORTH SIX. A run again for charity. Ros would follow me around in the car with water, and also to make sure I was safe. !!! Then back to the football club for a few pints. Golf was another game I enjoyed and played regularly until I had my stroke in 2004. My creating interest was my fishing both fresh water and SEA. Again the Stroke put paid to that, I was terrified to go near water, and still don't get to close when I walk down by the canal.

Hows the little HOG Mel, is he/she hanging around the garden. We haven't seen ours other than his "Calling cards" on the path and patio. LOL LOL.

How's thing with you Gill.?? I hope your OH is getting a good nights rest, and keeping himself busy during the day.

Talking with Sally yesterday. We found there is something Simon and I have in common and that is "NOT SLEEPING" very well. He often gets up two hours after going to bed and sits in the lounge for 2/3 hours.

What are you all up to today ?? Roa has gone to meet Martine, I will clean the front lounge window as I sprayed it last night when watering, so it looks a right mess.