General Chat

Morning all,

Light grey skies here this morning and no sunshine but its still quite warm.

So you got a good place Mandy to watch the parade. Shame you had to go back for brollies. How many of you went? Was it just you and Colin or did you go with DIL and the children?

As a child on holiday in Torquay we always went to the Carnival. Dad would sit me on a highish wall so I could see the parade go by and always had some sort of thing to wave like a cardboard cone with lots of long tissue paper streamers comin g out the end. I think you could also blow it and it made a noise.

Oh is out I think he has gone for petrol.

Afternoon All,

Bright sunshine here and the car showed 24 degrees when we went to Nuneaton this morning. Yesterday it was boilng too when we went to see an open garden in Bottesford. I have never seen so many plants in a garden, nor so many I've never seen before! There were tree ferns, palm trees, several greenhouses, even the conservatory had shelves with compost on and plants spilling over. Bouganvillea and grape vines were climbing the walls and succulents were everywhere. How on earth they watered it all goodness knows! Having said that it was very bitty and higgeldy piggeldy with mess you wanted to clear up everywhere, even a rusting old 3 wheeler bike in the grass!! Parts of it were smart though and the plants looked so healthy. I bought 2 little different pebble plants to go with 2 others I have had for years.

We thought the building work had quietened down, but this morning there was an infernal loud squeaking and rumbling outside at 8.00am. Then an almighty roar like a motorbike as an engine was started up. I looked out of the window and it was a motorised road roller, but why start it up outside our windows instead of further along where the new properties are, where they will be using it?

Gill, there was a 70th birthday bash next door to us Saturday afternoon/evening that was quite noisy. I never realised the chap was the same age as me! They used to hardly speak to anyone till they wanted support over the builder's plans, but after they started being childish trying to make things awkward for the builder with where they parked their cars etc, we took a back step as we didn't want to be thought the same. Most of the noise was after we were in bed and folk were leaving. Why is it that folk start up lots more conversation so loudly outside when they are leaving? They were even shouting things down the close when they were a few feet from our bedroom!! :-S

I managed to watch The Loch to the end, but I don't think it was particularly good. I'm loving Poldark though! :-) So many twists to it.

Better empty the washer and put more on next, then paperwork to do.

Afternoon All
I will be quick as my fingers are so bad today. It is the tablets. It says that it will get worse before it gets better :-S :-S

I just wanted to wish your OH a Happy Birthday Gill, and the I hope you have been able to go out somewhere today . He will no doubt be thinking of his Brother starting his Chemo .

Just had a message from Hannah to say she has passed her exams and her first year :-D :-D. Well done my girl :-D :-D

Back again with mitts on LOL . Just got a Chicken and Mushroom Pie with filo pastry in the oven and Tarragon Carrots ready to go in a bit later. Chris has cleared away all the dirty pans etc for me .I was so glad he did :-D.. I forgot to add Baby Spinach Leaves to the pie :-S :-S.How did I manage that when they were right beside me !!!!

Ann,it was probably a bot of the liquid refreshments making thew party guests a bit loud LOL. Did they invite you ? We used to have bother when the boys next door had parties (when parents away) It was always pool parties in the summer and the noise would go on until 3-4 in the mornings sometimes. It was the girls who were the loudest with all the shrieking in the pool. It was lovely to know they were all having a great time ,but they obviously had no consideration about neighbours. They have all flown the nest now :-D :-D

Well another dress arrived this morning .The same as I showed you all but a size smaller. It is a better fit. Also some shoes to go with. I think they look ok ,but I will have ot have a practice walking on Wedges LOL. Chris is having to take the other dress back to John Lewis in Cambridge for me . Not that he is complaining as I think he fancies another day to Cambridge :-D

I think the pie is done as the oven is pinging.

There were no Spring Chickens next door Jane!!! No we weren't invited (thank goodness!). You would understand if you knew them. ;-) We turned down a previous invite when they were going to sell up, but I think we were nearly invited when he saw us a week ago on the front as he made to come across, but we were in a rush and jumped in the car and went. Even the chap opposite had gone away for the weekend in his camper!

Well done Hannah!! Another step forward!! How many more years does she have?
Sorry to hear your fingers are so bad........you'll just have to give up cleaning and cooking won't you!!! :-) It's good the smaller dress is a better fit and that you now have your shoes too. I think I would have to practise in anything with a heel now!! lol.

Yes, Happy Birthday to your hubby Gill. I hope it's been as good as it could be considering the circumstances.

I meant to say that I did get a card from my sister.....3 days late, but better late than never!!

Evening all,

Phew its been a hot one today ,we have been plagued with flying Ants, horrible things keep flying up into your face .

Oh well done to Hannah she must be so pleased to have passed , celebrations tonight with a bit of the old bubbly :-D
So you have settled on the dress then Jane ,did you go for silvery shoes ?

So more blooming noise Ann , the dog barking eases and then the builders noise start up again .

Where's Frank ? hope he's ok

Jane was the dress the same as in the pic you sent but a size smaller?
I thought it looked nice on you. We shall now need a pic of you all dolled up.

How are you coping with your foot?

Happy birthday to Glyn.x

I don't know if its not one thing its another. Poor you Ann with all the noise. We even get it here with the big house not far away and the walls acting like a huge ear. Sometimes you can hear what they are saying over there and the music, well sometimes its quite good and other times all you get is the bomp b bomp.

Yes where is our Frank. I do hope he is ok and not got himself into trouble again.

I have been fighting with the bed all day as I have taken everything off and washed the lot. Then ironed the bottom sheet I put under the mattress cover, and the mattress cover so I had to get those dry first before putting them back on the bed. I have such a fight with the mattress as its so heavy and hard.

Oh is moaning about whee's his dinner so I bettergo and have a look at it. Sausages, onions, cauli and mustard mash.

Good evening all

Really hot here again with more to come

I haven't been on for a few days as I had a fair bit of reading to catch up on

Gill, I hope your OH had a good birthday despite everything that is happening right now, and you BIL chemo treatment goes well for him, the only side effect I had after a couple of treatments was a lot of mouth ulcers but I did carry on working as it helped me through it.

Well done to Hannah in passing her exams it's good to know all her hard work has paid off. Sorry to hear your fingers are sore again Jane and hope the treatment kicks in soon.
That was a lovely photo of Jess and James all ready for the proms, We went to the Albert Hall many years ago to see James Last in concert


Paul really enjoyed his holiday in Croatia it was nice and peaceful no arcades or anything like that, most of the other guests in the hotel were French, every thing was inclusive up to 11pm after that they had to pay, Dubrovnik was a lovely city and well worth a visit he said. On Saturday he took Becky to London for the day a belated birthday trip as he was away on her birthday. Sadly today he had a funeral to go to, one of his friends Dad had passed away just before they went away.

We watched the final episode of the Loch. I thought this last one was the best.

It's not nice having a lot of noise where you live Ann especially at night, we used to get that in out last house one of the reasons we moved from there, the eldest daughter was well known as the fat girl that had all night parties when her mother was away

No Frank posting I hope all is well for him & Ros

Congratulations to Hannah Jane, you must feel very proud of her. I hope OH had a nice birthday Gill despite all you worries.
Mel, be careful wrestling with your mattress on your own. OH always insists on helping me with that job as its so heavy and awkward, and you can easily hurt yourself.
Nothing to report from here, I mowed the lawn this evening as it looks like rain, but maybe it won't!!

That's great that Paul enjoyed his holiday Anne. It sounds like a nice place and not commercialised at all. Yes, I have to agree with you that the last episode of The Loch was the best one. We moved here because it was a nice quiet close with fields behind us and just the end of a long garden and a field next to our neighbour at the end. We used to get all night parties at the houses behind the bungalows opposite. Drunken shouting and boom, boom as you say Mel. Often there were fireworks. Now, thankfully the main offenders have left! Nowadays the big houses have 'events' like weddings so even you get similar problems!!

Ugh Mandy, I got some of those ants flying in my car last week. They seem to blunder about and into your face as you say. I hate them landing on me.

I washed the mattress and pillow covers with the bedding today. You need a lighter mattress Mel. My old one used to nearly flatten me when I turned it over on my own so I know what you mean. The one we have now is one of those that is supposed to mould to your shape and can't be turned over, just top to bottom. It is light enough for me to swizzle it on my own. The trouble is it is about 9 years old now which means it ought to be renewed and I dread that I won't be able to get a light one again.

Where is Frankie I wonder?

Hi folks

I've finally managed to come online. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes for my OH. We didn't go out in the end as our lock on our door has broken and we couldn't shut the door. Our neighbour came a took a look and took something off it so we can now lock it but it won't stay closed if it's unlocked. OH will have to buy a new part and the neighbour said he would help him put it on.

Because we couldn't go out I've spent most of the day sorting out the back garden while OH sat and enjoyed the sun. I wouldn't let him help me as it was his day but this afternoon he helped me sort out the top of the hedge as I couldn't reach it and he also helped me move some heavy pots into place, they were the ones he painted yesterday which were left on the patio over night to dry off properly. I've just finished watering all the plants and now I'm finally going to get us all something to eat. OH and I have had nothing all day and Sandra's only had a sandwich, so we're all starving.

Congratulations to Hannah for passing her exams Jane. I bet she's as pleased as punch :-) :-)

Yes, I find people tend to make more noise as they are leaving a party than they do when they are inside enjoying themselves Ann. It's car doors that wake me up, especially taxi's as they are quite heavy on the black cabs and why the taxi drivers have to beep their horns as silly o'clock is beyond me. We were quite lucky the other night as the party was in the street at the end of the road and you could only hear the music if you were outside. Sorry to hear the builders are making a nuisance of themselves again and so early in the morning too.

It sounds like you had a great time at the parade Mandy, pity it rained though. Yes do remember to keep an eye on the fridge when you de-frost it, you don't want water everywhere.

Did you manage to sort out the mattress Mel? Hope your OH helped you, it sounds like the mattress is very difficult to manage on you own.

Well, I'd better go and check on the food, I don't think we've ever eaten this late before, still it was nice of our neighbour to take a look at the door lock considering how late it was.

My face is quite sore as I've caught the sun. Sandra said I was glowing....will have to root out the after sun lotion or I'll feel it even more tomorrow :-(

Ann you can't turn our mattress over or around as it is specially made for oh's weigh on one side and mine on the other. If we turned it oh would have to sleep on the other side and I am not giving up my side for anything. I like being the further side as I get the window and can see the stars if I can't sleep. Our bed also has a bottom to it which is why its hard to get the sheets down as there is not really much space for me to get my small hand and arm down. I had a bad night last night and just could'nt go to sleep. Got up about three quarters of an hour later and went to the loo and back to bed and still lay there getting cross with myself.

Been busy in the garden I see Gill. I am glad oh enjoyed his day even if you did'nt go anywhere or do anything special.

I forgot to congrat Hannah on her results in my previous post so CONGRATULATIONS on passing your exams. x You've made your mum and dad very proud.

Good morning all,

Sunny here but there's a brisk wind and the skies are a bit grey even though the suns shining now and then.

I have just had a call from our Frank to say his mac book is playing up and he can't get it to work so he will have to get in touch with Conrad tonight. He changed the fuse in the plug but it was'nt that. He said he was ok had'nt done anything silly but to let you all know he and Ros are ok. Sends his love. x

I have to go up the road for my script they did'nt have the other day so see you later.

HERE I AM. Good morning Mel, and all my little beauties.Evening Kim,

I haven'r eat any posts, just thought I had better let you know that everything in O.K.

The most stupid thing happened. When I replaced the fuse, I should have pressed the power button on the top right hand side of the keyboard. The trouble is the button is the same colour as the background. If you don't know where it is, you would never find it. (WELL NOT ME !!!) Good old Conrad.

Jan's father passed away last Saturday morning at 3.00 am with the deadly CANCER. He hadn't been in hospital long. Jo (Jan's daughter) got a phone call Saturday morning to say she had better get to the hospital. All other family are on holiday, so nothing can be done regarding funeral arrangements until they are all back. Which looks like the end of July beginning of August.

We have JJ until next Wednesday. Ros is picking Jo and Ella up from Luton around mid-night on Tuesday. He's being as good as gold. Carolyn called at 9.00 this morning to take him for a walk. She went home and changed and came back and the two are off shopping.

I am treating her (ROS) tonight. Lobster Salad, and I am having white bait and salad. Nice and easy, and if the weather is as hot as they say it will be, it will be better than a hot meal.

I will sit and have a read of the posts now, and catch up with you later. xxx

Good your back Frank. Fancy not remembering to turn it on.

You must have done it before at some time.
Off shopping now.

Afternoon all

Very hot here today so I've only dead headed a couple of flowers and re-potted a cutting I planted on last year as the roots were coming through the bottom of the pot it was in. I was so hot after that I run myself a lovely cool bath and just lay in it cooling off......it did the trick ;-) ;-)

Sorry to hear about Jan's father, my thoughts are with you all.
So you'll be having lots of fun with JJ today then Frank. I wonder who will enjoy it more you or him :-D Fancy forgetting to turn your lap-top on, you'll need to remember for next time. It's nice to see you back, we were all a bit worried when you didn't make it on here yesterday.

Oh Mel, there's nothing worse than not being able to sleep. I didn't have any trouble getting off to sleep last night, but then woke up with cramp in my foot, it took ages to go, but thankfully I managed to get back to sleep after it had gone. I hope you have a better nights sleep tonight. I've seen those mattresses you mentioned on the TV, they look good. It sounds like you have the best side of the bed if you can see the stars through the window.......it beats counting sheep LOL.

Going to grab a sandwich and catch up with all last nights programmes with Sandra now.

Oh, before I forget I'VE FIXED THE DOOR LOCK ;-) I don't know what all the fuss was about with OH and the neighbour last night, it took me a few seconds to replace a SCREW.........men LOL
At least OH will be pleased when he gets home from his friends later as a whole new lock could of cost us anything between £60 and £200. I just hope it doesn't break again..

Afternoon All,

Hot here too but at least there is a bit of breeze. I nipped out to the village to get a few provisions this morning and to get my car washed but have stayed in since. We had a fresh salmon salad for lunch and OH has finished all his meeting minutes till next term and has been shredding lots of old papers!! I have transferred our energy provider now the meter is sorted out and got £25 goodwill payment for all the problems after I asked them!! lol. We should save £200 a year on fuel too so that is good. Yesterday I saved £35 on my car insurance, just by asking if they could do better which was good as their quote was pretty good compared with others anyway, so I feel pleased now these things are all sorted. Still need to sort out some other financial stuff though.

I got an email from my hairdresser for a free blowdry for my birthday which was nice, but I forgot about it!! lol.

More tarmac has been laid today down to where the last bungalow is being built . The pong blowing in our windows has cleared our sinuses alright! I might poke my head round the corner at the end of the close later to see what it looks like.

One of the cattle at the back of us has been mooing a lot today. There are more in the field this year than before, about 10 I think. I wondered if it was a cow calling for a bull, but when I looked over the fence, all the ones I could see were boys. :-) Maybe it was one the farmer had just put in there and it was calling for it's old pals? It was one of the black ones making the noise so I couldn't tell if it was a new one as they all look the same.

Mel I had a bed once where the mattress was in a recess and it was a right game pushing the sheet down the sides and under so I can see what you mean. If you wanted to turn it and still be the same side of the bed, with the right side of the mattress you could turn it over from one side to the other, then spin it so the top is at the bottom, that way you would still be the right side of the bed and on your half of the mattress?

Afternoon All

Golly it is hot again. The breeze is picking up a bit now and it looks like we could be in for some stormy weather over night.

Well done Gill for fixing the lock :-D. Sometimes it just takes a woman to sort a job out :-D :-D :-D. I think I might copy you and have a nice cool bath later,as long as James doesn't decide to have one.It might have ot be a cool shower instead.

So JJ is back with you then Frank :-D. He loves his little holidays with you doesn't he.
I am sorry to hear about Jan's Dad. A sad time for her :-(

Ann I love the smell of Tarmac.I would love to have a sniff of it now LOL.
I always worry when I hear a Cow mooing for a long time as they sounds quite distressed at times. Hopefully your one will settle soon and pipe down.

Mel have you recovered from the battle with your mattress? :-D. Ours is like Ann's and you can't turn it over ,just top to bottom and side to side.It is one that moulds to your shape and have to say it is the best mattress I have ever had. It cost a lot but is well worth it. The same with my pillows . They are the Tempur ones and are just brilliant.
Chris has a slightly firmer one than me.

Anne, Pauls holiday sounded great. Dubrovnik is somewhere I have always wanted to visit. Hannah has been and loved it. She and Gareth are flying there in September.
She is also going to Marrakesh in October /Nov with 3 of her friends for a few days and also Spain for a visit to her friend Sarah . What a gadabout . At least we are no longer funding her for anything LOL

How are all out pets doing in this heat again? Thomas has been flopped out on the patio for most of the afternoon and wherever he goes he leaves great lumps of fur !!!
I seem to spend all my time scraping it off the lounge carpet :-S. He must be uncomfortable as he is scratching a lot(and it's not fleas ) :-)

You made some good savings today Ann :-D

Evening all,

Ann I always shop around every year for me insurances and Gas and Electric. The suppliers don't give you any thing for being with them, so why not shop around. I find I save money most years. They will soon be paying me to be with them LOL.

JJ has been crashed out, either on the tiled floor in the kitchen, or the lawn under a over hanging bush. Roa is now feeding him, we are spoiling him a little with extras. How can you not xx

Our mattress is one that forms around you. It's so comfortable for Ros with her back and legs. I tend to find it a bit hard for me.

Not a lot of love lost with Jan's Dad. He has been a bit of a so and so over the years, He had two women on the go in Egypt. Most if not all the money he had went out there, with him out there every year to see them.

Ros is just eating her salad and says the" Lobster is as dry as old bones" So won't be doing that again. It's a Canadian one, Frozen, from one of the supermarkets. My whitebait was lovely. LOL LOL. I only had a bit of B & B with mine. Too hot to eat really. Now having a cold beer.

Going to catch the evening News, not that there will be much happening. !!! Catch you all tomorrow. xxx

No can't turn the mattress any way as it only has one side you can sleep on and yes it does mould to your body to give support to all your body.

I had an exciting time when I set off for shopping. Not far from home on the way to Bideford coming in the opposit direction and heading towards home were two white unmarked cars with blue lights flashig by the indicaters and on the roof. They were followed a bit further along by a fire engin then a police car and a little way further on another fire engin. I stopped and rang oh to tell him I was ok and what I had seen as he would have been worried if he heard them. Then I set off again towards Stibb Cross where an ambulance came towards me from the road to Bideford. Oh had said that there was a helicopter flying over when I was on the phone. Then another fire engin and a 4 x 4 red with blue flashing lights. I still don't know where they all went or what had happened. There was a lighting strike on Dartmore.

We listened to the news on radio devon but nothing was said except that they had found two skulls in Totnes wrapped in carrier bags. They said the skulls were over 100 years old.

Thats been my excitment for today!! We don't usually hear anything down here behind the wall.

Ready meal tonight for oh, his ujsual chicken Tika curry but I don't knwo what I want yet. Its a toss up between fish or boiled egss and I may just lean toward those I think.

So Gill still gardening and was'nt it good you fixed the lock on the door. What would these men do without us?

Another good program on Wednesday at 9pm bbc The Sweet Makers going from Tudor times. Should be interesting.