General Chat

That's ok Gill, Not sure that I was very explicit!!! Son is up here on his own during the week for work, and goes back to Surrey at weekends. He's got very pretty one bedroomed cottage in a village not too far from here which he bought after his divorce as his ex, who has a senior position with a major bank, kept their bungalow! (no children fortunately) so after the initial upset of the divorce It's all worked out quite well.
Just come in from gardening, OH has been deadheading, so we're both in need of a cuppa!

Afternoon All,

It seemed to rain all night here and was still raining when I scurried over to the Research Centre this morning in my cardie! At least I got a parking space at the edge right opposite which was handy. Not so great that my car got mucky with the rain after getting it cleaned the other day. :-S It was a good meeting today with one of the Loughborough University lecturers. I'm learning so much healthwise from the studies they talk about. Just one thing I learned today was that it costs £300 to do an MRI scan!! :-0

OH is interested in yet another position with the council, this time as an independent person in an advisory capacity again, but to do with councillor expenses. It means just a handful of meetings a year so wouldn't be too onerous but he doesn't want to take too much on with his other work he does. I think he would be a strong candidate with the advisory work he already does for 4 councils.

We have lunched out today and there was much whispered discussion and tears flowing from a woman who was with a much older man and sitting in a quiet corner with drinks. You can't help but wonder what the situation was can you? A father with his daughter, but then again she kept twirling her long blonde hair through her fingers, so maybe not!

Gill, you seem to have your hands full with helping your mothers just now, but it will be much appreciated. It's good to keep your OH occupied with the upset he's going through.....just don't get yourself run down with overdoing it though. I bet Sandra is doing her bit to help too bless her! :-)

Liz, I can remember all those cheesecloth tops with flower embroidery I used to wear with my jeans. I loved them.....no ironing needed!! lol. Your diary sounds busy with all these invites. Hope you have a nice meal!

Mel, I would have thought lack of oxygen with this hot weather too, but you usually see them gasping at the surface, where most oxygen is, first if it's that. If it had been a few months ago I would have suspected frogs or toads latching on around their gills and suffocating them, but it is past their breeding season now. I wonder if they have some sort of bacterial or viral infection? If it was the blanket weed you would think you'd have found some trapped in it. Is it the small fish that have died or a mixture? It is a shame to lose them especially not knowing why. You could try changing some of the water in case the heat has caused a build up of toxins from the decaying of things like the blanket weed and then oxygenate the water well with a pump.

Where in France is the caravan Frank? I had a couple of great holidays in a towed caravan down next to the Dordogne river. I do love France for the lovely countryside and quaint villages and all that lovely space that we are losing here.

Yes Ann I remember those cheese cloth shirts and tops, they were lovely and of course no ironing!! We had a particular Indian shop in Oxford which sold gorgeous clothes! I can remember buying such pretty things there quite cheaply! I was thin with long legs in those days! I've still got long legs, but I'm certainly NOT thin and wouldn't get near any of it now!!
You're right about the fish! Thundery/hot weather can be lethal in depleting a pond of oxygen, particularly for koi, who seem especially susceptible. There's lots of advice on line these days, but plenty of appropriate plants and circulating the water is all you can really do. Changing the water even a bit isn't a good idea, (except in the winter clear out) as fish tend to react badly. It's much better to get the ecological balance right with appropriate plants and bottom feeders to hoover up the debris which will keep it clean, clear and in good order.
Very windy here but nice and sunny!

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Hope Liz is enjoying her time with her son, pleased to see the weather is nice for her. It turned really hot here, so hot in fact that I couldn't re-pot the plant I wanted, so that'll be a job for another day. It's forecast to rain tomorrow so I'm going to colour my hair. It's grown so much lately, it needs doing again.

Yes, Ann Sandra helped yesterday, she planted a few plants in pots for my mum while OH and I put together the bench. I'm trying to keep OH busy to keep his mind off things. OH's mum made a mistake and his brother's Chemo doesn't start until next Monday, she also got the amount of times wrong too, it's once every 4 weeks. She tends to get confused and with being stressed about her son, it's hardly surprising she got it wrong. I think fixing her cupboards yesterday helped take her mind of things, especially when she didn't know we were going round, so it was a nice surprise for her. We spent the whole afternoon with her and left just before OH's sister came home from work. She lives with her mum at the moment, so at least MIL isn't on her own all the time.
£300 is a lot for an MRI scan, I suppose lots of the help people need cost a lot, we're very lucky we have a free NHS.

Is the free access on Genes Mel or another site like Ancestry?

My pond has lots of plants and many water lillies and oh hoovers it out and it has a scimmer and where the water comes out of the filter the head on the end airiates it as it goes back in the pond. There is leccy fencing all around it so no frogs or toads can get in or OTTERS!!!! Oh put that on after the otter visited and caught and ate lots of my lovely big fish. Oh bought me some more fish and it seems to be those that are dying but I have had them a long while now so ????

Don't forget I had a large aquatic shop in the pet shop so I should know about these things but there are many things on the market now that we did'nt have back then. I am talking about 26 years ago.

I can't believe I have lived here that long! Its the longest I have ever lived in a place.

You seem to have covered everything Mel. I suppose you can get tests for the water nowadays, like I had when I kept tropical fish. I doubt it from what you say, but does your pond have much algae as plants and algae use up oxygen from the water at night? It might be worth nipping out in the evening later on and seeing if the fish are at the surface. It's a mystery isn't it!

Well it was absolutely boiling in the lecture theatre tonight and I had my jeans on as it was coolish outside. I sat at the back highest up where the heat rises to (silly!) and nearly had to go out before the end as I started to feel peculiar. Before the talk I was talking to a very smart, well spoken West Indian man in an immaculate suit I saw there last time I went. He has quite a sense of humour. He told me then that he was retired and I assumed he must have been a doctor. Tonight he was saying to a few of us that he came from the West Indies to London when he was aged 20 and trained and became a pathologist.

Tomorrow morning I'm off to meet at a friend's for a beading get together. OH chuckled when I told him I was going to 'finishing school' to finish off the things I started and never finished. :-) OH wants to go and see the film Dunkirk in the afternoon, but we'll see tomorrow. Not sure it is my cup of tea, but it has great reviews and sometimes I enjoy things I don't think I will, so it's best to keep an open mind. :-)

No Jane today or Mandy?

Gill its on Ancestry.

I hope Jane is alright as its not like her to be so quiet. Perhaps the fingers are just too painfull. She has'nt told us how she is getting on with her foot and wrapping it every night.

Thanks Mel, I'll take a look on Ancestry tomorrow.

Off to bed now, see you all in the morning.

Hope Jane is back with us then and everything is okay with her.
Night Night

Morning all, Evening Kim,

Blowy old morning here. I was up at 6.45 to let JJ out for his run around the garden, he seemed to be out there for ages. When I went to call him in, he was laying on the lawn playing with his ball. He's such a happy little chap.

I'm at the nurse at 10.40 for my monthly injection, Nothing planned for the rest of the day. I might give JJ a walk round the block for a few new sniffs !!!

Ros has to have new specs, her left eye is starting to get cataracts, so her eyesight is starting to deteriorate . MORE EXPENSE £200 plus.

Hope you enjoy your meal with your son tonight Liz, are you going to the usual place that you like ?? and did I read you are off to your daughters Sunday for lunch. You old getabouts. LOL LOL.

I haven't got round to sucking the duck weed from the pond yet, just haven't had the energy. I am finding I don't want to go out and just happy to be on my own with my book. Ros says I must start to get out more or I will end up as an old Vegetable (NICE) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Ann, I thought the beading class's had closed. I must have read it wrong, or is it you are going to each others houses to continue your meetings ??
Have you lost anymore fish Mel, ?? Is it the weather that's causing the change.

Yes, where is LADY JANE ?? it's not like her to be so quiet. It might be her poor hands. Hope she is alright. If we don't hear from her I will give her a call.

Gill you and your Oh and not forgetting Sandra are keeping busy looking after all three gardens. I bet you will be glad when you have some free time to yourself. What colour are you doing your hair ??

Time for a bit of breakfast then shower before going to the nurse. See you later .xxx

We had a fantastic evening! It was a restaurant that we hadn't been to before but son had, and he wanted our opinion!! The food was first class as was the service; they even produced a birthday cake for OH complete with a complimentary glass of champagne!! All in all, excellent! Heaven only knows what it cost, but son assured us that his business is doing well and told ME not to fret - so I didn't!!!
Yes we're out on Sunday too Frank! As you say, giddy old us!!
Miserable old morning here, and quite chilly; even Cass is curled up in her bed! Frank, I think we all have times when our 'get up and go' just doesn't function that well! I also think we can all allow ourselves days when the 'duck weed' has to take a back seat!!!
Not sure what we're up to, but it won't be much!

Morning All

Don't worry,I am fine, but with my fingers like they are at he moment I am staying off the laptop as I am sure all this typing doesn't help them.

What smashing meal out last night Liz. Sounds like you and OH had a great treat, and a birthday cake too :-D :-D

I am going now but will look in again later :-D.. Hope your botty isn't too sore today Frank after your injection :-)

Morning all,

Wet wet wet here today and extremly dull with it. Oh turned the heating on by mistake this morning instead of the hot water so the place is baking.

Glad we have heard from Jane and I said I thought it could be the fingers keeping her off and it sounds like I was right. It must be so annoying not being able to use your fingers and when you do having such pain.

I wish I had'nt done all my ironing yesterday now as I could have gone and done something in the garden while it was dry but you have to do these jobs when you feel like it or they don't get done.

Yes Frank hope you can sit ok after your injection.

My cursor keeps disappearing this morning and what I type is'nt comiing out so I think I will look in later.

Yes Jane, Sore bum,it tends to ache for a few hours while it settles down. She is very good, and as gentle as she can be, changes cheeks every month. next month she's on holiday so have a different nurse. Sorry your figures are still playing up. Did the doctor give you any indication how long this will go on.

Sorry Liz, I thought it was tonight you were going out with your son. That was very nice to have a cake for Ian. I bet they didn't put all his candles on it. LOL LOL.

That wind is enough to blow you away. It was against me on the way to the doctors, and blew me home coming back.

Frank, it was just one biggish sparkling candle so his actual age is still a secret! Any references to it were skimmed over!!!
It's got really chilly here. I've just been playing with Cas in the garden and I'm really glad to get back indoors! We may well light the fire later just to take the chill off.
Oh dear Jane, I am so sorry that your hands are so painful; It must be getting you down dreadfully. As you said, they may well be worse before they're better. Let's hope you turn the corner VERY soon !
I'm going to have a quick look at some items on Amazon, and give talking books the once over.

Afternoon all

Very windy here, OH and I have just had to rescue one of our large 9 foot red robins from toppling over, we have put a big rock next to the pot so hopefully it'll stay put now. OH also gave it a good watering to weight it down, along with the other 9 foot red robin we have on the other end of the border.

I managed to re-pot the plant I was going to do yesterday, this morning and OH has cleaned three windows at the back, but it threatened rain so he's left the rest of them for now.

Pleased to see you back Jane, sorry to hear your hands are still playing you up, hope they get better soon.

It sounds like you had a lovely meal last night Liz, one candle is enough, I wouldn't want my age given away in public either.

Hope your cursor plays nicely later for you Mel. I'm going to take a look on Ancestry later as I have to wait a while for the conditioner on my hair to work before it can be rinsed off, so it'll give me something to fill the time.

I've coloured my hair so I'd better go and rinse it off now. It's a medium brown Frank, although I'm thinking of going a shade or two lighter soon.

iT HAS JUST STOPPED RAINING i THINK. iT HAS BEEN CHUCKING IT DOWN ALL MORNING AND THE PIPE FROM THE GUTTER GOES INTO OUR TANK (sorry did'nt mean to shout) so the water would'nt go away in the little loo basin. I must check and make sure its gone now and put some bleach down it.

Done it and it has gone.

The chickens were'nt impressed by al the wet stuff around this morning in fact two would'nt come out of the house and up to the shelter to have their food.

O Liz when was Ian's birthday so we can wish him regards etc.

Pam, Denis, and Tracy next door have been in for the passed hour. Pam and Denis are going away from Monday to Friday to visit relatives around Bournemouth, Kent, and lLondon. Tracy being Special Needs will be left at home. I say S.N. but she can drive and has a little job at a Vets on Thursday afternoon. She shouts rather than speaks So I don't know what she has really.

It's warmed up here, but that blooming wind is blowing like made.

I have decided to take Ros to out little eatery a bit later. It will save me cooking, and she can be back in time for her SOAPS. !!! I can sit in the conservatory and read my book while they are on. Great life AIN'T IT LOL LOL ;-) ;-) ;-)