General Chat

I'm the same as you Liz with there being nothing on TV tonight, I'm watching my recordings off the planner. I've just watched a programme on Diana and now I'm watching a programme on Patrick Swayze. I thought I'd catch up on the things I like while I'm sitting here on my own.

The factory shop is called Tofs and does sell a bit of everything. In fact I must get some pillows next time I go. They have all kinds, memory ones, ones to keep you cool :-), ones to support your neck!! OH used to get most of his shirts at M&S, but has bought no end of check ones from this shop at about £6 each which is about a third of the M&S price. They are fine for everyday pottering about and iron up nicely as well. Nice little mule slippers are only £5 a pair and they sell Sketchers with memory soles at discount. They give you a scratch card each time you buy something and if you get 3 smiley faces, you get either a gift or an extra % discount on your next purchase. They have a website which shows where all their 200 shops are, but it doesn't show any of the clothes they sell. I expect it would need constant updating for those. I'm glad I had a look online as I see there is one at Redruth near where we stay in Cornwall. :-)

The art exhibition was free to go in, just a voluntary donation if you wished. As well as the paintings which were interesting, there were other crafts in the next room and included felted pictures and animals, mosaic work, some fabulous pottery that was very cheap and included wallpots with faces on them!! lol. Also a lovely upside down mushroom that was a birdbath. A lady came up to me and started telling me about the lovely carved items on another table. She said a man in his 80s did them. There were some lovely birds, a Kestrel and Wren and Goldfinch. Also some lovely carved spoons. One had a carved Swallow as the top of the handle and the middle of the handle looked like a woven trellis, all carved from one piece of wood, really pretty. The woman said she had visited his house once and that he lived in a pretty cottage that was full of interesting things.

That's good some of your joggers have surfaced Mel, just one pair to go now!

Thank you Gill, did I send you the painting of the tin mine? I might have left you out by mistake. You should have a go at painting. It's what happened with me when a friend who used to be on the thread kept telling me to try. I'd never painted anything very well at school and gave up art to do sciences after the first year at senior school and had never painted anything since, except the house of course!! I used to enjoy soaking weary muscles in the bath, but struggle to get out now and get too hot! OH loves his bath and has a cup of herbal tea and takes his battery radio in with him. For years on Christmas morning, once the turkey was in the oven, we'd be in the bath with lit candles and a glass of wine each. Now it's mainly the shower and we use the one over the bath to save all the cleaning of the shower cubicle glass. I can also put the plug in the bath to give my feet a soak while I shower.

James is going to be ready for a rest after all that Jane! I take it Jess got the results she wanted and it's good she has a place to do her Phd. What will she be studying? I remember she was interested in human origins I think. Good idea to make sure the new shoes are well run in, there always seems to be quite a bit of standing about at occasions like weddings. It's good that Janice and Larry will be having a fortnight's break.....a proper rest as you say. We went to Annecy a few years ago and I liked the quaintness of the old part.

I see Cas has been trying her best at persuasion! lol.

I bet Anne has been catching up with her brother's travels and itinery. He leads an interesting life.

No Ann, it wasn't the tin mine, it was the one of the boots. When I first saw it I thought it was a photo until I enlarged it, it was so good.

I've tried painting in the past and just don't have the knack, I can draw if I'm copying something but things like cartoon characters, simple things like that, but when it comes to painting I just can't seem to get the shading right, so like you, I stick to painting the bungalow :-)

The factory shop sounds brilliant, I shall Google it to see if there is one near us.

The art exhibition place sounds good too, especially the wood carvings. We go to craft fairs occasionally and there is a man who does the same thing, he's very expensive though, but to be honest all the work that goes into his things is reflected in the price when you think how long it must take to make them.

Going to watch Big Brother with Sandra now then it's an early night for me, it must be all this fresh air I've been having lately, as I seem to be going to bed earlier and earlier since I started doing my garden. I must need the sleep.

See you all tomorrow
Night Night

Yes the factory shop in Holsworthy is a Tofs and you get a card and the scrat card. I had a free can of drink on mine and as I don't drink fizzy drinks I said can you give it to the next child that comes along with its mother and the girl said yes and another woman behind the counter said NO and took the card and tore it in half and threw it away so if you get a card and don't want it keep it to give to someone else when they don't see you.

I am now going to watch Gardeners World as I did'nt see it yesterday.

See you in the morning.

Morning all,

Grey skies today but the wind has dropped and its dry so I suppose thats a bonus.

I noticed on Gardeners World they had the same garden on there as Alan Titchmarsh visited whilst doing one of his Love Your Garden programs a few weeks ago. So now its been on two tv channels.

Cloudy here, but much warmer with a light wind. OH is mowing the edges of the big paddock and I'm playing with Cas and her wretched ring!! Slow cooker lunch today with the usual veg so pretty trouble free
Our second brood of swallows are flying around with their parents. At night the four babies are in the nest and the two parents are on a beam alongside!! I'll try and get a photo for Sandra Gill, the light is very poor, but you never know it might come out ok!
Here comes the sun! It's certainly VERY welcome!!

Afternoon Everyone

Ann ,it sounded like it was a very good exhibition yesterday.With quite a variety of things too. I haven't heard of a Tofs anywhere near here.But will have a look and see.
Mel I always think it is ridiculous when you can't pass a scratch card or even a coupon on to someone else in the shop. They are still spending their money there after all.

How lovely Liz to see the second lots of Baby Swallows. It was so sad when the first lot all died.

Well I have been to the new shopping place Rushden Lakes. I was going to wait until the schools go back but was just itching to see what it is like. The traffic queuing to get into the car parks backed right out onto a roundabout and dual carriage way. It was a bit crazy. But I eventually found a space right outside M&S which is where I wanted to go :-D Free Parking for 5 hours too !!!
I only went to M&S, and I bought a necklace and earrings which I am hoping I can wear to the wedding .They go perfectly with my clutch bag but haven't yet tried the dress on with them. I am not really a necklace wearer but thought I looked a bit bare are the neck line of the dress. I will see later. It is quite a big M&S although not as big as the one in MIlton Keynes. I was a bit disappointed in the food hall as I thought there would have been so much more. I did get some dishes that I haven't seen in our local M&S so was quite pleased about that. There is a good Bakery section but not a Deli which I what I was really hoping for. I got a nice loaf (which Chris and James were waiting for LOL ) for their lunch. So I shall go back again but not on a Sunday !.

I think it is getting a bit humid here now and i think I heard it will become more humid in the week. Fans out :-D :-D... My ears have gone a bit strange .Maybe a shift in the atmosphere.

It wasn't our swallows that died Jane, I think it was Mel, but I could be wrong! Ours have brought off two broods and they're all thriving! The first three are roosting in the hay barn on their own as they're quite big now!
Just done a load of weeding out at the back, it has been really neglected and in desperate need of some attention! Another session should do the trick!
We're both sitting with a glass of wine before veg prep!!

Yes it was my swallows that died the day we went out. We still don't know what happened to them.

Afternoon All,

The pic of the baby Swallows with their mouths open wide that was sent a while ago was so sweet!

Well Jane I was about to tell you that there is a Tof's shop at RUSHDEN but I see you have already been there! lol. It sounds like it is still a bit chaotic there at the new retail park with all the new visitors but at least you have got your jewellery for the wedding sorted which is good. That was a bit mean spirited not letting you give your card to another shopper Mel. As you say, doing it in secret will get round it. The 1 prize I got was an extra 10% off my next shop which was good. We have noticed the big garden centre group here have started to insist that they will only allow you to use the discount coupons they send with the loyalty card with the same name. It's silly too as I just take OH's card with me to use for the coupons he gets and gives to me.

OH met a footie fan he knew from about 30 years ago at the Grimsby match he went to yesterday and he gave him a lift back. He told me that he is aged 79, doesn't drive and is very fit and goes to the gym most weekdays. He and his wife who is 23 years his junior travel all around the world on cruises. Sometimes I feel life is passing me by!! :-S

I recorded the Fossil programme last night as I like that sort of thing! I think I would like to have been a Paleontologist, studying Dinosaur bones in Patagonia!! lol.

Another lovely field is being dug up down the main road for the new Everard's Brewery HQ, shop and restaurant which is being built on the opposite corner to where they are now. Their old place was kept immaculately tidy outside and had huge lawns down the side that were planted with hundreds of Daffodils I loved to see in the Spring. They are going to extend the retail park onto their old site with more stores, parking and a restaurant.

What channel was the Fossil programme on Ann? I think I woud like that.
I will have a look at Rushden Tofs. Rushden is not somwhere I would normally go to to shop. The retail park is quite a way from actual Rushden .
What a shame the field is going to be dug up and then no more lovely Daffs to see. It just seems at the moment everywhere is being changed and we are losing so much lovely countryside :-( :-( I can't believe the change in our area in just a short space of time (and that is without what will happen around us)
Go on Ann,,do a cruise :-D :-D. There is nothing stopping you unless you really don't fancy going on one. I think you wouls enjoy the cruise Chris and I did for our Silver Wedding. We went with P&O on a fairly small cruise ship (no children) to the Norweigan Fjords . The scenery was just spectacular (lots of ideas for painting) :-D :-D.I would love to do the same cruise again but Chris is not the cruising type :-S.I don't think I would ever get him on another cruise. I would actually be quite happy to do it again on my own.

Just starting to rain here now. (first time today)

Been raining here too so I am glad I did the chickens yesterday.

I was so fed up this afternoon that I made scones and we have just had a couple with something to drink. They went down a treat with clotted cream and strawberry jam.mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Its so gloomy sitting here I have had to turne the light on.

Oh would'nt go on a cruise either Jane.

That was a chance of Gordon meeting someone he knew from 30 years ago. Still remembered each other too so they could'nt really have changed that much.

Shame if they dig all the daffs up and I bet they will just dump them when they start building.

Evening all,

It's been quite a nice day today ,family came this morning and wore Max out ,he chased round and round the garden with them and went fast asleep after they went home ,so he hasn't had a walk yet today so we'll take him later .

Ann i meant to say what a lovely little painting of the walking boots ,very nice .

Little Cas is watching her dad busy at work i see and wondering when play time is ,is she like Max , he dumps his ball down when your trying to do some thing barks and wants to play .

I meant to say the Amazing Spaces Shed of the year programme is on tonight at seven on channel four.

Jane the necklace and ear rings look a very good match with the bag ,i hope we're going to see a photo of you all dressed up in your finery .
Yes get those shoes on to wear them in a bit nothing worse than shoes rubbing and making your toes or heels sore .

I picked a whole load of runners yesterday so i've made some Runner Bean Pickle this afternoon ,son loves it so he'll be pleased .
Tomatoes have been a wash out this year but the cucumbers have taken over the green house it looks just like a jungle in there .

Our toms are okish!! We get some most days, nothing like we had last year, but enough for our needs
You can find some fascinating progs Ann, particularly on Sky . We watched one the other evening about the crossrail development and all the skulls that have been resurrected, who they were, where they came from etc - incredibly interesting.
We're watching the new series of fake or fortune, which is a brilliant prog, and Cas has come up for a cuddle!

Evening all

Been in the garden all day putting the pot plants into the new border, the border is about 40 foot long which is why it's taken us so long, but it does look nice, I've also added the extra solar lights I bought too. I still have to sort out a few more plants to fill the border but that's a job for another day. I've now got to finish the screening off at the bottom of the garden now the plants have been moved out of the way.

Thanks for the offer of the photo Liz, I won't tell Sandra just in case you can't take it with the light not being very good.

Thanks for letting us know about the shed programme Mandy, I've recorded it on channel 4+1 as I'd missed the beginning of it on channel 4.

Did anyone watch the first series of Victoria? If you did then the second series starts on ITV next Sunday at 9.05pm, I've just popped it on my planner.

I love the necklace and earrings Jane, they go well with your bag. I'd love to see a photo of the whole outfit please. Yes, I'd wear your new shoes in, you don't want sore feet on the big day.

Your scones sound nice Mel, I bet you enjoyed them with the jam and cream.

Just watching Long lost family with OH, so I'd better get back to it before I lose track of what's going on.

I'm HOME. We went out for lunch 1.00 pm. Dropped Jan back home and set off 2.45 pm We had rain all the way home, and it's still raining now. Conrad set off back to Devon around 8,30 pm so should be home around midnight. We told him to give us a ring to let us know he's home safe and sound.

Needless to say I haven't read the posts, and will give you the stories tomorrow.

Good night all xx

Welcome home Frank, it's nice to have you back with us, you've been missed.

Looking forward to hearing all the stories tomorrow. :-)

Jerry Lewis has died.

O good our Franky boy is home. We have missed you Frank.

Just love the necklace and earings Jane and you were lucky to get such a good match. Did you take the bag with you when you went to chose some? Yes we want to see a pic of you in all your finery dressed up to the nines. ( I wonder where that saying came from?)

Gill your getting there with the garden. Which way does your border face now?

We now have that misty rain that blows in the wind like clouds and gets everywhere. Its been a horrid day all day, so dull and dreary.

Just watched Far from the madding crowd and now I am going to watch Fake or Fortune on catch up.

I already had a border Mel down one side of my garden opposite my kitchen window and another one near the bottom of the garden along from the first one, in between them was a hedge, so we've taken the hedge away and replaced it with screening and then joined the two borders up so they go all along the left hand side of our garden, it's almost 80 foot long in total and goes from south the north, we have come out a bit near the end which makes the border go from west to east in a curve, it looks really good.

We still need to add a few more plants where it curves as we ran out of suitable plants of our own, so I'm going to go winter plant shopping in a few months so I have something interesting to look at through the winter. The only problem is I don't have a clue what type of interesting winter plants are out there. I like evergreens but also flowers, so I'll have to take a look around and see what I can find.

Off to bed now, as I've been up since 7am and I'm tired now.
See you all tomorrow
Night Night