General Chat

Irs called Strike - the cuckoo' calling and it on again tomorrow. Its a three part series.
Also Victoria is on again tonight.

Just missed the start of the programme :-S Was chatting to my sister on the phone so will have to see it on catchup tomorrow.
Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow . I remember when the children were young we would be off out somewhere ,but now it is nice to just have a peaceful time at home without all the crowds. :-D

Hope all the Dogs have a great time tomorrow at the Dog Show :-D

I have been looking all afternoon for the biggest black spider that I saw this morning running across the lounge. Just found it in Thomas's blanket!!!!!!. I mananged to scoop it up and shake it out the door :-D :-D. It was huge. :-S :-S If it had been hairy it would have looked like a Tarantula !! . I found another one like it last night too. I would prefer to keep finding the Harvester Spiders rather than these big B******.

Time for bed now as Zebedi (sp?) would say on The Magic Roundabout :-D

I had one in the bath so I chased it down the plughole and put the plug. Thought thats sorted till I wash it through with some water from the bath. Forgot and when I went in there the next day it was in the bath again. It must have come through the overflow!! so it went in the duster and out the front door.

I missed the begining of that program too as oh was watching something on another side on Now TV so I am going to watch it tomorrow too.

Morning all,

Another nice day with wispy white clouds across the sky like candyfloss floating in the air.

Well todays the big day down here in deepest north Devon for our local annual Dog Show. I shall have to wander up with my camera later and first I have to take the raffle prize up, a nice bottle of Hardys Crest Chardonnay.

Lots to do so see you later.

Good morning my little "HONEY BEES", Evening Kim,

I was thinking of our Shirl. this morning. Is she in Scotland still or has she gone home to Canada. ??

I hope there are plenty of water bowls around today Mel, those poor dogs will be so thirsty in this heat. Hope it all goes well and you enjoy walking round there.

I have just taken a tumble on the lawn. Roa has done a coloureds wash, and I went to put the line up, being me I tripped on the way down the lawn. No damage just gave me a shake up. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Jane those Tesco vouchers have to be exchanged on line to CHEF AND BREWER vouchers. I didn't know that, so had to pay full price on my card. At least I will know now, for the next time.

We watched Victoria and I went to bed. I was asleep in no time, didn't feel Ros come to bed. She said she was early as she felt tired also. Not sure what she called early . ;-) ;-) ;-)

Lovely morning here, plenty of blue sky, with a comfortable breeze. I had the fan on in the lounge this morning, with doors and windows open too.

No plans on doing anything today. Let the silly beggars have the roads to themselves. I will be content to sit outside and read, while Ros potters about the garden.

The Apple tree has given us so much fruit this year. Large clean apples with no maggots in them. Will have to start stewing them down for apple sauce for the winter. and apple pies.

I assume you are all well, and that Gill is still at her mothers./MILs I hope everything is good with them.

All showered and shaved. Shorts on, to face the day.

Been up and given them the raffle prize and was complemented on how the grass looked. Oh has been working on it all week as its been growing like stink with all the rain we had. No stall in the hall this year just the raffle and some things for the church.

I really need to have a drink now and a slice of bread and marmy jam so I can take my pills.

Afternoon All,

It's scorching here and OH has gone off to a match at Leamington Spa. Sooner him than me in this heat.....well sooner him than me anyway!! lol.

Its funny how all the men seem to like whitebait but not us ladies! I don't like the eyes peeping out or the oiliness, but what really puts me off is the fact they aren't gutted are they so you are eating what's in the entrails!!!! Yuk. :-S

Gareth must be really fit to have done that cycle ride and then the run the next morning Jane. My school friend's hubby used to think nothing of cycling to Stratford on Avon and back from here on a Sunday afternoon. He never learned to drive and cycled everywhere.

While we were watching the new Strike drama last night OH trotted out to his bookcase and returned with the book!! Just like him to be one step ahead. I wasn't too sure at first but was warming to it by the end of the episode.

We had our poached eggs on toast and read our papers at our nearby local this morning and there was hardly anyone there. We called at the village church on the way back as OH has never been in that churchyard. A few years ago I think I mentioned that I had been intrigued by a carved cross that looked like tree logs at one grave and had researched and discovered it was the grave of a quarry man who was born in Cornwall. I'd wondered if he'd shaped his own headstone! Today we saw it had been snapped off, a fresh break across the pink granite and was lying on the ground. What a shame after standing over 150 years without coming to any harm. Too many have no respect for anyone or anything.

Yesterday it was packed at the village with the scarecrow festival with cars parked both sides of the road. I saw quite a few scarecrows, there were a lot at the church, but nowhere to stop and park nearby so I carried on and found some things to photograph instead.

Frank, belated Happy Birthday to Harvey! You have reminded me how MIL would ring VERY early with good wishes on our birthdays, Anniversary, Xmas, Easter etc. We were always leaping half asleep from bed to rush to get to the phone!! She assumed everyone lived their lives as she did and were up by 7.30am. :-S It was a shame about your vouchers but at least you know what to do for another time. We used to use our Mail vouchers for the Vue cinema, but now you have to book through their site and can't choose your seats so we don't bother.

I've just spent ages trying to book my car for it's service on line. I had to go out to the car twice as I needed to check the date of the last service and then it asked for the mileage. I got almost to the end after putting the date I wanted and there was nowhere to put the £25 discount coupon number that they'd emailed me and that you have to give when you book the car in, whether booking online or ringing!!!! So now I'll have to ring them tomorrow instead. Why is it when you try to do something a more convenient way, it never seems to work as it should and you spend twice as long doing it in the end? It's like those self service machines in W H Smith.

It's good your OH's hard work getting the grass nice was appreciated Mel. I bet there are a lot of lolling tongues today with the heat. Is it a fun Dog Show or a show with all the breed classes etc? Your cake you had yesterday sounded like 2 to me!! lol.

Afternoon all,

What a heat wave. :-0 :-0 :-0 I stayed in the lounge with the fan on, ro hot for me out there. Roa has been pottering around all day. I made her come in at 3.30 pm as it was getting to hot to be out there.

Hope the dog show went off alright Mel. It was nice of them to remark on OH hard work on the grass.

I got the washing in and folded it up in the basket, and noticed how the lawn had grown, I only did it last Thursday. So that might be a job in the morning.

Pork chops with stuffing, potato's from the garden,Broad beans, Runner from the garden, Peas and carrots and a bit of sweetheart cabbage I got the apple sauce out of the freezer erlier.

Show went off ok and there were a nice lot of dogs there. Seats all under the shade of our big fir tree and the hawthorn, ring all in the sun. I took a few pics. The friends twins were there they are identical boys Percy and Sydney. One of them has a little dent in his ear and thats Percy and how they tell them apart.

Its been a real scorcher here with not a lot of breeze but at least a little. We had burgers and a hot dog for lunch so I did'nt have to get anything.

It really is a heatwave isn't it !!!!! But so humid too. The sweat is running down the sides of my face :-S :-S. I have just blanched a ton of Runners and cut a load of strips of Beef for a Stroganoff tonight. I thought I would just cooloff a bit here with the fan on the table about 6 inches from me :-D :-D. It does feel good. Poor old Thomas is just flopping in various places .I don't think he has been further than the patio today !!!. He didn't even go straight out this morning and it must have been about 8.30 when he eventually did. I hope it is just the heat and nothing else as he is off to the Cattery on Thursday.

So you still have your vouchers then Frank :-D :-D. Another day another meal :-D
Shril still must have another week in Scotland. I did see a pic on FB of her at the wedding :-D :-D. I bet she having a really great time but will probably be really tired out by the time she goes back to Canada.

What a pity about that lovely headstone Ann. Do you think it had been vandalised?
I think it so sad when you see things like that.
I have only once been to a village with a Scarecrow Festival. It just seems to be a lovely good old English tradition .Long may it continue :-D

I often find it is much easier ringing a company or whatever rather than trying to do it on line.I find it much less stressful and quicker . Your OH will have been hot at the footie today !
As for the Dog Show they must have been hot too. OH sounds like he did a grand job with the grass Mel :-D,and nice of people to comment on it.

Another tumble Frank !!. At least it was just on the grass and not into the Greenhouse again :-D :-D. No harm done :-D

I watched Strike this morning and like you Ann wasn't too sure about it at first . But will stick with it. Fancy OH having the book :-D

I need to find my lipsalve as this fan has dried my lips .My eyes too.The lipsalve will probably be melting in this heat LOL.

Missed your post just before mine Mel. I see the Dog show went well :-D.here will lots of hot tired pooches tonight :-D At least you have had a little breeze. I wish we had had one.It really has been stifling .I bet tonight could be a bit of an uncomfortable one.
It was really misty this morning about 6.30 when I got up to get a cup of tea. It looked really pretty hanging over the Horses field opposite.

I think next door has a BBQ going .I can smell it :-D

I have tried to send pics buit they won't attach. I sent one to Jane and that was alright but I can't remember which one it was now. It may have been hust the field.

Whats going on?

Got them all Mel ! :-) Looked a great day for everyone and their dogs. Grass looks really good due to OH 's mowing

I got them all too Mel. The grass does look good and they all seem to be enjoying themselves. That is a nice big fir tree with lovely shade under it.

Just picked some runners and watered the wall pots while OH is watering the front garden. He's doing the back garden early in the morning as he's worn out. His arms have gone so brown standing at the match this afternoon, you can really tell where his watch has been. I never ever saw him with tanned arms till he retired as he always wore jackets at work.

I went to a garden centre this afternoon, one of the bigger ones that has a clothes outlet and big farm shop. Like most, the garden centre part gets smaller as the other kinds of shopping and restaurant get bigger!! On the way, just the other side of an island, a van to my right had to swerve into my lane as a group of youths with bikes were waiting to cross from the central reservation and the front youth (engrossed in his mobile phone) had his wheel pushed right into the road. The van driver pipped him and all the youth did was stick his fingers up at him!!! He hadn't a clue what he'd caused. :-S Then at the garden centre I dutifully pulled up at the zebra crossing they have, as parents with a couple of small children were standing on it partly in the road and talking to each other. I waited and waited for them to cross, then the penny seemed to drop with the mother, who sheepishly stepped back onto the pavement with her brood and waved me on. I must admit I rolled my eyes as I pulled away. Why on earth stand at a crossing and on the road when you don't intend to cross???

Have you been watching Top of THe Lake China Girl Jane? I took a while to get into that, but have just one more episode to watch I think.

Morning all,

No sunshine here today but grey sky but it is still warm.

Back to the normal routine today, shopping to fill the fridge for the week, washing and ironing. Is a woman's work never done?

I was really tired out last night with all the walking around I did and the chatting to everyone. Its surprising what it takes out of you.

I must just say I am really enjoying Normal for Norfolk. He's such a card and he seems to have so much energy and so many ideas. Mandy have you ever been there??

Good morning to you all, Evening Kim,

Who's a silly boy then ?? Lat night after cooking and washing up, I dried the knifes and forks and other bits I had used. One being a fish slice to get the chops out of the dish. While drying it the flat part came away from the handle. So out came the SUPER GLUE. I squirted some into the handle and got it over my hand and fingers. There was I GLUED to the fish slice. I had to get a Stanley blade to cut myself free. Luckily I never broke the skin.

Just another thing crossed my mind this morning WHY do we say "Backwards and forwards" and not the other way round ???

I will look for the photo's later Mel, and let you know if they didn't come through.

Have just picked masses of Runners. I have given bunches to three neighbours, and there will be more tomorrow no doubt. I have filled a section of the steamer full of them for tonights dinner. Broad beans, carrots, peas,and cabbage again. I will get a piece of lamb out of the freezer.

Jan phonesdthis morning. Conrad went back to Spain Sunday morning at 6.00 am. Jan is flying out this afternoon for a week. She gets so bored out there while he is at work.

Madam is out with Carolyn, We don't need any shopping, food wise, But I bet that won't stop her coming home with something. !!

A lot cooler this morning, even so, I am still very hot in just shorts. I think there is a chance of showers later this afternoon. I bet Jane is in front of her big FAN.

I trust you are all well, and will hear from you sometime later.Have a nice day. xx

No photo's came through Mel, Can someone send them on please xx

I will try again Frank.

Good morning all

Still very hot here so I hope it cools down this evening, like Jane I have the fans on and keep one on in the bed room at night.

They were good photos of the dog show Mel, such a large field for your OH to mow.

It's all quiet here now but the girls and Paul have been over for dinner at the weekend and Richard is back at work he is so tanned with working outside all the time.

Abbie seems to have settled well into her little flat it will only been temporary because as soon as she gets a permanent job and is earning a good wage she will have to pay £800 pounds a month rent and get no help towards her household bills which is only fair but I doubt whether her first pay day will cover this, she will be able to work part time but that's all right in the short term.

Becky is totally fed up with her step father's constant use of the C word, she is now beginning to understand what Abbie had to put up with and has already spent a couple of nights at her cousins.

I have just hooked out a small screw from Ruby's mouth she has been out in the garden so I don't know where it came from,