General Chat

Miss your post Mel, Yes it could be my sister drifts off into her own little world. From what my Nephew said she needs to put a bit more effort into her life.

Afternoon all

Not a bad day here, a bit of a breeze but the sun is out. I didn't hear a thing last night, probably because I was so tired and nothing was disturbed this morning, so it doesn't look like we got the high winds they were talking about on the weather. Mind you having said that I think the wind is picking up a bit now so maybe we'll get it during today instead.

I'm pleased to say my screening is still up Mel, I was worried about that too. It sounds like you've had it bad in the night with all those leaves everywhere. Hope it's all calmed down a bit now.

Pleased to hear you are less worried about your sister now Frank. It sounds like she might be a bit confused or maybe a bit lonely, at least your mind is more settled about her now, which s a good thing.

Our car failed it's MOT yesterday on the middle exhaust and the emissions. OH has got the exhaust part and is on his way to my mum's to fit it in her garage where it's a bit warmer and less windy, he also cleaned a filter which will help with the emissions and tomorrow we're going to take the car for a good run as that will help with the emissions too. Once all that's done he can just pop back to the garage and they will do a re-test. It cost us less than £24 to sort out so not bad. OH would like to change his car again as this one is a bit to small and only a three door which Sandra has difficulty getting into with sitting in the back, so we'll be car shopping soon. OH said having a 12 month MOT on this car will give us a bit more on a trade in for the new car. Not sure what type of car he wants yet, Sandra said she doesn't mind so long as it isn't green.....bless her, she doesn't like green and that is the colour of the car we have now.

I've planted up some twisted willow today that I've had sat in water for about a month, I noticed they had finally got roots on them, so that job's out of the way. One of the cuttings (which our neighbour gave us) only had a small root on it so that has been left in the bucket of water until the root is a bit bigger then I'll pot that one up too. I have some salvia cuttings on my kitchen window sill so they need potting up now and also a couple of Fuchsia cuttings that need doing too. So that'll keep me busy for a while.

Well, I never potted up my cuttings off the kitchen window sill in the end as it's started raining and is really windy. Putting the small plants outside today may of damaged them, so I'm going to wait until the weather is a bit calmer. I could of popped them in the greenhouse to protect them but the salvia's smell horrible, a bit like cat wee, so I didn't fancy that. So Sandra and I are going to grab a bite to eat and settle down in front of the TV while OH is sorting out the car.

I hope the weather is a bit better tomorrow as we need to take the car for a run. I thought I'd nip to a few garden centre's as I need a couple of large pots which I can't seem to find around here, unless I want to take out a loan for them LOL :-D :-D I could only get one pot for half price yesterday and I need at least another three.

Sun out now after a very heavy downpour.

I'm pleased you had no damage on the screening Gill. I was thinking about it when I was watching the trees blowoing last night.

Its time for lunch and to watch Doctors but we had toast a little while ago and I am not hungry now! I bet oh will be though so I better get my behind into gear and get him something. I have some nice luxury orkney crab terrine with lemon juice and mustard which should keep him quiet. Frank tell Ros I got it in Morrisons by the pate' shelf.

Afternoon all,

Very windy here first thing but it seems to be easing a bit now , the garden brolly had gone over and i lost a big piece off my red begonia, it's bin day and i noticed a neighbours bin had blown over but luckly the rubbish was all bagged up so it didn't get blown all over the road.

Glad your screening is standing up to the wind Gill after all your hard work putting it up.
So not to much to have to pay out on your car's MOT ,you always wonder what will need doing each year when it goes in .

Your poor sister Frank but after talking to your nephew it must have put your mind at rest a little .
I should think it's all that climbing the steps and taking that tumble thats causing your pain ,you can soon pull muscles you didn't know you had ,i hope it eases before you go off to Devon so you can enjoy your time away.

Not a lot happening here ,the suns pouring through the conservatory window and making me feel quite drousy so I'd better get up and do something before i nod off.

If I am not around a lot you'll know I am having trouble getting on here again. I keep getting the Error page or the Genes notice with Customer Support on it in green and have to click on that and then wait ages and if it works I get the home page and have to click on General Chat and get in this way.

I pleased nobody else had any serious damage from the winds last night.

Poor begonia Mandy. My small one on the decking blew over an d I thought it was safe there.

Afternoon All,

Sunny here after a short sharp shower about an hour ago. Two lots of washing put out and dried this morning, despite it being a bit breezy. I think we had most of the wind in the night as I had to pull the bedroom window down a bit to stop the doors rattling. Mandy seems to have had it quite bad and Begonias tend to snap more easily being so fleshy. It is a shame when a big bit breaks off though.

More beans picked this morning and I shall just freeze those. I've cut OH's hair as he starts his school meetings again tonight. Then I need to carry on with some HW. :-S I got things wrong and my hair trim is tomorrow not today.

Frank I expect it was that 'jolt' you had that's causing you problems. I know where you are coming from with the longer car journeys as I find it harder now, sometimes I can hardly stand up to get out! lol. I try push the seat back sometimes so I can straighten my knees for a while as it helps. It seems ok when I drive though. I'm glad your nephew was able to give a bit of reassurance about your sister. Sometimes things aren't quite what they seem are they.

You have done well with your bargains Gill and I'm glad your fence stayed up in the wind. I have never had a green, black or blue car! I seem to have had quite a few reds, a couple of whites and a couple of silvers. :-) I think it's a good idea to get the MOT sorted before selling your car. It will help as you say.

Back to the HW now. :-S

Afternoon Everyone

It looks like Mel had the worst of the wind last night. The Hog had the right idea heading for shelter after his food :-D.
We did hear the wind in the night hear the wind but everything is fine ,nothing blown over or down so we got away lightly.It is still very blustery but it has been sunny for most of the day. I don't know where Thomas is .He went off about 8 this morning .Hopefully just asleep somewhere with a full tummy.

Frank, it could be your kidney stones causing the pain .I think you had ther same thing before didn't you?It could be a stone had moved and got stuck.

Gill, what a shame the car failed the MOT. Hopefully now OH has got the parts it will pass with flying colours and you will be able to sell it on and then get a slightly bigger car. I find it so difficult getting in and out of a 3 door car.Getting in easier than getting out !!. and it is so unladylike LOL. Is Sandra quite a tall girl?.

I watched the second episode of Dr Foster and am loving it.I also watched Rellik(sp?)
that looks likeit is going to be a good one too. I just love these kind of programmes.

It is Jess's birthday today and it seems like they are having a lovely day in the New Forest with the Ponies. She will be in her element :-D.. I just hope she remembers that they are all wild animals and doesn't try to get too friendly with them.
The cottage that they are in is very old built in 1700.I expect they will be going somewhere for a Birthday meal tonight.
Hannah had a parcel sent to us .It is a present for Gareth for his birthday next month.It is a drawing of ' Stan ' the Bull. It is his Dad's Bull and part of the family ! I think Gareth is going to love it :-D

Chris is whistling for Thomas(he can't whistle for peanuts LOL ) I do a great whistle but it gets all the dogs barking at neighbours !!

Fitz is coming for lunch tomorrow. Chris is out for lunch. I am just doing soup , but have made a tart too with Mushrooms,Yellow and Red Peppers,Tomatoes, Pancetta,and Asparagus.Melted grated Mozzarella and Emmental Cheese on top. I have to say it looks pretty darned good :-D. But have yet to taste it. So I won't be cooking tomorrow night. We have Tesco Finest Lamb Shanks tonight with New Potatoes, Sprouts and Kale .There are Carrots and Parsnips in the foil dish under the Shanks in a Rosemary Gravy. I just hope that Chris isn't too hungry yet as I was a bit of a piggy at lunch time and had a fried egg on toast and am nowhere near ready for dinner. The Shanks do take an hour to cook so I will probably put them in about 6.

I don't know if I said but Hannah is going to Valencia on Friday to see her friend Sarah who is living there now.I think their other friend Caroline might be going too .So a few girly days ! Valencia is somewhere I would love to visit. But not when it is too hot.

Afternoon all,

So you are still busy with your planting Gill. The trouble is once you get started, you don't know when to stop.

Went down to pick more beans this morning, but after the bagful last week there are enough for a meal, so I have left them for another day or two. It might be there will be enough to take to Devon on Sunday.

Lets hope the wind and rain clear for tomorrow Ann. You will be able to get your hair done without any worry. ;-) ;-)

I will get Ros to look out for that CRAB thanks Mel, the trouble is I could eat it till the cows come home. Jan said that Paignton was only 12 degrees yesterday. But Conrad said it was above 30 in Spain.

Roa put a line of washing out this afternoon, within 15 minutes it was pouring of rain, so in it came and on the dryer in the conservatory. It gets so hot out there in any sunshine.

Minted lamb chops/ribs tonight with Jacket and coleslaw with a bit of cheese in the Jackets. Lovely.

We had Tony's gardener chap in to cut our front bush. It was over 7 ft high and is now down to about 4 ft. So a lot easier for Ros to cut when needed. He only charged £12.00 but I gave him £15.00 as he worked right through a very heavy shower and cleaned up all the cuttings, and left a nice clean job, well done.

The dinner should be about ready now, so will go and check. Hope everyone is well including Anne and Jane who I haven't seen on here today.

I got in here just before you Frank :-D

Frank, I have my hair done a couple of miles away at a salon in a gym opposite Santander's head offices and it is quite high up and very exposed so it is usually windy there!! Ros wasn't as lucky as me with her washing and the rain then. ;-) That's good you got the bush cut back and it's nice to reward someone who does a proper job including cleaning up properly.

I watched the 2nd episode of Dr Foster too Jane and enjoyed it. I haven't seen the other prog you mentioned though, so will check it out. That was a good idea for a present for Gareth. Was it done from a photo? I hope Jess is having a nice birthday. 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS'. Fancy both your children's partners' birthdays being quite close together. I like the sound of the tart you have made for tomorrow's lunch.

That's a good idea for your OH to make a leather pouch for his chisels Mel. It will stop them rusting and from the edges getting damaged. You should have huffed and puffed at those big trees when the wind was blowing!! :-D

You've done well with all those cuttings Gill.....lots of free nice plants!! :-) I find it hard enough getting out of the front of my 2 door car!! lol It is more awkward getting from the back seats though and also more difficult to clean in the back when it needs it. Also Sandra has been used to a 4 door car.

SOAPS !!! At least there is Alan Titchmarsh on at 8.00. Then I WILL TURN OVER to watch Foyle's War at 9.00

More rain earlier and a bit of wind, but it's gone quiet here now. Even though it's almost dark at 7.45.

Jan is coming up to pick Alexander up then coming for us about 11.00 am Sunday. Provided he doesn't get upset being away from his Mum, we will come back on the Saturday. If he plays up we will come home earlier. So it's being played by ear.

It sounds like they are having a nice time in the New Forest. I must admit I have some warm memories of that area. I took my two children there Camping in the 60s, and a caravan towed by me in the 80s with Ros. Sid and Val came down in their cr for the weekend, one afternoon we drove to Chitester to see Ted and Frankie when they lived there.

Doctors tomorrow at 6.40 pm for my Testosterone injection. So a sore bum tomorrow night .

Well I am off to get a couple of beers and get settled down to the T.V. See you in the morning.

I went to corn the chickens late afternoon and walked round there in sunshine and just my cardi on. As I was seeing to Tatty the heavens opened and I got drowned. I popped her in the chicken house so she would'nt get wet and had to carry her. When I came in I had to go and change into dry clothes as it had gone right through my cardi and cotton top. Poor Tatty is not well and I think I am going to lose her. She is off her legs and I think she has dropsey. She is still eating and drinking but getting weaker by the day. I have been watching her for about two weeks now and feeding her nice bits and peices but no joy in the way of a recovery. She must be about 4 years old now and they are only bred for egg laying. She was always a favorite as she was so bald when I got her. Mandy kindly made her the chicen jumper if you remember.

Hope your tart is a success with lunch tomorrow Jane it sound lovely and I am sure Fitz will love that too. Don't drink too much or you won't get anything else done for the rest of the day.

I hav'nt been watching Doctor Foster as her miserable face puts me off. I am enjoying Victoria though as I love seeing all the beautiful dresses she wears adn the others ladies of course. Even the men look very dashing.

We had our favorite little sausage with new pots and sprouts tonight and onions. I had spent the late afternoon baking a sponge cake and made the butter icing from scratch and put it together with strawberry jam too. Oh had a huge slice after his dinner and then another bit to make sure it was ok he said. He also said it would'nt be as nice tomorrow.

Morning all,

No change in the weather here, sunshine and blue sky one minuet and then grey sky and heavy showers the next. I hope it gets a bit better by the time Frank comes down on Sunday or it will be a miserable stay.

Need to do some ironing today and some washing which will have to go in the dryer. I hate drying in the dryer as it never smells the same as when its been on the line outside.

Anyone doing anything exciting today?

Must get my tea down my neck and go and see how Tatty is.

It just keeps raining.........................

Morning Mel and all, evening Kim.

After Alan T last night I turned over to watch Foyle's war, but it had started at 8.00 pm so turned over again to BBC 2. Am I glad I did. A wonderful programme about the ANDES. If you can spare an hour it will be worth a look on catch up. I won't say anymore or else I'll spoil it for you.

We have blue sky's at the moment, which is good as Ros has changed the bed this morning, and the sheets etc can go on the line for a good blow.

Back still being a nuisance , aching on the top of my left hip.It had me awake during the night and I got up just before 6.00 am. I am having to use my stick to get around.

That's a good age for "TATTY" Mel. At least she's had a good life since being with you. When are you expecting your new ones ?? I'll have a bit of your sponge, if there's any left, which I doubt. LOL LOL.

Where's Chris off to today Jane. I hope your tart is as nice as it sounds. !!!

I am doing a chicken casserole tonight, with Mash, Swede, Sweetheart Cabbage, peas and carrots. I put Mushrooms, carrots and onions, tin of peeled tomato's and a chicken casserole mix with the bits and oxo's, so nice and tasty.

Jan wants us to compact of cloths down to one case, as she is taking Alexanders bike down for him to ride, plus all his other bits and pieces.As we are only going for a few days it shouldn't be a problem.

It's time I got my finger out and got showered and shaved. Roa has just started cleaning the inside windows. She has already put the washing out.

Afternoon All

Well my Tart was delicious :-D.I was well impressed and so was Fitz. There is a bit left over that Chris can have later.
Frank,Chris went for his monthly lunch out with Sue (ex work colleague).He was very supportive to her when she was going through a bad time with Breast Cancer and when her OH was arrested and sentenced for something which he will now be on the register for for 5 years. Won't go into any details.

Poor Tatty Mel. She doesn't sound good. How long do Hens normally live?

I bet one case will be enough for you and Ros. Mostly taken up by Ros's things LOL
We are just taking one small case to Suffolk and again it will be mostly my stuff
:-D. Extra things like coats etc can just be chucked in the boot.

Fitz was telling me about a place in France that his son's friend has bought and done up. His friend plays Rugby for France and must earn a blooming fortune . This house costs about £3.500 per week to rent !!!!!!!.
If you look up Vintage Travel , Blanche d'Armagnac you will see it !!! It looks beautiful.

Strange weather today. One minute lovely sunshine and then the next minute as Black as your hat and a sharp shower.Then sun again.So no washing out here . I would be in and out like a yoyo.

I did some late washing and put it out as we have a good wind today and its been billowing on the line. Should be dry enough to bring in now.

I have clean the big girls out this morning and now I have put Tatty back in a nice clean house on lots of wood shavings.

I also lost a bantam this week. Snowy the one who had a lot of white feathers round her head now she must have been about 10 0r 11. She was down here a couple of years before mum died and that was 7 years ago and I also had her when they were all up the top garden. She had a good innings bless her.