General Chat

Morning well afternoon all.
So much for the extra hour in bed this morning. I was all confused. My clock on the phone said 6.30 and the clock by the bed was 7.30.I thought it was 7.30 and Thomas was wanting out so I came down only to find it was 6.30 :-S.
There was no point in going back to bed so I had my big mug of tea and put the joint of Beef in to cook. Hung washing out that was still in the machine from yesterday ,then put my feet up and watched rubbish tv :-D

Frank Simon must have been mad having his boat scratched like that just after having it repainted.I suppose it is a common thing though with Canal Boats.Hopefully there is not too much damage to the paintwork. What meat are you having today? I never put oil around my joints. No cheese sauce,yorkshires !!!!! I am sure it is still going to be a really tasty meal. I have yorkshires but not my own today.James will not be impressed LOL. Tough is what I say.

Ann I am still having a giggle at the 'small' sign and your comment :-D :-D. That was a Cracker as some comedian used to say. What was his name. An Irish chap with black rimmed specs.

Have got the urge for sewing now Mel ? If it is not a very nice day down there in N Devon it might just be the ideal day to start :-D
We have bright sunshine at the moment but a bit hazy.. Warm too but I think it will get cold later so might light the woodburner this afternoon.

We have had 2 Buzzards flying fairly low over head all morning with the Crows giving chase like they do. We don't usually have the Buzzards.It is normally the Red Kites.

Mel I still haven't watched Gunpowder. I only saw a bit of the first episode when we were away last weekend and just haven't managed to catch up. I missed most of Strictly last night so am determined to see it this evening and have said dinner will be at 5pm :-D

I jhave just had to draw the curtains as the sun is so bright ! and it is showing all the dust :-S.

I hope your achey hips and legs ease up Frank ,your aches too Mel. I am just about to ask Chris to rub the Volatrol into my back and side. He does a great job :-DI am trying to use that and leave off some painkillers and see how that goes.Because I am sure the stronger tabs make me a bit woozy .

Does anyone hear from David these days? It is his birthday today .
So David if you are looking in .I wish you a very Happy Birthday <3

Afternoon all,

Lovely sunny day here although we have had a couple of showers this morning ,we have the back door open as it doesn't seem that cold at the moment but it should turn colder later ,and i think i heard the word frost mentioned for the morning.


So just as the boat has a new coat of paint it gets scratched ,poor Simon must have annoyed with the other boat owner.
I suppose they all get lumped and bumped about which reminds me there's a new series of Great Canal Journeys with Timothy West and Prunella Scales's on tonight at eight oclock ,he's always bumping the canal boat on the locks, tonight they are on the Norfolk Broads.

Ann i had to laugh at the 'small' comment LOL
Looking forward to seeing the silver work your going to do .

Mel i see you keep trying to get some crafting done , perhaps you'll manage it today .

I have some christmas ribbon to make the girls some more bows so I'll get round to doing them some time .

Happy Birthday David if your looking in ,i think he still posts on some of the threads so might look in on here .


Jane fancy Chris finding James old shield after all that time under the ivy ,just shows how plastic doesn't break down very quick, i must say i haven't noticed so many carrier bags on the verges and in the hedges and trees since they started charging for them ,i miss having them though for bits and pieces .

Oh now raining again.

Mandy ,do you have any pics of the girls in the bows you made before?. It is obviously still in fashion as I often see young girls with whopping bows on the top of their heads !

That find of the plastic shield was so funny . It took me right back to when James was running around the garden with it and his sword.Probably attacking dragons or something.You are right about plastic not breaking down though. It was almost as good as when I bought it .It was just very dirty . I sometimes buy a 10p plastic bag in Tesco Mandy as they are handy for putting old clothes in for recycling.They don't do 5p bags now. Plastic bags I see on the verges now are often just full of take away food containers that people fling out of their car windows :-S :-S.Dirty beggars.I can't understand why if they can put the containers into the bags why they just can't take them home and put them in the bin !!!

Have you seen Nicko lately? Or has he moved on . I often think about him .

Thomas has just had lunch on the Patio. A big mouse. He came in and had a wash and brush up and I think he might have gone looking for seconds now

:-S :-S

Evening all

Lovely and sunny here today so OH has cut the lawns as we haven't had any rain for a few days, he said it'll probably be the last cut for this year as frost is forecast.

We've finished mum's garden apart from some artificial grass she wants, which she will buy next year, it's to extend the bit she already has. She absolutely loves the garden and it's now a lot safer for her to walk around.

I've got a bad tummy today, it's very painful so I hope it's nothing to do with the prawns I had yesterday. I've been sleeping quite a bit today with feeling a bit under the weather and so glad mum's garden is finished as I doubt I'd of been able to do anything today.

I think I'll make a hot water bottle and see if that helps. I've taken an Alka Seltzer (sp) but it hasn't really done much. I'm very tired today and feel like I could fall asleep again. I hope I can stay awake later as I really want to watch the F1 to see if Hamilton wins the drivers championship. I've been avoiding the news all day so I don't see the results, the race tonight is the highlights and I wouldn't want to spoil it for myself.

With feeling unwell I still haven't caught up with the posts so hope everyone is okay. I'll try and get back on here tomorrow if I feel a bit better.

The sun ame out after I posted this morning and we had blue sky with some white clouds.

Sorry your not feeling well Gill. I really think you just do too much. You'll have to pace yourself. Hope you feel more like your self tomorrow and try and get a good nights sleep after the race. We have been trying not to see the news too.

I have had my indigestion this afternoon and still have it now. It feels like someone has tied a tight rope around my rib cage and a pain up my throat.

What I was working on did'nt work out so I am now giong to try something else.

Oh came out with a good one yesterday. He had put on a new pair of shoes and had been toddling arouond the house in them and then came outside where I was coming back from doing the big girls and he said to me "These shoes don't walk in a straight line so no wonder they were only a tenner" . Made me laugh.....

Evening All,

It turned out nice and sunny here this afternoon, so after lunch I got OH to take me to the church at Stanford on Avon. He wondered why I was keen to see it so I said I'd looked it up and there were some memorials of the toffs in there from nearby Stanford Hall and I'd passed it a few times when out with my camera. We thought it would be locked, but it wasn't and when we went inside OH's jaw dropped. There are no pews, but it has about 6 elaborate painted stone tombs with carved figures on top. The leaflet we found said most dated from 1400s to 1800s. It said the organ with it's housing is one of the most interesting in the country and belonged to King Charles 1st and was at Whitehall Palace. After Charles was executed, Cromwell sold his effects and Magdalen College at Oxford bought it, found it to be too small for their requirements and so Thomas Cave of Stanford Hall bought it around 1650.

I've had to eat humble pie today after OH showed me that the PINK toed socks are indeed his after all. lol. He showed me that the ribbed tops are deeper than mine and the sock is bigger.......I couldn't deny it.........but am surprised he picked a pack with a pink toed one. But then again, maybe not, as he did think they were red!! lol. :-)

It sounds like one job led to another in the lounge Mel, but at least you have sorted some of them out. I would have ached too. You should have told your OH to try them on the opposite feet Mel!! lol.

Frank the first thing I do when my sewing machine plays up is give it a good oiling and most of the time it seems to work!! lol. Then I check I haven't got the cotton threaded wrong!! :-S I hope Ros has managed to get her's both going again. It's such a nuisance when you are all ready to go and they play up! We dreaded the early phone calls from MIL so I know what you mean. I'm sure she thought we led our lives exactly like her! Shame about the boat just as it had been painted. I bet the chap who did it felt sheepish.

Mandy it would be lovely to see a pic of the girls with their 'bows'. The Christmas Ribbon will make some great ones. :-)

Fancy Chris finding James' toy shield after all this time Jane! Did James start playing with it like he did as a boy? :-)

I hope you are feeling better now Gill. Your mum's garden sounds like it will be less work to look after now which is good.

We went to see a 4 bed bungalow in the next village today out of curiosity as it was cheaper than we'd expect as it was really big with a large lounge 30 feet long and had a big breakfast room as well.....too big and too much to clean for us anyway. We soon saw why it was cheap when we saw there was a factory really close behind it!

After The Blue Planet there is Louis Theroux and we have been enjoying his eye opening series the past few weeks.

Morning all on this bright and sunny day down here in deepest Devon.

It sound lie you were out and about yeterday then Ann. Thats the trouble with big places once you reach a certain age, they are just too much to clean and though we could do with the room for our crafts etc we don't really need it.

Ann I wish I'd thought about that when he told me they would'nt walk in a straight line!!

How are you lot copeing with the gained hour?

Good morning everyone

Very cold but still sunny here, took Ruby out early this morning but could have gone further but madam applied her brakes and it's surprising how strong she is for such a small dog, she is now fast asleep in my arm chair.

Richard and Paul were at ice hockey yesterday so I watched Great Canal Journeys with Timothy and Prunella not a canal this time but The Norfolk Broads which had so many good memories of Family holidays for me, we used to go every year, coming from the seaside beach holidays held no appeal but both Mum & Dad loved the Broads and Colin still feels the same,

Still no change in my SIL's sister but hopefully she is slowly improving.

I'm just going to read through all the posts but hope everyone who has been poorly is better from all the aches and pains this morning.

Dear little Ruby she knows when she's had enough so lets you know its time to go home by putting her brakes on.

Oh ordered me a new frying pan with a copper lining. He has just cooked me a crispy bacon and egg sandwich and its lovely. I shan'nt want any lunch now but I bet he will.

Good Morning Mel/Anne and to everyone else, evening Kim.

Happy Birthday David, Hope you are well and enjoy your day.

Have been to the Doctor's this morning. She is quite concerned with the way I am feeling. She wants to see me again in a couple of weeks, so we can have a deep down chat about my depression. I have a two page questionnaire , which I have to take back completed for my next visit. Questions like "do I feel like taking my life" What is she looking for I wonder. I am also having another Blood Test to check on my IRON LEVELS (that are affecting Simon) He has to have a pint taken every week and thrown away.!! I think I mentioned that before (sorry)

It's surprising what you find in the garden, when you are least expecting it. Will the shield wash and be able to clean, to put away for memories for James,

Anne, Ruby has certainly got a mind of her own. Putting on the brakes when it suits her. Our little poodle would just sit down, and wait to be picked up. Bless her !!!

Ros hade porrhage with fruit this morning for breakfast. I' m Not sure what she wants for dinner tonight, after going to the meeting with Martine. She will get weighed tonight. She might tell be how much if any weight she as lost. BUT no way will she tell me what she weighs. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Are you all sorted now Mel, What type of crafting are you thinking of doing. ??

I just made an Appointment to get new wills made for Ros and I. For Friday 2.00 pm. Our old will is 40 years old next year, and of course our LEWIS has come on the scene since. So I am getting everything in order.

Another horrible night last night, after watching a very enjoyable Blue Planet. I went to BBC 4 There was two hours fascinating programmes on Dolphin's and GIANT SQUID and I mean GIANT. I then went to bed very contented. By 2.00 am I was tearing my hair out not being able to sleep. Up I got and sat until 4.30 reading my book. Went back to bed and slept until 7.00. So to say the least I feel Knackered.

Ros is in the garden sweeping up all the leaves. I'm so pleased we haven't got all the cherry tree leaves to content with this year.

I started this at 11.30. I now see it's afternoon.

I don't remember you telling us Simon had to have a pint of blood taken every week Frank. That must be over an arm full. Does Ros say she feels slimmer. If I lose a bit I always notice cos I can bend a bit better. I have seen a program on the GIANT Sqid before on the tv. They are really huge arn't they.

I was really pleased with the machine as it had'nt been touched for about 7 years and I gave it a try on some scrape and it sewed fine. I did give it a bit of a brush out around the bobbin area which had a lot of fluff in it but that all apart from cleaning the outside of it.

I am fiddleing with my felt again Frank. Not sure yet how to go about what I want to do but I have other thigs I want to make too.

Evening All

Frank filling in that questionnaire for the Dr is a good idea.It gives you time to get down all the right answers rather than getting flustered and forgetting to mention things when you have your appointment. Hopefully with all you put down she will have a good ideaa how to treat your depression. Did you say before that it started after you had your stroke?

Ros sounds as though she is doing really well with her diet :-D I think she must have more will power than me !.

So OH didn't nick your socks then Ann :-D :-D. You were so convinced too LOL

Anne, Ruby has a mind of her own doesn't she :-D.Did she just suddenly stop and just stand there? That is what Chester used to do . I would then say "do you want to go home?" and he would turn around and head back up the lane :-D. They aren't daft are they.

I had letter today from the Physio Dept at the hospital to say that after my referral they can now offer me an appointment . I didn't even know that the Rheumatologist Had referred me !! That must have been back in July !!!.So I will ring tomorrow and sort a date out.

It is blooming freezing outside now.Chilly all day really.I lit the fire at lunchtime .So it is as warm as toast in here now :-D. I might have to go and cool off soon LOL.

James hasn't said if he has left work yet so I have no idea what time he will be in. He is just having the rest of the roast beef from yesterday,mashed potato and carrots. I just need to put the beef and gravy to heat in the oven ,the mash in the micro and boil the carrots. Chris and I have Fish and Chips and Cauliflower Cheese. Fish and chips from the freezer :-D

Who left Strictly ? I missed it :-S. I think 999 whats your emergency is on tonight. I like that one :-D. Chris will roll his eyes at me watching yet another medical programme LOL. He is off to an Art Fair at the NEC tomorrow so I have a day to myself :-D

Evening All, Mel, I thought I mentioned about Simon. He makes so much iron in his blood that they take a pint every week and dispose of it. I think it's a pint, but I might be wrong. The Doctor is arranging for a Blood test for me, as I said before it's heredity, and his Mother came out Clear.

Jane the questionnaire states "I must answer with the first thing that comes into my mind" So this morning the score wasn't that good. So I will have to see what she thinks/says. !! That chap Simon Rimmer went out last night which was no surprise to me. I think I could do better, and that's saying something.


Ros came back this evening quite pleased with herself she has lost 2 lbs in a week. Martine has lost 2 1/2 lbs and one woman who was very large lost 4 lbs. She has bought home a book of recipes with 60 meals in. So something to test me cooking skills. (she should be so lucky) !!!

The soaps are on, so I am out of the way. I might see what's on MY T.V. in the conservatory. Got to be better than watching all this depressing T.V.

I am feeling very low this this evening. I must try to get myself interested in something outside of the home. I do miss my Fishing !!! but there must be something I can do, even though it might mean that Ros has to take and collect me. Provided I don't have to stand to long, I could volunteer at the Heart Foundation Shop in Northampton, or a Charity shop somewhere. The only trouble is Ros is out a fair bit with her meetings, clubs, Hair and nails. so it would have to be when she is free. and when they might want me. I will have to see.

I won't be back this evening, so have a pleasant evening, and I will see you all tomorrow.

Hope Frank gets a better nights sleep tonight.

We have had a beautiful sunny day today but the breeze was a bit on the chilly side. The washing dried. Oh decided to cut a lot of branches off the red maple tree thing that drops all its leaves in our ponds. It was such a lovely shape but its had a good crew cut now. He had to give up after a while as he kept going a bit dizzy and was getitng cross with himself. I told him he was much older and fatter than he was a few years ago and he also has mild diabetes. He had only had a bacon and egg samdwich this morning and we skipped lunch but he did have a mug of soup.

I made up for it tonight. I cooked sausages, parsnip, carrots, potatoes, stuffing and onions all in one dish, a big roasting dish, in the oven. It was piled high and we ate the lot ebtween us!! Naughty but nice and thats not all I also cooked a huge apple crumble and he had some of that with icecream afterwards and I had a bit with custard. I am now totally full up and probably shall be for a week now. O but I did enjoy it. I do wish I could get him to have a breakfast and dkip luch as you get so much more done. Well I do anyway not having to stop and get it all ready.

Morning all,

Another quite nice day here as its bright and a bit sunny but with grey clouds in the sky.

Di is popping in to see me this morning about 12pm I was going shopping earlier as I have to do Lidl and Morrisons today and now it gets dark quicker I like to go about 12 but I did say she should come so its my own fault if it gets dark before I get home.

Got a sore throat this morning and I am sure its the pills I am taking. They make my mouth so dry but I still want to swallow.

Good Morning Mel, and all, Evening Kim,

No sunshine here Mel, but plenty of cloud with a breeze.

Did anyone with the Queens wedding last night. ?? As much as I am a Royalist, I couldn't believe that the Royal Family were worried about RATIONING. I'm sure they didn't struggle to feed the family like the rest of the Country. Who do they think they are KIDDING ???

I then watched the recording of the Harbour. That was one place I loved and the coast around was so beautiful. I must try to take Ros to Tenby, Saundersfoot, Pendine sands, We camped there when my children were young. Some happy memories with my Lab. "CHAN" running in and out of the se. !!


Another poor night last night. Was in bed 10.45 pm up again at 12.30 am Sat watching silly Television and reading untill 3.45. I them slept till 7.30. I got up with my head feeling full of cold again.I just hope it doesn't develop into anything nasty. :-| :-|

Ros is having her nails done at Mid-day, and is taking her sewing machine to a drop off place, The sewing machine man has closed his shop, and now works from home. He will pick it up next Monday and let Ros know when it will be ready and what the cost will be,

Time for my shower and shave, so will see you later.

I do hope you are not going to have another cold on top of the one you just seem to have nearlly been rid of.

Well I am all showered and shaved. Face as smooth as a bady's bottom LOL LOL. And I didn't nick myself today. So no toilet paper hanging from my face ;-) ;-) ;-)

The sky is starting to clear a bit, and the breeze has dropped off. whether that's a good or bad sign, I am not sure.

Starting to get the BEGGING LETTERS through the door from charity's. It's all very well, but where do you stop. Bernardo's are asking for a donation's from £15.00. upwards. !!! Blooming cheek. We usually donate to most charities through their collection box's at Tesco. Our main two are Air Ambulance and Cancer research, which we have a D/D for every month.

I had the weirdest of dreams last night, or should I say recollection. When Dad was away during the war Mum would have either my Twin, Jean, or I,in her bad to sleep with her. She loved it when it was my turn, as I had a very WARM BODY and she would snuggle her back into mine. Now tell me where on earth did that come from ??, on top of that I also thought about SIX of us sleeping under the Morrison Shelter in the back room, with my Uncle , sleeping in the armchair.

Ros called my to look at the costumes they had on This Morning. My word they were so good and must have taken ages to make and get Phillip and Holly dressed. That's not including all the others. Absolutely Wonderful.

Washing machine hs just finished, so I will empty it and hang it out. I know I will do it wrong, and get a flea in my ear. But it will get dried, as the weather is fine.

Have just put the washing out, and missed a step going out of the conservatory. Fortunately I had the washing basket in my hands, and as I tripped I stuck the basket out in front on me. It cushioned me between the basket and a Magnolia tree. Thank Gawd it was there. No harm done, but it has really shook me up. Going to get a coffee and a nice sit down. !!!

Afternoon all

Quite a nice day here today, OH and I have taken all the solar lights up and we're cleaning them to put away until next spring. We were going to leave them all out over winter but each time it rains another light stops working so to save them all breaking we've brought them in. I kept the boxes so will put them all in there when they are dry enough to store.

I'm feeling much better, but have a bit of a headache, think it might be a bit of dehydration so I'm keeping my fluids up today.

Mum came round to visit and has just left, she said my uncle is getting worse. We don't think he's got much longer to live and doubt he'll make it through another month. He is having a hospital bed put in his living room today and is now on permanent oxygen, the doctor and nurses go in to see to him and they've had to have the fire brigade round to check things with having the oxygen canisters there. My aunty is in bits as you can imagine. Cancer is such a cruel illness. My BIL went for his scan and the Chemo hasn't shrunk the cancer, so OH is upset at the moment. BIL only has another two bouts of Chemo so what will happen after that isn't nice to think about.

I noticed you've had a tumble again Frank, you were lucky you had the washing basket to cushion your fall. Take it easy this afternoon, you don't want another accident. It sounds like Ros is doing well with her diet.....well done to her <3

So you've been making more things Mel, what are you making now? Hope it turns out the way you want it to this time round.

Fancy finding the shield Jane after all this time. Good idea to clean it up and keep it as a memory like Frank said.

I'm going to take a look at OH's tree later, I tried to do a bit the other day but the tree went off and wouldn't load again, so I did a bit more of my sewing instead. I'm hoping to finish the dressing gown I'm making today or tomorrow. I'll have to get it finished soon as each time I wash the one I've got another hole appears. The material is so thin now it's just falling apart, so I'm desperate for a new one.

Going to make a cuppa first, I'm quite thirsty today.