General Chat

Morning all,

Dull and overcast here this morning with fine rain in the air.

In other words bl**dy awful :-| :-| :-| :-| :-|

Not up to anything today so shall see how the day progresses.

Oh is talking about putting corregated plastic up on top of the gazebo now as the polythene has'nt really worked, with it being cold only the first one sheds its water properly as the sun was shining the day he made that one. The other two get puddles on them and he has to push it up to get it off. I summer they would really go baggy!!

Good morning to you ll, Evening Kim,


It has rained in the night and everywhere is very wet. Strong wind/breeze. Not going anywhere so I don't mind.

The Blo@@y insurance Company with have the car with, keeps writing and phoning trying to get us to buy our Home Insurance with them. They were on the phone this morning, so I put a flea in her ear. and told her not to call or write again.

I know the Boxer and Footballer in the Jungle, and the Corrie girl, but the rest are just people to me, whey do they call them Celebs. ??? I don't think Bosis's dad will go down well with the women, he seems a bit feely/touchy !!! We will have to see. That's if I bother to watch it every night.

John and Carolyn had the ceiling in HER bathroom come down in places. It appears she had a leek in the loft area, and it's soaked the old LATHE and PLASTER ceiling. They have also had complaints from neighbours at the top of their garden (about 200 feet away) about the height of their Conifer trees, blocking out the light. They have the tree man coming to cut them all back. £1,200.00. So you can guess how big/many there are. They are off to Tenerife tomorrow, they only got back from Australia on Saturday. They will be back again 3rd December (her birthday)

Fitz certainly likes his films then Jane, Three in one day. !!! I can't remember the last time I went. LOL

Blue Planet was very good again last night. I could watch those for hours.

Hope you get on alright at the Dentists Jane, not my favourite place either. in fact with only FOUR left I don't go. !!!!

Time for my shower and shave. Then back to my book. I had a good night last night 10.00 pm till 6.00 am.

Morning Mel, morning all

Lovely and warm here today with a gentle breeze. I've just been doing a bit of tidying up in the garden, some pots had weeds in them, then I sat and watched a few leaves flying around in the breeze. It was so peaceful. OH is at his mates today, the one who recently lost his partner and Sandra was asleep, so it was nice to have a bit of "me" time. She's just woken up......she's not a morning person ;-)

Good idea Mel to put the corrugated plastic up instead of the polythene. Is he doing it today in the rain? :-S :-S :-S

I recorded a programme on Prince Harry and his girlfriend the other week, so I'm going to watch that now. Sandra takes ages to wake up properly so it should be finished by the time she's fully awake, then we can watch a Christmas film if I can find one we haven't already seen.

Hi Frank, just noticed your post. Pleased to hear you had a good night sleep last night. I bet you feel much better for it.

Those trees must be big going by the price to have them cut down and there must be quite a few too. If our neighbour complains about our conifers we should be okay as almost everyone in our street has high trees along the bottom of their gardens and they are much taller than ours.

I watched the Jungle with Sandra and OH last night but only knew the woman off Corrie. OH isn't sure if he's going to watch it again. I don't think he wants to watch it in the other room if it gets to gory for me to watch. I said it'd be okay if I could take the sound off if they were being sick as that would make me ill, hearing it. We'll see what happens. Sandra doesn't mind watching it on her TV so if OH doesn't carry on watching it, she still can and we'll watch something else.

Did anyone watch Michael Mcintyre the other night, he is so funny? That poor man being woken up in the middle of the night, it must of been such a shock to find a film crew in your bedroom at 2am in the morning.

Gill, I can't STAND Michael McIntyre, as with so many other SO CALLED COMEDIAN'S , As soon as they come on the channel is changed or the T.V. goes off. I find most of them think it's funny to put other people down and insult them.

Hissing with rain here. The woman who owns "BIGGLES" has been at the door talking to Ros for ni on half an hour, with the front door open. I shouted out to either come in or close the Bl@@@Y door. I'm not heating the bungalow to have is all going out and leaving me in the cold. Didn't go down well as you can imagine. :-P :-P :-P :-P. But do I care, not one bit !!!

I see we have a massive TURKEY LEG in the fridge. I don't know what Ros expects me to do with that. !!! Any Ideas ??? I know I can roast it or curry it. !!

All the prescriptions are at the doctors ready to pick up later in the week. We do our repeats every month, but most of the tablets are for only 28 days, so we are having to order earlier every month.

Ros is still busy making the quilts. She is going do do what she has, then stop till after Christmas. We can get the dining room tidied up, and the table cleared, which will be nice.I expect the Tree and decorations will be coming in then. MORE MESS !!

Frank it makes you feel so much better when you get a good nights sleep. Talking of trees being cut down I think I may have to have someone come round and tidy up my big ash tree as its so big now if it fell towards the bungalow it would land right on the kitchen and lounge. There are big braches over my shed too and thats the way the wind blows mostly from the west.

I watched the Jungle but did'nt really know anyone on it. Gosh when they had to walk out on the plank my legs went like jelly just at the thought of it. We don't watch any soaps as I can't stand all the noise and argueing. The only one we watch is Doctors with our lunch. Can't stand Michael Mcintyre but used to like Russell Howard and Billy Connerly.

Posty has just been........

Gill there is a new film on each afternoon at 3pm and at 9pm in the evening I think.

Gill he won't be doing it till we get the roofing and rails to do it with.

I like Russell Howard and Billy Connolly too Mel, they are both funny aren't they?

The sun has come out here. Is it still raining by you Mel? So the roof won't be sorted now then, at least it'll be sorted soon.

It's very quiet on here today, where is everyone?

I'm here now Gill. I have finally just finished wrtitng the Xmas Cards.Phew what a job that was.I have had to put them in a plastic bag as the pile kept falling over and going all over the floor :-S

So now I know what you mean about the Pampas Grass LOL We have one but like you it is in the back garden :-D(phew)

All good at the Dentist .I just need a clean and polish next week. I had a question to ask the Dentist and said could I just ask a VERY QUICK question knowing hw long he goes on LOL. I asked what the sitation was with teeth he extracted from people as Jess is wanting to try and get hold of some to cut up and find out about them as her Topic for her PhD in Anthropolgy is Teeth !!. He explained that extacted teeth are classed as Clinical waste and have to be disposed of in the correct way. That is all needed to know really but he then started to explain what colour plastic bags and special boxes they had to go in .By this time I was at the door and had it open gradually sliding out :-D :-D. So no teeth for Jess from Dentists.

Thomas was SO SICK earlier. I had just finished my soup and Chris was just starting his. Thomas brought it all up right by the dining table . Heaven knows what he had eaten. Chris had to take his soup and bread in the study and I cleared up.Trying to hang on to my soup LOL. It nearly came up :-S :-S

Chris has made his first lot of Cantucci for Christmas.It looks good.He will make probably another 2 lots but no more as it is a bit faffy to do.

Mel it is our tall Ash Tree in the front that has shed its leaves all over our gravel and next door.I dont like the sound of yours leaning so much .That is one thing you dont need....it to come crashing through the house.

Frank, you say about the cost for John and Carolyn to have their trees cut. My friend up on Barton Road is having some of hers done this week too and she said it is going to be about £2,000 !!!.It sounds as though your friends have plenty of money though not to have to worry about the cost and get their repairs sorted from the leak.Then be swanning off to Tenerife . Alright for some eh !!.

I watched some of the Jungle last night,but as usual nodded off. So I havent seen the camp . Yes that plank walking thing so high up is really scary. There is no way on this earth I could do anything like that even with a safety wire.I really thought once the planks started to shake that someone would have toppled off. The only people I recognised were Boris's Dad,and the Boxer :-S
Oh I forgot Fizz from Corrie. I know her .

Talking of Comedians . Michael McIntyre (sp) does my head in sometimes,but I like some of the thinggs he does. It is his stupid laugh and facial expressions that get me.
Peter Kay is one of my favourites. I find him hilarious and very talented . Billy Connelly too is a big fav but it is sad to see him now with his Parkinsons. I am not sure will see him on stage again now :-(

I love Gogglebox. Miss some of the original people who used to be on it. I think my favourites are the friends in the caravan, the gay Hairdressers ,the posh couple who live in the thatched house and the 2 sons and Dad. Love the 2 elderly Bristol ladies too :-D

My Amaryllis has grown not far off 3 inches already!!!. This time next week it should have doubled in height !

Afternoon All,

What a dull looking day! I agree with the others Jane that you are adventurous in exploring lots of new recipes and trying them which is a different kind of craft, a kitchen craft! :-)

I must admit that although I enjoy rosemary, basil, oregano, garlic and dill and I like that herbs add extra nutrients to a meal, I hate chilli and coriander!! I know chilli is supposed to help you burn extra calories, but to me it makes the whole meal taste of it and is far too hot. The first time I had coriander was in a bag of mixed salad leaves. It tasted so strongly of soap that I washed all the salad again as I thought it must have been washed in soapy water! A few years later I read that it does taste soapy to some people, something to do with your genetic make up!! :-S I had to throw a tin of soup away yesterday that I hadn't noticed contained it till I tasted it.

Our neighbour who was moving house popped across last night to tell us it was happening today so we could move our cars by 9.00am as the removal van would block the narrow road and we wouldn't be able to get out. He said they had had 8 potential buyers in the past year but all but the last had fallen through for one reason or another. He warned us to be careful buying a place with solar panels as one of their buyers had had nothing but trouble due to the paperwork going missing and the company who fitted the panels going bust. I was having a hearing test early today and then a blood test so we were well out of the way. The big van has only just left and we can't believe it's taken 6 hours as they had sold some furniture a week or two ago and there's no upstairs to get stuff down. The new people are moving in on Wednesday.

My hearing test showed slight loss in my left ear! She said I should be ok for 5-8 years (or longer if I wasn't in noisy social situations) and that it was normal and age related. (beginning to hate the 'AGE' word!) Apparently over 70% of 70 year olds have some loss with a third of 60-69 year olds also affected. She said this is changing with younger people being affected much sooner due to loud music and concerts.:-S

I went to the docs then and saw a new nurse who has now noted my records that I need an annual blood sugar test which will hopefully stop the challenges when I book the test in future as they always want to know who says you need a test and have you a letter etc and which I haven't as it was a doctor at the Research Centre that said I should have one!! I decided to ask her about the free NHS checks you are supposed to get from age 40-74 as the surgery told me a while ago that I'd had one last June! This wasn't true as I would have remembered having the results discussed with me. I have never understood why I had never been offered, one as they wrote to OH to offer one last year and gave him a thorough checkup, discussed results and he is 6 years younger than me. Anyway, I have now managed to get one booked for the end of the month. :-)

Gill, my Avatar is a photo of the sunset in our back garden last week. That Pampas grass makes strong clumps that are hard to split. We had some Bamboo a few years ago and that took some digging out. I'm like you and can't stand folk being ill in the Jungle. I haven't watched it for years.

I bet you were glad your teeth were ok Jane. I hate that poking around they do especially if you see a frown!! :-0 Jess will have to find someone with children who are losing their baby teeth to get some samples!!

Frank you had a good sleep last night. I was awake till at least 3.00am having been awake till 4.00am the night before. My nephew is in hospital so whether that was on my mind I don't know. I'm meeting my sister tomorrow and know that will be exhausting so haven't felt like going to the talk on the quarries in the village that's on tonight.

Ann, I love Herbs in food just not spices (especially chilli). My favourite herbs are Oregano,Thyme,Basil,Thyme and Tarragon. Coriander is not a favourite fresh ,but I can deal with it when it is already in a dish. Rocket is a No No for me. I hate it.

6 hours to empty the bungalow seems a long time. I dont think our big 4 bed house took that long when we moved in here. Maybe the removal people did all the packing up of all the belongings .

So a little Deef in one ear. I am pretty sure Chris needs a hearing test but when I suggest it ...it just falls of deaf ears LOL. I know I don't hear quite so well in my right ear now.I think it is because I have some Tinnitus going on in that one.
That word 'AGE' seems to crop up a bit too often these days for my liking Ann :-S
It's no joke is it .Wear and Tear is another one.

Dinner ready so I need to dish up now.

Evening all, Soaps on. So I am out of the way until 9.00 pm.

Jane a few weeks ago I could have sent you the tooth that I worked out that was loose. It was quite big and Jess could have had a great time with that !!! ;-) ;-) ;-) If and when any of my others work loose, I will let you know.

Have been looking for a perfume for Sally, It's a special one that she likes. The only trouble is it's costing £70/90.00 a bottle. TOO MUCH for my pocket. Will carry on looking on EBAY.

Jane talk about Money. J & C have just spent a month flying around Australia BUSINESS CLASS and staying in the top hotels. He has said. He will not leave any Money in his will, if he can help it. He has his house in the village, a three bedroom Apartment on the sea front at Hastings, a two bedroom cottage on his land in the village PLUS 3 bed house in Tenerife Plus over a quarter of a million in cars in his garages. So his attitude is SPEND SPEND SPEND. Gawd knows how much he has. ;-) ;-) ;-)

I see the dining room table is the same as this morning, due to the fact that Madam has been out all afternoon with Carolyn. Now she is glued to the Tele with her soaps.

This afternoon I went to the freezer in the kitchen and things started falling out on the floor. I got two carry bags, and loaded, Two lamb joints, three packs of mince, Packets of peas, onion rings, chips and Chops. I took them into the freezer in the garage, which had room for it all. We could feed the 5,000 with what we have got in the freezers.

Nice cold pork, oven chips and pickle for dinner tonight, one of my favourites.

I see on the news tonight that a hospital in Berks. Has so many patients coming into A & E they just can't handle them all, over 300 a day. One Baby's parents wee told it would be 3/4 hours before she could be seen by a doctor. Here we are as a Country, plowing MILLIONS OF ££££ into Foreign Aid, and Bvrexit, and we can't look after our own sick children. Utter disgrace. Sorry I don't get political , but things like this makes my BLOOD BOIL.

How have you all been coping today with all this rain and wind. ???

How about degeneration thats another one.

I hate coriander and rocket too. I think coriander stinks. I did'nt like rocket when we used to grow it when I did the barrow outside and used it in the mixed salad leaves.

Frank we had cold beef chips peas and eggs for dinner tonight too and I had pickles.

I shall be trying to go out early tomorrow so I don't come back in the dark. I want to go up the High St tomorrow for a look in the shops. I still need to get aunty joy a couple more bits.

I bet they would take longer than 6 hours to clear this bungalow out with all the stuff I have. I am afraid I am a terrible hoarder. Things I have thrown out I have always needed later on so I tend to chuck things up the potting sheds.

Morning all,

Grey skies and miserable out there today so far. I am hoping it may brighten up a bit later on and it might be brighter in Bideford as it sometimes is.

Slept like a log again last night only getting up once in the night and then off to sleep again before you could say "Jack Robinson".

Good morning Mel and all, evening Kim,

Horrible damp morning here again, I suppose we have to expect these mornings now.

I stayed on the computer until I went to bed last night. What with soaps and the Bl@@@ty Jungle, it did my head in. In future I will go into the conservatory, and watch what I want to watch. As it is, I sit a moan about the programmes, and we end up having STRONG WORDS.

I was just settling down in bed last night when Ros came in, pulling at the bedclothes. I said "Will you please settle down so I can sleep". I was up end out here about 7.00 this morning. Ros has just come out.(that was 9.30)

I forgot I hadn't posted. I have prepared the Turkey in onion gravy , and made a bit of stuffing. I am doing crushed baby new potato's with various herbs sprinkled over them with a drizzle of olive oil. Runner beans, sprouts,cabbage, carrots and baby turnips (never tried those before) so will see if I like them.

Trust you find everything you want Mel, while out shopping. I have just bought a foot massaging thing for Ros. Martine has one and swears it does her feet and lower legs the world of good. I have also bought her a new steering wheel cover. So I think I am done with presents, for her.

Well it's almost mid day and I'm still now showered and shaved.

Val next door bought in two more books this morning, so I am settled with books for a few days.


See you all soon. xxx

I gave up on the perfume last night. I had the winning bid on three occasions , only to find some cleaver Bugger, pipped me in the last couple of seconds. I might sit and look agin later.

Simon rang this morning to thank me for letting him know we have a supply of jigsaws coming from Martine, she does a bit of one every night. and will pass them on for Simon and Sally, as they love doing them.

Afternoon all

Been busy today so have only just come online.

We went shopping this morning to make a start on some food for Christmas so I have the Turkey crown sprouts pigs in blankets cocktail sausages little quiche's and a few other bits and pieces in the freezer, then I bought some more sweets and other bits and bobs to put away in a box ready for the big day. I also bought some sweets to put into Sandra's advent calendar I made her years ago. The pockets are quite big so I can put some decent size sweets in them for her.

It's Ruth's funeral a week today but Sandra can't find her black boots so we've took some of her boxes out of the loft to see if they're in there but they're not so she'll have to borrow a pair of my black shoes and one of my black coats as she doesn't have one. While OH was up in the loft I asked him to get the big snow Christmas tree down as Sandra wants me to put it up and he also brought the decorations down and an empty box to put all the Christmas food in.

I'm trying to get everything finished for Christmas by the end of the month, then Sandra and I can make a few more Christmas decorations for her pink tree.

Afternoon Gill, That's another job out of the way. I'm not sure when Ros will want the decorations in, they are in the garage, so no big deal to get the box's in. The ones that hold the tree are on wheels, so easy to pull across the patio. We won't have to worry about food buying. We will give Jan some money towards what she buys, plus I buy the Turkey and meats.

I have just been for my monthly injection. Next one 19th Dec. 11.30 am. She was very gentle with me this month, so I hope I don't have a sore bottom as I usually do. <3 <3

I've got the Turkey leg and part of the breast in the oven on a lowish heat. I will keep an eye on it from time to time.

Ros is out tonight a fashion show called " ROCK THE FROCK" It's down the village hall 7.00 for 7.30 pm, so I will have an evening on my own. This will be two this week as Thursday it's CHOIR night. Aren't I a lucky boy, no SOAPS.

Have a pleasant evening all. I might pop back later. xx

Afternoon All

It is soooo dark !! A real gloomy day.

Hopefully Mel managed to be up early this morning to get up to Bideford High St :-D
I awlays picture that road when she mentions it as my Uncle Jan used to work up there bak in the 60s.

Quite night for you then Frank :-D :-D.. No cross words :-D. Chris get fed up with me having what he calls a load of cra* on all the time.He disappears off to his study for a bit of peace .He is out in the summerhouse now doing some painting I think.

I have made a Venison and Beer Hotpot and that is in the oven now for a couple of hours or so. I also made some Crostini with a Baguette that we hadnt eaten. I rubbed each slice with some garlic sprinkled some dried Oregano on and then drizzled it all with Olive Oil. I have tasted one and think it might be a bit too garlicky. Chriss aid he thought they were fine.

Gill you are really ahead now for Xmas. Did yousay you get the tree and decs up on December 1st?
What agood job Sandra will be able to wear your shoes and coat for Ruths funeral next week. I wonder what happened to her boots? I bet they will turn up again after the funeral. It seems a long time since Ruth passed away.

I tried to order a pair of Brogues for James for Xmas this morning but they are out of stock .I can leave an order but they dont know when they will have more.I'm going to have to ask James what he wants me to do.They are really nice shoes too and Burgundy colour. I think we are possibly getting a Coffee machine as a joint present for Hannah and Gareth.But waiting to see what kind of machine it is they fancy.I know totally nothing about these machines. That is Chris's department.

Thomas was sick again sometime in the night.Luckily not on the carpet again but on the laminate floor right at the bottom of the stairs. James discovered it when he came down this morning. Thankfully he didnt step in it :-D. At least he cleared it up and didn't call for me like Chris would.

Did anyone see wotsisname Khan(the boxer) in the jungle last night?. Oh boy did he let the others down by not doing the task to get meals. He screamed like a girl LOL (not that I wouldnt have done the same thing :-D) But he doesn't seem too bright. He didn't even know what Critters were !The young girl he did the task with was NOT HAPPY with him. I think she is called TOFF . I thought I really wouldnt like her but actually she is great .I think she was on one of the reality progs like made in Chelsea .

I had one of those nights last night. Went to sleep fine but then woke for the loo about 2 am and just could not go back to sleep. I tottered into Hannahs bed at 4am and found Thomas curled up on her bed.So I crawled in beside him :-D.He thought ooh time ot get up !!!!!. But I managed to get him to settle down again .I then read my kindle for ages. I think I might feel a bit pooped soon.

Evening all,

It's been a dreary day here too but so mild out even with the wind .

Gill your getting christmas sorted ,i just carn't seem to get into the swing of it this year i'm so behind with every thing .
There is a house down the road from us with all their christmas lights up on the house and you can see in the window they have lights inside too ,bit to early i think .
Mel i hope you managed to get your shopping done and home before dark this week .

Not sure if i will keep watching the Jungle this year ,i only know the girl from corrie ,i was quite surprised by the boxer last night ,i thought he would have given the challenge a good go ,and when he pulled the snake out :-0 :-0

It was hair cut day today and i feel all itchy round the neck now .

No Anne for a while now ,i hope she's ok