General Chat

Oh you weren't there before I posted Jane, but see you have some antibiotics. Hopefully you will start to improve now.

Dermot we don't have any work reunions as such as the organisation we worked in had 10s of thousands of workers. We do meet up with some of our work colleagues every year though. Do you go to old school reunions as well? OH went to one many years ago and my old grammar school has them and I have wondered whether to go. I don't think I would know many now though.

Evening all,

What a cold old day it's been again but then it is January

Jane that's good you now have some meds to help this cough ,it's funny i did say to you when you rang about putting your head over a bowl of some thing , lets hope you'll soon start to feel normal again .
I bet Hannah and Gareth will be feeling the cold after their lovely honeymoon weather .

Mel what a to do with all this surgery business ,it must be very difficult for people with no transport and in the bad weather to have to go to Holsworthy ,i don't suppose the buses are that regular either .
Did you find much in the Pound shop ? i have bought several crafting bits in there for the girls to make things .

Ann i don't blame the cats not moving far today i wouldn't have gone out either but i wanted some wool ,i'm going to knit the Moss stitch Cowl that was in the Womans weekly a couple of weeks ago .
I looked on line to see what the wool was and it's a super chunky wool ,i didn't get the make in the mag though when i looked it up it was pure wool and about £9 a ball :-0 and it takes two balls !!!
The wool i bought was Robins Cream Super Chunky £1.99 a ball :-D
Whats the pom pom for ?

I noticed the bulbs are coming through and i have some lovely Orange roses still blooming there is also a plant with little tiny pink flowers with clover like leaves it flowers all the summer and it still has flowers even with the frosts .

Mandy I was looking at the same cowl this afternoon when I was going through the papers and magazines! :-D It looks good and easy to pull on and not need adjusting like a scarf and just covers that bit of your neck at the front where your jacket doesn't reach. I love moss stitch as well. I've been knitting a hat over Christmas, but have so much wool left over I thought about doing the cowl. It sounds as if the wool I have wouldn't be thick enough though. The hat has driven me mad! I could only find one long and one short needle in the size I needed, so kept whacking myself with the long one. It has cables in the pattern that are 'staggered' and I kept thinking I'd gone wrong so undid it 3 times. I had to use a crochet hook to slip the cable stitches onto as well which wasn't ideal! I have all these things, but they are probably with unfinished bits of knitting somewhere. Anyway I have found some cardboard to do the pompom now. :-) Some of the wools are incredibly expensive aren't they.

I wonder if the new pound shop had some offers Mel. It's surprising what you can find in some of those shops. It sounds like your OH leaves things where he can find them!

Mandy I was looking at the same cowl this afternoon when I was going through the papers and magazines! :-D It looks good and easy to pull on and not need adjusting like a scarf and just covers that bit of your neck at the front where your jacket doesn't reach. I love moss stitch as well. I've been knitting a hat over Christmas, but have so much wool left over I thought about doing the cowl. It sounds as if the wool I have wouldn't be thick enough though. The hat has driven me mad! I could only find one long and one short needle in the size I needed, so kept whacking myself with the long one. It has cables in the pattern that are 'staggered' and I kept thinking I'd gone wrong so undid it 3 times. I had to use a crochet hook to slip the cable stitches onto as well which wasn't ideal! I have all these things, but they are probably with unfinished bits of knitting somewhere. Anyway I have found some cardboard to do the pompom now. :-) Some of the wools are incredibly expensive aren't they.

I wonder if the new pound shop had some offers Mel. It's surprising what you can find in some of those shops. It sounds like your OH leaves things where he can find them!

Dear All

Hello

To wish you all a healthy, peaceful and happy new year.

Take gentle care
With all good wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Dear All

Hello

To wish you all a healthy, peaceful and happy new year.

Take gentle care
With all good wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Good evening all

Happy New Year to you as well Elizabeth xxx.

It has been very cold here as well but a lovely sunny day and a clear night sky so will be a cold night.

Yesterday we were out most of the day. First we went to Southampton, Paul is thinking of buying a second hand camper van, he wanted to look at a business who specialises in selling them but no luck as all they had were a lot bigger and more expensive then he wanted, if and when he gets one he will park it in our driveway as there is no room in the garage now and he has only one underground designated parking space with his flat. After that we went back up the M3 to Winchester and spent the rest of the day there where we had Lunch at the Royal Oak suppose to be the oldest Pub in England but there are several others that lay claim to that, when we left it only took 45 mins to get home.

Hopefully the antibiotics will do the trick Jane .I have some of those Menthol crystals in the medicine cupboard but they have been there sometime so I don't know if I should throw them out

We had a couple of friends pop in this evening with their Bulldog Bruce he was very good with Ruby but he made her look even smaller. Trevor had been friends with Paul and Richard from Junior school and was once married to Sue's sister Jenny.so he is one of Abbie and Becky's Uncles.

I haven't attended any school reunions Dermot as I no longer live any where near them now. I do however go several times a year to South Hill Park Arts Centre for a coffee and a chat,, I worked there for over 30 years and it was a lovely friendly place to work

Those Cowls sound just the thing for staying warm. Aldi sometimes sell wool very cheaply .

Ruby hates taking her tablets it takes two of us to get them down her 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Her bottom still looks sore and she isn't eating much but that's not unusual for her

Morning all,

Happy new year to you too EOS and I hope its a pleasent one.

Dull old morning here but at least its dry and windless. Skies are pale grey though which dos'nt make you won't to do anything.

Only chores today are to go up the shop for the paper and do the egg delivery then I am going to have a play. O I must ring the dentists and cancel my appointment.

Morning All,

HAPPY NEW YEAR and the same good wishes to you Elizabeth. <3

Dull, dry and windless hee too Mel. We just fetched the papers and OH got diesel. He's off to 2 matches today, one to watch Kettering Town and I think the other is near to Jane as well. It's really cold outside again so I expect the cold weather gear and 'biggles hat' will be coming out!

I can't decide what to do as it isn't a good photography day and I also need fuel if I go out and the garage will be really busy today. I still haven't done my pompom and need to do more tidying up and start to prune some of the paperwork in the filing cabinet to chuck out some of the old stuff, so may do that. I wish I could get jobs done quickly like Gill does. :-) LOL.

Ann Gill is a little younger than us and I could have done what she does when I was her age.

Why don't you send me some of your wool and I will make you a pompom and send it back to you. <3

Been watching a film on the telly. Its nice to have a day off sometimes. I was going to do some more craft but I got into the film.

Afternoon All

I feel a little more Human today :-). I even made it to Tesco as I needed fresh food like veg and potatoes .I was in and out pretty swiftly though as I didnt want to have a coughing fit in there . I feel bushed now but at least I have done something.

Bruce the Bulldog :-D.. Love the name Anne. Is he a proper English Bulldog ? You dont see many of them about these days.

So its PomPoms and knitting happening :-). My Sisiter oly dais yesterday she found a load of wool and her needles so is now knitting a cushion cover. A nice Cowl will keep you nice and warm . I could just about manage to wear a cowl as they are nice and loose. I couldn't have a scarf wrapped around my neck though. I think I have said before I never have anything tight near my neck ,and am the same with belts . I dont do them .

It is not so cold today and there wasn't a frost this morning. Its just been a nothing kind of day weatherise . I watched Back in time for School just now and am looking forward to the rest of the series now :-D

Those Menthol Crystals are blooming lethal ! I didnt know how much to use so went a little over the top the first time.ONly about 3 though. My word the fumes felt like they were burning my eyes and inside of my nose :-S :-S I couldnt even get my head anywhere near the bowl !!! So just one small crystal is enough . I had no idea just how powerful they were.I bet yours are still good to go Anne :-D

Poor Hannah is not well :-(.. She said she started to feel unwell just before they flew home .Today she has just managed to move from the bed to the sofa. :-( At least she waited until she got home to be poorly. I will see how she is tomorrow.

I can barely stay awake !!Yawning my head of now .But I am going to try and not go to bed too early. I have a small bit of slow roast lamb in the oven but I just dont fancy eating so Chris can have my share. It does smell good though.

I realised this aftenoon that I missed my hair appointment on Thursday :-S. Not that I would have been well enough to go anyway. But I rang up to apologise and re book.Nigel cant fit me in now until the 17th !!!. I might have a little ponytail by then LOL

Happy New Year Elizabeth . Thankyou for your New Year wishes.

Sarah Pitt

by Sarah Pitt - Senior Reporter
@okeytimes
[email protected]

THE troubled handover of a medical practice which has left two communities without a doctor’s surgery has been described as ‘a farce’ by disaffected patients.

Anger is mounting in the village of Shebbear, where patients are having to travel ten miles to Holsworthy Surgery to see a doctor or nurse.

The doors to Beech House Surgery have been locked after negotiations between retiring GP Dr Francis Fernandez and Ruby Country Medical Group broke down at the start of July.

Shebbear resident Barry Hunt has written to NHS England, in charge of awarding GPs’ contracts, demanding action to resolve the situation.

‘For the first time in 130 years, Shebbear has been left without a resident GP,’ he said.’It is an absolute farce. Just ridiculous.

‘At the moment we are having to travel ten miles to Holsworthy, which is fine if you have the transport but not otherwise. They have organised a bus which leaves at 10.30am which they are saying takes quarter of an hour to get to Holsworthy but that’s a laugh.

’Then it doesn’t leave to come back until 1.30pm, so you’re stuck there.

‘I know a person who has to have their dressings changed three times a week, and she has no transport. It has been extremely difficult for her.’

Ruby Country Medical Group was to have taken over the surgeries in Hatherleigh and Shebbear after being awarded the practice contract by NHS England in June. However they were denied the keys to the surgery buildings after negotiations apparently foundered with Dr Fernandez.

On Friday, RCMG revealed that it had applied for planning permission and change of use to convert the old NatWest building into a surgery in Hatherleigh with the hope of opening the surgery ‘as soon as possible’. They also said they had identified premises in Shebbear and were entering negotiations with the landlord.

However this has further inflamed things in Shebbear, where calls are being made for the practice to reopen negotiations with Dr Fernandez to release Beech House Surgery.

‘They are saying in their briefing that they have identified premises in Shebbear for a doctor’s practice, however, as somebody who lives in Shebbear I find it extremely difficult to think of anywhere they could open up the doctor’s surgery other than the existing surgery,’ said Mr Hunt.

Jane Wells, managing partner at Ruby Country Medical Group, said: ‘We are trying our hardest to get something back as quickly (in Shebbear) as possible. In Hatherleigh we were lucky, the NatWest building was an obvious choice.

‘Shebbear is a small village, rather than a town, so it is more difficult, but we have identified some premises and we are talking to the landlords.’

Asked about the circumstances which led to the practice not taking on the Hatherleigh and Shebbear surgeries, she said ‘Dr Fernandez changed his mind’.

As a child I sometimes walked with my Grand Father Thomas Atkinson to Newinton Road council depot where he collected his pension.
He used to be on the bins, as he became older he was changed to a road sweeper. As he became older still he became Superintend at of the underground toilets at Haymarket.. In those days you could get a wash and shave.
How things change.

Morning all,

Again dull and dreay here so no change in that department.

Last year oh bought me a lovely Royal Worcester hedgehog mug from Mole Valley which cost about £6.50ish. I looked in Mole Valley for them this year and they had other petterns but not Hogwart. When I went in for the scripts the other day I looked in the Heart Foundation shop as they had a few marked down Christmas bits and I was looking for the boys. Nothing in two's so I went to the back of the shop where they had moved the china etc and there on the shelf was a hedgehog mug the same as the one oh bought me without a thing wrong with it (except it needed a wash) for 99p marked down from £1.49. Of course I bought it at that price so now I have two hedgehog mugs incase I break one.

I waatched that Back in time for School last night as I missed it in the week. The things they taught the girls and boys back in Victorian times amazed me.

Afternoon All,

I slept like a log last night till 9.30am this morning and feel much brighter. A tiny squint of sun today but it soon went back to dull and dry.

That's good you felt more human yesterday Jane. Those crystals sound like they would clear any tubes!! LOL Stand back! It's a shame H isn't well now, but a bet she's glad it didn't happen while they were on their honeymoon. I bet they had the heating on full blast when they got home. :-)

That was very kind of you do offer to make me a pompom Mel, but I'd started and managed to do one yesterday, the old fashioned way, with two cardboard discs! I know you have some proper pompom makers, but I wanted a huge pompom as you will see on the pic I have emailed. How lucky was that for you to find an identical Hedgehog mug for next to nothing! I love it when you find something that is exactly what you want in those kinds of places!

The place we go to for Sunday lunch had to close for breakfast this morning because of gas problems yesterday, but everything was ok and the tender lamb was on the menu again. :-) The head chef came to find us to wish us a Happy New Year which was nice. They are really good with their customers there. We often see an elderly man riding his mobility scooter on the way there on Sundays. The staff always look out for him and come and open the doors wide for him and help him off his scooter onto his chair. Today they helped him off his scooter and into the gents, then helped him back again. We also see them stand at the carvery with the frail or less mobile and fill their plate with what they want and carry it to their table for them.

A new patio heater has appeared next door for the puppy! I expect she is spending more time out there while she is being house trained.

Afternoon Everyone

I am just waiting for Dancing on Ice to start.Chris will no doubt have a grumble and say what rubbish :-D I see it is on for 2 hours but I wont be watching it all.We like Counrty File at 7.

Ann, I think little Ted is the perfect model for your lovely POM POM hat :-D He looks very handsome :-D :-D. So little Pup has its own gas heater :-D. Love it :-D :-D Do you know what it is called? You may have said and I missed it.
The staff where you went for your lunch sound amazing. They care for their customers so well which is so good.I think they deserve an award .

Mel that was so lucky finding another Hedgehog Mug exactly the same as the one you already have.You now have a pair :-D
That was an interesting read about the problems with the surgeries.It sounds as though the retiring Dr Fernandez might be a difficult man. Is that right?
It just sounds all a right mess really .

Im doing Beef Stroganoff tonight for James and Me. Chris decided he wanted Beans on Toast and Eggs. So he has done his own and is eating now. I still dont really have much of an appetite but will manage a small portion. There is going to be enough left over for at least another serving tomorrow.

Anne,I have always fancied having a Camper Van. Just to be able to up and go when the fancy takes seems just great. But it was just a pipe dream .I know that Chris would not drive one so it would be just down to me and I can just picture the arguments LOL I hope Paul finds one that suits him size and price wise. I did suggest to Chris a couple of years ago that maybe we could just hire one for a weekend ,but that fell on deaf ears :-S. I tried :-D

James has just come downstairs. He is going to do the Beef Strog
:-D :-D.. I will just shout through instructions :-D

Evening all

It's been quite warm here today, the water feature has been on again, it sounds so nice.

Happy new year to you Elizabeth hope 2019 is a good one for you.

Pleased to see you are starting to feel a bit better now Jane. One crystal sound enough, by the sounds of it three was to many. Sorry to hear Hannah is ill now, hope she feels better soon.

I don't blame the cats for staying indoors Ann if the weather is cold. Sandra is looking forward to seeing a picture of the new cat if you can get one. Love the hat you made over Christmas. What lovely customer service you have and lamb again, is that your favorite?

OH and I have been talking of buying a Camper Van Anne, but a large one all three of us can holiday in. We thought it would be nice to travel around the country visiting different places. We've been saving for quite some time now so should be able to afford one in a year or two. That's the problem with the larger ones they're not cheap, but it's something to aim for isn't it? I hope Paul finds a nice one for himself soon.

How lovely knitting a cowl Mandy, it's just the thing when the weather is cold. Sandra has a snood and she says it's so warm around her neck. Sometimes she lends it to me if I'm working in the garden and it's a bit windy and it's brilliant as I tie my long hair back and the draft goes right down the back of my coat.

How wonderful to find the hedgehog mug Mel, that was a stroke of luck, lets hope the luck keeps going throughout the year. I've recorded Back in time for school, OH and I are looking forward to watching it.

Today I've planted the bulbs but apart from that I've had a relaxing day watching 60 minute makeover all afternoon with Sandra and OH. I was so busy yesterday taking all the Christmas decorations down, there were so many I was still at it until 1.30 this morning, needless to say I didn't wake up until late, almost midday, I couldn't believe how late I woke up. After I planted the bulbs I had a lovely bath and relaxed all afternoon.

Yesterday, OH cut the two lawns, they look so much better now. I was surprised he could do them this time of year, but I suppose with the mild weather and no rain for a while it was okay. Everything in the garden is now finished so that's good. We need to get on with a few jobs indoors like the kitchen drawer fronts......they've still not been done and I'd like a new living room carpet and a few new lamps, so we'll be shopping for those soon.

Just watching Dancing on Ice, it's pretty good. Sandra's been waiting all day to watch it and is thoroughly enjoying it.

Love the hat Ann. It looks really cosy. I could have done you a BIG pompom. I am going to make one for a hat I bought in the hospice shop last year. I took off the croqueted (sp?) flower it had on it and thought if I put a BIG pompom on it in a nice mauve I have it will make me look a bit taller. The only thing is that its a bit big for me really. I may have to run some elastic around the edge. I have a very small head so have trouble with hats. I have lots of bobble hat though but I wish I could find the one mum made me.

It has taken me all day to get the decs put away. I thought I had'nt put so much out this year but I must have put a lot more on the tree. The tree is standing in the kitchen as bald as the day it arrived. Oh said he will pack it away tomorrow for me and put it up the loft. I am hoping I can get him to put more stuff up the loft so I can free up some space in the uti room. The box of dust sheets can go up there and lots of other stuff.

I had some very very sad news tonight. Aunty Joy rand me to say mums brother (and her brother) died yesterday. He was 86 the same age as mum when she died in 2010. Joy is 83 and the youngest. RIP Uncle Roy. <3

Morning all,

Another dull and miserable day here today.

We had trouble with the heating yesterday evening it would'nt come on. the hot water came on but not the heating so oh had a look at the switch thingy on th ewall but it still did'nt work so we thought we would have to get a new switch AGAIN. It costs about £100. When I got up this morning the heating was on so oh got it to work after all. Still think I will get a new one though just to keep in hand so to speak.

So what has your weekend been like?

Morning all,

Another dull and miserable day here today.

We had trouble with the heating yesterday evening it would'nt come on. the hot water came on but not the heating so oh had a look at the switch thingy on th ewall but it still did'nt work so we thought we would have to get a new switch AGAIN. It costs about £100. When I got up this morning the heating was on so oh got it to work after all. Still think I will get a new one though just to keep in hand so to speak.

So what has your weekend been like?

O and I had the Error page this mornign