General Chat

Morning all,

Dull now after a bit of sun first thing ,we've just taken the Christmas tree to the tip and  back now having a coffee .
We had Katie to stay over the weekend so we're both tired out .

Ann that's a nice little hat that Ted is wearing ,my cowl just needs sewing up ,it felt really strange knitting with such huge needles ,I had to knit like a beginner would knit .

Mel there's a new series of Father Brown starting at two fifteen today .
That's good OH has manged to get the heating going and getting another switch to have as a stand by is a good idea.

O I did'nt know about Father Brown Mandy. I really like those as they are so light hearted and funny in places. I like to save them to watch in the evening when oh is in bed so I don't get told all the mishaps and things he comments on when watching a program with me. Frank should enjoy those too.

I do miss our Frank and hope he gets his laptop back soon.

Afternoon all

Dull here to, but still dry even though they forecast rain for today.

Sorry to hear about your uncle Mel, were you close? Good idea to buy a new switch for your heating, better to be safe than sorry and like you said you'll have it in for when you need it.

I don't watch Father Brown but do like watching Neighbours of an afternoon with Sandra.

There's finally been a workman around next door, he's getting the kitchen floor to the right level some time this week, he just needed to measure up so he could order the concrete.

Our concrete fence post has been broken at the bottom of the drive by the road, so OH asked the workman if he could have the boss's number, the workman told OH to wait until the boss turned up as he wasn't giving his number out. So I've just Googled it and now have all the company's details.

This is the third thing they have broken. We had to put some more concrete on a fence post last week around the back as they had lent heavy flag stones on it on day one so that was loose and the porta loo fell on our fence not long after they started and broke the top bit of our fence panel in the front to. I'll be glad when the property is finished as we're fed up of all the breakages.

Just told OH about the new Father Brown! He's well chuffed as its one of our favourite programmes!

Its started to get very dark here and we now have that mizzle.

I am having a go at more wands.

We've had a bit of rain and the wind is building up. We're wondering if the loose tiles on next door's roof are going to get blown off :-( :-(

How many wands have you done so far Mel?

Afternoon All
Its been a dark old afternoon here,but not really cold at all. I only went to the post office today to get James a birthday card and some wrapping paper as it is his birthday on Wednesday . I had a good sort out of all the Xmas decs and have got rid of loads that I haven't used for years.Chris is happy about that as it is much less now to get back up in the loft.

I hope the roof tiles dont come off in the wind Gill. The last thing you want now are any landing on your house .They do seem to have been a bit careless in causing breakages on your side.You must be on edge all the time .

I am sorry about your Uncle Roy Mel. I didnt realise Aunty Joy had a Brother. Did he live in Bideford too?

I am just catching up on Les Miserables.I think it is so good. I am not a fan really of Father Brown. I did notice that a new series started again today.I used to watch it but have lost interest in it now. I did see Doctors though :-D

Chris is going to have the left over Beef Strog from last night . James and I will have Chicken Kievs.

I do hope Frank joins us again soon. It has been so long now without him

Yes Jane it has been a long while without our lovely Frank. He always has something to tell us about what they have been up to.

I have now finished 6 wands but hav'nt got a photo yet as its been so dark. I like to take the pics in the bedroom as it has the two windows and a good light. I tried a pink ne today with some of the new glitter glue oh bought me but not sure if I like it or not. :-( and th eglue seems much thinner than the ordinary stuff and it smells different and made me start coughing so I put it aside. Now I have lost my gold marker pen. I have looked everywhere for it and its not about. I just hope its not in with the Christmas decs or fallen in the waste paper bin and I have thrown it out.

Uncle Roy was born in Woodford same as Joy and mum. He lived his whole life in Woodford Bridge which Frank knows well.

I too watched Doctors today. Its the only soap I watch as its when we have our lunch and oh loves Zara and her ways and temper. Its the only program he dos'nt talk through much too.

I am going to do pasta tonight with leek, toms, mushrooms and turkey ham in a cheese sauce and we will have some garlic bread with it. Nice and easy.

It has started to rain lightly now out there as I just put something in the dustbin so could see it in the outside light.

Evening All,

Yet another dreary, sunless day here. We went to a garden centre this morning and had a cuppa there and couldn't believe how busy it was. I thought everyone would be back at work or school, but not so. OH told me the first day of term is usually a 'Baker Day' when just the teachers go in and prepare for the term ahead. I have really lost touch with what happens in schools these days.

Mel, what a sorry tale it is about your surgery and how it has left you all with such problems. I do hope they speed up sorting it out. I never thought about a bigger pompom making you look taller. LOL. A big mauve pompom sounds nice! What is the hat like that your mum made? That was sad news to hear that your Uncle Roy had passed away and for your Aunty Joy. It's good your OH got the heating back on and it will be worth getting another switch. It's supposed to be going colder this week.

We put my little drawers I bought for the ensuite together this afternoon and were both soon out of puff with the effort and vowing to get fitter! No blue air though as I read the instructions and gave the instructions and the screwdriver! Lol. :-) Well he usually starts putting things together without reading anything and it goes wrong, but he never got chance this time. :-) I did put the drawer handles on and started some of the screws for him. He even cleared away the mess and hoovered the carpet after so is in my good books. He was wanting to go to a match tonight though!! lol. :-S He has to take his car to Mr Tyre tomorrow for them to check the tracking as it is pulling to the middle of the road for some reason and the tyres haven't lost pressure to cause it. I just hope it isn't a problem with the brakes and it need to go to the garage.

The little puppy is called Fleur Jane. I haven't seen her for a day or two and OH said he has heard a couple of barks , but that was all. I have kept far too many baubles over the years and should have a good clearout too. OH would be pleased like Chris to have less to be put in the loft. I'm having a rethink about next year and whether to make other things like my icicle tree. Things I can just get out and put up! We are enjoying Les Mis too!

Mandy, you soon got on with the cowl. I know what you mean about big needles. It's impossible to knit quickly with them isn't it and with moss stitch the wool is going to the front or back with every stitch you knit! What colour have you knitted it in? So you have a bare house now too after taking the tree to the tip! Is Katie a little livewire and keeps you on the go! :-D It must be interesting where there are a few brothers and sisters to see how their characters develop and are different. :-)

Gill, how disappointing that the work next door is causing you so many problems! It is such a shame they are spoiling things you put such effort into to make things so nice last year. I hope they soon get those roof tiles put back. You don't want those blowing onto your car roof! I'm taking my camera on Friday to see if the new cat puts in an appearance! Apparently she doesn't purr.

You're doing well with your wands today Mel, I'm looking forward to seeing a photo of them when you take one.

Isn't it funny how OH's try to do flat packs without looking at the instructions then wonder why they have problems Ann. Good on you for reading out the instructions and making sure it's was done correctly, I bet it saved you both a lot of time?

I've never heard of a cat that doesn't purr, I hope you manage to get a photo, it would be nice to see him and I know Sandra would be thrilled.

We had a good sort out of our Christmas decorations and baubles a few years ago, we had so many we could of decorated three trees. Mind you I was looking for an angel and couldn't find it at Christmas, so we must of given that to the charity shop too. Luckily I had another one I used instead.

We heard a bang before and thought some of the tiles came off next door's roof so OH went and checked, luckily they hadn't fell so it must of been the neighbours cat jumping off our fence onto the boards on to the other side. The wind is getting stronger so anything could happen before the morning though.

I think if they hit the car Ann OH would be straight on the phone to the council to let them know of all the damage the builders are causing, it's one thing damaging a few fence posts and panels but not the car. When the builders turn up we park the car on the road out of the way but OH doesn't like doing that at night, so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed the car doesn't get damaged. I believe they are taking all the slate tiles off the roof and putting new ones on. The soon they do it the better.

Gill they should'nt have left the tiles in a dangerous place even if it was'nt windy when they did it. It must be a worry to you wondering what else they are going to damage.

Still raining here and looks like it is in for thenight.

Not found the gold Sharpie............ can't think what I have done with it or where I was when I last used it. I looked in the uti room and in the lounge and of course the kitchen but its still hiding. Why do things do this to us? :-| :-| :-|

I am now going in the hsower and then watching some telly.

I am enjoying Les Mis. too. Fancy having your front teeth pulled out like Fantane did?

Morning all,

We have a bright morning with some sunshine and it makes a pleasent change and is very welcome.

Shopping day again and I shall be going to Bideford.

Nothing else to report yet as nothing had happened yet. Heating still working ok.

Afternoon Everyone,

Some welcome sunshine this morning and the towels are washed and on the rotary drying, but I still haven't been out with my camera in case OH called me to pick him up. He took his car to Mr Tyre and they did the tracking, but OH reckons it was still pulling to one side on the way home. I asked him if they had said the tracking was out, but he said he never asked, as they seem to have just 2 eastern european chaps now who didn't speak much english! :-S He's taking it back again this afternoon, so it looks like I am going to miss the only sunny day this week to take my camera out!

Isn't it frustrating when you can't find something Mel! You sounded as if you were doing well with your wands. I was going to finish 2 bracelets that I started ages ago and they only needed a few beads to get the length right, but could I find the same beads again.....no! They are probably in my big box of unfinished things, having been borrowed for something else!! I shall be glad now when I have finished off more things so I can put things away where they should be. :-) I had to look away when they were pulling the teeth in Les Mis!! How awful the things that happened to women then and what they had to do to get money. People today don't know that kind of desperate poverty do they.

Yes Gill, I was quite bossy with OH when we put the drawers together. LOL :-) I wasn't in the mood for any faffing about and his chuntering and it went well. Maybe I should be more like it in future. :-D Mind you doing the drawers and grovelling around on the rug to do them yesterday has made him really stiff today and set off the nerve pain in his leg so he didn't sleep well. You must be a nervous wreck now when the builders are around with the damage they are doing. I do hope there isn't anything else and that they will soon get done.

OH had to buy a new tyre when he went back as it was misshapen when they checked and that was what was causing the problem with the car pulling to one side. I bet he'd hit the kerb or dropped in a pothole......there are plenty of them.

This afternoon we decided to go to a tea room we'd never been to before, just for a COT and to see what it was like. We thought the sign for it pointed to Desford Hall which has a business park there now, but there was no sign of it there. As we drove out, we saw the sign was pointing down a rough track at the side of the Hall. Well we drove for ages down this track to the middle of nowhere and would have turned back if we hadn't kept seeing signs to carry on! lol. We even passed a derelict farmhouse on the way. It is a vintage tearoom, very 1950's and the 2 ladies running it were dressed accordingly in headscarves and the sticky out skirts of 50s dresses. Lacey type tablecloths and bone china, gold rimmed cups and saucers with roses on! They have a top hygiene rating displayed, which is always good to see where you eat, and vintage mirrors and knickknacks about. We wondered how much trade they got being so far off the beaten track, but they do all kinds of events and parties. They even have an under 3 years old Primary School Readiness class one day a week teaching numeracy and literacy and it is free if parents buy food/drink and is run by a qualified teacher. Over 50s get a discount one day a week if they wear vintage clothes! Also cooking classes for children as well as adults and things like lolly making and painting ceramics.

I forgot to say I had one of those awful moments this morning when I filled my car up. The garage has 'pay at the pump' card machines, but won't take the fob type loyalty cards so I have to go to the kiosk to pay. Well, when I went to enter my PIN my mind went blank and I couldn't remember all of it!!! Luckily I had my other credit card with me and, even more luckily, I could remember the PIN for that even though I hardly use it. Of course by the time I got home I remembered the other PIN!!

Frank seems to be having a long wait for his laptop!! It's ages now since we heard from him.

Afternoon Everyone
I have had quite a busy day today .Took a Goose feather and Down Duvet to recycling ,popped into Tesco to get Beef for the slow cooker tomorrow, then it was onto the Jewellers with Chris's Mum old Gold Charm Bracelet .It is for Hannah and I was going to get it cleaned but the lady suggested we just give it to Hannah as it is as she may well not ever want to wear it but might just wish to keep a charm or two.I can't really see Hannah wearing it and she might want to sell it It is probably worth about £7-£800.
After that it was Sainsbury to take back a jumper and then Dunelm to get a new Duvet.I also found a lovely double duvet cover and pillowcases ,possibly for James's bed.The cover was £30 instead of £60 and pillowcases £15 instead of £30.They are Dorma so a good quality. While I was there I decided to get some new pillow protectors as some of ours are looking pretty disgusting even though clean.
So after all that I could hardly hobble as my hip was really giving me trouble. I was glad to get home.

I hope OH has managed to get that tracking sorted now Ann. What a pain having to take the car back again this afternoon. Something has to be off somewhere.There really should be someone there who speaks English !!. My car is going in later this month for its first service,Mot and a Software Update. I always go to the Renault place which is where I have always gone . I don't think I have ever heard a foreign member of staff there. Even the Mechanics I have seen have always been English.

I bet it was chilly down on the Quayside in Bideford today Mel. Do you ever get to walk along there or is it just the Morrisons shop?

Chris and i were just trying to think how many boxes of mansize tissues we have got through in the last few weeks. We reckon it is 12 !!!!!!!. We like the Kleenex Balsam extra large ones as they are a bit softer on the old nose. But at £2 a box that is £24 so far :-0 :-0 I just can't believe how much mucous and snot is produced :-S :-S. I've never had this much for so long.
Its gross
:-S Chris too is still not great. He has no energy at all and has to have a nap eveey afternoon at the moment which is not like him at all.
I have just done James's card and wrapped the couple of presents. Nothing very exciting ,just some trainers that he wanted and a nice Merino /Cashmere jumper ,plus some money for a nice meal out in London at the weekend with Jess.

Ohh those teeth being pulled in Les Mis !!!!!!!!!!!. I felt so sorry for her and seeing the beautiful hair being chopped off too :-(. I actually felt it quite difficult to watch and was quite emotional . I am really looking forward to next week. I am enjoying this more than the Musical I saw in London .Saying that ,that was brilliant too.
Time to think about dinner now.

Evening all

I've had a lovely relaxing day today, just made a sausage bake and made a picture for our living room as I wasn't keen on the last one I made, then I decided to have a look at the origami kit Sandra and OH bought me for Christmas, although it's quite confusing for someone whose never done it before. I had a Google on Origami and there are a few diagrams so they've been bookmarked for the future. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it in the end. It was nice not to do much for a day. I'm so glad our garden is finished as it's gone quite cold out there now, it was nice to see a bit of sun today though, I'm just glad i wasn't out in the cold.

The tea room sounded lovely Ann, I love that sort of thing, a bit of a problem finding it by the sounds of it, but well worth it in the end though.

Isn't it awful when you forget something important, you were lucky you had another card you could use. Maybe you were just a bit panicky, which wouldn't of helped and once you had paid with the other card and had a chance to relax you remembered the PIN. At least you managed to pay so that was good. Pleased to see it was only a tyre in the end your OH needed to buy and it wasn't anything more expensive. OH said it might of been him accidentally hitting the kerb which caused the tracking and balancing problems, it's easily done isn't it?

You have been busy Jane, I bet you were glad to be home so you could have a sit down. That is a lot of tissues you've both gone through. Sorry to hear Chris is still unwell, hope he feels better soon.

Have you found the gold sharpie yet Mel? I bet you find it when you don't need it anymore, isn't that always the case?

Sandra has just told me that Vera starts again on Sunday on ITV at 8pm. Also Call the Midwife on the same day and time but BBC1 if anyone watch's them. Sandra watch's Vera and I watch Call the midwife so it works out great for us with them both being on at the same time as she has her own TV to watch Vera on :-)

Evening all,

It's been a lovely sunny day bit chilly and windy, i stripped the bed and got it all dry by lunch time ,doesn't linen smell lovely when its had a good blow out in the cold .

Ann the tea room sounded interesting just the sort of place for an afternoon tea i should think.
So nothing to serious with OH's car although the cost of a new tyre is not some thing you want to have to pay out to often ,there are lots of pot holes on the road we go on to the egg farm ,we're getting to know where they are now but i did see last time a few had been filled in .
I forgot my pin number when we came back from holiday once ,your mind just goes blank .
I still haven't sewn the cowl up yet ,it's done in a nice cream wool as i thought that will go with any thing .

It's a shame Charm bracelets seemed to have gone out of fashion now Jane ,i suppose it's because they are a bit chunky to wear ,Hannah might find a few charms on it that she might like ,Pandora bracelets and charms are all in now .
Goodness that's a lot of tissues you got through ,just think yeas ago it would have been hankies !!!!! they would have needed a boil wash .

That's good you've had a relaxing day Gill your always on the go it will have done you good to have a rest .
What is a Sausage Bake ?
I did see that Call the Midwife and Vera were on next week we like both of those

Shopping day tomorrow ,we've still got loads in the freezer so we'll only need a few fresh bits and bread .
My little Buckets arrived they are so sweet ,now i need to print a few bits off to stick on them .
We've started on one of the Jig Saws son bought us for Christmas ,only a 500 piece one so not to bad to do .

Evening all

Haven't done much today wasn't feeling too well yesterday so I thought I would take it easy today,

Went back to the vet yesterday, Ruby has another weeks worth of antibiotics to take she doesn't want to see her again unless we are concerned about her, in 3 weeks time she is due for her usual appointment with the nurse.

Jane you certainly got through a lot of tissues, sorry to hear Chris isn't completely better yet, It's a shame charm bracelets are no longer in fashion but as you say Hannah will maybe want to keep some as they are gold, I did have a silver one once but don't know what happened to it. Is she feeling better now?

You asked if Bruce was an Old English Bulldog, he is and is a very placid boy.

I to have been watching Father Brown and always enjoyed it . Like Sandra I am also a fan of Vera, I like Call the Midwife as well, I read the books before it came out on TV but I think there were only a few written. We have recorded Les Mis so will get to see it soon. It was always very popular when it was shown as an Opera where I worked the company was Park Opera and it always sold well for an amateur production.

That was nice finding the 50's style tea room Ann somewhere else to visit for a snack when you are out and about I remember wearing those dresses when in my teens so many layers and net petticoats, my wedding dress was the same style one of my friend's made the petticoat and sewed blues ribbons through it, my bridesmaids also wore the same style in pale blue.

Ann the tea room sounds nice with all the old fashioned china etc. Shame its got such a long rough road to get to it though. I am sure you will go again.

Poor Chris still has a bad cold I see. I hope he is now on the mend. Has James escaped it? You seem better with all th ethings you have done today Jane.

Did the shopping and got home before it was dark. Its surprizing how the night are getting lighter already. I told oh before I went I would corn the bantams and completely forgot so I was pleased to get back before they went up to bed. The banties don't like oh so he won't corn them. He is so big I think he frightens they.

Sorry you were'nt feeling well yesterday Anne. Hope you feel beter soon. Give Ruby a hug for me and hope the next lot of meds clear up her poor bottie. <3

So Mandy you now have your little buckets. Send a pic please when you have sone them. Are you going to use the pic of the two children dressed in misletoe and holly? That was one of my favorites too.

I like Call the Midwife, Vera and Father Brown and tonight I watche dthe new Silent Witnes thye are always good I think.

Gill it does you good to have a day off once in a while as you are always so busy doing something. No I hav'nt found the gold Sharpie yet but it will turn up when I am looking for something esle I expect. I meant to but anothe rtoday but forgot. I will see if its light enough tomorrow to take a pic of the wands I have finished.

Morning all

<3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES <3 <3 Hope you have a great one.

Frosty here today. There's a workman next door at long last, I think he's taking the rest of the rendering off around the back, it's very noisy.

OH had a word with the boss this morning about the broken concrete post down our drive. He's only a young lad in his 20's with a terrible attitude, he was in his van when OH spoke to him and all he said was "Its alright it'll be fixed when we do the drive" then drove off, no apology or anything. OH is fuming and said he's going to ring the council. I think it's time we got some legal advice before they break something else. The boss has the attitude that he can break anything and just fix it when he feels like it......not a very nice man at all.

So you haven't found your gold sharpie then Mel, I hope it hasn't been thrown out by mistake like you thought the other day. Looking forward to seeing the wands you've been making, you've been very busy. Yes, it was nice to have a day off yesterday, although if I have to many I get bored, but at the moment there's isn't much to do now the gardens are finished.

What are the little buckets for Mandy? I seem to have missed a post about them :-S :-S

The sausage bake is just sausages potatoes an onion and a leak in one roasting pan covered in oil and seasoned with garlic and the like, you then roast it until it's all cooked. It's a quick and filling meal and not much washing up afterwards. Sandra loves it. I sometimes add other things such as mushrooms, but I suppose you could put anything you like in it, maybe even peppers, or anything you fancy really.

How are you feeling today Anne? Hope the second lot of antibiotics work for Ruby, is she okay taking them? I remember when I had to give our cats tablets, what a job that was. It took two of us to do it and we had to wrap the cats up in a towel so they wouldn't scratch us, it was quite a palaver.

I'm feeling very anxious now the workmen are back, I was okay with the work next door until things started to get damage, now I'm a nervous wreck every time I hear them, wondering what's going to be broken next. I think I'll go and get a cuppa and find something to do to calm myself down.