General Chat

Afternoon All,

It's very springlike here too Mel, with lots of sunshine. I met with my beading pals this morning at the house with the big cats. She has had one of the rot proof studios OH and I were looking at last year erected in her garden and it looks lovely with her mature trees around it! She hasn't finished fitting it out yet, but I think we will be beading in there soon. It has it's own little radiator and lights along the edge of the roof at the front, double glazed windows and is plastered out inside and painted white. We had a good look at her chickens and bantams today, so many varieties and I was surprised the Buff Orpington had such soft feathers. One of the cats jumped on the next chair to me and was patting my arm as he wanted a chin tickle. I can't believe how such big, heavy cats can spring up and land so lightly and carefully.

We were going to the undertakers to order the flowers for my sister this afternoon (the interflora site wouldn't accept the undertaker's postcode so I couldn't do it on-line!! :-S) and were then going to see exactly where the crematorium is as it's not far from there, but OH has been paying visits to his white friend (as Frank would say) for most of the morning, so we'll have to go on Monday instead now. No lunch out today so I think I will do me a garlic mushroom omelette in frylite with sliced tomatoes and avocado. The washing needs to go out first though.

Frank at least you have Simon back in your life now, which is good. That's good news about the dog as it must have been worrying after the good news about the diagnosis. I am looking forward to seeing the other dog's hat too! :-) It may seem a bit silly, but if it puts a smile on people's faces and gets the dog even more fuss, that's great. :-)

Afternoon all,

What a beautiful day it is ,the sun is so warm as Colin was doing some jobs outside i took the coffee out and we sat in the sun shine with no jacket on ,fancy being able to do that in February .
Well the ironing was eyeing me up today so i gave in and now it's all done :-D
Also cleaned some windows so they look better ,the sun is nice but it shows all the windows up and don't get me started on the dust !!! :-D

Ann OH must be relieved to have been discharged from the hospital and that the Iritis has cleared up with help from the drops , at least he got his eye drops this time be it in single doses .
What a shame the little church was well kept but had that neglected area ,was it a redundant church ?

It's just the right sort of day to do your spraying Frank ,they must have been worried when they saw the swelling on the dog but it's good it's only fluid and will go down on it's own .

So the new hen house is all designed how you would like it then Mel ,OH will have plenty to do when the wood arrives ,will he need you as his labourer ?

So you'll soon be in a new studio room to do your beading Ann that will be nice ,does it all open out to the garden ?it will be lovely in the summer .
Hope OH's tummy soon gets better ,it sounds just like i had last week end .

What a beautiful afternoon, Wall to wall sunshine.

Eos did her ironing this morning and has been cleaning the greenhouse this afternoon. She been interrupted by a phone call from the garage. He has just come to pick her up. I needed someone to pick me up when he told me how much the bill was. £221 26. Thank GAWD those bills don't come around very often. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Mel, it will be lovely OH making the hen house to your liking, rather than a "GERRY BUILT" one. I haven't heard that expression for many a year. I think they used that when they built houses after the WAR.

Ann it certainly looks like you will be spoilt with the new HOUSE in the garden, for your beading. !! How many of you will fit in there.?? Will you still be able to melt your glass etc.?? It will be lovely in the winter having heatingg as well.

Mandy, I like you was in the garden without a jacket, while doing the Wet and Forget.
Pumping the fluid through the machine, has made my neck and shoulder ache. I have been sitting with a fleece round me neck, trying to ease the pain. I hope I haven't done any lasting damage. This is the trouble when you don't exert yourself very often.

I have left a message for "BARRY" to come when he has time, to cut the lawns and hoover up the leaves in the borders. Ros has found TWO dead fish in the pond this afternoon. .So I expect she will be buying more next time she is at the Garden Centre.

Annx I used to love my "OLD FRIEND" sitting on the arm of my chair for a cuddle and fuss. It's when you hear about other cats, that you miss having him around. NO I am NOT getting another. I hope your OHs tummy clears up soon. They are not very nice are they.??

Ros has just told me she forgot to pick up the MOT and paper work for the service. Perhaps she can call in there tomorrow on her way to meet Martine.

Nice easy tea tonight, which will suit me down to the ground. I was thinking of going up the Football Club to see the lads. But at the moment I don't feel I will be moving far from my armchair.

Have a nice evening all, catch you tomorrow, if bot sooner. xxxx

Evening all

I keep getting the error page so haven't been able to get on here today, for some reason I had to sign in again to.

I've cleaned all our drive down this morning and now it's dirty again with the work next door, I don't know why I bothered.

I hope all goes well with James and Jess tomorrow Jane. It must be difficult if one wants children the the other doesn't. I hope they can remain friends if they don't get back together romantically.

So your OH is going to make the chicken house now Mel. I suppose if it's going to cost the same and you can make it the way you want, that's the best way of doing it. I'd love to see a pic when it's finished.

That's good news with your OH's eye Ann. I'm really pleased for him.

I lost my post and had to start again, so I'm going to post this now, sorry I haven't mentioned everyone, but I don't want to lose my post again. Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow.

No it seems to be a very active church Mandy. I've been looking up about the tombs which date from the 1500s, and they were father and wife and son and his wife. Both of the men were Knights of the realm!! They were of the Fielding family who had a stately home at nearby Newnham Paddox (long since demolished). We visited the gardens on an open day a few years ago. I've sent you a few pics.

Everywhere I look here looks dusty!! When you do the dusting it hardly seems to last five minutes. Yes, I think we may be in the new studio for beading once she has sorted it all out. That is what she thought anyway, but then again I suppose it will depend on what she is doing in there herself at th time. This is what it is like, but hers is pale grey with a white interior

https://www.compositewoodcompany.co.uk/garden-rooms/

I hope the W & F works well Frank. I don't think I used it properly before as it came out patchy. You are so right about body bits seizing up. lol As suggested by the chap who injected my knee I started to do a bit of pedalling on the exercise bike, Each time, I have had to have a day or two to recover as it made my back play up!! I meant to ask if Caroline able to fly off on holiday tomorrow with her bad ankle?

Evening All
What a cracking day. A bit misty first thing but that soon burned off.

Great news about OH's eyes Ann and that you managed to get the drops .
Cats are brilliant, however big of being able to land softly.They have a knack somehow.I bet you did a great chin tickle :-D
I wonder why there was a problem ordering the flowers on line . Has OH's tummy settled down now?. I had a bit of a funny tum today .Not lots of visits to the White Friend but enough :-S. I waited until I was sure it was safe to go out :-D. I went to Market Harborough to Majestic Wines as I had a £20 off voucher .Our Majestic shop shut last month :-SAnother closure for Kettering. The voucher was going to run out in 2 days so I had to make use of it :-D

So good to hear that Simon's dog may be good now Frank. Fingers crossed he stays well now.
Just had your pic of Max Mandy . What a pic.He has his eyes shut and just soaking up the sun :-) :-) He looks just so relaxed there.

Chris has just answered the phone and it is someone for me. Will try to get back later.

Evening All
What a cracking day. A bit misty first thing but that soon burned off.

Great news about OH's eyes Ann and that you managed to get the drops .
Cats are brilliant, however big of being able to land softly.They have a knack somehow.I bet you did a great chin tickle :-D
I wonder why there was a problem ordering the flowers on line . Has OH's tummy settled down now?. I had a bit of a funny tum today .Not lots of visits to the White Friend but enough :-S. I waited until I was sure it was safe to go out :-D. I went to Market Harborough to Majestic Wines as I had a £20 off voucher .Our Majestic shop shut last month :-SAnother closure for Kettering. The voucher was going to run out in 2 days so I had to make use of it :-D

So good to hear that Simon's dog may be good now Frank. Fingers crossed he stays well now.
Just had your pic of Max Mandy . What a pic.He has his eyes shut and just soaking up the sun :-) :-) He looks just so relaxed there.

Chris has just answered the phone and it is someone for me. Will try to get back later.

Dinners nearly ready. S & K pie with mash swede peas and mushrooms.

I'm glad you are getting Barry in to do that first cut of the lawns and some clearing up Frank. You need to be sure you are properly healed before doing too much. There are 5 of us that meet up to do beading, so there should be room I think. Her garden is full of trees and bird feeders and fat Squirrels, so there is plenty of entertainment too.

Gill I would leave the mess for the workmen to clean up when they have done. You may need to finish it off afterwards, but at this rate you could be doing it every day and they'll think they haven't made any mess. :-S I've had trouble with the error page today too.

That was a voucher worth having Jane! It sounds as if Kettering is closing down bit by bit! :-0 The same happened with Nuneaton and now the empty shops seem to have been taken over by bargain shops or betting shops and cheap booze shops. I think it's tending to happen in lots of places. It's a shame though.

OH seems a lot better now........he's being cheeky so that's a good sign!

Yes it was a lovely day here although no chance for us to be outdoors this afternoon as we were at a U3A meeting. Never mind tomorrow looks ok.
Pleased to hear Barry is going to make a start for you on the garden Frank.
Mandy thank you for the photo Max was definitely enjoying the sun there.

Good evening all

Beautiful sunny day here, Ruby and I spent most of the day in the garden, she takes great pleasure in chasing the squirrels, I counted six up in the Scots Pines.

Love the photo of Max, Mandy, he looks really laid back bless him.

Pleased to hear that Barry is going to do the garden Frank.

Haven't got round to reading all the posts as I haven't logged in for a couple of days so I hope everyone is feeling ok.
.

Ann its good that oh's eyes are better now and that he got the right eye drops even if they are a single dose. Sometimes thats better cos you use it all and then have a fresh one for next time. Hope his tum has now settled down. The new garden house looks good and I am sure you will be able to do beading it when the lady has it sorted how she wants it.

We watched a master chef with dinner and oh said with that dinner I am definately in the next round. Cheeky thing. It was a lovely pir though.

Can't wait to see this pic of the bulldog in the hat. Frank if you cna't get Ros's pic on the pc get Simon to send you a photo of him in it and you can forward it to us. I think your car cost you about the same as when I had to have new brake pipes. They get bad around here with all the cow muck on the roads.

I too am having terrible trouble with the Error Page. AnninG said she had reported it last week I think.

I have a few daffs out in the garden now, not a lot but some and they are not the tiny ones. The tete a tete are out on the patio in their tub.

Jane you did'nt want to lose that £20 voucher so good you spent it. What did you buy?

The wind today has been icy this afternoon. Oh said he was'nt doing any more mowing in that and came in for a warm up.

Lovely pic of Max. He looks like he is really enjoying that warm sun bless him.

Morning all,

Another beautiful morning here after a frost which I think may still be lurking under the box hedge a bit where the sun don't shine!

Usual Saturday morning here do the egg delivery to Em next door and then up the village for the paper.

I seem to have done nothing but HW and cooking this week and not had a play at anything. That may change today if I am lucky and I shall get some craft stuff out. I have a little something I want to take and make but not sure if I can get it right so we will see.

Good morning Mel, and All,

Yes the blooming ERROR PAGE is around a lot lately. They need to get it sorted. :-| :-| :-|

Jane, like Kettering, Northampton id getting like a Ghost Town. A bit on the news last night showed how many small shops were closing also the Market is getting smaller by the week. It's the biggest Market Square in Great Britain. The last time I was there I bet there wasn't 20 stalls. Most of which were Material or electrical.

Please you oh eyes are on the mend. where would we be without our peepers. lol lol

Adam our Postie came by this morning in SHORTS AND T SHIRT. I wouldn't have thought it was that warm. :-0 :-0 :-0

The dampness seems to be lifting, but the grass is very wet. I think we might be in for a nice day again.

I have just found out that the Football Club is open for the Lunchtime Match. So who do you think might take a walk up there to see it. ?? Ros ,can pick me up, when I am ready to come home. It will be nice to see some of the lads also.

Mel, I can't believe how much work your OH gets through. is there nothing he can't do. ?? Harvey is just the same. When I think, he worked in the shop when he first left school, but got fed up with that, then started Landscape Gardening with "GABBY" in the close. A few years later he branched out on his own, and has gone from strength to strength. He now works almost Full time for A family who are extremely RICH. With properties in and around Milton Keynes, the children have FLATS in London also. Harvey maintains them all, I think the only things het gets tradesmen in for is PLUMBING AND ELECTRIC. I have never known anyone who works and enjoys it as much as him. He makes me so PROUD. There are quite a few little jobs I need doing, but don't like to pester him, as he only gets SUNDAY'S Off.

Not that I am political, but I see we have another IS member wanting to come "HOME" Just what is the government going to do with them all. I think it is total WRONG to let them back in. As my mother said to all of us, if we were going thought an iffy time in our relationships. "YOU MADE YOUR BED NOW LIE IN IT" Enough said. LOL LOL

Gill it sounds like you are loosing the war trying to keep the dirt and dust away, while they are still working. My advice would be. Sit back and wait till it's over, then get dug in and clean it. !!!! GOOD LUCK xxx

Ros has gone to pick up the MOT etc. from the garage, then on to meet Martine. From what Martine says, Brian her husband is not in a good way. He is constantly in pain with his stomach, and is back and forth to the Doctors/ Hospital for tests and cameras being put inside him. I won't go into detail. :-( :-( :-(

Enjoy whatever you are doing today, and please take care. xxxx

Frank yes oh can do most things even electrical and plumbing. He worked with his dad froma very young age and he was an electrician and oh could get to parts his dad could'nt reach. When in the fire brigade they had to check and change all the light fitting in big shops. He was also a gamekeeper when he lived in Surrey so can put up fences and make pens etc. He has also laid big drives in those pavers and worked very hard all his life. He just has a bit of trouble getting around now as he can't walk very far before having a rest.

Afternoon All

What another lovely day it is.It was foggy first thing but the sun is shining lovely now and yes Mandy doesn't is show up all the dust and the dirty windows :-S :-S

Gill, I would think cleaning your house must be like a lost cause at the moment with all the buildres dust.Bit like painting the Forth Bridge. As soon as you finish you need to start all again :-D. I would be tempted just to do the bare minimum unti lal the dust has finished from the builders.

I took my car to the Hand wash place over in Finedon this morning.My don't those young men work hard. It is a very popular car wash and the queues can be really long.
When I paid'the boss' I said to keep the change and he said it goes in the tip box. I do hope that the tips get shared equally as they probably get paid a pittance . I think they are all East European .I think people come from miles to go to this one.

Mel you are so lucky to have an OH who can turn his hand to anything.Plumbing and Electrics are a definite NO NO for Chris !!!. I think Gareth is someone who will have a go at anything so Hannah is lucky. His Dad is the same especially when it comes to woodwork.He just loves working with wood.
Harvey seems to be doing really well for himself with the Landscaping business Frank.It seems like a full time job with this family . How lovely to have a job that you really really love doing. I don't think too many people would be able ot say that.

I too was wondering if Caroline is good to fly.Did you dsay she has ot wear one of those big boots? She will need extra leg room !.

The Garden Rooms looks really good Ann.All that glass in the front though could make it very warm with sunshine blazing through.You might need to take a fan :-D :-D.

Anne, I used to love watching Chester chase the Squirrels.He was like a flash of lightening !!!. Watching the Squirrels chase eachother around the big tree trunks is quite amusing . Ruby will be kept busy :-D Is all good with her behind now?

Mel I bought Wine with the Voucher as it was a Wine Shop :-D I got all white wines.

Hannah rang a little while ago to say she had just left James at one of the tube stations.He and Jess will just be meeting now. We are both a bit on edge as we wait to hear what happens.

Just having a couple of Vegetable Spring Rolls and I have burnt the roof of my mouth :-S


AnnG what is a U3A meeting? OK I think Chris has just explained. Uni of thr 3rd Age?

Good afternoon all.
We were off out fairly early this morning. Had sausage sandwiches in Tesco and then drove to a large Blue Diamond garden centre where we bought three packs of seedlings to be potted on in the greenhouse (petunias and geraniums. three summer raspberry canes and three autumn (they, of course won't fruit this year), some compost,a yellow clematis, a thyme to replace a plant that died in the table trough that OH made last autumn and a reduced primrose in a pot which still has a lot of buds on it.
We then went to the small garden centre next door where we had lunch. I had some very delicious courgette and potato home made soup. OH had parsnip, apple and stilton soup, he had a baguette with his and I had a cheese scone with mine. Then we came home.

It is a glorious day, the first going out without a coat, just a gilette.

I am developing the cold that Inara's parents said she didn't have!

Jane yes U3A is University of the third age. a Pompous name for something that was set up in 1973, it is world wide.

The U3A model is low-cost, defined by participants, and learner-led. It is not dependent on state funding; it has a life and existence of its own. More importantly it demonstrates the value of communities of interest which are not defined by age, or by past experience, but instead are defined by the experiences still to be explored”.

In laymen terms it provides opportunities for continued learning and for social activities to retired and part time workers. OH and I belong to two groups, one is a photography group, the other is a garden and NT visits group. There are lots of others in our main U3A, Italian appreciation, book club, cookery, bird watching, Art History, family history, choir, circle dancing, table tennis, bridge, archeology, walking. Anyone can start a group. if they organise it. groups are lot allowed paid leaders/instructors (hence the 'self led'), we pay for a room for photography but it works out about £5 every three months. We also pay a yearly membership fee (which covers a quarterly magazine), the amounts differ per area ours is £26 for the two of us.

I bet you wish you'd never asked.


Gill I agree with others, I would not try and clean outside if they are only going to make a mess again.

Mel my OH can do most things although I prefer him not to attempt other than basic plumbing jobs. He was trained as an artificer apprentice in the navy and passed various exams so is able to undertake most electrical jobs. He can make things, decorate and has taught himself with the help of my Dad and the experience of his Dad, gardening. Not a lot he won't attempt. One thing he doesn't like is heights though. I do wonder in a few years time how all these young people will manage re looking after houses etc. Our grandsons had no education in all the basic things and are not in jobs where they can afford to pay tradesmen a lot to do jobs. fortunately they are willing to learn so OH has taught them basic electrics (wiring plugs etc).

I am glad I did asked AnnG :-D. Now I know :-D. It sounds a brilliant thing and cheap at the price too. Italian Appreciation sounds interesting .I love Italy ,the food,wine and anything Italian. I am hoping we will go back again, but OH is getting more and more reluctant to fly these days. Not the flight,but just all the hassle of Airports.Miserable old thing :-S
Breakfast and lunch out then for you today.You won't need much this evening after that delicious sounding soups.

The sun is still shining although I think some of the heat is going a bit now. Not upstairs though. I have just done the ironing,and the sun has been coming through all the back windows .Its quite scorching up there. My next door neighbour has been doing some cutting back out the front topless . Not a very pretty sight :-0 He did look hot though (and not in the sexy way )

I think I might my colouring book out. Jess bought me a very intricate one by colours for Xmas .It is all animals but I get a bit crossed eyed after a while as it can be quite difficult seeing which colours go where.I do enjoy it though as it is very relaxing and a bit addictive.

Thomas has just waltzed in .First time since 4.30am. Still full of Bunnies I think.

Chris is in the Summerhouse doing some painting. The big trucks are still rumbling away across the road so another weekend of no peace. I think there are less there now so that has to be a good thing.
Fish and Chips tonight . Tesco Finest Beer Battered Cod (fresh) is just the best.McCain Homestyle Chips,Tesco Finest 3 cheese Cauli Cheese,and Peas. Nice and easy for a Saturday. Roast tomorrow I think.That will be the last time of using my oven :-D. I can make as much mess as I like LOL
Oh to have a brand spanking gleaming new Cooker. Roll on Monday :-D

The other night James managed to break a thick glass by just squeezing it . A saying came to mind from I think Cannon and Ball (remember them? ) 'Ooooh I could crush a grape'.. I think it was the little one with the moustache and braces that used to say that. I now can't get it out of my mind !!!! :-D

Good evening all

Nice peaceful day here, Richard has gone to London with a group of friends, looking on facebook they have visited Parliament in Westminster and the Imperial war museum, they plan to have a meal before getting the train home.

Paul picked up his camper van yesterday and then he went with a friend to the NEC
so will see him later when he drops the van off.

Jane, you asked about Ruby's bottom , touch wood it seems alright now.
James must have a strong grip to break that glass, did he hurt himself?
I looked up your Yorkshire holiday home and it looks so cosy with some treats included and plenty of places to visit near by. Hope your cooker is everything you expected it to be.

Those soups you had for lunch at the garden centre Anng sounded delicious .

Where I worked at the Arts Centre the U3A used to hire rooms for their courses at the time there were 3 different choices on offer there all taking place in the day time don't know how much the students pay as they only paid SHP for the room hire.

Peter was very practical when it came to DIY he fitted our kitchen and could do most things about the house and garden he also fitted a new engine to our Ford car back in the day.. Paul being a fully qualified electrician does the electrics if needed

Evening All,

A nice sunny day and more washing dried outside. I love the smell of cotton dried outside. :-)

I have seen various things to do with our U3A near here Ann. I had the gist of what they do, but thank you for your explanation as I didn't quite know how it all worked. Your soups sounded very tasty and made me decide to have some today, but the lid on the jug in the microwave shattered and the bits fell into the soup and ruined it!

OH is fine today and went off to a local match in case he had a relapse!! :-) He has found an open garden with snowdrops to look at tomorrow that is fairly near so I'd better get my camera charged up.

Jane I can tell you are dying to get your new cooker! :-D You will be wanting new roasting dishes to put in it next!!! lol. I wonder what Chris has been painting? My friend's garden room is tucked away between tall trees on 3 sides and doesn't get much sun so we should be ok I think. If we have one it would be a different matter as the sun blazes on the top end of the garden. We would have to borrow someone's Red Robins to shade it!! ;-) ;-)

Anne I expect Paul was thrilled to be driving his camper and will be planning a trip soon. They are so well finished these days and comfy I'd love it.

They are holding 6 free, 3 hourly sessions in the village on Forensics and Crime Investigation next month, which is right up my street. :-D No requirements or ability needed. The trouble is they are on Friday mornings when I do beading. I'm very tempted to miss beading for 6 weeks!!!