General Chat

Morning girls,

Grey and wet here tis morning and its 16 degrees. Its that fine rain , whats it like with you?

I slept well up once for the loo and it was still dark don't know what the time was as I did'nt wnat to wake up.

Shop to do today and then I may do some miniatures. Hav'nt done any for a while with doing the garden.

Thanks Vera I just popped over there now.

For AnnG (and anyone else who is interested)

I don't know if you noticed, Ann, that Tabitha had posted on the old book thread 2 or 3 weeks ago. I've responded to her so please have a read of what I have put. I keep meaning to tell you I finished one of the Fiona Valpy books I downloaded and to say what I think of it so I'll maybe put something about it on the book thread over the weekend. I can't see the thread suddenly springing into life again but it would be nice to have someone else to talk books with

I cleaned the big bathroom first thing this morning so that was out of the way and a good job done.

I did my pond filter after that and cleaned out the scimmer, had it right out of the pond and got it back all nicely clean. That took a while. Sometimes its a job to get it back in its holder but today it went in first time.

BIL came and mowed and now I am £500 odd lighter.

I strimmed some of the garden down by Prickerly Bottom before he mowed and then the battery ran out. BIL did'nt stay for lunch and Iv'e not done much since. Since then I had a cheese and pickle roll and I have only given the mealworms some carrot and sorted out some nice big ones for Robbie's box.

Not done anything else. Its been cooler as it came over a bit cloudy and its 17 degrees now with a bit of a cold breeze.

All I have done today is one load of washing. I do seem to do more washing in the summer than winter. And, of course also walked to Iren’s but just seemed to mess around, on here for a bit and read a bit. Have to say I am fed up with all the sport on the TV. I don’t watch tennis and the alternative is womens’ football and definitely don’t watch that. I ended up last night watching a recording of Dads Army. Sent me to bed with a smile on my face

You are right Annx, my buffet tea was excellent value. Of course, they don’t have to pay staff to serve and wash up etc as it’s all done by volunteers and some of the food will have been donated by volunteers as well but there is so much of it. It’s an annual event and we have been going for years. It was £8 a head and only went up to £10 a couple of years ago.

Mandy I was asked to do a fruit cake of some sort for tomorrow’s fete. I’ve done 2 but am not sure if they will end up in the bin as I think the thermostat in my oven is playing up. I started with a boiled fruit cake that I’ve made hundreds of times. It always takes at least an hour and a half, though I usually test after an hour and a quarter. I did that today and found the top was quite a dark brown and the testing knife came out completely clean and dry. I think it is probably overcooked and dry but I can’t tell till it is cut. I then made a Manor House cake to your recipe. That looks better because I kept a very close eye on it and was testing it every few minutes after it had been cooking an hour. Poor cake was in and out more times than a fiddler’s elbow. I covered the top as soon as it was a nice golden brown and removed it from the oven as soon as my knife came out clean so I hope it’s OK. I’ll take them down to the hall in the morning and the ladies doing the refreshments can decide whether to use them or not.

Mel, I don’t think our blueberries are going to be as good as last year but OH did pick a good bowlful this morning. Our tomatoes are way behind. The plants aren’t very tall and are only just beginning to develop some flowers. Everything seems out of gear this year. Even my penstemon are odd. They are blooming nicely but are only about 12” tall.

I hope you have been resting more today to give your back and legs a chance to recover from your gardening stints AnnG

Time seems to race by these days or maybe I’m just getting slower. I can’t believe it’s 5.30 already. I suppose I’d better prepare something for us to eat. Have an enjoyable evening, folks.

Afternoon All,

It's reached 25 degrees here now. I had a patchy night's sleep, was up at 6.00am to water and pull another couple of handfuls of weeds and weedkill a few more new nasty weeds. I had a dream that was to do with something I read yesterday and with watching an episode of Vera before I went to sleep!! My dream was that I was walking down a street pushing a pram with a baby in it. I'd seen someone outside a shop with a baby in a pram next to another pram left outside with a baby in it and she had swapped the babies and pushed her pram away with the other baby in it. I then skipped to walking up a road with the other baby looking for the owner of the pram to tell her her baby had been switched. Then a car pulled up and men in uniforms were walking towards me and I realised they thought I'd stolen the baby and I woke up! Must have been anxiety about the skip arriving.

The skip man messaged me before 8.30am after OH had already gone and arrived 10 mins later so nice and early and easily put the skip on the gravel. He had 3 other skips to deliver and called it a midi skip. I was sure I ordered a mini one but am glad it's bigger, as like you say Mandy, once the fitter has put what he wants in it there should be room for some other things we can get rid of out of the garage. :-D

It sounds like the new dose of the tablets are suiting you better Mandy and it must be good to have slept quite well without the leg fidgets. Your veg are doing well and I do envy you your beans! I love them. Careful with your knees and not do too much.

Vera do like a good buffet and your afternoon sounded great with all the food and you won a voucher you can use too. It was all very good value for the ticket price wasn't it.

AnnG sensible to do your errand earlier. It sounds like you need to ease up a bit today. It's a pity Cynth's baskets don't let down to water them as it must be hard on your arms holding them up to do it.

I went to a garden centre once the skip had come and bought a few cards and some more weedkiller. I had a nice cool pineapple drink while I was there, but resisted a bacon sandwich as I couldn't believe they charge £5,95 for one. (Vera's buffet she went to was much better value!!) :-D

It is 20 degrees here, very cloudy. When the sun is out still hot, when it goes in it is much fresher.
I walked down to Irene's to take some books back and it was not too hot walking I did take my stick though as my legs and lower back are complaining about the gardening and watering yesterday. Cynth's baskets are hung up this time and it is a stretch to get the water into them.

Morning girls,

Blue and white stripy cloudy sky this morning and the suns out and its 17 degrees.Pc is saying to expect two rainy days starting tomorrow So I must have another go azt strimming. My back is a bit sore from yesterdays strimming but wil see how I go.

Its good you had a better nights sleep Mandy it seems like the lower dose pills are working better for you. My beans are'nt even flowering yet let alone being able to pick a few. Same with my cue but that went in late so I don't expect any yet. As to my Blueberries Vera mine are still green but you have had some very hot weather in the east of the country.

I am expecting BIL today So I must remember to tell him not to mow over a wild flower that has come up on the back lawn. Oh liked it and it always came up in the Rock Rose shrub down prickerly Bottom but has'nt for a couple of yeaars I think its Knapweed and has lovely deep mauve flowers. I have been trying to get seed from it but have never been successful but has sowed itself in the lawn but I'd like it up the border.

Morning all,
Suns out but there's a lot of cloud about ,slept quite well again woke twice but I didn't have the dreaded fidgets so that was good ,my knees just feel like I've run a marathon very sore .
Hairdresser comes this morning so I want to do a few jobs indoors and then see if I can do a little in the garden this afternoon, picked 6 small cucumbers yesterday so thats 8 we've had so far and I see there are a few runners we might have to fight over as there's not quite enough for two for a meal.

Ann hope the skip has arrived and they put it where you wanted it ,you might be able to get rid of any of your bits in it after they have put in the bathroom bits .

Oh Vera what cakes have you been making ,it's the summer fair at the little school today so son has to help ,I think it was last year he was in the stocks the children loved throwing the wet sponges at him . :-D

Good morning all. 16 degrees, feels qiote cool but cloudy sun. Back pulling a bit today so that is probably the Jasmine trimming, probably go easy on gardening today. slept reasonably well although woke several times.

Good morning all

It’s a bright sunny day and already quite warm. It’s supposed to get to 26 degrees again. I was hoping it would be cooler as I’ve got to be cooking today. I’ve promised to make cakes for the village fete tomorrow.

I’ve been up a long while but so far all I’ve done is have a cup of tea. I’d better get dressed and have some breakfast and then start cooking. OH is in the garden picking the first lot of blueberries.

I hope all goes well with your skip delivery etc Annx.

Evening All,

I slept quite well and like you AnnG with just a sheet over me. You managed more than me in the garden. I just managed two handfuls of weeds out of the gravel. With it being neglected last year, there are lots of those with white sap springing up. They come out easy but if I don't keep on top of them, even more will appear next year. My first FIL always said 'one year's seed means seven years weed!' :-D know what you mean about losing heart as I am finding plants are struggling or at a standstill with the heat, despite watering.

Well the three young Magpies and two Pigeons are always in our garden now. This morning the young Magpies had obviously been bathing in my water feature again and were preening and the Pigeons didn't bother to fly into the field till I was really close. I might try pushing some canes into the water lily mesh pot thing so they can't get in easily.

I had my hair cut today, so that feels cooler now. It all starts tomorrow with the skip arriving hopefully. OH has conveniently got a meeting in the morning so I am left to deal with it as usual! His car will be gone first thing in the morning and as I don't know what time they will come I'd better park my car across the bottom of the drive so they don't put it on there where OH parks his car. I have said to put it on the gravel. I suspect we might be a first drop as they are only ten minutes from us. Today I have been sorting and chucking things out that won't be going back in the cupboards and have found a few things I'd forgotten I had. I can't clean the bedroom now till it's all done, (not that I mind that!) because of the boxes of stuff I've stacked up along the wall and the fitter will need to put the wall unit along another wall till he refits it.

I'm glad you had a better night Mandy and here's hoping the extra tablets today help even more.

Another lot of baby swallows will be nice to see Mel. They are getting some use out of that nest!I wonder what Stu will make for dinner tonight. Don't you take hayfever tablets for the sneezes and runny eyes?

Dear Lady Vera <3

For you. <3 <3

Take gentle care
Love EOS
xx

Elizabeth :-D :-D :-D

You've made my day. It's the first time anyone's called me a lady in years.

Have a peaceful night

Dear Lady Vera

Hello

Good evening.

Thank you for your kind description of my person!

In fact, I have white hair, (it was red brown hair), vertically challenged
and a bit plump around the waist. :-S :-D

Take gentle care
Love EOS
xx

Good evening ladies (and gentlemen if any are looking in)

Oh dear EOS, you did make me laugh with your small myopic tortoise. When I read that I immediately thought of a tiny model I have of an elderly tortoise with a hat and wire spectacles. Well actually it’s a turtle but looks like a tortoise and it may be male but from now on it will be known as Elizabeth. I bet in real life you’re a svelte, beautiful blond model.

Annx, the system of 10 minute appointments and only one problem discussed has always seemed stupid to me. I understand the need to have some time limit on appointments and I know it’s possible to book double ones but how can you only discuss one problem as aches, pains, illnesses are often inter-related. A doctor once told me that he often only finds out what a patient has really come about when they are on the point of leaving. Our OHs are very similar aren’t they? Mine has a talent for leaving stuff all over the place. It’s often his glasses though I am hoping that may get better now he only has one pair of reading glasses to worry about. I also remember running after a bus on Capri. It had just started moving off when I noticed that OH no longer had the jumper he was carrying when he got on the bus. I managed to attract the driver’s attention and he stopped so I could recover it but OH wasn’t popular that day.

Mel, I am so pleased you still have Spotty and now you’ve got another 5 swallow eggs as a bonus. Enjoy your meal with Stu tonight.

It’s good that you had a better night Mandy and I hope the tablets are doing you some good now and the better nights continue. Just don’t be tempted to do too much. You must give your knees time to recover before you start putting any pressure on them.

You’re getting on with the gardening and watering AnnG. I’ve done no gardening again. OH used the watering can to do some pots and troughs in the shade earlier but I see he has now laid the hose out so he’s obviously planning to do some watering this evening. It’s a shame about the fuzzy sound when you saw the film. When our little local theatre has a screening the audience are often on the elderly side. Whoever does the sound seems to be under the impression that anyone over about 60 must be completely deaf and the volume is always much too high. I enjoy the films but invariably leave with a headache. Did the film or someone at the cinema say that Moth had died? I was surprised that I hadn’t seen even a small paragraph in the papers so I did some googling. What a confusion. I found stuff from April and May of this year where Raynor is talking about him as though he is alive and then I found an obituary for him in 2021. Lots of people had asked on different forums if he was still alive but no-one seemed to have a definite answer.

It was a lot cooler last night and I expected to sleep better but I still couldn’t settle and read for quite a while in the early hours. When I got up I decided I’d better make the most of it being a bit cooler and get some h/w done so the top of the house to the bottom of the stairs got a thorough vac and dust.

By the afternoon the temp seemed to have settled to a steady 23-24 degrees and we went off to our strawberry tea. As our friend V always sells plenty of tickets to our group the organisers always put up a big table and canopy for us and put a Reserved notice on it. Today there were 12 of our group and we made room as well for a couple of ladies who were on their own. V is so pleased that we all support him that he’s got into the habit of bringing a couple of bottles of fizz with him (non-alcoholic as we are all in cars). One of the organisers brought a tray of cold drinks round to us which was very welcome, then V poured us all some fizz. There was a duo playing music and a couple of quizzes on the tables for anyone who wanted to have a bit of fun. It’s held in a village hall and the food is all served in the hall though our tables are all set out on the grass in front of the hall. Today the first course was quiches and sandwiches of all kinds, sausage rolls and bits and pieces like crisps etc. You just take a plate and help yourself to as much as you want. When everyone has had their fill, they clear the food tables and re-lay them with the strawberry bit. There are bowls of strawberries and jugs of cream, pavlovas, gateaux, scones spread with jam and cream and topped with a strawberry and plain cakes and shortbreads etc for anyone who doesn’t eat strawberries. Tea and coffee as well, of course.

There are dozens of raffle prizes so instead of calling out numbers and it taking forever, numbers are drawn while we are eating and tickets taped to prizes and set out on a long table. Then you can have a look yourself and if you have a ticket that matches one taped on a prize, that’s yours. We got a £10 voucher for a big farm shop and restaurant with a farm trail etc for kiddies. It’s near where we used to live so we often went there but it’s a bit further away now so we don’t often go. I’ve suggested to OH that we might use our voucher towards lunch there soon.

We spent £10 each on our tickets for the event and £10 on raffle tickets. For £30 we’ve had a fun afternoon with plenty of food and entertainment and good company. And we got our raffle ticket money back in the form of a voucher. Can’t be bad.

On that note I’d better end as this post is getting very long. Sleep well tonight everyone.

Well it keeps coming over very black but so far not a spot of rain. I changed my bed did a white wash including the bedding. Watered both gardens then later on dead headed round the garden. Just spent half an hour cutting down long branches of one of my jasmines. It is a pretty white scented flower but it is a real thug. I thought Jake had killed it in March or whenever he last came but no such luck I also managed to get to some long branches of the ramblingbrise and cut them down. Bin is quarter full now. If it is not too hot tomorrow might manage a bit more, it has stayed around 22 today. Just looking at next week still no rain to speak of an 28 a couple of days.

Went outside and saw a shadow of a butterfly on the roof over the patio. Found it stuck in a spiders web but it was'nt a butterfly it was a lovely blue damsel fly. Fetched the camera and took a pic and then rescued it but had to get more web off its legs and as it was on my hand I took more pics then got the rest of the web off it and it flew away.

Morning girls,

It was quite a chilly wind here last night and I felt a bit cold for the first time in ages.

Pc is telling me its high pollen today and I have been sneezing and have runny eyes today too. 19 degrees here and pc says mostly sunny. The sky is grey white and blue here.

Nothing planned for today but must go and get my scripts from the shop and I'm at Stu's for dinner.

I do hope you get on better with this lower dose of tablets Mandy and its good you had a better nights sleep it makes all the difference.