General Chat

Good evening all

It's not been a bad day, alternate sunshine and clouds, and it has stayed dry but there's still a definite chill in the wind. I needed a fleece when I had to go out.

I've had a hectic couple of days and, as I am still hardly sleeping, I feel exhausted. I also have a longstanding tummy problem which is OK most of the time but every few weeks gives me a couple of bad days and that started playing up yesterday. It does drag me down a bit but I'm sure I'll be fine again by Sunday so I haven't really got much to complain about.

I hope you are all feeling free of aches and pains tonight. I have read all your posts with interest and hope to be able to find the time tomorrow to tell you what I have been doing over the last couple of days (nothing very exciting). In the meantime this is moaning Minnie signing off and wishing you all a very good night.

BIL has been and mowed evrywhere accept theorchard again. I think he leaves it because of all the bulbs in the grass. The smowdrops have alldied down but the daff still have green leaves on.I think he said he would leave the daffs till the end of May and then do the lot.

I ordered a smallish watering can from Temu one with lot of handles so I can dunk it in and pull it out. It came just now and I opened it and its good but on the bottom the plastic is very thin and a bit dented in. I suppose you can't expect much for a fiver. I have a dustbin and a big dumpy bucket behind my shed which give me a drop of rain water when it does rain and it saves me coming back to the house each time I ant water down the shed. There is also a metal watering can that collects rain water too.

Going back to the recipe I noticed there was only 3 oz of sugar in it. I wonder if it was a war time recipe. Mum had a cook book the was wartime which she gave to me but Ithrew it out years ago but I did keep the bred pudding recipe from it as it was a good one.

Afternoon All,

Alternating sunshine and cloud here but no rain forecast for today so a wash is on the rotary line.

Yes I agree prices have certainly gone up, along with wages and other costs. I have just compared the prices at the pub we get the occasional carvery delivered from to see what their eat in, weekday price would be for two small plate carveries. Theirs would cost £14.98 and yesterday we paid £23.98 so quite a difference. If we get the regular size carvery to share from the usual place it is still much less at £15.48 and that's delivered to our door. Where we went yesterday have served smaller meat portions to me in the past and I remembered when I saw what they gave me!

Mel that was a great meal to have instead of the curry and good you were free from indigestion afterwards. A news item that came up on my PC this morning said that there can be a rebound effect when you stop the antacid tablet you were taking, so it means it makes things worse for a while, so maybe it will improve before long. How nice to find your grandmother's handwritten Christmas Pud recipe. Less and less is handwritten these days and I have nothing except a note in a book my grandmother bought me for Christmas, a Ladybird book, The Wise Robin.

AnnG we had plans for getting on with a bit in the garden today, but gave up on the idea due to various aches and pains from all we've been doing this week. We both have paperwork to do, so we are doing that and will hopefully be in better shape to make a little progress outside tomorrow. At least you got something done, but it is frustrating as you say.

Good to have those memories Mel. I have a written recipe book from my Mum. Recopes she thought I would like when first married in an exercise book

I have just battled the road works and walked down to Irene's with some books. that was ok, legs a bit tired. Then put all the plants out of the conservatory onto the patio, it is very grey but not rained yet. Spent 20 minutes cutting a few bits back then decided to pull up some grass growing along where the lawn used to finish, that was tough so disn't risk doing too much and came in, now feel as if I have run a marathon. So frustrating getting old.

Whilst getting a note pad out of the desk yesterday a plastic envelope fell out which had a piece of paper in it with mums writing on. On closer insspection I started to read it. Can you imagine my surprise when I was reading my materal grandmother Chirstmas Pudding recipe. Mum did make the puds when I was young and she told me it was nanny Beech's recipe. I had'nt the hear t to throw it away but I have'nt anyone to pass it on too. It makes two puds and you have to boil them for 6 hours. Imagine the steamy kitchen and I can remember them boiling away on the Rayburn in the kitchen and my parternal nan keeping a watch on the water. Funny how some as silly as an old recipe can bring back so many memories. :-D

Morning all,

Quite bright here this mornng but there is showers forcast and pc says partly sunny and 10 degrees.

As its rained a bit I don't know if BIL will come to mow today or not.

Thats seemed strange hubby getting more beef than you got turkey Annx. I would have asked for another slice. Everything has gone up also with this conflict and 2 to 3 years since you have been there I suppose lots of wages and ingredients have gone up, I mean look at our food bills they go up each week it seems to me. Then there's an increase in the leccy, gas and fuel to take into account. Everything is getting so expensive.

I had a nice egg salad last night for dinner with a slice of dry wholemeal bread. went down a treat and no indigestion.

One thing I have to tackle is setting up a new verberating alarm clock, I have had my current one 5 years and it seems to have stopped working. Just received a new one I ordered, seems a lot chunkier and heavier than hte old one and set up is covered on 2 sided A4 paper. could take a while.

Good morning all. 5 degrees and bright here so seems it will be like yesterday sunshine and showers.. Yes Ann I think the fact that your carvery had doubled in price reflects most things. It is hard to believe that these increases are justified and not just an easy way to make more money. But staff costs have increased plus the cost of ingredients so I suppose it is all above board. I don't understand why turkey was dearer than beef though (or that you would have got more beef for your money than turkey. They certainly shound not be giving male customers more than female for the same money.

Not sure what I am doing today. I did make two cards yesterday, I never do as much card making in summer as winter because of the garden but I needed to make a car for Great Granddaughter and a new baby card.

Well the carvery was double the price since we last went 2-3 years ago! We had small plates and I was given two small slices of turkey but OH had far more beef. Why do they give men more meat when it is the same price for women? Also beef costs more than turkey. There was a good selection of eight vegetables as well as mashed and roast potatoes, but we didn't get pots of tea, just a cup with a teabag in now. There were just two couples in besides us, yet it used to be really busy. I can see them opening less days before long or not doing the carvery.

OH decided to walk to fetch his car when we got back, so he did plenty of walking today and it passed the MOT so that was good too. We've had some heavy rain and hailstones since, so he was glad he didn't go to a match he had planned to go to.

I was sent an email last night that was supposed to include a link for me to use today, but when I checked there was no link. It was an email I could reply to, so I have requested the link again, otherwise I will have to phone and talk to those awful bots again!

An early night for me I think and OH has to be up early again for a dental appointment at 8.15am. He's had an email reminder this week and today they even phoned him up to remind him. It's a bit annoying when all your working life you used a diary and still do. It interrupted him in the middle of a work call. Do younger people forget and not note appointments down anywhere or just don't bother? OH also had a call from the cardiology dept at the hospital about making him an appointment. They had only still got him on their waiting list, yet had already discharged him over a year ago! No wonder there are so many on waiting lists.

Our weather was like that late afternoon yesterday Mel. Real April showers in May.

If you think you have a cold and it is not hayfever. Just tell Stu you don't want to spread germs. if you think you should go but can't eat curry this time, ask him to make something not spicy. And if you still have indigestion which has lasted at least three days, ask the surgery if you can go back on the other meds that suited you.

Yes the pain across my waistline has eased this morning, it was more sore than pain, very strange.

Morning All,

We had a lot of heavy showers of rain last night and I must see if my salt on a trial patch of weeds is working today. OH was up at an ungodly hour before 7.00am to do his tablet regime before taking his car to the garage. Some tablets have to be taken with half an hour between and then he has to have breakfast and take another so has to start early with a shower as well. He's gone on his own as he decided his walk today could be walking home after dropping the car off as it isn't raining again yet.

You are right AnnG about not many places having areas to sit and chat when you go for a meal. There are two areas where we went yesterday but the other area has nice padded low stools with curved seats and Fitz hadn't had his second hip replacement last time when we sat there and he toppled and nearly ended up under the table, but luckily the wall was behind him. I hope your waist/tummy pain has eased now. I expect it was from what you'd been doing as you thought. I had a pain in my side yesterday (not OH!) and think it was from sitting twisted sideways chatting a long time. I must remember to turn my chair next time. It's the same in the garden too when we lean in one position cutting things for longer than a few seconds. That's a shame about your optometrist and needing to change. We don't get to choose at Boots and seem to see a different one each time.Enjoy your garden meeting as there will be plenty to see and talk about now things are growing and flowering.

Yes Mel you will be better avoiding spicy food especially in the evening if you can. Also wine, particularly red wine and things with caffeine. If you haven't done it, an extra pillow to raise your head a bit at night can help, but you may need to see the doc again as reflux can cause problems over time. I hope you don't have a cold coming, but maybe it's all the pollen. I have been sneezing more at times, even without going outside and think it is the pollen.

It wasn't good you weren't told straightaway that they couldn't read all they needed to from your photo.

I hope you enjoy coffee with your friends this morning Vera and that your poor burnt fingers are less painfull now. I managed to pour boiling water from the kettle on one of my fingers the other day, but plunged it straight under the cold tap, so it's only a little sore now.

Mandy your biscuits looked delicious and, as I said in my reply, I liked the decoration on them. I bet they've all gone now! :-D

The window cleaner still hasn't been this week so we think he must be on holiday.

OH wants to try the carvery we used to go to where their small plate option is plenty for us. Sadly we can't pop to the Factory Shop afterwards now and I wonder what will happen to the building and if anyone else will move in.

Stopped now and blue sky and white clouds out the front.

Its pouring........................forecast was wrong.

Morning Anng and all,

Nice bright morning at the mo and its 8 degrees with rain expected about 12 noon. It rained again last night and before it was dark the sky came over quite grey. In fact I as type there is grey cloud coming over the blue and white out the front to the north.

Its me to Stu's tonight but I really don't feel like it as he said he was going to do a Tika Masarla curry and I don't like that and with this bout of indigestion I need to steer away from spicey things. Also I have been sneezing a lot and think I have a cold.

Annx hope the car passes its MOT today. You had a lovely time with Fitz with a good lunch and chat.

Anng hope the pain across your tummy has eased this morning and enjoy your afternoon with the Garden Interest Group.

good morning all. quite bright but a lot of cloud around 7 degrees. This afternoon is our Gardening Interests meeting but this time, to give me a break, it is at one of the other member's house. I am being picked up at 1.45. Nothing planned for this morning beyond shower and hair wash.

Ann It sounds as if you had a great meeting with fitz Good that the restaurant were happy for you to sit and talk, sometimes it is difficult to find places like that. Hope that your 'rest' day yesterday has let you recover.

Evening All,

It was mostly sunny for my trip out yesterday, but there have been some really sharp showers today.

I was surprised to find my journey to meet Fitz,which takes at least 45 minutes, was just as potholey and obstructed with roadworks as nearer home. We sat and chatted by their log fire for about an hour before we went to our table which Fitz had booked overlooking the garden. I always think of Jane and us looking at the menus, as we were both more choosey than Fitz and would be avoiding the shellfish and Jane the rocket and me the anchovies! I could only manage a starter and main course, but the starter was delicious, some really tasty orange, heritage tomato with a globe of italian burrata cheese which I hadn't had before, but liked. I decided on the rare treat for me of a sausage main course and Fitz had Chicken Supreme, which I quite fancied, but I wasn't sure what capers were that it had in itI They turned out to be little buds of something. We then went back to the log fire and had coffees that came with white chocolates and carried on chatting. Jane's sister Janice's husband Larry is having radiotherapy for prostate cancer, poor chap and Fitz remarked again on what a lovely, chinese influence garden Chris has at his bungalow. Fitz's wife is retired now and they have four grandchildren now. Time just flew and before we knew it it was 5.30pm so we made tracks as we were almost the last ones there. OH asked me about the food available when I got home and chuckled while he asked if I'd be coming home and saying I'd had goat's testicles next!! lol.

I've felt quite tired today, so OH took me out for a simple but nice lunch of a bun with strips of cod on a home made tartare sauce, home made red cabbage coleslaw and salad. The lady we know well served us and she slipped us extra biccies.

I'll catch up with the posts tomorrow as I've spent ages on the phone talking to a bot that couldn't answer what I wanted to know and, when I did eventually get to speak to a person, they needed to transfer me and the wretched bot was back again and made me go through the process all over again. I need to go to bed now as we need to be up at 7.00am in the morning to shower and take OH's car in for service and MOT by 8.00am. Sleep well everyone.

Edit: Ofgem is the industry regulator for gas and electricity Mel and I imagine they have to comply with them.

Mel google Ofgem and it will tell you what they do but I can’t see how their failure to pay out can be affected by ofgem

Biscuits look lovely Mandy.

Sent photos ,hope you got it ok as I'm still working out how to do it on this new tablet ,I worked out how to send it and fill in the subject but not how to write anything .

You've twisted yourself getting into a tight space Anng it's easily done ,I hope it soon eases .

Mel thats naughty of them ,I think they should have got in touch and said they couldn't read it , you'll know next time to make sure you get a clear photo .

Well the custard creams came out OK, Colin said they were nice ,they are not my sort of thing , I did take a photo which I'll send .