General Chat

Morning All,

We were up with the lark to be showered and at the surgery for our jabs at 7.30am! The nurses must be starting earlier this year as we've been among the first at 8.30 am before. We thought being so early we would sail the couple of miles to the surgery, but there was more traffic than ever to hold us up queuing. We'd thought parking at the surgery would be easier too, but only two spaces were left. Karen, the nurse doing our jabs, was in a tizzy about the new rules from today and was already behind. My right arm is starting to feel a bit stiff in the shoulder and that was the covid jab she said normally causes less aches than the flu one. We came home, had our pills then went for the coffee and cob deal down the road and called in the shop. When we got home I hoovered through and tidied the bedroom ready for the wardrobe man coming. Blow me, he then rang to say he couldn't come as his child had to be fetched from school as she'd fallen. He's coming tomorrow afternoon now. These things can't be helped but it is hard to make other plans when things get cancelled and then another day is disrupted. Friday the blind man is here fitting rails and the blind.

It's stopped now but was raining here earlier AnnG which I didn't expect. Too wet to do anything outside though, so I am doing paperwork just now. OH is happy as the cattle in the field have gone, so he can walk across there now without having eyes in the back of his head! Good luck with your dental appointment.

We tend to put our bin out the night before now as well Mandy unless it's very blowy. To think the binmen used to come round the back of your house to carry your bin on their backs and then carry it back again. No rules about what you put in it either. Now it has to be put at the kerb and have the handles facing the road, but they don't put it back there.

Our parking at the surgery got worse when they needed spaces for more doctors, due to so many deciding to work part time. When it's busy people have to queue at the entrance till another patient drives out of a space. I feel so sorry for the very elderly with all these rules. It must be very confusing and put some off seeing a doctor. One very old lady with a stick walked in and didn't know how to use the booking in screens and another patient in the queue waiting to book in helped her and then explained how the big screens in the waiting room would tell her when it was her turn and which room to go to.

I hope you are bright eyed and bushy tailed after your good sleep Mel. I think AnnG is right that your mind was relaxed now you are sorted with a car.

Morning all

Very grey here this morning 13 degrees not sure if we'll see any sun today .

Ann our binmen were here at 6.15 this morning ,they use to say have your bin out by 7 but if you do that you'd miss having it emptied so we've always put ours out the day before .
All this change at the doctors ,I wonder if we'll ever see a doctor again ,we've no idea how many doctors we have at the surgery but every time we drop our prescriptions in the car park is always half empty ,years ago it was hard to get a parking spot .

Sounds as if Vera's enjoying her break ,Holt is a lovely little town with nice shops thats where I bought my dress for sons wedding .

Just my cup of tea so better get some jobs done

Good morning all in a new month. Mel maybe the worry over the car had gone from your brain which is why you slept well.
It is very grey here but already 12 degrees.

I have my least favourite occupation this morning, a dentist appointment. Just a check up, the cleaning will come later on.

Morning all,

A very misty moisty morning here today it is 10 degrees and pc says mostly cloudy.

Don't knw if Stu is coming today or tomorrow I am hoping it will be tomorrow as I know he has a clinic to go to today.

Slept really well last night went straight off and woke once for the loo.

Afternoon All,

It's been sunny here all day with few clouds and was quite warm by lunchtime. I was fast asleep but OH said the binmen were here at 6.30am! I bet some people had to rush out with their bins. Then the windowcleaner arrived with his sidekick at 7.45am!! I hope he didn't think the old, stained sheets drying on the fence that I use as dust sheets were off our bed!! He should have been here on Monday and it's very difficult knowing when to shower when you neither know what day he will come or even how early in the ,morning he might come now. He told OH he only does a day and a half a week now himself (he is in his 70s) and he seems to pop in some houses for a coffee so doesn't do much of the cleaning when he does come now. A chap who is a windowcleaner knocked on our door and left his card in the summer, so we might try him as he seemed ok and his price was reasonable.

Yes wasn't it good when we got power steering. Dad had big cars, a Vauxhall Cresta in 1963 followed by a Vauxhall Ventora and Triumph 2000 PI and I would drive them to the bank in the city on Thursdays and drive up the winding, narrow ramp into the multi storey carpark. On a hot day it would be exhausting parking them. It was the first multi storey car park in the city and the winding ramp was closed in with perspex like a tunnel. Then when people were waiting and queuing on it to drive down out onto the busy road again, some were passing out with the trapped car fumes and they had to take the perspex roof off it. As with many cars from the 50s, the Austin A35 van I drove when I was 17 had no syncromesh on first gear and a local boy I knew taught me to double declutch so I didn't have to stop to go into first gear. ( he worked at the motor racing chap Roger Clark's parents' garage.) Dad's cars all had 3 speed column gear changes and bench seats, but first OH's Austin A55 had a 4 speed column change which took a bit of getting used to. For reverse you you pulled the end of the lever out and inch or so, lifted it up and pushed it right forward in the raised position. My friend's mum's Renault R8 had the gearstick high up coming from the dashboard next to the steering wheel.

Mel you were very lucky being given a car by your parents. I never actually had a car to call my own till around 1988.

Yes rust ruined many a nice car AnnG. We had a new lovely Simca Rallye in 1975. It had black leather bucket seats, unusually disc brakes all round for that time and a slick gearbox made under licence from Porsche. We even paid for it to be sprayed underneath with rust protection, but it still went rusty and the firm that sprayed it had gone bust by then!

I'm not keen on this new way of making Drs appointments that starts tomorrow and having to wait for them to ring you back/contact you with your appointment within 24 hours. How on earth can you plan your day or the next day till they ring you back. I read that a doctor has to wait to triage all the calls for the day to decide who needs to be seen or not and whether by a nurse, doctor or pharmacist. If they phone, then some people could be driving or be in a meeting and couldn't answer. If they just text an appointment it may not be convenient so you have to contact them a second time in order to change it.

Vera, a friend who has friends in Norfolk often visits Holt too and likes it. It sounds as if you are enjoying yourselves and lovely to spend some time with your daughter knowing she can be 'herself' with you. I think the two little rescue dogs sound a brilliant idea and I look forward to hearing about them.

I forgot to say I had four subs this week, all ok but a lot for me.

Shoppings been no subs. The suns tryiung to shine.

Yes Mel you are right about the rover 2000 not having power steering We had several of them but they were all OH's and I rarely drove them, however in 1990 I acquired one myself and couldn't wait to get rid of it which I did in 1982

Morning Anng and all,

Its 8 degrees here and a misty moisty morning and pc says expect rain on Friday. O its just gone up to 9 degrees.

Transfering stuff from the old girl into the new girl today and cleaning its windows its also shopping day.

When the shopping has come I shall attempt to post the parcels again at the shop as the post van dos'nt come on a Tuesday. Its good being able to post them in the hsop as the van only comes 4 days a week and the hsops open 7 days a week but not long on Saturday and Sunday.

I had mum and dads old Zephur 4 when they bought the Rover 2000 and that had a bench seat in the front and column change but the gears were really easy. I used to driuve the Rover but it was like driving a tank it was so heavy on the steering. No power assisted then.

Good morning all bright here and 6 degrees now. A small load of washing in as I am trying to keep on top of it before going away. Slept reasonable well, just packing sorting to do today.

Vera, in the 70s I had a new car (I think it might have been a Renault), It really worried me that we bought it despite the fact it had the gears on the steering column. I loved that car and loved the gear change, never ever had a problem with it, Was sad to have to get ris of it when it had a rusty sub frame. that was the problem of older cars in those days. After that I had a Vauxhall Viva which I never got on with, hated it.

My best fruiend from when I livedin Suffolk has a holiday cottage in Holt.

Annx I cup the gear stick in the old car lift it and turn it left and down. This new one has like a switch at the back of the gear stick you lift up and thats where i PINCHED MY LITTLE FINGER and got the blood blister. Did'nt mean to shout I caught my finger on the cap lock again. I am sure this new keyboard is a childs one as it seems smaller than my last one.You pull the handbrake switch up when you stop at junctions and it goes off when you put your foot on the clutch. I could have it set on the locks too as the man who sold it to me had a small daughter. I shall have to look into all these things or read the handbook which I hate. Still not cleaned its windows and must do so in the morning and get more things out the old car.

Evening all

Mel, you will soon get used to driving your new car. Reverse seems to be different in every car we drive. The most awkward one was a car OH bought for me at auction years ago and it had a steering column gear change. I was terrified I wouldn’t get it right or would keep stalling the car but I was surprised how quickly it became second nature.

We have had a lovely day The weather has been beautiful, sunny and warm. I took a jacket out with me because the wind can really blow off the North Sea but there was just a light breeze. We went to Sheringham and walked all along the prom area. I was determined to see the sea as I haven’t been near the coast this year. It was a real treat. Then we found a nice coffee shop in town for coffee and a scone and finished off with a good walk around the town.

Then we drove on to Holt. We have been there several times but it is such a pretty town with lots of little alleyways and courtyards to explore. We had a good wander around there and then went for a late lunch in a nice pub. We’re eating our main meal at lunchtime and not going out or cooking in the evening. I decided on a salad with chicken and crispy bacon. It was ENORMOUS. There was a large shallow bowl filled with a good mixed salad with croutons all round the edge and topped with a load of bacon cooked to a crisp and a whiole breast of herb covered chicken. It was delish and I managed most of it though I had to leave some salad. We then walked some more round Holt before making our way back to the car park.

I started this at 6 pm and then got distracted and just got back to it at 9 30. After leaving Holt we took a long meandering drive back to our cottage along the coast road and through some lovely little villages. We had a sandwich and a cake at around 8 pm and I have to admit that I have had 2 large glasses of wine and feel just fractionally squiffy?

It has been lovely spending time with our daughter. Since her partner died at Christmas she has kept herself busy but I think too busy. She hasn’t given herself time to grieve and I think it has been good for her to be with us for a little while. She doesn’t have to put on any sort of act with us. She is getting 2 little rescue dogs on Thursday. I’ll tell you about them another day.

Now I’m going to make a nice cuppa. Have a good night ladies.

Evening All,

Another fine day so I popped to the garden centre down the road and bought a little ceramic 'greengrocer' cottage that takes a tea light that I saw a few days ago. I wasn't best pleased as there was no-one serving in the Works area of the shop, so I had to tramp over to the garden centre counter at the other end of the shop. A nice young girl came back with me and said they were probably in the office and she went and got someone. The lady there then told me the cottages weren't theirs and I would have to take it to the garden centre tills! Don't you hate seeing them smile as they say it, so I smiled back and asked her how were customers supposed to be able to tell which counter to use when they were with their things on the shelves? The smile went then and she was stuck for an answer, so just shrugged and looked awkward. Why can't shops get the easy things right and either put a notice on the shelves or move the items into the main shop.

Mel the 'button' for the handbrake on your car is a little tab switch like you have to operate electric windows on cars. OH's car has the same kind of handbrake and I hate it and am always reaching for a 'proper' handbrake too as I don't drive it often and forget. with his you pull the tab towards you to put the handbrake on (do it twice to put it on harder on a hill) and push it forwards to take the handbrake off. You need your foot on the footbrake as well if you are moving off on a hill. Another thing I don't like about driving off in OH's car is that you can't 'ease' these handbrakes off and his tends to lurch forwards at times. Gear positions can vary so much in cars. My car now is one where you cup the gear knob and lift it and away from you and forwards. My handbrake (normal one) has a feature I found odd at first as it does not go off for a few seconds when you release it. The idea is that if you are crawling stop start up a hill in traffic, you don't have to keep putting the handbrake on and off. If your old car didn't have a 6th gear that's something else to get used to! Spare wheel? It's good you are all sorted with the car for winter now.

The cottage sounds like just the sort of place we like Vera. I hope the beds are comfy and that you enjoy the change of scene and find some nice places to see.

Mandy the pens with refills tended to be much nicer looking pens didn't they? My best pen at the moment is a Senator one I found in a hospital carpark! It writes so smoothly so I hope I can get refills for it. You've given me an idea though, as OH could get me a nice pen for Christmas! :-D I washed some more old dust sheets to hang out today. They are ancient but must have been good quality as they were so heavy after washing I spun them again. The old line on the rotary looked as if it was about to break and wouldn't stand the weight, so I draped them over our fence down the side of the bungalow where nextdoor's garage is the other side and nobody could see them. :-)

AnnG I remember what a lovely car the Rover 2000s were. A friend of a friend gave me a lift home in a white one when I was a teenager and it felt really posh and was quiet and smooth. How strange to see a light on and the box doing it's own thing! I hope it's sorted out now. I'm afraid I would be useless as I've only ever had a Sky Box and wouldn't be able to set that up myself as Sky did it. I hope you have caught up with getting the craft room/study ready for your daughter and SIL.

My old car was pull a bit of the gear stick up and to the left for reverse but this is a button for the hand brake and you have to put your foot on the clutch and then the other foot on the break before it will goI suppose its all safety measures to stop the car jumping forwards into something but its very strange I keep putting my hand down for the handbrake which isn't there. Another thing when you turn the handbrake off it locks all the doors.

Went up the hsop to post the parcels and the machine has'nt been working all day so its another trip down there tomorrow. The lady in front of me wanted to post soemkthing too. The post van dos'nt come on a Tuesday so its been good that you could post things at the shop but only parcels when the machine will print the labels.

No cooking for me tonight as I am having another of yesterdays meals Stu sent me home with.

yes had one of those too Mandy. Seems it wa either push down or pull up and over.

Hope you get on OK with the car Mel we didn't have a button on a gear stick but I can remember on one of our cars you had to lift the gear stick up and over and back to go into reverse ..

Well beddings all dry I was quite surprised as there was no blow but there has been lots of sun , it seems quite warm out today in the sunshine .

Nice easy meal tonight ,Pasta in tomato and mascarpone sauce and I have some ham that needs using up so I'll chop some of that into the pasta and sauce .

Do you have to press that button before putting the gears into reverse Mel? I think one of out cars had gears like that, I seem to remember holding the button in and pressing the stick down and left or up and left to go into teverse.

My Echo comes through on something sometimes too and she says odd things like "this is what I found" Or if something onthe telly says Echo she comes on.

I have just paid the insurance on the car which was nearly double I paid for the last old girl and Iv'e done the tax too. So I am all set to go just have to get used to the controls now. Its all steamed up this morning and I need to clean the windows and screen as they are a bit dirty from when we came home in it. Stu had to wipe the bit he looked through.

While I ws on the phone to the insurers ( I have been with them 27 years) the chap came to pick up the older mower for a service and put the two new tyres on the front and take the chainsaw for a leak it has somewhere as its losing oil. I was still in my jim jams on my lower half!! and I had'nt put my hair up. I had to put my hand on the seat so the mower kept going when we put in it in the van as you can't drive it in as the vans roof is too low. If your not sitting on the seat it dos'nt run.

Hope Vera enjoys her few days away and its good to know she likes the cottage.

Right I am going to have a little drive now and may go up the shop to post two little parcels.

Morning all,

Very foggy when we went to bed last night and this morning it's a bit misty but the sun has now broken through ,Hooe it a nice day as I have bedding to hung out .

Mel hope you can get your insurance and tax sorted today and have a little ride out in the car , you'll have to give it a name .

Ann I had some pens like that took a while before I realised you had to click on the bit that hooked on to things ,I use to like the pens you put refills in ,I have a nice little pen somewhere I use to like writing with that had refills I shall have to look on amazon and see if I can get some

Vera glad you arrived OK and it looks like your first day should be a sunny dry one ,have a nice day wherever wherever you go.

That was odd Anng the television turning on hope you can sort it ,we've had Alexa turn on and play music but son sorted that we wondered what the devil it was lucky it was during the day and not at night or it would have set Max off barking .

Washers finished so better get the bedding out .

Morning girls,

Nice bright sunny morning and its 7 degrees and the new car is all wet it almost looks like we had a frost.

Lots to do today as I have to do the car insurance and tax and still get to know it. The funny thing is I did always dip the clutch when starting the old car but I don't think I quite have the seating postion right for me. I suppose its gong to take a bit of getting used to. When I put it in reverse yesterday the gear sticks a bit different and has like a button under it and I have given myself a lovely blood blister on my little finger.

I have to sort out payment to Stu too and need to ask at the post van if I can get and envelope so we can bank the cheque as Stu's bank is in Bideford. I told him he's lucky he's still got one!!

Iv'e been trying to remember the number plate and think I have it now but shall write it down on a piece of paper just incase I forget and get to a parking place I have to put the number in..