General Chat

Good morning all, a bright morning here and 4 degrees. Plenty to do here today as, with the vivo box etx I have not got much sorted for my holiday and, as daughter is arriving two days before we go, I need to get 'their' room cleared of all the stuff.

Have a lovely couple of days Vera, pleased that the cottage is nice. sometimes 'the middle of nowhere' is a good place to re-charge our batteries.

Great that you have the car Mel. wow that was a speed that Stu took it up to.
When I was driving I always dipped the clutch when starting the engines (all mine/ours were always petrol),. The reason for that was once early on when parked in the garage in the 70s I started our rover 2000 which had quite a long bonnet, there was a bench at the end of the garage. I didn't dip the clutch (forgot) and the car had been left in gear by T. it joted forward of course and fo ever after had s small dent in the front lip of the bonnet. He didn't say a word, neither of us usually left the car in gear!!

Happy driving in it Mel and great the low tax too.

Meal sounded lovely.

I got up for the loo at 3am and there was a strange light on the landing. when I walked out of my bedroom door it was obvious that it was coming from my office/craft room so I thought I had left the desk light on. No, I hadn't, it was the TV in that room had switched on to tell me that it had paired with the one downstairs for the vivo boxes. so that is another job for today to check out that has gone OK. the vivo box on thsi TV was newer than the one downstairs. I had put the secondcontrol they had sent me up here for later but it was obviously impatient to get going.

Good morning

Bright sunshine at the moment but I haven’t put my nose outside to see how warm it is. I’m the only one up so far. This is a nice cottage, very clean and comfortable and very quiet. A bit in the middle of nowhere. Not sure what we are going to do today.

That’s great news about the car Mel. 125 mph! You must have thought you were flying.

Have a good day everyone

Oh really pleased you've got it Mel but that's not a car it's a rocket :-D 125 mph :-D

I've just popped out of bed to switch the washer off and had a look in to see if you had bought the car Mel. I'm delighted for you that it was ok and that Stu could drive it home for you. He must have insurance to drive any cars with his work which is handy. I must admit I always dip the clutch when I start my car as it makes it easier for the starter motor on any car, especially if the battery isn't 100%. Also, diesel engines are a bit harder to turn over as the compression in the cyslinders has to be higher to ignite the diesel. Your last car was a diesel wasn't it so you know to do a longer run to get it up to temperature every few weeks if you do low mileage. I've always been amazed at what you read about not having a diesel if you do low mileage as I've had all diesel engined cars since 1984 and never had any engine trouble with them. The low tax is brilliant isn't it and the insurance shouldn't be much either, so hurry up and sort them so you can get back on the road again! You should get a bit of money for your old car as either spares or even something for it as scrap.

Your meal would have suited me down to the ground with the nice veg and lamb and lucky you with enough left for tomorrow as well. :-)

Iv'e got it its sitting outside the kitchen window all locked up. Stu had a gfood look round and under it and said there's a small oil leak but all else is sound.It wasin a bump and its had a bew front which is a slightly different colour but who cares as long as it gets me from A to B I am happy. Its so different to my old car and when I tried to start it at Stu's it would'nt go. The boys told me I have to put my foot down on the clutch before it would start.

Stu drove us home in it and he thinks its a great little car. The chap would'nt drop the price at all so I said I would pay the £2.000 but Stu got me £50 off for some seisel as it was low. On the way home on a very straight bit of road he put his foot down and it did 125mph and even 100 in 4th gear. I'm really pleased with it so tomorrow I need toget my insurance changed over and get it taxed £35 for the year. I'm very pleased with that too!!!

The lamb roast was absolutely devine. We had broccoli, carrots,leeks, mash and roast potatoes, swede, and roast onions. Stu dished up 6 dinners and there was only 5 of us eating so he has a dinner for tomorrow and I came home with a plate full too so no cooking for me tomorrow either.

I gave Stu £60 for diesel so he put £30 in mine and £30 in his. His friend drove his car back it saved taking the trailer and just as well as we got a bit lost and went down all these roads which were quite narrow with granit stones wall along the sides.

I'm off now after a wonderful day and dinner so I will bid you all a good night and speak in the morning. Night night.

Afternoon All,

It's turned into a lovely sunny day again after a shower of rain first thing and I slept well but lay in late. I've just put the food order away and sent the ceamy potato salad back. I don't know why they think rich and creamy will do when you deliberately order the low fat version. I ordered a pack of cheap biros as the free ones OH gets and gives me have run out. The first 2 I clicked on won't retract again so I shan't be ordering those again. (edit, you press the tab that hooks them onto a pocket top into a tiny hole on the side.......no instruction to that effect and I've never had biros you do that with before.)

I hope Mel likes the car and enjoys the roast lamb dinner. It's so expensive you don't see it on the menu at restaurants very often now so it's a nice treat.

I'm glad you sent us what the photos were AnnG and I still don't think I would have guessed the first one. I hope the weather stays good for your break. I found I took less and less each year when we went to Cornwall as I would look what I took home unworn and would vow to bring less next time. It' depends on whether you are in a hotel and is not so easy when the weather's unsettled though or you don't know what sort of things you will be doing. I hope your friend manages to set your box up.

Mandy I'm exactly the same and have pinchpleat curtains on rings on rods in the lounge as well. I never fancied those eyelet curtains. They look nice, but I felt they left too many gaps around the window when drawn to let cold in and heat out. You must have to remove the end of the rail to get them off to clean as well.

Sounds great Mel. enjoy your day and lamb meal.

BIL came wiith petrol for the mowers and had a coffee and we chatted. Then as he left Stu rang me and said we will go at about 3pm and would I like to go to dinner after doing the car as he has a friend there who is a chef and he's going to cook a roast lamb dinner for about 7pm so no cooking for me today and a day out first to see thecar and hopefully buy it and I hav'nt had roast lamb for years.

So I am well happy and looking forward to the day ahead now. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I just couldn't see what they were Anng ,I would never have got them but thanks for sending the photos so I could see what they were .

Washings out and its brightened up again ,just have to keep an eye on them ,don't think we should be in for any rain .

Mel we can take up to 5. I actually took 4 but one was very easy.

Hope that washing doesn't get wet Mandy.

Morning all,

Nice dry bright sunny morning but a bit fresh out ,I have some washing to go out and then I'm having a relaxing day .

Anng I'm really stumped on all your photos so it will be interesting to hear what the devil they are .

Vera safe journey to the coast, hope you enjoy your break away with your daughter.

Mel I hope you get the car today ,I expect Stu will go over it and make sure its OK for you .

Ann hope OH doesn't come down with something just as your jabs are booked
A lot of the curtains I've seen have the holes in to go on poles but I just need the pleat ones for the bedroom .
We do have poles in the lounge but I still have the pleat ones on hooks on the rings of ths poles .

Gwyn I hope your test result are good when you hear ,these forms are sent to try us ,things just seem to get harder to do as you age , years ago we wouldn't have had any trouble trying to fill them in.

Soon be coffee time but I need to get my washing out ,I've just looked up and it's now gone over very cloudy ,do I hung out or not :-S

Morning all,

Woke early for the loo at 7am something and went back for a lie in but did'nt fall asleep again. It rained here last night quite heavily before I went to bed.

Its quite a nice bright morning here and its 11 degrees and pc says partly sunny so I hope it stays dry and brightish today for our journey to Newton Abbot. we are leaving about 4pm. I'm quite excited but I shall be sorry to see my dear old friend go as she's been good to me over the years.

Anng did you all have to take three photos to the meeting the other day ?

Better get showered as I have someone coming for eggs this morning and I have to speak to a neighbour whose been away in Scotland who messaged me this morning.

Good morning all bright here now but looks as though we had a shower over night. I seem to be in a wake up every 2 hours pattern but went through until 7am so didn't do too badly

Friend is coming at 11 o'clock to help with the vivo box. so better get on and have breakfast soon.

I will probably put the second lot of photos up later as Vera has not got time to study them. Strangely the one everybody in the photo group got first seems to be the hardest and the one nobody got there seemed easiest here but maybe it is the difference between a large and small screen.

Vera enjoy your two days away. I am just starting sorting all the stuff I need to take for the week. Daughter and son in law can never understand why I always have a bag full of 'extra' things I need while away. And all they have is a small case and their medication, although SiL who is older does always have a small rucsac with all sorts in it. Daughter also always manages with fewer clothes than me.

It's a quick hallo and goodbye from me tonight. I slept very badly and we have had such a hectic day with all sorts of things happening. I even managed to mislay a credit card so had to waste a lot of time looking for it. I was on the point of ringing the card company to cancel it when I decided to have one more look and found it.

AnnG I haven't even found time to have a proper look at your mystery photos but I'm not good at recognising bits of objects. It's something to do with my spatial awareness which is not good.

Annx, granddaughter is confident and resourceful but organised? No, she can be quite scatterbrained. When she said she was going to Hong Kong the first thing I said was "Look after your passport". When I have more time I'll tell you a saga about F and her passport.

Mel, I hope you like the car tomorrow. It looks pretty good and I expect Stu will give it the once-over.

I hope your scan results are what you would wish Gwyn and hope everyone else is OK. I'm off now to finish sorting out what we need to take away with us. It's only for a couple of days but we still need to take all our meds and washing gear and I haven't yet sorted those out.

The car looks good Mel and has plenty of room for the chicken feed etc. It should do you nicely so I hope you find it good to drive.

I've felt tired this afternoon so have done very little. OH didn't bother going to see the last half of a second match like he sometimes does and seemed a bit sniffly so I hope he isn't getting a cold as it is our jabs next week.

I haven't seen any curtains online at Dunelm in pinchpleats and blackout in the size I want that I fancy, so I will look around at some more on line.

Did you like it when you saw it mel? Looks good for its age and a good run around as you don't need it for long distances. did you ask how long before the new tyrew is needed?


Ann you got 2 of the three. Well done. Mel was really quick at getting all three.

If you go on here you can see the car.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vauxhall/vauxhall-meriva-mpv-2015-manual-1598-cc-5-doors/1503501812

If you go on here you can see the car.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vauxhall/vauxhall-meriva-mpv-2015-manual-1598-cc-5-doors/1503501812

I don't know yet what time we are going to leave but Stu said he would message me.

BIL turned up this morning to do something with the petrol he keeps here for the mowers so I asked him to pop me up the shop[ and I actually got the parcel sent today. That reminds me I shall have to tell Trudy its now gone. I forgot to take the card to post to my sister in law for her wedding anniversary but the postie came late and I managed to catch him so that now gone. I am now up to date with all the post so thats another thing I don't have to worry about.

Dos'nt it make you cross when you get yourself into something so you can take a delivery and then they say is not coming on that day. It happened to me a little while ago and being right off the road I have to make sure I don't go up the top or into next door for a chat etc.

I was cleaning inside the shed when BIL turned up and hav'nt managed to get back out there yet and I want to wash my hair before its dark so I may just go out and wipe the windowsills over. I have swept up all the cobwebs and dead flies or whats left of dead flies as Jenny and Robby go in and eat most of them. I should be ready to do my Advent ring for the church and the two rings I do for oh and a friend up in the village and then maybe some Christmas table decs for the shop.

Afternoon All,

It was chilly and overcast this morning, but the sun's out now and it's 16 degrees. I've bunged some of the old dust sheets in the washer to do tomorrow as the forecast is dry for the start of the week. I popped to the shop but was back in time for the Evri delivery slot as OH was out. After an hour into the delivery slot I got an email to say they wouldn't be delivering today! What a nuisance, as I daren't do any gardening in case I didn't hear them. Still there's always plenty to do inside.

Good to see you Gwyn, but I see you have had another scan so I hope the results will be good. A lot of forms seems to have too small boxes for the answers don't they. OH had his appointment for another MRI scan come yesterday for about a fortnight's time. They told him a fortnight ago when he phoned for an update that it would be months yet so he was pleased.

When I think of chinese food I think of chicken feet Vera. :-D I do like sweet and sour dishes and chicken chow mein though. I haven't really ventured into much else. OH likes some indian curries but I only remember liking Lamb Balti we sometimes used to have. I had quite a few Indian colleagues at work and they would often bring food in for us like bhajis. They would insist they were 'mild' to try and convince me, but often I would have streaming eyes and reach for a glass of water to douse my burning throat. I think they did it on purpose, although they would tuck in themselves with no reaction.

It's great your granddaughter is using her time in Honkong to explore the area when she can too Vera and to make the most of her time there. She sounds a very resourceful and organised young lady.

I didn't do well with your photos AnnG and could only get the middle one. I bet everyone at you meeting enjoyed the guessing though.

Fingers crossed all will be good with the car tomorrow Mel. I bet you can't wait to see it. Is it in the morning that you are going?