General Chat

I've not achieved much today. The car has passed the MOT and doesn't need any other work which is good, but they wanted to just finish and check it over properly and for me to pick it up in the morning at 9.30am which is fine. OH wanted to leave for his meeting early because of the traffic, so taking me to collect the car would have delayed him.

OH decided to get himself a mini pizza, but instead of switching the oven function on, he switched the microwave function on on the combi oven. He then went out of the kitchen to sit and do some work. He reckons he didn't smell any smoke, but when he went to see if the pizza was browning nicely it was cremated, looking more like a giant blackcurrant tart and smoke puthering out of the oven!!! We had to open all the outside doors including the patio doors and some windows to try and get rid of the smoke and I've still left the bedroom and bathroom windows open, even though it's cold in here now. I've wiped the oven out and will heat up some lemon juice in it tomorrow to help clean it and give it a fresh smell. As it luckily didn't catch fire I would think it is still safe to use.

Yes the piggy bank won't rattle much after shelling out for my car Vera, but we may get bigger bills further down the road if we don't look after them. I would like to see the New Downton Abbey film although it was the late Maggie Smith that was the star for me. I think it will still be good so let us know what you think after seeing it.

Mel, if you are still coughing see the doctor again. You might just need a couple more days of antibiotics.

Sorry you woke with such a bad leg pain AnnG. As it went off again it was probably a nasty cramp. Cramp can be really painful and also make you feel quite poorly for a little while. I hope you are OK now and the gardening group meeting went well.

You'll be raiding the piggy bank to pay for your car Annx. That's a lot of money but if a job needs doing we just have to fork out don't we. How sad that OH's friend has permanent hearing loss because of the doctor not referring him quickly enough. GPs are only human and do make mistakes but maybe the doctor should have thought about it a bit more.

We went down to our usual coffee meet and had no problem getting into Sainsbury's but the car park was nearly full. There were probably 100 or so people spread on both sides of the road and I think they had all parked their cars in Sainsbury's. A couple of our friends were in the group waiting to see the Princess of Wales but we and our friends M & V went straight into the coffee shop. She landed by helicopter at the local secondary school, which is actually quite close to where we live so we could have seen her there. Friends that were waiting outside took a couple of photos and one of the ladies mentioned that she is even thinner than she looks in newspaper photos. I think she stayed about an hour. There wasn't a lot of obvious security, just a couple of policemen and a motorbike but I've no doubt there were a few plain clothes security people around.

No gardening or h/w done again. I do seem to be getting lazy in my old age. The weather hasn't been good for gardening. We've had a couple of heavy showers with thunder and in between it's been pretty windy but I should have got on with some indoor jobs

Tomorrow I'm out again. This time I'm going with 2 friends to Bury St Edmunds where we'll get a bit of lunch and then we have tickets for the cinema to see the new Downton Abbey film. The youngest of us, a mere stripling of 80, usually drives when we are out together. She'll never take anything towards the fuel she uses as she always says she would be going anyway so we try to pay our share in some other way. I'll pay for the car park and I expect M will buy her coffee or something.

Time to think about our evening meal. I know I have a chicken, ham and leek pie thatcan be cooked from frozen but I'd better sort out some veg to go with it. Up until a couple of years ago we often ate quite late in the evening but my digestion doesn't like that now and if I'm still full up when I go to bed it's harder to get to sleep. I used to like tidying myself up a bit and going out for a meal in the evening but now if we eat out it's usually at lunchtime. Oh, the joys of growing old!!

I know just how that feels Annx. You don't miss your car till you hav'nt got it. At least I can take mine up the top on my land to visit neighbours.

Stu is to me next week so that won't be a problem and if he comes on wednesday he will take my bin bag up the top.

I have another day where I keep thinking I will go outside and do a bit in the garden and then it rains so I think I will carry on doing that draw in the spare room. Its all oh's receipts from paying with his card but I did find the receipt for the big Honda mower which I will keep if BIL ever gets round to taking a look at it.

Well it's good it was the other leg AnnG but not good you had the horrid pain. It sounds like cramp as it went off again though. That's good the group exchanges magazines and garden related things. We have had a couple of heavy downpours now with what sounded like hail on the conservatory roof. The birds quickly scrambled to the thicker parts of th trees and we watched a poor butterfly desperately looking for shelter.

It sounds as if you are at least improving Mel. I just used to have dry coughs with my bad throats. I think you have honey and lemon because of other meds like me and that helps soothe your throat.

I'm thinking(hoping!) now that the £900 may include the cost of the service and MOT. I have a feeling the car won't be finished till tomorrow morning and OH has a meeting tonight so would have to go early to take me to pick it up this afternoon. It's not a problem, but I can't pop anywhere.

Ann it was my bad leg not the one with the BCC.

Mel, definitely don't leav it, see the doc again.

Yes Ann we do exchange seeds and plants etc, magazines too, anything in fact it just put on the conservatory table for them to help themselves.

wow, that is quite a bill. But worth it to keep the car. Are you still waiting for the new wheels.

I got the timings right with the pills and it was just the eating a lot I got muddled with but I did drink plenty of water like it said. Maybe I shall have to go back again and see a doctor. its been going on for two weeks now. I'm not coughing so much and if I bring anything up it clear.

Morning, (Oops it Afternoon now) Mel and All,

Lovely sunshine here at the moment. I must get out in the garden and do some cutting back and pull a few weeds. I seem to have hurt my shoulder with scrambling in the car yesterday when the storm came. We were up early to get my car to the garage for 8.00am. I asked roughly how much it was going to cost so I could see whether I had enough credit on my credit card. Yikes £900ish! I'm not sure now whether that was all the bill or just to supply and fit the cam belt. I still can't grumble with it only ever costing me that electric door winding repair a few months ago other than servicing. When we got home there was a parcel on the doorstep. I'd had no email re delivery and it was in full view for anyone to pinch. It was Evri this time and no email since with a photo. They usually take a photo of me holding the parcel here Mel. It turned out to be a circular tin I got to use in the microwave, when we switch to the oven setting. I do traybakes in there and the old one was worn away and a bit smaller so this one will hold more food. We called at the shop next and then OH went for a walk and I've been looking at things for the bathroom online.

It sounds like you perhaps need to see the doc again Mel as you don't seem any better. Maybe the antibiotics haven't worked quite as well if the muddle meant you didn't manage to take them as you should. I have to watch what I eat and when with my thyroid tablets. It sounds like you have the sort of throats I used to get that would last weeks and I would lose my voice. They make you feel quite unwell. OH said there are staff off in the schools with flu etc just now so he's being extra careful about handwashing. His pal he saw last night has had an ear infection that spread to both ears. The doctor treated him with antibiotics for a week, then decided to treat him another week before deciding to send him to the hospital. The hospital said the doctor should have referred him after a week and now he has permanent hearing loss in one ear that could have been prevented. He can't swim anymore and mustn't ever get water in his ear.

Ah there you are AnnG! Yes we are surprised when you aren't the early bird on here and hope you are ok. That pain sounds horrid if it was cramplike. Is it the leg you usually have pain with and is it the one with the BCC? I hope the garden meeting is good this afternoon and that it is sunny where you are too. Do you swap plants/seeds with each other in the group?

good morning )it still is) all. That is the problem with being a creture of habit. sorry. I have the gardening meeting this afternoon and, knowing that I have to move slowly and pace myself I got up, got dressed and started straight in after breakfast with dusting and starting to re-arrange the room, get the cups etc out ready for tea and biscuits. And thus I forgot to come back and clock in!! Friend is coming early to help carry the chairs around.

I slept sort of well but woke around two with a really horrific pain in my bad leg, Not a pain I have had before, really deep and strong down the lower shin part of my leg. I can only assume it was a form of cramp. I got up and walked around and it didn't come back again.

Vera it is surprising how far we walk round shops. I don't have a watch that measures that any more but sometimes wish I did.

thanks for the concern Mel, as you can see I am ok.

Just had a message from Anng she's busy. I can settle now.

Wheres Anng?? Are you ok?

Its absolutely tipping it down here now and its gone very dark.

Morning all,

Quite bright when I got up but now it seems to be clouding over a bit and the sky has turned a sickly yellowy grey. Its 12 degrees and pc says rain starting soon so no change there then.

As to my cough and raw throat its no better really perhaps not coughing quite so much but eyes still running and still blowig my nose.

You've all been busy little bees with your cleaning of houses and cars. Today I think I may tackle the bedroom. It needs a good damp dust and a hooverand a sort out of the tiny things I keep in there for sale.

As to the antibiotics I read the lable wrong it said to take them with food and plenty of water. Not to take iron zinc or indiestion remedies 2 hours before or after taking them.

O Mandy I bet you were cross dropping the Pizza on the floor. If it was me the chickens would have had that the next day.

Annx nice clean car now then shame you got wet just before you finished.

Vera its surprising just how far you do walk going t different shops and back to the car.

As to the parcel deliveries they always take a picture of the parcel at the propert if they get no answer and leaving it behind the car they probable had the number plate in the picture for proof of delivery.

Good evening all

I had a few hours sleep last night and it makes such a difference. The only problem is that I woke up with terrible backache and I don’t know if it was the slow strolling I did yesterday or whether I lay awkwardly in bed. Still, it’s one of those pains that you somehow know is going to be fine in a day or two so nothing to worry about.

You seem to have been busy and got quite a lot done today AnnG. Yes, we do have a community transport system called GoStart which is, I think, open to anyone but is really designed for people who are old or infirm or live in an isolated spot. The drivers are all volunteers and do a good job but it can work out quite expensive. When it’s necessary for us to give up the car we will register with them and then at least use them for hospital visits etc. Daughter says she will drive us anywhere we want to go but I really can’t ask her to drive 25 miles to us just to take me shopping, and then drive 25 miles home again. We’ll just have to bite the bullet and pay out for taxis. Others manage so we will too.

Mel, I’m confused as well with the antibiotics and eating. Did you have a nice meal at Stu’s? We don’t seem to get many spiders indoors I’m pleased to say, although if I leave the conservatory door open during the day, everything seems to fly in. Next day I find the window sills full of dead flies, bees, ladybirds and often dragonflies. OH has been sorting the garage out recently and found we had a brand new magnetic mesh to put up so we can have the door open and let the air in without letting in all the bugs. Goodness knows where it came from. I can only think one of us won it in a raffle or got it as a Secret Santa gift at some time or other. It will definitely be going up next summer.

Gwyn, I am sure the school children will enjoy their trip to Colchester Zoo. We haven’t been for a few years but we always took the grandchildren when they were staying. It’s a longish drive for your pupils and I imagine their time there will be limited so they won’t be able to see all of it. Half of them will probably sleep on the way back as it can be quite a tiring day. We have a lovely photo of son’s 3 girls, then aged about 2,6 and 8, all fast asleep in the back of our car as we were driving back from a visit to the zoo.

Oh Mandy, fancy dropping the pizza on the floor. Was Max around? I bet he would have enjoyed a nice pizza, lol. Yes, I wondered if the small cygnet we saw had been “adopted”. Even so, it must have been a very late birth. As we walked along the river we saw other swans with cygnets but they were all well grown. We didn’t see another small one anywhere.

Annx, we find lots of delivery drivers are really bad. We’ve sometimes been in our lounge and seen them from the window. They walk up to the front door, put the parcel down and walk away without attempting to ring the doorbell. In December I had an email from a company from whom I had ordered a birthday present to be delivered to son. It said no-one was in so they had left it by the outbuilding. What outbuilding? They didn’t have one. I rang dil and she went on a hunt around the house and garden and eventually found it on a patch of gravel behind one of their cars.

Today I drove into town again, parked where we usually do and walked through town to the main surgery to deliver back my blood pressure diary, then walked round town again to the pharmacy where I collect my meds. The queue was out of the door so it was a bit of a wait for my turn but they did have my tabs ready for me. Then it was another walk back to the carpark. I checked my phone when I got back to the car and I’d walked 1.6 miles round town and only been to the doctors and the chemist. After lunch I put towels on to wash, and tackled the ironing. Not a good idea with backache but luckily there wasn’t too much this week.

We have a bit of excitement here tomorrow. The Princess of Wales is visiting the last silk mill in town before going on to another mill somewhere in Kent. There hasn’t been any publicity and I am wondering what the security will be like. The Mill is opposite Sainsbury’s and there is no other access to the shop except from the road running in front of it. There is no possible diversion and they can hardly shut the road as it will mean no access to the store or to their homes for the people who live along that road. We have our Thursday coffee meet in the coffee shop which is above Sainsbury’s so a couple of us have decided we will go as usual and see what happens. It could all be very low-key, of course.

I was going to answer a couple of emails as well tonight but as usual I have rabbitted on for too long and am feeling quite weary now. Time for a drink, another round of pills, a bit of tooth cleaning and a nice read in bed. Sleep well everyone.

Afternoon All,

Slept well and have been to my regular haunt (the chemist) to pick up meds and then to the shop for a few bits. OH was on an online meeting. I decided my car is long overdue a clean inside, so dusted the dash when I got home and emptied things out of the boot ready for taking it to the garage in the morning. After lunch I hoovered it out and took a bowl and cloth to wipe down. The heavens opened and I got stranded in the car with my back soaked till it blew over. I don't remember it being forecast either.

Oh yes, my first pet, a goldfish I called Goldie, was from the rag and bone man with his horse and cart when I was little. I was so excited when he handed me the polythene bag with a little orange fish swimming round. I had him about three years before he died and I buried him in the garden with a little cross to mark the spot.

AnnG I didn't understand what Mel meant about not having to have a lot to eat now the antibiotics are done either? You have been busy today getting up to date with things.

MandyI bet the blanket looks good now it is finished. I was wondering whether crocheting it together might leave raised ribs, so keeping it flat sounds better. Your granddaughters are lucky girls to have you make them for them.What a shame about the Pizza! We sometimes share one with some salad as it's nice. It's a good job you had some ham to replace it with.

What is it with these Amazon drivers! I had an email yesterday to say they hadn't delivered (I was home) as they couldn't access our drive and front door. I presume it was because of the narrow road with the roadworks people at the other end of the close although Evri managed alright and they could have parked up at the top of the close and walked with the lightweight parcel. They came again today after lunch while I was in the study which is next to and at right angles to the front door. They just left the parcel at the front of my car, didn't even ring the doorbell and haven't sent an email to say they have delivered it!

OH is at match with his friend. I wonder if he put his new cap on?

Stu's here top take me to his for dinner.

Well we got a few jobs done before the rain came late afternoon , as we had been busy we decided we would have a pizza with salad nice and easy, popped it in the oven and when it was cooked I got hold of the tin or I thought I had, the tin slipped and the pizza when on the floor ,no way could we eat it as although I had hoovered there was bound to be some of Max's hair on the floor plus germs so that went in the bin and we had ham salad .

join the clun Mel not being able to go where you want to. Hopefully you will solve that problem soo when you get another car. Is Stu actively looking?

Not sure what you mean by not having to eat a lot now you have finished the antibs don't you just eat normally all the time? Is your cough better after the antibs?

so far I have done the wash load and drying, tidies the lounge and dining room and conservatory and just had to do the floors and dust ready for tomorrow. I have also balanced the monthly bank accounts.

Lunch time now. Last night I had pasta with smoked salmon and mushrooms in a whhite sauce. For lunch there is a small piece of smoked salmon left. I don't need a lot as I had eggs on toast for breakfast quite late.

Emm took my up thye post van in the end but I could'nt bank my cheque cos I had put the wrong bank number in nd I don't know how I did that. Anyway he did'nt have any envelopes for the nat west so I still have to go up next week and get new envelopes and to bank the cheques. Its so annoying not having any transport to go where I want when I want and I cna't get hold of Stu today as I think he goes to the clinic today.

I have just had a good clean of the sink and the draining basket. I like it when the sinks all clean.

Where are all these spiders coming from?????? No sooner do I do all the windowsills than there are dehydrated dead bodies left out for me to clear up. Iv'e sucked up what I can see twice this week already.

Time for some lunch and I think its going to be soup today. Finished all the antibiotics so I don't have to eat a lot today.

Morning all,

No sun at the moment but I can see blue sky ,16 degrees and I think we might get to 21 but might get some rain later.

Ann I've sewn the squares together as I didn't ant a ridge ,just two sides to edge .
We had a lit of digging going on at the bottom of the road a couple of weeks ago ,there was three way traffic lights so it took ages to get out of the road .

Vera I wondered if the young one was from another nest and had been rejected .

Gwyn that's a quick school outing they haven't been back long ,I bet they all enjoy the zoo .
Dil said they hadn't had any little ones that have cried this year although she said a lot of them were there last July, they gradually add the new ones a few at a time .

I don't remember seeing a rag and bone man but we did have a chap to sharpen knives and scissors.

Had a good day getting jobs done yesterday , cleaned the kitchen window inside and out and had a good sweep up of all the rose petals ,gave all my pots a good watering and did some more dead heading ,my hanging baskets are getting a bit straggly now .
Not sure what we're doing today just having a cuppa and deciding.

I remember the rag and bone man coming round. He had one leg and used an old wooden crutch, when he got off his cart, which was pulled by a lovely horse.
I have no recall of monetary dealings, but know that sometimes Mum would give us a carrot to feed to the horse.
One day, the man noted that my sister was not with me to feed the horse and asked after her. We told him she was in the Infectious Diseases Hospital , because she had scarlet fever. He thought I might be lonely without her, so asked if I would like a baby rabbit and so Sandy, my new rabbit, became my responsibility for the next 8 years.

A dull day today, about 15 with heavy rain forecast, but as I don't have to go out, it won't effect me.
No school later this week either, as the children are going on a school trip to Colchester zoo.-quite a long journey, so I hope the traffic is OK that day.