General Chat

Good morning all 9 degrees here and sunny. It was very hot in bed last night and I realised I still had a crochet blanket across the foot of the bed which was not helping. Once I took that off it was fine and I slept well.

Pleased that you had another nice birthday lunch Vera, no doubt with plenty of chat.
Those bulbs are very strange aren't they with the different leaves The flowers are pretty though. I didn't know there was such a thing as wild tulips though. It will be interesting to see what happens next year.
Hope OH's eye continues to improve. I assume that the no gardening rule is because of the bending over so he has an excuse not to do any. Although it looks as though you are so busy and away this weekend that you don't need an excuse.

I am going to Cheltenham this morning to meet a couple of friends for lunch.

It has been hot today but there’s been a slight breeze so not too unpleasant We’re not getting anything done in the garden which worries me a bit. We had started and I was trying to make sure I did a little each day but it’s sort of come to a halt. I had a couple of days when my head and eyes were too bad, then yesterday we were out all day getting OH’s cataract sorted, today I have been at a birthday lunch and tomorrow I shall have to dash around to do various jobs and bits of shopping as daughter is collecting us on Friday and taking us to our son’s till Monday. You can bet your life that by the time we are free to get going again it will be raining non-stop. The cataract doctor also told OH not to do any gardening for a while.

We have had a strange gardening experience. A couple of years ago I found in the garage some bulbs that looked as though they might be tulips. I planted them in a couple of large pots and, sure enough, up came some nice conventional yellow tulips. In November when we were bulb planting OH took out of store a couple of paper bags marked yellow tulips and planted them in a bare patch in the garden. They were slow to poke their leaves through the ground but when they did start to show they didn’t look like tulip leaves at all. They were more like small daffodil leaves. Cutting a long story short, eventually some yellow flowers appeared but they were unlike anything we had seen before. Yesterday I took a couple of photos and used the Google photo matching gismo and it came back and told me they were wild tulips. Somehow these perfectly normal yellow tulips had all reverted to their wild state. Coloured primroses usually revert to yellow after a year or two in the ground but they are still recognizably primroses. I’ve never seen anything quite like these tulips before. They are quite pretty so we are going to leave them in the ground and see how they come up next year. I’ll send you the photos I took.

It's always a relief when tradesmen turn up when they say they will Annx, and it sounds as though your men will do a good job of laying your flooring. No polling for us tomorrow. We’re one of the areas where it has been postponed.

You really have been busy outdoors today Mel. Good for you. Where do you find your energy? Could you share some with me please? That is frustrating losing a long post. I bet you said a few choice words. If I’m doing a post that’s going to be longer than a few lines I always type it in Word now and save it as I go along. Then when it’s finished I do a copy and paste onto the thread. That way, if it disappears you still have a copy of it and can paste it again.

I didn’t have a brilliant night last night but early morning I got on with a few jobs, including the ironing, Then I got myself titivated up to go out. My friend M’s birthday is tomorrow and so 7 of us were going for lunch to a pub in Long Melford. There are several pubs in LM and I thought I knew them all but I hadn’t been in this one before. I’d definitely go there again. It had a good atmosphere. We had a nicely laid round table, the food was tasty and well cooked and the prices were OK. There was the normal menu and then a very decent seniors menu with main courses for £10 and you could add a dessert for an extra £2. I had ham, egg and chips off the seniors’ menu and one of the ladies had the same off the normal menu and the only difference I could see between them was I had 1 egg and she had 2. It also came with salad and I couldn’t finish my seniors’ “small” plate. They were also the best pub chips I’ve had anywhere. None of us wanted a dessert but we all went back to one of the ladies’ houses for coffee and cake and sat for a couple of hours in her garden. It was a lovely afternoon.

When I got back OH was asleep in the chair and snoring rather loudly. He didn’t hear me at all so I did a bit of tidying up in the kitchen and watered all the pots in the garden before he woke up. We had a sandwich an hour ago and now I am feeling quite tired so I think I might have a quiet read and then have an early night and hope to get some sleep. At the moment my bedroom is like an oven which doesn’t help with sleeping well. We’re never satisfied are we? I hope you all sleep well. “See” you tomorrow.

Having a postal vote I tend to forget polling day.

I really have not done much at all today. Watered all the new plants in pots this morning. Walked back firm the hairdresser, did some shredding and other admin and that was it. I decided not to go out in the garden because it was hot out there.

That's so annoying when you write a long post Mel. I just wish there was an 'undo' like at the top of a browser to click on that takes you back a step. It sounds like you made good progress outside today. It's saying it will be 26 degrees here tomorrow so hotter than today, so an inside job tidying might be better once it warms up.

I decided to risk planting out the Petunias in the big tub and will cover them over if there's a risk of frost.

The flooring man came spot on time and measured up and I think he and the fitter will be a good team having worked together for many years.

Tomorrow is polling day, so we'll be voting first thing. I might go to the Factory Shop afterwards if it isn't too hot by then.

I did that on the last time incase it went again.

Just come in after being out since my last post. Managed to wash down all the decking off the main decking where the greenhouse is to go and some of the bungalow wall and the patio doors. Then fed the chickens their corn and had to come back for water for them and now I am having a sit down before getting myself soemthing to eat. I have a nice raspberry trifle in the fridge for dessert so I may just have boiled eggs and some of that.

Mel, when you have typed a long post, before you post it, highlight and copy it (Ctrl+ C) then, if you lose it all you have to do is paste it into the reply box.

iV'E JUST COME IN FOR A coc AS i HAVE BEEN CLEARING THE BIT ON THE END OF THE DECKING WHERE i HAVE THE LITTLE GREENHOUSE AND i AM HOPING bil WILL PUT IT UP FOR ME. iTS THE ONE HE BOUGHT FOR ME FOR cHRISTMAS.

I'm not doing that lot again.

I have tied back the Albertine rose and need to cut a lot of old wood out of it but could'n reach till it was tied back. I have pulled a lot of ivy off the fence and from behind the filter shed.

One heaped barrowload taken over the bonfire area and still more to fill the empty barrow now. I am hoping to gt that area pressure washed today too.

STu is coming tomorrow and maybe bring his son for dinner too. That means I need to tidy up indoors too.

Looked in last years tom pots and there's seedlings of a tomato coming up in it and its the pot I had the large tom in last year so I may leave them to their own divices and see if they grow.

Sounds lie your getting there with your weeding Ann.

r JUST LOST THE BL**DY LOT AND THERE WAS A LOT TOO.

I didn't stay out there long as it's boiling! I rescued and potted up 3 of the little self set mauve Verbascum growing in the soil that was in the raised boxes and pulled up a few more weeds and weedkilled yet more of the nasty weed I spotted growing between the patio slabs.

Afternoon All,

It's another lovely day as has been said. I liked it this morning in the garden as it was fresh, but warm enough. I zapped a few more of the nasty weed I'd missed and watered my marigold seedlings and Violas in the pots, then pulled a handful of weeds to go in the bin. OH was back from having yet another blood test then so we went to a garden centre and had a breakfast bap, looked at EWH in there, but I resisted the nice, cool and lacy summer cardigans they have in, mindful that my wardrobes still can't breathe easily! OH got a couple of birthday cards for staff that worked for him years ago that he keeps in touch with. We then went to the garden centre out in the sticks and past the High Cross monument that is said to mark the centre of England, is high up and has lovely views. As I have so few Marigolds I got 2 trays of the single flowered ones the butterflies love and also got two colours of Petunias to go in my tall pot. After I have planted those I will see what to put in the wall pots round the back and other pots.

I'm glad all went well with your OH's surgery yesterday Vera. I expect he has the eyedrop regime for a while now! I think OH has another fortnight to go. So you managed to buy something at the shops yesterday then.

Yes a job in the shade is a good idea today Mel. I might go and pick up the Cammelia dead flowers as those are in the shade too. If I'd stayed married the first time my 56th wedding anniversary would have been later this year as well. Only as it turned out, it wouldn't, as he passed away 13 years ago. His second wife passed away 4 years ago as well. How fast time moves on.

Mandy Max sounds quite a character, but I can't believe he is 9 years old now! I thought about you and your runners this morning when I saw some runner plants for sale. :-) I am wishing we had a Roys here so we could get the same compost. Have you finished knitting the Rabbit?

You will feel nice and cool after your hair appointment this afternoon AnnG, especially as it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. Young children do pass bugs to their parents don't they. I remember Jane's Chris getting tummy bugs, which was an occupational hazard with his job.

OH is going in the garden to do a bit now, so I'm going to join him.

happy not anniversary then Mel. :-)

If I had stayed married it would have been my 56th anniverary today.

Morning all,

Lovely morning once again, I could get used to this. its 20 degrees here and pc says mostly sunny. Its supposed to go up to 25 degrees today so I shan't be out in the garden if it does. Although I may go and cut some more of the Albertine roase down which will be in the shade of the bungalow by this afternoon.

Good morning all 9 degrees already and a lovely sunny morning. I bet I am not the only one wishing that we had had an overnight shower of rain, it feels really early to have started having to water some of the plants in the garden.

Ann yes I was pleased that Jake had not been here before he had the bug, although he doesn't come into the house and we don'e have any contact. I assume it is the result of employing a father of four young children. Hopefully he will be ok on Friday.

Mandy you will have a load of lovely vegetables in the summer to share with your family. Is the new outside cupboard finished now?

Vera I am pleased for your OH that the op went OK. Had to chuckle over the reluctant shopper buying just one small thing. You will be fine when the time ecentually comes that shopping is done via the bus. I am often, like many other ladies my age I see, loaded with bags on the journey home.

I remembered, when round getting my prescription yesterday, to call in and ask the optician when my next check up was due. She said, 'last February, we contacted you'. Now, they usually contact me by email so I know they didn't. anyway, no problem, I have an appointment on the 14th.

Hair dresser today at 1pm.

That's good the op went OK Vera ,yes Max is a character he knows just how to get round you with his puppy dog eyes ,he's brought all sorts in from the garden ,if he comes rushing in I know he has something and if I take no notice he barks as if to say come and see mum I have something lol

Colin has drops for dry eyes ,we get them in spec savers .

Glad the surgery went well for your oh Vera. It was so nice of your neighbours to take you both and it gave you a bit of company while he was having it done. When my oh had a new lens in his eye I went round the garden centre and he got a nurse to ring me from the hospital to say he was ready to be picked up.

I did'nt know you could get eye drops for dry eye.

Good evening everyone

A bit more of a breeze than yesterday but another really beautiful day

Mandy is right – we do like the compost from Roy’s but I think it may be peat free. We just buy the multi-purpose one and it doesn’t actually say peat free on the bag but it says with added Gro-Boost (whatever that may be) and on the back of the bag it says that in order to protect the environment Roys have added peat free materials such as timber and PS100 green compost which have all been through a vigorous shredding and screening process. They are a reputable company and I am sure they wouldn’t risk breaking the law by having peat in their general compost.

It's annoying that Jake couldn’t come today AnnG, but better that he stays away if he’s got a bug.

Mandy, I hope Colin’s glaucoma results are good. You were there for a long while. I did have to smile at Max bringing in the tube from the beans. He’s a bit of a character isn’t he, I like dogs like that.

It sounds as though your eye test went well Annx and good news that you don’t need a change of glasses. I’ve been using those dry eye drops for 3 or 4 years now. The ones recommended for me are Hycosan Extra and I’m supposed to use them 3 times a day. I’ve been told by the chemist and by a nurse at the eye clinic that they can be prescribed for me but, although I’ve mentioned it at the hospital a couple of times, the prescription never seems to get written. They are about £12 a bottle and these things all add up. Boots sometimes have an offer on them of “buy one, get second one half price” so I generally get a couple of bottles then.

Oh ‘s cataract surgery went very well. We’ve had some soup and he’s now snoozing on the couch, though I will have to wake him soon or he won’t sleep tonight. I traipsed round the shops with our neighbours though all I bought was a small birthday gift for one of our friends.

I’m going to have to move from this computer. The sun is shining through the window directly on to me and I’m melting. Time for a cold drink I think. Sleep well tonight everyone.

Well I don't know how they get round it but it's nice compost ,we've had it since well before covid

I think Colin said if there's anything wrong he will hear in the next couple of weeks .

Hope all has gone well with OH's op Vera and that he's a good patient :-)

I planted the odd runners we had left in a small tub ,Max the little terror came in with the cardboard tube I had planted the beans in and plenty of the soil attached so I've just put some old wire shelves that were from the old greenhouse round the tub hopefully he'll not be able to pull anymore out , he may be nine but he still has the puppy devil in him :-D

Afternoon All,

Another glorious sunny day and a pair of Red Kites are circling over the field, but a Crow has been hassling them. They get so close to them as well.

I hate the peat free compost as it seems worse than just using the soil out of the garden. I must admit I wondered why the plants we buy still look so healthy and now I know why.

That's another delay from Jake AnnG, but better than him bringing you a tummy bug! I was let down by the flooring man yesterday who didn't phone as he promised he would. I contacted him this morning and he's coming tomorrow afternoon now.

Mandy I hope Colin's glaucoma results will be good. I was at Boots for an eye test this morning and there's no change in my cataracts and they said my eyesight is actually very good, even though I don't think it is. They suggested my eyes seem dry though and I should use eyedrops when they get blurry in the afternoon. At least I don't need new glasses so LESS EXPENSE for a change and I needn't worry about losing my driving licence because of my eyesight. OH had a good walk around the other shops while he waited for me and bought some cards at W H Smith which we thought had closed by now.

I can't imagine having no electric and even if you didn't have an electric car the petrol pumps wouldn't work would they.

Vera I hope your OH's cataract surgery is done and went well. It was good of your neighbours to take you, even if it means going round the shops. You will probably find something to buy anyway, and it has saved you worrying about driving yourself.

Better get on and get something done now!

But Mandy the thing is it is illegal for them to sell anything with peat in it at all so I wonder how they are getting around that.

Hope all is ok when colin gets the result anyway, wonder how long he will heve to wait.