General Chat

Morning All,

I cleaned all the chickens out yesterday!! Not bad for someone with a bad back but I have a little twinge this morning. Watered the tunnel in the evening and have to give everything a good feed today.

OH gone off ringing for Okehampton this morning so nice and quiet at the mo.

William we were just talking about Lyons individual pies the other night as I had cooked a small cherry pie for sweet with custard. OH's favorite was the apricot one. My dad loved the apple ones and I remamber the boxes they came in were coloured yellow and green. Dad had one of those when we sailed to Brightlingsea once and had a picnic on the mud flats. Dad had chucked the anchor in and we were enjoying our sandwiches and dad had a pie afterwards and with the first bite he bit a wasp in half and it stung him on his bottom lip. Dad always hada nasty reaction to wasp stings and with nothing in the boat to put on it and about a hours sail back to St Oysyth we set off straight away. When he came to take the anchor up he had put it right into a wasps nest!!! :-S I had a friend with me who was a few years older than myself and she said "uncle Frank rinse your mouth with the sea water as it may help" This he did and it did help. We all got back safely.

Bit cloudy today and my baby chicks, well the cocks have just started to crow, or are trying. They sound so funny at first :-)

Frank I always find a good thing to put in the veg patch at this time of the year is purplr sprouting broccolli as you then get a nice early crop in about March. You can ususally buy the plants ready grown and possibly bare rooted at markets. As I only plant in the tunnel now I just get a few for just us. Any surplus veg goes out on my little table out the front of our drive with my eggs.

Welcome home Pat and hope you had a nice rest while away.

I never saw Shelia's post either and where is Mandy???

Jane good that your neighbour is cutting his hedge back without being asked ;-)

Jane, that bedtime prayer has brought back memories! I used to say exactly the same one with my mother every night before getting into bed; parents, Grandparents, uncles and Aunt, but instead of the cat, I said "All my animals"!! as there were too many to name!! 3 cats a dog,baby chicks(!) hens, a carthorse, ducks, and heaven only knows what else!!! When a baby chick died (as they often did, poor things) I used to bury it in a box in the garden, say a prayer and put up a wooden cross, inscribed "A chick, in memory"!! much to the amusement of my father!!! Also, above my bed, I had a lovely picture of St Francis as a child, surrounded by animals Spent yesterday clearing out the loft! my word, we found things we'd completely forgotten about, as well as cobwebs and those horrible cluster flies, yuk! no burial for them!!!!

Hi All

I am back now... Kim....Just been reading the last page of everyones news .,

I have alot to do tomorrow..so will be on here when I can.

Thanks for all the photos I have recieved..When I can I will email some photos across myself..got in at tea time.and have had the machine on like we do... Tomorrow shopping then to have a good clean up.Builders should be back monday..I have my list of things undone lol.

bye for now.

Well I must have needed my head looking at offering to pick OH up from the match. It was against Real Madrid so there were 23,000 there. We agreed I'd pick him up from Morri*ons, 10 mins walk away. It was gridlocked all around, the pavements heaving with fans who kept darting in front of the car and the traffic could hardly move because of everyone crossing at the pedestrian controlled lights!! He said the noise at the match was deafening. By the time we were free of the traffic we were ready for fish and chips so called in the local chippie.

I meant to say before, weren't those homemade trolleys called soapbox carts?

William I remember going up the road from gran's with a big (to me) enamel jug to the hatch in the wall of the pub on the corner and asking for a jug of stout for her!!! I love your memories....keep them coming won't you.

I wonder how David is getting on in his new place......hope the move went ok.

Off to bed now as I want to be up early tomorrow ........night, night....xxx

Fiona ,I agree it is good to just have the house to the both of you /us.It's nice to be able to just be yourselves and relax.I never had my Mother in Law to stay .I would have loved it if she had as she was an absolute dear,but Chris's Dad would never travel anywhere.Although they did come to our Wedding!
They never visited us again .We always went to them which was quite a trek with 2 young ones.
I think I am ready to go to bed now.I am fading fast
:-S I am hoping Chris will stay up a bit longer to let Chester out.
So will say Night Night to all my friends here.xx
Just thought of the prayer I said as a child
GENTLE JESUS MEEK AND MILD
LOOK UPON A LITTLE CHILD
PITY MY SIMPLICITY
SUFFER ME TO COME TO THEE
then I would say
God Bless......Mum ,Dad ,Peter ,Jane and Janice.(note that Peter the cat came before my Sister and me ) :-D :-D :-D

Evening all
cloudy this morning but has been a lovely afternoon, had dinner outside but not a BBQ. tomorrow is suppose to be cloudy with rain.

MIL going home Tuesday as she has a coach trip on Wednesday to the Lake District with some friends, I will be glad to have OH back to myself for the rest of the week, though with the gas man coming Thurs & Fri and the fence man coming Friday too, there will be no peace. I might just take myself off to Glasgow out of the way,


Your right Annx it's great to be able to sit at the table and have room to move without bumping elbows with another person,
We were thinking of going to IK*A if we get the time I would like some new place mats. I have seen some that are like a woven effect but are wipeable also need a new parasol as the one we have does not cover the table and keep you out of the sun.

Ann ,Sheila's post has vanished!.That's a pity,as everyone would have loved to see it.
I think the rent for Hannah is going to be high (even though they say it is reasonable in that area).(Stoke Newington) There is a very nice Park which I suppose would make up for not having a garden.Stoke Newington (Hackney) is apparently a nice area to live .Quite leafy ,with nice bars and restaurants .

Cabbage soup!!!! I have done that one before Ann.I did actually quite like it .But made an awful lot .The after effects though ..................rather unpleasant. I seem to remember a lot of air fresheners being bought :-S :-S :-S

Mel, you were asking about some more of my memories and at my age they come back in dribs and drabs.It's usually talk of food that triggers them off. Talking of which have you noticed how things have got smaller? And I'm not being rude and refering to things at my age!!! Wagon Wheels for instance. I can remember when the NAFFI wagon came round when I was in the RAF, you got a nice big mug (supply your own) of tea and a huge Wagon Wheel that kept you going till next meal time. The ones we get nowadays seem puny by comparison.
Does anyone remember individual Lyons fruit pies! I think they must have being the first 'rready made' food items that my Mum bought. I used to have to go up to the shop to fetch them. They were in small square boxes and the pie was almost square shaped but the corners were trimmed off so it was a sort of odd octogan shape. I remember they had a light pastry and were delicious with Mum's creamy home made custard (topped with nutmeg of course).
Another thing I recall was when my Dad fancied a bottle of Mackeson's stout, he would get me to pop along to the off licence and I was allowed a penny to buy myself an arrowroot biscuit from out of one of the big jars that stood on the shelf. Mr Lutkin, the owner, would always allow me to pick one out for myself. Gosh they were nice and big.
More memories when I've found my thinking cap and put it on again.
Take care all - William

How stupid your neighbours leaving the poor bunny in a mess like that and with no food or water Jane. I would have been mortified if I had forgotten and been thanking you for sorting things out. I hope Hannah has 'London' wages to go with those 'London' prices! Is the flat in a 'posh' area or is it just that expensive anywhere? I suppose as long as it doesn't cost too much more it will save a lot of time travelling and she won't have to be up so early and will have more time to go out in the evenings and it will be her own place.

Oops, I have to dash soon and pick OH up. He has been watching Leicester city play today as he got a good deal on a ticket.

Baking hot here too! I bet Fiona is making the most of her new table and chairs......dining al fresco at her place!!

Did Sheila's post get deleted? Glad the baby is home again and hope he is feeling better so poor Rachel can have some rest too. Maybe he wasn't 100% when he was here. Crikey.....what a fine to have to pay!!

Jane glad Chester is his 'usual' self again!! Sounds like you have the makings of the Cabbage Soup diet!!! lol I love cabbage and broccoli, but have read that you should limit what you eat with an underactive thyroid. :-S :-S

Kim I never knew Aussie schools didn't have school lunches. I would eat most things at senior school, loved liver and onions, but poached fish, tapioca pudding or prunes and custard....NO thank you! The lumpy mashed potato wasn't too special at times and we must have had a lot of cabbage as the dining hall always smelt of it. lol

Frank it must be difficult for you to know what to do with poor Ros in such a state. I suppose her poor tum will need a little while to settle after being upset anyway and she must be very tense with all the pain she is in. I hope tomorrow will be better when hopefully the patch will be up to strength. Might those rehydration drinks from the chemist help if she can manage them yet.

We fetched 3 more of the taller rocks from a garden centre this morning for around the back of one of the beds where I want the edge higher. We were lucky they had just had some in as most of the garden centres just have oddments left this time of year. I think I can finish that bed off next week now!! After OH had unloaded them, we sat in the conservatory chatting and a young squirrel came bouncing along the top of the bottom fence and up the side, hopped onto nextdoor's shed roof and onto their peanut feeder and brought his spoils back to sit on the fence and eat. Two young Magpies were trying to hassle him so he'd drop them, but he just moved along the fence close to where some climbers were growing so they couldn't fly near. I suspect he is the culprit who fetched the onions out of the raised beds which are right next to the fence. I am thinking he may have fetched them up while burying nuts!!! lol

Don't mention hedges Frank,!!!! Chris is now out with his Hedge Cutter.He usually manages to cut through the lead :-S.He has been looking on the internet for a Hedge Cutter on a pole so he can reach over the top of our big Yew hedge (6/8foot wide).He will still have to stand on the scaffold thing to do it.
Don't know what veg he he is thinking about for the winter yet.I bet he has it all planned in his mind though.
I'm still struggling to eat all we have grown now.I will be giving cabbages and cauliflowers away.
Rent for Hannah (the flat she has seen today ) is £625 per month plus bills of £90/£100 per month.!! Sheesh!!!!!!.Mind you she was paying £600 a month on travel from here to London a month .

If I had words with neighbours they would be done very politely lol.I don't loose my temper unless pushed.I hate confrontation.I did fallout out with them once though about their rabbit that they 'forgot'to tell me about when i was feeding the peacock when they went away in one of the most frozen winter we have had.I discovered their Bunny in it's hutch with frozen water ,no food and a stinking hutch.I told them quite clearly that they could have been prosecuted for leaving an animal in that state.I think I have told this tale before (I apologize for repeating) ;-)I cleaned the hutch out and put fresh straw,new food and fresh water and left them the stinking bag of ammonia smelling straw and sodden newspaper from under the straw.As I stood on their doorstep she turned around and called to her OH saying"I think we have just been told off"!!!!.I still feel cross now when I remember that.

It sounds like we may have a new artist lol.Nothing wrong with colour blindness Frank.You may come up with a master piece ;-) ;-)Might make yourself a fortune (not that you need it with all your EBay sales

FRANK ROS'S BLOOD COUNT CAN BE 11 BECAUSE SHE IS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS --THAT HAPPENS WITH DIABETICS ---DO YOU HAVE ANY ICE CUBES I KNOW SHE CANT KEEP ANYTHING DOWN BUT IF SHE WILL SUCK ON THAT IT WILL COOL HER STOMACH DOWN. I'VE DONE THAT WITH OG--

YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE WEE TIKE-- DON'T KNOW WHAT HIT HIM XXXX

MY SCHOOL DINNER'S WERE GREAT AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE ''STONE-AGE''

JANE YOU CAN DO--CABBAGE ROLLS-COLD SLAW--SOURKRUT (sp) ALL GOOD

MEL THANK FOR PIC'S XX----YOU JUST CANT STOP WORKING CAN YOU --NEVER GET THE BACK BETTER---LOL XX

SO WE ARE DINNING OUT ON THE TERRACE ARE WE FIONA -- ON NEW TABLE---GOOD.

ANYONE (OLD-FOLKS) REMEMBER DURING THE WAR WE HAD FLASH LIGHT YELLOW COLOR LIGHT AND IT HAD COVER OVER IT TO SHINE ONLY ON THE GROUND??

WELL THAT RAIN DID GOOD LAWN IS GREEN AGAIN --FOR A WHILE

My it' hot out there. I stayed out for an hour or so, but was so uncomfortable with sweat running down my face, I had to come in.

Managed to get Ros to have a hot chocolate, then she had a small choc ice cream. She hasn't bothered getting dressed today, so she can't be feeling herself. I won't know if she will eat tonight, till I phone in for the takeaway.If not a delivery charge of £3.00 for mine. !!!!

Glad your neighbour is cutting down his hedge Jane, I wouldn't want to be him if you had WORDS :-D :-D :-D :-D I bet the rent on the flat that Hannah is looking at is more than my pension :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 Jane, What veg is Chris putting in now for the Winter/Spring.????? Mel you can advise me as well, remember I don't have your sort of SPACE :-D :-D :-D

Where the devil is Maureen, she hasn't been around for a few days, !! Hope she is O.K.

Temperature outside is 27 at the moment, and thats on the shaded side.So will have to water tonight. The Tomato leaves look a bit wilted.

Jane, I think you can fry cabbage, and even bake it. Worth checking first, you know what i'm like !!!!

Last night I was talking to two artists at the club. No not Pi## artists :-D :-D :-D painting artist. I don't know if I have mentioned that I am coloured blind. They want to do an outline drawing of a country scene, and get me to paint with the colours, that come into my mind, as I see them. Could be very interesting, as as one said could turn out a collectors item. !!!!! Connstable look out, Frank's about.

Oh Sheila .I have had such a laugh reading your post :-D :-D :-D
What a day you had,and how funny thinking he was someone else!!
It's good to have a good laugh and tell Michelle there is nothing wrong with having a mad mother lolol.
Fancy him saying you wasted his day.I think he was after something a bit more than a day out ;-) ;-)
Sometimes when me and my sister get together we get such fits of the giggles Hannah and James just roll their eyes,and say "Here they go"

Frank is Ros's Bloods 11 because she isn't eating?She won't go hypo I hope.I don't really know much about Diabetes.

The sun is shining and it is a lovely afternoon.Next door still cutting back stuff in his garden.At least he has done the bit that was really bugging me.If it hadn't been done this weekend I would have been a knocking on his door :-S :-S

It's Strop Kim.Frank added an extra O.You got the meaning right .Or arsey lol
I think Chester seems just about his normal annoying self today :-S

Hannah just sent an email of a flat she has been to see.Isn't the internet brilliant.She saw the flat earlier and now I have seen it too :-D
Not sure if she has decided to say yes.The price of renting in London is so high compared to around here.She has seen a few nice places,but as she can't move in just yet they went to other people.The one today is available from August 23rd which is much better.
Phones ringing!

Have done all the Veg. for tomorrows dinner, Just Harvey comming. Don't know if I will get Ros to eat. She has just taken her bloods and they are up to over ELEVEN. so she has taken a tablet. She is laying on the sofa, in her dressing gown, most unusual for her, but if she comfortable, thats O.K.

I just got my lounger out, so going to sit in the sun and read for a while.

Liz, There is SOD all I can do, other than keep an eye on her and keep trying to get her to have something .

Stroop - I would guess that means when I'm in a temper, having a hissy fit, throwing a wobbly - all of these!!!!! Frank hope tomorrow is a better day for Ros.

Liz it was a catholic school with the Irish Nuns, St. Joseph I think. Mine were of the Brigidine order. Zealous is a kind world, lol. They were very zealous with the punishment

Jane sounds like a good sleep is what they all need. How is Chester today, better hopefully.

Oh dear Frank, What a worry all this is being for you, I simply don't know what to suggest; fingers crossed that the patches do some good. To be in SUCH pain, and for so long is just awful. I suppose keeping up the fluids as much as you can is a must, but beyond that, I can't say. Kim, your mother's time at the Convent sounds very grim. Was it a Catholic Convent? Mine was an Anglican one, so not QUITE so zealous!!! mind you , we went to Chapel or Church 3 times a day, 4 on Sundays!!!! Like you, I think it did me good in a bizarre sort of way, if nothing else, as an only child it certainly taught me to fend for myself, character building I guess!!!!!

Morning Everyone
Well at last I think next door is cutting the hedge back .The one that is almost at my bedroom window!!.I can hear the hedge trimmer going.

Ethan has a Viral throat infection and is home again now.Just Calpol and keeping him cool I think is all that will be needed.They will take him back for a check up tomorrow.Hopefully they may get a bit of shut eye today.I think they got home about 2.30am !
No mention of queerying that parking ticket Frank.I think they must have parked somewhere they shouldn't have!.That would have been about the same cost as one of the flight tickets lol
I see the sun is coming out here now.Maybe Ros can sit in the garden for a while Frank and soak up a few rays.I hope she feels like a little something to eat soon.It must be such a worry for you.

Yes Mel ,do remember to take things gently.I know you don't find that easy :-(

I must have a look for some recipes to do with cabbage as we have them ready to pick now.I never normally buy cabbage so haven't a clue what to do with it other than boil.

KIm your poor Mum having to do all that for the Nuns!!I have a job just to get James to bring his washing downstairs and put it by the machine :-S :-S :-S

Must get a move on.So BBL

Morning one and all,

You have been busy chatting in the last 24 hours. Taken me agesto read the postings.


Mel, I would not normally pick the apples yet, but Conrad always wants to take something home. The apples are quite big, even thought not ready yet. With a root of potato's five apples, beans and tomatoes, he went off happy.

Jane thanks for that info. She hasn't taken any tablets for two days, as she keeps bringing them up. The patch was put on at 9,00pm Thursday, so should see some effects on Sunday. She dosen't look good this morning, very drawn round the face and in terrible pain. I can't get her to eat any breakfast of even a milky dring. Will try again later.

Sorry to hear about the trouble with the baby, All the travelling didn't help no doubt. Is it something he has caught,for him to be in hospital. £500.00 parking fine. THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL A FINE can he appeal against it ????

All this talk of fruit GIN, Tesc# Morris## will be running out of stock, with everyone trying it.

Down the Canal there a lots of CRAB APPLE TREES. When can those be picked ??? and how do you make crab apple jelly ???

Kim, Glad you feel a bit better, try to stay of the treadmill, when you are in a stroop !!!!

All this talk about food, is making me hungry, so I'm off to get a bacon Sarnie.

BBL