General Chat

Good morning all, a frost last night as expected and -5 at the moment so I am pleased I don't have to go out. didn't have a brilliant night, kept waking then not able to get back to sleep, all those swans must have been too much excitement for my brain. finally woke at 0815 so not dressed yet.

Just off to bed after a tiring day. We had to go into our town and I wrapped Carmel up in a blanket in her wheelchair after driving the short distance but it was an icy cold wind. We did what we had to do but we were glad to get back home in the warm, make hot drinks and get something to eat.
A few nights ago I wasn't well in the middle of the night and went downstairs, put the tele on to watch recordings and eventually fell asleep in the chair. The following night wasn't much different but instead of going to sleep downstairs, I wrote four of my poems straight off, mostly nostalgic ones. I have one left to illustrate before I post it to Facebook.
If tomorrow is like today, and my computer says it's minus 3 degrees, I shan't be going very far. I don't care what the heating bill is, it will just have to come out of the kids inheritance, we need it more than that do right now. Night night all.

Hi all

Well all the cement boards are down now so that's one room finished and ready for decorating, it took us a bit longer than we thought it would though. We've decided to do all the decorating once all the cement boards have been put down throughout the property as it's a very dusty job. We need to move everything into the empty room now to free up the next room for the cement boards. OH is working for the next three nights so I'll have to see how much I can move on my own for now.

We've not heard from Sandra for a few days, we think she's broken her phone again but with OH working we can't go and check on her until later in the week, so we hope she's okay.

It was a glorious day here so a great day to go to Slimbridge totally blue skies and sunshine. Cold though so we didn’t walk round, we just stayed I. The viewing room by the lake after we had lunch. (Fish and chips). So were there for over two hours until feeding finished at 4.30.
Lots of Bewicks in plus Mute swans geese ducks, many different coots, even a grey heron and I am sure some we didn’t recognise. I intended to join as it is only £3.45 a month but it needed to be direct debit and I didn’t have my bank details to hand. So another time maybe. Worth a visit anyway.
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I did'nt bother putting my recycling box out this week either.Ours does come every week so it will be worth putting it out next Monday.

I have done some paperwork and done some casting but not got round to any painting which I had planned to do today. I am just trying some new moulds I have been making and am hoping they come out ok.

Sausages and bubble and squeak tonight with beans.

Its 6 degrees here but feels much colder but at least the winds dropped today but the air is so cold. Barometer dropped a lot too.

Just cut my tomorrows shopping down a bit as it was well over the £40 and now its down to £42 something. I am always surprised how things keep going up and they are still going up.

Oh thank you Anng I'll have to remember that so I get nice thicker plants .
How was your walk out to see the swans ?

Vera hope your feeling better soon ,I see you have a good chef doing the meals .

We had rain this afternoon and it was so cold when I walked the recycling bin out ,it was quite light with not much in it ,we could have left it for another fortnight .

Evening all, it's zero here according to laptop.
Ann and Vera, I've had a busy afternoon so not noticed the temp. C/H came on at 4.30. Man coming tomorrow to look at the stove and hopefully affect a repair to the rope seal. Vera, my left hand little finger is looking a bit sausagey and is stiff so that's not too bad at all - I'll put a glove on.

Mel, I've been doing paperwork too - not my favourite occupation.

Nice to see Gill back, I was enjoying her home and garden revamps.

I hope you’re having an enjoyable time at Slimbridge AnnG, and I hope you are wrapped up nice and warm. I expect it’s pretty chilly. It’s certainly very cold here; 2 degrees and feeling like -3 with quite a strong breeze. Apparently it’s likely to be -6 tonight. Brrr...

It’s not the time to be without heating Island. Are you managing to keep warm? I don’t suppose your RA is helped by the cold.

Lewis is 8 already!!! Where do the years go? Before you know it, Mandy, he’ll be all grown up.

I may not be posting much over the next few days as I am still feeling rough and don’t want to bore or depress you with all my moaning. OH, bless him, is helping where he can. He’s done some washing this morning and says he will cook dinner. I’m not eating much at the moment but he needs proper meals and I must try to eat more as I can’t afford to lose any weight. I’ll force some dinner down so he doesn’t think he’s wasted his time cooking for me.

Stay warm and take care.

Island Ah I see it is the fire that is the problem. so a blanket or extra sweater/cardigan then until it is fixed?

Mandy going back to sweet peas I have just read to grow the seedlings to 10cms then pick out the tops so they thicken up before flowering and don't plant out until May after frosts.

Morning all,

Nice sunny morning after a little frost and 6 degrees it keeps clouding over and I thought I saw a few spits on the window so it's trying to do something.

Yesterday was Lewis's birthday he was 8 ,we bought him some Lego and some clothes ,son and dil got him lego too so he'll build that with his dad as son always liked lego when he was little.

Anng wrap up well when you go to see the swans and birds hope it stays dry for you .

I see tomorrow night Winter Watch is on bbc 2 its from Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk again we always enjoy watching that with all the wild life.

Vera I hope your feeling a bit better now and have managed to get some sleep ,glad all went OK with your eye injection.

We're having the rest of the roast beef from yesterday tonight ,I'll slice the meat and put that in the gravy to reheat and do some veg to go with it .

AnnG, C/H is ok but I don't have it one during the day, I light a fire at about 2 instead if needs be to take the chill off. Unfortunately the stove needs a repair as of yesterday.

Mel, the birds are fattening up for the big chill I should think.

Morning all,

Brightish here then dull again and there is some blue sky out the front today not been out yet but must soon as the feeders need filling up. The birds are definately feeding like crazy. Do they know something we don't? Its 6 degrees here and pc says this.
There will be mostly sunny skies. Blustery winds will accompany a high of 6°. It also says it will feel more like 1 degree.

Have som e paperwork to sort out today.

Have a great time at Slimbridge Anng and I hope there are lots of swans to see.

Yes I think there may be Bewicks as well feeding although I also seem to think that with climate change not so many come now finding agreeable climate for them nearer home. We shall see. I am hoping that being Monday and not so much mention in local press might mean fewer people.
What has happened to your heating Island. Not nice to have no heating when it turns cold again.

Lucky you seeing the swans at Slimbridge Ann. I haven't been for years either although we did go a few times including the floodlit feeding when the Bewick swans flew in for the night too. It was pretty spectacular. We mostly watched from outside as that big room would fill up with view blockers on the front rows ;-)
Sometimes Lady Scott would be watching from her own viewing room at her house.

It's going to be cold here today, not much above freezing and no back up heating :-0 bad timing!

Good morning all only 1 degree here so, as promised, a cold night.. Too dark to see if there is a frost.

Going to slimbridge this afternoon to see the Mute swans that have flown in from europe. Hope it stays dry because it is nice to walk round and see them but to see them feed there is a large room overlooking the feeding area apparently, I have not been there for 20 years so I know a lot has changed.

Is'nt it quiet on here today. I expect Mandy has the children over.

thanks Mel, the annivesary for me is the 29th.

Thinking of you and Cynth Anng.

Good morning all. Dry and bright here so far. I thought there might have been a frost as, when I looked out around two o'clock, there was a beautiful clear night sky with so many stars I couldn't count them. Wondered where you were Vera but we knew you had your eye injection so thought that was why you were absent. Sorry you have been 'under the weather', probably literally. Hope the eye soon clears properly
Today is the 1st anniversary of Phil's (next door) death. Not a good month january here with phil's and Tony's annivesary in the same month.

Morning all,

Dull and dreary and very wet as it rained most of the night but there is some blue sky inbetween the clouds. Pc is saying breaking news so I better have a look at that. It just says rheavy rain coming soon but that not news at the moment as thats all we seem to get lately.