General Chat

Cor thats a bit frightening Anng. Suppose it comes down!!!!

I have had Sheila here for an hour and a half so not done any sorting today again.

I agree Island I think you are right.

Just read on line a comforting thought (not) apparently an American B52 bomber is cicling constantly over a wide area including our village to lose fuel having sent out an emergency call (they think ) because an engine has failed. BBL I hope.

I think these 'menus' are ridiculous, given that someone will eventually answer whichever number is selected, it would be better and show some respect to customers if they just had extension numbers on their websites.

I don't press any numbers, I just keep saying 'I wish to speak to a person' with the emphasis on 'person'. Before too long a person picks up. I think these menus are designed to keep us hanging on, pushing up the cost on these often charged for numbers and who gets that money? hmmm...

I love a cauli cheese Mel :-D

I certainly failed with BT.

Just done the cauli cheese and have three lots as it was so big. I shall have one tonight with furters or bacon and some peas. One I will give to Em and the other one will go in the freezer.

While all these options may save the companies money it costs the customers more while they search and wait or fail to get to the right people.

Its really raining now so no washing done today.

I have one sub today and its custard tarts instead of choc eclairs and I don't like custard tarts so they will be going back. The good news is that I have my frankfurters this week.

Morning all,

Very grey here this morning and we seem to have that very fine rain as I can see it dripping off the roof over the patio. 17 degrees on the local one and raining now on the other one and 16 degrees for Taunton.

Shopping comes today and my driver is Dan so I hope its the right Dan as there are two of them.

Vra my call was to BT I listened to about 4 options and then ressed 1 this happened three times si I tried 7 which promptly told me to press one for so and so and I pressed it three more ttimes and it just seemed to be going around in circles so I hung up in disgust.That call was 17 minuets long.

good morning all, a bit grey here but dry so far although rain forecast 13 degrees/ Yesterday it was very humid.
Mel yes very annoying. I can just about cope with a phone call (prefer text or email) but once faced with all the options my hearing is not quick enough to keep up with them.

Hope you all slept ok I didn't do too badly but woke up with a jolt when I twisted my arm awkwardly. I have had a problem with my left arm around the top near my shoulder and arm muscle. I don't know what the problem is and I remember having the same problem about 2 years ago in my right arm. It is a very 'deep' pain when I raise the arm or move it awkwardly and is a violent pain enough to make me feel sick. then it just goes not hurting now while typing. Very strange. Last time it went away on its own. Maybe something to do with the muscle??

That was a frustrating time Vera, sometimes it is the admin offices that cause frustrations just through incompetence. I had two letters asking me to book an appointment to have my annual check up (for my pills). Both letters arrived the same day. The first just said book the appointment with a nurse, the second said the same but added to take my BP at home or visit the pharmacy. when I went to book the appointment at the surgery the receptionist asked me if I had taken BP, I said, yes I had done it for a couple of days and noted it on paper then said 'have you completed the form? what form? Ah the form requesting BP taken twice a day for 7 days. Nope! and anyway no appointments until the end of September. so why was the form not sent with the letter?

And the booking service for appointments for hearing clinic used to be awful until I got hold of the email address. Then they did away with most visits to the clinic in Covid and now you just can't make an appointment and they have got the services of a private company to deal with hearing aid maintenance which would take two bus journeys to get there.

It’s frustrating and annoying Mel and I know just how you feel. You have my sympathy as I’ve been having trouble myself today. When I got back on Saturday there was an NHS letter saying that I had been referred to the Opthalmology General Triage Service at our hospital and I would be contacted by them or the private clinic they use. If I hadn’t heard by 1st September I should phone the Triage Service, and they gave the phone number and various reference numbers and codes I would need.

To start with the letter can’t have arrived till at least 5th September as the post was here when we left on 3rd and 4th was a Sunday so no delivery. Anyway as it is now 12th, I rang the number given. It turned out to be the hospital Outpatients Appointments number and it was a MACHINE which told me I had to pick one of eight options to get through to the right dept. Each option covered 3 or 4 different departments but not one mentioned ophthalmology, or optical section or eye clinic or anything similar. There was no option to speak to an operator but sometimes if you hold on a human will come on line. All I could get was the machine telling me to “Please choose an option so that we can put you through to the right department”. I kept thinking I must have missed hearing “Opthalmology” so I rang the dratted number three times and listened to the options each time.

Eventually, after a lot of googling I found a different phone number for Opthalmology Outpatient Reception and rang that and got through to a human being. but I am not convinced the girl I spoke to understood what I was telling her. She didn’t seem to know about the reference numbers the letter said I would need. All she kept saying is that they were a bit behind with appointments and I would hear soon and should just wait to be contacted. I’ve made a note on the calendar to get in touch again if I haven’t heard within 2 weeks. What should have been a 5 minute phone call took me about 3 hours and I still don’t know if I got the right department.

That’s enough about my frustrations. The day hasn’t been all bad. After a murky start it brightened up and has been warm and dry all day. OH decided to help by changing the bedding. I’m grateful for his help but hadn’t planned to change it today and ended up with a big pile of bedding to wash. I could have left it for another day but it might be raining tomorrow and at least today it all dried quickly. Tesco came early and there were just 2 subs and I was happy with both. I also got all sorts of small jobs done and the window cleaners came so everything looks a bit cleaner.

It sounds as if you had a lovely day in Canterbury Gwyn and I imagine it was quite moving too.

I’m sorry to hear some of your family have had a bug Mandy. I hope they are feeling better now and the other children manage to avoid it.

I think it’s gong to be a muggy night here. I hope it’s a bit cooler overnight where you are and that you all sleep well.

Evening all,

Nice and sunny first thing and we sat out and had our coffee but then this afternoon we had quite a heavy shower .
I got a pile of ironing done and had a good hoover through.

Mel hope your iffy tummy is better today, son and dil had a sickness bug over the weekend I think they got it from Lacey as she was away from school on Friday because she was sick.

I noticed fit didn't record some things that had changed over to bbc2 ,I think corrie is on tonight .
I want to see Gardeners world on Friday as Monty has a new dog ,a golden retriever, a boy I think and we should see him and hear his name on Friday.

Frustrating isn't it Mel! :-(

That may be why then AnnG. OH fiddles about with my recordings at times as well. I forget some are also in HD and he switches them over and I think he has sometimes lost them!

Still raining here.

wHY IS EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ALL AUTOMATED NOW????????????????????????????????????

I have found with some programmes that were recorded on BBC 1 the recording doesn’t work when they are on BBC2

Afternoon All,

Well after it being glorious sunshine and a bit too hot when I did my short walk earlier it is now lashing down with rain. Still the washing got dried first so that was good. I was a bit surprised to see a dead Pigeon at the side of the path on my walk. It didn't look as if it had been attacked and I wondered about Bird Flu.

Good idea to have a lie in Mel and recharge your batteries. Well done on getting the pump to work to fill the pond.
Are Gurnats.......grrrr gnats?

Gwyn I never knew about those statues outside the Cathedral. It must have been quite moving for you both.

AnnG I managed to record the Countrylife prog and will enjoy seeing the estates. I usually record it anyway, but seemed to have cancelled the link.

Done the big pond filter again this morning.

Its very muggy here a bit cloudy but still bright.

Morning all,

Had a lie in this morning as I did'nt have to get up for anything. Sunny here this morning and pc says 19 degrees and sunny and the local one says 17 degrees with a pic of a grey cloud with raindrops on. So who do you believe? Your own eyes or the pc.

Been bitten on the inside of my left arm and it itches like anything, had it a couple of days now. Think I must have got it doing the pond filter as there's always "gurnats" around the pond and the filter.

I actually got the pump that pumps from the well to work yesterday so could top the pond up.

Good morning all.
Another bright and sunny day here.
Yesterday, my daughter and I went to Canterbury and stood outside the cathedral gates to listen to the proclamation of Charles as King Charles III.
Afterwards we went to see the flowers to the right of the main cathedral door below the statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, which are carved in to the main stonework of the cathedral front. We decided too to sign the books of Remembrance inside the cathedral, as it seemed a fitting place to do so.
It was a very warm day in Canterbury with hot afternoon sunshine and a brilliant blue sky as the Proclamation was read out.
I think we are promised another warm day here today too.

I'm going to look for a photograph too.
The Queen visited my husband's place of work and he was lucky enough to be presented to her and we have a photograph of the occasion, but can't remember a firm date. I think it was about 1981.

Good morning all. A bit grey here but slowly brightening and 17 degrees, that is 7 degrees warmer than it was yesterday, As usual lately I don't have anything planned for today, I did get the lawn cut yesterday and cut down a bit more so the bin is half full now. Maybe another hour or so gardening then.

I am watching Countryfile which is showing all the Scottish estates. Beautiful countryside as you say Ann.
I only had one sub Anchor butter normal small pack of spreadable Tesco club card price £3.75 out of stock subbed by the pack double it’s size for £3.75 it really does not make sense although I am not arguing.

Evening All,

Just caught a key and wiped my post out! :-| It's been sun and cloud here and quite muggy and still today. We thought it seemed a bit autumnal now too Vera. OH said there was a mist across the field this morning. Your toms have done well and our gardeners delight has done better than the other 2 kinds I planted. I picked some today, but there won't be many more. I deadheaded the geraniums, but they are looking a bit sorry now and OH took the bean poles down and dug up the courgette plants so the garden bin is full now ready for Tuesday.

Only 3 subs with the food delivery today and they were ok. I ordered more veg from the supermarket this time as the farm shop prices seem to be going up even more. It's a good idea to make your own sauces Vera and the packet ones if you like them are a bit cheaper than those in the jars too. I just resent paying so much extra for things.

I watched the Queen being driven from Balmoral this morning and thought how lovely the countryside was. I've only visited a small part of Scotland so didn't realise how nice the area was as we usually only see glimpses on tv.

I hope your dicky tum has settled down now Mel and feels ok again.

I'm looking forward to watching the David Attenborough prog tonight. The last one was good.