General Chat

I hope your iffy tum is feeling better now Mel.

Your Michaelmas daisies will look pretty Ann. I have some clumps of purple asters that were in bud when we went away. When we came back they were all in bloom and look wonderful. We also came back to lots of ripe tomatoes. They are all Gardener's Delight and were late getting going but they have given us so many tomatoes. It was an old packet of seeds I found in the garage so I sowed a few and they all germinated. I kept 4 plants and gave the rest to a plant stall at a coffee morning .They were late ripening, then all went red at once. Just before we went away I froze 2 bagsful, took a box away with us and brought a few back again, and now I have picked a big bowlful.

Mandy, I love Maisie Pig's outfit. She's even got a little bag. Will you give her to one of the granddaughters? I can imagine a young child enjoying playing with her and an older girl using her as a little ornament, sitting on a window sill or bed.

The mist cleared so I got the washing on and did 3 loads and most of it is dry now. I've also gone through the cupboards and made out an order for Tesco who are coming tomorrow afternoon. I've decided I ought to do more cooking myself now that everything is getting so expensive. It's not the meat and veg as I normally cook those from scratch anyway but it's things like sauces. I sometimes buy a White Wine and Cream Sauce but that has now gone up to £2 a tin and I am sure I could make a version of it or a good alternative sauce for about a quarter of the price.

Needless to say I haven't been out for a walk today though OH went early this morning on his usual constitutional. I want to find time to hunt for a photograph. Something like 30 years ago the Queen was in Thailand and stopped on her walkabout to chat to some children from the International School there. One of them was our niece so we have a nice photo of her chatting to the Queen. I think this is now something to be kept for future generations.

Not had any cauli yet. Had a pasty lunch time and a salad last night.

Hello again and good morning Mel and Vera.
16 degrees here now but PC is just saying 14 degrees and fog, No fog here so that must be in wiltshire.

too much cauli Mel maybe? Hope it clears up soon.

Morning all,

16 degrees her and pc is showing the sun with a cloiud over it local one has a grey cloud with rain drops on and 17 degrees. The kitchen one says 16 so that must be right.

You'll soon get all that washing done Vera but just think of the lovely places you have been and seeing your cousin and the good meals you had you did'nt have to cook yourself.

Bit of a dicky tum this morning.

Good morning AnnG and all

It’s beginning to feel like autumn. Apparently it’s 14 degrees but it feels chillier as it is grey and quite misty out. It was quite a chilly night too; I certainly didn’t need the fan.

We had a good journey back yesterday but it was straight into the old routine. I went to Sainsbury’s to get some veg and then unpacked and cooked our dinner. Now I have mounds of washing to do. The trouble with holidays is that you have a great time but as soon as you get back you feel you haven’t been away ;-)

I’m now going to get some meat and veg in the slow cooker for today’s meal but might bbl.

good morning all. A nice bright sunny morning but at the moment only 10 degrees. I guess we will soon we will be wishing we had just a little bit of that hot weather.

Tesco due this morning 11-12, other than that nothing planned. :-) :-) :-)

Did anyone watch the walk about by William, Kate, Harry and Meghan? So many people they are all trying to get to the cars but the people won’t let them go. Impossible to talk to them all and still the flowers keep coming.

Evening All,

It's been dry and sunny here. I did the walk thinking everyone would be inside watching the tv but the car park was packed but I managed to squeeze on the edge with the car on half a space. A sweet little golden Shih Tzu called Honey kept bringing her ball back to me instead of her owner, then realising her mistake veered off again! I watched some of the tv coverage but OH watched it all. I went to a garden centre in the middle of nowhere about 10 miles away and found some Michaelmas daisies. They might be dwarf ones, but I got 4 anyway, one pinky red, one double pink, a lilac one and a bluey one. I also got a cotton lavender to put in a pot as well. I have one in the front garden which hasn't been watered at all and it survived ok.

Mandy you have knitted some lovely clothes for Maisie Pig. She's going to look lovely! :-) Will she be for one of the girls?

Yes, you can buy frozen cauli cheese Mel, so AnnG is right to suggest freezing portions.

What a shame it was wet again yesterday Vera. I hope you had a good journey home.

At last the workmen doing Mrs O's back garden have finished today and the skip collected. Goodness knows what they have had done and it must have cost a fair bit to pay 2 men for 4 weeks work.

Better finish the food order now.

Cook it and freeze portions Mel.

I watched the proclamation of Prince Charles to King Charles 111 then went out in the garden for an hour with my clippers and have filled the bin by a third. so much to chop down this rime of year even though Andy did a tremendous amount. I really need to cut the lawn but after an hour I didn't have the energy.

Can't wait to see Maisie pig in all her finery. What wilol you knit next?

Can't seem to get into anything today. I have picked some damsons 10 oz but will probabaly give them to Emm.

Bought a big cauli cos I fancied cauli cheese but it will be too much for me.

Afternoon all,

A nice sunny day here so I've stripped the bed and it's on the line .

Oh thats good the plugs are OK Ann and yes we had the F&C when the rain eased up off I went ,i had to go to the bank first ,stood in a queue for ages they were having computer problems I gave up waiting in the end and went up this morning and it was all working OK.

Vera you have had a wet week away but you've managed to get out and about and sounds as if the walking has helped your back.

Going to do some knitting this afternoon I've nearly finished a dress for Maisie the pig .

Morning all,

Bright and sunny here this morning but still 14 degrees by the pc and it says mostly sunny. the other one for this area says 17 degrees and a cloud with rain drops on.

No idea what I am doing today either Anng.

good morning all grey here and 14 degrees which seems to be the norm at the moment. No idea what I am doing today nothing planned.

Shame it rained so much today Vera, after rain all day yesterday it was dry and sometimes sunny today
Hopefully your walking has loosened up your back which will hopefully help you to keep walking when you get home.
Well done your OH Ann for being taken on for four years in the jobs he enjoys.

The Queen has been an inspiration to many and has given the country stability through some difficult times. I’ve heard many people criticise the institution of monarchy but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad word about the Queen herself. We are fortunate to have had her as our Head of State for so long.

Ann, your OH is going to be so busy, he won’t have time for books and football matches.

Our final day on holiday has been marked by rain, rain and more rain. We were going to book a table for tonight at a nice place in town but if we got caught in a downpour on the way we’d be sitting in wet clothes all evening and we didn’t fancy that. We couldn’t drive as there is nowhere nearby to park. In the end we walked between showers to the small Tesco shop in the High Street and got a ready meal. This afternoon the sun came out (for 5 minutes) so we went down to the front for a last walk. We were out for about 2 hours but 15 minutes was spent sheltering in a bandstand and half an hour in Morelli’s. OH had an ice cream and I had a coffee while we watched the rain through the windows. I know we desperately need the rain but it would have been good if it could have held off another couple of days.

I’m all packed now apart from the last minute bits. I am going to try to get walking again as I’ve done a lot this week and I am sure I am better for it. Trouble is there is always H/W or ironing or gardening to do but I am really going to try to make time for more exercise.

Annx It sounds as if OH is going to be kept busy.... Will he have time to read his new books? ;-)
I'm sure his help and experience is much valued.

I was talking to my daughter this morning about some of the changes that have happened in the long reign of Her Majesty the Queen.
When she came to the throne, our family didn't have a car, a telephone, a TV or a 'fridge and I don't think that was paricularly unusual.We didn't have a washing machine either.
So many things considered part of our everyday life now, were not so then.

Through all the changes, there in the background was our Queen serving her people, her country and the Commonwealth.
It is indeed the end of an era, but I hope people give King Charles III full support as he starts out in his new role.

Afternoon All,

Just had a deluge of rain, boy it does lash down hard when it starts. Not complaining though as the weeds will be easier to pull out and soil easier to dig soon and I'll be able to plant things that have been waiting in their pots!

OH has been accepted this morning for another 4 years in 2 of his Independent Person roles so he's pleased about that. I nipped out earlier for some salad to go with jacket pots and to get a paper and all the talk is about the loss of our Queen. Things will never be the same again without her. At least she won't be upset by anything Harry may have written in his book now though.

OH has been to a meeting this morning and now has lots of work to do so I am going to start having a sort out in here. There's a pile of mags and newspapers and little boxes I've saved to better organise my craft things so now's the time to do it and reduce the clutter.

Mandy the plugs have arrived and work fine! I can't use the one in the cupboard till we can move one of the shelves a bit lower. It is adjustable but wedged in quite tight and needs the help of a hammer. Hope you got your F&C, :-D

Just watching the gun salute fascinating as they go round the country and to Gibralter at 10 sec gaps.

Morning all,

Raining here and very grey ,just done some shopping and we were going to have a F&C lunch but if its still coming down it will be a sandwich and I'll cook later.

So sad about the Queen but what a life she had ,now we have a King .

Morning Anng and all,

Dull dreary and very miserable here this morning and its been raining heavily, 15 degrees on the pc and 17 on the local one.

Nothing else to report so BBL.