General Chat

O the weeds and nettles round his car are as tall as me so I am not venturing in there.

You won't believe this. I have just reseived the hog house I ordered. And, guess what, the hog is not in the composter. Cynth said a couple of days ago she saw a hedgehod out the front crossing the road in the daytime. I know that hey only go out in the day if they are not well so I went and checked and now it seems I have a house but no hog, could have saved that £30.

Thanks for letting me know what you'd scored for the book at the time AnnG. I will put it to one side and have a read before it goes to the charity shop. It says it was a best seller at the time so should be quite good. The Abbey and your day out with your friend sounds really great and interesting and it was a good idea to take your own lunch as I know I hate queuing. I'm so impressed you walked so far during the visit too, probably further than the ramblers, but as you say there was so much to see. I expect the rail strikes may have caused more traffic when you were coming back.

I've a bit more paperwork to do, then I aught to do a bit of deadheading of the geraniums and pull a few weeds out now the rain has hopefully made it easier. I've a letter I need to post so I may pop out too.

sounds like you had a wonderful time out at the Abbey and it was sensable to take sandwiches. Will you be putting some pics on your blog?

I have just picked a basket full of brimbles hav'nt weigh them yet. May make some brimble jelly for the winter if I can find some jars. I do it in the microwave so it dos'nt take so long.

Ann I read Gone girl in 2016, I can't remember the story but I checked my list and it says it was Very good. I obviously enjoyed it but it didn't get an 'excellent' from me.

Yesterday Barbara picked me up at 0845 to drive to where the coach goes from. Coach left promptly and we had almost a full 56 seater. It took just over the hour to get to Lacock which is between Chippenham and Melksham. We arrived about 1040 so Barbara and I made straight for The Stables cafe where we had coffee and shortbread. We wanted to beat the crowd as there were three coaches in.

I had been there once with T and, I am not sure why but we just visited the village not the abbey, I have a vague recollection that the Abbey was closed that day. We were members so if it had been open I am sure we would have gone in.

We just about finished seeing all we wanted to see by 4pm which left us an hour before the coach left to sit down and enjoy an icecream

We both thought it was a great place for a day trip, so much to see. Beside the abbey there is a museum devoted to William Henry Fox Talbot the father of photography in the UK. He discovered the process of making a negative from which to develop photographs. Both of us found that interesting as we did the other exhibition in the museum by (I think) Mandy Barker She had a series of bright attractive photos of a horrible subject called plastic soup. it was all particles of plastic recovered from the ocean. and there was one photo of, I think 270 odd particles of plastic found in one Albatross. We thought this should be shown on TV or, at the very least, in schools.

The Abbey was not what we expected as the title conjures up visions of ruins. It is a lovely large building, originally an Abbey founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order.Eventually made into a home and many times used in films such as H Potter. It still has parts of the Abbey incorporated such as the beautiful cloisters and the Sacristy etc. (from google Sir William Sharington, purchased the abbey after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and turned it into his country house. He incorporated the cloister into the design of his home, an unusual move, and added Italian-inspired Renaissance architecture, including an octagonal tower. It is a very interesting and beautiful building in vast grounds. I won't bore you any more, I could go on for ages. We took sandwiches so didn't need to fight the crowds for lunch and easily found a seat where we could eat them.
We left promptly at 5pm, about a third of our group had been walkers, they set off to do five miles but I think did over 7 and arrived in good time to have a cup of tea before catching the coach. We got back to Churchdown at 6.15pm, The M4 was horrendous but luckily that is a fairly short part of the journey the M5 was fine. I was very ambivalent about going because it was the first trip I had done without T but it was fine, seemed strange carrying my own rucsac but it was OK. I really enjoyed Barbara's company and the whole day.

edited to put the correct name of the plastic soup lady

Morning All,

It's more sunny today but just a sheet was still enough last night and I slept well. My L knee is klunking less today so I hope it continues so I can soon get back to short walks now it is a bit cooler. The body's always spoiling good intentions.

I wondered where you were off to yesterday as well AnnG and look forward to hearing about Lacock Abbey.

Mel, after what you say, checking the car won't be a five minute job after all so it may be best to keep looking inside for now. Oh yuk, milk that's off is horrid isn't it!

It looks like a jobs day all round today. I've just been checking those sites that buy books for some of OH's books and have to admit they offer a pittance. He might as well take these 6 to the charity shop instead. There's one that's a thriller I might read called Gone Girl.

Morning all

We had a bit of rain during the night but it was bright when I got up at 7.30. It’s overcast again at the moment.

Mel, as Island says, don’t fret over the licence. Just tell the DVLA you’ve looked and can’t find it. I spoke to them on the phone about my brother’s car and found them helpful but you could write if you’d prefer.

AnnG, we went to Lacock Abbey a few years ago and had a very enjoyable day. I look forward to hearing about your trip.

Snap Mandy. I’m having a hoovering, dusting and bathroom cleaning day too. I’m doing a post to put off having to get the vac. out of the cupboard but I’d better get started.

Morning all,

I was up at 6am but went back to bed and woke again at 8.24am. Made myself a coffee and had a swig and the milk was off yuk.

His car has been up the garden parked a little way inside the top arch for years. I shall have to fight to get the fence down to get through and wear my wellies as there are foxes up there and I don't want any more ticks. I know I put all his fishing seats and boxes in the car and one was full of dried bait so I expect that stinks. Not really looking forward to looking in the car. He was on my insurance so he drove my car if he felt more comfortable in the drivers seat than being a passenger.

Well the sun was out when I got up and now its clouded over again.

Morning all,

Bright here this morning but it's raining ,that nice heavy drizzle that will do the gardens some good .
I think its a day of catching up with some jobs in doors ,the bathrooms need a good going over and I need to have a hoover through so thats a few to be going on with .

Good morning all slept well until 0530 then dozed until 0700 then fell asleep until o815 so up late now and still not dressed. Still not going anywhere today. Need a rest after yesterday I think.

Mandy’s suggestion is good Mel check the glove box of his car. And as Ann suggested have you found the fail certificate for the MOT is so check the licence is with it somewhere. But as Island suggests don’t stress over it. I think if you contact them with all the details they will probably say to try to find it and let them know if you do.

Vera I thought I had said but haven’t checked.. I was on a coach outing to Lacock Abbey. I will tell more about it tomorrow. Tired now. Got home at 6.30pm.

Mel glad that you got the card.

Phone the DVLA - they are very helpful and will tell you what to do.
Above all else, don't fret over it. If you can't find it you can't find it.
If you are asked for the number just say 'not known' - you can't be expected to have all the answers.
Really Mel, just let it go <3

Poor Max with a limp. I hope the meds soon help him Mandy. It was handy the vet doing the other things today as well. I bet Lewis will be disappointed not to be able to come and race around with him on Saturday, but there's always another day. It will be some extra protection sooner for you now they are including the over 55s for the jabs this autumn. Hopefully it will mean less cases this time as well. I see a dog has caught monkey pox from it's owner now!

A second skip arrived over the road this morning and the old one they took away was full to the brim with slabs so it looks like they may be renewing all of them.

Mel his driving licence isn't with yours is it? I suppose he would have told you if he'd surrendered it and wasn't going to drive anymore. I think it is always a worry where to keep things safe at home in case there is a break in. Have you had drawers out in case he slipped things like his driving licence under them?

If it's to send it back to DVA the advice is to write stating the name, address and date of birth of the deceased, and your relationship (relative or executor) to the person. If you phone, they will only tell you to write. Hopefully it will come to light soon though.

Mel, phone the DVLA and explain the circumstance, they're very helpful. <3

Afternoon all,

Just lost a whole post .

So short and sweet before I loose another .

Took Max to vets as he has been limping a bit lately and she thinks he might have a bit of Arthritis so he's got some liquid medication to have for a week see if that helps also had his yearly vaccination and kennel cough which he was book in for next week and got some more flea and wormer tablets , we've got to rest him so that means Lewis can't come as planned on Saturday now as they race about together .

Mel hope you can find the license, have you looked in the car ,might be tucked away in a glove compartment with any car papers .

Oh dear Vera what a todo with your friend but at least you got her indoors safely but what a worry for her family .
What's the dessert your making and taking on Sunday, something nice ?

Gosh Ann is if time already for the flu jabs again ,I'll be able to have the other covid booster now its the over fifties but like you I think I'll hold on as they might give it with the flu jab.

We had a F&C lunch today and I got wet walking home as I didn't bother with a brolly but now the suns out but I can see black clouds out there .

He has'nt used his car since it was last in for an MOT as it was too expensive to have the stuff done like 4 new tyres for a start so he parked it up the garden and its been there ever since just inside the top garden. I have found some bits to do with the suzuki which I have put to one side but not even found the log book yet. I know it is under sorn or whatever it is.

Thanks for the card Anna and Anng. I had a lovely one from his uncle Jim who I have never met but thye used to send a card at Christmas and Jim's wife died this year too but we could'nt go up country to the funeral.

I wrote this ages ago and forgot to post.

Morning All,

I was the same AnnG with needing to be up early this morning. It's always the same isn't it.

Vera what a palaver with the keys and your friend and it was a good job you got her safely into her house afterwards. It's a worry that we can all get so we don't realise we have a problem and won't have help. I remember FIL being adamant that he was fine and could manage perfectly well yet we knew he wasn't. It's a big worry for her sons. I'm glad you had some rain at last. It's been dry here since yesterday but we did get a good soaking.

There are new signs up requesting everyone wear masks at the surgery. The last couple of times I went a lot weren't. I couldn't understand half the foreign nurse was saying and had to ask her to repeat things. Why do they talk so fast when their english isn't good? I remember in France talking slowly in my schoolgirl french so it was easier to understand me. She had bad hayfever too which didn't help as well as the muffling of the mask. We popped to the co-op, chemist and PO next so are having tarted up ready meals with added veg to be easy today. The Flu Bookings are available at the Chemist now, but I don't know whether to wait till we hear from our surgery as they will probably do the covid one at the same time.

Good luck with the search for the driving licence Mel! It has to be somewhere doesn't it. It might be with his car insurance or MOT unless you've found those already. You get asked for your driving licence number when you renew your car insurance now. You've set me off again with sorting and I've decided to shred all my old ISA account stuff this afternoon. I've realised I've no need to keep all the old matured account stuff as there is no tax on the interest on them, so no need to keep those old records.

Morning all

Do you have a trip out arranged with your friend today AnnG? Perhaps you told us and it has slipped my mind.

I have to shop in a minute as I don’t have enough milk or bread to last till my delivery on Monday and I have a birthday gift to buy.. We also have a garden party to go to on Sunday and I need ingredients for a desert I am supposed to be taking.

We have just booked our flu injection for 8th October and we are getting our next Covid booster at the same time so that’s another thing I can cross off my to do list.

I’ve been waiting for the dishwasher to finish as I won’t go out and leave it on but it has just beeped at me so I can go shopping now.

Morning Anng and all,

I got up at 6 25am and went back to bed and had a lie in. Nice bright morning here 18 degrees.

More sorting to do today to see if I can find his driving licience.

Good morning all, up early so I have plenty of time to be ready for 0845 for my friend.
Of course I slept badly knowing I had to be up, even though I set the alarm.

That was nice of Em to give you a meal Mel and you will feel better for the hug.

Vera, oh dear what a saga. Sometimes I have a problem getting the key out of the door, especially if trying to do it in a rush. I suppose the problem with your friend is if she goes out of the door on her own and then can't get back in. It must be a worry for her sons.
sounds like you had more rain than me, and we didn't have any at all yesterday.