General Chat

Afters I like it my dad always called it afters.

I have done a little painting of my miniatures, two tiny teds and cast a couple more other things. Fed the toms and cue and thats about it really. O I did go and water the shed plants and the blueberries as they had been blown over. It has rained today but not enough to wet the ground for the plants. OUr hose reel is broken and I really need to use it so I may have to get another one out.

There's a great thing to make in Landscape this month. Its a cushion you can take out with you with a handle on it and it has pockets in it for a note book or phone and pens etc. Good if you go for walks and want to sit down somewhere be it a bench or a rock or even the ground if you cna get there and get up again.

OH had a lay down and I found him asleep this afternoon Vera! I left him as he's had a busy week of work and was up so early this morning.

I've finished sketching my picture at last and will start painting tomorrow now as my eyes have had enough and are a bit blurry. I had a break and went up the garden, more tieing up of toms and cues. The toms are a strange lot this year. Three are a small variety I haven't had before, but one is tall and weedy with few toms on and the other 2 are really bushy with very thick stems and look completely different. The 4th one that I bought as a plant was a gardener's delight and I've had those for years, but it doesn't have the big strings of toms they usually have and I have a feeling it has been labelled wrongly! Oh well, as long as they are all edible and can be used.

Better get something to eat now and some of the strawberries for 'afters'.

It was another hot, muggy night and it's still very warm here but overcast and windy. There's no sign of any rain yet so we're watering the pots and troughs at least once a day and using the hose on the rest of the garden every couple of days. I wonder how Gill manages when there is a prolonged dry spell. I seem to remember she had 400-500 pots. Perhaps she is getting her new garden set up with more beds and fewer pots.

I bet the chap who forgot to pick you up was embarrassed AnnG. Annoying for you after sending a reminder but these things happen.

You were out and about early this morning Ann. I wish we had a decent farm shop near here. There is a very good veg and fruit stall in the market but I stopped going there during the pandemic. Although it was in the open air and people were wearing masks they crowded round the stalls too much for my liking. I think I would feel more comfortable now so I shall have to start shopping there again.

I seem to have had another day of not getting much done. I think I must be getting lazy. and need to buck my ideas up a bit.

OH has just called up the stairs that he has made us a sandwich so I had better go.

Morning All,

Slept well again and OH shocked me by being up before 7.00am and was out sorting some the sawdust mess from the tree being felled and roughly replacing some of the edging rocks although a few were smashed. A lot have split with frost damage anyway so we hadn't bothered to move them.

It was quite cool and still breezy here but lots of sunshine, so we went early to the farm shop as we had run out of eggs. I got some strawberries and nice big black cherries, a couple of nectarines and some radishes and mushrooms and a few of their nice yoghurts. I tried a pineapple and ginger one just now and it was really nice. We were passing the chemist on the way back so OH was able to pick up the rest of his prescription. I don't know if any of you are finding the same, but more and more we are getting 1 packet one make and one another make of the same tablets. It means they are different size tablets and I find it confusing with taking another tablet as well.

Vera I would have enjoyed your lunch I think. Pesto, the Italian restuarant we went to for OH's birthday, operate in a similar way where you order several dishes each for your meal and can share some. That was a lot of olives and I try to force just a couple down even though I don't like them as I know they are good for you! What I can't tackle though is anchovies!! We always have small plates at carveries and at least with serving yourself you can pile it up a bit to be sure you have enough. :-)
I hope those scan results for your OH come through soon now. Hopefully they will be chasing them up now.

I bet the man felt bad about forgetting the meeting with saying he would pick you up AnnG and after you emailing a reminder too! Not everyone was a civil servant or worked in an office so has kept up with keeping a diary though. My sister didn't and was always forgetting arrangements or getting the wrong day.

Watering duty is nearly done for your neighbour now. There hasn't been much rain to give you a break either. No-one here seems to do it for each other, although I used to go over the road to water baskets for Alice when she went away. She lived there before Mrs O. Her husband died in a motorbike accident after they signed up for the bungalow opposite but before they moved in, which was shocking and sad. One of her children lived in Australia and the other spent most time abroad. She worked part time for the council at first and sang in a choir, then bumped into a chap she used to know from work and they hit it off and eventually bought another bungalow together. I do miss her but am glad she found happiness again.

Well I seem to be adding more to my jobs list than I am ticking them off so I'd better get onto doing something.

Yes not wise to use electric in the rain. I was going to cut the lawn, mainly to pick up all the fallen leaves and petals from the wind but reason tells me that if I do the wind will bring down more.

I buy the Saturday paper for the tv programs too Anng.

Its been raining here so it stopped play on thehedge. He's just gone out again but using leccy tools he has to keep bringing them in.

I shan't ask him again. I have had another offer to pick me up if the usual person is away so no problem. Just one of the disadvantages of not having a car.

Still windy here. Experiment today, I needed a few bits from Tesco and Cynth is not back yet. so I walked round with my rucsac. Made sure I didn't get carried away but managed to get everything I needed/wanted, Just over £10 worth but almost £2 of that is the Saturday paper, bought for the TV paper really.

Morning All,

Bright and breezy here too today and yesterday it was really windy inthe afternoon. we have blue, grey and white clouds inthe sky and pc says rain on and off and 13 degrees in Broad Clyst and not the Buckland Filleigh one.

Just the ususal today shop for the paper and Em's with her eggs.

Fancy him forgetting the group meeting and to pick you up Anng. I thought it would be something like that but its so annoying waiting only to be left standing there for ages. Its bad enough waiting for someone to arrive witha delivery and it being late but at least you are at home then.

Good morning all. Bright and sunny and breezy here this morning. Yesterday evening it was blowing a gale out there so I took two hanging baskets into the conservatory. I can't remember ever having to do that before in June. Strange weather.

Nothing planned for today. Cynth should be back later on So a last check of the garden later. Lunch time I have a man coming to help me with getting my emailed photos onto my photo editing programme. Since google did an up date that is not happening as it did before. He thinks he knows why so we shall see. No problem with getting photos into the programme from my SD card (camera(.

couldn't sleep so came in here and had a read of posts.
He actually forgot all about the meeting. He was very apologetic at letting me down and I suppose these things happen but I was annoyed as I sent out a reminder email last weekend.

Vera your meal sounds very nice. We did visit a restaurant that had the small plates menu for lunch after one of our garden visits outings. As far as I can tell it seemed a way of making it look like a cheap meal, which it was if you only chose say two plates, but then was not enough. And three plates were quite expensive for lunch. Also it would work if with your partner or friends you knew well but not, as I was, in a group of friends who prefer a snack type lunch or basic food like fish and chips.
still you enjoyed it and I think I would (I like olives but not that many which suggests the slads could be shared.

Oh dear AnnG, that must have been so frustrating for you. I wonder if he simply forgot or if there was another reason he didn’t turn up. Have you heard from him yet?

You must let us know what your nurse says about the polio vaccine Ann. I had been wondering about it as I never had any vaccinations. I suspect I wouldn’t be given it now at my age but it’s as well to find out. There is a bit of scare mongering going on. Read some reports and you would think the country was in the middle of a polio epidemic with people dropping like flies which is utter nonsense of course.

I’ve also had a day of not doing very much. OH ran the vacuum round downstairs while I did the ironing and that was all I did this morning and the only thing I have done this afternoon is get a Sainsbury’s delivery set up for Monday. We did go out for lunch between those 2 jobs. We decided on a pub in a village about 5 miles away. We hadn’t been there since before Covid and knew it had changed hands so thought we would give it a go. Well, it certainly has changed and seems much bigger and rather more upmarket (and expensive!). There were 2 bars with tables for meals, a restaurant area and an outdoor eating area and the tables were well spaced throughout. We sat in the restaurant bit and had it to ourselves though there was a sliding glass door open between us and the outside area where more tables were occupied so we didn’t feel completely isolated.

The menu informed us that they operate a small plate system, the idea being either to have lots of plates between everyone on the table or each person pick two or three from the menu. We each chose 3. I played fairly safe with lamb meatballs in a tomato and rosemary sauce, French fries and a side salad. OH had fillet steak in a sauce of some sort which he said was very tasty, wild mushroom and parmesan bruschetta and he also ordered a side salad but the waitress must have written the wrong menu number on her pad as he got smoked chicken on some sort of couscous mixture. It looked so nice that he decided to keep it and forgo the salad. My salad was much larger than I expected and had at least 20 olives in it which got left as I dislike olives. OH helped me get through the French fries. It was all beautifully cooked and nicely presented and the staff were very pleasant. We would go again but it wouldn’t suit everyone.

When we got back there was a letter for OH from the medical secretary at the GP surgery saying that their diary showed he was due for more blood tests and enclosing the form saying what tests were needed. The problem is OH had them 3 weeks ago and has been told the results were normal. He rang and the secretary checked. Apparently the doc told OH to get tested again after 2 months but put it down as 3 months in the computer. So we have to wait now to see if the doctor wants him tested again or not. Doc will phone OH but it probably won’t be till Monday at the earliest. While on the phone he asked again about his MRI scan results and the surgery still haven’t heard but the secretary said they are often very slow with scan results. As it is 5 weeks now we are hoping that is a good sign. Hopefully the consultant would have got in touch quicker if he had seen anything to really worry him.

It looks as though it is going to be another hot, sticky night. Fingers crossed we all sleep well.

That would have been disappointing AnnG and after waiting so long too. If he ever offers again, make sure to have his phone number so you can phone him or text him before he sets off. I suppose he may not have been able to go himself for some urgent reason. No doubt you will find out if you haven't already.

Another diddley squat day here too Mel! I did ring the surgery to see if I could find out if I need a polio vaccination booster. I was never vaccinated as a child but got an oral polio vaccine in my 40s, but that was just 1 dose and they keep talking about several doses now on TV. They are going to get a nurse to find out and ring me back but she hasn't yet.

I've been looking on the internet at portable radio/cd/cassette players for OH to get for my birthday, but there are so many and some are out of stock due to shortages that I gave up in the end. Some are alarm clocks as well and you can stream from your phone by plugging it in, have remote control etc.......life's getting too complicated!

I don't have any sable paintbrushes so have never used them for watercolour or acrylic paint although I have heard they are best for watercolour.. I do have 1 squirrel brush for watercolour and that that holds a lot of paint. I like the stiffer synthetic brushes for acrylic paint, but painting on paper is a bit different to what you are painting with them. I imagine you need a brush loaded with thicker paint than me, whereas I need the stiffness to be accurate like drawing. The £2 packs of synthetic detail brushes from The Works I use for fine detail would be ok for you to draw patterns on what you make I would think. I think too soft a brush for acrylic, unless unless the paint is thinned right down might mean the brush bends and stays bent. Maybe you will just have to do a couple of coats of paint. I look forward to seeing your stoneware when it is finished. It sounds interesting!

It must have slipped his mind that he had to pick you up Anng. What a nuisance when you were all ready to go and have a chat with people and to be let down like that. Perhaps he had a very good reason.

I have done diddley squat today just ironed some lace I had washed as it smelt musty and put that on card and away. Made some casts and drilled out a couple of bits. I am trying to make stoneware for Brew Cottage and the potting shed.

A new paintbrush I ordered arrived today its a oooo but its not sable which I prefer as that one was £16 odd and this one was £3.45. It looks ok but I find acrylic brushes don't hold the paint like a sable brush does. Have you found that Ann?

Well I better get something to eat.

Really fed up now. Waited at the appointed spot for my lift from 1.55pm until 2.25pm traffic that should be doing 30 hurtling past at at least 40mph, not pleasant and he didn't turn up. So I didn't get to photography. Typical, the first male I have asked for a lift. the ladies are always early. I have had to send a message to my friend to give my apologies but she won't check that until tea break as I expect her phone is on silent.

I seem to have done nothing today except to reply to emails, have lunch and get ready to go out just before two.

Yes 16 houses in the close and since we moved here in 1992 twelve people have died. Mostly the age but some with cancer. The latest incoming family have two young children (toddler and baby) so that is thee under threes in the road plus two under nines and one teenage boy so the families are taking over.

I do dislike screaming/running around children in cafes. Maybe they meet up on Fridays where you were.

Morning All,

Sorry Mel, I forgot about sending on the photos as my mind was full of the art class!!

I slept really well last night and never woke up at all till 7.30am. My knee ached before I dropped off though and seems to get stiff and achey with sitting so it must be when it is bent. I'll start to do a bit of pedalling on the x trainer as that stretches knees and hips more than walking does and see if it improves.

We were up early and went to the factory shop for opening time. There were some nice clothes, but nothing extra special, so I resisted as my wardrobe is full. We then called in the garden centre and The Works in there just as the cafe opened at 9.30am. so we had a breakfast. More people came in than before, mothers with babbies and a couple of mothers with tots about 3 years old. We were soon regretting it when the scfreaming and shrieking started! Why do mothers wait till they are at the till and hold everyone behind them up before asking such little children where they want to sit and then have drawn out questions about what they want to eat. Why ask them anyway as they get overwhelmed with making the decisions. Mum would have said you can have this or that and we are sitting over there and we just accepted it.

It's 18 degrees here now so much more cool and pleasant, but there's quite a breeze got up. Dance with the fairies Mel? I wish I could still dance! lol. I can't believe we are halfway through the year already and I still haven't got done all I planned to do.

I got my routine postal bowel test result today, which was clear and good to know as I'd been worried about bowel problems with the abdominal pain I had which has only just about cleared up now after 8 months. I also had a reply to my email to the endocrinologist. I emailed her as both I and my dentist were concerned about me having the broken tooth extracted, with the local anaesthetic being adrenaline, which is also a hormone the adrenal glands secrete The hospital were checking my hormone levels among other things. Too much in my body with the injection on top could be dangerous, but she was able to tell me they'd got the last test back and everything was normal. :-D

AnnG your close is just 1 less house than ours. That is a lot of deaths in a short time isn't it. I suppose it's the ages we are but it is sad.

I need to do a bit of everything today, phone call, pay bills, garden, some HW so better get started!

Lovely photos Anng and thank you Vera for sending them on.

Morning Vera and all,

Very overcast today and pc says 16 and mostly sunny so we will see if they are right as theres not a glimps of the sun on this Midsummers Day. Will you all be outside tonight dancing with the fairies? He he he...........

I too have some ironing to do so that will be done today while its cooler and I think a hair wash.

Good morning all. bright here so far an no rain apparently.

Just found out by email from my friend over the road that the elderly man in the end house in the Close died on Sunday night. He was a bit disabled and has not been well since his wife died the month after T. I think he had a stroke a year ago. I didn't know him really only by sight, they kept themselves to themselves. sad though there are only 16 houses and that is five deaths in a year.

Nothing doing this morning but I have photography group this afternoon.

Better get on 2 gardens await and I have to wash my hair.

Good morning all

Have forwarded AnnG’s photos Mel.

I hope you all slept OK last night. It was so hot and uncomfortable; I kept waiting for the storm to break but it never did.

I don’t have any plans for the day. I ought to do some h/w and there’s some ironing waiting but I can’t get myself motivated to do anything much in the heat.

The boiler service yesterday was fine. The boiler is only a year old and on a 5 year warranty but the warranty states it must have an annual service. The engineer checks the hot water tank and upstairs radiators and things like the carbon monoxide alarm as well, though they don’t touch the underfloor heating downstairs.

OH has just suggested we have lunch out. I think he’s getting the taste for going out to eat again after a couple of years of not doing it. It will save me cooking a meal tonight so I’m not complaining :-)