General Chat

Just done the asda order and it says on the real ale 4 for the price of three. I ordered oh 8 Bass and got no discount???????

Afternoon All,

It's 18 degrees here but with a slight breeze so not as sticky and muggy as during the night. I had to fling the duvet back to get cool.

We nipped tp the garden centre and I found 4 plants to go with my geraniums in the wall pots, a white, double Calibro??? (you know what I mean) and a pinky mauve Bacopa. Then I did a 1 lap walk, but I got quite hot so didn't do 2.

I hope you have had/ are having a good journey home AnnG. Your meal last night with the cheese crusted cod and creamy tarragon sauce sounded delicious, especially with some garlic bread. I would have loved that. You have been spoiled with all these tasty meals. I think we have 4 or 5 more art lessons left.

OH mentioned about the tree coming down to our neighbour and it seems the planners can't get any allowed access to the field at the back of us at the moment so maybe there won't be any building there, at least not yet. They won't allow access off the road as it is so near the busy main junction with the main road and they can't get access where the new houses were built further along and they won't let them cross the old fosse way track that runs across part of the field. It's quite cheered me up. :-) The neighbour said he doesn't like towing the caravan they bought, so they are leaving it on sites and having it moved to different ones so they can stay in it in different places. They are off for 3 weeks in a weeks time. It seems like a good idea. OH said they seemed quite happy with our tree coming down and had noticed how it sways in the gales now and their cars are parked quite close to it.

That's annoying your hip playing up Mel. Let's hope it was to do with how you slept and will soon ease off.

ERNIE's managed to give me another £25 this month. :-)

Morning Vera and all,

Cloudy here this morning and 16 degrees and I have got up with a very achey right hip and it keeps giving me a sharp pain and is'nt very nice.

Safe journey Anng you have probably left by now.

Morning all

Safe journey home AnnG. The week seems to have flown by.

I had a fan on from about 1 am but it was still a hot, sticky night so I didn’t sleep much and now have a headache. It’s already 16 degrees so it looks as though it’s going to be a hot day. I want to do some weeding and also hoover upstairs so I hope I don't wilt too much, but I mustn’t complain that it’s hot and dry as last week I was moaning that it was cold and wet.

Thank you for the photo zAnn. It is a good painting, was it Do er? I think the best bit is the cliff face where you can see the crevices etc and it is not smooth. How many lessons have you got ldft?

We have just had a really nice meal I. A restaurant in West Bay that we managed to book for tonight It made a. I e change not to eat I. A bar. We shared garlic bread and bread with lil and balsamic, and then I had cod with a cheese crust I. A sauce I
Of wine, dill , tarragon and cream with chips. Then daughter and zi shared a bread and butter pudding with cream that was de,I kous. A ,o Ely end to our holiday. We are all packed and ready to go tomorrow.

Wow Ann thats good. I love the cliffs and the stones in the water you have it just right.

Your meals sounded nice Vera and the place sounds nice and peaceful. It is a good discipline for your granddaughter to be up so early isn't it! Good training for the future when an early start may be needed to get to work. It is good for her to be contributing to caring for wildlife too.

My Violas in the front wall pots seem to have suffered in the wind and flopped so I need to replant them now as they are nearly over anyway. I can put 2 of my now well grown geranium plug plants I got in them and might nip to the village garden centre in the morning for something like Bacopa to go with them.

AnnG your holiday has flown by hasn't it but you have had another nice day out. I'm so impressed at you climbing all those steps and you must be quite fit to be able to do it! I'm not sure I could, even with good knees! I would have enjoyed the fossil shop!

How nice to have found the Woodpecker feather Mel and the Barn Owl one would have been nice too. What a shame about your Sunflower seeds. Mine aren't even poking through yet. Your poor short beans too. We are being plagued by a troop of about 6 young Magpies at the moment. They call every lunchtime and pull at my alpine plants looking for grubs and keep getting in my water feature pot to stand on my poor dwarf water lily to have a bath and give it a good bashing with their wings. They also bring crusts of bread from somewhere and dunk it in there to soften it to eat......not daft are they. We know they are around when we hear them on the conservatory roof in their hobnail boots. They are usually trying to pull the SKY wiring or birdproofing out of the gutters up there.

Well the teacher did like my painting and praised it a lot which is encouraging. There are some good students in this class who have also painted some nice pictures.

Hi All,

Today we drove to Lyme Regis, it stayed dry all day no sun but quite warm with a sea breeze I. Lyme. We parked in the long stay car park which means walking down 113 steps to get to the sea walk that leads to the town. We stopped for a coffee sitting looking out over the beach then walked out to the end of the Cobb.walked back via the little shops along the front with daughter and I detouring into the Antique shops. Didn’t buy anything. Next we bought lunch which we took to eat sitting on the long promenade that leads to the steps back up. Daughter and I had crab sandwiches, always a treat for me on visits to Lyme. Son in law had a traditional pasty. After the lunch break we walked back up all those steps until we reached the car park. I was actually pleased that I could still do it.
We next drove to Charmouth where we had a walk about in the beach and looked in the fossil shop. It was really windy here as it was high tide,and coffee was only take away so we drove on to a garden centre near West Bay and had coffee there, although I actually had hot dark choclolate.
Back to our cottage then to pack. Had to keep some clothes out as we have a reservation at a restaurant this evening.

I put my sunflower seedlings out two days ago and today they have been attacked by something probably a jackdaw which had pecked all the loo rolls I had them planted in.

I managed to saved 8 giant ones and repotted them and now I have to wash a load of pots for the Little Dorit ones. Whatever it was also dug around in my big short bean pot and pulled some of those out

I wrote this before lunch and did'nt post it!!!!

I haven't had much of a chance to talk to granddaughter Ann but as far as I can make out they patrol the beach early to find any nests that have appeared during the night and then mark the nests to keep people away. I'll email round the couple of photos she sent me but I haven't asked her permission so please don't pass them on to anyone. I know she won't mind me showing friends like you.

We had a lovely lunch. The pub we chose is in a small village 4 or 5 miles away. It's a bit off the beaten track so, although it can get busy in the evening, there aren't usually many people there during the day. It's very clean and the food is always fresh tasting. OH had a Moroccan Lamb Tagine with couscous while I had sea trout with a tarragon cream sauce. I didn't have room for dessert though I fancied the passion fruit posset with lime shortbread. Next time we go there I'm going to have one of their "small plates" so I have space for a desert.

We called in at the local garden centre on the way back to get me a new dutch hoe or at least the attachment that will clip on to an existing handle. Of course we came home with more plants; another geranium and a few more begonias. That really must be our lot for this year.

OH is calling that he has just made a cup of tea. I think I might take mine into the garden as it is a beautiful day. It's a bit breezy but I am fine with a cardi over my thin T-shirt.

Morning All,

It's bright and breezy here too! I only slept a couple of hours last night so feel like a wet weekend today. We were up early to go to Boots Opticians on the retail park a mile away to get my prescription the optician never gave me after my eye test a few weeks ago. Typical, they couldn't give it me as the optician would need to write it out so I asked them to post it to me. We then popped in the garden centre that is on the way back as they have a Works and OH needs an academic diary. No success there and he was told only the high st stores have them now so I will order one for him online from elsewhere. People won't travel into the city as much now with fuel prices and the cost of city parking so they may be making a mistake. It was noticeable at the garden centre that people don't seem to buying as much as I have never seen so many plants there before.

Vera I hope your OH's back soon eases and that he hears about his scan soon. He seems to have learned how best to manage it and I can understand his reluctance to have anyone like an osteopath mess with it after one of my knees was made worse by a GP's manipulations! The talk you had sounded interesting. Is your granddaughter patrolling the beaches to look for turtles laying eggs? I will send my painting. The teacher said it was very interesting how I had simplified the scene and emphasised a particular feature which changed the mood so I will be interested in what he says about it this afternoon and to see how the others got on with their efforts. I hope you enjoy your meal out. It sounded a better idea to go at lunchtime which I prefer these days.

How sad about the baby Robin Mel. We still feel sad about the hedgehogs that fell in our pond when we had one years ago. We hadn't put a ramp in the pond then as we didn't even know we had hedgehogs come in the garden. At least they didn't both fall in though. It's a shame your hip is playing up now and I know what you mean about not knowing what you have done as I get the same with my knee at times. It must be to do with the way we sleep or lie. I hope your moulds turn out well.

I have just stuck a traybake in the oven with chicken strips, onion, peppers, toms, courgette and a bit of parsnip that I found. We can have it with 2 small flatbreads. Then it is my painting course. This week's photos to choose from have been released now and guess what......... they are ALL of industral water tanks......aaaaaagghhh! lol.

You are getting around to some different places AnnG and making me miss that nice sea air.

Hope you find what you want in the shops Mandy. It certainly seems less busy and easier to get around now so I think people aren't spending so much with household costs going up.

Morning everyone

Bright and breezy this morning though it is supposed to cloud over later. It would be a good gardening day but I need to get some indoor jobs done and OH mustn’t risk his back yet. He suggested we went out for a meal tonight but I didn’t want to. Then I felt a bit mean so I came up with a compromise. We’re.going to have a proper meal out but at lunchtime and in a nice quiet rural pub we know and both like. He seemed pleased with that idea.

I’d better get on with those jobs if I am going to shower as well and be ready to go out soon after 12.

Morning all,

Lovely bright sunny morning and quite breezy so I have bath towels in the wash and bath mats to get done too .

Not sure what I'm doing today yet I need to get our tablets from boots and some other bits from town but I need to go shopping too at some point so I think I'll have a coffee while I decide.

Morning Anng and all,

Brightish morning here and dry at present pc says 14 degrees and cloudy.

Hips playing up this morning and I don't know why as I hav'nt done anything to annoy it unless I twisted it a bit when I got out for the loo last night.

Going to try some moulds today.

Good morning all, full here but dry so far.

Yesterday we went to Portland Bill and visited the Chesil beach visitor centre which was quite interesting with a lovely cafe for coffee and shared Danish pastry. The views over the end of the fleet were very good and the sun shone. There was a lot of wind and kite surfing in the area too. We drove back, stopping en route to take photos of the. Hedil Beach from lay bus. We called I. To B Bradstock for a last look round there which was nice, we were going to have lunch in the Hi e, which is a fish restaurant on the beach. For the first time ever, a table was available but they didn’t do anything for anyone who didn’t like fish and J is allergic to eating a lot of sea food so we didn’t stay. We headed back to West Bay and had lunch in the windy corner cafe. A fairly heavy rain shower here. Back to the cottage for a read then daughter and I walked down and went on the pier to take photos.

Funny old day here. Quite heavy rain during the night again, intermittent showers this morning, then lovely warm sunshine, now it’s gone grey again and the wind is getting up but it’s 20 degrees and muggy.

Sorry to hear about baby robin. Sadly these things happen. I’ve got the photos of the Swannery now, thank you Mel. That’s a very big group and I think they look quite intimidating. The gardens you visited sound interesting AnnG. I hope you enjoy your trip out today and have more luck with your meal tonight.

Did you get your painting finished Ann? If so, I hope you’re pleased with the result and I look forward to seeing it. One of our newer neighbours draws and paints as a hobby and took several pictures to sell at the village fete on Saturday. I hadn’t seen any of his art before and was surprised at all the different styles in his work. I hope your OH’s hernia can be dealt with sooner rather than later. In the meantime he will have to be very careful.

My OH is still waiting for the results of his last scan. He rang the hospital yesterday to be told it will be at least another week as the report hasn’t been written yet. I am taking that as a good sign. I think if they had seen anything too bad they would have contacted him sooner. His back is much better though he will have to go easy for a few days. It wasn’t anything to do with the gardening that he did. He injured his back shortly after we got married. Some years later an osteopath was recommended to him but she actually did more harm than good and he won’t go near an osteopath now. It is quite weird. He can go months with no problems and then just do something simple like pick a fork up from the table and something will give. When he was working he would continue through the pain and it would take weeks to get better but after he retired he learnt to stop what he was doing as soon as his back “went” and take the strong anti-inflammatories that are prescribed for him and it recovers fairly quickly.

Yesterday was a busy day. I washed bedding, hoovered through downstairs, cooked our main meal at lunchtime and then spent the afternoon on various odd jobs before going to a Ladies Club Meeting in the evening. It was a very good meeting as we had the Outdoor Plants Manager from Perrywoods, our local garden centre. They are a family run firm with a huge, award winning centre in Essex. When our local small Wyevale closed they took over there and have acquired a lot of land around it. There is a lot of building going on and they are expanding like mad. The girl last night was talking about herbaceous perennials and answering questions. She was very knowledgeable and informative but with a light touch and a good sense of humour.

I seem to have been busy today as well but I don’t seem to have much to show for it. It was good to hear from my granddaughter who texted and sent 3 photos from Greece. She said it is boiling hot but she is not too burnt and only fairly bitten by bugs. She has to be careful as she has that very fair skin that often goes with reddish hair. She says she has to get up at 5 am and from 5.30 she walks the beach for 3 hours on the morning patrol.

The sun has come out again so I might go and have a quick wander round the garden and see what’s growing well and what’s not. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

Its now falling out of the sky.

Ann we had one of those wireless doorbells for mum so if she wanted us she would ring.

The other day oh brought me down a lovely barn owl feather he found up the top. two days ago I found a black one with white spots on and could'nt think who it was from so showed oh and he immediately said woodpecker which clicked right away as they have been feding off the bird feeder outside the kitchen window and I found it by the edge of the front.

I have some very sad news...... Mrs Robby had two babies. I went to get some water from the waterbutt behind my shed and floating in the top was a baby robin, stone dead. Anyway the good news is we have been feeding the new baby of hers and its coming right up on the patio for worms and fighting other robbis off so oh says we now have another aggresive Robin but he is getting samer and even comes when he sees us and looks as much as to say "where's the food then?"

Done a bit more craft this morning making my moulds.

Morning All,

Dull here, but was sunny earlier. OH says we are due showers so washing will have to wait till tomorrow when it's supposed to be dry here.

Sorry folks it was my blunder with the emails! I was in a hurry and saw Mel's name in the email and thought 'ah yes, Mel can't get emails from AnnG' so just forwarded the pics to her. I must pay more attention in future.

Mapperton House Garden sounds nice AnnG. I love topiary and enjoyed seeing it at Levens Hall years ago. I expect you have been there too with it being in the Kendal area.

Mandy I can't believe how good those things are you have made, so neat and beautifully sewn, with pretty lining in the purses too. I think they would sell like hot cakes. Methinks you should be on the Sewing Bee programme. :-)

I have ordered a new doorbell as the old one still seems to be playing up. It is wireless like the old one and I saw a good tip in the reviews. A lady whose elderly father lived with them had bought 2 and you can change the ring sound so you know which is ringing. Her father keeps the bell push for one in his pocket so if he has a fall eg while he is in the garden or is upstairs he can press the bell in his pocket to let them know he needs some help.

I need to finish my painting this morning, but it is so hard not to add lots of detail for this week's simplified version the teacher has requested. It is interesting to try though as it makes you think what to emphasise and what doesn't add anything and so to leave out. OH won't be interrupting as he has an online meeting.

Good morning all some sun some cloud and a light shower earlier.

Plan for today is to head towards Portland Bill but not quite all the way there to a heritage centre on Chesil beach. I have not been there brfore. We will then probably come back to West Bay for the afternoon.
It was nothing to do with the time we were booking Mel but more to do with the fact that it is a hotel as well as a pub and they are full so, in the evening the public can’t book in advance and residents get priority. When we phoned in the morning they told us no need to book. But neglected to say we would not get in if there were a lot of residents eating in. The two other places were full I assume because everyone was in the same boat as us. It may well have been to do with the football. With England playing.
Maybe Gwyn is away.

Morning All,

Bright morning here so far but the sky is whitey grey out the front and pc says 16 degrees and partly sunny.

Slept like a log last night after all my hw and stuff yesterday. I am hoping to get on with some craft today or go up the border if it stays dry.

Have you anywhere planned for today Anng and maybe book that place to eat earlier today so your not disappointed.

We hav'nt heard from Gwyn lately and I wondered how her swans were doing after seeing Anng's pics. hoping alls ok.