General Chat

Sorry AnnG. I meant to comment but my head is like a sieve these days. I don’t know much about hedgehogs either but I remember OH used to be very careful when he turned over the compost at our old house as there would occasionally be one there. I assume they go for the warmth. I don’t know what you would do about it though.

I’m only doing Gardener’s Delight toms this year, mainly because I didn’t buy my usual tom seeds so used some left from last year. They’re doing OK and I’ve got 6 good plants so I’ll put 4 in pots down the side of the house and the other 2 can go to a plant sale.

I know very little about Hedgehogs AnnG so wouldn't comment. I only learned the other day that they shed their quills and grow new ones each year. I know I miss things in posts and the same happens with mine as I expect it does with everyone else's. I forget to post things or the thread moves on quickly..

Yes my first FIL introduced me to Gardener's Delight toms Mel and they are like strings of grapes.

I noticed my teenage home has a 'sold' board up today so I'm going to see if I can find it and see what the inside and the garden look like now. :-)

It is strange. I expected all sorts of comments and/or instructions regarding my hedgehog maybe could be problem and it is as if I never mentioned it!!!

Been in the shed all afternoon ropotting some geranium cuttings I took a couple of weeks ago and sowed 2 sunflower seeds in my loo roll tubes. Ten were for oh giant sunflowers and ten Little Dorit which are tiny ones and I have never tried them before so will see what they are like.

I bought a tom plant down the shop this morning, a Gardeners Delight whiuch is an old time favorite. I know Ann likes those kind too. It was the first tom I ever grew from seed and had them down the allotment in the 70's and everyone asked me what ones they were as they hung like bunches of grapes from the vines. I would only go done there once a week and pick a whole small basket full. Made tom juice with some and froze others with still enough for us to eat. I used to love a tom sandwich and after buying the plant this morning thats what I had for lunch.

Oh has just gone back out so I think I will go and clean the chickens out and feed the front tubs strawberries and tomatoes and my cues. The GD tom will have to go outside as there's no room for it in the little greenhouse. It only take four pots with enough room for the plants.

As Ann said, you must have needed the sleep Mel. I had quite a decent night last night, I fell asleep about midnight, woke at 2 am, 4 am and 6 am but got back to sleep fairly quickly and then woke completely at 7.30 am. I can't remember the last time I slept beyond 8 in the morning so I am quite jealous of you Mel..

It's been warm and dry today though the sun only appeared a short while ago. It was a good day for gardening so I got out there for 2 hours this morning, though my back is now telling me it was too long. Ann, don't talk to me about ants! I pulled some old violas out of a pot this morning only to find the pot was absolutely full of ants and their eggs. Even though I had long sleeves and gloves they got right inside and I was covered in the dratted things. I still feel itchy.

I bet your OH is looking forward to getting his new car Ann and just in time for summer too.

I'm pleased you enjoyed the film AnnG, but sorry that you found the sound muzzy. I have the opposite problem, like Ann, and always come out deafened. I am sure they increase the volume at afternoon performances. Daytime audiences tend to be older people and I am sure the sound man assumes every old person must be hard of hearing. I expect it will be the same tomorrow when we are going to our local little theatre for an afternoon screening of Swan Lake from the Royal Opera House.

I got some mince out of the freezer this morning but I have no idea what I am going to do with it. I'm not in the mood for cooking so don't want to do anything that takes much effort. Then I am going to shower. I changed out of my old gardening clothes and gave my hair a good brush but I still feel uncomfortable from those ants so I think a nice shower might make me feel a bit better.

Enjoy the rest of your day folks.

I have done two hours in the garden today in two shifts. I was doing quite heavy work pulling up the forget me nots that have finished and some very tall weeds that seem to have strong roots. I cleared one part of the wild flower garden as the flowers had got battered and broken by wind and rain and they were huge, not sure what they were but it looks better without them. I also cut the lawn and did most of the edges until my back complained.

It is not the volume of the cinema Ann, I actually turned my aids down at one point, no it is loud enough but it is the clarity so it sounds as if they are all mumbling in some parts, so the words are muffled. Some programmes the TV are like it but, of course, I have the sub titles on. They do do one performance in the week with sub titles but that day was not convenient for us.

Afternoon All,

Just lost a post so AAaaaaaggghhhh!! That feels better now.

It's 15 degrees here and sunny but feels much warmer. While I was watering the greenhouse I noticed a sagging tom plant with ants around it in the pot so I got the ant killer powder and sprinkled it around in the pot. Unfortunately the plastic container split and enough pouder went over the soil and slabs to clear ants from the neighbours too I expect! Why when you only have a few of a plant does something always seem to happen to them?

As a neighbour is having the only other pine tree down here taken down we are doing the same. They seemed to shed an awful lot of needles with some problem a few years ago and have never been the same since and are getting worryingly tall and rock about scarily in high winds. I will miss them and so will the birds, but it has never looked as nice since the builder cut down the rest of the glade of them at the bottom to extend the close to build the other houses. The chap doing it has given a good price to do the 2 and was supposed to call and see us this morning but didn't. OH said he would deal with it all but has now gone to a match at Worcester!! He did say not to stay in if I want to pop out though as the chap will be seeing the neighbour to arrange a date.

OH had a call this morning to say his car is here and ready to collect and they will ring on Monday to arrange collection/payment etc. It will be a trip to Milton Keynes to collect it and we are looking forward to having aircon again instead of windows up and down to try and keep cool without being gassed with car fumes from the traffic!

It's good to hear you also enjoyed the film AnnG. We have the opposite problem with sound in our cinema and I always take Mel's earplugs with me, plus a warm fleece whatever the time of year. Yes OH guessed it was a hernia as he had one operated on before he retired. The doctor suggested a waiting list of over a year so wanted to get him on the list sooner rather than wait too long. Then it will be up to the hospital to decide what to do. I think lifting the crates of shopping those times they stopped filling our bags didn't help as he was too impatient to fill the bags. Now the damage is done he is being more careful of course.

You must have needed the sleep Mel and I hope you are feeling less pain today.

Morning Anng and all,

Bright morning here but only partly sunny but dry and 16 degrees.

Slept till late. Oh had done washing and put it out and filled in some holes in the road with tarmac.

Iv'e not done a thing yet!!

Must get on as have to do the shop this morning.

Good morning all.dry here. only 8 degrees, bright bu cloud.

Your OH obviously knew that he had a hernia Ann but needed it confirmed. Hope his hospital appointment will soon come through. They don't always operate these days (or didn't a few years back. T had one for several years Consultant said not to operate unless it got worse. I think if he had gone in the couple of years before he died to have a re-check they might have operated. But he didn't. He was reasonably careful though.
Hope your OH is sensible and careful.

Nothing planned for today. Hope it stays dry as I still have parts of the garden needing sorting.

I don't know if I mentioned about my compost. A couple of days ago I was filling some containers and, when doing this I always use some garden compost in the bottom of the container. I have two compost bins, one for adding to this year and one from past years where I have been using the well rotted compost, nice fine soil no un-rotted grass or anything and well down in the bin.. well I opened the lid expecting to see brown soil and there was just a heap of grass and leaves over the top. I shut the lid as I think that probably means a hedgehog has built a late nest. But shouldn't they be waking up now not going to sleep. That is sooo inconvenient.

Back from the cinema, well been back a couple of hours. Enjoyed the film so many characters and some I had trouble placing as I have not seen the previous film although I have it recorded. But it was a good film. Some of the speech was a bit muzzy, friend also thought that but that is because it is not a full sized screen, it is an arts council place and tickets only £6. Good afternoon though.

Evening All,

We were up early this morning as OH needed to see if he could get a doc's appointment to check his suspected hernia. He was hanging on the phone from when they opened for over 20 minutes but eventually got through and was seen this morning and they have confirmed he has a hernia. He needs to be seen by the hospital next to see if surgery is needed. It's his second one so he knows to be careful now.

He had a meeting at lunchtime so I did a 1 lap walk as it's the 3rd day on the trot for me which takes it's toll a bit at the moment so I shall rest up tomorrow. I took some bread for the ducks today and they were quacking with excitement as soon as they heard the plastic bag rustle. I made sure the ducklings got most bits, also the Moorhen that turned up. When I turned to go I jumped, as a little border terrier was sitting next to me looking hopeful like the black Lab did. Then a voice was calling and off he scampered!

Did you enjoy the film AnnG? Like I said to Vera, it's one that I would like to see.

These aches and pains are a nuisance as you say Mel.......they stop us getting on with what we want to do. What will you do about the layers pellets or can you get some elewhere to tide you over? At least you got some things so it wasn't a wasted journey. Your OH is like mine for using my things when his own wear out! The village picnic in your field sounds good and I noticed similar things planned for the villages around here when I looked on the council website today.

I hope whatever the email problem is gets sorted or we will have to forward everything AnnG sends us on to Mel. lol.

I've had a refund come for the coolbox with the damaged handle and they have closed the complaint down now and no mention of returning the cool box. If I don't hear anything more I presume I don't need to send it back. The box itself is not damaged, just the handle, so I could still use it to put veg /bread in to free up space in the fridge.

Quiet on here today............

Done a little weeding of the strawberries and got some nasty weed out of my pond and had a fiddle with my clay and thats all.

Just back from Holsworthy as I desperately needed layers pellets, guess what they did'nt have? Still spent over £80 though on wild bird food fat tablets for the birds a new broom head for oh as his fell apart and he keeps using mine, a pie for dinner tonight, an oyster ham joint and a funnel and a bag of corn, o and a 100 litres of compost.

Now its time to get some lunch and then the rest of the day is mine.

DStill got a pain in my right calf from the cramp this mroning and shoulder is not as bad today .....yet. Hav'nt taken any pain killers yet.

Oh tissues Vera, soo difficult when you wear specs. they steam up. Raining here still. So coat it will be.

Morning Anng and all,

a blimmin old grey day here and its been raining skies are all grey and pc says rain to stop and 13 degrees.

Shoulder and arm are still aching and its such a nuisance as I could have been up the border yesterday as it was such a nice day. We even sat over by my pond with a G & T yesterday for the first time this year. Oh had done a bit of patching on our driveway up the top as we are having a picnic for the village on the top field for the queens jubilee in June. He's been keeping the grass in good order up there too

Its so annoying not to be getting your emails Anng and I will ask him ot look at my pc today if he has time.

I need to go to Mole alley for chickens food too and not sure if I will be able to drive with this shoulder which he won't like.

Still adding bits to my latest project and still need to add bits to the first one!!

Good morning AnnG and all

It’s a rainy morning here too, which is a pain as I wanted to get in the garden today. I’ll get some towels on to wash as I usually dry them in the tumble dryer. Not sure what else I will do today.

I used to use my slow cooker a lot but haven’t done so recently. The way fuel prices are going I think I’d better get it out again. I hadn’t heard of the tea towel trick. I used to make my liquid very thick to start with, a bit like wallpaper paste lol. By the time the cooking was finished it was about right. Sometimes I would use a little bisto or cornflower to thicken it after cooking.

Mel’s emails from AnnG are a real puzzle. If they are not bouncing back to Ann as undeliverable then she has the address correct and they are being delivered somewhere.

Enjoy your trip to the cinema AnnG. Hint: take some tissues ;-)

good morning all. a bit rainy here this morning so, as I am going into town to meet friends. (going to a small cinema to see Downton abbey), I will need to wear a raincoat. A nuisance but don't want to get wet. Not leaving here until 11 so I will make a final decision then.

Ann yes it is always a relief that the results are not what you were worrying about. and it is waiting for the results that is almost worse than the procedures before. glad that yours was a good result.
Vera hope your OH doesn't have to wait too long before he gets his results and that they are not worrying.

well I don't know what else I can do now about Mel not getting emails. Her OH says it is not her fault which suggests he thinks it is mine but surely if it was, google would be throwing it back at me as a wrong address. I think it will have to remain one of life's mysteries. :-(

Evening All,

We had some thunder last night and a good downpour too. It's been sunny all day though. The blind man rang to say he couldn't make it till this afternoon so I fitted him in after my painting course. That job is all finished now and much easier for me with the longer poles. As he was coming later, I did the walk and OH came with me. There were a ot of young ducks that must have come from the other pond in the Hall grounds, but none of the tiny ones today. I also got the cues in the tub. Their roots were through the bottom of the pots.

Yes I feel a lot better after those results Mandy and Vera. It has been a long wait since I saw the doctor last October. Just the last result to wait for now. Thanks for mentioning about your slow cooker Mandy. I think I will do a bit of research online before I choose one. The Rudbekia will look lovely next year. Could Colin mock up a cold frame for you? Is the bird table finished and painted now and at the school?

Vera, that sounded a nice place to walk while you waited for your OH. Now he is waiting for results too. That was sad news from the lady you knew about her husband.

Sorry you are still having pain Mel. Is your ear ok again now. That's sad if poor old Phil has been seen off by a Fox and poor shed Robby disappering too. It's good you are co-parenting with the hen and providing food for any chicks though. :-)

I bet you were warm with your raincoat on AnnG. I took my showerproof off when we went for the walk as I felt quite warm withj just a T shirt on. OH was in his fleece!!

We might go to the tip first thing in the morning as it is open then and no need to book now. We still need to get rid of what is left of the exercise bike and something else that's in the garage that I can't remember now! OH's car should be here in the next fortnight and it will save getting mess in it straightaway.

Off to bed now and OH has already gone!

19th March Anng replied to an email from me. I went into settings and could'nt find anything to say it was blocked or how to unblock it.

I'll have a look and if I can't do it I will ask oh as he's a whiz at that sort of thing.