General Chat

Good morning all, looks like we had a shower earlier but not very much, still even a little helps the plants.

Vera Although the hard work in the garden makes the muscles ache, it still makes us feel good when we see what we have done. I worked quite hard out there yesterday in half/forty five hour snatches but my garden will never look 'manicured' especially with the wild flower patches which are, of course, nothing but weeds.
I think the fact that the free out of town shopping areas have spread in this area, with shops like B&M, Home Bargains, the Range, Dunelm etc, means that village shops where there is a charge for parking will not survive. Especially not banks and sub post offices are closing.

Our little shopping centre is slowly diminishing. It is only a row of shops but for ages one has been empty and we are left with a hair dresser, a bakers (Jane's Pantry, a betting shop, a charity shop (Barnados), a Funeral Parlour, McColls/post office, a chiropodist, a chemist and and optician. The post office can't always open for lack of staff since Covid when one of the long serving ladies retired and we wait to see what Morrisons will do with McColls. There is no charge for parking and the dentist is 50 yards down the road.

Ann I too find steps that have been put in to 'help' us down slopes are too high and quite frightening if there is not hand rail. That is one reason I tend to use my walking pole (stick).

Mel, I find the bit you kneel on on those stool/kneelers is very hard on the knees it needs to be a more 'giving' foam.

I went up the border this afternoon and got on quite well. I took my kneeler stool thing up with me and was able to kneel and do the front bit of the border but my knees are telling me this evening that they did'nt like it. Came down at quarter to 7pm and had acoffee and a shower and then did dinner.

Vera the next village started with machines and a 10p charge for parking half an hour a few years ago and that was refundable if you bought things from some of the shops. As you rightly say, it wasn't long enough for queuing in the banks and certainly if less mobile only long enough to visit one shop. Even walking to pay at the ticket machines is additional walking some find an added problem. It still isn't the most expensive carpark but is a big jump in price and there are less shops as 2 of the 3 banks have closed and Waitrose have gone. I noticed yesterday that a pizza place has replaced Santander. I have a feeling some people are using the free carpark at the park where I go walking as some days there seems to be a lot of cars there for the few that are walking in the park. It seems to be all cafes and fast food outlets lately, yet we are led to believe people are struggling to pay their mortgages etc. The council have also put up charges in another village the other side of us. A useful sewing and laundry service shop there has closed and a new cafe is there instead. Someone was enterprising though as it is 5 minutes from the rail station and they have put up train timetables inside.

I notice that a lot of steps that are put in on walks to 'help' must be put in by 6 foot + men as they are often too high for me and some are nearly up to my knees. It's the trouble when you are only short!

It’s a really beautiful day here; sunny and warm with just a very slight breeze. I spent a couple of hours in the garden this morning before it got too hot and I am pleased with what I got done, on top of what I did yesterday, but my back is very sore now and I am moving very carefully. The garden was neglected for a few months because of our medical problems and we’re now desperately playing catch-up, so I am probably doing a bit too much physically. Still, it is good for me mentally to see the improvements in the garden. Now I need to catch up on h/w, lol.

Be careful with your gardening Mel and make sure you don’t put too much strain on your back. It sounds as though you might already have strained your back and knees a bit on that walk Ann. It seems like a pleasant place to wander.

I agree with you AnnG about the short-sightedness of councils when they are setting their car park charges. There has been a constant battle in this area for donkey’s years over car parking. We have very little now to attract people to our town rather than the three larger ones within travelling distance. Virtually all our little independent stores have closed, as has our family owned department store. We have coffee shops galore and a reasonable market twice a week but that’s about it. However people come here as there is a decent amount of car parking and it’s free for 3 hours and only £2 for the whole day. Every couple of years the council try to bring in charges and retract when there is an outcry. This time they got as far as putting new pay ticket machines in the car parks and said we could park free for half an hour. Someone a bit less mobile couldn’t walk from the car park to the town centre, go to one shop and walk back in half an hour so they upped the free bit to one hour. This was going to come into operation last September, then it was deferred to January, then to this October. We’ll see what happens when October comes.

Better get on I suppose. I need to do one or two jobs and have a think about what I can buy our dil for her birthday which is coming up in a couple of weeks. OH’s is the same day and in the following four weeks all four of my granddaughters have birthdays. It’s a pricey time of year – MORE EXPENSE as Frank used to say. I wonder how he is?

Your strawberry barrow sounds like your OH's next project to make some new bits for it Mel! Still, it is doing the job for now which is what matters. That's good you got a few new plants when you popped out. Those Geums are nice.

I've already got my backache from this morning's planting. There's just 1 more geranium left to plant up now, but I still have the new ones to find a home for. At least I can plant the cues once the big old one is planted, hopefully later today.

I meant to say that we went on a diffrent walk yesterday, along more of the old railway track but a few miles away. We went a few times years ago, but it has certainly changed. I'd forgotten there was a really steep path down to it for a start! A lady with 3 Lurchers, one a puppy, was being pullled up the path as we were going down and she shouted a warning 'Watch out they are jumpers' as we got near. lol. She saw me struggling and said there were steps down a bit further along, so we tried those, but they were such high steps it was far worse for my knees so we went back and I went down the slope sideways holding onto OH as that was less stress on them. The path is all treelined now, so quiet and peaceful with lots of wild flowers along the edges. I have never seen so many Brimstone butterflies in one place in my life! We stood and counted 12 at one point. We must have strolled for about 45 minutes there and back, but OH set his hernia off climbing up some steps to see what was beyond and I didn't want to overdo it either. but we will go back again soon. A bit further away is one of OH's schools and it looks like there may be an easier access to the path near there so we will try there next time. I'll send a few pics, but they don't really show up all the flowers.

My strawberry barrow is the old one we used to put outside with all our veg on for sale. Its falling apart. Oh took the top off so I only have three sides on it and the axel fell off so thats held on with cabel ties but it works for the plants.

Done the usual shop and em's but she was'nt in so I expect they were at football. Bought two cosmos and two calendulars and a pretty apricot Geum from the lady at Battledown cross who has an honesty box but I owe her for the geum as she was'nt in either so I could'nt get change.


Had lunch and just having a sit and then wash up and going up the border to get myself backache.

Morning All,

That wind has gone at last and the sun is breaking through now. It's 18 degrees here according to the PC but it's cooler inside. No plans for today, but OH has decided to watch 2 matches on TV rather than go up to Ashbourne today. So we are having F&C as a treat. I must get some more plants put in including getting the cues put in the big tub where the geraniums in their pots have been stood all winter. It's going to be too hot for me to be outside for long so I will start my painting then.

That was interesting about Calendula AnnG. I knew it was used in creams and I think to ward off whitefly if planted near tomatoes.......or I may have got that wrong?

It's a good day for painting now the wind has dropped Mel. Your strawberry barrow sounds nice as well.

Better get on now if I want to get something done outside before lunch and it getting hotter!

Morning Anng and all,

Nice bright morning here too and 12 degrees and I think there's a breeze out there but not been out yet.

Just a trip up the road for me and I may be able to get back up the border again if I am lucky and oh dos'nt find me something else to do. I also have to paint the bench he cleaned off for me but I am not happy with where's he's put it right next to my strawberry barrow so I can't get all round it. Will have to see.

Good morning all. bright so far 8 degrees and doesn't look so windy this morning. I hope it has dropped as it was so gusty. Again nothing planned except a friend may call in this afternoon for a chat.
I really ought to have another go at the jigsaw. I just have the dog to do but it is so difficult to find even one piece and, of course I now have the garden needing priority.

It always seems short sighted to me when they put up charges which means fewer people will go there so possibly no extra money made. Unless it is a car park used by visitors to the area or commuters to the city.

I don't know about breezy it is a gale force wind here, not a cold wind but rally gusty. I found it hard work doing some gardening so I have just pulled a few weeds and planted up a new sage plus planted some calendula seeds as part of the garden interests group new project It is a mindfulness activity. One of our ladies is a member of the RHS and they sent out a request. The RHS have asked, if members belong to a gardening group of some sort, they consider the group joining in the new RHS Communities Initiative to discover and promote the well being powers of plants.

As a group I know we all already are aware of how gardening and/or being in our gardens, is as good as a tonic. RHS are asking us to share our passion and to spread the magic by growing, in our group, a few Calendula seeds each.

Throughout history Calendula has been used to treat all sorts of ailments from toothache to Plague. And it can still be found in skin care products today It is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties.

So I have planted my seeds. One interesting thing. I always thought that Pot Marigolds (Calendula) and French Marigolds (Tagetes) were from the same family but they are not. And wheas you can eat pot marigold flowers, Tagetes floers would make you very ill.

Afternoon All,

Yes it's more breezy here today as well and has slowly reached 17 degrees now. Lots of things have started flowering in the garden and it looks quite nice. We have a couple of Hostas in pots and they are nice as long as the slugs don't find them. Ours are yellow green edged ones. What a game moving things about Vera, but it was worth it to have it looking right. I have a purple pot outside the greenhouse that I want to swap for a tall terracotta one I have as all the other pots of mints outside the greenhouse are tall and terracotta so it will look right with them. I have planted up another pot and started another, but the wind is blowing the poor plants to one side of the wall pots so I wish it would stop blowing so hard.

The council are putting up their cheap carpark charges in the next village by over 200%. It is madness as people will just go to the retail park a couple of miles away instead and businesses will move out. Two shops are already empty where the banks have closed branches.

I've sketched out my painting but don't feel motivated to do anything much today yet there is so much that needs doing. I haven't showered yet with planting up more pots this morning so maybe after that I will see if OH wants to go for a walk somewhere different.

My oh likes his hostas too Vera. He has just put our potted ones in the little pond next to my pond under the acer. He made holes in the pond and filled it with my used potting compost and some earth he got from somewhere in the garden but goodness knows where. I hav'nt found that place yet but theres bound to be a big hole somewhere.

Washings in and its 17 degrees here too with a stiff breeze.

Good morning

According to the weather app it is 17 degrees at the moment but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s overcast and there’s a stiffish breeze.

I managed to do a bit more in the garden yesterday and OH moved some heavy pots around. We have 11 big pots of hostas plus some in the beds. Some are very big leaved and It’s too many in our little garden but OH does like his hostas. I do too but not quite so many of them. We’ve got 9 pots in groups of 3 down one side of the house but trying to put the other two pots in the patio/garden area so they look good but aren’t in the way was a nightmare. Poor man, he kept moving them around and I kept saying “no”. Eventually I got him to move a couple of half barrels along a few inches each, move a potted grass to the front of the house and another pot out of the way and then we could position the hostas so that we could still open the conservatory and lounge patio doors (which he hadn’t thought about!) and keep a bench at an angle where I like it. What a saga - it took us ages. But we’re both reasonably happy now. He can keep his hostas and I think it looks OK.

Better get on. I’m going to hoover upstairs and then try to do a bit more outside.

Morning Anng and all,

Brightish morning here too and its 11 degrees here but dry. Nothing planner here today either just go with the flow. May do the ironing may not!!

This week has passed very quickly to me and we are nearly half way through May now one of my favorite months.

I must sow some seeds today as the sunflower seeds I ordered have come. The others I sowed did'nt come up. He likes his sunflowers..............

Good morning all, 12 degrees and bright but cloudy here at the moment. didn't sleep that well last night, very patchy with keep waking up for no reason. Nothing planned for me today as yet.

Ann viruses can cause hair loss. When my daughter was six years old she had measles quite badly and lost a lot of her hair, luckily it was very thick but ended being really thin. Luckily it soon grew back.

You will enjoy having something more definite to paint and can use what you did with the rocks as practice.

Evening All,

It's been a mixture of dullness then sun today with quite a chilly breeze. We did the walk but diverted across the sweetcorn field (now ploughed) and through the village back to the carpark. Then we collected that last item from the chemist. A quick lunch then and my course this afternoon. We have a choice of pictures of Stonehenge to do this week so that is more interesting.

That was a good chat you had with your friend yesterday Vera and what a lot you got done today. It will be good to get your decorating done and I know how your OH feels as I have always done all of ours in 2 marriages. I know it would take me a lot longer now and don't fancy doing ceilings with looking up in varifocals so know it makes sense to get someone in. It would get done so much quicker too!

Mel you have put me to shame with all you have done too! Amaryllis are lovely big flowers so it will be nice to see those buds open.

Edit: AnnG you asked about covid symptoms. I didn't really have a cough, more a cold. OH had the cough but only for about a week. We both had the tiredness for 3 weeks or so. My hairdresser told me yesterday that some women have noticed some hair loss after a couple of months.

Iv'e had a busy day too cleaned, dusted and hoovered the bedroom aND THEN THE KITCHEN AND DINER. Sorry caught the cap lock. Cleaned the loo.

Fed the chickens and wild birds and and watered the shed plants. Made a potato salad for tonight and boiled the eggs. Done a load of washing up and now I am having a sit down.

Dos'nt sound much but I have done a bit of craft too.

My Amerillis that had two lots of flowers come up last year and then they both died now has one stalk with big buds on the top and its now about 10 inches tall so I may be lucky and see some flowers this year. I can't remember what colour it is as I bought three, one for Di one for Emm and one for Auntie Joy but we did'nt see her last year so I kept it and planted it.

Is everyone hibernating today? It’s very quiet

I hope you have an enjoyable meeting with your garden friends AnnG. It’s sometimes nice to talk with just a small group.

I’ve had quite a busy morning. Did some odd jobs and washed a king size duvet cover, finished the ironing, hoovered through the downstairs, paid some bills and did a bit of paperwork and prepared and cooked our main meal. I wanted it at lunchtime today as we’ve got a decorator coming this evening. I’ve at last persuaded OH that we could do with repainting and he’s agreed to get a quote or two. It will be the first time he hasn’t done it himself but I have put my foot down. We will get him to quote for the lounge, kitchen diner, hall, stairs and landing. OH has put his foot down over colour - it will be the same, boring but sensible, magnolia but it will at least be clean and bright. Maybe I can change the colour of cushions and things to get a bit of variety.

I ought to get out the garden now but I’m feeling quite achy. Perhaps I’ll start with one easy job and see how I get on.

Good morning all. it is sunny here at the moment with a pale blue sky ans some white cloud and 11 degrees. I am hoping it stays dry as this afternoon it is our garden interests meeting here. there will only be the 4 of us so no chair shifting for me, it is a shame as it is always such a lively meeting and those missing it are disappointed at the clash.

Vera For quite a few years I have occasionally choked, not too often, usually due to mucus in my throat overnight, this is probably only since I got to about 70, sometimes I do wake from the burning sensation of reflux But this is different and, given that daughter also has a dry throat as do I during the day, I do think it is as a result of Covid and the dry tickly cough I had then. I don't still have much of that cough but daughter does. I have read that the after covid cough goes on a while. I was OK last night and didn't cough/choke when I woke this morning. I always take a glass of water to bed with me.

I think the number of times I have gone to a garden centre and left without buying anything can be counted on one hand, and those times will have been in winter months. It is like buying more work to do isn't it?

How nice to meet up with your old neighbours no wonder you had four hours of talking to do with 3 years to catch up on.

Mel hope you manage to fix the damage you did to your craft yesterday.