General Chat

Good morning everyone

It’s sunny here at the moment and 7 degrees but there is quite a strong wind making it feel colder.

Good to see you Island ~~~~~~~~~~

You are all busy with your seeds. I usually use a multi purpose compost for everything. . Sometimes I add some sand or grit depending on what I am planting. I think I will just buy some small bedding plants this year and not bother with any more seeds.

I am very stiff this morning but hopefully I’ll loosen up a bit as I get moving. We have some matters to deal with at the bank this morning and then the day’s my own so I’ll see if I can face a bit of pottering in the garden or a bit of h/w when I get back.

Enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

Vera sounds as if you had quite a trip trying to get there with the diversions in place but it's good you managed to find the place in the end .
It sounds as if the young chap really put you through it but it's good he was thorough and checked you over well ,you might feel it tomorrow though after being pulled about.

Yes thank you Island I'm very pleased and would definitely use them again if you hadn't mentioned them I would have paid double and a bit more for the seeds .
That's good you've had your forth jab .

Mel I will get some John Innes and mix it in with the other compost I have bought that is not the peat free stuff ,luckily I only got one bag of that old peat free stuff I definitely won't get that again .

No Anng so I expect she's travelled today hope she had a safe trip there .
Edit I see you've just posted Anng

Good evening all. Pleased that you have had your fourth jab Island.
Thanks for your good wishes Vera. We travelled today very busy on the roads, heavy traffic but all moving, mixed weather rain and sun and a very cold wind here. I was surprised to see very small lam s I. The fields north of Kendal I would have thought it was too cold.

Slept badly last night so hope for a better night tonight.

Mandy that was good that all your seeds germinated. Hope they continue to survive.

Annx, Mandy, I'm really pleased you are having good results from premier seeds - I wouldn't use any other. Had to buy suttons when the pandemic kicked off as premier sold out quickly - 5 out of 50 french bean seeds seeds germinated :-0
Had to laugh when a know it all told me 'don't by cheap seeds - they said that on the tele' LOL well they would say what they're paid to say wouldn't they!
Haven't sown mine yet, life keeps throwing stingers in my path.
I've always used multi purpose with no additions but of late some has been sticky, The quality of some is a bit poor too - is some being bagged before it's ready because of demand during lockdowns I wonder.
We put farmyard manure on our main raised bed in 2019 and have been plagued with flea beetles since so can't grow anything with leafy tops - if they could eat bindweed I'd be happy.

As I'm here..... the GOV site eventually opened and I received a pack of LFTs within 3 days. A week later another pack arrived without me ordering :-S
Had my number 4 jab yesterday. Got the letter weeks ago but as no-one seemed to know about it and I'm fed up of being labelled as 'extremely vulnerable' I chucked it to one side. If I was that 'extremely vulnerable' how come ra patients, (pre coved) are made to sit in the clinic waiting room with sniffers, snotters and gawd knows what else for upward of an hour and a half?
As a walk in jab session which I could walk to (win win) was advertised last week, off I went. Sore arm though :-|

Well, we have had the lot in the last hour - thunder, cloudburst, large hailstones, a rainbow and now sun. The rainbow was amazing. It was a double and the lower one seemed to be sitting on the roof tops. The bands of colour were much broader than usual and really bright, especially the violet. I’ve never seen a rainbow like it but it did start to fade quite quickly and we didn’t have a camera handy so we couldn’t get a picture.

I had to go to the Health Centre in a town 12 or 13 miles away to see a physio this morning. I hardly drive these days but feel I must keep my hand and eye in, in case I need to take over in an emergency so I said I would drive myself. I wish I hadn’t! My journey turned into a real saga. To start with a large truck was blocking our little Close. The driver didn’t want to move and waved me round the side of him. To say it was tight is an understatement. As I got level with him I could see there wasn’t enough space for me to steer our long car round his front wheels and straighten up so I said he would have to back up a bit. He wasn’t happy but he did it and off I went. All went well till I got to about a mile out of the town I wanted. I needed to turn right. Help! Road closed, follow the diversion signs. After a couple of miles, I realised that the “diversion” was sending me in the wrong direction, so I turned right into an industrial estate and wound my way through there to a T-junction. I hadn’t a clue where I was and time was ticking away, but I figured I needed to turn right again to go towards the town. After following the road for a way I was very relieved to see something I recognised and eventually I arrived at my destination feeling very flustered. In spite of the fact I had left plenty of time it was just 2 minutes before my appointment time.

The physio was a lovely young man and really thorough. I think every muscle has been pummelled and every bone pressed but he was very pleased. Apparently my leg muscles are strong and my hips move freely. He had me making different movements while standing, sitting and lying, asked which exercises I had been doing and said they were exactly the right ones and added one more for me to do. He was very reassuring that it would get better but may take a little while yet. He’s given me an “open” appointment so that if the pain gets worse or I feel I am not making progress I can ring and ask to see him again without going through the referral system.

I feel quite stiff and sore at the moment but should be fine after a night’s rest.

I can’t remember when you are off with your daughter AnnG but I wish you a safe journey, good weather and a happy time.

Better get my casserole in the oven now and make another of our endless cuppas.

If you use that peat free compost you need to mix it with some pearlite and leaf mould. I did'nt get on with it either so just buy multi purpose and add some john innes no 1 2 or whatever I am potting on I use the 1 for seedlings the 2 for more mature plants and the 3 for things that have been in the same pot for a ong while or to top up my big tubs with the clematis in. I also mix some of the farmyard manure you can buy in bags with the toms and the sweet peas.

Afternoon all,

Very windy here and quite cloudy but I did get a bit of bedding dry on the line ,I nipped to take dil her birthday presents this morning as Colin was waiting for a call from the doctor ,he's had new tablets for his waterworks and they really didn't suit him made him very light headed and his legs swelled up ,doctor said this can happen with those tablets so now he's got a prescription going to boots for some different ones so although they did help his waterworks he got side affects from them.

Another nice little win Ann from Ernie :-)
I was very pleased with all the seeds I got from that seed company they have all germinated well, the only problem I've had was the repotting on as I used some of that peatfree compost and they didn't like it so I lost a few tomato plants ,I put some more seeds in different compost and they are doing well .

Thanks for the handy tip with pva glue Mel. I've not heard of that before. I do run them between finger and thumb after washing and never leave them standing in the water pot between use.

It started to drizzle with rain when I went out, but it soon stopped and I did my 2 laps. The lamb cooked well in the pressure cooker and lunch was ready by the time I showered.

OH is washing up what we don't put in the dishwasher so I am relaxing with a hot chocolate. I must look in the greenhouse soon as things dry out so quickly. We just had a heavy shower of rain but now it is sunny again.

Ann if the brushes are bent on the tips give them a was ans put the PVA glue on them and make a point and leave them to dry then you can wash it out and they should be straight again if not do it again. I always rinse my brushes and then run them through my index finger and thumb to form the point.

Morning All,

Quite bright and 10 degrees here. I rang the appointments and dept my appointment is at at the hospital but no-one there has tried to ring me so goodness knows who it was. I doubt it was to do with my knees as they have discharged me for the time being. The telephone number doesn't match any on their letters either.

I am cooking some diced lamb that was an Asda sub ages ago. It says to cook it in a casserole for 2 and a half hours in the oven, so I will do it in the pressure cooker instead in about a third of the time and see how it is then! I can set it going and do my walk while it is cooking and tell OH to keep an eye on it. ;-). The veg will cook while I have my shower.

I need to hoover through today, then maybe some knitting or painting. OH was in my bad books yesterday as he knocked my small and fine watercolour brushes flying all over the floor! He didn't seem to realise it mattered, but once the tips of them get bent it can spoil them for painting. It seemed to hit home when I told him it would be like bending the nib on his best ink pen!

ERNIE has sent me £50 this month so that was nice. :-)

Morning All,

Dull and grey here this morning and it looks wet out there too. I hope it brightens up a bit later on like it did yesterday as the pc says 9 degrees and mostly sunny.

F & C's night tonight so thats good as no cooking tonight. I had a steak opie last week but am having cod tonight.

So what are you all up to today, Whats on your lists? Mine is clean the bedroom and finish hoovering the hall.

Evening All,

A better day, warmer and with some sunshine today. More seeds are coming up now which is good. Those premier seeds seem to germinate well.

I hope your back has eased a bit today Vera. You need to be ok for your meal out, especially if the seats are as uncomfy as the ones where we went. It was like musical chairs with me keep trying others when the staff were out of sight! Your poor OH getting a puncture to sort out too. Hopefully it wasn't raining when he had to pump it up.

Not many subs this time then Mel which is good. That's a good idea to grow the short beans in pots and raise them up. The beans are easier to see like that too as I often find ones I've missed that are 'past it'. Yes Jane did love the bean, garlic and tomato mix didn't she. I wonder what news she would have for us if she was still around. I still remember those tiny little plates you showed me you'd made that time I visited you!

You managed to get the lawn mowed after all AnnG and got some other things done too. Yes it's amazing how the cutting down of certain Clematis seems to give them new strength.

I did my 2 laps again today and I think it is getting slightly less effort so maybe my legs are getting stronger. The tent had gone!! There was a poor old yellow Lab with a golf ball sized growth dangling about 3 inches from his tummy, but he didn't seem to be in pain. As I walked past him I noticed several, similar growths on his forehead. He still seemed to be enjoying sniffing his way around though and was probably too old for an operation even if that was possible. The hospital tried ringing my mobile while I was walking round, but it stopped ringing in the short time it took to get out of my pocket. I tried ringing back but got a recorded message saying they would ring again. Then OH rang to say they had tried me at home but wouldn't say what it was about. I hope it is due to a cancelled appointment being available but I will try ringing them tomorrow.

OH is out again and has taken his woolly hat tonight as he was frozen last night. After this week when they break up for easter I think he has a few weeks with no meetings so can catch up, and with some garden jobs too.

I don’t think I have been as busy as you Vera even if you don’t have a lot to show for it. Daughter helped put on the fresh duvet cover and so. In law changed the battery in one of the fire alarms and the light bulb in the bedroom, he can reach both without a stool or steps. Daughter also did quite a large chunk of the jigsaw, surprising what new eyes see that mine didn’t

Mel quite a street you have there why were the others banished to loft etc, and why have you decided to get them out again? Do you have plans for them.

Cottage pie tonight but daughter has mashed swede instead of potato on top.

Fairly quick visit to the thread today as I'm trying to get our dinner for 6 pm. I am going to the Ladies Club tonight so have to be out at 7.15.

It's been quite a busy day with ironing, meals, deliveries and some family and banking business to sort out, plus showering and hair washing. I then remembered the physio had emailed me a form to fill in all about what I have/haven't been able to do and how I have felt over the past 2 weeks. I have to take it with me to physio in the morning so I had to find that and get it filled in. Plus there have been a number of phone calls. All in all, I seem to have been working all day but don't have a great deal to show for it.

You sound as though you have been busy AnnG. It's good you got your lawn mown (is that right or should it be mowed?).

I reckon you could start a model village with all your shops and houses Mel? You'll have to set one up on your land and charge people to visit, lol.

Chicken in a chasseur sauce tonight so I'd better go and see how that is doing and turn over the roasties.

Have a good night everyone.

O and I still have a fishermans cottage up the potting sheds I started back in the 1970's when living in Redbridge.

Anyway while he was up there he brought me down my dolls house shop I started years ago. He's put it out in the garden as its covered in dust and cobwebbs even though it was in a bin liner which has disintigrated (sp) through time being up in the hot loft over about 30 years. I can see inside is my lovely dollshouse davenport so this afternoon I have to wipe it all down and see if its any good to carry on with. I was going to do an Antique shop as I have so many bits of furniture and my minitures I made years ago that would furnish it just right. So another project to start after the two I am still doing now. Still putting bits in the green witch's brew cottage and the next project could go on the side of it.

I have mowed the lawn, tidied up one clematis that I thought I had chopped back too far but it is growing well. put all my seedlings in the greenhouse and washed the duvet cover so daughter can help me put it on. Also showered and washed my hair and cleaned the bathroom. I think that is my lot for today. Still dry 12 degrees but overcast.

Morning Anng and all,

Dull and grey here and pc says 9 degrees and cloudy.

Big wipe down day today and I have two subs my small brown hovis for a large hovis and oh's prawns for some kind of other prawns. After that It will be craft.

Anng are you going today or are they staying with you for a couple of days? Hope they ahve a safe journey and you too.

Good morning all. up early as I have a bit to do before daughter arrives, and they usually start out early. already 9 degrees here but quite overcast. Still it is dry so far.

Been dull and raining here most of the day.

Those big pop bottles make good plant covers. Still not found my bean seeds but I have more I can sow but not the Benchmaster ones that give huge long beans. I usually grow my short beans in big pots and have them on a slatted table thing oph made so I don't have to bend down to pick them. I think I shall grow more of those this year as they crop well. I have the varity Ferrari and like them when they are very small.

Yes I did watch the first episode of the tiney tiny world of miniatures and am going to watch the next one tonight soon.

Runner beans tomatoes and garlic always remind me of our lovely Jane as that was her favorite. Oh's favorite is my minty mushrooms which he dos'nt get very often but I may make them for his this week. I must say they are nice and make a change from the ususal salad stuff.

Will say night night now and see you all in the morning, sleep well.