General Chat

ve gone in the greenhouse

Its done it again.

Good morning Anng and all,

we had a very hard frost last night and its still where the sun dos'nt reach yet. The sky is wall to wall blue and it looks like its going to be a beautiful day.

Ann I was thinking last night about your old blinds, would thye go in the greenhouse? Not sure if they were vertical ones or not but if they were light oloured they may give protection from the sun and the cold.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Very frosty but the Suns shining and it's soon melted the frost away .

You were up and about this morning Anng I looked at the bed but thought no I'll strip that tomorrow .
We haven't seen a hot air balloon for ages they use to use one of the schools playing fields years ago and we would see them go over most weekends and hear the roar of the burners .
You would need to wrap up well I bet its really chilly up there .

Hope you had a better nights sleep last night Ann ,I was ages getting off last night still awake at gone twelve i starting dropping off but then got the fidgets in my legs so was twisting and turning for ages.

Mel thats a nice amount of eggs the girls are laying now ,hope you've got over the trouble with the tablets and feel calmer now, things like that upset the system and put you all out .

Well the Suns shining but I don't think it's a day for outside jobs , don't think I feel like doing inside jobs much either so will see how the day goes .

good morning all. slept well last night, asleep before 11pm and woke at 0515 for the loo. up at 0715, bed now stripped and bedding in wash. Frost last night but not a really heavy one. friend coming at 10.30 for coffee. not seen her for three weeks as she had a cold and didn't go to U3a

It is a beautiful clear blue sky morning. Just looked out of my office window to see a hot air balloon in the distance. I bet it is lovely up there this morning, so clear. they must have been up since dawn. I can't think where they launched it from. Or where they are going.

We have, or had the last time I went, a duty doctor, I think he or she sees emergencies. We have a very large reception, widely spaced chairs, go in one door and out another.

It wasn't at a doctor's surgery AnnG. I mentioned it was a duty doctor on a shift so sounds like a Hospital. I think what has made the difference is the govt dropping the legal requirement and making it just 'advice' to self isolate and the fact that, apart from certain groups being able to still get free covid tests, everyone else has to pay for them now. The govt has said that most people won't need a test. Many won't bother, especially those who are young and know they are unlikely to be very ill. Others will just think they have a cold, even though it has been said that 50% of apparenr colds will be covid.
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Our doctors request you wear a mask and to phone if you have symptoms, in which case they wear full PPE and you use a different entrance and exit. Seating was well spaced in twos before, but people pull other seats to make bigger groups to seat their children or chat to a friend and they don't bother to move them back when they go in for their appointment. We have to walk out of the same entrance as people queuing to come in. :-S Our chemist has a sign up saying not to come in if you have symptoms. I suspect none of these things can be enforced now that it is only advice. It all seems rather silly with the 1 in 3 being asymptomatic and mixing as well. It all seems to have gone under the radar with the UKraine War in the headlines.

With little to protect us from what others decide to do, all we can do is do the best we can to protect ourselves. I thought a silly comment in the 'advice' was to avoid people who are vulnerable if you need to go out among people and have covid. Not everyone is obviously vulnerable are they.

Well I've had a very lazy day so must crack on tomorrow. Must dash and cover my plants again. I think it's supposed to be a hard frost tonight.

Not 100% sure of present situation at our surgery, but as far as I know, entrance is restricted and patients can't get in without pressing the call system and being asked if they have symptoms of Covid.
Once allowed into the waiting room, chairs are spaced widely apart and once you've seen the doctor or nurse, you leave the building by a different door.

In the pharmacy, where I pick up prescribed medications, they have a notice on the window asking one not to enter if one has symptoms. They require masks to be worn and limit the number of people allowed entry at one time. It is common to see a short line of distancing people waiting to go in.

How irresponsible to go out and about and spread the virus further.

I can't believe people are not aware of the symptoms of covid. why did it make a difference that the restrictions were lifted I wonder. Would they not have gone to the doctor if there were still restrictions? I am sure our surgery will still have the poster saying don't come in if you have covid symptoms.

I sometimes get it in the base of my thumb Anng. I was told years ago to bend it into my palm and out again a few times to stretch it. The Ibuprofen would help with any inflammation as might wearing a glove to keep it warm. It can be realy painful though especially trying to lift down a heavy book or file eg.

Just as I feared, a duty doctor doing a shift on Friday when all restrictions were off, lost count of the number of patients she saw with classic covid symptoms and not a single one had isolated or taken a test. She said everyone was mixing and infecting each other now and it was completely out of control.

Ann yes the base of the thumb up to the knuckle when it is really bad. If it gets worse I may get a splint to wear around the house, it is not quite so painful today as long as I don't use it. (left hand). first think I put Ibuleve on it so that may have dulled the inflamation.
Yes I think it is osteoarthritis that friend has. I think the injection lasted quite a long time for her.

I have potted on a few of the tomato seeds that have grown a bit bigger than the rest, Not really sure if they are strong enough but they have two chances. If we get a bit more sun the others might grow a bit more too, otherwise I will just leave them until I get back.

and I have done the accounts which is always a good job out of the way and always good to cross off the to do list.

Oh and I cleaned out the fridge and got rid of some stuff.

Have a friend coming for coffee tomorrow morning and also Tescos and then I should be able to concentrate on the packing.

Well all was well in the greenhouse except my runner plants which had scorched at the tips despite being tucked under the bubblewrap. The lower leaves are fine so I think they should still be alright.

I just ordered some printer ink and isn't it expensive! Cartridge Discount so not full price and I found a 10 per cent discount code to add which took £7 off the bill, but it was still £70.

I've just cut the cords off the old blinds to re-use as string for tying rubbish bags or to tie the bean poles together. Well the 'can't decide what to do' thoughts are still with me so while I decide I will do the next tricky bit of the next pattern row of the hat. :-)

Morning All,

It's reached 5 degrees here now but it's quite dull. I had a bad night last night too. Fell asleep before midnight but woke at 1.30am and never went back to sleep, so I got up at 5.30am and made a COT.

AnnG it sounds like your friend may have osteoarthritis in her knee like me. You can have steroid injections for it and I forgot that I did have just one a long time ago. It lasted about 3-4 weeks and I read that they can become less effective the more you have so I haven't bothered to ask for any more since and of course with the pandemic I left it. It was silly them asking your friend to use equipment she knew she shouldn't as some really stress your knees. She obviously already does good, non loadbearing exercise with doing swimming too. Is it the base of your thumb that hurts? I hope the pain soon eases for you. Yes, we will certainly get a skip instead once we start on clearing the garage and loft. It's good to have a list for what needs doing when you go away and I expect, like me, you have a checklist of what things always need to be packed. It saves time.

I have just ordered F&C for lunch as I feel weary with not sleeping much. It's put a smile on OH's face. lol. He is off to a match this afternoon and I'd better check my plants in the greenhouse are all ok. I need to plant a couple more things too. I might get back to knitting the hat I had trouble with as I think I have sussed out where I was going wrong now (with the help of a youtube video) and the pattern looks ok. It sounds daft, but I think the person who wrote the pattern may be left handed! The same happens at times with beading patterns too.

The girls are laying you lots of nice eggs now then Mel. :-D I wonder who is breaking the odd one or two? Some aren't too careful when they leave the nest are they. Have you been watching the prog about farm animals which I have found fascinating. Pigs are so clever!

Morning Anng and all,

It -0 here and pc says sunny. It is out there but bit watery at the moment.

I have the shop to do today for the paper and Em has a dozen eggs this week. I have been having three and four some days this week. The occasional broken one too.

Hope you get through your list Anng and that your little plants are ok in the greenhouse. They should be they are hardier than you think.

Good morning all. Frost last night 0 degree now but sunny and bright. Hoping the tulips just coming into flower have survived. And that stuff in the greenhouse was ok.

Not going anywhere today better get on with the list of things to do pre holiday.

Slept okish last night woke with pain in my left thumb. It is still very painful this morning, feels like a sprain but I have suspected for a while that I have arthritis in that thumb. It was bad enough to wake me up last night.

It is a problem with the waste tips now, since Covid they seem to have become all rules and shorter opening times. I sometimes think it might be easier to organise a skip.

FrIend’s knee, not sure what is wrong with it but she has injections In It. This time though, to show she really qualifies/needs the injections which keep her from needing an op, she has to attend five weeks of pain management clinics. On Tuesday they had to use the gym (she is quite fit for her age of 78. She swims every day, (ex PE/swimming teacher.) she knew which equipment she couldn’t use but was persuaded to use it and spent the next day with a very swollen knee. Sometimes I wonder about these people I think they are physios.

It was cold outside Vera except when the sun shone.but I have to get things done before going away. Yes good to get the pass so quickly.

Evening All,

Brr it was chilly here first thing but I forced my feet into my trainers and walked the walk. lol. Now it's cloudy but still only 6 degrees. OH has been busy all day and is out at yet another meeting at present. The window man came round to measure up for 2 sealed units for one of the front windows this afternoon and he should be able to fit them next week so that is good. I managed to send our gas and electric readings in online last night which was lucky as I see some sites have crashed with so many trying to do it.

Yes Vera we have said it before haven't we and it's further proof that they are from the same mould! I had to laugh as I nearly put 'scowling' instead of 'grumpy' as that is what I tell him too. That's good you have your fourth jabs booked.

Mel what a todo with your tablets. You will have to try and get them ordered before they are due to get some in hand if you can. Fancy some not being sent though. We get 2 months at a time with a system like Gwyn's.

What a shame Lewis has covid again Mandy. It is rife in schools as you say and the school OH was at last night had 5 teachers off with it. I read today that in England 1 in 11 caught it in the last week and each will pass it on to 11 or 12 others. Hopefully they won't all get it and I hope it is mild as some may still have some lasting immunity from before. Your kitchen will have a fresh new look once you find the paint you want.

Those poor little lambs Gwyn with such cold weather. Hopefully they were snuggled up with mum at night and had some hot drinks of milk to keep them warm.

What has happened to your friend's knee AnnG? I have been surprised that no-one has suggested anything to help with my knees other than a rub on gel and surgery, no physio or anything like a pain clinic. That was very quick service with your bus pass which is good.

I was looking at when the tip down the road is open as we have the old blinds as well as the last bit of the old exercise bike to get rid of now. Until a week on Monday there will be queues and delays as they are doing repairs to the access road. If we don't go on the Monday after it's finished (when everyone else that's been waiting will want to go!) they close Tuesday and Wednesday so will have to go after then. There are so many rules now about what you can't take, even car parts or old tyres. What are people supposed to do with them?

It’s a funny old day, heavy snow showers one minute and sun the next but, snow or sun, there’s a bitter, bitter wind out there. I’ve got some pretty daffodils called Tahiti in pots. They have just opened up and they have been completely flattened.

Oh dear Mel, you are having trouble with your scripts. I hope it’s all sorted out now and you don’t have to go through this performance every month. I’ve been surprised by some of you saying you put your scripts into the doctor. I don’t have to put mine in, it’s all done between the doctor and the pharmacist. When I collect my meds I just have to say what I want next time but I don’t handle the script at all. I know they go to the doctor a week before the due collection date but I don’t know if the pharmacy physically send the scripts to the doctor or whether everything is done electronically. We can only get 4 weeks at a time unless we are going to be away when the next lot is due and then they will dispense 8 weeks worth.

Sorry to hear little Lewis has got Covid again, Mandy. It does seem to be rife in the schools. I hope he doesn’t feel too bad and the rest of the family manage to avoid getting it. My daughter is back in school, which seems a little early to me, but her principal persuaded her to go back. She is not, however, doing any teaching, is going in to school through the back entrance and going straight to her office so she has no contact with anyone. Granddaughter who lives in the same house is still testing negative so with luck she won’t get it. Aren’t term times strange? Norfolk and Essex finish for Easter today but Suffolk in the middle doesn’t break up till next Friday.

You got your bus pass quickly AnnG and you’ve been busy in your greenhouse. I want to get some more done with our plants but I am a bit of a fair weather gardener. I am not good in the cold. I have lots of the dwarf antirrhinum seeds coming through but the tomatoes are pathetic. I did use last year’s seeds so maybe they were past their best though they were still in date. I just thinly sewed a few seeds but none of the Moneymaker have come up and only 4 of the Gardener’s Delight and they have still only got their seed leaves.

OH did a bit of hoovering for me this morning while I went round and dusted and then had a lovely long phone conversation with eldest granddaughter. After lunch we popped out to Sainsbury’s. I didn’t want much as I have a delivery on Monday but wanted a bit of fresh veg and some more milk. Before we went I estimated how many stamps I would be likely to use before we have to use the new ones and sent OH off to the Customer Services to buy them before the price goes up on Monday. I was surprised when he came back with the new stamps (but at today’s price) so I might get some more tomorrow as I will be able to continue using them after January.

Got smoked haddock tonight with baby potatoes and a mixture of veg from the freezer. Stay warm and out of this wind.

Oh dear Mandy, it really is just like colds and flu I wonder if we will eventually find the children develop natural immunity. One of my great grandsons (6 year old) had it a couple of weeks ago but none of the other three in the family got it. (that is two adults and one child).so they may not all get it again.

I went to the local garden centre for coffee with my friend, we had to get back so that she could get off to pain clinic (for her knee) so then I spent an hour pottering in the garden and greenhouse. It is really cold outside but as there is some sun there was a bit of warmth in the greenhouse. PC says 7degrees and partly sunny feels colder than that to me as there is a wind chill.

My replacement bus pass had arrived which is really quick service. Better than Stagecoach as I never did hear from them.

O and Happy April Fools day and a pinch and a punch.

Morning everyone,

Sorry to hear that Lewis has covid again Mandy, bless him, like you say it will go through the whole family again. Its such a shame you can get it over and over again.

Do you lot realise that we are now through the first quarter of the year? Where did that go? and there's me saying I am still hoovering up bits of tinsel and we're three months through the year.

Morning Anng, morning all,

Son messaged to say Lewis has tested positive for covid again ,not surprised as it's all over the schools ,son was only saying the other day there were six teachers away at the school , I expect it will now go through the lot of them again as they break up for Easter today so will all be together more .

It's been snowing here again this morning but not laying as I between the showers the sun comes out ,very chill though even with the heating on one of those days I think where you just can't get warm .

Just have to go and post a letter then back to make a nice warming stew ready for tonight and hopefully enough for tomorrow too it always tastes better the second day .