General Chat

I bought two ivy geraniums for one basket then million bells, surfinia petunias , petchoas ( a cross of calabrochoas and petunias). They had a reasonable selection of the varieties that are always earlier. On sale. But they also had verbena, begonias and other basket type plants. I am sure I will get more later. At the moment I am limited by the space in the conservatory. Once these are potted on I will be able to see more.

What kinds of plug plants did you get AnnG? I need some fresh plants for my front pots which are getting past their best now. Breakfast with your friend sounds like a nice treat and is always always good when cooked nicely.

Apart from doing lunch I've been lazy and keep yawning! I ought to do something, but it looks quite tidy in here now and a shame to 'untidy' it.

Afternoon All,

I did a post earlier but it ended up in the ether! I was awake from 4.00am, probably due to needing to be up early for the blind man. I hate it when they give you a 3 hour slot. As you say Mel you can't get stuck into doing anything else.

Your poor back Vera, I do sympathise. It might be an idea to see if you can get more physio in case something needs 'righting'. I can't take Ibuprofen either, but can use the rub on gel. I still swear by the deep heat pads when mine plays up.

Regards Asda, it's the bending up and down/stooping to empty the crates we struggle with with my knees and he has to be careful with his osteoporosis. The crates are awkward and impossible to carry through our narrow porch when they are full. I just don't see why the latest drivers won't follow the request on the order and decant the food into our bags we leave out for them like they always have before. Maybe I should make them come weekly so there's less to do and will mean they have to come out twice as often at no extra cost to me!! The driver arrived before our slot on Sunday so it wasn't that he was late. We always used Sainsbury's before the pandemic, but at the start of it our Sainsbury's would only deliver for NHS staff and the vulnerable and we didn't want to click and collect so we used Asda. We actually like a lot of their food now and value is good, but there are too many subs.

Well the blind man arrived mid morning, impressively masked and put on shoe covers to protect our floors. The thick, vertical blinds I wanted don't come in a slat size to fit our awkward corners and an alternative doesn't match the ensuite blind colour quite as well and is white one side and a rougher texture that wouldn't be as easy to clean. Still a blackout blind though and far cheaper. We are going to sleep on it. :-S

Last night I discovered that last year someone had applied for planning permission for the 'nicely done up' former, retired headmaster's house and the huge new house that was built on the big back garden to it and is opposite the entrance to our close. They were wanting to turn it all into a Children's Home with the garden behind turned into parking. It would be dangerous anyway with all the deliveries and transport going there smack opposite our junction and traffic queues from the island up to our close these days. The council have refused it, but I wonder if they will appeal.

A neighbour told OH that the asian family in the house at the bottom of our close are extending the house at the back, but have had to stop as someone had reported them for not applying for planning permission! OH thinks 2 of their 5 sons have moved in there as well now as their cars are always parked there. We are hoping it won't mean more noisy, late night gatherings outside, but at least it would be a bit further from us.

Good afternoon, I was up early and convinced I had checked in on here, but checking back I was chatting by email to daughter and checking my end of month accounts, well printing them off so I can check with my book. I am a real belts and braces person where the bank is concerned. Happy to do it on line but still keeping an accounts style book.

My friend picked me up at 1045 and we went to Dobbies to get my loyalty card sorted out. That done we went to the restaurant and I bought Anne's breakfast as she had taken me to several places recently while insisting on buying coffee. Breakfast was very nice, well cooked. then we went round the garden centre and I bought the plug plants for my baskets so they now have to be potted on I usually pot them on into small pots before transferring them to the baskets end March early April so need a warm day to get them into pots as I do that outside. Luckily this is one job I have always done myself so do know what I am doing.

Where is everyone today? Perhaps it’s sunny where you are and you are all gardening or maybe you’re busy. I haven’t even dressed yet. At 10 am I gave in and took painkillers and went back to bed. Got up again after a while and sat on a hard chair, am just going to have a sandwich and then I might be back to bed for an hour again. I’m trying to be positive, tomorrow will be a good day. I hope you are all enjoying your day.

Good morning all

It’s wet and grey again. The forecast is for it to be 7 degrees all day and only going down to 6 degrees tonight, so basically wet and muggy.

You all seem to be very busy and I am doing less and less because of this stupid back. It’s getting me down now as it's been dragging on for so long. I can’t take anti inflammatories because they don’t mix well with other tabs I am on and I don’t like taking pain killers unless I really have to, so I’m coping with a combination of heat pads, rest and exercise. If it isn’t improving by the weekend I think I shall have to contact the doctor though I think he will only refer me to physio and I already have sheets of their exercises which I am doing regularly. Sorry to be such a Moaning Minnie but if I get rid of my miseries on here I can be a bit more cheerful with OH. Moan over.

We had gooey chocolate cake as well yesterday Ann, courtesy of our next door neighbour who had been Zoom cooking with his grandchildren again. He brought in an enormous chunk. We had half between us last night and will have the rest today. 9 subs in one order is a lot. I’m glad I don’t have Asda as both Tesco and Sainsbury seem better stocked. I’m not sure how Asda work when you say they didn’t use your bags. With Tesco and Sainsbury they bring the goods unbagged in crates to the front door and you transfer them to your own bags there while the driver stands back . If you are elderly or have other problems and you put in a request Tesco will bring the goods into the kitchen for you. We haven’t asked them to do that but it was their usual practice before the pandemic..

I am supposed to be going to a Ladies Club meeting this afternoon where the speaker is talking about Coco Chanel. I don’t really want to go and sit on the uncomfortable chairs there but my neighbour wants to go for the first time so I feel I should take her and introduce her to a few people. Apart from that I have no plans for the day.

I got up at 7 and made some tea and took it back to bed so it’s high time I was up and about.

Morning All,

Pinch and a punch and all that. So where did the last month go?

Duyll and dreary here this morning and don't think its going to get any better today. I have the big wipe down today so I hope they come earlier like last week so its gets done and over with before lunch.

Hope you all slept better last night I must admit it took me a long while to drop off last night.

Miss Frank and Island so waving to them ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <3

Hope the blind man dos'nt come late as its horrid when you are waiting for someone to arrive you don't know what to geton with. It will be nice for you when they arrive and you can block out Mrs. O's lights early in the morning.

It was chocolate with chocolate buttercream and a soft toffee bit on top AnnG. Naughty as you say, but at least not much of it and no seconds! Gosh you've done a lot today! I have 'pending' stuff too and things like big packs of toilet rolls in the 2nd bedroom. A man is coming in the morning to measure the bedrooms and study for new blinds so I don't know what he will make of our 'stores'. We are are having blackout verticals on the front and in the study. I hope it will mean Mr O's headlights and security light opposite won't wake me at ungodly hours then and that as the blinds are quite thick the study will be cooler as the sun beats on this side in the afternoons. I can tilt them a little to get enough light. We are having a roller blind for the tiny ensuite window in a leafy pattern in white and a pale shade to match the vertical ones. It's made me do some tidying and filing so that's good.

Done the little parcel up Mandy just have to catch the post office van as he's only there for a little while. Must get up early to get there before he goes.

Had 4 eggs this mroning two little brown ones and teo bigger ones NONE brocken, hooray.

You've done well in the garden this mroning Anng. Don't knock yourself out there's always another day.

Spent the morning looking for something to pop in Mandy's parcel.

2 laps of the walk well done Ann. Then that cake :-) :-) Naughty but apparently nice!!

I walked to the post box and back which is probably only a quarter of a mile However after doing the lopping and changing the bed, doing the washing (bedding), I cleared off the main work top in the kitchen and gave that a good clean. I always seem to have stuff 'pending' on the work top as there is nowhere else to put it. Having cleared it off there were, of course, a few bits that I didn't really need to keep. Looks nice and clean and clear now. (for a while). Next job was to work out the plants I need for my baskets. I usually buy them as plugs and keep them when I pot them on into larger pots in the conservatory.

Afternoon All,

I see some have been busy this morning getting the garden sorted. It had rained in the night here so we didn't venture in the garden. OH had an online seminar too so I went and did the ice house walk again, but managed 2 laps round it today. I'd put OH a small birthday cake on the order as his birthday will be before the following order. He decided we'd have it today so I thought I'd better do some exercise first! The cake was a sub and a smaller Thornton's cake was sent, but it was very nice. :-D The sub was one of 9 subs this time. We don't order white bread but that's what they sent for OH. Asda said their slots were full?? so our order came from a different store. The driver didn't use our bags as requested on the order and he never even let us know he'd been and just drove off!! :-( Service seems to be getting worse)

I thought how nice it was that a lorry park owner has invited any Ukraine drivers to use it as long as they like if they want to stay where it's safe. It has a shower and toilets. I hadn't thought how some would be stranded here and scared about going home. Goodness knows where all this will lead.

OH wants to do our puzzles now so BBL.

You are getting on well in the garden AnnG. Ours looks better than it did but there are still jobs to be done. I’m not tackling them as my back is not getting any better and OH’s shoulder is paining him now after his cutting down and weeding.

My back is very bad this morning but I’ve got a lot of washing done. OH did hang out the sheets for me but he left them hanging too low and they draped themselves over some bushes so I had to rehang them anyway.

The receptionist at the centre where I go for chiropody rang this morning and they have fitted me in with an appointment the day before the chiropodist leaves. I’ll be able to find out why she’s leaving and if the centre will be replacing her.

OH is just getting us some lunch ready but I have no idea what we are going to eat tonight. I need to check out what’s in the fridge and freezer.

Just spent half an hour with the lopper cutting down the thicker branches of the three buddleia bushes and also a few long straggling rambling rose branches. Can feel my stomach muscles tweaking now. Still that is a good job done. Nothing else to do out there at the moment. temp gone up to 11 degrees.

Yes the news is very upsetting, That man is unhinged and a bully and as such he is dangerous. His latest threat is unbelievable, however, sadly I don't doubt he will fulfill his promise if he feels he is being thwarted. He has no feelings other than is own ego so don't expect him to have any care at al about civilians, women and children). The people of Ukraine are all so very brave as they follow their also brave leader. Heaven help them though if Putin gets his wish and kills him, and heaven help us if NATO eventually join in. Very scary. He has his hypothetical finger on the nuclear button.

Morning all,

Dull and very grey here this morning and a bit windy too. Such a shame after the lovely bright days we have had recently.

Oh has the news on all the time as he like to keep up with things like that. Such a terrible thing and as Mandy said the fear in the childrens eye is heartbreaking.

I don't know where yesterday went and see I did'nt post after the morning one, sorry about that.

I did a bit of crafting and finished something for Lewis so I must get that packed up and sent. Oh mowed some of the lawns and thats about it really.

I am going to do a sausage toad for tonights dinner as we hav'nt had one for a long time not having enough eggs for breakfast but now the new girls are laying I can spare them.

Morning all

5 degrees here this morning little bits of thin cloud that you can just see the brightness of the sun behind ,I have the bath mats washed ready to hang out not much wind so don't know if they will dry as they are quite thick.

Yes Vera it does feel wrong to carry on as normal when the Ukraines have so much to cope with ,I see our Morrisons are having a collection point so people can take things in .
The first thing we do in the morningis put the news on to see what happened in the night ,all so sad especially for all the little ones you can see the fear in their eyes and it brings a tear to mine I can tell you.

Right better get these mats out on the line .

Good morning all

No sign of sun today :-(. I’ve been sitting here with a CoT watching the awful news from Ukraine. It seems almost wrong to be carrying on our normal life.

I have no plans today. I suppose I’ll do the washing I hope you have an enjoyable day.

Good morning all a grey looking day out there 7 degrees still dry but I think we are expecting rain.

I slept okish. woke around 4 for the loo then again about 5.30 then couldn't get back to sleep so got up 7.15 and stripped the bed and put the bedding in to wash. came back up made a cup of ginger tea and still not washed or dressed!!

If it stays dry might potter in the garden for half hour or so.

Evening all,

What a beautiful day its been here ,not a lot got done in the garden though as it was so chilly out so deceiving with all the sunshine .

We did a bit more on the jigsaw ,I think we'll both be glad when its done now as it's been hanging about .

So a bit going on in your road Anng ,we saw an ambulance down the road this afternoon but they are always going to see the little girl there as she's on oxygen and gets loads of infections bless her ,some times they take her into hospital and she's in for several weeks at a time .

Vera thats good the plant pot trays have been found ,perhaps they were put up there when the Christmas tree stand was put on the shelf after Christmas.
Your right why do we keep all these things in the cupboards, I have cups and saucers for best which use to only come out at Christmas but they don't come out at all now as we use mugs all the time .

Oh Mel I'll look forward to seeing what the make is for the hat ,the only thing I've made for it is a couple of eggs ,I might go in the works and see what they have and then Lewis can come and decorate it , it should really be him decorating it and sticking the bits on .

Ann thats good your getting a few walks in again ,the knees will soon tell you when they've had enough .
I find my knee doesn't like it if I use the steps ,I think it's because I go on one leg when I reach to do things and I find if I sit in my chair and have the lap top on my knees I tend to sit with my knees up on toptoe if you know what I mean .

I noticed my little daffs are now flowering and I have a little pink flower out and more Buds on the Dianthus.

Oh they are looking at Bats on country file and the teeth on them :-0

I doubt if we will ever know what the police were all about. Strange I didn’t see him come back one police car was here fir four hours until 2.30 so .i assume until he returned. I think the girl must have gone off as well and two people waited as weall as the police car. I assume it was some sort of domestic. Although I call him a lad he is in his 30s. He is my friend)# nephew so I might get to know more. If she dies...

The garden looks so much better for the lawn being cut. Sitting out in the sun I could feel that spring will soon be here and we have seen off January and February at last. I feel I am looking forward again instead of just drifting.

Sorry Ann, I missed you there. Our aconites have been in bloom for quite a while though the flowers tend to close up in dull weather. The daffodils in the flower bed are early flowering ones called February Gold. I have some later ones in pots and I reckon it will be April before we see any flowers on those. i’ve just been out to fill the bird feeders and noticed that there are a couple of chiondoxia (sp?) showing blue.