General Chat

:-D
Thank you for your concern folks.
The rain has only just started as a heavy drizzle, so no need to get the shipwright genes working on that ark yet.

Like the rest of the country, our ground is very wet, but we are nowhere near a river or lake, so although we are technically considered in a flood risk area, it has never actually flooded. We are on low-lying land and some house insurance companies like to up the premiums a lot, some won't even consider our postcode and some others are more lenient and go by previous local records.

I'd agree regarding direct debit. No need to keep remembering to pay bills by a certain date, just let the bank settle it for you. Most of our bills are paid that way.
So much easier.

There was a bit of sun this morning which turned to drizzle and the rain is supposed to get heavier later. There’s also a strong and bitter wind. iPad says the temperature is 4 degrees but feels like -6.

OH is making slow progress but it is going to take a week or two before he’s anywhere near back to normal. He made us a sandwich at lunchtime and I noticed him pick up his book just now which is a good sign. He normally reads a lot but hasn’t wanted to look at a book for at least 5 days. I haven’t yet received any response to my email to the car people about getting the car back If I haven’t heard tomorrow I shall have to ring again and hope I can get through to someone who knows what they are talking about. Tesco came 10 minutes early and I was well pleased. It was a big order as I was restocking the cupboards and fridge but there were no subs and nothing missing.

AnnG is right Mel; direct debit is much easier than paying by phone and you are still in control as you can cancel it at any time. We pay most of our bills that way.

What variety of potato did you get AnnG? I used to like Maris Peer which I think were second earlies though one year I did main crop King Edward’s. I’ve still got the big square bags I used to grow them in but no space to do it at this house.

Mandy, one year we grew a little tomato that I think was called Chocolate Cherry Tomato. The skin was a dark purplish brown and we did well with them. They had a lovely flavour too. They might be worth a try if you see any seeds.

I hope Gwyn is not waterlogged. If you are likely to be flooded, perhaps you should start building an arc Gwyn.

Time to go and prepare some dinner for my dearly beloved and then I’ll wake him as I see he has dozed off over his book.

Mel why don't you pay the water bill by direct debit, saves having to remember to pay it.

I went to the garden centre, and we had a coffee then both got our potatoes. I only got 6, 3 for in the potato bucket and three in the large planter by the shed, Have to put some more compost in there before planting them to freshen the soil up. Anyway they are on the spare bedroom windowsill chitting.

we were not out long as friend is out this afternoon so needed to get back. I have not really done a lot else except sort out and get rid of old seed packets and read the paper on line and mess around on facebook. Oh I did start to do my order for Saturday with Tesco. I have had the haeting on low, it is still inly 5 degrees and feels quite chilly indoors. Bitterly cold wind out.

Done a bit more today. Paid the house insurance and the water bill. Both take ages when you do it on the phone. Made lunch and now I have done the chilli for tomorrow so it only needs heating through and cooking the rice. Still not cleaned the girls housse out but its been raining here as the pc said earlier this morning. Trouble is it dos'nt know when to stop.

Hope Gwyn did'nt get floods or anyone else for that matter.

Done that rabbit yet Mandy?? :-D

Morning girls,

Dull and dreary this morning and its 6 degrees. Got bills to pay today and I am going to cook the chilli for tomorrows dinner with Stu and some sausage rolls for the freezer.

Enjoy your trip out Anng.

Gwyn Hope you don'y get the heavy rain and flooding.

I think the first job of the day is to wash my glasses as I can hardly see the keyboard but that will be after my coffee.

Morning Gwyn, sounds like a day for staying in with weather like that .

Morning Anng, morning all,

Cloudy here but quite bright ,I can see a tiny bit of blue sky so I hope the sun pops through, just a little bit of sun gives you a boost.

Washings in the machine and now spinning ,Colins lighting the fire and I've just got the bin in so a few jobs done .

Oh Ann I loved ths cabbage pot too ,I thought all the flowers were lovely but I think the right one went home as her flowers were very droopy .

Anng hope you can get your potatoes, you did well with them last year ,I checked the other day to see what seeds we needed and it was only the sungold tomato seeds ,I would like to try some other little ones though beside those and the tumbling toms .

Very dull, but dry here at 4 degrees.
The wind is really picking up now and we have a weather warning for heavy rain and possible flooding for this afternoon :-|

Enjoy your trip out AnnG.
I hope they have the potatoes you want to buy.
Lovely that you are able to out and about with friends so often.

Good morning all. 3 degrees no frost and very dull still dry at the moment. Being picked up at 10.30 for a quick coffee trip mainly to get potatoes for chitting from our small local nursery/garden centre (Butterfly Garden).

slept ok except for when I woke with pains in my leg. so a small amount of Ibrofen stopped that and I went back to sleep.

They are not on offer down here the one in Tesco is 23.95 for a single..

Vera it's good your OH has been pottering about a bit today, but he mustn't try do too much till he feels stronger.. We soon resorted to using a notebook to rule a chart for OH's tablets and eyedrops. Time flies when you are doing and thinking for two and it's easy to forget. It sounds like you have got the ball rolling on a few things today and will soon be stocked up with food and some arrangement made about the car.

Gwyn £10 sounds like a bargain for the mattress topper. I hope your daughter finds it is good.

It's good they were pleased with Colin's eyes Mandy and that he was seen early. We usually have to wait ages to even be seen here. Yes you don't want an appointment booked for market day! I used to avoid market day going to the factory shop at Lutterworth for the same reason and people would park in the Factory Shop carpark even if they weren't going there.

Yes I keep meaning to say the same about the Pottery Programme, they are all so good this time and such a nice, friendly group too. I didn't think the flowers would be very easy to do at all, but they were brilliant weren't they and so realistic.The men were so good doing flowers too and I loved the cabbage leaf pot. I've really liked a lot of what they have made this series! Yes OH's eyes look normal and no redness or pain already, so I don't think he will need the eyedrops for many weeks. They sent him a text reminder for another appointment that he has never received, so that's happened with two different hospital departments now. It's for 3.00pm in the afternoon, so not a good time trafficwise for me to collect him afterwards. Still I might go to The Range rather than battle my way back from home. Yes he keeps his eye on the latest books, especially as his birthday is next month! lol. :-D

Vera thats good OH is feeling like pottering today but he needs to take things easy for a day or two and build his strength up .

We were early for Colins appointment and he went in early but by the time he had all the different tests we were still there about an hour , she was pleased with his eyes and he has to go back in nine months ,he had another appointment come through for April which is for a check up on his cataracts but we need to change that as its an odd time for son to take us plus its on market day so parking is not so easy , it was no good trying to do it there today as you have to ring up and it goes through to an appointments office away somewhere .

Gwyn that was a good bargain on the mattress topper ,you'll have to let us know how your daughter gets on with it .

Ann it sounds as if the garden centre gets some trouble sometimes if they have the security on the door ,sad that people think they can just help themselves to things without paying ,it just seems to be all sorts of shops they take from now.
I keep meaning to ask what you think of the pottery programme, I think this lot are all good potters ,I loved all the flowers this week .
Hope OH's eyes are getting better ,I see he's still getting his books :-D

That is good Vera that it sounds as though your OH is on the mend. I suspect not wanting you to do a chart etc is him hanging on to his independence. Being in hospital will have made him not feeling in control once he started to get better.

You seem to have achieved a lot today anyway so well done and don’t worry about commenting on our posts I am sure if there is anything important it will jump out at you.

So pleased to read that Vera's OH is home to recover.
He will get more rest than in hospital, where machines are beeping and people are busy at all hours. I hope he soon feels a lot better.
EDIT
Just seen that he is well enough to potter, so that looks like gentle progress.
Well done.
Look after yourself too, Vera.

Mel, I too know the Doulton ladies, but not the dolls.
Your frost sounds pretty, but too chilly :-0 :-)

It is dry and bright here, but not sunny. It's about 7 degrees.

I hope Colin's appointment went well. Good that your son and daughter-in-law could take you there.

Ann, It must be difficult not knowing if or when your road might be blocked. Some 'improvements' seem to take forever, so I don't envy you having to negotiate all the road works.
I heard on the TV news this morning, that a nearby road control system on M20, called Operation Brock has already cost £millions. This is the one where concrete barriers are erected to filter off cross-Channel freight from domestic traffic at times of heavy port use, like summer holidays, Christmas etc.
Talk about jobs for the boys.
A crew close off the motorway and place the barriers, then within a week or so, a crew come and take them away.
Not sure what the answer is, but some days the lorry route can be almost empty :-S


If anyone is looking to keep warm in bed, Tesco today had Silent Night self heat mattress toppers on offer. They are NOT electric, but use special layers to reflect back natural body heat without using power.
I bought a double for daughter to try for less than £10.

I have managed to read your posts but please forgive me if I don't comment much. I am interested but lacking in time.

OH looked dreadful when he went to bed last night, consequently I didn't sleep much because I was half listening for every sound. In fact, he slept well and looks quite a bit better, though he now has back pain to add to everything else. Normally when his back gives trouble he takes ibuprofen for a few days but we don't know how it will mix with all the other tabs he is on so daren't risk it.

My Sainsbury order that I should have had Saturday has been cancelled and the money will be refunded. I was almost out of milk and only had 1 egg so daughter brought milk and eggs with her yesterday. Today I've managed to book a slot with Tesco for tomorrow so I should be able to get the other stuff I need. I've emailed the car repair place and am waiting to hear back from them. I've also done some other emails and admin for OH as well as my own admin. I also got the last load of washing done for this week so the laundry basket is empty.

OH has pottered about today which I am pleased about and he is talking normally now but I am still having to do some of his thinking for him and thinking for 2 is tiring. With 3 lots of tablets, some for 3 times a day and 1 lot for 4 times a day I am concerned he might get in a muddle with what he has taken when. I offered to make a chart on the computer so that he can mark off what he has taken but he didn't want that and he can be a bit obstinate so I just have to keep an eye on him.

Anyway I don't want to bore you and lots of people have to deal with worse things so life isn't so bad really. At least today we've seen the sun which is a bonus. Wind's flipping cold but sun and wind has got to be better than the endless grey skies and rain.

Ah Mel strangely I have not come across Doulton dolls before so had no idea what you meant. This is strange because I have several of the Doulton ladies collected then in the early 90s. Not that they are worth anythin now just sit on my shelf in the dining room collecting dust.

Mandy I hope that Colin's check up went OK.

Ann Although these pavement works have been a pain, I have to say the workmen have worked full days up until about 4pm. Yesterday were apparently working late in the evening and there is usually a group of workers around except at the weekend.

Afternoon All,

Bright and sunny earlier but chillier than it looked. We went to a garden centre first thing and had a bap with 3 fillings and COT. They always have a security man at the entrance at this garden centre and have done for a few years now. We think it is to do with a large traveller site being at the back and the garden centre being among fields and no buildings close by.

It must be a relief to have your OH home Vera and on the mend. He must keep warm as you say and we have the heating on higher now OH gets colder. It's not easy to have a restful night when you wonder what each sound might be, but maybe you had a better night from being so exhausted. You need a rest yourself today.

I know what dolls you mean now Mel. It sounds like your mum had quite a collection. Nice to see the pheasants in your garden and frost ferns on your car,

I hope Colin got on OK with his eye check Mandy and it's a good opportunity for son and DIL to have a look round the shops instead of waiting. Now my foot is a lot better I want to pop in The Range next time I drop OH off at the hospital in about a fortnight. I want more of their hand towels!

These roadworks seem to last forever don't they AnnG and often not a workman in sight. When we popped in the shop on our way home this morning, in that village they've moved some to the edge of a mini island and set up mobile traffic lights. It was causing chaos as some drivers were unsure where to go to get through.

I better open a delivery we had before lunch. I think it is the curtains for in here, so hopefully it might be cooler in here this summer.

Morning all,

Lovely bright sunny morning ,no frost but its very cold .

Vera thats good OH is back home ,I hope he had a good night and that you manage a little sleep too .

Colin has his eye check at Fakenham today so sons picking us up later, he drops us at the door and then goes and parks up ,it usually takes about an hour so I expect dil will come too and they'll have a walk round the shops .

Morning Anng and all,

Its 2 degrees here and there frost on my ar roof with long fern patterns. The female pheasents re creeping across the top of the garden and the suns out or trying at least.

Pleased your oh is home now Vera and hope you had enough sleep with one ear on oh. Its good you got him to put his heating on in his room as it would have been warm in thehospital.

Shopping comes today and I have some admin to do too.

That should have been Doulton Dolls, my mistake. Mum had quite a lot f them they are still about in the hall on the plate rack and in the llounge on the window sill and desk. Dad bought her the first one and thats still in her bedroom.

Good morning all 0 degrees here and sunny.
Hope vera and OH had a good night's sleep last night. Take it easy today Vera.

I think I might just pop into town while it is dry. That is if I can battle through the road works in the road across the end of my road. They are actually pavement works, replacement electricity cables but it has been very disruptive, mainly for pedestrians and house owners in the road. But there is an obstruction across the end of out road they keep moving. Yesterday it was apparently completely blocked for the second time as my friend had to get them to open it to get her car through.