General Chat

Oh I don't think I could have eaten fish and chips lunch time in the heat Ann but hopefully you enjoyed it.

Vera I sent an email to Mel today and it has not been returned 'undeliverable' Strange isn't it. Your idea about deleting me and adding me again is a good one.

I have remembered that my son has an app that identifies plants so I have sent photos to him. I can't see the leaf of the small blue flower, It seems to be growing up from a geum which is probably the leaf you can see, the geum is orange. That may have come up with the wild flowers though as that is where they were sewn.

It is cloudy now and 27 degrees, not very pleasant.

Grr.......I was halfway through a post, stopped to answer the phone, came back and the post has gone. I shouldn’t have tried to put it straight on the thread instead of typing it separately and doing a c & p as usual (sigh). Start again....

You are very clever getting so much detail on your miniatures Mel. What will you do with them? I think I like the cows best. The problem with emails between you and AnnG is very odd. Have you tried clearing Ann from your contact list and then re-entering her details? Sometimes the simplest action will get rid of a glitch on a computer. Do the emails you send Ann bounce back as undeliverable or do they just disappear into the ether? Eliminating possible problems might help to narrow it down a bit and help you to find what’s gone wrong. I’ll have another think about it. Perhaps all the computer literate people on the thread could do the same and maybe we can solve it between us.

I don’t think I can be much help identifying your flowers AnnG. The mauve one looks familiar but I can’t put a name to it. I did wonder about Perovskia but I don’t really think it is, particularly as that doesn’t start flowering until about July and yours seem to be going over now. As for the pretty blue/white plant it’s a bit like chiondoxia but much too late blooming. If the leaf I can see belongs to the plant I wondered if it could be some form of geranium. Could you email the photos to a local garden centre and ask them what the plants are? Please let us know if you find out.

OH has just come back from a walk looking very hot and bothered and has downed a large glass of cold water. He usually has a walk early in the morning, usually back by 9.30 but today he left it till mid-afternoon. When I suggested it wasn’t a good time to go and perhaps it would be a bit cooler in a couple of hours he was very snappy, and when I suggested he took a hat I got very short shrift. He won’t admit it but I think he is now wishing he had taken a hat.

I’m pleased with the amount of h/w and other jobs I got through this morning but my back is telling me it’s had enough so I’m now going to rest on the bed for an hour with a couple of pillows behind me.

OH nipped out and got F&C in the end as his session finished early. Now I feel quite full and not like doing anything! I did try and sort out my WEA membership as I can't log into it today. They are still working at home though, so the chap I spoke to is having to contact the office to get them to sort things out. Why do they still need to be working from home? It's just putting another obstacle in the way of customer service.

The other Ted sounds good Mel and I look forward to seeing him! :-) You've been doing a lot of hard work in the garden this week in this heat. I get so hot I don't know how you do it.

AnnG you soon get on top of your jobs unlike me. I have some HW to catch up on, but paperwork is my priority today. I had to check my credit card this morning as Asda missed delivering one item and hadn't emailed me to say it was refunded. It was though when I checked.

I had a new bus pass come this morning. The letter mentions my recent application for a new one (the old one had expired) but if I did apply it would be before the pandemic! It's not something I use, but handy to have in case the car is out of action and I need to go somewhere, also for ID if I need it.

Its sweltering here and only just a tiny beeze occasionaly. I have just cut down all the brimbles from down by banty and the beans and pulled out a lot of bindweed. I now have another barrowful which will go in oh's trailer whenI have cooled down a bit and its nearly lunchtime.

Wait till you see the other little ted Ann. He's so cute and I used to sell a lot of him. I made him in plastercine in the 70's 80's.

I will check the email address Anng but haave you got another one I coud use?

Thank you Ann I got it and they are very good models.

I really don't understand this email business with Mel's computer because even if I was blocked from her receiving emails she should still be able to send to me. I can only assume that I have somehow been deleted from her contacts list.

22 degrees here now, I did sit out in the shade with my coffee and it was pleasant, it is actually a bit cloudy here occasionally. Clouds seem to come over then melt away. still too hot for gardening so I have just been doing things on the PC like the next shopping list. Bathroom and claokroom have already been cleaned this week and bed changed and bedding washed. and a load of washing done yesterday and lawn mowed so just a bit of dusting probably needs doing if I can find the will to d0 it.

What can I say! Clap, clap, clap Mel. They are so good and so tiny! As I said in my reply, I love Ted, well I love everything!!!! :-D

I have forwarded the enail to AnnG in case she hasn't got it.

PC says its 25 here now for Buckland Filleigh but gosh it is hot out there.

I have been up the post van this morning and posted a return back and changed an old £20 note I found in mums jewelry box for the latest one. It did look big after the new notes. I also have a collection of old 50p's but can't remember where I put them and I had to hurry cos the vans not there that long.

I use the post office van as a bank as you can do everything in there now, take money out and pay bills and put money in so if the bank is busy you can go to a post offce.

Yes it is hot isn't it. A bit cooler at 21 degrees here but no breeze at all. I went to the garden centre in the middle of nowhere and had a plod around. A more local garden centre that gets very busy took this one over about 3-4 years ago. It was quite run down then but they are spending a lot of money on it and big new poly tunnels have been put up in addition to the existing ones and the new big greenhouse extension they put up a couple of years ago. There is a lot of land and a bungalow and they have a huge selection of plants and trees and unusual garden pots. They have closed it in the winter up to now to do alterations and I think they grow plants for their other garden centre there as well. A lady doing some watering told me not to trip over her hose and said it woud take her all day to water everything. I didn't find the plant I wanted, but did get a nice orange flowered alpine and I also got the birdfeeder I wanted.........plus an icecream!

I have sent an email and have sent to Anng but I don't know if she will get it so could someone please send the pics on to her, Thanks.

Mel xx

Phew, it is hot. It’s 23 degrees but it’s very sunny and there is not a breath of wind so it feels even hotter. OH did an hour in the garden earlier but had to come in by 10.30.
I got very hot making up a bed and changing its duvet for a thinner one as I have a family member staying tomorrow night. While I was in that room I sorted out a few more bits for the charity shop and had a general tidy up. Just got to hoover round and clean a bathroom now.

Tomorrow we have a family party in my cousin’s garden near Norwich. It’s an annual thing though this is the first one for 3 years. It’s held in a different place each year and family come from all over, staying in hotels or camp sites if they are a long way from home. With fuel costs and parking difficulties it makes sense to share cars if possible so one person who lives about 50 miles from us will drive to us first thing in.the morning, leave his car here and continue on with us and then come back with us for the night. I hope it’s not too hot outside tomorrow.

I wish I hadn’t sat down for a cold drink as I don’t want to start again now buy I must get on.

I walked all over helebore plants last year tidying up the garden Mel and they all still came up, they are quite tough.

Gosh it is hot out there. I left here at 0910 and was back by 0950 and I was sweltering. I had planned to go on into town but that would be stupid it will be too hot and humid in there so staying put. Probably even too hot to do any gardening. 20 degrees already.

I must work out which plants to dig up and put in pots but can't do that in this heat, it really needs to be done after rainfall.

Ann drive looks better but won't be finished until next week as there were still some very stubborn little weeds that have been treated with weed killer. when he comes back he will get the rest of the weeds out and then brush the compound between the blocks.

Morning All,

It was a very warm night here and is 18 degrees now. OH is zooming on some appeals today so will need to have a soup lunch or salad as they only have a short lunch break. I am going to another garden centre next. It will save me tiptoeing through the lounge so as not to disturb him. I can't hoover or put the kettle on in the kitchen or microwave as they are too noisy for when he is zooming so am a bit restricted. Like Mel I have a trampled plant in the front from when the tree came down. It is a favourite and in flower now so I want to see if I can find a couple of them to put in the back garden where the big shrub was taken out. I also need a new birdfeeder.

Oh Vera, I was drooling at the description of your strawberry tea, it sounded so delicious! Yes I have noticed queues outside at the bank in the next village that I swapped to a little while ago. There used to be 5 banks/building societies in the next village and now there are just 2. OH's closed recently as well.

Is your drive looking nice now AnnG? I have someone coming to give me a quote in a week's time and I hope that the ugly oil stain from OH's old car can be removed.

Morning all,

Beautiful sunny start to the day here and already 19 degrees.

Vera the tea sounded delish with so many nice things to eat. I bet you were glad you went and enjoyed every minuet of it by the sounds o f things. I would have I know that and a good comfortable day for it too.

Oh usually clears up after the box hedge clipping but this lot was on my plants and I had to get it off. He had trampled some of the plants like the helibore but I am hoping it will pick up again. I cut all its dead leaves off and some new one came off too where he had trodden on it but thats a small price to pay for getting the hedge cut.

I wonder what today will bring? we will see.......

Good morning all. 0930 appointment this morning to collect glasses, not sure what I am doing the rest of today, it looks like being a warm one.

Vera, I suppose with there being fewer and fewer banks, those that remain will always be crowded. Annoying isn't it? some things just can't be done on line.

That Strawberry tea sounds delicious. So pleased you enjoyed it.

Your garden certainly keeps you and OH busy Mel. It sounds as though he is getting on really well with the hedge and you are helping to keep everything tidy.

We went into town this morning and I went to the hairdresser and made an appointment for next Tuesday while OH queued at the bank. There was only 1 cashier on duty again and everyone had business that couldn’t be done at the machines, so it was a bit of a long wait. Then we went to get some veg in the market. There is an excellent, large veg stall with tills both ends and you can walk right round and help yourself to what you want. They are not cheap, if anything a bit dearer than the supermarket, but it’s good quality and fresh and, where possible, locally grown. We always used to buy beautiful peaches from this stall and I was pleased to see they have them again at 5 for £3 so I had to get 5 didn’t I?

Then this afternoon we went to the strawberry tea which was as good as I remember. There are printed quizzes for people to do at their tables if they wish, raffles, a plant stall, a live group playing background music and a great tea. There are sandwiches of all sorts, savoury scones, sausage rolls and pieces of quiche to start. Then when everyone has had their fill of those the next lot comes out; bowls of strawberries with pouring cream, scones with jam and cream and a strawberry on top, meringues and pavlovas filled with strawberries and cream and all sorts of cakes. I never sampled the cakes as I was already full up. The weather was good for being outside as it was pretty warm but without too much sun and with a pleasant breeze. All in all, it was a good afternoon.

I think it’s now time for a chapter of my book so I’ll wish you all goodnight, sleep tight, sweet dreams.

Been out in the garden all day again. I got all the clippings off the bit of garden and oh cut more of the hard bit then moved the tower along and cut a bit more. He then decided the lawn needed cutting as it was getting so long so he did that and I picked up all the clippings and put it on the trailer. We are getting there slowly. I also cleaned up the tarmac in front of the rockery and chopped off three achemila plants. they will grow back but I keep at them. Had a good sweep up and then we had a G & T by my pond and then it was time to cook some dinner which I did'nt feel like but I was hungry so I made a chilli and we both had that.

Afternoon All,

It's 20 degrees and sunny here, but was cooler and cloudy earlier when I managed to do the 1 lap walk. The council men seem to have vans in the car park the last few times, but only once have they been doing any work (mowing). It's a park that's hidden from the road so I suspect they have some extended breaks there. ;-) I noticed broken brown glass on the path near one of the seats today. Not good for dogs' paws or toddlers. I think there is a new nest of baby Moorhens under the bank near the overhanging deck I throw bread from as I could hear noise! The parents were there and scurried out after the bread I threw in and there was a new lot of noise when they disappeared into the bank.

While I was gone OH had a zoom chat with the other council that he'd been recommended to. One of their staff was at the National Conference he did the speech at last week and had reported back that he was the man they wanted! They need to advertise the post but want him to apply as they need a reserve which shouldn't involve too much. Most will be by zoom so the distance wouldn't matter and he would get a small fixed annual payment so I think he would take it if successful.

Three out of my 4 cues are slumped and keep doing it despite lots of water and feed. I will try giving them even more, but it is odd the one plant is fine? They do seem to be a mixture of varieties though judging by the different fruit on them.

Your OH's comment about my painting made me smile Mel. :-) He's done really well getting so much of the hedge done. One day doing it would mean a week's rest after for me! Knowing him I bet he's made a good job of it too.

Yes Mandy, it was a big change from those grey towers wasn't it. It was good to paint something different though. The teacher has to submit his courses to the WEA for approval and he told us he had done that last week and to look out for them, as they decide when to advertise them not him. The WEA members get notified about courses first (I'm not a member) and then they get advertised on the WEA site. I'd been looking every morning, but these were put on in the evening. There are other art courses with vacancies, but I did a short one with one lady and all we seemed to do was mix different colours together and make charts saying what we'd mixed. We didn't do a painting till the last lesson! One is plein air walking about sketching so not my sort of thing or good for my knees, another is well being focussed with breathing exercises. The lady who did watercolour that I enjoyed doesn't do online ones now.

Vera, a strawberry tea sounds delicious and lovely to sit outside and have too!

I'd better get a move on now as we start soon.

Just showed him and he said clever little beast. He liked it.

Morning girls,

Its about the same here this mrning grey cloudy sky 16 degrees and pc says partly sunny.

Its been a funny old year I think. All my flowers seem to have grown very tall this year. The strawberry leaves are taller and the candleabra primroses were much taller and the hostas are bigger and hav'nt had any special treatment this year as we have been busy with other things.

The box hedge is coming along nicely He's done all down one side and is fighting the very thick bit at the mo which means he has a job to get right over it on the top. Once he gets past this it should be easier for him as it dos'nt grow so much on the east side and he has cut most of the top off so theres only about a foot to cut off the top. The only thing is he has to cut a lot of one of the bramley apple back or he won't get the tower against the hedhge as it has grown over it.

Ann the painting was very different but what a hit with the colours. very good as usual and I must show oh today.

Good morning all, a very dull morning here with complete cloud cover but already 15 degrees. It was a very muggy night, I kept waking and going back to sleep and finall woke at 0815. Not sure what I am doing today might be seeing my friend for coffee but she has business to attend to first so not sure.

As I said in my email Vera, I love your farde, just my sort of place, looks very relaxing and you should sit out there more.

And Ann as I also said in your email I love the colours of the latest painting big and bold. I can imagine that large size in a big room, very impressive.
How do the classes get filled up before you get a chance to join, has he been holding them for a long time and notifies his older students first? I hope somebody drops out for you.

Mandy I don't think I have seen a ohoto of your frony and back gardens so they are difficult to picture. (hint hint).