General Chat

The obituary of my old neighbour was in the paper tonight. He's died unexpectedly at age 88. I have fond memories of him as he was quite a character. He was a farmer's son and lived in the big 5 bedroomed detached house next door with his wife. The people that originally had his house had the bungalow I lived in built nextdoor for their retirement.

He was a friendly, helpful sort, always pottering around outside, often in wellies and a woolly hat, but he never seemed to finish anything he started and he never seemed to throw anything away. He had a big old caravan that never went anywhere and 2 old cars, one was never seen and was kept in his garage, a rare model of Vauxhall Viva I seem to remember. The other he would be frequently seen with his head under it's bonnet, either nursing it back to life or doing maintenance. He rarely changed his car and when he did it was for another old one that he could work on. If you ever lifted the bonnet of your own car to top up oil or water etc he would be over the low wall like a shot, saying 'have you got trouble' rather hopefully it always seemed as I'm sure he enjoyed a motor challenge!

His house was painted turquoise and white and he did most DIY himself, so would be seen every Spring once the Daffodils were up, climbing his hadder and enthusiastically painting the gutters or some other paintwork. Then after a few sessions of that he would move onto something else and the painting would only resume again the next year. One year he decided to fit a new upstairs bay window on the back, but he didn't finish cementing it in or painting it for a couple of years. One year he started removing rotten bricks high up on the chimneys, but the scaffolding was up for years.

Our garden at the back was higher than his and we edged the area at the back of our garage with a 30 foot length of concrete slabs on end that were sunk and concreted in to level it up so we could then pave a nice oblong flat area to run our caravan through the garage onto. All was well for a year or two, then he decided for some reason to dig all his pathway up that ran along his side of the fence. This was inches away from our slabs that were on end just the other side of the fence and he carried on digging deeper and further until he had exposed a long length of drain under his path all along the fence next to our slabs and right up close to his back door. We were a bit concerned the slabs might move with all his digging around their base and kept an eye on them till he had filled it all back in when he'd finished..............only he didn't!! The long drain was still exposed many years later when I sold my house! His wife rarely came in the garden anyway but I don't know how she got from the back door to put washing out.

There was a nice big half circle of lawn at the back of his house that was a third of the length of the garden and beyond that the rest was an orchard crammed with overgrown fruit trees with runner beans growing up some of them. It looked pretty in the summer with the fruit blossom, but when the leaves fell it exposed old car tyres, bits of cars and rusty iron stuff that he'd put here and a falling down shed and heaps of sticks and twigs alongside brick piles. We were used to mess about and had plenty of mess of our own as we built an extension to the bungalow and a garage and started again from scratch with the garden, building pathways, a pond etc, but he just never seemed to finish anything!! lol. :-)

He was a good sort though and would always offer to help with anything and would keep an eye on the elderly spinster over the road. Once when current OH fell off some steps outside and cracked a rib, he had a leg over the fence to come and help when he heard OH shout. OH was relieved I turned up quickly........he thought he might be given the kiss of life!!!!! RIP Harry.

He sounded a right good old character Ann. Funny the things you remember sometimes.

Signing out now so saying night night.

Hope Frank enjoyed his meal tonight and evening with Lewis.

Morning all and evening Kim,

I have been watching the young deer in the orchard this morning. His antler are growoing points now. He stood and looked at me several times while I stood on the patio in my red coat and did'nt flinch at all. Just got on with looking for some bits of rotton apple I had thrown out there.

Not so bright today in fact it is quite dull now after a brightish start.

Oh is out ringing and I have the washing machine on. Where does all the washing come from?????? and as oh gets bigger it makes more ironing.

Morning/Evening All

Ann what a great bit of reading that was.Your neighbour certainly was a character :-D
He was desperate to have a tinkle (the right tinkle :-D) under a bonnet wasn't he.
I had a neighbour like that once too.Anything to do with car engines in need of sorting and he was there like a shot.

Well it is turning into a really pleasant morning.The sun desperately trying to break through the mistiness.It's getting there :-D
Chris is chopping kindling ,James is going to make some cup cakes to take into work tomorrow and Jess will still be in bed.Actually I think she could be doing some Uni work)
I'm going to Tes** and then Nex* to see if there is anything I think Hannah would like for her Birthday.I hope it isn't too busy in there as it is always so hot.
BBL

Cleaned the bathroom and when oh got back I went and got the paper from yesterday as I had forgotten it yesterday. I kept thinking it was Friday yesterday.

Afternoon all

What a character Ann. Some good and not so good memories there. I'd have been really worried if my neighbour had dug that much away from our boundary, you were lucky nothing fell into the hole. Nice of him to come to your OH's rescue, even if he was worried about the kiss of life lol.

Started bright and sunny here but has now clouded over. Hoping the weather will be kind to us tomorrow when the new glass goes in. It'll be nice to be able to see through the window again and not have to dodge the misty bits to see out.

Hope you're feeling a bit better today Jane. Glad you liked the poem I sent you. So James is baking today, cup cakes, I love them :-D :-D. Hope the shops aren't to busy for you.

I think I'm finally over this bug now. I woke up this morning feeling back to normal again. It seemed to go on for ever and really knocked me for six. I've just put the chicken in the oven, so really looking forward to that after not being able to taste anything for ages and not really having any appetite. I've made a nice cheese cake for after's too. Didn't take me long to get back to my baking lol.

How nice to see the deer in your orchard Mel, you are so lucky. When you get your new camera you'll be able to take lots of photo's. Fancy forgetting what day it was. I didn't realise you could get yesterday's papers, always thought they sent them back if they had some over. You learn something new everyday lol.

Going to catch up with some programs I recorded now. I didn't feel like watching TV when I was ill, so have quite a few to get though.
BBL

Just lost over half an hours post.

O no not again Frank. How are you feeling today? a bit better I hope.

Gill I only have a paper on a Saturday and the local shop keeps it for me if I don't pick it up on Saturday. The camera is a night camera that takes videos of my hedgehogs and other things about in the garden while I am asleep. I had oe he bought me before and still have but it only takes still pics now. Don't know what happened to it and am wondering if I put it out one night with the bottom open!!! by mistake and the damp got in it.

Sun has just appeared here and brightened everything up.

Afternoon all,
We thought we would have trip out today to the coast ,it was a little misty when we left here but by the time we got to Wells it was nice and sunny ,lots of people about ,we had walk round and then of course we had F&C :-D so no cooking tonight .
The sun has gone now and it looks quite misty again.

Frank,hope your feeling better ,how is Lewis? has he got a girl friend ?

Hubby has lit the fire so it's nice and cosy here .

You must be feeling better Gill if you've been busy baking again.

That's good you are feeling back to normal at last Gill.Bet you loved making the cheesecake :-DJames has just decorated the cup cakes !!!!!!!!Well what can i say .They look like a 5 year old has done them LOL Chocolate butter icing with white chocolate buttons as eyes and a tiny brown choc pip thing for the centre of the eyes.@ choc buttons for ears............But they taste scrumptious :-D :-D
it will be nice once you have your new glass in the window tomorrow.All our old ones were misty and it is so annoying when you can't see clearly.

Chris has been busy in the garden filling in the places where he thinks the rabbits are getting in.Hopefully it will work.We wait and see.He is now having a bonfire.
I am waiting to get in the kitchen.But I want to all cleared up before I get in there.
I wasn't going to do a roast but have changed my mind.I have a chicken breast joint and a Turkey one.Then all the usual things things to go with.

Mel I think they send unsold Newspapers back by the next day here.I know I have tried a couple of times to get a days before one the following day without any luck.

Oh dear Frank.Have another try :-D

It is getting quite dark here now and we have lights on.I think tomorrow is supposed to be a wet rainy day.I won't mind as I have so much I need to get done in the house.

I got Hannah a couple of really nice tops this morning ..and then I spotted a pair of Harem Trousers (they aren't too baggy) just loose legged and comfy .Quite patterned so I will have to wear a plain top with them.Chris will probably think they are pyjama bottoms :-S :-S....Just hope I don't look like Mutton dressed as Lamb lol
I know I will get an honest answer from my Sister on Friday when she comes :-D

This morning I had a real mystery on my hands.I couldn't find the pair of pants that I had on yesterday.I always bring down the socks and pants from the day before to put in the wash basket in the garage.I had the socks but couldn't find the pants anywhere.
When I came in from shopping I changed into the trousers I wore yesterday and a few hours later felt a lump halfway down one of the legs.....You've guessed it.It was my lost pants.Good job I didn't wear them out to the shops.They might have dropped out of the leg
:-S :-S..How embarrassing would that have been !!!!!!!

The Squirrel has been a real pain today .I keep spotting it in the window feeder.The poor birds don't get a look in.Jess said she saw it jump up into the feeder from the window sill.I just got a pic of it. :-D

Gill is Rosie still around?

Evening all

Getting through my programs........ slowly. Sandra wanted to watch "Get your act together" so I'm having a break from my programs and watching it with her.

Yes Jane, we still have Rosie coming around every now and then. I think she does the rounds with all the neighbours, so I never know when it's my turn :-D :-D.

The chocolate cup cakes sound nice. Not looking there best but tasting lovely, is much better than the other way around lol.

My next door neighbour is 96 this year and about an hour ago an ambulance turned up. I didn't like to go out, as her grandson was outside with the ambulance man. I hope it's nothing to serious. She had a fall a couple of years ago and broke her hip. Sandra was in her bedroom at the side of the bungalow and heard her crying for help. I told her dad and he had to climb over the 6ft fence to help her. She had fell in her garden which is almost 80ft long and it had taken her 2 hours to crawl up the garden and shout out for help. The ambulance took hours to arrive and it was January.

She was freezing so I made some hot water bottles and handed them over the fence to my husband, by then her daughter had arrived and found some blankets to cover her with. I rang the ambulance a number of times and explained how old she was but they didn't have an ambulance to send.

After a short while her grandson turned up and tried the ambulance again. He got the same answer but somehow managed to get one of those car ambulances with a paramedic. Not long after the paramedic arrived the ambulance turned up and she was taken to hospital.
To this day she tells everyone that my OH is her hero and saved her life. Bless her.

Hope you're feeling better today Frank. It's quite annoying when you lose a large post, you just don't feel like writing it all out again, especially if you're not feeling your best to start with.

That's nice having a shop keeper offering to keep hold of the paper for you Mel. How kind of him.

I saw the weather forecast for tomorrow and it's suppose to be heavy rain. Hope it's not to bad when the window goes in. They said it would brighten up in the afternoon........ bit late then :-) ;-).

Going to watch the end of this program with Sandra
BBL

It's only me, I thought I had better show my face, even though I am not staying.

After dinner I went to the pub to avoid ant scene with Harvey and Co, Watch a bit of Rugby and football. Came home about 8.30 pm after a fare few pints. Why should I be driven out of my own house on a Sunday afternoon ??

Just had a seafood platter, and a couple of beers, now going to bed. I don't feel to sociable, as Ros will tell you. :-( :-( <3 <3

I am watching a program on Mayfair on bbc 2. It's great..........

Night night all and Frank be careful what you say.

Poor Ros :-( :-( :-( <3

Hello all,

I'm all behind as usual. Trying to catch up on the posts.

Jane, when you were saying that Ann's old neighbor liked to tinkle under the bonnet, shouldn't that be tinker? I know men like to tinkle everywhere too, anywhere they can mark their spot. :-D :-D :-D :-D

Mandy, when I read that you had F&C, I was thinking to myself, I know the chip shops are closed on a Sunday. I have to stop and think about how long ago it was that I lived at home. :-D

Cheer up Frank <3 Things will get better you know, if you will let them. One of my sons is terrible for carrying a grudge, but he's the one who is losing out.

Your poor old neighbor Gill, being out in the yard all that time when she broke her hip; I have one of those phones to carry around my neck when I go outside. I have two numbers programmed in and just have to press a button should I need help. Now, if I could only remember to put it on when I go out :-S
I hope she's going to be okay.

Jane, you saying about your bloomers, reminded me of one time when we were moving and stayed in a motel. I needed to do laundry, so used the laundry room there and just folded the clothes up, straight from the dryer, because we needed them right away. OH put a clean shirt on and we were just leaving to go out, and I noticed he had a pair of my nylon panties spread across his back :-D :-D

I'm soaking my trotters in Epsom salts - this is my pedicure night :-D I like to have them nice when Downton Abbey comes on. I'm in a silly mood now.

We're in for some bad weather. It managed to get a little above freezing today, but not so for tomorrow. Supposed to have snow and ice for the rest of the week.

I'd better get moving. I've had a pot roast in a slow oven with all the veg. for the whole afternoon, and it's ready for me.

Keep your chin up Frank. Tomorrow's another day.

OH went round next door when he came in from work. Our neighbour has a bad water infection. She had it for 2 weeks and didn't tell anyone. She stopped drinking properly because it hurt her to go to the toilet, so tonight when the paramedic turned up, he realised she was seriously dehydrated. He told her daughter that it was 50 50 on weather she'd make it. She was so dehydrated that she didn't know where she was, so now she's in hospital on a drip and antibiotics. OH told her daughter that if they need anything to let us know. I hope she pulls through, she's a lovely lady.

Hope the weather isn't to bad for you Ruby. Stay in and keep warm.
Yes you must look your best for Downton Abbey :-D :-D :-D.

I recorded the Jump and have finally got round to watching them. I've got them all recorded but OH wanted to watch it too, so I thought we could watch a few tonight and then if the window people don't take to long we can finish watching the rest tomorrow while OH has a day off. Well, that's the plan anyway.

Going to sign off now
Night Night

Morning all and evening Kim,

Hope your neighbours alright Gill. what a silly girl not drinking and not telling anyone about her problem. I hope she pulls through without too much discomfort. She is in the best place where people can look after her now.

Dull old day here this morning and it poured last night before I went to bed.

We have a huge rabbit sitting up under the arch to the top garden. Wish the gun would reach that far.......

Morning all, evening Kim,

Horrible morning here too Mel, RAIN and very cloudy. " In for the day" as mum use to say !!!

Ruby, I can tell you are in a silly mood. Tinkle and tinker so similar but so different :-D :-D :-D Were you all poshed up for Downton.??? I hope the weather doesn't get too bad for you. WINTER DRAWERS ON !!!!

I can just imagine your OH walking out of the Motel with your Knickers on his back. How did that happen ??m
I was awake by 4.00 am this morning and up making tea by 4.45 am. I must have disturbed Ros, as she was out before SIX.

I think I have trapped a nerve in my neck, as it's very sore and I have a lot of pain down my left arm to my wrist, and into my thumb.

Gill that doesn't sound good for your neighbour. How was it nobody knew about it ??

"RUN RABBIT, RUN RABBIT, Mel will get you with her little GUN What would you do with it Mel,???

Don't forget your lemons for tomorrow PANCAKE DAY !!

I'm pleased to say I am over the worse of the cold. My nose is a lot clearer, and not coughing so much. So glad I don't smoke. When I hear Tony start, I think that could have been me !!

Suns out here now.

Frank you asked what would I do with it (the rabbit) if I shot it, I would give it to di my friend who would skin it and cook it for her two dogs.

I love lemon pancakes............................Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Have my lemons ready so just have to whip up a batter and we shall be away.

I took a little video on my ordinary camera of the small deer. It's very shaky as I am not good at holding my arms up and still. I will try and send it and we will see if you can see it.

Nnaaa it won't load it on an email as it is too big.