General Chat

Good idea Mandy then it's not so much work on the smaller ones.

What a nuisance about the van, More Expense as Frank woud say.. ;-)

Any one sent off for the free spoons with Kelloggs cereals? I have sent for mine with Mels Spoon written on it and the cockrel pic. now oh wants to know if we are sending for one for him? :-(

Thanks Mandy, I've found it on my Kindle, so I can watch it at some stage.

I watched the 1950s prog earlier on the iplayer. I can remember my dad sitting in a chair with the paper like that while mum rushed about getting dinner in her pinny. I won't say anymore so it doesn't spoil it for anyone.

Yes, good idea Mandy, you'll think you are speeding up with your knitting then! ;-)

Anyone know where to get the glasses to watch the eclipse?

No idea Ann. Oh has a bit of glass from a welders helmet we use.

I seem to remember at school in the juniors I think or the infants we made a pin hole in a piece of paper and looked through that.Did anyone else do this??

We shall use welders glasses too Mel if it's not too cloudy, we've even got two pairs!! No, I don't remember doing anything like that at school. I can vaguely remember an eclipse when I was at junior school, but I seem to remember that we weren't allowed to look at it and were kept indoors away from the windows. It's such a long time ago, so I could be muddled with something else!!
Waggon going in today, the garage is lending us a courtesy car, but I don't think we shall go far as it's quite chilly here.
Ian's just left, so must go and have a shower!

Morning all and evening Kim,

I think it is going to be bright and sunny again today. There was quite a frost this morning but the sun has now melting it.

Anyone up to anything exciting today??

Caught two more mice last night. We seem to be overun with them this year.

Morning All,

Well it's gloomy and dull here. :-( You are doing well catching the mice......another 2! OH always throws our dead ones into the field after their caught. He says they will be a snack for something and they always disappear!

OH went to the docs earlier.....they are doing MOT type things now, so he had a fasting blood test and had to take a sample. Then I did poached eggs on toast and now I'm leaving him to do some notes while I try a trip to Loughborough again to get some beads and look around. It's only about 18-19 miles and I could always carry on to Grantham or J28 of the M1 to the retail parks after if I fancy. Better get cracking though as I need to get diesel before I set off:-)

Good afternoon all,

Well another bad night for me. Was wacked out and went to bed 10.30 was up again at 11.45. Could not get my left hip comfortable, I tossed and turned and made it ache even more. I sat up till 2.00, dropped into bed and fell asleep almost at once. It started up again at 5.00 am so again I couldn't stay in bed so up I got. Ros on the other hand slept until 11.00 am, I kept popping in to see if she was alright :-D :-D :-D

Now all showered and shaved, I might attempt a trip to the garden centre that is closing, everybody seems to be going. By the time next Monday arrives (THE SALE DAY) everything will be gone. I might find something I could do with. All shears, croppers, spades, forks, in fact everything is so reduced. It might be worth buying to resell on Ebay :-D :-D :-D ONLY JOKING HONEST> !!!!

Different sort of day here, very overcast with a slight breeze.

The last eclipse in 1999. Tesc# sold the glass's. If we go in there today I will have a look.

Going off now. see you later.

I took a look at those silk flies, I thought they were moths :-0

Sounds like you've overdone it Frank, trying to knock that wall down and then off loading all the compost, take it easy today, it's too cold to go in the garden anyway.

That haddock sounds nice Ann, is it ordinary or smoked and do you dunk it in egg and then coat it in flour before going in the oven.

Hope the van won't be too costly Mandy, it's always a nightmare when cars/vans go wrong. Love to see a pic of the jacket when you've finished.

Do you need glasses to look at the eclipse. I remember the last one, I went out into the garden and it was like everything had stood still, no sound at all, very eerie.

I must get this room cleaned, spent the rest of yesterday after the ironing cleaning the kitchen now it's the living room's turn. Going out for lunch tomorrow so won't get anything done after a few glassses of wine, especially during the day, probably end up falling asleep.

I think d-i-l has sent me some pics of Bella's birthday, will pick out a couple to send to you. They must be missing me, son has asked when I'm coming up next Finley was upset I had gone I said next weekend and he said don't wait till the weekend come Thursday, nice to be wanted :-D

Have just watched the 1950's programme! I can't say I really remember anything about household chores much before 1957 when my S- father bought my mother Kenwood Chef! I do remember that and it lasted her all her life! Post 1957 was fairly familiar, but before that didn't ring many bells!! My S-father certainly sat in the kitchen while my mother cooked, and I remember that we ate in the kitchen and only used the dining room for Sunday Lunch, and high days and holidays! I remembered Coronation Chicken which was delicious!! I still make it sometimes! I remember my mother had a Hoover which was a wedding present in 1947 (!!) from my grandparents. That also lasted a lifetime! Everything seemed to last for ever in those days!! I remember my mother had a washing machine, called a Thor! that again was in about 1953, I remember that because my Granny was still alive, (she died in 1954) and my mother did her washing! That did get replaced in 1964 when they moved house! Oh yes, they had a fridge in 1953 which we had when we were first married in 1964. That went on till Ian left the Navy in 1968, when we left it in our rented house!!!

The bantams were kickiking up such a stink this morning I thought the fox was in the garden but could'nt see anything and Phil the male pheasent was out the back of my shed and he did'nt seem bothered by anything. Oh went out for a ciggy and saw the stoat in the garden again and said that must have been what they were shouting about. They don't like the stoat.

Been in the garden most of the morning and then did lunch, bacon sarnies. Just have to wash up now and do a little ironing and then I can go back out there again. Suns still out here but the breeze is as sharp as a knife.

Mended another hole in the big girls fencing this morning too. Those blimmin rabbits hav'#nt chewed it for a few weeks now perhaps they were having kittens so I shall have to deal with more rabbits now.

Afternoon All

Decorator still here :-S..He should be finished soon and then we can get back to normal..We have to keep all the doors open tonight.It will feel strange not closing the bedroom ones.

Been to the hairdressers this afternoon and looking all nice and tidy once more :-D
I tried to get eclipse specs but nowhere had any.Maybe because it is just a partial one they just aren't bothering.It won't be as exciting as the full eclipse.I have a brilliant photo somewhere of us and Janice and family on our way back from holiday in France.It was the big total eclipse (?1999) and we stopped at Exeter Service Station with all our specs looking skywards :-D :-D..I remember how suddenly as it went dark how everything went so quiet .It was very eerie .

Mel is the Stoat after eggs?I haven't seen next doors chickens today :-S.The wooden bit is open for them to go from sleeping end to the outside.But I have seen no sign.So I am wondering now if they have gone !!!!

On the way to the Hairdressers I found 2 little Jack Russells on the verge at the top of the road.One was actually in the road..The other one kept getting through the fence into the field.At first I thought maybe someone was Rabbiting but then realised they were on their own.So I stopped and got out of the car.One of the dogs came up to me so I kept calling it to me as I went to knock on a door.Thankfully both dogs belonged there.They had somehow got through a hedge /fence into the field and then onto the road.What a relief :-D :-D.The owner was really panicky as they had never got out before (I think he was probably more worried about what his wife would say if she knew LOL)..She was out.

I think decorator is clearing up to go now so I better go and see.

You just can't win with some people. Martine has a birthday coming up and I found a perfume on line that she likes It had a "BUY IT NOW PRICE" or Make an offer.
I made an offer which was refused, so I made another higher offer. That was refused, so I sent a note to the seller asking what offer they would accept. All I had back was abuse, saying the price is the "BUY IT NOW" I replied to ask why bother to have an "OFFER PRICE" if you won't take an offer. I went on to say I wouldn't buy it now if it was only £1.00.

Ros went up Tesc# this afternoon. So I watched that programme about the 50s Oh did it bring back a lot of memories. When you think back to those days (some of us can) There were we ploughing food into GERMANY while we were on rations. Something wrong there don't you think ??? I couldn't believe that woman with the TIN OPENER. We had a wooden one with a spike at one end and the opener on the other. I was still using the one that woman had for opening my sweet corn when I was fishing up to a few years ago. I loved to come home from school to a nice slice of bread with DRIPPING and salt and pepper. How my MUM and all the other MUMS fed a family on those rations I will never know. But we never seemed to go hungry.

Yes Liz, everything in the household seemed to last for ever. It was made to last, and you couldn't afford to chop and change like we do today. It would do a lot of young people the world of good, to get by the way we lived. There was never the food waste that there is today. AM I SHOWING MY AGE ???

Mel what damage would a stoat do to the Chickens, ?? I suppose they would be partial to an egg or two. :-( :-( :-( I remember picking one up as a child and it sunk it's teeth into my finger. I soon shock that off and ran home to have it cleaned up. Mum said "SERVES TO RIGHT" leave wild animals alone. !!!

Ros is doing a stir fry tonight, so I have a night off.

We did get a lot of bargains this morning at the GARDEN CENTRE that is closing down. We bough two water features for £2.00 each Pots of daffs there must be 10 bulbs in each all in bud for £1.50 per pot. I said I would place them around the garden till they have flowered them dig them in the ground We bought some honeysuckles for £2.00 each A new Galvanized Arch which will go in the garden by the steps as we go from the patio to the lawn £30.00 instead of £80.00 That will get delivered with the water feature she bought on Monday./Tuesday. Will be glad when they are gone, it's costing me a fortune. :-| :-| :-| :-|

Will pop back later no doubt. !!

Goodness the news is awful. Sometimes I despair of what sort of world we're leaving for our grandchildren!
Sunday Lunch has been parading around and has now disappeared into the hedge on the other side of the road! I think he may have a ladylove! He certainly looks pleased with himself!!! Ian's gone off with a friend to look at a lathe, I gather it's just what he's been looking for!!!! I shall have to try and be interested and enthusiastic which might be difficult 'coz I'm not!!!!!
This was it Frank, everything lasted for years in those days whatever they were! That Hoover did 40 years with no question of a new one! if it went wrong it was repaired, along with anything else, from a garden hoe to the fridge! Food to Germany must have made our parents raise their eyebrows!!! We were lucky as we kept chickens, had a big garden and my S.Grandfather kept a pig (poor thing!!) which I can vaguely remember. My S-father was in the corn trade, so we had access to the barter system with farmer customers which of course made things easier, but generally it was tougher just after the war than during it particularly the utilities! Do you remember those awful cold winters Frank?!! 1946/7!! I was four and the two of us were living in one room with hardly any gas or leccy!!! I can remember the snowdrifts way up over my head!!

I just love the name Sunday Lunch :-D :-D :-D...Does he know that is his name LOL.

Decorator has finished now,and what did I do as I saw him out.....Rubbed my arm against the side of one of the doors :-S :-S :-S

I just had another look to see if there is any sign of the 2 Chickens next door..Nothing :-S.Maybe they are in Chicken heaven.I will check again in the morning

No perfume for Ros then Frank !!!

Liz how do you remember the years when things were bought from all those years ago???I have never heard of the name Thor.

Maureen ,Bella is beautiful. :-D :-D.....I can see a bit of you in her :-D

Ann are you ready for setting off early tomorrow morning to get a good spot for the procession ? I think I heard that there will be full coverage on TV.So I will try and watch it..But I have the Dental Hygienist at 1.30..

Evening all,

It's been a dull cold day here today ,i did hang some washing out but it came back in as wet as when it went out .

Good news on the van ,it was the battery !! so it is more expense !!

Got the family coming for tea tomorrow ,first time in a long while so it's shepherds pie with plenty of veg and Apple Crumble with Custard ,DIL's favourite

Nearly finished the little jacket for Lewis ,when i went shopping i picked a nice pattern to knit the girls a jacket ready for the summer ,but i got son to order the yarn on line as it was 85p a ball cheaper !! and i need 9 balls to do all three jackets ,it's a nice lilac colour .

Those bantams soon let you know whats about Mel , i suppose the stoat would like the eggs , perhaps he's helped himself to some before !!

Frank you have been getting all the bargains today :-D i like Honeysuckle ,i looked at mine the other day and it has flowers on it !!

Thanks for the photo's of dear little Bella Maureen :-) lovely photo's
I can see your car having plenty of miles on the clock now with the trips to see your son :-D

Oh Jane so is the paint on your skin or on your clothes ?
Either Chicken Heaven .....or whispers ........the oven :-0 :-0

I think I remember Jane because these labour saving devices were SUCH a big deal, and talked about at length!! I know about the Hoover cos my mother told me, the Kenwood was bought in Camp Hopson's in Newbury when I was 14. My S-father collected me from school at the end of the autumn term and we stopped off to buy it. I remember how delighted my mother was with it!! The Thor (I was 10) was just THE most amazing piece of kit, semi automatic!!!! with spin drying!! I can see it now in our scullery! No more boiling, rinsing in the sink, and no more mangling! Quite out of this world!!! The fridge was an Electrolux, and pale blue!! We painted it bright red!! Other things I remember are a bit fragmented. I remember my parent's wedding, I was 4 and remember my Granny standing me on the pew so I could see properly!

If you look on Google Jane you can find the Thor. The one we had was the washing machine /dishwasher, but ours never ever got used for dishes!!

Did the painter do the stairs and landing too Jane being as the bedroom doors need to stay open? It won't be nice having them open tonight with the paint smell. Fancy you scraping against the paint!! I think I saw on telly that those eclipse glasses are mostly sold out now.

I should have said the procession will be Sunday Jane, not Friday. I must have got it mixed up with the date of the eclipse!! This is quite interesting about the burial and his living relative making his coffin.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2996377/Richard-III-reburial-cathedral.html

The last bit of the procession will be horsedrawn which I would like to have seen as I bet they will use some of my favourite Freisian horses for that. That part of the journey will be packed I expect.

I can place when my parents had new things mostly by which house we lived in at the time as we'd lived in 8 different houses by the time I married and moved out. I can remember dad mending everything when it went wrong or was broken. Buying another was a last resort! I remember mum being very chuffed with the hoover that had a light on the front! We always sat in the kitchen to eat most of the time too and would eat before dad got home from work. We certainly daren't be disrespectful about food like the children in the programme calling it rubbish! We were constantly reminded about starving children in Africa and if you didn't eat what was there you had nothing. You weren't asked what you wanted, just given what there was. My parents grew most of their own veg and we had chickens off and on till I was about age 20. Mum always seemed to be at the sink and was a good cook and made lovely pastries. We only occasionally had toast and dripping but mum used to make spam fritters with chips. She never had a foodmixer till after I was married and we had a Canda fridge when I was aged 15........no more sour milk!! We had a tv when I was 7 or 8, a tiny little box one and dad had a car that wouldn't start most of the time around then. OH and I were saying the other day that the cars we saw as young children looked old to us then, even though they weren't!!

Mel, it seems this year that everything is after either your chickens or their eggs!!

That will save quite a bit on the wool Mandy and lilac will look pretty for the girls. Please send a pic when you have done them. :-) I was looking at some wool on the market at Loughborough today. There were some nice ones, but you need a pattern first to know what you will need.

Well Frank, are there any bargains left for anyone else?? :-D It sounds like you will be able to open your own garden centre at this rate. lol. Who can blame you though at those prices, you won't find them again. It sounds like you are going to be busy outside for a while.

That's what I did with the Haddock Maureen, but I stick to unsmoked! I did mine in the frying pan with just a little oil but you could bake it. Then you could pop a tray of peppers/ courgettes in the oven to roast at the same time which would be nice with it. I might do that next time.

Goodness Ann, you certainly never criticized any food you were given, were never given any choices , and had to eat what was put in front of you without comment unless it was favourable, which it usually was! We had TV, a tiny one that my S.father made as he was a radio ham in about 1950, I remember this as we were living in a flat in my S-grandparents house. By 1953 (the coronation) they had moved and we had the whole house and a much bigger sitting room.