General Chat

Evening all

Been a lovely sunny day today but tomorrow is going to be cloudy. It's a shame as Sandra and I were looking forward to seeing the eclipse. I managed to find the glasses I bought back in 1999 so we have them ready just in case.

Sounds like you got some bargains Frank at the garden centre. Hope you manage to get someone to take down the wall and put in the water feature for you.
Hope you manage to sleep better tonight.

I like the colour paint you've chosen Jane. Fancy catching it. I hope you haven't ruined your clothes. Does the paintwork need re-doing now or is it ok in that area.

Sorry to hear about your van Mandy. It must of been horrible when it wouldn't start again. Lucky someone was passing and kindly offered to help.
Sounds like you're busy with your knitting. All the children are going to look lovely in their new jackets. Enjoy your family tea tomorrow. I like Apple crumble and custard too.

Yes Ann he did the whole lot.It is the wooden surrounds around all the doors that are still very tacky.It was just my old jumper arm that caught the side of the door.Trouble is because the light is bad now I can't see if I have left any marks.I heard James bedroom door shut just now :-S :-S :-S so yelled up to tell him to keep the bl****y thing open.
He is looking very down tonight and quite uncommunicative.I know it must be to do with Johnny's Mum.The only thing I managed to get out of him was that her Daughter has come back from London .He is going to Jess tomorrow for the weekend,and I have to say I am really glad he is going as it will hopefully take his mind off this sad situation.
It might sound harsh to say ,but he can't take all Johnny's Mums sadness and grief on his shoulders.I just wish he would open up a bit.
He thinks the colour of the paint under the dado looks like an old peoples home !!! :-S :-S :-P :-P.......Maybe he will think differently when the blinds ,mirror and pictures are back up.
Tough really 'cos I 'aint changing it lol :-D :-D

I am looking forward to tomorrow morning and not having to rush to get showered and dressed :-D.Might just have a little lie in and read

So Sunday it is then Ann :-D..I saw the chap on tv who was making the coffin :-D.He couldn't believe he was doing that for his ancestor!!!! Now that is a story that will be passed down through his family. :-D :-D.I bet he won't sleep now until after the reburial

I will be off to bed very soon as my eyes are getting scratchy (might be the paint)

Chris has now got to the age of 11 in his memoirs :-D

Maureen what lovely pictures of little Bella. Love the Minnie Mouse cake and so does she by the smile on her face. I think the best way to describe the pictures is Glowing Pictures.

Been in the garden this afternoon sorting out the old chicken fencing which was dumped down the side of his workshop and the weeds grew through it so I could'nt get it up. Oh sprayed it with weed killer when he did the back bit of field when we moved the chickens and that did the trick.

Frank water features for £2 each??? How big are they? and what are they of? Do they have running water? You must send a pic to let us know what they are like please.

Oh is talking of going to the garden center to get a couple of clemetis for the arch he built last year. We have one that was on my old shed pinned up it already but he wants more.

Trust you Jane to be the one to stick to the new paint!! :-0 :-0 You don't realize how much parts of your body touch doorways etc till they have wet paint on them.

I hope we get good coverage of the reburiel on the tv as I am looking forward to it.

Saying night night now as I want to see Banished before bed.

Morning all

Glasses at the ready for the eclipse for Sandra and I. The last time I saw the eclipse was in Cornwall in 1999 and was surprised I found the glasses. No one round here are selling them, so I'm glad I kept them.

All we need now is for the cloud to disappear. Typical, it's been bright sunshine for 2 days and the one day we don't want cloud we've got it. It was cloudy in Cornwall too. But if it's anything like 1999 it will still go very dark and eerie. I hope Sandra finds in as fascinating as I did all those years ago and remembers the occasion for the rest of her life. The next one isn't until 2026.

Hope everyone managed to get hold of some glasses and enjoys it. :-D :-D

Morning/Evening All

No glasses here Gill but I have managed to see the eclipse (even though I shouldn't have :-S).It was just a brief glance ,and now I can still see the sun in my eye when I blink...
The sun is coming out again now and the birds are all on the lawn again :-D :-D

Seen it really well here through our welding glasses. It's still quite dark although you can see the sun getting larger! Just off to have another look!

Morning all and evening Kim,

Saw it through the mist this morning and got a pic hiding behind the window frame through the bedroom window. Found our glasses from 1999, I had put them in the draw next to our bed. The last time it was on our nephew's birthday and they were down here visiting. We had an eclisps birthday cake made for him.

Shame I had'nt looked for the glasses before because I have ten pairs!!

Hi all

Wow, what an experience. Sandra was totally amazed although it was cloudy the cloud stayed away just long enough for us to see it. Some light cloud kept coming over and Sandra kept telling it to go away. I think she was more excited than me, if that's possible lol. It was her first time. I was expecting it to go darker like 1999 but that's probably because it wasn't a full eclipse. But never the less we both enjoyed it and now Sandra is putting the experience in her letter she is writing to her friend.

She was glad I woke her up now. Sandra likes her sleep so I thought she might not of appreciated me waking her up. But to see her reaction was great.

Off to watch it on TV now, I recorded the coverage while we were outside watching it for real. :-D :-D

Oh no, have I missed it? Didn't get up until 9 must have been and gone by then, oh well, when's the next one, another 20 years I'll probably not even remember my name by then :-0

Goodness Frank, and there was you moaning about Ros coming back with all that gardening stuff. Sounds like you got some real bargains, it's still too cold for me to get in the garden.

I meant to ask Frank when Jane mentioned Chris was writing his memoirs, how are yours coming along, when will we get the next instalment.

I'm waiting for a friend, we are going to the Har**ster for lunch, must try and restrain myself and not pig out too much or drink too much wine or I'll be falling asleep.

Not so bad then Mandy if it's the battery, mind you they can be costly but probably not as much as a part to be replaced.

Such a shame you have had a lot of time wasters Gill, I guess my son was lucky selling his house, viewings on the Saturday and an offer on the Monday. Did you get the pics I sent, have a feeling your e.mail address doesn't come up automatically like everyone elses.

I'm pleased Sandra got to see the eclispe Gill. Like you say something never to be forgotten when you see your first one.

Suns out here still nice and bright.

I have just blown two big eggs and had them scrambled so as not to waste them. I sha'nt want any lunch now as they have filled me right up. No eclisp eggs for me this morning and I wonder if I have any now??? May go round and have a look in a min.

When I went to let the chickens out this morning the deer was in the field behind us and I startled it and it jumped but only moved a bit into the trees. There was also two huge rabbits down by the fencing of the run which ran to the end of our field and off into the trees. Wish I had known they were there as they had dug a HUGE hole within the run which I had to fill in before letting the chickens out so they did'nt make it bigger!!!!! They only have to see a bit of dug dirt and their feet are in it like no mans buisness. They did scratch in the bit I had'nt scraped back.

Hi all

What a busy day I've had, what with the eclipse then just as Sandra and I were going to watch it on TV I got a text and the door bell rang at the same time. My mum had come round to visit which was nice as I wasn't expecting it and Michelle had sent a text wanting to chat online.

Still haven't watched the eclipse on TV yet will watch it in a minute. Had a lovely chat with mum and Michelle and have only just finished. Michelle wants to take some of her stuff back with her but it's all been bagged up so she'll now has to find time to go through it all in the hope she can find what's she's looking for. Her flat is to small to take everything and she can only take a few bits this time as she's on a coach. I did say we could take some to hers but she has plans for the day she returns. I think we've managed to arrange everything she wants to do. It was like a military operation but we got there in the end. :-D :-D :-D. Just hope she doesn't want to do anything else while she's here as she won't have the time. Luckily our car passed it's MOT so that will save us a lot of time waiting around for buses.

No Maureen I didn't get the photo's. I did get your though Liz. How did you manage to take the ones of the eclipse? Sandra loved them. She was telling her gran (my mum) all about it before.

Could I have a pic of your eclipse Mel, please.

Sounds like your son was very lucky finding a buyer so quickly, I think we've given up and we are now talking about improvements on this place rather than moving. Hopefully Michelle won't go bankrupt and everything will work out ok. Our property is only single brick so we're thinking of having it insulated. It can be done from outside, apparently it's like a render which goes onto the brickwork. Not sure how much that will cost but well worth looking into.

Then we are looking at maybe extending the kitchen and possibly knocking through into Sandra's bedroom to make the bathroom bigger. Once the property is insulated the front bedroom, which is bigger, will be warm enough for Sandra to move into. Then finally we can treat ourselves to some new sofa's. We've needed them for a while but with having this place on the market we thought we'd wait until after the move so that we'd know what size and style to buy.

Sounds like you've had fun today with your chicken run Mel, I have visions of your chickens watching everything you do then saying "My Turn" and getting their feet in it :-D :-D :-D. Do you have eggs every day, did they not lay today, do you think it has something to do with the eclipse. They say it effects birds.

Well I'm off to watch the eclipse on TV with Sandra now <3 Hopefully the phone won't ring or the doorbell either.

Well here I am. Afternoon all.

Do you ever have trouble thinking of someone's name. ??? I did last night. I went to bed and kept running through the alphabet in my head. I must have dropped off while doing it. At 5.15 am I woke again thinking of this person. I knew he was an actor and a drunk and had been in many films. Finally it came to me OLIVER REED. I couldn't get back to sleep again till well passed 7.00 pm. and was awake again by 8.30 am

Have been in the garden since 10.00. planting seeds in my "PATCH" and putting down fertilizer, It stinks the garden out. I have also filled SIX BAGS for my potato's to go in with compost.

No Maureen, I keep thinking I will write some more, but haven't got round to it yet.

Talking to Tony this morning. He says some of the village are up in arms about the garden centre selling all this stuff before the SALE DATE which is the 23rd March. But as the owner said to me yesterday. There is so much stull, she is glad to see it go .Everybody has the same chance to go in, as the gates are open and cars are parked everywhere. The sale in on until 11th April. What's left then, I don't know what will happen to it.

I have taken photo's of the water features will send them on in a minute. The big one in the middle has two little birds on the branch and it looks great.

Trust you Jane !!! have you got the paint and can you give it another coat ???

I came in at 3.00 pm and Ros went out into the back garden the same time. She is busy down the boarders cutting out dead growth and tidying up the soil.

No cooking tonight We have some of Tesc# Finest ready meals. Me a FISH PIE and Ros a Lasagne. So nice and easy.

See you all later.

Thanks for the pics Frank they look really great and I like the one with the birds on it. I suppose thats the one Ros bought first. Are you sure they will be alright outside as they look to be indoor ones to me?

I hav'nt downloaded my pics of the eclipse yet as the last lot I did oh said I put them in the wrong place and thats why I can't find them. He said I should have put them on the smaller disc and I put them on the big one. Pc runs much quicker without pics on the big one!!!! I don't understand this new pc yet!! :-( :-( :-(

Just waiting for the chocolate broownie to cool down and then we will have a cuppa and a piece of that. It smells delish and I put a few walnuts in it too.

I hav'nt Liz's pic f the eclispe??????????????

I bet Mandy will be busy now doing tea for all her family :-D..It must be quite a houseful :-D
Hope you enjoyed your lunch out today Maureen and had just what you fancied :-D

Gill you have had a busy day.I am glad that Sandra enjoyed seeing the eclipse.It is quite an amazing thing

Great pics of the eclipse Liz :-D :-D,and what a beautiful blue sky afterwards..

Frank where are all these water features going to go !!!!!!..All the sound of running water will make you want to tinkle all the time LOL

The patio has been blasted today.No where near perfect but it will have to do.It's much better than it was.I went to the Garden Centre here with the big Sale.We want 2 big pots for my Olive trees but all the ones they had that I quite liked had cracks or chips in so i didn't get any.It was bedlam and chock a block with cars.They had people directing the cars in and squeezing them into any available space.People had parked out along the verge on Warkton Lane which was bad as it was so difficult to see if there was any oncoming traffic when leaving .It was a bit dicey :-S
Then this afternoon I have been and had my teeth scraped and cleaned..Ooh it isn't nice having it done is it.Even though she was very gentle .But I only need my teeth doing every couple of years ,so that is me sorted now :-D

I rubbed my sleeve TWICE on the same bit of door frame :-S :-S.But I have had a look and the paint looks ok.We still smell a bit painty but it's not too strong.Hopefully I can have the windows open again tomorrow .

I came over so tired this afternoon that I had to lie on the settee and have a little nod.I have a feeling it could be to do with the dusty pollen /dust coming off the Yew Hedge.So have taken a Zirtec.My car is totally covered in a dust..It looks just like that Sahara Dust..But more likely from the Yew Hedge.

James is off to Jess's later so I will pop his Pizza in the oven now.

You've been busy today Frank. All that work in your garden, I love the pics of the water features. The big one is similar to one I saw last year, it's really lovely. The other two for just two pounds each were a bargain.. Can I ask "Why did you want to know Oliver Reeds name"?? You didn't say. :-S :-S.

Oh Mel, how nice, chocolate Brownies. I love chocolate.

Yes Jane, Sandra really loved the Eclipse. She wasn't that bothered at first because she didn't know what to expect, but once she saw it and I explained what was going on, she was over the moon lol :-D :-D :-D

Thanks Jane for passing on Maureen's photo of little Bella. She is so lovely Maureen and looks so pleased with her cake. <3

I don't know Jane, fancy catching the paint again, you'll end up with more on you than the door frame at this rate :-D

Hope the pics arrived Mel! and to everyone else! Great pics of the water feature Frank, mind you that running water?!!!!!!
Gill, hubby did the eclipse pics. He took them through darkened glass held in one hand, with my miniature camera in the other!! I took the after pic on my Kindle!!
Been a beautiful day here, so we long reined Merlin this afternoon, then swept the concrete/tarmac as it was so muddy! Just needs pressure washing, then job done!!
Fish pie for supper, with new spuds and purple sprouting. Yoghurt for pudding and a satsuma!!!

Evening All,

Oh I used to fancy Oliver Reed Frank......those eyes did it for me!! ;-) ;-) Well it looks like you won't need any more water features for a while....I liked the middle one best. I ended up doing the same as you today!!!! After beading and lunch out and then a trip to the retail park as OH had some W H Sm*th vouchers we came home shattered and I got changed and sat with a cuppa and the local paper. There it was in the paper.........the garden centre at Broughton Astley was selling EVERYTHING, it all had to go!! Up I got and changed again and set off. OH stayed at home as he couldn't face another trip out. It's a little garden centre about 4 miles away that used to just grow tomatoes when I was a teenager when I took mum. The lady that owned it was still working there in her 80s and never needed a calculator. Then the daughter took it over. They don't sell things like water features, but I did get some alpines, a golden thyme, a shrub and some feed for acid lovers. On the way back I was thinking that they obviously weren't selling it as a going concern. Then the penny dropped that it is likely a builder may be interested! It is right at the edge of the village so is likely to have houses built on it.

We met an old work colleague at the retail park. He used to work for OH in Derby and worked with me in Nuneaton and Leicester. We had a good old chinwag about the old days and some of the characters we worked with and all agreed how lucky we all were to have got the chance of early retirement and be paid for staying at home!! No such chance these days!! He and I were both inspectors and we both said how after tea on Sundays our hearts would sink with the prospect of the jam packed working week ahead!! :-S We don't know how we managed it all now. lol.

I was travelling to beading when the eclipse happened but it was clear and sunny here which was a surprise. I see Liz got some nice pics and that Sandra was thrilled to watch it which was nice. Mel, I could have done with one of your pairs of glasses!! How come you've got 12 pairs? I can just imagine the chickens wanting to scratch up any loose soil. Why were you blowing the eggs......are you making something with them? My sister used to decorate them and line them with fabric like little faberge ones.

I'm glad it was just the van battery Mandy, at least that's easy to put right even if it is 'more expense.' It sounds like you will have been busy with the family coming today.

Jane what is this 'old peoples' home' colour that you have decorated with then? He doesn't hold back when he says what he thinks does he? lol.

I was getting on to OH when we were out today saying it was time he tested his satnav as he's had it since Christmas. Cheeky bounder sniggered and said he didn't need one did he........while he had a 'satNAG' in the car with him. :-| He did duck as I thwacked him!!

LOL Gill it must just be the way I walk around that door.No damage though as far as I can see :-D..Not sure what's on my jumper.It is just an old one so I'm not worried.There was just SO MUCH paintwork to try and stay clear of.I remember my dear old Chester walking around with paint stripes on his tail and his side .He had such a waggy tail there was no way of stopping him touching the paint :-D

Oh Fish Pie Liz...I am afraid I wouldn't fancy that :-S.It might be ok if it isn't too fishy :-D.But not being a fishy person it wouldn't be my choice for a meal.I prefer a bit of Haddock or Cod.Smoked Haddock being my favourite.
Does Merlin like going on the long rein?I imagine that is a bit of good exercise for him.

Mel I haven't had a Chocolate Brownie in a very long time.Send one here please :-D