General Chat

Morning all,

Pinch and a punch fo the first of t he month.

ITS SNOWWING HERE...............................

How is it with you lot. It has layed but its not very thick yet. I woke very early and it was'nt snowing then so I went back to bed. I heard oh come into the bedroom and then got up a little after that after opening my eyes and seeing the snow blow past the window. Up I got to see how much was there.

I can't believe its the third month of the year already. Where so the weeks go?

Liz I keep thinking of the roles they played in Outlander. The detective and the jailbird.

Well it's snowed here!! Not that much lying around, but a stiff very cold wind!! We woke up to frozen pipes!! Poor OH has had to run to earth where the freeze is as it could be in one of three places! 'A busy day is a happy one'!! Luckily we have plenty of bottled water and the trough by the garage is full, so we can use that for the loo!
Nothing else happening today, L rang first thing to see if we were OK, then M, so we're well catered for!!
No sign of Outlander Mel,maybe we won't be getting it again!

Good morning to all my lovely ladies,

I spoke to my niece last night, regarding Steven. It turns out he has OCPD if thats the right letters. It's to do with his lungs. The doctors took him off the oxygen and low and behold he RALLIED ROUND. He even had something to eat.He is showing signs of recovery, even though he will need to be on oxygen for the rest of his life. He was SIXTY a couple of weeks ago, so still a young man.

We had a power cut last night. Out came the torches and candles. It lasted for over half an hour, so I missed the news again. I was cooking when the early news was on. I will catch up on anything of interest on the BBC web page.

Still got the snow here. and it's snowing as we speak. Being a VERY GOOD HUSBAND I went and cleared the snow from the car, and stared it up to clear the screen and get the car warm for Ros to go to "Stitchery Do" I have the house to myself until about 3,00 pm with the exception of "TED" Carol bought him up to me, to save her having to go home at lunchtime to let him out for a wee. I can do the for her. Good old Frank, I have my uses. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Nice to hear that Gill is alright. There is so many people with this sore throat and headaches. It must be doing the circuits. Lets hope this COLD SNAP will kill of the germs,.

I have fed the birds again, that wind is Sooooo COLD. I have now used up all the meal worms and fat balls. I have a few SUET sticks left, hat can go out later. Must put BIRD FOOD on the shopping list.

I started to watch Shetland but got bored with the accent.

I have just had a visit from the delivery driver, who supposedly left the parcel at the back gate. He is now saying the he PUT IT OVER the gate, which is padlocked. So he is lying through his back teeth. He is now complaining that he will have to pay for the cost o replace i. The PLOT THICKENS !!!!

Frank if he put it over the gate then it should be in the garden surely!! Is the gate high?

Let him pay for it I say. If he had left it with a neighbour it would'nt have gone missing. Someones got a nice new soup maker.

I don't think Ros should be going out in the car in this weather. I know oh would'nt let me out. Its alright going out if its not too bad but if it takes a turn for the worst its the getting home that can be bad. I am really surprised that she has decided to go.

I am just about to start on a BIG POT of hame made soup for our lunch. I have some nice rolls in the freezer and tins of mixed veg apart from the fresh veg that goes into it.
Plenty of knorr stock cubes so we will be nice and warm.

I must tell you this, the wind was blowing a hooley and I looked out the window as it blew all the snow off our cars. Up the garden went this cloud of snow and then it turned into four tiny whirl winds which danced across the grass like little fairy nymphs. I grabbed my camera but they had all blown away. I have never seen that before. It was so pretty.

Afternoon all,

Brrrr what a cold day with the wind that's really got up now ,we had a few snow flurries first thing but nothing like yesterday ,the roads are really bad today lots of drifts about where the snow has blown off the fields and all schools in the town are all closed .

Frank i don't think he has a leg to stand on as surely he should have had a signature for the parcel, you haven't signed for any thing so that's up to him if he just left it ,or says he's let it !!!!!
He would to have dropped it over the gate as it's a high gate ,he's trying it on stick to your guns ,nothing signed for so he carn't prove you've had it .
That is good news about your nephew fingers crossed he continues to improve .

Oh no Liz i hope your OH can get the pipes defrosted .

Son just rang to see i we were ok which we are ,we have all we need for a few days ,we might need fresh veg but i do have a few bags of frozen veg to fall back on so we'll manage .

Soups all made and smelling lovely. Rolls are cooked and waiting.

O yes thas very good news of your nephew Frank. I hope he improves more now. As you say he is quite young.

Afternoon All
Just home now from the hospital appointment. The main A14 wasn't too bad but once off there it was a bit dicey. I think there were lots of no shows for Physio and Rheumatology so we were lucky to get there and home all in one piece.
I have a prescription for some tablets which will supposed to help with the Sciatica pain and the Pins and Needles. I am going to read all about this medication first.I will have ablood test in about 3 months and an appointment in 6-8 months. I just need to keep on with my Physio .

Oh Liz ,Frozen Pipes !!!!. Fingers crossed Ian finds exactly where the problem is. Both our Showers are not working today so there is a problem here too :-S. The South West looks in real trouble with this weather. I think the village of Wembury where I lived might be snowed in now.There are steep hills to get out of the village .

I was watching a Calor Gas Tanker at the top of the lane that goes down to Fitz. I think his neighbours have this gas. Anyway the driver must have decided there was no way he was going to manage to get down there and he backed up and drove off down the road. Thomas is just having a few mad capers in the snow.He has been racing around the lawn LOL Now disappeared under the hedge.

Frank, I hope your Nephew continues to improve.COAPD(as I knew it) I think is now shortened to COPD. This lost parcel is not your problem.I wonder who has it??

Chris has just made me some lovely cheese on toast with wholegrain mustard so i am going to sit and eat it while I watch Doctors.

Oh dear Frank, what a commotion, something you can certainly do without, I expect it'll sort itself out though! Glad about the news of your nephew.
Water is back on! The pipe to the house was frozen in the pump house! luckily it wasn't the one from the well!! It's been quite a fuss though as you can imagine!!
I've got a doctors appointment at 4.30 today, so I'm hoping the snow doesn't come down too heavily! It's only down to the village so not too far.

Thanks for your kind wishes for my Nephew. I will ring again later today for any update.


Jan rang at 11.30. checking up on us and saying Conrad had Whatsaped Ros. I heard her phone but I am no good at answering these calls, so lost it. She can ring him tonight, and Jan.

When I put the phone down to Jan, I decided that as I hadn't had any breakfast I would have a couple of the sausages Ros bought yesterday from the little Butchers shop. With them I did four tomatoes that needed using up, and two eggs. Two slices of B & B and a large Cup of Coffee. By the time I had consumed that lot, I realised I wouldn't be eating tonight. So Ros will have to do whatever she wants and leave me out. !!!

Glad all went well at th hospital Jane. As they say "keep taking the tablets" and doing you exercises, Getting old ain't any fun is it. LOL LOL

Did Ian sort out the frozen pipes Liz, Do they need some extra lagging putting round them. ??

The snow has stopped for the time being, but that wind is still blowing like mad. The poor little birds are being blown all over the place. Poor little things. You wish you could open the door and call them in from the cold, and feed and spoil them. Bless them. I wonder where they go at night to keep warm.

I see you have a good wholesome soup on the go Mel. I will get Ros to do one of hers. She bought Shin of beef yesterday, and we have plenty of root vegetables, as I have said before we always add a couple of tins of soup to it as well, A OXTAIL and TOMATO.

Have never tried Whole grain Mustard on Cheese on Toast Jane, I assume you like it or you wouldn't eat it. !!!

Jan was saying this morning. That yesterday she went into M & S in Torquay for a bite to eat and shopping, and left her phone at home. When she got home there were messages from Conrad, Jo, Kerry, and her Sister, All wondering where she was, and the she shouldn't go ou without her phone in this weather. She said it isn't even snowing down there. So couldn't understand the panic.

Ted has been an Angel, just lying in the armchair or on his blanket by the radiator. As yet he hasn't wanted a wee. I CAN'T BLAME HIM !!!!

Roa got home 2.30 pm She said how cold it was in the wind. Carol called soon after to collect Ted. Who still haven't had a wee. I expect he would have one walking home.

We have used another drum of meal worms, a pack of fat balls and a pack of suet that is in plastic trays, that you hang from the trees. I had the enviable job of putting them on th big bush in the front garden.!!! We have had Thrush, Wagtails, Robins, Blackbirds and starlings on the front lawn. Ros wonders why when she goes to the window, they fly up into the tree/bush.I told her THEY ARE SCARED OF YOUR FACE !!!! Not the best thing to say, I have found out.

Hope you are all safe and sound t home for the rest of the day now. Stay warm and safe.

Its really coming down here now and the wind is strong and I have just been round to the chickens and put their troughs in the house where they all are and I have shut them in there with water too. The bantams hav'nt even been down from their house today so they have a nice bowl of corn in there but I can't get their drinker in there so will have to go back and fill the bowl up again. I have pinned bubble polythene round the end of the cage as thats where the wind in coming from the east and the south but they are now quite sheltered and it will stop it blowing right in their bedroom.

The snow is very fine at the moment but there's a lot of it.

O I'm glad Ros is home safely Frank. I have had a bullfinch on the sunflower kernal feeder today and two siskins apart from the usual chaffinch, marsh tits, blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits. The robins are all fighting and theres a blackbird who has found that we feed the live mealworms on the patio. We have an empty cocnut shell on the little stand outside the back door and oh has been putting mealworms in that as the robin knows they are there but the blackbird dos'nt.

Back safely from the Drs! The snow in the village was worse than up here which surprised me!! I've had to have my BP pills changed as I've been on my present ones for years now and they aren't as effective as they were! I have to collect them on Tuesday, then keep a record of my BP for six weeks and then see the Dr to discuss the results!! I've also got to chase up my Xray, and then if it's ok book to have some physiotherapy for my sciatica . Never a dull moment!! I got a few bits and bobs from the village shop, so we're set up now till after the weekend!!
Just spoken to our grandson (E) who told me that he loved me! He is such a dear little boy I certainly love him!! <3
Snow very fine now but the wind!!!!

Things going from bad to worse here now. Driving freezing rain !!!!!! It is blowing really hard and I am going be worrying myself stupid until James gets home. He has just said the road he usually takes is closed due to snow drifts.So it will be the long way home whichever way that is. I said to try and just get on a main rd and not to even try country roads.
Mel you asked how far he has to go. I'm not sure how many miles but on a good day it will take a good 45mins.
Chris keeps trying the showers but still nothing happening.I can tell he is getting stressed now :-S. We have put a fan heater on the sinkin the garage facing some pipework that we think might be to do with the shower in the ensuite. But I cant see it really having any effect at all.

The Chooks are are wrapped up well then Mel :-D Bubble wrap is brilliant stuff.

Oh I am not liking this. It is getting really bad now. Even Thomas must think it is not worth hanging about outside any longer .He flew in like he had a rocket up his bum and got straight on the settee on his blanket.

Hope you got to the Doctors ok Liz and also hope you dont freeze up again overnight.
Glad Ros is home to now . Northants Police are saying Do Not Drive if at all possible now.
Anne yesterday must have been a difficult one for you with the Anniversary of losing your dear Peter. <3
Kim I hope you are feeling a bit better today and are staying nice and warm.

I think we will get candles ,lamps and torches ready (just in case ) I am surprised we havent had a power cut yet. But now with this freezing rain anything could happen.

All the Pidgeons seem to be in a big flap .There are hordes of them probably trying to find shelter. No horses out in the field opposite today.They will all be going stir crazy in their stables. Oh well I will go and brave the garage to get the washing out of the drier.It is just frrrrrrrreeeeeezing in there :-S

Our water is back again but only in the tap in the pump house! The pipe under the bungalow has frozen again so we are having to bring buckets into the house!! At least Merlin's bucket can be kept full, and we can boil kettles for washing up etc! It's a bit of a bore but not a disaster!!! Let's hope it gets warmer in a day or two!

Terrible here on the roads ,i don't think there's a road into town that hasn't got drifts ,people are getting stuck and having to wait for hours to be dug out ,with the wind the drifts soon form again ,lots of farmers with tractors helping out but it seems to be a loosing battle .

I hope James gets home safely Jane you'll be on edge until he gets home .
So do you think its frozen pipes to do with the shower not working , are the pipes in the garage lagged ? if not could you wrap something round them ,old blankets or bubble wrap any thing to keep them warm .

It's finding out where the blockage is and then thawing it Mandy that's the problem! We got ours going but it's been so cold that no matter how much lagging was round it, it just froze up again. Tomorrow OH is going to put a plan of action into operation which should resolve it - hopefully!!! Meantime I'm just relieved to have some water even if it means ferrying it!
Hope James gets home safely Jane. It takes us about an hour to get to L and she's a exactly 48 miles away, so he its quite a way each day for him to travel.
Getting supper now, it's a frozen lasagne with jackets tonight!

Mandy the pipes are up inside the wall so no way we can lag anything :-S We will just have to keep everything crossed . At least we can run a bath . I had one this morning , Chris will have one in the morning and I will tell James to have one tonight .I am just wondering how far he has managed to get now.It must be an hour since he left work.
Chris is bringing more logs in from one of the baskets in the garage.He filled 2 this morning plus the one in the lounge.
I do feel for all these people who have been stuck in their cars, vans,lorries for hours and hours. I did see there have been some wonderful people taking out food and hot drinks in the early hours .There are some good hearted folk :-D :-D

Now I am going to ring my sister and see how they are coping . They have not been able to afford a new boiler now for ages so are relying on the gas fire in the lounge ,Oil Radiators and the emersion for hot water !!