General Chat

Afternoon all,

A lovely sunny day here too ,that sun was so nice and warm Colin was out cutting some wood and i took him out a cup of tea out and he sat out and drank it , i put a jacket on and took my tea out too .

Hope the funeral went off ok Frank ,you'll be enjoying your Chinese now i expect , you'll sleep well tonight with all this going out .
Did you get any paint ?

Mel the little heart you've made is pretty ,i love all the little beads round the edge ,that must have been fiddly to do .
Is it tomorrow you have your blood test ? just a reminder if it is .

I think i'd go for comfort every time with new shoes Jane ,it wont be long before we'll be buying sandals .
Enjoy your lunch tomorrow with Ann and Fitz

I have sore fingers today ,i stubbed my hand as i went to pat Max on the head ,as i put my hand down he brought his head up ,ouch !!! so now my arthritis is playing up in my fingers .

Back from shopping and all packed away and had a COT and choc eclair.

Jane take a pic of Fitz face when Ann gives him the picture please? I'd love to see it, his face I mean.

Yes went shopping after Di came and saw my aunty Joy in Morrisons. We had a little natter but she was'nt about when I had finished so I did'nt take her home. I hav'nt seen her since Christmas and she is looking really well. She's 84 on the 24th of April.

Oh has been repainting another mower deck today so they should all be ready for when he starts cutting the grass again. Its been much too wet to do any so far this year.

Must pay the oil bill tomorrow as it is now due. Will you please remind me in the morning? Thanks.

Jane yes it was a sad ending seeing as how he had lost 23 years of his life and he did'nt do it. Was'nt it good though? It kept you guessing for quite a while. If oh had watched it with me he would have told me who did it within the first episode which is why I watch it when he is in bed and dos'nt talk all the way through it.

Hope the funeral went off ok and you enjoy your chinese meal tonight Frank.

I sent for some charms just because I wanted two of them in the mix. I only got one!! Poo I wnated the little singer sewing machine to put on something I am making for Ann at the shop. She does the most gorgeous quilts. she is making one at the moment with lots of bunnies on it for a 2 year old relly. It has lovely small polka dot pastel colours and little bunnies and carrots and then on top also has these BIG bunnies. I shall have to ask her to take a pic of it so I can show you. She's so good with all the quilts she makes. She made one for a child whose parents have a caravan and you've guessed it it had caravans on it in big squares here and there.

Must go and shut the girls in now and move my car over as its right outside the front door so we could unload it.

We're going down to Wells tomorrow to visit the Cathedral. We'll take Cas as we shall be out too long to leave her, also we can find somewhere to give her a good walk. OH says we've been too housebound for far too long (it's been a long winter) and we need to get out more! Think today's gone to his head!! I won't be posting tomorrow, maybe not Friday either as L might bring her Canadian friend to see us if she isn't too tired! Hope they come as its always good to see L.
I like Alan Titchmarsh, and I love his programmes.

Afternoon all

Sunny start to the day but then it turned to rain.

Hope the funeral went okay Frank, I'm thinking of you.

Love the pin cushion Mel, you are very clever.

Sorry to hear about your fingers Mandy, hope they start to feel better soon.

We've been busy today doing a bit of gardening, we also had a fella come round to take a look at the gate and fence we want doing, he said that next doors gate will fall down when he takes ours down as it's rotten, so I'll have to have a word with the daughter of the old lady next door so see if she'd like her gate doing at the same time as ours, otherwise she won't have a gate. She does know it's rotten and needs replacing as she mentioned it a while ago. I also made the final picture for the living room and put that up, then moved the cupboard back in and my peace lily.

Talking of peace lilies, does anyone know what to do to encourage the white flowers? I've got lots of leaves but it hasn't flowered for a few years now, which is a pity. Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks <3

Apparently they do flower rather intermittently Gill, but I think you need to make sure they have plenty of light, but not direct sunlight (!!) also they need enough water and should be constantly dampish, and never dry out! Hope this helps!! Really glad you sound more positive! :-)
OH has just brought some daffs in, so better find a vase!

Mandy Big Dogs like Max have hard heads don't they !!. I hope your painful fingers don't last long.
Sounds like you have had a nice day today Liz,and another one tomorrow :-D

Mel I will try and take a pic of Fitz with the painting,but he is a bit of a b***** for having his photo taken.I think I will just say I am taking it for Ann :-D. Not sure how good it will be sitting at a table but I will do my best :-D

I discovered a disgusting thing today..... .. We have been troubled with little tiny black flies for about a week and just couldnt find out where they were coming from. I got rid of all my indoor plants and flowers and checked the veg and fruit. Anyway today I pulled out the wire tray in the cupboard that I keep my Potatoes/Onions etc in and discovered right at the back a manky looking hession bag that had something leaking through. I pulled it out and it was ONIONS that had probably been in there since the Autumn !!!!!!!!. That is where the flies were coming from. So problem sorted :-D
I rescued my Orchid plant that had been chucked out which is in bud again so I am hoping it wasn't too cold outside and will continue to flower.
I am surprised that the mouldy manky onions didn't stink after all those months. It is giving me the shivers just thinking about them now :-S It was gross!!!

Mel your latest creation was lovely . I loved the Dandelion :-D Was that your idea ?

Our dinner is in ,but Jame's will have to wait as he is still at work.
I am not talking to Thomas(well I am really) but he had a Sparrow today . I saw a flash of black as he shot past the patio door and i knew he was after something. I took a big breath and had a look and he was sauntering back across the patio towards the back door with it in his mouth. I slammed the back door shut and waited until I thought he would have eaten it. But when I opened the door he was just sat there with the bird beside him (I think waiting to bring it in for me !!! ) There were just a few feathers on the outdoor mat. So little Sparrow was scooped up in a dog poo bag and popped in the black bin . Then later he was munching on a mouse !!! So not my favourite puss today.
My old cat Solo never caught anything.

Mel ,I wonder if your Aunty ever knew my Aunty Joyce . Ask her if she knew anyone called Joyce Balsdon

Good evening all, It's been lovely and sunny here as well.

Hope you have a good day in Wells, Liz we were there about 3 years ago and there is a fair bit of grass on the front of the Cathedral . My Dad always did the Daily Telegraph cross words on the train to Tunbridge Wells from West St Leonards if he didn't take the car. I also watched the National trust programme about the work houses, a sister of someone in my direct line spent the rest of her life there prior to that she was an unmarried school teacher I like anything Alan Titmarsh does and have also read a couple of his fiction books, very easy reading

I have a peace lily on the landing window sill it has a bud on it at the moment, it has to be moved when Ruby is upstairs. Liz's advice is spot on

That was a pretty pin cushion that you made Mel, where do you get all your lovely ideas from?.

Naughty Thomas Jane it always seems worse when they kill a bird. We also watched Shetland and couldn't have guessed the ending but such a sad ending.

Hope your fingers are now feeling better Mandy my fingers can be painful if I spend too much time on the lap top.

Gill you are very good always keeping busy, I think being a lot younger than the rest of us has a lot to do with it. I worked full time with the three boys all at school and two Boxers to take care of when I was younger, no way could I do it now. Peter did help but as he was on shift work he always walked the dogs and did most of the gardening. When he retired we did most things together.

Thanks for the advice on the peace lily, I've moved it to the living room but think it might be to dark for it as it's north facing the same as the room it was originally in, so I might move it again to my bedroom as that is south facing and can be quite bright in there. I have blinds so I can close them so there won't be any direct sunlight.
When the lily was small I had it on my kitchen window sill which is west facing and it flowered there, but once it grew bigger I had to re pot it so it wouldn't fit on the window sill anymore and since then it hasn't flowered. That must of been about three years ago now. It was a present off Sandra for Mother's Day. It is quite large now and has lots of leaves, hopefully when I move it to a sunnier spot it will flower.

I didn't see your earlier post Liz, I must of been writing mine as you posted it. Hope you have a nice time over the next few days.

I'm the same as you Jane when birds are hurt or killed. Mice and Rats I don't mind, but birds. I remember finding a dead bird in our garden once and thought one of the neighbour's cats might of had it and the other week there were lots of pigeon feathers all over the place. OH said he saw a kestrel attacking it. He flew off with it when he saw OH at the kitchen window.

Yes, I like to keep busy Anne, I've always got something on the go, I'm not one for sitting around doing nothing, I get bored to easily. I must admit I love gardening and DIY so sometimes it doesn't feel like work. I'm looking forward to sorting out our front garden once the new gate and fences go in, the only problem with that is it's South facing so can get to hot for me sometimes. (I'm not good in hot weather) I'm hoping to have it finished before the summer arrives, or I'll find it difficult to do any work with the heat. We've spent the last few years sorting out the back garden, taking the garage out and building all the screening, so this year we need to do something in the front as it's been neglected lately and is looking a bit of a mess now.

We do most things together, well, every thing really Anne. You must miss Peter dreadfully - I am sorry.
We've been watching Dick and Angel Strawbridge and their restoration of the Chateau in France. Their lives are fascinating and she is one talented lady!!
In bed now as OH wants to get up in good time to make a reasonably early start.

Peace lilies prefer light partial shade, and can tolerate fluorescent lights. In fact, some have been known to thrive in rooms with no windows at all. Yellowing leaves indicate that the light is too strong, and brown leaves or streaks indicate scorching from direct sunlight. Consider placing the plant six to eight feet away from a north- or west-facing window. They are poisonous to cats and dogs. Best way to water them is about once a week or leave them till the leaves droop a bit and don't water them with water straight from the tap. Either let water stand over night or use rain water or filtered water.

Thanks for the reminder of my blood test Mandy. Because I went shopping today instead of yesterday my week is all out. I had forgotten it was Thursday tomorrow.

Morning all,

Dull and cloudy here today but no wind at the mo.

I have remembered I have my blood test this morning so am getting ready to go.

Oh is out working on the mower deck and came in with his blue gloves on and said he was turning into a Smurf. It made me laugh.

Must press on as I have to do the chickens yet.

Morning all

Bright and sunny again but a bit of breeze, it's not cold though so that's good. I might do a bit of gardening later. I've decided to split my grass's so I can use half of them in the front garden when the time is right. I have lots of them so it's going to take quite a bit of time to do. Firstly though I'm sorting out the spare bedroom today. OH is out today but helped me move the wardrobe out of the way and cleaned the mould off the wall, so now it's ready for me to put the insulation up........there's always something to do ;-)

Thanks for the further information on the Peace Lily Mel. I've moved it to my bedroom with the blinds closed so there's no direct sunlight. I have some rain water that I've collected in the back garden so will use that to water it when it needs doing again. The pot it's in doesn't have any drainage holes so I have to be careful not to over water it as it doesn't seem to like that. I do as you said and water it when the leave start to droop a bit, but over watering makes the leaves go yellow and fall off so it's a bit of a balancing act. Hopefully now it has more light I may get some flowers on it this year :-) :-)

Well, I'd better go and mix some wall paper paste ready to put the insulation up with. I'm just waiting a little while for the wall to dry out so the insulation sticks better. Because I don't have enough of it I'm only doing down the side of the wardrobe, it'll sort the problem out without any of it being on show until I can buy some more to do the whole wall. It's just trying to find it that's the problem, I have seen it online but I'm not very good at buying things online and prefer to go directly to the shop and buy it.

Good morning all,

Everything went well at the funeral, the CREM was packed. Roa was surprised that she knew so many people. Her Grandson Neill read a poem, which upset him, but he carried on in floods of tears. Martine also read a poem which was very funny. I will try to get a copy and post it.

One thing stood out for me. Her nephew who has been a recording artist. Sang on disc. "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS" I looked around and there were lots of people with hankies to their eyes.

The "SPREAD" laid on by the pub was very good and various. I was a good boy and only had ONE PINT.

From there Madam wanted to go to B & Q. She has bought a tin of SILVER/GREY paint for the doors. I stayed in the car, while sitting there a pair of YOBS pulled into a Blue Badge bay next to me. One got out and went into B & Q. While the other was SHOUTING the odds with someone on his phone. He then produced a BAG OF COOKED CHICKEN PIECES. Took a bite from each piece, and THREW the remains out of his car window. I was so tempted to get out and have words, but just looking at him, you could see he would be trouble. I am sure he wouldn't have any problem smacking an old man in the face.

We had a very enjoyable meal at the Chinese. Far too much food. The problem was that Carolyn not really a meat eater or fish. Was ordering things on top of what was being served, so in effect three of us were being served for FOUR. When the main course was served, John wanted Boiled rice and Ros Egg fried rice. They bought a big bowl of each. Carolyn had a selection of vegetables with lettuce for wraps. So she didn't eat any rice. I couldn't eat anything else. So sat and watched them, truth be that none of them really wanted and certainly DIDN'T need a main course.

I was in bed by 10.00pm and up again at midnight. Read until 2.30 am and slept until 7.45.

None decript type of morning here again.

Just remembered I have my injection at 11.30, so had better get my skates on.

It sounded like a very emotional service Frank, with a song and poem. You were very good only having one pint at the wake. Those yobs, as you put it, sounded awful, good idea to stay in the car and not say anything to them. Well, no one was going hungry at the Chinese were they, it sounds like you had enough food to feed an army? Sorry to see you didn't have a very good night, lets hope you have a better one tonight. Good luck with your injection, hope it's not a bad experience again like last time.

I've just spent ages cutting all the insulation to size and have decided to only do the wall down the side of the wardrobe now as it's quite expensive stuff. I'm using some off cuts from the last job I did and it won't be on show as the wardrobe will hide it from view. The remainder of the wall can just be cleaned and a touch up of paint if any more mould appears. There were only a few very small patches anyway so there's no point in wasting money insulating the whole wall if it doesn't really need doing, is there?

I wanted to make sure I had enough off cuts before I mixed the paste, so now I know there is enough I'll get on and mix the paste now as Sandra wants her lunch and the packet of paste and bucket are in her way.

Blood test went ok on the second attempt in my other arm hardly a mark on both. Good old Chris. I also got her to weigh me and I have lost a bit of weight so thats another plus.

I wonder if Fitz has his painting yet? I bet they are having a nice lunch and we shall want to know what they had to eat.

You're getting on well with your jobs Gill.

I have to go to Holsworthy this afternoon for chicken food and wild bird food and sunflower kernals. They are eating me out of house and home. My Robin has lost most of his feathers on his head now so I am calling him Baldric the Bold. If he has lost them this early on I don't think he is going to do very well this year and he may be on his last legs but we shall see. We are always being told by the people on Springwatch that it is not the smae Robins we get in our gardens but mine are as Baldric is the only one that comes in my shed and its a few years since I had the shed now and he started coming while oh was building it and brought the youngsters too.

Injection went well, and he nurse thought I had lost weight. She weighed me 13 stone 2 lbs. with my cloths on, so around 12 stone 10 lbs I would think. I might be a bit slimmer, but not much.

Roa can't get any sense out of the hospital about her operation. So I have said I will just book the flights when we want to go to see Conrad, and tell the hospital she won't be available during those dates. We just can't be kept waiting like this, or we may never get a holiday.

Looking at the weather, I was tempted to get the mower out. But I just don't feel well enough in myself to want to do it today. See how things are tomorrow or the weekend.

We have Brian's UNCLE GEORG'S ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY PARTY on Sunday afternoon at 2.00 pm. One of his presents turned up this morning EIGHT CDs of various wars. He will be delighted. I'm still waiting for another pack of CDs including "The bridge over the river Qui(sp) Which he hasn't got, and Brian and Martine said, he will be over the moon to have that. I met him for the first time yesterday at the funeral. Martine had me in stitches. When Brian went to pick him up for the funeral, as soon as he got in her house he asked for some biscuits. Martine got the biscuit tin and he took a few out and put hem in his pocket. When Martines asked why he did that, he said I might get hungry at the funeral. lol lol. He does seem to be a right old CHARACTER. God bless him.

Chops with Jacket and coleslaw tonight. and a night of choice on the tele, as Ros is at CHOIR.I'm in dream land. !!! lol ;-) ;-) ;-)

Brought F & C's in so we are both full to the brim now.

Bless him Frank. He could have a crafty nibble while there. Was it cold out there today? Its been quite cold here today. Grey sky all day. There is still piles of snow in the fields on the way to Holsworthy and you could see it on the moors where it was still laying.

Got some felt in a different colour to what I already have and another brown one. I don't know where I have used all the brown ones out of the 4 packs oh bought a few years ago.

I am dying to hear from Jane to cind out what Fitz thought of his little surprise.

O MEANT TO ASK IF YOU HAVE A SORE BOTTY HTIS TIME fRANK. Did'nt mean to shout just caught my hand on the cap lock. :-D

Its raining here now.