General Chat

Just forgot to mention what a great bowl that is, that I got from Amazon. You fill it with warw, scrap the new potatoes , turn the plug and all the scrapping 's go into the drain hole. Just scoop them up and the jobs done.

Valerie isn't going to "Stitchery Do" she is going on a day trip to on of the BIG Estate houses for a flower show, which should be nice, but quite wearing in this weather.

I have my lounger set up on the lawn, Now all I need to do is get my tifter tat (hat) book and a bottle of water, and I will be set up for an hour or so. I might even grab a few zzzz in the shade. Ros has just gone to the sewing circle, then on to Tesco for some bits we need.

I have scraped a saucepan of English new potato's, peeled and chopped some onions and Mushroom, for my creamy sauce, to go with a nice loin of pork. Any potatoes over will be eaten cold by Madam later this evening. (she just loves them).

The Dyson model is a DC35, wehave had it a few years, but still does a good job. !!!

Liz they arn't in France all that long and it does get much more like the first series and it will tie in with other bits so you must see it.

Afternoon all

I'm late coming on here today. We decided to de-frost the freezer at 6pm last night..........BIG MISTAKE, we were up until 3.30 in the morning. I knew it was bad but had no idea it was going to take that long to de-frost. All I wanted to do was de-frost it and put it back on so it would be the right temperature when we got up in the morning, then I could go shopping and stock it back up. Looks like we'll need to go shopping tomorrow to fill it up now rather than today as it's not quite ready yet.
Needless to say we didn't get to bed until around 4am so didn't wake up until 10am this morning. It's thrown our day out rather a lot, so we've been playing catch up all day.

I've finally finished the bit of gardening I'd set myself, lots of weeding and cutting back dead parts on my three bamboo's in the secret garden. OH is digging away in the front garden getting all the old rubbish clay soil out ready for the new soil. He isn't going to get as much done as he normally would in a day with us getting up so late though. Now all the weeding etc.. is done in the back garden I can finally put my washing on the line. With the ground being so dry it can get a bit dusty so I thought it best not to peg anything out until I'd finished. So the washing machine is on it's last spin now and will be pegged out shortly.

I took a look at the cottage you are staying at Anne it's lovely and big and what a lovely garden and view too. That's a good idea to have your Sainsbury food delivered to the holiday home. Nice pets are welcome in the cottage, Ruby will have a lovely time with you all.

Barry did a lot in the hour he was there Frank and the price was good too. How is Ros's goddaughter today?

So the children went home happy bunnies after another chippy picnic Mandy, it sounds like they might want to make it a regular thing.......bless them.

How nice of Cas to have a new doggy friend Liz. It'll be nice for them to go to the shoots together. Congratulations to P, I can imagine you all being as pleased as punch. Now comes the decision on whether to take up the offer or not. Mind you studying Forensics is a good career as well.

Need to peg the washing out now, then I might sit outside (doing nothing) and enjoy the sun for a bit. Mind you knowing me I'll probably end up doing something else in the garden if I do that, so I might catch up with a few programmes with Sandra instead.

Tom, the man I mentioned the other week, who now lives in my late aunts place was passing by our bungalow earlier and stopped to talk to OH, it's his wife's 60th birthday a few days after OH's and Tom has invited us all to her birthday party. How nice was that. I'm not sure what to buy her though as I've only met her once so I don't know what she likes. I'll have to put my thinking cap on ;-)

Well, I'd better go and sort this washing out, it won't peg itself out.

Afternoon All

We are struggling today in this heat.Chris hasn't been able to do anything at all in the garden at all.But it will have to be watered tonight as it wasn't done yesterday in the end. I am glad I don't have to do my neighbours as they did a good watering before they went away today.

Gill,I bet you could have kicked yourself for starting to defrost your freezer so late in the day and then having to stay up soooo late !!! Did you watch TV through the night while it was defrosting? At least it is done now and ready to restock.
How about a nice plant for the lady as a birthday present. Maybe a Houseplant? It is always difficult to know what to get someone you don't really know.That was lovely to be invited to the party.

Liz ,well done to P for getting the provisonal place at the American Uni. Where abouts is it? I think it is P who is a brilliant Gymnast .Im I right?

James was saying last night he has started now to look for a new job. He has had enough where he is .He is not going to go any further in this job.He needs to spread his wings and horizon.

Glad you love that new bowl Frank. I love mine and think what a great idea it is to have that drainage plug that catches all the bits.No more sticking fingers in the sink hole to scrape out gunge :-D

I have this tower fan on top speed and it is hardly doing anything :-S :-S.
I am watching Going Fishing again with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimar .It is so funny but lovely at the same time. I should be watching the Tennis but needed a good chuckle so have stuck to these 2 funny friends :-D :-D

Yesterday I bought a spray called Magicool Plus.It is a cooling spray for the skin.Great on my arms,face and back of the neck :-D I used to buy it when I suffered with Hot Sweats ,so thought it would be a good idea to get it again. :-D It will be by my side now until it runs outs :-D Then if this heatwave carries on I shall be off for another one

I think I might try and do a Rain Dance tonight :-D :-D

It's the University of Missouri Jane! subject to her A'level results of course and whether she'll follow it up or not its hard to tell!!! :-S. Yes she's the gymnastics lady! She still does it at Heathrow (!!) going up a down most evening's to train! I've lost track a wee bit as to what the story is but at least L doesn't have to take her anymore!!
Gill, I can't believe it took so long to de frost your freezer!! I only do mine about twice a year but I always put bowls of very hot water in it, (replenishing when necessary) and shut the lid. It loosens the ice in no time then you can just take it out in chunks and mop up any water, give it a clean and you're ready to go! 2 hrs max!!
I can totally understand how James feels Jane! I think we've all felt in a rut at some time in our lives, and as he's no particular commitments, (elderly parents, wife and children etc) it's absolutely the time to spread his wings! If he doesn't make a move now, he may suddenly find he can't! I envy him, oh to be young, footloose and fancy free!! The best of luck to him!
Cas has been sitting in her bath on and off this afternoon!! Now she's crashed out in her bed. We're having sardines tonight, OH is making a salad!

O good that I put that Amazon sight up then if you are pleased with the bowl you had from them. I don't scrape new pots I just cut them up if they are a bit big and we eat the skin too. If the skins are a bit tough I take them off of mine after I have cooked them.

I spent all afternoon sewing 16 beads on some lace and when I had finished, it was very fiddley, I put them on the table in front of me and I had sewn 8 on the wrong side of the lace! boy was I cross and I had already thought to myself, I must get them on the right side. I could have kicked myself for being so stupid. :-| :-| :-| Gill that was a it silly starting the freezer at 6.30pm. Do you just leave it to defrost? You can get a defrosting spray. Mum bought one and I have it in the cupboard but have never used it. I dod mine in the winter as its a chest freezer and I put everything thats left in the bath with blankets and bags of frozen ice and the ice blocks for the cool bags and boxest of those. Still its all done now for a while. You'll have fun filling it up again.

Evening all,

Phew it's been a hot one ,a very humid heat today just moving about makes you all hot and bothered .

Congratulations to L being offered a university place in America Liz that's wonderful news just the boost your OH needed before he starts his hospital visits and you sound very pleased too .

Oh gosh Gill that was a long night having to wait it out for the freezer to defrost , i have a scraper i do mine with if you get the scraper at an angle you can soon get big bits of ice chipped off ,i even have a little hammer i knock on the ice with it helps to break it up .
That was very nice being asked to the birthday party , now you just have to work out what to buy , what about about a voucher for an afternoon tea ,they seem to be all the thing now .

Oh Jane i had forgotten about the Magicool sprays i use to take them abroad with me ,i might get one ,thanks for the reminder :-D
I use to like the Quickies too ,they were cooling on the skin and were in a little blue tub ,wonder if you can still get them .

We did have a few big spots of rain here at lunch time ,i stood out in it cooling off but it din't last very long .

RAIN MANDY, what's that. ??? It has been a warm one, I sat out this afternoon in the shade of the bush, and caught what breeze there was.

Ros rang Kim this evening to se how she was after th operation. CRA@ was her first word. !!! She is in a lot of pain and h painkillers don't seem to doing any good. She managed an hours sleep in the armchair last night.

Val rang at 6.00 pm to say she was sat in traffic about 30 mils away, so will be late for Choir practice. It will hardly be worth going !!!

Like a good old man, I have recorded her soaps, so she can watch them when I go to bed, which won't be late tonight being up since 4.30 this morning.

I will leave it another hour, then go and water he greenhouse and Runner Beans. The beds were done last night, so they will have to get by tonight. I should do the Patio pots and he little baskets up the drive as well.

Jo rang this evening to say she should be here with he dogs about 4.00 pm. Good Job she reminded me that we have UNCLE GEORGE'S FUNERAL at 1.30 pm tomorrow. I bet Ros has forgotten also. I said if we were late getting back, to get the key from Pam or Tony, and make herself a COT. I would think we will be home though.

That was a job and a half Gill, I bet you will do it earlier next time :-( :-( :-( You will have to get an early night tonight. lol lol.

See you in th morning, sleep tight if you can in this heat. !!!! Both fans are going full blast and doors and windows still wide open.

Sorry to hear Kim isn't feeling to good after her op and the painkillers aren't doing much for her Frank. Hope she starts to feel better soon.

I've never heard of Magicool Plus spray Jane but will definitely be getting some. Anything to help with the hot sweats I have, especially at night. This hot weather doesn't help either. I must admit it's been quite nice here today, the temperature is a lot lower, but according to the weatherman it's going to be hot again over the weekend.

I was thinking of buying Tom's wife a plant Jane but don't know what type of plants she likes, maybe I could buy her a nice bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. We have a nice gift shop at the end of our road so I might take a look in there to see what they have, they do lots of nice things for special occasions so I might find something suitable. Our girls bought us a lovely mother of pearl clock with 25th Anniversary on it from there, it's beautiful, like I said they do some really nice things so you never know what I might find.

I put a jug of hot water in the freezer Liz, but it was only a small jug so I think that's why it took so long. That and the fact it should of been de-frosted a long time ago so there was a lot of ice. I had to much food in there so couldn't do it before last night. I put all the ice into a bucket and today after it had melted and warmed up a bit, I used it to water my Hebe's. They don't like tap water so I thought I'd try something else and it seems to have worked a treat. I'm so tired now so think I'll be having an early night tonight, the same as Frank.

I used a sharp knife Mandy to de-frost the freezer but with it being so late I couldn't do much else because of the noise. I might buy a scraper as poking it with a large kitchen knife was a bit hairy at times. Slippy ice and a sharp knife don't really go together do they? I don't think Mr Grumpy would like a lot of knocking and banging in the middle of the night, so anything to noisy was out. I did manage to get through most of the recordings off the planner as I was working, so some good came out of it :-) OH nipped out for me and bought a few things to put in the freezer, including some more ice-creams. I'll go and buy enough to fill it tomorrow.

Oh no Mel, putting half the beads on the wrong side of the lace, I can imagine how upset you were to notice that. Have you sorted it out now?

Going to get something to eat now I'm feeling a little peckish.

I noticed on the last bead I sewed on. I was fuming and I had them on so tight I could hardly find the beading cotton. Its done now anyway.

Gill I sometimes put the washing up bowl in the freezer with hot water in it to defrost it. I also use an old knife with a metal handle to chip away at the sides. Mines a full size chest freezer and needs defrosting.

I am sitting here eating a couple of Raspberry Ruffles. Anyone remember those?

We've only just come in we've been sitting out in the cool it was lovely out there until Colin got stung by a wasp on his finger ,he was only saying the other day there's not many wasps about so he talked that one up !!!
I must get some cream in in case the children get stung ,i did have some but threw it out as it was old stuff.

Chocolates and flowers always go down well Gill i think everyone loves getting those .

Raspberry Ruffles coconut and raspberry with lovely dark chocolate yum yum :-D

So annoying when you've taken your time and stitched away merrily and then you notice you've done it wrong ,i've done that with cross stitch .

Pleased to see you've sorted your beads now Mel.
I would of used my washing up bowl but I was using that, along with a couple of buckets, to collect the ice which I then used today (once melted and warmed up in the greenhouse) to water my Hebe's. I've just taken a look at the big Hebe and it's looking much happier now it's had a drink and is starting to get some lovely white flowers on it.
I've never heard of Raspberry Ruffles, so I've just Googled it, they look and sound very tasty, I might buy some as they were mentioned as being sold in Tesco's which we have around here.

Poor Colin being stung Mandy, hope it's not to sore for him. I remember picking up some banana's in winter and being stung, I told the staff in the shop and got such a funny look off them as if to say, "What in winter"? It wasn't until other shoppers got stung they finally killed it. It was the first time I'd ever been stung and it felt like I had burnt myself. Good idea to buy some cream just in case the children are stung as it's very uncomfortable for quite some time afterwards. I did find that putting some cold water on the sting helped though.
Yes I thought flowers and chocolates would be nice, most women like things like that, if I can't find anything else.

Off to bed now, I was falling asleep on the sofa before when the soaps were on, so I'm not sure what's going on now. I'm sure Sandra will bring me up to speed before they come back on again, she normally lets me know how each soap ended, as I can never remember lol.

Morning all

<3 <3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE <3 <3 <3 Have a great day.

Hope you like the card I sent you, I saw it and it made me laugh I thought it would make you laugh too :-D

Lovely and sunny again, but thankfully not as hot as it has been lately. OH is taking more rubbish to the tip today he's just loading the car, then after the first load he's off to B&Q to get some bags of compost for me. I want to re-plants a few things that have outgrown their smaller pots.

I think OH has started something with putting in new fences, the neighbour across the road has started making a fence now ;-) ;-)

Going to get a cuppa then go back to sorting out the back garden, I don't know where all these weeds are coming from, no sooner am I taking them out, more seems to be growing in other places, it's never ending. :-|

Happy Birthday Jane, hope its a good one! :-D
Mel, we're miles behind you with Outlander and for us they're still in France which we find incredibly boring and just too fanciful, sorry! So we won't be watching at least for a while.
Hotter than ever here today, so we've got our outside jobs done and are having a cool drink. OH wants to do some more work on the roof, while I must do a few household chores!

Good morning Gill and Liz, "Top of the morning" to all you others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY JANE. xxxx I hope you have a wonderful day <3 <3 <3

Defrosting freezer's brings back a memory. The first day we were in the Post Office I noticed the"COOL CABINET" (full of produce) was so frozen up I decided to de-frost it. I punctured a gas pipe, and had to call out an emergency repair man. Cost me a fortune, before I had made a penny in the shop.!!!!

Looks like being another hot one. Have some though for me, dressed in collar and tie at the funeral. I wonder if I could get away without wearing a jacket ???

I got everywhere watered last night while Ros was out, and was in bed by 10.00 pm (well on the bed lol) Slept well, and was up at 7.30 am.

It will be a bit warm for Ian doing outside work Liz, and you Gill potting on plants.

I see that there are more and more SMALL BUSINESS only accepting CASH. I expect it's one in the books, and two in the pocket. I honestly don't know how they get away with it, especially as they ADVERTISE CASH ONLY on their paper work/ menu's.

Try to stay cool today girls, and Anne I do hope you have a lovely holiday. xxx

I would think most people wouldn't be wearing jackets in this heat Frank, Maybe you could wear it for the funeral then take it off afterwards. That was my worry when I de-frosted my freezer, going through something I shouldn't, that's why I took my time. Mind you the freezer was so clogged up with ice, it would of took a while to defrost the top part anyway as it was about three inches thick. I really shouldn't leave it that long again. I didn't think cash only was allowed as, it would open up the tax evasion route wouldn't it?

I've decided to wait to pot up the plants as it's gone quite warm now, so I'm taking another look at my family tree while OH and Sandra are down the tip. OH has hurt his elbow but insists on carrying on with the digging.....silly man. He won't listen to me when I say he should have some time off.

I noticed another neighbour taking his fence down this morning, although it's the one to the side of the neighbour who's making the new fence, they share the fence so maybe he thinks he's helping, that does mean the first neighbour has to finish the job now. I don't envy him as it's not easy in this hot weather. I'm now wondering how many more neighbours are going to copy us. Just call us the JONES'S lol :-D :-D :-D

It sounds like you're going to be busy today Liz with your outside jobs. Mind you knowing Britain, once it starts to rain I doubt it'll stop, then we'll be in winter so maybe it's a good time to get everything done before the weather changes. I can't see it lasting much longer.

I have noticed it's starting to get darker earlier in the evenings now. The bats come out earlier each night, it's still nice to watch them though, I almost missed them last night with being so tired. We have so much wildlife around here, it's lovely to watch the birds during the day, then the bats later on. We still haven't seen the squirrels though, so I doubt I'll ever see Rosie again :-( We're not sure why they haven't been around for so long. There seems to be just one young one running around on it's own and we don't see that one very often. I hope nothing horrible has happened to them.

<3 <3 <3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE <3 <3 <3

Hope you have a lovely day.x

Hi all,

Went to bed early last night at 12.30am. Slept till 5.30am when I got up for a wee and went back to bed and slept till 10.30am. I really must have needed it!!

Heard from my cousin in Ohio this morning and she is coming over to visit an old school friend in Chelmsford in September and wondered if we could make it down for a reunion but I am afraid we cannot. Just too far for us to drive now as its over 300 od miles from here. Oh dos'nt walk well now or sit in the car driving for three hours so that won't happen. She is hoping to see my other cousin Malcolm who I gave her his address and she has been in touch.

Getting up late has put me very behind this morning so I must get on and feed the birds. I have had Percy Pigeon bathing in the bird bath and I was wondering where all the water was going so now I know. He splashes it everywhere and then just sits in it. I have watched the robin feeding his two babies on the rockery bit just down from the back patio. They squeak at him all the time to let him know where they are for the mealworms. We managed to get a half a kilo of them this week as we hav'nt been able to buy any for three weeks as someone left a fan off in one of the houses and they all cooked in this hot weather so they have had to have a three week break to get stocks back up again.

I'll send some more pics later today of the bungalow and last evening I was watching a leaf cutter bee sealing up a hole on the bug hotel then another one came along and tried to get in on the act. I watched them for ages. Terrible time wasters.

I do my freezer every six months Gill, that way it hardly takes any time at all. Ice three inches thick!!! I'm surprised it kept going!! My fridge freezer in the kitchen is automatic, so it never needs de-frosting which is a boon.
Yes, I think keep a jacket on during the service, and remove it afterwards Frank. On the other hand, see what others are doing and follow suit! ( excuse the pun!)
OH is round the back of the bungalow Frank where it's shady until the sun moves round in the evening, so he's not directly in the heat, and as Gill says, once it rains it may forget to stop so he needs to crack on!
I'm not doing much today! Maybe wash the kitchen floor!! ;-)

Morning Everyone

Thank you so much for my lovely cards and Birthday wishes.
I have had some lovely pressies
Hair Straighteners ,Perfume,a lovely watch from Chris and a small jewellry box ideal for taking on holiday,a Voucher for the Beauty Salon and a HUGE box of Thorntons Chocs. I have put them in the fridge for now
Just off now to the Samuel Peyps for lunch. I have my fan and the Magicool Spray with me :-D :-D

Neighbours garden watered earlier this morning so I am hoping I wont need to go back again today.

Frank, just take the jacket with you .You could always just pop it on to go in for the service and then whip it off again. But I think in this heat just a shirt and tie would be fine.

See you all later

You did well for presents Jane, the jewellery box sounds a really great present if you can use it when on holiday too. Enjoy your lunch.

Yes I should do my freezer every six months like you Liz, I don't normally leave it to long but with everything that's happened this year with my BIL and one thing and another, plus the decorating, kitchen and gardening we've done, I just didn't get around to it. Then when I realised how bad it was it took us quite some time to eat all the food, it was full so took us ages to get through it all. Luckily it's still working as like you said it could of easily broken given all the ice that was in there.

Hope Frank isn't to hot at the funeral. I've just seen on the Internet the weather is going to be even hotter soon especially around the South, possibly over 33 degrees. Hope it's not to bad for you Mel.

What a shame you couldn't meet up with your Cousin Mel, but like you said it's quite a distance to travel and with the temperature's set to rise even more the last thing you need is to be stuck in a car. Do they do air conditioned trains, maybe you could take one of those if you can, then you won't miss out on meeting your Cousin and it would be cooler. I haven't been on a train for years so don't know if they have air condition or not, but it's worth thinking about if they do, maybe you could stay over and make a mini break of it. That would be nice.