General Chat

I have had fly pens for years now and they are good but you have to keep hoovering up the bodies. They need to do a spider pen and I think that would go down a treat with all the little blighters we get here. Also this year we have a lot of moths coming in. Oh bought me one of those light fly catchers but it makes me jump every time it goes off and the moths crack for ages and get stuck to the grill.

I use the fly pen around the back door and it gets the midges in the begining of the season. I think the pond so near the house attracts them and the light through the back door.

I hav'nt done much today just the normal feeding of the birds and oh but I did repot a little plant.

The blimmin blackbird has got into the blueberries again so I have given up on those.

Hope the spray helps with the throat Mandy and your not in so much pain.

Morning all,

Another cloudy morning but its very warm and oppressive.

We just had a female pheasent and her three chicks visit and walk all over the rockery bit outside the kitchen window but apart from that I have nothing more to report.

Morning Mel,morning all,

Cloudy here too with a lovely breeze so we're sitting out with our coffee, church bells are ringing so its a bit noisy but it's only for half an hour .
Nice day for the carnival all proceeds pay for the christmas lights in the town .

Enjoy the sunshine everyone .

Good morning to you all,

My you have been busy chatting ;-) ;-) Nice to se you are all coping with this weather. Not a lot to report from this end. I did go to the pub for an hourI sat in the bar chatting to a couple of the lads.

Mandy, I am sure th girls will enjoy bing on the float in th parade. They will think thy are the belle of the BALL. Bless them, I do hope the weather holds up for them.

Entertaining pre-adding guests the Jane. I bet you will be kept busy feeding and suppling links for that lot.

I hav never heard of those pens Liz, We are reasonable lucky, w don't seems to be pestered with flys and wasps. We do have these pots,that Ros puts jam and water in. They hang outside on the patio, and do and to collect a few nasties.

We had a good picking of tomato's yesterday . If we weren't going out for lunch today, I would have picked more runner beans, as there is enough for a meal.

Ros is at the church this morning for the dedication of the Bishop's chair, that they recently recovered through the Tapestry team. I doubt it will go on too long, or if the Bishop will be there or not.

All I have had to eat since yesterday is a PRAWN ROLL when I came back from the pub . I am just not hungry. We did go and get Ros a Chinese from Towcester. Good jon we went as there are notices everywhere saying the A43/A5 will be closed to all traffic from Monday the 23rd UNTIL NOVEMBER. GAWD knows what they are going to be doing. Total refurbishment of the road system by th sounds of things. I can just imagine the traffic problems this will cause. SO TOWCESTER IS A COMPLETE NO NO for the takeaways and shopping.

We have a table booked for 2.30 pm at our favourite pub in he next village, so I hope I have an appetite to enjoy th food.

Enjoy your afternoon folks, xxxx

Hot here with a very light wind, so we got up at sparrows f##t, and got on before it gets too hot to do anything! All the usual jobs done including baking a medium size ham for supper. OH is cutting our side of the hedge out at the back! He wants to get all those sort of jobs done before Thursday, then it's just a case of keeping things ticking over for a few weeks!
Yes you do have to hoover up the flies etc from the window sills, but then you have to clear them up whatever killing method is used!! I've got one of those wet and dry rechargeable table vacs, and that collects them up in no time!
Sitting on the veranda now with a cool drink and a good book!!

Afternoon all

Sunny here after a bit of fine rain this morning, not enough rain to soak anything though so OH cut the back lawn, he hasn't done the front as he's filling the holes of the boarders with new stuff ready for the plants to go in. The hopepipe ban starts in two weeks so we want to get them in and established before then. We've decided to use some of the pot plants we have in the back, with having so many (almost 400 in total) it's like a garden centre and there'll be enough left over as not to spoil the look of the back.

It sounds like you've been busy so far today too Liz, it's nice when everything is done early then the rest of the day is yours to do as you like. A cool drink and a good book sounds just the trick. ;-)

So Towcester is out of bounds for a while then Frank, it does sound like a big job if the roads are being closed for that long. I hope your appetite comes back in time for your meal this afternoon. I see you are having some of your tomatoes, we've had one ripe one so far and boy did it taste good, much better than shop bought ones. I did find that some of them were bruised and had gone black so they unfortunately have had to go in the bin, but we have plenty more to eat once they ripen up. We haven't done anymore veg this year, there was a time we'd do potatoes and carrots and I've even tried onions before now, although they were to strong for us so I didn't bother again. Maybe next year I may do more veg, but for now the tomatoes are doing just fine.
I took some cutting from the climbing bluebell the other day and they have taken really well, so I might do some more, it'll be nice to have more than one of those plants. The flowers are still on the main one and look really pretty.

Those pens sound really good Liz, I tend to swot the flies and bugs with a cushion which does the trick, although it does make OH and Sandra jump when they aren't expecting it, which looks quite funny.....I'm so evil sometimes aren't I? ;-) :-D

How is your throat today Mandy, I hope it doesn't spoil the Carnival. I bet the girls are really looking forward to it? I hope the weather stays nice for you all. How lovely to use the proceeds for the Christmas lights, it's not long off now either.

Did you take any photo's of the Pheasant and chicks Mel?

No I did'nt take any pics as I had only just got up and then they disappeared under the box hedge via the rockery bit.

Afternoon Everyone
Lovely to see the Pheasant her babies Mel :-D

Frank, I was hearing on the radio this morning about all the road problems in Towcester .That is going to cause havoc for the town for a long time. No Chinese or F&Cs from there for the foreseeable ! I am glad I am not living there .

Mandy the girls will be trooping along as emojis :-D :-D Which ones are they? Good job they will have plenty of water as it is going to be a few hot hours for them. I do hope that you can get some pics.

Gill 400 pots ! Now that is a Garden Centre LOL

Liz does this Fly pen kill Silverfish? I have seen one or two along the back ot thre kitchen sink when I come down in the early hours to let Thomas out and they give me the heebie jeebies .

Frank, I have no idea yet who I need to cook for when every one decends for this wedding. Obviously James as he is not going to the wedding. Thursday night pre wedding all the girls are having a meal somewhere. Gareth may or may not be eating here.Friday is the wedding so just Breakfast .They can see to themselves for that.
Saturday there will probably be 3 hangovers :-S and I will see no-one until near lunch time :-D. Sarah will be sleeping in the study so that will be off limits for Chris.One thing for sure though is that I am not going to be glued to the oven in the 30 deg plus temps :-D :-D

I think the sun is breaking through here now. It has been cloudy and muggy all .
morning. I can't believe you are picking your Runners already Frank !! You lucky beggar . Ours our teeny weeny at the moment. We have had 4 red Tomatoes :-D
and the Green Beans are growing almost faster than I can pick. That a job for me in a minute. The Garlic is not bad at all this year and is hanging outside the Summerhouse.

The new fan I bought yesterday is great. I now wish I had got 2 . It is nice and quiet and is doing a good job on the mid setting.
Time for a spot of lunch now.

Well the carnival parade was lovely what we could see of it ,our fault really as we didn't pick the best place to stand ,i missed the girls didn't see them at all so i'm hoping son got some photo's where they stood which was nearer their house .
We stood near the bank as it was in the shade but the problem was everyone kept trying to get past to go further along the street .
Quite a bit of cloud today but it's really muggy with it

According to the description on line Jane, yes it does kill silverfish, but we don't have them so I can't say how effective it is!! Gill why don't you get a proper fly swat?!! You could have one each (we do) then you can bag the beasts.as they fly by or settle!!
Glad the carnival went well Mandy.

Mandy are you going to have to pretend that you saw he girls? They won't know if you are telling a tiny fib :-D

Right then Liz the pen it is if it does Silver fish. I only have seen one at a time and it is always at the back of taps of the kitchen sink. I know the sealant needs re doing so that might solve the problem.I think I read somewhere that they are related to the Chuggy Pig family(Woodlice) . I might have dreamt it of course :-S

I meant to say earlier I have not heard the saying a Sparrows Fa*t for so long Liz :-D
It does make you wonder where these sayings come from .
I think next door must have Grandchilden visiting as I can hear lots of laughter and big splashes in the pool. It hasn't been used for many years so I hope they have got it clean and safe for the children. I felt quite envious hearing the splashing going on .

Thomas is hot and just moving from one bit of shade to another at the moment. I have been doing the same but not lying under the Yew Hedge :-D :-D. I decided to bung another load of washing in an hour ago and it is now hanging out. That will be dry in no time.
My house is so dusty and you should see the state of the cars !!! It is like the Sahara Desert Dust that we get sometimes. We will have to have a really good going over the house before Thursday . Up early in the mornings before it gets too hot and we can do a bit each day.

Anne is Toby still being out and about when you want him in? Did sorting the Catflap make a difference? Thomas was out again all night last night.I have given up worrying as I just think it is this hot weather making him want to be out.He has been around all day today and still here so that make s me think once it cools down he will be off for the night again. I can't keep staying up until gone 11 waiting for him. I need my sleep :-D :-D I think it was actually nearer midnight last night when enough was enough. Daft aren't I :-S :-S Chris had been asleep for hours by the time I went to bed.
It has made me remember my old cat Peter when I was young. To get him in Dad would stand out on the back doorstep pretending to sharpen the carving knife :-D :-D. That soon got Peter in.He thought there was going ot be a bit of tasty meat:-D. Little did he know it was just a bit of Kittycat.

Turkey Roullade ,Hassleback Potatoes,(our green beans) and other veg tonight. Everything is ready to go .I reckon we will eat about 7

That's a shame you didn't manage to get any photo's Mel. Sandra and I would of loved to have seen them. Maybe you'll have a chance another day.

Yes we have a small garden centre Jane, Sandra is looking forward to choosing some nice plants to put in the front when OH has finished topping up the borders with the good stuff. He's busy doing that now watering each layer as he goes along. I thought of watering the layers that way we know the bottom is wet as well as the top. We didn't do it that way on the other border so we don't know how much water the roots of the plants we put in there are getting. So you're off to the shops for the pen, hope it works on the Silver fish. I think you might be right, sorting out the sealant will definitely help.

What a shame you didn't see the girls Mandy, I don't think a little white fib will do any harm saying you did see them. I hope your son managed to get some photo's of them, so long as they had a good time that's the main thing though.

I was thinking of buying a fly swat Liz but we don't seem to have to many in the property this year unlike other years. In fact I've hardly seen many flies or wasps, plenty of bees around outside which is nice to watch. I can see where the saying "Busy as a Bee" comes from they are all over the plants all day every day, they never seem to stop.

I'm watching 60 minute makeover with Sandra at the moment, there are a couple on early on a Saturday and Sunday so I record them for us. F1 on later so something else to look forward to.

You saying that Jane reminded me that my S- father use to sharpen the carving knife at the back door to get the cats in at night!! It always worked as I think they both lived in hopes!! I can remember banging a tin with a fork to get our pussies in too!!
Glad you've managed to find some shade outside Jane. When my SIL lived in France, they made a shady Dell in their garden, and even on the hottest day they managed to stay cool! Like me she loves the sun but 40c was just too much!!!!

I have fly swats all over the place. One in my shed amd two in the kitchen. I bought a new one this year with a collaspable handle but I can't remember where I bought it. Its eally good cos I can get it in the draw.

It dos'nt seem tohave cooled down here tonight so I am going to go and have a nice cool shower.

No i didn't tell a porkie Jane i told Chelsea i didn't see her or Katie ,she said she didn't see us either ,son took some photo's so i'll see if he'll send me one to pass on .
They came for a swim well all except Katie who was with her friend ,and Lewis went in the pool today :-D bless him he didn't want to get out .

After they went we had a bit of a do with Max little devil only got Chelsea's swimming costume :-0 they had all been pegged on the little line and Colin said do you want them on the big line so unpegged them and must have dropped Chelsea's ,the next thing he's coming out with the swim suit in his hand with a blooming great hole in the front LOL they were all treated to new swim wear by grandad last week so she had only worn it a few days :-(

There is a nice photo of Katie on the Eastern Daily Press site, she is holding a sign with Dereham CofE junior Academy ,theres lots of photo's of the parade .

Morning all,

Dull and cloudy today but its so nice to have less heat. My sweet peas are stinking the kitchen out and at the moment I am cool. Just as well as I have a pile of ironing to do today. Poor oh had to put on an unironed t shirt after his shower yesterday evening.

Mandy I tried to see the picture of Katie at the Eastern Daily Press site but cold'nt find it. Can you send a link please?

Morning Mel, morning all

Cloudy here today but still quite warm. It looks like we've had a bit of rain, everywhere is wet, the birds love it and are poking around for the worms. I noticed one female blackbird feeding another one on the back lawn this morning, it was lovely to watch. There are two young ones there now, they are chirping away and the mum is feeding them both......how cute is that?

Oh dear, Max getting hold of the new swimsuit, I guess you'll be buying a new one now Mandy? I'm looking forward to seeing the photo when you send it. It sounds like the girls had a lovely time. So Lewis had his first dip in the pool, it sounds like he loved it if he didn't want to get out. I couldn't find the article on the website either, could you send me the link too please?

So it's ironing day today then Mel, hope the weather doesn't go to hot for you.

Love the photo of Thomas Jane, it must be hard for him in all this hot weather. Sandra said you could send him to us to look after for a while, it's nice and cool here ;-) Bless her.

I can see 40 degrees would be to hot for anyone Liz, good idea of your SIL's to make a shaded area.

OH is still filling up the borders so I'm not sure if any plants will go in today, hopefully tomorrow, although it's forecast to rain so we'll see what the weather holds. It would be nice if we could get them in today but there is still quite a bit to do before that happens. Once all the plants are in we need to put some flags down near the front door. We took the stones up from there so it's just bare ground at the moment, then we'll re-shape the front lawn, it used to be a circle but now.......well, I think we've created a new shape LOL.

We'll use the cut off pieces of grass to finish off in the back, we want to extend the grass around towards the secret garden that's behind the conifers then flag the rest of it to the end where there isn't much sun. So plenty to keep us busy for a while yet. I just hope the weather stays cloudy, it's much easier to work in than having the sun out all day.

Did anyone watch the F1 yesterday, what a brilliant race? I was made up when Lewis won, after starting in 14th position. Did you see the crowd cheer when Vettel crashed and at his home ground to, that'll teach him for being tasty to Lewis when he won last week at the British race......what's that saying???? What goes around comes around. I doubt it'll stop his nasty comments in the future though, even though he's booed all the time. At least Lewis is in the lead for the Championship again now, so that's good :-D :-D

Your right there Gill with it being better to have cloud than the beating sun. We can't complain we hav'nt had any summer this year though can we?

Still hav'nt done anything yet. Just been sitting here at my desk doing card games.

Yes much cloudier here although the sun has poked its head out now!
Mel, if OH wanted an ironed T-shirt he'd have to do it himself!! Luckily he couldn't care less and in fact would think me daft if I ironed anything, particularly this weather!!
Talking of drawers, I might turn my chest of drawers out today - it's well overdue and would be another good job done!
Must take Cas for a run else she'll hassle me till I do!
Have a good day one and all!