General Chat

So you have nice clean windows now Liz, I envy you, it's very cloudy here and looks like rain so our windows will have to wait a while longer.

I have so many pots it looks like a cottage garden and very pretty, the butterflies and bees love it not to mention the birds when the berries come in the winter. I have to watch my bulbs though as the squirrels take them out of the pots, but I suppose they would do that even if they were in the ground.

You made me smile when you said you cut back and tidy in the autumn and say "hello" in the spring. I love your little sayings they are so funny, but I get your drift. If the weather isn't to bad over the winter I just do a bit of tidying up as the weeds still seem to grow, but a lot slower so it doesn't require to much work, otherwise it would be a nightmare come the spring. I would spend every day in the garden if I could, it's my main hobby. Painting on the other hand I hate, it's so slow and boring. Luckily OH said to leave painting the planters today and he'll finish them off, I think it's because I'm not very quick, what took me almost 5 hours yesterday took him 30 minutes, I don't how he does it, but then he's had years of practice whereas I don't.

I'm looking forward to having them finished so I can plant them up, once I've found some plants I like to put in them. I've had a look online but can't decide which ones to use, the problem is I like them all but obviously can't put to much in or they'll choke each other, so it's back to the drawing board until I can pick just a few to use. So long as there is interest in the planters all year round I'll be happy.

How is your OH getting on with his treatment, hope it's all going well for him? It sounds like he's going to be busy sorting out the bungalow, it will pay dividends in the winter though, so well worth taking the time to do it now.

Morning Gill Frank and all,

Not so bright here this morning as we have grey clouds in the sky. out the back and some blue sky with white clouds in the front.

What long posts you have both done this morning. Sorry to hear you had another bad night Frank so I hope tonights is better for you. The jumper sounds like its going to be nice if it matches the boats colours. Sally will have a job to see him in it. Were the knitted cushion covers for the boat?

My hip is a little easier again today but I still know its there and am still limping a bit but I had a better nights sleep with it last night.

Oh had the little tiny pheasent chick eat worms out of his hand this morning. Its really cheeky and comes up on the patio under the gate and asks for them. We have spoilt this one as its a little girl and the last one left out of the pheasent with three chicks. I just hope this one grows up before something eats it. We had the fox through the garden the other day. Bold as brass trotting along the length of the border.

Liz I said you would be pleased with the Karcher and it is easy to use and not too heavy to hold. I know I love my one. Frank was the first person to have one and Mandy has a different make but much the same and she's pleased with her one too.

Must get on now so see you later int he day.

I missed your post Frank, sorry to hear you're in pain, it sounds like the collar is working though, so that's something. Take it easy and relax, maybe you could go back to bed and catch up on some sleep, laying down might help the pain, rather than dozing off in a chair.

Yes, we have spent quite a bit on our garden but mainly the hard landscaping, most of the plants I've grown from cutting or my mum and neighbours have given me things, so although there's a lot of plants it didn't cost that much. We've been lucky this year, one neighbour gave us some wood, another neighbour gave us some paving slabs and OH's friend had a few paving slabs he let him have which was just enough to finish off the area in the secret garden, so all that was FREE, not to mention the plants and cuttings I've had given me, plus the plants I've taken cutting from. I think I'm addicted to plants, I hope if we ever move I have a big garden or they won't all fit in, as we plan on taking them all with us. We will grass the borders over ready for the next people then it's up to them what they do with the garden. When we had our bungalow on the market last time most people said the garden looked like a lot of hard work so if they know it'll just be grass it might not put them off.

Sandra's just woke up so no doubt she'll want to catch up with some more programmes, she watched the launch of Big Brother last night, it went on for about 2 hours, I was ready for bed when it finished, I recorded the follow up programme for her so she'll probably watch that today, before it's back on again tonight. So long as she's happy that's the main thing. OH is at his mates all day today so he'll be glad she's watched it while he's out. The bake off starts again soon, so Sandra and I are looking forward to that. I think it's a celebrity one, which is always good for a laugh.

It seems to be a day of missing posts for me today, I'd just posted my last one then noticed yours Mel, one minute before mine.

Sorry to hear you're still in pain, at least you had a good nights sleep which always helps and it feels a little better today.

How lovely your OH feeding the tiny pheasant from his hand. Men, they're big softies really aren't they? Hope the fox doesn't get her and she grows up healthy and strong.

Afternoon all,

It's been a nice day, and not a lot done by me, except getting dinner ready for tonight. Rib eyed steaks, mushrooms,onions and chips. Peppered sauce for madam. I might have a few baked beans.

Ros decided to go to Tesco this afternoon, and not go out with Martine tomorrow . Conrad and Jan are coming here tomorrow pm and staying until the evening. We are going out to our favourite Chinese for a meal. They are staying at the Hilton Hotel in Northampton for the night and will be back over here Sunday.,

They are not going to Kerry's as she is going down to Devon shortly. We are also going out for Sunday Dinner, so no cooking for me.I will make a point of paying for one of the meals, even though I know they would pay, without even worrying about it. But I like to pay my way. !!!

The wool I ordered for Simon's jumper arrived this afternoon, which was very good, as it's not expected until Tuesday next week.

How tame is that little pheasant then Mel, I bet he OH feels well chuffed lol lol. Is Robby still around ??

How are you today Jane after your fright yesterday. ?? Did you manage to get to Rushden to change your things. ??

What a nice lazy day I have had. I have showered and shaved, go dressed in trousers and shirt, even though I haven't been anywhere. I might get Ros to take me up the Football Club for a change, and REALLY give my old pals a shock. I haven't been up there for over a year.

I hope this weather holds for the weekend for the Canal Festival. I don't know if Jan and Conrad will want to go. Someone said yesterday that they are running a shuttle bus around the village, so you can hop on and off as you want. With that in mind we might well make the effort.

Have a nice evening all. xxx

Afternoon Everyone
Frank, y our neck collar sounds as though it is giving you some good support and comfort.I hope you sleep better tonight too. Broken nights are a real pain . Chris said he had a disturbed night too .I slept like a log :-D

Simon will look the real deal in his sloppy joe jumper when Ros knots ot for him :-D
Where has Lewis been now on holiday? I must have missed you saying .He certainly is having a great social life at the moment.

Sparkling windows then Liz :-D :-D. Mine are pretty bad right now. We get so much dust blown over from the fields at the moment and it just covers everything including the inside window sills :-S.
Oh how sweet the baby Pheasant is coming ot be hand fed Mel :-D :-D It sounds like she is a real confident little chick.

Gill, will you be able to take any pics of your garden planters and all your pots.I would love to see them all. Those planters are going to look amazing when you have them all planted up.

I have just roasted a load of our tomatoes in Olive Oil and fresh Oregano thinking I would freeze them but they have almost gone to nothing and the skins look quite burnt. I tried :-) I think the next time I try I will just freeze them straight on a baking tray (at my neighbours) and then bag them for my freezer (when we get the new one! )

Mel have you tried rubbing Volarol Gel into your painful hip? I find it does help.I had to do that on my knee in the night as it was giving me real gyp :-S I have one of those Freeze patches on it now.

I bought an anti mosquito plug and a spray today to take on holiday. The hotel we are staying in in Annecy has some canals around it and it is also very near the big lake so I know for sure we will be bothered by the little blighters. We can plug the electric one in at night in our room and make sure we spray our ankles and arms with the spray in the daytime. I do not want to be bitten half to death like before.
I had a turn out of my underwear drawer this morning and was shocked to see how many pairs of pants I had. I got rid of 45 !!!!!!!!! :-0 :-0. So now all my new ones are in and I can shut the drawer properly :-D :-D I bagged up my old ones and took them to the Salvation Army recycling container. (I think they accept underwear) .

Thomas has been out and about all day.Chris said he saw him once with a bird :-S and had to remove the remains.I havent seen him since 4.30am.

James is on his way home . Chris will take him to the station later for the 8.45 train to London. He will probably get to Hannahs about 10.30. It will be nice for James to spend the weekend with H&G :-D

I have done some more weeding under the box hedge outside the kitchen window on the orchard side and put in some primroses that I bought and had'nt planted. Two of them had vine weevils in but still had roots so they went in and the soil went in the bantam run for them to eat the weevils. They love them and there's always a fight as to who gets to them first.

Evening all,

It's been a really lovely day here lots of warm sunshine ,i woke in the night and i felt quite chilly although we only have the quilt cover over us with no quilt in it , we find the double layer of the quilt cover has been just right while it's been so hot.

Ros is going to be busy knitting the sloppy joe jumper Frank that was good service getting the wool so quickly ,has she got the needles out already ?
Lets hope this collar you've got will give you some relief ,all this pain must be really getting you down now .

Oh Mel how lovely to have the baby eating out of OH's hand ,i hope the fox keeps away .
Yes have a go with the Volarol Gel on your hip Mel i use it on my knee ,usually at night as it seems to play me up as soon as i get the leg out straight in bed .

Gill your planters sound lovely and will look good when you have them all planted up ,try and get a photo we'd all love to see your garden with all the pots .
So Sandra is watching Big Brother ,did you see that chap tying to look like Barbies Ken ? he looks quite scary .

Jane !!!!! all those pants LOL :-D mind you i bet if i turned my drawers out i wouldn't be far behind you with that amount .
We use to use one of those Mosi plugs when we went abroad ,we use to plug ours in when we went out for our evening meal as i think they come in when you open the door and put the light on ,we use to try and get in the door and then turn on the light .

You'll be away now with the window cleaning Liz , i find mine a god send it makes window cleaning so easy .
Hope OH's treatment is still going ok , it sounds as if he's still busy trying to get his jobs done before the weather changes .

The wasps are still going crazy for the marmalade in the honey pot i have to empty it twice a day !!!!!

We're watching a lovely programme called ' The Repair Shop'. People take their family treasures that are a bit dilapidated and this brilliant team of artisans repair them and the results are absolutely amazing, and people are so pleased! Pleased to see 'Fake or Fortune' is back on Sunday evening! What a knife edge that can be!
OH is doing well Gill, no adverse effects as yet, so fingers crossed it'll stay that way!!
Goodness, twenty!!! Raves wouldn't have been for me but Oxford was!! I was sharing a bed sit with a college friend and we had such fun!! It was that very cold winter and our parents insisted that we moved back home for the duration!, much to our fury!! interfering in our lives etc, usual dippy things young people say!! Mind you, it got SO cold that we were secretly glad, but certainly didn't admit that to parents!! Once the thaw came we soon scuttled back to the big city!!

Mandy I was quite gobsmacked to discover my drawer had that many pants in!. I found many I haven't worn in years.I kept a few favourites (comfy ones :-D) Now I need to go through all the Bras !!!. Some won't have fitted me since I don't know when :-S
We haven't a problem with wasps (may be temptng fate now). But since the man came and got rid of the nest under the roof tiles we seem to be free.

Liz ,I remember having to go 'home' for a while in one very cold winter when my house share house was so cold and damp. Home comforts were a great welcome then.I still managed to party .There were lots of house parties in those days. Not Raves as they had not been 'invented' LOL I don't think I would have like Raves.

Eastenders on now. It is the only Soap I watch.

No, as you say Jane, Raves hadn't been thought of in those far off days! Theatricals, Choral, Punting in the summer, and Pubbing in the winter. I had a rather earnest boyfriend when I first left school who took me out to afternoon tea a few times!! I rather liked him, but sadly he was a bit dull so had to go!!

Morning all,

Grey sky morning here and its raining a bit. It rained all evening and during the night and it was raining when I woke up this morning. Feels a lot colder here today it may be a cardy day today.

Hip is no better today and it gradually got worse yesterday. I am hobbling around and its horrid and making me very slow going anywhere.

Shop day and egg delivery and nothing else planned for today.

Good morning Mel and all,

I woke this morning thinking it was SUNDAY. We both have seemed ro have been a day out since Wednesday. Why that should be I don't know.

Lewis is in France a his Mum and Dads Holiday Caravan. He went down with his mum when he broke up from Uni. Harvey went down Thursday for two weeks, and will drive him and Julia back. As I said Lewis is flying back early.

Miserable sort of morning here, very overcast and looks a lot like rain.

I had that WOMAN on the phone at 8.15 this morning, going on about Denis and Pam having a key to her Mothers house. She hs demanded he hands it back to her, or she will involve the police. He, on he other hand, wants to keep it, so he cn go in and out as he wants too, to check everywhere is safe. I understand another neighbour has been ringing her, informing her of Dnis's comings and goings. I REALLY DON'T WAN'T TO GET INVOLVED.

KNICKERS by the SCORE !!! Jane, yu can only wear one PAIR at a time lo lol Except perhaps in th WINTER when two might be handy. ;-) ;-) ;-) Joking apart I must have loads of u/pants in two draws and the same with socks, which never seemed to be sorted out, even when more NEW ONES are purchased. :-| :-| :-|

Didn't go out last night, After cooking dinner and washing up, I was to KNACKRED. This neck thingy seems to be working. I keep it on until I went to bed, and have had it on since I got up. Will continue wearing it, until I go out.

What exciting lives you girls had when you were younger and fancy free. I envy you, as you know my life came to a standstill who my Dad was diagnosed with CANCER when I was 17. Then when he died, I was called up for National Service. FOUR YEARS removed from my life, which I know I must have missed out on, growing up.

It's coming up to my dad's birthday on the 22nd, so my thoughts are very much with him . :-( :-( :-( SORRY. !!!

I am not sure when Conrad and Jan will be here. I know Ros has some sandwich fillers ha she bought yesterday for when they arrive, I might take a stroll o he pub to see the match. I haven't been out since last Saturday.

Shower time, see you later. xxx

Afternoon All
Frank, I wonder why that WOMAN doesn't do anything with the bungalow or at least get someone in to cut things back and that way Dennis would have no need to go into her garden. Dennis will have to give her the keys back. He surely doesnt want to have the Police involved.

Poor Mel,is the hip still bad now? Have you a walking stick to help out while it is still painful. I put off using mine for a long time (just pure vanity ! ) but it really does help.I now don't give a monkeys who sees me when I use it :-D

Cloudy old day here today but really quite muggy. I went to Tesco and got 6 bottles of wine as there is 25% of 6 or more. I must tell Fitz :-D . The offer is on for another week so he will have plenty of time to go.

Chris said he is going to take down all the Tomato Plants before we go away. We have had a real glut of them and can't even give any away as everyone has had the same.
I have a ton of Runners and Green Beans again today. I just wish I had the big freezer !!!. I shall have to ring on Monday if we have not been sent the voucher for a replacement .The voucher will come by email .
I bet you wish you had had your neck collar earlier Frank. It seems to be really good for you. Is it the Blisworth Canal fair thingy this weekend? I think you said you would be giving it a miss this year. The Kettering Carnival is today . I have not been to see that for many years now. It is not half as good as the one Mandy had where she lives. But I take my hat off to all the people who put so much hard work and effort into it.

My Shopping is sitting on the worktop in the kitchen so needs putting away now. I have been home for an hour or so!. I took a little Lamb Rack out of the small freezer this morning .I forgot I had it so that will make a change for dinner this evening.I cheated a bit too in Tesco and bought a pouch of Lamb Gravy. I have no idea what it will be like . I normally just stick to my Beef Bisto gravy for everything :-D
See you all later.

Frank I kept thinking Thursday was Friday this week! It was only oh who said we would go for fish and chips tomorrow that I said its Saturday tomorrow and we have steak then. Thats when he told me it was Thursday and not Friday.

I just came in the back door and glanced down as I saw movement. A little shrew shot out from under the boiler cupboard door ran into the kitchen about three foot stood up on its hind legs and sniffed around and then shot back into the boiler cupboard. Oh said he thought he saw one the other day but I said shrews don't usually come indoors. I now have a humane trap in there to see if I can catch it and put it outside. They are so funny and I like to watch them on the patio as they like the mealworms I throw down for the birds.

My last post I wrote this mornng and forgot to post it!!!!! :-S

Afternoon all,

Not much sun here today it does keep trying to break through the cloud , it feels a bit muggy really, I stripped the bed and got all that dry I've even got some of it ironed just the quilt cover to do .
I've just soaked my feet and painted my toenails so I'm waiting for them to dry.

Frank I wouldn't think Dennis will want the police at his door he should hand the key over thats a bit naughty holding on to it .
Really the woman who had the key should never have handed it over to him in the first place.
She could change the lock ,is it a front door key ? She could have a chain lock put on the inside of the door so he can't get in .
Does seem strange that she's not doing any thing with the property.

Your poor hip Mel , have a day resting it and have some painkillers .

It's a long wait for your freezer Jane , we have loads of green tomatoes they just don't seem to want to turn red .
Runners seem slow to grow this year lots of small ones ,I don't think all the heat helped even though we gave them lots of water.

Mandy put a couple of ripe apples under your tom plants or banana skins. They give off ethaline gas which makes the tom ripen quicker. Give your beans a handfull of lime in a can of water as they ike that and it helps the flowers to set.

Our church warden rang me after lunch to say did I know it was my turn on flowers this week. No said I I did'nt. I had to rush round the garden and see what I could find. Managed in the end but I did'nt get back till after 6 pm. I was dying for a sit down but oh made me a drink and then it was off again to feed the chickens again and then pick the beans for dinner and then cook the dinner so I did'nt get my sit down till we ate.

Morning all,

Raining here today but not cold.

Had a good lie in this morning. I think maybe my leg is a little better this morning but will see how it goes during the day as I hav'nt done much walking around yet. If it was'nt so hot I would try my hot bean bag on it at night.

Frank hope you had a better night and the collar is still working with relieving the pain in your neck during the day. We shall have to start calling you Mrs. Tishal.

MORNING ALL,

Thanks Mel, when Conrad arrived yesterday he called me MRS TISHAL lol lol

Nothing sort of morning again here.

I think Dennis has given the key back to he woman in th village, who in turn will reurn it to the WOMAN. Jane I believe she still has her Fathers bungalow untouched since his death a few years ago. If and when she comes over here I DON'T KNOW.

We had a very pleasant evening at the CHINESE last night. There was not a table empty when we arrived at 6,30 pm As one table emptied it was filled with waiting customers. We didn't leave there until 7.50. Conrad and Jan came back here until 10.30.

Ros had a very funny turn las night feeling xtreamly sick, but she wasn't.. Once sh was in bed and sealed she felt a lot better. this morning she's a right as rein. So all good.

Roa thinks she will have to knit this jumper with two balls of wool together as it's showing a lot of holes in the knitting. I'm sure you will know wha I mean.

Table is booked for 1.30 today, so I had better get on and have my shower and shave as we don't know when C & J will turn up.

Have a pleasant day. people. Catch you later xxx