General Chat

Afternoon All,

It's warmed up a lot now, but the gentle breeze is keeping it cool enough at the moment. The men are here on the dot at 8.00am each morning and only have a break for lunch. They are getting on well and have started lining the walls with the boards now. I think the shower base will be in today but we'll see how they get on. I've learned a new phrase from the young chap helping, a 'double bubble' which seems to mean both a hot and a cold drink! The dust is much worse and is the fine stuff today as they were cutting the boards.

Thank you for the photos Mel. How nice to see there is a second brood of the little chicks. It's amazing they start out so weak and vulnerable, but their parents keep them alive and thriving. Good to see the Hedgehog too and the Iris and Rose are lovely. I like seeing Damsel flies in our garden as the metallic blue is beautiful. I bet the carrots and mushrooms look very realistic.

Vera, it sounds like the cleaners have done an excellent job of the conservatory. You have taught me something today as I'd never realised saxaphones and clarinets came in different sizes! That 80 year old sounds a bit of a character.

It would be a nice surprise to find the Garden Centre was cool AnnG as they are usually hotter than most shops. I see you bought some nice plants and tops too. You are right you don't hear big bands on TV anymore and there were so many of them.

Afternoon All,

It's warmed up a lot now, but the gentle breeze is keeping it cool enough at the moment. The men are here on the dot at 8.00am each morning and only have a break for lunch. They are getting on well and have started lining the walls with the boards now. I think the shower base will be in today but we'll see how they get on. I've learned a new phrase from the young chap helping, a 'double bubble' which seems to mean both a hot and a cold drink! The dust is much worse and is the fine stuff today as they were cutting the boards.

Thank you for the photos Mel. How nice to see there is a second brood of the little chicks. It's amazing they start out so weak and vulnerable, but their parents keep them alive and thriving. Good to see the Hedgehog too and the Iris and Rose are lovely. I like seeing Damsel flies in our garden as the metallic blue is beautiful. I bet the carrots and mushrooms look very realistic.

Vera, it sounds like the cleaners have done an excellent job of the conservatory. You have taught me something today as I'd never realised saxaphones and clarinets came in different sizes! That 80 year old sounds a bit of a character.

It would be a nice surprise to find the Garden Centre was cool AnnG as they are usually hotter than most shops. I see you bought some nice plants and tops too. You are right you don't hear big bands on TV anymore and there were so many of them.

I had a good morning at the garden centre, it was cool inside with air con and wehad out coffee outside sitting in the shade. wasps are still a bit of a nuisance. I bought quite a large geranium, a reddish sedum and a begonia and when we got back Karen gave me three coleus that she has grown from seed. I also bought two tops in Edinburgh wool. She drives her new automatic car well (she is the young lady who dislocated her shoulder a year ago and it is still not properly healed. Although she is a fast driver she is very careful. She is lucky as she qualified for a good dicount on the car for being a military pensioner. I didn't know places did that but I think it is good.

None near me either but I am glad they are still performing. Collingwood is interesting if that is HMS Collingwood as I grew up about a quarter of a mile from their surrounding fence and my Dad served there for a while, then in 1956 tony was stationed there.

Thanks Andysmum for posting that. I might have been interested but none are near me.

For those who are interested, here is a list of concerts by the Royal Marine Band during September.


Nottingham: September 11, 2025, at the Royal Concert Hall.
Gateshead: September 12, 2025, at The Glasshouse (formerly Sage Gateshead).
Edinburgh: September 13, 2025, at the Usher Hall.
Bristol: September 17, 2025, at Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall).
Birmingham: September 18, 2025, at Symphony Hall.
Manchester: September 19, 2025, at Bridgewater Hall.
Liverpool: September 20, 2025, at the Philharmonic Hall.
Plymouth: September 20, 2025, at the Minack Theatre.
Harp and Thistle Concert (Scotland): October 9, 2025.
Roebuck Theatre Concert: October 9, 2025.
Salute to the Heroes (Collingwood): November 21, 2025.
Carnglaze Caverns (Plymouth): December 7, 2025.
Roebuck Christmas Concert (Plymouth): December 11, 2025.

Good morning AnnG, Mel and all

It's already 21 degrees and sunny. It's supposed to get up to 25 or 26 this afternoon and then get even hotter over the next couple of days so I'm not really looking forward to that. I didn't sleep well again last night but was in a lovely sleep at 7 am when OH decided to wake me. He doesn't usually wake me but he knew I would want to be washed and properly dressed by the time the window cleaning men arrived at 8.

When they told us the price yesterday I did gulp hard as it seemed expensive but I now think it's reasonable for what they are doing. They arrived at 8.10 and are still here at 10.20 so I reckon it will be 2 of them for 2.5 hours. That's 5 man hours to pay for plus whatever percentage is added for their business overheads and then their profit. They are doing a really good job. Even OH is pleased and he is a bit of a perfectionist. Getting going early meant I got the ironing done while it was still fairly cool so that's another job out of the way.

Annx, your en-suite will look lovely when it's finished but you'll probably find the dust keeps appearing and you'll be damp-dusting for ages. We haven't heard you talk about your beading work for quite a while so it will be good to see the finished pieces. Don't forget to send us pictures.

I love the idea of you making little mushrooms and carrots Mel. They must be quite fiddly to do; you must have very deft fingers. You are all so good with your hands and I am such a clumsy klutz.

I hope you enjoy your trip to the garden centre AnnG, and the lady driving doesn't give you too much of a white knuckle ride. The lady who often drives myself and another friend to our lunches and events is a fast driver and she is now 80! We still call her the boy racer. She has decided that now she is 80 she can say what she likes and she shouts at other drivers, though I don't think they hear her from the closed car. I just sink down in my seat and pretend I'm not there.

As for music, I agree with you Ann. We don't hear enough of the big bands these days and a good military band is always worth hearing. I smiled when you mentioned clarinet and saxophone as they are my daughter's main instruments and she has several of each as they come in different sizes and tunings.

Just had a bit of a break as our men finished at 10.45 and they wanted us to see what they had done and make sure we were happy before they went. Everything they did is gleaming and they even cleaned up a couple of bits we hadn't asked them to do. We made them a drink earlier but I think it's time we had one now so I'm off to put the kettle on.

Morning girls,

Bit of a grey morning here today and it 17 degrees and no wind to speak of.Hope it brightens up a bit later on as it looks a bit miserable out there now.

Enjoy you trip to the garden centre and I hope the daughter dos'nt drive too fast today.

Must get ready to get up the post van this morning as its only there till 11am.

Good morning all a bit grey but already 13 after a fairly cool night. I slept well just under a sheet, woke twice then got up at 7.

Vera to carry on where we left off. Although I do like listening to piano music my preference is for 'a bigger noise' I love the clarinet and sax and big band music. When I worked for the MOD living in Clifton Beds, we were able to get preference booking for the Royal Albert Hall Royal Marine band concerts which were always good. To hear The last post played from one of the top balconies was awesome. And also (I think it is called) Duelling trumpets.
Just thinking and you don't hear big bands, Jazz or otherwise on TV nowadays although I am sure they still exist. (except orchestras I suppose - The Proms). I am just old fashioned. Well old certainly. There were many around my age at the concert yesterday.

today I am being taken out by friends to a larger garden centre down the M%. My friend's daughter takes us, she is daughter's age and single. ( and a bit of a fast driver witha new car).

Gosh, you've been busy today Elizabeth. Are your roller skates turbo-charged? If you are old-fashioned then so am I as I clean my windows and other things with vinegar as well. I've not tried citronella or pine oil. I just add the tiniest squeeze of washing up liquid.

AnnG, you brought back some memories for me there. When I was first introduced to OH I wasn't overly impressed but talking to him I found he went every week to a trad jazz club. I had wanted to go there but not on my own and I hadn't been able to persuade any friend to come with me so thought I'd let him take me the first time and maybe introduce me to a few other people and then I could quietly drop him. That really wasn't very nice of me.............but the rest, as they say, is history Chris Barber and Monty Sunshine were regulars, along with Humphrey Lyttleton, Ken Colyer and others. We also saw Ella and Oscar Peterson at the Festival Hall in London twice. Happy Days.

I love all kinds of music except the extremes. I was never a heavy metal fan and one or two of the modern "classics" sound so discordant that I can't get on with them. Unfortunately, any musical talent in our family seems to have skipped a generation and missed me out as I can neither play an instrument nor sing a note in tune.

Dear Lady Mel and All

Hello

Hope you are okay.

I know exactly what you mean about cleaning the fridge.

It is on my to do list. :-D :-S

I have washed the lace curtains and heavier curtains in all of the rooms.

I also cleaned the bottom windows and washed the window sills.

I use my old-fashioned distilled vinegar and several drops of
citronella or pine essential oil.

I am on roller skates doing the housework chores! :-D :-S

May your evening be a contented one and have a peaceful night of restful sleep.

Take gentle care
Love EOS
xx

You've all be wondering what I have done in the garden today ......NOTHING!!

I have been playing with my polyclay making mushrooms and carrots. I washed the bedding this morning and thats nice and dry now. The shopping came and it was quite a lot this week so that took a while to ut away. I also had the fridge out and cleaned all the inside and boy did it need it. Its one of those jobs that dos'nt take that long but you have to feel like doing it, well I do anyway.
Now I have just seen the time, time flys when your having fun, and I hav'nt corned the girls yet.

My blueberries don't seem to want to riped this year even though we've had sunshine but the Blackbirds not fussy about them being green. I must get a net out and cover them up. One only has a couple of berries this year but the other has a nice lot.

I have fed the patio plants and the toms and cue, beans and courgette so I have sone something in the garden today.

When I fed my fish I wa slooking at the plants and on the netting was a big dragonfly under the netting. Forgot to go and get the camera and take a pic. It was beige and black and I have never seen on that colour before.

Well I managed to miss you Vera. It's good to get a bit done in the garden, but I didn't do much but it all helps. It will be good to get your conservatory all looking nice after your efforts cleaning the inside a little while ago. Congrats to your granddaughter on her engagement. It's an exciting time for her with her trip and now engagement. Yes we do have a cinema five minutes away opposite the retail park. I have seen an Andre Rieu Concert there once, but haven't thought to look for ballet or opera before so I will have to keep my eyes open.

I feel so weary I think I will have a shower next and go to bed. The fitter will be here at 8.00am and it will save me getting up so early if I shower and wash my hair now.

I actually enjoyed the experience Vera, it is good to open your mind to new things. And a plus was it was held in the Pottsville pump room I’m Cheltenham which is a beautiful building we don’t often get to look in.

I would go to a piano recital (I enjoy listening to the piano) if it was of more popular classics but that would be a bit too low brow for Cheltenham festival.
Before we were married we went to several concerts at Portsmouth Guildhall but these were all Traditional Jazz. Chris Barber and Monty Sunshine and other Jazz like Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald.

It's good you enjoyed the concert AnnG. I remember being amazed at how fast the young boy Sum moved his fingers on the Piano programme. It must be wonderful to have a talent that makes it look easy, although how on earth do they remember all the seguence of the notes. Like you say some things you wouldn't want to go to regularly but it's interesting to have a taste of different things. How was lunch? I see we have Emerdale tonight at last.

The men finished early today as the plaster they filled in has to set now. Tomorrow they will put the shower base in and start fitting the wall boards so I'll start to get some idea how it will look then. They fitted a stop switch on the mains for me so if the water needs turning off we just flick a switch instead of struggling to turn those wheel things which won't be easy as we get older. We went out and did a bit of weeding and started sorting stuff to chuck out from the shed and OH has filled a lot of the rubbish bin with things this time. There are a lot of old garden tools that were FIL's that can go in the skip if there's room. Some are big and heavy or worn out and are rusty so we won't use them. I have to watch OH as he is more keen to chuck my stuff out than his. Where the shed is rotting and split round the back, a bird had got inside last year and built a nest on a shelf.

The Magpies were back today, ducking and splashing and trampling the poor Lily in what's becoming their Lido. :-0

I hope you enjoyed the piano recital AnnG, particularly if it’s something new to you. Annx, do you have a local cinema or theatre that might sometimes screen opera or ballet productions? If so, try one. You might enjoy it. Our tiny local theatre sometimes screens productions from venues like Covent Garden or the National Theatre. Tickets are normally about £16 and it’s only a 10 minute drive so well worth it. We used to go to the theatre a fair bit and see musicals, plays, opera and ballet. We were regulars at The Mercury at Colchester but now neither of us drive at night we can only get to the occasional matinee.

Colin must be pleased that his eyes are no worse Mandy. You are getting on well with the blanket already. I’m looking forward to seeing a photo of it when it’s all finished.

I bet you’re gardening today Mel. Take a few rests so you don’t put too much strain on your hip and back. I managed an hour in the garden this afternoon as well but had to come in around 3 pm as I was getting too hot and my back was feeling the strain. At least I got something done out there. OH picked another big bowl of blueberries.

While we were in the garden the window cleaners came and OH asked them to give us a price for giving all the gutters a good clean and cleaning the roof of the conservatory inside and out and one or two other things. We agreed the price so they are coming at 8 in the morning to do it all for us. Then there will just be the walls to be painted.

I had a What’s App video call early this morning from the granddaughter who is going to Hong Kong. I had to call her back once I’d worked out how to use it. She started the call by waving her hand at the camera and that hand is now wearing a very pretty engagement ring. She looked very happy and we are delighted for them both. They won’t marry for a couple of years as they need to save and entertainment is a very precarious profession.

I think it’s now time for a cuppa and I fancy a ginger biccy with mine.

Edit. Sorry AnnG, I somehow missed your last post. Solo piano is not my favourite instrument and 2 hours is quite a long stretch. Maybe try something orchestral next time?

Back from consert and late lunch. The pianist is very taleted, He (I may have said) is Georgian and is only 25, he won the Georgian the voice when he was 13 then went to the Paliashv999 Central music school for gifted children and he has won numerous prizes since.
He is obviously very talented and I can't imagine how he manages to get his hands and fingers to move at such speeds.
I didn't recognise any of the music and probably would not if I wee to hear it again. He played for roughly 2 hours (2 and a half hours but an interval. I enjoyed it as a one off. I don't think I would go to listen to similar music but I would like to hear him play pieces I recognised.
He looked so young, tall and with a mop of long bushy hair T shirt and trousers. I am glad I went.

It's good that there was no change with Colin's eye test Mandy. I know what you mean by chilly as I had to put my fleece on some of the time this morning. There's quite a breeze too so after a few more weeds got pulled I'm waiting to see if the wind drops before I get the weedkiller out to tackle fresh plants of the nasty weed that have sprung up. The post was quick if it's your card wasn't it. OH hides any cards I get till the day. The squares you've knitted sound as if you chose the colours well as you can now see what they knitted up like.

Morning all,
Clouded up here and quite chilly we had to go to the Aces eye clinic for Colins appointment again this will be three times no Glucoma just a slight cataract which they told him all this last time anyway they will see him again in nine months time , I sat and got quite chilly in there as they had the aircon on was glad to get outside but that wasn't much better so was glad to get back in sons car .

Ann that could be my card that was pink with first class stamp , posted it yesterday about half eleven so that was quick .
Yes I've done two squares so far I think it will look nice .

Going to have my coffee we're late having it with going out .

Morning All,

It's quite cool here this morning, but is expected to get hotter this afternoon. I didn't sleep very well as the ensuite door has been taken off as it was in the way, so daylight flooded in early and unsavoury smells were wafting in the bedroom despite the small windows being open! The main toilet pipe has been completely taped up and a bucket put over it, but I tracked it down to another pipe the water meter pipework comes through. I stuffed a polythene shopping bag round that and it was much less then!! Phew!! OH has gone for a walk into the village for the paper again while it's cool. We seem to be getting in each others way in the shared bathroom already, so I don't know how we used to manage before!

Yes, since I saw the beading I was quite keen to do some Mandy and one simple one is nearly finished, so I might get chance do that one today. Have you started the blanket squares yet? Yes, there is fine dust everywhere Mandy and Mel and all through the bungalow as they've had all the doors open! I'll need a damp duster in each hand for a week when they've finished. :-)

It should be interesting to hear the piano recital as something different AnnG. I sometimes wonder whether the piano concerts Fitz goes to might be good to go to, even if it's just once. I have also never been to a ballet or opera. Nice to have a lunch out too. I bet your son is enjoying some lovely views on his cruise. It's such a clear, sunny day.

I wonder what Mel is doing in the garden today? You did well to fix the wire so it at least works, but isn't it annoying when you can't find something. I am hoping to be better organised as we sort things and have a clearout here. I expect you are gradually doing the same as you free up more space.

I had a pretty pink envelope arrive today, so am saving it for the 'day'. :-D Not sure we will be eating out then though looking at the temperatures they expect.