General Chat

Morning All,

More sunshine and a blue sky! :-D

Vera I hope you manage to get an alternative tablet. That's awful having to do all that chasing and still being left four days without. I hope you get a more relaxing day today. OH collected his meds this morning and has to go back for four of them tomorrow. At first they said he was owed two, till he told them it was four. Fingers crossed they will be all be there tomorrow.

That is good advice re carbs AnnG and it will help that a heart healthy diet is also good for diabetes. I was lucky to learn quite a lot about diabetes with attending the two studies at the diabetes research centre and then being a member of their forum group for a few years. One thing I learned from one of the studies was not to sit for ages without standing up! In the study we had to compare sitting all day with a day where we stood up for 5 minutes every half hour. In my case blood sugar levels dropped 40% on the day I stood up. Apparently the act of standing up means that glucose in your blood is taken up by the large thigh muscles. The effect lasts into the following day too. (I must get back into the habit of doing it more and remind OH as well). I also have a book called The Glucose Revolution that OH bought me. It explains that carbs in different foods may release glucose into the bloodstream at different speeds too. It has charts of carbs and charts of their glucose load. I must have another read of it. Neither of us add sugar to drinks or cereal and have yoghurt and orange juice with no added sugar, we already have wholemeal bread and wholegrain rice and eat lots of veg and salad. OH has now cut out biscuits, but I, like you have a weakness for chocolate, but am trying to stick to the 90% one that I can't eat much of! Jacket potatoes have more carbs than other potatoes, so we can just have small ones now and having salad with them helps. I've already suggested to him your good idea you do with your daughter to share a treat between you and he liked the idea. Often when you eat out it can be difficult to find what is healthier.

You are right about the temperatures as it's been really chilly in the evenings. I still have my fleece throw on the bed.

I hope you get on well with the fence painting today Mandy, but mind your back. Does Max come to watch you and snooze like Monty Don's dog? It's good those potholes are getting filled in where you fell and I wouldn't be surprised if others had had accidents with them too. Like everywhere though, they take ages to get round to filling them.

I hope you get sorted with your parcel today Mel. It sounds like they have made a right mess of what was working fine before.

OH seems like a different person since he had the good news this last week. He's just been for a half hour walk. Since losing weight his pants are falling down (sorry if that's TMI) so we went to M&S down the road. He couldn't remember what size he is wearing so we had to hide behind a rail to check the waistband. (why can't men remember these things?). Anyway, we are going back another day after I've measured his waist to get the right size! We've not been there since they did a big refurbishment and it is unrecognisable now and has a cafe twice as big where we had decaf skinny lattes.

I'm off to do some more cutting back in the garden now.

Just re-reading a bit after reading Mandy's post re your OH ann. sorry I should have said it is good that he has been discharged and doesn't need the defibrolater fitted. regarding improving his blood sugar levels. I am sure that to do that you don't need to concentrate on actual sugar but carbs. If he can cut out the veg that is high carb and also cut down on sugar in things you but, that will help a lot. If he has to have sugar on cereals etc a good alternative is either 'half spoon' sugar or candarel sugarly (which I use sparingly). The hard thing for me which I don't stick to is cutting out chocolate and biscuits etc.

Mandy good to get the shop out of the way. Now you can concentrate on the fence.

Mel, sounds like you have a swimming pool in your garden.

Morning all,

Nice sunny day here not sure if there was a frost as we were a bit later getting up

That was good you had a better night's sleep Anng , yes I bet there's a lot of people caught out with getting plants out early ,I noticed yesterday a lot of people in shorts, still a bit nippy for them I would have thought as it was chilly in any shade with the wind .

Mel hope you can get your parcel sorted today, I've been sneezing the last few sdays which reminds me I must take my hay-fever tablet.

More painting to do on the front fence today ,we did our shopping yesterday as they are doing the pot holes in the market place ,about time as that's why I when down and broke my wrists because of the pot holes ,it will mean all the traffic going round another way so will clog up the roads ,its taking rwo days so we shopped early this week.

Vera hope you can get your tablets sorted and they can find some for you ,not good for your poor head all this stress.

Ann thats very good news that OH has been discharged he must be pleased about that and the fact that he doesn't need to have the defibrillator fitted ,a little bit of weight lifted off his shoulders, well both your shoulders . <3

Good morning all, sunny and bright this morning but Alexa is saying it is 3 degrees. Very large differences at the moment between ight and day temperatures. There will be a lot of young plants not happy to be put out in the garden at the moment. sold in garden centres and people not realising. It is very tempting I am not sure they would survive even in my unheated conservatory.

I slept well last night so that was good and much needed. Nothing planned for today, a bit more tidying in the garden I think.

Morning all,

Frosty start again today and its 6 degrees and pc says mostly cloudy but the suns coming up as I type. We'll see how it turns out later on.I aam in such a muddle with this latest parcel and I have to send it today.

Must get it sorted. Hope you all slept well last night I have woken with a bit of a sore throat and have been sneezing.

As long as it works Mel stick with it.
Vera I hope that you get a good nights sleep and can shake the headache. And hopefully you can have a couple of stress free days.

Washing all dried well today so I brought it all in and ironed it. Its now on the airer in front of the rad so if I put te heating on it should air ok there.

I did remember to turn the hose off to the pond and it still realy needs a drop more but that shall have to be another day now.

I take one pill in the morning with my coffee and one at 1pm with a glass of water and then do lunch and take two more and an evening primrose capsule and the other one at night with dinner and a joint ace. I find this works for me.

Hallo all

Just a fleeting visit from me today as I am on my way to bed with another bad head. This last week has been quite stressful and it doesn't seem to be getting any better, so I think it's stress causing my headaches at the moment. It hasn't helped not having one of my tablets for 4 days. Trying to get hold of it has so far meant 3 visits to the pharmacist that handles my prescription and 2 phone calls and a visit to the doctors' surgery. Now the pharmacy team at the surgery are trying to source an alternative tab for me and I have to ring them again in the morning. Wish me luck!

I hope you get a decent night's sleep tonight AnnG. Good night all. .

Afternoon All,

Lovely sunshine again but it was really chiily when I went out this morning. The mattresses have gone now!! The Jackdaws were back again in the next village and it might have been another pair as they were collecting big twigs. One picked up a twig that was too heavy and crash landed! The butterfly has been back on the white flowered shrub too. I've hung the wall pots with the Violas by the front door and they smell lovely now.

Gwyn I have two pills in the morning so put a glass of water at my bedside the night before and take them before I get out of bed. That way I don't forget. One of mine doesn't absorb easily in the presence of some food, but I have never been a fan of breakfast, so I often don't eat for a couple of hours after taking it. The same tablet means an annual blood test with a 12 hour fast before it, so that's easier to do overnight. My evening pill is the other half dose of one of the morning ones, as I get less side effect that way, but food doesn't affect that one, but the glass of water means a toilet visit in the night!

OH has been to see the cardiologist for his last results and they are so pleased with him they have discharged him, and he doesn't need to have a defibrillator fitted. He does need to improve his blood sugar levels though. He is sleeping better now but I had to get up to take paracetamol at 2.00am. I hate the nights when I don't sleep at all AnnG, so sympathise with how you feel today. Hopefully you will sleep better tonight. I can understand it being hard work getting a room ready for family to stay, as everything we do takes longer and takes more out of us as we get older. It's fine if there's an extra room used just as a guest room, but then the room is wasted and not used a lot of the time. It will be nice to see them though as you say. I hope your boosted wifi will be ok now.

Mel that pond is needing a lot of water to top it up! Don't forget to switch the water off when it's full will you. You seem to get less subs than we do for some reason.

OH was telling me about something he'd heard to do with 'working from home'. Apparently a man had three mobile phones on his desk as he was working from home for three different companies! He'd answer one and said he'd let the other phones ring as it would give the impression to the person he was speaking to that he was in a busy office and not at home. The subject came up because I was telling OH how many working age people, including couples, there were now walking dogs or jogging mid morning in the week.

Where did you swim?

I did just wander down the garden. Must be my week for things collapsing. After the under oven shelf yesterday and the day before . Just now I walked down the garden and there is a make shift shelf by the plastic greenhouse which had ceramic pots on it. Two fewer now as two had fallen (slid down) the shelf and smashed on the path. They were heavy ones too but not the really big ones medium/small. I have put the pieces in a polythene bag and in the general waste bin but I am not sure I should do. It means the bin is heavier than usual
Just had a delivery by yodel. Good job I was in Cynth spotted him leaving it on the doorstep. It is a small folding garden table. really pleased with it.

The first morning after changing the clocks, I do adjust the timing of my morning medication by roughly half an hour, then the following day, I take it at that day's 7 a.m or thereabouts, so that I am back on track.
Mel, it could be quite important to take your medication at the set time.
Do you need to take them with food? I think you've said you don't eat breakfast?

My 1st medication of the day, I take with the drink of water I have beside me overnight and even before I get up to put the kettle on.
A different tablet has to be taken with food, so that gets taken with a light breakfast and then I'm done for the day.
Someone I know, who takes an identical 2nd tablet to mine, takes hers in the evening, but I might be at a meeting, out with family or at a quiz, so taking it in the morning suits me better. As long as it is taken at a more or less regular time each day, it's OK to have different times.

Beautiful sunshine all day here, but a chilly quite strong breeze is blowing.

Gardens are starting to look very colourful, but I was surprised to see bluebells showing their colour in March, which seems rather early. They are the Spanish ones, of course, but I look forward to seeing the native ones in the woods before too long.

Strange I don't find it difficult at all with the clocks changing. I immediately go to the new times and forget the old.
Dom cam earlier and fitted a powerline link (TP network) to boost my Wffi. It does seem to be working so that is OK.

Shopping came and I was putting that away when the postman came for a parcel. Did a wash. Had another chat with Ebay agent about the sending of invoices and its been going on for over a month now.

Fed the fish and the girls and just put the washing on the line. Its really windy here so it should dry quickly.

Have the hose going in the pond again and it should be full by tonight.

Hungry now and I forgot to take my morning pill so will now take it after I have taken my 1 o'clock one.

Stil;l trying to get used to the right times for everything when the clocks have sprug forward it throws me all out.

I was not conciously thinking of anything much Mel but it might have been in my mind I suppose. So far I have showered, put a washing load in and had breakfast of yoghurt and blueberries and read the Mail on line. Now going to have a coffee.

Glad you had a good night anyway.

Morning all pinch and a punch and all that. well that the first quarter of the new year gone by I wonder what the rest will bring?

Its quite brightish and 8 degrees and pc says mostly sunny.

Sorry Anng but I slept really well last night after my outing to Holsworthy and walking round everywhere. I think you may have this up and coming visit on your mind and thats why you could'nt sleep last night. I slept till 7am without a break and a visit to the loo and then lay for a bit and then got up.

Shopping arrives today and no subs which is good but they were out of stock on my Aberdeen angus burgers which I like with new pots and broc.

Good morning all. For the first time in ages I had one of Vera's nights last night. I actually think, if I slept at all, I only had one hours sleep. I feel exhausted already this morning. I was up at various time during the night walking around to see if it would help me sleep when I got back into bed but it didn/t. so I won't be doing a lot today Why is it when you can't sleep you lay for ages forcing your eyes to stay slosed, yet when you get up you have to struggle to keep them open?
Hope eveyone else had a good night anyway.

Talking of Grandchildren staying Vera, yes, lovely to see them but I do prefer it when they don't stay over night. Just looking round this craft room of mine, there is so much that is going to have to be moved out. Daughter's boys always used to sleep in here but that must be going back over 20 years. And T was here then to help clear things. It is, in one way, good that it will only be one night, but a lot of work for one night.
Makes me sound a real misery, but they will be very welcome when they come

I have been to Holsworthy this afternoon to tke the library books back and get some peanuts for the birds. I wanted to get one of those touch weeder things with the gel in them but Mole Valley don't do them anymore so I just got bird seed. Did that first and then the library and then I thought I would have a ook at the chippy to see if it was open and it was so I bought myself senior fish and chip and it was well worth the money as it filled me up to the brim. Was a good girl and only went in those three places.

The pond still not full and Iv'e had the hose running all day goodness knows what its done to my water bill.

I have seen a lot of ladybirds about in the garden recently and todya I had a Brimstone butterfly and a Peacok one. Last week I had Brimstones and a big white one and there seems to be a lot of huge bumble bees about so spring is definately in the air. My tete e tete in the little troughs are just going over now and I always think its sad when they start needing their heads cut off. The tub with the clematis in outside the bungalow has one mas of blue Sillsa all over it and some of the big snowdrops are out in them too. I thought I had dug them all out as they take sucha long while to die down but they could have come from seed I suppose and they are a welcome site. Its been a really beautiful day here today and Ishould have done more in the garden but was a bit too achey which is why I went out instead. I did pull the d ead clematis out of the gazebo roof this morning and the clematis is growing again .

I pulled the stone slab up on the way down the steps on Saturday as it has moved with all the earth that goes between the tiny gaps and BIL put it back down for me but its a bit high on the front of it and may trip me so it will have to come up again and be leveled.

Right going to make myself a nice cup of tea now and watch a bit of telly.

A really beautiful day here again. There’s a bit of a breeze but nothing like yesterday’s wind. All the washing is hanging out and may be nearly dry by now. After I had changed the beds and done all the washing I managed to get a little bit more done in the garden and OH did some tidying and pruning on a strip alongside our garage. We can’t see it from our house but we try to keep it nice as it looks better as you come up the Close and it’s a better outlook for the bungalow opposite. It’s a wonder that anything grows there as there is only a small amount of topsoil on top of a load of rubble but we put in some small shrubs a few years ago and it doesn’t look bad.

I laughed at your daughter’s phone skipping a day Gwyn. Has it caught up with itself yet or has it moved on to April already?

I see you couldn’t get the shrub you wanted Annx but got some pretty violas. It’s awful to hear about the fly tipping. If someone can use a vehicle to dump the mattresses somewhere, you’d think they could drive to the tip with them. As AnnG says, most councils will take them away for a fee but it can be quite costly. Ours charges £59.50. It is true that they will take up to 5 items for that but it’s a lot of money if you only have 1 thing to dispose of. We have to make an appointment for our tip which most people locally prefer, including us, but I suppose that might be too much of a bother for some people and they would rather tip their rubbish anywhere. In fact, I’ve just made an appointment for us to go on Friday with a load of rubbish.

Oh dear Mel, I bet you were annoyed at leaving that drain tap on and having to top up all the pond water. Good job you found it when you did. We all have these senior moments when we get distracted and forget to do something. I seem to be having more and more of them. I’m glad you managed to get your parcel sorted out. Thanks for the pictures you sent. I love the cloud. Do you think the pheasant is an albino or do you think she is from an ornamental breed that is normally white.

It sounds as though you had a nice few hours in Gloucester AnnG. It’s always an upheaval when grandchildren visit and we all feel exhausted when they leave but isn’t it lovely to see them. I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.

You’ve been busy in the garden Mandy. I hope your thumb isn’t very sore. Those tiny injuries from thorns and splinters can be quite painful sometimes. Enjoy your roast. In fact your post reminded me to get a move on and get my washing in and get cooking as I’m supposed to be making us a tuna quiche. At the rate I’m going we’ll be eating it at midnight.

EDIT: Now I’ve had a senior moment. I meant to say thank you for your anniversary wishes and forgot. Your good wishes were much appreciated.

Afternoon all,

Lovely sunny day again its lovely in the sun but in the shade the wind is a bit on the nippy side ,we've been in the garden most of the morning ,we just nipped out first thing as Colin had his rsv injection, bit late going in but there was hardly anyone in there we are suppose to be getting two new doctors as a surgery just on the edge of town is finishing and 4000 patients are being divided between our surgery and another where dil use to work so the new doctors are needed ,it's hard to get an appointment now so with 2000 more patients the doctors are badly needed .

I did a bit of digging and weeding and cut some dead out of the big rose ,I got a thorn in my thumb so stopped then as it was nearly lunch time .
Got the bedding all dry on the line and I've remade the bed ,we're having our roast today so I've had that to sort out too .

Ann it sounds as if that garden centre is going to be a big one soon which will mean the prices will go up , I love the little violas and pansies too they are like little faces bobbing in the wind .
I have some tiny daffs smaller than the tete tete is that spelling right ,oh you know which ones I mean ,I bought them from roys last year and they are so small I must look for some more but I never kept the name of them .

Just having a cuppa ,Max has been sprawled out enjoying the sun but is now in the conservatory on the rug .

Good afternoon. Had a good day in gloucester. Managed to find a pair of Cargoe trousers in the size the M&S cheltenham disn't have last week so that is good. After a wander round the shops I went and sat in the Cathedral gardens in the sun as I was a bit early for lunch. Lots of people in and around the cathedral, the grounds attract the shop workers with their packed lunches and there was a long crocodile of 5-7 year olds came in allwearing high viz waistcoats. They made for a large patch of grass next to the cathedral and all sat in two rows to eat their packed lunches. so sweet, lovely to see. fish and chips was good three of us opted for the small cod this time and it was plenty enough for me as there was loads of chips.

I have just heard that on the Saturday after next my eldest Grandson is coming for two days bringing the two boys. It is an upheaval to clear this room to get to the bed but He will help when they get here as I can't do it on my own. It will be chaotic but nice to see them.