General Chat

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Cloudy here but bright so fingers crossed for some sun later ,shopping day today so just having a cuppa then we'll go early.

Ann hope your knee was OK so you could get to your appointment yesterday.

Gwyn, I'd never heard of the three cornered leek so I had a Google it looks a pretty plant shame its a bit of a garden thug .

Anng I know what you mean about resisting plants ,we went to Roys yesterday for some more compost and they had some pretty begonias ,four in a pack for 4.99 but I've already planted my baskets, I did get a couple of Hardy Fuschias though to go in the garden.

Mel hope your hip is a little easier just take it easy in the garden today .

Vera it sounds as if you had a really lovely weekend with lots of laughing which is the best tonic ,how is OH's eye after his op ,hope it's healing well.

Better have my cuppa before it gets cold .

Good morning all. 8 degrees and fairly bright, looks like just a sloght breeze.

Meeting this afternoon so a tidy round this morning and get the chairs and cups sorted. Only 7 of us expected today.

Granddaughter in law has just said Cassian has his first dentist appointment tomorrow.. even before he has teeth. So good to get them used to going.

Yes Vera I saw that, looking forward to it coming out.

This one's for AnnG: I've just read that a film has been made of The Salt Path and is being released on 30th May. I wonder what it will be like. It stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

(In case anyone's curious The Salt Path and it's sequel are books by Raynor Winn and are based on a particular period in the life of her and her husband. They came up on the old Book Thread and I know AnnG and I both read them.)

Mostly cloudy today. We haven’t seen much sun. It hasn’t felt as cold as yesterday but the wind seems to be picking up again so I expect it will start to feel cooler soon.

I hope your knee is feeling a lot easier now Annx and you got to your appointment OK. Wonderful to see the buzzards. It would be great if you could get a photo. Btw, the plant you mentioned in my wild tulip photos showing the reddish tinged leaves is Epimedium. I can’t remember which variety ours is but it’s evergreen or semi-evergreen with yellow flowers in spring. It’s good ground cover and, although it spreads, it’s fairly easy to control.

Mandy, it’s good that Colin’s glaucoma test was OK. I hope that your son has managed to fix your cistern so it’s not running all the time. It’s great that he lives close and is able and willing to help – it’s payback for all those lovely cakes you make the family.

Mel, be careful with your hip and back and try not to overdo the time you spend gardening. I know you have a big area to deal with but better to do it in small doses than put your hip completely out of action and not be able to do it at all. With your Asda deliveries, can you not go into your account and specify the time you want?

Best of luck with the 3-cornered leeks Gwyn. I can’t recall ever having them in the garden and I’d like to keep it that way.

You’ve been busy in the garden again AnnG. I’m sure it will look tidy for your garden interests group and with more plants potted up I expect it’s looking quite colourful. I need to get out and buy some annuals as I’ve got pleny of troughs to fill.

Well, yesterday was a very busy day for me but I managed to get done everything that I planned to do except for some food shopping. I needed fresh stuff so went out and got that this morning. Since lunch I’ve watered some pots, done a bit of tidying in the garage and done a bi of cooking. I’ve still got some birthday money to spend and while I was out I saw a really nice blouse top with a neckline that I’m comfortable wearing, a sleeve length I like and just the right colour. Did they have my size? Of course not. The smallest they had was a 16. Grrr!

The talk at the Ladies Club last night was interesting and fun. It was Tales of Suffolk Smugglers.

I haven’t told you everything we did while at son’s and I won’t bore you with all of it but Sunday was very nice. It was dull and chilly but we had a leisurely start to the day and dil put a large leg of lamb in to cook very slowly while we were out. We went to something called The Cotswold Distillery where they were distilling and selling whisky at eye-watering prices. However we went for breakfast. Most of us had a breakfast in a brioche bun and it was huge. A very large bun stuffed full of mushrooms, topped with several rashers of crispy bacon and then an egg. I had a smoked salmon bagel which was also large and filled with a lemony cream cheese, an enormous mount of smoked salmon and lots of pea shoots. It was yummy.

From there we went on to Stratford on Avon. Of course it was very busy and full of tourists but we found a super market full of quirky craft and food stalls and that was fun to wander around for a while. Then it was back for our roast lamb. Just after that 2 of our granddaughters separately face-timed so we got to speak to them as well. We finished the evening with a game of Farkle (I think that’s what it was called). It’s a dice game that’s a combination of luck and strategy. In the last year or two OH has become a bit slower at remembering and catching on and kept saying he hadn’t got a clue what he was doing but he laughed so much he was nearly crying. Would you believe in the last throw of the game he had an amazing piece of luck and ended up the winner which made him laugh even more. It was good to see him so happy and enjoying family time so much.

I’ve gone on a bit again so I’d better stop before you all get a headache. Fingers crossed for a good night’s sleep for all of us and a nice, warm, sunny day tomorrow.

Just spent an hour out in the garden filling pots and planting up the 3 plants I bought yesterday. Had to be very strong and resist buying any of the colourful plants we saw at the G Centre.

Think I need new runner bean seed and dwarf bean seed as there's nothing coming up so I think the seed is too old.

Morning girls,

Nice bright morning here today and it says partly sunny on the pc and 13 degrees. Dos'nt look like much breeze at the mo but that could change later on.

Have to find out if its today or tomorrow at Stu's this week.

My back or side, left, is playing up I don't think it like this gardening lark after a winter of rest. I shall carry on though when I can.

Going back to sticks I have one Iv'e had for years, since 1973 when I moved into our bungalow. It was there and its very plain wood with a very comfortable flattish knob on the top. OH also bought me a walker like his one but mine dos'nt have breaks you can put on only like a byke you can use the brakes to slow you down or stop. They are great and you have so much confidence with them. I use it round the houise too when its needed. I still have oh's outside and go up the garden with it. YOu can walk so much better with a walker chair and if you need to sit its there in front of you. I always think of mum when we used to go shopping saying she would push the trolly because she could walk better with that but she would'nt have a walker at home only one supplied by the age concern people when she had a bad leg.

Side of my back still giving me pain so see how I get on today may give gardening a rest don't know yet.

Morning All,

You are an early bird AnnG. I slept well last night and OH was up sooner than me and came to fetch me to see a Buzzard on top of the tall hedge in the field. He said it had been chasing a Heron a few minutes earlier which may have picked a frog or something out of the overgrown pond the other side of the hedge. I managed to get a photo or two but it was hard to keep the camera steady enough at that distance. It's a good idea to have a stick handy when you go out AnnG and I think people are more careful not to bump into you if they see a stick which is good if you think you might be a bit unsteady. It can also take a bit of weight off a leg you feel is unreliable at the time!

A shower next being careful of the knee. Hopefully I will manage to go to the solicitors appointment with the gel rubbed in as I don't want to have to cancel it. A pile of post came yesterday, so I will be sitting doing admin this morning. The sky is looking very overcast.

Good morning all only 4 degrees here but it was a chilly start yesterday and ended up being a lovely sunny day. Trouble was, there was a very cold wind until it dropped later in the afternoon. It is bright this morning (still only 0715) and there doesn't seem to be much wind so fingers crossed I can just get some more tidying jobs in the garden. I always like to get it tidy the day before the garden interests meeting which is tomorrow.

Ann I keep one of my sticks by the front door so I can grab it before I go out if I think I am going to need it. I still sometimes think it necessary when I walk down to Irene's. And still sometimes I take my folding stick in my bag when I go shopping. It gives me confidence to know it is there if I need it. My legs seem ok one day and then may be achy the next. I assume that is down to age.

Mel is the time of your order already in there or do you have to enter it every time as I do with my Tesco order? Could be a glitch or a computer update changed it in error. Have you managed to get it sorted?

Yes Gwyn the field with all the May blossom out looks lovely at the moment. It is an old ridge and furrow field and we fear it could be built on before much longer. The next field to it at our right will be the start of where they are to build some huge, very tall depots. Once they are built, the remaining field at the back of us will be vulnerable. I've never seen three cornered leeks, but they sound a bit invasive.

There's nothing worse than waiting around for someone to call Mel as you can't do much till they do. Our Asda delivery is usually at the earliest time of the slot, but it has been late a few times. It sounds like you need the mower and trailer to cart away your efforts with the brambles! It sounds as if you are making some impact on them though, but the barrow can't be easy to push with a flat tyre. I hope your hip is improving a bit now.

OH went to his second school meeting since January tonight and had a very warm welcome and the Head got him a comfy seat to help his back.

Mandy I thought about using one of my Nordic walking poles if needs be. I don't have a stick, but one of the poles collapsed down a bit would help if the knee starts to give way. It is a bit better now with resting it and if I walk slowly and carefully round the house, so fingers crossed I may be ok to walk into the solicitors as we can park on their front outside the door usually. I did one of the balance games on the Wii at the weekend, as they are supposed to strengthen your knees, but I think it may have been a bit too much for mine at the moment while they were still recovering and made them worse. It's a good idea to have a stick though, as you never know when you might need one, so I think I'll get one of those folding ones.

It's a nuisance when toilets keep running but it sounds like your clever son will have it fixed soon. I bet you were both glad Colin's test was ok, but the next appointment is a long one isn't it, so a good idea to make good use of waiting for him by taking your crochet with you.

Oh gosh Gwyn have you got that three cornered leek thing like Kate Humble had in her garden it took over her veg patch. You can eat it you know, I think it has a garlicy smell if its the one I am thinking of.

Just come in for a drink. I have been cutting out the brimbles from the climbing hydranga down at Prickley Bottom. They come in from next doors field. I have a barrow piled high with them but had to come in for a drink. Its not so far to walk than up the border. and easier to get it to the bonfire down here. The only thing is the barrow has a flat tyre.

Well done to your grandson, Ann. He had a very good time and raised a lot of money.

Annx Thank you for the lovely picture of the cows.They look fine beasts, but I would be wary too of such strong animals.What a lovely scene to look out onto.
I do like cows in general particularly the faces of the Jersey ones- such lovely characters.

It sounds as if you had an interesting and enjoyable time with your family, Vera. I hope you have caught up with at least some of your sleep now ;-)

Mel, It's horrid when you feel you've missed out on a day because you've been waiting around. I hope you manage to get your extra shopping soon and that in the meantime your pain eases.
I was gardening for a couple of hours on Sunday with no ill effects, then today the slightest exertion seems like a great effort :-S
I was really pleased to have got so much in the garden bin, while the ground was dry and indeed I think we had a slight shower Sunday night, but nothing to speak of and the ground is so cracked and dry.
The bin was emptied today, so ready for me to wage war on the rest of the 3-cornered leeks and invading ivy :-|

I waited and waited for my delivery today. It came at 2.18pm. I asked why they were so late and they said that was the time it was for between 1pm and 3pm. I said it sould have been 11am till 1pm but when I looked on the pc it is down as 1pm to 3pm and it was last week too. Now I am wondering if its to do with the bank holiday or is that the time it is going to come every week now? Its not conveinient having it later as I was going to go out this afternoon for chickens food and some other bits I can't get from Asda but by the time it came it was too late and I seem to have wasted the whole day now and not even been up hte garden yet. I have tried to ring Asda with the phone number on the site but it said that number was discontinued so I rang another one which you have to pay for and hung on for 4 mins and then hung up. I also tried to message them but they did'nt put up what my querie was and no box to add a reply. Thoroughly frustrated now.................. :-(

Poor Ann I know just how you feel as I have had hip trouble with a lot of pain over the last two days and I use the gel too. I wondered if it was stretching over to pull out weeds up the border of something like that standing at funny angles to reach and cut the brimbles. I must remember to use my two pronged fork oh made me whih I use to dig or as a walking stick in the border or for balance. It really is the best gardening tool I have so I am glad I broke off one of the side tines and he too the other side off and bought me a new border fork.


Good idea to take some crochet to the hosp appointment Mandy as you can get on with that while you are waiting for Colin to be seen. I used to take my Country Mag with me to mums appointments.

That was a good amount of money raised by your granson Anng for Alzheimers.

Afternoon all,

Cloudy day with the odd shower ,keeps brightening up then clouds over again .

Anng well done to your grandson for finishing the marathon with a good amount raised for charity too .

Ann I hope your knee soon feels better ,have you got a stick you could you it would just take a bit of the strain from your knee and help to steady you ,you don't want to be going down .

Son came this morning to sort out the upstairs loo it needed a new bit in the cistern as the water kept running after flushing ,he had a look to see what bits he needed and then went off to screw fix to pick them up started doing it and then decided he needed another bit so off he went again came back but he had trouble with one bit so he'll be back on Thursday to finish it ,the time was getting on and he wanted to shower and have some lunch before going back to work .

I can't remember if I said that Colin heard back about his glocoma test which was OK but he needs to go back for them to check his cataract now as they thought that was affecting the glocoma result so he's got an appointment in about a fortnight's time ,this time it's a two hour appointment, think I might take my crochet to pass the time .

Afternoon All,

It was really dull earlier but is sunny now but still chilly. We went to Costa for a coffee and an egg and spinach cob, then went across to Sainsbury's over the road to see if the Timson's there cut keys for the new front door barrel as we need more spares. They do the ones we have but have run out till Thursday so we will have to go back. I still can't get my head round a spare door key costing £26 now! We need 2 more. We bought spare keys costing as much for the first lock on the front door that after 18 months faffing about with adjustments needed the barrel replacing as we originally thought, so it is an annoying expense again when the fault wasn't ours. On the way out of Sainsbury's my right knee seemed to give way and I hobbled to the car with it aching like mad. We called at the little shop next and I got out of the car, walked a few steps and got back in the car again and OH had to get what we needed. I will just have to rest it today, as we have a solicitor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, so I hope it will be a lot better by then. I've smeared some Ibuprofen gel on it as I can use the gel but can't take the tablets.

I'm glad you had a lovely time Vera and it seems your son has moved to another very nice area and possibly a bit nearer distance to you. It is weird that our emails to each other are going into spam isn't it? I love to see Highland cows too and they seem a calm and gentle breed, but we rarely see any here. We mostly have Herefords and Holsteins. Just up the main road on the way to the shop I use most is a farm with lovely Jersey cows and also Guernseys and I like those. I'm not keen on the big, brutish Charolais we have round here they raise for beef. It's good your plants have survived ok and I found toms soon start growing with some warmer weather so they should soon be ok with the warmer weather that's on it's way.

As I replied AnnG well done to your grandson and great he has earned some money for Alzheimers too. What a lovely smiling photo memory of the day too.

Mel I read the other day that Asda tops the list of supermarkets sending subs, but you don't seem to get that many which is good. Have the Robins hatched yet? I want to check whether the Magpies are still feeding chicks or whether the Buzzard has been back. I doubt he'll leave it now he knows they are there.

Well, as I can't get on with much with this knee I might get my paints out and practice a few effects on some scrap paper after lunch. Thank goodness I did a meal in the slow cooker I can just heat up and add rice.

Yes he raised over £300 for Altzeimers. And I have sent the photo out now.

Morning girls,

Just caught up with the posts from yesterday as I did'nt check before turning the pc off last night.

Sunny morning here and 9 degrees and the shopping comes today with two subs. One is ok which is loo rolls and they have sent mega ones instead of standard but the other is baby potatoes which I usually have the extra special ones and they have sent firm and flavoursome ones which I have never had. Don't know whether to send them back or not???

I did say I loved the pics of the cows Annx they look well looked after and nice and clean.

Glad your home safe and sound and hope you had a better nights sleep on your own Vera. My oh used to snore even if he was on his side but I got used to it and it was quite comforting. It was the telly on I could'nt stand. I don't have that problem now as I don't even know how to turn the telly on in the bedroom never have never will.

Your grandson did well doing the marathon in 4 hours fifteen mins then. was he sponsered? and did you send out a pic as I hav't had one.

Not dressed yet so better get on incase the shopping cmes early.