General Chat

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.

Looks like the PC got it wrong Mel. All sorts of charges are going up in April so we'll all have to be careful not to waste.

I hope they are nice F&C AnnG and that you have a nice chat with your friends and a wander round the town.

There were plenty of Camellias at the garden centre but not the one I wanted. They are massively extending it and have put up about 5 huge polytunnels and a large shipping container type building and were working on more still. I did come away with a pack of 9 Violas for the black wall pots for £2.50, pretty yellow with black blotches. They had gardeners delight toms about 5 inches tall, but I resisted as it's too cold yet. I picked my paper up on the way and watched a pair of Jackdaws by the brook. They seemed to be carrying beakfuls of grassy stuff down into the brook before flying off with them. Maybe they were softening whatever they were lining their nest with.

Now I've had lunch I feel more ready for a lie down than getting on with things. Maybe a COT will help.

I'm sitting here looking at the time on the pc and it says 9.20am. I have just looked at the time on Echo and its 11.11am.

Morning girls,

I have been on the phone this morning trying to send this parcel again and I actually did it so thats saved me a trip to the village for the post van and I have just remembered it won't be there today.

Its 7 degrees here and sunny and no wind which is a blessing as its always cold when theres wind or breeze. We did have a frost this morning.

The other thing I did'nt tell you about the pond yesterday was that I started to fill the big pond back up with the well and the well ran out so its use the tap water and thats goingf to cost me. I did a bit yesterday but turne dit off after it had filled about 5 inches and now this morning I have had to turn it on again. As we've had no rain over the last month to speak of it not filling up. I do do some silly things!!!!

Enjoy your lunch Anng and I hope you find something to buy this time out. A bit of retail therapy does you the world of good. You too Annx hope you can find a suitable shrub for the garden.

Morning AnnG and All,

Sunny and 7 degrees here so not very warm. OH has gone to a council meeting and found another suit he can wear, also a new white shirt he hadn't been able to wear, so with grey suit and tie and white shirt looked very smart and how he used to look for his full time job. He is eating more now and hasn't lost any more weight, but now has the flat tummy he used to have when I met him. (I wish I did!!! lol)

I am going to a garden centre out in the sticks that closes through the winter and is owned by another, nearer, smaller garden centre. It is more like the old nurseries with a good stock of shrubs. There is a particular, compact pink Camelia I have seen flowering in gardens just now that I would like to find if I can.

Good morning. dry here and clear sky, quite bright and 2 degrees.I don't think there was a frost though. I slept well again. Bed at 10.30, loo at 1230ish and didn't get up again until 0650.

Meeting friends today at lunch time for fish and chips at 'Ye Olde fish and chip shop' near Gloucester cathedral. Probably a quick look round town before I meet them.

Last day of march. already three months into 2025.

I had forgotten about you seeing a whie pheasant and I was trying to think what the bird was in the photograph. Lovely isn't he/she?

Just been up to put the recycling out and the white pheasent was up the side of my garden behind the old workshop. Another female close behind her so I| went past very slowly and put the bin out and came back and she was on the edge between me and Beccy next. Came back down to get my camera thinking she woul dhave gone by the time I got back up there but she had'nt so I will send the result plus the new toy in the sky and a strange cloud I saw when |I went out to see the drone flying.

I don't think it's that likely to be someone in the close AnnG as most of us are retired, elderly and incapable of lumping mattresses around. The only van in the close is Mr O's and he never uses it other than for his work with the water company. I can't imagine his houseproud wife having stained mattresses either! lol. I used old baking tins as drip trays in the greenhouse once. They eventually went rusty but could be handy to stand plants in when you go on holiday to save as much watering.

You ladies have had some nice Mother's Day gifts and the flowers will be nice and cheery. So the box is put together now then Mandy and ready to use. I like the garden bins as you can often wheel them to where you are working and put stuff straight in them. No having to put bags in the car to go to the tip either.

Mel, BIL will be able to take photos from the drone too, also do videos. :-) It's a nuisance when they change things that were working fine as you say. I expect they must be getting complaints from other customers too so I hope they soon fix it for you.

BIL did'nt stay too long this morning so when they left I decided to do the pond filter. Did my pond and it needed topping up from the well so I turned the pump on and came in to eat. I had done the big pond too and just left it as I knew it would fill the filter and that would be that one done as well. Came in and did lunch and sat and ate it and watched a bit of telly and went out for a ciggy and saw that my pond was full to the brim so turned the pump off and looked in the big pond and it was down about a foot six inches. Changed the pump over to fill the big pond and went round to the filter shed and I had only left the bottom drain tap on. It just as well I went out when I did or they would have only had about thrre foot of water left in their pond. I had checked everything but the bottom tap on the filter which let the dirty water out from cleaning the filter.

Just tried to send another parcel online and it still won't do it it maybe because its the weekend and the banks ar'nt open as they have put a 3D security thing on it now. I did manage to get the three numbers in this time which was an emprovement on the laast time I tried. As Vera said why do the change things when they were working ok before they made changes? If it ain't broke don't mend it.

Ah I see what you mean ann. Yes it needs somebody to report it it doesn't sound very nice. Wonder if it is somebody on your road that dumped them.

You are getting on well with your garden. I find little and often works. My bin is three quarters full but a lot of stuff was taken away by Jake so not in my brown bin.

I sat down the garden with a cup of tea. the sun is nice and it is OK if I can find a sheltered spot as the wind is still very cool.

Mandy that was a nice lot of presents. I am pleased with my flowers and I will probably spend daughter's money on something for the garden.

No they haven't been left outside a house front AnnG. The top of our close on the left just has a long tall fence along the back gardens of the bungalows in the next close and the field hedge is opposite along the other side of the road. I will ring the council if they aren't picked up soon as they are stained and not very nice to see. My word you have been busy with the garden and sorting in the kitchen. I need to replace a shallow round tin that just fits in the microwave and that I use on the conventional oven setting for tray bakes. I got rid of a big heavy tray that came with the cooker a little while ago. I still have some hardly used stainless steel saucepans that MIL had. They are far too heavy for me and I think she hardly used them because they were heavy.

I have done a wash and went in the garden and filled another humper with more shrub prunings. The garden bin is full now but the contents will settle with room for more in a day or two or can be pressed down. OH cut down more of the Bottle Brush and there is only a bit of it left to do now. He also did a half hour walk this morning down the remains of the Fosse Way a short distance away.

I'm waiting for the food delivery now but the hour change seems to have changed the usual delivery time as he's later than usual. Two subs this time and one will go back.