General Chat

Mel's right that's just the sort of thing OH would say Mandy. lol You just get that feeling when they start grinning and you know what the devils are up to don't you. OH made me snigger this morning when I went in the kitchen. He was moving about and what do they call it these days 'throwing some shapes'. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was pretending he was at the disco. I couldn't keep a straight face and I took one look at him writhing about and said ' if you keep that up much longer you'll be slipping a disco'. :-D He couldn't carry on for laughing.

I saw something very strange in a little corner shop the other day. I only pop in there when they've sold all the papers at the usual place. There in a tin on a shelf among other tinned foods was something I have never seen before. Tinned sprouts! Has anyone else ever seen them or even tasted them? I just can't imagine they would be very nice.

Mel I had one of those useless lid removers once as well. It kept slipping off the rounded edges of the lids and drove me mad trying to get it to grip enough. No this one is like a flat bar about an inch wide and the 2 ends can slide in and out and they fit over the edge of the lid each side. You turn the lever on the top which tightens the two ends onto the lid and the harder you turn it the tighter it holds the lid and hopefully turns it.

That's a nuisance about your shower and sounds fiddly to sort out. I imagine those doors are heavy as well.

Is the contraption you are talking about a thing that grips the jar tops with teeth in a ring? I had one of those and it was usless. I have one that fits on the top of jars just under the rim of the lid and I just lift it and it pops the lid so you can open it easily. This one is like useing a knife but much safer.

Bil had lunch with me and took a look at the shower door which has come apart and did'nt do anything about it. Said he could'nt understand it. Looks like trial and error with me doing it again if I can down to put the roller fitting back on and lift the glass doors to get it in the runners.

Mandy that comment Colin made could have come out of the mouth of Annx oh. Its the kind of thing he would say.

Had two big bowls of soup at lunchtime and am not hungry but should eat something so I think I will have a cucumber and salmon roll.

Meant to say the garden is looking really nice now Anng you are getting there and its going to look lovely when you have all your flowers out. I had a look on your blog to see where things have changed.

Lol Ann yes I've had mine a long whole now too but he's getting a little worn at the edges :-D
When we watch the Repair shop at the end they always say 'if you have a treasured procession and would like our help " Colin always looks across at me and smiles and says yes I have a treasured procession but I'm not sure you'll be able to do much with her lol :-D now when they say it I look across and say ' don't " lol

Well we've had a little sun at times through the day but it's been so cold so the fire was lit and we've had a lazy afternoon watching the television.

Afternoon All,

Dry here at the moment but still quite dull and only 1 degree. Like Gwyn I wondered if AnnG was getting the bad weather yet that they are forecasting. I'm glad we haven't got your winds Gwyn. Hubby has checked his match is still on after all the rain we have had in the last few days and it is so he will be off shortly.

Ha ha Mandy, I also have a contraption just like yours too. :-D I've had mine a long time now but it's not very reliable and usually elsewhere when I need it. lol I must have a look for those triangles, but I've noticed some lids have a sort of raised blister in the middle you can press. All I need now is something that will squeeze those bleach bottle tops and other similar tops hard enough to get them off. :-S Will the cat cave be for the family's 2 cats? You might have to make two if this one is a hit with them.

We called at the chemist this morning to collect my prescription and it was closed with no note of a reason on the door and had boxes piled up inside. I hope they aren't moving out as they have my prescription almost ready and were waiting for one item. There's nothing on their website about being closed today either. We'll have to try again on Monday and phone if they are still closed.

Have a nice time with your granddaughter Vera. It was sensible of her to travel this morning instead. Before OH retired he travelled a lot and hated Friday evenings as all the commuters would be going home and there would be a lot of traffic and delays. We have a man at the gate at our tip, but he checks what you are bringing and tells you what numbers of the containers to use. They are all labelled with what you can put in them anyway. We used to have to carry stuff up a slope and lift it high to throw into the containers, which was hard to do, but now the the road has been raised so that the containers are waist high.

Thank you for your photos AnnG. Your garden is really coming on now isn't it. I like how they have curved the slabs in the shed area. It goes well with the winding pathways. You certainly have lots of plants in flower already and by summer with your baskets up too it will all look lovely. :-D

We had a surprise visit from the chap who replaced some of our sealed units before and I was going to ring him next week to see about fitting another unit in the bay window that was smoky as he had measured up a while ago. The weather had been awful so I had left it up to now. He had the unit with him and fitted it and was gone in half an hour so that's another job done.

Two lots of photos sent. Please let me know if you didn't receive them.

Still only 3 degrees, still cloud but a bit brighter and not raining. I have a tesco shop due this afternoon one sub fully acceptable. Pack of courgettes instead of a single one, same price.

Morning girls,

I have sunshine at the moment and it 5 degrees, there's blue sky with white clouds but how long it will lat is anyones guess.

BIL should come today and I have the shop to do so I better get myself in the shower after doing the chickens.

We don't have snow although it is only 2 degrees at the moment. I think the rain was heavy overnight as there are puddles on the patio but since I got up it has been constant drizzle and it is so dark, very depressing, not really like March at all.
One thing brightening the view from my 'office' window is in the garden of a bungalow sort of diagonal to me. (I live five houses down from the end of our road and this bungalow is just down from the corner in the adjacent road.). And from here I can see in there garden a beautiful large camelia bush it is dark pink.

Morning all,
It was frosty when we got up but the suns out so it's all gone now ,just seen the weather forecast and I see Wales and Midlands has snow or snow coming .

Vera I hope you both enjoy your time with your granddaughter today ,much better for her to travel in daylight rather than at night .

Ann I have one of those contraptions for opening jar lids it's called Colin lol and if he can't do it we use a rubber glove , I do prise a knife under the lid until it pops and that makes it easier and some lids have a little triangle printed on to show you where to put the knife .

Anng the two chaps got on well in the garden yesterday getting lots of jobs done for you ,before we know it it will be time to get plants for hanging baskets

This cat cave is like an igloo ,I'm just trying to get it the right size I've done it twice and pulled it out so third time lucky, the first bit on the hoop is ok its getting the back bit right but I won't let it beat me .
I made some sausage rolls yesterday and as we weren't that hungry last night we just had one with some salad for our meal instead of a cooked meal .
Today I'm cooking a piece of gammon.

AnnG
I saw weather pictures from near Bath and Herefordshire and wondered if you and Mel had been affected by bad weather.
We still have wild winds and are due 'light rain' apparently.
It's very localised around here. The proximity to the coast and then a slight rise to lower hills can mean that we have quite a range of conditions within a few miles.

good morning all. very dull and has been raining but it is dry at the moment. Nothing planned today so will see what the day brings.

When the weather improves I will send some.

Thats much better for your granddaughter to come in the morning rather than driving in the dark at least she will be rested after a days work so fresh to start the journey. You'll have a lovely time with her.

Anng we will need some pics of the garden now Jake and his dad have done a lot out there. We won't be able to recognise it or picture it in our minds unless you do.

It was not a nice day here either. Not windy but cold and short bursts of sun then heavy rain. The first hour and a half was dry though. Jake and his Dad worked right through raining or not. I have noticed how they work as a team. Jake does the planning with me then talks to his Dad who, I think knows what can be achieved. Then Jake does the things like cutting down the buddleias, taking down the trellis and cutting out the dead rise branches I have shown him. They both lay the slabs Jake doing most of the heavy lifting. Then and bits of slab to be cut to fit is done by Dad. They do work well together though and Dad takes his orders from Jake but Inthink he has older skills. I gave them a large number of saws if all sizes which were hanging in the garage.they were pleased with those. There are still more jobs on the list for them so I will wait to hear from them.

I hope your granddaughter has a good journey to you tomorrow and that you enjoy the visit.

Good afternoon all

What a horrid day here. Strong winds and really heavy rain occasionally stopping to let the sun through for a short while before starting again. The rain did stop at lunchtime while we were at the tip so we got rid of our rubbish without getting soaked and the wind seems to have dropped a bit now but the weather app is telling me it’s going to be raining again later on. How much more water can the ground take?

I can see the appointment system at the waste disposal centre would be awkward if you had to rely on someone else taking the stuff when they are available but it used to be a nightmare at our tip and now it’s a doddle. Our tip is only a short distance from the town centre but it is up a narrow lane and before the appointment system there would be queues of cars down the lane and chaos if a large van or a farm vehicle tried to come the other way. All Suffolk recycling centres operate the appointment system now but I think it’s often possible to get a slot the same day you book. Our time slot was 12.15. You stop at a point just before the entrance and your number plate is ticked off the list and then you are waved in. If it’s very busy you might have a 5 minute wait but not often. Today we got there a bit early, were waved straight in and were out again by 12.15.

I’m glad the weather was OK for Jake and his dad to make a start on your jobs AnnG. I envy you as we could really do with a general handyman round here. I’m sure he would get lots of work as there are plenty of specialist trades people but it’s difficult to find anyone who can turn their hand to all those odd jobs that accumulate. You asked where we meet for our Thursday coffee mornings. We get together in a Starbucks above the local Sainsbury supermarket. Before lockdown we used to meet in Wetherspoons in town but none of us liked it much as it always seemed a bit grubby and the staff weren’t very helpful. You also had to walk from one of the town car parks which was difficult for a couple of the group. Sainsbury’s has a car park and both stairs and a lift up to Starbucks. It is spacious up there but never very busy and I think the staff are glad of our custom. Sainsbury’s benefits a bit as well as most of us seem to do a bit of shopping while we are there. I know what you mean about not getting to talk to everyone in a big group but the 3 husbands that come sit and chat amongst themselves and the ladies gather in a small circle. Because of the space and the layout It’s easier to do in this particular café than it would be in most.

Sorry you had a bad night Mel and hope you’re not feeling too washed out today. Did you enjoy your pulled pork slice?

Mandy, I am wondering about the cat cave as well. I imagine it as a sort of igloo. Please send us a picture when you have done it.

When I saw the weather this morning I was a bit worried about granddaughter driving down from Yorkshire tonight. She was coming all that way on her own after a day’s work and she has only been driving a few months. However, she rang in her lunch break from work and said she’ll drive down in the morning. She’s planning to start out at about 6.30 am though I’ll believe that when it happens!! I’m a happier bunny now, I won’t spend the evening worrying about her.

OH has just come in from the tyre place he uses having had 2 new tyres fitted and being a great deal lighter in the pocket so he doesn’t look too happy. I’d better go and make him a nice cup of tea with a chocolate biccy to cheer him up.

We've had sun and hail showers all morning and now we have just had sleet with snow in it too and as I type the sun is coming out again.

Sounds like Jake and his dad are getting along nicely with your garden Anng and you have nice new books to read. A good day all round for you then. :-D

I have made a huge pot of nice soup this morning and there's more to add to it later on plus a drop of cream so I hope BIL does come tomorrow or I will be eating soup for a week.

They were working for over five hours and got all the jobs done on the list, including the topper brick cemented back on the wall. They did also agree with me that the wall might have to come down sometime as it has a crack in it. Fortunately it is not a high wall, about a foot high and no children play near it.

It all looks very good or will when it dries out, it has rained quite a bit but they were very good and washed it all down Using my water of course. and they use my electricity as well. but I don't have a trip hazard down the bottom now. and they have taken down the old strip of trellis that holds the rose over the rustic trellis, and put up new, laid a path between the shed and the raised bed with gravel either side, cut down a few dead rose branches, pruned down all three buddleias, filled in under the second arch from the right hand lawn, with two paving stones and gravel, moved the stepping stones in the right hand lawn to a curved line down the centre, . They were here at 0930 had two 20 minute trips out to get more gravel etc and finished at 2.45 so five and a quarter hours without stopping for breaks, drinking coffee as they go. Pretty good for £900. that includes all the gravel, cement , paving stones, trellis etc.

Afternoon All,

What a night for rain and then more this morning till after lunch. We half intended popping to the jewellery shop sale we've bought things at before, but decided to have a cosy lie in instead and listen to the weather outside. It was sunny half an hour ago, but is dull and cloudy again now. OH has to keep draping the newspaper over the radiator to dry. I don't know why they don't push the papers and letters right through the letterbox instead of leaving them hanging out to get wet. It also damages the brushes in the letterbox that seal it from draughts as well.

Yes, where did February go! Hubby still hasn't put all the boxes of Christmas decs back in the loft. To be fair he's waiting till he gets some stuff down for the tip to save so much climbing up there as it is quite narrow wriggling through the loft hatch.

It's good the rain hasn't held Jake and his dad up after all AnnG and that he's making more headway with your garden for you. Those Lovely Buddlias grow fast and can get out of hand.

I've just ordered one of those contraptions for loosening jar lids!! :-)

Jake and his Dad are here. I was doubtful early this morning as it was raining but the sun is shining and they are getingt on well so far. the buddleias are pruned well down to my instruction, the raised block has been removed and replaced and I think they are well into the path by the shed. I have done a wash and walked down to Irene's to take books ang get a few more to read.

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month and all that.

Now where did February go 9 months three weeks till Christmas.

Morning all,

We had so much rain again in the night with it lashing against the bedroom window but we had a bit of sun this morning. Its 6 degrees here and pc says mostly cloudy so that something to look forward to.

I could'nt drop off last night I must have lain there for hours listening to the noise of the rain and wind. My bedroom window is not a good fit even though its double glazed it gets the wind from the west blow in it. I shall have to stick some tape on it. Well I eventually dropped off to be woken at 7am for the loo. Went back to bed and then woke again with cramp in my right leg. The new wheat back did'nt seem to last long as it was cold before my old animal ones. I had it over my hip.