General Chat

Memories Vera, Yes I remember that your brother’s funeral was just before Tony’s. We didn’t have snow but it was very cold and it is so sad to remember the few people we were allowed to have were not even allowed to be offered a hot drink. What a horrible time that was making the loss of someone so much worse. And I still wonder if it was necessary. Monday is the third anniversary of Tony’s funeral. Hope all has gone well for Joan today.

Ah you have jogged a memory of the desk with a lid that my dad made for me. Didn’t we have good dads in those days. I guess it was easier to make those things than buy them and my dad continued to do the same for my two children.

Mel I wonder if the book with the swans on the cover was Hand Anderson illustrating the Ugly Duckling?

Yes, it is interesting hearing about other people’s presents. I do remember having a china teaset when I was about 4 and my Dad made me a desk with a sloping lid when I was about 6. I often got board games and books. When I was young I had the Mary Mouse books, fairy tales from the brothers Grimm and Hans Andersen and my favourites were the Rupert annual and Alice in Wonderland. I don’t remember getting Enid Blyton as presents. I wasn’t really a dolly sort of girl but I had a teddy and a gollywog. That would be a no-no these days but to me it was just another cuddly toy. Quite often I would get clothes. I had an aunt who was only 6 when I was born and a great aunt by marriage treated us like sisters and bought or made us identical clothes. I remember a lovely tartan skirt with crossover straps when I was about 4 and one year we both had astrakhan gloves. That was a definite step up from our usual hand knitted ones. Happy memories :-)

It’s been raining and chilly all day. 3 years ago today was my brother’s funeral and it was snowing and icy and we wondered if we would even get there. I will never forget my son and dil driving nearly 250 miles in awful conditions, attending the 25 minute service and then driving all the way back again as lockdown meant we couldn’t even give them a meal. I’ve been thinking of Joan (Amakovid) in Scotland at her husband’s funeral today and hoping she isn’t having to battle the weather on top of everything else.

This morning we went for our Thursday coffee get-together with friends. I can’t believe how quickly Thursday comes around. There were only 6 of us today. We had lunch and I did some ironing and now I am waiting for a Tesco delivery. They are supposed to be here between 5 and 6 pm. I think I’ll go and make a cup of tea before they come. I might even spoil myself with a dark chocolate digestive as I’ve had a double pack hanging around since Christmas.

Oh yes, jogged my memory Mel. Little women, *****men and Jo's Boys loved all of them.

I'm back from the docs with a clean bill of health blood pressure wise and she took a whole armful of blood. I also picked up the script they can't leave down the shop as its a controlled drug. Its my Codine patches. Thought I would take them and see if they help with the sciatica.

I had Grimes Fairy Tales and Heidi. Can't remember if I had Black Beauty but I think I st have done being horse mad and I had Little Women. Were there two books of the Grime series? I can remember seeing pics of swans in one. I have never been able to find out what that book was I had that was all in black drawing with only red colouring but I still remember my dad reading it to me with the best part:- Up and up went the big red lorry off fell the pots and pans". I can still see the picture in my head of the lorry going up a hill with all the pots and sauspans falling into the road. Its strange the things you remember from childhood is'nt it. I was an only child so no sibling at all but I think at one time mum and dad thought about adopting as I can remember dad asking me if I would like a brother or sister. They never did in the end.

I am now going to make myself a nice COT to have with a very naughty chocolate eclair ooooooozzzing with cream.

So interesting to hear about your early toys.
One of my first must have been my Teddy, but it was unusual as it was made from sheepskin. I don't know how old I was, but pre two and a half because that was when my sister was born. In later years, when I asked Mum why Ted's fur was so thin on his back, I was told that I used to put him on my shoulder and rub his back, as I saw Mum doing with baby sister.
Another toy was Sarah-Jane, a doll with a cloth patch face and an all-in-one body covered with blue normal Teddy type of fur. She was a firm favourite and I was really upset when Mum. thinking I'd 'outgrown' her gave her to the Scouts for their jumble sale. Sarah-Jane was named after an elderly lady who gave her to me, together with a lovely wooden dropside dolls cot. The lady had been very kind to Dad, as a boy and I think in turn we children were almost like grandchildren to her.

No china teaset for me, but I still have a very pale blue plastic? teaset from about 1950. The pot is rather tall, more like a coffee pot and that has a large crack in it, but the cups are all intact. We used to have tea parties out in the garden and if Mum gave us small cheese biscuits or iced gem biscuits to share we thought it was wonderful.

Another well-loved toy was a homemade 'Village Stores', which consisted of a wooden box with hinged flaps so the top lifted up and a large side opened up as a counter. With our toy cash register, weighing scales and little glass jars like spice jars, but full of Tom Thumb drops or other tiny sweets, we had hours of fun.

I had loads of Enid Blyton but not Noddy I think he came later. In my stocking I used to have the little Mary Mouse books I had all the five and seven books (EB) then went on to school stories, Black Beauty and I was a fast reader and Mum would get annoyed when I read a book quickly and finished it. I had Rupert annuals then School Friend. I was never without a book and joined the penny library when I was quite young. I used to be given lots of Bible story books as presents. that was ok I liked them.

Morning All,
It's only 3 degrees here, but at least there's no snow yet for our trip to the hospital.

I also had a home made doll's house one Christmas with lights run from a cycle battery. I enjoyed making things for that.

I've been trying to think of my first books now and the earliest I can remember was bought by my grandmother, a Ladybird book, The Wise Robin. Strangely I was given the same book shortly after by my school, a prize I think for an entry we each did to a children's radio essay competition. At Christmas I would get Annuals like The Beano and Dandy. (as much for dad to read I think!) but I still have a Cinderella Disney Book with lovely illustrations. I would be bought things like Grimm's Fairy Tales, the scary Toby Twirl Adventures, Black Beauty, What Katy Did, Heidi and Nicholas Thomas the Kitten. Strangely no Winnie the Pooh or Enid Blyton though.

Morning all,
I remember having a china tea set too it was yellow. Mum and dad always had tea in bed on a Sunday and I would be aloud to make tea in the little pot and dad would take it in the bedroom where I would get in bed with mum and dad and we would have our first cup from my teaset. I also had a trike that was red and it had funny half moon mudguards that covered most of the wheel and they had a silver wing on them. The first time I rode it I was with mum at uncle Les's and I rode it straight across the road I think it was at Manor Park. Uncle Les's mum had a chnadlers shop. It was one of those shop that sold parafin and all sorts of thing and thing hung over the long counter. It was crammed full of things hanging everywhere. I loved going there. They had a dog called giddie she was black and white and she had puppies in the old outside loo.

Enough of my ramblings pc says rain starting in 3 and a half hours and its 10 degrees. Have'nt turned the heating on yet but I am getting chilly now so on it goes.

Hip still really bad and I have the docs this afternoon.so I better get on.

good morning all 4 degrees and wet at the moment here. Meeting this afternoon here so a tidy up this morning.

I was a wartime baby so presents were mostly second hand. I can't remember the ages I was as it all blends into one but I do know when I was very young 4 or five my Mum queued for a long time to get me a tiny tea set and Dad made me a table and chair to have a tea party on. The tea set was china, it was passed to daughter and, I think, she still has it. (And my Dad made her a dresser to put it on in about 1964/5.) I also remember at around 5 or 6 I had a dolls pram, second hand of course but I was a very girly girl and loved my dolls and pram. Two other presents I remember clearly were a large dolls' house made by my Dad with working lights etc And a trike that had solid wheels. it was red and I was a bit sad because the wheels didn't have spokes and it was very heavy. But I had fun with it. That was when I was about 5/6 so around 45/46.

I think my eariest present was from Uncle Les who mum worked for. It was a big teddy bear and I called her (yes a girl bear) Tessy. I still have her today, she's in the lounge and she has the knickers mum made for my walky talky dolls on. They are lavender and she also wears one of the Angel Tops I had for my son when he was a baby. I think mum said I was about three but saying that I also remember the Walky talky doll who I name Peggy and she was sticking out of the top of my pillowcae on Christmas morning. Somewhere up the loft there are my two rooted hair dolls, one a teenage doll and the other is a sort of grown up baby doll. The teen one had a riding outfit, jodpurs, hacking jacket and hat o and boots. Dear old Tessy Bear must be 72 years old now.

I was trying to think what was the earliest present I could remember and I think it was a doll's pram I was given for Christmas. I must have been under 4 years old as it was before my parents moved from a prefab to a bungalow. I remember being encouraged to look at it by my mother, which I did, but being good I didn't touch it and then walked away. It was a cream colour with a dark hood. My mother started saying 'it's yours, it's yours' and I was surprised and went back to it to look inside it and wheel it around and wasn't really sure what to do with it at first.

We had lots of rain overnight. It’s been mostly dry and cold during the day and tomorrow is supposed to be wet and cold. I’ve had a boring h/w day but I got quite a lot of jobs done. However much I do there always seems to be as many jobs still waiting.

New glasses are a pain. I’ve had mine adjusted twice so far and they are better but now they are a bit loose and slip down my nose.

It’s good you got a refund from Asda, Ann, but they weren’t very gracious about it. You’d think they could manage an apology. Both Tesco and Sainsbury bring the crates right through to the kitchen for us and we unload them straight on to the work surface. They often help with that as well so it’s quickly done and they always check that we are happy with any subs.

That’s a big area for warehousing and very close to your home. I wouldn’t be happy about it either. How far has the planning application got? Has there been any public consultation or any environmental impact survey? I know these buildings have to go somewhere but perhaps that’s not the best place. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Mel, it sounds as though you have overdone it and need to rest up a bit till the sciatica eases.

I hope you sleep better tonight, AnnG. I could do with someone like your Jake. Could you lend him to me when he’s done all your jobs please. OH still does a lot but I don’t like him clambering around on ladders at his age. He tends to forget he’s not as young and athletic as he once was.

The BBC Weather app on my iPad is just showing a blank screen. After a lot of googling and experimenting I discovered that my IPad is so old that the app is no longer supported. I know I am going to lose iPlayer as well soon which is annoying as I use that all the time. I suppose I’ll end up having to get a new iPad and it makes me cross when these things have a built-in obsolescence.

I’m feeling a bit tired now so might go and get ready for bed and then I can read till I feel ready for sleep.

Well done with Ernie Ann.
Those warehouses are monsters to put up next to a housing estate. What an eye sore and it is bound to be noisy.
Whenever I have new glasses they are never comfortable when I first get them. What a pity they were adjusted.
At least you got the refund but that was not really the point was it?

Well I chatted to Jake and planned for more jobs to be done next Tuesday. Then I cleaned the bathroom and cloakroom and dusted lounge and dining room. And also made two cards.

I didn’t sleep well last night so hope I can sleep better tonight as I have the meeting here tomorrow.

One of our drivers has offered to bring the crates into the kitchen, but he's the only one. Some as soon as they see you answer the door are driving away up the close. They rarely ask if the subs are ok. Where they are good though and unlike yours is that they will come early if they are ready and they don't wait till your time of delivery. I think you can just text the driver back if you weren't home yet. It sounds like your drivers are given more time than ours.

I have one of those pumps in the boot Mel, but have never used it yet as I don't like running the battery down with not using my car so much now. I aught to get it out just to try it really though in case I need to use it while I'm out.

No you don't put the special glasses on in our eye tests now Mel, the the lenses are in a fixed position attached to a pedestal and you just put your chin and forehead on the rests. No slotting of lenses in and out, it's all done by computer. I think I'm more likely to not look through the right bit with them being lopsided since she levelled the arms. I need one arm slightly lower so they are straight across my eyes. The new glasses are ok, and a bit better than my old ones as they are a bit less wide across my face. They aren't my favourite shape, are a bit deep top to bottom and not oval enough, but fashion trends changing mean I can't get those anymore. I wanted tortoiseshell ones 4 years ago, but couldn't find ones I liked then, but there are more about now, but most are too brown for my liking. One pair was more black and white tortoiseshell, but the lenses were huge so I passed them by. The ones I chose are black rimmed but with light brown tortoiseshell, thinnish side arms.

Ann I meant to say you need one of those tyre pumper uppers that you plug into the car.

Is'nt it annoying when they change your glasses but I wonder if thats how your eyes were tested and if you don't look through the right bit it could impair your vision a little. Don't know just saying but apart from that do you like your new glasses? What colour are they?

Its gone a bit gloomy here now and has been brighter today but no sign of the sun but that awful gale force wind has gone. It rained really heavily last night and the pump from the well is running without being turned on so its syphoning a good steady trickle out.

Its 6 degrees here too.

Your Asda drivers are not like ours at all, ours puts all my shopping in my big plastic box and even puts it on my sack barrow for me. They have even asked me if I want them to bring it inside for me. I said no to that. They look up my subs and ask if I want to return them or not. The only thing I will say is that often they put my lettuce on something frozen and I have to snatch it off or they put frozen foods on the potatoes.

Afternoon All,

Six degrees here now, but sunshine today which is uplifting after so much gloom in the last few days.

It's becoming more common to see yarn bombed pillar boxes AnnG and it does cheer us up to see them. More progress with your garden soon now Jake is back then. :-)

OH rang Asda, explained what happened and that a refund had been refused and with no apology or explanation, they said they would refund. He didn't delve into the 'why they had refused before' etc as he could hardly understand the woman who answered. I didn't hold my breath, but have now received an email confirming the refund. OH thinks they were trying it on, but any more problems and we won't hesitate to go elsewhere. It's impossible really to check what they bring when they deliver, as they don't have time and are gone before you have chance to look in the crates, sometimes sitting up the close ready to drive off.

Depressing news today with a new planning application to build the warehouses near us. They've removed the council training hub that was to be part of it and most of the parking from it and made the warehouses even bigger. They will be up to 150 feet high and operate 24 hours with lorries and be lit up 24 hours a day!! They will devalue our properties, that's if anyone would buy them. Then the noise and traffic while building them and extra heavy traffic generated in an area that's already gridlocked at Christmas to the retail park and is the access for police to get to the motorway. No chance of camouflaging them at that height and the police report says they should be visible above 1 metre high to deter crime. If it goes ahead I'm sure the little field left at the back of us will be up for grabs next to possibly build more of the same. Similar warehouses built on the industrial estate within a stone's throw are half empty because they can't let them according to a lady collecting opposition signatures yesterday. There's still the majority of the 4,500 houses being built at the other end of the village yet to be built with the added traffic from that and flooding, unknown since I was a teenager, has started happening across the lane that is next to that development. Do we or don't we carry on with our house projects? I must admit to losing some enthusiasm.

Oh Mel it sounds like you've overdone it! OH blew my front tyres up the other day and has paid for it with aching legs now.

I need to pop out in my car when it gets dark. I have to take OH to the eye hospital tomorrow as he will need the strong eye drops, so can't drive himself home. He never told me the appointment was late afternoon, so it looks like I will be driving in the city in the rush hour, which is bedlam, and with it dark and ill lit roads and I wouldn't choose to drive at night now. Also snow is expected here tomorrow! I want to see how my new glasses are and try them with the night glasses. My new glasses were fine when I collected them till the assistant took them away to adjust. I think she must have thought they needed to be level, but one of my ears is slightly higher so she has made them worse now. Why did she do it without asking me? It seems to be one of those weeks! :-)

On the bright side ERNIE is still looking after me. :-)

Morning all,

Not as windy today as it was yesterday and when I turned the pc on it said 10 degrees but now it says 6 and mostly cloudy. Its a bit of a brighter morning than it was yesterday all day. I would love to see a bit of the yellow stuff as Frank would say.

Ache all over this morning. Bad siatica and clicky knee and now neck ache.

Good morning all, what a change in temp. It is 2 degrees here. Quite bright but Brrr!

Jake is coming this morning to check on jobs done when he was not here and to plan a few more jobs so I had better go and have breakfast.
Pleased that you were brighter yesterday Vera.
I loved the colours in the post box 'hat'

Good evening

That’s a very colourful “hat” on that pillar box AnnG. It certainly cheers up a gloomy day.

Here it’s been dry but dull and windy for most of the day; now it’s pouring and looks as though it’s set in for the night. I seemed to be busy this morning but I’m not sure what I did - a bit of this and a bit of that I suppose. This afternoon I went to a meeting of our Ladies Club. Some members who either drive or walk a bit less steadily don’t like coming out on dark, icy or foggy nights so meetings in November, December and February are in the afternoons (there is no meeting in January). Today was a social afternoon with a few quizzes and it was good fun. I won a nice tin of tea bags in the raffle. After I got back I sorted out a Tesco order for delivery on Thursday and got our dinner cooked.

It looks as though the weather isn’t going to be very good tomorrow so that might have to be a h/w day. Oh good, I’m really looking forward to that, I don’t think.