General Chat

I’m glad you enjoyed your Buttermere walk AnnG and it made a new memory for you. It is a lovely spot from what I remember though it’s some years since we were last there.

Enjoy time with your visitors tomorrow Mel. I wonder where all that grit can be coming from?

We’re off home again tomorrow so I’ve been packing as well. That week has gone very quickly. We’ve been very lucky with the weather, there’s not been a drop of rain though it’s still too hot at night for my liking. I’m not sleeping much.

We had another lovely day with our friend Val yesterday. We drove to her house and her man friend joined us for lunch later. Val had booked a table at a lovely Italian restaurant and we had a super meal, then her friend took us on a car tour of the area. Back to Val’s for a coffee and more chat and we arrived back here around 6 pm.

Today we went to Sheffield Park and Gardens. There are no laid out gardens as such but 250 acres of walks through different types of woodland and round several lakes. Needless to say we didn’t cover it all. It is National Trust but the house is still private and not open to the public. OH has been carrying his camera around all week and hardly taken a snap. Today he wanted it and had left it behind. Typical! He took a few pics on his phone so we will have to see what they come out like.

We’re just going out to eat so I’d better quickly tidy myself up a bit. Then it’s home tomorrow :-(

Happy packing Anng. We have had a little sun but now its grey sky again and 17 degrees so workable outside.

I have just done the pond filter again in an attempt to clear this water. I need to fill the pond up now from the well.

Good morning all bright here but cloudy and a strong breeze. It rained yesterday evening and overnight. We are staying in today and it is the two Ps people and packing. Not sure when people are coming but it is some time this morning so packing will be this afternoon.

Morning all,

grey skies and pc says 13 degrees and humidity 84% mostly cloudy.

I must definately do house work today. Talk about leaving it to the last minuet. I really only have to do the bathroom floor and hoover through and put my craft things away.

It will be nce to see Chrissy and Vic tomorrow but I wish it was'nt such a fleeting visit.

Evening all,

It's been quite a nice sunny day ,we went shopping this morning and got a few bits but I need to go to Aldi tomorrow when their offers start as they should have the fat quarters in ,oh and wool .

Mel could all this grit in the washer be coming up from the leaky pipe ,have you noticed any in the sink when you run the tap although after saying that most taps now have a little filter bit in the tap so you might not get it in the sink .

Anng that was a good walk you did today you'll have walked up an appetite ready for your Indian meal.

Vera hope you've got your voice back ,is it tomorrow you meet up with your friend again ,if it is enjoy the day .

That was a nice day then Anng and some memories along the way.

I have spent all day cleaning out filters. First I washed the bathroom mats and then went to do the big pond filter but I heard the alarm going off so came back in the kitchen and did the washing machine filter and put it back on. big mistake I put it on to carry on and it was 19 mins so went back to my pond filter. Heard it again so came in and put it on a rinse and spin wash this time after doing the filter again. It went and did the cykle this time so they went on the line and I had the washing machine filter out again and still more grit came out.

Had some lunch after that. Then I did the big pond scimmer and set that going but I still think the water is not so clear with them both running together. Anyway I had actually managed to get the air pump going in the skimmer tank and cleaned that out too. Thats going ok now. Then I looked in the filter for my pond and decided to have a go at that one cos I have never really cleaned it out as it is supposed to be done. So one went the air line for that filter and I put the pipe in the middle to stop it going down back into the pond and pumped it out onto the hosta bed. All this time with putting plugs in for this and that the leccy had been good. Cleaned the scimmer out , the one in my pond and put it all back together and turned off the air pump and then swept all the leaves off the tree to the end of the decking so I can put then in a big black sack.

I did'nt have to come in once to turn the leccy back on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The down side is I hav'nt got much done in the house today which is what I had planned to do today but I shall now feed the chickens their corn and clean the bathroom and put the dry mats back down.

Good afternoon. It has been a lovely day here until about 2pm. We had clear blue skies and sun. Very warm in the sun but there was a cold wind. Still it was good walking weather.T and I were always going to walk round Buttermere when we got too old to walk the high fells. However events overtook us. We used to walk with daughter and first so. In law but that obviously finished when he died. Then we still had dreams of doing it but we got older and didn’t walk so much when we were up here. The complete utter mere round is four miles. My limit now due to dodgy ankles and other aches is three miles. So today we drove to Buttermere village and managed to just get a place in the NT car park. We then walked down to the lake ( a quarter of a mile then partway or one and a quarter miles round the nicest side of the lake which is surrounded by high hills and mountains, then back again. Sat on rocks in a beach area to have our lunch, then walked up the road to the pub. Sat outside in the sun with a glass of wine then back to the car according g to daughter’s watch that was exacltly three miles. It was really nice and an ambition almost fulfilled for T.
This evening we are going to an Indian restaurant. Treating it as a last night as tomorrow we have various family members calling in.

Morning all,

Nice and bright here today with blue sky and big thin white clouds so I am hoping its going to stay nice so I can get some HW done and see my spider webs.

Woke up terribley dry this morning and feel like I have indigestion so plenty of water for me today.

That sounds a good day out AnnG. We had an interesting day that started badly but ended up well

This morning we thought we would go to Alfriston. Our friend Val had said it was a nice place and we could see that it was in a river valley so probably had some nice walking. There is also a 14th century clergy house there that is the first property acquired by the NT. It’s also less than 5 miles from here so we set the SatNav and off we went.

Over an hour later we were still trying to get there. Every route the SatNav tried or we looked up in the road atlas had major road closures. In the end we drove back, parked further up the beach to where we have been before and had a good walk along, stopping at the yacht club on the way back for a sandwich and drink. While there I remembered seeing a leaflet for Paradise Park Gardens. A bit of googling and we found it was only 3 miles away and looked worth a visit. It definitely was worth it.

The huge garden centre and restaurant are of course free to enter but there is an entry charge for the rest of the site. There is a very interesting area, sort of covering natural sciences, all about the earth, the sun, meteors, plants, sea life, animal and bird life and finishing up with man. We were the only ones in there and it took us an hour to get round even though we missed out some sections and rushed through others. Then that led us into plant houses that were like a mini version of the glass houses at Kew. From there we moved into the gardens area that was arranged around short, medium or long heritage trails. As you moved around you came across little garden areas with wonderful models of mostly local landmarks with explanatory boards. Because of time we only did the short trail (and a bit of the medium because we got lost, lol). We ended up in the garden centre proper where I was very tempted by a couple of penstemons, one blue and one white. OH said to get them but they were expensive so I just made a note of the names and will look for them in the spring.

Now we’re back and are going to have a wash and tidy up before going for a meal to the place where we had Sunday lunch. OH liked it there and said he’s happy to drive.

It’s still warm but with a bit of breeze so quite pleasant. I just wish it would cool down a bit more at night as I really could do with more sleep. At least it’s stayed dry for us.

I hope everyone else has had a good day too.

We had a nice day out today. Caught the train from Workington to Ravenglass. About an hour journey the journey takes you all along the coast. Today the tide was in and the views were beautiful. Had a long leisurely lunch of beer battered fish and chips with mushy peas. Beautifully cooked and I could not eat all my chips. Daughter and I then shared sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. We also had a glass of wine each. SiL had beer. While we were eating it drizzled a bit but otherwise it stayed dry we had a walk on the beach then, while waiting for the train we watched a lorry and crane unload replacement engine and trucks for little Ratty the miniature train that runs from Ravenglass to Eskdale. Coming home the tide was out so not so pretty but we still enjoyed the scenery. Looking to the hills and mountains they looks glorious. Also on the trip home we saw a lot of Canada geese and also quite a few cormorants.
Now we are home, the sun is shining.

Done my filter on the pond and on the washing machine AGAIN still grit coming out I am wondering if its in the washing powder now as when I look in the box there are little black bits in it. I think I am going to try the capsuels (SP) next time. Never used those before.

Shoppings been and no subs so that was good. I think now I am going to have a cook up while the suns shining and I am not using leccy.

Turned nicer here now but we did have that fine rain this morning.

Been up the post van and did the little parcel.

Now waiting for the shopping.

Good morning all windy and cloudy sun here, definitely cooler too. Going on the train that runs down the coast to Ravenglass this morning and having lunch out in a pub there.
Didn’t sleep too well last night, awake at 2.30 and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Morning All,

Dull and grey here this morning and it looks wet out pc is saying 15 degrees and cloudy.

Shopping comes today and I have to get up the post van before it comes.

Only HW planned for today with SIL coming on Friday I better show willing.

Sounds like a full on day never been to Newhaven but I liked Brighton the times I have been. How er quite some time since we were last there.
We just went to a large store I. Cockermouth where I found the small saucepan I wanted. And a few Christmas presents. We had coffee there with a toasted tea cake, then went home for lunch and spent the afternoon reading

Good evening all

It’s been a better day weatherwise. It’s still very warm but there’s been more of a breeze so it’s been more comfortable.

Today OH decided he wanted to get the bus into Newhaven. I hope I don’t upset anyone from there, I am sure there are nice areas, but the town centre is a dump and we didn’t stay long. We got another bus into Brighton. Of course there is plenty to see and do there and we walked miles. We had a good lunch in a pub in the Lanes so we don’t need much tonight. The meal we both chose was a lamb shank shepherd’s pie. When it arrived it was a whole shank with the meat loosened from the bone. It was in a bowl with peas, carrots and gravy and the whole lot covered in mashed potato crisped up and topped with chopped parsley and mint, just the bone at the end of the shank poking out. It came with more veg and another jug of gravy. It certainly looked different and it was very tasty. Brighton is a bustling, lively town but didn’t seem as exciting as I remember it from years ago, but I’m probably looking through rose tinted spectacles.

It took us quite a while to find where to get our bus back and we eventually got back around 5.30 pm.

Mandy, I didn’t paddle yesterday but will probably wet my feet before we go home. OH won’t. He used to swim in the sea but he went to work for the Water Authority in the early 70s and hasn’t put a toe in the sea since!!

After talking to my friend so much yesterday, by the time I went to bed I had lost my voice completely. It’s back to a squeaky croak now. I’ll probably be fine by Wednesday when we’re meeting up again and I’ll end up with no voice again. OH is smiling at the thought of a quiet couple of days after that.

Morning all,

Overcast here and cooler out but the house feels really muggy and humid when you come in .
I've just been out and hung washing out and also did a little dead heading while it's overcast once the sun comes out and it's trying to peep though the cloud it will be to hot to go out again ,should be 28 today .

Oh Mel those old gnats have got in your hair ,good idea to get a hat on especially later in the day when they start getting about .

Vera sounds as if you had a lovely day with your friend yesterday, did you have a paddle in the sea ,i love how the salty water makes your feet feels so soft and comfortable it's like walking on air

Morning all,

Grey and overcast here this morning pc is saying 17 degrees and mostly cloudy so I think we are in for a cooler day today.

I have to order more meds today and do a parcel up I think but Iv'e not checked yet.

I also need to wash my hair as being out in the garden quite a bit in the early evening I have been bitten by the midges and my scalp itchy like mad. I must remember to wear a hat.

SIL rang this afternoon and we chatted for ages. Sun came out this afternoon and I did a little more inthe garden along the edge of the road to the shed. I did'nt do it last earso it was very grown over the edge of the bricks and into the tarmac.

No more rain today but it was cooler out there this afternoon but has got mugged tonight.

Must get a drink as I did'nt have one with myt tea.

I think it has been very slightly cooler outside today though still very hot but the house is like an oven. Once the sun had gone I opened the bedroom windows in the hope of cooling the room down a bit but it doesn’t seem to be working. I believe it’s been even hotter at home. I hope my potted garden plants aren’t all dying. I thought my neighbour was back from her holiday yesterday but apparently she isn’t back till Tuesday so it could even be Wednesday before the poor plants get a drink.

We have had a lovely day. I talk about my friend as we were at primary school together but I should say our friend as I introduced OH to her almost as soon as I knew him so he’s known her over 60 years. She arrived here at 11 am and we had coffee and lots of chat. Then we went into town for a nice Sunday lunch I had booked. Then it was back here for more coffee.and chat. She left about 5.30. I don’t think we stopped talking and laughing the whole time. We are seeing her again on Wednesday when we are going to her and having lunch out with her and her man friend.

We did have a little walk along the beach early this evening and it felt a pleasant temperature but I feel as though I am melting now. That sounds like a real downpour you had Mel. It must have cleared the air a bit.

I’m going to go and see if I can persuade OH to have a think about what we might do tomorrow. Stay cool and have a good night everyone.