General Chat

Good afternoon all. Sounds as if you had a good holiday Ann. I think a lot of extra things in holiday let’s we’re removed during and post Covid, and have not been put back. But leaving at four obviously worked for the journey home.
You mentioned getting pasties at the Lizard. Was that from Ann’s pasties? Always Tony and my favourites even when they were sold from the house. Just as good when we had them last year from the shop.
Yes Inara has grown a lot since April and looks as though little one will be the same.

Mandy it is obviously hotter where you are must be too sticky to knit much. We look forward to the finished creations.

Mel gosh that must have been a cloud burst to put an inch and a half into the pond.

Went up the hsop for my paper as I forgot yesterday and just as I went out the door it started to rain great big spots. Got to the car and it fell out of the sky but by the time I was at the shop it eased off so in I went and got my shopping. Came out and got in the car and it started again so heavy you could hardly see with the wipers going full pelt. drove in the garden and it stopped with just some big spots so I got in ok than it came over very grey and a huge downpour again with plenty of thunder this time which knocked the leccy out. It filled the pond up by zn inch and a half in that short time so I don't have to top it up today.

Sky is still grey but its not raining at the mo.

Morning all.,

I don't like to moan but this heat us just to much ,you only have to move and it's so draining, we've had lots of extra drinks and water to keep hydrated, the fans are going but it's just warm air they are blowing about .
Poor Max was hot last night ,I got a wet cloth and wiped him over and sat him near tye fan to cool him and eventually he settled down .

We don't intend to do much today just sit in and try to keep cool.

Lovely to hear from you Ann sounds as if you enjoyed your holiday looking forward to seeing the photos .
Can I ask where you got the little fan from it's sounds good ,I've heard about standing a frozen bottle of water in front of a fan to cool the air but if it fits in the fan it sounds better.
I said to Colin yesterday I bet a lot of people will go shopping to cool off lol its lovely in Aldi with the air con but my goodness you feel the heat when you come out .
Yes to hot to do to much knitting but I am getting them done ,three boys done and three girls so three more to do .
Just watching the Great North run ,one old chap 101 is running ,I'd be lucky to do even half a mile :-0

Vera it sounds a lovely place your in ,have a good day with your friend .

Mel we've had a lot of those old daddy long legs in having the windows open and the lights on at night draws them in .

Anng sounds as if you had a nice time with the little ones ,they grow up so fast I can't believe the youngest is nearly two.

Time for more liquids I think ,keep cool everyone and enjoy the day what ever your doing .

Morning all,

We've had rain in the night here and its 19 degrees but we are in for heavy6 rain later according to the pc.

Ann I am pleased you had a nice time in Cornwall even though there were changes in the lodge do you think you will go there again? Will love to see the pics you did take. No I still have Gwain and Emlin I can't seem to part with them yet they are on my desk keeping me company.

I have my SIL coming next week with her hubby but only for the day as they are staying somewhere in Cornwall. they will stay with BI for the first night and then come and see me before going off to the place they rented. So that will be two fleeting visits from both SIL's.

Must get on as I wnat to have a good clear up today ready for when they arrive as I see I have lots of 8 leggedfriends hanging around is strange places. You see them more when the sun shines. I shall have to put all my craft stuff away too so wish me luck.

Hi Everyone!,

I thought I'd pop in this time for an update.

We came home yesterday at 4.00pm in the end to miss the heat and roadwork holdups today and after getting throughTruro we sailed home with 2 stops in 6 hours. Since night time streetlights have been mostly switched off, I was surprised there were so few on the motorways, especially as the lane markings were worn off in some places. We were wishing we were still there today when it got up to 30 degrees and not a whisper of any breeze and I saw it was only 24 degrees where we stayed!. I took a little 9 inch square desk fan I'd bought, that you put frozen bottles of water in, but never needed to use it all week, but I had it working today in the study and it made quite a difference blowing on my face. With all the rich icecreams this week it has confirmed in my mind what I suspected a few years ago after eating cream that I seem to have lactose intolerance! I looked it up tonight and I have the symptoms again. Now I'll be back on my diet again I should be ok. What remained of our plants in the pots that we'd more or less given up on with all the work we were doing are now burnt to a crisp, so they can go in the garden bin before it's emptied on Tuesday. There's a pile of washing for tomorrow and OH has work stuff to get on with now the schools are back.

The place you are stopping at sounds nice Vera. We found that a lot of the extras at the lodge we stay at had been cut back even more. There wasn't even a washing up bowl this time and not even a plug for the sink! It does have a dishwasher, but if you only have a couple of plates and cups it seems wasteful. They had renewed the microwave and kettle so I had to see how the new microwave worked! I don't bother with the oven or hob as it is an electric ceramic one and seems slow after using a gas one. Like you we eat out mostly. You do well to be walking around the shops, but with it so hot in the south you must be getting a bit acclimatised? It's good more shops are air conditioned these days. We nipped out to the co-op today to cool off in there while we got a few bits. How nice you will be meeting your friend tomorrow. Lots of catching up to do.

AnnG young Inara is still growing fast and is big for her age. I was always one of the smallest in my class! It's good she found some playmates and burnt off some energy. I bet she enjoyed getting surprise gifts too. It was good you got to hold the baby, another twig on your tree. Are the pussycats finding the cool places in the house this weather, although it could be cooler as you are further north?

I think Mandy is about level with us heatwise so she must be sweltering too. Knitting all those rabbits can be hot holding the needles and wool. I hope the neighbour doesn't want them too quickly. They are so lovely and would make great gifts for Christmas.

Mel your BIL is doing well keeping up with the mowing, especially as he has a job as well. It must be responsible as you say, as you can't make mistakes with something that flies in the air. What a worry for you with these big bills turning up. Did they ever find out out exactly where the water leak was? Hopefully it will soon be the end of it and get sorted as you shouldn't have to pay for the water that's still leaking anywy. As for the electric, I wonder how they arrived at such a big amount as you have solar panels and your heating is oil. Your miniatures are doing well and keeping you busy. Have you sold the Tudor Man or Woman yet?

Better get off to bet with my bottle of water out of the fridge now! I've written far too much. I'll see if I can send a few photos tomorrow but I didn't take many.

Its still 22 degrees here but the pc says rain coming. I have been clearing te edge of the grass where it meeets the road down to my shed.

Just come in from the garden.

Had a lovely time with Gt Granddaughter. She is so tall only 7 but can be taken for nine. We walked around Maryport and found a cafe to have a coffee, she had J2O. Next we walked to a large adventure playground with lots of climbing things and slides and a zip wire. She paled up with another girl and a couple of boys and had fun for about half an hour while we sat in the sun watching. Then we went into the shop belonging to the aquarium as I told her she could pick out something for five pounds (I don’t see her often). She found a couple of things after much deliberation and I allowed a slight inflation of the offer. We also bout a book fir almost 2 year old sister. Next was the promised ice cream. We all had one again sitting in the sun. Then we came back stopping at Lidls on the way for steaks for tonight . Back then for lunch and Mummy arrived at 2pm with Gt granddaughter number 2 who will be 2 at the end of October. She is a chuckle child and, once she got over being shy she was happy for me to play with her in the garden. They left at 3.30 to go home. Daddy is working a late shift as a bus driver. I enjoyed seeing them both <3

Hope you have had a good day with great-granddaughter AnnG.

It was a sweltering night so hardly any sleep and it has been unbearably hot today. Usually on the coast you get a bit of a sea breeze but there wasn’t any today and the temperature isn’t supposed to drop much overnight. We have walked quite a bit today - well, slowly sauntered really with plenty of stops to take on water from our own bottles or have a drink in a cafe. I was surprised to find the phone said we had done 4.3 miles, though I am not sure how accurate it is. We are going out for a pub meal about 6.30 and will walk so there and back will add another mile. If I tire myself out perhaps I’ll sleep better tonight in spite of the heat.

Tomorrow my friend from Eastbourne is driving over and we’ve booked a table for Sunday lunch at a recommended pub. I’m really looking forward to seeing her after quite a while.

Better go and shower now as I am hot and sticky and I don’t want to drive the other diners away lol.

Morning all,

Pc is telling me its to break the record high for the 9th Sept today. its 19 degrees here at tyhe mo but te sun is shining and the sky is a clear blue and not a leaf moving in the garden.

Vera I could just see yu neighbour in m minds eye getting stuck, glad it made you laugh.

Have a lovely time with great granddaughter Anng. 7 is a nice age to take them out and about.

Good morning all it looks a bit grey here, no sign of sun yet but we can’t complain we were so lucky with the weather last week. Taking out 7 year old great granddaughter today, just to Maryport where there is a good playground for her and an aquarium. As she is back to school there is very little chance to see her this time.

Pleased that your rental place is nice Vera, hope the weather holds for you.

Good that you are safe back at your daughter’s AnnG. You are getting a nice long break.

You’ve been very busy with all that strimming Mel. Your bil is good to keep the mowing under control. You made me laugh when you said about my poor neighbour making a good seaside postcard. I could just picture it :-)

We didn’t have a bad journey at all though there was a lot of traffic. The property we are renting doesn’t look much from outside but is lovely inside. Large rooms, well furnished and all good quality furniture and appliances with a huge range cooker that frightens me to death. It took me half an hour of reading the book of instructions to find out how to turn the oven on to heat a quiche and found I had to set the type of cooking/heat required on one control knob and the temperature on another. Good job I am not planning to cook much.

It has been really hot all day and is still 21 degrees now. I’ll be throwing off the duvet that’s on the bed. I think I’ll go and have a cooling wash, clean my teeth and take my book to bed now.

Glad yu're back at dsughters now and have a nice time there till the 15th.

Just strimmed down the back garden and all along the west lawn edge. BIL is now mowing that lawn so I must go and give him a drink.

Back at daughters now and the sun is shining .It is a beautiful day. We stopped off at a garden centre near Carlisle for a very nice breakfast and were home by 1.30. A lot more traffic this side of Solway Firth than there was where we stayed. We had a lovely week and I am here now until the 15th.
Yes had a nice chatty email from Ann so must reply to that.

Hope Vera has had a good journey and arrived safely at her place they are staying.

Gosh its hot. Been up the shop for sme rolls.

Caught a stoat in the rabbit trap this morning so I let it go as they eat baby rabbits.

BIL here and is mowing.

Morning all,

bright morning here and pc is saying a record high today it is 18 degrees at the moment.

I think BIL may come today so I better have a tidy up of the table as there is painting stuff all over it.

Slept well as I hope you lot did.

Safe journey for Anng and co ltd.

Had a lovelky long email froim out Ann this morning as I know you lot have had too.

Hpe you sleep ok tonight Vera and safe journey.

I had to laugh at the poor lady getting stuck. I know I should'nt have but it was the way I read the post with her being 5 foot high and wide. iT WOUD HAVE MADE A LOVELY SEASIDE POSTCARD.

Sorry hit the cap kock by mistake.

Its still 24 degrees here and I am so sticky I am going in the shower.

Ooh, it is hot. I’m OK during the day but I wish it would cool down more at night. I found it impossible to get much sleep last night

Met our friends for coffee this morning; just 5 of us today. This afternoon I have been packing and sorting out foodstuff. I’ll take some basics like tea and breakfast cereal and I am taking something for tomorrow’s dinner but I hope we’ll eat out most of the time. I’ve frozen a load of tomatoes and turned half a bag of spuds into 2 lots of mashed potato to freeze and half a bottle of wine is being frozen to go in the next chicken casserole or make a sauce.

Mandy, we are going to be on the Sussex coast, quite close to my old school friend so we are meeting up with her on Sunday and Wednesday.

We had a bit of excitement yesterday. A large fire engine arrived at the house across the courtyard from me and several burley men got out and went in the back gate. After a while they went and an ambulance arrived. The lady who lives there is in her 70s, in poor health and never married so lives alone. I had a chat with her brother who was at her house today. Apparently she decided to paint some fence by her shed. She is 5 ft nothing (in width as well as height) so to reach the top was standing on a flower pot!!! Of course she fell off and got wedged between the fence and the shed. She had her phone and rang another neighbour who called an ambulance and also her brother who lives locally. He thought if the ambulance was manned by two young girls they would never lift her so he called the fire brigade. I don’t think she is too badly injured but the hospital found her heart was very irregular and she was extremely dehydrated so they are keeping her in for a few days while they sort her out. She is so independent and won’t accept help. We’ve seen her wobbling on a chair clearing her gutters but she wouldn’t let OH take our steps over and do it for her. All the neighbours are hoping that this fall will have frightened her enough to make her accept help when it’s offered.

It’s time I showered and washed my hair and got our last few bits and bobs together so I’ll say goodnight, sleep tight and sweet dreams.

Yes sadly soon gone and we are more or less packed ready to leave. We have not seen the sun today and we had a very light shower this morning. We just went to Castle Douglas and bought a few more bits for Christmas presents. In the clothes shop that had a sale on I bought a T shirt and a light sweater and daughter bought a dress and jacket for a wedding next year. We had a lovely lunch in a Greek restaurant came back, packed then sat out by the loch reading for a couple of hours. Came in as it got cooler at 6pm.