General Chat

Good morning all 14 degrees here at the moment. Another hot night but I slept quite well just under a sheet.

Mel did you ring the GP about your arm?
Didn't see you yesterday Vera, hope the heat has not given you a headache.

I woke early so up but not dressed. I have two gardens to water for nine days now as Cynth is away.

Morning all,

20 degrees here at the mo and pc is saying again a record high and is goping to be 26 degrees again.

Arm still hurts so I think I will ring the surgery today and see what they say about it.

Leccy went out as I was typing at 8.13 so I am now finishing the post.

Have a nice day looking at your friends garden Anng. I wonder hwat changes she's made since you were last there.

Good morning all. 13 degrees so more or less what is normal for this week. Which means another hot day to come.
One good thing, I think I may have said I was going to a friend's for coffee this morning. we don't see much of each other these days, she is 2 years older than me and doesn't drive. so I am making what seems to be a more or less yearly visit to her on foot. Well it was intending to be and I was not looking forward to it in this heat. However the problem is now halved as Cynth will give me a lift down there this morning so I only have to walk home afterwards. Anyway I am looking forward to seeing her garden.

Well done on the weight loss Mel. Definitely cutting down on bread and potatoes will help but all that exercise in the garden helps too.

Yes I feel the same Vera but my bungalow is very cool so I stay in when I can. Its quite chilly out there now and pc says mostly cloudy but 23 degrees. Theres a breeze now which is why it feels colder as I have just taken the washing in.

Well done on the weight loss Mel.

Just done the ironing as it is fractionally cooler than it was earlier. I feel shattered now. The heat does seem to drain me of all energy. I expect most people feel the same.

Yes the farm shop sis sound good with the buy what you want in the frozen stuff.

Arm has been hurting on and off all day when I use the pc so I ma not staying long. I did a bit of weeding on the patio pulling out mainly foxgloves and bunny rabbits. I did a bit of hoovering in the kitchen but the cordless ran out so that told me to stop. Got another thing on Ebay. Did a bit of casting but not much.

Pc is saying record high and its 23 degrees by the pc and the other one is saying the same.

Chicken salad tonight. I had two scrambled eggs and four tinned tomatoes for lunch no bread so I shall have a slice with my salad. Made coleslaw so nice and easy and strawberries for dessert no sugar but a little single cream. I am nearly down to 11 stone from nearlly 12 so I call that good.

Another hot sticky day. It was ok all morning as were in the garden centre all the time where it was cool indoors. Coffee first, then a look round the franchises. Ok I admit it I bought a top I. Edinburgh wool and another one in Klass. Friend also got the top she wanted. I then bought a purple Salvia to replace the Rosemary I had to throw out yesterday as it had a disease.. next we had lunch so I don’t need to cook tonight next we drove to our local garden centre where I got another 10Kg bag of compost and a couple of plants to replace a couple that have died, no idea why but I think some plants can’t cope with peat free compost. Home then.
Men came to check and clear the drain which for some reason had something in it that didn’t belong there which was blocking the main pipe. Anyway they were not here long and it only cost £10,

A bit of a mix of a day for you Vera. You would think the optician would be able to use discretion wouldn’t you. Seems like they don’t want your. Obey. The farm shop sounds good.

Good afternoon ladies (and any gentlemen looking in)

Technically it’s a degree or two lower than yesterday but there’s hardly any breeze and the humidity is high so it feels even hotter.

I hope you enjoyed your trip out this morning AnnG and didn’t spend all your pennies.

If your arm doesn’t improve soon Mel you may need to speak to the surgery. They may suggest some suitable exercises or prescribe you some medication.

My day has been frustrating and good in equal measure. We went into town this morning and started by taking 2 king sized duvets to a launderette place that wash them. That was fine except they have gone up from £15 to £20 each. But it’s good to get them done for me and have them all nice and clean ready for the autumn.

Next it was the chemist to pick up my meds. All ready and good there.

Then to the opticians and the fun started. I explained my problem with damaged glasses and being in the middle of treatment and told them the specialist doctor at the hospital wanted just the damaged lens replaced. Can’t be done, said the chap dealing with me. I stood my ground and he found a more senior colleague for me and I went through the story again. Yes, she said, it can be done and starts entering stuff on the computer. Sigh of relief from me. I sighed too soon. Computer said No. Apparently it wouldn’t allow the woman to order a replacement as the prescription was just over 2 years old and I would have to have another full eye test and a new prescription. I pointed out that I had a full test 10 months ago. Ah, but I wasn’t issued a new prescription because I was referred to the hospital. I felt I was going around in ever decreasing circles. The upshot is that I have to ring the hospital and find out if I need to get a test and new glasses at a cost of a few hundred pounds, knowing that they may need changing again after some injections, or can I stagger on with a combination of old glasses with an out of date prescription and correctly prescribed sun glasses. What sort of parallel universe is it when a computer programme can’t be over ruled but it can over rule a real live doctor?

Onwards and upwards.....it was off to the bank next. We needed cash but particularly wanted some pound coins so OH went to the counter to withdraw some money. No problem at all except a couple of hours later OH realised he had left his debit card in the machine at the counter and the bank had closed as it now operates reduced hours.

We move on to an upholsterers near the bank as we want some new seats for our dining chairs. They are working reduced times as well and don’t open Wednesday or Thursday now and they are the days it’s easiest for us to go to town.

By now we were thoroughly fed up so decided to cheer ourselves up by a visit to a lovely farm shop I used to use when we lived in our old house. That went well, thank goodness. I couldn’t take any more today. We had a nice drive through the country lanes, then had lunch in the cafe so I don’t have to cook tonight. The shop is expensive but the meat is off their own farm and anything they don’t grow themselves comes from a fairly local area. So I spent a fortune on meat, fruit including strawberries and some greengage jam. Next time we are going that way I’ll take a cool box and get some of their loose frozen stuff where you scoop out just what you want - for example 1 hash brown if that’s all you need.

And that was our day. I hope yours has been better. Now I have to make 4 phone calls and go over to chat with my neighbour. I don’t feel much like it but I promised I’d go over late afternoon.

PS. Just realised we forgot to get the cheese OH wanted in the farm shop. My head’s all over the place today, lol

Looking in......

Morning all lovely day again and its saying a record high on the pc mostly sunny and 16 degrees st the moment.

Enjoy your outing Ann and don't spend too much.

Still got the arm and I woke up this morning with NEARLY cramp but managed to lift my foot to stop it.

Good morning all, always seem to wake up early these days but at least I slept ok only needed a sheet over me. 12 degrees here now just hope the humidity has dropped today, it was so sticky yesterday.

Friend is picking me up this morning to go to one of our larger independent garden centres mainly because they have a Klass franchise there and she needs a new top to wear when she goes out with her family to celebrate her 80th.

The garden was really nice, they have lived in The house for 53 years and she has changed the garden over time from one with a normal lawn and beds to completely gravelled except for the patio. Then she has planted beds into the gravel, they had made a small waterfall and a stream water feature. This apparently attracts the birds. They have even had a kingfisher visit.. they also had professionally built a large circular bed ringed in decorative stone. That is not gravelled. It was all very informally planted with plants that intermingled like cornflowers and love in the mist and poppies. It all looks casual and unplanned and was very pretty. She also has a gate at the end of the garden that opens into her allotment plot. Lucky enough to be able to get the plot adjoining their garden. Although married she dies all the gardening. I think the group would love to see it.

Another very hot day. We could really do with some rain now. Between us we changed all the bedding on both beds and then I did 4 loads of washing . It didn’t take long to dry today. I’ve still got 2 king size duvet covers and a mattress protector to wash but there’s no rush for those.

I haven’t a clue what we are going to eat tonight. It just seems to take too much energy to even think of something. It’ll probably be a quiche from the freezer with some salad.

I hope you liked the garden you visited AnnG and it was suitable for the garden interests group.

Thank you, ladies, for your advice about driving. If you have no sight in one eye but could still pass the driving test with your good eye, then you can drive and not even notify the DVLA unless you develop a health condition with that good eye. However my problem is a bit different, My right eye has compensated all my life for my very weak left eye but complex lenses in my glasses have worked fine for me. I just have to be extra careful with things like judging distance. Now, however, even with glasses my vision is very distorted and the distortion varies. Sometimes things aren’t too bad, sometimes things are very blurry, sometimes straight lines can appear wavy or static objects appear to sway. In half light I have even seen things that aren’t actually there. Until the medical team can stabilise the retinal vein swelling there’s no point in getting new lenses for my glasses as it might all change next week. I’ve gone on at length a bit haven’t I but it’s hard to explain to other people. Anyway I have already had a call from the hospital and I’ve got an appointment next Wednesday for an injection so we’ll see how that goes.

Right I’d better go and raid the freezer to see what I can find. I’m sure OH will be getting peckish soon as we had lunch early today.

Shopping came and I just went out to feed the fish and saw one of those beautiful electric blue damsel flies with the black wings. Came in for the camera and went out and it had gone.

Been up the post van and delivered a parcel but did that before the shopping came as its only there for a couple of hours.

Vera mum only had the sight in one eye and she could still drive so do as Mandy said and inform the DVLA just incase you have to drive at some point.

My mum would have been 99 today. Happy Birthday mum xxx

Morning all,

Boy it's hot out there again today, we have just been to Tesco's for a few bits and then Aldi .

Vera sorry your vision in the eye needs more treatment ,on driving my friend before she died used to drive with only vision in one eye and my nephew drives with one eye he lost vision in one eye when he had his stroke , I think you just have to Inform DVLA so your covered .

Mel I think resting the arm is helping the pain for you ,hard not to use it though but be careful what you do don't try to do to much to soon.

Anng hope the garden is one you can go to and we'll done on losing the 6 pound .

I must sort out my canes ready for my toms and cucumbers ,they are not big enough yet to tie on the canes but I like to get them in the pots ready .
The runners are now climbing the canes .

Morning all,

Slept like a log again last night. Pc says very humid and 15 degrees. It was quite misty last night and this morning was a misty moisty morning and its still hanging across the tops of the trees.

Arm a bit better so far but Iv'e not done anything yet not even turned the kettle on so I am going to do that now.

Have a good trip to the garden Anng.

Good morning all. It was a hot and sticky night and I didn't sleep that well. but it is only 13 degrees now so the temp has dropped a bit.

Vera, that must have been very frightening when you had so much trouble with the one eye seeing the letters. Amazing that the 'good' eye takes over a certain amount though. I never knew the reason but my Dad since he was in his (about) 60s had very little sight in one eye. He didn't drive far and he died in 2001; so there was not as much traffic then, but he drove until he was 85. I am assuming nobody was ever notified as he was never told not to drive. I think you are wise not to drive but, like you it is surprising that you have not been told that you should not. I thought that GP or somebody was supposed to notify DVLA. But safer to just not drive inconvenient though it is. I hope re-starting the injections will improve matters. I suspect that you were not too surprised at the outcome.

I am going to be picked up this morning to go and see a U3a acquaintance’s garden. It is so I can decide if it is somewhere the garden interests group might like to see as apparently they have a lot in the garden for wildlife. I am hoping it will not be too hot.

It's still 23 degrees here and quite humid. I'd like some rain but the computer has just helpfully told me the nearest rain is 116 km away. OH has just had the hose out again. I think it's going to be another hot, sticky night so not much sleep likely again.

I'm sorry your arm isn't much better Mel. Would it be worth just ringing your surgery.? You might be able to speak to a doctor or nurse who could advise you.

Today is the birthday of another of my granddaughters, 23 today. I texted her this morning and had a nice response and I am currently waiting for her sister to phone. I have a feeling that I shall be waiting all evening and she won't ring. She can be a bit of a scatterbrain so might well forget, even though it was her suggestion.

We had a nice afternoon in a friend's garden It didn't seem too hot as her garden is long and shady and there was quite a bit of cloud cover. It was all very pleasant.

Unfortunately I didn't have such a pleasant morning at the hospital. First I had the eye test they do every time I have an injection and the nurse was amazed that, with the bad eye, I couldn't see a single letter on the chart. All I could see was a white blur with a darker blur on it. She kept expanding the size of the letters until there was just one giant letter on the board and I couldn't even make that out! Then I had both eyes scanned and there was a lot of tut-tutting from the lady doing the scan. Then I saw the doctor and he did his own examination with bright lights shining into my eye and lots of tests. Eventually he told me that since the injections stopped my problems have got worse again so I am not a happy bunny. After discussing the various options and him telling me I can say no to any or all of them, it's my choice, I decided to go with his recommended course of treatment which is to resume injections but with him gradually lengthening the time between them. So, they are sending me an appointment for a jab within a couple of weeks and he will see me 6 weeks after that to decide when to do the next one.

I am surprised no-one has said to me that I shouldn't drive. I have stopped driving voluntarily as my sight in one eye is so poor that I don't think I am safe on the roads at the moment. I hope I will be able to start again before too long.

I am absolutely melting upstairs in the study so I am going to close the computer down and go downstairs. No call from granddaughter yet :-(

Keep cool and have a good night's sleep. See you tomorrow.

Been up the post van and it was'nt there.

Tried to do some painting but my arm is hurting so I had something to eat and took a codine phosphate?? Hope that was alright.