General Chat

17th April until 20th August Gill !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I bet it will over run So that is 4 months or more . I think we should be given a council tax rebate.
A couple of little plants in the skip is fine :-D :-DA t least you aren't dumping benches etc in it.

The Wart Hog head looks good doesn't it :-D I have a very clever sister..

Fish and Chips and Peas for us later. Tesco Finest Beer Battered Cod,McCain Gastro Chips and Birds Eye Peas :-D :-D. Not the healtiest of dinners but HEY it is Friday and so Fish and Chips it is :-D :-D

That's a long time Jane, surely they can't block the whole road off for that length of time, how are you going to have your bins emptied or what if the emergency services need to go down your road. I always thought they did one side of the road then the other, but then again if they are doing work across the road then that wouldn't be possible would it? I hope it doesn't go on any longer than those dates and it's not to much for you trying to get in and out.
Yes, a council tax rebate would be nice lol.

No, I thought 2 tiny plants would be okay as they are only putting in a few bits of cardboard off the kitchen units so probably won't fill the skip anyway. OH was told by a workman the other day that this is the last skip. They plumbed the toilets in today and took the porta loo away and the kitchen fitters said they will be finished tomorrow, so I think, apart from the drive, they are pretty much finished now. Let's hope so anyway.

Good evening all

I don’t think you need worry about a couple of plants Gill. With all the racket and problems you have had to put up with recently I reckon you are owed more than a bit of skip space.

Jane, that’s a long while for a road closure. What a pain for you. We have a local road that was closed mid-February and isn’t due to reopen till June but it doesn’t affect us too much, thank goodness.

Love the henhouse Mel. Unfortunately I don’t love the hens. Chickens are my phobia. My mum always said she couldn’t understand it as when I was a toddler we lived next to a farm and I used to go in with the hens and help the farmer collect the eggs. I have no memory of that but I wonder if something happened then to frighten me.

I don’t always sleep very well and last night I had such a bad headache that I sat up most of the night, eventually going to bed at 4 am and getting up again at 7, so I’ve felt tired and heavy headed all day. Bob came with me to the supermarket and while I was picking up some bits I asked him to get a tiger baton for lunch. He had his with pate and cheese but it looked so lovely and crusty I decided to have butter and jam on mine. It tasted odd so I checked the wrapping and found he hadn’t bought a tiger baton, he’d bought a cheese topped one :-|. So he was in the doghouse for a little while.

Then I did a few jobs in the garden, including moving a Chilean guava plant from a medium size pot to a large one which didn’t do my back any favours.

I really admire all you clever crafty people. I am hopeless with craft type things. I even have to get Bob to cut a piece of paper for me if I want it to be straight. When I was at school all the other girls had made a skirt and a blouse while I was still making the bag to keep my sewing in. I assume I must have some talents I just haven’t found them yet ;-)

I think I am going to watch something on my iPad (Bob has had snooker on and is now watching football) and then have an early night as my head is still aching. Have a good night everyone

Vera I hope you have a good night tonight and get more sleep than you did last night and lose your headache.
Sorry you don't like chickens but you may like my little girls as they are so pretty. They are Barbu D’Uccles Mille Fleurs. Very small bantams.

The warthog is great but should'nt the tusks come out of its mouth? I think she's ddone such a good job on that and the child should be very pleased.

Morning all,

Quite warm out but it is cloudy again and no wind.

Oh has fitted a perch for the girls to get into the nest boxes so it a matter of just charging it up with savings and getting the birds in there which I shall do a bit later on.

Usual shop for the paper this morning and egg delivery.

Good morning Mel and all,

No Sausage sarnie this morning. The bread is too stale, and I couldn't be bother to toast it.

Had a right old DING DONG with Ros this morning, and would you believe in front of Denis next door. Yesterday, she filled the little hanging type baskets that go on the fence, between us and Pam and Denis. Being a dutiful husband I said I would put them up this morning. I got my SPIRIT LEVEL out, marked the planks where I was going to hang them. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, came a shout from the side gate. LEAVE THOSE ALONE, I will do it later, when I have been shopping. So I put the CUP HOOKS DOWN and left her to get on with it later, when she gets back from Tesco's. Talk about making me redundant ?? There is almost nothing, she will let me do, apart from the cooking, washing up etc.

Jane, I would have thought they would have to leave access to your road. What would happen (God forbid) that there was a fire or someone needed an Ambulance. I would seriously be contacting the Authorities with your concerns. It might be worth including the neighbours in the road also. the more people involved, the stronger your chances of getting something done. !!!

Vera, how strange that you have this thing about chickens.it could well be something happened as a child, that has put this in your mind. When I had four at the bottom of my garden. The children, who then lived next door, loved to come round with two other lads, and sit and watch them. Plus they loved to get the eggs from the nesting box. They more often than not, got to take the eggs home for their teas. lol lol

Gill, I think that would be a great idea to take Sandra with you to the dentist. You could ask the dentist to explain what is involved when they do a "CHECK UP" She/he might even let her sit in the chair, to get the feel of it. I am pleased to say that I never had any trouble with my children going to the dentist. From when their teeth needed to be checked out, they went every SIX MONTHS, As far as I know, Simon, Harvey, Conrad and Lewis still do.

I have a LEG OF LAMB in the freezer, and offered to take it down to Harvey's for next weeks dinner. I rang him this morning with the offer. He has already decided he is going to do a BEEF WELLINGTON. So the Leg of Lamb can stay where it is.

Pleasant sort of morning here, I went outside in just a T shirt and joggers, and it felt comfortable, I think there is talk of rain showers tonight, with sunny spells tomorrow.

YES, What a "SILLY BILLY" I was getting the wedding date wrong by ONE YEAR. I think my brain is trying to tell me I am getting SENILE. lol lol.

I didn't bother with going out last night, just couldn't be bothered. I see England won FIVE Nil, so they must have dominated the other team.

No plans on doing anything today, now that I have been told not to do the baskets. So it will be my book and paper, and a relaxing day.

I hope you all have an enjoyable day, whatever you might be up to. xxx

Ros is back, she forgot to take my phone to Tesco. We were wondering where all the Credir was going. This morning my phone bleeped, when I opened it there was a message saying "thank you for joining something or other. Can't remember what. They are taking £4.50 per week until we send STOP to a Number, I tried but nothing happened. Eos will have to take it next time she goes shopping. SOMETHING IS WRONG. I have never joined or donated to ANYTHING.

Lovely morning now, well afternoon, I think I will sit outside and have my lunch.

I had a note from a friend to say "The Northern Lights might be able to be seen in the U.K. tonight around 6.30/7.30 So I will sit in the conservatory to see if anything happens. Anyone want to join me. Not here of course, but from your home.

Afternoon all,

Lovely day here the sun is really warm .

I've lots of posts to catch up on as we have had some of the children here ,Lewis from lunch time yesterday and Lacey from school and Jake from school yesterday ,son picked them up and dropped Chelsea off she stayed the night and went home this morning .

Mel the new chicken house has come on a treat i love Ann's names for it :-D will you give it a name ?

Gill it might be easier to get Sandra to the dentist if you tell her you need her to help you when you go ,that way she will go in with you and gradually get use to going plus she will see what happens and how gentle they are then you could turn the tables and say you will help her as she has helped you

That's very odd about your phone Frank ,i carn't see how you'll get your money back now ,it might pay you to just buy a new PAYG phone and start again as if you pay more money on this phone they could just keep taking it .

That's a long time for a road to be closed what ever have they got to do that would take that long ? how long a stretch of road is it Jane ?
Love the head Janice has made she has made an excellent job of it ,i'd like to see the finished costume.

Vera i hope your headache is better today ,i had to smile at the Baton mistake ,i take it you on't like cheese and jam :-D

a bit weary but very happy with my morning. We were out of here at 0930 and in Malvern showground before 10.30. We went to a large Create and craft fair. Lots and lots of stalls and I had saved my money for the purpose. spent £60 but would have spent a lot more on the same stuff in Hobbycraft or other craft shops. Got lots to play with now. It was horrendously busy but we were fortunate parking not too far from the door and grabbing a coffee as soon as we got there (it opened at 10). We did think that with all the people there plus many wheel chairs and mobility scooters (the most obstructive because they are so big) It was a H&S hazard. Goodness knows how they would cope if there was a fire. Although there are many exits I think a fire alarm would cause a crush. we have been several years but this was the most crowded I have seen it. In the end OH took himself off to the entrance hall and waited for me there. He is not interested really, just goes for my sake (and to carry the bags).

Annx I thought of you while there as one of the 'classses' was a glass painting course. They all looked as though they were having fun.

We stopped at a small garden centre on the way home and had soup and some very nice soft bread.

Madam has put up all her baskets, they look lovely, so full of all manner of plants. I asked if they needed watering ,YES !! so I connected the hose and watered all down the drive, the baskets as well as the many pots with bulbs and plants in. i can see now where the money must go every week. She is now putting in a flowering Cherry tree in the front border I looked at the label and it said it grows to THREE METRES. So it will look great when it has grown.

You seem to have had a good spend AnninG. Eos is the same as you, when there is a fair of crafts, she buys stuff she knows she will use in the future, and saves money on what she would have to spend in Hobbycraft. No wonder the high street shops are being affected. But, with all their overheads, it must be difficult. I must admit, I tend to look on line for anything I want/need. It saves me having to tramp around shopping centres. I can't be bothered and with my "PINS" saves me a lot of walking and energy.

I bet you are totally whacked out, by the time the children return home Mandy, but they do say "Children keep you young". !!! ;-) ;-) ;-) What do you find to do, to keep them occupied and entertained ?? What ages are they now. Time goes so quickly that you forget how quickly they grow up. I find it hard to believe that Lewisville be TWENTY ONE in September this year (MORE EXPENSE) lol lol. But he will be worth it. He's the only one Ros has, and she does tend to treat him very well. Whenever (which isn't often) he comes up to see us she will give him £50.00 for petrol money, to help with his expenses travelling to Hertford from Toddington when going UNI. I am not sure how many days a week he goes. I will have to ask him next time we speak.

Are the GIRLS re-homed now Mel. ?? they will be wanting CURTAINS up at the windows and new wallpaper inside. !!! It sounds and looks very good, and should last for many years to come.

I have been sitting the conservatory, but it has got to warm out there, so come in doors to cool off. <3 <3

Not sure what we will have for takeaway tonight, if we don't mind going to collect anything I might have a nice F & C and Ros can have her Chinese from Towcester, which she says, is the best anywhere around. I must admit it is good.

Well I tried oh's idea of letting the girls out and getting them to follow me with the food bucket but they took one look at the grass and started eating it and not following mummy. I had to catch them one by one and put them in the new run. I had four in and went to catch another and two came out so it was a while before I got them all in. We had shut the pop hole as I had'nt put any shavings in the house or nest boxes. Then I went up the shop and to Em's next door and by the time I cam eback the bowls to fit in the nest box had come but they did'nt fit!!!!!!!!! So much for measure twice and cut once. He was out by a mile so now I have 4 square washing up bowls to use for something else. They are in my shed for now.

After I had put the shavings in the house and opened the pop hole most of them came in the house for a look. I could see them through the pop hole bit. They looked up at me but nobody tried to get in the nest boxes. Oh moved the old slabs to the new run and around the house but I just hope they go in the nest boxes. I have only had one egg today too and that looked like they had to strain to get it out as it had some blood on it.

I am now going out in the garden for a bit as I need to tidy up my strawberry plants and repot some.

Good afternoon All

Couldn't get on here yesterday evening as we had a power cut knocking out a lot of Bracknell for nearly an hour when it did come back on the internet had gone down, Richard was out at a quiz night so had to wait for him to fix it. Ruby wasn't too keen on candlelight and took a while to settle.

The wart hog looks great Jane.

Mel the girls' house looks very smart. They will soon settle down and start laying again I'm sure. Your OH has made a very good job of it.

You had a good shop then AnnG at the Malvern show ground , my eldest SIL lives in Leominster and they usually go to the Pantomime every year in Malvern. It's in a lovely area.

Frank your garden will look a picture once all the flowers are out.Hope you both enjoy your take aways F&C would be my choice as well.

Mandy your grandchildren are keeping you busy but it is proof that they love their grandma to bits.

I do hope you are feeling better today Vera and your headache is better.

We had two dead bodies yesterday a frog on the patio and a mouse brought in through the cat flap both were still in tact so must have died of fright poor things.

I have changed my Avatar to a photo of my childhood home which was the home of my great aunt Kate who we stayed with through out of WW2. Reading about the chickens reminded me of her as Watersland was a small holding. Mum and I had the bedroom right at the top.

Afternoon All
Hannah and James have just gone for a walk.Not sure James was too enthusiastic though. He is probably thinking Hannah will be wanting a Sister and Brother chat !!.
I have got dinner ready.It is my tasty Chicken Pie. I have just put the filo pastry on top so its all ready to pop in the oven .

AnnG ,I think youdid well only to spend just £60 today. There must have been so many things to tempt you into spending more
:-D

Frank, Chris will often stop me from doing something in the garden .It might just be something really simple but he will just want to do it himself :-S.I often go off in a huff :-D

Last night in the early hours he whacked me right across the face !!!!!. Obviously he was fast asleep ,but my automatic reaction being woken like that was to whack him back LOL .I'm surprised I dont have a black eye.It was just like he was swatting a fly :-D :-D. He was quite restless all night and I think it was because his painful shoulder was playing up. I said tonight before he goes to bed he must take some Paracetamol and Ibuprofen .

How are you feeling now Vera? I hope much better.That sounded a really horrible headache :-(

So a houseful of grandchildren Mandy :-D.You will be putting your feet up now and maybe having an early night tonight :-D.

Mel I think you are right about the WartHogs tusks, but I think the little ones Janice made look fine and they won't be sticking out the side .I had a look on google at Wart hogs. Ugly little beasts aren't they !!!
So the Girls are in but no bowls for the nesting boxes. What a pity the ones you ordered were no the right size.I'm sure though you will find some use for them though.
I hope the girls will settle nicely and start giving you some wonderful eggs
:-D OH has done a brilliant job hasn't he :-D

Frank,I hope you will soon get some lovely pics of all Ros's flowers and plants.The Flowering Cherry will look beautiful in your front Border.

One of you asked how long the stretch of road is that will be worked on. I think it is probably about 500yards. The very top of our road will be open just for the access to the Primary School housng deveopment and the works.It is then shut off from the school down as far as the BridleWay(which is the lane down to Fitz) Just a few yards from us.
It was made clear that no protests or complaints would make any difference now. The work will go ahead and with no access.I just hope that the emergency services are aware and will not attempt to try and come down this way.They will have to ZOOM along the A14 down to the Cranford junction and come up through Cranford Village.

I am just looking out the window and can see my washing on the whirly line all nice and straight and upright.I have a drunken line for years and it has gradually been tilting futher and further. Chris finally cemented the pole in properly again :-D.It's not quite straight but 99 times better than before :-D :-D
Enjoy your F&Cs tonight Frank. We had that last night.

What a lovely house Anne. I bet you have some lovely memories .
Oh dear a Frog and a Mouse :-S.... One of my Sisters cats used ot catch so many frogs. I remember her saying how the body of the frog would be in the cat's mouth but all the legs would be sticking out the sides !! :-S Do you know why you had a big power cut last night? We dont get many but always now where the battery lanterns and candles are just in case.

AnnG did I say I have seen your new pics on your blog. Hidcote looks really nice and you have some great pics from your trip to the coast.
I don't have an email address for you Vera to send pics to

They must leve you some kind of access through to your houses Jane. They can't just shut the whole road off or how are people going to get to work and the shops.

I have been in the garden all afternoon sorting out my strawberry plants and cutting them back. I hav'nt got through them all yet but I had masses of baby ones I have potted up. I hav'nt much compost so I put them all in cells so I can clean all the old ones out that arn't any good and they babies can go in where they come out.

Anne we hav'nt had a power cut like that for years. I used to like having to get the candles out.

Usual steak for us tonight so thats quite quick to do and a nice bottle of wine in the fridge to go with it.

I thought I may have trouble getting the chickens in tonight but I went round there and just one was out. They must have heard me as nearly all of them came out then so I had to wait till they had had another drink and some more food and then they went in all but one who I thought I may have had trouble with as she kept looking at the old house. I waited and then peeped round the corner and she had gone in so I dropped the pop hole down and they are all tucked up for the night in their new house. Now I wonder if they will find the nest boxes? I only had the one egg today.

Nice picture of Thomas Jane. You'll have to keep it nice and clean if he is going to drink out of it. He is a big boy now is'nt he.

Evening All,

I must be clumsy tonight because I have touched something that has wiped my 2 attempts at posting up to now. I shall have to be more 'light fingered!' :-0

I have missed so many posts so forgive me if I seem to have missed anyone. Mel your OH has done a great job with the hen house, even if he should have gone to Specsavers before measuring the nest boxes. ;-) It looks really professional and well made and will be cosy and warm for the hens. I was wondering if you could get a refund on the bowls?

I hope your headache has gone now Vera. They can leave you very tired for a while after though.

Mandy it sounds like both of you and Max will need a rest after the children have visited. I expect they will be getting excited about your Easter Bunny trail next! :-D

Gill it sounds as if Sandra has picked up on your fear of the dentist. As Jane suggested though it would be a good idea to gently persuade her to accompany you to get used to the place and the dentist. I often see families come together and the little ones come too, just to sit in the chair at first. I think it would be such a shame to move now and not enjoy all the work you have done on your bungalow and garden for a while longer.

Frank I'm afraid I would be the same as Ros if OH wanted to put baskets on the fence! He would be bound to put them at the wrong height so I couldn't reach to water or dead head or something like that, so I would want to mark where they went.

Oh went to another funeral yesterday. It was one of his old footie pals from the club he used to follow. He said over 300 were there and that he'd died of Mesothelioma, same as my ex. They think he would have got it from being in the Navy years ago, when they used asbestos in the ships.

I made OH chuckle this morning when we were reading the papers. I saw an article mentioned a child being called 'Parker' and said to OH that I hoped the surname wasn't 'Carr'. :-)

He has his winter coat still on Mel :-D Beginning to look a bit scruffy so I reckon a moult will be on the way soon.
We aren't going ot be cut of totally Mel. Just from us to the main road at the top of our road. We will have a major detour back down the other way.I think I said it is going to be about a 5 mile or so each way to town and back . Unfortunately it is something we are going to have to put up with for at least 4 months :-S I bet though the work will not finish on time.

Glad all the girls are tucked up safely Mel :-D

Anne I did a double take when I saw your avatar of your childhood home as it was very similar to the house I lived in before I moved here. Mine was only 2 storey as opposed to your 3 storey home but it did have 4 bedrooms. My avatar pic is before we had really started renovating it!

Must have a look at Jane's pic of Thomas.

No Thomas pic to look at.

There are main streets closed at 2 of the villages on the way to Ullesthorpe Court carvery we go to but the signs say 'access only' so people who live there can get to their homes as can the binmen and emergency services. Not sure if there is access at the other ends of the roads though, in which case it could be very inconvenient for those living there! The shops there must be tearing their hair out with losing sales. One of the roads has been closed over 3 weeks now and the other for 2 weeks. It started with 3 way traffic lights at the centre of one village and they appeared to be putting cables in. The through road in the middle of our village was closed a few weeks ago over the weekend and now there is a sign up to say it will be closed next weekend where it leaves the village for a few miles to the main road junction. Some of our closures have been for them to fill potholes and tarmac patches over them. It is near the end of the financial year for councils so they will be using up the rest of their budgets.