General Chat

Twenty years is good for a hip Mandy !!! If my new one lasts that long I shall be 85 :-0 :-0
I rang my neighbour 2 doors down and had a moan about the Landrover. She said it apparently has an oil leak and that Gina (Al's other half ) doesn't want it leaking on their drive!! Why can't they just put a drip tray underneath and keep it on their own property??? Yes it does block the view as we back out of our drive :-S :-S It's not like it is a Mini.

Jane I meant we had to lock our laptops away in a steel cupboard at work so they couldn't be stolen easily. I remember reading about schools getting broken into and PCs being stolen when they first had them. I bet you will be happier when you have a firm date for your hip to be done. It's useful Janice knowing what 'aids' will be good for you to have. I hadn't even thought about that aspect, but can see how a higher toilet seat would help with knees or hips, especially with getting up!

The city near here is sad and grubby to what it was years ago too. Lots of pound shops, charity shops and pawnbrokers, shops that buy gold, amusement arcades, that sort of thing. It used to have up market department stores years ago, but most have gone. The newer development has John Lewis and trendy boutiques and smart eateries, but it is a distance from the older part that is decaying. The market used to be lively and bustling and I used to buy dress making material, plants and veg there, but now there are more secondhand stalls and less stalls altogether.

In contrast, I was surprised to read in the paper that an Aldi store built only 2 years ago on the edge of a new housing development, 2 villages away, is to be pulled down already............but to build an even bigger one with more parking!! :-0 :-0

My back is giving me gyp today, it must be all the crouching over my beading! I think I shall have another early night.

The new gate across the end of the close jammed today and they had to get people out to fix it again. :-D

It has warmed up a bit here now, I would love to have a open fire it's many years since we had one.

Mandy my father in law was also a school caretaker and I can remember him with big bunches of keys. Working at the Arts Centre in the old mansion meant the duty managers also had a big bunches of keys, by the time I left all the offices and Art rooms had their own key codes. I may have mentioned this before when saying about the ghosts,the bar manager couldn't get into his office where the more expensive drinks were kept none of the keys would open the door as usual so they had to call out a locksmith he found the door had been locked using a very ancient lock which he said hadn't been used for many years. There is a lot on the internet listing a lot about South Hill Park, Bracknell including the ghosts but one mentions this.

I ‘ve just been catching up on everyone’s posts. It’s good to read all the chitchat.

It’s been sunny most of the day here but there has still been a cold wind.

I’ve been having one of those days when I couldn’t seem to settle to anything. I fiddled about doing odd jobs all day. Then 0H surprised me by saying he had booked a table at our local hotel and booked a taxi for 7 pm. For various reasons he hadn’t been able to take me for a meal on my birthday in February or our anniversary last week so he thought he would take me out tonight. I didn’t feel like going out one little bit but it was a nice thought so I thought I had better put a smile on my face and go. I am glad I did. We had a lovely meal and shared a bottle of wine and I am feeling a lot more cheerful now. We have just got back.

I am now going to make a cup of tea and take my book to bed. Sleep well everyone.

Good morning everyone.
I'll catch up with all the posts soon now that days are not so frantic during school holidays.
We had a busy week with end of term Easter service at the local church followed by an Easter egg hunt in the school grounds. I wasn't involved in the latter, as I had to be home awaiting a phone call, but the children were having a great time looking for clues to complete the words on their answer sheets.
Earlier in the week I went with my usual class of Year 4 children to help with their school trip to a farm museum near Maidstone. There were lots of really young lambs in the fields on our way. We had workshops on Anglo Saxons, so I am up to date on my sword and shield moves now!
When I went to Canterbury, I was helping with Year 2, who I don't know so well, but as it's not a large school, one soon gets to know quite a few siblings etc. so it gives a head start with names.

It's dull and overcast so far today, but at least it's dry. I hope it stays that way. I'm on rabbit duty, feeding my daughter's rabbit, while she's away for a few days. I used to be able to catch a local bus, hop off on the way, bus continued into the bus station, while I fed and watered the rabbit and could catch the same bus back home on it's return journey. Now with 'improvements' to our local services, I have to walk about half a mile to catch a bus into town, then another to near daughter's house and the same on the return, so the trip takes a lot longer. Rabbit always has a plentiful supply of hay and water, so timing is not crucial, but he loves people so enjoys a bit of fuss, when I go.

I hope the weather stays fair for all you gardeners. I was surprised to see so many flowers on broad beans in a local garden. I've seen bluebells too, but not seen wild ones yet.
Hopefully I can spend some much needed time in the garden this coming week.

Morning Gwyn and all,

I liked the way you hop off the bus when when coming back from feeding the rabbit Gwyn. I used to have 14 rabbits.

Weathers much better here this morning and I have been out to feed the girls and collect the eggs. One was broken this morning but the other one was fine. I think what it is is they chase one of the new ones and to get away from them she goes in the nest boxes to hide and treads on the eggs. She did,nt have any egg on her beak so she is not eating them and the shells are always there and dirty shavings from the egg.

Anyway I only have a dozen this week so will not do the delivery till maybe tomorrow when I know if I have 3 eggs for the big breakfast. I may take Em a half dozen if she's out of eggs.

Hav'nt made a start on the garland yet but the bunnies are sitting on my desk looking at me.

I am planing to get in the garden today and do a bit more. I have been banned from the top border as oh treated the grass in front of it with sulpate of iron to get rid of the moss. He told me not to tread on it so I hav'nt. With last year not goin g up there much as it was soooooooooo hot (its south facing) there is so much twitch in it and its a beast to try and get out. I may have to use some old pond liner to cover the ground and try to plants through it.

Good morning all,

Jane I know how you feel about that parked 4 x 4. I looked out of my kitchen window, and the first thing I see is A BL@@DY GREAT CARAVAN. Parked on the drive of the new people who moved in last week. I think that all Caravans should be on a secure site, and collected when they use it. It's such an EYE SORE. It's a rearlly a BIG OLD THING, that has seen better days. Prior to that, we looked further down the close at another Caravean and a Mobil Caravan. They never seem to move, so why have them. ??

I was told yesterday by the :GREEN THUMB"man not to walk on the lawns for TWO hours, to let the treatment soak into the grass. Gawd knows whats in it. But the lawns are always looking great with no sign of any weeds. So they must be good.

Good that you are getting eggs again Mel, Why is it ,that Em seems to buy so many eggs ?? Does she have many children, and do a lot of baking.

Another bad night, last night. Didn't get up though, I just laid looking at the ceiling and curtains. Sad old thing aren't I ??? I am all showered, shaved, and made the bed, that will save Ros stretching over to do it. Both of us are suffering with our backs, and me with both my good knee and the one I had replaced. Might be the weather getting into the joints. It could also be a sign of OLD AGE. lol lol

Val next door bought back the dish this morning from the S.S. pie. It has gone straight in the bowl to be re-washed. It still has gravy marks, around the edge. Eh, I daren't think what their plates, pots and pans are like, I certainly wouldn't want to eat in their house.. Val Barker says on the occasions she gets invited back after being out with them, on a Wednesday evening. The DIRT and DUST is everywhere. Living attached to their bungalow, we hear most noise, but not the HOOVER very often. lol.

My Brother Bill was in partnership in a Rabbit Farm. All breed for the supermarket trade. It's a meat that Ros doesn't fancy. I lived on them, during the war years, as we had loads in hutches at the bottom of our garden. Rabbit pie, baked rabbit, rabbit stew. I use to HOP AROUND OUR HOUSE !!! lol lol

Another non- discript morning here. Still got that cold breeze, and plenty of clouds. The forecast isn't good for the coming week or so. There is talk of SNOW for Easter.

I still have to put in the Broad Bean plants and Brussels that Ros bought last week. They just sit in the conservatory. I will try to get them in when it warms up a bit.

I am not on speaking terms with Madam at the moment, she is complaining about my BAD MOOD, that I got up with this morning, through the lack of sleep. She can sleep on a cloths line, and is asleep as soon as her head touches the pillow.

Might have a little walk, and end up at the pub. Not sure if there is any football at lunchtime, if there is, it will be a bonus.

Have a nice day girls, whatever you are doing. :-D :-D :-D xxx

Yes Frank she does a lot of baking and has two boys but one dos'nt eat eggs so she bakes and he get them that way. He will only eat plain sponge cakes, no icing or fruit.

sorry you had another bad night Frank and I did laugh at what you sent me. I bet that tickled your imagination with the big smile at the glass of red.

O I am so upset.....I have just found the Robin's nest on the decking. It had three eggs in it so I don't think anything attacked it but it just fell apart a bit more and toppled off the bricks it was on. We have put it back and wedged it up with stones and a small tile but one egg was on the decking and broken and it was growing. Boo hoo. He is still feeding her as he went away with a mealworm for her and thats when I looked towards the nest to see him go in there and it was'nt there. :-( :-( :-( :-| :-| :-|

Good morning all

Mel that is so sad about the robin's nest and one of their eggs being broken are they still with the other two?

Sorry to hear you had yet another bad night Frank. Caravans aren't very nice to see parked close outside of people's houses. When we had ours we were lucky enough at the time to have a lot of space at the back of the cottage which we were living in at the time. When we moved the caravan had to go,

Just heard the ice cream van not really the weather for it plus there aren't many children at this part of the road. I keep ice cream in the tall freezer all year round mostly for the young ones.

Afternoon all,

Dull dreary and chilly here so the fire has been lit .

Oh Mel do you think you they will come back to the nest ? shame one egg was broken but lets hope they sit on the other two .

Anne we had the ice cream van here the other day ,there's an elderly chap in his nineties that lives in the old peoples flats beside us and every day he goes out to get his ice cream :-D

Sorry you've had another bad night Frank perhaps a little walk out to the pub and a pint or two will help your mood and help you to get a better night tonight .

So you have the Easter break now then Gwyn ,are you a teaching Assistant ?
Lets hope the weather is good so you can get in the garden and get your jobs done
It sounds like you have quite a trek now on the buses to feed the rabbit so the
'improvement' didn't help you .

It is DIL's birthday today so we went and took her presents this morning she was pleased with the things we bought her ,son has made her a birthday cake ,he just wanted me to help with the butter cream filling so that was made and i left him to decorate it ,i expect the girls will want to help with that too.

Oh it's got a bit brighter ,the suns trying to shine .

Afternoon Everyone
Oh Mel that is such a shame about the nest :-(.. Do you think the 2 eggs left will survive?
Anne I haven't heard an Ice Cream van for a very long time. We never get one down this way.There is still an old family firm called Rossi I see around and the vans are so old now .They go so slow and it is a nightmare to get stuck behind one.

Vera I am glad you enjoyed your surprise meal last night(even though you didnt really fancy going out :-D). What a lovely thing of OH to do.

Gwyn you do get around with the school children dont you. I can't quite work out if you are a teacher or an Assistant ? You must have plenty of energy :-D. Have the schools actually broken up yet? I am so out of touch with school terms.
How long do you have the job of looking after Bunny? Pity the bus route has changed and so your journey is longer.

How is your mood now Frank? Are you talking yet :-D :-D.I think we must be all the same if we dont get as much sleep as we should. I can get quite grumpy and Chris will say "I can see you are in one of them" That doesn't help LOL So I just tell him to keep himself to himself whilst I am in one of those moods.Thankfully I am not like that too often .I am usually all sweetness and light :-D :-D I think that is the correct term.

Well the Landrover is still parked outside ours on the pavement. :-S They have gone out in their little sporty number with a load of wood sticking out the back of the boot.So I am thinking that the Landrover is not good to drive. At least it is not a caravan like you have to look out on Frank.

I took a top back to M&S this morning.I bought it a few weeks ago but decided I didnt like it . I had lost the receipt and so because the same tops had been in the sale I only got the sale price back.I lost a tenner on that :-S. I got a few bits from the food hall including a Topside of Beef with a Mustard and Herb Basting Fat .I bought one some weeks back and it was delicious.I have 2 in the freezer now :-D :-D.It was surprisingly quiet there today.I saw a family with 2 little girls and they had just been bought the prettiest Easter Hats and were wearing them :-D :-D. The hats were pink and were covered in little eggs and flowers.They looked so sweet .

Lots of ironing planned for me this afternoon,and I need to think what to wear tomorrow when we go down to Broadway for lunch .I think just smart casual .It is not a posh place where we are eating.I think it will take a couple of hours drive so will leave here around 11.. I will be speaking to Janice later to say I hope she has a lovely day.(little does she know we will be there too :-D :-D)

So sad to learn of the fallen nest. What a shame after all the hard work put in to building it.


I'm retired, but volunteer at least 2 days a week in our local primary school and extra if they need help with particular tasks. I don't mind what I do as long as it's not 'arty', as I'm very limited in that field. I help regularly in a Year 4 class, but worked with them last year too, as Year 3 with another class teacher. They are great characters and lots of fun. The school is very supportive of each child helping them to reach their full potential. They work hard, but have lots of fun together too, so it's a very pleasant environment in which to help.
They finished school yesterday and return the Tuesday after Easter.

Sorry I was AWOL yesterday, We were expecting daughter and her oH to arrive for the weekend so I was busy, plus we were also out at hair appointments. They got her at 4pm so we had a lot of chatting and catching up to do talking about the new house that theya re having built in the north Lake District.
today. This morning we had a good walk along the canal from Saul Junction (near Gloucester) To Frampton on Severn and back a total of just under four and a half miles. Our legs ached as none of us have done much walking for quite a while. We were with daughter and her OH who are down staying with us for the weekend.We had a coffee in the little cafe at Saul Junction before we walked then a glass of wine for Lyn and I, a coke for OH and a beer for Joe in the pub on the way back. had a late lunch when we got home. for our meal this evening it is a late Mothers' day treat, a meal at the Beefeater

Mel, sorry to hear about the Robin's nest, that is sad. Will they return to the eggs do you think?

Jane Not nice to have that parked right outside your house, why is it not parked outside their own house if they don't want it on the drive? They are breaking the law in parking on the pavement. It wants somebody with a large buggy or a mobility scooter to complain.

Frank, horrible when you feel tired and out of sorts through not sleeping isn't it. Hope you sleep better tonight.

Gwyn, it sounds a wonderful school. All schools should be like this :-D. I really hadn't realised that schools had finished for Easter. maybe it is because Easter still seems a fair way off.

AnnG.You had some good excercise :-D.Hope you arent too tired or stiff for your meal out tonight :-D :-D. That must be exciting for your Daughter having a house built.Have they designed it themselves?Lovely place to live too in the Lake District.

This monstrosity parked outside has 2 wheels on the road but still takes up a good bit of the pavement.I think a mobility scooter might be able to just get by. Is it still illegal parking with 2 wheels on the road? I just don't understand why he has parked it right outside ours when there are 2 laybys within 2 doors each side of his property.I just think it is really bad manners .

It is still quite cold today but not as bad as yesterday ,so I have not lit the fire. Just got the heating on.It looks a fair bit warmer tomorrow.I am all up to date now with washing and ironing :-D :-D.I did get such hip ache by the time I had finished the ironing.But at least that is all out the way for now .
I am trying to type very carefully as I have just varnished my nails.I have another coat to do .One coat is not enough as some of my nails are still a bit pitted from the Psoriasis.

I am just doing Pasta tonight with a Red Pepper and Artichoke Sauce(In a pouch) I will add some chopped mushrooms ot it, and some little Garlic Bread Sticks.I just need to grate some Parmesan to sprinkle over the sauce.So a doddle tonight :-D

Ooh Frank, fancy getting a dirty dish back from next door :-S. From what you say I don't think I would fancy having anything to eat there either.It was nice of you to do a dish of S S Pie for them. I bet our new friends here will wonder what S S Pie is :-D
I think we should leave that for Mel to explain LOL as it is her name for this dish
:-D :-D
Chris is a bit gutted as we shall miss the Boat Race on TV tomorrow. He always looks forward to that. I must give Janice a ring now to say I hope she has a lovely day tomorrow :-D :-D.I will need to try and keep a straight face(not that she will see it of course ) and keep my voice normal so not to give it away that we will be there.

Evening All,

Dull, dull here most of the day. :-( :-(

I've just thrown some fresh salmon in the bin that I was going to cook. It's in date by a day but just didn't smell right to me. I usually use it sooner as I've had it happen before, but it is supposed to last till the sell by date and if anything the fridge is colder than it should be.

That's a bit of a cheek letting you have the view of their vehicle instead of themselves Jane. It's like our neighbours who always put their wheelie bins out on bin day in front of our bedroom window so they don't have to look at it themselves. It's not good them parking it on the pavement either if it is leaking oil. Who wants to tramp that inside on their shoes? We have a view of a large company van opposite us. When we had a caravan years ago we parked it round the back like you Anne. We built a garage at the side high enough and put folding doors each end so we could push it through onto slabbed standing at the back. We also built brick walls to screen it off from view there too. I was wondering today whether the chap living diagonally opposite us has sold his motorhome? It has disappeared, but all their 3 cars are still there and the bungalow windows are open so they haven't gone away.

We had those key codes at work by the late 80s too Anne. Some of the offices I went to when I sat on recruitment panels had separate codes for different floors and you had to know them to get out into the corridors and toilets!

I went to see an Art exhibition this afternoon in one of the village halls, but it has no car park and there was no room left at the roadside near it so I came home.

What a shame about the Robin's nest Mel. It's 'iffy' whether they will continue to sit I suppose. I keep thinking of those bunnies watching you!! Lol. I had a lovely pet Dutch rabbit after a long battle with mum to let me have a pet!! She was so snuggly and when I was upset I would sit and cuddle her and tell her all my troubles. It always made me feel better to have this little friend.

Gwyn, you do well to help at the school as it can be noisy and quite demanding I expect. Still it must be interesting as well and it sounds like you get out and about with the children too. What a joke your 'improved' bus service is for you!

Ha ha Mandy, it would have to be a big bag wouldn't it. To be honest they aren't as friendly and fussy with us as the other friend's rescue cats which were petrified of us and did a vanishing act when we used to arrive. I suppose these don't see us as often though. They are more curious about what we bring and like a little chin tickle, sometimes but I doubt they would let us pick them up. They like to lie near us and watch us.

I hope you are more your chirpy self now Frank. Losing sleep doesn't help. I know when I have sleepless nights it doesn't help with OH always full of chat and questions as soon as he wakes up and me wanting to just chill for a bit!!!

Vera, I find making the effort to do something/go somewhere turns out to be more enjoyable than expected at times, just like your meal. It was thoughtful of your hubby to arrange it as well. So what did you have to eat.......just being nosey?

Gwyn oh used to live in Kent many years ago.

I have been in the shed all afternoon repotting plants from outside that have survived the winter. They are ones I need to get in the border when I can summon up the courage to go up there and have a go. The little ancient plum tree on the wall is in full flower as are the two damsons outside the wall.

I am sure you will have a lovely day tomorrow Jane and wish Janice a Happy Birthday for me please. Tell her I send my love.

I don't think the Robin's will go back to that nest as the eggs were cold so they won't be any good. The one that was broken and on the floor had blood in it so it was developing, bless.

There's a very rowdy lot over the big house this weekend and I am hoping we don't get too much noise tonight with loud music drifting over on the easterly breeze. The wind has dropped a lot and its been a lovely day out there and very warm in the shed and I had to take my coat off.

I went for a rummage in the stables this afternoon for some big pots. Found a lot.

Oh has just come in and said he saw both Robin's go back to the nest!! Hopefully they may stay there now we have propped it up. :-D

Fingers crossed the Robins will start again in the old nest then Mel. :-) I didn't know you had stables......I think I only saw a bit of your place when I came!!! You have been busy potting then. I need to pot up one of the Leycestria that has grown from seed in the border. The big one got knocked over when next door's fence blew onto it and has never properly recovered despite staking it and cutting it back. There are the remains of a concrete path underneath it, so it can't get a good roothold. It is a lovely one with golden leaves and called Magic Lanterns so I want to plant a new one a bit further forward.

When he got home from footie, OH called me to see what the neighbour has done on the front. It is the neighbour next to us and next to the new gate at the end. Well he's only gone and cut across the curved tarmac in front of his bungalow and painted straight double yellow lines on the road making it look as if some of the tarmac is his land!!!!! lol. He is obviously trying to stop cars pulling across where the tarmac curves and stopping there to get out and operate the gate buzzers or to make room for cars exiting the gates from the other way, but the road doesn't belong to us so I don't think anyone should be painting it! He now has yellow lines and red and white cones at the end of his drive!! I said to OH that I hope it doesn't mean people using the gate will think it's ok to park further back in front of us instead!! :-0

I hope you have a lovely time celebrating your sister's birthday tomorrow Jane. Yes it's nice to be comfortable in what you wear, especially when you are travelling a distance. I shan't be expecting you to say you had a burger!! :-D

AnnG that was a long walk you did with family, I do like canal walks as they are usually very pretty and flat of course. When we had our static caravan in the Peak district a favourite walk of ours was along the Cromford canal. It's nice that you have your family staying for the weekend. Your daughter and her OH must be looking forward to moving to their new house in the Lake District, we have had a lot of holidays there and it is a beautiful area.

Jane that will be a lovely surprise for your sister when you arrive for her special birthday meal, please wish her a happy birthday from me.

Annx surely your neighbour can't just paint double yellow lines outside his property I would imagine he will be made to remove them by the council especially if someone complains. We also had key codes for all the floors not for the general public being the local Arts Centre with bars, restaurant, cinema 2 theatres etc it is open from 9am until about 11pm, it was a pain having to remember all the different codes.

Frank I hope you are feeling more cheerful now and made it up with Ros. Also that you have a better nights sleep tonight.

They would keep changing the codes for 'security reasons' too wouldn't they Anne. I don't know about you, but we weren't always told or would come into work after a day's leave and find we couldn't get in!

Our road is a private road Anne, so I doubt the council or Highways people would be interested. The builder actually owns the road but us householders are responsible for it's maintenance. From what I have just looked up online yellow lines on a private road have no legality, so people could ignore them anyway. It is a bit of a concern how the 2 end neighbours either side of the gate seem to be carrying on a sort of feud that started against the builder and seem to be enjoying it. These daft ideas are creating an eyesore on the road with a patch of yellow lines and they aren't considering any of the rest of us. As soon as there is any noise near the gate the men are finding excuses to be out on the front watching. The neighbour next to us was out washing both their cars when the gate was being fitted, yet for years he has used the car wash in the village like the rest of us. It's so childish!

Yes AnnG, I envy you doing lovely walks like that. I'm hoping when my knees have been done that I can get back to some canal walks. The nearest canal is about a mile from here and we used to do some lovely walks and cycle rides and along other canals near Coventry.