General Chat

Afternoon Everyone,

Sunny here and none of the expected patchy rain....yet.

Sailed into the city with it being half term. They are trialling schoolchildren working from computers and not being in school some of the week. A teacher elsewhere checks their work and progress remotely and helps when it is needed. Some children have said they prefer it without the disturbance from their classmates or feeling awkward among their peers when they don't need answers. It would certainly ease the traffic.

AnnG that is a very graphic view of the tragedy. I bet the company doing the restoration are worried in case they were the cause. Their insurance to work on buildings like that must cost a bomb! I wonder what is in place to protect our great buildings in case of fire? I hope it you miss the rain for your trip today. OH loves castles! :-D

OH got a call from the garage mid morning. In addition to the MOT and big service, he needs new brake discs and other brake parts (expected!) but also two new tyres! He said they had found bumps on them. I smiled and said 'I wonder how that happened?' I'm always telling him to slow down where there are potholes and when he is close to kerbs, but he just does the MAN thing and gets irritated. At least he held his hands up now and said he will have to be more careful. He's going to be over £600 lighter when we fetch the car later, so seems to have stopped talking about changing it at the moment now he's spending that on it!

Mel, I like having a browse around The Works. They stock so many more craft items these days. I hope you find some bits to buy. :-D

That was a long day Gwyn! I would have been flagging the last few hours, but then probably not sleep when I got to bed. I hope the pencil will help you in quizzes, despite a monarch missing! OH is good at History, but it's just whether you are lucky with the questions sometimes isn't it.

Gill, I hope it stays dry for your stints as watchmen in the garden today. Your front garden will be 'pristine' by tonight. :-D Hopefully you being around will mean no more damage though.

How's MOAN, MOAN, MOAN now?? I hope the peace and reading your book has calmed you down Frank and you will be all sweetness and light by the time the BOSS gets home. It's good you were given the all clear on your eyes. OH has to have at least 2 lots of those drops as his pupils won't dilate easily, so he is just the same after and reckons it is always a sunny day when he has eye tests. I suppose you also make sure you have your sunglasses with you for afterwards.How silly the council insisted that Tony has to ring as well. It would take them less than a minute to ring his bell while they collect yours, just to be sure he needed his doing. Good idea though to empty his into yours. Common sense seems to have gone out of fashion these days.

I've just been in tears with the workmen outside, they had a load of hardcore delivered and was about to dump it at the head of the driveway next door, I had visions of them doing it really quickly and the fence they broke yesterday being hit again, so I went outside to watch them and hope that didn't happen. Luckily it didn't I think they went slower because I was there, but it did look like it was going to hit the fence as it came really close, which is why I ended up in tears. Two of the workmen said they would put a new piece of wood up tomorrow, they were suppose to do it today, so now I don't know whether to let them touch the fence or leave it now OH has secured it. It looks a right mess. I was counting before and the fence has been damaged four times now. I told the new neighbour this morning and all he said was I was going to put a new fence on my (his) side but can't afford it now. In other words he's no intention of fixing our broken fence even though I said it would need replacing and that we couldn't afford to do it. I'm so fed up and to top it all off OH has been in a bad mood since he got up.

Sorry I haven't caught up with the posts yet, I'm so stressed with it all I just want to go into my bedroom and have a good cry.

Oh Gill, what a dreadful time you are having. No wonder you are feeling so down. What sort of cowboy builders are they? The only piece of advice I could give is “Don’t get upset, get angry”.

I know that if and when the new owners move in you will have to live next door to them but they can’t get away with just fobbing you off. You may not like this suggestion but I would write a formal letter to the builders with a copy to the owners. Be very polite but firm. State the damage that has been done with dates if possible and tell them you expect them to repair it properly. Give them a date by which they must have your fence repaired.

Whatever you decide to do or not do I hope you can be free of stress very soon.

Frank, do talk to the medical people about your testosterone jabs. It sounds as though your moods can be a bit up and down and testosterone does affect mood. Perhaps you need a different dosage. I don’t suppose lack of sleep helps much. Hopefully you will have a better night tonight.

AnnG, have you enjoyed your day out? I hope the weather stayed dry for you. It’s not been bad here - not a lot of sun but dry and not too cold.

Mel, the little dog is gorgeous. I love the black patch. You will have to let us know if he is given a name. I’m taking bets on Patch :-)

Jane, congratulations all round :-D. It’s so lovely to hear happy news for a change. At least if no-one knows the sex of the baby in advance, knitting, sewing, decorating baby’s room will all be done in neutral colours. There’s a tale here. Last year my cousin was thrilled when her only child, in her 30s, became pregnant. After various scans they were told that the little one was a girl. My cousin knitted oodles of things in various shades of pink and bought up just about the entire stock of baby dresses in her town. The big day came and, after a long labour, the proud mum gave birth to .... a baby boy. They hadn’t even thought of any boy’s names so for the first week he was just Baby. However little Cameron is much loved and I’m sure he looks delightful in all his pink dresses ;-)

I must now go and shower and change as I am out tonight with the “girls” as one of them has a birthday tomorrow. There’s a table for 9 booked at a pub for a main course and desserts for those who want them, then back to the birthday girl’s house for coffee and cake so another late night.

Oh Gill, what a worry for you. I expect your new neighbour feels the same as you and is fed up to the back teeth himself now with all the extra expense. I would ring my own buildings insurance to get advice or contact Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance. Try not to get too stressed.

Vera, it sounds like you are a bit of a night Owl. I hope you have a lovely time with your friends and enjoy your meal.

Well, as Jane would say, I have been in a bit of a hoo haaa this afternoon!! :-) We picked OH's car up and it cost £734 in the end!! Still, as he said, if it had been one of the franchise garages, it would have been over £1000!! I then went to pick up a bit of shopping on my way home and while queuing went to get my favourite, small, black patent purse out of my bag ready and couldn't find it!!!! Back on the shelves went my shopping and I then searched my car......no purse! Home I went and more searching and then had to ring and cancel my cards. The annoying thing as well is that I had just drawn out £70 in cash, so all in all it has been an expensive day for us!! :-0

A neighbour brought us a battery for our doorbell this morning as we couldn't find the right one ourselves. No charge.......so that was good of him. At least OH wasn't in his jim jams this time. :-)

Better go and sort my paperwork and what to wear for my hospital appointment in the morning. It will be interesting to see what it is like at the private hospital

Evening Everyone
Thank you all for all you lovely Congrats wishes for Hannah and Gareth :-D..
LOL Vera. What a shock having Cameron when thinking all along they were going to have a little girl. All those lovelt pink dresses bought !!!!. Maybe they were lucky and were able exchange .I suppose there is always that risk of being told the wrong sex of the baby. We never had the option of knowing I was convinced I was having a boy the first time but it turned out to be Hannah :-D
I just remembered my Cousins Grndaughter is called Cameron.

Have a wonderful evening out tonight.

Oh how is grumpy bum now? :-D I hope the air is clear now :-D.Easter down in Devon will be lovely especially if the forecast is correct and it is warm and sunny.

Oh dear Gill.I am sorry you have got yourself all upset today. You really have had a dreadful time . How many panels of your fence has been damaged? I think Veras idea of writing that letter is a very good idea.You need to be able to do something. Have you taken pics of the damage? The thing is you don't want to be falling out with your new neighbours. It is a dificult one . If a letter does no good would you be able to maybe suggest you went halves on the fence. We did that a few years ago when our neighbour wasn't really prepared to replace some fence panels.We still need to have a word about the fence in our front garden which is in a really bad state.

That was a late night last night Gwyn! Was it a long journey? At least at that time of night the roads would have been quiet. I dont think I have ever been to a quiz night .I think I would enjoy it although I'm not sure who would want me on their team :-D :-D

AnnG I hope you have had an enjoyable today at Berkley Castle.The weather will have been fairly good too.I really love visiting old Castles.

Ann, that is a lot out of OHs pocket today £600 :-0.. Is it his car you will be taking to Cornwall?

Mel ,so you predict a Boy for H&G :-D. I am waiting to she what shape she is in a few months. I often think if the Baby is carried high and all out the front it is a boy . I keep thinking of names .I love Thea and Esme for a girl .I think Max is the top contender if it is a boy. But I am sure there will be lots of names they will be considering .

James has just arrived and dinner is just about done.

Our posts crossed Jane, it was £734 in the end. Yes we take his car to Cornwall and he usually does all the driving, although I do some of the journey there and back, but not always. He knows I will do some of the driving if he asks, but is happy to do it. He did a daily commute to Aylesbury, then to Luton, then to Stoke on Trent as well as travel about once he was at these places when he worked and would travel to Newcastle there and back in a day to go to a meeting. He considers anywhere less than 70 miles, just up the road!! lol. My car being wider than his would be hair raising on the narrow, lanes with rocky walls either side in Cornwall. He scratches his at times trying to pass big vehicles coming the other way, so mine would end up with dents! It is low as well and there is a huge downhill hump over a concreted drain as you enter the site where the lodges are, which he reckons my car would have trouble with. It's probably why we have never seen a car like mine down there.

A friend of mine was convinced she was having a girl many years ago and only had pink to dress him in in hospital. She went on to have a second boy, so never got to use the girly clothes she'd got. I think it must be very hard to choose a baby's name. I know I have gone right off some of the names I liked and might have chosen years ago. As long as they don't call him 'Owen' if it is a boy. :-D

We really enjoyed the visit to Berkeley castle. Apparently Berkeley was once one of the most important parts of Britain and the current Berkeley family can trace the male line directly back to Saxons through son and father. The weather was not that good, it started quite heavy rain when we got there so we went into the yurt cafe for coffee and chat (10 of us). Rain stopped after half an hour so it was ok to look a bit at the grounds before going round the castle. Because we signed up to save them tax we can re- visit free any time for the rest of this year.

Oh Frank, you can’t be happy being so grumpy. Do see your doctor and ask what is going on. We are all concerned about you.

Vera when my niece was expecting about 27/8 years ago, she already had a daughter and was told she was having a son. She had a girl.

Annx do you think you lost your purse or had it stolen? Have you checked with the police if it has been handed in?

Gwyn that was a long day, bet you will be in bed early tonight

Jane still on cloud nine? I think it is best, more fun, not to know the sex of baby.

Oh Gill not a good day for you. It won’t be long now, try not to let it get to you. Try and ignore it until you can do something about it. When the mess is all cleaned up and next doors drive is looking good maybe the fence will not look as bad as you think it is.

I hadn't thought about it being stolen AnnG, but I did ring the three places we had been to since including where I last used it to see if it had been found. To be honest I think it may have fallen out of my bag when we had a coffee or meal somewhere. I usually keep my bag zipped all the time, but maybe I hadn't till after it had fallen out this time. I've taken to carrying a couple of plastic carrier bags in my handbag and wondered if I hadn't pushed the purse down far enough and with it being light I swung my bag over my shoulder and it flipped out. It's annoying as I've just read they want my credit card details at the hospital tomorrow in case there are extra charges. OH will have to give his! Berkeley Castle sounds interesting, but sad it wasn't Ideal weather for photos. It's good you can go back again though.

Morning all

Thanks everyone for your words of support I'm sorry for venting yesterday I was just having a down day, I'm feeling a bit better today even though I'm still stressed.

The workmen turn up just after 7am with yet more rubble mixed with sand this time. OH has to go out all day today so it's up to me to keep an eye on them. I'm not looking forward to that. I asked OH to keep the side gate open because I thought if they saw it shut they may think no one is watching.

I think to keep the peace we'll fix the fence ourselves at our own expense or maybe try again to see if the new neighbour would pay for the damage and we'll do the work. The last thing we want is to fall out with them.

We are seriously thinking of moving anyway and we need to keep the peace so it won't need to go on any forms if we have a falling out. I believe one of the questions is "Have you had a dispute with your neighbours"? So I don't want to have to put yes, it's not worth it, but thank you Vera for your suggestion of a formal letter.

The work will soon be over and hopefully things will calm down then. To be honest the new neighbour is as fed up about it as we are and just wants to move in, it's been almost six months since they started and there's still lots more jobs to do, including having a new kitchen put in after the fire they had, so I actually feel sorry for him and his wife. Our broken fence is nothing compared to what they've been through and still going through, so we should count our lucky stars in that respect. I just want a peaceful life with no stress which will come in time. I've just got to be patient haven't I?

I will catch up with the posts later as I want to go and keep an eye on them, now OH isn't here.

Morning All,

Gill I am sure it will all come right in the end so just be patient and relax. You have Easter to look forward to and then Sandra's birthday. Sending love and wishes for a quiet day on the working front. <3 <3

Bit of a grey day here this morning but its dry and there's no wind to speak of.

Sounds like you had a nice day out at the castle Anning after the rain had stopped.

Ann I hate it when you lose a purse. Its just a thought but have you looked under oh's car seats as mine slipped down there once and it had gone right underneath. I looked twice before I found it. Its such a nuisance when you have to change all your cards and there was a lot of money in it too.

Gosh Gwyn that was a late night and I bet you were glad to be home at last and jump into bed.

By the way it was'nt me who made the little dog it was Mandy. Don't think we heard from Mandy yesterday did we? I wonder if she has more grandchildren staying with her so she is busy.

I took Chucky out of the big new house last night and put her on her own in the old house. No broken eggs this morning but there was one in the end box and two hens on the other two boxes who came out of the nest wehn I fed them. No broken eggs in those two nests but I have tolook later on to see if they are breaking them getting out of the boxes. I may have to give up the idea of putting washing up bowls in there and get oh to divid it into to two like in the old house.

Apologies Mel and Mandy. I knew Mandy had made the dog but for some reason I typed Mel. Call it a senior moment. I have quite a few of those these days :-D

Just off to visit my brother on his birthday. He is not recovering quite as quickly from this op as he has from the others and I think he is a little bit down. I’m sure he’ll get there in the end.

Have a good day everyone

Good morning All,

GRUMPY BUM is fine thanks Jane apart from aches and pains. I bet you are still on CLOUD 99. with the news you had. Great for the family.,

Ros was out last night with Mothers Club there was 30 odd of them. They went to the local "QUEEN ELEANOR " (Hungry Horse) Always a good menu and very reasonable prices. I sat with Cold meat and hash browns, with curried beans, and watched Man Utd get THRASHED by Barcelona. with a few cold beers, HEAVEN on EARTH.

Spoke to Simon this morning. He is hoping the Engineer will be fixing his boat tomorrow,so they can get away for Easter. When I mentioned "It's a good job it didn't BREAK DOWN while they were away." He said they have Breakdown cover like the AA or RAC. You learn something new everyday. !!!

Didn't get round to trimming the lawn edges yesterday, so might do that this morning. Did any of you get the rain around 6.30/7.00 pm. ?? It rained here for a good hour, and seemed quite heavy at times.

Ros has gone to get the prescriptions, she will fill our little daily box's, and take a weeks supply with us to Devon.

Jan has booked a table for Sunday lunch. (my treat) Jo and Ella won't be there as they are coming up to her sister in Corby. But, Jan is doing a meal for them, and a little friend of Ella's on Friday. (the little friend comes from a very poor household and Jan and Jo try to give her a little treat now and again) What a lovely pair they are. xxx Of course we will be included. They will set of Saturday morning to Northants. Again, hoping to miss the traffic.

What plans have you all got for Easter ?? Gill, at least you won't be FENCE WATCHING. Try to get out to Chester Zoo for a day to relax ,and unwind from all your stress and upset. xxx I know you have mentioned many times about selling up and moving. Will you seriously consider doing it, THIS TIME. ?? If only to give you and the family, peace of mind. I know you were taking of going to Devon/Cornwall. Would that still be your destination. ??

I've told the neighbours we are away for Easter, and they will keep an eye on the house. Everywhere is locked at the back, so shouldn't be any trouble. But with the TYPES that are around today, you can't be to careful.

We have "THE RANGE" opened in Northampton. It only opened last Friday, and Ros has already been in there THREE TIMES. She says they have everything under one roof, and will effect a lot of shops in the Town. It even has a gardening section, and a coffee shop.

Might start the weekend off by taking Ros out for a late lunch/early dinner. There are lots of nice places to go around here, including Canal side pubs and restaurants. So I'm not such a miserable old sod as you think I am. ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Be good see you later. xxxx

I started this morning with all good intensions to make us some Cornish Pastys. Did all the veg and par boiled it and set it aside. Mixed the onion with the beef and peppered it well. When I went to make the pastry I had'nt got any strong flour so thought I would go up the shop and get that and some lard. My mobile rang, this was 5 past twelve, and it was Di. Was I in if she popped round. I never say no so she came and had coffee and by the time we had looked at the knew chicken house and I gave her a couple of plants and she left it was nearly 10 past 1 so that was my morning gone and then I had to do lunch. NOT pastys.

Did lunch and then wshed up and went and got the things I needed from the shop. Here I am still not done anymore to the pastys and oh is asking for plants to put round the back of the bungalow before I start. He is now snoring his head off in the bedroom and he told me he was only staying there a few minuets.

Photos of Berkeley on the photo blog

Hi Mel, it sounds like you are meeting yourself coming back. lol lol Have a coffee and a sit down.

I have been busy, with going away tomorrow everything needed watering. So for the passed hour thats what I have been doing. Veg plot, Greenhouse and beds and pots/baskets back and front. Just come in. Ros has been planting pansies, and cosmos seeds.She has just come in also.

We had better get our backsides into gear, if we are going out. I am all dressed, so just need a wipe over and put my shoes on.

Nice and warm outside, just getting ready for my trip to the SEASIDE. ;-) ;-) ;-)

See you all in the morning before we go. xxx

I probably won't be around again today but just want to say have a lovely time down in Torquay Frank. Don't eat too many Easter Eggs :-D :-D

Jane are you ok?

Yes Frank do have a great Easter with the family and enjoy some nice walks and weather.

Its not been too bad here today and we did have some sunshine but a coldish light wind.

Done them all 6 will send a pic.

Evening All,

I will be out in the morning Frank, so I hope you have a great break and recharge your batteries :-) I hope Simon gets his boat fixed in time for Easter. When you both work full time, any holidays are precious and important.

Vera, a visit from you is probably just what your brother needs to perk him up a bit. Happy Birthday to him and best wishes. :-)

Gill, that's the spirit! :-) It's so annoying you have had all this trouble, but we still have to carry on don't we. Soon it will all be over and the workmen will be gone and your new neighbours will be settling in. Frank's idea of a trip out somewhere over Easter would do you good and give you a break. I hope you don't have to move after all the work you have done at your place as it would be a shame.

I see you are on the case Mel, 'The Case of The Broken Eggs' ! Hope they aren't getting broken when the hens leave the nest as the washing bowls sound much easier to remove to clean out. GOOD NEWS about my purse! We called at the Co-op for some milk after lunch today and OH thought it might be worth asking about my purse, even though I thought I'd lost it before I got there yesterday. We collected our purchases and I was going to ask after OH had paid, but the very nice young man saw me and asked if I'd lost my purse before I had chance!!!! Apparently someone had picked it up in the shop and handed it to them. He had seen my name on the cards, googled it and seen I had a Facebook account and had messaged me on there this morning to let me know they had it!! ( I'd been out so hadn't seen it yet) How lucky am I to get it back and what excellent service that young man gave to go the extra mile to find me!! I wish I could think how to reward him some way, but will e-mail the Co-op to praise his initiative anyway. :-D He didn't know who found it, but how honest they were, as it actually had £85 in cash in it and various gift cards as well as my bank and credit cards. :-D :-D

My trip to the private hospital was great this morning, no waiting around and a very nice lady consultant. No invasive treatment, just a prescription for some medication. OH was impressed with the free papers and drinks! :-) Then the fun began as the first chemist didn't have what I wanted, the large Lloyds chemist we went to next said they had run out and couldn't get it at the moment! We had the same problem when OH needed medication for his eyes recently. However, the third chemist did have it.....phew! I never knew though that you have to pay for prescriptions, even if you are over pension age when it is a private hospital prescription. Also that the price varies with each chemist, it actually cost double what the Lloyds chemist quoted me.

Been on the go all day, well did get a sit down for an hour at U3A otherwise it was shopping, for food, shopping in B&Q, checking re OHs prescription that had not appeared at the pharmacy, checking again at the doctors re the same this morning and again this afternoon. It seems when the pharmacy nurse is on holiday follow up prescriptions on the pathway don’t get signed off for the pharmacy so they get forwarded to the doctors who are not used to doing anything about it so nothing happens. So no prescription ready. Lucky that he has not run out but we do like to be ahead of ourselves because of holidays.

Good evening all

Haven't felt too well over the past week so I haven't read many of the posts just had a quick look just now.

Just popping in to congratulate Hannah and Gareth on their good news, I expect you can't wait to be a grandmother Jane.

Loved the little dog you made Mandy.

Gill sorry to hear you are still getting stressed over next door surely it can't be for much longer.

Frank I do hope you have a lovely time with family.