General Chat

Good morning all,

I thought I had better let you know all is good at this end, I don't want you sending out a search party. lol lol.

I really don't know where yesterday went. I was up at 8.00 am showered. shaved and dressed. I a bit of toast for breakfast. and wandered down to the Harbour. Found a seat out of the breeze, and looked along the beech to the pier. The tide was roaring up the beech. I sat and read some more of my book, and come home about 11.00 am.

Ros decided she would like to go to the "WINKING PRAWN" at Salcombe. We arrived there around 1.30 pm to a heaving mass of bodies. Every man and his dog seemed to be there. Jan went inside and found a table. (most people wanted a table outside) She got in the cheque and ordered a massive plate of Lobster, prawns, mussels, Scallops Salad and fries, It came with three different dips. To say the least I was in my element, as was Ros. When we left about 3.45 pm we stopped at a Garden Centre that Jan said hadn't been open long. I stayed in the car while they went walkabout. Came out with NOTHING. We then made our way to IPPLEPEN. The place where we get the Christmas meats. They have a very large G.C. there, so the girls were in their element. Came out with TWO trolly loads of plants. Most,I am pleased to say, were for Jan's Garden. Finally arrived home at around 6.30 pm.

I assume AnninG arrived safely in Torquay. xxx and is going to enjoy a few days of DEVON weather. Jo phoned on her way home from Kerry's. To say the southbound M4 and 5 were reasonable clear, but the northbound were THREE LANES at a standstill for getting on for 25 miles. So I am glad we never had to travel yesterday, and pleased also, to stay the extra day here, and hopefully have a reasonable journey home tomorrow. We won't be any great rush, so will leave late morning, and hope to be home around 4.00 pm. I must ring Tony to let him know we are staying the extra day, I don't want them worrying something has happened to us. !!!

I trust you all had a wonderful Easter, and hope you didn't eat too much Chocolate.

;-) ;-) Ros bought me an Egg which as yet I haven't touched. I expect she will consume most of it anyway.

I left Ros to get herself showered and dressed, as yet I haven't seen Jan. She could be in the garden planting all she bought yesterday. I will pop out and see.

Another nice day here, I think the forecast says rain and wind from tomorrow. So it hasn't interfered with out lovely break, and to think this time next month. we will be sunning ourselves in SPAIN. for three weeks.


Have a nice day whatever you are doing. xxxx

What a wonderful day you had yesterday Frank, I bet you had a lovely nights sleep afterwards. Yes, I noticed the rain for tomorrow so hope your journey home is okay, just take your time as the roads could be slippy with the Sahara dust around. Let us know when you are home so we know you got there okay.

The workmen have gone to get some more materials so hopefully the drive will be completely finished today. The young boss is there today, not the one for the drive, the one for all the other jobs, so hopefully the rest of the smaller jobs will be finished soon and the new neighbours can move in. They are hoping to be in by the middle of next month.

We had a lovely long weekend of peace and quiet and our stress levels were right down......no migraines so that was good.

Today I'm just going through OH's side of the tree and hoping to do a bit more for him, apart from that I've nothing planned.

A card has just arrived for Sandra so I think it might be yours Mandy. I've put it to one side ready for her big day. I must wrap up all her presents, we've gone a bit mad this year for her. We're hoping to take her to Chester Zoo, weather permitting, on the day before her birthday then she can go shopping afterwards if she wants. With her birthday being on a Sunday we thought the day before would be better as there isn't many shops open on a Sunday.

Going to get a cuppa now then take another look at OH's tree.

Pleased you had a nice day out yesterday Frank and enjoyed all that seafood.

Just having some toast then off shopping.

I have just finished the VERA LYNN book. I must say what a marvellous job she did entertaining the troops in BURMA and INDIA. My brother Jack spent time in Burma, at that time, but not once did I hear him speak about it, or him ever meeting or hearing Vera Lynn.

Gill I am pleased you have had a peaceful weekend, and that might be finished with the drive today.

We are going over to see Jo and Ella shortly, then on to Sylvia and Max's house up above Torquay. Eos has been before with Jan, and says the views are amazing.Max was the builder who did all the work on Jan and Conrad's house. Sylvia is the wife of Jan's brother who unfortunately died of Cancer a few years ago. How her and Max met I do not know, but he is well accepted into Jan's family.

It isn't as nice today as it has been, in fact sitting around doing nothing, I am feeling chilly.

I have just put my tablet on charge, so now I will have to pick a book from the library to continue reading. I am reading so many different books, with a variety of plots/subjects.

I can hear someone calling, so I had better be off. !!!

Afternoon All
No sun today ,it is just all cloud.The smell of pollen is very strong too .Iam sneezing my head off at the moment.

Frank that massive Seafood Platter was right up your street wasn't it. Probably all freshly caught too :-D I am glad you have had a lovely break this time. I think it was last time you couldnt wait to get home. I reackon the roads should be ok for you tomorrow.

Oh Mandy I have just had a good chuckle at your description of the birds bowel trouble :-D :-D.
All those eggs!!. How long did it take for the children to find them all?

Mel I don't know what the tree was that Gareth was helping clear.I just know it had come down .That is the first time I have seen pics of the Farm.It just looks so lovely.It is a Black and White Farmhouse too.

Gill, you will be counting the hours down now until the drive is completed :-D.It would be just great if its all done by this evening. Any more inside jobs shouldnt bother you .
You asked how Hannah was doing. She is fine ,but so tired and she has been quite queasy ,but that seems ot be easing off now.I think it did her good on Sunday just to enjoy the sunshine and relax a bit.

Ann, I too never realised that Alabaster Tombs may have been painted in the past. I wonder how common that was. The Church you visited sounds lovely with the brook and Ducks :-D How is OH bashed finger today??

Frank I forgot to say I know someone who lives in IPPLEPEN. I have been to the Pub there a few times in the past. I can't remember the name of it now.

hey have just dropped me off, and gone to get a few bits. Ros will get some Milk and Bread, to save us stopping tomorrow.

I couldn't believe the size of Syl and Max's house. It is only SEMI-DETACHED but enormous, you could fit our bungalow into it FOUR TIMES OVER. and thats just downstairs. It has TWO TRIPLE GARAGES, room for his boat, three vans and and Land Rover, all outside. Plus a very large undercover heated swimming pool. A massive tiered garden, with views to die for. It is said that when the property was built, (I don't know when) A Captain had it, so he could see his fleet of boats in the bay at TORBAY. OH how the other half live, and they say they are SKINT, with all the work they have done and are still doing. Max said he has to WORK even harder now, with all that they are doing.

He is starting on Jan's kitchen shortly, so Gawd knows what that is going to set them back. ;-) ;-) ;-)

I am going to see if there is any football on tonight, if there is I might go out and leave them to the soaps.

Afternoon All,

Not quite as sunny and a bit of breeze today which was ideal for me to do a bit more in the back garden. OH was out before me, weeding and digging up some of the ruined shrubs. We are turfing out all the evergreen shrubs in the middle beds, as what will be left won't look good after the ruined ones have been removed and they are getting too big now, despite all being describes as 'dwarf' when we got them. We have found over the years that in our soil, shrubs grow twice as big as it says on the labels!! We were both a bit stiff this morning Gill, but had a few tea breaks sitting in the arbour and just filled a couple of sacks so we didn't overdo it. OH managed to cut himself and need a plaster! We then had lunch at our usual Tuesday place, calling in Aldi and The Works on the way back. OH has gone out now to do a bit more.

That's good news about next door Gill. Just think, this time next month the stress could all be over and you could be enjoying your garden in peace again.

You seem to be having a lovely break Frank, although I would only have wanted the salad and fries from your meal! lol. I know you would have loved all that seafood though! :-D My dad was in Burma for some of the war, but the only person he mentioned meeting during his service was Louis Mountbatten. This year we haven't had any easter eggs or chocolate as we both need smaller waistlines.......no more cake for a while either!

I am at screaming pitch :-| :-| :-| I have just spent 45 minutes typing a nice long post, pressed preview and it has completely disappeared!!! I am so frustrated. I can't possibly sit and do it all again so I'll just wish you all goodnight and see you tomorrow.

Afternoon all.
So glad for you all that you have been able to enjoy yourselves in the great weather we've had lately.
It was a little cooler today, but still sunny and no need for a coat when I went in to help at school.
I did get a bit of gardening done, but at times it was too hot, so not finished but at least it's a start.
When my children ask what I'd like for Christmas or birthday, I have suggested that an offer of for example a 2 hour stint of gardening would be great, but offers haven't been forth coming.... My daughter does often cut the grass for me though, so that's a help.

Frank, I was interested to hear about the book you have been reading.
My dad was in Burma and I remember him mentioning Vera Lynn visiting to entertain the troops.
Amazing that she is still alive.

Good evening all. So pleased that you have had a good break Frank. Some of those places over Torquay have such wonderful views. I wouldn’t like to have to do all the steep gardens though. I would have loved that fish platter too it sounds delicious.
Just watching the news so tragic the events in Sri Lanka, poor families on holiday as well as those in churches.

Gill nearly there, won’t be long.

Annx sounds as if you have got on well in the garden.

We have had a lovely day. It stayed bright and dry and not cold but little sun. We walked to Cockington Forge, walking through water meadows, bluebells and wild garlic and nothing to hear but the sound of birds singing. Cockington Country Park is lovely with lakes and beautiful trees as it was planted as an arboretum. We saw a family of ducks with tiny babies and had a good look round the craft shops. Ended our visit there with a cream tea which was fattening, cholestral inducing and delicious. Walking back we managed to catch a bus into Torquay where we had a walk round the harbour before catching the bus two stops back to the park near the hotel where there are the most beautiful tulip and wallflower displays. Altogether with sit downs, coffee stop, cream tea break and two short bus journeys in the middle we walked just under six miles. Now feel very pleased with ourselves with stiff legs and sore feet. :-D

Ann it would have been just chips and salad for me too re Franks Seafood meal. I jsut can't bring myself to eat Seafood. A lot of it is just too fishy tasting for me.I am always fascinated to see these massive platters though and love watching how people manage to crack through the shells of Lobsters etc. I have tasted a couple of Mussels and a Scallop or 2 but I never order them . A nice bit of Haddock or Cod is my kind of thing.

Crumbs Frank, that is one amazing sounding house!!!. What a size and to be in that wondeful setting .It must be worth a million or 2.

I have had to shut all the windows downstairs as my eyes are itching and the smell of the Broom pongs :-S I think it is Broom .It is right beside my washing line so I bet all the clothes will smell too now.
Just before I closed the big windows ,I saw Thomas sitting on the patio so I gave him a little greeting and a couple of minutes later I heard something and he was standing on the window sill inside :-D. He had jumped up onto the Herb trough and then through the open window. He looked quite surprised to find himself there LOL . I better not encourage him to do that though as he brought in some soil on his feet . While he was in we managed to do the next lot of worm treatment .So he has slunk off in a huff now.

I think someone must have moved part of the barrier across the road over the weekend so they could drive through. But today I noticed big metal fencing up which looks far more sturdy.

Oh dear Vera. Deep Breath and give the computer a kick :-D. It is soul destroying when you lose a long post.I think it has happened to us all
Gwyn, I see the suggestion of a gift of a few hours gardening falls on deaf ears with your children :-D. It is nice that your daughter is willing to cut the grass though.
My OH wouldn't trust anyone to get the lines straight :-D :-D. He likes his stripes .Its a big lawn too.
AnnG I remember when our children were really little going to Cockington and having a ride on the Horse and Carriage.We had a fantastic Cream Tea there too. it is such a pretty place but like many other places a bit touristy .You have had a lovely day.
I wasn't sure about your meal at the Hotel the first night. It didnt sound quite up to scratch. NO CUSTARD with sticky toffee pudding and a strange sounding Eton Mess LOL . It is good though you had your own parking space. That is a big bonus:-)

Did anyone see Miriam Margloyes (?sp) in A Dead Good Death .That might not be the right title of the programme. She was hilarious . I admire her for not giving a damn what anyone thinks about her . But goodness she has a right Potty Mouth :-D

Meal tonight was better but I don’t think we will see the chef on master chef! I had bruschetta with mushrooms in a cream sauce which was tasty but consisted of a small square of some bread or other, I doubt it was bruschetta plus about six halves of tiny mushrooms just about cooked and the cream sauce was actually pouring cream with some chopped parsley in it. O H had pate which was ok but served with salad the lettuce of which he said it was the first time he had had lettuce roo tough to chew.
For the. Sin I had roast leg of lamb which was ok and then had sticky toffee pudding. I think they would be better increasing the price of the 3 course meal and buying better quality ingredients. 3 courses are only £22.
Strangely this is a very up market hotel, must have been lovely in its hey day.

Morning all

A little cloudy and a bit cooler today, there is forecast for rain later so that'll save us watering the garden. That's the problem with having over 500 pots, it takes forever to water them all.

How annoying to loose your post Vera, hope you have better luck today. It's happened to a few of us over the years. I post mine then go back and edit it if necessary, at least you know it's gone through then.

I've started doing things for my mum for her birthday and Mother's day Gwyn. I made her some new cushion covers for Mother's day and we're decorating her living room as a birthday present. I really have difficulty buying gifts for her as she seems to have everything she wants/needs, so doing some jobs I think is better as she can't do them herself anymore and it saves her money getting people in. She is thrilled, so everyone's happy. It's nice your daughter cuts your lawn so that's a start, you never know they may do a few hours here and there in the garden given time.

Sylvia and Max's house sounds massive Frank, I bet the views were to die for. Loved the story of the Captain living there and keeping an eye on his fleet of boats. The seafood platter sounds right up your street.

It sounds like the chef isn't very good AnnG, is there anywhere else you could go to for your meals. Apart from the food it sounds like you're having a lovely time away.

Pleased to hear Hannah isn't to bad with her pregnancy Jane. I was sick morning, noon and night when I carried Sandra, especially at 10.30 at night. Every day I was ill at the same time every night, the funny thing was she was born at 10.30 in the morning, I was much better with Michelle though, so that was a relief as I was very dehydrated with Sandra. Naughty Thomas coming in through the window, let's hope he stops doing it or he could end up bringing his bunnies through there to.

It sounds like you have really good soil Ann if the plants you put in there grow twice the size they're suppose to. Pity you have to take all your evergreens out from the middle border and turf it over, is it the cats spraying that's causing them to die?

Well, the drive blocks are finished but they still need to come back to seal it, we're not sure when that'll happen and they need to take all their rubbish away to. There is finally someone there today doing the inside jobs, there hasn't been anyone around for about a month. The boss was there yesterday making a snagging list with the new neighbour, so hopefully this time he'll be able to move in on the date he wants to now, which is the middle of next month. We're going to see what happens later with the rain, hopefully it'll stay on their side and not come over our drive and near our bungalow.

Safe journey home today Frank, let us know when you're home so we don't worry.

Afternoon all,

We have the man here about our water as we had a very large bill. He is going to check the meter reading for us while he is down the hoe in the road. It is always full of water and we can't get down to it to bale it out. Our water comes all the way down our very long drive so if we have a leak it could be anywhere. Ann and Jane know just how long our drive is as they have both been here.

Its raining too today which dos'nt help as they listen on this pole thing and all the chap can hear is the rain!!!!

Had three eggs this mroning and only one with a soft shell broken. They are not eating them as I have to clean it all out of the nests and its all there.

The only post I have read from this morning is Gill's so I am posting this now to see if anyone else has posted.

Afternoon All
I have been over to Rushden Lakes to take back a top to M&S. The sleeves were really odd on it and would have got on my nerves.It has rained a little but looking at the sky now I think we might have a lot to come later.So no need for the hose pipe today.
Gill I knew you had a lot of pots but not 500 !!!!!!!!!! :-0 Do you water with a hose or watering cans? If it is cans it must take forever.

Mel, are you responsible for the leak if it is on your land? I hope the man can find out why you have had such a big water bill.I can imagine that is a bit of a worry if you have to pay for a leaky pipe to be repaired . We too have a Plumber coming soon to see to our tap in the kitchen. He rang at 2 o clock saying he was in Wisbech which is miles away .He said he would be at least an hour with good traffic. I have just emptied the cupboard out from under the sink. Honestly the amount of things in there is shocking. It wasnt that long ago when I had a good clear out there .I shall have to have another go before I put everything back.

AnnG ,what a pity the food wasn't up to scratch .It seems a bit bad really if it is a good hotel to be let down by the food. Are you going to be in Hotels in Dorset or self catering?

Oh Home Serve is here(plumber) Back later.

Home Serve been here just before lunch. It turns out we have a leak both sides of our meter which is in the road so not up to us.

Oh had a word with a waterboard man that came a while ago and that man said he would have a look at the meter for us to make sure everything was alright after numerous lare water bills. We have been paying £300 odd for water for a few years now. It is going to be interesting to see what the next bill will be after we have a new meter fitted.

Thats a great weight of our minds but oh recons we have paid about £2000 which we did'nt need to.

Mel I hope you get a good refund . That is an awful lot of money you have had to pay unnecessarly . Thankfully you are not responsible for the leaks :-D
Our chap has gone now and fixed the tap. He could talk for England. He started on about his bad back and bad knees so I made a quick escape and went upstairs to do some ironing. I left Chris to him :-D :-D

While I was up ironing I heard a helicopter than seemed to be very low. It was hovering over the works across the way.At first I thought it was the Air Ambulance but it had ELECTRICITY written on the side of it.

Ann, your photos of the Church ,Tombs and Graveyard are lovely. What an interesting Church !I see what you mean about some colour still being on the Alabaster.. Incredible that it still there. Just imagine what it would have been like all those hundreds of years ago !!.

The wind is really picking up here now .I wish I had put the mattress protector and Pillow protectors to dry now . But I thought we would have had the rain by now so the tumble dryer is going non stop :-S.

Gill ,my Sister was like you with Sandra through all her pregnancies . She just never seemed to stop being sick. I was lucky and was not even sick once. I did have some queasyness at the beginnning . My main problem was that my nose was blocked and I just had so much trouble breathing through it. I had sprays to help . Once Hannah was born it went back to normal but wit hJames it didnt and in the end I had to have an operation which trimmed the linings of my nostrils. Not pleasant . I was in hospital for several days and then I was not allowed to lift anything for so long. Janice came up to stay for a week to help out.James was still a Baby then.
The worst part about the nose op was that my nose was packed with ribbon gauze and when it was pulled out it was just horrible .I felt like my brain was being pulled down through my nose :-S. I had 2 plastic splints stitched into each nostril to keep the airway open and after a couple of weeks I had to go back to have them pulled out :-S. BUT the op worked which was the main thing and it was so good just to be able to breath through my nose again. I hope that wasn't too graphic :-)

I wonder if Frank and Ros are home now. :-D

Afternoon All,

We have had a really heavy shower around lunchtime. We were in Boots down the road ordering OH's varifocal sunglasses and by the time we were done it had stopped thank goodness as I hadn't got a coat with me. The poor optician serving us could hardly walk and had trouble getting up from the chair. She has bad hips, but her doctor just gives her painkillers and expects her to go to work! She said she is going to push for an MRI scan next time she sees him.

Mel, I wonder when they see your proper water useage whether you could claim some of what you have paid back or at least some compensation? I think we pay about £220 a year on a meter, but OH deals with that bill now so I may be wrong. With you having well water you use, it's obvious with just 2 of you you wouldn't be big users. Yes you do have a very BIG drive and it's lucky the leak was outside your land or that might have been costly to repair and made a mess to put right into the bargain.

Gill, like Gwen, I think it is a great idea to do jobs rather than get presents and your mum will appreciate you doing the decorating without the hassle of getting strangers in to do it. My word, what a lot of pots you have now!! Yes, the soil here is brilliant, no clay at all and your trowel just sinks into it, it is so easy to work. You could have made bricks with some of the clay at my old house!! lol. We won't be putting any turf down Gill or we would have to buy a lawnmower and OH doesn't want that again after getting used to not having one!! He says if we have any turfed area in future it will be artificial. lol The middle beds are random shaped and rock edged so I think I shall cover them in different rock plants that will be more manageable. (not the invasive kinds though) The bed nearer the house is already half covered in rock plants and dwarf pinks, so something similar and I can split some of the things I have to transplant elsewhere.

OG's bashed finger must have felt better Jane as his focus shifted today to the 3 thorns embedded in his fingers so I had to get those out for him! :-) Despite a soak in the bath last night he was moving a bit gingerly this morning after all his efforts in the garden, but he's managed to crawl off to a match an hour ago! :-D I watched Miriam Margoyles and yes, she does have a potty mouth! She has almost a childlike innocent expression with some of the naughty things she asks but knows they are naughty, She likes to shock I think but does get to the nitty gritty!

The oilseed rape is really smelling that sickly smell now and we've noticed loads of it along the grass verges this year where it has spread. OH has started to get hayfever symptoms with it now as well. Quite a few grazing fields around here are brown with weedkiller as it looks like they are destined to have rape seed planted too. :-S

That was quite a house Frank! You do move in wealthy circles!! ;-) ;-) You timed your break just right with the weather changing today. :-)

Hi all, Yesterday in Torquay harbour there were two huge jelly fish, not sure what sort photos when we get home.

Jane beautiful Wisteria, love it.

Annx what a lovely church, some great photos too, lots of ornate memorials. Loved the photos thank you.

It rained this morning and we got a bit wet walking to and waiting at the bus stop.Caught a quite old bright yellow bus to Totnes, got off at the steamer pier and got wet again walking up, and up into town under the rebuilt arch which replaced the original very old arch that burnt down. We then had coffee in the community building which is OH’s old Grammar school. Had a look round the shops then back to catch the bus going to Torquay harbour, had a gin and a prawn sandwich in a local pub, caught another bus the short distance back to near the hotel and decided, as it was early, to walk over to Tor Abbey. We were pleased we did as it was e extremely well presented lots to see I. The museum and art gallery as well as the ruins outside were interesting and the gardens lovely. The sun was out by now so we sat there for a while before walking back to the hotel. That was four miles walked today.