General Chat

Evening all,

Few spots of rain here now but it's been a lovely day ,quite warm in the sun shine ,Colin has been putting a new lock on the back gate and the new fence panels arrived this morning so he now has the job of painting them before he takes the old panels down and puts the new ones up.

Jane Thomas knows where to get so you carn't get to him LOL i think they can smell that flea stuff from a mile off ,i know our dog Bonnie would take off and hide as soon as my hand went for the bottle .

Lovely photo's on the blog AnnG the flowers looked so pretty ,naughty cream tea i see LOL but why not you were on holiday .
Yes as Mel said it's nice to put a face to the name ,hope the dentist appointment went ok and you don't need any treatment .

Sounds as if you both enjoyed the meal last night Frank ,i wondered if it would be busy as it was a bank holiday.
Katie is 9 Frank and yes she loves coming and of all of them she is the loving one ,she was talking about Max's collar and she wanted to know if we had the collars from the other dogs we had and i said yes they were down in the shed .....oh she said how nice to keep some thing to remember them by :-)

Vera that will be nice going to the Tower of London for a private evening tour hope you enjoy it .
Is the coffee morning some thing you do often ?

So you've been getting your plants in Ann, but the twisted muscle at the back of your ribcage sounds a bit painful .
I always seem to try and do to much when it's gardening time again after the winter and end up having to sit down because my back aches ,Colin is just the same , so we now do a little and sit a little with a tea or coffee stop quite often :-D

Tomorrow looks like being a wet old day so it will be shopping in the morning and some jobs inside in the afternoon .

Hope your feeling a little better today Gill .

That sounds a nice day out for Vera and I hope she enjoys it and has a nice meal somewhere.Vera we want to know who you do the coffee morning for please?

Ann those small pinks should be lovely on the island bed. They are so colourfull and some have a lovely smell too. Did you choose the smell ones? I find the little single Dianthus go on flowering all year if you dead head them. I have had one up the border now for about five years and it still flowers. I have a white one in a pot on the patio and thats got buds in again.

I mentioned them raking the gavel as you could se footprints in it.

Had two eggs this mornng and one was broken. Bah humbug...........

I used to have to wrap our cats in a towel really tight to get the pills down their throats. Don't have a cat now as oh hates them. He had too many encounters with them when in the fire brigade. Recueing them from up trees and them weeing all over him.

Hope Gill is ok as we hav'nt heard from her so sending {{hugs}} and XXX's. <3

Usual curry for oh tonight and I am having sweet and sour chicken and egg fried rice.

I bought something in Lidl today that I have never seen before. Its Rossti in a sealed pack and the best before date is 30.1.21. So I have a nice long time to gorget its in the cupboard. Oh said I suppose thats the last we will see of that!! Cheek.......

Mandy I like lots of stops for tea when gardening too. If I am up the border working away and oh makes a cuppa he brings me one up on the mower. I usually have my little kneeler stool he bought me so I turn it up and sit on that while he sits on the mower.

Glad you sent Frank the link to your blog AnnG as he will love the photos you took.

Bought our Cornish Pasty's for lunch tomorrow this week as mine have now all been eaten. I may make them again one day but not during the summer as I have tooo much to do in the garden.

Bought myself a few Asters today. I like an Aster and they can be handy when I do the church flowers. I may put them in the tubs out the front of the bungalow that have the Clematis in.

Nothing exciting happened while I was shopping but on the way to Bideford I saw a lovely red hawthorn absolutely covered in blossom and a bit further along after Landcross there was another next to a white one. When I was young we had trees planted along the roads, well all but our road, and at the bottom of Merrivale Ave there was a red Hawthorn and I brought a bit that has fallen off home to mum and she would'nt have it in the house. She said May Blossom was unlucky.

Morning all

Raining here and it looks like it's here for the day.

I'm starting to feel a bit better now, I've been in bed before 10pm for the last few nights and slept during the day as well, OH thinks I've overdone thing's lately and with all the stress of next door for the last six months he thinks that's why I've been so ill. The new neighbour had wooden shutters put up yesterday on his windows which made me feel better as the window that overlooked us is now blocked, he just has one side at the top open which is to high for him to see over to us. I'm still a bit concerned about the cameras and hoping we can see how far over our side he can see, he told OH that he can only see the top of our back fence, but I'd like to see it for myself. He's now paid the horrible boss in full and is sorting out the rest of the jobs himself so the nasty boss won't be back. The insurance are replacing the kitchen next week and the drive is going to be sealed, then it's just a bit of paining and a carpet to go down in the living room then they can move in. I can't believe how long it's taken to sort his place out. I think he'll be glad when it's all finished as well as us.

I haven't caught up with any posts yet, so hope everyone is okay, I'll catch up with them after my bath.

Good morning, at least we don't need to water the garden.!! Yep raining here too Gill

Glad you are feeling better the good lot of sleeping will help.
I wouldn't worry about whether or not the cameras can see your garden. what if they can? You don't do anything illegal I'm sure. We have security cameras and, if he is like us, they will focus on the part of his house he feels are vulnerable to somebody breaking in. He will check probably once a day but won't sit and watch them like on a TV screen I'm sure. Just think the cameras will be protecting your property as well as his. To be honest we just forget ours are there most of the time. If you are really worried ask him to show you what he can see on the camera that you are concerned about. As you are feeling better now you need to stop worrying about things that don't need worrying about. If you start worrying again you will make yourself ill.

Not sure what we are doing today as we can't get in the garden. Be back later.

Jane <3 <3 <3

Good morning Gill, and All.

Horrible morning here. I think we have had rain all night. The lawns and gardens look smashing after the rain. There is quite a breeze again this morning.

I would love to go to the Tower of London for a tour like that Vera. Working in the City all those years I spent a lot of lunchtimes on Tower Hill watching the various ESCAPE ARTISTS doing their thing, also sitting by the cannons along side the Thames. I really do miss my time spent there. ;-) ;-)

Thanks AnnG for your blog address. I will have a good look later today. I am sure I will enjoy it.

Mel I haven't heard of ASTERS for donkey years. Mum and Dad always had them in the garden, but I don't think Ros does, I must ask her.She did the pots each side of the front door yesterday, when she came back from shopping. They look beautiful, full of little blue flowers, that I do not know the name of. But that's nothing NEW lol lol. Eos loves the sight of MAY BLOSSOM, and always mentions it when we first see it.

Our first cat was called Mitzi, that would have been backing the 60s. She had kittens, I think I mentioned the saga of those some time ago.

Funny you should go to San Pedro every year, and like us we liked North Tenerife. We stayed at BACHAMA(sp) lots of banana plantations, and our room looked over the roaring sea, that broke on the rocks,surrounding the hotel, the side we stayed.

Gill it will soon be over for you, then you will wonder why you got yourself so upset over it all. xxx

What on earth I am going to do for dinner tonight, I just don't know. After being out twice over the weekend, I am getting use to not cooking. ;-) ;-) ;-) I'll have a look in the freezer to find something I am sure.

Shower and Toast time. see you all later.xxxx

Morning Gill, AnnG and all,

Gill I agree with AnnG. They won't be looking at the camera all day and it only for their ecurity and if it shows your drive as well then thats a bonus not a worry.

Started raining here about 7.30pm last night and I think it rained for a while. This mroning the car is all wet but the suns out now.

Cars MOT this morning so I must get on. I hope it dos'nt cost too much this time. Iv'e had a costly month so far this month and we are only a week into it.

We still hav'nt heard anything from the water board about the leaking meter but had a phone call because we had'nt paid the bill of £500.

We now have rain and thunder.

Taken the car in so he will let me know later if anything has to be done and I have asked him to do the oil.

Sorry to hear Paul is still having problems with his bank Anne I hope his friend can give him some advice. Cornwall is lovely it'll do him good to get away, at least he knows if anything has been ordered in his name it'll go to yours so he'll have peace of mind now and can enjoy his time away.

Hope you had a nice time at the Tower of London Vera, it's sounds like a very interesting trip you have planned.

Love the pictures of Thomas Jane, he's not daft hiding away like that. Sending hugs off Sandra and I and hope this week isn't to hard for everyone. <3 Thinking of you all.

It sounds like you've been busy in your garden Ann, our tomatoes are doing really well in the greenhouse and also Sandra's strawberries have flowers on them now and our two bluebell climbers are starting to produce flowers too. The greenhouse is really full now and looks great. OH cut up all the pallets we got from next door yesterday so he can build a planter, it's now given us some space behind the conifers where I store all my plants that aren't flowering yet. When I feel up to it and the weather dries up a bit I'm going to bring some of them down to the borders to replace the bluebells that are going over. Sorry to hear you twisted a muscle, I hope it feels a bit better today.

It sounds like Colin's been busy in the garden to Mandy, let's hope the rain stays away so he can paint the fence panels.

How nice to hear from an old school pal Frank, you'll have lots to catch up with. Sorry you lost your message to him, hope the next one goes through okay. Good idea to move the bird feeder if the pigeons are ruining Ros's border.

Love the pictures on your blog AnnG, the Tulips were lovely I put some in our front garden last year and they are now dotted about the front border, one of our neighbours said how nice they looked. I must admit they do cheer the place up. The one's on your blog look lovely on mass, I always think flowers look better when there are a lot of them together. The weather looked nice and the beach is lovely and sandy. Yes, it's nice to put a face to the name, I showed Sandra and she said you look pretty. <3

Good luck with your MOT Mel, I hope it passes with flying colours. We had a shock yesterday, we thought our car tax was due in December but a reminder came yesterday £235 that's a lot of money and you don't even get a piece of paper to put in your car anymore lol ;-) The reason it's due now is because we put a six months tax on to take it away from Christmas time and then forgot, so it's now due in June. Never mind we have a yearly one now. The insurance is due next so no doubt I'll shop around again as I saved us almost £1000 last time

Oh that is nice Sandra, I have thought myself a lot of things but never pretty!!! But thank you for cheering me up on a miserable day.

SORRY to be the preverbal PAIN in the backside. Can you help me out again. This chap who has been in touch from my childhood, would like to see my story that i did of my younger life. For the live of me I can't find the FIRST BOOK if you can call it that. Does anyone still have it, if so, can you please forward it. I believe Mandy helped out with the 2nd one, have you still got them both MANDY. What am I like. ???

Still a horrible day here. Eos has popped to Tesco, and is making a LEEK PIE tonight so no cooking for me. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Afternoon all,

Frank i've e mailed you both parts of your book .

What a day ,it's been pouring since we got up but it's now turned a little brighter and the rain has eased up , we decided not to go shopping in the rain so we'll go tomorrow .

Glad your feeling a little brighter today Gill .

Hope the mot is cheaper than last years Mel ,it came to quite a bit didn't it but you'd be lost with out your car .

We certainly would Mandy as oh has abandoned his car up the top garden. Because mine is cheaper to tax for the year we just keep that one going.

Its still raining here and they are big drops that fall in the pond and make bubbles.

There are some chaps in the next doors field that are laying drain pipes in this weather!!!!

I have been having a fiddle with this note pad journal type thing. I have painted the cover now and found a nice button to do it up with.

OK some of the Dorset photos are on the blog. I had a terrible problem getting them on there, had four goes at it in the end, that is an hour I won't get back again. Then when they posted there were several I was unable to comment on. I think the blog site might be getting unstable. Anyway, despite the fact theya re all out of order there are some to look at.

More smashing photos AnnG. Some very nice views there.

Its been dreadfull here tis afternoon with very heavy rain I had to whip round to the big girls whiel it stopped for a while but it had started by the time I came back so I did get a bit wet. The water was rushing down the garden and down our drain out the front and I bet it flooded the ditch where they are laying this drainage pipe.

Wet Afternoon All,

What a miserable wet morning it was, but at least it has stopped raining now so I could put some slug pellets round some of my Petunias and lettuce plants.

Frank or Mandy, could you send me parts one and two of the blog please, as I think I lost them when my old computer broke!! Mandy we were going to shop today and saw the rain and thought we could manage till tomorrow. lol :-) I can't believe Katie is 9 years old!! Chelsea and Jake must be teenagers now I would think......how fast they grow up. :-) Is Lewis liking his bigger bedroom now and his new dog?

My back was awful getting up for the loo in the night. I had to get out of bed like I did after my hysterectomy......as little bending in the middle as possible and a slide/roll out. Fingers crossed it has gradually improved today and as long as I keep getting up slowly and carefully it has stopped it seizing up. Hopefully if I carry on being careful I shall be ok. The day before we went away last year I hurt it with pruning in the garden!! I shall have to get these jobs done in the autumn this year.

Gill I'm glad you are feeling a bit better again. It was a good idea to get plenty of sleep, you must have needed it. Our neighbour next door has CCTV as does the neighbour opposite him. The neighbour's is pointed up their front drive and probably covers some of our front garden, but it doesn't record according to the neighbour opposite him, whereas I think his may record as I think it's how he knew about the fisticuffs. I think it would be a good idea to ask your neighbour to show you what his camera can see of your back garden. I had a chuckle as it was 'Naked Gardening Day' the other day and I thought you wouldn't want to be taking part and ending up 'on film'. Seriously though, you don't want your privacy invaded, I would hate it. :-S

Mel I love Asters although you don't see them as much lately. When we first moved here, a neighbour that's now moved away showed me his back garden. We'd all had to lay out our gardens as the bungalows were new and he had a beautiful border, crammed full of lovely Asters in shades of blue, purple and a fuschia pink. Yes, some of the pinks have the lovely smell, but I have some vivid neon pink ones in the front garden that don't. I ought to get a couple for the wall pots as they are nearer your nose! lol That seemed a lot for your car tax, but I think they said it would go up this year. Mine was £120 last time and OH's was free!! I hope there are no nasty surprises with your MOT and that your car passes ok. OH's was expensive last month with the brakework and tyres needed.

Frank fancy your old schoolfriend contacting you! Does he still live in the same area? I have had 2 of my old schoolfriends contact me recently after putting a photo with one of them on on my old school site on FB. Her grandaughter only lives half a mile from me.

Vera, I have always wanted to visit the Tower of London, but been put off by the queues, so envy you your private tour. Was it good?

Must have aa look at AnnG's blog now.

Ann, i've e mailed Franks book part 1 and 2 .

Jake will be fourteen this month Ann and Chelsea will be twelve in September ,yes Lewis loves his new bedroom and the dog goes to bed with him :-D
I meant to ask how your back was today after the gardening you need to get that right if you go away soon .

Our neighbour has cameras up and we wondered if they go over into our garden ,i see you can get cameras now where you can talk to the camera using your phone so if your -out you can still see and hear people in your garden ,i said to Colin if they listen in to us they might hear some thing they don't want to hear if we're talking about them ;-)

AnnG more lovely photo's thank you .

Not heard anything about my car................

Mandy you can only do that on Smart Phones I think. Oh has a Smart phone but I don't mine is an old one now but I get on ok with it. Its only oh who rings me and Di texts me when she is coming round so I don't need a new fangled phone and I would'nt know how to use it anyway.

It was'nt my car tax that was £200 odd it was Gill. Mine was £160 I think.

Sorry Mel, I must pay more attention! My phone must be about 9 years old now and I just use it to contact OH mostly so it is PAYG. I keep thinking I should get a more up to date one but keep putting it off as it only costs me about £25 a year. I think I would be ringing about my car by now Mel. I wonder why they are so long with it?

Thank you for sending me Frank's Memories Mandy! <3 Jake is quite a young man now then and Chelsea is growing up too. I had to smile at Lewis taking his dog to bed! I think I would have done just the same if I were him. :-)

Poor OH rang to check today's meeting was still on as no-one had sent him any papers and they told him the venue had changed and was now in the city! Off he went, sorted out and paid for his parking and then he got a call to say it was now at the original venue again 6 miles away! He wasn't best pleased as you can imagine as it was the rush hour!!

Lovely photos AnnG. :-)

Good evening everyone

I’m sorry your back is not good Ann. Try to keep moving but take it very gently. I hope it feels easier soon.

Good that you are feeling a bit better Gill. You must have needed the sleep. I know it’s easier said than done but try not to get worried about things that might never happen.

What a horrid wet day it has been. Apart from a couple of breaks it has been raining heavily all day and this afternoon we had a few minutes of thunder that sounded right overhead. At least the plants will be happy, though I should think they are waterlogged now.

After the mention of asters I thought I would change my avatar to a photo of asters in my garden but all I managed to do was delete my avatar altogether. Then I remembered I can’t change the picture from the iPad so I will do it on the desk computer tomorrow.

We had a good day yesterday, although things weren’t exactly as we expected. There were 20 of us and the coach company sent a 57 seater coach. Apparently they weren’t charged for parking a coach with more than 50 seats, which seemed a bit odd. We had a very good trip up to town.

When we arrived we went our separate ways. OH and I just walked around the City and down by the river, taking in the atmosphere, and then stopped for a meal. Fish for me and chicken for OH. Then we went to meet the others in the group and our guide.

This was where things were not as expected. Our organiser had been told they couldn’t take more than 20. When we met up, there were in fact 4 groups of about 20 and we were joined together and taken round by one man. Luckily he was an ex-RSM and could make himself heard by all of us. Most of the tour was outside, though we did have a short while in the church. It was however very informative, lots of history, and very entertaining. Our guide was a real comedian.

After an hour or so of the tour he took us to the bar where we had drinks and then just before 9.30 he collected us again, gave us a little talk about the ceremony we were about to see and led us to our places. It was quite moving to think that this same ceremony has been carried out to lock the gates to the Tower daily for the last 800 years. There was a group of American men with us and they loved it all.

After that we were free to go back to the bar if we wished but our coach was picking us up at 10.20 so we left and arrived back at the pick-up point as our coach drew up. We had an excellent run back and were home just after midnight. We all enjoyed ourselves - except for one “moaning Mickey” who is never happy but still comes on all the trips with us.

My coffee morning is not raising money for any charity I’m afraid but is in aid of the club that organised the Tower trip. It started life some 45 years ago as a club for home wine and beer makers but over the years has morphed into a general interest social club. We’re a small club of less than 30 members and we meet monthly and have a variety of speakers, trips out etc. But speakers etc come expensive and we try to keep our subs low as some members are not as well off as others. Our biggest fund raiser is the coffee morning. Most members come and often bring a family member or a neighbour who’ll buy a plant or some raffle tickets etc. I was the club secretary for many years till about 3 years ago when I decided to resign from the committee, but I still seem to be doing nearly as much for them :-S. We have a summer party as well and I had that for several years in our old house as we had a large plot and we could set up outdoor games and activities but our garden here is much too small for that so I generally do the coffee morning.

As usual I have written far more than I intended so I’d better stop. Hope you all have a good night’s sleep.