General Chat

Frank is Conrad selling to Spanish buyers or to people from other countries (British, German etc) He does seem to be doing well. I am guessing not many are British at the moment though, if not Spanish more likely German or even Russian? Well done to him for making hay while the sun shines (literally). That last lot sound a bargain.

Good afternoon everyone

My goodness Frank that sounds a nasty fall. I’m not surprised you have a headache. I expect you’re feeling stiff and sore as well. I hope you feel better very quickly but if the headache doesn’t ease off fairly quickly just get yourself checked over by a doctor.

Haven’t seen the sun at all today. This morning was grey and dreary and we have had some really heavy rain this afternoon.

I hoped for a good nights sleep last night but it wasn’t to be. OH came to bed about 12 and I soon dozed off only to be woken by his very loud snorting and snoring at 1. I stuck it for an hour but he didn’t quieten down so I went in another room. As I was wide awake I read till turned 4, then dozed till OH brought me a cup of tea at 7.30.

I am feeling a bit tired now but I am out again tonight for a friend’s birthday meal, then back to hers for coffee and cake. We are a group of around 10 ladies who always celebrate our birthdays like this. There’s usually lots of laughter and noise but we enjoy it. Because of dodgy eyes I no longer drive at night so a friend picks me up. She is a spinster lady in her 70s so you would expect her to drive very sedately but she could outdo any boy racer. It’s a real white knuckle ride. To be fair to her, in 50 odd years of driving she hasn’t had a knock but I think that’s because everyone gives her a wide berth :-). I just close my eyes and hope as we screech round bends on two wheels.

I’ve bought the birthday girl a very nice fuchsia for her garden. It’s a good size so I have taken a few crafty cuttings. I’ve been careful how I did it so it doesn’t look as though someone has been chopping at it. With luck they will root.

Right, I had better go and shower and change now so I am ready when my lift arrives.

Afternoon Everyone

Oh gosh Frank,I am surprised you never ended up in A&E after that fall this morning !!!. Ros must have been frightened out of her wits.You will have ot make sure Ros is close at hand next time you have your shower. At least it has been a peaceful day for you with no digger noise to make your head feel even worse.

AnnG .Did OH manage to fit the bit on the shower ? I think sometimes they think that they dont need any instructions,but then it can mean more work when things dont go to plan :-D I just been looking at all your fantastic photos.What wonderful memories for you from your holidays this year.I think you said you have another in September in Tenerife? I think this is a relaxing holiday where you can just sit and enjoy the sun and food and wine or G&Ts :-D :-D

So the new people are now it then Gill.Good job the kitchen cupboards now have enough things to keep them up !!!!!!. I hope they dont come across too many problems with bad workmanship. Glad you managed ot sort out your utility payments.That payout from your previous company certainly came in useful didnt it :-D

Mel ,at least your Hogs poo on the lawn and garden and not all over your patio like the one we had did here. Every morning we found a right old mess and had to hose it down all the time.

There are some very big black clouds but as yet we have not really had any rain ot speak of.Maybe a heavy shower early last evening but so far that has been it. I did manage to get a load of washing dried today .It was a bit risky putting it out but thankfully I made the right decision .
We went to the Garden Centre in Burton Latimer ( Bosworths Frank) and I finally got my standard Fuschia :-D.Dark Red Geraniums for the pots in the front garden ,a pre made up hanging basket (never bought a ready made one before), some Marigolds and other plants (cant think what they are),plus a big pot for the Fuschia and a couple of smaller ones. So a good morning. We had a coffee while we were there.

Tomorrow we are out for lunch .I sitll haven't got a card for Chris for our Anniversary on Thursday :-S... Note to self to get one tomorrow.!

Frank H&G are back in London now and back to work today after what they said was a lovely stay in that cottage.

I feel like a bag of poo today. I think all that has happened and with the worry of Thomas and not getting away has hit me a bit, plus I had a rotten night as my Sciatica decided to start playing up :-S.. I can do without that right now. Tomorrow is a new day :-D
Now I need to start Beef Stroganoff . Not from scratch. Just need to fry off the Beef Strips and mushroom slices and add the sauce.Microwave veg and some rice.

The milkman woke me up at 2.30 last night rattling bottles when he delivered next door :-|. I did have the window open as it was such a mild night. I moved into the front bedroom because of the Sciatica and not wanting to disturb Chris. But tonight I WILL be in my own bed and he will have to put up with me tossing and turning ,moaning and groaning :-D. He could always move out :-D :-D

We posted together there Vera.... Have a lovley evening with your friends and just make sure you are buckled in well in the car LOL .Your friend sounds a rather scary driver :-D

Evening all,

Just lost a whole post !!! oh blow it ,it will have to be a short and sweet one now .

Hope the head is feeling better now Frank it sounded a really nasty fall thank goodness Ros was there as you could have knocked yourself out .

Oh Vera i hope you don't have to travel too far with a driver like that you'll be a nervous wreak by the time you get there :-0
Sounds as if you need a crash helmet and a spare pair of knickers :-D :-D
I think i would have nipped a few bits off the fuchsia too ,you get your money's worth out of it that way , i hope they take .

Oh blimey Jane that's early for the milkman ,i don't think we have a milk man round here now i never hear one come .
Sounds as if it was a good thing you didn't go away with your Sciatica playing up again.
Enjoy your lunch out tomorrow .

Yes i loved the photo's AnnG you've got some lovely ones there ,good idea taking your stick today if the foot still isn't right .
I think all men try to do things and then end up reading the instructions and by the time they do they have put a screw in wrong or cut some thing to short and mucked it up , i hope he got it sorted in the end .

Lovely evening here now the suns out ,i hung my washing out twice and had to get it in quick because it rained ,it's now out again and has been for a couple of hours so i'm hoping it's dry now .

O Frank what did I tell you when you went away. I said be carefull and don't do anything silly while you're away and you hav'nt taken a bit of notice of Aunty Mel, you naughty boy. I am pleased that you are ok though even though you have a headache. Its always best to stay in after a nasty fall like that anyway. I hope you are not too bruised tomorrow or people will think Ros is knocking you about again. :-S

We've had a beautifull day here as it turned out really sunny and warm. Just the nice sort of day to work in the garden as it always is when I have to go shopping. I did Lidl first then on to Morrisons got in quite late and unpacked the shopping and put it all away. Went round to corn the chickens and as I went up the end of the run a rabbit ran past me. IN THE RUN. Fisnished doing the girls and went back round there armed with my gun. Saw it up the end of the run and shot it. While waiting to see it was dead before picking it up I looked a bit further down and there was another one!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reloaded and got myself ready and the girls out of the way and it ran around the run and shot against the wire and ran around again did the same thing , jumped at the wire and shot round again and straight in the chickens house. I came out and looked int he house but it had gone in the cat litter tray top I had put in there for the chicken that was being picked on. I had to come back and get oh who came roundon his mower as his hip and back are playing up again today as he had been working on the mower again, he shut the doors on me when I wnet into the chicken house and I told him when the rabbit comes out to shut the pop hole which he did. I then went up the end of the run once again and shot the second one.

But thats not all. I went behind the run in the field to throw the rabbits so the fox will take them tonight and as I looked up the pathway through the trees out the back there was a deer. Not just a deer but she was washing a very dark coloured baby. Oh came and looked and said she had just had it and go and get your camera. I did so but by the time I got back she had walked farther into the woods path. I tried to get a pic but they may be very blurry.

What an exciting end to a lovely day.

Evening All,

It's been sunshine and showers (some heavy) here today.

Oh dear Frank, that sounded a really nasty crack on your head. Please get checked over if you start feeling unwell. I confess I had a small chuckle having realised you were in your birthday suit before you mentioned it. Our bathroom door sticks in the winter and sometimes I've panicked in case I'm stuck in there. I made a plan that I would knot the bath towels together at each corner on the narrow end and poke my head through the gap (like you would to wear a billboard) and cover my modesty with a towel front and back. lol :-D We did the same as Conrad and worked all hours in our 50s, so we would be comfortable in retirement. It must be nice to be doing it in Spain though! Are the villas close to the sea?

Gill, it's moving day for your neighbours then. I bet they will be relieved to be 'in' at last after all this time. When I have had a few strawberry plants before I was like Sandra and had to pick and eat them as soon as they were ripe. I had a big strawberry bed in a fruit cage at my old house for a while and could pick a shoebox full at a time then. Yum, yum :-)

Vera, it sounds like you are in for a white knuckle ride with your friend! You will have to tell her to steady up in case the Fuschia gets damaged. ;-) I hope you have a nice time and don't nod off after your bad night and I would have snipped a few cuttings too.

Little Fleur came charging over to see me when we got home today, looking all trimmed up and snowy white after a trip to the groomers. Apparently she'd rolled in a cow pat in the field at the back of us!

Another neighbour came for a chat as well and told us there had been a burglary at one of the houses close to us, one of those that were built on the pony field. Apparently they stole one of those inflatable hot tubs like our next door neighbour has, even though it was full of water and they had to drain it all first. What a nerve and the best bit was that they had dragged it over the wall next to the new house our builder built at the end of our close and then climbed over the new security gate with it to their car they had driven to the bottom of our close! The neighbour had it on his CCTV which the police wanted to see, but he said it didn't show the faces or car reg. OH's comment was 'It's turning into the Wild West down here!'.

There was some good news though as both had had success about changing our council tax E banding to D. They had said how the environment had changed with the building of the houses on the pony field, also the 3 recent ones and the extra traffic they had brought. So although we had only thought of applying before, we will do now as they got a refund of £1300 and an annual £300 saving. Our bungalow is the same as theirs. :-D

Is it an anniversary lunch Jane and where will you be going? We only exchange cards for ours and I don't think have ever done presents. I was only thinking the other day that it would have been my golden wedding anniversary in September if I had stayed married to husband No 1, then realised it wouldn't with him passing away 7 years ago.

Yes Mandy there are no milkmen down here now either. There used to be one when we first moved here, but not anymore. OH is just the same with instructions, they always seem to be a last resort!

After today I think OH will be glad when half term is over. We were driving gently up to a junction in a quiet backwater of a village to go for lunch when a young girl aged about 8 on a skateboard flew off the pavement from the left at the junction nearly under OH's wheels almost giving him a heart attack. She fell half off then ran off with her skateboard. :-S Then at the supermarket after, he said a very large woman with an unruly brood of children was in front of him pushing a laden trolley and shouting at said children. Well she only suddenly stepped backwards in her pointy heeled shoes right onto his toe!! :-0 I think he was glad to get home!

Off to watch some telly now.

O I forgot to say that oh had the pheasents down while I was out and he took some pics. She has 12 chicks. I'll send them. She came for her corn with the chicks.

Morning all,

Dull and cloudy here today and it dos'nt look like its going to brighten up either.

slept well last night but oh was up and down before I went to bed. Hips still playing him up.

Saw a big rabbit go past the bedroom window when I got up. It was in the field over the back of us running along the mown path.

Must get a drink as I am so parched.

Good morning Mel. Big rabbit probably thought 'Must run before that woman with the gun gets up'!! :-D

Just managed to get the 8 plants in that we bought yesterday when it started to rain so that will save me watering them until later. (5 in baskets and three in containers/pots.

Good morning Mel and all.

Quite a breezy day here, in fact I have put a T shirt on and closed the door. Not sure how the day will progress.

Dead eyed, Annie of the west then Mel. lol lolHow often do you shoot rabbits. ? being where you are ,I assume there are rabbits in abundance. The fox's get well fed by you, don't they. lol

Another large lump above the one from the other night on my Temple now. My right shoulder is giving me a lot of pain, I hope the bruise comes out soon, and that it starts to ease off a bit. My whole body feels as though, I have been dragged through a hedge backwards. :-( :-( :-( It can only get better. !!!

We went to a nice restaurant last night. They have a wonderful display of all the meats, whole fish, prawns, octopus. If you want you can choose your meal from the display. We ordered ours from the MENU. Conrad had the biggest entrecôte STEAK I have seen, with Salad, chips (he didn't eat any).for me, I had a SPAG. BOLS with a nice pint of cold larger. I just don't seem to be hungry over here. I expect I will get my appetite back when I am feeling better.

Jan flys into Alicante at 9.50 our time tonight. So by theme she through Customs etc. it will be getting close to Midnight when they get back here. I don't think I will bother going with Conrad, but Ros might, as to keep him company.

How are the new neighbours Gill. ?? All moved and sorted now I expect. Lets hope you get on with them.

Ann, That was a close shave for that child. Don't parents/teachers teach them ROAD DRILL anymore. Look Left, look right, and look left again was drummed into me as a small child. Then of course there were hardly any cars on the road.

The villa's site we went to last night, has enough space for 62 villas split between two and three bedrooms, a pool is available for an extra 1,000 euros. It's around ten minute walk to the beech. The small town has everything you would want. Banks, restaurants, shops of every description Police station, hospital, and GRAVE YARD. Conrad made me laugh when he said. "That's Handy the grave yard just up the road, not far to take the bodies"

Has Thomas got over his ordeal Jane, I bet he will stay close to home for a few days after his experience, whatever it was.

The little pups are getting very adventurous trying to climb up each other, to get to the top of their box, We have put cushions all around in case one falls out. Lola is being kept busy looking after them. It's deadly silent at the moment, all three are sound asleep and Lola is stretched on on her blanket. PEACE EVERYWHERE.

I hope your weather improves for those of you who have rain. If we have had it at home, the girls wouldn't have needed to water. If wants to start warming up here or I will start complaining ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Take care all, speak later. xxxx

Morning all

Cloudy here today and there's forecast for rain later. OH spoke to the new neighbours yesterday evening and they said they were having an early night, they have been moving bits and bobs in themselves over the last few days and they said they were shattered. There's a few more bits to move today but then it should all be done and they can finally settle into their new place. It did seem strange hearing voices this morning when OH and I were in the garden. I've done some weeding today and watered the plants in the greenhouse. Some of the weeds were almost 2 foot tall. We have so many pot plants I did't notice them at first, but now most of them are gone, we just need to move a few pots out of the way so we can do the back of the border, but that can wait for another day. The front garden needs weeding again to, it's never ending isn't it?

I'm sure the cuttings will take Vera, I took Fuchsia cuttings a few years ago and almost all of them taken. It was a good idea to do and now you'll have some for yourself. Hope it wasn't to scary in the car with your friend and the plant was okay. My mum drives a bit like that, so I know how you feel. I hope you managed a better nights sleep last night and feel bright eyed and bushy tailed today ;-)

Oh dear Frank, what a fall you had, I hope you feel better today. Maybe it might be a good idea to have a check up with the doctor though, it sounded like a nasty fall. Pleased to hear the diggers weren't noisy yesterday and hope it's quiet again today.

Yes Ann, Sandra loves her strawberries, we only have a few small pots of them but she's the only one who eats them so there's enough for her. That reminds me I brought some in from the greenhouse before and have forgotten to wash them and put them on the dish, I must do that when I've done this post. You poor OH, what a shock that must of been for him when the little girl fell in front of his car. Lucky he didn't run her over. I hope he's okay today.

You were very lucky with the weather when you were away AnnG. I forgot to say yesterday I loved the wood carving pic of the owl, some people are very clever aren't they?

So you've been getting rid of the bunnies Mel, that'll save all your plants. Good job none of your girls were in the way when you shot into their home and it was just the cat little tray that got hit. How lovely to see the dear and her little one. Looking forward to seeing the pics when you send them.

That's very early for the milkman Jane, I only remember hearing the milkman once, but it wasn't that early, I hope you had a better nights sleep last night. Enjoy your lunch out today.

How annoying to loose a post Mandy, especially if it takes a while to type, let's hope it doesn't happen again. I hope your washing dried okay yesterday.

Frank you asked how often do I shoot rabbit and the answer is "when I get the chance". Don't forget the year before last they ate everything in the border that they could and the deer ate the rest. That year I shot eight rabbits and the next year it was'nt so bad but they seem to have come back in from over the field. They keep to the little wood and the back field and thats ok but I don't want them up the border so I keep them down when I can. Thats a total of four this year so far.

Glad you enjoyed your meal out Frank. Did you sleep well last night?

Its raining here and quite chilly with it.

Gill I did'nt shoot the cat litter tray. I have a covered cat litter tray. The bantams have the tray for a dust bath and I put the top cover in the new hen house so the one being picked on could hide in it. Thats where the rabbit went and I could'nt get it out till oh shut me in the house so I could lift it up. It shot into the run and oh shut the pop hole so it did'nt go back in the house then let me out of the house and I went into the run and shot the rabbit.

Afternoon All

We are just about ready to go down to the Red Lion for lunch. Ann on Friday it will be more of a slap up meal for our Anniversary .

I could hardly believe reading how those thieves managed to steal that Inflatable Hot Tub Ann :-0 :-0. It must have taken some time to drain all the water and then get it away over the wall and then to the car at the end of the close. They must have felt quite sure they would get away with it. What a shame though that the CCTV didnt catch their faces or the Car Reg. Your poor OH had had 2 scares now with children having a close shave with his car !!!!. How lucky though that the little girl didnt go under his wheels!!.

Right we are off. I will read all todays posts when we get back. My tummy is rumbling now. I think I might have the fish and chips.

Enjoy your lunch Jane. We use to stop at the "RED LION" on our way back from Felixstowe after our fishing trips. There were a regular four of us. We would stop and have a pint and settle up for my petrol and any other expenses. I just remembered one of the lads aways saying. "That the only time my car tyres were on the ground, was TAKE OFF and LANDING" I could do Felixstowe in under TWO HOURS, but that was at 5.00 am on a Sunday Morning. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Yes Mel I remember you saying how the Rabbits and Deer, seemed to eat all your flowers. How lovely to see the baby and mother together. She would usually keep it out of sight, wouldn't she ??

Ros has everything ready for lunch for when Conrad arrives home. Turkey breasts in garlic and a flavoursome sauce, they will be fried or grilled. She has done new potato's (COLD) with a big bowl of salad, which Conrad loves.

Sheep sh*t pie for us tonight.

This morning I made 24 spicy buns and a chocolate browny with walnuts in it. We had four buns after our lunch of a meat pasty.

Goodness what a quiet afternoon here!! I am now in bed ready for a read and then to watch The Virtues on my laptop. I told Chris he couldnt come up to bed until 10 which is when it finishes :-D.

Frank you must look a honey with all your bumps and bruises. It is going to be hotting up here over the next few days and it will be around the mid 20's ,even hotter in London I think on Saturday .
My lunch is still repeating on me.I had one of their special burgers(NO Chilli Ann :-D ).But one large Onion ring and some delicious chips. It was far too much and I didnt even eat the bun. I had a glass of milk just now and an Omeprozole so am hoping ot feel a bit more comfortable soon :-D.

Any more rabbits this afternoon Mel? You could be having a nice stew you know ;-) ;-)

See you all in the morning.

Have just sent the pics of the pheasent and her 12 chicks.

Thanks for the photos Mel. They are so cute.

Jane hope the indigestion soon shifts sounds like the onion ring was a step too far. However I inevitably get indigestion when we go out for lunch or dinner. I suppose the meals are bigger than we are used to.