General Chat

Afternoon all,

What a HOT ONE. !! Barry was here this morning, he cut the front lawn, cemented the steps in, and trimmed all Ros's bushes. So money well spent. He mentioned how well Lewis had mowed the back lawn. Er have booked him to come every two weeks for the rest of the growing year. That way the lawns won't get out of control.

Ros started weeding this morning, and is still at it, weeding the Veg patch. She thinned the carrots, they are small, but I have washed them and will have them tomorrow, together with a good picking of peas.

Maureen across the road, called me over this morning, and gave me some freshly dug potato's that RINGO her neighbour gave her. She and Tony are going away next week, but doesn't like to refuse them. They are scrapped and sitting in water ready for dinner tomorrow.

I feel totally BUSHED. So have done little, apart from getting the veg done for tomorrow, and reading my book.

Ann, I see you have been out and about again this morning. Yes, it has been VERY HOT, and I think it is cooling down a little tomorrow and Monday.

I typed this yesterday, and just seen I didn't SUBMIT IT. !!!

Afternoon all

Bright and sunny again, but with a bit of a breeze which is keeping the temperature down, so that's good. I had a good nights sleep last night and didn't wake up until 9.30 this morning, which isn't like me. I do feel better for it though and have finally got an appetite, so will enjoy my Sunday roast, then it's the F1 race this evening. I've also added a few more people to OH's tree today, so all in all a much better day than yesterday. Sorry folks for having a moan, I think lack of sleep and food, plus worrying about OH just got to me.

Sorry to hear you didn't have a very good nights sleep AnnG, hope you have a better one tonight.

It sounds like the Blackbirds are getting ready to fledge by the sounds of it with you saying mum is probably teaching them to find food Mel. How are your hogs doing, we have one or two visiting our garden each night. I've put the water bowl off the bird feeding on the ground so the hogs can have a drink, they are all around my pots each night and also enjoy the nuts I put out for them. Sandra loves watching them. Yes, 6 months to Christmas, although it's a bit early for Sandra to start the countdown just yet lol

Hope Jane is home today, there's nothing like your own bed. Yes, she'll be glad of her big fan in this warm weather. Hope Fitz is okay.

I've just been given access to a tree match so I'll go and take a look now.

Sorry you had a bad night AnnG.

I have sent pictures.

Good morning you all, What a SILLY OLD BU@@ER I am, forgetting to post yesterday.

Glad that Jane should become today, Chris I a sure will take great care that she doesn't overdo things.

That's not good for you Gill, I thought you and your MUM relied on each other, helping out with shopping and things. I don't recall you mentioning your Sister. Does she live close to you and Mum. There is a TRUE old saying "You can choose your FRIENDS but not your RELATIVES" how true is that ?? I hope you get the wood you want. What plans have you for it ??

In the last photo of the blackbirds, I thought there wasn't going to be enough room for them all. I believe this is quite normal for one or more to leave the nest and are looked after on either the floor or lower branches, dependent where the nest is. I hope Mum is looking after it well. bless. xxx

Certainly a difference in the weather this morning, you can actually breathe out there today. I had another unsuccessful night last night. I watched Midsummer on ITV 3 until 9.00 pm. Went for a read, and tried to sleep at 10.00. NO LUCK. BY Midnight, I gave up and came into the lounge and read until 2.00 am. Ros came out and said "Come on to Bed it's 2.00 o/clock" I did go to sleep eventually and woke at 7.30 am.

All showered and shaved and feel like a new man. All I have to do in the kitchen is make the cheese sauce, Yourshire pudding, and the gravy. We will eat around 4.30..

Ros is doing all the tablets box's for the coming month, then she will do the repeat perceptions, and drop that off tomorrow. So another month comes to an end. As you say Mel ONLY 6 months to NEW YEAR. not CHRISTMAS. lol lol

The people who moved in next door but two a couple of monthsago are having a GARAGE SALE. Their front lawn and gravel is full of all manner of things, and people are coming and going. The sound of cars is unusual in the close,but I don't expect it to go on too long.

Valerie next door is showing signs of improving, but no news when she will be discharged. I bet Tony is pleased, but of course wouldn't dream of saying so. ;-) ;-) ;-)

We had a beautiful F & C last night, (well I did) it was the biggest piece of Cod I have ever had from there. I put a fish slice under it to put it on my plate, but it was so large is fell in two. Ros had Fish cakes, Pineapple ring and mushy peas, we shared a portion of chips.

Have a good afternoon all, and enjoy the cooler weather. WE ARE NEVER SATISFIED, are we. ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

The sun came out here this morning lateish and its been sunny for the rest of the day.
Your fish sounded nice last night Frank. I have never had fish cakes from a chippy.

We watched the FI race and then I went and picked my strawberries, 12 ozs. Then I made 12 sausage rolls and three little flan cases. Guess what I am going to put in them?

Have just sat down for a little while now to wait for the pastry to cool down then I will do the strawberries and put a little vanilla sugar on them and some quick jel. I have a nice pot of double cream in the fridge to go with them.

Evening All

I'm home :-D :-D. Tired and rather sore so I m just lying on the bed watching some catchup tv. Fitz went home at exaclty the same time !!!. I have already caused trouble by knocking over my cup of tea and it all went down the side of my bed onto the carpet and into to the sockets on the plugs extension :-S... Oops. Poor Chris and James has a lot of cleaning up to do

I will be back tomorrow when hopefully I will feel a bit more with it :-D

Good evening all

It’s been a beautiful day here, sunny but a bit cooler than yesterday. It seems to be getting a bit windy now.

I hope Jane was able to go home today. At least she will be able to relax a bit in front of a fan and maybe stay cool. I hope the hip isn’t too uncomfortable.

Sorry you had another bad night Frank. I think you and I are two of a kind as I don’t sleep well and do a lot of reading in the middle of the night. I often listen to the BBC World Service as well. I think you have made the right decision booking Barry every couple of weeks. You won’t need to worry about the lawn and other jobs if you know he will be coming to do them.

I see you didn’t sleep well either AnninG. Do you think it was the heat that stopped you sleeping? It was a very sticky night. I hope you get more rest tonight.

The bird photos are amazing Mel. They have grown so fast. I can’t believe they are fledging already. I have been waging war this afternoon on a couple of blackbirds and a thrush. They keep picking my blueberries. They don’t usually pick them until they start to ripen and mine are still green. I only have a couple of bushes in very large terracotta pots and OH made me a big cage thing that I put over them every year just when they are ripening. The trouble is I can’t assemble it and lift it over by myself so I have made a temporary bird scarer. Each pot is now adorned with 3 long green poles, each pole topped by a pink plastic bag which is tied on and fluttering about in the breeze. I hope the birds might think twice before trying to land on the Bush, but I don’t think OH was very impressed.

Mandy, I hope Lewis is over his sickness now. Such a shame he had to miss his sports day.

Gill, your poor OH has been through it lately. Hopefully the antibiotics will quickly get to work on his infections and the soreness from his op will ease up too. Is your mouth still sore as well? It’s a shame your Mum is being just a little bit difficult, particularly as you and your OH have been doing so much for her, but try not to fall out with her or your sister. That will only cause you more stress and probably upset Sandra.

My OH seems quite a bit better in himself though he still has a fair bit of pain in his back and leg. He is definitely walking more easily, though he can only manage a few yards before he has to rest. He also still can’t stand for more than half a minute before he has to sit down again. He is normally such an active person that he is getting frustrated and bored. I think he has watched more telly this week than in the whole of the last year.

Just remembered it’s dustbin day tomorrow so I had better sort that while I remember. We have to take our bins down and put them on the edge of the recreation ground opposite the end of our Close as the bin men don’t come up. Then it will be time to make OH a sandwich and dish out his next lot of pills.

I hope everyone has a good night’s sleep tonight.

EDIT. I see you are home Jane and causing havoc already :-). You and Fitz will be able to compare notes. I hope you have a comfortable night

Evening all,

Lovely to see you back home Jane and you'll be glad i'm sure to be in your own bed tonight , how quick was that though out in just four days :-D i thought Colin was quick he was out in five days .
I think you'll find you'll drop lots of things ,Colin was always calling me saying sorry i've drop some thing .
Have you got one of those grabs ? they are so handy .

Oh Mel the little birds are all grown up and leaving the nest ,mum and dad have been feeding the all well.

Ann i love the bag , you've done a good job finishing off with the beads ,like bubbles coming from the fish .
That looked a nice little neat church ,lovely roses at the gate .

Sorry to read you've had another bad night Frank ,hope you have a better one tonight .
That's good you have Barry coming now every couple of weeks to do the lawn one less thing to have on your mind .

Sorry you didn't sleep so good either AnnG was it the heat ? it was a bit of a sticky night ,i was hot until about four o'clock when the wind seemed to pick up and blew in the window .

Gill i hope the gum is less sore now ,your poor oh it's one thing after another with him ,i hope he soon feels better when the antibiotics kick in .

Oh dear Vera it must be so frustrating for your OH to be sitting about after being so active ,thank goodness for the television ,does he read ?

The children came yesterday and had a dip in the pool and got in again this morning when they came ,Chelsea rang just after lunch and asked could she come with a friend and go in but we had put the cleaning stuff in and to be quite honest we wanted a quiet afternoon ,Colin wanted to see the race and i had a nice read out in my chair in the shade and i think i dozed off for half an hour :-D

Evening All,

I see Jane is making her presence at home felt already!! I can see Chris and James are going to have their hands full. lol :-D I hope you aren't too sore Jane and that you have a comfy night back in your own bed.

Vera that's good your hubby is improving a little. I can just imagine how frustrated he is though as it's hard when you are used to being active, Fancy the birds pinching your blueberries while they are still green! I rather like your bird scarer idea though! :-D

Mel those are lovely pics of the baby blackbirds. I was surprised they were off so soon, they'd barely got their feathers, but there was no room left for them in the nest.

I surprised myself and slept like a log last night. I had the little window open and the en suite window open and slept with nothing on and just a sheet over me. We went to an old haunt for our carvery today. We only stopped going as they stopped their midweek carvery and senior citizen 2 course deal. My word things have changed and prices shot up! Just one cup of tea (not a pot) cost £2.60 and the same meal and teas we usually have on Sunday was double in price!! I said to OH after did he think the meal was twice as good as at our usual place and he said 'NO!' We won't be going there again. We thought we'd give them a try as they have started changing the meats each week at our usual place and there was no turkey for me last week yet that is the one meat they always put on before. I dislike beef and never eat it and the pork they have started having is pork belly which is very fatty so not very healthy.

Gill your mum sounds very much like my mum was. It can make you feel very uneasy and unsettled as you never quite know what's going on do you? I remember one instance when mum said she needed a deep fat fryer as hers was no good. I said she could have mine as we didn't use it that much and it was too big for just us 2 whereas she was cooking for about 6 when she ran the home. It was quite distinctive with the body of it being enamel with pictures on it. I never saw it at mum's and assumed it was put away in her cupboards when not in use, but one of the infrequent times when I visited my sister, there it was on the worktop!! If you say anything you sound petty, so you keep schtum, but it did used to annoy me as I felt they were in cahoots together to get free things for my sister. It was the same when mum asked me for my cooker for my sister when I was going to sell it. Silly me said she could have it for nothing as there was some tale about hers having rings that didn't work. A few weeks later, mum said she had sold the one I'd given her!! Again what can you say, but we didn't have much money then and would have found the money for it useful ourselves. I hope the wood is still there when you go Gill and that you manage to go while your mum is at church. Your poor OH having a chest infection and thrush now! I hope the antibiotics and meds soon start working for him. It's good you managed to wash his hair for him so that won't be a problem now.

Frank it's a good idea to give Barry a regular slot for your lawns. It helps him plan his work so is much better for him too with him being self employed. He sounds a handy chap too with fixing your steps for you. Is he good a putting up handrails do you think?? :-D :-D Just a thought to stop us worrying about these falls and near misses with those steps. I hope Winston is back to normal now after his ordeal. It was so lucky Conrad found him in time.

Good morning all my dear friends, <3 <3 <3

I see "CALAMITY JANE" is home lol lol Don't worry and get yourself upset my love. These accidents do happen. Think yourself lucky it wasn't all over you. Now do as you are told and try to rest and exercise when you can.

Mel, those little (BIG) babies are just about ready to start setting out on their own. My, haven't they grown. ?? Mum and Dad must be finding the best juicest worms in the locality. I bet the parents will be glad of a break, when they finally fledge.

I found the beef we had yesterday, a bit on the tough side, but Ros said it was fine. I did individual Puddings for a change, Who rememberers eating them cold with golden syrup poured over them. OHHHHH What a treat.

Another iffy night. Read for a while and then the radio. By 10.15 I got settled down, thinking of a good night's sleep. Who was I kidding, still awake at Midnight when Ros came in. Was awake at 5.30 to a beautiful but windy morning.

I watched Trevor McDonald's Railway through India. That bought back some lovely memories, of our "Round the World Trip".,that Conrad and Jan sent us on all those years ago.

Gill/Ann. My mother was a wonderful lady, with the exception that she didn't ever show love and affection, As a Mother, you couldn't ask for better. Her cooking was very basic, but everything was full of goodness, and flavour. Considering she had little money from my dads navy pay. We were always well fed, clean and clothed, that alone during the dark days of war, had to be A BIG PLUS in her favour.

We don't know what Ros has done to her left arm, but from the shoulder, down to her fingers, she keeps getting pain and pins and needles. She is at the Doctors tomorrow, so I have told her to mention it.

Ann, Why oh why do these Carvery's need to keep putting their prices up.?? Surely they must realise it will only drive people, to find other places to eat.

I tried ringing Harvey throughout the day and evening yesterday, but was unable to make contact. Will ring him later on his Mobile to see that everything is O.K.

Well I'll let you sleepy heads, get yourselves together, and enjoy your day. xxx

Good morning Frank and everyone. Not quite such a nice morning today, a bit grey and very breezy, haven't been outside but I don't think it is cold.
Hope you can make contact with Harvey today then Frank, always a worry when people can't be contacted. (we are so spoilt by the instant communication of the internet aren't we?

I had a better nights sleep last night. I do occasionally have bad nights when I don't know why. However, at the moment it is OH's cough which has him up and down. He was not too bad last night and eventually got up and went downstairs at about 5am so I was able to have a couple of hours sleep. Xoughs are horrible and his always linger and, although he is quite quiet speaking he does have a really loud cough (always).

No real plans for today, must go and post a couple of things other than that I may be card making I think.

Jane I hope you had a good night in your own bed and are not too uncomfortable. <3 <3

Morning Frank an dAnnG and all,

Sounds like we have about the same weather here as y ou AnnG. It tried to rain yesterday late evening and I had to rush out and cover oh's mower seat in the dark. Don't think it came to much though.

Slept like a log again lst night. Asleep the moment my head hit the pillow and I had turned the telly off.

Di is supposed to be coming this mornig or should I say sometime today so I better have a tidy up. We only ever sit in the kitchen at the tabel but with doing gardening I hav'nt done anything in the way of tidying the kitchen and there's things all over the place.

I also have to sort out my car insurance and make a dental appointment and get in touch with the water company to tell them the leak is fixed. I should have done this the day after it was done but lost the papers. Found them now so I must do that.

Hope Jane had a restfull night in her own bed last night and she manages the stairs ok today if she comes down. Be carefull we don't need any of Franks trips down the steps...........

I have a midgey bite on my right shin and its itching like crazy. They love me so I think its time to put something across the window at night. We've been sleeping with it open as its been so warm and I don't have net curtains. I shall have to stick a bit of curtain over the window. The sills in there were all midgey this morning and I had to dust them up and shake them out the window. How many of you still shake your duster out the window or door?

Morning All,

Weak sunshine here, but the washing has all dried except my jeans so that's a good start.

Mel I always shake dusters out of the door or window! lol. I was only thinking this morning how to get the dust out of the wide floor mop I do the hard floors with. I usually bash the whole mop on the wall outside, but I was thinking if I slipped the mop bit off I could try hoovering it to get the dust out!! I'm going to be in a lot of today so will be doing the same sort of things. Ringing to book my mammogram now I don't get a recall, sorting my car insurance, checking when I need my next hearing test. It never ends does it.

OH has gone to the docs about all this bloating that hasn't settled down and has been a problem for quite a while. He wasn't a happy bunny as he has to see the nurse later this morning so had to come home again. With his mother having had bowel cancer he thought he would be given an appt with a doctor and there were appointments for those straightaway. Edit, it went well after all and the nurse liaised with a doctor and he had a blood test and needs to drop a sample in to send off for testing and then see the doc in 10 days.

I hope you are managing ok sleeping on your back Jane and managed to have a good sleep. It must be very awkward with the crutches as you can't really carry anything as well can you. I hope the exercises are not too painful to do and that they don't take long to do either. I bet Chris won't know if he's coming or going. They don't realise all the things women do even keeping things ticking over.

My mum was the same re feeding and clothing us Frank. It meant I had some dresses from rummage sales, but they were nice ones and jumpers sometimes knitted from unpicked similar finds at rummage sales. She was a brilliant pastry cook and I have never been able to make such good apple or bilberry pies. I think she got her resourcefulness from her own mother living through the war with little income and having had 9 children. Her mother was a lovely grandma though and was loving and always gave me a hug when I saw her. She'd already got 34 other grandchildren by the time I was born too, but would always have something for me like those little magic painting books that you painted with water. You've started me off on memories now!! lol. Ros should certainly mention about her arm to the doc even if it seems better. Th Trevor MacDonald prog sounds like something I would like. Where did you go to on your world trip and how long was it? It must have been a fabulous experience. I wish I was braver about travel.

Better get the salad put together to go with the salmon I cooked yesterday and then make a start with my jobs. OH has just reminded me I need to plant out some lettuce in my big tub......another job!

Afternoon all

Dull wet and windy here today. OH is starting to feel a bit better and said he would drive me to see the wood today, obviously it's to soon so I said no as his friend is taking me tomorrow. I think he's just bored and wants to go out somewhere, so I suggested he came with me and his friend tomorrow for a bit of time away from the property, the fresh air will do him good to. He said he'd like that but it depends on whether he can managed to climb up into his friends van.

We're using the wood for the framework for the screening Frank, we want to put it down the side of the bungalow, to match the rest of the garden so we will need lots of wood as it's quite a big area that needs doing. My sister doesn't live near mum and I, she's not to far away though, so drives to mum's most weeks, although she hardly visits me, but then no one in the family visits, except my mum and that's mostly when she wants something. I've not been blessed with a very nice family.......the Walton's they certainly aren't. Mum can be really nice when she puts her mind to it, although that's because she wants something in return, but if ever she does do anything for us, you can bet your bottom dollar she'll throw it back in our faces in the future saying "All the things I've done for you" I wouldn't mind but before OH's op she hadn't done anything for us for over 3 years and we never ask her for help, which is why we don't feel comfortable asking her now. OH would rather ring his friends before ringing my mum, which is what he has been doing, but unfortunately the other day they were all busy. Have you managed to get through to Harvey yet? I hope all is okay with Ros, those pins and needles don't sound right, hopefully the doctor will know what's causing it and be able to help her. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's nothing serious.

Hope you had a good nights sleep last night Jane and wasn't to uncomfortable. Fancy spilling your drink, at least it didn't go all over you, so that was good and it was cleared up quickly, so no damage done. I've posted a get well card that Sandra has made for you and also your birthday card. I've written get well card on the back of the one you need to open now, then the pink envelope can be put away for your birthday.

I've also posted your birthday card today Ann, I know it's a bit early but the weather doesn't know what it's doing at the moment and with it being so cold and wet I thought I'd post all the cards at the same time. That was a lot of money for just one cup of tea, I don't blame you for not going back. Salmon and salad sounds now. Hope all goes well for your OH. Yes, I know what you mean about your mum, she sounds very similar to mine. Sometimes I don't know what to say or do for the best as she can fly off the handle one minute and be nice as pie the next, it can be very confusing.

You can buy E45 for itchy skin Mel, I've got some and it's great. Love the photo's of the Blackbirds, their really big now. Sandra loves the one on your rose bush.

Pleased to hear your OH is on the mend now Vera, be it a little slow, but each day is a day closer to him being fit and well again.

Do you think your OH has a chest infection with all his coughing AnnG? Maybe it's time to see the doctor, he might need some antibiotics. My OH's cough has died down a lot since he started his meds. Have fun making your cards.

I have spent over an hour trying to order a bottom fitted sheet from M & S. What a performance. I keep getting an error notice from there end. So have given up. Eos will have to find a store and try to get it there. The one in Northampton has closed.

Ann, The round the world trip covered 10 countries in 28 days. it was a trip sold by AIRTOURS it was from the 27/2/2007 tp 21/3/2007. We set off from Manchester. Conrad and Jan had ordered a chauffeur driven Mercedes from home. So we went in total LUXURY. The first stop was New York for two days, with trips out, then onto Las Vegas, staying ar the 5* Luxor Hotel, for two days. They had paid for a helicopter trip down the strip at night and the Grand Canyon the following morning, landing at a ranch at the bottom and meeting the ranchers, Then onto Hawaii, including a trip to Pearl Harbour. Then Sydney. trip around the Harbour on a evening cruise with meal. Up to the Blue Mountains the following day. On to Borneo, and the Sepilok Orang utan sanctuary, followed by Beijing and the Great wall of China. onto Dubai, with the gold merchants everywhere, in that trip was a Desert trip by Range Rover for a meal with BELLY DANCERS and meeting the local tribes. Onwards to Cape Town and Table Mountain and Cape of good hope. Dinner on the dock side rearaurant and entertainment. On to Cario, there we went to the Pyramids, Had evening dinner on the Nile, with more entertainment. Then finally back to Manchester where the Chauffer was waiting to bring us home. On top of all that, they supplied all the currencies for all the Countries.

Sorry to all you who knew about this, I hope I haven't bored you to death. I have just relived that most exciting trip of a lifetime. We owe so much to those two. Not only for trips to Portugal (TWICE) Malta, Cyprus, the Carribiban cruise, but also paying what I owed on my Mortgage when I had my STROKE. HOW DOES ONE REPAY THAT KINDNESS.

With lots of love and understanding I would say Frank. What a wonderfull tim eyou had and no one can take your memories away they stay with you forever.

Di came and opened up her presents and the cheapest pone she liked the best. It was a little necklace with a dandylion seed set in resin and a little charm that said wish. She got me to put it on her straight away. She went off happy as Larry.

Hope Jane had a good night and she is managing today. Let Chris fetch and carry for you. You could tie a carrier bag to one of your crutches to put your kindle in or bit you need about you.

I had another of those beautiful green moths outside on one of my lights the other day. I took a pic so may send it later.

I have seen mum Blackbird searching for worms on the lawn behind the bungalow and she flies over towards the trees out the back and when I woke up this morning I could hear a baby calling and it seemed to be under the bedroom window where I have a mas of oxeyed daisies.

Thanks for that Frank, I had not seen the details about your fabulous trip. Do you have it all in photos so that you can look back on it. How good they are to you.

Gill, no I don't think he has a chest infection, he is fine in himself (played 18 holes of golf this morning). It is just one of those summer coughs that hang on. We are both the same in that we try very hard to avoid antibiotics.

Oh I see AnnG, I do hope it clears soon for him, then you can both have a good nights sleep. It's not much fun when coughs linger.

Wow Frank, what a wonderful trip, I've not heard about it before, so you must of mentioned it before I joined you all. What a lovely thing for Conrad and Jan to do, you are so lucky to have family like that.

So mum is busy finding worms for the little ones Mel, how lovely. Looking forward to see the pic of the green moth if you send it.

suns out here now but we have a very chilly breezey wind.

What a fabulous, fabulous trip that was Frank! :-D :-D I had no idea you had been to all those places. It must have been so exciting going from one interesting place to another like that and you will have the memories for ever as Mel says. What great boys they are, especially paying your mortgage off after your stroke when paying these things would be a worry to you. All the other holidays too, as you say. I think they are 2 in a million!!

I hope you manage to get your wood ok Gill and it was sensible not to let your OH drive just yet till the wound has knitted together properly. He doesn't want another trip back to the hospital! My mum never set foot here in the 5 years we lived here before she died although she was invited. She was the same when I bought a new bungalow with my first OH. My Aunt visited mum and couldn't wait to be taken to see our new bungalow but even she couldn't persuade mum to come with us. She just liked to try to take the shine off things and spoil your happiness. if she could. Thank you and I'll keep a lookout for my card. I'd almost forgot about my birthday coming up!

Those lingering coughs are awful AnnG and can make you feel quite run down so I hope he starts getting better soon. Luckily you haven't caught it! Do you make many cards?