General Chat

Nice to see you popping in Frank, pleased to see you had a good nights sleep and you're heading in the right direction now, the injection might help like Jane said. Hope you had another good nights sleep last night after all your hard work cleaning in the kitchen. Hope the depression eases for you soon <3

What a brilliant post you sent yesterday AnnG, you find some great places to go to and the tour sounded really interesting.

How is your knee today Mel? Pleased to hear your mouth is starting to feel better now. How lovely to receive the Gerberas, what a thoughtful young man.

You were lucky to find somewhere to go for Xmas Jane and for Thomas to get into the cattery. I think it's a good idea to go away, as like you said, Hannah wouldn't want a quiet Xmas this year, it would give her to much time to think, this way you'll all have a good time and she won't be on her own. It'll give you all something to look forward to. Hope you are feeling a little better today and can soon have that long awaited shower. Good luck with the rest of the Physio sessions. Fitz was lucky to get a cancellation, hope all is going well for him to. Sorry to hear about your friends sister, that was a young age.

How are you hands today Mandy with all that clapping, it sounds like Lacey had a good time.

Your OH is doing well Vera with his walking, each day is a day nearer to full recovery. Pleased to see he managed six hours of undisturbed sleep, that would of made him feel much better.

I've just remembered we didn't have any of OH's birthday cake yesterday, I put it in the other room and we all forgot about it. It's a big chocolate one, so we'll all be having a piece of it today. I think with the roof tile and my mum asking for money it was just a funny sort of day. I was so tired yesterday I ended up going to bed before 10pm which is not like me at all, so the day was much shorter than we're used to.

OH has just gone in the loft to see if any of last night's rain came through the roof. I'm so glad he put the tarpaulin down, at least it it gave us peace of mind. The sun is out now so hopefully our neighbour will be able to put the tile back today so OH doesn't try to do it.

No rain in the loft that OH can see, so that's good. I think we'll feel better once the tile is back though.

Going to get a cuppa and have another look at OH's tree, it's coming along nicely now but is still going to take a while to finish. I must admit I'm enjoying doing it.

What is everyone else up to today?

The neighbour has just turned up to fix the roof.

Morning Gill and all,

It rained last night and everything has flopped in the garden with the weight of the water. My poor hydrangeas have so much flower on them they are all down. The garden could do with rain though so I suppose its a good thing really. Its cloudy this morning but still quite warm out there. They say we are in for more rain tomorrow all day.

Mouth and face still sore this morning and knee is playing up a bit too.

Gill its a shame they did'nt manage to do your roof tile yesterday so I hope its dry enough today for your neighbour to do the tile for you.

Oh has just called me as there is another dragonfly hatching and I must go and see.

Got it. In a funny position to take a photo but you will see it was yet pumped right up as it has its wing folded and the big dragonflys can't fold their wings like the damsel flies can. It has also come out of the pond in about the same place as the other one but a bit higher up on the iris.

I also have quite a lot of bird pic to show you too. Goldfinches, fly catchers and the Sparrow family and of course this mronings pic of the swallows.

Good morning to you all,

I had a reasonable nights sleep. Awake at 4.45 am Laid until 6.30, and got up for tea. Ros came out at 9.15. Mage her tea and another for me (forth) She has had her porridge for breakfast, I am yet to eat. Might have eggs on toast later.

Feeling a little better in myself this morning, even though I feel very tired and out of salts. Weathers not helping, bull and miserable. !!

Simon is 54 tomorrow, so we are going over to take his present ands have a coffee, so I am going somewhere at last. Then 1,.30 I have an eye test, I am sure I need new reading glass's.

Nothing planned for today, apart from preparing food for tonight (never ending job) !! I think it might be Pork chops, as Ros bought two lovely ones on Tuesday. What a pity you can'y get them with Kidney in them anymore. They will be with either Roasts and Veg, or Rice with veg in a bag, and extra mushrooms and Onions. DECISIONS,DECISIONS. lol lol

Haven't read the p[ost AGAIN, but at least I have got on here to say HI. xxxx

And its lovely to see you in the mornings Frank. Hope the eye test goes ok and perhaps you can have new lenses put in your existing frames?

Hav'nt done anything yet...........lazy old thing I hear you say. I have just had a marmalade sandwich which was very nice.

Mel, the way you work yourself, it's not a bad idea to take a morning off. Why not go the whole HOG and have the day to yourself. There's always tomorrow as they say.

I always think it's cheaper to buy new frames, perhaps I should enquire, thanks for mentioning it. xx

I have ended up doing RICE in a bag plus a bag of boil in the bag rice, as there din't seem enough in one bag, chopped up three big mushrooms and a large onion to go in it. Have cooked everything except the chops. Just need to warm it up while the chops are cooking.

Ros has taken back some SLIM trousers, that she bought for me. With my thin legs, the trousers looked like they were covering BEAN STICKS. lol lol Then she is going to see about these cutters she needs for this BLIND. Carolyn has gone with her, so I won't being seeing them for a few hours.

Ros had a new pair of shoes that she needs for the CHOIR CONCERT next week. turn up this morning, she only ordered them on Tuesday. The Royal Mail has been sending me progress reports for the last two days. They have just advised me that they have now been delivered. That's some very good service. !!! Practice on Thursday next week for the Concert on Friday evening. Tickets are £10.00 each, and so far they have sold over 60. At this rate the small church at Milton Malsor will soon be filled. The money I believe is going to Charity. It's not my COT so I will stay at home.

Sun is trying to get through, but without much success. it won't bother me, as I will be reading in my armchair.

Hope you are all well. See you later. xxxx

Have you thought of getting in touch with Age UK Frank, they organise all sorts including trips out, it would save you sitting in doors on your own all the time while Ros is out and about. I think they also organise gardening and jobs around the house for free, they might even be able to put a hand rail up for you, so you can get down your steps without falling over. Like I said they do all sorts, so it might be worth giving them a call. You might find there are other men like you living close and not getting out much, so you could make some new friends to. It definitely would help with your depression. I hope you don't think I'm being bossy, I'm just trying to help. <3 Happy birthday to Simon for tomorrow, enjoy your time with him, let's hope the weather is better for you then.

I agree with Frank Mel, you do so much why not have a relaxing day to yourself, there's only your girls to sort out, the rest of the jobs can wait for another day. I hope you weren't eating your marmalade sandwich over the computer again, you were lucky last time it didn't fall on it. Enjoy your sandwich and take it easy. I hope your knee and mouth soon feel better. Have you made a dentist appointment yet?

The neighbour has fixed our roof. At least OH won't need to go up there now and we've got peace of mind.

I've had yet another day of puzzles on OH's tree. Today it's a woman called Jane, who went by the surname Biggs, only I've just found out her real surname is Taylor. It's taken me hours to sort her out, but I still can't find her marriage to Frank Williams. I think I might have to give up on the marriage for now as I seem to be going around in circles.

Their first child Edward Francis Williams was born Quarter December 1899 so you'd think they would of been married not long before that year, but no there doesn't seem to be a marriage for a Frank Williams to either a Jane Taylor or a Jane Biggs.

I think I've found Jane's death though in 1949 Cheltenham, but that depends on when she was born. According to the 1939 register she was born in 1875 which matches the death record I found, but her birth was January 1876. I can only assume she was born December 1875 and her birth was registered the following month which happened to be the next year. I can't see her birthday on the 1939 register with not subscribing to the site, it just gives me the year she was born, which isn't very helpful at the moment.

Well, I'd better get back to it, I'm sure I'll find the marriage and their deaths eventually. I'm pretty sure the one I've found for Jane Williams in Cheltenham 1949 is the right one for her, but Frank Williams is proving to be a bit more difficult. There is one in Cheltenham in 1932 that might be him.......but who knows?????

Onward and upwards as they say ;-) ;-) Wish me luck :-)

Iv'e just sent more pics.

Gill you are possibly right about Jane being born and registered January 1876. Was it her birth you saw or her baptism maybe?
glad there was no rain in the loft and the roof is fixed now, well done your neighbour.

Frank good to see you looking a bit more chirpy. I used to love the pork chops with the kidneys in. Do you fry them or roast them in the oven. It sounds very nice.
We met friends in Chepstow for lunch today so it is sandwiches for us this evening.

Thanks for the photos Mel, just looked at them as we were out all day.

Evening All

Mel what a lovely selection of pics today :-D Those Swallows look really squashed in the nest now.They must be off soon.

Frank, you are sounding much more like yourself now which is great :-D. I am sure as each day goes by you will feel better .It will be nice to see Simon on his Birthday tomorrow. Then your eye test . That will be you out of the house for a few hours :-D

Good job the tile has been sorted now Gill and no rain came through. What a cheek of this woman wanting £7,000 of anyone. If her family arent prepared to give it to her why should anyone else !!!. OPlus if it is t obe paid back on her death she might live for years !!!!!!!.

Well I have the all clear now to have a shower :-D :-D :-D So tomorrow morning that is where i shall be :-D. Chris has to be on hand to help me in and out as is a fair step up .It will be heaven.I just need to remember not to rub the wound and pat it dry. The redness is still there a bit but Chris will be able to keep an eye on that . Fitz has to go back yet again once he has finished his antibiotics. I shall be glad to finish injecting my tummy each night. One more week to go with them. Then it is getting rid of these awful compression knee length socks.My skin is flaking on my legs now being covered up all the time so I am going to have to start plastering moisture cream on them.
Looks like James is going to be a bit late tonight as I havent heard if he has left work yet.

Love all the pictures Mel, you are lucky having all these birds and insects around and being able to photograph them.

I bet you can't wait for tomorrow Jane and the lovely shower you've been waiting so long for. Yes, don't forget to pat the sore area dry, OH has to do that, you'll soon get used to it.

What a lovely horse picture you made at felting Ann, you are so clever. Looking at it, you wouldn't guess it was only your second time of doing this new craft.

I decided to put Jane on my tree as being born in 1875 with her birth being registered in the first quarter of the following year AnnG. I also think I've found her marriage to Frank Williams, although it's in Worcestershire not Gloucestershire, but this is where she was born and I think she was pregnant when she married as her first child was born around six months later. The only thing that baffled me was Frank's name, as it said Francis, but that was the middle name of his first child, so maybe it's right. I have mentioned in their notes that the marriage needs confirming, just incase it's wrong. I'm now sorting out their children.

Gill Frank is often short for Francis.

Annx loved the horse, very pretty.

We had a very very tiny Robin on the patio, must only just be out of the nest. He hopped down the side of the house so hopefully he is safe there and hopefully will get fed as that is where the nest is.

Evening All,

Well, after missing a day there are too many posts to comment on and with my poor memory I will apologise for missing anyone before I start.

That sounded like a fascinating place and tour AnnG, so I have made a note! I thought at first it was Studley Castle, where I once spent a night.

Good to see you posting Frank! xx Lunch with Simon will be a nice pick me up for you tomorrow. Will it be at their place or is somewhere booked? It's a pity you and Ros couldn't go for a nice scenic ride in the car for half an hour, or take a picnic where you could sit by some water. I must say I miss my walks along the river or canal as I used to find them very calming after a day at work.

Gill that's good your roof tile is back in place. I think some storms are due later and tomorrow. If that is your Jane in 1839 Gill, it shows her as a widow and born 10/5/1875 and living as an unpaid domestic in Bristol.

Mel what a lucky chance to take photos of the Dragonflies emerging. Those not so little Swallows crammed into the nest with a sheer drop if they wobble over the edge!! :-0 You have some great photo opportunities where you live with all the wildlife you see. Here it seems to be dwindling fast and getting driven out by all the destroying of trees and building.

Vera, it's good to hear he is managing 4 little walks now. Little and often seems to be working well and the progress must be encouraging for him.

So Jane it is SHOWER DAY tomorrow! That will be blissful for you after all this time. :-D I remember being told to roll a towel up and pat dry after an op I had. What have the injections been that you did yourself?? The family get together for Xmas seems a good idea as it will save H & G having to split visiting each side of the family as well. I remember that being tricky at times. It's good you are staying somewhere too, and a very nice choice by the sound of it.

Mandy it's nice that the children have these leaving ceremonies and a gift these days. All I remember is having a book each Christmas at junior school. The ladybird book, The Wise Robin was my first at age 5.

OH wants me now to watch Vanity Fair we never got around to seeing at Christmas! I've sent a pic of the felting I did this week.

Oh Ann the horse is great. I like his big bushy mane and tail.

Did'nt cook in the end tonight as it was Thursday I went and got F & C at the van in the village. Its always nice from there but they did'nt have a haddock for oh so he had to have cod with me.

I have done some sweeping of the road outside the bungalow but it pulled on my back so I came in and hoovered instead. Just the kitchen and dining area but blow me if once I had put the hoover away I walked back in the kitchen and there on the bit of wall by the cupboard were two of those leggy spiders and I thought I had them all.

Edward Francis Williams married 26th Dec 1922 to Martha Amelia Rhoda Willoughby

Ann the injections I have to do every night are the blood thinning injection . I always knew it as Heparin but it is now called something else. It is another precaution against DVTs like the compression socks. My Tum has been black and blue but the injections don't hurt at all as it is a very fine needle. All syringes and needles go into a special (sharps) box which I will have to take to Outpatients when I have my appointment with the Consultant in a few weeks.

AnnG do you think this might be the first time the baby Robin has been out and about on its own?

Thomas has just come in so I can now go to bed :-D.. I just need to give him a good brush to get all the sticky burrs and grass seeds out of his fur :-S

Night Night everyone x

Jane poor little thing looked quite lost. I wondered if it was even supposed to be out of the nest we watched and listened to it until it hopped down the side of the house and it didn’t get fed. Hope it is ok but we can’t interfere or they will abandon it.

Enjoy your shower tomorrow, you will be sweet smelling.

Oh dear Mel that throws another name into the pot for Gill. Where was that marriage?

Good evening :-)

It's not been a very nice day here. It rained during the night and then there have been a couple of heavy showers during the day, though the garden still feels quite dry. At the moment it's very heavy and humid, real headache weather.

The photos are amazing as always Mel. We have had a thrush around on and off through the last few months. Yesterday there were two so I wondered if one was a youngster. If it was, it was only a bit smaller than its parent but still small enough to get inside the cage over the ground feeder. I was pleased about that because he had a good feed of mealworms. My iPad was nearby so I thought I would try and get a photo but by the time I had got myself in position it had flown away.

Love your horse felting picture Ann. I know I have said it before but I am such a cack-handed idiot and you are all so clever at crafts that I am in awe of you all.

Oh Jane, you are really going to enjoy that shower. You won't want to come out. I assume your injections are to help prevent infection. Everyone I know who has had an op in recent years has had to inject themselves afterwards for, I think, 28 days. What did we do in the past? I can't remember having injections or anti-biotics or anything after operations.

I'm glad your neighbour was able to fix your tile Gill. That's one more worry off your mind and OH won't have to get on the roof himself. I should think you were a bit gob-smacked when your Mum was asking about borrowing money for her friend. And then not to get it back till after she dies! What a cheek.

Frank, it's good to see you posting from time to time. Enjoy your coffee break with Simon. I know it's easier said than done and it can be hard to get motivated but if you can get out a bit more it will help your depression. I hope the eye test goes well.

OH is very good and keeps his mind occupied but I think he is beginning to feel a bit hemmed in. We tend to be out quite a lot and we have had to cancel quite a few things. I know he feels guilty because I am missing out as well but I am still able to get out and about locally. I just wouldn't be comfortable going further afield and leaving him for several hours. The next big trip we have booked is to Belvoir Castle in a couple of weeks but, unless he makes a miraculous recovery, we will have to cancel that as well. I don't think he could sit comfortably on the coach for a couple of hours in each direction, even if I could borrow or hire a wheelchair when we got there. Never mind, the school holidays start soon and then I will occasionally be able to drive him down to our daughter's for a break. It'll at least give him 4 different walls to look at.

I always seem to be writing about our problems but we did have some good news a few weeks ago which went out of my mind with everything else that has happened. As we were driving down to Gatwick at the start of our holiday my phone went. It was our eldest grandchild who had just finished her second year at uni. She is doing a degree in drama and film. There were four major pieces of work she had to produce during the year and her marks on these count towards her final degree grade. She had just been sent her grades. Three were marked as First, and the other one as a 2.1 so she is going in to her final year with a head start towards a good degree. One of the things she had to do was produce an animation. There were two ways to do it; one was easier and if the students chose that they had to make a film lasting a minute, or there was a more difficult but more professional way and they only had to produce 30 seconds of film. It doesn't sound much but to get 30 seconds of animated film that told a story she hand drew and coloured 400 pieces. I thought that it was amazing for a first attempt at filmed animation. I will ask her if I can send it to you if anyone would be interested in seeing it.

I have gone on a bit haven't I. You have probably all dozed off by now so I had better finish. Sleep tight everyone.

Good morning. At last we have rain. Hope it knows when to stop when we have had enough now. Still the garden will be better for it. No sign of any birds, they must all be sheltering.