General Chat

Thank you Mel. I would love to join you for a chat now and again!. At the moment I'm only on the forum for a month just to see how things go! Early Sept we're away for a couple of weeks, so I won't be renewing my sub till we get back.
I live with my OH in Berkshire fairly near the Kennet and Avon canal. We have two grownup children and three grandchildren, two late teens and one a bit younger. Our elder granddaughter is starting university in the autumn, the other two are still at school!
My hobbies are gardening, walking and visiting places of interest. OH shares these with me, so since we've been retired we have been able to do much more together than when we were working.

Hi Pippyn, we have also met on the bird and gardening threads on the hobbies board so it is good to see you on here. Your interests are very near my and my OH's own, we too like walking, gardening (as you know) and visiting NT and other places. And you can tell we live in Gloucestershire. We have 2 children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren so are obviously older than you and your OH. In fact my OH is 81 and I will be 80 next year. (DV)

Do come back and join us after your holiday. We are away the first 2 weeks of September as well.

being pushed off the top of a slide by my sister. and her saying she tried to stop
me falling

Afternoon All,

Hi Pippyn, I look on the other thread sometimes too and have seen you there. I have seen you elsewhere too Uzzi. Sisters could be a right pain couldn't they! Mine used to trip and fall then say I'd pushed her over when I was nowhere near her and she'd be believed.

Your terrible night sounds like a few of mine Mel. It does make you feel quite badly the next day as well, but hopefully you will have a better night tonight! I'm still finding it hot at night and wake up sweltering.

It's lovely and sunny here, no rain the past few days, but the car was showing 29 degrees when we went out so it is hotter than yesterday, but it isn't so tiring when there is a nice gentle breeze. We had a jacket potato today, then went to the picture frame shop where I went recently and I got some more picture frame mounts the size I wanted. It was a game getting 3 to match though as the shades come out slightly different with each batch. We then popped in the big M&S on the way back and I was quite shocked as there was NOTHING in the clothes that I fancied and I have a purse full of vouchers for them! I'm sure they usually have their sale on now unless it was over so quick I missed it!! :-S

Poor Harvey needing 3 stitches Frank. Luckily I haven't ever needed any after an extraction as yet, but his mouth must be quite sore. Still better that for a few days than painful toothache. You sound like you were the kind of salesman I liked, that was there to help if you ask, but left you in peace otherwise! :-D :-D One saleswoman pestered OH by phone and email for over 2 years after he said he wasn't swapping his car yet. He won't even set foot in there now, yet he'd bought several cars from them before that.

We were chatting about the hierarchy with chairs this morning from the time when we joined the Civil Service. AnnG may have had the same kind of thing too. The lowest level were the Clerical Assistants who had chairs with no arms! It was actually quite useful for their work as they set up the paperwork and needed to reach into their desk drawers each side frequently for stationery. Everyone else had chairs with arms. Unfortunately though, if you sat on a Clerical Assistant's chair to get stationery you had run out of from their drawer it was easy to forget there were no arms and nearly keel over onto the floor, especially after we had spinning chairs! Once you became the mighty level of a Higher Executive Officer you had your own room with your name on the door! Also the chair with arms and a rug and footrest!!! As time went on and computers came in some differences went because of H&S. It made me wonder if other big employers had similar rules? When I started in the 70s, if your pen ran out, you had to hand it to your supervisor to get a new one. A lot of scrap paper was needed to do calculations and do rough notes of phone calls etc, but it was noted if you were ordering many pads and questions would be asked as we were made very conscious of waste and the fact the public were paying for what we used. Any obsolete stationery was also reused as scrap paper. To save paper we had to enclose stick on reply labels in letters we needed answers to so the same envelope could be returned. Years ago there seemed to be far less waste with everything though.

OH is on his way to Stratford with a pal now to a match near there. His pal is driving this time, but OH doesn't think he is a very good driver so he won't be enjoying the trip!

Afternoon everyone

Hi Pippyn. We’ve met on some of the threads on the Hobbies board. It ‘s nice of you to come on here and wish Jane and her son well. As Mel says, if you decide to take out a sub to Genes, come and join us on the thread. I am sure Frank would enjoy having another lady in his harem :-D. I have only been posting here for some months but I always think of it as the friendly thread. Everyone is very kind and supportive if you have problems.

Sorry you had such a bad night Mel. Will anything be done about your hips? Are you on a waiting list or anything? Granddaughter Ellie has a hip problem too. As a little girl she kept complaining of pain but my daughter’s GP kept saying it was growing pains. She ran awkwardly and was a bit uncoordinated so my daughter insisted on getting her properly looked at and she was diagnosed with dispraxia which we didn’t think was right. Would you believe all the clinic offered her was help with reading :-S. This was the child who had recently stood out the front of a packed Chelmsford Cathedral and read a chunk of Dickens to the congregation. Daughter persisted in taking her back to the GP and one day saw a locum. Within 2 days she had been seen at a local hospital and very soon after that she was sent to the hospital where Princess Eugenie had her back operation They diagnosed a hip displacement and osteo arthritis where the bones had been rubbing together. She was about 10 years old at that time. The only real option is a hip replacement but they are trying to leave that as long as possible because of her age (now 22). She was saying yesterday that she needs to get a referral back to the hospital to talk through her options as it is getting worse. But, bless her, she doesn’t let it affect her life much, she just grits her teeth and gets on with things.

Gill, how is your sore arm now? These last few months have been one thing after another for you. Are you trying to do too much do you think? At least the enforced rest is giving you a chance to work on OH’s tree.

Did you get your haircut Frank? I hope Ros likes the new, suave you or did she like you with long hair? OH keeps telling me he needs a haircut and I keep putting off taking him because he has it cut really short and I like it a little bit longer. At least at the moment he looks as though he has got some hair. I’ll probably give in and take him next week.

I decided to stick to my word and try to get more exercise so today I walked to town and back, about 2.5 miles, then I walked to a local chemist to sort out OH’s prescription, about 1.5 miles, so I managed about 4 miles in all. It was so hot though. It has been hot and sunny all day. When I got back OH was filling watering cans and watering some pots and troughs that are in the shade. He is making such good progress now but is inclined to overdo it.

I can hear my Tesco delivery just arriving so I had better go.

Oh yes Ann, of course we have met, also Vera! Hello to you both. Yes I will renew when we come home as it will be really nice to have some online friends.
At the moment I'm making a shepherds pie in the slow cooker! All in one, so not much clearing up which is a bonus!! We are both in our 70's and reasonably fit - considering all things!!!! ;-) ;-) Better get on!

No nothing on the cards for my hip it just plays up soemtimes if I have been gardening or standing a lot or pushing a supermarket trolly and it was probably that from Tuesday as I parked a long way from the entrance under the shade of some trees. I only have small feet and find it easier to push the trolly by the side, I seem to have more contol of it that way. I also have a funny leg on the right where I once had a VERY LARGE horse fly bite I had to go to the doctors with. It was on the back of my leg at the top and it swelled up as if you could wrap a dinner plate around it. I had scratched it so much I think it distroyed the nerve endings and now it can be numb at times or feel like there is water running over it or something resting against it. Hip is on the left side and where I fell off my pony in my teens. I also had a bad back that side from unplugging the hoover without bending my knees when I was about 26. Doctor then told me to have another baby but I tod him I tries it once and did'nt like it.

Hi to my TWO NEW GIRLS, WELCOME> xxx

I got so fed up with the steps moving on the conservatory, that this morning while Ros was out I started on them. Taking the steps off was no trouble, as they were loose. The BIG JOB was the cement underneath I have a "BOLSTER" chisel somewhere, but couldn't find it, that would have been ideal for removing the cement. Instead, I got a hand CHOPPER, hammer and a couple of gardening tools, I managed to get it all off, and quite a bit in my eyes and hair. I have done so much HARD WORK, that my arms are ready to drop off. So the new cement hasn't beed laid yet to reset the steps. Perhaps tomorrow, who knows. We can manage with out them at the moment, but it just makes the first step down a bit deeper.

No I didn't get a haircut as you can see, and I don't wear my hair long, and never have done. National Service and an ex Chief Petty Officer, as a Father, saw to that. !!! As a young teenager I had a "CREW CUT" which my mum hated. But like most things I grew out of them.

Pippin, I have never heard of shepherds pie cooked in a slow cooker, I do mine the traditional way, I think that came from Mum. As child during the war, I have the job of turning the mincer, to mince the left over beef from Sunday DINNER. I know of course use MINCED BEEF.

I am just in my 80s, 81 in December. Youngest of 10 children. We had TWO sets of twins in the family my twin was 20 minutes older than me, so that's why I am the youngest. My eldest brother was 21 when I was born. The other set of twins were 3 years 4 months older than us. Unfortunately there are only TWO of us left. My elder twin sister and of course me. ;-) ;-) ;-) We hailed from the suburbs of East London. Both Mum and Dad came from Canning Town and Bethnal Green. So dad was a true COCKNEY. born in 1886. I think I have gone on long enough. That's the trouble with me, once I start I don't know when to finish.

Just noticed the time, and I haven't got dinner on yet. So must go, see you all later.

Afternoon Everyone and Hi Pippyn and Uzzi.
It is always nice when someone new joins us. Thank you Pippyn and everyone for all wishes for James .It is just such a misreable time for him at the moment and I am sure it can't be a very good atmosphere at work.
I cant remember if I said his car repairs could cost around £800 !! :-0 It is a leaky pipe to do with Power Steering and the pump will possibly need replacing. So He has my car (as I can't drive it yet ). I am hoping to get the all clear to drive again though on Monday.I shall be off out like the wind :-D :-D

Oh the thought of stitches in the mouth always make me cringe Frank. I hope Harvey doesn't find them irritating.

Uzzi saying about her Sister pushing her off the slide made me think of something I did to my Sister when she was really young (about 3 I think) She had been so annoying I bashed her head against the pebbledash wall and she got a really nasty cut. I think I told Mum and Dad that she fell against it. Janice still has the scar just above her eyebrow. It was onlt a few years ago I owned up and told her it was me.
Janice and I didn't really get along too well as children as I was the quiet one always with a book or playing with my Bunty cut out doll and dressing her whereas Janice was a wild child and always on the go .Always barefoot in the mud making pies and getting into mischief .

Mel you must be shattered now after such a bad night. Do you think it is time to get your hips Xrayed? It is 6 weeks today that I had my hip replacement.

Ann I take it you still haven't heard anything about your knee op? Did you say you thought it might be around September time?

Gill,what have you done to your arm? Lifting heavy pots? Frank I see Ros is still all good and free from her bladder infection.That must make such a difference for her.I think you said she has to have so many treatments every 2 weeks for so long.

That was some walking you did today Vera!! and in this heat too. It has been boiling here so it will be fans on again at bedtime again.Your OH is coming along nicely now which must be such a relief . But as you say he mustn't try and do too much which would set him right back. I have done this a few times thinking all is good and then really suffering the next day.The problem is that sometimes you do things without thinking.I have so many restrictions ,like not bending down from the waist, stretching out forwards, twisting ,no crossing feet (that is a pain as it is so natural to do that) and the list goes on. I don't know how long these restrictions will be in place but will ask the Consultant on Monday. I really would love a Bath but have to wait for 3 months!!!!!

I am sure there was something I wanted ot say to Mandy but it has gone :-S

Janice had to have her lovely old Oscar (the Spanish Waterdog) put to sleep on Tuesday. He was 14 :-(

James is home and not looking too cheerful :-S He is sat outside talking to Chris now. I am not sure whether to go and join in or leave them to it. I think I'll leave them and get my Chicken Pie ready for the oven. I just need to pop the Filo Pastry on the top.

So it's onwards and upwards now Jane! You've shaken off those dreaded socks and soon you will have your foot back on the accelerator and more liberty! :-D :-D It's bound to help you feel better. How does the actual hip itself feel now.......any pain at all? I would find it hard to remember all those 'don'ts' too. All that has happened with my knees is that the next appointment with the surgeon was cancelled and put back to October! :-S I was referred to him last December and now, because I am limping more, and so can walk less than before, my weight is going back up instead of going down more. :-S

Has anyone else besides James been made redundant Jane? I thought his old job had gone while he was off work for a while, so is it his new job that he has been made redundant from? It does sound a bit contrived, but not really worth making any fuss with him not being happy in the job anyway and he still needs a reference from them. I hope his counsellor can help him with his perspective on things so he can see he has setbacks to overcome, not failure.

Mel you have a few old injuries there, so it's not surprising you have pain at times. That was a nasty old bite you had years ago and they go very hot and itchy.

Better go and pack my bead bag for tomorrow now. :-)

Its raining steadily here now.

It also went very hard Ann and as you say itchy in a way that you could'nt satisfy and red hot. The doc gave me antihystamins which helped a lot and now if I get a horse fly bite I have to come straight in and put TCP on it and take the pills as I don't want that again now at my age.

Jane will James get redundancey money if he has been there 5 years?

I can imagine Mel as my (much smaller) wasp stings did the same. I've been told to use double the dose of antihistamines if it happens again. Your bite sounds like the one I saw on the young girl standing near the station recently. It was huge and she was patting it probably to try and stop the itching and the edge of it was raised as if the whole area was slightly swollen. Mum used to get saucer sized bites from midges. I have a bottle of that Jungle Deet for when we visit gardens now! lol. Once bitten twice shy.....literally!! lol.

I hope you sleep well tonight and get lots of ZZZzzzzzz. xx.

So do I but I expect I shall.

See you in the morning. Night night.

Morning all

Nice to see two newbies,, hello to Pippyn and Uzzi.

It looks like it's been raining in the night but thankfully it's sunny at the moment so OH is doing a bit more painting, the gate needs another coat and he said he might start the painting around the side of the bungalow if it doesn't rain. He nipped out this morning and said when he came back he noticed our bungalow looks so bright compared to the others, at least it doesn't look mucky anymore next to the new rendering on next doors bungalow.

I hope things are improving for James Jane, it must be hard for him right now. So hopefully you'll be driving again soon, I bet you can't wait. I don't know what I've done to my arm, it was okay until I pushed myself up in bed, then I got a shooting pain under my arm pit. The only thing I can think of that may of caused the muscle to hurt is the 400 screws I put into the framework and plastic the other day, it's very painful, but all I can do at the moment is rest it, along with my foot, which thankfully is starting to feel much better. I'm not used to sitting around doing nothing so it's giving me the opportunity to do more on OH's tree which is coming along nicely. Sorry to hear about Janice's dog, it's always upsetting when you lose a pet, no matter what age they are. Our eldest cat made it to 18 years old, I still miss her, she was such a character.

I had a problem with my laptop yesterday, it switched itself off, the screen went blank and it took ages to come back on, so if I'm not on here for a while you know it's given up the ghost, so don't worry.

That was a lot of walking you did the other day Vera, at least the weather was dry, be it a little hot. Pleased to hear your OH is improving now, he needs to be careful he doesn't do to much to soon though.

What are you making at beading today Ann. You are so clever with all your makes.

It sounds like you've been in the wars throughout your life Mel with one thing and another. I liked your comment about not having another baby lol.

So you've made a start on your step yourself then Frank. Be careful, you don't want an accident.

Going to take another look at OH's tree now and catch up with a few programmes I've recorded, while OH is painting and Sandra's still asleep. Sandra's still enjoying her light up flamingos and has them on every night......bless her.

Thought I had posted this yesterday. we had a lovely afternoon with our gardening interest group. We met at one of the members house and had a good chat with 12 of us sitting in her lovely garden. She even made scones for us so it will be a bit of a come down when we are back to meeting at ours when we just have biscuits.

About 10.45 last night there was a strike on the next estate to ours. No earlier lightening or thunder so a complete shock when it hit. It was a tremendous bang and flash both together. Apparently it hit a house. Nobody hurt I don't think but apparently 3 fire engines.

Morning Gill and all,

Its rain rain and more rain today and we are expecting gales by 12 noon. Well at least I know oh won't be mowing anywhere today. He has hurt his arm doing one of the decks on the mower. He keeps complaining about being an old man fit for nothing.

I bet Janice is going to miss old Oscar. Its like losing one of the family when an old fellow goes. Thats one reason we don't have a dog anymore. I just can't take the upset now I'm older.

I have a nice lot of ironing to do today so I think thats what I shall do and then perhaps have another go at my lastest project. It took me all afternoon to make one piece yesterday and I am not really satisfied with it.

Poor you Gill its not nice when you have all these pains in your arm or your foot but I hope they get better soon. You sound like you're getting on well with oh's tree now.

Had a good nights sleep last night even though I still went to bed late.

Hope Frank dos'nt ache too much from his step work yesterday.

Good morning all,

Mel, I don't know where to put my arms this morning, I had to use both hands yesterday to remove the cement. Being left handed, my right arm really aches today, not being use to doing anything. So no work today. Just resting and reading, me thinks. !!!

Ros was up and out before I woke this morning. She remembered she needed petrol to go a pick Lewis up, so.shot off to Tesco at 7.00 am. Poor Lewis, he rang from France to say the plane was delayed. He rang an hour later to say the PLANE HAD BROKEN DOWN. They were having to wait for a Engineer to be flown out from the UK to do the repair, so Gawd knows when he will be getting home. In the meantime they are trying to locate another plane, to bring them home. COMPENSATION comes to mind. ;-) ;-) ;-)

The rain we had has all dried up now, and the wind is getting up. So I can see the canal festival being wrecked by the weather. The poor organisers have put so much work into this, and it could all be for nothing. We can just hope the weather holds off, sometime over the weekend.

Our dining room table is full of wrapped Presents. There are so many Birthdays in August and September. Ros has the all ready to go, as the dates arrive for the birthday. On the sideboard are all the Birthday Cards, written and addressed where needed. Talk about being Organised. !!!!

Ros is having a good old clean of the front window sills. It's like a cemetery with all the dead flies. Where on earth do they all come from. She also has TWO big candles sitting there. They have melted in the sun, so will have to be throw away. She has also got a collection of CRANBERRY GLASS displayed on there. which is all being washed and polished.

I hope you all feel fitter than me today. xxxx

Afternoon Everyone

400 screws Gill !!!!!! no wonder your arm is hurting !!.I know how hard you find it to just sit and not do anything but a good rest for your arm and foot sounds just what you need to do today.

A rest day for you too Frank :-D. Poor Lewis having to be delayed for so long. What airport is he coming home from? It doesn't sound like he is going to be home anytime soon if they are getting engineers out from the UK. I am sure though that he should get compensation .Hope fully the airline has given all the passengers vouchers to buy food and drink while they wait.

Mel why did the Doctor say to have another Baby? Did he think it would help your back /hips? As you said you did it once and never again LOL

We have been to the Vets this morning to get worm and flea treatment and then to the P.O to get an engagement card for Gareth's Sister and her fiancee Rhodri.They are holidaying in Italy at the moment and got engaged at the weekend :-D

Pippyn are you going on holiday abroad or somewhere in this country? I think I am getting withdrawal symptoms from our yearly holiday in France or Italy. It is just Suffolk for us this year,but I'm so looking forward to it.Just to get away . It has been a sad year one way or the other . My Daughter lost her first Baby back in May :-( and now all this business with James . Hopefully next year will be different .

AnnG, I am sure your biscuits will be enjoyed just as much as you enjoyed the scones :-D :-D. Do you buy fancy bickies when your friends all come to you?

I noticed a loose tile on the roof when we backed out the drive this morning. I think it is the same on that slipped once before . Gareth popped it back in place then .There is no way I will let Chris get up a ladder today in this wind.

Yes i wonder what Ann is making at Beading today. She was trying to finish off something the other week at home I think. But for the life of me can I remember what ! :-S :-S

I think the lovely sunshine is disappearing fast here and the storm clouds look to be looming. No chance of getting towels dried this afternoon .They still have an hour to go in the washing machine.

Chris need to sort my laptop out again now as nothing is being backed up. I keep getting a sign flash up saying no back up for 12 days now. He said he will do it now :-D

I thought it was only us who had dead flies on the windowsills Frank. I thought it was because of the ponds and the chickens we get so many.

Sorry your arm is so sore this morning but you did expect it with not doing that sort of work for a long time.

Mended a necklace this morning and done the chickens , put three begonias in my shed out of the wind and took the fleece off the blueberry bushes. There's only a few left on the two bushes so the birds can have those. I just did'nt want the fleece blowing away.

Oh has put the sack barrow with a few building blocks on it down by my beans and I have tied the wire to it so they don't blow over.

Now what am I going to get for lunch??????????? Forgot to buy myself some ham this week so I may just have a naughty bacon sarnie.