General Chat

Morning Mr Early Bird and all,

Not a bad morning here after the horrible day yesterday. We have some sunshine and blue sky with white and grey clouds it makes you feel so much better when the weathers nicer.

I am on church flowers today. I was going to pick them yesterday but no way was I going out in the pouring rain with my seccies and bucket so shall have to do it today.

When I came out into the kitchen this morning the two deer were laying fcing east on the front grass inthe sunshine. I did get a couple of pics but then they both got up and went across the top of the garden and out of the arch.

Morning Frank and Mel, morning all

Sunny here today but there's a lot of cloud around so OH thinks it might rain soon. He noticed yesterday the two side gates and bits of fence need another coat of paint, so that'll be done when we know the weather is going to be dry.

That's a big water bill Mel, I don't blame your OH for not wanting to pay it. I'm sure you can have it checked though to make sure it's a fair bill and you're not paying for water you haven't used. Hope all goes well with the flowers for the church, it sounds better weather to pick them today.

Sorry to hear you haven't had a good nights sleep Frank. I was so in to OH's tree last night I didn't go to bed until after 2am so had a good nights sleep and woke up around 10.30am this morning.

Nothing much planned for today, the bedding needs changing but our dryer is playing up and the weather looks a bit dodgy so I might leave it and see if it's better weather tomorrow so I can peg it outside to dry. I'm still plodding on with OH's tree, it's taking forever to do but I seem to find people each day so I'm getting there slowly.

I'm thinking of wrapping up all Sandra's and OH's Christmas presents I bought. I'm a bit worried they're going to end up dusty in the bag, with it being open at the top, if I can wrap them up and make a note of what I've bought it'll keep everything dust free until Christmas day, plus I'll be able to see if I need to buy anymore for them, I can't remember everything I bought them, a few months back.

So I have a few things that need doing. I'm going to have a cuppa first, then decide what to do today. The clouds have thickened up so it looks like we might have some rain soon, that's put paid to the bedding being done and the coat of paint OH needs to do, which just leaves the Christmas presents to wrap up and OH's tree to get on with.

I recorded some films for Sandra, including Paddington, so she's looking forward to watching them. I must admit I'm looking forward to watching Paddington myself, I believe it's a good film. Pleased to see you have nicer weather today Mel, you're right it does make you feel much better when the sun's out.

Afternoon All,

Mostly sunny here, but we had a few spits of rain.

I've missed too many posts to comment on now so apologies for not doing so. I've been a bit out of sorts and tired the last few days. So much so I haven't entered anything at the show today, but I may pop along to have a look after 2.00pm when they open. I've never entered this show before anyway so it will be interesting to see the standard. I've been to the village's art club exhibitions before and know they are very good.

I see you are on your travels again AnnG and hope you have a nice time visiting old haunts. It's good when you know somewhere well as you usually know the best places to eat as well.

Jane that was a smashing cake they did for Larry! I bet he was surprised when he saw it. Has he finished work altogether now or will he find something else do you think? Have they not actually told James he will be made redundant then? I know they have to have at least one meeting about it. That was a big bill for his car! Hopefully he's been putting money aside for car bills.

Gill I see you are finding outlets for all your energy with your decorating plans. What area will you be looking at if you do move?

Mel, I can't imagine looking out of the window and seeing deer on the lawn! There can't be many other people who can do that. I hope you can find some nice flowers in your garden for the church. That sounds like a big bill for your water. Why won't they reduce it?

Vera, what a faff with the insurance people. It's good your OH continues to improve though.

Poor Colin Mandy I hope he saved his hips when he fell. Then washing his shorts with a rusty key and his mobile in the pocket. It's lucky you got the rust out, but the mobile will cost a bit more! How nice Chelsea made scrunchies for her sisters. :-) Have you all recovered now? She does have a lot of energy doesn't she with a busy time planned. I look forward to seeing the Unicorn bag when it's finished.

Frank I would have felt ill seeing all that food I think, but I know you love seafood. :- D I hope you enjoy the get together and pig roast tonight. Good that you found another bracelet for Ros.

Off to see if I can park anywhere near the Village Hall now to see the show. If not I won't be able to walk from far away, so might pop back near the closing time when there will be less people.

Afternoon All

Well the sun is shining brightly here and I have a full load of washing blowing nicely in the breeze.It hasn't been out too long but is almost dry.

Ann,sorry to hear you have not been feeling 100% and that you haven't entered any of your things in the show.I hope you manage to get a close parking spot near the village hall.It will be nice to see all the other exhibits.
I keep having 'off' days for some unknown reason and I do wonder if it might be to do with all the dust blowing off the fields ,plus I think they have been spraying too and that can stink .It cant be good breathing in all this all the time and we must be as everytime I have windows open it is not long before there is a layer of reddish dust :-S It's no blooming joke.

Oh Gill wrapping up Xmas presents already!!!! I can't even think of Xmas before November !. I can't imagine that bag of pressies getting dusty in your house ;-) There must hardly be a speck :-D

Frank a Hog Roast sounds a great idea for the party tonight.I am sure there will be cover in place should it be needed. But if the weather at Simons is like here then there should be no worries. Have a lovely time.

Hope the weather has improved Vera for all the family camping . Rather them than me :-D. It could be very soggy underfoot after all the rain :-S I have never really enjoyed camping .It is too dirty for me LOL and I like my home comforts . Traipsing off to shower and loo blocks are not for me :-D.. For many years when the children were little we did Eurocamp Holidays in France and we always had a static home.I would see families early in the mornings in their nightwear going off with toilet bags and towels and thinking to myself how glad that wasn't me :-D :-D

Pippyn ,has your Grandson got stuck into his school project? or has the weather picked up enough to be out and about?

Mel I hope you managed to pick plenty of flowers for the church this morning.I was a bit concerened that they might have been bit battered by all the rain. Were the 2 Deer the same Mum and Baby,or different ones?
What will happen if OH keeps refusing to pay this massive water bill Mel? They wouldnt be allowed to cut you off would they? I hope you can get the matter resolved sooner than later as it has been going on ages now..
And Vera your insurance company really do seem as though they are trying anyway out not to pay out for your claim. Shame on them .You too need this resolved ,the same as Mel and the Water Bill.

Ann Larry has fully retired from all work now .He is 71. But he is now a Trustee for the Reserve :-D :-D. His heart is in that place as he was one of the ones to start it all off and what a great job they have done. He did over and above what was expected of him (which would drive Janice mad at times) especially when he would get a phone call from a member of the public to say that sheep or cows had escaped and were running up roads.That wasnt his responsiblity .That was the Farmers job. Bit off he would go at what ever time of night trying to round up . He is very proud of what has been achieved with the Nature Reserve and rightly so :-D :-D

Just taken a pic of our Onions. I put a shop one beside them. I thought the shop one was big but its a tiddler in comparison . Will send it on. Hope I haven't missed anyone out. Oh yes AnnG ... hope you are still enjoying decent weather and having a great time with the family. I think it was today to were seeing your Grandson?

Oh Larry is older than I thought Jane. I forget we are all getting older and thought he was about 60 with him retiring! It's good he will still have some involvement with the nature reserve as you say as he has put a lot of work into it, doing over and above by the sound of it. Those onions are whoppers aren't they and all quite uniform in size. Chris has done well with them and could start entering them in shows! lol ;-) I love a roast onion. :-)

Well I couldn't park anywhere near the village hall and some of the parking was taken as there was a cricket match on the park nextdoor. I parked some distance away for about an hour and read my magazine, then came back hoping some would have left the car park by then but no, so I came home.

I have the first fruit on what was thought to be a cucemon plant that a friend gave me. She showed me a fruit on hers yesterday and said it should be round like a golf ball, but it was oblong. I had a look at ours this afternoon and picked the only fruit it has had so far and that is oblong too so goodness knows what it is!! I will taste it tomorrow when we have salad for tea in case it is like cucumber and can be added to that.

I had a new kind of scam email today. It said I was owed compensation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as they were paying compensation to those who had been scammed! That's a new twist isn't it, the scammers offering compensation for you being scammed. :-S

I noticed this morning that the Garden Centre sales are creating space for Christmas decorations. :-0 Gill, if it was me I just know I would lose the list of what was in the parcels I'd wrapped. You are much better organised though. What made you stop making such lovely cakes Gill. There seems to be so much demand for home made cakes at all the tearooms that have sprung up and then the special occasion ones like Larry's.

Flowers all done and I forgot my camera to take a pic of them all. I took those yellow daisy's with the black center, blue Hydrngas, some berries off the rose of sharon thing, mint in flower and some alchamilla mollis and some orange and yellow helliniums and some gosh the names gone!!!! It has spikey leaves and reddy orange flower in spray on the top, tall................ ooo Crocosmia. It just came to me. :-D

Worn out now and just had a drink and a choc roll cakey thing.

Evening all,

All showered shaved and sitting around in my Dressing Gown. Ros has pressed my trousers, and ironed my shirt, so I should look the part this evening.

I have been completely out of salts today. In all honesty, I could easily call it off this evening. But I know how disappointed Simon and Sally would be. So I will make the effort. I hope they won't expect us to stay to the end, whatever time that will be. Being a party, with a lot of younger people there, I expect it will be midnight, and then possible on to Simon's for a bit longer.

I have booked the Carvery for 3.00 pm tomorrow, it will save me preparing and cooking dinner. Then we can just come home and relax.

Ros has sorted through my trousers, and put 17 YES SEVENTEEN PAIRS into the Air Ambulance Bag for Monday. They are all 38" waist, and as I have lost weight I can go back to my 36 inch waist again. I knew I was doing the right thing keeping them. ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

It did turn out to be a nice day. Ros went to Milton Keynes at 11.00 this morning and was back home before 2.00 pm. Not a lot to see, and there were only a few of the woman who went.

Hope everyone is well, and please enjoy what's left of this nice sunny evening. xxxx

Frank ,I think the important thing is you just go and it doesn't matter how long you stay for the party. Everyone will understand if you feel you can't stay too long. You can just play it by ear and you will know when you have had enough .Hope you enjoy yourselves :-D

What pity you couldn't get a parking space near enough Ann to get in to see the show.
I could never imagine Chris entering anything into any show.But those Onions are GOOD and BIG. They were grown from seed. What a strange veg thing you have grown Ann. I have
never seen one of those before. Can't wait to hear what it tastes like .

Frank I counted 33 pairs of trousers in my wardrobe yesterday !!!!!!. I probably only wear a dozen or less. None are too big for me :-S I really need to have a sort out there. But I always think I might wear them which is crazy.Some haven't been on for years.I just need my sensible head on and have a darned good clear out.

That was a colourful assortment of flowers Mel.....the first ones with dark centres sound like Rudbeckias which I used to have before I had a change around. How long have you been doing the church flowers for and are there many of you that take a turn?

Oh Frank I hope you manage to enjoy the do tonight with feeling out of sorts. At least if you show your face for a while like Jane says you can leave early. You may not have wanted to stay to the end anyway. All those trousers!! lol. I have lots of pairs I have 'outgrown' so to speak and like you are hanging onto them till I can hopefully shrink into them again! :-)

I suspect I have as many trousers as you Jane, but can only get into a fraction. I think a lot of my wardrobe is sized for the 'new me' rather than the existing me! lol. All that spare space I would have in my wardrobe if everything fitted me! I could swish things along the rails. :-D

I seem to have been bitten on my face one side again, on my cheek where my glasses rest and another itchy hard lump on the back of my neck. I must put some bite cream on.

My wardrobe rail comes to a grinding halt Ann. No swishing sadly. I keep trying to add extra hangers and they all jamb up at the end of the rail :-S I need to get tough and do something about this.
I hope your bites don't turn into really nasty ones again Ann,.especially on your face.
There seem to be so many bitey bugs around.I have a cracker of a bite on the back of my heel. I was rubbing bite cream in in the middle of the night last night. Why do they itch more at night :-S

It's been party time next door here all afternoon .I think family with children earlier and now it is the grown ups.Its getting louder :-D and music blaring .I have never known them to have a party like this. I don't know if the swimming pool has been used. Nice to hear people having fun :-D I have enjoyed a little bopping to myself listening to the music :-D. I doubt it will go on late (or at least I hope not) :-D

I didn't wrap the xmas presents up in the end I ran out of time doing other things. I changed the bedding but couldn't peg it out, it was to windy and it kept wrapping itself around the line, then the neighbour a few doors down started a fire in his garden so I ended up using the dryer which is a nuisance with it playing up. I'm still trying to dry some washing now, hopefully it'll all be done by the time we go to bed. The beds are made up again now it's just clothes from when we all had baths before. I did a bit of dusting and sorted out loads of papers and post that had been put in various places. I put all my paper bills in a file so that's now been done, then I put the hook back up on the new framework we made so OH could anchor the gate back, with it being so windy he couldn't paint one side of the gate without pinning it back, so all in all with sorting out dinner as well I haven't had time to sort out OH's tree or the xmas presents.

I put the list inside the bag I put the presents in Ann, so Sandra's list is in with her presents and the same for OH, I trust they won't take a peek. OH told me yesterday that a shop in the village is starting to make room for their Christmas decorations which will go in the shop in six weeks time.

I stopped making the cakes because the prices of the ingredients went up to high and I couldn't compete with shop prices. Then we moved so I didn't have anyone to sell them to. I could still do them now though if anyone wanted one. I remember being asked to make "The Little Mermaid" cake, I hadn't a clue who she was so asked for a picture, they wanted it made as a book, it turned out really well and I was chuffed with it. I also added Flounder to, he was one of the fish. I can still remember the little girls name the cake was for, it was Tanya and she was 5 years old. Funny the things you remember. I also remember making a 21st cake for my mum's friend's son in the shape of a 2 and 1, they invited us to his birthday. I've made so many different cakes over the years I've lost track of most of what I've made. I did make a train once with carriages attached to it, that I filled with sweets, that was fun to make. :-)
What a pity you didn't find a parking space close enough for you to go and look at the show, was it only on for one day, if not maybe you could go and see it another day? Sorry you weren't feeling very well and couldn't enter anything yourself. I hope you are feeling a bit better now.

I know what you mean about the dust Jane from the building site, we've had dust coming indoors for months now with all the work going on, it's no joke is it? Hope you are feeling better now, you're probably right and it's the dust that's causing you to feel off colour OH and I had sort throats and coughs on and off for weeks with the dust around here, I hope that's not the case with you.

Hope you enjoyed yourself tonight Frank and didn't feel to much out of sorts, I'm sure Simon and Sally will understand if you have to leave a little earlier than everyone else, they'll just be pleased you made it.

Your flowers sounded nice Mel, I love Crocosmia's although mine didn't come to much this year which was disappointing as they've always done well. Maybe next year they'll do better. Pity you didn't take a picture I would of like to have seen it.

Talking of pictures, that was a funny looking cucumber Ann, I showed Sandra and she said "Oh no I'll stick to my green ones thanks" she can be so funny sometimes. I couldn't believe how big your onions were Jane, they'll keep you going for a while won't they? We had to buy some tomatoes for the first time in months this week and they don't taste half as good as home grown. We did well this year and they didn't all ripen at the same time so they lasted longer, we had problems with them all being ready to eat at the same time last year and ended up throwing some of them away because we couldn't eat them quick enough, this year was so much better.

We never got around to watching " Paddington" the movie I recorded today so that'll be something to watch tomorrow when the rain arrives. I did manage to do some weeding today with it being sunny while OH finished off the painting so that was good.

Well, I'd better go and finish watching a programme I've had on pause, Sandra was busy with something so I thought I'd come on here, now she's waiting for me. :-)
See you all tomorrow, hope you all have a good nights sleep.

Morning all

Nice and sunny here with a slight breeze so I've pegged some washing out now it won't wrap itself around the line. My dryer decided to stop working so I still had a few things to dry. It was predicted to rain today, so I'm lucky the sun's out. OH is busy sorting out the bathroom ceiling, the paint had flaked again with the damp from the bath so he's sanded it back and is going to try using the paint left over from outside. Hopefully that'll take the damp and not flake off, like everything else we've tried.

What is everyone else up to today?

Morning Gill and all,

I am not up to anything much today. I may strip the bed and I may not depends on how I feel.

Big breakfast day and I may have a go at some craft or I may make some cakes and sausage rolls. I shall see what I feel like later on. My hair needs a wah too.

The suns out here too with those big white fluffy couds in the sky too.

Ann I have done the church flowers nearly all the time I have lived here so about 27 years as I have been here since 1991 and I think the first thing I did was the advent ring. when I did the flowers at first they told me they liked country things and not big displays but over the year they have praized my flowers in the church and still ask me if I am going to make the advent ring each year which I have always done.

Morning Gill, Mel and all

Alternate sunny spells and grey skies here but no rain forecast.

Nothing special on today. Like Mel I will see what I feel like. So far all I have done is shower and wash my hair and I’ve just put a load of towels on to wash. Sundays we usually have our main meal around 2 pm. It’s loin of pork today and I’ve got the veg to prepare so will do that in a minute. Then I might do a bit in the garden or I might just take it easy.

Gill, Christmas present wrapping already!! I know a lot of people like to be prepared early but I think it takes a bit of the joy out of the season. I refuse to think about Christmas until the beginning of December. The one time I did buy a present several months early, come Christmas I couldn’t find where I had put it and had to dash out last minute to get something else.

Have a nice day everyone

Huh....spoke too soon. Rain wasn’t forecast but it is now pouring :-(

Morning all,

I don't think rain was forcast here either but it's just tipped down ,it was bouncing off the road it was coming down so hard ,now the sun's out .

Family have been for coffee this morning ,they had just decided to go when down it came so I think they might have got a bit wet while getting in the car this end and getting out the other end .

Ann that was a funny looking veg/fruit ,have you had a taste of it yet ?
Hope your feeling a bit better now after feeling a bit off .

I've done the veg for later ,we're having a nice Toad in the Hole ,thought I'd get it all ready as this afternoon as i want to get the unicorn bag finished ,I think I will make the ears a bit smaller as they look to big for the bag .

Frank hope you enjoyed the evening ,looking forward to hearing all about it .

Oh I meant to say the Onions look good Jane ,some whoppers there :-D

Afternoon to you all,

We had a nice evening lat night. I set the SAT. NAV. Which was a great help in funding the place,It's in Daventry Town Centre, but out of the way up a side street. We were able to park on the square close by. We had to climb up a big staircase, which wasn't easy for either of us. WE DON'T DO STAIRS ANYMORE. Plus the toilets were up and down more steps.

As we walked in my Niece Pat her husband Ron, my Nephew John and his wife Jan sat just inside the door, and saved us chairs. Sally and Simon came over to greet us. Then Simon took me by the hand, and took me round to show me off, to all Sally's relatives, and friends. Everyone said how much alike Simon and I are alike. We stuck it out until 10.30. Simon and Sally walked down the stairs in front and behind us, and saw us to the car. The pig roast was all prepared, and there were people behind a long table serving the BABS the meat as expected was very succulent, there was stuffing and apple sauce to go with them, plus of course CRACKLING. The DISCO was very loud, to the point that I went to ask him to TURN IT DOWN, as we couldn't hear each other speaking. He did turn it down for a good FIVE MINUTES, then up it went again.

I rang Simon this morning to thank him for a nice evening. He said they had carried on the party at his house, and didn't get to bed until 4.30. He was up again at 8.00 to take his friends to the airport for their flight back to DUBLIN. My relatives stayed in a local Hotel, to save them the journey back to Harlow lat night.

Simon and some friends had to go back to the venue to clear all the decorations they had put up yesterday, and do a general clean up.

Tomorrow they are setting off for two weeks on the Narrow Boat. They have no plans where they are going, just get in a go. !!!

Harvey was coming up this morning to fit the new shower. I rang him to put him off, as he has so much to do in the house, before he drives to France on Friday. Lewis says he wants to look after the kittens, while he is away. We said if he needs us for anything, he just has to ring.

I am all showered and shaved, and Ros is in the bathroom. We have the table booked for 3.00 pm, so a nice easy, lazy day for us. Conrad and Jan fly out this afternoon for their break to the Spanish Island. Not sure which one. lol lol

I hope you all have a nice day, and enjoy whatever you are doing. Catch up later. xxxx

Its raining here too so thats put paid to anything outside. I was going to go up the border for a bit but now its off the cards as it were.

I am so pleased you enjoyed the party Frank and it was a shame about the stairs but it sounds like you enjoyed the pork. I remember a pig roast we went to and it was delishous, so tender and tasty. When we used to go to the shows we always had a pork bap and a beef bap for our lunch. My mouth is watering at the thought of them now.

O suns out again. It can't make up its mind today. There a bit of a wind too.

Yes Janes onions remin ded me of when we did the garden to veg and oh would line all the onions up on tressles. We used to sell them for so much each and they never stayed around long. In fact I think a lot of our veg may have ended up in our local show.....................

The weather is holding up here, with clouds and a slight breeze.

Ros is making another necklace, she has a stand in the bedroom that must have more than 50 necklaces, but she still makes more.

I bought a new electric mower a few months ago, It was a little cracker, and did the lawns so well. Barry thought he saw a flash come from the control, on the handle and though it might be a loose connection.So good old Frank took it to pieces, and couldn't get it back together. Harvey took it to repair, and everytime he put it on IT BLEW THE ELECTRICS. so gave it up as a bad job. So that was a waste of £60.00 I didn't get a guarantee with it, so can't do anything but let Harvey scrap it. I do have another one, but it doesn't cut as short as I would like it. I will go on Ebay to see if I can find one that is local. The ones I have seen are in Wiltshire, Cumbria, and are for COLLECTION ONLY. It will be cheaper to buy a new one from B & Q.

That was a bit naughty of the people who would buy your onions Mel and enter them in the show. Letting the judges think they were grown by them.

Getting quite peckish now, so looking forward to my carvery at 3.00 pm. I might even have a starter and or a sweet, which is most unusual for me.

Going to have a read for an hour. see you later, xxxx