General Chat

Sounds like Ros is going to be busy with her Pansies Frank! ;-) lol She puts us to shame with the way she gets on with things. I need to get my Violas and heathers put in next week. Don't you go upsetting that shower while it is behaving or you'll be sorry if you get a cold one! :-0 I still have my old hoof pick (nearly put tooth pick!!) somewhere in the loft with the rest of the grooming kit. It's one that folds in two so you can put it in your pocket. What a good idea to use it on the weeds in the gravel.

Mandy thanks for sending the pic and you have made such a great job of the bedding! I bet she will be running for her dolls to tuck them in as soon as she sees the pram on Christmas Day bless her. You do make some lovely things for the children. I had a smile at Max waiting for the children, then sitting on the mat to be dried even though there had been no walkies! They know what;s supposed to happen don't they.

I see there's the usual working out the pecking order with the chickens Mel. I suppose it helps a bit with there being two new ones rather than one. Fancy you finding your copper wire just after you'd bought more! It's the sort of thing I would do!

It is a long time since we called in to Glos services mainly because it gets so crowded but also because it costs me money if we go there, the meat is great and all fairly locally sourced. We should make the effort to go there more. Strangely it is quite a trek for us to make a special journey because we have to go from J 11a where we join down to J12 and back up the other side. When we next go up to visit daughter we will be going further up the M6 so will call in to the services there which are the parent services to the Gloucester ones. It begins with T but I can’t remember the name. When the services were going to be built there were huge protests against them saying they would spoil an area of natural beauty etc. But they blend in beautifully so that was all rubbish.and they provided a huge number of jobs in the area. Both sides of the M5. Strangely I prefer the one on the M5 north.

I agree it is hard to keep track of all the posts some days. AnnG since we called in at Gloucester Services a couple of years ago on our way to Cornwall, we don't bother with the others now! OH was always reluctant to call there before .......I don't know but think he might have thought it would be all pine nuts and Chia seeds! But once we'd been he suggests it going and coming back now. It is a bit pricey, but we have enjoyed what we've had there and some of the old services are a bit dire in comparison. I can well imagine people complaining when they wanted to build it though but it does blend in beautifully.

That's a shame the bench is useless now Jane, but one of our arbours is going rotten too and will have to be got rid of soon. I wish they would start doing arbours with the plastic injected wood so they last, like they do with some of the furniture now. It will be good for James to change his image a bit....like us ladies when we change our hairstyle or clothes, we feel better in ourselves. :-D

I think Downton Abbey is on the cards for tomorrow.

Morning all,

Awoke to chickens making a noise this morning on this dull and dreary wet day.

Looked out of the bedroom window but could'nt see any chickens so got up and got dressed. Oh came through and asked if this was one of the new girls so I went and looked and low and behold one of them was int he run closely followed by an old one whilst trying to have some food. Oh said it was the first time he had seen one of them.

I must try to gt a pic today to show you my lovely Daisy and May.

Been raining in the night so everywhere is wet wet wet.

I started something else yesterday afternoon. I downloaded something of the net and did a bit of jiggling and made two with another three on the way. Will send a pic later if I get them done today. They are only paper but I have reinforced them with card.

Morning Mel and all

Another grey, damp day here. I’ve done two loads of washing but I am not going to bother to hang it out. Some is in the dryer and some is hanging on a clothes airer. Now we have put the underfloor heating on stuff on the airer will dry quickly.

OH has been on the phone for about an hour to our acquaintance who lost his wife on Saturday. He seems very confused and doesn’t seem to know what he has to do, where the death certificate is coming from, how to register the death etc. He said that today he had to go to the Home where his wife died so OH has given him a list of questions to ask. Apparently he and his wife recently updated their wills with a local solicitor so OH has suggested that he asks the solicitor to deal with any official forms and letters.

I have just seen a small gleam of sun through the clouds. Perhaps it’s going to brighten up.

No chance of it brightening up here Vera its just as cloudy and damp as it was when I got up. Its that fine rain blowing in the wind.

Not getting on well this morning. I have done a couple of little things and soon it will be tiime to get the lunch. I wish I did'nt have to stop for these things.

Sheep Sh*t pie tonight as oh calls it. I remembered to get the mince out of the freezer this morning. Marvels will never cease! :-D

The bit of sun here lasted about 2 minutes, then clouded over again and we had more rain. It’s dry again now but I don’t think it’s going to stay dry for long. I was going into town but I’m not really in the mood so it can wait till tomorrow. I think I’ll go and sort out a few more geraniums and other plants ready for overwintering. If it rains I can do them in the garage.

We got rid of the big, dark, old shed that was here when we moved in as it took up too much room in our little garden but we have a large double garage. We only run one car now so use the other half for tools and gardening stuff.

Looks like just you and me today Mel. Where is everyone?

It was supposed to rain hard here today so OH didn't go to golf it has only just started to rain with that very fine stuff. We had to go to see the specialist nurse re medications review today. OH was in and out quickly, he only has a statin to take. I have three meds two for BP and a statin. He decided to give me a full review.

BP110/66. which, of course is low, they prefer it not to fall below 140/80. During further conversation asking him what causes low BP. Answer medication!!! Err, if it is that low is something not right with medication? Answer, well you are on the highest Mgs of Amlodopine. Me ???? So he has done what I have long thought should be done, lowered the dose for three weeks when another check will be done. This all dates back over 20 years when I came off HRT and it was then the normal thing to put you on BP tablets. To my knowledge I had never had high BP (although my father did). 18 months ago I had a low reading, 10 months ago it went up to 122/72. Strange it has now dropped again. Anyway, picked up the new prescription so we shall see.

After the appointment we decided to go next door to the community centre and get some lunch. We both had really tasty pasties. They only had one traditional and one steak and ale. We shared but both agreed the traditional was really the best and was very good, almost as good as the 'real thing'.

OH is fed up of course as he can't get out into the garden because it is drizzling.

Afternoon all,

Nothing to report , weather not brilliant, rain this morning, now dark and very overcast.

I got to sleep last night around 1.00 am, and was wide awake again at 4.30. I really don't know what to say to the Dr. She is bound to say "GET OUT MORE and EXERCISE. It's alright for those who can walk a few miles, I have a job to walk round the block. I think my right knee might need replacing. I will ask her to send me for an X ray. Just getting around the bungalow is getting more difficult with the knee clicking and giving me pain.

Ros is at the Theatre tomorrow night to see "LADY IN BLACK" I think that's what it is. She is taking three others, they are having a meal before they go in. So I will decided as and when I eat, and what I might fancy. It's one of the Mothers Club outings, so will meet up with the others around 5.00 pm. She will be out most of the day with Carolyn, so I will be HOME ALONE.

Have had no contact from the family, so don't know how Sister and SIL are doing. I expect it will be ME who rings, to find out.As I said to my brother Bill, the phone is connected both ends. lol lol

Slow cooked lamb tonight in a mint and rosemary sauce. New pots, Swede and carrot mash, brussels and cabbage. Bread and Butter pudding for sweet.

My it does seem a long day, and it's not 3.30 yet. Hope you are all well. See you tomorrow. xxxx

Funny you should say that about the Amlodopine AnnG as oh was on a highish dose of those and when he went for some kind of check up a couple of years ago we had a phone call a couple of days later saying not to take the pills he had as he should have had a lower dose one with the other drugs he was on. Once he started taking them he said he felt better and had more energy.

I have finished what I was making this morning and the other day but hav'nt put their ribbons on yet and I was going to take a pic but oh is in the bedroom so I don't want to disturb him.

That is interesting Mel. I am also hoping that with the lower dose my ankles won't swell as much in the evenings.

Frank so a day of solitude for you. At least nobody to fall out with. slow cooked lamb sounds good. didn't you have the roast lamb yesterday?
We just have cold chicken and oven chips tonight. after the pasties lunch time we shouldn't want a lot.

Afternoon Everyone
It is a horrible day today. Dark,dreary and wet. Physio this morning and now I am aching so I must have been doing something right :-D

Frank,I wonder if physio might help you a bit with your mobility . maybe that is a question youcould ask the Dr. Mind you if your old knee does need replacing there wont be much that will help that one.

That is a nice low BP AnnG.Especially for your age.(I know that sounds rude but its not :-D ) Beter to be on the low side rather than the other way around.

I have a Beef Casserole cooking away in the oven. It has been in for 4 hours now so should be nice and tender. Dumplings have just gone on the top(not my own) .I have never made dumplings !!.

After Physio this morning I went to the surgery to pick up a prescription and wanted to make an appointment but the queue at the desk was so long and only one receptionist I decided to go back this afternoon. The first appointment I could get for a GP I havent seen before is 7th Nov !!!!. But if I either ring at 8 in the morning or drive in for 8 I might be lucky to get an appointment with the GP I want to see next week .Either way there is still no guarantee.

Frank Is Ros going to the Derngate ? I wonder if Ann has been to see Downton Abbey today?

It is better to be low than high. I do know that. However nurse specialist did tell me that they prefer it not to drop quite so low so halving the amlodopine might just bring it up a bit. If it comes up too much I go back on the 10mg. It is the swollen ankles that have always concerned me.

Sounds as though the physio is working. How long do you have to have it for? Is it to strengthen your hip or improve mobility.

We were only saying how lucky we are with our surgery. We can make appointments on line if not urgent but most people wanting immediate appointments seem able to get them.

Evening all

Another cold wet day here. I've been busy sorting out a pile of washing today, it took me ages to get through it all but it's all done now. This is the first sit down I've had all day.

I'm so sorry AnnG, I did see your post about the Michaelmas Daisies and thought I'd answered you. Thank you for your advice, I'll take a look when I have the time to go to the garden centre. We haven't got any further with Sandra's planter with the weather being against us, so we might just buy the plants and put them together so she can see them until we have a break in the rain, we can then sort out the planter for her.

Love the little blanket and pillow you made Mandy, you are very clever, it looks like it was quite tricky to do.

I love the pictures you sent to Ann, Sandra loves the squirrel and your little Christmas tree, she asked me to make her one but I don't do beading so wouldn't have a clue where to start, she likes all the white on it and said they look like lights........bless her.

Hope you're not so achy now Jane after your Physio. At least it'll do you good even if it doesn't feel like it right now. So James is all clean shaven now and has a new look. That's a long time to wait for an appointment, maybe it would be a good idea to ring them and get an earlier one.

So you've been busy with your washing today to Vera, it's a nice feeling when it's all done and out of the way isn't it? That was nice of your OH to help your friend like that.

Going to watch Emmerdale now and relax for the evening, I feel like I've been rushing around all day. I bet I'll sleep well tonight.

The physio is to strengthen the muscles Ann .All those that were cut through in the op.
It is the gluteus muscle that needs the most work .(for me anyway) to stop me leaning to one side when I walk.I'm getting there though and no need for my stick :-D

Evening All,

A very mixed and showery day here today. We decided not to go to the cinema this morning as it is cheaper on Mondays and so likely to be both busier and noisier which we don't like. Maybe tomorrow although OH has 2 meetings.

That's interesting AnnG as I get swollen ankles, more so in summer, and have just read that the thyroid medication I take can cause it plus being overweight doesn't help! I also looked at my last BP reading which was 101/64 and about the same as yours. Mine was never high like my father's BP was and was usually around 130/ 85, but after what I now think was a panic attack in my sleep when my heart wouldn't stop racing, the cardiologist put me on a beta blocker to slow it down. I did ask my GP if my BP was too low now and he said it was fine as long as I felt alright and didn't feel faint.

We did a big shop this morning and then had a coffee at the village tearoom. OH bought his first mince pies and I looked for the Milton anti bacterial and I found all the others but they didn't have the Milton one! Looks like it will be Tesco next where Vera found it.

We've just seen on the local news that a schoolboy was stabbed just round the corner from where MIL lived. I sometimes used to meet OH at the Milestone pub for a meal before he retired and then go home while he went to watch his local team play. It seems these things can happen anywhere and everywhere now, not just in city centres.

Jane it seems like your surgery is getting like ours for getting an appointment! I hope your maximus gluteus is coping with the physio okay! :-D

I know what you mean about your knee Frank, but I think sitting down exercises can help to keep the muscles strong around the knee so it is more stable and clicks less and is a bit less painful.

Vera it was good of your OH to give some guidance to your acquaintance. We wanted a double garage when we moved here, but there are less bungalows than houses that have them so we had to make do with a single. They are useful for other things/storage as you say, but the way the future may be with cars I'm not sure any will be needed for them. Ours is part of the bungalow and we have considered converting it to one or two rooms as it's too small for either of our cars, but I worry that the resale value might be affected if we did..

Poor Jane aching with your physio but it must be doing you good. Do you not use the stick at all now? You should try making your own dumplings. Its easy. With all the complecated recipes you do you should be able to dumplings easily. Do you use a mix?

All the washings done then Gill. It is nice when you can open the linen bin and see nothing in there.

AnnG. I think oh's ankles were'nt so swollen whenthe meds were lowered. It will be interesting to see if yours are the same. Please let us know.

Poor Frank home alone again. Don't you ever go to a show with Ros?

I finished my latest project today but hav'nt taken a pic yet as if I do it when the lights are on I get a shadow in the pic.

Morning all

Lovely and sunny here today, typical as OH had made plans to go and see his friend so we can't get on with Sandra's little garden. Hopefully they'll be another nice day soon so we can crack on with it for her.

I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of your latest project Mel, you do make some lovely things. What have you made this time?

How are you feeling today Jane. Not so achy I hope? Have you got many more physio appointments to go to?

How is your knee today Frank? Hope it's not clicking to much and you can get around alright.

The fella who was helping me with OH's family tree is back from being away for a month, so he's helping me again. He made a tree up for me to copy but when I looked at the part I'm on now, he's made a few mistakes. Neither of us can find the correct information so I might have to leave that person with no marriage or children. Hopefully I'll find his marriage at some point, but for now there doesn't seem to be anything that fits. He's one of 4 children and these 4 are taking me longer to do than any other part of OH's tree. I'm going to take another look today, in the hope I finally have a break through, if not I'll see what I can find for his 3 siblings.

Morning all,

Cloudy this morning with some bright spells whic woke me up shining onthe window and in my eyes. Then low grey clouds came over which was strange because above them was blue sky with those little puffy white clouds close together like a flock of sheep. Dashed for my camera and could'nt find it but by the time I had the sky had changed. I'd left the camera in the utti room where I took a pic of my latest project as oh was in the bedroom where I usually take pics as the lights good in there.

Donkey Day again. Why does it come around so quickly?

Good morning Gill, Mel, and all,

It's Calendar Girls that Ros is going see tonight. Where I got the other from I just don't know. lol lol Ros and I never seem to go anywhere together, apart if I go to Tesco with her, and our weekly trip for a meal out.

Something has happened to my right foot during the night, !! I woke up with pains in the outside of my right foot. This morning, I can hardly walk on it. I can wiggle my BIG TOE, but the others don't move. PLUS my right arm is very sore.

Pity you can't get on with Sandra's garden Gill. As they say, THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW. xxx

Yes Mel, Your Donkey day comes round every week the same as everybody else's. But of course for you, it's move difficult, as you are so far from the BIG SHOPS, where as most of us can get to the supermarkets on a daily basis if we need to.

Glad you are showing signs of improvement Jane. I tried PHYSIO but it seemed to play my up. The last time was in Devon, the guy said, I am throwing money away by having treatment. He put it down to my arthritis, and general wear and tear. The BIOFREEZE that I use, seems to give me a bit of relief, and with my pain killers, I manage. I have to accept that after over 30 years walking around Car sales sites, my body is telling me to slow down.

Where have all the years gone. On the 3rd Oct. I would have been married 60 years. and yesterday, would have been my ex's 79th Birthday. !!!!

Windy old day here, with the promise of showers and heavy rain. I'm not feeling that warm either, I have got the heating on, and sitting in a fleece.

Ros is out on her Tuesday ROMP around the Shops with Carolyn. so I don't expect to see her before 3.30/4.00 pm. Then she's out again for 5.00 pm. So we won't see each other again today. !!! no arguments this end, today. lol lol

"BIGGLES" is coming to stay from the 4th Nov (monday) until Friday. Anne and Alan are off somewhere for a few days. As we love to have him, it's no big deal. ;-) ;-) ; ;-)

No breakfast this morning so I will get myself something now with a coffee. Tonight with Ros out, I am having scollops in a Champaigne and cheese sauce. (POSH or what) lol lol

Will try to catch up later. xxxx