General Chat

A short post tonight as I feel really tired and a bit below par. OH has got a cold and I think he has passed it on as I have a sore throat today. I’ve also had a headache for a few days and it just won’t go. It’s not a migraine, just a grotty headache but it’s making me irritable. Moan over.

I love your sheep Ann. They’ve got real character and made me smile.

I hope Frank is OK. Perhaps he’s having computer problems like Jane.

I have read all the posts but am too tired to respond to them tonight. I hope you all sleep well. Night, night.

Morning All,

Dull and dreary and very wet this morning as its been raining in the night. The washing on the line is as wet as when I put it out yesterday so I think it will have to come in today.

Vera I hope the headache goes today and you feel better than you have over the last few days. Sometimes once the cold really breaks the headache goes. Take it easy and get well soon.

I am going to attempt some more rings today so will let you know hw I get on later.

Good morning, we have the same weather as Mel, horrible.
I had a bit of an iffy night , also had a day of not feeling quite right. I felt very queasy all night. OH Has a runny nose and catarrh. It was a week since our flu jabs yesterday I am wondering if that is significant.

Gill you did well to get all that and well done for getting the outdoor box for the lights. Sandra is going to love it. The flowers seem just right too. You can get some wind chimes that just tinkle but I did wonder about the louder ones keeping her awake.

Vera sorry you feel under the weather as well, hope you both feel better soon. If your weather is like ours, stay in the warm.

Mel you worked hard on your craft then yesterday.

Hope Frank is OK I think he is supposed to be going out for lunch today so hope he is well enough. If you look in Frank there is an episode of Location Location on this afternoon (4.15 I think it might be) from Mercia.

Jane I hope you are going to be able to get back on here soon we are missing you.

Annx what a shame the bungalow was not suitable. You wouldn't want to be backing on to Iceland, no knowing when their deliveries are and if you now have 4 bedrooms two is a big drop. We have four and like having the space.
Yes strange how medication can affect your body. I did wonder if I was feeling a bit off because my med change but I think that might be likely if the dose had been increased but not with it having been halved.

Mandy are you busy working on that bag?

Morning All.

Miserable and wet here too so we are eating in today .

AnnG we have a 3 bed bungalow at the moment but ideally would like a 4 bed one so we both have a small study/ craft room. There are very few bungalows being built round here now but vast amounts of large detached family houses with up to 5 bedrooms. Older 3/4 bedroom bungalow seem to have huge gardens which I would have loved once but we would find more work than we want to do now and at some point there will be just one of us to do it! I hope you both feel better soon and there seem to be sickly headache bugs about just now.

Mel you have been busy with your crafts! I think I will be starting again with what I did yesterday! lol.

Vera I hope you both feel better soon. It's annoying when our OH's share their bugs and in our case it's usually that way round, as you both feel grotty and have to struggle along together then.

Gill the lights and things you bought will look lovely! You could always muffle some wind chimes by wrapping some tape on them or small rubber bands. I would worry about annoying neighbours with them if they were close to the bungalows. The plugs sound ideal and I think our waterfall pump plugs into something like that.

Still no Frank!!! I hope he's ok.

The bad penny always turns up. LOL GOOD MORNING ALL, What a horrible one it is too. Rained like mad as I went to Denis and Pam's. It's Denis's B'day today, so had pop round with card and present.

Sorry I didn't show yesterday. Just not feeling great at the moment. I am not very steady on my legs lately. and tends to trip on the mats all around the bungalow. Ros keeps telling me to "PICK UP YOUR FEET" I certainly don't like feeling like this. I am not eating. Friday I did a nice Pork Loin with Mash and Veg. I dished up, and put mine in the oven, as I didn't feel hungry. I ended throwing it away Saturday morning. Yesterday I had some toast and marmalade at 10.30. A ham sarnie around 1.30 and last night, Ros fancied Fish cake, Pineapple Ring and chips. We went to Towcester to get it, but didn't get anything for myself. I'm defiantly like the weather, DULL AND DISMAL. I don't seem to have a bit of energy, even though the Dr. changed one of my pills, to give me more "UP AND AT IT Felling" They don't seem to have worked.

That's enough about me for today. lol lol. I see you are all getting on with life, and hope this weather isn't stopping you getting out and about. That planter sounds big enough for an allotment Gill. You will need a lot of things to fix it ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) Sandra will be kept busy looking after that.

We had a MASSIVE BOX turn up Friday night at 8.00 pm It's a CHRISTMAS TREE from QVC. Val Barker rang Ros when they were on a show for ONE DAY ONLY. So they both bought one.

Yesterday, Harvey rang to say he couldn't do any mowing at Ian Poulters as it was tipping it down, so would come and fit the shower. When he came in the lounge he saw the box and said QVC. He had his turn up also on Friday, Neither of us knew the other had ordered the same thing. :-0 :-0 :-0 We haven't opened it yet. and gawd knows where I will put it until Christmas.

I am off to get showered, and shaved and get dressed. The table is booked for 3.00 pm. I hope I will feel like eating by then, as I have had nothing to eat since yesterday's HAM SARNIE.

I will try to be back to see LOCATION. I will ring Conrad, so he can watch it. He came home Friday for Ella's birthday yesterday. He will go back to Spain on Tuesday and Jan will go with him, as KERRY and ALEXANDER are going out there for a week next Friday.

Be good see you all later.

Frank you are not eating and you have no energy. Do you think the two might be connected? It is a vicious circle, if you don't use any energy you won't need any fuel and if you don't eat you won't get any energy. I know what Ros means about pick up your feet, My OH does tend to shuffle a bit when in his slippers but luckily we don't have any rugs. could your rugs be moved out of the way to save you tripping? I hope you feel like eating.

Ann we find it very useful having the two rooms we can use as our own 'offices/craft rooms. We are stuck with a four bed house as we wouldn't want to move away from our neighbours at the moment we do both help each other. Luckily we are still both able to climb the stairs.

Afternoon All

Laptop all sorted at last. I have no idea what the problem was. I just need to get me sorted.This problem I am having with the acid reflux/inflammation is not good. I am in bed as lying down on my side seems to be the most comfortable position . Just eating soft things and milky drinks at the moment :-S. I had a Weetabix earlier even though I didnt fancy it. I have o doubt when I see the GP on wed he will recommend I have an endoscopy.

Frank, why dont you leave off the big roast dinnners and have several small plates of something through the day.As for tripping over the mats.They are so dangerous for anyone not too stable on their legs. Could you not remove the ones that are likely to trip you up.

Oh Vera you too are not feeling so good. What a lot we are !!!. It sounds like it is your OHs fault for passing on his cold. I hope today your throat isnt so sore.

I am going now as sitting up is uncomfortable. I wil pop in and out :-D

I am so pleased we have heard from our Franky Boy. I do worry so when we don't hear from him.

AnnG is right Frank if you don't do anything you won't get hungry. Now your not mowing or doing the veg patch and just sitting reading your body dos'nt need much fuel.

Cakes in the oven and it smells like Christmas in here. Its such a nice cake I don't know why I don't make it more often instead of buying the rubbish in the shops that dos'nt last but a few days.

I am going to start some more crafts today but have been putting stuff away as I find I just leave things around and have piles of stuff out on different boards. I think it will be Pagan wreaths today.

Will send a pic of the headbands in a min.

The suns come out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sent a pic of the headbands.

Afternoon all,

Showers here today and the wind has now go up so wet ,windy and dreary here .

Love the headbands Mel they will sell very well ,unicorns are all the rage at the moment .
So it's smelling like christmas with the cake cooking ,i could just eat a nice piece of fruit cake .

AnnG don't mention the bag ,all i have to do is sew it up and add the strap but i just carn't get into the mind to do it .

Jane you do sound uncomfortable i hope you can soon get it sorted out so you feel more comfortable ,no wonder you've lost weight with not being able to eat properly .Is there any thing you can take to help with the acid until you see the doctor ?
I see Country file is from Wembury tonight .

Oh Frank are you feeling down again ,it might be that the new tablets take a while to get into your system before they start working .
I hope you can manage to enjoy your meal out today ,perhaps just have some thing off the childs menu that way you don't have a full plate in front of you to put you off eating .

Ann i take it OH found his thermals :-D did he ask where you had put them :-D
Did you get any nice photo's ,the leaves are now starting to turn on the tree near the church ,i think it's some sort of Maple the leaves are huge and have turned all orange and red they look so pretty .

Oh Vera i hope your head soon clears and the throat isn't so sore today.

Gill sounds as if you'e made a good start with getting all the bits for Sandra's garden ,i bet she's so excited and keeps looking at all the bits you've bought and carn't wait to see every thing set in place .

I was so cross this morning i was putting some mugs away in the cupboard and thought i would just sort them out a bit to make a bit more room , i pulled out the top of the milk frother caught it on one mug handle and down came the two new christmas mugs i only had bought the other week , one chunk of mug has taken a small bit out of the floor tile too so i made a good job of the tidy up !!!

Oh Mandy, that was a shame, good job it was you that did it!! Go on, finish the bag, you know you really want to.
On Tuesday, if it is dry we are going to Batsford Arboretum we are hoping at least some of the trees will have turned. At the end of October we will go to Westonbirt, love it there in the Acer Glade.

Jane the doctor may be able to give you something to calm the inflamation down. I wonder if it was anything to do with the anaesthetic, do you know if you had a pipe down your throat that may have scratched it. I am sorry that things are not going well for you, especially as the op seems to have been a success. You have not had a good year have you with the family and this must seem like the last straw. I do sympathise I suffer with acid reflux sometimes and suffer with heartburn without the reflux quite a lot. so far I am managing it ok without any help from doctors but yours seems to have come on suddenly after your op, unless you just have not mentioned it before. The fact that you have lost weight should be in your favour with the reflux. Strangely if I have it it is much worse when I lie down, either on my back or either side. I am better if I prop myself on pillows behind my back. sometimes I am even better if I stand up. Sounds like you need bland food . (Mashed potato, white rice, milky things nothing too hot, make sure drinks are cool. How about tinned rice? cream of chicken soup, not hot again though.

O Mandy don't you just get so cross with yourself for doing things like that. I always think to myself if I had left it alone I'd still have it in one piece now. I nearly did the same thing with my mugs the other day tidying to get more in but just managed to catch it before it fell. It would be the new ones too!!! and made a hole in the floor. What a nuisance. :-(

Just after lunch I was looking out the window and saw a bird fly up in the ash tree and thought at first it was the young pigeon. Its was'nt on closer inspection it was the blooming Sparrow Hawk. I wondered where all my blue tits had gone. I opene d the window and banged it shut but it still sat there in the tree so I clapped my hands really loud three times and still it sat there so I did it again and this time it flew off over Em's.

Mel magnificent to look at but such cruel birds.

Frank, as the others say, those mats are a hazzard when you aren't steady on your feet. When mum ran the small home the H&S people made her take up all the mats. Maybe snacks rather than big meals would be more appetizing for you at the moment and you could always try some of those drinks that build you up as well. I hope you feel better in yourself soon and if not see the doc again. Hopefully you have some appetite for your carvery today.

Oh dear Jane it can't be nice if you can only be comfortable laying down as that can make reflux worse. I hope you are managing to sleep ok? You have had some stress lately with the family so I wonder if that has helped cause the problem? Not long till you see the doc now which is good.

Mel your headbands are really lovely and so nicely made!!! I think they will sell very well on your stall and, as Mandy says, it is the year of the Unicorn! I keep meaning to ask you when you stop feeding the hogs? A friend has one visiting that she feeds, but doesn't know when to stop leaving food out as she isn't 100% certain it is just the hog eating it, although she has seen him feeding.

Mandy, he did find his thermals in the end. lol I'm very glad to say with being so methodical, as Mel says, he puts all his own clothes away, otherwise I expect anything he couldn't find would be my fault!! :-S He still seems to expect me to know where everything else is though. With being in a flap he then forgot to pick up the bottle of water he was taking and left it in the porch. As soon as I drove up the road yesterday, the sun went in so I didn't take any photos. Sometimes I think I'm like one of those clocks with the two figures that move and I'm the one that comes out and the sun goes in as it happens so often when I want to take photos! What a shame you broke one of your new Christmas mugs and then for a piece to chip a tile as well. Sometimes you wish you hadn't bothered don't you! I hope the chipped tile isn't too noticeable or that you can disguise it.

Afternoon all

Yet another wet, grey day here. Just looking out of the window makes you feel miserable.

Thank you all for your good wishes. I am feeling a bit better. My throat is hardly sore now and so far I haven't developed a cold. I still can't shake this headache though. Like AnninGlos I wondered if it could be a side effect of the flu jab which I had on Tuesday. I was given a leaflet when I had my jab so I must have a look and see what it says about side effects. I am sorry you haven't been feeling too good either AnnG. I hope your quesiness has all gone now.

OH is still sniffing and snuffling a bit and was laid out on the recliner chair feeling very sorry for himself until midday when he miraculously recovered enough to go for his Sunday lunchtime pint with a friend. Men!

Poor you Jane. You do sound very uncomfortable. Is it possible to ring your surgery in the morning and see if your doctor can give you something to ease it for the next couple of days until you have your appointment?

As for you Frank....what are we ladies of your harem going to do with you? I know it's easier said than done but try not to let yourself get too down. Give your new tablets time to work. Sometimes it can take quite a while for the medication to really kick in. As others have said food and energy go together but don't put yourself off by serving up a big plateful of roast meat and veg. If I were you I would try to eat little and often. I would also remove any loose rugs while you are a bit unsteady on your pins. Take care of yourself and keep your pecker up, as my old Dad used to say.

I didn't know you were house hunting Ann or have you mentioned it before and I have forgotten? My memory does sometimes let me down these days. When we decided we would have to move as we were getting older and the garden was too big for us to manage easily and we were also quite isolated, we looked for a bungalow. All the ones with small gardens seemed so cramped, with 2 or 3 small bedrooms. A friend told us of this chalet that was about to go on the market and it was perfect for us. All the rooms are pretty big so there is lots of space but the garden is small. It was built with 3 bedrooms upstairs and 2 downstairs but the downstairs bedrooms have been knocked into one by the previous owner. We've made the smallest room upstairs into a study/office. The big plus for us was that, if the time comes when we can't get upstairs any more, we can live completely in the downstairs part. It sounds as though something like this house might suit you.

Gill, Sandra's garden sounds great. I like the idea of the butterflies and uplighting the plants sounds a good idea too. If you wanted something a bit taller than the Michaelmas Daisies how about a couple of Japanese Anemones? They spread by runners and if they are in the ground (as ours are) they tend to take over a bit but they should be OK confined in a pot or two.

How annoying to break your mugs and chip the floor tile as well Mandy. I bet you said a few choice words. I feel so angry with myself when I do something like that.

Mel, your headbands are sweet and they should sell really well. Little girls love decorated headbands and they love unicorns too. My four granddaughters would definitely have gone for those when they were small.

I've been sitting at the computer yawning away. When OH got back from the pub at 2 pm we had a big roast dinner, with a pudding, and I had a large glass of wine. I think I now really need a bit of fresh air but it looks so horrid outside that I don't feel like venturing out. Think I'll go and make a cuppa and hope that wakes me up a bit.

I am shattered now. I decided, as I had started on the wardrobe I should finish it. So I sorted out 3 skirts for the charity shop, nothing wrong with them but I don't wear skirts so why I had about 10 of them I don't know. I have kept a long black one and a normal length black one plus four others I might just wear if the occasion arises. I am so much more comfortable in trousers.I hardly ever wear dresses either as I find it difficult to find them to fit me. I am short waisted so the waist on some dresses comes where my tummy, not a good look :-D
Anyway next I tackled the wardrobe shelf which has been a bit of a dumping ground. I pulled out all the birthday and Christmas card etc that I just couldn't bear to throw away. Sorted all the cards we have given each other over the past 27 years since we have been here and they are all stored in a carrier back. Of the others all those without glitter of hand made bits on them are in the recycling the rest are in the normal waste bin and some have been cut up to make more cards.
I also sorted my wash bags large make up bags (for holidays) (I had 5 or 6 so put a couple out for washing and they can go to the charity shop as nothing wrong with them.
Last but not least I crawled around on the floor and dug out any boots that were hiding in there. Yesterday in town I was looking at boots in m&S, I wear a soft foot glove boot and have two pairs downstairs, both black, one old and one quite new. the newer ones are wide fitting and I find them a bit big for me so wear thicker socks. the others I wear all the time and wanted another pair the same but unfortunately they didn't have a five and a half.and the 5 was a bit tight while the 6 was much too big so I left it (this is going somewhere!!) In my wardrobe I found a pair of boots like I was looking for, brown not black size 5 and a half!!! So that was lucky I didn't buy any more as they are £59. I also found a different style pair of brown boots with a chunky but low heel, My others don't have a heel and have a good gripping sole. I also found two pairs of pull on suede boots a bit like Uggs but not Uggs which I knew were there for the bad weather. Anyway, I just have the small rail of scarves (quite a lot of scarves to sort. Maybe tomorrow because I am shattered.

Missed you there Vera, yes I do feel better now thank you. You were lucky being given a leaflet. We didn't have any at our surgery. I know the doctors always say there are no side effects but I always seem to have something mild just after having the jab.

It is the glass of wine that does it Vera :-D :-D Makes you feel tired. I have to get our roast in the oven soon. We have gammon tonight.

Afternoon all

Dull and damp here today. I re-potted Sandra's plants from yesterday in the greenhouse where it was dry so they're all done now and ready to go into the planter once we've worked out a good way of attaching the lights. We were going to put them on a shelf around the bottom of the pots but I thought if we had to take a plant out and replace it, there would be a chance the new pot could accidentally be put back on top of the lights and break them. So I think it might be better if we hook them on the inside of the planter away from the pots. We're still hoping we can find a net of small lights to put on the screening I think that might look nice and the new waterproof electric box has 4 sockets inside so we can add more lights if we want.

Pleased to see you're feeling better today Vera. Thanks for letting me know about Japanese Anemones, how tall to they grow, they would be sitting on the ground inside the planter which is 18 inches high so I need something that would grow quite tall so they could be seen above the top of the planter. I've just been outside to raise on of the pots as I noticed one of the branches was rubbing on the top of the planter and I didn't want it to be damaged, it's now a couple of inches above. Luckily I had a few pieces of wood left over so used those to stand the pot on. I hope it doesn't blow off though.

Sandra can't wait for everything to be finished, unfortunately the weather isn't very nice so we're having to do it a bit at a time when the sun is out. OH is out tomorrow but the weather looks good for Tuesday so hopefully we'll be able to do a bit more then.

Mel, I think the postman tried to deliver the parcel for Sandra yesterday as I noticed a note pushed through the door this morning which must of been posted yesterday saying to pick a parcel up for the post office, so OH is going to pick it up tomorrow. We were out all day which is why we missed the post. She now knows it's coming and is really excited to know what it is. It'll be like the night before Christmas Day here tonight as she waits for the morning to arrive lol :-D :-D

Love the pic of the sheep Ann, you're very clever and your pic of the unicorn headband's Mel, they're very pretty.

Mum's just turned up so I'll have to go. I'll catch up with the rest of the post later, or tomorrow.

We didn't get a leaflet either AnnG. They used to ask us to sit in the waiting room after for 10 minutes as well but don't now. No cleaning your arm or a plaster either, just a blob of cotton wool. I'm allergic to plaster adhesive anyway but OH doesn't get one either. You've done well in your wardrobe today and it's good when you rediscover things you've forgotten about and can use. I have the same trouble with the neck to waist measurement for dresses. I used to find that the Chelsea Girl ones fit me the best. Maybe it was because they were made in China by women more my size! If I made a dress I would always have to shorten that measurement by an inch and a half.

Vera I have looked at one or two chalet type houses and I lived in one before I moved here and that had 2 beds upstairs and 2 downstairs, but most of my life I have lived in bungalows and like not having to clean stairs or decorate stairwells! :-) A work colleague fell downstairs one morning and was lucky he had a cleaner who found him later in the morning. He never came back to work and a year later when we saw him at a Christmas meal he still had trouble with speech and co-ordination. A friend of my sister's is paralysed from the waist down after doing the same so I'm very reluctant, especially with getting older. We have been looking since the new houses were to be built at the end of the close 4 years ago and with all the building in the villages the traffic is much worse, but all those we have looked at have drawbacks of some sort so I think we will most likely stay put! I keep looking and hoping though. :-) You made me laugh at your OH's rapid recovery at the prospect of a pint with his friend! They are all the same aren't they! Mine has been flaked out before till asked if he wants to go to a match! Then he says the fresh air will do him good, even if it's freezing. ;-)