General Chat

Morning all

Sunny but cold here today

Sorry to hear you're not feeling very well Jane, I hope it can be sorted soon for you, then you'll feel much better. I bet you can't wait for next year after the year you've had this year.

I hope you start feeling a little better soon Frank once your meds kick in properly. I think it might be better to if you remove the mats that you are tripping over, or if it's possible stick them down so you don't catch your feet on them. I remember my Nan sticking hers down with blue tack, which seemed to work.

Oh dear Mandy, how upset you must of been to break one of your new Christmas mugs and to also have a chip in your floor tile. I hope the tile isn't to bad. Will you be able to buy another mug?

I did smile when you described yourself as one of the clocks where when you go out the sun goes in Ann. :-D :-D Did the sun come back out in the end?

It sounds like you're been really busy AnnG, it's a nice feeling when everything is sorted isn't it?

How did you get on with your Pagan Wreath Mel, I'd love to see a pic when it's finished.

Well, we've had a thought about the box for the electrics outside and have decided there's a possibility the box could end up with condensation inside and the lights we bought said the plug had to go inside the property, so OH has taken the lights and electric box back to the shop. We'll have to think of safer way of putting lights in Sandra's garden now as I was very worry she might of got an electric shock when she tried plugging the other's in. We might have to go with solar lights if we can't find safe electric ones. I know they won't light up as well in the winter, but at least they'll be safer for Sandra.

All we need to do now is wire the butterflies onto the screening and put the flowers in the planter. I think we might need to raise one or two of the plants pots, but that shouldn't take to long, then it'll all be finished for her. OH is going to his friends in about an hour so we'll finish Sandra's planter off tomorrow as it's forecast nice weather again.

OH is going to have a word with our neighbour as he thinks he had a net of lights in his garden last Christmas, so he's going to ask him where he bought it from and how it's plugged in safely. I think Sandra prefers smaller lights on the screening anyway. If all else fails we still have our solar lights we brought in from the back garden the other week that we could use for her. We want it to be pretty for her, but also safe.

OH's just come in and there's a problem with the parcel you sent Mel. Could you let me know what size it was and what was in it please? They can't find it and think it might still be on the van. OH has to go back tomorrow, but it would help if he could describe it to them, incase they can't find it.

Poor Sandra, she's going to be so disappointed when she wakes up. What with there being no parcel and her lights having to go back to the shop. It's not going to be a good start to her day. I hope she's not to upset.

Morning all,

Another dull and miserable day out there today and with a bonus of rain too I don't think....

Gill I have a set of seed lights run by solar power and they have been outside in the garden for a few years now and they still light up till quite late at night. I never turn them off which I have found is better than keep using the switch as that always seems the thing to go wrong. They have like a sealed solar panel which is better for outside.

I did'nt get on well with my craft project yesterday as I could decide what I wnated to put on the wreath. I tried the leaves all different ways and in the end I got them right but I just need to put some nature bits around the edge and attach a pentacle charm in the middle. I will send a pic when its done as I always do.

I really need to give the fridge as good clean out before I put more stuff in it tomorrow so thats a job for today which I hate.

GILL the parcel is wrapped in broown paper with Sandra's name and address on it and my address on the back with FROM underlined on it. It is wrapped inside with Christmas paper with all red berries on it. It is about 9 inches long and 5 inches deep. It has the address writen on it with a felt pen in navy blue ink and is wrapped with brown parcel tape. As to the contents there is loads of Christmas bits, stickers, a snowman I think, a santas hat in gold and pencils with fluffy tops and a pair of ear muffs. There could be more as I just can't remember now.

Oh said thats a standard letter that was left for you and if its a postman you normally have he may have it on the van still to deliver today. I can never understand why they are not left with a neighbour if you are out or left by the front door.

Gill a message from Detective who is no longer a member. She can read but not post.

Have you looked for battery operated ones? They use AA batteries in a waterproofed control box with a timer- one off/on cycle. When you set the timer up, you have to initially go out & put it on at the time you want it to start. For instance, we'd physically put them on at 4pm for 7 hours. They continue to do that over the Christmas period until its time to put them away.
You'd probably find them amongst the christmas decoration displays. We have 2 styles - only white, & multicoloured & are quite small LED bulbs.
They'd probably take rechargeable batteries if you have any.

She will read it if you reply on here.

Gill on the card that was left re your parcel it should give a date and time from which you can collect and you can't collect from before that time.

Good morning, sorry afternoon, all

Another very wet grey day. We'll all be going rusty and growing webbed feet soon.

OH is Mr Popularity this morning. Before 9 am we had a call from a friend saying that she had no power to her cooker and could OH go and check it over for her. She's not very well off and didn't want to have to buy a new one if it was a simple repair job. OH said the company that fitted it had just poked some wires in the back of the cooker and not tightened them up so they had worked free, and it was a wonder she didn't have a fire. That company have now gone out of business - I wonder why? Anyway he sorted it and she's up and running again.

While he was there our acquaintance who recently lost his wife rang to ask if OH would go and help him fill in some forms as he couldn't understand them, so that's where he is at the moment. Strange that he rushes to help everyone else but if I want a job doing I have to keep nagging lol. Still, I look at it this way; one day we may be the ones needing help so we have to do our bit now.

Gill, Japanese Anemones are tall plants. Mine are about 3 foot high. I thought of them when you said you were looking for something a bit taller as they come in white and various shades of pink which I thought would suit Sandra. But now I think about it they only bloom in the autumn and perhaps you might want something with a longer season. It's a shame that you have had to send some of the bits back to the shop but, as they say, better safe than sorry.

AnninG, I hadn't realised that Detective was no longer a member. I had noticed that she hadn't posted on the book thread recently. I always felt her tastes were very similar to mine so I will miss her recommendations for books and she also put me on to Libby, the library app, which I have used a few times. If you are looking in Det, happy reading and I wish you well.

Ann, I do understand the worry of falling on the stairs, particularly if you are used to living in a bungalow. I have only ever lived in houses and the only time I have fallen down stairs was when I was in my 40s and pretty fit. I used to rush about a lot more then, now I am slower and a lot more careful.

AnninG, you have been busy sorting out your wardrobes. Like you I hardly ever wear skirts yet I have several in my wardrobe. I don't possess a single dress as I can never find one that's fits me. If I buy for the bust size the waist and hips are a bit tight, buy to fit the hips and the top falls off me. I'm tall so the waist never seems to be in the right place. It's disappointing because I would love a smart dress for a change.

I found the leaflet I was given with my flu injection. I've never had a leaflet before but I usually get the jab at the surgery. This time I went to the pharmacy where I get my meds. The stuff they injected me with was called Fluad and this is their list of side effects:

Very common: headache, muscular pain, tenderness or pain at injection site, fatigue

Common: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, sweating, joint pain, fever, generally feeling unwell, shivering, local reactions of redness, bruising, hardness around the injection site

Uncommon: rash

I wondered if that accounted for my headache which started the day after I had the jab and perhaps also AnninG's queasy tum but the leaflet also says that any reaction should go in 1-2 days and I have had this headache for 5 or 6 days now.

OH has just come back and has sorted out the forms for the chap round the corner so I had better go and get him some lunch. Have a good day everyone.

Good afternoon all,

I started to read the posts, but there are so, so many. You all have been so busy. So I have skipped to the last page so I can post.

We had a nice meal yesterday. I had Gammon and Turkey and Ros had Beef. There were Yorkshires, Roats pots, Cauli, carrots, peas, and beans. I had a little of most, and ate a good meal.

This morning I had my 4 weekly injection and we both had our flu Jabs. Louise weighed me, and I have put on a little weight, which she was pleased about.

I have got Lamb Shanks from the freezer, and Ros had done the veg.So I have nothing to do today, other than read or watch T.V.

Pleased to see everyone is well, and keeping up with all your various hobbies.

We have just had a mysterious delivery from QVC. It's a tree of twigs that all light up. There is no CHARGE FOT IT. I can only think it comes with the new Christmas Tree that arrived on Friday. Ros is ringing Julia, to see if she has had one. NO SHE HASN'T. So we are just amazed to know why they have sent it. I said to Ros just put it away until Christmas, and be thankful.

Thanks for all your concerns about my health, I will take on board what you are saying, and eat more often, and smaller portions. I will let you know how I go on.

Take care all, see you soon. xxxx

Thanks AnnG for passing on the message. Thanks Detective, I'll take a look next time I'm out.

Sandra is very good and said it was okay, but I can tell she is disappointed, so I've reassured her that we will buy some lights, we just need to find the right ones, so they are safe to plug in. The waterproof electric box is a good idea but with it being plastic I'm sure it would sweat with the temperature changes, therefore condensation could build up inside and with the instructions for the lights we bought saying they should only be plugged in indoors, we didn't want to take the risk and chance them outside. OH also noticed that the clips to close the box on the sides are the same as the ones on his drill box, he said they go loose over time and don't close properly, so that wouldn't be good either as that would eventually let the rain in.

The lights you mentioned Mel sound like a good idea but we only have about 2 hours of sun down the side of the bungalow so I'm not sure if that would be enough to charge them. I like the idea Detective mentioned about lights with timers on, they could then be switched on as she goes to bed and last long enough for her to enjoy them before she goes to sleep. If they weren't on a timer the 2 hours of sun would only charge them for an hour or two and they would of gone off by the time she goes to bed.

I do feel sorry for her at the moment, but I'm sure between us all we'll find a way around this problem and have some lights for her soon. Even OH suggested that we buy outside lights specially designed for gardens, the ones that sit on the ground and light the plants from underneath, that way he could do the same as he did when he had to extend the wire for the waterfall as there is a special connection to add an extra length of wire so the plug ends up inside and not outside.

Unfortunately we couldn't do that with the lights we bought as the wire was different. I did find just the right light at Waterworld, (a place that sells water features) it was colour changing and meant for a pond, but it was £500 for one light, far to much money for us. I'm sure we'll find something suitable for her soon though, if we keep looking.

Thanks everyone for all your ideas I'll take a look around and see what I can find for her.

As for the parcel, there wasn't a pick up time on the card AnnG, I didn't think of that so I've just checked and all is says is that it will be ready for pick up on the next working day, which is today. It could well be on the van and might be there tomorrow when OH goes back to ask. Finger's crossed that's the case.

Thank's Mel for letting me know the size and what was in it, also how it was wrapped, at least OH can let them know so they'll know what they're looking for if it's not in the van. I just hope the postman hasn't accidentally given it to the next person on his list, with their parcel. Mind you if that's the case then they might take it to the post office later today.

I was disappointed myself as you had gone to so much trouble to send it to her Mel and I knew you'd be upset if it went missing. All we can do is wait and see what happens tomorrow. I'll let you know as soon as I know.

On a positive the Christmas films have started again on Channel 5, so I recorded a few on Saturday while we were out and a few more on Sunday. I'm just about to watch the last Sanditon, then I'll put them on for Sandra........that'll put the smile back on her face. :-) :-) She has found some more for next Saturday and Sunday, so guess what we'll be watching lol :-D

I missed your posts Vera and Frank.

Thanks for letting me know the size of the Japanese Anemones Vera. We are going to do Sandra's planter like we do the borders in the back garden and change it around throughout the year so she has something interesting to look at, so I will take a look for some pink ones for her. How nice of your husband to help people out like that and like you said you never know when you might need help yourself. My husband is the same and I'm still waiting for him to put the drawer fronts on our kitchen drawers after about 2 years of waiting. I think I might end up doing it myself. To be fair he's a busy man, always doing something, so the small job in the kitchen isn't really a problem, in fact I've got used to it now. lol :-D :-D :-D
That's a lot of side effects from the flu jab, I hope your headache clears up soon.

Pleased to see you have eaten a good meal and feel better for it Frank. it'll give you some energy and hopefully stop you feeling so tired during the day. How nice to have a free bee off QVC. Sandra was looking at those light up trees the other day and said how much she likes them, mind you the one she was looking at was PINK......say no more lol ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D

I have some of those lights on a timer. They are the seed lights I have them on the windowsill. They are battery lights and you can put the lights in water but not the battery part.

Great news.....

OH asked his friend if he could take a look on Amazon and between them they have found the perfect light for Sandra's planter. It has 16 different colours, 4 different modes and is remote control and dimmable, so Sandra will have fun playing with that.

I can only see a small picture on the print off, but I think there is a pink bulb, which...........yes you've guessed it, was the first thing Sandra asked me when I said there was more than one colour. It's arriving sometime tomorrow and it has a proper plug on it so OH can buy some extra length of wire and the proper waterproof connector like he did with the water feature and that way the plug will end up in doors where it'll be safe from any dampness.
I can't tell you how relieved we are that OH's friend has found it for her. Wasn't that nice of him? He even said we should of gone to him first. lol

The good thing about this light is when she has set it up the way she wants it, it automatically goes straight to that setting each time she plugs it in and if she wants a different setting, she just changes it to another one and again it will go to that one each time.

All we need now is her parcel to be at the post office tomorrow, then she'll be a very happy bunny. :-D :-D

Gosh Gill I hope it is at the post office tomorrow. I could'nt replace the things that are in the parcel. I just wish I had sent it first class now. I don't usually send things second so just took a chance as it was more for first class and I have just paid that very large bill fo r the oil.

Afternoon All,

Lots of rain and dreary and dull here.

That's great your OH's friend has found some lights for Sandra's garden Gill. I bet she is so pleased now and hopefully they will arrive soon for her. I hope Mel's lovely surprise parcel for her will be there to collect tomorrow too. It sounds an interesting one!! :-)

The Fluad vaccination is one they started specifically for the over 65s last year as it is supposed to be a better one for us old codgers and give us more protection. I didn't know it could have those side effects Vera so thank you for putting them on here. It may be why a few of us have been out of sorts and tired since having them. Your OH is a good chap isn't he going to help friends out. I think they all tend to do this and have deaf ears about jobs at home which are less interesting! lol. :-) I hope you are feeling a bit better today and that the sore throat hasn't developed into anything more.

That's good you were able to enjoy your meal yesterday Frank and have put a little weight on. Maybe you will turn the corner now and start to feel a bit better. Fancy the twig tree arriving out of the blue! I wonder if Jan will get one in the next few days? It's going to be Frank and Ros's Christmas grotto at your place at Christmas with these new trees!

We were up and out early this morning for my appointment with the surgeon. I had put some weight I lost back on so wondered what he would say but I explained about bereavements etc and he was fine. I said to him that he had seen my xrays and I asked if I lost more weight, was it possible that improvement in my knees meant that I might be able to delay surgery and he thought that was quite possible. He said the operation would be safer and better anyway after more weight loss, so I asked him to explain. Apparently there is greater anaesthetic risk, even with doing a spinal tap, which I hadn't realised. He said he could do a more successful operation with less fat in the knees, recovery would be better afterwards and that the new joints could last longer without additional weight. The comedian in me wanted to ask if he could give me strong Shire horse knees, but I didn't as he isn't the humorous type! Anyway he agreed that I see what I can do over the next 4 months which is what I hoped, so it's onward and hopefully downward again! :-)

I'm sure it'll be at the post office Mel, it's probably been left in the van like the man said. I'll let you know what's happening as soon as I know, please don't worry I'm sure it'll be okay.

Your comment on Shire horse knees made me smile Ann, you are very funny :-D :-D That's good news about losing some weight where the op is concerned and 4 months is quite a long time so it shouldn't be to hard. The light for Sandra is arriving tomorrow, not sure what time we'll just wait for a text off OH's friend as it's going to his house. OH forgot to ask what size it was and said it would probably be the size of a normal outside security light, but given the fact it's only £15.99 I said let's hope so as I have visions of it being the size of a 50 pence piece lol :-D it's only 10W bulb so it might not be bright enough, so I said to Sandra if that's the case we'll put it in her room instead, that way she can have her room different colours like a night lamp. Hopefully though it'll be okay to use in her little garden, or I don't know what we'll do as we're running out of ideas.

I'm feeling very tired tonight so think I might have an early night, it must be my recharging nights sleep again lol :-D When I was younger, because I've never needed much sleep, every now and then I'd come home from school have something to eat and go straight to bed, sleep right through and then be as bright as a button for the next month. Mum used to say I was recharging my batteries. That one early nights sleep every now and then has stayed with me all through my life. So I'm signing out now and will see you all tomorrow
Night Night

Morning all

Dry here at the moment after what looks like some rain in the night. I don't know what time Sandra's light is turning up but hope it's not to late then we might stand a chance of putting it in for her, before it rains again.

Mel, OH has just been back to the post office and it was a different man there, he had a good look around and couldn't find it, so he's asked OH to go back at 1pm after he has had a word with the van driver. OH explained that was suppose to be done yesterday but no one had passed a messaged onto him. He was very apologetic and promised that he would speak with the van driver. In the meantime OH has checked the front garden in between the plants and also in the two planters but it wasn't there so he spoke with the neighbours, none of them had been asked to take the parcel in for us. So all we can do is wait until 1pm now and see what the man at the post office can find out.

I know it's a bit cheeky and normally I would never ask, but if you don't mind could you PM me the value of the parcel incase they ask, as they may give Sandra some compensation with it being their fault the parcel has gone missing, at least if they give her the value of the parcel she can buy herself the items you sent her. If you don't want to tell me the value, that's okay, it was just a thought incase they ask.

I'm going to put in a complaint if the parcel can't be found, it made it here safely from Devon, so how they can lose it from here to the post office, less than a few miles away, I don't know.

I hope you're not to upset Mel and all I can do is apologise. Sandra is going to be very upset when she wakes up and I tell her what's happened. Let's hope after the man at the post office speaks with the van driver it'll turn up. All we can do is hope.

Nothing much planned for today, we're waiting for a text off OH's friend to say the light has turned up, then if there's enough time OH will go and buy the correct length of wire and the waterproof connection so he can connect the light and plug it indoors. I hope it's bright enough for her and that it has the colour pink in one of the 16 colours, as we all know that'll be the one she chooses lol ;-)

I'm gong to take another look at OH's tree now, then catch up with a few programmes I've recorded, I was to tired to watch them last night. I had a good nights sleep, so feel much better today, after having a headache for two days.

I hope everyone else is well. What do you all have planned for today?

GOOD NEWS MEL

The parcel is at the depot. Apparently 4 bags containing 40 parcels had been accidentally sent back to Chester, who ever did it put the wrong sort code on the bags, so the depot have had numerous complaints. The bags have now been returned and the post man came here to let us know we can collect it now. He was full of apologies, but at least he came to our door to let us know, rather than make us wait until 1pm when OH was suppose to go back. OH is going to collect it now. Sandra is thrilled, and can't wait to open it. :-) :-) :-) I'm so pleased it's been found and I bet you are to?

Morning Gill and all,

We have sunshine at the moment but everywhere is so very wet and it rained again last night. The ground can't take much more as it is soaked through with puddles all in the back field.

Gill I don't think they would give Sandra compensation for the lost parcel it should be me as I have the certificate of posting. I suppose all in all it cost me about £20. Do you have a post on a Sunday? Goodness knws what the Christmas parcel is going to cost me to send this year as I need a BIG box for it.

Donkey day again today and my knee is playing up again. I just hope I can get around the shop ok. I do find it easier to walk around with the trolley if I can get one that dos'nt want to go round the corner on its own accord. With it being cooler now I can park nearer to the entrance if I can get a space.

O great!!!!! I am so pleased they have been found. I hope she enjoys the little bits inside it. It is certainly going to be like Christmas if her light turns up today too. She's going to be one Happy Bunny.

Hope you all slept well last night and arn't too achey this morning.

The rain we had last night is hanging on the wire fence like a string of crystal beads. I took a pic through the dirty window so the effect has'nt come out too well and the sun is in the wrong direction as it is facing the camera.