General Chat

So your next move Gill is to apply for Sandra's free bus pass, than yours.

Don't mention to your OH when you tell us things then he won't be able to comment. No way will we stop talking to you that is showing how he doesn't know how our support system works. so do stop worrying.

And I suppose it is your fault he can't fix the tumble drier. I think his bad moods in a way are because he feels guilty about not having money but he won't admit it.

My OH is still fixing the kitchen shelving so I think the leak will wait until tomorrow. I think it supposed to stay dry now for a few days. It rained this morning but it didn't get in so it must be partly fixed. Although that rain was not too heavy.

I need to find Sandra's paperwork to see how many points she got for the bit she needs to apply for a bus pass, then I'll need to sort one out for myself. Thanks for your help and support it means so much to me. Good news on the leaky roof situation, I hope it stays dry for you. Your OH is very busy and now fixing the shelving, you have a good one there AnnG. :-)

My OH didn't blame me for the dryer, so I should be grateful of that. I wouldn't mind but he can be lovely when he puts his mind to it, but lately he's just so moody and nothing I do or say seems to help. He can't understand that I was worried when I saw the sparks coming from the dryer, I think he thought I was going to interfere when I came into the kitchen but that wasn't the case at all. At least the dryer won't work now so he's safe and I can stop worrying about him now.

I've still got my headache from this morning, thankfully it hasn't turned to a migraine. I'm quite tired with having a bad nights sleep last night, so I think that might have something to do with it. An early night is on the cards for me I think, then hopefully I'll wake up feeling a little better.

Going to sort out dinner now, then settle down and watch a bit of TV before bed.

Gill, no-one is going to stop talking to you so don't get worried about that. A day or two ago you were concerned about your state pension and whether you would get one. You will certainly get a pension of some sort, even if it is one based on OH's contributions but if you are getting Carer's Allowance you will automatically be credited with NI contributions. This is from an Age UK factsheet:


8 National Insurance Credits

If you are entitled to CA and have not yet reached State Pension age, National Insurance contributions are credited automatically to increase your future entitlement to the State Pension, unless you have retained the right to pay married woman’s reduced-rate contributions. If you are under State Pension age and you become sick, you may qualify for ‘new style ESA’ based on National Insurance credits from when you received CA.


I know Carer's Allowance can be affected depending on what benefits/allowances are given to the person with the disability so if you are unsure it would be worth giving the Department of Work and Pensions or the Citizens Advice Bureau a call. They will let you know what you are entitled to.

Is it just you looking for somewhere new to live or is OH taking an interest? I am wondering if a potential move is one of the things upsetting him. Whatever you do make sure it doesn't look as though you and Sandra are ganging up against him.

So where is everyone today? It seems very quiet on here. OH has been backwards and forwards to the hospital with our friend again and is out at the moment collecting him. I should think he'll be back around 6.30 pm. In between the hospital trips I took the car off to Tesco and did the shopping. I don't know why but I seem to get through it much more quickly on my own. I suppose I just make the decisions rather than discussing whether to have beef or lamb, cabbage or cauliflower etc. I'm doing the raffle at our club meeting on Monday and I even managed to get a couple of bits for that and I bought myself a new indoor plant as well, so I came home well pleased. Otherwise I have just done odd jobs such as descaling the kettle and steamer.

Better go and put the oven on now so I can get dinner underway. Hope you all sleep well tonight.

Iv'e been playing with my clay.

I did stop to do the chickens and then get the dinner on. Irish stew tonight with dough boys. Hav'nt had that for a while and I just fancied it. Oh just came out to make a coffee and moaned as the water jug was empty and made a fuss about going out of the way into his study so your not the only one whose hubby gets in a mood easily Gill. It probably because he told me to make some shapes and see how thye bake and I hav'nt done that I have started a little dragon.

AnnG maybe the wind is not blowing the water in the conservatory now its died down. I hope he can get it done properly tomorrow if its going to be dry.

We had a bit of hail this morning after I posted and then some more sun and then more rain.

It was still windy here last night Mel so whatever he did as a temporary measure paid off. Sunday is going to be sunny and dry if the forecast is right so it will late.

Evening All,

Gill I am just going to email you as I know quite a bit on the subject having worked on the state pensions section in DSS for over 8 years. They have overhauled the scheme since then and people can fall into the old or new scheme depending on their retirement age and then the married woman's NI election can affect things and women relying on a housewife's pension may not get what they expect if the man doesn't have a full NI record because eg he has blank or incomplete years due to not signing on for credits if he was not working or eg having had a spell at her majesty's service! At least the new scheme means less years need to be paid now so don't be worrying as everything may be ok, but it's never too soon to get to know what some of your retirement income is likely to be. :-)

Hi all, I thought I had better pop in to ley you know all is well this end. Slept like a log again last night, didn't rise until after 10.00 am.

Got my new teeth this afternoon, but unable to were them at the moment as one of my teeth has worked LOOSE, and when I bite down it gives me lots off pain. He said try a bit if Fixodent, that might cushion the tooth a little. Will try that tomorrow. I smiled at Ros, and she thought they looked GREAT.

We have had THREE people in the village die this week, they seem to be dropping like FLIES. !!!!!

Ros is out this evening, it's the Choir's get together. She has done a large platter of salad and a ring of prawns, each woman is doing food, so they won't go hungry.

I'm off to have a cold beer and a bit of Tele. See you tomorrow. xxxx

Frank the fixodent works as I have a loose one and I jarred it the other week and I used the fixodent and it helped a lot.

Even though the suns was out some of the day its been very cold here.

Watching a bit of telly now so see you all inthe morning night night sleep tight all.

Morning all,

We have a very hard frost this morning and the suns out too. there are all ferns patterns on my car and the deer are in the orchard eating the apples.

What's it like at yours?

Morning Mel, morning all

Nice and sunny here this morning. We had a few flurries of snow yesterday but only for a few seconds and last night we had some hail. The hail was so bad Sky kept flickering, luckily we have another system we can use so we switched over to that until the hail had gone.

I'm going to go through the cupboard in the dining room today as lots of things have been put in there so I'm not sure what's in there now. It hasn't been sorted for quite some time so it's over due a sorting. It's only a small cupboard so shouldn't take me to long to do.

Thanks everyone for your help on pensions and thank you Ann for your email.,I've replied to it.

I had a good nights sleep last night and have not long woken up, I feel much better for it after two nights of bad sleep.

Sorry to hear about your wobbly tooth Frank, that must be painful with your new set of teeth making it worse. The Fixodent Mel mentioned sounds as if it might do the trick.

How are you getting on with your new oven Mel, I hope the new one is working well for you. My OH is being nice so far today, I hope it lasts. I've learnt not to ask him for help as that seems to be when he gets in a bad mood, so it's easier if I do everything myself, at least it'll be quieter. I'm sure he'll do something when he feels like it but I'll leave it up to him. I can manage most jobs on my own and the other's can wait if Sandra can't help me. It sounds like you had the same weather as us yesterday, sun, hail and then rain later on in the day. I don't count the snow as it only lasted a short time.

I see the temporary fix on your conservatory roof is working AnnG, is your OH going to finish the job today? They say it's going to be nice for the next few days but a bit cold, hope he won't be to cold if he does the job.

Morning All,

It was a hard frost here too this morning Mel and we had the fern patterns on the cars too! I bet the deer were glad of the apples and it's a brownie point for them for clearing some of them up for you!

We've just been to the garden centre and I saw 2 Manchester terriers in there which I hardly ever see. They are one of my favourites as they look like miniature Dobermans.

I have to whizz out now so OH can move his car otherwise he will be blocking me in till he goes to footie. He normally parks to the side of me but has to leave that free for his footie pal to put his car today.

I will reply to you when I get back Gill, as I know the answer to some things you are unsure of to do with your pension. :-) :-)

Afternoon to you all, I don't know about a FROST, as I didn't wake until 9.00 am Went to the loo and got back into Bed until 11.15 So slept like a log.

I was in bed when Ros came in last night 10.15 pm She came in the bedroom as the light and radio were on. She said I missed a good evening. They sang loads of old Londoner's favourites, "SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME" and lots more.

I have used FIXODENT this morning and the new teeth are fine, except when I chew on the back eft hand side, where this tooth is loose. Ros got me a bowl of Tomato soup with a filled crusty roll, which I was able to eat. So well pleased with myself and my teeth. Ros said I look TEN YEARS YOUNGER, with the new teeth.

I had a SCAM email yesterday from HMRC telling me I have a TAX REFUND of £386.78p. I have tried to send it to PHISING at HMRC, but have had no confirmation to say they have received it. In the letter, they ask for all my Personnel details and bank account details, so they can credit my account. EMPTY IT RATHER THAN PUT ANYTHING IN IT. I expect. Please be warned that this is going around.

Lovely sunny afternoon here with very little breeze, but they do say MINUS 2 degrees tonight due to the HIGH PRESSURE.

I have heard that two of the three who died in the village had the dreaded CANCER. Over 60 years ago when my dad died of Cancer. The Doctors said there will be a cure in a few years. WE ARE STILL WAITING. :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

Off to read the paper that Ros bought back from shopping, see you later. xxxx

We still have a lovely sunny day but its a bit on the chilly side out there.

This morning oh pressure washed the decking. I was going to clean the chickens out but had to move some of my plants for him so I got lunch after he had a shower and now I am going to give the chickens some mash I cooked them and clean them out now. Then I am going to play.

Good afternoon all. We went to Cheltenham for a look round, had a coffee in M&S and lunch in Wetherspoons (nothing new there!). Bought a blouse and a long sleeved T shirt in M&S (The T shirt reduced to £2.99. Still one or two good bargains especially if you wear larger shoe sizes (6 upwards).
Lovely sunny day although quite a hard frost and a bit nippy. Makes a change from all the wet.

OH will look at doing the leak a bit more tomorrow. I wanted him to have a day off.

Glad that you slept better Gill and that OH was in a better mood. (Maybe he slept better as well). Pleased too that Annx has been able to help you with pension information.

Pleased to hear that you slept well too Frank, wonder if it is anything to do with your medication being changed?

Just been back to page one of the thread.Started May 2010. Trying to think who Maureen was.

So your decking is all nice and clean now Mel, your OH does work hard in the garden doesn't he? How are your chickens are they still laying eggs?

I'm desperate for a pair of shoes AnnG, the sole of my shoes are falling off, good job I don't go out as I can only manage them around the garden if I'm careful. Sandra lends me her old pair of trainers if I need to go out but they are to big for me so move around when I'm walking. I did try to find some shoes before Christmas but couldn't find any that fit, they seem to be quite low on the back of my feet so they kept slipping off when I tried to walk, not much good if they don't stay on your feet. My mum gave me two pairs of shoes but again they were to big, I tired to wear two pairs of socks with them but then they were to tight. I might try the Charity shops and see if I can find a pair that fit in there as I've tried everything else.
Hope your OH can fix the leak properly tomorrow and it's not to cold for him. It sounds like you've had a nice day out.

Oh dear Frank, good job you spotted the scam and didn't fall for it, like you said they would of just emptied your bank account, not put any money in there.

Thanks Ann, I'll keep an eye out for your reply.

Trust me for being nosey, I have just lost another posting, so will leave it until tomorrow, if I can remember what I said.

Only just come abck in as I have been cleaning the girls out all this time.

I am pleased your sleeping well Frak and that the new teeth are ok now. You may have a bit of trouble getting them out tonight if the fixodent is still in place.

As the sun had gone round a bit now I shall have to have the light on to play. They do say we have a few clear cold ddays now so perhaps tomorrow I shall be able to get on better.

Going to have a cuppa now and then a play till its time to get the dinner.

Gill, if you are like me and wear jeans or trousers most of the time, why not buy yourself a pair of inexpensive trainers, they will do for the garden and for shopping. It is not safe for you to be wearing shoes with unattached soles.. Have a look in whichever supermarket you use, I have some trainers from Tesco and they are fine.Then maybe try and get to the shops while the sales are on there are still bargains out there, especially if you don't wear the most popular sizes.

Beautiful, bright sunny day today but there was a really cold wind when I was out this morning. Went to the library to return a couple of books and then met "the gang" for coffee in Wetherspoons.

I am glad you had better nights Gill and Frank. I had a dreadful night again but I've long since stopped letting it worry me. I still seem to be functioning (well, sort of :-D) so I assume I am getting enough sleep for my needs. My biggest problem is that lack of sleep does leave me very headachey.

I wish I could pick up good clothes bargains AnninG. I must be out of proportion as I have terrible trouble getting clothes that are a good fit and usually get very frustrated shopping, which is why I don't buy many clothes. I did see some trousers in a catalogue the other day - a bit pricey but good quality, lots of colours to choose from and with a good length - I'm 5'8". I decided I would send for a brown pair and if they were OK I would order a black and a green pair as well. I thought I would just look at their website and check the measurements as I wasn't sure whether to get a 12 or a 14. Good job I did as neither would have fitted. The 12 would have been tight on the waist and the 14 would have been too big on the hips. Back to square one :-|

I've also just had a frustrating time trying to make a donation to a charity. I wanted to do it online. I had no problem getting to the donation section or entering the amount I wanted to give but do you think I could get to the next bit to enter my details? Could I heck! I tried two different browsers and several ways of getting on to the site but it was the same every time. In the end I had to write a cheque and a letter and I'll have to post it. Took me well over an hour and I was only trying to give them some money.

I think I'll go and cheer myself up with a cuppa and then start sorting out tonight's dinner.

EDIT: I meant to say that I hope Jane is OK. We haven't heard from her for a couple of days. Sending love Jane <3