General Chat

Afternoon All
I seem to have slept away 2 days!!!! Just haven’t been able to stay awake.But I am not feeling as yucky thank goodness.
I’m back in bed now after a couple of hours downstairs .Its more comfy lying flat as I don’t feel so dizzy.
Hopefully tomorrow I will be a bit more with it :-D

Sleep is good Jane, hope the dizziness goes soon. <3 <3 <3

Oh Frank, How can you forget two phones? I assume they were/are yours? How strange.

glad Biggles has decided to stay put today then you won't have to get out a search party. :-)

Not liking the latest info. The 3rd person with Coronavirus in gloucestershire is from the Cheltenham area. That covers a wide area and almost reaches here. Why they have not cancelled the Cheltenham Festival I just don't know.

Evening All,

A nice sunny day here but it was really blowy last night. OH still has a cough but less often now, but that may be due to his increased antacid dose. He should get his test results on Tuesday. This morning he moved some soil off the path and the trellis that is rotten and fell down and now he says his back hurts!! :-S

Sorry you have a sore throat Mandy. I find the honey and lemon is good too. I hope it goes quickly for you.

Gill fancy that woman being so selfish and grabbing all those sanitisers! I think the shops will have to start rationing things if people keep doing things like that. We popped into Lidl while we were out and bought a few extra tins, toothpaste, cereals etc. but didn't see any empty shelves there. There weren't many shoppers there either, but it was an out of town Lidl store so I bet the city ones were busier.

We went to a garage that is a Kia agent to look at a couple of cars as we want a model with dual climate control like we have and they have stopped putting it on the new versions of what he is driving or he would have replaced his car with the same again. He doesn't want those puncture repair kits instead of a spare wheel either and most cars have those now so they are less weight and come out better in emissions tests. We are too busy this coming week, but have arranged to go for a test drive after next weekend. His car problems will have been fixed by then too.

I had to smile at Biggles going next door and sitting outside their patio door! I would have been so worried though, especially with it being someone else's dog!

It's good you are a bit better this time Jane. Dizziness is a horrid feeling so it's best to lay down if it lessens doing that.

Vera my OH is just the same and doesn't notice the bathroom needs doing either. I don't think 'hygiene and health hazzard' occur to him. I said to him the other day that when a man moves in with a woman, he gains a relatively comfortable and clean home without hardly lifting a finger or thinking about it, whereas when a woman moves in with a man she either lives in a dirty, unhygienic home or has to think about and do most of it herself'. His response was 'you should write a book' and he then made himself scarce!

That's a nuisance your OH getting a cold sore AnnG. It's something I have never had although I've heard they can be very painful. Like you, we are avoiding the crowded eating places and are also eating at home more and not popping in places for a COT or coffee where the tables are on top of each other.

O lovely to hear from you Jane. You stay in bed as long as you want to if thats where you feel safer and it keeps the dizziness away.

We will look forward to seeing you on here tomorrow. <3 <3 <3

Anyone watching McDonald and Dodds on ITV? and last Tango in Halifax?

Good morning all

I’m the early bird this morning :-). I spoke too soon when I told a friend a couple of days ago that I was sleeping better. I’ve since had a couple of bad nights and last night hardly seemed to sleep at all. I’ve been up since 5. It would have been nice to get the washing and some other jobs done and have the rest of the day free, but I don’t want to make any noise and wake OH so i just had a CoT and sat reading.

Good to see you posting Jane. Sleep as much as you need. It’s a good medicine.

We have no real plans for today. OH is going to take back to the shop a new kitchen bin I bought for the recycling stuff as it is just a fraction too big for the space it needs to go. If I’ve got the energy after I’ve done the washing I’m going to do some cooking and get a couple of bits in the freezer.

What are you all up to today?

Morning Vera and all,

Sorry you have had a couple of bad nights Vera and hope tonight will be better for you.

We have a bright morning here so I think it could be a washing day as the bins full so thats what I shall be doing today and if its not as windy as yesterday the big girls need cleaning out unless I get sidetracked.............

I must go up the road and get some bread too. Oh seems to have eaten a lot this week and other weeks there's still a good half a loaf still there from the week before and I could'nt get as many rolls this week as I wanted for him.

Forgot to take the recykling bin out yesterday until late when it was dark so I left it It was a bit windy too and on the village hall carpark where I leave it the wind whistle up through there so oh said to leave it for this week. I left it three weeks with the high winds we have had and have a bin full already from stuff I could'nt get in there last week. O well men know best don't they?

Ann the pictue is great and you are a clever girl. We used to string the back of tapestrys to pull them tight and it works well.

Oh has just informed me we had four deer inthe garden this morning early. They are not giving my day lillies a chance to grow any leaves as they eat them as soon as they come out of the ground.

I meant to tell you yesterday that when I went to wash up after lunch I reached for the washing up liquid and there was a plop and a huge wasp dropped down just by the bottle. I squashed it with the washing up brush. So that the first queen wasp this year and I hope it has stopped a nest being made near the house.

One lot of washing on the line and a woolen wash in which takes much longer.

Now its raining............................................................

Still dry here, thank goodness, as I have 3 loads on the line. There’s just some sheets left and I’ll leave those till tomorrow. I’ve also got a large Red Cabbage Casserole in the oven - cabbage, apples, onions, spices, garlic, brown sugar and red wine vinegar. There’s enough for 10-12 helpings so I’ll freeze it in 2 portion packs. It freezes and reheats really well.

OH has been for a haircut but he didn’t take the bin back to the shop as we realised that I paid on my credit card so I’ll have to take my card in to get a refund.

Frank, our visit to Southend on 13th is just to visit my brother for the day. When he was most ill we were going regularly and only staying for a couple of hours but he is much better now and has invited us for the day. We haven’t seen him since the week before Christmas and with this blooming virus possibly restricting our movements over the next few weeks I am keen to see him on Friday.

Our dil is supposed to be flying to Florida in the morning but has developed a cold. Any other time it would just be considered a normal winter cold but she is concerned that she might get to the airport in Florida with a bit of a cough and end up with the powers that be quarantining her in America. She was going to ring her doctors today and talk to them about it. It will be such a shame if she has to cancel as it is not a holiday. She is going to help out a family member who has paid her air fare so, if she can’t go, this person not only won’t get the help she needs but also stands to lose the cost of the ticket.

I’ve just remembered that I am supposed to telephone for my physio appointment today. I feel so much better following the doctor’s advice and doing the exercises that physio have given me that I will tell them I don’t really need an appointment now. I’d better go and do that immediately before I forget again.

EDIT. I meant to say earlier that I hope your phone chat goes well today Gill and you find it helpful. Thinking of you.

Good afternoon all, dry here, sun earlier and quite warm, a lovely spring day but it has clouded over and rain is promised later. OH is almost back to his normal self now except for one lingering small cold sore. We went out for a run as we both needed to go to the post office. Long queue there but a narrow place to move through so just near the person in front and behind us and all keeping their distance. We then went to a small local garden centre to see if there were any changes after it was bought from Wyevale by (I think) British Garden centres) but no change at all really and still no cafe. Back across country through the builders building a huge estate and a stop at the community centre for coffee and a shared sausage roll (you can tell he is better) not a lot of people in the and all well spaced out and nobody with coughs or colds.

Home then and OH now out in the garden cutting the lawn.

Sorry you didn't sleep last night Vera, one thing with the aftermath of the bug OH had, he has been sleeping well so not disturbing me. Up quite late today. It will be good for you to see your brother. hope neither of you develops colds in the meantime as that might stop you going, I am sure he is looking forward to seeing you as well.
Oh dear that is a problem for your daughter in law and I am sure she is right, having been to USA when there have been scares re terrorist attack I can vouch that their customs can be really really picky, even searching the buggy that our 9 month old granddaughter was in and making DiL take off baby's shoes as well. I hope the doctor can advise her. Maybe she can visit a checking centre and get an #all clear' certificate if that is what they do.
Gill I hope by now you have had your phone chat and that it was helpful.
Mel, hope the rain is not heading our way yet. One fewer queen wasp then.
Couldn't you put some chicken wire round your day lilies to keep the deer off them?

Annx I do like that little picture and you can see it took a lot of patience to do.
Yes cold sores can be painful I have only ever had two, one of which was infected and extremely sore. However, as he has had so many in his life he knows when one is starting so can immediately zap it with zovirax. They tend not to develop then.
I hate looking for a different car. Couldn't he go on his own to look then when he has found what he wants, collect you to look at it. Men take so long to ponder these things.

My OH is very good at cleaning the cloakroom as that is the loo he normally uses. And he always cleans up after he has a shower. Often cleans the bathroom loo as well.

Saw some sad news on facebook last night and wondering how long we would have waited to be told had I not been on facebook. About 10 years ago OH's nephew 'found' us. Long story but his brother died in the early 1980s when he was 52. He had divorced his first wife acrimoniously and remarried who he left her for. first wife cut off all contact with us as well so we had no contact with the 3 children growing up. Pete found us when he was in his 50s and was so pleased. We met up with him and his siblings a couple of times (and even the ex wife by then in her 80s, she has since died). Pete was on facebook so he and I vaguely kept in touch. I did know he had been ill but was shocked to see a post last night announcing that he had died. What a sad way to find out the death of a family member!

Afternoon all, Not stopping long as I don't feel 100%. Had a bad night just like Vera, was awake until 3.00am nd was up by 7.00am. I let BIGGLES out. Called and called him to no effect. Door bell rang, it was Tracy from next door with Buggerlugs on a lead, shr asked if I wanted the dog back, I said NO !!!!

Dennis has just called to say he has put TWO BIG BOX's up against where he gets through and wedged the wheelbarrow against them. He said, if he get through again I will give him a Medal. I said if he gets through I will kick his ar@e.

Eos got two lines of washing dried and put in the basket ready for ironing. It's come over very cloudy now, and I expect we will get the rain, as promised.

Cold lamb, with Roasties and Parsnips, and various Veg. for tonight.

Now going to get a few zzzz if I am lucky. See you soon. xxxx

Afternoon All,

Sorry you had a bad night Vera. I wasn't much better, much the same as Frank's, waking at 3.00am and then not sleeping till about 5.00am and then having to be up at 6.30am to be ready for my Hospital appointment. I was there half an hour early, no other patients there and we thought we'd be on our way again soon! Well my papers weren't on the trolley ready so they had to be searched for and that took 3 quarters of an hour. They then gave me a form to take to the other end of the hospital to get an xray done of my knees before seeing the consultant. Huge queue there so I stood well back from the people in front and then someone behind stood really close behind me and started sneezing and sniffling! :-S :-S At the desk, they took one look at the form and put a rash of 'X's all over it where it should have been filled in and authorised and sent me back to get it done. The other receptionist seemed to find it amusing that he had omitted to check the form before handing it to me, but found me a bit stony faced in response. Down we sat again while he said he would sort it out.After another 3 quarters of an hour, OH was fretting about the parking time running out and also being ready for his meeting in time as he had things he needed to do first. So after waiting about 2 hours in total without being any further forward than when we walked in, I told the receptionist we'd have to go and told him to arrange a further appointment to be sent. He started to jump up to do something about it then, but I said it would be too late now. I know the NHS is under pressure, but this was just incompetence, chatting non work stuff with a colleague when we arrived instead of making sure all the files were there ready for the appointments first and then not checking a form is completed before giving it to a patient. What a fiasco and waste of time that was. :-| :-|

Yes I hope you have had your phone chat now Gill and have found it helpful. If you google, there are useful tips about anxiety and techniques and ideas that might be of help.

I hadn't thought about tapestry Mel, but see how it would work to straighten it out too. I wish I'd done it with the little cottage picture I did now. That was lucky you were there when the queen wasp dropped down. One nest less as you say. A hate them since I got stung all over that time.

AnnG, I always get involved with OH's cars as he wants me to be comfortable driving them and being short I can't always reach the pedals in some. He'd forgotten about dual climate control we have (necessary!) and eg that he wants a spare wheel of some sort. I'm the one that has the patience to sift through performance, economy, road tax etc! He's had 5 or 6 Citroens which have all been reliable and economical which really mattered when he was doing 30,000 miles a year. He'd have had another, but they have stopped doing dual climate control on the model he has and he doesn't want a big car now. He decides what he fancies looking at and we both test drive. Colour etc is down to him. When he was all set to buy a new car in the early 90s I persuaded him to reluctantly wait a few days and I got a deal that saved him an extra £1700, a lot of money then. He was so amazed, I now have the job of haggling as he says I'm better at it than him! I've saved him thousands since and sometimes he gives me what I save him which is good. :-)

He's out just now so I'd better write his birthday cards for tomorrow.

AnnG as you say not a nice way to find out a rellie has died on Facebook. I don't go on there so if anyone of my family posted a death on there I would'nt see it.

frank sorry to hear you had another bad night and don't feel 100% today. Biggles is a naughty boy getting through the fence again. I hope he dos'nt dig a hole in the flower bed now Dennis has put boxes in the hole.

Vera it will be lovely to see your brother again after a long time. Christmas seems so far away now and only nine months now till the next one!! Is he fully recovered now? Hope you get a better nights sleep tonight so feel more refreshed in the morning.

Been playing with my clay this afternoon. I have made three sycamore seeds a pendant a rams head a dragons tooth pendant and a ravens head pendant. They are all made in white clay so I have to paint them all now.

Evening all,

It's been quite a nice day here lots of sun with just an odd shower ,we nipped to Tesco's this morning for a few bits , they had toilet rolls and hand wash on the shelves not a lot but there was some but we didn't need any so passed that by and left it for those that do.
We had to smile , Colin needed the loo ,when he came out he said there was a chap in there washing his hands ,Colin went in the cubicle and when he came out the chap was still washing his hands ,Colin did the twenty second wash and came out and the chap was still washing his hands ,we were wondering if the chap thought he had to do a twenty minute wash .

My throat seems a little better at times then it feels really dry again ,i got a throat spray and have been using that today ,i'm not coughing much the only time i cough is when i yawn ,it seems when i really stretch my mouth open i need to cough .

Vera it must have been the pain killers helping to giving you a good nights sleep ,they were knocking you out ,i hope you can get a better night tonight .
I bet your looking forward to seeing your brother next weekend and its good that he is feeling a lot better so you can have the whole day with him .

Mel that was good you got the wasp ,i wonder were it had been hiding .
Sounds as if you have been busy with the clay today looking forward to seeing them when they are finished .

Oh Frank the little tinker getting out of the garden again ,i meant to say you would have thought they would have come round and said he was there with them when he got out the other day instead of walking him first ,you must have both been really worried when you couldn't find him .
Hope you get a better nights sleep tonight so you feel a bit better tomorrow.

Oh Anng that was a sad way to find out your that poor nephew had died i'm so sorry .

Ann i love the new picture of the lighthouse ,you soon get them done are there any more on the go ?
What a to do at the hospital having to walk from one end to the other and then not getting any where with your appointment ,you should have asked for your parking ticket to be refunded but then you'd have probably had to walk to the other end of the hospital again to get it done .

Jane i hope as the days go on you feel less dizzy ,sending you love <3

Gill i hope the telephone call today has been a bit of help for you and that your feeling a bit better ,hope you've managed to eat some thing even if it's only a nibble of a biscuit to help when you have to take your tablets .

It's pouring with rain here now and some of the fields still have flooded patches from the last lot. We noticed this week how many fields are having the grass killed off, probably so they can grow even more oilseed rape. All that weed killer must be washing off them into the rivers. We also saw a big tractor churning the edge of a verge away at the edge of a lane while trimming a hedge. It had only grown about 3 inches here and there as well.

No plans to do any more just yet Mandy. I need to finish some other things off really and I'm not sure what to do at craft class this week as it is the last week and we are supposed to be finishing our things off and I've done mine! lol. The teacher won't mind what crafts we do as she's easy going so I will have to get my thinking cap on. I hope your throat and cough soon feel better. You will have to try not to open wide when you yawn which is easier said than done. :-) How are you doing with the crochet?

That must have been a shock finding that out about your nephew like that AnnG.

I see we have our first case of the Coronavirus the other side of the county now. A university student who was recently in Italy.

Off to bed now and hopefully a better night's sleep.

Good morning

I hope you all slept well and are feeling good this morning. I slept like a log for a change. I think I fell sleep about midnight and woke at 7 am. The bedclothes didn’t even look ruffled; I don’t think I moved all night. I must have been really tired.

It looks as though it rained again in the night but the forecast for today for this area is cloudy but dry, gentle breeze and a temperature of 15 degrees, so it should feel a lot warmer.

I was sorry to hear about your nephew AnnG. What a horrid way to find out. No-one seems to pick up a phone or write a letter these days. My daughter often gives me snippets of family news that she has picked up on FB. I made a choice not to join FB but sometimes feel I miss out.

Now our backs and necks are much better I think we are going to go out and look for a new dishwasher. Anyone doing anything interesting today?

Good morning all.

Annx the fields here are saturated and, in the Severn flood plain area are still lakes.

Yes it was quite a shock to see that he had died. We have only had contact with him for about 10 years but I am so glad we found each other as it closed a gap in OH's family to know what happened to them. They were never a close family, especially after the divorce but OH and his brother always kept in touch. Sadly there are two from his brother's second family who we don't have contact with.

Vera nothing planned for today. It is the start of Cheltenham races today, people fly in from all over the world so for two weeks we will be giving the Cheltenham area a wide berth. Many of them stay for four days in the area, all hotels and B&Bs are full plus some private houses let their rooms. We think they should have not held it but it is a huge boost for local economy.
Hope you can locate a dishwasher. I dislike buying white goods almost as much as cars.

Morning Vera and all,

Good to know you have had a nice long sleep at last Vera. It makes so much difference and sounds like you have found your get up and go if you are ging out for a new dish washer.

Weather here is the usual fine rain blowing in the wind and last night the wind was really rough.

Shopping for me today and I am just going to Morrisons in Bideford so thats my day sorted out then.

Morning All,

Slept like a log last night and woke at 7.30am. OH saw the doc for his test results at 9.00am and she said his chest x-ray was clear, heart normal size and his blood tests were all good. She thinks his cough is more connected with reflux and expects the higher dose tablets he has now will improve things over the next few weeks. He is coughing less already. When he got home, he opened his birthday cards and we are going to the Italian restaurant we went to last year for lunch. There were only one or two couples besides us then so hopefully it will be the same as we always go just as they open. We can pick one of the out of the way tables too as it is quite spacious.

It is bin day today so I have been and cleared out some way past it's date things in the freezer in the garage and there are 2-3 empty shelves now. We are popping into Aldi on the way back from lunch as I hadn't noticed we are almost out of washing tablets and we can also pick up some frozen fish and no doubt a few other bits and bobs.

The garden needs lots of attention, but I did smile yesterday when it was pouring with rain as a Blackbird was sheltering under and an evergreen shrub about 2 feet high. We had trimmed the bottom shoots away last year so we could plant lower things under it this year and the bird looked as if it was under a green umbrella. I also notice one of our early Camellias has lots of pink flowers.

That's so good your brother is feeling up tp a longer visit now Vera. It sounds like it's been a long recovery for him but he is obviously much better now. Good luck with the dishwasher hunt. It's nice when you feel up to going out after your aches and pains.

Biggles is a right little escape artist isn't he Frank! I hope the new 'defences' are working!