General Chat

Good afternoon all. OH has had a final go at the pressure washing, he just had one bit left to do in the front of the house (in the garden). I have been out and dead headed all the little tete a tete daffs, they have been in flower since the end of January but are almost over now. good job we have some tulips in bud. It is another lovely day today, a bit cooler than yesterday 12 degrees out there at the moment, but it is still warm enough to sit in the sun.

Annx I think we must have lost the rhubarb which is a shame. Never mind we may try again later.

Mel, not a good time to run out of oil so I hope you can get your felivery OK.

Mandy nice to have pictures from the grandchildren, we are so used to not seeing ours that it doesn't seem any different. Actually because the little ones are having home schooling and other activities to keep them occupied I am seeing more photos on FB.

Glad that you all liked the WI poem.

Frank hope you don't have any bruises from that fall, it sounds as if one of your legs gave way. When you get out of bed do you do what we do, rest on or against the edge of the bed until you get your balance?

Vera I am sure you found plenty to do in the garden. I am so grateful for our brown bin, It was absolutely full on Tuesday when collected, well worth the money to us.

No Gill yet.

Afternoon all

I'm here AnnG, had a bit of a morning so have only just got online.

Bright and sunny but next door is being noisy again with his jobs, so I gave up sitting outside and thought I'd take a look at all my kits, only to find that everyone of them needs extra things that I have to buy to do them, obviously I can't buy them so I can't do any kits for now. I'm not having much luck today am I?

OH is now working every day, he came in last night and told me he has a further three shifts to do on top of his normal shifts. At least it's time and a half for the extra shifts......the tax man is going to love him. He finally got access to his wage slip, so that's been sorted, hopefully his wages will go in okay next week now.

Oh dear Mel, running out of oil isn't good, I hope they can deliver to you soon. Love the pics you sent.

Fancy the blue anemone popping up Vera, it's very pretty maybe it'll spread, that'll be nice. I can't do anymore in our garden at the moment, we don't pay for the garden bin and the tip is shut. With having so much rubbish already I've now got no where to put anymore, so the garden will have to wait a while. Luckily it looks okay for now. I did notice our bluebells are coming through in our pots, so I can re-arrange the pots if I get really bored. I do that anyway, but need help with the bigger pots, but I could move the smaller ones around to make the border look a bit different.

I see your OH has been doing some pressure washing AnnG. Does you're take long to do? Good idea to do all your outside jobs now, I noticed on the weather it's going to be colder from tomorrow and into next week.

Sorry to hear you had a fall Frank, I hope you are okay and not to sore today. Pleased to see your lamb cooked nicely. That was nice of Harvey to order the element you need, hopefully it won't be long before your oven is back up and running for you.

I've just seen that people are going to be clapping at 8pm tonight on the news Mandy, will you be doing it? I'm not sure if anyone in our street will, but I'll take a look and see later.

Our doctors surgery was on the news last night, apparently they are treating some people in the car park, what ever next?

How are your's and OH's arms today Ann, not to achy I hope? You'd think they'd want people to make just one trip to the pharmacy, not three, fancy them not sorting your meds out so they could all be picked up at the same time, it would make more sense and of course be safer for you with not having to go out more times than you need to.

I hope you're feeling okay Jane, I've been thinking of you. <3 Is James all prepped ready for his second interview now?

I think I'll see if there's anything on TV to watch, I'm really bored today. I think being on my own all the time is starting to get to me, especially when I can't do my craft kits, which I was looking forward to doing.

Afternoon all,

What a morning. We set off for Tesco's via the Post Office to post Jan's B'Day Present. When we got to Tesco's the queue was the length of the walk way ( a good 150 yards) Ros pulled up at a Tesco chap, and asked is this was the QUEUE. He said YES. So she said GOODBYE. and we drove out. We went to the smaller Tesco in Towcester and they were queuing for miles. So we gave up and went to LIDL. Ros was in there for ages, a lot of the stuff she wanted they didn't have, plus she didn't know where things were, so had to walk up and down the isles to find things.

The line of bedding she put out before we went out, is dry, and a load of colours have to go out.

Couldn't see ant bruises this morning, when I showered, but my left side feels very sore. Any bruises might come out later. Good idea to get balanced before moving on, I must try that. THANKS.

I can't believe how little traffic there is on the roads. As we crossed the M1 there were loads of lorries, but very few cars. So it looks as though people are doing as they are told and STAY INDOORS.

Eos got Valerie a few bits she wanted, and left them on her doorstep and rang the bell. When Val answered Ros was at the bottom of her path, and they chatted from a distance. Just can't be too careful.

Time for a coffee and something to eat. I did have cereal and a bacon sarnie this morning with two COT. But I am peckish again now. Then I will have to see about what to have for dinner tonight. COLD LAMB I expect with VEG.


I hope you and yours are all taking care of yourselves. STAY SAFE. xxxx

Afternoon All,

I thought it seemed a bit warmer here today, but I've only walked up the garden to open the greenhouse this morning. I'm going out there with my pruners after I've done this post. We are all in the same boat with garden rubbish I think. We are thankful for the new garden bin which I was a bit dubious as to whether we really needed one, but I'm thankful now! If only we could see what was round the corner Vera, your OH would have soon got a garden bin! We still have plastic bags of rubbish stood outside the shed and OH will cut some of the prunings to go in the bin once we(I) have finished the pruning. OH is moving more of the raised bed soil onto the middle beds today and some of the waterfall rocks need levelling with more soil under them.

Oh Mel, what a shame about your oil, but I think the speed of what's happened with this virus has made it hard to remember everything to check and get or order. Hopefully you will get your oil soon. Do you have any electric heaters or calor gas heaters? If not you would have to stay in the kitchen with the oven on and the oven door open. Yes the pendants were very good. I wondered how you made the holes in them.

I hope you didn't get too bruised in your fall Frank. We haven't had falls but do the same as AnnG suggests and sit on the edge of the bed for a few moments before standing up. It is suggested you do that as you get older to give your blood pressure time to adjust.

It's nice to stop and have a drink outside and admire your handiwork Mandy. I bet Max has been sunning himself and flopping on the warm slabs too.

Frank, very wise of Ros to not stay and queue. It is getting ridiculous, surely most people must be going out every day if there are always queues. Teco time for over 70s is 9 to 10 here I think. did you check the time at your Tesco? Anyway you got something, hope it was not too crowded in Lidl.

Gill what kits have yo got that need bits? Can you improvise with any of them? What bits would you have to buy?
Did Sandra leave any of her colouring books behind and any pencils? If so you could colour some of them.
what a shame you are getting noise from your neighbour. Is that the newest people, are theya ctually there now?

Annx the garden rubbish this time of year soon mounts up. I just went out with my clippers and found that all the mint was growing and the old stems from last year needed clipping off so I stopped and tidies all the herbs, and then pulled a few weeds and overgrown plants that have finished flowering
It is quite quiet out in our garden now, not much noise from the road that runs past the bungalow behind us, escept for an occasional bus and truck. It is normally a very busy road as it leads to the army camp, a new housebuilding site and the industrial estate. And the sky is quiet too, we are very close to Gloucester airport which has a helicopter flying school, hardly any planes flying today.

Vera I wonder if I might have solved your mystery. We have anenome Blanda in the garden, blue and all of a sudden we have a white one. I wonder if they can produce any coloured flower?

Yes, AnnG it's the new people, I think he's just doing things to make his garden nice, the builders made a bit of mess of it, so there's plenty for him to be getting on with. The things I need for the kits are a board and something to mix the paints in for my water colour kit. Some pink cotton's for the Flamingo cross stitch, about 5 different shades, a couple of large rings for a crochet bag and 400g of double knit wool for a cardigan I found a pattern for. I have two packs of different coloured wool I got from Aldi before Christmas but there is only two 50g balls of each colour wool in each pack, so only half the wool I need. There was some other bits and bobs, but I can't remember them all now. I was so disappointed, especially with the wool for the pattern, as I fancied doing some knitting, mind you the wool in the packs don't have colour codes on them so chances are they wouldn't of been the same shade and would of probably shown up once the cardigan was finished.

I just wished I'd checked everything before all the shops shut and of course we don't know how long the shops are going to be shut for, so all I can do is put everything away until I can get out and buy the things I need.

No Sandra took all her things with her, so I can't colour anything either. Like I said I'm having one of those days. I even tried to watch a film before, but the background music was so loud I couldn't hear most of what they were saying and I can't watch anything else on the planner as OH wants to watch what's left and I don't fancy watching them twice.

I was going to watch Portrait Artist of the year as I knew OH wouldn't of minded missing one, but when I went to put it on, it's the final, so I know he'll want to watch that one, so I've left it in the hope he's not to tired when he gets in later and we can watch it together. With all the extra shifts he's been doing and more to come he's been very tired. Last night he came in had something to eat and a bath then fell asleep on the sofa within five minutes of sitting down, so we went to bed early so he could sleep better.

I'm starting to get quite lonely now, all the housework is done, the washing is up to date and the gardens need hardly anything doing to them that I can managed on my own, so I've ran out of things to do and there's no one here to talk to every day. I'm just grateful I have you all to talk to or I think I'd go bonkers.

Anng It just maybe that a bee has pollinated one of the white flowers and the blue has come from there. Anemone Blanda come in white blue and pink of different shades.

Been out in the garden this afternoon and pressure washed my car. Gosh did it need it. I have to go past a very dirty farm to get to the shop and the near side which I don't usually see was GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its all nice and silver again now but I must wash it with a wax wash tomorrow weather permitting. While I was putting the pressure washer away I spied the female Blackbird down by the steps onto the patio. She had a beautiful grass moustache and flew off towards the box hedge so I expect thats where the nest will be this year.

Frank sorry you had a fall whilst getting out of bed but the advice the others have given you is good and I always sit for a mo on the edge before getting up. Its good Ros amnaged to get some bits for Val as well as yourselves.

Gill what are your kits telling you to buy??? Maybe I have some of that sort of thing and could send you some or you could buy online from Amazon. Tell us all what you
need..........

I meant to tell you we paid for delivery for12 months with Asda and now I have a slot each week on a Tuesday. My first slot is 7th April and its telling me my next one is for the 14th April so well worth the money of a twelve month mid week delivery.

We don't have a garden waste bin as you can imagine as they would have to send a lorry for ours. All the grass cutting are piled up right at the bottom of the chickens field and I burn they rest.

I have one of those little oil filled rads that fits nicely under my desk to shall have that on if I get cold or wrap myself in my heated blanket oh bought me for Christmas. The suns going down now so I may just pop the rad on now in the kitchen.

I don’t think my anemone blanda can be the result of a colour change or a cross pollination as the white ones are a different species – anemone nemorosa (sp?). I know that the little white ones spread slowly by rhizomes but I’ve just read that the anemone blanda seeds fairly freely so I’ve decided it must have started as a seed dropped by a bird. I like it anyway so it will be nice if it does seed around a bit.

Frank, I hope you aren’t too bruised from your fall. I’m pretty steady on my feet but even so I do the same as the others if I have to get up at night. I sit on the edge of the bed for a few seconds to let the blood pressure settle a bit. You were wise not to bother to queue at Tesco. I think the 9-10 am slot for elderly and vulnerable is the same for all Tesco main stores but it is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday so wouldn’t have applied today anyway. I suspect every older person around will be there at that hour and it will end up more crowded than ever.

Gill, it’s a shame that you haven’t got everything in your kits but is there anything you could improvise? I have no idea what these kits are like but could your water colours be mixed in small jars? Most people can find a few glass jars or plastic pots in their cupboards. Could you crochet the bag and get the ring handles later? I am sure you will find a way round these things. I do understand that you get a bit lonely but it’s probably good for OH to be working again and just think how much his wages will help. Just come and chat on the thread if you feel a bit down.

You did well with your Asda deal Mel. We are too far away from an Asda to get a delivery. The only delivery vans I see around here are Tesco or Sainsbury. I have had a Tesco delivery for years and have never bothered with their delivery saver system. I generally get enough stuff for 5 or 6 weeks and as I can be flexible with the delivery slot usually only pay a pound. It never occurred to me that it would now be so hard to get a slot. Oh well, we’ll all get by somehow.

I hope you are feeling OK after all your hospital visits Jane. Good luck to James for his presentation tomorrow.

I spent about one and a half hours in the garden today but my back was feeling it by the time I came in even though I was being careful. I pruned two hydrangea paniculata, tidied up some agapanthus, dead-headed daffodils and divided and replanted some mini hostas that we have in troughs. We had two troughs with them in, now there are three.

Now we have to wait and see if the gas man is going to turn up again tomorrow. We haven’t yet had a phone call saying he isn’t coming. If he comes we will be standing well away from him and wiping everything down when he goes but I hope he can get here as I really hate to see all this water just running away and I can only collect up and use a little bit of it.

Sun has gone down and it is getting really cold now so I must go and put the fleece back over my agapanthus and zip up the front of my mini greenhouse. Enjoy whatever you are doing this evening and have a good night everyone.

Thanks Mel, I mentioned some things in my last post. I've just found a dressmaking book, but I don't have any patterns or material, at least I can read the book. I've lost so much weight lately I'm down to size 8-10. I managed to get into a pair of jeans I had over 5 years ago, they came in handy when I was doing the garden the other day. I was thinking of making myself some summer dresses, I was going to buy some dresses from the Charity shop and make them to fit me, but no one seems to have size 8 to 10's around here, so I thought I could buy bigger ones and make them smaller to fit me. Not sure how hard it'll be, but it'll give me something to do once the shops are open again and a chance to finally use my sewing machine.

Brilliant news with Asda, you'll be alright for delivery slots now, lets hope they have the things you need. Pity you didn't get a picture of the Blackbird with the grass moustache that would of been funny to see. We have a couple of Magpies in next doors tall conifer, I've been watching them coming and going for a while now.

Yes, Vera OH seems happy in his new job although he's very tired but I'm sure he'll get used to the job in time and not feel so drained all the time. It said on the watercolour kit that you had to wet the paper first and attach it to a board, it's the board I don't have or the tape to stick it down, so I'll have to buy them when the shops open again. I'd like to do a bit of sewing if I can find some scraps of material, not sure what I'm going to make though as I don't have enough material to make the summer dresses I need, again I'll have to wait until the shops open again. I'm hoping I have some nice pink, white or red material, I think I might have some flowery bits somewhere, if I can find them. I'll keep my fingers crossed the gas man turns up tomorrow and has the right part this time.

Just been clapping for the carers, everyone is doing it and I can hear fireworks going off too.

Did anyone else clap at 8pm?

Yes we did Gill lots out clapping and cheering you could hear the clapping building up ,bit emotional really

I agree Mandy, very emotional and such a lovely thing to hear. Pity OH finished work at 8pm not sure if he would of been outside to hear it. He'll be home soon so I'll ask him.

Gill, you could fix the watercolour paper to a tray or oblong baking tray if they are big enough. Masking tape if you have any would be good to stick the paper down. It's what I use to create a border.I cut pieces of cardboard to rest my paper on, but you would have to wrap that in polythene or foil to do watercolours as the damp would soften the cardboard. My first palette to mix my paints on was an old plate!! See what a spendthrift I am. Well I didn't think I'd be any good and didn't want to waste money!! :-D. It's good your OH likes his job and you will be able to pay your bills now.. It's early days yet for you to adjust to the changes in your life. Have a look on the Pinterest site and you will find lots of ideas for things to make out of scraps of material.

Well I have done my first on-line grocery order and need a lie down in a darkened room now! lol :-) I tried Sainsbury's first but they are only doing deliveries to people who are deemed most vulnerable by the govt, click and collect for everyone else. I then did an order with Asda and there was only 1 slot up to April 8th. It's April Fools Day, but we can't be choosy so I took it. I saw the recurring slot Mel but didn't do it as I thought I would have to have a weekly delivery! Afterwards I looked in 'Account' and it explained that you can skip dates with it, so next time I order I will set it up! At least we won't need to go out now till we need medication.

It sounds like we have all been tidying our gardens again. I just have a big golden Choisya to prune in the bottom border now and then I can start on the island beds and rock plants. OH has moved more soil today, but felt a few twinges so is giving it a rest tomorrow. It will be too cold anyway for a while.

I hope they have the right part for your boiler tomorrow Vera. Hopefully it won't take long to do now they know exactly what needs doing.

Jane do you get a numb bum in that seat? It is very like the one I sat in for that research that time and that was murder to sit in after half an hour! Maybe you can stand up from time to time though. You must feel like a pin cushion with 2 drips! All done now though and hopefully you will feel a bit better this time. Nice rest at home with Thomas and your feet up! Best wishes for James with his interview tomorrow.

No clapping in the Close here, but most of the front windows on the bungalows are bedrooms.

The hospital rang me this morning about the appointment I had next Monday to say it was cancelled! She then realised I had already cancelled it and apologised, but it was a good opportunity to thank her and all her colleagues for the extra work they must all have.

No clapping in our Close either. I know there are only 6 dwellings but I thought people might come out as one of the couples has 2 daughters working in the NHS but no-one did. So I stood in my lounge and gave a silent clap for all the NHS workers and anyone else keeping things going.

Yes some of us clapped in our close and we could hear the other roads around.

Thanks Ann for all those tips with the water colour kit, I'll have a look around tomorrow to see what I can find, then I'll be able to start that one. I see you've done your first online shop, good to know you can miss a week if you need to when you sort out the weekly slots.

I see you did end up with the two drips in the end Jane and I don't mean Chris and James lol. I hope your arms aren't to bruised tomorrow. Take care. Good luck to James on his second interview.

Love the pics of your garden Vera, it's going to be very colourful in the summer.

OH said the people in the houses over the road from the home he works in clapped all the staff as they were leaving, which was nice as it had just gone 8pm. I was surprised to hear so much cheering and clapping around here and to hear fireworks to just made it that bit more special. I don't know who thought of it, but it was a really nice way to say a big THANK YOU.

His boss took everyone's photo today and printed off an ID letter incase any of them are stopped by the police for being outside, it has their photo on and an explanation of where they work, it's been signed and has the homes logo at the top, so if he is stopped he won't be fined or told to go home.

I've just been to the bin and it's freezing cold outside, so I think the cold snap is here, they said it was going to be with us until next week and we may even have some frost and possible snow. At least the weather was nice enough for us all to do a bit of gardening. I think I know who had the fire the other day when I wanted to peg my washing out as I noticed the smoke when they had another one before, it's over the back a little way down from us, luckily this time the wind was lighter and blowing away from us, so it wasn't as smelly.

I'm going to see what bits of material I have tomorrow then I'll check online for some projects to do once I've had a go at the water colour kit. In the kit are three pictures (two of each) and instructions on how to do them, so that'll keep me occupied for a while. I'm glad there's two of each picture so if I make a mistake on the first one I can have another go at it.

I'm sorry I've been down today, I'm starting to feel a bit better now. I suppose it's normal to have off days, but now I may have away of doing at least one of my kits I have something to look forward to tomorrow. That and another load of washing, nothing new there though.

Off to bed now, OH is tired. See you all tomorrow.

We went out and clapped too but could hear nothing from the surrounding houses. Miserable lot. Even oh clapped. I did think they may clap at the big house or even Jane and Jim but nothing and not from Em and Ed either or the new people out the front in oh's old house. Hav'nt met them yet.

Gill I was going to say use a plate for mixing the water colours on as that what I did when doing my miniatures for the dollshouses. I have also used for my acrylic paints the inards of a cake tray. the plastic ones that have pies in. Does the flamingo kit tell you what numbers you need for the flamingo in the 5 pink colours? All embrodery cottons have numbers. I gave Mandy a lot of mine but I am not sure what I have in the way of pinks.

As to a board I never used one but painted on a scetch pad but not wetting the paper. Mum used an easel and I still have a couple of them and a painting board that she used clips on to hold the paper on. I don't remember her wetting all the paper either I think she painted straight on the paper. I could send you some water colour paperIf I can get down t the post van but oh won't let me out at the mo.

Good morning

A frosty start again but it’s now a bright sunny day though it does seem quite cold. The gas man phoned about 8.20 to warn us he would be with us in 10 minutes so we looked out for him and as we saw him draw up opened the door and retreated. He went straight upstairs (he knows his way around after 3 visits lol), and OH stayed well back in the hall. He’s still working up there. I have the Dettol and some wipes ready to go round everything when he goes.

Will bbl