General Chat

O that was good you got your veg patch done. At least we know you're safe and hav'nt had an accident trying to do it yourself Frank. A bonus of some spuds to sow too now that what I call digging for victory!! <3

I have just varnished three little things for Mandy's grandchildren so they should be ready in 72 hours as thats how long it takes them to cure completely.

Now I have to halve these huge packs of mince they sent me for the freezer and wash up and then I should clean the bathroom but will hoover first as oh is in the garden somewhere. I like to do it when he's out as I know he is'nt going to come and talk to me to stop me working.

Good to get that out of the way so Ros could get on Frank. Some people are so ungrateful, although maybe we should think they have been under strain waiting for a flight home.

I know what you mean Mel I try and do things while OH is outside too. Does yours also want to know what came in the shopping and why that and why not ogbdf. I have threatened to hand stock control over to my OH more than once in the past three weeks. :-D

I got told how to make a cottage pie yesterday and why did'nt I fry the mince ? He said he was'nt going to eat it but he did.

We've been together 23 years this year and I have never fried the mince for a pie only when I do him spag bol or chilli.

I feel as though I hav'nt stopped since I got up this morning and I am just sitting with a cuppa and hot cross bun which came from the shop and they were stale when I brought them home.

Afternoon All

Oh men do like ot interfere sometimes dont they (sorry Frank :-D) Chis is always having a look at my list for the food shop and says do we need this do we need that .`i just try and send him off with a flea in his ear :-D
I have not made a cottsge pie Mel but always fry the mnce off for spsg bol etc and then tip out the runny fat.
Our delivery will be here just after 6.30 when Hannah drops it off.We will have to sort out what belongs to who on the drive LOL.Or rather `hannah will have to do it with us saying through the window what we have ordered.I can see it being chaos !!!

That was good of Jonathon to do the Veg patch Frank.Do you think he felt a bit guilty for not returning the rotorvator sooner? At least is is all done now and ready for planting. Chris has weeded the patio today and my goodness does it look diferent now :-D His poor knees though are giving him gyp now.I wondered where he was earlier and he was fast asleep in the summerhouse :-D

Mel I expect the poor hog must have been suffering a bit with all those tics .That was good you managed to get some of them off.Horrible things tics are.

Time to put the oven on now and get some dinner sorted.

I feel worn ut after all that wiping down today. I have hoovered the kitchen and dining area and got some more spiders and masses of cobwebs. They are really busy here at the moment. I must ask oh to clean the lights over the table as they are thick dust and I can't reach them.

Good you got some shopping then Jane. Good luck sorting out whose is whose!! :-S

I have just remembered I hav'nt seen the two programs I watch on a Sunday night so will see those tonight after the other half of a film I watched last night. Thats the trouble with me not having my tv paper I don't get on with the thing on the tv and if oh is looking at it he changes it so fast I don't get a chance to read it.

I will be doing the same on Saturday Mel, roll up the sleeves and wipe, wipe, wipe! I'm glad I'm not the only one with an interfering hubby!! Before the lockdown, he was commenting on everything I bought, 'oh I thought we have plenty of that', 'oh I'm sure we have one of those', 'Don't we usually have?' Me 'No they haven't got it have they'. He'd no idea how fast things would be used once we were staying in all the time, or any idea that we might not be able to get some things in a few weeks, but frankly was just a distracting nuisance when I was trying to make sure we had enough of things. You'd think with our years of managing food shopping and usage, and them having no experience, they would bow to our better judgment! I have threatened to pass the job over too AnnG, plus the sorting of meals and cooking them and was accused of getting narky! lol. Jane I could just imagine you sending Chris out of the kitchen with a flea in his ear like you would young Thomas......'Out, Out!' lol. I hope you ended up with your right shopping. Oh Mel and he's been eating and enjoying your cottage pies all those years as well.

I have been putting more trimmings and leaves in the garden bin today. I hadn't realised some councils weren't collecting them AnnG, so we are lucky as you say, at least for now anyway.

That was good of Jonathon to rotovate for you Frank, but he had no choice if he wanted to take your rotavator with him to use some more!! :-D Ros is well ahead with her bean plants ready for planting and you will enjoy your free spuds when they grow. No time to think or get bored here, there aren't enough hours in the day and they are whizzing by. We have so many things we want to get done while we have the opportunity.

I discovered an odd little bee when I was levelling the waterfall slates. It looked like it had wing cases that were yellow with black spots and me and a friend have tried to identify it. Then she found one in her garden a few days ago and she has identified them as Miner Bees which neither of us had ever seen before. They are solitary bees that live in burrows in the soil.

I used a quick cake mix to make some choc chip mint brownies today and OH loves them so they'll be gone by tomorrow. I found some sultanas as well so it will be scones next I think as I have the ingredients.

The Great British Sewing Bee is back next Wednesday but on BBC 1 this time. :-D

Ann I have never had a choc and mint brownie mix but like the ordinary choc one.

We get Masonry bees in the wall and today I was watching some little bees going in my bug hotel again this year.

When I came back from shutting the big girls in tonight oh was on the decking having a ciggy and we had the outside light on and a bat came and flew over oh's big pond in circles about 5 or six times just above the water and then flew off.

A very odd thing I remember is visiting my grandmother, she had a kettle of water hanging over the fire range type thing and she knew when the water was boiling because the stones in it would rattle.

Morning all.

Hi to ZZzzz's another reason for p[uttin g stones in a kettle was to keep it clean of scale as it would collect on the stones. Did it myself in my younger years when we had hard water.

We have another beautiful morning but still cold if you're not in the sun.

Wrist hurts this morning. Maybe i lay on it funny. It wants to click if you know what I mean. When I screw my fingers up the pain goes up my thumb. Its on my left hand.

Zz zzz strange how these memories suddenly come back isn't it? I can remember my parents boiling a kettle on the fire (to save gas I assume) in the war years. I can remember the gas running out too and having to put money in the meter.

Mel, I know what you mean by it wants to click. I have that with one of my ankles, it is painful isn't it? I usually work my ank;e until it does click, but it hurts.

I am pleased it is not just me with the male interferer!! I suspect we all notice it more because we are home together all the time. aaaand.... when we go (went) shopping and we always did the shopping together. I would put something in the trolley and go off to pick up something else and when I came back what I picked up veg, fruit anything, would be in his hand and he'd be looking at everything similar to see if he could improve in some way (appearance or cost) on what I had put in the trolley.

Ann we had masonry bees under one of our patios a few years back, we just left them but it was a bit awkward as it was where we would sit for a drink in the evenings.
Sooo, I have just made some scones. No big deal I hear you say, well it must be over 20 years since I made any and I didn't know if I had the ingredients. I never bake if I can help it, I like cooking just not baking. although I do make the occasional walnut cake. However, I digress, I knew (thought) I had a large bag of SR flour in the cupboard and I did, it is just it had not been used for ages and when I looked at it it went straight in the bin as it was full of weevils. (I had that once before but this time they were contained in the SR flour. Luckily I had a small bag of tesco SR flour in my other cupboard unopened so I used that. the scones don't look brilliant, as I went to cut them out the cutter broke and I only had one so had to use a glass, the oven never agrees with the recipes I use so they took a lot longer to cook and they are not a good shape and didn't rise as much as they needed to. I guess that flour was cheap and not that fresh. Never mind they look edible.

Afternoon all

Lovely and sunny here today. I was so busy yesterday I didn't have the chance to come on here.

OH is okay, still no symptoms, so that's good. He thinks if he hasn't had any symptoms by Friday he should be okay. Not so good on the tooth front though, the tooth he had repaired the other month has broken again, I rang the dentist for him this morning to be told he can't go as they're not doing face to face appointments anymore until the lockdown is over. The receptionist did tell me about a temporary glue he could buy from the Chemist, so he'll probably get some of that and try gluing his cap back on his tooth. I'm not good with teeth so I hope he doesn't ask me to do it.

His boss rang today and told him he's on days on Friday, but after that he doesn't know what he's working. He was suppose to be on nights for 3 nights starting Friday, he's not bothered about doing days, he said he prefers them to the night shifts, but is hoping they haven't given all his shifts away as we have bills to pay.

Oh dear what a palaver over your scones AnnG, I hope they are edible. I can bake pretty much anything, but I've never been able to make scones, I don't know why but they just don't turn out right. I fancy some now, but will buy them from the shop.

I don't remember ever seeing stones in a kettle ZZzzz, mind you I'm the baby of the group here being in my 50's so it was either electric kettles or a whistle kettle, when I was growing up.

That was nice of you Mel to take the tics off the hedgehog I hope he wasn't hurt in the trap though. It sounds like you've been very busy, I was the same yesterday, I had three loads of washing including the bedding which I pegged outside, but when I brought it in it smelt like old cooking oil, so I had to wash it all again, needless to say I had a very late night. OH and I managed to finish off all the jobs that needed doing in the garden, so it wasn't a wasted day.

Hope you and Hannah managed to sort your shopping out in the end Jane.

Jonathon doing your veg patch saved you a job Frank, mind you it was probably because he still needed to use it and wanted to take it back home again. Ros is getting on well with the garden. I hope the potatoes can be used when you start your veg patch, I bet that was a nice surprise?

Your choc chip mint brownies sound nice Ann, I've only every heard of the normal chocolate ones. I like the packet cheesecake mix, it tastes homemade and is cheaper than making one from scratch...quicker to.

Thanks for letting us know when the Great British Sewing Bee is on, I'll put it on my planner later. I noticed Kirstie Allsopp has a programme starting today called "Keep Crafting and Carry On" It's on Channel 4 at 5pm, I think it's on the same time everyday. I'll be watching it later as I like her programmes.

Going to get a cuppa now and check all my messages, I have quite a few with not being online yesterday.

Good morning to all my dear friends,

I hope you are all well. we both had a good nights sleep. Eos beat me to the shower this morning, so I went in the kitchen a cooked a fried breakfast. Egg, Bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes sliced cold potatoes fried and a fried slice.By the time that was ready she was out of the shower, so I was able to say my fry up, and have a shave and shower at my leisure.

Do you remember a few weeks ago, I trapped my finger in the door ?? Well yesterday evening the old nail came off, apart from one little bit in the corner, I managed to pull it out, I now have it covered, waiting for the new nail to form and harden.

Ros needs me to order some VEG SEEDS. So being a good neighbour, that I am, lol lol I called over the bottom fence to the old chap who often chats to us, to see if he wanted any. His DIL has ordered what he wants, but said THANKS. Now it's the case of finding what she wants, and now the veg patch is ready, we (or rather Ros_) can get them planted.

Ros is making a Lasagne for tonight. She has rung Val Barker to see if she would like one, as there is plenty of mince for two. No reply, so has left a message. Martine has also rung to see hoe we are. She has been busy. Painted all inside the house, done her garden. NOW bored with nothing to do. !!!!

My old Granny Baker (MUMS MUM) lived in Star Lane, Canning Town, smack in the male of the East End. By the DOCKS. She had an old range in her front room, where she always had a BIG BLACK KETTLE simmering away, She would put it in the middle to boil for a cup of tea, Now I am going back to when I was 5/6 year old. Outside Toilet, with newspaper squares. !!!! I never ever went upstairs, in all the years I went there. She passed away aged 88 in 1953. The day I went on the "FIRMS BOOZE TRIP " to Margate.

I expect that now Spain is telling people ,they can bow of back to work, Conrad will be pulling at the BIT, to get back to Spain.We certainly won't be going on holiday there this year. Might get down to Devon in September, if we are lucky.

I am now going to sit outside with my book for an hour. It will help pass the time. Take care everyone and STAY SAFE. xxxx

I shall have a look at that program when Oh is in bed as he can't stand Kirstie. Thanks for letting us know as I would'nt have seen it not getting my tv paper this week.

AnnG you could have made a nice thick round of scones and scored it in a criss cross and bake it that way and break them apart as needed. Never roll scones out too thin. I have a lovely recipe for scones in mums old cook book she wrote recipes in. They are called Kings Head Scones and have an egg in them.

I usually make small ones so we can have two each. May do some baking today if I get time.

Mel, I particularly wanted something without eggs as they are like gold dust in the house at the moment. only get 6 at a time and need them for meals.

Have you seen how much the lovely old man has raised. He walks round his home garden.

Sorry AnnG I wish I coud send you all some. I have 1 and a half dozen and 4 sitting in the kitchen..............

My other recipe for them from my old Farmhouse Kitchen cook book dos'nt use eggs.

It’s a beautiful day today although there is still a little nip in the breeze. It’s so good to see the sun.

I hope you are all keeping fit and well. You all sound on good form.

Great to see another childhood memory ZZzzz. I don’t remember my mother or grandmother putting stones in kettles but I have heard of it. I certainly remember the old kitchen range which had to be regularly black-leaded, and the shilling-in-the-slot gas meter. I was often sent running up to the corner shop with a couple of “tanners” or four threepenny bits to change for a shilling as the gas had run out.

Did you enjoy your big cooked breakfast Frank? I hope it didn’t give you indigestion. It’s good that Jonathan got the veg patch ready for you but he couldn’t do much else if he wanted to take the rotavator back again. Still, that’s saved you a job. I do miss my veg garden in our last house. All I can do here are a few tomatoes, some herbs and a couple of blueberry bushes, all in pots. You mentioned boredom. Frank, I haven’t had time to get bored!! When I heard we might be in a twelve week lockdown I made a list of things to do to pass the time and I’ve hardly done any of them yet. I don’t know where the time is going – it seems to be flying by.

It’s good your OH is still symptom free Gill and now it looks as though they are going to be doing more testing in care homes – not before time. It’s a shame about his tooth. Is it causing any pain? I don’t think I would fancy trying to glue my own tooth together.

I never fry mince for a Cottage Pie Mel. We all have our ways and if OH has been happily eating yours in the past I would ignore him. If I want to make a Cottage Pie or occasionally a plate mince pie I cook the mince in some gravy first, then strain it and use the meat in the pie. When the gravy cools any fat can just be lifted off the top. Husbands can be very annoying when they will tell you how to do something that you’ve been doing regularly for the last 50 odd years. I am sure you are an exception Frank. My OH isn’t too bad but when HE decides to cook he expects to find every ingredient he requires in the cupboard. I did have a scream at him yesterday. I had gone over the whole house with the cordless vacuum. I just managed it before it ran out of charge. Then I went to empty the dust away and was struggling to push the lever down to open the bottom bit which I was holding immediately over the kitchen bin. I didn’t want to force the lever so called OH. He took the unit out of my hand and while holding it a good couple of feet above the bin pushed down heavily on the lever. I expect you can guess the rest. All the dust, grit, bits of grass and dirt from the conservatory ended up on the newly cleaned kitchen floor and he just stood there looking at it as if to say “How did that happen?”. I just snapped and screamed “GO AWAY, JUST GO AWAY”. I felt bad later about screeching at him when he was trying to help but can you explain to me how an intelligent man, capable of discussing quantum physics or philosophical ideas with the best of them, cannot empty a dust bag into a bin?

Yesterday and today OH has taken a friend, R, to hospital for chemo and goes back later to collect him. In fact he has just gone to get him. I’m not all that happy about it as OH is running a risk. R has been going for 3 days every 4 weeks for some while now and OH and another friend have been sharing the driving. Now with the lockdown the other friend won’t go near the hospital. R has two stepsons, their wives and grown up grandchildren all living nearby and, now they are not at work, one of those could take him but R put us in an awkward position. He said he feels too much at risk with these family members as they are not being careful at present and said if OH won’t take him he will have to drive himself. As far as we’re concerned that’s a definite no-no; he just isn’t safe enough so OH is taking and collecting him. When he gets back we wash the car seat and seat belt down with Dettol and door handles, glove compartment and anything else R might have touched gets wiped with anti-bac wipes. I do understand that R feels very vulnerable and we want to be a good friend to him but I really wish he hadn’t asked. Well, no good worrying about it. We can only do the best we can.

I took a pack of mince out of the freezer this morning so I had better go and decide what I am going to do with it.

I can't believe how generous this County is. That old CHAP who walked round his garden, hoping to raise £1,000.00. He has reached over £5,000,000.00 and it's still climbing. All going to the NHS. GREAT NEWS. Without getting political, I think all this money going in FOREIGN AID. should be used to better our own COUNTRY, and if and when we have everything done and what we need. Then send a bit to who needs it. !!!! SORRY FOLKS.

AnninG, We have no shortage of eggs in this area. I know of three egg farms in close driving distance from us. But Tesco seems to have a good stock.

The sun is sooooo warm today. I did sit out for a while, but it got to hot. I have made the cheese sauce for the Lasagne, and Ros only just has enough Pasta sheets to make the two, so that's something for the list. Which reminds me, I must find out what slot Harvey has for us in the next week or so. Then I will make a list, and only let him order what we need. He is a little BEGGER adding things that are not essential. Such as fruit cordial, Cokes (which we don't drink) They will sit in the garage fridge, and Barry can help himself,when he does the mowing.

Tony and Val. next door are sitting out. Ros is having a chat over the garden fence. That takes me back a good few years, when my Mum use to do that. Standing there in her wraparound pinnifore,(APRON) with her arms in the folds. She always put a clean one on everyday.

I have finished yet another book, so will start a new one tomorrow. I am going to have a look on Ebay, just to pass a bit of time.

Where has the day gone. Time flies when you don't even notice it.

Enjoy whatever you are doing to pass your time, snd STAY SAFE. xxx

O Vera I think I would have screamed too.

I have done some ironing and washed up and got a cuppa and cake this afternoon but not been out in the garden at all today. I always empty my vac straight into the dustbin outside. We only have a small bin by the kitchen sink to put bits and bobs in so everything else goes outside. You mst have been so devastated at the mess R made and the hoover had run out of steam so you could'nt just hoover it all back up and then had to wash the kitchen floor AGAIN.

Evening all,

A beautiful day here today so we've been doing a bit in the front garden this morning ,the white rose badly needed tying back and lots of dead bits needed to be cut out so we got that done and tomorrow we'll go out and do the next one ,there is three to do so we're doing one each morning .

We sat here at lunch time and the smoke alarm went beep ,every thirty seconds it was beeping so Colin took a look and got a few cobwebs out of it ,it went quiet for a while so we went and sat out and then off it went full blast and didn't stop so Colin took the battery out ,we rang son and he sorted one ( well we bought two as we need a new one on the landing too) from Screwfix doing the click and collect ,so off we went ,it was like we had escaped from some where with going out LOL but we couldn't be without a smoke alarm ,when we got there you had to shout out your name and what you had ordered they then brought it out and laid it on a table and you then could pic it up, i put gloves on and laid it in an old bag in the boot when we got home i got it out of the boot with gloves on and i jiggled them out of the boxes so Colin could handled them and i chucked the boxes in the bin along with the gloves ,washed my hands so we should be ok .

Mel what ever you are doing for the girls i'm sure they will love them thank you .

And while we're talking about OH's i must tell you this ,we sat on Monday and Colin had made a coffee ,well i thought it tasted a bit funny ,even Colin said it tasted odd , i had nearly all mine and i happened to look in the mug and there in the bottom was all curdled milk yuk !!!! the milk was off so i chucked out nearly a full two pinter ,i sat there then i said " Colin you did rinse the kettle out didn't you as i had put white vinegar in to descale it AND i unplugged the kettle and told him at the time the vinegar was in there ....... no we had coffee made with white vinegar !!!!!
The annoying thing was i'd thrown out all that milk .

Well done Tom it's over seven million now :-D