General Chat

I missed your post there Frank, I gather Ros has fixed her sewing machine if she's making more masks and scrub bags. What was the problem in the end, did it just get to hot and needed to cool down? I watched the Chaser programme last night, OH wanted to watch it so put it on. The woman was so excited when she won £25k wasn't she? I wonder what the next woman is going to go for tonight, she's seems quite brainy, so might go for the big amount. Good luck with your eye examination over the phone lol ;-) ;-) ;-) I'd like to know how they're going to do it to. The NHS are brilliant aren't they.

i think your oh stands a good chance of keeping his job if he was the second on ein and has done the training. I hope he is ok Gill.

I cleaned the bathroom this morning and it took me up to lunch time so we had that and oh had a snooze after and I had a fiddle with my clay bits I had baked. Then I corned the chickens and walked around the garden as I saw the rabbit trap was set off. When I got to it it was another hedgehog so now the trap is chucked in a corner and NOT set. Seems they are using the pop hole in the fence across the top garden. Its the pophole I put the trap against. Last time it went off it was coming down from the top garden so this time I set it as I had seen two rabbits go through into the top garden I put it round the other way and STILL caught a hog!

Hope the over the phone eye examination goes off ok Frank.

You all talking about having hair cuts, it just the sme for me as Gill never have it cut and if I do want to have a bit off the bottom I have no trouble reaching it. It is getting longer though as I am having trouble combing it as my arm and the long handle comb are just a bit too short now. In fact the lockdown dos'nt really affect us as we don't go out much anyway. Just me on a Tuesday shopping and up the local shop on Saturday for the paper and deliver Em's eggs. The rest of the time we are in our own little kingdom within these walls. I still have two sacks oc chicken food in the back of the car and still some in the bin from the last time I bought it and doubled up.

I dar'nt get a jigsaw out as I would'nt stop till I finished it. I have some lovely ones I bought mum all those years ago still sitting in the lounge behind the fireplace so could do one any time I wanted.

Oh dear Mel another hog caught in the trap, good idea to chuck it in the corner and not set it. The hogs will be frightened away from your garden if they keep getting caught. I hope it was okay. I'm the same as you Mel and hardly ever go out, I haven't been out since 3rd March and that was only because I had a doctors appointment, the time before that was the 6th February for the same reason. It's the not being able to go out that bothers me as I would of gone and bought some compost and large pots to re-pot my plants and of course I would of bought my tomato plants I buy each year. It looks so bare in the greenhouse with nothing in there now, but there's always next year isn't there.

What are you making with your clay, anything nice? Are you going to do another Christmas fayre this year?

I'm just watching Kirstie I recorded yesterday and then I'll watch the one from today, tomorrow. It's still strange spending all day on my own with no one here, it's very quiet, so I like to put the TV on for a bit of background noise while I'm doing the housework. I've done a load of washing today, mostly OH's clothes, so that's pretty much finished, just a bit longer on the radiators. It's to wet to peg it outside.

It's still raining here, so maybe the plants will have enough if it carries on like this. I watched a little Wren have a drink from our waterfall before, it was so cute, the top part of the waterfall had some rain water in it. (The waterfall isn't on) I don't think the birds like drinking from the big pond bit at the bottom as it's to deep, but with two tiers to drink the rain water from, they have a little ledge to sit on. That's what I wanted the bottle brush for, so I could clean the inside of the pond bit, it's starting to go green, that way the muck will go inside as it circulates around. The pump is up off the floor so should be okay. It's a self containing waterfall so has a lot of water inside, to much to empty for such a small job of cleaning the bottom bit, plus I'd have to move all the plants I've put around it, then drag it out and empty it, all for a five minute cleaning job.

Well I'd better get back to Kirstie, I've got it on pause. I'll come back on later if there's anything to report on OH's job, but I think he might be told later in the week, which I think would be a bit cruel, but they do have other's to see over the next two days.

Oh Gill i do so hope your OH can keep his job ,i hope it helps that he was one of the first ones taken on ,and just as he was settling into it too.

We both like doing a puzzle and usually do a bit together when we have our coffee ,Colin sits one side of the table and i usually sit the other so it makes it a bit harder as i'm doing at it upside down ,i end up doing the sky each time ,this picture is a seaside one with a cottage and boats .

Vera you do have the clearing out bug and i see you've found some treasures too :-D i have an old bottle of Milton i found in the cupboard mine has the date 2016 so i'm not sure if it will be any good now .

I've been quite lazy today ,i did hoover through ,i have to do it every day as Max leaves his hair every where even with a good brush every day .
I also washed my hair ,i should have had a cut just as the lock down started ,i might take the scissors to my fringe and the little bits at the side near my ears ,can't do the bit at the back of my neck that getting quite long now ,no way will i let Colin have a go at it although he has a straight eye for doing things so might cut it straight .
I did put the clippers round his neck and cut a little off the top of his hair the other day and i think i did ok ,push come to shove we'll have to get the old pudden basin out and cut round it :-0 :-0 :-D :-D

I have my fingers crossed for your OH and his job Gill. He's been so good doing extra shifts it would be a shame if they don't keep him on. I expect with 2 of the residents passing away there is less work and extra cost for the home with all the PPE and extra cleaning needed now.

I like the sound of your sonic thing Vera, but no good if it was a disappointment! I had bought some Milton at the start of the virus problem but also found a bottle making room for bottles of bleach. It seems we both got the pink bird with googly eyes for Sandra then! :-D :-D It has rained all day here too.

I seem to have come across umpteen notepads with little notes for recipes, to do lists and websites to look at, FH finds etc, so have set up a few notebooks and am keeping like with like in each. I did find a note of how to change my desk top wallpaper, so now I have an Anglesey Oystercatcher to look at.

My hair should have been cut yesterday and I can do the fringe and round my ears but not the back. I told OH I will look like Mick Jagger in another few weeks and did the lip impersonation. I was wondering how folk who use chiropodists were managing and had visions of unintended claws! We can still just reach ours thank goodness, but I imagine when they are back in business they will have to wear the full gear.

Mandy I will have to threaten OH with the basin if he getts lippy when I cut his hair next time! The jigsaw sounds like a nice one. I end up upside down as I can't always reach right across or the light reflects badly sometimes. Sky is hard to do as well!

OH made me smile earlier. He said he has become Carson, the butler, and I have become Mrs Patmore, the cook! :-D

Just to let you all know OH has been given 4 weeks notice, so he lost his job in the end. The boss said due to the lack of occupancy in the home they've had to let OH go. There is a bit of positive news, the home have put him on their bank to fill in for sickness and holidays, so he may get a few days here and there in the future. Not sure what he's going to do now, but he'll get a good reference so that's something, even if he can't use it yet. He's going to phone around some homes to see if they are taking anyone on, but most homes are not having any new residence at the moment, so have probably got all the staff they need already.

Oh dear Gill its a shame as he seemed to like it there. will he be able to apply to the job centre? for money. I'm so sorry to hear your news.

I meant to say I saw a blue tit this morning with a beak full of grass it was collecting for its nest. I don't think I have ever seen a tit with grass in its beak its usually moss.

Someone round here has Peacocks and they are calling the heads off today.

Oh Gill, I am so sorry to hear this; just as he seemed to have got nicely settled in the job too. Sadly it’s not a good time to be hunting for work, but he’s going to get a good reference so that should help. Tell him to stay positive and be open to any opportunity that comes along. I wish you both all the luck in the world <3

Oh Gill i am sorry to hear that ,so he might get a few hours if he has to fill in for people but that would be a bit here and there .
Has he ever thought of going into peoples homes as a carer ,they always seem to be crying out for carers like that here ,i hope he can find another home that will be able to take him on .

Good morning

Another grey and wet day. I am not sure what I will be doing today; I won’t be gardening, that’s for sure. I feel like a day or two’s break from spring cleaning so I might just run the hoover round a bit and then have an easy day. Whatever you are doing, have a good day :-)

Gill I am sorry to hear about OH's job. And I hope he manages to find something else. Does he qualify for universal credit do you think? Not sure what the criteria is for that. At least he has another 4 weeks to work.

Dry here so far but very cloudy although we did have some sun early on. OH has put fertilizer on the lawn so will be pleased to see a bit more rain later. I have been tidying up two small scrap books I made when first married between 1960 and early 70s. Interesting to see some of the recipes in them, some I had forgotten I ever made when scratching around for money to feed us in the early 70s. But My favourite is the first in the book. how to cook a roast dinner. It is cooking by gas too which I only did for a year or so. Obviously dictated by Mum as the greens would have been cooked to death when finished if I went by that timing. I had to stick a lot of the recipes back in as the cellotape had crumbled away. Hopefully they will give grandchildren a smile after i am gone

OH has made coffee so better fetch it.

raining again now so the lawn should be OK.

Gill luckily your OH was able to complete his training, is that something that will stand him in good stead for getting another job?

Morning All,

I had to empty the trays full of water with my cuttings in today and it is raining again now and quite cold. I've left the greenhouse shut.

I'm sorry about your OH losing his job Gill. He was doing so well too. At least it shows they valued what he was doing if they want to keep him to cover sickness etc. If he can't find another care job what seeing if he could do some delivery driving for one of the supermarkets? They have been taking on thousands of staff and there isn't heavy lifting as they use tall, wheeled trolleys to bring your groceries to your boxes outside your door. It would keep the bills paid till he found a job in care again if that's what he still wants.

AnnG I still have my Mrs Beeton's cookbook I got with either greenshield or pink S&H stamps when I was first married. It has sticky tape holding it together, despite me covering it in brown paper when I got is and the page edges are all brown now. I still use it though as I find books like my Delia one, use much more butter and cream for some recipes which I try to limit for me. Mrs B is nice and basic and was a boon as my mother had no patience and too much control to teach anyone anything. She was a good cook though and made lovely pastry. I can still drool over her Bilberry or Apple pies!

I have come across lots of FH notes in various notepads so I am adding those to my tree today. The traveller history from my dad's side is both fascinating and often sad. Last night I found one poor chap born in 1820 was imprisoned and whipped at age 15. Then he and his brother were found unlawfully sleeping in an outhouse and got a week's hard labour. Then at age 69 he was found dead in a barn and had been there 4-5 days. The inquest said he had died of starvation. No-one gets such harsh treatment these days do they, although I think some get off far too lightly and very few die through lack of food. We are so lucky, even staying in like we are now is hardly a hardship when you read of the sad stories and suffering that happened in the past.

Afternoon all,

We have sunny spells here but there is a wind and blue sky with lots and lots of big white clouds.

Hurt my tooth again last night when brushing them. Could'nt go to sleep and got up twice for the loo and then that was about 5am and I got up and swilled with Corsydil and went back to bed and oh asked me if I wanted to hear the dawn chorus with him and promptly started snoring again. I must have dropped off then and he woke me at 10am and asked if I was staying there so I got up a little after that. He had been making toast and I could smell it. We only had ready meals last night and we're always hungry next day. I have only had a cuppa though so may have toast for lunch if my mouth will take it.

It does feel much better this morning so it will be a good swill before lunch.

Morning all

Thanks everyone for all your messages of support. OH is going to do a ring around on Friday, to see if any care homes are taking anyone on. He thinks his police check he had done in February will still be okay, as it's only around 10 weeks old, so if that's the case and he's luckily enough to find another job he won't have to wait for another police check to be done and can start straight away. His boss said he doesn't have to give any notice, but if he can that would help them, so that means he can start straight away if he has to, rather than having to wait the 4 weeks and possibly lose the new job.

I had a quick look online last night and think I've found somewhere in Chester that are taking people on, well that's what it said online, but whether it's been updated or not he won't know until he rings them. He's in work today and tomorrow and doesn't finish until 8pm, so he can't ring anyone until Friday when he's off. I'm going to make a list of care homes and phone numbers ready for him, it'll save time with him not being able to do it himself for two days.

Sorry to hear your tooth has been playing you up Mel, I hope it doesn't hurt to much when you eat your toast. At least it's feeling much better this morning.

How nice to find the scrap books AnnG, I bet that brought back some memories. Yes the training OH did will stand him in good stead, he also has a file full of certificates which will also help. Care homes do their own training but it's pretty much the same in every home, so even though his training was somewhere else, they will be able to see he's done it and knows what he's doing, not like someone who's never worked in care homes before.

The problem the care homes have is no one is putting their elderly relatives into them at the moment for fear of them catching Coronavirus and it doesn't help when it's all over the news now. That's the reason he lost this job because the place is half empty, so they had to many staff for the amount of residence who are there. The new part wasn't done because the builders couldn't get the materials to the second floor without having to walk through the home, which wasn't safe, so that bit hasn't been done yet. If it had and people had moved in there, as originally planned, OH would still have his job.

Yes Ann he'll take any job he can, but prefers being a carer, so will look for those type of jobs first. I find it hard seeing all the babies who have passed away when I'm doing my FH. We don't know how lucky we are do we? While I've been doing my family tree lately I've noticed how poor that part of the family was and they were in and out of the workhouses all the time.....very sad.

I've got to set up a new router for BT but I haven't got a clue what I'm doing, they mentioned a filter, what is one of those? There's nothing in the box, do I have to buy one and if so where do I buy one from? The router I have now is connected to a telephone extension lead, but when OH's friend set it up for me he did it from the main telephone socket, then moved it to the bedroom where it stayed. All it says on the instructions is Single master socket use a filter. I have a single master socket but no filter. Can anyone help please? :-S :-S

This B@@@@y COMPUTER, is ready to be thrown out of the window. !!!!

I am getting so annoyed today. Neither of the phone calls have come through. When I rang the surgery, I was told the nurse was very busy, and would ring me before 12.00. It;s now nearly 1.00. and they closed for lunch at 12.30. So NO PHONE CALL Also my EYE APPOINTMENT hasn't rung either.

I nearly had a HEART ATTACK. Ros had gone off to get some COMPOST as the seedlings need potting on, when suddenly the lounge door burst open. It was MADAM, she had got to B & M in Towcester. Parked and reached over for her handbag, it wasn't there. The silly woman had left in on the sofa. She's gone off again in a right old tiss wass.

I m also waiting for a call back from the F & C MAN. Ros will only eat PLAICE, so I rang ask if they did plaice,if ordered. AGAIN NO CALL BACK.

Gill sorry to hear about your OH and his job. As mentioned, the Supermarkets are crying out for drivers, during the pandemic, so it might be something to tide you over for a few weeks.

We have loads of jigsaws in the garage, but with Ros needing the dining room table for all her cutting out of these bags, and the sewing machine in situ. There is no room for anything on the table. We have even taken to eating our meals off of trays. lol

If I don't hear back from the F & C man soon, I will need to sort something out for dinner tonight. DO YOU WONDER I AM ANNOYED.

KEEP SAFE. xxxx

Oh dear Frank, what a day you've had and it's only half way through, I hope you have the phone calls you need from the doctors and can get through to the F&C man if he doesn't ring back. Have you thought of buying a board to do your puzzle on, I have one and they take puzzles up to 1000 pieces, then fold away, so storing them is easy as they're only about 2 inches thick when folded. I believe you can fold them with the puzzle inside , but I've never tried that, so I don't know if that works.

gill OH thinks that is something that used to be necessary to stop some sort of noise interference. He says you should be able to plug it straight in and it should 'fire up'.

Thanks AnnG, I've been looking online and then went and had a look at what I already had and it looks like I've got a filter. The switch over isn't until 15th May so I'm not going to worry about it today. I got myself in a bit of a mess before thinking about it and ended up crying......I know I'm silly, but with everything else that's happened this year, I think it was the last straw.

If I mess it up and end up with no internet I won't be able to have an engineer come to my house, so I will be off line until it's sorted, another reason I don't want to attempt it yet. If that happens I'll text Mel to let her know, then she can let you all know why I'm not on here.

It's using an extension lead, which i do now, that's bothering me as it said online that it might not work, even though it does on the router I have now. The master socket is in the hall in an area where I can't put the router, so I need to use the extension lead or I can't plug it in.

The only way I'm going to know if I can do it is to install the new router using the extension lead and hope for the best.

My laptop is the only way I can make contact with you all and with being on my own all the time I don't want to lose that. Hopefully it'll be straight forward and once done I'll wonder what I was worried about. I'll leave it until I have to do it though, so at least I know I have the Internet up and running, OH will need it to job search, which is more important than anything else right now.