General Chat

Afternoon all

It’s a lovely day here; not quite as hot as it has been and with a slight breeze

I spent part of the morning trying to sort out a birthday present for grandson’s partner. I don’t really know her all that well so don’t know her tastes. They are living in a rented house but the landlord seems to like them and considers them responsible tenants and so has given them a more or less free hand to do what they like in the house and garden. I know they have been working on the garden lately so thought something for that might be suitable. I found a company that does roses and has unnamed varieties that they will name for the recipient. I chose a nice pink one and it will have a label on it with her name and a certificate. I hope she likes it.

After that I went to do a bit more tidying up in the garden. I was standing in the middle of a flower bed clearing up a load of dead daffodil leaves, very carefully lifted my foot up high and stepped back, but just caught the heel of my shoe on the rim of one of those round plant supports and went flying over backwards on to a paved path. I managed to keep my head up so I didn’t bash that on the paving but I jolted my back and neck, twisted my ankle and put a beautiful large graze on my elbow. I muttered a few very choice words!

Ann, I understand now why you had so many items in your shop. I did have a fairly well stocked cupboard to start with and I have only bought food and cleaning stuff online, plus things like toothpaste and shampoo. We don’t have anyone who can shop for us so I have been to our small local Co-op 3 times since lockdown just to buy milk really and I go at the quietest time of day, either really early in the morning or lunchtime. I’ve got longlife milk and dried milk in the cupboard but we don’t really like them so we only use them if I can’t get out to get fresh milk.

My neighbours really worry me. They seem intelligent people when you talk to them but I really don’t think they understand their situation at present. They are supposed to be shielding as the man is very vulnerable so they should both be staying in their home and having no-one in. But they are out and about all the time and think it’s OK as he stays in the car. They have had people in to put up a new fence, to put a new seat on their lavatory as the lid part had broken (toilet still worked fine) and today they have an oven cleaning company in. How can that be classed as essential? She has also told me she has a hair appointment in 2 weeks’ time. The girl she goes to works from her own home but no hairdresser is supposed to start working before 4th July. Her attitude is “Who’s to know?”. It makes me so angry because if she brings a virus home to her husband and he is ill it will be overworked NHS staff who will have to look after him. Sorry, rant over.

I’ve also got a lot of stuff for the charity shops which is all being stored in a spare bedroom at the moment. I suppose I’ll have to hang on to it all for 2 or 3 months and then maybe take a few bits at a time. I really need to get going and sort out a few more cupboards and shelves but I seem to have lost the motivation a bit.

I was just about to post this when I saw you had put a post up Frank. It’s a relief to hear from you but my goodness what a nasty time you have had. It must have been very frightening for you and scary for Ros too. It sounds as though you got good treatment from the hospital but now you must rest up and give your body time to settle down again. How long do the stitches have to stay in? Take care and don’t worry about posting if you don’t feel up to it. Just look after yourself.

Well its really nice to know Frank is ok but what a silly boy and Ros too. Fancy going to see them when we have been told not to travel. I am very very cross with you both taking a risk like that. Moan over now take care and rest up and mend. Aunty Mel has spoken...............

What with Frank falling and Vera falling and oh's seat back broke on the mower and he went backward onto the grass. So that three falls so we should be safe now.

I have been up the border again digging out more twitch in the solid earth. Thanks goodness for my trusty little two pronged fork oh made me. It was a border fork but I broke off the left hand tine so he took the right hand one off and it has had three new handles. Its really great and I can dig with it and twist it to get weeds out. This new handle has a T bar on the top. Its great for getting inbetween plnts that are close together. The only thing is I can't put my foot on it so I put my weight on it and wiggle it sideways and back and forth.

Salmon fishcakes for dinner with chips and peas.

Sorry you hurt yourself Frank and hope it soon heals. But as someone who has not seen any family since Christmas and not likely to for at least another couple of months, I am with Mel on this. The West Country have asked us to stay away to save their hospitals which can only cope with local problems and to definitely not stay overnight.. sadly they were right, accidents happen and hospital time is freely given. But it is not in the spirit of things. Try and rest anyway and see your GP if the scar bothers you.

Vera, oh dear that sounds nasty I hope you don’t have more bruises tomorrow, I expect you will be stiff but good that you didn’t hit your head. Spare bed tonight I reckon. Take it easy and try and get a good nights sleep.
Your neighbours are dealing pushing things a bit far and so is the hairdresser. Who would be very shocked if she caught the virus. Silly person.

Ooh I forgot. A few photos from our walk yesterday on the photo blog.

I agree with Auntie Mel too Frank! What a silly thing to do to take risks and cause extra work for the NHS at a time like this as well. It was a nasty fall you if you needed so many stitches and must have shaken you up a lot. Just take it easy now and rest up. What did I say about damaging yourself so they would have to postpone doing your eye. Will it be a local nurse to remove your stitches.?

Oh no Vera, I bet you gave your back a nasty wrench falling backwards like that. I once stepped back off the front borders and just caught my heel on the paving edge and fell onto the path, but despite my efforts my head went back and hit the corner of the bungalow, which was quite a shock. I hope you aren't too stiff and sore tomorrow. I'm beginning to think far too many have the same attitude as your neighbour. I know someone who had a mobile hairdresser call and had several other family members call in to have their hair done as well. Have you noticed that the presenter Naggar Munchetti's hair is very short for someone who's hair hasn't been cut since the lockdown? I'm not keen on the dried milk in tea or coffee either, but OH doesn't even notice the difference in sauces and custard! lol. The personally named rose sounds like a nice gift for your grandson's partner.

OH has watered with the hosepipe tonight and we both feel tired so are having an early night. See what tomorrow brings!

I agree with the others Frank. You and Ros were silly to risk travelling anywhere, let alone such a long journey. We’re all in the same boat with not seeing our families. I haven’t seen my son and his family since October. Still, what’s done is done and the important thing is that you rest and recover now.

I hope your OH is OK after his tumble Mel. I think I’ve got away lightly. I am quite stiff now but I expected my back to be painful and it’s not too bad at all. My foot and ankle hurt a bit but I’m sure they’ll be alright in a day or two. Yes, it’s the spare room again tonight.

Ann, Naga Munchetty has been cutting her own hair. I heard her talking about it and saw a short clip of her doing it. I wouldn’t dare touch mine - I can’t even cut paper straight.

Morning all,

Oh Frank that was so silly taking such a risk and now your paying for it with a fall ,was it worth it :-(

Vera hope your not to bad after your garden blunder ,you were so lucky not to have hurt your head and now you've twisted your back again so I hope it's a little better today you'll have to have a rest over the week end .

Oh Mel that was a nasty fall backwards for your OH how is he today ?

Ann I didn't get the photo of the little card you made ,I like seeing all that you make .

I thought there was a lot more people about yesterday ,I can see from my kitchen window people walking through the the churchyard and more cars going past the church , I wonder how many will be out and about this week end going to the coast
and mixing when they shouldn't, the Virus is still out there and it's going to take a long time ever to get back to any thing normal.

Morning Mandy and all,

I agree with you Mandy about people going out. It only takes one person to get it and they pass it so easily and it escalates from there.

I hope Frank had some sleep last night after that nasty fall. Rest up today Frank and hows the eye now??

We have a beautiful morning again and I can hear the birds singing their heads off. This must have been the best holiday the children have had weatherwise as when thye get the summer holiday it usually rains. The boys next door are having great fun in the pool we gave them as we can hear them shouting at each other. It great but I suppose some arn't as lucky as us with the land we have and it must be really hard for people in flats with children if they can't take them out.

Oh only ended up with a couple of nicks on his right arm from the fall backwards off the mower yesterday. The rambling rose caught the back of the chair he used as a mower seat and tore it off. Its still laying on the grass down behind my pond.

At 1.02am I saw a hedgehog in the garden it walked past the patio down past oh's pond and my pond the the damp bit behind my pond where I lost sight of it. So they are back around the back bit of garden. Oh said he saw one the other morning just as it was getting light.

O I did'nt get the pic of the card you made either Ann.

good morning all, another beautiful day so the beaches will be full let us just hope that it is, as they say, that the virus doesn't spread as easily out in the air and doesn't like the salt water. I suppose we can't blame people who live in places without gardens for going to the beach, especially if they have children. Have to hope the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for them and that they remain socially distant.

For us, unless we go for a short walk we will be going nowhere. Not that there is anything left to do in the garden though. I suppose the lounge and bedroom need dusting though so that could well be done.

Vera. good that you don't seem too bad after your fall, hope it is the same this morning.
And hope your OH is OK too Mel.

I don't think Annx has sent the photo out yet as I have not had it either.

Ann did you manage to view the funeral OK, strange the things we are doing since this virus struck isn't it?

Mandy I am sure there will be many more people out and about, I am sure that people will be anticipating the fact that he relaxed the visiting in gardens bit. Yesterday the lady over the road had a visitor all day. I am sure they could not have been outside all that time. People take advantage.

Frank hope you managed to sleep ok and that the scar is not too much trouble.

Morning all

Bright and sunny and quite warm to. I noticed a cat and a Magpie paying a lot of attention to the hedge earlier, so I think there maybe a Blackbirds nest there. I clapped my hands to scare the cat and Magpie away, so it looks like I'm on Blackbird nest watch today lol.

I've replied to your PM Mel. I think you were right with BT I never got a text to say the switch over had happened. At least I'm still online which is the main thing.

I've caught the sun on my arms after spending all day fixing the screening yesterday. I can't buy anymore at the moment with the shops shut so it was a make do and mend job. We've cut down and thrown away the big Red Robin plant, we now know why it was losing it's leaves, it was planted in solid clay, it was like concrete to break up, so we've decided to throw the other one away as well, so I'll be making a start on cutting the branches off that soon, then OH can break it up ready for the tip. He was going to go to the tip today but with it being a weekend it'll be very busy so he's going to wait until one day next week, hopefully it'll be a bit quieter then and safer with not so many people around.

Well, I'd better go OH is waiting for me to help him with the second plant, I'll catch up with the post when I can, I hope everyone is okay.

Morning Everyone
Oh my goodness Frank!!!!! You really did yourself a lot of damage.12 stitches is quite a number.You really have to ease up and just do NOTHING for a day or so.

Vera I hope you don’t feel too battered and bruised today after your fall.Good job you didn’t bang your head.

Mel how is OH after his mishap yesterday?
As you said that is 3 accidents now so fingers crossed the rest of us are safe :-D

We had a lovely few hours with Janice and Larry on Thursday and today Hannah and Gareth will be here for a BBQ.
It is our 39th Wedding Anniversary today.What perfect weather for it too.

Enjoy whatever you might be doing today and Frank just remember you aren’t superman.Take a day off :-D

Morning All,

More sunshine and not too hot yet which is good. The Tortoiseshell butterflies are fluttering about this morning, enjoying the nectar from the pinks and the thrift. It's not that easy getting photos though as they dart about so quickly.

Mel your OH was lucky to get off with a few scratches. He must have landed where the grass gave him a bit of padding! That's good that your hogs seem to be around.

I tried to watch the funeral last night but it wasn't loaded yet so I will try again later. One of the friends in the zoom meeting yesterday said she knew of 2 people who had attended a same funeral recently who had then got the virus. It was at the same Crematorium as yesterday's funeral so I hope they are wiping down well after each one, although it could be people getting too close to each other.

Mandy, I just checked and think I can't have pressed 'send'. I know I did the email and attachment so will try again later. Yes I expect a lot of people will be going to the coast, which is really not fair to the locals as some will be carrying the virus and spreading it. I can never understand why people want to be where there are crowds anyway. I know the toilets are still closed in a lot of places as well so I hope they have their Shewees.

Vera, Naga does well to manage to cut the back of her hair that well. I can do the front but not the back. I suppose on curly hair any mistakes don't show up so well though. I wonder if she cuts her own all the time if she can do it that well? It would hardly be worth paying someone else.

I hope Frank is ok today and isn't black and blue with bruises. He needs to take it easy for a few days now.

I had an awful night with my side hurting and nearly went and sat in the lounge as I couldn't lie on either side without pain, even just breathing. I must have twisted the same spot again somehow as it was less painful during the day. This morning I have been moving very gingerly and managed to shower and get today's 1 pan lunch ready. I can't take Ibuprofen, but have put some of my knee gel on my side to see if it helps. It's definitely the muscle as I could prod and find the exact spot.

OH has just finished painting the last bit of trellis so I'd better put the gas on to cook lunch. BBL

Annx Do you have any viterol? That is what most helped my side muscle pain. I just ordered a new tube on line with Tesco.

That is a worry that two people caught the virus at a funeral, if that happens too often they will reduce the number allowed to go. I wonder if they risked hugging?

I wondered why I had not had the photo, now we know!! Senior moment!!

Jane glad you enjoyed seeing your sister. Have a nice day with Hannah today. This weather is real BBQ weather isn't it, although we have not had one yet. Nothing really in the freezer suitabl;e to cook on the BBQ.

Gill, were the Red Robins still in the pots you bought them in? Unusual for them to be in clay? I wouldn't buy plants like that from that garden centre any more then.

Happy Anniversary Jane <3 <3 just the right sort of day for BBQ enjoy .

Gill put plenty of after sun cream on your arms to help get the moisture back ,
Fancy the plants being in clay no wonder the poor things died the water would have just run off round the edge of the pot so they didn't get any water .

AnnG i meant to say lovely photo's on the blog from your walk ,i haven't seen Teasels for a while .
Your garden must look pretty when its dark with the lights ,we have some little tiny white lights round the Gazebo and along the wall that come on after dark .

I took a photo of the white rose in the front garden the other day and the yellow one again so will send them on the perfume is to die for .

Ann keep rubbing the cream on and i'm sure giving it a good rub helps the muscle too.
I did see the beach road at Wells has been coned off so no one can drive down to the beach but people were still walking along the narrow path down to the beach and no way could you be two metre's apart on the path as it's narrow and has drop to the beach one side and a steep bank on the other .

I really must try and do some thing this week with the Harry Potter fat quarters i bought but i just can't seem to get in the mind to do any crafts .

Jane sorry I forgot to wish you a happy anniversary.

Mandy glad you liked the photos, it is a long time since I saw teasels as well. I used to collect them and keep them for Christmas decorations.
Sometimes when it is hot I don't feel like ceafting at all.

Loved the photos of the roses. I think it must be a good year for them.

I know what you mean about getting into some craft things Mandy. I haven't done any beading for weeks now. I have started a painting but it's touch and go whether it goes in the bin at the moment which doesn't encourage me to carry on! It's good you managed to get the fat quarters though and they are there ready for when you feel motivated. Your white rose looks fantastic with all the flowers and it must smell lovely near it too!

<3Happy Anniversary Jane and Chris <3 It's good you will still be able to eat outside. It's good you were able to see Janice and Larry too and have a catch up. Is James still working from home or is he due to go in to the office yet?

Gill what a shame about the red robins! I would have been tempted to repot them in better soil after cutting them back to see if they grew any better. Sometimes once they get weakened there is no hope though.

That looked a very nice walk on the blog AnnG with plenty of space to keep the distance. The lights in your garden must look lovely at night. I keep saying we should get some and then forgetting.....more senior moments! You have lots of plants in bloom too. I won't use Voltarol as it has diclofenac in it and I had an unpleasant reaction to that after an operation. I suppose like Ibuprofen, it may be ok in a cream as it isn't in the bloodstream. I might ring the pharmacy and ask them.

I made OH laugh this morning. He wandered into the kitchen in his birthday suit after his shower while I was stirring something on the cooker with my back to him. 'Here's your treat for today' he said and without looking up or batting an eyelid I said 'Oh is it 2 of your biscuits again like yesterday'. He wasn't expecting that! :-D

I'll try sending the photo now.

<3 <3. Happy Anniversary Jane <3 <3. Enjoy your BBQ with Hannah and Gareth. You have lovely weather for it.

Mel, I am glad OH didn’t get badly hurt when his seat back broke. It could have been quite nasty.

Now you have a painful side again Ann. If you can’t take ibuprofen you won’t be able to use Voltarol will you? I hope your knee gel helps. I know you are probably very warm at the moment but would a heat pad help, or even an ice pack? I wondered if Naga Munchetty normally cuts her own hair. I have a friend with short straight hair and she always cuts her own and it always looks good. She uses plenty of mirrors to see where she is cutting at the back.

Mandy, those roses are so gorgeous. I can almost smell them :-)

How are you today Frank? I hope you are resting up and not trying to do anything.

I am stiff and sore today but I haven’t really got much pain, apart from my left foot. I thought my back would be bad but it’s just a bit achy so I have been lucky I think. I didn’t sleep much last night and am supposed to be resting on the bed so I might lie down and try and get 40 winks now.

<3 <3 <3 <3 Happy Anniversary Jane and Chris <3 <3 <3

Forgot to say that earlier, sorry.

Oh and I had lunch and both threw ourselves on the bed. Woke and got up at 5.17pm !!!!!! Lost the whole afternoon, blast.

Oh is now out mowing and I have just washed up and now I need to corn the big girls as I did the bantams after I got up. When I went down to the little girls there in my big tub of long beans a female pheasent was sitting. Blimmin cheek she must have found it nice and cool in there where it was nice and damp. I have now put the wire on it so she should'nt be able to get in there now.

I must go and have a look at the pics you sent.

The white rose is beatiful Mandy but I also loovveee the yellow one. I lost my yellow rose up on the south facing wall. The one that knocked oh off the mower when the seat broke if a small flowered pink one and is just starting tocome out now and the perfume from that is beautiful just like Ponds cold cream.

I always had long hair I cut myself till I was aged 40, but it was long enough to comb round to the front to be able to trim it then. I had a fringe at times, but that was easy enough to trim once you got used to reversing what you saw in the mirror. I also always cut both my husbands' hair, but I still wouldn't like to attempt cutting the back of my own short hair. It is getting more straggly by the day now with waves and kinks appearing as soon as it is dry so goodness knows what it will be like in July when it will hopefully get a trim!

It sounds like you escaped without too much damage after your fall Vera so that is a relief as it could have been worse. Yes, I was thinking last night (in my bed of pain!) that the heat pads would be my next resort to try, and just put up with being hot! I have a few of them as I always like to keep some in. I did use the shower head this morning to play some hot water on it as that can be good on my knees at times as well. The knee gel will get rubbed in tonight Mandy :-) It just feels sore sitting here now, but I shall be in the lounge tonight if lying down again is a problem.

I thought the update tonight was very good in the explanation of how the virus could rapidly increase and be slow to bring back down again if people don't stick to the advice.

Mandy that yellow rose is a super one isn't it. I love the different shades of yellow and it must smell lovely. I love the sound of Mel's smelling like Ponds Cold Cream too.

We seem to have quite a few antirrhinum seedlings popping up so OH has been behind the shed and found me 2 old pots I can plant up with some. He also found a lump of the blue slate and I can use that to raise the height of my lookout steps where I stand to look at the cattle in the field. :-)