General Chat

Good morning, lovely morning here as well Mel. Not sure what we are doing though, pretty sure whatever it is we won't be away from the house for long.
We have gooseberries to pick then I may make a crumble. I want to make a pot or two of jam but the sugar I have is halfspoon so I wonder if it will work?

Vera glad you are all still enjoying the quizes. Not our cup of tea, neither of us like them.

Frank, when I had a minor op in outpatients they kept me in overnight, I was the only female kept in so had a side room, there were several men in another room at the end of the long ward but it certainly wasn't quiet with nurses back and fore all night. I hope Ros is ok to come home today and she really must rest if she doesn't want t be back in hospital again. And you don't do too much either. I bet you missed her last night. :-) :-)

Sunny Morning All :-),

I hope Ros got some sleep last night and that her arm swelling has gone down so she can go home. Lots of resting it then so it doesn't swell up again.

Glad you are enjoying the family quizes Vera. Just doing something different helps doesn't it and at least it is a way to see family too. I think zoom and skype have been a boon for many families so they can have some better kind of contact.

That twitch grass is awful isn't it Mel and so hard to get it all out. We had it in one border when we got rid of the pond and had a change around. We also had the awful mare's tail. We ended up removing all the plants for a way beyond where it was and keep dosing every shoot that appeared with systemic weedkiller. It did get rid of it but it would be impossible to do it with your big borders.

I was going to see what to do with that freezer drawer front but his lordship tells me he has managed to fix it back ok so that was a nice surprise and saved me fiddling with it!

Better go and open the greenhouse and see what veg need using up for lunch!

Yes Ann the twitch is awul and I never get it all out but it looks much better with most out and I can dig the ground at the mo so some is better than lots. I am approaching a really thick bit though.

STill waiting for my delivery which has'nt arrived at the alloted time of between 10am and 11am. You can't get into anything else when you're waiting can you?

I need to cover up my blueberries or the blackbirds will eat the lot ripe or no.

Hope Jane is ok after the last chemo. we hav'nt heard from her since the picture came on the day of the first lot. It was the 18th when she last posted.

Where's Frank??? Hope he has'nt done anything silly will Ros is in hospital. Did you sleep well Frank?

Morning all

Another bright day after a dodgy start, we had some fine rain, but thankfully it's gone now.

Hope Ros's arm has gone down and she's home today Frank, she needs rest now or could end up in hospital again. I hope she had a good nights sleep, not so easy in a hospital though. Hope you are okay to and had a good nights sleep.

I've been thinking of Jane and hoping she hasn't had to many side effects from her treatment. Sending a gentle hug Jane <3 <3 <3

The birds will surely eat all your blueberries Mel, good idea to cover them or you'll have none left. Has your delivery arrived yet? Good luck with your twitch grass. We have horsetail everywhere and are forever pulling it out, we really need to put some weedkiller down but I don't want my plants to be effected, so it's become a daily job to pull it out now. It's starting to come through the patio flags so we might put some concrete in the gaps, hopefully it'll stop it growing in between the flags then.

That was nice of your OH to fix your freezer Ann, it saves you the job now. How are your tomatoes doing? Ours have lots of flowers on them so we should have quite a few toms soon. The little one on the end only has two flowers so I'm not holding out much hope of it getting any better, but the other five are doing well.

It sounds like you're really enjoying your zoom quiz's Vera, it must be nice to see your family, even if it is only on a screen.

Going to take a look at OH's family tree today, I thought I'd found a marriage for one of his ancestors yesterday, but it turned out to be wrong, so I had to take her off again. I'm still hitting brick walls, so I'm hoping I have a better day today and finally find someone to add.

I hope Mel has done her wiping now, got it put away and can enjoy doing more work on her border. It really is a lovely day with a slight breeze to keep the heat down a little.

We had lunch but were pestered by a persistent bluebottle so had to do a lot of swatting! After we had sat a while I went and picked our first mini cucumber and a few minutes later my arm was blotchy from the hairs on the foliage. It's faded now, but I'll put my long gloves on next time. Gill I have 1 tomato that's a different variety and although it's up to my waist now it only has 1 small bunch of flowers on it! The others have some small toms coming and far more flowers. I hope you do better with your OH's FH today and find some people to add.

That's a pretty Peony in your Avatar AnnG. You are lucky to have gooseberries to pick as we only had about half a dozen the size of peas and they have just disappeared now so maybe the birds have had them. Is it pectin you add to fruit to set jam if the fruit doesn't have much? I don't really know what the sugar does so don't know about using less.

I have framed the painting but had to trim the mount which I may paint a different colour as it doesn't look right and won't when I repaint the wall it is going on. I've also signed up for a one off free watercolour painting session on zoom with the WEA at the end of the month. I have only used acrylic paint up to now so it will be interesting to learn the difference and maybe pick up some painting tips anyway.

My left knee is achey after rolling the slates around yesterday and kept me awake last night, so I think I will start sorting out what I need for some craft work next.

I hope we hear from Frank and Jane soon.

I just had to get on oh's mower with him as he called to me and we have a swarm of bees in the garden and I think thye are settling in the Rhodidendron. I have taken some pics but I am confined to the house at the mo.

Oh Mel, it's good he spotted them! You don't want to be upsetting flying stingers as I know to my cost. Will they move on soon themselves or will you need to get a beekeeper in to move them?

they're in the rhodo and I have pictures.

I rang Ed to see if the boys wanted to come and see them but he told me he has had them turn up at his too in the garage roof where the bee keeper can't get to them.

What a hot day it has been here and it looks like a hot, sticky night. I washed a big duvet cover and got all the ironing done first thing before I started to wilt too much. This afternoon we walked round to our friends’ house and sat in their garden for a couple of hours. Our garden is in the sun all day but they get sun in the morning and more shade in the afternoon so it was quite pleasant. I’ve just been watering all the pots and troughs while OH is cooking our meal and I’m shattered now.

I don’t suppose Jane likes this heat much. I hope she is not feeling too grotty at the moment. I hope Ros and Frank are OK as well. Sending you all love??

(Had a break to eat)

Those bee swarms can be fascinating but quite scary when they happen. I’d love to see your pictures Mel. Some years ago we had a swarm fly up over the roof of our house and settle on a bush in our front garden but OH never took any photos. We had a lot of trouble getting someone to deal with them. The local council weren’t interested in helping us and the local beekeepers were frightened of introducing a virus into their hives. Eventually we found someone who agreed to take them, much to my relief. Have you covered your blueberries yet? We had to do ours a week or so ago as the birds were already at them. We picked our first bowlful yesterday. How are you getting on with removing your twitch? I didn’t know what it was till I googled and realised that it was the bane of our lives in our old house but we knew it as couch grass.

How did you get on with your family tree today Gill? Did you break down any of those brick walls?

Yes, AnnG, we are enjoying our Zoom quiz sessions. We quite like a quiz anyway but what’s really nice is the chit chat that goes back and forth and just seeing them all. I think that’s why the younger ones are keen to carry on, they are enjoying the family interaction and seeing their cousins.

It looks as though things are getting back to some kind of normal. Usually with the government it’s too little, too late, but I am wondering if the easing of restrictions is going to prove to be too much, too soon. I feel sorry for Boris and his crew as they will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

As well as my hair appointment on the 6th July I now have chiropody on 15th. I have to time my arrival just right so I don’t meet anyone else and I must have a face covering. My chiropodist always wears a mask anyway. I will also have my temperature taken before I am allowed through so maybe things aren’t so normal after all. I am getting quite canny. I have made sure that I have the first appointment of the day at the hair salon and the chiropodists so I won’t have to worry about how well everything has been cleaned after the last person.

I forgot to say earlier that a couple of hours after I sent my email of complaint to Tesco I had a phone call from them. They were very apologetic. Though I had told them all the things I was unhappy about I had only asked them to refund the money for the cucumber that was missing (a whole 49p!), but they are also refunding the cost of the potatoes and cherries as well, and the delivery charge. That comes to near enough £10, so a good result.

As OH cooked I said I would clear up so I had better get on with it. I hope you all have a good night tonight.

What a lovely day it was. After OHhad finished off a few bits in the shed we walked to the post box and book stall, taking some stuff that would normally go to the charity shop as the couple in the bungalow recycle everything you can imagine with lots of various charities. Also returned two books and got three mire.

OH playeda blinder today. You may have seen my post about today being the day we met. He is not normally one for doing anything about it but today he ordered for me flowers and Prosecco. What a lovely surprise. We sat out in the garden drinking the Prosecco and chatting until about 7,45. It was so warm. We then didn’t want a cooked meal it would have been left over chicken curry. So we had chicken sandwiches and raspberries and ice cream

Watching the repeat of Broadchurch now.

Aw, that’s lovely Ann. What a romantic man T. is. I doubt if my OH has a clue when we met (19 Dec 1961) though he might remember where as we were formally introduced by a mutual friend.

Vera he never buys flowers but usually does remember the date so it was a lovely surprise. Had to chuckle to myself as he was so pleased with himself.

The only time oh buys me flowers now is on Valentines day when I get my 2 doz red roses. We were first together properly on Aug. 2nd my dads birthday so I don't forget. It will be 23 years this year and the time has flown by.

I hope Frank's ok as we hav'nt heard from him today to even hear how Ros is. I hope she came home today and is feeling better and the swelling has gone down in her arm.

Well I am all hot and sticky so I think I shall have a nice cool shower before bed.

See you all in the morning and I will send the pics tomorrow too. Too late now as I am tired. Night night sleep tight.

Morning All,

A scorcher today! I watered the pots first thing and thought how glad I was that I didn't have Gill's 500 to do. OH couldn't help much as he was in a state with a sciatica type pain and had a restless night with it. Ibuprofen seem to be helping now though. Then I got the steam mop out and did the kitchen, bathroom and en suite floors. I was dripping like the mop after so had my shower. OH has meetings so we are eating at separate times so he is sorting himself. I have a vegetable lasagne to try and am having roast mediterranean veg with it.

I woke up wondering where Frank is as I thought we would hear from him by now. I hope he and Ros are ok and that she will soon be home if she isn't already. I know from experience that it takes hours to be discharged.

That was a lovely surprise from your OH AnnG and I bet that made it even more enjoyable. I don't often get flowers but he does ask if I'd like some sometimes. I shall never forget him sending me a large surprise bouquet to work once long before we were married. Well I was so embarrassed, didn't like the attention it caused and felt it was a bit 'showy' and told him never to do that again! Maybe I have put him off.

Better check the oven now.

Morning Ann and all on this Midsummers day.

What a day it is too, so hot out there and oh let me sleep late so nothing done here this morning just some watering of the pots on the patio and they'll get some more when the sun goes round a bit.

Di's birthday today and this will be the first time I hav'nt been able to give her her card and present. I shall have to ring her as I don't think her phone gets any texts I send where she lives.

Must get on so will see you later.

Love to Ros if she's home and I hope she's feeling better after her op.

Good afternoon all, we just had a run out to a garden centre, not the very small local one, the one that is a bit larger. It was fine, quite a few people there but other than a lady with her mother (I assume) who wanted to educate the whole of the garden centre - I guess Mum is deaf/hard of hearing Lol!- they stayed well away, only a couple wearing masks so we didn't bother. Plenty of stuff to disinfect trollies etc. Bought a few small herbs which need to go in fairly quickly but, as with the other place, herbs seem to be in short supply now and nowhere could I find any Thyme.

Annx OH rarely buys flowers unless when I am with him he spots some in the supermarket, then they usually get paid for with the groceries. These plus the Prosecco, being M&S must have cost him a bit. I think the lockdown has changed his mindset a bit and he said he's been out seeing people and playing golf and I had been stuck in, he felt sorry for me! :-) :-)

I do hope Frank is OK. I did think with him falling so much it might be a problem if he fell while Ros was not there. Let's hope all is well and Ros is home and frank is safe.

Good afternoon all

It’s a real scorcher here as well today. OH and I stayed in the same bed all night for a change but we both slept badly. Even with a big floor standing fan going all night it was so hot and humid. OH tossed and turned making us both even hotter and kept getting up for the loo and I had a thumping headache. We both got up by 7 am.

We decided to do the chores before it got even hotter. OH went out for his walk, then dusted and hoovered through. I washed a load of towels and a thick winter dressing gown, did some general tidying up and got everything prepared for tonight’s dinner. All done by 10.30 so I then went out for a walk. I just seem to have been faffing about since then

I’m not sure what I’ll do this afternoon. I think I might have a look at making a face mask with ear loops for when I go to the hairdresser. I found a dark brown sheet at the bottom of a drawer so I’ll cut that up. It must be nearly 40 years old as it’s left over from when my son was a teenager and thought white or pastel colour were too girly for his room so I bought him some brown bedding and some in a really dark green. At one point his bedroom walls were painted in a sort of maroon/brown colour with one wall mustard yellow. Thank goodness he grew out of that phase ;-)

Where are you Frank? We want to know that you are both OK.

OH has just brought me a roll with some pate and pickle, and a nice piece of cake so I’m going to have that now. Might bbl

I've just been on FB and Frank was posting an hour ago so I think he is ok.

We are both fine thanks. MEL, please read your Emails.