General Chat

Just come down from the border and am wacked.

Ann how lovely your photos are in the paper again. You must feel really proud ehn they are there for all to see.

Have to get something for dinner now. I did get sausages out of the freezer this morning but I don't fancy cooking them now.

Yes it was very nice Vera. I suppose it was more an early lunch really. I rarely have breakfast and OH has fallen into the same habit as well now. We are opposites too in many ways, but still seem to rub along quite well.

We had our zoom chat this afternoon which was nice and I think we are all feeling a bit demotivated now and don't have quite the same enthusiasm for doing the rest of our unfinished jobs we planned to get done!

I have some cooking apples to use. A neighbour brought them round and left them by our front door as he will be away next week.

Did you get your card for OH finished AnnG?

Like Mel we are both weary from working in the garden this morning. Hope we all sleep well.

Gosh thats a late post for you Ann and I thought you were tired. I am so don't think it will be long before bed but I am watching LoveActually again. I was'nt going to but never turned over and its just carried on.

Morning all,

Dry morning but cloudy and grey with a breeze.

Egg delivery day and go to the hsop for the paper and some bits then the rest of the day is mine till lunchtime and dinner tonight.

Watched Gardeners World last night but its just not the same without Monty. I like Adam and his black cat but I liked Toby who used to do Gardeners World after Jeff Hamilton died. He always gave good tips as he did last night.

Hope you all had a good sleep and feel ready to go and do whatever today.

Hope Frank feels better today and that Jane is'nt too tired after this last session. I wonder if she's seeing H & G this weekend? Love and hugs . <3 <3 <3

sorry didn't get back yesterday, I did manage to get OH's card finished Annx all except the inside page which won't take long. His is the only one I usually put an insert in.
Loved your photo page a good selection of photos.

Frank You really don't sound well, I hope you feel better today and can get the problem sorted out. I think with the virus making visits to the GP more difficult as we don't want to bother them, things may be missed so it is worth pressing for answers.

FG I hope you enjoyed your time away and feel better for it.

Vera If I were to wash my mask every time I pop to the shops (and I am not sure hand washing them is the answer I will run out. At the moment I wear a few times and carefully fold it with the insides together between times. It would be easy to be paranoid over this wouldn't it, or become a nation of hermits. (horrible thought).

Our tomatoes are keeping us going at the moment, there is a handful to pick each day we go down there, and the cucumbers too, but only on the large cue, the baby ones are not doing well, this is the secondyear so OH says he won't grow them

waiting for the washing to finish then popping to the shop for the paper. got used to Cynth doing it so it is strange having to remember. I like the Saturday D Mail as it has the TV in.again.

:-D :-D Well, just popping out for the paper is a bit of an experience now, takes longer to put the mask on than it does to buy the paper. At least they rook cash though.

Afternoon All
At last I feel more myself and have been doing a few odd jobs .
Love the new hair styles girls :-D
Ann your photos look so good in the paper and to get a whole page too is just fantastic.

I hope Fg has a wonderful time away with the family.Not sure whereabouts she has gone.

Frank thank goodness your bank account was safe and nothing was taken.We are getting so many of these scam calls at the moment.Sometimes 3 a day.We do block the numbers but still somehow they can come back again but with a different numbe
r :-S They are a blasted pain in the backside.

Mel your card arrived on Wednesday.What a time it took.It was franked on the 6th in Exeter.

We are expecting Tesco delivery today but they have not been able to give us a time .So it could be up until 6 pm.This is the first time we have not had a time.Apparently it is due to demand.As long as it turns up that is all that matters.

Hannah and Gareth have had a week in Northumberland in a cottage.They are due home today so no doubt we will see them tomorrow.

Funny old weather today .Mainly cloudy and quite humid but I am thankful it is not as hot as yesterday.

Frank are you feeling any better today.?I do hope so. Do you think you might have been having some mini strokes?You did mention slurred speech and other symptoms .

I think I need some lunch .Didnt realise it is 1 O clock already!!

And exhausted now!!
Is there anything more back aching than doing an hour in the garden deadheading 9 hanging baskets (the ones I can reach plus too many tubs to count, two buddleias and numerous border plants?

OH has been planting a couple of things we bought during the week and is now cutting the lawn. Not a very nice day here, semi bright, no sun, very windy but 18 degrees...

Afternoon to all you dear friends.

I had a long conversation with a new doctor yesterday afternoon. The long and short of it is.That she wants a BLOOD TEST, ro see what's going on. That is for 10.40 am on Monday. She will be back in touch, when she gets the results back. I must wear a face mask to enter the surgery.

Had a reasonable night last night, apart from a needle type pain, in my left ankle bone. (the one that sticks out) I tried pushing my foot hard to the ground, cold flannel on it. Nothing seemed to work. But once I was up, showered, and dressed I kept moving about, it seemed to go away.

Ros went off to gets some bits and pieces she wants,. She is being asked to make more FACE MASKS, and needed more material, and cotton. Now I expect the sewing machine will be working overtime once again. She still has the pattern from the last lot.

Glad you are feeling a little better Jane. I hope the children (seems funny saying that) had a nice break, and have plenty to talk about when you see them again.

Ann I did comment on your photo's in the paper. What a clever girl you are. The gardens looking very nice.

I can't believe my eyes, I have lived in this Bungalow for over 22 years, and in all that time have never seen Tony do anything in his garden. Last night he was cutting his back lawn, and this morning the front one. He was also on a little kneeling pad, weeding the ONE flower bed he has in the front garden. (PERCE THROWER) lol lol

It sounds like a film is just starting on T.V. "THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR" not seen it, so will watch it, to see if I am going to get into it.
xxxx

Afternoon All,

Slept well last night and it is muggy' here like Jane said, with no sunshine. We ate lunch outside but the wind got up and was blowing our newspapers around so we went inside to do the crosswords and wordwheel. I've had a pain in my side (no, not the OH one!) since gardening yesterday and think I must have pulled a muscle so am being careful today. I didn't really do that much, but a bit of bending soon finds those little used muscles. I did do quite a bit of deadheading the pansies and pinks though and might do a bit more later on. I should start loosening he soil in the top island bed with the steps ready to put some plants in that have been in pots far too long, but have noticed more of those miner bees there. I think I may have to get rid of their nests with some jeyes fluid or something. I don't like harming them, but with my reaction to stings it would be safer.

That's good the doc is going to check things out Frank. I'm glad you spoke to another one this time. Percy Thrower in the making now then next door........he might be doing some gardening for you if he gets to enjoy it!!!! :-D :-D

That's good you are feeling a bit better again Jane and it will be nice to hear about H & G's trip to Northumberland, the coast there is lovely. I nearly missed seeing the photos in the paper as I don't often read it now. For one thing OH reads out anything of interest to him so there doesn't seem much point! I sent in the photos a couple of months ago so had given up on them being printed and if OH hadn't noticed the photo of Botallack tin mine he wouldn't have realised they were mine.

I wondered if putting the masks in a small bowl of boiling water with some anti bac laundry wash would be enough to kill off the virus? Or if steaming them with a handheld steamer would do the job. Otherwise would just leaving them a few days decontaminate them? I really don't know.

Glad you got your hair cut too FG. It does make you feel better doesn't it! I hope you enjoyed your break with the family.

Mel I haven't bought any more spinach since that first bag and haven't tried it on a sandwich yet. I never thought of growing peas in a pot and like mange tout so might try that next year. I think your suggestion of more feed for the cues may be working!! The latest tiny cues with the flowers on are beginning to grow rather than wither so thanks for that. :-)

Better get some bills paid and my car insurance pages and pages of paper checked now and then might pop outside to do a bit again.

Good afternoon everyone

It’s very sunny here this afternoon but so hot and heavy – real headache weather. It was a very hot sticky night as well so not much sleep again.

Ann, how wonderful to get a full page spread of your photos. The editors must have been very impressed to give you so much space. Do they reward you in any way? Our local paper prints one reader photo each week and the one chosen wins a £10 voucher. Your basket looks really colourful as well.

I am pleased you are feeling more the thing now Jane. I am so envious of Hannah and Gareth. Northumberland is one of my favourite places.

It sounds as though the new doctor you spoke to is on the ball Frank. Blood tests will at least be able to rule out lots of possible causes for your problem and make it easier to pinpoint what is really wrong. I bet you had a real shock when you saw your neighbour Tony doing his lawns. Wonders will never cease. Any chance of him offering to do yours for you? You’re probably thinking “Pigs might fly” lol.

I know what you mean about deadheading being back breaking work AnnG as I was deadheading earlier. Then I cleaned the birdbath out but after that I had to come in as I was getting too hot. Now I have a heck of an ache round my back and ribs on one side. Getting old isn’t for wimps is it?

By the way, the advice for mask washing is simply to launder them as you would anything else, in the machine or by hand. Then either tumble dry on a high heat or line dry, if possible in direct sunlight. If the mask is made of a suitable material then you can iron it on a cotton or linen setting. If you think about it we are told the best defence against the virus is constant hand washing and all you use for hand washing is soap and warm to hot water.

We are supposed to be doing our Zoom family quiz tomorrow and have it ready but it is clear that a few people aren’t going to be able to make it so we have cancelled tomorrow’s meeting. I have emailed round and said that if folks want to continue we will set it up for tomorrow week but I wonder if it has reached the end of its natural life now rules are relaxing a bit. I’m waiting to hear what everyone thinks but we may have done our last one.

Do any of you buy printer inks and other printer stuff online? If so, I’d recommend a company called Cartridge People. We have used them twice now and been really pleased with their service. Their own brand “compatible” ink cartridges are quite cheap but OH prefers to use Epson inks for our Epson printer. They are still very reasonably priced. At 3 pm yesterday I ordered the pack of 6 ink cartridges (black and colour), a separate high capacity black cartridge which has double the amount of ink and a 500 sheet pack of paper. I got the usual confirmation email and then first thing this morning I got an email telling me that the order would be delivered today between 12.10 and 1.10 pm. It arrived spot on at 12.15. That’s what I call service.

I hope Gill is OK; we haven’t heard from her for a couple of days. Perhaps she is busy in her garden.

I took some salmon from the freezer this morning so I had better go and sort out something to have with it. It’s so hot that I’m thinking I might just do a few little potatoes and a salad. And a nice glass of wine of course :-D

We have finally both come in after picking sweet peas, blackberries and rhubarb as a finish to the gardening. It all looks a lot tidier out there now, it was getting a bit overgrown.

Annx those seeds you had with the earings mentioned on the packet. Those were seeds that you ordered weren't they? What were they. There is a piece in the D Mail about seeds being received from China with the same contents description as you had but these were not ordered by the recipients, one said they were black seeds. They have been instructed to burn them or wrap them up and put them in the bin and not to plant them in case they bring invasive plants into the country and Amazon have suspended some sellers.

Frank I am glad that you have had a better talk with a different doctor and it is good she has called for a blood test. Hopefully that will give an answer to your problem.

Jane so pleased that you are feeling better now. The sun has just come out here which makes it feel more pleasant although noy hot as it is only 18 degrees.

I have just poached the blackberries and stewed the rhubarb. Just re-read that. As they were both cooked more or less the same why didn't I poach the rhubarb and stew the blackberries I wonder :-D :-D

Did'nt get up the border as oh wanted me to cut down the weeds behind the bungalow as the strimmer dos'nt like cutting docks. There were only a few docks so I cut those off and pulled all the other weeds which were that Rosebay Willow Herby thing, the small flowering one that sows itself all over the place.

On Gardeners World last night Adam was saying about Bird Foot Trefoil and that the bees love it so he has put a pot of it in his garden. It grows over the back in the fieldy bit before the trees and there's some there now so I may have a walk over there tonight and dig some up and put it in a pot too.

Ann did the little garlic bulbs survive the postal journey in the card or only the seed?

Better make him a coffee now as he is working on the big spreader. The stuff he puts in it corrodes it up a bit and he's taking it apart to clean it and give it all a good oil as one of the wheels that drives the thing that twist around and spread the stuff has seezed up.

That's interesting AnnG. I had a look on line and it says gardeners have also been receiving unsolicited seeds from China that they can't identify too. I chucked all but the 2 I had planted away. The 2 I have in pots are definitely squash plants and I would easily know if they are pattypan once they fruit by the shape and yellowness. They don't look diseased at all but maybe I should chuck them out. I'm going right off Amazon lately. They wouldn't print my review which would have stopped others buying them and they haven't offered me a refund! I also hate the way they try to trap you into taking up Prime whenever you order anything.

Mel, the bulbs were slightly soft but I have planted them anyway as they will probably still grow. You are getting lots of exercise in the garden aren't you! Those docks can be hard to pull up. I went out and sorted out a rock plant that had spread too far. I thought it had overun a pretty similar green and white one edged with red (leaves) but it turned out to be the same plant with runners that had reverted to green and were vigorous. It might have to go if it needs constant attention to keep it from reverting all the time. I also planted a blue Lithodora at the back of the steps and a pink flowered plant I can never remember the name of.

I think it's Cartridge Discount we use for our ink cartridges Vera and I buy the double quantity cartridges in black. That service was particularly good though so I'll keep a note as OH needs them quickly if we are running out. We have tried some others in the past that have been difficult to clip in place or don't last long. It's a shame if you can't carry on with your quizzes but there's not much point if interest is waning.

No Gill and no Mandy, I hope they are ok and just busy. I bet Colin has finished the flower trough by now. :-D

Its a bit worrying about those seeds. I must admit I have been reluctant to buy things from China but have bought some jewery findings but wiped them all down well and left them a few days before opening them.

Vera its a shame the enthusiasm has gone out of the quizzes if some people h]are dropping out. Maybe next week they will be in and not out and about. Good advice on the cartridge people and I shall take a note of that. Thank you.

Ann the bulbs should pick up once planted but I think they need soil rather than potting compost.

Frank I hope the blood test show up what your problem is and you can get it sorted quickly to make you feel more normal again. Fancy Tony cutting his lawns and doing gardening!! That must be a first!! astonishing considering you have had to cut his front lawns in the past.

Vera I get a pain in the left side of my back when pulling weeds or gardening. I did'nt go up the border today but did the back of the bungalow so oh can now spray it off before planting the new bit of garden round there. I have to dig up my bearded iris as I think they may do well out there as its south facing.

I wonder if Gill has been watching the race qualifiers today for the Grand Prix tomorrow. I knwo oh has been watching it yeterday and today. He managed to get the top off the old spreader and he is going to put the big sprayer on the wheels so he can do the lawns with weed killer or feed.

Does anyone watch The Voice Kids?? It was really good tonight and some of the children have such lovely voives. So much talent in the younger generation its nice they have something they can show their talent off on. Nothing like that in my day.

AnnG I bet your garden looks all spick and span now you have deadheaded the flowers and fdone all that work between you and T. Enjoy your toms. My beans are just starting to show and some are about an inch long now. I fed them today or was it yesterday? but must give them a good water tomorrow.

Its been quite a nice day today with sunshine and then grey skies but warm enough to only have a denium shirt on over a sleeveless top. Tonight it has rained and really steady so the garden has had a drink.

Hope Gill and Mandy are both ok and have been too busy to post.

Sending love to Jane and enjoy your day with H & G tomorrow. Good your feeling a bit better today and were able to do some jobs. Sending love. <3 <3 <3

Morning all,

Blue sky with big white clouds and not much breeze but the clouds are scudding across the sky from the east so there must be a bit of wind up there.

Forgot a couple of bits at the shop yesterday and only remembered them when they were shut so have to go up this morning for them. After that don't knw what I am doing. The old joints are telling me they don't really want to pull weeds and twitch today and it rained nearly all last night so everything is really wet. We'll see how it goes later on.

Hope you all had a reasonable nights sleep and got in some good zzzz's.

Love to Jane and enjoy your day with the family. <3 <3 <3

Morning Mel and all

Quiet again, I slept until 10.30 yesterday and felt lethargic all day - I think it's the weather. Today I was up at seven, raring to go and start a tidy up in my craft room.

I did an inspection of the raised beds this morning and noticed flowers on one of the dwarf bean plants - about time! Previous seeds have been successful but this year I had to buy from elsewhere and they have been terrible - 7 plants out of 40 seeds sown at intervals.
I think if I had sat and watched I would have seen the runner beans grow as today I have spotted some very long ones - about 9 inches! Guess what's for dinner today?

It's dulling over now - groan.

I hope you are all well.
I shall have to make the effort to read posts as they appear and make notes.
Enjoy what ever you get up to today.

Morning Everyone

Island we have tiny Dwarf Beans now :-Dand the Runners are doing well with a few really really long ones.Even the cucumbers are beginning to grow.I have a feeling we might be over run with them but at least we can pass some on to Hannah and our friend Fitz.
I miss so many posts too and it is very difficult t ocatch up on everything so dont worry if you lose track too.

We are going to Hannah and Gareth for a BBQ at lunch time.It will make a nice change for us to go there.I am taking the sausages and chicken for the Kebabs.The weather is warm and although there are still a lot of cloud around there are patches of blue sky so I think it will be fine.

Ooh there seems to be a lot more blue sky now :-D :-D

That'll be nice to be able to sit out with H & G Jane. Enjoy your BBQ. sounds like you are now feeling a bit better than last week. Take care and its lovley to see you posting.

I can not always remember to answer post either and I am not that organised to make notes!!! so I apolagise if I don't answer some.

Now where is our Mandy? Hope they are both keeping well and its today they usually see the grandchildren so perhaps we will hear from her later today.

Island have you any pets?