General Chat

Frank you crept in there. Love those lamb shanks if they are the Tesco minted gravy ones but we have one between us and find it quite sufficient. Your meal last night sounded lovely. some of the ready meals are really good.

So you are all in blue then, dressed up for the nurse. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I like it after I have had my ears syringed it is great to be able to hear a bit more.

Yes please, do write some of your memories I would love to read them.

I hope Vera is not poorly with a migraine again as she has not been on here since 19th, unless I missed her.

I've just finished my emails AnnG, so I'll go and do the final drawer now, then move onto the other chest of drawers, I have quite a few, all full of things I thought would come in handy in the future, so now I need to be strict with myself and get rid ;-) ;-). That was handy being reminded about your bread, you'd of forgotten it otherwise.

I'd like to hear your memories to Frank.

I noticed Vera hadn't been around much either AnnG, I hope she's okay.

I love those lamb shanks too but hav'nt had them for a long while. Nice and easy to do in the microwave too with some nice new pots and veg.

Anng my freezer is full to bursting so we would be ok if we went into lock down again.

It s hot hot hot here today. Oh says its going to rain tomorrow so wants to cut the lawns today.

I have been looking for osmething I can't find and I have asked if the fairys have borrowed it and can I have it back please? but nothing has happened yet. Perhaps I will look for soemthing else and then I may find it.

FRANK we would all love to hear your childhood memories you have remembered. I wonder if having your ears syringed you won't get so dizzy. Ears can affect a lot of feeling that are strange.

Afteroon all
Funny old weather again :-( Had an outdoor day yesterday, tidying the toms and tying them to the canes. I was snipping some lower leaves from one of the runner beans for better access...... snip snip snip and oops! One less bean vine LOL - plenty more though and it did look like a weedy off shoot.

Jane, that's just showy offie! 15" bean! I'm leaving the long ones for podding and eating the smaller tender ones. I think they're on the menu for tonight :-D

Another little dance yesterday when I spotted not just flowers on the cues but teeny cucumbers too. Fingers crossed.

The wretched flea beetles have been aertexing the salad leaves and rocket grr! I still snipped some for lunch though. I don't think I'll bother sowing beetroot and radish as the blighters get them too.

Strange goings on - I planted a leftover cue away from the main patch. It gave up - lonely? Anyway, there is now a carotty type leaf coming up in it's place. I haven't planted carotts!
Last year I sowed black salsify out of interest and because it would 'overwinter in the ground'. I later wondered how I was going to dig it up as it 'grows up to a metre long'. All I got was leaves and two small roots. I was going to take the roots to the art group to sketch but decided against - anyone who has grown this will know where I'm going....... and yes, we do take our dog with us. :-0
I digress..... two lots of salsify leaves have come up this year - again I hadn't sowed them - I wonder if there's anything in the ground.....

Mel, stiff necks are the worst. I get one when I sit drawing, stiff shoulders when sewing on the machine and currently a pain in my left wrist from crochet yesterday. I try to do all these things in shortish sessions. I hope yours eases up soon.

Frank, do tell your childhood story. Funnily enough, just yesterday our lunchtime conversation wandered on to dairylea cheese triangles. Do they still make them? I quite liked the cheese but for me the process of carefully unwrapping them was the best bit! We are both from a family of six and wondered why our mothers bought these as they would be gone very quickly.

I noticed mention of Virol in Mels opening post, I don't recall being fed from this
sinister looking jar that looked down from the top shelf in the pantry or it being reached down. However, I have not forgotten the time I was asked to fetch something - in easy reach - from the pantry and was shocked when the virol jar leaped down from above and bounced off my head!

Must get on. I'm putting off making a start on tidying/culling my shed. I could do with a keen little helper.

Happy gardening, crafting, dog walking, languishing....... everyone

Island you have been busy, the older I get the more aches I discover. For the past 16 weeks (yep since almost the beginning of lockdown, I have had a stiff slightly achey when not using it, upper right arm. If I then stretch up with that arm and lift something down from a top cupboard I get a pain similar to a toothache from a nerve that shoots right down to my wrist. why couldn't it be the left arm? And strangely typing or writing etc doesn't hurt.

We just seem to have flowers that have almost finished on our beans but no beans.

That doesn't sound very nice for you AnnG. When pain goes on and on it really drags us down - tiring and depressing. 16 weeks is very unfair - has your gp had a look at you?
I don't suffer anything like some ra sufferers but even 'niggles' can be distressing. I half joking say "the day will come when my wrist drops off from stirring my tea" :-|

"Afternoon girls, and thanks for letting me "TELL YOU A STORY" Max Bygraves. lol


I start at about aged 7/8. years old, when my dad had finished with his time at the PLO (Port of London Authorities.) after the war. Being addicted to the sea, he joined the G.S.N. C. (General steam Navigation Company) as BOSUN on the Paddle Steamers. These ships were ex Liverpool Mersey river ferries. There were three to my knowledge. The "ROYAL DAFFODIL" The "ROYAL ???????? and the "GOLDEN EAGLE" which was Dads ship. They travelled from TOWER PIER to Tilbury, Southend on Sea, Ramsgate, and Margate. Picking up and dropping off passengers at these points. Then picking them up and bringing them back to TOWER PIER as the boat went up the Thames, Tower Bridge would open to let the boat through. Over the TANOY they played "A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE" I never did know the correct name of the tune. Anyway I digress.

On a Sunday Morning on various occasions I would be woken by my Dad I got washed and dressed . We would then set off to the Tower Pier to board the GOLDEN EAGLE. My day would consist of mixing in with other children on the "DAY TRIP" playing games and Hide and seek. Which you can imagine on a boat that size, the places to hide with beyond your imagination. If after you weren't found for 30 minutes, you would go back to the starting point.

I would pester the Chef, with requests of CRAB CLAWS, sandwiches and drinks. Once you said you were "SAILOR BILLS" Son, you got anything you wanted. Talk about little Lord FRONTAROY. We would arrive back at London around 9.30 pm I would go "BELOW" with dad, and watch him throw the line, to the shore, that the men would hail the mooring rope. Once tied up the people would all diss-embark, and I would wait for Dad to bring me home.

Some weeks all FIVE CHILDREN and MUM would go for the day trip. Then Mum would make all the sandwiches and dad would get tea a orange juice for us.

The other story, that will always live with me is :- In the winter, the three boats were in DRY DOCK for repairs and painting. Dad was the NIGHT WATCHMAN in fact he lived on the ship the whole time. Mum would take us all to see him every Sunday. Dad would cook Sunday lunch, and us kids, had the run of the boats. One minute you would be the CAPTAIN the next you would be CHIEF ENGINEER, down in the engine room. The possibilities of what you wanted to be was endless. When the day was over. Dad would walk us to the Station. He would tell the GATEMAN, just going to see the MRS and KIDS OFF. Unbeknown to anyone, we all had a JOINT OF MEAT or CHICKEN in a bag that we carried. The gateman never asks to see in the bags, so we had meat for the whole week. FOC from the G.S.N.C. The deepfreeze on the boat was massive, and had everything dad would need.

Well dear friends, I hope you enjoy reading these tales, as I did reliving them.

Bless my dear old DAD. xxxx

Island, no, I have steered clear of the GP since beginning of lockdown. If it gets worse I will go, at the moment it is bearable. My sister (7 years younger than me) Has for years had fibromyalgia. do wonder if there is any connection but I am not as bad as she sometimes seems to be. I do also get pains in my legs which GP several years ago shrugged off.

Interesting Frank, sounds like an idyllic childhood. were you the eldest or the only boy? Just wondering why your Dad would take just you on these trips.

I used to spend a lot of time with my Dad when he was not at work but very occasionally I would travel around with him in his car to visit customers during the years he was a commercial traveller. I did like that, in the front seat, no seat belt in those days and saluting the RAC men who seemed to stand with their motorbikes on many corners. At home I would shadow Dad as he worked in his shed, he loved making and mending things and made himself a really large shed, I can't smell linseed oil without thinking of him in his shed. I used to soften up putty for him.

I can see you loved spending time with your dad Frank, your stories are very interesting especially the hide and seek one. I smiled when you told us about the meat and chickens.......naughty LOL.

It sounds like you've been very busy in your garden with all your veg, you certainly won't go hungry Island.

Sorry to hear you're in pain when you stretch you arm out AnnG, 16 weeks is a very long time, maybe you should have your doctor take a look at it now.

Well, I've just finished sorting out the last drawer from the chest of drawers I started the other day. It was only a small drawer so I didn't think it would take long, well, I had that many old receipts it took me almost 3 hours to go through them all, there were only a few I needed to keep, so the bin is full now with all the old ones, some of them dated back to 2008. I mustn't of sorted that drawer the last time I had a sort out. At least one set of drawers are finally finished, I'll tackle the rest another day.

Going to make myself a cuppa now and something to eat, I'm feeling a bit hungry. I've put a lot of things into a box so I'll seal that and OH can pop it into the loft for me, that's if he can lift it as it's very heavy. If not then I'll pop it in the spare wardrobe out of the way.

Well all DE-WAXED. The nurse thought I was going into CANDLE MAKING. lol lol

No. not the only child, There were TEN in total The three eldest were all grown up when we came along. Mum lost Alfie aged 7 with Dipthera and a still born girl. Then came the famous FIVE Bill, Ted and Mary (Twins) Jean and I (Twins) Bill was SEVEN YEARS older than Jean and I. Born on the same day 22nd December. When Mum showed us to him on his seventh B'Day, He said "I Don't want those" I want a present. !!!!

F & C tonight, he should be round here about 6.30/7.00 pm. Last week I caught him as he turned into the close. I will try agin tonight, otherwise he stops at the bottom of the close.

Ros isn't feeling too good. Her back is playing up. She has gone down the garden and I think having FORTY WINKS on the sun lounger. I will leave her to rest.

Nice breeze blowing through at the moment, I have all doors and windows open. Still a nice sunny afternoon.

You sound as though you have been busy Gill. I bet there's a lot you have kept, that won't see daylight again, if it's gone in the loft. I can't get into ours anymore, so it will be down to the BOYS to sort that out, as and when. lol lol

Gill in the days after the war, things were very difficult for many years, before the Country got back on it's feet. So getting hold of fresh meat F.O.C. was very helpful for feeding a brood of children. I must say. My Dad never ever pinched anything for himself, ALWAYS for the family. He was such a hard working man. At the age of 60 odd he worked for W.C. French, who were a Company of builders.(Mel will remember them) He would leave home at 6.00 am and be picked up by a van to go to work. They built the NORTH WEILD AIRDROME, after it was a war base during the 2nd war. Not arriving home until after dark in the winter. When he was found to have CANCER He was still owed his Holiday Money, which I collected from their head office at Buckhurst Hill. So you might say, he worked until he died. As I have mentioned, he was a stocky man of around 16 stone, ending up as a 4 stone bag of skin and bone. Not a day goes by, that I don't think about him, and he passed away in 1958. Still loved and missed. SORRY FOLKS.

Gill, before you get OH to put it in the loft ask yourself why you are keeping it all instead of getting rid of it? Sometimes it is just hard to part with things. I am the worst culprit for that but just sometimes you can realise that you don't really need it all.

Thank you for your concern. I am here but haven’t been too well physically and haven’t been in a good place mentally. I am sure I will snap out of it soon and not be such a misery. I’ll try and get myself together and post a bit tomorrow.

Don’t worry about not posting Vera just try and get back to your half glass full self. Sorry you have not been well physically as well, probably that that is dragging you down. Well that and the ongoing situation we are all currently in. Very difficult isn’t it? Once you go down it is an effort to pull yourself back up.

What we could all do with is a group hug (and I am not a huggy person normally).

Do you think a. Day out somewhere in the country would help. Maybe with a picnic. Of course Sod’s law says the weather won’t be good enough for picnics.

I hope you are managing to sleep at the moment anyway.

Take care and post when you are ready.

We all missed you Vera but it was Anng who brought it to our notice.

I do hope you feel better soon and just post when you feel like it we all understand. Sending love and wishes. <3 <3 <3

Still did'nt find what I was looking for but have had to make do with what I have.

Pushed the button by mistake!!

Frank what lovely stories about your dear dad. I like the way he provided for the family after their visit on a Sunday. I remember dad saying he was going to French's for something. He was a master builder and another name I remember is Page Callens. Not sure if thats the right spelling. Other too that won't come to mind at the moment.

There was a lovely old fashioned iron mongers at the redbridge round a bout but I can't remember the name of that either. Dad's shed smelled of paint and linseed oil too Anng and cement. He had two big old water tanks in the corner of our garden with soft sand in one and sharp sand in the other. All the tins of paint were lined up on shelves on the righthand side of the shed and I can remember seeing his raccing byke and mums byke parked on the left hand side. Mums had a basket on the front and in my teens she let me have it and I painted it luminous pink and green and put cowhorn handlebars on it. It had no mud guards or breaks but was my favorite byke to ride as it was so easy. No gears but everyone down the stables would want to have a go on it. We used to rid eover Wanstead Park in all weathers. My brakes were my short boots which I put between the frame and onto the back wheel. Worked fine till I wore the boots out.

Evening All,

Slept well again, but the 3rd toe on my right foot keeps having episodes of stinging......how weird is that? It isn't numb or burning, just like a bee stinging it! Most of the time it is fine, but can happen sitting or lying down or walking. Luckily it doesn't last very long.

Sorry to hear you haven't been great Vera and I hope you soon feel perkier and more yourself. I know I am finding the daily grind a bit monotonous now. I'm glad I have signed up for some online courses again.

We went out to take our shreddings to the gate of the smallholding today and to drive past a bungalow I'd seen for sale and then to see if a local charity shop was open. It was nice enough to drive through the villages in the sunshine, but I don't feel comfortable about going inside places yet although we did go inside one garden centre a while ago just to pay.. The charity shop round the back still had places to put donations so OH is going to take some things and leave them round the back, but at around opening time when less people are around. Another thing to go to the tip tomorrow is the shredder as OH has overworked it! He said the other day that smoke was coming out of it. He looked a bit shocked when I said it needed to cool down every few minutes when using it. I don't think it had even entered his head and I couldn't hear it when he was in the garage sorting and shredding! MORE EXPENSE as Frank would say.

I hope you enjoy your jaunt with Hannah Jane. I found my haircut was a bit of a boost so I think it will be good for you too. Mine is a bit shorter than usual and as AnnG says, if you do lose a bit of hair it won't be as obvious with it short.

Gill, I have sorted a bit more in the study this afternoon. The filing cabinet isn't bulging anymore. I had to smile when I came across a letter from the widow of a man I used to buy canaries from in my late 20s and early 30s. I kept in touch with the odd letter and Christmas cards after her husband died at age 52. I must have mentioned drawing my pension and she said she was shocked and had assumed all through the years since that I was 10 years younger! That's the sort of letter to cheer you up isn't it! She died 4 years ago aged 85 and her son still keeps canaries like his dad.

Frank you had an interesting time with your dad on the boat. It's always nice to hear your stories so keep them coming. I hope Ros's back is feeling better now.

Goodness, OH has just walked in from the garage. He's come across his baptism cert and a certificate saying he attended an event to celebrate the coronation in his parents' road in 1953! He didn't even know there was an event and was a tiny baby.

I hope you have a nice day at Batsford AnnG. It is a good few years now since I went, but there were some lovely trees. No doubt you will have your camera to get some nice pics! I used to get the job of working putty to soften it for my dad too and quite liked the smell.

My knees seize up when I sit and paint Island. I forget the time then have to lift my feet up and down for a few minute before I dare chance standing up. I wish our runners were ready like yours, but I think it will be a week or two before they are.

I bet no one could miss you on your luminous pink and green bike Mel! I hope you find whatever it is you have lost!

Nope did'nt find them.

good morning and Happy birthday to my lovely OH. Dry so far so we will go to Batsford taking raincoats! Have a good day.