General Chat

Good morning one and all,

All doors and windows open, fan on. and I am still very warm.

Ros is in her nightdress doing a large basket of ironing. I have told her to leave the flat things and I will do it, I know it's like talking to a brick wall, as I wouldn't do it like she does.

I have uncovered my "WOUND" to let the air get to it. The stitches go right in my hairline, almost to the top of my head. I just hope the hair will grow back, then the scar would hardly be noticeable. The headache is still with me, I think it's the tightness of the stitches, that are pulling. This in turn are causing the headaches. I put a CREPE BANDAGE round my head before bed last night, to stop the stitches catching on the pillow slips. Needless to say it worked it's way off during the night. I wondered what is was hanging gown my face and shoulder, when I went to the loo.

As we weren't able to go out for lunch last Sunday. I have booked a table for tomorrow. I just hope I am not tempting fate. lol lol.

Ros tells me the drain outside the kitchen is blocking up, I will have to find the pressure washer out of the garage and give it a good clean. I just hope I can find it amongst everything that is in there. If not it will be another job for Harvey. "GOOD OLD HARVEY"

Certainly nothing planned for today. Just a general lazy day, reading my book. I assume it will a TAKEAWAYfor tonight. An Indian would make a nice change from Chinese, which is Ros's favourite.

I hope our Jane is feeling alright this morning and taking things easy. LikewiseI hope the rest of you are all well and staying out of this heat. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids., and keep your head covered if you are out in the sun. HARK at old GRAND DAD, giving out his orders. lol loo xxxx

Morning AnnG, morning Island,morning all,

Phew what a hot old night ,I woke several times and even stood near the open window for a while trying to cool off ,not keen on a fan when I'm in bed I find that keeps waking me up .
This morning we have sunshine and I hope it should be a little cooler ,just hoovered through and made a jelly for pud later just need to scrape a few spuds for later to have with a salad and then that's me done for the day any thing else can wait until it's cooler

Gill would it help if you Googled the make of car and what the problem is with the bonnet and see if anyone else has had the problem and how they fixed it .

Island the flowers on the garland are about three inches across so I don't think you'd want it rou do your neck :-D, could work if I made some tiny ones with 4ply wool,now there's a thought :-D
Enjoy your sewing in the cool ,what are you making ?

I was thinking the same myself Mandy, I'll go and take a look now, thanks.

Just had a look online Mandy, but didn't have much luck.

OH's in work at the moment so I might leave it up to him as I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. What I did see looked complicated and there's a chance parts of the car could be damaged and need replacing, to get to the cable, which isn't going to be cheap. It's an old car so I doubt he'll want to pay to much, as the car isn't worth that much. At least I tried.

Morning all,

Cloudy here this mroning but its still very warm.

Usual small shop today for the Saturday paper and some bits and bobs then do the egg delivery and back home for the rest of the day.

Oh is watching the qualifying for the Grand Prix tomorrow and no doubt he will be doing his Vincent whatsit later.

Hope you get the car sorted out Gill. What a nuisance as you can't check the oil and water without opened the bonnet.

Thanks Mel, hopefully OH will work it out eventually. We're watching the qualifying later, on the highlights programme at 7.30pm as we don't subscribe to the F1 channel.

Afternoon all

Not much sleep again because of the heat and humidity so I have got a stinking headache now. It got to 33 deg here yesterday and the forecast is for it to be between 30 and 33 right up till next Thursday so I’m not very happy. I wonder how Jane is coping. I know she doesn’t like it too hot.

Frank, you had a nasty bang on the head so maybe you should have a word with someone about your headache as it does seem to be going on a long while. Please be careful if you are getting your pressure washer out. Could you leave it for Harvey? We don’t want you tripping over something and giving yourself another knock.

Sorry your car has problems Gill. It’s one thing after another at the moment isn’t it? I hope someone can fix it for you without it costing too much. I hadn’t realised your OH had a new job. Is it in a care home? That’s good that he has found something, one less thing to worry about.

Mel, when I saw your spicy buns recipe I realised it was pretty much what my mum used to make when I was young. She called them rock cakes but cooked them in paper cases rather than big, rocky mounds. Anyway I made a batch early this morning before it got too hot. We had one with a cold drink mid morning and will be having more with our lunch shortly. I might add a bit more spice next time.

I’ve been sitting over the screen for too long this morning as I’ve been trying to find a present for a friend’s 70th. Apart from water, this lady only drinks weak black or herbal teas so I’ve found a nice tea glass which has a design of a tea plant engraved on it and you can have any words added. I didn’t like their suggestions so I’m just having her name and Happy 70th Birthday on it. I’ll put some nice teas with it and perhaps some good biscuits. I think she’ll like it.

OH has just made me a tuna sandwich for lunch so I had better go and have it . Tonight it’s just cooked meats and salad and some strawberries and I am hoping it will have cooled down enough by about 7 pm for us to eat that outside.

Vera, yes hot here too, 27 degrees but humid as well. Actually I slept quite well last night except when I turned and my arm hurt and woke me up. We just called round for the paper and a couple of bits and I was naughty and tempted to buy a couple of croissants to have for my lunch which ham and coleslaw.
That tea glass sounds a nice idea for a present vera, hope she likes it. your presents are always very thoughtful.

Barbecued ribs and sausages tonight with salad.

OH did about 10 minutes propping up some flowers in the garden then came indoors because it is too hot.

Vera that sound just right for your friend and as Anng said you put a lot of thought into the things you buy for friends and rellies. I am sure she will be thrilled to bits with it.

Done the shop and egg delivery and as I came out of Em's I saw the white deer over the field opposit Em's. the field is owned by her dad. Em also told me that her dad had a visit from the heron and it cleared his pond out too. I have just fished out a dead one out of my pond and it was my biggest one the white one with orange spots here and there. It must way a good 1lb.

Hope you enjoyed your croissants for lunch Anng. I had a nice fresh ham sandwich but without the coleslaw cos I had'nt got any. I did have three small toms with it though all off my plants.

I am just about to go and tie up more round the pond and clean the big girls out. I should have done it yesterday but it was so hot. Now here the sun has got its hat on so I suppose it will be just as hot if not hotter than yesterday. Its reading 32 outside now.

O I meant to say I had two fish mating in my pond last night. It was my big boy shubunkin who is very darkly coloured and a big white and orange saraser comet so I think they were trying to repopulate the pond. They may stand a good chance now there are only a couple of fish in the pond.

Sitting out here with a lovely breeze, it's OK while you sit still but when you move about to do anything you soon feel hot .

Vera that's sounds the ideal gift for your friend as you say a few teas and some biscuits to go with it will make a lovely gift ,every time she has a cuppa she will think of you.and the thought gone into the gift .

Oh Mel what a shame about the fish ,does sound as if you'll soon have some babies though :-D
I should think it's to hot out there for Vincent to be doing any painting ,you'll get hot doing the girls .

I have covered my cabbages with a net curtain as the butterflies have had a field day laying their eggs and the caterpillars have made a few holes in the leaves ,yesterday i bought a spray for them so I hope it helps ,the butterflies were getting through the netting .
Picked five of the big toms from the greenhouse they are now beginning to turn red ,also another cue and there five more ready ,DIL will take two tomorrow and I can use another in my next lot of Piccalilli.

Yes Vera, OH has been in a new job for about a week now. He carried on doing bank work for his old place, but the boss kept taking his hours back off him so we were struggling to pay the bills, so now he has a permanent contract again, he just needs to get through the three month trial, then hopefully they'll keep him on after that. He's a carer the same as before, so a bit of worry when he goes to work with the Coronavirus still around, thankfully no one in the home has it.

OH told me the cable doesn't have any tension on the lever inside the car, so he thinks the cable has come away somewhere under the bonnet which is why it won't open. It looks like he's going to have to take it to a Vauxhall garage in the hope they can sort the problem out. He can still use the car, so can make it to work as his new job is a few miles away from here and not local anymore.

He's still having problems with his mouth and is on antibiotics (tablets) he'll need to see the dentist again sometime next week as he think he might need another dose. He's been in such pain for months now and has been sleeping on the sofa, bless him. Last night was the first night in ages he actually slept in bed all night, I'm hoping it'll be the same again tonight, time will tell though.

He's cutting the lawns now as it's forecast for thunder storms tomorrow and it badly needs doing. We had lovely sunshine up until about an hour ago and it's started clouding over now, so I hope it doesn't rain.

Afternoon all, I have spend part of the afternoon, sitting in the shade reading my book I have now come in doors, and had a COC and cream doughnut. Ros has been busy doing her garden and pots. I have just called her in, but she says she's still got things to do.

Those CABBAGE WHITES are a real pest in the garden, we haven't grown any cabbages this year, but previously they had a field day, eating their way through them.Do you dust them with anything Mandy ??

So you could have babies on the way then Mel, I have never seen fish lay their eggs, and assume they lay them on the weeds. Do you remove the eggs, to incubate in another pond. or somewhere safe from other fish.

Ros is watering the bottom Veg patch. When she shuts off the sprayer, the pressure is so great, that it blows the hose off the outside tap. I have just re-tightened the connector, so hope that works.

I will ring Harvey this evening, to see when he can come a PRESSURE WASH the outside drain. I have looked in the garage, and can't find mine. I don't wonder why, with all the stuff that is in there. !!!

Well today has and is continuing to be a VERY HOT DAY. I know ALEXIA is showing 27 degrees and thats in doors in the shade.Doors and window still open and fan working overtime. What we got coming tomorrow, I wonder. ??

Back to my book and a cold drink. xxxx

Evening all

Mandy, hmm... 3" roses? perhaps not a necklace then - I like 'hippy chick' but don't think I want to be a 'rock a hula baby' LOL
I crocheted some malteser size balls in cotton to make a necklace and though some little flowers would work with it.
Do you follow 'Attic24' crochet blog? There's lots of free patterns for loittle things on there - and lots of blankets.
I wasn't sewing anything in particular, just working my way through the 'to do' list - didn't cross off as much as I hoped :-(

Mel, How exciting to have fishy babies to look forward to! Flippers crossed :-D

Frank, I think you need one of those old fashioned night caps with a chin strap to protect your stitches - and I don't mean a liquid one! Would I suggest such a thing?

I hope it isn't too hot tomorrow as I need some outdoor time in case the five day thunder and lightning forecast comes true :-0

Enjoy your evening all

Evening All,

Hotter today and much stickier here so we've been another pair of 'dolittle's' today. I slept like a log again and woke up at 8.30am. I think it must be heat exhaustion helping me to nod off!!

What a nuisance you can't get your car bonnet open Gill. If it's the cable that's pulled out and you say it's a Vauxhall (don't know your model) does this video help? If not, look in the car handbook for the engine layout under the bonnet to help see if the spring is in the same place. If you don't have the handbook, google to see if you can see the handbook or engine layout online that might show where the spring is..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ0-HKeeVMg

I hope your OH is in less pain soon and will get more antibiotics if he needs them. It must wear him down but it's good he got some sleep last night.

Vera the others are right about your thoughtful presents! It sounds perfect for your friend.

Frank have you tried Mel's idea of baking soda crystals down the blocked drain? If it's grease it might shift it.

We hadn't had our fan on yet, but I needed it for my very quick session on the exercise bike this morning as the conservatory was so hot even with the door and windows open!! Like Mandy I couldn't have one on in the bedroom, as the noise would keep me awake. What a nuisance the pesky butterflies have found a way to get to your cabbages! Have you some old net curtains you could fix over the netting?

We think one of the bungalows halfway up the close has been bought by social housing. The nice old chap that lived there and passed away over a year ago had it adapted with handrails etc. We don't know who has recently moved in or whether it is their visitors that have 2 girls we keep seeing, but they are a right pain and so noisy shouting up and down the close at the tops of their voices. They must be about 8-10 years old but have taken to migrating to the bottom of the close to play where we are on the private road with no pavements. This afternoon they were sitting in the middle of the road just by the blind corner where the man who lives in one of the new bungalows races round the corner in his 4x4. Mrs O opposite was out and they were on her front garden next pulling at things in her skip and kicking up her immaculately raked gravel and moving her rocks along the edge. They then moved along to the new neighbours in Jean's bungalow and started pulling pieces of the conifer hedge out and leaving it straggly with bits sticking out. They leave what they are playing with in the middle of the road as well and then come back for it later. Of course they set the dog off barking next door to us too. Why don't people look what their children are doing. They shouldn't be on a private road either. :-S

Mel how many sunflowers has 'Vincent' painted? Is he doing the whole shed or just part of it? Is he doing yours after? :-D

Yes Vincent has been out doing his thing on the shed side and I have cleaned the big girl s out as there is so much red spider mite around with this hot weather. At on point I had them all crawling up my rubber gloves ad stood sqashing them all with the other gloved hand. I washed out the thing I have in the house where two of the chickens lay but I hav'nt put it back in there. I am going to see if they will go in the nest boxes. If they still lay in the corner of the house I shall have to put it back in there. I sprayed all the places where I think the mites go as you can see their droppings like grey dust. Then I squirted Bug Gun spray in there and put louse powder on top of that.

Washed out the corn bin and lid and did some washing so quite a lot achieved today.

I forgot to take my pills at lunchtime and when I do that I always seem to get more done.

Just having a nice glass of wine before doing the dinner. Rump steak tonight and chips which means I have to have the oven going, blast!

Island I keep meaning to ask what kind of dog you have please? girl or boy and can we have a pic please? We know Flappergirl has a westie and I wondered what you have.

I have a heead like a sive. OUr swallows fledged about two or three days ago. They still go back in the filter shed at night but I did get a couple of pics of one of the babies sitting in our beech tree at the end of what we call the back garden.

Good morning all. Quite grey here this morning, no sun or blue sky 16 degrees out there, hoping the humidity has gone as well. Probably not though.

Good morning AnnG and all

Can you send some of your cooler air this way please AnnG. Bright sunshine and 23 degs already. It’s supposed to get up to about 31 later so after another hot sleepless night I am not a happy bunny. Our friends have cancelled our Sunday walk and drink because by midday it will be too hot so I am going for a little walk now before it gets any warmer. BBL