General Chat

The garage also rang again to say the windscreen wipers were borderline to just pass the MOT and did OH want those changing too. He said to do it and I knew they weren't good particularly on the passenger side so that saved another job. He also had a service which was due so it all adds up, but you can't neglect these things if you don't want trouble!. On the way I noticed a Covid test centre had been set up in one of the parks. Also one of the streets had signs up saying there was a 20mph speed limit due to COVID? How does that work then? Sounds like another hare brained idea of the city mayor.

Mandy what a clever idea for the teachers to do bingo by zoom with a sausage and chips night! Nice of them to include your son too. They seem a nice friendly lot and want everyone to be included. You are cracking on really well with the gingerbread house. I'm looking forward to seeing it once it is finished. You have some great ideas and make some lovely things.

Yes, Miss Marple is failing badly!! :-D I am intrigued to know where she goes at that time if she is still going up the close, as it is three quarters of an hour before her OH leaves for work in his water board van. What a strange time to be doing the garden with a floodlight on too. She can't seem to be outside without picking bits up off the drive like pine needles or tending some plant or other. When they go out and come back her eyes are looking for bits to go and pick up straightaway. She doesn't work or drive, so it is a mystery........but I'm still on the case!!

Is the digger bursting into life now with the new battery Mel? It is a good job your OH is so handy with mechanical things and can repair them.

Are you nicely shorn now AnnG? I was glad to get mine done although it hadn't grown as much as usual. I was wanting to take my camera up to the village churchyard today, as it has a row of lovely trees that have bright yellow leaves this time of the year, but it was tipping it down with rain by lunchtime and has rained almost continuously since. I bet the rain has knocked a lot of the leaves off now. :-(

Sorry to hear you have had one of those 'nights' Vera. You begin to wonder if it was worth going to bed don't you. I hope it means you will have a good night tonight and feel brighter tomorrow. Try not to do too much with your foot yet, you don't want to have to get the chariot out again do you, or is it just semi-retired at the moment.

I haven't even given much thought to Christmas yet, other than I want some lights for the garden. We were expecting we might be locked down again with the last restrictions so goodness knows what the position will be by Christmas. I must get my thinking cap on for pressies for OH. I know there are 2 books he wants!!

I hope you soon hear from the RAF Frank. It would be nice to get some help from them.

Missed you there Mandy! I wondered if less would go out for Christmas this year and thought it may mean quicker service, but they will probably have less staff in though. Good luck with your 'deep joy' tomorrow. :-D, my turn on Sunday. Yes rules like that do sound a bit silly, but maybe it is to be sure that too many don't cram together in small spaces now meetings are likely to be indoors? That's just a guess, but it would be handy if, as well as stating the rules, they explained the reason at the same time, as some are confusing.

I've done most of painting homework this afternoon. I decided to do an arrangement of a courgette, red onion and tomatoes. My word I am finding the tomatoes hard to do! Now I am thinking I haven't quite used the style and techniques we tried out in the session, so I can see the apples coming out tomorrow and me having another go! lol. :-D

I hope Jane feels a lot better after the transfusion. Not too long to wait for the baby now!

I have been busy today with HW. First I hoovered all through with the new hoover and then I had the bathroom deep cleaned.

Only went and got chips tonight and oh had home cooked scampi with his chips and I had two furthers and two eggs with mine.

No the digger is'nt going yet as its rained all day and he wants to make sure everything else is working properly first.

Good luck with the deep clean tomorrow Mandy. I put my story on while I am doing mine and it dos'nt seem to take so long. Not sure I will carry on with the talking tapes as they have gone up to £2.75 each. £10 a month was'nt too bad but I may just have one or two a month now. As oh is out in the kitchen more I don't have them on so much but I don't want to stop having them as the library may not come anymore and that would be sad.

Ann I wonder if Mrs O goes for a walk while there's no one about at that time in the morning or perhaps she sees a friend under the cover of darkness????? She sounds a bit weird to me. I suppose the only way to really find out where she goes would be to follow her!

Was it today Vera's hubby was taking their neighbour or is it tomorrow? Hope he dos'nt get cold sitting in the car waiting for her and its a good idea to take a drink with him and a bite to eat. I wonder if she will give him any petrol money like my mum did?

I was also hunting for my stubbing wires today as they were'nt where I thought they were. I had looked in the boxes in the shed and in the uti room on the shelf over the freezer where I used to keep them, themin the boxes in the lounge with all the ribbons and flowers and berries for the rings and they were'nt there either. I did find them in the end after asking if the fairies had borrowed them and they turned up a bit later in a trug with other things in that came in from the shed right over the other side of the lounge. Few........ I had visions of buying more and them not arriving till the 23rd Dec or something silly like that.

I am now ging to watch a bit of telly as oh has gone to bed now so I can watch what I want.

Hope those not sleeping well get a good night in tonight so feel fresher in the morning.

Love to Jane as always <3 <3

Night night see you all in the morning.

Morning All,

Not managed to sleep yet so I thought I may as well delete a few emails.

That was lucky you found your wires Mel. It's annoying when you give up, buy more and then soon after you find things. You have been busy cleaning and it's what I need to get stuck into next. I keep seeing cobwebs and the settees need moving and cleaning under and I have to soak our taps as the lime scale soon forms on them with our hard water.

I think I forgot to say before that in the city they have got rid of the black and white stripes on 2 of the pedestrian crossings and painted a floral pattern across the road instead. I thought how daft is that as they don't show up half as well as the black and white stripes and will be confusing for motorists and the partially sighted. Why are they spending money on daft things at a time like this then blaming cuts for what they aren't doing like filling more of the potholes.

I wonder if I will still be awake and whether Mrs O will be doing her rounds in the dark again. I did wonder if she went for a walk, but would have thought she would go when it's lighter as I see her having a chat with neighbours at times and there are no crowds here in the day to avoid. When I used to do my 3 mile walk around the village most mornings I used to wait till it was light as there were some odd follk around and the end of our close before the junction has no street lighting where you can't be seen.

Morning Ann and all,

I hope you managed to go back to bed and get a few hours sleep as that was a very early post.

Its dull and miserable this monring and we have four deer in the garden when I turned the kettle on. I have managed to snap three of them but the fourth is behind the bush up the garden.

May have to pop up the shop for more milk as asda did'nt deliver us any this week and must see if they have a card I can send to Ellen from us all.

Good morning all, not dressed yet, OH was awake earlyish and came in to get warm in my bed, stayed all of ten minutes, couldn't get warm made a mess of the bedclothes and went back to his bed so I had to get up and re-make the bed. Anyway made a cup of tea and stayed up.

Mel I am a bit confused by this sentence in your post "Only went and got chips tonight and oh had home cooked scampi with his chips and I had two furthers and two eggs with mine." What are furthers?

Annx I wonder you could keep your eyes open at that time of the morning. Hope you managed to sleep afterwards. I didn't sleep too badly, just wish I could sleep a whole night through for once.

Yesterday I dusted and polished through lounge and dining room while OH was still in bed. impossible to get the lounge looking tidy as he occupies the whole of the settee with all his stuff. Still it is clean. I also cleaned the cloakroom. I need to give the kitchen a good clean, my problem is that is is my right arm that is painful so cleaning hurts which puts me off a bit.

8 days now since his scan, hope we get the results soon.

It was a typo Anng. I meant to write furters ( Frankfurters) ssorry have always called them furters.

We call them 'Frankies' Mel :-D Haven't had any since March as veggie ones aren't offered online :-(

Morning all, I hope you are all ok.
I'm waiting on new reading specs which, fingers crossed, will finally sort out my double vision. Long story and I could weep :-|
So, note from mum - 'Island has been absent because reading is difficult'
Fingers crossed X
Thanks for the photos, Mel - fab garden, AnnG - virginia creeper? Isn't it glorious! I missed the photo peak of ours as we were away. Annx, love your painting, you're being put through your paces with techniques! great result though.

TTFN :-D

O lovely to see you Island. I thought we'd lost you!! <3 :-D :-D glad your back and hope the new glasses help with your double vision. That must be horrid to cope with. I think Frank had that at one time till he got new glasses so I hope they work ok.

Are you veggie? Just nosey.................. :-D

Been up to the post office and its only there from 9am till 11.15am so I am not ususally done before it goes. I went up there to get a card for Ellen David's wife from us all on GR and met the van leaving and managed to stop him and he said he had no braodband so could'nt do anything. Blast blast blast so I could'nt bank my check or get some money out.

Anyway went to the shop for some milk and got a nice card. Its David's funeral today. Sending love and wishes to Ellen at this sad time. <3

Got money out in the shop but it cost me £1.50.

Morning all

It’s pretty windy out there but it’s a much brighter day.

If I’d realised you were awake at that early hour, Ann, I would have come on for a chat. At the time you posted I was sitting up with a cuppa and my book. If you are late getting to sleep do you sleep later in the morning? I always seem to wake by 8 am whether I’ve had 6 hours or 2. I bet you were lying awake working out the mystery of Mrs O ;-). She is an odd one isn’t she. Your council sounds a bit odd as well. Why would anyone paint a floral design on a crossing?

I am sorry your arm is still so sore AnnG. I would say just leave the h/w, but I know myself that that’s easier said than done. I keep seeing jobs that need doing and trying to do a little bit before I have to rest again. OH is willing but just doesn’t see things that need doing. Yesterday he caught me cleaning the kitchen sink and said “I’d planned to clean the sinks on Friday”. I felt like screaming “but they’re dirty now!” but I bit my tongue. He’s out picking up my meds at the moment so I mustn’t moan about him too much.

Yes, Mel, OH did take neighbour to the hospital yesterday. They left at 3 pm and got back just after 6. He tells me he is doing the same today but leaving at 1 pm so he’ll be gone till at least 4 pm. The poor chap is still in ICU. They won’t release him from ICU till they know just what is wrong and then he will probably go to the haematology ward.

Good to see you posting Island. I hope the new glasses solve your eye problems.

I hope you are having a good day Frank and I hope too that our Jane is comfortable. Only a few more weeks before that little grandson arrives and she’ll get her first cuddle.

I wonder how fg’s daughter is?

David’s funeral will be starting shortly so I’ll be raising an imaginary glass to him. Thinking of Ellen and family <3

OH has just come back from town with my meds. He says as he has to go out at 1 pm and he doesn’t want an early lunch he will take something to eat with him and have it in the car while he is waiting so I had better go and make him up a lunch box. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

Good to see you Island. Do hope that the new glasses can sort out the double vision for you as that must be most disorientating. Yes the red leaves are glorious, sadly not on our fence but the house at the end of the road.

Oh I see Mel. furters, got you!
It must be very inconvenient to have to catch the post office before he dashes off. Glad you managed to get a card for David's ellen anyway.

Vera I have left the housework so far, only because I had to go round to the pharmacy, annoying as it is usually not very busy but today we were queueing outside for ten minutes, mainly because people can't read and were doing one out one in when they could actually have gone in before as 3 are allowed in the shop at a time. I also think people were waiting in the shop for their prescriptions. As mine was going to be 15 minutes I decided OH had waited in the car long enough so I shall go back tomorrow.
Your OH is very good not only is it a long time for him to have to wait around but the petrol will be costing a bit. Maybe though your neighbour will offer to help with that.


Yes. Thinking of David. R.I.P. David, we miss you.

The digger is going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These are the zebra crossings if you want to see them and the 2 they have done cost £23,500 and they plan to do more.

.https://news.leicester.gov.uk/news-articles/2020/september/colourful-crossings-link-city-centre-with-cultural-quarter/

Vera you were much the same then. I was still awake at 5.00am but must have gone to sleep soon after and slept till 8.30am ish. I had to get up then as my zoom photography course was this morning. The shower helped me come round but I feel quite zoned out now so am doing some paperwork. I know what you mean about OH's leaving jobs that need doing sooner as mine is the same. He fits his house jobs round everything else instead of doing them now and at times it holds me up from doing other jobs as well as his job needs to be done first.

AnnG the car bill came to just over £500 for service, new tyres and tracking, new wiper blades and the MOT. Still a lot cheaper than using the main agents though. You were busy with dusting and polishing, but we have to do things in small spurts these days with our accident prone limbs so don't overdo it.

Four deer in the garden at once Mel, is that a record? I know they eat everything but how lovely to see sights like that in your garden. That's good the digger is back in action again!!

Nice to hear from you Island and I hope the new specs help the double vision. I sometimes wonder how manage to paint as the cataracts cause me some doubling effect now. I think my paintbrushes have splits in the bristles when they actually don't!

I've booked 4 more zoom courses some starting soon. One is free and 2 hours.....How to make a fabric origami small gift box. The others are watercolour ones, one Christmas cards and two for landscapes, one using pens. I've also been asked to join an online workshop to do with the hospitals and doing the best for patients with extra funding they've been given for maternity and other patients. Not sure I could contribute to that as I haven't experienced how things are now to know what could help. I would say more wheelchairs are needed though and better signage inside.

I wish I'd done some washing now as the forecast here was rain and was wrong as we haven't had a drop.

Digger is'nt working as it has a major hydraulic oil leak and one of the hoses is also leaking oil. He's not good on hydraulics unfortunately.

I have been in the uti room most of the day clearing up my craft stuff and a cupboard that has'nt been touch for years since mum died. I thought I knew what was in it but I found a carrier bag full of bras and a plastic tub full of perm curlers so they have been thrown out now I have more room in there to put some of my stuff away instead of it being on the tops and the floor.

Ann I find those zebra crossing awful. People won't recognise they are crossings and there will be accidents. Fancy them spending all that money on something like that when they don't fill the pot holes in!! I think its disgusting. Is that where your council tax is going???????? The coureses sound good you will have to let us know how you get on and we shall want to see the results.

I have 33 names to put on the card to Ellen and hope I can fit them all on there.

Good morning all

It’s a bit grey out there but it looks dry and might brighten up in a while.

What a shame the digger still isn’t working Mel. Frustrating for your OH. Thanks for the recipe. We like muffins and they look tasty but there is a problem with these Chilean Guavas. As well as the stalk at the top each berry has a sharp, stiff little calyx at the bottom end. No recipe ever says what to do about this. I’ve checked out various chat boards and some people leave it on and some use a very sharp knife and cut it off. If you leave it then it’s like chewing horrid little bits of dead leaf, but it would take hours and hours to take it off all those tiny berries. I might try jam or jelly again as I can cook them to a pulp and either push them through a sieve or strain them through a jelly bag.

I’m all for brightening towns up but those pedestrian crossings are ridiculous Ann. Black and white stripes are universal and everyone knows what they mean so why change them? Isn’t it strange that councils can find money for projects like that but are cutting back on things like social care?

I spoke to the fracture clinic again yesterday and have an appointment at 1.30 when they might fit me with a shoe thing. That will be 3 days running OH has had to drive to the hospital and wait in the car park. The car will be able to go by itself soon - it’ll certainly know the way.

I’d better go and have a shower now. Have a good day everyone :-)

Morning Vera, morning all,

It's trying to brighten up here but I can see a few spots of rain on the window ,I was hoping to get washing out as there's a lovely blow.

What a waste of money painting those crossings ,it like here the council now want to spend four thousand pound to tidy up the mayor's chain ,it the photo of it it looked fine to me ,total waste of money .

Vera that's good your having the shoe I'm sure it will give you better support than your normal shoe and will help with the healing .
I looked up those berries and there was a recipe for Guarva Gin .

Mel what a shame about the digger and he's just spent money on the battery, is there anyone local who could help fix it .

Oh oh sun's trying to shine ,we were hoping to get the runner beans down today before the wind get stronger and blows the dead leaves everywhere, there's still a few little beans on them ,I have taken the old ones off for next year's seed.

Morning Vera Mandy and all,

Looks dry out there at the mo but I hav'nt been out yet and it dos'nt look too windy at the moment either.

Oh has sent off for a cd with things about the digger on it so we will see if it helps with the hydraulics. Llike a hand book thing.

Nothing planned for today but I shall probable go back in the uti room for a tidy up. I have an airer full of ironing that wants putting away too.

Will send the deer pics from yesterday. In some its very hard to see them all as they blend in so well with the plants and wall.

Hope you all slept well.

Vera I saw the gin recipe somewhere and that sounds a good idea to me you would'nt have to cut all the tops and tails off.

Good morning all, it has taken ages to get OH washed and dressed this morning. although he does most things himself he does need a bit of help occasionally with some things. I have had my breakfast and stripped his bed and washing is in the machine. I am waiting until he is settled so I can pop round the shop for my prescription. BBL

Morning all

Those crossing are wrong in so many ways Annx :-0
They may have an arts budget of course, which is good - if it benefits the community!
23k on a ghastly 1970s style 'crossing' is a disgrace - IMO
must check out the artist..

Looking forward to monday - specs day...

Dull and dank here. Enjoy! :-0