General Chat

Island, shades of Larry Grayson there :-D :-D. Definitely more than a fresh breeze here, the poor roses that were having a final fling are scattering petals far and near.

ha ha, morning AnnG - you saw what I did there :-D :-D

A lot of our flowers are hanging on. Beautiful blue Nigella, albeit a bit spindly. Fuchsia, nasturtium - which self seeds and works it's way round the garden. I spotted some night scented stock yesterday which was a surprise as I sowed it elsewhere!
Salad leaves! but I think they might be bitter now.

Annx, the kale we found at the supermarket last year, I think was tops of the plant. Very nice too. I've bought some Kale x brussels sprout seeds to sow next spring - I thought they sounded interesting.
Stump work! I bought a set of punch needles earlier in the year but haven't had a go yet. Love your still life, I think you may have missed my post.

Morning Anng, Island and all,

Not saying Good as its definately not. We have gale force wind and lashing rain which woke me up this morning. I shall hope there's a bit of a slot so I can go round and feed the chickens. I know the bantams will be staying in their bedroom today as they hate the wind and there was'nt a big girl in sight when I looked out the bedroom window today.

As to Stump Work I did have a look at that this year. It looks as if it could get a bit addictive so I think I will stay away as I have enough craft things to get on with in my lifetime now.

I have to venture up the shop at some point this morning and deliver Em's eggs and then its back indoors for the rest of the day.

So Anng in lockdown again for 4 weeks. I think we all have to get used to this kind of thing.

Good morning to you all.

Yet another wet and windy morning. I don't envy anyone with dogs, who will have to be out excising them in this weather.

The Boild Onion Roll turned out to be a disaster. Through no fault of Ros, the water got inside the greaseproof paper and made the pudding a very wet gunge.She managed to rescue bit of it, but the rest went down the toilet.

I have woken up with more attacks this morning. It makes you feel as weak as a KITTEN. I have used my breathing excerise, and counting one to ten while taking deep breaths. I have also been blowing into a paper bag. Touch wood, at the moment I am coping with them. Ros has given me the half of tablet, that Ros has control of, I can have half a tablet three times a day.But BOY OH BOY do they makr me thirsty. I am on my THIRD bottle already this morning.

I have booked a table for lunch tomorrow, at one of Ros's favourites restsursnts. It will br good for me to get showered and dressed, and have something to look forward too. No doubt I will only have a starter, but if I fancy it I can have two. I don't think I will be able to eat a full Sunday Lunch.

I have no plans for today, as you can imagine. I will float between the lounge with the T.V. and the conservatory to read my book and cool off.

Conrad rang last night. The weather is fine out in Spain, with Temp around 27 degrees. Jan is flying out on Tuesday for a week or so, it will be nice for both of them, as Conrad hardly sees anyone during his day, and Jan likewise, living on her own in Devon. I think she sees Jo and Ella a few times a week, so she does have some company.

It's dark enough outside to have the lights on in the house. So not a lot to look forward to weather wise. It'd HAMMERING DOWN at the moment, Loud as anything, banging against the roof and windows of the conservatory.

Poor Ros had to go out to meet Martine, then onto Morrisons for the weekends odds and ends.

Last weekend Martine had to go the CLOSE DOWN their Caravan until next Spring. They won't know what to do with themselves through the winter months.

I hope Elizabeth, and all you lovely people have a nice weekend. Stay safe, I will perhaps pop back later this afternoon. xxxx

Hope Vera is OK, the last time we heard from her was on 27th I think (Tuesday when she had bad back pain. Hope you are OK Vera <3

Just had this from Flappergirl.

Hello Mel,
Just to say how very sad I was to learn of Jane's death last week. I didn't know Jane well but she sent me two lovely emails concerning my daughter which was so thoughtful of her and greatly appreciated.
Things here haven't been that brilliant! Daughter finally has an appointment in November, so hopefully we shall get some answers, but with the new lockdown who knows! Also my elderly but sprightly aunt who was in a home in Devon, died of Covid a week ago today. She was very old (95)! but even so, we did hope that in Devon she would be safe, but it was not to be.
Well, enough of my negativity!! I hope you all stay well and positive!

Afternoon All,

Rain and more rain here, but it looks a bit brighter now. My trousers today have legs a bit longer than mine so I had to hitch them up to cross the patio to get to the garage to fetch the lamb shanks from the freezer in there for tomorrow's lunch. OH has got his 'Max Wall' black long johns and long sleeved T shirt under his top clothes today for footie. He's gone south this week to keep away from Nottinghamshire that has gone up a tier. He's just rung to say there's hardly a soul there so can keep well away. No charge for these playing field matches so no money to handle either.

Island, apologies, I did miss your post somehow and thank you! :-) What are all these arty things you have lined up to do?

You sound a bit better despite more attacks Frank. That's good, keep doing the breathing and using a bag which will work too. Once you find this starting to work they will become less alarming.

Mel, have you had the email from Asda about our not being able to use our recurring slot over Christmas? (19th December to 2nd January). It may be different where you are. They have given us a link to book an ordinary slot over Christmas before 6th November when they will be open to anyone. I have managed to get one for 23rd December, but had a job to do the checkout (3 attempts) as I think a lot of people were trying to book as well. I think it gave me about 3 hours to book from when I opened the link. I think you are right about not trying too many new crafts! I remember mum's chickens hating the wind and rain. They would soon head for home!

A Blue Moon tonight. I wonder if it will be visible here and whether Gill will be watching!

I'd better start this painting if I'm to get it done before the next class! The teacher wants us to send her our efforts too! :-0

Sean Connery has died aged 90.

Had a heck of a morning. Firstly Em rang to say her youngest boy,s (Sam) teacher has covid so Sam is home for two weeks and to leave the eggs outside and she left the money in a little plastic bag for me which I threw on the car floor and won't touch for a week.

Went down the shop armed with a new wipe as I don't think they ever wipe the card machine. Cards were all wiped before I went out also my two shopping bags I use my purse and phone which I left in the car. Forgot the list so had to try and remember what was on it and I missed two things. One was 2 Rodda butter but the other was our scripts which means I have to go back down the shop for those as we are both low on meds.

Two children down the shop, one about 9 and her brother about 6 or 7 went in the shop to get their bits and then came out and walked right past another girl waiting to go in nearly brushing past her. They both had great gashes on their faces and necks. But blow me down they were back within a short time and went in the shop again and walked right past me while I was talking to our local Reader Shelia once again nearly touching us. You can quite see how after the children have gone back to school this dreadful virus has started to spread badly once again. When I drove past the house on the left they had all spiders web over the trees with a BIG spider in it and the children went in there so I presume they live there. There was also other things in the front garden but by that time I had driven past. When I got home I had to wipe down everything I had bought at the shop which I hav'nt done in past weeks but will certainly be doing now.

I used to do a pumpkin every year when I first moved here and put it out the front for the children to see as we had three smallish children next door then across the village hall car park. When we did the veg garden and grew pumkins we had a Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin out on our veg barrowo with a prize for the nearest right answer. You had to pay for your go and the money was put towards the bell fund. Our Reader Shelia won it and we gave her a bottle of wine. It was over a hundredweight.

Going to have a little rest now after our lunch as I think I may have eaten too much and now I feel dozy.

I forgot to say I too hope Vera is ok and I meant to pot that yesterday.

I also got a card for Jane's family which will be ent off as soon as I have put all the names on it. I hope the words are not a bit over the top but its the best one I could pick out of the three there.

Is that a second card for Jane's family Mel?

Evening all,

It was dry here first thing but then down came the rain it's been quite windy too.

Just waiting to hear from Boris but it looks like we'll have lock down again :-(

We went with son this morning to look at another car for him ,his car had the MOT this week but needs a few things doing to it so he decided to find another and found a nice red 7 seater Vauhall Zafira ,hopefully he will be able to pick it up middle of the week .

I do hope Vera's ok she did say her back was bad earlier in the week.

Frank you do sound a little brighter ,i hope the half a tablet you have has helped you a little , keep up the breathing and using the paper bag .
Have you tried the tapping technique where you tap and count ,i've heard that it has helped some people ,the idea that while you tap and count it takes your mind off the attack a little ,just give it a google .

Boring this waiting for Boris isn’t it

Oh Mel this virus is spreading everywhere now isn't it. I agree about the children. I think it will take much longer to bring the infection rate down this time with the schools and Unis still open. All very well the children being in a bubble at school, but once they are out of the school gates what happens. The Charnwood area here was low till the Uni opened, now it is high. The Police had to break up a street gathering in Nottingham the other night. The street was absolutely crowded with young people. Not all are disobeying, but too many are! Leicestershire has had 500 new cases in the last 24 hours. I'm glad they have brought the lockdown in before bonfire night and Diwali as I think a lot would still be gathering for those events. The self test sounds good and quick though and will help people isolate quickly and it means contacts be would traced quicker as well. Like you, the lockdown won't really affect us as we stayed locked down apart from OH's footie and the hairdresser visits! My hairdresser has already advertised he is open all day tomorrow!! I am hoping we will be able to get sunday lunches delivered again, but they may just do them to collect this time. After OH's only experience of that with them went badly wrong he won't be doing that! Did you get the Asda email I mentioned?

Thanks for passing on Flapper Girl's email. I hope her daughter's appointments can go ahead and what a shame for her aunt to reach age 95 and then die from Covid.

That's a quick swap of car for your son Mandy, but nice and roomy enough for them all now Lewis is getting bigger. OH is still wanting to change his but said he will hang on a bit now it's MOT'd and serviced. He won't be going far now either!!

Well I finished my painting. Some of it isn't as good as I would have liked, but the main purpose was to use perspective and the vanishing point and use some of the techniques she showed us and I think I have done that. I still have to paint a shaded box tomorrow to also send off to the teacher as well and then it all starts again on Monday!! I will send pics tomorrow.

I hope we hear from Vera tomorrow and that she is ok.

Better get to bed now.....late for me!

Morning all,

Bright here this morning but lots of clouds about that look really black .

Hope everyone had a good night's sleep .

Well here we go again with another lock down ,I bet the toilet rolls,pasta , rice and beans are flying off the shelf again why people think they will be in short supply goodness only knows .

Looking forward to seeing the next painting Ann , I had a Google for the punched embroidery, oh it looks good ,I think the girls would like to have a go at that .

Hope we hear from Vera today it's a bit worrying as it's a few days since we last heard from her .

Morning Mandy and all,

Gosh Ann you were a night owl last might. I had a look at the post about 11pm and nothing since Anng's post at 18.48pm so turned the pc off which is early for me.

Well thats another month gone and about 43 days to Christmas which I think is going to be a lean one this year. Pinch and a punch and all that. White rabbits and anything else you lot want to add.

It grey sky here this morning but not a great deal of wind which makes a change and not even a glimps of the yellow stuff.

Had another funny dream. I was walking across the road which was covered in leaves and I saw a little dirty navy blue bag with a drawstring so I picked it up and then saw another a bit bigger so picked that up too. Then I thought I saw someone watching me and spotted another one even smaller so picked that up and popped it im my pocket and walked away. I opened the bigget bag and it had 4 big thick gold coins in it and they were very dusty. put it back in my pocket and opened the next one to find a variety of amethyst cut round beads in it. Was pleased cos thats my birthstones and I love glass beads. Then I was with my mum who was at an auction sitting at the front and I told her what I had found but I never got to open the third and final bag to see what was in that. Mum told me she was buying the next house that was up for auction and we were all dressed in old fashioned clothes and then I woke up.

O and yes Ann we did get the email and have booked a slot for the 22nd Dec for delivery.

Well at least Asda are looking after their regulars. Out of interest I looked at slots on Tesco. Well thankfully I have slots booked for the 7th, 14th and 22nd November but every single slot os booked up to the 28th now. .  Yesterday the last slots were all vacant I suppose announcing a lockdown means even those who can actually get to the shop don't intend to. But nothing available after 28th November.

Managed to get all the cards I have made to my friend who sells them for charity, that was over 20 Christmas and about 30 birthday and other cards. OH drove but he drove my car which is not well sprung so found it painful over the bumps. He took to his bed when we got back and I did half an hour in the very damp garden and manged to almost fill the garden bin with stuff cut down so making a bit of progress there.

Thank you for your concern folks. I’ve just come on to say I’ve not had a good week but I’m OK. I hope to bbl today with a longer post.

*breathes sigh of relief* Pleased you are OK Vera but sorry you have had a bad week.