General Chat

annoying when you do that Island isn't it? Because if you then click on post date to get to the end you lose what you have written. If that happens to me (and I remember) I highlight and copy what I have written so that I can just paste it into a new dialogue box when I click on 'post date'. shame that your glasses are only half right, good with all the things that work but you need it all to work don't you? I just wish we could find a solution to OH's headaches and light sensitivity. So annoying for him that as soon as he starts watching any screen (TV, PC, Ipad etc ) he gets a blinding headache. I want him to get another call from the doc but he is dragging his feet a bit and when his head aches he just retires to bed.

Afternoon all

Dry, bright and windy at the moment. It was like that first thing so I struggled and hung out a load of washing only for it to pour with rain 10 minutes later :-|. OH had gone to buy some more compost before we are locked down again and with my foot and my back I couldn’t run out quickly to get it in so I had to leave it. It did get nice and blowy again so it was nearly dry when OH got it in at lunchtime for me.

It’s good that you managed a large size starter yesterday Frank. At the moment it’s probably better for you to have small meals but eat a bit more frequently. Keep on with your breathing exercises, you’re doing well with them and try to stay positive. Things will get better.

AnnG, I know T. has had bad headaches for quite a while now but is it there all the time or does it go off and then come back? The blinding headache and the light sensitivity do sound like a form of migraine. Stress is probably the major reason why people get migraines and he must be stressed with the worry of his back and his head. You also said he is not eating his normal amount of food and hunger is a big trigger too. I can well understand that you are very anxious but try not to fret too much. I am sure that anything really major would have shown up on a scan or in a blood test. You must look after yourself too. Rest and relax as much as you can.

Sorry to hear that your specs are still not right Island. I hope you can get them sorted soon.

Ann, your perspective homework turned out well. I also think the path could narrow more near the crest of the hill but don’t take any notice of me as I can't even see straight to cut a piece of paper. The house seems right and I love the look of the clouds. You asked about our Zoom family meetings. We stopped them when some of the family started to go back to work as 4 of them were often working on a Sunday when we had our get-together - 1 in a gym, 2 in hospitality and 1 in a care home. Maybe we’ll restart them.

The guava jelly was not a great success. It’s vaguely jelly like but still too sloppy and I can’t possibly boil it any longer. It should be stiff as a board as guavas are full of pectin, I added lemon juice and I used jam sugar which also contains pectin. I won’t bother with that recipe again as it was a lot of work and I only got one jar out of it. It smells wonderful and looks nice and clear. Mandy, I think the gin will be a nice pink colour. I’ve been shaking it up everyday and now it’s sitting in a cupboard in the garage where it’s cool and dark. I’ll bottle it around Christmas time.

I have Tesco arriving between 5 and 6 so I am sitting in a reclining chair with my feet up resting before the big wipe down. I saw today that Sainsbury’s are taking new online customers again so I’ve registered with them. It’ll give me another option if I can’t get a Tesco slot when I want one and they are quite close by for click and collect if I can’t book a home delivery.

I am going to have to get out of this chair to put the light on. Don’t you just hate it when the clocks go back. I think I’ll make a cuppa while I’m up.

Island it a nuisance about the new glasses I hope you can get them sorted out , nice you have an owl about ,it would be nice too if you could see it.

Ann I have only had the odd WW so must have missed that one with the embroidery in.
We have a big chest freezer in the shed that we use but we also have a small chest freezer too that we stock up over the winter ,we usually turn the small one off for the summer but this year we left it going as there was lots of things still in there .

AnnG would it help OH if he wore sunglasses to watch the television ,if he has glasses he wears all the time maybe a pair of clip on sunglasses over the top might help .

Shame the rain came down just after you'd hung out Vera ,you did better with your washing than I did ......my washing line came away from the wall, it pulled the screws out and the raw plugs that Colin used when he put it up ,I have a line you pullout and it retracts back .....the washing went down over the roses ,luckily the prop held it off the ground so I had to untangle a few bits from the rose bush ,I just hope there's no thorns stuck in the material of two of my tops and my nightie .
It's a pity the jelly hasn't set ,years ago you could buy little bottles of pectin to add to jams and jellies and I couldn't remember the name of it but its just come to me it was Certo.

Mandy, yes he does wear sunglasses to watch a TV and sometimes just listens with a shade (courtesy of BA) over his eyes and sometimes a golf cap which has a wide brim.

Vera I do keep telling him it seems like migraine and he should contact the doc for different medication.

Annx let us hope that is how it all works out. Maybe all the gardening I am doing will improve my health.

OH did get out in the garden with me this afternoon, he planted some white daffodils in a tub, put the lawn mower back in the shed and we started to protect the cordylines from frost but we got rained off. Later I planted up the violas in troughs.
Just had an email from our local garden centre to say they are open through lockdown but their restaurant is not.

I think irritation of the face nerves can cause light sensitivity and headaches as well as migraines can AnnG. I do wish they would hurry up and sort out what the problem is as I'm sure you both must too. It might help if he kept on ringing to speak to the doctor. Well done on filling your bin from your garden. Every bit helps tidy it up doesn't it.

What a shame the jelly was a bit of a disappointment Vera. I looked at my Piccalilli the other day and it seems to have cracks in it now so I think it must have set solid!!

Hubby is watching footie on the telly in the bedroom. He's watching the American Presidential election afterwards, but I shall have an early night.

Mandy well done both of you losing some weight, I have vowed not to order any biscuits till Christmas now as it's become a habit and I can't just have two! I rarely used to have any in the house or cake until the lockdown.

I have been on the go all day with different things. I first went I went to the PO and changed my old money for new money and bought some 2nd class stamps. Then for our scripts to the shop, masked up hand sanitiser on and only one person in there so in I went and they only had my scripts AGAIN. Came home and rang the docs after doing the chickens and dusting the bedroom and getting us some breakfast and a few more things and then rang and it was 12.45pm so they must have been at lunch as there was no reply.

Did our lunch and then rang again and in the end I had to go to the next village and pick his up from the doctors.

Then I cleaned the kitchen and got ready for tomorrows delivery and hung the washing out.

Then I fed the chickens again. Seem to have been on the go all day and just finished dinner and been readin gyour posts. I had'nt realised I had'nt been back on here.

Ann I don't want you to think I was picking fault in your lovely picture but it hit me as soon as I saw it. Hope you managed to have another little go at it.

Anng from what you are saying about T not being able to watch the telly or screen It sounds to me as though it is his eyes giving him the bad heads. Has he tried wearing sunglasses to see if it gives him any relief?

My wshing did'nt really dry so I brought it in.

We had a heavy hail shower this afternoon with rain too and the wind dropped as it got dark.

Mel re sunglasses for OH see my reply to Mandy below. You must have missed it.
AnnG I think though if it was facial nerves there would be other problems wouldn’t there?

I had'nt turned the page to read the other posts. Sorry I seem to have given Anng's T advise other have already mentioned.

Vera its a shame the jelly did'nt set properly, I wonder why? if you say they are full of pectin. I make a lot of my jams and jellies in the microwave as you can only do small amounts in there.

No problem Mel both good advice of course, doesn’t help him a lot unfortunately.

good morning all, sunny here so far, bet it doesn't last. Maybe I will be able to do a bit more tidying in the garden if it stays dry and once the brown bin is emptied. They are usually quite early with that. Got to finish wrapping the two Cordylines as we got rained off yesterday.

Good morning AnnG and all

Bucketing down here again, just for a change :-(.

You’re getting on with your garden AnnG. Ours is nowhere near ready for winter yet as I’ve effectively been out of action for 6 weeks and OH has only been able to do a bit now and then. We might well lose a few plants this year.

Tesco came half hour early yesterday. OH got all the stuff in and did all the heavy lifting for me but I managed to do all the wiping down. My back paid the price though.

No plans for today though I am hoping to manage a bit of ironing. Exciting life isn’t it?

Morning Anng and Vera and all,

Sunny then cloudy here this morning.

The big wipe down for me today and I have order quite a lot I think its 52 items and there are 5 subs a couple of which will be going back. They have sent quilted t rolls which bung our sytem up I have to keep to the Classic Clean ones.

All the washing I have done lately dos'nt need ironing as its jog bottoms and cardigans of mine and only a cople of T shirts and tops of mine.

Just have to wipe the work surfaces down with anti bac and I'm ready.

Exciting life we lead is'nt it?

Very wet under foot here as it rained heavily in the night. Not sure about going out into the garden as it is also cold only 7 degrees at the moment. I have just washed the kitchen floor, years since I did that but I haven't used the steamer yet that is OH's job and today seems to be a baddish day, yesterday was a good one but he is tired as for once he didn't sleep well last night.

coffee time BBL.

Its just been delivered so I am now about to start the big wipe down. See you later.

Afternoon all ,

Been very wet here this morning but its stopped now .

Went shopping in Aldi expecting it to be very busy , not at all ,when i walked in there was one person right down the bottom of the aisle ,nothing in short supply the shelves were well stocked .
I decided i would chance Tesco as we like the seeded bread from there again no queuing ,they have a red and green light system ,red you stop and wait to be let in , green walk straight in .
I bought my 2 turkey crowns while in there so they are in the freezer and also bought my sausages and bacon to do the pigs in blankets ,hoping that the family can come for Christmas but if not then we'll have Christmas dinner when we can meet again .
All wiped down and put away so now i'm worn out and will have a rest this afternoon .
Good luck with yours Mel .

Evening All,

No rain here and it was quite a pleasant start to the day, but it became very dull by mid afternoon.

I spent most of the morning trying to sort the problem with my courses and unexpected refunds. The current watercolour one has been reinstated for the last 2 lessons as a new course to sign up to, but would it let me do that....no! Kept saying I was already booked on it! Then I had the email yesterday saying I had refunds on courses that hadn't started yet that were with the same teacher, so I didn't know if they were cancelled as well. I rang them in the end and was surprised to get through, but the upshot was that she sorted the current course, put me through somewhere else to deal with the new refunds and they don't know what's going on either, but will find out and ring me by Friday!

Vera I get OH to lift the bags in and onto the draining board for me to wipe too and I perch on a wicker laundry basket to help my knees. I've had to accept losing a few plants aver the last few years as OH isn't as keen a gardener as me and he never waters things enough, waits till they are on their last legs before he notices.

No I didn't think you were being picky Mel as I had thought just the same! They have been quite rushed (for me) pictures to just show the techniques really and get some practice. I do enjoy doing stone walls though. Remember the one I did with the snow and a stone house wall? OH hung it on the wall in the porch. I'm glad you managed to get your OH's tablets, it's a worry when you have run out. I can't remember when the iron last came out here. We put tops and shirts on hangers to to dry outside. I think the duvet cover and pillow cases hardly see the iron now either.

Oh Mandy your washing all over the bushes like the gypsies used to dry theirs! I hope there were no thorns or pulled threads. At least the thorns stopped it slipping to the ground and getting dirty. Good idea to get the turkey crowns and other Christmas bits in now. I have put ours on the Christmas list. I've ordered a medium one so it doesn't take up too much freezer space so I hope they don't substitute it for one that feeds 10 or we will be in trouble!! lol. I've put the streaky bacon on the current list and we've already got a Christmas pud. Like you say, you could always have your Christmas dinner with the family another day. I said to OH if we get no turkey, we'll get one after Christmas and have our lunch then!

Sorry your OH is so tired AnnG. Hopefully he will sleep better tonight, I need to steam our floors......OH never has the towel with him when he washes his hands in the kitchen and is so messy dropping bits on the floor. Is it the red Cordylines you have to wrap? We had green ones on the front that grew much higher than the bungalow gutters and we never protected those.

Mandy good that Aldi we’re not crowded.

Annx sounds complicated with your courses, hope they sort it for you.

Yes it is the dark cordylines that need protecting, red, pink, purple. Ours are red. The green ones are hardy.

I have felt really down today, all of a sudden so much talk of Christmas. I love Christmas but can’t see what ours will be like this year. There doesn’t seem to be much improvement with OH, he tried contacting the surgery to get a phone call from the doc who phoned before but no pre planned phone consultations available until next week. He needs more antibiotics as well and no reply to that message either. To top it all because he didn’t sleep he was so irritable and that is me in the fireing line. And as he spent most of the day it is sooo lonely just sitting around our doing housework. Just seems no end to it.

Evening Annx and all

Today - comfy clothes, sofa, blanket (with doggie also snugged under) codeine.. I've been bugged again :-(
What a waste of a days sewing.

Will be thinking of Jane and family tomorrow <3

AnnG you nipped in as I was typing :-D

I thought I might as well get the crowns while they had them ,but if it's going to be just the two of us we'll probably just have a chicken or a piece of beef .
I've also decided to make a Christmas pudding so I bought all I needed for that today so had some extras to wipe down .

Yes you use to see the Gypsies washing out on the bushes ,we use to have a Gypsy lady come round the doors selling sprigs of lucky Heather .
Oh and the chap with his suitcase selling dusters ,dish cloths and others bits and pieces .

Son should pick up his car tomorrow, he's been using ours for work but dropped it off at ours so we could go shopping , he also dropped off a box with a new bicycle they have bought for Lewis for Christmas ,he said if it goes into their shed he's bound to see it .

The Ginger bread house is nearly done ,smarties on the roof and candy canes on the
sides ,I want to try and make some icicles to hang from the gables.
I got son to order me some Deco Mesh and some wire rings I thought I'd have a go at a couple of wreaths ,one for us and one for them .