General Chat

Afternoon all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILL.

I thought I had better pop in, or you will be worried.

Yet another terrible night. Since damaging my ribs, the bruising is coming out. and is very painful. Ros has bandaged my RIBS with two Crepe bandages. She has done them as tight as she can, but not tight enough for me, I am still feeling a lot of discomfort. I rang 111 this morning, but really they weren't a lot of help. I am taking pain killers every four hours.

Ros has prepared the meal for tonight, even though I am not eating a great deal lately. I will eat what I can, and hope she doesn't overload my plate.

Sorry I am not good company, and not reading the posts.

Hope you areal well, and stay safe. xxxx

Afternoon All,

Nice and sunny now after a really sharp frost this morning. Mr O opposite was back at work in his big van this morning. His headlights and floodlight made it bright daylight in the bedroom just gone 7.00am while he was clearing his windscreen. Even one of our next door neighbours has had an outside light put up on the side of her bungalow overlooking our patio and conservatory last week. It's a good idea as it is a narrow path down the side to her front gate and if it had been 3 feet further down the side it would have shone on the side of our garage instead of blinding us as we step out of the conservatory or sit in there. With us having no street lights they are so bright these days, but as OH says it will at least deter anyone from breaking into our place too.

<3 <3 :-D HAPPY BIRTHDAY GILL :-D <3 <3 I hope you are enjoying your 80s CD and a bit of bopping to the music! It's good there was a song on it you hadn't got. I bet Sandra will have her eye on the choccies once you open them.

Yes Mel, I was painting this morning from 9.00am, so no lying in bed! We had to simplify a scene and only use 3-4 colours and our pens. Now we have to finish it and add what we wish. I had to lean my laptop back and put books under the front edge to keep the camera on as it won't come on if the lid is open too far but at least it worked like that.

Keep your hopes up AnnG. FIL broke his back turning over in bed in his 90s and could hardly move for ages and had to use a walker. Painkillers hardly helped, but eventually he recovered enough to be able to push MIL around in a wheelchair when she needed it. He'll be pleased to get the new charger for his phone and will be able to keep in touch better then.

Suspenders EOS, :-0 ! You need some nice roomy bloomers on to keep you warm this weather.

Mind your back moving the furniture out Vera. How is it and how is your foot now?Your lounge will have a nice new look with a new sofa and floor. I'm itching to get some sealed window units replaced and more floors done. Maybe once I get vaccinated. :-)

I see Boris is doing an announcement later about what happens after this lockdown and Christmas. OH can't watch as he is in a meeting so I'd better pay attention, as he will be asking me what was said.

I'd better get this fabric stiffened next for the origami box session tomorrow. First I have to choose the material.

We're under a Long Tailed Tit attack and we were yesterday too.

O yes EOS you will need big bloomers to keep you warm when to take out the broomstick. Strippy stocking won't do without a nice warm pair of draws. Happy flying and stay safe.

I want to wash my hair but have to shut the chickens in first so I don't go out with damp hair. Do you think they are going in when they have had a nice bright day????? not on your nelly. May have to get my magic wand out and cast a spell on them. :-D

Spag bol tonight as long as I can find a tinned of chopped tomatoes in the depths of the tin cupboard and some tom puree.

We had a Starling attack earlier Mel, Not as polite or pretty as your long Tailed Tits though. I wish some of those would visit us. The Jackdaws suddenly vanished a couple of weeks ago, so the Starlings and Magpies have taken over their trees in the field.

What a game I had doing the PVA stiffening of the cloth for tomorrow. The PVA was perfect, but with it being old, the plastic bottle had gone brittle and it SPLIT. Fancy a bottle not outliving the contents. Luckily I had put newspaper down where I was working and I managed to mix enough for what I wanted. The bottle is in the bin now. I did try putting the clingy plastic stuff round it, but it still oozed and the bottle couldn't be squeezed with being so brittle. I must order some more.

I could just imagine that brittle bottle Ann. You did'nt leave it in the sun did you?

I had a bottle that the PVA went solid in the bottle. I was so annoyed at the time a sI needed some right then. I did find another bottle so it was ok. I now have about three bottles. Have you tried watering it down a bit and doing some string baubles by winding the soaked string around some balloons not fully blown up. I did some eggs like that for easter.

Good morning a grey day but 11 degrees out there, strange weather.

Well who knows what the day will bring.

Ooh Ann that could have been nasty if you had not had something protective under the bottle. Maybe I ought to check any old bottles I have lying around.

Morning Anng and all,

Miserable here grey sky and it all looks wet out there. 9 degrees here.

My stupid toothbrush has decided to charge thank goodness. I have used it twice now with it flat I shall be pleased to have a good deep clean with it now its charging.

As to the glue bottles, you could keep them in one of those foil carton things the ready meals come in. I do that with my Jeyes Fluid in the shed as I had one of those cans leak in the old shed. Made an awful mess.

Must let the chickens out.

Good morning AnnG, Mel and all

Same sort of day here - grey, a bit wet and about 9 degrees. I haven’t any special plans for today; my social diary is not exactly full at the moment, and my back is preventing me doing anything much in the garden. It’s not got any worse but it’s not good much better either.

I hope OH is more comfortable and cheerful when he phones you AnnG and you get some news about treatment. Keep your chin up.

As our friends over the water say, have a nice day :-)

Good morning all,

I had a good nights sleep last night for a change, but this morning my ribs a really sore. The BRUISE looks like Ros has attacked me with a "BASE BALL BAT"

I managed a shower this morning and washed my hair. Ros decided to cut my hair while it was still wet , that's the first haircut in months.

Yes it's a horrible, dull day here also. Ros isn't going out with Carolyn until 2.00 pm today, as she has something on this morning. They will only go to Tesco for odds and ends.

Lamb chops for dinner tonight. with Roasts and veg. We haven't had those for ages. So looking forward to them.

I have been trying to work out how to celebrate my B'Day. NOT Knowing everywhere will be open, I don't know if I should try to book a table now, in case they will be open and the will be a rush on bookings. especially as it's Christmas Week.

Conrad hopes he can get back to Devon during December. He and Jan are going to Kerry's for Christmas day and Boxing day. They will then go back to Deven. We are invited to Kerry's for Christmas day, so don't know what we will do Boxing Day. If John and Carolyn are free, we might be able to have lunch and the afternoon with them. I'm not sure if they are away for Christmas anyway. I will get Ros to ask Carolyn today.

I think I will get a coffee and toast. See you later. xxxx

Done the big wipe down and hoovered the kitchen and diner and cleaned the little loo. Now I am about to tackle the ironing and I think that will be it for today.

Changed the bed and washed the bedding, did half an hour in the garden then wrote a few more Christmas cards. OH phoned he was disappointed with himself as he failed to walk without 'wobbling' this afternoon. He wants so much to come home but knows he can't while he is not safe walking. Then he has had a hernia for about 10 years, when he went to see the consultant about it he was told he didn't need an operation but the doctor spotted that it was swollen today so is going to have another look tomorrow. Can anything else happen to his poor body? I suppose one thing aggravates another but I felt so sorry for him, he was really down and he had been so bright this morning as he had a good nights sleep.

I’m pleased you had a good night Frank. I had a better night too until I was woken at 7 am by one of those silent phone calls :-|. Will Conrad have to self isolate when he comes back to Devon? My cousin lived in Spain for about 15 years and has just returned to this country and I believe she and her OH had to self isolate for 2 weeks. We are still hoping to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day with my daughter and granddaughter and also to see my brother either just before or just after Christmas as it looks as though we will be able to mix a little more for a few days but, much as I am desperate to see my son and family, we won’t risk travelling to Yorkshire. There are more cases in his area than here and more people in his house as well, including the granddaughter who is working in a care home.

You’ve been busy this morning Mel. Good luck with the ironing. I hate that job so I am very careful how I hang and dry things so they don’t need ironing. From 3 big wash loads yesterday all I have to iron are 3 pillowcases and there is 1 pair of trousers that could do with a bit of a press.

I did a couple of small jobs and then sorted out the rest of the geraniums that OH had put in the garage and cleared a couple of troughs of dead plants. Since then I’ve been resting my back and foot again. Now I am trying to decide what to do with some cod I took out of the freezer this morning. I’ll probably stick a sauce of some sort on it; it’s a toss up between cheese, tomato or parsley.

Did you see on the TV news the dog that got an animal medal for bravery in Afghanistan? It was a Belgian Malevois and daughter’s puppy is a cross between that breed and a German Shepherd. It gave us an idea of what she will look like when she is fully grown.

Time for a cuppa now I think. I might even manage to force down a slice of cake ;-)

EDIT. You posted while I was typing AnnG. Sorry to hear OH has had a disappointing day but he is bound to have good times and less good times. If his hernia gets fixed that will be one less thing to worry about. At the moment it must feel like one thing after another but the human body is very resilient and your OH had been healthy and active until all this happened and that will make it easier for him to get back to some sort of normal, even if it takes a long while. As it says in the hymn, the best I can wish you is “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” <3

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

They really are having a good look at oh this tme around Anng. If T gets the hernia done that will be one thing out of the way and may help with the constipation. I hope he has better news to tell you tomorrow. Have they said any more about the other thing he was supposed to go in for? You know.

Good you had a better nights sleep Frank and you must feel better for it. How do the ribs feel today? Are they easing up at all? apart from the bruising coming out?

Vera I did'nt get around to the ironing in the end but it will still be there tomorrow!! :-S

I did get dinner ready. We are going to have a toad in the hole tonight.

Evening All,

It's been quite bright and sunny today. Another early start doing the brush pen Christmas card ideas this morning, then the free origami fabric ring box. The latter didn't work out well as the teacher was folding away and didn't tell us whether we should have the outside fabric up or down so half of us were doing out boxes inside out. Some gave up when we were trying to do the corners and no way would pins go through my material after the soaking in PVA mix!! The lid on mine wouldn't close as the material was just too thick so I tucked it inside and made an open box. I told OH I was throwing it away, but he went and rescued it and has put it in one of his drawers!! He's a softy for keeping my rejects! lol.

Ann your OH must expect a not so good day to follow a good one. His muscles will be weak and need a rest to repair after a good day. It's how they will get stronger. It does seem they are now looking to do what they can for him which is good. You have got on well again today. I have been sorting my cards for abroad today. I think you can pay postage online and print something off, but will check tomorrow. It would save me going in the post office which would good. There were over 460 new cases in our district in the past week and when a new restaurant opened in the city a few days ago it said people were queuing at 7.00am and forming a huge queue, no social distancing judging by the photos.

So old 'rainbow ribs' sounds a bit better today Frank! Just take extra care while you are still healing. I bet you feel better for your shower and haircut.

Good idea to stand leaky bottles in those foil containers Mel, I will remember that tip. It had been in a cupboard inside since I bought it, so it wasn't the sun. I know the sun destroys any plastic in the greenhouse. I came across some leaked substances while we cleared a bit of shelf in the garage this afternoon.

Those Belgian Malinois are very much like an Alsation in looks aren;t they Vera, both good guards too. I still have 4 Geraniums outside, so must see if I can pot them up and put them in the greenhouse.

An early night for me tonight after 2 early morning starts. Hopefully a later start tomorrow.

Thank you for your wish Vera.
Mel they knew nothing about the prostate op so said to leave it for now.
Annx yes you are right I told him it was probably after working hard yesterday.
I did manage to email him and get him to reply to say he read it.
I wonder what they will do about the hernia as when the doctor told daughter about the lesion on his lung they thought an op to take a biopsy would be too much for him.

good morning all raining here, not cold though. didn't sleep that well last night Kept waking up and dreaming. Can't remember the dreams though.

Morning Anng and all,


Sorry you did'nt sleep that well you must have had T on your mind and sorry too that you have a miserable day as we have sunshine, blue sky with the cloudsof white and grey. Perhaps its taking a bit longer to get to you.

Deer are in the garden this morningup by the border, one sitting in the sun and the other standing up. Can't see the third but it may be behind on of the shrubs. There were 14 pigeons up the back field when I looked out when I woke up and two squirrels running about and two female pheasents on the chicken pen fence looking to see if the girls had left them anything.

Right lets get the cuppa down the neck and get going.

Morning Mel, no sun here yet. still dark and gloomy and temp dropped to 7 degrees (was 10).

Aawe OH said when he phoned he is the only one left in his part of the ward now. Must be horrible seeing everyone going home, and lonely too.

MORNING ALL,

Who's the lucky one then, MEL. We have dark sky and rain. It looks like it's here to stay.

I have been thinking about Christmas arrangements. The way things stand, we will be on our own, unless Harvey and Julia invite us there. Jan's daughter KERRY is having JAN and CONRAD, JO and ELLA, and Marks Mum and Partner. IF we go for Christmas dinner. It will mean FIVE HOUSEHOLDS MIXING. The latest is the MAXIMUM of THREE HOUSEHOLDS MIXING. It will mean that TWO of the households will have to CANCEL. I will have to have a word with the family to see what they think.

Another horrible night with the pain from the ribs. Evertime you turn over it wakes you up. and seems to take ages to get comfortable again. :-P :-P.

Fish man tonight, so only have to sort something for Ros, as she won't eat FISH.

It's almost DARK OUTSIDE, so all the table lights are on. I hope it's better weather where you are. Stay safe, and ENJOY your day. xxxx



Had a problem with the lights last night. One of the bulbs in the down fighter in the kitchen was lpose, and kept flashing. Finally it went out and tripped the overload switch. I had to call Jonathan out to get to the fuse box and reset it. There's no fun in getting old, and not being able o do simple things like getting the steps and resetting the trip.