General Chat

Vera at one time I am sure garden centres were instructed to recycle plastic pots and Wyevale used to do so. I have not seen it happening at Dobbies though.

You've been out again Anng and had a nice time and more new plants, lovely.

Been in the garden pottering all afternoon and we had F & C for dinner which was very nice tonight. I had taken a photo of last weeks fish oh had and the man on the van gave us tonight meal for zilch. A lovely big piece of haddock this week and large chips and a nice piece of cod for me. It went down a treat and even better as I did'nt have to pay a 1p for it.

Oh came in a little while ago and said one of our swallows is back in his filter shed. He's only seen one so far.

The Blackbirds and searching for worms and coming back with great beak fulls so they have young and Robby and his wife are fedding babies too and have been for about 5 days and I keep forgetting to tell you. He still comes to my hand each morning but the Mrs dos'nt shes too shy.

I have tried to take a bit out of my grass today to see if I can get another one going. Ann has the same grass its the one that starts with H and varigated and really beautifull. It has filled its pot and I can't get it out. I shall have to cut the pot off of it.

I said the same as your OH too Mel. Most pandemics last quite a while and we are so lucky we have had vaccines available so quickly. A big concern to the experts in the future is Bird flu and it mutating. Even if you locked down with that, geese would bring it here.

Dobbies say they have crates put out at all their garden centres for people to put their old plant pots in AnnG. Can you send your 'helpers' here when they have done, they certainly get cracking to get things done for you don't they. :-) Oh those oil pastels are the most expensive ones I think. I'm not sure about using pastels in the future. One lady asked how to store the pictures we do as they smudge if you rub anything against them. The answer was that there is a spray you can use, but that will change the colours!!

Well my paperwork is nearly all in order now and bills paid, I need to go online to look at my tax as it is impossible to follow since savings interest stopped having tax deducted at source. I've already been given 3 different tax codes for this tax year. I've done 2 lots of washing and there's more to go out tomorrow. OH has his 2nd jab arranged for a week on Friday so we were pleased about that. Still haven't sorted the new printer or rung SKY, but am ready to do that tomorrow now.

It was lovely having lunch in the conservatory today and the Buzzard was circling over the back field. For the first time in our 21 years living here, the Magpies haven't built nests in the tall hedge in the field. We think it's because the farmer pulled half of the hedge down so he could see through it. Later we were marvelling at the amount of insects and small birds there were on the Blackthorn tree just over our bottom fence. It makes you realise that the farmers destroy so much food source now they shave the hedges right back every year.

Off to watch the Great Sewing Bee! We can't record anything now.

Watched the sewing bee and thought some of those dresses were lovely. Shame some did'nt finish. I like the one with the lace up front.

Going to try and watch Our Yorkshire Farm tonight as I could'nt find it on cath up last night and then the net went out so I went to bed.

Good morning all, a lovely morning here but still chilly 3 degrees.

Probably a visit to another garden centre this morning, hopefully one place not affected much by school holidays and we still both have plants we need/want.

Morning Anng and all,

Weather station is saying 17 degrees here at the mo and we have lovely sunshine and blue sky and no wind.

Slept in this morning as I got up for the loo in the light and it was all frosty outside so I went back to bed, fatal lept til 10.40am. Hate getting up that late and oh should have woken me but he did'nt.

Enjoy your day at the garden center Anng and tell us what you bought when you get home.

I gave a friend a lot of work last night on my way to the chips van. She's the one who sells plants at the crossroads on the way to the village. The one I bought the little violas off a a few weeks ago. She was asking for small pots and trays. People had left her a few larger pots when I have been past so I went in our stables and got her a box of about 30 x 6 packs and a 100 small pots. I did'nt count them but there was an awful lot of washing to do there. In the bottom of it were Surfina labels and other plant labels but I know Julie will wash them all and use them. When I dropped them off I knocked on the door and Aide came out and I did say to him there was a lot of work in that box. So I have recykled some of my pots and trays this week. There's still a stable full up there.

Afternoon to you all,

We have had word from the Doctor that Ros has a very BAD ULCERATED MOUTH. Could have been caused by the Covid injection. She has an appointments at the hospital tomorrow 9.00 am. Carolin has kindly offered to take her. Lets hope that they can treat it with something, as she is not very comfortable with it.


I have been staggering around, I am having a job to walk straight. Good job I always use my stick.

Mel, we have so many empty plastic flower pots, Ros has put them in BIG BLACK BAGS, and will be taking them to the BUS SHELTER, which is being used by the village for things they no longer want/use. I am sure someone will be pleased with them. Better than throwing them in the BLACK BIN.

It's turned very cloudy here, so I would expect rain sometime later.

I trust you are ll well, and sending you my best wishes.xxxx

It’s not a very nice day today. Only a few short spells of sunshine, lots of grey skies and showers and it’s not very warm at all. At the moment it’s 8 degrees but it feels a lot cooler in the breeze. No gardening today.

Poor Ros – an ulcerated mouth sounds very painful. I should think eating must be very difficult for her. I hope the hospital can do something to ease it. I haven’t heard of anyone having that sort of reaction to the jab. Has she reported it?

I am wondering what has happened to all our garden birds. Usually the feeder with the sunflower hearts is emptied in a day but I filled it up early on Monday morning and it is still full up and I’ve only seen collared doves or pigeons in the garden all week. Our neighbour had a company in on Monday and Tuesday, supposedly to clean her artificial grass but it’s not a very big lawn and I can’t believe it took 2 men 2 full days, so I think they may have had something else done out there as well. I can’t see into their garden but I don’t think they had any hedges or trees cut. Whatever they did seems to have frightened the birds away. I hope they come back.

In our local paper today there was a report of a cannabis “factory” being discovered in a nice house in town. It was found when the police called to speak to the owner about something else entirely. A couple of people have been arrested. One was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of a controlled drug and being involved in modern slavery offences. He is 17! It’s terrible but I also find it so sad to think what kind of background or upbringing that lad must have had for him to be involved in such serious crimes at that age.

I did have a laugh today. A friend comes round once a fortnight to collect my newspapers which go to a cats’ rehoming place to line litter trays. Since Covid she has rung in advance, I put the papers outside the garage and she picks them up from there. Today she rang the bell to ask if we eat spring onions. She had a delivery from Iceland this morning. She had ordered a bag of spring greens. They were out of stock so the picker had sent her a bunch of spring onions instead. They’ll go nicely with meat, potatoes and gravy won’t they?

I’ve just cleared up a load of papers from my desk in the study and at the bottom of the pile I found some banking papers clipped together with a note from OH which had a phone number and some instructions like “Listen to the options and press 0”. I have a vague recollection of OH sorting something out on the phone with this particular bank and then telling me that I had to call them separately even though it’s a joint account. This was weeks and weeks ago (I don’t tidy the desk very often, lol). Now I can’t remember what it was I was supposed to speak to them about and OH can’t remember either. I think we are both going doolally in our old age. It’s all gone back on the desk in the hope that one of us will remember why I was supposed to ring them.

OH is cooking tonight and has just put his head round the door to ask whether he can make bubble and squeak with mangetouts. I don’t think so! Dinner tonight could be interesting.

He could do stir fry with them Vera.
11 degrees here, been mostly sunny and a bit chilly, clouded over a bit now though.

Today we went to two garden centres. larger ones but very quiet and no restaurants open as neither has very big outside areas. I did manage to get a few more petunias for baskets and tubs, four osteospernum, one mini cucumber,some grass, some bedding geraniums and a few bits and pieces so plenty to keep me busy when they go back. They have just loaded the car ready for the dump tomorrow, I haven't asked yet if they got it all in. Daughter also bought loads of plants still tring to fill her new garden.

Terrible that people are turning to drugs to make money isn't it? It is too easy for them but I am pleased they were caught.

We've had a lot of stir fries lately AnnG. A minute or two ago I remembered some cabbage in the freezer that I want to get rid of. I bought a biggish bag last March when everyone was talking about food shortages during lockdown. I used a bit of it once and wasn't impressed but it might be OK mashed with some potato and fried up. He's gone to investigate the freezer.

You've got lots of plants there to keep you busy and you'll have a very colourful garden come the summer.

I do hope I will Vera I owe it to T to keep the flag flying.
T’s office looks a lot bigger since we put a smaller chair in there and moved one large set of plastic drawers. Still some tidying to do but the large stuff has mainly gone in the car for the tio.

I can't wait to see your garden this year Anng. It always looks so pretty and you have bought a nice selection of plants which you will enjoy putting around.

I hav'nt done much today. Done a bit on my family tree as I had a hint fromAncestry. Found a terracotta bowl that fits in one of my nice pottery pots so I am going to put a couple of violas in that and went up our local garage for some stuff for the digger. The switch came for that today and he got the digger started but iut did'nt sound too good. He thought it needed fresh fuel so he will try that and we could be back in business to do some serious digging.

It must be such a worry to the parents of these young lads who grow and sell drugs. When I had the pet shop years ago I had three indoor raised ponds with little places for plants around them. In the one by the door came up a pretty plant and it got about four foot tall with nice five lobed leaves. I used to serve a policeman with bird food and he said to me one day. "get rid of that plant behind your pond" it was a hemp plant which must have come out of the bird seed. I did'nt know!!

Afternoon All,

I slept well, woke early, then like you Mel didn't get up till after 10.00am! It's chilly here but we have sunny spells and the greenhouse was nice and cosy when I went to uncover my seeds. Plenty of french beans and the sweet peas are coming through (about 14) and a nasturtium is poking through now too and the Livingstone daisies. Not as many as you but I had a shedful of old plant pots when OH retired. I got rid of loads when he sorted the shed but drew the line at him throwing out the terracotta ones I brought from my last house. That lady will be busy now with all the pots you gave her. Soon you may be getting some back with some plants in them!!! :-D. I liked the mustard coloured dress on the Great Sewing Bee. One or two were really good though. It took me back to the 70s and making those tiered skirts with lace attached to the bottom of the hem!

You got some nice plants AnnG and your garden is going to look pretty this summer. It sounds like you are making space inside too. Do you have any plans for T's study?

I managed to catch my toe and trip over one of the rocks that sticks out at the bottom on a corner yesterday and stumbled forward quite a few steps, but at least didn't fall. I managed to wrench my left hip, knee and my back though so won't be doing much today.

I've noticed there is a hole in the T shirt I'm wearing so it is time to bin it I think. With not going out much I have been wearing out old things for the past year. :-)

We aren't in any rush to go anywhere yet. The children will be back at school next week which will mean less people around then, so we may do that early trip to a garden centre, the one that has the till outside under a canopy so you don't need to go inside to pay for plants. OH wants his second jab too before we think about going in shops.

Vera I have cooked leftover chopped up spring onions in risotto type meals or stews. I noticed the absence of birds today too. There was only the odd pigeon around. I thought it maybe since the Crows and Magpies were nesting elsewhere. They and the Crows are very protective of their young and will mob any birds of prey that come too close and I wondered if it was that they were not around to shoo the Buzzard off now as he has been circling every day this week.

Poor Ros having such a sore tongue Frank. I hope it will heal quickly. I must admit I still have some pain in the shoulder of the jabbed arm if I lift my arm high. It improves every day though.

I'm ringing SKY between 7pm -8pm as that is a less busy time apparently and there is more chance of getting through!!

Finch mix has Hemp in Mel so I wonder if that had dropped there somehow. I had a suspicious plant grow here with leaves that looked the shape of Acer leaves, but bigger and I got rid of it just in case! They regularly find a cannabis farm in the city somewhere, often these days in what were, perfectly nice areas. Just after I last visited my bank before it moved further into the city I read in the paper that the Police knocked on the door of a terraced house a few doors away to ask where an address was and they found 2 men bagging up drugs in the front room which opened onto the street. I think it must be a parent's worst nightmare, their child taking drugs.

We have chosen to go to garden centres this week because there are normally not many children in them and all four we have been to This week have not had many people in at all, the only one we had to queue to get out was Dobbies and there were four couples two tills, one queue well spaced on marked spots to stand. And people are very space aware, only a very few almost forgetting as they were engrossed in looking for things. I felt perfectly safe. At some stage once vaccinated I feel we have to risk assess trips out. Monday I have a hospital appointment and all being well with that visit I intend going to M& S to spend vouchers so I can then close
T’s M &S credit card, I am second card holder. Schools will have gone back and first excitement should be over.

I found a rather nice looking plant in our garden last year but I did wonder as it looked rather like ones I had seen on the news growing in people's attics or garages, so I googled and was horrified to find it was cannabis. It got pulled up very quickly. That must have been a seed dropped by a bird but I am so innocent that I had to google to find out what it was. I am sure any of my grandchildren could have told me immediately.

I am trying to make the effort to go into places a bit more. I have become very comfortable staying in, keeping contact with family on FaceTime and friends by text or phone but I think I need to get back to a more normal life. We have both had 2 jabs now and I always have masks, sanitiser, disposable gloves etc with us so we are as safe as we can be. It's not as though I'm planning to go to a Rave ;-). I've not braved Tesco's yet as I understand that is usually very busy but I have been in to Sainsbury's and the Co-op at their least busy times and I think we will try a garden centre next week.

I think your schools must have different hols to ours Ann and AnnG. Ours have been back for several days.

Vera yes ours seemed to be out of sync with other areas,mthey go back next Monday..

I have not been to a supermarket at all since early November. I have only been to garden centres until we went to Curry’s and then to a small DIY shop next door called proper job. Again almost empty us and two or three others. Having to be in town will be a bit of a shock. But, like you say Vera take all precautions and hopefully I will be fine.

I hav'nt been to a supermarket since last March. The only places I have been are the garage in Hatherleigh and the garage in Holsworthy. Both are not near any shops although the one in Holsworthy has M & S stuff in it food wise.

Dinner was lovely, homemade meat pie with onion and carrot in it and spring greens and roast pots and a bit of cauli left over from the day before yesterday.

Not done a great deal today but feel very tired tonight. I did clean out the chickens nest box this morning and clean the loo. Exciting times I am having....... just dying to get up the border again but the cold wind is keeping me down here.

Hope Island is starting to feel better now and can get out in her garden again soon.

I do so feel for poor Ros with that very sore mouth I hope they can do something for her to make it more comfortable. I have had mouth ulcers but never on my tongue only on my gums.

I think living within a couple of miles of an area that has been in constant lockdown from the start until recently, gives you a very different perspective of the risk. The demographics here and attitude to vaccines and mixing by some people haven't helped us feel safe. There have been over 7,000 deaths just in our small district of the county yet some whole cities have had less than 1000 deaths. Still numbers are falling dramatically so it is time to proceed with caution.

I think that's the best way Vera, to go well protected and at quiet times, at least at first. It used to be remember keys and purse or wallet when we went out, then we added phone. now it is mask etc too! I just had a picture in my head of all of us on here at a Rave!! lol. Yes, the schools here always have different half term dates to Mandy's grandchildren too. The next county, Warwickshire, is different to here which is a nuisance for parents who have school age children in both counties.

I got through to SKY and, after trying a few things, they said we need an engineer so that is booked. They have only recently started visiting, the engineer will wear PPE including his feet, us to open the doors and windows when he arrives, wear masks and keep our distance. She said he would replace the box there and then if needed and would sanitise everything he had touched before he left. If people don't socially distance the engineer will just leave the premises. which seems fair enough. I then got our SKY package reviewed and with the saving could add BT Sports for OH for no more than we pay now. Well you'd think all his Christmases had come he was so delighted! So much so he has promised a trip to the jewellers I like to get me a ring or something once we are out and about more. :-D

Dinner sounded very nice and tasty Mel. I've not done much either. We sat in the conservatory chatting ages this afternoon. I did dust one of the bedrooms though and did another load of washing. Like you we haven't been in a supermarket since March last year.

I wonder how Gill is doing and Sandra with her flat. No Mandy today?

Better go to bed now. Early start for OH tomorrow with a zoom meeting, so I may be up earlier.

Yes Ann, that was what I meant by doing our own risk assessments. Yours will be taking a lot more than some into account. But we have local problems too, for I think probably the same demographic reason. One large part of the city of Gloucester Is much worse than others but hopefully it is improving. One day this week there was only one person with covid in hospital and another day only two which is a great improvement. However, my worry is not how many in hospital but how many asymptomatic walking round with it but I guess that is not going to improve for a while until more are vaccinated.


Good morning all, dump for daughter and shopping delivery for me. I must have been walking around too much this week as one of my 'big' toes is really tender. I am going to have to see if I can get back with my chiropodist.