General Chat

Well sorry about dashing off but 2 phone calls and someone having a meltdown(no not me)
Honestly, just because i'm retired and home all day doesn't mean, i'm free to sort out everyone elses problems does it? I've sorted today, an electricity bill, a gas meter not taking readings, looking up plants online for someone which took ages and how to locate a phone that has been lost with a flat battery!

In between that, I have taken in two bins, fought off the midges, stripped and remade my bed, 2 loads of washing and I haven't had anything to eat yet or my shower :-(

Why do family members get so annoyed when you cant answer your phone because you are either in the bathroom or in the middle of doing something that prevents you from answering? They seem to think you are available 24/7 and never mind I do have a life too.

Gosh,I def need to get my shower to feel refreshed and then made a sandwich before I keel over and a good strong coffee too.

I mean, I spent ages looking up a ground cover plant for someone, then located a local garden centre where it could be purchased. person went and when they discovered the price refused to pay that much. So they told me they had gone online and found it a lot cheaper and its getting delivered in 2 days free of charge!!

So why couldn't they had done this themselves in the first place? Because they make out they are a lot busier than me and I have all this spare time.

Right rant over as I can feel me BP rising far too high.
Joan hope you and hubby are ok and your weather has enabled you to get in the garden.

AnnG, Just Ginnie and Linda, hope all's well with you all today.

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning all.
Well its a bit nippy outside but no wind so that can only mean one thing at this time of year.....Midges grrrr.

Daughter put out the bins late last night and came in saying the midges were bad and she had been bitten.

Thats the thing here you cant win. In summer no wind=midges.

No sign of the heat wave we were promised. Its misty out to sea so a chill in the air.

We were hoping to have tea alfresco but no chance of that.

Back later, sorry need to go.

We have several Face book groups here where you can give things away, ask for them or buy and sell things cheaply.
I have done quite well this week. The projectionists in the cinema want a bench making in the projection room, so I asked on the sites if anyone had an off cut of kitchen worktop we could have as we only needed 1.25 metres and if you buy it new, it only comes in much longer lengths. Someone did, so that was sorted.
I also got a really good office chair for free. My daughter is working from home in our study and we have a good chair, but now son in law is here more or less full time, he was using the good chair as he has a bad back and she was using a smaller one which came from Eves bedroom in London. It isn’t very good, so I was pleased to pick up this free chair to use until they finally move into their own house.

Well, we have found new homes for all 4 carpets :-D
Daughter advertised on a local group my neighbour told me about and FB and today, all the carpets are going to new homes.

So chuffed we have helped 3 people and they are not going to landfill and i dont have to pay to get them taken away.

Always feels good knowing that the person in need has been helped for free.

Florence in the hebrides

Years ago, when I lived in a "larger" household, yorkshire puddings were served with every roast not just beef as the kids loved them.

Once I changed the Sunday menu and made a chicken lasagne, oh my thought WW3 was going to break out! I, just fancied doing something different but the following Sunday, the usual roast was cooked else I would have had a riot on me hands lol

Well the hot pot is all ready and smells fab. I tasted a wee spoonful and its very tasty, have to say, although daughter isn't sure as its a new dish and she def doesnt like change. She may just eat a chicken breast and some sliced potato!

I just checked on the new" ice cream" but not quite set yet, another wee while yet.

Just realised, my computer says the temp here is 22 degrees :-D :-D :-D 12 morelike ;-)

Your strawberry experiment sounds nice Florence. It is really chilly here today, a huge change from yesterday. We normally have chicken dinner on Sunday as that is what Esme demands, but we are having a change, so are having tofu and mushroom pad Thai. It has lots of chilli in it, so Esme won’t have that. I have some cooked chicken breast, so I can knock her up a pretend chicken dinner in no time with just a frozen Yorkshire pud, peas and gravy, she doesn’t like mash, so won’t miss that

Afternoon chit chatters.

I hope you enjoyed your BBQ Linda and the girls sound like they had a lovely time in the pool and their mum too.

The wind has finally abated but still grey and gloomy here, however we ventured outside and gave the plants a good watering so that should keep them growing. I'm seeing some petunias have bloomed, purple ones and they look lovely.

I decided to christen my Hot Pot dish today and make a chicken hotpot. It took ages to heat up as it was so big so the veg although in small pieces took ages to soften.
Added stock and a tin of chopped tomatoes, some herbs, black pepper, Worcester sauce. I have now added 2 chicken breasts and transferred to the oven.

Will leave 3/4 hour before adding the sliced potato on top for another 45 minutes.

Cant wait to try it later.

As daughter bought a glut of things, I realised the strawberries were already going a bit soft but we decided to experiment. I had 3/4 tin of evaporated milk needing to be used so poured that into a blender with a load of chopped strawberries. Blended for a minute, poured into a plastic dish with a lid and its now in the freezer,.

Daughter also did one with a banana and some raspberries and lactose free milk.

Cant wait to see later what the concoctions will taste like.

A very different Sunday tea for a change.

Hope everyone having a peaceful, sunny Sunday.

Florence in the hebrides :-D

Well next week, we are promised a heatwave up here... watch this space lol

Pigs might fly too :-D :-D :-D

Your weather sounds dreadful Florence. It has been a lovely day here. It was really sunny this morning and was supposed to get up to 22 degrees, so we got the the paddling pool out. It is the type where an adult can lie down in it and the side come up to just below my knee.
We don’t have an outside tap, but have a hosepipe which attaches to the tap in the utility room.We filled it with hot water, so it was like a hot tub. Both girls have been in it for much of the day. When Esme went to have a rest in her bed, my daughter was stretched out in it reading a book.
The only problem is emptying the thing. It does have a plug in the bottom, but the weight of the water means it doesn’t run out. We get a couple of large buckets and pour most of the water on the plants in the borders

We decided to have a bbq, so it was nice to have spent most of the day in the garden.
The next couple of days are supposed to be cloudy and cooler, so I am pleased we made the most if today.

Morning all and what a day!

I didn't sleep well at all and got up around 7.30. Daughter left the washing out last night as it was a nice evening but oh my.....

I opened the blinds to find a force 8 gale blowing, clothes lying on the grass etc. Not a happy bunny. It was also raining/misty low cloud.

Anyway, I quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed my stick and ventured outside. Crikey, was awful. I was trying to snatch the clothes off asap but getting blown all over by the wind.

Finally got back in the safety of my kitchen and looked like a drowned rat!

So clothes had to go in the dryer, so much for "free wind" to dry them.

Decided to pull out a family tree I started long ago to see if I can fill in some gaps.
This is my grandmothers side of the family and its another huge one as 1 had 14 children!! Perfect day for it and I am def not venturing outside again. Only upside is, the plants have been watered as long as there are all in one piece.

Hope everyone is well and ok today.

As for our meal tonight....choices choices so much in the fridge to choose from lol

Florence in the hebrides

Ah well, all became clear once she unpacked. 24 tins of pepsi because there was a deal! ,2 bits of reduced sirloin but still £6 each. Various gluten free stuff that was sooo expensive, chocs for a friend £5 and many other little things that added up to a hefty bill.

So its use up week from now on as I have a salad drawer of a large sweet potato, carrots, swede, onions red and white, cucumber, lettuce, red and white potatoes so a veggie soup/soup needed and a green pepper.

Oh the lenor for 83 washes was £4.75 as I was completely out of it. 2 packs of crumpets which I didn't need, so they went in the freezer. Also I needed batteries for the door bell and they were 4 for £7.50! So you can see how the bill went up.

Yes we shall now be living off the fridge/freezer and cupboards for as long as possible as me purse is empty as they say!

A nice evening here but windy but daughter got all her clothes washed and they are on the line drying nicely and that will save the dryer.

Florence in the hebrides

Oh my goodness Florence :-0
I can't remember when I last spent that much in Tesco.
I hope you receive some useful items.

We are on a 'use it up' drive and have had some 'interesting' meals this week. We still had eggs and milk left, so all manner of things have surfaced from the depths of the chest freezer or back of the cupboard, but we have managed to clear and eat some items that had been hanging around for a while.
We need shopping now, as we are all-but out of bread and have no fresh veg. apart from one enormous sweet potato and a few small ordinary ones.
I will expect to pay under £50 though.

Enjoy your coffee Linda :-D
Daughter tel from Tesco and I gave her a small list of essentials. Tf some money and then she says," mum I need more money its gonna be over £100!!!"

It was £133.00 and goodness knows what she has bought, my mind boggles.

I always say, "do we need it or do you just want it?" There is a difference.
I guess for my Tesco order next Saturday, it will be quite a lot cheaper though.

So waiting patiently!

Florence in the hebrides

Your daughter will be please d to get home Florence, hospital beds are not the best to sleep in.

I am sitting in the garden enjoying the peace while I have a coffee. Esme will be home in an hour and it is half term next week- Oh Joy :-( :-( :-(

Morning all.
Im up early today as daughter is coming home and her lovely friend offered to bring her back from hospital. She's fine and looking forward to eating something more than custard and clear soup bless her.

Its overcast here and looks like a heavy day so think it's a day indoors.
I boxed up a load of trinkets yesterday and also threw out a few things so less to put back.

So off to the shower etc and then basket of ironing needs my attention.

Have a good day all

Florence in the hebrides

Edit: Roll on next week as looks like we are getting brilliant weather for a change!

Good afternoon all
Has my neighbour pop in for an hour on her lunch break for a quick coffee which was nice(she works from home). Broke up the day.

Spent most of the morning on the phone to estate agents trying to understand the contract!!! Oh my, mentions Auction this and Auction that etc which shocked us.
Eventually the woman tel me back and we went through it again. This new "jargon" is ridiculous. So when 2 or 3 people bid against each other with their offers on the property, this apparently is called an "auction", very misleading to say the least.


All sorted now but so much wasted time with lack of communications etc Finally settled and brother arranging the photographer to come.

My head was fit to burst with all this extra stuff but glad we've sorted it.

Linda in my hydrangea pot, there are loads of Marrigold plants growing???? It is outside the back door and no Marrigolds in sight so have no ides how this happened?

It is dry here but still very windy and i have to water the plants today as they are quite dry.

Daughter ok but not home until tomorrow bless her as the bathroom is her fav place apparently!!

So i'm sorting out the paperwork and have a basket for shredding at the weekend. I also boxed up all my trinkets on my chest of drawers, just being organised for when I have to move things.

Hope all's well with everyone looking in.

May be back later on

Florence in the Hebrides

What a change, it was really sunny this morning when I was busy inside. We had lunch outside and in the end, I had to come in because the top of my head was burning, I need to get my sun hat out.

It has clouded over now, but is still warm. I finally planted my tomatoes and staked them up. I have a half barrel full of herbs. Lots of mint, so the roots are solid. Some rogue flowers from the garden had grown in as well, so I attempted to dig them out with a hand fork. I managed to bend the fork very badly :-( OH is going to have to straighten it in the vice.

The bottom of the garden has lots of Welsh poppies in flower at the moment. They all came from seeds which Tec from the Welsh thread sent to me. He was such a lovely man, I was lucky enough to meet up with him twice and we used to often talk on the phone, I do miss him

The litter is only going to get worse because we have a MacDonalds opening in a week. I already pick up MacDonalds stuff and the nearest one is at least fifteen miles away. I pick lots of vodka and wine bottles which have been thrown out of car windows from the verges. This week there has been a noticeable increase in the small polythene drugs bags.

Gwyn, I actually asked my neighbours either side as I know they only have rugs but tbh, you can see the tramlines all over. However,single man said, he was waiting on getting grey carpet throughout but thanked me for asking. Lady other side said ty but no ty.

For my polytunnel, I do have 2 small rolls plus some lino left over from when it was first fitted, so will be using that in the polytunnel.

I shall ask a couple of friends if they have any ideas or know someone that could make use of it before as a last resort it goes .It might find a new home yet and do someone a favour hopefully.

When I was working in the local school, we had an annual village clean up. If you could have seen the amount of bags collected from a 2 mile circle, you would be shocked. A rural village yet, whisky bottles lying in the drains, tins of juice, crisp packets, all sorts of random rubbish like flower pots, a jumper lol, gloves, the odd wellie boot. The only good thing i found one year was a £10 note with 1/4 missing. So I took it into the bank and they gave me a new one back.

Children decided to put it in the lifeboat donation box we had inside the front door as that year, they chose to fundraise for the RNLI

I think people are just so lazy and throwing rubbish out of car windows is awful!
We were brought up to take our rubbish home with us if we couldnt find a bin after a day out at the beach or the forest etc. We didn't dare drop a lolly wrapper or risk a thick ear!

As the carpet is not that old, there might even be someone who would be glad of it before they could afford a new one.

Our nearest Freecycle group sometimes has people asking for carpet to cover bare floorboards of a newly rented place.

Sounds like Joan and Florence are going to have very pretty gardens if their plants thrive.
Joan, I hope your granddaughter soon heals. That is a particularly painful injury, that she has. I wish her well.
Linda, ..You do so well with your litter-picking, but it must be disheartening that it needs doing so often.
I can't help noticing litter at the sides of the road, particularly near roundabouts.
Do people just have a good clear out of their car / lorry cab, while they are waiting for the lights to change? :-|

A beautiful sunny day here and so warm. The local children on their 1st week of half term break have been lucky with the great weather.