General Chat

Oh Vera I see it is actually still very hot where you are. You have a very intrepid OH! Whatever next? I can see his next birthday present being an abseiling harness! I could imagine you both flying out of the window with you clutching his legs, hopefully with his trousers staying put with the strain. I think I would have tied him to the bed with knotted sheets (Oh that sounds a bit kinky!)

Well the carvery wasn't as good as the last one, but we had a big helping of Turkey this time which was nice.

Mel I started watching the Puzzle lady last night. I thought it a bit strange too, but fell asleep watching it, so will try and watch the rest tonight, unless it sends me to sleep again.

Oh Vera I see it is actually still very hot where you are. You have a very intrepid OH! Whatever next? I can see his next birthday present being an abseiling harness! I could imagine you both flying out of the window with you clutching his legs, hopefully with his trousers staying put with the strain. I think I would have tied him to the bed with knotted sheets (Oh that sounds a bit kinky!)

Well the carvery wasn't as good as the last one, but we had a big helping of Turkey this time which was nice.

Mel I started watching the Puzzle lady last night. I thought it a bit strange too, but fell asleep watching it, so will try and watch the rest tonight, unless it sends me to sleep again.

I can imagine how you feel AnnG and I am very aware of how fortunate we are to still be together. I've had several friends and acquaintances widowed in their 40s and 50s and, of course, your daughter and mine both lost their partners at far too young an age so I do count my blessings. It's because I want to keep OH around longer that I sometimes get a bit cross with him when he thinks he can still clamber about like a youngster. Still, I suppose his Can Do attitude is better than a Can't Do one.

The very first time we asked our builder/handyman to do some work for us he was very honest and told us his business insurance will not let him work at height so no climbing up long ladders etc. That wasn't a problem as the job we had then and the work he has just done for us could be done with his feet on terra firma.Today OH noticed there was a little bit of the wall abutting my bedroom window that was just showing the same problem, though not badly. He decided that he would deal with it himself. I pointed out that we got rid of our long ladders when we moved here so how did he plan on doing it. The answer was........wait for it........ He would kneel on the window sill of my UPSTAIRS bedroom window, lean right out and stretch to reach the bit of wall that needed repair but it would be OK because he would hang on to the window frame inside the room with his left hand. I am sure you can imagine that all I could see in my mind's eye was my beloved tumbling out of the window and lying shattered on the ground below.

Words were said and we both got a little het up but eventually we reached a compromise. He would do it like that but with me up there with him and, as this was the least bad bit of wall we had seen, he wouldn't cut chunks out of the wall and fix in some galvanised gubbins and then render over it as has been done with the rest, but would simply rub the area away with emery paper and then paint over it with some galvanising gunge. With me in the bedroom with him he wouldn't have to keep swivelling about to reach pots, brushes etc. I could put them in his hand.

So a short while later found him kneeling on the window sill, leaning right out of the window with me hanging on to his legs for dear life. I don't know if I would have been able to hold him if he had slipped but I felt better clinging on to him. Thankfully it didn't take very long at all. The odd thing is that in his job he was often out on site at sewage works and sometimes his men had to go in to awkward places. They had a whole range of safety equipment and if he saw any man not wearing the full safety gear they were off site. He would not let them be endangered in any way.

Anyway, all's good and to lower my stress levels a bit I shoved on a hat and went out the garden but I only did a little weeding and some deadheading. I had to come in after 20 minutes because it was so hot. At the moment the temperature is still high but it has got very windy.

I hope you enjoyed your carvery Annx. Our lunch should be ready at 2 pm so I had better go and see what it is doing.

temp is all over the place here, back up to 21 now. I guess the wind is complicating things. Most of my boyfriends in my early teens were members of the church youth club and/or Sunday school and acceptable to my parents. My parents used to often advite the young RN apprentices for Sunday tea or after the after church walk for evening coffee. But T was in a new batch that came to the church so he had not been invited, actually my previous boyfriend was still invited for tea (Mum liked him). My parents loved being surrounded by the youth of the church and, being ex Navy my Dad got on well with the RN lads.
I have to say that after we were married T could do no wrong in their eyes, they loved him to bits.

Vera I am so envious of you still having your lovely OH at 88 years old still active and driving etc. I always thought we would be the same Never imagined T would be taken so early. (Although I was and still am gratefull that we were together as long as we were.)

Morning All,

I've been up since 7.00am, cleaned the fridge out ready for the food delivery later, went out and pulled a small humper full of weeds, focussing on the purple floered ones that have pods forming. Then I did a quick hoover around, sucking up a few of those spiders with long legs that make mess. Then a few jobs in the kitchen before emptying the top shelf of a wall cupboard in the ensuite. Now I've had enough for today so we are ordering a carvery between us for lunch.

It is still only 20 degrees here with a nice breeze blowing, hence my sudden activity and getting some jobs done. Still no rain here though. I'm glad it is cooler for us all now and that Vera had a better night's sleep.

We never forget those special dates do we AnnG? I bet T did look nice in his uniform too. Sadly I wasn't allowed to have any boys come to the house, even a new neighbour's son who helped make a run for my rabbit when I was aged 15 was told not to come round the house again and at 18 I was told by my father I was too young for boyfriends. At age 20 I was a bridesmaid at my cousin's wedding and dad went into an angry sulk when one of the boys there came and sat and chatted to me afterwards and mum had to have a word with him before he caused trouble with his temper. I remember the boy was called Ivan and afterwards my Aunt told mum he had been very taken with me and wanted to see me again. I already had first OH as my obviously secret fom my father boyfriend by then, but with how he was it would have been impossible to invite Ivan who lived in the next county to the house anyway. OH's mum met FIL when she was about 16 and he was 13 years older. They were married the day before she was 17 so you can imagine people's thoughts that it was a shotgun wedding and wouldn't last. OH was born 2 years later and they were married 64 years.

Glad you had a better night Vera.

OH has just set off for a walk with it being cooler, so I will get showered now.

Morning all,

I didn't have a bad night slept until 2 then through till about half past six I woke and the curtains were really blowing with the front and back windows open it was a wind tunnel ,there's still quite a strong wind and its hot in the sun already I think we should be about 26 here today .

Oh Vera what's he been up too now :-0
Colin nearly went a cropper out the back door I told him not to step out with the washing up water in the bowl put it in the big jug he didn't listen ,it's surprising how much water it saves yesterday we had three watering cans full .

Nothing planned for today were both tired with the heat so it will be a lazy Sunday.

You are getting cooler and we are getting hotter AnnG. It’s just a question of how hot. BBC app says it is 24 degrees and feels like 26 and the one on my iPad says it’s 22 and feels like 20. I haven’t got into the garden to find out myself how hot it is as I’ve been helping OH who is 88 but thinks he’s still 38. Don’t ask!! I’ll explain later.

and now it has dropped to 18. It can stop there.

Temp has gone down to 20 now and a quite strong wind has blown up. That was a big drop and I could feel it when I went out to water the tomatoes and Cynths baskets

Morning girls,

Glad you had a bit better night Vera now don't overdo it today.

Its a lot cooler than where you girls are as its a bit cloudy this morning and there's been what my mum would call heat spots, not actual rain but a few spits and spots. Not enough to wet the ground but I saw rain on the window when I got up this morning. Its 17 degrees here so not too bad heat wise.

When I first saw the Kingfisher I thought it was Robbie but knew his red breast did'nt go all the way down and it was looking right at me so did'nt notice its long beak. I wondered after if it was a young one. We have had them in the garden befors and oh at the time took pics of it but that was years ago. The first one I saw was in Devon too Vera. We were staying at Crediton at an old mill cottage and a river ran through the ground and we'd walked down to it and was watching the water when it flew along the river and back again and sat on a very thin branch over the river.

Nothing planned for today but I must put the washing out I did yesterday as I forgot it with BIL coming.

Vera It was just over a month before I left school and was halfway through my O levels, We only took five then and I only passed two one of which was luckily English Grammar. In those days we didn't know any grades so only pass or fail.
He was by no means my first boyfriend but somehow we always knew we would get married.

Good morning AnnG, morning all

I think it may be a slightly cooler day here today. It looks as if you are getting hotter AnnG; 27 is very hot for so early in the morning. I think it’s about 20 degrees here. I was restless but had a better night than I expected. I had my cold water bottle ready in the fridge but didn’t use it. I found that having just a sheet over me and the fan going all night I was OK.

AnnG, you were young when you met T. Were you still at school? It’s good that you had so many years together.

Lovely to see the kingfisher Mel. I’ve twice seen one. The first one was in Devon, at Lydford Gorge. OH and I stood very still, hardly breathing, and watched it for a little while. They are beautiful little birds and move so fast. A flash and they are gone.

It’s good that you have found a suitable medicine cabinet Annx. That’s another job off the to-do list.

I’ve been up since 7 am so it’s about time I got dressed and had some breakfast. I might try to get out to the garden after that if it hasn’t got too hot.

Good morning all, another hot mostly sleepless night. Just put all the bedding in to wash. And it is already 27 degrees at 0715. And still no rain.

Vera, pleased that you got all the errands done despite the heat.
Oh dear I assume Dad didn't know his little boys could get out of his car seat or open the door. I suppose he thought it was safer to leave him than to have to restrain him while buying a ticket. Sounds as if he needs some reins for him.

Mel what a shame you didn't have your camera near when the Kingfisher came to call. (Vera too).

23 June 1956 I met my lovely T, I was 15, two months short of 16 and he was a month short of 18. I had my 9 year old sister with me as Mum was doing a Saturday job in Smith and Vospers cake shop in Portchester, we were going to the church garden party. He was very smart in his RN uniform. (and I do remember, I had on a light green skirt, can't remember the blouse, and a red chunky knit cardigan.) 69 years ago.

Ann Glad that the final cabinet fits OK.

I will answer the latest posts tomorrow. Lucky people seeing kingfoshers. I have never seen one.

I am off to bed but it is still 27 degrees here. No rain.

Oh Vera fancy him leaving a little one in the car ,he could have locked himself in and in the heat it wouldn't have taken long for him to dehydrate, dad won't do that again .


It's clouded over here now and the sky looks a bit black I hope we get a little rain to save watering later .

Oh Mel keep an eye out and see if he comes back I'd love to see it .

I said Vera was on tonight ,its tomorrow night

We decided the same at lunch Vera and opted for the lounge for lunch rather than birdwatching in the conservatory. That's good all went well with your OH's appointment. I had to smile at the airconditioning being too cold. You'd think the shop wouldn't want to waste money overcooling the shop wouldn't you. If you try the cold waterbottle and it's too cold against your side I just lay my arm on it palm down and find it cooling or slide it around to cool the bed. The small child roaming round the carpark could have ended badly couldn't it. Hopefully the father had a bad fright and has learned a lesson.

I wrestled the cabinet out of the box and it is perfect for the space thank goodness. There's a very small dent in the metal one side, but not very noticeable or worth sending it back. I got it back in the box and was sweltering after!

It's still 28 degrees here and only a few spots of rain before it stopped. It's looking a few degrees cooler where you are Mel but still hot. I'm off to check what I have recorded now. Oh my word I just noticed you have seen a Kingsisher! I have never seen one. I hope it comes back.

Just opened the back door to take the waste paper bin out and there was a Kingfisher sitting on the wire over oh's pond. No time to get the camera and as it flew into the beech tree it was a tuquiose blue flash.

Phew it's 28 degrees here now, but the forecast says it will rain soon which may make it cooler. Yesterday reached 29 degrees, too hot for me. It's the Co-op I usually go to Mandy and ours is air conditioned, so I dawdle when it's hot like this to get cool. I remember leaning over the supermarket freezer cabinets to get cool years ago. Lucky Max with his nice cool water to drink. I can't find my ice cube trays. I must have put them in the top of a kitchen wall unit, but am not rummaging in there today.

Mel Timothy Spall lost weight many years ago. I like how he gets into the character like in Dickens. I've done nothing since getting lunch and reporting a load of spam emails.

I agree Mandy. It is sooo hot now. All this week we've been having a lunchtime snack in the conservatory with most of the blinds down and the door open but I stepped in there today and said a definite no to lunch there. We had it in the lounge where the blinds have been down all day back and front and we had the fan going. I can just about cope with the heat during the day but nights are difficult and apparently the coolest it will be overnight tonight is 18 degrees around 4-5 am. I think I shall try Annx's trick of putting a hot water bottle filled with cold water in the fridge for a few hours.

We were in town from 10 am to noon and it was sweltering. Thursday and Saturday are market days and it is always busy so there were people everywhere and not a lot of shade to walk in. While OH was in the optician I got the bits I wanted in Boots and went and picked up my script. By the time I walked back to the opticians I was really dragging my feet. All is well with OH's eyes. He will still need reading glasses so they are on order but his distance sight is fine now.

We then went to Waitrose for some bits and pieces and I did have to laugh as everyone, including me, was complaining that the shop was too cold. I don't know what their air conditioning was set at but it was freezing in there. My arms had goose bumps. It was almost a relief to step outside into the heat.

When we first arrived in town we parked at the nearest car park to the town centre which is at Roys store. OH waited by the car while I went to put some money in the machine and get a ticket to park. There was a short queue and the chap in front of me seemed very fidgety and kept looking across the car park. Suddenly he screamed out No, No, Stop and went off across the car park like a bat out of hell. I was telling OH about this and he said that a small child had got out of a car some distance away from us and was wandering around the cars crying for his daddy. Nothing moves that fast around the car park but, even if you are only doing 10 mph, if a little one runs straight out in front of you you wouldn't be able to miss him. Thankfully his daddy reached him before anything worse happened but I bet he won't be leaving his little one alone in the car again.

I've never seen that programme McDonald and Dodds so I can't really compare it with Death Valley but I thought it was nice to see something set in the Welsh Valleys for a change.

Our study/office, whatever you like to call it, is upstairs under the eaves. It is really hot and airless in here and I can't stop yawning. I think I'm going to put a cold hot water bottle in the fridge and go and sit in front of a fan for a while in the hope that it will wake me up. I always think of Jane when it's hot and I'm switching on fans. She really did hate this type of weather.

Oh my goodness it is so hot out ,we've been in all the morning with the fan going and plenty of cold drinks .

Mel we liked Mcdonald and Dodds ,I see there's a repeat of Vera on tonight so we might see that again .
I put two ice cube trays in the freezer yesterday so we can keep the drinks cool with the ice ,I usually fill the trays and keep the cubes in an old ice cream tub ,Max likes to crunch them up ,I also add them to his water dish so he has nice cool water .