General Chat

Oh dear Frank, These phone calls can be worrying as it’s hard to tell if they are genuine or not. The bank do ask some security questions so they are sure they are talking to the right person but will never ask for account or PIN numbers. If we get any calls we are not sure about we always say we will ring them back shortly and then use the phone number we know and use a different phone. I hope everything is OK for you. What did the doctor tell you? You never did say.

Love your hair photos, Ann 1 and 2. I also have short grey hair and glasses so we could be triplets lol. Well, perhaps not, as I am 5’8” so would tower over you. I wish I could have a fringe like you as it sort of softens the face but my forehead is so low that I look awful with a fringe.

I am glad your Tesco expedition was fine Ann. I shall have to take the plunge soon. So far I’ve only ventured into the little local Co-op which is never busy but I want to start choosing my own veg and fruit again. It was my turn to be wiping down this afternoon as I had a Tesco delivery. Nothing missing and no substitutions so I was well pleased.

It’s been a nothing sort of day here. Dry and warmish but grey and overcast. I had hoped to get in the garden but we spent the morning sorting out our quiz for Sunday and I spent the afternoon on phone calls and wiping down.

Well, if we are going to eat tonight I had better move myself. I feel a bit light-headed as I have just had a very large glass of wine on a very empty stomach so I think I had better eat soon :-)

I agree Frank, my mum had a scam call the other day so went to the bank itself rather than calling them, she was luckily and nothing had been taken out, she got suspicious when they mentioned £600 as she new she didn't have that amount in the account. Unfortunately she did press one when they mentioned the option of opting out. When she told me I said don't even press any numbers as that's what they want you to do for what ever reason of their own, but the bank said everything was alright, so she was lucky, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Apparently they have what's called a "Suckers List" if you engage in what they are saying, then your number is passed onto other scammers. I hope everything turns out to be okay for you, but do take care and never give out your details on the phone, it's not worth it, do as Ann said and ring the bank on a number you know is theirs.

Thanks Mel for the advice on my toms, I'll give them a tickle tomorrow LOL

It's OH's birthday tomorrow so I'm going to bake him a cake in the morning, if I make it today, he'll eat it before his special day.

Afternoon All,

Frank that sounds like a SCAM call to me. I would never answer any questions. I would ring my bank on a number I know is theirs and ask them about the call and if there was any suspected fraud on my account. If you answered any security questions I would ring your bank now to be on the safe side.They pretend to be your bank these days and you don't want your bank account emptied.

Frank you didn't say what the doctor said. I would have thought they would be looking at maybe anaemic or a urine infection or something like that. Or it could be caused by your medication of course.

I have just been for a walk (1 mile exactly according to my vivofit) I walked out of the estate, along the main road, through the next estate, across the park (lots of teenagers around in non socially distancing groups, to the free book stall and back through the estate. OH has gone to the driving range. Ah he is just back.

Thats a worry Frank. Mum had that years ago and the person said she was me!!! with a chinese accent.

Had lunch and just have to wash up and I am going in the garden after that.

A tip for those whose toms are not ripening I keep meaning to say this. Put an apple in the greenhouse or banana skin under the plants as these give off etherlene gas which will ripen the fruit.

Gill if you are not getting any pollination on your toms get a soft paintbrush and poke it up the flowers or spray them with a fine water spray. Mine seem to have stopped getting the flowers pollinated lately but I hav'nt seen many flies or bees about in the shed and I have the top of the door open every day.

Continue:- Sorry about that. I had a phone call from my bank,regarding FRAUD SUSPECTED ON MY ACCOUNT. There has been someone in LUTON trying to withdraw £250.00 and another payment to Littlewood's of over £100.00. They showed up as suspect, so were flagged up as FRAUD. They were on the phone so long asking security questions, that the phone ran of of BATTERY. That is now on charge, and I am awaiting another call. OH WHAT A Bl@@dy set too. !!!!

Good old Ros has missed all this, as she went to have her nails done, and pick up some bits and pieces, from Tesco.

I am just about shattered now, so I am signing off, perhaps be back later. xxxx

Afternoon all,

Very overcast again, but no sign of the wet stuff. Still very warm also, I have the windows and doors open in the conservatory, and the fan on low. AND I am still hot.

I had a call back from the doctor this morning. What a waste of time that was. I have been getting very bad turns, of OVER HEATING,Memory loss, being very upset over the smallest things,causing me to CRY, totally tired one. After a good EIGHT HOURS last night, I got up at 8.00 am, had my toast and Marmite, Showered and shaved,

Afternoon all

Dry here today after lots of rain yesterday and through the night. OH is jet washing the flags, we have loads so it'll probably take him all day. I might watch some of my programmes on the Royal family while he's busy, he doesn't like those type of programmes so I can watch them in peace.

Still to cloudy to see the comet, so if it wasn't the comet I saw the other day then I doubt I'll see it unless the clouds disappear.

Thanks everyone for your advice on how to make face masks and thanks Mel for the video. We have some at the moment but I'll have a route around for some material and make some more in case we need them when the ones we've got run out.

I was going to wash the bedding today, but now OH has water splashing everywhere I've decided to leave it for now. I missed the postman before, I didn't know it was him and my phone rang at the same time the door bell went, by the time I got to the door he'd gone and there was just a card for us to pick the parcel up, so OH will do that in the morning. OH did walk down the street to find him, but he was to late and the postman had gone.

I touch type and still make errors, I don't think it matters though as we can always work out what each of us are saying. It's just nice to have people to chat to.

You hair looks much better now you're had it cut Ann, I bet it feels good having it the way you like now. Love the pic of the mixed media you did. You're so talented.

You're not on your own Island, I'm wondering if all I'm going to end up with, is a small jar of green chutney to. The flowers just don't seem to want to turn into toms and we're watering them everyday. Maybe they'll surprise us soon and grow better. I hope the Blackfly gets rid of your bindweed, that'd be a result wouldn't it.

I see you've been to the chiropodist Vera, it sounds like they did everything they could to keep you safe even opening the doors for you, you must of felt like the Queen LOL. The mask you bought sounds really good, money well spent there.

That's a bit of a worry about the courgettes Mandy, I don't grow or eat them, but other's do, they'll be grateful of you telling them, I've noticed from time to time people have a look at this thread, so the information will go further than just us lot.

Pleased to see Val could help Ros with her phone Frank, she can start spending her credit now LOL.

You hair looks lovely AnnG, you've done a good job of it yourself. I bet most people will be like children in a sweet shop on their first venture out.

Going to watch my programmes now while OH's busy sorting the drive out. The water was collecting in the back, so he's leaving it for a while to drain away, we don't want it coming into the bungalow.

So you,ve had an adventure this morning Anng like us. We have been to Hatherleigh for petrol for the mowers and I got a pack of 9 T rolls for £3.50. We can only use Andrex Classic Clean as all others seem to have a blocking affect on our septic tank. Ok now for a couple of weeks.

Along the hedgerows there is Cow Mumble out and Honeysuckle and Meadowsweet. Some other things too and plenty of nettles. I miss going shopping to see what is flowering in the hedges. Saw some little black butterflies too which we have had in the garden but they are too quick to get a photo of.

Better get some lunch now.

Back now, greyish here, no sun but 18 degrees and warm out.

well we have had our adventure for this week. We have been to our local Tesco Metro. It is medium sized and was very quiet. we wore our masks which is not pleasant A lot of people still not wearing masks or not wearing them properly. One woman our age had hers under her nose!! some people making us leap out of the way as they forgot about the 2 metre rule. Managed to spend over £60 which is quite a lot for an in between shop but we were like kids in a toy shop buying things we had not got on line. anyway felt ok so we will continue to do an in between shop with an on line one when we can get it.

Morning Anng and all,

Another grey day here but it is dry but nothing else to say about it really.

Nothing planned for today but I have some washing to do and some windows to clean and I'm sure there are a lot more other jobs to keep me occupied.

Hope you all had a good nights sleep and feel refreshed this morning with lots of get up and go or am I asking too much?

Its a bit worrying about those seeds and I can't get it off my mind............

It seems our day out has started with going to get petrol for the mowers.

Good morning all. an adventure today, first small shop at Tesco in over 16 weeks. Hopefully means we can take back our shopping from our lovely neighbour. Not that she bothers about it but it would give her a break I am sure. :-)

Good heavens I've never heard of that before Mandy! I must see if I can check where my courgette seeds were from! :-0 I hope I haven't thrown the packet away. The one we ate didn't give us any symptoms so hopefully they are ok.

I bet Lewis enjoys his weeks in France. Which part does he go to Frank? It sounds like the baby will be very well dressed! Has Lewis any ideas about what he would like to do now he has his degree?

AnnG I saw my first Peacock butterfly this year, resting on the fence. It flew off before I could get my camera though.

Mel I did manage to take not very good photos of 'before' and 'after' with my hair so will download them and see if they are worth sending. Yes I did have colour done as well. I was at the hairdressers nearly 2 and a half hours!!

The latest on the city covid spike shows the 3 main areas of infection being exactly the areas we would have predicted. We should hear tomorrow whether there will be easements in any of the city areas. Some businesses have already decided to close. Leaflets have now been distributed by the council in 16 languages!

Off to bed now and see if I get another good night's sleep. Hopefully Vera and Frank will too! Our treat tomorrow is a trip to the chemist. :-)

British supplier Mr Fothergill's has recalled batch of courgette seeds after finding they contained unusually high levels of compounds that are poisonous to humans.

These 'cucurbitacins' — which give a bitter taste — are steroids produced by the gourd family including courgettes, cucumbers and pumpkins to deter predators.

Cultivated gourds are bred for low levels of the toxins and are safe to eat — but accidental cross-fertilisation or stress can produce unsafe concentrations.

When consumed in high enough doses, they cause so-called 'toxic squash syndrome', which can trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and even hair loss and death.

Mr Fothergill's is offering free replacements to any customers who purchased seeds from the affected batch — and encourages taste-testing of any fruit grown from them.

Vera I bet your feet feel wonderful after your appointment. I must get around to doing mine. I too do my own like Ann. Mum used to have a lovely lady come every 6 weeks to do hers and we were going to have her too but she retired so we lost out. she was cheap too.

Thats awful about the home grown courgettes. I bet there are a lot of people disappointed as a lot of people were growing things for the first time and they are a good thing to grow at home.

I got the big girls deep cleaned out this morning as the blasted red mite are now in the new house. Its the hot weather and they come from wild birds too. At least they have solid wood perches now whereas the old house had two bits of wood stuck together and the mite loved the gap between.

Ann did you take another pic of how long your hair had grown please? Did you manage to get it coloured too?

Picke dmore blueberries this afternoon only another 2oz but considering I knocked a lot of themoff getting them inthe shed they have done well this year. 7oz altogether and still more to pick when they ripen. I too use them in cakes Vera.

Glad you are light headed now Ann even if a tad chilly.

Mandy has anyone said what has affected the seed? Never seen that before.

Evening all,

Yes sorry AnnG I meant the courgette grown from the seed ,now tonight Thompson and Morgan courgette seed is being recalled too ,again the courgette can give you stomach cramp and diarea .
They say if you cut the end of the courgette and it tastes bitter don't eat it , it's only courgettes grown at home the ones front supermarket are fine .

Ann lovely picture ,you are so good with all the crafts you've done ,I wasn't sure quite what mixed media meant with not doing arty things but I can see now with your picture.

Vera I bet with having your feet done today you now feel as if your walking on air :-D

Today started off nice and sunny but by lunch time we were getting the showers and it's still coming down.

Afternoon All,

I have just done the same and lost a post Frank so you are not alone. I went to sort lunch mid post and had left my laptop on battery which must have been low and it closed down!

I'm glad you liked my effort, but please say if you get sick of me sending things to you. (send a pm and I will stop). I worry you might think I am showing off but I'm usually far less impressed with what I do myself. I just like sharing things and seeing what what things some of the rest of you make or hearing what you are doing. I find it all very interesting.

Thanks for mentioning Yorkshire Farm Mandy. I found I had recorded it already, but had forgotten about it so was glad you said about it.

It seems wiping down days come round too often now! Mel and Mandy and it will be my turn again on Sunday. :-S Hubby does the bins now and he uses them the most so an incentive to do a good job, although he also wears gloves when moving them. It's my turn again on Sunday, but I think some things will be left in the baskets to decontaminate if we don't need them for a few days.

I have had my locks shorn at last and it's been chilly round my neck today! I had to sit in the car till they texted me and you couldn't get in the door they unlocked without walking around 2 stands with sanitisers on them. All masked and visored and perspex screens between the wash basins and customers. Each hair station had a big glass container full of a blue disinfectant that all the haircutting combs, scissors and shaving heads were kept in till used on each station. The products were behind perspex so no-one could touch them except staff, so I felt quite safe on my first solo trip since March! The disposable towels did the job but were quite small. The owner Barry popped in with supplies and spoke to everyone at a distance, asking the hairdressers if everything was alright. He had sent 2 that normally work in his locked down city salon to help and everyone was cleaning if they weren't hairdressing. The salon is very minimal and spotless normally, so the extra work really was wiping the seats, tops and mirrors. As the gym isn't open yet the drop down gate wasn't operational so no number pad to touch to get out of the car park.

How nice to get your feet pampered Vera. I still do my own but have to use some foot cream now as the skin is quite dry on the heels.

Island you asked about the art session. It was the last of 2 today and was fully booked. They hope to do more in September, but there may be a charge then. They are on the WEA site and they have run all kinds of free courses all through the lockdown. I have done photography, wool felting, paper beads and mixed media art. I also have 2 more, one is introduction to watercolour, the other about learning on line.

Thanks Vera, all sorted now. will update it next week after I get the order on 22nd. My email from them said, "thank you for making your first on line shopping oreder with Tesco". Not for want of trying I am muttering. costs me more doing it myself as Son doing it has some special 'thing' that removes the pick, pack, deliver fee. this one will cost us £6 but we still think it is worth it. :-) :-)

Yes Ann, you will need to go through checkout again but you don’t have to re-enter all your details, they will still be there but will only show the last 4 digits of your card number.