General Chat

gosh that was a long post Frank, a lot of typing if you did it twice.

How nice to be able to pop over to France for holidays, bet their weather is better than ours. ros is very good providing all that for the baby, (well you are too of course). I am sure ros enjoys putting it all together.


Ooh I THINK I have secured a slot for 31st July (I already have one for 22nd so that fits in nicely. Not sure I have done it properly to retain it. I have added a few items and checked out and then gone back in and it is still there Now, if I add more items do I have to check out again? And repeat this each time I add to the list? feels stupid to not know what to do, comes of having it all done for me. Tried to contact DiL but she must be busy.

Well, here I go again. Good afternoon to you all,

Another iffy nights sleep. My dear old DAD kept me awake for a few hours, remembering back to my childhood. Even though he was at sea during my younger life, I did have some great times listening to all his "TALES" of his life at sea. I suppose I was the fortunate one of his children, spending the last months of his life, totally dependant on Mum and myself.

Not sure what the weather is going to do. The clouds are getting quite thick with a look of rain. Ros has just bought some sheets in, that are almost dry, only leaving a couple of things to get in, if the rain decides to come. I did ask "Alexa" about the weather, and she said to expect rain at 11.45. How precise was that, and it didn't rain either.

I have prepared a nice Chicken Casserole for tomorrow. All the veg is done as well, the spuds are in a saucepan of water, that I will change a few times before tomorrow's dinner. Tonight is Fish and Chips. Ros will have Ham and Eggs with a few of my chips, as she doesn't eat fish. But loves SEA FOOD. At a push she will have a Plaice, but can do without it.

Madam got her phone sorted out this morning by Val. Ros has just picked an armful of Rhubarb, some, she will take to Valerie, as she likes it, but doesn't grow any.

While putting the washing line up this morning, I noticed that the Runner Beans are full of flowers, and almost over the fence to Pam and Denis's. I will have to retrain them back along the top of my fence. All other veg seems to be doing fine. The Raddish are putting out lots of leaves, so I expect they will be ready for pulling.

It's Simon and Sally's Wedding anniversary today, I did ring them this morning, but not sure where they are. They have two of Sally's grandchildren with then until Friday.Then, I think they will go off again, until the 27th July. Also Simon will be 55 on Sunday the 19th July, so must not forget to ring him then.

Harvey drove back from France on Sunday, from what Lewis said. He usually needs a day in bed asleep to get over it. It's a hell of a journey to do inside a week. Julia will stay there now, until Harvey drives back in August for his holiday and to bring her back. Alright for SOME.

Lewis said he is going up to see a friend in Manchester, and will fly out to France for a couple of weeks to stay with his Mum. I really don't know how Julia's Son Jammie, and his wife, are going to manage when she gives birth in late August or early September. If Julia is in France she won't be around to help. Ros has made lots of baby jackets and shawl, and booties, and other baby things , She has also put together a box of baby needs, of talc. shampoo, etc. Harvey will have to collect it from here next time he is up. How he will get it to Bristol is another thing, as Jammie being disabled is not able to drive.

I think I will see if I can find a game to play. I have just finished Martina Coles latest book, which was up to her usual standard.

See you all later. xxxx

Goof afternoon all. Oh dear Frank, another post lost.

Mandy, do you mean that the courgettes grown from the seed are bitter etc? I read it as if you ate the seed!!!

Vera, what a shame that your Dobbies is not any good. The plants at ours were lovely, the nly reason we didn't buy anything was we felt they were a bit more expensive. And trollies were at a disinfecting station outside. Once we did it ourselves the other time somebody was doing it for us. On the till the l;ady didn't wear a mask but wore a visor and was behind a screen.

Mel I type fast but I don't touch type hence the errors!

Too cloudy last night for the comet Island. We are supposed to be in for a good weekend so maybe that will help the toms (and everything else. It seems our weather has resorted to normal July weather.

Vera so you have comfy feet now. I need to make an appointment to get mine done.

Annx I did email you and say but to repeat. That mixed media is really good you are sol talented, ells done.

We have been out to Trioscape a garden centre about 10 miles away. We did both wear masks this time. I managed to get round the fogging of glasses by wearing my previous glasses which are narrower in the lens area. Still hate wearing them and didn't have a clue what the girl on the restaurant door was saying , we were doing it all be guess work, she was talking fast and had a soft voice. Goodness knows how I am going to get on when I go to the hospital to have the place on my face checked in 2 weeks time. Even OH couldn't hear. I could hear him when he spoke though.

Forgot to say that I think your mixed media picture is amazing Ann. I can’t believe what you have done with those materials. Superb.

Morning all

Not too bad here today. Sunny spells and light cloud but at least it’s fairly warm and it’s dry.

Island, you haven’t got many slugs because they’ve all moved here, along with every snail for miles around :-|. My neighbour was moaning yesterday that she’d planted marigolds and now only has a row of stalks.

Another post lost Frank - you must feel really frustrated. Can you work out what is causing it? Do you accidentally hit a delete button when you are typing or submitting?

I have had a real treat this morning. I’ve been to the chiropodist. It did seem very odd as the reception/waiting area contained two chairs well apart instead of several chairs, a table with magazines and shelves displaying products for sale. I had to wear my face covering, answer some health questions and have my temperature taken (34.9 so quite low). I wasn’t allowed to touch a door. The chiropodist opened them all for me using medical wipes. I couldn’t have felt safer. I used my bought mask rather than my home made ones and the chiropodist asked me where I got it as it was the best fitting one she had seen on anyone. I mentioned that my glasses didn’t fog up as other people’s seem to and she said it was because the mask fitted so snug over my mouth and nose. It seems the couple I bought, one for each of us, were worth the price I paid for them (I think it was about £13 or £14 each).

Must get on. Lots to do today.

Island I think sluggie and his mates are all down here. I have spied blackfly on the docks down here so they can stay there till I cut them down but could you take some greenfly off me please?

Frank sorry you lost your post try again please.

Just had a delivery of chickjen food so I have to go out and wash out the feed bin now. Not a job I wanted yet. They were supposed to ring me before it was delivered but they never do. I went rushing out to thank the driver and had'nt got my teeth in!!!!!!!!!!!!! He said it was a bit tight coming in and I replied I can get a fire engine through the arch. He drove out and had left his back door open so I rang Mole Valley and told them to let him know and the girl said she'd ring him. So you know what I shall be doing for the next half hour then its got to dry before I can put the sack of food in.

Just lost A BIG POST, So will try again later.

Morning all

What a grey day!
I fear for the garden produce. The runner beans might just survive as they did last year with all the damp but I'm worried that the toms may only come to a jar of green chutney and the cues fail. We have a great crop of blackberries coming on but will they all go mouldy like last years?
On the bright side - I did a little dance the other day when I spotted blackfly on the bindweed! Let's hope Sluggie and his mates get stuck in too and ignore the courgettes and dwarf beans, I don't want to speak too soon but given how much rain there has been I'm surprised by the lack of slugs.

Mandy, thanks for mentioning Our Yorkshire Farm. Just in time to record the catch up so will be watching it this evening. We would have been disappointed not to see it.

Mel, I say life's too short for ironing.

Fat chance of comet watching eh folks? :-(

Have a nice indoor day.

Morning all,

Another grey cloudy day. I hope I get more done than I did yesterday. Just could'nt get into anyhting in the afternoon after all the wiping down in the morning.

I have a bit of rioning to do and some washing and there's always that thing that gets fluffy the longer you leave it. May even clean the windows inthe kitchen. Will see what transpires during the day.

Ann the picture is great and I always say it you are a clever girl. Love the birthday card too and it would be good to frame it as you say to remind him.

Just watched it Mandy. Nearly missed it cos oh was watching something else.

That's the one Mel.

Meant to say new lot of Our Yorkshire Farm now started on channel five

Island I am not a slow typer which is why my letters are round the wrong way soemtimes a smy brain is ahead of my fingers. See Sometimes!!!!

FG you need one of the hair trimmers my oh has. A rechargable one that fits nicely in your hand and I expext you could do Abbey with it. Its a Remington.

Here you go Gill I think this is what Mandy is talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRfhuRNua_E

Looks good to me.

Anyone had Mr Fothergills courgette seed ,there's a warning as the courgette seed is bitter when you eat it and can give you diarea and sickness .

AnnG it was a dressed crab I bought today but I do get one and can dress it myself .

I had a nice sit out in the sunshine reading my book today watching Colin making the planter .

Gill the masks are so easy to make ,have a look on you tube ,I made mine by using a dinner plate ,you just draw round it and cut it out fold in half and cut then cut each half in half so you end up with four quarters with round tops .
You put two quarters right side together and stitch round the top ,then do the other two the same ,you then stitch those two bits right side together leaving a bit so you can turn them to the right side .
Give it a good press ,stitch the two edges together where you turned it through ,then turn the pointed sides in to make a seam then thread elastic through ,knot the elastic and pull the knot behind the seam ,job done .
If you want three layers just cut another half a plate and cut that in half and add to each quarter if that makes sense .

:-D

I had a fractionally better night yesterday in that I slept from about midnight to 1.30 and then from about 5 to 8 am. I am still heavy headed and sitting here yawning away again now. I hope you are all OK.

We did go to Dobbies today but I wasn't at all impressed with them. We didn't have any branches in this area until they took over a big Wyevale. We went twice when they first opened and they weren't very good but we thought we ought to give them a chance to settle in which is why we went again today. It's strange as I know they have a good reputation and seem to do well in other areas. They didn't have a lot of plants in their outside area and those they had looked half dead. I think it's the first time I have been to a garden centre without at least wanting to buy something. I did stock up on greetings cards and was able to use my vouchers on those but even that was a kerfuffle. They had sent me an email with a voucher code and instructions to show this to the till operator. The till operator was a young man who looked about 12 and insisted I scrolled up and down this email so he could scan the barcode. There was no barcode but he couldn't get his head around that. It took ages to convince him to punch the given voucher code into the till. I wouldn't have bothered but this voucher code gave me £9 off £25 worth of cards so worth having.

I didn't think their safety arrangements were very good either. There was no member of staff near the entrance and you had to take your trolley and wheel it into the store before you could use the sanitiser, which sort of defeats the object. None of the staff wore masks or gloves but were handling everything that went through the till. I didn't feel comfortable there and used plenty of hand gel when we got back to the car.

OK, rant over. The car got a run and I got some nice cards so not all bad :-)

Mandy, my OH is drooling at the sound of your crab. Poor man rarely gets anything like that as I am allergic to shellfish. Even if we go out for a meal the seafood platter is usually for 2 people so he doesn't have it. Sometimes he'll have mussels for his starter.

Gill, by all means buy some face masks but you are handy with a needle and they are really easy to make. If I could do it, anyone can. We bought a couple of beautifully made and shaped ones right at the start of lockdown but the elastic on them goes right round the head and I needed one with elastic over the ears for when I had my haircut. There are loads of videos on YouTube and you only need some small pieces of material and some elastic. I think I might need to make a couple more so we have plenty of spares if others are being washed.

OH is cooking tonight. He is doing gammon steaks though I don't know what he is doing with them. I think I just have time for a glass of wine before we eat.

Hi all, I thought I would surprise you by an afternoon visit.

Eos left here ar 10 20 am and didn't get home until 3.45 pm. She had been everywhere with Carolyn. I tried to ring her, and her phone RANG on the TABLE. Silly PERSON forgot to take it with her.

What a horrible day it has been, overcast all day, and plenty of signs of rain, but none around. I expect it will rain through the night. (I HOPE)

Ros is trying to find out how to text from her mobile. She is on the phone to Val at the moment, and is arranging to go down to her in the morning, for her to show her.NO GOOD asking me, I hardly know how to use a mobile, in fact I don't know where my phone it, and I don't really care.

I will look out this evening to see if I can see the Comet. But there is no way I will be up at 2.30 am looking for it. I need my beauty sleep, I have enough of a job getting a good nights sleep, without staying awake to watch out for MR COMET. lol lol

Ros has had lots more requests for FACE MASKS. Now that you will have to wear them going into shops, from later this month. So I have just ordered her, 100 metres of round elastic from EBAY. That should do a air few lol lol

Time I got sorted for tea. Cold Pork and chips, with curried baked beans. Will make a nice change from a roast.

See you in the morning. Have a nice evening. xxxx

Mel, you posted as I was typing - I'm a slow typist.
Thanks for time and direction of the comet. It's bound to be 8/8 cloud though :-|

Hi All

I didn't expect to be back indoors just yet but dark clouds were looming just as we were about to have lunch outside. It didn't rain but would have tipped it down if we'd stayed out!

We have to many large white butterflies flapping about like pegged out sheets on a blowy day. I want to plant some PS broccoli but we'll need to build another cage to keep the blighters off. I saw one poking its bum through the mesh once to lay eggs on my brassicas - the cheek of it!.

Frank - why did the butterfly flutter by?
because the spider spied 'er

Apparently shop staff wont have to wear masks! I can understand them being uncomfortable all day but surely they can lower them when they aren't attending to a customer? I made some for us weeks ago as my fella had to go for bloods. I happened to have some craft* pipe cleaners so used those in the top to bend over noses.
* I wouldn't like anyone to think we're pipe smokers LOL

Annx (I think) is the mixed media programme on tv or 'net? I'd love to have a look.

Mel, thank you for the lovely foxy pics. We haven't seen any now we're 'semi rural' but they were bold as brass in the city - one stood in the car park staring me out, I was glad to be three floors up on our balcony!

I've forgotten what I've read now lol so, wishing Jane well and everyone with aches and pains a comfy night.

Oh! The comet! About what time please? I read 3.20am but I don't want to be getting up that early lol. UK

I think it's safe to go back outside.......

Yes Mel, Abby is very good about being groomed. We usually have her stripped in the summer (not this year!!) which makes keeping her clean much easier. apart from her face and ears which I always do, I also clean her teeth front and back about once a week with a brush and doggy toothpaste! We've done this since she was a wee puppy of 9 weeks so she's used to it. All in all she is a good clean girl! <3
We both love shellfish too, but you do have to be careful! The fresh crab sounded delicious!

Comet NEOWISE should be visible from about an hour after sunset by looking in a northerly direction. It will travel from the north-west to north-east through the night. If the skies are clear, it will be best seen at about 2.30am by looking north-east just above the horizon.

Not a chance to see it here then as we can't see any horizon from our house.