General Chat

Just clearing out a drawer (yes another one, 5 to go!) And found the following

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose you have lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a person’s will,
It’s all in a state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later the one who wins
is the one who thinks he (she) can.

Walter D Wintle.

Mel, have you got the shop and egg delivery done? but if you have you should now be up the garden.


Mandy Hope you still have the sun as we do here although it is still only 17 degrees, not really warm enough to be sitting out for long.
Annx I meant to say I like the sound of your Chinese cabinet but I wouldn't have room for it.

Frank, thanks for the emails Gosh that was a lot to plow through!!
Nice to have a meal to look forward to, is this a restaurant you often go to? Hope you have a lovely post anniversary meal.

Vera There are only a few tomatoes that are red ahead of the others although some in the baskets are starting to turn these red ones are outside. I am trying to remember but I think theya re in a basket as well. The ones in the greenhouse are not as advanced, nor are the ones in the ground.

David I had lots of Aunts and Uncles (and at one time several Great Aunts. Mum was the youngest of 9, one died young but I knew the other 7 until into my 20s. Dad was the eldest of five, one dies as a baby, one died during the war (he worked for the NAAFI on ships but was killed when he fell between the ships and the Quay when the ship was moored (and we never knew the whole story of that). All the cousind on Mum's side were older than me and there are none left now, I did keep in touch with two bed they have died, I am still in touch with the 95 year old husband of my cousin who died in her 80s. One branch I never knew, the children of Mum's eldest brother . He married and lived in Scotland so I have no knowledge of where they are or were once he and his wife died. On Dad's side there are five cousins still alive. I am in contact withthree of them fairly regularly and through them their siblings and my second cousind their children but have not seen them for many years.

Nuisance about the breadmaker. I didn't use mine so gave it to Grandson's fiancee, not sure if they have ever used it.

Morning all

It was sunny earlier but grey skies again now and it’s not very warm at the moment. We don’t have any plans for today.

AnnG, your salad plants are looking really good and your tomatoes look great. Are they in a greenhouse? My tomatoes are more like green marbles at the moment but they are in pots outside so have to contend with whatever the weather throws at them.

I love your veg trough Mandy. It looks very professional. I like the colour and it’s a good depth too.

That was a lot of emails in one go Frank. I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet but I bet there’s a chuckle or two among them. I hope you had a good night last night. Did you enjoy your lamb steaks? You reminded me that I had some in the freezer so we are having them tomorrow instead of a roast. I’ve taken some salmon out for tonight.

Did you manage to finish tidying your front garden Gill? We don’t have a front garden as such. There are only 5 bungalows and our house on a little private road. The bungalows all have a flower bed or two at the front but ours is all paved so I have some pots out there. At the moment I have a couple of fuschias and a grass but I change them from time to time. I don’t usually watch that Nick Knowles programme but I’ll see if I can catch it on iPlayer.

Ann, welcome to the insomniacs club. I hope you had a better night’s sleep last night. A bad night makes it so hard to get going the next day. The night before last I slept for 6 hours without waking, which is really unusual for me, and yesterday I seemed to have so much more energy and got lots done. Unfortunately I had a bad night again last night so have done nothing much this morning. By the way I like the sound of your Chinese cabinet


Thanks for your offer of pink penstemon cuttings Mel but I already have quite a few pink ones as well. I’ve only ever bought one or two plants of each colour but take cuttings each year and now I have quite a lot. The ones in the ground seem to come into bloom earlier than the ones I’ve got in troughs.

David, I had lots of aunts and uncles too and many cousins, now scattered throughout the country. I keep in touch with my mum’s side but it’s on my dad’s side that we are a really close knit family. We generally get together once a year either at someone’s house, if they have a big enough garden, or whoever is sorting it out that year will hire something like a local village hall and family come from all over. Those who’ve travelled a distance book a b&b or a hotel and the younger ones often camp. There are often 50 of us there. This year we were supposed to be going in 2 weeks time to Surrey to the daughter of one of my cousins but because of Covid-19 it’s had to be cancelled. We missed last year’s because my OH was ill so it’s a shame that we won’t get to see many of the family this year either.

I was going to make some bread this morning but I think my bread maker is kaput. Last time I used it, it didn’t mix the dough up properly and I ended up having to scoop all the yucky mixture out of the tin and clean it out. I thought I had probably not put the paddle thing in properly so this morning I made sure it was all connected properly and tried it out with just water in the tin. It’s definitely an ex-breadmaker.

I started typing this before 11 am but OH kept interrupting me to tell me what he was doing and then he made a cuppa so I expect there are more posts on the thread now. I haven’t looked at the thread again as I have been typing in Notes on my iPad so I can c&p and not risk losing it, so I had better do that now.

Good morning to all, Bright, sunny morning here, plenty of BIG white clouds, to go with it. No sign of rain yet, so lets hope it stays dry.

As everywhere was in lockdown for our Anniversary, I have booked a table for tomorrow lunchtime. 2.00 pm. I did say to Ros as the time. I owe you a meal. The restaurant said there will be restrictions, to how many tables can be occupied. So they are doing their bit, for safe eating.

Nothing planned for today, Ros has bought more plants for the garden from Dobbies, so she will put those in later. She has given Carolyn a couple of large Tomato plants in pots, as the ones she has, haven't grown very well.

Colin has made a good job of the planters Mandy. I see you will be like RABBITS eating all those lettuces. lol lol .

Was nice to see Jane out and about with the family. I do hope she is feeling a little better. Hug from me. xxxx

John, Carolyn's OH wants to go to Cheltenham either today or tomorrow, to see Carolyn's niece, not that they are close. I think it's because he wants to show off his Sports car to them. He is a right old POSSER.

All showered and dressed, with nowhere to go. So I think I will sit in the conservatory with my Martina Cole book. It's a typical East End Gangster novel, that I must say I do enjoy.

What are you all up to today. ?? staying out of trouble I hope. !!!!

Might get back later, if anything exciting happens. xxxx

Morning AnnG, Mel and all,

Lovely morning nice to see the sun , there's a bit of a breeze but we're just sitting out having a coffee.

Mel I'm pleased with the trough but I would have liked it a bit darker grey ,I did say use the dark paint but he was adiment there was no dark grey ,when I looked this morning with him there it was in the back of the cupboard in the shed ,honestly if it doesn't jump out at him we don't have it ,so this next one will be a darker shade.
I think the wood came to about thirty eight pound and that was with a big box of screws too ,enough wood to make three but I think he's making a planter for son and DIL with the rest of the wood ,they want a smaller narrower one for flowers

Hope tomorrow is sunny so the family can come in the garden seems ages since they came , I know we can go in each others houses but we don't feel it's right doing it yet .

It's lovely 'getting up' these days at 5am (ish) when daylight has already shown itself.

Rambling along the local beach when there is hardly another human soul to greet other than a handful of hook & line fishers, I am usually accompanied by a fleet of squawking ravenous seagulls overhead anxiously looking for negligently discarded scraps to devour.

Knife & fork not necessary!

Morning Anng and all,

Beautiful morning here with plenty of blue sky and big white clouds like cotton wool and plenty of the yellow thing. A right Max Bygraves morning and we are definately Out Of Town. Hope that dos'nt get on all your brains now.............

Only have to do the shop and egg delivery this mroning steak for tonights dinner so I may even get up the border this afternoon if I'm lucky. I keep finding things that need doing in the house but today I am certain its a gardening day.

Hope Gill gets her front garden finished and nice and tidy and weed free.

Love to Jane, hope you have been sleeping better. Is the family coming tomorrow? It must be so nice to have them nearer to you now. <3 <3

Good morning all a sunny but coolish morning here so far. Only 6 degrees when we got up. sixteen degrees now so climbing a bit.

Nothing planned for today, maybe a short walk but at the moment have a wash load of bedding in the machine and OH is fiddling with the door camera so that will wait a while.

Kept waking up last night but slept ok in between.

Annx Hope you has a better night last night and Jane hope you have managed to sleep as well.

Gill he eats from my hand now several times a day and if I don't take any notice of him he flies at me and then away. Down by the bantams I was putting some compost over a tato I put in a bag and he landed on my back twice. He is a card.....

Love the trug Mandy can Colin come and make me one please? Good colour too. Blends in well with the paving etc.

Anng I am envious of your ripe toms. Mine are getting there but nowhere near ripe yet but they are in a dark shed with only the top of the door open most days.

Frank what a lot of things you sent me. Took me ages to see them all.

We managed to make a start on weeding the front garden but it was a bit to cold to finish it, at least the rain kept away and the sun stayed out. Hopefully the rest of the weeding can be done over the weekend if it stays dry.

Did you watch today's "Home is where the art is" Ann? The one I preferred wasn't picked. I won't say anymore incase you haven't seen it yet. I like the stained glass and metal bird as well. The artists are very good at their crafts aren't they?

Love the pics of your produce AnnG your's are doing really well, my toms are more like peas at the moment and I still have lots of flowers on them to. What's the name of your Alpine plant, I've been looking for one like that but don't know what it's called?

Colin's made a good job of the trough Mandy, I like the colour. You'll have plenty of lettuce to keep you going now.

It sounds like you've been busy today Mel, you'll sleep well tonight after all your hard work. How is the little Robin doing, has he eaten from your hand again?

I had several Aunts. May (Margaret), Nellie, Ethel, Agnes, Ethel,
and three Uncles, Ralph, George, Joseph. From them umpteen
cousins I never see. but happy Friday to them all.

Evening All,

A bit better today, more sunshine, but quite breezy.

I may as well have not bothered going to bed last night as I didn't sleep at all till around 7.30am. We had to be up early to pop to the chemist for our tablets as OH had the chap calling for a few of the footie programmes later and I had a zoom meeting with some friends.

Thank you for the photos Mandy and AhhG. Your trough looks very smart Mandy, especially painted in grey and another to come as well. Colin is making a great job of them. :-D AnnG your cues are looking good and I hope yours continue producing unlike mine. I can't believe your toms are so red!! Ours are still stubbornly green.

I love your description of your OH Vera! I agree we drift away from our garden plans when we see something that takes our fancy, even if it doesn't quite fit what we intend. I find it's a bit same with furniture. I couldn't bear to part with a small burgundy chinese cabinet nicely painted with birds when I moved here. I got it half price and it doesn't go with the rest of what we have now. I thought OH would suggest I keep it in the garage when we moved here, but no, he wanted inside! It is on a wall where it is on it's own and he loves it's glass top as he can drop his keys there without any damage caused. :-)

Gill, I spotted your Aunt with the grey scarf at the start as I watched 2 episodes last night. I've watched past series and marvel at the things the artists produce. I thought the one with the stained glass and metal bird was brilliant. Yes it looks like the weekend will be good for getting the garden up to scratch.

We keep getting all kinds of offers from the eateries round here but are not tempted just yet. Talking to my friends today we all agreed that we can look after ourselves when out and about and that it is other people not being careful that are the problem. One said someone dawdled ages at some shelves in front of her on a one way only gangway in a shop, even stopping and using his phone. She said he was oblivious to her waiting and she had to ask him to move on in the end as people were closing up behind her.

Glad you had a nice break Frank and it was the change of scene you needed,even if there was a long wait in the car on the way back. At least Ros didn't have to drive. It is many years sice I went to brixham, but I would have loved seeing the sea and watching the boats.

On the way to the chemist today we passed through the next village and each side of the road were socially distanced queues outside the 2 banks. Some of the bank staff with their masks on were outside trying to direct or help customers. OH observed them for a few moments then said, 'it's come to a pretty pass when it is the bank staff wearing masks instead of the bank robbers'. :-D :-D

I am so tired now I am off to bed so sleep tight everyone.

Evening all,

Its been quite a nice day really i got the washing out early and the clouds were really black at times but i got it all dry before it tipped down for about twenty minutes just after lunch .
This afternoon we sat out having a cuppa and the NHS thank you Spitfire went over it was quite warm sitting out in the sun .

Vera all the flowers in your garden are looking very pretty ,i think the red with the pink looks lovely and colourful .

AnnG your cues are much further forward than mine ,the tomatoes look good and ready to eat ,don't they smell good when you pick them .
My Tumbling toms are loaded but still all green we need some nice sunshine to turn them .

Frank nice to see you home safe and sound ,that was quite a long time to have to sit in the car so no wonder you didn't sleep and had pains as well last night .
It must have been nice to see the sea and have the F&C though .

Mel when i went for dog from Mole Valley the young lad was at the door and he went and got what i needed ,i just had to sanitize my hands and go in to use the card machine .

Jane i hope you've managed some sleep since your treatment and that your not feeling to grotty <3

Ann it would be lovely to be half a stone lighter after a hair cut :-D i tell you some thing though my ears have felt really cold since my hair cut :-D
It's just nice when you go out in the garden and your hair isn't blowing in your face .

Island you've beaten us all with eating runners already ,we have lots of beans on ours i think its going to be a good year for them .
When i bought some new potaotes off the market stall last Tuesday they had runners on the stall and you wont believe the price !!! £4-50 a pound !!!! i had to look twice to make sure i read it right .

Oh i see you've had the lawns cut Frank ,are the looking better now because you said they weren't looking to good ?

Evening all,
Barry has been and mowed both lawns. Eos presented him with new long handled sheer, that she bought. Se used those, instead of using his SPADE to trim the boarders.

Lamb steaks, with Roasties, Runners, Broad Beans, Carrots and peas, with a bit of sweetheart cabbage. All going on fine, I am just waiting for the broad beans to soften up, then I can dish up.

I hope you all have a pleasant evening, doing whatever you do. Stay safe. xxxx

Anng I had to read it three times before I realised what you meant. Silly me.

Mel, Hmm I am sure you know what it meant, a bit of punctuation missing!!

Just put a couple of plants in that we bought yesterday, they have gone in the newly dug and barked front garden. Just 3 Million Bells. Wandered round the garden and took a few photos. then OH was wanting his 4pm cup of tea so, as he was dead heading I got that, the afternoon soon goes.

Just done some washing which I hav'nt put on the line yet. We had a bit of a late lunch as oh was out mowing and did'nt know what the time was. I have fed the toms and some plants and all the plants ont he patio and fed the birds (wild ones) and cleaned the birds baths out. Now I have to peg the washing on the line and see if I can get the grass cutting out of his fleece jacket. A hoover job I think.

I also have to make the lasagne for tonight so a full afternoons work.

Inara will love the chick for her garden Anng but I am not sure what she is going to do with rapeseed oil infused with basil??????

Yes, Mel my aunt is the one with the grey scarf around her neck and wearing a purple/blue top, her friend is standing next to her, she has grey hair and is wearing glasses and a red and black top. The programme is on again in a minute. My aunt is on the last programme at the end of this month. I think she said 24th July.

You did well sorting your bedding and bed all before 10am, you must of been up with the lark FG. Now you can enjoy your drive/walk and picnic.

I see you're off out as well AnnG, we have sunshine today, but it's not very warm, they say it's going to be warmer over the weekend so if it is I'll be sorting out the front garden before the weeds take completely over.

Nice to see you got home safe and sound Frank, be it a longer journey than normal. I hope your aches and pains ease soon.

Going to watch "Home is where the art is" now

Enjoy the rest of the day everyone.

Vera you missed me and my trip just below you.

Mel no we didn't buy any plants this morning, we didn't really need any but had a good wander round. I would have got some but OH kept chuntering about them being expensive so I gave up and wandered back into the main part to look round. In the end all we bought was a little yellow stone baby chick for Inara's garden when we go up. They are raising chicks at the moment and she has her own little garden and a bottle of rapes seed oil infused with basil.

when we got home the post came with the vouchers for Dobbies I have lost count of the number of times that happens.

So good you ha d a lovely break Frank. Nice to watch the boats at Brixham. I hav'nt been there for years. What a long wait in the car though while Jan was in the furniture place. No wonder you had achey arms and legs sitting all that time and the journey on top of that as well.

Vera that would be great if you could get them rooted. wrapped in polythene bags and well cusioned they should be ok. Would you like me to do the same for you with my pink one? I like your names for oh and thats just about right I think.

Yes Anng did you buy any plants and if so what please?

I am needing layers pellets but am ok for cor and I need some louse powder to put in the nest and houses so have asked oh if he needs anything from Mole Valley and see if I can get another delivery but I may not be able to now so will have to see how it goes and if they do click and collect of if I can pay for it and just pick it up. With the restricsion being lifed a bit they may not deliver now unless its over a certain amount. I am still ok for all my potting compost but I suppose I could have another three bags of horse manure compost for the border. I could do with some potting grit too.