General Chat

Morning Anng and all,

Nice day again here but there is more breezey wind today .

Oh got the mower deck on the old mower yesterday after he had finished giving it a make over. It cuts fine and is a 42 inch cut but it makes so much noise he is going to take it off again today and have a look to see if anything can be done about it.

Me I shall potter and may go up the border today and put some of the mulch I bought onthe peonys and around the clematis up there. I should have cut them down a bit earlier but did'nt get around to it and they have both flowered so I am reluctant to cut them now. Oneof them is the one I cut down by mistake once and it soon grew again and better than before but its so dry up on the south wall I thinkI will just leave it this year. The other one has gone into the New Dawn rose so I have pale pink and blue flowers of the clematis.

Must away and get something done inside before gardening.

Good morning all.
Vera exercise is good if you want to do it or feel you can but it is OK not to do it when you are tired, it would probably do more harm than good then.
I bet those penstemons look lovely, I found a self seeded one in the garden near another one so have left it there for now.
My OH is great at seed planting and nurturing seedlings etc but I rarely have any indication of colours as, although he swears he labelled them the labels are never anywhere to be found at planting out time and he is ALWAYS surprised at that!! :-D

Annx reading your list I can see how you can double up on my numbers. Being limited means that I can't order things like make-up, magazines, anything that is not food or cleaning stuff. strangely it actually had not occurred to me to do so. also, of course we do have the four or five items that cynth next door collects for us twice a week, that includes the weekly local paper and the TV magazine. and, yes we did have a good store cupboard before, now sadly depleted, we were used to eating out once or twice a week and I do miss that, especially as OH can only cook fry ups or curry with cooked meat.

Evening All,

Well stopping the clapping will make no difference round here as no one has since the first night Nextdoor is a retired Hospital Sister and diagonally opposite, the son works in a hospital but they don't clap either. All we hear round here is all the fireworks they keep letting off instead which just scares pets and wildlife.

Well my last order was quite a big one but because Asda seem to regularly run out of different things and limit some things I decided to double up on eg cleaning materials like bleach and disinfectant and dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid and some food. They haven't had the handwash that lasts me ages before, so I ordered 2. Because they only had the small bottles they sent me 4 small ones instead so you can see how the items add up! I ordered 2 packs of 4 egg custards, but got 4 packs of 2. My order included 5 magazines, several each of different make up items, moisturisers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, paintbrushes, cake tins, tea towels, cloths, shoe polish, gel insoles, several packs of Hayfever tablets. Bear in mind with not doing much cooking before the lockdown I didn't have such well stocked cupboards as most, so doubled up on various gravy stocks, garlic paste. tomato paste. I bought half a dozen packet sauce mixes (can't stand long to make them now). I buy rice I can just microwave so there were 10 packs of those in different varieties. Because we haven't had any shopping fetched for us and haven't been in any shops ourselves for anything since March, I order dried milk for custard, sauces and cocoa. Fresh veg alone came to 11 items, so I don't know how you manage with just 80 items for a fortnight, which is how often we have a delivery.

This morning I did a rag rugging session on Zoom which was good and she showed us how to make a Hedgehog! I discovered it is a friend's wedding anniversary tomorrow and I potted up a cutting of one of my shrubs for her a few months ago and it is growing nicely now. We don't normally even do cards, except at Christmas and I hadn't any anniversary ones, so I decided to make one this afternoon using card and some old coloured envelopes and paint and will leave it on her doorstep in the morning along with the card and then text her to let her know it is there. My car needs fuel so OH will come with me as he wants to know if there are any rules about filling up!

We haven't walked anywhere yet except the garden, but I have a cross trainer, treadmill and exercise bike and can still use the latter with my knees and OH uses the cross trainer sometimes. We also use the wi fit for things like table tennis and I do some of the balance exercises. Not as nice as the countryside though, but it's other people not being careful that bothers me.

Yesterday I completed a questionnaire from a University student. They are looking at the differences in things like exercise since the lockdown and effect on joint stiffness, effect on the amount of sitting, hours watching tv etc! It was a very long questionnaire, but his email today said his first replies back suggest we are all doing more exercise cleaning and gardening and people are doing more running now!!

So Max's pantry is stocked up again Mandy! I hope he got some treats as well. :-D

Vera, that's just the sort of thing my OH would do, moving things around! I hope your colours turn out ok and not all the same at one end! You sound s if you got quite a bit done today.

I hope they haven't forgotten about the Orchids Mel. It would be a shame if they mow over them and they are lost.

You did well with your walk AnnG and a bit of stiffness isn't surprising. Yes, take care of your back! My side was ok when I got up but soon started to hurt each time I lifted my foot that side, just like having stitch.

Just after OH had been muttering loudly about the B%%%$$$ dog next door barking just the other side of the fence while we had lunch, the family turned up there, which was naughty really as the next easement isn't until next Monday and was only announced today.

OH had 2 meetings online today so has masses to write up.

I hope Frank's eyes are ok and that Gill's changeover went well.

I'll send a pic of the little card I made now. Don't look too closely AnnG!!

I’m pleased you enjoyed your walk AnnG. I haven’t had a walk today yet and am now feeling so tired that I doubt if I will go out later.

I did some work in the garden this morning. I decided to move some penstemon cuttings from where I had planted them and put them in the second of the big troughs we bought. The troughs are now side by side against one of the fences and even OH said he thought they looked good and will make a nice colourful patch when they are in bloom. It might be a bit of a mixed batch as I don’t know what colours they are, in spite of me labelling the cuttings. I’d grouped various pots with a cutting in each on seed trays and just put a note in each tray to say what they were. At some point the seed trays had been used and the pots all put together so I don’t know which is which. Now I wonder what little gremlin did that? Could it possibly have been OH? I also planted another trough up with some geranium cuttings and then washed out 3 more troughs, loads of flower pots and a few other bits. That all took me till lunch time.

This afternoon I had the Tesco delivery and that was fine. One item missing but I had said not to substitute if they didn’t have it in stock and one substitution; that was some cheese. I had ordered a small block (230g?) which they didn’t have so they sent me a large block (450g) of the same cheese, and of course I was only charged for the small size. I think I’ve now got the wiping down to a fine art. It took me exactly an hour and a half. Ann, I’d be hard pushed to order 177 items unless it was for a month or so - what on earth are you buying? I have a delivery roughly every 2 weeks. I have to think about what I am getting but 80 items allows me enough for all our food and household products and a bit of leeway for some extras. This time I got some wine and beer.

I do hope the orchids in the field near you are saved Mel. So many of these wild flowers have disappeared with intensive farming. We were living in a very rural area when stubble burning was stopped and it was wonderful to see all the verges coming back to life after a year or two.

Has your switchover happened yet Gill? Yes, you are right about the clapping for the NHS ending tonight. The woman who first started it has said it has gone on long enough and I agree with her. I think it should have been ended four or five weeks ago. It’s losing its impact now. I was going to say more but my views might upset some people so better I hold my tongue. Anyway I will go out and clap tonight for one last time.

I wonder if Frank is having problems with his eyes. It isn’t like him to be missing for a couple of days which is a bit concerning.
Jane, I’m thinking of you as always. I hope you’ve had a lovely day with your family. Keep your pecker up.

I’ve got an expensive month coming up. In the six weeks from the end of May to early July we have loads of close family birthdays plus a few friends. Starting with OH and Dil on Tuesday we have all four of our granddaughters, a stepgrandson, and my daughter and they will all get decent presents and then we have a niece and three friends who will just get cards or small presents.

Eldest granddaughter sent me a recording via Dropbox. It’s from Bonnie and Clyde and is a song called “Dying ain’t so bad”. My daughter had written three part harmonies for it and granddaughter sang all three parts and then married them together so she is harmonising with herself. It’s very clever.

Well, OH has just given me a glass of wine and told me dinner will be ready at 7 pm. He is cooking tonight. Funny how he always offers to cook when it’s a ready meal and he only has to take it out of the fridge and put it in the oven.

We did'nt hear any clapping here even though there are a few houses not far from each other.

Don't think they always text you to tell you they have switched Gill.

No I hav'nt got round to the docks yet but am just having a cool down. I did repot one of my cape primroses as its leaves were going yellow and when I tipped it out of its pot it had only rooted in the first inch and a bit of compost. Maybe it was too wet :-S :-S :-S

I also have the dinner on and was going to make a meat pie so I better get the pastry out of the freezer while I think of it.

They were my cuttings from last year.

I've not had a text to say the switch over has happened so I can only guess it hasn't yet. I decided to fix some screening today thinking the switch over would of happened when I'd finished, so I hope it stays on while I type this post.

That was nice of the young lad to help you with your shopping Mandy, I think it would speed things up for the queue as well.

It sounds like you had a lovely walk AnnG, is your OH playing golf tomorrow or has he not decided yet?

Did you get your docks cleared Mel, it's been very hot here, I think I've caught the sun on my face it's gone a bit red. I forgot to put sunscreen on, silly me.

It's quiet on here today, I hope Frank is okay it's not like him not to post.

Thinking of Jane and hoping she's okay.

I've just heard on the news that tonight might be the last clap for carers. I hope not it's nice to hear it every Thursday.

Yes enjoyed the walk Mandy but my legs and ankles are stiff now. OH is out planting French marigolds, usually my job but my back won't take all the bending this year.
Mel, it is next week I think he wants to play or maybe even tomorrow. They have to book so no doubt he will decide later. People playing on the course were mostly obeying the distancing rules.
Did you get the docks done? Oh I hope the orchids survive. I remember last year you got her to protect them.

I took a few photos on the walk so I might just go and put them on the blog.

glad you enjoyed your walk Anng so T did'nt get his 9 holes in? but enjoyed the walk.

I really need togo out and do some gardening but its so hot out there. I have a lot of docks to cut down out the back of the patio where the oil tank is and pull up the nettles too.
Next door but one is cutting the field thats sort of next to us and it smells lovely. I just hope he dos'nt mow over all the orchids that are in there. I did sho Jane where they were last year but she has only put one pole in this year instead of a ring of them. You can see where they grow cos theres no docks or cow parsley growing there which is a bit odd really. Its as if the fairies have made it safe for them to grow there. All the rest of the field is high grass and sorrel and cow parsley and toher things but this one large ring is just soft grass with maybe a little bit of sorrel.

So Max has his rations then Mandy he will be ok for another month then. You did say it last him about a month did'snt you?

Wll this is'nt getting me out in the garden so I better go and do something.

Still no Frank?????????

Well I am tired now Lol!! We drove to the golf club and parked there, then walked a short stretch of The Glevum Way which is a footpath that runs parallel to the 9 hole course (there are two courses) and back to the car, beautiful day and lovely to hear the birds singing. and except for people over on the course we only passed four people. It is a very wide path. 2 miles all together so not really far unless the furthest you have walked in almost 10 weeks is half a mile :-D :-D It was very enjoyable and good to get away from the house for a while.

Afternoon all,

Lovely sunny day here ,we nipped out to mole valley for dog food and it was three allowed in the store at a time there was a young lad on the door and i told him what i wanted and when it was my turn he went and got it for me put it on my trolley and i went to the till to pay ,Colin was in the car so he got out and lifted it in the boot so nice and easy .

We came home and sat out and had a coffee , I cooked a piece of gammon ,scrapped some potatoes and had a hoover through while Colin cut the front grass and got the dog food in .

Gill i hope the change over goes ok today .

Enjoy your walk later AnnG ,i should think OH would be fine at golf he's out in a wide open space so should be ok .

Have a lovely day with your family Jane ,you'll be able to sit out in the garden today with this lovely weather .

Hope all goes well for the change over today Gill and you will be back with us ok.

Love to Jane and we are all thinking about you and sending love and wishes. <3 <3

Morning Anng and all,

Lovely day again here this morning but with a bit more breeze which is stirring the trees. I must admit to not going out there yet as I hav'nt been up long.

Hope T can enjoy his golf again soon.

Hope Frank posts today its not like him not to post if he's able.

good morning, hope all goes well with Gill's change over etc.

Annx I am still trying to work out where I could find another 97 items (thinking of your 177 items) that would be a tremendous number of things. I could do with maybe 10 more but not 97 more!!.

Nice morning again here, might go for a walk later before it gets too hot. OH is now itching to get back for 9 holes of golf (Only 9 allowed at the moment). so maybe next week he will. I am not keen but can't stop him of course.

I do hope Frank is ok. Perhaps his eye is bad and he can't see properly to type on the keyboard. I just hope he has'nt had another fall and hurt himself.

Vera the window cleaner takes cash, no card reader. Our neighbour who gets small amounts twice a week of milk, veg, bread etc which come to about £10 a time takes cash. We don’t go to shops but have always used cards then before anyway. I had cash saved which was used for the grandchildren when we saw them. And I have used that so wanted to replace it. I would hate a time when we can’t use cash. I actually read that cash is not a problem with the virus, it won’t live on there long. Put it away, wash my hands. Can’t be paranoid about everything.

Just a quickie to let you know I might not be on here tomorrow it's switch over day for my broadband and BT have said my Internet will go off for a while. I'm hoping to fix some screening in the garden so I won't know if the switch over has happened until I try to come online, so if I'm not on here you'll know why.

I laughed at OH’s bag of peas Mel. I imagined standing there counting them out.

I don’t think Asda have any limits. Tesco say that the idea with their limits is so that everyone gets a fair share. I don’t usually find it too bad but I am still trying to get my head round veg and fruit and to an extent meat. Till lockdown I used to have a Tesco order of tinned and dried goods etc about every 4-6 weeks and buy all my veg etc fresh each week. It was easy with several other supermarkets around and a twice weekly market but now everything has to come from Tesco so I have to get my head a bit more in gear.

I can’t remember if I already said that our window cleaners have started work again this week. It’s wonderful, I can actually see out of the windows again.

I’m sure it’s none of my business but I wondered why you needed to draw cash AnnG. No-one round here will take cash. It’s card or nothing. The paper delivery and window cleaners are paid by online bank transfer as they always have been.

Evening All,

Another lovely sunny day and not too hot earlier so I got more of my rocks in place after some readjustment. I'd had enough then as the weight of these rocks leave my hands and arms all shaky after a while with gripping them.

Fancy getting no milk Mel! I think with us having just skimmed milk they are less likely to run out of that. I haven't noticed a limit on the number of items with Asda either. They limit the amount to 2 or 3 of some items but I had 177 items on my order last Sunday. I don't think 80 items is much and just means people will need more slots.

We had just started our lunch when a chap arrived next door with a chain saw and started cutting the hedge and saplings at the bottom of their garden. What a racket and then the other side a chap arrived and started putting new fence panels in, so we gave up and went inside. OH had a meeting on line soon after and had just got into it when the chainsaw started up again in the front garden this time to trim the neighbour's trees by his caravan. Not only that, the shredder close to our bungalow screamed into action next so I had to whizz round shutting windows, doors and drawing curtains to dampen the noise down, so OH could hear his meeting! Next thing, because their barbecue area had been cleared of the overhanging saplings, they decided to light it and the fumes were awful and came straight into our conservatory and lounge. It has been even worse since they moved their barbecue to our side of the garden and I felt so ill and wobbly I had to go and lie down for an hour.

That's good you got your sacks Mel and the sack barrow will have helped you move them! We don't disinfect our baskets and the thin carrier bags Asda use either. OH has gloves on and puts all the thin bags into one bag and puts the bag into one of the baskets. We don't touch them then for 5 days by which time the virus has died. The thin bags are then used as bin liners in the kitchen bin. What a good idea to get smaller watering cans! ;-) ;-) We need a couple more so I shall make sure they are SMALL! I have just the same trouble as you with the hose too, with it never seeming to be where I want to use it! I did have a short hose direct from the water butts into the back of the greenhouse that I could use direct into the tomato pots but 'you know who' managed to break the connector at the beginning of the year......to be fair it was old so not surprising.

Good luck with your wiping down tomorrow Vera! These men are all the same aren't they......just don't think what they are doing! I couldn't believe mine when he was using a squirty bottle of disinfectant to spray a cloth to clean the bin lids. It was one of those pump bottles and he was holding it with the bottom of the bottle up in the air and expecting it to work and was telling me it was no good!! :-S :-S I could just imagine him rubbing his eye too! I have been sent a video by Zoom to help you get the most from it I think. If it tells you haw to set up a meeting I will forward it in case you want to try.

Mandy my side was much improved till I whizzed round reaching up to shut all the windows for OH. It is still improving though and I was careful doing the rocks. I see the vet is being careful too and delaying the boosters and that Max will still be wormed and de-flead to keep them at bay. What a shame those barriers were in the way though and scratched the side of your car. I hope some polish will buff them out for you. It only needs the slightest touch to leave a scratch.

I'm off to bed early again now as I want to be up early again in the morning and put a few more plants in before the sun beats down. I must slather some cream on my arms and shins as the skin is so dry from the sun I shall soon have the skin of a Rhino!! lol. :-)

Yes it is Tesco with the 80 items you would think they would want you to spend more money but I suppose we do as we buy larger jars etc.
Yes Vera I spend ages trying to get the best selection and I already have to sort the next list while this one is fresh so I don’t order what I already have. I already have over 70 items on the next one.
And I read Mel’s post the same as you. Vera :-D

Have tidied the shed so I an get all this compost in . So far there are three bags in there and 5 more to go in yet but I have come in for a cuppa.