General Chat

Morning all

Bright and sunny again today, OH is weeding, I've just found an 18 inch dandelion in one of my pots, so tipped the plant out of the pot and cut away the weed then put the plant back in it's pots, luckily it was a very small pot, so hopefully the weed won't grow back again. We have so many pots I hadn't noticed it growing and had quite a shock at the size of it.

Love all the pictures Mel, are there 10 chicks, I was trying to count them all, how cute. Love the rainbow picture was it made out of flowers, it looked like it on the picture? What was the link for you sent me, I couldn't get it to work?

Sorry your back's still a bit iffy AnnG, I hope it heals soon, it stops you doing all sorts doesn't it and then your worried it's going to get worse if you try to do things.

I see you were up early like Mel, Vera, I woke up early but went back to bed, I took my tablets late last night so was still tired, the extra few hours have made me feel more human now lol. I know how you feel about one day drifting into another we keep forgetting what day we're on.

It sounds like you're getting on well with your online crafts Ann, I'd love to see a pic of the owl when you're finished it. So you have a good camera, now all you need to do is learn how to use all the settings. At least you can go out a bit more now and have a go.

I found lots of bits and pieces for my family tree last night, so I'm going to go through all my notes and try and add some more people today.

Love the pics Mel, cute chicks aren't they? Love all baby birds. Clever blackbird following the pheasants for food.

Good morning all, hazy sun so far and not too warm. OH is busy trying to email a photo of a car off our CCTV to the police as there was a break in in the road our cul de sac comes off, on Thursday evening and they know the car sussed out our road first. He is having trouble with the website for reporting it. Even though he was given an email address last night when he phoned. Nothing is ever simple is it?

Vera I am sure that granddaughter will live her memory box, ours is one of many little folders to go in it. I have managed to include a pendant in it for her in the little envelope. Her mane present will be cash, the same amount that all four boys had probably plus a little bit more for 'interest' as the first one had his in 2006.
I slept quite well last night, back is still iffy but I am going very carefully this morning.

Sent them.

Morning Mel, morning all

Dull and grey when I got up at 7.30 but the sun is trying to break through now. I slept a bit better last night. I kept waking up but got back to sleep each time. I don’t really have any plans for today, one day drifts into another at the moment.

Aw, how lovely to see the pheasant chicks Mel. I look forward to seeing some pictures.

Morning all,

cloudy at the moment and I m cold. I did'nt know it was this early when I woke up and should have gone back to bed but I am up and will stay up. Anyway Iv'e made the bed.......

Drop off Em's eggs today and then pop to the shop for the paper and a few bits and bobs.

Yesterday afternoon I was just goin g up for the scripts when oh knock on the back door and ponited out the front. when I looked out the kitchen window there was Mrs Pheasent coming down the garden followed by 10 chicks. I took some pictures as I gave her some corn and she brought all the chicks to the road outside the back patio door and then Mr Phil came to join them and view his new brood and then he went off and Aunty came along and a Blackbird also came to the party. I got some pics which I will send later.

Good evening

It got quite sunny and warm this afternoon, though the garden could probably do with a bit of rain now. This morning I walked to the little Co-op and just got some milk. There was only one other person in there plus a couple of staff so easy to keep a distance. Then this afternoon I got some tomato plants into their final pots so that was another job out of the way.

AnninG, I hope your back eases up soon and you get a decent night’s sleep tonight. I’m like you and try to avoid taking too many painkillers though I did take some in the early hours of this morning but have managed all day without any. Your granddaughter will love her 18th birthday keepsake I’m sure, particularly as you have made it specially for her. One of my granddaughters is 18 in July as well. With the ones who have already had their 18th, we gave them a chunk of money to spend as they pleased and also bought them something to keep. The two girls had modern necklaces containing their birthstone, pearl for both of them, and the boy had a very posh wallet. I’m not sure what we will do for our July one. She’ll get the same money as the others and I would like to get her a piece of jewellery as well but, of course, we can’t shop for it at the moment. She might be getting an IOU.

Ann, you are certainly learning a lot at the moment. I think you must be our Zoom queen :-)

No Frank today. I hope everything is OK with him and Ros.

I’m still limiting my screen time so I am shutting down now. Sleep tight, sweet dreams everyone

Nigel was twelve. He went for a walk and had some food. Then just dies. Monty said he was not in pain he just went to sleep.

Evening All,

Another sunny day but quite chilly when the sun kept going in. I slept like a log last night but and sorry to hear Vera and AnnG didn't have a good night. Hopefully tonight will be better for you both.

I have been online a lot today, first a zoom camera session with the really good teacher Richard. We had to read out the printing around the lens of our cameras today (lots of numbers and dashes) and at the end of the section on lenses he pointed to my camera range on his white board and said it would cover most of what anyone would want to do. I was thinking of trading it in, but maybe I need to get to grips with all the settings instead! :-) I hope he will be doing another session next week as I am learning a lot from him. Then after a lunch of baked Pollock with 4 veg and mash I joined a session on wool felting in 3D which I hadn't tried yet. We started making an Owl. Mine has no eyes yet and is a work in progress. :-S We dropped our prescriptions in after and went for a little ride in the car, just locally. The roads were much, much busier so a lot must have gone back to work. We passed a F&C shop and people were queuing outside, no social distancing though. That is my worry, that people think everything is back to normal and don't keep their distance. It's not reducing your risk if others encroach on your space.

Yes Mel, I'd read that Nigel had had some growths removed from his mouth a while ago but I don't know if that was anything to do with the cause. I don't know how old he was but he was clearly getting to be an old boy. I haven't caught up with the newer gardeners world progs so didn't know about Patty.

Bright and sunny here today but not very warm, there's a bit of a cold breeze around.

I didn't know Nigel had passed away, poor Monty, he must be gutted. Nigel will be missed on Gardeners world. Monty has another little dog called Patti, she's so cute, but doesn't keep still long enough to see much of her. I think Nell is going to miss Nigel to.

Sorry to hear you've had a bad night Vera, I hope you feel a bit better now.

Good idea to take it slowly today AnnG, your back sounds quite painful, I hope it's starting to feel a little better now.

I've been trying to do my family tree again, but haven't found anyone, so I'm going to get something to eat and watch a bit of TV, then try again later.

It is in the part just above my hip, sort of 'in' my waist and feels tight rather than being a sharp pain. It is more painful sitting than standing/walking. I try to avoid painkillers, not supposed to take Ibrofen (Nurofen) and paracetamol is not supposed to be any good for back pain. I use deep hear and/or Voltarol.

Hope it eases off soon AnnG take some painkillers and give it a rest today.

Good morning all. cloudy with very occasional sun here. quite warm when the sun is out chilly when it is not.
Cynth has gone for the shopping so will have some bits to wipe later. Had to oreder new cutters for making scones and they will arrive sometime today. I got fed up using a glass to cut them, I don't as a rule do much baking and the old plastic ones broke a couple of weeks ago.

Not sure what I am doing today, there will be something. Didn't have a good night last night my back is playing up again and I keep tweaking it, don't want it to get really bad again so I am going very carefully.

Morning Vera and all,

So sorry to hear you've had a headachey night Vera but I hope you can take something to relieve the pain.

We have dry weather with blue sky and very big white clouds passing over so the sun goes in sometimes. There is a breeze but I hav'nt been out yet so don't know if its cold or not.

I must go up for our scripts today I keep forgeting and some are missing now.

Probably go up the border this afternoon but we will see how the day progresses.

Wrote this at 9.30am and forgot to post it.

Good morning

Another iffy, headachey night. It looks fairly bright outside today but I don’t know how warm it is. I didn’t do much at all yesterday so I hope I can find a bit more energy today. I’m just having a CoT, then I’ll dress and read the paper over breakfast and decide how to spend the day. I hope you all have a good day and stay safe. Will probably be back later.

PS. Meant to say thanks for the garden photos Mel. It’s looking quite colourful and the rose looks good against that old wall.

O I don't have apaper or read the news on the pc. I did'nt know Nigel had died how very sad I was only htinking last week how lovely he is/was. I do like the new Patty though and she will be a friend for Nellie.

Evening All,

Another sunny day but still chilly when the sun went in and not warm enough for dining outside so we ate in the conservatory today. OH seems busier than before the lockdown now and has had 3 meetings online today. I did 2 more free zoom sessions, one on making fabric flowers which was good and another on camera settings which I know little about! I have 2 more tomorrow. I planted some japanese bunching onion seeds today in a big plastic pot that was in the pile for the tip! I thought I may as well make use of it for now. :-)

I hope your scan comes through soon Jane and your echo appointment and that the results are good. It will be good for you to meet up with Fitz for a catch up. I hope his wife is better now.

Gill I hope your OH is successful with this latest job as it sounds promising, especially as he could be useful in 2 ways for them. Do you hear from Sandra very often now? That's good of your OH to help his friend with his garden.

Mel, aren't you able to use the well water for the garden? As you say a watering can wouldn't go far with your big plot. Thanks for the photos, the Irises and other flowers are looking good and fancy your 'shadow' following you! The Magpies are a pain here looking for things to eat. They pull some of my rock plants out and I have to keep replanting them. :-S I hope you don't have vine weevils in your Delphinium. You have had a busy few hours in the garden so I hope you haven't overdone it for your back.

es it was a shame about Monty's Nigel Mandy and I expect Nellie is missing him too.

I think our tip is open now Vera but we aren't in any rush to go while there will be a lot of people around or to any supermarkets either. Not that I will anyway, but I would sooner get fed up of these 4 walls than any ICU ones in a hospital!

Fingers crossed he gets the job Gill ,if it's the same managers there hopefully they will remember him and he'll stand a good chance of getting it .

Yes gardeners world again tomorrow Mel, did you read that Monty has lost his dog Nigel ,he died suddenly but peacefully and he's now buried in the garden with his tennis balls .

That's what the black bird did to my wall pots ,the compost went every where and Max found the plant and brought it indoors .

Still lovely sun shine here but really chilly so i've covered up some of my plants in the green house .

I have done another hour and three quarters up there but had to come down to feed the chickens and have a drink and a nice piece of sponge cake I made the other day. I have left all my bits up the border inc ase I go back up for half an hour.

Gill he may stand a chance at the place that wants a handyman if he has worked there before thye will now him. Good luck with the application and I hope he gets it.

Forgot to go and get the scripts today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means two trips up the shop tomorrow and the day after.

Where has this week gone????? It only seems like yesterday I was watching Gardeners World and its on again tomorrow.

I am missing my craft but who wants to sit indoors doing that when the weather is so nice. I want to be outside enjoying it and getting things done I can't do when its raining or too cold to go out there.

The bl**dy Blackbird decided to dig out the earth from one of my flowers on the patio. It made such a mess chucking the soil all over the paving. I put the plant in the shed as its a Delphinium I bought last year and never got in the border but if he was digging in it I hope it has'nt got vine weevils in it. I may have to have a look before I plant it.

Oh I see Mel, no you don't want another big water bill, I just though it might make the ground a bit softer and easier on your back to dig. It sounds a heavy job.

OH came in with an application form before, so I filled it in for him, my handwriting is neater than his lol. It's for a handyman at a care home he used to work for, I was sneaky and added carer as well as handyman in the space for position applied, even though they don't need a carer at the moment, I didn't think it would do any harm, I also mentioned that he did both jobs at their care home in the past, so hopefully that'll stand him in good stead. He's taken the form back to them so hopefully he'll hear something as it sounds like they are desperate for a handyman and if they know he's a qualified carer they may offer him some shifts as well if anyone's off ill. He still has his police check, it's only a few months old, so they can see he's been checked. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed he's lucky enough to get an interview now. He never heard anything from the other application forms he handed in.

No Mandy, OH hasn't always been a carer, he used to work in a couple of garages for Richard Lawson and Mercedes and he's also worked in recycling, he'll turn his hand to anything to earn money for the bills.

He was going to ring an agency for carers today but since Boris has changed the rules he's going to wait and see what happens. If there's another spike in Coronavirus he doesn't want to be in the middle of it as agency work requires you to go from place to place which could be quite dangerous at the moment. He's got a chest infection and has started on antibiotics today so doesn't think agency work is a good idea at the moment. He's going to wait a couple of weeks and see what happens on the news, his present job will be over then so he won't need to give notice, which will also be better on application forms.

It is a worry though when the staff keep saying they don't want him to get another job, I know they're not allowed to give a bad reference but you just don't know what they might say over the phone to put people off so they can have him back when lockdown is completely over. It's not fair on OH though as our bills still have to be paid and we need to eat. Thankfully he'll have another months wages soon, but that won't last forever.

Afternoon all,

I have given myself a break from reading. Ros has done two loads of washing, where it all comes from, with just the two of us, I don't know. :-D :-D :-D . She has been busy on the machine again and done another 15 bags this morning/afternoon. She is now sitting on the patio, threading the tape through the tops. It's nice that she is out there getting a bit of sunshine, all this machining and knitting, doesn't get her outside.

Two ready meals for tonight, It will be nice having a couple of days off from cooking. When I think back my poor old MUM, had Dad and us FIVE CHILDREN under the age of SEVEN to cook for everyday.she never got a break from it. BLESS HER. ;-) ;-)

We are very lucky that we don't have any rubbish, that needs to go to the tip. We can get all our garden rubbish in the green bin, If we do have any over, we use one of the neighbours, as we can always find room in someones.

We have two BIG bags of compost sitting in the wheelbarrow on the patio, waiting to go down to the greenhouse. I keep thinking of taking down, then I think, I have three steps to gone down to get on the lawn. I don't want to change taking a tumble, so will leave it until either someone calls, or Tracy next door calls round. She is as tough as old boots, and as strong as a horse. Don't tell her I said that. :-P :-P :-P :-P. nd she will do it for me. Otherwise I can see Madam doing it, and I don't want her having a fall. !!!!

Still quite bright and sunny this afternoon. So I think I will end up watering this evening.There is talk of cold nights and bright days. I did cover the beans last night, and will leave the covers on them, till the nights start to warm up again.

Time for a cuppa and a piece of Mr. Kiplings fruit cake. Take care. xxxx