General Chat

Afternoon All,

I thought it seemed a bit warmer here today, but I've only walked up the garden to open the greenhouse this morning. I'm going out there with my pruners after I've done this post. We are all in the same boat with garden rubbish I think. We are thankful for the new garden bin which I was a bit dubious as to whether we really needed one, but I'm thankful now! If only we could see what was round the corner Vera, your OH would have soon got a garden bin! We still have plastic bags of rubbish stood outside the shed and OH will cut some of the prunings to go in the bin once we(I) have finished the pruning. OH is moving more of the raised bed soil onto the middle beds today and some of the waterfall rocks need levelling with more soil under them.

Oh Mel, what a shame about your oil, but I think the speed of what's happened with this virus has made it hard to remember everything to check and get or order. Hopefully you will get your oil soon. Do you have any electric heaters or calor gas heaters? If not you would have to stay in the kitchen with the oven on and the oven door open. Yes the pendants were very good. I wondered how you made the holes in them.

I hope you didn't get too bruised in your fall Frank. We haven't had falls but do the same as AnnG suggests and sit on the edge of the bed for a few moments before standing up. It is suggested you do that as you get older to give your blood pressure time to adjust.

It's nice to stop and have a drink outside and admire your handiwork Mandy. I bet Max has been sunning himself and flopping on the warm slabs too.

Afternoon all,

What a morning. We set off for Tesco's via the Post Office to post Jan's B'Day Present. When we got to Tesco's the queue was the length of the walk way ( a good 150 yards) Ros pulled up at a Tesco chap, and asked is this was the QUEUE. He said YES. So she said GOODBYE. and we drove out. We went to the smaller Tesco in Towcester and they were queuing for miles. So we gave up and went to LIDL. Ros was in there for ages, a lot of the stuff she wanted they didn't have, plus she didn't know where things were, so had to walk up and down the isles to find things.

The line of bedding she put out before we went out, is dry, and a load of colours have to go out.

Couldn't see ant bruises this morning, when I showered, but my left side feels very sore. Any bruises might come out later. Good idea to get balanced before moving on, I must try that. THANKS.

I can't believe how little traffic there is on the roads. As we crossed the M1 there were loads of lorries, but very few cars. So it looks as though people are doing as they are told and STAY INDOORS.

Eos got Valerie a few bits she wanted, and left them on her doorstep and rang the bell. When Val answered Ros was at the bottom of her path, and they chatted from a distance. Just can't be too careful.

Time for a coffee and something to eat. I did have cereal and a bacon sarnie this morning with two COT. But I am peckish again now. Then I will have to see about what to have for dinner tonight. COLD LAMB I expect with VEG.


I hope you and yours are all taking care of yourselves. STAY SAFE. xxxx

Afternoon all

I'm here AnnG, had a bit of a morning so have only just got online.

Bright and sunny but next door is being noisy again with his jobs, so I gave up sitting outside and thought I'd take a look at all my kits, only to find that everyone of them needs extra things that I have to buy to do them, obviously I can't buy them so I can't do any kits for now. I'm not having much luck today am I?

OH is now working every day, he came in last night and told me he has a further three shifts to do on top of his normal shifts. At least it's time and a half for the extra shifts......the tax man is going to love him. He finally got access to his wage slip, so that's been sorted, hopefully his wages will go in okay next week now.

Oh dear Mel, running out of oil isn't good, I hope they can deliver to you soon. Love the pics you sent.

Fancy the blue anemone popping up Vera, it's very pretty maybe it'll spread, that'll be nice. I can't do anymore in our garden at the moment, we don't pay for the garden bin and the tip is shut. With having so much rubbish already I've now got no where to put anymore, so the garden will have to wait a while. Luckily it looks okay for now. I did notice our bluebells are coming through in our pots, so I can re-arrange the pots if I get really bored. I do that anyway, but need help with the bigger pots, but I could move the smaller ones around to make the border look a bit different.

I see your OH has been doing some pressure washing AnnG. Does you're take long to do? Good idea to do all your outside jobs now, I noticed on the weather it's going to be colder from tomorrow and into next week.

Sorry to hear you had a fall Frank, I hope you are okay and not to sore today. Pleased to see your lamb cooked nicely. That was nice of Harvey to order the element you need, hopefully it won't be long before your oven is back up and running for you.

I've just seen that people are going to be clapping at 8pm tonight on the news Mandy, will you be doing it? I'm not sure if anyone in our street will, but I'll take a look and see later.

Our doctors surgery was on the news last night, apparently they are treating some people in the car park, what ever next?

How are your's and OH's arms today Ann, not to achy I hope? You'd think they'd want people to make just one trip to the pharmacy, not three, fancy them not sorting your meds out so they could all be picked up at the same time, it would make more sense and of course be safer for you with not having to go out more times than you need to.

I hope you're feeling okay Jane, I've been thinking of you. <3 Is James all prepped ready for his second interview now?

I think I'll see if there's anything on TV to watch, I'm really bored today. I think being on my own all the time is starting to get to me, especially when I can't do my craft kits, which I was looking forward to doing.

Good afternoon all. OH has had a final go at the pressure washing, he just had one bit left to do in the front of the house (in the garden). I have been out and dead headed all the little tete a tete daffs, they have been in flower since the end of January but are almost over now. good job we have some tulips in bud. It is another lovely day today, a bit cooler than yesterday 12 degrees out there at the moment, but it is still warm enough to sit in the sun.

Annx I think we must have lost the rhubarb which is a shame. Never mind we may try again later.

Mel, not a good time to run out of oil so I hope you can get your felivery OK.

Mandy nice to have pictures from the grandchildren, we are so used to not seeing ours that it doesn't seem any different. Actually because the little ones are having home schooling and other activities to keep them occupied I am seeing more photos on FB.

Glad that you all liked the WI poem.

Frank hope you don't have any bruises from that fall, it sounds as if one of your legs gave way. When you get out of bed do you do what we do, rest on or against the edge of the bed until you get your balance?

Vera I am sure you found plenty to do in the garden. I am so grateful for our brown bin, It was absolutely full on Tuesday when collected, well worth the money to us.

No Gill yet.

Morning all,

Lovely and bright here again ,we been out doing a bit in the garden and now stopped for coffee ,it does seem a bit cooler out there today.

Mel fancy running out of oil ,will you need someone to bleed the system as you've got so low ,you might have air in the system now .

Frank enjoy your ride out in the car ,hope Ros can find alll she needs in Tesco's I think the super markets are getting back to normal a bit now , well they seem to be this way,not that we've been out .

Vera we're getting a few tubs of garden rubbish now too ,just got to store it until we can get out again .

Love to Jane and hope Fitz's OH is coping with the virus that was a very high temperature she had poor thing .

I see tonight they want people to go to their windows at eight o'clock and clap for all
the NHS workers what a marvellous job they are all doing ,they have been doing that in Italy too I see.

Morning Mel and all

Sunny here again today but there’s still a cold breeze. I’m just going to see what I can do in the garden for an hour. Trouble is our garage is getting full of sacks of garden rubbish to go to the tip and we can’t take it. When I wanted to pay for a garden waste bin OH said it wasn’t necessary while we could get to the tip. He’ll regret saying that when the garage is so full that he can’t get the car in.

I hope you get some oil in soon Mel. You could always keep warm by cuddling up close together :-D

Good morning FAIR MAIDENS. lol lol

The Lamb cooked to perfection, and Ros said she loved the roasted Potato's and Parsnips. I did Runners,Brussels, greens, peas and Carrots for VEG.

Stay up until 10.30 last night. Slept well till 3.00 an when I wanted the loo. As I went down the side of the bed, I went down like a sack of SPUDS. Got myself trapped between the bottom of the bed, and the radiator. Ros woke with a start, and tried to help me up. Finally I was able to grab the bedclothes and haul myself onto the bed. After the loo, I slept until 7.30. Ros didn't sleep well, and finally got up at 10.00 am.

We are getting low on a few things, so Ros is going to Tesco's a bit later, and hopefully get what we need. DEAR TONY next door has been to Tesco/Morrisons, without bothering to ask us if we wanted anything. So to shame him, Ros rang to ask if he needed anything. GOOD NEIGHBOUR OR WHAT.

As I had trouble ordering and paying for the new cooker element. Harvey did it for me. It will be delivered to him, and he will arrange to come and fit it.

Another beautiful morning here, Ros has just asked if I would like to go to Tesco's with her and sit in the car while she pops in. I think I will take her up other offer. xxx

Morning all,

Another nice sunny day here but they forcast wind and colder next week. Not a good sign as our heating oil ran out last night. We don't have any open fire or emersion heater and its something we have not thought to do to check our tank. I rang them this morning and told them this and they are going to get to us as soon as they can. Bit akward as we have to have the small tanker to get into the garden through the wall. Good news is that oil is down by 20p a litre so if any of you need any order it now.

Thanks for your comments on my pendants. You seemed to like my dragons tooth. I may do another one of those a bit different.

Just doing our spag bol.

Evening all,

What a lovely day it's been again ,we sat out this morning and it was really hot we had to take our jackets off .

So many posts to catch up with but i see everyone is keeping busy ,we have had a good tidy up in the garden today and had lots of pictures from the little ones ,tomorrow we will ring them after the school work has been done ,it does seem strange not to see them .

Mel all the pendants you've made are lovely ,what will you do with the stags horn ?

Vera that was a nice surprise to see the blue Anemone in with the others ,they are a pretty little flower .

AnnG i loved the Women's Institute email very funny .

I was my sisters birthday today ,i can't remember the last time i didn't see her on her birthday ,i rang and we had a good chat and we'll have a get together once every thing has calmed down ,she said she won't forget this birthday !!!!

Yes, it will be tomorrow now as you say AnnG! Our rhubarb is about a foot long, so I would have thought yours would have put in an appearance by now, unless some are later than others like Vera says. Mine has travelled with me to each of my homes since I first got married aged 22. I did bring a champagne rhubarb with me from my previous house as well, but I lost that one winter.

My previous home was covered in blue Chionodoxa at the front Vera and I brought a clump with me here. I also have some that is pink which is pretty too. You have been busy sorting things out like your dishwasher and now the boiler, so that was enough to do I think. Our water meter is in the ensuite and the meter reader clips something over a black plastic bit on the outside wall. Fancy your meter being so far away from your property. It's a wonder your OH found it.

I looked at our surgery online and they have changed it so you cannot order anything ahead of the due date at all. This is annoying as I have 3 things due on different dates in April and some in May. I do wish doctors would try to prescribe so you can order everything together to save trips to the pharmacy. I tried to sign up for delivery by the pharmacy but they are so overwhelmed they are not signing any new customers on at the moment. We waited till now so that we were sure the doctor had changed one of OH's prescriptions we have just requested before we signed up for the future. :-S

We tested out the new Wii remote tonight on Wii sports. The new one makes a sound like a strangled chicken, so that kept making us laugh, but otherwise everything is working ok now. I think we will both have arm ache tomorrow.

I expect Conrad lives on his own in Spain Frank so it must be worrying. It sounds like he has provisions in and staying in should hopefully protect him now. I think if I were Simon and Sally I would rather be at home. If one of them becomes sick it would be hard to keep far apart from each other on a boat. Yes keep an eye on that lamb so it doesn't end up as cinders like the sausages! Anything large in our ordinary oven in the microwave can tend to burn on the top. I think it's because the element above is so close.

Done some sweeping up in the garden outside my shed as moss is growing all over the tarmac and lots of bits off the ash tree laying around. Brought the washing in and ironed the lot lus a couple of bits from the last wash.

Sitting and having a cuppa now. I have been trying to get on the Asda site but they have a blip on it and you can't get through. They said at first it was high percentage of calls.

I keep getting Dartington Crystal send me emails with offers and its getting on my nerves they seem to be coming every week.

Ooh Mel I forgot to comment on your pendant I think my favourite is the one with purple beads on it. They are very unusual.

Ann I think what you are waiting for will be tomorrow.

Thank you for your message Elizabeth. Every good wish to you and your family. Stay safe and well?? (Not sure why there are 2 question marks. It should have been a heart)

It’s a beautiful day here but there is still quite a nip in the air. It’s fine outside if you are moving about but a bit chilly to sit and read. I sat in the conservatory with the door open but my feet were frozen so I had to close the door, then it felt like sitting in an oven with the sun through the glass. Never satisfied am I?

My blue anemone really is a puzzle. I don’t have any others in the garden and, as far as I am aware, nor do my neighbours. I can only think it must have come in via a bird. It might have even been a few years ago and a seed has been quietly growing into a little bulb. As it happens there is a patch of blue chiondoxia right by it so the colours all blend rather nicely.

We’ll be OK with our MOT as all those after 30th March (ours is 31st!) are being extended for 6 months. I’m not yet sure whether the garage will still come and collect the car on 31st as it was booked for a full service as well as the MOT and we need to keep it roadworthy.

What a shame about Big Bertha Mel. People say they are just fish but I was surprised at how attached I got to ours. We had 20, bought when they were about 3” long but pretty big by the time we let them go. I had tears rolling down my face as I watched the van going down the road, taking them to their new home. We only named 4 of the 20. There was Oscar, the biggest and tamest. He would come when called. Sybil was named after Sybil Fawlty as she had the same sort of expression on her face, Frank had the bluest eyes so had to be named after Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, and Carrot who was named by a young granddaughter who said he looked as though he had a slice of carrot on his back. Your pendants are really unusual. No-one else will have one the same. I can’t decide which I like best.

Jane, I hope you are feeling good and able to enjoy a bit of sun in between hospital visits. I shall think of you tomorrow trying to work out how to navigate the toilet with both arms otherwise occupied. That is a shame about Fitz’s OH. I do hope she has a fairly mild dose though her temperature sounds very high. She will appreciate your letter box flowers and can maybe celebrate her birthday in a few months time.

Thanks for your WI Email AnnG. It gave me a giggle. I think we all, with the possible exception of Gill, will remember Joyce Grenfell. I could hear her reading it in her “Lumpy” Latimer voice from the piece about a school reunion. Do you know what variety your rhubarb is? At our old house I had 2 sorts. One was an early one and the other was a much later variety. Perhaps you have got a late one.

You slept well last night Frank. Let’s hope it’s the same tonight. I’m glad your family are all OK so far, though I expect you are concerned for Conrad in Spain. I’ve been a bit worried about my cousin and her husband who live there too. He is late 70s and had a kidney transplant a year or so ago, she is coming up 83 so they are quite vulnerable. I’m going to email them after I finish this post but they are not very good about looking at their emails.

I am glad you are feeling better now Ann. You sound as though you have plenty to keep you occupied. I thought I would get plenty done once we were in isolation but I seem to have done less than usual. I think I work better if I have some sort of deadline, like got to get something done before meeting friends at 11 am for coffee. I haven’t seen either episode of Belgravia yet but they have been recorded for me.

I ought to be getting on with something now I suppose. Have a good night and “Stay safe out there” - anyone else remember Hill Street Blues?

I know those strip neon lights at work used to do the same to me AnnG. It was far better when I became an Inspector and was out of the office more. That's a good idea to paint old pots and sage is a nice colour. It would help keep the moisture in too.

I bet your OH enjoyed the hot tub today Mel. Did he manage to sort out the mower and get the deck off ok? How sad that Big Bertha has dropsy. Sometimes my tropical fish used to get it and sadly never recovered.

What a shame Georgette seems as if she has the virus Jane. She must feel poorly with a temperature like that. Fingers crossed Fitz won't get it but it must be a worry. No going anywhere at all for 2 weeks for him now. I hope his wine rack is full. :-) That's kind of you to send some flowers. It's good James is preparing well for his screen interview on Friday. Does he know how many others have a second interview?

Is your hair all done now Gill? I remember it being a chore when I used to colour mine. As soon as we went out in the peace and quiet the dog next door was let out and it does nothing but bark bark. Then the neighbour the other side was jet washing and filling the hot tub and mowing. We stayed out, but did jobs instead of sitting in the arbour. OH drilled holes in the bottom of 2 plastic tubs and I filled them with some soil from the old raised beds and planted the beetroot seeds in one and the round carrots in the other. OH moved some more of the soil onto the island beds we have and he cut some of the thick stems of the bottlebrush and holly to shorten them for me. I've trimmed the rest so the tops are more level. I tidied the ceanothus a bit but will wait till it has flowered before it gets a proper haircut.

We are waiting to hear the next update now and how they are going to help the self employed, OH doesn't expect he will get any help, but you never know. The new Wii remote came so I have set that up and put batteries in while OH did more notes and we will try it out later.

Frank good to see you and glad you are both OK. Just don't go out and you will be fine.

Must be lovely this weather on a narrow boat. OK if you both get on well as it is a bit small for staying in for 3 weeks!

Annx glad that your headache has gone, sick heads are horrible aren't they? I used to get lots when I worked and put it down to the lighting as they stopped when I retired.
Did you get your seeds planted? OH has painted an old pot in sage and is going to use that to plant lettuce seeds in. Hopefully they will grow and they are last years and also we only have our own compost as we were just about to get some more from the garden centre when we went into lockdown.

Prince Charles is in Balmoral I think, Camilla is ok she has no signs. Hopefully he won'y have been infectious the last time he saw the queen. Looks as though he may have caught it from Prince albert of Monaco.

Gill have you finished your hair now, it seems like a long job.
Good for OH's report that he offers to work to help out but not so good for you I suppose.
Good also that his temperature was nice and low.
and I am sure they will have sorted out the problem with his wages, not very efficient though, should be one person does it and another checks so two people not awake.

I have still got all the Belgravia to watch. Have managed to catch up with The Good Karma Hospital but with Masterchef on 3 times a week it puts paid to watching recordings. However once the soaps stop there will be plenty of time.

I have spent another half hour out in the garden reading this afternoon, not a lot of jobs for me to do out there at the moment as OH has it well up to date.

Here we are again. Eos has come in now, and I have made her a COT. I See the Coronavirus Programme is about to start on BBC 1, so will cut this short.

I have rung Harvey, Julia said, he has just popped to get his tools from where he is working, so he can do some jobs at home. Lewis hasn't been out and is staying at home with his Mum and Dad. Ros has just spoken to Conrad. Everywhere in SPAIN is in Total LOCKDOWN, so he is confined to his home. I am a bit concerned about Simon and Sally being out on the canal boat. I just hope they take extra care of themselves.

With the main oven broken I am having to try to cook in the TOP OVEN, which I have never done. I have a large Shoulder of Lamb cooking at the moment. Will have to keep an eye on it.Then I will roast the potato's and parsnips. The Veg will cook on the hob later.