General Chat

Afternoon ladies

I'm getting a bit fed up with the endless grey skies. The sun hasn't had his hat on for some while; in fact, it's been so long that I think he must have lost his hat. I feel more motivated to get up and do something if there's a patch of blue sky or a gleam of sunshine.

OH has been doing things in the garden. I'm not sure what he's doing but it seems to involve a lot of sieving earth and not much cutting back or clearing pots etc ready for the winter. While he has been doing that I've done some hoovering, got tonight's dinner prepared, hand washed a couple of jumpers and done a bit of admin. I might try to get into the garden for a short while after lunch which OH is preparing now. I've put an order in for a banana sandwich. It will be interesting to see if that's what I get. It's not unknown for me to ask for one thing and get something entirely different, lol. Life with OH is a bit of an adventure.

Mel, as AnnG says both the police and the fire service are careers for brave men. They never know quite what they will be facing. What would we all do without people like your OH?

I remember you had a bit of a to-do over appointments before AnnG. It looks like you have got the same problem again. I hope it gets sorted out quickly for you. Enjoy your U3A talk this afternoon.

I am being called for lunch. I wonder what I've got ;-)

And he was very brave. He sat on top of a high rise flats roof trying to get a girl to stop jumping off. They had a ciggy together while he talked to her and after a long while and two ciggies he offered her another one and as he passed it to her he pushe dher backwards and off the edge of the roof. He got a medal for that.

Afternoon Ladies :-)

Slept so well last night and was up late, but I actually feel more awake now. I sent the few rweaks to the plan for the bedroom cupboards and am waiting for Ted's reply so I can book the fitter to check the measurements.

Lunch is a quick one today, lamb ready meals with carrot and potato with cabbage in and I've used up some broccoli to add with some peas. Then I will nip to the shop and hopefully they will still have my paper.

Mel you put me to shame and I should get outside in the garden and clear the rest of my pots and cut more of the shrubs back. I wanted to join the Police in my teens and they told me I was too short!!

The talk should be good AnnG. It's surprising what you can learn from going to talks like that.

Lunch is ready so BBL

Both jobs for very brave people Mel.

Morning Anng and all you lovely girls,

Its grey here but I would'nt say its any darker than we have been having and it 9 degrees also pc says partly sunny so we will have to wait and see.

If it stays dry I may get out in the garden again today will see how I feel later on. Enjoy your meeting and life as a policeman Anng. It was either the police force or the firebrigade for oh when he left school and he chose the fire brigade in the end.

Good morning all. Darker then ever this morning but 10 degrees.

U3a talk this afternoon something about life as a policeman I think.

What you all got for tea tonight? I am having mac cheese with a sausage and toms from the garden. Yes I still have a lot of my toms in the fridge. A small piece of coffee and walnut cake after that.

Just tried to light a bonfire but the cardboard boxes were too damp so I gave up and came in and now I stink of smoke.

Well yes the garen is tidy Vera, but not neat as there is so much in it, I have never had or wanted a manicured garden. But tidy is good.

Yes I did say that about the plumber Vera but it was sort of said without thinking, I really meant I wanted him to check the rads over as they are mixed and a couple quite old. I do have a key.......... somewhere I know but they actually then came full on and the old one in the kitchen was just as hot so they are ok and that is on the back burner.

At the moment I am having a feeling of dejavu as, remember the kerfuffle over appointments with ENT 16 months ago. Well a n ew appintment then never did materialise and I have ignored it. Until two days ago when an appointment letter came through (I assume for a check up), but it was very close to Christmas and I will be at daughters then so had to refuse it. wonder of wonders (all done by email) a replacement came through. BUT, it was for a community hospital in Tewkesbury at 4.15 in January, no way can I get there by bus and taxis would be extorionate so I have gone back to them again. I actually don't need this appointment, there are no problems and it is the female doctor who I cannot understand a word she says, I now wait to see.

Oh dear, another grey day and, although it hasn't been raining, the air feels damp. This morning I got the bedding washed but didn't bother to hang it out. It went straight in the dryer. Then I ironed all OH's shirts that got washed yesterday. I'm not letting him go shirt shopping by himself again. A few months ago he went to buy some long sleeve cotton type shirts and he did come back with several nice looking ones but, being a man, he didn't check on laundry instructions. However carefully I dry them they all need ironing but some have to be done with a warm iron, some with a hot and they are driving me mad . :-|

This afternoon I have managed to do best part of an hour in the garden but there's still so much to do. Can any of you advise me about fuchsias? I want to move at least one and possibly two. Is it best to do that before the winter sets in or should I leave moving them until the spring?

Your garden must be looking very neat and tidy now AnnG. Did you say you were going to call in your plumber to bleed the radiators or have I misunderstood what you said? For goodness sake don't pay out for a plumber. They are so quick and easy to do yourself; even I can bleed a radiator and I've got two left thumbs. You've probably got a radiator key somewhere, if not they are easy to buy. Get Jake to do them while he's there or to show you what to do. I apologise if I misunderstood you - I don't mean to be teaching my grandmother to suck eggs. (I wonder where that expression came from?)

Did you get to a different bathroom place Annx? I hope your hairdresser doesn't close. You've reminded me that I need to ring mine to book my next couple of appointments as the nearer to Christmas it gets, the busier she gets.

OH picked our neighbour up from the garage where his car is serviced and we've been hanging around all afternoon for OH to take him back to collect his car when the garage ring to say it's ready. Of course we're happy to help a neighbour out but not knowing when you will be needed is a bit of a pain. Until J asked OH to take him I had planned to go into town this afternoon. In fact I could have gone and been back by now. Oh well, never mind, there's always tomorrow.

I'm now going to walk down the road to post a birthday card to a friend who will be 93 at the weekend. Physically she's fit as a fiddle but is in a care home for people with dementia. I dithered about sending a card this year as I suspect she will no longer know who I am but I can't not send one, if you know what I mean.

Can't really get on with much when Jake and riley are here but I did manage to change the bed and get the bedding washed and dried in the drier.

They have gone now, all the greenery has been cut down so the garden now has its winter cloak on I think they have picked up most of the rubbish that was cut off, a huge amount which went off in their large trailer together with a load of old pots a bucket the old water butt and all the fittings, The water butt is in position and fixed to the down pipe. They showed me the pipe to the old butt which was completely gummed up, no wonder it didn't collect much water. I think the gale that blew that down has done me a favour as it will be much easier to use and more efficient now next year. It looks neater too.

they are coming back Thursday morning as they still have all the patios and the gravel weeding to do as well as finish off the water butt.

Shopping arrived no subs but the things I tried to put on last night were missing as it would'nt let me go to te checkout to pay the extra.


Tidied up another plant on the patio and took the casing off the walnut but they all look bad but one which did have a walnut inside and I ate a bit of that. I like to think I can eat at least one thing off the trees in the garden each year. Its easy with the apples and the blackberries but I don't often get a walnut before the squirrels get them and eat them before they are ready. They have got to know when I tie bags round them so next year I am going to try jam jars with wire attachments.

just need to get some lunch now and then carry on clearing up the patio and outside the back door where I tend to put the things I use most in the garden.

Jake is here with his electric trimmer and the garden is full of cuttings with bald shrubs and bushes all round :-D He does like a good go with the trimmer. Hopefully the next step is to clear up the cuttings.

Morning All,

I was fast asleep when the alarm went this morning and could gladly have slept on being warm and cosy, but dragged myself out of bed and into the shower to be in time for my hair appointment. It's only a couple of miles away but there are yet more roadworks on the main road and the police speed checking vehicle was in it's favoured position. Goodness knows why as no-one could speed because of the roadworks reducing the road to one lane. There was only one other customer while I was there and I do wonder whether the owner will close this salon as he has three others now. It is opposite Santander's head office and is within the same building as a gym with swimming pool etc so maybe it is still busy enough at other times.

I think we may go out and look at another bathroom place after lunch so I'd better crack on and sort something to have with our fishcakes now!

Washed loads of used flower pot to put away in the shed. Saucers too the patio is littered with them drying.

Just sorting out some fat ball boxes to burn and make space in the lounge.

Morning Anng and all,

Much the same here Anng grey and 11 degrees and pc says partly sunny so we'll see.

Just having my coffee and then I need to get started.

I put three more things on the shopping list last night at just after 8.30pm when I got to the checkout it would'nt take payment and said try again later I tried several times up to 9.56pm and still it was the same. This morning they have sent the order through without the things I added so thye have been paid £53 instead of £57 something. Their loss but I don't like this new site.

good morning all. Another grey day here and 10 degrees. Jake should be here at 10.00 after collecting all the bits they ordered yesterday.

Anng most pressure washers don't use that much water but get a good job done. I really need to do the edges of the big pond as its gone black but the bit I did when I did the decking is still good.

I have my dinner on so will say night night now and see you all in the morning hopefully, sleep tight.

I have my heating on but I have a suspicion that the rads need bleeding so must contact my tame plumber.

My patios and paths have not been properly cleaned for over 18 months. It is frustrating that it uses a lot if my metered water but I will hold my breath, shut my eyes and ignore it as it will get slippery if it is not done before winter.

Hopefully an efficient water butt next year will compensate a bit.

Thats a good idea Vera think I may have a cuppa too.

Well all I have done today is fish leaves out of the big pond and prepare dinner.

Its been dry here all day with a bit of a blow now and then but very grey too which does'nt make you want to do anything. We could do with a nice sunny day for a change after all these very grey days but at least they have been dry. It says its 16 degrees out there but this morning I put the heating on for a while to warm the house up as I felt rather chilly.

Off to get my COT now.

Vera we are the same and have a Karcher in the garage but haven't cleaned our patio or slabs this year. I usually use it once OH has lifted it outside and connected it up, but so much has happened and we behind with everything this year. Your OH is a good sort and must be appreciated with his willingness to help a neighbour in need of a lift.

AnnG you will be pleased to get things back in order in your garden and it will be worth what it costs to have it nice again. I just tell myself it will only cost more to leave things and we soon forget the bill!

I have checked measurements and done a few tweaks to the bedroom cupboards I want changing so will contact them to go ahead and then it should be done before christmas which will be good.

Mel I think we will still have food delivered when our delivery pass runs out, but maybe use Sainsbury's instead. I need to check whether they do delivery passes, but if not I might just book slots when needed. Asda are sending us more and more subs or have stuff out of stock so we have to do more local shopping. I think just getting slots for delivery of the heavy stuff might be a good compromise. I think it's a good idea for you to be out and about more, especially now you have a nice car that should be reliable.