General Chat

Our recycling bin is similar to yours AnnG except it won't currently take glass and I need to check on Tetra Paks. We never used to be able to put them in but I've a feeling they will take them now. One of the clubs we belong to had a talk from the recycling people and they said any plastic you can squash like a plastic milk bottle can go in, but not hard plastics that can't be squidged down.

I've just walked down to the corner to post a card. When we first moved here there was a lovely corner shop owned by a local dairy. They put it up for sale some years ago and it's been sold and resold without anyone ever doing anything to it or moving in. A short while ago it was sold and the inside was cleared out. Posting my card I saw a notice in the shop window and it's notification of an application for an alcohol licence. It's not clear if it will be a shop selling a few bottles of wine or whether it will be an off-licence. I need to look into in further. If it's an off-licence I may raise an objection as it's in a quiet residential area, no other shops in the area. But more importantly it is right next to the recreation ground with the children's play area. It may be absolutely fine, I don't want to prejudge, but I am concerned that the local winos may get their booze at the shop and then take it onto the rec and the same with groups of youngsters who can get very boisterous with a drink inside them. I'll try and find out a bit more about it before I do anything like putting forward an objection.

Out of interest the following all goes in our recycling wheelie bin once a fortnight.

Card and cardboard
• Card and cardboard (no dirty cardboard – takeaway pizza boxes and burger cartons).
• Greetings cards and postcards.
• Food packaging boxes and egg boxes.
• Small quantities of brown corrugated cardboard.
Cartons
• Tetra-Pak style food and drink cartons.
• Paper yoghurt pots.
• Paper ice-cream pots.
Metal packaging: Cans, tins, foil and aerosols
• Aerosols (empty).
• Biscuit and sweet tins.
• Food and drink cans (please rinse to remove food residue).
• Pet food cans (please rinse to remove food residue).
• Aluminium foil (clean sheets only, Please dispose of foil that can’t be washed).
• Aluminium foil pots and trays (clean containers only please).
• Tip: Aluminium stays scrunched when you squeeze it. If it opens, it’s non-recyclable plastic.
Mixed glass containers
• Clean glass bottles (any colour).
• Clean glass jars (any colour).
• Tip: metal lids can also be put into the blue bin.
Mixed paper
• Books (remove hardback covers).
• Envelopes (Not padded types such as Jiffy bags).
• Newspaper, magazines and junk mail (no wet or dirty paper, remove plastic wrapping and freebies).
• Office style paper and small amounts of loose shredded paper.
• Yellow Pages and telephone directories.
• Wrapping paper (paper-based only. No plastic lamination, no glitter or decorations. No wallpaper).

It has been pouring with rain here and its windy too all the patio is wet and that dos'nt usually happen.

I don't have food waste cos the chickens eat all that. I do have a bottle box but never have much to put in it and if I have one bottle it goes in the recycling bin and they take it.

Last week I did'nt have many meals for one so no plastic cartons of those maybe just one and one milk bottle and acouple of cans and a few pill packs. I don't often have wine and if its jam jars the chap up the road has those for his honey and I get a pot of honey for them. I did give my neighbour some jam jars as he was making blackberry jam and I gave him plums and yesterday when I gave them stuff I got a pot of plumapple and cinnamon jam. I have a bag for newspaper and paper and one for crdboard but the only thing that has in it is the meal for one cadboard wrappers and anything thats been in the freezer in boxes and kitchen roll and toilet roll inard. Sometimes I will eat a lot of tinned fruit and beens or soup and then it worth putting out.

Yes, I wondered about your recycling Mel but every council is different so maybe yours takes cans and bottles separately. We have to take bottles and jars to the bottle bank so they can't go in the recycling bin which is collected fortnightly. We have one of the big bins and it's usually near enough full when it goes out every 2 weeks. The non-recyclable general waste bin usually only has a little bit in the bottom when that goes out. I believe that next year we are going to get food waste and bottles collected and we are going to have 5 bins. I'm all for recycling but where are people supposed to put all these bins?

Mandy, I envy you that wood burner. In our old house we had a big open log fire in our main living room. It was lovely and cosy and that room would be toasty warm but it would just take the chill off the other rooms as well as the chimney stack went up through the middle of the house and spread its warmth around. Here we've got a couple of electric fan heaters it we want a bit of heat before we put the proper heating on, but they are quite expensive to run for long and can be a bit noisy.

gosh Mel how come I have loads for recycling every week? Maybe our recycling takes more things than yours.
Still 12 degrees here and I have just spent about 40 minutes out in the garden cutting down some long rose rambler branches, the second half of the peonies and some of one of the Buddleias. Came in as my leg stared to complain and I was cold, my hands were freezing. What a change from a couple of weeks back.
I think this cold snap may mean the trees have a good colour this autumn.

O meant to say I think my weather is the same as yours today Anng. It says 12 degrees and cloudy and there a moderate wind warning.

Morning girls,

I had a lie in this morning. I woke early and ached all over hips, legs and when I moved it felt like cramp was coming at the top back of my right leg. I drank plenty yesterday and into the evening I had tonic water.

No heating on here yet I just put on more layers and I have bought myself more fleeces in the way of a cardi and a top which is quite long.

Mandy does that mean we may get a pic of the first blanket today if you finish it? I bet it looks great. :-D

I shan't be putting the recycling box out this week as there are only a couple of tins and a milk bottle in it.

Hope you all slept well. I did got up twice for the loo.

good morning all 12 degrees and light cloud cover I think it is supposed to be wet from about 11am, not that I am going anywhere. I do have the bedding in the wash. I was chilly yesterday so had a thicker sweater on, but was warm enough overnight and don't feel too cold yet today. No heating on yet.
I only watched the second half of the proms last night but thought it was one of the best years yet.

Morning Vera ,morning all,

Blue sky and lovely sunshine but like Vera we should have the wind and rain later .

Just having my first cup of tea and then I think I will get the veg done for the roast later ,I would like to get the first blanket finished off today I've been naughty doing squares for the second one I stead of finishing the first one .

We don't usually have the heating on until Oct time but we do light the woodburner if the evening feels chilly .

Good morning

Brrr, it’s a cold morning after a cold night. I had to get up and put a blanket over my summer duvet during the night. I’m trying to avoid putting the heating on yet. As you know once our heating goes on it stays on till about May. I’m hoping not to put it on till at least 1st October but I think OH will put it on earlier. The forecast is for lots of rain late afternoon and evening and plenty of wind.

I haven’t really got any plans for today. I might do a towel wash, otherwise it will be a take it as it comes sort of day.

Just what we're watching Anng ,brilliant wasn't it .

I have not put the hearing on yet, but must remember to put it on for a few minutes soon just to try it before really needing it. Been caught before when it has not come on after being off all summer.

Yes I like to have the fold up pole with me. I wish I could find something to keep it constrained other than an elstiv band and a plastic bag. One friend has hers in an umbrella case but I don’t have one of those around now.

Just watching the proms what an amazing performance of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Different options for different situations then AnnG. I keep my collapsible walking pole in the car now in case I need it if I've twisted my knee or something. I took it on holiday a few times as it helps for getting up and down a few steps where there isn't a handrail. There were places like that on the clifftops where the tin mines were.

I'm late to bed tonight and it's chilly in here, but I've resisted having any heating on yet. Sleep tight everyone. :-)

Ah I have been using a folding stick now for a couple of years when I go into town. It means I can fold it into my bag when I am on the bus or in a cafe. I use my none folding stick when there is a possibility of a lover walk, in Fridays case I. Case the bus didn’t turn up, because it is a bit stronger and gives more support. I also sometimes use my walking pole which is stronger again.

Evening All,

I remembered to put everything back in the car and the boot before I went out this morning and it looks nice and tidy inside after me cleaning it. Mostly sunshine all day and no rain but plenty of black clouds. OH went to a match about 15 miles away and it threw it down, so he abandoned that game and went to another nearer home that had shelter. I looked at the garden through the window, but didn't fancy doing anything outside so did some jobs inside and I still need to finish the food order for tomorrow's delivery.

The land the depot's close to us are to be built on was sold again and the previous planning application has gone in again, so we need to send in our objections. This one says over 1000 people will have jobs on the site, so that will be a lot more cars without all the lorries and there is already a mile long queue to the motorway junction on the main road past where it will be now.

The film sounds like we would enjoy it Vera. OH said he had read some reviews that suggested it was a bit boring but still thought we would like it, so we will see whether to go or wait till it's on tv if OH thinks his back won't cope with the seats! It's a shame your meal wasn't as good as you hoped it would be. Some places do tend to overdo the amount of coleslaw. Fitz was telling me last week that their cinema even has reclining seats now and a tray to swing over your knee to put food on. My word you have been busy getting your HW done. You put me to shame, but I have an easy day with little cooking tomorrow so may get some done.

Mel I prefer the small chunks Branston too, but I like Asda's caramelised onion chutney on a cheese sandwich at the moment. I need to cut back the Thyme that has spilled onto and its making it's way across the gravel now and other things that are hanging over the pathways.

Yes a stick would swing about with a loop when trying to get on a bus AnnG. I don't know but wonder if a collapsible stick would be better for using the bus. I hadn't thought about the height stepping up from the kerb and expect I would struggle a bit now with getting on and especially off. Yes at least I know there will be bills at the next MOT and service AnnG and they shouldn't cost as much as this time, unless the budget causes everything to go up in price!.

They are digging the road up right at the end of the close now and it's such a tight squeeeze to drive in and past their wide trailer with the overgrown hedge the opposite side.

Well, the forecast was right about it raining this afternoon. We’re not getting nice, steady rain but sudden downpours with a few rumbles of thunder and then it stops again. It is definitely chilly – autumn has arrived I think.

Mel, I have a soup maker which is so quick and easy to use that I wouldn’t be without it. If you haven’t got one, I’m sure there will be plenty of recipes for leek and potato soup on Google. For what it’s worth I use an equal amount of leeks and potatoes chopped up small (in my soup maker roughly a pound of each), one or two cloves of garlic chopped up and a quarter teaspoon of pepper (I use white), salt if you want it. Then I fill my soup maker up to the maximum mark with vegetable stock, set in on a smooth setting and 21 minutes later it’s ready to serve. This does make quite a peppery soup but it’s very bland without it.

I hope your leg is OK after banging it on the bus AnnG. I only use bags with long straps now as well. If I’m just going out I usually carry my bag on one shoulder, but if I’ve got a lot to carry or I’m trying to unload a shopping trolley and then load the stuff in shopping bags I put it over my head and wear it cross body.

We’ve had a busy day. No gardening done again, partly because the weather and partly because my back doesn’t want to bend or stretch forward much. Instead I’ve been doing h/w -ugh! I have given the upstairs of the house a really good hoover and dust, that’s 3 rooms, landing, bathroom and en-suite and down to the bottom of the stairs. While I was doing the study I sorted out a load of the junk on OH’s desk. I filed a few bits as I don’t think OH and the filing cabinet have got acquainted yet and the rest went in the waste paper basket. Why did he need to keep bits of paper on which I’d scribbled notes for him? They have long since been dealt with. What use did he think he would be able to make of an out-of-date free car parking ticket for National Trust for Scotland properties? Those are just a couple of examples of the tat on his desk.

On the other hand, he may be hopeless at being tidy, but he is very good at all the big jobs. Every 2 or 3 months we use a special wood cleaner on our lounge floor and he has done that for me today. It takes a while as we can’t move all the heavy furniture out so it gets done a third at a time. He starts at the far side and moves various bits of furniture into the middle of the room, gives the floor a really good hoover, then uses this cleaner in a spray bottle and a mop thing we have. It dries fairly quickly but you have to wait a little while before you can put that lot of furniture back and do the next bit. So that’s another job out of the way for a few months.

Yesterday 3 of us went to Bury St Edmunds and decided to have lunch in the Cathedral café. I’ve been there before but only for tea and cake. This time 2 of us had a vegetable quiche with salad and we were both disappointed. We had a large piece of quiche but it had hardly any veg in it and there wasn’t a lot of salad. Unfortunately the bulk of it was coleslaw in mayonnaise which I don’t like. Our other friend had a jacket potato which seemed to be acceptable. Then it was on to the cinema which is lovely. It doesn’t really look like a cinema from the outside, more like a big, old house but there are a couple of screens and Downton Abbey was showing in the larger room. It has lovely comfortable seats with drink holders and lots of leg room.

The film was as you would expect. Beautifully shot, well directed, great acting. Like most people I missed Maggie Smith but Penelope Wilton was so good. I did enjoy it and am glad I went but…….isn’t there always a but? I was getting fed up with having it drummed into me that times were changing and that the old guard had to make way for younger people with new ideas. The story itself told me that, or maybe one character could have said it instead of several. I think that’s probably down to Julian Fellowes, the writer. It’s a fairly minor quibble so, if you enjoyed the TV series and earlier films and you get the chance, go and see it.

When we came out we think there had been a storm, although it wasn’t raining then. As we were driving out of Bury we could see verges and front gardens covered in hailstones and it was so cold. Of course, it was well turned 5 o’clock so we hit the Friday rush and it was taking ages to navigate the various roundabouts. A bit further along we joined a queue of traffic and moved at snail’s pace stopping and starting. When we got to the front of the queue which must have been at least a mile long we found it was roadworks and traffic lights holding everything up. Only a few cars were being let through at a time so it was a long, slow journey home.

The sun must be over the yardarm somewhere in the world so I am going to pour myself a nice glass of Sauvignon before starting to get the next meal going. Sleep well tonight everyone

It has been very showery here this afternoon but the sun is shining now. Tesco has just been three subs two of which were in my favour.

I was just going up the top to pick some apples and it fell out of the sky so I am now stuck indoors.

I was in the garden this morning and cut a lot off the cottoniasta that had'nt got berries on it. some of the fern hanging over the patio steps down to the garden and the mint on the other side. tidied up some of the plants on the rokery bit and cut off a lot of the ladies mantle now I canget to my box ball as I hav'nt cut it back at all this year and now its huge. I can now get the wheelbarrow under it to trim it.

Vera your soup sound really nice is it easy to make? Iv'e never done leek and potato.

I've got 3 weather apps, one each on my phone, my iPad and the PC and they all say different. As far as I can see by stepping outside we have a mixture of sunshine and cloudy skies with a cold wind. There is rain forecast again for this afternoon. The garden is looking very bedraggled and sorry for itself after yesterday.

I'm in the middle of making leek and potato soup for our lunch, and some for the freezer, so I won't stop now but will try to come back this afternoon and tell you what we did yesterday.