General Chat

Good morning all 8 degrees and bright, loks as though it could be sunny but forecast was for rain, as it was for late yesterday but that didn't happen. I suppose I shall have to water the pots again later. (when I am dressed). Nothing planned for today except the Tesco delivery 3-4 this afternoon.

Vera, it looks as though your OH has learnt his lesson now if he is agreeing to get people in to do jobs, that must be a relief for you.

I am so envious at you being able to just call in to the garden centre and buy the plants for this year. I have no idea when I am going to get to our local garden centre. Hopefully it won't be too long although I can't put in much until after my visit to daughter's.

Well, that last post of mine seems to show alright on the thread so I’ll carry on. It has been a beautiful day, sunny and warm with just the slightest of breezes. It was a joy to go out without a jacket or coat and at one point I even took my lightweight cardi off and just had a short sleeved T shirt.

I hope you had a good day in Tewkesbury AnnG and everyone else has enjoyed whatever you’ve been doing .

This morning we had to go to one of the surgeries in town for an RSV jab. Our Covid jabs were done by a nurse I call Mrs Happy Jab as she treats all her patients like dartboards and almost throws the needle into your arm. She had said she would be doing the RSV one for us so we were very relieved to find we had a different nurse. This lady was smiley, chatty, bouncy and looked about 15 but she was good. Neither of us felt more than a tiny pinprick.

While we were in town we did some other errands and then drove to an electrical place where OH wanted to get some new lighting stuff. He bought what we needed but, much to my relief, said he’ll get an electrician in to fit it as it will mean using a step ladder. He has also booked a young handyman to finish the job he was doing on Monday when he fell. This chap seems to be busy so can’t come till 12th May. If he seems OK we’re going to talk to him about doing some other jobs for us.

After lunch we went to our nearest garden centre Perrywoods. Some years ago they took over a small Wyevale that was closing and planned to trade from there while they built a large new centre on adjacent land. Then Covid and lockdown happened and costs escalated so the project was put on hold. Eventually they got it built and it opened last October. I think it’s better than Dobbies and is not far from us whereas Dobbies is 20 miles away. This afternoon I was looking for annuals to fill some troughs and pots and got million bells, some little annual begonias, marigolds, antirrhinum, coleus and I think there was something else but I’ve forgotten what it was. It added up to quite a lot but by making use of special offers open to loyalty card holders we saved £18.

After our dinner I went out and watered a few pots and now I’m yawning like mad. It must be all the fresh air.

Going back to the weekend I spent nearly the whole of Saturday and Sunday going through all the stuff of my brother’s that had come home with us from our friend’s funeral. I now have it all spread out in a spare bedroom. Luckily it’s a large room. There is stuff to go to the tip and that’s now in the garage, there’s quite a large pile for charity shops and other piles marked for daughter, various grandchildren etc. There are a few bits that I want to keep myself but haven’t yet worked out where I can put them. There are quite a few photos including one that’s a puzzle. It’s my mother and a young girl of around 10 at a guess. They are sitting in deckchairs and are clearly together but neither I nor OH can recognize the girl at all. It’s been interesting going through all this stuff but it’s taken me a lot longer than I thought it would and I still have some to do.

Well, if I get around to it tomorrow I will tell you about our trials and tribulations of Monday. Then I will have caught up with myself. In the meantime, have a comfortable night and sleep well.

We had a good day in Tewkesbury. Four of us met for lunch then six of us , with six other people had a guided tour of Tewkesbury abbet. The first half hour was about the building from outside, walking all round the building. It was built in the seventeenth century and the towe is Norman. Nobody can go up the tower until July as there is a peregrine falcons nest up there.it was interesting to hear of all the changes over the years. The next half hour or should have been half hour but it turned into close on an hour. Was about the inside of the abbey, carvings, windows burials er .

Standing and walking all that time, I was shattered. And it was hot when we were outside, the sun was very strong.

It is ok except the avatars are stretched and no writing with them

I expect people aren't posting because they are busy making the most of the good weather Mel. I had no problem getting into Genes or this thread. I'll post this now just to make sure it appears on the thread as normal and if it's OK I'll do a longer post telling you what I've been doing.

Is anyone there I'm having trouble and want to know if anyone has posted as I can't see any posts after mine at 16.55

Has anyone posted as I am having trouble with the pc.

Forgot to say a pinch and a punch for May Day. Where have the other 4 months gone???

Suns out here now and I have just taken the moulds off the formers for lemon squeezers. Broke one taking the mould off but it was'nt the best one so that ok.

Morning girls,

Its 13 degrees here and pc saying expected 1 - 2 cm tomorrow. Bright but grey skies here today. I must get on with the lemon squeezer today as I only put one coat of rubber on it yesterday. It needs another one before I take it off and try casting it. First it has to be trimmed.

Enjoy your trip out Anng and I hope the showers stay away.

Slept well.

s I did'nt do much to it yesterday

lost the lot

Good morning all. Sunny with cloud here and 12 degrees.

I am going to Tewkesbury later, lunch first then a tour of the Abbey. Showers forecast for that area so hope we can dosge them.

Mel can’t you click on post date to get to the last post.

Oh I bet the rabbits were cute. But wise to block up the hole.

I think being a dermatology operation done in ENT it is not as important as other ops

Just started to rain here. Just got the last of the washing in and shut the gate.

I don't know why it did that as I had read all your posts. I went to Holsworthy this afternoon l;ate and who should I meet as I went through the arch? BIL on the mower. I told him off because he never tells me when he is here now he keeps the mower up the top at Em's dads. He is comeing again tomorrow in the afternoon cos he wants to go up on Exmoor in the morning. He's going to try and do the new pump on the big pond to the well and then I can do my filter again as I have to top up the pond afterwards from the well.

Stu messaged me to say Marie had come and they were going out on the quad bykes and getting fish and chips so he would'nt be coming tonight. Having put that in my mind all Icould think of was fish and chips so I got everything I wanted in Mole Valley and went into town to see if the chippy was open and it was so I treated myself to a seniors cod and chips. I had two bits of fish and plenty of chips and it had lovely crispy batter on it and Iate the lot all for £6 and it was still hot when I got home. So I did'nt have to cook tonight in the end and ate out of the cardboard box thing itcame in so not much washing up either.

Vera it sound like everything went off ok at the crem and you saw lots of friends andfamily. I never thought of growing Lily of the Valley in a pot. I had a ton of it in my garden in Redbridge and tried to grow it in Suffolk without success and even here it would'nt grow in the corn of the orchard. Every year I look at it in Mole Valley but I think I may try it next year in a pot. Or maybe Annx could dig some up and send it to me!! Ha ha ha.

This is getting on my nerves having to sign in before I can add a post. Then it goes to the first page so I am posting this to get to the latest posts.

Afternoon All,

Sunny again and hot in the conservatory, so the two doors into the conservatory have been left open to warm the kitchen and lounge.

I forgot to say before that we noticed two rabbits in the garden the other day, one tiny one charging in and out of the shrubs and along the gravel path having a great time between pauses for snacks (hopefully dandelions and not any cherished plants) and the other quite big one that was more sedate. I have a soft spot for rabbits as my pet dutch rabbit I battled to be allowed to have brought me much comfort to snuggle and kiss as a young child and stroke the long velvety ears. My parents never hugged or kissed even each other and my father was so ill tempered it was impossible not to put a foot wrong, so having a bunny to tell my woes to and cuddle was a comfort I've never forgotten. OH has found a hole under nextdoor's fence where they have come through so we'll block it with some big rocks.

OH's new meds were delivered at lunchtime and he thought we wouldn't be able to fit them in the fridge where they need to be kept. Inside the package there was also a sharps bin for the spent needles, so that was most of the package. I do think we need to get a tiny fridge though, both for if we are travelling or away when they will be needed, and also in case our main fridge breaks down. The light in it is on the blink now and needs replacing. I think OH has a teams meeting with a nurse next week that will show him how to inject the meds. Everything is online nowadays!

Vera it sounds as if the funeral went well will lots of people there. That was a good idea of your daughter's to put the Lily of the Valley in a pot. Your OH did do well to manage the hoovering and a nice surprise for you to see it had been done.

Oh no AnnG! I just told OH all the dates and he couldn't believe it and said it was shocking, which it is. I wonder if they even looked back at how many cancellations you've had.

I've never seen a plastic post card Mel, but perhaps we don't have them here. Did it have a picture of the tulip fields on it? I hope you enjoy your meal. I remember years ago when OH and I had sausage and mash at the Fat Cat at Derby, them chasing after us outside after as they thought we hadn't paid! We had, but got some dirty looks through the window from other customers.

Mandy I got my photo done at Timsons and decided to send my application by post. I haven't been to Timsons there for ages and was surprised they even do things like replace your mobile screen if broken. OH took his suit in for cleaning and they've already texted him to say it's ready to collect.

My blood tests done on Friday were back and online by yesterday and the only one slightly out of kilter was the glucose one, but no higher than my last test and not diabetic. At least it's ruled out my concerns about my puffy ankles being my heart, thyroid etc. I was told to make another appointment whatever the results so will see what is suggested.

Lol I was actually waiting for it to be cancelled. I think they are ticking boxes but I wish they would just hold one of the appointments and get it out of the way. It does nothing but block up my calendar.

thank you for the long chat, always interesing reading your 'doings'. It all sounds as if iy went off well.

You have to laugh Ann or you'd cry!! What is that hospital playing at? That really is taking the mickey.

I had an eye appointment for 25th March cancelled and have just received a new appointment for 25th June. I hope this isn't the start of a saga like yours.

Sunny and warm here though there’s still a nasty nip in the wind. I didn’t sleep too badly last night except that I kept drifting off into a weird dream and then waking up suddenly. I can’t remember the dream except I wasn’t very happy and my daughter was involved.

I don’t remember ever having a plastic card Mel. Aren’t we supposed to be cutting down on the use of plastic? Enjoy your sausages and mash with Stu tonight.

Your feet will feel nice and comfy now AnnG. Yes, it was good to relax with friends. I think I needed that little break after the stress of the last few days.

I have a Tesco delivery in a short while so thought while I’m waiting I’ll take the opportunity to start telling you what I’ve been up to over the last few days.

Friday was the funeral of our dear friend. Daughter arrived at 8.20 am to pick us up. She had said she was bringing a pot of lily of the valley and I assumed she meant a plastic flower pot but she brought a lovely decorative stone pot. I can keep them in there so that they don’t spread everywhere. She also brought her red onion and radish pickle. We haven’t tried it yet but she said it’s nice with a bit of salad and cheese or cooked meat, and she doesn’t even like radishes. The other thing that came with her was quite a lot of fresh picked rhubarb. When I got around to chopping and freezing it there was enough to do 3 x 1 lb bags.

We left our house at about 8.45. It wasn’t too bad a journey. There was a lot of congestion on the roads as we got nearer the place but daughter’s satnav seemed to recognize congestion ahead and take us on different routes around it. It added about 20 minutes to our journey but at least we were moving and not stuck in a traffic jam, and we had allowed extra time anyway. There were lots of people waiting outside the crem. and we were very touched when our friend’s sister came and said she would like OH and me to sit at the front in the family pew.

The crematorium was packed with our friend’s family, 11 from our family and his ex-work colleagues and his friends. It was quite a long Celebration of Life service – I think extra time must have been booked. Although sad it was also quite uplifting. His sister, rather than flowers, had wanted donations for the nursing home that gave our friend such wonderful end of life care. Because it didn’t have charitable status there were all sorts of rules and regulations so in the end there was just a discreet donations box near the church door. No big announcement was made about it. I knew in advance and I still nearly walked past it yet I heard last night that £625 had been donated in this way which, I think, is a measure of how much he was loved and respected.

After the service we moved to a wake/reception at a golf club about 30 minutes drive away but luckily on our route home. Here there was food, drink, photos to look at and memories to exchange, all in a lovely country setting. Then we packed up daughter’s car to come home. “Packed up” is the word. When my brother died a lot of his belongings were given to friend or stored in his loft. When his sister was sorting everything out in her brother’s house she felt we should have back anything that was originally my brother’s. I hadn’t realized there was quite so much. My daughter’s boot and half the car was completely filled with boxes for me to sort out and dispose of and son took home a big box of stuff he was going to have.

We got home just before 5 pm, had a quick cuppa and emptied the car. Daughter left to drive to her home and we grabbed an egg on toast before going out to a music event at our local theatre. I had the tickets before our friend died and when we found we had the funeral the same day I dithered about going. It seemed inappropriate somehow but we did go. It was enjoyable though I wasn’t really in the right sort of mood and I was shattered by the time we got home at 10 pm.

Well, I’ve rabitted on and only told you about Friday. You are probably yawning your heads off by now though I feel as though I have just been chatting to friends. No Tesco yet but they should be here shortly.

Is it really plastic Mel in these days of reducing plastic? where is it from.


Todays smile (laugh!!!)

You remember that ENT appointment I had in December, changed to January, changed to February, changed to 1st April, changed to 29 april, changed to 20 May? Well it has now been changed to 29 July!!!

I really wonder why they bother. I have no idea of the reason for the appointment except is a follow up that never happened after the op on the BCC on my nose in august 2024.