General Chat

Mel you got it right, she is actually a great niece but they have chosen to be nanny and Granddad. Which is lovely for them and for her.

No I got that wrong, she is the child of Sil's niece who lost her mum so has'nt got a nanny so SIL is nanny. I think thats right. So BIL and SIL are nanny and grandad.

Mel so her sister's granddaughter and your SiL's great niece.
Lovely to see little ones around. And nice that she calls her nanny

Morning Anng and all,

Quite bright here this morning much lighter than yesterday. Pc says 17 degrees and a cloud with a red dot on it and the local one says 18 and a cloud with rain drops on it.

The little girl is SIL's niece really, child of her sister who is dead and child of her child so calls SIL nanny, if that makes sense.

Good morning all a bit grey here so far but quite clear and dry and 17 degrees so not cold.
Sounds like you had a lovely time with Fitz Ann and good to hear that Jane's family is ok.

Vera we only ever visited Kent once we lived in Bedfordshire. I would have liked to go back but it is quite an awkward journey from here. Hope you manage to get around to all the places you want to see.

Mel is the little girl BiL's granddaughter (or great granddaughter)? I am sure she had a lovely time.

Tesco due today, I did walk round to local Tesco yesterday just to see what is still on the shelves and to buy a few bits but no way could I manage a full shop walking so I am still sticking to the online shop.

I forgot to say earlier that we are at Broadstairs. We had a slightly fraught journey because of road closures, volume of traffic etc but it was mostly our side of the Dartford Crossing. Once we got on the M2 it was fine. We’re staying in a fairly modern 3 bed semi so not exactly picturesque but it’s reasonably spacious and well equipped.

I think it’s going to be a hot night. The bedrooms were hot so I tried to open the windows but they have limiters and only open a couple of inches. It’s a sensible safety feature when you’re letting to guests who might have small children but I would like more air in the room. I’m going to miss my big fan.

We had a cuppa when we arrived and then went straight out to get some fresh air while the weather was nice. i spent a lot of time on the Kent coast as a child and teenager but I had forgotten that it can be quite hilly. It was a shock after flat old Suffolk. I am pleased that my back stood up to it quite well though I did have to stop and rest a couple of times. When we got back I unpacked while OH prepared the meal I had brought with us. We haven’t made any plans for tomorrow yet.

It sounds as though you had a very pleasant few hours with Fitz, Ann. 10,000 books! Do you think he has read them all?

Mel, your little visitor sounds a sweetie. I hope your Bil can get the mower repaired soon

I’m going to post this quickly before it disappears. The wi-fi seems a bit dodgy here.

Does'nt that always happen Ann. The nearest actual bank to us now is either Bude or Lauceston but I can use the post office van if I can get up there early enough.

I have cleaned the kitchen window this afternoon after BIL and co went. The little girl is lovely and so good. She went down the field with SIL and played on the digger. Later she was wanting to go in the car and tripped over and fell so we had a few tears but only for a little while and I came in and got the fluffy hog I was going to give her anyway and she loved it. Cuddled it and lay her head on it when she sat at the table on SIL's lap while they ahd a sandwich. She loved the fish and the chikcens and even tried to say Melanie and it was good attempts.

It was BIL who broke the mower and he still could'nt get it to start today. I can't find a manual to that one but I thought we had one but it was second hand when he bought it and I think he used to look it up on the net. He had modified it to sit himself but what bugs me is its the mower that pulls the trailer and thats full now so needs emptying.

It rained again this afternoon just as I was going out to wash out a plastic box.

Mandy she does know thst you have to tickle their winkies to make them go or they will die. Mum cat usually licks them to make them go.

Aftenoon All,

I hope your back is ok with the car ride Vera and that it doesn't stop you enjoying your break.

That's quite a job your BIL is doing Mel and I hope your neighbour can fix the mower.

That was annoying about the tap AnnG. Pity it couldn't have been watering the garden! We are as dry as a bone here again so I hope we get more rain soon......it seems to keep missing us.

Partying Mandy! lol. I got a stiff back just from sitting. :-D :-D

Been quite busy what with eating out a couple of days and running errands. It was good to see Fitz and I thought I'd be late as I got stuck on a narrow lane behind a funeral procession, then I couldn't get by a tractor cutting a hedge, then roadworks and a traffic bottleneck in another place. It was about 22 miles away but I still arrived first, which was good, so waited on one of their sofas that had a view of the door! He'd booked a table overlooking the garden which was nice and shady in places. We had a drink outside after our meal so I had a wander around the garden. He said the Rose family are all ok, James works mostly from home I think. He told me that the car his son has can be reversed out of a narrow space without being in it! How marvellous is that when someone parks too close to you! We were there eating and chatting outside for 4 hours and didn't realise all but one of the staff had gone home!! They were very obliging though and not fussed. I had heritage tomatoes for a starter which were very nice and Fitz had a prawn dish but was not so taken with the fact the prawns still had their legs! He had beef medallions for his main course and I had a chorizo gnochi with chicken that was quite, well very, filling. I finished with a raspberry souffle with icecream and he had Eton Mess. I could only see 2 other tables with people dining so it was nice and quiet. I was telling him OH is sorting through his books and he told me he has about 10,000! I told him I wouldn't mention that to OH or he'd be thinking he hadn't got enough yet! It was the first time I'd driven out of the county since before the pandemic so it did me good.

It's quite noisy here today and will be tomorrow as it is the 2 day air show and re-enactment in the next village. It's at the farm where we used to buy our Christmas turkeys. When I drove to the shop this morning, all past where I lived as a teenager for about half a mile they have coned the roadsides off so people can't park and have a free watch. Just 3 houses past where I lived is a long farm drive where a former council chairman lives (the one who chose my photo for his Christmas Card a few years ago). His long garden goes down to the field with the runway for the planes that fly in to the event. They must have fantastic views from there. Most years people climb high up to look from the quarry and I would if I could still get up there.

Yesterday we went to the carvery near the factory shop and used our 30% off voucher so that was good. Again only a few people trickling in as we left. I have made a handy discovery in the same area. Someone has set up a place to bring any craft materials you no longer want eg something you have tried but decided it's not for you. Anyone can take away anything they want to use or to try free of charge and needn't bring something to give if they haven't anything at the time. I think it's a great idea and I've already spotted some watercolour pencils. :-)

Remember I switched my bank to a convenient one not far away last year............well they are closing the branch now. :-S

Morning all,

Really muggy here but it's now clouded over with a nice bit of a breeze .

Oh she'll love looking at the chickens and the fish Mel ,have you got any bubbles that would keep her amused ,I've used fairy liquid and a little bit of wire twisted round when the children were younger .

Your right Ann it doesn't take long to get to forty pound now with your shopping ,prices were going up by just a few pence now its twenty or thirty pence a time .

Safe journey Vera ,enjoy your time away and I hope your back is easier .

I don't think Ann's been on for a couple of days so I hope they are both ok.

We've been to sons this morning to see some little kittens that dil is looking after while her friend has a few days away ,they are only two or three weeks old and the mother cat didn't want to feed them so they are being hand fed several times a day .
There was six but they lost two there is one ginger and white, one grey and white and two black and browny colour .

She 2 years old Anng but SIL says she's no trouble whatever that means.

Pc now says rain coming which is'nt good if BIL wants to try and mend the mower he broke.

Safe journey Vera and hope you have a lkovely break and the back dos'nt hold you back from doing things you want to do.

Good morning Mel and all 12 degrees here, PC says 15 and sunny. Well it is clear so dry and bright not sunny yet though.
Your BiL is being a good help Mel which is good. Be nice for you to see a young one around the house If he or she is very young they will love the chickens.

Mandy in answer to your question, if the order is less than £40 we have to pay £4 delivery charge. I bet it won't be long before that goes up to £50 as it is fairly easy to hit 40 now everything has gone up.

Vera Safe journey wherever you are going and I hope your back doesn't spoil this break, have a lovely time.

Ann, hope you are ok you were absent yesterday.

Island, has the frog taken up permanent residence do you think?

Morning all,

Looks extremly wet out thereso it must have rained inthe night.

BIL is coming again today with wife and a sort of grandchild. She is two.

Pc says 16 and mostly cloudy and the local one says 18 and a cloud with rain drops on.

The interesting meal sounds nice and tasty Vera

Ahh now I know where your off too your going to be bopping away at the Sun Down Festival on the Norfolk Show Ground .lol :-D

The meal was nothing special but OK. I had taken a couple of chicken breasts from the freezer this morning so I cubed that and gently fried the cubes till I was sure they were cooked through. I had a few baby potatoes so cut them even smaller and boiled them and then in one pan cooked all the oddments of veg - a large carrot, half a leek, some cauliflower florets and a chunk of white cabbage shredded up. I mixed it all together and poured a shop bought sauce over the lot. It actually tasted better than it sounds.

I'm going to try for an early night tonight as my back is quite sore at the moment and I'm feeling tired. I need to be fit so that I can bop the night away at all the clubs and raves OH will be taking me to. Yeah, right....

Evening all,

Its been a lovely hot day here we've been sitting out relaxing after having the girls here ,they kept themselves busy as I bought some chalk which I made sure would wash off before they used it and they were happy chalking patterns on tge slabs and they played Hop Scotch.
They go back to school on Tuesday here and we're having them again on Monday as son and dil have a training day at school.
I took them into The Works and Katie spotted a knitting book another one with Animals in but these are a bit smaller than the ones in the last book and they have clothes in the book so you can dress them ,there's thirteen different animals to knit its really only the faces that determines which animal it is as the body and arms and legs are all lanky .

Let's hope your bil can get the mower going again Mel you have a lot of grass to cut on your property.

Oh Anng I've gone in the bathroom and found the tap running too ,so annoying .
Good job you checked your Tesco order ,do you have to pay extra if its under forty pound .

Vera you've got me wondering what's going in your interesting meal lol
Safe journey tomorrow and I hope your back behaves while your away ,have a lovely relaxing time .

Where's Ann ? I wonder if she's still partying with Fitz .

I'd love to know what you have in the end Vera. An "interesting" meal made me laugh.

Warm and sunny with a bit of a breeze today. I’ve only put my nose out of the door as walking far or gardening is a no-no at the moment but my back is improving so I’m hopeful of getting around a bit more next week.

I’m all packed, apart from a couple of last minute bits and pieces and I’m showered and hair washed. I‘ve just got to water some indoor plants and move them to a shady area so they don’t dry out too quickly. We won’t leave very early in the morning so I can take my time and haven’t got to rush around first thing.

Island I haven’t tried bamboo textiles myself but I’ve heard good reports of them. They are supposed to be soft and comfortable but I think the jury’s still out on the cost of energy and water needed to turn raw bamboo into a textile and also the possible harm to the environment and human health from chemicals often used in the process.

That’s good that your bil is cutting your grass again Mel. Will he be able to continue doing it for you? You have so much land that it must be nearly a full time job.

I’d better go and see what oddments of veg are lurking in the fridge. If I don’t use these bits and pieces up tonight they will have to be binned and I’m a bit neurotic about throwing food away. I just hate the waste. So OH might get another “interesting” meal tonight ;-)

BIL mowed most of the garden inside and outside the wall but the mower conked out so our neighbo9ur got his tractor and towed the mower back down here by the garage workshop and he may come back tomorrow and see if he can repair it.

Its been a lovely warm comfortable day and I had just brought a plastic box out of the garage to wah out and came in to get my gloves and it started raining heavily so now I am stuck in here when I want to be out in the garden gardening.

BIL is here mowing the grass again.