General Chat

Good morning all

It’s very grey and very wet here. I’ve got quite a lot of washing to do but I won’t be hanging it out, that’s for sure. OH has an optician’s appointment this morning and I did think of going into town with him but I don’t think I will. I don’t fancy wandering around in the rain. This afternoon Sainsbury are delivering. I hope there aren’t many subs.

EDIT. Just had the receipt from Sainsbury’s. No subs and 1 product not available but it was just some spice so not important :-)

I have got on well with my craft this afternoon I just hope it all fits together ok. Time will tell I may have to find some of oh's clamps when I glue it.

Last night frost burnt off all the tops of my hydrangas and Monty told us on Friday to cut them down now. I am glad I did'nt do it so still have time for them to pick up again.

Ann you should get yourself a probagater to put your seeds in in the greenhouse it gives them a second protaction against any frosts. I have quite a big one that was given to me when someone moved. Also I have a tiny greenhouse in the shed I put things in for the winter or seedlkings which keeps them frost free.

I haven't sowed any seeds yet, mid April last year.
From what I've read on veg growing sites, peat free isn't very good.
I've gone for peat - the big manufacturers use it so why not.

Vera seeds are very slow growing this year. I don’t know if it is the weird changeable weather or I am wondering about the seed compost. The one I am using which is peat free is very heavy feeling with a lot of straw like stuff in it. I have potted on a few plants that have grown but I am not very hopeful.

I slept fairly well last night but feel really tired again now.

You all seem to be achieving much more than me, although I have been busy. Yesterday we went to visit my late brother’s partner and make final arrangements for a celebration of my brother’s life which is being held on Easter Saturday. His partner is doing all the organizing but is consulting with me as well. Yesterday we sorted through photos and catering arrangements. It is 15 months since my brother died but Covid restrictions were tight at that time and just a few people could attend the funeral and no wake afterwards, not even a cup of tea. So many people wanted to be there that we said we would have a Celebration of Life event when restrictions were lifted enough. It looks as though there are going to be around 85 people there but there is a large room booked with its own private entrance and big opening doors to a small private garden so, provided it isn’t snowing or bucketing down with rain we should be able to get plenty of air in the room. Several people have said that they will test before they come so I hope it is all going to be OK. It’s difficult to get the atmosphere right as we don’t want it to be a second funeral nor do we want an all-singing, all-dancing party, just a nice occasion where people can chat and share happy memories. The idea of having the photos around is to get people chatting and spark a few memories.

This morning I got some bread going in the bread maker and prepared our Sunday dinner and then did some odd jobs around the house. Today we had a gammon joint with lots of different veg, mashed potatoes and a cheese sauce. The problem was that everything was just about ready when I realized that I had forgotten to put the potatoes on to boil. Doh! I think my head is stuffed full of sawdust these days. It meant I had to keep everything else warm while I cooked and mashed the spuds and dinner was at 2.30 instead of 2 pm.

Then I got a text from Sainsbury’s to remind me they are delivering tomorrow which I had forgotten and all I had put in my order were a few oddments to hold the slot I had booked, so this afternoon I had to make a proper shopping list and get my order in.

You also all seem to be doing better with your plants than I am. I sowed a small tray of dwarf antirrhinums following the instructions to the letter and was really pleased that they came through and filled the tray. I was going to give them just a few more days to get a big bigger and then thin them out. Today they appear to have pretty much all laid down and died. I can’t work out why but I can’t sow any more as I have now lost the packet of seeds. I told you I was a sawdust head lately.

My tomatoes are doing badly as well. I did use old seeds so perhaps that’s the problem but none of the Moneymaker toms have germinated. I have 4 Gardener’s Delight through but they are only about an inch tall and only have seed leaves so far. It is strange as I don’t usually have any problems with tomatoes.

Mel, you are doing well with your eggs. Your coopies are obviously happy birds at the moment. We have a lot of instances of bird flu round here so all the chickens that are normally free range have to be kept indoors.

Talking of hot air balloons, I always wanted to go in one so my children bought OH and me a trip for my 70th birthday. It was cancelled 3 times because of weather but it was wonderful when we eventually got up in the air, floating gently along above everything. When we were just drifting it was very quiet but I hadn’t realized how loud the burner would sound when you were up close to it. I don’t think I would be able to climb into the basket these days.

Well, I still have one or two jobs I want to do before I settle for the evening so I had better get going. I hope everyone sleeps well tonight. If you look in at all Gill, give us a little wave. We miss hearing from you.

The changeable weather is no help as well. At least in December I knew I needed clothes for cold weather but who knows what it will be like in a weekd time.

It doesn’t hurt to do nothing and I did have the two hours with my friend doing nothing

You have put me to shame as well with all your jobs AnnG. I always have trouble sorting what top clothes to take when I go away.

Well, I have changed the bed and washed the bedding and dried it. Had a two hour coffee chat with friend then, after lunch I have sorted a lot of the odd bits and pieces pre packing tomorrow so it is mainly just clothes to pack now. then I took the shears and did the edges of the lawn. Hoping to get the lawn cut tomorrow. Tescos, also came this morning.

Afternoon All,

It's up to 8 dgrees here now but it was cold first thing. I slept like a log last night and feel much better today. Hope you did too Mandy after a night of the 'fidgets'. So you were tempted to have F&C too! lol. We used to see hot air balloons quite often here too, as they would set the noisy dog next door off. I don't think I've seen any since the pandemic either.

It must have been cold last night as my solitary tom plant has succumbed and the runners look even worse so I will plant some seed tomorrow, also some tom seeds. My Nasturtiums are coming hrough now. Mel the blinds are wooden venetian type so the widths are all wrong and the damp in the greenhouse would warp the slats. It's a metal greenhouse too so not easy to fix things to. It was a good idea though.

I did my walk first thing but as there were quite a few people there and they tend to block the footpath chatting, I went halfway round and then turned sharp left and walked through the old sweetcorn field down to the village through the churchyard and back to the carpark along the road. It was further than 1 lap but not quite as far as 2 laps.

You have had a busy time Mel getting things done. I have put the washer on, but that and my walk are all I've done as yet.

Its 9 degrees here and there's not much in the way of a breeze.

Washing is out and I have oput lots of bits away and done some plastering and thrown out a lot of empty bottles in the bin for tomorrows collection.

Emptied all the waste bins and shall burn that lot tonight when all the washing i in, its only hankies but I did sort out the empty loo rolls and took those down the shed for putting some sunflower seeds in. I need to pot on my tom plants too but now its lunch time and I need to get it on the go as I am hugry.

Love you all and waving to Island and Gill~~~~~~~~~~~~ <3

Too darn cold here as well, Mel, but it is sunny at the moment. There was a heavy frost this morning.

Was busy all yesterday so didn't get on the computer and busy today as well. have only stopped for a quick break. Might BBL

Nooooooo to blooming cold to go out Mel its only 1 degree here ,I've done the veg for later we're finishing off the stew as yesterday after reading Ann was having F&C we had the same so it's an easy meal tonight now .

Are you all out in the garden? Its a lovely day here. Just going to put some wahsing out.

ve gone in the greenhouse

Its done it again.

Good morning Anng and all,

we had a very hard frost last night and its still where the sun dos'nt reach yet. The sky is wall to wall blue and it looks like its going to be a beautiful day.

Ann I was thinking last night about your old blinds, would thye go in the greenhouse? Not sure if they were vertical ones or not but if they were light oloured they may give protection from the sun and the cold.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Very frosty but the Suns shining and it's soon melted the frost away .

You were up and about this morning Anng I looked at the bed but thought no I'll strip that tomorrow .
We haven't seen a hot air balloon for ages they use to use one of the schools playing fields years ago and we would see them go over most weekends and hear the roar of the burners .
You would need to wrap up well I bet its really chilly up there .

Hope you had a better nights sleep last night Ann ,I was ages getting off last night still awake at gone twelve i starting dropping off but then got the fidgets in my legs so was twisting and turning for ages.

Mel thats a nice amount of eggs the girls are laying now ,hope you've got over the trouble with the tablets and feel calmer now, things like that upset the system and put you all out .

Well the Suns shining but I don't think it's a day for outside jobs , don't think I feel like doing inside jobs much either so will see how the day goes .

good morning all. slept well last night, asleep before 11pm and woke at 0515 for the loo. up at 0715, bed now stripped and bedding in wash. Frost last night but not a really heavy one. friend coming at 10.30 for coffee. not seen her for three weeks as she had a cold and didn't go to U3a

It is a beautiful clear blue sky morning. Just looked out of my office window to see a hot air balloon in the distance. I bet it is lovely up there this morning, so clear. they must have been up since dawn. I can't think where they launched it from. Or where they are going.

We have, or had the last time I went, a duty doctor, I think he or she sees emergencies. We have a very large reception, widely spaced chairs, go in one door and out another.

It wasn't at a doctor's surgery AnnG. I mentioned it was a duty doctor on a shift so sounds like a Hospital. I think what has made the difference is the govt dropping the legal requirement and making it just 'advice' to self isolate and the fact that, apart from certain groups being able to still get free covid tests, everyone else has to pay for them now. The govt has said that most people won't need a test. Many won't bother, especially those who are young and know they are unlikely to be very ill. Others will just think they have a cold, even though it has been said that 50% of apparenr colds will be covid.
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Our doctors request you wear a mask and to phone if you have symptoms, in which case they wear full PPE and you use a different entrance and exit. Seating was well spaced in twos before, but people pull other seats to make bigger groups to seat their children or chat to a friend and they don't bother to move them back when they go in for their appointment. We have to walk out of the same entrance as people queuing to come in. :-S Our chemist has a sign up saying not to come in if you have symptoms. I suspect none of these things can be enforced now that it is only advice. It all seems rather silly with the 1 in 3 being asymptomatic and mixing as well. It all seems to have gone under the radar with the UKraine War in the headlines.

With little to protect us from what others decide to do, all we can do is do the best we can to protect ourselves. I thought a silly comment in the 'advice' was to avoid people who are vulnerable if you need to go out among people and have covid. Not everyone is obviously vulnerable are they.

Well I've had a very lazy day so must crack on tomorrow. Must dash and cover my plants again. I think it's supposed to be a hard frost tonight.

Not 100% sure of present situation at our surgery, but as far as I know, entrance is restricted and patients can't get in without pressing the call system and being asked if they have symptoms of Covid.
Once allowed into the waiting room, chairs are spaced widely apart and once you've seen the doctor or nurse, you leave the building by a different door.

In the pharmacy, where I pick up prescribed medications, they have a notice on the window asking one not to enter if one has symptoms. They require masks to be worn and limit the number of people allowed entry at one time. It is common to see a short line of distancing people waiting to go in.

How irresponsible to go out and about and spread the virus further.

I can't believe people are not aware of the symptoms of covid. why did it make a difference that the restrictions were lifted I wonder. Would they not have gone to the doctor if there were still restrictions? I am sure our surgery will still have the poster saying don't come in if you have covid symptoms.