General Chat

Morning Anng Vera and all,

We have beautiful sunshine this morning and pc says 4 degrees and sunny. Oh told me we were in for a nice few days and so did the weather man.

I hoovered yesterday so don't have that to do today so will see if I can get on with the project today but if its not too windy out I have to clean the big girls out as I did'nt do it before when I said. What an exciting life I lead shoveling all this muck.

Its library day today too and tomorrow they are turning our leccy off between 9am and 4pm.

Good morning AnnG and all

It’s funny that as soon as I type the G of Good my iPad brings up the above phrase word by word. I’m going to confuse the machine one day by putting in something totally different ;-)

The forecast is for lots of sunshine for the next three days so that will cheer us all up. At the moment the weather app is telling me it’s 5 degrees but only feels like 2.

I was so tired last night that I went to bed early. I fell asleep quickly but slept for less than an hour and it was turned 4 before I dozed off again, so not a very good night. I feel a bit sluggish but must get myself moving to shower, dress, have breakfast and get into town. I’ve got an appointment for a shingles jab and it’s at one of the town surgeries instead of our local one.

Probably bbl

good morning all, bright sunshine here 1 degree and a quite hard frost. Haven't gone down to look in the conservatory yet so hope the little plants are OK.

All being well, walking to my friends for coffee this morning, about a mile to walk, I haven't done it for a long time, thinking I might take my stick!!

I had a reg wedding but no guests. Mum and dad took us for a meal in Abridge at a very posh timber beamed resturant. I had strawberries for desert and they came up in a huge bowl the sie of a mixing bowl all piled up and the waiter served me from that big bowl and as he put the third on in my dish one or two fell off the top and rolled down onto the table and then the floor. Well I could not contain myself and had a fit of laughter. The waiter must have felt awful but it was so funny and it seemed to happen in slow motion. I shall never forget that day. We did'nt have a honeymoon but had the flat to live in done up by my dad and my nan bought me a fridge, twin tub washing machine and an electric airer thing mum and dad bought us a lovely lounge carpet in green. My paternal grandfather gave us £100 and we bought our bed in a sale and we bought two double wardrobe fronts and one end and dad put them up and made all the insides and I had a handmade set of draws at home which fitted nicely into the wardrobes. Mum and dad owned the house and I had the bottom flat and a friends of theirs son had the top flat.

Afternoon All,

What a miserble, gloomy, rainy day here! It's only 8 degrees here now and has been chilly enough to want heating on quite often.

I tried to order our F&C only to find the usual place has changed the online menu so you can only get a fish supper with all sorts added like sausage yuk and curry sauce yuk. I then tried another delivery company and couldn't pay and I suspect they haven't made the changes to payment online brought in last Monday. So I went back to the first one and ordered them from another place. They were ok but we both feel so full we don't want any tea!

I also tried last night and this morning to order more tests online and it just keeps saying there are no delivery slots left and to try later. I suspect they may not issue any more online. I'm testing negative now which is good as I have a hair appointment next week. They are still taking the same precautions too. I always have my hair washed before cutting, but sometimes it gets sprayed with water as it dries as well. I still have a morning cough and the sniffles, but am glad it's been no worse. We were both very tired this afternoon and had a lie down but I think that was lunch!!

That was very interesting about your early married life AnnG and rang a few bells with me. My mum had all 3 of us at home (in different houses) between 1947 and 1962. We were all breast fed the first few weeks and my sister and brother both had terry nappies with a muslin lining at first when they were tiny. I remember changing their nappies and being told to be careful how I fastened the big curved safety pins so they didn't stick in. The prams were beautiful then weren't they! I used to be sent out with my sister in her pram (she cried a lot!) to give mum a break. She had a coachbuilt pram in a mushroom colour with big curved springs and chrome wheels which were bigger at the back. It had dark coachlines painted on it and I think it was a Silver Cross pram and it was secondhand, and had a lovely fringed canopy. In the summer babies looked so comfortable in them and could see out and move about freely. I would have loved to have bedding and shirts washed and ironed for me when I was first married as I didn't get a washing machine for the first 6 months. We saved up so I could get a cheap Indesit automatic with the porthole door instead. We saved all our money for 3 years before we got married so we could put a deposit on what we eventually bought, which was a new detached 2 bedroom bungalow. My parents in the 60s thought parents paying for weddings was outdated, so we (also my sister) paid for our own, so mine was very low key at a register office with a handful of guests. I was so shy (even at age 22) I was glad when it was over and didn't enjoy it at all. My parents did buy us a bed and my then MIL bought us a fridge. MIL said we could use her caravan at Ingoldmells for a honeymoon, but it was only for 4 days as I had to be back at work then. I hope your mouth is less sore now.

I had big plans for what I would get done today but haven't really done anything. Maybe tomorrow will be better!

Being bored I was just reading through parts of my Life Story that I wrote early 2000s. I thought the following was a good bit of Social history. don't read it, if it bores you. Or if it is too long.

As I said in the previous chapter, we were married at Fareham Baptist Church on 27 August 1960. My dress was made by a friend of Mum’s, it was oyster coloured brocade, a sort of gold colour as white was too pale for me. I had an ecru coloured veil with pearls on and I carried a bouquet of pink carnations; Tony looked very smart in his Naval uniform. The two older bridesmaids wore pale blue short dresses and Christine wore pink. The hymns were Love Divine All Loves Excelling and Oh Perfect Love. I distinctly remember one part of the talk given by Rev Watson when he warned us that marriage was not going to be ‘all moonlight and roses’. When I left the bungalow with Dad to drive to the church in the taxi the neighbours were all lined up in the street, and they were there with many friends after the service to see us leave the church. I was not at all nervous, in fact I enjoyed every minute.

We had a reception for eighty guests at the Fareham Assembly Hall. The meal was ham salad and fruit trifle and a three tier cake, the only alcohol served was a glass of sherry for the toast, the cost was approximately £80 for 80 guests. The reception was done by a firm of caterers from Waterlooville (Broadlands Catering). My ‘going away’ outfit was a straight fitted navy blue dress with a short bolero style navy and white dog tooth check jacket, a white ‘boater’ hat and white shoes, gloves and bag. I felt very smart. We had a taxi to Eastleigh where we caught our flight to St Helier, Jersey. We flew British European Airways and the tickets cost us £8.18.0 each (see Appendix 1). We stayed at the Norfolk Hotel in St Helier, in a room with a view of the kitchens. We thought we were very up market as we had en suite facilities (toilet and shower in a sort of cupboard and a sink in our room.) We had a lovely week going on all sorts of coach trips around the island and just enjoying being together. When we returned we caught a coach to the station from the airport, train to Fareham and bus to Gosport to 4 Peel Road, our first home.

Our first home together was at Peel Road Gosport in a flat over a doctor’s surgery – Iva, my Father’s cousin was receptionist there, although we didn’t know that at the time we took out the lease. It gave us a lot of pleasure to put out all our wedding presents. The flat was furnished of course. It was the usual procedure in those days to rent furnished accommodation. Mum and Dad had given us a beautiful lilac eiderdown and candlewick bedspread. The bedspread had a lovely floral design and the bedroom looked very luxurious when it was on the bed, we were very proud of it. Tony’s Father gave us a dinner service, white with a thin red line round the edge of the plates and a small leaping stag design. We lived here for about four months enjoying our first Christmas together. We then moved to a flat in Linden Grove Gosport which was next door to the flat that Jan (John) and Sally Tucker lived in.

In 1961 Tony learnt to drive, he passed his test on the second attempt and we bought our first car off his Father, an Austin Ruby. We kept it for a while, even travelling to Devon in it then we bought a Wolsely.

All this time, I continued to work at Cambridge Barracks, it being easier to commute to Portsmouth from Gosport. After I became pregnant in 1961, we moved to a Naval Hiring flat in The Crescent Alverstoke, an imposing address but it was a basement flat which flooded when it rained. True to form my Mother was not pleased when I became pregnant, she said I was too young, it was too soon, in fact I began to feel I should be ashamed of the fact, almost as though I wasn’t married, but we were thrilled with the news. I left Cambridge Barracks in October 1961 and our first child, Lynda Marie was born on 16 November 1961 at Blackbrook Maternity Home Fareham. In those days you were more likely to go into a nursing home to have your baby, unless there were complications when you would be sent to a hospital. In my case it would have been St Mary’s hospital Portsmouth, few people had their babies at home then. Lynda had a mass of very dark hair which was later to go fair and then brown, and with her blue eyes and sallow skin was the image of her Father. I was in the nursing home for 10 days as was normal then, the babies were kept separately in the nursery and only brought to Mums for feeding. Most of us breast fed our babies for a few months at least. Before we left the nursing home we were taught how to bath the babies and dress them. Lynda was immediately idolised by my parents, and also by Tony’s Father when he saw her. We moved just after Christmas to a house (another hiring) in Queen Street, Gosport. It was old and dark but better than the flat as we could at least get Lynda’s pram in and out of the door, and we had a back garden. The pram was my pride and joy, a tall coach built grey and white Marmet with large wheels and beautifully sprung.

Life as a Naval wife was comfortable, the pay was good and in spring 1962 we bought a two bedroom bungalow in Blackbrook Road Fareham, it cost £2,450. We had to sell our car, the Wolsely, to raise the deposit. In those days we didn’t have fitted carpets but carpet squares on dark brown Marley tiles which had to be dusted and polished. The kitchen was all Marley tiles. We had a fridge but no washing machine or freezer, dishwashers were only heard of in America. We had no central heating or airing cupboard. All the washing was hand washed or boiled in a Baby Burco, It was then dried on the line. That included terry towelling nappies, in the winter the washing would often be frozen stiff, all weird shapes hanging on the line. Mum bought us a spin drier to make up for not paying for the wedding, that made life a little easier, especially in 1963 which was a bad winter with a lot of snow. Sheets and collarless Naval shirts and the loose collars would be collected at the door by a mobile laundry van and would be returned the following week washed, starched and ironed. Milk and bread were paid for by plastic tokens pre paid for from the milkman and baker. Groceries were ordered at the Co-op and delivered free. We always seemed to have enough money, managed to buy another car and didn’t go without anything. As a Naval wife I had an allotment book, so that I could survive financially when or if Tony was away. My allotment was eleven shillings and sixpence (Append 1) a week. From this I was able to buy food and put money by for the gas and electricity, and the rates. I used to have an oblong tin divided into small compartments, each week I would divide my money into these compartments so that we had enough to pay the bills when they came.

In 1962 I learnt to drive in a Morris 1000, taught by Ted Nelson, the Father of my friend Dilys who died when we were thirteen. I distinctly remember my first lesson when I took the wheel for the first time on the old Wickham Road, I was petrified. However, I passed my test on the second attempt.

In 1963 there was an event that shook the world; John F Kennedy President of the United States was shot while in a motor cavalcade in Dallas, he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald who himself was shot two days later by Jack Ruby.
When Lynda was two years old we decided we would like a brother or sister for her. Sadly nothing happened and we had to wait until the end of 1966 before I got pregnant.

Island :-D What the dust? yes I always have said HW is a waste of time, do it today and it will be the same again tomorrow. But it passed a boring half hour.

I did it in 'paint' Ann, as I've done many times. Perhaps I need to start again...

It'll only come back - mark my words ;-)

Island is the original where you got it from the right way up? How strange though.

Well I have dusted upstairs and cleaned the bathroom but it is now pouring with rain and so dark that it doesn't encourage me to dust and polish downstairs. I also have a sore gum around a wisdom tooth and the inside of my mouth that side. I thin the new denture has altered my 'bite' and I have caught the inside of my mouth or gum that side when chewing. I will have to have a look for the bonjela.

meant to say (editing) I have just read a book by an author I have never read before and thought it was very good, very readable. It is called, And then she was Gone by Lisa Jewell ( She was fifteen, Her mother's golden girl, her whole life ahead of her. And then, Ellie was gone....... Now ten years on. Laurelhas never given up hope of finding her. then she meets a stranger who sweeps her off her feet. And his nine year old daughter Poppy is the image of Ellie. What really happened to Ellie and who has secrets to hide?) - copied to book thread.

you're right Vera! Head on upside down today I think....

I've reversed it but it won't upload that way up :-0 :-S

She might be able to spray but because my hair is thick and heavy and has a natural curl it usually cuts better if it is wet and so hanging straighter. I’ll speak to her when I get there but I can lean forward over the basin rather than backwards. I have my hair washed like that if I am not having a good day.

Island, good for you if your avatar is in support of Ukraine but, if so, shouldn’t it be the other way up? Or is it not for Ukraine?

I'm having a blitz Anng, so plenty of surprises!

I wondered that Island, I am sure they can. My daughter always has hers sprayed and cut, never washed. It is not actually raining here but is very very damp, almost misty. I suppose as I am in I had better do some HW (sorry)

Morning all

It's bleak here this morning, heavy rain forecast later. Indoor pursuits then!

Vera, as you've washed your hair for your appointment can the hairdresser not just spray it? I haven't had my head back for a hair wash in years due to vertigo so always ask for my hair to be dampened from a spray bottle.

I think you are very wise to stay away from there this afternoon Anng.

There are two tom plants up this morning so only two to go if they come up.

Morning vera and all,

Cloudy here this morning but not any wind blowing. Think its in for the day though.

F & C night tonight so no cooking for me today just have to get lunch so I am hoping I can mend what I broke yesterday.

Sorry you felt so good during the night Vera and hope its nothing brewing. Take care of that back today and enjoy having your hair done.

Good morning all dozes off at 6 and finally came to at 0840, unusual for me, don't think I slept that well too much dreaming.
Vera I hate it when you wake in the night and feel unwell but don't know why so all the possibilities go through your head and yet it is probably because you are over tired. Pleased that the test was negative.
I don't think I will go to the main meeting this afternoon, it is the last one to be held in the small church hall, we are back in the large community centre hall next month. At the lunch yesterday, I was fine, we had the table where the 3 empty spaces were so there were only 5 of us and I positioned myself on the end of the table opposite the lady who drove us (she is extremely careful, always wears a mask and never goes out. the next two people were from my garden interests group who were in my house last week. Although one of them did say that her daughter and family have all gone down with Covid, she had tested negative that morning. However somebody said it is rife in The Village. She meant the other end of our village which was the village before it spread out to where we are. As a lot of our members come from the main village I think it best to give it a miss.

Good morning all

Weather is not looking so good today. It’s supposed to be thick cloud all morning and rain for the rest of the day..

I didn’t feel so good during the night so did a Covid test this morning. If we hadn’t got any appointments I might have left it to see if I felt any worse tomorrow but thought I’d better err on the safe side as OH has to go to the health centre for blood tests this morning and I have a hair appointment this afternoon.. it was a clear negative so we will keep our appointments.

I’m going to wash my hair in the shower before I go so that the hairdresser can just quickly wet it again when I get there. That will mean I only have to lean over the basin for a minute or two. I don’t think my back will let me lean backwards or forwards over the basin for very long.

Apart from that I have no plans.

I don't do gravy with cauli cheese but don't mind a little cheese on the cauli as long as it dos'nt touch any gravy.

I am pleased to say that I have one tomato seed up and straining for the light. I had'nt looked at them for two days and went in to make sure they were damp and there she was an inch tall and waving her two little arms.

Funny you should mention Jane Vera as I have been thinking of her today.

Love to Island and its nice to see you pop in. <3

:-D :-D :-D @ Island. I moved on to sunflower hearts for the birds because they used to drop all the bits from the wild bird seed which germinated and OH was forever moaning at the amount of wheat he was always having to pull up. His constant cry was “there’s enough wheat here for a loaf of bread”. Maybe I’d better start buying that bird seed again.

Cauliflower cheese and gravy - ugh! It brought back a few memories of Frank always making it with his roast dinners and our lovely Jane saying how she hated it.