General Chat

Yes we do have a water meter AnnG, so use 4 big water butts for rainwater to do the garden as much as possible. We wash our hair and OH his beard every day and it's easier in the shower. Yes, as a child Sunday night was the bath night for us! Then mum still insisted 4" was deep enough like in wartime! I hope you got the arrears due on your water bill too.

What do you have in your fishing sandwiches Mel?

That is a lot of water Ann have you got a water meter? I must be a dirty person I don't shower every day (neither did T except when it was hot or after golf. I strip wash and shower as and when I feel like it, probably 3 times a week. Remember when we only had one bath a week. My Mum used to strip wash at the kitchen sink every lunch time after doing the housework (much more energetic then). I have just had a reduction in my standing orders for water. They have taken a year to judge that one person uses less water than two.

Yes we have a bathroom window AnnG and had it replaced last year as the old one only had a narrow window opening the width of the top. The new one has opening windows both top and bottom, so effectively the whole window area opens and they are open whenever we shower or use the bath, and the fan is on too. Years ago we had the fan replaced with a much more powerful one. With 2 showers a day and sometimes OH has a bath as well, we get black mould on the outside north facing wall otherwise. There is a large towel radiator but we don't leave wet towels in there anyway.

O Vera that bad news your friend has died on your brothers day too. A very sad time for you both. Thinking of you. <3

Well he's up the caravan again this morning. We could'nt find the connection pipe for Henry so I took my hoover up there. He hoovered all the bit up and then got the two new tables up there and undid them before our lunch. It was my job to put all the polystirene in a bin bag. I hate that stuff as I had to break it all up to get it in poly sacks and it was all sticking to me and I could'nt brush it off. Then we came down for lunch nice fishing sandwiches and now he's gone back up there to put the other two tables together.


Good you got back from the hairdresser safely without any mishaps of falling over on the icy paths and I bet it feels good now its been cut.


The workshop idea was his for himself as the garage workshop is so dark inside he has to do everyhing outside plus the fact its blimmin cold in there in the winter.

I hav'nt done a jigsaw since mum died. She always had one on the go and I used to search the charity shops for them for her. We always bought her nice ones for Christmas and I still have loads of them in the lounge. They are mostly 500 pieces and a couple of 250 and one or two 1000 piece ones that were too big for her to do. Considering she could only see out of one eye she did'nt do tooo bad but I must admit to going and taking a lot of wrong pieces out when she was asleep in bed and doing the skys for her if needs be. I enjoy a jigsaw but if I started onw I would be at it all the time.

Going to clean the chickens out now.

So annoying when these good skilled people retire isn't it? Hope you can get a recommendation from somebody. does your bathroom not have a window? We don't have a fan in ours, although we do in the cloakroom, which doesn't have a window. Didn't Mandy's fan stop working recently? Must be catching. My hairdresser wipes the collar over as she takes it off, takes only seconds. They have always used ordinary small towels which go straight in the wash.

That is so sad your friend has passed away Vera and that it is also the anniversary of your brother passing away. I'm not surprised you are feeling down today. I hope you sleep better tonight.

AnnG I wear trainers when it's slippy as they have better grip don't they. My hairdresser always used those rubber things over our shoulders, but since covid and I suppose to save time sanitising, she puts a thin, polythere cape round our necks now and they are binned afterwards. Maybe they aren't as snug a fit as the rubber though and let more hair bits in. They are still using paper towels for drying hair as well. The sun's disappeared here too.

The bathroom fan has stopped working, but at least the light still works. We need to find an electrician to sort it out as the one we used to use who was very good has retired now after the last of several heart attacks.

Two computer mice I ordered arrived yesterday in a box about 3 feet long!

Just back from hairdresser, when I walked round thick fog just lifting and sun breaking through and some paths still icy. I wore my brasher walking trainers but it was a very slow walk. coming home the fog had lifted then come back down slightly but the paths were ok. Sun seems to have disappeared again. I was glad to get back in the warm without slipping over.

Vera, that is sad that your friend has died, even though it was not unexpected it still leaves a gap in your circle of friends. My condolences to his wife and family.
Yes, January is not a good month for either of us. Tony's 'anniversary' of his death is tomorrow week (29th). That will be an introspective day I am sure.

Ann When the hairdresser cuts mine she puts a rubber guard round my neck like they do for men and it keeps most of the hair out of my clothes as it fits quite close.

Mel, go back to bed and get up again and see if that helps to re-wind the day :-D

On the subject of jigsaws, it is years since we did any and we used to do a lot. However, this Christmas I had a Porta puzzle from my son and family and I have bought a 1000 piece one of a cockapoo and daughter also lent me one of hers which is a Christmas shopping scene. so now I have got two to do I had better get at least one started.

A very heavy frost this morning but we’ve had sunshine and no fog. This will be a brief post for today as I am not very happy at the moment. I had very little sleep again last night and today is the first anniversary of my brother’s death so I am feeling a bit down (I’ve been thinking of you too AnnG and the horrid time you went through <3).

Then we heard that our friend R died this morning. This is the chap OH was driving to and from his chemo and his various eye appointments. We knew it wouldn't be long as his wife and one daughter were allowed in to spend time with him yesterday but the end came very quickly. I must admit I did shed a tear for both my brother and our friend.

One of the clubs we all belonged to had a meeting planned for Monday but it has been cancelled out of respect for R. I think that’s a nice gesture and it feels like the right thing to do.

Morning All,

A sharp frost and thick fog here earlier too and the PC says 0 degrees. The sun is out though so that is cheery.

OH was up early for another zoom meeting so I have sorted another bed drawer, so that's one side of the bed done. This one had some sleeveless tops I have now chucked out as they don't fit very well under the arms, the material doesn't fit close enough and pokes out or the armholes show your underwear! I have enough others that fit ok not to need to fiddle trying to take them in and they weren't favourites anyway.

I have stuck to the 1000 piece jigsaws for ages now Mandy as bigger ones take me so long I can lose interest! You have reminded me they are something I need to sort as well. lol :-) I always think I will do them again sometime but never seem to do that now.

I hope it wasn't slippy for your walk to the hairdresser AnnG. I love it when my hair has been trimmed, but no matter how they try there always seems to be bits of hair that get stuck in your clothes and itch. Mine does a rinse after the trim as well but those bits still seem to find a way.

How annoying you lost a post Mel. We all seem to suffer the same at times. Mandy's idea of a craft caravan sounds great, but I expect your OH has already started the revamp now.

I wonder if Island has been able to to get a craft area in the new garden shed yet. I hope she is ok and that the new meds are better for her.

Better sort lunch now, but I'm running out of ideas what to have versus what needs eating up! OH is groaning that his meeting is going to take ages yet because of what he calls 'a clever dick' who just goes on and on, so I might just have a jacket potato with tuna and salad and put him some salad out ready for when he is.

wELL THATS HOW i FELT.

hOPE YOU DON'T GET COLD HAVING YOUR HAIR CUT LIKE mANDY SAID TAKE A SCARF AND A HAT.

sUNS OUT HERE BUT ITS VERY COLD OUT PC SAYS 2 AND FOG BUT WE HAD THAT LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING BUT THE SUN BURNT IT OFF..

Blast blast blast I think I shall give up before I do something else wrong. :-| :-| :-| :-| :-|

Deafening Mel!!!

JUST LOST A LONG POST AND CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO DO IT AGAIN.

Morning Anng, morning all,

Suns coming up but it's very frosty and foggy here this morning ,nothing planned for today only the usual chores a bit of dusting and hoovering.

Sounds as if your better off walking Anng with the roads chocablock with traffic you'll have to pick your spot to cross by the sound of it , you'll feel chilly round the neck walking back so remember your scarf .

Oh Mel you missed out there the caravan would have made a lovely craft room ,is it very far in the garden from the bungalow.

Ann you put me to shame with all your sorting ,we have so much in the cupboards
that really need sorting out ,I did lay out two jigsaws that are 2000 pieces and I don't think we'll get those done they are to big ,I now have a jigsaw out ready to start sometime.

Hope you enjoyed your afternoon chat with your friends Vera .

Right coffee first and then I'll get the duster out .

Good morning all. very thick fog out there and a hard frost. I am hoping it clears by eleven as I have a hair appointment. I don't mind walking but with our roads currently gridlocked with the road closures it makes crossing them difficult. Main road has a pedestrian crossing but side roads don't.

So much for the doing of the bathroom. I did the loo and the shower then it was time to get the lunch. Ate that and then he decides to go up the caravan but wants me with him to see what I think about taking out the benches round the lounge part. Of coiusre they were all full of his sisters stuff so that got stuffed in the big bedroom too. Came down and fed the hcikens and came in and I had'nt wshed up so I did that and now its started to get dark and he will be down here again soon cold and thirsty.

I am going to attempt to do a bit more in there befpore he arrives back down here.

Afternoon All,

It's like a Spring day here with the bright sunshine, but there's still frost in the shade. 5 degrees on the PC.

Ray used to be an eco activist Vera, which is a turn off straightaway for me! It was a shame they lost the farm but I got the impression they saw it as an opportunity to become wanderers rather than homeless. Otherwise you'd think their children would have offered them temporary lodgings rather than see them sleep rough. My OH is the same Vera when it comes to mundane tasks needing doing. He needs to see the doc about the eczema in his ears which the nurse's treatment months ago hasn't touched, so I've been chivviing him. Yesterday he suggested I could ring and make him an appointment???? He had PAs at work and he's done his darndest to turn me into his PA since he retired.

Oh Mel, your OH is going to have to start looking after himself better isn't he and try to get himself more well. He needs a chart of his medications and times. It's a good idea to make use of the caravan if you won't be having visitors stay there again. It will be quite cosy for him too with teamaking facilities on hand! You sound nice and warm in your fleece outfit.

Thanks for your offer of The WW with the Teddy Bear outfit AnnG. I tried again to add it to my shopping, but it seems Asda have stopped the availability of magazines with your online groceries since the New Year, so I ordered the copy with the pattern from another site and it should be here soon. I am grateful though and would have snapped your hand off if I hadn't managed to order one! :-)

Your son is doing well losing so much weight Mandy. I bet he's chuffed at the improvement it has made with his diabetes too and it would be great if he could come off the tablets altogether. Thanks for the mention of the Watercolour prog, I'd not seen it so have recorded it now! :-) I hope the new statins will suit you much better than the others you had.

We now have 3 more big bags between us for the charity shop and I am going through more things in the bedroom this afternoon. I am beginning to think all these tops will outlive me there are so many! :-0 Some I've had since we moved here over 20 years ago though. I hate throwing good things out......but there is a limit!

OH has a face to face meeting this afternoon so I should be able to get on with things much faster,

Mel yes in anticipation of them coming out soon.

O I see you managed to change your logo Anng. I like the hellibore.

Morning Vera Anng and all,

everythings white here this morning but the suns out and its melting the frost where it reaches. Pc says degrees and a sun with a red ! on it.

Iv'e put on my new fleece trousers this morning and my big thick teddy fleece jumper and I feel like the Michelin Man. Remember him ???

Sun shows up all the dirty windows so I think thats whats on the cards for today and the bathroom which did'nt get done yesterday thats if oh dos'nt think of something else for me to do.

good morning all PC tells me it is 1 degree and sunny however when I look out of the window it is thick fog. when I hover over the temperature on the pc it comes up with a box which seems to inform me it is coming from Trowbridge in wiltshire which is 60 miles from here. Can't go by that then.

I suppose I had better clear the airing cupboard of all the stuff aired from my wash on Monday and yesterday ready for the next lot. and then dust downstairs as that has not been done since before I went away. Still a couple of admin jobs left on the list. Friend calling in for a chat at 1.30 but otherwise nothing planned.