General Chat

I was 22 and T was 24 when we bought our first place a two bed bungalow, I think it cost £2500 that was 1962. No problem with a mortgage as OH was well paid in the RN compared to many people. we did sell our first car to get the money for the deposit but that was short term and we soon had another car. I was not working then as we had a 17 month old baby.

Tesco has been, he was ten minutes brfor time. Two subs one acceptable was a jar of apple sauce with cider instead of plane apple sauce. that was a good one as I had been tempted by the one with cider but it was dearer. the other was not acceptable, I ordered a large strong roll of foil and they sent one about10 inches wide, really tiny.

I looked out of the window just now and there were three blackbirds all together in a group on the lawn.

Afternoon All,

I slept really well last night and feel much brighter this morning.

My PC says the same as yours AnnG, 5 degrees and cloudy and it is cloudy and dull. Your son did really well to buy a house at age 18 and good to get on the housing ladder at that age. We took 4 years to save for our first home when we got married when I was aged 22. We could have bought a house, both cheaper and sooner, but we got a new 2 bed bungalow by waiting and with less mortgage with having a bigger deposit. It was still hard then as they didn't take a wife's earnings into account for getting a mortgage and first OH was on apprentice wages till he was aged 22. I don't think youngsters today realise or know we boomers had different difficulties.

I've been good and cleaned the sink and cooker hob this morning. It will be the floor and bathroom next, maybe tomorrow or later in the week as the food drop is this afternoon.

How is the knee on your sparrowleg now Mel? He's as cheeky as OH isn't he! I hope you aren't too bruised.

Better get on now and see what's to be done. BBL

Morning Anng and all,

The pc says mostly sunny tpday and 7 degrees but its definately wrong about the mostly sunny bit at the moment so I am hoping the sun will come out later on.

Must finish writing my cards today and get them off inthe post and I need to give the coopies a bit of a clean out if its not too windy.

Must do some wahsing too.

Good morning all, a bit grey an nondescript out there and 5 degrees so I am pleased not to be continuing my social whirl today. Just the Tesco man visiting this morning.

I have the bedding in the wash so that will be the bed change to do and I am sure there is more dusting or something to do and equally sure it probably won't get done. I slept reasonably well last night give or take waking up a few times.

I meant to say, on the way back from lunch driving down the dual carriageway, going in The opposite direction we saw, nose to tail at least fifteen small tractors.. no idea where they had been. Or were going.

He's just called me sparrowlegs Ann. Hope you sleep better tonight and have a lie in in the morning even though its wipe down day.

Hope you sleep better tonight Ann.
Son lives in Milton Keynes. We used to live in Clifton, Sherrord, Beds which is how he ended up I. MK houses were cheaprt there and he was only 18 when he bought his first house.

I just got them for the snow Mel, in case it came over my shoes. The zips were only in the top few inches at the back and I thought were just to help ease your foot into them, like those with the buckle at the side that adjusts. I'm thinking I might get some waterproof stable boots now. Yes, my OH would be saying things like that too. My dad's nickname for me when I was a toddler was 'sparrowlegs' as I had thin legs. They aren't anymore though. Good idea to let the air get to your knee when you can. I hope you've battened down those fairies of yours as I think you are due very windy weather.

That sounded like a nice meal AnnG and good that your son changed the bulbs and dusted while he did it. That would never have ocurred to OH. If you ask him to do something, he puts his blinkers on and does exactly that and no more. So washing up what doesn't go in the dishwasher means exactly that. No wiping of the mixer tap or window sill or the cooker hob. What area does you son live in? You may have said, but I can't remember. It's quite a run for him if it's 2 hours away.

Yes, I agree Vera, we would miss them, and they are handy for tight jar lids and reaching the top of cupboards! Mine seems to be conveniently deaf, even when I shout loudly, then troops in five minutes later to ask if I said something. Then we have a pointless conversation discussing what I wanted him for, which I have sorted and done on my own by then.

I'm off to bed now as I feel quite tired. I hope everyone sleeps well.

I don't think I would buy wellies with a zip up the back because they would let the water in if you stepped in something too deep for the zip.

I have been writing cards this afternoon but oh has had the telly on so if you get a card from me and oh and its not got your name on it but someone elses you'll know why.

I have been walking around with the dressing off my knee and my trouser leg rolled up and oh has been coming out with remarks like Robby has thicker legs than you. Other things too that I dare not mention. You know what men are...

WE still hav'nt heard from Island for a long while now and she's not answered any emails I sent out with the pictures on. I hope she busy with Christmas looming and not ill or too achey in this cold weather. I know my thumb is aching but thought that was to do with the way I fell as I had all grit on my left hand when I managed to get up.

We've had rain sleet and heavy hail showers on and off all day, mainly hail and it very cold out there.

I'm glad you enjoyed your lunch out anng and that son changed your light bulbs and dusted the lights. That was a good idea of his while he was on the chair. I wish oh would do our lights over the tale as I can't reach them and they are black on their backs, or they should be but they look more like grey. He did put two new bulby things in them for me the other day but I was'nt indoors when he did it. One bulby thing had gone and another was flickering and so annoying. I hate it when they do that.

Washed my hair yesterday and its not behaving today.

I’m just looking out on the most beautiful grey and pink and blue sky. I wish I was an artist or at least a decent photographer.

I’m glad the lunch went OK, AnnG, even if it was busy and a bit slow and it’s good that your son was able to do some jobs for you. You must have enjoyed seeing him. I would love to see mine again but it looks as though it might be well into next year before that happens.

Ann, I think men were designed to drive women mad but we wouldn’t be without them would we? They have their occasional uses. Mine walks around half the time with his eyes closed and never hears anything I say but he’s a dab hand at opening jars and bottles, lol. That’s annoying about the car and also about your wellies. You would have thought the company would make it clear that the zips are for decoration only.

Yes, we always have a Nordman Fir tree at Christmas. They are more expensive but don’t drop their needles much. These days we don’t do much in the way of decorating. We just have cards up in the hall and the tree in the lounge so I like to have a nice tree. OH usually gets it early to get the pick of the bunch. Then it sits in water outside till we are ready to bring it in just a few days before Christmas. We don’t have such a big one these days either, but usually get a nice bushy one that sits on a low table in the window. OH bought it on Monday for this year but I haven’t even had a look to see what he’s got.

I wanted a bit of fresh veg so decided I would go to the Co-op at lunch time as the Co-op doesn’t get nearly as busy as the other supermarkets round here and very early in the morning or lunch time are the least busy times. We went at 12.30 and there was hardly anyone there but the shelves were half empty. Two freezers were completely empty. I wanted cucumber and pepper and got those. I also wanted rocket or watercress but all they had was a baby leaf salad with a best before date of today. As for veg I wanted a cauliflower and something green. I got a head of broccoli and that was all they had.

We had a lot of rain overnight and early this morning but the sun came out about lunchtime and so we went for a walk together this afternoon. It was very pleasant but there was a really cold wind.

I had an email from Royal Mail early this morning to say they were delivering a parcel to me today but if I wasn’t going to be in I could go online and change the delivery date. Our post usually comes about lunchtime and knowing we were going to the Co-op I went online and changed the date for delivery to Monday. I even had an email from Royal Mail confirming it. We had just got back from the shop when there was a ring at the doorbell and there was a postman with my parcel. What was the point of me going online and them confirming the change if no-one took any notice?

I came upstairs to the computer to sort out another couple of presents online but haven’t done it yet. Then I will just be left with 3 to get. I know what I am getting for 2 of them but the other one is my grandson and I haven’t a clue what to buy him this year. He’s difficult to get hold of as he has a normal full-time job but spends a lot of his free time volunteering as a “Special” with the police. I rang and left a message on his mobile this morning so hopefully I’ll hear from him at some point.

I’ve been so long fiddling about up here in the study that my lovely sky is now nearly black so I had better get on or it will be time to start cooking dinner.

Just got home from lunch, very slow in the restaurant as they were very busy. When the waitress brought our bill she said "Sometimes I wonder if I am the only waitress on". There were about three on I think but all zooming around. And all the tables were full with a couple of big parties. Luckily tables are well spaced and most people walking in and out had masks on.

I had duck pate, Haddock and chips and triple choc brownie. All very nice although the batter on the haddock was a bit too well done. When they gave us the menus they also gave us a typed list of all the things unavailable due to a national delivery shortage. They had their festive menu available but Turkey was not available. No sticky toffee pudding, no apple crumble, lots of things on the list Strangely nobody seemed to be complaining but it must be so frustrating for the chef. Trying to plan things around that long list.

Son changed the bulbs in the dining room light fitting for LED ones, I got him to change all three, although only two had gone but they were not LED and I thought all matching would be best., he just stood on a chair and reached over to each light. then he asked for a duster and he dusted all the light fitting off for me. good job he is tall, although Grandson was ready to do it if he couldn't reach.
And he and grandson got the hanging baskets down from the front of the house (they were on high hooks and heavy and took them round the back.

Pleased to hear that you are ok Vera, and another busy day today.

Ann sounds like a frustrating day. didn't it say on the description of the boots that the zips were ornamental? It should do. Frustrating about the car as well.

Afternoon All,

The wind's getting up here and the sun is out which is nice to see, but it is chilly outside. I was awake till 4.00am and nearly got up then, but the heating needed to be on as it was cold and OH would have got too hot so I stayed put and drifted off after a while.

Not getting on very well today as OH is driving me mad. He decided not to go to footie, but to watch a match on TV, which is fine, but he keeps trotting in with extra things for the Asda order on Sunday, just as I think I have finished and closed the site down! His laptop has arrived and already he is badgering me to help set it up (meaning do it for him!!) as if I don't have enough to do just now. I've had to send a request for an invoice for it as well, so half the day is gone with getting food as well. He looks like he is adding another school after getting a request from them this morning, yet he is supposed to be cutting down on his work. To think I thought he would have so much time to be able to help me a lot once he retired!! lol. :-D ;-) You can never assume anything can you!

Another disappointment this morning is my new wellies with the zips at the back. I went to try them on and found that the zips are for decoration only and they don't unzip! So much for me thinking they would be easy to put on, they are impossibly narrow to get your foot in so they have been rewrapped and labelled ready for return via the post office. :-S

They also seem to have stopped doing the car he wanted in the colour he wanted now and due to a world shortage of some part for them, there is a 4 month delivery being quoted so that didn't go down well, as he needs some aircon working by Spring.

The good news is that ERNIE has been kind to me again and paid out £50. :-)

Mandy your bushy tree will look lovely with the lights on. The Nordman Fir are supposed to be good for not losing their needles too quickly. I see you can now rent a tree for Christmas and have the same one in future years if you want. It seems a good idea, but who would have thought of that years ago.

Back to my paintbrushes now for a while.

Afternoon all,

Been busy this morning as I had to shut the chickens in last night and do some other things.

Now I need to get up the shop for the paper.

We are not going to get our boosters today as its a Saturday but are going to wait until the 15th which is a Wednesday. Not so many children about but it is Market Day.

Must rush BBL.

I’m fine thank you AnnG. It was a busy day yesterday and by the time I remembered I hadn’t posted I was too tired to do it. Today seems quite busy as well but I’m just taking a coffee break. Enjoy your time with your son and family.

Hope your poorly leg is healing Mel. The advent ring looks lovely in the church.

OH has just come in to ask me to check over an important email before he sends it so I’d better go. Might bbl

Morning Anng, morning all,

Enjoy your lunch Anng with your family it will be nice to have a good catch up .

Dry here this morning but the road is wet so we've had rain in the night sometime.
Our arms are a bit tender this morning but we hope to be able to get the Christmas lights up out the front and get the tree up for the front too ,it looks a nice bushy one what we can see of it as its netted up we got it from Mole Valley again the last few years these Nordic pine have lasted well.

Mel how is the knee today hope its not to sore .
The advent ring looked lovely with the candles in I bet they were very pleased with it .

Ann it would be nice to see some photos of the Christmas yarn bombing ,our town hasn't done that this year after the trouble with the yarn bombing getting taken in the summer but they have got wreaths in shop windows this year ,each shop does their own wreath and there's a competition for people to enter to see how many of them people can spot.

Right better get these lights sorted bbl

good morning all a bit grey and looks like showers overnight. 5 degrees so colder than yesterday.

Hope Vera is OK we didn't hear yesterday. Hope the dreaded migraine has not struck. Hopefully she was just busy busy.

Have to get dressed and sorted now, never know what time son will arrive, takes him 2 hours so could be any time but hopefully by 12 as lunch is booked for 1230.

Yes all smart until I lay on it tonight and because it is short it will be sticking up.

Son coming tomorrow to collect their presents, son, daughter in law and hgrandson. So out to lunch.

That's a good idea not doing a lot of decorating being as you won't be there to see it most of the time AnnG. It wouldn't be good coming home to a big job putting everything away either. So you are all trimmed and neat in the hair department now!

Hair all done and it didn't rain so I didn't get wet. very wet under foot though and slippery where leaves have fallen.

Although not putting the tree up or my cottages out. I have found some Christmas ornaments that we haven't used for quite a few years. I have six varying sized china type snowmen so I have put those out which looks a bit Christmassy and I have added a small vase of greenery, variagated holly, euonomous, ivy and cotteneaster which does have a few berries on it. (probably a couple of spelling mistakes there apologies). When the cards come they will also add to it. I have also put out my Christmas crib figures and animals on the top of the sideboard where they usually are. that lot won't take much putting away when I come home.

when I walked down the garden, where I had not been since before the storm, I found that the tall umbrella had been blown over onto the ferns. Luckily not done too much damage and the ferns will bounce back. I have now laid ir down in case ther is a high wind while I am away.

Thanks for the reminder Mel. I had seen it was on, but as usual had forgotten again, but OH has just said he's recorded it for me. :-) That's good you have managed to get a few important things done with your sore knee. I look forward to seeing your pics of the Advent ring.

Apparently there is a Christmas yarn bomb at the village that does the other ones so I must take a ride past it and look. One of the beading group also has to have a scan so that's 2 of us still waiting.

That's good you are both finally jabbed now Mandy and that it all went well this time and that they did yours as well as Colin's.

Now back to painting the last landscape. Although the course is finished the teacher will send us feedback if we submit the last by next Wednesday.