General Chat

Thanks for the pictures Mandy and Mel. Max is such an old softie isn't he. I love the owl but will he put birds off using the nest box Mel? It is a nest box isn't it? The 2 Robbys are handsome fellows.

I'm not going to post more right now as the computer seems to be having a mad moment. I think I must have accidentally touched the wrong key or something. Odd messages keep coming up. At the moment I have one which says "Device simulation changes require a reload to fully apply". I'm going to post this while I can and then leave the problems for OH to sort out.

I meant to say I love the owl in the tree ,I was only looking at some metal birds like that the other day and thought how nice they were .

Afternoon all,
It's been nice and sunny but a lot cooler in the wind.

Ann thats the best way get out early and avoid any crowds ,I had to get son to order new light bulbs for our new lamps they were the screw in ones ,I do wish they had kept the old watts n them I had a devil of a job to work out which ones we needed in the end they were five point something which I think was 55w or something like that .
They are the led ones but I didn't think they were as bright as the others we had but they do get brighter like the halogen ones use to, when I asked in Wilko they said they don't have the halogen ones any more.

Ann that was badness them not telling you about your tablets needing renewing ,we use to get a highlighted line under our tablets on our prescription when they needed doing but we haven't had that for ages I suppose the doctors are to busy to do them .

Lovely photos Mel ,I love the ones of Robbie he really has a red beast.
What a strange dream you had I too had a strange dream
I was back home with mum and dad and there was lots of planes going over and they were all going over in straight lines then loads of parachutes were coming down .
The next minute these metal cylinders were whizzing past and I shouted out get back we're going to get hit .
Then there was lots of tiny lights in the sky and in the distance going from one side to the other in a lot of explosions then we were being sealed in the house with loads of foam sprayed over the windows and doors ,how odd was that.

I have two Christmas puddings steaming ,they are Mary Berry's recipe I did them last year and we all loved them .

Son said Lacey should be going to back school tomorrow they will be glad to get back to normal again .

Its so annoying when you can't get through to the docs is'nt it. Do they give you options like press one for emergancys press 2 for appointments etc? I have tried the speak to a recepsionist and that dos'nt work but I have been getting through on the make appointments one if that helps. You could speak and say you were very hard of hearing and could they text you???

A bit of an annoying visit to the pharmacy this morning, After walking round the pharmacist told me my Pathway (annual) prescription had expiered after the last prescription I collected in September. Nobody had told me either the chemist or the surgery. I have one weeks pills + left so it is fairly urgent. I hunted on the surgery site and the only way of contacting them now is by the e consult form or phone. Phoning is useless people are always stuck in a long queue and anyway I would not be able to hear so I am going to put a note in the outside box and see if they will contact me by email or txt as they have done before. Cynth is out at the moment but I am hoping she can run me down with it later. Otherwise I can do it tomorrow.

Morning All,

An early start for us to get to the factory shop for opening time. We needed some batteries and OH found some new joggers he needs and I got some tea towels. They used to last me years, but not since the pandemic! No-one else was in the shop. Then we were able to call in the surgery on the way back for my second blood test the doctor wanted to check things hadn't changed from the first one. I asked about my scan while I was there as I still haven't heard and they said to wait a bit longer with things as they are. There was a bright little soul about 2 -3 years old in the waiting room. She had heard a baby crying and kept asking mum if the baby was alright. In the end her mum told her the baby had gone home now. Then she became fascinated with the screen and started shouting out the colour as it changed. She was still learning words and said 'lellow' for 'yellow', but went through, blue, orange, pink as well and got them all right. Then she noticed the fruit on the diet advice screen and said 'nana'and 'apple'. Her little face was beaming as I nodded each time. At least it kept her occupied and stopped her racing about to look for the baby!

I keep meaning to say Mel that the sugar free fruit dops are quite nice, both the Asda ones and the Fruitella ones. I like to have one when I get a hankering for something sweet. That was a strange dream you had about the coconuts! It reminded me that when I was young we would have a coconut at Christmas. I never saw them otherwise, except at a fairground. I thought they were very overated at that age and still only like them on those pyramid cakes dipped in raspberry jam and rolled in the flakes.

OH is on a zoom call at the moment, then we are having a breakfast type lunch to use up some substituted caramelised onion sausages Asda sent. Grilled tomatoes and big flat mushrooms, beans and poached eggs to go with them. I want to finish painting the winter scene box later.

Now I need to order some lightbulbs next as we couldn't find this type at the factory shop.

Morning Anng and all,

No glimpse of the sun this morning here its just cloudy and miserable and seems to me its going to stay that way all day. Its 12 degrees.

WE nearly forgot bin day today as we have to take it up the top Thursday night as they come so very early. Oh took it up in the end on the mower as I was doing the dinner.

Had a strange dream last night. I was in a wooded layby picking up fallen coconuts. I came home with two and then went back to pick up the rest four more were on the road. One was smashed to bits and one was very old but the other two were perfect and huge and as I was picking them up a man walked past me with his dog on a lead and went into a garden centre which was just by the layby. I was going to use these nuts for a display but I hav'nt the foggiest where or what the display was then I woke up.

Good morning all lovely looking morning but seems to be going to cloud over now still at least I glimpsed the sun. Have to go round the shops for my prescription, other than that just writing cards and wrapping presents I think. BBL

Botheration I just lost a post as I was finishing it!!

Mandy I love all your trees and Mel is right about all the work involved. You do them so well though and they look very professional. Ahh, the look on Max's face with his head laid on your foot. He looks a real softy :-) I like your new carpet too.

Sounds like a good afternoon AnnG. I like Chuck Berry and the Everly Brothers and have one or two of their CDs.

Vera, AnnG is right and you do have a way with words that make your posts very interesting, so you do have TALENT. Anyone who can make a wedding dress also has talent in my eyes too.

The talk on the new Medical Examiners tonight was quite interesting. Apparently the report that was done found that Doctors make mistakes on Death Certs as well. This new system also means that that less post mortems should be needed as well as making the cost of cremation less.

Mel I'm not surprised you worry about your OH on the roof. I used to worry about my first OH going up ladders and as we get older we are less safe. I think your OH was so used to being able to do these things as a fireman, he may forget a few years have passed since. What was the present from his sister?

I have painted the little wooden Christmas scene I got from the Works a while ago. I still need to paint the outside, but blow me, when I switched the light on (it worked before) it didn't light so it looks like I need to get a battery for it.

Just sent a photo of Max I sat down crossed my legs and he rested his head on my foot lol

Loved the trees Mandy, so clever and a lot of work. Annx your sunset was the same colours as mine, a must for photographers I think.

Just back from u3a which was very entertaining. A duo I guess both in their sixties but both good singers and guitar players called 'The Young ones'. singing and talking about songs from the 50s and 60s. Brought back many memories, Elvis, Cliff, Lonnie Donnegan, Bill Haley, Everly brothers, Chuck Berry and others a really good afternoon.

Vera, your special talent is writing, when you write your long epistles you bring situations to life and I love to read them.

O wonderful pics of the sunset we did'nt have anything like that here as it clouded over and its done it again today.

Mandy the Christmas trees are all absolutely lovey you clever girl. It must take a lot of time to cut all those out and sew them up and stuff them. I hope you're getting paid well.

Thank you for the pictures ladies. They are great little trees Mandy. I love their little bells. Ann and AnnG, those sunset photos are stunning. I don’t think we had anything so colourful round here.

Gwyn, the last line of your post should have read “you are all so talented bar one”. I have no artistic talent at all lol. They say everyone has some special talent but I’m still looking for mine!

I’m glad your family aren’t too poorly Mandy. My son, dil and granddaughter have all had negative tests after their brush with Covid, which is a relief.

It’s been a beautiful blue sky and sunshine day but gosh, there is a bitter wind blowing. I got quite chilly just walking from the car park to the chiropodist this morning. When I had finished I went to the library and got a load of Christmas cards. I had a job to find even one pack that said something like “Season’s Greetings” as I send to a couple of people who like to enjoy the jollity but feel Christmas is a Christian festival and they are not Christians. I did eventually find a pack from the MS society.

I’ve got some oddments of veg to use up so I’m doing a big tray of roast veg for tonight. Chopping the veg I mistook my finger for a carrot. It’s a good job I was alone at the time as the language was not nice ;-). OH loves his meat but I try and have at least one veggie and one fish meal a week so I’m going to put some veggie sausages with the roast veg. He probably won’t even realise if I don’t tell him.

It’s getting dark already and cooling down so I had better go and zip up my little plastic greenhouse and bring in a couple of tender potted plants and then I think it will be time for a tea or coffee.

Mandy what does Lacey want?I hoovered right through this morning and changed the bed and washed it and got it out on the line. Then I did the lunch and we watch heartbeat on the telly. Corned the chickens, bantams and Phil and helped oh put up his birthday present from his youngest sister, up in the tree. He had to climb oin the roof of his filter shed to get it on the tree. It had to go where the sky was behind it but I hope it dos'nt put the birds off from the nest box on the other side of the tree trunk. Its the red maple at the side of the filter shed. I was so frightened oh was going to get stuck up on the roof as he's not that mobile now and not good on ladders now either. Sad for a firefighter is'nt it?

I am now going to look at the 5 emails I have recieved and hoping there's some nice pictures to see.

Afternoon all,

Nice bright day here with blue sky and sunshine I've pegged washing out and it's blowing well in the breeze.

Anng you asked about the family isolating ,Lacey finishes her isolation tomorrow and dil on Friday if they then test negative then they can go out ,Katie is later in the week and Chelsea is into the next week, touch wood the males seem to have been OK so far .
Lovely sunset photos the one with the trees and the firery sky is my favorite.

Ann I can see what you mean with your latest painting they are an odd thing to have to paint but you've done a splendid job,there's a few trees which you paint so well and all the smoke coming from the chimneys ,like OH I like it .

Mel hasn't Phil got some bright feathers he stands out in the tree .

Gwyn I hope the antibiotics soon help your earache that can be very painful ,keep your ears warm when you go out as the cool wind might affect it .

I really must make a start on getting some more Christmas presents, I have got a few but I'm really behind this year ,I think it will be mainly clothes for the children ,I have bought Katie some clay beads which she said she would like and she's been mentioning a jewellery box so thats some else I could get , Chelsea wanted a nail kit so thats something for her ,Lewis loves his lego and Jake can have clothes .

I've finished the ten trees so I'll send a photo later .

Yes that would be ok annx to use the blog. I have not used it for a few months but it should still be ok if they have not changed anything. (it is a google blog).

you have just reminded me that I took photos last night as well, glorious sunset yet we had not had any sun all day. It has clouded over here not. :-(

You slipped in there Mel, while OH came in nattering to me! I see you have a busy day planned too. We had a glorious sky last night and I need to look at the photos I took and maybe send one. You are right about our crafts occupying hands and minds. I like that! :-)

If you wanted to see what we make anytime Gwyn, just message us your email. If you don't want to do that we could perhaps put pictures on AnnG's blog?

Morning All,

Yes, it is mild here too Gwyn and the sun is shining now. I hope your ear soon clears up with the antibiotics. I have never had earache, except briefly with a cold wind, but I've heard it can be very painful. Keep it warm when you go for your walk. I dropped art after the first year of senior school in favour of sciences as we had to choose either 'arts' or 'sciences' and couldn't do both. I only started to paint in my 60s after a painter friend on this thread encouraged me to try. She used to paint some lovely Christmas cards. I think I enjoy pen and wash most, but would never have tried it if I hadn't done the online courses.

Yes, I love taking snowy photos too AnnG and now also enjoy painting snowy scenes. :-) Everything looks new and clean with a coat of fresh snow and it muffles a lot of daily noise too.

Better get sorted now. Lunch will be easy jacket pots with cottage cheese and salad and then the course this afternoon, then an online hospital zoom this evening about the medical examiner role. Apparently these specially trained doctors were brought in after the Harold Shipman case!

Morning Anng, Gwyn and all,

WE have lovely sunshine this morning and it makes a change ftom the miserable days we have been having larely and its 10 degrees. The sky out the front is blue with faint white clouds in line but I can't see out the back from here to see what thats like.

Bin day tomorrow so I must do a little HW and empty the waste bins in the rooms. Need to do the bedroom too and change the bed so thats what little me will be doing today.

Thanks for the comments on our craft work Gwyn it keeps us all out of mischief and occupies our hands and minds.

Another mild day here, which seems to be brightening steadily too.

AnnG It's so good that you find lots to do locally and are involved with various groups.
You've done well with your shopping too.

Vera too has made a great start and I really ought to do the same. I have however got a few things tucked away for various people for Christmas, bought when I see the items during the year.I will get them all out to see just what I have.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. The antibiotics are really starting to help with the ear infection, so hopefully I will be fit enough for my booster at the weekend. I did ask specifically about that and the nurse thought it would be fine, so I do hope that works out OK.
I'll take another walk in the fresh air later. That seems to help too.

Ann I have never felt confident with artistic things, but I love reading about your achievements.
We had a very good art teacher at school, who thought up all manner of projects. I did enjoy the pen and ink drawings we did of various plants. Depending on whether your lesson was early in the week or later, the same bunch of grasses and flowers was used and the teacher declared that they were still interesting and we should just draw what we saw.

Mel and Mandy always seem to be busy too and create all sorts of wonderful craft work.
You are all so talented.