General Chat

O good Island is ok and you could post everyday please pretty please.

Mel, it's only two days since I posted. Can't be posting every day, the excitement might be too much. :-D

Evening Vera, surprise surprise - no meds! Not impressed.

Well, I don't know where today's gone. It's rushed by and I don't seem to have done very much. I washed some bedding this morning and ironed it late this afternoon. The rest of the morning was used up in odd little jobs, i.e. filling the bird feeders, potting up a few cuttings rooted in water and just general tidying.

This afternoon I went with one other person for a cup of tea at another friend's house. That worked well. We could sit with a bit of space, 2 of us were triple jabbed and one double jabbed and we had a very pleasant afternoon. OH had said he wanted to eat out tonight so I agreed provided we went to somewhere we knew would be as OK as possible, that it was local and that we went early. So at 6 pm we went to a local fish place in town. It was fine. We were given a large table for 4 just for the 2 of us and, although it felt warm, I noticed that the back door to the premises was left open. We had a delicious grilled salmon meal with a glass of wine and were home soon after 7.30 pm.

You are right Ann, it is interesting to hear the views of someone of a different generation and we love talking to our granddaughter. She is bright and articulate and generally thinks things through. She is also socially very aware, particularly with regard to disadvantaged youngsters and also our responsibility to look after our planet. She has always been interested in everything around her. I remember one short car journey with her when she was about 5 when we managed to discuss why buses have numbers, how dentists make false teeth, church architecture and the powers of fairies!!

I am hoping that the weather won't be too bad at the weekend as I must try and get on with some clearing up in the garden and potting up some bulbs.

SOUND A FANFARE. HANG OUT THE BUNTING. My pension has today been paid into the correct account and we can now get the other account closed and can get our hands on our money. At last!

I'll join Mel in wishing everyone, including EOS of course, a calm and happy weekend.

I too picked more tomatoes this morning and came in with a pocket full. They are still ripening in the little plastic greenhouse as thats two lots I have picked this week.

I washed my two garden coats this morning so they will be nice and clean to start making them dirty again this winter. Ones a thickish old coat mum bought us both over 25 years ago. Mine was green and hers was red and hers is thicker than mine as I wore mine more.

Then I had a little clay play but then it was lunchtime. Now the suns still shining and oh said its the last good day so if I want to do stuff in the garden to get out there now. So I suppose I shall have to stop playing and go and do something positive towards getting the garden ready fopr the winter. I do need to take some plants off the patio and cut back the Mollis out the front.

Good luck with the homework Ann and you'll soon get into that bark and stones.

Sending love to Island and Frank and hope they post soon.

Well the bed's changed and I went out and pruned the rest of the Viburnum down to a better height to reach. I managed to step onto the plastic crate I use in the garden by holding onto the trellis and filled 2 big humpers. I also cut back some of the Tiny Robin to the edge of the rocks, then OH appeared so I got him to finish it and dig out a patch of creeping clover I had spotted. I potted another Geranium to bring in the greenhouse and picked more toms. There are plenty of green ones left but they aren't growing any bigger now so I might pick the rest after the weekend and we can have fried green tomatoes. :-)

When we first had flextime AnnG, you could tell some that kept rigid hours and didn't roll in till 9.00am seemed to not like it when us earlybirds would put our coats on and go at 3.30pm! We had to work it between ourselves too to make sure someone was there to cover the phones and any queries from the counter staff at lunchtime.

It went dull a while ago but the sun's out again now. I must start this next painting but don't feel very inspired by a piece of bark or stone. It will be good practice for observation though I suppose. :-(

Our flexi time was very good Ann. This is in the 90s in the MOD In the 80s we were still on fairly rigid hours but we, in the Civilian personnel office (80s different base) were flexible in ourselves but most of us worked about 0830 to 0500. With Flexi here in Glos we had to clock in by 1000 and not leave before 4pm. So I usually worked from 0730 until 4.

Yes I am glad that we set up the garden interests group as I don't think I would have done it on my own, even though it was my idea. T was much better in the beginning with practical advice but I have found that I really knew all along, almost as much as he did. It helps that none of us are experts, just all like our gardens.

Morning All,

Nice sunny morning here and I had a good sleep so feel brighter (a little). I managed 200 pedals this morning so that was 50 more and pleased me too.

AnnG we were on flexi time by the mid 70s too but had to work between 8.30am and 3.30pm when the public could phone us. We could start at 7.15am which I usually did and stay as late as 6.30pm. It was good being able to build up your hours so you could have a day or half a day off wasn't it! You were good to start up the gardening group which seems to be well supported and enjoyed.

Gwyn you are right about many of us needing to feel comfortable about spacing, numbers and ventilation where we go at present. I was concerned about OH going to the few schools and councils that are still holding their meetings face to face and to be honest some have now gone back to having them by zoom. They have been really good though, leaving doors open to the outside so no-one need touch them and where possible holding them in rooms next to the outside with windows open as well, sitting at well spaced desks with sanitiser on each. Some people have needed warmer clothing, but midges have been a problem at one school!!!

Nice that you saw your granddaughter for a good chat Vera. I would find it interesting to know how some of the young view the world. It was good that her friend kept her cold to herself till she is better. If she does move into your area you may see more of your granddaughter too which would be nice.

Easy peasy lunch today, cauliflower rice with home made frozen lamb mince with veg. Better change the bed next.

Morning Anng and all,

Nice and sunny again this morning and we have lovely blue sky but I hav'nt been up very long to know what it was like first thing. Oh says it was'nt misty but we had a light shower of rain.

Nothing planned as always but would like to wish EOS a good weekend and all of you.

If you are going out be careful and wear your masks whether your triple vacked or not.

Good morning all, very dark outside and 11 degrees. Strange to think when I was working I would be leaving for work in 15 minutes. Only worked 10 minute walk down the road but we were on flexi time so could start and finish early.

It sounds as if you have it very well organised AnnG and people will feel comfortable attending knowing that you have been so cautious to make conditions as safe as possible.

Like Vera says, many of us are taking small steps to get back into meeting with people,but need to feel OK about spacing, ventilation and numbers.

I have not yet gone back to evening meetings of a society that I belong to in a nearby town, but am happy to go out to lunch with a small group of friends to establishments where we have judged conditions to be low risk.

probably not at the moment Gwyn. T and I set up this u3a group, in the summer a couple of meetings have been held in someone else’s garden. It needs somebody who can seat up to 12 while still keeping people not too close and being able to have air through. I have it more or less organised and am the group leader. Once here it is not hard work, it runs itself.

Vera glad you were able to have a good afternoon with your granddaughter I am sure she enjoyed it too.
One thing about our groups is that we know people are not allowed to attend if they are not double jabbed. Three of us today have had our boosters and flu jabs.

Evening all

Oh dear Ann, it sounds as though you are getting as bad as me at sleeping. I didn’t sleep too well either and got up at 7.30 this morning feeling achey all over due, I think, to being so restless. It wore off once I started moving around a bit. I am not surprised the teacher said such good things about your work and pleased that you feel the course is worthwhile.

I hope your garden group meeting went well AnnG. Was it chilly with doors and windows open?

Mandy, your latest make is so cute and jolly. He’d bring a smile to anyone’s face.

It’s been quite busy today. A friend of granddaughter is considering moving to this area as she and her partner now want a little house with some garden. They have a toddler who’s nearly 2 and a puppy and their current home just has a paved area for a car. They aren’t well off and she feels she will get more for her money round here but she doesn’t know the area at all, so granddaughter was bringing her and baby up this afternoon to have a look around and a chat with us. First thing I flew to Sainsbury’s and got cake for us and fairy cakes with sprinkles for the little one and some more fruit. Then granddaughter texted to say friend had gone down with a bad cold so didn’t think it would be wise to come. I was actually relieved about that as we really don’t want to catch anything right now. However granddaughter came anyway and stayed for 4 hours. We had a lovely time, lots of chatting, lots of laughing and some serious discussion about politics and education. We really put the world to rights.

Tomorrow afternoon I have been invited to a friend for an afternoon cuppa. There’s just one other person going so we won’t be too crowded. I’m finding it quite difficult now to decide what it’s OK to go to and what invitations it would be wise to.decline. I’m sticking to attending things where I know everyone, know how careful they have been and where everyone has at least been double jabbed.

Sleep well tonight everyone. Friday again tomorrow - where has this week gone?

Edit: I see your group went well AnnG and good that they could see how much you have achieved in the garden

That sounds as if you and your garden friends enjoyed your time together.

Will one of the group host a similar meeting next time.?

Great that they could see how hard you have worked in the garden and what a difference it has made.

The meeting went well, eight of us here, all wrapped up warm as doors and windows were open. Luckily it was 17 degrees outside. Lots of chat, most of it garden related and free seeds and plants for whoever wanted them. Everyone was impressed how light the garden looked without the apple tree.

Afternoon All,

I was still awake at 5.00am, so didn't get up early this morning. I had plans to do the oven racks and glass on the oven door but not today now. I set the oven to clean itself yesterday and wiped the ash out after, but the racks and door need doing.

I also booked my booster yesterday after they texted me. It's at the racecourse again on the 29th which is exactly 6 months since my second jab.

We have just given the heating a quick blast as it is a bit chilly here now too. I'm going to start this week's picture which is more an exercise in doing textures on samples of bark and rocks really. I'm glad you liked the last picture. I was quite taken aback by the teacher's comments of 'superb' and 'high standard' but he had a few minor suggestions for me to consider to improve some more which is what I need. Doing the courses does give me chance to see other people's work too which is useful and it does keep me painting with having to submit homework.

Mandy's latest make is so cute and cheerful isn't it. :-) I wonder how many she will make. :-) I've ignored the teacher wanting us to do bigger A3 size paintings Mandy and stuck to the A4 size pads I used for the other classes. For one thing the paintings are much easier to store that size, also less paint is used which is good when it's just practice at this stage.

I got Will Roe's little booklet of poems yesterday, that he's written and illustrated during the pandemic. It's really good and he's done it for all the proceeds to go to a charity in his village.

I've decided to restart some of my unfinished beading projects. My new craft light has a magnifier so I hope it will help my eyes! One beaded rope I have half done ran out of a particular bead and I couldn't find any the same, so once I locate the pattern for it again, I will undo it and start again with another bead I know I have plenty of. That's good claiming back more space with getting more things off to the tip! We've stripped what we can off the exercise bike and it's gone in the bin, but OH can't find an alan key the right size yet to be able to take tthe last bit apart. He could take what's left to the tip though now it's much lighter. Are tips back to normal now with no booking?

Hope you enjoy a chat with your visitors AnnG. It's good your grandaughter-in-law doesn't have long to wait now. Have you been knitting anything? I used to knit little matinee jackets for colleagues at work that were expecting. Babies are dressed differently nowadays though, but I expect a nice baby blanket would still be welcome.

Mel I hope you got a photo of your Nerines before the deer found them. How is your hip now? I don't think I would fancy roe either. I saw a nice pink dwarf Rhododendron at the garden centre the other day but forgot to get it on the way out! I would also like a few of those giant Alliums but they are so expensive! I might see online if anywhere is selling them off cheaper now. Thanks, you have reminded me I have a pot of tete-a-tete behind the shed. I must put them in another bigger pot with something else!

Vera your Skimmia flower buds will look good with the purple violas. More planting up to do as well. I see you got some nice gloves for your friend too.

I'd better get some paperwork out of the way now. OH is catching up with notes.

:-)

Its now 18 degrees so I'll send it up to you.

yes 16 here too Mel. :-D

16 here now with plenty of sun blue sky and white clouds.

Enjoy your afternoon Vera and did you get enough sleep last night?

15 degrees here but very dull sky is cloud covered. I don't want it to get too cold as I have to have the window and doors open this afternoon.

10 now and the sun is sort of out.