General Chat

Can I just run this by everyone?

Today I saw a different postie approach our front door so moved towards it. She pressed the bell and immediately knocked on the window. I opened the door and calmly said that she didn't need to knock on the window. I was taken aback when she started arguing about it! All of her 'reasons' were nonsensical - eg 'I didn't know if you'd heard the bell' me - 'you didn't wait, you did this (demo of window knocking) straightaway. I find the habit very rude, not to mention greasy knuckle marks on my window. So why did I feel I was the bad guy?

Is anyone else niggled by this sort of harassment?

I think we’ve all been guilty of blobbing about in old, comfy clothes. I’m having to make a bit more of an effort now we are going out a bit more. I think I’ve worn the same pair of pearl stud earrings for about 18 months. I don’t wear a lot of make up anyway but I haven’t bothered at all over the past months when 2/3rds of my face have been covered by a mask. I think it’s time to buck my ideas up now.

It’s good you enjoyed your Thursday meeting AnnG. As you say it’s something else to look forward to. I can’t remember now whether you said it was a weekly or monthly meeting. I am sure you clean your teeth well. My problem is that I was never made to clean my teeth when I was a child and was only taken to the dentist if I was in severe pain and I had a couple of very bad experiences. By the time I was 16 and conscious of my appearance my teeth were in a terrible state but I was absolutely petrified of dentists. An older cousin took me to her dentist who looked after me reasonably well. When I had children I vowed that they were not going to grow up frightened of the dentist so put on a brave face with them and tried to make dental visits part of normal life. The upshot of all this is that my teeth are very heavily filled and I’ve had all sorts of work done. In 1986 we moved and I found a dentist in a town a few miles away who was wonderful. He taught me how to clean my teeth properly. After a while he went private but I had such confidence in him that we decided to stay with him and bear the cost. He retired about 3 years ago and was unable to sell his practice but he arranged for a few favoured patients to be taken on by another private practice in the same town and we have been with them since and are very happy with them. My only worry is what happens if we can no longer drive as the practice is 12 or 13 miles away and there isn’t a good bus service.

Is it a good time of year to prune Viburnum Ann? Ours both need cutting back in height and spread. You sound as though you and OH have both been busy in the garden. I lifted the rest of my geraniums today except for some in a big pot that I grow for their pretty leaves. They are a sort of red and lime green with spiky red flowers and they are still looking good so I’ll leave them a little bit longer. OH got the leaf blower out and picked up a lot of leaves but there’ll be lots more to come yet. We only have a couple of small trees but there are several trees in neighbouring gardens that all seem to drop their leaves in ours.

That’s good that your son could do the cutting in for you Mandy and I bet he enjoyed his bacon rolls. I must admit I sometimes wish our son lived closer just to give a hand with the occasional job that is now difficult for OH. I’ve been thinking that I might have to ask our daughter to come up when she is on half term to help me turn our mattresses which are heavy and awkward. I know she will say yes straightaway but I hate having to ask. It’s no fun getting older is it?

On that cheery note I’ll stop. It’s nearly wine o’clock so I’m off to pour a glass of a rather nice sauvignon that I brought in from the garage earlier :-D

EDIT: Yes, Island, it's bad manners and unnecessary. We get delivery drivers knock on the window without even bothering to try the bell or door knocker. It really annoys me. Even my friends don't knock on the window.

That went quite well. I went to the 1st Thursday meeting, about 25 people there, all sitting on tables for gour. two of us on our table were newbies. It is mainly just chat and coffees/lunch whatever we want to buy but today we had an interesting talk from a Vet (eran) about mental health and well being etc, he was an entertaining speaker and obviously chosen because it is near remembrance day. Hw is a wheelchair user with a sense of humour. It was an interesting talk. I didn't get to speak to everyone but people were very friendly, I recognised a couple but that is all, we are a very large village and I thinks some were from two adjoining villages. I will go again but next time,although I will go, I won't be joining in as it is board games. I hate board games, always have done. Anyway it looks as though they will need someone to be non playing.
They are really still getting going and the kitchen had a problem keeping up with the orders, some got missed, mine was delayed by quite a while but eventually came However they realised they have a problem so came up with the answer for next time. To save confusion have a meal deal so all the same price and numbers given with the order. That should work.
We were in the adjoining hall to the cafe which was good as it was the first time I have been there since pre covid, we used to go there a lot but these are new owners who took over during the first lockdown. they only did take aways then but we had some very nice Thai food from them.

Anyway I think I shall stay with them, it is something else to look forward to A couple of people wore masks but most didn't we were reasonably spaced out and as I said only 4 on a table, side by side nobody opposite.

I did stay in leggings, jeans, tracky bottoms and sweaters, sweat shirts and T shirts until I started back going to U3a but it has been nice being able to wear better clothes and even a bit of make up. (I don't wear much.

Good for you Vera getting a star for your teeth, goodness knows why mine always need the deep clean I have always (in my view) looked after my teeth.(shades of Pam Ayres). And hopefully that letter will be with you soon.

Mandy good that the painting was done and pleased son approved of his bacon rolls. T always used to cook the bacon sandwiches, they always seem to taste better when cooked by somebody else. Now I have to order bacon this week because I am wanting bacon sandwiches. Got sausage egg and chips tonight.

Mel at least you had a couple of eggs, it seems to be a feast or famine situation with eggs.

Afternoon All,

It started sunny and nice here so OH got up and went in the garden and said goodbye to the Cosmos that had flopped over everything around them (still only one flower produced so they are in the garden bin now). He also cut off a lot of the courgette leaves that are yellowing and powdery in places. Still 2 more courgettes half grown so he left the plant. I got up later and cut back more of the Viburnum but the top still needs finishing and OH came out again and removed the last of the Antihrrinums and emptied 2 humpers for me. We came in then as lunch of cod mornay with added leeks, beans and courgette was ready. Now it is dull and gloomy again.

That's exactly what I think when I look in the wardrobe Island..........too nice a tops for gardening and HW looking out at me! lol. Some of my slobbing clothes are really ready for the bin now, falling apart and well faded so I think I need to have a sort out and replace some with the less loved tops. :-D I only managed the one painting last week. I think the paintings of about 3 others in the class are towards abstract and a few are much more abstract. I have taken a few (poor) photos of a few so will see if I can show you. They aren't extreme, just very loose i style.

Oh dear, poor Malcolm, just as he was settling in his new home and down came the 'Big Foot'. At least it was quick though, not like a spider getting him. RIP Malcolm.

Some strange dreams AnnG. It's odd how different things get linked together in dreams isn't it? It amazes me how you are suddenly 'there' in a dream and your dream just continues without you questioning how you got there or anything. :-S

Glad you liked the pic Mandy. It must be very useful having a tall son for things like doing the cutting in of paint at the ceiling, but he obviously enjoyed the bacon rolls. :-D He'll be asking if you want anymore doing next! :-D What colour have you gone for for the walls? I was looking at my geraniums this morning and thought I must get them up while I can still see the colours to pick out the ones I want to keep.

All good at the dentist then Vera and the hospital letter is in transit which is good. I fancy your sandwich now, I like pate and Rocket. Jane used to hate Rocket and when we ate out with Fitz he always had her Rocket! lol.

It’s another grey day here. The wind has dropped and it’s not cold like yesterday but there’s no sign of the yellow stuff. At least it’s dry and I’m hoping to lift some geraniums this afternoon as well.

Yes, AnnG, it was another sleepless night. I don’t usually use computers, phones etc during the night but I broke my own rule last night which is why I posted at such a ridiculous hour. You’re having some odd dreams. I wonder what a dream interpreter would make of them.

It was all good at the dentist. Neither of us needed anything doing and I only had a bit of a clean. I got a gold star from the dentist ;-). OH needed more of a clean but otherwise was OK so that’s us done for the next 6 months. Next thing will be our jabs on Monday.

OH rang the hospital again as he has still not received his letter. He was told it had been sent so it looks as though it’s still floating round the postal system.

Lunch is about to arrive. If it’s just a sandwich or similar OH does it and he’s made me a sandwich with pate, pickle and rocket. I got tonight’s dinner in the slow cooker before we went out at 9.30 am to go to the dentist. It’s not often that I’m so well organised but I seemed to get myself moving better this morning.

I keep meaning to take a rather nice geranium to the hsed where it spends the winter this will be the third year for it inthe shed.

Islasnd I am the same with nice shirts. I hardly ever wear them now and I like a few so much I never wear them in the garden. We are both in comfy clothes every day unless we have to go to the docs or a hospital appointment. I think Effects are what Ann got with her painting and Affects is something that affects you or has an affect on something.

Given the girls their last worm dose and the littlies are still in the house and the other three outside. No eggs yet today but I did have two yesterday from Daisy and Grandma which was dented so it went in yorkie puds last night.

Mandy don't keep mentioning bacon rolls or I will want them again and we had bacon sandwiches yesterday. I think its beef snadwiches lunch time.

Not got around to any HW yet..............but the bedroom badly needs dusting and I have to clean the bathroom shower which I hate doing.

Morning all,

Lovely sunny day and much milder .

Oh poor Malcom at least it was quick and he probably didn't see it coming :-(

Son has been and done the painting and had the bacon rolls he said they went down a treat .

Ann another lovely painting I think this one's the best as I do love your trees .

I think I might go out now and take my Geraniums up .

BBL

AnnG LOL, I’d ask fo an autograph and see who it says but I wouldn’t want to look like a groupie LOL

Annx, thanks for the pic, it looks cold so very effective. Did you do an abstract in acrylics too? (I have a mental block re effective and affective)
I’ve been slobbing in ‘comfy’ clothes for so long now that jeans feel smart lol I look in my wardrobe and see nice tops which seem a waste to wear at home. Roll on socialising. I haven’t worn my winter coat since March last year either :-0

Poor Malcolm! He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to meet his end by BigFoot
:-(

Morning All,

Pale grey sky all over and a horrid light today we did'nt have a lovely sunset last night but if its like your weather here today then the suset was lying. It is 16 degrees but so dark the light needs to be on.

Nothing planned for today but there is always ironing to fall back on and I think I will clean the bathroom. What an exciting life I lead?

Oh dear Mel. Did you have slippers on?

Vera, another sleepless night. Actually sometimes I don't know what is worse, not sleeping or sleeping heavily and non stop dreaming. I seem to dream all the time now, not nightmares just every day stuff but a bit weird. last night I was looking for something to do with Photography (haven't a clue what) and was in (would you believe) Timothy whites, which we (OH and I) were quite surprised was no longer a chemist. How's that for muddled thinking? But when I wake up it is still so real,

Very grey here this morning, a bit misty. Yesterday there was a beautiful sunset. Today no sun. Real autumn weather.

Poor Malcolm. RIP.

I hav'nt seen Malcolm all day and just gone in the loo and spotted him on the carpet. I had trodden on him on the way in!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIP Malcolm <3

Island you obviously have a famous face. Pity you don’t know who you ‘are’, you might be worth a lot of money!

I typed this in a word doc – not taking any chances! – started nearly two hours ago so I’ll just post it and catch up tomorrow.

Evening all

I missed you there Vera! Lulu? We-e-e-e-el-el-el- ll....... Mother Brown? My twist and shout and knees up days are gone – did I not say I have to grab the door frame to do the okie kokie? LOL You wait til I’m on my new meds though, fingers crossed.

You’ve reminded me. Quite a few years ago I was walking along the street when I spotted two young oriental men who kept turning round and looking at me and smiling. It was daylight on a busy street so I wasn’t worried, I was quite flattered actually until one of them said they knew who I was. I was famous apparently. I was wondering which modern young miss I could be... when one of them said ‘I know! Jan Leeming! I was mortified!

Another time, I was on a coach and got chatting with the man sitting next to me when he suddenly said “it is you isn’t it?” I assumed he thought I was a neighbour or, heaven forbid, an ex girlfriend. He continued with ‘it is you! off the tele! What have I seen you in?
I’d no idea who he meant only that it wasn’t me and I said as much but he wouldn’t have it and seemed chuffed that he’d met ‘her off the tele’ LOL

Anng I’ll have a look into my recipes notebook and let you know ingredients – I’m a bit snoozy.

That was three of us on soup for lunch then coincidence.

Yes the garden is absorbing, I am amazed sometimes when Inrealise how long I have been out there. I had a long list of things needing doing, it is very satisfying to cross things off. Trouble is I keep adding to the list. I am planting bulbs in memory of T, he loved spring bulbs especially tete a tete daffy and red tulips, we have some already in the garden but I have added to them, they will be a good memory in the spring.

Evening All,

We had a lovely sunny morning that dried 2 loads of washing and then it was dull and miserable by the time my course finished so it looks like the garden clearing and cutting back will be in the morning weather permitting.

Well I can't beleive it............We decided on soup for lunch as my course was straight after, so I had tomato soup (with a bit of carrot and swede mash mixed in to bulk it up a little) and last night I had put bacon to defrost to go in baps at teatime today!

You have got plenty done again today AnnG. The garden can be quite absorbing can't it, a little escape for while and you can stand back and see the improvement you make. It always amazed me when I had one how fast those Buddlias can grow!

Oh F&C Mel, lovely. :-) Good Idea to pre-order them online. You don't want any standing around while your hip is still painful. Fancy that old bird being such a pain with the youngsters! What is her name?

That's good you got your meds Vera.......I would have been thinking they had gone for good!! Good luck with your dentist appointment in the morning. It will be good to get that out of the way.

Island I must try that technique with pain too only I'd better make sure I'm sitting down first so I don't fall down. There have been a few studies suggesting that those reflux medications cause a problem with absorption of things like calcium, but only if they are taken for years. OH had been taking them for about 10 years.

I felt so scruffy slobbing around in the same kinds of old clothes most of the time, I put a nice bright top on today for my zoom class, with some lippy and mascara as well for a change. Old clothes are nice and comfy though and I still had my old jeans on......well no-one sees your bottom half on zoom. :-D

I am the same with soup making Island, I have made it two weeks in a row now. What do you put with your tomatoes to make soup?

Vera yes I do feel I am achieving something. Sometimes I have a love hate relationship with it but mostly I enjoy making a difference. But the main thing is it doesn’t leave me too much time to think.

Anng, soup made, very tasty. Enough for two days. When ever I make soup, which is once in a blue moon, I always think 'why don't I make soup more often.
Sunflowers all ok, except the ones on the window sill which managed to fall over. I have pics to send- of the sunflowers, not the puddle LOL

Gosh, AnnG, you have been busy today. At least you feel you’re achieving something. Your garden will be lovely next spring and summer.. I would have liked to do a bit in our garden this afternoon but it’s not been good weather for it. After some early rain it has stayed dry but there’s been a really strong, bitter cold wind blowing. We went into town this morning and got really cold.

Island, I’ve no idea what you look like but I now have a vision of you “shaking it all about”. Sometimes I imagine you must be like Lulu twisting and shouting, other times I wonder if you’re more like Mother Brown kicking her knees up and showing her drawers :-D.

Your newbies are getting braver now Mel. Shame the old girl’s still chasing them but I expect she thinks her territory has been invaded. Enjoy your F&C tonight.

When we went into town this morning I went to pick up my meds and as I approached the shop from the other side of the road I could see it was closed up and the premises had been cleared. I wondered what on earth was going on but they had only moved further down the road to bigger premises. Panicked me for a moment though as I need my meds.

After that we met friends for coffee which was very pleasant. I have to say all the cafes seem to be well organised. Tables are spaced, staff are masked and customers stay masked except when they are sitting at their table.

We’ve got the dentist in the morning. It’s just a check up so fingers crossed that neither of us will have anything to be done.

Hurray, there’s a gleam of sunshine, the first today. I think I might go and put my nose outside and see if the wind has flattened anything in the garden.

Lawn mowed and two more lots of bulbs planted Another 7 red tulips and five pink Allium. That's my lot for today. Making a couple of cards now.