General Chat

Morning All,

Rain here as well and I got wet emptying things out of my car ready to take it in. We are going to have to find a new route to the garage if we need to get our cars there for 8.30am in future. They are still closing at lunch at the moment so squeeze all their work into the mornings. We clashed with the school run and passed a High School in the city. You should have seen the queue of cars with parents dropping children off and the crossings for them all on red all the time. Cars were pulling over either side of the road and parents were then pulling across into the traffic or trying to turn round in the road. Chaos! There must have been about 200 pupils milling around on the pavements and you really had to look hard to find a white face. The city is really changing. Lots of new student accommodation blocks are being built and I counted 14 storeys high in one block while we waited at traffic lights.

So that's me £340 lighter in my pocket now and she said it would be a big service next time! Nice new wipers and the tyre warning light is out now. They said it just needed more air in the tyre so OH's tyre guage on his pump must be innaccurate. MOT was fine.

Good to hear from you Gill and it's a shame you have hurt your wrist. Yes, do have a break regularly from doing that ceiling. You will only set yourself back more if you really strain your neck and shoulder. Little and often is the way forward as I discovered doing an old place up. There are always other things yiu can do inbetween that all help to move things forward. It must be satisfying to see your progress with the garden and clearing out what you don't want. Only then can you see properly what you have! It sounds like there is still plenty to do with the other half next! It might be easier to find an electrician from now on if the builders will be slowed down because of material shortage plus the weather slows down building work as well. Have you tried Rhightio on 0151 541 9345? If you still can't get the work done yet, it might be an idea to get the paint you want for the bathroom and kitchen anyway in case they become hard to get by the time you do want some.. I hope you find some nice units for the kitchen. It will help you imagine how nice it will all be!! Christmas will still be Christmas with some nice food and you will probably want to get on with things after a day or two anyway. I remember us getting our concrete mixer in action at my old house and doing a long side path one New Year's Day as we were so keen to see it all smooth and nice to walk on! :-D

It's a shame the rain didn't hold off a bit longer for your friend to see your garden properly AnnG. Maybe it has at least stopped raining now even if wet underfoot. At least you will be able to sit and chat.

Oh you poor thing Mel slipping down and then getting soaked!! :-0 We have to watch the patio when we nip to the gaage freezer as it gets slippy, especially with smooth bottomed shoes. It's the nice smooth slabs that are easier to clean but get slippy instead! I expect it's the same with decking. I hope you haven't hurt yourself and won't be too bruised.

Morning all from a very wet Lincolnshire

I hope you are feeling a bit brighter this morning Island

What a kerfuffle with your doctor’s calls and appointments Ann. I can’t fault the NHS medical staff but their admin makes me despair sometimes. We’ve been lucky with both our own surgery and the hospital but I’ve heard some stories from other people that don’t fill me with confidence. I hope you get it sorted out quickly.

Good to see you Gill. Fingers crossed that you can get an electrician soon. You’ve certainly been busy in the garden. By next year it will be looking beautiful. I don’t think I could put up with living in one room as long as you have. You must have the patience of a saint.

We had planned to go to Louth today but woke to heavy rain and a forecast of it lasting all day with a yellow warning of flooded roads etc so we’ve decided on a day in the cottage. We are about half a mile from the village here but it’s only a few houses and no shop. So we drove out to find a ready meal to cook tonight. I knew there was a Morrison’s in Skeggy and we were making for that but on the way we passed a little development with an M & S Foodhall so popped in there. It might feel like a bit of a long day!

We had a lovely day yesterday at Gunby Hall. We arrived at our prebooked time of 10.30 and wandered slowly from the car park to the house and grounds. They are only letting 8 in the house at a time and we were in the first 8 at 11 am. Tbh the house wasn’t worth visiting as there were only 2 or 3 ground floor rooms open. We came out of there and stopped at the tea room for a scone and tea. There was just a small room for service which was only drinks, scones and cakes, and then you carried your tray into a courtyard with outdoor tables and tables in a covered area that I guess were once stables or garages.

After that we went round the gardens which were lovely; not too formal and masses of colour, just my sort of place. We also found a woodwork exhibition by one particular artist. It was wonderful. There was one piece that looked like a shed but it was made of intricately cut out panels of wood. I’m not sure what you would do with it as you couldn’t use it as a garden shed but it could be yours for a very reasonable £19,500 :-D. I was very taken by an ornamental piece that was a snip at £3,000. OH took some pics on his camera and will download them to the computer when we get home. I also got 4 books in the second hand bookshop and the weather was dry, fairly warm and sunny on and off so a good visit all round. We were there 4 hours which was twice as long as I expected as it’s not a very big place.

Last night we found our way to the nearest pub. We got there at 6 pm so only waited 20 mins for our meal but by 7 it was heaving both inside and out and there was a long wait for food. I wasn’t very impressed. The only vegetable on offer was peas and they came with everything. I had bangers’n’mash. An enormous mound of mash which was OK but about 3 times as much as I would normally have, the ubiquitous peas and 3 Lincolnshire sausages. I’ve bought better Lincolnshire sausages in Tesco. They were like sawdust. As all I’d had to eat all day was a bit of porridge at 8 am and a scone at 11.30 I needed to eat so I ploughed my way through 2 sausages and half the mash but we’ll be looking further afield for our next meal out.

Well, I’ve rabbited on as usual and it’s still pouring so I think I’ll have a shower and hair wash before sorting out a sandwich or something on toast for our lunch.

EDIT. Just seen your post Mel. That sounds nasty. I hope you haven’t hurt yourself much. Take it easy if you can for a day or two as you might find your sore later on.

Trouble is once it comes it dos'nt know when to stop.

Fed the chickens and bantams but when I came back from the big girls I still had three quarters of a can of water so thought I would give it to the tomatoes. Merrily went down the decking stepped off the top decking and slid on the lower decking and landed on the decking in a heap and on my hands and knees and the water in the can , which was now on its side empties all over me. it also hit the bucket I keep down there for clipping which also had water in it from the rain. Got soaked all over my coat trousers and top and cardy. Managed to get on my hands and knees but had to stay there a while as I could'nt get up as when I tried to put a foot up my boot just slipped again. I had to stay on my hands and knees and try to turn around to get to the step and the rail to pull myself up on. Hobbled to the kitchen door and yelled out help! Oh came to me and took my coat off and asked if I hurt anywhere . Had to strip off as I was wet right up past my waist (which I hav'nt seen for a long long while) stripped off int he bedroom .

Asda's here.

raining here Mel and Gloucester have a severe weather warning. typical, no rain to speak of for ages then it all comes at once.

Morning ll,

Saying morning all as Gill posted at 2am something.

Its good to hear from you Gill and know whats been going on. We had those tiles inthe spare bedrom and when oh painted it he took the tiles off the ceiling. I still have then in the little loo though. Good luck with getting yours off the hall ceiling wel the plaster and glue anyway.

Got up at 7.30am to sunshine but went back to bed for half an hour then got up to cloud and mist and its dull now and looks like rain.

Wipe down day and the docs going to ring me today so busy all round.

Good morning all. I wondered why it was so dark out. realised when I got up that it is because it is raining. well we need it but not today when I have somebody coming to look at my garden. She will have to view it from indoors if this keeps up. first rain for ages except a shower last Thursday (when the garden group was here!)

Ann, that is awful about the hospital fiasco. Obviously they don't phone to remind you of your appointment as most places seem to do now. If they had done, they might have realised, or you would have. It would also have helped if they had checked when you first phoned. Such a nuisance and, if it happens often these 'little' mistakes add up to an awful waste of money. Carelessness on somebody's part and inconvenience for you.

Good to see you Gill. What a pity you have not managed to get an electrician, that is holding you up with all sorts of things. I know there is a shortage of materials but I would have thought that there would be no problem with getting an electrician.
Good that you have got a lot of the garden cleared but sorry you hurt your wrist.
Good luck with the ceiling. My father once put those tiles up to cover up cracks in the bungalow ceiling from bomb damage in the 40s. I remember they were awful to get off too. Be careful that you don't do more damage to your neck and shoulders.
Yes it is a shame that you look as though you won't be straight by Christmas. But you will get there in the end. Just take care.

Hi all

No luck yet Ann with workmen so we're still where we were when I last posted. OH has a week off work starting tomorrow so I might try again to see if we can find an electrician to sort out the bathroom then we can hopefully find a plasterer to finish that room so we can finally have a bathroom suite put in.

OH's been busy in the garden, cutting down all the trunks of the trees we don't want, I spent last Sunday cutting all the plants down as far as I could but hurt my wrist so he's having to finish the job. We've gained over 10 foot so the garden is looking pretty big now and we haven't even started on the other side yet.

Luckily I hurt my left wrist and being right handed I was able to do a big job in the hall when OH was in work. When we moved here there were polystyrene tiles on the hall ceiling which OH took down but he asked the plasterer to cover up the blobs of glue which he did but badly, which was then followed by OH painting over it, I know a silly thing for him to do, so now I'm scraping all the paint and plaster off the ceiling to get to the original glue.

The plasterer told OH to put some PVA glue on the original glue to soften it then scrape it off, so I've been putting the PVA glue on the ceiling which thankfully took the paint off then scraped the plaster off. It's a very long hard job but being right handed I can still do it even though my other wrist is very sore. Once it's all done, which hopefully will be by the end of this week, I'll be able to fill the dents ready for OH to paint it again. I over done it the other night so haven't done any tonight as my neck and collar bone is a bit sore, but hopefully it'll be okay for me to carry on with the job tomorrow.

So between us we're getting a few jobs done, but it looks like we're not going to be straight in time for Christmas. We still haven't unpacked and are still living in one room. On a positive the builder who took our bathroom wall down and built the new one told us of a place nearby where we can buy a cheap kitchen, it's surplus stock from expensive shops but at a bargain prices, so we're hoping to go there sometime this week in the hope of buying a few units as we only have one at the moment with no door on.

Sandra gave us a couple of worktops which were in her loft that she didn't want, so OH made a makeshift frame to sit them on but they're only lightweight with laminate on, not proper worktops so we can't put anything hot on it, at least it looks a bit better than having none at all and we can put the microwave on it.

I'm beginning to think we're not going to get any workmen here until the winter when they're less busy, it's a good job we're not bothered about Christmas, being just the two of us and OH will probably be working over Christmas anyway so I'll be here on my own. There's still a lot of work to be done so it might take until this time next year before it's all completely done as there are a few jobs to do on the outside of the property including brickwork and gutters.

Anyway that's where we're up to at the moment, one step forward and two back, but I'm sure we'll get there in the end.

Signing out now as my wrist is starting to hurt again. Once the hall ceiling is done I should be able to come on here more often as there won't be so much dust. I'm worried the dust will get into the laptop which is why I don't come on here as often as I'd like. I hope everyone is okay and you all have a good nights sleep.

My thoughts exactly about my knees too Mel! I will wait and manage for now. It's a shame you keep getting broken eggs. Is it still Mona?

I was awake till 3.00am at least and feel weary now so it will be early to bed as we have to be at the garage with my car for 8.30am tomorrow.

Well what a fiasco and waste of time this phone call I was supposed to get was! As no-one had phoned me by half an hour after my appointment time, I rang the booking people twice (large phone queue) and they checked my papers and said I should wait at least an hour from the appointment time for the surgeon to ring (no mention of this in the appointment letter) so I left it till 2 and a half hours after! This time they put me through to someone else who had very poor english. The gist of it was that they had been waiting for me to turn up at the hospital!!! He did apologise profusely and said he would get the surgeon to ring me. After contacting the surgeon who had gone elsewhere by then, he got back to me and I should get a call from the surgeon on Thursday morning. OH wryly said I would be included in the 'missed appointment figures' now. :-S It makes you wonder how many of those other missed appointments are their own fault.

I hope Gill has found some workmen to give her a quote. It would be nice if the building work was finished by Christmas.

I wonder how Frank is getting on and whether where he goes is anywhere near those fires near Costa Del Sol.

If I had stayed married to my first OH, I would have been married 52 years today.

tHEY HAV'NT MENTIONED ANY SURGERY AND i WOULD'NT GO IN NOW IF THEY PAID ME.

cREPT UP TO 19 DEGREES NOW AND ITS BEEN RAINING A BIT.

Sorry I had the cap lock on from naming a photo.

Cleaned my little loo/bathroom this morning and washed out the chickens drinkers. Put the ironing away so now I have a clear airer to start all over again.

Had one egg and a broken one.

Washing has finished so I better get that on the line and then get lunch.

Morning All,

No window cleaner has turned up so OH has locked the side gate again. He won't get his money if he comes tomorrow as we'll be taking my car in for service first thing.

Yes AnnG, I will get a plug in light. It will be safer for us now our eyesight isn't so good. I agree that the brighter lights wake you up too much! It makes it harder to get back to sleep.

It looks nice and sunny for Vera and OH's trip to the garden and Hall. Hopefully they will be able to sit and have a coffee and bite to eat as well.

Your border furthest away is a good distance Mel. Where there's a will there's a way though isn't there. It's a nuisance about your hip, have they said you need surgery? I expect you have twisted your knee somehow, I wake up with mine playing up sometimes. Now toes as well. A craft day sounds like a good idea and you have done a lot in the garden lately.

Got my phone call soon so better get a COT. BBL.

Its creeping up to 16 degrees now and the sun is trying toget through.

Morning Anng and all,

WE are colder here than you Anng at 14 degrees. Its cloudy and dull. Not the kind of day you want to get anything done if you know what I mean.

Hope Vera and hubby enjoy the house today and that hubby is able to get about comfortabley. Vera you will have to get a walker for oh then he can sit whenever he wants. I can walk right up to the border with the walker but not by my own steam I have to stop once or twice. Its a long way up there.

Left hip hurts this morning and my right foots two toes at the joints. Knee kept hurting yesterday when I turned quick on it.

Thinking it may be a craft day, we will see.

Good morning all. A bit grey here but warmer than this time yesterday at 16 degrees. I slept ok at first but woke around 3.30, then the rest of the night was a bit restless and dreaming. Can't remember the dreams except bits, one was being in a car as passenger and looking for where we were going and seeing a sign the said 'turn left' with an arrow pointing to the right. Weird.

Have a lovely day Vera, I hope the garden is lovely with lots of seats for OH and that the house is interesting. Is your OH using a stick, that might help the pain if he could stop and lean on it for a few minutes.

Annx we have had the plug in light since our grandsons were tiny as when they came to stay we were worried about them crossing the landing with the stairs going straight down from opposite the bathroom door. ( a worry that was repeated as we ourselves got older, especially when T started to fall). I think in 29 years this is the second one we have had. We did also have one once that had to be switched on before we went to bed, was plugged in and left on all night but was not at all bright. But it was not as good as the sensor ones. I don't even put the light on now it is just me as I think the light 'wakes' me up.

Yes it is unusual for us to have a grumpy one too AnnG. They are normally very smiley and friendly. Maybe he got out of bed the wrong side! lol. I never use lights to go to the loo in the night, never have. Dad would complain when I was a child if lights were switched on and woke him up, so I got very good at feeling my way. OH on the other hand has lights glaring everywhere, but his eyes were worse than mine! I like the sound your light that comes on when you walk by or one of those plug in nightlights. The hall here has a chest of drawers covering the only plug socket, but I could put one in the study with the door open. It is opposite the bathroom so would light the hall just a little.

Vera, the last time we visited years ago it was becoming very commercialised. My first MIL had a caravan at Ingomells which was pretty quiet then in the 60s. Me and my first OH had our 4 day honeymoon in the caravan. Dad would only let me have 3 days off work, otherwise he would have had to do the weekly Bank trip instead of me. It sounds very different and noisy now though. At least you are getting some nice fresh sea air and a change of scene and can find some places to visit. Gunby Hall sounds good. Oh it sounds like they still have donkeys then!

We’ve got plug in night lights too; one each in the hall and on the landing.

Yes, AnnG, there are plenty of places to go and I have just prebooked tickets for Gunby Hall and Gardens for tomorrow. It’s NT, not all that big but should pass an hour or two. The prebooking gets us into the car park, gardens and parkland and tickets for the house (ground floor only) are issued at 11 am on a first come first served basis. The weather is forecast to be cloudy and a little cooler than today but should be mainly dry.

And I probably started the conversation about solar lights and despite fiddling with them so far nothing seems to have improved. Maybe they need more sun.


I have a plug in that lights up with movement on the landing.

Vera shame it is a bit hectic in the town maybe it will be quieter in the week. I bet it is good to get the sea air. I never sleep the first night in a strange bed.

Are there any gardens or houses to visit in the area?
Hope the weather continues to be kind to you.

Ann it is unusual is it to have a grumpy driver. I have to say I have not had a single miserable one since I started having Tesco. The last three weeks too my 11=to 12 delivery has been at 10.45. I had no subs and nothing missing this week they even had postage stamps.

Mel, Annx mentioned getting some solar lights at the end of her 15.51 post :-D

We've got them too but all outside and glow pebbles in the gravel patches.

Its me not Ann who has the solar lights. I have two o n the bathroom window sill and one on the hall table which shines a light in through the bedroom door. They sit on the bedroom windowsill to charge up and sometimes I move them to the west facing window from the south facing to get the late afteroon sun. I also have one in the kitchen on the sill. When it gets dark I put them on the dining table and in the light so I only need to put them out when I go to bed.

Cut off lots more of the rose we cut down together a couple of weeks ago. Got another barrowload of it. The fence it was on has fallen onto one of my rhodos but I need oh to help me get it back up and he was fiddling with the mower.

Ha ha Vera! You're on form with your vision of Ann outside - I must say I wondered lol
and Margate on Speed! :-D

Annx we have a little light up plug which just gives enough glow as our landing is so dark.

I picked some more tomatoes this afternoon so I'm glad I 'braved the blight' which has been rife all over.

Well that's all put away now. I made a blunder as I could only order 3 of our usual longlife orange juice, so I added more of another brand not realising it had to be kept in the fridge even when not opened. I checked online and found it can be frozen and there was just enough room in the freezer for it! Only one of my 3 magazines this time and a few subs but not many. It was a miserable driver this time. He just held one of the trays of food up and rapped on the window, so I pointed through the window at our boxes and bags and he said 'what all of this, nodding at the trays and I nodded through the window and walked away. The instructions to leave it in the bags and boxes are on our order, so no way were we unloading for him. He left without letting us know, so he wasn't in the best of moods I think.

I'll have to see if I can find that to watch on catch up or something AnnG.

I have to be up early tomorrow as I have a telephone appointment with the surgeon. :-S