General Chat

Morning girls and all,

Dull and dreary here tis morning again and it started raining last night and was still raining when I went to bed at 1.24am. Still it should have topped the well up for todays pump[ out of my pond again.

Anng I do remember some plant names from when we had the nursary but I only remembered the common name of that one Gwyn wanted to know so I looked it up. I actually have a miniture one of those but its in a pot and did'nt flower this year. Mine is magenta and onlky about 6 inches high in the leaves and disappears for most of the year.

Expect OH has been to Leeds Castle as he came from Kent.

Thank you Mel,
it looks quite similar, but the flower blooms were single and well spaced on the stem, so lots of gaps between them. Each flower was like the pale mauve ones on the see images section of that page.
It is sure to be in that plant family, with just a slight variation. I'd not seen it before and thought it was unusual and quite pretty in the gentle breeze.

Ann, I went to Leeds Castle near Maidstone. It is years since I've been there. The grounds are extensive with lots of lovely areas to sit and just take in the scenery. Some areas had been planted up to encourage butterflies and bees etc and it was lovely to see the natural look too, whereas once historic sites tended to plant pristine borders.
Masks had to be worn indoors of course, but most of the time it was great to enjoy the wonderful weather outside.

Good morning all. Nice to see you on here Gwyn, where were you walking yesterday? Locally, good to be out in the sunshine, That sounds like a pretty plant. Mel do you actually remember the names of all these plants? If i ever knew them I don't remember them but I had never heard of that one. Hope the pond can be filled with cleaner water for the fish today. does that often happen to it? Maybe pond plants need renewing.
Looks grey out there this morning and it is only 13 degrees so far, weather man said the temp would be low for the time of year. we do get strange fluctuations these days.

I have to start sorting what I need to take with me next week. Not too much needing doing in the garden at the moment.

It was angel fishing rods ???

Dierama Species-Mixed,Angel's fishing rod-Perennial.

Look it up Gwyn. Nice to see you on here pop in more often please.

Hello everyone
A really warm day here, even quite hot sometimes. I was out walking for much of the time and my daughter told me I'd caught the sun on my face, although I did put sunscreen on, so have managed to avoid the total Rudolph look this time.

Annx
I am going to change bank accounts for the same reason.
I don't want to give Lloyds £15 every month starting in September, so hope to find a more suitable account.
A lot of banks are now changing their arrangements, so it will be a case of weighing up the perks and merits against possible charges.

I wonder if you keen gardeners can help identify a garden plant I saw near here, please?
It had at it's base what looked like a grass-like clump of long thin leaves then there was a long, (about 2 and a half feet ) thin stem, bare of any leaves, but the long stem had single little bell-like flowers, which were about half an inch across and about one and a quarter inches long.
They were pale pink and were growing in a flower border, where the ground was well drained and slightly gravel.

Pie is looking good and I made six jam tarts with the pastry that was left and still have a bit for the birds tomorrow.

Rain stopped play again today so I spent the afternoon sewing.
I need to be outside :-|

Your poor fish Mel :-(

Oh is going to suck more out tomorrow and the well should have filled a bit by then to put more water back in.

Just picked 3 oz of wild gooseberries.

Your poor fish Mel, They were obviously short of oxygen weren't they. It sounds like rotting debris at the bottom that made the gunge that you have cleared out might have been the problem with the brown water, especially with the heat we've been having. It's a shame you lost a fish but at least you noticed and acted quick enough to save the rest. Hopefully clearing some of the gunge and some sprinkled fresh water to raise the oxygen will have done the trick. :-0

I did cook the meat and veg for a nice pie tonight too........... :-D :-D

Sorry I have not been on here since thes mornng but we are having trouble with my pond and all the fish were gasping at the top. The water has turned from green to brown. Oh put my little air pump from my fish tank in there but then decided to suck a load of gung out of it. You should have smelt what came out onto the lawn a load of black sludge biut the blackbird was a happy bunny where it had run down the garden and lawn he was finding worms and slugs but the load. He even went in the black sludge. We tried to refill it from the well but thats run out at the moment as oh has been doing his pond every day. So we have the hose sprinkling in there and I shall have to turn it off in a min. One dead shubunkin, Minnie Mouth, he had a really tiny mouth and had a job to eat big pellets. All the little ones were in a group fo about 10 all gasping at the top for air.

So with all that all I have done is dust the bedroom and tie up the toms and pick the strawberries, another 5 oz, and did lunch and washed up just now!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am now ging to feed the toms and strawberries and the two tubs out the front. After all it is feeding Friday as I call it.

Sounds like you had a nice walk Anng and Vera had a good shopping trip ready for the big day. Can I come please as I am sure I woud love what you have ready and the carrot and ginger soup sounds great. Oh and I both love ginger.

Yes I thought £15 a bit much after being free for decades Vera. That money could be spent on a few nice tops and a handbag! Plus when LloydsTSB split, they put me with TSB and so I had to travel twice as far to my nearest branch. Now that closed last year and the city is the nearest branch with exorbitant parking charges. All reasons to switch banks. I just hope the one I'm changing too that is a couple of miles away doesn't close. Your meal plan sounds ideal to suit everyone as you say. I would enjoy all of it so I hope it all goes down a treat tomorrow! :-)

Annx no I didn't mow the lawns at home, they had two largish ones at the back and two medium ones at the front. Bungalow with path down the middle to the front door (no garage or drive). My Dad was particular about his garden and preferred to do it himself. When we visited when he was in his 80s T used to do it for him. I think the problem with our lawn is how uneven it is, there are five height settings not individual sides though, the lowest setting takes the top off in some parts of the lawn. It actually looks fine left a bit longer as it is all one length on the setting I have it on now.

somebody said on an email (from yesterdays group. that my garden was a little bit of heaven. Isn't that nice?
I do prefer to see things in a book rather than a video so I am hoping this will give me an idea. Should be here soon.

Vera shame youw walk got rained off. I must admit I did put a light raincoat on as it looked a bit iffy when I went out but it didn't rain and is still sunny now.
Your meal tomorrow sounds very nice. would not have suited T though as he hated anything with ginger in it. In case you don't get on tomorrow, hope it all goes well.

Sunny and very warm this morning but for the last hour it's been raining heavily .....AGAIN. I had intended to go for a walk this afternoon but there's no pleasure in getting soaked so I'll be giving that a miss.

I'm glad your garden group meeting went well AnnG. I'm thinking of looking to see what our local U3A group has to offer as I have my doubts about a couple of clubs I belong to ever re-opening and I shall want other things to occupy my time.

Ann, I would not be happy paying £15 a month (£180 a year) for a normal current account. I remember when we opened our first current account when we got married there was a small quarterly charge but it wasn't very much and there was a lot more work involved for the banks than there is now. Thankfully our bank hasn't yet mentioned introducing a charge but when one does the rest usually follow suit.

Oh dear Gill, you seem to be going round in circles with the builders. Why can't they just say they don't want to take on the job? It must be so frustrating to keep being let down.

Well, I have done it! No, not climbed Everest or swum the channel - I have been in the supermarket for a biggish shop and I feel very brave. Although I have been in Sainsbury's, the Co-op and Roys in the past few months, it has always been just for a loaf or some milk or a birthday card and I have gone straight to the relevant shelf and straight out again. Having decided what I am going to feed 6 people with varying dietary requirements I needed to go and buy the stuff and also some veg for us to last till my Tesco delivery next Thursday. I decided on Waitrose as most likely to have what we wanted but was a bit concerned about it being busy on a Friday morning. It couldn't have been easier and I felt very safe. We took a trolley from the area marked as cleaned but even so a chap nearby came over and thoroughly sprayed all over the handle for us, there was pedal operated sanitizer at the door so we didn't have to pick up a bottle, it wasn't too busy and it was easy to keep spaced. When I came to the till the operator very politely asked me to move right round to the end of the packing area to keep the distance between us. I got everything I wanted and OH got in some beer and it was lovely to do something that felt a bit "normal".

Tomorrow we're having carrot and ginger soup with wholemeal sourdough bread, then chicken drumsticks and thighs, vegetarian sausages and mediteranean vegetable quiche with baby potatoes and lots of different salads, followed by strawberries and cream plus biscuits and cheese with celery and grapes and birthday cake. There should be something there for everyone. I already have the ingredients for the soup ready prepared in the freezer and the rest of the meal is easy to cook and prepare..

I have a couple of phone calls to make now and then the rest of the day's mine. I'll probably read a bit and fiddle about generally. Enjoy whatever you are doing for the rest of the day.

Afternoon All,

Slept really well again but was up late. The washer's on again while it is warm and sunny. I did a bit of hoovering, the bedroom, ensuite and study and wiped down the window sills. Then I watered the toms and cues in the greenhouse and thought I'd have a quiet sit in the arbour, but didn't stay long as nextdoor's dog was let out and the barking commenced and didn't stop!

Gill you are still making progress, even if not as quick as you would like and you have done well to get that big back garden cleared. I think I mentioned before about putting jobs you want doing on the website mybuilder.com. They are all vetted workmen on there and we have had good experience from them. You should get your bathroom done for the winter ok and the place will be warmer now with the extra insulation and central heating so you will be nice and cosy. That leak with the boiler is hopefully sorted now and will be covered with the warranty. Let us know how Sandra is doing in her new flat.

It's TSB AnnG, but I have an account with all the frills, breakdown, travel and mobile insurance, linked savings account etc. I've had the account, must be over 30 years and it was always free till now, whereas most banks offering these accounts charge a fee, but a smaller one. The only 'frills' I have ever used is the travel insurance and that will end next year I think as I reach the age limit. The cutting blade on mowers is adjustable each side so have you checked it is on the lowest setting? If it's a rotary mower it's the wheels that adjust up or down. Didn't you even ever mow your parents' lawn? It was once of my jobs as a teenager and they had front and back lawns on a third of an acre garden. Then when mum was old she had a small lawn and I would do that for her when I called in on my way home from work sometimes. There are lots of free videos and patterns online for beading too.

I think we will have enough beans once they start coming Island. Every year the early flowers get chewed off, we think by rape seed beetles, as the starting of the planting of that coincided with it happening. There seems to be much less rapeseed planted round here this year though. OH doesn't like peas very much and won't eat raw peas out of the pod like me so I don't grow them now. He likes mange tout though, strangely, so I might try a few of those in a pot.

Mel it's such a shame the deer are spoiling your efforts even if they are cute! Where do they get in your garden? The walls are not all around the garden then? I hope they leave your new Delphinium alone too.

It must be quite dispiriting Mel to spend a lot of time in the garden to have things spoilt by the deer (lovely as they are.

I have just been for a one mile circular walk round the next estate and back through the park and through this estate. I saw six people all a long way away from me and that six includes a postman and a neighbour just setting off to take her dog for a walk,

I then went down the garden and picked rhubarb and gleaned a small bowl of raspberries and the last small number of gooseberries. I have had two very small amounts of the latter but that is because there is only half the bush left. T thought it had died last year and I was going to cut it down but then half re-grew.

Island, macrame and Weaving I don't honestly think are my scene.
I suspect I might already know some of the knitters, it is not a u3a group but the same people seem to join groups.

Morning all

It's looking ok outside today, 'sunny intervals' and no rain forecast - whoopee!

Annx, it's not too late to sow more beans. I'm going to sow more peas today after checking that early July will start cropping in September.
I haven't sowed any rocket or salad leaves yet as I'm not in the mood for flea beetles :-|

Anng, if you go to Knit and Natter you'll get to know the business of people you don't know LOL Remember 'Gossip Calypso'? I joined one when we first moved, to meet new people - not my cup of tea at all. I think you should go for research purposes though so you can report back to us :-D I'm sure there must be some friendly ones, just not the one I went to.
A couple more hobby ideas - macramé? weaving?

Mel, are we going to see your poly clay creations?

Lovely to see Gill posting, sorry the renovations are slow, I guess with travel being limited people are having their homes done up instead, there is certainly a demand for builders and gardeners.

Frank has said he's not reading the thread but I wonder if he got someone to put his scooter in their boot and took him somewhere safe and flat, perhaps a park, to get used to riding it? I'm sure getting out and about on it would give his confidence a boost and blow the cobwebs away.

Morning Anng and all,

Overcast today but warm with it and it is quite bright so I can't complain.

Yes Frank do as Anng and all of us say and give the doc a ring it may be due to the injections as lots of people have said they don't want to do anything after having them.

Hands are achey this morning and a bit stiff after yesterdays weeding the front tubs and weeds out of the tarmac.

We had a sausage toad last night for dinner, we had'nt had one for ages and it was very nice.

Think I shall make a nice meat pie for tonight and have new pots, sprouts, and peas and that should be nice.

I have a new delphium to go in the border as the deer don't seem to eat those but this is one of the short varietys so more their height. They have already started on my big white daisy flowers and eaten all the front ones of the day lily buds and new shoots off the climbing roses. Mum would have been so cross if she were alive.

Beading sounds a good idea Anng and it passes lots of time without you knowing it. When I do it the time goes so quickly.

Good morning all. a bit grey out there but looks as though it might brighten up 13 degrees at the moment. Not sure what I am doing today, should clean through downstairs as the garden is not desperately in need of attention. I do have my car tax to renew on line and I also have a letter to post so may walk down with that later if it stays dry.

Gill sounds like you are still doing two steps forward and four back. Still the house is insulated so you will be warm in the winter and hopefully the boiler pressure can be sorted out. Pity about yet another builder letting you down, why they can't just say they don't want the job I just don't know. You are right though, they all seem to be very busy.

good to see you on here though as we get concerned when we don't see you (or anyone else) for a long break).

Annx gosh £15 a month that is steep. Which bank is that so we all know to avoid it?

Yes I did get the lawn mown although the cordless mower doesn't seem to cut it very short. However, that may well be because the lawn is quite uneven, I had not realised how uneven it actually was until I started to mow it as T always did it before.

I have just, out of curiosity, sent for a book called bead jewellery for beginners. I can then see if I fancy doing that.

I have almost finished knitting a hat for myself like I made for Inara only in a lavender/grey/white colour. So that will be ok for next winter.

One of the ladies yesterday was trying to persuade me to go to a knit and natter in the village which she goes to. Actually I got the impression it is more natter than knit but it is something to think about. and I am considering joining the u3a book reading group. Have to be careful though that the days don't clash when 'filling my diary'.

Frank, do listen to the others and have a chat with your GP. I think there are many people feeling like you and it is due to the Covid19 situation and the not being able to go out and lead our normal lives. We have got so used to staying in and keeping away from people that we don't want to do anything but stay home and read, garden, watch TV etc etc The doctors are well aware of this so you would not be alone in speaking to yours. Maybe make yourself go out with Ros in the car, even if you just stay in the car reading while she is in a shop, that way you are seeing people.