General Chat

Og dear so inconvenient but obviously out of his control and at least he did phone. Pity they can't divert the boiler to tomorrow so you could have one free day.

raining here now which is annoying as it was not forecast until later this pm. rain means a raincoat to lug around the surgery, also means those who would have walked will take the car.

Still waiting. No boiler or engineer yet :-(

Good luck with the nurse (and the car park) AnnG

EDIT at 9.10. Just had a call from the engineer. He’s been diverted to an emergency and can see it will be a long job so we are now rescheduled for tomorrow. Not sure if the boiler is still arriving today or whether that isn’t coming till tomorrow either. Looks like it’ll another early morning.

Good morning. No sun out there just grey sky and 14 degrees so far

Nurse at 1155. I have to drive myself and battle the surgery car park. hoping that there will not be a vaccination clinic next door today taking the car park spaces.

Ooh just spotted you Vera. I too joined after William left the thread but I think I might have come across him on Genes outside of this thread.
Best of luck with the boiler Vera, as you say the worst bit is having to find things to do. you could just curl up with a book for a good read.

Good morning

It looks as though it’s going to be quite a nice day. It’s only 10 degs at the moment but should warm up later.

I’ve been awake since 4.15 and got up soon after 6 am. OH was already up. We are waiting for the new boiler to arrive any time now and the engineer should be here between 8 and 9. Not knowing whether the water will have to go off again we both showered last night. I don’t know how Gill has put up with the upheaval she has had in the last few months - I’m fed up after 2 or 3 days.

I have occasionally seen a post from William but I think he had more or less stopped posting on this thread before I joined it so I don’t really know him. It’s nice that he keeps in touch. I really feel for Carmel and wish her all the best. I and at least 3 of my friends have either diverticulitis or diverticular disease and it can be painful, particularly diverticulitis, and it can cause all sorts of problems.

It could be a long day as we won’t be able to get on with much while the boiler is being done. I might get the ironing done at last and I’ve made a list of things to do at the computer.

Iv'e heard from William tonight asking me to look up something on his tree. Iv'e been doing it all evening and found somethings he did'nt have on his tree.

He said Carmel was up and down all the time she has diverticulitis which when it flares up is so painful for her. He's now writing poems.

Evening all,

What a difference in the weather today it's been beautiful out in the sunshine ,we sat out and had a coffee after doing our shopping and then we did a few jobs outside .

Ann two more little beauties you can almost hear that big wave crashing in and the man and boy drawing is good too ,you certainly have a talent with your painting and drawing .

Oh Vera that must have been a bit of a shock hearing you needed a new boiler when you thought it was only a service that it needed but its good they can do it tomorrow and hopefully it won't take long and you'll soon be up and running again .

Anng that's good this nurse was a gentle one after all the others being a bit rough ,i wondered too how you would manage putting the cream on with it being in the middle of your back .
Sounds as if you enjoyed your little drive round to your friends house for a chat and you picked a good morning with nice sunshine .

Nice to hear from you Frank ,hope your soon feeling better and we get chatty Frank back posting :-D <3

Mel hope you both enjoyed your F&C i think we might have some this week save a day cooking .

Evening All,

Just lost a post so this will be shorter! lol.

Good to hear from you Frank and I do hope you feel a bit better soon. Keep in touch! <3 xx.

So a new boiler tomorrow then Vera and more expense! Ours was fitted where the old one was about 4 years ago and took less than a day so I expect/ hope yours in done as quickly. I still haven't found the paint to touch in round the pipe where it goes through the wall yet! With them banning the fitting of them in newbuilds from 2025 and oil fired ones from 2023 I wonder how long it will be before they ban replacing them in existing homes. OH showed me a picture of one of the heat pumps and I said we would need a shed to put it in! I have to do 'to do lists' too. OH still thinks he will remember things, but he forgot 2 things I asked him to do this morning.

We were woken this morning with an early amazon scam call. Unbelievable, despite not engaging and just putting the phone down, we had a further 6 of them by the time we were clearing lunch away. We have never had that many in a day before. Now more of them have less of an accent we have noticed.

Glad you got a nice gentle nurse AnnG and that there has been more healing. Good idea to have a little drive to your friend's and it was good you had a nice chat. Re your plants for the front, your ideas would look nice and a few of the nicely coloured houseleeks could look good and be no trouble. Aconites grow well in my north facing border and some alpine pinks would do well in the sunnier spots.

Are you less sore now Mel and able to do some bending in the garden again? That was horrid having stuff trampled in from outside. We have never worn outside shoes indoors, but did used to nip out to the car, bin or greenhouse in our slippers at times when it was dry and we could keep on the paths. Once covid came it wasn't certain whether it could be carried by animals on their feet and early advice was to remove outdoor shoes at the door. We decided then to not tramp outside in our slippers anymore and have kept it up. We keep crocs on a plant tray near the back door now similar to Vera.

Lol Vera, your memory is much like mine.

Yes had a lovely time with my friend.
No I can’t put the cream on myself because I am not able to take off and put on the dressing. I can just reach to touch the top if it with my right hand over my left shoulder. I sincerely hope it won’t be too much longer.

Good luck with the boiler tomorrow. All these jobs are so disruptive,

Good to see you Frank.

It sounds as though you had a nice morning AnnG. Now you have the cream for your back are you able to apply it yourself? It’s not easy to get to your own back is it. That’s a lovely memory of your first meeting with T. Memories like that must be very precious to you.

It’s been quite sunny today and nice and dry but it’s still a bit nippy. We had a workman here for nearly 4 hours again today. Yesterday OH showed the British Gas chap where an outside pipe was dripping. It’s coming from an expansion tank that BG put in beside our big water tank in a cupboard on the landing and he said he would get someone in to fix it today. I think the chap that came said he was actually from Dynarod. The water was turned off, the gubbins dismantled, a solid pipe put in place of a flexible one and everything put back together. Water was turned on and there was a leak. Water off again, more dismantling and on and on it went. Eventually it all got sorted but not before it had leaked on the carpet and the smoke alarm had been set off when the man did some soldering. Thank goodness the costs are covered by the insurance. I am not looking forward to having the new boiler done tomorrow. We have to be up early as it will be delivered between 7 and 10 am and the engineer is due to arrive between 8 and 9.

I have lots of odd jobs to do tomorrow so I am now going to make myself a “to do list” as I am getting very forgetful these days. Trouble is I’ve already forgotten what I was going to put on the list.

Drove to Jeans this morning to charge the battery a bit, it is not far and I have walked before. spent a lovely hour in her pretty garden having a good natter, for the first time this week it was a beautiful sunny morning. got back about 12 and then went out into the front garden to clear both patches where the shrubs were taken out. The one I want for Alpines is not as shady as I thought, in fact for quite a long time it was in full sun. It was covered in two geraniums that had spread so I had to pull most of that out. trouble is the roots of geraniums spread underneath and new plants will grow. I got as many roots out as I could but I know there are still more to get out. I also need to refresh the soil as it is very tired.

Pleased to see you Frank and to know that you are ok.

Lovely to hear from you Frank as always. With some news too. Hope you can get the fridge freezer fixed with the help of the video. Oh does htat when he is working on the mowers.

I have shown the box ball on the rockery this morning and it now looks a lot tidyier and cleared out the soak tray on the upper decking by my pond.

Oh spotted a different damsel fly in my pond this morning so he has called it his damsel fly. I t was so dainty when it flew just like a little fairy.Tried to get some pics of it but the breeze was blowing but I think I may have got just one good one. It was a soft olive green and on an iris leaf at first so well camaflaged (sp).

Going to get some lunch now.

Blast from the past. IT'S ME, FRANK.

Sorry for being absent, but with not feeling to well, I just couldn't be bothered.

Still not in a GOOD PLACE, but slowly getting there. Ros, as always is there for me. She is doing everything, washing, cooking, cleaning and the garden.What would I do without her.

Harvey has been and fitted the new shower doors. They have been sitting in the conservatory since before Christmas.On Saturday he is coming up again fit the new part to the fridge /Freezer. Conrad said there is a Video that he should watch, showing how to do it. I will get him to ring Conrad to get the information needed to view it.

Julia is going on a "HEN WEEKEND" as Lara is getting married soon, and she lives in Cornwall. So she has got a very long drive, and will have to do tall again on the BIG DAY. But, then, I expect Harvey will do the driving.

I have been sitting on the patio in shorts, reading my book, but it's getting to warm out there. So I am back in doors.

I trust you are all keeping well, I will pop in from time to time. So that you know I'm O.K. xxxx

Morning Anng and all,

You were an early bird again this morning Anng. Lovely memory to keep and the day before Midsummers Day too. Thats very special.

Lovely sunny morning here blue sky and vapour trails we have today.

Its Di's birthday tomorrow so I must do up her pressies and write her card.

Hoping to get inthe garden today and its F & C night so no cooking tonight just got to go up and get it.

65 years ago today I started going out with Tony, I had met him at church a week before but only to chat to. This time we spent the afternoon together at a garden party. two months before my 16th birthday and a month before his 18th. I also had my little sister with me as I was looking after her while my Mum was working a shift at the local cake shop. It is so clear in my mind really does seem very recent.

I really, much as I like Hydrangeas and other shrubs, want to keep the front to low growing plants now. Having just paid out to get two shrubs removed. so I am going to concentrate on alpines and maybe a Helebore or two at the back. so more of a rockery at the front. It is not a huge space. when I have cleared it I will send a photo. Trouble is I don't have spare time until the weekend to clear it. I am out for coffee this morning, have the nurse tomorrow morning and u3a photography Friday afternoon.At the moment there is just one hardy geranium in there which was allowed to spread under the yew. so far I am thinking Saxifrages, Ajuga, maybe aurbetia, primulas, snowdrops.Thyme and sedums.

Our bungalow is north facing and I have a hydranga to the left of the front door and it grows lovely there. I cut it right back each year.

Taking them all on board so thanks Vera.
Yes loved the man and boy.

A lot depends on the size of plants you are looking for AnnG. Some hydrangeas do well in shade and there are ferns like Polystychens (sp?) or how about Sarcacocca (sweet box)? It’s evergreen, slow growing so doesn’t get too big, white flowers, black berries and a wonderful perfume from the flowers.

I agree with you about Ann’s pictures, Mel. She is very talented.

I think I can safely says that our Ann is not a novice artist anymore. Todays pics were great.

The two bushes out the front have now been cut down. The stumps are still there but he said they should rot. I now have two areas to redevelop. The one under the kitchen window is quite dry and gets very little sun and is more or less north facing. I think maybe alpines in there but they need to be plants for shade. Not promising to use them all but any suggestions. Ajuga, is one and maybe a Helebores.