General Chat

Yes we're very pleased with the grants and all the money we've saved means we might be able to make a start on the loft conversion we were hoping to do in a few years time. We won't be able to do it all but at least the walls and floor can be done and a window put in. It'll be one big room until we save up to have it divided but at least most of the mess will be out of the way. I'll need to get a quote first though incase the price we think it might be is wrong, but it'll be nice to make a start if it's possible,we'd planned on having the staircase put in, so hopefully it won't cost to much more to make a big room up there, even if we only use it for storage for now.

More lovely pics of Mel's garden, shame about the plants damaged in the wind and sun, but it still looks nice on the photo. I noticed before we have lots of pink geraniums in the front and back garden, they're only just coming into the flower so I didn't notice them before as I thought they were weeds lol. I've also noticed some London Pride mixed in with them so we should have a sea of pink soon as there's a lot of plants all bunched up together. I think once we've made some borders in the back I'll split the plants and move them around a bit as they look a bit squashed where they are now, plus they're right outside the back door, all along the back of the property where we'd like a patio to go, but for now we can enjoy the flowers once they all come out.

Gill that is great news, you will save so much money and you will soon have heating and hot water,myou are getting there. Well done Sandra, sounds as if she is getting straight in her home.

Ann that meal sounded great, sounds like that won”’t be the last one you order. I have in the past had lots of take away, Chinese and Indian and not had a problem,io

Mandy, no not long before my appointment, I have got a hair appointment the same day. Luckily the times don’t clash.

Vera yes two busy garden days but the rain while we were away made it all grow. There is still a lot to be done but it is looking a lot better.

Juggling apprentice veg plants today. The overdose of May rain held up planting out this year - I don't know about runner beans, they're triffids!. They've had a few days out so I've left them out tonight and they will go into their final apartments tomorrow.
Plenty of other stuff to decide where to put - I keep changing my mind. I've taken some photos so will download them tonight.
The PSB is just about over Mel. Too many to keep up with!

Sent some pics.

Love the cartoon Island :-D

What lovely pictures of your garden Vera, love the bronze cats. I was hoping to do a bit in our garden this year but we still have lots more to clear away so I think it's going to be next year before we can make a start on it properly.

Lovely garden pictures to Ann, I envy you all. Apart from the pots we brought with us there's no colour in our garden yet, we're going to keep an eye on it for a year as they say that's the right thing to do with a new garden, then we can decide what to keep and what to get rid of. At least we can see a bit more of the space now OH has almost finished clearing the rubbish away. He's worked really hard this past week but is back in work tonight after having a week's holiday, so it'll be back to an hour a day nipping to the tip before going to work in the evenings.

Afternoon Everyone,

Well OH had a wasted trip to footie on Saturday as he found it had been postponed, but there was nothing online about it so 80 miles for nothing. I got a few photos while he was out and had a nice drive round some villages. New building seems to be going on everywhere! I managed to prune one of the shrubs when I got back and do a bit of weeding of my alpines. Then we went to Curry's and a very knowledgeable young man sorted us out and we have a tv being delivered on Wednesday. then someone will set it up a week today, then we can get SKY in again as there is still a connection problem with the old tv and we have no tv to watch at the moment. Thank goodness some things are on our laptops.

I checked the council site for what they charge to take things away like the bed and it would be £32.50 or £42.50 if they took the tv as well. A bit cheaper than the company that the bedding people use, but there are so many rules! Only one operative is sent so he must be able to move everything himself with a sackbarrow and you mustn't help. (covid) How would I be able to judge that and know whether they are sending Charles Atlas or Charles Hawtrey?? Everything must stand outside for 3 days before to decontaminate. I have a number for a chap and van who took something away for us before so will try him on Wednesday.

Yesterday I paid for what I'd done the day before and was limping so I was glad not to be getting lunch! It was delicious, 6 veg, stuffing, pig in blanket, roasts and mash, but we will ask for small plates instead of medium next time as we had to leave some. It was £22 in total including delivery which we thought ok as Sunday Lunch is always dearer than the rest of the week.. We could have had all 3 meats if we'd wanted. Apart from the pandemic Sunday roasts, the only takeaways we have ever had have been F&C Vera. I've had a veggie burger when out once, (there were only burgers available) not been to McDonalds or ever ordered or had chinese or curry takeaways. I've seen the kitchens in some places in the past and heard tales from asian colleagues........no thank you!

I rested up yesterday which has helped and have not done much today, as I need to be able to get to my hair appointment tomorrow!! OH said he'd take me but he wouldn't be able to leave the car park without going inside for the numbers to punch in. If he dropped me outside the gates there is a steep slope to walk down which would be tricky, so it would be easier to drive myself I think. The R knee feels more stable today and should be better still tomorrow if I am careful.

I liked Island's cartoon too and I have tried to use a calculator to change channels before. There's not too much hogging of the remote here as we don't watch too much tv together. Some progs yes, but would you want to watch politics, sport and history most of the time?

Your garden looks lovely Vera and as I said in my email, you have some nice plants. Like you, we have no lawns and moved from a place with a bigger garden (not as big as yours was!). The good thing is a small garden is easier to manage, less to get out of hand when you go away and can be more attractive in different ways if you pack lots in it. With pots and troughs you can add colour but remove them in the future if it gets difficult to do it all.

Just go carefully moving the mower AnnG if you do it. The nurse will be able to see if you are all healed enough now. It will help make it easier if you could do it most weeks now so there is less to cut. That's good you have done a 'book swap' and have more books to read now.

Oh dear Mel, those bunnies seem to eat anything!! It's good your OH has one mower working, but it sounds a major job with the one you had to watch the pistons move on. I hope they did move and nothing has seized!

You've been busy planting and washing Mandy. I do love Lupins with all the colour combinations they have and Dahlias, especially the intricate pompoms are a favourite too. After the hairdresser tomorrow I will place my french marigold plants in the spots where OH will then plant them, also the few cosmos that grew.

Crikey Gill, you are busy now! It's so uplifting to watch progress though and each step gets you nearer your goals. It's good you have been able to get grants to help with the cost too. I see Sandra is getting sorted and you have got the furniture to her so that is good. She will be happy to get straighter too. :-)

I did get up the border for an hour this morning but then BIL turned up so I had to come down and make them a coffee. Then he helped oh with the mower and I did lunch for us all. Between them they got the top of the mower off which oh was having trouble with. When I called them for a sandwich the mower is sitting there looking like a skelliton.

He's just gone.

I shall wash up and then I am back up the border. Don't know what I am going to get for diner tonight.

Sounds like things are really starting to happen at yours Gill and you'll soon have a nice new kitchen and cosy home. I'm pleased Sandra is getting her flat straight too. I can just imagine her with a big smile on her face.

Must dash as I need to get up the top while the weather nice or I shall be stuck down here all afternoon.

Well blow me you were posting as I was typing Gill :-D I'll have a read of your post now.

Afternoon all from sunny Norfolk,

Blue sky as far as the eye can see and just a slight breeze.
I liked Islands cartoon too :-D ,Vera Colin has tried to use the phone to turn the telly over it must be a man thing :-D
You've been busy washing to Vera yesterday i washed the bedding from the single bed in the back bedroom thought I would just freshen it up ,when I looked at the duvet it had a stain on so as it was an old one it went in the bin so next time I shop duvet will be on the list .

I have stripped the bed and got the bedding all dry ,did two more loads and thats now on the line ,I've potted my Dhalias on into bigger pots I see Monty did his and he said he plants his out the beginning of July so I have a few weeks before I'll plant them out, I think I counted 24 Dhalias some dwarf and some pom pom, I also potted up some Lupin plants too.

Anng not to long to wait to see the nurse then ,fingers crossed its now healing better .

Mel sounds as if OH has quite a job with all the mowers to mend ,did putting the barrow save your plants a bit .

Hope Ann and OH enjoyed their lunch yesterday and managed to find a new television they liked .

Wonder how Gill is ,hope we hear from her soon I expect she's busy .

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been on here for a while, we've been busy helping Sandra with her flat and OH is still taking the hedge rubbish down the tip. He's hoping to have that finished today though. We had his friend around over the weekend to chainsaw some plants down but he broke the chain and has to come back this weekend to finish it. At least we can see more of the garden now although there's still lots more clearing to do as all the hedge roots need digging out. His friend is going to look into hiring a digger then he'll dig it all over for us.

We gave Sandra some furniture on Saturday but the van broke both our gates posts, luckily we wanted them out so all OH had to do was cut them off, so they're going down the tip today as well.

The grant people have got back to us and we're getting everything they said we could have so the underfloor insulation is going in on Friday followed by the boiler and central heating the follow Tuesday. We're still waiting for a start date on the cavity and loft insulation but the fella said that should be in two weeks's time, so everything is starting to come together at last. The chimney has been taken down in the kitchen and the plaster has dried so I'm going to get in touch with a kitchen place for them to do us a kitchen plan then the electrician can sort the electrics out as he only put them surface mounted until the chimney came out.

All we'll need doing in doors then is the bathroom extension into the hall and a staircase in the living room going to the loft and of course a new living room doorway made as the staircase is going where the original doorway is. I can't wait for all the jobs to be done then we can decorate and order new carpets then finally unpack everything. With a bit of luck we'll have a nice cosy home by the time the winter is here.

Sandra is enjoying her new flat and has almost bought all the furniture she wants, she was really pleased with the sofa, cupboard and fire we gave her as she said the living room had nothing in it, she's bought a table and chairs and some lamps so it's looking more like home now. I still haven't seen it yet as I only had my second vaccination a couple of days ago and I didn't feel right going out until I'd had them both, so in a few weeks time when I'm almost 100% covered from the virus, the nurse said it'll be 95% I'll be able to visit Sandra and finally see her flat.

You've been busy this morning AnnG. We don't have any grass here at all so no mowing for us. The community centre just down the road from us had a couple of book shelves where you could take books home or donate others but since Covid the centre has been closed for normal use. Currently it's being used as a Rapid Test Centre.

I have done 3 loads of machine washing and also washed 3 bits by hand and they are all drying on the line. I also changed the bedding on 2 beds. I didn't do the duvet covers as I didn't feel my back was going to stand up to wrestling with king size duvets, but the ones on the bed already were both reversible so I just gave them a bit of a shake and turned them over. I haven't hoovered yet but I've paid some bills online and written a birthday card for our youngest grandchild which I am about to go and post. She turns 15 on Wednesday and I meant to post her card a bit earlier but forgot so I hope it arrives in time.

Island's cartoon amused me as well, particularly as I have my own Mr It's My Remote. It also reminded me of the occasion of my son's 2nd marriage 5 years ago. I wrote a 3 page document about the wedding which one or two people on here will have seen on another thread at the time and this is a little excerpt from it.. To put it in context we were staying at my son's house with his 3 daughters and various other people. It was the night of the wedding, we hadn't got to bed till about 1 am and had not had much sleep for other reasons. ".....the phone rang at 7.30. I knew there was a handset on the table on OH's side of the bed so I am hissing at him "answer the phone before it wakes everyone". Him: "I am trying to but I can't find the right button to press". Me: "I am not surprised. Why are you trying to answer the TV remote?"

OH feels his back will allow him to stand long enough to make us a lunchtime sandwich (this is code for "I'm bored" ;-) so I'll go and post my card while he does it.

The sun came out again so I have walked down to post a couple of letters and took some books (and found some more of course). then I mowed the lawn, might do the edges later, I will see.

I don't really know how my back is healing Mel, I can't see it, daughter thinks it looks ok when she changed the dressings but as I have been away, I have not seen the nurse for over a week, next appointment is Wednesday.

Morning Anng Vera and all,

Beautiful sunshine here and blue sky so I'll send some your way Anng. How's the back now is it healing at last? You hav'nt mentioned it lately.

Oh is out with the sick mower and I hav'nt done my hair yet so I better get that done and feed the girls and then I MAY BE ABLE to getup the border today.

Island loved the cartoon. Looks just like my oh who always has the changer in his hands. The only time I get it is when he's in bed.

Well we lost the sun by 0830 so back to cloud cover again, seems to be what we pay for living in the Severn Vale, plenty of fog in winter and misty days in spring/summer

Morning AnnG and all

I haven’t ventured outside yet but it looks a lovely day. It wasn’t a very good night again and I am still not feeling 100% generally and my back’s still sore so I don’t think I’ll be doing much in the garden today. I’ll do the washing and maybe push the vac. around then see how I feel.

OH tells me his back feels a little better but he doesn’t think he should take any chances with it (code for “I won’t be giving you any help ;-))

This is a miserable post, it’s all aches and pains. Never mind, the sun’s shining and that’s enough to cheer me up.

Enjoy the day and the sunshine everyone.

good morning all lovely morning with beautiful blue sky and sunshine. Long may it last.
Gardening exercise must have worn me out as I slept from when I got into bed at 10.45 until I woke at five to six. First time for ages that i have not got up in the night for the loo.

More gardening today I think but not quite as much as yesterday. Might give the lawn another cut.

Never got up the border this afternoon as oh had the mower on axle stands and was laying underneath it so I would'nt leave him alone. I had to help him out and he did'nt go under it again thank goodness. He thought he had found out what was wrong but after lots of undoing of nuts and bolts trying to get hte body off he gave up. He did get the old mower going though and did a little mowing but you can't turn the cutting blades off of that one.

I had a little sort out of my plants onthe patio and found a dead May Bug in one of the pots under a plant saucer. Last night they were hitting the window and thats the first time I have heard them this year.

I did have a little walk around the garden this morning and took a few pics which I have not downloaded yet.

Fed the strawberry plants and the tomatoes.

When I zipped the greenhouse up tonight there's a big split against the zip about a foot from the bottom. I don't think it will last as long as the tom plants!!!!

Vera, I think the lovely day yesterday was too much of a shock - we can't take the pace!
We were outdoors until 7.30 yesterday, pottering, no heavy graft, had a lovely catch up with family after goodness knows how long.
Today, not so good, the sun's shining but too much is just not right :-(

Lovely photos Vera, your plants look very healthy and the paving so clean! Ours had a pressure wash not so long ago but need another after having a mud shower from the rotovater.

I hope everyone's ok

I did another hour clearing around under the dreaded blackberry where hellebores had taken over that enabled me to get the last basket in position. At 5pm I took a G&T down to sit on my special patio, early as I wanted to watch Countryfile at 6 pm.

Wonder where Annx is still eating her turkey lunch?? :-D

It sounds as though you have been busy potting up AnnG and you’ve been busy too Mel. Is the mower feeling better now or is it still poorly?

We are both having a droopy day today. After 2 good nights I had a dreadful one last night and I think all the tossing and turning and lying awkwardly has made my back painful today and OH also reckons he went into a dead sleep in the wrong position so his back is hurting too.

I did manage to do a wholemeal loaf in the breadmaker, cook us a roast dinner with a pud and clean the bird bath so not a totally wasted day. I must get my act together next week as the house is in sore need of some tlc.

I tried to read a book on my iPad in the garden but even with dark glasses there was too much light from the sun to see the print so I've been reading in the conservatory. Even with the blinds drawn and the door wide open it’s like an oven in here. I shall have to move somewhere cooler.

I hope you all sleep like a log tonight. Hope I do too. Be back tomorrow.