General Chat

Evening all,

Nice to see Ann and Frank home ,what a time you both had on the roads ,I wonder what next week will be like as its Bank Holiday and the schools break up too.

Ann it sounds like every thing was very well organised with them doing the deep clean ready for you to go in ,shame the weather wasn't to good but it must have been nice to have a change of scenery.

I've been very careful coming down the stairs since I slipped ,my ankle is still a bit sore .

We have had a lazy day as we've had a busy week getting the new blinds up but they are all done now and look nice .

Oh Vera I hope your toms will be ok ,I noticed we have a couple of runners the the wind has caught and the top has bent over but we always put in a few spares so should be OK.

Family didn't come today but we did see them yesterday for Jakes birthday ,it seemed so strange to go in doors but we all kept our distance and we only stayed for half an hour .

I'll get this posted as i did a post after lunch ,I touched some thing and it had gone .

Yep pouring here too. From where we are we look down the valley of Combe Martin to the sea in the distance last night we looked directly at the sunset. No sunset tonight.

Shot a bunny this morning too. I have aloso had a little one going under my car and then round the back of the bungalow.

Thats right. Still pouring here and windy.

That makes sense of when we get your weather then as it moves north.

Anng I think its about 35 miles to Coombe Martin from here maybe a bit further.

It was nice you found a couple of tops and a pair of trousers in M & S. Been to Woolacombe when a child with mum and dad.

How far are you from Combe Martin Mel? We seem to get your weather about thirty minutes after you. Don’t know if it has rained all day here as we decided to drive to Barnstaple and have a look round the shops, parked in the multi storey over the Green Lanes shopping centre and were surprised that it was only 50p an hour for the whole of May. Had a look round a few shops then headed for cafe Nero and had a coffee tables well spaces and we tucked into a corner well away from everyone. Coming out, and it was still raining, we had a look round Mountain warehouse, I didn’t buy anything, the M&S where I did. I bought two tee shirts and a pair of trousers, I was pleased to find a grey pair like a pink pair I bought in Gloucester a couple of weeks back.

We bought sandwiches to eat for lunch in Greggs. So, back to the car and drove to Woolacombe and parked looking over the beach, still raining and the surf was high but couldn’t see if there were any surfers. Could not believe how many people were walking on the beach in the lashing rain. I have been to Woolacombe before, T and I spent a long weekend there and walked the length of the very long beautiful beach.

We drive home through the very narrow winding country lanes wth many stops to let approaching cars through

Frank pleased you got home safely, not a lot of fun at the moment on the M5 is it?

Vera hope you have not lost the tomatoes, could they have been frosted?

Annx it sounds as though your plants survived you being away, that was good.

Welcome back holiday makers! Where did that week go?
I can't believe it's only three weeks tomorrow since we had our break - staycation? LOL, I do think that's a silly word.
Sorry you've had such poor weather. it seems to be general.
I fooled the weather today by not going out when it was dry and now it's raining well ya boo sucks Mr Rain Cloud, you missed me. LOL It is depressing to start some gardening and have to come back indoors.
I haven't check my shed veg today Annx but all was well yesterday, some of the runners are about 12" high and all in need of hardening off but I don't want to leave them to the mercy of torrential rain yet. I still have some discomfort in my ribs but not real pain.

I hope your toms survive Vera, if not is there a local grower where you could get some plants? It would be a shame not to have any at all.

I do believe the sun is breaking through so I'll check the shed.

I hope Mandy is ok after her stumble on the stairs and not strained or sore.

Glad to know your home and both safe Frank. We've missed your posts.

Stayed grey here all morning and it has been raining since 12.30pm. Did me good though cos I brought the washing in and ironed it. Then I cleaned the bathroom. Put the other days ironing away and then got lunch. We are now watching the grand prix so I will wsh up later.

Vera you've also done a lot this morning.

Anng I hope you get to go somewhere today as its a shame not togo out as you are on a break.

Afternoon All,

It's warmer here today and a bit brighter and I nearly did washing till OH told me it would be raining later, just at the time our food drop should come. I have a new idea to make things easier still with the wiping this time. I have made space by clearing things out of 2 big bottom drawers in the new freezer into the other drawers and will put the frozen stuff that comes today into those without wiping to leave for 3 days unless we need any of them sooner. If everything won't fit in the 2 drawers I will just wipe those and fit them in elsewhere. With all the tins/packets/jars left for 3 days in the big wheeled trolley thing as well, I will only need to wipe the fresh and fridge things this time. :-D

It sounds as if you are enjoying your break AnnG and finding things to buy. We do a mix on holiday, laying in some days, up early on others depending on what plans we have and the weather. Travel can be very tiring especially if you are doing a lot of the driving.

What a shame about your tomatoes Vera. I hope they pick up with your spray treatment. Mine are still very small and no sign of flower buds yet, but I will give them a feed later to hopefully give them a boost. That has reminded me of something my first FIL would say years ago. A keen gardener, he would say he was giving things some 'jumping stuff' to make them grow. :-) It's funny how these things people said will pop into your head years later. It's nice visiting a place where your ancestors trod isn't it!

Oh Frank I think when we saw the weather news while we were away we were glad we were in Cornwall and not Devon as we had plenty of dry between showers till Thursday when It was wind and rain most of the day. OH did manage to pack the car between showers though.....he hates getting wet. Poor Ros, it took us less time to get to near the end of Cornwall going down, but not so coming home. Once the floodgates opened with the easing on Monday I suppose it was bound to be bad. It's good to hear you are home safe and sound again though.

What did you find then Island, a plant cemetry or burgeoning growth? I hope you are better now after your nasty fall.

We have sun and no rain yet Mel and I'm wishing I had put the washer on now!

I was right about the sun - it didn’t last long. It soon went in but stayed dry long enough for me to have a little walk and then spend an hour in the garden. I managed to clear all the wallflowers that were in four troughs in the long walkway round the side of the house and in two big pots by the front door. I’ve got a couple of slightly smaller pots ready planted to go by the front door and I have got enough good overwintered geranium cuttings to go in the troughs. At least I feel I’m getting somewhere at last.

My tomatoes which are outside in pots are still tiny and there is something wrong with the four cherry tomato plants. It’s either early blight or Septoria leaf spot. We’ve got two different fungicide sprays but one says don’t use on food crops and I’m dubious about the other one so I found a recipe for a homemade spray based on bicarbonate of soda and sprayed them with that. I think I’ll probably end up getting rid of the tomatoes altogether.

I’m glad you are home safe and sound Frank and hope you had a good break in spite of the weather.

We are supposed to be eating at 2 pm so I’d better go and sort the veg.

Good morning all, not gone out yet, it was dry with occasional glimpse of sun until five minutes ago but it is now lashing down, if it had been T and I we would be out somewhere by now bu son in law is a very late riser so we are still here, probably a good thing except none of us will want to be in all day.

Good Morning to you all,

We arrived home yesterday evening, after a terrible (WEATHER WEEK) in Devon.

It took us SEVEN HOURS to get there on Monday. What with all the traffic and rain. Poor Ros was shattered, she said she liked driving, but this was beyond a joke.

Nothing to report, but I thought I had better let you know we are home.

Booked a table for lunch out today at 2.30 pm. We have invited Carolyn to join us. John her husband was rushed into hospital yesterday with GAUL STONE TROUBLE. They are operating sometime today. Not sure if she will join us, as she might be visiting him.

I haven't read any postings, but trust yu are all well. Take Care. xxxx

The winds up now and its pouring with rain. I just managed to feed the chickens and bantams and potter a bit around the shed and down it came. So the washing is in as its blowing onto the patio and I shall now go and iron it as it smells lovely being out all night. Only a couple of bits of t shirts.

I do wish we would here from Frank.

Wonder what Anng is up to today. Oh's family always went to Coome Martin for holidays when he was young.

Morning Mel and all

WE HAVE SUN :-). The forecast is for it only to last an hour or two but at least it’s bright at the moment. Don’t have any plans for the day.

It was interesting to read about your trip to Lynton AnnG as some of my paternal ancestors came from that area. At one time they owned West Lyn Manor. When we were down there in 2013 we found the Manor which seemed to have become a slightly scruffy pub-cum-hotel. We had a mid morning coffee there.

Have a good day everyone whatever you are doing

Morning all,

Dry morning but grey skies today at the moment. Sun may come out later I suppose.

Hope Frank enjoyed his time away. I wonder if he is home yet or if he's stayed on for a bit.

I think it was crackerjack..

Good evening all from a lovely sunny evening in Combe Martin.


Saturday 22 May. We drove to Lynton and parked near The Valley of the Ricks and walked down into Lynton as all the town car parks were heaving. had a look round a candle makers shop then a craft centre, bought a few gifts in there, all very reasonably priced. We were ready for lunch then so walked up to the cafe at the top of the cliff overlooking the bay. Here we had the most wonderful ‘Devon’ pasties, we all really enjoyed them. Next we took the funicular down into the harbour area where there were lots more interesting shops to look at and I bought a Weird Fish sweater reduced from £50 to £35., very pleased with it too. Caught the funicular back up. Joe then walked back for the car and Lyn and I walked down the street looking in a few more shops then found a seat in the churchyard overlooking the bay to wait for him.
On the way back we stopped at the steam railway to check train times and have a coffee. Back to Silver Cottage for a rest. Today the wind had dropped and we had cloud and sun, chilly in the cloud and warm in the sun , there was also a cold breeze. But no rain

Just came to me: the game was Double or Drop as you said Ann and it was part of Crackerjack

Good you got home safely Ann but what a horrid long journey you had. I hope the break did you good even if it was nowhere near normal. I broke my own rule and didn’t check what I had written and you’re right of course. It does sound as though the birthday girl is getting a cauliflower. I don’t think she’d be too impressed ;-). I vaguely recall that programme on children’s TV. Was it cabbages that got piled up in the children’s arms? Joe Henderson....now there’s a blast from the past. I certainly remember him.

Guess what? It’s raining again.

We drove some different routes to places to look at the villages Mel, but we were mindful about toilets and preferred to get back to use them. Also with some of the coves we haven't seen before you can't drive down to them anymore. You have to park a distance away and walk down to them which I can't do now. We didn't want to be mixing with many people or go indoors anywhere or eat out so it wasn't anywhere near normal! They have even removed the litter bins at the NT cafes and toilets so you have to carry your rubbish with you. We got a COT and icecream at one cove where they were serving outside from a hatch and had to carry our rubbish or walk all the way back to our car with it so we took it with us. They had put rocks on all the outside bench seats so you couldn't sit down either. We are wondering whether we ought to go somewhere else for a change next year, as we have seen most of what we would like to see and some of the gardens we do like are very steep that run down to the sea. Yes I was amazed that OH did all the driving on the way back after doing so little driving the past year, over 300 miles.The good thing is that it was nice to have a change of scene after all this time.

Better finish the Asda order for tomorrow now!