General Chat

Ha ha ha three bags of red oinions made me laugh,what are men like? Common sense shoud have told him you did'nt want three bags. I bet he was please dwith whatr he went home with though. The red onions will freeze if you cut them up.

Iv'e still not done anything, just fed the chickens and fish and hav'nt wanted to do anything else.

Nothing on the telly tonight so I shall be watching U & Drama or something else on Iplayer.

Been cloudy all day here apart from when the sun tried to come out this afternoon but did'nt suceed and then the fine rain started again.

So I can't give you any of my onions then Anng I see you have enough too :-D
Still very windy here we had to go out and tie the tom plants back to the wall as they were really leaning forward .
Looks like we're in for some rain tomorrow.

well I did have a little chuckle and the lovely bright young girl driver brightened my day.

Tesco just been just had a refund (90p)  I said to the girl delivery driver. #either those lemons are green, or they are limes?  They were mostly green with a bit of yellow. she said that they were limes. and then muttered 'students'! apparently the pickers tend to be students on Saturdays. anyway she has already organised the refund.

I am not sure if I told you, a couple of weeks ago I ordered 3 red onions (as you did Mandy. They were out of stock and the sub was a bag of red onions. They will last months if they don't go off.

I cheered up a bit when I dug the potatoes, trouble is I had got so used to there not being any there that I ordered cornish new pots from Tesco.

Oh Anng I hope you've brightened up now ,I think we all have days like that usually when it's a grey rainy day .

Here's something to make you all smile, son came with the shopping and he got all the fruit and salad stuff from the bag then out came a bag of red onions then another and another ,he said mother why do you want all these onions ,I don't I said I wanted a pack of the three red onions in the net lol oh he said I thought it funny you wanted so many onions ,well next out was a big bag of carrots then came another big bag of carrots, I had said a big bag of carrots but he didn't think the bag was big enough so he got two lol he went home with onions and carrots lol
I only wanted some to make coleslaw looks like we'll be living on carrots and onions :-D

Ann thats does sound like someone upset the chap with the car if he's trying to wake them early with all the revving at least the police have been told perhaps they will be around at that time to keep an eye on things .

Yes tv programmes all gone to pot with the tennis football and this weekend the grand prix ,but I did see the sewing bee is back on on the 15th I think .

Hope the fete has gone OK Vera and people have turned out for it everyone works so hard to get these fetes set up and with the wind it can't be easy to get the gazebos up and hold things on the tables , I'm sure the cakes were fine everyone loves home made cakes .

Its good you are getting back into the swing of things Gwyn and going baack to see the chidren must have lifted your spirits. Take it slowly as you're getting there one step at a time and don't overdo it.

Been down the shop and had lunch but I don't know what I want to do now. Its very grey out and windy 18 degrees so I don't feel like garening. Its raining in the wind soemtimes too a real mucky day.

Hope you found something nice at the fete Vera. Did you have any raffle tickets? Were many there? I don't think we have had a village since oh did one years ago. We hav'nt even had cream teas this year or last cme to think of it. We do have the village show in Shebbear in July so I may put my shadow box in if I can find on the program what the class is.

Ah no Ann, don't shorten your posts, it is good to have something to read.
At least, if it is like here, your OH won't get sunstroke watching his football, he might get blown away though.

I don't think I envy you the upheaval of having the en suite done. Although I shall envy you when it is finished. Any en suite would be good here as there is not one at all. No problem when it is just me but it would be good to have my own place when people stay.

I hope the potatoes are ok they look good and are good sizes. No the tomato I have picked have been from the Alicante which was garden centre plant There are four tomatoes on the plant from Mel and they are a good size but still green at the moment

That is strange about the newsagent's car, if that is what it is. sounds like somebody not liking being told off. Hope that they can sort it.

Looks like the TV is no better next week either..I wish they would put all sport on separate 'stations' or whatever they are called now. ITV could use ITV2 and BBC could use BBC3.

Hope your cakes were OK Vera, I am sure they will be. Hope the fete does well and that maybe the sun came out. I think it is a local school's fete today and it is not very nice for that either.

I am expecing Tesco from 4-5, just tracked it and it says due 4.10 to 4.20.

Afternoon All,

It's much like you here weatherwise AnnG and Mandy. 20 degrees and overcast with rainy looking clouds, but still no rain here. It's quite windy too. OH watered with the hose and pulled a few weeds while I popped to the shop and has gone to a match at Newarke with his book swap friend. Now he's on beta blockers like me he's also following the advice to avoid alcohol and found a couple more bottles lof wine to give his friend. I like some of the non alcoholic stuff, both wine and beers, and Mr FOMO always samples some too anyway! lol..

I've dug out the old sheets I keep so I can keep dust the men make off the bed and tv . I have no idea what mess and dust fetching the tiles off the walls and floor will make. It wasn't too bad when it was done nearly 20 years ago as there was hardly any adhesive on the tiles, but they put much more on the new tiles. It's going to be really hot here towards the end of the week so goodness knows how we will keep the bungalow cool as they can't work in the dark with the curtains drawn and will be in and out fetching the things to fit and keep opening doors. I might suggest to Dave that they come earlier than usual if he can and wants to so they can work while it's cooler. OH is in Birmingham at a meeting on Thursday, so he will be ok in his car with aircon and the Hotel he's going to will be airconditioned too.

Yesterday firemen were tackling a large fire on Croft hill where the quarry walk is. They put it out but the quarry walk is going to look very different.

We had a visit from a couple in the next close last night. We'd also had a visit from the chap who lives at the end of our close the other night and OH spoke to him. He was concerned as he'd noticed a car pulling up near our bungalow at 5.00am and the driver hanging around our front door! OH thanked him for telling us but reassured him that it was our local paper being delivered!! Well the couple who came last night said a driver in a BMW was being a nuisance in their close at around the same time of the morning. Someone had gone outside and asked him what he wanted and he said he was looking for our house number, which isn't a number that exists in the next close and they told him. He had obviously turned into the wrong close, but since then has been back down their close and revving his engine loudly and waking people up, turning round at the end of their close and driving back out again. Anyway they had got his reg number and reported him to the police. The couple had spoken to their friend at the end of our close and had come to ask us which newsagent he came from so they could go and tell them. We couldn't say as we pay the newspaper direct to get a discount and they arrange who delivers. I wonder if there had been a bit of an altercation in the next close and it is deliberate. We shall see! We had trouble with one of the drivers keep backing up our drive behind my car for a while. We won't be going outside to tackle him as many kinds of delivery drivers are now being found to be in the country illegally and may carry knives.

Yes tv progs are all to pot again! As I felt worn out, I did watch a bit of tennis yesterday, ladies singles which was good. I liked the girl who won called Sonay Kartal, only 5 foot 4 inches. She had sensible shorts on and a collared loose shirt, so wasn't all knickers and chest if you know what I mean! I can't watch men's singles as it has few rallies and is all about who can serve aces and smash the ball hardest nowadays.

I have some days like that AnnG and I think this heat hasn't helped and more to come too. I'm sure my pale skin must be due to my Viking DNA and that I'm more suited to frost and ice! How nice to have some freshly dug potatoes. I bet they will taste nice. It's good to have a few tomatoes too. Are any from the seeds Mel sent?

I hope the wind has calmed down for the fete Vera. You are very good to make and take some cakes and I expect they will be fine and sell well.

Good to hear you continue to improve Gwyn and how lovely to see the children at the school again. I bet they have missed you. It's good you are having less appointments to go to now.

Mandy I must switch the washer on. I think having the fridge, cooker or washer pack up is such a nuisance. Good your son has insurance for the cooker so it won't cost though and will hopefully soon be working again.

Tuna on a cob for me next and a COC I think.

Goodness me I must shorten my posts!!!!

Just dug out the second bucket of potatoes and there are one pound twelve ounces (800G), These are Jazzy. the maris piper gave me about three small potatoes in the same sized bucket

Good morning ladies

Be kind to yourself AnnG. We all have those down in the dumps days from time to time. You do a lot in your garden and watering in Cynth's and you are very active generally. Have a nice coffee now and a strong G&T or glass of wine later in the day and just do whatever you feel like doing today.

The weather is not looking promising for the village fete which starts at midday. It's 18 degrees so not cold but it's very breezy and the sky is leaden. Rain isn't forecast till tomorrow but the wind is increasing all the time and people are less inclined to visit a local fete if it's grey and windy whereas a bit of sun brings the crowds out. I took my cakes down this morning. The Manor House cake looks good but I have asked the lady who took them from me to make sure someone cuts a piece out of them before they put them out for sale in case they are too over or under cooked. The final straw last night was that I made a nice list of ingredients on the computer, went to print it and got a message to say the maintenance box had reached the end of its life and the printer would not work until it was replaced. I was so cross as I had a warning message about the box nearing the end of its life about 3 weeks ago and OH was supposed to get a new one. Of course, he hadn't done anything about it so I had to hand write my list with my shaky hand. He was not popular! A new part is now on order and should be delivered today.

Good to see you post Gwyn and pleased you are gradually getting better. I expect you feel as though your recovery is taking forever but going into school and seeing the children is all good progress. Take care.

I think I'll wander down to the fete about 12.30 and have a look around and perhaps buy a cuppa and a scone down there for lunch. It seems daft doing that when we live about a minute's walk away but spending a bit of money there all helps the funds.

Good morning all, yes thanks mandy I am ok, actually meant to post and got distracted. Actually woke up feeling fed up for no reason other than feeling old and fed up with all the usual aches and pains we all have.
It is very grey, cloudy, very windy and 18 degrees. In fact I felt quite chilly when doing the everlasting watering. at 1am I got up for the loo and there were rain spots on the window. When I looked this morning the base of the bucket is wet but no water in it so it was not even a shower. I did pick one ripe alicante tomato with no blossom end rot, I have had two large ripe oned that I could cut off a third and the rest was fine, so three tomatoes so far. Quite a few getting towards ripening now.
Nothing planned for today could take a couple of books back to Irene that I found I had already read.

Morning all,

We had a little rain in the night ,this morning it's nice and sunny but quite windy I have just hung the bedding out .

Mel good idea to have a day on your miniatures it will give your body a nice rest from gardening.

Nice to see you posting Gwyn and that's lovely you've managed a day in school this week I bet the children were pleased to see you back ,small steps back to good health .

Not a lot happening here today might sit out for our coffee ,son and Chelsea have just dropped some shopping off for us ,they didn't stop as their oven had packed up and the engineer should be coming this morning to look at it dil had stayed at home in case he came ,he takes an insurance out on it so it won't cost him a call out or repair cost .

Where's Anng this morning she's usually posted by now hope she's OK.

Morning Mel and everyone,

A bit overcast, but dry here and much more comfortable for getting things done. 18 degrees at the moment. We are due another heat wave in this coming week though.

No household shopping to do. We did that yesterday, after daughter finished work, so that she is free to watch Formula 1 on TV this weekend. It doesn't interest me, although I try to throw in an odd intelligent question now and again, as she must miss discussing the races with OH when they watched together. We don't have any subscription channels, so the British F1 is the only one she can actually watch live.
I will be occupied elsewhere ;-)

You all seem to be so busy in your lives or with your gardens compared to me. It seems to have been one long round of hospital tests and appointments since I went to A & E back in early May, but hopefully they will decrease now.
It was great to go back to school one day last week. I hadn't been in class since May 8th, so it was good to see the children again. They all looked so suntanned and well, when they came to sit next to me to read. I looked so pale in comparison having been indoors so much, since I was ill.

I hope you all have a good weekend :-D

Morning girls,

Grey and wet here tis morning and its 16 degrees. Its that fine rain , whats it like with you?

I slept well up once for the loo and it was still dark don't know what the time was as I did'nt wnat to wake up.

Shop to do today and then I may do some miniatures. Hav'nt done any for a while with doing the garden.

Thanks Vera I just popped over there now.

For AnnG (and anyone else who is interested)

I don't know if you noticed, Ann, that Tabitha had posted on the old book thread 2 or 3 weeks ago. I've responded to her so please have a read of what I have put. I keep meaning to tell you I finished one of the Fiona Valpy books I downloaded and to say what I think of it so I'll maybe put something about it on the book thread over the weekend. I can't see the thread suddenly springing into life again but it would be nice to have someone else to talk books with

I cleaned the big bathroom first thing this morning so that was out of the way and a good job done.

I did my pond filter after that and cleaned out the scimmer, had it right out of the pond and got it back all nicely clean. That took a while. Sometimes its a job to get it back in its holder but today it went in first time.

BIL came and mowed and now I am £500 odd lighter.

I strimmed some of the garden down by Prickerly Bottom before he mowed and then the battery ran out. BIL did'nt stay for lunch and Iv'e not done much since. Since then I had a cheese and pickle roll and I have only given the mealworms some carrot and sorted out some nice big ones for Robbie's box.

Not done anything else. Its been cooler as it came over a bit cloudy and its 17 degrees now with a bit of a cold breeze.

All I have done today is one load of washing. I do seem to do more washing in the summer than winter. And, of course also walked to Iren’s but just seemed to mess around, on here for a bit and read a bit. Have to say I am fed up with all the sport on the TV. I don’t watch tennis and the alternative is womens’ football and definitely don’t watch that. I ended up last night watching a recording of Dads Army. Sent me to bed with a smile on my face

You are right Annx, my buffet tea was excellent value. Of course, they don’t have to pay staff to serve and wash up etc as it’s all done by volunteers and some of the food will have been donated by volunteers as well but there is so much of it. It’s an annual event and we have been going for years. It was £8 a head and only went up to £10 a couple of years ago.

Mandy I was asked to do a fruit cake of some sort for tomorrow’s fete. I’ve done 2 but am not sure if they will end up in the bin as I think the thermostat in my oven is playing up. I started with a boiled fruit cake that I’ve made hundreds of times. It always takes at least an hour and a half, though I usually test after an hour and a quarter. I did that today and found the top was quite a dark brown and the testing knife came out completely clean and dry. I think it is probably overcooked and dry but I can’t tell till it is cut. I then made a Manor House cake to your recipe. That looks better because I kept a very close eye on it and was testing it every few minutes after it had been cooking an hour. Poor cake was in and out more times than a fiddler’s elbow. I covered the top as soon as it was a nice golden brown and removed it from the oven as soon as my knife came out clean so I hope it’s OK. I’ll take them down to the hall in the morning and the ladies doing the refreshments can decide whether to use them or not.

Mel, I don’t think our blueberries are going to be as good as last year but OH did pick a good bowlful this morning. Our tomatoes are way behind. The plants aren’t very tall and are only just beginning to develop some flowers. Everything seems out of gear this year. Even my penstemon are odd. They are blooming nicely but are only about 12” tall.

I hope you have been resting more today to give your back and legs a chance to recover from your gardening stints AnnG

Time seems to race by these days or maybe I’m just getting slower. I can’t believe it’s 5.30 already. I suppose I’d better prepare something for us to eat. Have an enjoyable evening, folks.

Afternoon All,

It's reached 25 degrees here now. I had a patchy night's sleep, was up at 6.00am to water and pull another couple of handfuls of weeds and weedkill a few more new nasty weeds. I had a dream that was to do with something I read yesterday and with watching an episode of Vera before I went to sleep!! My dream was that I was walking down a street pushing a pram with a baby in it. I'd seen someone outside a shop with a baby in a pram next to another pram left outside with a baby in it and she had swapped the babies and pushed her pram away with the other baby in it. I then skipped to walking up a road with the other baby looking for the owner of the pram to tell her her baby had been switched. Then a car pulled up and men in uniforms were walking towards me and I realised they thought I'd stolen the baby and I woke up! Must have been anxiety about the skip arriving.

The skip man messaged me before 8.30am after OH had already gone and arrived 10 mins later so nice and early and easily put the skip on the gravel. He had 3 other skips to deliver and called it a midi skip. I was sure I ordered a mini one but am glad it's bigger, as like you say Mandy, once the fitter has put what he wants in it there should be room for some other things we can get rid of out of the garage. :-D

It sounds like the new dose of the tablets are suiting you better Mandy and it must be good to have slept quite well without the leg fidgets. Your veg are doing well and I do envy you your beans! I love them. Careful with your knees and not do too much.

Vera do like a good buffet and your afternoon sounded great with all the food and you won a voucher you can use too. It was all very good value for the ticket price wasn't it.

AnnG sensible to do your errand earlier. It sounds like you need to ease up a bit today. It's a pity Cynth's baskets don't let down to water them as it must be hard on your arms holding them up to do it.

I went to a garden centre once the skip had come and bought a few cards and some more weedkiller. I had a nice cool pineapple drink while I was there, but resisted a bacon sandwich as I couldn't believe they charge £5,95 for one. (Vera's buffet she went to was much better value!!) :-D

It is 20 degrees here, very cloudy. When the sun is out still hot, when it goes in it is much fresher.
I walked down to Irene's to take some books back and it was not too hot walking I did take my stick though as my legs and lower back are complaining about the gardening and watering yesterday. Cynth's baskets are hung up this time and it is a stretch to get the water into them.