General Chat

I just wipe all the fridge and freezer stuff and things we want within 72 hours. The rest, tins, biscuits, sauces, packets, cleaning stuffs etc get put in a plastic crate and are left for 3 days, then OH puts them away. It saves some time. It's the same regime here trotting in and out with plants Vera. I have left the runners and french beans out now, but in a sheltered spot.

It's nice lying in sometimes isn't it Mel? You will soon catch up. Do you have an old sheet or strong polythene you could tie over your greenhouse to take some of the wind force?

I still haven't started my pricking out yet, but did transplant my handful of Cosmos. There were toms, lettuce and snapdragons growing in the same tray that I hadn't planted, so I potted some of those too. Then I had to dash in to deal with lunch. The lamb steaks were lovely and tender and the roasts nice and crunchy.

I did get a load of washing dried but had to fetch it in while still damp as it threatened rain. Then I did a little painting with fishing boats. It was a homework suggestion and OH really liked it so I did my own version of it for him. I'll do a pic tomorrow

No class tomorrow with the Bank Holiday so no early start thank goodness and an early night tonight for me.

It's very quiet on here today; where is everyone? Perhaps you are all busy in your gardens.

Tesco arrived just as I finished my last post. There was just one sub and that was what I had ordered but in a larger size. I did wipe everything down again and then I split some large packs of things into smaller portions to freeze for us so that all took me till midday. Then I cooked a full roast dinner with a pud and we had that at 2 pm. I also got all the towels washed and dried this morning so I feel quite pleased with myself.

After we had eaten and had a cuppa I thought I ought to go for a walk as I am not getting much exercise but then decided I could get fresh air and exercise gardening and that would be more useful. I got another trough planted up with French Marigolds and emptied another pot and did some general tidying up and I've just brought in all the plants that I keep putting out during the day and bringing back into the conservatory at night. Cold nights or not they will have to be planted out next week I think. Some of them are now far too big for the pots they are in and some aren't growing as fast as they should because they are contained by the pots.

It's turned out to be a nice day. Sunny most of the day with just a bit of a breeze. Tomorrow I have to go to the hospital (a 40 mile round trip) for another Covid test and then we will both be self isolating until my scan on Thursday. When OH told our neighbour that we would be self isolating he said he would ring the doorbell and leave our Monday goodies on the doorstep. I wonder what he is going to cook with his grandchildren tomorrow?

Morning Anng, Vera and all,

II had a lie in this morning so am allbehind today already. Suns shining but there are clouds in the sky, big white ones.

Test tomorrow on the plastic greenhouse as we too are forcast high winds. Oh has screwed it down tothe decking but the cover is not that strong.

I may scrub down one of my fairys today to repaint her. She was all white and I think she would look good painted like the big Fairy in two tone grey but she is sitting on a big toadstool and I like that the way it has weathered. So it will be out with the cling film to cover that.

I still wipe down everything but I do leave the paper bags I get at the shop with the ham in and the poly bags with the onions in as I don't tend to use those till 72 hours later.

Morning All,

Sunny here, so I am going to put the washer on and prick out some mesembryanthemum in the greenhouse next before it is too hot.

Yes he does AnnG and he plays his kind of music while I'm still in bed having a COT he brings me. He will do any root veg and brussels any day. I usually do onions that make your eyes stream (well he's a delicate man! lol) and cabbage and green beans, although he will do beans. It all helps though and saves me so much standing. He gets the roasting tins and steamer out for me as well and puts plates in the warming drawer, fills the kettle for the water for the steamer. I was up late for me but slept well last night.

I hope the wipe down is speedy Vera! Yes the weather is certainly going to change and we should be getting the rain we want.

I’m quicker than I used to be with the wiping but I am still doing everything and I am wondering if I could now just wipe stuff that I’ll be using immediately. None of my friends locally seem to wipe down at all. I think I have been a bit over cautious.

morning Vera, must say my wiping down, while still done, is much briefer than it was. Sun is shining here now and 10 degrees apparently. I did go down and remove the fleece an hour ago but it was too cold to say out. Think I will go for a walk before I find some easy jobs to do out there.

Good morning AnnG and all

It’s a bright day so far and about 8 degrees at the moment. There’s only a bit of a breeze. I need to make the most of it as we have warnings of strong winds and heavy showers for Monday and Tuesday but I don’t think I’ll be able to get out the garden much today. I’m waiting on Tesco at the moment. They are coming between 10 and 11 am, then it’s all the wiping down and I will still have lunch to cook and eat.

Sun’s just gone in and it’s looking very grey outside. I hope it’s nice where you are.

Good morning all, bright and 1 degree here so I don't think we had a frost last night. I did put fleece over the plants in the greenhousr though so must remember to go and take that off when I am dressed.

goodness Annx you were up late (for you). does OH get up early to do the veg on Sundays then?

I'm glad you liked my picture which I really enjoyed doing this week.

Vera, I think you sell yourself short as that needlecord is not easy to sew and if those clothes you made were used by several relatives I think they must have been really nice! You mentioning needlecord reminded me of a needlecord skirt, black with small, pink roses on that I wore in my mid to late teens with a black skinny rib jumper.

Yes, the others are right that Sandra mustn't jointly own the flat with her boyfriend. She needs to keep it in just her name. Worryingly though, once they marry, the rules will change and if they split then he would be able to claim half the flat even if it is in her name. I wonder whose idea it was to suddenly get engaged? I do hope he's not playing the long game to take advantage of Sandra having money and that's why he is keeping her happy for now. I still wonder what he was arrested for and if it involved dishonesty or violence would be really worried.

Off to bed now, I didn't realise the time and need to sort the veg for OH to do in the morning for lunch. He's hinted at roast potatoes so I'd better see what potatoes we have.

Hav'nt read Vera's post yet but just wanted to say what a wonderful peaceful scene your latest picture is. The water is just rightand the trees are marvelous. You feel you could touch them and feel the bark.

Not been in long I have just about finished my pots. Just all the empty pots and tray to wash now and they are all piled up on the patio outside the back door.

Gill You must tell Sandra not to put the flat in a joint name. She MUST keep it in her name ONLY. If they shoudl break up he can claim half if its not in just her name. I hope he is true to her and not just stringing her along as she is so easily lead.

Better get the burger on now and then I can read Vera's post.

Anng so you are now all light headed and I bet it feels great.

I bet you feel better for that haircut AnnG. I know how pleased I was to get mine done last week. I didn’t make my next appointment as I got her to leave it a bit longer than usual and wanted to see how it goes. I think I will have to go back after 4 weeks, so I might get it cut shorter again. My hairdresser is one of the most expensive round here so I don’t want to go more frequently than my usual 5-6 weeks.

I love freesias too Ann and bought myself a small bunch recently. They were a lovely golden yellow colour and were in bud when I got them but they opened up beautifully and lasted a couple of weeks, but I was disappointed that they only seemed to have a very slight perfume. I wonder if, like sweet peas, they have had the perfume bred out of them in an effort to get bigger blooms or brighter colours. My freesias disappointed but the latest picture you emailed certainly doesn’t. It looks a lovely spot and you have really captured the tranquillity. As to my sewing, I never considered that as something I was any good at because I never enjoyed it much or did it from choice. I started out of necessity when I had a small daughter and not much spare cash. A remnant from the market didn’t cost much and would make her a little summer frock. The last thing I actually made was about 20 years ago when I picked up some Laura Ashley material for £5. It was a very fine needlecord, dark green background and a floral design. It made me a nice skirt and there was enough left to make a little skirt and matching waistcoat for my granddaughter who was 3. My son had just had his first daughter and the little outfit got passed on to her a couple of years later and in turn to the 2 younger sisters that followed her.

Unfortunately, Gill, if there was nothing in writing about the furniture for Sandra, there won’t be a lot she can do but by now her solicitor should have the form where the vendor lists what is being left and I think that is legally binding. Sandra should see a copy of that. Having said that, our vendor took a wall heater that he was supposed to be leaving but I think we could have insisted on getting it back or the cost of replacing it. We didn’t do that as we thought it wasn’t worth the hassle. If the vendor’s side is delaying things I hope Sandra’s solicitor is putting pressure on them. Sometimes a threat to pull out of the sale works wonders. I congratulate Sandra on her engagement and wish her well but I do hope her boyfriend is serious about marriage and isn’t treating her like his own personal bank. Hopefully he is paying his way.

I hope you are not too bruised and battered today Frank. Take care and give yourself time to recover so that you are fit for your trip to Devon.

I am typing this while cooking our dinner. We’re having the meat pies and veg that we didn’t eat yesterday. I’ve made a banana loaf this afternoon so that can be our cake for the next couple of days. I’ve never had a lot of joy with flapjacks either Mandy.

We’ve just had a really heavy downpour but it didn’t last long. The garden could do with the rain but we need a lot more. Better go and put the broccoli in the steamer now as the pies are nearly ready. Enjoy your evening everyone and sleep well tonight.

Gill that must have been a surprise to hear Sandra had got engaged ,how things have changed for her over the last year, I hope she will be happy .
When the skip comes just make sure you can add things to it as some skips are for certain things only ,if its a mixed skip they charge extra as it then has to be sorted .

Oh Ann another little beauty of a painting with those trees I love that you do so well.
I think about Jane too and sometimes the start of the thread comes up and there are her posts so she's still with us
Yes Chelsea will benefit from wearing the brace she has two teeth that are crossing ,they did think about taking one tooth out at one time but they decided she could have a brace but not until she was older .

It's been dry this afternoon and I could have hung some washing out but I was stitching and forgot all about it in the linen basket ,I also made some flapjacks but they were a disaster, I never have much luck making them they always fall apart taking them out of the tin and I've tried so many different recipes too.

I think the stump removal fella would take the rubbish away Ann, but I'll ask him when it's his turn to do the job lol :-D :-D Love the latest picture, you are so talented I envy you.

Sorry to hear you've had an operation AnnG and wish you a speedy recovery. It'll feel more comfortable once the stitches are taken out, at least you don't have to much longer to wait.

OH did a bit more chopping of the branches off the large plant earlier then came in had a shower and went to sleep for a couple of hours ready for his first night shift tonight. I watched The Greatest Showman I recorded a couple of weeks ago, what a brilliant film, I've kept it on my planner to watch again, which defeats the object of clearing the planner but it's to good to delete.

Going to watch the news now before the F1 comes on, I'm recording it for OH as he'll miss the end with going to work.

Feel quite light headed now but it was cold on the ears walking back. does feel more like me now.
Managed to pick up my prescription after the hair dressers so that was good. Another job done.

Love that scene Anne, makes me want to walk there.

Gill you are getting on well with the garden. How long had it been empty when you bought it or had the previous owner just lived with a jungle?
I hope all goes well for Sandra with this fellow, do you know at all what he was in prison for. I hope Sandra is not paying for everything. Do you know if her social worker has an opinion of him? Not that there is anything you can do I know, worrying though.

Mandy yes it does make you feel better having it cut, she cut loads off. Next one in five weeks.

Ann I think tiredness was one of the reactions to both vaccinations.

Gill, the dressing is on a minor op I had on my upper back nearly 2 weeks ago, stitches due to come out on Tuesday.

Afternoon All,

Sunny here with a few spots of rain but dry again now.

Mandy I remember my Aldi geraniums you told me about before being really good and maybe after our holiday I may be venturing in the new one about 5 miles away and further away from the city when it isn't busy. I could see what fat quarters they have as well. :-)

Chelsea will be pleased to see the results of wearing the brace even if it is for such a long time. I was never taken to a dentist as a child but started going myself at age 15 and had braces when I was age 19. I hated wearing them as then they were bulky and had hook things around some of your teeth and screws to tighten! I was naughty and took them out if I was meeting friends as I couldn't speak properly. My top teeth have never been good, but they were much improved by the brace. Of course, my mother seeing the improvement took my much younger sister to have hers done and being younger the results were better for her.

Our toaster has had more crumbs since OH retired. I tell him to tap the slices of bread over the sink before putting them in the toaster, but does he remember?? I have been looking for a small tray that it could sit on and do have a metal one. I must see if it fits the length.

Reading about your little garden party Vera, I could feel my waist expanding! I bet it was nice to have a relaxed chat even if it was chilly.

The rabbits and deer seem to think your garden is their greengrocer Mel. Is there anything they won't eat? I love Freesias and used to buy a small bunch every week and have them in the bedroom for their gorgeous scent. I have never tried to grow them. Jane keeps popping into my head too. I still can't believe she has gone from our lives. I still haven't emailed Fitz so must do so. We are trying some lamb loin chops tomorrow now we can't seem to get the shanks. There are only the twin lamb shank sin minty gravy as an omnline option showing now, yet there were single large ones before and also one with redcurrant.

I've had emails from the petrolprices website mentioning road tax going up AnnG. It's to do with climate change measures but they are loading most cost against the vehicles that are the big polluters with highest emissions. I've read that since the car charges for going in London meaning less car usage there, pollution levels are now rising as there are more buses to take their place which are more polluting! Before many more years we will have to change our gas boilers and they say that all the woodburners have increased pollution levels too. It seem we can't win whatever we do!. I bet you are glad to be getting your hair cut! :-D

It's a shame Sandra is in limbo too just like yourselves waiting to hear about things! I bet it was a shock her getting engaged. I might be more worried depending on what he was arrested for and whether he's likely to get in more trouble. Does he have a job? Good idea to top up the builder's skip with some of the rubbish you need to clear. I hope he can make a start soon. Your garden must seem bigger all the time as you clear the things you don't want. I hope the man who digs all the roots out for you can take them away for you too as they may be heavy.

OH can't be bothered to go to a footie match after all and is watching one on tv. He's felt very tired the last day or two so I wonder if it is the vaccine affect.

Afternoon all

Nothing was put in writing about the furniture in Sandra's flat so there's nothing she can do about it being empty AnnG. At least she'll have a few things off us and she'll have money left over from the sale of our old place to buy everything else she needs. I see you're having your hair cut, it'll feel much better after all this time. What is the dressing for? Sorry I haven't been able to catch up with all the post yet so I was just wondering what had happened to you.

Yes Mandy Sandra is still with her boyfriend and they got engaged the other day, it was a shock to hear with them only being together a short time, but she's very happy with him. They used to date years ago but we moved to Wales so the relationship came to an end but now she's back with him things seem to be going well, so I hope it stays that way. You made me laugh when you said you've given the fridge a good birthday ;-). Have you thought of putting your toaster on a tray, I do that and it's so much easier to clear the crumbs away.

You sound busy Mel in your garden, I hope the rain doesn't ruin anything, it looks like the west of the country is in for quite a downpour, so you and I are going to get the worse of it. To be honest I don't mind a good bit of rain as trying to keep on top of watering our pot plants isn't easy with them all being bunched up together and only having a watering can and bucket to use. We tried attaching the hosepipe to the kitchen tap but it sprayed watered all over our washing machine, which is why we can't use it and we don't have an outside tap yet.

I'm getting used to not having central heating and hot water Vera, I thought it would be really bad so I wasn't looking forward to it, but with the electric heater and shower we can at least keep warm and have a wash. As for doing the dishes I just boil a kettle. It shouldn't be to long now before we can have the boiler put in, we're just waiting for a date for the builder to take down the chimney in the kitchen first and extend the bathroom then all the dusty jobs will be out of the way so the boiler shouldn't get to dusty then. We thought it best to have the messy jobs done first then the boiler put in. At least we're coming up for the summer so it's a lot warmer than it was when we first moved in and had snow....that wasn't fun as we were freezing cold all the time.

OH has gone back in the garden to make a start on cutting down the next big plant, he's finished cutting the branches off the first one, so we can see more of the wooded area behind it now. He's found another smaller plant that needs cutting down so once all three have been done we should be able to see the wood better. We've decided not to bother putting a fence up as we can't work out the boundary line, plus it'll look like our garden is much bigger even if we're just borrowing the wood and fields behind it. We'll need to clear all the rubbish away at some point though, or that will end up our view, which won't be pretty. We're hoping when the builder has finished putting the rubbish in the skip from the chimney removal they'll be enough room over for some of the garden rubbish.

I asked OH if there was anything I could do to help but he said he wants me out of the way as the branches are around 20 foot high and he doesn't want them falling on me. There's nothing else we can do in the garden until all the rubbish has gone as I did everything I could last week, so I'm going to catch up with a few programmes. I'm running out of space on the planner and the F1 is on later which I need to record for OH as he's back in work tonight.

Morning AnnG, Mel and all,

There was a frost this morning I noticed it when I came down to make a cuppa so I was glad I had covered a few bits in the greenhouse ,by the time we got up the frost had gone as it was raining and we've had showers off and on .

Poor Sandra must be getting fed up now but these things take time ,what's happening with the boyfriend is she still with him.

You'll feel better when you get your hair cut AnnG, my had got so long it feels strange being so short again and a bit draughty round the neck when its chilly.

Yes poor Frank he has been in the wars lately, hope he managed to get some sleep .

I have given the fridge a good birthday, its surprising how mucky it can get so thats a good job done ,I also moved everything off the work tops and you should see the crumbs under the toaster and I only did that the other day .

Oh Colin's in for his coffee BBL

Hope Frank's not too bruised today and he managed to get some sleep last night.

Morning Anng and all,

Bright morning after a frost earlier but blue sky and it dos'nt seem like there's any wind out there.

I think the tax goes up with the budget and I have my tax not long after but the V11 form comes before.

Just have to go and get the paper today and a few bits and then its back out in the garden. I bet by the time I have finished these pots and want to go up the border it will start raining. Its not just doing the pots I am still cooking lunch and dinner and if I could walk away from that like oh can I would get on quicker.

What are they doing with poor Sandra's Flat? They need to get their finger out and get things moving including Sandra!

Not looking forward to Monday as they say heavy rain and winds. Wonder if the plastic greenhouse will be there after it?

Good morning, up early as the dressing that was curling a bit - actually it was the extra bit she put on to secure the main one - stuck to my pyjama top so I had to sort it out and thought I may as well get up. I woke at about 5.30 so slept reasonable well.

bright morning 1 degree, not sure what it will do later. Hair appointment at 12 and not a day too soon. (more like 4 months too late).

Vera that sounds a lovely tea that you had, I am pleased that you were actually able to meet with your friends again, I bet you didn't stop talking. Pity it was so chilly though but sounds as if you were well wrapped up. (winter woolies on).
Yes I enjoy egg on toast when I don't feel like a full meal.

Gill, oh poor Sandra, that is really not good enough having to wait all that time for her flat. Sounds like the vendors solicitors are being very slow. I am still not sure how the vendor has been able to sell off everything if they said they were leaving it. The estate agent should have sorted that. (Unless Sandra misunderstood).

Mel, you were busy yesterday then. Should have a good show of freesias if that lot come up.
Why had the tax gone up from the form? Was there an explanation?