General Chat

Yes you could be right about my weather station as it is under the perspex roof to the north. I 'll have to get oh to move it down a bit to the post but we did'nt want it to get wet.

I watched all the funeral this afternoon and did'nt get outside till quite late after doing the chickens then i cleaned the strawberry plants up. Still got one tripple pot to do and a single. They have vine weevil again and I lost a few big pots of them this year. Even the old terracotta pot broke and shed its rim and its never done that before and its been out there for years. Two other pots also shed there rims and they were younger pots. I have used a lot of the victorian pots that were here when we moved in and I don't like to lose those.

Nice win Verait makes it worth while when that happens and a nice little bit to spend on yourself. Some new plants maybe?

Feel all sticky so think I will go in the shower now as it may ease my back a bit and my hip is still playing up.

Yes we have got a lot of jobs done this week and a lot of them I needed SiL’s height for. And ability to carry heavy stuff. Daughter did well as well sorting the garage, still a bit to do but getting there, and the trip to the dump was a great help.

Sadly Vera they go home tomorrow early morning. So it is going to be a long day getting used to being on my own.

Your poor OH Gill. That sounds very painful. I hope he can get plenty of rest and let it recover properly.

I expect your OH is feeling a bit sore as well after his fall Ann. Thank goodness it wasn’t any worse.

How long is your daughter staying AnnG? You seem to be getting plenty done between you

It’s been a beautiful day here though I’ve haven’t had much time to spend outdoors. I did manage to pot up some tomatoes which were in seed trays and looking very leggy. Otherwise I’ve spent the day doing odd jobs that have been waiting around for far too long.

I had a nice surprise a couple of days ago. The postman bought me a cheque for £30 :-). I pay £12 each year to the old girls’ association from my old school and get entered in a prize draw 3 times a year. My number didn’t get drawn the first few years I was in it but last year I got £50 and now I have £30.

I am quite headachy tonight so might be trying to get an early night and hope to sleep a bit better.

You've got a lot done between you this week AnnG. They say many hands make light work don't they.

That's good the painkillers are working for your OH Gill. Some warmth on it may help too, especially if it stiffens up after sitting.

Mel he said the laundry basket shot forwards across the gravel out of his hands. Luckily it didn't tip over and empty the wet washing out. Landing on small pebble gravel isn't as bad as it sounds. For one thing it is level and gives as it moves, but he was saying how his side and back were wrenched this morning and I told him it would be the fall that wrenched it. Fancy that cheeky fox not moving as your OH went by several times. He needs a bigger hint that he's not welcome doesn't he!

I need to find a home for my beading trays that are stacked on top of the current printer before I can connect the new one up as it says you mustn't put anything heavier than 2 kilos on top or it can damage the scanner. :-S I think the answer may be a shelf or stand to put it on so I can use the space under it. This little room is packed to the gills with stuff as it is, with the spare loo rolls, food cupboard overspill and my expanding craft stuff and empty 'Amazon boxes' that 'might' come in handy.

I thought the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral was all the better for being understated and his wishes and character. The Queen did look 'all alone' and a bit unsteady walking in I thought, but it wasn't surprising. A beautiful day for it meaning the film record of it would be good too.

I was going to ask Mel something similar. I wondered if her weather station had the sun direct on it. We have a wall clock that also shows temperature and humidity but it has the sun on it for much of the day and our garden is also fairly sheltered. At 11.30 am the temperature was showing as 15 when it was probably nearer 11 or 12, I looked again at 4.30 pm when I went in the garden and it was registering 40 degrees! I’ve just looked again out of interest and it’s showing 25 although my weather app is telling me it’s 9 and feels like 7 degrees.

My body tells me when it’s time to take a jumper off or put one on :-)

Dinner needs attention. Might be back later.

Mel is your weather station in a sheltered area. It often seemed to be much higher than our temperature and higher than the forecasts. Ours is showing 23 at the moment but it is in a sheltered spot I don’t think it is that high, although it has been a beautiful day here and I git loads of gardening done.ndaughter gave me a hand and cut back some honeysuckle that was covering a window of my greenhouse that I couldn’t reach.

Ann did he land on the washing basket? It could have broken his fall if he did. Poor G hope he dos'nt have any bruises of aches and pains.

Its a beautiful day here today and much warmer out than it is in. Weather station says its 25 out there and 18 in here. Big difference.

Gill I hope G is more comfortable now the pain killers are kicking in and he has a better sleep tonight. don't let him do anythig silly to put his healing back.

Just watched the qualifying on the telly. Won't say whose got poll as I knw Gill and G watch it.

Hi everyone. OH is asleep at the moment as he did't sleep very well last night. At least he's relaxed now. The doctor at the hospital told him not to miss any of his painkiller meds so it's in his body all the time, which I think is finally working and he's able to move around a bit more today. It took me ages last night to help him to the bathroom as every time he tried to get up off the bed it hurt. We got there in the end but it took over half an hour. He's propped up with lots of cushions which is also helping his cough as that was waking him up too.

I'm watching the build up of Prince Philip's funeral at the moment. They are talking about his life, I didn't realise how much he did.

Sorry to hear your OH tripped over the same rock as you Ann, I hope he's okay. Yes, slate can be a bit tricky to break into the shape you want, but even if it doesn't quite look right, it'll be better than tripping over it all the time.

Afternoon All,

It's a lovely sunny day here and quite warm.

Thanks for mentioning those progs Mandy. I look forward to seeing what they do in the jewellery one and I will be glad when we can record again, hopefully a week on Monday. It will be good to watch Call the Midwife tomorrow too. What a shame there was no black zip!

Oh Gill your poor OH! He must have been in so much pain. At least he hadn't dislocated anything, but torn muscles are painful and do take time to heal. He mustn't do much or he could undo them healing. What a nuisance as you have so much you want to get on with in the bungalow and garden and don't need him off work and not earning either. Still, it won't hurt for things to wait while he gets better and there must be lots you can do in the garden in the meantime. Yes, just post the sick note by recorded delivery if a colleague can't collect it for him. Will you be able to get your shopping ok if he can't drive? I don't know how far you are from shops. Sandra seems to be sorted now so you don't need to worry about her at the moment.

OH was carrying a basket of washing to put out yesterday and he managed to do the same as me earlier in the week and tripped over the same rock and went flying full length so I think I need to find the bolster chisel and trim the pointy bit off in situ if I can. It should be easy enough as I trimmed all the rocks here to fit together well. It might split where I don't want it to with it being slate though.

I was doing lots of admin yesterday so still haven't set the printer up so will have a look at the booklet while watching the funeral.

Morning Gill, Anng and all,

Beautiful sunshine again this morning after a frost. Weather thigny says its 21 degrees out there at the mo.

Oh is watching the qualifying for tomorrows race.

Gill it sound like oh has done just what I did bring a bell down once. When I pulled my shoulder it was like rope breaking inside me. Awful pain and yes 6 weeks at least before it was better.

Must go and feed the chickens as I hav'nt let them out yet as the fox has been sleeping on the grass cuttings not far from their run. Oh went past it three times on the mower and it did'nt even move.

Good morning all. 1degree outside but nice sunshine.

Gill, pleased it was not more serious although bad enough for your OH I can imagine how painful that is. He maybe had strained the muscle before when moving all the hedge to the dump and coughing and turning was the final straw. And sounds as if it is going to take a long time to heal, just when you don't need it with the garden to do as well as his work. If somebody can't collect his sick note, it could be posted, if you do that send it first class to be signed for (so they can't say they didn't get it.)
I hope they have given him strong pain killers for the pain. And if so he won't be able to drive anyway.

Thanks Mel and AnnG.

OH is home now, he had an X-ray and three people had to check it as they weren't sure if he'd dislocated his shoulder, but he hasn't. He's torn the muscles in his shoulder and back and the pop he felt earlier was more of the muscle tearing. He's got a bit of a cough (not Covid) and the doctor said if he coughs a lot then the popping feeling would happen again as more of the muscle tears, so he's propped up with pillows and has just fallen asleep. Hopefully he'll sleep well tonight so his body is more relaxed, that's help him more than being tense with the pain.

He's got to ring the doctors on Monday to organise some physio and the doctor at the hospital said he could be off work for six weeks or more, depending on what the physio says. I don't think work are going to be to happy about that as they were relying on him doing some over time to fill in for the staff who have holidays booked. I'm not sure how he's going to get his sick note to work though as he can't drive. He said he'll ask one of his workmates if they can take it in for him, so I hope he says yes.

Anyway that's where he's up to at the moment. I've rang Sandra so she's feeling a little less worried now and I'll ring his friend tomorrow to let him know how he got on at the hospital as it was to late to ring him when OH got home tonight. I'm glad they didn't keep him in and I think he's happier being in his own bed. They've given him a sling to wear during the day which he said is helping and saving him having to hold his arm up with his other hand all the time as that was uncomfortable for him.

Going to try and get some sleep now as it's very late. I'll try and get back on here tomorrow if I can.

Poor OH Gill, I hope they can sort it for him and that it is something simple. I know how you feel of course not being able to go to the hospital but they will look after him, Sandra is with her boyfriend so you look after you and make sure you eat, take any medication you have to take and try and get a decent nights sleep. Let us know how he gets on and wish him all the best from us. <3

O gosh Gill I hope he is ok and there's something they can do for him. Perhaps he's just popped something out and they can get it put in the right place.

Just watching All That Glitters and then Gardeners World.

Just a quick post to let you know OH hurt his shoulder blade the other day at the tip, he pulled some rubbish out of the boot and twisted at the same time, so I've been looking after him. Today though he coughed and said he felt something pop in his back, he couldn't move so I rang 111 and they called an ambulance.

The paramedics needed to give him morphine as he couldn't move with the pain, so now he's in hospital. They said I couldn't go in the ambulance or to the hospital with him because of the Covid rules, so all I can do is wait until he rings me to let me know how he is or phone the hospital. Because he had morphine he had to go to hospital, but he also needs an X-ray and maybe a scan to see what he's done. I'll let you all know how he is when I know more.

I've had to ring his works to let them know he won't be in work tomorrow and his friend as he was going to help him in his garden, which he can't do now. He was on the phone with Sandra when it happened so she's worried now she knows he's in hospital. I think I've calmed her down and she's with her boyfriend so not on her own which has put my mind at rest, so I'll ring her as soon as I know what's going on with her dad.

I'm going to get something to eat now as I haven't eaten since lunch and I'm hungry. Sorry I haven't read any posts, I'll catch up with them when I can.

Thanks Mandy I shall have a look at that tonight.

I meant to say we had one greenfinch in the garden the other day. We used to get lots of those till they got that disease and I think I only saw one last year too. Hav'nt seen it since.

I expect Gill has been busy and hope she has managed to get Sandra into her flat now. If the weather has been nice where she is I expect she is trying to do something in the garden and she has all those 200 pots to water while its been so dry.

I am pleased that Ros doesn't have anything seriously wrong with her mouth. That will be a load off both your minds Frank.

Good luck with setting up your new printer Ann. I wouldn't know where to start though I suppose if I had to do it I would manage with a struggle. I can understand how AnnG feels as I would be lost without my man what does.

Isn't it always the way Mandy, you have every colour but the one you want. I think I've got a box of zips somewhere as well and I have no idea why I'm keeping them because I never do any dressmaking now. Like yours, my tomato plants need potting on as the seedlings are getting pretty tall. Even though I thought I only scattered a few seeds I have so many little plants that nearly all of them will end up in the bin.

Fancy catching a hedgehog in your trap Mel. It sounds as though he was none the worse for his adventure. I don't believe the birds have all disappeared because they are feeding chicks. The disappearing act was too sudden and it happened as soon as the men started work in next door's garden. Sunday we had sparrows, blue tits, great tits, a robin, greenfinches and goldfinches as well as the usual blackbirds, collared doves and pigeons. Monday morning I filled the feeders, the men started work next door and we've barely seen a bird since. OH THINKS he saw one bluetit this morning. I expect they'll come back in time but I do miss seeing them in the garden.

I dropped a birthday present off at a friend's house this morning and on the way back called in to the Co-op. There were half a dozen staff but only 1 other customer so no problem with spacing but I can see why it is never busy. The veg and salad stuff didn't look very fresh at all, they didn't have any gammon joints and the rolls I bought for our lunch were distinctly chewy. With Tesco, Sainsbury, Iceland and Waitrose all in or around town they need to buck their ideas up a bit or they will be going out of business. Oh, I do miss our little corner shop that closed a couple of years after we moved here.

When we got back I found the postman had left a package round the back for me and it turned out to be the appointment for my scan with the prep stuff I have got to take. This is different to last time as it appears to be a combination of laxative and dye. It will also mean another Covid swab test in advance and then both of us self-isolating for a few days again. Isn't life fun?

We haven't seen Gill for a few days. I hope she is simply busy with her house and garden and helping Sandra move, rather than that she is unwell again.

I have some nice lean pork belly strips for tonight so I had better go and start preparing them and some veg to go with them as we like to eat around 7 pm. I hope everyone has a good night tonight.

Mel it's on Tuesday BBC 2 eight o'clock and there's a new lot of Call the Midwife Sunday BBC 1 at eight o'clock ,tenth series and it's 1966 .

We do still have a few blue and great tits but not mmuch else and ages since I saw a goldfinch. I get doves and wood pigeons and next door get the grows and starlings.

We have just been back to the Aviator pub sitting watching the planes and helicopters taking off and landing. Helicopter training school. It was warm while the sun was out but it was quite cloudy and was chilly when the sun went in. We had wrapped up warm so were fine. I had really nice meal of fish and chips. so long since I had that. Back in august was the last time I think. I really enjoyed it. I treated them today for going to the dump for me and doing all the jobs.

so much stuff has been got rid of which is great. T was always saying he ought to tidy the garage but never got round to it. I think it got a bit daunting as he had collected so much stuff. We found two of everything or more whether it was tools or stuff line was and shine for car cleaning. When we got back SiL cleaned my car (which he drove to the pub) and daughter and I cleared a bit more in the garage.

while they were at the dump I put some Gromore down on the garden round the raspberries and where I had thrown wild flower seeds.

It is 10 degrees here now so not feeling very warm. Anyway no meal to cook for this evening, just sandwiches etc.

Mandy yes, always the way the colour you want is the one you won't have.

Frank, hope you feel better soon. Pleased that Ros's mouth probl;em is nothing serious, maybe she is a bit run down. Hope whatever the hospital have given her helps.

Mel did you get up the garden today after all?

Aawe poor hog, but it sounds as if it was not bothered. Maybe glad of a safe plce to sleep for the night.

Annx I hate having to set up new things like printers. I have to admit I have never done it myself. But now I don't have a man who does any more I guess I am going to have to learn. Daughter has shown me quite a few things I didn't know. today it was how to fix the hose on to wash the car ( the bit to attach it to the tap so that is something else I can do.

The birds arn't around because the females are sitting on eggs or feeding chicks. Our Robin are feeding chicks both pairs that we know of where the other pair are I don't know cos we have had 6 Robins all together but bickering.

There's been two lovely thrushes searching on the west lawn but htey never come to the bird feeders even in the winter just keeping to their lawn.

Blue tits are nesting in the hole in the apple tree and not sure if its Great Tits or Blue Tits in the box by oh's filter shed. Where the sparrows are I don't know but they come to the feeder every day.