General Chat

Camellias have to be the silliest flowers. Beautiful but no sense of timing - ours always get browned by the frost (browned off? lol) and don't look at all attractive. We're slowly getting rid of it by trimming back.

Evening all :-D

Haven’t done any foil work since before Christmas, not really been in the mood for complicated craft work and lately the garden takes precedence.,I got on ok with it though
So now you won’t want to sleep tonight.

What a shame about not getting the Ibuprofen, hope you keep some in stock Ann.

Well so much for another afternoon in the garden. After posting before I felt so tired I threw myself onthe bed next to oh. He woke me at 6.20pm !!!!!!!! so that was my afternoon wated. I hate it when I do that.

I keep meaning to ask how you are getting on with your new machine Anng. The one that does the foil work?

The frost has browned my Camellia flowers too Mel. They look very sorry now! They were ok when they were small shrubs, but they poke above the fence now so those bits aren't sheltered any more. We have had a few minutes of blizzard but the sun is shining again now.

All wiped and put away, but there were 13 substitutes and Ibuprofen, which OH needed, was out of stock. I looked on their site just and they have Ibuprofen in stock in tablet, capsules and caplet form same as yesterday when I placed the order. Do you think the pickers don't look properly? It makes me wonder if that is why there are so many subs. :-S

Afternoon Everyone,

I slept well but must get up earlier so I will hopefully get to sleep sooner. It's a day of sun then gloom here and just now some sleet. I'll be covering my seedlings again soon. I saw 2 sweet peas poking through this morning so that's good.

It's awful when you can't turn over in bed without pain Island. Sounds like another day of making plans but doing little with your doggie at your side!

You be careful in the garden Frank. Did you get the new handrail fitted in the end?

That will be nice to see your daughter AnnG and your son for a while. Great they are bringing a meal with them too! The book 'Young Prince Philip' is by the author Philip Meade. I am wondering what kind of pastels you have.....soft, hard or oil? We are using soft ones and I think I will put an old towel down as they sound rather dusty and messy to use!

The article is interesting as you say, but if they are saying you still need to wash your hands, that must also include after handling food packaging that the virus may remain on for a few days as well I would think. I would sooner just wipe down once rather than have to wash my hands every time I touch food packets at home for 2-3 days. They may be right but there is still a lot they are learning at the moment and it is often what they 'think' rather than 'know.' I am just cautious by nature!

Vera the shoulder is improving, but is still hot and feeling bruised. Not a problem though and I don't feel tired today! I reheat cheese sauce from 'set', sometimes the next day and it just goes runny again as before. We had some today with ham hocks and veg. :-D

After lots of googling I have ordered a new printer. Our current one won't stand the printer head being cleaned all the time much longer and I need good colour prints for the pictures for the courses. It's over 10 years old so doesn't owe us anything. It's a pity the old ink cartridges won't fit the new one though........these manufacturers aren't daft are they.

I shall be so glad to get my hair cut this week as I don't look like 'me' anymore with marcel waves across the back as well now and wings at the sides!!

Better get ready for the food tdelivery o come now.

We have a really cold wind today so it dos'nt feel like 15 degrees out there. Oh has been strimming the edge of the lawns but came in cold at lunch time.Its now down to 13 degrees as the suns just ogne in. You can keep your snow Mandy. I don't want it down here as the frost we've had over the last couple of weeks burnt all the new growth on my Hydrageas, all but a couple of shoots coming from the base.

Frank who is Liz?????

I started putting my second lot of lights around the new fencing round the patio this morning and stillhave a way to go but it was time to do lunch and I had back ache leaning over. May do a bit more later on after lunch has gone down properly.

Not long now till your daughter arrives Anng and I bet you're looking forward to seeing her and having company for the week.

Afternoon all,

Snowing here ,quite a blizzard , we've had sunshine most of the morning and through the window it was lovely and warm .

AnnG nice to have the family visiting again and no meal to get ready ,you'll be able to have a few little trips out perhaps .

Oh phones ringing BBL

13? really Mel? It has not got above 7 degrees here so far. even though sunny with some cloud.

15 Mel? We've had snow on an off so far today :-0

Just cleaned through downstairs as it won't get done while they are here as it gets so cluttered with all their stuff. On the other hand last time son in law weilded the vacuum cleaner one day so maybe......

They are bringing dinner a piece of gammon from their freezer from Christmas. with new potatoes, green beans and cauliflower and parsley sauce.

15 degrees Mel? That’s positively tropical! We have blue skies and sunshine but it’s only about 5 degrees at the moment. I have just done well over an hour in the garden and my hands are red and throbbing as they are warming up.

Enjoy having your family with you again AnnG. It’ll be good to have some company.

Ann, I hope your aching shoulder is feeling more comfortable now. You mentioned reaction to Harry coming for Prince Philip’s funeral. I hope there isn't any and it is treated simply as a grandson saying his goodbyes to his grandfather, but I expect some papers will make something more of it.

No dancing the night away for you then Island. Ribs do seem to take a long while to heal. Take it easy and give them time to get better.

Frank, I’ve got a question. How do you make cheese sauce in advance please? Doesn’t it go a bit solid when it gets cold and do you reheat it in a saucepan or a microwave? I often do a cheese sauce and might grate cheese in advance but it’s so quick to make that I do it when I need it. We only have it if we’ve got a non-gravy dinner as I hate the two together. I remember our Jane said the same.

I guess I might have to give up bathing as has been suggested. OH never baths and I rarely do as we both prefer to shower but just occasionally I feel like a nice lounge in a warm bath. I did have a rubber mat in the bath- a long one that covers the length of the bath - but I still managed to slip. No harm done this time but I might not be so lucky next time.

Eldest granddaughter has just rung to say, if she isn’t able to see us before, she will see us on 10 June. Apparently she has registered herself as a blood donor and went online to book her first session. She has been allocated a time at the community centre 2 minutes down the road from us. Great for us to see her but it will be a 50 mile round trip for her, yet she lives much closer to 2 bigger towns, Colchester and Clacton., so why send her here? If she didn’t drive she wouldn’t be able to get here anyway.

Just noticed the time. If we are going to eat today I had better get our pork loin in the oven. Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning all you lovely ladies.

Bright blue sky's first thing, now clouding up, I don't think rain is forecast so it could brighten up later.

All veg done and in the saucepans. Meat (LAMB) in roasting dish and ready for the oven. Cheese sauce made and Yorkshire pudding.

Had a good nights sleep, but woke early, and couldn't get back to sleep. So up I got and made a COT. Ros followed within the hour. I'm now going to settle down for an hour with the paper.

I hope all pf you are well, and hope Liz's back easies off, and gives her a bit of peace. xx

Have a nice day everyone, I might try to do a bit in the garden later. xxxx

They will stay for a week and it is allowed as they are my support bubble. Seeing son for an hour or so on Tuesday as well.


On another subject this is an interesting article

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9457083/Why-washing-weekly-shopping-probably-does-protect-Covid.html

Morning girlies and Frank,

Sunshine blue sky with big white clouds and 15 degrees out there at the mo

Sorry you had a bad night with your ribs Island but it must be another day nearer now to them feeling easier. I do hope they heal quickly for you. Won't send a hug as it may hurt but here is love <3

Anng it will be lovely to see your daughter today even if she does arrive late. Will they stay overnight? or is'nt that aloud yet?

I'd love to have a soak in a warm epsom salts bath but fear the strain to get out will negate the benefits. :-(

morning Island, hope a little doze will help you continue your day. And hope the ribs ease soon. I expect if you are turning back and forth in bed that will hurt your ribs. so difficult to keep still though.

Vera, maybe it is time to be like me and admit to defeat with the bath. I actually gave up on them when T could no longer get out easily and didn't want to make him envious when he couldn't have one as he, like me, much preferred a bath to a shower. It is over a year now, probably over two years so I don't dare try and have one. I try and console myself with the thought that hopefully I am saving water.

Ann x I have a set of as yet unused pastels, never quite sure what you do to them to stop them smudging so I will be interested to hear about your course. I expect you are looking forward to it.
Was that a book by Giles Brandreth? I did see him on TV talking about Prince Philip.

Morning Anng and all

Not a good night for me at all -- lying down is not good for sore ribs and I didn't take any pain relief as I'd been doing ok during the day. Now propped up on the sofa starting to feel the effects of pain relief aka 'snoozey'.

We had some thin snow at 8, then sunshine, now it's dull again. Chilly with it according to the thermo.
No seed sowing today.

Anng, I bet you are looking forward to your visitors.

Good morning all. Daughter and her OH coming today but won't be here until about 5pm as they are leaving late. Having to go and see his daughters who are upset because of the death of their granddad (Their Mum's father).

Very grey out there and 1 degree at the moment.

Slept okish but with a break in the middle 1bout 2.30 to 4am when I couldn't get back to sleep.

Oh I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself in the bath Vera. I read that you should let the water out first in case you slip and knock yourself out and drown!! This time the water seems to have saved you some bruises though. I had to give up on the bath a few years ago when my knees made it a struggle to get out and OH is finding it harder now. I would like a large double shower instead like the one we have in Cornwall, but I bet OH would prefer a walk in bath. :-S

It was funny today as the book on the Duke of Edinburgh that OH produced yesterday had the author featured on a prog he watched today and he said their was a resurgence of interest in his book now. OH's copy was a pristine find in a charity shop and cost the princely sum of £1.25! I've told him to read it quick and get it on ebay!! lol. :-D

Yes Mel my shoulder joint is quite painful this time after the jab. I can't lift my arm above shoulder height yet, but no soreness across my collar bone like last time. I haven't felt tired today either. All I have done outside today is uncover my seeds and seedlings, then go and cover them again after an hour as it turned so cold.

Gill it sounds like your garden will look even bigger once all that hedge is down the tip. Any new plants/flowers appearing yet that you recognise? I love watching the Great Sewing Bee so thanks for the reminder.

AnnG my courses did finish a couple of weeks ago but I signed up to 2 more that start on Monday and Tuesday. The first is Pastels (which I have never used) and the second is pen and wash watercolour doing summer scenes to follow on from the last one, same teacher.

Glad your ribs are easing a bit Island. How are the bruises looking........rainbows?

I wonder when Masterchef will be on.? Good job Inwatched it the recorder didn’t pick it up because it was a different day.