General Chat

Oooo a nice stew Vera, I could eat one of those right now, I'm really missing home cooking. Ready meals in a microwave aren't exactly nice. At least we have our gas metre now so that's a step closer to having the boiler put in and my gas cooker. All we need to do first is have the chimney taking out of the kitchen. The fella for that and the roof came today and is going to email me a quote, he said he can only take the chimney stack away and make good the roof, but I managed to persuade him to take the chimney out down to just below the kitchen ceiling that way OH and I can take the rest of the chimney out ourselves. The fella said he'll put a board over the hole where the chimney comes through the ceiling so there's no draught coming from the loft.

When the fella came to put the gas metre in he said because we have floorboards we qualify for a new boiler but he couldn't remember the name of the firm that did a boiler for his friend. He text his friend and said he'll text me with the company's name if his friend gets back to him as apparently he's not good at getting back to people. I tired to Google free boilers but it just covered grants with no mention of having floorboards or not, so it looks like we might have to pay for the boiler and central heating, which won't be cheap.

I think channel 4 and 5 are showing normal programmes tonight AnnG. If not try looking on catch up, I did that with a programme I follow on channel 5 earlier and today's programme was on there even though they didn't air it on TV. I'm going to try for Emmerdale soon as well. It might be worth a try.

I don't remember any horses for milk and bread etc... I do remember the milk floats though and hearing the milk bottles early in the morning. I'd of liked to have seen the horses though, but I guess I was born to late :-( :-(

No neither can I AnnG, but there were even 'No Photography' signs on the way to the building! OH is glued to the telly now and will be watching all the programmes. Any royal or political event, ceremony and he can't get enough, but I soon get fed up of seeing everything repeated over and over. I see you've got some more tidying and other jobs done!

Mandy I keep meaning to contact Fitz, but forgetting! I will do over the weekend as I keep wondering how the family are doing as well as him. I will let you know, but I'm not sure he checks his e-mails too often. I hope your son's tooth hasn't given any more trouble and it is always a concern with a weekend coming up and the dentist shut! We were saying we need to get back to some clearing out, but more comes to take it's place like you say. As soon as OH heard the news about Prince Philip, in he waltzed with a book.......The Young Philip! I swear he seems to have a book on most subjects......a Royal one in this case.

I've just covered my seeds in the greenhouse with bubblewrap. The lettuce seeds are poking through as well now but that's all.

Bram I would have been there at the stables too with a few titbits for the horses! Well into the 60s there was a local milkman's horse and the coal was delivered by horse and dray. The milkman's horse knew exactly when to walk on and stop at each house he was so used to it. When I was smaller, the rag and bone man would come by with his strange cry and I would take things for him and once got a goldfish in a polythene bag. Goldie was my first pet. :-) People complain about horse manure now, but then it rarely stayed around for long before a keen gardener would sweep it up.

I hope your tum is a bit better now Gill. So Sandra was with this boy a long time ago, so how did she meet him then as I had the impression she didn't go out on her own very much till she went to Michelle's and why has Michelle stopped speaking to you? As for Michael saying he will throw Sandra's things away..........if she was still with them her things would be there so why not for a short while longer till she gets her place. I hope you aren't letting it stress you too much as it does seem that Sandra has to learn the hard way! It does sound like the boyfriend is still keen on his ex. If so I hope he decides soon before he takes too much advantage of Sandra.

Mel I must clean my fridge before the food drop on Sunday. It's easier when it isn't crammed with food!

I've started to feel quite tired now and my shoulder feels bruised so I think it will be an early night for me.

Now where is Frank I wonder as he knows we worry about him if we don't hear from him??

It’s so sad about Prince Philip though not unexpected. I think the television and radio authorities are in a difficult situation. If they show their normal programmes they will be accused of a lack of respect and I suppose people who have been at work all day will want to see the programmes about the Duke in the evening. Have you got anything recorded that you could watch AnnG?

Hallo Bram, nice to see another name on the thread. Like Mel, I remember the milkman’s name, Harry, but can’t remember what the horse was called. We had United Dairies too. The baker had a horse and cart as well and came to the door with his big basket of bread and buns. I think that was 2 or 3 times a week. The rag and bone man and his horse came every so often. He only ever seemed to have thick white china but Mum was always pleased to get a couple of cups and saucers.

I hope you have no after effects from your jab Ann. People seem to photograph everything these days. I suppose we were more discerning because we only had 8 or 12 frames on a roll of film and had to pay for both the film and the developing. There’s another memory from the past.

I went to pick up my meds today and the pharmacy had again ordered everything on my prescription even though I had made it clear the two previous times that I only wanted 2 items. I never had a problem when it was Lloyds but they sold the shop at the end of last year to a small family firm and I haven’t had the right things since. I have made it clear that if it’s wrong again next month I’ll be going elsewhere.

It’s a bit worrying that we haven’t heard from Frank. I do hope he isn’t in trouble again.

I’ve got a big stew that will do 2 days but I’d better get some spuds done. I might just get myself a little drinkie-poo to sip while I’m cooking.

:-D can’t imagine wanting to look back on the day a needle was stuck in my arm. I hope nobody was looking forward to watching any TV the rest of today as it is special news programmes on both channels right through. Sad as I am at PrincePhilip dying, it was not unexpected st his age. I am very sad for the queen and know how she must feel. But one thing that keeps me going is watching TV in the evenings. I will not be watching films going back over the years for hours on end.

Afternoon All,

I was surprised and sad to see Prince Phillip has passed away aged 99. Pity he didn't make his 100 years, although OH says he was never sure when he was born and his actual birth date. What a loss for the Queen after all those years.

Slept well and have had my jab now. There were only 4 jab stations open this time (there were over 20 last time) and no queue so they let me in as soon as I arrived. OH decided to drive me there after all despite his sciatica, although I was quite happy to go on my own and drive myself. I noticed there was a sign saying the AstraZenica people were not to drive for at least 10 minutes this time and there were several signs saying 'no photography!!!' What is the world coming to when (mostly) younger people think it's necessary to photograph every event in life!

Our milk man when I was young was called Jo but I can't remember his horeses name. Jo always had a nosebag hanging on the back axle and sometimes he let me help him put it on the horse. It was United Dairies. We regulary had rag and bone men come round ringing a bell and shout out and mum would give me things to take to them and perhaps get a 1d. I know some gave out goldfish!! Then we would get the onion man come round on his byke with strings of onions hanging from the handlebars and then there was the knife sharpener with his cart he pushed and a little seat where he sat to sharpen your knives at a grinding wheel which he worked with his foot. Again mum sent me out with the garden shears, scissors and bread knife.

The baker would come with a hand barrow and open the doors at the back and bring a BIG basket to the door with all kinds of bread and cakes and biscuits. The basket was nearly as big as the inside of the handcart and there were shelves above it.

O happy days............................................... :-D :-D :-D :-D

Prince Phillip has died God rest his soul.

Ann
I remember the milkman's horse in our area.
To my disappointment, my mother ordered milk from the Co op dairy, which only used the electric floats for delivery.

When we were newly married and lived in Gloucestershire, we had a Ford Anglia. It was totally reliable about starting, except for misty mornings if it had been put in our garage overnight.
Hardly anyone around here parks their car in their garage.
Maybe this is because cars are generally wider than the era when the garages were built.
I wouldn't like to hazard a guess at all that our garage may be storing !

Mel the seedlings are in there now.

Mandy I prefer to have my car on the drive, it makes the house look occupied. I have, in the past put my car in the garage, although not this one.

Used to love seeing the milkman's horse and hearing it clip clopping down the road. And yes my dad would have the bucket ready.

Hello Bram nice to see you on the thread.

I remember, early 50's' how many HORSES there were around town. The milkman, co-op bakery, rag and bone man and parcels delivered via the railway network all used horse-drawn carts and wagons. The railways had their own quite extensive stabling and we children loved to go down and make a fuss of the animals. One bonus was to be alert with bucket and spade to pick up horse droppings which we kids then sold for 3d a bucket up at the local allotments!

AnnG do you leave your car on the drive or will you put it in the garage now there's room although it sounds as if your filling it up lol
Its do nice to have a clear up and make space but it's surprising how you soon find some thing to fill the space again .

I seem to have clear outs in the back bedroom but then it get lumbered up with stuff again .
There was a programme on the other night where a team came in and cleared out all the families things ,they laid everything out in a warehouse and asked them to get rid of half of it ,some things went to charity some were sold and dome where skipped ,then the rest went back in the house and they sorted all the rooms out for them with storage and reusing some of there furniture that was in the garage.

Sad news about Prince Phillip our poor queen will miss him terribly.

Still sunny here and I have done a bit of ironing and cleaned out the fridge and got lunch ready for when oh comes in as he is spraying the lawn with evergreen.

Bet it feels good now you have cleared the conservatory and got more things put away. I am sure your seedling would be ok in there even if its not heated.

Well it was sunny earlier and I was very energetic trying to make the conservatory a lot tidier. Managed to swop the bird food from a wicker box it was in to some drawers in a small cabinet we had out there. T used it for his shoes so it was empty, the wicker box is out in the garage waiting for the dump trip., moves a chair and took a couple more things to the garage. It has occurred to me that I have this large space for storage now there is no car in there.

Morning Anng and all,

We have sunshine and blue skies this morning but I don't know if there was a frost as I hav'nt been up long. Did'nt go to bew till nearly 2 in the end which is about my usual time.

If its not too bad outside I may go up the border this aternoon so shall see how the day goes.

I too got up in the night twice but went back to sleep again right away.

I waited all afternoon while cleaning out the big girls for Daisy to lay her egg. In the end I gave up and left the nest box for today. When I went to shut them in I looked in the nest box and there lying in the woodshavings was a lovely egg with a big yellow yolk and a scrap of skinny shell at one side and a big poo the other. Had to scoop it out and chuck it in the rough. I thought she was having trouble as when I moved her a bit there was a little wet patch inthe nest. Shall have to keep my eye on her today and give them some more grit.

What am I like I did'nt post this!!!!

Morning all,

Very dull here but it keeps trying to brighten up ,I think they said we might have a shower ,I have hung washing out so must keep an eye on the sky.

Son had a temporary filling done yesterday he messaged me last night saying it was sore and he was having pains like electric shocks ,this morning he said it had calmed down .

Just had a good hoover through but I'm not really in a mind to do much today it one of those days where I feel quite lazy .

good morning all, quite bright here so far but looks like more sand blew in as it is stuck to the front bedroom windows. I wish the window cleaner would make a miraculous appearance as no way can I clean the outside of those windows. 5 degrees here already.

Gill, hope you managed a good nights sleep and that, despite the cramps, the antibiotic is doing it work on your infection. The headache may be part of that.
I do hope Sandra's boyfriend is not handy with his fists, but, as she has known him a long time she must know what he is like. It will be good when she is sorted but it is a pity she chose to go back to that area. Probably the 'boyfriend' was the draw for that. You were up late.
and so were you as usual Mel. I slept better but not as well as I would have liked, got up twice for the loo and then was awake very early. Been up and dressed now for 45 minutes.

Yes Mel I've got a microwave so have been having ready meals. I did buy some McCain baked potatoes which are really nice and had it with some tuna tonight.

Sandra used to go out with this fella years ago when we lived in Ellesmere Port and since she went back there they've met up and are now going out again. The police turned up at the hotel for a statement off Sandra before, apparently Ste's ex said he was with her when he wasn't. As luck would have it he was with Sandra and they met up with Sandra's aunt so the police now know his ex was lying, but Ste has been in touch with his ex via the phone so he's broke his bail conditions anyway.

Sandra said he was coming out of prison tonight but the hotel have said he's not allowed there so I hope she doesn't try to get him in there or they'll kick them both out and she'll be homeless again. Her social worker helped her move all her things to the hotel today and I don't think she'll be to happy if she has to help her move it all to somewhere else. I did try to explain to Sandra that it looks like Ste's going to be in and out of prison for the rest of his life so she's going to have to get used to it as she phoned me in tears as she was upset at him being taken away again. Of course Sandra got the wrong end of the stick and thought I was telling her to break up with him which I wasn't ,so whether she'll ring me again now I don't know. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what she does next. Her sister isn't talking to her and Michael is threatening to take all her stuff to the new hotel on Saturday as Michelle is fed up of it being at theirs and if Sandra isn't there to take it off him he's going to throw it all away.

No, there's no radiators in here Mandy as there wasn't a gas metre or any gas coming to the property, we've had to have the gas pipes installed and the metre goes in tomorrow then we have to organise a gas safe engineer to put the boiler and rads in. We'd like to have the chimney removed before the boiler goes in as there's a coal fire in the kitchen and we don't want coal dust all over the new boiler, so thought it best to have the chimney removed first.

I think it's a point of trying to have the jobs done in the right order. The people who are coming tomorrow, apart from the gas metre people, are the people who are doing a quote to remove the chimney and make good the roof. They'll be here between 9am and 11am so I'm signing out now so I can get a few hours sleep in before I need to get up again.

I've still got the stomach cramps but that's normal for the antibiotics I'm on, I've only got two more doses to take so hopefully the cramps will go by the end of the weekend....well, I hope so anyway. At least my headache has gone now, it could of possibly been the paint causing the migraine but I was only doing a bit of a touch up around the light switch so I'm more inclined to think it was stress with everything that's gone on lately.

Well, I'd better go as it's getting late, I hope you all have a good nights sleep. Night Night. <3

Love quiche and salad but I don't like rocket it tastes musty to me.

Good luck with your jab tomorrow Ann and the switchover hope it all goes smoothly.

Gill was the lad in prison before because of hitting his ex? I hope he dos'nt start anything like that with SAndra. Have you actually seen him? You'll be glad to get the boiler in and be able to cook some meals. How are you managing at the moment? Have you got a microwave?

Hope those who need sleep get it tonight and that we hear from Frank soon.

Night night all X for Doggie.

Tuesday at 9pm channel 5 Our Yorkshire Farm.