General Chat

Very windy here too now and the trees are taking a bashing The stew was just as nice tonight and I have one to put in the freezer for next week.

Annx I have one of those metal scourers in the old pipe which used to do the shower before oh put the new one in. I also have one in the little loo where a pipe used to come in right in the corner.

That is an unusual name for a school Vera, but living in the area local people would be used to the name. Oh no fancy the mice coming back. I must say with crossed fingers that we haven't had a single one since replacing the up and over garage door with the roll down one. With the up and over we ended up putting a row of bricks along the small gap at the bottom of the door and an impressive half dozen mousetraps behind it. I still chuckle remembering the look on one or two workmen's faces when we lifted the door and told them not to turn up in open toed sandals when they came to do work. :-D Our up and over didn't fit that closely at the sides either and I suspect some smaller youngsters could get in there as they can climb up brickwork. We also stuffed a metal scouring pad in the gap in the mortar outside once we saw they were getting in there. We tried various baits over the years. They loved the grapes but were skillful enough to remove those without setting the traps off. They liked chocolate Nutella, but the very best bait that worked every time for us was peanut butter. I was always worried they'd chew the freezer or lighting cables. Now you've said, I must check nothing has tried to pull the metal scouring pad from the gap in the mortar outside as something seems to try and pull it out at times and we have to wedge it back tight with a screwdriver.

The wind's getting up outside now so I hope AnnG had a good journey.

If you can put your index finger in a hole or under something a mouse can get in. Vera what about buying a length of wood to put along the garage sorr with a brick behind it. That should stop the little blighters getting in and nows the time they start to look for dry and warm places for the winter. I always have to put rat bait down in the garage but I have never known where they get in unless they climb up and through the top where theres no wood. I usually have a bait box down with grain poison in and I buy the tablet blocks from is it nippon at asda. They are cheaper than Mole Valley.

John who cooked the lamb dinner last week is a builder who is gong toplaster the walls so maybe Stu will cook the roast. He went of to Lidl after I fed him last night. He also went off with 4 of my dads dustsheets so John would'nt have to bring those with him. I had them stowed away in the uti room after washing them all the other year. Hope they come back clean and not covered in lumps of plaster.

Well I have not done a thing today except feed the chickens and fish. Now I am going to have another nice stew for dinner and I think there may be some for the freezer too but I shall take all the carrot out.

It's been raining here all day just that heavy drizzle this morning and after lunch, but it seems to have got heavier now and its been quite windy , I should think there will be some flooded roads .

Ann I didn't have the spring covid jab like Colin did but did have the autumn one last year ,I just checked and we both had it on 6th November ,I think last year they started off with it being for the over 75's then dropped it to over 70's.
Why didn't the chap just ask for something to wipe the tops with instead of just grabbing your towel ,men .

Oh Mel I wonder what he will cook this week and if you'll get another doggie bag for the next day.

Oh no Vera not another mouse just as you thought you'd seen the last of them too ,little blighters can flatten themselves and squeeze through anything .
We have a rat box with bait in down by the side of our shed and Colin checked it the other day and the bait had gone, don't know if that is rats or mice taking it ,we use to just put it out over the winter but we've had it out all through the summer .

Hope Anng arrived OK and the rain and traffic wasn't to bad .

You posted while I was typing Annx. I had to smile as my first English lesson at secondary school was learning where to put the apostrophes in the school name, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Girls’ Grammar School. Before anyone asks I didn’t go to a private school. This one was a state school.

I did the ironing this morning and a few other jobs and then had a shouting match with OH. That’s unusual for us but it was soon made up so all is well again :-)

We are not happy bunnies as there was a mouse in the trap in the garage again. We caught 5 several weeks ago but haven’t seen any since then. OH had every cupboard out from the wall and filled every possible gap so we think they have to be coming under the up and over door and there has to be a tiny gap there or it will scrape the ground. Half the garage is effectively our shed and there is a lot of stuff stored there. I pointed out to OH that we never had mice till our last cat died, hoping he might say we will get a cat again but I know he’s not keen.

Anyway I couldn’t go in the garden so after lunch I spent a couple of hours in the garage. When OH moved some units to block some holes up he took a lot of gardening stuff off the shelves and then just shoved it all back again. Stuff we use all the time was at the back and stuff we use once in a blue moon was at the front so I had a good sort out. I got rid of 3 empty spray bottle of things like fungicide and a large box of lawn seed. We haven’t had any grass since 2014! Why did we have 2 half jars of rose and shrub fertiliser? They are now combined in one jar. Having sorted that out I potted up another 3 argyranthemum cuttings that had developed good roots in water. I only took 4 each of yellow and pink bloomed plants. All 4 pink are now potted up and look good. 1 yellow has done nothing, 2 have got weak roots so I’ve left them in the water and 1 is potted up. At least I feel I’ve done something today.

Your stew sounded good Mel. I agree with you about frozen carrots. It will be good to have Sunday dinner cooked for you again. I wonder if it will be another roast?

Talking about food has got me thinking what to do with the cod I took from the freezer this morning. I might bake it with some sort of tomato sauce. I'd better go and check what veg I have in the fridge and peel a few potatoes.

Afternoon All,

An early start for me at 7.00am to be showered and ready for the new blind and rails to be fitted. The fitter was due this morning but didn't arrive till this afternoon, so I was twiddling my thumbs all morning. The blind and rails are fitted now, but there are two chips in the paint so it's good it will be redecorated. He also seemed to have wet the handtowel in the ensuite and wiped the tops of the cupboards in the bay window with it, but left them gritty. I've replaced the towel and put it to dry in the conservatory. Men do some odd things! The rails and blind are perfect though and he hung the curtains back up for me as well.

It was dry here most of the morning although the ground was wet, so hopefully AnnG got away ahead of the rain for the start of her journey.

Vera, I know my english has gone downhill a bit since I was at school, but I think we are still better than a lot you see written almost in text speak by young people. I remember with our school name being Alderman Newton's Girls' Grammar School it was our first tester of 'apostrophe position' our English teacher was most particular we got right! It's funny the things you never forget. I'm still unsure about booking the painting course, as I expect the bathroom refit will be being done some of the time and even though the lessons are just a couple of hours, I will be doing the paintings the other days when there will probably be a lot of noise and disruption getting drinks and discussing the work. I have a day or two to think about it and might find out when the bathroom fitter will be free next before I decide as it is usually a few months ahead.

About the jabs, OH is 72 and was refused due to being under age 75. For the same reason he couldn't have the spring booster jab this year either. Can you remember whether you had yours then Mandy?

It's been pouring with rain for a while now and the blocked gutter by the front door means I got soaked locking the door. I must ring someone next week to get the gutters cleaned. I'd thought OH said he was going to ring someone.

I'm not as good on steps now either Mel as my knees don't like them so I use a step stool and hang onto things like walls and furniture! I bet John will cook something nice on Sunday. Let's hope the plastering will last over another Sunday! So are the old and new mowers the same sort?

Well I'd better start looking at more curtains online for in here now there is a rail.

Morning girls,

Very late on parade this morning and I got up twice in the night and the last time was 7.43am and I thought I would have a lie in and fell asleep again till 11.9am. You could say I too had a good sleep last night.

I'm pleased the man can match your wardrobes Annx and it will be much better having them smaller so you can reach the windows better. I have to stand on my step thing to reach the top of my bedroom windows as I can't move the heavy furniture. I'm not too good on the small steps anymore with bad knees and hips too.

Its good you had a good night Vera it makes you want to get on with thing even though its raining as it is here. Shame you can't get in the garden though on one of your good days.

Anng that bus coming along at just the right time saved you a walk back from the hairdressers yesterday. I do hope you have a safe journey tomorrow and enjoy your trip away.

As to the flu and covid jabs Iv'e not heard anything from my docs yet perhaps I should give them a ring to see. I often wonder if they go by surname initials and as I am well down the alpherbet they hav'nt come to me yet. We always used to go in together and have them done at the same time but oh being diabetic always had them even though he was under the 70 years.

Now someone asked me what I did for dinner with Stu last night, I think it was Vera. I did a big beef stew with dumplings. I put carrots, leeks and onion, butterbeans and mushrooms in it and did new pots to go with it. I have enough over for myself for tonight and maybe a bit for the freezer if I take all the carrot out as I don't like frozen cooked carrot as it goes all soggy.

Well I can't stay here chatting all morning as I am now all behind with regular jobs, (feeding the chickens and fish and washing up).

BIL did say he may come over the weekend to sort the mower out. He's sent the new one off now so we have the old one back with its new boots on it and its a bit hard to tall them apart now.

O by the way I have been asked to Stu's for dinner on Sunday again this week as the lads will be there again as John who cooked our lovely lamb roast last week is plastering some walls in Stu's house to make a study for his daughter who is an accountant and is going to take on some private work. I wonder what it will be this week?

Oh yes it does Vera ,well I shall have to ask about that when we go for our flu jab ,it never said anything about it being for the over 75's on the board and the
receptionist never asked my age ,she must have thought I looked over 75. :-S

That’s odd Mandy as the NHS/Gov. sites say the vaccine is for 75 and over unless you are immunosuppressed. I think it was over 70 last year so maybe your surgery haven’t caught up with the new criteria yet. If the jab is offered, take it.

Morning Vera ,morning all,

Dreary old morning here and raining so I think I'll go through with the hoover too Vera ,you had a good night for a change and I had a terrible one woke about two and was stil awake at four o'clock.

Anng it can't be just the over 75's getting covid jabs ,I'm getting mine and I'm 70 ,I think they lowered it last winter .

Up late this morning so just having a cup of tea . :-D

Good morning

I slept well last night for a change and feel I could have managed a stint in the garden today but, as forecast, it’s wet and miserable. It looks as though tomorrow will be similar before turning windy on Sunday. I don’t think we will be going out anywhere this weekend. Perhaps I will manage to catch up on some h/w. The house could do with a good vacuum round.

Stay dry and have a good day everyone.

Thanks, I think it is going to be a wet journey which will slow us down it is normally not that lon a journey. I am having to adjust to being in the back of a different car, we only went a short way today and the ride is different so fingers crossed.

Good that the bedroom man has found a match for you. Yes everything is getting much more expensive.
Good too that your OH seems to be improving. I a, sure his daily walks will be doing him good.

Yes, that is right, Covid jabs are only for over 75 year olds. And even vulnerable people don’t seem to be being given them. Daughter got all of them in the past because of her diabetes.

The bus coming along just then was handy AnnG. Good timing with your hairdressing appointment. It does look as though you might have a wet drive tomorrow. It looks as though it might get worse as the day goes on so it might be a good idea to get away as early as possible, though I think you usually do make an early start. I hope the drive isn't too stressful for whoever is at the wheel.

Mandy, I think my funny turn was more worrying for OH and daughter than for me. With my odd sense of humour all I kept thinking was that I hoped the wind wouldn't change or I might stay like that, which is what my mum used to say if I pulled a face when she asked me to do something. In fact I'm a bit achy today but otherwise I'm walking normally and my brain has "unfogged" itself. It's good that your jabs are booked now. Ours are on Saturday week as well but we have both at the same time.

What did you cook for Stu this week Mel and how are you getting on with the new car?

It's good that your bedroom furniture man could match the wood of your wardrobes. It will look great when it's all finished. I'm so pleased you are on that landscape painting course. I always enjoy seeing your pictures and now we can look forward to seeing more in the New Year.

This afternoon I've been sorting out some papers, getting rid of some and filing others and also reading a long application for a licence to sell alcohol and sending a carefully worded email to the council about it. I think I told you that there had been a little general store on the corner of the cul-de-sac that our cul-de-sac turns into. My old English teacher would be tearing her hair out at that sentence construction! This shop closed a few years ago and has been empty ever since. Now it has been bought and it looks as though the plan is to re-open it as an off-licence, open from 6 am to 11 pm 7 days a week.. For various reasons I don't want to register a formal objection but I do have a number of concerns and want to bring them to the attention of the licensing department so I have been taking my time to get the wording right. I doubt if it will have any effect but you never know.

I sent my email off late this afternoon but my faith in our council's abilities sunk even lower than usual when I got an automated response telling me that the licensing department would not be available until 30th September. If they haven't even got the nous to update their own automated response, what hope have I got that anyone will even read my email?

I'm getting a bit tired now so I think I shall get myself into my jim jams and find something good to watch on iPlayer. Sleep tight everyone.

Yes Mel I posted yesterday , shopping all done , no I didn't find any bargains but I did buy a tin of shortbread to put away for Christmas last week I bought a box of chocolate biscuits.
We called In to the doctors as it was time for Colins annual review so I nipped in to book that which will be December and while I waited in the queue I saw they had a board out saying they are now booking the flu and covid jabs so I booked ours in ,flu jab Saturday week and covid two weeks later, I did notice that have taken lots of the chairs from the waiting room so they can't be seeing that many patients, not many sitting in the waiting room this morning either .

Ann thats good the chap can do a good match with the wardrobes and it will be easier for you to reach the window ,I find stretching now can give me a pain in my side ,I had that the other day and I was only going through my tin cupboard to see what I needed and check dates on the tins..

That was good the bus came along just as you were ready to go home Anng ,safe journey tomorrow.

Evening All,

I slept well after having a paracetamol and nipped to the shop first thing for as few bits. OH is having to record lying down and standing BP checks for a few days now, but his gp thinks his dizziness is nerves trapping. The checks we've done the last few days seem fine which is good. He is enjoying his walks across the field again now the cows have gone and watching the squirrels collecting acorns in the Oak trees along the edge.

This afternoon the bedroom furniture man came and he had a good match for the wardrobes so I'm going to go ahead and have the deep cupboards and window seat removed and some shallower cupboards put across the square bay window to make it eassier for me to reach the window. I gulped a bit when he told me the cost, but it would cost a lot more to have had to renew the wardrobes and drawers as well and as we are all finding prices will only keep going up.

I had tried to contact the art teacher from the courses I did, but got no reply to my emails and was going to message him on FB instead, but today I happened to check my spam emails and an email from him today had gone in there so it was a good job I happened to look. He's had trouble with his email domain blocking emails the past month but it's fixed now and hes' put my name down for the landscape course after Christmas. I'd better see if I can remember how to paint now as it's been so long!

AnnG that was lucky the bus arrived just in time for you and to save you the walk! I hope you have a good journey tomorrow and that the weather isn't too bad. It suggests it will be light rain here.

I'm glad your legs seem to be improving Vera and that you managed to pop out and do your errand. You'll just have to be a bit careful for a day or two and with stairs.

Mandy and Mel I kept forgetting about my arms when I turned over in bed and they certainly felt as if they were bruised then. They aren't too bad today and it's just when I lift them to shoulder height I feel it. Yes, I had a jab in each arm like last time. There's quite a mark where the flu one was done, but I can't see where they did the covid one. I thought OH might get both, but he is too young and obviously not considered vulnerable enough so just had the flu jab.

Went to the local garden centre for coffee and bought a couple of small things for Christmas presents then I had my hair cut and came out just in time to hop on the bus that would save me walking all the way home.

BIL is here and mowing so I just raked all the leaves off the top decking by the ponds and he has mowed them all up. They are falling all the time now so I suppose I shall have to do it all again later on.

Morning girls,

Bit cloudy at present but its dry and 12 degrees.

I too wish you a safe journey Anng if I don't get back on here as I have lots to do today with Stu coming to dinner toni8ght I need a good tidy round and a hoover and I have to do the meal too.

Annx hope you arms feel better today and its started to ease up now.

Mandy Did we see you yesterday? Hope the shopping goes well and you find some bargains.

Morning all,

Cloudy here but I think it should be brighter later ,shopping day and we have one or two other places to go too so a busy morning.

Vera I'm glad your beginning to feel better after that funny turn it must have a bit worrying for you , have a nice rest today after your trip out to the coffee meet.

Ann I hope your arms not to achey after your jab ,did you have both covid and flu jabs .

Anng if I'm not on later have a safe journey tomorrow and a nice break away with your family .

Better get ready to go shopping.