General Chat

Its absolutely tipping it down here now and its gone very dark.

Morning all,

Quite bright when I got up but now it seems to be clouding over a bit and the sky has turned a sickly yellowy grey. Its 12 degrees and pc says rain starting soon so no change there then.

As to my cough and raw throat its no better really perhaps not coughing quite so much but eyes still running and still blowig my nose.

You've all been busy little bees with your cleaning of houses and cars. Today I think I may tackle the bedroom. It needs a good damp dust and a hooverand a sort out of the tiny things I keep in there for sale.

As to the antibiotics I read the lable wrong it said to take them with food and plenty of water. Not to take iron zinc or indiestion remedies 2 hours before or after taking them.

O Mandy I bet you were cross dropping the Pizza on the floor. If it was me the chickens would have had that the next day.

Annx nice clean car now then shame you got wet just before you finished.

Vera its surprising just how far you do walk going t different shops and back to the car.

As to the parcel deliveries they always take a picture of the parcel at the propert if they get no answer and leaving it behind the car they probable had the number plate in the picture for proof of delivery.

Good evening all

I had a few hours sleep last night and it makes such a difference. The only problem is that I woke up with terrible backache and I don’t know if it was the slow strolling I did yesterday or whether I lay awkwardly in bed. Still, it’s one of those pains that you somehow know is going to be fine in a day or two so nothing to worry about.

You seem to have been busy and got quite a lot done today AnnG. Yes, we do have a community transport system called GoStart which is, I think, open to anyone but is really designed for people who are old or infirm or live in an isolated spot. The drivers are all volunteers and do a good job but it can work out quite expensive. When it’s necessary for us to give up the car we will register with them and then at least use them for hospital visits etc. Daughter says she will drive us anywhere we want to go but I really can’t ask her to drive 25 miles to us just to take me shopping, and then drive 25 miles home again. We’ll just have to bite the bullet and pay out for taxis. Others manage so we will too.

Mel, I’m confused as well with the antibiotics and eating. Did you have a nice meal at Stu’s? We don’t seem to get many spiders indoors I’m pleased to say, although if I leave the conservatory door open during the day, everything seems to fly in. Next day I find the window sills full of dead flies, bees, ladybirds and often dragonflies. OH has been sorting the garage out recently and found we had a brand new magnetic mesh to put up so we can have the door open and let the air in without letting in all the bugs. Goodness knows where it came from. I can only think one of us won it in a raffle or got it as a Secret Santa gift at some time or other. It will definitely be going up next summer.

Gwyn, I am sure the school children will enjoy their trip to Colchester Zoo. We haven’t been for a few years but we always took the grandchildren when they were staying. It’s a longish drive for your pupils and I imagine their time there will be limited so they won’t be able to see all of it. Half of them will probably sleep on the way back as it can be quite a tiring day. We have a lovely photo of son’s 3 girls, then aged about 2,6 and 8, all fast asleep in the back of our car as we were driving back from a visit to the zoo.

Oh Mandy, fancy dropping the pizza on the floor. Was Max around? I bet he would have enjoyed a nice pizza, lol. Yes, I wondered if the small cygnet we saw had been “adopted”. Even so, it must have been a very late birth. As we walked along the river we saw other swans with cygnets but they were all well grown. We didn’t see another small one anywhere.

Annx, we find lots of delivery drivers are really bad. We’ve sometimes been in our lounge and seen them from the window. They walk up to the front door, put the parcel down and walk away without attempting to ring the doorbell. In December I had an email from a company from whom I had ordered a birthday present to be delivered to son. It said no-one was in so they had left it by the outbuilding. What outbuilding? They didn’t have one. I rang dil and she went on a hunt around the house and garden and eventually found it on a patch of gravel behind one of their cars.

Today I drove into town again, parked where we usually do and walked through town to the main surgery to deliver back my blood pressure diary, then walked round town again to the pharmacy where I collect my meds. The queue was out of the door so it was a bit of a wait for my turn but they did have my tabs ready for me. Then it was another walk back to the carpark. I checked my phone when I got back to the car and I’d walked 1.6 miles round town and only been to the doctors and the chemist. After lunch I put towels on to wash, and tackled the ironing. Not a good idea with backache but luckily there wasn’t too much this week.

We have a bit of excitement here tomorrow. The Princess of Wales is visiting the last silk mill in town before going on to another mill somewhere in Kent. There hasn’t been any publicity and I am wondering what the security will be like. The Mill is opposite Sainsbury’s and there is no other access to the shop except from the road running in front of it. There is no possible diversion and they can hardly shut the road as it will mean no access to the store or to their homes for the people who live along that road. We have our Thursday coffee meet in the coffee shop which is above Sainsbury’s so a couple of us have decided we will go as usual and see what happens. It could all be very low-key, of course.

I was going to answer a couple of emails as well tonight but as usual I have rabbitted on for too long and am feeling quite weary now. Time for a drink, another round of pills, a bit of tooth cleaning and a nice read in bed. Sleep well everyone.

Afternoon All,

Slept well and have been to my regular haunt (the chemist) to pick up meds and then to the shop for a few bits. OH was on an online meeting. I decided my car is long overdue a clean inside, so dusted the dash when I got home and emptied things out of the boot ready for taking it to the garage in the morning. After lunch I hoovered it out and took a bowl and cloth to wipe down. The heavens opened and I got stranded in the car with my back soaked till it blew over. I don't remember it being forecast either.

Oh yes, my first pet, a goldfish I called Goldie, was from the rag and bone man with his horse and cart when I was little. I was so excited when he handed me the polythene bag with a little orange fish swimming round. I had him about three years before he died and I buried him in the garden with a little cross to mark the spot.

AnnG I didn't understand what Mel meant about not having to have a lot to eat now the antibiotics are done either? You have been busy today getting up to date with things.

MandyI bet the blanket looks good now it is finished. I was wondering whether crocheting it together might leave raised ribs, so keeping it flat sounds better. Your granddaughters are lucky girls to have you make them for them.What a shame about the Pizza! We sometimes share one with some salad as it's nice. It's a good job you had some ham to replace it with.

What is it with these Amazon drivers! I had an email yesterday to say they hadn't delivered (I was home) as they couldn't access our drive and front door. I presume it was because of the narrow road with the roadworks people at the other end of the close although Evri managed alright and they could have parked up at the top of the close and walked with the lightweight parcel. They came again today after lunch while I was in the study which is next to and at right angles to the front door. They just left the parcel at the front of my car, didn't even ring the doorbell and haven't sent an email to say they have delivered it!

OH is at match with his friend. I wonder if he put his new cap on?

Stu's here top take me to his for dinner.

Well we got a few jobs done before the rain came late afternoon , as we had been busy we decided we would have a pizza with salad nice and easy, popped it in the oven and when it was cooked I got hold of the tin or I thought I had, the tin slipped and the pizza when on the floor ,no way could we eat it as although I had hoovered there was bound to be some of Max's hair on the floor plus germs so that went in the bin and we had ham salad .

join the clun Mel not being able to go where you want to. Hopefully you will solve that problem soo when you get another car. Is Stu actively looking?

Not sure what you mean by not having to eat a lot now you have finished the antibs don't you just eat normally all the time? Is your cough better after the antibs?

so far I have done the wash load and drying, tidies the lounge and dining room and conservatory and just had to do the floors and dust ready for tomorrow. I have also balanced the monthly bank accounts.

Lunch time now. Last night I had pasta with smoked salmon and mushrooms in a whhite sauce. For lunch there is a small piece of smoked salmon left. I don't need a lot as I had eggs on toast for breakfast quite late.

Emm took my up thye post van in the end but I could'nt bank my cheque cos I had put the wrong bank number in nd I don't know how I did that. Anyway he did'nt have any envelopes for the nat west so I still have to go up next week and get new envelopes and to bank the cheques. Its so annoying not having any transport to go where I want when I want and I cna't get hold of Stu today as I think he goes to the clinic today.

I have just had a good clean of the sink and the draining basket. I like it when the sinks all clean.

Where are all these spiders coming from?????? No sooner do I do all the windowsills than there are dehydrated dead bodies left out for me to clear up. Iv'e sucked up what I can see twice this week already.

Time for some lunch and I think its going to be soup today. Finished all the antibiotics so I don't have to eat a lot today.

Morning all,

No sun at the moment but I can see blue sky ,16 degrees and I think we might get to 21 but might get some rain later.

Ann I've sewn the squares together as I didn't ant a ridge ,just two sides to edge .
We had a lit of digging going on at the bottom of the road a couple of weeks ago ,there was three way traffic lights so it took ages to get out of the road .

Vera I wondered if the young one was from another nest and had been rejected .

Gwyn that's a quick school outing they haven't been back long ,I bet they all enjoy the zoo .
Dil said they hadn't had any little ones that have cried this year although she said a lot of them were there last July, they gradually add the new ones a few at a time .

I don't remember seeing a rag and bone man but we did have a chap to sharpen knives and scissors.

Had a good day getting jobs done yesterday , cleaned the kitchen window inside and out and had a good sweep up of all the rose petals ,gave all my pots a good watering and did some more dead heading ,my hanging baskets are getting a bit straggly now .
Not sure what we're doing today just having a cuppa and deciding.

I remember the rag and bone man coming round. He had one leg and used an old wooden crutch, when he got off his cart, which was pulled by a lovely horse.
I have no recall of monetary dealings, but know that sometimes Mum would give us a carrot to feed to the horse.
One day, the man noted that my sister was not with me to feed the horse and asked after her. We told him she was in the Infectious Diseases Hospital , because she had scarlet fever. He thought I might be lonely without her, so asked if I would like a baby rabbit and so Sandy, my new rabbit, became my responsibility for the next 8 years.

A dull day today, about 15 with heavy rain forecast, but as I don't have to go out, it won't effect me.
No school later this week either, as the children are going on a school trip to Colchester zoo.-quite a long journey, so I hope the traffic is OK that day.

Morning girls,

13 degrees here and pc says rain coming. Slept quite well up in the dark for the loo and then again at 6.15am went back to bed but just tossed and turned so I got up.

I have a friend coming this morning so I better get ready. am hoping he may take me down the post van as I have two cheques to bank and a parcel to post.

Good morning all. quite bright again today. 12 degrees so we are definitely getting autumnal weather.

Not sure what I am doing today. I have got a wash load in, so that is something done. Also need to wash my hair. Other than that, who knows. I can' work out if my leg is better rested than used, it seems different every day.

Vera, just checked and swans typically only have and raise one set of cygnets. I wonder if the small one has been rejected from another pair of swans?
Vera yes hang on to the car as long as you can but be honest with yourselves when it is time to give it up. Are there any campaigns to start a bus service in your area that is better than the one you have. And do age concern have a bus service in the area? I think they do in our area but I only see it when it calls in to a small culdesac on bungalows and flats for older people. I suppose that also has to be going where you want to go. The problem is that when you would like lifts to various places, friends are likely to be the same age with the same problems. The friends that usually give me problems are all younger than me (late 60s/70s) excepte one who is just in her 80s. But they all have active lives so not instantly available for me.

Ann I would miss my large airing cupboard I have to admit. although it could probably do with a clear out as it is also shelved and used for storing towels and bedding.

If we gave clothes to the rag and bone man we usually got a goldfish. I remember having one that lived for several years when I was little.

If we gave the rag and bone man things sometimes we would get a shilling and sometimes a goldfish!! Mum would also by cotton rags off him for dad as he was a painter anddecorater.

Evening everybody

It has been a beautiful day here; mostly sunny and warm but with a slight nip in the breeze. I should have been trying to get a bit more done in the garden as the forecast is for rain tomorrow and for the next few days but we spent the time doing other nice things. I had to go into town again so OH suggested he came too and we had lunch out. We went to a Turkish place we know and had a nice lunch but far too much of it. OH did manage to finish his but even he was struggling and I couldn’t possibly get through all mine.

When we came out the weather was so nice that I suggested a little stroll so we had a walk through the meadows by the river. It was so peaceful and we only met a couple of other people. We did see something that struck me as strange. It was a small swan family of the two parents and two cygnets but the odd thing was that one cygnet had not yet got the white plumage but otherwise was nearly as big as the parents. The other one was small and fluffy and only looked 3 or 4 weeks old They couldn’t possibly have been born at the same time. Do swans ever raise a second brood? I’ll have to do some googling. We should have taken a photo but didn’t think of it at the time. We walked just over 2 miles along by the river and back to the car. I get very frustrated as I expect most of you do. I still expect to stride out but my body no longer lets me walk very fast. Strolling slowly really pulls on my back muscle and is tiring.

AnnG, we are trying to hang on to the car for a while longer but I don’t think it will be long before we have to stop driving and then it will be a nightmare to get anywhere. I can’t even get a bus to the chiropodists which is no more than 1.5 miles away but there is a busy road to cross and there and back is a walk too far for me now. They are supposed to be improving the bus service but I haven’t seen signs of it yet. I hope you get to your blood tests without too much hassle tomorrow.

I have to go into town again tomorrow to take some information into the surgery and go to the pharmacy to pick up my script. When I can I try to only go once a week or the parking charges add up but sometimes we’ll have an appointment 3 or 4 days a week.

I’ve never seen a machine that takes your old clothes and gives you a little cash. It’s a sort of technological rag and bone man. I remember when I was little a chap used to come round with a horse and cart and occasionally my mother would give him some old clothes or bedding and be given a couple of cups and saucers in exchange.

You didn’t have to wait very long for your car tax refund Mel.

OH is calling so I’d better go and see what he wants. Have a good night’s sleep ladies.

Dull and raining here now just as I was going to go and corn the girls. Its been a miserable day all day not a little glimmer of the yellow stuff.

I have not seen one of those machines for clothes with payment Ann. Good isea though.

Yes the bus is to go from the bus stop about five minutes away to the one near the surgery. Not very far, only about 5 minutes by bus (as long as the lights are green. I used to walk down that way frequently about 5/6 years ago continuing on round part of the village and back again. In fact the last time I had a covid booster I did walk back as the bus was not due for ages. I think it would be painful to walk back now. So I will wait for the next bus. At least it is not school time, that bus does get crowded then.
I think I may have said it is not having to catch the bus, it is having to cross quite a busy road when I get off the bus. traffic regularly goes over the speed limit there and I don't move that fast these days. :-(

Shopping came and is all put away. I nearly sent the broccoli back as it is not at all fresh so I will have to cook it and put it in the freezer. This is the second time that its been really out of date and you can see by the cut stalks which are a greyish colour instead of green. Now we don't have sell by dates on a lot of things I think they get away with it if they can.

G's new shirt sounds nice Annx and a new cap too lets hope it stays on in the wind.

Posty just came and I had the refund on my car tax I got £125.41 back so that was good but the leccy bill came in today for £100 something.

Better get some lunch and take my last antibiotic.

Afternoon All,

I slept through till 6.00am which is unusual but then watched last night's Emmerdale. It's more like a chilling murder mystery at the moment so I didn't watch it last night. I got up at 8.00am and we went to a garden centre that does breakfast baps with three items so we both had egg and mushrooms and had beans with one and tomato with the other and we shared those between us. Half the store was fenced off to make room for all the Halloween stuff. My word I thought families were struggling to pay bills! It gets more elaborate every year. Elsewhere they were clearing space for Christmas decorations and already have cards on display. We looked in EM who have a sale and OH bought a new, tighter fitting cap for footie as his current cap blows off his head in the wind. :-D He also bought a nice, mainly plum coloured tartan patterned flannelette, long sleeved shirt for winter footie. It's a nice snug fit and much smaller than his other shirts which are all too big now, although he still wears them. I bought a pack of tipped art pens in shades of grey, blue and black that were reduced from £3 to £2 in the Works.

They are digging up the other side of our close now and have filled in and finished the channel one side.

How annoying my monthly phone top up has failed, no doubt as I have a new card now. Another of life's complications we never used to have to sort out.

No rain here today and the sun is shining just like yesterday. I sprayed the nasty weed round the back again as the last lot of rain has started new plants of the weed appearing.

AnnG I do miss my airing cupboard at my old house. My then OH built it and put extra shelves in it for me so I could order things in it better. No tank now so no airing cupboard, a chest of drawers instead.

I meant to say I saw something I've never seen before the other day in a carpark. It was a machine you could place any clothes in and it would weigh them and pay you 40p a kilo!

That sounded like a nasty storm you had Mel. I hate them especially at night time and wouldn't like the leccy going off.

Is it to your doctor's you need to catch the bus Anng to get a blood test? Ridiculous as it sounds, although our surgery is only a couple of miles away, to go by bus I would have to catch two buses, one into the city and then one out again to the next village. There's no service between the villages.

Better get the stirfry started, later lunch today with eating earlier.

Feeling fed up. Blood test on Friday and am going to have to get the bus as nobody is available to take me down. Just goes to prove, hang on to your cars as long as you can. A couple who have offered in the past are away and the three that are very good at taking me usually are all three otherwise occupied. Just have to hope that the bus runs ok and I don't miss it. Have to be at the bus stop for bus that should be there at 10.03. So will be a bit early but not too bad. Bus runs hourly.

Morning Anng and all,

Woke early for the loo and went back to bed but just lay there I could'nt drop off again so in the end I got up.

Its 15 degrees here but feels colder and the pc is telling me its raining now but its wrong.

Shopping comes today and no subs again so thats good.