General Chat

25 degrees here. Just back from the U3a meeting.
It was quite warm and it was quite a long talk that would have been better if it was about half the length as it was interesting and, because it was a lot to cover, it was a bit rushed at the end.

It was called royal Gloucester and was how Royalty were/are connected to Gloucester and the kings buried in gloucester. Trouble is there was so much information that I didn't absorb much of it. Nice to see a lot of friends there anyway.

We have had a little rain this morning and into lunch time and the sky is grey and no wind.

Cooked some veg for the freezer this morning and so I should have enough for three days and for when Stu comes. Not herd from him so I should'nt think he will come tonight but maybe tomorrow. Its very warm but supposed to be only 19 degrees but feels a lot hotter. Must be humid after the rain.

Done a bit of tidying around the kitchen and diner and chased the female pheasent off the decking many times. I bet now I have come in she's back again and won't go till I corn the chickens when she gets her bit.

For those of you who know they have hedgehogs about please put out a shllow dish of water when its so very dry. If you do put food out for hogs make sure its only chicken or fresh meat definately NO pork or fish.

Morning all just,

Fell sleep again after a visit to the loo, I thought I would just lay for a few minutes and then get up, bad move woke at 10.45am after a strange dream about fish getting out of the pond and next doors hubby buying a big fish aznd leaving it in a poly bag in the garden and not in the pond. Needless to say it died and he threw it over the field.

I don't know yet if Stu is coming today or tomorrow if at all as his girls dad is in hosp with cancer and he's had covid while in there.

I think I my have a parcel arriving today so better get myself together.

As to shell fish I did try one of oh's mussles once but did'nt really like it and it was a garlic one thats the only thing I tried it for as I like garlic. Don't even like fish pie but used to make it for oh.

Good morning all. sunny and 13 degrees here, hope it will stay cooler today.

We were lucky with the weather yesterday. It rained while we were travelling to Gretton but stopped while we had lunch. (I had flatbread with parma ham, garlic and mozarella cheese, it was served with leaves and balsamic vinegar, very tasty. And it didn't rain all the time we were walking round the very large garden that is kept natural with a large lawn and beds leading out to wilder areas, lots of little touches, mirrors, obelisks and old small buildings turned into places to sit. It is a very old big house, apparently bought a few years ago by a couple, when it was in a bad state and the garden left to go wild covered in brambles etc. Obviously it has suffered as all our gardens have, with the lack of rain so not really any flowers to admire but lovely to wander round. After tea and cake, as we left, the rain started again really heavy there. when we got home we had just had a bit of drizzle. so still no real rain to soak the garden.And looks like no rain overnight either. so, back to watering again.

Mel, I remember reading now that Lythrum is a good plant for pond margins. It also said that in winter it looks like dead twigs but ours just disappears totally. I make the most of the flowers while they have a bit of colour but cut the spikes off as soon as they are finished so that they don't self seed everywhere. I wonder if I could try collecting some seed. I might need your advice on the best way to do that Mel.

Your crab sounds delicious Mandy. I wish I could eat it. I see Mel and Annx don't eat shellfish either. Is that because you don't like or fancy it or are you like me and become very ill if you have even a tiny bit? I'm not sure whether my problem is classed as an intolerence or an allergy but within an hour or two of eating even the tiniest bit I get violent stomach cramps and then start being sick and it can last several hours. I love fish pie and pubs often have it on the menu and I'll ask if there is any shellfish in it. Last time I asked the chef came out to speak to me. He said there was no shellfish in his pie and he explained how they made sure shellfish and other fish were prepared in different areas but advised me not to risk it as he couldn't guarantee what happened at the fish merchants before he bought the fish. A lot of Chinese or Thai style dishes contain fish sauce which is made from shellfish so I have to read menus very carefully. Oh well, it's just an irritant for me. It must be 100 times worse for people who can't have eggs or wheat or other everyday things.

We've had a bit of drizzle and one fairly heavy shower tonight but it hardly wet the ground. I'm hoping we might get some more rain during he night. We are in bad need of it. I'm off to my bed now and will either watch something on iPlayer or read for a while. Sleep well ladies.

Mel I have answered your email. I have been looking on the auction site near here that's on the way to the shop. It's held in the sheds of what was the mushroom farm mum and I would visit once I learned to drive. They would pick your mushrooms while you waited and they were so delicious! I'm thinking we might be able to sell off some of the things in the garage especially heavy things we can't carry now as they will collect. OH would get someone to take everything to the tip, but there are new drills, a sawbench, motor etc and it would be good to make a bit of money from them. I must ring them and get more details.

I bet you enjoyed your crab Mandy and so would OH, but I'm another who doesn't eat things that have shells. You've brought back a memory of when Jane and I had lunches with Fitz and he used to love mussles and other seafood and neither of us could fancy them.

I'd better get to bed. I was hoping for a lie in for a while, but just remembered I need to be up early as the man is coming for the skip. Hope we all sleep tight till morning without having to get up too often.

What a twonk I should have known that plant Vera as I had it as a pond plant and it grew all over the top garden never did manage to get it in the border too dry for it I think.

Wehad a couple of showers this monring then the sun came out in the afternoon but now its started to come over grey again. The winds been awful very gusty and blowing leves off the trees. Ruth came round for more flowers so that was good and another £3.50 in the kitty.

I have done some miniatures this morning putting together mushrooms and carrots on metal plates. started anothe barrel lid and done a joint (not made by me) on a plate but I had to give it a little paint first, it'll do for a Tudor feast. Hand is just starting to itch again.

I have done the big pond filter and will do my pond tomorrow but I did give it some water as with this hot weather and now the wind a lot of the water evaporates.

ANNX I messaged you.

Glad you enjoyed your crab Mandy. Not something I would eat give me a nice bit of tasty ham any day. Like you Vera I don't eat any shellfish. I shall have to have alook for a Lythiam round here as it is so lovely and would look nice on the patio in a pot.

We've felt weary too Ann but I think its the heat that has made us feel like that, so nice to have a cooler day and some rain .
No pork and tomato sausages ,Jake said they make fourteen different sausages and rotate which ones they make each week , he's going to bring me a tray down when they next make them .
The crab was lovely Colin had his in a sandwich and I had mine on some crackers.

The rain has stopped now but there's still grey clouds about ,I think tomorrow should be a wet day .

Afternoon All,

I slept well last night, but we both feel weary today and I think the past week has caught up with us. We were up and showered early though and went to Hinckley to another blind place we have used before to pick a blind for the ensuite. I have chosen a blackout one with a pale fern pattern. They can't measure up till the 15th August and then there will be a four week wait till it's made and fitted, but I expect it is a busy time. We were close by so popped into Morrisons for poached eggs on toast, then we dumped a pile of newspapers in their recycling bins as ours is full.

We have had three, short, sharp showers but the wind has dropped and stopped blowing stuff out of the skip. We went out with our gloves on and put some bits out of the garage like carpet offcuts in the skip and some of the pile of sandstone rocks that have split. I had to stop OH, as he started lifting the bigger ones. I know he would like to have put the lot in, but he's glad he stopped now as his back and neck started hurting afterwards. After lunch I managed to cut some plastic drawer liner to fit the shelves of the new cabinets and I've wiped them out.

I hope it's stayed dry for your outing AnnG and it's good you slept well last night.

Yes it is Will's 90th birthday today. I sent him a card. How wonderful that he still writes and illustrates his own poetry most days. Long may he continue to do so! :-

<3 <3

Perhaps yopur hand has started to improve then now Mel, but the itching must drive you mad. An antihystamine tablet might help. I hope the small scourers do the trick for you.

Thanks for mentioning The Sewing Bee Mandy as I really enjoy seeing what they make each week. Did you get a crab and those pork and tomato sausages sounded nice too.

I've not seen that plant before Vera but it sounds like a good one to put between shrubs abd other perennials. Oh that poor man having a mini stroke now with everything else he is having to deal with as well. He must be under a lot of stress.

Really enjoyed our crab at lunch time went down a treat .
We have a nice steady rain now the plants will love it but so will the weeds .

It was a more comfortable temperature last night but I couldn’t seem to settle down and got up again at 1.30 am, made a cup of tea and read for a couple of hours. I was still up by 7.30 but am feeling droopy and headachey this morning. We are promised rain later but at the moment it’s bright sunshine.

OH rang the handyman we’ve been using lately to see if he would be interested in painting the fence round our property. Otherwise OH will do it himself as he always has in the past. In the past few months this poor man has had to deal with a heart problem of his own, illness and death of his mil and dealing with her property etc and the terminal illness of his bil. Now he has apparently had a mini stroke. He has recovered and says he would love to paint our fence but he isn’t allowed to drive till 4 August so he is coming to have a look and give us a price then.

Enjoy your garden trip and pub lunch AnnG. Fingers crossed that the rain holds off while you are looking round the garden.

I hope you get your crab Mandy. Enjoy it. As I can’t eat any shellfish poor OH misses out though he’ll occasionally have mussels or something with prawns if we eat out

Keep an eye on that horsefly bite Mel. It sounds quite nasty. My agapanthus seem to thrive on neglect. I never feed them apart from a bit of fresh compost in the top once a year. I leave them outside in the winter but I cover them with a bit of fleece till the worst of the frosts are over. That pink plant you asked about in your email is Lythrum. It seems to be hardy. It dies right down in winter and I have to put a marker in the ground to show where it is because when it starts to come through again in spring it’s very easy to mistake it for a weed and pull it up.

I’ve done nothing yet this morning so I’d better go and tackle a couple of jobs before lunch. Sainsbury’s are coming between 2 and 3 pm. 1 sub and 1 thing not available and a bill that gets more expensive every month!

Raining grey and very windy.

We have had a shower here but it didn't last long and hardly wet the ground. better than nothing of course.

Not sure that an umberella would be any good Mel as it is windy. Might just have to get wet.

<3 <3 A very Happy Birthday William hope you enjoy your day <3 <3

Wow its come over very grey suddenly and the winds high so I think we are going to get some rain.

I forgot to say its William's birthday today so a very big

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL if you look in. <3 <3 <3 xxx

Its also St Swithan's day so if it rains today we may get rain for 40 days and 40 nights!! then we will be moaning about it being wet.

Morning Anng and all,

Quite bright here this morning and its 16 degree pc is telling me rain in 1.5 hours time so better take your brolly again Anng. Do have a lovely day out even if it does rain a little I am sure you will enjoy your lunch out.

Hand is itching like crazy this morning but there's not as much swelling as I would have thought but three fingers now ache like billyo but index not too bad.

I really need to do both pond filter today. I have been putting it off as there has'nt been that much in the well to top them up fully. I try to save it for the big pond and the koi so my goldfish get tap water now and again. I would welcome some showers and maybe the well will get topped up.

Yes Vera Agapanthas are lovely. Mine hav'nt done as well this year. I have to put mine in the shed in the winter as I nearly lost a whole pot ful one year. It only had one roset of leaves left. This year it has two and two flowers. I never feed them either so must try that now too.

Went to Holsworthy yesterday for chicken food and potting compost. Bought four more little key ring labels in the hardware shop and some pretty coloured scourers in pink, lilac yellow and apricot. I wanted them for the big pond filter as the brush I have for it dos'nt go up the bit where the water comes in and it get a blck ring round it but these little pads should get up there great. I got the pellets and corn for the chickens and two sack of compost and a bag of potting grit all put in the back of the car for me by a very willowy girl. It reminded me of when I had the pet shop and lugged the sacks around myself.

Morning Anng, morning all,

Nice bright morning but a bit fresh when I opened the door to let Max out earlier but it's a nice change to have it a bit cooler ,it should warm up again later in the week .

New series of the Sewing bee tonight so something to watch after all the tennis but there's still football matches this week .

Better get on as we want to go into town and finally fingers crossed get a crab .,what's the bet he's on holiday this week.

good morning all. 14 degrees, very dull and still no rain. It was much cooler overnight and I slept well from 11pm to 5am. Still only had a sheet over me though. Going to visit a garden in Gretton Gloucestershire. (near Winchcombe) with lunch at the local pub. Being picked up at 12 o'clock.

After knowing what to wear in all the heat it is now a bit more difficult. It could also rain.