General Chat

Yes I dragged myself outside and got a humper, secateurs and a trowel Vera. I trimmed and tidied the shrub I asked OH to leave in the top border, the orange potentilla. Then I did a bit of weeding and then tackled a varietated Euonymus that was hanging 18 inches over it's rock edge and onto a potted hosta. There's still more of it to cut back, but my humper was full, so I called it a day. The garden bin is full now ready for Tuesday's collection and OH has a sack of trimmings and pile of prunings to cut down ready for the next collection. Ouch! I bet that hurt your toe! I am always catching mine on the castors under the edge of the bed. You'd think they were well out of the way wouldn't you. I've had that sort of trouble with Amazon recently too when trying to arrange a collection. It seems to assume delivery arrangements from the past and just asks for payment. I have thought the arrangements must be on the next page, so clicked to pay and then found it's already assumed delivery. Sometimes by trying to make things easier for us they seem to make them harder! They can't leave things be that have worked well!

Your tea sounded lovely and plenty of it AnnG and Waddeson Manor has been on my list some time too. It is a very grand and huge place isn't it and the flowers and trees would be looking so fresh with the new foliage. You have had a good week, as you say and I hope you have a good journey home tomorrow.

Oh dear Mel sometimes BiL seems to try and do things too quickly. A bit of a liability.

It was a beautiful warm sunny day. We drove to Waddesdon Manor, there were a lot of people there families picnicking and enjoying the sun. Children playing, some rolling down a grass t slope, so lovely to see.
The flowers were beautiful and the trees with their young leaves green and vibrant. After sitting in the sun and wandering around taking photos we had a lovely cream tea, first a plate of savouries each and then a scone with jam and cream, and then a plate of little cakes. And as many cups of tea as we wanted and. It was quite sad as we walked to the bus to return us to the car park as I knew this was the end of my lovely week with Stephen, Jay and Sophie.

We have been so lucky with the weather.

Your bil is so helpful to you Mel but he does seem to be a bit of a liability Your mower always seems to need repairing after he has used it.

I hope your cream tea was tasty AnnG and you enjoyed the trip. Safe journey home tomorrow.

Did you manage to do a short stint in the garden Annx? I got out to the garden while our Sunday lunch was cooking and managed to do another couple of jobs. I also pointed out to OH that he should cut down 3 tall grasses we have thinking that would keep him busy for a little while but he just whizzed across them with an electric cutter thing and was finished in about 10 minutes.

After we had finished eating and had cleared up I showered and washed and dried my hair then came on the computer to order a birthday present for a friend from Amazon. I had a code to put in for £3 off if I collected it from one of their parcel collection places and I knew I had collected from our local PO once before. Could I work out how to arrange this? Could I heck. There was nowhere to say where I wanted to collect it from or anywhere to put in the relevant code. After a lot of googling and going into different bits of Amazon I discovered I was set up with the PO as my preferred collection point so ticked that only to get a message telling me that the PO wasn't available any longer. So more hunting around and I found a local Co-op I could use and got that entered, only to get another message telling me that the company I was buying from didn't deliver to collection points. Why couldn't ihe site have said that in the first place? So a job that should have taken me 5 minutes took me over an hour and I couldn't use the £3 off that I had been given.

Right I must go and get in my cuttings and overwintering plants that I am putting out during the day to harden off. It's supposed to get quite cold tonight.

Oh, a word of advice. Do not try to walk through a doorway while you are still swinging the door open. I did and crashed the door straight into my foot. Just call me Mrs Blue Toes ;-)

BIL came I heard him mowing so knew he would be down later. I forgot to tell him he lost ALL my bookmarks for me so I could'nt make him a cake. He always talks the hind legs off a donkey and its hard to get a word in edgeways. Anyway he went out to mw my back lawn round my pond and what did he do????? ran over the old leccy fencing and got it wrapped around the mower blades. Got off the mower and yanked at it to which it broke off got abck on the mower started it up and put the blades into motion and there was a terrible noise. So he has to come next week now and take the deck off again and see if he can untangle it as by this time it was time to go and pick the wife up from Barnstaple.

I did manage to get the piece of metal out of my loppers by undoing a nut on the side so shall have to remember that for future ref.

Now I have come in for a drink and to take my pills as I was pond dipping.

Afternoon All,

Sun's out so I might do a little in the garden after posting this. OH has walked up to the village this morning and did a little weeding while I got lunch. We had the Sainsbury's ready cooked lamb shoulder today, but it didn't have as much flavour as the Asda lamb shanks. I also bought their lamb shanks to try, so will see if they are better. We had red onions, purple sprouting broc, red cabbage, parsnip, carrots and green beans and mashed potato with it. There's veg left over and I think I have a bought pasta in a sauce that needs eating up so tomorrow I could use that with the veg mixed in for a quick lunch. I've also got the slow cooker going with pork steaks and a casserole mix of veg, enough for two days, so I might freeze half.

What a poor night Vera with your dancing legs! You must feel worn out, so it's no wonder your brain isn't functioning as it should. We both laughed at your and Mandy's comments about my potential appearance on TV crime progs after my experience with the new shop tills. I think I am so used to OH usually paying while I pack when he comes with me that my mind was elsewhere!

I see no-one slept well last night, but I had a better night than usual. What I have noticed is that with still feeling tired like this morning, that it isn't tiredness that makes me yawn like lack of sleep so much as body weariness. :-S Maybe the hay fever tablets need a few more days to work properly.

Mandy, could you sprinkle salt on those weeds where people come through with the dogs?

I hope you enjoy your visit to the NT property and enjoy a nice cream tea AnnG. The week has gone quickly but the weather has been good for you. It's good you got mostly packed up ready for the journey tomorrow before going out too. You won't have it to do after your day out then.

I hope the achey arms improve today and I'd better go and do a short stint in the garden now. I think OH is watching sport on the tv. BBL

O I had a very achey arm last night but its a bit better today. :-)

Morning girls,

A beautiful day here and at the mo its 11 degrees. I had a dreadful night. I awoke for the loo when it was still very dark and did'nt look at my phone for the time as I sometimes think that keeps me awake. Anyway I lay there and I could hear my heart beating and did this till it was well light. Got up for another visit to the bathroom and this time I looked at my phone it was 7.35 so I thought I would have a liein as it was quite cold in here. Fell asleep did'nt I !! woke at 10 15am so I did get enough sleep I suppose but did I ache.

Mandy there are weed killers that don't affect dogs, cats or animals.

Vera glad you had some sleep and Anng safe journey home tomorrow and enjoy your last NT garden and cream tea. :-D

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Suns out and it should be another nice day so hopefully we can do a bit more weeding ,we've been weeding along our wall on the footpath ,we can't use any weed killer as people walk through with dogs .

Anng that week has soon gone ,enjoy your cream tea this afternoon an safe journey home tomorrow.

Oh dear Vera ikow what its like having those fidgety legs ,even the tablets I take for it doesn't always help ,hope last night's sleep was a better one for you. Oh see it was ,I missed your post until I now looked back after posting .
Oh yes I remember now Gwyn did say she might not be on because of the Internet .

Good morning all. Last day today, yes Vera home tomorrow. Lovely sun here at the moment, very quiet, granddaughter has been up and gone to help her friend paint her room. Others are still in bed as not going out until eleven. Going to another NT place with a cream tea this afternoon.

I didn’t sleep well but did get some sleep so feel ok. I was up early so used the time to sort my stuff out.

Good morning ladies

It’s bright and sunny this morning and 6 degrees at the moment. I got some sleep last night so I’m happier today. I hope you have all had a good night. I’ve got a roast beef dinner to cook but no other plans so it will be a pottering about sort of day.. I’ll probably pot roast the beef. It keeps small joints more moist and tender than traditional roasting. We were both up early this morning and OH was out for his walk by 7,45. He’s usually about 40 minutes so he’ll be back soon.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

Well I paid for my really good night by literally sleeping for 1 hour last night. Every time I started to doze off the RLS started up again and my legs were jumping all over the place. I'd get up, walk about till it eased, go back to bed and it would start all over again. I went to bed for a couple of hours this afternoon but the same thing was happening. I've been fit for nothing today as you can imagine. I haven't done anything much but slob about. I've also done stupid things, like put the salt and pepper in the fridge and the butter in a cupboard and let our smoked cod dry out by cooking it for twice as long as usual. My head is all over the place. I am going to bed soon and hope I sleep through sheer exhaustion. That's enough of my moaning.

Dear me Annx, what are you like? I'm expecting to see a wanted poster showing your face on Crimewatch soon, but it's easy to forget the process on the self-service tills particularly if something has flustered you. It certainly sounds as though you could make a little money with your vintage clothes. Unfortunately mine aren't so much vintage as plain old ;-)

You have had a little shopping spree today AnnG so you'll be busy with some planting when you go home. Is it Monday you return?

Mel, you have been busy again today. Could you take a bottle of water or something out with you when you're working outside? It won't help your digestive problems if you get dehydrated. I hope you don't have any after effects of your Covid jab. I just have a very slight ache in my arm now.

Mandy, you have been busy as well with grass cutting and weeding. We have to make the best of the weather while it's dry and not too cold. I'm annoyed I didn't have the energy or motivation to do anything in the garden today. You mentioned Gwyn not coming on the thread. I think she said that she would be without the internet for a few days.

I am now going to bed and crossing my fingers that I'll be able to sleep tonight. I hope you all have a good night too.

Iv'e just come in from the garden. Been building a bonfire and repotting a lot of my plants now they are coming up I can see what they are as the labels have faded. Badly need a drink.

Evening all,

It's been quite warm today with some lovely sunshine but when I went to sit out this afternoon it clouded over and turned chilly .
I did get the grass cut this morning and did some weeding but I didn't do to much I saved some for another day .

So you got some plants Anng ,yes Lego is very expensive but it's quite indestructible so does last well .

Vera I hope you managed to get another good night ,oh when you start looking at old photos the time just seems to fly .

Oh Ann you could have ended up on Crime watch lol have you seen this woman she just walked out of the co op with a bag of shopping , nothing new there though as shop lifters don't even get stopped now they just fill a bag and walk out .
That time I got home to find I had picked up two packs of socks from Bon Marche and I'd only payed for one pack ,I went straight back to hand them back and the cashier was surprised she said most people would have kept them .

I couldn't touch a stuffed animal when my dad brought home a lot of his mother's things there was a fox stoal, it had the feet and head and I remember it had these beady eyes that just seemed to follow you , my sister has it now I didn't want it .

Ann if the clothes are OK you could get a good bit of money for them ,people love the dear I say vintage clothing , is it Vinted where people sell things ,I think that's what its called .

Hope Gwyns OK we haven't heard from her for a few days ,perhaps she's been busy in the garden .

Afternoon All,

Mostly sunny today and warmer. I agree with Mel what a pleasure it is to drive along the roads with the trees and flowers in bloom and that fresh green everywhere. Even the roadside verges on the main road were covered in yellow dandelions this morning.

I did the stupidest thing in the shop as I used one of the self service tills today, which I've used a few times now. There is so little space to put anything like your bag, I struggled to get the big weekend papers in with everything else and an assistant was asking me if I was okay which I was. Anyway, like I used to do once I had everything stashed away, off I went. I got outside in the carpark and wondered where my card was. It was in my purse and it suddenly dawned on me I'd left without paying!! I went back in the shop and the assistant was surprised to see me so I had to tell her why I was back. Luckily the till still showed it was waiting for payment so I was able to pay. I said to OH later that I could end up in one of the cells at the police stations he used to visit and interview the inmates when he first retired!

All I've done today is a wash, which thankfully OH hung out for me, sort my pills for the next week and cook poachd eggs on toast with grilled tomatoes.

Your visit to Stowe sounded good AnnG, especially the China House. It was the huge size of the place that put me off going years ago and then later I knew I'd struggle to walk round much of it, but photos I've seen look lovely. I like those little garden centres you are visiting today as they often have some unusual plants you don't see in the bigger ones. Goodness your DIL's mum is a good age isn't she and no doubt has a few birthday cards from royalty!

Mel what was the attraction of the dead bat all those years ago and how come it was in your mum's room? Did she want to keep it? I wonder what you will find next in your drawers........a shrunken head!! :-0 I didn't really like the stuffed Barn Owl in a box with a glass front that I inherited from my paternal grandfather when I was about aged 16. It's plumage was faded and I wondered what it was stuffed with. I sold it just before I moved here. That's good you had your covid jab and that there was only one other person when you arrived. I hope the soreness soon wears off. Do you have your Flu jabs at a different time?

Vera once I start going through old photos I find time flies too, just the same as getting engrossed in a branch of my FH! I know I still have some clothes from when I moved here over 25 years ago! I know in the loft there is a case with a jumper and a blouse with leg of mutton sleeves when they were fashionable that became too small for me. I also have some dresses there, a purple one with a fishtail, a black one with a peplum and a plum coloured crushed velvet one with a stand up collar edged in silver piping and down the front I wore with a silver belt in my 20s. There's a black, fitted midi coat I bought as a teenager and a skirt with a 22 inch waist! I ought to sell some if the mice haven't made nests in them.

Gosh Lego has gone up. Did the shop and done up a couple of little parcels to post on Monday. Going out in the garden now as the suns still out and its warmer out than in. Its freezing in here but toasty in the sun. We had a shower this morning while I was on the way to the docs but nothing since.

This morning Son and I went to Lakers garden centre/nursery and Ibought plants. Aquilegia, Brunnera, penstemon, sweet peas and Nepita.

This afternoon Son, granddaughter and I went to MK centre. Gosh it is big and lively, so many people out shopping. Bought a T shirt and a three quarters sleeved top in M&S then a few bits in a new shop Sestrans and Greens. Wow such a lot of stuff. Also looked i. The Lego shop as Sophie wanted to. I could not believe the price of some of the kits anything from £200 to £500. Not kids toys any more. A good day though.

I forgot to come on here this morning.

Good morning all,

I have been to the docs this morning for my covid jab and it hurt today and the nurse said its not that bad Mel. They said they had 100 to do this morning. I knew the road was going to be busy so shot off on a side road and got in front of the car I was following. I parked in the road as I thought the car park would be full. When I walked in there was one car in there!!! and one man in frost of me. So all in all it did'nt take that long and I had a slow ride home looking at the trees that are in leaf now. I love the new green of Spring. The primroses and bluebells are all out in the hedgerows and a little white flower it all looks so pretty.

Enjoy your garden centre today hope you find something nice.

Good morning all, another beautiful sunny morning. It will probably cloud over later but hopefully no rain. I have been very lucky with the weather and we have been able to get out and about. Today DiL is going to visit her 102 year old um in her residential home so son and I are off to a very small garden centre not too far away. Always interesting as it is half nursery and half garden centre like they all used to be. No extra franchises to buy from.
I think this afternoon granddaughter may be taking me into MK centre.

I still woke several times last night but not quite as much.

At 7 pm I came upstairs to the computers to do a post but I got carried away looking at a lot of old photos on OH’s computer. It’s fatal to start looking at those, before you know it half the evening’s gone. We all looked so young! In one my brother was holding a tiny, sleeping baby. I couldn’t think who it could be till I noticed my daughter and her then husband in the background and realized it was their firstborn, our eldest grandchild. She’s now 28. What is more worrying is that I am still wearing some of the clothes I was wearing in these old photos. I think it’s time I had a wardrobe refresh.

Today would have been my brother’s 78th birthday. I still miss him such a lot.

It sounds as though Stu puts a lot of effort into cooking the meals you have together Mel. It was a shame he was a bit heavy handed with the BBQ sauce and spices so you were left with a sore mouth. Your foot man is really cheap but as AnnG says perhaps he doesn’t have the overheads that most chiropodists do. Fancy finding your bat after all this time. Your house is a real little treasure trove.

I’m glad you slept better last night Annx. That’s a good idea to give the man with the lost cat a couple of phone numbers where his cat might have been taken if found. Unfortunately, as far as I know there is only one place and that is on the road to Bury St Edmunds. I suspect he might have already tried there. There was a lovely place on the road down to Colchester but it’s had to close because the donations and the number of volunteers to run it dropped too much for it to be viable. I suppose I could check where the nearest RSPCA place is. Someone might have rung them to say they had found a cat. I don’t know whether he was chipped or not.

Your million bells plants sound a pretty colour Mandy. I do like those orangey/apricot shades. I haven’t had any million bells for a year or two but I have had them in the past in a couple of the troughs down the side of the house and they seemed happy there so I might try and get some more this year.

I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to Stowe AnnG. I am certain we have been there but can’t for the life of me remember when. I think it must have been a long while ago but I do remember enjoying it there and thinking how lovely it was. The trouble with these huge estates is that you need a week to get round them. Btw, I put a post on the book thread this morning.

It’s been quite a warm day though still chilly in the breeze and alternate sunshine and cloud but no rain to speak of, just a few spits and spots. I got various jobs done this morning and after lunch OH steam cleaned the kitchen floor for me while I got on with a few gardening jobs. I have a few pots of mini tulips which come out very early and the leaves of those have more or less died off. As I will want the pots soon I pulled the bulbs up and spread them in seed trays for the leaves to finish dying off before I pack the bulbs away for the summer. Then I sorted through the herbs and tidied those up and planted some more parsley seeds. I also potted up into a big pot a cutting I took of phygellus. It’s now about 6-8” high and looking sturdy so I’m pleased with that. Moving around the garden I am concerned about the number of snails all over the place. Slugs and snails are our biggest problem here and there seemed to be hundreds!! I don’t hold out much hope for the hostas this year.

I see time is racing away again so I’d better go and get myself organized with the few odd jobs I want to do before going to bed and then I shall tuck myself up with either my book or something I’m watching on iPlayer and hope I have as good a night as last night – six and a half hours solid sleep, I still can’t quite believe it. You all sleep well too.

Mandy the bat was dried out when I was given it and I put it in a plastic small box you cansee through all those years ago. Its in perfect condition.

Well the sun came out after I came home from the doctors. It rained a bit on the way there but its still nice and sunny now. Shame it was'nt like that all day.