General Chat

Here it comes again hailstones.

Just before 1 o'clock I was washing up and the sun went, it was a watery sun anyway and then it started to snow I watched as it then turned back to hailstones and BIL arrived. I opened the backdoor for him to get in quickly but he had hailstones all on his back. When he came in he said I'm not stopping just brought your fat balls for the birds down and some petrol for the mowers. He also brought me two more of those Co-op chicken and veg soups. I asked how much I owed him and he said nothing!! So now I am well stocked up with the four boxes of 40 fat balls which should keep them going for a while. Then he used the loo and left as he wanted toget something done at home.

Suns out again now but its only 7 degrees and rain expected later but gosh it feels cold. We seem to have a westerly wind here.

Afternoon Everyone,

I slept well last night and we decided to go and get a breakfast bap at a garden centre at one of the villages. It is owned by the garden centre nearest to us, but doesn't get as crowded and service is better. Easter seemed to be in full swing with all the goods and decorations and they have The Works there. OH found himself 2 more birthday books and I got some metallic colouring pencils which I liked.

We had a real downpour with the wind last night too and the fields were showing some floods again this morning. Sunny but chilly and windy so the garden is a no for me and I will catch up with more indoor things. OH has booked in for the Physio, but sooner than wait about 6 months or more, he is going to travel 15 miles to Hinckley where he can start in June.

You are getting on with jobs AnnG and I see Mel had rain too, but I'm glad we didn't get the hailstones.

Mel the book is called 'Humphrey Newton (1466-1536) An Early Tudor gentleman'. He is related on my paternal grandmother's side which had generations of hatters, further back the Quakers, then further back still the ancestors that married into these wealthier families. It just shows what surprises can be further back in your ancestry if you can trace them far enough back.

Better get some lunch now which we are having later today having eaten earlier. Will BBL to read Vera's last post.

Well 7 degrees out there and a NE strong breeze. I have just spent 45 minutes out there pottering and cuttin some winter flowering jasmine and ivy down, also untangled/untied the wiring for the solar charger for the fairy which was in behins the bussleia so awkward to get to. Had to come in as my hands were freezing. the wind is bitterly cold.

Just going to make up the bed now.

Morning all,

What a night it was thundering with rain in the wind when I got up for the loo. It was comeing from the west so hitting the bedroom window and I thought it would keep me awake but it did'nt.

Its 7 degrees here at the moment and pc is saying heavier rain soon but I got up to hailstones and it was really heavy then.Annx I pleased the book was'nt damaged by the postman dropping it through the letterbox. I know when Em's Ed sends books out they are wrapped in lots of bubble wrap and safe in boxes.

Not sure if BIL will come today because there's not much that can be done in this weather. I think he was hoping it would be dry so he could pick up the grass cutting he did last week or cut the outside grass as he did'nt do that last week.

Good morning all, 5 degrees and some sun, still breezy but I think the wind has dropped a bit. Nothing planned for today but bedding is already in the washing machine so that is a start.
I didn't really sleep that well but I think I had enough to keep me going!

Vera, oh that is a worry about your friend's Granddaughter. I hope things have improved there and that she is on the mend now.
Yes thank you the meeting went well. we did discuss some gardening bits but also put the world to rights in other ways. Lots of chat and lots of laughter.
Sorry that your back pain is dragging on, hope it does soon ease.

Mandy thanks for popping in good to see you. Have you got a follow up appointment with your GP? I think the locum shouls apologise for not looking more closely at your problem, although to be fair it is possibly the information they received from reception as to the cause of the appointment that was at fault.

Ann, how wonderful to be able to read and trace family in a book where a lot of work has already been done on your tree.

Mel, Stu does like his chilis doesn't her. Sounds as if you enjoyed it anyway. Sounds like his cut chips roasted are more like wedges. nice.

Stu cooked a chilli tonight and he put carrot and leek in it and we had it with chips, well his chipped potatoes roasted.

Thats good hubby will get more physio on the NHS now. Hope all goes well. The book on the Tudors sounds interesting what's it called please?

I missed you there Annx. It's good to hear that your OH is doing so well now and hopefully he can get some physio sorted out quickly. Your family tree does sound interesting. I shall have to practice bobbing a curtsey in case we ever meet ;-)

I'm pleased to see you had a good day today Mandy and I hope you feel better with each day that passes.

I also had a giggle at your legless fairy AnnG. I hope your garden interests group went well today.

Going out to do your shopping rather than having it all delivered sounds a good idea Mel. As you say it gives you a reason to go out and it gives the car a run. Did Stu cook you a nice meal tonight?

It's not been a nice day here at all. There hasn't been much sun but the biggest problem has been the wind which has been really strong and cold. I came out of Tesco's holding a small empty plastic bag, the wind whipped it out of my hand and when I turned to see if I could pick it up it was just disappearing over the roof of the shop. We were very low on fuel and needed to get some cash and had a bit of a shock to discover that Tesco had no diesel and no cash in the ATM. So it was a drive around to find a fuel station with diesel and then a stop at Sainsbury's to get some money from their ATM.

Sometimes when I am having back problems the pain eases after a couple of days but sometimes it can go on for a long while and I think this is one of those times. It just doesn't seem to want to get better at the moment but, my goodness, I've had my little problems put into perspective over the last couple of days. The granddaughter of our good friends M & V is in a life threatening condition in hospital. She has sepsis stemming from a kidney infection and her parents are with her. M & V are looking after the family's dog. As you can imagine they are worried sick. The young lady in question is in the same age group as my granddaughters and I know just how I would feel in their position. I have been trying to be supportive and texts have been going back and forth between M and me all day.

That's not a very cheerful note to end on but I think I am going to close the computer down now. I hope you all have a restful night.

Good to see you pop in for a few moments Mandy and know that you are ok. Sorry yesterday was a bad day, but it's good today was better. I expect you have been given a follow up appointment and advice so hopefully you will feel better soon.

OH had his first annual review with the nurse today. He's still just in the prediabetic range, but his weight is perfect and his blood results are all good now since halving the statin that caused so much trouble and adding a different one. He got a pat on the back for exercise and his diet. He also asked and found out that he can have physio on the NHS as his other ones he had have finished a while ago. Now why didn't they suggest and tell him this a year ago when he was diagnosed?

My book arrived but I wasn't impressed Royal Mail just shoved it through the letterbox, despite us being in, to land on a corner on the hard floor! It's a hardback but luckily the stiff cardboard overlapping the ends crumpled instead of the book. It's the only book that details the daily life of a Tudor gentleman who is my direct ancestor about 16 generations back in the 1400s. There is a family tree going back about six more generations than I've traced in the book so should be interesting. I just looked at his son I descended from's FIL who was a knight and apart from the history side of battles he fought in, he had 15 children and there is an alabaster plaque in a church up north depicting them all and a photo of it. Amazingly the first 13 children were all boys, followed by 2 girls.

Mel I can only see the Asda annual deliver pass going up to £69.50 a year which is about £5 more. It's cheaper than the other supermarkets. I looked because mine is due renewal soon as well. I might change mine to a mid week delivery instead of weekend and which is only £39.50. I won't be cancelling as I don't fancy carrying the heavy things that two of us need and all the loading in and out of the car. We manage fine with a fortnightly delivery and BOB milk lasts that long as well and I just shop for some of the perishable foods in between. I think it's good to go out more and some longer journeys will help your car battery as you say, but it would be good as well if you knew someone who doesn't drive that would enjoy going with you sometimes.

Evening all,

Just thought I'd pop in still trying to avoid to much screen time, yesterday wasn't a good day but I've had a good day today so hopefully I'm getting there ,back when I can .

I did'nt know I had untill I looked this morning Anng.

I am going to cancel my delivery pass with Asda as now I don't smoke I am getting a back log of food building up. If I need it delivered I shall have to pay the £4 or whatever but if I go shopping one it will get me out more and get the car charged up on a longer journey and 2 I shall save money stock piling tins and freezer goods. It finishes on 9th April and its now £83 something.

Ooh Mel, I think I am too nosey, I couldn't go all day ignoring/not opening e mails.

Still windy and 11 degrees here too.

Just thinking what to have for lunch and it will probably be a ham sandwich and a cups soup.

I did reply to Annx that I had'nt opened any emails yesterday being into mky miniatures so I do apolagise (sp) for saying I had'nt had the email when I had. A bad senior moment I think.

I have just had an email from EDF saying the leccy is going down but the standing charge is going up!!!! so I still pay more than I did before the decrease.

room is all ready floors vacuumed and chairs in position, tea mugs all washed and ready on two trays, two teapots waiting and two kettles. and me sitting down for a rest.

It is exremely windy here today and we have just had a showe still 11 degrees though.

Morning All,

Very windy here but dry. I have sent you Vera's email Mel and she did include you when she sent it so perhaps it didn't reach you or you deleted it by mistake. I wonder what Stu will be cooking tonight.

Glad the fairy is behaving herself today AnnG and it will be good when Jake gets the water feature going again for her. I must check my little waterfall is still working ok. It will be good meeting with your gardening group now everyone will have started looking forward to what they will grow this year.

I have just rung the garage to cancel imy car going in next Wednesday, as it has started up perfectly for quite a few days now and must have been some sediment in the fuel pump partly blocking the injectors I think and now it's cleared itself hopefully. Any more trouble and I'll book it in again. OH has a few trips to make so an easy soup and sandwich lunch today. I have defrosted a pack of chicken thighs so will cook those and freeze some. Plenty of H/W as always so I will start with the cobwebs and work down. I think I am turning intoi Morticia from The Adam's family with my web decorations!

A COT next and get started I think.

Morning girls,

Its 10 degrees here and very grey such a difference from yesterays lovely bright sunshine and its a bit windy here too this morning o feels colder.

I think I must have missed out on the photo of Vera's great granddaughter as I did'nt recieve it.

Stu's for dinner tonight so no cooking this evening.

Hope you have a great meeting Anng and a nice chat with your friends this afternoon.

Good morning all 9 degrees, it was sunny when I woke finally at around 7am but is grey sky now.

Vera chuckling at all those suits, I don't think T ever had that many all at once even when working. Although after he died and I was left having to dispose of all his clothes, I was amazes at how much there was. and they say it is women who buy lots of clothes.

Mel that was annoying that you have to make a second trip for the inhaler, as Ann says, can you phone before you go to collect it just to make sure it is there?

Ann Yes I was chuckling to myself after I wrote about the legless fairy. So far she is sitting soberly by her little pool, which has no water in it because it is still in the conservatory. Where I guess it will stay until Jake and Dad can fix the water feature, by which she usually sits.

Have to get on now as I need to sort the room for our garden interests meeting this afternoon. 9 of us due to attend I think.

Reading through my email with the photo I can see I didn't word it very well. For those of you who were a bit confused, our grandson is the adult Daddy. It's his little girl (our great granddaughter) who is dressed up as The Gruffalo. My fault for not explaining it clearly.

I started on sorting out wardrobes but it is not easy getting OH to agree to get rid of anything. Why does he need 5 suits when he only ever wears a suit for weddings or funerals? 3 of them were suits he used to wear to work and he's been retired 25 years. He eventually agreed to me taking 3 pairs of shorts to the charity shop as he never wears shorts these days and they are in good condition. I am not looking forward to the arguments we will have when I start on the rest of his clothes.

I'm now going to check the fridge to see what shopping I need to get tomorrow. I know we are nearly out of salad stuff again and expect there are other things running low.

Evening All,

Another sunny day here but it turned a bit chilly by teatime. It's another day I haven't done anything outside, but I did sort something a bit complicated needing quite a few sums and a calculator but it's all sorted out now. Then there always seem to be bills to pay and papers to shred. I popped to the shop and despite checking my little shopping list when I went in I still forgot the main thing I went for! They told me that people are not liking the self service tills. They have 3 tills they stand behind and 3 new self service ones are attached to the front of the old tills where you queue. They are good if you only want one or two things, but there's nowhere to put things out of yiour basket or even to pack your bag if anyone is being served by the staff as they put their shopping in the only space.

Mel our patio badly needs washing as it is like a skating rink when it's wet so I know what you mean about your decking being lethal. I have to warn the windowcleaner. That was a nuisance having to make a second journey for the inhaler. Would it be worth phoning the chemist before you go tomorrow to make sure they have it before you set off?

I had a little chuckle at the thought of your legless fairy AnnG, but well done for sorting her out and you got quite a few things done as well. I must look at my pots first I think when I go out in the garden as they are mostly tall so will save my back from bending too much.

It's good you had a better night last night Vera. I keep waking too hot and having to shove the throw off to the bottom of the bed and OH says he is the same as well. You've been busy today and your OH has done wonders! Tell him OH and I want some of hils pills!!! Those choisias get thick at the bottom don't they. I remember OH digging ours up a few years ago. I still miss it and am tempted to get another but ours grew much bigger than the label said. That's another similarity your OH has with his twin here........not pacing himself and doing things at speed!! Thank you for the photo which is lovely with your little grandson in his outfit. He'll probably want to put it on again tomorrow. :-D