General Chat

Afternoon all

It's been a funny old day. The weather can't make up its mind whether to turn into spring or go back to winter. This morning was dull and cloudy, early afternoon was sunny but now it's grey and raining again. It's been quite warm in sheltered spots but there's been a strong wind blowing all day and it's got quite a nip in it.

Mandy, the knitted animals just get better and better. Any child would love Charlie the Chimp. He just looks such a bundle of mischief.

I expect your hair feels better now AnnG. I hope you didn't get a cold neck coming home.

I couldn't settle to anything much this morning so decided to sort out the drawers in the bedside cabinets which I've been meaning to do for a while. Amazing what you find lurking in the depths isn't it? A few days ago I mentioned to OH that I might have to buy a shoehorn. Guess what? I found 2 that neither of us knew we had. Also, as OH had 2 mirrors in one of his drawers, a fold-up one and a magnifying shaving mirror, why does he need to use mine every time he wants to see behind something? I won't go through all I found in half a dozen drawers but there's a bag of bits for the charity shop and a bag of stuff for the tip.

This afternoon I had to go into town to pick up my meds. OH insisted on coming with me which was a nuisance as I've been trying to get him a card for our anniversary for a couple of weeks and I can't get out without him. Mind you, he is very useful as a bag carrier :-D It's market day today but when I looked at the big veg stall their prices were still so ridiculously high that I went to Waitrose and got all I wanted there at a cheaper price. I did buy some smoked haddock at the fish van in the market but I nearly had to take out a mortgage to pay for that.

OH has stomped off to make a cup of tea as he couldn't get the scan bit of the printer to work and got in a temper with it. I've scanned in the documents he wanted and had no problems so goodness knows what he was doing but I'd better go and soothe some ruffled feathers now.

Morning Anng and all,

Brightish start tothe day here too and its 9 degrees and pc says partly sunny.

Nothing planned for today here. Enjoy your hair cut Anng I know you always feel better after it.

good morning all. Bright here and dry but only 6 degrees so a chilly start. Hair appointment today, I will be glad to get it cut it feels so long and thick.

I love onions. I am having a nice salad tonight with plenty of spring onions. I boiled an egg this morning and last night I did more than I needed of new pots so I am going to make a tato salad with those.

Vera I think I used to go past Gainsborough house in Sudbury is that the one you went to?

Mandy yes washing dried a treat and we've had a bit of a wind so it smells really nice. It took me all day on and off to change the bed. The new mattress we had is so heavy it puffs me out and thats just getting a fitted sheet on it. I do it in stages as oh always came and helped me and gave the quilt a good shake up but I cna never seem to do it like he did. I suppose because he ws taller he could get a nice bit of air under it.

Sold another 4 things on Ebay and now they are all parceled up ready to go tomorrow at the post van.

Managed to remember to put the bin out this week but it was only really half full.

Also did a little casting today and painting so I got on qite well.

Hope the new meds work for you Mandy and they don't make you too dizzy once your body gets used to them. Oh would always take things apart to see if he could mend them too, trouble is if he could'nt it was more rubbish left around the workshop. I have a dead strimmer on wheels in the workshop and a dead pressure washe parts outside the workshop. BIL had been taking a few bags of rubbish to get rid of at work. He took 4 bags last week. One was all sawdust which he took out of the dust blower and put outside. That took up all the rain and I could'nt pick it up as it was so heavy.

Evening all,

What a lovely day its been, nice and sunny and 15 degrees so we did a little in the garden ,OH did a bit of pressure washing after having a look at the pressure washer yesterday because it was leaking water ,he put a clip on a pipe as it was coming off but it's still leaking a bit so I think he'll be looking at getting a new one ,son might have a look at it as he loves tinkering with things I think he got that from my dad he would soon take things to bits didn't always get things back together but he would try .
I did a bit of cutting back and weeding and my back knows it ,I also went shopping after lunch, went up Norwich Rd onto the bypass off at the roundabout near Tesco and lidl and just a bit further along to Aldi , did my shop ,called at Roys and sailed through the oneway so not to bad at all ,I think you just need to go between school times to miss all the traffic ,people have been moaning about this lot of road works as it wasn't explained how it would work very well ,one road is one way but no ones taking any notice of it and they are all sailing through the wrong way , and we have this for five weeks .

Started my new tablets today ,I do now feel better as I think the old tablets are now out of my system, I was a bit worried as these new tablets can make you feel dizzy ,the only thing I had was a bit of a muzzy head so hopefully these won't give me indigestion.

Vera that was handy getting in for free with the gifted lottery ticket ,it sounds a nice place to visit ,it does make you wonder how some of these places will mange to keep going ,a lot of people just can't afford to pay some of the prices they are now charging , we were saying the other say about the zoo if we went with the family now like we did a few years ago it would now cost us about £160 pound and then if you wanted something to eat and drink it would be even more so family's just can't afford it .

Oh I meant to say has anyone heard of Asafoetida it's a powder substitute for onions ,you just add a half a teaspoon to soups stews or anything where you usually use an onion ,it has the taste of onions but no onions in it at all so if you can't take /eat onions you could try this , I sent for some to try ,I heard about it on this morning programme, Phil Vickery the chef was talking about it ,I think Sainburys have it .

Instalment number 2. If there was a category for waffling on in the Olympic Games I would certainly get the gold.

Monday night we had our Club meeting and OH and I did the teas which was fine. We had a good talk. We have a redundant church in the middle of town that’s a Grade 1 listed building in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It was in constant use for concerts, farmers markets, Christmas tree festival and so on, but it was in dire need of structural improvements and general modernizing, That started a couple of years ago and our talk was about all the restoration work with lots of slides etc to look at. It was very interesting and we’re now all looking forward to the church being reopened in the autumn.

Another big restoration that has been taking place locally is Gainsborough’s House. This is where the artist Thomas Gainsborough was born. It was a small house which had a few Gainsborough pictures and a few others and occasional small exhibitions. With lottery funding a large building next to it was bought and completely rehashed so the original house is as it was but is connected to a large 3 storey building with galleries, exhibition rooms and so in. As the bulk of the funding came through the lottery the trustees found a way to say thank you to anyone who might have contributed. On Saturday, Monday and Tuesday anyone who could show a lottery ticket could take up to 6 people in for free. We don’t do the lottery but a friend does and gave us her ticket from the Saturday draw. I just showed the receptionist and she waved us in. If you are interested in art it was fascinating. There was a whole room of pictures on loan from Woburn and a theme running through it showing how the English landscape tradition actually developed from the Dutch amongst others. There were considerably more Gainsborough pictures than there used to be and in an exhibition room they had contemporary art of all sort relating to all the building work that had just been completed. Some of it just seemed to be splodges of colour and I couldn’t see what the artists were trying to say but other pieces I really liked and it’s good to have another sort of record, other than a photographic one.

It was great to be able to see all this for free. The admission prices on display seemed high to me and I wonder how many visitors they will get at a time when money is a bit tight for many people.

While we were there we bumped into 3 friends so when we had all seen as much as we wanted to we met up in the café for a cuppa which rounded everything off nicely.

Just after we got home our neighbour knocked with a big chunk of lemon drizzle cake which had been cooked with grandchildren via Zoom. We had it at lunchtime today and very tasty it was too. Now I had better go and think about dinner. It’s going to be a veggie quiche but I am not sure what to have with it. We often have salad with it but I’m not in the mood for salad. Better go and see what I’ve got in the fridge.

OH washed the floors in the hall, kitchen and utility this morning while I did some tidying upstairs and sorted out an ecard for my German friend. This afternoon he is supposedly reading but when I popped my head round the lounge door he was out for the count. While he ‘s been watching the back of his eyelids I’ve given the upstairs en-suite and the bathroom a good clean and also cleaned the sinks in the uti and kitchen.

AnnG, bras must cause more problems for women than anything else. I’m narrow across the back and for about 30 years was a 34B, now I’ve expanded to 34E. I much prefer non-wired bras but gave up on M&S and several other shops years ago as I could never get one that fitted right. Triumph Doreen bra is good for me but they’re not cheap. Debenhams used to do a nearly identical one that was a good fit and half the price but both the Debenhams within driving distance closed even before Debenhams went into administration.

I’ve had my German penfriend since I was 14 and we have met several times between 1957 and the early 1990s. We come from different backgrounds but hit it off the first time I visited her family when I was just turned 15 and she was just 16. Over the years our frequent letters became less frequent emails but we always kept in touch. Then a few years ago I realized that I hadn’t heard from her for a while, got in touch and that’s when her husband told me that she now had dementia. He emailed me a card on my birthday in February and in that he said that she now needs nearly constant care. I think it is a big strain on him but, thankfully, his daughter and her husband live in a converted barn next to their house. She works full-time but can at least help when she isn’t at work.

I hope your washing dried Mel. It did stop raining here mid-morning but it is windy and we haven’t seen much sun.

Mandy, I hope the doctor can sort out your bp tablets quickly for you. Have you decided where to get your shopping?

I was going to tell you what we did yesterday but this is getting a bit long so I think I’ll post it before I lose it and then start another one.

Sending a quick wave to our intermittent posters ~~~~~~~~~~~ Hope you are all fit and well.

Back from the chiropodist. The sun has shone all morning and it is 13 degrees but it is also extremely windy.
Ah Vera it is sad when penfriends can no longer communicate. I always had a lot of penfriends and there are still a few left but there is one that I have not heard from now for 18 months including two Christmas cards sent by me and none from her. I have sent a letter with the address to return if undelivered but nothing. I fear the worst, she is (was) about 5 years younger than me but did have a lot of ill health suffering from Crohns for many years. She actually only lived in the Forest of Dean but we never met. We originally 'met' and wrote regularly through a gardening on line group I still have contact with two more from the group although one of those is unable to correspond much now as her sight has deteriorated. There was another one who I suddenly didn't hear from any more but she was older than me and a bit frail so I have assumed the worst. My penfriend letters (actual Royal mail post letters) have given me a lot of pleasure over the years. and when I was a young Mum and the penfriends were the same I had a lot of support from them then too. No internet/emails in the 60s/70s.

Morning all

No sun here Mel. It's grey, a bit windy and pouring with rain. Nothing new there then!

It was a bit of a busy day yesterday and it might be a bit busy today as well. As I'm at the computer I've just come on to say Good Morning but I need to quickly sort out a birthday e-card for my German pen friend whose birthday is today. She is 82 and sadly now has dementia which is progressing quite fast so I don't know if she will even remember who I am. It's her husband who keeps in touch with me nowadays. She's no longer capable of using a computer so I send stuff to her husband's email address and he shows her.

Must get on. Might bbl

Washing on the line and the suns still out. Must get the bin ready for tomorrows collection and feed all the birds.

Morning Anng and all,

Its bright and sunny here this morning and its also 10 degrees. I hope it lasts as the bedding is in the machine and it looks like theres a bit of a breeze so I may be lucky and get it dryish.

Ironing today and a bit of a tidy up as I have my art stuff all over the kitchen table with just my place mat where I eat is clear. Its a bit too cold to do it in the lounge at presents but the lights better in there in the mornings.

good morning all. Chiropodist later this morning so a trip to town. 9 degrees here and so far dry although looks a bit damp so we have probably had a shower earlier. Slept well last night anyway.

Have a good day everyone.

O paid the leccy too.

Suns out here but its a bit windy. Em's been round and taken two and a half dozen eggs. Shopping is all wiped down and put away and I have done some casting so all in all quite a good morning and now I'm hungry so am going to get a sandwich.

Finally managed to sort the straps out so that is one job out of the way.

Morning Anng and all,

We have a bright morning at present but how long will it last as pc says mostly cloudy and 11 degrees with a breeze.

Shopping comes today so I have that to sort out this morning. When I tracked the order it was being selected so no idea who my driver will be yet but I better get my box ready at the front door but not outside.

Then I am watching something on ebay which finishes soon and I have the girls and wild birds to feed so that should keep me busy for the morning.

Anng I never know what size to buy in the way of bras as I hav'nt been measured for years and they closed the hsop in Bideford I used to go to. They had a lovely lady to deal with that sort of thing and I am sure she fixed me up with a half wired bra that last time I went. Trouble is with lockdown and not going anywhere I hav'nt had it done for years now.

good morning all. 10 degrees here and dry so far. bed stripped and bedding in the washing machine. Not got anything planned for today. Maybe a bit more tidying in the garden.

Mandy a different shop for the shopping will be like going on holiday!!! I love orchids, saw a lovely yellow one last week but it was almost £30 I don't love them that much.
Hope the doctor can get your BP medication sorted.
Vera that was a nice surprise to get the daffodils. Even if they were from the left over ones at the church it was good that they didn't get wasted. Enjoy them.

First job this morning is to sort out a new bra I bought in M&S yesterday, I hate underwired bras and there are only a few none wired. This new one in more scaffolding than lightweight but being of a larger size, needs must. The problem is the straps are pulled up quite short so I need to lengthen them but the strap material is so strong and an inch wide that it is difficult to shift. I know more than one person who prefers non wired bras so I wonder why there are loads of wired designs in M&S and only about three different non wired and those all of the 'full cup total support variety (even in a size 34B) And that is not my size :-D

Evening all,

We woke to rain but by late morning it eased up a bit ,no sun today after yesterday's nice sunny day ,we even sat out in the sun for quarter of an hour but we did have our jackets on .

Vera that was nice of your neighbour to bring you the daffs ,it reminded me of something I read the other day where a lady found a bunch of daffs in her fridge ,her hubby had put them in there as he thought they were spring onions lol

I rang the doctors and I now have to wait for the doc to sort out another tablet for me ,they will ring when they have sorted it .
Not sure where I will shop this week as there is road works on the way to aldi where they are mending the paths and there's also lots of one way roads so a right mess and clogged up roads, in one road a sink hole as appeared so that hasn't helped .

Had a nice white orchid and chocolates for mothers day ,it was nice to see the family as they haven't been for a while as they are so busy and so usually like the weekends at home .

Been rianing here too Anng. I went into Holsworthy for chicken food and wild bird seed but thought I would first have a little look in town so I popped in the factory shop to see if they had any of the cotton long sleeved tops I like. They did'nt but they did have one light navy vest top in my size so I treated myself to that. They are only £4 each and in the summer I sleep in those with my jim jam bottoms.

As to my Ebay saga I am not putting it on here. It was a scam.

Fed the bantam before I went out and the big girls when I go back. Now I am having a hot cross bun and a nice COT.

What is your ebay problem Mel, I don't think you said.

ust been to Cheltenham on the bus. Buses all on time and no cancellations. Wednesday I have to go to Gloucester for the chiropodist but is ages since I went in to Cheltenham on my own. I have been a few times with our group of friends, didn't go all round the shops, just Boots, M&S and John Lewis but my back and legs had had enough by then they are remembering I was gardening yesterday.

Pleased I got the lawn cut because it is raining now.