General Chat

pleased to hear that your foot is improving, if slowly ann.

I have just had a sort out of two folders in the file drawer. One of which was the Civil Service pension folder. Still kept a load I am not sure if I need to in this digital age, P60s going back about 15 years or so. Interesting to note that up unti 2014 my pension was administered by Capita, it then went to MYCSP and now we have gone full circle.

Morning All,

Dreary here too but at least it's dry at the moment. Couldn't get off to sleep with pain so I gave in and took a paracetamol at about 2.00am and soon dropped off. We were up quite early this morning to go for coffee and an egg and spinach cob and I was pleased when I got out of bed not to need to lean on it and hobble to start with, so it looks as if it's getting a bit better. We went to Sainsbury's for fuel after and to take the kettle we got back. The trolley was helping me walk so I got some stirfry and minced turkey but couldn't find the shampoo I wanted. Now for a nice rest and COT!

The pension saga does seem to have been badly managed as you say AnnG. I mean who would take on something without knowing the amount of backlog of work there was and if you had enough staff to cope with it. I'm glad I don't work there at the moment! I expect as the transfer wasn't complete till just over a month ago, they may be still using up some stationery with the old details on.

I am the same with instructions Mel and I often can't remember the next time something happens. You don't even get instructions with some things though and they just tell you to look online which isn't as easy and I have to print things off as it's much easier with a booklet you can flick back a page or two..

Morning all,

Dull and dreary so no change there then and it 9 degrees and cloudy.

Shopping comes today and I don't think there's any subs but we'll see when it arrives.
Apart from that as far as I know theres nothing else happening so I may do miniatures today.

Slept well had a strange dream got up once and back to sleep and another strange dream about workman coming.

good morning all dry and 7 degrees so about the same as yesterday. First half of the night sleep was not good, kept waking. but eventually was OK. Nothing planned except to follow the list in front of me. bedding is almost finished in the washer. Going to get some breakfast now.

Poor olin falling from the chair and I too think its time you got rid of it Mandy. I did laugh at Jake shredding the instructions!! I hate instructions as I read one bit then the next bit and by that time I have forgotten the first bit.

Ah, I am pretty certain I have had no correspondence from my Ps or capita since the beginning of December. Trouble is capita is on my mind for some reason but it might be my other pension. Looks like a turn out of another lot of papers tomorrow. Not that it matters as long as pensions come through. January’s is in the bank.
Read that link, what a mess they were left with. Some mismanagement somewhere.

I asked google AnnG and it suggests all civil service pensions are administered by Capita now since 1/12/2025 and it included MYCSP. Just google does mycsp still exist. Apparently the transition started in November 2023 and I'm afraid it seems to have passed me by somehow! OH knew about the data breach Vera has mentioned.

https://www.capita.com/news-and-insights/news/2026/civil-service-pensions-scheme-service-delivery-update

OH had a useful chat with the nurse and the x-ray was to check things like whether he had ever had TB, as the treatment, which lowers your immunity, can cause it to reactivate if so. He wouldn't be able to have live vaccines in future for the same reason and she said it was sensible to use hand sanitiser, but said the work he does and the kind of football he goes to shouldn't be a problem as there are no crowds to catch infections from! He had to answer a lot of questions and they took 12 samples of his blood for tests! The injections would be fortnightly and look easy to do and get sent to your address and need keeping in the fridge. So he has to wait and see the results next to see if he is suitable to try it.

Oh Vera join the club! It sounds like the early night, pills and wheat bag all helped your poor back. As you say being careful is the only option, but isn't it annoying having to move slowly, just when you are extra busy. I'm sure the cakes would be well received though and it's good planning to have some available in the freezer.

Oh no Mandy, Colin was lucky not to hurt himself , but he may have a few bruises after toppling the chair. I had to laugh at Jake and his shredder. He's learned a valuable lesson now hasn't he! :-D

I forgot to say when the shredder was mentioned that Jake bought a new shredder, he used it and then it jammed ,son told him to look at the manual........ I can't he said I shredded it :-D :-D :-D oh we did laugh :-D

Hopefully your OH will get a few things out of the way while he is at the hospital which could rule out more visits maybe. Hope all is well with him. And that your foot is not too painful after the driving.

I have just checked, my pension is no longer with Capita, when you were talking about it and Vera, I seemed to remember a change a couple of years ago. I am now with MYCPS. Yes it is actually called My civil Service Pension.

Mandy thank goodness Colin was not hurt, And a good idea to break that chair up so he can't use it.

It has been bright all day so far with some sun. I suppose I should have gone out in the garden and found things to do. But I got involved clearing the pile of stuff from the kitchen drawer, well not all the stuff, just the envelope with paper in. Anyway I have sorted it out and shreded all the out of date stuff. Some could go in recycling but a loy had name and address on. I still have paper with my two credit cards as I like to see what is happening without trawling on line so that was a lot of the shredding. Still it is done now and strangely I now have back ache. so I must have been sitting awkwardly. I also dod the monthly accounts, only 9 days late but done now..

Afternoon all,

Its 9 degrees here and very grey ,it was light rain when we got up so we were late going out yo stack the wood ,Colin has an old chair we keep in the shed to sit on and he fills the little barrows and I stack the wood from them , we were just finishing up to come in when Colin went back onto the chair and ended up on the ground ,no way could he get up as he can't get on his knees now so I had to ring son to come and get him up ,no damage done but I told him he's not to use that chair again as that's the second time it's tipped .

Ann sounds as though its not going to be a quick appointment for OH ,the blood tests can take a time and then the x Ray too .

Sounds nice to have riends round for tea and cakes so that should rest your chat and don't do anything to annoy your back.

Had a dig out of the pile of mud where the chickens go in their house it had built up quite a pile and I scraped mud off the paving slabs in front of the shed and outside the run the grass had grown over the paving slabs so I pulled all that up and put it in their run. They love to have a good sratch in that and find the worms.

It started to rain just as I went round to the girls and when I came back I had to get the washing in as it was blowing the rain onto the patio. Just going to iron those few bits now and then have a hoover and dust.

Good afternoon everyone

About 8 degrees and dry so far but no sign of any sun and computer is telling me we have another 4 rainy days starting tomorrow. I can't wait.

I hope your OH gets on well with the nurse at the hospital today Annx, and hope that your foot isn't too painful for the drive. I was interested to see what was being said about the pensions. It's dreadful that people can't retire as planned because their pension isn't organised yet. You mentioned your pension provider is now Capita. OH's pension was with Capita and a couple of years ago their systems were hacked and all OH's data, along with a lot of other people's, was stolen. You can imagine how much information pension providers hold on an individual so it was a worrying time. We are now in the second year of Capita paying a full sub to Expedia on our behalf so we can be warned immediately if any companies do a credit check on us which could mean that someone has applied for a loan or mortgage etc in our name. OH's company moved their pensions to another provider, Having said all that, this is probably the safest time to be with Capita as their cyber security will be extra tight now.

Yesterday my dodgy back muscle went into spasm again and by evening was so painful that I was in bed by 8 pm with pillows supporting my back and a wheat bag pressed on to the bad muscle. I was also dosed up to the eyeballs with pain killers. Thankfully it seems quite a bit easier this morning. I just have to be careful. Needless to say, I had a lot to do this morning. I've left most of the washing; I've just done a load of shirts and OH has washed the part of the downstairs tiled floors where the dogs had been in and out with wet paws. I managed a bit of hoovering as that didn't involve much stretching and bending. Now OH is getting us an early lunch as we have 4 friends coming for tea and cake this afternoon. I had intended making a cake but I ran out of time and energy so it will have to be shop bought. Luckily I've got a selection in the freezer so have taken out some jam tarts and some mini cup cakes.

I'd better go and tidy myself up and change out of the old clothes I'm wearing. Then we'll have this snack lunch. I've invited our friends for 2.30 but one of them is always very early and is likely to be here at about 2 pm. I'd like to be ready.

OH is not going to be quick like I hoped. He just contacted me to say they want an
x-ray now and blood tests. I popped to the shop on the way home and saw the crocus in the village were all out. They planted them in circles around the Cherry trees that are in a row on a little green in front of the old folks bungalows with the brook between them and the bungalows. I always thought the bungalows must be nice if you were housebound with the nice flowers in spring and the ducks visit there to be fed as well.

Mel you have motivated me to change the bed now my foot has eased a lot......well until tomorrow morning when it will stiffen up again.

Morning girls,

Dry start and the sun is trying to put in an appearance but there's also grey clouds out there. Its 8 degrees here and I have turned the heating on to take the chill off the house.

HW today I think, need to change the bed and do some paintwork wiping down of the doors in the hall as I noticed they look dull and dusty.

Good luck for G at the hosp today and hope the sppointment is a quick one.

Morning AnnG and All,

Dry here and soon we'll be off to the hospital. OH will have a trek as where he needs to go is the other end of the hospital this time. I was awake at 5.00am and didn't get back to sleep, but at least pottering about a bit has eased my foot ready for the drive. Not sure whether to come home and go back to fetch him or to wait in Morrisons carpark. As it's to see the nurse and not the rheumatologist I have a feeling it will be a quick appointment. He was hoping to discuss the scan results and I doubt the nurse will do that. Not sure what we will do after.

I think we were with CSP and have changed to Capita now AnnG and something to do with a huge backlog of cases. I'm glad we haven't been affected. I think some people have been waiting months and had to get loans to tide them over. Imagine if you had big mortgage payments. I see Irene collects all kinds of donations and some things are free too. Its good that things like the books get shared around between people. It encourages recycling too. I hope the wound is healing and becoming less of a nuisance as it's been quite a while hasn't it. You've reminded me to write out a new 'list' later. There sre plenty of sitting and sorting of papers kind of jobs I ought to get on with and are mostly sitting jobs to give my foot a break.

Good morning all A bit grey out there but so far it is dry! 7 degrees so not too cold. Nothing planned but a long list of jobs needing doing, however most have needed doing quite a while I have only just listed them to see if I can get some of them done. Otherwise they will remain out of soght out of mind. A lot of them involve sorting paperwork followed by shredding!!

I had not realised there were problems with our pensions Ann. I am not even sure that I knew there was a change of provider. However I would notice if the pension didn’t arrive. But what a worry for new retirees and should not happen surely. All that should have been tied up before any change in provider.

My wound looks as though it may be very slowly healing but it is still there. Still a nuisance.

The books which cover three trestle tables but in boxes for easy moving when they put them out once a month. The books that are taken are usually returned and people put books in they have bought as well. There are some hard backs and I have taken quite a few of mine down there too. I never take the hard backs to read as I find them too heavy to hold.

Lots of people take her bags of stuff which she distributes to various charities. Sometimes she puts small stuff out on her wall free to anyone who wants them. I have acquired one or two useful bits and toys as well. In the warmer weather she sometimes puts a trestle table of stuff out. No cost but there is a box by the door for donations which are used to provide warm meals and soup for the homeless. The same with hats, socks and scarves. Other stuff goes to the S Army charity shop.

Afternoon All,

Another wet start to the day although a bit like Mel I didn't stir till gone 10.00.am. Still having to lean over the bed and hobble with the left foot for a few minutes and almost too painful to take weight on it at first. It very gradually eases so I can walk carefully by the afternoon and after doing a few stretches, but is such a nuisance and stopping me from doing so much. We had the barnesley lamb chops today with parsnip, onion, carrot, green beans and brussel sprouts. OH tries to help, but with all the questions he has to ask about every single thing I'm convinced he walks around never noticing anything I do. Perhaps it's a man thing. :-S He was home earlier than I expected after the retirement do last night. Apparently the retirement has been cancelled for now anyway due to the problems with the Civil Service pension provider changeover and problems making payments to new retirees. Apparently the husband has retired but had no payment as yet, so his wife has had to cancel her retirement now as they would have no income otherwise. I think OH said they have a holiday booked too so it must all be a worry. Luckily those of us already retired and on the system are ok.

Mel those were great pics of the Sparrowhawk and pretty rainbow.

You are getting your admin straight AnnG and I am tidying in here so I can find everything easily. It's handy for you having Irene with a supply of books to read. Do a lot of people bring books to swap and for the shop? It's a good idea. Our local shops are getting fussy and some will only take paperbacks for some reason and OH gets quite a few hardbacks which only one shop will take and only then if they have space. I keep meaning to ask if your wound is healing better now?

It sounds like your son has got on well with the media wall Mandy!

We are back at the hospital tomorrow as OH has the texted appointment which will be to see the nurse. He never did receive the appointment letter. Not such an early start though as it is 11.00am ish so we should miss the rush hour traffic and at least the weather here says no rain.

Had my late breakfast and am now thirsty. Its nearly dark now at 5.29pm Yes the washing did go out and yes it did rain this afternoon.

Started taking a cast of my little old dolls house bottle and thats about it for today.

Oh I don't think I would like that Mel, that is a lot of time lost do you then feel fulll of energy or heavy headed?

I managed another walk down to Irene's to take back the 2 books I had read and another one off my book shelves to add to the stock. I did also get another couple of books

After I had drunk my coffee I sorted the stuff waiting to be shredded and took out all the bits that didn't have my personal info on them and they went in the recycling, then I shredded the remainder.
I also then sorted anf filed a small pile of things that were sitting on top of the safe ready to be filed, so that is all clear now.
There is a lot more that I could be sorting but that can wait a while.

I have also prepared the veg to have with my meal this evening. (chicken leg) swede which I have cooked and mashed with pepper and butter) and baby sprouts.
I had to cut (with difficulty) the swede they sent me in half, if was very big, even though I had asked for a small one. Delivery driver said they were all huge this week whereas a couple of weeks ago they were so small that they were giving two for one.

well, I have done another bit of admin so I am going downstairs now to read my book. and have a cup of tea.