General Chat

I missed you post there Vera. It's good your OH got done more quickly this time and you had lunch out. Ha ha, all that cake was too much of a good thing! lol. I would have fancied the bluberry sponge. :-D No, still no Michaelmas daisies at the village garden centre, but they had a huge range of Violas and Pansies, so I got a pack of 6 purple Violas for the front wall pots for £2.50. I'm glad your back has eased today and that would have been interesting to see a friend's new bungalow.

OH got back from getting his blood tests and walked in the bungalow uttering 'more incompetence!' Apparently the signage in the hospital is really poor and he took wrong turns several times finding where he should go, which is not like him at all, but he still arrived in good time for his appointment. Then the receptionist there expected him to have forms to hand in so he had to explain why he didn't need them. He was then told to sit away from everyone else and someone would fetch him. He said he'd been there nearly an hour when a nurse came round asking people to fill in a customer survey form. He explained that they wouldn't get a very good response in his case and explained why. Well it turned out the same nurse had been waiting for him for an hour and had decided to habd the forms round while she was waiting!!!!

After lunch we popped in the Factory shop but didn't buy anything this time. They had some air fryers but still no slow cookers so I might buy one online. I'm not sure what size would be most useful as I'd like to do double quantities and feeze half, but I've noticed the 'pot' inside some is quite heavy and then again a big one would take up a lot of space. I need to do some more research first I think. We then went and got our jabs done. We thought the carpark would be full with others having their jabs now, but there was just 1 space left. The 'booking in' screen seems to play up a lot and it was today with the people ahead of us, but the receptionist insisted we keep trying and then let those behind us book in at the desk instead!

That's good another bagful is going Mel. It's amazing what accumulates over the years. We seem to have a pile of cardboard boxes from online deliveries we've been hanging on to 'in case they are useful' like you do, but I think some could go now. That's good you have your booster and flu jab booked as well and only have to go to the doctor's for it this time. They have stopped giving out the cards at our surgery with the dates on this time. They said it is all on your NHS record anyway and that people can use the NHS app on their phones for evidence if going abroad. (obviously no good if you don't have a smart phone like us, but we don't go abroad anyway). They said it saves them time writing out the cards. Yes I seem to remember sending you a pic of that Michaelmas daisy! That's a nuisance the shower going. You don't have gas do you so is it an electric one?

OH still isn't back from his meeting. He says so many take far longer than they should as they are badly run and people turn up late as well.

It's been a warmer day today though there hasn't been a lot of sun. It's just poked through now and then. The computer is telling me it's 17 degrees and cloudy at the moment.

Your talk sounds fun AnnG. Was that with one of the U3A groups?

It sounds as though you enjoyed your portrait class Ann. I hope your OH got his bloods done OK and you both had your jab. Did you find Michaelmas daisies at your local GC?

You are getting lots of clearing out done Mel but now you have to get your shower fixed. What a nuisance. That's the trouble with houses, there's always something that needs doing.

I had quite a good night and my back is a lot easier today. We went to the hospital for OH's scan this morning and I sat in the car and read till he came out. This time he was in there for about an hour so quicker than last time. The hospital is a round trip of about 40 miles so we try to make the trip worth while by fitting in other things. Today we went on to Dobbies. OH wanted some electric gismo and some of the very large round trays to stand plant pots on. They didn't have either but it wasn't a wasted journey as we had lunch there. OH ordered fish, chips and peas for £10.75 and I ordered ham, egg and chips for £9.95 when I suddenly saw a notice that said over 60s could have a main meal and a cake on Monday to Thursday for £9.95 so we were able to add a cake to our meal. There was a wide choice of cakes. I had Persian lemon cake and OH had blueberry Victoria sponge and the pieces were a good size. I struggled to get through it but was determined to have it as it was effectively free.

When we left there we drove back and OH dropped me at my friend's house at 2.30. She moved locally a short while ago into a lovely retirement bungalow and it was my first visit to her new house so I had a good look around. I had a cup of tea there but turned down the offer of cake! The other friend that was there dropped me back home about 5.30. It's been a lovely day.

Now OH has just made a sandwich and guess what? He has put out some cake!

Washings on the line and I have cleared oout the last draw and it is all packed in black sacks. Now I haave to get the 4 draws up the potting shed.

My flu jab is on the 7th Oct and the boostet too so thats good I don't have to wait in a que again only at the docs.

But what I was trying to say Mel was there were several in both mauve and pink that were identical to each other and you would only know what they were if you were an expert or had the labels. I believe some are also identified by the shape of their leaves.

I said I would tell you the names of mine. The tall one is Chequers and the dwarf is Alice Haslam. They do also have species names of course.

Yes Anng I do know that but Ann sent me a pic of one once and it was just like mine.

Can't seem to get going today but I must.

Mel there are lots of different types of pink asters both single and double, big and small.

Morning all,

Bit cloudier today but still bright if you know what I mean and its 12 degrees and pc says sunny so lets hope so for the rest of the day.

Ann was that the same pink aster that I have blooms about now? I tried to dig a bit of it out last year to put up the border but as its on the rockery bit outside the kitchen window I did'nt have much luck. Its right next to a mini rose that I bought for mum years ago.

No still in a mess but got another big bag full of stuff to go.

Shower packed up for good yesterday so thats something else that needs fixing.

Morning All,

It's 11 degrees here and felt chilly outside. OH has set off for the hospital and I will go to the garden centre next as it opens at 9am. We might go to the carvery today as we should still be back from there in good time for our jabs this afternoon. My headache has gone now so I must get back to drinking more water than I have this week.

I think you are right about standing AnnG as I find my knees are worse quicker with standing than with walking. Best get moving now!

good morning all. feels chilly with no heating on 9 degrees and very grey looking. hopefully the sun will come out later. Nothing planned for today, about the only day this week and next that I can say that. Better do a bit of gardening then.
Vera I do think standing still for a long time is worse than walking for your back. Yes so many colours and shades of colours and the ones that surprised me were the very tiny one in like sprays up tall stems, they would be lovely planted among grasses. However I am not sure they will be good if we get too many summers like this last one as they must not be allowed to dry out.
One of our group spoke to a couple who come over to this side of the country every year from Kent especially to visit this little garden and nursery. They do mail order too which is interesting.

Ann pleased that other half has his op date it will be good to get that out of the way.
And good that the art class was good too.
Mel I had quite a few Red admirals, a small number of a very small blue, lots of whites a couple of small tortoiseshell and a couple that flitted by and I didn't catch what they were. However there are usually a lot of peacocks on the Buddleias and I didn't see one this year.

Evening All,

It feels quite chilly now but the PC says 16.

The Michaelmas daisies are lovely colours AnnG. I lost my favourite one that had travelled from house to house with me. It was a tall one and deep pink with a yellow centre. I must see if I can find a photo. I might pop again to the village garden centre tomorrow and see if they have had any in since I last went. The talk sounds as if it was good.

I look forward to seeing the Owl with the cute sneakers Mandy! :-) Yes It was Izal scratchy paper wasn't it. Everything was stamped with things like HMSO at work, probably so no-one would steal things. Not the pens though, they were the cheapest you could get I think and when I started, you hung onto your pen for dear life as they had a habit of disappearing. You had to hand in your pen that had run out to get a new one then or questions would be asked!

Yes, OH will be glad to get his Hernia done. Unlike last time this will be done with keyhole surgery so hopefully should heal more quickly. I doubt he'll take it easy though Vera. Last time he took a week off work, then a week's leave in which he worked from home and was then driving long distances just to get to work, although he cut other travel in his job for a little while. He has to go back to the hospital in the morning for blood tests, another 40 miles. Apparently the 'blood van' had already left when he went the other day. It's costly having to keep doing these journeys for some though and how will we cope when we no longer drive. Yes watch your back and ease off a bit till it feels better.

The art class was good and was mostly drawing this week although he said we could then add paint if we wanted to. I think I might make a mess of mine if I add paint though, especially if the colour isn't right, but I will see what I think tomorrow. Just 2 others are new to portrait painting. I am liking that there is a lot of tweaking to adjust the likeness as I like detail.

I think we've had less butterflies than usual this year Mel, but I didn't grow the single french marigolds this year that they love. I haven't seen a single Red Admiral this year. Good idea to get the bin filled if you can. You must be gaining some space now.

I felt a bit off and headachey earlier which is a nuisance as we have our jabs later tomorrow. I had to search for our covid tests in case I need to do one in the morning but after a glass of water I feel better so it might be dehydration. I know the last few days I haven't drunk as much.

I did a lap of the park early this morning and was surprised 4 teenage boys were sitting on one of the benches and looking guilty! It was right at the top of the park and they should have been at school by then and the only schools nearby are primary schools. I did wonder if they were bunking off for the day.

Thanks for Anng's pics Ann. They are lovely and a welcome splash of colour in the autumn.

I have been trying to clear some stuff out of the lounge.

Its bin day tomorrow so I wanted to get the bin full.

Ann, thanks for sending on the photos from AnnG. The plants do look pretty and I hadn’t realised they came in so many shades. I’ve seen them in pale pink and various shades of mauve and purple but I don’t think I’ve seen that deep pink before. We have in bloom at the moment several clumps of asters, which are the same sort of flower. Mine are all a deep purple and look great against the gold of rudbeckia and the paler yellow of some argyranthemum. They really cheer the garden up at this time of year. In fact the garden’s not bad at all at the moment. The two choisya plants are having a second blooming, the hawthorn and the crab apple are both weighed down with fruit and the gaura plants all perked up after some rain, including a delicate looking white one that seems to be reaching for the sky and is growing up into the crab apple tree.

I didn’t get any gardening done today as my back hasn’t been too good. I had stood ironing for over an hour and then stood chatting to a neighbour. She hasn’t been well and I think she is a bit lonely so I try and make time for her. She wouldn’t come in so we stood outside for best part of an hour and standing is the worst thing for my back.

It’s good that OH has a date for his hernia op, Ann. He will have to be careful for a while afterwards but it will be a good job done. Did you enjoy the new art class?

How’s all the sorting out going Mel? You are right to think you don’t get called for a mammogram after the age of 71 but you can request to be screened. I haven’t done so as I am not at any particular risk. You’re lucky to have seen so many butterflies this year. Early on we saw quite a few tortoiseshells on the scabious and there have been plenty of whites but we’ve only seen a couple of peacocks and red admirals. We usually see plenty of those on the budleias.

Mandy, I can just imagine the owl in his little sneakers. I hope you’re going to send us a picture.

Lamb casserole tonight. It’s all prepared but I had better go and switch the oven on or we won’t be eating till late.

The talk today was excellent it was Professor Collywobbles with his punch and Judy show. He actually told us the history of punch and Judy and then did a short show. he was excellent and everyone was joining in, singing we do like to be beside the seaside and answering his questions. really good. And very funny.

I got a tall deep purple with a very yellow centre and a dwarf pink. I will check the names later.

Oh thanks Ann for sending Anng's photos ,they do look pretty Anng .

Morning all,

12 degrees here and cloudy.

Anng what colour Michealmas daisies did you get ,I didn't know there was so many different ones they must have looked a picture .

Ann that toilet roll was Izal or something like that ,I hope the print didn't come off that toilet paper , or you could have had Crown Property printed on your nether regions :-D
That's good OH doesn't have to long to wait for his op ,is it in and out the same day .
The little sneakers aren't for Maisie they are for the Owl ,they looked so cute I just had to knit them to see how they looked .

We haven't had many butterflies this year and not to many wasps either, I did hang the wasp traps out with some marmalade in them but it's been mainly flies in them and don't they smell when you empty them .

Gone over really dull now ,not sure what to do today might give the garden a miss today as my back is a bit twingy from yesterday .

Other people have asked me if I have seen many butterflies this year and I have. There have been tortoishells, fratilleries, small white, peacocks and brimstones to name but a few. Even peope in Shebear have asked me. I have also had a lot of moths and big ones at that as well as small ones.

I had a visit from the long tailed tits the day before yesterday when I drove down in the car they were all on the feeder about 7 of them. Always pleased to see those but I do hear them about in the garden and see them fly from the fir trees over the back to the trees up the side on the east side.

Percy pigeon seems to be feeding three quabs and I have never seen him with three before just the normal two. Mrs Percy must have laid an extra egg so now wonder he has been asking for corn a lot. He sees me out on the patio and flies onto the roof to get my attention. They are knwing little things. Its like Phil Pheseant always turns up at feeding times of the chickens to get his share.

good morning all

9 degrees here and, like previous morning mist feeling and autumnal. I hope the early autumn weather does not mean a long hard winter.

Yes the michaelmas daisies were beautiful I knew you could get several colours but not how many colours from deep red through purple and mauves to pinks and whites. But I also didn;t know there were so many different sizes from quite large flowers to really tiny ones like buttons only a fraction more than a centimetre in diameter. and single rows of petal to double and quite puffy flowers.
No I didn't see a single butterfly but then I have not seen many at all this year. I did see a lot of bees on them and on the other flowers as well.

Morning all,

Hazy blue sky here and pc says, There will be mostly sunny skies. The high will be 20,
Its 9 at the mo.

More sorting today I think as tomorrow its bin day.

Hope you all slept well and have woken up bright and breezey, wide eyed and bushy tailed. :-D