General Chat

Good morning all, a bit grey here but brightening up with some blue sky and sunshine 14 degrees so not cold.

Vera pleased that you had a better day yesterday. I have never been to Ramsgate I think I did once go to Margate), and had never heard of the tunnels so I had to google them. How fascinating, I wonder why I have not heard of them. And how useful and a life saver they proved to be during the war as homes for all those people. I bet there are some tales to be told about life down there. The interesting thing is that they were ready before WW2 and not built because of the war. Although I suppose the thinking may have been in case of....! Which tunnel did you go in?

We had a heavy storm during the night so not a lot of sleep again. Seems to be the story of my life. The rain has held off during the day but is starting again now just as we are going to walk back to town for a meal.

As far as Margate is concerned, my aunt lived.there for many years and when she moved she sold that house and bought another for all the family to use for holidays etc so I’ve spent many happy holidays there. My daughter’s first holiday was at Margate at the ripe old age of 2 weeks. It is so sad to see the state of the High Street and other areas I knew. My aunt’s first house was in a little square just off
the High Street and those houses have all gone and the square is now a car park.

OH was ready to go out so it’s now 3 hours later. We had a much better day today at Ramsgate. It seemed quiet and peaceful although there were plenty of people about. We got to the Ramsgate Tunnels about 11 am and had coffee and cake and a wander round the display items before going on the 12 o’clock tour. The guide moved along at a rapid pace, stopping every so often to explain things. Dug originally as a sort of giant air raid shelter, many people ended up living down there if they had been bombed out of their homes and had nowhere to go. It was fascinating stuff and the tour lasted over an hour and a half. At £6 for seniors it was excellent value.

When we came out we had a nice lunch. I had a jacket potato topped with a big mound of roasted veg and some salad. Then we walked along the front and looked round the harbour area and wandered up into the town area. Just as we were passing a bus stop our bus arrived so we got on a couple of stops earlier than we had intended. Was I glad we did. At the next 2 stops the bus got packed solid with schoolchildren.

Tonight we ate at a very nice Italian restaurant that had been recommended to us. Food was good and the service excellent but it was quite pricey. I nearly had a fit when I saw the price of OH’s bottle of beer. Having had a big lunch neither of us wanted starters or desserts so it was just a main course and a drink to pay for.

Tomorrow afternoon we are going to see my cousin in Deal.

I have read all the posts but won’t comment on them at the moment. This post is getting a bit long and I am feeling tired so I am going to make a cuppa and go to bed with my book.

What a shame for Vera that so much of Margate was closed.... hardly welcoming if they want to encourage visitors. I hope today was a better day all round.
Is a bus trip to Canterbury on the schedule, I wonder?

I wonder what Liz Truss' new proposals will mean to us in reality... Time will tell.
It's not going to be an easy task getting the country back on track though.

Still unusually warm in this area, although we have had a few showers today, but no sign of the thunderstorms, which were expected... Hope it stays that way.

Your talk of timers has made me think about what we should do here, although now that daughter works from home and is sat still at her desk for much of her working day, we need some heat for much of the time. Last winter we both spent a lot of time in our sherpa pile feece jumpers, which helped a lot. She also wore fingerless gloves and cosy slipper boots, as she said it's the extremities that feel so cold and she still needs to make phone calls and type letters and e mails.

Mandy there are so many different kinds of those plugs I haven't ordered any yet. So many mention wi fi or Alexa. Did yours need to be linked to anything like that? I did manage to get on the Portrait course so that should be a laugh. I think some people may be dropping out of the courses because the price has gone up. The Landscape ones don't start for another week or two so I may still have a chance yet.

I think we are all thinking about what we use now and how to save. I was wondering if Mel will get paid more for what electric her panels produce now. :-)

Mel I bet the next spending will be on having No 10 all redecorated etc! :-D

Evening all,

I don't know where the day has gone , I've been catching up with some jobs after having the children here ,its been a nice sunny day at times a bit cloudy but nice and warm but my goodness did it rain in the night ,it woke me up about two o'clock it was teaming down .

What a shame so many places were closed Vera I hope you've had more luck today finding somewhere to visit.
Pricey ice-creams but as you say your on holiday so why not have a treat.

Mel you mentioned the Library bus the other day so I take it they have a nice new bus now after the fire with the other one, did they ever find out who did it .

Anng thats good your boiler is ok bar the sticking valve you'll be OK and ready for the winter now .
We have our heating come on about half six until about eight in the morning and it's then we usually light the wood burner ,if its really cold we have had it come on for about an hour around six at night .
Heatings off now but we have the hot water on for about an hour and a half in the morning and for about half an hour at tea time ,the hot water is just for washing hands and washing up as the shower heats the water as we use it and the washing machine heats the water too.

Oh Ann he's stocking up with his books again lol
Shame you missed out on the landscape course but Ernies been good to you again I see :-D
We use one of those plugs on the upstairs television and on the christmas tree ,I think we had a set of three ,I didn't realise you could get something like that it was son who told us about them and they have been very handy .

Afternoon All,

Just had a chuckle at the PC's weather at the bottom LH corner. It's back to 68F again with an umbrella and says 'rain off and on' like yours Mel. 'On and off' would sound better as it can't be off till it's been on can it.

Yes OH would be in both those shops like a shot! lol. He's aready said that he will miss going to the garage that was in the city as there was a good charity bookshop just down the road.

Yes hopefully Vera will have had a better day today. It's an area I don't really know at all and think we did once go to Margate, but it may have just been OH that went. I like bus trips too and enjoyed some good ones around London in the past. I think you see much more on those trips than you do in a car.

That's good your boiler is serviced now AnnG and a new valve will be fitted soon. I'm still waiting for our chap to get back to me.

Well it seems our lovely Chief Police Commissioner who was found dead 12 days after he retired did commit suicide. An Ipad was found in the garage where he was found and he'd researched methods in the early hours of the same morning. Apparently he was anxious about his future and was in touch with his doctor and nurses about his mental health, but told everyone he wasn't having suicidal thoughts.. The article said it was his decision to retire at age 55, but I thought they had to retire at that age, but maybe it was optional like with teachers. I know my cousin's husband finished at that age years ago. He was full of energy and wanting to improve things for everyone, such a waste of a really good man.

After my success with a sale on ebay I have tried something else! It would be good to get rid of a few things I no longer want. Amazon have sent me a £5 off £20 offer so I must see if there is something on there that I need.

I managed to drag myself out to do the walk this morning and took some old bread for the ducks. There seem so many now that the youngsters are as big as their parents. I saw a Squirrel too and there were some acorns on the path as well as conkers and ash keys and a few apples off one of the trees. Not a bad home for a Squirrel with the corn on the cob ri[pening in 2 fields as well.

I don't think I have ever been so underwhelmed by a new PM. and yes, why all the cars?

I was actually just enjoying seeing London from above.

Yes spending all our money.

Just watching as the cal arcade from Northolt ploughs through traffic and thinking how it must be for her from ordinary MP to Prime Minister. They are really getting through rush hour traffic, But six cars !, One Lrime minister.

talking to myself again.

Boiler service done, no problem with that but heating valve is sticking so Oliver will be back on Friday with a new valve. I had my heating coming on at 0630 and off at 1000 and on at 4.30pm and off at 1030pm. I have shortened the times to 0700 to 1000 and 4.30pm to 10 o'clock. that saves me an hour a day. Obviously when really cold I can over ride it but equally I can put a cardigan on. Have to try and make savings somehow.

Good morning all, a bit damp outside and obviously rain overnight so that is good, the water butt will soon be full at this rate and there will be water there just when we don't need it. such is life!!
Boiler being serviced today so hopefully that will be good for the winter.

Ah, yes Ann, I forgot those plants, daughter's late husband used to have cacti and he had some of those. too cold in my conservatory for them in the winter I think. If you do buy the Sedum in flower as I did, be careful when planting them on, maybe do it indoors as the bees try to get to the flowers even as you are doing it.
I spent a long time yesterday trimming off the lavender flowers from my large bush and a very angry bumble bee kept buzzing at me so I had to stop until it moved on. No honey for them in the lavender once the flowers have died but I guess the perfume attracts them.

I think your other half would also like Hay on Wye for the book shops, although I am assuming they are still going strong, years since we went there.

Vera is there a book of general instructions in the house? You might find something in there about the windows. I am sure there will be a way of releasing the limiter. I have found that since Covid a lot of the booklets and instructions have been removed from lettings which is not good. such a book might have informed you about Margate being shut for two days. But how counter productive for tourism and a shame too for you. Still it solved one thing, you (and those of us who read your posts) won't be visiting Margate. what a shame to let a lovely seaside resort get so shabby.

But what a great idea to have that bus on a loop, especially (or maybe because of) with pensioners' free bus passes. I hope today is more of a success. I look forward to hearing about Ramsgate. Being quite ignorant about Kent, I have just looked at the map and can see that where you are leads itself easily to a loop for a bus route. Looks an interesting area to stay, On my map I see there is mention of a viking ship. I wonder if Grandson has been there. See how your holiday improves my knowledge. :-) :-) Have fun today. I love taking the bus on holiday and giving the car a rest. Not that I can do that any more as daughter and son in law are not old enough for a bus pass.

Morning all,

Still windy here and its quite bright at he moment but thye forcast rain and thunder for later in the day and pc says rain off and on and it has'nt got the degrees on it but the local one says 18 degrees.

As you say, Ann, there must be a way of opening the windows fully in case of fire but I haven’t investigated that. If you are ever in Alnwick you must take OH to Barter Books which is in the old station. You might never get him out again!

There’s no sign of rain yet but I have just heard a couple of rumbles of thunder so it’s probably on its way.

Here there is a bus route called the Loop which goes round in a big circle and the bus calls at Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate amongst other places, so today we decided to take the bus to Margate. Big mistake. Everywhere closes on Monday and Tuesday. Turner Gallery, closed; Shell Grotto, closed; Margate Caves, closed; even the Tourist Information Centre was closed. There’s a lot of money been invested in the town to attract visitors but back from the beaches and the attractions everything was very shabby. Even Poundland was closed.

We met another couple outside the Turner Gallery and spent nearly an hour just chatting to them. Then we had a wander along the front and up into the town to find a snack. Eventually we found a Costa Coffee and I had a panini and OH a toastie with a pot of tea. It was very busy, probably as it was the only halfway decent place open. We then got the bus back to Broadstairs and decided to treat ourselves to an ice cream at Morelli’s. We had 2 scoops each in a cardboard tub and said goodbye to £11. However it is lovely ice cream and we are on holiday so it was worth it.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we are going to take the bus and see what Ramsgate has to offer. We may go to the Ramsgate Tunnels. I’ve checked they are open. It will be a play-it-by-ear day as a lot will depend on the weather.

There seems to be quite a bit of thunder now and the rain has started.

That's a nuisance with the window limiters Vera with it being so hot where you are. We were the same at a Premier Inn once and roasted at night, but during our next stay at a Premier a fellow customer told us how to release their particular ones by a series of twists, lifts and unhooking. It was many years ago now and I suppose the regulations are more strict but you must be able to get out if there's a fire.

Books anywhere, new or old (if in good condition) are like a magnet to him! The devil scuttled off into The Works as soon as we reached the Garden Centre. The good thing is he loves a bargain and doesn't spend a fortune on them. He waits till the price comes down on new editions and loves what he finds for under £2 in charity shops. Often they've only been read once.

No doubt your OH's BIL will be in your thoughts tomorrow. I must admit I have thought about having a similar funeral, as I'm not one for any fuss, but I can see a supportive gathering may help those you leave behind. I look forward to hearing about what you did today and hope it ends up a bit cooler for you tonight. We have had a shower of rain this evening that's helped.

Yes we did miss the rain Gwyn. We had a few drops of rain this morning but it really was just a few drops. There’s thundery rain forecast for tonight and then showers for the whole of the rest of our stay. It’s not sunny but is very hot and heavy at the moment. The weather app is saying it’s 22 degrees but feels like 26. As we are back at the house now I have opened the bedroom windows as far as the limiters allow but I fear it will be another hot sleepless night.

I’m not a great fan of fish and chips. On the rare occasions I do have it there’s always too much for me. I’ve noticed it’s gone up in price a lot. At one cafe we were in recently I noticed that a perfectly ordinary plate of fish, chips and peas was £21.50.

It sounds as though you have found a good garage to do your MOT etc. Ann. I did laugh at your OH finding ‘must have’ books. He might like one of the shops here as it’s a bookstore with a bar. You can sit on a sofa looking through a book while sipping a beer or glass of wine. How civilised is that.

OH’s bil is being cremated early tomorrow morning. There will only be the funeral directors there and possibly his wife (OH’s sister). I am not sure about that. It is sad in a way but he had let his wife know that was what he wanted so at least she knows she is fulfilling his wishes.

The internet is a little bit dodgy here so I am going to post this now but I may bbl to tell you what we have been doing today.

No it wasn't as large as from the F&C shop, especially the fish. The chips were delicious and crunchy, but a tiny pot of peas. I can't eat the chippie portions either and this was plenty for me and I gave OH half a dozen of my chips.

The pebble plants are too tender for outdoors unfortunately but are a bit cactuslike and I have mine in a pot in the conservatory. They don't need much water and don't seem to mind the heat in there and are desert plants I think. I saw a nice sedum at the garden centre called Carl. It was full of pink flower and the bees were loving it.

It's bins tomorrow so I'd better go and change the kitchen bin liner.

I've noticed that fish and chips seems to be getting more expensive, when my friends and I go out to be ' Ladies that Lunch ' but £40 really does sound exceessive :-0

I'm like you AnnG in that there are far too many chips for me.
I like to go places where they will offer a smaller portion. There is a great F & C place right on the seashore, not far from here, where last time we went, several of us had a child's portion, which had a medium size piece of fish and generous amount of chips, but not overwhelming, - all for £6.50 and freshly cooked to order.... very tasty too :-D

I wonder if Vera missed the storm like we did.... Not a drop of rain here overnight or since, so the garden still has deep cracks over one foot deep.
It's been a warm, sometimes hot day, so the sun protection cream is still sitting at the ready next to the bathroom sink.
Since my problem last year, I have made sure that I have always used factor 50 on my face and 30 on the rest of me..... and I've had good use out of my sunhat too.

Only 17/18 here Ann so a way below yours, still feels quite warm although we have had heavy rain this afternoon which I am actually pleased about for the gardens.

Gosh that was expensive fish and chips, was it large? so often these days I don't manage to eat the huge plates of chips they give you.
Good to get your MOT booked in, sounds as if they will be OK then.
what sort of plant is the pebble plant? Is it a type of cactus? Drought resistant.Your OH is on a mission to fill up his book shelves then?

Afternoon All,

It's 23 here and 24 is forecast so too hot for my liking. We had lots of sheet lightning at about 2.00am too AnnG and then we had thunder and a nice drenching of rain later which was good for the garden. I couldn't get back to sleep for ages so was up late this morning.

Our surgery has a new telephone system and you can leave a message to cancel an appointment now so I cancelled my next vaccination (MMR) this coming Friday. I decided to get the flu and hopefully covid ones done first as I don't want any side effects to delay me having those. Then I tried the garage and there was still a disconnected sound so I rang the garage the other end of the village and booked a service and MOT. They sound very good and obliging and quoted me the cost (reasonable!) there and then. Amazingly the owner knew Terry from our old garage years ago and described him as a lovely old boy which he was.

We then went to another of our old haunts not visited since before the pandemic for lunch and were the only customers all the time we were there. We were going to have jacket pots but weakened after seeing F&C, but my word over £40 for 2 F&C and a pot of tea!! How prices are climbing! We called in the garden centre nearby next and I got 2 packs of Alliums to plant and a different reddish pebble plant to put in with my others. I got a notepad and ruler from The Works in there and OH found 2 'must have books' and stationery items so those shelves won't have gaps for long. He has said there are more to sort and go though. We came home via the smallholding that takes shredded paper, but still no sign out, so the bags can go with the recycling next time.

Mrs O is still away since over a week, but the workmen have still been coming. This is the 4th week they have been here Mon to Fri, so goodness knows what she has been having done in the back garden. The roof is going on the extension to the asian house now. We don't think it was the old chap the ambulance was for now as OH heard a neighbour ask if their son was ok. We wonder if it was the son who arrived drunk shaking the gates in the early hours that time.

ERNIE has shelled out another £50 for me which is good and will help towards my painting course. Speaking of which another place became available again on one of the 2 landscape ones this morning but had gone by the time I looked at my emails. It was the same day as my portrait one so would have been a bit much anyway.

I need to order some things on ebay next, one of those standby plugs for a start for the tv in the main bedroom. The plug is high up behind the tv and hard for me to reach so it gets left on standby at the moment. It will be nice to be able to get rid of the standby light (and electric cost) by switching it off while lying in bed.