General Chat

I'm cooking beef too Vera. I hav'nt cooked it since Christmas and had instructions on that piece but there's no oven heat on this one. Oh like it medium rare so I shall just broown it off and bung it in the oven for the alloted time on 180c. Iv'e done all the veg and pud so you'll know what I am doing today. It always takes me longer than I think.

Could you send some rain this way please? All we get is grey, grey and more grey. I’ve just watered a few pots where everything was beginning to droop and I expect OH will get the hose out tonight.

That’s a sweet little wrist bag Mandy. I could have done with something like that when I used to knit and I'd have to fight the cats for the ball of wool.

That does look a nice walk Ann. It’s good that your knees are letting you walk a bit. We walked to a friend’s house yesterday afternoon just to put a birthday card through the letterbox but she saw us coming and invited us into her garden for a cup of tea. There was no sun but her garden is very sheltered and it was quite warm so we spent a very pleasant hour there.

We’re having beef today. It’s not my favourite but OH likes it so I’m spoiling him. I’m pot roasting it with a good slurp of his red wine in the gravy. We’re following it with a lemon cheesecake I make that everyone seems to like. I had one in the freezer that’s been there for a long while but would serve about 8. I decided to try cutting it in half while it was frozen and put half back in the freezer. I expected it to break or fall to bits but to my surprise it came into two perfect pieces.

Well, I’ve just time for a shower before I need to do anything else with dinner. Enjoy your day whatever the weather where you are.

Some well earned ret lst night then Anng. Perhaps the cough is on its way now. Enjoy your card making today.

Its quite cold out there and its steady rain too. The pc is telling its raining doh as if I did'nt know. It looks like it iis in for the day over us Anng and its only 11 degrees out there but feels colder. Theres no wind so its falling straight down and steady light rain so the gardens should get a good watering today.

Good morning all.And it is actually raining which I am pleased about because the garden really did need it. I don't think there has been rain here for over three weeks.

I slept quite well last night, woke a few times but no coughing thank goodness. Nothing much to do today so maybe some card making, it is a while since I did any

Tesco this morning but that is not a large order, no subs and nothing unavailable this week. There were quite a few things unavailable on the lists when ordering but I had no problem finding substitutes.

Morning all on the first day of May.

Don't know where this year is going but here we are now in the fifth month of the year and now not long till Christmas! It only feels like the year has just started to me not nearly half way through.

It started raining lightly last night and its still raining this morning but its only that light stuff but the ground needs it. All the trees are coming into leaf and buds appearing on the flowers. Spring has well and truely sprung down here now.

Hope you all managed enough sleep last night. I went at 12am which is early for me but I could'nt keep my eyes open, put it down to a nice bottle of Merlot we shared and the gardening of course.

Well I don't think I am having much luck with runners this year so I better sow some short beans. I saved a lot of seed from the long beans last year but do you think I cna find where I put them? NO.

Could it be used for a ball of string in the garden?

Been up the border all afternoon but you can't see what I have done yet!! It is so overgrown with the twitch and the ground is so dry its not good to dig.

Well the greenhouse is up and anchored down in case the wind gets up ,last year it got turned over with the wind and my plants got knocked off the shelf.
It was really warm out there today in the sunshine we started off with jackets on but had to take them off ,now it's turned chilly so we have just lit the fire .

This afternoon I made a sweet little bag that I'd seen on u tube if you want it can go over your wrist and hold a ball of wool when you'd knitting so your wool doesn't drop on the floor and it's handy if you take your knitting outside to do I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out, I might make one for my sister as she likes to knit too but it can be used for other things too.

Just come down from the border and now I am tired. two barrow loads of dead stuff cut down and the frost has bitten the fuchsia up there as it has all dead little leaves on it but I don't care cos I shall get oh to cut it right back as its a thug.

Looking forward to a nice glass of wine tonight but I have to get something to eat first.

Perhaps the numbers of covid have dropped because of the easter holidays and now May bank holiday so they hav'nt been at school to spread it.

We've been to Hatherleigh this morning for diesel and mower petrol and I have done the shop and got a few bit but my scripts were,nt there AGAIN and all ordered over a week ago. Oh has run out of some of his and its just not good enough.

SAnng try putting a pillow under your knees that may help you to stop sliding down the bed. Its worth a try.

Vera glad you have a bit better weather today spo you can get on a bit outside.

Mandy good luck with the new greenhouse I'm sure you will manage it ok in the end so you can clear your conservatory. I must pot my toms on as they are getting a bit tall int he uti room and I think it is safe to put them in the greenhouse now.

Afternoon All,

We slept well, although OH had a headache by the time he went to bed. He's had a few lately but we think it may be his eyes as he should have changed his glasses last year but didn't.

That was interesting Vera. There's obviously a lot going on behind the scenes, more than we know. I remember we both had to do swabs and photograph the test result and send the photos to an online site early in the pandemic, but I think that was to see where the virus was spreading to with ours. The later reporting was for test and trace as well I think, so people would be notified if they'd been near someone with the virus. It must be how they trace contacts of people who get the new strains to know how many have caught them and where they are spreading I would think. We only tested once we thought we had it after the schools started up their meetings on the premises. Arger Fen sounds interesting and it will be nice to see the bluebells before they are all gone.

OH is off to a match this afternoon and I've already forgotten where, but he does leave me a note in case he goes missing! He's cutting back a few brambles that are poking through the fence from the field at the moment and I must get my sweet peas planted out now I've decided where to put them. I ought to start hardening off some plants in the greenhouse, but think I will get them put on bigger trays I have somewhere in the shed, so we can carry them in and out between us in less trips as there are quite a few now.

Good luck with the poles Mandy! I remember struggling when we had a tent in our young days! Yes these short walks are helping a lot, more than I expected, so I'm keeping it up and hoping to lose a few more pounds which will also help them. :-) It's a good idea to put a couple of tomato plants in the greenhouse once the other plants are out of it. We find 2 plants with the small tomatoes is enough for us and enough to make sauce to freeze with.

Mel you managed a bit longer than me with your first..........I managed 21 years. I keep meaning to ask if you have seen anything of the hogs this year? How is your latest project doing? Did you manage to finish it? I found my fimo yesterday and it was hard like you say, but I put it on the window sill and it softened up in the sun. I must do something with it soon though before it won't soften up!.

The cough is a nuisance AnnG, OH's dragged on for a while. Try some lemon juice with a drop of honey in some water to have at your bedside to sip. The cooler air in most bedrooms can set it off after being where it is warmer. Reporting tells them where covid is spreading and how much there is, but I agree with you that most won't even test now let alone report it with having to buy test kits. There are also all the asymptomatic people, which are more since we have vaccines, so anyone could have covid without even knowing.

Well it's decision time now.........to go out with my camera or stay in? I shan't do the usual walk now it is a Bank Holiday weekend, as it isn't relaxing dodging bicycles coming by at speed on a narrow path. None seem to have bells on them to ring a warning. I might have a short stroll around the old part of the village as there won't be anyone around as there are no shops and there are some nice old buildings.

good morning Vera. Lol I am sleeping with three pillows, one more than normal, trouble is I am not a quiet sleeper so I slide down when asleep which is when I cough. Still I did get a good sleep in between so it is not tiredness making me feel weak.

Just had an email from daughter, she is still coughing and feels a lot tireder than normal and her blood sugar is playing up, all, she thinks are the effects of covid, even though she is over it now. Son in law who was the first to catch it from his friend and to generously share it was a bit off for three days but, because he was isolated daughter gor his meals, drinks etc and all he did was sit in a chair and watch sport. He had very little after effects and a day or so after he was covid free he drove us down to mine and while here cut the lawn for me. He just had a couple of days feeling tired before he was covid free.

That was interesting about ONS Vera so me not returning my result has not has an effect on the figures.

well I have done a wash and managed to find some energy to hoover downstairs. Since then have sat down with a coffee and will later go and read the paper that Cynth picked up for me. :-)

Morning all

It's a bit brighter today though still a bit chilly. There's a big duvet cover in the wash and I want to pot up a few more seedlings but I haven't any other plans for the day.

Are you able to sleep propped up with pillows AnnG? Maybe the cough wouldn't wake you so much if you were semi-upright.

Good luck putting up your greenhouse Mandy.

Your walk yesterday sounded nice Ann. I must persuade OH that we need to go to Arger Fen during the coming week. It's only 5 or 6 miles from us and is well-known for its bluebells.

Re. Covid statistics. I worked in social research (half a lifetime ago) and I knew that getting the stats would be more scientific than just hoping people would report test results so I looked up the ONS methodology. I've already forgotten some of what I read but basically 150,000 addresses are sampled every fortnight or month (I've forgotten which). They are asked to do a nose and throat swab and give some sort of blood sample. I don't know how that's done but I imagine they do some sort of finger prick. From the results they get back they can estimate the incidence of Covid in the population as a whole. ONS say they are estimates but should be about 95% accurate and will certainly indicate trends.

Reading this reminded me that I was one of an initial small group (20,000?) that was chosen to do a nose and throat swab at home. I think it was in August 2019 and I think it was to check whether people would be willing and able to test at home.

I've been sitting upstairs at the computer without any heating on and have got a bit chilled so I'm going to make a nice, hot cup of coffee now.

Good morning all. I had a mixed night. I probabl had enough sleep but I woke up coughing. why is it when you have had a cold and the cough has gone during the day, you always wake up with it at night. It has always been the same when I have had a cold. Just as you think it has gone it wakes you up..... sneaky.

The numbers going down could also be because, like us you don't bother to report it. there doesn't seem to be any instruction that you still have to. I actually just forgot. But what reason is it to report something that they have removed the instruction to self isolate?

Morning Mel, morning all,

Frosty here but the Suns melted it away ,its saying its 7 degrees here.

We're going to get the green house up today so I can get my plants in and clear the conservatory a bit everything is coming along nicely ,yesterday I went into wilko and saw a small greenhouse so I got one of those to put some plants in and when the plants come out I can get a couple of tom plants in there .

Ann your getting back to your walks each day now and it must be helping your knees ,looking forward to seeing your painting of the beach .

Anng hope your feeling a little better today and that nasty cough has eased there's no point in testing until you need to go out especially as we now have to pay for the tests .

Mel lovely looking eggs the girls are doing you proud now and fancy the old girl still laying for you .
I had to smile at the two bottles in the box ,I wonder what the men emptying it would have said if you had put it out for collection lol

Vera hope the bruising is getting better from your jab ,it's good you've now or will have that little extra protection.
They say that numbers from the covid are now going down but I wonder if its because there's not so much testing being done now .

Right coffee first then out side to get this greenhouse up and have a fight with what pole goes where even with the instructions we still end up with some connections in the wrong place .

Morning All,

Hope you all slept well. Suns trying to come out but the sky is pale grey. Pc says 10 degrees and sunny so I hope its right.This week seems to have flown by to me.

Today would have been my wedding anniversary if I was still married to my first . 53 years but I only did 28.

Just sent pics

Afternoon All,

Brr it was chilly here this morning , but the sun is out now, although the PC is still only showing 11 degrees.

We both had a walk this morning and went through the spinney where we saw the Woodpeckers.....no sign today. The undergrowth has sprung into life since with dainty, white cow parsley, buttercups and a few bluebells. We crossed the bridge over the canal, saw some ponies had been turned out at the horse rescue, and continued along the boardwalk over where it floods and nearly reached the new Everards development, cafes and cycle hire. We decided to turn back then though as it was quite a way back and I didn't want to overdo it.

I think I have read that mixing the vaccines was beneficial too Vera. Now I know to expect I may be sore after next one! Oh that was a lot to get done with the squeegee with moving things as well, so give your back a rest now.

It is annoying Mel when you dislodge one bit of something while fixing another. I hope it is all in place now. How lovely to get that big, double yolked egg! Your eggs are so nice anyway but that was a bonus! :-D None of the photos to paint have any of that grass Mel. I enjoyed painting that picture of the boat. The one I'm trying just has big rocks in the sea!

I was shocked to see the white scut of a bunny in the bottom of the hedge in the field at the back. There used to be quite a few till cattle started being grazed there a few years ago. Maybe they didn't like the cattle. Once building starts they will be gone again no doubt.

Yes there's no point wasting tests when you know you are likely to still be positive for a few days AnnG and won't be mixing. The factory shop is quite good and sells just about everything and is much cheaper of course. I was eyeing up the halogen cookers, air fryers and slow cookers and thinking they would even save me using the combination oven in the microwave, which although smaller to heat isn't suitable for everything. We had our first month's bill from Octopus with the new charges 2 days ago. I thought the amount extra they said we would need to pay had been exaggerated, but no it wasn't. Of course it should hopfully be less than they say during the summer........before it goes up again in October. :-(

Better go and cut OH's hair next, then pop to the chemist again.

Done a very small bit of craft but by sticking it on I knocked another bit off but its no good trying to get it back on till the other bit is dry. Then I went out in the garden and watered all the pots and strawberries and bits on the rockery. Its really quite hot out there today, sorry Vera, perhaps tomorrow will be better for you and Anng.

I am now going to put a wash in and get the lunch.

Good morning

It's very grey and not very warm here again. You'd think with all those grey clouds we might get some rain to help the farmers but it looks as though it is going to stay dry.

I've got towels in to wash but I don't think there's any point in hanging them out with no sun and barely any wind. I've also washed the utility and kitchen floors, and the downstairs toilet. I haven't done the hall, that'll have to wait for another day. We usually steam clean the floors but I thought they needed a good go with a squeegee and detergent. I think I've said before that it's a big area and by the time I had moved out 10 chairs, a table, waste bins and a tea trolley thing and given the floor a good wash my back was letting me know it was time to stop. OH has gone out and I couldn't move the big dining table on my own so I just washed round that.

I think my arm is a bit less sore today though I still have a large bruise. It was the Moderna vaccine we had this time and several people I know have had a day or two of feeling really rough after it so I think I've got away quite lightly. The only problem OH has had is a slightly sore arm. The nurse told us that it is now thought that a mixture of vaccines offer the best protection. I think I read something about that a while ago.

I hope you are not feeling too bad today AnnG. I agree that once you test positive there's not a lot of point testing again for a few days. It's just a waste of test kits.

OH has just come back and would probably like a coffee so if the kitchen floor is dry enough to walk on I'll go and put the kettle on. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.