General Chat

Afternoon All,

It's 16 degrees here so cooler and we were up and out by 8.30am to get fuel and call at the farm shop at opening time. We stocked up with fruit, veg and meat so I won't need much on my Asda order at the weekend, which is just as well being 1 freezer down so less space.

My knee is much better today so I shall do the walk about 4.00pm when the carpark will be almost empty and OH will be joining an online seminar. Vera it takes me half an hour to do my 2 laps which I reckon is just under a mile. It slopes gently uphill one way and downhill the other side. I understand the 'old biddy' feeling as attempts to do more sets me back at the moment and it's the same trying to do too much around the house. Before the pandemic friends stopped asking me to go out with them as I had to keep saying no as I couldn't manage all the walking. It can be quite upsetting and isolating. Walking was a big part of our holidays in the past and I've walked up Snowdon and back down and we would do published walks in the local paper each week, so it's very frustrating too. Having your hair cut and seeing your friend after will make you feel better.

I bet you are pleased you have the new cover sorted on your little greenhouse Mel. It will be good for your plants if we get this promised cold spell soon. How are last years babies in your pond? Are they showing colour now?

That's very true we have someone to share the work AnnG, although they sometimes create it too! It is good you have someone to look after things while you are away as we don't and have to hope for the best! It is odd that Gill isn't picking up any messages or emails. I hope she is ok too.

Mel if you have her phone number a text may be a good idea. I have now tried emailing her but I am wondering if she has a computer problem do a text on her phone may be the answer.

Vera, just keep an eye on the would be head gardener. At least you all have somebody to share the work, although maybe my do if myself is better I am not sure.
Yes. Unthinkable will water my greenhouse and yesterday she gave my dead looking fuchsias in the plastic tomato house a water and also the wild flowers she potted growing. She also let the window cleaners In Round the back. I don’t know where I would be without her.

Not good that you are so tired, not sure if you have but have you seen the doctor about this? Maybe you are low on iron.

Another bright day here but a little bit cooler I think.

Thank you all for the various photos. It looks as though you have a very pleasant area for your walks AnnG. I hope sil tests negative soon and you and daughter manage to stay negative. Will your neighbour do a bit of watering for you if it’s needed?

Mandy, that bird house has definitely seen better days. The school will be glad to get a replacement and Colin is good to make one for them.

I smiled at your under gardener Ann. He looks so intent on his task. I have an under gardener as well but mine thinks he’s head gardener and if I don’t keep a close eye on him I find all my favourites have been dug up and all the colour gone while he has filled the garden with big green things. He’s on a final warning, one more infringement and he’ll be getting the sack, lol.

You sound as though you have been very busy Mel. I hope your OH is making a good recovery now.

Yesterday I had to pick up my meds from the pharmacy and go to the bank. OH decided to come with me and as it was such a nice day he suggested a little walk around. I came back so depressed. I am so tired all the time that I can hardly drag my legs around. It took 40 minutes to walk barely a mile and I had to stop twice en route for a couple of minutes rest. OH is wondering if I have had Covid without realizing it but I have tested so frequently and it has always come up negative so I don’t think it can be that. It’s very frustrating that I seem to have turned in a matter of weeks from an active person considered young for my age to a doddery old biddy. Oh well, there are lots of people worse off than me and I do have a lot to be thankful for.

It's good hearing how your swans are doing Gwyn. I remember them from last year. I want to go and see ours but at the moment I think it is a little bit too far for me to walk there and back.

This afternoon I am having my hair cut. I have an acquaintance who has been trying for a while to get me to go to her house for a cuppa. She lives near the hairdresser so I have agreed to go and see her after my haircut.

It is a little worrying that Gill hasn’t opened your pm AnnG. I was going to pm her this week myself and send birthday greetings to Sandra but there is no point if she isn’t reading her messages. I assume none of you have had a response to any of the photos that have been emailed round but if the emails haven’t bounced back she presumably still has an internet connection. Fingers crossed that everything is OK with her.

I had better get on and sort out some lunch as I need to leave by 1.30. Make the most of the good weather and enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

sO DO i PERHAPS i SHOULD SEND HER A TEXT? Sorry did'nt mean to shout. :-D

Sounds like a busy day Mel.

Just checked sent messages Gill has still not read the message I sent a week ago, Do hope she is ok.

Morning Anng and all,

Bright sunny morning here so far but the sky is a bit hazey with thin white cloud.

I did lots yesterday but lost that post so gave up.

We put the new cover on the little greenhouse yesterday with a lot of huffing and puffing he managed to screw it down to the decking. I think this cover may outlast the frame as it is starting to go rusty.

Got the washing dry and in and aired in the uti room. Lots of other bits and pieces too.

Today I think I will finish off the strawberries and get them all back on their barrow and scrape some more of the muck from my pond off the grass. I may even see if he will put the fence back up for me as I got the smallest bit up but it needs screws.

Hope SIL tests clear soon Anng and you can go home to all your little plants to tend them.

Son in law still positive this morning. That is day six. Trouble will be if either daughter or I get it. Feels like I will be here for ever. Good job we have grandson who can get essential shopping for us.

Good morning all. Sunny again so hopefully another day like yesterday. I sat out in the sun reading in the afternoon while daughter strummed the edges of the lawn (no matter what I do it insists on shanking that word to strummed). And son in law mowed the lawn. He is definitely better. But needs a neg test now.

Island pleased I guessed right.

nd

I give up once again a long post lost.......................................... Bl**dy keyboard.

AnnG - correct! :-D

Oh I was slow sending my post Mandy so I missed yours. You have had a busy time and got lots done. I did 2 loads of washing so that is up to date. My car needs a clean inside as my trainers pick up grit and sometimes mud on the walks and I don't always change back into my shoes when I set off home. I see what you mean about the old bird table being past it's best! It will be good to use as a pattern though as you say. I have some pink bluebells I brought from my old house and there are just a few blue ones in the back garden and I don't know where they came from. I use those to know when the bluebells will be out elsewhere.

Well I don't think we will bother going to Bentley Woods to see the bluebells again. First we had a boneshaking trip through Atherstone over many, many road humps with all the white paint worn off. Then when we got there, we found they had stopped anyone pulling off the road anywhere by building up the banks each side of the road, so I couldn't stop to take photos. Also there were hardly any bluebells compared with 6-7 years ago when there were huge swathes of them. There is another wood called Martinshaw wood, where we have seen them in the past so we might go there next.

Then when we got home, OH went to take icecream out of the freezer to find things had melted and refrozen!!! It is the 22 year old freezer so it isn't surprising. Anyway, everything that was in there is in the bin now and I will order a new freezer next week. At least with it being the food drop this Sunday it was only half full. :-S It's not worth trying to claim on the insurance as they will only bump the renewal premium up next time.

I've sent a photo of the old bird table they certainly need a new one ,Colins got the old one to use as a pattern for the new one ,it was attached to a post it didn't have a stand and son couldn't get the screws out so he just sawed it through .

Well it's been really warm here ,I got the car hoovered , polished inside and washed outside ,I took all the coloured slate that I have round the edges of the big pots that have the hostas in and gave that a wash ,I hoovered through downstairs and hung some washing out so I've had a good day .

Ann did you get to see the bluebells ,mine are now starting to flower in the garden I dig some out every year but still they come back.

Trying to guess the connection Island are you thinking of a photo?

I had elf on a shelf in mind, didn't expect father christmas :-0 :-D :-D

Afternoon All,

It seems we all have a lovely day now and it's reached 14 degrees here.

Yes once he gets stuck in there's no stopping him Mandy, but he's paying for it with his back today and he had one of those leg cramps in the night and his leg was still sore when he got up this morning. That is kind of Colin to make a replacement bird table for the school. It's good the schools have these things now and I expect some children ask their parents for one at home and it gets them interested in wildlife and taking care of it. The children here don't go back to school till next week but I'm not sure when they broke up for Easter now.

Another nice walk then AnnG and some butterflies to see. As Gwyn says you have extra time to look around and relax till you go home.

That's good your OH is feeling a bit better Mel. Taking it easy for a few days will do him good.

OH has offered to take me down the road about a mile to see which building I have to go to for my eye assessment on Monday. It is on an industrial park full of all different offices surrounding a lake. I might see if he will take me to some bluebell woods afterwards. I will put my camera in my bag just in case. :-D

Had another walk down the lane saw several butterflies but they were too quick so couldn’t see what they were, small ones.
It is a gorgeous day, clear blue sky and sun and no cloud. Just sat in the garden fir half an hour and had to come I. As I was too hot.

Thank you for sharing a photo of your walk AnnG and thank you Annx and Mel for fowarding it.
I bet the bees love all that gorse flower.
Your extra time there will enable you to explore other walks too.

Good to read that Mel's OH is somewhat better. I hope he makes steady progress and is soon back to normal.

Colin is doing well with the bird table, Mandy.
The school must be so pleased to have him on their staff, when he can lend his hand to so many skills.

I'm just back from picking up a prescription in town.
I was surprised and pleased to see that most people on the bus were wearing masks. A few picking up medications in the chemist were not though :-|
It's a lovely day here, with bright blue sky. There is a fairly steady breeze, but it's not at all cold.

Good morning Mandy and everyone. It is a lovely sunny morning here but still quite chilly. Feels strange to be still here I should be on the way home today. Good job there is nothing but the garden pressing at home.

Is it just a straight bird table or an ornate one Mandy?

I messaged Gill three days ago but she has not opened it. Maybe she has computer trouble.

Morning Mandy and all,

Bright sunny morning here too Mandy. We need to see a pic of this bird table Colin is making please. The school will be so pleased with it when its done and in place.

Pc says 11 degrees and sunny so I hope it stays that way today.

I forgot to put my washing out yesterday so must do that today while its in the sun.

Nothing else planned so see how the day goes. We are not having F & C's tonight as oh still is'nt eating much but seems a lot better today as he has got dressed and is talking more.