General Chat

Morning all,

Nice bright morning here but a but chilly .

Mel hope OH is feeling better was it a bug he got from cleaning your pond do you think

Ann your OH looks like a man on a mission with that shrub lol has he cut it all out now .
Anng hope you sil is feeling better and you and your daughter are still both OK with no signs of covid .

I'm going to give the car a good hoover out today it has-been done for ages might even give it a wash ,Colin is making a new bird table for the school as the one they had was so rotten and the washer has now finished so I must get the washing out first ,children all back to school today the holiday went so fast .

That should save quite a lot of time with the quicker charge then AnnG. I was just thinking how much quieter the motorway near us would be with silent engines, but of course much of the noise there comes from the tyres. I suppose no noise could be a problem till people got used to using their eyes more, but it must be like that for a deaf person anyway. Motorcyclists with their helmets on and the noise from their own machines must have to be careful too. I think some do have a humming noise, but then that uses battery power.

I have potted on my 4 tom seedlings and a couple of lettuce seedlings and the rest of the African and French Marigolds but am not sure what to do with the free Pak Choi seedlings yet. I'm not even sure what Pak Choi tastes like or whether we will like it so there's no point growing many of them.

OH has just gone out to cut more of the bush down.........he's got the bit between his teeth now! He said all the stems at the base are rotten, so no wonder it was dying.

The neighbour next to Mrs O came over to tell OH his car is dripping oil on the drive, which we knew and the garage fixed it and is not worth cleaning off till we get the new car as it may happen again. I think it was an excuse to come and complain about Mrs O putting a 9 foot fence between them! Their bungalow and drive are about 3 foot lower than Mrs O's so the 6 foot fence we see at the front to me seems allowable, but we don't know what the height of their back gardens is like. The upshot seems that he has been to the council and so it rumbles on. As they fell out with Mrs O ages ago, I would have thought they would be glad of a high fence. We don't intend to make any comment about it in case word gets passed on that we are in agreement with the neighbour. You have to be careful not to get dragged into these disputes don't you.

I still haven't put the washer on so better do that next.

Daughter’s car should do 200 on a full charge, the garage actually tested it when it was for sale.

Yes the new charging socket should deliver a full charge for the car in 8 hours instead of 12/13.. I am sure cars will progress and go further as time passes. Travelling in it I don’t notice any difference. The only disadvantage with them is they are silent and cyclists seem not to hear them coming up behind them and I would worry about walkers too if walking with their back to traffic. Reversing daughters car does have a noise that activates in place of the engine.

Afternoon All,

Sunny and 14 degrees here now and I slept well last night. We had a lamb roast like Gwyn today and very nice it was too.

OH has strained his back pulling the trellis posts out on Sunday. I had told him not to waggle the tree stump from the Acer till I could help, so what does he do.........waggles the fence posts instead. :-S He's back outside trimming back more of the shrub now so the bits will fit in the garden bin. Yes it's a golden Choisyia Mel, but the main stems have been rotting away the past few years and it looks sick. It is 22 years old so has done well and I will probably get another as it was a favourite and like sunshine in the garden in winter.

That sounds like a nice walk with lots to see AnnG. I hope the recharging plug is fitted now. I read somewhere that special sockets are needed. I think EVs are ideal as a second car that is mostly just for short errands. Not ideal for OH as he did 150 miles to the matches he went to yesterday and I tend to go further in normal times. I'm sure by the time I want to change mine in a few years they will be able to go further between charges. I see they are looking at all cars having speed limiters next.

Sorry your OH has been off colour for a few days Mel. Maybe he got a bug from the pondwater when he cleaned your pond out. Hopefully he will be ok soon and feeling better.

I'd better get the washer going and then prick out some of the dwarf french marigolds. It should be a bit cooler in the greenhouse now as the sun has just gone in.

Well the sheep and lambs were all still laying down but I did go fir a walk about three quarters of a mile all together. Just down the lane behind the estate to a spot from where you can see the sea and Maryport and Scotland in the distance. It clouded over and was not very warm but stayed dry and the fresh air was very nice.

I was going to go for a walk but need to wait until the sheep have moved nearer the path. Contrary as they are they are right down the far end of the field.

Lets hope the electrician is not too long and you can go out later.

Good pics of G ann. He looks well and happy in his work. Is that the yellow Choisia he's cutting down?

Order has just arrived and I am now going to do the big wipe down. Not such a big order today but 6 subs four of which went back. I don't like salad with rocket in it or white mushrooms in such a huge box they would'nt go in the salad draw and would take up a whole shelf nearly in the fridge and two bottles of soda water instead of tonic water which oh drinks. Also big white rolls instead of Warburtons cut rolls for our burgers.

Good morning all. Shame your walk was a bit spoilt by young cyclists. I suppose they are safer there than on the roads but they should have respect for other people. Any chance if checking with the local council if cycling is actually allowed there and, if it is, asking fir a sign to give priority to pedestrians?

Vera it is always so nice to have clean paving slabs. I must get somebody to come and do mine, it will be worth paying somebody to do it.

Mel I am sorry that your OH is not well. I am assuming he has not had any contact with people outside the home so Covid can be ruled out?

It is a day around the house for us today as daughter has to be here to supervise an electrician coming to install a fast charger for the electruc car. Sadly SiL can’t do it with Covid. The plan was he would stay here and see to it and we would go to. Uncaster castle. ‘The best laid plans’ etc!

Morning vera and all,

I'm please you slept quite well Vera as you deserve a better night after the ones you've had lately.

Pc is saying 2 degrees and sunny and it is at the moment so lets hope it stays that way as we have lovely blue sky and sun at present.

Big wipe down day so I must get ready and I am hoping its nice Dan again today and not the giggly one as there are two Dan's. Just having a coffee and then a shower I think.

BBL

Good morning all

It looks as though it’s going to be cooler and cloudier today. I hope it stays dry as I must do some washing and want to get it dry outdoors. I have to go in to town some time between 1 and 3 but otherwise I have no plans for the day.

Sorry to hear that your OH is under the weather Mel and hope he feels better today.

I had quite a good night and hope you all slept well too. Enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

Oh is still off colour and has been for the last three days. I think he overdid it cleaning my pond out for me.

All I have done today is make 20 sausage rolls for lunch thinking he would fancy those......no just a couple of glasses of tonic water a small coffee in the afternoon and I made him his orange jelly with manderines in it for his tea as he asked for that. He ate two bowls of that with icecream.

I did a klittle bit of craft this afternoon.

Sounds like you have a nice clean garden now Vera if oh has had the washer out again getting ready for the summer.

Well I forced myself out to do my 2 laps by the ice house. I'm glad I did though as I think the weather here tomorrow may not be as dry as rain is forecast. Annoyingly there were a few adult, younger people there with it being a BH and I saw 7 riding bikes on the footpath in several different groups. No warning bell when they come by you and expect you to move off the path out of their way! It has never been meant for cycles, but people seem to think it is ok to cycle anywhere that pedestrians walk these days. Mothers with babies in prams walk there and I've seen several carers with people in wheelchairs. It isn't fair, especially as there are so many cycle lanes and tracks nearby. Two were just riding round and round.

Vera you OH is doing a great job with the pressure washer. It does make such a difference when the slabs are cleaner. I rinse the mud splashes off the windows with the washer lance held just close enough to do it before moving on to a new patch. It's good if the physio exercises are beginning to help and that you've managed to get some jobs done, but what is it they say......proceed with caution!

I bet it was nice having a meal at your daighter's Gwyn. We are having a lamb roast tomorrow, it's my favourinte too. I wonder when it will be that the swans hatch and how many there will be. Those Gardener's World magazine offers are good aren't they. I seem to remember buying the magazine just for the coupons one year.

Off to bed now.........OH is already there after his long day standing at 2 matches.

Yes the beach walk was chilly but invigorating. It is a lovely beach with grass growing all along behind it. Totally uncommercialised, just one ice cream and take away coffee shop, no amusements. Last July when we were there it was popular with families and children but never looked crowded. They were, as usual doing a good trade in ice creams despite the weather. It must be lovely to live near and walk every day. The tops of my legs are pulling this evening.

Yes Ann we have done quite a few short walks which is good I must keep it up when we go back as I need to stay fit for Dorset in June.

My goodness, what a sleepless lot we are! I also had a bad night. As you know I often sleep poorly but I usually just lie there quietly or I read. Unusually for me, last night I had a niggling concern which was going round and round my brain. Of course, the more I told myself to stop fretting about something I couldn't change, the more worked up I got. Stupid, isn't it? I heard OH get up at 4 am to go to the loo so, as he was awake, I had a little chat with him which calmed me down a bit. I then made myself a cup of tea and went back to bed but knew I was still going to be unable to sleep so lost myself in a book till turned 6 am. I did doze off then and slept till 9.30 am. Needless to say, things don't seem nearly so bad in the light of day.

That was a good walk you had AnnG, though I bet it was chilly with the wind off the sea. Walking through sand can be hard work and can really make your leg muscles ache. I love those beaches that are nearly deserted and you can walk and hardly see a soul. I think that's why I love Northumberland so much.

I know I must start walking more again but I can't seem to get motivated. I have tried to get some fresh air today by doing a little bit in the garden. I've cut down the rest of the penstemon plants and did some weeding and tidying up of other plants. My back seems to have stood up to that quite well. I think the exercises the physio gave me to do are helping. Otherwise I have done nothing today except make some soup for lunch. There's enough left for the 2 of us for lunch tomorrow and a single helping for the freezer.

I shall now go and make OH a cuppa as he must be ready for one. He has had daughter's pressure washer out again and has done all the garden part and the long paved walkway down one side of the house. He just has the shorter walkway down the other side to do and then it'll be all the paving at the front. The patio etc looks a different colour now but you should see the state of my windows :-(. I think he has managed to spray all the dirt and muck from the paths over the glass.

So pleased for you Vera that your day went so well on Saturday.
Some lovely special memories there looking back, but beautiful flowers to enjoy in the future. - What a lovely idea.

Lovely meal at daughter's house yesterday, so we are having our previously planned roast lamb today, - younger daughter's favourite.
It's back to work for them both tomorrow and the local schools return for the summer term too.

Do any of you buy the Gardeners' World magazine.?
May's edition has a 2 for 1 entry voucher for several gardens nationwide. There are also 6 free packets of seeds, - a mix of flowers, herbs and salad leaves.
The magazine is not cheap, but if you are likely to visit gardens or plant those seeds, it would soon cover the cost.

Not long back from visiting the swans.... no sign of young ones yet, but it can't be long now before the eggs hatch. No sign of the 12 mallard ducklings which my daughter photographed there a few days ago either.
I haven't seen any myself locally, but they nest in quite a few gardens around here and is not uncommon for traffic to stop and wait for the little families to cross over the road to the waterway.

Oh yes we did AnnG. I looked up Alonbery as I don't know that coast at all above Workington. The beaches look nice and natural and quite wild how I like them and no-one around either which is good. Soft sand is hard work to walk through so you would feel as if you had walked twice as far. You have done quite a lot of walking on this break. Your weather has obviously improved. as it has here as well and is nice and sunny now. I think I will go out, maybe for the walk, but I want to drive past a couple of local garages as well to see if there is any fuel shortage as I shall need to fill up before much longer.

Missed you there Ann. I slept until 4.30 then just dozed we top and tailed the night between us. Sun is out here now and nice blue sky with fluffy white clouds but not that warm.

Had a half mile walk at Alonbery across the sands. Because the sand is very sof your feet sink a bit which makes half a mile more like a mile.the sun came out while we were there but there was a strong cold wind. It certainly blew the cobwebs away. I bet our legs ache later with the effort though. Back home now for a coffee. The beach there is five miles long.

Morning All...just!

I was up late today as I didn't go to sleep till after 4.00am. Now I feel leaden!! OH has gone to 2 matches so I have the day to myself. Shower and hairwash next and something to eat I think. It's 12 degrees and weak sun here and very quiet in the close today. BBL.

Morning all,

Brightish this morning with some sunshine but its a bit hazey. Just having a sneezing fit....

Pc says 12 degrees and mostly sunny so we will have to see how the day goes.

Got up late because I went back to bed after a visit to the bathroom. Its always the same I shoudl have got up then and stayed up.