General Chat

That’s a bit of a dilemma AnnG. If you phoned your surgery would a receptionist be able to tell you anything, even how to contact the district nurse to speak to her? Everything seems so complicated these days.

We’re now confused about OH’s hospital visits. He had 2 separate letters in today’s post. One said a blood test should have been booked for him and asking him to get a test quickly and enclosing a form to take when he goes. There are no walk in places, all tests are appointment only. He’s tried ringing to book but I think the line closes at 4.00 pm. His other letter was booking him in a couple of weeks for a CT scan and a camera examination. We thought it was a CT scan tomorrow so we are thoroughly confused now. He is going to turn up at the right place tomorrow and see what happens. And I was bragging about how well the NHS were doing!

Fingers crossed AnnG that you and OH both get sorted out.

I needed to ask the dr that dealt with my leg op referral if she thinks I need more antibiotic as it is not healing. I don't think it is infected but who knows? anyway I used the Triage form which workes as far as getting a reply albeit not from the doctor I wanted. 'they' requested a photo and obviously read my explanation that I couldn't get to the surgery because the only bus is not running there this week because of roadworks. But still did not pass it to the relevant doctor but to another one who was obviously duty Dr fro the Triage. He has just arranged for me to have the district nurse call. Fine, but no way of getting back to him, how do I know when they will call, I am not housebound and if it is PM tomorrow I will be out. But there was no way I could answer his message. And no way of contacting the dr who is interested in my BCCs for which I have op booked in March.

I hope you get a quick call back from your surgery Mandy. Take it easy while you are waiting.

Kingsmill is OK Mel but, like you, I prefer Warburtons Wholemeal. The only thing with Warburtons is that their medium sliced is often quite thick and if I am having a sandwich I like it a little bit thinner, but that's just me being fussy. I've got Tesco delivery this afternoon with 2 subs; 2 small tins of evap instead of 1 large and a half leg of lamb instead of a half shoulder. I'm happy with both those, particularly as the lamb they are sending is £16 but I'll only have to pay £12.60.

I've had a good vac round with my new cordless and am very pleased with it. It picks up well but it did seem a bit heavier than my old one but still manageable.

I've been trying to book an appointment for an eye test. I go to Boots Opticians so rang the local shop number but that seemed to put me through to an automated recording where I had to press 1 to make an appointment and was then told to hold on and I would be put through to the "store opticians line". Well, it rang and rang. After a few minutes I gave up. I tried 3 times with the same result so decided to book online. Went through all the process of choosing my store and saying what I wanted etc only to be told no appointments are available. I looked right up to April and kept getting the same message and being told to choose another store. No thank you. So now we are going to stop in town when we come back from OH's scan tomorrow and I'll go in and book my appointment face to face.

OH has just called out that lunch is ready - just a corned beef sandwich so I'd better go. Might bbl

Shoppings arrived 2 subs my Warburtons wholemeal they sent a Kingsmill instead and my coffee and walnut cake they sent a chocolate fudge cake. Neither went back as I hav'nt any wholemeal bread so I am going to try this Kingsmill.

O Mandy take it easy and I hope you can get an appointment to see someone. My flu started with a funny head.

Just take it easy while waiting Mandy hopefully just a blip

Morning all,

Just rung the doctors to see if I can see someone the last few days I have been a bit heady and my blood pressure is high ,waiting now for them to get back to me

Morning all,

Dull dreary dire dreadful day this morning and its very windy and looks wet ouyt there. The Sparrowhawk is perched on the bird feeder hoping for breakfast and I have opened the window and banged it closed and banged a baking tin on the window and still it sits there.

Shopping comes today so I better get ready .

Good morning all a bit brighter here so far although no sun already 7 degrees, clouds breaking up and some blue sky. I kept waking up and when I didn't, if I slept heavily my back was really stiff. It is still 'pulling' now.
Vera I hope the antib's sort your OH's cough out. Your surgery is very impressive I think, they seem to be taking good care of your OH.
Your talk sounded interesting. Our talk tomorrow could be interesting. (The renassance of swing).
Ann Hope you don't get the snow forecast. I didn't see that list so not sure if we are on it or not, quite possible I suppose. 29th is the 5th anniversary of T's death.
Hope you are wrong re the use of the Care home. That can be a worry.

I found it hard to settle last night. First I was cold, then I was too hot, then my legs were jumping and I was also half listening for OH who was coughing like mad. Still I must have got enough rest as I’ve managed to keep going all day. Weatherwise, it’s been quite a good day. It was a bit cloudy at times but sunshine in between and it got to 9 degrees for a while. Can’t complain at that for January.

AnnG, I can’t remember ever having problems with the controls on my soup maker. I haven’t made any soup for a little while as I had quite a lot in my freezer. My daughter often gives me soups for the freezer as well. Mostly they are made with veg she has grown. In fact we had butternut squash soup today and the squash was out of her garden.

I hope your new slow cooker is a success Mandy. I’ve thought of changing mine which is very old and also has a heavy ceramic pot and lid but I don’t use mine nearly as much as I used to and also the modern ones only seem to have 2 settings, low and high. Mine also has an auto setting which I like so I think I’ll stick with it for a while longer.

My old cordless was a Dyson as well Annx and we’ve been pleased with it so we just went for the updated version of the same one. I don’t need an all singing, all dancing one that costs an arm and a leg. I did consider a Shark cordless which looked pretty good as well. I haven’t used the new one yet but it’s all charged up and ready to go so I’ll probably use it tomorrow. I did have a giggle at the thought of you shooting out of the shower into your bedroom, hiding your blushes and everything else. Our window cleaners can get round the back of our house but they always knock first and ask if it’s alright to do the windows. We’ve told them that we are happy for them to go ahead if we’re not in and, funnily enough, that happened this afternoon. I hope you don’t get the blizzards at the end of the month. In fact I hope none of us get them but there’s still time for the forecast to change.

You’re getting some nice miniatures made Mel. They should sell well for you. As AnnG says, there’s not much to understand about the Tesco club card. Some items will be a bit cheaper with a club card, though those items change regularly and also every 3 months club card holders are sent vouchers for money off the bill. How much you are sent depends on how much you have spent over the previous 3 months. Most supermarkets have a loyalty card scheme.

We had a nice meeting today at the club we go to. November to February we meet in the afternoon as we’re all getting on a bit and some don’t want to come out in the dark and cold. Today our speaker was an actor/singer who used to be in Hi-de-Hi, the old television series set in a holiday camp. He basically told the story of his theatrical life, particularly with regard to Hi-de-Hi and sang a few songs along the way. It was a very entertaining hour.

Would you believe I forgot to make an appointment to get my eyes tested again? I must try to remember tomorrow. I think my mind was on OH and his problems at the moment. He is currently under 2 different GPs at our surgery as he has seen different ones for different problems. This morning he had a call from one of the reception staff to say doctor had seen the X-Ray that was done on Thursday afternoon and had sent a prescription for antibiotics to our local chemist where OH is registered to receive any medication. He just had to go and pick them up. Then he got a text message to ring the X-Ray department at the hospital as GP no 2 had referred him for a scan. When he rang he was given an appointment for Wednesday morning. So in 5 working days he has had a face to face appointment with the GP, 2 telephone consultations with the other GP, an X-Ray which has been seen and acted on and he has got a quick appointment for a scan. I think that’s brilliant service from our local NHS. The only downside is that OH thought the scan was being done at our local Health Centre but instead it’s at the hospital but at least it’s in the morning so he will be able to drive himself though I will go with him.

I think I’m about ready to go to bed and either watch something on the iPad or read. Sleep well tonight everyone.

Two bits of unwelcome news tonight. We are in the list of cities to be hit by snow blizzards on the 29th of this month. I hope it moves away before then as OH will be out in the sticks at a school that night. The other bit of news is that a planning application is in for the old people's home just next to the garage by the island on the main road only about a 7 minute walk away. They are applying for it to be temporary accommodation for people without a home which sounds like it might be for asylum seekers.

Hairdresser in the morning so I'm off to bed now. Tomorrow looks like the best weather for a few days so we'd better make the most of it.

It sounds as if the new slow cooker lid will be safer Mandy. Mine has a glass lid, but has a big knob that doesn't get hot which helps. Yes the windowcleaner used to come on a Monday, at about 9.00am but not anymore. He told OH a few months ago that he's retiring soon, so maybe whoever takes the round on will keep more regular days and times. The glass in the ensuite window is frosted, but that close up you can still make out a lot! lol. I was reminded of the old film 'Confessions of a windowcleaner' when I shot into the bedroom. Luckily the blinds and curtains in there were still shut!

You are making some really interesting things Mel. I expect some people you have sold to come back for more with you finding different things to make too. I have just bought some very cheap little detail brushes from Temu but not tried them yet. The Works don't do the packs of five now, just a pack of assorted sizes and types of brush. I hope these will be ok as the tiny brushes have to be so accurate they don't last very long.

Sounds as if you are making some lovely miniatures Mel they are keeping you busy .

We had a nice veg tray bake tonight with some slices of a gammon joint , I usually just add a little oil and herbs ,but this time I used a little oil with a packet of Honey Roast Vegetable seasoning and I added a little vegetable stock to the bottom of the tin , it made the veg nice and moist and it thicken a little with the seasoning packet and made a little sauce , it was so tasty , I usually just roast the veg but sometimes it catches and the veg can be a bit dry .

Annx you asked what I am doing in the way of my minitures. I have cast and painted a posy bowl of roses and daisies, a tiny honey pot and the last thing I paint on that is the bee on the top and found that the bee had a bubble just on its end but I finished painting it anyway and shall put it up at a reduced price. Done three onion bottles and a cow creamer.

Today we had a power cut I thought it was me at first but when I looked at the fuse box inthe cupboard asll the switches were up so I rang Em and she was out too and as we were talking I heard a click and it all came back on again.

I was making an umbrella (mini) and stained some bits, a spining wheel and a tudor chair and noe I am going to attempt to paint a brown chicken white and stick feathers on it and put it in a crate I made before Christmas. I need to get some pretty things on Ebay.

Afternoon all,

It's been quite a nice day here ,reached 10 degrees and we had some sunshine which was nice , my snowdrops are now out too I noticed them as I went down to the shed .

Oh Ann you nearly got caught in your birthday suit :-D you'd think they could at least say which day they are coming to give you a little warning .

My new slow cooker came a while ago, it still has a ceramic bowl but this one has a glass lid , the lid will be so much better to get hold of ,the old one got hot and was ceramic and I had to try and lift it with a cloth which I was so afraid It would slip out of my hand .
I'm going to try it out tomorrow and do a chicken casserole.

Morning All,

Dull like AnnG says and it's only just stopped that fine, but heavy rain that soaks you quickly.

We were up early having decided on a trip to a garden centre and to have one of their breakfast baps with three items in their cafe. Blow me, I'd just showered and went in the ensuite and OH was in the shower with the bathroom windows wide open when I heard the thud of the window cleaner's cloth on the bedroom window!! I was still drying me when next thing he was at the ensuite window, so scuttled out of there and went to let OH know and to pull the bathroom window shut. OH said couldn't I go and open the side gate with my dressing gown on? He got a 'no' to that suggestion. This was all before 8.00 am. Next thing there is repeated doorbell ringing and neither of us were fully dressed so we ignored it. I thought they would climb over our wood panel fence to get round the back, as they have before, but they didn't. OH went outside to look for him once he was decent but there was no sign, so he left the side gate open in case he came back and we went out. Nowadays we can never be sure what day he will come or at what time which didn't used to be the case. It makes it very difficult to know what time to shower, especially when he doesn't turn up for several days and we don't like having to keep leaving the gate unlocked when we are going out.

We were surprised how few people were at the garden centre, possibly due to the weather, and they seemed to be having a big sale including the EWM outlet. They didn't have either the size or colour I wanted in the things they have refunded me on, but the scarf I ordered for OH was there and £5 cheaper in the sale so that was good. He also found a shirt he liked in the sale, so he did better than me. I ventured outside under the covered area and found small bags of compost, but not what I wanted. The rain was so heavy by then we came home and will take the kettle back another time.

Like you I have a wash on now AnnG and I need to use up some raw chicken up today, so will try a Jamie Oliver recipe for a hotpot I saw on tv that has mustard, tarragon, onion, spinach and mushrooms in it and is topped with sliced potato. I might add a carrot and a few frozen peas and it will use up some odds and ends in the fridge. I was thinking I may start a painted birthday card later and see how it goes. I need to do a bit of admin first though.

Mel what are you doing miniatures of this time?

It's stopped raining now so I think OH will be ok for a walk, even a short one!

Not a lot to understand Mel. If you have a Tesco club card (Mine was issued years ago), there are certain items that are cheaper if you have a club card than if you don't. Items change all the time.

Please send some of your sun to burn off our fog. :-)

Yes it turned very foggy here too but now the sun has burnt it off and I have blue sky with lots of white cloud.

Em popped in with my Plenty rolls I can't get on Asda so she got them from Tesco with her order and at a knock down price. She has a club card. I have never understood these club cards.

still 7 degrees but foggy now.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning here and its only 3 degrees and there was a heavy frost. Pc still saying rainy days ahead and rain for this afternoon. Its supposed toreach a temp of 9 degrees at some point today.

Hope you all slept well.