General Chat

Vera I have not heard of having to have a number. however I have a full box of tests as I have not taken one test yet, not having visited anywhere that I have needed to. I will take the box of tests to daughters with me.

My brown bin is empty again but it will stay that was as I am not doing any more gardening.

We always had the ivy geraniums in the conservatory but I can't do that now as the bars were removed when the roof was done. they are pretty hardy so will be ok in the greenhouse on the bench. and I agree re watering, I never watered them more than once or twice all winter so I will continue to do the same. I just wondered if I was doing it right. The same with the fuchsias.

It’s a mild day but no sign of any sun and it’s been sort of damp without actually raining.

I hope everyone’s aches and pains aren’t too bad today. OH’s back is a bit iffy today but otherwise we are OK.

Ann, I agree with Mel. Don’t water your geraniums much at all in the winter, depending on where you are keeping them and how warm it is. Mine are in a little zip-fronted plastic greenhouse outside or in an unheated conservatory and I doubt if I water them more than once or twice in the whole of the winter. Even then they only need enough to moisten them a bit. They’re tough old plants but they don’t like being drowned or sitting in water.

I had to go in to town this morning and was surprised at how busy it was but people were generally being good about distancing in the shops etc. and I noticed more people using the sanitizer again. I wanted to get some more rapid flow testing things. A friend had gone into the chemist at our local Sainsbury’s to get some more and they asked for her “number” – the collect code reference. She didn’t know about this and so hadn’t got one. They grudgingly gave her a pack anyway and lectured her on what to do when she needs more. So I went online yesterday and got a number which I took to the chemist where I get my meds. They had no packs left and told me the other pharmacy in town and also Boots were out of stock as well. The assistant then very, very quietly said to me “Try the library”, which I wouldn’t have thought of. The library had just a few packs left. I’d have liked 2 but felt it would be unfair to take 2 and maybe leave others without any so I just took 1 pack. I offered the librarian my “number” and was told “Oh, we don’t need that”. Looks like another case of left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

I wonder what’s happening about jabs in the towns they show on TV where people are queuing for hours. Are the pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries in those towns not doing them? All the pharmacies round here are doing the jabs and none of them have long queues. The one I went to this morning had 5 or 6 people queuing so no-one would have had to wait very long.

This afternoon I’ve spent another hour in the garden and the brown bin is now full and will be emptied tomorrow. There are still a few jobs to do out there but I can look out of the window now and see the bones of a garden rather than a scruffy jungle.

Tomorrow we are going to pay a Christmas visit to someone at Southend and we’ll do a test before we go as he lives alone and is vulnerable. We won’t go unless we both get a clear negative result, then on Thursday our friends M & V are coming for an afternoon cuppa. We’re happy spending time with them as they test all the time because their granddaughter is vulnerable.

Our next door neighbour that cooks on Zoom with his grandchildren overseas is still bringing us goodies. This morning his wife brought in 4 huge Malteser cup cakes that he’d cooked yesterday evening. He is not doing my waistline any good at all but I think a cup cake might go down very nicely with a cup of tea right now.

finished the wipe down now going to do some soup for lunch. 13 degrees here now and still cloudy.

Thank you for your card Ann Red squirrels are so cute, love it!!

Morning Anng and all,

A very dull and dreary morning here but its not that cold and pc is showing 12 degrees and there 's no wind and definately no sign of sunshine anywhere.

Anng let your geraniums get really dry and only an egg cup of water at a time about every two to three weeks. Its the water that will kill them if they are too wet. Mine in the lounge don't even get that much water as I hardly ever water them.

Big wipe down day and I have to add more to the Christmas order for Asda as they don't come between the 21st to the 4th of January so I have to stock up. What has annoyed me is they are only doing a reconstituted smoked gammon joint this year and last year it was a real one and absoluted lovely but we don't like the made up ones which I call jelly ham.

good morning all 10 degrees so still not cold,anyway, I got the last bit done in the garden yesterday so all is well there, have to go to the post box this morning so that will get me out for a walk if it is not raining. And I had better flick the duster round too.

so his couple of weeks are all planned out then ann, maybe a rota on the wall for a few jobs? :-) :-)

He's not one that notices what needs doing at home AnnG, but I will point him in the right direction! Lol. He will still get some work through online I expect and he has his tax return to do. He also has a couple of poorly attended footie matches planned for later this week. He got a surprise speech singing his praises tonight and a bottle of wine. It was in recognition of his support and help.

I hope they can soon get you an appointment for a booster Mel and not too far away.

Instinct was right then Mel I have watered them very infrequently as I used to in the conservatory. Thanks.

Ann no more meetings for your OH before Christmas, he won’t know what to do with himself. Still he can help you! I am sure that will be a relief!

Instinct was right then Mel I have watered them very infrequently as I used to in the conservatory. Thanks.

Ann no more meetings for your OH before Christmas, he won’t know what to do with himself. Still he can help you! I am sure that will be a relief!

The practice manager is ringing me tomorrow.

Toady in the old hole tonight.

I'll try just a trickle this time then Mel. The last bit of the bike is much lighter now, but I will help him with it. We still might see if it will go in the bin next time. I bet his briefcase he's taken tonight will be heavy as well.

I hope your doc has phoned back now. I saw today that the NHS site is overwhelmed with people trying to book boosters. So many places are being added to get them at though, there shouldn't be a problem shortly.

nn don't water the geraniums through the winter. I have one in the shed and I just give it a trickle every few weeks. The one in the lounge has been in there for three years and hardly ever gets watered through the winter.

Mum tried hers one year in paper carrier bags in the loft knocked all the soil off them and they were ok. as to the fuschias just a little now and then but let them get dry first. I have two in pots but they are hardy ones and they stay outside.

Don't let G pick the heavy bit up with his hernia.

Yes a doc rang me but still no joy with an appointment for our boosters. She was going to ring me back but did'nt but I was on the phone for a little while after she first rang.

Afternoon All,

Dull here most of the day. We were up early and OH was ringing the garage at 8.15am and to his surprise got through! They were closed on Friday, but said someone should have answered the phone Thursday. They said to bring the car in which we did straightaway, then came home and called in the next villlage to post some cards and a parcel. On the way home we got a call to say the car was ready to pick up so we carried on into the city to collect it. It was a damaged seal on the oil filter, but who knows if it was damaged when they put it on or whether they damaged it. There was no charge anyway. Not much evidence of working at home having started judging by all the traffic. OH thinks it will be worse than people going to work, as he thinks they will be out shopping and mixing more than if they were at work. A mobile phone means they are contactable anywhere.

When we got home the windowcleaner was up the road. I went to get something from the freezer and stepped very gingerly across our patio, not gingerly enough though! As I leaned back a little to open the small door at the back of the garage, my foot shot forwards, luckily only about 18 inches before it hit the brick wall under the doorstep. I still had hold of the door handle so managed to stay upright, I must wash it down with something, but told OH to warn the window cleaner which he did. Apparently their worst problem is with ladders on slippy patios which have caused a few falls.

I now have my emails back, so yippee! :-D I can't help but wonder if it is a coincidence with me having phoned them?

OH has his last meeting before Christmas tonight, I'd forgotten this one. They are asking everyone attending t have a lateral flow test, so we did that and he was negative, It will be in a huge hall with a ceiling several floors high and next to outside doors. One of the places he goes to is having a leaving do with invites for partners. How daft is that and no example to set!

I think I've overwatered my geraniums in the greenhouse before when I tried to overwinter them in the past AnnG, so I'm letting the compost get quite dry this time to hopefully stop them rotting. That was sad news in your Christmas cards. I wonder if we will get any sad news too as we are all getting older with elderly friends. Well done getting your garden finished off. We still need to do a bit of clearing up.

OH has dismantled more of the old exercise bike and put it in the bin but the rest is welded so will have to go to the tip as it is too big for the bin.

I like getting and sending cards as well AnnG but I only send to our extended and scattered family and friends. It still adds up to around 60 but we used to send about 100. Members of the local clubs we belong to and local friends get a slip of paper wishing them a Happy Christmas and telling them instead of cards we have made a donation to whichever charity we have chosen that year. I started doing that some years ago after one evening at a Club meeting I handed someone a card and they handed me one back and so it went on through all the members and it just seemed faintly ridiculous.

In the post today was a card from the one person I had missed off my list and a lovely card to me and OH, sending all their love, but unsigned. The envelope gave no clue as it was in a different handwriting to the card and with a postmark that didn't relate to anyone I know. I've decided it was probably from my 86 year old rellie who has dementia but I am not sure. Last year I had 2 cards from her, one addressed to my real name and one to my childhood nickname. It's so sad to see the bright, bubbly person she used to be changed into someone almost unrecognisable.

I am sorry you had sad news in your cards AnnG. It seems to happen more and more often now as we, and of course our friends, all get older.

Has the doc rung you yet Mel? I hope you are not hanging around waiting stil and that everything was OK.

I did hope to get in the garden today to do a bit more clearing up but didn't manage it. By the time I had done several loads of washing and a few other jobs it was too wet out. It hasn't poured with rain today but it's been mizzly all afternoon, the sort of rain that soaks you through without you realising it. Our garden bin goes out tomorrow night and I want to get as much as possible in it in case the council workers get badly hit by Covid and the brown bin collection gets suspended again as it did last year.

Guess what we have for dinner tonight? Cold, roast beef. I'm not in the mood for doing anything interesting with it so it will be cold meat, oven chips and baked beans.

The computer is telling me that it's 10 degrees and partly sunny. That's clever as the sun has set and there are only a few pink streaks left.

It's definitely time for an afternoon cuppa so I'm off to put the kettle on.



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Ask her if she got mine too Mel please. Hope she is ok probably just busy.

Been hoovering up in the kitchen and diner and the lights had all cobwebs on so they have gone now too. The doc is supposed to be ringing me this afternoon about a review of my scripts but I wish she would hurry up so I can get on with something. I hate having to wait around for a call that may never come............. :-(

Thats was very sad news you had in your cards today Anng.

I wonder how Gill is getting on? We hav'nt heard from her for ages now and I need to know if she recieved my card. May have to email her just to put my mind at rest.

have just spent half an hour in the garden, brown bin day and it was empty can't have that and as it is relatively warm I managed to finish the garden off for the winter, all cut back now that needed to be done. It was mostly the large sedums that had died and sprawlwd over the helebore leaves. Bin is a third full now, tidied up the front when I put the bin out there so that is done too. Watered the greenhouse, I don't know how often that needs doing in the winter, it is only fuschias and geraniums in there plus a cordyline Anyone know?

I do like getting cards but am getting a bit nervous opening them. today one card told me my (younger) cousin has had a bypass and defibrillator fitted and is not allowed to drive. I think he is about 73, big lad, quite active, his dad died of a heart attack in his 60s, my Dad's younger brother.

Then the next card told me about a friend from where we used to live, I worked with his wife when we first moved to Beds and we became friendly as a couple, T was about a year younger than him. He has apparently had a massive stroke and they have removed all tubes etc said there was no more they could do for him and are giving him palliative care, however her note was written 7 days ago so I don't know if he is still alive or not So a difficult letter to write. She is, at least, able to visit him in hospital.

Ah found another note in the card that said just after she wrote the first note they had a call from the hospital to say he was fading, they went but were five minutes late RIP Jeff. He was a lovely man, very funny.

Mandy thank you for your card.

Live dangerously Mel ;-)