General Chat

Ann I have two different kindles and I do read on them especially when away but I do like proper books. The advantage of a kindle is being able to enlarge the print.

I thought, as I have bought most presents and there seem to be a lot, I should start wrapping them. Just as well at the speed I seem able to go it will take me until the beginning of December to do them all. Gone are the days when I could crawl all over the lounge floor cutting the paper and wrapping. Now it is kneel painfully down and wrap them on my lap one a lap tray. I think I am now going to start cutting the paper to fit on the table, might have to put a cover on to protect it.

Just lost a post as I was about to press submit, what a pain!

You have been busy AnnG and it's good to get stocked up with books to read. We still prefer the feel of a book to a Kindle, although they must be a boon to take on holiday. I managed to clean the microwave, hob and sink but it's my lot for today as I must get back to painting.

Vera, my OH would be more likely to get someone in, but expect me to organise it! A few years ago we had the same with a squirrel leaving the green outer casings of walnuts on our driveway and patio. The houses on the main road that back up to our close have long gardens and we thought there must be a walnut tree in one of them. Your lunch sounds very nice! Our patio is in the same state as yours with not having been washed this year. I'd still like to get it done as I worry about the windowcleaner breaking his neck as it is very smooth and gets slippy.

I see that Asda have sold out of turkeys now! We are off to the farm shop during the week so will see what meats they have. We would be happy with a nice leg of lamb for Christmas Day and then have Turkey in the New Year if needs be. There's always the farm where we used to get them too and they don't take orders till next month anyway. We have already set aside some choccies and managed not to eat them. :-)

That's poor that the doc hadn't even signed off your prescription Island. Let's hope he has now. Before the pandemic I used to pop to one or two of our local Art Exhibitions and I miss that. It is amazing what good work some do even at a local level. I like Bon Marche too and buy a few things. Lunch out is always good. :-) My eyes are better than what you describe about yours but after 4.30pm mine get too blurry to read the computer very well now. Frustrating isn't it! Cataracts in my case and I do hope they will refer me at my next checkup.

Your ornaments are so cute Mandy. You are very clever. I bet the grandchildren love them. Will the naughty elf put in an appearance again this year?

Yes, I see what you mean about looking ahead AnnG. Having been brought up with rationing I suppose our generation do it without really thinking about it. As Gwyn says, with modern freezers most of us could produce a reasonable Meal for Christmas even without turkey and pud.

Ann, your OH sounds just like mine :-). The difference is that if mine couldn’t read the message on the washing machine he wouldn’t get me up. He’d dismantle the machine to find out what was wrong! Hope you have enjoyed your lunch.

Mel, OH usually does all the paved area around our house with Wet and Forget in the spring. It didn’t get done this year because it was always raining when he was free and then he’s been unwell. I think it’s good but a bit limited in what it will do but I asked him if we have any in the garage and he said there’s only a tiny bit left. However I’ve at least got him thinking about cleaning the patio bit. I’m glad your hip is a bit better but don’t overdo it.

After I’d got our veg prepared and meat in the oven I was going out to do some more planting up and OH was going to pick up more leaves, then it rained again. I had enough of getting wet yesterday so I’ll be giving gardening a miss for today.

We have a squirrel living somewhere nearby and he uses our garden as a short cut to a neighbouring walnut tree, regularly burying his walnuts in my pots. I’ve just seen him hanging upside down on the bird feeder with the sunflower hearts. I suppose now he’s discovered it there won’t be a lot left for the birds. I might be looking for a squirrel proof feeder.

Time to take the chicken out of the oven and cook the last of the veg. It’s smelling good and I’m getting peckish.

It is dry here now and I have just taken a couple of books down the road for the book stall, next time that opens is 13th November so good job I took three last time.

So far today I have done a load of washing and dusted the lounge, dining room and my bedroom, floors are clean.

I had toasted bacon sandwiches for breakfast so don't need much lunch. Still too wet underfoot to do anything in the garden. I think I might make a start on wrapping a few of Inara's small presents.

Morning All,

Raining here, but I slept well. Listening to OH's weather forecasts I missed the last few days of fine weather for washing, then yesterday he told me it would be fine today and now I have a basket of wet washing. :-( He got me up last night as well as he said the washer had gone wrong and had a 'message'. All it was saying was 'end' and was fine. I told him he needs more practice at using it himself. :-D

Oh Mandy, your little ornaments are lovely and I like the owl with his tufty ears and heart and googly eyes! I bet young Katie has been bursting to tell you all about her school days! I expect she really appreciates you listening too as parents can often be too busy for lots of chat. I know my mum was and Grandma was always more interested.

I've only done fried green tomatoes once before Island and I just did them as they were. I must pick the rest of mine now, there are a lot too, but as you say, they will carry on ripening inside, especially with a red one amongst them.

Will catch up later as lunch should be here soon!

Mandy what fun those little tree ornaments are, so cute and clever, you are very talented. I love them.

Gwyn that was more or less how I grew up adding eggs in isonglass in the pantry and some sort of cheese being made in there too dripping stuff through the muslin suspended above a bowl, like cottage cheese if I remember. and the cockerell would be fattening in the pen in the garden.

Vera I guess not everybody would buy in advance, but only buying in advance what you need is not the same as panic buying in bulk. My point was rather that people in general don't look ahead but are quick to complain when they can't get what they want instantly when there have been warnings of shortages.

Morning all.

Not very bright here this morning but there is a bit of wind out so I've put some washing out .

Mel I've emailed you .

Coffee time now BBL

Good morning all.

Sounds as if you are making plans for Christmas meals already.
I don't know what we will be doing yet, but daughter would add frozen parsnips for her 'put-by' Christmas lunch.
Naturally we will buy fresh, if possible, but have usually got some frozen items to make meals during winter months. Maybe we don't always have preferred choices, but always have something with which to rustle up a meal.

This 'being prepared' goes back to my mother's habits, when we were young.
No home freezer then, of course.
Come the cooler weather, then tins of soup were tucked away, where Kilner jars of fruit, earthenware jars of runner beans, jars of pickled onions and homemade chutney were already in the cupboard for winter months.
When it got colder still, the shovel and yard broom were placed just outside the back door in the porch, "In case we need to dig ourselves out of the snow".

This was unlikely in southern Hampshire, but had been a wise precaution in the little Welsh village, where she grew up.

Morning Anng Vera and all,

We have a bright morning here with some sunshine but only 10 degrees so quite chilly out there.

Vera have you not got any Wet and Forget to do you green stones with? just paint it on or with a broom and that will cure it. Hope you had enough sleep last night.

Hope too Island's back is better this morning and she can get out in the garden and do some more bite size bits.

My hip is a lot better and I think it could have been to do with the fall I had on the slippery decking as the bruise only went this week.

Not susre if my toadstools baked for the right amount of time yesterday so I need to go and look at them. I had a look at one thing I made and it was very fine and small and was still a bit warm and it was bendy but not looked at the toadstool yet.

Mucked up the Asda order this morning so oh had to sort it out for me. I kept meaning to do it in the week but also kept forgetting so I had lost my slot but he managed to get it back for me and I still have to add things to it but its sfe for now.

Good morning AnnG and all

It’s another grey day here and I am feeling very lethargic. I’m sitting here looking out on the patio and thinking what a mess it looks. OH hasn’t been able to do any of his usual cleaning this year and the paving is starting to look a bit green in places. There’s certainly a lot of moss between the cracks. OH doesn’t like pressure washing and can be a bit obstinate about it.

Shopping for Christmas is a bit of a vicious circle at the moment. If everyone shops now because of shortages, the shortages will get worse. Having said that, I have a small gammon in the freezer and I hope Tesco are going to deliver a large turkey breast and a couple of small puddings tomorrow. They are mainly in case we are here by ourselves at Christmas as we have no idea at the moment what we are doing.

I hope your little back niggles faded away and didn’t become big niggles Island.

good morning all, hope you slept well. I slept but woke two or three times briefly. Hope your back is ok this morning Island. That sounds nice, broccoli with garlic mushrooms and stiltion sauce.
As does Mel's idea of freezing some of both in cheese sauce. However the veg is to eat with my meal tonight and tomorrow. I thought I would, as chickens were not available on the Tesco order (except large ones) order a turkey thigh joint to see how many meals I can get out of it. Probably three looking at it, roast tonight then curried etc.

I think I have said that I am going to daughter's for Christmas, there will be five of us for Christmas dinner so, despite the fact that she has a fresh turkey on order with M&S, she has guaranteed our Christmas meal. she has a second freezer in her garage and in it is, a turkey crown, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls and hopefully joining that this week will be a piece of gammon. My neighbour will be giving us the usual Christmas pudding so we are all set.

People need to be looking ahead in case of shortages (if they can afford to) but that thigh joint would feed four and was only £3.00 just over. If there is freezer room things can be bought gradually and kept for Christmas. Sadly, even if they can afford it people will wait and hope for the best then moan when they have not got things nearer the time. I suppose growing up in the war was an experience that taught me these things.

That’s me done for today, bite size chunks but I see a result. Feet up now before the back niggles from leaning become a back biggle. I was surprised by the number of green tomatoes I found – they’ll be on the window sill to ripen when I’ve finished this.

Annx, do you add anything when you fry green tomatoes? Might do for tomorrows breakfast :-D Did you find some nice spider webs to photograph?

AnnG, broccoli with garlic mushrooms in stilton sauce is a favourite with us – pub grub but so tasty. It’s good when subs work in your favour. The mornings certainly are dark late now. Our streets lights are off at night but come on again at 6am which is a bit odd to suddenly have the window lit up.

Mandy, your elf is very sweet, is it for Christmas and will there be more? Your chatterbox Katie has reminded me of when little brother and I used to take ourselves to the matinee at the pictures (shock horror, not something children can do these days) we even used to stay and watch it again sometimes LOL When we got back home we gave a blow by blow account of the film and how good it was :-D

Vera, that wet rain eh? At least you got plenty done before it got the better of you. I think we have spell of drizzle forecast for tomorrow.

The meds saga. ‘ready to collect Friday’ – yesterday. Not even signed off by the doctor! I did say it was a shambles but it wasn’t the nice polite pharmacists fault. Isn’t it always the case that the one at fault is never in the firing line? Luckily we had a couple of things lined up to make the journey worth it – art exhibition, The Works for some sketchbooks and bon marche happens to be nearby for a couple of basics. Oh and lunch out so not a wasted day.

I typed this in a word doc. It has taken me nearly an hour. Eye sight issues, the frustration of typing disappearing on GR and now some keys are not working as they should. Excuse me if I don’t post often.

Thought I’d better pop in quickly or Mel would think one of her chicks had strayed :-D Chick is a bit of a misnomer in my case. I think I’m more an old boiler ;-). Only teasing Mel. It’s good to know someone cares if we are missing.

I’m pleased some of you have had good weather today. We haven’t. It’s been grey skies and chilly all day. This morning I went to do a bit in the garden and just after I started I felt a few spits and spots but carried on. There was no downpour so I didn’t realise how wet everything (me included) was getting. It was that constant mizzly rain that soaks you before you realise. I managed to dig up and discard one clump of a low growing grass, dig up and move one clump a bit further along the bed and plant 3 low growing salvias that we bought a little while ago. Then I lifted the coloured leaf geraniums, split a couple of them so I now have 6 plants instead of 4 and potted them up for overwintering. I also sorted out some pots for the various bulbs I still have to plant up. By that time I was cold and wet so I called it a day.

Since lunch I’ve had a long phone call with a friend and sorted out my Tesco order for Monday. Now I’m part way through preparing our meal for tonight. We’re having a meat pudding and I can’t remember the last time I made one.

Frustrating about your meds Island. Fingers crossed that you get them soon.

It’s lovely that Katie wants to tell you all about her day Mandy. You’re obviously a good listener.

Here comes OH with yet another cuppa. I think our kettle has to be the most overworked gadget in the house. I’m going to drink my tea while it’s hot. I’ll be back tomorrow. Have a good night everyone.

Island I did see your post and two days is a long time to me.

Vera hang out the flags for getting your pension put in the right place after all those letters.

Suns out here but its not that warm and I am into my clay work so I am not going up the garden.

Katie is a right chatterbox then but its nice to hear what she's been up to. Does she have school dinners? I bet they are nothing like we used to have back in the day. No eggs from the youngsters yet but with the days getting shorter they may not lay till after Chrisdtmas but I am hoping they do sooner rather than later.

Anng you could make a cauli and brocc cheese and freeze it if its too much having a packet of each. You have been busy in the garden again.

Afternoon all,

Lovely day here got the back door open and I think its warm enough to sit out but haven't had time as I've been busy .

Mel don't over do it in the garden or you'll be suffering with your hips again .
How are the newbies settling now any eggs from them yet you'll have to give them a talking too to start paying there way :-D

Ann hope you get some nice pictures its a lovely day for going out .

Anng your still busy in the garden I see ,oh broccoli and cauliflower just right for a nice soup with a little cheese sprinkled on top yummy.

Well hallelujah Vera money in at last what a time that took now you'll be able to have a nice spend up :-D

Oh no Island no meds :-( bet there was a few choice words said .hope they soon sort them out for you .

The last couple of days we've had Katie call in from school, I don't think shes stoped talking the whole time she's here we have to hear about each lesson shes had and even what she had for lunch :-D it's lovely that she likes to call in though ,she goes about half five and walks to the school where son works and she gets a lift home with him when he's finished.

Jacket potatoes with tuna and salad for us tonight .

Annx and for once being over 80 is a plus.

I have been out cutting a bit back but the bin is more or less full now, it gets emptied on Tuesday. It is greyish, some bright spells no sun and a bit chilly so didn't make me want to stay out there long.
Only one sub and that was to my advantage, I ordered a packet of cauli and broccoli florets (Just enough for me for two days. They sent a pack of broccoli florets and a pack of cauli florets so extra for the same price.

Afternoon All,

The sun is shining so I'm off with my camera shortly while it lasts!

Hurrah Vera! Your money is in the right account at last. Now you can relax. Your GD sounds like an interesting and interested girl!

Oh Island wot no meds! What is the reason now? Can't have you gadding about enjoying yourself can we. :-D

Glad the old hip feels a bit better today Mel. Just don't overdo it. I like to see dewdrops on plants. Your mushrooms sound interesting. Hope you send us a pic when they are done.

I have filled another big humper with more prunings and the big garden bin is half full now. OH came out to see what I was doing so I pointed to some more creeping clover and he fetched a trowel to dig it out.

Sorry you had a bad night AnnG. It's nice to get on in the garden today. You must feel spurred on by the progress you are making with it. Yes you will get the full winter payment still which is good.

But Mel, I had posted just two days earlier. I guess you didn't see it?

I do I do I like to know everybody is ok, sorry....~~~~~ Love you all. <3