General Chat

Afternoon all

Lots of gardening going on I see, getting ready for the winter sleep
I cleared the beans and made a start on the toms yesterday. The sunflowers will have to wait a bit longer, I plan to have a go at printing with the stems so I'll have to find my junior hacksaw. Likewise the sweetcorn, cobs stripped but half the stems still in place,
Plans for winter veg went awry but the PSB which I sowed in April is still ok so we look forward to that on our plates any time from March.
We had the last of the fresh French beans yesterday but have two portions each in the freezer.

AnnG good to know that you are starting to look forward after such an unenviable year and feeling that the garden is ready for winter - you have worked so hard on it,

Vera, the 'wee scots songstress' is quite a gal from what I've read so perhaps the song is about her LOL

I'd gradually moved the doggie beds away from where he languished in them and put them in a pile out of the way at the weekend ready to go to the rescue centre.
I'm keeping his lead and harness which he looked so smart wearing and his two favourite toys because each has an amusing memory for us.
Annx, I vaguely hoped but have to be practical :-(

Had the 'all important' phone call today. I'm picking up the new meds on Friday, they will take a few weeks to kick in and I might be a bit green round the gills to start with but fingers crossed......

How are Pansy and Tansey Mel? Any thank you presents yet?

Vera I was thinking of Frank and Gill today. I do wish he would post just to put all our minds at rest. It only has to be a Hi each day. :-D

The wipe down took me ages today as oh decided to ordered the fish and chips online today instead of tomorrow. We had a bit of trouble working the site out again so it took longer than expected but its all done now and I don't have to think what to have for dinner tomorrow just go and fetch it. My problem now is what do I cook tonight? I hate having to think about meals.

We had the deer in the garden this morning and now they are both in the orchard feating on the few apples on the grass. Not the piles which usually get them through the winter. I even put the apples peelings in the orchard when I made the crumble the other day. I suppose I was thinking they would eat those and not my border flowers.

My Nerines are out and really look lovely. I hope they don't get a taste for those as they have in previous years.

Morning everyone

It’s a nice bright day but not very warm. It’ll be scarves and gloves out soon.

Now that’s given me an idea. We have a very active friend who will be 89 on Saturday and I’ve been trying to think of a present for her that doesn’t cost too much. I think a pair of warm, woolly gloves might be the answer. We’re popping out after lunch so I’ll have a look around then.

I’m sorry you had a bad night AnnG and I hope your granddaughter-in-law is OK and not in too much pain. Enjoy your coffee and chat with your friend. I didn’t sleep well either but mine was due to sore arms. I couldn’t easily settle on either side but it should be better tonight. OH has had nothing more than a very slight ache in his arms.

Ann, I think everyone reacts differently to the booster jabs. My arm is very achey but I really don’t think it is as bad as the previous two jabs and my flu arm is much improved since last night. I know what you mean when you say dropping mask wearing has probably increased infection rates. On the whole, people round here have been pretty good but I have noticed more under-50s leaving the mask off and men seem to be more casual about it than women. Our dentist is in a different town some miles away so when we go I take the opportunity to look in some of the independent shops along the High Street there. There’s a lovely little book shop that I usually pop in but when I reached it there was a large notice on the door saying “This shop is a mask-free zone”, so I walked away. I wonder how much custom he has lost through that attitude.

Island, I was thinking of the Scottish singer when I mentioned Lulu. I’d forgotten that old song Don’t Bring Lulu but if the cap fits……..lol. It’s hard getting rid of doggie’s possessions but think how much pleasure his beds will bring to other dogs. Our last cat died quite a while ago now and we lost her sister a year before that but I’ve only recently passed on their bits and bobs. Pet carriers, litter trays, unused feeding bowls all went to a Stray Cats Home and a friend had a scratching post.

It would be nice to get a short post from Frank again just to know he’s OK and I hope Gill is getting all her work done before the cold weather really sets in.

We’re having an early lunch today so I had better go and explore the inner reaches of the fridge to see what I can find. Have a good afternoon everyone.

Yes thats a possibility.

No Mel, not ecited, might have subconciously been worried about Granddaughter in law.

Morning Anng and all,

Not as bright as yesterday morning here but its dry and been misty by the looks of my car all covered in dew.

Shopping delivery today and I have a lot of subs some ok and some not really but I suppose I shall have to suffer them.

Sorry you had a bad night Anng but you have your friend coming for coffee today and thats good company for you. Perhaps you were a bit excited to be seeing her. Have a nice natter.

Good morning all didn't sleep well last night, woke at 0415 and laid there for a while, when it was obvious I was not going to sleep I got up and wandered around, back to bed at 0515 and half slept/dozed until 0715 when I got up. I have a friend coming for coffee this morning so that will keep me awake. nice bright morning here but only 7 degrees so well into autumn now and winter on its way.

Mel it looks as though your garden is pretty well nearly ready for winter as mine is too. Looking out there I can see that it will survive now, never though I would get it to this state. Last winter it really got away from me as there were other worries than looking after the garden. This time last year was an awful time with me having the op to remove the BCC from my face and T in so much pain and not knowing what to do with himself. Much as I miss him terrible, I would not wish him back to suffer that again poor love. This year I can feel myself starting to look forward with making plans for the garden in spring.

Yesterday evening pregnant Granddaughter in law went into hospital, she suffers with something wrong with her back (spine) and she was in a lot of pain. Ther sent her to the maternity ward who sent her home at midnight, they had thought she might be in labour but it was Braxton Hicks pains causing it or the pack causing BH. they sent her home with pain killers. Daughter had Littley for the night and had an early shock awakening to get Inara to school.

Got the dratted Error page.

Oh cut all the sunflowers down and I cut all the decent heads off and they are in my shed drying out. Then he went up the top and cut branches off our beech tree wich is one side of our gateway because it is getting near the village halls electric cable. He has more to do but came dpwn for a coffee which I made when I had had a ride up to look at what he's done. Sitting here with it now and a nice ginger biscuit.

Island I want the leaf mold for the border as its south facing and dries out quickkly when its warm. The only ampount I have managed in the past was bin bags full/ Soem that is three years old I want to use in my pot plants like Monty does.

It was ages since I went to the Range and I was a little bit disappointed as a huge amount of space has been given over to Iceland. That is as bad as Dobbies and Sainsbury's. If I want groceries I will go to a supermarket. therefore there was not the same amount of craft there as there used to be. so now you can get groceries there and also in B&M and just up the road is Lidle, aldi, the main Sainsbury's and a Tesco Extra, and Asda is not far away and that is very near Morrisons. You wonder how they all survive the competition.

you have been busy in the garden today then.

Afternoon All,

I slept well again after a restless start, but still lay in as the window cleaner arrived. OH had already unlocked the side gate for him and he was paid for 2 weeks last time so no need to pay him. We had one of Asda's chicken, bacon and pasta with salad meals each for lunch with some added cress, celery and our toms. I had half of mine today, but with all the chicken and bacon and will have the rest tomorrow with added tuna. Tomorrow OH will do himself a jacket pot with tuna and get himself some salad. Two days easy meals.....bliss!

Six subs yesterday and I was disappointed not to get the slow cooked lamb shoulder to try that is new. I got chicken instead which is ok, but not the same! I also got sugarsnap peas instead of fine beans and found those peas a bit stringy when I had them before. They can always go in a rissotto with longer cooking time to soften them though. We went outside after lunch and I picked a small basin of toms and there are still more ripening, then cut 2 more courgettes and there is another golf ball sized one to come. OH did some weeding and pulled out some plants that were finished and I took 3 more geraniums out of pots and repotted them in the greenhouse for winter,

So you don't expect to have another doggie then Island. It is sad removing all traces of a pet you have lost, but his beds will be great for some less fortunate doggies won't they. You are bound to notice the empty spaces for a while though. There is a Dogs' Home about 4 miles from here and I must admit if I could walk further I would consider fostering.

I hope you find some nice things in The Range AnnG. I usually make a beeline for the picture frames! They stock a lot of craft things too and all sorts of other stuff. I meant to say that I enjoyed Stricly too and love how sweet Giovanni is with his deaf partner who is very good. I love Johannes anyway as he seems such a kind person and he and his partner must have worked really hard to put in such a polished performance.

It sounds like the covid boosters have the same effect as the previous jabs we had, so more aches for us all at first. It's good you have got both done and out of the way now. We seem to be leading Europe in the daily infection rate, put down to our dropping the mask wearing and lack of social distancing and of course the anti vaccers. I hope your pension reaches the right account now and that they did the amendment in time for your payment run.

That's handy having a lot of trees and leaves Mel. You should get some nice leaf mould by next year. I hope your hip soon improves some more, but be careful with it, not that you need telling that!

Vera DWP are frustrating with their stock reply letters. Must be easy working for them all you have to do is press a button and the letter prints out, no thinking about solutions to any problems.
Pleased that you have had your two jabs now.

Island I am sure that was hard seeing the doggie beds leave the house. But obviously had to be done sometime. I am equally sure that you are still missing him <3

Well I had a good shop, that is the trouble when you don't get to the shops often you teend to try and get everything at once. Anyaway I got a couple of stocking fillers, some craft bits, another small pack of Allium bulbs in the Range. Then B&M are on the same patch so we had to go in there and got a few more bits including some fat pellets for the birds. We were out two hours, managed a stop for a coffee in the Range's empty cafe and a good natter and the sun was shining and we came home across country so another enjoyable day.

Oh and just spent half an hour down the garden pulling up some lemon balm that had taken over my Zebra grass, that is now in the bin together with branches of the very prickly Berberis that was supposed to have been dug up last year

afternoon all

Sunny here but sky is dirty blue.

Mel, what are you going to do with all those leaves?

Vera, when you said you thought of me as Lulu (and knees up Mother Brown LOL) I assumed you meant the 'wee scots singer' but I've since wondered if you meant 'Don't Bing Lulu' - highly likely as I'm not run of the mill LOL

Big step today. Four doggie beds rehomed and they were just his downstairs ones :-0 He only had one upstairs which he let us share with him - not from day one I hasten to add but 5 years into his life of Riley when he'd had a fright and tugged at the duvet asking to come up - and stayed!

It's a bright, sunny day but was very chilly first thing and there's still a nip in the air. It's one of those lovely crisp autumn days.

Mel, you have been busy with bagging up the leaves but make sure you don't overdo it and make your hip worse.

Did you enjoy your trip out to the Range AnnG and have you had another good spend up?

So yesterday was a day of memories for you as well Mandy. You never really stop missing your Mum do you? Mine died way back in 1974 when she was only in her 50s and I think I miss her more now than I did then.

Well, we have had our flu and Covid booster jabs this morning. There was no wait at all. We arrived 5 minutes before our appointment time and went straight in together. The jabs were being done by one of the doctors from our practice. He asked a few questions, jabbed us both in each arm, we sat in the waiting room for 15 minutes and then could leave. It was less than an hour from leaving home and arriving back. At the moment my flu arm just feels a bit bruised but the Covid arm is aching and feels very heavy, but this is exactly how it was with the previous two Covid jabs. I don't think I'll be gardening today although the weather is perfect for it.

I have eventually had a reply from my last letter to the DWP, but all they have sent is the standard form letter they sent 2 or 3 months ago, which says they have amended their records. Well, they hadn't amended them last time they told me they had, so I will see in the next few days where my pension payment goes. If it goes into the wrong account again I shall really hit the roof.

Filled one big bag with leaves. Oh is going to put it behind the shed with the digger.

I do need to cut back some of the branches in the hidey hole so he can get the digger in there but I am having a rest for the minuet.

Thats nice enjoy your selves.

I am going out inthe garden as oh is collecting all the leaves up for me so I think that will be a job for today getting them in bags behind my shed.

Yes Mel, Cynth driving, and actually it was really me who wanted to go but she is usually up for a morning out.

Morning Anng and all,

Bright sunshine this morning, blue skies with only a tiny bit of white wispy cloud.

Nothing planned for today so will take it as it comes as hips a bit sore still.

Enjoy your visit to the Range is it you and Cynth going?

Good morning all. quite bright here so far, light cloud and some blue but only 7 degrees Brrr! a bit chilly. Going to The Range later with my neighbour. Hopefully they have their Christmas stuff in as I need some Christmas carriers for the presents.

Ann yes they are pink where the cornet would be with white tops. I think they will look quite pretty, I have put them in a pot under the lounge window. I have also put a couple of small violas on the rim of the pot.

T used to change his cars about every 5/6 years. He’d had the Lexus three years We could not have anticipated not getting to the time to change it. so to look ahead as they are doing 15 years is a bit unrealistic, I doubt anyone looks that far ahead with cars.

Afternoon All,

Slept well last night but still wasn't up early.

Sorry it is a sad day for some of you. <3 The trouble is as we get older we gather more of these sad days we remember.

I checked up on the cars again as I was talking to OH about it this morning. No more petrol or diesel cars will be built after 2030, nor will any hybrid cars be built after that date unless they are also plug in which means they can travel greater distances, but they will also cease to be built as well after 2035. At least we can continue driving whatever we have after that date, but will less garages have fuel by then if most people have electric cars. All the discounts seem to be on electric vehicles now, so either a lot must be buying them, or maybe the opposite and they can't shift them? I think OH will stick to what he was going to get as who knows what more changes there could be by 2030 and he will probably want another car by then anyway.

It's a shame your stars didn't turn out Mandy, but more of those Christmas trees will be lovely. I'm intrigued by your felt project you will try when you have the felt.

I envy you being handy for the sea Gwyn. It's ever changing in colour and movement with the waves that Mandy mentioned and the beach has different things to see every day. I don't think I've ever been along the Glamorgan Heritage coast but I love the Gower peninsular and wild beaches. I used to go for work courses to Birmingham before I retired, usually at Five Ways Tower or in the Pallisades. I would go by car as it is only about an hour away, but hated Sphaggetti junction in the rush hour!!

Sounds like you had a good day out AnnG and a few shopping finds with more tulips to plant. I think Frank had some of those tulips one year. Am I right in thinking that they look like icecream cornets?

Hope your hip doesn't play up too much Mel. Where are you up to in the garden now or are you potting?

Waiting for the food delivery now.