General Chat

Just been trying to enter items on my Tesco order and keep getting the oops we have a problem message. Good job the order is not due until Sunday.

I always remember Shirley toms being nice and tasty.

Finished one of my latest projects. Will send a pic after lunch.

Just spent almost an hour in the garden No sun so I grabbed the opportunity to water the pots and then cut down some more rambler and also a large unweildy hardy fuchsia. And also cleaned out one water feature and filled it up again.
Picked in yet more tomatoes, the bush Maskoktra is doing really well medium sized tomatoes mostly but with some bigger and some more cherry sized. Very sweet. tumbler is still going which is good as that has been going since early July. Only failure really was the cue, not sure why will have to concentrate next year. the Shirley tomato has been great as well with nice big fruit and very tasty.

Morning Anng and All,

I think its been raining in the night as there was droplets on the rungs of a ladder thata leaning up against the old chicken house outside our bedroom window and the ground looks a bit damp.

Have to take the car in for its MOT soon so I better get ready. I hate being without a car for a day or two, I feel standed and unsafe somehow. When you don't have immediate neighbours and can't see out to the road it feels strange and in our own little world but I like to knw I can go out if I want to and with no car I can't get very far.

O well hope you slept well and I better go and get dressed.

Good morning all. looks fairly bright out there 13 degrees here so not bad for the time of day. Nothing planned for today. I do seem to be struggling at the moment, despite or maybe because of all the activity, company I have had lately. I am feeling constantly a bit down, not massively but enough that it hits me the minute I wake up. strange, I think it is the accumulation of all these 'firsts' coming together in a 5 week period. T's birthday, 3 weeks later my birthday then 2 weeks later will be our anniversary. I used to love this time of year for all the celebrations.Not any more.

Vera, no, no headache, they were a bit noisy but not as bad as usual because they didn't argue as much. The only noise was when they both wanted to speak about something at once. They also went out into the garden to run around and it did sound nice hearing children's voices out there again. I pointed out to grandson that he was 4 when we moved here. It was his and his brother's voices we heard in those days.

edit/added later Just found out that my 84 year old friend with cancer is now in a nursing home. how sad and unfair to get to that age and end up having all this. she has been a widow since she was 60 and always so strong and independent

I hope you are having a nice day with your grandson and family AnnG and I hope you haven't got a headache by the time they go home. I don't know what it is about little boys but, even when they are really playing together nicely, they do make a lot of noise and hullabaloo.

I hope you enjoy your clay beading lesson Ann. I'll be interested to see what you make when your clay arrives and you get started.

It was cold, grey and wet here again this morning but the sun came out at lunchtime and it's a lot drier and a bit warmer now. I went into town this morning to pick up my meds and asked to have my next lot in 3 weeks rather than 4 as in 4 weeks we will be away. I hope the little chinese girl sorting out my script understood. She did look very vague. I don't want to find I run out of tabs while I am away. As well as the pharmacy I went in two other shops and nearly everyone was wearing a mask but I was surprised how many people just walked straight past the sanitizer in the entrances.

I have also been doing a bit of genealogy for my dil. Without going into details as it is their private business dil and her sister are trying to sort out a family conundrum. I was able to find information for dil but sadly had to tell her that the person she really needed to get in touch with had died aged 20 in 1968.

I am still following my Ferdinand Alexander and have found that he was with his wife until 1930, although known as Frederick Albert, but he wasn't with her from 1939 on, so I think they must have separated between 1930 and 1939. I wish I could talk to him and ask why he apparently moved away from his family between 1901 and 1911 when he was still quite young, why he was known by two names, why he and his wife split, did he support his 3 daughters financially or did he just desert them etc. etc.

I'm still quite concerned about OH. He is managing to cope with his pain quite well now but he can't seem to keep his eyes open which isn't like him at all. I will be glad when he has had all these blood tests and got some results. I hope they don't take forever to come through.

I'd better go and see what we've got in the freezer for dinner tonight. I get fed up trying to think of things to have for a change but I expect we are feel the same.

EDIT: Glad your day went well AnnG. Good to hear from Frank and to hear how well John is doing. Now we need to hear from Gill. If you look in Gill, just send a brief word to let us know you're OK.

Mel I assume that is tongue in cheek One boy of 8 and one of 5.

All went very well, They forgot to bring any toys for them but, as I had bought yoyos, bubbles, pipe cleaners and stickers for them they were happy to play with those. No falling out until about 2.30 and then soon averted. I was very impressed with both the boys' behaviour, very polite with their please and thank yous as well. they did race around a bit but we put a stop to that. And they ate a hugs amount for lunch, sausage and cheese rolls, mini pasties, pork pies, cucumber, grapes, tomatoes, ritz crackers, cheese, wotsitis and two large apples each. And a glass of squash.
They played out in the garden as well.

seems very peaceful now.

From Frank.

I am ashamed to say that I haven't been out on the scooter. I keep saying I must get it charged up. but never seem to get around to it.

As for John, he has been out of hospital for ages and is making a full recovery. He now goes yup stairs to bed, and gets showered and dressed every day. Ros and I wondered if he would ever get over it, but he has.

Weather not too nice this morning, In fact it's quite chilly. I have been sitting in the conservatory reading, and just come in for a break.

Stay well and safe,

Love
Frank xxx

is that 13 in all?? Or 2 boys of one aged five and one aged 8?

Been for a little ride out inthe car to pick something up.

They are five and eight boys. Not here yet probably will be very soon.

Morning two Ann;s and all,

I say and all but there are not many of us about at the moment are there?

I really miss Franks posts and Gill's too.

May have to pop out today to pic something up not sure yet. Grey and dull again here today and we are not having a very good August, still it will soon be gone the rate the days are passing at the moment.

Hope Island posts today and lets us all know how the shed is prgressing with its coat of paint.

Morning All,

Slept well and we are both up and showered. OH is waiting for a work phone call and I have my clay bead course later this morning. My clay doesn't arrive till tomorrow though, so I will just be listening, watching and making notes! It's better in some ways as I will be able to do it later and take my time. I've only ordered enough clay in 3 colours so if I don't fancy doing more there won't be waste.

That has happened with some of my courgettes in the past Mel and towards the end of summer. Mine look ok at the moment but the leaves on the runners are turning yellow now.

All quiet today with no electric saw or hammering so maybe the noisy work is finished. I was pleased with my two t shirt type tops I opened yesterday. One is navy with a yoke of summer flowers and the other grey with dark bluey purple shades of butterflies and flowers on the front.

Better tidy my desk now and put fresh newspaper down. I put that down to put all my painting or craft stuff on so any mess is easy to clean up. Paperwork and magazines seem to be piling up too and with zoom people can see around you so now is the time to sort through that!

Hope you have a nice time with your visitors AnnG. How old are your gt grandsons? Boys seem to be the worst for fights and arguments don't they, all that competitiveness comes out!

Hope we hear from Gill soon and that her alterations are under way now.

Good morning all grey here at the moment it would be nice to see a glimpse of the sun again.

Got Eldest Grandson and his family coming to visit for the day. Look forward to seeing them but not the noise, arguments and fights of the great grandsons.

O dear little Pickled Onion shme he is not house trained and dos'nt like being outside . Someone will give him a good home and lots of love and kindness and get him into a routine.

My toms are still doing well and I picked some today and yesterday. The courgette is'nt looking good as the leaves have gone all mouldy but it still has a fresh courgette on it. I hav'nt let it dry out either and its been fed.

Couldn't you just fall in love with Pickled Onion? He looks a real little character but if he is already a year and not very well trained I think he will need a very firm hand, coupled with a lot of love and kindness of course.

It sounds as though you had a nice morning out AnnG but it was bound to bring back memories if you had been there with T. I'll echo what others have said - you are doing so well but it is still early days so be kind to yourself.

I'm sorry to hear that your OH seems to be getting more migraines Ann and cutting down on the cheese may help. Are there other foodstuffs that affect him? I have to take great care with chocolate, cheese, oranges and red wine. In fact I haven't touched red wine for years, apart from an occasional sip of OH's as I still prefer it to white or rose. I don't know how old your OH is but the doctors generally say that migraines will ease as you get past 60. I was about 65 before mine started to ease up a bit. Now if I get one it is nothing like the horrors I used to have.

Thanks for letting us know about Frank Mel. It's good to hear he is OK and a break in Devon and possibly Spain will do him and Ros both good.

I had quite a busy day in the end. I started with the ironing and then, like Mandy said, one job seemed to follow another. I didn't get into the garden at all. It rained all morning and by this afternoon I had got involved in other things in the house. It has been really cold here today. OH and I are both in thick woollies and a friend said she put her electric fire on this afternoon.

I had a nice long phone chat with daughter and granddaughter just before cooking our meal tonight. Then, with his usual lousy sense of timing, son rang just as I had started cooking a stir fry. After a couple of minutes of me trying to juggle a wok, a couple of stirring/tossing utensils and the phone, he said he would ring back tomorrow for a chat.

I think it's time for a cup of tea and a few minutes relaxing before going to bed with my book. Here's hoping we all have a good sleep tonight. Night, night and sweet dreams.

You're right Mandy, jobs just seem to pop up from nowhere every day don't they! OH has emptied one of our waterbutts now so I will have a look and see if it's sludgy at the bottom. Yes, Pickled Onion is a little love isn't he. He just needs someone to spend a lot of time teaching him and getting him used to everything then he would be a super little dog. :-) We looked at our cues again today and there's not much happening! I could see OH is ready to hoof them out. The toms are still doing well but still with tough skins. :-S

He's actually gone to a match tonight. It's nice not to have any interruptions for a few hours.

Evening all,

Been a bit wet here today, rained most of the morning but dried up by lunch time so I went shopping .

Oh Ann Pickled Onion is a little dear I bet he won't be at the rescue place for long someone will soon train him up he just needs plenty of one to one and he will make a lovely pet he has a sweet little face .

Anng thats good you got yourself out and busied yourself ,you've done so well much better than i could have done ,your bound to have down days especially after being with the friends that you both enjoyed being with together .
Walking sticks are handy for grabbing long stalks ,we have one of those grabs and use that quite a bit in the garden as well as in the house.

Oh thats nice we've heard from Frank and a nice trip to Devon will do them both good ,hope he can get to Spain later on too.

The walker is coming in handy then Mel ,a bag on the handles for the plums so you don't have to carry them.
I have a vision of OH fitting an old mower engine onto it and you whizzing round the garden :-D

Our runners are now getting a bit thin on the ground and haven't been as long either ,I wondered if it was because we used last years seed from last years beans perhaps we need new seed .
The greenhouse is looking sad too I cut two little cues today and I think I can see one more tiny one .
Tomatoes there's about three or four to ripen and thats it in there ,the greenhouse will be down early this year .

We spent yesterday clearing more bits from behind the shed ,Colin wants to get to the guttering round the back of the shed to give it a good clean and also clean out the water butts ,I tuned one on and a load of old black stuff came out so they do need a clean out.
We certainly find plenty to do each day .

That's good you have heard from Frank again Mel. A stay with Conrad and Jan would be a pick me up for him and Ros..

You are bound to be sad AnnG, but that was good to get outside and do something. I think you lose your purpose when you are suddenly alone and it is easier to do things together in some ways. It is very early days yet, but you will find the right way forward for you in time. Be kind to yourself. It won't always be so difficult and upsetting.

I had another invite yesterday to join a zoom focus group at the Hospital from the really nice lady who organises these things. She is as fit as a fiddle, cycles the 24 miles there and back to the hospital each day, has had her jabs, but caught COVID 3 weeks ago doing voluntary work. She said she has been really ill with it and even now could do with a third week in bed!!

Afternoon All,

I slept well last night but OH had another migraine and had to take tablets. We think it may be that he has been eating more cheese lately so he's having less for a while to see if it helps. I had a call from the hospital this morning to arrange what phone the surgeon is to call me on next Monday. This was the appointment I cancelled over a week ago as it is the same time as my course! :-S The department hadn't been told, so another appointment will be posted to me now.

I must say I find FH research fascinating and hearing about your FH finds is too. I have no family to pass my findings on to but I do enjoy it and it follows nicely on from my investigative work I did in my job! :-) I am leaving my tree to the local Records Office as they told me I could. Others can then hopefully benefit from my efforts which I'm more than happy to share. My searches in those early hours led me close to where my mother went to a convent school as a girl and then worked later. It was Hawkesyard Priory and Spode House a mile or two from where she lived in a humble mining household. I looked it up and was surprised how grand a place it was and found that Spode House was lived in by Josiah Spode, grandson of the Pottery man, Josiah Spode! It explains my mum's love of grand houses!

I hated those hard to read microfiches too AnnG and you are right about much more being available on the internet now making it easier for people new to FH.

You had a nice walk this morning. It is strange for quite a while to come home to an empty house, it happens when partners split up as well. I used to put the radio or tv on. After our neighbour lost her husband she got the Shih Tzu for company, but she spoiled him and he is the one that barks all day now.

My bank switch is now done and I'm just waiting to be sure my pensions get paid into it! I still need to set up things like phonebank. Next my Asda mobile provider EE is to be powered by Vodaphone and they have sent me a new sim. OH has done his, so he can help me do mine to save time.

There is a cute little dog for rehoming at the rescue place in the next village. I only windowshop! He is only a year old and is a Chihuahua Jack Russell cross called Pickled Onion. He would be hard work as he isn't lead or house trained, spoiled, not used to other dogs or people, scared of the outside world and tends to bark! I have emailed a picture. OH said 'you'd have to clean up if you get him!!' lol. So not a 'no' then! lol. :-)

Glad your OH seems a little better with the medication Vera and you are right about one good body between us! I hope you get some better nights' sleep soon.

Mel our runners seem taller this year but the amount of beans has been very disappointing. Nextdoor's are usually good, but I notice those don't have any big beans on either. I see your Asda is getting as bad as ours for subs. Perhaps they carry less stocks than the other supermarkets. I hope the trusty walker will help you to be able to do more.

Pleased Frank is OK, good to hear from him.
have just spent 40 minutes cutting down some of the very long branches of the rambling rose. surprising how useful a walking stick with a hooked handle is. Won't be nearly as bad now in the autumn because I got a lot of them, also cut down a lot of ivy. I had to get out there because I was getting sad sitting here thinking after being with everyone