General Chat

Morning All,

A good sleep and the sun is shining so I must get some more plants in now my knees will let me.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Mandy and COLIN and I hope you enjoy your day and a nice meal with the family. Is Lewis getting better from his croup now?

Good to hear from you Gill and how things are progressing with your bungalow. I can just imagine you having your first bath! Lol. It will feel luxurious and great to have hot water again. That's good the floor insulation is done. It will save on your bills and it was lucky that they found floorboards for you as modern ones would be different sizes. Now you can repair that hole as you say. My old house had skirting boards that didn't match any we could buy, but first OH working with wood was able to make a cutter to match the design and make some exactly the same. So when you alter your bathroom etc don't throw any skirting board away till you see if you will need it elsewhere. Fancy having all that rubbish from someone else to get rid of. Still once it's gone it's gone and your garden will keep getting tidier and bigger! You are making good progress and things often have to look worse before they get better so keep plodding on. Once the bungalow is in better shape with the building work done, you can do the more enjoyable decorating and see a real difference. I hope you can sort out what is wrong with your laptop soon. It does sound like it might need a new battery if you are running it off the battery like Mel says.

What a shame that naughty Mona is spoiling so many of your eggs Mel. It's a pity you can't get to them before she does or keep her separate at night at least as they usually lay early morning if I remember right.

It sounds like you slept well Anng despite your lie in yesterday so you must have needed it.

Better stir my stumps now and get showered then get some poached eggs on toast!

Morning Anng and all,

Quite a bright morning here but the sky is grey at the moment.

Lovely to hear from you Gill and another job done onthe house so you're getting there slowly it'll be good to get the heating in on Tuesday and then you will be nearly there all cosy and clean. Anng could very well be right about your lap top needing a new battery.

Not got enough eggs to give to Em today as I only have 5 and only been getting one a day if I am lucky as they are laying three a day but two are still getting broken. Have to go to the shop for a few bits and the paper and then the rest of the day is mine if oh dos'nt stop me doing what I want to do.

good morning all, good to see you Gill and good the under floor insulation has been done. Not long before you can see the end of it. what sort of rubbish is it that has been dumped, is it garden rubbish or landfill stuff, if the latter look to see if there is anything with an address on as that will tell you who dumped it. some people are not nice neighbours but I suppose that is what happens when a house stands empty for a long time. really the vendors should have cleared I suppose.
Is your laptop an old one, does it switch off if you have it plugged in to the mains or only when on battery? It could be the battery at end of life.

Oh, forgot to say, yes two of our neighbours have had loft conversions and next door has also had extensions done as well. I'm going to ring the council if we can afford to have the loft conversion done, to ask about planning permission and building regs. We'd like to have all the messy jobs done before we decorate and buy carpets, so I hope the quote isn't going to be to high.

Going to bed now, I'm shattered.

My laptop keeps switching itself off again, I had this problem a few months ago so I hope it sorts itself out soon.

We had the underfloor insulation done today, it only took just over an hour and the only floorboards they took up were the traps so I didn't have to move any furniture. They found a couple of pieces of floorboards when they were under there and gave them to me, so I'm going to use them to fix the hole in the kitchen floor as they are the same ones.....how luck was that? :-D :-D

The central heating and boiler are going in on Tuesday, so we'll finally have running hot water, what a luxury lol. The timing is just right as our shower is playing up and keeps going from boiling hot to freezing cold. Both of us can't wait to be able to run a bath and I'm looking forward to finally being able to colour my hair as it looks awful at the moment.

We've been doing some more clearing of rubbish in the garden again. We're not sure where our boundary is and someone, (we think the neighbour next door) has thrown garden rubbish right at the bottom of our garden so we've got to get rid of that and there's loads of it, so OH isn't to happy as it looks like we might have to hire a skip to get rid of rubbish that doesn't belong to us. Never mind it'll look lovely when it's all gone. The gardener is coming back tomorrow with his chainsaw to finish cutting the stumps of the big plants OH made a start on a few months ago, so that'll be another job out of the way.

Well, I'd better go before my laptop turns itself off again. I hope you are all keeping well.

My cautious friend and I were lucky today as the meeting ended very abruptly without chance to discuss who was meeting at the house next week!

My word Vera you and your OH have had a blitz on your house! Blinds sorted as well. We only have curtains as well as blinds in the lounge and 2 bedrooms to keep more light and hot sun out. Everywhere else has just blinds and I can't wait to get rid of the heavy, dusty wooden ones at the front! Those vision ones are nice aren't they. I haven't seen those before. I had a chuckle at Mandy and the red carpet.....I bet you forgot to hoover that!

I think you are right Mel that a lot think they are protected after their vaccines and have just gone back to normal. They don't realise they can have it and spread it without having symptoms themselves either. Seeing what happens in the next few weeks especially with less restrictions will show whether the vaccines we have are sufficient. The delta (indian) variant has increased 79% in the UK in the last week. A Lancet study report states that the Pfizer vaccine (2 doses) produces 5 times less antibodies against the Indian variant than it does against the original covid virus. Protection gets lower with age too. So it is spreading faster and our Pfizer vaccine is less effective against it. They are also testing the Astrazenica vaccine and awaiting results. We should get our booster vaccines in the Autumn.

I managed to contact the man who took an old mattress away for us a few years ago and have arranged for him to collect our old bed, old TV and old printer next Wednesday evening. We can leave them all outside in front of the garage door for him. The new bed is coming the day after. I bet we will have a few aches and pains after shifting that outside and cleaning where the bed fits!!

That was a nice walk in the sunshine AnnG and the play area looks safe for children. It was much cooler here today and we had a short shower of rain this afternoon.

So you never made it to the border Mel! You have had a good day though in your shed Potting!

Fingers crossed I don’t oversleep tomorrow as I have Charles coming with his lad to do a couple of jobs at 9am one of which is power washing the front and guess what Tesvo is due 10-11.

Still sunny here, had a drink down on my patio which was very pleasant and a time to think

Yes Mel the park is five minutes walk from here. The trees are on the edge of the park and next to the golf course.

The sun is still shining here.

Anng that looks a lovely walk all through the trees and the children's play area looks nice too I expect its been well used this past week with the children on holiday.

Vera you've had a good day you've got your blinds all sorted and the house has been given a good dust and hoover ,all ready should the queen decide to drop by :-D

Mel although you didn't make it to the border it sounds as though you've done some good with all your potting up .

Pouring here so it will soon fill the water butts up.

What a lovely walk you had through those shadey trees. I coiuld just walk through that myself. The parks nice for the children is it near your house?

Never got up the border AGAIN. The good thing is I have potted up 24 dianthus, repotted a gerainium I have had in the same pot for two years bought in Morrisons. Think I may have saved a bit of my low growing gerainium from up the border but it has couch grass all in it. I got out what I could to expose the bit of the plant that may be growing. Filled a big pot ready for the short beans but they are not ready quite yet to put in the pot they need to get a little bigger. Watered all the plants by the shed and the strawberry barrow and a few other things so a good afternoon in the shed really.

Just going to have a coffee before cooking a lasagne for dinner. I had the sauce in the freezer so only have to make the cheese sauce and put it all together.

Did a big towel wash too and just going to see if they have dried.

What funny weather we’ve had today. There were only grey skies this morning but it was hot and muggy. It felt as though we needed a good thunderstorm to clear the air. When I checked the weather forecast it promised a few light rain showers this afternoon. “They” got it wrong again. It’s been raining heavily since midday and is still pouring. No gardening today but we won’t have to do any watering either.

I feel a bit better today. The back is still painful but I can put up with it with just an occasional pain killer and my insides aren’t so sore now. AnnG and Mandy, the recent probings and scans may have shaken things up a bit but I have had various problems since the age of 12 when I had my first lot of hospital treatment. The consultant is phoning again on Wednesday evening and I am hoping he is going to say that he’ll just carry on keeping an eye on things. That’s enough of my woes, there’s lots worse off than me.

You had a good sleep AnnG. You must have needed it. It sounds as though you had a nice walk as well.

I think you are right not to mix too much indoors at the moment Ann, particularly if you don’t know who your friends have been mixing with. It is difficult isn’t it? You don’t want to offend people and I think we do need to get back to some sort of normality, but we should still be cautious and I would never ask anyone to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.

You’ve been busy in your shed Mandy. Would you like to make a start on our garage when you’ve finished? It’s in sore need of a thorough clear out.

I’ve made a real effort to get my act together today and OH said he would help, so we had a real h/w day. I dusted right through the house, hoovered all the upstairs and cleaned all the sinks and basins, OH hoovered downstairs and steam cleaned the kitchen diner, the hall and the utility.

The man we asked to come and talk to us about new blinds has just been and I was right. The vision blinds that were recommended to us aren’t suitable for the big area that we need to cover, so we are having vertical blinds again. The blinds that were in our lounge when we moved in are heavy blackout blinds which we don’t need in there. We just need privacy so they will be made in a lighter material. We’ve just chosen a cream with a pattern through it for there and a plain cream in the blackout type blinds for the three windows in our bedroom. We were impressed with his prices as well as we had expected the bill to be more expensive. He does all the measuring up and fitting too so we were well pleased. We might gradually replace the blinds in the rest of the house. There are no curtains anywhere so we need the blinds to look right.

While I’ve been typing this I’ve been watching a pair of goldfinches and a pair of greenfinches taking it in turns on one of the feeders, even though it’s still raining. It’s good to see the birds coming back again.

Better get on with something useful I suppose. Maybe I ought to think about what we are going to eat tonight.

Just seen your emailed pictures AnnG, that’s a lovely spot for a little walk.

Another half hour in the garden but it is really too hot out there, still brilliant sun and 18 degrees.

Mandy that is another job that nees doing. I keep looking at the shed but it is a very daunting job for me on my own to do. But well done for doing yours.

Mel with the pfizer vaccinations we are I think about 85% protected so we have some protection, however it is the new variants that cause a bit of a worry. I do think though that eventually with injections and boosters we are going to have to get used to living with Covid19 as we do Flu. We can't stay isolated for the rest of out lives. We do just have to be careful and do what is best for us. I am happy to go to garden centres and even occasionally, shops but will stay away at crowded times like half term. We are just in the process of organising for some of our garden group (about 8 of us) to meet in my garden on 8 July. we are all double vaccinated and we will sit apart of course.

Rain has stopped plsy so I've caught up with the ironing pile all done and put away .

Anng that sounds a nice walk through the trees lovely on a hot day to have the dappled shade .

Ann your doing the right thing not meeting up with your friends just yet especially if one or two are mixing so much ,all these variants keep popping up you can't be to careful .

Mel there is so much clobber as I call it in the shed lots of stuff from when Colin was at work ,I can't tell you how many tins tubs boxes of screws and nails there are but he never seems to have the right ones when I need a job done :-D

Ann he's still working on the mower. Sort of doing a service on it while its all apart and today some new baring type things arrive. He rebuilt tow or three but one he could'nt get apart.

Clouded up a bit now and I need ot go to the shed and prick out my seedling dianthus. They came up so quickly.

Yesterday I put my runners in the tub and the short beans are up today and they will go in a big pot.

Mandy it must be nice to be able to see the grandchildren again and your son and DIL. What a good girl you are clearing out the shed and under the fridge. I try to keep my shed tidy but it dos'nt always stay that way for very long.

Ann I don't blame you not wanting to go to your meetings if other are out and about. Afterall the injections we've all had don't stop us getting corvid but we should'nt get it so bad as without them. I think a lot of people think they are protected by having the vaccine but they arn't.

Anng you must have needed that long sleep to not wake unti 10am. It must have done you a power of good though and you'll be ready for another good go in the garden.

Second lot of wshing just finished and its all the towels so I better get that on the line before I do anything else. I'll let you know if I do eventually get up the border.

Yes I am still around. It is hot today 17 degrees like yesterday but without the wind. I have just done a mile walk, down to post a letter and then walked across the park, hardly anyone in there I expected it to be full of teenagers but only a few parents with young children on the swings etc. I walked over into the woods that skirt the golf club and it was lovely and cool and peaceful in there with the sun shining through the leaves.it is not a long walk but it makes you feel good.

It was hot walking back down the road though

I did a short spell in the garden pulling up some overgrown stuff on the right hand border where the forget me nots were but it is really too hot to be working out there at the moment. I should have some lunch now anyway as my 'clock' is all out today.

Afternoon all,

Yes your right as its half term the family have been here a couple of evenings so thats why I haven't been on here .
This morning we have been having a good turn out in the shed ,you know how it is you only go I to do something and then before you know it its all upside down in there, we need to go right through it really I've only sorted out a couple of wall cupboards but chucked out all sorts ,then I cleared out the bits under the fridge ,the fridge stands on a low table so there's alsorts underneath, there's a big bottle of bubbly at the back its from son and dil's wedding , out went three lots of old boots that Colin used for work and some old vases .

Ann lovely painting again love the waves, your garden is looking pretty with all the plants .

AnnG thats good news from the nurse that your back is healing nicely ,you must have needed the sleep to sleep in so late but it does seem a short day when you sleep in .

Mel how us the mower has OH got it back together again it looks a big job with all those pieces laying about .

Vera I hope you soon feel better as Anng asked is it since you had your precedgers that you've had all the problems .

We are having the family here tomorrow evening for a Chinese takeaway as its our wedding anniversary 45 years where has the time gone .

Its looking very cloudy out now so I'd better get the washing in we should have rain later so that will save watering tonight and fill the water butt's up .

Oh there you are AnnG!! I think it's good that you had a good sleep like that. You must have needed it and been relaxed. Yes you are right though about half the day gone. We said yesterday with being up early how much more we had managed to do!! Will you be doing more gardening too?

Morning All,

Sun is shining and I slept well last night. Lunch is all prepared and we are trying some lamb leg steaks today to see what they are like. Carrots, brussels and sprouting broc to go with them.

Hubby has had his virtual interview for the Lay Observer volunteer work so he's looking smart today. He thinks it went very well, but should hear in a few days.

I need to get my Asda order sorted and I have a zoom meeting this afternoon with my friends. Not really looking forward to it as the one who lost her husband last year is too keen to get us all meeting at her house again and keeps on about it, when 2 of us have made it clear several times now that we aren't ready. The 3 that have met up a few times have always gone here, there and everywhere as much as possible, no wiping down ever mentioned. They visit big supermarkets, sometimes twice in a day and they have attended events where there would be crowds, so I wouldn't feel comfortable or relaxed with them or at their houses yet. Me and the other cautious lady are still being careful. The vaccines should make a greater impact in a few more weeks.

I hope you get up the border today Mel and that your OH makes more progress with getting the mower back together. We hope to get more plants in after lunch.
I'd forgotten that Mandy may be busy with it being half term. Yes where is AnnG this morning? She's usually an earlybird. :-)

good morning Mel, I am laughing to myself here as I can't believe this. I got up at 5am for the loo, went back to bed and woke up at 10am. I have never, ever, in living memory slept until 10 and even then I woke from a deep sleep, thought it was about 8 because of the light and looked at the clock. I did feel weary yesterday so was obviously tired but how strange, usuall even when tired I wake up no later than may 0 on occasiona. half the day gone already and nearly coffee time.

No Anng this morning???? Hope she is ok and that we hear from Mnady today. I expect they have been busy with the family as it a school holiday.