General Chat

Morning two Ann,s and all,

Dull morning here after the lovely sunny ones we've had over the last few days. The sky is really grey out hte front and htere's funny patterns in it. All the trees look really green against it.

Not as achey this morning as I thought I'd be but I hav'nt moved around much yet.

I see Anng is going to be busy today with her air appointment and then the nurse. Hope all is well with the back now and you can get back to doing more things. Horrid when you want to do something and you must'nt for various reasons. Good luck I shall be thinking of you and hoping its now all healed up. <3

As you can imagine I have a lot of washing to do since we have both been doing dirty jobs. Trouble with that is it brings the ironing with it and I already have a pile to do in the uti room after clearing it all up the other week but you have to take advantage of the nice weather to get things dry.

good morning Ann, Good morning all

I have been up but not washed/dressed since 7am. Sun is very bright although thunder storms have been suggested, Your poor OH, sore necks are so painful, hope it eases soon.

That boat was a lovely subject for a painting. I am always trying to find boats on the beach to photograph when at the coast. You painted a lovely little picture.

Hope the TV comes early rather than later, nothing worse than waiting for deliveries. Can you track it?

Salad for lunch sounds nice as does tuna jacket. When we were away I had a really nice prawn jacket in a pub, really generous portion of prawns, son in law had a tuna jacket and his potato was huge. we went there again later because daughter wanted a cream tea and I had prawn sandwiches and they were equally good.

I have the air appointment at 12 today and nurse appointment at 2.05pm so all go today, all come at once.

Better get dressed then BBL.

Morning All,

Yes it's me up already. When we checked the delivery time for the tv, although they said 8.00am till midday, the receipt said from 7.00am!!! OH had a bad night with his neck pain, so I am on 'duty' while he catches up with sleep before his doc's appointment this morning. It is just the delivery today, so a quick job, so I need to hear the doorbell. I've opened the patio door and window in the lounge ready and have a nice COT.

Mel it sounds like you will be taking it a bit easier today with your aches and pains from yesterday's efforts. I can imagine you checking out every itch and tickle since getting that tick!! Horrid things aren't they. That's progress your OH getting the other mower started and I expect he will remember what goes where as he puts it back together. At least the old mower is keeping the grass down in the meantime. You need to have a spare mower when there's a lot to cut don't you. In fact as time goes on I realise you need spare most things!!!

I think we will have a nice salad and tuna jacket lunch today in case the delivery is later. I can get it ready in advance and pop it in the fridge till they've been.

More painting to finish now! I'm pleased you liked the boat. The teacher finds us some different kinds of things to practice painting. :-)

Been up the border and underneath the magnolia tree. It has all brimbles growing under it and oh had put some myplex down but they have still managed to get through it is several places and by where the trunk of the tree is. I kept gettting my hair stuck in the branches so tied some of them up when I came round the front. It has all twitch there too but I am leaed with what I got done today but I am now paying for it with sore knees anda bad back and tummy muscles.

Oh Mowed with the old mower that dos'nt pick the cuttings up and then fiddled with the newer mower and actually got it started. Goodness knows if he will ever get it back together again as he has taken so much off of it.

We had sweet and sour chicken for dinner tonight with egg fried rice and chow mein noodles. Oh had some onion bargees with his. He found them inthe freezer while I was in the shower. I keep thinking I have got more ticks on me at the slightest twing or prickle. Going to watch a bit of telly now and then I shall go to bed I think. I am worn out tonight.

Morning All,

More lovely garden photos from Mel and Island as well as AnnG's. It's lovely to see everything growing well. Poor Mel though with everything eating her efforts!! It's a pity you can't spray things with something they hate the smell of but is harmless. I hate those ticks and what they harbour so keep an eye on it.

Frank I hope you are telling the doc about these falls as it may be something simple to sort out. Poor John in Hospital then. It sounds like he was lucky to get it treated quickly or it could have been much worse.

My knee was much improved this morning so my excursion today was to the hairdresser, so I am all shorn like the sheep now. I was the only one there today but the carpark was full of the gym bunnies nextdoor. We have watered a few of the pots and had our lunch outside but it is too hot out there so we had to come in.

OH had a chat with a nice old couple up the close when he went to post some letters and she said they had had to have their little dog put down. She was a rescue dog, sort of border terrier corgi mix to look at and was 19 years old!!! We never, ever heard her bark although I expect she did sometimes. Unlike the pest nextdoor that drove us mad while we were trying to enjoy our lunch outside today. His owner has gone out without him now and I can hear him barking inside. He's about 11 years old now and breathes very heavily but still barks non stop.

Gill I thought the same as Mandy about you checking the regulations for a loft conversion before you start. Do any of the other bungalows have loft conversions?
I bet the garden is beginning to look clearer now most of the hedge is cleared away and this year you can start saving some of the plants that will need to be moved as you say.

I must get my paintbrushes out now and get on with 2 pictures I need to finish this week.

Island that area is very special to me, it is where T and I used to sit every early evening in the summer with our G&Ts discussing the garden and just chatting. I do still go down there early evening now and it is a place full of memories. obviously the whole garden is full of memories but we made that to be our place so it is special.

All wiped down and put away. Jo delivered today and nice young lad who is deaf as he has two hearing aids and talks like a deaf person. I asked him if he had a lot of deliveries today and he told me he was doing a 12 hour shift as they are short of drivers. He was doing 10am to 10pm and he looked very hot. He had one of thier jackets on and told me they have to wear some kind of uniform and his Asda t shirt had fallen to bits and it was very hot in the cab. You would think thye would give them more than one T shirt especially in this weather.

Well not too much time to go in the garden so I think I will water the plants down by the shed or whats left og them.

Island I had to have two lots of antibiotics for the last one I had on my arm from being up the border.

Lovely photos Anng and Mel. It's all on the move now isn't it?

It looks like you have a nice quiet reading spot among the hostas there Anng

Oh dear Mel :-0 Creatures not content with eating your plants, they're eating you too!
I had a tick in my back once, never known such a thing until I scratched the itch and a more rural friend identified it. Back home, I found two had hitched a ride on my legs - I knew what they were by then!

What a turn up to find you can get a grant Gill, that will be a great help. It all sounds very exciting what you are doing and will be worth the mess and upheaval.

must go back outside, only came in to put the kettle on

Good morning all, Another lovely day with warm sunshine.

I had a fall Saturday, and the bruises are coming out on my arm and leg this morning,

We went for a meal out yesterday, the garden area was full so we had to sit inside, which I prefer. No flies to worry about.

Ros is out with Carolyn soon. John her husband had TWO OPERATIONS to remove whatever it was that was causing the swelling. The Surgeon said it was a good job he operated when he did, as it was badly infected, and could have caused SEPIS. He is still in hospital.

Someone t the door, so will see you later. xxx

Morning all,

Another lovely sunny day here got the washer going with a load of towels and tea towels.

Gill thats really good news about your grant what a lot of money it will save you, you'll be able to get the place like a little palace.
Before you start getting a staircase in check on planning to make sure you can do it .

Lovely photos of your gardens AnnG and Mel its nice to see colour in the garden with all the plants shame that wind caught some of them Mel as for those pesky eaters they need a good talking too lol.

Right washer has finished so must get them on the line .

Morning Anng and all,

Looks like its going to be another nice day out there and I shall have to be in doing the wipe down and its quite a big one this week. I hope it gets here early like it did last week.

WEnt to have a look at my repotted plants last night and the fence around them did'nt work because I had 5 three inch pots with plants grown from seed of my pink iris Rose Queen. They were a good foot tall and I looking forward to them flowering to see what colour they would be. They are now chewed off to about four and a half inches. Also my Blue Veronica I spilt I did put three big pots onthe wall of the rockery but the one I left in the soak tray as they had'nt eaten it has now been eaten too. Its like Mr McGregors garden here at the moment. Think I will make a sign to Keep Out.

The other thing is after my shower last night I spotted a little something on my leg as I was dryig it. A tiny tiny ticks which I ran my thumb nail over as I thought it was a bit of fluff off the towel. Put my glasses on and looked at it on my thumb nail and it was moveing. Put it on the side of the cream handbasin and it had all its bits as far as I could see so I squashed it and it went down the drain. It has left a small red mark on my leg so I shall have to keep an eye on it as the last one I had turned nasty. O the joys of having Deer, Foxes and Hedgehogs in the garden........I don't think. Andf if that was'nt enough I chaanged out of my gardening smock last night and put my cardi on I was weeearing in the morning up the border and spotted something black on my left chest. Picked it off and put my glasses on and it was a vine weevil. These pest are sent to try us.

If they are hardy geraniums Gill, they are great for big gardens, we have a lot of different ones in our garden maybe split some into pots and then replant them in the back when you are ready, T split some of ours into pots and daughter has just taken them up to her house to plant in her garden.

Yes we're very pleased with the grants and all the money we've saved means we might be able to make a start on the loft conversion we were hoping to do in a few years time. We won't be able to do it all but at least the walls and floor can be done and a window put in. It'll be one big room until we save up to have it divided but at least most of the mess will be out of the way. I'll need to get a quote first though incase the price we think it might be is wrong, but it'll be nice to make a start if it's possible,we'd planned on having the staircase put in, so hopefully it won't cost to much more to make a big room up there, even if we only use it for storage for now.

More lovely pics of Mel's garden, shame about the plants damaged in the wind and sun, but it still looks nice on the photo. I noticed before we have lots of pink geraniums in the front and back garden, they're only just coming into the flower so I didn't notice them before as I thought they were weeds lol. I've also noticed some London Pride mixed in with them so we should have a sea of pink soon as there's a lot of plants all bunched up together. I think once we've made some borders in the back I'll split the plants and move them around a bit as they look a bit squashed where they are now, plus they're right outside the back door, all along the back of the property where we'd like a patio to go, but for now we can enjoy the flowers once they all come out.

Gill that is great news, you will save so much money and you will soon have heating and hot water,myou are getting there. Well done Sandra, sounds as if she is getting straight in her home.

Ann that meal sounded great, sounds like that won”’t be the last one you order. I have in the past had lots of take away, Chinese and Indian and not had a problem,io

Mandy, no not long before my appointment, I have got a hair appointment the same day. Luckily the times don’t clash.

Vera yes two busy garden days but the rain while we were away made it all grow. There is still a lot to be done but it is looking a lot better.

Juggling apprentice veg plants today. The overdose of May rain held up planting out this year - I don't know about runner beans, they're triffids!. They've had a few days out so I've left them out tonight and they will go into their final apartments tomorrow.
Plenty of other stuff to decide where to put - I keep changing my mind. I've taken some photos so will download them tonight.
The PSB is just about over Mel. Too many to keep up with!

Sent some pics.

Love the cartoon Island :-D

What lovely pictures of your garden Vera, love the bronze cats. I was hoping to do a bit in our garden this year but we still have lots more to clear away so I think it's going to be next year before we can make a start on it properly.

Lovely garden pictures to Ann, I envy you all. Apart from the pots we brought with us there's no colour in our garden yet, we're going to keep an eye on it for a year as they say that's the right thing to do with a new garden, then we can decide what to keep and what to get rid of. At least we can see a bit more of the space now OH has almost finished clearing the rubbish away. He's worked really hard this past week but is back in work tonight after having a week's holiday, so it'll be back to an hour a day nipping to the tip before going to work in the evenings.

Afternoon Everyone,

Well OH had a wasted trip to footie on Saturday as he found it had been postponed, but there was nothing online about it so 80 miles for nothing. I got a few photos while he was out and had a nice drive round some villages. New building seems to be going on everywhere! I managed to prune one of the shrubs when I got back and do a bit of weeding of my alpines. Then we went to Curry's and a very knowledgeable young man sorted us out and we have a tv being delivered on Wednesday. then someone will set it up a week today, then we can get SKY in again as there is still a connection problem with the old tv and we have no tv to watch at the moment. Thank goodness some things are on our laptops.

I checked the council site for what they charge to take things away like the bed and it would be £32.50 or £42.50 if they took the tv as well. A bit cheaper than the company that the bedding people use, but there are so many rules! Only one operative is sent so he must be able to move everything himself with a sackbarrow and you mustn't help. (covid) How would I be able to judge that and know whether they are sending Charles Atlas or Charles Hawtrey?? Everything must stand outside for 3 days before to decontaminate. I have a number for a chap and van who took something away for us before so will try him on Wednesday.

Yesterday I paid for what I'd done the day before and was limping so I was glad not to be getting lunch! It was delicious, 6 veg, stuffing, pig in blanket, roasts and mash, but we will ask for small plates instead of medium next time as we had to leave some. It was £22 in total including delivery which we thought ok as Sunday Lunch is always dearer than the rest of the week.. We could have had all 3 meats if we'd wanted. Apart from the pandemic Sunday roasts, the only takeaways we have ever had have been F&C Vera. I've had a veggie burger when out once, (there were only burgers available) not been to McDonalds or ever ordered or had chinese or curry takeaways. I've seen the kitchens in some places in the past and heard tales from asian colleagues........no thank you!

I rested up yesterday which has helped and have not done much today, as I need to be able to get to my hair appointment tomorrow!! OH said he'd take me but he wouldn't be able to leave the car park without going inside for the numbers to punch in. If he dropped me outside the gates there is a steep slope to walk down which would be tricky, so it would be easier to drive myself I think. The R knee feels more stable today and should be better still tomorrow if I am careful.

I liked Island's cartoon too and I have tried to use a calculator to change channels before. There's not too much hogging of the remote here as we don't watch too much tv together. Some progs yes, but would you want to watch politics, sport and history most of the time?

Your garden looks lovely Vera and as I said in my email, you have some nice plants. Like you, we have no lawns and moved from a place with a bigger garden (not as big as yours was!). The good thing is a small garden is easier to manage, less to get out of hand when you go away and can be more attractive in different ways if you pack lots in it. With pots and troughs you can add colour but remove them in the future if it gets difficult to do it all.

Just go carefully moving the mower AnnG if you do it. The nurse will be able to see if you are all healed enough now. It will help make it easier if you could do it most weeks now so there is less to cut. That's good you have done a 'book swap' and have more books to read now.

Oh dear Mel, those bunnies seem to eat anything!! It's good your OH has one mower working, but it sounds a major job with the one you had to watch the pistons move on. I hope they did move and nothing has seized!

You've been busy planting and washing Mandy. I do love Lupins with all the colour combinations they have and Dahlias, especially the intricate pompoms are a favourite too. After the hairdresser tomorrow I will place my french marigold plants in the spots where OH will then plant them, also the few cosmos that grew.

Crikey Gill, you are busy now! It's so uplifting to watch progress though and each step gets you nearer your goals. It's good you have been able to get grants to help with the cost too. I see Sandra is getting sorted and you have got the furniture to her so that is good. She will be happy to get straighter too. :-)

I did get up the border for an hour this morning but then BIL turned up so I had to come down and make them a coffee. Then he helped oh with the mower and I did lunch for us all. Between them they got the top of the mower off which oh was having trouble with. When I called them for a sandwich the mower is sitting there looking like a skelliton.

He's just gone.

I shall wash up and then I am back up the border. Don't know what I am going to get for diner tonight.

Sounds like things are really starting to happen at yours Gill and you'll soon have a nice new kitchen and cosy home. I'm pleased Sandra is getting her flat straight too. I can just imagine her with a big smile on her face.

Must dash as I need to get up the top while the weather nice or I shall be stuck down here all afternoon.

Well blow me you were posting as I was typing Gill :-D I'll have a read of your post now.