General Chat

Afternoon all

Well...... its atrocious weather here. Storm 10 winds and sleety snow showers!

I woke with a bad headache and a temp again yet hands are freezing.

So sitting with a blanket over my legs and a warm shawl over my shoulders. Had some chicken cup oi soup and bread and that warmed me a bit. Im expecting the power to go off anytime but my torch is in front of me so well prepared.

Hope everyone's else weather isn't too bad.

can't stay on very long as it's hurting my eyes.

Take care all

Florence in the hebrides

I'm a big fan of internal pockets, too.

Zipped pockets are the ideal, but any internal pocket is better than none.
I try to only buy coats/jackets which have them, but if they don't , I add a simple patch pocket, and occasionally I've added a zip to that.

I had a waterproof coat which had a zipped internal pocket - away down below hip level; most inconvenient. However, I was able to relocate it higher up, which was much more useful for credit card and keys when out shopping.

That sounds interesting Linda, having a pocket added. In the summer I use a ‘bum’ bag rather than a handbag. It sits on my waist in front of me and I always hold it over the top to protest the zips from wandering hands but it doesn’t feel as safe as a zipped pocket. I do have a billet with a zipped breast pocket though that I use.

I remember the old GR parties as well Ann, they were fun. We are going to our daughters tomorrow afternoon and will stay overnight to see the New Year in, so I won’t be around much.

I like coats with internal pockets so I can carry my phone, a small purse and my keys. That way I don’t need to take a handbag. As I tend to do a lot of walking around rather than using the car, I had a a waxed cotton Barbour jacket with lots of internal “poachers” pockets, I could stash lots of things inside. When I lost all my weight, it was far too big, so I went to the Barbour factory shop which isn’t too far away. They didn’t have a suitable waxed one, so I bought a smarter padded cloth one which is still very waterproof. It just had two small external pockets on the side at hip level , ok for hankies and gloves but nothing else. . It had a small zipped internal pocket at breast level running along the line of the main zip. That was ideal for my phone and I could get to it easily by just pulling the main zip down a little way. There was no where for my keys and small purse, so I took the coat to a local tailors and they put another internal pocket in for me. It is just below the bust line, but well above the waist. Even though the coat is quite fitted , nothing shows and everything is safely tucked away inside , so I don’t need a bag.

Like the old days on GR Florence?

Good morning all I bet my house at home is cold as the boiler has apparently stopped again.

I like to have a pocket or two as well. My big gripe is casual coats that don’t have a zipped breast pocket. As I like to keep my phone in there and when in town, if a coat has two zipped breast pockets I put my small purse in the other one. It feels safer than in my bag.

I always wear cardigans, long ones. But you can get small round LED torches that have a hook on them and I used to hook it over the waistband of my trousers if no pockets so i never got caught out. Was handy to hang it anywhere on cupboard doors. bathroom handle etc. The LED is very bright and lights up the room.

Cold day here and recently I was hearing hailstones on the back door. So hope it doesnt snow although on my own, I have no need to go out anywhere. I have plenty of food and milk for several days.

Had the heating on my bedroom for 3 hours as was onlly 14 degrees but have kept the doot shut so it will be warm. The good thing with these houses is that, the rooms retain the heat hours after it has gone off. In the mornings, my lounge is still warm from the night before and bedroom will keep warm all the next day too.

Nothing exciting happening here. neighbours away(well 1 couple) and havent seen the others for 2 days. Daughter away now until next Friday so......anyone up for a party?

:-D :-D :-D

Lets get dressed up, lippy on and put on our dancing shoes and fav music and party on down :-D :-D

Well the thought is there anyway ;-)

off to make myself a drink.

Hope everyone ok and keeping cosy.

Florence in the hebrides

Me too! I need somewhere to put my hands - or at least a hankie!

I am just the opposite Joan, it really annoys me if clothes have no pockets

Oh dear Joan, being on the stairs was probably the worst place you could have chosen to be for a power cut. We get lots of power cuts here and there are no street lights, so it is pitch black at night.

There do seem to be some bad flu bugs around Florence. I was talking to my brother last night and they cancelled Xmas for the second year in a row because of illness. His son lives near him and he has had a really bad flu type virus. He has been in bed for about ten days only got up yesterday for a couple of hours. He had taken two weeks holiday and had plans to do all sorts of things, being so ill wasn’t one of them. My brother caught it , he has a hacking cough as well as the high temperature, his wife now has it as well. They were all supposed to be spending Xmas day together, but they cancelled the plans and froze all the food. Last year they all had a vomiting bug, so postponed Xmas day for two weeks until they were better.

My daughter, SIL and the girls stayed in Liverpool last night. They went to see grandpa who is in a care home there. He will be one hundred in March . He has to have thickener in his drinks now, but he still enjoyed the cider they took him. He has a few lucid moments, but they are very rare now, so he may not have known who they were which is very sad.

Oh, the sun has suddenly come out from behind the dismal clouds, I hope it stays s it has been so dreary

Oh dear Joan, glad you are ok. When its wild and windy and we have had power cuts, after dark, I always have my small LED torch in my pocket as getting caught out suddenly is not funny and can cause you to trip over!

If my tel had rang at 12.30 am, I would have thought my dads taken a turn or worse and would not have been amused for electricity company ringing me at that time of night! How inconsiderate. Why ring to say its been restored when of course you would know that doh!!!

Both daughter & I were feeling a bit off this evening so took out temps, Hers was 38.2 and mine 38 so on 100! I also started coughing again tonight so i hope we havent got the virus my son has although he doesn't live with me. he is really not well and has lost 1/2 stone. Aches all over, no appetite so isnt going back to work until he feels ok.

She is going to be staying with him over new year and leaving here tomorrow. She's going to get him some Lucozade sport and some ice lollies. Thing is, he has never been off work sick in 6 years! So he must be bad.

Linda, fingers crossed for an offer. Hope you dont have Eve's bugs but you were in the house with her so quite likely.

Well I'm off to make a hot drink as been feeling so cold and shivery all day and my back is cold too even though I have my dressing gown over my legs at the computer.

Nite all

Florence in the hebrides

I was just watching the news about the mess the storm has made in Scotland , so I am pleased to find that you are safe Florence. I too hope Joan is OK.

My son went home this morning, he sent a text to say that he had got there safely. OH went out walking, it was extremely muddy and rained a lot, so he wasn’t happy.

I had a house viewing booked in this morning, they had just left when the estate agent rang up to say there was someone else in the office who would like to view as well, so they came round. They both seemed to like it, but only one couple had buyers for their house, so I m not hoping for an offer.

I have a cough and my chest feels very night, so I think I have Eve’s bug

:-(

Afternoon everyone.
Well its dry, calm but very brrrrr. However, I ventured outside this morning to plant 30 small spring bulbs I had bought ages ago and when i took them out of their netted bags, they were sprouting! So all planted in the large black tub that has been emptied of last years bedding plants so just perfect.

There are bluebells, miniature hyacinths and narcissi plus some others i'm not sure of their names, But the tub will look pretty if they all grow.

Grand clean up today and washing tablecloths etc. Actually got them out for an hour and dried them a bit before into the tumble. Fridge full of leftovers for tea but only 1 triangle of the caramel cheesecake left as that proved popular yesterday and 1/2 my berry crumble left.

I'm seeing on the SSE power track map, hundreds in Scotland without power . So hope Joan isn't one of them else she will be cold. There was loads of snow on the A9 south of Inverness and loads of cars etc stuck yesterday, was terrible.

Also was a lot of flooding in Scotland too!

Hope everyone is safe & well and keeping warm.

Florence in the hebrides

Good bits of news, Joan and Linda!
Good to know your buffet went well and was so much fun for everyone, Florence.

One of my neighbours' bins blew over today, too, and now there are clumps of sodden Christmas paper all over the place.

The lid of my compost bin blew away in a westerly gale last week. It would have been nice if today's easterly had blown it back again!
No such luck.

Linda, just seen your last post. Thank goodness squirrel is out and back where he belongs and def not in a wood burner!

Afternoon all.

Aw Joan just seen your post. How wonderful hubby will soon be nearer to you and you can then go and visit him <3

It has been an horrendous day with winds of 60-70 mph and torrential rain. when my visitors arrived at 12,30, we had to close the inner doors and then the loft trap blew open with the draught but friends son who is 6 ft 3 managed to sort it out.

They all enjoyed the buffet and tbh there's not a lot left but what is will do us for lunch tomorrow. We had a couple of general knowledge quiizzes that daughter organized and we all got a "booby" prize.
Was hilarious, one got a bauble of my tree, one got a toilet roll, some got a packet of biscuits etc it was all soo funny and we all laughed :-D :-D

So dishes all washed and away and now sitting as im feeling sore from all the standing in the morning and bending for the oven! Friends asked if this was going to now be a regular xmas buffet and they are coming next year :-D :-D :-D

You never know it may be!

neighbours bin had broken free and was blown down the back garden. he then had managed to retrieve it but I have seen it again against the fence and now its pitch black so who knows if it will still be there tomorrow.

AnnG, you got a good bargain there in the sale. Glad you are having a good time away.

ArgyllGran, I often call myself the wild Woman of the West as my hair is right down my back and i did cut it recently but it has grown already.

Linda, something tells me the squirrels days are numbered after reading Gwyns post sadly. but it cant remain where it is and has to go by whatever means.

Power didnt go off here but had all my xmas lights around and candles. However its still howling so every chance it could still go off. Glad Joan you got your power back.

Take care everyone out & about

Florence in the hebrides

Oh, that is good news about your husband Joan, especially as you will be able to go and see him regularly. I hope you are warmer now

Squirrel update, it is out. It went into the trap, so they took it outside and released it. My daughter looked into the legal side. It is fine to trap them and release them in situ. It is only illegal if you trap them then take them elsewhere and release them.

We saw that as well Gwyn. It must have come down the chimney, there is a cowl on, but it has gaps so obviously isn’t squirrel proof. Our next door neighbours just put in a wood burner. They took off the cowl which is the same as ours and put a much more solid looking one on.
The latest news is that the trap is inside the wood burner, but the squirrel is show no interest in it

Blowing wildly here, but it's dry.
Daughter is just back from meeting a friend and taking a walk near the coast. They checked to see where the tide was first, but it was far enough out so that the wind didn't blow spray at them. She said it wasn't too cold, just blustery.
I'm staying indoors ;-)
Joan, I hope hubby can be moved nearer home, so that you can then visit him. It's good that you can have a chat together though.
Aryllgran
I hope your cough gets better soon. Mine starts up if I go into different surrounding temperatures. The more one tries to stop coughing, the more the tickle develops :-|

I hope the squirrel situation is resolved soon, but sadly, I think it's days are numbered.....You are not allowed to cause suffering to an animal but......
(Copied from online......)
The grey squirrel is regarded as an invasive non-native species following its inclusion under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Country Act 1981. Under Schedule 9 of the WCA, it is illegal to release a grey squirrel into the wild, or allow one to escape, without a license granted by Natural England. This means if you trap one, you are obliged to humanely dispatch it.

The family will want to check where it got in too, to prevent another squirrel getting in.

Good afternoon all. Very wild wet and windy here today. We just drove out to local Curry’s for daughter to look at computers with her youngest son who works in IT. Then to Asda to replenish the food cupboard. The three youngsters eat well!,
Now the three of them have gone out and peace reigns for a while. I did manage to get a top in Asda reduced from £9 to £5.

Hope the squirrel problem is soon solved and that hubby soon gets his move to the local hospital Joan. I assume they are waiting for a bed to become vacant.

ArgG. Good that the cough seems to be better. Son in law
S daughter works in a care home, she was supposed to come over today to see us but two days ago she tested positive with Covid.