General Chat

Vera thanks for forwarding Anng's photos.

Ann thats not a good policy to not let oh know when they cancel something and put it to a later date. As you say its not only that place he works for but others too and may have a appointment booked for the day they pick.

Enjoyed the Owen's family program but what an awful lot of work its going to take. I did'nt think it was a good idea to let the smaller children go in with all those huge loose slates.

I missed you there Vera. We have lost EWM in some of the garden centres too, so I am glad we still have two left with one only half a mile away. I'm surprised that one has survived till now as it is tucked away in a corner and not very visible and so not very busy. My Bank Branch is now a Trendy Barbers that does those fancy carved hairstyles young men have, the old Santander branch is Domino's Pizza and cafes seem to be springing up in all of our local villages and being used instead of dearer restaurants.

Mandy I can understand you not wanting both jabs at once after your nephew's experience. I don't know why but our jabs this time didn't even give us an achey arm or a hot bump where the jabs went. We forgot we'd had them the day afterwards.

Yes Mel the tech changes all the time are such a nuisance. I have at last managed to disable my adblocker for just the Youtube site so I can keep watching Terry and other videos. I have to have an adblocker since the data breach with my provider as it was loading adverts so fast my emails wouldn't open. There must have been a glitch they've now sorted as following the instructions hasn't worked until today. It isn't safe having just one password as anyone who manages to work it out can enter everything and empty your bank account, buy stuff on amazon and ebay etc. Having a little book helps, but where do you then hide it when not in use in case someone breaks in and when yu are on holiday. There are password managers online where you can save them, but it must be a faff to open that site to find them when you are ready to enter a password and have limited time before they time you out. I defy any youngster to remember all my passwords! I expect most use password managers. I find it hard to remember reams of instructions for the next time and have to write things down. I wish we still had paper instruction books for things so you could have it open at the side of you.
I did see a good app on tv this morning. A father whose daughter was murdered had been involved in developing it. You enter people's phone numbers who you would want to notify if you felt unsafe anywhere, particularly at night or if you were on your own. If you then found yourself in an unsafe situation you just pressed an alert button on your phone and it would not only let them know but it would show them a map and highlight your exact location. It said some of the Police were using it for their own safety too.

That's annoying about the changed phone number Mel, but there seems to be more incompetence than ever these days. OH is supposed to take part in a meeting this Thursday, but had heard nothing more, so he had to email to see if it was going ahead. He had a reply to say it wasn't, but that it had been rebooked for a future date, but they never said what the future date was, so he then had to email them again! This not only happens all the time, they never consider that he could have booked other work for the day, if they'd kept him informed that they'd cancelled a meeting or that delaying to notify him might mean he is no longer available for their new date.

I'm getting the new beads out now and have decided to start the it again with other different beads to go with the new ones.

I hope AnnG had a dry day and was able to enjoy the garden visit today.

I know why they want to put a new meter in its for the potting shed and I never go up there anymore and don't use any leccy and each time I send the meter reaading in its the same as last time and they think its gone wrong and I have credit on that account too..

AND it has now just got worse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had an email to say they want to put a new leccy meter in and to book an appointment and given a number to ring. Guess what? They have updated their site and that number is no longer used, so why send it to me then? The automated voice said the number so quickly and I had'nt got a pen handy and she repeated it and still I had'nt got a pen so now I don't know who to ring. Why not put the new number on the email instead of putitng the old one on there?????

I never know why when soemthing is working ok they have to improve it with silly things like apps. I try not to do things on apps and now today I had something about a voice recognition app. The leccy has changed its log in a bit too and it won't accespt my password so thats not being paid. Thank goodness BT take thier payments out and let me know when they are coming out and how much. Its all this finger print stuff and apps for you voice and I just don't understand it all. Its ok for the kids who are well into all this stuff but it takes the oder generation to try and remember simple things like all the passwords you have to have for various site. I have a whole little book of them cos I would'nt be able to remember which one went with which site!!! :-| I suppose it would be easier to have just one for all sites but now you have to have capitol letters and numbers and at least 9 things, it drives me up the wall.

Moan over I just had to get it off my chest. :-D

I had'nt read the post Mandy and put it up too and its the Hardacres tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm so two things to watch on Iplayer tonight.

For those who are interested in Amanda and Clive Owen and the children program on More 4 (124) tonight at 9pm about doing up The derilact house they bought.

I envy you your EWM Annx. Ours closed some while ago. I could never get trousers to fit me there but bought quite a few shirts and jumpers which have worn well. Our lovely market town has so few shops now. They close and then reopen as charity shops, estate agents or coffee shops. Of 3 that closed a little while ago, one has reopened as yet another coffee shop, one is a nail bar and the third which is shortly to open will be an Ann Summers. A company of that size must have done its research but I can't imagine it will do very well here.

Today I've had another example of "improvements". The NHS Trust covering our hospital operates an online "patient portal". Once you're registered on the portal you can get in to see things like blood test results, appointment letters etc. Today I got an email. The NHS Trust are sharing with me an "exciting update". A new version of the patient portal is being launched which will "improve your experience". It's working perfectly well and doesn't need improving, thank you very much. The whole thing is being closed down for 8 days in November as it will apparently take that long to get it up and running. Currently I login in with a username and password but, as a sort of afterthought, the email tells me I will now need my "NHS App login credentials" to sign in. I neither have nor want the NHS App. I'm really looking forward to my improved experience, I don't think.

I think it might be time to make a calming cuppa before I blow my top.

Afternoon All,

We decided to get up after the windowcleaner had been this morning as neither of us slept well...........he didn't turn up! So we were up late and just went to the chemist and shop. Not that we slept longer as for the past couple of months every weekday morning from 8.00am there is loud banging like the sound of pile drivers that goes on till about lunchtime. We can't work out where it is coming from, but think it must be to do with the new warehouses that will be built.

Yes Bumble was great Mandy as I said in my reply. Soon there will be Daffodil then, so that sounds lovely too. There is quite a little group now. :-) Thanks for the tip off about the progs which I'll make sure to record.

I've done some soup in the slow cooker like Mel and Mandy. I had leeks and potatoes to use up and added carrot and four chicken thighs and stock, so need to blitz it and freeze half now.

My beads came this morning so I might be able to finish something I started ages ago.

Well, it eventually stopped raining but it's still very grey and chilly and quite windy. I did loads of washing but didn't bother to try hanging it out. Some is on a clothes airer, shirts are hung on hangers in various places round the house and the rest has been tumbled in 2 lots. My tumble dryer doesn't seem to be working as well as usual either. I kept having to put stuff back in for longer because it wasn't dry enough. I've checked both the filters and they seem OK so I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Mel, I haven't had a Laxton's for donkey's years. They used to be one of my favourites but we never see anything like that round here now. It's all Gala and Braeburn and most of those are imported. Did your boiler man arrive?

Oh Mandy, I feel for you with your fidgety legs as I get them as well. Some 25 years ago a doctor told me I had irritable leg syndrome and to cut down on caffeine. It did seem to help. I cut it out as much as I could and then gradually reintroduced it so I now know roughly how much I can take. I have very little chocolate, decaff. coffee and decaff. coke on the rare occasions I have that (usually with a good slug of Bacardi ;-)). I can't cope with decaff tea so I still have my full strength Yorkshire tea. I still get jumpy legs from time to time and I always end up getting up and walking about for a few minutes. I hope you sleep better tonight.

I hope the weather stayed dry for you so that you could visit the gardens AnnG. It would be nice to see your photos and I am more than happy to forward them to the rest of the group for you.

I think I am going to submit this in case I lose it as Genes is being a bit funny today. I'll carry on in a separate thread.

I made soup today for our lunch ,potato and leek , I do eat breakfast usually a round of toast or granola with a banana and we like porridge in the winter .
I think it was Ann saying about overnight oats ,it looks nice but not sure I would like it cold
Oh don't forget for those that like Yorkshire farm ,new series of Our Farm next door with Clive , Amanda and family starts tonight 9 o'clock on More 4

A late breakfast but I don't usually have breakfast but I only had soup last night and an apple from the orchard. A nice Laxton.

Rain stopped a while ago and now the suns out still cloudy but at least itx getting brighter .
Just had a good dust all through just got to hoover but I'm having my coffee first .

Is that brunch Mel or a late breakfast .

Docs just rung me and changed my Flu and Covid jab to next Thrusday instead of Novenmber and I asked about havng a breast screening and they gave me the number to ring. Done that and I am now on the list so wait now for a letter. I had the last one 5 years ago in 2019 and I knew I could ask for one. Thats another job done for today and I have done a little casting.

We like all of them Mandy but looking forward to Daffodil. Very wet out there and it seems to have blown right across the patio so I think it must have been that fine stuff. There no wind now and pc says 13 degrees and mostly sunny but I hav'nt seen any sun yet.

Can't get into anything at the mo but will get myself into gear and start something.

Think I will do a bit of casting. I have put coats on new moulds so far today now I'm hungry so I think its time for something to eat then perhaps I will get on.

Morning all,
Wet here I think it should clear up later this afternoon and middle of the week it could get to about 20 degrees .

I had an awful night I was still awake at rwo o'clock I got the fidgets in my left knee and when that finally eased blow me the right knee started with the fidgets ,it's awful as you just can't keep your legs still .

Glad you liked Mr Bumble ,think you'll love the next one it's Daffodil

Good morning all

It’s dark, wet and cold. I hope it’s better where you all are. No plans for today so I’ll be staying in the warm. Might bbl.

PS. Forgot to say that I love the bumblebee gnome Mandy. I can’t pick a favourite anymore as they are all so good.

Good morning all,

13 degrees here and cloudy just what the pc says.

I was up at 7am because the boiler man is supposed to be coming but it looks like I am going to have to be up early tomorrow too as he's not arrived yet.

Good morning all. Not dressed yet but slept well last night. Dry so far and supposed to be dry all day so we are hopefully going to Ex bury gardens today. Looks like the weather is going to be iffy the rest of the week though but we will have to see. Maybe ok tomorrow then deteriorates.

Evening All,

A chilly but sunny day here. The food delivery came but the 3 subs were ok and just the Ibuprofen out of stock. At last the skimmed milk powder is back so I got 3 lots! At least OH didn't need reminding to be careful carrying things this time as his side reminded him.

AnnG isn't it always the same when you stay away somewhere. Our lodge was brilliantly equiped when we first started going (it was nearly new then), even had ice cubes, a stash of loo rolls, cleaning materials etc, but last time we noticed standards had dropped with things missing, a temperamental kettle with a lid that would get stuck. We never have fathomed the cooker, only one teatowel and all the cleaning materials removed. We supposed people must steal things. It sounds like you had a nice day today, cheap parking too and a nice veg breakfast. I sometimes have one of those if they won't swap the sausage for an egg!

Mandy, yes I did send a photo of the Red Kite to the programme, but they didn't show it over the next few weeks. I've recorded the new programmes, so will be able to see if it comes on. You just don't know how many people send them do you. I agree the names disappear much too quickly! I might try sending another of a bee with pretty wings. I love your Bumble Gnome with the stripes and wings! OH always likes seeing what you make too. :-)

Mel that nasty split in your finger must get really sore. Make sure you cover it when you are working outside so it keeps clean. I thought you were planning a flight when you said you were making witches brooms! lol. Then I realised with the grass they were likely to be for your miniatures. Is the boiler still leaking then? I thought he'd been to fix it unless I can't keep up.

We have the windowcleaner coming tomorrow so we need to be up early to get our shower in before he arrives. I cut a 20% off coupon for EWM out of a magazine today so we might pop to the garden centre down the road in the morning that has them there. They have a small Works section and I expect the Christmas decs will have been started so a few things to look at.