General Chat

My heating is on very low just to take the chill off. The temp has gone up to 7 now but it feels very cold outside. I went to put some scraps on the bird table and stopped on the way in to pull five or six weeds from the gravel (goodness knows what the membrane is doing, it is not stopping some weeds. I had a quick wander and survey of the pots in the garden and, as they are still flowering they are staying as they are for now.
Vera I think with your garden, try and ignore what needs doing until your back has eased or OH gets a sudden burst of 'must do' in the garden. It shouldn't be growing now so will still be the same in a few weeks. you can sort it then. Fretting about it will only make you feel worse about your back. Anyway your garden was so nice to start with it can't look that bad.

Mel, try and stay away from the garden until your back has recovered.

Morning girls,

At the mo the suns out and its 10 degrees but we have a wind yellow warning and Iv'e not seen that on the pc before. It also says mostly cloudy so I don't think the sun will last that long.

Hope your back improves Vera so you can get about better and do a bit of tidying in the garden.. My hip and back is no better and Iv'e had the wheat bag on it for two nights now. I must have just strained it a bit doing the weeds on the patio and dead heading.

I have the shop to do this morning and it will give me a chance to see what they did to my trees up the top. I asked them if they had time to cut back some of the branches of the beech trees that were nearly touching the lawn up there and I want to see how big the pile of wood chips are too.

Good morning
It’s very brrr out there. Winter seems to have arrived and OH has declared that the heating is going on today. It’s time to put the two big fans away I think. I doubt if they will be needed again this year.

Mandy, that is a very cute bunny gnome with her flowery hat. She’s my favourite now but it’s hard to choose between them as all the gnomes are sweet. You are very talented.

I hope your hip is better today Mel. I don’t know how you manage to do so much outside. I wish I had your stamina. In our last house the electricity people used to come fairly regularly to cut a couple of trees in our front garden but I always got a card through the door in advance to tell me when they were coming.

I hope your roads are a bit less waterlogged now Annx. OH must have thought he was never getting home the other night. I hope the elderly man on his bike was OK.

I am concerned about our garden as neither OH nor I have done anything much in it this month because of our holiday, the rain and bad backs. Things need cutting back, troughs and pots need clearing of dying annuals and lots of tidying up is needed but I can’t see much getting done for a while as I am not doing anything while my back is this bad and OH doesn’t seem to be in the mood for gardening. There’s not much housework being done either.

My back is still very painful and I think I’ve taken more painkillers in the last 2 or 3 weeks than in the last year. I think the exercises are helping a little and the physio did tell me it might be 6 weeks before it’s better. My mood has improved and I keep giving myself a good talking to. I dosed myself up and managed to get to the theatre on Thursday and the birthday lunch yesterday. At the theatre I had just sat down when a voice said “ We meet under different circumstances”. I turned to see who was speaking and found myself sitting next to our dentist!

I have no plans for today. It’ll be a take it as it comes sort of day. I’d better start by having some breakfast as I’ve been up since 7.30 am but I’ve no idea what I’m doing after that. Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning all, not quite light out there yet, looks a bit gloomy and is 3 degrees Brrr!. Nothing planned for today until 4-5pm when Tesco is due. Slept ok but woke early so still feel a bit tired.

I hav'nt watched that yet Ann looking forward to smething decent on the telly.

I emailed Mandy but was'nt that little bunny gnome great. Loved the delicate flowers on the hat.

We've not had any rain today but a cold strong wind.

I had'nt heard about Maggie Smith and I liked her in Downton and the Lady In the Van and all the other things she has been in like Harry Potter. She always seemed so right for the roles she played. I think the first one I saw with her in was The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Done some painting of my mini's today but not a lot. Blown the leaves off the decking by the ponds but the battery ran out just as I got to the end of the decking.

I would'nt mind some of the yellow oppy seeds Gwyn as I have been trying to get those in the garden for years. I even took a pod from the doctors garden but it was'nt ripe. I have enough agapanthus seeds of my own but I think it takes about 7 years for them to flower.

Afternoon All,

So sad to hear Maggie Smith passed away this morning. She was brilliant in so many things and I loved her in Downton and The Van Lady.

I love the Bunny Gnome Mandy with the flowers on the hat and little white tail! Thanks for sending a picture.

Well the rain and thunderstorm last night was so bad that OH had to turn back and find different routes to come home from the city after his meeting 5 times!! He said the water was like little fountains from the drains in places. His journey was about 7 miles, but it took him ages. He said one 88 year old had come on his bike, but refused a lift home, so he hoped he hadn't come far. We've never known it bad in the city like that. This morning when we went out the fields were worse than we've ever seen them too and water lapping the sides of the road and it's a good job the railway across one of the fields is raised up as it was close to the top. When OH collected some tablets from the pharmacy the brook through the village was still like a raging torrent. With the the drains lifting down by the island I hope it doesn't cause the floods to back up to us in furture, but water should run away downhill towards the river and canal.

OH is ready to watch All Creatures now so better do that next.

Bunny Gnome is so cute, Well done Mandy.

We've had a dull and damp day, but the sun is shining now, as forecast. It's OK temperature wise if you are out walking or are busy indoors, but chilly indoors if you are just sitting..

I went to a local Macmillan Coffee morning today held in a side room of a pub. So many lovely cakes to choose from :-D
I think they will probably have raised quite a bit of money, as there were tombola and raffle prizes to be won too.
Weather permitting, I might look in on another one in town tomorrow.

All this chat about seeds made me wonder if anyone wants any from a blue agapanthus? Some seeds have self set here, so they 'take' quite easily. Mine don't get much attention at all and the flower heads, though slow to appear at first are now increasing each year.
Also have some yellow poppy seeds if anyone wants some. I don't know if they have a proper name, but are small, like a red field poppy, but are bright yellow.

Mel, can't your bank pay your bills for you to save you having to do it?

Thanks for the photo Mandy I just love that little miss. Clever you. <3

Mel some water companies offer single occupancy tarriffs so you might be eligible for it perhaps that's why he asked .

Rain stopped late morning but it's much colder here now ,I haven't done much today my energy went ,I think I've been doing to much again so I've had a day of rest and been finishing off another Gnome, Bunny Gnome my favourite so far , I'll send a photo.

Iv'e just paid the water bill online and he wanted to know how many people lived in the house, blimmin cheek.

I was in the kitchen and thought I could hear voices in the garden. Could'nt see anyone so got on a bit and then fed the chickens and could still hear chain saws and voices so I went up the top in the car. There were three men from the leccy board cutting down the trees round the wires. I knew they would be coming but I was supposed to get a phone call for when they were coming. Anyway I now have a huge pile of woodchips under the evergreen tree up the top more mulch for the border but I just have to get it down here now.

Brought the eggs in and putting them in the tray I dropped one on the work surface and dented it so I had an early lunch of a scrambled egg on a slice of toast so as not to waste it and it was delish.

Morning girls,

Nice bright morning so far today with blue sky white clouds and sunshine. Having said that it wil probably go now and cloud over and its 11 degrees at the mo and saying mostly cloudy so we could have had the best of the day.

Left hip still really bad this morning so I shall take it easy today.

Enjoy photography group this afternoon Ann. I think in years gone by you used to get 7 seeds in a Sungold packet. I never planted them all at once after I lost the tunnel. Just a couple for us down here. The packets do say usually an average ofsuch and such seeds and I think it is 5 in a F1 cue packet.

I think I am going to put some apples under my tom plants and shut them up now as I have left the door open all season since it got warmer and see if that will ripen some as I have those great big ones from the seed of the tomatoe that my neighbour gave me last year and it was so delious that I saved some of the seed. I shall grow it next year but sow it earlier. I was very late with them this year. I am still picking beans though and had another good harvest the other day.

Morning all,

Dreary rainy morning here but I think it should get dry as the day goes on and we might see a little sun .
Didn't have a bad night's sleep, woke a couple of times and I thought oh it's still dark so settled down until just after six when I woke with cramp in my foot and had to get out of bed to try and put my weight on it so it would ease .

Got a few jobs to do ,a hoover through ,cut Colins nails and clean the conservatory windows inside so plenty to keep me busy .

Good morning all, 7 degrees here so a bit nippy. dry at the moment though. Photography group this afternoon I am not sure if I will go if it is raining.

Ah I too had forgotten you were going to see fitz Ann, pleased you had a nice long chat and heard all about Jane's family. Nice that they all live near and that Chris is happy in his bungalow.

Mel, I found that, despite what the seed packets say about the number of seeds, I had fewer in mine this year, especially the sun gold tomatoes. However, I can't complain about the four that actually grew as they have been very prolific and still have loads of green tomatoes on them I will bring a few into the conservatory and see if they ripen.

Vera I hope that (like me) you slept better last night. and are raring to go this morning (that is a bit of an exaggeration regarding me).

The gas given off by apples is ethylene gas a natural occuring plant hormone. Bananas and pears work too so I am putting apples in my llittle greenhouse as I have quite a lot of green tms. The cue gave up after 4 cues and went blind.

Today I cleared out one of the kitchen draws and found my cue seeds I had been looking for with the small cues on them and many more than the feeble bought plant I had this year. The date runs out next year so perhaps the seed will be ok for next year.

I am so pleased you've been busy aAnn as we were worried aboiut you and I had forgotten you said you were going to see Fitz. Its good to know Chirs had settled in and he still has lovely old Thomas. So near too to the rest of the family which is good.Its nice too that Fitz has visited him.

Well I am off now so see you all in the morning. NIght night sleep tight. :-D

Glad your both OK Ann , you've had two busy days meeting up with your beading friend and then Fitz ,nice to hear that Chtis is settled into his bungalow ok and it's lovely that they are all living really close to each other , so Thomas is still going strong I often think about him when I see next doors cats ,it's good he settled into his new home and hasn't tried wandering back to the old house .

Raining quite steady here now and we had a few rumbles of thunder earlier .

Afternoon Everyone,

Yes we are both fine, just both very busy the past two days. Thunder, lightning and rain here at the moment, so if I say toodle oo, you know why as I'll switch the PC off.

Tuesday I met up with my beading friend after we had a battle with the front door lock again when OH was going to drop me off at the garden centre, but he managed to lock it in the end. Sod's law there were a few parking spaces that were ok for me this time, but OH was glad of the chance to look at their Works before going home. We had a good chat and my friend said she hadn't seen the rest of the group either since she stopped travelling to the yarn bomb group, which is a big group. She's still going to another beading group local to where she lives and enjoying that and has also joined a course on botanic painting, so loving those botanic prints I was asking all about it, what paper and paints they used etc. We had lunch while we were there and I had a tuna jacket with salad and we didn't leave till about 4.00pm, so we had a long natter.

Yesterday I met Fitz where we usually meet beyond Market Harborough and luckily it was dry and sunny. The trip takes three quarters of an hour, but there were the inevitable roadworks and floods on the road and fields here and there. Fitz was in a different car, as he'd written off his previous 19 year old one, so I had to watch for the replacement he described as bigger with room to take more bags to the tip! He'd brought photos to show me and said he'd been to visit and stayed the night with Chris. He said Chris has a lovely bungalow and garden and seemed happier than he'd ever seen him, so the move seems to be working out well. Thomas the cat has settled in and is fine and Chris, Janice and her husband and Hannah and her family all live within a few minutes drive of each other. After the meal, which was very nice, (I had a liver pate with toast starter, then cod with potatoes and peas in a tasty sauce followed by icecream. It's quite tricky finding things without cream or white bread). Afterwards we sat in the bar where there was no-one else and more chatting till we suddenly realised we'd been there five and a half hours and it had started to rain. We were like two old crocks standing up after so much sitting and Fitz is still waiting for his appointment for his second hip operation, so is using a stick.

What occurred to me when I was coming home was how I admire you ladies who are out most days or have people round. Where do you get your stamina as I am like a zombie today?

We've had a few ten minute blasts of heating in the evening lately, just to get the radiators warm, which has been enough up to now, but I think it won't be long before the throw is back on the bed for winter.

Some cows, tan and white ones this time have appeared in the field now, so it looks like it has been leased again since the previous farmer who leased it passed away.

It's good not to be mixing if Stu and his girlfriend aren't well Mel. There will be another time. It's a shame about your little wall. Is it the one your OH built? At least you have your winter oil now before any price rises. The door isn't being fixed till the 18th October, so I hope we don't get locked out and manage till then.

I hope you get all your tablets on the order Vera! The physio sounded helpful and now you have some new exercises to try and I expect doing the old ones after if you can manage it will still be helpful as well. Your neighbour is very kind leaving you some delicious sounding home made cake!

The latest covid variant seems to be taking hold now if so many surgery staff were away when you went for your blood test AnnG. Isn't it great when you get someone who is good doing it so you hardly feel it as well. With some of OH's appointments, the appointment letters that are posted were arriving too late, so I think they may be just making sure they manage to contact you so you don't miss an appointment. I'm glad your drier could be mended.

Mandy your cakes sound tempting and I would be first in line for the Mars bar one! lol. It's a good idea to put your baskets of toms in the shed by the window. I've put green ones in a bowl in the kitchen with a red one before and they have all ripened. It's a gas the red ones give off that does it but I can't remember what the gas is now. Brrrr I don't like the sound of frost! :-)

Hope the dryer can be fixed before you go away so you can get sorted for the time with your daughter and SIL.

Turned cloudy here and we have had a bit of rain shame after the nice sunny start to the day. Winds up a bit too. I have done dead heading on the patio plants and had a sweep up and blown the leaves off the side of the big pond where it meets the decking and patio. Fished leaves out of the pond and done my side in somehow and it hurts like anything right into my waist, or where my waist should be!

Cast a couple of miniatures and cleaned them up ready for painting and broke a mould so a new one shall have to be made for that. Ordered more Laytex for the moulds too as I only have a tiny bit left in this bottle I am useing.

Now I am getting worried about Ann and am hoping like Mandy that thye are both ok. Sending love <3

Afternoon all,

It's been nice and dry here until about five minutes ago when I went to the shut the back door and there was just a few big spots of rain and an almighty clap of thunder ,its been quite warm again and when we came out of aldi this morning it felt really muggy .

I hope you both feel better now Vera and Anng, its horrible when you have a bad night's sleep and you get that down in the dumps feeling ,hope tomorrow is a better day .

No Ann again so jhops they are both OK.

There's talk of a frost on Friday night so I've cut down most of the cucumber plants in the greenhouse as they were just about finished and moved the tomato plants I had outside into the greenhouse all thats left outside is the tumbling toms and there's loads of toms on there so I might see if they can go into the shed on the worktop in front of the window to protect them.

Anng thats good the dryer can be fixed ,oh your off again is this to your daughters or a holiday place ,you've probably said and I've missed it .

Just started to rain here now, it was lovely earlier and I walked down to the post box and to take some books back to Irene's. Other thank that and a bit of admin And a small wash that I am drying in the very warm conservatory I have not done anything today, Just don't have much energy, not that there is a lot to do.