General Chat

Had a good day today. Visited two craft like centres, had coffee and scone in the first then a look round and bought some Christmas presents. Then in one that last year I bought the amber crystal beads I found another vintage bead necklace. Then looking around I found a couple of Ainsley cottage garden pots. Took one to the counter and the man asked me if I had many pieces. When Intold him he produced two more from out the back. These are circa fifties. Anyway I bought two of them. They were only £10 each. Apparently all the vintage pots and this China belong to two elderly sisters, he calls them the girls. He is selling all their vintage stuff for them loads of necklaces.
He also has a 19/ year old cat which has very little sight. This complex is on a dairy farm. It even has a model railway so something for everyone.

Anyway we went on to the next complex which is built round a garden centre. We had lunch here and I had fish and chips. It was very nice.
There is a Bon Marche there and Son bought me a top for my birthday I also bought a pair of pull on trousers to wear indoors.
Had a good look round the antique shop and garden centre shop then came home. Had a light shower while in the restaurant but otherwise it is sunny and warm.

BIL just gone after having lunch with me and he's mowed all the lawns and helped me clean out the top filter I can't reach.

ContinuedHad a nmessage from Stuart saying would it be possible to bring the dinner to his and do a bit for his son too as he was at the docs having jabs. We could warm it back up in the microwave.

Have you ever had yorkshire pud heated in te microwave? its horrid so I did'nt make the the toad in the end but just did the sausages, mash and the cauli cheese. When I got there his girlfriend turned up so there were four of us for dinner but she had the chicken curry she had made the day before. Lots of chat and we had eaten ours by the time James came in and he warmed his up and ate all that was left for him. I have never seen him eat such a big dinner before. He said all he had had today was three little apple pies and a bag of crips.

BIL is mowing and I have been up the post van and now need to feed my chickens.

I think I shall meet myself coming back today and I still have lots of HW to do.

Morning all,

I have just read yesterdays posts as I had an awful afternoon sorting out my Amazon account on the phone to somebody I ould'nt really understand but he was very patient with me for keep asking him to repeat what he was saying and I was on the phone for quite a while and he was telling me what to do on the pc at the same time. Click on this link and press that but we got there in the end and I now have my own account which dos'nt go through oh's now. He could'nt find oh's old account but his old email or his telephone number abd we did'nt get Echo sorted but she works ok for me the way she is I still have to do the three Amazon ipads but that will be another day.

I had three deliveries yesterday and while I was cooking the dinner my new neighbours came down with 4 big bags of sawdust for me for the chickens. What next I thought nearly burnt the sausages and had to interupt Janine as the cauli was cooked and I needed to cool it down so as not to over cook it.

BIL just arrive will tell you the rest of the story later.

Morning all,

Really dull here this morning but doesn't seem cold when I went out to the bin .

Ann I hope you got your lock sorted this time and you didn't get Mr Grumpy again ,I'm like you with the chocolates I prefer the nutty ones rather than the cream ones .

Vera hope your back soon eases for you ,no more gardening or heavy jobs for a few days .

Hope your toad in the hole turned out OK Mel and you both enjoyed it .

Anng a nice trip out to a craft centre and then garden centre sounds good don't spend to much .

We're off shopping today so a day off from all the sorting out of the shed ,my goodness I have been busy getting rid of all sorts that we'll never use or need again ,there was all the pipes from the swimming pool, skimmers , pumps and pool steps loads of metal pipes from goodness knows where and there's still more I'm sure .

Good morning

Cloudy but quite warm at the moment and the forecast says sun from 10 am to 6 pm and temperature getting to 22 so the weather looks promising.

The craft centre sounds interesting AnnG. Don’t spend all your money.

Did your door get fixed yesterday Annx? I hope you didn’t get the grumpy engineer. I was thinking of your strange dream the other night when you found you couldn’t speak English. I believe there have been a few cases of people coming round after being in a coma and speaking quite fluently in another language, in one case I think it was Welsh. I just can’t understand how someone who hasn’t learnt a language has something in their brain that enables them to suddenly speak it. I can only think that all our ancestors’ traits are wired into our brains and come to the fore at times of extreme stress. Fascinating but eerie

I think OH got out of bed the wrong side this morning so I’m keeping out of the way for a little while. I hope he’s in a better mood by 10.15 when we have to leave for the dentist. I’ve said I can drive myself but he’s determined to drive me. To be fair to him he doesn’t usually stay grumpy for long.

I brought a cup of tea back to bed but I’d better get up and face the day now. Enjoy whatever you are doing today.

Good morning all grey bright so far and dry. Off out later to craft centre and garden centre. BBL

Hallo ladies

Another lovely day here. It’s bright sunshine and 22 degrees; it might get to 24 this afternoon. I got tempted to do a bit in the garden but am paying for it now. I can’t sit and do nothing when I can see jobs that need doing and I was very careful not to bend awkwardly or twist my body but my back is very painful now.

I’m sure your toad in the hole will go down well, Mel. I haven’t made one of those for ages. I might make one next week. I took some mince out of the freezer this morning so I think we’ll have shepherd’s pie, or I suppose it should be called cottage pie as it’s beef. My mum called all minced meat with potato on top shepherd’s pie and I do the same.

What a shame you missed the lady who didn’t pay Mandy. She’ll have a shock when you do confront her. I hope your hand isn’t too bruised from being attacked by the plug. As for my toe, it’s nothing really. Wearing open toed sandals and not looking where I was going I banged my toes against a chair leg and my toes came off worst.

I think that was a good price for your plate AnnG. I vaguely remember mine costing about £800 and that was, I think, early 1990s. I think it might be possible to get a metal plate on the NHS now but they only use the cheapest type of metal available. Looking online the private dental charges seem to vary quite a bit depending on the metal used and the number of teeth. The best price I’ve found for my type is £1050 for 4-12 teeth. I get my plate back tomorrow and I’m hoping it’s going to last me many years.

I hope you’ve been enjoying your chocs Ann.

OH usually gets lunch but I think he’s absorbed in something he is doing on the computer so I’d better get something ready. I think we’ll have it in the conservatory with the door open. That way we can get some fresh air and watch the 1 o’clock news at the same time.

Afternoon All,

Thank you Mel.......all the choccies have gone now! We haven't had Milk Tray for a long time and they were different as they had no creams in them. This suited me well as I'm not keen on the lime, lemon and strawberry creams. I like praline fillings and hazlenut or soft toffee ones! Wishing I had a few left now! lol. Toad in the hole is something OH loves too!

I had to be up and dressed early as the service engineer from the company we had the front door from is due between 8.00am and 5.00pm. Surely they could say either am or pm so we don't have a soul destroying wait with not being able to concentrate on much else with one ear tuned to the doorbell and having to stay in earshot! He's a right grumpy chap if it's the one who came before and more or less witheringly suggested the lock just needed some oil. We'd followed the instructions with it and it has never been right, so I'm wondering what excuse he'll make this time. Also about the scratched sill he suggestted just needed rubbing, which I've left uncleaned this time so he can see how it is. I've also noticed this morning that there is no end cap on the sill next to the wall, so rather than cut it the right length to fit the end cap they have left it. It's a really well known and not cheap company as well. As usual OH is staying well clear and has found some work that MUST be done today! lol.

Must get the bed changed next and have some soup I think. Then something quiet like dusting web removing! :-)

That was a nice treat Ann I could just go a lemon muffin now.

Been to the post van and got a loaf in the shop. Came home and fed the chickens and just started clearing up a bit to do some veg for tonight when Em called for eggs. She helped me strip the bed and remake it while she was here and thats a job I hate so its in the machine now and beds all made which is so good.

Postman came and I have two parcels to unpack. Washing machine is singing to me so it finished washing and now I shall put it back on to spin and drain it as with the wash I put on it dos'nt spin at 1400.

Good afternoon all. Sun is just about breaking through, was a bit chilly earlier.

Just been food shopping with Son Best way to do it he buys, pays, packs carries and unpacks and puts it all away. And he buys me coffee and a lemon muffin in Costa inside Tescos.

Morning all,

I forgot t come bc on yesterday so I hope you had a lovely Anniversary Ann and Mr Ann and enjoyed your choccies.

Its a bit cloudy here this morning and pc says 15 degrees and mostly sunny. There is a bit of blue sky out there so I hope it bigger as the day goes on.

I am going to do Toad in The Hole tonight as I thought thats something he would make for him and the kids and its a long while since I have had one too.
I will prep the veg and pud so its all ready to start when I wnat to before he comes.

What a shame you missed the lady going by Mandy, its always the way when you want to catch someone you see everyone but the one you want. Dying to see the Gnomes when you can send a pic.

Vera good about your eyes are ok and hope you get your plate fixed.

While I have been typing the suns putting in an appearance so thats good.

Have to go to the post van this morning so better get on so will pop in later time permitting.

Have a good day all.

Morning all,

Overcast here at the moment and 13 degrees ,we could get up to 25 today so should be a nice day .
Washing is in the machine and I have a pile of ironing there to do from the other day .

I will keep looking out for the lady, I'll catch her one day .

I have to have certain presents ready as we will visit Hampshire inn October at the end of our New Forest week. So need to take presents then. It is two families of corse so quite a few.

Mandy what a shame that you missed that lady. Keep trying.

All the time I am at home I never watch any sport. Unfortunately DiL and granddaughter are not bothered about TV so the only thing ever on is sport. Non stop football occasional F1, cricket if it is on. I just read but it is going to take ages to catch up with the soaps and Masterchef.

Thank you for your good wishes!

Oh Vera we are all thinking about your toe now! lol :-D Did you stub it somehow? Good news about your eyes though and I hope your back soon improves and that you manage to get a good night's sleep.

Yes AnnG I remember from holidays finding plants were tricky to transport unless they were small like house leeks! You are doing well with your start on buying some Christmas presents.

Mandy fancy you missing the lady in the wheelchair twice! lol. perhaps she was coming by to see if you had put anything else out!! Gosh you are speeding along making the gnomes and now you are making a reindeer. I must check our tip and see if we have to book again.

Evening all,

It's been a lovely warm sunny day and we got to the tip nice and early ,from November we will have to make an appointment to go like your tip Vera ,how does yours work if your a bit early or late do they still let you in .

Happy Anniversary to you both Ann enjoy your chocolates.
Two Gnomes done and I'm now on a reindeer one, I looked on the camera the other day and blow me the woman who took the things went through twice and I missed her both times ,thought I might catch her going back but she went down the churchyard and not through past ours .

Chelsea's birthday today she was pleased with the bits we bought and the money .

Oh Vera what have you done to your toe ,I cut the front grass after lunch and I usually put the plug through the bathroom window and plug in the hall ,well I put the plug through the open window but I didn't push it in far enough as it dropped out and caught the back of my hand as it fell talk about a pinch and it bled ,think I'll have a bruise there tomorrow.

Happy anniversary to you both Annx
No plants bought, a bit too much bother to transport them, although son has said I can if I want to.

It is quiet here now, DiL has taken grandson to the train he is off back to Leeds, granddaughter has just gone to work and son is just on a business call.

Vera I have a metal clip on plate at the top front, my last new one was just pre Covid, it cost me around £500. Our surgery is mostly private but the prices still seem reasonable.
What have you done to your toe, go on you know you want to talk about it.

It’s a beautiful day here; 22 degrees and sunny though it’s got quite breezy in the last hour or so. I ought to be gardening but my back doesn’t seem to want to improve this time and I don’t want to make it worse. I feel as though I’m living on pain killers as it is. I feel a bit guilty to be moaning as so many people are worse off than me.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ANNX AND MR ANNX. I hope you are enjoying your day.

Yes, the metal plate feels much lighter than a plastic one but you cannot get them on the NHS. In the 1960s to mid 1980s I had a partial NHS plate and they were constantly snapping in half. When we moved to Suffolk we went to a very good NHS dentist and I was talking to him about how many plates I had that had broken. He said he could get me a metal one made and I would never go back to a plastic one but it could only be done privately. He told me the cost and I nearly fainted but OH said to go for it. The dentist was right - I’ll never have an NHS plate again. I forget I’m wearing it as it is so light and comfortable and never moves so you can bite and chew just like having your own teeth. The biggest downside is the cost. I dread to think what my small plate with 4 teeth would cost now but I’d guess over £1000. Luckily mine just needs a repair but even that is costing me £260.

I think that’s more than enough about my teeth. AnnG, you are getting well ahead with your Christmas bits and pieces. I wish I was as well organised. We tend not to start thinking about Xmas till the beginning of December. The grandchildren tend to get money these days. I wouldn’t try to buy the girls clothes as they all have their likes and dislikes. One is saving for a car and one is saving for a piano so money is usually welcome.

I’ve had a Sainsbury delivery this afternoon. No subs and nothing missing so that was good. The delivery man noticed just a couple of drips of milk at the bottom of his crate and decided one of my 6 pint bottles must have a leak so he refunded me the cost but left the milk with me so my week of good deals is continuing.

Another good thing today was that the postman brought a letter from the eye hospital about my last tests and examination. It said “no new vessels on iris, disc or elsewhere, no macular oedema” which is better than I expected so I am very pleased. Macular oedema is swelling on the macular caused by the vein problem and, although it had stabilised, this is the first time in 2 years the doctor has said there is no swelling anymore.

I’ve bored you with my back, my teeth and my eyes - what else can I tell you about my physical condition? Shall I tell you about my bruised toenail? No? I’ll sign off then. Enjoy the rest of your day and sleep well tonight.

Afternoon All,

Sunny here and 19 degrees so a nice day. Neither of us slept very well last night, OH with his head pain and I was feeling a bit ropey and had a strange dream that woke me. I dreamt I was at a meeting with strangers and we were all waiting in a dimly lit room. It had old fashioned decor and furniture and was gloomy and I decided I must be in the wrong place, but couldn't find the way out. Everywhere was dimly lit and wherever I found a door at the end of corridors it was locked. I went back to the room with people waiting and decided to ask someone about the meeting and found I had completely forgotten every word of the english language! I was desperately trying to remember some of my schoolgirl french when I woke up.

It is our wedding anniversary today so we had a lie in with a COT while we opened our cards. Then we showered and went to refuel my car and call at the shop. We came back with a nice double layer Cadbury's Milk Tray box to share and ordered lunch at home as OH had a last minute zoom meeting organised for just after lunch time. He's out again tonight as it is a busy time with schools just now.

Thanks for reminding me Mel, I must do some bed changing too and might also do a bit in the garden. Have you decided what are you going to cook this time? It's good to prepare what you can in advance, less to do later then.

You certainly got yourself some bargains yesterday Vera. We have an Iceland in the next village and I keep forgetting to pop in there. It used to be an Waitrose before that. I also want to go and look at the Aldi that's open again after having 'improvements'. OH had a metal plate and said it was less bulky in the mouth too. I'm glad the impressions weren't as bad this time especially with having three of them. I hope you won't have long to wait for the new one.

I see you have visited a garden centre and had a nice lunch out AnnG and have bought a few things. Did you get any plants?

Hello all. This morning we went to a large independent garden centre. One that I used to like when we lived near enough to visit. Bought several Christmas presents ready to wrap and take to Hampshire in October. That was with son.
We then met up with daughter in law for lunch where I had a lovely omelette with cheese, ham, mushrooms and peppers. Just got back now. It is 20;degrees here sunny with a light breeze.

Good that your car passed its MOT Ann and great that it was only £2 dearer than last year.

Glad the impression was not as bad as anticipated Vera. Even with my plate in I can’t bite on an apple.

Mel those chickens keep you busy don’t they, still at least they repay you with eggs.