General Chat

Morning girls,

Dull and dreary again but dry so I suppose thats a blessing. Its 9 degrees and mostly cloudy here and pc is telling me near record of a high temp of 15 degrees tomorrow.

I wonder if Stu will turn up today? as promised. Bet he has something else on. Thing is he still has my grill element to put in as I am still working onthe inner small grill at the mo and its been weeks now.

Just the shop to do this morning and there's a parcel coming today between 10.30 and 1pm. so I better go down early. I don't ike to as everyone and his friend go early thats why I usually go at 1pm.

I have not heard any fireworks this year or even seen a rocket go up.

I used to have the Rupert annual when young and then the Dandy and Beano and I had the Bunty comic when it first came out.

I was just reading on F book about the annual School Friend which finished being produced in 1963. How I loved getting one of those every Christmas. And how cross my Mum used to get when I read it in a day. She saw that as a waste of money. However it was always read and re-read. There used to be so many annuals to choose from in the 50s, 60s and then 70s when my children were young. I don't see quite so many now.

Good morning all 6 degrees here so another chilly one although probably right for this time of year. slept ok last night once I got to sleep around 12.

Yes Ann It was good to have a proper roast lunch with all the nice veg and tasy meat, not something you can do when on your own I just had a bowl of soup (tinned as I have not made any fresh lately) and a slice of toast in the evening. I have to have something or I don't sleep properly.

Vera we did have a good chat about old times and old work friends, plus learning about their time spent in Italy where they have a house.It is strange how we only meet up once a year but withing five minutes we are chatting as if we met yesterday.

I am just going to go into town on the bus this morning to go to the post office and get a few bits. expecting an amazon delivery but hopefully that will be after I get home.

It has been cloudy and grey all day with the temperature staying at around 10 degrees, though it’s now dropped to about 7. I think 10 is about the average here for this time of year so it’s to be expected but it would be nice to see a bit of blue sky instead of this low grey cloud. I was surprised when you said your temperature was 2 degrees this morning Mel and imagined it must be very icy but I see you later amended it to 12.

You’ve been busy making marmalade and clearing cupboards Mandy. Kitchen cupboards are awkward things. I’m tall but I have to use the kitchen steps to reach the top shelves in the wall cupboards and I hate getting down on the floor for the lower cupboards, particularly the two corner cupboards I’ve got. I have to tie a cloth on to something with a handle in order to reach into the far corners. I’m glad you feel a little better today.

It sounds as though you had a nice lunch out AnnG and I bet you found plenty to chat about. It’s nice that you also met up with your friends yesterday Gwyn. Up until just a very few years ago I used to meet up with girls I was at school with in the 1950s. We were the gang of six who had always kept in touch with each other and, in spite of the fact that we were scattered round the country, we used to meet up once a year (often including husbands/partners). In later years we would meet in London as wherever we lived we could get to London by train. Sadly now some no longer drive, some are not in good health and three have lost their spouses, two in the last year. I think our days of meeting up are past now.

Yes, my OH is very willing and good about chauffeuring people to appointments. As a group of friends we all try and help each other out when necessary but of course we are all much of an age and finding driving any distance a bit of a trial and some are no longer able to drive at all. Luckily most of us that still drive can manage to get to our local hospital (local being 20 miles away, though in my case I have to be sure of getting there and back in daylight. My OH is the oldest of our group and seems fine with driving at the moment but he won’t be able to carry on for ever and then I am not sure what we will do.

Anyway, his trip to Papworth went well today. Apparently there was a lot of heavy traffic going but they got there in time. While our friend went for all the various tests he has to have his wife and OH sat and had coffee in the hospital café and then when they both went to see the doctor OH was able to sit in a warm waiting area. Just after 12 friend texted to say they were on their way home and OH came in around 1.15 pm.

While he was away this morning I spent quite a while sorting out the bulbs he managed not to plant the other day. We now have 3 pots each containing 12 mini tulips and another pot of little bulblets that are unlikely to flower but should develop a bit more into decent sized bulbs. I also sorted out a pot of muscari and a small pot of squill. I’ve still got 3 different sorts of daffs and a nice upright white tulip to get into pots but we’re getting there.

As well as the garden jobs I got a king-size duvet cover washed. I’ve had 2 hanging around waiting for a good drying day but there never seems to be one so I gave in and got one of them washed and dried it in the tumble dryer. I also made carrot and ginger soup which we had with a crusty roll when OH got in. I made enough to put 2 lots in the freezer.

After our early start this morning and quite a busy day I’m feeling tired now so I think it’s time for a hot drink and a chapter or two of my book in bed. We’ve got our flu and Covid jabs tomorrow morning so I need a good night tonight in case achy arms keep me awake tomorrow night.

I had to break off for a while mid post AnnG so hadn't noticed you were back. It sounds like you had a nice time and a nice meal with a large pud! Yes I was surprised what was at the back when I emptied my cupboards under the kitchen sink including duplicates of things I'd not been able to find!! I'm dreading the boiler man pulling the fridge freezer out next week. Goodness knows what is behind that.

That was good of your BIL to pay for all those mower repairs Mel, so I suppose he does own the majority of it now. I hope it purrs along next time he uses it and that there will be less problems with it.

Afternoon All,

Another dull day and it's only reached 9 degrees here so chilly. We were going to The Range this morning like AnnG suggested, as I saw online that they had a good choice of baskets that might be ok, but we were so tired when we woke up we lay in for a while instead and will go next week.

Yes we were both very relieved to have good news about OH. He still has his back and side pain to sort that she thought may be from his hip, but she wanted to rule out the main concern first. The doctor was good, but It's shaken my confidence in using Physician Associates, if they miss potentially serious things and delay diagnosis like they did.

I envy you a nice carvery AnnG and it will be nice for you to catch up with old friends.

I see you are getting winter ready with your gardens and we must make sure we get our garden bin filled, as the next collection will be the last until next spring. Vera your OH isn't doing well with your bulbs is he? I can imagine my OH doing just the same though. Your OH is so good though in helping take people to hospital appointments, as it isn't easy without someone to take you. I hope he doesn't have to wait too long. The lady I sat with at the hospital said she worried about what they will do about hospital trips when one of them can't drive.

Mandy I meant to say that I had a little Citroen years ago and it was really good. OH has had different ones for many years and has one now so I hope Jake's is good too. I hope you are ok now after your vaccination. Ours was a different one, the same as AnnG's so I wonder if some can be more of a problem with effects. I'm having the same trouble with high cupboards too now as I can't stand on a chair like I could once . Sometimes I wish I was a few inches taller!!

I hope your busy day got everything done that you wanted Gwyn.

Mel that was a treat seeing the Stoat and I wonder whether it will be around again. I bet your BIL would like to take a photo of that too.

Better do the food order now...........seems to come round so quickly.

Had a really nice lunch. They picked me up at 1215 (they are always early), and we were at the Dog at Over by 1230 so were seated early. The carvery was excellent (actually it could be a little bit hotter) We all had beef, it was not pink but was sliced thinly and was very tender and tasty, veg was all nice including cauliflower cheese. I surprised myself and ate every scrap on my plate and then had a rather large honeycomb dream (an ice cream sundae thing which was huge). We shared a bottle of red that Sandra chose.

Mandy Kitchen cupboards can be a pain, the wall ones are usually too high for me to reach the top shelf easily without a stool and the low ones I can't get down to them to reach to the back. goodness know what is in the back of mine.

Mel, I suppose it is fair enough for the mower to now belong to BiL if he has paid a lot out on it. Now it ceases to be your responsibility and he can continue to look after it while still cutting your grass because it is stored there.

BIL just gone. We had a bit of a tidy up in the garage because he wants to get the mower in there now he's spent all that money on it again. He's now bought a new engine for it and goodness how much that cost plus what this other chap has done to the rest of the mower. He now says that the mower is his now.

He found a little drill in its case in the workshop which I did'nt know oh had. there are drills and different bit with it that hav'nt ben used and I am hoping they fit my dremel as I did'nt have any extras with that.

Before all this he came in and had two big bowls of homemade soup and two thick slices of bread. He kept saying it was cold today so the soup warmed him up and I know he likes it so I stretched it a bit today so he could have two bowls and added more pepper which I know he likes.

Going to make myself a drink now and have a biccy.

I got some marmalade made ,had a tidy in one of the kitchen cupboards as I was fed up with having to pull things out to get to what I want I have a mixer in there my fryer and a big bowl I mix the Christmas cakes in and I store the preserving pan in the big bowl plus a lot of other bits dry goods and the cereals ,I moved things round a bit and it seems better now that is until I want something from the back again ,why does everything get to the back I suppose it's because I can't kneel jdown to get to things like i could ,all these cupboards and they are all full of bits and pieces I don't use very often.

Just lit the fire and will settle down watch the news and do some crochet now .

Still only 8 degrees here so not very warm at all. No wind or rain though so I think I can manage with a short jacket when I go out.

Good luck with your busy day Gwyn I hope you get done all you planned.

Its still saying 12 degrees here but it feels really much colder than that. There has been rain in the air when I went out to fish the leaves off the pond and feed the fish.

O its now changed to mostlly cloudy but when I started this post it said partly sunny so if it was I missed it. :-(

Annx They seem to have been very thorough in doing investigaions for your OH and I'm pleased for you both that the results were so reassuring.

Vera, Your OH is so kind to take your friends to medical appointments and not for the first time, so I hope they have a stress-free journey today. I can however well imagine your feelings and frustration when he decides to help you. We think we have covered any necessary information and instruction and STILL they go their own way :-|
I'm sure you garden will be lovely, - just not quite how you planned ;-)

Mandy, good to read that you are feeling a bit better today.Taking paracetamol to take the edge of the symptoms was a good idea. I hope you both feel better as the day goes on.

AnnG.. I hope you enjoy your lunch with friends just as I did when I met up with 'The Girls' yesterday locally. Wishful thinking rather regarding the name, but that's how we have always refered to our meets in recent years. We have been friends since our children were at primary school together back in the 80s.

Mel, Your brother-in-law is a huge help to you, so I hope you both manage to get some more jobs sorted, when he comes.

A real chill in the air today and only 9 degrees and very dull, but at least it's dry.
It's going to be a very busy day, so I'd best get on.

In my last post I put 2 degrees it should have been 12 degrees as there is definately no frost!!!! Silly me. Pc is saying partly sunny but I don't know when that will arrive as theres no sign so far.

Off round to do the chickens now and see if I have any eggs today as I had zilch yesterday.

Glad you feel better today Mandy. These things they keep putting in us do upset the system some times don't they?

Vera you popped in just before me this morning so I have only just seen your post. I hope your oh has a good journey there and back and that he can go in the warm as its really cheerless just sitting in the car.

Morning all,

Dull and grey here ,oh to see some sun ,I think Monday might be a brighter day one good thing is its dry .

Vera it sounds as if its going to be a long day for your OH he'll be tired when he gets home ,will he wait in the car or go into the hospital in the warm .

I feel a bit better today ,I did feel so tired and my muscles ached in the evening but I have had paracetamol like they said and its taken the edge off .

Anng enjoy your lunch out with your friends.

Morning Ann and all,

Cloudy but 2 degrees here and still as dreary as a day in the rain. I am so fed up with it now but I suppose our winters are going to be like this now.

BIL is supposed to be coming today but goodness knows what time he will turn up so I am up and dressed.

Have a good catchup with your friend today and a lovely lunch out Anng.

Good morning all

Looks as though it’s going to be another miserable, grey day here. It’s 7 degrees at the moment and not supposed to get above 10 all day. OH is now on his way to Papworth Hospital with our friend and his wife. I’m not sure what I am going to do today apart from sorting the bulbs out. I might make some soup as I’ve used the last from the freezer.

Enjoy your lunch out AnnG. It’s always good to meet up with old friends.

Good morning all Only 7 degrees here at 0700 so not very warm at all. still too dark to see what the weather will be although it looks cloudy. (no change there then)!

Lunch at a carvery today with my friend I used to work with 1976-1981, they spend a lot of time at their house in Italy since they retired (she is about 10 years younger than me). But they try and take me out near Christmas every year. They live in the Forest of Dean. Picking me up at 1230.

I'm so pleased it was a good result for oh Annx. He's very brave to go without the sedative and have a cannula put in. Hope you get a good nights sleep tonight now both your minds are at rest. <3

Good news Ann, relief for both of you. Gosh your Oh is strong willed to go through it without a sedative.

Vera yes it will be easier after they flower.

Oh, that is good news Annx and must be a load off your mind. I am sure you will both sleep well tonight.

AnnG, I had told OH not to plant everything in rows like soldiers but to aim for a slightly more natural look. He had actually listened to that and mixed all the bulbs, larger and smaller, in a bucket, thrown them on the garden and planted each one where it fell. I will let them come up this spring so I can see where the tall ones are and lift them when they die down.

I mustn’t get too cross with him as I don’t want him to go to bed stressed. Tomorrow he’s doing a friend a good turn by driving him to Papworth hospital and back. It’s a long drive, at least 75 minutes each way, more if the traffic is heavy, and he will have to hang about while friend has lots of tests and then sees the doctor. Normally his son takes him but he is away at the moment so OH offered.