General Chat

I recently got a new laptop Florence, but the keyboard drives me mad. The colour on the keys is grey letters on a grey background. I find it very difficult to see the letters especially at night. Luckily, I usually use my iPad The laptop was a gift, so I didn’t get to choose it.

I ventured out for a haircut today, so at least I look better. I still have vertigo, but the doctor has changed my tablets. I stopped taking the other ones yesterday and wondered how I would feel without them. The answer is ill. I called into Boots to collect my new prescription, but couldn’t get it as all Boots systems nationwide were down, so they couldn’t disperse anything. OH is trying again this afternoon

Hello all, Nice day here but we have had a couple of showers but nice and warm. Tomorrow is forecast to be dry and as I have washing to peg out I hope it is.

We have some lovely purple Alliums and yellow Iris in bloom in the garden . The Tomatoes and cucumber seem to be doing ok . Have planted a new cucumber (to us) Crystal Apple it grows about the size of an apple and has yellow skin . We did oe similar last year but it was called Melon something grew to about the size of a tennis ball and tasted just like a normal cucumber .

Florence hope you have a lovely day out.

Linda I hope your new tablets work for you, vertigo is horrible.

Had my hair cut today and feel so much better now lol.

Take care all.

Good evening peeps.
Well after yesterdays beautiful weather, it was all change today. I woke up about 7.45 to hear the sound of torrential rain n my bedroom window! Blooming tyoical as I was off to town with my daughter.

By 10.30 when the taxi came for us, it had stopped but was blowing a hooley. Anyway arrived at supermarket and had a browse. Stopped to chat to a couple of people i hadn't seen in ages and was so lovely. I bought a new pair of trousers and a nightshirt from the Factory shop so was pleased with those.

Managed to get a coffee in the wee coffee shop and rest a bit. My legs were beginning to ache after an hour so needed to sit. Bought a few groceries and then walked along to the garden centre.

I saw this rose called Coco and as I wear Coco Chanel, i decided it was meant for me..lol Picked up some bedding plants of trailing lobelia, petunias and some others i cant remember the names. But all in all got everything I wanted at reasonable prices.12 bedding plants in a tray £3.99 or 3 for 10 so I got 3 trays.

Got taxi back home in time for the coop home delivery at 3pm.

I enjoyed my jaunt out but it was long enough as my legs and knees are sore tonight but it was uplifting to get out of the house.

Its still windy but showery so hoping tomorrow is calmer so we can get planting.

Joan you have my sympathy re the weather!!

I treated myself to a Salmon en croute tonight with chips and was delicious.
Finally got a hairdresser coming to my house on Saturday after 2 years, Cant wait.

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning all.
Florence glad that you managed a trip to town, even though the weather was not as you would have wanted, at least you got out. I bet you will be achy and tired today though from too much 'excitement'.

Cloudy here but quite bright and dry and 11 degrees already at 7am. Coffee with friends at the local hub cafe today not far from here. It was going to be at the local garden centre which I was looking forward to but one of the ladies cars has a problem and she was the one taking several of us. The hub is actually in walking distance of a few of us but another friend is going by car and picking me up.

Hello to all,

Shame about the weather on your trip out Florence but sounds like you picked up some lovely plants .

Ann hope you enjoy your day out with friends.

I've been to the dentist this morning for a check up and to see if he could anything with a chipped tooth He did a temp repair but will eventually need to have done.
Got the bus there only to find that because of road works the normal bus stops were out of use but the driver kindly let me off nearby. On the way back I had to walk down to the next stop, took a while but managed ok. Needed a cuppa when I got back lol.

Take care all.

Good afternoon from a very soggy village!
Oh my I haven't seen rain this bad in awhile plus hailstones thrown into the mix too lol.

When they say the climate is getting warmer, sorry but I do have a chuckle as the temp here hasn't changed in the 30 years i have been here.
Couple of days here and there reaching maybe 18 or 19 def not up in the late 20's very rarely.

Lucky I got up at 8am as the boiler man was coming to do a service as its a year old. Opened the curtains to see him at the neighbours so quickly got dressed. Just as well as on the dot of 9am, he rang my bell. He was supposed to phone first but he saw my curtains open and assumed I was up!

I have done a huge pile of ironing, but Im flagging now. Last night I slept well. Going out and walking did really tire me out but did me the power of good.

JustGinnie, glad you got your tooth sorted albeit temporarily. I havent been since before my heart operation eeek!! Was Dec 2019 last time I was at the dentist but my teeth are fine so shall leave well alone. Hope you enjoyed your cuppa when you got home.

Ann, that was good to get out and have coffee with friends. At least someone was able to collect you.

All the plants we bought yesterday are in a cardboard box in my porch. I so hope it clears up so I can plant them in the pots as cant water them indoors and dont want them to dry out.

Tomorrow, I have a friend I haven't seen for ages coming at 10.30 until 12 for coffee and and a catch up. I bought gluten free flour to make some scones as she is gluten free. Not made them before so hoping they will be the same as the oven scones I normally make.

Right a bit of dusting to do and then I need to rest with a coffee.
Take care all

Florence in the Hebrides

Good afternoon from a windswept, wet and awful part of the country.
Oh Joan, yes Im sick of it. Yesterday afternoon, daughter & I took in the empty plant pots into my porch. We had covered the tiles in newspaper so we could pot up the plants we had bought from the garden centre on Wednesday.

We eventually managed and then in between the showers put them outside but had to tuck them in the corners otherwise the wind and torrential showers would have destroyed them.

Today the weather is just the same arghhhhh. For goodness sake, irs nearly June!

My friend arrived about 10.45 and stayed until 12 so was lovely to catch up and exchange news. Daughter got a lift with her to town and she took a bag for us for the charity shop so that cleared a space in the hall.

Have just finished clearing up the cup and plates and off to have me crumpets with marmite for my lunch. I did make gluten free scones today but was disappointed (see separate thread I put up)

Hope the sunshine returns very soon or I shall be having words with" him upstairs!"

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon folks.
Well got my first hair appointment ever done at home yesterday. I am pleased with result and have to keep looking in the mirror as it doesnt look like me!!
Never had foils before, always the old fashioned cap and had strands pulled through, so this way was less painful.

I posted a few pics to some friends and they all agreed it made me look younger, so thats a bonus lol.

Pesky wind and rain still here, so wish the sun would come back its just so depressing. Longest day is in a month before the nights get shorter and we havent had summer yet!!

Crumbled up the remains of the scones and the birds got a decent meal. made a chicken curry last night with all the trimmings and a forest fruit crumble which all went down very nicely.

Back to the yoghurt and fruit today and some serious dieting.

Hope everyone enjoying their weekend

Florence in the hebrides

I had my hair cut earlier this week Florence, it does make you feel better.
It is so quiet here because my daughter took the girls down to London yesterday for half term. It will probably take me all week to clean and tidy up, just in time for them to come back
I bought plants yesterday for the hanging basket and various pots. I was going to pot them up today, but I woke up with a bad vertigo attack, so they will have to wait until tomorrow.
I had a hearing aid appointment at 10am today, about half an hours drive away. My left hearing aid wasn’t working, so they sorted it out.She also took a fair bit of wax out of my right ear. Given all the symptoms I currently have, she couldn’t understand why my GP hasn’t referred me for an MRI scan, so she is going to write to them. I don’t suppose anything will happen as the preliminary appointment made after their urgent ENT referral in mid April turned out just to be a nurse led clinic in mid July. That was then cancelled and I haven’t received a replacement appointment yet. So much for the NHS. I am trying to go privately instead, but my doctor messed up the referral for that as well, so it will probably be about June 8th before I can see someone in that route

Good morning all
Sorry Linda to here you have Vertigo, that really is unpleasant. Hope you get the ENT appointment/referral sorted out. Its just awful isnt it with appointments etc.
When I was waiting for my Neurology referral appointment, I had thought about going private but the downside to that here is the local health Board wont pay your flights and expenses if you go private. So they have you in a corner dont they!

Been trying to get through to book Patient Travel for my hospital appointment on 7th Jun at 11.45 but its constantly engaged so shall just keep trying as its always busy.

Daughter has gone elsewhere for a week so the house will be very quiet but....tidier and far less washing lol I have a few things to get on with as well as my book and a huge family tree which i have neglected recently so need to get back on track.

Its very cold and overcast and about to downpour here...just for a change. Hope everyone else has better weather. What's yours like Joan, similar to mine?

Oh well going try phoning again and hope i get through.

Hope anyone else looking in is well and ok.

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning peeps and to everyone looking in today.
Well its overcast and showery although the wind has dropped, so thats something.

Still trying to get through to Scottish Ambulance Service to arrange my transport buts its still engaged. I tel my Drs surgery and they said also the care homes were having trouble too so at least its not my phone. But how does one find out what the problem is?

I tel the hospital but they didn't know anything and were of no help at all.

I shall wait until Thursday and if no luck shall ring my GP and see if they can help..

Was up early today and have done a basket of ironing so all up straight from the weekend now.
I might have a friend later today for coffee or tomorrow so thats something to look forward to.

Joan you are always busy in your garden so im guessing its quite a large area to keep under control?

Used up a cauliflower, mushrooms & onions yesterday. Made a cheesy bake with it all and had some of my fishcakes I had frozen the other week. Was a nice change.

Not sure today maybe my greek yoghurt as didnt have it yesterday, was too hungry lol.

Hope everyone ok

Florence in the hebrides

Just popped back on to say....well the sun has got his hat on..yay!!! At last it is dry, sunny and no wind all we need now are the dreaded midges lol.

I was out 1/2 hour ago watering all my pots. The plants i put in are settling nicely and have some lovely colourful flowers. Brightens up the front of my house all along.
I never realised how big your garden was.Joan..sorry estate lol It sounds huge.

Gosh you are so hardy keeping on top of everything, just be careful and have regular breaks too. I shall now send over the sun for tomorrow so hopefully you get outside.

Good news on Patient Travel, got through late morning eventually. Turns out, they were exceptionally busy, that was all. But all booked now, such a relief.

Community nurses coming in on Monday to do full set of bloods, BP, Asthma check etc as I cant attend the surgery. Looks like a busy week already next week plus grass cutters on Monday as well.

Hope you found something nice for tea. Havent eaten yet but def yoghurt and fruit tonight.
Have a good evening all

Florence in the hebrides

???

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9321450?clickPR=plp:10:218

No personal experience of this.
It's basic (not frost-free) , but it has mostly good reviews, and is the right width.

Or a more expensive one:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8449319?clickPR=plp:12:218


What make is your present one?

Oh well, neither of those in my last post is frost-free - so no use to you.

But this one is:

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/eqfs50152ffb/electriq-eqfs50152ffb-freestanding-fridge-freezer


Also:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/logik-lfc50w20-5050-fridge-freezer-white-10210730.html

Both in either white or black.

But I'll stop now - let you have the fun of searching for whatever's in your price range!

Joan,
If it only seems to be a problem with the milk, maybe it is the position in the fridge ?

I was reading recently that the door is not the best place for milk to be stored, because of course with the opening and closing of the door, the door items would be most exposed to room temperature and would not keep as cold.
I don't have a large fridge, so the door is the only suitable place to store milk in our household, but I think if I had to keep milk there for a whole week, as you do, we too would have problems.
Do you buy the large bottles of milk?
Might it be worth trying perhaps at least some smaller bottles within the body of the fridge rather than the door to see if that makes a difference.?

You can freeze milk, so if keeping it for a whole milk is a problem, you could try freezing some .
I decided to wash down all the kitchen cabinet doors and tiles today. OH decided to clean all the worktops and polish all the chrome bits and bobs including the toaster.Goodness knows what he did to it, but when he used it at lunchtime, it promptly blew up :-( I have spent ages this afternoon reading reviews to buy a new one. I got one in the end, but am not sure if it will be large enough. We only need a two slice one, but we do toast pitta breads, so it needs to be a longer slot one. Trying to find the dimensions in all the blurb is nigh on impossible

It has been cold and rainy here today. OH put some seedlings out in the garden yesterday as I couldn’t bend down, so I hope they will be OK

Well folks, I am having a brilliant day today for a change.
The whole day was sunny, warm but not hot and only a little breeze. I managed to carry 4 hand towels round the back and hang them on the line(l cant go out the back because of the step)

Next I set to work on my pots. I rearranged them all symmetrically....my OCD! Then took my seeded lobelia and filled 5 other pots.Next was a job and a half...watering them all. The jug holds 2 litres but holding my stick as well was awkward and involve lots of trips to the sink but eventually all was done.

Really pleased now with how the pots are all arranged and look colourful.

So in the afternoon, I sat down on the computer and was checking my emails when i got the surprise of my life!! On Monday, I wrote a letter to the author Peter James who wrote the Grace series that was brought to life on tv recently. I told him how I knew all of the places in his books as I was born in Shoreham By Sea. The books bring back many childhood memories of places i know well.

I asked him if I could have a signed copy of the next book due out in September. i did offer to pay for it as wasn't just wanting a freebee.

So around 3.30pm today, i got a personal reply from him. Was such a lovely letter and he will send me a signed copy in September for free. I told him he is not allowed to retire Roy Grace lol and he said he has no plans to!

What a lovely man considering he must get hundreds of emails and requests and I only mailed his press office on Monday.

Im still on cloud none hehe.

Linda, do you think your hubby dripped some water in the toaster when he was cleaning it maybe?

Oh Joan, hope you find a new fridge. Mine is a black fridge freezer as was only space for that not fridge and a freezer. Our shop is Euronics, think they are all over. It was £270 and has 4 freezer drawers.

Decided to make a mushroom curry tonight, added grated carrots and sliced onions with loads of mushrooms. Mixed in the rice when cooked and had naan bread. Just needed a good blow out tonight.

Still bright and sunny here, hope it stays fine tomorrow for the jubillee celebrations all over.

Florence in the Hebrides

Yes, I remember that frozen milk as well Joan, but that was in the good old days. Nowadays milk is homogenised so it is an emulsion and the fat droplets don’t separate out. Freezing milk works fine for me. I hadn’t thought about it, but if you remember Tec from the Aussie and Welsh thread, he used to freeze his milk all the time as he drank lots but lived a long way from a supermarket
With the girls living here we get through at least four four pint bottles a week. Even when it is just me and OH, we get through two of the four pint ones
It is much warmer here today thank goodness, though we had a very cold night, so I hope my little seedlings are OK

Nowadays I use soya milk, which is long life and keeps for months unopened.
Once opened it's fine for about 5 days, which is how long it takes me to use 1 ltr. on my own.
I only use it on my porridge, as I don't put milk in my tea (decaf green tea, and redbush)..

I very seldom use cows' milk these days. I keep one of the smallest size bottles in the door of the fridge, in case of any visitor wanting milk in tea or coffee - and if unopened it always lasts until its use-by date.
If there's any left by then, I use it up (augmented by soya milk if necessary) by making a rice pudding, or sometimes by baking something, which I can freeze if I don't want to eat it immediately.

Years ago, when I lived even further from a shop than I do now, I used to freeze milk, and it was fine.
It's best to let it thaw gradually in the fridge - which does take some time!

I remember the little 1/3 pint bottles of school milk, supplied for drinking at playtime.
It was left in crates outside the school building, for children to help themselves.
In warm weather it was often sour, and in winter it was frozen solid.

Just popping in the the milk discussion. When it is hot I find the fridge doesn’t cope with the 4 pint bottles and I start buying the 2 pint until the weather cools down a bit. Everything else in the fridge seems to be OK.

AG didn’t mention the school milk being left next to the radiators to thaw. Yuk. I couldn’t drink Milk for years and hot milk made me….K!