General Chat

Ah I have been using a folding stick now for a couple of years when I go into town. It means I can fold it into my bag when I am on the bus or in a cafe. I use my none folding stick when there is a possibility of a lover walk, in Fridays case I. Case the bus didn’t turn up, because it is a bit stronger and gives more support. I also sometimes use my walking pole which is stronger again.

Evening All,

I remembered to put everything back in the car and the boot before I went out this morning and it looks nice and tidy inside after me cleaning it. Mostly sunshine all day and no rain but plenty of black clouds. OH went to a match about 15 miles away and it threw it down, so he abandoned that game and went to another nearer home that had shelter. I looked at the garden through the window, but didn't fancy doing anything outside so did some jobs inside and I still need to finish the food order for tomorrow's delivery.

The land the depot's close to us are to be built on was sold again and the previous planning application has gone in again, so we need to send in our objections. This one says over 1000 people will have jobs on the site, so that will be a lot more cars without all the lorries and there is already a mile long queue to the motorway junction on the main road past where it will be now.

The film sounds like we would enjoy it Vera. OH said he had read some reviews that suggested it was a bit boring but still thought we would like it, so we will see whether to go or wait till it's on tv if OH thinks his back won't cope with the seats! It's a shame your meal wasn't as good as you hoped it would be. Some places do tend to overdo the amount of coleslaw. Fitz was telling me last week that their cinema even has reclining seats now and a tray to swing over your knee to put food on. My word you have been busy getting your HW done. You put me to shame, but I have an easy day with little cooking tomorrow so may get some done.

Mel I prefer the small chunks Branston too, but I like Asda's caramelised onion chutney on a cheese sandwich at the moment. I need to cut back the Thyme that has spilled onto and its making it's way across the gravel now and other things that are hanging over the pathways.

Yes a stick would swing about with a loop when trying to get on a bus AnnG. I don't know but wonder if a collapsible stick would be better for using the bus. I hadn't thought about the height stepping up from the kerb and expect I would struggle a bit now with getting on and especially off. Yes at least I know there will be bills at the next MOT and service AnnG and they shouldn't cost as much as this time, unless the budget causes everything to go up in price!.

They are digging the road up right at the end of the close now and it's such a tight squeeeze to drive in and past their wide trailer with the overgrown hedge the opposite side.

Well, the forecast was right about it raining this afternoon. We’re not getting nice, steady rain but sudden downpours with a few rumbles of thunder and then it stops again. It is definitely chilly – autumn has arrived I think.

Mel, I have a soup maker which is so quick and easy to use that I wouldn’t be without it. If you haven’t got one, I’m sure there will be plenty of recipes for leek and potato soup on Google. For what it’s worth I use an equal amount of leeks and potatoes chopped up small (in my soup maker roughly a pound of each), one or two cloves of garlic chopped up and a quarter teaspoon of pepper (I use white), salt if you want it. Then I fill my soup maker up to the maximum mark with vegetable stock, set in on a smooth setting and 21 minutes later it’s ready to serve. This does make quite a peppery soup but it’s very bland without it.

I hope your leg is OK after banging it on the bus AnnG. I only use bags with long straps now as well. If I’m just going out I usually carry my bag on one shoulder, but if I’ve got a lot to carry or I’m trying to unload a shopping trolley and then load the stuff in shopping bags I put it over my head and wear it cross body.

We’ve had a busy day. No gardening done again, partly because the weather and partly because my back doesn’t want to bend or stretch forward much. Instead I’ve been doing h/w -ugh! I have given the upstairs of the house a really good hoover and dust, that’s 3 rooms, landing, bathroom and en-suite and down to the bottom of the stairs. While I was doing the study I sorted out a load of the junk on OH’s desk. I filed a few bits as I don’t think OH and the filing cabinet have got acquainted yet and the rest went in the waste paper basket. Why did he need to keep bits of paper on which I’d scribbled notes for him? They have long since been dealt with. What use did he think he would be able to make of an out-of-date free car parking ticket for National Trust for Scotland properties? Those are just a couple of examples of the tat on his desk.

On the other hand, he may be hopeless at being tidy, but he is very good at all the big jobs. Every 2 or 3 months we use a special wood cleaner on our lounge floor and he has done that for me today. It takes a while as we can’t move all the heavy furniture out so it gets done a third at a time. He starts at the far side and moves various bits of furniture into the middle of the room, gives the floor a really good hoover, then uses this cleaner in a spray bottle and a mop thing we have. It dries fairly quickly but you have to wait a little while before you can put that lot of furniture back and do the next bit. So that’s another job out of the way for a few months.

Yesterday 3 of us went to Bury St Edmunds and decided to have lunch in the Cathedral café. I’ve been there before but only for tea and cake. This time 2 of us had a vegetable quiche with salad and we were both disappointed. We had a large piece of quiche but it had hardly any veg in it and there wasn’t a lot of salad. Unfortunately the bulk of it was coleslaw in mayonnaise which I don’t like. Our other friend had a jacket potato which seemed to be acceptable. Then it was on to the cinema which is lovely. It doesn’t really look like a cinema from the outside, more like a big, old house but there are a couple of screens and Downton Abbey was showing in the larger room. It has lovely comfortable seats with drink holders and lots of leg room.

The film was as you would expect. Beautifully shot, well directed, great acting. Like most people I missed Maggie Smith but Penelope Wilton was so good. I did enjoy it and am glad I went but…….isn’t there always a but? I was getting fed up with having it drummed into me that times were changing and that the old guard had to make way for younger people with new ideas. The story itself told me that, or maybe one character could have said it instead of several. I think that’s probably down to Julian Fellowes, the writer. It’s a fairly minor quibble so, if you enjoyed the TV series and earlier films and you get the chance, go and see it.

When we came out we think there had been a storm, although it wasn’t raining then. As we were driving out of Bury we could see verges and front gardens covered in hailstones and it was so cold. Of course, it was well turned 5 o’clock so we hit the Friday rush and it was taking ages to navigate the various roundabouts. A bit further along we joined a queue of traffic and moved at snail’s pace stopping and starting. When we got to the front of the queue which must have been at least a mile long we found it was roadworks and traffic lights holding everything up. Only a few cars were being let through at a time so it was a long, slow journey home.

The sun must be over the yardarm somewhere in the world so I am going to pour myself a nice glass of Sauvignon before starting to get the next meal going. Sleep well tonight everyone

It has been very showery here this afternoon but the sun is shining now. Tesco has just been three subs two of which were in my favour.

I was just going up the top to pick some apples and it fell out of the sky so I am now stuck indoors.

I was in the garden this morning and cut a lot off the cottoniasta that had'nt got berries on it. some of the fern hanging over the patio steps down to the garden and the mint on the other side. tidied up some of the plants on the rokery bit and cut off a lot of the ladies mantle now I canget to my box ball as I hav'nt cut it back at all this year and now its huge. I can now get the wheelbarrow under it to trim it.

Vera your soup sound really nice is it easy to make? Iv'e never done leek and potato.

I've got 3 weather apps, one each on my phone, my iPad and the PC and they all say different. As far as I can see by stepping outside we have a mixture of sunshine and cloudy skies with a cold wind. There is rain forecast again for this afternoon. The garden is looking very bedraggled and sorry for itself after yesterday.

I'm in the middle of making leek and potato soup for our lunch, and some for the freezer, so I won't stop now but will try to come back this afternoon and tell you what we did yesterday.

Iv'e still got the wind warning and its 15 degrees here now.

BIL popped in and brought some stuff to clean the chiansaw so he can see where it was leaking oil. I had mentioned if when he went shopping he saw Branston small chunk could he get me a jar and he brought that too plus the tesco sandwich pickle. Never had that one but I do like my Branston. They used to do it in Asda but stopped for some reason. He did'nt stay long.

chucking it down now and 17 degrees, so pleased I didn't decide to go to town on the bus.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning here so far today with blue sky and big white clouds. Its 13 degrees and we have a wind warning.

Nothing planned for today so shall just take it as it comes.

BIL's wife is in Spain for a few days so he may come over if he's not out with a frind and their cameras.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning but only 14 degrees and with the wind it feels much colder .
Nothing planned for today might take a few bits off the gazebo , lights etc so we can pull the canopy back as tomorrow night could get a bit rough with the wind .

good morning all 12 degrees and chilly but bright so far. Nothing planned as usual for me at the moment. My planned events seem to often be all in one week and this and the next are not planned ones. Except of course for the Tesco delivery which seems to come more quickly each week.

Ann let's hope that is it for now and you can save your pennies for the next pay out.

Yes I do have a cross body bag which helps (as long as not in town when I accumulate carrier bags. and my stick does have a loop but that makes climbing on buses more difficult as the stick swings loose and gets in the way. Normally I don't have too much of a problem getting on the bus because at my stop to get on there is a proper kerb and they pull up right against the kerb. At that different stop it seemed to be a dropped kerb and the bus was aut from it anyway so it was a much steeper step.

I think the dropped kerb is because a small footpath from the community centre finishes there and also it is opposite a care home. so people from the care home visiting the community centre cafe in mobility scooters can access it eaasily. Although heaven knows how they manage to cross the traffic.

Afternoon All,

Sunny but a bit chilly here this morning but some heavy showers this afternoon. I fetched my car and it was £965 altogether, but included everything.....ouch! I said I thought the tyres would soon need replacing and I'd have to keep an eye on them but Steve said they would be fine for another year with the low mileage I do. He said I might need new brake pads next time as well, but they are 10 years old like the car so I was expecting it and can't complain. The workmen had pushed the driver's seat right back so I had to wriggle that forward and I think they have raised the steering wheel as well so I need to adjust that back when I remember how! Steve had parked my car off the road right next to the garage which was good as parking round there is scarce and it's a very narrow road and all parked along one side.

OH went for a longer walk and is finding all the public footpaths to explore, including the one Colin Pitchfork used when he murdered one of the girls. He said he wouldn't use that one at night!

My shoulder feels much better today, but I have a few more itchy bites, this time on the other leg.

Yes we are two Pizzas down between us now Mandy! :-D There was still a bit of smoky smell in the microwave so I left the door open this morning.

At least you were home before any rain started AnnG and have your jabs booked now. It must be awkward carrying much and getting on buses. I only use bags with shoulder straps now that I can pop over my head if I'm carrying much. Does your stick have a loop you gan put round your wrist like walking poles have as that could help.

It's just poured with rain, but the sun's out again among more black clouds.

I am sure using a stick reminds people that you are old and might be a little bit gaga when the nurse called me for my turn, as I went to get up a rather large lady arrived and headed to sit next to me, she was so close that, instead of getting up the coat I was carrying got in the way and I sat back down, so large lady is bustling round me as if I have fallen and hurt myself. Nice of her to care but it was a small room full of others sitting waiting and I was obviously ok. Nice little nurse who looked about twelve asked me if I was ok to walk to her room which was at the end of the corridor and not far at all. Then as I was leaving she asked if I was ok walking all the way to reception. I am not sure how she thought I got there in the first Place The opposite side of the coin was the bus driver who has the other impression. That I am a non person no need to converse or ask me if I was ok when I hit my leg on the platform. He did wait until I had sat down. Before moving off though.

Managed to get to the doctors and back ok. Not as easy as it should have been as the 97 going was 15 minutes late meaning I walked in to the doctors at exactly 10.30, the time of my appointment. the bus coming back was a few minutes early but I banged my leg (yes I could do with that) on the platform as he parked out from the kerb and didn't put the platform down as they are supposed to. anyway got home ok and avoided the rain. There was a very cold wind though while waiting for the bus

And I managed to book my covid/flu boosters for 18th October. so that is something else done.
:-D Can you imagine trying to manage a brolly and a stick and a bag? And I don't think a brolly would have been any good in that wind which was quite strong

I don't know about rain by 1pm its chucking it down here.

Morning all,

Nice bright sunny morning but my goodness it's feeling very fresh out ,I went out and hung the first load of washing out and my arms got quite cold with the wind .

Vera enjoy your trip to Bury ,it's a long time since I went there use to go on the coach with my sister for market day , hope you enjoy the film it's ths last one of Downton .

Anng Hope it stays dry for your doctors visit as Mel said take a brolly these showers have been really heavy lately .

Ann thats good your car passed the mot again ,just got to pay for it now :-(
Oh my goodness that was lucky there wasn't a fire with that pizza ,that's two pizzas gone caput this week :-D mind ended up on the itchen floor , have you got rid of ths smell .

Mel hope you can soon get a car ,you don't half miss them for popping out when you want .

Better get the next lot of washing out ,we should get heavy showers later so I want to get the washing dry before it starts .
We're off to town later ,need to go into the bank ,the butchers and iceland .

Morning Anng and all,

Nice bright morning at the mo but how long will it last I ask myself? Its 13 degrees and pc says partly sunny but to expect rain about 1 o'clock.

I am hoping BIL comes today so he can take me up the shop for some bits.

Nothing else planned for today.

Hope you have a good journey to the doctors and back Anng and it dos'nt rain but take a brolly just in case.

Hope you have a lovely time out today Vera and enjoy the film.

Good morning all. 10 degrees and a bit showert. Hoping for a dry spell around 10-11am when I have to get the bus to the doctors and back.

Ann that could have been nsty with the mocrowave, pleased it was ok and hope you have got rid of the smell. I boiled a saucepan dry and burnt it last week took ages for the burnt smell to clear.

Vera enjoy your day out with friends and the film as well.