General Chat

Morning all,

17 degrees here and I could see the ground was damp when we got up but now we have a steady rain ,looks like it's an indoor day of jobs ,I do have some ironing to do so thats a start .

Good luck in the doctors queue Vera ,I think I read where our doctors are now using Eastcall I think it was called they would triarge you and then at 1 o'clock any telephone calls would go back to the receptionist at the doctors so more change ,I wonder if we'll ever see a doctor again so much is now put onto the nurse practitioner and other nurses .

good morning all. 18 degrees and grey here this morning. slept well last night. Nothing planned for todat. We are on a yellow storm warning, wonder if we will actually get any rain? I have stripped the bed and the washing machine is running. Probably use an indoor day to clean through downstairs.

If you are looking in DeTective many thanks for the message. Perhaps you would also pass on my thanks AnnG in case Det. doesn't see this.

17 degrees with some light rain expected later. At the moment it's quite overcast.

I haven't really got any plans for the day. In a moment I am going to join the 8 am telephone queue at the doctors as they are no longer using their very handy e-consult form. Then later we'll join the usual Thursday crowd for coffee.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

..vera. A message from DeTective.

Could you pass a message to SuffolkVera please? She said that her library card had expired. Before she visits a library, suggest she ‘contacts’ them via the Libby ap. I had something similar happen - quick online chat & they were able to allow access again straight away.

Thanks for that AnnG. I’ve got one book by Tim Weaver on order to borrow on the Libby app but the app says there is still about a 6 weeks wait for that. While checking on that I noticed there was another one available to borrow so I clicked on that and up came a message to verify my library card. I’ve never seen that before but I put in the requested details. Up popped a message saying my card had expired and I would have to contact my local library. So I now can’t borrow any books till I can get into the library to sort a new card. I’m really cross as there is no expiry date on the card and no reminders sent.

I ‘m puzzled by Rata as well. Come on Mel, put us out of our misery and tell us what it is. The only thing I could think was that it is an abbreviation for ratatouille.

An ambulance arrived outside my next door neighbour about 3.30 pm and left just a few minutes ago. I couldn’t stand gawping at the window so I don’t know which one has been taken to hospital. I do feel sorry for them as one or the other is always at the hospital. I hope it’s not too serious this time.

Our painters finished and tidied everything up, then they asked OH to walk round the house with them to check that he was satisfied with their work which he was. So just the bill to pay now. That will knock a hole in the bank balance.

I’ve been going to shower since I got up this morning so I’d better do that next. I don’t think I’ve got the energy to wave the hairdryer around so will let my hair dry in its own sweet way.

Afternoon Everyone,

Happy 20th Anniversary to your Son and DIL Mandy. Doesn't the time fly! I want to do a bit of weeding today as they are growing fast.

A bit muggy today but not too hot. We were up early and went to a garden centre and had a bread roll bap each with 3 breakfast fillings. We both had mushrooms, egg and tomato. Then OH found some grey chinos to buy at the EM outlet there. The Works don't seem to stock the cheap pads of Art paper I used to use, so it looks like I will have to try some of the other sort they have in stock when I run out. On the way home we called at the shop and also went inside the Village Hall to look to see if there were any show catalogues with entry forms. There were none on the desk of leaflets and there was no-one around to ask so we crossed to the library the other side of the carpark to see if they had any and they were closed and there were no signs to say when they were open! Customer service seems to be going downhill!

We had chicken stirfry for lunch and the painter rang to say he will drop by tomorrow lunch time to lower the light fitting in the ensuite ready for the plasterer to come at 8.00am on Friday. Your painter sems to be getting on well Vera and it will soon all be done.

I hope it stayed dry for your hairdressing appointment AnnG. I always feel brighter somehow after my hair's been cut. I hope you aren't as itchy now. I sometimes find bites in the morning when I wake up. I had one on my nose this week, but it had two red pinpricks in it that I thought might be a spider's fang marks.

It sounds like you are getting some nice fruit and veg now Mel.

I must admit I prefer Frogs to Toads. I had a Toad hiss at me once and another time I watched one squeeze through a small gap where cement had come out between paving slabs. I couldn't beleive how it squashed itself so small.

Off to get the weedkiller spray and go out now.

I like frogs and toads but wouldn't pick one up.

Sorry Mel, my brain can't cope with working out what the Rata is that you have cooked.
Vera just read a very good book by Tim Weaver called the Black Bird. I found it was one I just had to keep reading to get to the finale.

You have to be careful picking up frog and toads as they squirt out a horrid smelling liquid to put prediters off. I cooked some of my plums for a crumble for when Stu comes too. Just have to pop the mix on top and a few almond slithers and pop it in the oven tomorrow. They are plums for the garden off the old plum tree on the wall, another plum tree the other side behind the caravan and a couple of victorias from out the top field so mine are all English. Yum....

I have cooked the Rata for tomorrows dinner and there maybe enough for me to have a little tonight and then tomorrow with Stu who is coming then. Just wondering what to do for lunch as I hav'nt eaten yet.

Good afternoon Ladies

Warm but very muggy again today. It’s not very comfortable weather at all but at least it’s dry so our painters can get on; there’s not much more to do now. I’m sorry that your painter can’t get on till your ceiling is boarded and plastered Annx. You must feel that you take a step backwards for every step forwards you take.

I hope your mossie bites aren’t itching too much AnnG and you haven’t found any more. Horrid things. I don’t seem to get bitten much thank goodness, though I’ve probably put the kybosh on it now. I expect your hair feels nice now you’ve had it cut.

Happy China anniversary to your son and dil, Mandy. You mentioned plum crumble. I quite often make one in the winter with tinned plums from Sainsbury’s. They are not the same as fresh plums but aren’t bad. I did buy some very big, dark purple fresh plums to put in the fruit salad I made for the party at the weekend. I don’t think they were English, probably from somewhere like Spain. Funny how we are all different as I love Mel’s Mr Toad and would happily have him in my garden but I am not so good with birds. I feed them and love watching the finches and tits on the feeders and in the trees but I couldn’t pick up an injured bird.

OH has just called that lunch is ready so I’d better go. Might bbl.

Did the post van and picked 6 toms, 2 cues a courgette, cooking apples to go with the blackberries (1lb 4oz again) Beauty of Bath eating apples which smell delightful and fed the beans.

Morning girls and happy anniversary to your son and dil Mandy.

19 degrees here and pc says to expect three rainy days ahead starting tomorrow.

I had a lie in this morning thinking I had nothing to get done early but forgot I have to go to the post van.

Must get on ........

Morning Anng ,morning all,

18 degrees here this morning, blue sky and fluffy clouds ,might get a few showers later .
Anng hope it stays dry for your hair appointment, take a brolly just in case .

Ann I quite fancy a nice plum crumble now with you saying about the Victoria plums ,I'm sure I saw some in the fruit and veg warehouse we go to .
Sounds as if your work is going to take a while longer ,that fine dust gets everywhere doesn't it .

Mel love the swallows but not old toadie you can keep him in your garden ,I never know which way they will jump so I just don't like them .

Off to do a bit in the front garden ,more weeds need pulling and the grass needs a cut .

Son and dil's wedding anniversary today 20 years where has that time gone

Good morning all 16 degrees and bright some blue in the sky. I have a hair appointment at 11.30 so hoping it doesn't rain. we did have a couple of showers yesterday evening, just light rain but better then nothing. Slept ok last night and had the duvet over me as it was much cooler.

Mr or mrs toad was very impressive Mel.

I keep finding mossie bites. One started itching just now yet it is under my clothes, must be from in bed last night but only just started to ith. sneaky little things this is the third or fourth bite and I never see a mossie.

Yes, I loved the baby Swallows in their nest and Mr Toad!

Vera you obviously did better than us with your painter today. I do like greengages. First MIL used to give me some from their tree. I must pop to the farm shop as I bet they have some. Are the Victoria plums ripe yet? I love those too.

When OH showed me where the match was he's gone to, it turned out to be the playing field where I played matches in the school Hockey team. It was the grounds to a domestic science college then. Now there is a school Academy next to it.

Sent some pics let me know if you get them as they were a bit big.

Afternoon All,

It was dry when I got up at 7.00 am, but soon started to rain as was promised. The painter said they were working from 8.00am till 7.30pm yesterday to get his outside job done. He was on his own today and set to work preparing the ceiling, but then had to stop. It seems as the plaster hadn't been sealed by the builder when the bungalow was built, the paint hadn't stuck to it very well and so he couldn't get a smooth edge on it without more flaking. I knew what he meant as I did ceilings at my old house and had the same sort of problem. He would paint it he said but it wouldn't be as good a job. The answer is to board the ceiling and have it plastered and sealed which would be neat around the edges as well. He said if we remove the coving in the bathroom when we do it, it would be best to get the same done with the ceiling before the fitter does the walls. He is trying to contact plasterers he knows and will get back to me. (MORE EXPENSE!) He cleaned the mess from the floor, but the radiator, shower, toilet etc are covered in dust again and no door on the ensuite again till it is done. It's beginning to feel like never ending mess now. When first OH and I gutted my previous bungalow we even made the kitchen and bathroom units and I used to think how much easier it would be to have someone else do it, but at least there weren't holdups with doing it all ourselves. It's been over 3 weeks up to now. I want to change the bedding but is it worth it if there's to be more dust in a few days.

That's good the dentist just needs to replace the teeth you had out put on the denture Mel. I hope you can find a denture you can manage with till it's done. You set me off checking online for any shows/fairs round here and I found a couple at the end of next month I might enter for a bit of fun! There isn't the main one in the next village, but there's one in the village with the brook and one a bit further away that accepts entries from all villages.

If you google Domestika there is an online course about painting miniatures on offer with other courses for 99p at the moment. You have access to videos on different aspects but don't have to participate in anything if you don't want to. You can see some of the work the artist has done and it's really good. I know you have done a lot already but sometimes there are useful tips. I downloaded one on painting when they were last on offer but haven't started it yet. I thought you may want to look at it. I haven't checked, but I know it says who the artist is and I've just thought he may have youtube videos worth looking at anyway.

I'm still feeling tired with all this early rising and haven't done much at all today. One of Gordon's cousins who lives on the south coast has contacted me as she has been doing FH and seems to think I have found things I haven't! lol.

I know what you mean too AnnG. I remember it when I was aged 58 as my dad died at that age. Now I've just reached the age when mum died. I didn't bother to rummage in T K Maxx either. The city store here years ago used to have some Christmas and cooking things, handbags and picture frames in addition to clothes, but I was surprised to see duvets and pillows and many racks of baby and toddler clothes, lovely tiny wellies too. Also long shelves of bathroom stuff including towels (which I need).

OH is off to a match about 3 miles away with his friend tonight. I meant to say about the match they went to at Harpendon on Saturday that they got held up in long traffic queues due to a Zimfest with Zimbarbwians. He said they were still walking along the pavements to it, even after the match when he and his friend were driving home. They both found it a bit of a sight with the women wearing next to nothing and even that seemed to be needing frequent 'releasing'. I think he said the journey took an hour longer than it should have.

I hope you got another crab Mandy and that Colin's hearing aids are sorted now. Hopefully there will be less dead heading to do soon as it is a full time job just now. My Violas seem to be past their best ,so I am just going to save some seed from the yellow ones now. I want to save seed from some of the yellow Snapdragon's too.

Thinking of you AnnG. We never really stop missing our Mums do we? Mine was only 58 when she died and I remember when I got to 58 that it hit me how young she was when she passed, but medical knowledge has come on in leaps and bounds and there is so much more that can be cured or at least alleviated now that couldn’t be then.

Annx, the baby hasn’t seen her books yet. Mummy and Daddy have taken the parcel home to produce on her birthday in about 12 days. I’ve no doubt they will let me know what she thinks of them. I hope your painter arrived OK this morning. Ours were here spot on 8 am again. They worked a 9 hour day yesterday and look as though they will be doing the same today. They have said that with luck they will finish tomorrow. We expected it to take at least a week but we were only expecting one man. I wish we had some shops like T K Maxx locally but there is very little of anything in our small, but fast growing, town.

Sparrowhawks give me the shivers Mel. They are magnificent birds but they look so cruel. In our old house I had one swoop down right in front of me and take a young starling. I was behind a window but no more than 3 or 4 feet from it and it looked so huge with such vicious talons and beak. What was it Tennyson said about “Nature, red in tooth and claw”?

Mel, I have a chrome metal plate with 4 teeth and this time last year I managed to break one of the teeth I do pay out for a private dentist and it cost me £60 for the impressions and £200 for them to replace the broken tooth and reinforce the backs of all the teeth. The metal was showing through where the backing had worn thin. I was without them for 3 days. I made sure not to make any appointments on those days.

I hope you have managed to get Colin’s hearing aids sorted out Mandy. Did you manage to get another crab?

I got a couple of sheets washed and got all the ironing done today and also froze 4 kg of greengages from a neighbour’s tree. They will get used for jam making when I find time to do it. They are just a touch underripe which is good for making jam as they contain more pectin than when they are very soft.

I’d better go and prepare some veg for tonight’s meal of meat pie. I can’t manage pastry and potatoes in the same meal but I might do a few for OH. Then while it’s all cooking I might be able to do a bit of dead heading.

I have just had a Sparrowhawk under the bird feeder I wondered what the noise was and as \I was taking pics Roy the Raven flew down and chased it away.

Done some ironing and did a small parcel up. Fed the fish and chickens and now the wild birds need feeding as they had some in the feeders this morning but its all gone now.

Also done some painting.