General Chat

BIL turned up today and mowed up all the grass cutting from the front lawns and the orchard. Threw me completely cos I di'nt know he was coming and thought I owuld have a nice day in the garden but when he is here I can't get on somehow. Anyway something else is not working now on the mower its gouging out line in the orchard so soemthing has dropped off once again. I do wish he would'nt mow over the sticks that fall off the trees.I'm sure thats half the trouble.

So no more weeds got pulled up by the patio steps and the front did'nt get swept. I told him he could leave all the cutting from the orchard over by the bonfire I have over the side but I did'nt know he was giong to mow it again which he did so I have just moved four or five big grass box emptyings over the side on the weeds. Some on the little bonfire which is alight now.

I was all sett to jog along doning miniatures and gardening at my own pace without interuptions but it did'nt turn out like that.

It clouded over this afternoon and we lost the lovely blue sky and white clouds which were replaced by grey ones but it stayed dry.

I also did the big pond again this morning had the skimmer on and got out three nets of muck out of the bottom so its looking quite clean now.

Just cos I remembered Midsomer Murders tonight it was'nt on so now I am going to watch Antiques Roadshow on iplayer, have a little bread and homemade jam and a bowl of strawberries and that'll do me for tonight.

Sweet dreams all. :-D

Afternoon All,

It's been sun then cloud here all day and is 10 degrees now but feels cooler.

Mel I can only assume your arm and hip are so much better now as I don't know how you manage to do so much otherwise! Do you keep having breaks like I have to doing almost anything these days. That's good you found a white egg so know at least one is laying. I suppose she will find the nestboxes soon. I wonder if the Swallows will scare the Wren away or whether they will be good neighbours.

It's not surprising you having restless nights AnnG, as the op must be at the back of your mind. It will be good when it's done and you know more what the result will be like. You are doing well busying yourself though as that helps to distract your mind.

OH came home after the match quite shaky yesterday, but he hadn't eaten since the early morning, not even the banana he'd taken with him! He is affected like this when he doesn't eat, low blood sugar I suspect, so he really should eat something more often as he's been told many times. He's as bad with not drinking too in case he can't find a toilet when he's travelling, even when he has a bottle of water with him. I've told him he'll get kidney stones. :-S We managed to get down what he wanted from the loft without incident this morning and put a few things back up there at the same time, so that was good.

I forgot to say that just as we were going out yesterday that chap delivering the paper backed up our drive so OH was able to nip out and catch him. He asked him very nicely if he would mind not using our drive and use the road or end of the close instead like others do. The chap seemed amenable and said ok so we'll see what happens.

I hope Vera and her OH are much improved today and it's good Mandy is resting as she isn't too good today.

Afternoon all,

Dry and sunny here ,didn't have a very good night and don't feel so good again today so not doing anything just watching the London marathon.

Well I did about half an hour in the garden and came in. Just have no energy so a sit and do nothing day I think. Must have had less sleep than I thought.

Iv'e been in th garden doing some weeding round the steps down from the patio and raked up more grass cuttings, another barrow load. weeded the posts of hostas. I fed the chickens and when I went to go through the gate into their run there was a white egg on the ground. One brown one in the nest box so two today so far one from the new ones and one from the old ones.

Suns still out and its 11 degrees. Off outside again now after a little rest and a wash of my glasses.

Good morning all, 8 degrees and fairly bright now, was very dull earlier when I got up. Slept fitfully but don't feel too tired at the moment. I won't sleep properly until I have this op I am waiting for.

Changed and washed bedding, not sure what else I am doing. a bit of gardening when it warms up a tad I think.

Mmorning all,

Another bright sunny morning here and pc says 9 degrees and mostly sunny in Glastonbury. Now why does it think I am in Glastonbury?It never used to change it always stayed at B F.

Had a lie in this morning as there was nothing to get up for but I have two parcels to wrap today and then the rest of the day is mine as far as I know.

Hope you all slept well or got enough and sending love to Mandy and hope she is on the mend now. <3 <3

Iv'e had one goldcrest in the garden this year on the bird table of all things. BIL just missed it last week he was so annoyed. I usualy get a little crouwd of them and you hear them before you see them. They like my tangled apple trees and one has a lot of ivy in it and a clematis.

Just been out for a ciggy and robert had left the light on in the filter shed so I went down to turn it off and there was a swallow flying around in there so they are back. Now whats going to happen as there are eggs in Jenny's nest.

I knew they were small but seeing it they are sooo tiny and it looked very vulnerable.

I hate the underwired ones too AnnG or ones with very narrow straps and straps that are wide apart slip off my shoulders.

I meant to say earlier how sweet little Goldcrests are. I saw a lovely photo of one today in a FB group our local paper does. It makes you wonder how small their little nests must be and the babies must be so tiny when they leave the nest.

All gone in the house so thats good.

Just come in from the garden a little wile ago and poured myself a nice glass of Rose' as I think I have earned it. Not had anything to eat yet but have a couple of nice pork and leek sausages and a nice seedy roll for them to go in. I may even get a chunk of homemade apple sauce out of the freezer. Strawberries for dessert with cream and another glass of wine and I shall be ready to go to bed I think.

I have done weeding some pruning of the two little roses on the rockery raked up quite a bit of the grass cutting in the orchard as there was lines of them and had a bonfire and put those cutting I raked up on it.

Theres a very noisey party going on at the big house tonight. Thats the only good thing about wind and rain as they stay indoors but its such a beautiful evening I thought I could quieten them down with a bonfire as the breeze is blowing their way. Naughty or what? the trouble with living in a walled garden is that the big high walls act like a ear so I can hear everything from the big house.

Hope oh's neck is better tomorrow Vera and you r poor back. I shall probably be saying I ache tomorrow after all the bending sweeping and raking I have been doing.

That sounds good about the pots Ann I hope they are similar to the ones in the garden centre at a cheeper price and oh likes them.


I must check on the girls again to see if they are going in the house tonight but its still too light yet. its still 11 degrees here and I have been in the garden without a coat or hat for the first time this year.

I hate buying new bras. I don’t like under wired bras and prefer those with just two hooks. Nearly all the bras with no wire tend to have three hooks and there is very little choice of those with no wire as well.

I edited my post straight after I posted it Mel as I spotted Mandy had popped in after me. I'm glad she felt a bit better. At least white chickens will be easy to spot if they get out.......unless it has snowed! You must let us know what names you give them. I know it's daft I prefer brown eggs as they are just the same as white except for the colour. I think you are right about the more 'wholesome' look Vera

Well I never realised water meters were fitted outside in some properties or could be down the road Vera! Oh your poor back after doing all of that glass. No wonder it's telling you off. I find it hard to put socks on now let alone attend to a verucca. Your poor OH with his scarf on too. If you get any visitors they will think you are about to go out! AnnG has put an image in my head I can't get rid of now, but it's no laughing matter is it when the slightest thing we do sets off so much pain. OH has to go in the loft for something in the morning, so twisting himself through the opening is bound to set something off.

It's the young hens starting to lay that lay the double yolks usually AnnG. I must go and get some eggs from the farm shop soon and see if I get any. It sounds like it was a pleasant trip into town and with a bonus of some new tops from M&S too. I could do with some new bras from there.

I popped to the garden centre and they have some good deals on the slate chippings if you buy more bags so I've kept a note. There is a new landscape materials place that's opened in the next village so I will phone and see if they supply them and the cost as well. I also saw some pots I liked that were about half the price of other similar ones I've seen at the big garden centres, so I took a photo and will see what OH thinks when he gets home.

:-D :-D :-D @ AnnG. I think our days of tripping the light fantastic are long gone, lol. I'm not sure OH was ever tango material though he could dance a mean foxtrot.

I didn't feel up to doing anything that involved much movement this afternoon so I got on with a bit of admin, banking etc.and did my Tesco order for delivery Tuesday. I already had the slot booked but had only put in a few things to hold it. Then I cheered myself up with getting 5 new books on my kindle. One is fantasy and the other 4 are American detective/police type novels so nothing too taxing. I had read the first one in the series and enjoyed it so I've got the next 4 books. I also ordered OH a paperback that I know he wants.

You're lucky to have a temperature of 13 degrees Mel. It struggled to get to 9 here and has already gone down to 8 again. I hope your new girls settle in with you.

Girls have arrived and they were put straight in with the others. I decided I would keep all my old hens in te end so now I have 7 instead of 4. Thye other old ones are staying away from them so I don't know ifthats good or not. I shall probably have to go and put them in tonight as they won't kow where to go unless they watch the oldies go in but will they want to??

Pc is saying near record here and theres blue sky as far as the eye can see but it is still only 13 degrees. BIL has nearly finished mowing.

I now have new neighbours in the cottage next to my drive They are Simon and geraldine I think. Spoke to Simon when I came back from the shop. The have been living in their camper van for weeks.

Oh dear Vera, I think you and your OH have been secretly practicing the tango with hime twisting his neck around and then sweeping you into a back bend. Sorry :-) :-) I am sure it is very painful and hope you will both be recovered soon. Next time, maybe do the glass doors, windows etc over two days!!!

I had some really nice white eggs the other day from St Ewe via Tesco and 4 of the 6 were double yolks.

coming home on the bus we stopped at traffic lights and there was a branch of a pine tree by my window on the bus, on the end of the branch was a teeny, tiny little Goldcrest. It could not have been more than an inch long. You have to wonder how they survive.

It was really warm out in the garden just now in the sun. But boy was it cold when the sun went behind a cloud. I just watered the potatoes growing in pots and also in the planter and watered where I planted seed but have to say no sign of any of them coming up. It must have been too cold for them which is disappointing. Hopefully it will be dry tomorrow so I can do a bit more out there.

Afternoon all

It’s not a very nice day again. It’s grey with just the occasional gleam of sunshine and light showers on and off. It’s a bit chilly willy as well. Brrr...

I’m glad you are feeling a tad better Mandy. You’re probably quite run down and need to build your strength up again so rest as much as you can. I bet your lovely grandchildren would give you a hand with anything that really must be done and anything else can be left till you’re better.

It’s funny how we all like brown eggs yet all eggs are equally nutritious. Brown somehow looks more wholesome. Do the current residents of the hen house accept new ladies straightaway Mel, or do you have to introduce them gradually?

You’re lucky having your water meter in the house Annx. At our last house it was on the drive but here it’s not even in the same road! The builder of these properties lives over the back from us and when he built them he did everything the cheapest way he could so there are some water meters on the pavement outside his house and the pipe work goes through his property and through our garden..

I’m sorry you had such a bad night AnnG and I hope you have more sleep tonight.

We are both in a spot of bother at the moment. OH seems to have hurt his neck and shoulders but has no idea what he did. He’s just sitting about with a scarf wound round his neck to keep it warm. He’s a bit better today than yesterday. Yesterday I cleaned all the glass in the room OH sleeps in i.e. a wall and a half of floor to ceiling sliding glass doors on the wardrobes and 3 windows plus a window and all the shower glass in the en-suite. I was up and down the steps to reach the top and bending low to get to the bottom and, by the time I finished, my back was really sore. The final straw was last night when I twisted it trying to get to this d..n verruca which is on the pad of a toe. So I can’t move without groaning this morning.

Stan the man has been this morning to quote for doing some carpet cleaning and we’ve booked him to do all upstairs, the stairs themselves and OH’s room downstairs. His reviews have been good and he quoted a very reasonable price and was helpful about things like moving furniture. He also turned up dead on time to look round and do his quote so that’s a good start.

Better go and get some lunch ready now. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Thanks Ann (and echo Mel). I have only just got back in from town. Went in on the 0930 bus and it was comfortable in town, lovely sunny day so by the time I got the 1140 bus home it was beginning to get crowded. Had a good look round M&S as they have a lot of new spring stuff in. Bought a T shirt and a three quarter sleeve top (lightweight, summery navy with white spots.

Mandy you jumped in there before I posted. Pleased that you fel a bit better. just eat very lightly today to give your tummy time to recover. Hope that you continue to feel better. <3