General Chat

Gosh you have been busy getting ready for the new bedroom fit.

I have been in the garden all afternoon cutting out brimbles from the border. I went up armed with a bowl and a basket to pick plums. I did the first tree and then got sidetracked as I had the secs with me. I took them to cut some dead off the old plum tree but got carried away and filled the big trailer with the brimbles and docks and other dead stuff. I also cut down the delphiiums hoping to get another flowering but I may have been too late. I hav'nt really been up there since last year as I miss being up there whilst oh is mowing but BIL was mowing today so I felt happier up there and I really miss it looking nice but there is so much twitch in the border and I cleared a lot of it last year. I did pick more plums off the other tree and when BIL went I drove up the top to look at te one up there but they are not ripe yet, thats the Victoria plum.

I had taken a pill with lunch so everything was working ok and I am going to take another now so I will sleep well tonight.

BIL has his other eye done on Monday so he may not come next week.

Some of the jobs got delayed because we hoped to find a bit bigger bungalow further from the motorway and busy main road AnnG, also the imminent likelihood of building on the field at the back of us, but nothing that comes up seems any more suitable and if you find something else with fields bordering it, it is likely to get built on in the near future the way housing estates are shooting up everywhere. Bigger bungalows seem to have bigger gardens and what we have now is more than enough for our creaky bodies! Also we have accumulated far too much and a declutter was long overdue. We live a different kind of life now to when we moved here and were younger so we've hung onto things we didn't need anymore that were too good to throw away, but we are being more ruthless now. The garage has been unusable to even walk through since the infux of so much from MIL's house.

The existing book cases have been moved out as the new, built in wardrobe layout will be different with more storage. Bookcases matching the wardrobes are being built in which will give OH more shelf space than now to keep his books. The lounge is a good size but our bedrooms are quite small so we are making better use of the space. OH uses that bedroom to watch tv or read at times and has all his clothes in there. At the same time we are trying to make changes for when we are older still, so the bath will be going and a shower with a seat will replace it once the present work is done.

You have done well to get so much done in the garden as it has been really hot here. I spent some time in the boiling hot conservatory sorting the washing out and then jobs inside and felt quite wobbly, unwell and shaky. I abandoned my lunch I was getting, drank some water, splashed my face with cold water and came and sat in the study and eventually felt better. I know beta blockers can cause low BP in the heat, my BP is at the lower end anyway and I was probably dehydrated too plus I've never liked too much heat. Typical OH was at a match near Sheffield instead of a local one today. I'm fine now though.

OH has had Iritis a few times in the past Vera, the last time being after his cataract surgery a few years ago. He was glad they checked his eyes thoroughly though and seemed pleased the laser surgery he had in one eye after the cataract surgery looked good.

Our binmen have been striking some days and are striking more often from now on and we may not get garden bins emptied as they will prioritise the rubbish and recycling bins instead. I think the last time will be next week so we'll be filling that up ready for them!

Has anyone had luck with their beans? Ours are full of flower but they are dropping off so no beans since two or three a few weeks ago.

I think Ann told us 2 or 3 weeks ago about all the work that is going to be done at her house. It made me feel tired just to read about it!

Ann, you are doing well with your major declutter. (IPad keeps trying to turn that into a person called Major de Clutter, lol). I wish I could get motivated to do the same. It’s good that OH has been signed off with his eye problem. I didn’t realise that he had Iritis. OH had a couple of bad bouts of that 40 or more years ago and I seem to remember it was very painful so your OH must have been suffering.

Mandy I am sorry you’re having such a horrid reaction to your bp tablets. Are there others your doctor could try? I didn’t get on well with my first lot but got on much better when the doctor changed them.

Mel, do be careful not to overdo all the gardening. Give your arm time to heal and talk to your doctor again if your hip is still playing you up.

OH is starting to recover quite quickly now everything is out of his system and he has had some rest. He has had something to eat tonight. Although the worst of my migraine symptoms have eased I cannot shake the headache. I think looking at the screen is not helping so I’ll wish you all goodnight.

Ann goodness you have been busy getting rid of so much stuff. Is there a major reason other than space? I was confused as to why you are moving book cases. I know I was away for a week but I thought I had read all the posts, are you having something changed in the bungalow with the ekectrucisn er. Ot is it just a post Covid catch up with jobs. It sound exhausting..

Cold is holding on, not too bad so far and I have got a couple of jobs done in the garden, dead headed the thre buddleias, that was time consuming and one of them was possibly being choked with a rampant clematis. It is a thug, a pretty yellow one but I have not worked out how to control it. I also watered both gardens, looked at the lawn and thought it could do with cutting but I didn’t have the energy. I also emptied the very full airing cupboard and put away the clothes. Then I dug the potatoes from one plant and got enough for three meals. Sounds better than it us, on a low carb diet I am not allowed many potatoes.

Hi Everyone,

I'm having a COT and rest as we have been so busy this past week and have been to the tip or charity shop or both every day. OH shredded 5 more black sacks of old work papers and other stuff and took it to the smallholding on his way to a match one night. More books went and there's another pile in the porch ready to go on Monday. This morning we started moving some of the tall, narrow bookcases into the lounge and will move the rest tomorrow and take the pictures down. We are ready now for Dave the electrician to come and move the socket for the TV next week. I thought he was going to get stuck getting in the loft and was wondering how we'd get him down! I ended up advertising on 3 online sites to get someone as most electricians won't bury the cables and most builders aren't qualified electricians! I have someone lined up to fit a new TV wall bracket that will swing the tv away from the wall as the tv will have a bookcase built in each side and be awkward to get behind otherwise. He's also going to fix our sky mini boxes behind both bedroom tvs too so that will free up more surface space and be less cables on show. The front door will be fitted the following week and the wardrobe fitters will be here then for 3-4 days too so we need to have the wardrobes and drawers emptied by then so the lounge will be in a right mess. (I've decided to pack away that chinese vase in there out of harms way and workmen barging by with bits of wardrobe!!) We need to sort a new bedroom carpet next week. The new garage door won't be fitted till September, but not much respite as we need to clear at least half of the garage by then for them to fit a cable the length of it. It will be useful to have power at the front end too in case we ever need a car charging point! I'm still looking for someone to take our old corner arbour away and to clear where the raised beds were.

After the boring news I can report that Bugs Bunny in the garden, after eating Violas, Michaelmas Daisy leaves, the red Potentilla flowers and even Foxglove flowers as well as a few weeds, disappeared after 4 days and hasn't been back. Either there wasn't enough food left for him and he went back where he came from or a Fox or cat might have caught him although he used to shoot under our shed if he heard us. We still need to look all around to see if there is a burrow at the back of the tall shrubs and fill it in if so.

OH was signed off at the hospital for the Iritis in his eyes yesterday. His appointment was at 1.30pm but the consultant didn't turn up till after 3.00pm so he had a long wait. Can't grumble though as the consultant was in eye emergency till then.

Some of you have been on some interesting outings to see some nice places, but poor Vera being ill on the coach and now your poor OH being so ill after eating the part used pate. I have stopped OH a few times from eating sliced meats that have been open a few days. He hates waste, but I remind him being ill isn't worth it. He has a habit too of treating the fridge like a cupboard and stands musing on what he wants out of it to eat for ages (to me) with the door wide open. That doesn't help food keep well either. Something I sometimes forget to do is turn the temp down on the fridge as it gets warmer. I hope your OH is feeling a lot better now and the sips of water will help clear any bugs out of his system. I expect the worry about your OH and lack of sleep caused your migraine but I hope the head pain soon eases. It''s a shame you have missed the get together but will be good to see your son.

What a shame the tablets are doing the trick with your BP but causing these horrid side effects Mandy. Like you say, seeing your GP and trying something else sounds like the next step.

That's a nuisance getting a summer cold AnnG. I hope it isn't too bad and soon clears up. I expect since getting home you have things you want to get on with like the garden as well.

Mel you do such a lot in the garden, maybe you need to take more breaks. We have to now and it helps get more done in the end. Have you tried a heat patch on your hip? They help take any swelling down in a joint and I find they help a lot when my back is bad. Are you still getting physio for your shoulder? It's been hurting for a while now so did the doc say it would be a long job. Since my bad knees I can only put socks on by sitting on the bed sideways and lifting my leg along it and then bending the knee towards me to reach my foot.

It looks like I won't be doing the online art class now as the teacher is only doing 30 week ones instead of the 10 week ones and that is a bit time consuming for me and without the breaks to catch up in! I think there will be less interest from some of the others too. I did join another online course where you do it from videos as and when you want and they give you feedback on what you do so I'll probably dig that out to do.

I almost went to a fused glass workshop at a garden centre a few miles away today as I enjoyed those I went to a few years ago. OH has gone to a match and I thought I ought to get on with more jobs while he is out, so I'd better fetch the washing in next and get on!

Mandy sorry you have not been well, I think you need to go back to the surgery as it is not right to suffer that after being on the pills long enough for your body to become accustomed to them. It sounds like vertigo. Horrible.

Poor you Vera, I suppose it was almost inevitable that you would have a migraine. I guess the experience will have put you both off pate.

Mel we had a shower here just now which means the lawn won't be cut, so that is a good excuse. sorry you still have pain. another day taking it easy then.

Waiting for Tesco now, will stand well back from the driver.

Morning all,

O Vera I hope oh is well on the road to recovery now. I hope you were giving him cooled boiled water as thats the best thing after a bout of sickness. A rich tea biscuit is good too to start with after what he has been through. Sending love and wishes to you both.

Anng hope your cold is a bit better today. Summer colds can take a while to get rid of.

BIL came yesterdaay and worked on the newest mower putting new brushes in the mowing collester and new metal bits that hold the grass box up. It was much too wet to mow so he is coming again today.

Its quite bright at the moment with some blue sky and big white clouds its 15 degrees and pc says mostly sunny.

Hip is really bad this morning but arm has'nt ached too much so far but Iv'e not done anything yet. Had trouble with my sock again this morning but managed to get it on with lots of ooing and ahhing and pulled it on with the lkong handled grabber thing.

I expect Mandy has the children coming round as they ar eon holiday so she is finding things for them to do.

Morning all,

Sunny here and there's quite a strong wind so the washings having a blow.

I have been staying away from this tablet screen as I have had such a funny head again ,been dizzy and light headed and tired all symptoms you can get with these tablets ,I really think they will have to change them ,been doing my blood pressure readings and it has gone down so the tablets have helped but its no good if they make me feel bad .

Vera sorry to see OH has been unwell with food poisoning, I know just how he's been feeling as I had it on holuday and it came back again when i got home and it not nice at all ,I hope he soon feels better and I hope your head soon eases for you ,its all the stress of you worrying about your OH ,such a shame its this weekend so you have to miss the party get together but you have something to look forward to getting away later to stay with your son .

Anng hope your cold soon clears have you anything you can take to help ease it.

Mel hope your aches and pains are easing for you .

Right think I've had enough on the tablet now ,be back on in a day or two .

Good morning all

Sorry to hear that your cold really has developed AnnG. I hope you get over it quickly.

I was concerned OH wouldn’t be able to sleep last night as he had slept on and off all day but he slept like a log. He has got up this morning as lying in bed so long has set his back pain off again, just as that was getting better. He couldn’t bend enough to finish dressing himself this morning and needs to get some movement back. He looks pale and weak but is much better than he was. Just small quantities of bland food for him today and NO PATE.

I didn’t sleep much as I developed a migraine. I took a pill but the migraine and pain killer together often bring on awful nightmares as they did last night. I kept dozing and then waking in a cold sweat. It’s easier this morning but I still have pain over one side of my face and down the back of my head. What is the old saying? It never rains but it pours. I’ll be glad to say goodbye to July.

Going to text son now to wish them a lovely party. He has said they will arrange for us to stay with them in a few weeks which will be lovely.

It rained during the night but is sunny and very warm now. More rain promised for later. Have a nice day everyone

good morning all, slept ok but kept waking because of my cold. sun is shining, some blue sky some cloud and 16 degrees. Looks like I have to water the two gardens. And also go in to check the house. Wonder if cold germs linger?

Vera hope OH is ok today. Will you be able to have face time or anything with the party goers?

Wonder where Mandy is, hope she is OK. Anyway hope all had a a good night and aches and pains are less today.

Hope you can get a good nights sleep Vera and don't lay awake worrying about OH. I know what ir is like doing that so sympathise with you. Yes some pates say 3 days, some say 2days.

My cold has developed to a heavy summer one. I have taken a test which was negative, so not covid.

I hope your cold doesn't develop into much AnnG. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay with your son. It must be a bit of a downer to come back to an empty house again. I sympathise with you.

The pate was in date but may have been open for too long. As OH usually gets our lunches I don't always see when he opens a new pack of something and pate does need using up fairly quickly once it's opened.

OH is improving now. He is still in bed and only having sips of water but that's no bad thing. I went to check on him at about 5 this evening and he asked me why I was up so early. He was convinced it was morning but he had been dozing all day so I think he was just a bit disorientated.

I got an hour's sleep this afternoon but still feel very tired and I have a headache so I am going to take OH some fresh water and check he's settled for the night and then I am going to bed. Sleep well everyone.

Oh Vera, that sounds nasty. More so for him but for you as well. Sounds likely it was the pate doesn't it? good job you didn't both have it. Have you got the wrapper? Was it still in date? I hope that he is beginning to feel a bit better now.

I know how you look forward to these get togethers so I know how sad you are to have missed it. I expect OH is too. What a shame.

I got home at 11.40 having left at 0930. we had a lovely trip home as the sat nav gave an alternative route to the horrible M40/A40 and took us through lovely scenery and pretty villages across North of the Cotswolds. son always does an immediate turn around (I wish he wouldn't so he was home at 2.30.

I am a bit miserable now after having company for a week. I feel a bit lonely as he left so quickly. But I should be aware of it by now.
And now I think I am getting a cold.

Good morning

Very dull and grey here this morning but warm and a bit muggy. AnnG should be well on her way back by now. I hope it is an easy journey for her.

We should also be on our way now on the first bit of our journey to our sons but fate has stepped in again and we won't be going. Early yesterday evening OH said he didn't feel too good and by 9 pm was being violently sick. I won't go into the unpleasant details but he was clearly quite ill and by 11 pm I was so worried I called NHS 111. I got through to a very helpful chap who asked me lots of questions and then had a few words with OH. He thought OH should be checked out by ambulance paramedics and arranged an ambulance for us. We get awful reports round here of people waiting countless hours for ambulances but they were here by midnight. The 2 lovely paramedics stayed till turned 2 am and did loads of tests. His bp was up as you might expect but his chest was clear and his heart good. He was sick while they were here which was good as they could see just how bad he was. They eliminated all sorts of things it could have been and one of the men spoke on his phone to one of their doctors and the decision was that it was some form of food poisoning. The only problem was that we had eaten all the same things for lunch and dinner and I was fine. Then we remembered that OH had finished up a packet of pate and I had started a new one so we wondered if the pack he finished was just on the turn. Anyway the ambulance crew decided he was OK to stay at home but told me to ring again if things got worse. He was badly sick again at 5 am but not since so we hope he is now over the worst though he feels pretty dreadful at the moment.

Needless to say I have had no sleep at all. I was either up with him or laying down but listening out for him. Even the pigeons were cooing away louder than ever at 6 am to stop me dozing off. I got up properly at 8 am and cleaned and disinfected everything OH used last night, phoned son and dil and cancelled the 2 nights we had booked at a Premier inn. We're getting a full refund for those so that's one good thing.

I am very disappointed not to go to our big family party and also not to see the grandchildren as I haven't seen them since Christmas and at the moment I feel that if anything else happens this month I am going to hibernate and wake up next year. I feel a bit tearful at the moment which is stupid as I am a perfectly capable woman and can normally deal with things when I have to. I think it is just the stress of everything that's happened over the last couple of weeks coupled with no sleep at all last night. Thanks for letting me get it off my chest on here so I can present a more cheerful front to poor OH.

Let's end with a smile :-D :-D

Morning Anng and all,

Guess what? Its raining here AGAIN. Will it ever stop? Pc says mostly cloudy and 16 degrees.

Can't stop I have to get ready to post a little parcel.e you all slept well.

I wonder when we will here from Gwyn and it would be nice if Mandy and Ann popped in.

Good morning all, sunny here so far. Should be leaving here at 0930. Hopefully some of the traffic will have eased by then. Probably BBL

Wadeston Manor near Aylesbury is very large with lots of rooms, lots to see including the wine cellar. They are also wine producers. It took over an hour to go round the house. There is a lovely parterre filled with flowers and a large fountain with animal statues. In fact there are a lot of statues all around the grounds. The grounds are beautiful and huge but we didn’t have time to see it all, or the energy

Granddaughter was with us as it was a birthday treat for both of us. The cream tea again was delicious. Jay upgraded it to sparkling so Sophie and I both had sparkling rose. The little savouries were nearly all fish based and the cakes were lovely in miniature. Photos later, it was drizzling when we got there but the sun came out and is still out. the roads round here are very hairy, awful surfaces and fast. I have to say I was pleased to get home

Morning girls,

Have a nice cream tea this afternoon Anng. Can't remember the last time I had one of those and Vedra enjoy your coffee with the group. In fact the last time I went anywhere really was to Barnstaple with BIL months ago.

Good morning AnnG and all

There was a lot of rain during the night. Now it’s drizzling but should stop shortly. It’s quite muggy as well, already 18 degrees but with 92% humidity. According to my weather app by mid afternoon it will be 23 degrees but feel like 28. No sun forecast, just cloud. What I call headache weather.

I couldn’t stop my leg jumping in bed last night so got up twice and spent time wandering about the house as it’s often the only way to stop it. Then I sat up reading till 3 am. I did sleep then till nearly 7.30.

A NT house and a cream tea sound good AnnG. Enjoy your day.

We are popping out for our regular Thursday coffee with friends in Starbucks in Sainsbury’s. It’s not my favourite place but it has large seating areas that can accommodate a group. Last week there were 9 of us turned up. While we’re out I need to shop for a birthday present and OH wants to fill the car ready for our trip this weekend. He said his back feels a bit better this morning and he seems to be moving a bit less rigidly.

I’ve had a cuppa but haven’t done anything else since getting up an hour ago so I’d better get dressed and have some breakfast. Have a nice day everyone.

Good morning all. Sorry you were on your own yesterday Mel. I was out with son yesterday most of the day and didn’t seem to find time to get on here later. We had a nice day, went to a new independent garden centre near Towcester. It was more than just the GC as it was a complex of several shops as well, but individual shops such as an up market wine shop, a beauty place, nails, spa etc, a bathroom shop, antique shop, hot tubs, art shop, we didn’t go in all of them but it was a good place to visit. After we finished there we went to another small complex on the way back for a very large ploughman’s lunch.. many years ag I remember visiting there for strawberries, pick your own when Granddaughter was about four.
Today son has to work (from home instead of travelling to London for a meeting because of the train strike). So DiL is taking me to a NT house where she has booked a cream tea this afternoon for the two of us. She took me there two years ago and it was lovely.