General Chat

Sounds as if you are making some lovely miniatures Mel they are keeping you busy .

We had a nice veg tray bake tonight with some slices of a gammon joint , I usually just add a little oil and herbs ,but this time I used a little oil with a packet of Honey Roast Vegetable seasoning and I added a little vegetable stock to the bottom of the tin , it made the veg nice and moist and it thicken a little with the seasoning packet and made a little sauce , it was so tasty , I usually just roast the veg but sometimes it catches and the veg can be a bit dry .

Annx you asked what I am doing in the way of my minitures. I have cast and painted a posy bowl of roses and daisies, a tiny honey pot and the last thing I paint on that is the bee on the top and found that the bee had a bubble just on its end but I finished painting it anyway and shall put it up at a reduced price. Done three onion bottles and a cow creamer.

Today we had a power cut I thought it was me at first but when I looked at the fuse box inthe cupboard asll the switches were up so I rang Em and she was out too and as we were talking I heard a click and it all came back on again.

I was making an umbrella (mini) and stained some bits, a spining wheel and a tudor chair and noe I am going to attempt to paint a brown chicken white and stick feathers on it and put it in a crate I made before Christmas. I need to get some pretty things on Ebay.

Afternoon all,

It's been quite a nice day here ,reached 10 degrees and we had some sunshine which was nice , my snowdrops are now out too I noticed them as I went down to the shed .

Oh Ann you nearly got caught in your birthday suit :-D you'd think they could at least say which day they are coming to give you a little warning .

My new slow cooker came a while ago, it still has a ceramic bowl but this one has a glass lid , the lid will be so much better to get hold of ,the old one got hot and was ceramic and I had to try and lift it with a cloth which I was so afraid It would slip out of my hand .
I'm going to try it out tomorrow and do a chicken casserole.

Morning All,

Dull like AnnG says and it's only just stopped that fine, but heavy rain that soaks you quickly.

We were up early having decided on a trip to a garden centre and to have one of their breakfast baps with three items in their cafe. Blow me, I'd just showered and went in the ensuite and OH was in the shower with the bathroom windows wide open when I heard the thud of the window cleaner's cloth on the bedroom window!! I was still drying me when next thing he was at the ensuite window, so scuttled out of there and went to let OH know and to pull the bathroom window shut. OH said couldn't I go and open the side gate with my dressing gown on? He got a 'no' to that suggestion. This was all before 8.00 am. Next thing there is repeated doorbell ringing and neither of us were fully dressed so we ignored it. I thought they would climb over our wood panel fence to get round the back, as they have before, but they didn't. OH went outside to look for him once he was decent but there was no sign, so he left the side gate open in case he came back and we went out. Nowadays we can never be sure what day he will come or at what time which didn't used to be the case. It makes it very difficult to know what time to shower, especially when he doesn't turn up for several days and we don't like having to keep leaving the gate unlocked when we are going out.

We were surprised how few people were at the garden centre, possibly due to the weather, and they seemed to be having a big sale including the EWM outlet. They didn't have either the size or colour I wanted in the things they have refunded me on, but the scarf I ordered for OH was there and £5 cheaper in the sale so that was good. He also found a shirt he liked in the sale, so he did better than me. I ventured outside under the covered area and found small bags of compost, but not what I wanted. The rain was so heavy by then we came home and will take the kettle back another time.

Like you I have a wash on now AnnG and I need to use up some raw chicken up today, so will try a Jamie Oliver recipe for a hotpot I saw on tv that has mustard, tarragon, onion, spinach and mushrooms in it and is topped with sliced potato. I might add a carrot and a few frozen peas and it will use up some odds and ends in the fridge. I was thinking I may start a painted birthday card later and see how it goes. I need to do a bit of admin first though.

Mel what are you doing miniatures of this time?

It's stopped raining now so I think OH will be ok for a walk, even a short one!

Not a lot to understand Mel. If you have a Tesco club card (Mine was issued years ago), there are certain items that are cheaper if you have a club card than if you don't. Items change all the time.

Please send some of your sun to burn off our fog. :-)

Yes it turned very foggy here too but now the sun has burnt it off and I have blue sky with lots of white cloud.

Em popped in with my Plenty rolls I can't get on Asda so she got them from Tesco with her order and at a knock down price. She has a club card. I have never understood these club cards.

still 7 degrees but foggy now.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning here and its only 3 degrees and there was a heavy frost. Pc still saying rainy days ahead and rain for this afternoon. Its supposed toreach a temp of 9 degrees at some point today.

Hope you all slept well.

Good morning all 7 degrees here but sooo dark and gloomy, stayed like it all day yesterday.

Nothing planned for today. a wash load in the machine. I do have some cards to make as my birthday stock is getting low.

Ann I think all the fields around here are soaked so more rain is going to just sit on top and there will be floods in vulnerable places. I hope this also means the reservoirs are filling up.

Mandy I used to have a ceramic slow cooker and have since had the metal ones. Much better as, if you want to you can put them on the hob to fry off meat etc.

Evening All,

Another gloomy day here and then rain just as the food delivery came. the usual fields were covered in flood water yesterday and the line of posts in a fence were only six inches above the water so it was quite deep near the river.

That's good to change your slow cooker Mandy. I think Mel got the same one as me and the metal bowl is so light as she says and simple to clean as it's non-stick. I avoided the porcelain bowls because of the weight once they are full of food. I can hardly carry my full pressure cooker and ought to get rid of it really as I don't seem to use it now.

Vera that was bad service from EWM with the jumper. I don't think I will be buying on line from them again. Disappointingly my parcel was lost by the courier yes, but it isn't customer service when, day after day you can't get anyone to speak to on the phone. Still a faff with the bus to the eye hospital but a bit better this time and good news about improvements that mean you should be able to drive again. I bet you are pleased about that so I hope you get an early test at the opticians. I am interested in getting another cordless vac so will be interested how you find your new one. My present one is an old Dyson.

Our local paper is delivered by a national service too and they seem to get earlier, but usually about 5-6.00 am so yours was very early!! They park in the rad outside my neighbour's and then run to our drive and letterbox, but leave the car engine running, but headlights off. I have wondered whether the running engine disturbs our neighbour as the bedrooms are on the front. They then reverse back and turn at the end of the original cul-de-sac and might have sweeping headlights then.

OH is callng, so night night everyone, sleep tight.

Done some painting and varnishing this afternoon. Was still a bit gloomy. 6 degrees now

I hope your new slow cooker is one with a metal pot and glass lid like mine. Its great for doing soups and stews and is easy to clean. I should use it more really and I need to clear a cupboard out so I can put thing away that are on the work surface.

Cleaned the girls nest box out so I shall have to go round tonight and shove them out because they sleep in it if they can and make a mess.

I told you I bought mysef a white loaf yesterday, well today I am going to have (Gipsey toast) bacon and beans.

Afternoon all,

We've had sunshine most of the morning but it was very foggy first thing .
I've ordered a new slow cooker this morning as the one I'm using has such a heavy ceramic lid with a tiny knob on the top thats a devil to get hold of with a cloth and the bowl is ceramic so its very heavy too, I have visions of me dropping it so the new ones coming tomorrow .

Think that's me done now as I had such a funny head yesterday just after I posted so I don't want to much screen time today.

snap vera I am having lamb shank as well but not until this evening.
I have cooked the veg so it just needs a couple of minutes in the microwave. I am also making mixed veg soup. Leek, carrot, potato and courgette. Not sure what it will taste like. Vera I know you have the same soup maker. do you find you have to have more than one go at setting the controls? I find mine seem to be very tempermental.

It is 7 degrees here and drizzly so not very pleasant at all. we seem to get dark and drizzle and sunny and nice on alternate days.

Morning Mel, AnnG and all

At the moment it’s blue skies and sunshine and 9 degrees though it feels a lot cooler. We’re not supposed to get any more rain until Wednesday but we shall see.

I didn’t have a good night. OH seemed to be coughing all night long and our newspaper was delivered at 3.30 am! There are no local newsagents delivering any more so ours is done through a national delivery service. They say the paper will come between 5 and 8 am but, in practice, it’s usually between 6 and 7. The trouble is that it comes by car which sets off everyone’s security lights and then swings round at the end of the Close between my house and the neighbours who face us so his car lights shine into her bedroom and OH’s. At 3.30 am that isn’t funny. I am expecting a complaint from my neighbour again.

My new vac is being delivered between 1 and 2 pm so I must look out for it. The drivers don’t ring the bell and they won’t leave it so if I don’t see them I have to pay a rebooking delivery fee.

Better go and sort the veg for Sunday lunch. We’re having lamb shanks today.

Yes 6 degrees here now and very damp, dull and dire. I have the bedding in the drier so that is the bed changed. One job done, showered and hair washed but nothing else done.

Morning all,

Dark here too and just not very nice out. Pc saysect 7ainy days ahead starting today and its 6 degrees.

Had a lie in this morning.

good morning all. very dark here this morning, so dark I didn't wake up until 0815 and have not even showered yrt. BBL

I like your long posts too Vera. You had a right old time getting to the hospital and home again on the bus. Good results though from the doctor. Could'nt you take an old pair of glasses to have the new lenses put in saving you more money incase you have to have the other eye done. You will be glad to be able to drive again.

My snowdrops are out and my pink Hellibore. Its so nice to see thing starting to bloom to tell you Spring is just around the corner. I wonder if we will have more snow before it really arrives?

Iv'e done some miniature painting today and varnishing.

Yesterday was a hectic day. We went down to Waitrose fairly early in the morning and I stocked up on fish, mostly salmon and smoked haddock, and got a load of salad stuff. When we got back we had a very quick snack and went off to get the bus to the hospital. Thankfully the driver knew just where he was going and fairly belted along between stops. Even so it took 75 minutes. According to the timetable it should take 65 minutes but I don’t think the company allow enough time for people getting on and off at the various stops. Luckily I still had 25 minutes before my appointment time as, after you get off outside the hospital, it is quite a trudge to the separate eye centre which is behind the hospital.

Anyway, I arrived and got checked in before my allotted time and got called within 5 minutes. I went through all the normal procedures, vision tests, pressure tests, scans and then had to wait to see the doctor. There is always a hold up at this point but eventually I was called in. The doctor was quite pleased. My distance vision has improved considerably and, after 10 weeks, the inflammation has at last cleared up so I can now get my eyes tested and get new glasses which means I should be able to drive again. I’m going to set up an eye test at the opticians and see if I can get the cheapest lens and frames possible as I think she may want to tackle the other eye before long and that will mean different glasses again.

The next problem was that I came out of the doctor’s room only 5 minutes before our bus home was due. There was no way I could collect OH from the waiting room, get into our coats and get to the bus stop in 5 minutes, even if we ran, and there was a 65 minute wait for the next bus. So rather than hang around in the cold we went from the eye centre to the rear door of the hospital and then trudged through all the corridors to the front where there is a café and we could sit in the warm with a nice cup of tea. We didn’t dare risk missing the next bus so were at the stop nearly 15 minutes before it came. Again the driver didn’t hang around but again it took 75 minutes to get back. We got in at 6 pm and felt shattered and I still had to cook dinner. Luckily I had got it all prepared before we went.

I won’t go into everything that’s happened today or I’ll be here all night. I’ll just say that I discovered I am supposed to be at a club meeting tomorrow afternoon so had to fiddle about changing my Tesco delivery to Tuesday afternoon and I had to reorder my cordless vac. I don’t know what OH did but he seems to have managed to cancel the order he made. I found the same one at the same price on AO.com and it’s being delivered tomorrow.

I should think you’ve all dozed off by now so I’ll leave you in peace and go and sort out our dinner for tonight. Now, do I fancy a cup of tea or a nice glass of wine? Decisions, decisions……...