General Chat

Afternoon All,

It was chilly but lovely sunshine earlier, but now it's dull with rainy looking clouds and but it is still only 13 degrees now. OH has gone to a match in Worcester so not sure what time he'll be back. He wasn't impressed they are charging £5 to park! He went to see the doc two days ago as his pain in his side doesn't seem to be getting better after a couple of weeks. It was a physician associate he saw who poked and prodded making it hurt far more and who wants to arrange blood tests after he has spoken to a GP and thinks it may be a kidney stone or infection. OH still thinks it is a muscle, but is still waiting for them to call back two days later. It's not helpful is it if using these physician associates means delays like this. Anyway at least he was glad the extra pain from the poking and prodding has gone ready for the drive to the match today.

Vera we are in just the same position with the garden and inside! Despite me not growing any veg this year I still haven't managed to get on top of the garden or the indoor jobs. I'm hoping next year will be better and that I can catch up a bit now it's cooler, as the heat really brings me to a standstill. Fancy you ending up sitting next to your dentist at the theatre! He could have given you a quick checkup! ha ha. What did you go to see at the theatre?

Yes it's always a worry that cats may try to find their way back to their old home, especially if they get out soon after moving home Mandy. I rang a vet yesterday after they advertised on FB that a ragdoll cat had been handed in to them a couple of days ago and it's microchip details were out of date and they wondered if anyone had any information as to it's owner. I am always looking on the Animal Aid Rescue site as I sometimes take things for their charity shop and often look online at the dogs and cats they have. Just a few weeks ago they had an identical grey ragdoll cat with dark paws, face etc like a siamese cat markings and had rehomed it. I gave the vet's the details so they could ring to find out the new owners to contact to see whether they had lost it. I hope it was the same cat! I hope the lady in the wheelchair comes by today!

Mel that's handy having some mulch for your borders and I hope they cut down the Beech branches too. We have a water meter like you but OH has had a letter to say they need to visit to do something to it, so I must have a read of the letter as I can't imagine what?

What was your photography subject this week AnnG? We have had more weeds in the gravel with not keeping on top of them the past 2 years. My first FIL said 'one year's seed equals seven year's weed' and I think he was right.

I'd better get a wash on ready to put out in the morning, which the forecast says will be dry, at least in the morning, then do tomorrow's veg ready so I can lie in for a while tomorrow.

Back is a bit stiff but hopefully it will go off. Can you set up(cover) a table in the conservatory and sit to pot up some cuttings.

I have made two Christmas cards and now am going to read the paper that Cynth got for me this morning. I only have the Saturday DM as that has a good TV paper in it.

You've been busy today AnnG. I hope you don't stiffen up too much. We seem to be a thread of old crocks lately don't we.

Mandy, it always seems as though winter is on the way when the garden furniture gets put away. Ours stays out all the time. I forget what it's made of but it's something like cast aluminium and is OK to stay out but it now looks a bit bare as OH has taken down the big parasol that goes over the table and that's now in the garage. The cushions from the chairs are kept in the conservatory all summer and just put out when we need them and then they are stored in the garage all winter. I don't want to do that anymore after a mouse got in and chewed 2 of them to bits so they'll have to stay in the consevatory. I've told OH to look out for some sort of storage chest that will fit the cushions and act as a table in the conservatory. It's got to look good as well. Such a thing probably doesn't exist.

My problem in the garden is that at this time of year I am usually taking cuttings of things like geraniums and lifting and potting up other stuff to go in the greenhouse. OH says if necessary we'll buy new plants next year so I shouldn't worry but I think it's hard wired into me to save money by growing my own from cuttings and seeds and, anyway, I enjoy the challenge. I also want to clear some of the pots with annuals that are near the end of their life as in a few weeks I will want to plant up some of my spring bulbs in those pots. Oh well, what will be, will be.

I did manage a little bit of ironing this morning and did a bit of admin. I've just got some filing to do and tonight's dinner to sort out. I'm just going to put a load of mince in a pan with anything else I fancy throwing in, cook it up and serve it on a bed of noodles. There will definitely be tomatoes in it. Right now we are having tomatoes with everything.

I'm going to do my bit of filing and then rest my back for an hour. At the moment I can't stop yawning. How can I be this tired if I've hardly done anything?

Trouble with having a nice calm sunny day after all the rubbish wet or windy ones is that you remember all those jobs that need doing. Just spent an hour trimming off all the spent flowers off the large lavender bush. Got the small bushes to do yet and the large daisies. Wouldn't be so bad if the sun had not come out after i cleaned the bathroom, lounge and dining room. I think I might be stiff tomorrow.

Forgot to post this, that was before lunch, Have just cut down a large patch of Esther Reads (White daisies) I am hoping to have all but the lavender dug up and this patch gravelled with rocks on it when Jake has the time.

Good luck with the lady on the scooter I hope you manage to catch her even if its just to let her know you know she took things without paying. Mention you have a camera on the table so you can see who buys what and who takes things. She won't do it again if she thinks there's a camera on the sales.

BIL is here he turned up latish for him and he is mowing but not picking up as he has to go and pick his wife up from work. I bought him a hot pasty up the shop and he had that while mowing.

Afternoon all,

Lovely sunny day here this morning we got all the garden chairs and table put away for the winter ,it does look bare out there now ,just the canopy on the gazebo to come down but we have to leave that for son to do as its very fiddly with the tiny nuts to undo and it means a lit of stretching up .

Vera as Anng said things won't be growing as much now in the garden ,I'm sure your garden can't be that bad ,shem we don't have the Bob a job cubs /Scouts anymore they were handy to help with a bit of tidying and sweeping .

I'm keeping my eye out for the lady on the scooter as she comes through on a Saturday afternoon.

My heating is on very low just to take the chill off. The temp has gone up to 7 now but it feels very cold outside. I went to put some scraps on the bird table and stopped on the way in to pull five or six weeds from the gravel (goodness knows what the membrane is doing, it is not stopping some weeds. I had a quick wander and survey of the pots in the garden and, as they are still flowering they are staying as they are for now.
Vera I think with your garden, try and ignore what needs doing until your back has eased or OH gets a sudden burst of 'must do' in the garden. It shouldn't be growing now so will still be the same in a few weeks. you can sort it then. Fretting about it will only make you feel worse about your back. Anyway your garden was so nice to start with it can't look that bad.

Mel, try and stay away from the garden until your back has recovered.

Morning girls,

At the mo the suns out and its 10 degrees but we have a wind yellow warning and Iv'e not seen that on the pc before. It also says mostly cloudy so I don't think the sun will last that long.

Hope your back improves Vera so you can get about better and do a bit of tidying in the garden.. My hip and back is no better and Iv'e had the wheat bag on it for two nights now. I must have just strained it a bit doing the weeds on the patio and dead heading.

I have the shop to do this morning and it will give me a chance to see what they did to my trees up the top. I asked them if they had time to cut back some of the branches of the beech trees that were nearly touching the lawn up there and I want to see how big the pile of wood chips are too.

Good morning
It’s very brrr out there. Winter seems to have arrived and OH has declared that the heating is going on today. It’s time to put the two big fans away I think. I doubt if they will be needed again this year.

Mandy, that is a very cute bunny gnome with her flowery hat. She’s my favourite now but it’s hard to choose between them as all the gnomes are sweet. You are very talented.

I hope your hip is better today Mel. I don’t know how you manage to do so much outside. I wish I had your stamina. In our last house the electricity people used to come fairly regularly to cut a couple of trees in our front garden but I always got a card through the door in advance to tell me when they were coming.

I hope your roads are a bit less waterlogged now Annx. OH must have thought he was never getting home the other night. I hope the elderly man on his bike was OK.

I am concerned about our garden as neither OH nor I have done anything much in it this month because of our holiday, the rain and bad backs. Things need cutting back, troughs and pots need clearing of dying annuals and lots of tidying up is needed but I can’t see much getting done for a while as I am not doing anything while my back is this bad and OH doesn’t seem to be in the mood for gardening. There’s not much housework being done either.

My back is still very painful and I think I’ve taken more painkillers in the last 2 or 3 weeks than in the last year. I think the exercises are helping a little and the physio did tell me it might be 6 weeks before it’s better. My mood has improved and I keep giving myself a good talking to. I dosed myself up and managed to get to the theatre on Thursday and the birthday lunch yesterday. At the theatre I had just sat down when a voice said “ We meet under different circumstances”. I turned to see who was speaking and found myself sitting next to our dentist!

I have no plans for today. It’ll be a take it as it comes sort of day. I’d better start by having some breakfast as I’ve been up since 7.30 am but I’ve no idea what I’m doing after that. Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning all, not quite light out there yet, looks a bit gloomy and is 3 degrees Brrr!. Nothing planned for today until 4-5pm when Tesco is due. Slept ok but woke early so still feel a bit tired.

I hav'nt watched that yet Ann looking forward to smething decent on the telly.

I emailed Mandy but was'nt that little bunny gnome great. Loved the delicate flowers on the hat.

We've not had any rain today but a cold strong wind.

I had'nt heard about Maggie Smith and I liked her in Downton and the Lady In the Van and all the other things she has been in like Harry Potter. She always seemed so right for the roles she played. I think the first one I saw with her in was The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Done some painting of my mini's today but not a lot. Blown the leaves off the decking by the ponds but the battery ran out just as I got to the end of the decking.

I would'nt mind some of the yellow oppy seeds Gwyn as I have been trying to get those in the garden for years. I even took a pod from the doctors garden but it was'nt ripe. I have enough agapanthus seeds of my own but I think it takes about 7 years for them to flower.

Afternoon All,

So sad to hear Maggie Smith passed away this morning. She was brilliant in so many things and I loved her in Downton and The Van Lady.

I love the Bunny Gnome Mandy with the flowers on the hat and little white tail! Thanks for sending a picture.

Well the rain and thunderstorm last night was so bad that OH had to turn back and find different routes to come home from the city after his meeting 5 times!! He said the water was like little fountains from the drains in places. His journey was about 7 miles, but it took him ages. He said one 88 year old had come on his bike, but refused a lift home, so he hoped he hadn't come far. We've never known it bad in the city like that. This morning when we went out the fields were worse than we've ever seen them too and water lapping the sides of the road and it's a good job the railway across one of the fields is raised up as it was close to the top. When OH collected some tablets from the pharmacy the brook through the village was still like a raging torrent. With the the drains lifting down by the island I hope it doesn't cause the floods to back up to us in furture, but water should run away downhill towards the river and canal.

OH is ready to watch All Creatures now so better do that next.

Bunny Gnome is so cute, Well done Mandy.

We've had a dull and damp day, but the sun is shining now, as forecast. It's OK temperature wise if you are out walking or are busy indoors, but chilly indoors if you are just sitting..

I went to a local Macmillan Coffee morning today held in a side room of a pub. So many lovely cakes to choose from :-D
I think they will probably have raised quite a bit of money, as there were tombola and raffle prizes to be won too.
Weather permitting, I might look in on another one in town tomorrow.

All this chat about seeds made me wonder if anyone wants any from a blue agapanthus? Some seeds have self set here, so they 'take' quite easily. Mine don't get much attention at all and the flower heads, though slow to appear at first are now increasing each year.
Also have some yellow poppy seeds if anyone wants some. I don't know if they have a proper name, but are small, like a red field poppy, but are bright yellow.

Mel, can't your bank pay your bills for you to save you having to do it?

Thanks for the photo Mandy I just love that little miss. Clever you. <3

Mel some water companies offer single occupancy tarriffs so you might be eligible for it perhaps that's why he asked .

Rain stopped late morning but it's much colder here now ,I haven't done much today my energy went ,I think I've been doing to much again so I've had a day of rest and been finishing off another Gnome, Bunny Gnome my favourite so far , I'll send a photo.

Iv'e just paid the water bill online and he wanted to know how many people lived in the house, blimmin cheek.

I was in the kitchen and thought I could hear voices in the garden. Could'nt see anyone so got on a bit and then fed the chickens and could still hear chain saws and voices so I went up the top in the car. There were three men from the leccy board cutting down the trees round the wires. I knew they would be coming but I was supposed to get a phone call for when they were coming. Anyway I now have a huge pile of woodchips under the evergreen tree up the top more mulch for the border but I just have to get it down here now.

Brought the eggs in and putting them in the tray I dropped one on the work surface and dented it so I had an early lunch of a scrambled egg on a slice of toast so as not to waste it and it was delish.

Morning girls,

Nice bright morning so far today with blue sky white clouds and sunshine. Having said that it wil probably go now and cloud over and its 11 degrees at the mo and saying mostly cloudy so we could have had the best of the day.

Left hip still really bad this morning so I shall take it easy today.

Enjoy photography group this afternoon Ann. I think in years gone by you used to get 7 seeds in a Sungold packet. I never planted them all at once after I lost the tunnel. Just a couple for us down here. The packets do say usually an average ofsuch and such seeds and I think it is 5 in a F1 cue packet.

I think I am going to put some apples under my tom plants and shut them up now as I have left the door open all season since it got warmer and see if that will ripen some as I have those great big ones from the seed of the tomatoe that my neighbour gave me last year and it was so delious that I saved some of the seed. I shall grow it next year but sow it earlier. I was very late with them this year. I am still picking beans though and had another good harvest the other day.

Morning all,

Dreary rainy morning here but I think it should get dry as the day goes on and we might see a little sun .
Didn't have a bad night's sleep, woke a couple of times and I thought oh it's still dark so settled down until just after six when I woke with cramp in my foot and had to get out of bed to try and put my weight on it so it would ease .

Got a few jobs to do ,a hoover through ,cut Colins nails and clean the conservatory windows inside so plenty to keep me busy .

Good morning all, 7 degrees here so a bit nippy. dry at the moment though. Photography group this afternoon I am not sure if I will go if it is raining.

Ah I too had forgotten you were going to see fitz Ann, pleased you had a nice long chat and heard all about Jane's family. Nice that they all live near and that Chris is happy in his bungalow.

Mel, I found that, despite what the seed packets say about the number of seeds, I had fewer in mine this year, especially the sun gold tomatoes. However, I can't complain about the four that actually grew as they have been very prolific and still have loads of green tomatoes on them I will bring a few into the conservatory and see if they ripen.

Vera I hope that (like me) you slept better last night. and are raring to go this morning (that is a bit of an exaggeration regarding me).