General Chat

Good morning all
Florence, the trouble with planting all those seeds is when it comes to time to pot them on as they will soon outgrow the seed trays. Hope daughter will be there to help you when you reach that stage.

Are there no community groups in the area with, maybe, somebody who could give you a lift to town and help you shop. We found, due to lockdowns and Covid, several of these type of groups were formed with volunteers happy to help. Maybe they have all gone back to work now though.

Evening ladies if you are still up.
I had a productive afternoon albeit a late one. I decided about 4.30 to plant up lots of seeds in trays. Some were flowers, lobelia, nasturtium's, pansies, marigolds etc plus beetroot and peas plus sweet peas.. In all i did 20 trays! They are now all sitting on my garden box just inside the back door. My back is actually sore from bending in and out of the compost bag but was a good job done.

Sorted out mums new mattress as well and thats being delivered to her next Wednesday and she actually said thankyou for sorting it!(long story)

Joan broth or veg soup & crusty bread is fab comfort food so hope you enjoy.
I have no idea when I will next leave the house except beg of may for hospital.
Somedays I really do get down especially when daughter away like now for another week.Havent spoken to anyone recently. Im so glad you managed to get out and do your shopping, what a relief for you.

Ann one of my lights flickered today in the kitchen and if it goes, i cannot stand on a chair to replace the bulb so I will be stuck too. I suppose bedroom isnt so bad as I have 2 lamps but kitchen at teatime needs a light once sun has gone down.

Hoping I can start varnishing the table tomorrow.The next project will be the 6 dining chairs 1 by 1. So that will keep me busy for awhile.

Off to bed now as feeling quite tired.
Goodnite all

Florence in the hebrides

Joan I can empathise re light bulbs. Luckily bedroom and lounge/dining room have wall lights that I can reach and change but ceiling lights I can’t reach. The main light in the bedroom went over a week ago, I have to wait until there is a male in the house. Very frustrating.

Good afternoon. Good to hear from you Joan. did your daughter actually develop covid I assume, if not, she will be available to help you now.

Ginnie I have seeds ready to plant and seed trays and seed compost ready. I also have twenty plug plants ready to pot on to be ready for the baskets at the end of the month. the garden is full of spring flowers, Tete a Tete daffodils, Helebores, snowdrops a few dutch iris, crocus and a few primulas it does look very spring like.

Caught the bus into Gloucester this morning. First time since way before Christmas. Only about 10 of us upstairs, all wearing masks, not too many people in the shops and the majority actually in the shops wearing masks, including most of the sales staff except M&S.  Had a coffee but not in M&S as they were crowded in Boswells in the Markey Mall no queue and tables well spaced. Bought just a top in M&S, sale, fairly thin, the ones I can wear on its own or under a sweater. And a half roast chicken that is heated either in the oven or microwave.

Anyway my main purpose was threefold. Draw cash, did that.  Go to Pandora and spend the gift card I had for Christmas, which I did. I got a lovely little lady bird, rose gold body and silver wings and on the back it says hope has wings! I thought that was rather apt. I also bought another ring to centre the two charms. (might get another charm later now I have seen all the ones they do). Had a lovely girl serve me and she put the charms on the chain for me.

Next I went into EE, to get my late OH taken off the phone contract. young man started by saying that if I contact them on line they will send a form to complete. After chatting a while he said 'unless you have the death certificate with you' Which I did. so he then did it all on line for me and now I just have to wait up to 5 working days for them to contact me and if they don't to go back in and see him again. So that is done.

I was a very productive morning and it was dry and sunny and about 8 degrees.

Hello all, We have a sunny afternoon which is great but still chilly. We have been getting our seeds ready to do . the mini greenhouse is up again and the trays and pots have been sorted out from OH's shed. We have the mini daffs out in the front garden , there are only planters and a narrow flowerbed there as the rest was done with slabs to take Ds car..

Sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell Joan, it must be difficult at the moment for you and OH . Hope your daughter will be able to take you shopping as you may feel better if you have company and able to be out if only for a shopping trip.

Florence hope your brushes etc turn up soon so you can make a start on your project.
I am thinking of doing up my 2 small chest of drawers. I did the 2 in the spare room about 3 years ago , covered the drawer fronts with patterned paper and painted the sides and tops with furniture paint. A bit of upcycling that worked and I still like. Just want the weather to be a bit warmer as I like the window open when painting.

Ann have you been able to do more in your garden, it always sounds so pretty when you speak of it.

Take care all and have a good weekend.

Ginnie.

Well we have been blessed with another day of sunshine and blue sky. There was a light shower awhile ago but it has passed. I went outside with recycling rubbish in just a cardigan and wasn't too bad so roll on the Spring!

Still waiting for my varnish and white spirits so i can make a start on daughters bedside table. Said it was being delivered today but postman been & gone & no sign of the items :-(

Think I shall strip my bed today as Im up to date with washing & ironing now.

Hope everyone else keeping well

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning from a very grey, wet and depressing Thursday!

Yesterday was really a beautiful sunny, spring like day. I managed outside and did a good inspection of all my flower pots taking in the fresh air albeit very cold air!! Yes it was chilly but was lovely to see the sun.

However when I woke about 7am today, I could hear the wind & the rain, so back to normal weather then lol

Tesco coming today instead of Saturday between 11-12pm. Daughter managed to swap the slots without duplications this time lol as shes not coming back now until maybe a week of more.

Last night my son who lives with his father tested positive for Covid. He works in local supermarket. There is a huge outbreak here just now and several huge clusters. Daughter and her dad are still negative but until they are all clear over there where she is(about 50 miles from me) I dont want her back here putting me at risk.

So I did a bigger than usual online shop and have plenty now for 2 weeks or more.

Everywhere else im hearing the numbers have gone right down but here it's the opposite. Of course kids have been back a week after half term and no doubt many were away!

Have some ironing to do later as will wait until after Tesco have been.

Have a good day all

Florence in the hebrides

Aw Joan, so sorry for you. So glad you made contact though so we know you are both ok.

When you get your shopping on Thursday, will you be able to do a bigger shop to restock the cupboards etc? Ive been on my own since last Saturday and daughter not coming back until Friday. I too have been depleting my freezer and have just 4 slices of bread left now. I did have spare loaf but we used it up.
My own appetite hasnt been great either.

Its very hard when you are totally dependant on others. I have found it hard since last July and giving up driving was like cutting off my legs!!

I try & busy myself with different things. I bought a pair of pinking shears and went through all the old xmas cards and some others cutting them into tags. They look better with the crimped edge.

I also sanded down daughters wee table and the brushes arrived today. Just waiting for the white spirits to clean brushes before I start varnishing.

But its just having human contact that's so hard. Just a change of conversation or some news etc that I miss. I do find just coming on here daily is like a conversation even if there is not much happening.

Sending you some hugs and hope things brighten up for you and you feel better soon.

You can always just give us a wave instead of a natter Joan <3

Florence in the hebrides

Oh Ann 2nd major senior moment this week lol yes of course its 2 months what was i thinking doh! I managed to get through and outpatients offered me 11.30 and on the same day so Im happy for that.

Dithering over what to make for tea, just cant decide. Im not really that hungry so think cheese toasties might be just the ticket.

Florence in the hebrides

Good afternoon all. Florence to make it sound better 1st May is only two months to wait not three. And hopefully it is the spring months so maybe fine weather will help the time go more quickly.

Yes, worrying about Joan. I wonder if her internet is down. If you are reading this Joan please let us know that you are OK. <3 <3

Good afternoon all from a sunny but breezy village.

It's really lovely to see the sunshine and has lifted my mood. I went outside to inspect all my pots and around the back and they are all where they should be. A few green leaves appearing now and some bulbs have shot up too. But it is quite chilly so didn't manage more that 10 minutes without a jacket.

But now I am a bit down as the postie bought me a letter from local hospital and my eyes lit up as waiting on appointment re injections for my knees. Eagerly opened the letter and read my appointment date is.....1st may at 9am!!! 3 blooming further months to wait and also dont think Patient Travel operate before 8am so I shall have to check that and possibly request another time. That will also mean putting it back no doubt. Anyway, nothing I can do about it but carry on indoors.

Just feeling a bit isolated today as not seen anyone for ages and on my own until Saturday.

Joan, calling Joan. I do hope you are ok? Cant help worrying about you when you havent been on for awhile. Give us a wave if you are ok.~~~~~~~waves to you :-D

Been updating lists today on computer, accounts etc and phone numbers as its been ages , 2 years i think since i last did it.

Lunchtime now. Have a good afternoon all

Florence in the hebrides

Afternoon all.
Had a major senior moment this morning. Showered and washed hair...all ok there.
Dried hair and then picked up what I thought was my hairspray can and sprayed left side of hair before realising it was actually a can of Sure Pink deodorant!!!! Well upside was my hair smelt quite lovely lol. In my defence the 2 cans of similar size stand next to each other on my chest of drawers...

Binmen were very late today and it was still breezy. I put out the full black bin at 10.30 and waited until I saw the lorry coming before putting out the organic bin full of carboard as it was very light. The lovely man saw me with my stick and without asking offered to put both bins back in my fenced enclosure. I thanked him and smiled. So lovely not to have to ask for help as he offered probably seeing as I had my stick.

But not all binmen are so helpful! hats off to this chappy though.

Its quite chilly and light drizzle now, sun came but has gone to bed!

Off to make a sandwich for lunch and then sort out the freezer and the fridge to make some space for next delivery.

Hope everyone ok

Florence in the hebrides

Well it is so warm here in my garden, (12 degrees and a light warm breeze. I cut my lawn and then sat on the patio finishing my book from 2.30 for half an hour. It has been a beautiful day but I believe we have bad weather forecast next week.

Yes Ann, up here as we go towards summer we get the longest daylight hours. In mid June 23 hours and really at midnight, its still only twilight. By 1am its starting to get light again. Bit of a pain though when you wake up to sunshine at 3am and think its time to get up lol.

40 mins weeding is plenty for one session. Its still chilly and bending using back muscles in the cold is hard. My bulbs are slowly showing themselves and a few new buds on the hydrangeas I bought last autumn. We are always behind the rest of the uk here with flowers etc. I once still had roses blooming in December but they didnt flower until very late in the year.

Still the sun has come out but I've noticed its "breezy" now and its bin day tomorrow so hoping it wont be a gale...

So hope Joan and her family are well and free of Covid.

Off to be busy and stretch me legs as sitting at the comp too long means I get very stiff.
I think shall make sweet & sour chicken for tea with basmati rice and I've 1 naan bread left until Tesco comes next Saturday.

Will look in later.

Stay safe

Florence in the hebrides

Daylight until 6pm here Florence so you get an extra hour of it in the evening but I guess it gets light later there.

I did about 40 minutes hard weeding in the garden this morning, might do a bit more later. couldn't do any more as the soil is damp and heavy and cold so 40 minutes was enough for my back. stil the garden is beginning to look ok for Spring.

Oh yes, I hope Joan is OK and her OH as well. and that her daughter has recovered from Covid

Morning all
Dare I say this.....yay all is calm .The wind has finally gone to bed!

For the last 2 days I had a bad migraine so sleep wasnt good but add on a noisy wind and that just made it worse.

However, its calm and drizzly so back to normal lol.
Ginnie, poor daughter's fence posts.Hoping the insurance will cover the damage?
Our fencing is just metal and covers 3 sides. I was impressed that we didnt lose any tiles. The storm tested this new house and it stood up to the gales really well.

Havent seen Joan about so hope she & hubby are ok.

Off to have a shower and try and do something with my hair which is halfway down my back again like a horses tail!.

Yes its daylight until nearly 7pm now...is spring nearly here?

Have a good day peeps

Florence in the hebrides

Hello all, hope you are all ok. Just hoping that the winds are going to stay calmer now. We had it bad for us but others were much worse off than us here. We didn't have much damage just a few pots and a bit of fencing broken but daughter lost 7 fence panels and all were damaged in some way. They are expensive to replace but has to be done.
It is lighter now of an evening which I like just waiting for it to get a bit warmer.

Good afternoon chit chatters.
When I got up this morning, I realised I couldn't hear the wind! Yay for the first time in what seems weeks, it was all calm and not a bad day.

So after doing some laundry and dusting, I decided to go outside and put out the recycling rubbish. I thought it looked chilly so threw on a warm jacket.

Oh my, when I got to the corner of the house, the wind nearly blew me over and took my bag. I managed to grab the fence but the wind took my stick and I nearly fell over. Thankfully our 4 bins are in a wooden fenced enclosure so I hung on to that..
I made it back round to the front door and got back safely inside!

How deceptive, the wind had obviously changed direction, hence I couldn't hear it.

Think, I got my fill of fresh air into my lungs that will keep me going a few days...

Daughter away again so home alone until next week sometime but Im ok.

Made carrot & orange soup for tea today with crusty rolls, its very tasty with lots of black pepper.

More gales as I speak and for the rest of the weekend just wish they would go away now as had enough of the drone!

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.
Stay safe

Florence in the hebrides

Well what a night last night!! Was rudely awoken at 1.25 am but the loudest clap of thunder and lightening I have heard or seen in a long time. My heart was beating so fast with fear, i thought it was going to burst.

Sadly just a few miles along the coast lightening struck a cottage and a fireball came down the chimney in the bedroom. The 2 occupants literally ran out of the house with their 3 dogs in pjs and wellies and a phone before the house was destroyed by fire.
4 different fire brigades had to attend and were there all night until 8am before deemed safe to leave. The gales didn't help as it was just fanning the flames.

At least noone died but poor people, the fright they got.

There have been a few rumbles still earlier but not seen any lightening so far but we are on alert for it.

Just been pottering about the house doing usual chores. Only post i'm getting just now is one from landlord increasing the rent and council tax going up 3 %. My electric rate first 2 units is going from 32p to 53p. All other units from 20p to 27p.

I worked out that if i can only use 10 units a day which by April is doable it will increase my monthly d/d to around £110 from £70. Everything going up at once but pensions etc unemployment monies dont go up much!!

Lets hope its a warm spring. hot summer, pleasant Autumn and mild winter.

Florence in the hebrides

Joan hope all ok if you are looking in?

Afternoon peeps. Hope everyone is safe & well.

Its very windy up here & tomorrow early morning its gong to be another storm with snow at 9am!! Its just one storm after another almost back to back but we are mid Feb now and it is quite unusual for the gales to last this long.

Today was recycling bin day, blue & green. Daughter put them out but they were starting to move and couldn't risk them hitting neighbours cars, so we took them in and will have to manage for another month. It's not always the same time they come and it was awful outside with heavy showers.

Have been just pottering about doing chores, some washing etc. I'm still getting sore pains in my lower back and left hip which is niggling me.
I cut my toenails earlier and promptly cut the skin on toe next to big toe and oh my the blood!! Never felt a thing, just noticed it bleeding but plaster on and it stopped eventually.

Haven't had any lunch yet so off to make crumpets and marmalade i think but no idea what will be for tea.

Take care all
Florence in the hebrides