General Chat

Good that your painting is underway now. It sounds as though the men are getting on well. I think our carpet man must be jet propelled. He won’t stop for a cuppa or anything and reckons to finish about 1 pm. We’ve helped by moving everything we could out of the way so he doesn’t have to keep stopping to shift furniture. I’ll certainly recommend him to our friends.

OH has been in the garage and given all his dust sheets and things a good shake out and checked around and currently there’s no sign of a mouse He hasn’t attempted to chew through the new large polythene sack of sunflower hearts. We’ll just keep checking and fingers crossed that he’s scarpered.

Things are being painted at 90 miles an hour, when they do tyurn up they are fast. I think they will be done by lunch time. They were here as promised at 0930.

Good morning all

At the moment it’s sunny and dry and is supposed to get quite warm later.

That fire sounds terrible Mel. I’m sorry for the dog, of course, and hope it’s safe but I am more concerned for the family. To lose your home and belongings like that must be devestating and could affect them mentally for a long while. I hope they had good insurance at least.

It’s good Jake’s little one is recovering AnnG. He’ll be able to get on now. We’re trying OH’s patent mouse removal first as it worked a treat a few years ago when we had mice in the garage. We have a couple of neighbourhood cats and one of them is often in our garden. OH has left the up and over door open a little bit at the bottom. Jupiter the cat is bound to investigate and if the cat goes in and out a couple of times the mouse will go. At least that’s what happened last time. If it doesn’t work I’ll be out buying mousetraps. I’m about to go to the website of the company we bought the garden furniture from and see if I can still get replacements.

Our carpet cleaner said he would be here at 9 am and at 8.55 the doorbell rang. He’s hard at work now and seems a nice, cheerful fellow. I’m quite impressed so far.

As it’s supposed to stay dry I think I’ll get some bedding in the wash now. I got clothes and towels done yesterday, though it was too wet to hang them out. There’s all the bedding for 3 beds to be done still so I’ll get on with that and then it will be time to make Stan the carpet man a cuppa.

Mornig all,

Pc says 11 degrees and mostly sunny but I hav'nt seen any yet its just grey sky.

I don't know anymore about the fire than what I put up but I think Em told me it was a woman who lived there with perhaps two of her three sons. Don't know if it was a working farm or not. All I will say is that it was a beautiful day and I was out in the garden and I thought someone had a bonfire and was cross because the washing was out and it was a lovely day. It must have been the fire. When I next speak to Em perhaps I will find out about the dog. It must have been some fire with all those firefighter there. I don't know if it was a tiled house or a thatched one.

Better get on as BIL may come today to do the mower if it stays dry.

Good morning all 10 degrees here at 0715 and so far dry.

I am hoping it will stay dry as Jake has contacted me and should be here today. his little one is on the mend now, she had pneumonia. I am assuming this is the same as my baby great granddaughter (step) had a few weeks back, it appears to be an infectious virus among children.Her mum messaged me to say she was better now but that it was very worrying at the time.

I am proud of my youngest grandson who has just completed a marathon in M Keynes (not sure if Sunday or yesterday), in 3 hours 46 minutes.

Mandy good to see you have your energy back and were able to work on the garden yesterday, hope that you continue to feel better.

Oh Mel, that was a huge fire then. It says a farmhouse, Is it a working farm? How sad and awful for them. I hope the lady is better now from the smoke inhalation.

Vera, I foresee a few mouse traps in the garage. what a pain though. A shame and an expense as no doubt you will need to buy replacements. annoying as well because it is not always possible to get exactly the right sizes.

We got the heavy rain as forecast this afternoon so no chance of getting my washing dry outside.

I had to smile at Max having a sulk, Mandy. Animals can be so expressive can’t they. One of our cats would literally turn her back on you if she was cross. She would sit right in the corner of the room with her face to the wall and refuse to turn round.

I forgot to say in the earlier posts that on Saturday I decided to get the seat cushions for our garden chairs out of the garage where they live in the winter. They are up high on top of a tall cupboard. I can just pull them down standing on tiptoe and stretching right up with my arms. I pulled the top one down and ...eeek...a mouse or mice had chewed right through the covering and into the middle of the cushion and there was cushion filling and mouse droppings everywhere. We got all 6 down and 2 had been demolished and it had just started on a third. It had only made a tiny hole in the cover on that one so I think I’ll be able to patch it but the other 2 were only fit for the bin. I now have 6 lovely chairs and only 4 seat cushions and a mouse/mice loose in the garage. I am not happy :-|

A house blaze in a remote location prompted a massive fire service response. The large house fire in Shebbear, between Great Torrington, Hatherleigh and Holsworthy, in North Devon, was reported at 10am this morning (Saturday May 4).

A spokesperson for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that three engines from Torrington, Hatherleigh and Holsworthy were first called to the incident.

The spokesperson said that while on route fire control increased the response with a further fire engine, aerial platform ladder and a water carrier due to the remote location of the incident.

The spokesperson said: "When crews arrived they confirmed the property to be well alight and immediately requested a further two fire engines and a further water carrier due to limited water access."

Woman taken to hospital

A woman has been taken to hospital after being treated for smoke inhalation. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said:

Six pumping appliances attended, water bowers, aerial ladder platform and other specialist appliances.

The large farmhouse was fully involved in fire and was severely damaged and partially collapsed. Crews used breathing apparatus and water jets to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading to a nearby barn.

A woman was taken to hospital after being treated for smoke inhalation. Accidental cause.

40 firefighters at the scene

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that some 40 firefighters have been at the scene today to bring the large house fire under control.

The service said the crews are from nine stations in North Devon. A spokespoerson said it first sent three fire engines, then mobilised an additional fire engine, aerial ladder and a water carrier because of the remote location of the property.

Six fire engines and four special appliances have been involved.

Evening all,

Another lovely sunny day ,I got the bed stripped and all the bedding dry .
I put my pots and trays in the greenhouse intact I stood the little greenhouse in there so I could use the shelves ,the big greenhouse has got shelves but I got caught out one year I loaded up the shelves with my pots and trays then the wind got up and rocked the greenhouse shooting all the pots and trays on the ground .

Vera I bet your granddaughter loves the job with the horse and she gets to have a nice ride too.

I had to smile a minute ago I heard Colin say to Max leave that wood alone you've just had your tea ,he was after the logs on the hearth , Max came into the kitchen and I said what have you been doing did you get told off with that he went umph and laid down on the tiles ,oh he does sulk lol

Mel any news on the runaway dog I hope they've found him .

Anng I love the word spuddle :-D I must remember that one and tell Lewis when he comes round .

Just come down from the top field where I trimmed up all the willow stems I cut down the other day. They are now stored in the workshop for now as I still have to clean up all the side branches I cut off of the main stems. I want to try and use it this year.

Am wacked out now so am going to have a couple of crumpets and a COT.

Good afternoon

What a nice lot of posts there are to read. Gwyn’s right, you are all getting on well with your gardens. Unfortunately we’re not. Our garden is very weedy and overgrown and we’re at an inbetween stage when we can’t plant up much till all the foliage from the daffs and winter anemones and aconites die back. My geranium and argyranthemum cuttings and the tomato and antirrhinum seedlings are all doing well in the conservatory. I’m just starting to put them outside for a few hours when the weather’s good so they can harden off a bit.

AnnG, I love that word I wish I’d known it years ago when I worked as it perfectly described my boss who was the greatest spuddler on earth. Scrib is pretty good too.

Your gardening finds were good Gwyn. The lady would have been pleased that her things were going to be of use to someone and saved her the cost of disposing of them, and I am sure the special needs students will be glad of their shelving. It’s sad to hear about your friend. It would be lovely if another pair of swans nested near the same spot. It would be like a memorial to her. The time with family is very precious as you say Gwyn. Unusually I’ve seen that particular granddaughter twice this year but I haven’t seen her younger sisters since a fleeting visit last October and goodness only knows when I shall get to see the granddaughter in Edinburgh.

Annx, yes Clydesdales are big animals. Granddaughter showed me a photo of her riding him. Apparently she saw a local ad asking for someone to feed, water and generally take care of this horse 3 days a week till October. I think a few people applied and she got the job. She has been riding since she was little and for a few years her mother owned a horse so she is pretty experienced.

I’m glad you seem to be recovering Mandy.

It’s been a bit hectic here this morning as we have been moving furniture about and clearing rooms as best we can. The carpets are being cleaned tomorrow so that’s the whole of the upstairs, the stairs themselves and one room downstairs. When the chap came to look and give us a quote we told him we would try and move out all the smaller stuff and he should just clean up to the really heavy furniture. He said he would move things like chests and beds round himself as he is doing the cleaning. I’m not looking forward to it but it’s a job that needs doing.

We’ve had rain showers this morning and we are promised heavy, thundery rain later. It must be a bank holiday, lol. Enjoy the day whatever the weather where you are.

Morning all,

You've all been busy posting this morning while I over slept. I was watching a film last night and it was late and I kept dropping off so went to bed around 2.06am. The moment I hit the pillow I starting thinkjing of things and could'nt drop off which is unusual for me. I lay there for ages and ages and was getting really cross with myself. Got up at 6.15 for the loo and went back to bed and was away again right away and woke with sunshine at 10.30am. Now I have lost most of the morning and they say its going to rain at 3pm.

Pleased about Vera's swans but such a shame about Gwyn's not being there this year .

I will try and find out about the fire and let you know especially about the dog.

Anng I love that wod and must use it in my speech from time to time 'Spuddle' great round word. When I worked at the PDSA I used to help in the phamacy in my breaks as I had mine after everyone else being the telephonist so went in the pharmacy for a chat and help do the pills up and there was one called Stilbestrol which which I love3d the name of and they were little tiny pink shiney pills. I think today it can be used for cansers.

Its good G gets on well with the front garden when your neighbours away I wonder if she notices wehn she get home how tidy the front is? My oh was always cutting himself whilst doing jobs around the garden and come in covered in blood for just a tiny cut on his hand or finger becaause he was on blood thinners.

Gwyn what a good find the greenhouse and potting bench for free to a good home. I am sure it will be great for the special needs students. What a great find! I love something for nothing to benefit others. Great idea and you steppedin just right to get it for them.

Better stir myself incase BIL turns up.

What a great find for the students Gwyn.
And what a shame that the swans have not appeared this year. How sad to lose your friend so unexpectantly. I am sure that is not connected to the swans...... But you never know, can't really be sure, can you?

I have just been watching a video from a camera in a friend in Hampshire who has a camera in a blue tit's nesting box. We originally saw the cluster of 10+ eggs and now we can see the chicks. Apparently there were 10 but she has just counted 9 little mouths. What a big brood, I wonder if they can possible all survive.

I like that word AnnG. :-D... I can relate to that too!

Recently something made me think of a word my son invented, when he was little.
If he had a dish of food and wanted to get eg. the last of the custard as he finished his meal, he would 'scrib' the bottom of the dish. When we were puzzled, he said it was like scribbling, but instead of leaving a mark, he was hoping to eat all the food.

Mel
Any update on the dog, any sightings?
That poor family having to deal with such devastation.

You all seem to be doing very well with your gardens. Ours has taken rather a back seat this year, as we are busy elsewhere. We did acquire a 'new' mini covered greenhouse last week though. I noticed it outside a nearby bungalow with a Free notice on it. Also there free was a sturdy potting shelf with an underneath shelf. Daughter took a photo, zapped it to her sister and so we collected that too and it's here awaiting pick-up to go to college for the special needs students.
The lady in the bungalow was the new owner and was pleased to not have to hire a van to take them to the tip.
A win all round.

Vera
How lovely to spend precious time with your family.
I really miss the fun times with my grandson, now that distance means we see little of him. We did manage to meet over the Easter period, but I've no idea when I'll see him again, so just spending time with your grandaughter and her partner must have been lovely. Great that you walked by the river and saw the swans. Yesterday, I looked again for 'our' swans, but there was no sign of them or of any nest building, so I'm wondering what has become of them. My friend loved to go to see them early every morning and would give me updates on how many eggs, how many had hatched etc.
Sadly she died very suddenly last September and it seems really strange that she has gone and so have her much loved swans... <3

good morning all, quite foggy this morning, hope it burns away later. 9 degrees though so not too cold.

Just seen this 17th century word made me smile. "spuddle" meaning to be very busy working inefficiently and achieving absolutely nothing. I can do that!

Annx you are working hard in the garden between you, you will soon get it how you want it again. We changed rocks a few years ago to slate ones. We (now I) don't have a rockery but we have the slate rocks on the gravel between the house is on one side to prevent cats and people walking over it. I thought they might be pinched, but they are extremely heavy and have stayed there for quite a few years now.
Sadly the English asparagus season is very short, only about a month. I do get the other the rest of the year but it is not the same.

Mel I hope the people get their dog back, hopefully somebody will have found it. what a shock for them though so sad to lose your home.

How awful for them to have their house burn down Mel and their poor dog go missing too as I expect it ran off in fear. It's not just your home either, it's all your possessions inside. I hope they find the dog and that it's ok.

That was handy your son and DIL turning up and finishing putting things up for you Mandy and great that they brought you their airfryer now they have the stack one. I was looking those recently and thought how good one would be in my small kitchen! Like Mel though I still haven't used mine much yet and need to make more space for it so I can leave it in position. That's good you made some free Hosta plants. Mine were still ok this morning. That poor little puss miaowing. I expect it gets some fuss by miaowing too. ;-) OH went out on the front to do some more weeding and has started to remove some rocks that have crumbled and split that we are replacing with slate ones. I think he wants to get as much done as he can while the neighbours are away! Like you say, you can't be rude, but time flies while you chat and sometimes it is time to go in as soon as they go or it starts raining and you have to abandon things and go inside! lol. Typical though, nearly every time he does things in the garden he comes in needing 'Nurse Gladys' and her box of plasters and antiseptic ointment to sort out a cut or scrape! :-D I think he's overdone it today though and will be achey and stiff tomorrow.

AnnG, you are right about the foreign asparagus. I hadn't even thought about it, but today's we had was flavourless! I'll get some from the farm shop next time as theirs will be british. Skinny must enjoy his visits to see you if gets some dreamies. :-)

It sounds like you all had a nice time Vera, but it was a shame they were held up on the journey by an accident and had to divert. My word Clydesdales are really huge, with massive feet you need to keep your toes away from, so your granddaughter does well looking after one for some days of the week. It's good she was able to help set up your ipad too and will probably help you with the glitch. You've set yourself up for some regular walks now, as we'll be wanting reports on the swans and how many more cygnets hatch. :-) Lovely to see them though.

That was good Vera that you had good weather for your granddaughters visit It sound as though you had a lovely time. Nice that they cleaned the bird baths for you too. Saved you a job.
Good that you saw the swan family I hope they survive.

Mel I think you sort of knew that BiL would not come today.

Hallo everyone

We’ve been so lucky with the weather yesterday and today. Had we been on our own we would have got some weeding done at least but it was much nicer spending time with granddaughter and her partner.

They were able to get away from Yorkshire just after 4 pm on Friday but part of the motorway was closed due to an accident so they had to come by a longer route and didn’t get here till 10. They left a while ago as granddaughter has taken on a temporary task to earn a little extra money. She is looking after a Clydesdale horse 3 days a week till October and needs to be there for the horse tomorrow. With early mornings and late evenings on her “horse” days she can fit it in nicely with her full time work which is close by.

We’ve had a lovely relaxing weekend. After a long, leisurely breakfast (for everyone else - I had a slice of toast) yesterday we had a walk by the river till it got too muddy and we had to turn round. Then we had a snack and the kids cleaned both birdbaths for me, while I got our evening meal ready. After that we looked through some old photos and played cards, had our dinner which they all seemed to enjoy and more cards till bed.

Today they were late up and we all showered, then OH and the boyfriend cooked sausages, bacon, mushrooms, beans and eggs (just toast for me again) while granddaughter helped me get emails set up on my new(ish) IPad. It was the only thing I hadn’t managed to do myself. She couldn’t get the IPad system to accept my email password either so she downloaded an app and that accepted my password and she then set it all up for me. There is one minor glitch with a specific email file I have that I’ve only just discovered but if I can’t put it right I’ll phone her sometime and maybe she’ll be able to talk me through it.

When we went down to the river we saw our swans. Mummy swan is sitting on eggs and we could just make out a couple of little heads peeping out under her feathers, so some have hatched. We’re not sure if there were 2 or 3.

It’s good to know Skinny is still around and I hope the poor dog from the fire turns up. It must be awful for those poor people losing their home. That was good of your son and dil to give you their air fryer Mandy.

I am now going to make us a ham salad as I am definitely getting peckish and I don’t feel like cooking.

You spoil him Anng thats why he keeps coming back. The rain is much lighter now but I don't think I shall venture into the garden today. Also my knees are a little better today so I don't want to walk around a lot and make thme hurt again.

No BIL today, he probably thinks he can't do anything in the rain not even try to mend the mower. He may also have to wait for the pipe he wants. It the petrol pipe he thinks the old one has perished and is letting air in.

Thats lovely DIL thought of you with the airfrier Mandy. I've not used mine that much and probably should.

It clouded over so we lost the sun but it is 16 degrees. I have done a bit of admin with accounts etc and also walked down to the book tent with the latest book I finished. Not really anything except weeding to do at the moment as I can't plant anything.
Yes Skinny was here for a short while yesterday and the day before. He had a stroke and a few dreamies than wandered off again.

Afternoon all,

Another lovely sunny day here really warm ,we decided to get the bigger greenhouse up this morning and son and dil turned up so they finished it off and put the canopy up on the gazebo so that was handy .
They also brought me their air fryer as they now have the new ninja stack one, their old one is only about a year or so old and they asked if I would like it and as it's bigger than mine I said yes please ,it has a rotisserie spit thingy and a basket that fits on to do chips etc .

Oh Mel thats poor dog I hope he turns up he must have been so scared ,and also the poor people losing their home like that I wonder how it started .

Ann thats the trouble with us having people go past when we're out in the garden I like to just get on but you can't be rude and keep weeding while they talk , we had two people yesterday came to chat so that held us up a bit .
That's good what ever was chewing your hostas has given up on them ,when I took some weeds from a couple of my hostas a bit came out with lovely roots on so I now have two new plants I've potted up .

Anng is the little cat still coming round now the weathers a bit warmer , when we were out the front yesterday one of next doors cat was really meowing so loudly he's getting on a bit and she said if he can't see her thats the noise he makes until she finds him .

Clouding up a bit here now since I started typing and one cloud looks really black .