General Chat

My wardrobe rail comes to a grinding halt Ann. No swishing sadly. I keep trying to add extra hangers and they all jamb up at the end of the rail :-S I need to get tough and do something about this.
I hope your bites don't turn into really nasty ones again Ann,.especially on your face.
There seem to be so many bitey bugs around.I have a cracker of a bite on the back of my heel. I was rubbing bite cream in in the middle of the night last night. Why do they itch more at night :-S

It's been party time next door here all afternoon .I think family with children earlier and now it is the grown ups.Its getting louder :-D and music blaring .I have never known them to have a party like this. I don't know if the swimming pool has been used. Nice to hear people having fun :-D I have enjoyed a little bopping to myself listening to the music :-D. I doubt it will go on late (or at least I hope not) :-D

That was a colourful assortment of flowers Mel.....the first ones with dark centres sound like Rudbeckias which I used to have before I had a change around. How long have you been doing the church flowers for and are there many of you that take a turn?

Oh Frank I hope you manage to enjoy the do tonight with feeling out of sorts. At least if you show your face for a while like Jane says you can leave early. You may not have wanted to stay to the end anyway. All those trousers!! lol. I have lots of pairs I have 'outgrown' so to speak and like you are hanging onto them till I can hopefully shrink into them again! :-)

I suspect I have as many trousers as you Jane, but can only get into a fraction. I think a lot of my wardrobe is sized for the 'new me' rather than the existing me! lol. All that spare space I would have in my wardrobe if everything fitted me! I could swish things along the rails. :-D

I seem to have been bitten on my face one side again, on my cheek where my glasses rest and another itchy hard lump on the back of my neck. I must put some bite cream on.

Frank ,I think the important thing is you just go and it doesn't matter how long you stay for the party. Everyone will understand if you feel you can't stay too long. You can just play it by ear and you will know when you have had enough .Hope you enjoy yourselves :-D

What pity you couldn't get a parking space near enough Ann to get in to see the show.
I could never imagine Chris entering anything into any show.But those Onions are GOOD and BIG. They were grown from seed. What a strange veg thing you have grown Ann. I have
never seen one of those before. Can't wait to hear what it tastes like .

Frank I counted 33 pairs of trousers in my wardrobe yesterday !!!!!!. I probably only wear a dozen or less. None are too big for me :-S I really need to have a sort out there. But I always think I might wear them which is crazy.Some haven't been on for years.I just need my sensible head on and have a darned good clear out.

Evening all,

All showered shaved and sitting around in my Dressing Gown. Ros has pressed my trousers, and ironed my shirt, so I should look the part this evening.

I have been completely out of salts today. In all honesty, I could easily call it off this evening. But I know how disappointed Simon and Sally would be. So I will make the effort. I hope they won't expect us to stay to the end, whatever time that will be. Being a party, with a lot of younger people there, I expect it will be midnight, and then possible on to Simon's for a bit longer.

I have booked the Carvery for 3.00 pm tomorrow, it will save me preparing and cooking dinner. Then we can just come home and relax.

Ros has sorted through my trousers, and put 17 YES SEVENTEEN PAIRS into the Air Ambulance Bag for Monday. They are all 38" waist, and as I have lost weight I can go back to my 36 inch waist again. I knew I was doing the right thing keeping them. ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

It did turn out to be a nice day. Ros went to Milton Keynes at 11.00 this morning and was back home before 2.00 pm. Not a lot to see, and there were only a few of the woman who went.

Hope everyone is well, and please enjoy what's left of this nice sunny evening. xxxx

Flowers all done and I forgot my camera to take a pic of them all. I took those yellow daisy's with the black center, blue Hydrngas, some berries off the rose of sharon thing, mint in flower and some alchamilla mollis and some orange and yellow helliniums and some gosh the names gone!!!! It has spikey leaves and reddy orange flower in spray on the top, tall................ ooo Crocosmia. It just came to me. :-D

Worn out now and just had a drink and a choc roll cakey thing.

Oh Larry is older than I thought Jane. I forget we are all getting older and thought he was about 60 with him retiring! It's good he will still have some involvement with the nature reserve as you say as he has put a lot of work into it, doing over and above by the sound of it. Those onions are whoppers aren't they and all quite uniform in size. Chris has done well with them and could start entering them in shows! lol ;-) I love a roast onion. :-)

Well I couldn't park anywhere near the village hall and some of the parking was taken as there was a cricket match on the park nextdoor. I parked some distance away for about an hour and read my magazine, then came back hoping some would have left the car park by then but no, so I came home.

I have the first fruit on what was thought to be a cucemon plant that a friend gave me. She showed me a fruit on hers yesterday and said it should be round like a golf ball, but it was oblong. I had a look at ours this afternoon and picked the only fruit it has had so far and that is oblong too so goodness knows what it is!! I will taste it tomorrow when we have salad for tea in case it is like cucumber and can be added to that.

I had a new kind of scam email today. It said I was owed compensation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as they were paying compensation to those who had been scammed! That's a new twist isn't it, the scammers offering compensation for you being scammed. :-S

I noticed this morning that the Garden Centre sales are creating space for Christmas decorations. :-0 Gill, if it was me I just know I would lose the list of what was in the parcels I'd wrapped. You are much better organised though. What made you stop making such lovely cakes Gill. There seems to be so much demand for home made cakes at all the tearooms that have sprung up and then the special occasion ones like Larry's.

Afternoon All

Well the sun is shining brightly here and I have a full load of washing blowing nicely in the breeze.It hasn't been out too long but is almost dry.

Ann,sorry to hear you have not been feeling 100% and that you haven't entered any of your things in the show.I hope you manage to get a close parking spot near the village hall.It will be nice to see all the other exhibits.
I keep having 'off' days for some unknown reason and I do wonder if it might be to do with all the dust blowing off the fields ,plus I think they have been spraying too and that can stink .It cant be good breathing in all this all the time and we must be as everytime I have windows open it is not long before there is a layer of reddish dust :-S It's no blooming joke.

Oh Gill wrapping up Xmas presents already!!!! I can't even think of Xmas before November !. I can't imagine that bag of pressies getting dusty in your house ;-) There must hardly be a speck :-D

Frank a Hog Roast sounds a great idea for the party tonight.I am sure there will be cover in place should it be needed. But if the weather at Simons is like here then there should be no worries. Have a lovely time.

Hope the weather has improved Vera for all the family camping . Rather them than me :-D. It could be very soggy underfoot after all the rain :-S I have never really enjoyed camping .It is too dirty for me LOL and I like my home comforts . Traipsing off to shower and loo blocks are not for me :-D.. For many years when the children were little we did Eurocamp Holidays in France and we always had a static home.I would see families early in the mornings in their nightwear going off with toilet bags and towels and thinking to myself how glad that wasn't me :-D :-D

Pippyn ,has your Grandson got stuck into his school project? or has the weather picked up enough to be out and about?

Mel I hope you managed to pick plenty of flowers for the church this morning.I was a bit concerened that they might have been bit battered by all the rain. Were the 2 Deer the same Mum and Baby,or different ones?
What will happen if OH keeps refusing to pay this massive water bill Mel? They wouldnt be allowed to cut you off would they? I hope you can get the matter resolved sooner than later as it has been going on ages now..
And Vera your insurance company really do seem as though they are trying anyway out not to pay out for your claim. Shame on them .You too need this resolved ,the same as Mel and the Water Bill.

Ann Larry has fully retired from all work now .He is 71. But he is now a Trustee for the Reserve :-D :-D. His heart is in that place as he was one of the ones to start it all off and what a great job they have done. He did over and above what was expected of him (which would drive Janice mad at times) especially when he would get a phone call from a member of the public to say that sheep or cows had escaped and were running up roads.That wasnt his responsiblity .That was the Farmers job. Bit off he would go at what ever time of night trying to round up . He is very proud of what has been achieved with the Nature Reserve and rightly so :-D :-D

Just taken a pic of our Onions. I put a shop one beside them. I thought the shop one was big but its a tiddler in comparison . Will send it on. Hope I haven't missed anyone out. Oh yes AnnG ... hope you are still enjoying decent weather and having a great time with the family. I think it was today to were seeing your Grandson?

Afternoon All,

Mostly sunny here, but we had a few spits of rain.

I've missed too many posts to comment on now so apologies for not doing so. I've been a bit out of sorts and tired the last few days. So much so I haven't entered anything at the show today, but I may pop along to have a look after 2.00pm when they open. I've never entered this show before anyway so it will be interesting to see the standard. I've been to the village's art club exhibitions before and know they are very good.

I see you are on your travels again AnnG and hope you have a nice time visiting old haunts. It's good when you know somewhere well as you usually know the best places to eat as well.

Jane that was a smashing cake they did for Larry! I bet he was surprised when he saw it. Has he finished work altogether now or will he find something else do you think? Have they not actually told James he will be made redundant then? I know they have to have at least one meeting about it. That was a big bill for his car! Hopefully he's been putting money aside for car bills.

Gill I see you are finding outlets for all your energy with your decorating plans. What area will you be looking at if you do move?

Mel, I can't imagine looking out of the window and seeing deer on the lawn! There can't be many other people who can do that. I hope you can find some nice flowers in your garden for the church. That sounds like a big bill for your water. Why won't they reduce it?

Vera, what a faff with the insurance people. It's good your OH continues to improve though.

Poor Colin Mandy I hope he saved his hips when he fell. Then washing his shorts with a rusty key and his mobile in the pocket. It's lucky you got the rust out, but the mobile will cost a bit more! How nice Chelsea made scrunchies for her sisters. :-) Have you all recovered now? She does have a lot of energy doesn't she with a busy time planned. I look forward to seeing the Unicorn bag when it's finished.

Frank I would have felt ill seeing all that food I think, but I know you love seafood. :- D I hope you enjoy the get together and pig roast tonight. Good that you found another bracelet for Ros.

Off to see if I can park anywhere near the Village Hall now to see the show. If not I won't be able to walk from far away, so might pop back near the closing time when there will be less people.

Morning Frank and Mel, morning all

Sunny here today but there's a lot of cloud around so OH thinks it might rain soon. He noticed yesterday the two side gates and bits of fence need another coat of paint, so that'll be done when we know the weather is going to be dry.

That's a big water bill Mel, I don't blame your OH for not wanting to pay it. I'm sure you can have it checked though to make sure it's a fair bill and you're not paying for water you haven't used. Hope all goes well with the flowers for the church, it sounds better weather to pick them today.

Sorry to hear you haven't had a good nights sleep Frank. I was so in to OH's tree last night I didn't go to bed until after 2am so had a good nights sleep and woke up around 10.30am this morning.

Nothing much planned for today, the bedding needs changing but our dryer is playing up and the weather looks a bit dodgy so I might leave it and see if it's better weather tomorrow so I can peg it outside to dry. I'm still plodding on with OH's tree, it's taking forever to do but I seem to find people each day so I'm getting there slowly.

I'm thinking of wrapping up all Sandra's and OH's Christmas presents I bought. I'm a bit worried they're going to end up dusty in the bag, with it being open at the top, if I can wrap them up and make a note of what I've bought it'll keep everything dust free until Christmas day, plus I'll be able to see if I need to buy anymore for them, I can't remember everything I bought them, a few months back.

So I have a few things that need doing. I'm going to have a cuppa first, then decide what to do today. The clouds have thickened up so it looks like we might have some rain soon, that's put paid to the bedding being done and the coat of paint OH needs to do, which just leaves the Christmas presents to wrap up and OH's tree to get on with.

I recorded some films for Sandra, including Paddington, so she's looking forward to watching them. I must admit I'm looking forward to watching Paddington myself, I believe it's a good film. Pleased to see you have nicer weather today Mel, you're right it does make you feel much better when the sun's out.

Morning Mr Early Bird and all,

Not a bad morning here after the horrible day yesterday. We have some sunshine and blue sky with white and grey clouds it makes you feel so much better when the weathers nicer.

I am on church flowers today. I was going to pick them yesterday but no way was I going out in the pouring rain with my seccies and bucket so shall have to do it today.

When I came out into the kitchen this morning the two deer were laying fcing east on the front grass inthe sunshine. I did get a couple of pics but then they both got up and went across the top of the garden and out of the arch.

Good morning to you all,

That water bill has been going on some time now Mel, Isn't there a arbitrary branch called OFFWAT or something like that, that you could ask for HELP.

After being on here last night, I went to bed to read, but not for long, I soon got my head down and asleep. I woke at 3.07 am. and clocked watched until 6.30 am when I got up.

Quite a nice bright morning apart from this WIND. When is it going away ??

Most of the day alone, as Ros is off to Milton Keynes with the girls to some BIG HOUSE with lots of material and designs. So I expect something will be coming home with her.

I have found a bracelet for Ros's birthday, which I paid for this morning, should be here next week. So that's a job out of the way.

Alls well this end,not doing anything to speak of, I hope you all have a good day. xxxx

I just love the cake Jane and like the two little duck on the pond, one bottoms up. Whoever m ade that should be very proud and I bet it cost a lot. How nice to recieve something like that.

Its rained all day here and the wind has only just died sown but not gone entirely away. Why is it always like this in the school holidays? I think I have said that already.

I was going to cut the flowers for the church today as I am on flower duty tomorrow for two weeks but I was'nt going out in the wind and rain for anyone today if I could help it. I shot round to do the big girls and then bantams and that was enough for me.

That was nice making two scrunchies ech for her sisters as well as herself Mandy. I am pleased you managed to get the stain out of Colins grey shorts so thats saved a bit but about the phone I really don't knwo. I have heard something about putting it in rice somewhere before so it may be worth a try before buying another one.

Meat pie was luverly with savoy cabbage and new pots. Our favorite Maris Peer and I always put onion and carrot in the pie too. There was enough gravy to freeze half for the other pie and both are safely stowed away in the freezer for next week if I need a quick dinner.

I have just looked at my plates on the plate rack around the dining area and they have fly muck on them. another job that needs doing but I find it hard to reach them as they are over the desk here in the corner. I think its a job for tomorrow after doing the church flowers and the shop and egg delivery.

Vera don't they muck you about these insurance people. You stand fast and tell them you want your money back as soon as possible please?

I have heard from the water board this week and they say we are too late to claim for the water leak and that we have to pay the bill they xent us. They have sent another one for £700 and something. Oh still says he is not paying it.

Evening all, The wether hasn't beed very nice today. It rained all day, We had a nice lunch at one of our favourite eateries, everyone cleared their plated,

Conrad dropped us back home around 3.30 pm and set off back to Devon. He was suppose to ring uswhenhe got home, but we haven't heard from him yet, shoppe everything is O.K.

I forgot it was Sally's 50th today, and just rung her. That have their friend over from Ireland and her Grandchildren staying, so she is as happy as a pig is S@@T.

She is looking forward to her Party tomorrow night. Thank Gawd it's inside. I can just imagine what it would be like outside. Simon is having a PIG ROAST, so hope it's under cover.

I'm not long before I am in BED, I feel totally KNACKERED.

Yes, 1956 is way before I was born, 10 years before AnnG, I think I'm the baby of the group, apart from Sandra who is in her 30's. You wouldn't have travel like that these days, if the weather is to bad most modes of transport come to a stop. It must of been a lovely way to go to work each day. I think the rain has finally stopped, it's been pouring down all day.

Oh Vera what a shame the weather isn't very nice for the camping trip for your family, I'm sure they'll have a nice time though, despite the weather. Sorry to hear you haven't been sleeping very well even with a sleeping pill. I don't normally sleep very well either so I know how you feel. I hope all goes well with the insurance, it's sounding like they are trying to find a way of not paying you. I'l keep my fingers crossed that's not the case and you receive a payout soon.

I feel for you Jane not being able to sleep because of building work, as you know we've had work going on for almost a year now with the neighbours jobs and next door being done. I was only saying to OH it's like living on a building site with all the noise over the last 8 months. The five years are almost up with Michelle's bankruptcy thing on the deeds so we can have them changed around Christmas this year, we are thinking of making the move we've been talking about for a while when the deeds are sorted. I think we'd just like somewhere a bit quieter and a detached property, somewhere we can call our forever place. This is why we're starting to freshen up our place ready to put it on the market early next year.
Love Larry's cake, I used to make cakes like that. The swan was amazing.

I see you have the weather we've had all day Mandy, at least it's late in the day and you had nice weather earlier. How nice of Chelsea to make two scrunchies each for Katie and Lacey as well as making herself a couple.

Oh Jane just had a look at Larry's cake :-D it's a beauty , some body has worked hard on that, i love the cycle on the side .

Colin only has a small bruise ,i was expecting him to be black and blue going down like that ,he said its not to sore it's just when he sits down that he feels it .

The wind seems to have got up a bit now and we have a steady rain .

Sounds as if you managed to do some things before the rain set in AnnG ,hopefully tomorrow will be better weather for you .

I hope they do pay out for you Vera after all you went through ,they are quick enough to take your money but when it comes to paying out they keep you hanging on and it's not like it's just a few pounds it's a lot of money you had to pay out .
Chelsea went home with about six scrunchies ,two for Katie and two for Lacey :-D

Afernoon All actually it is evening now so Evening All :-D

It seems we all have this horrible rain now. It hasnt let up all afternoon here and no sign of it easing up.

AnnG you have got a lot in today !I have never been to that area.I think I have a Birth Sister who lives in Gosport.

Frank you must have been full after that food last night.All you had was all I would not like .What is happening for the party on Saturday. Are Sally and Simon putting on a meal or a buffet?
Vera that was nice OH was able to go with you to meet up with your group of friends. He is doing so well now isnt he :-D
Gill what a good sleep you had !!!! That is almost unheard of you sleeping that long.You obviously needed it.
I had quite a disturbed sleep last night as I think works must have been going on again on the slip road on the A14 .I got so frustrated that in the end I had to shut the bedroom window completely .That was about 4am. There is just no peace here at the moment . All the machinery starts up at 7am up the road and it is loud :-S

I have just sent a pic of Larrys cake :-D

mandy how is OH's sore botty after his fall? Shame about his phone going in the wash.At least it was just a pay as you go one and not a Smart Phone. That would have been very expensive to replace that!. Good you got he rust out of his shorts. I have several HG cleaning things and find them all really good.

It’s not too windy here, more like a stiff breeze, but it is quite chilly and still raining. According to my weather app it’s going to carry on raining till at least 2 am. There’s a family party this weekend and several people are camping. My son, daughter and some of the grandchildren are camping tonight and tomorrow. I hope they don’t get blown away. We won’t be going as I don’t think OH is ready for a night away yet.

That was some meal Frank. I’m not surprised the starter was enough. I like Chinese food but have to be very careful as I can’t eat shellfish or molluscs and, even when I check, the chefs sometimes forget that they’ve thrown in some oyster sauce or similar.

I hope your pies have turned out well Mel. I am getting very lazy in my old age and nearly always have shop bought pies now. I’m the same with cakes these days as well but I did make a banana loaf this afternoon to use up some squashy bananas. Haven’t tasted it yet but it looks and smells OK.

I’m glad you are enjoying yourselves in spite of the weather AnninG. It will be nice to see some of your family and have a catch-up.

You must have needed that sleep Gill and I expect you felt better for it. I am so jealous of people who sleep well, my OH included. The night before last I decided to take one of my sleeping pills. These are supposed to be pretty strong and addictive and I have to sign for them as a controlled drug, so I only take them when I am desperate. Anyway I took one at 11.00 pm, lay down and expected to drop off fairly quickly. At 2.30 am I gave up and made a cup of tea. I think I eventually fell asleep at about 4.30 and was still awake before 8. Never mind, I must be getting enough sleep as I am still functioning.

I’m looking forward to seeing your unicorn bag Mandy. It’s lovely that you could spend time making things with Chelsea. Did she take lots of scrunchies home with her?

Thanks for telling me about your Dyson cordless Ann. My current vac is a Dyson and so was the one before that. I’ve been pleased with them. I need to do a bit of research and check out what’s available.

I had a letter from the claims company dealing with my travel insurance. Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right is doing. I followed the instructions on the claim form to the letter. It said if I hadn’t already paid the excess to the doctor I had to enclose a cheque to cover it which I did. It also said payment by bank transfer is quickest but if I would like a cheque I should say who it should be made out to. Today’s letter says they will deduct the excess from any money they pay so they will destroy the cheque and they only pay by bank transfer and not cheque so they need my bank details. In spite of the fact that they have all the original doctors’ reports and medical information they have also contacted the medical assistance company for more information about it being a medical emergency. I think they are trying to find a loophole to get out of paying.

Time I had our dinner in the oven or OH will think he isn’t going to get fed tonight.

Lol Gill I would not have wanted to be out on the open sea when it was that rough but, although choppy it was fine on the ferry. From 1956 (I know, way before you were born probably) until 1961 I used to travel across that stretch of water going to and from work five days a week and the ferries were rickety crafts compared to the modern bigger ones. I don’t remember a single day that they didn’t sail, fog gales, rain, thunderstorms, snow, ice. You name it. And one of those old boats also went to Dunkirk.
Yes it has been a good day.
Mel hope you didn’t get blown away when you went to the crooks.

It sounds like you're having a great time away AnnG, sorry I thought you were seeing your family the whole time you were away, it's nice to have some couple time though and also see family so the best of both worlds. I smiled when you said you watched the rough sea through the car window as we have done that in the past when we lived near the sea, although we did have to move the car back a bit as the sea was hitting us. I wouldn't want to be on the sea when it's like that though so you were lucky to get back before the weather changed.

Are you and your OH speaking yet Mel? How did you get on with your pies, I've just spent some time making a chill con carne for tonight's dinner, it'll probably before enough for tomorrow to, or I might freeze it for another day.

It sounds like you have nice weather Mandy, we've still got the rain but at least the plants are happy. It's been quite cold so I had to put the fire on earlier. Pleased to see you have got the rust stain out of Colin's shorts, he'll be pleased. In was thinking could you put his phone in some rice that is suppose to dry it out, it might be worth a try before buying a new one. I'm looking forward to seeing a pic of the unicorn bag when it's finished if you take one. Yes, I had a brilliant sleep last night, I've never slept that long in my life, so I must of needed it. I think with having a shore shoulder and foot and not sleeping very well lately it must of all caught up with me. Thankfully my foot is better now and it shouldn't be to long before my arm has healed properly to. So with a bit of luck I'll start sleeping properly again. It was a nice feeling not to wake up tired for a change.