General Chat

BIL has been here since my last post. I have strimmed the back garden down to Prickerly Bottom and a bit round the box hedge the mower won't reach and then start on the big west lawn edge and the strimmer ran out. I am now going to do us some lunch. Eggy and tomato sandwiches (fishing sandwiches).

Just seen this on facebook. I was surprised to note the Lancaster doing a fly over and round the concert last night but assumed it must have been planned, although the King looked surprised. It was lovely to see as it flew into pink tinged clouds. Just read that it was a surprise visit by the RAF.

I went to the lighting of one of the beacons yesterday evening. Gosh it was cold there, as we were literally yards fro the sea itself, so no shelter from the cold wind that had blown all day. There was a band and a Military Wives choir performing and we were all requested to sing 'I vow to thee my country' at one point, but the response was rather mixed, as many people didn't know the words without a strong lead.

Earlier in the day, I had walked through a churchyard in another town and you should have seen the amount of three-cornered leeks growing there. It really looked quite pretty and like a white meadow.
Plenty to make soup for the whole town, Annx ;-)
I have tried using some in cooking, but not in the quantity that it grows in our patch.
Wild garlic has more of a star-like flower, whereas the leeks have more bell shaped. Goodness knows where they came from in the first place in our garden, but then I could say the same for a very mini oak sapling. I don't know of any oak trees nearby, so I think that a squirrel planted that.
In past years, I have sat on the ground and dug up dozens and dozens of the tiny leek bulbs, but the following year brings another unwanted crop :-|

I hope all your heath checks for yourselves and OHs go well.
I am looking forward to my next ENT nurse appointment next week, which had to be postponed so is well over the usual 3 month mark now. I do realise that I am very fortunate to get this regular service on NHS at no cost, but it was someting the department suggested might help my hearing and it certainly does.
School is OK, as a child sit's right next to me to read in a corner of the classroom, but I have sometimes had to avoid going to meetings to listen to a speaker, when I get near appointment time, as I just can't follow them properly.

Morning all,

Another nice bright sunny morning here with a bit of a breezey wind. The sky is clear blue and not a cloud in sight. Its 14 degrees already so may be a really warm one later on.

Hips still a bit niggerly but I think I am going to strim some things today and not sure if BIL is coming to mow so need to pick up what I left on the top lawn by my border.

Pleased you all enoyed the VE day celebrations on the telly. I was'nt born so have no recollection of anything like that. My earliest memory is that of the Coranation of our lovely Queen Elizabeth. I was three and we went up to London with aunty Iris and uncle Len in dads car and I can remember lying across aunty and mum onthe back seat of the car and being woken to see the car go past with the Queen and Duke waving to people but can't remember if they were in the coasch or not. Of course no parking restricsion then. I also remember having a little coach and horses toy.

Well better get on as I have a little parcel to do up too.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Much brighter this morning so hope we can do a bit in ths garden .
We watched the concert too ,I thought the same Anng having The Darkness on was really out of place they didn't really fit in with all the other performers who were very good but those people sitting in ths audience must have been chilly ,I expect those in the royal box had blankets and hot water bottles provided like they had for the parade the other day , I did notice some had blankets round their shoulders.

Ann it sounds as if OH is really doing well now , hope your knee is better .
I am hobbling about a bit as I pulled the back of my right knee ths day before yesterday and it seems to have stiffened up ,I just reached in for something in the greenhouse and I felt something pull behind my knee .
I had a really good night's sleep last night ,I can't remember the last time I didn't get out for the loo in the night and was really surprised when I woke this morning about six ,Max was barking and I came down and the carbon monoxide monitor was pipping so it needs new batteries but looking on the back it says to change them every seven years so we must get a new one as the date was 2014 .

God morning all it is nice and bright here this morning and 7 degrees with clear pale blue sky and sunshine. there was a lovely clear moon last night but I don't think it went cold enough for frost.

we had a very good lively meeting yesterday, there were seven of us so plenty of chat, and most of it garden related. although there was quite a bit related to VE day as three of us could remember 1945, but all could remember post war.
As far as I know there were no street parties in my area but there were one or two in the town.

I recorded and watched the VE performance on Horse Guards parade. I think they said there were 10000 people seated there. The atmosphere looked to be great. I am not sure what I think of the actual show. Loved the dancing by the Strictly professionals and the military bands, especially the royal Marine drummers. Can't imagine what made them have The Darkness, a very loud rock band as it seemed totally out of place and I actually didn't recognise the names of some of the soloists. I think most of the usual acts would be already performing in their own shows elsewhere. Pity they could not have got Michael Ball or alfie boe. I suspect they will either have not been paid or a very low fee. A couple of the singers had good voices and it was good to hear the old songs. The young female singing We'' meet again is apparently almost 9 months pregnant. I think it must have over ran its time though as my recording stopped just short of the end.

One thing that I found amazing was the number of Veterans there and also there on Monday, who were 100 or over and still very alert and active. And it can't have been warm there, although in a shelter with the royal Family it was a cold night.
I thought the King gave a very good speech as well.

It’s been a can’t-make-up-its-mind day, sunny one minute, cloudy the next and with a wind that went from a gentle breeze to a gusty wind and back again. Now it’s a lovely calm evening with a clear sky and the sun just dipping behind the trees. We often get lovely evenings here.

I hope your meeting this afternoon went well AnnG. Fancy little Cassian having his first dental appointment. That made me smile but it is a good idea to get little ones used to visiting the dentist so it becomes nothing out of the ordinary. I bet you made a lovely little fairy at the street party. I was 3 years and 3 months at VE day and can’t remember it. I don’t even know whether we were still in Oxfordshire as we had been evacuated there or whether we had moved back to London. I know that just before the end of the war my mother found a flat in South London where we came from but I can’t remember whether we had actually moved into it at that stage.

OH’s eye seems to be doing well, thank you Mandy. He was told he could drive as soon as he was sure he would pass the test of reading a number plate at a certain distance (I’ve forgotten how far). Yesterday he walked way back in the field at the bottom of our Close and could clearly see the number plate on a neighbour’s car. We have to go next Wednesday for his post-op check up.

It sounds as though you did well with your shopping in Holsworthy Mel and got lots of bits and pieces. I’m glad your hip was feeling a little better this morning but take it easy and if you are gardening try and have plenty of breaks.

It seems as though OH is getting along better without the statins, Annx, and it sounds as though he is doing very well, which will be reassuring for both of you. I am sure the liver cysts are nothing to worry about. 5 or 6 years ago it was discovered that OH has a cyst on his pancreas but it has never given him any bother and the hospital don’t even monitor it now. Re: 3 cornered leek – it is confusing as in some parts of the country it is known as wild garlic but I think they are different plants. Wild garlic has a much stronger smell. We’re only a few miles from Arger Fen and occasionally have a walk through there and the wild garlic smell can be overwhelming. I believe both plants are edible.

I did a couple of small jobs first thing and then went to our Thursday coffee meet. I knew neither of the other 2 men would be there so gave OH the choice of sitting with the ladies or staying home and he thought his book would be more fascinating than the ladies’ conversation so I left him behind. After lunch I potted up another 8 tomatoes and also potted the 5 biggest seedlings of dwarf antirrhinum from the seed tray into one pot to grow on a bit before planting them out. The other seedlings aren’t big enough yet. Everything seems very slow growing this year.

I’m now going to have a read of the local paper which I pay to read online as it’s only about a quarter of the price of buying a paper copy. I slept fairly well last night so I’m hoping tonight will be the same.

Afternoon All,

The sun has stayed in here today and the sky has been cloudy but no rain. This morning OH saw the diabetic nurse first thing who asked him a lot of questions and told him he is certainly a success story with his last blood test result and said to carry on with the same diet and exercise. We popped to Morrisons for their poached eggs on toast after which are really good with deep yellow runny yolks and much cheaper than the garden centre. Would you believe it they offered us a free donut each and we turned them down! lol. :-0 This afternoon he saw the GP about his liver scan results and he has some cysts but nothing sinister, but he has to have yet more blood tests to send off for advice. I remembered his mother saying she had them as well and was told they were nothing to worry about, so I checked online too and it said much the same with just a few rare causes that need treatment, so hopefully he will be ok. Since stopping the statins his blood results have returned to what they were before he started them. She didn't say they were the cause but did tell him not to start them again! It was a nurse practitioner who said they wouldn't be the cause when OH asked if they might be at his last appointment, then after discussing later with a colleague sent a text telling him to stop them!

The Buzzard has been back sitting in the same tree for ages. I think he is waiting his chance with the poor baby Magpies, probably when they leave the nest. The parents have been whizzing in and out of the nest with food all day and we can hear the chicks now.

Mandy got me checking out the three cornered leeks too and I don't think I would be able to tell them from wild garlic or are they the same? I think I would add them to stews or try them in a salad. Our thug plants are the grape hyacinths and lilies of the valley coming under the fence from next door. I've tried a bit of weedkiller on the virginia creeper growing up our back fence this morning, also originating from nextdoor when they grew it up their side of our fence. It's also growing up the tree with the Magpie nest. Barbed wire keeps the cows well away the other side of the ditch so they can't reach it.

Yes I just about managed with my knee by being careful yesterday Mandy and Vera so didn't have to cancel the appointment. I did take my pole with me after testing it in the porch and finding it helped leaning on it a bit, but didn't need it in the end. They had a few high seats in the waiting room so that was a help too. I've got a few more pots to plant up but still need some compost, but don't know what to buy??

Vera it sounds like you had a lovely time with the family and your outings. Thank you for giving me the name of your plant I liked. It sounds like something that might go well in my garden especially as it doesn't sound too hard to control!

I'm glad your hip is a bit better today Mel and I was surprised how much better my knee was today after resting it. Those plastic baskets in different sizes are handy aren't they and easy to pick up. I keep my beads in some of them on shelves and they look nice too. I'm guessing your flower pallette is for mixing paints and I find I often use more than one at once. It was a bargain at that price.

AnnG I bet you were an excited little girl to have been dressed as a fairy for the celebrations! The earliest celebration party I went to was a coronation party but we just had fancy hats. I hope you had a nice meeting with the group today and that they liked your garden.

Annx another thing I bought in the factory shop was a plastic flower pallet. I have a porcelain one and use it a lot so thought I would treat myself to another. It was only £1.60 which I thought was very good.

Shoulr mention VE day really. Although I think I am the only one on this thread that can remember it (just). I do remember the large street party. I was dressed as a fairy so I guess it was fancy dress for children. I was 4 years and nine months.

Have a lovely time at your meeting today Anng lots to see in your garden now things are growing well. Lots of interesting chat and good company.

Vera your little visit sounds like you both had a great time and plenty of laughter which is alway good and lifts the spirts no end. I will have a go at my account and see if I can change the time of my deliveries in there. I was thinking it may have been because of the bank holiday weekends we've had lately they've been so close together.

Mandy how's the bunny coming along? We'd love to see a pic when its finished please.

Annx hope the knee is better today. My hip seems to be a bit better today so will see how it goes if I do do a bit in the garden today. I think it could be pushing the wheelbarrow that affects it.

Morning girls,

Just had to read all te post from yesterday afternoon.

Its 11 degrees here and sunny with big white clouds again.

I took a day off gardening yesterday and went into Holsworthy for my chicken food and a litt retail therapy for some bits to take some orchid cuttings if I can. I bought two nice plastic baskets in the facory shop in a lovely soft green which will be handy for putting my things in I am working on at the time instead of leaving them on trays etc. Like the little figures I do and the leatherwork for the tudor figures. The factory shop did'nt have the plastic drinks tumblers I wanted but sent me across the road to the newish hardware shop I have never been in before. It was like an Aladins cave. So many products and I bought two sizes of the plastic throw away beakers, two key fobs, and my oasis I wanted too. When I got to Mole Valley their oasis was a lot dearer than what I paid in town.

BBL

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Cloudy here but bright so fingers crossed for some sun later ,shopping day today so just having a cuppa then we'll go early.

Ann hope your knee was OK so you could get to your appointment yesterday.

Gwyn, I'd never heard of the three cornered leek so I had a Google it looks a pretty plant shame its a bit of a garden thug .

Anng I know what you mean about resisting plants ,we went to Roys yesterday for some more compost and they had some pretty begonias ,four in a pack for 4.99 but I've already planted my baskets, I did get a couple of Hardy Fuschias though to go in the garden.

Mel hope your hip is a little easier just take it easy in the garden today .

Vera it sounds as if you had a really lovely weekend with lots of laughing which is the best tonic ,how is OH's eye after his op ,hope it's healing well.

Better have my cuppa before it gets cold .

Good morning all. 8 degrees and fairly bright, looks like just a sloght breeze.

Meeting this afternoon so a tidy round this morning and get the chairs and cups sorted. Only 7 of us expected today.

Granddaughter in law has just said Cassian has his first dentist appointment tomorrow.. even before he has teeth. So good to get them used to going.

Yes Vera I saw that, looking forward to it coming out.

This one's for AnnG: I've just read that a film has been made of The Salt Path and is being released on 30th May. I wonder what it will be like. It stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

(In case anyone's curious The Salt Path and it's sequel are books by Raynor Winn and are based on a particular period in the life of her and her husband. They came up on the old Book Thread and I know AnnG and I both read them.)

Mostly cloudy today. We haven’t seen much sun. It hasn’t felt as cold as yesterday but the wind seems to be picking up again so I expect it will start to feel cooler soon.

I hope your knee is feeling a lot easier now Annx and you got to your appointment OK. Wonderful to see the buzzards. It would be great if you could get a photo. Btw, the plant you mentioned in my wild tulip photos showing the reddish tinged leaves is Epimedium. I can’t remember which variety ours is but it’s evergreen or semi-evergreen with yellow flowers in spring. It’s good ground cover and, although it spreads, it’s fairly easy to control.

Mandy, it’s good that Colin’s glaucoma test was OK. I hope that your son has managed to fix your cistern so it’s not running all the time. It’s great that he lives close and is able and willing to help – it’s payback for all those lovely cakes you make the family.

Mel, be careful with your hip and back and try not to overdo the time you spend gardening. I know you have a big area to deal with but better to do it in small doses than put your hip completely out of action and not be able to do it at all. With your Asda deliveries, can you not go into your account and specify the time you want?

Best of luck with the 3-cornered leeks Gwyn. I can’t recall ever having them in the garden and I’d like to keep it that way.

You’ve been busy in the garden again AnnG. I’m sure it will look tidy for your garden interests group and with more plants potted up I expect it’s looking quite colourful. I need to get out and buy some annuals as I’ve got pleny of troughs to fill.

Well, yesterday was a very busy day for me but I managed to get done everything that I planned to do except for some food shopping. I needed fresh stuff so went out and got that this morning. Since lunch I’ve watered some pots, done a bit of tidying in the garage and done a bi of cooking. I’ve still got some birthday money to spend and while I was out I saw a really nice blouse top with a neckline that I’m comfortable wearing, a sleeve length I like and just the right colour. Did they have my size? Of course not. The smallest they had was a 16. Grrr!

The talk at the Ladies Club last night was interesting and fun. It was Tales of Suffolk Smugglers.

I haven’t told you everything we did while at son’s and I won’t bore you with all of it but Sunday was very nice. It was dull and chilly but we had a leisurely start to the day and dil put a large leg of lamb in to cook very slowly while we were out. We went to something called The Cotswold Distillery where they were distilling and selling whisky at eye-watering prices. However we went for breakfast. Most of us had a breakfast in a brioche bun and it was huge. A very large bun stuffed full of mushrooms, topped with several rashers of crispy bacon and then an egg. I had a smoked salmon bagel which was also large and filled with a lemony cream cheese, an enormous mount of smoked salmon and lots of pea shoots. It was yummy.

From there we went on to Stratford on Avon. Of course it was very busy and full of tourists but we found a super market full of quirky craft and food stalls and that was fun to wander around for a while. Then it was back for our roast lamb. Just after that 2 of our granddaughters separately face-timed so we got to speak to them as well. We finished the evening with a game of Farkle (I think that’s what it was called). It’s a dice game that’s a combination of luck and strategy. In the last year or two OH has become a bit slower at remembering and catching on and kept saying he hadn’t got a clue what he was doing but he laughed so much he was nearly crying. Would you believe in the last throw of the game he had an amazing piece of luck and ended up the winner which made him laugh even more. It was good to see him so happy and enjoying family time so much.

I’ve gone on a bit again so I’d better stop before you all get a headache. Fingers crossed for a good night’s sleep for all of us and a nice, warm, sunny day tomorrow.

Just spent an hour out in the garden filling pots and planting up the 3 plants I bought yesterday. Had to be very strong and resist buying any of the colourful plants we saw at the G Centre.

Think I need new runner bean seed and dwarf bean seed as there's nothing coming up so I think the seed is too old.