General Chat

Morning All,

Cloudy skies but the sun breaks through occasionally so its is quite bright out there and not too cold.

Had a dreadful night last night. I was still awake at 4.30 maybe 5am when I dropped off and up at 9 so not a lot of sleep was had. Oh had cuddled up to me too as I was cold but he nearly pushed me out of bed at one point when he moved and then I got hot so had to get out for a few mins to cool down.

Thanks Mel for the link, I've just taken a look and it's the same page I read this morning. I'm going to have to move all the plants to the bottom of the garden where there is more sun and shelter and they're out of most of the cold wind. I'll then prune them once the frosts are no longer a threat, then hopefully they'll recover. Unfortunately we're going to have to leave the two 12 foot ones where they are and hope for the best as they are to big to put anywhere else. Thanks again for the link, you are so kind. I forgot to save it this morning, so your link has now been bookmarked.

Oh dear Jane, poor James and Jess splitting up and after so long to. I hope they sort things out. At least he has his sister to talk to which must be a comfort to him and you, as like you said you don't like to see your children upset, no matter how old they are.

I did what Mel did and kept my old grill pan that had a handle attached, as the new one had a handle that came off, which I didn't think was very safe. I did keep the new grill pan though and use it as an extra roasting pan, minus the handle of course. I've never had a Zanussi cooker before but did have a washing machine of that make and it was the best one I've ever had. I was disappointed I couldn't find another one when we needed to replace it though.
Hopefully your new cooker will stand you in good stead for many years to come.

It sounds like you had fun today AnnG, bless her though being so tired. I was the same and could never sleep in a car as a child.

How nice for Paul to have a camper van Anne, is he going to travel around the country in it, that would be nice throughout the summer if he does. OH would like to do that, but we'd have to save quite a lot for the type of one he'd like as he fancies one of those big American ones.
How did you get on with the records on Ancestry. I wasn't so lucky today, but did find a few records yesterday so it's not all bad and there's always tomorrow, so with a bit of luck I might strike lucky again

I still haven't received a pic of your coaster Ann, did you send it again to me?

How's your day been with the girls Mandy? I hope your tum is feeling better now.

What do you think is causing you to sleep walk Frank, is it your meds? I remember OH working nights and I was watching TV in the dark in bed when Michelle walked in saying she couldn't find it, I hadn't got a clue what she was talking about and just as I was about to ask her I realised she was sleep walking. I took her back to bed as they say not to wake someone up and in the morning she didn't remember a thing. Luckily it only happened once, but it gave me a shock at the time. I hope you have a better nights sleep tonight.

Off to bed now, see you all tomorrow.

Jane When I had my new cooker I still use the grill pan out of the old one. Save your grill pan if you get rid of the old cooker.

I am sorry to hear about James and Jess. Whatever could have gone wrong there. I expect he will tell you when he feels he can talk about it and it may still blow over. They have been together for a long long while now so I wonder what the upset is? They should know each other by now.

I have been in the garden this afternoon tackling my rambling rose behind my pond on the back wall. I did'nt cut it back last year and it has so much dead in it I have been clearing that. It has such a wonderful scent when it fflowers I don't really want to get rid of it but it is also very very prickly. Its grown right up and over my two Rhodos and into the red Acers by the puddle.

Gill take a look at this on Red Robin's o this link.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/photinia-red-robin.php

It tells you about the spots on the leaves further sown the page.

So sorry that James is going through a really bad time Jane, He and Jess were together a long time, It's good that he feels able to talk to Hannah. It's sad for you too as she must have seemed like a 2nd daughter to you.

Hope your new cooker is just what you wanted, I can understand you not getting an induction hob. when we bought ours I had no idea none of my pans would work on it the next day we had to replace everything which wasn't cheap. As my other pots and pans were all in good condition I gave them to family.

Frank I wonder what caused your walkabout when you were sleeping. We had roast lamb as well but not so many vegetables as you,

I hope your little Miss dynamite enjoyed her day and didn't leave you too tired AnnG,that is a lovely age when they start talking. Your family are so lucky living in the Lake District we have had many happy holidays there.

Richard and Paul have gone to ice hockey. Paul went to Bristol yesterday and bought a Mazda camper van which he will collect next Friday. When he brings it back, he will park it in our drive way, he only has one designated under cover parking space with his flat and it will be too big to go in our garage.

Ann please may I also have a picture of your glass coaster.

Hope you are feeling better Mandy and enjoying the girls company as usual..

Like Gill I have been on Ancestry and looking up information on my tree.

Yes Jane she has arrived and boy has she got some energy. She doesn’t stop talking. We have had roast chicken dinner and she ate quite well although was tired, it is a long way for a little one to travel and she doesn’t sleep in the car much. She is in bed now.

Sorry to hear about James and Jess, a long time to be together. At least he confides in his sister. It sounds as if it was not his choice. Not a good time for him.

What are we going to do with you Frank !!!. Poor Ros must wonder what you will do next LOL

Well it is not a good time here at the moment. It seems like James and Jess are splitting up.James is in a right state . Shuffle board was off for him and Jess so Hannah ,Gareth and Matt just went. James stayed though with Hannah last night. He got home a couple of hours ago ,but he is not talking and looks totally drained.I have said ot go and have a nice soak in the bath and try and relax a bit. So what with this and the work problems life is a pile of poo for James right now :-(
He and Jess have been together for about 11 years. The only thing he did say was that they do still love each other but arent good for each other . Not sure what he means by that at the moment. He is seeing her next Saturday in London but again I am not sure why . It is just horrible seeing your children so sad and troubled (no matter how old they are) . Hannah just messaged me to say he has told her he has just taken down the big pics of Jess he had on his bedroom wall
:-( He hasnt said anything to us.It is good that they are close and Hannah is being big Sister :-) So that is my day so far.

Mandy I hope your tummy upset has cleared up and that the girls are having a nice time with you.
AnnG has the whirling dervish arrived? :-D :-D. I expect you will be worn out after all your visitors.

That was one long sleep you had Mel last night!!. Does it make you wake up feeling tired still when you have slept for so long?

Someone asked what cooker I have bought. It is a Zanussi. I have never had a Zanussi before . The last 2 have been Stoves and I think a Belling before that.
What amazes me is many oven dont come with a handle for the grill pan!!. I find that really strange. I dont think my new cooker has one but the man in the shop says that they can be ordered . I have a handle for this grill pan but I doubt it will be the right ft for the new one. I decided against an Induction hob as I would have to buy all new pans .

All weekend we have had the rumbling noise of the huge earthmoving trucks in the field by the lane. They are preparing the ground to put in these HUGE water or sewerage pipes.The pipes are really massive.I think cranes will have to be brought in to get them in the ground.The whole landscape around us is changing now and I find it quite upsetting.If we had known nearly 30 years ago when we moved here that we would be surrounded by new housing we would not have come here.
I wonder what has happened to the Badger Setts and other wildlife who are all going ot be displaced .Are Badgers protected .Hopefully they will have been moved.We don't have the Cull of Badgers here.
It has become dark since I started typing all this.Time I went I think :-D. Tray bake Chicken dish to get sorted. Nothing as grand as Franks dinner :-D :-D

Good morning to those who are around, see the others later. xxx

Oh what a night it was. After watching Midsummer on ITV 3 it finished at 9,00 pm I went to bed. Ros tells me this morning I came into the lounge "SLEEP WALKING" and saying "they are all over the bed, but I have saved a place for you" I was laughing like a drain, I then turned round and went back to bed.I supposedly came out an hour later, with the same tale. When Ros followed me back to bed. She said the wires to the radio and light were on the bed, my pillows were on the floor, as were my covers. She remade the bed around me, and I settled down for the night, until 6.15 am. AND I only had two cans of beer. lol lol.

We had to tuen the bed this morning, what a JOB. I did most of it on my own, as it's SO HEAVY, I didn't want Ros straining herself. She has changed the bedding and it's all washed and blowing on the line.

I have prepared a shoulder of lamb, with home made mint sauce, roasties and parsnips, Cauli, carrots, peas and runner beans. For whatever reason Ros has bought Aunt Bessies Puddings. I aways make my own. !!!!

AnnG. your relatives must be happy as larry, living in such a lovely part of the Country. There was a programme on TV last night, (I don't know where) about Lake Windermere and a group of ELEVEN SWIMMERS, swimming the length of the lake TEN AND A HALF MILES 10 finished the swim. Also :-Showing the wardens going about their everyday choirs. Very interesting.


Ros is in the back garden giving the top bed a tidy up. Everywhere is showing what a mess it is after the winter. Once the lawns are cut and the edges done it will look much better. Not sure if I will attempt it,or wait for Barry to come. It's very wet this morning, so I will leave it today.

Hope you all have a nice afternoon, with or without family. See you soon. xxxx

You have had a good nights sleep Mel, almost 11 hours of it ;-) ;-) ;-)

Well, I'm very pleased at the moment, I've just Googled my Red Robin's as the leaves are falling off and there is black spot all over them and I've found out it's just the plants under stress. We moved them and where they are now they're not happy. Our garden is very windy and with the really cold snap we had the other week, the plants are now telling me they're not happy.

All we need to do is move the three of them to another place. We did have one of them at the bottom of the garden and it was fine, but we moved it about 10 weeks ago and now it's showing the same signs as the other two. We know the two 12 foot Red Robins will probably go the same way, but unfortunately we can't move them anywhere else because of their size, they just won't fit, so they'll have to stay where they are, plus they are hiding the ugly extension from next door.

The one thing we did noticed is that the leaves are falling off near the bottom rather than the top so they should still hide the extension when it happens to them. Another way to thicken them up is to prune them, so we'll do that around May when the last of the frost has gone.

So all in all, although I'm not happy at the plants losing their leaves, it's something we can sort out. Once that's done the plants should grow new shoots and recover nicely :-D :-D
Well, lets hope so anyway.

Going to take a look at my family tree now, then watch the Gladiators with Sandra and OH. Sandra is really getting into it now, but there's only a couple left. She also likes 60 minute makeover, which I record on a Sunday morning, there's about four of them each week, so that'll keep her happy for a while yet :-)

Mel it is a 'her' She is lovely but on the go all the time. She is 2 years and 8 months and wears four year old clothes. Grandson and his wife and littly live in the Lake District. They are staying here for two nights breaki8ng their journey on the way to the funeral of his other grandmother who was 94 and lived near Salisbury. Daughter travels down tomorrow also from the Lake District, and stays in a hotel overnight then stays here on the way back. I think Grandson will be going all the way back on Tuesday, unless he is staying with friends in Hampshire.

Morning all,

Grey sky and sunshine now and then here. I went to bed at 12.05am and got up once for the loo and then slept till 10.55am so you could say I have had a very good long sleep. Now I am hungry.............AnninG, I am sure you love him really and will be pleased to see your grandson and his wife also.

Right I think a cuppa is in order as my mouth feelsl like the bottom of a parrots cage as Frank would say. ;-)

Morning AnnG, morning all

Bright and sunny here to Ann and it's nice and warm, I've just cut around the edges of the lawn and OH is cutting the lawn now. I also put my salvia cuttings out now it's warmed up a bit, they were getting to big for the kitchen window sill. Of course that meant cleaning the kitchen and I've also picked up all the leaves outside that keep falling off our Red Robins. I'm going to look online as I think they may have a fungal infection which I think are starting to effect the two 12 foot ones we bought around Christmas, they were to expensive to lose. I might have to get rid of the old ones and start again if I can't find anything to treat it. I need to find out what the problem is first of course.

Once I've done that I'm going to take another look at my family tree, I managed to find a bit of information on one of the brick walls I had, so hopefully I'll find more while Ancestry have their records open for free.

Still got this horrible cough but the masks seem to help so long as I don't start coughing while I'm wearing it, that's not nice at all.

Enjoy your time with your miniature 2 year old Ann. Do you have anything nice planned for the day? Is it your grandson coming around? Sorry I can't remember what you said :-S :-S

good morning all, nice day outside but looks like there is a wind so might be chilly.

We will spend our morning clearing the decks for the arrival of miniature 2 year old whirlwind. Might be back later for a rest. enjoy whatever you are doing today. :-)

Funny you should say about fireworks I thought I heard some a few minutes ago.

What's a gas gun Mel?

Your sweet treat sounded lovely Mel, Sandra would of loved them with strawberry jam, it's her favorite.

I didn't think of the boss maybe trying his luck to have the new neighbours pay for the extra roof tiles that went on the other neighbours roof AnnG. If that was the case he's been very crafty as he also managed to knock £500 off the roofers bill by crying poverty, the roofer felt sorry for him so knocked that amount of his bill and don't forget the boss is having his cut on the tiles the roofer is taking to sell, mind you he did tell OH last night that he's only giving him a small amount of money as the roofer has now decided to keep the tiles for other jobs he might have in the future. I see your bathroom is all done now, I find sometimes jobs you think aren't going to take long, seem to take the longest to do.

I still haven't received the email of your coaster Ann, have you sent it to my old email by mistake? How annoying must that of been to have to clean your patio and garden again after the neighbour had his roof cleaned. It's no joke when you try to make your garden look nice and the neighbours do things to ruin it.

Pleased to see you had a good nights sleep after what happened yesterday Jane and that you managed to order your cooker. What type of cooker are you having? Pity Chris has a bad night though, maybe he was more worried about you than he thought.

Sorry you're not feeling to good Mandy, I hope you are feeling a little better now. Good idea to put the girls off for a night, you need some sleep to keep up with them.

You sure its fireworks Ann and not a gas gun. We have them going off around here at the moment.

I bet he was glad to get that job done AnnG. How often we start what seems to be a quick and simple job and it takes ages.

Mel that sounds so yummy!

It sounds like bombs going off here with fireworks somewhere. I don't know what that's all about as I thought you could only let them off at certain times now. :-S

Mmm sounds a nice treat Mel. :-) :-)

Just made scotch pancakes and we are going to have them with some nice strawberry jam and clotted cream and a cuppa to wash them down.

Well finally done and took him 3 hours to get it right. He is usually a whizz with electrics but there were apparently one or two strange things with this fitting which necessitated trial and error, each time going out to the trips in the garage to see if it was right. I am pleased for him it is finished though and the bathroom is now clean and tidied. exhausting afternoon!

Jane yes we have grandson, his wife and Inara coming tomorrow for two nights before Daughter comes on Tuesday for one night. So with a two and eight month year old things have had to be put away, not easy to do with it being so dark today and no lights. Pleased that you got your cooker bought Jane.

Gill, pleased to hear that you have got the masks. Don't forget to use them. A pity for the new owners that the work has gone on much longer than promised and that it has cost them £5000 more. Hope they didn't have to pay for the other neighbour's tiles.

The ditch behind our bottom fence is about 2 foot six deep Mel and that is a raging torrent after a lot of rain and has been known to overflow into the neighbour's garden and from theirs into ours. I think you are right to be concerned as the field at the back of us is pretty flat and none of our gardens along the edge of the ditch have any drainage pipes into it although some water probably runs off and into it. I wonder why they suddenly want the expense of piping it?

Are they playing shuffleboard on a table one or a floor one?

Turned a buit chilly here today so I have got the heating on. Skies are still grey here.

We had a chat with Ralph and Jim this morning. Jim's wife has just bought the land that borders our east side and Ralph is his brother in law who owns the big house. They keep on about what is our boundry and is the ditch Jim's. Our garden has stone drains across it and they go into the ditch on the east side of the garden. Jim's talking about putting that drainage pipe in the ditch but I don't think that will take all the water that get in the ditch at certain times of the year when it pours and pours with rain.