General Chat

Morning all

Very windy here today and the pot plant that was trying it's best to fall over yesterday finally fell over in the night, so it's leaning on it's side at the moment. We decided to leave it that way until the wind dies down, it would probably fall over again if we put it back upright. Once the wind has gone we are going to dig a hole and stand the pot in that, so hopefully it won't blow over again. No workmen so far today, so it's nice and quiet again. We noticed lots of blue tits coming to the feeder so it must be the noise from next door that's been putting them off, we did wonder why there wasn't so many birds around lately.

I've woken up feeling awful, my throat is so sore and I've still got this annoying tickly cough, so it looks like some sort of bug rather than the effects of choking on the drink the other day. I'm going to stay in doors and keep warm today. I've taken some medicine so hopefully that'll start working soon.

Pleased to see the injection is working for you Ann, pity about the side effects though, has the redness gone down at all? I hope you managed a better nights sleep last night and don't have any other side effects to worry about.

That was a good idea to make the wax effect out of glue on your candles Mel, it looks very realistic. What is a golden snitch? Love the pictures of the deers and pheasants. Phill is a lucky boy isn't he?

I see Albert Finney passed away yesterday. We always watch him in Scrooge every year, OH says it's not Christmas without watching him. We've watched other versions of Scrooge, but find he was the best one.

I noticed the children's parents had been arrested for the fire to Anne, I hope they didn't do something to cause it.

It's sounds like Thomas has had a mad half hour at yours Jane, naughty though to climb up the curtains. I've just noticed the pic you sent of the toilet, I don't think I'd like to use it, even if no one could see in. It would feel very uncomfortable. Sorry to hear about James, but like you said the rules are there for a reason. Our street has gone down to 20mph and the police stopped someone going over the limit a few years back. It looks like they are really cracking down on people who speed now.

Sorry to hear about Alan, Frank, I hope he recovers from what ever it is soon. Biggles will be having lots of attention off you and will be enjoying your company, as you will enjoy his. I hope you had a good nights sleep and feel better for it today.

O dear Ann that dos'nt sound good having a red face and going out to lunch. Perhaps they find that if they tell you the side effects lots of people would'nt go ahead with it.

I am attempting to make a golden snitch now but its taken me all day in between other things to get the pattern drawn on the ball.

Good evening all

Mel I had the lovely photos of the deer,pheasants and the girls but not the candles. I did notice that my email address isn't quite right so will pm it to you., its only the last couple of days it has altered from you.

Horrible wet and windy here too, there was so much rain the bottom pond it was almost overflowing but there was a lovely sunset later on so hopefully tomorrow may be a nice day.

That was a really good bargain from Dunelm, AnninGlos, I wish we had one here. I have bought bedding on line from them and they are always good quality..

Pleased that you are feeling better now Frank, maybe one tablet next time. Hope Alan is on the road to recovery now, how awful coming home to find it overrun with mice. So you have the company of Biggles when Ros goes out.

When I was saying about my name, Anne, I forgot to mention one of the other Anns had the same single surname as me, so we were both Ann/e Bailey prior to marriage. I wish my parent's had named me Keturah which is my second name and my Dad's sister's name although we called her Auntie Kitty.

It seems most of you are having sausages one of my favourite meals, I often cook sausage casserole as well . Tonight we had Chicken Alexander, it came out of the freezer, one of the meals I buy from COOK all their meals are delivered frozen and can be cooked that way, With it we had new pots, broccoli , peas and sweetcorn.

I had a delivery of COOK meals yesterday which went in the chest freezer I only buy a selection of meals about every six weeks .Ideal when feeling lazy.

Naughty Thomas Jane climbing up the curtains did he spot something, I wonder

Just seen that the parents of those poor little children killed in the house fire have been arrested, so I wonder why.

Lovely pics Mel. I do like your old stone walls and the carpets of snowdrops. The deer look so relaxed while they are picking over your borders...... the devils! As for Phil, he's certainly got his hands full with all those ladies!

AnninG we still have many saucepans from clearing MIL's house. Yours was a bargain at that price though and good that your lid fitted it.

Jane we were the same with the mud down here. The car tyres took it up all our block driveways as well and the sills do dirty your trousers as you say. It's why I wish OH got his cars washed more often! James was unlucky getting a ticket. So many roads are like yours though with changing speed limits either not easily seen or completely illogical! I think they should be much more consistent everywhere. They seem to have lots of the village crossroads around here with controlled temporary lights at the moment while they dig the roads up laying pipes. It seems to take them months!

I bet Max wasn't too impressed with the heavy rain Mandy or maybe being a Lab he loves it. Was it yesterday that Lacey was an evacuee or is it next Friday?

I've just had to look up side effects of this injection as my face has gone pillar box red!! Yes, flushing is a side effect you can have, along with insomnia so that may explain my bad night! There are lots of other possibilities you wish you hadn't read too. You'd think they would warn you wouldn't you, or give you a leaflet. I hope it's gone before we are out for lunch tomorrow as it looks as if I fell asleep in front of an electric fire for a few hours at the moment!!

Back again. Some dinner will be on hold as James is going ot be very late AGAIN :-|.
It seems like Bangers are the order of the day :-D :-D.That is most unusual for 3 of us to all be having the same.

Thomas seems to think he is the high jump champion. He came in with the wind up his tail and batted his little ball all around but then I found him clinging on halfway up my long curtains !!!!!!!!!!. Little B*****. It was like he was on something !!!! LSD .Spice, Weed ,who knows LOL . He is on the naughty step now.

Evening all,

It's been quite a blustery day here with a little drizzle now and then,i now went to let Max out and it's tipping down .

Well all i can say Jane is what a room with a view :-D a lovely warm seat you'd want to sit there all day looking out .
We too had Bangers tonight with sliced potaotes ,mushrooms,tomatoes and beans .
Jane that's not good all that mud on the road ,it would be bad if it froze and there was all ruts ,don't they have the cleaning up vehicles out ,i'm sure they could get into trouble by not keeping it clean.

You got a bargain with your saucepan AnnG ,i find i end up with saucepans with no lids as i have the glass lids and they get broken .

Lovely pictures of the deer and the girls with Phil ,all round to Mel's cafe :-D
The Candles have come up a treat Mel they look lovely hanging up ,i'm sure the boys will love them .
What are you making next ?

Glad your feeling better now Frank when you get stowed up like that it can make you feel really unwell.

That's good the injection has eased the pain Ann ,i wouldn't try and do to much to soon though i'm sure the bungalow isn't that bad

We always get asked if our surname is just with an S on the end or if there's an E in it.

Ann, I am so glad to hear your knee is so much better and less pain free today. Keep cycling !!!!. Bit by bit .
Sorting dinner now so can't stay.

Afternoon All,

Lashings of wind and rain here too! I hate it when it buffets the car about like that Jane. The toilet at the Shard sounds quite an experience. I have seen Japanese toilets on tv that give you the 'full' experience like that. I wouldn't like see through walls though, even if it was one way glass!

Glad you are feeling better Frank, I was awake till the birds were singing this morning and feel shattered now. I think it was from OH buying me a large coffee late yesterday afternoon.It was decaff, but even that has some caffeine and it can take 12 hours for the effect to wear off. I only asked for a small one as well! It looks like BIGGLES will be with you for a while. I knew of someone who picked something abroad in India and had to be on an antibiotic drip. They never did find out what it was.

The knee seems even better today, no limping, but I still expect to wince when I stand up. It was fine driving the car, but I'm tempted to give the bungalow a good clean while it doesn't hurt so much, but better be careful not to make things worse. A bit at a time I think with sitting when I can. I did 5 minutes on the exercise bike this morning like the chap suggested. He said with no weight on the knees it will strengthen them and help lose some weight. He said to work up to 40 mins a day!!! I looked him up and he is a physiotherapist and has worked with the city footie and Rugger teams, so should know about injuries.

Those lady Pheasants sound as if they have spread the word about Mel's Diner!! Are the new girls still wearing all their feathers and laying eggs Mel? I love the Harry Potter candles hanging from the ceiling, they are very effective.

With doing a lot of work on the phone when I was at work, people were always saying is it Ann withane or without? Even worse my surname then could be spelt with or withoutane on the end of it so there was a repeat performance with my surname as well :-S The Public often used to ask if I was named after Princess Anne and I would say 'No, she was named after me! :-D

Gill, at one of our Garden Centres there is a paper towel dispenser you have to wave your hand across the front of to get the towel to come out and you see so many people who can't work out what to do! There are always shreds of the paper underneath where people have tried to pull it out.

The taxman has caught up with me! thought they were never going to ask me for the tax on my savings since they stopped the building societies and banks deducting it at source a couple of years ago. I had already worked out what I owe so it wasn't a shock, but MORE EXPENSE as Frank would say. I have always hated them fiddling with tax codes to collect the extra that is owing from an earlier year though and now they are estimating what it will be this year so they can collect an estimated amount for that as well. Working it out to check it is a nightmare!

I was glad to see they now put stars for most of your NIno at last. The full number was always a gift to fraudsters, as is your middle name so many letters have in the address panel.

I also had my Annual Tax Summary today to show what the tax I pay is spent on. How nice to see they have used £83 of what I paid to pay the National Debt Interest That will shoot up if there's a change of government.

Oh Frank, poor Alan sounds really poorly. It sounds more likely it is something he has picked up on the cruise rather than the mice.I take it the place wasn't over run with them before they went away. Biggles will enjoy his litle holiday with you and Ros.

You and us are having exactly the same meal tonight. !!!!. Bangers,mash,Spring Greens and Carrots. Great minds think alike :-D. I am cheating with the gravy though as I bought a pouch of Caramelised Onion and Ale Gravy (for the men). I will have good old Bisto.

Mel what lovely pics of the Deer and Phil with his ladies.Its seeing pics like this that makes you realise how lovely it must be living right out in the countryside like you do. Saying that ,I loved your place but it would be far too isolated for me.

That was a great bargain with your pan AnnG. I have a large glass lid that fits all sizes of pans and it is so useful.It even covers my large frying pan.I bought it many years ago when we on holiday in France and it has been worth every Franc :-D

Frank I read Where Secrets Lie as well as the other one. I am reading one called I'm watching you now,cant remember who it is by though.

Gill, it is horrible when you choke on a drink and then you cough it all over the place :-S. I am sure there is another round od colds going as there are still so many people coughing and spluttering everywhere.I certainly dont want a third round of it.We are just about clear now of our horrible coughs but a little catarrh is just hanging on which is irritating.
Did I tell you James got a speeding ticket last week :-| :-|. He was caught doing 39 in a 30. He will go to a speed awareness thing which I think saves him getting any points on his license but he will still have ot pay £85 to do this. He is not amused. But as I said he got caught out even though it was not horrendously over the speed limit.
They are put in place for a reason . Our road is now a 30 MPH.It used ot be 60 then 40. I have to admit though it is quite hard to remember just to keep to 30 as it is a long straight road. Some idiots still come down here like it is a race track.Someone will come a cropper .The road is is in such a state anyway with all the mud from the lorries coming and going from the new housing development at the top of the road it would be quite easy to get into a bit of a skid :-S. I have to put a plastic bag on the ledge outside my drivers door because each time I put my legs out my trousers get covered in mud :-| :-| :-|.It is really bad. It makes me grumpy too :-S Im becoming a right moaning minnie LOL

Catch up time,

BIGGLES is here because his DAD Alan has just returned from a Cruise to South Africa, and thinks he has bought something back with him. He was very poorly so Anne his wife called an Ambulance and he is in hospital. He is on Anti-Biotics through a drip. He has been keep in, that's why we are looking after our little FRIEND xx But having said that, when they returned from the cruise they found their house was overrun by MICE, So who knows, he might have picked something up from them. We said as Anne will be back and forward to hospital visiting, we would have him till he is able to come home on Anti-Biotics that he can take orally.

What an absolute PIG of a day, it's rained here all day, and poor old Ros has had to go to a Committee meeting with Stitchery do at 3.00 pm.

I'm doing a "GOOD OLD BANGERS AND MASH" tonight with a home made red onion and red wine gravy. I have added light brown sugar, OXO and Bisto powder. It tasted very nice. I have done some carrots and Spring greens to go with them. I really don't know when I last had, or ever had, since married to Ros. BANGERS AND MASH. Eos said she can't remember ever having it before.

Jane the title of that book is :-where secrets lie, by the same author as"bring them back".

Sorry folks for not reading the posts, I am feeling a lot better today, and have eaten Breakfast and Lunch.

Shame you don't live never to me AnninG as I have a load of red bulbs in the cupboard as mum had an electric fire in the lounge which she always like the glow from summer or winter. OUr one takes three bulbs at a time so I used to buy them in Mole Valley in bulk.

AnninG they come and ask me for corn. They stand on the steps up to the patio and cheep at me. They know when its time to feed the big hens their corn and expect it too. They are waiting on the road by the patio gate and follow me all the way right across the front of the bungalow to oh's workshop where I keep the food. Its like my own private shoot but I do get to see their babies in the summer as they bring those down for food too and so the flock increases.

I have seen a Magpie lately over the field next to us. We did'nt seem to have any last year and perhaps thats why the pheasents kept their chicks for longer. I have been looking out the window at the pheasents and chicks and a Magie has come down and taken a chick right from under mums nose. They really go for them, the mums but they are also such usless mothers which is why we see less chicks with mum each day once they have hatched. One pheasent last year ended up with one female chick which still comes with her to feed.

Lunchtime we had THREE deer in the garden eating the new shoots on the day lillies. I took a pic through the kitcvhen window so it may be a bit smeary.

Gill the candle dribbles of wax are made with the glue gun same as on the wands I make.

Anne Withanee, just love it. Some folk are so thick ar'nt they?

Di came in the pouring rain and while she was here the wind blew gale force and the rain came down in buckets almost horrizontal (sp). Poor Di has chilblains on her fingers and toes and they have stopped doing the cream she used to put on them. We looked up online and it said to put calamine lotion on them or Lanolin. Di asked what Lanolin was!! She is a simply country girl. Poor Di is always cold and her thumb and forefinger on her left hand were purple and the right hand was'nt much better.

I am so pleased Frank has posted today. Poor fellow you must have had a bad day with all those visits to your white friend but at least you caught up on some sleep too and your body must feel better for the good clearout. :-S

We had homemade soup again for lunch today. I had two extra rolls in the freezer which I did for oh and I had some of my nice brown bread with mine. Full to the brim now but I know I shall be thirsty later on.

Well after a terrible wet and windy morning the sun has now put in an appearance but its still very very windy out and its time to corn the girls. :-(

Oh dear Jane, you were lucky you weren't blown over onto oncoming traffic. I bet you're glad to be home now. Did you win with the fire or was it just the heating on? I've never heard of a face like a fiddle, I assume that means Thomas is not a happy boy then? The paper towel dispenser looked just like a hand dryer, but yes I did feel like a silly billy, but at least it gave us all a laugh.

Nothing's blown over yet Ann, but one pot is trying it's best. Hopefully it'll stay put as I don't feel like going out to pick it up, plus it's at the back of the new water feature, so I don't want that damaged.

I'm like you Ann, I have to say Gill with a "G" otherwise it's spelt with a "J" The only person who always spelt my name with a "J" was my late Nan, so unless it's on an official form I don't mind people spelling it incorrectly, it makes me think of Nan.
I remember when I did some work experience when I was in college and I said Gill with a "G" when I left they written a card saying Gill with a G String lol. I've still got the card somewhere.
It sounds like you're doing well for your bargains this week. Can I come shopping with you one day? ;-) ;-)

I did manage to find a bargain just before Christmas, we needed a slightly smaller artificial Christmas tree and found a really good bushy one for a fiver in a charity shop. It was lovely especially with the 400 lights I put on it and fit perfectly in the alcove without rubbing up against the new wallpaper I'd put up, so I was very pleased with that. I hope you find the red bulb you need soon. Do you have a "Rightway" near you? We've got one in our village and they do all sorts of stuff like that, it's very handy and saves us having to travel out somewhere just for the small items we need.

I've started with a really annoying tickly cough today, I choked on a drink last night and ever since I've had this horrible cough. I think I might take some cough medicine and have a drink....hopefully not choking on the drink again this time. With a bit of luck it'll help.

chuckled at Ann Withanee Anne. I always find when having to give my name to anybody that I have to stop them adding the 'e'. I was once told that it is more usual for Scottish Annes to have the 'E'

It is nasty here, very wet and very windy. we popped out this morning to Dunelm near Cheltenham for coffee. I needed to replace a saucepan and we need a red bulb for the electric fire. We went to Dunelm and Homebase. dunelm provided a saucepan the right size, OH found it in the reduced shelf without a lid. None of the other saucepans they had at anything between 15 and over 30 pounds were exactly what I was looking for. None had 'dishwasher safe' on them for one thing. anyway the pan OH found was £5 without a lid and I knew my existing glass lid would fit (and it did) so I got that, don't need to worry about it not being dishwasher safe. It is pretty solid and was originally £15.

Couldn't get the fire bulb though so will have another try elsewhere. I see on line that Tesco, Morrisons and Asda all do them. Supposedly - our Tesco didn't have one yesterday. If push comes to shove we can order one on line. Bring back the little ironmongerers.

Sorry to hear that yesterday was a lost day Frank. Sounds like the tablets were a bit too violent for your tum.

Gill as you can see the weather here is pretty awful, luckily nothing seems to have blown over as yet.

goodness all those pheasants Mel, they must be rounding up all their friends passing on the message that there is free food at yours

:-D :-D

Morning from a wet and windswept me. My word its horrible out there today.I went to post a couple of cards ;-) and then went on to Rushden Lakes to M&S.Just to the foodhall .The car was buffeted around in the wind and a few times I had to hang on tight to the steering wheel. I shalln't be going out again today thats for sure.

Mel those Candles look brilliant ,you have done a great job :-D

Gill, I bet you did feel a silly billy not spotting the paper towel dispenser :-D. It is easy done though.I am sure I have done the same in the past.

I wonder how Ann's knee is today. No doubt we will hear from here later.

Frank, maybe now you have had a good 'turn out' you will feel much better in yourself now. I bet Biggles will be sat right beside you :-D. Have you got him for the day? Nice company for you :-D.

Anne Withanee !!!!!! Love it :-D :-D Jane was quite a popular name when I was at school.I think there were 3 of us in the same class at primary .One was with a Y .

When we chose the name Hannah I didn't know any other Hannahs. But when she started Nursery there were 2 others as well as our Hannah.She is still good friends with one of them.I think it was the same with James.

We are having a discussion whether to light the fire or not. I say light it as it will cheer the place up and Chris wants the heating and no fire :-S. Thomas couldnt give a fig he just wants it to stop raining so he can go out :-D. He has a face like a fiddle :-S

What a number of Pheasants you have now Mel ! They know where to come for their meals :-D :-D

I think I might have soup for lunch. I got a little pot of Pea and Ham Hock the other day and I quite fancy that now with a slice of Sourdough bread.

I'm not surprised you didn't sleep well all night Frank with having so much sleep during the day. You must of needed it though. I hope your tum is better today and everything is back to normal. I see you have Biggles, that'll be some company for you.
Pleased to see you posting again we were all a bit worried when you weren't on here yesterday. <3

The wind is picking up again here but at least the sun is out and it's not raining anymore. The blue tits have been back to the new seed feeder again which is nice to see and we've had a few Blackbirds mulling around to.

I thought I had better pop in, to let you know how things are.

I mentioned I have had trouble going to the toilet, Well the night before last I took two tablets, as prescribed by the Dr. Yesterday morning we got up around 7.30 all fine. By 8.00 I felt terrible, and went back to bed. Between then and 2.30 I was in and out of bed, sleeping or visiting my white friend. I then slept until 4.45. Nothing to eat or drink. Dropped off during the evening, hence I didn't sleep all night. I was up this morning at 4.30. Sat reading until Ros got up at 9.00. I have since had a piece of toast , A shower and shave, Now dressed and sitting in the armchair. Feeling fine at the moment.

Speak later. xxxx

We have BIGGLES. I will give you th low down later.

It seems to be a morning of me missing posts today.

How lovely to see nine pheasants Mel, did you manage to get a pic? We haven't seen many birds lately what with the weather the way it's been and all the noise coming from the workmen next door. We bought a new seed feeder the other day and did notice a couple of blue tits on it yesterday afternoon which Sandra was pleased about, but apart from that and one Starling eating the meal worms it's been very quiet on the bird front. Maybe we'll have a few more today with it being quiet.

Morning Ann, didn't see you there

I hope the weather isn't to bad for you if you go out and definitely not as bad as we had it yesterday. I'm expecting the wind to come back later, it's what it said on the weather forecast yesterday and tomorrow is suppose to be really bad which I'm not looking forward to. That's the one thing I don't like, the wind, it can be very scary sometimes and it can cost a fortune to repair all the damage it can do.
Wrap up warm and keep safe <3

Morning all,

Very wet and windy here todayand dark and gloomy.

Di is coming this morning so I better get tidied up as I have things all over the place.

I need to top up our meds too into the boxes for the days.

I hope we hear from Frank today as I am getting worried now not hearing from him yesterday. I hope they are both alright and nothing serious has happened.

Had the nine female pheasent down just now for their breakfast. They are eating me out of house and home. I shall have to go and get some more chicken food on Monday.