General Chat

All showered and shaved, been for an inspection of the "ESTATE" all tickerty bo. So no worries there.

It wasn't Valerie, it was PAM from next door to ask if we will put the bins out as they are off to the Cotswolds until Friday. I did ask if there was room in the boot for me to go along, but she just laughed.

You can see from today's photo's how the lawn is covered, hope you like the others. !!

It's turned warm out now. I have asked Ros if she would like a drive out, and have a bit of lunch, but she's not bothered, so it looks like I will be cooking again this evening. What can I do for a change ???

Glad you are better today Mel, nothing worse that keep visiting your "WHITE FRIEND" I should know :-D :-D :-D

Jane, YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING. !!! why don't you tell yourself this before going out :-D :-D :-D Chris will have even less space for his PANTS lol

What's the odds on Ann and OH are off for lunch somewhere nice. ENJOY IT.

Has your weather improved yet Gill, so you can get on the garden ???

How's little CASSIE this morning Liz, Enjoying this warmer weather for her walks. You and Ian will be as fit as the "BUTCHERS DOG" with all this walking.

Time for a bit of lunch and a coffee, and a rummage through the freezer. I know there are some duck breasts in there, so that might be a good start.

Morning All,

Sunny here but chilly wind,
Grandkids ok still itchy waiting for the spots to scab over.
I seem so far to be fine. no spots , but yesterday kept itching probably just cos I was thinking about it.

Cleaned the cooker this morning, and my job for this afternoon is to clean big bathroom,

Thanks for pics from everyone, off to get a coffee and then hang some washing out.,

morning Jane didn't see you there, enjoy your shopping trip with Hannah

That's a bit early for visitors Frank, hope nothing's wrong.

Glad to hear you and your OH are feeling better today Mel.

Plodding though everything I've recorded today. I record a mixture of things and some of what I'd recorded I'd forgotten about. I've also recorded quite a lot of stuff on my set top box too, so plenty to keep us busy today. It's nice to just sit and relax for a change.

I had a message today off one of the tree match's I found before Michelle arrived and it contained a website all about Wolverhampton, which is where some of my family originated from. It includes some birth, death and marriage info, so as I was watching the TV I had a quick look and found four new peeps for my tree.

Unfortunately they all died before their 2nd birthday's and because they were born and died in between the census returns, if it hadn't of been for the website I would never of known about them. It's so sad how children didn't live very long in the 1800's.

Off to get another cuppa now and watch another program...... I'm making the most of it, it'll be back to all the housework tomorrow <3

Morning /Evening All

We have a lovely start to the day here.Hopefully it stays like this.

Glad you are feeling better today Mel..It really knocks the stufffing out of you .You won't feel like doing much at all today .

Frank it was just an easy dinner last night.She did Chicken Breasts with Pesto Mozzarella and wrapped with Pancetta,then loads of griddled Asparagus and Charlotte Potatoes done in the oven in a bit of Olive Oil and sprinkled with dried Basil and Oregano..Pudd was Fresh Strawberries,Raspberries,Blueberries and Vanilla Ice-Cream.It was all very nice :-(

I think those Butterflies were very big Gill,,But Amelia is a little dot so anything would look big against her LOL

Hannah and I are going off to Nex* shortly .She needs to change some jeans.I might have a little look just to see if there is anything I might need ;-)..You never know :-D

Morning all evening Kim,

Here I am I slept all day yesterday and all last night. No more trips to the loo thank goodness but I feel really drained. Just had boiled water yesterday and am having my first cuppa whilst reading your posts.

Oh is much better and I was'nt as bad as he. He did the chickens and hogs for me yesterday so I did'nt have to worry about them.

Lovely pics Jane and what a little cracker Amelia is. Such beautiful dark eyes.

Morning my sweet things, Evening Kim,

I do hope Mel and OH are feeling a little better this morning.

That must have been dodgy driving a car with a broken seat back. Good job you weren't stopped by the NICK NICKS. !!!!

Well Jane DO TELL us what you had to eat last night. It's alright saying it smells good, but that tells us northing.

Ann those pony paining is very good. Such a lot of details, and the colours are just as imagine them to be.

No plans for today, we had a lay in this morning 9.15. All fed and watered, and Ros is sorting her tablets.

The door bell has just rung. It's SID'S VALERIE. I wonder what she want at this time of the morning ??? Better go a poke my nose in. :-D :-D :-D

Morning all

Sun's out today but it's windy and not that warm.

I didn't realise how many programs I'd recorded and still have plenty more to get through so I didn't manage to get back on here yesterday. OH is back in work tomorrow so we needed to watch the things I'd recorded for him as well.

Thanks for the pic of Amelia, she's a pretty girl and the butterfly looked massive on her hand. I assume her hand is small which made the butterfly look bigger than it actually was. Sounds like you're having fun with your packing, I'm sure things will be changed and changed again before you go ;-) ;-).

The painting you did Ann of the horses was great, you are so clever. Sandra loves horses, mind you she loves most animals, but horses and dolphin's are her favourites.

Sorry to hear you're not well now Mel, hope you and your OH feel better soon. Cooled boiled water is good for upset tums and also dry toast seems to work too. If you keep away from dairy products you should be ok <3 <3.

Oh dear Mandy, having to buy a new boiler, that's not going to be cheap, your old one lasting 30 years was good, let's hope you find another good one now, and your glasses breaking as well, let's hope there isn't a third thing to go wrong for you.

My mouth was watering when you were talking about the lamb meal you made Frank, I love lamb and could eat it every day.

Going to finish watching the programs we recorded today before OH goes back to work tomorrow. I only had 10% left on the planner but now's it's almost at 70%, so not much left to watch now.
BBL <3

That must have been difficult without being able to lean back in the seat Mandy! Talk about hang on to the steering wheel!! It would be so easy to forget not to lean back!! :-0 Dad had a little old Austin van I used to drive and I used to have to change the seat position from the chap who drove it at work. Once I didn't realise, but had pulled the seat forward in front of the first stop and hadn't checked that it had 'clicked' into place. I was driving home in the lane near the middle of the road and had to brake a bit sharply at an island. My seat slid right forwards and the movement made my foot go harder still on the brake and stop the van with me ending up nearly under the dashboard. Luckily there wasn't much traffic about then and I managed to push the seat back ok. I was more bothered about someone rushing up to help and seeing my knickers!!! Yes, even I was surprised to be driving his car again so soon. It is a bit nerve wracking with it being new and with him sat at the side of me though, especially going through the city today. Frank, the seat and steering wheel both adjust up and down and in and out. I had the seat the highest it will go and the steering wheel as far in and as far up as it will go. I think if I lower the seat a little and tilt it back a bit (it is very upright!) I might be ok. I suspect most cars are designed by MEN who don't design for us shorter ladies! In his old car in order to reach the pedals I was almost in front of the gearstick and had to move my head to check the wing mirrors. It's not that I sit close to the pedals either as I had a boyfriend who told me to always sit far enough back so you can just reach to push the clutch right down. He said in an accident you were further from the steering wheel damaging you then. I think I shall sit in it in the drive tomorrow and try a few adjustments. One thing that is good is that the seatbelt strap has better adjustment than his old car and doesn't sit across my neck where my jugular vein is!!

Frank I would have loved your lamb meal you had tonight. It made my mouth water reading your post..

Mandy I can't imagine trying to drive with the seat back broken !!.It must have been so difficult just not to lean back !!!!!!!!!!

Amelia will be 5 on the 13th .She is a pretty little girl isn't she.She is so tiny though.I have a feeling she might be in aged 3 clothing.Must ask my Sister.
I think I will sign out for the night now x
See you in the morning :-D

Just starting to spit here Frank.I can see spots on the window.Some iffy looking clouds up there though :-S
Shall we just address you as Chef ? Sounds like dinner was huge success.
Hannah is in the kitchen here (at last) .I have been chucked out now :-D :-D
Chris and I are sat waiting for food..It is smelling tasty .I am so hungry !!!

Thanks Jane for the photo's of Amelia and the Butterflies ,she's a pretty little girl with those dark eyes and her lovely dark hair ,sh's looking so grown up now .
How old is she ?

You are honored Ann getting to drive the new car again :-D i always have the seat right back when i drive ,when we have it washed they always bring the seat forward and i have to move it back before i can drive it ,i have to have the seat back upright too, when son drives it he moves the back of the seat so he's sort of laying in it ,i couldn't drive it like that !!
I remember on one of the cars we had the seat back broke ,it's a heck of a job driving the car like that but we had to get the car home and every time i braked i had to really hang on to the the steering wheel so i didn't go shooting flat on my back !!

I can see blue sky now it's turned out to be a nice evening .

YOU ARE NOW TALKING TO A CONTESTANT OF "MASTER CHEF" Sorry I didn't know caps were on.

I cooked half a leg of lamb, new potato's, fresh peas, carrots, broad beans runner beans, Brussels and cauliflower. No Yorkshire today as there was so much. I made my own mint sauce from the garden. Madam cleared her plate completely and said "It was the best meal ever" What does that say about my other meals- :-D :-D

Peeing with rain here, it looks like we are in for a wet evening. No worries, I'm not going anywhere !!!

Mandy what are you like ?? Two pairs of glass's and a boiler !!! Can't trust you with anything lol

What is it with you WOMEN and cloths. Whenever we went to Rutland for a weekend, the car was loaded with her cloths, I took what I needed and still found I didn't wear everything. That made me smile about your Mum Jane 22 pairs of pants :-D :-D

How's things will you Mel, improving I hope.

Ann , are you getting use to driving OHs car. Does it have setting for the wheel for different drivers. ?? I know John's Range Rover adjust the seat, steering wheel and all manor of things. But it did cost around £100,000 So I would expect it to have an AUTO PILOT ;-) ;-) ;-)

Not much of interest on the Tele till 9.00 pm when that new six part war drama starts, should be up my street. Until then I will read my book.

See you later.

Ann I know the feeling having to pull the seat so far forward and tummy getting in the way lol.I find when Hannah has driven my car and I get in I can hardly squeeze myself in .She must have shorter legs than me as the seat is so far forward.

I always bring half my clothes back unworn from a trip.I put too many tops in....You just don't know what you will want to wear.Chris just packs the right number of shirts .One for each day and then maybe a couple of spare.I just pack the whole darned wardrobe LOL..It is so much easier for men..My suitcase is bigger than Chris's :-S..I wonder why.He will pack the right number of pairs of pants .One for each day...I pack double lol ,I don't know why.I think it is is just a 'lady thing'..I might have said this before but when Janice and I went on a cruise with Mum(when mum was in early days of Dementia) I thought best just to check Mums suitcase.She had packed 22 pairs of pants ....for a week!!!!!!..Well we did have a laugh as I pulled one after one out of the suitcase.I think we let her take a dozen.
Now the big question is.....how many pairs of shoes do I take :-D :-D

Afternoon All,

We went to a little art exhibition at a place called Kirby Bellars, near Melton Mowbray after lunch. OH was keen to come with me, but chucked me his car keys to drive him there. Luckily (for him!) he was remarkably quiet in the passenger seat so I didn't mind! I'm going to have to fiddle with the seat height in his car as as I need it pulled right forward to reach the pedals and the steering wheel is a bit close for comfort and won't adjust any higher. Being a bit slimmer would help too!! :-S We were travelling through cloudbursts as we came home but it's dry again now.

Oh Mandy fancy both pairs of glasses needing repair! It's a good job you managed to fix one. Now the boiler as well.......mind you it has done very well to last that long........MORE BILLS!!

Jane I've told OH to get my case down from the loft next week so I'll be doing the same as you, stuff in then out as I change my mind. I bought a nice grey cardigan last week that will go with everything. I need more things like that! In fact I need a holiday wardrobe where everything goes with everything so I only need take half as much. I tend to bring half back unworn anyway. Also the boot on this car is smaller than we've been used to so I don't think we will be able to just sling everything in we 'MIGHT' want this time. I've started on my hayfever tablets now.....my nose has started tingling!! It's always when the rapeseed flowers are blooming. That is a lovely photo of Amelia with the butterfly!!

I bet your blossom looks like pretty confetti Frank. D :-D It's good to have a lazy day sometimes and recharge your batteries. We've done nothing this afternoon and I see Gill is watching films too.

That's good your OH is feeling a bit better Mel. Let's hope it's mild attack if you are getting it. Sipping the water is a good idea.

I'm doing some more painting now........seeing the exhibition has set me off!! lol. :-

Just sent 2 pics of Amelia with butterflies

I wonder how Liz's day has been
.I hope the weather behaved and I bet little Cassie was the star :-D :-D

Mel any developments yet? or has tummy settled?

Just going to fry onions here now so every window and door is open LOL

Oh no Mandy that is going to be one big EXPENSE for a new boiler and getting those specs sorted :-S 30 years with the old boiler is amazing..They never last as long as that nowadays do they .I was told 10 years is about right now.

Well I started off in a jumper this morning ,then changed into a long sleeved linen top and now I am in short sleeves !!!!! Still no rain .It looks like it might have blown over as there is a fair bit of blue sky appearing.

I am stood in the kitchen making that rice and lentil dish AGAIN..it is a request for tomorrow.Just doing the lentils now and then all the smelly stuff will begin with the onions, chillies etc..it is a bit of a faff to do but it's just so nice with the sauce.I might leave the sauce to cook until tomorrow.I'll see how I go.

Mandy I will change my mind about some of the clothes right up until the very last minute.I always do lol Chris will have all his stuff packed neatly and ready to go and there will be me dragging a few things out of my suitcase and putting different things in !!!..I always say I will be organised but never am :-S
Right I now need to cook the Vermicelli and rice
Back in a mo

Not warm and humid here Jane ,hubby has lit the fire !!

I use to hate packing , i would hang clothes out and decide what to wear with what and then change my mind and start over again !!
And the dreams i use to have before we went away !! all to do with clothes :-D
It shouldn't be to hot there should it ? so light cardi's over tops and light weight trousers should do i would think ,oh and comfy shoes and sandals.

Afternoon all,

It's been raining here all the morning and just stopped , i think the sun is trying to shine but there is so much cloud today , the garden has had a nice drink every where was so dry , the weeds will shoot up now !!

Oh dear Fiona the poor little ones i hope they are not too spotty and itchy ,DIL was saying the other day that Chicken pox was about , the little ones had it all at the same time ,there's only Lewis who hasn't .

Oh not you as well Mel, i suppose it was only a matter of time before you got it ,it usually goes through the house :-(

Well it's looking like we might have to have a new boiler , we had the plumber out the other day because it was striking up and running them trying to strike up again when it was already running , the plumber friend came and took a look and said that if it was a gas value we wouldn't get one as they don't make them any more for our boiler ,he did replace the control panel as hubby had one that his plumber brother gave him before he retired ,it was one from a stripped out boiler like ours but now it's still playing up so it's looking like it is a gas value .
Now we have to decide what make of boiler we buy , the plumber said the Winch*ster boilers were good as they are the ones he's called out the least for .
The one we have now is a Pott*rton and we've had that fitted nearly thirty years ago so we've had our moneys worth out of it .

I broke my glasses yesterday the arm came off and they are my bifocals ,i also have a pair i use for reading and stitching and would you believe it i laid them down after knitting when i picked them up the lens fell out of that pair !!! i manged to find the tiny screw and screwed it back in so at least i have a pair for reading .
So you can see were i will be on Tuesday ....more expense !!! :-0 :-(

Frank it looks quite stormy here now :-S..But it is soon warm and quite humid .
Ros is welcome to come and do the inside of my kitchen windows if she fancies.Mine are covered in splashes from the taps.But I have to climb on the work surface to get to them so they can wait for another day.Especially as I will be cooking and more water splashing later.

My bedroom looks like a clothes shop at the moment.I have got a load of things out from the wardrobe trying to decide what to pack .Looking at the forecast for Paris is looks fairly warm and only a possible couple of showers.So no thick clothing needed .I will put a warm cardigan in and my light coat.
Fitz is going to take us to the station on Thursday morning :-D so that'll save us having to get a taxi .We don't fancy leaving the car in the station car park for 6 days as anything could happen to it .You never know these days with vandals and it is out in the open .
Hannah said she will cook dinner tonight.I won't hold my breath LOL.Mind you there are a few hours to go yet :-D

The smell of pollen in the air here right now is so strong.It's horrible.A nice big shower might just get rid of it.The clouds are whizzing by so quickly going eastwards.heading towards Mandy :-S

My Sister and OH took Amelia to a Butterfly Farm yesterday..She sent me the most lovely photo of Amelia with a huge butterfly on her hands. I will forward it.