General Chat

Morning all and evening Kim,

Liz I did'nt know you had a water garden nursery, my first hubby and I had a pet shop and pond centre.

Oh's kio are really quite big now. When he bought them they were about 7 or 8 inc hes long but now they are big enough to eat with chip as our friend said the other day. It's hard to get a pic of them when the sun shines on the water but I must try again. My goldfish were spawning the other day and through into the night. they just don't leave the girls alone. Oh said I should get rid of some of the males.

Another lovely day here today and I should really go shopping. We'll see.......

I am starving this morning so I'm going to get something to eat as I did'nt have much curry last night.

After he left the Fleet Airarm, OH did a three year horticultural course only coming home at w/ends, which was a bit tough with two very young children, but I had brilliant parents, which was a great asset!! After working in a well known Garden Centre for a couple of years we came to own a Water Garden Nursery, and I can remember the Gunneras growing like mad even in pots, they were such happy days and we all spent a lot of time helping 'Dad'. What I mostly remember were the beautiful Koi Carp, they were very popular, although even in those days, were very expensive. In the end we sold the Nursery, we had an offer we couldn't refuse, and that ended a really happy period of our lives!
Cassie is brilliant. She is now sleeping in her crate at night in the utility room!! bed at 10.30, which is when we go most nights, and not a murmur till 6.30!! She really is doing very well. Mind you we have been quite firm with her, and now have a fairly good routine going in the hopes of laying down good behaviour for later on when she will have to be left when we go away, and also when we have people here! Bit like a child really!!
Another lovely day! I have the Dentist later on, then a quick trip to Tesco's. Son and partner are coming on Saturday for the day, so I'd better make sure that the cupboard is full!!

Evening all

The rain has finally stopped here. They were saying on the news earlier how there was a North South divide where the weather was concerned and showed lots of people in the sun down south in swim wear on the beach and then up here everyone walking around in their winter coats. It was that cold before I had to put he heating on. On a positive I didn't have to water the garden :-D :-D. Mother Nature did it for me lol.

Yes not long to go to Sandra's birthday it's the 28th she's really looking forward to seeing her sister again, she hasn't seen her since she moved out last September and a shopping trip has now been planned for her big day followed by drinks and music in the evening. Better find my comfy flat shoes if we're going to be walking around shops all day. I hope the weather is better than it has been lately.

Sandra keeps her eye on her strawberry's everyday through the summer Jane and last year she had loads. I only bought 3 plants a few years ago and ended up making 23 plants with all the suckers so she has plenty to see her through summer.

She's been watching all the birds lately, they seem to love the rain and jump in my pots by the kitchen and living room window. Our living room is in the back so we have a great view of the garden. Rosie came for her nuts again the other day, then yesterday I thought she was back but it was another tame one, it came to the back door but ran away once we opened the door. I said to Sandra to give it some time and it might be back again. At this rate we're going to have a family of them arriving for their meals. Sandra thinks it's great.

She was made up Mel when I told her about your Robin's nesting in your pots and asked if you had a photo, but I said you probably couldn't get one without disturbing them.

I bet all your gardens look lovely with all the work you've all been doing lately. Luckily we had one good days weather the other day so OH managed to get the grass cut and I managed to tidy the patio up a bit so it doesn't look to bad for tomorrow. OH has to work all day so I'll be doing the viewing on my own again.

I wonder how little Cassie's getting on, hope all is going well. I watched a program on adoption of pets tonight called "Give a Pet a Home" on ITV. It was really good. I think it's on for the next 6 weeks.

I've not done much today so had another look at my family tree. I seem to have hit a brick wall with it. Hoping I can find some tree match's on here to give it a kick start again.

Well, off to bed now, got to be up early in the morning
Night Night <3

O yes Ann we hav'nt heard from Maureen for a while have we?

I am signing out now as I want to have a shower and watch Bear Grylls and Ellie and Adam's Secret Britain.

Jane the gunnera is the huge leaved plant like gigantic rhubarb. Oh had to cut it out of the dumpy thing he planted it in two years ago.

Night night see you in the morning.

You have been a busy bee too Mandy and how quick you have been knitting those jackets for the girls. I bet your planters will be a very smart addition as the new plants fill out. No, I did hope to find some money down the settees, but no luck! I did find some of OH's crumbs though and a few beads. I nearly skinned my knuckles getting them out. I found a couple of pearls on the floor underneath one of the settees.......amongst a few lumps of fluff and there was me thinking it would still be clean underneath them!! Yes it looks very bare now and with a bit of an echo. OH isn't getting on too well with the conservatory chair as he's used to sprawling the length of a settee.......says his legs keep going numb. I think he'll have to rest them on a stool. Is your new table bigger Mandy? When I changed mine years ago none of my tablecloths would fit as the previous one I had was oval.

Mel, I bet the Gunnera was heavy to deal with!! I hope your little Robin manages to raise her chicks ok. That was good finding the strawberry plants. I had a fruit cage with some at my last house and the homegrown varieties are always far tastier than the supermarket ones.

Jane, OH wanted to see the film you saw today and thinks it has already done the rounds here. As you say, not the cheeriest of subjects. My bugbear today has been slow drivers who don't seem able to stay on their own side of the road down narrow lanes especially on bends. I nearly dropped in some enormous potholes to avoid them when I went to meet OH for lunch.

Nice to hear from Will again.......he's spoiling us with 2 appearances in 2 days! I wonder if Maureen is still having trouble swapping her internet? :-S

I will have to look up Gunerra (sp?) is it something that looks like a Banana Plant?I know I have heard of the name.I have never eaten a Pickled Egg..Do they still have them in big jars on the counters of Fish and Chip shops?

Ann we are going to see that film in 2 weeks .Was it good? Chris is going to a film on his own next week.I think it is called Still Life?? I better check on that title as I am not sure. :-S Yes it is Still Life.I'm not sure why I said I didn't fancy it but after seeing the trailer today it actually looks good.But he already has his ticket so I will give it a miss.
Love the word TWONK Mel :-D..I remember that :-D

Two days on the trot, well, is that a record for me just lately? What a lovely day it turned out to be. Got my winter coat washed, hung out and dried - let's hope I won't be needing it again until next winter!

Just pottering around in the garden today, filling up the 'green bin' ready for collection on Friday morning. Isn't it funny how you can go in the garden to do one or two jobs and every time you turn around, there is something else to e done. Haven't got any plants to go in our baskets or planters so far, there may still be a frost around yet. We have an azalea that was bought as a present a couple of years ago. It has tried so hard to bloom over the cold months and each time the frost or rain has got at the buds. However, with this warm and sunny spell it as at last won through and has lots of white blossoms. Nature is so marvelous.

Carmel is at the diabetic clinic in the morning which usually isn't a problem. I'm going back to the lady doctor who took me off Lanzaprozole as she didn't think I needed it any more - result - reflux every night after my meal! Methinks she needs to go back to med school. Talking medicine, with the spring here I've started my morning sneezing fits again so have dug out the antihistimines again. Usually helps out although I never had any time of hay fever until these later years.

Tonight we are going to watch BBC 1 'Secret Britain'. We missed it last week but are great fans of Country File and think this should be interesting as two of the team are in it..

That will do me for now, catch up with you all soon.

I have now helped oh repot out BIG gunnera into a plactic barrel he cut in half and then pickled two big jars of bantam eggs.

Curry for us tonight with pomps.

Mandy you've been busy too and Ros and Frank it's surprising what you can get done when the sun shines.

I have just realized I hav'nt put the second lot of washing out. What a twonk!!!! :-| :-| :-|

Shot a baby bunny when I went to corn the big girls. So that one down and two to go.

Glad you both enjoyed your films this afternoon and what a big lunch Jane. I bet you sat there stuffed to the gills. Still you won't want anything tonight.

£14 !!!!!!! down the side of just one chair..Crikey Mandy it must have been lumpy lol.That is quite an amount.I find the odd £ coin and a few bits of other loose change .It us usually from James's pockets .

The film was excellent but one you didn't come out feeling happy from.Very thought provking though.There were only a few empty seats.We enjoyed our lunch ,but I think because Chris just normal has fruit for his lunch now all those Carbs have left him feeling so tired and lethargic.He had Bruschetta with red Onion,tomato and something else then a big Pizza and Desert. I had an Aubergine dish(just a little pot type dish) then Ham Hock and Pea Risotto (delish)then the desert....Proper piggies we were :-S

Looks like I will out for lunch on Friday too now as Chris was going to take his ex colleague for their monthly meal but she has to go to a funeral ....So no cooking for me on Friday too :-D :-D No complaints there :-D

Oh Gill your poor Mum.I hope she doesn't have to wait too long for her appointment for tests.It must be a worry for you.
Hope tomorrows viewing will be a positive one this time.You never know :-D
I bet Sandra watches the Strawberries going waiting them to turn from green to white to lovely Red :-D and then enjoying the picking and eating :-D :-D :-D.That is one thing we have not grown.In fact we have never grown soft fruits. Her Birthday isn't too far off now.Is she getting excited :-D

So Mel and Frank have been busy Bees in the garden today again.Mandy busy too washing all those toys!!!Good job you have a shed big enough to keep all the children things in Mandy. :-D
My toe is MUCH better now thanks.I jut have to be careful not to bash it and also I have to watch out when I dry my feet after a shower and make sure I don't rub too hard with the towel.It still looks quite bruised but at least no longer painful.

James is late.He has gone to see either Johnny's Mum or his friend Jake.I have a Red Chicken Curry ready to bung in the oven for him when he gets in.

I have seen so many people(men) on their mobile phones while driving today .Some texting :-S :-S..It makes me so cross.Especially those texting .How the heck can they keep their eyes on the road??? They can't :-S

Chris is watering the garden.I just hung out the washing that I should have done before we went out.I just didn't have time as the washing cycle finished 5 minutes before we left.
Looks like we have had the last of the really warm weather now.Back to normal temps for the time of year.

What film has Ann gone to see today? Bet her feet were warm with her socks :-D
Our Cinema was just right today temp wise :-D

Oh Frank watch your white bits don't get sunburn!! :-0 I can't believe it has been raining anywhere today either. Poor Gill, still not able to get out there and spruce up for her viewing tomorrow. Good luck with it anyway Gill. Hopefully if their house is under offer they will be really keen to find another place. That news must have worried your mum a bit, but hopefully the tests she will have won't find anything too serious.

It was quite chilly in the cinema and I put my coat over my knees halfway through. The film was The Woman in Gold, a true story about a jewish family who had their paintings confiscated but won them back many years later. We saw the trailer for the new version of Far From The Madding Crowd we want to see, but we must be becoming old fogies as we thought it looked too modern! :-S

Frank, try pressing the key on your keyboard labelled INSERT once and I think that will fix your problem.

Evening all,

What a lovely day it's been ,sun shine and bright blue sky ,so i too have been in the garden , i did get my shopping done first thing this morning then called into the garden centre and bought plants to go in the wall planters that hubby has made so i have been planting them out .
I then washed all the childrens outside toys, bikes scooters etc that have been stored in the shed so they are all ready for them to ride on when they come .
I washed all my floors and then sat and did a little knitting ,i'am on the last Jacket ,just got the rib round the neck to do and then sew it up , they do look nice i'am sure they will all be pleased with them.

My new dining table should be here first thing in the morning so we will have to up with the Lark !!
Our old table is going to sons so hubby will load that into the van and take that down to them .

We've just had Pork Pie new pots and salad it went down a treat .

Hope all goes well tomorrow with the viewing Gill ,you must get an offer soon surly ,it's been a few weeks since the last ones so fingers crossed for tomorrow .
Oh so it might have been a heart attack your mum had ,i hope the appointment soon comes through for her so they can give her the right treatment .

Mel, how is the robins nest ? eggs still in the nest ?
And how is OH's back ? better i hope .

Ann doesn't the room seem empty and hollow when the sofa's are out , did you find any treasures down the sides of the seats ? any money ?
When we got rid of our last chairs hubby found about fourteen pound down the side of his chair all in loose change !!! it was like sitting on a piggy bank :-D :-D

Hope you have enjoyed your lunch out and cinema Jane ,is your toe better now ?

Gill. I am so surprised that you have the rain. Not rubbing it in, but I have been in shorts and stripped to the waist all day. I have just come in to start dinner. Ros is still beavering away with planting hanging baskets.,

Ann,the choice of the garage, two sheds and the greenhouse, so I am not short of places to go to !!!!

I bet the cinema's are quite chilly after being out in the sun, but you will soon warm up in this weather,hen you come out.

I don't know what's happened to the keyboard, if I want to back space and type something else, it wipes out the letter in front of what you type. So no mistakes, well not many I HOPE.

Mel, You make me feel tired just thinking of what you have got done today. I am pleased with what I have done, and this afternoon I have been a gofer for Ros. Put this hanging basket there, NO NOT THERE over there. !!!

Nice easy tea/dinner tonight Spare Ribs in Chinese marinade, Chips and sweet corn , I might do a few baked beans for myself.

If madam has finished now, I will go out a do a bit of watering.

Football down the pub this evening. It will mean I will have to try the beer to make sure it hasn't gone off
:-D :-D :-D :-D

Afternoon all

You are all lucky to have the sunshine, it's raining here so another day of not being able to get out in the garden again. I hope the sun comes out for the viewing tomorrow. Hope it's not another time waster. Apparently it's a woman from Mold who's property is under offer, but I won't raise my hopes, been here quite a few times now so don't expect much anymore.

I hope you enjoy your films Ann and Jane.

I love your pics of your garden Frank, and your greenhouse is so full. I bought some strawberry plants a few years back and then made more from the suckers which are in our greenhouse in pots so we can take them with us when, or if, we ever move. I bought them for Sandra as she is the only one who likes them and she's loves picking strawberries all through the summer to have with ice cream. It's a joy to see her face.

It sounds like everyone has been quite busy lately.

My mum has to go for further tests on her heart, they think she might of had a heart attack, so now's she waiting for the appointment to come through. They told her if they find anything then she'll be called in straight away, so at least she won't have to wait long for treatment if that's what she needs. In the meantime they've put her back on her beta blockers, although she has to stop taking them 3 days before her tests.

Sandra's got my afternoon all sorted I've recorded a couple of films so she's decided we're going to watch them before dinner. I must admit it's nice to sit and watch a chic flick every now and then.
BBL <3

Iv'e been busy in the garden too. I have cut down all th eold strings for the clematis, tied new one up as it is growing well now. Tied up the little clem as you go onto the decking from the patio. Done some weeding and found five strawberry plants I forgot I had and shall put those in my stacking pots when I get the compost. They have flowers on them already!!! and they are Cambridge Favorite which is always a winner.

Washed out both bird baths.

Done a little ironing and two lots of washing. Got lunch and washed up and now I am going back out in the garden.

So all in all I have had a good morning.

When I took the mash round to the big girls there were three baby bunnies in thier run!!!! All stayed there for quite a while then disappeared under the chicken house. The rabbit trap has now come out of the workshop!!!!!!!!!

Frank the garden is looking really good at the mo and your beans are way ahead. Mine hav'nt even come up yet. Can we have a pic of the new water feature please?

Bet Jane is in the cinema now missing all this nice weather. Hope she enjoyed her lunch and the film was worth it.

Ann too. :-D

Nice to hear from William and am sending my love to Carmel and hope the injection in the knee helps.

Good luck with the new viewing Gill.

I wonder what Mandy is up to today.?

I hope she's not listening Frank or your next garden job will be building a 'doghouse' for you to be in!! lol. I see you have been busy again this morning. I am hoping to get out there doing some planting and pruning tomorrow. Good idea to give your back a rest now and not overdo it. It's a pity we all get these bad backs when we are retired and just when we have time to do our gardens. :-S

Off to put some socks on for the cinema now. The aircon can be draughty around the ankles!

Not yet Ann, Have been grafting in the garden.

Have planted 6 strawberry plants, 3 mint plants in the Belfast sink, planted honey suckle . Emptied the three tier planter, Ros is now putting new liner in it and fresh compost. Then she will plant it up. with all she bought yesterday. I had the job of lifting a 60 litre bag of compost and putting it in the barrow and bringing it up to the patio. I have also planted a dozen fressia's for madam to pick when they are ready (her favourite flower)

I still have all the beans to plant, but somehow I think that will be a job for tomorrow. !!!!

I have just come in to give my back a rest. All this bending is doing me no good, but it makes a change from BOWING to her ladyship. :-D :-D :-D :-D

Well, I got everything done and am about to shoot off to the carvery. My car is all sparkling after the polish chaps gave it a good clean. A very handsome one greeted me with the biggest, dazzling smile asking how my day was and if I was 'good'. You don't get that from many of the english chaps do you unless you are a pretty young thing. ;-)

I hope you enjoy the film and your meal Jane, we are going to the cinema after lunch too so I shall be thinking of Frank on his lounger as well. lol.

Morning my little flowers, Evening Kim,

What a beautiful morning. I have been round the "estate" sorting out a programme for today. Not that I expect to get it all done, but hey who knows. !!!

When I came in after the football, Ros was watching that lies programme, but as it was 9.45 I didn't take any notice of it.

It's nor like you to find a DODGY Carvery Ann. I don't know why they need to cover everything in butter, I find it off putting also.

How was Cassie last night Liz, ??? I bet she was as good as gold <3 <3 <3

Nice to see William popping in again, Glad Carmel felt well enough to get out after her knee injection. Give her my love !!

Gill, It's a never ending SAGA for you with all these viewing. Has there been any feed back from the agents. Or are these just NOSEY PEOPLE with time on their hands ??? Hope mum starts to feel better after she sees the Doctor. It might put her mind to rest.

Jane, you can think of me this afternoon, lying on my lounger in the sunshine while you are cooped up in a dark cinema. By the way I DON'T HAVE TO SHAVE MY LEGS EITHER :-D :-D :-D

Off to trim the edges on the front lawn, before I forget.

"HAVE A NICE DAY" as they say in the U.S.A. and it rhymes .!!!

Morning/Evening All

Yes what a lovely day :-D.It feels so warm already .I am going to get some washing out before we go to Northampton.I thought there were only a few bits in the wash basket but when I looked it was FULL :-S

We have 2 rabbit traps but they have never been used..They sit behind the conifers by the compost bins and have grass and weeds growing up through them !!A rabbit wouldn't fit in now lol

Thats good there were no scrapes or bit taken of of door frames Ann..I bet it looks strange now with the settees gone and the room will look huge :-D :-D
Lucky you never stood or sat on your specs Ann.At least it is just the lens .

Right I better turn this pooter off now..I am looking forward to having lunch out before the film.Might have what I had last time a nice Mushroom and Chicken Risotto .

BB later this afternoon....Enjoy the lovely sunshine :-D :-D

A Bright and Breezy Morning to you All,

It's good the hogs are out and about Mel. I wonder how many you will see this year.

The settees have gone!! They had to unscrew the feet to get them through the doorways, but were so careful not to damage anything so I thanked them profusely for that. I had visions of big scrapes on the hard floor!! Now I have a few errands to run when I've put the wall pots back up by the front door.

When I got up this morning my foot caught something and it was my glasses on the carpet and one of the lenses was a few inches away!! I must have put them down on the bed last night, which I don't usually do. It's a wonder I didn't tread on them. So Bo*ts is my first errand then a top to take back and the bank if there's time. OH is at another meeting at Hinckley and I shall drive to the carvery and meet him there. I also want to get my car washed if poss so I'd better skidaddle. At least my back is much improved today which helps.

I hope little Cassie didn't mind her bed being moved. When we had a puppy and moved her bedding one night, she carried it back there out of her bed the next night. lol

Enjoy the sunshine whatever you are all doing. :-D :-D