General Chat

The sun has shone all day here but it is a bit breezy temp has reached 12 degrees so very spring like. I had a good trip out with my friend. In the end we visited three garden centres. The first one is a large Blue Diamond one where we had coffee, the second, almost next door is a small family run one with a very nice little restaurant where we had quiche and salad for lunch, the third was our local butterfly garden one as I want to try a few onions this year in the new planter and they sell onions by weight loose so I could buy a small handful of two different sorts One red, one white. I didn't buy much as it is a strange time of year just bird seed and sugar free bulls eye mints .in one a plastic two handled 'bucket' for weeds in the second and the onions in the third.

Then I had a doctors face to face appointment sent me by email (after asking by econsult). And it was not a convenient day so to avoid trying to phone reception we called in and an extremely pleasant young lady managed to get me a different date although not until 22nd. As it is for something I have already put off longer than I should 2 more weeks won't matter.

I haven’t put my nose outside yet but it looks quite a nice day. From the window it looks quite breezy so it may not be as warm as it looks.

Thanks for the pictures Mel. The snowdrops look lovely. I am wondering if I can persuade OH he would like a trip to Ickworth or Anglesey Abbey in the next few days as they both usually have good displays.

You are very good to help so much at the school Gwyn. Where did you go yesterday? School holidays do seem to come round quickly these days and to last longer. I’m sure we only got 2 days for half term and one of those was sometimes a bank holiday Monday.

We went for our usual coffee with our group of friends yesterday. 10 of us turned up this week. The 3 men are somewhat outnumbered but they sit and chat together. Apart from that not much happened yesterday though I seemed to be busy all day. Now I must tidy myself up as we have to go to town to pick up some new seat cushions we have had made for our 6 dining chairs. The old cushions have completely disintegrated so I can only get them out of the covers in bits and can’t put fresh covers on. They don’t owe us anything having been bought in1987. I suppose most people would buy a new dining set but we still like this set and apart from the seat cushions it’s in excellent condition. It’s a very traditional style from Ercol.

OH is telling me he’s ready to go so I’d better get a wriggle on.

Thank you for the flower photos Mel. What a beautiful show in your garden to see so many growing together like that. I am hoping to go with a friend to a country park soon to see the display of snowdrops, which grow there,

A bit overcast today with no sign yet of the sun.
I'm in just doing this and that after going out all day yesterday on a school trip. Just next week in school, then they are on half term break again.
It's come round very quickly :-0

Morning all,

Dull here with that fine rain inthe air that soaks everything and it 10 degrees and pc says cloudy. If it gets any darker I shall have to turn the light on.

Nothing planned for today except make more soup as the last lot was really nice and I want to have some if BIL comes over the weekend.

Must ring the docs as I have an appointment with chiropadist on Friday and an appointment with the doc for an MOT on Thursday.

Good morning all, dull here and it has rained overnight 8 degrees so warmer again,
being picked up around 10 to go to a garden centre at Newent a little bit further away although not far.
didn't sleep well last night seemed to need the loo more than usual but once awake couldn't get back to sleep.

Mel why does it knock it out is there a plug/socket that is overloaded.Has it happened before you had the new washing machine.

Your snowdrop photos are lovely. I have some daffs out too,the same ones are early every year. There are a few crocus out as well.

My crocus are out in the orchard just the yellow ones at the mo. The snowdrops were beautiful today in the sunshine. My daff that was out was so heavy it bowed over onto the grass but more are coming in the same patch.

Did a wash this morning and when I turned the machine on it knocked the leccy out. Have just put my smelly chicken feeding coats in there and its done it again. Must remember to put washing on when its light.

I spent two and a half hours this morning transferring all the stuff back from the garage to the shed. More or less straight now. Plent of room in the shed as it is larger than the old one but it makes it easier to see things and get around the lawn mower. At the moment all the pots are still in the plastic 'greenhouse/tomato house. They would take up a bit of room if I put them back in the shed.

Afternoon All,

Well we were up early this morning as OH had a call at 7.00am to say his car was already on it's way. They had decided to drive it back rather than use the transporters and it was here before 8.00am and looking spotless inside and out!! They will ring later for OH to pay the excess over the phone.

Mandy we had frost this morning, but the sun is shining now. The garage had topped up OH's car, but it didn't need much. At least he had used some of the fuel in the other car, but he will put less in if there's another time! I would find driving an automatic very strange too! I don't even like the stop start on OH's car where the engine stops if you stop the car for a couple of minutes. It feels like it has stalled. You can disable it, but once you turn the engine off, it it has switched back on again next time you start the engine.

I remember Janice's niece lived at Tewkesbury and was flooded, but I didn't know Janice lived there. I thought her niece had probably moved after getting flooded. I have a feeling Fitz mentioned Cheltenham as having a place they'd identified where he could meet up with them for meal. He already travels that way from time to time to visit other friends as well.

We spotted some crocuses in flower in the next village this morning. Pretty yellow and purple........Spring is on it's way. :-D

The tiled floors are calling for a hoover and mop so I'd better get on.

No Mandy definately Janice and Larry and their grandson and possibley the daughter.

I met Janice, Jane's sister when they both came down to see me before dealing with an estate of their aunts I think.

Morning all,

Nice bright sunny morning and we had frost again .

Oh Ann thats a lot of fuel your losing out on maybe they will give you a little money back as they must have known it was nearly empty and you would have to put some fuel in ,so OH got on ok with a automatic, not sure I could drive one so use to a manual one .
That's sad Chris had Christmas on his own but maybe he just needed that time in the house before the move to just remember the family times they had together and he needed that one last Christmas there.

I thought it was Jane's niece that lived in Tewkesbury as I know Jane said they had been flooded out a couple of times .

Ah Mel, now you say that I do remember because Jane and I were one day going to meet in Cheltenham when she visited Janice. Yes she was very near the river, I hope she has moved and was not caught in the recent floods that were very bad in Tewkesbury. (I am about 9 miles from Tewkesbury. How could I forget that?

Morning all,

Bright and sunny here this morning pc says 4 degrees so very cold with it.

Janice lived in Tewsbury and it was near the river as she was always worried about it flooding again.Perhaps thye moved too. Larry worked in a nature reserve if I remember rightly.

good morning all bright here this morning but really cold only 2 degrees. It is not easy knowing what to wear when the temperature goes up and down like a yoyo.

That will be a nuisance to lose all that fuel Ann, especially as they had given a much longer time for the repair. good way to get their car filled up!! (Not that they did it on purpose I am sue ;-)

Not sure what I am doing today I had thought of going to Cheltenham or doing a bit in the garden, either of which doesn't need to be cold. I will have to see how I feel after shower and hair wash.

ah well Ann, Gloucestershire is a large county so they could be anywhere. Not to worry I was just interested.

The car they brought was empty Mel. The dial was saying nought as we got to the garage down the road. OH put £49 of fuel in thinking he'd have the car longer. I was hoping we could go for a spin somewhere in the morning to use some of it but they won't ring till 9.00am as they apparently don't allocate transport till then. We could go somewhere after then if they aren't bringing his car back till in the afternoon. I doubt they'll fill his car as it was nearly full when they collected it.

Yes, I was glad the nail grew out AnnG. I remember it being quite tender where some shoes pressed on it and when cutting it, so I can imagine what you mean about yours being a nuisance. Fitz has never said where in Gloucestershire they have moved to, only that it is a short distance from where Jane's sister Janice lives. I can't remember if Jane ever said just where Janice lives either so not much help!

It is good to have a nice long post to read Ann.

Lucky your nail problem was only temporary. It is a nuisance to have to put up with.

Do you know the area of Gloucester they have moved to? I hope they are all happy and settled now.
Wow that was quick for your car repair. After Vera’s problems quite a surprise..

Its not hard work reading your posts Ann we like to hear what you've been up to and thanks for the info on Chris it must have been a really strange Chirstmas for him this year what with the move and only Hannah left in his family.

Its a good service G had with his car if you can pick it up tomorrow. I hope he's please with it. Perhaps he could mention about the amount of fuel he put in the the car that was on loan, they may fill his up or does the one that came to you have a full tank when it arrived?

Afternoon All,

It's 9 degrees here now but the breeze is picking up and it feels much colder. Hubby decided it was too cold for standing out watching footie last night and stayed in and watched recorded footie instead.This morning we popped out for more practice in the automatic, but OH seemed fine with it and I must admit the ride is a lot smoother than his gear changing! We called at the big Co-op about 3 miles away as it carries a bigger range of things and I bought salmon, onions, meditteranean veg and mushrooms to do a traybake which was very tasty.

I can understand AnnG and Vera using a chiropodist as I had trouble with a couple of toenails in the pandemic that were a devil to cut and painful because of thickness and crumbling. I may have said, but the nurse just tested for fungus which it wasn't and didn't even let me know. By then they were beginning to grow out at the top more normally and I reallised it might be my thyroid meds being too high, as I'd lost a few stones in weight. They'd already reduced my meds after a recent routine blood test and that was when the new nail started to look better. Now they are fine.

Oh Vera I hope your btm isn't too bruised and that you haven't set your back off. I have a stool on wheels I have to be careful with.

I'm sure 'somebody else' will appreciate you sorting it AnnG and we ought to sort more regarding our funerals. I'm wondering whether to look into one of those plans where you arrange everything beforehand. The solicitor has lists of our accounts, but I still haven't given the doctor a copy of our POAs. He said we should do that so our doctor knows who to contact if we turn up, clearly incapable!! Cheerful thoughts eh!

No-one in the press has pointed out that NIC could also be due if under pension age and the earnings from trading were sufficient. The Revenue can go back years to collect what is owed in both tax and NIC. Even if profits are close to the threshold in a year, it's advisable to keep records of income and costs with evidence. I imagine some traders may also be selling elsewhere like markets, events etc, but haven't registered as self employed. Because making the internet platforms report sales is a cost effective way of identifying these self employed traders, it saves money for the taxpayer in it being followed up in more costly ways. If people have gaps in their NIC record, they may not be entitled to NIC benefits or a full state pension. Another cost then to the taxpayer when they claim social security.

I agree about Snowdrops Mandy. We have a couple of small clumps (Mr Hackett dug up a nice spreading clump in the front garden, mistaking them for rampant grape hyacinchs!). I have planted some bulbs (very late!) in a pot this time in the hopes I could put them higher up somewhere where I could see more of them when they flower. I think it is a bit colder where you are as we don't seem to be getting frosts here just now.

What a surprise, OH has just had a text to say his car is repaired, new door and sill fitted, sprayed to match and valeted and they are bringing it back tomorrow. :-) Can't complain at that as they only fetched it on Monday! Pity he put so much fuel in the courtesy car though!

Fitz has been in touch. The Rose family plus Thomas are all in their new homes in Gloucestershire now. Chris's move was delayed a month over Christmas and the New Year and despite Hannah wanting him to spend Christmas with them in Gloucestershire, he couldn't be persuaded and spent it alone at home instead. I don't know, but maybe he wanted to be alone with his thoughts for a while. He's been on his own since James passed away and perhaps a busy Christmas in a strange place with many relatives and young children seemed overwhelming. I hope he settles in ok as he seems quite an introvert and the opposite of Jane, but Hannah seems to be a driving force like Jane and will keep an eye on him.

I think Fitz had about 19 people staying over at various times during Christmas and the New Year. I know he finds it quite exhausting (who wouldn't?) and would prefer a quieter time, but he said reluctance didn't seem to dissuade anyone from coming! Anyway, he said the septic tank overflowed two days after Christmas and he thought those that were staying might hastily depart and those yet to visit might quickly cancel, but no such luck! Also they managed to get someone to sort the septic tank within 24 hours, so at least that was good.

I must stop writing so much. It must be hard work reading it all. :-S

Iv'e only fed the chickens and wild birds after doing the post van with some admin and two wee parcels. Had lunch of homemade soup and a banana sandwich and now I am going to corn the chickens and feed the wild birds again before they all go to bed.

I ventured outside to put some of the stored shed stuff back in the new shed from the garage but gave up after a few trips as it was so cold. Might have another go later. Just spent an hour on paperwork, the really cheery job of updating places and people to be notified in the event of my death and also redoing funeral arrangements for me. Not a pleasant job but hopefully will save somebody else having to do it.