General Chat

I am having mince and mash out of the freezer so mines easy too.

I had a lovely tortoise called Tobias when I had the pet shop just outside Colchester but had a break in one night and they took Tobias and two other tortoises I was looking after for a customer while they were away.

How's your throat now Mel? It does sound as though you might have caught a cold. I hope you feel better soon.

You are good to get your lawn cut again AnnG. I am way behind this year with getting the garden ready for winter. If I don't get the rest of the geraniums up soon they won't survive. I think I'll pot up a couple more of the smaller ones and then just store all the others bare rooted. I have got the same problem as a lot of people; when it's dry I have other commitments, when I'm free to work in the garden it's always raining.

We have quite a busy week ahead. We both have the dentist in the morning for our 6-monthly check up and that's in another town so that will take a couple of hours out of the day. Then I have a chiropody appointment in the afternoon that I must keep as I cancelled one a couple of weeks ago when we didn't have a car. On Wednesday OH has blood tests at the Health Centre and I thought I would go with him and try to do a bit of shopping while we're out. Apart from anything else I need to get a present to take to a birthday lunch on Thursday. I want to organise a Tesco delivery this week and it looks as though Friday will be the only day. Daughter has also just texted to say she has had an email telling her that the last delivery of plants that were her Christmas present to us are arriving here tomorrow. That means 8 little plants to find a home for.

My poor daughter is quite stressed at the moment as her partner has had to undergo a serious operation today at a specialist hospital a distance from their home. She was up at 5 am to drive him there and is still at the hospital but is driving back home tonight. It will be some while before they can tell how successful the op has been so they have a worrying time ahead.

I forgot to say in earlier posts that son still has Buster, his English Bull Mastiff, who is now nearly 10 which is quite old for that breed and he acts a bit like an old man. He's not grumpy but just wants to be left alone to doze. A while ago the family took on a rescue tortoise called Terry and Terry is the funniest tortoise I've ever seen. He moves really fast and wants to be around everyone and particularly Buster. He snuggles up to Buster and the dog puts up with it till the tortoise starts fidgeting around too much or climbing over his paws, then he gives Terry a gentle swipe. Terry also enjoys being picked up and cuddled and will settle down on son's chest or shoulder when he is watching TV. When the tortoise thinks he is slowing down a bit he makes his way back to his home in the utility and plonks himself under his lamp for a while. He is the funniest animal and everyone loves him.

Right, I'd better go and start cooking. We've fed very well over the weekend so it's an easy meal tonight - sausages, chips and beans.

Never too old to learn Mel. Thanks will remember that.

You've been busy then Anng and got the lawn cut for the last time this year.

Its clouded over now but we had sun for the morning and into the early afternoon.

I have painted one little cottage, been to the post van this morning and had lunch but I hav'nt taken my pills so I must get a drink and take those now.

Anng if yoiu have had the page of the thread up and not refreshed it the posts don't come up. That caught me out a few times so now I just refresh each time I come on here.

Sounds like you have picked up a cold Mel, but you don't go anywhere to catch germs really so that is strange.
Spent an hour in the garden this morning tidying up, cutting back and weeding. It wa all still very wet.

However this afternoon the lawn had dried out so I have given it its last cut for this year. Still a bit damp but it looks fine now and hopefully will last. I then, instead of putting it in the leaky shed, put the lawn mower into the garage, I had already put the strimmer in there and I also took the newer garden tools out there too. There is still a lot of junk in the shed to be disposed of.

Good morning all. Dry here no sun and 11 degrees. Nothing planned for today.

It is strange but when I went to bed at 10.30 neither Vera's nor Mel's posts of the evening had come through. I deliberately looked as I knew Vera would be home.
It sounds a lovely weekend and it is so special to get those cuddles from great grandchildren. I hope photos were taken of her with you so that many years time she can see that her great grandparents 'knew' her.
I always feel guilty that daughter and SiL drive me up and down the M5/M6 but they insist too. Bless them I do appreciate it as you do.

Morning all,

Looks like it may brighten up a bit today but we had a frost last night. Pc says mostly cloudy and 11 degrees.

I have a raw throat this morning so I have canceled my jab at the docs.

I am so pleased you got lots of nice little cuddles Vera and enjoyed your weekend. Something to look forward to witha visit from them all in hthe future.

I have parceled up two parcel to send out tomorrow so they are all ready to go to the post van in the morning.

Not done much else today only get lunch and have a look to see whats going on on Ebay, watched my Sunday night video of two lots of people I watch on Youtube and thats about it apart from feeding the chickens and fish so not a very exciting day.

Docs in the morning for my jab and have to get to the post van first so up early tomorrow.

Hope you have all had a good Sunday and see you all tomorrow.

Hallo everyone

I was so sorry to hear about your son's cat Mandy. They become so much a part of the family that it is upsetting when they are no longer around.

I've heard that The Escapee is a good film AnnG. I'm glad you enjoyed it and your lunch out.

Well, we are now back home. Dil drove, though son came too, and we came in her car as it is a hybrid so there's no panic about charging the battery. The weather was good for the drive but the A1 was closed part of the way and we had to come off and drive all round the houses, including through Retford to get back on the A1 quite a way further on. Of course, everyone else had to do the same so the roads through Retford were choked with traffic. We stopped very briefly at Peterborough services to grab a sandwich and some water and got back about 4 pm. Son and dil literally dropped us at the door and headed straight back. I feel guilty as it is such a long drive to do both ways but they insist on us being driven.

I mentioned in my last post that we had a lovely evening Friday. It was very special as this was our first time of meeting the babe. Of course, she is absolutely beautiful and at 10 weeks old is beginning to take notice of what's going on around her and to smile.and make a few noises. She seems very good-tempered and smiles a lot and didn't seem to mind being handed around like a parcel. Of course, I had lots of little cuddles.

Yesterday I was first up and found the granddaughter from Manchester curled up on a sofa feeling very poorly. She had rung 111 and been put on to an emergency centre in town. Someone from there had rung her back and prescribed antibiotics which had to be picked up at Boots in town. She had to go herself with identification. I don't know what happens if you are too ill to go yourself. As it was dil walked with her as she was quite shaky. She was supposed to be getting the train back but dil drove her back to Manchester and then had to get home so that was 3 hours out of her day.

Son drove us the short distance to grandson's new house. We were very impressed. It needs decorating to their taste but it is a lovely first home with good sized rooms and everything they need. The sun was shining and they are not too far from the canal so we popped the baby in her pram and went for a nice walk along the canal bank. Then back for a warming cup of tea and a last cuddle and we were back to son's house.

Granddaughter and her boyfriend cooked gumbo for our dinner under son's supervision as they wanted to learn how to cook it and they made a good job of it. Some people from the previous night had gone but others had come so there were 10 of us to eat. Afterwards we played cards and there was lots of laughter.

All in all it was a good weekend and I haven't been allowed to lift a finger. We also have something to look forward to as several of the grandchildren, including baby, are coming down to spend a weekend with us. It is just a case of organising when everyone can be free.

I hope your weekends have been as pleasant as ours. I'm now going to hunt through the cupboards and see what I can find for us to eat tonight.

Morning all,

Its a beautiful dy here in deepest Devon 11 degrees and wall to wall sunshine but pc says partly sunny so how long it will last I shall have to see.

Need to get on as I have only fed the fish this morning so far as I had a lie in till 9.45am. Slept really well last night but have a sore throat this morning.

Vera what a worrying journey yuo had but I am glad you all arrived safely in the end. what a todo with the electric charging points on the journey. It must be so worrying to only have a few miles left when the car is only electric. Your poor sn must have been exhausted by the time you all arrived. Enjoy that lovely baby and give her a cuddle from me please.

good morning all, dry and only 7 degrees here. Nothing on today, I haven't even got a Tesco shop. Was not going to risk another cancelled delivery. I have enough in the fridge and freezer to keep me going for another week.

What a nightmare Vera. Glad that you eventually got there and everyone arrived to see you and looking forward to the continuation.

Hallo everyone

Son arrived in pouring rain around 9.30 Thursday night and immediately had to do an hour’s work on his computer. We planned to leave early on Friday but business phone calls and texts meant he had more work to do so we didn’t get away till 10 am and son was going to have to stop somewhere before 2 to take part in a conference call. The weather was appalling but the traffic kept moving. When it got to after 1 o’c son said he needed to find somewhere to stop, charge his car (an all electric company car) and we could have a snack. What a nightmare! His sophisticated SatNav gave him all the nearest charging points. The first was a Shell service station which was temporarily closed. At the second the chargers weren’t working and things were getting desperate. By the time we found the next one we were down to 19 miles of battery left. Anyway we got plugged in to a charger and it was by a Starbucks where we could get a panini and a coffee. During the morning son had constant phone calls with work problems (all his equipment is hands free) and needed a break but had to gulp down his food and coffee and sit in the car to take his conference call which took half an hour. Then it was back on the A1 to continue the journey.

We had hardly started when the phone went again telling him there was water running down the inside wall of the canteen in his sales department which is housed in a converted shop. So more stress and hassle organising somewhere for the 25 strong sales team to work while the source of the leak was found and put right. All this while driving. I was quite impressed as son did appear to be concentrating on the driving and watching the road while trying to sort out all his work problems.

Then we hit nearly stationery traffic, just crawling along. We were near a slip road off so as soon as we reached it son left the A1 and took a different route and we eventually reached home. We had all had enough but son looked exhausted.

Shortly after one granddaughter arrived, followed by her boyfriend, then her sister and her partner. Granddaughter no. 3 is a student in Manchester but wanted to see us so got as far as Leeds by train, only to find that all trains from there to the nearest station to son’s had been cancelled so she ended up getting an Uber. Expensive for a student but I think son gave her some money. Shortly after this grandson, partner and our beautiful baby arrived. 9 of us for dinner and a lovely evening.

I’ll continue this saga in another post, probably tomorrow. I’ve been doing this post while everyone else has been watching the rugby but I ought to go and show my face downstairs now.

Evening all,

Another fairly wet day ,rain all this morning and showers this afternoon, we nipped to sons this morning as they lost one of the cats today ,son said last night just before they went to bed she didn't seem quite right her breathing was a bit heavy and he said to dil if she isn't better in the morning we'll get her to the vets but sadly when he came down this morning she had passed away on the kitchen floor so she's now buried in the garden bless her.

Anng they were talking about that film on the television the other day and I thought it looked good .
There's a new drama on tomorrow night on ITV written by Lenny Henry it's called Three little Birds it's based on his mother's journey to Britain from Jamaica and I think it might be good by the snippets they have shown .

I keep wondering if Vera got there OK as the weather has been so bad ,Suffolk and Norfolk has lots of flooding and the A47 only opened at lunch time .
We called for some eggs this morning and there was loads of flooding in the fields but the little back road was OK.
Just waiting for strickly there's lots of good dancers this year.

Yes had a good day, 6 of us met for lunch in M&S and had really good fish and chips. Then we went to see the film of the escaper which was very good, very powerful. True story and Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson were excellent. Her last film of course as she died. and seems like his last film too as he is retiring.

BIL been here nearly ll day and has put new sponge filters in the big filter where the water goes back into the pond.

He also put my chickens food in the bins for me and got the battery off the strimmer so I can use it on some other of the Ryobi tools.

Hope Anng had a good day out and spent some money which always cheers you up.

Hope too that Vera had a good journey to the family and is able to have a cuddloe of that lovely baby. <3 :-D <3 :-D

Morning Enjoy your day out Anng.

Its 11 degrees here and wet wet wet cloudy dull and dreary.

Woke in the night and heard something chewing the pipes to the rad in the bedroom. Most probably a mouse has got along the where the heating pipes go. I hope it broke its teeth it was making such a row. After I went to the loo I could'nt get bacvk to sleep as my arm was hurting. Tossed abd turned for a bit which is unlke me and then got into the normal position on my right side and finerly dropped off again. I did'nt even look at my phone to see what the time was.

Well if BIL comes today he won't be mowing thats for sure.

Have a good day everyone whatever you are doing.

good morning all 8 degrees out there so lower than the last few days, dry at the moment. In to town to meet friends for lunch then a visit to see the film The Escaper at the smaller screened cinema in town.

So you and I both have nice tidy feet now Anng.

I have done a it of painting and varnishing today and had my toes done this afternoon.

I should have done some ironing but as Les used to say it will still be there tomorrow. BIL did'nt come today so perhaps he will tomorrow.

I have a nice piece of natural smoked haddock for tonight with broccoli and new pots with strawberries for sweet.

Mel Colin had his flu jab yesterday ,it hasn't stopped raining all day ,I see the A47 is flooded and I think its only lorries getting through cars are being diverted and it sounds chaos out there ,poor Scotland with all the flooding it must be awful to get flooded out .

Was it today Vera and OH was travelling , with this weather it won't have been a very pleasant journey .

Anng thats good he's got your computer running well for you, you'll be OK for a while now .