General Chat

Yes Vera he will collect me about mid-day He won’t stop, just turns around and drives back. Well I make sure loading the car takes a good few minutes. It is about a 2 hour journey. He has a big car and he is a steady driver, drives a lot.

Yes it will be good to see them, they will look after me. Not as comfortable as at daughters where I have a large bedroom and an E suite, lots of empty drawers and a wardrobe. At son’s I have a very small room filled with the double bed a large chest of drawers with all drawers full of stuff that should go to charity, no wardrobe, nowhere to unpack anything and piles of outgrown toys and games everywhere so I live out of the case. But they are easy to live with I just have to bear with it. And this time 26 year old grandson is back living at home so I will be sharing the bathroom with him. Love him to bits though. Granddaughter us 21 today, she is the baby of that generation.

Is your son collecting you AnnG? Is it far to travel? Have a safe journey and a lovely week away.

You asked about our prang. There was no other car involved and OH couldn’t have been doing more than 5-10 miles an hour so it’s hard to comprehend the level of damage. It is the whole of the nearside. The car is a Volvo and they have a very solid frame so nothing was pushed in towards me. No problems with whiplash and I doubt if I would have felt it if my back hadn’t already been bad. We were telling friends over coffee this morning and they could hardly believe it as OH is a good driver. As you know he is always ferrying friends and neighbours about and they all say they feel safe with him. It was just a freak accident. For various reasons we may choose not to put it through insurance even though we know it will be costly. It’s going to the Volvo place that does our servicing and MOT in the morning for them to take a look and give us an idea of price.

I remembered about your iron Mel. Like AnnG, I iron very little but there were a couple of shirts of OH’s and a couple of tops and a pair of cotton trousers of mine that definitely need an iron. I’ve got an old one in the garage which works perfectly well but weighs a ton so I will probably go and get a new one.

As for our travellers Mel, the police will eventually move them on as they did last time but it took quite a while. That is all that will happen but if we had broken down posts and broken gates and locks we would be charged with criminal damage or something similar. This is an even bigger group than last time. Our rec is used by local dog walkers and they will stay away until they are gone and parents aren’t letting their little ones use the children’s playground while the field is full of travellers. According to the newspapers this is probably the same group that the police have just moved from the grounds of a primary school.

I managed to get into the garden for 45 minutes this afternoon and did a bit of deadheading and watered some of the pots with a feed in the water. OH will give the garden a water with the hose later. I think I’d better start thinking about dinner now. It’s shepherd’s pie tonight. We haven’t had that for ages.

Its clouded up a bit here now but there is still blue sky up there. Its 18 degrees and pc says partly sunny.

There was a big bang about lunchtime and when I looked out of the kitchen window there was lots of smoke to the north and I knew my neighbours were away so I took the car up to have a look. It was the builders having a bonfire during the day and a nice day at that when there would be lots of washing out. Then I spied the library van in the carpark so went and told Julie to wait as I had'nt got my books with me. She was having her lunch and I had already done some toast for mine. Went back up with my books and got them renewed and she gave me a website to sign a petition to keep the mobile libraries in Devon. I have just done that. When I got back to my lunch my toast was like a load of leather but I had buttered it so I ate it anyway. I had to put marmite on it to get my teeth to chew it.

Since then I have had a parcel delived of dolls house stuff and two things are badly broken and they were the two things I wanted.

EDIT Wrote this an hour ago and the postman came so I did'nt post it!!!!!

Well I have finished packing. I also did a wash load so I don't have a load to come back to. I watered two gardens first thing as Cynth is away. And I then spent half an hour cutting back a rampant Jasmine and an equally enthusiastic variegated ivy. so the garden bin is almost full. still plenty to do out there but I did cut the lawn on Monday so it is sort of tidy out there. I have accepted it will never be pristine. As long as it looks presentable and I like it I am not going to fuss over it.

It was nice all morninf quite sunny ans 17 degrees. However we have just had a shower.

probably not here Mel as I very rarely iron anything. so I hope it is not something else instead.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning again today and it looks all misty moisty out there.

Funny thing is that my arm feels better today so far after a day in the garden so perhaps it did me good staying off the pc and using it a bit and not sitting around all the time. There is a down side though I have been bitten several times and so itching a lot. I must admit though it was worth it to see the garden looking much tidier. What with BIL cutting the grass and me cutting down the docks round the apple trees and some of the ivy hanging down from one tree and the stuff round the steps to the caravan.

Going back to Vera and her iron do you remember me saying I had trouble with my iron a few months ago. Mine did'nt actually catch fire but it melted the plastic around where I plugged it into the extension lead so I threw that out and BIL cleaned the plug on the iron off and it works ok now. So thats two of us now so you others may have to be careful cos theres bound to be a third.

Good morning all, packing day today. It is only 10 degrees here so a lot cooler but bright. Yesterday afternoon was lovely but I was inside at the meeting. That was very interesting and complimented the visit we had to the backstage tour of the same theatre a few months back.

Oh goodness Vera, that was a chapter (or two) of accidents. If it was the passenger door that was damaged I assume you were OK except jolted but I hope you didn't suffer whiplash. was it just your car involved? Anyway that is going to affect your insurance. and, worse, I assume it needs repair so will be a major inconvenience. And then the iron, wow! sounds as if (except for the expense of the cardigan) you were lucky you didn't get a shock. Was the iron old?

However, besides all that it sounds as if the funeral went off OK and you had lots of chats with friends/relatives.
And today is another day.

Mel, should you really be doing all that gardening /hard work with the aches and pains you already have, It only seems to be making it all worse. Could you find anyone local that you could pay to do all the cutting back?

O Vera if you saw it on the telly you would say it could'nt happen in real life. What a shame about your cardi.Are the travellers aloud to stay for so many days? or can they be shifted by the police?

I have just done another hour in the garden so goodness knows how my shoulder is going to be tonight but I thought I may as well get on with something while I could move.

Chapter 2

After breakfast we started for home and had a good journey back. I thought Good, yesterday was a bad day but everything is going well today. Spoke too soon didn’t I.

First I find travellers have moved on to the rec at the bottom of our Close - AGAIN. It’s not that long since they were last here and the damage they caused then has only just been repaired and now they have damaged the posts round the field again. They don’t seem to consider that we have to keep paying from our taxes as we are apparently “rich” and they are poor. So how come their caravans are all being towed by modern, expensive vehicles. I have some sympathy with the real Romany people or even travellers who are prepared to do some work where they can and abide by the same laws as the rest of us but this lot seem to think they’re entitled to do as they please. Rant over.

Well I thought nothing else can go wrong now. Ha, blooming ha. I thought I would do the ironing. Just ironing the second piece and there was a loud bang and a small flame coming from where the lead goes in to the iron. I quickly shut the power off and blew out this little flame but thought I could still smell burning. Then I felt my wrist getting hot. The dratted thing had set light to my nearly new pale blue lambs wool cardigan. I managed to put it out before it actually burnt my wrist but the cardi can’t be salvaged.

After that I plonked myself on the bed with my iPad and started typing these posts. I haven’t even thought abou tonight’s food. OH might get a pizza and I’m not sure what I’ll end up eating. I hope you’ve had a better time than me over the last couple of days.

Sorry you are still in pain Mel, and now itching as well. I hope it eases up soon. Perhaps the Voltarol will help. I can’t remember but are you on tabs for high bp? If so, check with your surgery if it’s OK to use Voltarol. I was told not to take any anti inflammatory drugs while taking bp tablets and that included creams and rubs.

AnnG, that house sounds worth a visit. I’ve got a feeling it might have been on TV at some time. I shall have to google it.

Well now, yesterday. What a day! We arrived at the church nearly an hour early having left plenty of time in case of holdups. Some family were there already having done the same as us. It was a nice service, both wife and daughter of the deceased speaking, but it was such a long service. The priest had a very quiet voice and a bit of an accent and I hardly understood anything he said. I didn’t know any of the hymns either.

Service ended and we all had to make our way to the crematorium a few miles away. I won’t bore you with all the whys and wherefores but we were the last to leave and because of several things happening at once our car had an argument with a brick pier and the brickwork won. The whole of the passenger side of the car is badly damaged and it is clearly going to be a very costly repair.

By the time OH had sorted the car and we got going again we were late arriving at the crem and were going to wait outside, but one of the undertakers quietly opened a side door and we were able to slide in the back without anyone realising.

Next we moved on to the reception. We were following our son and as we were going up one way other guests were passing us in the other direction, all shaking their heads and looking puzzled. Eventually son reset his satnav and we turned back in the direction we came and after driving in a large circle got to the right spot which was only a couple of miles from where we started. We never did find out what the problem was but at least we were all in the same boat.

The reception was lovely. Plenty of good food and lots of chat and a constant stream of photos and videos of the deceased. By now my back was killing me particularly as the incident with the car had really jolted me. I didn’t tell OH as he was angry with himself that it happened and I didn’t want him feeling guilty because I was in more pain.

Around 5.30 we went to our hotel, had a wash and brush up and a little rest before going to find some dinner at around 7.30. I just had a main course and a glass of wine, OH had a starter, a main and a pint of beer. All was going well till my tongue seemed to touch something rough and jagged. I had lost a large filling. My tongue is sore and getting an ulcer now so I shall have to ring the dentist in the morning. That was really the last straw and I was glad to get to bed last night.

I didn’t sleep well but we were up early and I went to shower first. The water wouldn’t run away so I lifted the drain cover and the thing was absolutely clogged with hair which I had to clear out. When we went down for breakfast I took this hair, wrapped in a tissue, and complained at reception. It was a basic room but at £120 a night it should still be properly cleaned, They were very apologetic and are going to take it up with the head of housekeeping there. It’s a chain and I am a “club member” so as recompense they have added a number of reward points to my card. As we probably spend one night every few years in this chain I never get enough points to do anything with but being a member gets you a very slightly reduced rate and a few perks like late checkout etc.

I’m going to post this before I lose it and then continue on another post. You’re getting half a book today ;-)

Just come in from the garden and BIL just gone. I have cut down loads of brimbles from the box hedge and some of the fig and roses on the south facing wall BIL brought the big trailer round and we picked it all up a whole trailer load piled high. I hope I am not going to suffer for it later on but if I do I will take a pill. I'm starting on the front next.

When he drove in and parked he parked right on my mollis all along the front of the bungalow so now I am going to get a drink and see how much he destroyed.

BIL is here mowing he has toothache!!!!! but is on meds before having it out.

I had just decided to try some gardening and was so surprised to see him drive up.

He also brought me some max strength Volarol for my arm and hip.

Morning all,

Quite bright this morning and 17 degrees and pc says partly sunny.

I have been bitten all down my right side and its itching like anything.

Arm still no better.

Poor vera its so annoying when you lose a post.

Sounds like your visit to Stanway house was really interesting Anng certainly my kind of thing. I used to love going round old houses even as a child. The fountain must have been fantastick.

Nothing planned for today so will see how it takes me.

Good morning all. fairly bright again. Have to keep checking the plants, when it was hot it was obvious they needed water. Now it is indifferent it is hard to know, to water or not to water?
At least you know what caused it Mel.
Ooooh Vera that was a pain. Never mind, wonder what you did? Anyway hope you managed a good sleep if you were that tired.
U3a main meeting this afternoon. A talk about the Everyman theatre in Cheltenham. Hopefully interesting but may be more of the same we learnt when we did the theatre tour earlier this year.

Yesterday we had a nice trip out. Had lunch first in a garden centre that we rarely go to as it is the far side of Cheltenham. Then we drove almost to Broadway in the Cotswolds to a very old Cotswold Jacobean manor house called Stanway house.
The house in typical old Cotswold stone, and the surrounding church and flour mill are beautiful with the sun shining on them. The inside of the house is left more or less as it was when the last owner lived there so it appears to be rather shabby and down at heel, But it is a warren of fairly small rooms, quite 'higgledy piggeldy ' and the stairs are steep and (to me) not very safe. It is privately owned. Built in the 18th century it was originally owned by Tewkesbury Abbey for 800 years and then by the Tracy family and their descendantes (the Earls of Wemyss and March) for 500.

From the web site ----"The house, its fascinating furniture, the jewel-like Gatehouse, the church and 14th-century Tithe Barn, the 18th-century water-garden, the specimen trees and avenues, the surrounding villages, farms, parkland and woodland all subtly combine to create an enclave of very English and almost magical harmony.
Recently it has seen the gradual restoration of the 18th-century watergarden, probably designed by the greatest of British landscape gardeners, Charles Bridgeman. The formal Canal, on a terrace above the house, the striking Pyramid and eight ponds have been reinstated, and a single-jet fountain, at 300 feet the highest fountain in Britain and the highest gravity fountain in the world, has been added."

The gardens were mostly parkland rising to the canal and fountain and beyond that the pyramid (it was too steep for us to walk right up to the pyramid) We stopped with most people at the canal to watch the very impressive fountain. The fountain is fed by spring water which collects in two reservoirs at the top of the escarpment.

Just done a post and it has disappeared. Too tired to redo it now.

Had trouble with the leccy keep going out. Put my pie in the oven and went and had a shower when I came into the kitchen the leccy was out and I could'nt flip the switch. turned the oven off at the wall still nothing. Rang Ed next door and he said he would be round in 15 mins. Thought I would check the pond pump so I turned that off and came back in and tried it bingo all ok. So now I have pond trouble again.

Morning Anng and all,

Quite bright here this morning, 14 degrees amd mostly cloudy by the pc.

Hip playing up again this morning and arm is never as bad in the morning when I hav'nt been using it. Slept well.

Thinking of Vera today and her long drive to the funeral. Hope everything goes ok and she dos'nt get too much back ache. Good ides to stay at a hotel for the night so your both fresher for the trip home.

So Anng your off once again for a little holiday. Goiod luck with the weather.

Its shopping day today so I better get myself in the shower so I am ready when they come.

good morning all. fairly bright here, hope it is going to stay dry as I am going to see a house (not N Trust) and garden not far from Cheltenham. Lunch first at a garden centre.
Slept quite well last night. Hope all goes well for Vera with their long drive to the funeral. They must be on the road now.

Yes I was pleased with what I got done.

Going to son’s for a week from Friday Vera.

Hard to know what the weather will be like and what to take, not knowing what we will be doing.

That will be a long day for you Vera, is it family so at least you have family members to look forward to meeting up with. I hope all goes well with the trip.

You’re getting more work done in the garden than I am AnnG. Well done you. You mentioned packing. Are you off on your travels again?

I’m sorry to hear that you are still in pain Mel. Is it worth speaking to the doctor again? I’m having a lot of trouble with my back this time but I know from experience that it can take weeks to recover. I’m trying not to take too many co-codamol but it’s very hard sometimes and constant pain is tiring.

I’m not looking forward to the next couple of days. We have to go to a funeral tomorrow. It’s a long drive so an early start, then a Roman Catholic mass followed by a shorter service at the crematorium and then a reception so there will be a lot of standing around. We decided to pay out for a hotel for tomorrow night rather than OH having to face the long drive back when he will be getting tired. We’ll come back after breakfast on Wednesday.

I had just hung lots of washing out this morning when the heavens opened. I dashed out and got a few bits in but I was getting drenched so left the rest. I need to go out and see what’s dry now.

I probably won’t post tomorrow but will be back in a day or two.