General Chat

Just got my ebay item sorted as it came up with free postage and the heading was £3.30 postage and packing.

Those stripy green snowdrops would be expensive to buy. In their for sale place there was a smaller one with the same green markings, Just one bulb/plant in a small pot and it was £80. Imagine if a bird dug it up and flew off with it. Actually those types are really for collectors I'm sure.

Morning all,

Its taken me about half an hour to read through the posts as I did'nt get back yesterday as I was busy with my minitures.

Ann the pics were really lovely and I liked te snowdrops with the green lines down the outer petals and the greener inside ones. I have some different kinds but nothing like those lovely stripped ones.

Vera you had a wonderful day with friends and your desserts did'nt go to waste after all which was good having put all the work in making them and enough over for oh and yourself too. When I started reading it was 8 degrees but it seems to have gone up 1 degree as its now 9 degrees but it cloudy out there again and theres mizzle inthe air thank goodness it was a nice day on my birthday so I got the roof done.

good morning all 8 degrees but quite bright here. yesterday was a lovely sunny day again I did get one small tidying job done as some Helebores were being choked by a rampant grass. I did also sit in the conservatory for a while reading and talking to skinny the cat. And I put together a Peacock that I ordered from Amazon with a voucher I had from daughter and SiL for Christmas. he is rather lovely. He was kept in the conservatory instead of being located outside as I needed to check he lit up as he should. (He did).

Hi Vera, that is fine, I only sent out three as I had a warning that the file was too big, however reading further on the warning it was just Ann's email that had a problem.
That sounded like a really lovely afternoon that you had with your friends and, even though they thought they wouldn't, they managed to eat almost all of your lovely sweets and cheese. What a lovely group you have there.

Thank you AnnG, I got 3 photos; 2 of snowdrops and 1 of a hellebore. You mention crocuses but I couldn't see any? They are lovely photos. I expect the snowdrops were a picture. Skinny must think he is in cat heaven with two homes to go to. He's got his head screwed on right and finds the people who will spoil him a bit. We have 2 cats who live over the back of us. One is a bit timid but the other spends a lot of time in our garden. He is a feisty little devil and would be in like a shot if any doors were open so I have to keep my eye on him. I would love another cat but OH doesn't want any more pets now. I've told him to make sure he behaves or I'll trade him in for a couple of moggies.

Mandy, I meant to mention your Animals pictures a couple of days ago and completely forgot. My brain isn't so much a sieve these days but a colander; the holes in it are so large. The animals are so cute. I love their little clothes. Noah the Horse looks very workmanlike in his dungarees. You are so good at making these craft items.

I sat in the conservatory for a little while after lunch and the sun shining through the windows made it so warm that I got tempted outside. I just cleaned the 2 birdbaths and cut back some rosemary that was trailing through one of them. While I was outside doing that OH went for a walk so we’ve both managed to get a little bit of fresh air today.

We had a wonderful day yesterday. Our friend J, the birthday girl, picked me and another friend up at noon and we arrived at the restaurant at about 12.30. A couple of people were there alraedy and the rest arrived over the next 15 minutes or so and we were shown to a lovely square table set out beautifully, 3 to a side. J, the organiser was given some lovely place cards, beautifully printed with our names and what we had ordered, to put where she would like us to sit. The food was fantastic, perfectly cooked and presented. I had chicken liver parfait with toasted crostini, followed by herb crusted salmon with crushed new potatoes and green beans. It was all the extra touches that made it so lovely; the linen napkins and quality cutlery and glassware and the man playing a piano in the background – such a change from loud pop music. One of the party had given both J and I some tulips which we had laid on the table. Suddenly a waitress appeared with a silver ice bucket and put our tulips in that for us. It kept the bunches safe and made a nice table decoration in the middle. While doing that the waitress asked if it was somebody’s birthday so we indicated J and she wished her a happy birthday.

Two of our party hadn’t realised, for some reason, that I was doing desserts so had each ordered a sweet of crème brulee. These came in shallow dishes and they were alight with flames like a Christmas pudding which gave us all a smile. Then another waitress appeared and unexpetedly put a plate in front of J on which was piped Happy Birthday in icing and on it was a large round scoop of ice cream with a lit candle in the top. More smiles all round.

This place isn’t a cheap café but the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food and level of service. Our very generous friend J insisted on paying a large part of the bill as she said it was in lieu of the housewarming she couldn’t have when she moved because of Covid rules. She had arranged it all in advance with the restaurant. We each paid £15 and she paid all the rest of the bill. Wasn’t that kind of her?

Then it was all back to our house. Everyone was saying they didn’t think they could manage to eat anything else and I was concerned that I would be left with a lot of stuff but I had made a big effort to make it all look attractive and suddenly they found their appetites again. I didn’t even see the going of the Mandarin Cream. One minute there was a large bowlful on the table and the next the bowl was empty. There were only a couple of helpings of trifle left so OH and I had them at lunchtime and there are about 2 helpings of chocolate mousse which we will probably have tonight. There were good inroads made into the cheese and biscuits and cakes as well.

People went early evening and I just collapsed exhausted and thought how different it all was 2 years ago when we barely stepped outside the front door and certainly didn’t gather in large groups. Things are never going to be quite the same as before Covid and lockdown but I do feel I’ve got a life back again.

Have you all fallen asleep yet? I do go on a bit, don’t I? I was going to tell you what we’ve arranged for our Diamond Wedding Anniversary but I think I had better leave that for another time.

Thank you for sharing the flower photos Ann. They are beautiful and some of the snowdrops look as if they have long stems.
What a lovely sight they must have been.

Lovely sunshine today, so we've had the windows open to get a change of air in the house. Once the sun goes down it gets chilly, but generally we've had it quite mild for February.

I have sent a few photos out but the ones to AnnX have been denied as too large. Did everyone else get them OK. Pity you are not on FB as I have put the whole lot on there.

thanks Mel it was good to have a chat although it was shorter than usual as she was going out afterwards to have lunch with a friend.
I then had lunch before prepping veg for tonight. Then came and did some admin jobs on the PC. went down and Skinny was in the lounge, I had left the inner door open and he doesn't miss a trick. He was just sitting by the door waiting. so gave him some bits of ham. Yesterday he actually went and saw his 'mum', so she checked him over a said he looked fine. she gave him a meal and a drink then he went off again. Last seen he was asleep in the conservatory, I sat down out there so he came over to me for a stroke and a fuss.

another job I did was to wash off the tops of the wheely bins (two of them) Unfortunately where they stand is under a TV aerial which is where the birds sit. I will leave that to your imagination. :-(

Hope you enjoyed your coffee withy your friend Anng.

Vera it is nice to see a little colour coming back in our gardens. I have the tete e tete in the tubs flowering and some in pots on the patio and I had two big daff out in the orchard on Friday but could'nt see them yesterday so I went up there and with all the mizzle they had hung their heads down onto the grass so I picked them because the slugg would have had a good night out on them. They are in a vase on the windowsill so I can enjoy them hole free. My hellebores are out too as well as loads of snowdrops and quite a lot of crocus now.

Afternoon all

It’s a beautiful day, bright and sunny and quite warm in the sheltered spots. It’s apparently 11 degrees though there is still a nip in the breeze so it feels chillier in the open.

I hope bil can get your mowers sorted out Mel. You need them with all that grass you’ve got.

Gill, I can’t believe you have been in your bungalow for 2 years now. Where has that time gone?

I have just had a walk round the garden. My early daffs are starting to bloom now, there’s hellebores in bloom and winter aconites and they are all looking good but I have lost a lot of plants this year. I am pretty sure I have also lost a rhodanthemum which is a tough old plant. It’s been growing in a narrow gap between a path and a low wall, is evergreen and throws up little white daisy like flowers all year round. Now it is looking very brown and dead :-(

Time is getting on so I had better get our dinner underway. We usually eat around 2 pm on Sundays. I’ll try and get back later to tell you about my day yesterday.

Morning Anng and all,

WE have a brighter morning here at the moment but pc says mostly cloudy and 8 degrees so how long the sun will last I don't knwo.

Did some washing yesterday but did'nt put it out as the mizzle was blowing right under the cover outside the back door.

Think I will have a hair wash today and see how the mood takes me cos if it is nice out there I may just clear the front of the bungalow a bit. I started the other day when it was a bit warmer out there and moved a barrow load of moss and mollis (that would be a good name for a pub) so if I did another one today I may get another 4 foot cleared.

good morning all/ Glad you got the house warmed up eventually Mel/ Hopefully BiL will be able to fix the mowers on a better day weatherwise. Those mowers seem to have always needed a lot of attention/

I have a friend coming for coffee this morning but she won't be here long as she has to be somewhere apparently at 12.30. Still it will be nice to have a natter for an hour. If it is nice enough I might do a bit more in the garden. I'll see.
My lodger cat actually went home to see his 'mum' yesterday evening, Had a fuss, eat a good meal and a drink, sat for a few minutes with the other cats, then wandered off again. she messaged me and said "I'll see him in 6 months".

BIL did'nt get either of the mowers going today the old one needs a new cog on the starter which he had got but he could'nt get to the starter to take it off and it was a miserable day with mizzle and rian so he gave up and went after I gave him lunch.

After that I don't know where the afternoon went but I did do a little painting and put some more coats on my new moulds.

I now see it is time to get something to eat as its well past 7pm and I don't know what I want. I shall probably do egg and something, perhaps bubble and squeak and beans, nice and easy.

Mel Lol, that was a mistake and only you there to blame for your chilly house. Hope it soon warmed up anyway.

gill is it really two years, goodness that has gone quickly, and you never thought how long it was going to take you to get sorted I bet!! You might not have bought it. Still when you have finished you will have a place to be proud of as you will have done so much of it yourselves. Well done!! Hope you can find what you want in the kitchen shop.

Afternoon all

Finally got some free time. All the floors, apart from the kitchen, are now finished and OH got a number off a work mate the other day for a kitchen place who's prices are reasonable so we're going to take a look on Monday as they were only open half day today and I had some washing to do this morning. We're hoping they can do the kitchen floor as we're really fed up of cement boards now. His mate told him they do everything, including electrics and tiling, so they may do floors as well even though we don't want tiles on the floor in the kitchen. I guess we'll find out on Monday when we go there. Apparently they do kitchen plans as well, so hopefully they'll come up with something nice we can afford and the kitchen will be done next.

Everyone is going to love all the goodies you've made Vera, I'm like you and make more than is needed with plenty to choose from at least then you know everyone is happy. I posted your birthday card a couple of days ago I know it's early but with having to empty our bedroom to do the floor and the place being upside down I didn't want it to go missing.

I'm pleased to see my card arrived Mel. Is your roof finished? I hope there's no more leaks and it's all water tight now.

I noticed what look like some yellow crocuses in our back garden near the bottom, at least I think they're crocuses, they're a bit far away from the bungalow to know for sure, but seeing a splash of colour looks very pretty. Hopefully it won't be to long before OH and I can go in the garden and do some more work, once the weather is better.

Nearly forgot to say, it's two years today since we moved here. Time has gone by so quickly.

Morning all,

Was up at 7.40 and thought I would go back to bed for 20 mins till the heating came on. Bad move went back and cuddled in but only lay there waiting to hear the heating comeing on. Got up at 8am no heating on. I had turned it off at the switch so Acho could'nt turn it on for me. Silly b**ch.

I started this post at 8.30 ish and BIL turned up and we have been chatting away and had coffee but now he has gone into the garage to start sorting some things.

BBL

Good morning all 10 degrees here and although very breezy, it doesn't look too bad out there. I am not doing anything today but can't go out as I am expecting an amazon delivery. so it will be a pottering day.

Mmm Vera, that used to be a family favourite but it is years since I last made it. Not sure I would know where to start. Still I hope your friends enjoy the goodies, you are certainly spoiling them. what will your OH do while they are there?

Yes it is AnnG. Evaporated milk, orange jelly, tin of mandarins and just a little lemon juice. It’s easy to make, looks attractive and most people like it. I had the juice of 3 large oranges in the freezer and so I defrosted it and put it in the jelly and that’s added some extra flavour. Trifle is half made. I’ve just got to put some custard on it tonight and top it with cream in the morning.

I know I’ve got too much but I like to give people a bit of choice so we have raspberry trifle, mandarin cream and chocolate mousse with a lemon drizzle cake and a dozen small cup cakes with various fancy toppings (not home made). For anyone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth there’s a variety of cheeses with crackers and grapes.

While I was doing the desserts OH took a buddleia out of a wooden half barrel that had fallen to bits and potted it up into a very similar one that was going spare and then had to clear up all the mess that made so he has worked hard today as well. We’ve just been having a cuppa and a 30 minute break. Now I had better go and make the custard for my trifle and then cook our dinner.

Vera is that mandarin sweet made with evaporated milk?

Well that is your spring cleaning done. good to have visitors sometimes isn't it?

We’re busy again today Mel. Between us this morning we’ve dusted and hoovered all the downstairs, given the other en-suite and the little cloakroom a thorough clean and washed the tiled floors through the hall, kitchen diner and utility. Now we’re having a quick sandwich before I go to the shops. Then it’s back to make a trifle and a mandarin cream. I changed my mind about a fruit salad. Mandarin Cream is quick and easy and I’ve got all the ingredients in the cupboard.

Must get on