General Chat

We're still filling the bath, it does take a long time, even to get it half full. I bought an extension to plug into the socket, it gives us three sockets then, but, I plugged in two kettles and the dryer and it blew the fuse. When I read it, it said not to exceed 3000W so I guess the dryer made it go to high. We've put in another fuse and just left the two kettles plugged in. The dryer can be turned on later when we've finished. At least it's giving us something to do, might need a couple of new carpets though, when we've finished, with walking back and forth on them for hours LOL.
The bath should be done soon, I just hope it hasn't gone cold with it taking so long.

The water heater is called an Ariston, Gill. (You can find it on line) It works off a timer so we only have it on from 7.30 am till about 10pm. It has a thermostat, so you can have the water whatever temperature you want. OH fitted ours during the house build, along with the shower, but he is very practical. A plumber would be able to fit it if needed.
Perhaps Michelle is out Gill, or having a day off with friends; I wouldn't give up about hearing from her yet, it may work out ok. What bedding do you have to wash? I'm intrigued!! Apart from sheets, pillowslips, a duvet cover, and occasionally the underblanket, I don't have anything else!
Getting quite windy here, but still a nice day. This afternoon I MAY cut the lawn one last time, have to see how I feel!!!

I sympathise with your absence of hot running water, I've the same problem in the past when the boiler was broke, no spare part.

On one occasion I visited my cousin and asked if I could use her shower. She was Ok. On other occasion I went to the public baths next to the swimming pool.
Can't do that any more, the baths closed.

When we were young and lived in part of a rented house. No hot running water upstairs where we lived. Carried up cold from the bathroom downstairs Carry the water, heated on gas rings and put in a tin bath. Carried downstairs afterward.

My Father used to go to the public bathes <3 :-D

Been back about 10 mins and oh has made me a cuppa. The church was so full we had to stand outside. The oak coffin was made from the wood off the estate and made by our friend Chris who is an undertaker. It was a very long service and we were all invited to go in the big house for refreshments but I came straight home after. I parked the car up the top by our front gate at the village hall as there were cars parked there and I did'nt want to park in the field with it being so wet lately so I walked to the church.

I've just had the most lovely bath, full to the top and really hot, in fact it was so hot I had to get out. The only problem is all three of us are having to share the water, one after the other......not ideal but needs must. Luckily none of us are really dirty. I didn't want to put anymore cold water into the bath when I got in there as it might of been to cold for the last person, which should of been me, but OH and Sandra kindly said I could get in first because I was last the last time. I felt guilty, but I suppose it's only right we should take it in turns.

I'm lovely and warm now and even had to turn the heater off in the hall as I know the other two will be just as warm when they have finished. If Sandra gets to hot she faints so I have to be careful. I think that's why she said she'd get in last, that way she can add some cold water if she needs to without worrying about the next person. Good job there isn't 12 of us waiting for a bath, I doubt the water would be very warm by the end, or clean, come to think of it LOL.

Michelle finally messaged me back, she said she'd turned her phone off because she didn't want any messages to early. It was almost 11am when I sent my message which I wouldn't call early......that's youngsters for you. Never mind at least she messaged me so that's something I suppose.

I'll take a look at the water heater online later Liz. I don't suppose you've got a picture of it you could email me, so I know what I'm looking for? Don't worry if you haven't, it was just a thought.

I've decided to do a roast lamb for dinner tonight, I've had it in my freezer for some time waiting for OH to have some time off work and now his throat is feeling a bit better he should be able to swallow it ok.

I'll mention to OH how he can hose me down with the hosepipe next time I need a wash Frank :-D :-D
Are you fed up of the apples yet, I know I was with the amount I had to do, although I'm glad they are done as I might make an apple pie later. It's nice to have the choice. I'll have to cool down first before I put the oven on.

Well, the extension plug we bought has given up the ghost, it melted inside, must of been putting the two kettles on so many times. Good job the bath was run by then ;-)

Hope everything is going ok at the funeral for Mel <3

Going to get a cuppa now, I'm really thirsty
BBL

Gill I'm pleased to hear you had a lovely hot bath, it made me think about my 2 grandmothers neither who had hot water in their homes, one had a tin bath and the other used to come up once a week to have a bath at my parents house in those days it was quite usual to only have a bath once a week and showers weren't the thing then. I had a shower at school after gym which I didn't mind, it was the teacher drying our backs with us trying to hold onto the towel at the front to hide our modesty,it was an all girls school fortunately with all female teachers.

I was very lazy yesterday and got someone in to clean my double ovens,
it was money well spent as he managed to remove the glass in the doors and it all came up like new plus he was such a nice man not a lot younger than me, he also does carpet cleaning and charges a lot less than most, Doreen next door has him every 8 months or so shall I will be doing the same, she has an excuse though as she has had an operation on both her knees .

Only three of you to a bath Gill. lol Ours was a minimum of FIVE on a Saturday evening, once a week. Bill first, then Mary and Jean. then Ted and I. The only thing that was around to soften the water then was a handful of WASHING SODA. In the very cold weather we would have the tin bath in front of the fire. A good rub down on the towel, into clean "sleeping suits" that's what we called PJs.

David, I went to visit a couple when I was first Married, (we meet them on Honeymoon) They lived in Brighton (1958) they didn't have hot water, and we would go to the local "BATHS" The chap who controlled the taps to each cubicle, would add hot water as you required it. !!! I forget now how much if cost. Penny's I think ??

Did you get your lawn cut Liz.?? Silly me, I should have put the mower on a lower setting, then I could have cut my lawn as well as picking up all the leaves. :-D :-D :-D

I am pleased the funeral went off alright Mel. There must have been a lot of mourners if you had to be outside.

I have made some "dough boys" to go in the stew. There is enough for us two tonight. So no cooking as such.

I can't remember if we have seen Jane today ?? I will look back and see.

Might go for a pint tonight. Nothing on Tele. to get my attention. Nat Geo has been very good this afternoon WILD COLOMBO.

I Fancy another shower now. Do you want some hot water Gill ??? :-D :-D :-D :-D <3 <3 <3 BOIL ANOTHER KETTLE lol lol

Yes Frank I did get the grass cut, along with some other jobs, I had a busy afternoon! I've made a pork casserole in the slow cooker, and only need to make some dumplings, and cook the purple sprouting that OH brought in from the garden and we're done!
We've watched Wild Columbia Frank, it really is very good and so informative, like you we watch National Geographic quite a lot.
Hope Mandy is feeling a bit better.
Gill, I've emailed a pic for you.

Afternoon Everyone
I have had trouble with the laptop today. and haven't been able to type anything .But now it seems fine.Lets hope it stays this way.
Mel that was nice that the coffin was made from the Oak from the estate.A lovely touch I think.I dread these very long funeral services.I think the longest one was Fitz's Dads.I thought it was nver going to end.

So 3 clean and warmed up people then Gill :-D :-D I would hate to be the last in the bath especially after Chris and James as they are so hairy :-S :-S

Happy Birthday to your Michelle.I am so glad that she messaged to back Gill.

I have been stewing apples today .There are so many fallen apples on the grass there is no need to pick any.That will be pudding tonight with Custard.

Anne I am often tempted to get someone in to do my oven .Maybe Chris will do it next time if I am nice to him :-)

He is not happy today as Thomas has shredded wallpaper :-| :-|..He was really wanting to go out last night and I was keeping him in and then I caught him near the inner back door scratching away on the wall.
I haven't seen much of Thomas today as I did the spot on worm stuff this morning and I think he is off in a huff.Plus I know he has been trying to lick his fur where the treatment has trickled through so he may not be feeling too good :-S :-S

I had a message from Mandy this morning,and she is still feeling so tearful.She was going to do some clearing up in the the garden to keep herself occupied ;-)

Would you believe it. I just checked that our conservatory is locked and I looked across at Tony's and his patio door is open. I phoned him, but there is no reply Answer phone. So I went out the front and his car isn't in the drive. The silly old devil has had a fag out the back before going out. They do go out for a meal sometimes on a Wednesday. I have no way of getting to his back garden. So just hope no cats or anything gets in. I have left a message on his Answer phone. !!!

So Thomas is in the bad books. You must consider putting a cat flap in the outside door, he can come and go as he pleases then.

You have been busy Liz, but it was a nice day to do it. Ros got all the washing dried and ironed today both whites and colours.

The Stew was better tonight, than last night, if that makes sense !! The dough boys were perfect. Well that's what Ros said :-P :-P :-P Just in case there are any COMMENTS.

I'm taking a bag of apples down the pub tonight, so that means I will get a pint or two free.

Might pop in before bed.

Since we're talking bathrooms I like to share a true story.

Some years back 2 addresses ago Ellen bunged the lavatory. So David has to

shift it with the plunger. Pus push flush, still blocked. So I gets on my knees and reaches in to retrieve it by hand.. miles of the stuff. I could feel the bend at the back of the bowel was obstructed also.

So, back on my feet starts using the plunger again, The rubber cup came off the end of the stick !! It was jammed in the pipe. So David's trying to retrieve it with his fingers. All I succeeded in doing was pushing it further into the pipe out of sight and
reach.. Behind the WC the pipe goes through the wall, passes at low level across a built in cupboard then through an external wall to the down pipe to the sewer..

It could have been any where in there. I phoned a plumber friend of mine who was kind end enough to come round straight away.
He appraised the situation then emptied the cupboard. He cut through the pipe, felt in, it wasn't there. So he cut again 2 feet to the right and lifted a section of pipe out. There it was. He removed it and reinstated the section of pipe.

He didn't charge me a penny. A friend in need ;-) :-D

That's quite a story David !!!.. :-S..Good thing you had good friend to call on then.Sounds like it could have been in a sitcom LOL

Frank ,hopefully Tony's patio door is out of sight from anyone .I'm sure it is.Hopefully he will see your message on the phone when he gets home.

Well I have not seen the cat now for hours and hours and have been calling and whistling like a mad person.I just hope he hasn't taken bad from licking all the worm stuff off his fur :-S :-S

That episode with the plunger occurred on my birthday :-D :-D :-D

Can you imagine Ellen calling hers in? FIFI, IZZY, ALFIE, FLUFFY :-S <3 <3

David It sounded like an episode of "Some Mothers Do Have Em" with the hapless Frank Spencer which I remember from way back :-D :-D :-D

Evening All,

I had to chuckle at you saying 'YOU CAN'T AFFORD ME' to the neighbour Frank and OH laughed and had a job to stop at the Nymphomaniac e-mail!

That was nice to use the estate wood for the lady's coffin Mel. Was her death expected? She was very young wasn't she.

I bet you didn't want to get out of your hot bath Gill. :-) It's good you heard from Michelle. Maybe she wanted a good lie in after a night out. MIL always rang at Xmas and on birthdays at 8.00am in a morning as she assumed everyone was up by then like she was. OH would crawl out of bed and try to sound as if he'd been up hours! :-) I'd like one of those Quooker ? things which is a mixer tap on your sink that heats water as it comes out of the tap.

Anne that's not a bad idea getting someone to clean your oven. We get flyers through the door from people who do it and I'd thought about it myself. The cooker we have now cleans itself, but I'm not sure if it does the door. I can't remember and I do know I have cleaned the door myself a few times.

After the fav carvery today we called in the farm shop and they were training a new young lad on the till and teasing him. He looked at my courgettes and they told him they began with letter 'C' so he put them as cucumbers!! lol He made us all laugh so I told him that was a plus point and he was even laughing himself which is good. Then we called in the paper shop and I had to hold doors open for a poor old boy on 2 sticks who couldn't manage it himself. He was so grateful. Then we called at another farm where we get our Xmas Turkey from to put our order in. One of her Jack Russells was stretching and looking to play and she told me she had lost the other one this year that had 3 legs. Then her husband was telling us that they get up to 17 Goldfinches at once on their feeders and it was costing him a fortune.

Then this afternoon I drove to the retail park at Grantham which is about 45 miles. The A1 access lane had been closed by the police for some reason so I had to drive into Grantham (which I don't know well at all!) to find a back way to it. Luckily there was a sign for it so I got there ok. Then on the way back when I was nearly home I had to do another detour as 'Beggar's Lane' was closed near the village. It will be to do with the drains and services for the big 4,500 house development they are starting on.

What a way to spend your birthday David, with your hand round the 's' bend! :-) He was a good friend to come and sort it out and not charge you. With those names I take it you don't stand out there calling the cats!!!!! ;-)

I had two cats once when my son brought them home in a cardboard crisp box when he had a Corona round. We called them Pud Wood and Pus Wuss and I did call them when I wanted them in and they came. I used to take them with me to the pet shop and they ran around the garden center all day till called to go back in their basket to travel home.

Ann the girl who died was only thirty and the daughter of our friends who own the big house that our garden was the veg garden too. She ran another big house that was let out to family parties or a group of friends etc and she just dropped dead of a heart attack. She had so many pets too and worked for the beagle hunt at one time. She had those giant snails and would take in anything in the way of wildlife that had been injured. She had horses, loads of dogs including beagles, cats etc and she loved trees so all the flowers in the church were coloured leaves and a huge arrangement on her coffin. I stood in the churchyard for two hours.

Your story of the S bend on your toilet made me laugh David, everyone's right it does sound like a sitcom. I don't suppose you were laughing at the time though. You did well with your friend, it was nice of him to fix the problem and not charge you. I think we'd all love friends like that ;-) ;-)

Hope it's not raining at yours Frank or Tony's place is going to get very wet with the patio doors open. If it's round the back with no access then it should be ok. You're a good neighbour to ring him and have done all you can by leaving him a message and even going round to see if he was in.

Has Thomas come in yet Jane, I bet he's sulking somewhere with being told off for scratching the wall. Maybe you should get a cat flap in your back door it would save you a lot of time and worry over him and would give you more sleep too as he wouldn't need to keep waking you up every time he wants to go out.

The funeral sounded like a long time Mel. It was nice to use the big house's wood for the coffin. 30 is such a young age though for a heart attack, it must of been a shock for everyone.

It sounds like you've had a busy day today Ann, you'll need a rest tomorrow to recover. Did you except the offer from the first time buyers? You said you might. It'll be nice to know the house is under offer and all being well with the survey should be sold very soon.

Well, we didn't have the lamb in the end tonight. I thought it was one that could be cooked from frozen that Iceland kept going on about a few months ago, but when I took it out of the freezer and read the box it had to be thawed out first, so we're going to have tomorrow lunch time instead.

We are going out to the garden centre for their big Christmas night tomorrow and want to get there a bit earlier than it starts or we won't get a parking space, which is why we are having the roast at lunch time instead of dinner time. We have a voucher for two cups of tea and will get something to eat in their café a bit later in the evening. We're all looking forward to it. We've been for the last few years and it's lovely and Christmasy with a snow machine outside the door and a choir inside. You get a free drink of mulled wine on arrival and there are nibbles to eat too. Sandra is looking forward to seeing all the Christmas trees lit up. They have a dark area where they display all their lit up stuff, it's a really good night out.

This will be the third time we've tried to have a night out recently, but so far we missed the party because I wasn't very well and the fireworks night because OH had to work, so we're determined to go out tomorrow, nothing is going to stop us this time LOL.

I'm off to bed now, thanks Liz for emailing me the pic, I've been busy with all the washing so haven't had a chance to check it out yet, I'll take a look tomorrow or Friday.
Not sure if I'll be online tomorrow unless I get a bit of time in the morning, I have to go shopping and nip to mum's, then cook the roast and get ready to go out, so a very busy day ahead.
I'll try my best to pop in if I can
Night Night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.....I wonder where that saying comes from :-S :-S

That WC could have been worse but the events as they unfolded were bad enough.

That same plumber had some bad luck. He had arthritis in his hands knees and back. He sold his business as a going concern as he could no longer handle the tools or kneel on the floor. His former business became sub contracted to a larger firm that went broke so it went into administration. :-(

Still in the bathroom, but at the previous address

I'd went down with a very heavy cold or it may have been flu

I'd been lying naked all day and all night coughing and spluttering.

In the middle of the night I got up and went to the bathroom. I continued

coughing and wrenching in there. I thought I was going to be sick, I put my hands on the front of the WC bowl. They skidded off the WC and I fell very heavily to my
right. I crashed to the floor jammed between the WC and the wall. I tried to wriggle free, without success. So I started knocking on the radiator beside my leg. I kept
this up until a very annoyed Ellen got out of bed (next room) What you doing there?
She asks. She grabbed my ankles and dragged my out. Get to bed! she says.

You don't argue with Ellen. I got back into bed and never coughed again all night.

Morning All

Goodness David !!! You have certainly had your fair number of falls and accidents haven't you .
Ellen knew how to handle you that night didn't she LOL .

Lots to get done here this morning before getting my hair colour done at 1pm.
The sun is shining :-D :-D