General Chat

the other day when I was there when they were setting up, I asked them if the time would come when it became too much for them. they said, as long as they were able to do it and as long as people continued to want it, they would continue. The are Salvationists and collect loads of different things for all sorts of charities (Including the Butterfly Garden I mentioned yesterday.)

What a great idea Ann.
It's obviously something which local people enjoy.

Gwyn the books I take to Irene have mainly come from her in the first place. Once a month she and her husband have a large book 'exchange' stall set out under a tent put up on her drive. Usually three large tables full of books which are taken by people and mostly returned. It is not compulsory to take them back as people are also giving her other books. She always syas to take five or six books which I usually do. They started this, which also includes jigsaws, during Covid and found it so popilar that they have continued.

Another lovely bright morning here and it feels warmer without yesterday's strong wind. It seems much gentler today.
We are a lot aren't we with our erratic sleep patterns.
I was awake for the loo about 1.15, but didn't get back to sleep until gone 3.
As I don't drive, I don't let it bother me if I'm a little tired the following day, but a full night's sleep would be good......

Ann you do keep Irene supplied with regular books. It's really good that she is within walking distance for you to do that.

Lovely that the coffee mornings are still going strong Vera. I think it's great that your little group meets regularly. Have a good chat.

Mel, How is your foot now? Is it more comfortable and stronger yet?

Annx It seems that you are always busy with planning ahead for various projects. It's all gradually getting sorted though, so that's good. Does OH have more meetings scheduled in the summer term.? I go back to school next Tuesday. They had OFSTED visiting recently, so I wonder what were the findings.

Good luck shopping Mandy. I hope the traffic is not too bad. My girls bought some really nice vegetables yesterday in Aldi and I think Lidl. Some of it was only 8p and looks really fresh. Our nearest Aldi has a good turn over, so I have always found their veg. to be good quality.

We have voting locally today.I'm not sure if there is much to choose between the candidates, but I will have another read of their leaflets and go round to the polling station later. I don't bother about particular parties, rather who seems to be best suited to tackle local issues.
Must go out shopping and find some yellow and white flowers to help decorate the local church for Easter. Most of the right colour garden flowers are dead or passed their best. If I buy daffodils in tight bud, they will have chance to open at home before I need them.

Pond mans been and when he turned the uv on it came on but then it went out again. He had a ring to someone and came back to me and said that the bulbs had run out of gas and to buy new bulbs. If I want him to fit them he will come back. He did'nt charge me anything which was good. He was only here 10 mins at the most.

Morning all,

Nice bright morning the wind seems to have dropped and its shopping day, just having a cuppa and then we're off should be fun and games as I've just read the temporary traffic lights are off so it's a free for all .

good morning Mel and Vera and alll. Sunny here 3 degrees and no wind so far. It is the wind that makes it so unpleasant so I hope that stays away today. Still got some gardening jobs to do. Still sleeping in that stupd sleep, wake, sleep wake pattern. Bed at 1045, awake just after 12, then awake for the loo at around 3 and 5, up at 0715. Might walk down to Irenes with a few books I have read. and I suppose I shoul reluctantly weild a duster a bit.

Good morning

It’s brighter this morning and the wind seems to have dropped. No rain forecast for today. I had a so-so night. We’re out for our usual Thursday coffee this morning but have no other plans for the day.

Its 5 degrees and pc says cloudy but I can see blue sky through the clouds. Hope it brightens up a bit more today. Slept well and was awake at 6.20am. Am all ready for when Nick comes now to see to the pond.

Morning and its not raining at the mo.

Evening all

I am definitely late on parade today but better late than never, as they say.

Mel, I am glad the nurse removed that tick for you. I was quite concerned with it stuck in your arm for a couple of days. You had an early start this morning with the call from your pond man. I hope dinner with Stu went OK and he was well enough to enjoy his meal this time. I haven’t had toad-in-the-hole for ages.

The U3A talk sounded interesting AnnG. I looked at the web link you gave us. What a lovely man he is to organize so much to help others.

You have been busy Mandy and got a lot done. What a pity Jake missed out on one question again. I hope he’s not too downhearted.

You bought back a memory of OH’s father Annx. He liked to buy stuff from the Chums catalogue. I hope G’s trainers fit him well and are comfortable.

I wonder how Gill’s getting on. We haven’t heard from her for a while again so I hope all is well with them.

It’s been dry today with a few sunny spells but a strong cold breeze. At least the weather app called it a breeze; I’d call it a gale. I got some sleep last night from about 11.30 pm to 2 am and then again from around 6 to 8 am. I didn’t feel too bad when I got up. We’re trying to get the kitchen-diner thoroughly cleaned now and OH is helping me a bit with that. I’ve washed all the paintwork in the dining area and cleaned the glass between that and the conservatory and I’ve had a clean and sort out of a corner unit that mostly contains glassware. OH has made a start on the kitchen cupboards and has done all the wall cupboards except one. I thought we would find plenty for the charity shop but then I remembered we had a good clear out the last time the kitchen got a spring clean. I’ve got a few more bits and pieces that can go but not as much as I expected.

I didn’t start any cleaning till this afternoon as my daughter rang this morning and we talked for an hour, then 10 minutes later son rang and we also chatted for an hour. My voice was quite croaky by the time I came off the phone but talking to them really cheered me up.

I am getting a bit tired again now so I think it’s time to get a drink, clean my teeth and take my book to bed. Sleep well everyone.

Apparently it all started over 20; years ago when a teacher asked him if he could explain what happened with growing plants to a small class and he offered one day a week. Other teachers heard and that snowballed. Then a man offered to teach working with wood to students then a friend started to help him. They ended up showing how to make bird boxes.then a cookery teacher offered cooking classes, followed by a drama teacher, a music teacher and so on. First sheds were built then they were given the money to build a hall and classroom etc. I think he said he has bought another field to expand more. It is run as a charity all the helpers are volunteers, students are never charged and are all ages child to adult. He is a really funny unassuming speaker.

Iv'e mucked my pc up asnd lost my bookmarks and don't know how to fix it. It seems I have blocked microsoft.I shall have to wait till BIL comes and not sure if he is coming tomorrow or not.

You've got a lot done today Mandy. I must check my seedings in the morning as they soon dry out in the greenhouse and it was sunny this afternoon. What a shame Jake got a wrong answer again. I bet he was disappointed and kicking himself when he realised. Fingers crossed he will do ok next time. I was seeing that there are backlogs for driving tests with some individuals booking a lot and selling them on!! Yes, that bathroom was something else wasn't it with the ceiling and walls all painted black! lol. After all the black I thought the nice big light they had was a bit powerful and would show up all the creases in your birthday suit. ;-) :-D I thought it was a good idea to use the wood from the pews for panelling and thought that looked effective. The bath that was supposed to be quite big seemed a squeeze for Keith but he is tall and big built isn't he. They are a lovely couple that seem to get on really well.

I will have to have a look on youtube Mel. I bet it would be handy for you to be able to use the old mower to tow the trailer. You could park it where you work and load stuff straight into it then. I'm glad we never got your hailstones and thunder here, but it's been a really cold day outside.

AnnG I would have enjoyed your meeting and I looked at the link and thought what a lovely thing he had done with so many things to help people. We have an allotment in the village called 'A Place to Grow' that is for anyone with mental health troubles to come and learn to grow things which is popular.

I managed to fill the second bag for the charity shop tomorrow. I couldn't believe how many nightdresses I've got and daren't tell you! I must have kept forgetting I'd bought some after I'd squirrelled away the bags out of sight and bought more! Needless to say, any dingy ones have been thrown out now.

I'm off to bed as I have to be up early to shower and go for my blood test for 8.25 am tomorrow. I hope we all get a good night's sleep tonight.

It's been a lovely sunny day but a lot cooler .

I've got lots of inside jobs done today ,had a good dust round and hoover ,got two loads of washing dry and did a pile of ironing , made an old schoolcake and watered all the little seeds that are coming through.

Ann I couldn't believe my ears when they said black walls and ceiling for ths bathroom , green bath ,standard lamp ,sofa and a drinks trolley lol :-D
Now we wait to see what the bedroom will be like lol

Anng it sounds as if you really enjoyed your meeting and talk today .

Vera I hope you had a better night's sleep last night and your feeling better today must be awful to keep getting all these bad heads .

Shopping day tomorrow and we hope to go early so we miss the queues at the temporary lights ,it's bound to be busy with the easter weekend coming up .

Oh Jake had his theory test again today poor boy failed on one question again ,hopefully third time lucky for him ,he has to go to Norwich each time for the test .

Annx I'm glad you watched the otter being painted she's really good is'nt she. Shae had her own channel at one time called She Walks She Paints, Have a look at those and you will see all her work. she does calenders, mugs notelets, cards and her prints she even does Chirstmas cards.

That souds like you had a lovely meeting Anng and it was very interesting. I'm glad you enjoyed it and did'nt get bored.

Stu is coming tonight and he's going to have a look at the old mower and see if he can free the front wheel up so I could drive it if I wanted to. I can pull the trailer with that or oh's old mower. I'm going to o sausage toad with creamy leeks carrots broc and roasts.

The sun came out this morning and its been really nice all day but theres still that cold breezey wind.

We've had a lot of rain cos its filled both ponds up and the empty big trailer has loads in it too.

Just back from the U3a meeting. This month it was the owner of our local little garden centre. this garden centre, or nursery as it once was was started by his Grandfather, then his father and now owned by him. He is also the owner of the centre that has all sorts of help and classes for Special needs, mental health problems, and problems at all in fact, all classes that are held there for which he doesn't charge, just seems to generate money gifts without really trying. I think I have mentione it, called the Butterfly Garden.
difficult to understand but if you google the butterfly garden or click the following link there is a good explanation to see,

https://www.glosfamiliesdirectory.org.uk/kb5/gloucs/glosfamilies/service.page?id=01ZUxSObxBc

He is an excellent enthusiastic speaker, very funny and psstionate at what he does.He aims to never say 'no' explained by the fact that he explored the possibility of recycling videos which were going to landfill, he gets students to take them apart and they recycle the parts. He now receives videos from all over the country and at the moment probably has 10000 waiting for recycling. He gets so much stuff for recycling given to him that he now holds a waste disposal licence. He was the sort of speaker that you didn't want to stop.

Afternoon All,

Brrrr it was icy cold this morning but dry and cloudy and really windy. No more rain though and the sun is out now but it's still blowy. The Magpie nest was rocking well as if on a stormy sea!

We went down to the retail park to look at trainers for OH in JD Sports and Sports DIrect where we got our walking boots years ago. OH had quite a shock at the prices as he hasn't kept up with rising prices and those shops seem to have gone upmarket now with fancy designs and prices to match. The trend seems to be thick white soles with no bend in them as well which isn't ideal. I showed him some online at Chums when we got home which he thought would be better and were more the sturdy style of a few years ago and half the price. I also found a promotion coupon that reduced the price by £7.50, so fingers crossed they will fit him ok.

I hope you are more OK today Vera and had a good sleep. OH finds the ocular migraines just as draining so don't try to do too much.

Mandy I thought of you as I watched the Chapel prog last night and wondered what you thought of the colour scheme for the latest room they have done. In case you haven't watched it yet, all I will say is that any mould won't show!! We have made mistakes putting the bins out in the past too. They come so early for them now though it's no joke doing a dash in time for the 6.30am collection.

AnnG, the tree blossom looked like confetti on the pavement when we went out, but we also have nextdoor's Magnolia blossom on our garden this morning and I don't think any has fallen on their own garden. Some of the deep pink double cherry blossom looks lovely just now.

I meant to say that I watched the Skye couple on Youtube Mel and thought the Otter was good. I hope the rain fills the pond and well for you, but save some to send here please,

They have the road closed again in the village so all the motorway traffic was queuing from the village past our close this morning. Luckily, someone let us in, but the road on the way to the shop near where my parents lived is closed now where they are building yet another new estate, so I had to go a different way. Also there were lanes closed on the main road by an island as someone had collided with a traffic light and knocked it down. I must remember to leave nice and early in the morning for my blood test.

I started sorting the bottom of one of the wardrobes so better go and finish it now My knees have had a rest.

8 degrees here and feels much colder and I have the heating on. Still pouring and the only good thing is its filling the big pond up and hopefully the well too. I think its set to rain all day again much like yesterday but harder.

Good morning all it is blowing a gale and raining this morning (4 degrees), The blossom tree in the garden at the end of mine was absolutely full of blossom, very dark pink, it looked very pretty. However I knew what would happen and I was right, the wind is usually blowing this way this time of year and the blossom petals always end up in my garden. and they are!!! funny night's sleep last night. still awake at 2am so got up then and walked around. back to bed and went to sleep and woke between 5 and 6, up for the loo, back to bed and slept until 0745. So presumably I eventually had enough sleep.