General Chat

Can't really get on with much when Jake and riley are here but I did manage to change the bed and get the bedding washed and dried in the drier.

They have gone now, all the greenery has been cut down so the garden now has its winter cloak on I think they have picked up most of the rubbish that was cut off, a huge amount which went off in their large trailer together with a load of old pots a bucket the old water butt and all the fittings, The water butt is in position and fixed to the down pipe. They showed me the pipe to the old butt which was completely gummed up, no wonder it didn't collect much water. I think the gale that blew that down has done me a favour as it will be much easier to use and more efficient now next year. It looks neater too.

they are coming back Thursday morning as they still have all the patios and the gravel weeding to do as well as finish off the water butt.

Shopping arrived no subs but the things I tried to put on last night were missing as it would'nt let me go to te checkout to pay the extra.


Tidied up another plant on the patio and took the casing off the walnut but they all look bad but one which did have a walnut inside and I ate a bit of that. I like to think I can eat at least one thing off the trees in the garden each year. Its easy with the apples and the blackberries but I don't often get a walnut before the squirrels get them and eat them before they are ready. They have got to know when I tie bags round them so next year I am going to try jam jars with wire attachments.

just need to get some lunch now and then carry on clearing up the patio and outside the back door where I tend to put the things I use most in the garden.

Jake is here with his electric trimmer and the garden is full of cuttings with bald shrubs and bushes all round :-D He does like a good go with the trimmer. Hopefully the next step is to clear up the cuttings.

Morning All,

I was fast asleep when the alarm went this morning and could gladly have slept on being warm and cosy, but dragged myself out of bed and into the shower to be in time for my hair appointment. It's only a couple of miles away but there are yet more roadworks on the main road and the police speed checking vehicle was in it's favoured position. Goodness knows why as no-one could speed because of the roadworks reducing the road to one lane. There was only one other customer while I was there and I do wonder whether the owner will close this salon as he has three others now. It is opposite Santander's head office and is within the same building as a gym with swimming pool etc so maybe it is still busy enough at other times.

I think we may go out and look at another bathroom place after lunch so I'd better crack on and sort something to have with our fishcakes now!

Washed loads of used flower pot to put away in the shed. Saucers too the patio is littered with them drying.

Just sorting out some fat ball boxes to burn and make space in the lounge.

Morning Anng and all,

Much the same here Anng grey and 11 degrees and pc says partly sunny so we'll see.

Just having my coffee and then I need to get started.

I put three more things on the shopping list last night at just after 8.30pm when I got to the checkout it would'nt take payment and said try again later I tried several times up to 9.56pm and still it was the same. This morning they have sent the order through without the things I added so thye have been paid £53 instead of £57 something. Their loss but I don't like this new site.

good morning all. Another grey day here and 10 degrees. Jake should be here at 10.00 after collecting all the bits they ordered yesterday.

Anng most pressure washers don't use that much water but get a good job done. I really need to do the edges of the big pond as its gone black but the bit I did when I did the decking is still good.

I have my dinner on so will say night night now and see you all in the morning hopefully, sleep tight.

I have my heating on but I have a suspicion that the rads need bleeding so must contact my tame plumber.

My patios and paths have not been properly cleaned for over 18 months. It is frustrating that it uses a lot if my metered water but I will hold my breath, shut my eyes and ignore it as it will get slippery if it is not done before winter.

Hopefully an efficient water butt next year will compensate a bit.

Thats a good idea Vera think I may have a cuppa too.

Well all I have done today is fish leaves out of the big pond and prepare dinner.

Its been dry here all day with a bit of a blow now and then but very grey too which does'nt make you want to do anything. We could do with a nice sunny day for a change after all these very grey days but at least they have been dry. It says its 16 degrees out there but this morning I put the heating on for a while to warm the house up as I felt rather chilly.

Off to get my COT now.

Vera we are the same and have a Karcher in the garage but haven't cleaned our patio or slabs this year. I usually use it once OH has lifted it outside and connected it up, but so much has happened and we behind with everything this year. Your OH is a good sort and must be appreciated with his willingness to help a neighbour in need of a lift.

AnnG you will be pleased to get things back in order in your garden and it will be worth what it costs to have it nice again. I just tell myself it will only cost more to leave things and we soon forget the bill!

I have checked measurements and done a few tweaks to the bedroom cupboards I want changing so will contact them to go ahead and then it should be done before christmas which will be good.

Mel I think we will still have food delivered when our delivery pass runs out, but maybe use Sainsbury's instead. I need to check whether they do delivery passes, but if not I might just book slots when needed. Asda are sending us more and more subs or have stuff out of stock so we have to do more local shopping. I think just getting slots for delivery of the heavy stuff might be a good compromise. I think it's a good idea for you to be out and about more, especially now you have a nice car that should be reliable.

Sorry I didn't respond to your tree photos Annx. I hadn't seen them because your email had gone into Spam again. I thought I had solved that problem as the last couple from you went into my Inbox. Anyway I have told the computer again never to put anything from you into Spam/Junk folders. We'll see what happens next time you send something.

I know a couple of people who have stopped Asda deliveries. One has moved to Sainsbury's and one now gets her own shopping. I don't think I have ever had problems with Tesco and only occasionally had a problem with Sainsbury's. Like AnnG, I have sometimes had an early delivery but I always get a phone call first.

An expensive time ahead for you then AnnG with getting the water butt fixed and patio cleaned and resanded, but your garden will look good when it's all spick and span. Our paths and patio haven't been cleaned this year in spite of the fact that we have a large, all singing, all dancing washer in the garage. The trouble is it uses quite a lot of water and a fair bit of energy. I did suggest to OH that he asked our tame handyman if he would clean everything using our machine but with one thing and another he never did ask him. I don't think anything will get cleaned till the spring now. I hope you are still cold free so you can have your jabs this weekend.

Well, it has been another very grey day. I hung some washing out this morning but it was a waste of time as it just hung there without drying much at all. There was no sun and no wind.

OH will need to put a second coat of white paint on the uti room door as some black paint marks are just faintly visible through the first coat. A neighbour is taking his car to a garage for servicing tomorrow morning and has to leave it there so OH has agreed to pick him up and drive him back home but I am hoping he will put the second coat on the door after that.

I'm getting a bit chilly upstairs in the study as I haven't got any heating on and I see it's nearly 4.20 pm so definitely afternoon cuppa time. I'm off now to make a nice pot of tea. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

I have had a delivery at 3.15 for a 4-5pm slot. But they are allowed to do it if they phone beforehand to ask, which they had done on that occasion.

Yes good they will do all the jobs, starting tomorrow so I hope this drizzle goes away, forecast said it would be dry. It is going to be quite a bill but it is only twice a year and worth it to me. They will also do a complete patio clean and weed and re-sand. the water butt complete installation including all parts and labour is £550. But that is not bad as it included wood for the stand etc.

I was once told by a driver I saw parked just up the road to me and he said they were'nt aloud to deliver earlier than the alotted time. I have had earlier deliveries though. The parked driver was coming to me and I was going up the post van at the time. He waited for me to come back as he was 20 mins early.

Afternoon All,

It was that fine, misty rain here this morning that soaks you in minutes. I went with OH for his blood test (we think this one is for his cholesterol or liver, but even the nurse didn't know!) Then we went for a coffee and an egg and spinach cob at Costa and OH browsed the books in Waterstones but didn't buy any. We went to Sainsbury's then and got the things Asda failed to deliver.

Yes I think Mel was right about the tree being an Oak tree and I will see if I can spot any acorns under it next time I'm there.

AnnG I wonder whether the delivery men are not allowed to deliver earlier for some supermarkets in case people aren't at home. Ours sometimes come 15 minutes earlier though. I suppose they unload a bit quicker with two of them. It's good they have started sorting your garden jobs now . I need to try someone else to clean our gutters as I never got a reply from the one I emailed.

Mandy I looked at my nice red geraniums the other day and left them in their pots for now as they look good. I'm doing a bit of admin now and will get lunch then.

yes I emailed ann back to say I wondered if it was a type of oak tree.

Mandy I can't get close enough to the water butt mess to see if the pipe is damaged but rory has looked at it and they have gone off to sort out what they need. I think, as the garden jobs sound like taking more time than I thought, they will need at least two days. I guess the water butt job will entail quite a long time. They will probably now decide not to come back today which will be a nuisance as a day wasted for me.

Morning girls,

Same as Anng here today grey and dry and 12 degrees.

Mandy I think the tree is a Red Oak or a Pin oak. Its definately an Oak of some kind but there are many kinds of Oak. I did message Annx about it yesterday when she asked. Perhaps I should have put it on here.

Lots of things to do today the fridge being one and one I hate doing. I always feel ashamed when I find something in there I had forgotten about and its usually pushed to the back where I can'nt see it.

Morning Anng, morning all,

No mist this morning it's quite bright and the suns now trying to peep through the cloud, we hope to get the greenhouse frame down today so one more thing put away for the winter .
My Geraniums have loads of flowers on do I'll leave them until frost is mentioned then get them up and stored away .

Did anyone have any idea of the tree in the photos that Ann sent , I had no idea but hasn't it got some lovely colours .

Anng hope Jake can sort the water butt and it hasn't split with going over ,did it do any damage to the down pipe .

Good morning all. grey dry, 10 degrees. Oh for the blue skies of a month ago. This grey is not very uplifting at all.

I have Jake and rory coming today so hopefully that will sort out more of the garden.

slept quite well only got up twice.

Better put in another load of washing I suppose.

when the Tesco delovery arrived yesterday there were two of the older men delivering. They were laughing, they had both delivered here before so I asked why there were two. Appently there were too many drivers so they were sent out in twos. my time was 4-5pm and they arrived 4.15. I would have thought with two on the job they would be a lot earlier (although I didn't say that to them). I bet they were chatting.

Funny you should say that Annx I was thinking exactly the same about not having the delivery anymore. It would mean more diesel for me though but I would be out and about a bit more.