General Chat

My best fruiend from when I livedin Suffolk has a holiday cottage in Holt.

Annx I cup the gear stick in the old car lift it and turn it left and down. This new one has like a switch at the back of the gear stick you lift up and thats where i PINCHED MY LITTLE FINGER and got the blood blister. Did'nt mean to shout I caught my finger on the cap lock again. I am sure this new keyboard is a childs one as it seems smaller than my last one.You pull the handbrake switch up when you stop at junctions and it goes off when you put your foot on the clutch. I could have it set on the locks too as the man who sold it to me had a small daughter. I shall have to look into all these things or read the handbook which I hate. Still not cleaned its windows and must do so in the morning and get more things out the old car.

Evening all

Mel, you will soon get used to driving your new car. Reverse seems to be different in every car we drive. The most awkward one was a car OH bought for me at auction years ago and it had a steering column gear change. I was terrified I wouldn’t get it right or would keep stalling the car but I was surprised how quickly it became second nature.

We have had a lovely day The weather has been beautiful, sunny and warm. I took a jacket out with me because the wind can really blow off the North Sea but there was just a light breeze. We went to Sheringham and walked all along the prom area. I was determined to see the sea as I haven’t been near the coast this year. It was a real treat. Then we found a nice coffee shop in town for coffee and a scone and finished off with a good walk around the town.

Then we drove on to Holt. We have been there several times but it is such a pretty town with lots of little alleyways and courtyards to explore. We had a good wander around there and then went for a late lunch in a nice pub. We’re eating our main meal at lunchtime and not going out or cooking in the evening. I decided on a salad with chicken and crispy bacon. It was ENORMOUS. There was a large shallow bowl filled with a good mixed salad with croutons all round the edge and topped with a load of bacon cooked to a crisp and a whiole breast of herb covered chicken. It was delish and I managed most of it though I had to leave some salad. We then walked some more round Holt before making our way back to the car park.

I started this at 6 pm and then got distracted and just got back to it at 9 30. After leaving Holt we took a long meandering drive back to our cottage along the coast road and through some lovely little villages. We had a sandwich and a cake at around 8 pm and I have to admit that I have had 2 large glasses of wine and feel just fractionally squiffy?

It has been lovely spending time with our daughter. Since her partner died at Christmas she has kept herself busy but I think too busy. She hasn’t given herself time to grieve and I think it has been good for her to be with us for a little while. She doesn’t have to put on any sort of act with us. She is getting 2 little rescue dogs on Thursday. I’ll tell you about them another day.

Now I’m going to make a nice cuppa. Have a good night ladies.

Evening All,

Another fine day so I popped to the garden centre down the road and bought a little ceramic 'greengrocer' cottage that takes a tea light that I saw a few days ago. I wasn't best pleased as there was no-one serving in the Works area of the shop, so I had to tramp over to the garden centre counter at the other end of the shop. A nice young girl came back with me and said they were probably in the office and she went and got someone. The lady there then told me the cottages weren't theirs and I would have to take it to the garden centre tills! Don't you hate seeing them smile as they say it, so I smiled back and asked her how were customers supposed to be able to tell which counter to use when they were with their things on the shelves? The smile went then and she was stuck for an answer, so just shrugged and looked awkward. Why can't shops get the easy things right and either put a notice on the shelves or move the items into the main shop.

Mel the 'button' for the handbrake on your car is a little tab switch like you have to operate electric windows on cars. OH's car has the same kind of handbrake and I hate it and am always reaching for a 'proper' handbrake too as I don't drive it often and forget. with his you pull the tab towards you to put the handbrake on (do it twice to put it on harder on a hill) and push it forwards to take the handbrake off. You need your foot on the footbrake as well if you are moving off on a hill. Another thing I don't like about driving off in OH's car is that you can't 'ease' these handbrakes off and his tends to lurch forwards at times. Gear positions can vary so much in cars. My car now is one where you cup the gear knob and lift it and away from you and forwards. My handbrake (normal one) has a feature I found odd at first as it does not go off for a few seconds when you release it. The idea is that if you are crawling stop start up a hill in traffic, you don't have to keep putting the handbrake on and off. If your old car didn't have a 6th gear that's something else to get used to! Spare wheel? It's good you are all sorted with the car for winter now.

The cottage sounds like just the sort of place we like Vera. I hope the beds are comfy and that you enjoy the change of scene and find some nice places to see.

Mandy the pens with refills tended to be much nicer looking pens didn't they? My best pen at the moment is a Senator one I found in a hospital carpark! It writes so smoothly so I hope I can get refills for it. You've given me an idea though, as OH could get me a nice pen for Christmas! :-D I washed some more old dust sheets to hang out today. They are ancient but must have been good quality as they were so heavy after washing I spun them again. The old line on the rotary looked as if it was about to break and wouldn't stand the weight, so I draped them over our fence down the side of the bungalow where nextdoor's garage is the other side and nobody could see them. :-)

AnnG I remember what a lovely car the Rover 2000s were. A friend of a friend gave me a lift home in a white one when I was a teenager and it felt really posh and was quiet and smooth. How strange to see a light on and the box doing it's own thing! I hope it's sorted out now. I'm afraid I would be useless as I've only ever had a Sky Box and wouldn't be able to set that up myself as Sky did it. I hope you have caught up with getting the craft room/study ready for your daughter and SIL.

My old car was pull a bit of the gear stick up and to the left for reverse but this is a button for the hand brake and you have to put your foot on the clutch and then the other foot on the break before it will goI suppose its all safety measures to stop the car jumping forwards into something but its very strange I keep putting my hand down for the handbrake which isn't there. Another thing when you turn the handbrake off it locks all the doors.

Went up the hsop to post the parcels and the machine has'nt been working all day so its another trip down there tomorrow. The lady in front of me wanted to post soemkthing too. The post van dos'nt come on a Tuesday so its been good that you could post things at the shop but only parcels when the machine will print the labels.

No cooking for me tonight as I am having another of yesterdays meals Stu sent me home with.

yes had one of those too Mandy. Seems it wa either push down or pull up and over.

Hope you get on OK with the car Mel we didn't have a button on a gear stick but I can remember on one of our cars you had to lift the gear stick up and over and back to go into reverse ..

Well beddings all dry I was quite surprised as there was no blow but there has been lots of sun , it seems quite warm out today in the sunshine .

Nice easy meal tonight ,Pasta in tomato and mascarpone sauce and I have some ham that needs using up so I'll chop some of that into the pasta and sauce .

Do you have to press that button before putting the gears into reverse Mel? I think one of out cars had gears like that, I seem to remember holding the button in and pressing the stick down and left or up and left to go into teverse.

My Echo comes through on something sometimes too and she says odd things like "this is what I found" Or if something onthe telly says Echo she comes on.

I have just paid the insurance on the car which was nearly double I paid for the last old girl and Iv'e done the tax too. So I am all set to go just have to get used to the controls now. Its all steamed up this morning and I need to clean the windows and screen as they are a bit dirty from when we came home in it. Stu had to wipe the bit he looked through.

While I ws on the phone to the insurers ( I have been with them 27 years) the chap came to pick up the older mower for a service and put the two new tyres on the front and take the chainsaw for a leak it has somewhere as its losing oil. I was still in my jim jams on my lower half!! and I had'nt put my hair up. I had to put my hand on the seat so the mower kept going when we put in it in the van as you can't drive it in as the vans roof is too low. If your not sitting on the seat it dos'nt run.

Hope Vera enjoys her few days away and its good to know she likes the cottage.

Right I am going to have a little drive now and may go up the shop to post two little parcels.

Morning all,

Very foggy when we went to bed last night and this morning it's a bit misty but the sun has now broken through ,Hooe it a nice day as I have bedding to hung out .

Mel hope you can get your insurance and tax sorted today and have a little ride out in the car , you'll have to give it a name .

Ann I had some pens like that took a while before I realised you had to click on the bit that hooked on to things ,I use to like the pens you put refills in ,I have a nice little pen somewhere I use to like writing with that had refills I shall have to look on amazon and see if I can get some

Vera glad you arrived OK and it looks like your first day should be a sunny dry one ,have a nice day wherever wherever you go.

That was odd Anng the television turning on hope you can sort it ,we've had Alexa turn on and play music but son sorted that we wondered what the devil it was lucky it was during the day and not at night or it would have set Max off barking .

Washers finished so better get the bedding out .

Morning girls,

Nice bright sunny morning and its 7 degrees and the new car is all wet it almost looks like we had a frost.

Lots to do today as I have to do the car insurance and tax and still get to know it. The funny thing is I did always dip the clutch when starting the old car but I don't think I quite have the seating postion right for me. I suppose its gong to take a bit of getting used to. When I put it in reverse yesterday the gear sticks a bit different and has like a button under it and I have given myself a lovely blood blister on my little finger.

I have to sort out payment to Stu too and need to ask at the post van if I can get and envelope so we can bank the cheque as Stu's bank is in Bideford. I told him he's lucky he's still got one!!

Iv'e been trying to remember the number plate and think I have it now but shall write it down on a piece of paper just incase I forget and get to a parking place I have to put the number in..

Good morning all, a bright morning here and 4 degrees. Plenty to do here today as, with the vivo box etx I have not got much sorted for my holiday and, as daughter is arriving two days before we go, I need to get 'their' room cleared of all the stuff.

Have a lovely couple of days Vera, pleased that the cottage is nice. sometimes 'the middle of nowhere' is a good place to re-charge our batteries.

Great that you have the car Mel. wow that was a speed that Stu took it up to.
When I was driving I always dipped the clutch when starting the engines (all mine/ours were always petrol),. The reason for that was once early on when parked in the garage in the 70s I started our rover 2000 which had quite a long bonnet, there was a bench at the end of the garage. I didn't dip the clutch (forgot) and the car had been left in gear by T. it joted forward of course and fo ever after had s small dent in the front lip of the bonnet. He didn't say a word, neither of us usually left the car in gear!!

Happy driving in it Mel and great the low tax too.

Meal sounded lovely.

I got up for the loo at 3am and there was a strange light on the landing. when I walked out of my bedroom door it was obvious that it was coming from my office/craft room so I thought I had left the desk light on. No, I hadn't, it was the TV in that room had switched on to tell me that it had paired with the one downstairs for the vivo boxes. so that is another job for today to check out that has gone OK. the vivo box on thsi TV was newer than the one downstairs. I had put the secondcontrol they had sent me up here for later but it was obviously impatient to get going.

Good morning

Bright sunshine at the moment but I haven’t put my nose outside to see how warm it is. I’m the only one up so far. This is a nice cottage, very clean and comfortable and very quiet. A bit in the middle of nowhere. Not sure what we are going to do today.

That’s great news about the car Mel. 125 mph! You must have thought you were flying.

Have a good day everyone

Oh really pleased you've got it Mel but that's not a car it's a rocket :-D 125 mph :-D

I've just popped out of bed to switch the washer off and had a look in to see if you had bought the car Mel. I'm delighted for you that it was ok and that Stu could drive it home for you. He must have insurance to drive any cars with his work which is handy. I must admit I always dip the clutch when I start my car as it makes it easier for the starter motor on any car, especially if the battery isn't 100%. Also, diesel engines are a bit harder to turn over as the compression in the cyslinders has to be higher to ignite the diesel. Your last car was a diesel wasn't it so you know to do a longer run to get it up to temperature every few weeks if you do low mileage. I've always been amazed at what you read about not having a diesel if you do low mileage as I've had all diesel engined cars since 1984 and never had any engine trouble with them. The low tax is brilliant isn't it and the insurance shouldn't be much either, so hurry up and sort them so you can get back on the road again! You should get a bit of money for your old car as either spares or even something for it as scrap.

Your meal would have suited me down to the ground with the nice veg and lamb and lucky you with enough left for tomorrow as well. :-)

Iv'e got it its sitting outside the kitchen window all locked up. Stu had a gfood look round and under it and said there's a small oil leak but all else is sound.It wasin a bump and its had a bew front which is a slightly different colour but who cares as long as it gets me from A to B I am happy. Its so different to my old car and when I tried to start it at Stu's it would'nt go. The boys told me I have to put my foot down on the clutch before it would start.

Stu drove us home in it and he thinks its a great little car. The chap would'nt drop the price at all so I said I would pay the £2.000 but Stu got me £50 off for some seisel as it was low. On the way home on a very straight bit of road he put his foot down and it did 125mph and even 100 in 4th gear. I'm really pleased with it so tomorrow I need toget my insurance changed over and get it taxed £35 for the year. I'm very pleased with that too!!!

The lamb roast was absolutely devine. We had broccoli, carrots,leeks, mash and roast potatoes, swede, and roast onions. Stu dished up 6 dinners and there was only 5 of us eating so he has a dinner for tomorrow and I came home with a plate full too so no cooking for me tomorrow either.

I gave Stu £60 for diesel so he put £30 in mine and £30 in his. His friend drove his car back it saved taking the trailer and just as well as we got a bit lost and went down all these roads which were quite narrow with granit stones wall along the sides.

I'm off now after a wonderful day and dinner so I will bid you all a good night and speak in the morning. Night night.

Afternoon All,

It's turned into a lovely sunny day again after a shower of rain first thing and I slept well but lay in late. I've just put the food order away and sent the ceamy potato salad back. I don't know why they think rich and creamy will do when you deliberately order the low fat version. I ordered a pack of cheap biros as the free ones OH gets and gives me have run out. The first 2 I clicked on won't retract again so I shan't be ordering those again. (edit, you press the tab that hooks them onto a pocket top into a tiny hole on the side.......no instruction to that effect and I've never had biros you do that with before.)

I hope Mel likes the car and enjoys the roast lamb dinner. It's so expensive you don't see it on the menu at restaurants very often now so it's a nice treat.

I'm glad you sent us what the photos were AnnG and I still don't think I would have guessed the first one. I hope the weather stays good for your break. I found I took less and less each year when we went to Cornwall as I would look what I took home unworn and would vow to bring less next time. It' depends on whether you are in a hotel and is not so easy when the weather's unsettled though or you don't know what sort of things you will be doing. I hope your friend manages to set your box up.

Mandy I'm exactly the same and have pinchpleat curtains on rings on rods in the lounge as well. I never fancied those eyelet curtains. They look nice, but I felt they left too many gaps around the window when drawn to let cold in and heat out. You must have to remove the end of the rail to get them off to clean as well.

Sounds great Mel. enjoy your day and lamb meal.

BIL came wiith petrol for the mowers and had a coffee and we chatted. Then as he left Stu rang me and said we will go at about 3pm and would I like to go to dinner after doing the car as he has a friend there who is a chef and he's going to cook a roast lamb dinner for about 7pm so no cooking for me today and a day out first to see thecar and hopefully buy it and I hav'nt had roast lamb for years.

So I am well happy and looking forward to the day ahead now. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I just couldn't see what they were Anng ,I would never have got them but thanks for sending the photos so I could see what they were .

Washings out and its brightened up again ,just have to keep an eye on them ,don't think we should be in for any rain .

Mel we can take up to 5. I actually took 4 but one was very easy.

Hope that washing doesn't get wet Mandy.