General Chat

Don't you get a break fro a cup of tea at these meetings Anng? I think I wouldhave fallen asleep with a whole hour of talking.In fact I could just drop off now but I won't I shall go and make myself a COT.

The winds still blowing a hooley and its also still very very cold. Pc is saying rain tonight just as the chicken pen has dried out.

Mum had a small hunting horn on a green cord with a tassel on it and I always loved it and she gave it away to her aunt. I was so annoyed. I bought this one in the hospice shop I think and it was many years ago I wanted to hang it above the door in the diner. It does sound like yours Annx.

I had a message from the surgery to book my booster, then several days later I had one from NHS suggesting I book with several options and it said book with the nearest. My appointment with the surgery is 27th April.

That was a very interesting talk. But too long and too fast, really tiring concentrating as he spoke without a break for an hour. He actually engraves verses etc on all sorts od small things. A disc that fits in the eye of a needle, a cufflink, a nail head. But his talk was also about who he had met along the way. Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Anne, Ronnie Barker, Uri Geller to name a few. Interesting and tiring.

Oh just spotted Vera and Mel have posted so an excuse to leave the pruning a bit longer.

I had a long copper hunting horn that hung above our stone fireplace in the 70s Mel. It sounds like it might have been like yours as mine was sealed, although it wore off. It had a brass mouthpiece and a red and gold rope it hung with. I'll see if I can find a photo with it on and send to see if it's like yours. I think I must have sold it.

Vera your journey sounded better than ours was today and it was good you were seen quickly too. You got in quickly with your covid jabs as ours are not until May.
We got notifications to book from our GP and from NHS.

It's hard not to get too involved in things isn't it! It's right to consider the group's own insurance. I don't know, but suspect seperate insurance may be needed, not just for the members, but also for speakers that are invited. Think who would they claim against if a member tripped them up and they hurt themselves? I don't know whether your group hire a room, but if so it could be a good time to look at the terms and conditions for that. It 's best to revisit and review everything whilst a new name is considered as the new name would have to feature on any policies like insurance and probably a fresh constitution document that will be needed anyway if the old one is lost. Good luck!

Afternoon All,

I expected a much colder morning but it's been a sunny and nice day up to now.

We both drove into the city to take OH's car to the garage doing the update for 9.00am and it took an hour and 20 minutes to do almost the same trip I did to work as a teenager that would take me 25 minutes. We both went a different route and both said it was horrendous and would rather take a less well paid job out of the city these days. On the ring road that's supposed to keep traffic moving they have removed a lane to make it a seperate 2 way road for cycles, but only a short length. No cycles on it though and pointless being so short. They have put a bus lane actually in the middle of another section of the road for a short distance.What was a neat crossroad junction with 3 lanes, one right, one straight on and one left has been reduced on the left to make a cycle lane so that traffic turning left or straight on share the same lane now. You don't know approaching it which lane has gone though and whether the right hand lane is now for right turners and straight on instead. No chance of seeing the road markings with queuing,shuffle stop traffic covering them. People were getting stuck in the yellow sin bins because others had blocked their exit. They've blocked off the dual carriageway where you could turn right into the garage so I have to go further and make 2 right turns to go and turn in the Space Centre carpark and blow me there were roadworks and traffic lights there. Now we just need to collect the car later hopefully before OH has to get to his meeting.

The blind man came at lunchtime so was nice and early in the slot we were given and that job is now done so that's good.

AnnG I had to visit many self eployed people in my job that were behind with sending their stamped cards in etc and many confessed their paperwork and admin got behind because they focussed on the work and admitted they preferred doing that to the the other things, so it isn't surprising to me that Jake sounds similar. He seems like many immature but willing young men whose mothers always remembered things for them, so isn't quite used to all the responsibilities he now has. I hope the prompts mean he will prioritise your work when he gets back.

Our plumber and window cleaner jet off to sunnier climes in winter Mel. They must both earn a lot as one always goes to America and the other likes Australia.

Well I'd better go and prune a humper full for the garden bin while waiting for the garage to ring.

Enjoy your tea with friends Vera. does that come with cake?

I am sure that if you keep quiet they will get the group sorted out. Hope so anyway.
Good that your cleaner had recovered from its hissy fit anyway.

Mel, I have to chuckle. Doesn't everyone have a hunting horn in their garage? Or anywhere else for that matter. what exactly do you need it for? Will BiL manage to do it as you want it do you think? Is it worth risking? :-D

Enjoy your afternoon out Vera.

Gosh that winds bitterly cold today but its doing the washing good.

I found my long hunting horn in the garage thismorning and the ends come off. It was out tere for oh to buff it up but he never did it for me. I shall have to ask BIL if he can take it to work and get it done for me. It had been sealed and inside the horn it still has the sealant on it so a bit hard to get at but it looks like he has done the pipe bit as thats now dull copper.

Why is it that men don't do what you ask of them and do what they want to do the way they want to do it. No logic really.

Good morning

Intermittent sunshine and cloud today, but rain forecast for later again. I think the wind has dropped a bit but there is still a stiff breeze and it’s only 7 degrees; a bit of a change from the weekend when it reached 20 here. The nights have got cold again as well.

I’ve just booked our next Covid jabs at our local surgery. Normally they let us know they are booking vaccinations but I hadn’t heard so rang the main surgery to ask if they were doing them and the receptionist gave me the earliest available booking which is next Wednesday.

AnnG, I don’t have your problems with using the phone but with businesses and trades people I prefer to email anyway. Then you always have something in writing. You wondered if the possibility of a Club name change had come up before. It gets mentioned at every single AGM and everyone says they will think about it and it just blows over till the next AGM. This time someone has written a letter about it to the Chairman so it’s got to be taken more seriously. It’s funny you should mention insurance. I did look into that yonks ago when I first became secretary and at the time was told we didn’t need it as we hired premises so their public liability should cover us if, for instance, someone slipped over and was injured. We also didn’t sell or give food or drink to the general public. However I am sure rules have changed a lot over the years and, as it happened, the chairman said to me on Monday that she thought we should have insurance of some sort so I hope the committee will look at it again. The money issue isn’t a problem – that is all written into the Constitution right down to what will happen to any funds left if the Club closes. I am trying not to get too involved but seem to be getting drawn in more and more.

My vacuum cleaner is working fine this morning so washing the filter seems to have done the trick, but I can’t understand why it wasn’t flashing “Filter” as normal if that was the problem. This is my cordless vac but I do still have my old plug-in Dyson that I can use. I just find it so heavy and I don’t like using it on the stairs. I don’t really feel safe with it.

As it’s a 20 mile drive and you can never be sure where there are road closures or roadworks we always leave plenty of time to get to hospital appointments. Although we had rain on the way, yesterday we had a clear run so I was early for my appointment. I was called in more or less straight away, had all the usual sight tests, pressure tests and scans and all done by the same very good nurse so it was only one attempt to scan each eye, not the 5 it took the dozy dilly last time. The nurse then said she would show me where to sit to be called for the photos. By the time I’d taken in what she said and asked what photos she was gone. After a couple of minutes I was called in and said to the lady at the machine that I don’t usually have photos done, I normally go in to see the doctor next. She then said the doctor wanted some special pictures of the back of my eye. These were done and she said I could go home now. The doctor would look at everything and then ring or write to me. It was not very satisfying as I was left with no idea of the state of my eye or how long it would be before I heard. However, this morning I got an email from the eye dept at the hospital giving me another appointment in 8 weeks, so I assume it’s stable but he still wants to keep a check on it.

I’ve written quite a lot again and must go and prompt OH to do his duty and get lunch. I want it a bit earlier than usual as we have been invited to a friend’s for a cuppa this afternoon and she is expecting us at 2.30 pm.

I don't ring anyone (ever if I can help it). I email Jake or message him on Next Door site. He contacts me via email or Next door. His Dad I think owns the parent company and Jake is branching out on his own with his Dad working for him (and advising him).. He has explained all this to me. His partner contacts me via the next Door site.

Morning Anng and all,

lovely bright morning again and its 7 degrees at the momemnent and pc says sunny.

Anng who is it you ring when you want Jake and dad? If it is Jake perhaps dad just comes with him to work or maybe it is actually dad who owns the business. When you say te BOYS have gone to Spain do you mean him and his dad? or has Jake gone with friends? I wondeer if it is soemthing like you say.

good morning all bright so far but only 4 degrees so a bit chilly
Nothing planned for this morning but being picked up at 1320 to go to the U3a monthly meeting I think the talk is on micro paintings.

Ann I think with Jake, he is a good worker but a bad manager. (No excuse when dealing with customers I know). He is also, although he would like me to think otherwise) organised by his Dad and they always work together. His Dad does the complicated work. Can't quite put my finger on it, it is as if his Dad is training him. He always leaves Dad in the truck when he is discussing jobs, then calls him in when things are arranged. I suppose he is like a big kid really. He is always willing, always cheerful. And usually gets more than the agreed work done. Just a bit disorganised in his life I think.

I actually wonder if he is on the Autism spectrum in some way. Anyway I can't do anything until they return in 10 days now.

Oh there's no excuse for Jake not letting you know he was going away AnnG, especially for 10 days. That's very poor. He could have used his partner's phone to let you know. I would be cross too. I hope he gets in touch as soon as he's back.

Vera it's sad we keep losing friends isn't it. I remember saying to OH when his dad was in his 90s that so many people he knew once must have passed away and now it's happening to us. :-( I hope you manage to find the blockage and fix your hoover. I sometimes think I should have a spare!

Well the meeting seems to have uncovered shortcomings in the paperwork which isn't that surprising with a small group. It's not helpful when people start talking across each other and only want to keep voicing their own opinion is it. It's the Chairperson's job to nip these things in the bud and direct a meeting. OH often comes home rolling his eyes after meetings as the way a lot of meetings are run are apalling and way below the standards of meetings we had at work over 20 years ago. The research into it will hopefully make the decision about it easy at the next meeting. I had to smile at the instigator falling asleep till his wife woke him at home time!

We both went out to do a bit of weeding and pruning for about 20 minutes and both had had enough then with our backs and my knees hurting. Neither of us feel our muscles are as strong anymore, our tummies are bigger and we get out of puff so easily. I stand back and look at what is a fairly small garden I used to manage on my own easily and it's so frustrating finding the effort required isn't worth the pleasure I get out of it now. As some of the shrubs have outgrown their space or are leggy now, a complete rethink with less soil and more features would be better for us now. It didn't help that with my leather gloves on I didn't feel and managed to drop my secateurs in the big garden bin with a humper full of prunings and weeds on top.

An early start into the city at peak hour tomorrow to take OH's car in or the latest update.

Thanks Vera.
Yes Mel they deserve a holiday but since starting his business he has had two weeks at least off with his injured hand and three weeks off sick with some sort of cold or flu and in the circumstances he should have let me know what he was doing. That is why I am cross with him. To say nothing about the fact in error he threw my broom onto his truck when clearing up the last time they were here. And I don’t have another one.

Well Vera you made me laugh at the bloke falling asleep through the meeting about the change of name as he was the first one to bring it up. I think this all needs to be looked into at a further date when you can get the right people there who will listen and not all talk over one another but hark to what others have to say.

Anng its probably the best time for 'the Boy' to have a break as with the good weather coming they will be busy right through the spring and summer. I know my dad who was a builder and decortor alway had his holidays in April May or September those being the quietist times work wise.

Suns still out and shining well here and I have just remembered I have washing in the machine waiting to go since early this morning. We still have a strongish breeze and its 10 degrees and been dry all day, sorry Vera.

Sorry to hear that you have lost another friend Vera. sounds like a frustrating day so far so hope all goes well with your eyes.

The meeting sounded as if the discussion re name change has not ever been held before? Or, if it has, nobody has taken in the fact that your group is an official not a casual group and,as such, probably handles money. And that means having things tied up so nothing can go wrong. Who has liability? that must be written into the constitution. I assume there is some sort of insurance liability? all needs to be sorted if there is a name change. Hope somebody can work it all out.

That's unbelievable AnnG. He won't keep many customers like that. I am cross for you.

I am so cross! You remember Jake couldn't come to do the painting last week because it rained. I have been trying to phone him but getting no reply (to find out when he will come and do the work). I have just had a message from his partner, to say 'the boys' are in Spain and will be back in 10 days. What a way to run a business. At the very least he could have let me know he was going away. Oh and he has not had a phone for a week as he dropped it from a tree working in Cheltenham. (I guess when he could have been painting my bench.)

It's not a very nice day here again; not so much heavy rain as yesterday but showers on and off, with grey skies and fairly strong winds.

I slept fairly well but everything's gone downhill since then. I had just made myself a steaming bowl of porridge when the phone rang. It was a call to tell me that someone else we know had sadly died yesterday. We talked for quite a while so by the time I got back to my porridge it had gone cold and solidified. Not very nice.

Then I thought I'd better get going with some h/w, hoovered a couple of rooms and started on the stairs. The vacuum cleaner kept stopping and starting and then the symbol for a blockage started flashing. Well, I dismantled the machine as much as I could and couldn't find any blockage anywhere so if there is one it must be right inside where I can't get to it. I decided to clean the filter while I was at it and now that is drying.

OH was in a mood because he couldn't get the new landline phones he bought to operate the way he wanted and, as we needed our main meal at lunchtime today, I had to fit in cooking meat, pots and two veg.

To finish my day off well I have a late appointment at the hospital for another check on my eyes, which is why we needed dinner at lunchtime. I can't usually see properly for a while after we get back and, if we're not back till 7 pm or later I won't feel like cooking or eating out. Isn't life fun!

Last night's meeting at the club was interesting. We started off with the speaker who had been booked a long while ago. He was talking about Iceland and he was very good. He spoke clearly, was enthusiastic and very entertaining and showed lots of beautiful slides. Then we had a cuppa and a biscuit and got down to business.

The chairman, a lady, asked if people wanted to discuss the motion to change the name further or just go for a straight vote so I said my bit about what is involved in a name change. One chap thanked me and said he hadn't realised it was so complex and we ought to think more about whether we would gain enough to make the work worthwhile. There was then a fair bit of discussion back and forth, not too heated but most people not really listening to anybody else's viewpoint. In the end it was left that the chairman would speak to the banks (there are 2 accounts) and try and find out just what is involved in getting the account changed and will report back.

I had a word with the chairman afterwards and discovered she has never even seen a copy of the Constitution. When she took on the position the previous chairman passed hardly any paperwork over. Perhaps that chairman had never had it herself from the one previous to her. So I'll give her a copy of mine. We are a small, informal group but sometimes you can be a bit too casual about these things.

Oh, and guess what was the most exasperating or funny thing, depending on your sense of humour.(I found it quite funny). The man who is adamant about changing the name and who started the whole thing off slept through the entire discussion!!! His wife nudged him awake in time to go home. :-D

Forgot to mention we won a bottle of Bailey's in the raffle which was good, even though neither of us drink Bailey's.

Afternoon all,

Well what a miserable day its been raining here all morning and it feels like winter it's really cold and still windy .

Thanks for the knitting pattern Ann I'll go it a go .
Yes everywhere is really beginning to look lovely and green we can see a difference in the trees, since yesterday there's lot of leaves that have opened on the trees .
I like the beech trees their leaves look a lovely fresh bright green .

Vera could you have picked that verruca up from the chiropodist, they can be really painful , I know son had one when he was at school and it took ages to go .

Right I'm going to put a cardi on my arms are chilly ,don't think it will be long before we light the fire .

Morning All,

No dreams here, but I was still awake at 3.00am so there wasn't much time for dreaming. It's 10 degrees here now and rain expected this afternoon, but at the moment it's sunny and nice, but a bit breezy.

The window cleaner's been and I'm expecting a parcel delivery so need to stick around until it's delivered.

We nipped out to the shop for my magazine and some fruit earlier and like Mandy said everywhere is getting greener by the day and I noticed some of the Hawthorn has buds ready to burst already. The Cherry trees in gardens look really pretty now as well. The shop seems to keep reducing the staff and some of the helpful, cheerful ones that would always smile and say hello and automatically pack your shopping have gone. Some of the new younger ones seem to pay more attention to their phones than customers and barely break a smile.

A bit of HW next and get our salad lunch and maybe a short stint in the garden before it rains.

Good morning all. bright and sunny here at the moment and 8 degrees and, as far as I can see, no wind. Last night before I went to bed, I looked out of an upstairs window and my ordinary waste bin (Which is rarely very heavy) has been blown - still upright- across the pavement towards the road so I had to go down and go out and pull it back onto the drive. I didn't want it blowing over in the night.

I slept well, I (as usual) had a dream that I can only partially remember. I was away somewhere on holiday staying in the same place as someone I seemed to not normally be friendly with (no clue who it was) and her family and chatting away. don't know where, don't know who, and I was on my own.