General Chat

Iv'e been doing some gardening out the front while its in the shade. We have a nice breeze today so it is feeling a bit cooler but at the mo its 27 degrees. I'vre tied up the sweet peas and taken all the old string of their trellis and put new up in some places where it had gone.

Emptied a big pot of compost on the plants round the side of sunflower garage and managed to get a splinter in my thumb wiping sawdust off the side of the pot. Done a bit of weeding round the front but only a bit and dead headed the little rose on the rockeryish bit at the end of the box hedge and rescued a nice grass that was growing all one sided. I can never say the name of it and I think it starts with an H.

Fed the fish in both ponds and now come in for acool down and something to eat. I know I shan't want to go out after I have eaten but felt I have done a bit out there today.

I have also painted a barrel lid I am making and some more of the wood incase I want to make another one.

I don't think I ever remember it being so humid and hot over night as it has been this past week. Is it only me finding the under sheet actually damp when I wake up. It was so bad this morning that even the mattress protector and pillow were damp. Almost got it all back on the bed now, all washed and dried.

Morning All,

It's still comfortable here at the moment, but we were the same last night and sat outside and OH saw a couple of bats.

I was silly yesterday and had to eat a hot ready meal I'd defrosted. With heating up with that and the heat that had built up in here and from the PC, I overheated and felt a bit strange so I splashed my face and ran cold water on my wrists and sat in the lounge where it was cooler with a glass of iced water. I soon felt better, so will stick to the salads we've been having and picky bits too while it's so hot. I got up at 7.00am watered and hoovered the worst up everywhere and have done some damp dusting in the lounge diner. The fine dust from the work is even clinging to the sides of cupboards. There may be more tomorrow so I have just wiped up the worst for now.

You had a good sleep Mel which is good to get a decent night's rest with all this heat not helping. Chickens seem to prefer dust baths to wet ones don't they, but welcome a shady spot.

I don't know if I said but when I popped to the shop yesterday, across the road an end house has a sold sign up. Next to the wall on a shady bit of grass a tortoiseshell cat was curled up fast asleep. I'm sure I've seen the same cat at the house before and just hoped the people haven't already moved and pussycat had got out of the new place and was waiting outside his old home.

Glad you slept well too Mandy. Is the greenhouse you have now big enough to walk inside? You seem to do better with your cucumbers than I did. Mine used to get that mildew on the leaves after a while. Yes the dead heading will give you more lovely Roses and their perfume won't it.

Better go and sort some lunch now!

Good morning all

22 degrees at the moment and it’s likely to get to 25 later but that’s cooler than the last couple of days so may not be too bad. I was able to sit outside under a big canopy for a little while yesterday evening with the paper and a glass of shandy. It did get very hot and humid during the night so I had the fan going all night and I did get some sleep.

I got up at 7 am and there was no sign of OH. Then I found him in the garage doing some repairs to a wooden garden bench. We rarely sit on this particular bench but it just looks right in its corner in the garden so I don’t want to get rid of it. I had a quick wash and had some breakfast and then cleaned the other birdbath and did a load of deadheading. It was quite pleasant as it was cloudy but then the sun came out and it got too hot for me.

I’ve promised OH a roast dinner today as I’ve been feeding him lighter meals and salads all week. While that’s cooking I need to sort out an order for Sainsbury. I’ve got a slot booked for Tuesday but only put in a couple of items to hold the booking so I need to go through the cupboards and make a list of what I need.

Morning all,

Got up at 5.20am for the loo and then back to bed and slept again till just before 9am.

Its 23 degrees here already so goodness knows what its ging up to today. I shall have to go round to the girls and rig up a bit of shade for them although they do have a bit by the house in the morning and then in the corner under the big oak later in the day and right into the afternoon when the suns gone round. I'm thinking oh's fishing brolly as the small tarp I put up last year broke the wood on the top of the run.

It was lovely and cool last night outside. I went out and listened to the music coming from the big house.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Blue sky and sunshine ,we sat out last night for a while but it turned quite chilly in the breeze so we had to come in my arms were coid ,once the sun goes round our back garden is all in the shade so no moving into the sun .
I slept very well just woke twice for the loo its all the extra drink I think that's makes me go but you need it with the heat .

Nothing much planned might do some more dead heading of the white rose as the front of the house is in the shade most of the morning ,grass might want a cut but it's not grown much in the heat thd brown bin goes out tomorrow so want to fill it a but more .
Could cut a few of the cucumber leaves off as it quite a jungle in the greenhouse but that will be hot in there so we'll see .

Good morning all, another very hot humid night with patchy sleep. I got up around six in the end, It was so hot and I was perspiring so much the sheets and pillow cases (and mattress protector) were actually damp Mattresse protector and pillow cases are in the washing machine now. Sheets etc will be next. I hate it when everything feelsso damp. And I have never really perspired much at all so don't like it when I do.
Strangely it still feels clammy even though the temp has dropped to 15 degrees. (just before 7am).

Nothing planned for today except hair wash and Tesco delivery which is earlier today 12-1300. The trouble with this exhausting heat is that even doing nothing takes too much energy. :-(

Iv'e got lettuce, toms, cue, celery, olives, cheese and salmon tinned and a hunk of granary bread no butter or marg.

Hope you've had a wonderful day Annx.

Mandy yes we tend to eat more don't we with picky bits.

Vera I shall just nip over and have a look then.

Just been back to the book thread Ann and put up a long post. I was going to pm Tabitha about watched threads not operating but she seems to have found her way back again. I like picky bits meals as a change but OH has a good appetite for a small man and I always feel I need to give him something more substantial, although he is very easy going and eats whatever I put in front of him.

Mandy, there seem to be plenty of English strawberries in the supermarkets round here. I did have some from Leicestershire but nearly all ours have come from Wilkins at Tiptree in Essex.

How lovely to get a piece of jewellery Ann. I don't wear a lot of jewellery but I do like earrings and can always find some to spend OH's money on. Let us know what you choose.

Yes abroad Anng we all had omelette and salad and I was ths unlucky one ,even with our fresh eggs I've never fancied one since .

We had that unbearable heat yesterday no way could we have sat out in that .
We had picky bits for lunch ,crackers with a chive and cheese dip ,mini pork pie, toms cucumber ,peppers and some smoked cheese , it's very filling so we will only have a sandwich later ,yesterday I made a banana custard to use up some bananas so will probably have some of that cold from the fridge.

Oh good, I am so pleased it arrived. I don't usually use first class but it was posted first class on Thursday from the main post office in town. Yes, best to wait for cooler weather for a birthday meal. Ooh I like jewellery always really preffered to accompany T and point out several items I liked though.

Vera I did get about 3 hours sleep but not all at once.
Have you re-visited the book thread?

I don't think my bill is because of water usage increasing, it is Severn Trent who are spending millions because of pollution of rivers in their area and we are having to make up for the fact that for several years we never had a very big rise.

Mandy it woukd even be too hot to sit out in the shade in my garden. I have not been outside at all since about 12 O'clock and that was only just a quick visit outside. it is 32 here and very humid.
I suspect your bad omelette was abroad Mandy and the eggs out of date. OK if you make your own and know your eggs are fresh.

Hope Gwyn is ok in this heat, we have not heard from her.

Mel, good idea to see if there is a non driver who would go to a supermarket with you.

No proper cooked meal for me tonight. I have what daughter and I refer to as picky bits (and I notice the term is being used in adverts for different stores. My picky bits among other things will be veg spring rolls (small), Tempura prawns, garlic bread, tomato and onion salad, cheese, cucumber and anything else I find in the freezer.

I don't think it's quite as hot as yesterday as there's a lovely breeze ,we sat out most of the morning under the gazebo and also had the two brollies up each side so lots of shade and no moving about like musical chairs .

Ann thats best to wait for a cooler day to have a meal you'll enjoy it better if its not so hot to go out .
That's handy a sale on at the jewellers, what sort of thing do you fancy this time ,years ago it might have been a lovely brooch but no-one seems to wear brooches any more ,my mum had a few as did my nanny .
Good news about OH's appointment coming through at last ,hope they can get some treatment started to help with all his pain its been such a long wait for him .


Vera its strawberries we haven't had very much this year ,I did look at some when I bought the fruit but they were very small punnets for £2.80 which I thought was a bit pricey and they weren't English I thought perhaps the English ones were finished as we had had all this heat .
What about a nice omelette, oh my mum use to make a lovely omelette with parsley ,not that I eat omelette any more the last omelette I had was on holiday and it gave me food poisoning ,oh boy was I bad never had omelette since .

I know we shouldn’t moan about the sun as we complain when we can’t see any but I think we would all like it a little bit cooler. I think it’s the humidity in this country that gets to us. I’ve been abroad in higher temperatures and been able to walk around comfortably and go out and about but a quick walk round our tiny garden and I’m wilting.

I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well last night AnnG. As you say, it was very hot and sticky. I just had a sheet over me and had the fan going all night on a higher setting than I usually use at night. In total I got about 4 hours sleep which was a bit more than I have been getting, but it wasn’t a settled sleep. I had an hour, then was awake for 2 hours, slept another hour, awake for another two and then slept for 2 hours before getting up. Still, I don’t feel too bad today. That’s a big jump in your water bill. It wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t hear soon that ours is going up, particularly the way OH is forever using the hose this summer. We did hear today that our gas bill is going up by £23 a month.

What a lovely lot of fruit you bought for the family Mandy. We like our fruit but haven’t had any cherries or peaches this year as they haven’t looked very good locally and have been expensive. We have had plenty of strawberries and are making the most of those as I’ll normally only buy British ones so they might not be around for too much longer. Our home grown blueberries are really flavoursome this year but I don’t think we are going to get as many as usual.

I bet your feet felt good after your visit to the foot man Mel. Ann asked if your man rubs cream in your feet when he’s finished. My chiropodist does. She’s not cheap but I get a good half hour with her and when she’s done she creams my feet and even puts my socks back on for me. I hope the strawberry stain comes out of your shirt. I was going to suggest the same as Annx that maybe someone local who can’t get out much would appreciate a trip to the shops or somewhere else with you.

That’s good news about OH’s rheumatology appointment Annx. That’s one less thing to worry about. The men doing your en-suite seem to be getting on really well. It can’t be easy working in this heat. I hope you are enjoying your birthday and hope my card arrived in time. I have no faith in the postal system anymore. One of OH’s cards took 9 days to arrive from a nearby town.

I hope this hot weather isn’t affecting your breathing Gwyn. I have a couple of friends with COPD and they both say they are often worse in hot weather than in cold.

I did manage to get outside for about 40 minutes soon after I got up this morning. I gave the stone bird bath a really good scrub out, not before time as it was filthy. It’s the dratted pigeons. They sit in it and do unmentionable things so within a day or so of cleaning it’s all brown and scummy and slimy again. I didn’t get the other metal bird bath cleaned but hope to do that tomorrow. I also tidied up another plant that was trailing everywhere but that was all I could manage before the heat drove me indoors. Now I must go and decide what to get for dinner tonight. We don’t want anything too heavy but I’m running low on salad stuff again and, tbh, I’m getting a bit fed up with salads. I’ll probably sort out something with eggs.

Yes thank you, your lovely card you made arrived with a few others this morning AnnG. I was thinking that it wouldn't be surprising to get any post late now, as ours only seems to come every few days. Gosh, I expect our water bill will have shot up too, particularly with watering the plants.

Mel it's a pity you don't know someone you could take out that can't drive. I bet they'd love it. Wasn't Stu going to take you to see a castle? Maybe you could drop a hint? ;-)

Yes it's action stations with windows and curtains here Mandy as the sun moves round. Having lined curtains helps too as you say. I suppose hutters is what we all need really.

We've decided to go for a birthday meal when it's a bit cooler and I've asked OH to pay for my car wheels to be refurbished fo my birthday. He said he will also buy me some jewellery from my favourite place. This morning in the post was a notification about their sale starting, so that is good timing.

It's 27 degrees here now but not too bad inside. I was shocked to see a neighbour going for a walk with his wife when I came back from my errand. I know he is in his 80s and they will work all day in the garden in heat I couldn't stand.

Its now 31 here.............................

Its 30 here now but still feels hotter.

I did the shop after washing the nice cool shirt I had on as I had put three tiny strawberries in the pocket and must have lent on something and I squashed them so off came the shirt and I had to find another one, O and take off the strappy top as the strawberry stain had gone through that too. It was a new top so I washed both with hand soap and both went in the washing machine with other bits.

I watch Roy the Raven and his wife Rene out on the west lawn this morning and then a dragonfly was flying round them. Never seen that before and no where near the pond!

Sitting here at the desk I have the little fan on that plugs into the pc and it just right for sitting here.

30 degrees now and too hot to do anything. I did iron a pair of trousers before lunch but the temp has gone up since then.

Mel, hope the midges were not biting last night then.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND HOPE OH IS SPOILING YOU. I hope my card arrived, I was worried it might be late as I couldn't get to the post as early as I wanted.

sorry was half asleep earlier and not been upstairs since (watered plants before 0930 then been doing the monthly account (llate as I was doing June's account) all done now. Had a water bill and my water monthly repayment has gone up by 50%.

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