General Chat

Oh dear Mel, it looks like you are going to be busy with maintenance! Some of our fence panels down the side need replacing and the rest need painting. One arbour has a rotten roof and the shed roof felt has mostly ripped off and it's leaning and we want to replace it. I know what you mean about falling apart!

AnnG it will be interesting to see what the big toms will be like and you have a variety with the different types of seed. They keep digging roads up everywhere we go lately and it does make it difficult for pedestrians too and anyone with a pushchair.

We wondered whether they would offer OH a sedative for the scan but thought probably not so soon after the heart trouble. The journey there and back meant we missed the traffic as they had brought his appointment forward by 50 minutes so we had a leisurely drive there and parked easily and he went in early. He made me jump out of my skin in the car as he was back in 3 quarters of an hour instead of an hour and a half!! He said he was absolutely fine and didn't even have any pain with his back, although he'd taken painkillers before we left home. He said they used pillows to raise his legs which helped and he had earplugs as well as headphones but it was still noisy. Best of all though he said the scanner had a mirror in front of your eyes and if you looked in that you could see outside the scanner and see the person who was talking to you. He said being able to see outside the scanner meant it wasn't claustrophobic at all. I don't know if the NHS scanners have mirrors now or whether being a private hospital they had one with whistles and bells on! He's chuffed it's done now though. He should get the results next Wednesday when he sees the rheumatologist again.

I've finished sorting the clothes in the bed drawers now, but there are some handbags in there that need to go in the wall cupboards above the bed when I sort those out. I don't know why I have more than one handbag really, as I always use the same one and can't be bothered to move the contents to another bag and I don't seem to go to weddings these days and need to have a matching handbag.

I hope Vera got on ok at the eye appointment today.

Just come in from the garden at 6.20pm I have checked the mole traps out the front field and washed down my shed windows on the outside and the cream paintwork as that was all green and round the top of the stable doors cream paint. I really needs to be painted again this year and I am not sure that oh did the cream last time he painted it. The back window that looks up the orchard is badly in need of paint as most of that has come off.

The hose sprinkler has broken so I need a new one of those. So things are falling apart as well as me !

Took my three begonias out of their pots from last year and only one has survived the winter in the shed but that one has three little buds in the top. Did a bit of weeding in my pot of Fritillaria seedlings sand I need to sort out the plants in pots outside my shed as a lot of them have died or got a mass of goats willow small trees in them. I was going to sow my tom seeds but did'nt get round to it as I need to shift a large new bale of compost and I did'nt think I was up to it wiith all Iv'e done today. Theres always tomorrow.

How did the scan go Ann Was he able to stay in for that very long time or did he opt out? I hope he got on ok.

Its been really hot out there today and its still 11 degrees now just as its getting dark.

I have just seen a little Comma in the garden. I didn’t see any at all last year s maybe this will be a better year for butterflies.

Went in to town as planned. Chaotic everywhere with footpaths and roads all being dug up and resurfaced, very dangerous and frustrating for pedestrians to get easily and safely from the bus station into and out of town back. Still it was lovely and warm and I had a good walk round as my appointment was not until 12. Couldn't see anything I liked in M&S and they had changed the stuff all round and put swinwear etc right by the door where sweaters always used to be. Saw people looking for sweaters and nobody buying swinwear. I just bought a sort of fleece slip over (no jacket) in Bonmarche

I was home by 1245 as I just caught a bus so that was good and, after lunch I planted my tomatoe seeds. (ten Sungold and four from a very large tomato that my friend had last year, no idea what it is called.. So they are all on this office windowsill. just added 4 alicante as I had 4 empty cells and I found some seeds from last year.

I had the Chilli last night at Stu's and it was very nice not too hot and he added chopped up broccoli and leak and we had three houlmi (SP) breaded cheese things which he did in the air fryer. Not had those before and they were very nice too dipped in the chilli.

Just after I posted this morning I went to the loo and BIL turned up. He wanted to go up the top and see if he could stim some of the bramble on the edge of the field. I said i would come up and have a look and ended up putting out five mole traps on the field. Will have to check them later this afternoon. He could'nt cut the blimmin sloe bushes down with the strimmer as they were too thick so I shall have to go up with the leccy loppers and do those but my neighbours are haveing a new fence put along there today so we left the builder to it.

Then we both came down the house and I picked up the sticks off the orchard and BIL mowed it. Then he took the old ggreenhouse up for me so I can clear that bit of the decking for him to put the new one up for me he bought me for Christmas. So I did'nt get the bed changed or my hair washed as planned for the day and now I am hungry and hav'nt taken any pills yet.

Morning All,

Glorious sunshine again and I saw 2 butterflies this morning including a yellow Brimstone one.

Thank you for your good wishes for OH. He seems calmer about the scan now it will soon be over so that's good. I'm taking plenty to read with me.

We usually visit any nearby castles when we go away, but I don't think I would be going up the spiral staircases with my knees now! I'm surprised you haven't been to these places with your OH in the past. It will do you good to get out and about more though. We get a discounted membership with the NT because of our ages too. Car parking is free for members at some places as well. I hope you can revive the Orchids. You haven't told us what you chose to eat?

AnnG I hope you manage to plant your tomato seeds. What variety have you chosen this year? I have sent for some mixed single flowered dwarf marigold seeds. I grew them during the pandemic and the pretty tortoiseshell butterflies loved them and were always in the garden. Then the next year I grew the more impressive double flowered ones and we had hardly any butterlies as they couldn't reach the nectar in the double flowers.

I hope you get done what you want to in the garden Mandy. It's lovely to be outside when it's nice like today.

We called at the pharmacy this morning but they won't have OH's eyedrops in till tomorrow now. I thought he had to take them another 6 weeks, but it actually adds up to 8 more weeks! At least it's twice daily and reducing and not every two hours now.

I've sorted another half of one of the big drawers under the bed and am going to see if I can do the other half before we set off for the hospital.

mORNING EVERYONE,

bEAUTIFUL MORNING HERE AND NO FROST BUT WALL TO WALL SUNSHINE.

Sorry about that I had been naming files.

Hope all goes well with the scan today we will all be with him in thought. Sending wishes.

My evening out was really good last night and the meal was great but poor Stu had such a back backache as he has been working on hiis own as his son is taking some of his leave. Stu had to have two little lies on the floor and did'nt finish his meal. Took some pills and when I had finished we sat in the lounge and chatted for ages. He told me he loves castles and showed me pics on his phone of one they visited in 2022. Most beautiful ceilings and grounds now owned by the national trust of which Stu is a member. When he went there and paid to go in he joined the trust and they took the gate money off his payment to join which was good and then he shakes a lot with his left hand (he is left handed) and he said sorry about that and the man asked what was wrong and he told him he has Parkinsons , In that case the man said you get to join for half price. He is going to take out another sub this year and said he would take me out and I could go as his carer! Neither of us have been to see Okehampton castle ruin or Launston so that will be two trip out and we will have lunch out that day too which will be nice so I am looking forward to it. He's like a son to me as I have known him since he was 14. I did'nt get in till 9.41pm and I am usually there about an hour so it was quite a long time to be out but I so enjoyed it. I also came home with two orchids which he has not looked after properly. I thinkj the small one he has drown completely but the larger one still has a bit of green on its leaves and two new flower stems but it is so rooty I can't get it out of the pot holder. It has pleanty of new good looking roots so I am wondering whether to cut it off and pot it again. I shall have to have a look in the shed and see if I still have the orchid bark to plant it in. I have cut off the dead roots but it has an abundance of healthy fresh ones. We'll see as it stand more chance with me than with him. The little one was standing in water when I took it out of the pot holder but I don't thinjkit has one good root on it at all and all the leaves are brown and some dropped off. There is another one on his windowsill in the kitchen so I may get that one too.

Morning Anng ,morning all,

Lovely sunny morning ,no frost but still a bit chilly I've just hung some washing out and my hands are cold now ,we hope to get out in the garden this morning Colins going to wire brush the fence ready to paint anc I'm going to do a bit of weeding and cut the grass later if it's not to wet .

Hope OH's scan goes OK Ann .

Good morning all. another bright morning and I slep very well last night. Woke around 6 and didn't try and get back to sleep. Only up once for the loo. It is 4 degrees here so a bit milder and forecast was for possible 18-20 degrees later.

I have a chiropodist appointment so that means going to town which is a nuisance as if it is going to be warm I could do with being in the garden doing things this morning. Probably be too warm out there when I get home but maybe I can get my tomato seeds planted. I washed out all the seed trays etc yesterday.

Ann that was a long wait for your OH's eye appointment. But good that his eyes are OK.
I have only watched the River Severn one of those programmes but it was very interesting. I muct check if I recorded more.

Vera I hope the eye appointment goes OK.

Mel, did you enjoy your meal with Stu?

I hope your eye appointment tomorrow goes well and is quicker than OH's was today Vera. They were already running over an hour late when he got there today and he was just under 3 hours after I dropped him off till he got back to the car. I was panicking a bit as you are only allowed 3 hours at Morrisons. His eyes are good and he doesn't need to go back again, but suggested he may get flare ups at times. There's another 6 weeks of reducing the eyedrops, but they gave him a prescription for some more to use at any chemist. Of course we caught all the rush hour traffic going home so knee ache again.

The talk sounds interesting AnnG and I have recorded those programmes so will look out for the episode.

So you are ready to paint the fence now Mandy. It's surprising how soon a morning goes after a few errands isn't it.

I'm so tired I'm off to bed soon. One bathroom fitter has given me a date he can come so that's good.

the talk was very good although he was not, to my mind a very good speaker as, although I could easily hear him he talked so fast that a lot of his words were lost. He has actualy been on TV. If you watched clare Balding's latest programme. I think it is called tales from the river bank. she did a piogramme on the River Severn and this was mentioned on there and I think he was actually on there.

Wasier if you google it.


Purton Ships Graveyard

https://www.cotswolds.com › listing › purton-ships-gra...
purton hulks ships graveyard from www.cotswolds.com
Known as the Purton Ships Graveyard or Purton Hulks the area has a large number of purposely abandoned boats and ships that were beached on this area

Vera check if the have a monthly meeting with speakers, you can usually go to one of those to get a feel for things. You could then ask about the groups in case something you like is buried in a title (If you know what I mean). does it have to be something that you both like?

Ann you are doing well with your sorting out. I do have some more indoor stuff to sort through.
Sorry that the blod test results were not good, hope something can be done to change that for him.

I have sorted out the trays for the planting of tomato seed. they will have to be on the window sill inside the house as the conservatory is eigher very cold or very hot at the moment no middle path. probably do that on Friday.

gosh I thought I had posted this but when I switched on just now it is still sitting here waiting!!!

Been trying all morning to get another thing on Ebay and the postage seems to have gone and they keep putting it up as £2.48 and I charge £4.55 signed for. Three times I tried and got intouch with Ebay and spoke to someone and I still got a message up saying they were having difficulties and to try later. Did that and it still cam eup with their postage cost on it so I put it in the title and hope it can be sorted that way.

Can't get into anything today probably because I know I am going out tonight. :-S

Afternoon all,

Lovely day after a sharp frost ,so nice to have the warmth of the sun .

Ann I'm sorry to read that OH's blood results weren't good ,here's hoping the doctor can give him some help with them , it's a devil they wanted to see him just as he had his eye appointment, hope his scan goes well tomorrow and it's not to uncomfortable for him.

Mel sounds as if you have a good choice of meals to pick from at Stuarts , he feeds you well ,what have you decided on .

Anng hope you enjoy your meeting this afternoon, sounds as if you had a good day out yesterday with a nice lunch and it sounds as if Jake is getting well with your garden jobs too.

Vera hope all goes well tomorrow with your hospital appointment for your eyes .

We went shopping today ,first we called at the co op for the television book ,then on to Tesco's to the hole in the wall for some cash it's hair cut day on Friday so we needed cash out for that ,we then went to Aldi for our shop and then Roys to collect the paint so that was our morning gone.

His scan is tomorrow afternoon Vera. He was going to go on his own, but I could tell he was a bit worried in case he had sedation so I'm going with him and will sit in the car just outside most of the time. I need to be able to get a mobile signal as I might get a call from the bathroom fitters. I can take a newspaper, a book to read or even take some knitting I keep meaning to start. I think it's lovely sitting in the conservatory this time of year too as it's lovely and warm and nice to watch the birds. It's a big job to clean all the glass and frames though.

I never trust the surgery to note he has thalassaemia trait when they do blood tests AnnG as they have forgotten before and OH never thinks to remind them. That may explain one of the issues. Looking at the doc's notes it looks like another scan will follow his next visit to the GP. When will you plant your tomato seeds? I love watching seedlings emerge in the Spring. what are the 'huks' in the graveyard??

We are off to the Hospital eye clinic soon and I will wait for him in Morrison's car park. Fingers crossed, if all is good they will discharge him and no more eyedrops to do.

Enjoy your meal Mel, nice to have a choice.........chicken for me please!

Annx, sorry I missed your post. I’m sorry to hear the blood test results were not good and hope the doctor can give OH plenty of help. Wishing him well <3

Vera check if the have a monthly meeting with speakers, you can usually go to one of those to get a feel for things. You could then ask about the groups in case something you like is buried in a title (If you know what I mean). does it have to be something that you both like?

Ann you are doing well with your sorting out. I do have some more indoor stuff to sort through.
Sorry that the blod test results were not good, hope something can be done to change that for him.

I have sorted out the trays for the planting of tomato seed. they will have to be on the window sill inside the house as the conservatory is eigher very cold or very hot at the moment no middle path. probably do that on Friday.

That was quick. A slip of a girl carried 4 heavy crates into the kitchen. We unpacked them and she was gone in no time. I’ve packed the freezer stuff and some of the fridge stuff away but still have to put all the cupboard stuff away. No subs and nothing missing.

It sounds as though your house will look great Gill with all the decorating and refurbishing you are doing.

Yesterday was a very busy day. I am still trying to give my conservatory a thorough clean. It takes forever to wash all the window and door frames and clean all the big panes of glass but I’m getting there, bit by bit.

Annx, I know you have told us but my brain doesn’t retain as much now. Is OH’s scan today? For some reason I think it is on a Wednesday. If it is today I hope it has gone or will go well and not be too uncomfortable for him.

I may not be posting tomorrow. I have another appointment at the hospital for my eyes to be checked and, depending on what they do, I can’t always see very well afterwards so won’t be looking at a screen.

Have a nice day everyone and enjoy the sun if you have got it.

It’s a really beautiful day here. I’m sitting in the conservatory with the sun shining through the glass and heating the room, looking out on a complete bed of daffodils. What could be better? Well, perhaps someone to tidy up the scruffy plants and weed everywhere would be nice.

It’s nice of Stu to invite you to a meal and give you a choice of menu Mel. They are the sort of decisions I like.

That sounds a lovely day out yesterday AnnG. Enjoy your U3A talk today. I look at our local U3A occasionally but haven’t yet sorted a group that we would both like. I might have another look to see what’s available in the field of history.

I hope you are feeling better now Gill.

Back later. Tesco have just arrived with my delivery

Morning All,

More lovely sunshine, we are being spoiled, but I understand it will change at the end of the week. I have been out and filled a couple of medium humpers and the garden bin is half full now so I was pleased to get that done.

It sounds like you had a good day at the garden with friends AnnG and a good value lunch too. It's a good idea having more secure gates these days and great that Jake has cleared so much away for you. I'm going to tackle another of the drawers under the bed next!

OH had a telephone appointment this mornig following his blood test results. Not good news and she wanted him to see her and be examined this afternoon, but the time clashed with his eye clinic appointment he had such difficulty getting so he is seeing her next week now.