General Chat

Thank goodness you weren't seriously injured, Linda. A fall like that could have been really nasty.

No wind here, Florence - just heavy grey clouds and drizzle.
I hope it stays calm enough at your end tomorrow.

Safe travels!
See you soon!

Poor neglected thread, so I thought that I had better post something.
It continues to be dry and bright, but there is still a nip in the air. I decided to do some gardening on Monday, but managed to trip on a step because I was turning to talk to OH at the same time as walking up the steps. I nearly ended up in the rockery, but somehow spun round and was careering down the steps. I managed to grab onto a wrought iron gate, so didn’t fall over, but I grazed one hand and the other arm went through a space in the metal work and my whole weight landed on some of the metal, more or less under my armpit. I am quite sore, but will live to fight another day.
Yesterday I had to go back to where I used to live as my dentist is still there. I went for coffee with my old neighbour afterwards, so that was nice. As I had hurt myself on two consecutive days, I was expecting something bad to happen to make it three, but I was fine. Maybe the dental hygienist poking in my gums counted as the third thing.

This afternoon is school reading, but it is with the seven year olds who read to me, so that is easier. On Mondays it is with the four year olds, so I have to read a story to them. It is quite difficult to be as enthusiastic with the tenth one as with the first.

I hope that everyone else is in a better state than me.

Edit. How spooky, Florence posted as I was writing mine, so the thread wasn’t neglected at all. Have a lovely time in your trip

Morning all

Well busy busy packing here and sorting out fridge etc as dont want to come home to something gone off!!

Its still windy so really hope the ferry sails tomorrow and the wind dies down.

So looking forward to meeting up with ArgyllGran on Saturday for lunch. Always nice to put a face to a name from the boards.

Linda, I remember many years ago looking in the local weekly paper where they had fancy houses for sale for many thousands back then but one day, i saw a 7 bed detached house in the country for 1 million pounds!!! It was the most expensive house I had ever come across.

But now there are 2 bed flats in Kent(posh part) that fetch 1 million so 7 bed houses thesedays would be probably 3 million in the right area.

Whilst it would be lovely to have a big house with many guest rooms etc, the cost of heating and maintaining not to mention the cleaning, would not appeal to me at all.

Hope you blisters are improved Linda, can be so sore.

Well folks I shall not be around on here probably until we return a week tomorrow so dont worry if Im missing!

Hope everyone will be keeping warm and safe.

ArgyllGran, be seeing you very soon.

Florence in the Hebrides

It has continued to be a nice day here, so mid afternoon we decided to go for a walk. We have a bus stop about three hundred yards from the house, so we got the bus to the very far end of the town , then walked back . It is a beautiful walk along the river, the road has the river in one side and steep cliffs on the other. In some parts there are cafes and rowing boats. We walk past all the million pound houses, then take a track up the hill which comes out right next to our NOT million pound house :-)

The only problem was that I put the wrong shoes on. I have two pairs of identical lace ups. One black pair are well worn and very comfy. The other one is dark brown and I haven’t worn them much, so they aren’t broken in. I didn’t notice until I got to the bus stop that I had grabbed the brown pair by mistake. It was a long walk, so by the time I got back, I had rubbed a blister over my bunion. The bunion isn’t very large, but the shoe still rubbed on it. Good job that it is getting milder, so that I can wear my trainers which will be more comfortable

Well this morning came in like a lion with pouring rain and very windy so maybe it will go out like a lamb!

We have been busy dusting the whole house and generally tidying in readiness for our trip to Oban next week. I have things laid out on the bed in daughters room ready for packing. Thank goodness shes still away lol so at least i have a spare room to use for storage.

I have made our usual chicken and rice dish for tea which is now simmering. Perfect comfort food on a wet & windy day and served with poppadoms.

Linda you have been busy as usual so hope you get your jobs done without any rain.

it has been very cold at night right down to 2 degrees, so had the heating on a few evenings.

Joan just do a bit here and there and not all in one go else you will be in bed with a bad back!

Well better go and check on the food else we have burnt offerings!

Florence in the hebrides

The first day of spring has lived up to its name, it is the first day for ages when it hasn’t rained.
OH cleaned the car as he usually does on a Sunday morning. I started tidying out the greenhouse. I made a good start, but there is still a lot to do. The glass is very green, so needs a good wash down

It's a lovely day here once again but only to look at as it's rather chilly today, there was a hard frost during the night, & so I haven't been in the garden today.
I don't think I would have managed any garden jobs today even if it had been warmer, my back was a bit sore this morning after yetsterdays sweeping etc.
I don't really mind sweeping up but my back doesn't like it.

Joan.

It is quite a pleasant day here but only 8 degrees. We do have sun and some blue skies but the wind is quite sharp. the garden is too wet to work on as it rained a lot yesterday.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, it is raining again. I am itching to get out in the garden to thin out the plants on the rockery, but the soil is far too wet to stand on, so it will have to wait.

It does make you feel better being able to get out.
We decided to go for a walk this afternoon, but it started raining just after we set off :-(
It wasn’t too heavy , so we just continued on our way. Normally we would walk through the woods, but it would be too muddy, so we walked along the road instead. We went to a cafe on the riverbank which is in an old watermill. It is on the site of one of the static caravan sites, so does quite well, especially in the summer as it has beautiful lawns going down to the river. The area is called the Lido and has a so called bathing area. In the summer there are always stupid parents letting their children go in the water, then wonder why they get awful stomach upsets. Last year that stretch of the river was designated as a bathing area. All that means is that the environment agency has to test the water every week. It failed every single time, the water is absolutely lethal.

What a beautiful day for us here today, dry, calm & beautiful sunshine.

I have been outside & swept up all the clippings that I left in a heap yesterday, I have also swept the drive, getting rid of all the soggy leaves that had gathered in all the dorners over the winter.

I feel so much better for getting those jobs done at last, the flower borders look better & I am looking forward to the Roses & other shrubs sprouting new growth & their flowers.

The garden is quite colourful at the moment, Snowdrops & Crocus have brightened it up, it was looking rather drab over the winter months.

Joan.

It has been a cloudy morning here,but at least it isn’t raining. Friday is my regular cleaning day, so I have cleaned the bathrooms and done all the dusting. Thankfully OH does the hoovering. I have also got the first lot of washing done and in the tumble dryer. The second load which is all the jumpers is in the washer, so once they are finished and hung up in the air dryer, I will be a lady of leisure.
It is now lunchtime, which is good s I am feeling hungry

Hi Florence.
It was nice in the garden except for the wind so couldn't stay out for tooo long.
I found clipping the plants back easier than stripping my bed ! which I did on Tuesday, such a chore for me nowadays.

Goes something like this... remove duvet, have a rest, remove the 2 sheets, dust the inside of the bed frame, have a rest, put on the 2 clean sheets, have a rest, place duvet back on the bed, have a rest, followed by a cuppa !!

I have to get my daughter to put on a clean duvet cover whenever she comes round as I just can't manage that task anymore !

By Tuesday evening my body ached & yesterday I could barely move.
Thankfully today the aches had gone & I was able to go with daughter for my weekly shop.
To think I used to be able to do the whole house including stripping several beds all in one day ! LOL.

I didn't see the 1st episode Florence, I dozed off, but i intend to watch the 2nd one. I do know the story.

Joan.

Afternoon all

Fog has gone today but still windy and showery. Oh as Im typing the fog is creeping in again over the hills!

So today we have been shredding. I filled 2 black bags and my head is pounding so OH is now doing a turn. We did make some good progress and whats left will do another day.

I have some stewing steak defrosting for his tea as Im only having a cup o chicken soup as that is good for a headache.

Joan glad you managed out in your garden and hopefully the better weather will come back for you.
Meant to say part 2 of the Murder case Arlene Fraser is on next Tuesday but on BBC2 at 9pm.Did you watch part 1?

I finally finished off a baby blanket last night that I started awhile ago and have now order some baby blue wool as she has said its going to be a boy so another blanket to crochet.

Florence in the hebrides

13 degrees here the sun is just about coming through now but it was very cloudy this morning I managed a second day's 40 minute stint in the garden mostly weeding, there are a lot of wees they seem to grow whatever the weather. I see that we have been forecast snow mid March. that will be fun! Just when we have got used to a bit of spring.

We have had 3 days of lovely sunshine & a rise in the temperature this week but all changed yesterday when it rained all day only stopping well after tea-time & the sun came out for a few minutes.

Today it's dry & bright but a wee bit windy, but, I ventured into the garden about an hour ago & tidied up one length of the flower border.
The wind is a bit on the chilly side but I managed to trim back the Potentillas & Rose bushes, & a couple of other woody plants that needed doing back in September but the constant rain put paid to that.

Hoping tomorrow will be at least dry so as to get the rest of the border tidied up.
The Daffies are well up & budded,looking forward to seeing them flower, the Crocus look lovely & the Snowdrops are putting on a lovely show & there are a lot more individual ones dotted about, obviously self seeded ones.

So nice to step into the garden.

Joan.

Well, after one spring like day yesterday, it is raining again :-(
It is supposed to be the same temperature as yesterday, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. I have been out this morning and it feels decidedly chilly

Mild, but dull and drizzly here.

Snowdrops and crocuses in bloom, daffs only in bud in my garden, though some in other parts of the village have been in full bloom for a couple of weeks!

My ancient damson tree (which has never produced fruit) is in bud. It's so pretty when the flowers open, but they don't last long.

Tulip shoots finally just showing above ground - but I was very late in planting them.
They should have been planted in November or thereabouts, but I didn't get round to it until January.

Oh, I would love some of your Joan, the ones I bought are single ones and the flowers are single and look greenish rather than white.

I have just been to the school reading with the children and there were masses of blue crocuses outside the window

Hi Linda, I love Snowdrops.

At the moment we have literally 1000's all around my garden, they are everywhere, & all have come from an original clump that we found growing at the edge of the outer garden some 40 years ago..
I dug some of them up & replanted here & there & further bulbs have come from those replanted ones. I have given many away.

I replant when they have finished flowering & they still have leaves on them, not had any failures, some of my Snowdrops are self seeded, & are groiwng in some silly places like up against tthe base of trees & in the gravel, where I couldn't possibly have planted them.

I wish I had known you were going to buy some as I would have loved to send you some of mine.
Ours are Doubles & soo pretty, they look like frilly petticoats, & have nice slim leaves.

Joan.