General Chat

Morning all,

Same as usual here dull and dreary and very grey. Its 12 degrees and pc says mostly cloudy.

Shopping day today and I have one sub and its an important one its my Warburtons wholdmeal bread the only bread I like and they have sent me a Hovis which I find very sweet lately so that will be going back and I shall have to go to the shop and buy some expensive bread from them. At least it tastes like bread.

Still waiting for someone to pay me on Ebay and she's a regular customer too and only lives 9 miles away.

Have quite a big order today as I have bought some things for Christmas and pressies.

Oh dear.... more expense then Ann. My boiler is due its annual service. It must be 20 years old now so I hold my breath every time. I suppose I had better get the check up organised as well before winter sets in.

Afternoon All,

What a dreary day it is and not very warm. The boiler man was a bit early so it was a good job I had pulled my car forward to make room for his van. As soon as he took the inside metal cover off he said 'Oh dear' which wasn't a good start! He explained and showed us what was wrong and the upshot is we really need a new boiler and shouldn't limp along much longer with it, so we agreed he and his dad will come and replace it next week. It will cost about £3000 as new regulations mean flushing out all the radiators as well these days. MORE EXPENSE! The boiler is 9 years old and the previous one lasted 16 years, so it seems we are just unlucky. On the positive side, better having a new one now before they stop the sales of gas boilers and we have to have a heat pump! He looked at the leaky tap and it needs a new gasket he will fit as well. The only thing I'm not keen on is going back to a thermostat on the wall with a remote to adjust, as it was all done on the boiler panel with the old ones at this bungalow. I hate having things stuck on the walls and ceiling. There's enough with the smoke alarms, burglar alarm sensors and carbon monoxide alarm!

OH managed to cut down a self set Budddlia in the front garden that was making impressive growth this year, so the garden bin is full for collection tomorrow. He's gone to some talk about effects of the budget on businesses and will go on to a school meeting afterwards.

I needed to chase up our new front door sill fitting. After hunting high and low for the paperwork which I assumed I'd left handy, I found it where I file it where I should have looked in the first place. Still no joy when I got through as the receptionist couldn't find out as they were in a meeting. I wonder whether they will phone back as promised.

After MIL passed away in 2015, there were umpteen charities she subscribed to that needed cancelling and since they then got my name, I now still get inundated with begging letters and guilt making free calendars, name and address stickers and christmas cards ever since. I think my name may have been passed to other charities as well, unless because there is less money going to charities now they have spread their nets. I haven't responded to any over the years since, but they still seem to waste money sending me stuff. I'm going to return all of them noted 'gone away' now. I like to choose my own charities to give to. It annoys me a bit that I had a really hard time persuading her to claim Pension Credit when they had a big bill to pay for a boiler, which then became free. Yet then they continued to heat just one room through the winter, apparently preferring to subscribe to lots of charities with the money I helped them get. I think MIL enjoyed getting the many letters of thanks she received from them which we found afterwards.

More clearout Mandy! I remember we ended up dismantling my old exercise bike and putting it in the bin a bit at a time when the tips were closed in covid. I remember the big metal flywheel was really heavy. I sorted more clothes for the charity shop today.

Iv'e not done anything much either so you're not alone Anng. I did do a little painting this morning after going to the post van with a parcel. I have modeled a couple of bone handled knives and a joint of meat and dressed a plate of fish with greens and lemon bits. Got a couple of job lots ready to be photographed to go on Ebay and had some lunch. Sweet and sour chicken and egg fried rice for dinner so nice and quick and I really like this meal for one. If I don't cook a meal I have more time for my minitures and spend less on leccy.

Better check I have everything on my order now for tomorrows delivery.

That is good vera we can all rest easy now and you can have a sit down. I have really not done a lot today I didn't go out into the garden because I got called over for coffee with my friend over the road, loving so close we see/wave to each other most days but she works a few days and also is something to do with Beavers and this last week it was gang shows. however she was free for coffee this morning. I was pleased of the rest as I had just spent quite a while cleaning the air frier. I read abou the fact that there have been a number of fires that have not made the news. apparently when there is a house fire, the fire brigade have a list of items that might have caused it if it is mainly in a kitchen. they tick what they think and that is publicised. However, Air friers are not mentioned so if they were the cause, there is nothing to tick!

Anyway I realised that I had not given mine a good clean, it was not too bad as I rarely cook anything likely to 'spit' as I am fire aware. But there was a small amount of residue fat up near the elements so I cleaned it all off and then gave the compartments a good clean to remove any lingering grease. Other than that and a small washing load I have not done anything.

Found it OH has now taken the address to our neighbours.

Good afternoon ladies

Our weather is much like Mandy's, no sun, no wind, just grey. I suppose we should expect it in November but it would be nice to see a bit of sun again.

I did all the bed changing and washing. Some went in the dryer, some is on the airer and OH's shirts are drying on hangers in various warm parts of the house. I hate it all hanging around but I expect we're all the same.

Mandy, have you got Freecycle operating in your area? If so you could put your exercise bike on there and say it needs collecting. We got rid of a freezer and a lawnmower like that and it was good to know they were going to a young couple who had just got married and were short of cash. Your log basket sounds a good find and made me wonder what happened to ours when we moved here and no longer had a log fire.. I expect we gave it to someone but I'm blowed if I can remember.

After the washing I decided to just wipe down the sills in the conservatory before it is so full of cuttings and overwintering plants that I can't get to them. That turned into a long job as I then decided to just move the couch in there and the television that's also in there. Then of course I had to sweep and wash behind them where there were plenty of dead insects and so it went on. By the time I finished in there it was lunchtime and I was exhausted.

While I was doing that OH got his electric trimmer out and cut back 2 large choisyas against the back fence. He does it every year as they not only grow up but outwards in all directions and nearly take over a flower bed hiding everything else. They look very neat at the moment.

The doorbell went just now and OH answered it. It was a neighbour asking who did our fencing for us as she needs some work done. OH came and asked me and expected me just to produce the name and details from the top of my head. It was a few years ago now but I looked through some files to see if we still had the invoice. I knew where it would be if I filed it and it wasn't there so it's a case of where OH might have filed it. That could be anywhere! He has a method all his own. The trouble is he doesn't understand his method either. So far no luck but I'll keep on looking for a while before we tell our neighbour we don't know who did the fencing.

Better get back to going through the filing cabinet and checking whether we have a note anywhere on the computer.

Afternoon all,

Very dull here no sign of the sun ,I didn't bother to hang my washing out either Vera I said to Colin there's no wind and they will be as wet when I get them in as when I hung them out so they are now on ths airer.
I cleared the leaves off the hostas in the pots out in the front garden and did a bit of weeding so we could take the garden rubbish to the tip this morning , we also took a few bits into the Pack animal charity ,there was jigsaws that the children use to do and a couple of bags of toys that had been in the shed ,also a hard plastic dog bed ,I asked if they would take the exercise bike but they said no and that was the second place to say no so it wil have to go to the tip but in pieces as it's so heavy .
I spotted a nice big log basket in the Pact shop so bought that ,went with stuff and came home with a log basket .

Mel. I get the impression that between the chickens and the pond you don't have much time left over for gardening and it is such a large plot. Goodness knows how you would manage without your BiL.

Morning you lot,

Its 12 degrees here and dull and dreary with it but no wind so I suppose thats a bonus.

I have to go to the post van this morning so not staying long just wanted to catchup on the posts. I see you have been busy in the garden I do wish you'd come down and help me with mine. Iv'e hardly touched the border this year and its just gone wild.

Good morning all.
Just back from taking some bits and pieces to Reception class at school for junk models.
It seems quite mild, although laptop says 11, but it seemed warmer than that to me :-S It's dull, but sort of brighter dull towards the south east, so hopefully things will improve.
You do well Ann with your bursts of activity in the garden. You seem to get quite a bit done. Daughter did a bit in ours yesterday, while I was busy elsewhere, so at least we have made use of the bin collection service, which we pay for each year. It's out awaiting collection and then we can start to refill it ;-)

Today's wash load hanging on the inside airer, as I think it would just hang limp and not dry outside, as there's not a hint of breeze. Our back garden doesn't get much sun in the winter months and the heavy clay soil means it stays damp underfoot, so not the best drying area.

good morning all. another grey day out there and 9 degrees. How I would love to see a clear blue sky. No idea what I am going to be doing today. There is still some gardening to do but nothing really that can't wait.

Ann Daughter on a low carb diet won't eat lentils as they are high in carbs. Which sends her blood sugar up and put on weight.

That's worth a try with the cue Mel. They do keep flowering late don't they, but it's surprising it's coped with no watering recently. You are lucky to still have a few toms. I could do me some veg soup like that to help lose some weight and I do add lentils to stews at times as they are good for us. Your BIL has found a way to have some healthy veg that are cheap to cook as well.

I do believe the fireworks have ceased now after starting at just past 6.00pm, so I can go to bed now. Early start tomorrow as the boiler man is due at 9.00am

Hope the beef was nice Vera I could almost smell your roast cooking!

I did go out for another short spell got some Ivy cut down but it was too cold so I came in and made some cards.

Ann I could really do with cleaning the inside of my kitchen windows three pains in a bow shape and across in front of the house behind the sink and work tops Too far for me to reach and necessitates getting half up on the work top. None of the lower windows open. I shall have to find a solution.

Mel a new mower might be a good idea. Hopefully it would not keep breaking down. But I guess it would be quite expensive.

Done up a couple of parcels and am hoping one lady pays then I can post them both tomorrow morning.

Do you remember I told you that my cue plants had gone blind? Well I did'nt cut it down and hav'nt watered the toms that were in there with it as they still had toms on and I did'nt want them to split. I went there this morning to pick a couple more Sungold and low and behold the cue has grown and its as dry as a bone. The top growth looks quite lush so I gave it a water just to see if I would get another cue off it this year. Its got buds. We will probably get a hard frost now and that will put paid to that but its worth a try.

I am going to make a BIG pot of soup tomorrow just veg and pulses and that should do me for a while.

BIL tells me he dos'nt eat meat during the week only at weekends when he's home. He is trying to lose a bit of weight and says its going slowly. I know he eats lots of veg, he will eat a whole pack of trimmed sprouts before his dinner. He buys the things you can put in the micro in their packs as he stays with a friend when in Farmborough. He pays him rent and dos'nt like to use too much leccy.

Afternoon All,

Grey and quite chilly here too. My word you have all been busy outside getting lots done, unlike me.

I have managed to clean the kitchen window that's behind the sink and awkward to do and hasn't been done for ages. I have a long handled thing with a nylon pad I use at times on the bath, so I used that and it worked a treat. Then after rinsing it with a cloth wrapped round it I wrapped a dry window cloth round it and it dried it. I seem to have saved too many polythene tubs I use for all kinds of things, so they went in the bin. I've also measured the cupboard under the sink so I know what size boxes will be useful. Even a couple on each shelf will help to be able to pull out with the smaller things in them and save some bending down.

Glad you enjoyed the quiz Mel, fancy neither you nor your neighbours knew both of you were going! You 'girls' did well to come third as well. Were there many people there? I think a new mower would save both you and BIL a lot of hassle and time as well as expense. You could keep the current one you use as a spare. Maybe you could borrow some of Dave's goats for a while and tether them on some of your grass. :-)

Better go, Terry starts soon.

Another grey, slightly chilly day :-( but at least it’s dry :-)

It’s good you enjoyed the event yesterday evening Mel and met some new people. That was good to come 3rd and only a point behind 1st and 2nd. You’ve got a lot done this morning as well.

I think we all know what you mean AnnG when you talk about gardening in short spells. I don’t know how Mel manages to work outside for so long.

Annx I had misread your post about the dishwasher plugs. As I said mine is in a cupboard and I can reach it easily but I forget it’s there.

There was a really good firework display on the rec at the bottom of our Close last night and I could see most of it kneeling on my bed and watching through the window. I didn’t get cold and I didn’t have to pay. There was a big fire and a really cracking display of non stop fireworks for 30 minutes. I think it was probably computerised as there wasn’t a pause. It was organised by the local Scouts. Very impressive.

I slept well though I seemed to be dreaming non-stop. I won’t bore you with the dreams but they seemed to involve anyone I’ve ever known and were very odd. They must have been vivid as I can remember a lot of what was going on whereas I normally know I have been dreaming but can’t recall what I’ve been dreaming about.

After breakfast, shower and hairwash I got our dinner time beef in the oven in a slow pot roast and spent a little time in the garden. My back’s sore this morning so I didn’t want to be bending and stretching much but I could manage to use the hoe to clear some of the weeds and tiny seedlings that grow everywhere and I swept up a load more leaves. We only have 2 small trees in our little garden but everyone else’s leaves seem to make a beeline for us. I think OH felt guilty seeing me working outside and he is now out there digging up a small area of ground cover bugle and moss for us to plant up with other stuff. He is under strict instructions to avoid where the snowdrops I got from Anglesey Abbey in February are planted and under no account to dig up the polygonum. As he would never know the name I had to tell him to leave alone “that small variegated leaf thing by the heron” (heron is a metal sculpture).

Well, if we are going to eat today I had better get my roast tatties in the oven and check on the beef.

Well done Mel, glad you enjoyed your evening. I am sure that you will have had a laugh and that makes you feel good. And getting rid of 'stuff' makes you fell good as well. Still only 10degrees here. I have spend an hour in the garden cutting back a lot of stuff down the end of the garden Lemon balm grows really fast in this garden and it had all gone to seed but was huge so that took some cutting down. No hope of pulling it out. Still quite a lot to do out there but energy level and strength only lets me do an hour at a time before things start to ache. I did then go out and give cynth a bit of a hand as she was tidying the front and had come round where our gardens overlap so that is all tidy now as well.

BIL been and gone but we got a lot done. He cut the fencing off that we put round the chickens run last week so I only have to take out one end to get to the run to feed them and when I clean the house out. We got the broken netting on the top of the run put back up and we did both pond filter. He tried to get the side panels off the grass collector but they had a lip on them so the guys at work could'nt do that so its a replacement grass collecter but we may get another mower. Just as he was going I asked if he could take two bags of stuff to the shop where his wife works as he has to pick her up today so I now have a clear hallway and not two big black sacks by the front door. My neighbour took three loads I cleared out so I feel I have done something this morning now.