General Chat

Afternoon /Evening All,

A very windy but quite warm day here. OH had to fetch the washing in before it was dry as it was blowing round the rotary drier and up in the air so hard we thought it would take off.

Mandy your unusual bulb had me stumped as well. I tried to look it up as well but no success. I did wonder if it had a smell if you bruised the leaves, but a trip to the garden centre will hopefully identify it like others have said. Yes, it seems everyone you ring uses foreign call centres now. I find people with foreign accents seem to speak so fast as well, it's hard to decipher the words. Some must either wave phones about or turn their heads to and fro the way their voices go soft and loud as well.

I didn't feel great this morning, tummyish, weak and shaky, but it seems to have worn off now and I feel much better so maybe a bug?

Vera, my bank isn't Natwest. That is a great idea for them to have a helpline for us older folk though and it sounds good. My OH tends to throw out the things I wouldn't, but hang on to some of his old tat. With having to empty the wardrobes he uses in the second bedroom ready for the new ones to be fitted last year he had a big clearout. I was shocked at how little was left, as even new packs of three shirts were in the charity shop pile. (his neck is too big for them now!) Lots of his ties went too. I did convince him to hang on to his fleece tops for round the house in winter with the heating turned down since prices shot up, as they are less cumbersome, light in weight and dry quickly. Sadly his clearout meant he passed some of my things that had been squirrelled away with his and my wardrobes are already crammed to the gills, so I need a clearout as well!

The blind man came at the start of the 3 hour slot we were given for yesterday and said a clip was missing on the rail for the blind so he's coming to fit a new rail next week. No cost as it's under warranty. It looks like we will need a new barrel for the front door lock, so they should be in touch soon with a date to come and do it.

I hate having to put craft stuff away till I finish something Mel. It seems such a waste of time to have to get it all out again.

Your garden is really taking shape AnnG and is going to look great this summer. It sounds like you should soon get your appointment at the hospital now they have the dates you aren't available.

I saw a strange bird in the garden today. It was on the bottom fence for a while then flew into the big Camellia. At first I thought it was a hen Blackbird, but it's chest was the wrong brown, more a palish orangey tan colour similar to a Fieldfare but it had no darker streaks, blobs like they have. I saw another Brimstone butterfly as well.

I couldn't think what to get for my meal tonight so I have got one of the pre cooked meals I had put in the freezer. this is mince and swede so I need to find something to go with it.

I have emailed bookings at the hospital to tell them my holiday dates and had an acknowledgement that it has been forwarded to 'head and neck' admissions.

I have also just sorted through my Christmas cards, some will go to Irene so she can find somebody who will re-use them and I have put some away for me to re-use next year.. For lunch I had some home made soup I had frozen.

I also spent 20 minutes out in the garden re-planting a helebore that got dug up when they put the new rail post in. It is very windy here but the wind is warm.

Sounds as though it would have been quicker to do that job yourself Vera which is probably what your OH planned. :-D :-D

BIL and SIL and Isla just gone. Toenails all nice and tidy now and now I think I will get myself soemthing to eat as I only shoved a slice of bread and Marmite down my throat before I went.

Vera men never look ahead to the good weater if we ever get any this summer. He will be glad of those T shirts if it turns hot. At least you got him to part with some things. It made me laugh at your conversation.

I had a good tidy up when they rang to say the were coming as Isla is only nearly four so I had to put all my miiatures away. Now I need to get them all back out again so I don't forget where I put them and have to do a big searc for te things I want. I did give Isla some little plastic cups saucers and a cuttlery tray and a little teapot for her to play with in her wendy house. They came in a job lot I bought that did'nt haveany size on them and they were doll size not 1/12 scale.

Now to get something to eat and sort out what to have for dinner tonight.

14 degrees here and windy.

Good afternoon all

It's another funny old day - it can't decide whether to be summer or winter. We had a lot of heavy rain overnight and this morning but it has been dry since then. Now it's alternating between sunshine and grey cloud. It's apparently 17 degrees so should feel really warm but there is still a cold wind (the weather app calls it a fresh breeze).

I had a mad moment this morning and hoovered right through the house. While I was doing that OH asked if I wanted some help, so I pointed out that every cupboard in the house needs sorting out and decluttering and he could make a start with his clothes. I explained about putting back anything he wears regularly, putting anything he doesn't wear but is in good condition in a charity shop pile and putting anything that is tatty in a "fabrics for the tip" pile. He finished in about 15 minutes and all I could find was a pair of leather slippers that were too small put out for the charity shop. Everything else was still in the wardrobes. So I explained the system again and he had another go. The following conversation went like this:

Me: Why are you throwing out that big pile of T-shirts/polo shirts?
Him: I can't remember when I last wore them
Me: Through the whole of last summer. Put them back but what's that other big pile?
Him: It was at the back of that shelf. I thought they were the ones I wore.
Me: No, they were very old ones I threw out last year. How did they end up back in the cupboard?
Him (looking innocent): I've no idea.
Me: What about these trousers (2 pairs)?
Him: Oh, they are good trousers. I'll keep those. I might want to wear them.
Me: Have you worn them in the last 5 years?
Him: No
Me: So what makes you think you'll want to wear them in the next 5 years? Give them to the charity shop where they will do some good for some hard-up soul.

..........and so it went on. I didn't win over everything but a couple of the wardrobe/cupboards now have a bit more space in them and there is a large sack of stuff for the charity shop.

Now I am waiting for Sainsbury's who should be here between 3.20 and 4.20. There are 3 subs this time and I seldom have more than 1. I want to look at 2 of them and see the dates on them and exactly what they've sent before I decide whether to keep them. The other sub is fine.

BIL and SIL are here with little Isla. Foot doctor at two and BIL is going to take me.

Thanks Vera.

good morning all, grey sky looks like rain coming (that will be a nice change!). 11 degrees so not cold. Nothing planned, could go into town, or maybe if it stays dry walk down and look at Irene's book stall, or do some housework, or gardening or card making. the choice is endless!! Lucky me. :-D

Morning all,

The Heron was walking around my pond when I came out this morning so I can see he is going to be a nuisance this year. I may have to get Mr. Dirty MacSquirty out and see if that can keep him away. The trouble with him coming is that the fish don't come up so I can't see them. I tried to get a photo but he has such a keen eye he spots me ever time even through the door window.

Its 12 degrees here and mostly cloudy. I have the nail cutter this afternoon.

Have emailed you AnnG

I am with Nat West Vera.

Yes it is great to be getting things done by Jake and his Dad. They are great and he also carried some compost and fertiliser down from the garage to the shed. But it is sort of like having a grandson working for me, before they leave I have to look round the garden and pick up all the things they look like leaving behind. Then this time after they left I find my broom went with them. That will come back next Tuesday when they come to finish the list of jobs. They make me laugh, they do a good job, probably charge less than others but they are both like whirlwinds. Today Jake handed me his IPhone and asked me to put it on charge, not locked I could have read everything on it.
Anyway I have two new hand rails on the steps and a sanded patio, a fixed shed door weed killer sprayed on the front patio another strip of log roll in place and they bought the paint for the seat. I actually suspect that they are not as honest as the day is long and they see me as a good means of needing jobs done. But I am ok with that. I get a receipt for jobs done each time and it is ok with me. They have been a real help and having all the jobs done has helped my mental health as well. Saved worrying over things needing doing.

Have emailed you Mel

Yes please Vera I would like that number please.

The Heron has been down twice since I last posted and thats the times I saw it.

Yes I think the only way is to take a bit into a garden centre ,it does look like something that's gone to seed .
Vera the leaves are the long thin leaves like the summer snowflake plant the thicker leaves are from the Hyacinths that are now gone over.

The sky has been so black at times and we've had a few showers ,Colin was hoping to get out and repair the arm on the wooden bench ,I moved the bench over to the wall and the arm came loose ,I stand my linen basket on the bench so I don't have to bend down ,I pulled it by the arm to move it instead of pulling on the back

I don't think anyone likes using the phone to sort things out these days ,I had to ring BG the other day and the foreign woman on the other end had problems understanding me so the end I went onto the chat to us online but that didn't help in the end I had to ring again but I was lucky I got a nice Scottish lady and she soon got it sorted for me .

Mandy, I agree with AnnG. If you get a chance take a bit of the plant into the garden centre and see if they can help. As I said in my email it had me puzzled. I couldn't work out if the strap-like leaves were part of the white flowering plant or if it was something else that the white flowers were growing through.

What a kerfuffle with your bank Annx. Nothing is simple these days. I don't know what bank you are with but if any of you are with NatWest - I think you mentioned them Mel - let me know as, when we were having problems at one time, a very nice man gave us a phone number for their Over 60s Customer Care Line. I'll email it to you if you want it. I imagine as it's specifically for us oldies you may get to speak to a human straight away.

It's good that Jake is back helping again AnnG. I do wish we had a good handyman round here. We did find someone to do the painting and we were happy with some he did last year indoors. Now I am trying to persuade OH to get the outside of the house done. So far I haven't been successful but if I keep mentioning it he will eventually start to think it was all his idea and then it will get done. At least that's what usually happens ;-) It's a typical Suffolk house i.e. the walls are all painted. Here they are painted a cream colour and I expect OH will want that again but at different times at our old house we had Suffolk Pink, Essex Pink and pale green.

I woke with a bad head during the night and did have to take one of my pills. The pain was still there this morning but eased off after I had a shower and some breakfast. Then we picked up M & V and took them to our usual Thursday coffee meeting. There were only 6 of us today. This afternoon I fiddled about with odd jobs and did the ironing and now I am waiting for OH to cook our meal. It shouldn't tax him too much as it's only going to be egg and chips. I expect the kitchen will need a deep clean once he has cooked the eggs. I've never known anyone manage to splatter fat or oil over such a big area.

I think I will now go and fortify myself with a nice glass of wine :-D

Can't find anything but snowdrops but as I said on my email. If you can take a sample into a garden centre they might identify it for you.

When they first started to come I thought they were the snowflakes but then I looked and could see the berries I haven't planted anything In there for years the Hyacinths have gone over and I noticed these .
Perhaps it's something the birds have dropped .

sorry I was up a bit later and wanted to get sorted before Jake arrived.

I think they cold be bulblets on the second picture you sent Mandy. I'll have a look in my wild flower book and see if that brings anything up.

Good that Anng posted as I was getting worried too.

I have sent a photo of a white flower in the garden ,I have no idea what it is ,at first I wondered if it was a snowdrop as I have some of those that are tall and come out later than tha normal snowdrops but this flower has funny looking flowers and yellow seed like things on .

Good morning all, dull but dry and I have Jake and his Dad here doing the sanding of the back patio. Hopefully they will then make arrangements for the remainder of the jobs needing doing.
I have walked down to Irene's with some books and four pairs of trousers that were in the wardrobe in the spare room that I know won't fit me all good so she will find them a new home.

Mel I have the dreaded dentist on Monday as well. Just a check up.

OK the men have put the sand down and now have gone off for lunch and to visit the wood yard for wood to make two hand rails for my steps. And paint for the pink seat.

Morning all,

Sunshine and showers here ,Colin was hoping to do a few jobs outside but it's going to be one of those days we're just as you get your jacket on down comes the rain .

Good job you have your ponds covered Mel he would have had your fish but he must have a sight to see when he took flight .

No Anng this morning she's usually on early ,hope she's OK