General Chat

Got back at lunch time and have had a banana sandwich and a jam doughnut with my pills and a glass of water.Mandy te cat cave is wonderful and I am sure it will be well used by the cat. Did you say you had made it for someone? I do hope your blood test shows something up that they can put right for you its so horrid when we don't feel right and worrying too.

Yes Ann just think of us all as we will all be right behind you giving our support and love. <3

I had a good spend up and now I feel better. I did the library thne went and bought my new telly handset and some peanuts in the pet shop and back to the car. Then I filled up with deisel and went to Waitrose where I boughtmy self some nice un dyed smaoked haddock, some pepermint creams and a small pack of shortread.

Its 7 degrees here and I have a very cold biting wind and pc says partly sunny but the suns been out all afternoon and most of the morning.

I think I’ve said before that our OH’s must be related Annx :-D. I’m sure DNA testing would reveal a common ancestor.

We’ve had the heavy rain and hail as well, then sun, now it’s come over all black again.

My muffin recipe uses butter Mandy. I have got a good chocolate cake recipe that uses oil and when we grew our own veg I used to make a spiced courgette cake with oil. Both those recipes said corn oil but I used sunflower oil as I’ve usually only got that and olive oil. I’ll take a pic of my muffins in a moment so you can see how they came out. Well done to young Lacey. It’s lovely to hear of the grandchildren’s achievements.

My phone just pinged and it was a text supposedly from Evri who can’t deliver a parcel and I have to click on a link to confirm my address. Strange that it came from a weird hotmail email and they don’t know my home address but they have my mobile number. I deleted it straightaway but it’s easy to see how people are fooled as a couple of days ago I was expecting a parcel from Evri. I would have been suspicious anyway but another person might well have thought it was about something they were expecting. I hate these scammers.

Afternoon All,

Well it started sunny here, then Mel must have sent her absolute downpour of rain and hailstones up here!! lol. It was shortlived, but OH wasn't impressed I'd got him to put the washing out as he got soaked fetching it back in again.

I'm sorry you still have these horrid heads Mandy and I know it's very unpleasant when you feel so dizzy. It's good you held Colin's arm as you wonder if you will faint when they happen. I hope the test results come soon and will show a cause so it can be sorted for you. I love the cat cave and when I show OH I bet he will ask if I can make a bigger one for him! lol. Edit: Well done Lacey for getting a certificate for her writing about the cat. She must be so proud to have received it.

AnnG I can understand you missing T being with when you have these hospital trips and it is stressful having to sort out transport and when they cancel like you have had to and not hearing well either. I know in the pandemic when I had that mass and had to go on my own for the appointments and scans I didn't like it. My knees hurt if I walk any distance at all and I tend to get lost in hospitals or areas in them I don't know which means more walking and, like your T, my chatterbox of an OH does keep your spirits up in circumstances like that. With all the traffic these days it does mean having to set off early too so you get there on time. Just try to keep busy and remember we will all be with you in spirit and would help if we lived nearer.

I'm sure your OH and mine are related Vera with their shared characteristics! :-D Mine forgets the end of his jacket sleeves hang lower than his arms, so at meals his arms are like fishing trawlers with his sleeves below like the fishing nets scraping the seabed of anything in the way on the table like knives and forks that end up on the floor. He laughs at my lack of spatial awareness when I walk out of shops and turn the wrong way, but he's no different himself when sitting at a table. :-D

Councils seem to be putting their prices up as well as the council tax Gwyn. I've read that some councils are not only charging for their gsrden bins but are adding yet another charge for collection. I think it could lead to more people having bonfires instead, which won't help pollution. We are in a smokeless zone, but I didn't realise for long time that it only applied to what you burned on fires indoors and not outside.

Well done Lacey. I love the imagination of these children.

Oh yes Anng you don't want to miss being called .

I meant to say our Grandaughter Lacey has been given a certificate for an original piece of writing that's been selected for publication in a young writers Anthology called Through their eyes ,she had to write a poem from someone or something else's point of view , she wrote about the cat.

Mandy I don't usually take a book to read as I need to concentrate on hearing my name called.

Thanks ladies I hope the blood test shows something as I hate feeling like this ,doctor did say it could be long covid but I hope not as that can last a long time.

Yes Anng we'll all be with you in sprit so look round that waiting room and you'll see us ,do you take a book to read while your waiting to go I .

Just had a little rain ,clouds are very black but whizzing along in ths wind .

Vera does your muffin recipe use sunflower oil ,when I made those muffins for the family that recipe did and I've never used it in cakes before ,usually use marg or butter .
It's all muffins now ,years ago they were called buns lol

Thanks Vera I shall be looing for all those spirits around me when in the waiting area. :-) :-)

7 degrees here as well but there's a bitter wind making it feel much colder.

I agree with AnnG, Mandy. The cat cave looks great and will be popular I'm sure. Cats like to be able to see but feel enclosed and a bit hidden at the same time. I'm sorry you feel poorly and hope your blood tests can pinpoint your problem and you can get some treatment.

OH's leg is still giving him trouble and seems to be a combination of muscle and nerve problems.

I thought we had used up all last year's blueberries but I found a pack lurking at the back of the freezer so I'm going to take a leaf out of Mandy's book and make some cakes. I've got all the ingredients out ready to make blueberry muffins after lunch.

I'm not surprised you feel a bit down AnnG but keep your pecker up. We'll all be with you in spirit for your hospital visit even if none of us can physically come with you.

It is great Mandy I hope the cats don't fight over it. Max looks comfortable.

Sorry you are not feeling well. Let us hope that the blood test reveals what is wrong.

Wind is quite strong now and it has been pouring with very cold rain. Still 7 degrees so not got any colder.

Morning all,

Very cloudy here and windy ,I got up for the loo at 4.30 and the top of the car was white
Not feeling so good today ,yesterday I didn't feel to bad when I went to the doctor's for the blood test but in the afternoon I came over so dizzy I had to hold on to Colin to walk ,I do hope this blood test shows what's wrong .
Not doing anything now I've just put a sausage casserole in ths slow cooker and will turn that on later .
Ann you asked about the crochet cat cave ,yes its all done I did take a photo but with my funny heads I haven't got round to sending it so I'll do that now .

Gwyn if you could find anywhere in the area that sells mushroom manure you could try buying a few bags and just digging it in to the soil.

Yes it is the chasing around and having your wishes ignored that causes stress. I think all these young people in admin at the booking office must have cars or live in town.

Not only do I not have a car but our whole village has been at the mercy of having a huge new cycle path constructed for the past two years. I am sure if you googled Churchdown cycle path it would have something to explain. This cycle path is the width of 3/4 of the road and the road has been narrows to just wide enough for a car and double decked bus to pass.

I am so pleased that I have friends on this and other threads to support me. <3

Morning all,

I'm pleased some of you have nice weather as its 7 degrees here and pc says light rain but it thundering down and I've had hailstones too this morning.

Yes got a nice lot done with BIL yesterday and he's such a help. I have to get my library books back by Monday and they are open today from 10am till 1pm so may take myself off there today. I am not going to Torrington but Holsworthy. Wereas I never had to pay for late returns with the mobile library I have to with Holsworthy so I better get my skates on.

I do feel for you Anng and hope it all works out well with the buses. Its a shame one of your friends can't take you. You need moral support at times like this and I quite understand your feelings. Think positive you will get there in the end and we are all thinking of you and wishing you well. <3 <3

Good morning all. A brilliant widespread blue sky to start our day here.

Ann, I do feel for you and if I lived nearer, I would willingly come with you on Monday, - not that I could drive, but we could chat about other things.
I totally understand what you say about not fearing the actual appointment, but feeling overwhelmed by the admin. in the background.
I know when I was being investigated a couple of years back, I was getting appointments from one department overlapping with others, sometimes in completely different hospitals and it was THAT that caused me most anguish trying to sort them all. Thank goodness for my lovely consultant / surgeon who said that I didn't need to attend at a different hospital for yet another scan, as the team had already decided the course of action and he would speak to them direct.
Hopefully all will go smoothly with your journey and you will get to your appointment with no problem.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.
Mel... Are you aware that postage price increases after next weekend, so if there are any small parcels almost ready, it might pay to post before then.

We might get in the garden to put something in our garden bin before Monday. I had an e mail last week to say our garden refuse collection will cost £60 for this coming year, so I aim to have something to collect each fortninght, to make it worthwhile.
The ground is cold and wet and we are on a clay band through our back garden, so the soil is poor. It could really do with digging out to some depth and replacing the heavy soil with something lighter, but that's too big a project for now.

Good morning all 4 degrees so far but I am up early (getting in practice for Monday)

Slept well but woke feeling very down at having no family near to help me through small crises. I miss T so much when having one of these BCC episodes, not only because he would come with me to the appointments but he always was able to keep my spirits up. The strange thing is that I don't have any fear of this first appointment, it is the jumping through hoops to actually get the appointment, then the failure of the hospital to find me one after the time (10,15) I requested and the lack of anyone to drop me off at 0945 so that I have to get a bus at 0850 and then walk a good half mile to the hospital.

Mel, you got a lot done with BiL yesterday that is good.

BIL did come today and quite early this moring as he wanted to mow. He is'nt picking up the cuttings so gets it done much quicker. He did'nt want lunch as he had a big breakfast wit his wife thie morning out as it their wedding anniversary. He also did the big pond filter with me and he can reach the top filter box and get the strainer out which I can't do, not tall enough to reach it. After that he took a look at my TV ariel and has got it working for me but I think he may have changed the colour on the telly as the blue is very bright now and the red on some programs but at least I don't have to watch everything on Ipayer now.

The winds been so cold out there today ever BIL put a gilet on and he's usually in a T shirt.

Going back to The Yorkshire Farm Ruben was on one of the programs ages ago and now that tractor is fully restored and all bright and shiney. I love the way they alway give Rob and Dave a challenge on the programs like making a wreath or something like that.

Thankfully our schools broke up today so it should be better on Monday. Although I don’t look forward to having to catch the 0850 bus to town and pay the fare.

Vera that sounds like a lovely time with son and DiL nice meal too by the sound of it.

Good afternoon all

It's good that you at least have your appointment sorted out at last AnnG. It's a shame Cynth can't take you but, like you say, she has a life of her own. I am dreading the time when we no longer drive. We have a lovely group of friends but we can't take it for granted that they will be able to help. They are all getting older too and may not be driving themselves for too much longer.

Annx I laughed at your OH’s comment about lunching with Mr Bean. It would apply to my OH as well. If we are out to eat I am on tenterhooks all the time as he waves his arms around when talking and I find myself grabbing wine glasses and getting ready to catch flying cutlery. One of our acquaintances calls him Semaphore Joe. I hope your OH’s parking ticket gets rescinded (is that the word?). It seems stupid to put up a QR code and not draw drivers’ attention to it. Your salmon tray bake sounds tasty.

Oh dear Mandy, they did have a job getting blood out of you didn’t they? I hope you haven’t got a large bruise.

It’s been a funny day today; sunny and cloudy in turn and warm when the wind drops but really cold when the wind’s blowing. I just pottered about first thing, then we went to our small local garden centre which was absolutely packed. We had to park in the farthest corner of the overflow car park. I just wanted a few herbs. My thyme, which is 6 or 7 years old, died this winter and I have no idea why and a few days ago I noticed a small potted sage was looking a bit sorry for itself. Anyway, they had some little herb plants for £2.99 each or £10 for 4 so I got 2 different thymes, a little sage and a small pot of apple mint. I already have a large pot of ginger mint and an ordinary garden mint but apple mint has always been my favourite. I potted up the thyme and the sage into bigger pots. I also got some big pots washed but I came in after that as I was getting a bit chilly.

I also spent some time going through all the photos on the iPad and deleted over half of them as I either didn’t want to keep them any longer or they were almost identical to other pictures I’ve got. I’m still getting ready to set up my new iPad and I don’t want to waste space on it by transferring a lot of stuff I no longer need. I’m gradually getting there.

My migraine was just in the background when I got up yesterday and by the time son and dil arrived I was pretty much back to normal. Son had booked everything online and picked what he thought looked a good restaurant. By chance it turned out to be in the same road as the theatre and right next to a convenient car park. How lucky was that! The restaurant was Turkish (we think), it could have been Greek, it didn’t actually say anywhere. The other 3 had starters but I just stuck to a main course which was more than enough. I had Kleftico which is a lamb dish and it came with a bowl of potatoes, carrots and celery in a sort of thin tomato sauce. The waiter then arrived with four separate large moulds of rice and a big salad to share and also offered us bread. It was all delicious but there was too much of it and It was very wasteful as all the rice went back untouched and there was only a very little taken out of the salad.

We had really good seats at the theatre and the play was so funny. I had read the book of The 39 Steps donkeys years ago and had seen a couple of old films but they certainly weren’t played as comedies. There were just 2 male and 2 female actors and they played every part between them and their timing was superb. A door would apparently be opened during a gale so that the wind blew in and everyone shook their coats or scarfs at exactly the same angle for the same length of time and you could almost feel the wind blowing through their clothes. Two or three of them might be on a train, basically just sitting on a couple of wooden boxes but their movements were so well timed and so precise that you could imagine them juddering about as the train went over the rails and then being jerked forwards and back again as it came to a sudden halt. We were all very impressed.

Son and dil dropped us at our door around 11 pm and set straight off for Yorkshire. I think my dil did all the driving. She has lived overseas in Europe and America quite a lot and is a very experienced and good driver but she must have done about 600 miles yesterday. Son only had soft drinks so he could take over the driving if she tired but she seemed fine. It was a lovely Christmas present as they wouldn’t let us pay for a single thing.

My goodness, this is turning into a long post. I’ve done it on Word and will c&p rather than risk getting that huge empty space again.

The schools here finished today Mandy, but we always seem to be out of step with everywhere else. I'm glad someone else forgets things too. If I don't do something straightaway or make a note I just forget it and OH is just as bad, but at least he can blame having work stuff on his mind. It's good your ariel is being fixed as I think it's supposed to get windy again.

All those jabs in your arm to find a vein can't have been very nice. Your arm will be all colours. OH would have been about fainting as he hates needles. I've had a letter today to book my annual thyroid test, so I'll be hoping my veins won't be hiding when I have mine done.

I see they aren't giving covid boosters to everyone this Spring, just the most vulnerable people. The over 75s will get them so OH will miss out this time.

Afternoon all,
Suns trying hard to appear but there's a lot of cloud and first thing we had a few spots of rain .

Anng thats good you now have your appointment all sorted ,not long to wait and it should be easier with the schools on holiday too, the schools here don't finish until next Thursday.

Went and had my blood taken ,he had a job to find a vein, three goes to get it he tried both arms and ended up going in the first arm again in a different place slightly on the side .
We have the ariel man here putting a new bracket on the chimney ,our ariel had gone over slightly when it was windy .

Blow me Ann you reminded me about the farm programme and then i forgot .