General Chat

Good afternoon all

It's horrid when you are waiting for something like a hospital appointment AnnG. I won't tell you not to worry about it because we all worry about these things, but can you find something that would take your mind off it for a couple of hours? Perhaps you could find a good film to watch or, if the weather is OK, get out in the garden for a while. I hope they call soon.

Mandy, that was nice of you to knit the fingerless gloves for that lady. I expect she appreciated them and hopefully they will keep her a bit warmer.

Our friend M came home from hospital last night and we had a phone chat this morning. She is seeing her GP this afternoon and another friend is picking her up and driving her to her appointment. She also has to wear a heart monitor for a week.

It's quite warm today but quite changeable. One minute it's sunny, then it's grey and cloudy, then there's a shower of rain and then we're back to sun again. We both managed to do a bit in the garden while the sun was out. OH got on with weeding and I tidied some pots and troughs of herbs (and moss!) and sowed some parsley seeds in a trough I had cleared. Then it rained so OH came in and I tidied a few bits up in the garage-cum-shed. I've also prepared a stew to feed us for the next 2 days. I meant to put it in the slow cooker early but forgot so I'll have to put it in a casserole dish in the oven.

This afternoon I am hoping to find the instructions for my new iPad online and download it. I find it so annoying that companies no longer include instruction books with their products, just a note of where to find them online.

I can hear the kettle going on so that means OH is getting lunch. I am feeling a bit peckish now so I'm ready for something to eat.

Morning All,

Sunny here at the mo so I'm doing a half hour spell of clearing up in the garden next.

Ann G it's a horrid situation you are in waiting for that call. As you say it is stressful enough as it is with it on your mind, then getting a cancellation and being kept waiting by the phone makes it worse still. I hope you hear soon.

I think I might, or might not have found someting to help with your phone so I've sent you a PM.

I can't think of many things worse than waiting for a telephone call. Especially one that is to give you an appointment . An appointment that you don't look forward to yet you need the phone to ring to put you out of suspense. and then, when it does it makes you nearly jump out of your skin.
And, no it has not rung yet even though the booking office is open from 8am Fridays.

Morning Anng and all,

Grey old day out there and its raining but pc says 11 degrees and rain stopping soon.

Phones still a pain I have to turn it off during the night as it will keep waking me up.

Oil should come today so I better get cleaared up as BIL could come today too. I have said before he never lets me know if its going to be Saturday or Friday or even Sunday sometimes the naughty boy but at least he comes when he can which is a blessing not just to mow the lawn but for contact with another human being and I always get a nice hug.

Good morning all 10 degrees and dry so far. Yesterday afternoon it really poured with rain and the patio was covered in large puddles.

wonder what the day will bring. I wake in the morning and the first thought, no matter what time, is whether I am going to get another appointment and if I do will it be a good time, and if it is will it be in Gloucester hospital not in one of the other not so local ones. stress going through the roof lately.

I managed to find, when looking at replacement phones, how to access the batteries on the hand set. you slide the cover of the compartment down. I thought before that that was what I need to do. but the cover just won't shift. So no further forward.

Been raining here all afternoon and its now getting cold.

That was so nice of you to make fingerless gloves for that lady Mandy you're so kind. <3

They did phone and offer me another appointment 0930 on Monday but she was not surprised when I said no. That would mean leaving here about 0830 not easy when the area is gridlocked and bus services not good. So I am waiting for a better time. They will find one.

I said in my post Mel that there have been outages in Devon with BT which means there has been no signal. Some report no emails, others no internet and some no phone. I think your phone is telling you the signal is limited and is why it is asking you if you want to try another network. It doesn't know who is roaming and abroad so sends the message to everyone. I'm no expert, but that's what I imagine it means.

Any luck yet AnnG?

You are kind knitting some fingerless gloves for the lady who comes by with her trolley Mandy. I bet she was so surprised and thankful for your nice gift. I'm going to have a look at the small chickens and see if they will fit in my airfryer as it is probably similar in size to yours. I haven't used it as much as I'd like to yet as the slow cooker is where I want to put it in the kitchen. I need to have a sort out in the utility as there would be room in there for the slow cooker if I do. I've seen the parchment for sale and it seems like a good idea. The bigger Ninja sounds good with the space saving drawer arrangement.

When we collected OH's meds the pharmacist asked him if he wanted his BP checked and so he took advantage of that and it's ok. Then when we got home he had a text from the doctors' surgery inviting him for an NHS check so that's booked for Monday.

Evening all,

It's been a milder day here and sunny at times ,we went to Tesco and then into Aldi ,tomorrow we must go to Boots and collect our tablets .
As it was a nice dry day I got the front grass cut ,first cut this year ,now I've just noticed a few spots of rain on the window so I got that done just right.

One of the ladies in the old people's flats next door came past she has a shopping trolley she pushes to help her along and stopped for a chat ,a few weeks ago she went past in the cold with no gloves on so I knitted her a couple of pairs of fingerless gloves and today she had the thinner ones on ,she told me she will be eighty next month so I must get her a card ,she goes past every day for her ten minute walk bless her.

Ann my Air fryer is only a small one 3.5 litre I bought it from Aldi it was only about thirty pound I think and its been brilliant but I would like a double one as you could cook chicken and veg at the same time to save the big oven .
The chicken was a small one but I didn't have to take the legs off ,I turned it half way of the cooking and it browned all over lovely , I do use some baking parchment In the draw under what ever I cook as it saves the stuff baking on the bottom liner bit but any fat can drain off as I make sure the parchment doesn't go up the sides.
Dil wants one of the new ones that Ninja is bringing out its a double one not side by side draws one draw on top of the other so space saving .

Hope you can get your phones sorted Mel / Anng it's a nuisance and we do miss these things when they go wrong .

Good evening all

A bit of a mixed day weatherwise. This morning it was quite grey and cloudy with a few spots of rain on and off. This afternoon the sun came out and it was really warm for a couple of hours. Now it’s still quite warm but is very cloudy again with rain expected this evening.

Mel, is your phone on the BT system and, if so, have you tried contacting them about your problems? They were very helpful when we had an outage here. I hope you can sort out your phone problems as well AnnG.

We went to our usual Thursday coffee meet this morning. There were only 6 of us today - OH and his harem of 5 ladies lol. We had to leave early as I needed some shopping and we also had to have our lunch quickly so OH could go out by 1.20 pm. He was picking our friend up to drive him to the hospital to visit M, his wife. Their son was collecting him later and was hoping that M would be able to go home with them. We texted earlier and I think she was waiting for more tests. We’re now waiting to hear if she can go home yet.

While OH was driving to and from the hospital this afternoon I got the ironing done and booked a Tesco delivery for Tuesday. Now I had better go and organise the cottage pie we are supposed to be having tonight. I think I’ll organise a nice glass of wine as well ;-)

Just as I posted the sun came out for the first time today.

Hope you can get the phone sorted Anng. Mines still tringing away at me today so thats three days now. I do get a message up about managine Roaming. It says Network with limited service found. Do you want to change networks? Then OK or Cancel.

I don't know what this means, I never go abroad or make overseas calls but do use my phone for calls all the time now I am on my own.

Just going to have another look at the phone receiver as I have managed to find questions on the same phone advertised on Amazon. At least if it has finally gooven up I can see where to buy a replacement.

Morning All,

It's 12 degrees here and actually feels warmer this morning too. Still quite dull though and I think rain is due later.

Mel, there have been outages in Devon with BT internet, some with email, others reporting with phone, so I wonder if that is causing you problems although your PC seems to be connecting ok? The site where you can check and report problems is https://istheservicedown.co.uk/

That's annoying that the driver wasn't more careful with his van and dislodged bricks in your wall Mel. If he rents the van you'd think he'd be more careful not damage it too. So the fret saw has been sold which is good. A bit more space and money for you. I still have a single phase little tool and cutter grinder dad gave me when he sold up and I need to sell that as well as a lot of FIL's tools that are in the garage. More jobs for this year!

I would have enjoyed your haddock lunch with the good variety of veg Vera. It sounded really nice. I hope M is able to go home today and you are a good friend allaying her fears about managing without being able to drive for a while. I hope they are able to find out the cause of the TIAs. I hope you manage to get everything transferred to your new ipad ok. It's always a worry when you replace a device! I have a tablet I hardly use as I prefer my laptop and I wouldn't have a clue how to transfer anything on that!

That's a nuisance your answerphone is not working AnnG. Do you still have the phone instructions somewhere that might tell you how to change/charge the batteries? Otherwise you could try googling your phone model asking how to do it or phone Curry's and see if they have the answer.

I'd better pay some bills now and get lunch as OH has an online meeting soon after and then we need to go out for his meds and some compost.

Mel, it is a BT handset but I am not on BT I am on virgin but they (I think with cable use a BT line). Jake would not know the first think about land lines, very different to mobiles. His Dad might but I doubt it. I probably need to buy a new set and then figure it out with daughter in May when they are next here.

Morning Ann and all,

Dull today but I don't think there's much wind and pc says 12 degrees and mostly cloudy so no change there then.

I don't think anyone is coming today so I hope I have a peacful day today to get on with some HW or miniatures if I feel inclined.

Ann could you not ask Jake when he comes about your phone. the younger ones seem to know everything about things like that. Is it a BT phone?

good morning all 11 degrees again and dull but dry. haven;t seen if the wind that was up yesterday has dropped.
Just reading about all the cars that had to be pulled out of the mud yesterday at Cheltenham races. Strange as I didn't think we had much rain here overnight tuesday.

Mel would the phone still make that noise if it was on silent? I suppose it probably would. Just to add to my stresses my answer phone seems to be on the blink. The hand receiver has not worked for a while now I think batteries need charging but try as I might I can't find how to get at the batteries. Then yesterday the phone rang and the answer phone 'lady' didn't kick in. Luckily I was sitting there so as soon as the call appeared to have finished I pressed play and that was the hospital message which played OK. So that is something else that needs sorting and it would not be necessary if they read the instructions that they should have which says to text to my mobile. The phone handset in my office is still working.

Vera I hope M is now home or due home today and that she is OK.

I had just got myself sorted this morning and settled down to do some miniatures when the postman came. Then I fed the chickens and came in and opened the parcel that was left on the doorstep.Sorted the parcel of the things I wnated and then Richard the bee man turned up he wanted to take the fret saw thing so we faffed around looking for the extra belts that I did have at one time before BIL cleared some stuff up in the workshop. Do you think we could find them......no. Anyway he got the thing in his car after a struggle of getting it out of the workshop on the sack barrow and he paid me. He had his two little yorkshire terriers in the car Milly and Charlie and said his land over Black Torrington was so muddy he could'nt walk them on there. I said well give them a good run in the garden they can't do any harm. We walked all around with them and Charlie decided he was going to bark like mad at the chickens so we did a detour from them round Prickly Bottom and up towards the top arch. There was a rabbit in the trap there but the dogs were running in the orchard and then back to us when I called them. Walked back down the garden and He put the dogs in the car and left.

I had just sat down when I heard another car or van. It was the delivery of another parcel and the driver was going backwards and forwards and had got himself right up against the little brick wall round the west lawn I stood and watched him hit it with the front wheel and then the back wheel several times and then he actually got it right and in a position where he could drive out. By this time I was standing out there watching him and he got out and came round to the back of the van and I said to him "you have just hit my wall many times and you have kncked bricks out, why could'nt you have bcaked into the space next to me car and then you could have driven out easily. Tis a big van, he said in a foreign accsent. No room he said so I told him the adsa driver can turn his lorry round there. Anyway he tried to put the bricks back and then gave me my parcel and told me the van was rented and he had already paid out £4000 odd this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well after that I came in and settled down to my miniatures again when another car came down and this time it was Em wanting eggs and bring me the fabric softener I can't get in Asda and the only one I can stand the smell of. Took the money I owed her off the eggs and had a word with Sam who was in the car and then off she went.

Corned the chickens and that was my day not getting anything done but I am £350 better off so I suppose thats the one good thing thats happened today.

Moan over now Vera how is your poor friend M today and is V coping ok on his own. I hope M is more comfortable now and it was a mild stroke.

What a nuisance about your appointment being cancelled at such a short notice. Such a shame when you had yourself all geared up for tomorrow. I do hope they don't keep you waiting too long for another appointment and like one of the others said perhaps Cynth will be able to go with you at a later date. Sending love <3

Mandy no the phone is still doing it but it has'nt been quite so many times today. Em said he hubby has no internet at his work and its been loike that since Saturday same as Shebear Shop. Its just done it three time since I have sat here typing so I think its time to turn the phone off now till the morning. It makes the same sound if I get a message which is so annoying, it does it when it can't get a signel too.

Back again now and I’ll have another go at posting.

That appointment cancellation must be so annoying for you AnnG, particularly as you have been getting yourself all psyched up to go tomorrow. Still, as Mandy says, maybe Cynth or your other friend will be free to go with you when you get the new date, so it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

I hope you have managed to get your phone sorted Mel. It’s only when these gadgets go wrong that we realise how much we rely on them.

Thank you ladies for your concern for M. I spoke to V, her husband, this morning and he left her a bit more with it late last night and there was a possibility she might be home by tonight. He was going to see her with their son at 2 pm so, of course, I sent love and a message that she wasn’t to worry about coping when she was home as all her friends would rally round and help. Then later this morning I was amazed to get a text from her, telling me she was feeling a lot better and was having an MRI scan today. Then around 6 pm I had a phone call from her. I think she was a bit confused as she appeared to be trying to FaceTime me but she hates FaceTime and never uses it. I think she had probably tapped the wrong keys on her phone. Her face kept swimming into view and disappearing again and I could hear her saying “Are you there?”. In the end I cut her off, waited a minute and then made a normal mobile phone call to her and that worked fine. Over the course of yesterday afternoon and evening she had a series of TIAs (mini-strokes) but the doctors aren’t yet sure what caused them. She has had 3 different scans today and will have more tests tomorrow. She has a heart problem so it may have been something to do with that plus she has lots of other things wrong with her. She is shortly to have a shoulder replacement op, followed by 2 replacement knee ops. I think it very likely that all the stress she has had over the last couple of years and worries over her OH’s health has just got to her. She won’t be allowed to drive for a month after she comes out of hospital which worries her as her OH isn’t allowed to drive at all because of his health issues, but I’ve tried to reassure her about that. She has several friends, including us, who will get her and her OH to doctors, hospitals or just out for a coffee.

OH took me to buy the new iPad he promised me for my birthday. I’ve gone for the updated version of the one I already have. My current one is a 1st generation iPad Air and I’ve now got a 5th generation one. I gulped a bit at the price but OH seemed very calm about it. I’ve had the old one for several years and it is in constant use. Now I need to tidy up all the stuff on my old one and get rid of anything I don’t need and then work out how to transfer everything to the new one. I’ll save as much as I can to the Cloud so I can just download everything to the new one. I’ve also been told that, if I have Bluetooth, I can just put the old and new one together and everything will automatically transfer but the man in the shop said my old one might be too old for that to work. I’ll probably end up accidentally deleting everything and tearing my hair out. Watch this space!

Coming back from buying the iPad we decided to stop in town for lunch at a local fish restaurant we like. I had grilled haddock with baby potatoes and pan-fried veg. It’s always fresh cooked and the helpings are generous. My veg consisted of onions, mushrooms, green beans, tenderstem broccoli, mange tout and asparagus. I struggled to eat it all but it was delicious so I didn’t want to leave any. The trouble is the main course there fills me up so I never get to try any of their deserts.

I thought it was supposed to be warmer today but there was a bitter cold wind. At least it stayed dry. It would be nice to see a bit of sun tomorrow.

Time to close the computer down I think. I feel like having a nice wash with some really warm water, getting in my pjs and fluffy dressing gown and settling down with a cup of tea and the crossword. I hope you all have a good night.

Evening All,

Another chilly day, despite the PC saying 12 degrees. OH went to the periodical business breakfasts at one of the councils early this morning. He didn't find it as useful for him as some, but the bacon butties made up for that I'm sure. I decided to go to a garden centre and treated myself to a vegetarian breakfast which was really nice. I wanted some ericacious compost, but decided to wait till OH can come with me as they didn't have the small bags there. I had a good look at the plants and there were some nice Azaleas and young lettuce plants too. Not sure I will be growing much in the greenhouse this year though if we are altering things. I was going to get my car washed on the way home, but remembered they keep forcasting snow so thought I'd hang on.

My new contraption I ordered with my voucher for £15 for joining the topcashback site came today. It has a rechargeable, small, spinning head with various end scrubbers, brushes with different shaped ends for cleaning and an extendable pole to save bending and climbing. I'm trying it out on the bath tomorrow.

Oh how disappointing AnnG! I remember having my hysterectomy op cancelled a few days before the date. I didn't know whether to be worried about the delay or to assume they can't have been too concerned it was serious. Maybe the date of your new appointment will mean a friend is free to go with you though which would be nice.

Vera your poor friends. I hope it was mild if it was a stroke and that M will soon be home again. The worry won't have helped V's poor health either. It might be useful to get their son's number for the future in case you need to contact him, but you have probably already thought of it.

Mel that was lucky your tooth came out and will save the dentist taking it out. Less expense too. I did think about taking something to sit on, as I did that after my hysterectomy with a cushion in a plastic carrier bag. I have a foam beading mat that I keep in a nylon carrier bag now that I could take. The other problem with their chairs sagging and me not having long legs is that the rail under the thighs is really hard. When you are short like me chairs can be a problem anyway and be too high for my feet to reach the ground, so a hard rail really digs in. You should see all the settees we have to try out!!

Is your airfryer quite big Mandy as I'm not quite sure whether I could get a whole chicken in my single drawer one. I wish I'd had one with the removeable partition that some have now. I suppose I could remove the legs though and use those for another meal. It would look suspicious if I took a tape measure with me to the Co-op wouldn't it! :-D