General Chat

Evening All,

Well after losing my post yesterday I'll try again. It's 11 degrees, blowing a gale and raining here. We just got the food order put away in time.

AnnG that does seem quick to get covid again, but the latest variant is much more infectious so maybe she has that this time. I hope she soon gets better and isn't as poorly this time. My hearing appointment was an NHS one and for when I go next year Specsavers do NHS ones and both supply NHS aids, but I don't know all the kinds the NHS do at the moment. It's one of the questions I will ask next year as well as about the different batteries. I would prefer the in ear aids, but I was told they are fiddly to adjust so I'll have to see. Thanks for sharing the bird link and the adult winner one with the Peregrine was a fantastic photo. Fancy it tackling a big bird like that as well.

Thanks Gwyn for mentioning that you don't get tinny sounds with your aids either like AnnG. I'm beginning to think the ones I tried maybe weren't properly adjusted but I'll ask about it next year. Yours sound like very clever ones and much better for you. I bet it was cold in the church for the funeral with no heating!

That little girl was good wasn't she Mel. They were at St Pancras station I think and the man was playing the Elton John piano that my friend Terry often plays. That's a nuisance with your washing machine delivery, but I would think they could put it inside for you till your BIL can connect it up. Like AnnG says, even a refurbished one should have some warranty.

I haven't been to the Space Centre since just after it opened Vera. It was very interactive for children then but was very interesting. I particularly liked a spacesuit they had but wished they had included some literature about it and all the gadgets you could see. I think they have added so much more to it since then from what I see in the paper from time to time so should be good and will be a very different kind of trip. It's a pity they couldn't have included a trip to the Richard !!! Visitor centre as well!

I was looking online at some of Boot's glasses and they seem to have some I like (unlike when I bought my current ones) so will see if I can go and try some this coming week. Like you Vera I think the reading ones will help in the afternoon and evening when they seem worse.

After a couple of days with a headache and tummy out of sorts I felt better today so need to catch up with some washing and HW this week. OH is out in the morning, but said if I bring my car too, we could have brekkie at a garden centre that's on the way to his meeting and then he could carry on there and I could have a browse. There won't be many, if anyone, at the garden centre first thing and his meeting is at 10.00am so it is good idea! :-D

Just heard that daughter's step daughter who had Covid quite badly over Christmas has just tested positive again. First time I have heard of somebody getting it a second time so quickly.

Did you buy it on line Mel or from a Currys shop?
A refurbished machine should come with a warranty. did it say when you were looking that it was re-furbished?

I can see that it is going to be a problem if BiL is not around. Is ther anyone else local who can help you?

Morning Anng and all,

It cloudy here this morning and 10 degrees pc says light rain.

I was woken at 7.33am this morning with a message from Curries to say my machine will be here on the 23 Jan which is my shopping day and a day when BIL is miles away at work. I have tried to cancel the order but it won't let me and they took payment on the 17th. I had'nt realised it was a refurbished machine either and am a bit worried.

Good morning all goodness it is 8 degrees already, I think there was a light shower over night and the PC says rain coming.

Nothing planned for today, my bedding in the wash. spare bed bedding needs doing since daughter went back so that might be next.

Also have some admin stuff to catch up on so that seems like my day sorted. :-) :-)

Yes I like the blackbird when you think he is 15-17 but they were all fabulous

Love the blackbird one and also like the owl perched on the praying angel with its head bowed.

Thanks Mel, talented little girl.

The photo exhibition was fantastic, so much talent, not many entries from UK a lot from China and America. But beautiful photos. Particularly liked the young Photographer of the year's photo (15-17 age group) It was a small ref moon and in front of it was a blackbird obviously singing. It was taken just before dawn (China I think) and the rest of the photo is black with a part of it just showing very faintly trees

The Main adult photographer of the year (USA I think) was a small female Peregrine Falcon she was attacking another type of falcon about four times bigger than her as she fought him away from her young.

See it here
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bird-photographer-of-the-year-winner-b2405048.html

~~~~~~~~~ to everyone on the thread.

Just wanted to thank you Mel for posting this link.

Amazing. :-)

There's a bit more on this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjBhNC23vGM

Take a look at this its wonderful.



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GoG-K8dAOvg

I’m moving to where you are AnnG or Mel. It’s only got to 3 degrees here and might reach the heady heights of 5 degrees soon. It’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow but we’ve got a warning of strong winds then. At least for the moment it’s dry.

Enjoy your lunch and exhibition today AnnG.

You are right Gwyn; it is amazing to be able to watch a funeral from anywhere in the world. My late brother’s funeral was during Covid restrictions and streaming it live meant that all those people not allowed to attend could be part of it. We know that, as well as all his family and friends in this country, people were watching in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain and Majorca. Sadly the streaming company still haven’t managed to get my friend’s service online so any feelings of being part of the proceedings are long gone.

Annx, that sounds like a horrid drive to the garage when OH took his car in. It’s strange you should mention the Space Centre as just yesterday I was given a list of day trips from here and the May one is to the Space Centre. OH wants to go so I’ll put our names down for that one. They are one a month, usually April to October but there doesn’t seem to be an October one this year. Then there is usually a Christmas special in December. We will only put our names down for a couple of trips this year.

Well, I suppose I had better get on and do something useful though I don’t feel motivated at all. I slept OK so should be full of beans but my get-up-and-go is definitely AWOL this morning. Maybe a coffee will wake my ideas up.

Suns out.

Its 7 degrees here now WOW I will.

Ah Mel, it is 6 degrees here now. Better get the sun cream out. :-D

Morning all,

No frost here this morning but there was last night on my car roof and on the grass but that went about 11.30pm. Its a degree higher than at yours Anng at a balmy 5 degrees but the houses still feels very cold.Well I hope it turns up today as I hate having to wait in for thing coming and I have to do the shop this morning.

Enjoy your exhibition today Anng it should be good if its birds.

Right I need to jump in the shower.

Good morning all, it is a balmy 4 degrees here so spring could be on its way. No frost last night I am being picked up at 12.15 for lunch then a bird photographic exhibition. I can't remember exactly what it is but I think prizewinners of some large competiton. It is at Walsworth Manor. (Nature in Art) not far from here.

Gwyn my aids 'communicate' with each other. If I turn one up the other goes up as well. But that is a very innovative system that you have.

Mel, hope the washing machine arrives today. You will be having a washing 'fest'.

Vera Yes no doubt designed by a man, an athletic one as well. If I had actually realised I may have gone for another machine but my other one had lasted so well that I thought it was a good buy.

Ann Is there a reason why you are not going for NHS checks. Think, free aids and free batteries and a battery only lasts about 10-12 days.

Mel, you won't know yourself being able to do a wash load without all the fuss you've had lately. I do hope your new wasking machine comes tomorrow. I've often said that I'd willingly do without many types of household appliance rather than be without a washing machine.

How uncomfortable Vera, if your new glasses hurt you. I do hope you are able to get them properly adjusted in time for your Tuesday appointment. I hope too that your friend's funeral service recording is posted online soon. I remember watching a service taking place in Perth, Australia and thinking how amazing it is to be able to share time and thoughts with family and friends so far away.Hopefully whatever glitch that is delaying things for you will soon be fixed.

Great that you have been able to get so many jiobs done AnnG with the help of Jake and his Dad. You really have been busy since you got home. Like Vera said, I think a man must have designed that fridge adjustment ;-)

I think a man was also in the forefront of planning the new layout..... and lack of heating ....at Ann's revamped Boots optician. I truly hope they don't do something similar at the Boots I go to. Wise to get your hearing checked too. I was interested in what you said about your brain and hearing loss. I may have mentioned before that I have to go to see the ENT nurse at the hospital about every 3 months for micro suction, as my ears become blocked. When it's near my appointment date, I'm aware that I have to concentrate much harder to hear people and I find I get tired much quicker, especially if I've had a day in school.
Like AnnG,I haven't found hearing aid sound to be tinny, just clearer. The ones I have now are a CROS system ( I think that's what they call it? ) and I have a microphone, which looks just like a very tiny aid in my right ear, in which I have profound hearing loss and the microphone picks up sound by wireless from the aid in my left ear. ... All clever stuff and makes a world of difference to me, especially if I am front seat passenger in a car and can now hear and converse with other passengers, whereas before, all I could hear was the roar of traffic in my left ear.
A big thumbs up to my lovely NHS audiologist at the hospital, who suggested this system :-D

Mandy. I was thinking how glad you must be that you have a good supply of logs, when the weather is so chilly. just the time to be indoors with a jigsaw. I haven't done an actual puzzle for ages, but I do complete 2 or 3 a week from the free online sites.
We too has lovely sunshine today, after quite a hard frost last night. I went to a funeral at the old parish church in town. Unfortunately the boiler had broken this week and it was really cold :-0.... So glad that I had opted to wear a long full length coat, which I tried to wrap over my knees. It even felt warm, when we came back outside into the fresh air again !!

I hope Gill will come back to tell us how she is getting on with the kitchen and bathroom. All their hard work will be worth it, when it's all done.

Afternoon All,

We had a very sharp frost, everywhere white over and had a wakeful night due to having to get OH's car to the city garage by 8.15am for a recall upgrade.. I needed to bring him home so we were up at an ungodly hour to scrape both cars. I tried to unlock my car boot but the rubbers had frozen. After OH had set off I had another go, breaking two fingernails but managed to open it. If I hadn't, I would have spent the whole journey with beeping and clicking as it kept trying to lock itself. The city roads are so bad it's like riding on cobbled streets and everywhere looks so shabby and run down. So many roads and junctions have been changed you are always in danger of being swept into a lane you don't want or that's been changed into a left turn only. The arrows on the road can't be seen as they are either worn off or covered by traffic. Too much traffic around you to change lanes as well. What other city plonks the start of a bus lane on a single lane each way road right in the middle of the road? No turning in to the garage on the right now so I had to carry on till I could turn right and ended up turning round at the Space Centre. At least it was all done by 12.00pm so we could avoid any rush hour traffic, although I would imagine Friday is a favourite day for WFH.

Yes AnnG it's been an MOT week! I've been looking online since as I know nothing about them and some sites suggest some do have a tinny sound compared to others. I was surprised they were suggesting having two when only one ear is affected as well. I'm going to get next year's test done somewhere different to get a comparison and hear what they say. I was surprised how much some cost. Fancy the new fridge having the adjuster low down so you have to bend to try and alter it. My Hoover fridge freezer is annoying too, as the adjustment dial is at the top, which is ok to reach, but the numbers round it are recessed into the plastic and not coloured. Also the fridge light is at the back of it and is so bright you can't read the numbers. You've certainly got cracking getting things done with Jake and his dad's help since you got home. Are you having gravel instead of the rest of the lawn now? If so it will save you work mowing. The new shed and trellis will look good too.

I hope you can get your glasses adjusted this weekend Vera as they are no good when they dig in. It just gets more sore. You and Mel are putting me to shame with getting HW done today. I must get the hoover and floor mop out tomorrow while OH is out. I want to make some soup with odds and ends of veg in the fridge too. I hope the funeral eventually gets put on line so you can watch it.

Mel I bet you can't wait to get the new washer up and running. Handwashing and drying takes ages and is not what you want to be doing. I have trouble getting my head round the different options with the Post Office for returning parcels, so you are not alone! I've now got to grips with picking up or returning parcels from Ebay and Amazon as our Co-op take them which is handy.

Its like that here Vera still snow and frost from the other day where the sun dos'nt reach with it being so low in the sky.

No no sign of the washing machine and I do hope it comes tomorrow as BIL said he would fit it for me. It will be so good to turn it on and leave it to it.

Just having a digestive and a COT. Iv'e got the mince and mash on and done the sprouts. Next job is to fill up my pill pans that go in the holder for the week.