General Chat

Good morning from a chilly but sunny Yorkshire.

I plan another lazy day while work is going on all around me. OH is decorating the second bedroom and the kitchen fitter is putting the new cabinets in. He has had to dismantle the corner unit to get it through the doors. He does seem to be very diligent though, taking time to make a good job of things. He isn’t happy with the pipes under the sink for instance because they stick out too far and are a real mess, so he is going to renew them. It is really nice to see things starting to come together

Ah yes they do fade I forgot that

I have deleted loads so have reduced the number by quite a bit.

I ordered a bulk of a dozen USB sticks for £39.99 Each USB has 32 GB of space which is plenty for me. So after sorting into folders, I have now tf some files onto different sticks. One for all fam pics of last 5 years but sorted into various things like holidays, xmas etc so easy enough to locate.

Another has all stuff pertaining to Lawyer and all things legal re the flat plus all of mums bills, docs etc.

Tf those files reduced what's held enormously as many of the pics are what sil sends every time they go away which is several times a year!! I get literally 100's from her even though I asked her not to send so many plus videos but still they keep coming.

I may buy an external hard drive. I had one before years ago and it would be a good idea to have that as a 2nd back up. I have bought a new PC but not going to install yet until i have cleaned up this one.

The reason being is I have Windows 10 and its only 3 years old if that but after Oct 2025, Windows 10 will no longer be supported so I have bought a Windows 11 Pro so that should last a few years lol

I did scan some old pics but some didn't scan well especially the black & white so I took a pic with my phone and then downloaded it and the result is a better picture..
This process is lengthy if you have a lot but one way of preserving them..

Just waiting on daughter coming home with a chicken supper, naughty but nice yummy :-D

Thanks for reminding me, Linda!
I have now just scanned a few very faded photos of my children, dating from 1977, before they become completely invisible.

I managed to improve them slightly by editing brightness, exposure, etc.

No but they can fade Ann, the photos of my son as a toddler have really changed colour. I keep meaning to scan them, but have never got round to it

Linda but a USB is better than nothing. I have not had one fail yet. I can't think what it is called but a lot of my photos are saved on a large external hard disc. I do also have about 50 CDs with older photos on them. And actually My PC will take CDs but I have not tried to download and save them. They are mainly just snaps. The trouble with technology is that is obliterates itself as it changes. One thing about film photos in albums barring fire etc they can't be deleted.

It’s really old here as well Florence.I put the electric fire on to get the lounge warm.
The kitchen fitter has put the new chipboard floor down in preparation before the cabinets coming in. The plasterer turned up this morning and he has just about finished all of the walls, so we are entering the phase of making it better rather than taking it apart.
The new doors to replace the ones OH took back are coming on Thursday and the bathroom suppliers emailed this morning to say they have all the things we ordered for the en-suite in stock. They are going to keep it until next week when the kitchen will be finished. The en-suite is not going in until the second week in July, but at least we will have al the things here.

I hope you have got your photos backed up in online storage Florence. Over the years, I have had two laptops fail and usb sticks are not a safe way of storing things as they fail regularly. I always had my own online storage, but my daughter has a family plan which gives them one terabyte of storage, so I now have my own secure folder as part of that. My folder is password protected, so they can’t get into it unless I give them access.

florence. Do you have all those photos backed up somewhere else?
The reason I ask is that not so long ago my PC which is on windows 10 and Firefox did some kind of update, decided I had too many files and deleted a lot of my photos from my pictures. Luckily I had most of the important ones backed up on USBs, but I did lose a few. I haven't needed them so haven't checked but they may be backed up on Cloud. I think it was to do with Dropbox, they wanted money to expand my Dropbox so when I refused they reduced my files.

I used to have one of the big catalogues for a while but got fed up when I kept forgetting to take a cheque and payment slip down to the bank ( a car ride from the tiny hamlet I lived in).

As a kid the Dupont man would come calling - presumably Mum had bought something on tick but I have no idea what.

Afternoon all

Its still like blooming winter. I'm so cold I put the heating on yesterday a couldnt warm up. The grass cutters came today but as the grass hasn't grown in 2 weeks, they left it and will come back in another 2 weeks to inspect it.

Upshot is that saved ne a few pounds.

I used to get a wee catalogue from Lands End years ago but havent seen one in years. Think it was quite pricey and never ordered anything.

When my children were young, we had Littlewoods, Grattan and the likes and so did my mum. was the only way back then we afforded anything new. I do have clothes I wear indoors but would never wear to town, old favs but they are comfy.

So far I have only 3 roses in bloom and really they are only buds. Such a poor show so far and I blame that on the cold weather we have had. Plants need the sun and its in very short supply up here so far this summer!

I finally finished sorting over 3000 photos this weekend into various folders on the PC and all the documents are also sorted into folders. Phew! it has taken me a few weeks as just spent an hour here & there doing it.

So now its all up to date, I will keep it that way and any pics sent to me on my phone, I shall sort as i go along as couldnt face doing this again anytime soon.

Part of the problem was my own as twice I have tf everything from mobile to PC but didnt delete afterwards. Result is there were many doubles and triples of things grrr. lesson learnt anyway.

Not much on here today, just usual chores etc.

Florence in the hebrides

Isn’t it odd how we all have nice new clothes, but prefer our old things which in my case are usually past their best. :-)

OH as set off for a two hour drive to take the double doors and frame back which were the wrong size. The joiner was most apologetic and has offered to go halves with us on the money we have lost. I was telling my sister about it and she said that he should pay the whole lot as he told us to order the wrong thing in the first place. I suppose she is right, but he could just walk away from the problem, so getting half the money back is better than nothing. We have ordered some more doors from a different firm, so are just waiting to find out when they are coming.

Yesterday we stayed at my daughters to watch the football, so it was dark when we got home. When we came in, we realised that the lounge, dining room and kitchen lights wouldn’t work, but the other downstairs lights all came on. We assumed that it was something the kitchen fitter had done as he had been rewiring the kitchen, but he was perplexed. He had to spend a good hour checking all the light fittings before he discovered that there was a loose connection in the ceiling light in the utility room. Why that had come loose goodness knows, perhaps just vibration from us walking in the bathroom above it, but thankfully all is well now. He was just about to ring his electrician who checks off the work which he has done. That would have landed us with another bill, so thankfully that has been avoided.

Strange I had never heard of them. Maybe they were mainly 'up North'.
In the 60s I used to buy a lot from catalogues such as Gratton, Littlewoods etc and pay monthly for items. My Mother didn't believe in this, she wouldn't touch Hire Purchase ever. she said, when I bought a pair of gloves like that, 'those gloves will be worn out before you have paid for them!'

Yes it is hard for her, although it is 10 years since he died now and she is remarried. Also all three boys are married/divorced and have their own children. She was in her 50s when he died. It must be really hard for young people widowed when their children are young. Having not only their own grief to deal with but that of their children as well.

that sounds like a nice walk Linda, not that I could cope with it now but even five years ago I could have done it.

Lands End is still online in the UK.
Items have to be returned, at purchaser's expense, within 90 days of purchase.

I remember that when they started in the 1960s they did advertise a lifetime guarantee and no-quibble returns for clothing items.
I expect they found it too expensive to maintain.

I still have a couple of pairs of fleece trousers which I bought from them many (30 ?) years ago, and which are still going strong, although I only wear them around the house these days, as they are now a bit baggy in the knees.
They're so cosy. I live in fleece trousers in winter - and often much of the rest of the year too! I have several newer pairs from other makers, but still like the old Lands End ones.

Lands End started in 1963 Ann. I think they used to have their own shops, but then seemed to change to be concessions in other stores. They have a factory outlet site in Rutland, but are mainly on line now I have bought quite a lot from them over the years, but not recently because I like to try things on.
Father’s Day must be difficult for your daughter Ann. At our age, we don’t expect to have our fathers around but being widowed young must be especially difficult.

We went out for lunch with the family, we then went for a long walk in a local nature reserve which is a gorge with a river in the bottom. I was very pleased that I was able to do all the very steep uphill sections with no bother. I hate going down steep slopes though , I feel very unsteady, so hold OH’s hand. The back of my left knee is really aching this morning, but my right knee which is the one where I tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament is fine Esme has a very large all terrain buggy which was provided by a charity, it cost over 2K. Stupid price, but as soon as you are talking about disability aids, the prices rocket. She normally uses her wheelchair but the buggy is excellent for rough outdoor spaces and is easy to push.

Land’s End was around some years ago. I think they had shops.
I never bought from them as friends had, let’s say, problems with their bank accounts after on line shopping.

Good morning all, Seems I was on my own yesterday, hope that doesn't mean problems for others. Fathers day is another hard one, Not particularly for me, although I do miss my Dad, but for my children and grandsons. Daughter especially with losing her Dad, and also widowed from the father of her boys.
Despite my leg still playing up I did manage to get out in the garden for a couple of short spells weeding and cutting back the ever growing honeysuckle and ivy. The former does smell lovely this year, it must like all the rain.

Sylvia, I think that must be either an American or Canadian firm, I have not heard of it. Sounds good for children's clothes, especially trousers.

Yes, June has not been good so far, some winter clothes are still being worn. and coats as well for the rain.
However, thankfully no wild fires, at least in this area. Is it early for those with you?

I buy a lot of my clothes online from Lands' End. they last well and usually fit me. They do have some designs that I don't like, but I have several skirts, many tops, and winter jackets from them

My daughter laughingly calls us a Lands End family .................. they also buy a lot from there, and have found them really good for children's clothes. One really good thing about them is that you can return clothes that have not worn well even if you have had them for several years, and they will replace the item for free. You can even return items that you bought, didn't fit or you didn't like but just kept them years after you bought them, and they refund your credit card.

They make pants for kids with "Iron Knees", ie an inner patch that is supposed never to wear out. Her son was really hard on them as he loved sliding along on his knees, especially in the school gym, so the knees would wear out in less than a year. LE replaced them 2 years after she had bought them, no questions asked.

We're having quite a miserable June, though not as bad as you seem to be having in the UK. I think we have had close to the normal average rain already. But we also have wild fires in some areas.

good morning all. florence I am pleased that you have got some clothes that you like from Klass. As I said before, I have liked their clothes for a long time, especially their Anna rose brand. So far this year I have not actually liked the designs I have seen. No problem as last year I bought one of their Tee shirts in several different colours and they are still looking good this year. I recently tried on a dress and jacket that I bought for a Grandson's wedding in 2012. It is still in fashion, fits and srill looks good.

I am pleased that you managed to get some clothes you like Florence. It is so annoying when they don’t fit. Even within the same shop you can need different sizes. I just bought a new dress from Seasalt and had to get one size bigger than all the other Seasalt dresses which I have and fit perfectly. Everything is made in the far east these days.

Evening all
Linda, I got my new clothes from Klass today and 3 out of 4 I am keeping. The dress is just a tad tight round the bust, so going to get a bigger size and send this one back but overall different and I am so pleased.

Next year they are supposed to be switching off analogue phones up here but there is much discussion surrounding that idea as when the electric goes, quite often we lose mobile signal too so would really be very isolated then! Not sure what's going to happen yet so its a wait & see.

I was on an important call last week and my mobile cut off 3 times so went onto landline and was fine!

Well it was sunny, then overcast then the midges grr so had to go indoors. Now we have wind again and its very misty/foggy so a real mix here hence I didnt get any gardening done today!

Dark blue on rooms like a bedroom would make it really small feeling.so lighter colours for me wins everytime.