General Chat

Morning,

I forgot to post when I got up and happily went and ordered my scripts and looked on Ebay.

I have had two deer inthe garden this morning eating the new shoots on the day lillies.

Its 0 degrees and says it feels like -1 partly sunny but the suns been out since I got up at 8.29am. Frost all over the car and it is very cold out.

Shopping comes today and he is 14 stops away.
I must clean my kitchen windows as with the sun shining through the double door into the kitchen they are filthy as are the ones on the front of the bungalow. Also need to give my desk a good dust and tidy so that is what I shall be doing today.

Good morning all. 1 degree here and dull but, as far as I can see no frost. I need to go to town this morning to get a red light bulb for my fire. Tried B&Q yesterday but no luck there. Even though they sell the fires. such a huge place I will have missed them if they were not among normal bulbs but I did look all over. Hopefully my little shop in the market will still have some.

I hav'nt been watching the pottery programs but must do on Iplayer to catch up.

So disappointing when a meal out is'nt up to scratch. Perhaps thats why you had the voucher!!! trying to bring in more custom.

I don't think I wished Lewis Happy Birthday earlier so now I have. I still think of him as a small boy like in the picture you once sent us. I bet he is a big strapping lad now at 9.

Em bought me one of those long hot water bottles for Christmas too Mandy. I hav'nt used it yet and am hoping it not too heavy once water is in it for my hnad to hold. I had asked for a wheat bag when she asked me what I wanted. I find those good as they don't include the use of boiling water.

Hope Gill has managed to get on with the kitchen and we will hear from her again soon.

I am now giong to watch Silient Witness. Night night all see you in the morning.

Ann we bought Lewis clothes and gave him some money ,its getting harder to know what to buy as they get older but he did say he would like clothes oh and a couple of bath bombs lol I got him some bath bombs at Christmas and he loved how one turned the water bright red .

I like those furry throws it will be lovely and warm on the bed , my sister bought me one of those long hot water bottles for Christmas if this weather goes on it will be well used even with the heating .
It's a shame your meal wasn't so nice today ,you look forward to a meal out and it's disappointing when it's not very nice .

Yes I've been watching the pottery programme and I hadn't heard of those jugs either but the did glug didn't they .

We've finished the jigsaw and started another and I've started knitting Colin a pair of fingerless gloves for when he gets the logs in .

Evening All,

Brrr, it's -2 here now and has been bitterly cold all day with little sunshine. After having one bad night's sleep it takes me a while to get back to normal, so I lay awake till about 1.00am, but slept through till 9.00am then this morning. it's been a funny sort of day. We set off for lunch to use our voucher for the carvery and were a bit late and 10 minutes into the journey I said to OH, 'which way are you going?'. His answer was 'the wrong way! Then I reminded him of the road works that were the way he was heading , so we had to do a detour that made us later still. We got there ok and hardly anyone there so he went to order and the till wouldn't accept the voucher as there was no barcode on it. OH decided to get it up on his phone (in case I hadn't printed the bit with the barcode). Then he couldn't get a signal. A lady behind him in the queue went outside to see if there was a better signal and came back to say there was no barcode on the email coupon, so it took a while to get the discount sorted. The food wasn't very warm today and the veg too hard so it wasn't the best meal. We went to the Factory Shop next and got some fat balls for the birds, a nice furry throw for the bed in the 2nd bedroom, a little plastic basket for me to put bottles of things that live on the bottom shelf of the cupboard under the ensuite sink to save so much bending! Also a free 6 pack of plain crisps from a win on the scratch cards they always give you and an ice scraper for my car with a longer handle so I can reach across the screen.

I had a letter today from Boots about my hearing assessment this week and it said I needed to complete a questionnaire on line before the appointment using the link that was in the email they had sent. I couldn't find any trace of an email, so rang them. The chap who answered said they hadn't required the online questionnaire for over 3 years!! He seemed to find it amusing, no apology, just to ignore it, so I said, 'I think someone needs telling, don't you?' to which he said 'oh yes' as if it hadn't even occurred to him. Customer service seems to have really gone downhill and all these errors nowadays, and more important, the way they are handled without even an apology, seems to be acceptable these days. I don't know whether this chap was working from home, but for those that do, how do supervisors and managers know how their emplyees are dealing with the public, when they aren't in the building or within earshot of anyone? In my day, it was part of your annual report marking and affected your pay rise.

Is anyone else watching the Pottery programme? I'd love to have a go and had never heard of those Gluggle Jugs they made last time. It must be disappointing though when you make something really nice and it cracks during the firing.

Mel I can remember when mum kept chickens seeing flocks of Sparrows use the chickens' ready made dust baths in their run. We still talk about seeing all your birds on the feeders when we called to see you that time.

AnnG I bet you are glad to have got everything sorted with your fridgefreezer purchase and will soon have it installed. Good to find it was discounted too...a good saving. I never thought when we had a new one, but see if you might have any use for the salad drawers in the old one, like for things in the bottom shelf of lower cupboards like I bought a basket for today! lol Glad you have felt better after being in the fresh air.

It was a good day for a nice, warming soup Mandy. I meant to ask what you got Lewis for his birthday. It's interesting to know what the current generations like these days! I can imagine those big waves being quite scary.

I hope your speakers keep coming to your meetings Vera. It adds so much interest and people might start to fall away if they stopped coming. I've been to a couple of our Heritage Group meetings in the village when they have had some interesting speakers and really enjoyed the talks.

You got a good deal Anng if your old one lasted ten years stick to what you know was a good idea .
I use to hate B&Q as the shelves went up so high I use to come out with a stiff neck from looking up so much .

Wrap up well tonight Vera when you go out its really bitter out there now ,just saying on the weather forecast it shouldn't be quite as windy tomorrow so hopefully won't feel so cold .

Ann fancy someone having a party outside this time of the year ,I think round here the music has to be turned down by eleven and off by twelve .
Yes I did wonder if it is my meds but it now seems to have eased off ,I have to make an appointment for my tablet review so I'll mention it then .
Oh I had forgotten about the bin lorry cake ,bless him lol

Its been a beautiful day here with wall to wall blue skies and sunshine no breeze to speak of but it was blimmin cold out there.

The post van is changing its times in February and won't be there on a Tuesday now and just from 9am to 11am which is 20 mins shorter than it is at the mo. He has another stop in Sheepwash now as thier po closed. That one was run by voluteers in the little shop there but I think they have sold the shop and its now going to be a house. Poor old Dave still has'nt got a relief driver so is doing it all himself.

I had three eggs today so that was good. I thought I may get full productiuon of 4 as one of the black ones was moaning when I was cleaning out the nest this morning and I had had the 3, one in the house and two in the nest boxes. The ginger chicken had laid so I was hoping for another brown one.

Gwyn my box hedge is huge so if it did get the creepy crawlies the garden would look very strange. I have two seedlings coming up from it and they are now about three years old so I may try and dig those up this year. The box ball on the front of the rockery was self sown too but years and years ago now its really getting to big to be where it is.

Its good you found a fridge the same as you had before Anng so you know your od one did well. Is it a larder fridge?

Good afternoon all. A creature of habit then your OH Vera. Hope the meeting goes ok tonight. I suppose all the time they are paid for speaking they will come.

Still feeling the lack of sleep but a bit better for some fresh air and a natter.

Fridge all sorted, no problem a really large selection and helpful staff. It also helps to have shopped there before as all I needed to tell the girl was the post code and she had all my details. I looked for and found one the same as I have which is a Liebeherr, although with updated control switch. I hated the one on mine.. Must have had it over 10 years so it has done well. Very good service in the shop. ticket on the fridge said £399.00.  Came up at the till as £299. They have a sale on so it may have had something to do with that. In fact we walked back to check it was the right one I had pointed out and it was. £20 delivery, £25 to take away old fridge, and unpack and position new fridge. Delivery Thursday. They will phone an hour before getting here All of the fridges and freezers were rated F for energy I asked why and the answer is that anything that is running all the time can't be energy efficient. So they can't rate them below F.
Then Ann wanted a padlock so (Oh Joy) we went into B&Q. So I thought this will be good I can get a red fire bulb. Nope, not a red bulb anywhere so tomorrow is a trip into town for a bulb.

It looks beautiful out with bright blue skies and sunshine but it is raw. It’s reached 2 degrees but in the breeze feels like -4 and apparently that’s as good as it’s going to get. We’re also on a yellow warning for snow and ice though I suspect any snow might be a bit north of us.

We have a Club meeting tonight and I am very glad we only live a couple of minutes away as the weather app is telling me that by the time we are walking back it will be -2 and feel like -7. I haven’t got this year’s programme yet but I’ve been told that tonight’s speaker is from Trinity House, the organisation that looks after lighthouses, buoys etc and helps with the training and safeguarding of seamen. It could be interesting but I wonder how long these good speakers will be prepared to come to such a small group. Over the last few years we have lost at least 5 members who have died, 1 is now in a home, and 3 are in their 90s and getting too frail to attend now. Younger people don’t seem to want to join.

I hope you’ve managed to find the fridge you want AnnG. It’s always good to support local businesses if you can.

Mandy, I can just imagine the waves at Sheringham and Hunstanton. The North Sea can be a bit wild at the best of times. Happy birthday to Lewis. 9 already! Where has that time gone?

Lunchtime sandwich has arrived. Dead on 1 pm as usual :-)

Morning all,

Beautiful blue sky here this morning with plenty of the yellow stuff.

Got up in the night for the loo and fell asleep right away and woke at 10am and I have to be down the post van before 11.15am so see you later.

Morning all,
A little bit of frost this morning but the sky is blue and the suns out so it looks a lovely morning out there .
I was just looking at the Norfolk webcam in Sheringham and Hunstanton the sea looks really rough this morning big waves splashing up at Hunstanton with lots of spray.
I need to get some washing in and then I'm going to make some soup ready for our lunch.

I hope you feel better as the day goes on Ann.
Good luck with the fridge. I think it's important to actually see the fridge before you finally choose, so a good idea to go to a local retailer. We have a small and very obliging shop a few miles from here and they were happy for me to open and close doors of several fridges to get a feel for which one suited best. I did the same in their shop, when I wanted a tumble drier. Some appliances just didn't feel as sturdy as others.

Beautiful sunshine here and blue sky. It's chilly, but not raw cold, if you know what I mean.Light frost on some roof tops, but Wednesday is our weather warning day, I think . We might get snow coming up from France.

Mel, Interesting you mention box hedge.
So many people locally had their's devastated last year by box moth caterpillars. Whether that's because we are in the south east and the moths came over from the continent, I don't know, but the plants looked dead. Daughter was advised to cut her plant right back and hopefully new growth would appear, but the number of caterpillars clinging to the 'dead' plant branches taken to the tip was amazing.
The plant is now sprouting new growth, so she will be on the look out this season in case the moths are back.

Good morning all. After two good nights I had a rotten night last night so feel very 'off' this morning. Going with my friend to see about a fridge this morning. Going to a local retailer and hoping they have the type that I want in stock. Either larder of frost free, and the size I want.

I can get the 5 iplayer on the pc now but not tried to do what they told me this morning yet for the tv. I think my sparrows live in the box hedge and there are lots up at the village hall. They dust bath on the carpark in the summer. Iv'e had a goldfinch here today just the one it was having a drink in the water trough for some plants.

Evening All,

I wrote a post earlier but obviously didn't post it!

Snap Vera, After getting off to sleep reasonably well, I was woken at 11.00pm by a thumping noise outside. Some sort of party I expect at one of the houses on the main road with big gardens that back onto the bungalows opposite. The noise got louder (doesn't it always!) and carried on till after 1.00am. By then I was wide awake and couldn't get back to sleep till gone 3.00am. I would have thought it too cold, but when the wine flows......!

Mandy, OH takes the same as you for his reflux. I wonder if your meds might be the cause. I had to split my beta blocker and take half twice a day as it caused indigestion. If it happens for much longer straight to the doc to get checked. When OH used to get it, mashed potato with those fish in sauce bags you boil in a pan were ok and those pots of low fat mullerice with apple. What, Lewis 9 tomorrow! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lewis for tomorrow. <3 Where did all those years go! I still think of him wanting a bin lorry cake. lol. That was a strange dream you had. Yes, SKY is behaving fine now. OH was saying that if the lady engineer had come back she'd have made us have a cable put in. Thank goodness the chap who came last knew more about how the boxes connect.

Getting a Thank You card was much more personal wasn't it Vera. All we seem to get through the letterbox most of the year is bills! You have reminded me I must try roasting cabbage as I've never tried it nor roasting sprouts. It saves a pan to wash too when you are roasting other veg in the oven. I would swap our Magpies for your pretty Goldfinches that sing so beautifully, although they are handsome birds in their black and white outfits! I saw one do something the other day that I've never seen before. They are such clever birds and ours use the water feature pot at the top of the garden to dunk the bread in to soften it to eat. One Magpie had some bread in it's beak and was standing on the gravel. It pecked bits off the bread making it smaller, then dropped it onto the gravel and pushed it under the surface with a few stabs of it's beak, then moved it's beak across the surface to move gravel to bury it!

Mel, if the key is metal you could always try grips or pliers on it to get more leverage. I had to reregister for the iplayer when we had the new SKYQ box and it is annoying as you say. We have to put a code in for some tv progs too depending what time of day it is. With you doing the raking, is your shoulder better now? You get lots of nice birds visit your feeders. Sparrows vanished from here about 10 years ago. I expect it's all the building work. There are roadworks all the time with them connecting up the utilities to them.

BIL came just as it was getting dark and I was burying the big fish. It must have weighed 12 pounds at least. He did'nt even stay for a coffee but I sent him home with a quarter of my Christmas cake.

Then I did'nt pay him for the diesel......blast he gave me the bill too.

It seems ok this morning Mandy but I can't urn off all the other rads as some don't work any too stiff for old hands they need a mans hands.

BIL not appeared. I could have done with him here to help me retrieve the rabbit trap. The fox had taken it right into the top garden among the brimbles so I had to get up there and cut down a pasth to where I could see it and they had got it under a big branch off an old cherry tree. How they managed to eat as much of the rabbit as they did I do not know. I emptied it out and flung it up where their hole is. I thought they had fourt hard enough to get at that dinner they deserved it.

Then I came down and raked a lot of the branches that had fallen off the big ash tree and off some of the snowdrops and then needed a drink so I came in at 1.13pm so a good couple of hours doing some sort of gardening.

Its so nice when you see the birds feeding through the window. Iv'e had the LLT's and masses of sparrows, the Wagtail and the Woodpecker and the robins and they have emptied the peanut and fat sticks feeder so I had to put more fat sticks out and another fat ball.

Think I will get something to eat now as the thought of Vera's dinner has made me hungry. Its years since I have had a bit of brisket.

Afternoon all,

It's only 3 degrees here and no sign of any sun .

Mel I'm taking Lansoprezol, today the indegestion has eased so I'll see how it goes .
Colin said with your rad ,turn the heating on, turn all the other rads off that you have on so it puts all the pressure on the rad your bleeding and that should help .

Family came this morning ,its Lewis's birthday tomorrow so he had his presents a day early can't believe he's going to be 9.
Don't know yet what we'll eat tonight might be salad as we seem to have a lot of ham and salad stuff in the fridge .

Morning all

It’s dull and cold with a breeze from the north making it feel even colder. Apparently we’ll be getting sleet later. Oh good, I can’t wait.

I had another terrible night so my eyes keep wanting to close this morning. I didn’t dream much last night, just lay awake for hours on end. I think I fell asleep sometime after 4 am and woke at 7.30.

It might be worth seeing your doctor Mandy. He’ll maybe give you a check up and perhaps order blood tests.

We had a thank you card in the post yesterday. It was from OH’s great niece, 17 this month, thanking us for money we sent her at Christmas and telling us what she had spent it on. It was such a pleasure to get a nice, handwritten card instead of the usual texts or emails.

I’ve got a piece of beef brisket slowly pot roasting in the oven and later I’ll fill the oven with vegetables to roast - potatoes, parsnips, carrots and wedges of cabbage. There’s a shop bought lemon meringue cheesecake defrosting and a loaf cooking in the breadmaker. Now I’m wasting time drinking a cup of tea and watching the birds who are out in force this morning. There are lots of goldfinches and I’ve seen blue tits, a great tit, a robin and a couple of greenfinches. There are blackbirds throwing all the earth over the path as they try to find insects, also pigeons and collared doves. The biggest surprise was a magpie who flew down and had a drink from the bird bath. We hardly ever see magpies round here and that’s the first one I’ve seen in the garden in 10 years.

Well, it was morning when I started typing but I got distracted by the birds and now it’s afternoon. I’d better go and sort out my veg and see how the bread is getting on.

sunny here and 5 degrees.