General Chat

Evening All,

Some progress made today. We were cosy in bed enjoying a lie in when the phone rang. It was the boiler man, he was working close by, finishing a job, so could he pop round in 20 minutes!!! We weren't expecting to hear from him yet, so we flew out of bed, washed, got decent, flung curtains open and unlocked the side gate. He soon sorted the problem and showed us the part that was clearly faulty and replaced it saying he was amazed the boiler still managed to run at all. He also checked the boiler over and charged us £135. Our usual service costs £75 like you AnnG. The reason he only does repair work in the winter is so he can help more people who may have no heat in the coldest weather. Repair work must slack off a bit in the summer when we aren't heating our homes, so he can also then do less urgent servicing work. I was fancying your F&C which sounded very nice and good sized portions.

Next call was The Works where OH picked up some work diaries he needed and also treated me to a Noel Fitzpatrick book. We then picked up some food bits we needed, called in the newsagent and then called at our local garage. They don't do bodywork either, but they recommended someone quite close by, so OH is ringing them tomorrow. AnnG I suspect that many garages won't do bodywork now since electric cars. I read an article some months ago saying car insurance repairs were suffering delays, the reason being they can do fewer at a time because the electric cars have to have much more space left around them due to the possibility of them having battery damage and the fire risk to other cars near them. I agree with you that covid has been an excuse for poor service in general and standards have stayed lower now.

We then took the dyson to the shop I found and saw a nice young chap there who also thought it was likely the battery, but he will service it and give a 6 month warranty as well for £83, so we decided that that was cheaper than a new one and left it with him. Parking was awful there though so we'll collect it very early in the morning when we go to get it. We think parking at places has got much worse with people working from home now and leaving their cars on the road.

I thought about the delays with your car Vera and just hope they can get any parts needed. We had some rain this afternoon, but were able to get home in time to remove the door wreath before it got another soaking. While we were out so many fields were flooded worse than I've seen them before. I've also taken down our few decorations now.

Mel why not give the WI another try like AnnG suggests. There's nothing to lose and if it is years since you went before, there will be different people of a younger generation that might become friends with the same interests. I bet Pat was impressed with your makes, as they are very good. Nice to have someone to chat to for a while too. I'm going to see what kind of barrel the man brings for the door so I know what kind to order if the back door one ever needs replacing.

I could do with hoovering round but don't fancy lugging the big dyson out to do it. SKY are here between 8.00am and 1.00pm tomorrow, but they will add to the mess. so it can wait!

New Father Brown on Friday at 1.45pm. Looking forward to that just good entertainment with no swearing etc. I watch it in the evening.

I made 21 mincemeat pinwheels this afternoon. Still not done any craft.

When you get a good fish and chips it makes all the difference and I can tell you eally enjoyed it and the pud.

I am thinking of making an Arc if this rain carries on much longer. Just big enough for me and my girls and maybe the wild birds so I have some company.

Back from a really nice lunch of fish and chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. Beautifully cooked and a huge piece of haddock. Lyn and I then shared sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. This was my treat to them so I am pleased it was good. The weather is a bit drab but it did give us a window of brighter sky and sun as we drove through the mountain-scenery. The pub where we ate is in Threlkeld right at the foot of Bencathra.

Vera your OH does like to put his mark on the garden which is why he likes to move pots around.

Mel that was nice to have a friend to chat to, never mind about losing crafting time. You can get that back any time. A few minutes spent talking to a friend is worth a lot. Interesting to hear about the person she knows who does needlework in miniature. It is a pity you don’t want to give WI another chance. There might be people there that yo could be friends with. :-)

Good afternoon all

Have you had anymore rain Mel? You’ll have to buy baby sized rubber wellies for the chucks so they can keep their poor little tootsies dry

The wind was terrible yesterday evening and into the night, then thankfully it died down a lot and the rain eased up. When I went out this morning it was quite sunny and there was just a breeze. We’ve had a few light showers since. OH tells me he did some tidying in the garden while I was out. I haven't yet looked to see what he’s done but he can be quite heavy handed. I did notice that he’s moved a pot of hellebores but I’m not sure why as it was fine where it was.

I had a good hour in town by myself and got my meds and a bit of shopping with no problems. I also put an order in with Tesco last night and their site was working fine. I’ll need to add a few bits to it but I don’t want it till Saturday so I’ve got time.

Annx, I hope you manage to get your car sorted more quickly than we did ours. Ours was damaged in mid-July, it was mid-September before it went in for repair and then the body shop kept it for over 4 weeks. That 4 weeks without a car made us realise how difficult our lives will be when we have to rely on terrible public transport or expensive taxis.

We normally take our decs down on 5th or 6th January but OH took down the outside lights a couple of days ago as they were being blown up into the gutters with the wind and I think I’ll take down all our cards and put away various decorative candles and bits that I put out. I’ll just leave the tree and the wreath on the front door for another couple of days.

I’m now going to make a coffee and take one to OH. He went upstairs to the computer a couple of hours ago and hasn’t reappeared. I know he hasn’t put any heating on upstairs so he’s probably turned into an ice sculpture by now. Either that or he’s dozed off at the desk.

EDIT I missed you there Mel. I see you have had more rain. Will it ever stop?

My friend Pat came round this morning and brought back the advent ring from the church as they were clearing out the Chirstmas stuff so I don't lose it this year. I asked he in for coffee and she gladly came and we had a good natter. I showed her my little Tudor couple and some of my miniatures and she said she had a friend in Bideford who does dolls house needlework pictures and things.

Its thrown my day of crafting out though but it was so nice to have someone call in. She is trying to get me to go to the WI but I have been before many years ago when I first came down here. There are a lot of the women I don't get on with so I sha'nt be going there plus you now have to pay after three free sessions.

We had a lovely morning with less wind and sunshine but then it spoilt itself and poured with rain and now the sky is very very grey. I suppose we must be glad that with all the water that has fallen out of the sky in the past weeks that it was'nt snow! or we would all have been snowed in.

Good morning all dry so far but full so probably as forecast, rain later.

Looks like a frustrating time Ann. Annoying when you have to involve two garages over the car. It was always so much better when one would sort out all problems. When we had the two cars, our local garage would tske a car in then, if anything needed doing that they didn’t do they would phone and ask if they should take it to the person who did that job and sometimes it didn’t cost any extra for the organising and transport for that job. Covid seems to have been an excuse for providing less service.

Strange too that the boiler man only does services between May and September. As service is usually annual that makes it awkward if you buy a new boiler between September and May. He obviously doesn’t need the money from services currently £75 a time for me. So we both have boiler problems. I am hoping I can get mine going again when I go home. At least until I can get my boiler man out.

Vera well that tea would have lasted you a long time but the bananas would have been a bit soggy by the time you ate them all. That is when on line shopping is not helpful. Hope you managed to get a slot with Tesco.

Mel yes I had to do without my denture when I had a new one done. I hated it and didn’t go out. Although why I should bother I don’t know as loads of really young people have no teeth in the front of their mouths around here. I assume they can’t afford the dentures.

The girls were very good. Played together and then sat at the table colouring.

Morning all,

It was brighter when I go tup but now its clouded over once again amd is looking miserable out there again. Pc says 8 degrees and light rain so I don't think we are going to have a dry day and it will probably rain all afternoon. Iv'e had a little lake in the corner of the orchard over the last few days just where the snowdrops start.

I had a little lie in this morning as I did'nt shut the girls in last night so had'nt to go rushing round to let them out. I put a big bowl of water in the house yesterday and they had food in the little trough in there but they knocked it over and when I righted it and put more food when I went to shut them in the food was gone and they had messed all in tthe trough. Thats gratitude for you trying to keep them safe fed and watered in this awful weather. They hav'nt laid and egg for two days now so I hope I get one today.

Annx we had trouble with the lock on the back door and oh bought a barrel on the internet and fitted it and now it fine in fact its the one I go in and out of all the time . If I go out the front door and shut it I can't get back in as it only opens from inside. The times it catches workman out and they knock on the door to be let back in.

Hope you all slept well last night with all the trapsing about I did yesterday I slept like a log the moment my head hit the pillow. Not one thing went through my head just sleep. Lovely......

Evening All,

It's still lashing down with rain since last night here Vera, but the wind has dropped. The gravel has more puddles and the water is creeping onto the patio a bit, but at least the ditch water hasn't come into the garden like it did once. I'm wondering if the river has covered those house gardens down the hill now.

Not much joy with our phone calls today although OH did get his car booked in for the recall, but they don't do bodywork now, and they are a main agent! It looks like the village garage we have started using do, so OH will ring in the morning. One hoover repair shop I rang sounded like the phone was disconnected, so they may have closed. Another shop had a message to ring later, but no joy so we may just go there tomorrow as it's only 10 minutes from us. The boiler man said he only does servicing between May and September, but when he heard we were having a problem he said he could do a repair, if we we knew what the error message was. I rang him with it later and he was driving and said he'd just fetched a pump as his house is flooded! We left it that he would ring later this week, unless we let him know that the boiler had packed up altogether. I looked up changing the conservatory door lock and it looked a simple, 5 minute job of replacing the barrel..........providing you know the type of barrel. We don't, so I rang the man who replaced the fogged double glazing we had and he will ring me back and also come and measure a narrow little window that now needs replacing as well. I did manage to book us both a hearing test. lol.

Yes it was annoying about the car Mandy and they can't have been going slowly and carefully either, as it's a deep dent along the door and sill, probably from their bumper. OH said the fans pack cars in at footie matches and he gets there really early so he can park near the entrance, as they just block people in otherwise. The car's not 2 years old yet. No point claiming on the insurance to lose no claims and be classed as a greater risk at next renewal just from being involved in an accident. I've told him his footie is getting too expensive! lol

Nothing else done today as we didn't wake till 10.00am. We seem to be so tired lately and struggle to be up early despite going to bed early. I thought it must be all the less healthy food we've eaten the past week so we had a jacket potato with tuna and cottage cheese and mixed salad today.

I didn't get a Christmas card from an old schoolfriend this year. Her husband used to play in a local Blues band in the 60s and she is the one who has the New Forest ponies and a few sheep she keeps in the next county. I knew he wasn't very mobile when she wrote last year and I saw in the local paper today that he passed away a fortnight before Christmas aged 84. He never learned to drive, but was a keen cyclist and years ago would think nothing of cycling 90 miles at a weekend.

I had to smile at your 94 bananas Vera and hope your next attempt is more successful.

What a waste of your poor step granddaughter dragging herself into work AnnG. I hope her employer felt guilty when she was too poorly and had to go home. I hope she feels better soon. I hope the littlies didn't wear you out.

An early appointment then Mel. Still that gets it all over with early and you can relax then. I expect you will be more comfortable with the loose teeth gone.

OH has spotted an African Grey Parrot in next door's conservatory!! We wondered if it belonged to the farmer who recently died as he was a friend of theirs. I suppose it could be just staying while it's owners are away over Christmas. OH thinks it looks sad there all on it's own, but I suppose they need to keep it away from the dog.

Better get some shuteye now ready for tomorrow's adventures.

Annx

The appointment is that early as they have to get my dentures off to the technition (sp)

I will be without them for two days.

Oh dear something wrong there with that Sainsburys site Vera ,I should think the slot would just be cancelled as you wouldn't have any thing in your trolley ,well apart from 135 packets of tea and 94 Bananas :-D :-D

Gosh Mel thats an early dentist appointment, no lay in on that morning you'll have to set your alarm .

Seems to have stopped raining now and not to windy at the moment , lots of flooding on the A47 again , the lights have been flickering so I went in the cupboard and got the torch just in case we need it .

No joy at the dentist she just gave me a checkup and I now have to go back to have a tooth out and my plate mended and two teeth put on the old plate. Why do I keep getting these young just out of quailifying people who only work on a Tuesday so I have to see a different person for the next lot of treatment. She wanted to give me an appointment for my birthday and I said NO so now its the 5th March at 8.30am !!!!

Then I had a look round Lild and bought a few bits. came home and had a cuppa and a doughnut.

Another uneventful day.

I watched two episodes of the post office thing last night It was really dreadful what happened to those poor people who ran the post offices. I shall watch more tonight.

It's wild, wet and very windy here. I was going into town this morning to pick up my meds and do a bit of shopping but I would have got drenched and I doubt if I could have managed to hold an umbrella up in the wind. We've now moved from a yellow warning to an orange warning and it's really gusting hard. I hope it eases by tomorrow as I shall have to get my meds then or I will run out of the most important one. I hope it's better weather wherever you are.

I hope you got to the dentist OK Mel and you are all fixed up now.

Oh dear Annx, you do seem to be going through a bad time at the moment with TVs, locks and cars all having problems. Fingers crossed that you can get everything sorted quickly and without too much expense.

I've had a day of doing bitty jobs - you know the sort of thing I mean where you are working all day but don't feel you've achieved much. I've sorted out all the Christmas presents we received and found homes for them (and wondered what on earth I could do with one or two of them ;-)), packed away unused wrapping paper and cards ready for next year, washed some jumpers, paid some bills and had a fight with the Sainsbury site. I went into it and booked my slot for Saturday and started shopping. The site was flashing on and off a bit but I ordered the first four things with no problems, then every time I tried to order something the screen scrolled backwards and forwards through everything on the site, So I emptied my trolley, logged out, left it a few minutes and tried again. It was even worse! When I found that my trolley apparently contained 135 packets of tea and 94 bananas I gave up. I managed to empty my trolley again but it wouldn't let me cancel the slot I had booked. I assume when I don't check out within a couple of hours the booking will lapse anyway.

I am now going to have a cup of tea and get my head together again before trying to place my order with Tesco instead.

Afternoon all,

It's been raining here all day ,I was going to get the lights off the outside tree but will try tomorrow if its dry.
I have been getting my Christmas China and cutlery put away in the cupboard and also taken a few decorations down so I could have a dust, the tree and other bits I'll do tomorrow.

Ann thats awful OH's car got damaged I don't know how people can do something like that and just take off ,they must have felt a bump when they hit it.
They say things happen in threes but you must be up to half a dozen with one thing after another ,I hope you can soon get things sorted .

Mel hope your shopping came in time so you weren't late for the dentist .

So it's been a baby sitting morning for you then Anng ,did the Gas man cometh.

We had a nice day yesterday quieter because the older two girls were with their friends and Lacey went off to friends late afternoon so it ended up with son,dil and the two boys .

rcd

Its happening again I shall have to change the keyboards over.

Morning all,

Very dark here so I really need the light on. Still loos windy out and wet. Itsa11 degrees and pc says light rain.

Lots to do before I go out today so BBL.

Good morning all. We are having the two littlies this morning so are up early. Their Mum has a contract cleaning the village community centre. And the gas man is supposed to come between 8 and 12. We shall see. It is dry out there but dark clouds so looks like rain later. That will make a change (not).

Ann all still happening there hope you can find a locksmith for the door and sort out the car problem. Awful how many people get cars damaged and nobody admits to it.

Actually step granddaughter did take herself in to work, she tested negative but still felt very unwell. She was so poorly at work they sent her home :-D so what was the use of that.

Good morning all. We are having the two littlies this morning so are up early. Their Mum has a contract cleaning the village community centre. And the gas man is supposed to come between 8 and 12. We shall see. It is dry out there but dark clouds so looks like rain later. That will make a change (not).

Ann all still happening there hope you can find a locksmith for the door and sort out the car problem. Awful how many people get cars damaged and nobody admits to it.

Actually step granddaughter did take herself in to work, she tested negative but still felt very unwell. She was so poorly at work they sent her home :-D so what was the use of that.

Thanks Annx. I don't know if I shall be coming home toothless as the top plate has had a crack in it for some time now, over a year and they said it would be ok but it has now got a lot bigger and has come round in a semi circle to past the middle of the two front teeth. MORE EXPENCE as Frank would say for me too.

I am going to watch Robson Green and then the post office program. With this high wind and lshing rain I don't get a signal so have to watch everything on Iplayer.

Hav'nt done anything today just sat about and watched some telly. Em popped in for eggs and I just had a dozen for her. As she arrived I was going to shut the chickens in and there was an egg in the nest box so I have one if I need it for anything. I am putting their food in the house as it gets so wet outside under the little table and then they won't eat it. I must put some water in the house too which they have to come out for.

Right off to watch Robson on one of his walks he is with Kevin Wately today they are going to make pictures in the sand on the beach and I thought that may be interesting.

We also have a new season of Silient Witness next week and Call the MIdwife so some decent programs at last.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Let us hope it is a peaceful and healthier one too. :-)

I've also recorded that programme too Gwyn. It should be interesting.

Well we have a list of things to start sorting now since the SKY problems. (they are coming on Thursday). We now daren't unlock the conservatory door to outside in case we can't lock it again, which means a longer trek from the back door to the garage freezer. The cordless Dyson went on strike on Saturday and the last few days the boiler keeps running cold at times and showing error messages and it doesn't need topping up, so our showers have been a bit of an adventure! Then to top it all, after we popped to the shop this morning, I noticd the the bottom of the back passenger door of OH's car was partly caved in. It must have happened when he was parked at a footie match on Saturday as there was no-one parked anywhere near his car today. Something else inconvenient to sort as he needs his car to get to his meetings. Looks like I will be his taxi or he takes my car, meaning I can't go out. I just hope they will be able to get the parts to repair it with there being shortages. At least it is driveable though, so it could have been worse. As our friend Frank would say......MORE EXPENSE!

I weighed me this morning and have put 4 pounds on in the past 3 weeks, so now I've almost eaten the goodies, it's back to the diet tomorrow. I haven't eaten one mince pie, no Christmas pud or any cake this year either and OH ate 90% of the sausage rolls.....must be too many biscuits and chocolates. :-( :-(

I had to ring Asda yesterday. We have those little Actimel drinks in packs of 8 or 12 and Actimel have started printing pictures of the fruit on the foil tops and it's really hard to read the dates that are on there, but there is a date printed on the box too, but we usually throw that away. I was checking the dates on mine which were up yesterday and looked at OH's and his were up on the 20th, the day they delivered them!! They only allow you to claim refunds for 3 days after delivery so I couldn't do that, but was annoyed at them expiring on the date of delivery. Anyway, they have refunded without a quibble which is good. They are good on refunds online too and don't ask for the goods back or any proof and sometimes you can salvage what's not damaged.

This morning the floods in the fields by the river near here were the worst we've seen them and have reached into the short back gardens of some of the houses, so they must be worried, as it's pouring with rain now and more promised overnight.

Our neighbour has told us the farmer who leased the field at the back of us to keep cattle on has sadly passed away aged 77. He'd recently had his lease renewed for the next 3 years which meant the field was safe from builders till then. Now who knows what will happen with the field.

I suppose there's been some skiving done, but employers are taking silly chances making people with covid come into work. Masks only reduce, not remove the risk. The latest variant is more infectious still, so it could spread very quickly between their other staff as well as the vulnerable residents.

Bin day tomorrow so I'd better make a dash with some rubbish and then start my list of phone calls to make tomorrow to start getting things fixed.

Annx

P.S Good luck with the dentist Mel. :-)