General Chat

Good morning all, a bright and sunny start to the day here.
I hope Ann that your pain eases and you are able to get on with your day and that everyone had a reasonable night.

Unlike some of you, I had a really busy day yesterday.
Elder daughter arrived about 8 a.m and we set off with other daughter driving on our long journey. The motorways were not too bad, although as usual a lot of foreign lorries on the M20 having arrived by Dover or Channel Tunnel. It was gloomy, but after a while there was just a glimpse of blue sky and then gradually more of that, so by the time we arrived near Portsmouth, it was quite a pleasant sunny morning.
We were in time to meet family for the meaningful committal service of my sister-in-law's ashes in the parish churchyard within the castle grounds (AnnG knows where I mean).
https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/portchester-castle-portchester-10020

The church kindly opened their adjoining tearoom so that we could have a welcome family cuppa, while a gentleman attended to the grave, then we went back to lay flowers.
Later we met with yet more family for a planned meal at a pub/ restaurant on the hill overlooking Portsmouth, - lovely clear views yesterday across the Solent to the Isle of Wight too. Great to see everyone and have chance to chat together. Grandson drove down from Lake District to join us so that was lovely <3 The last time we were all together was August 2016, although 2s and 3s or so have met several times since.It was sad that our son couldn't join us due to work committments to complete the family groups :-(
Plenty of chat, as you can imagine until we left for home and the long journey back about 5.30pm.

Back to another beautiful day here, so will make a quick trip into town for some items while the weather holds and post the first of my Christmas cards. I know it's a bit early, but a family member in New Zealand has a birthday early December, so if I choose wisely, I can slip a Christmas card in the envelope too and get away with one lot of postage.
I bought 7 Christmas stamps for my overseas cards on Saturday and the postmaster apologised as he told me the cost, £19.60 :-0 :-0

Good morning all, up a bit later today and moving very carefully as back is still not right. It is a nuisance as it does slow me down wrapping presents and writing cards. 6 degrees at the moment and semi bright.

I like my Ipad Anne I have a mini these days but started with the larger one. I also have an Iphone and they are paired, so photos taken on my phone automatically show on my Ipad. I find the Ipad easier to write with than the phone as the keys are a bit bigger. When I go to daughters I use it more as at home I use my desk top PC.

I have Wolfe Hall recorded Mel, just got to get in the mood to watch it. My evening watching tends to be easy watches like Midsummer Murder DI Ray, Endeavour, Gently Grace. I guess you can see a theme here. :-D

Morning all,

Dull and dreary here this morning and its that funny light. The wild birds are eating me out of house and home at the moment so I am wondering if they know something I don't.

I'll have another go with the video today but if I can't send it you will have to wait till BIL comes next weekend.

I have an ipad but don't use it much at all.

I know! This predictive text where it guesses what you want to write is a pain isn't it! lol. I wrote something to someone with the surname 'Woodhouse' once and it wrote the name as 'Woodlouse'. Luckily I spotted it and changed it. :-)

I must tell OH where you got the plant Mandy. He will smile as he has a memory like an Elephant for anything football related.......not so for where things are in the kitchen though.

Yes the 'smallish' box of chocs are gone now. I think the replacements will have to go on a higher shelf in the cupboard!

Yes have another go Mel as it would be nice to see it.

How do you get on with your ipads AnnG and Mandy? OH is going to be issued with one for some of the work he does and I foresee 'blue air' if it is anything like an old other make that I have and no longer use. Are they easy to type on and can you plug in a mouse, as we are used to laptops using a mouse plugged in?

Yes my IPad is very good at guessing wrong if Intype one letter wrong in a word. Of course I meant drought. :-D

I wrapped a few presents and wrote about six cards did a bit of admin plus had a Tesco delivery. Other than that I didn’t do much. I have had Vera’s back problem today and have no idea what has caused it. Hoping it will have improved by tomorrow.

Its not a new video its one taken when the bird was here but it gone now quite a wile ago. I still am having trouble sending it. I'll try again tomorrow.

Going to watch Wolf Hall now and have a bowl of cornflakes and some grapes.

Oh Ann lol its this blooming I pad it puts in letters and makes it's own words lol if I'm not careful its going to get me in trouble :-0

Ann the plant is pretty and I got it from the plant man at the football ground where OH went to a match once .

Oh well you can only eat the chocolates once but its when you get another box to replace it that will put on the pounds :-D

Evening All,

A chilly day here and rain like Mandy has had. I still haven't been in the mood to get to grips with the new heating controls so it's just ON and OFF for now, but I have managed to increase the temperature, although it seems to default to the cooler setting again once it goes off.

I didn't want draught proof plants that withstand cold draughts around them, it was drought proof ones I want to use that don't need much water. lol. I might pop to the garden centre in the village if I can manage to get up early tomorrow and see what they have in stock as their prices are less than the bigger garden centres. I looked up your plant Mandy and it is a very pretty member of the cigar plant family. I might get one next year too, as I really like how unusual it is, but have a look as I think it might need some winter protection. Oh well done getting your puddings made! More nice smells in the kitchen!

I see the bird is still around then Mel. I bet your BIL was pleased to be able to get a video of it and hear it call.

Apart from get our lunch I have done very little today. I decided not to change the bed with the forecast of more cold and snow further north, so just tinkered with my family tree. OH led me into temptation by getting down a box of our Christmas chocs to have!!

Puddings all cooked and it's raining here now .

I expect mine could be pale yellow as well Mandy. Shall have to wait until next year to see.

I have made two Christmas puddings so they are now steaming away ,and rather than make one big one I make two smaller ones so they don't take so long to steam .

Suns still shining but there is a little cloud now .

Anng mine has pale yellow flowers and I've had them in the garden for several years now and they haven't spread very much but you should be fine having them in a pot .

Having trouble with the email will try later.

BIL has been and gone but he brought me a video he took of the Great Northan diver so I am going to see if I can send it. Its only short but it does call on the video.

Mandy I only asked as one would have been nice for my neighbours little baby girl.

Mandy yes it does have spiky leaves and this one should have creamy spiky flowers I think.

Morning all,

We have sunshine ,lovely blue sky and trails from the planes going over .,must have had rain in the night as there's puddles on the road.

Glad you all liked the gnomes ,not sure if I'll sell any Mel ,I know dil wants some ,the Christmas ones I think .

I think I might have that plant with the yellow flowers in the front garden Anng ,does it have long leaves up to a spike and the leaves go really dark when they die off .
I have a pretty plant I bought for the trough in the back garden ,Vermillionaire I think its called ,its flowered all the summer since I bought it and still, has flowers on it ,I want to see if I can get another for the front ,I also think its draught resistant.

Not a lot planned for today but no doubt I'll do something

Morning all,

Brighter morning here than yesterday and we have a little sun coming up and pc says 9 degrees.

Nothing planned here today either so I may do the same as you Anng.

Good morning all 5 degrees here and a bit gloomy looking. Slept well last night and finally woke around 7am. Nothing planned for today so maybe write some cards and wrap some presents.

It gets more necessary each year to find draught resistant plants.

Yes, till I looked I hadn't realised there were taller ones AnnG. They seem to flower for quite a few weeks, so yours should be nice in a pot. I want to put a smallish ceramic pot I bought a while ago at the side of the front door. I want to put houseleeks and other drought resistant alpine things in it and some of my purple ones would be good to add. Those kinds of plants won't need much watering but will add a bit of interest and colour.

Ann I am not sure but I think this is one of the taller variety.