General Chat

Oops, that should be carrots of course, although carpets with a carrot pattern would be a bit different :-D

Afternoon all
Another dismal day re the weather so not worth mentioning grr.

Been busy ironing and then quite a bit of paperwork, tel calls and emails to catch up on but all sorted now.

in my back garden last week, we noticed some purple plants randomly peeping through the grass. Thinking they were thistles, I asked daughter to dig them out with the roots as they spread something awful. However on closer inspection, it was not a thistle so I planted the 2 plants in a pot and they have grown into a lovely flower. Purple with pointy leaves.

I searched google images and the nearest flower I could match it with is a Stachys Hummelo/Hummelo Betony . It's not a weed after all but seems to be a wild flower and no idea how it just started growing in the middle of my lawn lol.

Anyway for now, its staying in the flower pot and looks very pretty. :-D

Gosh Linda, your house will look amazing when it's finished. Scotland has a programme "home of the year." I'm sure you would qualify for that with all your renovations.

Sylvia, good to see you posting. I would like some heat but nothing over 23 degrees. Strange you have problems getting on. Does it give you an error message or is it maybe the heat affecting the internet where you are in general?

Do you know if anyone else in your area is having problems as well maybe?

Last night I made me cauliflower cheesy bake and there's some left over so looking forward to that for my tea later.

Hope everyone else looking in is having a good day,.
Florence in the hebrides

Your house will be beautiful when it is finished Linda and it will be worth all the upheaval. We spent years getting our last house just how we wanted it and then decided that, as we were getting older and we were in a tiny hamlet with no facilities, we would have to move to somewhere more suitable. All the work we had done to the house and huge garden meant that we sold the house in 2 months instead of the more usual 2 years for that area, so it was worth it.

Btw, you have given me a laugh on a miserable wet, gloomy day. I am now imagining your stairs, landing and bedrooms covered in replacement carrots :-D

It seems that nothing is straightforward Linda doesn't it?. when it is all finished I will look out for it in the House beautiful magazine. (Is that still published?) :-D

The biggest jobs left are replacing the double doors between the lounge and dining room with glazed ones, they are being done next Wednesday. Followed by a total refit of the en-suite, that is booked in for the second week in July, because the plumber is busy. The loft needs more insulation and we need to replace all the carrots on tbe stairs, landing and bedrooms. Once that is done, al, the major work will be complete inside and hopefully that will see us out :-D

The gardens need a lot of attention, but they will have to wait until we are finished inside.

Grr, the new doors just arrived, but they don’t look to be the same size, they look small. They come with a frame which we weren’t expecting. We bought the ones the joiner told us to, but I don’t think he realised they had a frame. If they have to go back, we will have to pay a fortune to do that. I have asked the joiner to come and look to see if he can make them fit :-(

Will that be the last of it after the kitchen is finished Linda? Or is there still more work to do. Anyone buying this house would have the same problem as it is stuck a bit in the 70s, although we did have a new kitchen after we moved in, but that is 1994 so even that is out dated. We did have a new bathroom about 8-10 years ago so that is still quite modern. We do still have the hated aertex ceilings too, although they are not heavily patterned, just stippled and I don't dislike them.

Have you tried using a different browser Sylvia, that works for me.

I was up early this morning as I had to go and look after Esme for a short time. My daughter had to drive Eve to school and normally her father would be there, but he had been away for the weekend. He had a hire car and they wanted it back before eight, so I had to step in to look after Esme while he took the car back.

We have started packing up the kitchen as they are coming in Wednesday to rip it bout and put the new one in. The cabinets came on Friday and are all in the garage. They still have all the new appliances in their lockup. Packing everything is a real chore, so soon after we moved in. Luckily one of the bedrooms only has a wardrobe in it, so there is plenty of room for the kitchen stuff. It may take them over a week to do it. We have moved the furniture round in the dining room because we will have to put the fridge freezer in there until the new ones are installed in the kitchen.

It is a real chore , but I am really looking forward to having the new units and a full height fridge and sep full height freezer in the kitchen. It has been a real nuisance only having the top part if the fridge freezer for the fridge. I cook everything from scratch,so have a lot of fresh food when I go shopping, trying to fit it all in the fridge has been problematic

Sylvia, any idea why you are unable to get on here sometimes?It is 10 degrees here (0800), sunny with some cloud and very windy again.

I would like some of your heat please as it is very cold here for the time of year. But don't envy you the very high temps.

Hopefully you will sell all the candle decorations that you have made Florence.

Linda, that is a good lot of money made for charity then well done to them annd a good day out for residents and visitors.

Hi all

Once again I've had trouble opening any topic at this time of day! This is the first time since I last posted.

We're in a heat wave, 25C yesterday and today, and it is a little worrying that there is a Heat Dome in California as much of our weather comes up from there.

It was still over 24C in the bedroom when it was time to go to bed last night, so I took the tower fan from the family room and directed the cool air over the bed. I slept like a baby!! :-D

Hope all is going well for everyone.

Evening all.

Was quite busy today as finished off the last of my candle centrepieces so a job off my list. Daughter had weeded the common fence across the road and then put weed killer down. looks much neater now.

Still showery day with some hefty showers but the wind has gone down a tad but still very breezy.

Linda, glad you had a fun day. I remember you telling us about last years race and them being in the river.

I'm with Utilita energy and its really good as no daily standing charges. You pay a rate for 1st 2 units then a lower rate for all the rest. last month was £74 for everything as I'm all electric but with no heating on, tumble drier only here and there and so the bill was really low. I have a d/d for £84 but I'm in credit as well. i shall leave it at that and let it build up for when its Autumn and the heating goes back on.

But i'm sure your bill will be a lot lower now Linda with just the 2 of you.. However with that much credit I would ask for £500 back as its better in your bank account than their bank account.

Well apart from a couple of days ago as it was really cold up here so i had to put it on for a few hours!!

Nothing much planned for next week apart from chasing up some correspondence, emaiils etc

Florence in the hebrides

It was the 57th annual race Ann. The beds are all sponsored and are raising money for their charities. They raise between 80-100K every year. The businesses in the town, especially the cafes and pubs take a huge amount of money, although some shops close for the day. The huge number of visitors really raises the towns profile. I thought that we had a lot of visitors in Thirsk because of the James Herriot museum, but here, it is going to be heaving in the summer. It is lovely all along the riverside though, so I can see why so many people come.

I just got an email saying that it was time to choose a new energy tariff. We used to pay a fortune when we had the family living with us, partly because of them using so much and partly because of the sky high energy charges at the time. After they left, we were using far less and the prices were dropping.They did drop the monthly amount about three months ago, but even so we had built up about £960 credit. I knew the tariff was coming to an end, so I just left it. I chose the new tariff and they then took the credit off, so now we are going to be paying about a hundred pounds a month less than we were at the peak of the extortionate prices. I bet we still build up some credit though.

Good morning all, 8 degrees so a bit chilly but it is sunny so that is nice. Sounds like a lovely day for you and the family Linda. It is so nice to hear of these traditions that are carried on through the years. Is the race run for charity in some way (sponsors etc?) If so it should have raised a bit.

I am glad that you had a good time last nice Florence.
Today it was the Knaresborough bed race. Too difficult to explain, but it is on google . There were ninety beds entered this year.
My daughter and the girls came to our house mid morning (son in law is away ). We walked into town which takes about twenty minutes and went to the castle area where all the decorated beds are lined up for the judging, the theme this year was Great Inventions . Once we had seen them, we went for lunch and were lucky to get into our favourite cafe. We then went to the parade route and as Esme was in her wheelchair, we were able to get into the disabled viewing area. That was great because she was right at the front and we had a really good view. About thirty people are estimated to attend, so it gets very crowded. The beds end up in a park down by the river. After the parade all the beds are stripped of their decorations and the serious race starts mid afternoon. We walked down a very steep hill to the park . There are lots of stalls and a stage with a live band. Everyone takes picnic blankets to sit on while they listen to the music, the more energetic dance at the front .
The beds with the pushers and a passenger set of at thirty second intervals and have to complete a 2.4 mile incredibly hilly circuit which ends with the beds actually going through the river. Very brave of the competitors because they have to swim at one stage, even braver given the amount of sewage in the river.. The winning team covered the course in 13.02.9 minutes which is incredible given how hilly the course is

We had a lovely time and then walked back along the river road rather than having to try and push Esme up a huge hill into the town. It was about fifty minutes to walk back, but it is lovely by the river, so that was fine. I made dinner once we got back. They have gone home now and I am looking forward to an early night because I am very tired. One bonus was that although it was a sunny day, it was breezy, so it didn’t feel too hot. Last year, it was incredibly hot, which spoilt the day

Morning all looking in

Well its still very windy and heavy showers. last night the forecast said this will continue into next week eeeek!!

We had a fab time last night at the local bingo as i won a line & a house :-D
Neighbour won a line :-D and then daughter only went and won the last hose of the evening and bagged herself £50 :-D :-D :-D

So yep was a great night out :-D

Indoors all day today but usual chores and laundry to see to.

Need to finish of my candle centrepieces tomorrow as just 6 left to do and then all ready to sell later in the year.

Cant make up me mind what to make for the evening meal, curry or a pasta dish???/ choices choices lol

Oh he comes the postie with a box so better go to the door.
BBL

Florence in the hebrides

good morning all. Grey here, no sun yet and 13 degrees. Hopefully the wind has dropped again, it was pretty brisk yesterday.
Florence, I hope your weather has calmed down a bit and that you enjoyed the bingo.

Joan, hope that you are able to get out into your garden, it certainly helps to pass the time. Before you know it an hour quickly passes when trying to get things done out there.

I hope that you have a good time tonight Florence.

My sister is desperate to get her driving licence back again. She had to hand it in when she had the operation to remove the brain tumour and the radiotherapy . Personally I don’t think that she is fit to drive, she hasn’t told them that she still has some double vision for a start Only minor, when she goes to thread a needle for instance, she sees two needles. She used to ride her bicycle all the time, but she can’t do that any more because she can’t push off and her balance isn’t good. Of course, she thinks that she is fine to drive :-S

Names I've had doctors like that, but I use Boots Opticians and at the moment they are great - no complaints. Last year I was referred to thr hospital for a procedure and warned that because it wasn't urgent I might have to wait between 1 and 2 years . I was very surprised to get an appointment after about 3 months!!

I was told to have an eye test after a month and the optician's face was a picture :-)

Good luck with yours and you, too, Florence.

61st! It has taken no time to get clinic appointment., although if they were seeing me at the main hospital it would take months.

I was surpised to find it was my 'good eye' or the better one. The other one is so bad I can't get a lens at my usual place I have to go to a franchisee of the same company. I don't like going there _ I can get there but getting out of the town is so complicated that I always get it wrong and end up with some very odd exteneded route. I did try Boots last time in the easier town to get to but she wouldn't listen to what I was saying and more or less reduced me to tears. Fingers crossed if they agree to do one they might do the other one as well.

Oh names, sorry for that. I went in January for my 2 year check up and had never had any problems before. When he told me there was very little eyesight in my left eye, I was really astonished as I had had the cataracts in both eyes since my 20's but they had never moved until now and obviously with some speed!

I'm not a driver anymore but if I was I couldn't possibly drive safely

I tel the surgical secretary and she said I was 61th on the list to be seen for the first time in clinic not for the surgery eeeek. I said when might my consultation be then and she said to ring back on Mon as thee appointments lady was off!!

So when the Optician said it will be around 10 months, he was probably correct.

I hope you get seen very quickly and get your surgery..

Since I cant drive, daughter has to go everywhere by bus now and I have to rely on others to take me out, pick me up etc. I hate the situation but the irregular drops in my BP gives me dizzy turns and my GP told me i wasn't safe to drive anymore afterIi took a turn whilst driving but thankfully was in the village and only doing 20mph and managed to pull over until it passed.

My dad had both his done last year and was back driving within 6 weeks.

Well I'm still getting used to a very short haircut! I have washed and blow dried it and just put the tongs on the side to give it some height and it does now look a bit more me.....from 20 years ago lol

Off out at 6.30 and here's hoping for a good evening out and maybe a win would be a bingo bonus.

Good luck with hospital. I’m just starting that journey. My eyesight generally is almost off the scale so hopefully they will do this cataract that has started as I can’t do without.

I have an appointment with the hospital next week as my eyes generally be too poor for one of the clinics. I am petrified that hey will stop me driving straight away as no one in the family here drives. I am chief cook,chauffeur and shopper and many other things.