Pop in for a chat! Showing 13,751-13,800 of 18,142

[Anna]

All this sunshine is confusing my body clock. Yesterday I woke up, raring to go, at 5.30. Oops. It meant I was a bit fuzzy headed by mid afternoon and needed a coffee and a snooze. (The coffee is to wake me in case I snooze too long. Yes, I know about alarms; I also know how to turn them off). Then I went to bed late and overslept this morning.

[Kath]

Morning! A daren't have a nap in the day or I'd never get to bed. I don't have much of a routine but if I don't stick to it there's trouble!

Gorgeous day here, and the pepper plants I sowed from the seeds of a long red sweet pepper have buds in!

Whoop!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Morning all, Impressive bra engineering Mary

Missed the neighbours car being moved, sadly. I've now spoken to her and she seems fine. Apart from the fact that she's brutalising the lovely garden which was my neighbour's pride and joy. They flew back from Spain at the weekend (she happily told they came from an area with no virus, apparently) although they had to pass through three airports and take two flights to get here... I think it's poor form that they're not lying low for a couple of weeks actually, but they've had several folk in doing jobs in the house already.

[M.T.]

Ann, I hear you, I tend to turn them off without waking up.
Kath, I have nothing so advanced but the chilli pepper seeds I sowed yesterday have already sprouted, woot.
Ro they sound more and more Ledbetterish as the time goes on.

Cheers

MTM

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Well, that was a more exciting day than planned, a friend text and asked if I could pop to the vets to collect something for her, as she might not have got there in time herself, I agreed as it is round the corner from a garden centre that has a farm shop! Treated myself to some posh (expensive!) drinks, but did resist the yummy looking cake. Had someone from physio ring, which was quick, he could see the results of my MRI and said that with what the tests had shown and the questions he asked me, he thinks that the fall has just thrown my gait and the pain is a mechanical reaction to muscles and things being tighter, he seemed to know what he was talking about. A rheumatology physio should be ringing me in the next week, they can't do face to face, but will be able to do a video call. About half an hour later the postie came with my letter, I had to chuckle at it. It was nice to know that the MRI and nerve conduction test was all normal, but it was ended with 'The patient will be review as planned in clinic anyway but I don't think the investigations have explained the symptomology' - well, being reviewed as planned will be hard as the app got cancelled, and no suggestions to what they could do to explain it! I'd have rang and queried when someone was going to review except the physio bloke seemed to think that physio will pretty much fix it, and that's why the tests are coming back normal, it's a mechanical issue that isn't showing up.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Well it’s been a lovely hot sunny day here. I’m wondering what the Welsh lockdown news will bring tomorrow. Perhaps it will be the same as England. I’ve had a lovely few days. My usually unromantic husband has really stunned me with an early anniversary present a really lovely eternity ring . I’m thrilled to bits and genuinely amazed. He told me it was for putting up with him for all these years. I told him, for that I should get a matching tiara as well :o)

[Alicia]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Well, that was a more exciting day than planned, a friend text and asked if I could pop to the vets to collect something for her, as she might not have got there in time herself, I agreed as it is ..."

Hope PT exercises can set you right, Desley. At least it was thoroughly investigated before that diagnosis.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I hope I didn’t sound greedy when I said about the tiara. Etc, I’m not at all. I don’t want what I haven’t got. I m just thrilled to bits with my gift. I can’t say how much it means to me.
Lovely morning here again. OH & the dog have gone to get fresh fish from the docks.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, payday so I'm going to go to coop and treat myself to their limited edition pizza. Looking firward to our virtual happy hour this afternoon.

What a lovely gift Lynne, and enjoy your fresh fish.

[Kath]

Good morning! Gorgeous again here in Daggy Bottom!
At the beginning of the month I sowed some dwarf french beans - the climbing ones are doing really well - but the dwarf ones didn't peek through until a few days ago - and only three of a few dozen. I'm sure more will come but, ever impatient, I put some last weekend in deep pots in the greenhouse. They're starting to show through already. I think we'll shortly be keeping the neighbourhood in beans!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Hello all, another lovely day here again! In fact I got so hot I was near into a wee greasy spot and had to come indoors. I'm too Scottish for these temperatures :)

The golf courses (two in the town) re-opened today after eight weeks of the locals enjoying roaming at will. We're very close to the west one - I don't know how many times I've heard "FORE" being bellowed today.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, been up since 6.30, but I dont mind when its a lovely day. I've been persuaded to go for a walk with a friend, while I'm looking forward to seeing her and going round a Reservoir I've not been to for years, I've got used to walking by myself, going when and where I want, unlike today when I've got to wait for my friend to wake up and decide what time we are going.

[M.T.]

Lynn, you didn't sound greedy at all.
Ro, there's a lovely cool breeze here so it's really lovely.
Desley, enjoy the walk and the pizza!

Gorgeous day ... had a lovely socially distanced drink with friends last night and I'm just off outside to write my blog now!

Cheers

MTM

[Kath]

Eh up! Another gorgeous day - and no, I never get sick of saying that. I really feel the cold. Always did but more so with age.
I got sick of the long hair with the growing-out dye so I ordered hairdressing scissors and I've done the job. Can't stick with the long do till July. I'm back to my old, curly self (but with a white streak at the forehead just like my dad had).

[Anna]

Gorgeous here too.

I have a pet seagull which visits several times a day. He (?) squawks a good morning as soon as he lands on our balcony railing and I say hello.( If I don't, he flies down and knocks with his beak on the door.) He seems to like a chat and will pad his way along the railing to come closer. I've just had a drink on the balcony and he has flown down and sat within two feet of me.

Since we moved in, we've spent many hours together. To see a seagull that close up and be able to observe him is such a privilege. His underside is so soft and white and I am overwhelmed at the design! Up till now, I've thought of them as aggressive scavengers. I'm so pleased to learn that there's more to them than that.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I started the day off with extremely good intentions. diet day! Well a flapjack fir elevenses. Pizza, beer and raspberries and ice cream blew that idea right out of the water. I’ve had to come inside as I’m going the same colour as the raspberries. Someone please move me I’m burning.
Hairwise I’ve been so lucky I had a really nice cut the day before the hairdressers shut and she’s cut it so well it’s still sort of in its style. As for roots I bit on the bullet in November had two very short cuts and now I’m all the same colour. arctic silver, I quite like it and my hair and scalp hair feel better for not having chemicals.

[Alicia]

Kath wrote: "Eh up! Another gorgeous day - and no, I never get sick of saying that. I really feel the cold. Always did but more so with age.
I got sick of the long hair with the growing-out dye so I ordered hai..."

Nice - I got some spray to make my wavy hair curlier - give it more bounce, less flat. Enjoy the new difference.

[Alicia]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "I started the day off with extremely good intentions. diet day! Well a flapjack fir elevenses. Pizza, beer and raspberries and ice cream blew that idea right out of the water. I’ve had to come insi..."

I've been platinum blonde - naturally - for MANY years now, and don't miss the coloring at all. Was the same color as a small child, so it feels like me.

[Alicia]

Anna Faversham wrote: "Gorgeous here too.

I have a pet seagull which visits several times a day. He (?) squawks a good morning as soon as he lands on our balcony railing and I say hello.( If I don't, he flies down and ..."

Sweet.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, walk yesterday was nice as we ended up going earlier than my normal walk time, but I did wonder why I'd bothered to shower and wash my hair!l first! Sunday chores then sunbathing and reading I think.

I wish I'd thought of getting another bottle of colour shampoo from the hairdresser before lockdown, luckily I don't mind the length, but it seems to be getting frizzier, wonder if its because I keep walking in the wind while its still wet. How lovely Anna.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

There was a lady in the hairdressers the same day I went who had a super colour on her grey hair. Complete all over colour, reminded me of dark cherries. It looked terrific. With 4 months growth by the time they reopen she will have a real stripe effect.
Anyone see the dragon rocket last night. We did looking south on its second pass. It was too light here on its first orbit. I think we could see the space station as well.
Welsh rules on the easing of the lockdown in effect from tomorrow. My daughter’s friend made me laugh. Sorry it’s a bit coarse but she said Going to see Gran next week, will have to shit on her front lawn though as we aren’t allowed to use the toilets.

[Jim]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "My daughter’s friend made me laugh. Sorry it’s a bit coarse but she said Going to see Gran next week, will have to shit on her front lawn though as we aren’t allowed to use the toilets...."

I thought politicians assumed we did that anyway :-)

[M.T.]

Love the shit on the lawn one. Made me chuckle. I missed the rocket on its second pass by about three minutes, but it was heading south which is about the one direction we see very little sky. Gutted to have missed it but it was still cool to pop out and look after the McOther’s had gone to bed.

Cat got a massive wood pigeon this morning. It was all a bit grim but at the same time, it’s going to make for much pleasanter walking in the garden. My but those things can crap and soooo much of it. Jeepers! We also have a little family of bluetits who’ve fledged, some robins and blackbirds and a hedge sparrow who looks like she’s feeding small ones. This is the time of year where I like to keep a very close eye on the cat and make sure he doesn’t get out too early or late. Twilight is the time the birds are a bit sluggish apparently.

Just finished the first round of edits on the next book. Now to get back to writing the one after. Then, when it cools down a bit, I have some petunias to plant.

Cheers

MTM

[Kelly]

Hello, still bewildered by how much I have to get through each day! Haven't written a word since lockdown - not good! Must get to it. This is the first weekend where I feel a slight easing of the day job and online festival pressures. I am going to step away from the laptop, plant out my tomatoes and then . . . sit in the garden and do nothing. Well, I'm going to give it a try.

[Neil]

I wonder if any of the writers here are working on anything to help us understand these times, or to look forward to how the world might be different coming out the other side of this. The plague years saw the end of feudalism in England because there was a shortage of labout and the peasants just upped and moved to wherever they got the best deal. Personally, I'm not working on anything like that. I'm going through page proofs of my book (set in 15th century Al-Andalus and Britain around 2015. But I feel maybe I should be thinking more about what this all means

[Alicia]

Neil wrote: "I wonder if any of the writers here are working on anything to help us understand these times, or to look forward to how the world might be different coming out the other side of this. The plague y..."

Blog posts from the CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community) where we live - that's my little contribution. We're on total lockdown, and I'm trying to finish the second book in my mainstream literary trilogy - but it's set in 2005/2006. It will not be affected, but I hope it won't seem too dated, either. If I wait a few more years, it will be historical (hysterical?) fiction.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Nice to see you Kelly, glad things seem to be easing up for you

[Jim]

Neil wrote: "I wonder if any of the writers here are working on anything to help us understand these times, or to look forward to how the world might be different coming out the other side of this. The plague y..."

I've pondered it from time to time on my blog, the first episode when I mentioned it was here

https://jandbvwebster.wordpress.com/2...

I suspect that home working might come in more, if only because employers are discovering how much cheaper it is (and certainly cheaper than changing buildings to cope)
If fact thinking about it, it might be a sign of importance that you're considered worthy to be invited to work at head office?

Which could hollow out major cities leaving them to the working class who might even be allowed to do production and manufacturing now that the posh people aren't living there any more.

But I suspect the changes will be subtle because compared to the plagues of the past, we haven't had one

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, another nice day. Ended up doing another socially distanced Reservoir walk yesterday, its certainly getting busier out, and drivinv home on Sat, the local lake just looked like a normal sunny day. Might be doing another socially distanced walk today, depends on friend.

[Kath]

How do? This morning I did my first writing since lockdown. I agreed to produce a short for an anthology. It'll ease me back into writing again.

[M.T.]

Neil wrote: "I wonder if any of the writers here are working on anything to help us understand these times, or to look forward to how the world might be different coming out the other side of this. The plague y..."

Not in my writing world, although I’ve no doubt it’s affecting what I write at some level. I’m certainly writing more because all the crappy admin has stopped so instead of worrying about whether I’ve done x y or z, I’m just writing. I have talked about our current circumstances on my blog.

Cheers

MTM

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

The village in France where we have a house was decimated by the plague in 1400 and abandoned for about 100 years. The marquis who owned the chateau and land went to southern Italy and brought back peasants to repopulate the village. I’m not sure on what terms by bribery or force they were induced to move. There are still descendants of the original families in the village.

[Anna]

Neil said, " But I feel maybe I should be thinking more about what this all means"

One thing is for sure, much of the wildlife in the UK has benefited from the lockdown - I loved the pics of the goats wandering around eating the hedges. In some countries the wildlife has not fared so well - it got eaten. But we have been able to enjoy the wildlife here more. Nearby sparrows are increasing... well it is spring. Twittering and fluttering - fabulous to watch.

My pet seagull hadn't been to see me all day, or maybe I wasn't looking. Tonight, about 8.30, he landed and said goodnight and then flew off.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, sun shining but a bit cloudy, should do some housework but last nice day for a while, so will take advantage of the weather.

Yes, it is nice seeing all the wildlife Anna.

[Kath]

Hello, all. More wildlife here at the moment too. Nothing so dramatic as goats but it's been years since we heard a cuckoo - have recently - and also a long time since we saw a great spotted woodpecker. Now there's one regularly visiting our nut-feeder.
In spite of people's gradual return to work it's still often so quiet we can hear the skylarks over the fields. We used to have to go half a mile down the lane to hear them but now we can listen from the garden.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

We heard an owl the other night, never heard one here before ever.
When I said about the village being abandoned it woukd seem history has come full circle as we got two flyers posted in with our mail our neighbour sent, from estate agents saying they had clients looking to buy as there is a trend away from cities and quiet villages are very much sought after.
Another lovely hot day here.

[M.T.]

I smelled the petrol in the air when the road started up again.

Lynne that's amazing. I think this was not uncommon, I remember a friend in Italy telling me that a lot of southern France was more Italian than French in many ways. Partly because I think it was a separate state and more in communion with Italy than the northern states of its own country but maybe also because of this.

Cheers

MTM

[Will]

Seamlessly the days merge into one. I look round, and half a week (or more) has gone by...

Home schooling has an unexpected benefit! I've just ordered copies of Dorian Grey, jayne Eyre, Lord of The flies and Under Milk Wood for the granddaughter here...

[Jud]

Hello strangers!

I'm still alive and I haven't forgotten about you all. Life continues, I am loving working in the nursing home, the residents are just so lovely and sweet, they all have some form of dementia so it can be a bit trying at times but I love it.

I hope everyone is surviving lockdown, I don't think I could have managed so well if I wasn't getting out to go to work

[Anna]

Thank you, Jud! So good to hear you are loving what you do. Really, really good!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, wet and windy today! I ended up doing another Reservoir walk yesterday, so 6 Reservoirs and a walk to the local lake in the past 4 days! Sciatica is twinging today, need to catch up on the housework. Going to test how good my indoor reading spot is when the sun isn't shining.

Lovely to see you back Jud, glad you are enjoying your new job and coping with lockdown

[Jim]

Jud wrote: "Hello strangers!

I'm still alive and I haven't forgotten about you all. Life continues, I am loving working in the nursing home, the residents are just so lovely and sweet, they all have some form..."

Hi Jud
Glad to see you've got a job that seems to be giving you some satisfaction.

[M.T.]

Yay Jud! Helloooo.

'Morning' all. Just done the Sussex run. Had a beautiful drive on the way down, did it in two hours dead. Not because of the speed but because I didn't have to keep waiting for people doing 60 in the fast lane to pull over or for pairs of lorries to race each other at 56 and 56.0001 mph respectively.

Also got an absolutely fantastic review and am a bit stoked!

Cheers

MTM

[Anna]

The first time we took the car out, earlier this week, the traffic seemed to be as much as it usually is but the running time was longer because there were two accidents. We came to the conclusion that perhaps people had forgotten how to drive!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning all, another gloomy day, decluttering a cupboard and watching a film. Didn't get chance to test my reading spot as a work friend rang, so will do that today.

Glad you had a good day MT

[M.T.]

bleargh, feeling really rough today. Had what I thought was reflux last night, spent a lot of the night awake feeling ... well ... I think the word is 'crapulent' and feel pretty sick this morning. Pains in my left shoulder and my legs too from the sciatica which was irritating. (don't worry everyone, have already had the left shoulder pain checked but if back stretches make it go away it's not a heart attack!).

Hope all is dandy.

Cheers

MTM

[Will]

M.T. wrote: "Yay Jud! Helloooo.

'Morning' all. Just done the Sussex run. Had a beautiful drive on the way down, did it in two hours dead. Not because of the speed but because I didn't have to keep waiting for ..."

Yay for the good review! The roads here are still quiet, thankfully.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Hope it’s not gallstones Mary! Talking of driving Anna. Husband was talking to our neighbour about a Ford news item that petrol can deteriorate if the car isn’t used for long periods and he said his had actually cut out while pulling away from Lidl’s. In the middle of the road and as it’s an automatic it shouldn’t stall. He was going to ring the garage. Some people here are driving much faster as the roads are emptier. It’s worrying as there are more bikes and pedestrians about though.
I’ve just bought two dresses. Goodness knows why as I’m not going anywhere to get dressed up. Must be boredom shopping

[M.T.]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "Hope it’s not gallstones Mary! Talking of driving Anna. Husband was talking to our neighbour about a Ford news item that petrol can deteriorate if the car isn’t used for long periods and he said hi..."

Me too, I was having a scan to see but obviously they cancelled it. Doubt I'll get that for another year or two. Sigh. Judging by the rate our death toll is going up we are in for another lock down come winter.

Cheers

MTM

[Jim]

Anna Faversham wrote: "The first time we took the car out, earlier this week, the traffic seemed to be as much as it usually is but the running time was longer because there were two accidents. We came to the conclusion ..."

Milk Tanker driver commented the other day that traffic is back to normal and he's wondering if people have forgotten how to drive
The accidents seem more serious, not just prangs