Val's Cafe

Kitty

Why does the sun not come out until it's almost time for it to get dark?? I've been quite chilly today and wearing my little quilted jacket indoors.

Rosieglow, how lovely of your son to take you to see your granddaughter. I'll bet you had a wonderful time.

Sorry to disagree with you Mr O., but I've had enough trouble with two sets of teeth. Couldn't cope with any more. Lack of Calcium as a child gave me little chalky stalks which broke if I ate anything like an apple :roll: they aren't much better now!!

I'm afraid I don't have much choice re; buses Elizabeth, neither I nor OH drive. I usually use Patient Transport to get to my hospital appointments which sometimes isn't very reliable.

Oh well, these things are sent to try us. I'll just have a coffee then pop off for my tea. Q***n casserole with dumplings, jacket spud, peas and carrots. No, I'm not vegetarian, but I'm certainly thinking of it.

Tarra, Kath xx

barbara12

Evening all
I go away for a min and you all turn up...
Rosie it is good to see you and how kind of your son..bless so glad you have had a good time with your GD..I bet this wlil be are regular thing..I hope so..my youngest son who has the youngest GC..always said he didn't want to settle down ..but like your son he is besotted by her..
Mr O its very kind of you to let us know how Catie is..poor thing she has gone through so much now this..give her my love and there will be a cuppa waiting for her on the house...
Toady you have done well there in the garden,I have been watching hubby filling in my pond, still a long way to go because there is a rockery to move :shock: think I will get a new greenhouse...3rd time lucky eh..yes I got on well thankyou my blood pressure is good...
Kath sorry you didn't have good weather it had been lovely and warm here..but not seen much of it today...oh the tea sounds good..any left...
Gone very cold here now...no GC so very quiet... I went upstairs this morning and they had made there beds... they don't have long in a morning even getting up at 7 so I was gobsmacked but text them to say thankyou..will see you later...xxxxx

barbara12

Morning all..
Very quiet think it must be the good weather..it is foggy here this morning so quite cold...hubby is off we think unless the phone goes...so we are going to look for a mower again...not that I will use it ...one of my favorite things is cutting the grass on a sunny day..use to find it very relaxing
Will have a clean around and put the kettle on..hope you all have a goodish day..see you later...xxxx

dachshund

Hello Barbara Mr O Toady Rosie Kath.
I hope you are all having a good day. without too much pain.
Barbara you sounded like George Dixon of dock green.
take care all
joan xx

barbara12

He He Joan we are showing our age but I remember him well..hope you are doing okish..
Just bought a mower..online at Amaz**£45 cheaper than B&*so we are happy...mower don't last us very long we have neighbours that borrow it and we are to soft to say no...hubby say he has had enough...they are being told no.. :shock: don't get me wrong they aren't bad neighbours just borrow everything even our spade and ladders...its just the electric things we are saying no to....not me but hubby.... :oops:
Will see you later ...I will leave the kettle on for Toady and a M&* hot cross buns for anyone that wants one..

applerose

Elizabeth, I have often thought about doing a table top sale but don't have transport and don't like to ask anyone to help as they all have their own busy lives so most of my things end up in the charity shop. At least it's helping them a bit. Hope it all went well at your daughter's appointment. I think the boiler people said it could be 6-8 weeks before they let me know.

Thanks for the update on Catie, Mr O. Hope she is recovering well. I once had a top tooth out and the one beneath started to grow in to the space so the dentist put a crown in and shaved a bit off the bottom tooth. I keep wondering why teeth can't be shaved back if they are decaying and left to grow.

Toady, you've just given me a picture of me running down the street after my greenhouse on wheels. There are some pages on Facebook where you can sell things locally. My sister and I have sold a few things that way. Saves on fees and postage.

Sounds as if you've had a wonderful time Rosie. GC are great, aren't they? I know what you mean and someone not being around to see their GC. I often wish my mum was here to see her GGC.

Kath, it is usually pretty cold here first thing but warms up by lunch time here so we've had a few good afternoons. I'm like you, have to rely on buses. I did pass my test about 8 years ago but have never been able to afford a car. I've cut back a quite a bit on the amount of meat I eat, often having quorn or just a plate of veg, especially roasted. Yummy.

Barbara, I see you have your whip out for your OH to fill in your pond. Are you putting the rockery somewhere else or getting rid of it altogether? That was good to find the beds made. Doesn't take long but, as you say, when they are rushing to get ready for school, it's something which doesn't usually get done. Glad you got your mower. A bargain too. Electric things only last so long. The more they are used, the less time they last. I think I'd be saying no to the neighbours too. Think I'll have a cuppa and one of your hot cross buns. Mmmmmm.

I decided on Monday to start spring cleaning at work seeing as I had the extra hours. Decided to start with the 18 year olds bedroom. I've not been able to clean it properly in a long time due to everywhere being covered in clothes, books etc. Once I'd finished, I told my boss what I had done. He said great. It needed doing. Anyway, yesterday, my boss's wife came to me and said her son was not happy with the fact that I'd been in his bedroom. How did he think it's been kept reasonably clean all this time? Anyway, I now have to check with him that it's ok to go in. :roll:

toady

Hello kath, dachshund & barbara.. hope you have had a good day too dachshund thank you barbara that was a very nice cup of tea, I popped in earlier and had it after I had been in the garden so it was very welcome. I didn't get round to posting as an afternoon nap was calling me. The dividing & potting up I did yesterday was quite tiring (and why was it tiring? because I didn't do it in small chunks did I, but all at once :roll: ). Glad you got your mower but don't envy your neighbours situation, fancy borrowing small things like a spade! Wouldn't you want your own & have done with it, they are cheap enough.. good luck to your hubby telling them, I wouldn't want to either. How good of your GC to make their beds they sound nice thoughtful kids.

Rosie nice to see you that was so nice of your son to come up & see you so soon, says a lot about your relationship. Did he pass his test first time I can't remember sorry, seems to have taken to it like a fish to water anyway. Glad you had a lovely visit.

Well I have kept a daily to-do for a fortnight & it's been quite interesting lol (I have a rolling list already but that just sits there til I tick something off.) I have been listing a few small jobs, not everyday stuff, just things I need poking into doing, like sort out a particular box/cupboard. By the end of the day I have usually done half at a pinch - then maybe I shove one or two in last thing to get them done. Re-writing it every day has soon shown me which type of things tend to get pushed on. Mostly a) anything involving thought & decision making or b) 'good' things I promise myself I'll do like lie down for a proper rest, listen to a tape, relax etc. If it's just a practical thing it has more chance of getting done. What I need to work out is, whether I'm putting the difficult-decision things off in the same way anyone might, like homework, so I should try harder - or whether I'm expecting too much (seeing as my brain is tired compared to my old self), and should write a shorter list. I definitely need to work on some relaxation though, I am always either reading, browsing the net, or fiddling with something.

Have to decide now what my options are with the windows xp situation - don't like any of them much. :? very annoying.

Have had a shopping delivery today so will trade a hot x bun for some mini danish pastries.

Hello applerose just spotted your post glad work is going ok but not that you have had a disgruntled teenager on your hands, oh dear.
I have a fair bit of quorn as you can imagine being vegetarian, fairly pricey but at least there are some more products these days.. I've even got quorn mini scotch eggs at the moment.. it's a bit depressing looking at the snack section in the shop where there are acres of sausage rolls etc, & just 1 choice of cheese&onion roll. :roll: Someone used to make a really nice 'ploughman's' pastry thing with cheese apple celery & onion, ages ago, but it got discontinued - anything I like often seems to while other stuff goes on forever. Grumble. Kath sounds like you might be another borderline vegetarian for the recruiting.

barbara12

Morning all
A rotten night I'm afraid but suppose I'm not the only... :roll:
Christine..you dared to enter the room of a teenager... It makes you wounder what he is hiding in there.. ..like I do with our GC I wont go in if you clean it...good for you getting it done but bet it doesn't last long... :roll: we are getting rid of the rockery..I just cant bend anymore to weed it or deadhead.. there were loads of baby newts in the pond so they have been taken to a lodge in fields behind us ..so not moving to far..I do love Newts.. and will miss them..
Toady don't apologize for not posting...its just me that post to much shows how bored I get... the list sounds good think I might try it, has for decisions I take after my dad..he could decide anything for the life of him bless..wish he was here... you seem to have thing organized unlike me.. :? I loved windows XP..and said I would move on ..but when I did I am the same with 7...but I have tried windows 8... :shock: suppose its just getting used to new things and at the min I don't like change...if I remember right XP will not have the backup soon..
Hope you get through more of your list today...
Very foggy throughout the night and this morning...hubby is working soI will have to get something done in the house :oops: will have one last cuppa first... xxxxx

Kitty

Afternoon Joan, Rosie, Toady, Barbara, applerose, hope all are having a good day today. Sun is shining, Daffodils are bobbing up and down in the breeze and the Tulips have finally got flower buds forming. We thought we were just going to have leaves and no flowers this year!! The camellia has loads of flowers and more buds ready to open, but I can't see any buds on the Broom. I think it might be a bit too early for that yet.

I feel absolutely stodged, I've just had fish cakes, potato croquettes and spaghetti - phew!!

Barbara, sorry to hear you had a bad night. x
Toady, I very often have naps, morning and afternoon. Some days I can hardly keep my eyes open - Sjogren's syndrome Grrr.
applerose - spring cleaning, that's made me feel guilty.

Off to facebook to have a laugh with my RA mobsters and February Valentines (facebook groups) I think I would go mad without them and all of you.

Love Kath xxx

toady

Hi all a nice teabreak for me I think, not that I've done much to earn it. Barbara, me, organised?! No no, I'm terrible, that's why I'm trying to get myself into some better ways of going on.. so untidy, so undisciplined, don't seem to make much progress. The trouble (apart from being anyway) came really, from having to fit my parents' stuff and mine into 1 property, at the same time the RA got me. If I could have hit the ground running then it would have been much easier to get to grips with the sorting out, but twas bad timing, & 10 years on I'm still at it. :roll: Have rooms I can't really use for their purpose. :roll: Being a bit hoarder-y anyway & being landed with too much stuff is a terrible combination, I'm not ruthless enough I know. I get things out to sort, can't decide what to do with them & put them back or move them somewhere else. If there's a flat surface I will put something on it. Trouble is I do get the spring cleaning urge around now so even more annoying not to get 'at' things full strength.
Sorry about your rockery, it's hard, isn't it. What I'm doing is only glorified OT really, it isn't what you'd call 'gardening' - I can't kneel or bend either. I'm glad your newts aren't far away what is the lodge exactly I meant to ask, is it somewhere you can go..? Sorry too you had a rotten night. Hope the tea is helping. I get really bored too especially being indoors a lot, don't like doing nothing (I think you said you're the same), difficult isn't when you can't do the things you want but want to be doing something. Hence I end up fiddling with small silly jobs or playing games etc when prob should be resting..

Kath we have sun too, not fog, your tulips will be lovely when out, and all your other plants that are gearing up, it's certainly very spring-y now all at once. You will need an afternoon nap to sleep off your lunch. Haven't had mine yet must get to it I suppose. I currently am itching with chilblains (dunno why now :? ) & fleabites courtesy of neighbour's cat, so can only imagine how annoying yours is.. any sign of progress?

I've had a read up about windows xp and will probably upgrade the laptop to 7 at some point (yes because of the lack of support after the 8th april), then use the old pc offline for now & think again. Think I will avoid win8 if possible. Maybe look at alternatives.

Hello to everyone else too xx

barbara12

Evening all
Kath I love spring I know its not quite here but not far off..there is a stretch of land nearby full of crocus..so lovely to see think broom will be another month or so...every year I say we will get a Camellia...I love them..you enjoy your facebooking...
Toady there me thinking you are all organized..glad there is someone else that puts things down and leave them for days..I have learned life is to short to keep cleaning and such..think Arthur learned me this so something good came out of it.. the lodge is walking distance ..but hubby took them ..crutches arn't good in long grass :roll: you mention fleas...I am sat here with a dish of water with a drop of fairy liquid and so far over the week we have caught 28..they cant get out of the water because the surface is broken with the soap,,we have spayed but its not worked my ankles are a mess with bites.. :shock:
Hope everyone's okish still not seen Marianne around....
Might see you later xxxxx

applerose

Toady, we sound so alike. If I have the energy I keep going then can hardly move. But I do enjoy working in the garden. I also take forever to make decisions. I've been slowly working my way through the loft and wardrobes, depending on whether or not I feel I can get up the ladder. I put things I no longer want in a bag in the porch ready to be taken to the charity shop. Thing is, sometimes I can't decide whether or not I should keep something so it lies there for weeks. As I'm wheat intolerant, I find a limited selection of food and it is very expensive so I usually just do without. On an odd occasion, I'll buy something made with wheat as a treat and hope for the best. I also know about having someone else's furniture. When my son's relationship broke up about 10 years ago, he moved in with me and brought half the furniture with him as well as his personal possessions. There are still a few bits in the loft and spare bedroom.

Yes Barbara, I went in to an 18 year old's bedroom. I'm thinking never again. I had a word with his 17 year old brother today and asked him if it was ok to clean his room. He said yes, great, go for it. Pity you didn't live nearer. I'd have had some newts from you. You'll be able to visit them if they aren't too far away. I totally agree with you that life is too short to be doing housework. Hope you have a better night tonight.

Kath, my daffodils are looking good but just leaves on the tulips. Maybe mine are behind yours. The camelia must look beautiful. I'm only doing spring cleaning because it's my job, otherwise I wouldn't be bothering.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

toady

Hi again.. just a short post I am off to try the dish of soapy water flea method, might save my ankles from a few more bites.. I come up in big blistery things, you'd think my blood would be pretty noxious but it doesn't seem to put them off.. I will report my results awkward when it's not your cat, they do seem to sometimes treat him as he has flea-free bits but it's not enough obviously, wish they would get him sorted, hate to see him scratching - not fair on him, plus you'd think their household would be hopping too :roll:

Going to have some tea/supper whatever, thinking about some pie & custard if anyone wants to join me. If you are off to bed soon barbara hope you have a better night, hello to everyone who hasn't been in today, not sure when mig is back.. bye for now. xx

Applerose you have posted while I'm still editing again, good timing on your part.. I expect it's ok to offer you pie in here, or I have some cake from mrs cr*mble as it happens yes the 'possible-charity' piles just sit here, too, it isn't exactly that I can't part with stuff out of sentiment, or that I keep things on the might-come-in-handy basis, I just literally don't seem to know what I want & don't want. :? I don't suppose I would miss a fraction of it, in which case, I'd far prefer it had never been here in the first place. A lot of it simply does need selling so I guess I'll have to decide if I want the space or the cash as I'll never get through it the rate I am going.. have to make some tougher cuts somewhere. Can see you wouldn't fancy your own spring cleaning much, all things considered, so that probably doesn't help. Ah well glad of a fellow 'sufferer'.

frogmorton

Morning everyone

Its lovely to read all your chat - I have missed the café Well I'm still missing it.

Things are still busy busy here with hospital every day except today I shan't go on about how Lucy is (I've put it on the thread), but we are home this weekend and the sun is out!!

I intend to get outside for a while this afternoon as she has a visitor (male :shock: )

Toady - I spray the insect repellent you use on holidays if I encounter fleas

Love to you all

Toni xxx

barbara12

Morning all
Christine..that would have been nice adopting my newts... so the 17 year old is happy with you cleaning his roon just goes to show how different kids are..bet you cant wait to get stuck in...I used to clean for4 house on our street..started at one then the others asked...but it ended 4years ago because of joint pain ...I could use ladder and such for windows..I am waiting for my daffodils to open...
Toady the water thing works but its shocking how many go in there it has to be a white dish..its what attracts um...
We keep saying we should try a carboot sale..my ex dil did quite a few and did well...
I will try and post a pic of my pond and rockery from a couple of years ago....
Quite cold here and windy but it is only March..no GC this weekend..they have gone away with relatives ..am I glad the weather is decent...
Will see you all later xxxxx Toni just spotted you there...dont forget there are free coffee for you..you enjoy your time out can imagine how lovely that will feel...a male friend ..bless..xxx

tkachev

I have a buzzy creature on the kitchen. It is a massive bumble bee. He has come through the open back door and now can't find his way out and seems to be getting a bit stressed.


The consultant actually seemed nice this time. Maybe he has settled into the job now. We had such a lovely chap before but he went off to help in a worn-torn country and when he came back he was a changed man. so he retired soon after. Anyway she is now clear so movicol did a grand job in the end but it should do on 10 sachets a day!He was pleased with her.

Thanks for the update Mr. O. I ha noticd Catie and Rosie have been missing.Sorry to hear about Catie being in hospital again.I do wish we could have that 3rd set of teeth. Wouldn't we look after them? I live in fear of infected teeth as mine have suffered lately.

Glad all is well with you Rosie. and you have been to see your family.

I just worry that on ebay buyers can dispute so easliy and you can end up out of pocket. I'd rather give the clothes away to somebody who needs them but do not really know anyone. I have thought about taking them to a food bank and seeing if they know anyone. I have some clothes brand new and still tagged (I used to stock up, store them away and then forget I'd already bought them and buy more :oops: ). Also my boy is so fussy about textiles and sometimes I bought things he did not take to.

I hope Lucy enjoys having a visitor. You have a nice weekend Toni, catch up with the washing as the weather is perfect for drying.

Daffs and tulips are in full bloom. Have just had a look for my hollyhock shoots but cannot see them. I'm wondering if they got eaten.

I've had a lie in today so I'm a bit disoriented and taking it easyish. So sorry if I'm rambling

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Elizabeth x

toady

Hello everyone I will think of trying insect repellent Toni thank you, so far today I have caught 1 flea in the dish and 3 on me, they just seem to love me :roll: I hope you did find time to get outdoors for a while, I am popping out myself for a minute or two.. will put the kettle on for some gardener's tea when I get back.. plate of biscuits of course..

I hope your bee can find his way out tkachev.. we need all our lovely bumble bees.. I do know what you mean about eb*y I have been quite lucky with no real difficult buyers (or sellers either) but it can be a minefield. I suppose they try & put some safeguards in place but in some cases it would be impossible to prove who's telling the truth. Glad your consultant is happy with your daughter & was ok to deal with. Not surprising your old one was affected by working in a warzone, it amazes me people can do this fantastic aid work, it's very admirable. The world would be v. hard up relying on useless wimps like self. Hope you feel the benefit of your lie-in, rambling is my default mode whenever I get up sleeping in can make you feel a bit woolly though.

Will get myself outdoors, neighbour is cuffing at something next door (paving or something?) so he is at one of his eternal projects I imagine, just finishes something & starts something else whether it needs it or not I reckon. I would be the same if I was a retired gentleman I imagine. see you in due course.. xx

barbara12

Evening
Elizabeth so glad your daughter is feeling better, poor thing it must be such a relief for both of you,,must have been bad one movicol works for me.. glad you had a lie in...
Toady so you caught one flea..persevere you will get more I promise...they like me has well..and my middle GD the others they leave alone.. :? and like you say they are not our cats..
Did you end up helping the gentleman paving his garden...don't you wish they wouldn't do heavy work when they get older :roll:
Well the baby has just left with mum dad and sister..so we are hear with our feet up..hubby cooked tea steak and chips peas and mushrooms..I am gobsmacked..but it was good...
Will leave the kettle on in case anyone pops in..xxxxx

applerose

Mmmm, Toady, I do like a bit of Mrs Cr*mble. I bought a Dutch apple cake as my Xmas cake. Hope you had some decent weather to be outside. Did you help your neighbour?

Toni, we all miss you too. Glad Lucy has a weekend off. Is the make visitor the same one as before? Hope you have some sun to enjoy.

It's turned chilly here again Barbara. Hope your GC enjoy their time away. Haven't had steak in a long while. Mmmm, might need to get some now.

Elizabeth, great to know the bees are still about but better if it was outside. Glad things are better with your daughter and that the consultant was nicer. Maybe he was having an off day last time. That's a brilliant idea to take the clothes to a food bank. I'm sure they will know someone who could use them. Glad you had a lie in. I'm sure you needed it.

toady

Just calling in for some supper no I didn't help mr. next-door lol, we aren't on those sort of terms and even if we were I'm sure he would be horrified at the thought doing it himself & his own way is the whole point. Apart from the fact he is arguably more able-bodied than I am. Though I have a fair idea his wife indeed does wish he wouldn't do too much, barbara, but there wouldn't be any stopping him I'm sure. Can't actually see what he's doing as we have reasonable high fences & good trees too, I'm not overly keen on being overlooked. On the subject of trees, I *may* have replaced my retired general gardening & tree chap which will be excellent, will be seeing him next week sometime. Glad you had a good tea barbara, has there been a little improvement in your appetite.. I expect you tried to do it justice anyway.

Applerose I do have a dutch apple cake, never tried it but thought I would, also some of the bakewell slices (they are quite calorific which I could do with.. though a bit on the over-sweet side. Certainly gluten-free is expensive only buy them on offer.

Have a good Sunday, all xx

barbara12

Morning all
Christine ..I worry sick about my GC even knowing they will have a good time... I am hoping to see more bees around this summer..but wasp :shock: hate the things but they love me...
Toady ..we could do with an handy man come gardener..my poor hubby is shattered still working at 66..the pension thing ..mind you he is better off them some he got the old age pension because of when he was born.. hope you managed to get in your garden today..I have been looking for a pic of my rockery come pond but have none on my comp so will have to look further..
Yes my appetite is best at night... I really enjoyed it
Forgot to say put the white dish with water near your feet..we got the idea off the net not an old wives tale...honest..
Right not a clue what today will bring..will see you all later..hope today is a good one..xxxxx

toady

Afternoon lovely day, more like summer than spring, long may it last. I have been in the garden a little, but not much to do as yet, so have also been sowing some seeds at my deluxe potting bench (on top of the old fridge, in the garage ) v glad I've got a utility or I'd be trying to wash flowerpots & dishes in the kitchen sink. Gardeners are hard to come by, have had mixed success with ones from local paper &c and you can tell a lot of people are just in it as a job, whereas the potential new chap is actually keen on the whole thing, personally. Hope he works out.

I will try putting the flea dish near me when sitting, I did believe you that it's a proper tip then looked it up on the net myself, some say put a candle in the dish or leave it in front of the tv & leave it on all night also for the heat :? but near feet makes sense, heat+person.. Funny how they like some people better, wonder what it is about us.. :roll:

Going to have a coffee break and then maybe start on slimming down some of the stuff on my pc so I can do a current backup in preparation for maybe having to change from windows xp.. considering maybe shifting to a linux-based os, don't know that much about it so may try it out & see how it grabs me.

Glad you could make a fair job of your tea I guess where the tooth was must be doing ok too & not being a bother. Can't see anyone else online but dachshund was around when I logged in I think.. so hello.. and to everyone.

Kettle on..

dachshund

Hello Christine Toady Toni Barbara Elizabeth.
I hope you are all having a rest full weekend and your bodies have less pain too.
take care all.
joan xx

RosieGlow

Hello everyone,

I am slightly jealous of the weather some of you are having. Here, it`s dull and quite chilly. We have had some sunshine, but certainly not the high temperatures that some parts are getting. I just spoke to my elder son, who is back in London at the moment, and it`s 19 degrees there. They`ve just been to buy a parasol for the little uns buggy. That`ll put the tin hat on it. It`ll probably rain for the rest of the year!

Had a call from my gardeners. They are starting back on Tuesday. Thankfully my big gates are now fixed, so getting their stuff through will not be a problem. Would you believe it was my Asda delivery man who sorted them out. Such a nice man, it restores my faith in human nature.

Now, cuppa with Toads, and what sort of cake have we got? Mind you, I`ll eat owt.......Much love to all.......Rosie.x.

mig

I'm back ,well got back late Friday so have been recovering and washing no ironing though.
Had a great time weather was perfect one day it was foggy but we had a trip out in the coach .Our bedroom overlooked the beach and young men were out surfing in their tight wet suits bliss. Will catch up tomorrow. Mig