What are you all up to

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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,092 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53912

    A brave and lovely thing to do. Condolences, it’s always sad to lose a friend. 

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,449 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53913

     Page 5417 won't load, and maybe this post won't , but here goes anyway - 

    We had a good Early Birthday Do last night, with food left over for today (always a plus).

    This morning we took a step forward and Henry drove us to Booths at Kirkby Lonsdale. The first time we had shopped physically for two months. His new hip is 4 weeks old now and he felt confident driving for a short distance on quiet roads. And I got to choose my own fruit and veg!

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53914

    WN, not sure if it's the suger in the fruit but it's got to stop. I've given myself a good talking to. I've have made myself go out for a walk, yes it was cold, did I enjoy it, not really but I do need to get back to some form of fitness 😔

    Bit of a grey day here but at least it's dry. The wind foes seem to have dropped which wil make it feel warmer. 

    Tried to throw myself into housework but just not feeling it. OH has 'things' laying about in every room, can't tidy them away as he claims he is doing something with them😭  I hate clutter 😩

    Sealent not quite cured yet in the MH shower room so can't finish the job yet. 

    Good to see that it wasn't just me who found the Glasgow show a bit of a let down. 

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,025 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53915

    Quite a nice day today so moved the caravan out into the middle of the drive and gave it a good clean nice to see it gleaming white again the inside will get cleaned during the week ready for the off hopefully at the end of next week. Also cleaned the Volvo so spent a while doing outdoorsy things. Youngest son then came round and is decorating our dining room so that’s a help a bit of a mess here now though but hopefully be nice when it’s done 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2023 #53916

    Cool Day today but, right now, we have a great grey cloud with a tiny sliver of pale blue out to the west and a beautiful red layer all across the underside ~~ Utterly gorgeous .smile

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53917

    H&T wrote "The dealers are diversifying and are building a caravan site next door, which they hope will be open by the summer. I suppose it will be handy for shopping at Bicester Village or trips into Oxford but with a scrap yard at the end of the lane, the A41 running past and only views are industrial units not the best of positions"

    Not, as Charles Dickens wrote then "..the Bicester times" wink

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53918

    Pleased to hear the celebration meal went well Goldie and the drive too, must be good to see progress.

    ABM we have a glorious sunset just now and earlier today the moon was equally lovely hanging low over the western horizon, quite a sight....now just looming over the hills in the east.

    Our guests have gone, I've had a mammoth cooking session, just sorting an on line food order and that's it for the day, I hope! Another frost tonight I think as it's now going quite chilly.

  • milliehull
    milliehull Forum Participant Posts: 4,762 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53919

    Cold here as well Brue. When DIL arrived for birthday celebrations a bit earlier she said she had seen the gritter out.

    Hope bakers2 is having a lovely birthday today 🥳🎂🎁

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited February 2023 #53920

    Yes, that's the one David, the chap in the shop was giving us the details,  but we weren't very impressed with the location. 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,663 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53921

    'Twas the same here at Delamere, unfortunately it didn't last overlong, however it augurs well for tomorrow. Had a steady drive down to the C&CC site, arriving just after 1:00, and were 5th in the queue to book in. I am surprised just how busy the site is with about 2/3rds of the H/S pitches occupied. The last time we were here was about 8 yrs ago and I don't remember it being this full after a weekend, when it always did well.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2023 #53922

    Oh Really Nell, and there's me telling the world how beautiful it all is ~~ well at least 'til it starts performing like a Norfolk skating rink  wink

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53923

    Helen

    We have stayed at Diamond Farm Caravan and Camping Park at Bletchingdon when we had a caravan many years ago, which is probably the closest to Bicester. Back then it was owned by the same family that ran Bo Peep Farm at Adderbury which was our weekend retreat when we were working. Unfortunately that has been turned into a wedding venue although I think they still do storage. 

    David

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53924

    The deed has been done, a new car ordered.

    VW T- cross, Black Edition, automatic, winter pack, spare wheel, metallic blue.  Decided not to go mad with the options, of which there are many!

    So now we wait.....and wait....and......Estimated delivery time is 34 weeks!!

    Nearer the time we will decide what to do with the Smart.....trade in, private sale, or sell to one of those car buying places. 

    Servicing will not be a problem, they will collect and deliver if required.

    Took my tapeline along to measure boot.....plenty of space for a pushchair.
    Good driver's seat height adjustment, OH tried it out for comfort.

    Test drive was offered, but only in a manual version, which OH declined.  

    On our way back home, we dropped in past our son's house to deliver the curtains DIL has asked us to alter.  Only her Mum there as DIL was at work, son away in Amsterdam, and the grandchildren at school.  We had a good  chat over tea and  chocolate biscuits.   Then we stopped off at DD's house to pick up a few items, so not home till almost 6.

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53925

    We have ordered the tiles and flooring for the bathroom refurb today and it's all being  delivered tomorrow! Wickes are using a carrier so I am not sure how far they will be willing to move everything from the delivery lorry, we have been warned it might be kerbside only! One of our sons lives fairly locally so I am sure he would come over and help. Could be a busy day if the BG engineer actually turns up this time!

    David

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53926

    Hope the bathroom work goes well DK. Ours needs doing but so far all plans have failed, OH still has a few things to do in daughter's new bathroom. When that gets completed maybes ours will stand a chance. wink

    I have now caught OH's sore throat and cough etc, tests negative for Covid but could do without it. Might have to put off some planned things this week. Very cold outside with thick fog.

    There doesn't seem to be much escape from bad news but I hope others have a better week ahead.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,702 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53927

    All the best for all those undergoing bathroom renovations.  Speaking of renovations, our kitchen and conservatory could do with being done... including retiling the floor....

    Should anyone feel the urge to come and do it.......do get in touch.....!!  🤣🤣🤣🤣

    Get well those who are under the weather at the moment.

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,092 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53928

    We are currently having some lovely weather at the moment, very cold, frosty by night, but glorious sunshine in day. Didn’t need a coat out gardening yesterday. I have a suspicion our gras might be growing as well, did see a neighbour with mower out yesterday.

    Hole for our electrical repairs filled in this morning, off up to Mum’s now.

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,210 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53929

    Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day, best birthday for 4 years. 2019 OH 'performing' in hospital, 2020 just after mums funeral, can't recall 2021 but house move on the cards, 2022 packing and sorting for the move 🤣.

     Wow that carpentry work. If you're at a loose end let me know!

     Work progressing on hard landscaping. Veg area completed yesterday. Back patio up, so gritty, but they've now discovered a 'patio' under it so site meeting - upshot nice and noisy whilst they break up some areas, explains some of the unevenness. My current oft chanted phrase "you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs". 

     We too have had hard frosty nights since Sunday but glorious days since Friday. Managed to line dry some washing Saturday. Smelt lovely. Washing line broken yesterday by the digger, so that'll need replacing, not that I can use until they've 'performing' 

     Seems like others are spending whilst money still has a value 😉. Great to read of searches, nothing is easy.

     Odd spacing again. (Sorted by Mod!)

     Photos 

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53930

    Brue

    Hope the cold soon improves.

    As to bathrooms. I have previously refurbished both bathrooms, likewise I have previously installed a new kitchen. I have come to the conclusion in recent years it's probably better to let the professionals do things from now on. I don't really have the energy or enthusiasm to do such work now.  There are certain advantages in doing things yourself as you can control things, particularly timescales, but unfortunately limitations in knees etc make heavier work more difficult. I suppose I should count my blessings that I can budget for someone else to do the work!

    David

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,210 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53931

    Sorry maybe a mod could edit.

     Photos of before, during , completed and last nights sunset.

     

    Bakers2 Perhaps you should abandon paragraphs, just type it all in one. I imagine that could be a bit counter intuitive but it might save the need to edit? David

     

     

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53932

    Hope all those currently under the weather will soon be feeling better, and that all the planned home improvements will go well.

    Agree with B2 regarding spending, we noticed quite a few very large increases in the prices of things we bought for the bathrooms between 2021 and 2022, so no point in not getting desirable / necessary things done  before prices get even higher, if they are affordable.

    OH was saying much the same about fuel bills......we are using less due to new boiler and more precise controls, but she refuses to be cold in the house as long as the bills can be covered somehow.

    As you say David, there comes a time when we need to know our limits and pay someone else to do the heavy work.  I have never done a full bathroom, only a couple of over bath showers, one freestanding bath, and a few basins, but have done plenty of kitchens, which I think are possibly easier than bathrooms.

    Like brue, DIY in our house tends to take second place to projects in DD's house, mainly as hers have to fit around when she is available to assist if required.     Fortunately most of her major indoor projects are completed, but she still has a long list of smaller things to be done, even after 4 years.  She now refuses to let me attempt any heavy work, but still lets me do the woodwork, which I do enjoy. 

    Her back garden will need major landscaping, but they do not have the money for that at present, and unlikely to for a few years due to mortgage rates, and the probable need for a new car in a year or two.

     Her car is now over 20 years old, so we foresee upcoming requests for the use of our second car, especially when she needs to go into her office as her car will be banned from the Glasgow low emission zone.  Unfortunately her office car park, which she can book a space in, is about 250m inside the zone, with no alternative parking.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53933

    Sitting on the settee with my feet up having a break, I deserve it.

    Spent the morning in the back garden dodging the wind and trying to stay in the sun. Managed to get all one side of the garden done and halfway along the back border. Looks good, all the leaves raked up, weeded and soil fluffed up avoiding all the bulbs that are now popping up everywhere. Lots of buds on the bushes and a few have flowers on. The Robin was jumping around in and out of the bushes as I moved from spot to spot.

    After lunch I cut the front grass, never thought I'd have to that in Feb in Scotland. Looks 100 times better now, just had the mower on the highest cut but what a difference. Grass was dry as we've had a good wind and sun for a few days. 

    Then it was time for a walk, we went a bit further today as the ground is drying up. Managed to put across the top of the village into the fields where there is a nice shale path, then back down to the bottom of the village and up the hill halfway to our house. 

    Having a rest before giving OH a haircut and then having a shower.

    Its been like a spring day, crocus and snow drops out across the front garden, only snowdrops open in the back but the crocus are there just need a few more days sun to coax them to open. 

    Hope the DIY/bathroom jobs go well and those feeling a bit off colour get better soon. 

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,695 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53934

    Aaah - that's a relief David - was beginning to think it was just me! Like you, I used to have a crack at anything, but more and more of late, I also neither have the enthusiasm or physical ability to do it. After a team of. builders rebuilt the house from top to bottom when we bought it ten years ago, the main en-suite is desperately in need of replacement.  At one time, I would have done most of the work myself but now, I've called in a local builder/friend with a view to handing the whole job over to him. Fortunately, we have enough stashed away to cover the costs.

    I've also got Tourershine coming next week to clean the caravan professionally.  It's not bad (only 4 years old), but the roof is letting it down and although I tried to clean it a couple of weeks ago, realised that whilst I might have been half-heartedly willing, my aching joints weren't!!

    As for weather we've been sitting here on a CS close to Thornton-Le-Dale (Bangers and Cash!!)  for almost a week and it's been freezing every morning although we have had the odd spot of sunshine later in the day.  Glad I brought the Aquaroll insulated coversmile

    Back home on Thursday - and then I will have to tackle the garden - especially since TG has made me feel guiltyundecided

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53935

    Gosh TG you have been busy in the garden our grass not ready for any mowing yet but I have cut grass in February when we lived in Somerset, I did a bit of strimming of some weeds around our small pool, no weeding yet but I will soon be out there when we get rid of the frosts possibly after this week as it looks much warmer up to 14C, athough we did have tea/coffee outside yesterday afternoon it was lovely and my crocus are out in flower plus the violas so some colour about.

    Back to frosty but dull and then some light rain today but did brighten up once we ere in Villefranche for shopping and trying to get eye test appointments which have to been done by a Opthalmolgist so you can get a prescription for the glasses heyho 1st appointment is 29th August this year even though OH tried to get an earlier one due to his diabetes and sorry nothing before and he has been there before, so will have to wait very different to UK, we have friends who have the same problem in Cahors where they go also 6/7 month wait as we are short of the qualified people, if we had been in UK longer in September we could have got it all done then but only there for 17 nights this time and possibly will be our last time over there as we feel that we would like to spend more time seeing France.

    Hope folk will soon feel better.

    Gosh that is a long wait for a car KJ, have noticed here that there are not much about in new cars and we have only seen a few new ones in our area.

    Did see a UK reg motorhome  in Villefranche this morning  but have seen a few French ones but it is the start of some areas for school holidays now.

    Hope all goes well for folk with diy projects, we have some painting to do in the bedroom and OH will be installing some ground based solar panels but they do not store but can be with extra equipment and can be plugged in to your normal socket system he has had to do in filling of paperwork for EDF and Enerdis and it will be going through the Linky machine as we will get a reduction off our bills will not be huge but every bit helps about 600 watts for the two sets of panels, if we had to put them on the roof we would need full planning permission but with them being on the ground and below 1.8 metres tall we do not need planning.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53936

    Well two things accomplished today! Firstly the tiles and flooring arrive about lunchtime. Fortunately a two man delivery and they kindly put it all in the conservatory for us. Then after lunch BG turned up, on schedule, to service the boiler with a good bill of health but an advisory to replace the carbon monoxide alarm. The old one is still working but he couldn't establish a date it entered service so a new one will have to be purchased, fortunately not the most onerous of tasks!

    David

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,611 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53937

    What a lovely sunny morning albeit not that much above freezing. Warmed up a bit later.

    We drove over to Delamere to meet up with the "Nellies" who are staying at the local C&CC site. We had a smashing stroll and catch up. We weren't always in the sun but with no wind it wasn't a bother. I was quite pleased as its the longest I've walked since this Stroke, Nellie confirming it as something near 3½ miles. We made use of their proferred hospitality back at their van and toddled off back home via M&S Foodhall at Broughton picking up an easy meal for tonight.

    Glad to see them again. 

    We probably won't do a great deal tomorrow.

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited February 2023 #53938

    We've had some frosts overnight,  but beautiful sunny day's, luckily none of the fog that had been forecast. 

    Everyone seems to be planning or doing home improvements,  our youngest son was having a new kitchen fitted, but they have had to have all their downstairs floors replaced before any other work could  start,  it's been a big job judging by all the photos we've received. 

    KjellNN hope you don't have to wait too long for your new car, one of our neighbours ordered an electric Volvo last March and he is still waiting. 

    Good to read you enjoyed your meet up and walk with the Nellie's Wherenext.

    David,  I remember Bo Peep caravan site well, nice site.

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53939

    Especially for TDA who expressed an interest in seeing Airedales of yore.. here's one from Canada in the roaring twenties .. or should that be "woofing"as there's an Airedale cross around too. 🐕  (How fashions have changed too. wink)

    Glad to hear the Nellie's and WNs enjoyed a pleasant stroll!

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,210 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53940

    David. I'll try but it isn't just paragraphs. Sometimes it just starts jumping. It went crazy when I inserted photos. Only seems to occur on my Samsung phone, not on my tablet.

    I'm really sorry. Just done a perfect paragraph to test..

    Just opened to edit and immediately got large gap between paragraphs.... not always possible to use tablet . Any suggestions to a cure, with idiot instructions, gratefully received. Wherenext seems to have cured his similar issue.

     

    ..

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2023 #53941

    Maybe you could try Google for an answer B2? There's usually an explanation out there or on your phone "settings?"