What are you all up to
Comments
-
Thank You, to all of those who think of us Old Folks with coughs n sneezes and low spirits but I have to admit that Old Brian { ABM to many if not most of you
} is perking up nicely despite the lack of Mask==wearers these days. Spoke to a neighbouring Postie yesterday who owned up to having covid 19 a few days back but the Office manager said " Oh, come in if you feel up to it cos we've got ample work on so you should soon forget your aches n pains " 
0 -
MillieH, KILNER JARS == now there is a phrase from the past !! Used to spend hours in the kitchen watching my mother washing fruit, washing and drying K--Jars, their glass lids and sealing rings then topping the bottles up with what-ever was fruit of the day then steadily tapping the jars down on the pile of towels placed over one leg of the kitchen table until at least another layer of fruit could be tucked away . then tops fitted and my fathers nap disturbed for him to screw the metal screw top down securely so the glass lids could not turn.
Thats taken Brian back a good 70 odd years for which I thank you kindly
1 -
Invented by an ancestor of Jeremy Clarkson, apparently.
0 -
Visited 2 Tesco’s and Asda, no salad, tomatoes or red peppers, which is what I wanted for a recipe, plenty of green peppers though.
Been a bit difficult lately, Daughter has been waiting a while for a very technical back op. She has had others in the past. As a teenager she had a horse riding accident, in which her back was damaged. A very big op some years ago gave her back some mobility for a while, but it has now got much worse and she has been in a wheelchair out of the house for some time. Only one surgeon in the South West can do it and they have now told her it could easily be another year or more on the NHS waiting list. She is now taking a great deal of morphine for the pain and struggling to do anything, so we have been helping out over there. Granddaughters illness has also flared up, she never gives in but has had to agree to come home from Uni and stay with us for a week to rest and be ‘looked after’. We also now have had to have granddog to stay for the weekend, she is lovely but so hyper, and needy, also epileptic so has to be watched, lovely as she is I can’t say I will be sorry when she goes home. Hence me not posting for a while.
Still, as my daughter and granddaughter says, there are so much worse things happening in the world and to people. But it does all seem to be taking a worrying toll on me and OH at the moment.
0 -
Yes that's brought back a lot of memories for me as well Brian
1 -
We had a wonderful meal out last night Black Bull (Sedbergh). If ever you're up that way look them up. Not the cheapest - but absolutely worth every penny. I would rather go out for a few good meals than several indifferent ones. Inventive use of the best produce available. Our son mentioned one of the reasons we were there - so Henry was presented with an extra plate with his dessert.
Birthdays, family help and new hip were duly toasted - plus the installation of our Solar System. Live yesterday and hopefully doing it's best to power the farm. Apparantley it began "working" at 07:15 this morning, though it's very overcast. Our house is on a different meter to the farm, so Henry has strung a power lead from the washer in the "back kitchen" to a socket on the farm setup.
Photo of extra dessert. Petit Fours. Sorry for the shadow of my phone. I blame the lighting.
5 -
That made me chuckle CY, indeed yes but even though it will be 40 years this September when I first arrived here I am still only I'm told an apprentice Geordie!
Also the plane was full of soft Manchester types!
1 -
Making room for Bob.
Every so often we send a cow to the small local abattoir and it comes back three weeks or so later neatly packed and labelled in plastic bags. They go into a large chest freezer in the barn and are shared with our son and family. There’s plenty of meat still left, and we wouldn’t normally have had to restock.
But - we’ve had a bull (Bob) running with some heifers and discovered that while he may have been enjoying himself he was, as they say, “firing blanks”. So his days were numbered and we took him off down the road. He’s due back on Monday - in the afore mentioned bags - and we have to make room.
We have another large chest freezer in the pantry which always seems to be full. But full of what? This morning we have dug deep and I have been ruthless . The sink is now full of ice cream boxes containing frozen leftovers etc. Some/most are unlabelled and unidentifiable. So they have to go.
We are keeping the large turkey and three turkey crowns though. Plus many bags of prepared frozen apples. Roast turkey and Apple Crumble on next weeks’s menu.
3 -
We usually have Roast Potatoes with our turkey but each to their own.
There's a couple just a few doors down that have an extensive vegetable plot and Greenhouses and the wife turns everything into freezable food. They also buy in bulk from a butchers in Ruthin, about 10 miles away. Talking to them they often mention that they are happy to eat anything that comes out of the freezer regardless of age. We're always waiting for an ambulance passing en route to them but as they're now in their early 90's I think their systems are immune to food poisoning.
1 -
Interesting couple of weeks.
We've now changed, or arranged to be changed, both cars so that they are automatic. Big discussion between the 2 of us, usually when we're out walking, as to whether we were going to continue touring but optimism won out, plus a few encouraging signs these last 2 weeks. So yesterday we agreed to part-ex our existing tugger for the same model but transmission is automatic. Can't see us getting away though until after Easter due to various medical appointments.
If things do not pan out we'll readjust easily enough.
6 -
Nice spring feeling day here today quite sunny so spent most of the day so far doing work in the garden gave the grass it’s first cut of the year then hoovered out and cleaned the Volvo and washed it too. Hoping to be away for the next few weekends in the van so took the opportunity to do work in the garden just now. Living room and dining room decoration all done and new carpet is due to get fitted on Monday looking forward to that as it’s all been a bit messy over the past few weeks with all the work.
Hope everyone else is having a nice weekend
0 -
I really do hope you are able to carry on touring WN but like you say if not I’m sure you will re adjust.
We just changed to an automatic tow car and so far it is fine only towed once (80 mile) round trip but it seemed fine and on the homeward journey last week I really got used to the gearbox. We’ve only ever towed with manuals but I’m really enjoying the auto even solo driving it’s much more relaxing.
Hope all goes well
3 -
Francis, the OH wonders why she didn't change her car to automatic years ago. I'm sure I'll be alright as I did have one quite a few years ago now.
Seems funny though not planning Spring and Summer trips. I actually enjoy the planning. We're going to be booking late this year I think.
2 -
I love Automatics, but I have got used to the Mini now. Good move WN, hope it works out for you ok. At least you are no stranger to cottage holidays, like us.
Its not looking likely we will manage more than 2-3 nights away for the foreseeable future, but we are taking in other things just to keep the spirits up. We bought a couple of tickets to see England play at Old Trafford this coming June, start of their Euro’s campaign. Haven’t been to Old Trafford for quite a while, last time was a Boxing Day match and it was ffffreezing🥶Could be a heatwave in June, then again, it is Manchester, so I will take a brolly🤣
Sad news last night. Cousin phoned, a close Aunt is going into Care. Like Mum she has dementia, and is getting too much for family to cope with safely. She knows she is going into a Care home, and it’s a nice one, so will be safer and she will have more company. Always difficult though, we were all close as children, many holidays together, and still see each other on a regular basis. We shall do our best to visit her, if possible fetch her to see Mum. End of an era😢
3 -
Change in our weather today, really cold wind, 🥶 came as a shock as it's been very mild.
Trip to Argos in our Sainsbury's this afternoon, new kettle needed, they never seem to last very long, mainly due to our hard water. Did notice as we walked through the shop all the empty shelves in the vegetable isles.
Wherenext glad you have sorted replacement cars, I've never driven an automatic, we nearly bought one when we changed the Freelander last year. Hope you can continue touring later in the year.
Sorry to hear about your Aunt Ttda, hope she settles in well, we have a neighbour who has early dementia, so far with help from friends and a few of us neighbours she is still coping at home for the time being, but we don't know for how long.
Francis, our car is filthy, covered in dust which now after a rain shower looks even worse, no point in washing it until the workmen have finished digging up the paths, it will have to wait, just glad we don't keep the caravan at home ! 🤣
3 -
Glad you have decided to persevere with touring WN. We haven’t been away yet but our first trip may be to really ex military chums funeral in Gloucestershire.
Really bitter North East wind here but managed an hour in the garden sorting out the tangled mess of the wisteria. Straight back indoors and log burner lit.
I tend to watch a lot of stuff on U tube and interestingly the latest addition of Harry’s Farm might have suggested why their are empty shelves. A bit of an eye opener1 -
Wherenext, I can't understand why anyone has a manual gearbox if there is a choice of an automatic! I very much doubt you will regret the move. I just wish my motorhome was an automatic, can't really justify changing it as we are not sure how long we will continue with the hobby. Hopefully not a decision to be made in the immediate future but my knee issues don't seem to be getting any better!
We took the motorhome up to Rushden today for it to have both Hab and Cab services plus an MOT and they are also going to fit a new leisure battery. So I don't think that will be a cheap trip! If all is well we will collect next weekend. Unfortunately because of my age they will no longer give me a loan car so I rely on my sons to give me a lift each way. Unfortunately not an easy place to get to via public transport!
David
0 -
I had to smile as after my tour duty at the Cathedral this morning I popped into Marks to do a bit of shopping and at the entrance to the food hall was a notice saying 'vegetable of the week' with a display of turnips
. Having said that there didn't seem to be any shortages of fruit,veg or salad stuff. Somebody taking the mickey perhaps.Bitterly cold wind here today with spells of very cold rain. OH decided to tidy up the garage and even wore his coat in there.
Glad you have decided to carry on touring WN but as you say if you have to give up you will adapt as we have. It was a wrench at the time but after a lot of discussion we decided that the time had come and we have quite a bit planned already for this year.
4 -
Thank you folks for your words.
We have thoroughly discussed all of the options about what to do, whether to put the caravan on a seasonal pitch somewhere, whether to sell the caravan and buy a Static, whether to swap to a PVC and do shorter stops but after seeing some "green shoots" come through the ground, health wise, decided to make a decision the Government would have been proud of - kick the can down the road!
To that end having an automatic that OH would drive in an emergency seemed logical.
DK - I'm one of those that actually enjoys a manual gearbox but practicalities trump everything. I'm sure I'll change my tune and champion automatics within a short period.
4 -
Very cold here, we had lunch at a garden centre in Bridport (Groves, quite handy for anyone on holiday in the area) it was packed and they ran out of some food items, just a simple lunch for us, soup and sandwiches. Nice to get out for a couple of hours and look at some spring plants, lots of people buying veg seeds! OH purchased some more canes for peas and beans etc.
Do hope Debsc daughter will get the treatment needed soon, hard for you all.
As for holidays and trips we can only do bits and bobs except for an August trip I had to sort early on. Hoping things will improve for anyone who has changed plans this year.
2 -
Debsc So sorry to hear your situation. It's hard to find time for little pleasures for yourself but a small boost is what you need to keep on top of things. I know I have been there.
Weather here was cold, couldn't spend time outside without a jacket, even the posties are not wearing shorts.
Did the shopping today looks like vegetables are limited, leek and potato soup for this week and picked up some frozen veg so I will not go hungry.
Goldie all that frozen food you could be playing Chef's Roulette coming up with weird combinations makes life interesting.!
2 -
Glad to hear you are carrying on with touring WN an automatic will make a difference for you.
We have both had automatic cars in the past and may well have one again in the future but for now we are happy with manuals.
Today started out sunny and chilly but no frost, as the day passed it got a little warmer but we lost the sun.
Fairly easy day today after all our hard work during the week. We removed one of the glass shower panels as we seem to have a leak. Can't find where its from so we have cleaned the glass and the seal, the area where it fits and will leave it to dry off until tomorrow, then put it all back together.
0 -
We have had a day of tidying as the first step to getting back to normal after all the bathroom renovations. And I managed to summon the strength to get the table bits into the house and through to the back bedroom with all the other stuff I have accumulated, and our caravan stuff we took in for winter. It is certainly a very large and solid table!
Various bits and pieces have been gathered together and are now stashed in the loft, so we can finally see our dining room table again, and the carpet in the second lounge, which we use as a sewing room and study. This will give us space to start work on the curtains for Nathan's bedroom.
DD finally decided when she wanted to join us in the caravan for a week in June, so OH has booked that, and we can now start planning the rest of our trip.....still trying to decide on a route that will take in a few places we have not visited before.
0 -
But apparently he didnt get any of the money from Kilner 😁
0 -
Preserving jars on very much used here and sold all year plus large saucepans and other bits of kit, Autumn is very much the busiest time of the year, my late mum did excess fruit and a lot of pickling when we lived in Shropshire in the fifties nothing was wasted, I still have some newer Kilner jars and have used them for preserves etc.
A lovely sunny day here although chilly no frost today but more to come in the next week very different from last week but at least dry, washing on as more cloud about from tomorrow. Must fill the bird window feeders up getting dirty looks through the window and they will tap the window if it has all gone.
Take care folks.
0 -
Tiny bit warmer here today, but we had proper rain last night for first time in weeks. That will get the weeds growing😱
We made lots of Marmalade a couple of weeks ago, so lots of preserving here. And ironically, just before Coffey’s Marie Antoinette moment, we decided to combine Turnip with our Mash🤣 Helps with the dieting, you get the bulk but not the calories, plus we like Turnip in mash😂 Can’t help being worried though about the UK’s poor food self sufficiency though.My Gran and Grandad, who grew most of their own food, including keeping chickens and pigs, would be horrified. As a family, we still grow quite a bit of our own food, even in containers, will just have to up the yield and branch out into different stuff this year.
Loving the Ukraine’s latest defiant stand against Potty Putin. A Banksy stamp🤣
2 -
Hour and a half out with granddog, long play with the ball and a good park walk. Off the lead her recall is excellent and she often elects to walk by my side. Put the lead back on and she is hyper pulling on two legs, worried she will pull me over, with a lot of stopping to ‘wait’ we finally got home.
I have been concerned about our ability to feed ourselves as a nation for some time. We see farmers here all the time selling off their land to developers. In 40 years our village has quadrupled in size. The same all across the country is very worrying. I can remember Mum sorting out her ration book and that was then God forbid what might happen now! I miss my allotment a lot, I gave it up when I was caring for my old Dad. Sadly I cant grow veg in our garden cos it’s so shady with the woods behind. Miss the rhubarb pushing through in the spring and the runner beans, like finding little jewels when picking them and you find more tucked behind. When visiting NT houses etc I don’t head for the flowers but to the kitchen gardens... and their compost heaps - I know 😁
2
