Chitchat thread #24

[Bren In Pots]

Forgot to say that there were kinds of fireworks going off to celebrate yesterday. You’d have thought they would have been banned given everywhere is tinder dry

That’s scary Nicos, hope it didnt cause any fires.
One thing i hate are those Chinese lanterns someone let one of on a campsite we were on, it glided past our tent It didn’t go of well with us and those camped near so I doubt he’ll be trying that on a campsite again.

[greenishfing]

I'm another who isn't a big fan of fireworks and thinks that chinese lanterns should be banned.

Having said that the most relaxed I've ever been around fireworks were the ones I saw in Spain for the San Pedro festival. They were all let off from a platform/barge towed out into the bay. All the little boats...I was aboard one... went out into the bay first and got blessed by a priest aboard another boat. Thinking back maybe it was copious amounts of Sangria that relaxed us all......and led to a couple of near sinkings.

I took an elderly relative to look at mobility scooters earlier today. The problem is that I am not sure how good/bad/non-existent his eyesight is. Much as I'd like him to have more independence I don't want him to injure himself or anyone else. He is due for an appointment with his eye specialist in a couple of weeks so we have agreed to ask him for an opinion.

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Got the day the wrong way round today: must do some work first to send off and then do a once around the veg patch. But thought I'd drop in first, say hello.

The eve before St. John's Day is a big fire and firework festival here. But all fire and fireworks were banned. Authorities are also asking farmers not to go out into the fields with heavy machinery. Some recent, relatively local fires were started by combine harvesters. So, grain crops are still in the fields for the most part. A disaster locally, as they're ready for harvesting and the seeds are starting to fall.

The smiles shot off really early by their standards. The alarm went off at 6 am and they were out the door and off, no dithering at all. So I'm guessing they had a good day yesterday round your way. In fact, come to think of it, there didn't seem to be quite as many of them as usual, so they must have had a sleepover somewhere else. LD, at your place?

Right, must get on with the show. Have a great day everyone. Big hugs to Rary and Flo. Still thinking of you.

[Nicos]

Mornin Snoopn’all
That’s quite a concern Snoop about not harvesting the grain- especially as there is a shortage.
We did hear a combine harvester working in the distance well after midnight - maybe they are trying to get the crop in before next weeks mega heatwave hits us.
Our lawn/ field/ garden is tinder dry in large patches.
It’s actually painful to try and walk on it in bare feet. It’s utterly amazing how grasses can come back after such desiccation.

We were thinking of going out in the camper overnight midweek but it clashes with the peak of our heatwave , so probably not sensible.
Anyone got plans for the weekend? We have domestics but I really fancy going to a vide grenier ( car boot) on Sunday

[mothhawk]

Morning all.

Still pleasantly cool at the moment, so all the windows and doors are open to cool the house, which was at 24C first thing. No plans for today, though if the temp stays below 22C I'll go out for a walk. Can't be doing with walking in fierce heat. Got to wait in for a delivery first though. And I need to arrange for a dental check-up, not had one since the start of the pandemic

Interesting about the harvest, Snoop. Wouldn't have been a problem when scythes were still in fashion Can't they arrange some sort of firewatching system behind the combines to nip any sparks in the bud?

[Snoop Puss]

Interesting about the harvest, Snoop. Wouldn't have been a problem when scythes were still in fashion Can't they arrange some sort of firewatching system behind the combines to nip any sparks in the bud?

Not sure scythes are practicable these days for such large tracts of land. People don't have such large families now, plus the kids go off to university or to work in towns and cities. Can't imagine a couple in their fifties and sixties plus elderly parents scything acres and acres of crops.
Probably the same problem for a firewatching system. There just aren't the people to make that feasible. The countryside and agriculture only work here now because it's all mechanised. There would need to be a huge population influx to go back to the old ways. And there's not much of a living to be made, working the old way.

[bramble]

Good morning all.
Interesting reading about saving the crop.
I am old enough to remember the old mill and thrashing machine.
A huge amount of workers used follow it going from one farm to another bringing in the crops

No plans for the day but lots of errands to be done.
We have the annual rose festival in our park Saturday and Sunday so we will go to that.
Not just roses but farmers market, food and other stalls and of course bands and musicians.
First time since the pandemic so promises to be a good weekend.
Have a good day all,

[Nicos]

Evening!

It ended up being quite a busy day in the end. Collected my car from the garage, They couldn’t find a fault but the warning light has gone off!
An hours ironing, an hours gardening.
( mostly collecting seeds and collecting raspberries and blackcurrants)
Made a large summer pudding, a smoked salmon quiche and a moussaka and still had time to sit in the shade for an hour reading.
Tis a Mrs Mop day for me tomorrow so I’m having an early night - that’s if I can get Hibou in

[bramble]

Good night all.
It's been a busy day here.
Got a cancellation for a last minute visit to the doctor this afternoon.
A trip to the post office to sort out cash gift to,my daughter for her birthday.
Went to my sons house to feed the goldfish and water the plants.
Visit to my parents grave to water the flower containers.
I am now on the list to have a hearing aid 😥
It's no fun getting old.
Goodnight all.

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all

And she’s up! Thanks Hibou - I could have done with a tad longer asleep this morning.
Darn - a hearing aid gf?…I’m going to need to tiptoe more first thing now

I’ve just been watching loads of birds on our bird bath. I guess that’s a good reminder during this upcoming heatwave that we should not just leave water out for the birds but also butterflies/ bees etc as well as hedgehogs, ferrule cats etc. I live a few hundred metres from a large stream so at least more mobile wildlife like the deer and wild boar can access that.
I think I best leave some water near where the hare hunkers down. Now he’s munched his way through all the rest of our strawberries I guess he’ll be getting more dehydrated

Thats just reminded me - it’s the butterfly count sometime soon isn’t it?…tootles off to check up.

Oh , and yes - the kettles on…..

[Snoop Puss]

Morning guys.

Could have done with getting up earlier but have dug up the potatoes (a bit of a disappointing harvest but at least whatever's been eating them has had a feast) and have watered half the plot and now I've come in for a rest. I'd say yes to a brew, Nicos, except Mr Snoop has taken pity on me and has gone to make an iced coffee. Quarter to ten and it's already sweltering out there. I'd better cool down before I go out to finish off the rest of the watering. But I mustn't complain, at least we have water.

Sorry to hear about the hearing aid, Bramble. Hope it makes a difference to you, though. How long before you get one?

I could do with a Mrs Mop day, but it's another day at the coalface of the computer. I'm picking up some new and interesting clients, though, so want to keep them happy. The smiles were a bit rueful when they set off. Long-term good, they say, but short-term bad. Anyway, I think they're coming round to see you today, Nicos. And good luck. If they're anything like Frankie, they'll be playing with your broom and mop and you'll be forever redoing bits of floor you've already done. I know because I'm forever finding dog fur in places I'm convinced should already be clean.

Right, on with the show. If there are lots of mistakes in this, my apologies. I've had to take my glasses off as they keep steaming up, so there could be loads of errors for all I know.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

I gave my veg plants a good watering yesterday evening so they're looking healthier already, looks like my tall peas don't like this hot weather. Topped up the birds water and ground trays.

I think I best leave some water near where the hare hunkers down. Now he’s munched his way through all the rest of our strawberries I guess he’ll be getting more dehydrated
..

Sorry Nicos but this really made me smile

[Jay22]

Morning, not been on for a while. Checked in during the night but couldn’t post a message for some reason. Had a quick catch up though, good to see all going well with everyone.
All good here too. Hubs on the mend and is almost back to his usual self thank goodness. He is even talking of a trip down south to see the family so his confidence is coming back too!
Hope you all cope ok with the exceptional heat coming your way. Think we have to have 28/29 degrees which is bad enough. The country is just not set up to cope with high temperatures is it?
Ok, off to see what I’ve missed this morning, enjoy your day and I’ll catch you later. x

[bramble]

Good mornig all.
I have just put up some shading on my greenhouse for the next few days.
The water butts ran dry so I had to use tap water on my tomatoes.
We are going to the rose festival later so it should be a good day.l

Snoop, hopefully I wont be waiting too long for a hearing aid.
I hate the idea of it but know I need it..

Stay cool out there and dont forget the sun cream.


I

[mothhawk]

Morning all.
just made a brew after two hours of housework. Plenty in the pot if anyone wants one. Happy now that there is nothing urgent needs doing for the rest of the week, so come Monday/Tuesday's record breaking temps, I can sit indoors and chill. I've already put ice packs in the freezer, and a couple of silica gel hot water bottles (like wheat hot water bottles but filled with silica gel crystals), so there's something to fall back on if the house gets very hot. The living room is north facing and gets no sun though, so generally stays very cool and the bedrooms have thermal blinds.

Good to hear Mr Jay is almost back to his old self, Jay.

I agree Bramble, no fun getting old, but at least the stuff we start to need, like hearing aids, has improved in leaps and bounds with modern technology.