Chitchat thread #24

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Surprisingly cool this morning. A heat wave and nights in the mid twenties start again in a few days. Shame. It's been a nice respite. Mind you, two months and I'll be thinking about needing a fire for an hour or so in the evenings. Which reminds me, I must see if our firewood man is still in business.

On the cards for today, a ton of work. But a respite coming on Friday when most of my clients will go on their annual holidays and Spain shuts down for virtually everybody except tourists for August.

Have a great day, everyone.

[mothhawk]

Morning all.

Drizzly rain here and cooler, I'm sticking with shorts but I may need a jumper. I've still got about 3lbs plums to deal with, I'll probably freeze them if I can fit them in. Tried making a plum cake yesterday, but I need to rethink it as the sides were done way before the centre. (The flavour is good though). Maybe a bigger tin so the mixture is not so deep, or a lower temperature to cook more slowly, or two smaller tins so there is not so much "centre" to bake.

[greenishfing]

Good morning.

Sleep has proven rather elusive. I was still struggling to fall asleep at 2.30am and awoke before 6.30am. Not a good start to the day.

I was just thinking that if the weather is dry I might have a go at washing my duvets this week. This washer has a "duvet programme". I'm just wondering if I can squeeze the Winter one in. Has anyone else washed theirs? Any tips?

I've got to call at my brother in law's, pick up the heart monitor, and take it back to the Community Diagnostic Centre at lunchtime. Maybe a frozen croissant hunt then as there is only one left on the freezer now.

mothhawk, if the sides of your cake are a bit dry, cut them off and freeze them to use as trifle sponges at some point. You may have to add a bit extra alcohol to the trifle to moisten them, but is that a bad thing?

I think I'll give in to the call of coffee now.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All Drizzling again here. Washer is on so hoping it brightens up later. I don't think I've ever made a plum cake, so can't help. One of the staff at work used to bring lots of plums, but I only ever made jam. Have a good day

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all

Maybe a tray bake instead MH? Still just as tasty. Easy to cut up ‘spare’ too to freeze.

We have lots of smaller diagnostic centres dotted around the towns..one for ultrasound and X-rays, another for bloods, another for CT and MRI scans…plus the hospitals. And a mobile X-ray ‘van’ driving around the more rural villages taking boob X-rays . So yes, that’s a great idea to be introducing them in the UK. Particularly to places like shopping centres!

Ironing and chutney making is on the books here. It does look rather dark outside , but if it does rain then I won’t feel so bad being otherwise occupied indoors. I’ll need some fresh air so a quick zap around the garden picking up windfalls ( the mirabelles are starting to fall along with the plums and apples now) and a bit of weeding won’t go amiss.

I’ve only ever washed single duvets GF…it was the fluffing back up afterwards which proved fun. Are they feather or synthetic?
I’ve also washed feather pillows one at a time but they didn’t half clunk around in the drum being lopsided when they spun. The tumbled feather ones fluffed up beautifully in the tumble dryer…then line dried just to finish them off.
I take the larger ones to the large volume ones we find dotted around in shop and supermarket car parks…but it costs a lot to wash and dry!…and a lot of hanging around.( we take the camper and hunker down whilst waiting!)

Ah…the drizzle has started..best get that iron out earning a living! I’ve got an Alice Roberts series I’m looking forward to keeping me company.

Enjoy your day peeps- and your cooker weather for now Snoop. By heck, yes!…get that wood ordered. We’ve stacked 5 stares of our 15…the rest are waiting for us to find time to cut down etc.

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

Rain here since just before 7 it stopped about 10 mins ago so the garden feels fresh. I'll be going out soon for raspberries and blackberries.

I was just thinking that if the weather is dry I might have a go at washing my duvets this week. This washer has a "duvet programme". I'm just wondering if I can squeeze the Winter one in. Has anyone else washed theirs? Any tips?
w.

GF do a search for your nearest 'Wash ME launderettes' our closest one is in a Church car park, prices start at around £5 last time I looked.

Enjoy your day

[bramble]

Good morning all, dull but dry,
I have just hung out the laundry as there's no rain forecast.

Mothhawk, maybe if you tied a few layers of brown paper around your tin it would save the outside from drying out.

We have lots of diagnostic centres as well, saves going to the hospital,

Never put my duvet in the washing machine, just took it to the larger ones nearby, must check th price.

Nothing exciting on the cards, just domestics and some general gardening.
Have a good day all,a 5

[lottie dolly]

Morning all the sun is shining,have a good day

[greenishfing]

My duvets are only cheap man-made ones. They are the "four seasons" type. A 10.5tog and a 4.5tog which can fasten together to make a 15 tog if required ..... never has been required. I've just looked at the price of a large wash load at a wash me launderette, looked at the price of a new duvet, crossed my fingers, and stuffed the 10.5 tog duvet in my washer. A one and a half hour programme. I frequently wash man made pillows in the washer, two at a time, to balance the load. They usually come out practically dry. The only thing that caused me a lot of "clunking" was Mr GF's slippers. If I wash them again I'll wash them in with a full load, lots if padding. Down to an hour and four minutes now. Looking good so far.🤞

[Containergardener]

I wash mine

[Bren In Pots]

Afternoon

We’ve spent the day in the garden pottering and moving things around, it doesn’t sound much but we notice the difference.

I wash mine

Me too, they don’t take long to dry in the sunshine.

[lottie dolly]

Hi,good news,been to the hospital,and no lumps found,that the lord,but have been given cream for the sore bit for 2 week use only,the pain he said sounds like something muskular skelital ,if not clear up then will see about a biopsy,so happy,tomorrow our holiday will be paid for,hiphiphorray

[Nicos]

Fantastic news lottie!
Now you can look forward to your holiday x

[Snoop Puss]

Brilliant news, LD. So very glad for you. What a relief for you and your OH and family.

You getting yourself a new outfit or two for the holiday to celebrate?

[rary]

Good evening, it has been cool and dull today, and now a light rain, haven't done very much today, was at the doctor's again due to my ankles and lower legs swelling, I think its caused by the blood pressure tablets, the doctor was going to stop them, but as I really need to get my pressure down, it was agreed that I would get a lower dose, and if things dont improve I will stop taking the tablets, so here's hoping the reduced strength works. Garden wise I have only watered the greenhouse and sorted the water inlet for the storage butts, which reminds me I need to go back out and install a filter to stop any rubbish getting in with the water, our youngest grandson came down to pressure wash the paths for us and he has done quite a good job, for some reason OH paid him, so I asked why I never get paid for all the jobs I do, he leaves the place tidy was the answer, ooooh that hurt, but I explained that I try to help her, as by leaving a small amount for her to tidy up helps keep her active, I think she agreed with me and must have thought I had my hearing aid out as she said rather loudly that I definitely keep her active, still not sure if I get browny points for that. Right for out and put a filter in the supply line so have a good evening and keep passing on the smiles