Chitchat thread #24

[Snoop Puss]

Morning all.

Really sorry to hear about the plants, Armorel. That kind of thing really hurts. But you will have the pleasure of replacing them in your own new garden when the building work is completed. Will you replace them with the same again or plants of your own choosing?

Downton is good for passing the time, GF. My mum loved it. The episodes end in such a way that you always want to watch just another.

Clear blue sky here today. Ordinarily we'd have had a frost by now, but we're a long way off this year. In fact, I've only lit the little range twice so far this year. A few chilly nights at the start of next week, but still unlikely to have a frost, and then it's warming back up again.

Jack is trying to pinch my cooking timer off my desk. Probably time for me to take him out. I overslept this morning, so he's protesting by thieving.

Have a great day, everyone.

[Nicos]

Mornin n’alln’all

Te he…Jack is such a character…how did he react after all the guests had gone? I bet he loved all that attention over the past couple of weeks?

Glad you managed a reasonable amount of sleep GF…. Fingers crossed everything goes to plan over the next few days

Armorel…yeh…that is heartbreaking losing mature plants like that…but needs must I guess and maybe in a few years it’ll look even better than it did once you apply your artistic touches to the area?

Isn't there a new Downton film out soon? The third and final one? I’ve not heard anything about it as yet.

We are just waiting for the chimney sweep. We have to have a certificate every year to show they have been otherwise the insurance company won’t cover the cost of any fire damage to the house…even if it is a chip pan fire!
Its quite fascinating to watch as he has to go up onto the roof to drop down the cleaning equipment…none of the health and safety measures…just up a ladder, scramble up the slate roof , stand astride the chimney and crack on. No safety harness, no scaffolding….absolutely nothing to catch him if he were to slip
Rary…I wonder if you missed your vocation in life?…mind you I guess in your younger days they would have sent you up the chimney from the inside?

As for the rest of the day?…well we have storms due this afternoon, so it’d be good to crack on with more outdoor ‘stuff’ whilst we can…

I’ve been prodding my parkin and it seems to be going softer so I’ll let you all have a sample taste next week to see if it’ll be ready for Halloween….I’m sure it will be perfect for bonfire night! Yum!

Enjoy your day peeps….and do share those lovely smiles of yours

[Florence Fennel]

Good Morning All Washing blowing merrily in the sunshine. Lovely news GF I'm a Downton fan, I watch the series regularly, but I think the films are rubbish! Have a good day

[Bren In Pots]

Morning

I didn't watch any Downton until 2 years when i bought the box set on a whim, mostly because I love anything that Maggie Smith appeared i did notice she had all the best lines.

Armorel its sad losing all those plants hopefully it won's be long before you get to start on your new garden planning.

Hope there's more improvements from MrGF today xx

Enjoy your day.

[greenishfing]

I'm back home now. Mr GF had already had his catheter removed when I got there this morning. He got out of the chair unaided and did a walk around the ward for us with a zimmer frame. I have now put him proper clothes on for the first time this week instead of a hospital gown. Just a cannula left to remove now. I'm expecting his equipment this afternoon. I'll go back then and hopefully bring him home. He has been warned, by me, that he must behave until then ....... preferably afterwards as well .... we shall see

I hope everybody else is feeling okay. Look after yourselves and spoil you loved ones.

I cancelled Tuesday's grory hop delivery so I think I'll top up tomorrow's with all Mr GF's favourites. More ice cream, crumpets and croissants. When anybody queries his diet I always tell them that he eats all the things that he should and then afterwards everything that he shouldn't. At his age they shouldn't be giving him advice on diet but asking him for advice. Over twenty years ago when he was seeing a hospital physiotherapist for mobility problems he was told to do more exercise. That was when we got our two allotments. Shortly afterwards the physiotherapist signed him off....... notably after Mr GF presented him with some homegrown courgettes!

[Snoop Puss]

Great news, GF, really great news. I'm sure he'll behave, at the start at least , because he will be so glad to get back home.

[greenishfing]

A question. Does anyone use "fish sauce" in their cooking? If so what recipes do you use it in?

[Snoop Puss]

I use it from time to time in Eastern dishes. Not often mind, and you only need a small amount. Maybe just replace with salt, a tiny bit of seaweed or even an anchovy in oil or salt. Or don't bother at all...

Edited: apparently you can use Worcestershire or soy sauce instead.

[rary]

Morning all.

Downton is good for passing the time, GF.

Almost as good as watching the grass grow

[rary]

Mornin n’alln’all:Rary…I wonder if you missed your vocation in life?…mind you I guess in your younger days they would have sent you up the chimney from the inside?

I
Please remember Nicos I am not the same age as yourself

Reminds of the time I was up on the roof of our first flat just before we were married, three stores high, up onto the roof through the skylight, clambered up onto the ridge then walked along the ridge to check the chimney, only to discover I didnt know which one of the four was mine, so climbed up and had a look down them all to see there was no blockage in any of them, I wanted my chimney cleaned, so asked an older workmate who cleaned chimneys on his days off, with five children I could understand why, anyway he came over to check the chimney when we came off the night shift, had a look up the chimney, said he couldn't see anything and did I have a newspaper and matches, evedently was going to light the paper so that he could see up the chimney, I gave him the paper and matches, he then lit the full paper got it burning well, then shoved it up the chimney setting fire to the soot in the chimney, and once the roar of the flames died away he said "Thats your chimney cleaned" some how I dont think that woukd be acceptable nowadays, but it sooted me fine.

[rary]

Good evening, haven't been doing much this week other than reading some books on my kindle, handy to have but much prefer a real book, however as there are no book shops locally I have to make do with whats available, GF hope everything is on the up and you get to spoil Mr. GF, as I have told OH I expected to be spoiled over the past two or three weeks, unfw it didn't even last 24hrs. however it has given me something to cast up in future if/ when I am getting a telling off about something though when I think on it I cant see when that would ever happen and my thanks to both GF and Snoop for giving the name if that street, which coukd be handy if I ever visit Barcelona again right off to make the tea so have a pleasant evening and find something that makes you smile

[greenishfing]

Well, I've got Mr GF home. I'm not sure quite how I got him indoors ..... but I did. He is absolutely shattered. He got so excited and worked up earlier, when he realised that he was definitely coming home, that once he got in the car he just fell asleep and relaxed. He is now in bed,curled up next to me, constantly telling me how much he loves me.🥰🥰

I'll fetch him an ice cream the next time he wakes up.

I can't believe that he was in the same hospital as last time. Much nicer staff .... from the doctors to the ward cleaners. A completely different atmosphere.

I'll put the stew in the fridge when it cools, I don't think we'll want it tonight.

[Bren In Pots]

Thats great news GF xx

[Snoop Puss]

Lovely news, GF. Hope you both have a good night's sleep tonight. Though it seems as if Mr GF has stolen a march on you.

[Jay22]

Great news GF, glad Mr GF is home! x