Good Morning Tuesday

Good Morning All x.
Bright and sunny start so it would be nice if it stayed that way for the rest of the day. It was lovely yesterday as after my lunch I joined a neighbour in a sheltered part of the garden, a sun-spot in fact and we sat and talked until 6pm ! Didn't realise the time at all----not that it mattered. We both have red faces I've certainly got some colour.

Slept like a log after my afternoon in the sun, must have dropped off at 11pm and that was it until 7.45 ! Felt doped though.

I hope the weather is kind to you Ashcombe as you journey to see the family, that really would be a bonus. However, take care on your travels. Have a Happy Birthday too.

Harrigran, it's just disgusting that your DH should be treated this way in a supposed place of care of the sick. I feel for you as it shouldn't happen.

Gingster my late H wouldn't fly----but I wasn't going to miss out so I'd made it clear to him that I'd be holidaying with my friend here, there and everywhere, or I'd never have seen or been to the places " on my list ". He was quite happy about it and looked after the home and animals. I'd always buy a nice present/ souvenir for him It worked ! Even Oz 3 months at a time !

Hope Grandmafrench's aches and pains are easing. x

Quite jealous of Marydoll's jaunts around the posh charity shops. I used to go many moons ago to Alderley Edge charity shops when they were first set up, during my working years----always guaranteed something swish for a special do. I've actually looked online for them. A tad on the more expensive side but exclusive.

Speaking of which, I've just got a charity bag through the letter box this morning, so I must fill it for them for Thursday---now's my chance. 2 pairs of new shoes I can't get my feet into, silly me, I haven't got slender feet anymore, the boxes would be more comfortable

Good to hear that most of you enjoyed yesterday and hope it continues, but--------

Anyway, thoughts to everyone here and absent and take care, keep safe.xx

Dear all, thank you for your suggestions. I took the bull by the horns and suggested again that we should go away for a few days. He crossly asked where, I immediately replied Lichfield, Leicester, Shaftesbury for their cathedrals and Colchester for its connection to Boudicca... he’s researching them! We need to be near railway stations as we wouldn’t be driving anywhere more than an hour away. I hate driving and he’s losing confidence.
Thank you for your advice and giving me confidence. ?

Oh, and Urms, when the children were young, we’d vote wher we wanted to go on holiday, then went where DH wanted! ? It became a family joke. He paid for it as I didn’t work, and we always went somewhere interesting, but not necessarily where I had primed the children to vote for!

Good morning Mick, Annie, and all.
The sun is shining, the bin men have been and not 'lost' the new weighted recycling bags ?, I have had copious cups of tea, and soon we shall be off to have a coffee in our newly re-opened coffee shop, at the Church.

Harrigran sorry to hear of the way your DH was treated at the hospital. The medical staff are wonderful, it's the admin that lets it all down.
Yesterday, I had a trip to a hospital that I had not heard of. I was taken by a volunteer driver, on a very pretty route. My appointment was half an hour late , so after arriving early, and being told that I was all booked in, it took longer than expected. After I had sat there, with patients coming and going in before me, I asked the receptionist how late they were running. She went to look, called me in, and I was taken straight to see the Dr. I think they had forgotten me. How very dare they?
After lunch I managed to plant out my Bizzie Lizzies, between showers.

Now I have started knitting the first if two jumpers for DD, as she has provided the patterns and the yarn. Nice to have another project. If I get to finish them, I may want to keep them. It is still so cold when it should be warming up nicely.

GrandMattie, sending hugs to you as you sound really down in the dumps.
Anyway, if I want to get to town, I must get a wiggle on, even if a slow one.
Have a good day one and all.

But you did work ... in the home granMattie!
?

Anyway I’m glad to hear progress is being made on the holiday front. That will REALLY lift your spirits. It’s what was upsetting you the most!

Good Morning all, the washing is on the whirlygig blowing in the breeze , and the sun
We went to the Nursery yesterday looking for the hydrangeas we had been told would be out of the cold greenhouse. Sadly it seems the greenhouse was too cold ! And they were all frosted , we were invited back in a few weeks ?

Bit later today, been busy on another thread! Do hope you feel better soon GrandMattie and have a wonderful trip Ash. Drive carefully!

Harrigran that was despicable of the hospital, but I fear not uncommon. I used to work at a hospital where the managers 'sit reps' meetings about managing bed occupancy would plan to deliberately call and offer long waiting patients a date for their operation within the next 24 hours, knowing that that would not give them time to make arrangements and they would have to decline. The data showed they had been offered a date so the hospital wouldn't get fined!

Scentia I am sure your grandson will behave with just the two of you. Have a fab meal!

Freezer man came and put in two new parts, then left. Freezer has refused to get below freezing, yo-yoing between +3 and +10. Finally got hold of the company this morning, they can't come out until Thursday, and presumably we will then wait another 11 days for that to come in and be fitted. DH in consequence is in exceedingly grumpy mood, will steer clear for a bit!

We too have a glimmer of sun, come on May, make an effort!

Good Morning everyone from sunny France and from where I’m no longer troubled with the results of my recent Flying Circus performance. Thank you, nannagarra x

Something so nice to start my day - DH went to pick up the keys to a friend’s holiday home here. His neighbours, strangers to us, normally hold his spare key but are off today to their holiday home in Spain. DH has a chat, admires their garden and English roses. When he said how much I love roses, the man cuts some beautiful ones and hands them to my DH! Such a lovely gesture made my day.

I’ve experienced that treatment harri, struggling to ensure that a very elderly Mum was dressed and ready for an annual - and important Consultant Eye Surgeon appointment. You can imagine my face as DH, myself and Mum were calmly informed by the irritable person on reception at the Hospital Clinic not that they could find no trace of my Mother’s records ( a normal opening gambit) but that her appointment had been cancelled ! Just for once I managed to refrain from giving them ideas as to how the department might be better run and opted for a let’s see how you are going to deal with this, attitude. Predictably the inspired suggestion for us to make another appointment was put forward but when I pointed out that we had travelled for 2 days to accompany my Mother for this one which now, suddenly, didn’t exist, a Nurse said she’d have a word with ‘someone’ - coming back swiftly to tell us that the Consultant would be happy to see my Mum now! Sometimes calm determination works well, even though we’re boiling. Sometimes going bananas is a better option - especially if it stops you feeling like a victim! You can possibly console yourself by thinking that it wouldn’t have happened had you been there, harri as sometimes our menfolk - especially if one of them is ill - are just too accepting. Daily life shouldn’t have to be a battle but sometimes it really is. It really really is! Sending you a virtual hug - hoping that shows some empathy ?

You should live here if you like garden centres, Mary. Coffee, cake, are you crazy?! I’m still disappointed after all these years here in France - as to why can’t they picture plants, flowers and all that wonderfullness PLUS a nice coffee corner where we can stop, recharge, make a decision and return refreshed to our garden planning. Well, they clearly can’t. Many times I’ve said to my DH how easy it would be to have a tea place within a garden centre here - home made cakes, not meals or anything complicated. I remember making that comment to two cashiers as I paid for our plants one time. I thought they would have a fit of the vapours! I’m sure they would have been less horrified if I’d flashed my knickers! Coffee, they said ?? Please don’t say anything to our boss, we’re busy enough on here. I explained that this wouldn’t involve current staff, they should employ someone specifically to operate this wonderful (normal) British idea - how it would improve the business. Mmmm! We left them consoling each other and clucking like broody hens! Change has yet to come, I fear.

Enjoy your trip, Ash. Hope you get a smooth time before Thursday, grandmajet and please don’t forget we have your back - the mighty Power of Grans is with you, wishing you well. x

Just go for it, mattie - talk about it but if you have to make a lovely plan to do something as one half of a couple, why not? We need help to navigate some difficult times in a pretty scary world at the moment and you need to look forward and seize each day to do something that gives you a lift and some pleasure. Getting away - even for long weekends, can make such a difference to your mood. We’ll wait to hear what you plan. Do it for you. ? My GP, when we lived in England, used to think holidays were often very stressful, very expensive and sometimes something planned and saved for during a year could often turn out to be disappointing - or worse. He used to say that putting oneself on a bit of a roller coaster for 2 weeks in the sun was not necessarily as good an idea as striking out a long weekend to go away somewhere every 6 weeks. He did this himself and I think it can work. We get in a rut or, when we’re employed, we can run ourselves ragged for too long before taking a break. So regular, shorter holidays are possibly the way to go. If freedom has (almost) returned then maybe we should all start thinking of stress-free breaks doing just what we fancy! Onwards and definitely upwards from now on, chaps ?

If you’re worried or unwell, please have a better day. I shall think of you. Keep safe everyone.

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Good Morning Mick and everyone from sunny Carlisle. The last few days, it has started well and then, mid-afternoon, it has clouded over and we have had some vicious showers, some with hail. Fingers crossed today because I have been out and bought some bedding plants for my tubs. Also some shrubs. I'm an experienced gardener but it's still a tad daunting looking at my big green square out back. I'm planning its eventual demise in favour of a mini woodland. I usually evolve a garden rather than sit down and plan with graph paper but time is not on my side now I'm aged, I need quicker results!
Happy Birthday and an enjoyable trip, Ashcombe. I'm envying those of you getting out and about and am tempted to leave the setting up of my new pad and organise a short trip somewhere.
Your hospital's behaviour is disgusting, harrigran. I just do not understand how they could think to treat ill people like that.
And wishing everyone the best possible day and hoping all troubles will be lightened.

Good morning from West Sussex where it is cloudy with patches of blue sky again.

Showers impeded my efforts in the garden yesterday and the one longish dry spell was fully occupied when I noticed the little box hedge at the front looking rather sorry for itself and remembered that I should have been checking it for box tree moth caterpillars. I picked off 47 and then felt like a murderer as I drowned them in boiling salted water ?

I had a garden container to return to a large garden centre, half an hours drive away. I had bought a size too small for DDs birthday and they didn’t have the larger one which I then bought elsewhere. As DH was out for the day I was able to browse at leisure once I had my refund . I was relatively restrained but noted some summery tops for future reference and bought a bright blue cotton jumper, much reduced in price, for DH. I also bought a geranium for the shady area in the garden and some lettuce and celeriac to supplement DHs sowings at the allotment.

Now I must get out there and get them planted - that will bring the rain on I expect.

Enjoy your ‘inside’ coffee Mick. Good wishes for great days out for all having or planning outings and trips away. Thoughts for those limited by current or long-term circumstances ?

Hello Mick and everyone. OH! it's midday. Rain during the night but fine and dry now.

?? Our local Audi garage have a car coming in soon. Just missed out on one. He promises to ring me when it comes in. He asked why that model. I explained that we are a tall family. He said the Q5 is excellent. He's 6'6".

GrandMattie Your viburnum is gorgeous. I love them too. My snowball flowers are still at the green stage. I've managed to successfully take a cutting from it. We are mid Cornwall but very low so everything is way behind. MrM doesn't enjoy all that I like to do so I take myself off for the day and explore. I take my book and notebook and quite often always find a tea room or cafe. Enjoy your Tai Chi.

Harrigran. I'm with others on this one. If hospital have done this before, complain to PALS.

Marydoll sorry to hear your hopes have been dashed again. We've planned very little during this pandemic and any plans we did do were dashed. Namely my 70th birthday celebration. 3 attempts . Your DH is a very caring man.

Urm and Gingster. This is my 2nd marriage and we married nearly 5 years ago. We'd both been by ourselves for about 15 years but I do find some compromises have been made by us both but mainly by me. MrM may say something different?. I think, that even during a long marriage, we can all change over the years without knowing it and just how much it can impact on those close to us. We see it in others but not always in ourselves. I've been reflecting on my own moods lately and been talking to MrM about them. He hadn't realised just how much my dear son's problems and our prolonged new home build was affecting me. He was just leaving me to get on with it. He's been quite different since we I talked.

EV I wonder if GM has a friend that she could travel with, even for the odd day out. Your holidays sound great fun and adventurous.

Grandmafrench.? I have visions now of you flashing your frilly nickers. The nursery near me, five years ago, let an independently run concern have a corner of their 10 acre site. The little hut on the plot is now 4x the size and a very successful cafe. The nursery staff etc have nothing to do with the cafe. I so agree with your doctor about the holidays. I now enjoy my days out far more than the long 2 week holidays. Just planning a short break for the two of us in my home county, Derbyshire. It's all of four days and also a 2 day one, by myself, in Salisbury. I'll have Mya with me. I'm also talking to my dear daughter about a trip to Edinburgh (festival time). That will be for about 3 days.

Off now to plant some leeks and minipops ?

????

?? knickers not nickers - sorry GF

Afternoon (I know it’s a morning thread but I don’t get to my iPad until midday! Can we have a Good Day thread instead? )
It was beautiful when I got up at 08:30 but there is a thunderstorm due soon. DH is now day 5 since his gall bladder removal. After a very quiet first two days on paracetamol only, he is now on codeine too. He was at A&E on Sunday night after a call to 111 who sent an ambulance with blues and twos. He had a temperature , pain on breathing and lots of discomfort. After inconclusive blood tests, they sent him home at 02:00. He had to organise his own taxi ( I don’t drive?) ! I was waiting at the door with cash - he had gone in his dressing gown and slippers. And it was pouring with rain.
Nurse yesterday thinks he does have an infection - surprise surprise!- so she organised antibiotics. A very strongly worded letter will be winging its way to the hospitals when the time is right. He had the op in a hospital 30 miles away but A&E ( our local hospital) is only 3 miles away. I love the NHS (, indeed I met DH at a GP surgery where I was the practice manager) but feel pretty let down at the moment.
Hope I haven’t bored you all to death! Marydoll make sure you do rest. I’m glad you enjoyed your T&L day out. My mum used to go to Dobbies cafe - very near to you ! they do have great concessions for people of our vintage!
Have a good day all! Enjoy my clematis which is finally in flower!

Well said muse regards talking.
I think communication is key in a relationship. Otherwise ‘someone’ is quiet but unhappy inside.

Borrheid so sorry to hear your husband had such poor treatment at A&E. Hope the antibiotic sorts him out.

Harrigran sorry for your DHs experience also. There seems to be a lack of insight and compassion regarding the difficulties people have in just getting to and from hospital, especially under Covid restrictions. I don’t know what the answer is ?

Good advice re communication/talking in relationships Urmstongran and Muse. It can be hard to work up the courage though- glad your opening up has been positive Muse.

Borrheid - lovely clematis - does it have a name?

Litter, it should be Clemats montana var. Alba, if I’m not mistaken

Litterpicker thank you for your kind wishes. Not going according to plan at the moment. Nurse is due to visit this evening thankfully. As to the clematis, a neighbour gave me it last year just after it had flowered so not only is it the first time I’ve seen it flower but it didn’t have a label. grandMattie you are probably correct.

Borrheid that's a bit disgusting for your DH at that hour of the morning. Our local hospital runs a taxi service for such situations and the NHS foots the bill as an early morning discharge one left me in that situation---dressing gown/ slippers, so the staff ordered me a car and it's 10 miles away.

Hope his infection clears up soon.

Borrheid, I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's awful experience, especially as he has waited so long for treatment. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

By the way, I had a message pop up randomly on my phone from our other school pal, not the one in Spain. I haven't heard from her in years. She said you keep in touch!

Borrheid, sorry to hear of your DH experience.

This happened to me, almost exactly a few weeks ago. My GP rang at 8.30 pm , to say that blood tests results had come back as abnormal, so he wanted me to go to hospital, now.
He had arranged for an ambulance to pick me up, and that arrived 30 minutes later.
After many tests, I was told that I could go home.
It was 2.00 am. I asked how I was going to get home, and was told they would call a taxi for me, but I had to pay. It was approx £20.00.

I didn't query this, and I don't know if there is any funding to cover these occasions.
Luckily we can afford a taxi fare, but there must be many who would have a struggle to do so.