No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

[Deleted User]

HOGLET the best country pub we have within reach is the ROYAL OAK at Fritham which is jut off the Stony Cross Airfield in the New Forest. When I first found it 45 years ago it was a little thatched pub with two rooms and lots of grounds, had cask ale, sawdust on the floors and chickens running in and out of the bar at will. It was full of character and characters. It's a bit more modern now but still the same size and they do the best Ploughmans Lunch I know of using locally produced Lyburn Cheese and local chutney. They are the only pub I know of with a notice on the wall behind the bar saying 'SORRY, WE DON'T SERVE CHIPS!' and the sawdust floors and chickens are long gone. The grounds are full of picnic tables and surrounded by stock fields with ponies in them and the view from the garden is a lovely sweep across the valley. The beer is still good too according to He Who Knows and just down the road is a lovely forest walk past a lake full of waterlillies and ducks!!! Lovely, Lyn xxx.

candlelight_2013

Good afternoon all,

Well the weather is absolutely gorgeous here today, so more gardening.

I have received a beautiful Easter card today, so thank you so much Sara. Fern and Iris, have a lovely Easter.

My washing machine decided to close down this morning. Put it on early because we were taking DD1 for her physio appointment at 8 a.m. and it tripped the fuse box. Himself tried various things but it kept happening, so have had to ask for an engineer to come out. Can't come until next Tuesday because of Easter so will have to take washing to DD1 to use her machine. I couldn't believe the call out fee, but it has to be done so hey ho.

We need to buy a small hover mower so off to buy one tomorrow, and as it is Wednesday we have 10% off (that's because we are old:)). Isn't it always the case that if one thing goes in a household you can be sure something else will follow.

The garden is looking so pretty at the moment, masses of bluebells, daffodils and tulips,the camellia and a plant with enormous leaves and big pink flowers called I think "bears ears". We have masses of these they seem to multiply each year without ever being moved.

Have had a good tidy in the garden and moved things about a bit, I do need a new umbrella because ours, which we have had a few years, is very faded and has a couple of small holes in it and also need a few new solar lights.

I do love my garden, I just wish the season was longer.

I think that is all my news for now, will be back before Easter to wish you all a happy time.

Love and hugs to those who message and to those who just read.

Much love
Candlelightx

flowertotmum

Hi lyn..so glad your back safe and sound..and it sounds like you both had a wonderful time..so happy you enjoyed it..and what a bargain it was too..poor postie lol..i did chuckle at his face..and what a lucky mumma you are with Docky..o bless him..i only have to pop to the shops and Jack cries then gets over excited when i come back..honestly i was 10 mins and you would have thought i had been gone 10 days..
Its lovely to go away but like you say even nicer to come home...o the time in Germany sounds amazing and a snow man for 3 yrs lol..

When i was going out with a lad before i met Simon i went to a pub in the country..o it was lovely..open fire,proper food and chickens running all over..unfortunately its now a big housing estate..sad really..need more of them sort of pubs..
I will warn the postman in future..it was so funny.

Candlelight thank you for the card..its so lovely..hugs to you from the girlies...

right the sun is shining and its warm so i am off out into the garden..
love to you all
ftm

hoglet121

Morning everyone,

MLW - that pub sounds absolutely idyllic.. I am green with envy! I have happy memories of a school trip to Fritham, beautiful place, we got absolutely drenched in the rain and I' m sure we got lost on the way back to the bus. Funny the things you remember! I'm a proper cider drinker and that's another thing I haven't yet found here. A nice country pub near where we used to live (within walking distance and on a bus route for the way back ;-) had a big flaggin of murky cider in the back fridge, which you had to ask for specially. It was delicious, if extremely potent, tasted beautifully of apples and nothing else. I would love to have a bash at making my own - not sure where I'd fit the cider press!

Candlelight - your garden sounds absolutely delightful, and yes things do all break at the same time don't they. Hope it all manages to get sorted for you.

Alfie has finally figured out the cat door properly so hopefully that will calm him down - 3.30am I was up sewing part of his collar back together...

I'm out to the cinema with my cousins tonight - once a month the cinema here does a night called 'chicks at the flicks' where you get your ticket, a glass of wine, dessert and a goodie bag with magazines, tasters, samples, gift vouchers, coffee, chocs, etc for a very reasonable price. Really looking forward to it. Then just tomorrow to do and 10 days off work - utter bliss. We have a posh lunch booked next week for a bargain price, courtesy of the NZ version of groupon, and I must confirm when the insulation people are coming. Even if we don't do much more than that it'll be lovely to spend some time together at home. Next Friday is Anzac Day, so I expect we'll go to the local dawn parade.

That's enough ramblings from me this morning - DH has just texted to say big boy cat has lost his collar (AGAIN!) since I put him out at 4am. Fortunately our loyalty card at the pet shop has just acquired another $10 voucher so that will cover a fair chunk of it....

Hoglet x

[Deleted User]

HOGLET I'm going to make you Sooooooo jealous now, we do make our own cider, we have a few apple trees and get given most of the windfall/drop apples from the village. In the season our front garden is wasp city as we get so many bags of slightly bosky apples dropped off by our aquaintance who would rather see them used than compost heap them. The girls got He Who Knows a big apple press for christmas last year and we have a dedicated food processor to blitz the apples. Last autumn we made some 30 gallons which we keep in the mini barn in big 5 gallon containers to mature and settle, then they get bottled one at a time as He Who Knows drinks the already bottled stuff. We give some to anyone who is kind enough to donate apples, even the local pub landlord reckons we make better cider than anything he can buy! Even the 5 gallon containers were donated by a lovely lady up the road who doesn't make home made wine any longer, we're so lucky!!!

candlelight_2013

Morning all,

Another beautiful day here today. Off shortly to buy new hover mower nd then a quick visit to DD1 to do her hoovering. She is doing so much for herself now which is very encouraging but she mustn't hoover yet, and actually can't because of being on 2 crutches still.

We achieved quite a lot in the garden yesterday, so onwards and upwards before the weather changes, on Sunday, I understand.

Have a good day everyone and enjoy this lovely weather, if you can, sorry if you have to go to work, I remember it very well.

Much love
Candlelightx

scottishminnie

I'm not sure if I should wish everyone Happy Easter or Happy New Year. It feels like I've been missing for months!


My netbook was gone for repair after I dropped it and it took much longer than I expected to get it back. I've also been manically busy at work and home so didn't have much time for web surfing anyway.


I've got lots of catching up to do so I'm off to make dinner then the gym then I'll be back to read through and see what's been happening to all of you!

[Deleted User]

Hello SM welcome back into the thread, Happy Easter to all of you up there in scotlandshire, how's your garden looking this year? I've had a couple of pickings of asparagus from the bed in the garden, today I had a real treat I picked and ate my first homegrown globe artichoke, oh my word, it was so yummy, we're still using up the last of the leeks and parsnips from last year and we've been picking the early rhubarb for a few weeks now. Most of the friut bushes are in leaf anf the gooseberries are covered in flowers. The loganberries and the raspberries are in bud also the discovery apple trees are about ready to pop the blossom. The cobnut bushes we put in last autumn are all in leaf and the blackberries on the back fence have tight buds still. Best of all the hawthorn flowers on the front hedge are actually in bloom in a couple of places today, must be spring or something!!! Lyn xxx.

hoglet121

MLW - I don't think I could be more envious if I tried... You are an expert cider maker! I will do some more research - we are very much without a barn, but maybe I could come up with something. Next hurdle is apple trees but I must know a few people with them. We had an apple and a pear tree in our first house - something ate all the windfall pears but the apples were all left for us to clear up. My apple and blackberry jelly was refined in that house, as was my pear chutney. I did make guava jam last year from next door's trees, this year I'll just be giving the guavas away to my family - can't stand them myself. Fingers crossed for the lime tree next year - I will net it I think as the baby limes all get eaten.

Candlelight - hope you get a good deal on a mower. Sounds like the weather has been wonderful to you :-)

Chicks at the flicks was absolutely excellent last night. We met for dinner before hand and then included in our cinema ticket was an alcoholic orange and ginger drink that was delicious, or a big fresh orange juice, a Gu tiramisu pudding pot, 2 good quality magazines (i.e. ones they sell in the shops, not just freebie ones), a packet of coffee that's the same brand we use, a full size maybelline mascara, a big bag of cadbury crispy chocs, some timtams (choc biscuits like penguins), a moisturizer sample and some pretzels. We felt that for just over 12 pounds that was very good value for money. The cinema was completely sold out too - can't remember the last time I went to a film that was packed out. Actually can't remember the last time I went to a film...

The weather is just disgusting today - we've caught the end of the tropical storm that hit Queensland last week, wind and rain. Ended up leaving very early to come into work as I knew the roads would be awful, also because I was lying in bed listening to next door's bins being blown around their garden and I might as well get up and on the road than listen to that.

Even with the weather as it is we have completely given up trying to keep Alfie in. He lost his collar on his first full day out so I think we'll give up with that for him. Our big boy cat is entirely black so the only reason we persevere with collars for him is to make him more visible... big girl cat (who doesn't get much of a mention on here often bless her as she lives a serene life, not putting up with any of the nonsense from the boys) doesn't have one as she doesn't venture beyond next door's garden... we don't think! Anyway, the result of all that is that Alfie slept on the bed until 5.30am. He started fighting with the big boy who I put outside in the end, but he was back in 10 mins later through the cat door owing to the grotty weather - no fool him.

I guess that's about it from us - need to chase up the insulation people again as I was promised the installers would ring us yesterday and they haven't yet. Grrrr.

Enjoy your evenings everyone, and as it's my last day in work for a week and a bit, have a lovely Easter if I don't get the chance to pop in before Sunday.

Hoglet x

flowertotmum

Good morning all..we are officially on our Easter break now..

We received a bag of lovely Easter treats yesterday..thank you lyn..so much..

Well not really much to report..i have been gardening and its all coming together now..the front garden needed to be trimmed and weeded and i planted some pansies and violets..got a rose thorn stuck in my arm ouch!!!..
Sam has been up the allotments..potatoes are through and onions too..he planted some carrots and spring onions..he has weeded everywhere..i don't think a weed dare show its head to be honest..he has dug a big patch over to plant new Gooseberry bushes..and the green beans will be going in over the weekend..our sprouts are ready to go in too also cabbages and courgettes..he is going to be busy..i am proud of him..

The girls and i have been doing the back garden too...our Apple trees and Pear trees have blossoms all over..my raspberry bush is budding up lovely..the red currant and white currant bushes have little green flowers on..we have planted so many flowers too..it was a bit overcast yesterday and chilly..

We did have a nice day though..we went to see friends..the girls and their friends get on so well..it was lovely to see them all play together..i had a lovely catch up with my friends from school who told me all the latest gossip..o i say some people do strange things but funny too..and shocking also..lol..it was eye opening.Anyway when we got home it was after lunch so we just did colouring and writing in the afternoon..i put away the absolute mountain of ironing and then sofa surfed with my book for an hour..
Its going to be nice today so we are going to change the sheets and do the bathroom and stairs..then watch rugby..yes finally i have 2 little people who love it as much as me..have to be done by 12:30 as thats kick off..but if they want to go play then thats fine bless them..

SM..nice to have you back babe..
Candlelight..helloo..
Charliesaunt..hello babe you ok..
Cheapskate..yoohoo..
Kate..hello babe you ok?
AOT..hello lovely..hope your ok?
Hoglet..hiya..
Bigjenny...hi babe you ok?
I think that is all but if i missed someone please forgive me.
got to go busy busy,busy
love
ftm