The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

Hard_Up_Hester

Very true IM!!

FairyPrincessk

Just a quick post before I get back to making our pack up so we can head out on our walk. The cheese and chutney sandwiches are done, carrot batons sliced up, pickles packed and eggs boiled. I just need to make tuna sandwiches, devil the eggs (I love them that way!) and wrap up some brownies and then put it all into our bags. It seems like a lot of food, but I doubt any of it will make it back.

Walk route is all printed out along with some descriptions of things we'll see and history of the area. Is it sad that I'm this excited? We're trying to get out more regularly although train fares and the fact we are both novices and need fairly good instructions for walks make it difficult.

I've pre cut the green beans and broccoli for tonight's tea. I'll parboil the potatoes when we get in and then just slide them in the oven with the Salmon and steam the veg--it isn't the easiest tea but not too taxing. :rotfl: I might even stretch to a sauce.

I hope you all have a lovely Saturday in the sunshine and that it isn't too hot.

milasavesmoney

Oh FP what a yummy lunch and a lovely day you have planned! Waiting to hear how it's all gone today.

Planning on making pumpkin muffins from some of the frozen puree I have in the freezer. With autumn coming up soon I need to get that out of my freezer for the next big pumpkin that will baked, scraped and pureed in early November. Mmmm pumpkin pies!!!

DGD has decided she likes to sleep naked for her naps. She is put to bed, can be seen taking off her clothes on the baby monitor and then she goes to sleep. Early preference for nudity while sleeping. Not saying where she gets that trait from...:D

Islandmaid

Mila, I know exactly where you,re DGD is coming from, I can't ever remember wearing nightclothes, I always feel 'strangled' by them - I had to buy a 'hospital nightie' when having the kids.

Does anyone have a recipe for marrow, our lovely neighbor's dropped one off yesterday, but I am not a fan, reminds me of the watery, fatty stuffed marrow my mother forced us to eat as children - bleughhhh Last year I made marrow and ginger jam, but I was the only one that liked it. Shame to turn down free food

[Deleted User]

Monna the beach at St Helens Duver is gorgeous and we all enjoy going there with the boys.Usually take a picnic although the cafe isn't too bad At least they will be polite there, we used to go to Colwell Bay and sit up the 'doggy' end of the beach and the boys like to swim there as well as 'crab' For several years the tea room there on the beach was excellent for getting a hot cuppa and hot chocolate for the boys to warm them up.
But its now been turned into a fancy eatery and last time I attempted to buy some refreshments in there I was talked to in a very snooty way and told that we could only have a drink if we sat outside (with the wasps) as they were fully booked
Place was empty apart from two couples and we were there all afternoon and no one appeared I think they just didn't want folk who didn't want to spend £6-7 on a burger and only needed to spend a smaller amount on tea and hot chocolate Undeterred I said 'no problem we will walk along to the other cafe' and we did.

I know some restaurants aren't keen on holiday makers during the day ,but for goodness sake the boys weren't grubby or untidy ,just wanted a hot drink, Bembridge however isn't so fussy and welcomes visitors. Gorgeous beach as well.We usually buy a kite for the boys (and their Dad) to play with, Sandown is good for a decent bit of wind, and it too has a doggy bit further along past the Zoo.:) We usually only go where there are dog-friendly beaches,this year sadly we will only have the one dog with us

Only 6 more days until we go, and we are all really looking forward to it .
Ryde has some good C/S but the hill up from the front is a bit of a killer

We arrive next Friday which is the last night of Cowes week so fingers crossed we may go and see the fireworks

Every year when we come home DD says 'One day Mum I shall live here as Dad did and I'll never leave the place again '

JackieO xx

Islandmaid

Jackie - I am sure you will have a lovely time, I know the place you are talking about at the dover, and if they want to be utter snobs, their loss, for all they knew you could have gone on to book a huge table for a mega spend up....

If you fancy a nice meal out, I can highly recommend the Taveners in Godshill, best book, but really welcoming and child friendly, with amazing food based on local ingredients, from their home made burgers to local pork belly with homemade faggots - lush and our pub of choice for a nice meal, never been disappointed and not too expensive.

If you are 'down Cowes' give me a wave we are out to experience the 'gin festival' next week at Northwood House, will pop into town, but Cowes Week is too busy for me. Fingers crossed the fireworks won't be hidden by low cloud this year - we can see them from home, so all the best bits and home comforts LOL

monnagran

Last night I wrote a lengthy post (no change there then) and it took ages tapping out one letter at a time. When I clicked 'submit reply' the screen went blank then a notice came up informing me that I was off line. I give up.

Anyway here I am, all quiet and peaceful as the family set off for a week in Cornwall at 7.am. The dog and I have had a restful day and are looking forward to a quiet, gentle few days

Jackie: it's amazing how much the beaches vary. Our beach changes often. Sometimes it is flat sand, sometimes covered in seaweed, (hate that!) but most often a mixture of sand and stone and fascinating rock pools which the children love.

Hester: had to laugh at you climbing the fence to get in. Never had to scale a fence but did get locked out when returning from a dance once. There were several of us and the girl who had the key lost it. We made her climb through the larder window. Some of you may remember the fashion in the fifties for circular skirts puffed up over multitudinous petticoats. A skirt that stuck out almost horizontally apparently made us irresistible. Trying to get through the tiny window the poor girl got well and truly stuck. When we had freed her we removed skirt and petticoats and she peeled off her precious nylons and finally squeezed through the narrow gap, suspenders dangling. As I said, irresistible.

Tips: yep. We have one bus an hour. I walk past Inver House when I walk into the village. You are right about the ATM, it is inside the bank which only opens sporadically. I think its days are numbered. However, there is one that the inhabitants keep as their secret. If you should ever need to use one here again just let me know, (taps nose conspiritally ).
I know that view of the Needles. We spent all our family holidays when I was growing up, in one of the beach huts on Mudeford Sandbank. We could also watch the old Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth sailing past on their way to Southampton, which was where we lived.

Islandmaid: I don't think I could cope with a stunt kite but I intend to have a go at making one of FairyP's kites out of a bin bag. MS at its best.

x

Hard_Up_Hester

Enjoy the peace Monna.
I've had a call from DD1, she will collect her dogs tomorrow morning, they haven't been much trouble apart from the huge staffy insisting on coming into the toilet with me, it's a very small toilet, and sitting on my knee when he feels sad, I wouldn't mind but he farts, a lot! I'm still cat feeding and garden watering, and am also watering a neighbours garden too.
I'm looking after DD2's dog in a couple of weeks, but at least she has just one smaller dog. I've spent this evening sorting paperwork, I've filled a bin bag, I will take it to work and shred it next week.

[Deleted User]

Certainly conjure's up a picture of a large farting sad staffie sitting on your knee in a tiny loo :):):):):)

candygirl

Think of me then HESTER with two staffies following me EVERYWHERE ! Buddy even peeps round rhe screen when in showering. No wonder he looks permanently traumatised :eek::rotfl: