The Daily Drop-in

[Daisy]

Hello, everyone. Sorry I didn't have chance to pop in this morning. My computer had done updates over night, which meant I had to put all my passwords in again, and I needed to take Eva to DS2's for the day. I was also held up on a narrow country lane because people were queuing to go into a little petrol station on my way to DS2'.s. I just had time to drop Eva off and get back home in time to leave for our day in Southampton. I'll write about that under Days Out.

We finally got home about 7 o'clock and only wanted a sandwich as we'd eaten at lunch-time, but I also needed to order dog food today, so did that as well.

Nanto - well done on being able to buy the things you needed. I feel sorry for people in this silly fuel shortage who don't have a choice about using their cars. OH by chance had filled his car up on Thursday and mine happens to be over half full, but DS2's was on red, and they need it for work. DIL queued for over half an hour this morning, but got there in the end.

Gem - I totally agree - if the media didn't play up any shortages things would be much better. I think that was such a lovely idea of your GS's school. I hope GD managed to meet up with a lot of her friends and have a good time. How handy that the tea room was in a furniture store you needed to visit. Did you see anything you particularly liked? I wonder if the hot air balloon was going in to land near you. I used to love watching them when we lived in a house where they took off from a field behind our garden! We had a ringside view.

Oma - you must have really needed that good sleep. Did you wake up feeling full of the joys of spring? I hope you can do the same tonight as well - I'm sure it makes you feel much better. xx It's lovely choosing plants for Spring, isn't it. It brightens the dull days a bit knowing there are bulbs and plants just waiting to pop up and make us happy. It's hard to imagine our parents being that age.

Lizzie - I hope your friend in Spain is ok, and also that you are feeling a bit better, but do be careful and take things easy. You've reminded me I want a few hellebores for our new border. I really must make a list or I'll end up getting too many!

Plant - your DD is going to be busy with your GGCs, but I'm sure Great-Granny will be only to delighted to help out especially with entertainment for the little ones.

[Nanto2girls]

Daisy, pleased DIL managed to get some fuel.

GD2 coming to have dinner with us today.
Doing a pork dinner,so off to get the meat in the slow cooker.
I've got a couple of bramley apples to use up,so going to put some strawberries in with them and make a pie.

[Gemini]

Good morning all.

Nan2, lunch sounds good. Lucky GD 😊
Busy day for you yesterday Daisy.

DD1 almost ran out of petrol yesterday! She and GS planned to fill up on the way to see friends, but no fuel at the petrol station! She drove partway, got the bus to her friends and later her friend drive them back to the car. DD knew there wasn't enough fuel to go there and home again. When they got back they got some at Sainsbury's, by joining a very long queue. Madness!

Today is my mum's birthday. She is 93.
As it's not allowed for us all visit her in the care home, we have booked a table at the marina waterfront cafe again. OH, my 3 DDs and I will join her for tea and cake there .

GS was a good boy. He watched The Cube with us last night, went to bed at 9 and not a peep from him. I woke at 7.50 to find him downstairs youtubing! Been up since 6 he said.

Happy Sunday everyone.

[Daisy]

Good Sunday morning Nanto, Gem and all who follow.

Pork in the slow cooker sounds delicious, Nanto, and home-made apple pie is one of my favourites. Even better with other fruit added. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time and GD will enjoy being spoiled. x

Gem - GS1 is getting so grown up, isn't he. I remember our GSs getting to that stage where they get up and do their own thing until we wake up. It feels like a bit of a milestone, but a welcome one.

Have a lovely time with your mum. I'm sure she will be thrilled to have all of you together, and the tea and cake will taste all the better for you sharing the day with her.

We need to roll the lawn this morning, and a friend will call round for coffee, then this afternoon some friends from our days living in Surrey are in the area and are calling round for a cup of tea - I need to make cake!! They are great company and I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

I hope your Sunday is whatever you want it to be. xx

[Lizzie48]

Good morning, a beautiful day again. Gem, have a nice time with your mum for her birthday, she will enjoy seeing everyone.

The pain in my ribs is easing, I can bend to put my shoes on today. I was at DIL1 yesterday and her knee is playing up, I do hope she goes to the doctor or something this week.

[Oma]

Morning ladies ,

Gem I hope your Mum has a wonderful Birthday and seeing all her GD's will no doubt cheer her up

Daisy its lovely seeing friends after so long isnt it , what kind of cake are you making ?

Lizzie good to here your ribs are not as sore today but dont push yourself let them mend xx

Nanto Pork in the slow cooker will be melt in the mouth lucky DS

Plant your DD is in for a busy time today isnt she hope she manages to get everything done in the morning quickly before she drops them off

Nanto we had Apple pie and what should have been custard last night but ...

Rather than make custard as B usually does we had a little carton of Birds custard in so for quickness he opened that ,
Warmed it up but he thought it looked a bit pale , put it down and I knew instantly what he had done .
It wasn't custard it was Brandy sauce

I took a taste and OMG with the sweet apple it tasted like cough syrup hahaha
After we stopped laughing as it was disgusting , It went into the bin and we just had what was left of the Apple pie without anything on

Well everything is done housework , Floors washed , two loads of washing done dried then I ironed , had a shower
Towels in the wash now and nothing more to do

Have a nice day ladies whatever your up too xx

[Gemini]

Lizzie good to hear your ribs feel more comfortable.

Oma, speaking of opening the wrong thing - We had fish and chips for tea last night GS1 is vegetarian so we give him baked beans with his chips. OH kindly opened the tin, only to report that she had opened beans with pork sausages. There were about 5 tins of plain beans and only one of those!! A standby I keep in for GD and GS2. OH and I will have to eat them today!

[Plantaholic]

Ooh Oma, I love brandy sauce but on Christmas pudding.

Gem, Happy Birthday to your mum, It will be lovely for her to see the family and views over the waterfront.

Nanto you certainly make use of your slow cooker, mine stand idle a lot.

I make my own mincemeat and checked in the larder and found I have enough made last year and not used. I am not making puddings this year, I just get left with them. I have a very small one if I fancy it. Family seem to prefer bought flans etc. I have even stopped making trifle.

I am going to Dil and DS for lunch, well it will be between my lunchtime and my dinner time. My son is a good cook. Dil wants to consult me about their new garden layout as to what plants to buy. Dil is a very keen gardener but doesn’t have time and has no help from the rest of the family and has very limited knowledge about plants as to what are annuals or perennials. We will go to a garden center to get some plants. I noticed some recently bought plants still in pots and not watered when I visited the other day. A big learning curve I think. In her defence, she works full time. Fortunately it is a very small garden which has now been laid with slate coloured slabs.

[Enfys]

Good morning. Sorry I haven’t been around lately but I have been popping in now and then for a browse. If I missed any significant dates for anyone, sorry!!

Ive had a busy couple of weeks, the time is flying by and I’m loving the Autumn weather. Had my car MOT and service this week, that was all ok, just needed a rear windscreen wiper so all good. DD has finished work, she is so relieved, the stress was making her unwell and I think she’s done the right thing, she is going to have a little time off and then will look for something else completely different. She has a few ideas so I’m sure it will be fine, it’s so nice to see her looking more Relaxed.

DGS sadly has lost his job now that furlough has finished. They wanted to keep him on but couldn’t afford to as they have struggled during lock down. He is in digital marketing and is going to try freelance working. He has lots of contacts and the company he was working for has given him lots of tips and contacts so he’ll try it for a while and see how it goes. His girlfriend is a freelance PA so can help him too. Different times we live in!

Went out with friend on Friday to a local garden centre, Daisy, the one we met you at. Wondered what all the traffic jam was for then realised, too late, that it was all,the queues for the petrol station! It was chaos but we couldn’t do anything just had to sit and wait Until we could turn off into the garden centre. you’ll know exactly where’re I mean Daisy. We were ready for our coffee by the time we got in there.

Hope everyone is well, and enjoying the weekend 🌞

[Oma]

Enfys fingers crossed Freelance will work out just right for him , Maybe it will be more lucrative

Plant we love brandy sauce on Christmas pud but its disgusting on Apple pie hahaha .

Went down Dunelm this morning , im looking for a new bed , not Mattress just the frame and online they had a nice one ,
We decided to go look in the shop first before ordering ,
Got there at 10 and they don't open till 11.
Didn't want to hang around so we will go another day ,

Every other shop on the retail park open at 10 but them , cant understand why they don't just all open at the same time

[Nanto2girls]

We had a lovely day with GD2.
Trouble is, i'm all behind here now.

gem, hope your mum had a lovely birthday.

[Gemini]

Nan2, it's great to be behind here because of having a lovely time, rather than the opposite!

Enfys it sounds as though your DD has made the right decision in leaving her job

Mum had a good afternoon and all went well. It was lovely for all 3 GDs to be all together with their Nanna for the first time in a very long time.
SIL1 is away so SIL 2 looked after all 3 children and took them out while we ladies were celebrating.

The friends were are going canal boating with came round this evening to chat and make our plans .

[Daisy]

Enfys - you must be so relieved that your DD is finally having time to relax and unwind a bit. What a pity your GS's job has finished but I'm sure in his field there will be lots of opportunities. Digital marketing is the way forward for a lot of businesses and most of them need expert help but wouldn't need to employ someone full time. As you say, - it's a different world from when we were young. It probably wasn't the best day to go to that garden centre! (For the rest of you - there's an access road off a roundabout with a Sainsbury's, the garden centre and then a petrol station. So traffic backing up at the petrol station brings all three places to a complete standstill. At least the coffee would have been good, and it's always nice to have a browse round, isn't it. I'm sure you were pleased your car passed its MOT - it's always a relief!

Oma - I love brandy sauce, but even I don't fancy it on apple pie! How frustrating that Dunelm was the only shop not opening at 10 am.

Nanto - Hopefully you've caught up again now, but most things can wait till another day. Worth it to have such a lovely time with your GD.

Plant - what a lovely thing to do - help with planning and choosing plants. I hope you have been able to rescue the plants that were still in pots.

We had a lovely afternoon with our friends. We've know them since we were neighbours in Surrey when our children were very young. Some of you may remember me talking about one of their sons rowing the Atlantic single handed and unsupported some years ago. We had put the garden table and some chairs on the bit of the patio that is useable and were able to sit outside in the sunshine, although it clouded over later. I didn't get round to making cake, but had a banana loaf in the freezer so used that. It's the first time I'd frozen it, and it was fine. Good to keep one in hand!

I watered the (non-existent) lawn again today, although I think it's due to rain tomorrow.

No plans for tomorrow, but there is a huge pile of ironing ready to ambush me if I go anywhere near it!

[Lizzie48]

Good morning, I am a little behind, I was messing around with the Spotify yesterday morning, I went for a bike ride, it is so busy on the paths on a Sunday, that and with it being lovely weather, it was 25 degrees in the afternoon. I had a box to pick up from the Lidl, there was so much fruit in it so I shared it with DIL, I took it to them late afternoon and GD2 was showing me her new clothes, coat etc, she has baggy jeans with holes, DS1 isn't impressed! I told him she is young and can have them. I had coffee there and came home.

Oma, it is annoying when some stores don't open at the same time as others.

Enfys, you would be pleased when your car passed the MOT. DD will enjoy her rest. I hope DGS does well with the digital marketing, it is the future. At our aqua last week we had to give our mail addresses for contact, one lady said she couldn't remember hers as she has never been able to get used to the computer! Apparently her DH does everything and doesn't think she needs to learn.
I don't like queue's in cars, but then again who does.

Lovely photo's on FB Gem, your mum looks well.

Daisy, rowing the Atlantic is an achievement! I put the banana loaf I made in the freezer, in slices, I take a slice out now and again and it is really tasty.

I want to go to aqua as it is good for my legs etc, I will tell the instructor about my ribs and then he will know why I aren't taking part in everything.

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning. Blustery this morning and we've had a few spots of rain.

No set plans for today.