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Pheasants waiting to be fed
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Life in Ambridge
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Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
MiriamMarch 5, 2024 at 4:25 PM
ReplyDeleteI need to look at the International Eistedfodd programme for this year.
I have been to some wonderful events there. It is a strange auditorium though. The stage area is firm and secure, but it is held in a huge marquee on a slight hill, so is under canvas and can be very draughty!
This doesn't detract from the experience at all, as just part of the fun. No fancy wear needed on such an occasion. I know Sir Tom Jones is doing a concert - am tempted.
REPLYDELETE
MiriamMarch 5, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Missed a vital word - The Llangollen International event. There is always so much going on throughout the week.
DELETE
Sarnia March 5, 2024 at 5:20 PM
No need - where else, Miriam!
My husband and his choir have competed and performed at the Eistefodd festival. He always enjoys it. I’m an avid supporter.
DeleteProud to be Yorkshire.March 6, 2024 at 9:10 AM
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely last 2 days it has been. Managed to get in the garden both afternoon and say “sod it” to the pile of ironing. Got to make the most of any sun. I have made a raised bed out of a wooden crate some paving came in. Lined it with a cut up bulk bag our logs come in and bought some alkathene blue piping to make the hoops for some netting to go over. This will be my kale bed. Last year I had about 2 pickings from my 4 kale plants then found them eaten totally the next time I went for some. Flipping covered in caterpillars. They are not getting it this year. I will be putting the seedlings into a Fort Knox!
Back to a gloomy day here today so I suppose housework beckons.
KPnuts - recycling at its best. Well done, KP and enjoy your kale later.
DeleteJaniceMarch 6, 2024 at 9:48 AM
ReplyDeleteFrom one whose cabbages got badly nibbled, make sure you pull your netting taut all the way round. Cabbage Whites seem to be brilliant at getting through any loose folds. I left the remains in through winter and do have some nice fresh leaves sprouting now before the butterflies arrive.
Lovely sunny day here at the moment but ground saturated & massive puddles all over the place.
ReplyDeleteJust fed the pheasants who seem quite pleased with how well they have trained us!
Yes, beautiful sunshine this morning and lovely to see the daffodils making splashes of gold all over the garden. Our garden got flooded again from the big Lorrys speeding past the gate through the huge flood that forms every time we have heavy rain. We asked Highways to unblock the culverts that are supposed to drain the road - they sent an engineer to look & he said there was no problem! He came on a dry, sunny day!
ReplyDeleteSo infuriating. Take some pictures next time and send them in with a request for the engineer to come on a wet day this time!
DeleteThat’s exactly what we did PtbY. Stood out in the pouring rain and photographed the flood, including pictures of how drivers had to go on the wrong side of the road, round a blind bend to avoid the deep flood that extended across the road. Sent in around 5 photos showing the extent. Engineer came after the water had eventually subsided, and said they was nothing to be done. I think what they mean is that they don’t want to afford to do anything……until someone looses a life, and perhaps not even then. 😡
DeleteWell it’s disgusting their response then.
DeleteOur boiler needs a new float in the water tank in the loft. Our shoe has three stop cocks in the kitchen. One is labelled 'hot water', one cuts off water downstairs, we're not sure what the third does. None cuts off water upstairs!
DeleteWe tried the stopcock in the road - jammed shut. We called the water company, yes, they own it but because we had water they had no obligation to come and fix it!
Fortunately, the property department at the diocese are clearly more persuasive than OMiaS and they did finally come out to change the stopcock.
Now we just await the return of the heating engineers and then I will be able to start using my airing cupboard again.
(Upside of all this palaver is that the engineers needed access to all our radiators - I discovered flooring in two of our rooms that had been covered with 'stuff' for far too long. Downside is that the thermostatic radiator valves on the two newly accessible radiators have stuck shut. It turns out that the 'stuff' was providing pretty effective insulation to keep the rest of the room warm.)
The lawns were cut for the first time today, but not by me. It looks so much better except for the black patches where the moss killer is doing its work.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the lawns will dry out quicker now, so I can maintain them myself.
It was only after the cut, that I realised just how much the grass had grown and no wonder looked so tufty + straggly.
As a watcher of Canal Boat Diaries with Robbie Cummins I knew that the BBC weren't continuing with it. It's been taken up by uktv and shown on the Yesterday channel. I may have missed the start of the series but there is an hour long programme on Thurs14th at 7.00pm if anyone's interested. It's also available to stream on uktv play.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that CC we love his programme good for UKTV for giving this wonderful programme a new home.
DeleteYes thanks CC . It’s one of our top favourite programmes and I had no idea it had been moved. Another thing to put on our series record list. Lots of very interesting programmes on Yesterday. Mr A is addicted to Bangers and Cash!
DeleteAP I keep an eye on the Drama Channel, which sometimes shows programmes not shown on the main channels.
DeleteA recent watch was one set in Australia, filmed in the area my niece lives. I was not sure about it at first, but all was explained in the last episode.
It was to do with an English woman who went there, as this was where her husband died when she thought he was in Spain.
It was both bad and good equally, but it all made sense at the end. The scenery was fantastic though.
I have recorded over the last 2 nights, The Marlow Mystery Club.
I have read the book, which I really enjoyed, and was very similar to Richard Osmans The Thursday Club (?)..
No idea if any good though 🤷♀️ 🫰
My kitchen refurb is coming along nicely - most of worktop and sink now installed and larder cupboard built. Washing machine is now in the wet room and working and large shelf above now in situ. More shelves above that to be built yet, but having put dog towels through machine I can now officially say I’ve got a utility room ( of sorts ! ) that also has a cat feeding station, with cat ladder, as well as the cat flap in the window.
ReplyDeleteI will have to wait before the hob can be connected as having been let down by the plumber/gas register trader, I’m struggling to find someone to come in and do the connection.
I will still have to barricade the door as Lady punishes me every time I leave her alone, by raiding the cats food, until I’ve found a different solution to keeping her out while allowing the cat access.
Happy days !
Thanks for the new blog KP
Itsounds that all is going to plan and you are getting exactly what you envisage. Such a shame as to the hiccup as to your hob. I am sure you will get this sorted soon.
DeleteHow exciting for you.
I wonder how wide your windowsill is. Our Bella given the chance would snaffle Tiger Lily's food, so for a long time now I have put Tiger's food up on a high wide windowsill. Bella, being on the plump side can't make the jump so Tiger is left in peace. I wondered if you could do similar beside the cat flap window.
DeleteYour changes sound exciting.
Hurrah! Some time ago I managed to miss a day and ended my 143 day streak on Wordle : (
ReplyDeleteYesterday I got back to par, today my streak is a dozen dozen. I'm feeling chuffed.
I have had a shock recently as to my new state pension. Although It is a nice increase, it means that my yearly amount is now over my personal, single tax allowance, so I will now have to pay tax on this.
ReplyDeleteMy payment is the full amount as to the new state pension, but I also receive an additional payment due to what I paid into the old system...
It is what it is.
I also anticipate this, Miriam, but instead of charging me tax they deduct the required amount from my half share of Mr S's teacher's pension
DeleteBut then, according to a lot of young adults I and others like me are unfairly rich beyond their wildest dreams, aren't we!
My tax is set against a small monthly annuity, from which I now only receive 50% of its income.
DeleteI also had a long talk with my 46yr old neice about this last weekend. Her attitude was that we (the family members in 60's and early 70's) are the lucky generation!
DeleteWe were not. There were no expensive mobile phone contracts (pay as you go only then), no costly internet packages, nor the need to always have the latest technology etc.
My generation lived within their means as best as possible, without taking out massive mortgages, loans, excess use on credit cards etc.
We were the thrifty generation in many ways.
Just think of meals as to the cost of preparing these at home yourself vs. Take-aways, fast foods etc.
Mrs P, this is all so different the second time around. It's wonderful to hear you so invigorated and to see things working out for you at last.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sarnia. Please continue to keep us updated on the progress of your refurbishment MrsP.
DeleteThere was an interesting post from OZ on our family group chat, a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteThe firm where my niece works, and who is a specialist in hats, had an order/request to produce 6 bespoke cowboy hats to be sent to LA.
This request came indirectly from Beyonce and Jay-Z for their Gold Party, to be held after the Oscars Ceremony on Sunday.
This was done, but they don't know if other hat firms had a similar order.
She is 🫰hers will be chosen and worn, along being seen in the media.
However, she is realistic.
I will see the photos of these hats on Monday/Tuesday, after the event due to confidentially.l
Update on my kitchen
DeleteThe carpenter / kitchen fixer has finished today.
And friend Simon has been working flat out on re organising the garden shed with a free freezer he acquired for me and cupboards spare from the kitchen on the walls plus shelves. And we found the trunk with my tools in it - Oh joy !
The new work surfaces all freshly oiled and French doors now on kitchen and bathroom as well as the new larder. And I really like my new sink.
Now it’s down to me to do the painting and organise the new boiler in the next few weeks and the carpenter will then return to build more shelves once that’s in situ.
However it was not a good day for me as at about 11 am I realised that the electricity had gone.
Washing stuck in machine
No telephone or internet
No heating or hot water
And as the gas hob not yet connected no way of even getting a cup of tea let alone a meal.
Fortunately the sparks came at the end of his day and got me some power to allow me to cope over the weekend.
It’s likely that the butterfly clamps fixing the floating shelves have clipped some wiring.
It’s not the end of the world ! And I’m warm and fed now, but ready for bed.
Janice - the cat feeding station is already at a height and the door to the room is permanently barricaded. Lady only attempts it when I go out without her, and has learned how to get over the barricade without knocking it down. And then gets back !
I have no understanding of how she manages it.
She is very resourceful, and clever.
Whatever it is you're on these days, I could do with some! I've just discovered Matcha tea, which is making a lot of difference to my wellbeing, but clearly not as much as moving to Minehead!
DeleteSarnia. Perhaps you are like me, as to being so much more energetic and having that "feel good" factor again.
DeleteTo me it is purely down to the longer days and the much more natural daylight. I know I am up and about at least an hour, if not more,, earlier now..
Miriam, I think it's more that after a long autumn and winter of attention taken up with complicated - ethereal - matters I'm quite surprised and relieved to find earthly seasons still proceeding as usual!
DeleteI have just bought a beautiful young conifer to fill a gap in my woodland boundary and have plans to install a new arch at the back of the courtyard, with wires for climbers extending to the fence from each side. Once the climbers become established this should partly mask the big black shed at the bottom of the garden backing on to mine, which presently forms an unfortunate backdrop to the otherwise quite Mediterranean ambience.
Mrs P. That is my fear, no electricity. I am all electric now so if I have a power cut - nothing!
ReplyDeleteI regret getting rid of my gas hob. You are so right in having one being put in.
It Was a miserable day Miriam and worrying since it was also Friday, envisioning a weekend without any means of normality.
DeleteMight I suggest you buy a small camping stove, along with one canister of gas, for any emergencies. It won’t take up very much room and you will have the peace of mind of having something to back up any loss of electricity in the future.
I’ve got one, but have no idea of what box it might be in, so on this occasion I was lost.
As well as the gas hob - to be connected - watch this space ! - I have also inherited a gas oven along with the flat. I don’t like it, but it seems to have all that I need, not being much of a cook, so I am keeping that.
Happy Mothering Sunday to all. 💐
ReplyDeleteMy son FaceTimed me, mainly to enquire how to fix a problem with their kitchen tap….oh and happy Mother’s Day! No chance of him being swapped at birth, he’s useless just like his dad. 🤦♀️
I'm lucky there, PtbY, my son is nothing like his dad - well, not much, anyway. A box arrived this morning with a bouquet of cream roses and something purple as yet unidentifiable. Oh yes, and a sample of Lindor chocolates.
DeleteA DVD player arrived from my daughter, but that was coincidence as NZ Mothering Sunday is at a different time of year.
Oh. Suddenly realised my boiler's conked out. Thought the water wasn't very hot this morning.
DeleteOh No! I hope you can get it fixed quickly, as this must be affecting your CH.
DeleteKeep Warm.
Yup, no hot water, no heating. Fortunately when we he'd it all installed in 1971, because of my breathing problems we were advised against having radiators in the main living rooms, so I have an excellent gas fire in the living room and my beautiful stove in the open hearth in the drawing room.
DeleteWishing All you mothers, a lovely Mothering Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSadly I am not a mother and now only have lovely + wonderful memories.
I'm glad for you that they are wonderful, Miriam.
DeleteCome to think of it, you must be the most wonderful auntie that any child could wish for, and I'm sure you must be helping to create more wonderful memories for your many nephews and nieces.
DeleteThank you. I have 6 nieces + nephews plus 7 great nieces + nephews now.
DeleteI try my best!
Heating engineer coming tomorrow afternoon. Phew!
ReplyDeleteOf course, if I'd been able to pin him down for a maintenance appointment, which I've been trying to do since last October... ...
I can sympathise Sarnia, I’m still without any light or power at the back of the flat. I’m glad you have managed to pin him down for tomorrow.
DeleteOn the other hand if your boiler is over forty years old you’ve done well.
Surprised to see Countryfile this evening all about Minehead.
I’ve seen nothing on local social media to say they have been filming here and small details showed me that it was very recent.
Oh no, this isn't the original boiler. We were persuaded (that is, Mr S reluctantly agreed) some years ago that the old one was inefficient compared with the newer models and we would save on gas by replacing it. Mind you, this one would probably be considered obsolete now. Well, tough!
ReplyDeleteOne more sleep then I’m on the road, on my own!, tomorrow. A road trip to see Lanjan. Have never driven to London before, not looking forward to that bit, but at least I’ll have Brenda, our sat nav, with me.
ReplyDeleteTravel safe, and say hello and hope she is well to Lanjan from me.
DeleteYou are very brave driving to London PtbY. I couldn’t do it now, having lost all my confidence for driving recently, though when younger I thought nothing of driving all around north west London, including the dreaded North Circular etc. Please give my very best to LanJan when you see her and have a safe journey
DeleteDriving to London from Yorkshire is long but not difficult. It’s hitting London when you come off the motorway that will be the challenge.
DeleteGood luck PtbY
Nothing wrong with the boiler. He thinks there must have been a short power cut on Saturday night which turned it off. He's simply reset it.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a relief.
DeleteReset it ? And when will he give you a date for a service Sarnia ?
DeleteHe has promised a day next week, and I said to him on three separate occasions, 'You will do it this time, won't you?'
DeleteHe's all over the place at present because his 'partner' is near her due date with twins, so we had a chat about names.
Earlier in the day I answered the door thinking that he was amazingly early, but is was a couple we became friends while teaching in Muswell Hill in the 1960s. We used to visit them in London, but as they eventually moved to Cambridge we hadn't seen each other for a good 15 years.
After seeing three people in one day I'm worn out
Thanks ladies.
ReplyDeleteP tbY will be fine.
Really looking forward to seeing her again .
She won't be going into the centre of London .
Depends which way the Sat Nav takes her. .
I used to go on the M25 and M3 .
She might of course go on the M4 .
She is young and sensible but there won't be much for her to eat when she gets here because my freezer has packed up !
All my lovely stews and soups -home made by me !! and I hate cooking - will be thrown away tomorrow.
Tall freezer
It is going .
Will phone the Council to ask for it to be taken away.
Don't really need it .
I have a fridge freezer .
It was so useful for the food I froze including my dairy chocolate truffles.
Sorry P tbY I am not risking giving you any.
Now hopefully will have a relaxing evening .
Watched the fantastic Match between Liverpool and City yesterday.
We only drew but it was great to watch.
Have a lovely time the two of you.
DeleteI hope PtbY ad LanJan have a lovely time. Sat navs making driving to unfamiliar destinations so much easier, all I would say to PtbY is that there are loads of 20mph speed limits in London, even on roads where it seems ridiculous o b aware. Ales check re ULEZand congestion zone charges.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame about your freezer Lanjan, all that wasted food. I don't know what I'd have done without mine at the weekend when our youngest daughter and family visited.
ReplyDeleteWe're spending today putting things straight in the house. So much chaos caused by a 2 and 3 year old in two days! Sadly it doesn't look like the weather's going to be great for getting all the washing done.
I’ve just acquired an additional under counter freezer off freecycle. It’s been installed in my garden shed along with the cupboards removed from the kitchen. It is my intention to start getting ready meals stocked up, cooking more casseroles to freeze, and being able to feed Lady ‘ Raw ‘.
DeleteI would be devastated to have to throw all that food away, as LJ has had to do.
Test only.
ReplyDeleteProblems here. If this is seen by others, please just acknowledge. Thanks.
Yes, I see you Miriam
DeleteThanks. I've had to reset password etc. to get here. I hope that all was legitimate and not a hack!
DeleteI am so wary + suspicious these days of having to do such things.
Completely agree with you Miriam but glad you are back with us 😊
DeleteArrived after a dreadful journey down. Rained the entire way. Lots of 50mph restrictions too. Staying in teddington tonight and going to Lanjan’s tomorrow. Went into London to the courtauld gallery this aft. Nice sized gallery, some lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteHow people live in hectic paced London I just don’t know. I’m knackered, and my feet are killing me. lol
Pleased you’ve arrived safely PtbY
DeleteMy favourite building.
Always yearned to see inside those massive outer walls as a child.
Verboten when the tax office…. In later life when it became opened up as a public space, free to come and go at will…. Bliss
I’m still camping out and after two days of a heavy cold I’m feeling pretty sorry for myself.
ReplyDeleteSparks came to re instate the electrical system today, successfully thank goodness.
Also managed to get a gas engineer round.
A man prepared for and expecting, problems, and in a very assertive way too.
Immediately on guard at work done by my main contractor and telling me ‘he’ wasn’t a ‘jobsworth’. But he was IMO !
So hob still not connected.
Tried to cook porridge in the microwave yesterday but no idea where basins are packed so attempted it in my single microwave lidded container which I do my veg in. Twice it boiled over onto the glass plate and in the end it was no more than gruel.
My neighbour upstairs who is also unwell and therefore not working this weekend made me a bacon sandwich this afternoon. Oh it was delicious !
My friend from Stroud will be here next week for her family short break at Butlins, with her autistic spectrum granddaughter. Looking forward to spending some time with her.
Did anyone else see Minehead on Countryfile on Sunday ?
The choir that I sing with did a Christmas concert in the new Lifeboat House, and the Coast Watch was where I joined as a volunteer last year.
Didn’t stay as it soon became clear that it wasn’t for me.
Yes, we watched it MrsP.
DeleteWell I have had the most delightful time spent with PtbY.
ReplyDeleteShe had been to what must be the best and most expensive bakery in the area so I din't even need to feed her.
She did get a cup of tea though and Percy showed his approval by sitting on her knee.
We never stopped talking for five and a half hours.
She has reached her next stopover on her way home.
Hopefully she can now relax.
Much better day for me than yesterday
P tbY showed me photos of your kitchen Mrs P .
It looks great.
48 plug plants arrived today which need potting on but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Percy is going to help me with today's puzzles.
Has anybody tried 2d Nerdle.?
More complicated tgat ordinary Nerdle.
Very addictive.
Glad you had a lovely time with PtbY.
DeleteI've had a brief glance at 2d Nerdle but didn't try it out. I fear your final comment would be all too true!
How lovely Lanjan glad your time with ptby was so special 😊
ReplyDeleteAs I said yesterday, I had to not only retrieve my Google account but also create a new password.
ReplyDeleteSince then I am getting so many scam calls both on my land-line + mobile, plus spam messages on f/b.
This is worrying me..Silly I know@
Is there anyone computer / tech savvy that you know who could advise you Miriam? I can understand your concern and do hope you can find an answer to your worry.
DeleteLuckily so far, I have not received anything which seems to relate to me directly in any way, and no suspicious e-mails.
DeleteAnother miserable, windy and showery day here today. At least it's been quite mild so I've spent it in the potting shed repotting my house plants. My dining room looks like a jungle. The conservatory is more like a desert as it's full of cacti, being the only plants which cope with the extremes of temperature in there.
ReplyDeleteMy account's been frozen. I was making a telephone purchase of plants for my garden from a company I've been using for 5 years ; the bank flagged it up as fraud and stopped my card.
ReplyDeleteThe fraud dept now expect me to jump through hoops by taking photos of my passport with my phone, which absolutely doesn't work after spending hours trying. Then I had to take a selfie, which I don't know how to do. When I sent a manually taken photo in the cameo shape they said it didn't match my passport.
Off to the branch (miles away), having scraped up enough cash for the taxi,armed with passport, bank statement and letters from DWP, BT and British Gas. Hope they can deal with it because I can't use my card to get back .. . .
Hope you get back safely and it is all sorted out. It annoys me that agencies make the false assumption that everyone has the latest technology and knows how to use it.
DeleteVery sorry to hear your latest news Sarnia.
DeleteVery distressing for you and I hope your bank will sort it out with apologies very quickly.
I really hope that you get it sorted out soon Sarnia. When a similar thing happened to a friend of ours it took ages to reinstate.
DeleteWe had exactly the same problem in the Autumn. Mr A went to pay for some goods in the village shop but his debit card, which he uses regularly, was not accepted. (The shop said to bring in the cash on his next visit which was very nice of them).
DeleteCall to Lloyds, they said someone had tried to open a new account using his name and address. They were suspicious because the person hadn't given his second initial which he always uses, so they had frozen our account, (we have a joint account). So we both had to go into the branch, taking passports & other forms of identity (15 mile round trip + parking charges) and they unfroze our account and ordered him a new card. The exact same thing happened again a couple of weeeks later, so another trip into town, through the whole performance all over again.
A couple of weeks later we got a visit from the local policeman, asking if we had been victims of any fraud attempts. We told him the above and he gave us lots of literature about how to detect fraud and what to do
It was an annoying and worrying experience over several weeks but we were glad that Lloyds picked up that the person trying to use our name and address was not genuine.
AP I am with Lloyd's also.
DeleteA payment I made using my bank credit card over the phone (a few months ago), was refused. It was purely a security aspect as the amount was so much more than I ever use on this card.
It was annoying, but easily sorted with the bank on the 'phone.
I was actually pleased that this was picked up due to the unusual activity on that card.
Sarnia. I know what you mean about taxi fares. I have a hospital appointment on Monday for an eye procedure and so can't drive.
DeleteThis will be costly!
I am feeling a bit smug
ReplyDeleteI managed to do a whole weekly shop at Sainsburys today without conking out. I really wanted to go in person as they had sent me a voucher for £10.50 off a shop of £70 or more - but it was only available in store and not for online orders.
I managed to select many products at Nectar price, all things I buy most weeks and I found the total saving on the shop was £43.56! This included 2 legs of lamb which were at half price in the run up to Easter. so, one for Easter, the other to be saved until Christmas.
Personally, with a saving like that I am not concerned about Sainsburys keeping a record of my shopping by using a Nectar card as it is saving me around £10 a week on good I buy normally.
On my Sbury's shop, I also saw that lamb offer, which was fantastic.
DeleteI wasn't tempted as no room in my freezer to store one.
I too don't mind Sburys using my shopping details, as I get wonderful offers personalised to my normal shopping via the Nectar App. I do not though get too tempted!
To add - I got a huge slab of pork loin a few weeks ago, as again a wonderful nectar price. This was cut into two and now in freezer.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry for another post 🫣 as I know well this is one too many
ReplyDeleteA listen I enjoyed which is ending in 12days via Sounds:-
Tina Pepler-Sisters, which I enjoyed with the late Haydn Gwynne.
Many thanks to bloggers here for your comments on banking and security. We bank with Lloyd’s and have not had any recent issues but it’s good to be aware.
ReplyDeleteBank problem more or less sorted on Friday morning, with £23 in taxi fares to and from the only local branch in the city centre - circuitous route, as it's on the other side of the river. They were very kind and gentle, unlike their counterparts in the Fraud department, who spoke to me as if I were the one with criminal intent.
ReplyDeleteBeginning of Jan 24th, purchases had started to appear at Subway at Paddington., always several on the same day. This would explain why payment was initially refused when I tried to order strawberry runners for my daughter-in-law in Feb as I had already made other phone purchases that day. As I've been unwell since the beginning of Jan, although I checked the money in and out I only scanned the items briefly and didn't notice.
Since the end of my last statement they had really gone to town, but as my account had already been frozen, the £850 for electrical goods and another item for over £1,000 did not go through. It was a terrible shock to see all those rogue purchases on my account and I felt dreadful for the rest of the day.
As I had been unable to do my weekly shop on Thursday or Friday, my son in Wales opened a Sainsbury's account and ordered my shopping for me. Of course, this has not been delivered because of their technical problems, so I now find myself without bread or potatoes. The potatoes I can cope with as I have all manner of substitutes, but I really feel the lack of bread.
After a sharp email from my son about his poor, distressed and vulnerable elderly mother with no basic, staple food in the house, the delivery is timed for 2pm tomorrow.
I am glad it is being sorted Sarnia, but it must have been a shock to realise someone had somehow stolen your card details. Did the bank have any idea how it was done? A number of years ago just before Christmas I realised payments worth about £300 had gone out of my account, and was quite upset about it. I phoned the bank (hsbc) and they were kind and reimbursed me, cancelled my card and sent me a new one. My son thinks banks are covered by insurance but it annoyed me to think some one had got away with it. My son went all through my online purchases, and he thought that some sky lanterns I had bought came from a very dodgy site. For a long time after that I didn't order things online, eventually started orderings things again but stuck to Amazon and Ebay as my son felt they would have some kind of monitoring system.
DeleteThis is the thing, Janice, I don't buy online. Phone purchases are made to trusted online nurseries I've been using for nearly five years, and the dairy has my card details which appear to be secure. That card is never out of my sight.
DeleteThe neighbour who helps with the garden told me last month that he had been the victim of the Southern Water Data breach. I noticed that the rogue payments started a week after my SW DD went through. My daughter said it couldn't be that because they wouldn't have my card details, but couldn't the fact that my son has recently set up my account online be relevant? Can't they pay with their phones or something?
SARNIA
DeleteSo sorry to hear you are in such a mess with the fraud perpetrated upon you. I’m pleased that the bank were helpful when you were able to get there, however the fraud department were unpleasant.
I found the fraud department of NW to be very reasonable with me when they telephoned to check that it was me making a payment, and like you I was making the payment by ‘phone.
I can only hope for you that it does not happen again.
The Sainsbury's order eventually turned up at 1.55, much to my relief. Unfortunately, as I don't normally buy milk from the supermarket I forgot to put it on the the list, and of course all this week's milk has been cancelled because payment couldn't be taken from my account. I'll have to hope that the new card arrives tomorrow, in time to make a one-off payment for the Wednesday delivery, otherwise I'll run out.
ReplyDeleteNo heating or hot water for over a week now and boiler (nearly 20 years old) not responding to short emergency visits (partner expecting twins any day). Proper service today found essential part rusted and decayed away. New boiler required.
ReplyDeleteOh Sarnia, what a terrible month you are having. I really hope you get sorted out soon. Fingers crossed. Can your heating engineer recommend a trusted collegue if he is taking paternity leave?
ReplyDeleteWhat a nightmare Sarnia and my heart goes out to you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get things sorted soon.
It is so frightening that info. like this, has somehow been accessed and how was it actually done.
Now to Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteHow are your things going?
G thinks he can have a new boiler fitted by next weekend. In the meantime he's connected up the immersion heater so that I can at least have hot water, but must switch it off after an hour as it's so expensive to run.
ReplyDeleteNow to postpone collecting my new glasses yet again as I have no card to complete the payment.
Oh Sarnia, what a terrible time you are having, I do hope that things get resolved soon.
DeleteYour post put into perspective my gripe about an out of control dog jumping up at me this morning with very muddy paws making a mess of my jeans whilst we were out walking at Lyme. I was pretty annoyed but it seems very trivial now.
I so agree with CC that my gripes + moans are so trivial in context.
DeleteAnd to think I was going to gripe about a neighbour who had a bonfire burning all day yesterday.
Meaningless in context to others problems...
All I will say is we are still friends.
CC, my run of difficulties with boiler, Sainsbury's deliveries, bank account and constant postponing of new glasses, may be tiresome for me, but they don't make your jeans any less muddy. I'd be annoyed as well at the extra, unnecessary effort involved in cleaning them up.
ReplyDeleteI've reached the point at which my convoluted situation is so ridiculous it's beginning to look hysterically funny!
PS: the good news is that G thinks he will be able to fit the new boiler in Thursday, so I may even have heat as well as hot water.
ReplyDeleteThe bad news is that it will cost £1,000 more than he thought it would.
Actually, I'm finding the house fresher and myself more alert without the heating, so I may be using it less when I get it back, just to heat upstairs for an hour before bedtime
Interesting to hear that, as after a week of awful sinus problems, my CH is not being used as much. It comes on in the morning but then turn it off until I need to boost it again.
DeleteWhat a difference this has made.
It was a sunny day with a temp of 15C but couldn't enjoy it as was in hospital. for an appointment but just a check up, but there hours!
Unfortunately I have to balance that against the need for heat to keep my joints moving.
DeleteAP and Miriam: we used to be with Lloyds, and Mr S since he was 17. Then it became LLOYDS TSB; then they transferred us to another City Centre branch without consulting us; then they sold that branch to TSB; so now I'm with TSB.
ReplyDelete(Just changed picture to one of a Taoist temple in the Philippines where son and family plus daughter are at present. For anyone who likes dragons.)
ReplyDeleteLovely...
DeleteI find it amazing how the younger generations just whizz around the world now, for so very many reasons.
My OZ niece is now in China somewhere quite remote, to visit + see traditional workers which might suit the business she is now working for.
Mind you, I would not have liked to eat the deep fried scorpions + locusts, along with the donkey meat dishes, served for the evening meal!!
DeleteYuk!
ReplyDeleteSorry folks, but the angst just got worse: the reason why I can't access my newly set-up online account is that someone else got in there first and changed all the contact details, thus shutting me out. I'd been trying to work out how my thumb print could suddenly become 'incorrect information '.
Thus, while the local branch could still ring me, the on-line banking dept didn't understand why they couldn't call me to discuss the fraud, until somebody twigged what had happened and rang the original number.
Apparently, despite the fact that the bank clerk cancelled my card in front of me and it now lies in shreds in my waste basket, it is still flagged as live; someone even made an online purchase for £950 with it, even as I was explaining to tbe fraud dept on the phone that I had been locked out of my online account so was unable to use it.
I made myself a slap-up lunch, I'm about to make a quote exciting stir-fry, to be washed down with an excellent non- alcoholic Sauvignon, and I keep dissolving into fits of giggles.
That'll be a QUITE exciting stir-fry; you can quote me on that!
ReplyDeleteI really feel for you Sarnia, I have been lucky so far but the sheer worry & inconvenience of something like this is horrible. I hope the bank can help you sort everything out & make sure that you aren’t left out of pocket at least.
DeleteI'm actually quite intrigued by some of the barmier aspects of the situation. For example: at the beginning of February
DeleteI finally caved in over internet, having been persuaded by my son that access by means of my thumb-print made it completely secure.
Alas, no. Someone with other means at their disposal and took much time on their hands got into it and changed all the contact info, so that my thumb print has been re-branded as incorrect ID!
Could I embark on a new career as a master criminal, secure in the knowledge that I can't be identified by my fingerprints because the bank says they're not actually mine?
I'm cracking up at the thought of it 🤣🤣🤣
Internet banking.
DeleteOh my goodness Sarnia….. you couldn’t make it up, could you !
DeleteI am so very very sorry for you.
If you weren’t laughing at the absurdity of it all, you would be tearing your hair out.
I can only wish for you that it becomes sorted very soon.
At the very least, as some form of compensation, the bank seems to be on your side and helping. I hope that continues.
What a nightmare Sarnia.
DeleteAs Mrs P says how lucky you are that your bank is aware of this fraud and it that is very genuine....
It shows though that individual security protection, is still not safe and can be changed.
I only ever do my Internet banking on my desktop, which has an extra security feature regarding money....
However reading your experience, I now wonder just how good this is.
daftest situation I've been in since we collected Mr S's death certificate and then realised that because he'd lost all the other paperwork there was no proof that he'd ever been born. (Me neither for that matter)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have an apology to make. The Canal Boat Diaries programmes currently being shown on the Yesterday channel are repeats. The new series of hour long programmes are now being recorded and will air later in the year, around June time I think. I'm not on Facebook but there may be more information on Robbie's page on there.
ReplyDeleteCanal Boat diaries sounds a good idea CC. . At present my spirits are being lifted by watching YouTube aviation videos made by a dippy American 747 pilot called Kelsey. He's very entertaining, especially when roasting silly young things spreading dangerous misinformation on TikTok about flying, such as not needing a seatbelt.
ReplyDeleteNew boiler tomorrow.Yippee!!
Yippee, I have new boiler, I have heat, I have hot water. Now to see if the cheque bounces! ( I did warn the bank it was coming)
ReplyDeleteHow lucky that whoever did your work, accepted a cheque, as so many don't these days.
DeleteHe accepts cheques because as a small, one-man business he doesn't have a card machine and a lot of his customers are like me and can't do a bank transfer.
DeleteThe landscape gardener a couple of years ago was a real pain: he was a complete electronic junkie and when I said I would have to take a taxi to the building society to get the cash he went ape and thought I was trying to evade payment!
The lovely bloke I use for the heavy garden work and my window cleaner, have to be paid by bank transfer now.
DeleteAlso my hairdresser only accepts card payments, wheras I preferred to pay by cash.
I can't remember the last time I wrote a cheque or why.
So pleased that you have your boiler now Sarnia. I can't remember when I last wrote a cheque either Miriam. I believe that sales of wallets and purses are going down now that more people are using electronic means of payment.
DeleteAt present it's my only means of access to my account.
DeleteI’m not sure that I possess a cheque book. My main account certainly doesn’t provide one. I may have one somewhere for my secondary account and i am fairly certain there are cheque books for our joint accounts gathering dust in the study but I must confess I’ve banked online for years, just using cash for small local purchases when the businesses prefer
DeleteI'm afraid this experience immediately on having an on line account simply confirms my suspicions that it's not a safe thing to do. I haven't given my details over the phone or responded to a dubious web-site even though the bank insist that I must have done, because I'm not that stupid. I haven't made any online purchases either, I've just made transfers to my son's account so he could do it for me. What is weird is that the bank's records show that account as having been opened on March 13th, whereas it was actually done at the beginning of February.
DeleteI've done nothing to invite this level of fraud and it's made me so grateful that I still have a cheque book, which I will be using more in future.
I’m pleased for you Sarnia that you now have warmth and hot water, and I’m glad that being without was for a few days only.
DeleteDuring the twenty ‘lost’ years in my flat in London I was twice without heat or hot water for two years on each occasion. I am in a position to truly sympathise with your plight.
As for online payments, because I will not bank online, and my money for refurbishment of my flat is in a BS with the nearest branch being twenty five miles away, I too struggle. However one of the traders payments required this week has suggested that he will accept a cheque when I explained that I would not be able to make a bank transfer until next week. Another trader has been very willing to accept a cheque, but he probably has his account with one of the two banks left in this town.
Our branch of HSBC closed last year, so I now do all my banking by phone, but I’ve done that for years with my First Direct account anyway, and I’ve never had a cheque book with that account.
Change of subject for a minute - is anyone watching this year’s Apprentice?
ReplyDeleteWe regard it as a comedy show because most of the candidates useless and are totally out of their depth. But it is the ignorance of some young people just amazes and appals us. The girl fired last night did t even know she was in Budapest last week, I don’t think she had ever heard of it!
Mr PtbY sees it as a comedy
DeleteShow, I cannot watch it because I get so frustrated at them all being so thick.
I stopped watching this many years ago, as I just got so irritated by the candidates.
DeleteWhat annoys me is that I am sure many candidates are not true to themselves in the tasks.
I read recently about a winner who Sir Alan invested in, and that this hbusiness is now worth millions.
As to this success it was said, that it was due to - just being him/herself and being in the boardroom so often, that Sir Alan knew more about this person than others.
Oh, AP, I never fail to be astonished by some of the things that people say they've never heard of.
ReplyDeleteI finally got round to implementing my final eye op option yesterday, expecting it to be July/august. I heard back in the afternoon that I can go ahead on April 19th! Excited but terrified as it will be done under local anaesthetic.
ReplyDeleteHopefully by the end of summer I will look normal again.
Good news. What is this one about? I would expect the anaesthetic would be fairly light and not to worry about it.
DeleteI too am having eye problems, as again my eye-pressures have gone up near to borderline levels, despite my change to stronger drops 6 months ago.
I spoke my mind in a very nice way, as to my concerns, and today received another app. for June, just 3 months away which I am so pleased about.
I just feel that I am still too young to suffer glaucoma problems affecting my sight.
PtbY.
DeleteI misread your post, as to the anaesthetic, as local and not general as thought.
You will be fine...
Going to have each end of eye stitched a little to raise the lower lid to disguise my bulging eye. There is too much white showing.
DeleteNew thinner lenses in glasses have stopped eye lid catching on glasses so that meant I avoided extra decompression surgery.
Apparently I've just joined the cataract club.
ReplyDeleteI've got waterfalls in my eyes...Greek Kataraktes!
I hope you are being referred to get onto the waiting list ASAP, so to get sorted. Don't hesitate.
DeleteThey say not yet, too soon - eventually.
DeleteSarnia, I got a cataract diagnosis last April, but the optician (Boots) said it was too soon to go on a waiting list, the criteria up here in Durham is that you need to be classed as not fit to drive before you get on, and goodness knows how long the list is when you are almost blind. So on that basis I must be almost eligable as I now can't see to drive at night. I expect to have to lose my independece before I am eligable...not bitter or anything.
DeleteThese seemingly postcode lottery’s are just terrible. My neighbour had her second cataract op this week not long after her first and she does not nor ever has driven!
DeleteBecause of COVID catch up she waited a little while for the first but even then her optician chased up on her behalf. I had both of my op’s in 2013 and because of an NHS wait I contacted Benenden as I had just become a full member at £11 per month at that time and explained I am the only driver my mother whom I take out in the car is in
a care home and my husband needs some assistance (although not as much as now) and in less than a minute ops were granted and paid for in full. I had to go to Reading for all appointments and ops but boy was i grateful and being private it was all very relaxing and stress free, own room to wait in and have drops etc and surgeon popped in prior and cuppa and lovely cake afterwards plus a gift box of miniature Molton Brown products (which got me hooked)
Not the cheapest but last for ages. For £11 per month and only been in for 6 I thought that great value. It is now £15.50 each per month but still very good. One of my sisters and both of their husbands have used them for different things. Maybe worth a look at the T&C for some….
So sorry to hear of Kate’s diagnosis and wish her well in her recovery. The Late Queen would have been so very proud of her broadcast. Poor William must feel he is in some parallel universe right now lost his mother -his father and now his wife to care for and support.
It is unbelievable what has happened within the Royal Family in just a handful of years. So much stress and family angst which will always take its toll on physical and mental health whoever you are in the hierarchy of life!
Katy if you are looking in today - thinking of you on Ev’s 1st birthday anniversary a day of reflection for you no doubt. 🥰
ReplyDeleteLADY R
DeleteHow lovely of you to remember the date of Evs birthday and sending a message to Katy.
I wish I knew you personally as I’m sure you are a lovely individual.
Thank you for your post, as a result of which I send greetings to KATY too.
DeleteSuch kind words Mrs P
and I thank you, but I feel this blog is a caring one all round 🥰
Just a quick addition to the cataract club - Mr A has now to have both eyes done, not because of a great deterioration in his sight but because the developing cataracts are making it difficult for his optician to photograph his retinas - an essential part of his diabetes monitoring. He had the initial appointment at Basingstoke Hospital and is now waiting for 2 appointments for the ops, which he has told should be fairly soon.
ReplyDeleteThankfully his angiogram is being done at the new ‘state of the art’ heart unit at Basingstoke next
week but he is still awaiting for a dermatology appointment since last August.
I am finding so many posts about illnesses, operations etc very difficult at the moment as I am pretty depressed and finding the changes in my life challenging, so please excuse me if I withdraw for a while until I feel more able to contribute.
Hoping that everyone with problems, upcoming operations etc will soon be well and receive the best treatment possible.
I hope that it won't be too long before you are feeling more positive Archerfile and look forward to hearing from you again in the not too distant future.
DeleteAP.
DeleteDo keep posting, as love reading your posts and you so belong here.
I understand about what you mean about medical issues. Whatever is affecting anyone here, it is scary and it's the not known as to the future. Perhaps it is easier to chat here, than often with friends + family
Stay positive and do keep joining in.
Any good jigsaws done recently?
I have just done a Wasgij Destinity one. It was really tricky and I struggled with it, but I finally finished.
DeleteIt is called "Games Night" and it was so satisfying to complete.
Have you tried Matcha tea, AP? I usually drink green tea anyway, but I've seen this particular variety recommended for lifting mood and increasing metabolic rate, and nobody's metabolism needs speeding up more than mine!
ReplyDeleteApparently it contains serotonin, of which I have a deficiency, and all sorts of other goodies and after a fortnight or so of drinking two cups a day as well as the customary one, I certainly feel much more alert and optimistic. Mind you, living in a fresher atmosphere without central heating as well as my daft, newly found YouTube entertainment might have something to do with that!
Overall, I find myself with a much more positive outlook: whatever is going wrong outside, on the inside I'm OK, which is all that matters.
I love the radio as do many, well I think.
ReplyDeleteI have listened recently to some interesting programmes, but these are to my taste of murder/detective mysteries, but I also love a good comedy (usually an old one).
I enjoyed:-
Inspector Morse (today) Last seen Wearing
Val Mcdermit - Village Sos
RD Wingfield - Daylight Robbery.
I am still listening to Sabine, only half way through, but is intriguing.
I also love Marriage Lines and Not in Front of the Children, which are really quite dated now, but for some reason, these amuse me 🤷♀️
My favourite is still "Conversations from a Long Marriage".
I wish there was a podcast of the music played in these series..
Take Care All. 🐈⬛ Xx
Archerphile I totally understand your current feelings and I do hope you will feel somewhat better before too long.
ReplyDelete(Rescue Remedy Spray?)
I am using again currently as it is so heartbreaking to see my bereaved sister so bereft without her wonderful husband beside her. I cannot show this in front of her but after we visited her last Wednesday I came home and just sobbed. It will get easier for us all in our current situations I know but right now it is so hard.
Sending ❤️
AP Please keep posting.
ReplyDeleteLike Lady R. ❤️❤️
"A problem shared, is often a problem halved"
DeleteThank you all for your positive messages. Listening to the programmes Miriam listed do help to stop me falling too far, especially the R D Wingfield play which actually made me laugh.
DeleteIf you will all not mind that I don’t comment on here so often or think I must be very ill, that will be fine. It’s just that some days my mood is so low that I don’t want to do or read anything.
I shall keep going with the Archers blog though, it’s less personal and gives me something to think about rather than myself.
AP Keep looking in.
DeleteIt does help with the feeling that you are not alone, along with the intersting chats on very many differing and interesting topics.
I live on my own, and enjoy this page with the many I feel now, as true friends.
Yes, we moan + groan at times, but there is also a lot of camaraderie and love.❤️
AP.
DeleteI had a wonderful sight of a Beluga XL lwhich flew by very close this morning. I heard it before I saw it and it still thrills me to see this wonderful plane.
I always think of you and son when luckily enough to view this
Lady R, Thank you for info re Benenden, I will have a look. I agree with Mrs.P. about your kind comments to all, I sometimes watch The Chase and hope Katy remembers to tell us when she is on.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, I have suffered with clinical depression, and I sympathise, no-one who hasn't been through it can begin to understand. I wish you peace and hope.
ARCHERPHILE
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in feeling as you currently do.
As Mistral says others who have not been through depression are frequently unable to understand. But many others will know how you feel and will be sympathetic.
Most of us do get through it, although i believe that it is foolish to think that once over it will ever return. It often does, but even then it can pass again.
You have been brave to open up to us on this public forum and give us an explanation for the likelihood of your absence.
We will be with you in our thoughts and look forward to your return even if for a while infrequently.
Take each day as it comes, and if it’s a bad day just sit down and feel how you feel. Do not deny it !
However you feel is valid.
I hope this time passes for you in the not too distant future.
Thinking of you Archerfile. There is a programme with several old series that I sometimes watch on BBC iPlayer called "Not going out" with Lee Mack. It is totally daft but makes me really laugh.
ReplyDelete"Laughter is the best medicine"
DeleteAnother one I like: As soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul"
Thank you all, again, for your understanding and support. I suffered severe clinical depression about 10 years ago but came through it with serotonin replacement drugs, and am permanently on the minimum dose which is supposed to keep another bout at bay. It maybe that I need an increased dose for a while to get me through the current return.
ReplyDeleteIt was not helped by hearing from my son, last night, that he has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation after suffering heart problems. He, just like his Dad in Basingstoke, will be seeing a cardiologist in Toulouse on Wednesday. Whether he’ll need a pacemaker fitted or some other treatment will be decided. As he said last night, 1 heart patient in the family was enough; two is unfortunate; but three is just too many!
Sending ❤️❤️ to you and family. Keep in touch, as and when you feel you want to. 🤗
DeleteArcherphile is your med 50mg Sertraline? If so join the club!
DeleteSorry to hear of your sons appointment as he is of course a youngster in the scheme of things.
Mr R has been fine since his AF diagnosis latter part of last year (🤞) just on 3 new meds one being a blood thinner - and he will be 29 tomorrow 🤣 (he is turning it around this time!) my sis came this afternoon and I then took us all to Forest Lodge Garden Centre cuppa and cakes taken 😊 Mr R left us at times to zoom around in his F1 chair…..👏
My mother suffered from depression. For as long as I can remember she had bouts of the illness so I have a little understanding of what you are going through Archerfile, although second hand. There were many happy times as well and I hope that it won't be too long before you experience some yourself.
DeleteArcherphile…I started with clinical depression aged 40. I take 100mg of sertraline every day and it keeps me on an even keel. Maybe see your dr to increase your medication a bit.
DeleteWhat a lovely sunny day here today.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled though with just a little thing - I got my washing outside + it dried - simple things mean a lot.
The difference is that the sun in finally in my back garden again, but there was a strong cold wind.
My eldest niece was in N Wales yesterday with her daughter who was playing in a rugby tournament (my 12yr soon to be 13yr, old great-niece).
She sent a photo of snow on the Snowdonia mountains in the background and they were cold!!
I love the introduction of female youngsters into rugby. If the women's football team and cricket teams can do it, then why not rugby..
One thing I would say about this great-niece, is how this sport has changed her, and in a good way. She now has a lot of new friends, who are not at her school, so has more outside interests.
It’s great isn’t it Miriam so many opportunities now for young girls!
DeleteMy great great niece is deeply into playing football and cricket she also is 12yrs old 🤗
I was never sporty so no genes from me 😂
Lady R, please wish Mr. R many happy returns from me, I hope you both have a lovely day tomorrow.
DeleteThank you Mistral from Mr R for his birthday wishes. He enjoyed a day of friends and family calling by and phone calls and texts etc. plus yummy cakes 🤭
DeleteI too have been thinking of Katy and her appearance on “The Chase” I believe it can be up to a year or longer before a recording is aired. A long time to keep quiet especially if a good win is the result I think, unless the winnings are not paid until that time……
Oh, bliss: I have heat, I have hot water, I have cash, a viable debit card, the food situation has stabilised, tomorrow I can collect my new glasses AT LAST., and I'm looking forward to a normal Sainsbury's outing on Thursday. On Wednesday my gas fires will be serviced and Nigel-the-neighbour has recovered from COVID and is coming to help in the garden.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it's Holy Week, so there's extra work on top of that, but after several weeks of turbulence the chiropractor has just been untying all the resulting knots and things are looking much more positive.
Good to hear Sarnia. A gentle reminder of how much we take or granted. Glad to hear the heating is back as the forecast is for a few chilly days.
DeleteI'm pleased that you have some good news at last Sarnia, long may it last.
DeleteHooray Sarnia.
DeleteOff to collect new glasses now I can access account to finish paying for them. Taxi to local shopping centre, bus to city centre, then 10 minutes walk. Return is same in reverse. BIG OUTING!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear your very positive news Sarnia.
DeleteLong may it last.
So glad Sarnia, that things are now progressing so positively.
DeleteI had a lovely outing yesterday.
ReplyDeleteSince coming to live in Minehead I’ve been trying to find a NVM group.
The nearest is in Taunton on a Friday morning at 10 am.
Not possible for me for various reasons.
On Saturday at the Street Choir concert I sat next to a woman that I’ve only ever smiled at never exchanged words with before, and she mentioned that she also sang with another group, and an NVM practitioner - the same person from Taunton - in her village.
That evening I emailed said person, she emailed the village group, and they contacted me immediately. Yesterday was their last meeting before the Easter break.
There was only one song I was familiar with, a west African piece, but I have a good ear and am a quick study.
Ah bliss, singing the way I love, three and four part a Capella harmony, with songs from around the world.
The village is a fifteen minute journey from home and so I can leave Lady for a couple of hours without any concerns.
Our concert on Saturday was good and raised almost £1000.00 for local food banks.
It certainly seems that the move has been very positive for you MrsP
DeleteThat sounds absolutely marvellous, Mrs P. I can't get over the contrast between this and your previous existence; it's so wonderful to hear of you living life to the full.
ReplyDeletePlease, what is NVM?
I can’t agree with you Sarnia, I’m not living life to the full at all, but I do agree that my spirit has drastically improved since living in light filled Minehead rather than my dark Cotswold cottage.
DeleteNVM - the Natural Voice Movement
Every one who can speak can also sing.
A speaking voice is modulated, singing is an extension of that modulation.
The NVM does not generally use music, and words and tune are learned by ear as is much music throughout the world.
The repertoire tends to be international, African, Northern European, Scandinavian, British folk, and frequently in the round.
I hope that’s enough of an explanation.
I’ve been singing with NVM groups on and off for over twenty years, but it’s also very similar to how I learned music as a child in the singing company in the Salvation Army.
I was with several small local groups in London, and Stroud has about ten different NVM practitioners and a dozen or more choirs with long waiting lists for many of them.
I also did some workshops when in London with the London Bulgarian Choir and was on their waiting list to join the choir, until I left London of course when I ceased my connection.
Well, Mrs P, you may not agree with me, but to me your life seems a great deal more full than it did before.
DeleteAs for the singing, as a trained and experienced music teacher I totally agree with you. It has always looked to me as if people have only come to believe that they can't sing because somebody else has convinced them of it, usually when they were very young, a cruel denial of one of life's health-giving joys.
It doesn't help that music in general and singing in particular has been turned into a commercial commodity to be consumed rather than participated in.
I will now go away and lie down in a darkened room until I have calmed down!
I talked to my eldest great-niece about music in her school, she is now year 8.
DeleteIt appears virtually nothing is taught, apart from a few hours a term.
She said it is boring, as to who wants to know what an orchestra is and why.
She has never heard any classical music nor is interested in doing so.
It is so sad.
Music was always a big thing in my school days, with choirs, orchestras, jazz bands and learning to play instruments.
It gave a lot of pleasure and was fun with after school rehearsals, especially as this was a joint orchestra with he boys from the adjoining school, doing concerts etc. This led onto many taking up music professionally, one is still a Professor of Music at Cheethams, and another is a well known piano soloist, seen recently playing at The Proms..
Remember in Covid when all did their Desert Island Disc choices, it was lovely to hear others choices and why...
I agree with you Miriam, the state of music in many schools today is dire.
DeleteBut not all.
Two of my grandchildren both contribute musically.
My middle granddaughter was in the school choir and played flute then saxophone and was in the wind band, as well as playing netball at county level and her brother is considering doing a music degree.
They have been encouraged at home of course too.
There's so much more birdsong on our walks now. I wish that I was better at identifying birds by their song but, no matter how hard I try, I always forget which birds they are apart from blackbirds, sparrows and robins.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely duck mating season near to me! Pairs are strutting their stuff down the road outside, and sitting on roof tops again.
DeleteThe big pond is not far away, but it fascinating to see.
I still find it strange to see ducks sitting cuddled together, on ridge tiles.
🦆
I was watching a pair of pigeons doing a making dance yesterday
DeleteLanjan asked me to tell you all that she can’t get onto the blog. Says she has to sign in with google and nothing happens. She’s fiddled about with google and now has 3 gmail accounts that she doesn’t know how she’s got and has given up!!! She’ll have to wait till she has a tech savvy visitor because I couldn’t help her long distance either.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how LanJan is feeling. I can’t get onto this blog with my newer iPad so I have to use this old one which is useless for everything except this archersfan blog.
ReplyDeleteGood luck LanJan.
What a fantastic shop I did in S/burys today - bargains galore, such as;-
ReplyDelete2kg potatoes 15p, 1kg carrots 15p, Gold Blend coffee £4.50, Easter chocs for the youngsters all £1.50 off, a beef joint half-price.
I spent a lot but saved nearly £37.
To think I was only going to do a small shop!
The big supermarkets certainly know how to get shoppers to spend more, what with individual loyalty prices, and in-store ones if have their card.
Big Sis did similar in Tescoes.
I am glad I shopped today, as was busy and veg. was very fresh.
Veg - got my favourite, Spring Greens which were really fresh! This will go well with my liver/bacon/mushrooms tonight.
DeleteI'm afraid they still haven't succeeded with me, Miriam! I buy exactly what I want to buy and nothing more. Foodwise my requirements are minimal and predictable, my one indulgence being the non-alcoholic wine, which now has a regular slot on my shopping list
DeleteI am usually the same, but too many savings today to ignore. I only bought items I normally buy so freezer is full and am well stocked for a month now.
DeleteSadly the much needed + costly big bag of cat biscuits for 🐈⬛ was full price! Still cheaper than elsewhere though.
DeleteYou've probably heard that my minimalist shopping habits are governed by my minimalist freezer capacity, which is in turn governed by my minimalist 1920 kitchen facilities!
DeleteI’ve recently acquired, free on Marketplace, an extra under counter freezer which has been installed in my garden shed.
DeleteMy reason for wanting extra freezer capacity was an intention to start to feed Lady ‘ raw’ and to ensure I could be well stocked up for my post ankle operation. I have however now decided against changing Lady’s diet so have instead offered one drawer for the use of my neighbour upstairs ( the friendly one !) who has limited space in her kitchen. I believe she has for some time had use of space in her aunts freezer who lives in a nearby town, but she has been quick to take up my offer.
That's kind of you.
DeleteSarnia I expect you are asleep now but when you read this please could you tell me how you watch planes as they travel. My daughter is as we speak in the air returning from her holiday in the Philippines ( her brother,wife and toddler Max are out there for 2 months), and because if anyone can be late or miss a connection it is my scatty daughter I have stayed up to make sure she made her connection at Qatar, and once I knew from our whats app conversation she was actually boarding the plane I thought it would be nice to just watch the flight path for a little while. I put qr107 into Google and it told me the leaving time from Qatar and arrival time at Heathrow but it seemed to want me to download an app or something before I could watch the flight. Usually my son does computer things I don't know how to do but of course he isn't here. I shall give up for tonight now and go to sleep, but it might be nice when the others eventually come back to follow their planes if you can tell me how you do it.
ReplyDeleteJanice, Google FlightRadar24 and download the free app (you can just do it through Google, but you will have to refresh every 30 min, which is a nuisance).You can click on the airport for arrivals, departures, weather conditions and even zoom in to watch take off and landing on the runway.
DeleteClick on a plane in flight and it will come up red with details of altitude, speed, time of departure and ETA.
Thank you very much Sarnia. That is very helpful. She is safely back at Heathrow now and waiting for a National Express bus to bring her home. I shall do the flight radar thing in time for when the others fly back in May. Phone signals don't seem to work when the plane is actually flying so it will be nice to watch their progress. Thanks again.
DeleteIt would be lovely to watch the plane taking off, sort of like being actually there with them.
DeleteNot easy to work out which one is theirs, though. You need to know the aircraft type and the click on all the ones lining up until you get the right one. Big Boeings are the easiest because the avatars are enormous. Airbus 380s, avatars look positively menacing!
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