Stocks look and smell beautiful, and I agree with you about lilies. If I am given a bouquet with lilies in it, I have to remove them because I can't stand the smell.

My dad goes walking every day and is a keen bird watcher. He was really pleased last year when a family of woodpeckers took up residence in the wood where he walks.
I've got a bird table, a bird bath, peanut feeds and lardballs in the garden, hubby says we must have the fattest birds in the village.

I went onto Google Earth recently and had a look at my old house in Colchester, it made me all nostalgic.

Hello again.Giving the thread a little bump.

Just a little bump for the thread as I sign out for the night.  Will catch up again tomorrow. 

Hope its not too cold wherever you are, but its always nice to have a snuggle, have a good day, catch up with you later

Good afternoon to all my lovely Freddie friends.

Squiggle, yet another lovely picture.  It's pretty cold here today and I've just heard on the forecast that we may get some more snow on Tuesday.  I'll just keep in the warm and snuggle up, like those clever bears!!

Hope to speak again later. 

Hello everyone.Just a quick visit, as I am in the middle of cooking dinner.
Weather is dark, damp and miserable today. I suppose I should be grateful we are not knee-deep in snow.
Hope to get back here, later.

Bumping the thread before I go to bed.

Morning everyone Hope you are all well.
I got the renewal notice in for my dog's insurance and it has risen by more than 25%. I'll have to spend some time, checking out other pet insurance companies.

Afternoon everyone.  Hope this finds you all well.

Dull and dismal day here.  Roll on the spring!!

Hope to catch up with some of you later. 

Soon be Spring!

Lovely picture Squiggle.  I cannot wait for the daffodils to come out!!

Signing out for the night.  Will catch up again tomorrow. 

Aww, I have missed you both again.
Does anyone know where Justa is - is RAF man still on leave? Figtree hasn't been in for a few days either, I hope they are both okay.
Maybe catch up tomorrow.

Good afternoon everyone. It's quiet in here today.

My snowdrops are out.

Brisket, I love snowdrops but I can't grow them. I have bought bulbs several times but all I get is some green stalks, no flowers.

They are nice aren't they Yogi.
But I'm not an expert, so I don't know why yours don't flower.
I wonder if it's worth trying a different spot.

I am considering growing them in pots next year, in case the soil in the garden isn't suitable for them.

That sounds like a good idea Yogi. Worth a try anyway.

I'll let you know if it works, next Spring.

Hiya everyone hope you're ok.


I was thinking about BB10 the other day and looking back despite being gutted when Freddie left I think he left at the right time now, oh well at least he'll go done as one of the most remembered housemates from that series.

Definitely.
In fact I think he is one of the best-remembered from any series of BB.

Definetly near the top of my all time favs list.

Afternoon everyone.  Hope this finds you well.  It's been a wet miserable day here today, but at least it's not snow!!

Yogi and brisket you almost seemed to have an "instant" conversation here this afternoon.  That must be a first.

Darlo, I too was gutted when Freddie left but I agree it was the right time for him.

Hope to catch up again later. 

So nice to see everyone in here chatting away It would be nice if it was like that more often.  Just thinking, I can't even remember what my sig looks like

Morning all I rescued us from Page 2.
Snow and fog here today, so I think I'll stay at home.

Morning Yogi!!

Morning Squiggle I hope you have got better weather than me.

Yeah not too bad Yogi, bit cloudy but occasional bits of blue, there is definitely a feeling of Spring in the air!!  Hope you are doing something nice to take your mind off the horrible weather, as for me I'm doing housework!!

I've been washing up, hoovering, polishing and making beds - not very thrilling, Squiggle.

So the question I have to put to you Yogi is "when does the fun start?"

Afternoon Yogi and Squiggle.  Sounds like you are both being very industrious today!  After all my clearing up last week I'm having to take some time out as the osteoarthritis in my knee is causing a lot of pain.

The weather here is sunny today, but still very cold.  At least we don't have anymore snow.

Hope to speak again later. 

Joyron, put your feet up and rest. The housework can wait until your arthritis is less painful.

Joyron I see you are a fellow sufferer of the dreaded osteoarthritis.  I have it in most of my joints!!  Can I be nosy and ask what you take for it?  I agree with Yogi, if its playing up today spoil yourself and put your feet up.

Squiggle, most of the time I can cope with it but every now and then it really plays me up.  The doctor has not given me any medication, I just take some strong painkillers when it gets bad.  I've not had a problem since last October but it's really bringing me down today!!

My husband wants me to speak to the doctor about surgery but I do not want to get into that.  As I said most of the time I can cope with it, I do not want to be disabled anymore than I am now.  My biggest problem is that it's my left knee and my right hip so when they play up together I've pretty well had it until the symptoms settle down.

May catch up later but if not I'll speak to you all again tomorrow. 

Squiggle, I should have added to that do you have any suggestions, remedies or medications which you have tried which might help??  Any tips would be more than welcome.  I think the problem I have is the doctors that I see don't suffer from osteoarthritis.  If they did they might be more forthcoming with their suggestions to alleviate the pain!!

Joyron hi!  I have osteoarthritis in quite a few of my joints.  Both knees and my right hip, my shoulders, my right heel and even my elbows.  I have been trying to 'hold back the tide' for about 14 years now and my biggest asset is without doubt glucosamine.  Lots of my friends find the same.  Some have been left completely pain free by taking it.  A good quality high dose one (I get mine from Healthspan).  I find that the high street places (Holland & Barrett) don't seem to do the same quality.  Ibuprofen helps to reduce the inflammation, which is what causes the pain, its a bit like a fire in your joints, not very pleasant.  But only take now and then (I take about a couple of times a week) and always with a glass of water and hopefully with a meal to line your stomach.  Any of the anti-inflammatories can irritate the stomach lining as you probably know.  Apart from that pain killers as you have found.  I am doing my damndest to avoid surgery.  I do take occasionally glucosamine with chondroitin, which is supposed to actually replace the cartilage but it is glucosamine which is the biggest help.   Hope this helps, and good luck.  Not many people as they age seem to avoid this awful disease.  And some people do swear by omega 3 (cod liver oil) but I have tried the 'test it out and see what helps' method.

Hello everyone, sorry i been away for a while.
been good reading through all your posts though and catching up.
hope you are all looking after yourselves as you should be :-)
notice no figs for a while so hoping all is alright with her,
i been having a good tidy up and sent 4 bin bags of clothes to the charity shop, it an excuse to say ive nothing to wear and need new clothes haha.
love to you all