Hi Hicky.

Very cold and frosty here today, with snow on the lawn and roof of the car.

Brave of your workmen to come at 8am. Everything was frozen solid here, at that time. In fact I doubt if it got much above zero all day.

That'll be nice for you, going to your lad's for Xmas dinner, even if you have to cook some of it.

Still watching X Factor, but not paying too much attention to it. But a couple of the girls are really good singers.

Really sad in Doctor Who today, as they've killed off his companion Clara.

I thought Jenna Coleman was one of the best ever companions.

Evening Emptybox.

A pretty cool day here, 5C but the wind dropped.

was going to screw the fence spikes on but the fence panels were too wet and didn't want to screw the plastic on top of wet wood.

We had a lovely roast dinner, my lad came round with his lads, we had a great time.

We had a roast ham, chicken and beef with all the veg and spuds, very tasty.

It should be dry tomorrow until 6pm.

Workers should be back in the morning anyway.

Time for bed now i think.

Hope Mollie enjoyed her trip?

Enjoyed SCD & IAC tonight.

Hi Hicky.

Dry this morning, but wet this afternoon. Not as cold as yesterday anyway.

Went to the supermarket and did usual Sunday things (not much).

That sounds like a lovely roast meal you had with your family.

Enjoyed watching the two girls doing the bush tucker trial on IAC (Vicky and Ferne).

Yes, i hope Mollie enjoyed her trip to Brum and the Christmas markets.

both

Hicky

sounds like you have a nice family Christmas planned.

Glad you had a nice roast dinner yesterday with the family too.

Hope the fence panels have dried a bit today for you.

Emptybox

I bet your place looked real pretty in the snow.

Good job the oil went down in price for this winter for you.

I too am sticking with X factor, but I don't enjoy the format as much as I used to. (or the judges!).

Yes Vicky and Fern did well at the trial.

How are you feeling lately?

At least you can slow down now this time of year work wise.

Had a good weekend, lovely at Christmas markets, as weather dry, sunny and crisp, but very cold. Didn't buy much as stuff is so expensive there, but I did like walking round, and had a nice hot apple wine. 
Mum's sisters and my cousin were pleased to see us too.
  
Hard work sorting mum's care hours out though.

Daughter  I went into Cardiff today to do a bit of Christmas shopping, already getting busy there, but I bought my cards, and a few clothes for OH from Primark.

Looking forward to IAC, I think it is still a good series, and Ant and Dec as funny as ever.

Have a good evening both xxx

Hi Mollie.

Glad you enjoyed your trip to Birmingham and your apple wine.

My Uncle makes his own apple wine, on quite a large scale. Have to say it's delicious, and nothing like cider. Never tried it hot though.

Great that you got nice weather for it.

Sounds like you also had a successful shopping trip to Cardiff too.

Rather wet here today, so I didn't get out.

have arranged for my car to go into the garage on Thursday to get the wheel bearing sorted out (if that's what it turns out to be).

Not feeling too bad at the moment. A few symptoms, but nothing that stops me from getting on.

I thought I'd be taking it easy from now on, but got a phonecall today asking me to rake up leaves and cut hedges for a customer that I usually only cut the grass for. So I hope the weather doesn't descend and stop play.

IAC quite fun tonight.

Good Morning Both.

A cold wet cloudy rotten day here.

Good job there's something to watch at night.

Mollie, it's always nice having dinner at my lads, we could have it here, it's all the same, just that most of their presents will be at their place which makes things easier.

The fence panels are still wet so will have to wait for some nice weather, i'll be lucky.

That was nice, seeing relations is always nice, so much to catch up on.

I'm enjoying IAC, Ant & Dec are a scream, what a great job they have, and they get paid.

Emptybox, Hope they sort your wheel noise out.

Hope your waterworks stay calm, what is your next move, if any.?

That job with the leaves could be a big one, if there's a lot of trees you could be buried in leaves, strange time to cut a hedge though.

Hi Hicky.

Not bad day here. A bit dull but with some sunny intervals.

Got one customer finished for the season anyway.

Yes there's always a lot of leaves at this place that rung up yesterday.

As I say, I only used to do the grass and they had another gardener do the other stuff.

I thought he was in his mid sixties, but the customer said that he was 80, and the heavy work was getting too much for him.

He certainly doesn't look 80, and the last time I was there he was happily cutting the hedge with shears, so I hope they've told him that he's past it? Or rather, I hope he's told them.

I wouldn't want to pinch his job. He was doing that place long before they got me in to do the grass.

Perhaps he had an accident cutting the hedge and couldn't finish it?

As you say, it's a bit late for doing it now.

If there's only a bit to do I'll finish it now, but if there's a lot of the hedge left to cut I'll maybe suggest leaving it to the spring.

Yes, I'm hoping that the car is straightforward to fix, and not too expensive.

Don't think I go anywhere with the waterworks problem apart from keeping on the tablets. I'm not scheduled to see anyone else, unless it gets worse, then I'll have to go back to the doc.

The repeat prescription form says "Review Date: 24.02.2016", but I think that's just an administration thing? Don't think I have to see the doc then? We'll see.

Ant & Dec are OK, but some of their humour is a bit forced. But they're good lads.

both

Emptybox

let's hope that car doesn't cost too much, you have spent enough lately on transport.

That is good you have had some new work come in.

age 80 and still working as a gardener is good going. But maybe as you say he has decided to cut back.

Pleased to hear you are not feeling too bad at the moment.

Hicky

yes I guess it might be a fair amount of time before the weather is dry enough to dry out those fence panels.

Yes Ant and Dec humour might be a bit scripted and cheesy, but it still works and is dead funny.

Been catching up today after weekend away and shopping yesterday, then had mum to look after this afternoon.

Son in auditions tonight for his drama group's next production, West Side story, so hope he gets a part he is happy with.

Nearly time for IAC, looking forward to it.

Goodnight both xx

both

hope you both had a good day.

Enjoyed IAC.

They are certainly getting their moneys worth from lady C.

Absoluted exhuasted today...shopping am, dash round jobs, then mum arrives, then I panicked in taxi taking her home,  as I left taxi money and my purse to pay taxi at home, but lucky he offerred to drop me at end of my road when we came back and son walked and bought money down. Phheew.

Son got a decnt part in the next youth theatre musical so he is well happy. 

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Both.

Just watching IAC after show.

The weather cleared up a bit today but everything wet so not much i can do in the garden.

Lots of leaves to get up but not good in the rain.

Went out to a garden centre, just got some sweets.

Emptybox, thats a good age to be working, hope he's not injured, maybe he has medical problems, at 80 you sure will get them.

My prescription says review 30th Jan 2016, not sure who by, the pharmacy might do it, they did once before but nothing changed.

I think you have to have your meds reviewed every now and again, think it's the rule.

Yes, Ant & Dec are just following scripts, it's all on the screen.

Mollie, Lady C is quite a character isn't she, what a row they had today, wow, thought that feller was going to leave.

You are getting too exhausted, all this running around is too much.

good job taxi driver was understanding.

Glad your lad got a decent part in the musical, that will please him.

Evening guys.

Nice day here, sunny and quite warm even.

Got a big holly hedge cut and some other tidying up.

My steps toppled over when I was on the top of them. Luckily my fall was broken by a large rose bush. Only have a few scratches on my leg. Could've been a lot worse. Would be a lot easier if all gardens were perfectly level.

Hi Mollie. Glad your son got a good part in the musical.

That was an understanding taxi driver? Do you use a regular one?

Hi Hicky. Yes I guess it's sensible that they review the meds every now and again. Maybe they just ring up the doctor to find out if he wants to keep prescribing them?

As I say, I'd no idea the gardener was that age.

Hope he's not giving up completely, as he used to do one day a week at this place (lots of beds etc), and I haven't that amount of time to spare on it; not and get round all my other customers.

Bought myself a tablet PC from Amazon today in the Black Friday deals.

It's a Windows 10 tablet and keyboard for £120, down from £180.

Thought it was worth a punt at that price.

It's supposed to come on Friday.

It's the Linx 1010B. That deal has already finished on Amazon now, even though it's only Wednesday, and it's gone up to £160

A lot of fighting on IAC. Very confrontational is Lady C?

Evening.

Dry and sunny most of the day. Think it must have been wet overnight, as there were puddles about.

Got my car fixed.

I took it down at 8am and collected it at 5pm.

Unfortunately they only called me at 4.25 and they shut at 5pm, so I had to walk nearly 2½ miles in half an hour. Power walking I think they call it?  (sore legs now)

Plus it was rapidly getting dark, so I carried a torch so the oncoming cars could see me.

It needed 2 wheel bearings, both the front and back on the left hand side, plus an ABS sensor had to be renewed, so it cost me £374.

Still at least it was all done in a day. I was thinking I might have to go down for it tomorrow, and I have to wait in for my tablet PC then.

I thought I'd got off too lightly in my fall yesterday. Woke up with a sore shoulder. The opposite one to the one I damaged a few weeks ago. That's still a little bit sore as well.

IAC tonight, and I record 'The Last Kingdom' on BBC2.

The Apprentice was good last night. Think the right one went, although I don't think he should be blamed for messing up the T-shirt transfers? That's hardly a business skill? But I guess he should have realised the transfers should be a mirror image for them to come out right on the shirts.

Evening Emptybox.

A lousy day here, dry but not enough sun to dry the fence.

Didn't do anything really, just ate and drank.

Sorry to hear your steps toppled, wow, you sure lucky nothing serious.

That tablet sounds a good deal, a keyboard as well.

Lady C playing a blinder again, she won't let them make a fool of her.

At least your cars fixed, pity they rang you so late, a good idea to take a torch, hope you were wearing high vis stuff or you would be hard to see.

And always walk towards the traffic, never with it coming from behind.

I recorded The Apprentice, forgot to watch it today.

Good morning both

Hicky

pity that fence is still not dry.

It probably does make it easier if the chemist can look at your prescription, I usually ring them to sort all of mum's prescriptions out as the docs phone leaves you hanging on for ages.

Yes Lady C certainly did play a blinder, at least she makes that show interesting. She also seems to bring out the nasty side in some of them there.

I too haven't watched Apprentice yet as it was on the same time as IAC.

Emptybox

Oh dear at your steps toppling over, that could of been real nasty.

I am sure you will be extra careful with those steps now. And 2 matching sore shoulders is not good either.

Shame you had another big expense with your car, Lets hope it is ok for the foreseeable future now. All this walking, along with your gardening work must at least mean you are physically fit. (and without paying those daft gym fees most pay!).

Silly me, just like silly you, have had a fall. I was rushing around as usual this morning,.... put bunny back in hutch, dishwasher on, washing machine on, then answered door to postie, dog barking to go out, and as I put her out, I slipped on the back door step rushing back in, fell flat on my face on hard kitchen tiles.  Lucky my hands caught some of my fall, but really hurt my knee and shin on one leg..., now feeling shaky and sitting with cooler blocks on them. Lucky, like you, it could of been worse though.

Good job I don't have mum today.

I hate this capatalist Americanism known as Black Friday they are trying to import now.
Ironic that Asda who were the ones who originally tried to bring it over from the US have stopped it this year, because it meant they lost shoppers later in the year.
I voted "Nothing" on this...
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-11-2...or-people-to-buy-nothing-instead/

Looking forward to IAC again.

Have a good day both xxx

Evening.

Really sorry to hear of your fall Mollie.

Hope the cool packs ease your leg.

Sounds like you were juggling too many things at once?

Lucky the bunny didn't end up in the dishwasher, rather than in it's hutch?

My own aches and pains are easing now.

Those steps are not very safe at the best of times, I keep meaning to buy some sturdier ones.

I had them on softish ground, and one leg sunk in more than the other, and I felt them slowly go over. I would normally have been able to jump clear, but this big rose bush was in the way. It ended up flat on the ground, after I'd flattened it, so I had to cut it back further than I'd intended.

Still waiting in for this tablet. I guess Black Friday has put all their deliveries back?

It's still saying to expect it today by 9pm, but the last tracking information was in the early hours in Hertfordshire, so not sure if it'll make it today.

I wouldn't buy something I wasn't already wanting in the sales, but I needed a new tablet, and this was a good price.

Sounds like Black Friday hasn't been as busy in the actual shops this year.

As you say Mollie, it's a silly American idea, but I guess the shops want people to buy things before Christmas, rather than waiting till the Boxing day sales?

Hi Hicky.

It's been raining here all day, hope you got better weather?

I think it was supposed to be a north/south split, with the rain coming to you later?

No I didn't have any hi-vis clothing for my dusk walk, I just shone the torch on the ground and stood still on the grass verge when oncoming cars were passing.

I did used to have a hi-vis jacket years ago, when I used to do some ground work for a large factory, which had forklifts whizzing about etc.

Not sure what happened to it.

Lady C is a character, but I don't like to see them not even attempting the trials.

Think Vicky is my favourite at the moment.

Evening Both.

Weather not too bad, put a few strips of spikes on the fence, just were a cat gets onto it, will do more tomorrow if it's ok.

Put another 2 covers on 2 more 3 seater benches.

Mollie, IAC would probably be boring without Lady C as you say.

Thought i had recorded The Apprentice but can't find it.

Sorry to hear about the fall, thats what i did on the decking, takes a while to get over that, had to put my secret wound material on it and it just went, couldn't believe it.

I don't think Black Friday does much, most places have dumped it, not worth the extra work.

Emptybox, yes, a lot rushed down to the shops for Black Friday and found noone there, that must have been a shock.

You really must get High Vis vest for outside your clothing if walking on quiet roads, a torch doesn't really do much except for you, traffic needs to see a person, clothes don't show up.

Lady C didn't attempt some trials to get her own back on the others.

She's a clever one.

Have a good weekend, we have F1, strictly and the jungle, wow, great.

Emptybox

hopefully your delivery has arrived by now.

We won't count you as being a typical Black Friday customer, you are too classy for that.... you didn't go and do this awful pushing and shoving we see from American tv, and you didn't even order on Black Friday. Hope you are pleased with your bargain when it arrives.

Gosh I think you really should consider splashing out on those sturdier steps, especially as physical work is your livelhood. Mabye get some in the post Christmas sales?

Glad your aches and pains are easing now.

Mine are just coming out, big lump on shin and knee, but it could of been much worse if I had broken something.

Hicky

glad the weather was good enough for you to get out in the garden.

Could you catch up with the Apprentice on iplayer?

With your fall on the decking, that makes all 3 of us that have fallen recently, no more falls for us all of us now please!!!!  Is your secret wound stuff the silver healing? I have little plasters with that on it.

Yes it is great to have so much lined up to watch on tv his weekend.

I am recording Gogglebox tonight to watch later.

Goodnight both xxx

No my package never arrived.

I got an email from Amazon apologizing, and saying to allow a couple more days, so it might not come till Sunday.

I guess they haven't employed enough couriers to cope with the extra demand.

I wasn't planning anything particular for the weekend, but it had better arrive before I want to go to the supermarket on Sunday, or I'll be annoyed.

TBH I don't mind the idea of Black Friday, especially if it means big bargains, but I'll probably be wary another year, because of this delivery delay.

Might venture out to the shops next year?

Wasn't really planning to make a habit of walking in the dark Hicky, but as you say, you never know when a bit of high visibility might come in handy.

Might be an idea to keep a hi-vis vest in the boot of the car, in case of night time breakdowns.

Sorry to hear your shin has come up in a bump Mollie.

Perhaps Hicky will let you in on his secret dressing.

Made my first casserole/stew of the season today. Had one portion tonight, and put another 5 portions in the freezer.

I suppose Susannah had been the least visible on IAC, so not a surprise she went

evening Both.

Not good weather so stayed in and ate and watched F1 etc.

Had smoked undyed cod for brekkie.The wound stuff Mollie is this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duo-De...+extra+thin+dressing

Mine was the 150mm sheets but they were given to me, they are expensive but you just cut off how much you want so there's no waste.

Well with SCD, X-Factor (only watched a bit) and IAC and F1, i'm fine with that.

And i have lots of nuts and sweets.

Emptybox, pity you delivery never arrived, i'm hoping to be advised about my tree deliveries, they should be soon, can't wait.

Don't think it is the Squirrel nibbling the Asparagus because one stem was nibbled half way through but was still standing, it might be an Asparagus Beetle.

More detective work needed.

My O/H made a stew the other day, the next day i used the leftovers to make a curry, just added madras Paste, yummy.

Didn't even notice Susannah was in there.

Hi Hicky.

Pretty wet here most of the day as well.

My tablet came about 2pm.

Very pleased with it. It runs the full desktop version of Windows 10, with the keyboard attached. So you've more or less got a touchscreen netbook for £120, plus the convenience of a tablet when you want it.

Seems pretty nippy as well, although the 32GB internal storage is a bit cramped. I've added a 128GB micro SD card at £36, to add a bit of elbow room for data.

Not sure that Windows makes for as good a tablet experience as Android? There still seems to be things that Android does better, but I'm typing this on it in tablet mode, and my Android browser always had great difficulty on this site.

Annoying that you've got something nibbling your asparagus. 

There's evidence of rats under my bonnet again (food scraps), so the sonic device might not be working? But at least they weren't still there when I looked.

Enjoyed X Factor and IAC, then watched my recording of Doctor Who. Brilliant episode this week.

both

Emptybox

Good news that your delivery finally arrived.

And even better that you are pleased with it.

Oh no, not the return of the rats in the bonnet again.

Hope the device does put them off staying too long.

Hicky

what cheeky blighters they are nibbling your asparagus. Hope your detective work unearths and solves the problem.

Glad you enjoyed your madras. Is madras the extra spicy one? I can't manage stronger than a korma, as my throat remains sensitive to spice since the op. Not that I am complaining about that, as at least my breathing is a lot better now.

Great to have X factor and IAC last night, as I was done in after a visit to Costco and looking after mum all afternoon. She gets weepy when tired especially when we can't take her out if the weather is bad.

We got a real Christmas tree from Costco. It is lovely, we didn't go for the biggest one I liked in the end (even though they are all he same price) as OH said he didn't think it would fit it in the car. Good job he stopped me getting the big one as even the one we went for looks huge now we have got it in the house, and touches the ceiling.

Awful weather here all day today... wind and heavy rain, so stayed home and helped son put his college assignment together.

Am enjoying IAC tonight.

I remember those bad storms when we lived in Queensland during summer months.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Emptybox.

A rotten windy day.

Got a few strips of spikes on the fence but weather not nice.

The lid of my plant feed tank got blown off over the fence but at my rear of the garden is a double fence so it was between them, i got a long bamboo cane and taped a piece of heavy wire to it and bent the end over, it hooked into the hole in the top of the lid, sorted.

The wind has damaged some of the roofing tiles on the gazebo so i might need to buy some more to fix it, i should have sealed the edges of the ridge tiles but thought it would be ok.

Glad you got your tablet, hope your 128gb card didn't come from online china, the one i got i had to test and it failed, it was a fake.

Amazon refunded me the money.

I sent them the test results.

Well, it seems to be working fine.

I sprayed the Asparagus but the spray is a contact spray so that wouldn't do anything.

Yes, as you say, the rats must be back, you'll have to go to plan B.

Thanks for that info Hicky.

I will have to get some in.

Hi both.

Wet day here, so I haven't been able to get out.

Very wet and windy here yesterday as well, but sounds like you had it worse Hicky, if the lid of your plant feed blew off? Good job retrieving it from between the fences.

Also bad news that the tiles on your gazebo have been damaged, after all the work you did on it.

I did get the micro SD card from Amazon, but it is a Samsung one and was delivered from the UK.

It seems to be fine. I've put about 80GB of data on to it without complaint.

Bit early for a Christmas tree Mollie?

Good job you didn't get the big one you first wanted, as you probably wouldn't have got it in the house.

Pity you can't manage spicy foods now, but good breathing is more important, as you say.

I'm supposed to stay off spicy stuff myself, with my condition.

Notice IAC is on a bit earlier tonight at 8.30pm, for some reason.

I don't know if you know about the forum changes which are scheduled to take place later. The site is expected to be down for four hours.

There's a couple of threads on the Big Brother pages about this:

Lori's announcement: https://www.gagajoyjoy.com/topi...elease-for-this-site

And my thread about how to post: https://www.gagajoyjoy.com/topic/new-forum-posting-etc

Thanks for the info El Loro.

Hopefully the new format will work better on mobile devices than before.

Evening All.

Another lousy day here, too much wind and rain.

Mollie, the use by date on my unused dressing has expired but you probably get a few years in hand.

It's what i put on finger when i sawed the side off.

And my knee was in an awful mess when i put it on there, it was so bad i didn't like to show anyone, when after a week or so i took it off, the wound had gone, i couldn't believe it, all new skin had grown.

Emptybox, I've been picking some section of the gazebo roof tiles up, a few bits are in next door, my own fault, wasn't expecting 55mph winds.

I will sort it when the weather picks up.

Glad your SD card is ok mine was a good make, but it was fake, it was from Amazon as well.

You can't trust much these days.

IAC is on for 90 mins tonight.

El Toro, will we be able to insert attachments again without becoming a VIP?

I only cancelled the VIP thing because it is on auto renewal, i don't like that, if i die you might still be taking my money, until they close the account.