Evening Both.

Not too bad here, some rain this morning, dry this afternoon, 9c but winds of 15 to 19.

Been practicing making Samosa dough and making the cases, will try making Nachos tomorrow as well.

Have ordered some Wheat Flour, the wholemeal flour is no good for the Samosa dough.

Had a tin of toms and a few sausages for brekkie for a change.

Opened one of the tins of sliced Jalapeño chillies, wow, 2.8kg is an awful lot, i ate a couple of slices while bagging them, yummy, put 200g in each of 14 bags, have put them in the freezer, probably too many in a bag but it would have taken too long any other way, they are 5mm slices of rather lovely big chillies, am delighted. 

Had some Samosa's i made today, still not right, it's the wrong flour, will wait till the right stuff comes, the place that i am getting it from are very quick at posting stuff out.

Have now taken all the covers off the tree tubs, will make new ones from a big sheet of heavy duty covering material.

Mollie, Belated Happy Birthday to you, you got some lovely presents, yes, they did spoil you, and so they should.

That 45 on the Samosa's i ate should have been 4 or 5,

Chips and Mayo on the seafront sounds great to me, one thing you never tire of.

Emptybox, Thats strange what is happening with the Mower, i wonder what is missing, all engines have just a few things to enable it to run, Fuel, Spark and Air, it seems that the mower doesn't know what temperature it is at, is the choke working ok, it only needs the right mixture and a good spark, is the spark plug gap correct for the mower, has the mower got an interference suppressor, that could be faulty, has it got contacts somewhere that are part of the spark control like a car, they always need cleaning.

I knew that i had ordered big tins of Chillies, didn't realise just how big they are, but it will save me putting them on the shopping list, for a while.

Yes, the 45 should have been 4 or 5, in fact i think i had 4 and changed it to 5 but left the 4.

Sorry the Symptoms are bothering you, what did the Doctor suggest, you can't really carry on like this, it's going to effect your normal living.

both

Emptybox

thanks for the belated Birthday wishes.

Sorry the symptoms haven't completely gone yet, so frustrating when it disturbs your sleep. If I can't sleep, I do try and read something light like "The Woman's Own" magazine, but I don't think that idea would appeal to you? Mabye a techy magazine or a light reading book from the library would, till you feel sleepy again. Hope you feel ok again soon.

How annoying your mower has given up. And of course now with your busy season coming up, a reliable mower is important.

Met son today in his Uni lunch break, we had vouchers for free drinks in tesco, so my latte being free, was really enjoyable.   Son has sausages on a bread roll with some grated cheese in a bowl for him to add to his taste.He also had a free hot choccie.  I am trying to skip lunch now (apart from a coffee) as summer looms and I need to shift some of this winter fat.

Hicky

hope the weather was ok so you could get in your garden.

I wonder what was on your menu today?

What did you have for tea Emptybox?

I had cauly cheese and veg.

And just a small hot choc for pudding as I have to cut out deserts and choccies.

Watched Michael Portilo in India, fascinating. what an interesting country, at around 44 degrees when he was there, far too hot for me though.

Watching Amazing Hotel again now. He is in South Africa now.....rooms cost up to £9k a night! 

It started off pretty mild here today, but when we took dog a walk, the wind had picked up and was absolutely freezing! Feels like winter is back yet again!

Goodnight both.  xxx

Hicky

how odd, your post although made 2 hours before mine, I could not see it , till I added my reply!

Thank you for the belated Birthday wishes.

Glad to see the weather was ok , meaning you got into your garden.

Gosh that amount of chillies should last you awhile.

Pity the samosas are still not right, hopefully when the correct ingedients arrive, there will be no stopping you.

I had to at us thinking you ate 45 samosas, and it was in fact 4 to 5. I must admit I was concerned in case you would make yourself feel rather ill after eating 45 of them!

Haven't had chance to use my new phone yet as I am waiting for son to set it up and he has been busy in the day, and  is at drama tonight, but he said he will do it tomorrow though. Daugher has ordered a new case for me in pale blue and pink with butterflies on it. Here it is.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia...cover+butterfly+blue

Hi both.
Wet here most of the day. Did dry up this afternoon for a bit. Hasn't been too cold though. I've a feeling this 'Beast from the East III' isn't going to amount to much. The forecasted temps up to the weekend don't seem too cold.

Hicky. More Samosa practising ? Hopefully they'll be better when you get the right flour.
I thought the 45 samosas eaten would have been a bit too many for even you.
Glad you're pleased with your chilli purchase anyway.

I'm stumped with the mower.
Suppose it could be fuel, but it's definitely getting fuel to the carburetor. The choke is just a simple butterfly valve that needs to be closed when the engine is cold, and open when it's warm. It's on the new carburetor anyway, so not the original problem. There's no points to worry about. I swapped the plug over with the spare mower, and the old plug works fine in that. Same with the coil and the lead.
But as the engine runs smoothly, when you can eventually get it started, there can't be much wrong with that either.
I've even had the cover off the valves to see if anything was sticking in there, but i couldn't see anything.
Thanks for the suggestion of interference suppressor. I'll look into that.

I'll probably keep fiddling with it, but i really need a reliable one for my customers, so i think I'll buy one from B&Q. Will be a lot cheaper than my usual place. I see I can get one the same size but with a Briggs and Stratton engine for £280.
TBH with this job, unless you can afford to pay out for repairs, you really need to be an engineer, and be able to fix your own equipment. And I'm no engineer.
It was great in the early days, because my Dad was great at fixing engines etc, so he would have had it sussed.

Dr didn't make any suggestions about my condition, apart from saying if natural remedies like Saw Palmetto worked I could gradually give up the prescription meds. Don't think all that much is known about it TBH.
I don't want to exaggerate the symptoms. They can be annoying, but mostly i can just get on with things as normal.

Mollie. No I don't think the Womens' Own would be for me. I prefer just to lie and try to relax. But sometimes getting up and doing something for a while might help. Got a good night's sleep last night anyway.

 Good luck trying to skip lunch. That was nice, meeting your son at Uni for a free latte.
I just had a ready meal tonight, a Thai Green Chicken curry. I usually allow myself one ready meal a week, on a Tuesday usually.

 Thanks for the link to your pink and blue Butterfly phone case. I think I (and maybe Hicky?) might have preferred a link to the actual phone though. More techie.
Was it a Nokia 5?
https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_5-8571.php

Watched that new thing on BBC1 'Come Home' with Christopher Eccleston putting on a Northern Irish accent. :cool;

Evening Both.

Light rain here most of the day off and on, 7c with light winds.

Had scrambled egg on toast for brekkie.

Got a letter from HMRC with my details for the 2016/17 tax year, but they have missed off some of the figures involved, they have left out the fact that i paid any tax at all and have just shown the tax paid by my private joke pension, so the figure they show of my take home pay is nothing like what they show, it's a joke really, and it says how well i did with only paying 3% tax, it's about time humans checked what these crazy computers are sending out. 

Strimmed some more leaves, put a mask on though, then it started raining so put the kettle for a coffee.

Decided to make the Nachos, the pastry isn't right, need to look into that, still made the them, crisped up fine in the wok, the Salsa was rather nice, also made the cheese sauce, more cheese needed, will look deeper into the dough tonight on the web.

Mollie, Yes, imagine me eating 45 Samosa's

Nice phone case that, i had to take my £25 leather case off as it was letting keys pressed before i opened the phone so it was sending out messages when it rang, the front half panel was clear plastic so not sure if it was to do with that, it's fine with the new case.

Emptybox, Wouldn't think it a good idea to buy from B&Q, make sure you will be able to get it repaired by a good repair place before you buy it in case it is made for B&Q and that is bad news.

I think B&Q have all tools made for them so they get more profit.

I have bought a few tools of them and trying to get any sense out of them later is a waste of time and noone wants to know if you get it from them.

Do you use the choke every time to start the mower as the one i had wouldn't start without the choke, cold or hot.

Have you checked the colour of the plug points after it has been running, that tells you how hot it is running and if it is getting enough air or petrol.

You can only monitor the symptoms but if you think that you are not going to be able to go then that is serious and you would need emergency treatment to empty the bladder.

A relation of mine has to use the self catheter system each time he needs to go, has done for many years, don't think he was well enough for an op, he showed me one of the catheters when i was there, i wonder if you can buy them, in an emergency it would be a saviour.

I would think you could get a prescription for some disposable single use ones for an emergency.

I used to have a Nokia but went over to Samsung as it was a pain.

both

Emptybox

Shame you haven't been able to fix the mower. Good luck with the new mower hunt, don't know if it is any good to you, but I saw an ad saying Wickes had a 10% off sale.

As you say, in your job, you do need a reliable mower. A pity you are no "fix it engineer" like your dad was though, as £280 is a lot of money to pay out for a new one! At least you are giving it a try.

Yes as your condition is no more than an annoyance, you just have to take care when it comes on, and try and avoid triggers, if there is not a lot they can do for it. I still have to be real carefull with my ribs, not to set the pain off, eg I try not to pick stuff up off the floor if I can avoid it.

Good idea to have a break from cooking with a ready meal one day a week, because I should imagine in a rural area like yours, there is not many places that do take aways. I am not that keen on take aways myself, other than chips on the seafront. 

Oh dear, I realised after I did the link with the phone case link, there is a bit of a mistake.

I thought a nokia thing was a nokia, and when you asked what phone I had and I asked son, I realised I had ordered a case for the wrong number nokia.

Mine was a 3 not a 5! Probably as it was cheaper. (remember son bought it me and he doesn't have much money), but I only use it for the odd text or phone call now I don't have mum to look after, and photos.

So I have now cancelled case 5 and chosen another case, but a case 3 this time.

Here it is....

I fancied the "glitter liquid sparkly bling quicksand" and it had pink in it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia...=nokia+3+phone+cases

And going on your link, for you techy folks, this must be the phone....

https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_3-8572.php

Hicky

oh dear, not HMRC up to their tricks again. So annoying, and more fiddling around for you again I guess! Hope they sort it soon.

Glad to see you put a mask on for strimming this time, as dust is so bad for your lungs. Shame the rain meant you had to come in though.

HOpe the nachos come out better for you next time. I love nachos.

That is odd what your old phone case was doing. Hope my new one does't do that!  And hope I can manage my new phone if nokia ones are a pain!

Showers on and off today, so didn't go out, but made a roast dinner for the family and I had a butternut squash and mushroom pie.

Still messing round with the will stuff.

N, S and I are holding things up, they still haven't sent the final account figures yet, despite me and the solicitor asking for them, and both writing to them.  They just kept asking for this form to be sent to them, but today the solicitor told me he can't fill the form in till they send the final figures. So I rang them and they told me I had to to send yet another letter asking for them,the same one I already sent them the middle of February!

Then when we get that we have to fill in this probate form, send it off and wait for an appointment for me that will take 2 to 3 weeks to arrive. Then the jewellery negotiations with my brother to sort. And when all the cash arrives, it has to sit in the solicitors account for 6 months,  incase a creditor comes along. I hate dealing with all this stuff, just want to move on now from losing mum, but there is still quite a way to go.

Watched Corrie, now watching the very clever Supervet.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
Not bad day here. Some sunshine and not cold.

Went out in the van and looked at a number of customers gardens, both in town and out in the countryside.
None of them needed cutting just yet, but I might go out next week to cut a hedge, and maybe run over the grass at a couple of places.
It just depends what the weather is like after this Easter cold spell.

Hicky. No surprise that HMRC have messed up again.
Good idea to use a mask when doing the leaves, to protect against dust.
That was adventurous trying to make Nachos. Pity the pastry wasn't quite right.

The problem is, I don't have a good repair place now, so I won't be any worse off buying from B&Q, and it'll be a lot cheaper.
The place I bought the mower from would be able to fix it, I've no doubt, but they would charge through the nose, and probably take weeks.

A few years ago, the mower before this one broke the drive cable just a couple of months after I bought it, so I put it in for repair thinking it would be under guarantee, but they wanted to charge me £50. They said the cables were consumable items, so weren't covered.
And that was for a cable that I can buy retail for £18 and 10 minutes work.
Just imagine what they would want to charge if they had to spend hours diagnosing and fixing my mower.
There are a couple of other places around, but I'm sure I could take the B&Q mower there if absolutely necessary.

The mower just needs the choke when the engine is cold. After about 5 mins running it'll start fine with the choke open.
I think I checked the plug previously. But it's so difficult to get started, so not sure if I will be able to check it again?

I'm fairly sure you can get self catheter stuff on prescription. Luckily it's never got to the point where I can't go at all. At it's worst I've only been able to get out a dribble quite painfully. Then a few minutes later I get out another dribble.
But it's always eased off after a few hours at most.

Mollie. Had a look on the Wickes site, but nothing suitable on there unfortunately.
£280 is comparatively cheap for a 20" or 21" mower TBH.
Buying one from my usual place would cost £500 full price (but I usually find a discount).

No, there's no where that would deliver a takeaway meal to me. I could order one from a place in town, but then I'd have to collect it myself, so not worth it.
Silly you, ordering the wrong case. Not sure the new one is an improvement TBH. At least that sparkly stuff is only on the back of the phone.
I just use a plain gel case, on the back of mine.
That does look a nice reasonable priced phone though.

Pity the National Savings bods are not playing ball about your Mum's account.
They should be used to dealing with stuff like that, and not need letters sent multiple times.

Watched Supervet then The Full Monty: Live then 'Are You Autistic?' on +1.
The Full Monty Ladies Night tomorrow should be better.

Evening Both.

Not too bad here today, 9c sunny spells and some light rain, winds of 9 to 12.

Had bacon and egg toasted sandwiches for brekkie, wasn't sure what to do for tea, was checking on the web for different types of cornmeal, there are 3 tpes, so ordered some fine cornmeal as part of the tortilla chips for the Nachos.

Decided to make the Crispy Chicken Pakora, wow, it's very tasty indeed, only used one chicken breast and it made enough for 2 meals, it turned out exactly the same as when Grandpa made his for the children, and these sliced Jalapeño chilies are very tasty as well, i'll post the video showing how i made it.

Having problem getting some stations on the box, it keeps saying no signal, some stations are ok though, maybe it matters where the channels signals are coming from and to add insult to injury o/h decided to clean my room, after she finished the tv said no signal, the new box hasn't got an led in front where i can see it, it seems to have an led underneath but i can't really see it and even worse can hardly see if it is red/amber or clue, think they do it as people don't like leds on view, anyway, tried everything, the box hasn't even got an on/off swith, after 10 minutes i tried the aerial lead in the tv, that didn't even give me a picture so put it back in the box, i was trying different input sources on the tv then decided to check what HDMI socket the lead was in, i know i had changed it from 3 to 1 so had a look and it was in 2, oh dear, o/h must have knocked it out when she dusted behind the tv and just put it back in one of the slots, and said nothing.

That reminded me of the lad who rang me about his computer not starting up, one i had built for him to take to the USA some years ago, i asked had it been knocked or anything, they said no his dad had just tidied up the wires inside to make it look nicer, i opened the case, all the leads had been swapped and plugged in anywhere, i was glad that the motherboard has safety features so wouldn't turn the power on to the wiring as it knew it was wrong.

Mollie, I could see on that link that you had to select the 3 or 5 model.

Talking about Nokia, when i got the Samsung we tried everything to transfer the contacts etc onto the new phone, no chance, the Nokia didn't want to know.

Strange having problems with NS&I the bigger a company gets the harder to get any sense out of them, none has any authority and with so many staff you will never talk to the same one again.

Emptybox, The HMRC letter was just informative so not worth me ringing, so hard to get through and they will say, oh don't worry it's just an automated letter, bin it.

I think the Nachos will be darn good when i get the right flour, same with the Samosa dough.

Don't know what is going on with your Mower, very strange but untill you find the problem you can't fix it.

I would think, that if you could get some catheters on prescription then having some in case of emergency will save an awful lot of pain believe me.

I saw Supervet and Are you Autistic, they didn't look very deep into the way you children with it act, with one of my step grand children having it made me realise what it is like, he couldn't stand the LEDS on equipment as he though it was filming him, also his brain focuses on certain things, he knows every cars name by sight and all the detains, he can't sit still he has to dance around, his hearing is so sensitive, a small sound to him must sound like a drum being banged, even the leds on the security PIR's had to be covered up, but he could draw cars and Land Rover's. 

  both xxx

Emptybox

glad you got the good weather, good job it doesn't appear your client's grass needs a cut yet. Ours now looks overgrown, so OH will cut it when it is dry.

Gosh that guarantee was a bit fiddly as you only had it such a short time.

I have checked Lidl and no mowers in this weeks offers. They do have some other gardening stuff though, but not sure if would be of interest to you.

ttps://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?id=587&week=1

Thank goodness those nasty trickles usually ease for you after a few hours. Are you still on only 1 tablet a day?

HIcky

glad to see you enjoyed your crispy chicken pakora.

Sorry to hear your box is playing up.

Oh dear at your OH causing those problems from her bit of dusting. Good job you solved the problem in the end.

That is a funny tale about the computer you made not starting up. Good job you were able to solve that one too.

Looks like son is having problems transferring the contacts onto my nokia too.Damn nuisance. But after much fiddling and reading, he thinks he may of sussed it.

Yes these  big institutes are useless, I again phoned NS and I again and got told a different tale again! So had to contact solicitor to send the form off, that they told me not to send yesterday!

Yes I am sure your nachos will be yummy when you make them. I like them with a bit of phylly cream cheese as well as the salsa. 

I missed the autistic show. It is good it is a condition that is being recognised more and more now, but as you have seen with your stepgrandchld, it is complicated. Does he need to go to a special school?

Not too bad today, a bit cold and a bit of drizzle on and off, but could be worse.

Went to Tescos to get a bit of food shopping.

Watched Corrie and Indian School, that was quite interesting.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
Nice day here with sunshine for most of the day. It was a frosty start though. There was still ice on my windscreen by midday. Think it went up to about 5 degrees.

Went to Lidl and Sainsburys this afternoon.
Lidl have changed everything round again from last week, so I again had difficulty finding anything, and they just didn't have some stuff they usually do, which is why i went to sainsburys as well. Both Sainsburys and Lidl seem determined to annoy me by switching stuff around.

Found out what the cabinets were, that I thought were maybe for hot food. Turns out they are actually for chilled food, so i was half right.

Hicky. Are all the Freeview TVs in your house having the same problems, or is it just your box? Your area might have had a retune?
That's funny your OH just plugging the lead back anywhere, after cleaning your room. And the lad and his cable tidying dad.

I would think you'd need to be shown how to use a catheter, or you could do yourself some damage. Wouldn't like to try to stuff a tube up there blind.
Maybe there are Youtube videos to show you how?

I agree, the autism programme didn't go into it too deeply. It was mainly showing that girls get it as well, but are much better at hiding it than boys, so are less likely to be diagnosed.

Mollie. I saw some gardening stuff in Lidl today, but nothing I was needing.
I'm still on the one prescription pill a day, but also other 'natural' remedies like saw palmetto.

These modern Nokias are just Android phones like any other, so the contacts should just be associated with your Google account. Unless it wasn't an Android phone that you had before?
Previously Nokia had it's own operating system, but not any more.

I was thinking of watching that Indian School, but plumped for The Full Monty Ladies Night instead. Not that you saw anything on TV, they only showed the studio audience.
Quite a few of them had had brushes with cancer, so it was for a good cause.

Evening Both.

Not bad here today, got my shopping delivered.

8c with cloud and sun, winds of 6-9

Had some of o/h's cooked chicken she brought home.

Have been messing with the tv aerial, the 6way splitter is just by the fence by the back double doors, had a look and tried to tighten the connections, dreadful type they are, screw on but it screws one way onto the cable and the other way the nut turns onto the splitter, hopeless, after i did it o/h said her tv had gone off, i thought she was on the Freesat, no, she doesn't know what she is on, got her back on as i had disconnected the input form the aerial, couldn't get mine on by messing so in the end i tested the leads to find which one out of the 5 was mine, sorted that then reconnected the cable onto the screw fitting, it still didn't work so took a lead of the tv in the lounge, that is on freesat as well, changed my lead and it's fine, moved a lead at the back of the box/tv and the signal went off, it might be a bad socket on the freeview box, will have to look into it, now the tv in the kitchen is not so good.

Because i couldn't understand why the kitchen signal was so bad i have just pulled the tv forward to look behind, turned the aerial plug in the back and the video/sound came back perfect, i think o/h has been cleaning behind this tv as well and it's disturbed the lead, don't believe it, and at the moment i still have 2 leads disconnected in the splitter, will have to reconnect them when the weathers nice, think i have been barking up the wrong tree, but one of the connection on the splitter was almost off so it's not all bad.

Having some of o/h's Gammon joint for tea with the rest of the chicken Pakora.

Rang the good garden centre to check what veg plants they have in, don't get grafted till May, but going tomorrow to get some early ones.

my last 2 orders have just been delivered, that opens some opportunities on recipes.

Oh, it's not the last 2 orders, it's one of them, the wheat flour, the other parcel is a rather well wrapped 2 jars of sliced chillies that got broke a while back, didn't even know they were sending them, the inside of the box was like a bouncy castle, well padded with the big air bubble packing, so the fine cornmeal didn't come.

Mollie, My Step grandchild goes to normal school, they just seem to make allowances, he doesn't mix very well, and can't sit still and often has a meltdown as he can't stand change, he has a very good memory though, but he is in a world of his own, thats the problem.

I wonder why the NS&I are acting so soft, surely they handle this stuff all the time.

Hope you get your contacts etc transfered from your old phone, always a problem depending on the phones.

Emptybox, Well you were right saying they were cabinet's

I didn't know what they were connected to, as 2 big ones i thought were on freesat, one point in the dining area has nothing plugged in, the kitchen is worse now than before i started to fix it, which is strange, o/h has her tv on a BT box which is using the aerial and thats fine now so it can't be the aerial, it has to be the splitter or the connectors, i might look into a new splitter and new connectors, the box is outside and not damp proof as it has a big hole where the cables go in.

Yes, strange girls not being diagnosed as much, but maybe they aren't that serious or it would stand out, i have a feeling girls might be on a different level because when you have it bad there's no way it could be hidden.

I have been watching another video, need to get Mozzarella cheese first, it looks yummy as he says.

Cheese Onion Rings Recipe | Quick and Easy Crispy Cheese onion rings | Grandpa Kitchen

both xxx

Emptybox

Glad you got a nice day weather wise. Wow up to plus 5, nearly warm enough for you to go in your deck chair with an iced drink soon and sunglasses.

I don't know....why is it all supermarkets you visit seem to decide to have a change around, which are sure you confuse anyone? Let's hope they stop playing this silly game with you soon!

Did you buy anything nice from the new chilled food section?

I love the cheese from Lidl, the ones in smallish black packs, extra mature, really full of flavour.

Thanks for the phone hints, will tell son, as all I know is I dont' have a google account, but the other son does. And my old phone was a tesco £7.50 a month. Still not gone on the new one yet, so son still working on it.

Did you notice when you went to Sainsburys that Argos has a sale on, I saw on tv they also give you a discount if you spend a certain amount.

It includes some mowers.

https://www.argos.co.uk/static.../ID72/33372412/c_1/1|category_root|Home+and+garden|33005908/c_2/2|33005908|Clearance+Home+and+garden|33372088/c_3/3|cat_33372088|Lawnmowers+and+garden+power+tools|33372412.htm

Hicky

thats good you got good weather too, and I bet you are always pleased when your shopping arrives.

Oh dear how annoying you are having so much trouble with your tv's, hope you can sort it.

Hope you can get what you want from the garden centre tomorrow. Do you intend fitting in a visit to their cafe whilst there?

Its' good to hear they pack your parcels so well. Hope your cornmeal turns up soon.

My lad used to play on his own and be in a world of his own, and is still not a good communicator, but has improved. He is very intelligent though. HOpefully as people become more aware, things will improve for your step grandchild with the right help.

Gosh I really fancy your latest recipe of cheese and onion rings.

Had mostly a dry day, but heavy rain for awhile late afternoon.

We went here today for viewing day....it was fascinating, huge place, lots of lots,  it is the place where OH bought our saucepans from.

http://www.johnpye.co.uk/aucti...cations/port-talbot/

They have them in varous places throughout the UK.

Then we had tea in Morrisons before we did a bit of shopping. I had cheese and oniion toastie, salad and sweet potato chips. Very nice.

Watched Corrie, then Gogglebox.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi both.
Wet here this morning, but a bit drier this afternoon.
Didn't get much done.

Hicky. Couldn't quite make out if your fiddling with the TV connections had produced any positive results? But the moral of the story seems to be, don't let your OH clean behind the telly if they don't know where the leads go.
Doesn't sound good that some of your connections seem to be out in the open without being weather proofed.

That's good that one of your deliveries came. Hope you find some good veg plants tomorrow at the garden centre.

Mollie. Yes a high of 5 yesterday. Think it's all downhill from now on.
Mind you the forecast for me for Easter Monday is snow.

Don't think I bought anything this time from their new chilled cabinets at Lidl? I think they are just more upright than the previous ones, so take up less floor space.
I bought some parmesan cheese to grate over my spag bol. I usually buy the fake parmesan (gran padana) from Sainsburys, because it is cheaper. But from Lidl I can afford the real stuff.

Ah, that's why your son had some difficulty migrating your contacts, if you didn't previously have a Google account. Should be easier from now on.

Thanks for the idea of looking for lawnmowers in Argos. I hadn't thought of that. Had a look on their website, and there are actually 2 or 3 suitable (not in the sale). But they are more expensive than the B&Q ones. But always an option.

What were you looking to buy in the auction? Or were you just wanting a snoop around?
Glad you had a nice tea in Morrisons anyway.

Watched Pilgrimage on BBC2, with celebs including Rev Kate Botley and Debbie McGee trekking to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Then I watched that new comedy on CH4 'Lee and Dean', then Will and Grace on +1.

Evening Both.

A damp start to the day, 8c max, heavy and light rain, cloud, no sun, winds of 14.

O/H took me to Burley Dam to see what plants had come in, just got some spring onions and onions and radish, a trailing tomato and a beefsteak, 3 Herbs, Coriander, Parsley and Mint, they don't get grafted plants till mid May, the same as online deliveries really, got a bag of potatoes as well, Duke of York just going to try them in the compost heap, am adding the bags of old leaf mold.

O/H didn't want any food, i looked for cheese, they had everything but what i wanted.

The TV signal problem is pretty confusing, on my TV i can get some stations and not others, it says no signal, O/H said this morning she couldn't get the Drama channel last night, i tightened the leads at the back, changed the TV over to Freesat for now as thats fine, mine was going off if i moved the new lead i pinched from another room, i tightened the plug on the end and it seemed to cure that.

Am concerned about the connections outside in the plastic box, the 6 way splitter could be faulty, without aerial signal testing gear i have no idea, but the connectors are a nightmare, half the plug attaches to the cable the other half screws onto the splitter but the 2 halves are loosely connected as one half screws on one way and the other half screws the opposite way, so when i turn the end onto the splitter it's trying to undo off the cable end.

Going to look into Splitters and connectors to see if there is a better one, if the connection between the 2 moving parts isn't good then don't think the signal would be either.

I gave her the Easter Present, she said hope it's not a jar of chillies, then said, why have you wasted your money, the packing cost more than the egg.

Mollie, It was a shock getting the 2 jars of Chillies, i had already ordered the tins of chillies because i didn't want to risk ordering jars again, but it's no problem.

Just had soft boiled eggs for brekkie after i got back from the garden centre, for tea had some cod loin and made chips in the wok.

Yes, it will be interesting to make the cheese onion ring, i like the way he puts the cheese between 2 onion rings,

Not been to many auctions, i've seen the scam ones they run in the coastal resorts where they lock you in when you have shown your wallet, then they sell you loads of rubbish gear, that one you say wasn't one of them though.

You can get a nice snack or meal in Morrisons, that sounded nice what you had. 

Emptybox, Yes, a bit confusing this aerial lark, not too sure where the problem lies, without a tester i am in the dark, and with my eyes playing up it's hard to try and focus, one eye is fighting the other one.

If the mowers in B&Q are cheaper, i would ask myself why, i would think they are inferior, apart form B&Q making more money it means they are made the spec of B&Q which really is a joke, i would buy from the next dearest to B&Q, thye almost closed down as they don't make money in general because of the massive stock they have to carry.

------------------

Edit: Have ordered a new 6 ways splitter, ne F plugs and F adaptors which are push on type, also ordered F type 75 ohm Terminator for the spare socket on the splitter, i can start agaon, also there is a video of how to connect the F plugs.

both xxx

Emptybox

if you are comparing prices in Argos with B and Q, don't forget Argos have this offer on now till 3 April in case it is of use to you.

https://www.argos.co.uk/events/giftvoucher

Gosh more snow to come for you and it is April tomorrow! HOpe you have enough oil to last.

I reckon you will of enjoyed your sphag bol tonight with the real parmasen. Good old Lidl with their reasonable prices. Did you have your beer? I like the rose from Lidl, especially the price compared to other places.

No we weren't looking to buy in the auction, just being nosy. So interesting, I'd go again. They have these big boxes full of mixed things, eg jumpers, bags etc, they even had a good selection of cars, some beds that were John Lewis,....  a real bargain if there is something your really need. But obviously no good if you just end up spending money on something you don't need. And we would be cautious about buying electrical stuff.

Was Pilgrimage any good? I forgot to watch it. I watched Gogglebox instead.

HIcky

glad you got a few things from the garden centre, shame they didn't have your cheese though.

Hope when your tv stuff comes you can sort it all out. It is horrible when your tv plays up.

Oh dear, shame your OH wasn't too excited about your Easter Egg pressie. Let's hope she enjoys the choccie when she opens it, and the amount of chillies you have, she is lucky you didn't make her choccie coated chillies instead.

Not a bad day here today, but very cold, especially bearing in mind the time of year!

We went to the pub for brekkie, always enjoyable.

Then went shopping. Att Gregs we  bought niece pieces of cheese pizza fresh from the oven, so me and son sat and ate one on the bench at the shopping centre. We eat on the bench because if you eat inside Gregs our just outside there on their chairs, the government tax you an extra 20%!

watched Ant/Dec minus Ant, the the Voice.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening.
Heavy snow here this morning, but it quickly turned to rain so there's nothing lying yet.
Was wanting to pot up my tomato plants, but the weather wasn't cooperative. Maybe tomorrow.

Hicky. Pity you still haven't got to the bottom of your TV problems. I would suggest doing a retune, but if you have a bad signal you might just lose more channels, so better make sure all your connections are OK first.

Pity your OH wasn't too impressed with her Easter egg.
That's good that you were able to get some veg from the garden centre anyway.

B&Q sell a Mountfield mower for cheaper than my present place, so that might be an option.
Their own brand of mowers MacAllister are cheaper still, and have Honda or Briggs and Stratton engines, and also share lots of Mountfield parts, so they can't be too bad.

Mollie. Yes spag bol tonight with Lidl parmesan. Beer from Sainsburys though.
Thanks for the Argos info. I don't want to buy till after the 6th April, so I can put the mower on the next tax year's expenses. Not for any great reason. Just think it looks better if it looks like the previous one lasted 2 seasons.

Sounds like an interesting auction if there was everything from jumpers to cars?
Pilgrimage was quite good. That was the last in the series.
Glad you enjoyed your pub brekkie and your Gregg's pizza. Is that because they charge VAT on food eaten in, but not on takeaway food?

I watched Troy and then a bit of the Voice on +1. I saw a girl singer called Lauren. I didn't need to see anything else.

Evening Both.

8c here, cloud, dry, winds of 6 to 10.

got a massive egg from O/H, Cadbury's fruit and nut, yummy, it's so thick i had to cut a pice with my penknife.

From next Friday it looks better, around 13c day and 6 or 7 at night.

Was going to do some planting but as i've got to erect cloches over the plants i will delay till a nicer day.

O/h made a rather nice roast dinner midday so just had a toasted hot cross bun with butter and home made jam to keep me going.

I've been practicing making Samosa wraps, got 3 types to do now, one uses a big circle and divides into quarters, another is a smaller circle and you have it the last is cut into 10" x 4" strips and uses about 3 folds but the dough has to be very thin,

Had 2 deliveries today, my big new set of allen keys arrived and the 6 way splitter, will have to wait for the rest of the parts before i can have a go.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Antif...ds=tv+splitter+6+way

Mollie, When all the parts come for the aerial splitter i will reconnect all the wires and start again, this time i'll seal all the leads with the self amalgamating tape.

The o/h might not have been too impressed with he egg because i don't know if she is eating chocolate at the moment.

Don't blame you eating outside if they charge that much to sit in.

I watched a bit of the Ant/Dec show, too boring, watched a bit of the Voice, too boring. 

Emptybox, I knew someone was in for snow, glad it didn't hang around.

No, leave the plants till the weather picks up.

Looking at the frost dates for here it says last frost end of April.

Yes, no good doing retune unless you have a good signal.

Don't you have a Hire shop by you for tools etc, they often sell second hand machines that they have serviced and repaired, i'm sure you would get a good deal and you don't really need a new one just a good one.

If i was you i wouldn't go near B&Q, there's a reason while they are cheap and i bet people who need tools for their living wouldn't shop there, it's for home use only i bet.

both xxx

Emptybox

gosh snow again!   But it is supposed to be April now!  At least it didn't stick this time.

Good luck with your mower hunt. Have you thought of John Lewis? They do tend to be a bit more expensive but sometimes price match, and are real good with returns.

Did you manage to do your tomato plants today?

I think most places had good weather today, it was certainly nice here today.

Got lots of washing dried just before the rain arrived around 5pm. Took an old cabinet of mums to the carer to put in her hall.

Made roast dinner for family, and cauly cheese for me. HOpe you enjoyed your roast OH made you Hicky.

Hicky

I saw those new fruit and nut Easter eggs, how nice your OH bought you one and you are enjoying it. No wonder your OH was not too impressed with her egg if she is off eating choccie. Perhaps you could offer to eat it for her?

Good luck with your samosa making.

Let's hope your new splitter does the job.

Yes Gregs is 20% because VAT is charged if you eat on the take aways own premises.

Cater for frosts till end of this month sounds about right, as it is so slow to warm up this year.

Going to record Karma Hospital because a new Agatha Christie is on the same time.(9pm bbc1). Enjoyed watching Change your Tune, but turned over as Generation Game with the canned laughter I found irirtating.

Goodnight bothxxx

Happy Easter both.
Wet here most of the day with rain and hail. Just went down for the paper as usual.

Potted up my tomato seedlings, well 8 of them. I've still got them inside on the windowsill, sitting on the heating element of the propagator. I won't put them out in the greenhouse till the end of April or early May.

When I went for the paper I noticed a for sale notice on the house of one of my biggest customers. It's the one just down the road from me, that i use their own ride on mower to cut their main lawn, and my own mower to do the smaller bits. Been doing him for maybe 15 years.
I expect he'll want me to continue until it's sold, but i haven't heard anything from him yet.
It's a big place, but they only use it for holidays and for coming up for the fishing on the Tweed.
Doesn't actually surprise me that they are selling, as he's hardly been up at all these last couple of years.

Hicky. That's good that you got to enjoy a big Easter egg.
Surprised you got some of your stuff delivered on Easter Sunday?
Hope the TV splitter works. I'd have thought it should have been a powered one? Or do you have a separate amplifier?

Yes, hopefully it'll start to warm up soon. The forecast for me seems to be warmer from Tuesday, with temps only a couple of degrees below yours by Friday.

My youngest nephew is coming down to live in Liverpool from tomorrow. Not sure if he's got a job lined up yet though. He stayed with friends there for a few weeks last year, and must have enjoyed it, so has decided to move permenantly.
You'll have to watch out for him. (in the avoiding sense )

Think there are a couple of hire shops not too far away (20 miles). I suppose that's something to consider.
All the mowers I've bought have been for home use. The professional ones are all over £1000.

Mollie. Had a look at the John Lewis website. They have a lot of mowers, but all are expensive. About the same price as the place I've been buying from up till now.

 Glad you had the good weather to get the washing dry, and to let you deliver the cabinet to the carer.
That was nice having an Easter roast with the family.

 Watched The Durrells then Good Karma Hospital.
Didn't notice that the Generation Game was on, but doesn't sound like it was much good anyway.

Evening Both.

Rain here all morning, 10c though max, started at about 6c, winds of 16 dropping to 11.

Just re-potted the 3 herbs, too wet to do the rest.

Had bacon and black pudding on toast for brekkie.

Have worked out how the self closing toilet lids work, couldn't find a similar one on the web but now the allen key set is here i had a go on mine, the grew screw s let the lids lift off which i was hoping, i then measured it all up, it seems it wasn't installed correct when it was put in, not a problem, will sort o/h's out in the on suite tomorrow when she's out.

Made some dough for the Samosa, i was doing the potato ones, the recipe i did used 1 cup of flour and half a cup of wheat flour, i used best butter melted instead of ghee, when i let it stand, as you do, i put it in the fridge, oh dear, it came out set like a brick, it took half an hour for me to soften it enough to divide and roll out, it made enough dough for 12 Samosa's, i had made too much filling though, i used the Grandpa video for the recipe which i will post at the end.

Mollie, Thank you for the Easter Picture, very nice.

I had another complaint about the egg i gave her, it seems it isn't Cadbury's and is strange chocolate, don't get me another like that.

Saw some of the Generation game, wasn't that impressed.

All that seems to be on the tv is repeats.

Emptybox, If that feller from the house close by is selling up you must keep your eyes open for the new people and get in first to see if you can do the work in the garden for them, could be a good business.

No i haven't got a powered amplifier, the splitter works fine but it should be indoors, i think the braid on the cable is getting effected by the weather as he didn't cut the excess copper from the connectors, also the connectors should have been sealed in, i'll do that when i replace it all, also it should have had a termination plug in the spare output.

Samosa Recipe | Aloo Samosa Recipe Cooking by our grandpa for Orphan kids

both xxx

Emptybox

hope your tomatoes do well this year. Yes best to keep them inside for awhile this year with all the cold weather we are having.

What a shame a big customer of yours is selling up.

As HIcky says, pay attention for when it is sold, then get in there quick knocking on their door with your business card before anyone else gets the job. Maybe they are selling because of the new tax rules on 2nd homes?

Pity John Lewis was so expensive. I got my lappy from there, it was the same price as Argos etc, but offerred longer guarantee. I also joined their club as I get free coffee/cake now and again and £5 off, so I used that for my lappy. OH also got our Humax boxes from there. Have you checked Homebase and Wickes too, as they all have different offers at different times?

at your youngest nephew invading Hicky's home turf. I can imagine HIcky hiding behind corners in case he bumps into him and his mates. I can understand why a youngster would be attracted to there, supposed to be a nice lively city with lots going on now.

Hicky

oh dear you really did not have any luck with the Easter egg, did you? Going on your shopping skills for Easter, no wonder you forget her birthday pressie all the time. What make was it if not Cadbury? I don't think a lot of the Cadbury stuff tastes as nice as it did since the USA took it over from us. But I do like their popping candy one. I know Thorntons and Lindt is quite a nice make, as is Hotel Chocoate, but they are expensive.

That's good you worked out the self close toilet seat, OH bought one of those recently from Lidl.

Pity your samosa dough ended up like a brick, and with too much filling, but at least you managed to make something edible.

Grandpas samosas look huge compared to the ones I am used to.

Are yours big ones? Or the size of the frozen ones you get in supermarkets?

Not a bad day today, but rained on and off, so didn't bother putting washing out.

We are still clearing mum's storage, a big job and we are fed up of it!

Got rid of a lot of it, but no one wants the last drawers/wardbrobes, so son took some of them apart and OH put them in car and took them to tip. More to do tomorrow.

You can get people to collect but it is very expensive.

Watched Corrie, then Paddington.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
Horrible day here, rain and snow all day.
Too wet for any snow to settle though.

I think only once have I continued with a place after it's been sold. The only reason I'm doing this place is that the owners are never there, I would think if the new ones were living there they would do the garden themselves. We'll see.

Not sure why they are selling? I thought it was probably because they are spending more time in London, and hardly have the opportunity to come up any more. But it could be to do with money? I had quite a bit of difficulty getting paid last year, and was having to wait months. But I now have his address in London and his email, so that shouldn't be such a problem.
He's got it on for £410,000 which is expensive for here, so might take quite a while to sell, although it is a very nice house. But it's basically just two farm cottages stuck together, with a barn that's been converted into a double garage and games room.

Hicky. That's good that you've worked out the self closing loo seat. My Brother has one of those, but it's very difficult to keep open, it just wants to close on you all the time, which can be rather inconvenient.

Pity your samosas didn't come out well.
Yes, I should think the splitter should definitely be under cover.
The copper braid goes black when it's been exposed to water.
I would have thought your OH would just be grateful that you remembered it was Easter at all?

Mollie. Had a look at the Homebase web site, and they have a couple of suitable mowers at a similar price to B&Q.
B&Q is the only one that has a store near me though (20 miles), there's no Wickes, John Lewis or Homebase near here.

Not sure why the nephew want to go to Liverpool, when Glasgow is on his doorstep? But I think he had online friends from there, and went down to stay with them last year and liked it.
But yeah. If Hicky sees a big 19 year old with a Scottish accent, dyed black hair and loads of facial piercings, he wants to dodge behind the nearest pillar.

Watched Only Connect, then Police Interceptors, then The Island with Bear Grylls, then the new partly animated thing on CH4 'Kiss Me First'. Quite intriguing.

Evening Both.

Not bad today, 13c cloud, rain and sun, winds of 12.

Just had bacon and egg on toast for brekkie.

Fixed the toilet seat in the on suite while o/h was at work, and found the bag of missing allen keys hanging up in the manshed, i had moved it and it was hard to see over by the shelving unit.

Have planted the onions, radish and spring onions, put up the cloch to protect them as well.

Have ordered Mango powder, Filo Pastry, and a glass cover for the wok as i have to use a big plate at the mo.

Have got an appointment with the eye hospital for a pre-op checkup next Monday.

Have just made a big wok of Tomato Rice, will have to put whats left into containers, made rather a lot.

Have just cooked a piece of Belly Pork as well as it needed cooking.

Mollie, The egg was a Walls Magnum, with 3 colours of choccy.

I've been looking at more ways of making the Samosa wrap and some say just use plain flour as it's more elastic then.

Am going to try some Filo for the wrap.

Yes, when i follow Grandpa's way the Samosa's are pretty big, i have a long way to go.

Yes, best to take the stuff from storage to the recycle place, as you say it's expensive to get it collected.

Emptybox, Looking at the self closing mechanism i would say the new models with a quick release for cleaning is interchangeable and would just slide right on the 2 pegs that mine have, mine have 2 grub screws to undo to let it lift up.

I'll have to remember next year to just get Cadbury's, she is fussy, the same with all food.

10 to 7 and still light outside, great.

I'm confused why your brothers loo seat wants to close, the soft close ones have all springs etc in neutral with lid raised and the springs etc must go under compression when the seat closes, but as it is released while up there is nothing trying to lower it.

Yes, copper does tarnish which could explain some of the problems, i am going to start again and reconnect all the cables the right way.

both xxx

Emptybox

pity the weather wasn't so good, was milder here but heavy showers on and off.

Yes sounds like it might be a shortage of cash forcing them to sell if they kept you waiting so long. Sounds like a nice house for the money. We do have cheaper houses round here too, but usually in the valleys as opposed to the coast and further away from the cities.

at your description of your nephew.

HIcky

clever you fixing the toilet seat for OH.

Let's hope your onions and radishes grow well, but knowing you, they will.

I never knew they did mango in powder form.

Walls Magnum should of been a good make, but must of not been to your OH's taste. Perhaps she has just got used to the taste of Cadbury?

Yes the light nights now are lovely.

OH bought me a pretty broach at the auction, but oh dear his purchase was as great a disaster as Hickys egg! He saw the brooch, but forgot to pick it up and check the back and it has the pin  but not the bit to put the pin into. Oh dear, no wonder it was cheap! He says he will make a pinhole though.

Then we went with son and daughter for tea in morrisons and son got food stuck in his throat and ended up choking, and was a bit sick in the cafe. They were real nice and bought first aid lady to give him water and help him. Gosh was he white. I think he was over hungry and started to eat it too quickly. The rest of us ended up leaving half our meal too. 

I think son was also stressed so that didn't help, as I was so upset because brother sent me an annoyed email. He was getting wound up about probate. He said solicitor had been not updating him, and I found out it was becasue solicitor sent the last 2 emails to his wrong address. It is not my fault though, but brother is not local so tends to blame me as I took on solicitor, and feels he needs to check up on everything. He hasn't a clue the amount of work I put in sorting mums paperwork as well as my family sorting the flat , now the storage rubbish she had. Meanwhile we still have this damn storage to sort out, another pile of stuff taken to tip today.

Not a good day today.

Hardly eaten all day again!

Oh well does the diet for summer good.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
Rain all day again. Not good.
It's light till after 8pm here now though.

Hicky.
Good job fixing the loo seat. No idea why the one at my Brothers won't stay up. All I know is you need a free hand or knee or things start to slowly close on you.

That's good that you could get some veg planted. 
Is that a pre-op appointment for cataract surgery?
A Walls magnum egg sounds yummy. Hopefully it didn't go to waste, and you got to finish it?

Mollie. That's a pity your OH's purchase of a brooch at the auction didn't go too well. But I'm sure he could solder on a bit of wire or something to hold the pin?
That wasn't nice to see your son nearly choking on a bit of food.
Good job they had a first aid person.

Sounds like you're getting stressed about your Mum's affairs again? And your Brother isn't helping.
Unfortunately there's no quick way to deal with this stuff, but it'll all work itself out in the end.

Watched the celeb Bake Off then Come Home on BBC1. It's OK, but certainly not a 'feel good' drama.

Evening Both.

Not too bad today, max 11c light rain and heave spells as well, some sun at times, winds 9 to 19 as the day goes on.

Had sausage and black pudding on toast for brekkie.

Picked some leaves out of the tub saucers, planted the rest of the onion seedlings, decided to put a few around the base of some of the trees as the roots are so shallow they shouldn't bother the fruit trees.

I am confused to to why at times a particular station on the Humax box says no signal, i can got to channel 36 and it's perfect, same on 38 but if i go to 37 it says no signal.

More of the Splitter components came, the end caps, only needed 1 but most are in packs of 10 but at £2.99 post free it's not really a problem, another 2 parts to come yet, plus the tape.

Made chips and sliced Ribeye steak for tea with some cut up chillies from the jar, i can eat them from the jar, hope they won't do me any harm.

Mollie, Bad news about your brooch, a jeweler could probably fix it.

That was nasty, your son getting the food stuck in his throat, oh dear, glad he was ok.

Sorry to hear your brother is hassling you, you are too easy going, i would just send a reply saying, YOU ARE A GREAT HELP AS WELL, GET OFF MY BACK. 

Emptybox, The only thing i can think of with the loo at your brothers is that the seat isn't going back far enough to rest, if the fixings are too far back or the Cistern is too wide it could stop the seat going back enough.

I think it's a pre-op appointment, or they might want to check how bad things are, should get a letter soon so that will say.

I don't know what happened to the Magnum egg and other bits, think she didn't like 3 types of chocolate for a start.

I am getting even more confused with the Samosa case making, i now know about 4 methods of folding using square or round pieces of dough, or spring roll sheets, also the mix of various flour types is rather confusing but some do say only use plain flour, salt, melted butter and water, this last one i have yet to try, also you can make the dough, stack with oil and flour and roll out, dry fry then separate and divide then freeze.

Have just finished the easter egg, had to make it spin out or i could have had too much.

  both xxx

Emptybox

hope the rain eased a bit today for you. Saw the forecast and it still looks real cold up there. Not that it is nice here though, still quite cold and we had April showers today.

Yes mum's affairs (well my brother's interferance) is really stressing me out. So I am glad you reminded me it eventually does conclude. So horrible when you are missing someone and you have all this to deal with.

What did you watch tonight?

It was Corrie for me, then can't remember, so can't of been that interesting.

HIcky

that is good the weather was good enough to get in your garden and get a bit done.

Let's hope you can sort your Humax box out when you get all the bits you need.

You are funny how you eat your chillies from a jar.

I shouldn't think they will do you any harm, I think they are good for you.

Let's hope they can help sort your eye problem out when you go.

Gosh you have got some patience with your samosas, but i expect you will get there in the end.

I love your message to my brother, and it is dead right.

He rarely saw mum,last time was in 2016, never once helped me and my family with her (my family did so much for her), he didn't come to the funeral, and now he is obsessive about his inheritance. If it wasn't for me (with the familys help) looking after her so much, all of her money (not just some of it) would of gone in care homes fees.  

At least you had none of this Emptybox.

Did a bit of sorting at the storage, but was too showery.

We went to the dogs Trust today to take them some old pillows and quilts. There are so many dogs there looking for a home. What a good job the volunteers do there.

I had boiled onion bargies, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, with phyly cheese on the side for tea. Delicious.

Goodnight both xxx

Hi Hicky.
Another horrible day here. Raining and snowing all day, sometimes very heavy.
The snow was lying for a while, but I think the rain has got rid of it now.

Good idea to plant some onions in your tree pots. Good double use of space.
That sounds a nice tea, although not sure I'd want to eat chillies straight from the jar.

I presume when you say "channels" you don't mean the local channel numbers, but the frequency channels?
I still think it could be that your area has had a retune, and the frequency channels that you receive the stations on have changed. That's happening all over the country in stages. I had one retune last year that affected all the BBC channels, and the other channels in my area change next year.

Also I think in some areas a couple of the multiplexes have been turned off, meaning that some now can't get BBC4 HD and some other channels.
Certainly, once you've got all your connections sorted, try a retune on all the Freeview TVs/boxes.

Pity the Magnum egg has disappeared, that could have kept you going for a while.
I'm sure you'll figure out the correct Samosa recipe, given enough practice.

Watched the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony earlier. Then this evening watched Supervet and Benidorm.

ETA: Oh Hi Mollie. You popped up just ahead of me. You're up late?
Yes, I'm lucky that there was no problem between my Brother and myself. He still technically owns half of most of the furniture here, but is quite happy to leave it (not that it's worth much, as I said before).
I'm sure the Dogs'Trust will be glad of any extra bedding they can get.

Evening Both. :

What a glorious day here, 11c with wall to wall sun all day, winds of only 8, delightful.

Made the Grandpa Has Brown for brekkie, will post the video, just had it with bacon and tomato sauce, it made quite a few so have frozen the rest.

My Fine Cornmeal came and the push on F type adaptors for the Splitter, not much to come now.

Re-potted the 2 tomato plants so they have more room to grow.

Wasn't sure what to do for tea but had some belly pork still to finish and 3 trimmed pork chops to cook so made some tomato salsa to use those up, added a few spices, chopped up the cold pork, cooked the chops and had that for tea.

So many buds breaking on the fruit trees, need to get some more veg plants i think.

Mollie, I have so many chillies, love the green Jalapeño, with having so many i can eat them like sweets. they are sliced though so it's not as though i am eating a whole one.

I think your brother is out of order, he hasn't given what you gave so i don't think he should be entitled to the same share as you as he hasn't put into your mums well being like you have and if the hours you gave to her were costed as a hired help that cost should be taken off and awarded to you before his share is calculated.

 That meal you had for tea sounds good.

Emptybox, You are sure getting your share of the bad weather, today they are expecting terrible rain in Ireland.

Yes, i can't retune the stations while the aerial is suspect, i mean the connections, 37 still off which is Quest, can get it in the kitchen though.

Next door asked if i ate crisps as they had about 20 packets over, they are on a diet and they got them for some grandchildren, so thats not bad for snacks is it.

Strange, couldn't get station 17 just now, moved up to 18, no signal, 19 worked, so went back to 17 and it's fine.

Having a little trouble with the signal in the kitchen, if i wasn't i might be thinking it's the Humax box.

Getting harder to see the computer screen, trying to get the better eye to look at the text.

Watched Supervet, i see they are showing more details of the op.

I will be trying out some of the new recipes i have for the Samosa wraps and the Nacho triangles, i think i have all the flours made now so should be able to do something.

both

Emptybox

hope you got the nice weather today we got here and Hicky did too.

Yes I was late last night as had been busy sorting emails with brother. I want to auction mum's jewellery as we can't agree how to divide, that way we can just bid for what we went. Solicitor said this does happen if families can't agree how to divide. 

OH cut our grass today, it was very long already. So expect your busy period won't be long now.

Hicky

those hash browns look just delicious. Bet you enjoyed them.

Yes the buds are starting now. That bit of nice sunshine we had today should really help.

Can't believe how you eat chillies like sweets. I will pass on that I think.

Yes I am stunned at how my brother is so vocal about his inheritance and even wanting certain pieces of jewellery now. He had no kids so that means eg my nans old ring leaves the family instead of going to my daughter. I have told him it has to go to auction and bid if he wants it. He is fuming with me, as mum left him only a third, not half and the grandkids a third. But it was her free choice, she never told me she doing this.She went on her own to do her will. But it was my kids who spent all the time with her and were so good to her. When she did her will , she hadn't even seen my brother in 2 years. She has always needed a lot of help. One night my son even took me up the motorway at 11pm and again at 3am as the police rang me when she tried to leave her flat. I am so dissapointed in his attitude. My OH has moved her a total of 11 times over the years and he never complains. 

OH and son still clearing mum's furniture and goods from storage. OH showed me a suitcase of all the clothes she used to wear before she was ill, I quckly told him to take it away and give it to charity clothes shop, as I felt upset.

How handy your neighbours go on a diet and you get a freebie of 20 bags of  crisps. What is your fave flavour? Mine is cheese and onion. Yummy.

How annoying your tv tuning is still troublesome. If it is due to retuning?Hope they hurry and retune quickly!

Such a shame you are having trouble seeing the screen now.Hope the hospital can help sort it.

Good luck makng the samosas and nachos. bet they wil be nice.

So nice to see the sun all day for a change, lots of washing got dried and I took dog a walk. Wind a bit cool though.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
A nice day here as well. Not particularly warm, but quite a lot of sunshine.
When I woke up there was still a bit of snow around, but it's all melted now, except on the hill tops.

Went to Lidl this afternoon. They seemed to have less of the stuff I wanted than usual. Couldn't find the crisps I like or the peanuts and some other stuff. Plus there was a horrible smell in the place. Looked like something had been spilled, as there was a bit of the floor that had just been mopped. Anyway the smell gave me a headache, so i didn't spend all that long looking round.
I like Lidl prices, but can't say I enjoy shopping there at all.

My local one can't be as good as your one Mollie, unfortunately.

If it's nice weather tomorrow I will go out and cut a hedge. Then I can take the step ladder out of the van to leave room for the mower.
My own grass is just beginning to show a bit of a fuzz, so it won't be long before I need to start grass cutting.
I'll probably buy a new mower in the next few days. Until then I'll use the spare mower.

Hicky. Those hash browns look good. Not sure I've ever had them?
That's good that you've got a lot of buds on the trees, and you got your tom plants repotted.
Also that was a bit of a dividend, scoring those free bags of crisps.

Hope you manage to get your TV problem sorted, when all the bits for the connections come.
That's a pity that looking at the screen is becoming a problem for you.

Mollie. Pity it has come to having to auction the jewellery, but I guess it can't be helped.
As long as the will was your Mum's wishes, when she was of sound mind, there's really no cause for your Brother to be upset by it, as it's natural that your Mum would want to look after her grandchildren.

It's understandable that you might get upset by thinking about your Mum wearing her clothes and not want to see them.

Watched quite a lot of the Commonwealth Games today, then tonight I watched Location then Not Going Out and Still Game on BBC1.

Evening Both.

Not too bad today, 14c with sun and some rain, winds ranging from 14 to 17 dropping to 6 tonight.

Had more deliveries, the missing parts for the Splitter, the mango powder, the special tape and the Filo Pastry came, can't remember why i ordered it, will have to have a think.

A mail arrived with a V5C for a person and a van that i've never seen or heard of, tried to ring DVLA but they just say they are busy and hang up, looked online but get bogged down with 1 million links, all except one that applies to me, i followed a link that said you have received a V5C and you've never owned the car or you haven't got the car now, i followed that, on the next page it said make a choice, a) i have been clamped, b) i no longer have the car, that was it, the I have never owned the car had disappeared.

I emailed that in the end, might have to ring if i don't get a reply, if i do i hate to think what it will say.

My confirmation letter with lots of info for the eye hospital came, it's a Pre-operative Assessment Appointment telling me all about what to bring and the op and a 6 page form to fill in.

I had bacon sandwiches for brekkie, my shopping came, very good.

I was going to make Prawn Dim Sum for tea but i thought i had a tin of Bamboo Shoots but it was Bean-sprouts so had to step back to think, anyway decided get 2 frozen containers of Tomato Rice add more tomato and some more chilli and had that instead. 

Didn't do much outside, put a little compost on the seed potatoes on the compost heap.

Mollie, In relation to your Brother, a little money brings the real person out doesn't it, if it's not in the will that he can cherry pick from her possessions then thats that, i would treat him just like the insensitive person he is showing himself to be, personally i would ignore any contact from him and let him know nothing, you are not obliged to fill him in on any transactions so why are you dealing with him, he's not under your care.

I don't mind any flavour of crisps as it is only flavour and bears no resemblance to the real thing, if i had favourites i might eat those first so no point in that.

Emptybox, I always have hash browns in the freezer but just thought making my own would be a challenge

Was watching some videos and reading the recipes for Dim Sum for making and steaming them, can't see a problem so far, just the Bamboo Shoots missing is the problem.

Don't think these crisps are going to last as long as they should, mind you 25g a pack doesn't go far.

I eat a lot of these easy peelers, they look like small baby oranges, love them.

Yes reading the screen is hard because one eye is fighting against the other, one being not so bad and the other blurred, which is the AMD.

  both xxx

Emptybox

glad you got a nice day too.

Bit cloudier today, but not too bad at all, only a little rain.

Pity your visit to Lidl was not too good, gosh wonder what that was that was spilt?  Must of been a strong chemical if it was so bad it gave you a headache.

Yes seems we must be lucky with ours as it is a lot more organised.

Did you manage to get out and do the hedge? Good luck hunting for the mower.

Hicky

Gosh you are keeping the delivery man busy. and fancy ordering so much, you forgot why you ordered it.

Not sure what a V5C is but pity you couldn't sort it.

That is a lot of info you have to fill in before the op on your eye. Is it a catract op they are doing? If so I have heard they are very successfull. Or is it to do with they AMD? Shame you are struggling with the screen, so frustrating for you.

Too true a 25g of crisps don't go far and are so moreish. Sounds like you are enjoying them though.

You are right, a sign of money has bought the real person out and it is not pretty!

Today I received an email off him saying he is going to take me to court just to get the pieces of mum's jewellery he wants and even though he acknowledges all the jewellery is listed and with the solicitor, he accuses me of originally intending to hide it because we couldnt find it . (mum had dementia and it was hidden!), He says he is entitled to choose what he wants from the third he is entitled to. He wrote out how he would present it to the judge. I immediately contacted solicitor who told him court is obviously unwarranted and extremeley expensive.So I suspect he will drop that idea now.  I am appalled,  how low can you go? He never sent me long emails like this asking how mum was when she was ill! He never considered I was too busy making sure my mum did not suffer to mess about counting her jewellery. 

We went to view the auction again. Huge rooms full of stuff again. Interesting just to wonder round and browse. They had a lot of lap tops this week.

Then back to storage to sort out again.

We did stop in Gregs for a quick snack though. We all like Gregs. I had cheese, leek and potato soup. Son had sausage roll and other son and OH, cheese and ham baquette.

Watched Corrie and Gogglebox,

Goodnight both xxx

Evening both.
A nice day here with quite a lot of sunshine and quite warm.
I went out and got the hedge cut. The grass at the place, which was in town, looked like it was just about ready for a cut.
I didn't have a mower with me, because I had to bring back all the hedge cutting which filled the van, so I'll probably go back in the next couple of weeks.

I've ordered a mower from B&Q.
It's this one for £280 with a Briggs and Stratton engine.
It's supposed to come tomorrow, so I'm hoping I haven't made a mistake. But I guess we'll soon find out if you are right about them Hicky.

I would have preferred to buy it from my usual place, as they put oil and petrol in it and make sure it starts before they hand it over, but they are just too expensive.
If I could be sure it would last for 4 seasons I wouldn't mind paying the price, but I refuse to pay £500 for a mower that only lasts a year or two.
At least with this one, it won't matter if it only lasts a couple of years.
Course, if it conks after just a couple of months I shall be fuming.

Hicky. That's strange DVLA sending you a registration doc meant for someone else. Probably the best thing to do would be to post it back with a covering letter to say that they must have the wrong address as that person doesn't live here.

That's good more deliveries came, even if you can't remember why you ordered them.
Yes, there's always a lot of forms to fill in for an op.
No don't suppose those crisps will last long.

Mollie. Glad you enjoyed your soup in Greggs.
You must like looking round the auction if you went for a second time.

It might stick in the craw, but I think the best thing to do with the jewellery would be to put it to the side until you see your brother, then you, he and your kids see if you can divide it into thirds that you are all happy with. If there's a piece that you all want, then maybe that piece would have to go to auction, or perhaps, if he has no children, he might agree to eventually leave it to your children in his will?
I presume he's objecting to it all going to auction because he's out of the country and wouldn't be able to bid on it?

Again watched the Commonwealth Games. Enjoyed watching the cycling Archibald siblings winning gold and silver for Scotland.
This evening watched Britain's Great Cathedrals with Tony Robinson (just because there was nothing else on), then watched the new sci-fi detective thing on BBC2 'The City and The City'. Quite good.

Evening Both.

Not nice today, mainly rain, stayed in, temperature 10c rain and light winds.

Had eggs for brekkie, with hash browns.

Didn't know what to make for tea, been watching F1 practice etc most of the day.

Decided in the end to try the making the Samosa with the new Filo pastry from France, made a prawn, potato, chilli, onion filling with a few spices, all was going well until i was making the cases to fill them, took a piece of the shell out of the packet and cut it into 4 pieces, they were big squares, or so i thought, anyway, i oiled the surface with melted butter and folded 3 of them with filling, then i made the fourth, i then took another piece from the bag and realised the square section is the separator not the Filo pastry, oh dear, unwrapped them, good job i didn't put them in the oven, anyway, the Filo, thin as it is, is round so remade the cases, just eaten 4 of them, will have to go back and make for for tomorrow, don't think this pastry lasts long, it is scrummy though.

Mollie, The V5C is the registration Document, replaced the old LOG book.

Yes, it's the Cataract Op, but tomorrow is just the Pre-op meeting.

Think my bad right eye is because of the AMD not the Cataract, it still has Cataracts but not sure if doing that op would change anything.

If i were you, in relation to your Brother, he is talking rubbish, ignore him and don't answer his emails, you are making it worse, tell him nothing, he hasn't a leg to stand on and certainly wouldn't win in a court of law, why are you answering his emails, you are not obliged to so don't, if he wants to deal with someone let him deal with the solicitor or whoever is handling it all, you shouldn't get involved with him.

Glad you enjoyed Gregs, that soup sounds yummy. 

Emptybox, Hope your B&Q Mower will be OK, they don't have service centres do they, well, i mean they don't mend stuff, returns probably go out to auction as mending items needs humans which are expensive, the mowers will be made by robots probably which cost very little to run, but robots can't mend them.

Yes, if they don't reply to my email i will post it back.

I see Lewis got a 5 place penalty because his gearbox got a leak in Oz, what crazy rules to penalise the driver, so he's about 9th on the grid now as he only came 4th today, racing at 3.45pm tomorrow.

both xxx

Emptybox

that is good the weather meant you could get the hedge done.

Your mower looks a good one, fingers crossed you get some long time wear out of it. Shame your usual place was too expensive. Shame you couldn't of dragged a pensioner with you on a Wednesday as I believe over60's get 10% off at B and Q. At least it says you saved £35. 

Re my brother...now that might be an idea to suggest he leaves it in his will to my kids. My kids don't even want the jewellery but just want some of the main pieces as it was their gran's wishes to keep it with the family. But the moral of the story is, don't assume it is going to happen unless you actually include it in the will. In answer to your question, is he is back in UK and lives in UK, so the only reason he is refusing auction is he wants what he wants and not give us a chance! Most places do online auctions so you don't need to even be at the location.

Don't you watch Gogglebox now? It is still funny I think. I also like it because at times it flags up shows I would of missed.

Hicky

Hope your pre op meeting goes ok tomorrow. Perhaps they will tell you tomorrow if the op will help the problem in your right day? Is OH taking you? I know you said she finished work later on Sundays now.

Shame it was a rainy day today. At least temperaturs are in double figure now.

Glad you enjoyed your samosas after all the effort you put into them.

How odd you got that vehicle document, someone must be getting fed up if they are waiting for it to arrive.

Yes I decided to ignore my brother's ridiculous court threat email. If he did take it to this probate court, the fees would be more than the damn jewellery is worth!  And all the court would be able to do is either say we could no longer be executors as we disagree, or tell us to put it all up for auciton. Unless I have to, I will leave solicitor to deal with him.

My family feeling real stressed and unhappy today because of my brother's attitude. We all put mum before everything else and now brother is treating us like we are thieves!

We went to costco today, and enjoyed the food samples, then had lunch there. I had cheese/beans jacket potato again.

Me and OH not sleeping well with all this stress, and now I have lost my voice! My throat felt odd yesterday and now every time I try to talk I just croak! OH said the stress is taking its toll now.

On a bright note, we have enjoyed watching the Voice final. What a great show tonight. So hard to choose a winner and apart from Will, I think it was great to see the judges singing too.

NOt a bad day here today, cloudy but at least it was dry.

OH and son have more work to do clearing mum's storage tomorrow. I hope it is dry as my washing basket will reach the ceiling soon!

Goodnight both xxx

Hi Mollie and Hicky.
The day began dull here, then from noon it rained steadily all afternoon. Not particularly cold though.

The mower came and it seems to be quite well constructed, although it is lighter in weight then the Mountfield ones. That might mean that it's not as robust, but will also mean it's easier for me to lift in and out of the van, and to push if the drive fails.
I'd just got it out of it's box and fitted the handles when the rain came on, so i didn't have a chance to fill it with oil and petrol. So as yet i don't actually know if it will start. I'll try and test it tomorrow.

Hicky. Pity it rained for you as well.
Glad you enjoyed your samosas. Yes, probably better to make them out of pastry rather than cardboard.
That's a pity about Hamilton. He doesn't seem to be doing as well lately?

Doesn't really matter if B&Q have service centres as I would be on my own anyway if something goes wrong, as they don't guarantee it for commercial use.
If there's something wrong with it from the beginning they'll have to replace it though.
It's got a popular Briggs and Stratton engine, so should be no trouble getting parts for that. Whether I can find new blades or cables for it might be another matter. But there are some parts for it on ebay, but not as many as if I'd bought a Mountfield.
I was hoping it would share parts with the Mounfield, but I see the blade and assembly are different.

Mollie. Pity you are all getting stressed out about the probate situation, to the extent that you are losing your voice.
I know it's difficult, but you must try not to stress out about it. It will all work itself out in the next few months.
Not sure what the law says if two executors can't agree? But I would try not to fall out completely, if that's possible.

Does the pensioner discount apply if you buy online?
I thought of ordering the mower click and collect, and going to get it in my van. But I didn't see why I should burn my diesel for a 40 mile round trip, when home delivery was free.

I only tend to watch Gogglebox now if I happen to catch it on repeat if nothing else is on. TBH I think it's run it's course, with the 'opinions' being more and more stage managed than at the beginning.
I do like Giles and Mary though.

I watched Troy, but then watched the Voice on +1.
Pleased that Ruti won out of the final two, but I thought Lauren was the best.
What was up with Emma's hair though?

Emptybox

Re B and Q - I found this so over 60 discount is only in store...

B&Q: The Diamond Club offers shoppers aged over 60 a 10% discount when shopping in store on Wednesdays. New members also get a £5 off a £30 shop. By registering the card and using it every time you shop you can also earn personalised discount vouchers.

But also this B and Q club thing and if you join you get money off things.....so might be worth you joining.

https://www.diy.com/bandqclub

Evening Both.

A nice day today, was quite surprised, 12c sun all day, no winds really 4 to 7 only.

O/H was going to work at 10am till 2pm so thought it best to have a go at replacing all the components of the Aerial Splitter, a total of 12 parts, took my time and cut all the leads, stripped and fitted the F plugs then fitted the adaptors and the terminator, wrapped all the terminations in the special tape, it is weatherproof, waterproof, heat proof so should keep the terminations dry, refitted the outer cover box onto the fence, all stations working fine on my tv, o/h's tv and the kitchen, the other places haven't got the aerial in use.

Just had bacon on toast for brekkie, was going to make Spring rolls for tea but o/h made a roast dinner, i'm not going to complain at that.

Got a delivery today, just a long handled fork for the raised beds, Spear and Jackson The Kew Gardens Collection.

Have written down this Spring Roll recipe, very nice, looks very tasty, will show it at the end of the post.

Mollie, When i said tomorrow for the eye hospital, i meant Monday of course.

Yes, just ignore your brother, you aren't his keeper, let him do his own dirty work, don't get involved.

That was nice, having baked spuds with beans/cheese sounds good.

I didn't watch the Voice, not sure what i watched.

Emptybox, Glad your mower came, but with weather like you get it might not get tested yet, strange it's so much lighter, wonder what is missing, or is it just the frame is lighter.

It should give you good service for a few years, of course, depending on the amount of work you get.

I wouldn't expect any parts to interchangeable really, if they are different makes.

I used to get 10% off on a Wednesday with my club card, can't use it now as i can't get there.

On F1, Vettel won, Bottas 2nd with Lewis 3rd, good race though.

  both xxx

Emptybox

glad it looks hopefull as far as the new mower is concerned. Hope you managed to get it filled with oil and petrol, and it worked well.

Good idea to get a popular model so it is easier to get parts for the engine, but pity it won't be so easy to get parts for the rest of it. 

I hope you are right and this damn probate doesn't stretch on much longer. Yes very difficult to settle this amicably. But I sometimes wonder if it would be easier to ring brother if I need to sort anything about joint executor, as his emails are just so OTT. Now solicitor said to him his court threat  was completely unwarrented he might of calmed down! I still think if he was foolish enough to take it to the court, the court would just say it all gets auctioned any way. I have just ignored his court threat now after the solicitor spoke to him.

Hicky

gosh you were busy whilst your OH was working.

I bet your spring rolls will be much more yummy than my little frozen ones are.

Yes I remember you getting 10% off at B and Q, and how you used to visit the burger van too. Shame it is too far for you now.

I hope all goes well with your visit to hospital tomorrow about your eyes.

I did originally think you meant today, as  I believe some hospitals do appointments at weekends now.

We took dog down seafront today and had chips and mayo on seafront. Really busy as the weather was so much warmer today. Doggie loved it, walked a little but rode mostly in the doggie pram as her arthritic legs get tired now.

Watched part 2 of the Agatha Christie on bbc1, but am giving up on it, too weird and didn't understand it.

Goodnight both xxx