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"longer off topic comments" - Episode 15 Life Outside Ambridge
"longer off topic comments" - Episode 15 Life Outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Good morning everyone. Well we’ve had hardly any rain overnight. Bit of a disappointment. Here’s hoping we get some of the thunder storms today.
ReplyDeleteLovely pic as usual Ruthy. Hope you are feeling better.
Been so hot that our dogs have hardly been out for weeks.....the odd round the block or short early morning up the woods......so going to take them to the beach this morning for a cool down in the sea. Think I may be paddling my feet in too.
Ooh I am envious - is that a Yorkshire beach? Don’t answer if you would rather not.
DeleteYes we actually have black clouds & fairly heavy rain this morning too. Hope it lasts longer than half an hour this time, wow thunder & lightning too!
DeleteWe had a little rain overnight and a fair amount of wind. Not enough rain to water the allotment. Will be going to inspect for wind damage.
DeleteRuthy, thank you for keeping us going with lots of chat. I also hope your cold has gone and the insect bite has improved.
Now I feel even more stupid re. last night, and am very *cross*!
ReplyDeleteNot one flash, bang or raindrop in our corner of N W Hampshire!
I am watching TV reports of huge thunderstorms and torrential rain all over the UK and it all passed us by. Not even a drop in the bird bath!
I had though cancelling the dinner party would at least result in a good soaking for the garden.
Oh, and we didn’t even manage to see the ‘blood moon’ phenomenon due to cloud.
British weather? Pah!
Yes Archerphile it was so disappointing not to see the special moon! The darn thing had been as bright as "Molly Button" all week too. I second your pah! 😡
DeleteThe day Rosy was introduced to Brookfield Jill commented " oh look even the sun has come out to welcome you" 😂😂😂
I cannot recall when such a major GB / large part of the world event not worthy of a topical insert unlike tv this has to be relatively easy to do on radio with today's tech. No good asking the BBC for a comment though 🙄
It really is ridiculous when the farming issue alone has been / is such a main part of our National News. I guess TA is now a totally fictional programme with no relevance to the real world deemed to be required. New listeners may not notice so much but us long haulers do! I assume that when the Queen passes they will put themselves out to comment. The W.Cup of course could easily be incorporated into the ordinary pattern of script writing - after all they always have 4 yrs notice for that 😉
I don't understand this yearning to have the weather mentioned on The Archers. To me, it's 14 minutes of welcome relief from all the discussion of the weather and its effects on every aspect of life that's going on in the media and everyday conversation at the moment.
DeleteNo moon evident last night. Too much heavy cloud.
ReplyDeleteBut woke when the rain started, a gentle and steady sound. Got up to pull open windows in a little, but it obviously didn't last long. Yes lots of wind here meaning more leaves and tiny yellow bits (seeds? ) everywhere.
Thanks from me too Ruthy for the new blogs and your clever picture of Rosie.
Ruthy, now that you've been an Archers listener for a couple of years, have you been able to get any of TA books ?
Do so agree with you Lady R about the loss of any farming or even countryside issues in TA. ( apart of course to the dumping and contamination).
Those elements were always so important for me and the human content was always secondary in my interest.
I always enjoyed listening to Farming Today, but waking late is the norm now and I miss that too.
Mrs P if you use an iPad or similar you can load BBC iplayer Radio 📻 and then listen to "Farming Today" at a time to suit you.
Delete(You may already have it of course.)
Thanks Lady R..... I do have an IPad but I already listen to much that I have missed due to sleep. Yet another programme to add to the list might just be too much.
DeleteI know the feeling Mrs P 🙄
DeleteI should correct my post above :
ReplyDeleteVery little farming content.
There is some.
But not enough for me.
Again, great pictures, Ruthy, to set us up for blogging in the week ahead. I hope you feel better soon - both problems dragging you down somewhat.
ReplyDeleteYou were most unlucky, Archerphile, surprisingly, as most of us had some rain & thunder. Certainly here, in Herts. & it's pleasantly breezy today, likely to be some showers.
No rain on the allotment, but lots of wind with sun shining. Still watering salad, tomatoes, cucumbers etc. Apparently Cheltenham, which is not very far away was drenched last night.
ReplyDeleteRuthy. Are they artichokes in the picture?
In reply to maryellen’s puzzlement about us wanting a mention of the weather conditions in TA - I think this is because the weather is so jolly important to farmers, affecting the work they can do on the farm (ploughing, sowing and especially harvesting) and to their finances. Many farmers are facing dire straits at the moment, whether they are livestock producers (no grass growing therefore having to use up precious and expensive winter feed stocks) or arable/veg/fruit producers (dried up crops, tiny thin carrots and poorly growing fruit)
ReplyDeleteThe Archers is based on a farming community and therefore the weather is of extreme importance to the village and should reflect what is happening to the rest of the country. Plus the fact that it would give plenty of scope for future stories (sadly, probably of hardship) due to the current country-wide conditions.
Yes, can see that, it is a valid expectation. We find aspects of some SLs stretch credulity, so they can at least get some realism into the everyday situations so many will be facing in agricultural communities !
DeleteThank you for putting it so clearly Archerphile.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'd certainly swap a drought-based hard luck farming story for the drivel about the performing pets contest! But I'm not sure if Ambridge can justifiably be called an agricultural community when so few of its inhabitants are actively employed in agriculture. We get a skewed impression.
DeleteI am still waiting for some decent rain. It was cloudy enough last night, that there was no moon, but sadly there was also no rain! I have had a couple of quick 10min showers today, but nothing to make me to get excited about. It is yet another lovely, warm, sunny afternoon, but breezy.
ReplyDeleteStill I think that tomorrow might just be a very different story, as torrential rain and high winds are being forecast, but I will believe it when I see it.
Breezy Miriam almost gale force here today! Yes tomorrow's forecast is full of wind and really heavy rain (like you will wait and see.....)
DeleteI have been out and watered as normal, just in case! Roast Beef, Roast Pots + all the trimmimgs is just about ready, I love horseradish sauce, and I have recently found one called "Infero", It is but to my taste!
DeleteI feel the same way as you Mrs P and Archerfile. The Archers used to be a place that gave helpful advice to farmers in times of trouble. It was a programme about farming and country life. There are other soaps for people not interested in farming matters. It gives the impression that farmers just don't matter any more. I guess one day all our food will be imported; but yaaay it rained all night here, and this morning. There are now even puddles in the lane. It stopped and the sun shone through just in time for an afternoon wedding that I rang for, with the team, at Tintagel Church. It was packed with people who had travelled down from the New Forest and places in Oxfordshire, and they were a very happy lot. The bride was wearing a beautiful dress with lots of sparkles on the bodice, but it is the second wedding I have seen where the bridesmaids were all in black. Apparently it is fashionable at the moment but I prefer coloured dresses. One of the older ringers was reminiscing about the summer of 1976 and how he had had to feed winter feed to his cattle to keep them going then. Actually I am really really annoyed that the Archers scriptwriters/editors couldn't be bothered to mention the heatwave and the effect it has had on farms.
DeleteAnd also agree with Lady R whose comment I have just read.
DeleteArcherphile has just demonstrated that it is possible to know all about the effects of drought on farming without hearing about them on The Archers. When the programme was conceived, sources of information were much more limited than they are today (incidentally, I believe it was intended to educate the public rather than farmers themselves - hopefully they have never needed to a soap to teach them their trade!) There are plenty of other places for people interested in farming to find out more.
DeleteThat is why the programme changed its strapline to reflect "contemporary life" in rural areas rather than specifically farming. The countryside has also changed from the programme's early days. As mentioned, fewer people living there are actively employed in agriculture: in Ambridge counting dependents too, I reckon only 15% of its residents rely solely on farm work and related activities for their livelihoods. And if you read listeners' reactions to the programme, it's not Adam' s soil improvement experiments that get them going but Kate's questionable behaviour.
Personally, I'm taking it for granted that Ambridge is getting the same weather with the same effects as the rest of the country. If the scriptwriters wand to add drought-related misery to Brian's woes, fine by me, but I can do without
snippety inserts about the state of the crops. I notice Ambridge has been harvesting early, like elsewhere.
Adam's strawberry season has been up to date with the picker shortage - very Brexit also the affordable housing SL re young villagers finding it hard to be able to stay where they were born, land worker Ed for example. Although a problem even in town areas as well!
DeleteSeasider......Scarborough north bay beach.
ReplyDeleteI hope you got your walk on the beach, I am a bit further up the coast at Whitby and we had plenty of rain, on and off all day.
DeleteFirst time in weeks that the cows didn't spend all day inside in their winter quarters away from the heat and the flies.
Cowgirl.... there was a bit of rain in Scarb but did get on beach for a bit. We are more inland at Thornton Dale and didn’t get any rain til late evening.
DeleteSo pleased for your stock, Cowgirl, to get them outside again. It has been such a difficult time for animals over the past few weeks. I wonder, in particular, what hill sheep having been grazing on during the drought?
DeleteMy cows are lucky they have a choice, in or out, unlike most. Sheep have a way of surviving they can get at the roots etc. A lot depends on where in the country you are. We still have grass, though just beginning to run get short , so for us the rain has come in time, not so for other parts of the country who have been using winter forage, or in some cases selling cattle
DeleteMrsP - to answer your question on whether I have gotten Archer books. I am not sure what source there would be in the US for me to purchase. Though, I haven’t really thought about it as I feel it Is more fun when I get answers from all of you 😀😀😀
ReplyDeleteThat's fine Ruthy. It is not a requirement to have any of the books.
DeleteI don't have many, and they are not often to hand.
How wonderful! I have woken up to the sound of rain this morning and cars splashing down the lane outside our cottage! Blessed relief! Our local farmer harvested the field opposite yesterday - just in time! 🌧
ReplyDeleteMe too Archerphilr.
DeleteWhat a lovely sound.
I have several different kinds of orchids and they have all been put outside for a drink of "proper " water.
Mr A is a great orchid aficionado too and recently put some of his outside for their summer holiday - only to discover a few days later that they were being attacked by slugs! They were rapidly bought indoors again. He always uses rainwater ( from the waterbut) throughout the year to water them but insists on warming it up first on the hob. Talk about pampered plants!
DeleteAh, slugs ! Mr C has been on the slug warpath these last couple of days. Hope Mr A's orchids are happy to have survived, even if it means a curtailed summer holiday ? May be fantasizing, but also agree vegetation prefer the water from the sky - everything seems greener & happier roundabout the last 36 hrs or so !
DeleteSince when it rains our roads become rivers, and I become agitated, I too was surprised to feel pleased to hear the traffic slushing past upon waking this morning.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay and behold, there was water running down the road outside.
So, relief all round.
Puss, having been in a cat house for some months during the wet spring, had probably forgotten what wet weather was like.
In and out like a yo yo this morning.
We are blessed with a rainy day! Gypsy not at all keen even with her raincoat on. Definitely not a water dog! It’s lovely for the garden which is perking up after the long drought. It is constant lightish rain which hopefully will be absorbed into the soil.
DeleteOh yes what a treat to see and hear the rain after so long, glad for those on hols that it will not last for too long though and that the sun will return for them ( but hopefully) not so intensely🙄
ReplyDeleteLast night Mr R and I watched episode 1 of 4 of a new documentary following a year in "TheNew Forest" (Channel 4) it started with my favourite season Autumn- maybe because that is when I was born it was very interesting and narrated by Tamsin Grieg (Debbie) Countryside connection 😉
Lady R I am waiting for the repeat as I missed it last night. We have been visiting the New Forest for 20 years and go again in a few weeks. It is a very special place to us.
ReplyDeleteAlmost as good as my beloved Yorkshire - PTBY and Cowgirl my real home is a few more miles up the coast from you although I have been a city dweller for a long time. I also go back there several times a year to see my mother and I will be spending a lot more time up there soon when I reacquire a house just north of the moors. I can’t wait. The garden is going to be a big challenge as it is large and sloping and I don’t yet know how I/we will divide our time.
I did see Felicity Finch and Emerald O’Hanrahan on Pointless last night. Emerald sounds quite posh and not at all like Emma. She did say she tried hard to sound like the previous Emma played by Felicity Jones.
Was that a repeat,Seasider?
DeleteI saw the pair of them on Pointless (a programme I don't usually watch now because I think there is too much prattle about nothing-give me University Challenge every time.
Jeremy Paxman doesn't mess about) a few months back.
I was amazed that "Ruth" was so tiny.
Emerald O H is a most attractive young lady and as you say ,sounds nothing like Emma..
She is a very good actress.
I expect it was a repeat LanJan. I don’t watch it often now either was only nosey to see the Archers actors.
DeleteSeasider you could watch the NF prog on catch up ( All4 catch up) if you have the facility of course. We did have it via Freeview and then it was disabled trouble between 4 & provider cash wise I believe. 😮
DeleteThanks we have a record facility on our TV so I will see it that way. I can access I player but not sure about other channels.
DeleteAt last some rain! I had about 3 hours of quite heavy rain, with wind, (I mean the weather, not myself) this morning. It cleared up at lunch-time, so I now how no rain, no wind, some warm sunshine with partial blue skies. I count myself very lucky.
ReplyDeleteCat No.2, my ? homeless one, came in for breakfast at 8.30am and she was soaking wet! She had obviously had been out for quite a while.
At last I do not have to go out and water tonight, and this is the first time for weeks. I am spending this extra time cooking. I am creating Pork meatballs in a tomato, celery, garlic, mushroom, red wine, stock + onion sauce. Wasn't meatballs one of Pips usual meals?
DeleteOh, Miriam, your meal descriptions are so mouth watering - I'm drooling ! Stop it ! 😋
DeleteSorry! and I will! I just love and really enjoy cooking, as I have always done, thanks to my late Mum who taught me. I still cook "from scratch" as I always have done, but it is much easier these days, due to the wonderful "mini" range cooker, I had installed about 6
Deletemonths ago. It will need a good clean tomorrow though.
Miriam, can we all come to dinner sometime. I don't eat pork, how about one of your wonderful Itialian meals. Please.
DeleteOh, yes ! We'll bring the wine, Chianti, whatever.....
ReplyDeleteFrom one who does not cook, I too wish I could have one of your meals Mirium.
ReplyDeleteYes, that édition of Pointless was a repeat of one shown earlier this year. Once again I was amazed that Emerald O’Hanrahan’s natural voice is nothing like her portrayal of Emma Grundy. She is a very talented actress to have got Emma’s country burr off to a tee and to have matched the voice of Emma's previous actress Felicity Jones. She even manages to sound believably like Susan’s daughter.
ReplyDeleteYes she is very convincing and every bit as good as Felicity Jones.
DeleteI haven't seen either of these programmes neither the original, nor the repeat. I much prefer The Chase to Pointless. I will though watch in on i-player in the coming week. PS Another portion of meatballs tonight, and three portions are now in the freezer.
DeletePS My "meatball cook" has been very cost effective, as I have costed it out at £1.15 per portion!
DeleteThis is for information only, just in case this might appeal to others. Whilst I was cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and changeing the bed (which included tossing the mattress over) I listened to a drama which I had previously downloaded, from R4. This was:- Inspector Morse - The Shallows, duration 1.5hrs. I really enjoyed it.It is only available for about another 10 days. I am only mentioning this, as some of you might enjoy this radio drama, as I did.
ReplyDeleteI listened to this a couple of weeks ago as I was sanding down my summer house windows. It was good.
DeleteAt the mo I’m listening to miss marple off radio 4 and I love the Paul Temple stories off radio 4 extra......by Timothy!!!!!
I have also been listening to Paul Temple. which I downloaded and listened to, as + when.June Whitfield as Miss Marple is very different and I am, sadly, not able to appreciate her in this role.
DeleteMiriam: Thank you for the recommendation on Morse. For others who are interested here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b9tsjw
I listened to the Morse play and enjoyed it when it was broadcast.
DeleteI also listen to the Paul Temple when it is on R4.
I listen as a tribute to my parents. P T was a great favourite of theirs.
I remember lying in bed and hearing it through the walls.
I to check out who this Paul Temple is!
DeleteRuthy, he was iconic in the forties and fifties, along with his wife Steve.
DeleteA sophisticated couple in the dull dark post war years.
He was a writer, but often got roped in as an (extremely successful) amateur detective. He and Steve (why was she called Steve?) were rather posh (rather?!), which was part of their period charm.
DeleteWas Steve his wife or just his lady friend ?
DeleteAll I remember was that she had a beautiful voice but the actual actor's looks -or my impression of how Steve looked.-didn't match her voice-
Has somebody already mentioned that the introductory music was Coronation Scot?
Definitely his wife. It was the 1950s (I think).
DeletePuss has just brought me my first present.
ReplyDeleteA Bat !
I tried to rescue it and it bit me.
Nothing serious, I put on a glove and have put it on a high wall in the garden.
I don't suppose it will live, but it will now be able to die peacefully I hope.
I have given him a cuddle and told him what a clever boy he is.
When I had cats they formed a gang and caught a bat. It seemed OK and I took it outside. While I was wondering what to do with it it flew off. But it didn't bite me, so I didn't face your problem, MrsP! Heed Archerphile's advice.
DeleteThe little, sweet one of my cats brought in a grass snake . . .
Mrs P - keep a very close eye on that bite and dont take any chances if doesn’t heal very quickly ! 🤕
ReplyDeleteMrs P, Do you mean the bat bit you or the cat bit you? Bat bites can be dangerous, fatal even. Only trained bat handlers are supposed to touch bats for this reason. I advise you to contact your G.P. a.s.a.p. for advice. It's far worse than a bite from a cat or dog. This information was from the "batman" who visited my local wildlife branch.
DeleteSorry folks.
DeleteI should have been specific.
I felt a peck, a lot less than from a bird.
i.e. It nipped me. The bat that is, not the cat.
The skin is not broken, not even a mark.
The bat was defending itself.
But I did then put on a gardening glove, heavy duty, to remove it to the garden.
Thank you for your concerns.
I am aware of the danger, but no harm done.
Bat Conservation Trust advice;
DeleteBat bites in the UK: "bite or scratch should be washed thoroughly and medical attention sought immediately" www.bats.org.uk/news.php/123/bat_bites_in_the_uk
Bat Conservation Trust: Bats and rabies: What should I do if I am bitten by a bat?
www.bats.org.uk/pages-bats_and_rabies-1099.html#A5
There is also advice on what to do if a bat is in your house.
I don't know if this is true but …..
DeleteThe Queen likes windows at Balmoral to be open in the evenings. Bats fly in and some cling to curtains. Each morning HM accompanies staff as they go round persuading bats to leave. HM uses a racquet to scoop them up and put them out the window.
I didn't make it up, honest.
🦇 🦇 🏸🏸
DeleteHH I like your story.
DeleteUnexpected pleasure!
ReplyDeleteIt has rained during the night.
I think it might be a while before we get any more rain though.
Bats are wonderful creatures, I have had them in my curtains, and if I'm sitting out in the evening they fly through the garden. My next door neighbour has a bat detector, great fun to use sitting outdoors with a glass of wine.
ReplyDeleteMrsP. Puss has certainly bedded into his new environment.
My Godfather once found a bat hanging upside down asleep from a coat hanger in his wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteP.s. the old-fashioned name here for a little bat is a flittermouse. We have some larger horseshoe bats living in a barn, and they are quite impressive when they come out at dusk.
ReplyDeleteFlittermouse is a wonderful name for bats. I enjoyed using a bat detector on our bat walk in the park a few weeks ago. Apparently they like water so we walked around the lake and found them circling the trees then flying down onto the water.
ReplyDeleteWe have a movement-operated light on our landing which switches on for 15 seconds, just enough time to light the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Quite recently I was awoken at 3am by the light switching on and off repeatedly. I got up to investigate and found a very small bat had got in through an open window and it’s fluttering about was operating the light. I shooed it into the spare bedroom and opened the window wide so it could escape.
ReplyDeleteNext morning I found it roosting on the lampshade over the spare bed where it had deposited quite a lot of bat poos! We carefully guided it outside and I then had bedding to wash. 🦇
That reminds me of an old Archers storyline about bats at St. Stephen's. The vicar was terrified of them.
DeleteThe only bat I saw indoors was at a Nature Center in Grand Teton National Park. It was a high ceiling room with a grand fireplace. Above the fireplace were natural stone blocks and a bat was resting near the top. Little things that I remember.
ReplyDeleteLovely bat ( batty ?) stories...... thank you.
ReplyDeleteI believe the one about the Queen too.
Good news is that when I went to the high wall this morning the bat was no longer there. I rather hope it was able to fly away.
Also, fortunately Puss did not mither after I had retrieved the bat from him.
So far I am winning on the night time patrol and he is staying in.
The bat detectors which have been mentioned, reminds me of a wonderful family week-end at my younger sisters in Norfolk. My other sister's then partner, now 2nd husband, had a bat detector. We were sitting out at dusk, around a fire pit, with a lot of booze and said person drunkedly, staggered off with his bat meter. He didn't detect any, as the bats were flying between his back and the rest of us. It was one of those moments, you had to be there to see it!
ReplyDeleteThe worst one of my cats brought in, was a young woodpecker which I put on a shrub, to die. i just couldn't kill it. The other memorable present, by the same cat, was a dead mole. Sadly that lovely ginger tom, disappeared at the age of 2. I am sure the hunter, became the hunted.
Mrs P. I am so glad that your Pusscat is settling in. It does take time for a new "pet/companion" to settle in, as Ev + Gypsy are doing.
ReplyDeleteEv - I would love an up-date.
Thank you for asking, Miriam. Gypsy is doing well although she has had a urine infection and has just finished antibiotics, We had a few instances of puddles over night which is like her as she is quite meticulous. However after the antis kicked in she has been fine. I now have to get a sample to take for analysis! They have given me a nifty kit though! She had a visit to the groomers where we left her for 3 hours on their instruction. She looked lovely afterwards and it must have been more comfortable having got rid of most of her fur! Since then madam has required a nighttime cuddle from daughter before settling down for the night! She now sleeps grudgingly separately having a good sized room to herself but wakes me at about 6 to go out. I then leave her there as she would keep us both awake storming around. She usually settles but wakes us at about 7.30 demanding breakfast! (Katy is on holiday so no need to get up early. )This is a big dog in a small body who likes to be in charge so needs to know her place!
DeleteShould read unlike her!
DeleteLanjan. Is there any news about the cats?
ReplyDeleteI am afraid not,Miriam.
ReplyDeleteToday I have been very busy and tomorrow I think I will be too and although I am not putting it off I don't know what I can do now except to try to get in touch with the Social Worker again.
I will only be told that they are aware of the situation and everything is in hand.
I saw the ",Carer " there today .
I think she has some form of shelter now where she puts the food so maybe some notice has been taken about what I said.
The cat I have really taken to saw me and came across the road to me .
I petted the cat and chatted to her/him .
At least it wasn't too hot today.
.....and again,no,Mrs P ,I would not take that cat in.
It is obviously the leader and the others need it.
Poppy wouldn't accept it anyway and Percy would run a mile-as would Mr LJ .
I will still try to walk past to see whether if the heat wave returns the fly ridden plates have been removed.
Mr LJ has looked out of the bedroom window and said that my little mate is outside waiting for me.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should never have interfered in the first place.
Lan jan, I was caught out once with a homing pigeon which I fed, found out where it came from but they were no longer interested as once it has bonded to another through food it will never return home. At the time we lived in Cornwall just across the Tamar fromPlymouth. I took it to the Hoe and released it hoping it would go home but on returning home there it was on our shed roof! In the end it took ill and died. I learnt a Lesson! Hope all will end well for the cats though.
DeleteLan Jan, I do understand, and I really am not advocating that you should take any or all of those cats in to your home.
DeleteI think I suggested, once, that if you had a garden shed, then you might be able to protect them from the heat in there.
But I do not wish to bully you into taking them, please believe me.
As for my Puss, I have at last found some wet food that he likes. It is mid range in price, but on offer at the moment so I have stocked up.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile the bog standard supermarket brand I bought in readiness for his arrival is still in the boxes as he turned up his nose at it.
Now after a week of a little of the wet food and his usual dried whole food he is neglecting to eat the dried stuff and constantly asking for the wet food.
So today he has not been given any wet food at all.
Eat the biscuits Puss, cos you ain't getting anything else till that bowl is empty.
Boy can he youl !
My brother has a Shi Tsu inherited from his sister in law who sadly passed away. He will only eat people food so has chicken etc. Happily Gypsy loves Chappie but she will devour anything as she is so greedy! Agree Mrs P that your puss will have to have the biscuits or nothing. My sil has a fussy cat whose tastes bend with the wind and she’s constantly having to guess the latest fad!
DeleteWet food is generally better for cats than dry food. Feeding dry food can cause dehydration which in the longterm causes renal failure in cats. There is a lot about it online. It is very handy though if going out to be able to leave some dry food available as that won't go off like wet food.
DeleteYou are definitely not a bully MrsP.
ReplyDeleteI was being light hearted when I mentioned not taking in lovely cat.
Well done you too for being strict regarding puss's food.
Our cats are ruined by Mr LJ who until I persuaded him that we should get a cat was a "dog" person.
Percy in particular adores him and thinks he has really fallen on his paws!
Maybe if Mr P is attached to your two present cats, you could adopt "the lovely cat" as your very own cat!😉
DeleteMeant Mr LJ
DeleteWent to collect some plums from our tree earlier this morning,picked three and they are full of ants!
ReplyDeleteDo ants lay eggs on the blossom does anybody know otherwise how to the little b*****s get in there?
I think I've seen ants on plums in the past.
DeleteThey climb the trunk of the tree.
Plums exude syrup so I suppose it's the pheromones !
Must go to my ' found ' plum orchard next week to collect any fallen fruit.
They climb up to collect the secretions left by aphids as a rule, for future reference a sticky band around the trunk should stop them. Perhaps the secretions from the plums in this case are attracting them.
DeleteTry to stop worrying about the Cats , you have done your very best, we all feel as you do, but the powers that be feel differently, at this point we cant change that. I am sure what you do do for the cats is appreciated by them.
Grease bands are very effective In stopping insects from climbing up the trunk of fruit trees. There are lots of ants around at the moment, along with white fly, cabbage white and other things of the crawling species. Cabbage white are extremely destructive my brassicas are ruined despite trying to protect them.
DeleteSuch is life in the vegetable garden.
You win some, you lose some.
At last I have managed an hour in the garden. No serious work just pulling stuff from the stone walls.
Deletehowever found a young toad.
Know that we have them but this is the first seen by me.
So.... thrilled !
Fortunately very few ants.
Mrs P. I have had the same problem with my cat in the wet vs dry meals. She had a severe problem with a massive weight loss a few years ago. After some very expensive vets bills and tests, I was very pleased to learn that there was not an obvious problem. I tried her on several different dry foods, and typically she likes the most expensive , namely "Iams". This is now her staple diet, but I do treat her to a small, half tin of a well-known brand on a Saturday + Sunday. She will not eat the cheaper brands of cat food available! Instead, it is myself who has had to cut down on the food bills! I would not change this though.
ReplyDeleteI actually mowed the lawns today. A lot is still very brown and parched, but I was amazed just how many cuttings I had.
ReplyDeleteStasia,
ReplyDeleteI take it that the damage is done for this year regarding the ants in the plums and it is now too late for grease bands.
Last year a strong wind blew the blossom away.
Third time lucky hopefully next year.
I have just picked my 3rd crop of runner beans tonight. They are not doing too well, but at least I am getting some tasty and fresh veg.
ReplyDeleteLucky you, Miriam. So far I have picked exactly 1 bean from the beans that I have been dragging bath water downstairs to keep going in the drought. Flowers come and flowers go, but just the one lonely bean so far. I was blaming it on the fact that I couldn't carry enough water to help them make beans, but, then I noticed that there are always lots of sparrows bouncing around on them - picking off the aphids, I thought. But, what if they are snapping up the nice juicy flowers?! Beans and sticks are now adorned with hanging CDs ready to glint in the bright sunshine and see off those pesky spadjers, which I cross my fingers and continue to stagger around with cans of second hand water!
DeleteNo youling tonight. He allowed me to bring him in and shut the door without any fuss.
ReplyDeleteI have spent half an hour looking at Pinterest and he has now taken himself up stairs without me.
We are learning to live together.
Puss slept throughout the night without disturbing me, and I was awake early and up and about and busy before 9 am.
ReplyDeleteThis is a breakthrough for me, for which I am delighted.
Hope it happens again.
And he seemed content with a small amount of wet food followed by his biscuits.
Janice - yesterday, re dry / wet food.
I have not read anything about this issue, but always feel that eating dry food alone, whether cat or dog, cannot be very natural.
This cat however drinks a great deal of water. He now has me turning on the bath tap on demand. And he often drinks from his water bowl by dipping in a paw and licking from his paw.
You're right, MrsP. If cats (or dogs) are only eating dried kibble, they should always have lots of fresh water readily available. It swells the dried pellets in their stomach, and turns it into something like wet cat food. I had a cat that nearly died of kidney failure because he couldn't reach his water, and no one noticed. I always leave the dried food down as cats are good at eating just what they need, and I also feed a very small amount of wet food about three times a day - especially when it's hot, just to be sure they get some moisture. There's always water there too, although Fergus (and most of my previous cats) seem to prefer to drink the dogs' water :)
DeleteMine seem to prefer muddy puddles.Sigh!
DeleteLasting power of Attorney.
ReplyDeleteFor those not in the know
If you made one of these between April 2013 and March 2017 you can claim a refund (Between £37 and £45 )
You can apply on line or telephone 0300 456 0300 option 6, you need your documents and a bank account and sort code number, it will take approx. 12 weeks to arrive. In your search engine just tap in claim a power of attorney. Apparently they have made a big profit , not often the Gov offers a refund.
Thank you. I, for one, will be looking into this. I also will mention this to other family members, as we all set up our Power of Attorneys, at about the same time in 2015/2016.
DeleteI so appreciate you sharing this very valuable information.
Lanjan. I would suggest you put the grease bands on in the early spring, at the moment it's the wasps eating my pears. Can't do anything about that except look forward to fewer pears. When they want to eat my alfresco dinner I resort to the jam jar on the table. Wasp stings are not very pleasant. I know we are supposed to love all creatures, great and small, but I don't t like wasps.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you there Stasia.
DeleteThanks Stasia-will get grease bands and do what you say.
DeleteI used to like spiders, except now I don't so much since I got bit on my ankle. Almost better, just a small scare and healing skin.
DeleteI am a huge wimp when it comes to spiders. Ruthy it sounds like you get bigger spiders if they bite. A Canadian friend living here has mentioned something she calls cellar spiders.
DeleteI wonder where in the world is GaryG on his honeymoon adventure.
ReplyDeleteI've got two lovely posts set up for this weekend. I think you'll like TA one very much.
ReplyDeleteWe’ll miss the baby but look forward to new posts!
DeleteLoved that dear little baby.
DeleteWent to hospital for my pre-op checks today. It took over 5 hours and cost me £6 in car parking fees! Never answered so many questions or filled in so many forms for anything else in my life so far! Every single inch of me was poked, prodded and measured, ECG test performed, X-rays taken, swabs taken from perculiar places and goodness knows what else!
ReplyDeleteI have never had so many checks prior to an operation before, can only assume they are extra careful these days to avoid possible litigation afterwards if anything should go wrong.
Has anyone else had to undergo all this rigmarole or is it just Hampshire who spend so much time doing pre-op assessments?
As you will be aware Archerphile although all hospitals (hopefully) are especially careful with pre op's etc Orthpeadic wise Basingstoke is top notch. So many checks post op 2/6weeks / 3 mths 1yr and every year a form of assessment plus visit to local hospital and then a 5yr check certainly for knees. My neighbour has recently had her knees visually checked again as both are 15/16 yr old now. Guess we should be pleased but a long /expensive visit for you all the same. When were you first told 18wks - at a June appointment as I believe you were expecting end of Oct, maybe you have a cancellation ? When is your hip and knee school or have you been given a DVD not that I will particularly want to know all the minute detail of my op...
DeleteI go to see Jamie Griffiths next Fri and I guess this time I will have to go on the list , I can get sore but can still run if I have to and walk unaided and (usually) fast. My xrays do not reflect the flexibility I have he said. I am doing pre op excercises as I know I need to improve muscle tone. It is now a year since I had my 3rd and last hip injection which always lasted me a year or there abouts. 4 yrs ago my then Dr said I neededa replacement but Mr R has had so much happen over those years that it has been a big help that I could delay. His consultant surgeon (that he has had since 2010 and who still keeps in touch every 4mths) was also mine at one point and did my injections so knew of our situation. He has recently stopped hip surgery to concentrate on his first love knees and the more complicated the better. Plus like others he also trains, takes and attends conferences etc.
Off to bed now will look out for your reply when you have had time to recover!!!
Standard practice, I'm afraid, Archerphile, although they've seen me so often recently (this was my 4th operation in 5 years) they've stopped bothering with the minutiae so it only took two hours - safe to assume I'm still the same height as last time! The nurses are usually very jolly and as I don't normally get out much outside work I've reached the point at which I find the pre-op assessment quite entertaining, especially the blood samples. Apparently I have very small veins and it has been know for it to take three people half an hour to obtain the required amount; this time the nurse gave up and sent for the duty doctor to deal with it.
DeleteI assume you now have your antibacterial wash; this time they also gave me nasal cream in case any tests came back positive, which they didn't. I always think it bizarre that I have to shower in antibacterial solution on the day of the op and then travel to hospital by public transport with two separate bus companies. At least this time as I had to report in at 7am, we had to take a taxi.
No Archerphile, not just Hampshire.
ReplyDeleteI went through it too.
Much of it is about prevention of infection of one sort or another. Although your point about litigation may have something to it.
Despite your really draining day, glad you managed to contribute to the TA blog as well, Archerphile ! Impressed by your mobility, Lady R, in the face of X ray evidence; case of mind over matter ? We're all so different in our tolerance levels, even within ourselves, depending on state of mind, if that makes sense. I think we underestimate the influence of the mind in pretty much everything that happens, very much including bodily ills & weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn you are probably right! Mr R had many op's during '14/'15 and needed a lot of care and support. He is however such a strong character and never complained, can't say I could have been similar all the time in his situation. He still has some ongoing restrictions to cope with but is as bright as a button and we laugh a lot which is always a tonic 😀
DeleteRuthy! Just logged on for the first time in a while - happy to give you an update! Have just checked into our hotel in Berkeley, California after a lovely flight from Honolulu. (The hotel had a bottle of Champagne & some chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us in our UPGRADED room... So nice!!!). In Hawaii we hiked up a volcano, attempted to surf on Waikiki Beach and went on an 11 hour coach trip around the island, stopping every once in a while to grab a look at some of the most stunning views I have ever seen in my life. We are having the trip of a lifetime...
ReplyDeleteGG - wow, wow, wow - this is a trip of a lifetime. I like that you said attempted to surf...that is adventurous. Hawaii is beautiful. My only visit was two years ago to Oahu and Kauai. On Oahu we had to go see the Pearl Harbor Memorial, did not leave without shedding a few tears. We did a helicopter ride on Kauai and saw the entire island from the air. Enjoy your continuing vacation in the mainland! Look forward to your next post.
ReplyDeleteJust to reply to Lady R before commenting on that wonderful honeymoon .....
ReplyDeleteYes, I think I must have had a cancellation (perhaps due to other patients being on holiday?)
I feel unprepared as I have not been to hip school yet - that is next week - but I did see the Ocupational Therapist yesterday who checked the measurements I had provided of all our furniture, loos etc and she has ordered me some equipment to use post-op. I have seen the DVD (my surgeon was much younger when it was made!) and it is quite encouraging and not in the slightest bit gory. They don’t show the actual operation.
One thing that worried me is that they would prefer to do the op under sedation rather than a full general anaesthetic, but I am concerned about possibly *hearing* what is going on and not being able to communicate that I am aware!!
I have not been given any special wash to use Sarnia, but have been given a bottle of a high carbohydrate drink which I have to take before 6am on the day of the op, then present myself on Ward D1 by 7am. Yesterday was quite exhausting, specially the long waits in corridors in the sticky heat. Over an hour waiting for an X-ray because only one radiographer was on duty for the whole hospital, including A&E, and I was constantly being back-tracked because somebody more urgent than me needed attending to. Such is life in hospitals these days sadly, but at least I know I shall be in safe hands and an excellent orthopaedic Unit.
Archerphile, When I had my knee done, I wanted a general anaesthetic, for various reasons I had to have an epidural. I too was worried about hearing, but in actual fact in the end it didn't worry me hearing them saw and hammer things into place or when the surgeon was instructuing his assistant with the sewing up. I couldn't see, but I think it wouldn't have worried me if I had, in a strange way I felt part of it.
DeleteHope that helps.
you do recover quicker not having an anaesthetic too.
Good wishes for the op and your recovery.
The hearing reminds me of teeth implants. They freeze the areas, of course, but there's a helluva a lot of digging, yanking, sawing, pulling the mouth & gums around, so you feel & hear without pain. Rather interesting - it might have been fun to have a live video at the same time ! The soreness comes later, but not so bad. The first time there was swelling as well (4 implants at the same time) We went to a wildlife place the next day, & whilst drooling over llamas with overhanging upper jaws,we exchanged glances; look from woman to llama, little difference...like the end of 'Animal Farm', when the animals look from pig to man & see no distinction...
DeleteOh Carolyn, that did make me laugh! I’m afraid I was a terrible dental patient, having had masses of treatment as a very young child without any anaesthetic first. By the time I was an adult and an Aussie dentist had yanked out a tooth with an abcess under it, I was in such a state I had to have all dental treatment done under sedation - very costly as not available from my NHS dentist. I am a bit better about it now but don’t have many teeth left 😬
DeleteAnd CowGirl - that is exactly what I want to avoid, the sound of sawing and electric drills even if I can’t feel anything. Also the banter going on between the staff or any indrawn breaths between the teeth like when a tradesman comes to give you an estimate for a job and says the whole wall will need replastering first! The least I know about the operation the better.
Not surprised you cringed at the dentist, Archerphile, after the childhood horrors. The hip op. will be a breeze by comparison, though obviously not the dreary & comparatively long drawn out recovery period afterwards, even given good pain relief when needed. I gather that sleep is a problem because of various restrictions.
DeleteIt's great hearing about your exciting holiday, GG, so many sights & adventures ! Thanks for taking the time to update us ( back here, in a sweltering, enervating heatwave...)
GaryG - your holiday sounds absolutely wonderful - Hawaii sounds amazing , I take it the volcano must have stopped erupting now as you were able to tour around. Hawaii always sounds so glamourous and exotic and I do envy you the chance to visit. So where next on the itinerary ?
ReplyDeleteAre you about to fly to the west coast of USA, SAN Francisco or somewhere equally exciting , wherever, continue to enjoy! ☀️
Cowgirl.
ReplyDeleteAgain thanks. I have looked at the Power of Attorney refund site. I will be doing mine in the next couple of days.
Glad that you were able to make use of the ifo
DeleteIt was very valuable as I had not come across it. I will spread the word to friends + family. The refund is not great, but at least I can claim something, for a changs.
DeleteArcherphile. Just remember however much you have had to endure so far, your best interests and welfare is paramount. It sounds that you are having wonderful care and attention, which is for your benefit.
ReplyDeleteTake Care.
When is the "big day"?
I think that hospital parking fees are outragious. When my family were called to the hospital at 11.30pm as my Mum was very poorly, The car park fees were the same even though it was late at night. My two sisters and self left at 8.00am the next morning and each of us had to pay £7.00.a total of £21.00 (Dad had a blue badge so he was OK). I really felt aggrieved at this cost, as it was overnight as we sat and watched Mum "pass away".
ReplyDeleteOne of the park + ride buses, now stops at the hospital and they do a "hospital" ticket for £1 return per person, but it does depend on being able to drive to and from it, which is not always possible!
I am amazed at high energy pre op drinks, videos, and so many check ups described by Lady R, as well as antibacterial washes.
ReplyDeleteNone of those facilities in Gloucestershire.
Sarnia, have you ever had, or asked for bloods to be taken from the back of your hand.
My veins have always been very thin and now as a result of frequent blood tests since the age of three very difficult to get a decent amount. Sometimes any.
So now I ask for the hand and it's very good. Yesterday's bloods instant from my hand.
I insisted on a general anaesthetic and made it clear that if persuasion to have an epidural continued I would walk away from the operation entirely there and then.
I have had three out of body experiences, one under anaesthesia and being a carpenter I am familiar with ratchets saws and drills.
No thank you !
I never park at hospitals. I park elsewhere and walk or travel by public transport.
To be fair, my neighbour took me into hospital and my daughter collected me.
Very pleased GG that your honeymoon is living up to your expectations and more.
ReplyDeleteKeep signing in.
I have been to Birmingham today, as a companion to a friend needing specialist dental
ReplyDeleteConsultancy.
We went under NHS travel arrangements and our lady driver lives very near Stasia I think.
On the journey home we passed Pebble Mill which is now a care home, so the subject of TA arose. The driver wanted an update as she does not listen consistently and then both she and my friend both wanted to hear about our blog.
They were fascinated as to how it works. This produced at least twenty minutes of conversation !
Thank you for your reply Archerphile I'm with you regarding the drilling and sawing 🙄 Mr R has had most of knee op's done via epidurals and says he did not hear anything, however another friend told us he vaguely heard noises but thought there must be workmen nearby 😂 so obviously he was a little drowsy 👏
ReplyDeleteGuess it is will better for you when you are getting on with it rather than anticipating! That's how I will feel...be with you in spirit all the way 👍
I need opinions, please.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour asks me to feed their cat when they go away.
However she feels it is an imposition to ask one person to be responsible for the task.
So she asks at least two people and splits the feeding into a run of several days, despite me clearly saying I am willing to do the entire time.
On this occasion I was feeding for four days, then another person was doing the weekend. I then received a text asking me if I could do the weekend as well as the other person had backed out. This was to be followed by five more days of me feeding the cat.
I am in the middle of those five days now, but the cat has not been in evidence for the last two days. No food eaten, no sign of cat.
I think the cat is lonely and has gone off to find affection elsewhere.
I will never ask this neighbour to feed my Puss. I have a reciprocal arrangement with someone who will come and keep my cat company for a while as well as feeding him.
I will do the same for her cats, and possibly her dog.
I am not very keen on the neighbour and do not like her ( ugly IMO ) cat or the disgusting kitchen and dirty surrounds of the cat feeding area. ( which I do not feel is my responsibility to clean up)
Now I have the dilemma of should I inform her of the cats disappearance by text, or wait for their return late on Sunday night.
(When they are very noisy unpacking the car and slamming doors at two am )
That happened to me. The cat also disappeared but was found as she adopted herself elsewhere. I have never looked after anothers cat since, and I alwsys put mine into kennels, to avoid such a situation.
DeleteI think I'd say inform her of the cat's disappearance, to avoid the (expressed or unexpressed) 'Why didn't you tell us?'. In the end, your responsibility was only to feed them. And I think, as an 'owner' (we all know that's a misnomer), I'd want to know.
DeleteThat is worrying - no sign of ugly ( perhaps because unloved?)cat for 2 days, + food untouched. Do you go in morning & evening ? If there's no cat tomorrow am, I'd text her. It may be that the cat regularly does a disappearing act, but if you worried about upsetting her last few days away, you could always leave a note somewhere obvious (better than bestirring yourself at 2am...)
ReplyDeleteI insist on feeding twice daily. Owner thinks once a day is ' good enough '.
DeleteCan see why you aren't keen on her(+filthy kitchen)
DeleteDon't let them know anything whilst they are away ,Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteThey can't do anything and it will spoil their holiday.
I would wait until Monday morning and if the cat hasn't returned by then you will be able to tell them what happened and explain why you did not let them know.
Perhaps the cat is missing them and when he hears the noise of the car doors he/she will return.
You have done what you can -indeed more so.
Mrs P you are probably right that the cat has somewhere to go whilst they’re away. Our next door neighbour’s cat hangs around us whenever they are away and demands attention. I know he is fed by friends so we don’t feed him but he does like our company when he is on his own. Then our neighbours come back and his visits are less. So probably the cat you are feeding will turn up on their return. I would probably wait and see although it is not very comfortable for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for replies/ advice.
ReplyDeleteI will wait and leave a note for their return.
Cat may well come back of her own accord.
I think if it was me I would phone the local vet and animal shelter and ask if anyone has reported finding a cat. Then if it hasn't come back by the time the neighbours return you can reassure them the animal shelter and vets are keeping an eye out for it. My guess is that it will turn up.
DeleteOur timid little cat takes off to the hay barn and stays out nights if anyone comes to stay, and the moment their car has departed for home she is back again. I have yet to work out how she knows the difference between someone going to the beach for the afternoon and them going completely.
Oh dear Mrs P, it sounds as if you are having similar problems as we did when next doors ‘Monty’ was run over when we were feeding him.
DeleteWe decided not to email as it would have spoilt the last couple of days of their holiday. But we went round first thing when they returned to tell them. It was a really horrid thing to do and we felt very guilty. But they admitted it was partially their fault for not putting the cat into a boarding chattery (and we did the feeding for nothing whereas catteries are expensive). So I recommend you wait till the owner is back and then impart the news if still necessary. And definitely say you do not wish to take on this responsibility again.