Hi Mollie and Hicky.
Thunder, lightning and very heavy rain at times today. The electricity was going off and on every time there was a nearby lightening flash.
The sun came out at about 4pm though.
Funnily the thunderstorms haven't taken much of the heat away, and it's shorts and sandals again this evening.

I made the right decision taking the van down yesterday instead of first thing, but luckily I  was able to cycle down for it in the sunshine at 4.30pm.
The chain came off again though. It does seem a bit loose Hicky.
It's supposed to be tensioned by the derailleur gear mechanism, but perhaps it's a bit loose with age.
I suppose I could take a link out of the chain to tighten things up, but that might upset the whole thing?

Very disappointing about the van. The new fuel filter didn't solve the problem, and now the garage has more or less washed their hands of it.
They say their diagnostic equipment isn't up to telling what the problem is, and they advise me to take it to a Ford dealer to get it diagnosed.
So I'm no further forward, and now the onus is on me to get it fixed.
The only good thing is they didn't charge me anything for their investigations or the other fuel filter for some reason. Hoping for future business I suppose.

Not sure what I'm going to do, as it's working OK at the moment. But they say, if it is the fuel pump, it's likely to break down at some point.
Half thinking of trying to see what price I could get as a trade in, as I need a reliable van.
Going to have to keep using it in the short term as I've got lots of work to get through. Plus I've got a dentists appointment I've got to get to next Tuesday.

Well done for getting your cherries and plums pruned in the heat Hicky.
Pity you've misplaced your sandals. I suppose crocs are nearly as good?
Oh yes, I forgot your BBQ was in the gazebo, so quite sheltered.

Mollie, I know you don't like to know the CBB names.
Like Hicky I've heard a few rumours, but they might not be true.
That's good that the flat wasn't too hot, when you were looking after your Mum.

Really glad that Jayne was saved.
TBH I hope Jackson goes.

both xx

Emptybox

I am sorry to hear about the van, I guess it wouldn't come cheap if you took it to the Ford dealer! A hard decision for you to make whether to replace it or not. Let's hope it keeps going so you can get on with your busy time at work. Good job you timed your bike ride to avoid the storms. It is l ucky you have the bike rideable again so you have some transport. Hope you can work out and fix why the chain keeps falling off.

Gosh I am so with you over the BB HM's. I really want that awful Jackson to go and for Jayne to win. She is a great HM. I got to like her more and more as time went on. She settled down well as the weeks passed.

Didn't have mum today so went to asda for some food shopping. Daughter not happy as the pokemon server keeps going down! Too many using it at once during school/college/uni holidays perhaps?

My sky says we have an extra 5 mins of BB tonight, wonder why? but unfortunately it is not on till 10 again!

Hope Hicky got a nice day and managed to get in his garden.

Enjoy the show both xxx

emptybox posted:

 

You paint a funny picture with your self tan tale Mollie. Couldn't you have been showering while your OH was mopping? At least you'll stand out in traffic.

 

I couldn't go back in the shower because OH also had to sort out the blocked drain before I could.

And guess what?  .... this is a tan that slowly develops and I have noticed I have these dark brown splodges on parts of my feet and legs now!

Evening Mollie.:+))))))))))))))

Quite a nice day here, 20C but coller and cloudy, some sunny spells, dry though.

Went to a garden centre for a look around, they have a clothes and shoe part so we bought some sandals, thats sorted now.

We had a bite to eat while we were there, a burger and milkshake, Vanilla.

I won't post any names for CBB, most of the ones they say don't go in anyway.

I've been trying to sleep on top of the duvet but even thats hot.

Hope your van is sorted Emptybox.

Evening.
A nice dry sunny day, but not as warm as before.
Got a lot done and the van went OK.

I just feel if I take it to the Ford dealer then it'll just be more back and forth. And it's not practical to cycle into town to collect it, so It'd have to be a taxi probably, unless they have a courtesy vehicle.
Plus, as you say Mollie, the Ford dealer would want to fit a new Ford fuel pump at £700+, rather than sourcing a reconditioned one, as the local garage would have done.

And yeah, it probably is time I had a new van. I've had that one for over 9 years.
Just a question of whether I can afford it. I'll have to juggle some investments around.

Hadn't heard about the Pokemon server crashing. That's not much good.
Visions of confused Pokemon hunters walking into lamposts and falling down manholes when their screens go blank.

Hi Hicky. Glad you got your sandals. Now your tootsies will get the benefit of an airing.
It's years since I had a milkshake. Used to like banana ones when I was a teenager.

Brown splodges don't sound good Mollie? You'll just have to apply more to try to get an even mahogany look.

Not sure what happened to Jayne today? Can't see how she could have been knocked out? Looked to me that she was having a panic attack?
Anyway, glad she came back OK.

Evening Emptybox.

Not a bad day, cooler anyway, 22C some sun, mainly cloud, slight wind.

Didn't do much, just supported some more fruit branches on the apple trees.

Had O/H's Brother & GF call in, she has lots of siblings, took them a tour of the garden.

He's a Lecturer at Oxford.

O/H had been shopping at M&S, which made me very happy, lots of goodies for the fridge and freezer.

That was strange with Jayne, she wasn't knocked out at all, nothing like it, she was sculling her hands in the water and holding her mouth shut, she was in total control, she had them all kidded.

I wonder who will go tonight, hope it's not Laura.

Hi Hicky.
Nice day here. Still quite muggy, but a bit cooler tonight.

I decided to give the van one last chance, and called into the nearest Ford dealer.
It's booked in for a diagnostic check on Monday morning for £42.
Hopefully they will at least be able to give me a definitive answer as to what's wrong. Then I can decide whether it's worth fixing or not.

I was all set to go and look at some vans in town when I changed my mind at the last minute and drove to the Ford dealer instead.
I just thought if I traded it in without knowing exactly what was wrong, they would probably price it for a worst case scenario, and not give me much for it.
I might still have to do that, but we'll see.
I think it's getting worse TBH. It's now not running well at low revs.

That was nice to have your OH's brother visiting.
And even nicer to have lots of lovely M&S food.

Yes pity Laura went, but she was being a bit insufferable, moaning about Sam not saving her. Wasn't doing herself any favours.

both xx

Hicky

glad you managed to sort your sandals out. and a nice meal thrown in too. Yes indeed no duvets needed at the moment. I have my mini fan on my bedside table going all night too. Gosh a lecturer at Oxford, he must be really really clever! (even cleverer than Hughie and Ryan!)

Nice of your OH to pop into M and S for food treats, always good quality from there.

Emptybox

Glad you too have this lovely weather. Yes I think it is probably worth getting a proper diagnostic done on the van to help you decide whether to get rid or not. Let's hope it can be fixed.

Yes no way was Jayne knocked out, but it was Hughie who decided she was, and got everyone panicked. (and I don't think Hughie is really an expert!).

Shame Laura went, I wish it had been Jackson, don't like him at all.

Daughter went to pokemon club in Cardiff so me and OH had brekkie it town and I went round Primark. I had a advocda, brie and sun ripened tomato toastie.
There was a sale in Primark, so I got some sunglasses for me and mum for only £1 pair. Mum's had pink flowers on, so the carers will love those! Most of them love to dress her in pink.   And I got her some flowery pink hair ties too, as they love putting her hair up. Also only £1, And I got a cardy for £7 reduced from £12. Handy on a windy day down seafront.
Been watching Grease tonight  on channel 4, the film first now Alan Carr, I love the music in that film. 
Carers took mum to the carnival today, and last night she had ice cream on seafront and chips in the park with the carers mum and dad. The carer said her dad held her hand. So sweet when she meets the rest of carers families.

Not long till end of BB now, I do not want awful Jackson to win! Jayne or Jason would be my choice.

Don't forget there is a new live Mrs Brown's Boys on tonight at 9.45, should be good. 

Have a good evening both xxx

Evening Both.

Not bad today, not very hot but dry and very little wind.

Didn't do much today, watched F1 practice, a recording and walked around the garden, checked the apple bags because the apples are getting quite big.

Emptybox, I agree, best to see if you can get the van sorted, if it's not running well then selling it won't be easy, they might not entertain it, it's value is probably very little as it is, have you tried to see what a comparable vehicle is on the web, just so you might have an idea, look in the vans for sale adverts.

This M&S food is nice, O/H didn't ask for a list, she got loads of ready meals, plus 2 packs of fish, lots of fruit, pies, cakes, can't complain.had to put half in the freezer as i couldn't get through it in time from the fridge.

Mollie, It was cooler last night, i slept ok, didn't want to get up too early but like to be up for 8am, i go to the loo about 5,30 - 6am, only really because i wake up, not sure why.

I saw the Grease show, Alan carr is ok, wasn't impressed with the show as it was set in the 1950's, don't understand that.

That was nice , the carers taking you Mum to the Carnival, and last night taking her to the beach.

I don't think Jackson will win.

I'm going to record Mrs Browns Boys so i can watch it later, when F1 isn't on.

Evening guys.
Not bad day. A bit cloudy, but not too hot. A good day for working.
Got a big hedgecutting job done, plus grass cutting jobs as well.

Mollie. Good idea to take advantage of your daughter's Pokemon addiction to go for a nice meal and grab some bargain sunnies.
Strange that the carers seem to like dressing your Mum up?

Didn't realise Grease was on, bit I saw my SiL talking about it on Facebook.
I watched the live Mrs Brown's Boys, it was very good.

Hicky. My van would probably be worth about £1500 if it was all working. A bit less as a trade in. But if the fuel pump repair cost £1000 they probably wouldn't give me more than a couple of hundred against another van, as it is.
It may be though that the local garage would be able to source a reconditioned part and do the repair cheaper.
I suppose I could always try to sell the van privately as 'spares and repair' and buy the new van outright. That's another option.

Good idea, to freeze the extra M&S goodies.
Yes, it's getting a bit cooler at nights. No bad thing for sleeping.
Not sure what you mean about Grease show being set in the 50's? The original film was set in the 50's (although it came out in the 70's).
ETA: Mind you, a lot of people seem to agree with you - http://www.express.co.uk/Alan-Carrs-Grease-Night-SLATED-viewers-cringeworthy

Evening Emptybox.

A dull day here, cooler as well, some sun but some showers as well.

Didn't do anything really, watched F1, glad Lewis won.

My lad came this afternoon with his lot, that was ok.

Glad you got a bit hedge job and grass jobs done, it all helps.

Yes, the van is all down to cost, get the estimate and have a think.

Yes, the Alan Carr show was disappointing to say the least, i couldn't see it all the way through it was that bad.

Hope Mollie isn't getting stressed, it's hard work this caring.

both

Hicky

sounds like you are due some nice big apples this autumn.

Nice for you to have the family over to visit today.

I agree the Alan Carr show are not very good, I enjoyed watching the bits of the original film I saw before the show more.  As Emptybox's link says, it was cringeworthy!

Emptybox

that is good the weather was ok for you to get some work done.

I agree Mrs Brown live were really good.   Yes the carers are proud to dress my mum well and they especially like it if I buy her pink or flowery stuff. She does look good though the way they match colours for her.

It went real stuffy here last night and has poured most of today. Really annoying as mum was grizzly with me as I couldn't take her out. Carer took her to her house for lunch though making use of her new plastic poncho I got to go over her and her wheelchair.  

Time to watch BB. Wonder who'll go? they said 2 to go tonight, didn't they? I'd like it to be Jackson, but I reckon producers want him to make the final.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening guys.
Cloudy today with some rain.
I got half of my own grass cut before the heavens opened. Just have to get the rest cut through the week some time.

Wasn't too stuffy here last night but still quite warm. The wind is supposed to be coming from the west this week, so should be fresher at night.

That's a good idea Mollie, a poncho that goes over the wheelchair as well.
Yes, seemingly two went from BB this afternoon with no ceremony. We'll not find out who till tomorrow though. Jackson and Alex would do me.

Hi Hicky. I'm just watching a bit of the F1 highlights now. That win puts Hamilton in the lead for the championship, doesn't it?
I think if they could say I could definitely get the van fixed for £1000 or under I would go for it, because that van is still ideal for me. Much more than that and I might be better getting rid.
The worst result would be if they still couldn't give me a definite diagnosis.

I've got a dentist's appointment on Tuesday morning about 20 miles away. So I just hope I have a working vehicle, and it doesn't break down on the way.

Evening Both.

A cloudy sort of day, some sun, no rain, well a drop., nothing worth bleating about.

Didn't do anything really, watched recording and TV, o/H went a funeral.

My Ankles seem to be swelling, my feet as well, during the day, going to see if i can get to the docs, you have to ring on the morning, you can't book an appointment for another day.

Used to take water tablets but they were stopped.

I see Alex & Sam went, i won't miss them anyway.

Mollie, Yes, i have quite a lot of apples this year, more than i expected, i have about 5 trees with them on, still got them covered, but i have to keep my eye on them as they grow, some are getting quite big.

BB finishes Tuesday, CBB start Thursday, yipppppeeeeeeeeeeee.

Emptybox, Yes, it was easier to sleep last night, these cooler night suit me.

Lewis is only ahead in the championships by about 9 points, glad he won Sunday, he was lucky to stay in front, so many things can happen.

Hope you get your van sorted, or at least find what the cost will be.

Hope you can get to the Dentist anyway.

both

Hicky

sorry to hear you have a problem with the swollen feet/ankles. Could it of been triggered off by the hot weather? I get it sometimes if it is hot and I have been on my feet a lot. Hope you managed to get a docs appointment and they can help the problem.

I agree, neight Sam nor Alex will be missed. Not good HM's at all. Looking forward to CBB launch night next.

Emptybox

hope you are ok and not stressed over the van, as I see you didn't post yesterday or today yet. Did you make it to the dentist today? Hope the appointment went well, and the van didn't let you down.

Shame we didnt' get rid of Jackson along with Sam and Alex. I find him annoying and sly, especially how he keeps going on and on about being on a journey!

Much cooler and raining here now.

Enjoy the final both xxx

Evening Mollie.

A rather dull day here, didn't do much, watched recordings.

Rang doc, couldn't get through, when i did i could only get him to ring after surgery, i told him the problem, he has put me back on the water tablets, Bendroflumethiazi i'll get them tomorrow when i g, we are going out for brekki to a new place to try it.

Jayne, Evelyn & Andy out all ready, don't know who would win.

Strange Emptybox not posting, hope the van is ok, and him of course.

Hi Mollie and Hicky.
Dry today but raining this evening. Quite a bit cooler.
Forgot to post yesterday as I was tired, and went to bed early.

Got to the dentist OK. The van still running roughly at low revs, but hasn't conked out yet.
I am a bit stressed Mollie unfortunately, what with the van and the mower etc.
I can feel it bringing on some symptoms, but not too bad as yet.

The Ford garage weren't really much help. Their diagnostic kit didn't find any errors to do with fuel, and of course the van chose not to play up for them, so they couldn't give any advice on that.
They found 2 codes; one to do with the smart charging circuit on the alternator, and one to do with the PAT system not recognising the ECU.
They said it's likely to be an electrical problem that might be very difficult (and expensive) to find and fix.
They also said the PAT fault might mean that the immobiliser might lock me out at some point.
Looks like it'll be a new van sooner rather that later.

Sorry to hear about your swollen ankles Hicky.
Hope you managed to make a doctor's appointment?
ETA: Just seen your post about the water tablets. Hope they do the trick.
Glad you have a bumper crop of apples.

Got a text from a cousin saying she was up in Scotland and would be passing at 2.30pm, so could we meet for coffee? (different cousin to the one that stayed last month).
Trouble is, she only sent the text at 1.30pm, and I didn't look at my phone till 4pm as I was working, so we missed each other.
Don't know why she didn't give more notice?

Real pity that Jayne was out first tonight, I'd hoped she'd come higher.
I see Jason won. Aisleyne will be beside herself, as she's supported him since day one.
ETA: What did I tell you?  https://twitter.com/Aisleyne1/...s/758051884649308160

Evening Emptybox.

Went out for brekkie, what a mess, went to get my tablets from Sainsbury's for my feet first, then we got by the pub to have brekkie which is on a big hill, the roads were closed as they were doing the road, we went miles around to the top but that was closed as well, but signs said open for business as usual, but we didn't know how you could get in, we couldn't even park, we drove miles around to the bottom again and saw a worker, he said you can use the top of the hill, we said but the road is closed, anyway, we gave up and went cross over a bridge to come back, it had changed to 1 way, we had to go in a carpark to turn around, we decided to go to the garden centre for some food, but at a T junction O/H turned the wrong way so we went on to another place to eat about 3 miles away, we had food then on the way back we had to go and get petrol, then we went to B&Q for some bits, got home after midday.

Thats not good news about the Van, hard to know what's best to do.

Pity you missed your cousin but not a lot you could do at short notice.

Yes Aisleyne did seem pleased Jason won, i wanted Evelyn to win, but no chance.

Anyway, CBB starting Thursday so i'm happy with that.

Hope Mollie not too stressed.

both

Emptybox

Aaaww you poor thing, I guessed you would be a bit stressed right now with the van and mower both choosing to play up, just at the time you are real busy. At least you now know where you stand with the van, shame it was not good news. Try and relax when you can as you don't want those symptoms escalating. I recommend a good sit down (with maybe a beer treat?) tomorrow night to enjoy launch night.

That is odd how your cousin only gave you an hour notice, so pity you missed her.

Yes a shame Jayne didn't finish a bit higher, as I think she deserved to come a lot higher, certainly a lot higher than the awful Jackson. Jayne was a great HM.  Interesting how Ais supported Jason all the way though. Possible future boyfirend material for her?   (If he ever gets rid of that awful Charlie that is! I think Jason would treat a woman real well and he deserves someone to be nicer to him than Charlie is! I voted for him to win a couple of times.

Hicky

Gosh that was a bit of a runaround for brekkie. Hope you enjoyed it after all that! I think it is bad how hard it is to get to see a GP now. But I hope the tablets he has given you help sort the problem out.

Looked after mum again today and she was quite grizzly again just before the carers came to put her to bed, and I am done in with the stress of it. But I did get her to eat quite well.
 I have day off tomorrow, mum's fave carer has her.
 OH hung out 4 washloads as it rained in the morning, so I had only had time to hang 2 loads out. Daughter made dinner, while I was at mum's and son drives me then helps me at mum's flat, so can't complain.

Watching A and E, as no BB, but how lucky are we, that we only have a one night gap and it is back tomorrow?

Have a good evening both xxx

Evening both.
Not bad day here. A bit cloudy but spells of sunshine.
Got a lot of work done.

Got sick of pushing the mower about, so called into the place I usually buy from to see what they had. Not much in stock, but I ordered one from their other branch; should come tomorrow or Friday.
Basically the same as the one I have, but single speed as opposed to 4 speed, so a bit cheaper. Still £400 though.
I'll keep the other as a spare, and maybe use it on rougher places that might damage the new one.
Feel better that I've made a decision on that at least.

Pity you had such a run-around Hicky. You must have been starving by the time you finally got your brekkie.
Hope the tablets do the trick.

Sorry you got stressed looking after your Mum Mollie. But at least you have a day off tomorrow.
My cousin says she'll give me more notice next time.
Not sure how you get all these washloads dry in the one day? My rotary washing line only takes one washload, and takes quite a few hours to get dry.
Mind you, I only do one or two loads a week.

I think Aisleyne does fancy Jason, but she'd probably be just as much a handful as Charlie. In a different way of course.

both xxx

Emptybox

Glad you were able to get some work done. Hopefully you feel a bit less stressed now you have made a decision about the mower. It is often more stressful trying to decide what to do, than actually doing it!  Shame you had to spend so much though. Now just the van to decide on.

Hope your symptoms calm down again soon.

Hicky

did you manage to get into your garden today? Hope the tablets have helped your problem.

It has been raining all day today, either pouring or horrid drizzle, so a non washing day today.

Went food shopping today and got son some new trainers. He hates shopping so it is a quick try on... then "that pair will do!" says he.

Really looking forward to launch night now.

Enjoy the show both xx

Evening Both.

A miserable day really, raining off and on all day.

Didn't do much, just watched tv and recordings.

Mollie, I'm back on the water tablets i used to take, will see what difference they make after a while, have noticed i'm weeing more, i suppose thats the idea.

I'll try that place for brekkie again when the road works are don't maybe next Wednesday.

All the running around with your mum, carers, washing, no wonder you are knackered.

Not that bothered who won last night, just looking forward to CBB.

Emptybox, Glad you got a day in at work, thats a bonus.

Will the a speed not effect the mowing, or is it just the walking speed.

I'm wearing the sandals we got from the garden centre shoe department, O/H bought me another pair, ones brownish and the other blackish.

I think Jason wants to keep away from Charlie, it's obvious she is too much to handle, he found that out before he went in the house, nothing has or will change.

Getting a girl as old as Charlie or Aisleyne is asking for trouble as they are too fixed in their ways with being single maybe, they don't want to change or adapt to life sharing.

Excited about the CBB Launch tonight now, can't wait, pity it's not on for longer, or it might be.

Hi guys.
Dry this morning so I got a couple of jobs done before the rain stated just after noon.
Went and collected my new mower this afternoon, and went to see about another job.

It's only just over two years since I bought the old mower, and the new one is basically the same model, but just about every part is different, so I'd struggle to get any spares off the old one. (this is the new one)
The grass box is different, the cables are different, and the handle is about 6 inches longer so it doesn't fit in the van without the handle being folded.
However it seems OK. The engine is the same Honda GCV160 as in the old one, but with an automatic choke, so no 'fast, slow, choke' lever to worry about.

The old had 4 speeds that control the speed of the driving wheels, but only two were useful. You tended to mow at speed 3 and put it down to 2 when going round obstacles. Speed 1 was too slow for anything, and speed 4 was only used if you wanted to run fast from one patch to another (e.g on a tarmac road).
So basically the new one only has the equivalent of speed 3, but I can cope with that.
As you can see from that link, they do a version with variable speed, but it's £140 more.

Surprised your son is 'oh those'll do' about trainers Mollie? I thought teenagers were very picky about their footwear?
Pity it wasn't a washing weather day with you.

Hicky, hope you have more luck finding the brekkie place when the roadworks are away.
I wouldn't say Aisleyne was old; she's only 37. But I know what you mean about being being independently minded.

Quite a good selection on CBB. I like the look of Marnie and Katie so far. I also usually like Saira in anything she's in.
So predictable that they have a silly launch night twist.

both

Hicky

that is good you are well stocked with sandals now. Hope the water tablets help ease your problem quickly. Last weekend me and OH were in Swansea waiting whilst daughter did her pokemon game, and we had brekkie in Debenhams. It was really nice, with a good choice, and not expensive either. Let's hope you have more luck traffic wise next time you go for brekkie.

Emptybox

that looks an impressive mower, let's hope it performs well for you now. Gosh an extra £140 is a lot of money to pay for varaible speed, so don't blame you not bothering with that.

Yes I too enjoyed launch night, at least we had a few interesting HM's thrown in with the usual Geordie shore, ex on beach, TOWIE stuff! I used to listen to James Whale on the radio when he was on Talk Sport,when they didn't talk just sport, but that was before Talk Sport started to just talk sport like they do now, and I am not interested in sport, so stopped listening to Talk Sport then. He should be an interesting HM.... as should Sam. Katie, Saira and Biggins. Bankrupt Grant Bovey is a right one as far as women are concerned, so it is a damage limitation exercise, to show what a nice HM he will be? Fancy dumping his wife for Anthea, then dumping Anthea for his daughter's friend, who was obviously a generatiion younger than him!

I too thought the twist was rather annoying.

I have just seen an allotman man on tv and he puts the over ripe bananas on top of his ripening toamtoes in his greehouse. He says the bananas give off an ethaline gas that will help ripen your bananas nicely.

Looking forward to seeing how the HM's are settling in tonight.

Had been pouring this morning, but drying up nicely now. Off to put some washing out now.

Have a good day both xxx

Hi Mollie.
Not too bad day here, a bit wet this morning, but a sunny afternoon.
Got one job done, but had other things on my mind today.

Went off and bought myself a new van. The place was nearly an hour's drive away, so a bit of a trek.
It's the same type as I have now (Ford Connect), but only 4 years old as opposed to 12.
They gave me £1000 for my one, which was more than I expected, especially after I was honest (mostly) about it having a problem. Still cost me £6000 though.
I get a 3 month warranty with it, so if there are any initial problems they should be fixed.
Should pick it up Monday or Tuesday.

I actually went over there because they were advertising a 5 year old one, which would have been a bit cheaper, but it had already sold before i got there, so I decided to get the younger one instead. It's only got 32,000 miles on the clock, which is quite low for a van, so should be OK for a while at least.
Of course I might just be buying into a whole different set of problems to the ones my van has, but the warranty should see to that. It drove OK in the test drive anyway.

The advantage in getting the same again is that a lot of my customers won't even notice the difference.
If I turned up in a fancy new thing they might start thinking that they are paying me too much.

So not a sports fan then Mollie?
I remember James Whale from a late night TV chat show that he used to do years ago.
Not sure why Grant Bovey thought it would be a good idea to go on?
Yes I agree that Sam, Katie, Saira and Biggins should be interesting. Hopefully Biggins will show other sides to himself on there.

I'd read that about ripe bananas helping to ripen other things. In fact I think my Uncle advised me to put an over ripe banana in with my tomatoes to help them ripen, but I haven't tried it as yet.
Might try it this year as it looks like it might be later than usual that I'll be able to eat my first tomato, as they are all solidly green as yet.

Evening Both.

Not too bad a day, some short showers.

Went to that Viking pub for brekkie, only it's brunch, we arrived before 10am, it serves food in the week from 11am so we got tea while the time passed.

This time we drove around the road closed sign, the staff said a lot of customers are missing, i don't wonder.

Here: http://www.thevikingpub.co.uk/

They do strange sets of food so i got a child's sandwich of sausage, bacon and egg, very nice, we are used to paying when we go in and sit down order and pay, when we left we were trying to turn around in the car park when the waitress cane over to ask if we had paid, omg we hadn't even thought about it, O/H was so sorry, it shows how easy it is to forget, most of the ones we go to you pay on entry, oops.

That mower is a good one, that type is so well known and with 5 yr warranty thats great.

yes, they are not going to be interchangeable at all, but nothing stays the same, at least the engine is the same.

I only knew a couple of those CBB HM's, but i will get used to them, i haven't seen a list of names yet, will have to have a look.

Mollie, My feet are still swollen but i have been losing a lot of water i can tell, it may take some time to sort itself out, will see.

I remember James Whale, a good talker for sure, Biggins is ok, seen him so many times.

Yes rip Bananas will ripen toms as far as i know.

Tonights BB will be yesterday all over again, what a pain.

Morning Emptybox.

Just posted last night's post as it hadn't gone, was checking to see if i had put the link to the Viking pub, hadn't so i added it and posted it.

Glad you got a new van, hope this does well for you. it's a new start anyway, 4 years old is good, shouldn't be much of a problem.

I suppose the £1000 is scrap value but i bet they sort it and sell it again, thats just what they do.

I remember seeing James Whale a lot once, haven't heard from him for years, have a feeling he wasn't very nice, could be wrong.

I think my toms are going to be the same as last year, lots of green ones left on the plant, i only planted the small toms this year so they don't have to grow very big before they ripen.

I could always make chutney, made loads one year before we moved, about 1 litre but dumped it as i didn't want to eat it after it being left around.

Could try the banana trick as well.

Afternoon Hicky.
Sunshine and showers here today.
Have been emptying most of the stuff out of the van. Will just leave the tools I'll need for the jobs on Monday and Tuesday, so I don't have so much to clear out on the day.

£1000 is a lot more than the scrap value. If you took it to the scrappy he'd give you £20 for it. (although obviously he'd make a big profit selling the bits off)
I was only expecting £400/£500 for it really, so it was a pleasant surprise.
In good condition they'd probably be able to sell it for £2000, so he's gambling that he doesn't have to spend too much on it, in order to make a profit.
I suppose if they were unscrupulous they could put it up for sale without a warranty, and hope nobody noticed the problems on a test drive?

That's good that you finally got to eat in that pub, but remiss of you to try to leave without paying.
You don't want a horde of angry Vikings on your tail; that's something you don't need.

The mower seems to be good. It gave a very even cut when I tried it out, as they do when they are new.
Unfortunately the 5 year guarantee only applies if you use it domestically. You only get a 3 month professional warranty.
None of my mowers have ever even lasted 5 years.
And yet I've got my Dad's small one here, that I use to cut my own grass, that's still going strong after 22 years.
That just shows you the difference between domestic and professional use.

Yes, I think I could be left with lots of green toms, as there's been a lack of sunshine here this year.
However it was into August before I picked my first one last year, and that turned out to be a bumper crop, so I haven't written them off yet.

Hope you continue to lose water in your swollen feet anyway.

both

Hicky

thanks for the pub link, What a big choice they have, the breads sound nice. But at you forgetting to pay, as Emptybox says, you certainly don't want those Vikings after you!

Yes probably worth giving the banana trick a go, see if it helps the tomatoes.

Hope your ankle problem eases now you have the meds.

Are your aches still improved? And are you still taking the glucosamine to help?

Emptybox

gosh you have a new van already, that is good. You can't afford to be without one this time of year with your profession. It sounds good with a low mileage too. That is a bit tough only getting 3 months warranty if it is a mower used for business. It would be nice to think you will get a few years wear out of it though.

You are probably still a bit stressed after sorting all this, but hopefully your symptoms and stress will die down when you get the new van.

You are right, I am not a sports fan and am not looking forward to the olympics, apart from Tom Daley and his diving that is.  

Am enjoying CBB, think they will be an interesting lot as time goes on. Already a few of them seem to have a lot to say for themselves.

A nice day here today, so went walk on seafront, lot of people around as it was school hos time. Extra kids rides and stalls on seafront, we had fish and chips in park. (I just had chips, but with mayo and red sauce), delicious.

Daughter made a snake cake for one of the carers cake stalls tomorrow to buy things for her home ed group. This carer has 5 kids and home eds them all! She works part time for the care agency, but is giving it up soon as it is too much for her. Shame as she is nice, but I should be able to take her on private for the odd hour here and there when she finishes. She is taking mum to the cake fare tomorrow morning, mum will enjoy that as she likes watching the children and she likes cake! hope it is dry as I like to take mum to seafront pub on Sunday afternoons to see the singers.

Goodnight both xxx

Evening Emptybox.

In the Pub, the Viking, it was all original wood, the ceilings had been taken away to bare joists, the floor was original wood boards, the tables were solid wood, the high tables with stools were made from 6" hardwood thick timbers with 4x4 wooden legs, the whole place was very nice, they make all their own bread etc, everything made to order, some unusual dishes on the menu's.

If they gave you so much for your van then they are not scrapping it, i bet it's on the roan in 2 weeks.

Yes, how embarrassing forgetting to pay, glad we were still in the carpark, heaven knows when we would have remembered, if at all, but on the other hand, i keep all receipts, bills etc, so i may have queried the price of certain items with O/H which would have brought it into our mind.

I see what you mean about the guarantee, thats not right, the mower isn't a domestic mower is it.

My feet don't seem to have changed, my ankle seems less swollen, i'll give it longer before i start to worry.

Hope Molly isn't too stressed.

Saw the CBB show, think i'm going to enjoy the show, i used this page to show me who is who.

http://bigbrother.channel5.com/housemates 

Evening both.

Yes Mollie, I'm afraid I'm a worrier, so I've replaced worrying about what I'm going to do about the van to worrying about whether the new van will be any good and whether the paperwork will go through OK.
But I should relax when I've got it here.

Glad you enjoyed your chips on the front.
Never heard of a snake cake? Hope she took the venom out first?
That'll be good if can get the good carer privately.

I'm not generally a sports fan but I do like watching all the Olympic sports.
Especially the Beach Volleyball.

That's sounds like a good looking pub Hicky.

I'm going to keep an eye on their website to see if my van comes up. But they don't always advertise the cheaper trade ins.

The mower is really just a big domestic one. The professional ones cost well over £1000, so out of my price range. They're built to last though.

Evening Emptybox,

Not a bad day here, sunny most of the day, didn't do much, just watched tv recording then a few programs, then F1, Robot Wars, CBB.

Glad Lewis won at Germany, Nico messed up some how, he will be blazing.

My lad didn't come this afternoon, just found out he wasn't well, had pains in his stomach, his O/H has had to take him to hospital, O/H has just gone  as she went in the Ambulance so can't even get home.

O/H made a Lamb Roast, very nice.

Normally with vehicles under a certain amount they send them straight to auction, sold as seen, if it doesn't go they can have a rethink.

To give you 3 months on a mower doesn't give you a lot of confidence surely, what do they expect to go after 3 months of use?

Hi Hicky.
Yes, wasn't a bad day here either, but not particularly warm.
Went to the supermarket as usual. Also did some ironing and last month's accounts.
Glad that Hamilton won, although I didn't watch myself.

Sorry to hear your lad isn't well. Hope it turns out to be nothing to worry about.
Nice of your OH to bring his OH home.

The fella in the garage gave the impression that he liked my van and was going to fix it up before selling it. But then he was trying to sell me a van at the time, so was probably giving me the flannel.
They might just shove it in an auction as you say.

If you remember, my previous mower broke a clutch cable within a couple of months of me getting it, and I tried to get it fixed under the warranty, but they said a cable was a consumable item, and wanted to charge me. So the guarantee isn't worth very much anyway.
Those Honda engines are usually very reliable, so it's always things to do with the drive that end up breaking.
Three months should be plenty of time to find out if there is some kind of fundamental design fault with it. After that it's just wear and tear really.

Plus, even if you use it domestically, they insist you service it annually with them in order to honour the guarantee. And as a service costs about £50, then you are paying half the cost of the mower in service fees in order to have that 5 year guarantee.

Good Evening Emptybox.

Yes, my lad was seen in hospital, they gave him something for the pain, he was in an isolation ward as he had diarrhoea and was being sick, also symptoms of appendix problems, they said it looked like gastroenteritis of sorts and after an hour or so they let him out to come home, he went to work today fine, so strange isn't it.

it was a miserable day really here, light rain at times.

It does look like they will get the van sorted and sell it then.

the Clutch cable is not a consumable, a brake pad is, a cable is not supposed to wear unless it is installed wrong or the design is wrong, they are kidding you.

Yes, a £50 service charge is probably correct, the problem is, what do they do on the service, i bet they wouldn't replace worn parts.

Hope Mollie isn't too stressed.

Enjoyed CBB, plenty of problems coming to the front as expected.

Hi Hicky.
Similar day to yesterday here, dry with some sun, but not particularly warm.
Got a few jobs done.
Pity you had the rain.

Good news that your lad's symptoms seem to have gone. Must have been a 24hr gastroenteritis thing?

I got the new van taxed online, and went to see my insurance people. They wanted an exact time that I swap from one van to the other, but of course I couldn't tell them as the fellow hasn't rung me up yet.
I'll need to phone the insurance again when I know more or less what time I'm going to pick it up. I thought you would be able to have a couple of days leeway when both vehicles were insured, but they said that would be expensive.

Seems a silly way of doing it to me? What if you wanted to swap at the weekend or outside office hours? You wouldn't be insured.
I'm sure the last time I traded in a van I only told the insurance afterwards, which was probably a bit naughty, but less hassle.

I agree that a cable should not be a consumable item, but that's how they wriggled out of even the 3 month guarantee last time.
The new mower has an automatic choke, which is supposed to work better than the manual one, but I'm finding that i sometimes have to pull the cord a few times before it will start, so I'm not very impressed with that.

Not a very nice atmosphere in CBB. Seems the youngsters are determined to wind the older ones up. Have gone off both Saira and Marnie a bit now.

Evening guys.
Mostly dry here but a bit of drizzle late this afternoon.
Got three jobs done.

I was waiting to hear when I could collect my new van but I haven't heard anything yet. I'll have to ring up about it in the morning.
Hopefully there'll just have been a delay getting the MoT and service done.

I've just been carrying a minimum of equipment in the old van, but turns out I could have used some of the other stuff I usually carry round today. Had to borrow a fork and spade from a client. So hope I don't have to wait much longer.

Not sure who to like on CBB yet.

Evening Emptybox.

#a cloudy warm day here, 20C but nu real sun.

Didn't do anything, O/H went to a Funeral.

Just watched TV & Recordings.

Yes, strange how you can be so ill but he had the pain, which went worse as time passed but after 8 hr's it just went.

The insurance usually want a change over time to the minute, overlap time is a proportion of the total cost, the strange way they work.

Yes, automatic chokes don't always just reset themselves, i almost always found that when anything had a manual choke it needed to be on for a few seconds when starting, i imagine auto ones are temperature controlled so might not come on when it's not that cold.

There is going to be a lot of trouble in CBB, glad those 2 clowns are up, think James will stay, he's not a nice man, very Sarcastic.

Wonder why no time/date to collect the van?

fancy borrowing some tools, love it, ha ha.

Watching Child Genius, the final.

both

sorry haven't been aroundfor a few days, we went to meet OH's family in Brecon as they are holidaying there, on a last minute thing. We got back not long ago, so time for me to catch up with CBB and I will read back tomorrow.

Hope you are both ok.

will read back and post tomorrow.

Enjoy the show. xxx

Evening all.
Been raining most of the day; some heavy, but mostly just drizzle.
Actually quite autumnal, as it was windy as well.
Would have been an ideal day to collect the van, but it's not ready yet.

Phoned up this morning, and they said the MoT and service had been done, but he'd forgotten to get a spare key cut (as he'd promised me). He tried to get it done today, but the coding has to be done at a Ford dealer seemingly, so it'll be sometime tomorrow that I can pick it up.
I suppose I could get a spare key made myself, but it was one of the things they promised to do.
So I've now got to await another phone call tomorrow.

Hi Hicky. Pity you didn't have any sun yesterday, but sounds like it was warmer than here.
The mower seems to start fine if it's cold, or if I'm using it, but stop to empty the grass box. It seems to confuse it when I've done a job and then it's had half an hour in the van before the next grass cutting. I guess it doesn't know whether it should put the choke on or not? However it's always started after a few pulls.

Think I'm going to take the old one tomorrow, as it's a fairly rough patch I'll be cutting (presuming it's not raining again).

Hi Mollie. Hope you enjoyed your little break in Brecon. Sometimes a last minute thing is just what you need.
Hope you got caught up with CBB.

Quite a few in there seem unpleasant to me. Bear, Lewis and Heavy D seem very childish and almost bullying.

Evening Both.

Not a bad day, a bit of sun, mainly cloudy, some wind as well.

Went to M&S for some food, don't think she likes me shopping with her, so hard not to empty the shelves isn't it.

Got some nice stuff, should last me a few days.

Mollie, It's good to get away for a couple of days, hope you can catch up on CBB, some interesting shows.

Emptybox, I see you been getting rain, we didn't get any today, you being further north.

Yes, it's not that easy to get car keys made, a lot of messing.

They should have sorted that though.

The auto choke doesn't really seem to be an advantage, when it's manual i bet you nearly always need to put the choke on to start, the engine to start wants to see fuel, not air.

Enjoying CBB, some rowdy times to come eh.