soapdragon

Thanks; I'll google decathlon! I've been trawling Gumtree for a few weeks now but nothing suitable....several really cheap ones that are missing their electronic counter things which rings warning bells as that may mean they've been over used! I'll keep looking on there, though!

Does anyone know of anywhere that sells steppers as in an actual SHOP? I really want to go and try a few out before buying as mine is making a really horrible squeaking noise and smells of burning rubber after my 25 mins dash so really needs replacing. It's a belt one rather than hydraulic....I did buy a cylinder one from Amazon a few months ago but it just chucked black oily dust all over the mat on 1st use so I sent it back. There are lots on Amazon but they all seem to have either poor or slightly dodgy reviews! I need something pretty robust - I am not overweight but do give the stepper a pounding for between 20 and 25 mins at a time. Not interested in those rubber band things for the upper body but I have seen ones with poles attached so prob close to a Nordic walking experience.It needs to be reasonably compact to fit in the spare room by the TV too. There must be retail outlets that sell them (not John Lewis - I've looked) but we are pretty 'rural' here.

Hows about going for a cuppa at Notcutts? It's probably about halfway! If I can work out how to PM now it's all changed I'll chuck some dates in your direction or please feel free to do same! Probably after the next half term now, if OK with you, as we have lots going on at school (Governor - doh!!!) but would be so nice to meet up as we are both so close! If we make it a weekend maybe there are others close who'd like to join us?

I posted on another thread then, after having hit the button, realised I'd made a smelling error. I went back in to 'edit' and, once I had done so, it asked me for a reason! I flippantly typed in 'old age and inattention' and, lo and behold, there it states same at the end of my post

Yes, that's a good way of dealing with it! Make the girls pay for themselves! Oh, and welcome to the forum, btw

Sorry, not happy, too hot! No build up so something of a shock to the system to find it was 26 degrees today! Am off to the launderette tomorrow to shove my 4. tog duvet in the bg machine!

Cat Tails your creatures are brilliant! How clever! I can't do ANYTHING crafty - I blame 'leaky elbow syndrome' a medically recognised problem where the brain knows what it wants to do and the hands function perfectly well but, somewhere between the two (hence the elbow bit), it all drains away

Just caught up with this; wouldn't the zimmer frame make a great chicken perch Perhaps that's what it was for after all Lots of April birthdays here too, BF, OH, SIL and Dad all within 7 days of each other! PatriciaW, where are you? You say Le Manoir is just down the road from you; it's about 10 mins from us and boys go to Little Milton school (Manoir is Great Milton.) Fancy a G and T sometime? Have a great day tomorrow - it's my BF/lovely school lift share person's special day tomorrow too so I've given her the day off -the weather will be lovely.

My boys would love a dog but ES threw his hamster out of his room as it was making too much noise and had to be badgered to clean poor little Apple out! He even thinks that Hug, YS gorgeous grey Syrian, is a lot of trouble However, my sister recently got a puppy and, having spent just one afternoon with her, they now realise how much hard work it actually is! At least you don't need poo bags for hamsters

I took the boys swimming yesterday and couldn't find any hair bands to tie my hair up. It's not long, a bit above my shoulders so only just tieable but I hate that flappy wetness all down my neck after swimming! I finally managed to find some clips and battled, poolside, with it all for about 5 mins only to have YS jump in right next to me and soak me anyway; heyho! On the subject of hair...I hate how mine suddenly seems to grow just that bit too much almost overnight; I go to bed, it's fine and wake up and it's not Then I go to the hairdresser, she cuts it a tad too short so I have to wait a few weeks and have about 10 days where it's the perfect length again before it goes all shaggy but it's still another few weeks till my next appointment Still, as OH says....'At least you HAVE hair' According to him, men have three hairstyles; parted, unparted and departed

That's fascinating! My mum lived in Mitcham and she and her younger sister were evacuated during the war down to Bodle Street in Sussex but went back after a while; not sure exactly why as they then got bombed! The house was damaged but only the back half and was repaired. There was a shelter in the garden - I remember playing in it as a very youngster when we visited my nan (who died when I was about 8 or 9). I always think of the last war as 'recent' but very soon it won't even be within living memory - that's scary.

My MIL had quail some years ago. All I remember is the noise.....horrendous! They were very skittish and nervous; to add insult to injury we never got any eggs either. I'd best not tell you what happened to the in the end!

Very sad news............however, it sounds as though she really lived her life to the full and loved nature and was a brave lady.

No brainer really then....surely

I've always found that getting the number of the consultants sec or appointments clerk for the relevant clinic/department and then 'phoning every couple of days is a good bet! I've always apologised for bothering them again but asked if anything has changed over the last few days. On occasions it has or I've been told 'glad you rang again, I lost your number but can now offer you.....' Wishing you well (quite literally) and you too, PL!