What are you all up to

I think a full sized dishwasher has more advantages than disadvantages. We had our first one around 1984 and I think the current one is probably the 4th one we have had. There was nothing wrong with the previous one but the new kitchen caused it to be replaced with the built in on. (having read TDA's experience I am now a bit nervous!!) They have all been made by Bosch although the latest is branded as Neff. There are times when some meals don't produce enough dishes to create a full load so we usually wait for the next days breakfast things although doing that can perpetuate the problem! I somehow imagine that the slimline version wouldn't be large enough for some meals and you would end up hand washing some items which rather defeats the purpose? One of my son's has a slimline and if we go for a meal I notice a lot of hand washing going on! One thing I was keen to have when we changed the dishwasher was a relatively short programme with a 60 degree wash which the Neff has. This setting is used for over 80% of our dishwashing. 

David

Our first DW was a Neff, it lasted 27 years! We got a Smeg to replace it, that didn’t last a year, neither did its replacement😡 We demanded and got our money back, and now have another Neff. 10 years so far, only the one minor hiccough. We have a short but very good wash programme as well. When we were showing our horse, I used to put his (washed) bits and stirrup irons in DW. Saved hours of polishing, sterilised them as well🤣

OH put our kitchen together, so at least he knew how to take it apart😱 We had Belfast sink out last month to change the taps, again not good for the stress levels. (That’s the “royal we”, I disappeared out of the way🤣)

So sorry to read that your brother is still poorly, OP but it is good that he has support at the hospital. It must be a great worry for you all.

TG, it is good to hear that your BiL is slowly getting better.

Have a safe journey home tomorrow, tda, and pleased that you had such a good time in NW Wales.

We had rain over night and it was drizzling when we got up but thankfully  it stopped during our pre-breakfast walk. It was misty for most of the morning when we went for a walk from Hurst Green up past Stoneyhurst College but  we did see some sunshine after lunch. Last night here before we move onto Abbey Village, where we will meet up with daughter and SIL for an evening meal. The views is of the lake in from of the college through the mist. 

We had a small integral dishwasher, only a galley kitchen,when we refitted our kitchen in the last house. But I insisted on a cutlery tray not a basket which made it workable for 2 or just 4.

This house, much bigger, large kitchen, has a slimline integral one. Which they left broken 😡. Because I wasn't sure whether we'd refit the kitchen at some point went for a Siemens, only cheap one with a cutlery tray. TERRIBLE. Bits changed twice in 2 months. Got it refunded and paid the extra for Bosch. 😀🤞🤞. 

When they were delivered, both times, the guys didn't lift it off the lorry until they checked as they thought it was a wrong pick!

I certainly wouldn't go smaller if you have the room for a full size. Better to do every day and a half or 2.

" Last night here before we move onto Abbey Village,"

Have a pint for me Nellie in the Hare & Hounds, was the last pub in the village before you turned right for the Brinscall/Chorley road, maybe not there anymore, my Nan used to live in Abbey village, all the houses were tied houses to the Birtwistle cotton mill, dont suppose that is still standing, during the school hols i used to work on a farm at the back of the pub, mainly hay making, no tractors, horses and trailors and pitched forks very hard work, had my first pint in the pub at 16 yrs we once stayed at a lovely little site on the right just before you entered the village coming from the Blackburn end, happy days, you could walk from Abbey village to Darwen tower up on the hill took best part of a day but was good walk.

well like most areas our weather has been pretty grim, wish somebody would put some money in the meter and switch on the sun, not cold just grey and damp, OH has taken a step back with her walking, lots of pain in her left foot, which has not been 100 pct since stroke, saw a podiatrist yesterday and going to go for more xrays, he reckons it could be a stress fracture which he says are not always visible on xrays until they start to heal looked at mobility scooters yesterday you can get some reasonably good ones that come apart so much easier to put in the boot, unfortunately the wheels are of the hard variety which are not great on gravel. Christmas lunch in the local pub today on behalf of the Stroke club, pub only 5 mins from home so will be able to have a tipple   

Dishwasher? Like Central Heating, it's something we don't have. Our sink is in the enormous pantry, so I just stack the used pots and pans in there and shut the door - until I run out of clean ones. I don't mind washing up - large sink of hot soapy water and loud music. It's the putting away that gets me down. Large pantry = carrying stuff to spread out cupboards. 

Phone call this morning before 9.00am from MK Hospital asking if Margaret can take up a cancelled appointment for her Carpal Tunnel consultation next Tuesday, originally planned for August next year! Not something you turn down if you get the chance! Lady on the other end of the phone obviously has a sense of humour as she said the appointment will be with Mr Hacker, but don't let that put you off!!! My reply was that it sounds like a Carry On film!

David

Sorry to hear of poorly relatives on here, hope they all recover or at least make improvements soon, it can be so worrying.

When we had our kitchen refitted some years ago we had an integrated small freezer fitted, we had so many problems with it in the first year we had it taken out and no integrated items since, so much easier if things go wrong with them. Only 2 of us but we have a large full size dishwasher that I wouldn’t be without. Mostly because I hate seeing dishes piled on the side but more importantly because we have the most expensive water rates in the country, (well someone has to pay to clean the beaches for the holiday makers!) It was much cheaper to just buy extra china and cutlery. We only put it on about once every 3 days and no rinsing and everything comes out clean. Although I usually wash the baked on roasting pans by hand. It would cost a fortune if we had a small one and put it on each day.

That is good news David and hope all goes well with it.

Sorry to hear about poorly folk and hope things can be sorted out, we have friends who have elderly parents and have been busy sorting out care at home and it has left them a  bit stressed but at least things have been sorted out.

We have a small galley kitchen here so a small Bosch dishwasher which works well for us and it is our 3rd one and the last one was a Bosch full size one when we lived in Somerset, even put my stainless steel saucepans in and do a load about every three days but I do hand wash the breakfast things always have done a bit odd  but we do not have cooked breakfast anyway.

At last no rain today and dry until next Wednesday but the ground is still very wet so wellies to get to the compost bin.

Have a good weekend folks.

Will go to St Cirq Lapopie this weekend as they have a Christmas market on for us to have a look around and find a couple of xmas presents and at this time of year free parking which is good.

Not posted on here for a little while - sorry to hear about your brother OP - must be a worrying time for you.

Agree with your comments about the weather Rufs - although we had a little bit of sun yesterday - it seems to have miserable here for weeks and never really seems to get light - and I don't know where that 'milder weather' that the forecasters have been talking about went to - we haven't seen any yet!

Talking of forecasts - we were due to go to Sandringham club site next Friday - but then I thought the roads would be horrendous on that day, so extended by a day to travel on Thursday.  However, according to this morning's BBC forecast we are due to get 40+mph winds here on Thursday morning which will then follow us all the way to Sandringham! Not the best scenario for towing

Decided to leave it until Monday and if it's still looking the same, will change our travelling day to Wednesday. Trouble is, I know from experience that the BBC always exaggerate the weather - because it makes a good story, perhaps.