Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

@Goldenlily26 , my son was being bothered with people letting their dogs do their business right outside his house and driveway. He invested in some,signs and attached them his railings and near the driveway. Since then, zero fouling.,! Something like these….

 

That really is inexcusable @Goldenlily26. There's someone who uses the dog exercise field who doesn't pick up, either. If I find it, I clean up, as we're afraid we might get the blame (we have, in the past, wrongly so). I do get so cross about it.
I ordered a solar lamp for the van at the end of August; delivery was scheduled for 8 Sept. No sign of it - discovered it was coming from China. Asked paypal for a refund when it hadn't appeared by 12th. Got an email at 23.38 on Monday to say it had been delivered. Surprise surprise; still no sign of it. Not sure if I'll get my money back. Who delivers at 11.30 on a Monday night? That'll learn me, as they say.
I have loads of tomatoes left to pick. Funny, I love it when the seedlings fist come through, but I cannot wait to clear them away in the autumn.

 

Just listening to the happy sound of our green bins being unloaded into the recycling lorry! I managed to get them filled yesterday after finishing pruning a pittosporum, and OH sweeping up the debris on the drive. I did use my big pruning tool, but got carried away once again. I tend to brace the handle against my hip, so that I can pull the ‘lever’ thingy, but made the mistake of leaning it against my ribs. For a horrid moment I thought I’d broken a rib. By the time I went to bed, my ribs and my back were aching, and I woke a couple of times in the night. I’ve taken a couple of paracetamol this morning, which thankfully have worked, so I’m pain free.
A lot of laundry to start today. Our visitor has gone home, after a week that felt like a month! We are looking forward to returning to our usual routine, fewer meals and no need to organise outings or entertainment. Apart from grabbing breakfast, I haven’t actually got up yet!

 

It's lovely having visitors @Ergates but also lovely when they go and life and habits return to normal. I often use my breastbone to steady one handle of my loppers so I can use both hands on the other. Anyting that doesn't cooperate gets done with pruning saw.

I have the Wolf multihead system so can use mine with a short, medium or long handle. Heavy dtae with the trees at the back of our veg plot this autumn when they go bare as too many branches hanging over and blocking rain as they are to the west.

I've spent most of my morning doing admin for the start of teh season and am now prepping a piece of beef tataki for dinner tonight. The recipe says 20 mins in the oven to get the centre to 41C. Nope. needs longer. Fingers crossed it turns out OK.

 

Good afternoon all.

I agree about the Sewing Bee winner - a lovely lady and some inspirational garments over the weeks. I have to watch Bake Off later, since we have to stream Channel 4 these days.

It's dry so far today, but I'm not gardening - going to stay at our daughter's for a couple of days, looking after the girls while their parents are away. They've both become really keen on sewing recently, making stuffed toys and clothing for their teddies, so I'm going armed with various offcuts of suitable material, lengths of lace etc. They also love walks so I expect to be taken on a few while I'm there.

 

Sounds like you should have fun @Liriodendron.

Still cloudless here and much warmer than the 21C and cloudy the Météo predicted.

I've been sowing seeds - chard, dill, chervil, parsley, coriander, eragrostis spectabilis and festuca glauca. I still have seeds to sow in spring if these don't take but I hope they do. Also collected seeds from my sunflowers - Burgundy reds - and took cuttings of salvia Belle de Nantes.

OH has been mowing and strimming but we both stopped to sit in the sun and eat a choc ice and I don't feel like going back out there now so sewing for me once I've watered a few things that are looking thirsty despite recent rains that have been enough to green up our grass again. It's almost respectable as long as you like a variety of meadow weeds.

 

Back home after an enjoyable day out with a friend despite the rain all day. Took about 45 mins to get there and traffic was busy. Didn't get off to a good start as I turned right as usual at the end of our road instead of left that I needed. Oops, so down to the roundabout and back up again. Then we met a rather stupid older gentleman with a stick walking down the very steep and narrow hill at the top (no pavement and hedges on banks on each side). He had nowhere to go when the campervan we were following met him. That driver didn't know how wide the van was, then made a hash of the hill start so vehicles in both directions came to a half. Walking on that road is extremely dangerous with tight, nearly hairpin bends and a 6ft width limit - which gets flouted regularly. Cyclists, which we meet often, give me nightmares.

Anyway, we had a good mooch round the GC. My friend bought tulip bulbs, Christmas pressies (!!) and shoes whilst I treated myself to a new jumper for our anniversary weekend. Lunch was just coffee and a scone.

Hope you enjoy your days with the little ones @Liriodendron.

 

I have ricked my back, somehow. Probably ball flinging for the horrors. Managed to drive to the large pet store for their food, but not done very much else.
All tomatoes picked (I did sit down to do it) and I'm debating whether to make tomato and tamarind or tomato and chipotle chutney.
I have seen a lovely houndstooth check jacket in Cotton Traders and OH has offered to buy it for my birthday (which isn't for ages yet!), so we're planning a visit to the Wirral tomorrow (back permitting) and have lunch out on the way. I'm hoping I don't have to wait till my birthday to wear it!

 

I haven't watched Sewing Bee or Bake Off yet. They clashed last night so I recorded Bake Off. I'll have to find out if there is a repeat of Sewing Bee. I know who I want to win.

We enjoyed lunch with our friend. It was warm so we sat on the terrace by the river. I wore a summer dress. Will be hotter tomorrow.

The grass has greened up and grown since the rain so OH mowed it today.

 

Good evening folks.

First gravy dinner of the Autumn here! Sausages and roast veg - very welcome after an afternoon of jobs including power-washing MIL’s drive.

I’ve decided it’s Autumnal enough for my boots tomorrow plus I found a dress which I bought a couple of years ago still with the tag on! I had originally ear-marked it for Jury Duty (which I couldn’t sit on due the nature of the case as hospital-related) then thought it would be ok for semi-smart events but never did wear it.

I hope everyone is ok and having a relaxing evening.

 

@Busy-Lizzie sewing Bee is on at 2:05 on Friday or Saturday pm at 15:30 so add an hour for France. I've been gardening in shorts, strappy top and flip flops so definitely still summer frock weather. Just added a sleeved t-shirt for th evening cool.

Currently watching our recording of Bake Off but not thrilled. We don't eat much bread anyway and it tends to be home-made wholemeal/multi cereal with added seeds but not buns, stuffed or decorated and never ever donuts. Really don't like donuts.

Warm day here so salad and noodles with our Japanese beef which was delish but the dressing needed loads more citrus cos the soy was too strong and maybe some chilli next time - Beef tataki

Hope your back's OK @Penny_Forthem. I like houndstoot fabric so had a look at Cotton Traders but was put off by Alex thing modelling. Can't bear that woman so switch channels or turn it off when she comes on TV.

Not thinking about jumpers yet @lizzie27 but bulbs yes.

 

Hello all!
Having a happy evening with the granddaughters. They're old enough to be sensible most of the time, and good company, but not old enough to be left - aged 11 and just 14, both high-functioning autistic. They're home educated, but tomorrow's classes are on line, so I'm not going to be required to teach them anything much, fortunately...

 

Well two hours before I was due to go to the meeting I got a text to say it had been cancelled and moved to Sunday! I wonder if my cake will freeze?
My Mum used to get incensed when she had to deal with dog poo and as she knew the usual culprit she did used to take it and leave it outside the owners house @Goldenlily26.
Signing out for today everyone. See you all tomorrow.

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Good evening, a mixed day weather-wise. Got my hair cut this morning, a bit overdue but I knew they would be busy before we went away as the schools were about to go back. I know what you mean about getting back to the usual routine @Ergates . Though Europe is only an hour ahead we had some early starts so we are still a bit out of kilter.
We went to a performance of the old radio show round the Horne this afternoon. I know it was very of it's time, they would never be allowed to do such a show now. All nonsense of course but clever nonsense nonetheless.

 

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Good morning one and all. @Allotment Boy, you brought back a happy memory for me by mentioning Round The Horne as I used to love listening to that when I was younger. Julian and Sandy always made me laugh. Off to Bestie's today and its hair do day - its ready for it! It is such a quiet day outside today after yesterday's ferocious winds.
I do hope that your back is less aggravating today @Penny_Forthem - nothing worse in my view. Now time for tea.