Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Good afternoon everyone,

Sending thoughts to you @Penny_Forthem. A very difficult decision for you. Well done on doing the drive to the van, though.

I’ve been busy in the garden this morning potting up the petunias but it has now turned wet, so will leave the dahlias until tomorrow. (At least the grass and plants are looking happier). I’ve got plenty of indoor jobs I can be getting on with.

Pleased to hear you enjoyed your cruise @Ergates. A fjiord cruise is the only one I would think about doing as I don’t fancy being on a big ship otherwise. We did a river cruise 8 years ago and overall, found the experience disappointing as we seemed to spend more time on coaches to get to places and also the ship sometimes docked in really out of the way, industrial places which made disembarking somewhat precarious on occasion. It’s not something I would ever do again. On the positive side, we did visit some beautiful places so it gave us a taste of places we might venture to independently.

 

The deed has been booked for tomorrow evening. We were offered tonight, but we looked at each other and said, 'no'.

 

Is the vet able to come to the house, @Penny_Forthem? If we ever have another pet, that will be my first choice. Having said that, our cats weren’t too bothered at visiting the surgery, and the dog was suitably distracted by the bag of previously forbidden chocolate drops. So very hard, make the most of your evening of spoiling her.
Id love to try a river cruise, @Blue arbour, but I’d rather assumed one could just walk ashore at the stops. We are also not particularly sociable at mealtimes, so wouldn’t like having to share tables. Both picky eaters too, and the menus are obviously restricted on a small boat.
We do manage to tailor our cruise holidays to meet our personal requirements! Rarely eat in the main dining rooms, unless we can guarantee a table for two. We generally don’t bother with a starter, so wouldn’t like having to sit through a lengthy meal with strangers indulging in three courses ( or more! ) A varied and spacious buffet works well for us, a table for two by a sea view window, and OH can eye up the food offerings before making his selection.
I agree that a Norwegian fjords cruise is the ideal ( and in my opinion, the best) way to see the scenery. It’s a big country, and the prettiest bits are the least accessible. On shore prices are alarming too. Unfortunately, most of the main stream ships arrive in port by breakfast, so the amazing scenery is passed by while most passengers are still asleep in the morning, or sitting in a posh dining room with no views in the evening. I think we have become quite adept at getting what we want out of a cruise, and it’s not necessarily anything like advertised!

 

I am signing out for today. Ford garage still hasn't got the parts needed to put right the problem in my car - they are going to send me an email once they receive them. Ho hum. I forgot to say this morning that Cricket was riveted to TV last night as one of his favourite programmes returned - Springwatch! He particularly enjoyed the badger sequences. I will have to make sure that I am tuned in for tonight's episode. Good night everybody and I'll see you all tomorrow.

​

 

@Ergates we are with an independent practice (rare these days) and our local only has one vet. We have chosen to go there as we know and respect them (with 3 pooches, they know us too)
We might have a stranger from its sister practice come here, thus our choice.
Told the grandkids today.

 

Good afternoon from a very wet N. London, the dry morning didn't last so we decided to go to our favourite GC and then to London Colney for food shopping. (Got to get your priorities right). We didn't get out till nearly midday as OH got a phone call just as we were about to leave. The roads were havoc as it's half term, lots of roadworks and diversions.
Anyway, bought some Dahlias for the plots to grow for cut flowers as only 3 of my stock plants survived the winter. I also bought some pumpkins as mine either failed to germinate or have stalled and are still tiny. Also bout some Strulch to mulch the strawberry bed, I used to go to the farm and buy a bale of straw, but the last 2 times I've ended up with a cereal crop in the middle of my strawberries.

 

Sorry to see your sad news @Penny_Forthem .

 

​

Hello there all. It is not looking very promising outside. I feel sorry for parents with children on their half term holidays if they are not getting decent weather to be taking days out. I'm expecting a grocery delivery and then I have some GH jobs to do.

 

Yes Lizzie27. My daughter has all the gear, paddle boards, canoe, winter and summer wet suits, tent etc. They were planning to go diving yesterday, Mon., but it was too windy and dangerous so they went walking instead.

I had another quiet day yesterday. It hardly stopped raining all day.
Have to go for a blood test etc., this morning, then on to the GC to spend some money. My worms are starting to bite as I have had to fast since last night.
Obelix-Vendee I am waiting for my new glasses to arrive. Because of my advancing years, for the last 2 years I have had my annual eye test carried out at home with Outside Clinic. Very impressive, the amount of gear they turn up with, a whole suitcase full frames to try, etc. and very thorough. I have chosen Titanium frames, so lightweight I do not know I have glasses on, Vari Focal lenses so I only need one pair of glasses instead of 2, it takes a while to get used to the first pair you have, I felt like a nodding budgie when I had my first pair, Reactolite lenses to automatically darken in bright light or lighten in dark conditions, and scratch proofed. I had an email this morning saying they had been dispatched. I have been managing with wearing glasses with only one side arm. They have stayed more or less in place because they are so lightweight.
I shall be very pleased when my new pair arrive.

 

It is a great fun game for everyone, including children. Unfortunately we still have to break down the old concept that only "posh people" play it, and that it is a nasty viscious game. A carry over from when people used to hit their opponents balls into the shrubbery!
However, I have watched a video of the World Champions who happen to be Egypt, who hit the balls from one end of the lawns to the other with such accuracy it is a wonder to behold.
Some gentle exercise, on a lovely level lawn, in the fresh, air with a cup of tea and a chat afterwards, what an ideal way to spend some time.

 

@Goldenlily26 OH had a friend from school and university who became county champion of Berkshire and was invited to teach a newly formed club in Genval, Belgium the year after we moved there so he stayed with us. No idea how the club got on but I did see people playing in summer when I passed that way.

Grey again here and cool but no rainfall expected. OH and I have been for our Covid jabs this morning and now I have a pot of Cullen Skink on the go for lunch tomorrow. Like a good stew, it always tastes better if made ahead and left a day to mature.

Tea dance this pm. Looking forward to checking out the 95 yr old's outfit this month.

Courage for today @Penny_Forthem. It's almost a year since we had Rasta PTS and it still feels raw sometimes so you have my deepest sympathy and encouragement.

Love all your Snoopy pics @Ladybird4.

 

Morning. Gotta laugh, sometimes - hub had porridge yesterday and didn't put the box away quick enough. Giraffe neck Bryn pulled it down and we were deluged in dry oats. Don't you just love 'em?
Yes, @Obelix-Vendée, relief mixed with sadness. Questions of 'are we doing the right thing?' and 'is it too soon?' have been replaced with knowledge that we are, and no.
We are going out for lunch to distract ourselves, though it's a dismal day in many respects.

 

Commiserations @Penny_Forthem, although I did have to chuckle at the porridge oats story.
Good that Bryn can still make you laugh. Courage for tonight, you are doing the right thing.

Thankfully I had a better night's sleep and feel more like myself. I've even lost a whole quarter of a pound this week! Trouble is that we've got some left over cold lamb to eat up so OH is going to buy a scrumptious freshly baked baguette from the bakery on his way home from having a covid jab so it will probably pile back on. I decided not to have the jab this time round, I'm still taking steroids and started on statins just feel a bit uneasy about more meds at the moment.

Right, the washing machine has just trilled at me so I'd better hang it out on the line while it's dry.

 

Afternoon everyone. I had a productive day in the GH geting the last of my tomato plants into their final places. All they have to do now is flourish and give me lots of cherry tomatoes - most of which will never get to the kitchen! Well you have to have a nibble while you are working!
First thing this morning whilst I was pottering about in the kitchen I had this feeling that I was being watched. No one at the window but when I looked at the door, there was Cutey Cat looking through Cricket's cat flap. Cricket had already gone out after his breakfast but CC was obviously looking for him. Fairly soon CC went up onto the garage roof and then sat on my garden wall under the overhang from the garage. Cricket soon found him and had 'words'. What amazes me is that all of their encounters are silent and even though it looks serious there is no animosity.

​

After a bit of rough and tumble CC went home - wherever that is and Cricket curled up in his favourite plant pot in the GH whilst I was working.

 

I am going to wish you all a pleasant evening though tinged with sadness when I think of you @Penny_Forthem. See you all tomorrow. Going to Bestie's and she will be looking after her granddaughter so we will both get bossed about and invited (forced!) to play games. I love it really. My car is stuffed full of clothes and shoes to take to the lady who organises lorry trips to Ukraine. People at Church have been so generous.

​