Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

​

Hello from a rain soaked North West. We didn't win in the quiz last night but it was a close finish and I enjoyed the evening. There were questions on plants and animals which made me happy. It was good to read that the funeral went as well as these occasions can @Liriodendron and I hope the funeral of your friend's husband goes smoothly on Wednesday @Busy-Lizzie.
Got a busy baking week this week as I am making two cakes for one of my great niece's 18th birthday party on Saturday as well as the usual cakes for Sunday tea/coffee morning. Having my hair done on Thursday at Bestie's then our First Friday Quizzers meal.

 

That’s a lot of beans @Busy-Lizzie, we find just a few gives us more than enough for just the two of us.
Not much happening here as still feeling under the weather. I’ve managed to do my early summer edit - I can’t call it (traditional) weeding as I let lots of self-seeded wildflowers and grasses stay but I do have sone rules about whose allowed where and how many

OH had a cardiology review yesterday and everything seems ok. No change in the last 6 years since his heart attack. We weren’t too worried about it as the symptoms he was having, and which were worrying, have disappeared. Probably just as well as it’s over 9 months since he went to the hospital about them! It’s put our minds at rest though.

Not sure what we are doing today. Grey and drizzly at the moment. Sums up how my cold-stuffed head feels as well…

 

Good morning all.

@Butterfly6 I'm glad your OH's cardiology review was OK. I have trouble with runner beans in France, the flowers drop off when it's hot. I decided to do a trial this year and sowed 6 varieties but 1 didn't germinate. Funny because they were the only beans to produce anything last year. Runner beans are OH's favourite vegetable.

Nothing planned for today, apart from gardening and HW.

Tomorrow we will be leaving early to go to a good friend's husband's funeral. There will be the funeral at the crematorium, which is over an hour's drive away, for close friends and family in the morning then a church celebration of life in the afternoon in a local village church.

 

I managed to pot on my cucurbitas? Courgette, cucumbers, loofah, mini melons etc. Then I reinstated the greenhouse for the new season's tomato plants which are ready to go in it. Clean weed matting and pavers put down, it was good to see a very dead bramble that had strayed inside.
Then I was done.
Have to go to my surgery for my blood test results this morning, and annual review before doing a quick shop in the local Co Op. That will probably be enough for me today. It has been raining on and off since thge early hours. Much cooler, I have held back from planting anything outside as heavy rain and gales are forecast for later in the week.
I cut myself a small posy of roses and paeonys which I have on the table next to my chair. The occasional waft of scent gives me a lot of satisfaction.
I have reduced my number of runner beans grown to 6, I used to grow 10 plants but always had far too many beans. I used to freeze some and give a lot away. Last year I lost every single runner bean plant to being eaten and ravaged by wind so this year I am growing them on for longer before planting out in the hope they will be stronger, tougher plants. I keep reminding myself, they are tropical plants not indigenous to our climate.

 

Morning all.
@Ladybird4 , 23 is very much into ‘ gaming’ nowadays and lego building has moved onto building all things Star Wars. He still loves lego but it’s getting harder to find something for him to build that doesn’t require a mortgage taking out . He is getting quite independent now saying he can “ do things” that require no intervention from us grandparents. He’s a lovely little chap and is very obliging when I want anything done. Whilst he was here, he watered, very well too, the back garden with the hose which was a big help to me.
I was woken at about 1am last night with gusty winds and hammering rain on the windows. This morning is bright and sunny but blowing a gale. Rain in the air too so no doubt we will have some more later on.
I have had to dispose of a tub full of cornflowers. Something has got to them and they looked in a very poorly state, the ends of the stems and potential flower heads very all manky and stuck up and a very funny colour. So, they’ve gone and will try again next year .

 

Good morning all. Cool and grey here so fine weather for gardening but I'm only just getting moving after a bad night - coughing, spluttering, feline play and cuddles then more coughing so awake for hours. OH is manfully tackling the ironing mountain and I'm off to pressure wash the terrace before lunch and then I can scrub the table again before putting it back and oiling it.

Raking the new bed for me this pm and starting to think about the planting which will include shrubs and salvias and lots of perennials so spacing to consider as well as combos. More babies to pot on and a few more pots to clean up in the nursery this pm and strawberries to plant out.

The only time I tried sowing beans here was a complete failure due to drought. Sweetcorn failed too. I really dislike runner beans but occasionally buy some frozen ones for OH. Don't like green beans any more either so I buy frozen for OH and Possum. Love butter beans, kidney beans, black eyed peas, flageolets tho.

That funeral sounds like a good send off @Liriodendron. I hope yours goes well tomorrow @Busy-Lizzie.

Good luck for today, whatever you're all doing and hugs to all feeling ill, weary or sad.

 

Good morning everyone.
I have physio today and then the G'kids coming for supper. Doing Jambalaya.
I have 10 runners - bought a packet from Suttons with 3 different kinds. Great idea, but they were not in individual packs, so I don't know which variety is which!
The vet has also sent us a pack of forget me not seeds for Maisie, so where to put those?
I hope that, whatever you're doing today, you can do it cheerfully.

 

Afternoon folks.

That’s really sweet about the Forget-Me-Nots @Penny_Forthem. Could you do a big tub of them and then you can let that self seed each year?

Happy accident here as a couple of the Mock Orange branches bent over in the wind. Think it’s telling me to prune it this year! Anyway, I’ve chopped those off and made a lovely vase full for the house. Smells amazing.

Been to Diddly-Dee so time to do some potting-on now as I have done very leggy Sunflowers (late sow of a free packet) and some hungry tomatoes.

Have a pleasant day all.

 

Good afternoon everyone, we went to a shopping centre, to try to get a birthday party for one of the GC. According to JL website, product in stock. Not only did they not have it, but don't stock anything like it anymore. Not a wasted trip tho as we investigated Dishwasher and replacement cordless vacuum cleaner. Had lunch at Udon noodle bar. Came out to absolutely torrential rain, but now sun is out . No gardening today then.

 

Nor me either so far @Allotment Boy

I dutifully checked my emails before venturing out and found one from the council asking me to confirm our reservation for the hall for patchwork club next year and asking for the forms to be completed and returned by May 25th 2025. Superwoman I may be but not a Dr Who!

Then I tried to connect to our online space on their website to confirm our insurance document was up to date. No joy so I contacted the treasurer to confirm I hadn't forgotten the password. No, but there is a trap to avoid when completing the forms. New rules. Apparently, if the president does not reside in Les Sables they feel free to cancel our reservation, despite 42 of our 45 members being local, and give it to someone else. That's me! I live 42 kms away. Urgent need to contact the secretary who deals with person to person contacts at the council.

The next bit is very Belgian - centuries of occupation by the Spanish, Austrians, French and Dutch before independence in 1831 means they are dab hands at getting round bureaucracy and rules.

To keep our hall, I can change the official address of the association from my house to the address of the hall because it has a letter box and then we'll be fine cos they'll give me a key to the letter box.

Just to be sure and confirm this tweak with her chappy at the council, secretary will take the forms in tomorrow and change the address under his nose and all will be well.

That all left me going down a rabbit hole of admin doing a rather overdue sort of emails and photos into appropriate folders, making a couple of appointments for other things and not getting my terrace spruced.

Love forget-me-nots @Penny_Forthem. Lovely idea. Just scatter them and see what happens. Maybe some at the caravan too?

You've reminded me to go and check my mock-oranges @AuntyRach . Two inherited in a mixed hedge along part of our back garden but suffering badly from drought so pruned and fed and watered last year.

 

Aargh! That all sounds terrifying, @Obelix-Vendée! I’ve just had confirmation of the house insurance renewal, that’s enough trauma for me for one year!
Rained all morning, so once again, the seedlings are still waiting to be relocated. OH dragged, protesting, to the GP for his annual BP checks and blood tests. All I had the energy for, when we got home, was to try another champagne cocktail recipe ( using Waitrose Cava, I’m too mean for the real stuff)
Also annoyed to open the washing machine to put a load in, only to find a load I’d done on Saturday sitting in there, forgotten and smelling less than fresh. I’ve had to re wash that before putting the next batch on. Grrrr.

 

Good evening all. Sorry to read your are still feeling below par @Goldenlily26. I was talking to my older sis today and she is absolutely bunged up with a shocking cold. She is Grandma to my great niece whose 18th we are celebrating next weekend. We'll make a right pair with her and me with my silly cough. According to great niece's Mum, the yoof will dance a bit, eat a bit, dance a bit then shoot off to Liverpool for a night on the razz which means it won't be such a late night for us lot.
Good grief @Obelix-Vendée that does sound a bureaucratic nightmare! I love the 'get out of jail free card' of the change of address.
@Penny_Forthem, my vets have always sent me a lovely sympathy card with forget me not seeds and I have them popping up all over the garden where my little furry rascals loved to spend their time. @Ergates, I have done that once with my washing and like you, I had to wash them all again.

 

Time for me to retire to the latest book and to bid you all good night. See you all tomorrow.

​

 

​

Good morning all. For once in I couldn't tell you how long I had a relatively decent night's sleep. Having a quiet moment with Cricket lying near me - full of breakfast - while I get mine sorted. Nectar of the Gods that first cup of tea! The sun was shining when I got up but true to forecast it is now becoming very overcast. This year I am really missing seeing lots of swallows, house martins and swifts swooping and diving overhead. I have never known the skies so empty. Has anyone else noticed this near where they live?

 

Good morning to you all!

Yes @Ladybird4 Indeed it is!!



But it's a cooler Wednesday here which is nice. Rain is predicted (again) probably won't come although there has been a sprinkling earlier on. My weeding is done - quickly, so I am pleased that I am on top of that.

I love the idea of forget-me-nots @Penny_Forthem for our loved ones. Still makes me well up thinking of your and @Goldenlily26 's recent loss of past pets.

I hope your next trip is uneventful @Busy-Lizzie Seems like you have just come back!!

I wish you all a pleasant Wednesday with clement weather.