Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Afternoon folks,

What an awful thing to happen @Busy-Lizzie and the loss of a treasured watch doubly so. Hope the police manage to track down the burglars. Tell your son to keep checking on Ebay or whatever they have in France as I gather thieves often put stolen objects on there for a quick sale. Glad your feeling happier anyway - and you too @Ladybird4.

My son is indeed very happy that Bath won last night - I've seen the photo of him and his mate celebrating! He's just spent an hour or so helping OH put the shade sail back up to no avail, unfortunately as the bigger ratchet straps I had bought are too big for the job!!! Time to think again. I'd rather cancel the whole project at this rate, I've spend a fortune on straps and carabiners of different types.

Hope you managed a couple of hours in Bath this morning @Ergates. I did think of meeting up for a coffee but as my son was here, just didn't have enough time, sorry.

I don't think your recently potted tomatoes will mind the manure @Goldenlily26, they'll probably revel in it!

Happy holidays @Liriodendron.

 

I'm sorry for your son and his family @Busy-Lizzie. It's a dreadful feeling knowing some stranger has broken in and been thru your things. We were burgled in Harrow while away one weekend but I'd hidden my decent jewellry and just left the costume stuff out and, apart from some Belgian francs on OH's bedside, there were no easily removable valuables. No damage either apart form the broken lock on the patio doors as, according to the police, it was a professional wanting a quick in and out. Even so, I felt the need to do a thorough clean after the intrusion and we did get new patio doors thanks to the insurance.

Funny day today. Slept badly so late start for me. Saturday so noisy activity confined to 9 to 12 and 15 to 19h00 so I can't yet do the finishing touches with the Karcher. Grass wet so no mowing either so I found OH using the root slayer spade to make an edge on the new island bed and raking out both dried weeds and stones as he went. He'd unwittingly disturbed some ground nesting bees which were buzzing about so I suggested he move along a bit and leave them in peace to settle down. However Minstrel pussy came to inspect and got stung somewhere near her ear and gallopped up the garden to the house. Never seen a cat move so fast.

I found her on our bed, shaking her head and looking half cross and half bewildered. It must be painful, poor thing. Didn't want cuddles and hid under the bed. Not happy when I tried to look for a sting but not having a nasty reaction either so fingers crossed she can sleep it off.

Plotting for me this pm once I finish being messy. Time to start placing pots on the new bed and work out what goes where. Loads of fun.

 

Good afternoon all. Shortly I am going to have to brace myself and get ready for great niece's party tonight. Like @Obelix-Vendée I didn't sleep all that well last night so I am feeling tired just thinking about a late night and having to drive in the dark which I am not keen on these days. I do have some over specs to cut down on glare from all these new LED headlights. May need them if it rains as well. I will wish you all a good night now and bon voyage to @Liriodendron.

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Good afternoon,

Been absent on here for a few days as we’ve been away for my nephews wedding. All went well, and the rain held off long enough for the outdoor part of the ceremony. It’s a shame that the sun didn’t shine, but it didn’t detract from the day, which was lovely.

Back home now and catching up with indoor and outdoor jobs. All the rain has brought on the flowers and shrubs and things are looking lush. I need to do a bit of pruning and some dead heading of the roses which always take a battering in the rain, don’t they? The grass is also looking much happier, although there are a couple of patches where it looks dead and I suspect that might be down to some cats that frequent our garden during the night, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I like cats, so wouldn’t want to do them any harm. I’ll just have to get some seed and reseed those areas, I think.

I hope you enjoy the party @Ladybird4.

 

Shhh... don't tell anyone, but it's stopped hissing down.
A spice Taylor butter chicken is cooking for supper.
I hope the French police take burglaries more seriously than their Brit counterparts @Busy-Lizzie. I hope the precious item is recovered, but...
We rescued some geraniums and begonia in Aldi, so rain permitting, we'll plant those before we leave tomorrow.
Safe driving @Ladybird4. I hate night journeys.
However, enjoy the do!

 

Hello all.

Packing is done, well within the weight limit in spite of my fears. We only fly every 2 years, so I forget the best way of fitting everything in - plus we bought a new suitcase to replace the one the baggage handlers bent the frame of, and it's a different shape. We need 2-wheeled cases because we're travelling by public transport, which involves walking half a mile to the bus to start with. 4-wheeled luggage is only appropriate for smooth surfaces, in my opinion. But rugged cases with 2 wheels are now hard to come by...

Hope Minstrel soon recovers from the bee sting, @Obelix-Vendée . Not pleasant!

Glad to hear you enjoyed your nephew's wedding, @Blue arbour , even if the weather wasn't all it might be...

Thank you for your good wishes for our journey, @Ladybird4 . We only get as far as the airport hotel in Dublin tomorrow, but it's a step on the way! I hope your drive to your great-niece's party is easier than you fear, and that you're not too tired to enjoy the occasion.

 

Agree about 4 wheeled cases @Liriodendron. Not great on Belgian cobbles either. Glad you're all packed and ready to go. Have a safe journey with no delays and a great time in Finland.

Thank you. Minstrel seems fine now after a good, long sleep.

Enjoy your evening everyone whether partying or not. We have had an unscheduled downpour and it has turned cool and blustery again so I've had to change shorts and t-shirt for trousers and long sleeves. The forecast now says I have 3 clear days to get the plants in my new bed before they get watered in from on high. I'll water as I go anyway but proper rain will be a bonus.

Flaming June indeed!

 

Good evening folks.

Sorry to hear about the burglary @Busy-Lizzie - such a horrible feeling. I’m still upset my engagement ring was stolen when it happened to us, and that was 20 years ago.

It was raining on and off all day but I did venture out to the hospital’s Walled Garden open day, and met a Gardener’s Corner forum member who volunteers there. The garden looked amazing. I have big Lupin envy! Tried and failed many times in my garden - if the slugs don’t get them, the aphids do.

Supper to make now, and a TV catch-up tonight.

I hope everyone is ok and will be doing something enjoyable this evening, whether that’s a party, a good meal or just putting your feet up after gardening.

 

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Hello there everyone. Oh boy did I have a good time last night - reminded me of my clubbing days. Being old and ancient now I have sort of lost track of the clothes 'yoof' like to wear on party nights and my great niece and 80% of her girl friends were wearing what are best described as rompers. Acres of legs and shoulders on view and how there weren't any clothing disasters I can only think 'super glue'. It is a long time since I have danced the night away - sorry @Obelix-Vendée but not your beautiful dancing - and I don't even feel stiff this morning. The only negative was being unable to hold a conversation because of the music. Now I have to gather all my cakes and 'stuff' together for the tea/coffee morning at Church today.
Whatever you have planned, I wish you all wonderful days.

 

Morning all! The dog woke me at 6am demanding breakfast, and to be let out in the garden. She has been fed, and has followed me back to the bedroom, tucked back up in her basket and snoring! I’ve made myself a coffee and a slice of toast. Yesterday went surprisingly well, considering the weather. We managed two walks (very slowly, she is 15 years old, but is also very keen to sniff every bit of vegetation hanging over, or growing out of, the pavement) without getting wet. The evening walk could have been very dodgy. I glanced between a couple of houses, and was surprised to see what looked like a massive warehouse built behind them. It wasn’t a warehouse, it was storm clouds, denser and darker than I remember seeing before. Quite terrifying. Fortunately, we were back inside before they reached us.
I’ve enjoyed the strolls, lots of lovely flowers in bloom, and plenty of roses. I was looking at some bushes growing in a small public space outside a row of shops. To my surprise, instead of the generic council type, easy care, evergreens, they turned out to be fruit bushes, gooseberries, red currants and blackcurrants. Plenty of fruit on them too. What a charming idea! I wonder if the local residents help themselves, or whether the birds get most of them.
Near one of our local stations, there is a wall with a planter section on top. It is full of herbs, with a notice inviting passers by to help themselves. Doesn’t seem to get abused.
My shopping trip was successful in that I didn’t get wet, got the few things I had on my list, and confirmed that I don’t actually need any new clothes. At least none of the ones I saw on sale this season!
I nearly dropped you a note, @lizzie27, but I wasn’t sure of my timetable, and thought you might be busy. We will have to arrange a coffee next time I’m up here.
Later today, I’m planning to take a look at the garden centre in Prior Park Road, if the dog walking and the buses work out. I’ve been driven past it several times but never had a chance to look in.

 

Sorry to hear about your family's burglary Lizzie. My daughter was burgled when she was a student and again when she and my son in law were having their house renovated. No one was ever caught and the feeling of a stranger rooting around amongst her belongings stayed with her for a long time. Very unsettling and scary. It was the loss of sentimentally valued items that was most upsetting. Irreplaceable.

A miserable day all day yesterday. I sat and cleaned my lemon tree with methylated spirits and then warm water with a spot of washing up liquid in it. The leaves were all sticky but I didn't see any bugs, I was expecting to find scale insects everywhere. I put the plant outside to have a drink of rain water. I think I will leave it out for the rest of the summer.
At last the wind has stopped, so has the rain.
My family are in Penzance on a dive week end and my son in Canada has sent me a pic. of a potato rossti quiche he has made. Looks lovely. He was forced to watch one of Nadyia's programs whilst visiting his father and was taken with the idea of using grated potato for the case instead of pastry. I am waiting to hear what it tastes like.

 

Good morning. Cloudy and sunny spells expected today and 20C max. Perfect weather for spreading horse muck on my new bed and starting the planting. No rain expected so they'll be watered in with tap water but ours has no chlorine and is neutral as it comes from a local reservoir just 5kms away.

Sounds like a good party @Ladybird4. I haven't done any bopping for years tho i enjoyed plenty of discos in my youf.

Good that you enjoyed Bath @Ergates and found what you needed. Apart from not having any public transport here I like to drive cos I can have impulse visits on the way there or back and that usually involves plants, fabrics or food shopping.

Rösti "pastry" cases are quite a thing at the mo @Goldenlily26 as are tarts with a crushed potato crust. Possum thinks she doesn't like quiche but does love rösti so I'm planning to try one when our spuds are big enough and I've lost another kilo.

Happy Sunday everyone.

 

Morning from a very lazy me!
Woke to what I can only describe as adolescent pigeon learning to 'coo' while it's voice was breaking! Most odd!
It's dry, so we can get our flowers planted in the tubs and baskets.
Glad the night was so enjoyable @Ladybird4
The forecast seems to be for 'getting better', so once we have this next busy week done and dusted, we hope to return to the van.
I have found I am able to do far more than I thought!
Hope @Liriodendron enjoys the hols and singing and that you all have a good day.

 

Good afternoon,
I’m glad you enjoyed your evening @Ladybird4. I agree about the clothing worn by some of the youngsters- they seem to defy gravity, don’t they. It does amuse me to see some of them tugging at the skirt part to pull it down, though - it makes no difference whatsoever.
Went to the GC earlier to buy some plants for the borders as now the daffs are finished, the borders look quite bare. I shall plant them up either tomorrow or Tuesday, weather permitting.
It started out bright and sunny first thing though blustery, but by the afternoon we were getting heavy showers between the sunshine so no gardening today.

 

Hello.
We are back from the Chaplaincy celebrations. The big old abbey church was full. There was a choir and lots of singing. The new chaplain seems very nice and he's tall, dark and handsome. His wife was really nice too. There was masses to eat and lots of wine. I met a lot of people I've met before at various events.