Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Cloudy and cool here today.

I finished painting the loo then painted the bit with 5 steps down to the utility room then the ceiling bit around the dormer window in the guest room as it was looking rather shabby and the paint looked the same colour. It's a sort of off white called Parchment.

We are off to Norfolk early October @Obelix-Vendée so I won't be here to do painting. This week is cooler and rain had been forecast so it seemed a good time.

I really want to go outside and do some watering while it's cloudy but can't because of water restrictions.

 

We are very pleased with him, thanks @Obelix-Vendée. The words I've just used to describe him to a friend were 'a little cracker'. He's clearly been well trained. I don't know the reason why he was originally rehomed, but that didn't work out for him as it was a childminder and he got stressed with all the visitors, so ended up at the rescue we got him from. He's found his forever home with us. He has a docked tail, so must have been bred as a working dog. I've never seen a little tail wag so furiously! Can you tell we're smitten?

 

Good morning all!

This is an excited post from me - we've just been watching a juvenile pine marten in our garden, presumably looking for territory away from others. It did a complete circuit of the back garden including just under the kitchen window, round by the compost heap and across the veg beds, then disappeared into the hedge. Wish I'd been quick enough to take a photo, but we were mesmerised just looking at it! We knew pine martens were in the neighbourhood, as we'd seen them on the wildlife camera footage one night last year, but this is the first daytime sighting.

 

I spent an hour or so cleaning the new steps, a whole sack of bramble bits, before removing the monitor, very pleased I do not have a hairy chest. Boy was it stuck on!, before driving to the next village to drop a card in to my friend who has just had a knee replacement op. then to the PO to post my gizmo back for analysis. I did have to wear it in bed, it is small, quite flat and I forgot I was wearing it after it was fitted.
That was me bushed when I came home so put my feet up and waited for my grocery delivery to arrive. Watched Masterchef.
My son and D in L are off to Vancouver Island this week-end to meet and play with(spoil) their brand new baby Grand Puppy. A miniature, long coated dacshound. She has enormous eyes, adorable. My son was very pleased with himself having found an excellent deal on the flight price, but they had to be up at 4.00am to be at Calgary Airport for the early flight .
He and my daughter had a 1 hour on line meeting yesterday, with a solicitor, to clarify their father's will etc. £400.00! They are slowly working their way through the formalities.No wonder they have decided to do the Probate themselves. They are both experienced business people so used to dealing with paperwork, thank the Lord for the internet. It has made this kind of thing so much easier for people to do themselves.
My niece has completed the sale of my sister's house, she has to go to the bank in person, to transfer her brother's half of the money into his account. She has to go in person to prove it is a genuine transaction, there has been so much money laundering.
It is a glorious morning. Cool, sunny, still. No rain yet, it looks as if there is some on the way in about a weeks time.

I hope everyone enjoys their bank holiday week-end doing lots of what you enjoy most.

 

It's feeling (and looking) quite autumnal today. Not a breath of wind.
Gin does not yet recognise the caravan preparations, but the other 2 do. I have a zip cool bag for transporting fridge stuff and as soon as it makes an appearance, they know!
We have to take some smart clothes this weekend, as we are at the site owner's party tomorrow evening. They know about Gin and understand that we will leave early, as we don't want to leave him for too long. They are dog people, too. I am taking my red silk 'duster jacket', which gets very few outings!
I wanted to move to Vancouver Island with my son, @Goldenlily26 but my dad would have been heartbroken and begged me not to go (this was 1996). I was newly divorced and it seemed just the perfect place to be. I have lots of cousins there. Glad I didn't go, cos I met my (now) hub 2 years later.

 

Good morning to you all!!

Good news from you @Penny_Forthem Gin will get to know the routine very quickly. I am positive he is observing and taking in all the preparations. Hope he hasn't got suitcase syndrome!

Cooler here this morning again but a warm and windy day forecast. The sheets are whirring around the washing machine.

My FIL died in April of this year but as the widow of one of his sons, I don't get anything. Neither monetary nor property. French law is still Napoleonic!!

I have company this evening for an "aperitif dinatoire" or wine and lots of nibbles; so I am making and baking bits and pieces and I shall be exhausted by this evening!!

 

Morning all, a bright sunny morning here so we're going out for lunch with my sister at a new Farm Cafe not far from here. They specialise in their own locally farm produce, including meat, so should be very good. The upstairs seating area overlooks the Bristol Channel and the Welsh coast, weather permitting.

Good that you cleared some of the bramble debris. It would probably dry out and die in this dry weather so I wouldn't worry much too much. Being a former lawyer, I did both my parents Probate applications which were not too difficult but that was some time ago, it may be different now.

Enjoy your evening wine and nibbles @Tui.

 

42nd wedding anniversary today so we've been out for lunch and took Possum as it's her last day of hols and she doesn't drink alcohol so is handy for driving. We wnet to a Grill in La Tranche-sur-Mer as we know it does good beef, veal, duck and lamb and Possum isn't fishy. Turns out this weekend is the end of season braderie so we'll be going back there on Sunday for bargains and maybe some fish and chips.

Feeling sleepy now so will probably just sunbathe for a while. I have white flip flop marks on my feet and pale front legs from gardening and need to even it all out so I don't need tights before it's cool enough for trousers.

No planting till the rain has come later in the week (if it does) and that'll give the weeds a chance to grow a bit so they're easier to zap. Hoeing or forking out in hard, dry soil is not fun. Gives me blisters.

Enjoy your party @Penny_Forthem. Gin will soon learn.

Hope your lunch was good @lizzie27. Back to the 5:2 for me next week, ready for dancing to start again in September as I've plateau'd and want to lose a few more kilos.

@Tui34 the code Napoléon is indeed an awkward and outdated beast. Lots of properties here go to rack and ruin as heirs ague about selling or sharing.

Well done @Goldenlily26. Are the steps to your liking?

Have a happy start to the weekend everyone. Looking forward to GW with Adam this evening - such a lovely man with no side.

 

PS - What a lovely thing to see @Liriodendron. I hope he/she sets up home nearby and gives you lots of pleasure.

 

Many congratulations @Obelix-Vendée on your WA. We're somewhat behind you as we celebrate 29 years next month. I too, need to go back on the 5-2 diet as we've lapsed recently.

The Farm cafe was a bit of a disappointment to us, food wise, although you'd probably love it. OH had the best beef burger ever, Sis and I didn't fancy any of the other lunch offerings, too veggie/spicy/faffy for us but we did have the nicest freshly baked scones with jam and cream, so much so, we had 2nd helpings. The view from the lst storey windows was fantastic, right across to the Welsh hills opposite and down the valley towards Bristol. Saw the Red Kite again hovering over the M4. We'd go again but only for coffee and cake.

I've never seen a pine marten @Liriodendron, a good surprise for you.

 

Evening folks.

That’s a pain for Ladybird - we miss you! Wonder if she has a phone with data so could nip on??
This is why Bank Holidays are just a hassle - as one always seems to need something when a certain shop/business/service/appointment etc. is having a day off! I’m waiting for a call-back on something so that won’t be until Tuesday now either. Grrr.

I hope everyone is doing ok. Have a good (Bank Holiday) weekend all.

 

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A very good morning one and all. I have emerged from my dark room, removed the wet cloth from my head and washed out my mouth with soap to remove all residue of the epithets I called VM. Those cunning monkeys gave me a ridiculous time for the problem to be sorted and I can imagine them all patting themselves on their corporate backs as they have restored t'internet days before predicted. Anyway, enough of all that. I am just glad to be reconnected and I can see I have a lot of catching up to do. Two snippets that caught my eyes - Gin and pine marten. I can't wait to get all the details. All is now happy in the Ladybird house.

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Gin is adorable @Penny_Forthem. If he were mine and Cricket hadn't killed him I would love scratching that lovely white chest!
@lizzie27 I was staggered to see that dreadful root emerging from the pipe. It looks so sinister. Thoughts of triffids passed through my mind. Fingers crossed all will be well in the end.
That is such nice news for you @Goldenlily26. I appreciate it will be a somewhat sombre occasion but it will be lovely to see your son and DIL.
Well done on all the painting you have got finished @Busy-Lizzie. I do have to say that your descriptions of your contortions have put pictures into my head!

 

@Goldenlily26 I was disgusted to read about the mess left by the chap who did the strimming for you. I would contact Trading Standards and report him. I just feel that you were taken advantage of. I'm with you @Obelix-Vendée - not keen on going up ladders but I do have to say that I have a decent set of stepladders with handles both sides and a little platform on the top which is safe enough for me to check on my gutters. These are only at the height of my first floor. I would not venture any further.

 

@Liriodendron, what a magical experience seeing a young pine marten. You are so lucky. I'm sure he/she will re-visit as you must be in its territory.