Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

I have done some surreptitious watering in the polytunnel and nursery as well as on the terrace so I have more time for the more obvious watering later on. I've also taken down our fly screens on the two main doors as the wind is getting up a bit now and they were banging about a bit. Two sunbeds and a canvas director's chair stashed away too and the wheelbarrows parked.

I found some weedkiller whilst tidying up so, since I can't just throw it away, I've done the thistles at the back of the house and the bindweed in my new border. It'll have plenty of time to be absorbed before any rain comes our way.

We have high tides and large wave warnings all along our coast for tonight as Erin's tail end sends a swell. Given the height of see walls, where there are any, I foresee some interesting repercussions and more re-modeeling of beaches and dunes. I've never see the beach at La Tranche looking so scoured but it did mean less far to wade for people wanting swimming depths.

Have to say I'm looking forward to the end of the season and space to go walkies along beaches again. La Tranche's permanent population is just over 3000 residents but when all the gîtes, holiday lets, mobile home and caravan parks fill up it goes to 120,000 in August. "Heaving" doesn't begin to cover it and it's pretty much the same story along the coast here.

Tavistock is a good name @lizzie27. We had a black and white one I called Zazu (Lion King again) as Possum was keen on that Disney film at the time. He was a lovely cat too but then they all are in their different ways. Hope your builders can make progress tomorrow.

The farmers here seem to think we'll get some rain soon as there is frantic to-ing and fro-ing of tractors with trailers full of hay and straw being brought in and cattle too. I hope all of us who need it get some decent rain without flooding or wind damage.

 

A stray semi feral cat used to visit my daughter near Poitiers. The cat got pregnant and when my daughter and family came back from holiday she was waiting and was in a hurry to go indoors although she had never been inside before. She then had 5 black and white kittens. My daughter gave me one of the kittens, she told me she thought it was a girl. When I took it to the vet for vaccinations, pet passport etc he said it had to have a name starting with A as in France it was the year of the A for cats. Then he told me the kitten was a boy. I hadn't thought to look! So I called him Atom.

As the forecast said it would be our last sunny day before rain arrives (I'll believe it when I see it!) we thought we'd go and visit Bergerac. I haven't been there for over 30 years.

We are back home now . The old town is very pretty. We had a delicious lunch, goats cheese salad with walnuts then huge prawns with a yummy creamy sauce and ratatouille then chocolate mousse.

 

We're home and everything stowed or washed.
Tesco has been and all is put away.
Gin seems to be morphing into Jinx. High jinxs!
I like September, especially as I am now retired and don't have to greet unruly kids who'd prefer to be anywhere else.
I'm looking for pansy plug plants for winter and spring colour.

 

Jinx is a lovely name for a dog, or cat, @Penny_Forthem. I take it he's coming out of his shell.

We visited Bergerac in 1991 @Busy-Lizzie and had a lovely time exploring and a feast at lunchtime. Bought some wine and a huge basket which I think was for potatoes but I used for logs. It's now lurking in the cave. Must find a use for it and also persuade OH we need to do a wee trip that doesn't involve golf or mess with dance class.

I have watered my thirsty trees and shrubs down the back of the plot and the 3 citrus pots at the front of the annex but need to wait to do the rest of the pots and the parched buddleia and Jerusalem sage at the front. I have a young mahonia Cabaret there too and it's produced early flower buds but I think they'll go crispy if we don't get wet soon.

 

Good evening all. @Penny_Forthem what a beautiful dog! Do you think he will become a Jinx permanently? We had a dog called Jinx many years ago. He was a corgi and a little love. He used to hear the ice cream van ages before we did and he would sit in the begging position when the van stopped at the end of our drive. He always got a free ice cream. He had one bad habit - he used to roll in anything that smelt revolting - cow pats were his favourite - and come home from walks caked in the stuff. Dad would have to hose him down.
@lizzie27 I hope that the rain doesn't arrive until your builder is finished. We had a bit more today but not enough to make much difference.

 

@Obelix-Vendée, I was staggered to read about the numbers mentioned in your post about summer visitors. That is a huge amount of people. @Busy-Lizzie those are wonderful pictures of Bergerac. Thank you so much for sharing. What a scrumptious meal too!

 

I am preparing to watch Sewing Bee tonight so I will say good night to you all and catch up with you all in the morning.

​

 

All watering now done out the front. It was getting dark and feeling quite cool and there was a large red band in the western sky. Not had one of those for a while, even in all this heat. Doors and windows closed now, another first for several months, as OH was getting upset about huge 3cm bees buzzing in at dusk and then buzzing all round the TV which has ambilights. Most are deep black but some are brown and just buzz off outside again when I turn off all the lights.

Looking forward to Sewing Bee too @Ladybird4. Rasta doggy loved rolling in smellies too. her speciality was wild geese poo. What with that and all the rain making for muddy lanes and fields they both needed hosing down and a good rub dry after walkies in Belgium. Not so much here.

 

Evening everyone. Glad to hear that the lovely Gin/Jinx is settling in.

I love September too, as long as not too rainy. I always take some annual leave in September (I’ve started my 2 weeks off already). I feel you really notice the change in light after a week or two of not being up and out at 6am for work!

Your lunch sounds fantastic @Busy-Lizzie.
My garden looks parched so yours must be really struggling @Obelix-Vendée.

Have a pleasant evening all.

 

Evening all.

A bit of an April-showers day here, so I've been knitting, tidying bedroom cupboards and doing some mending instead of gardening. I'm trying to ignore the incredibly itchy harvest mite bites on my ankles, but it's a struggle!

We went to Bergerac in 1994, so your photos were a lovely reminder from the past, @Busy-Lizzie . We had a holiday involving a stay with our 16-year-old son's penfriend in Amiens, followed by a week in the Dordogne. Very good for all our French, since his parents didn't speak any English...

Best wishes to Jinx. Great name!

 

​

A very good morning everyone. I had a rather broken night last night - it was very warm again despite having my fan on. At least I have nothing planned for today so I will aim for a quiet day after the general watering tasks and a bit of weeding. We have rain forecast for later on so fingers crossed it is a nice heavy downpour. My lips are sealed about your sneaky watering @Obelix-Vendée!

 

Good morning all.

Our rain still hasn't come. Now postponed to Friday. I haven't watered since the weekend as the forecast said rain on Monday.

SM shopping today.

 

Yesterday did not go as planned. Why do I bother to make plans!
I had a phone call from my surgery asking me to go in ASAP. I pointed out I already had an ap. on Thurs., but No, I needed to go in immediately. It was concerning the results of the heart monitor tests.
Brain goes into overdrive! Was I heading for the hospital to have a pacemaker fitted etc. etc.etc.,
I was met by an apologetic Dr. saying there was nothing to worry about, they always say that!
The tests showed I do not have Atrial Fibrillation. Yeah. Brilliant.
After a long conversation, she was shocked the Cardiac Team have not seen me since I came out of the hospital 2 years ago. She is going to check with them to see if I can be taken off some of the meds. I am still taking, or at least reducing the doses, although I am on the minimum doses available. She is going to discuss with the Dr. who tried to increase my blood- thinning tablets to try a different one, I had an allergic reaction to the one he first suggested, she is going to look into my writing a Living Will, which we may be able to complete together!
She wants to reduce the periods when my blood pressure drops and I feel rubbish.
My head was spinning when I left, but what a productive morning.
I think her sympathy may be coloured by having a 90 year old grandmother, still living in her own home, carers twice a day, who wants to die in her own home, etc. Her grandmother has a Living Will which is stuck to her front door as, in law, once anyone steps over the threshold, no matter how long the person may have lain there, they are committed to performing CPR and life saving treatment. There is a scale of treatment so it is important to get advice about the exact and correct terminology used when writing these wills. The Dr. I saw suggested I might be able to complete mine with her, no need to pay extortionate solicitors' fees.
This type of will is not something I have ever heard of before. I understand many people would want everything possible to be done to keep them alive but there are many people who would have an opposite wish. My son, who saw how his father was kept going, has already decided, although only in his late 50s, to draw up a Living Will.

I went to a local SM, bought some cat litter, found a Fish and Chip shop and bought haddock and chips for a late lunch when I got home, exhausted. Watched the cricket then Sewing Bee. Some rubbish, some brilliant ideas, before crashing out in bed.

Have a good day everyone.

 

Goodness me @Goldenlily26, that summons was enough to give anyone a heart attack! Then to get there and be told there was nothing to worry about, I would have been furious. However it sounds, as you say, a productive meeting and hopefully may result in less medication.

I'm happier this morning as the builder had indeed turned up and is busy relaying paving stones even though it is raining. This is earlier than forecast and I think we had a shower overnight which is all good. I noticed yesterday my pear tree's leaves were hanging very limply although the apple tree next to it wasn't. I don't actually mind if either die, the apples and pears haven't been eatable for the last couple of years and it would save us the annual maintenance. The blossom is pretty though.

Hope you enjoy your quiet day @Ladybird4. I slept better last night under the lightweight duvet - did a quick swop after Sis went home! Hope your rain arrives soon as well as Busy-Lizzie's.

 

Good morning. Living wills are important if you want to keep control @Goldenlily26 so it's excellent that the GP you saw yesterday is on the ball about that and all your other meds. I hope she can sort out your BP issues.

Our forecast a week ago was for 5cm of rain on Friday. The following day it had gone to to 3cm so I stopped looking. This morning it's down to 5mm and then, if they are to be believed, wet on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 5cm in total. I shall take each day as it comes and water as I see fit. The bill will be horrendous when it comes but so would replacing all my trees, shrubs and perennials with all the work involved.

We all need a quiet day from time to time @Liriodendron. My harvest mite bites tend to cluster around my rib cage and drive me mad so you have my sympathy.

You too @Ladybird4. Take it easy today. Enjoy your hols @AuntyRach.

I have to be busy - cleaning our bedroom and shower room and baking bacon and egg protein muffins for Possum and an apricot and almond cake or tart for me to take to the garden club committee meeting this evening. T'other pair will indulge in pizzas.

OH is threatening to run round on the mower but the only stuff still standing are daisy weeds and some wild oats that look rather pretty so I shall distract him with other jobs.