Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Morning all.
Took a paracetamol and slept surprisingly well. Back is a lot better today and we're able to go for lunch, I think.
@Obelix-Vendée you made me laugh about Alex thing. I want the jacket in rust/brown (not modelled by Alex thing!). The blue one would also go well with jeans.
Round the Horne - genius. I find anything with a 'comedy' tag these days spectacularly unfunny, cringeworthy, even. I'm such a grump!
Looks like unremitting rain for the next week, then an 'Indian summer'.

 

Unfortunately, where I live is 'very'! countrified. No tarmac road, or pavements, a cul de sac of three field entrances. I have right of access over an area of land at the back of my cottage, shared use by all three cottages, to a section of land which belongs to me and where I park my car. No fences, railings or walls etc. I have to walk across the front garden areas of cottages 1 and 2 to reach my front door. This is very common down here in Cornwall, I think it comes from one family living in adjoining cottages so everything was shared.
Life in general depends on us all respecting each other's space and land. The chap who lives in No 1, it is his fiancee's dogs who are pooping, has nothing to do with her dogs or cat. He fancies himself as Lord of the Manor because he owns two of the fields and the access lane.
He recently told me he would be needing £800.00 from me towards filling the pot holes at the end of the lane as all three cottage owners are supposed to share the cost of the maintenance of the lane. I am waiting for him to tell me he is ready to begin the work, I have already been waiting 7 years! Not surprising that I keep my dealings with him to the absolute minimum.
I did in fact pick up the messes and left them by the entrance to No 1.

I took a deep breath and headed for Lidl's. Did a big shop of greenery for salads and fruit, and I treated myself to some fresh figs. Yum. They will keep my tubes sorted!
I stopped off at a log burner sales shop, which I had forgotten about, and bought some door cleaner which has helped a lot, it has made it much easier to clean the glass, after 3 applications, but it still needs work on it.
I managed to bring the shopping down into the house in the wheelbarrow but still have a car full of logs etc. My son arrives sometime today, I feel I should be leaping about cleaning, cooking etc but I do not have the energy so I am going to take it easy. They will have to take me as they find me.
The weather mizzled all day and is not much better today.
I tried to avoid watching anything about Trump. I watched Masterchef, I have no idea who will win. Strictly is starting soon. I don't recognise many of this years competitors.

I had a phone call from my surgery, nothing to worry about. They wanted me to make an app. to see a Dr. to discuss the meds. I am taking, the results of the heart monitor test and the results of the MRI scan I have just had done. No rush, no worry, no apps. until late October.
Do not die yet deary, we will get to you, eventually.

I am jealous of everyone still enjoying mild sunny weather. Make the most of it.

 

Good morning all.

I found those times for The Sewing Bee, thank you @Obelix-Vendée, and I have put both on to record, just in case!

We are going to the SM. I have to buy ingredients for lemon tart and chocolate roulade which I will be making to take to daughter 1, who is also called Possum, when we go to lunch with them on Sunday.

Logs are being delivered, 6 cubic metres, this afternoon. Forecast is hot for today and tomorrow, thunderstorms on Saturday. We will have to stack them by Saturday. Sunny at the moment.

 

Sunny again and all blue so no rain in sight. Nevertheless the forecast has a column counting accumulated rain and it's up a fraction of a mm each day despite no rain or storms in the forecast. Bizarre. 26C expected today and tomorrow but cloudy and cooler on Saturday. We'll see.

Weekly shop done with an added raid on GammeVert for veggie plugs. It was too hot to sow winter brassicas in time so we've been and bought plugs of broccoli, Savoy, Pointy cabbage, beetroot and some strawberries plus a verbena for the herb bed and a bunch of leeks. Whilst there I also succumbed to a pink gaura and a pennisetum Black Beauty which is a bit nesh so I might grow in a pot on the front step for winter as it's full south and no naughty north winds. Then I can divide it in spring and plant it out in the open.

That's me busy this pm then, planting out all the babies. Last days of shorts and strappy tops I fear.

I have a navy blue and green houdstooth jacket I wear with navy trousers @Penny_Forthem and I have 2 green skirts but rarely wear those. I made the same pattern in a black and white h'tooth with red lining that needs a new frock or trousers. Like you I find modern comedy very unfunny but I do enjoy Have I Got News For You and QI.

You made parkin didn't you @Ladybird4 ? No need to freeze it as it will mature and become richer. I always make mine several days if not a week before it's to be eaten.

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone. Stay well.

 

What a waste of a day! I shouldn't say that, because we had a pleasant lunch out, although at the next table was a group of septuagenarian women talking about their medical problems, one of whom was really too graphic! She liked the sound of her own voice and kept referring to the organ recital as a way of talking about her innards. She was very boring, but I think she thought she was witty!
Cotton Traders was very disappointing; no jackets and the clothes were frumpy and dowdy. Neither of us saw anything we liked.
The GC is rather tatty and I don't think we'll bother to go again.

 

Hi all, I'm pleased it was remarkably warm and sunny today so I was able to mooch around the garden, doing odd jobs as I saw them. Divided and replanted a Carex Evergold in various places together with some of last year's daffodil bulbs which I found lurking in the porch.

I had thought it would be chilly and/or very wet so had defrosted some large chicken legs this morning for a quick mid week roast dinner. I'm quite looking forward to it!

That's a great shame @Penny_Forthem when you'd driven some distance. Is it worth ordering the jacket online in two sizes and then returning one? I wonder what it's made off, I must have a look. We went to a Blue Diamond GC yesterday and I do like their clothes, mainly casual ones and I don't remember seeing any jackets. Woolovers is another favourite, a bit pricier but well made especially if you like real wool clothes , unfortunately I can't wear wool.

Shared access can be a nightmare and not something I'd ever enter into. Hope your neighbours settle into country life @Goldenlily26 and don't cause further problems.

 

An early start to take the car for its service. Despite leaving plenty of time, I got stuck in two big traffic jams. As far as I can see, every major road into Exeter has been dug up for gas pipeline repairs, and all the alternatives are equally clogged up. Very frustrating, but luckily only six minutes late. Really nice independent garage, specialising in Audi, VW, much cheaper than the main dealer, and not a snooty receptionist or a man in a suit in sight! Once the car is done, they phone immediately, unlike the main dealer, who used to want the car delivered at the crack of Dawn, and then hang onto it till closing time, however long the work actually took.
It’s had its service and passed its MOT, big sigh of relief!
I took the bus to the shops for a leisurely mooch around. Very disappointing, if you don’t like beige, cream or black clothes. I saw nothing to tempt me at all, and came back with a couple of bottles of shower wash! When the garage rang before lunch time, I wasn’t disappointed to abandon the shopping trip and head home. Even TKMaxx failed to get me enthusiastic. Maybe I’ve just got to admit I don’t actually need any new clothing!

 

Good evening all. Hair done and dusted and I'm pleased with the results. Had a nice catch up with my Bestie and wouldn't you know it would rain just as I was leaving to get back home! @Obelix-Vendée the cake I was wondering about was not the parkin but the gluten free orange and poppy seed loaf I mentioned the other day. I made it yesterday for the meeting that never was! Took it to Bestie's, we had a taster with our coffee and I left it with her. I do make my parkin several days in advance too.
Glad your back is a little easier @Penny_Forthem

 

Signing out now. Hope you all have lovely evenings. Catch you all tomorrow.

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It is so dark this morning that I cannot even tell what it is like outside. It is dry - I know that because Cricket is dry! Today is the only day this week that I do not have to go out anywhere so fingers crossed I can get into the garden - there is a monumental amount of tidying up to do. Interesting item about tattoos on the Beeb this morning. I went through a phase several years ago where I regularly wore temporary tattoos when going out but I know I wouldn't like anything permanent.

 

I was woken at 7am by Cosmos tickling my nose with his whiskers. Breakfast please. There was a faint orange glow on the horizon and a sliver of waning moon hanging above it. Set to stay sunny all day and be warm this pm so I shall spend my morning doing patch club homework and the pm planting strawberries and checking my fruit trees.

I loathe tattoos @Ladybird4. Even the most artistic look dreadful to me and I always imagine them when the skin and flesh they're on lose their youthful tone and it all sags and wrinkles.

Good news about the car @Ergates but shame about the shopping. Have to say it's rare these days for me find something worth taking off its hanger to try on. All I've bought this year are an Irish jumper on sale late last winter and a thin white cardigan for late summer evenings. Made a few frocks tho plus a short sleeved summer jacket and a blouse.

 

I only buy trousers from Cotton Traders, my recent order to Damart is an experiment, I have never used them before, my sister used to buy all of her thermal undies from them.
I watched the Athletics while making a loaf of milk bread and doing a pile of washing up. I take no credit for making my own bread, I use a bread maker. I only take the mix to the dough setting, then finish it by hand. I do not like the hole left in the bottom of a loaf when it is cooked in the bread maker.
Having worried about Poppy not eating very much I decided to treat her to some of the most expensive individual Gourmet meals. She cleared the whole dish in one sitting! Whilst in Lidl I noticed they sell their own brand of individular trays so bought a couple for Poppy to try. Same thing. She cleared the lot. I have no idea what the difference is, I am a sucker for my pets so I will continue giving her the trays until she decides she is bored with them! I have thought for a long time the main brands change the recipes in their products every so often because Poppy would suddenly refuse to eat them and I would have to try something else. Oddly, she refuses to eat any with fish in them.

I watched Masterchef semi-final. What a comeback for the chef, Rosenthall. I thought he looked unwell and could barely understand what he was saying to begin with, as the program progressed his speech improved and he looked more relaxed. I understand some of the medications used to treat bi-polar can have devastating effects on people, hopefully, now that he has been diagnosed, they will be able to find a combination to suit him.
I cannot believe how much better I feel since my BP tablet dose has been reduced to a child's dose

I am going out with my family for coffee this morning. I have no idea what other plans they have for the rest of the day.
The weather is close, overcast and damp. Not very exciting.
Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning. Quite a pleasant day again. We're under a warning for rain for the weekend.
All is quiet in the house and I'm grappling with quotes for dog insurance. Bryn's is due beg. Oct and has shot up in price (I know you 'get what you pay for', but yikes...). I have chosen one which is cheaper for him and Gin, for less per month than I currently pay for Bryn. Of course, if they're ill, we will pay more. C'est la vie.
Not seen any M'chef this series.
HIGNFY should return for its Autumn run soon, @Obelix-Vendée

 

Good morning all.

I hate tattoos too.

I went to a new hairdresser this morning, in a local village. She was recommended to me. I usually have my haircut in Norfolk as I have had several disastrous haircuts in France so I was a bit nervous but she has done just what I wanted. She turned out to be Scottish, used to live in the same town as my brother in Scotland!

Off to stack logs, did 10 barrowloads last night but there are masses more to stack and it will be hot this afternoon.

 

Good morning all!

I'm waiting for the bus to take me on the first stage of my journey home after looking after my granddaughters. A good time was had by all - the girls were helpful and not argumentative, for once! The bus is due in 10 mins, but this is Ireland, so I'm expecting it to be late. Or early...

We never had insurance for our cats, but accepted that we needed an earmarked "pot" of savings to cover annual costs plus contingencies. But I guess it's more important for dogs... our NDN in Yorks had a cat savaged by a pair of dogs being walked unrestrained past the house, and the dogs' insurance covered the £1500 vet's bills.