Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Just booked OH in for his spring Covid booster next week. It looks like the NHS booking site has just gone live today, for appointments next week. He had an email from the GP surgery inviting him to book an appointment there, but the first slots there aren’t until mid May, they appear to be doing a weekly clinic on a Saturday. He can go to the vaccination centre at the nearby farm shop instead, much sooner and the parking is better!

 

Hello all.

I saw Wim's Red hydrangea on GW, @Butterfly6. Now I want it!

My car is at the garage being serviced and having its puncture mended and the winter tyres changed for summer ones.

The electrician has just been to programme the towel rail. I couldn't do it since we came back, I'd left it on the frost setting when we were away and somehow it ha locked itself. He said it was very complicated to programme. I find it almost impossible.

 

@Ladybird4
We only had one quote. Annoyingly, the second person didn't arrive, so we're getting an alternative next week.
We were happy with the the one, but being old school, I always want a comparison.

My lawn aerator arrived today. One has to assemble it, and that is not so simple.

Plumber is still here, and in doing work, has CREATED a leak!! He can stay until he fixes it.

 

We need a new front door. I dread the quotes, @Fourmerkland @Butterfly6
@Ladybird4 did you get your boiler sorted?
I have killed things in the garden today - I hoed all the little weed seedlings. Sorry, not sorry.
Got a load of wild flower seeds to sow behind the bottom shed tomorrow.
Lamb shepherd's pie for supper with steamed savoy cabbage (not ours)

 

Evening everybody, I nearly said snap @Penny_Forthem re shepherds pie then realised that last night I couldn't be bothered so we just had cold lamb with chips and baked beans. Not terribly healthy but once in a while, I'm not bovvered. I must also sow some wild flower seeds I was given at Xmas but am thinking I might start them off in pots or is that not a good idea?

I can't understand why front and back doors are so very expensive. I had wanted a new back door (now an inside door) when we had a new porch done a few years ago but nearly had a heart attack when I looked at the quote.

I've spent the day cutting down some rampant climbers (I never learn!) but haven't finished the ivy one so that's tomorrow's job if it stays dry. Today turned out to be really nice, warmer and sunnier than yesterday. I even whipped off my thermal top in the secluded part of the garden I was working in and was warm enough in just a thinnish jumper.

Right, we're really hungry now as we've been fasting all day so I'd better go to cook dinner, scrambled egg (sort of) with smoked salmon on toast - really yummy, filling with lots of protein.
No wine unfortunately.

 

Our dogs have a new squeaky toy.
Out of interest, I turned the Merlin bird app on.
Who'd a thunk it?
In our own living room?

 

Good evening everyone. Well you know that mysterious 'goings on' in the lane I mentioned earlier? Well it may be just a coincidence but my VM services went down so I had no Broadband, TV or Landline. Deep joy. When I got through on my mobile Miss AI in that dreadful monotone informed me that they were aware of the service outage and that I should be sorted by 21:03. As it turns out it wasn't as long as that thank goodness. The MGO are still causing havoc in the Lane. I managed to do all my seedling sorting and potted up a Maranta I had rooted in a pint glass. I have cleared the way for meter man tomorrow - apparently they are going to call me to give me a rough estimate of when they will arrive. They tell me it will take about 90 minutes to complete the task and my electricity will be off during that time. I have this premonition that something will go wrong.
@Penny_Forthem my boiler is still not fixed I have no idea why the guys I contacted on Check a trade to do the job never got back in touch with me. Maybe I did something wrong. After tomorrow's fun and games I am going to ring someone in our little local directory and see if that produces any results. I share your frustrations @Fourmerkland and you are right about getting a few quotes before making any decisions.
@lizzie27 I love scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. I remember eating that round at my sis' where we had all gathered to watch England beat Australia in the rugby world cup in 2003. Who could forget that winning drop goal by Jonny Wilkinson? That was the first time I had eaten that yummy combination and have enjoyed it frequently since.

 

@Busy-Lizzie, I hope your car breezed through its MOT and now you will be sorted for nice weather driving.
@lizzie27 I meant to say re your wild flower seed sowing I wouldn't bother growing them in pots - just broadcast them where you want them to grow and give the plot a very light rake over.

 

Time for me to sign out for the day. Good night everyone and I'll catch up on any new news in the morning.

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Really excited to find that the seeds I planted on Friday in my new propagator are starting to show! What fun! Today I moved the yellow chrysanthemums from the hanging basket into the wall mounted trough type basket. I stuck them in the hanging basket for a quick bit of colour I the autumn, and didn’t think they would survive the winter. They’ve sprung into life over the last couple of weeks, so they can have some better space in the bigger container. The new hanging one now has a couple of red petunias in it, plus two corms of training begonias. I must read up and check that I’ve put them in the right way up! OH has been stripping down the chain saw, which wouldn’t start this year. Seems to be enjoying himself!

 

Thanks @Ladybird4. I know that's the usual advice but the problem is that I'd like to plant them individually in our 'orchard' (3 trees) amongst the rough grass that is there. I've already got primroses, tulip, fritillaries and some cyclamen. I thought sowing them in small pots would make that easier? Alternatively I could take up some of the grass to expose bare soil? There isn't a lot of room either side of the curvy short mown path.

Hope you sleep better.

We must have posted as the same time. Sounds like you're going to have fun @Ergates. I meant to say that I have decided not to have the Spring Covid booster this time. I've already had seven jabs and have also had Covid so hopefully have built up some immunity. I'm still taking steroids for Polymyalgia which is an auto-immune disease. Perhaps I'm over cautious.

 

@Ladybird4 it wasn't an MOT, just the annual service. MOT (Controle Technique) is every 2 years in France. My car's was in December, it's got out of sync.

The electrician has just been to programme the heated towel rail. I couldn't do it since we came back, I'd left it on the frost setting when we were away and somehow it had locked itself. He said it was very complicated to programme. I find it almost impossible. There are 7 programmes.

 

Good morning all. Forecast looks good so hoping for an hour in the garden before work. @Busy-Lizzie why on earth does a towel rail need 7 settings? I think some stuff is just complicated for the sake of it and invariably goes wrong, some washing machines have the most unnecessary programmes in my opinion I actually only ever use about 3-4 of the 12-15 on offer. Maybe that’s just me.
Hope all goes smoothly today @Ladybird4

 

@lizzie27 i have bought small punnets of “wildflower mixed” from the garden centre so I am sure sowing in pots would work

 

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Hello all. Ooops sorry for my blooper @Busy-Lizzie. Why I thought it was an MOT I have no idea. I'm a twonk! I agree with @Debs64 about the towel rail. I'm pleased mine is connected to the central heating system and doesn't need thinking about. @lizzie27, having read about where you would like the wildflowers to go then I definitely think sowing in pots will be a better idea as small 'plug type' plants will establish better in your 'orchard'.
I got a text late yesterday advising me that meter man is coming this afternoon. Thanks @Debs64! @Ergates I ALWAYS get excited when I see those little seed leaves just peeking through the compost - I'm so easily pleased.