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Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
AmbridgesMrsPJune 26, 2024 at 1:49 PM
ReplyDeleteActually Sarnia I didn’t experience it as horrible. I just calmly dealt with it systematically and then wrote that post.
I do consider myself as both cautious and careful, but I did let that slip for a few minutes. But then I had a moment’s reflection and decided against continuing, so all in all the cautious part of me won out. And that teaches me another lesson in that I can feel positive about changing my mind.
I wrote the post as a reminder that we can all be subject to a moment of gullibility.
I won’t do internet banking, partly out of concern such as that experienced this morning, but mostly because I am innumerate and I would not be able to understand enough to check for any abnormalities. I can and do check my bank statements each month, but I feel that is my limit.
Thanks anyway for your sympathetic post.
On another note entirely, I’m annoyed right now.
I had arranged to go to see an old friend in Wantage today.
He is dying and I need to say goodbye, but it’s taken ages to arrange as because it’s a considerable drive I need to go when we have long daylight hours, and he has all the difficulties associated with his health plus still attempting to produce the same artistic output of previous times.
Yesterday, with the heat wave rising, along with the forecast, I emailed and said I wouldn’t dare be stuck in a car if there were holdups on the motorway and so then re arranged for next week.
Bugger me if today has turned out to be overcast with a cool breeze and just pleasantly warm.
Well it is here in Minehead. No heatwave to speak of.
DELETE
ReplyDeleteMiriamJune 26, 2024 at 2:20 PM
That was a wise decision at the time, as is it hot and sunny here, 28C.
DELETE
Sarnia June 26, 2024 at 2:34 PM
No heatwave here either, but then I'm not in a car on a motorway.
DELETE
Sarnia June 26, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Ah, Mrs P, mine was a horrible experience because until the new card came I had no access to my account. Therefore, no Sainsbury's shop, no milk from the milkman, chiropractor and optician's appointment cancelled and no new glasses as I couldn't pay the balance. Son tried to arrange Sainsbury's delivery, but that was cancelled because their system crashed.
Yes I sympathise Sarnia, you must have felt that you had no control for those few days.
DeleteFortunately I withdrew some cash on Sunday, and I don’t need to do any shopping until at least Friday.
MiriamJune 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM
ReplyDeleteWhen I had to wait for a new debit card, which was only lost but 3 days before Christmas one year, I had to use a credit card for everything..
At least I could buy food and festive season necessities.
My new card finally arrived, delayed by Christmas.
DELETE
MiriamJune 26, 2024 at 3:50 PM
A Rant if I may.
I was watching the tennis from Eastbourne. The live match I am watching is now no more, as coverage switches to football.
To continue watching I am having to switch to i-player, which is not loading for some reason.
It's a big Grr from me.
REPLYDELETE
MiriamJune 26, 2024 at 4:03 PM
..and as the football match being shown instead, is Slovakia v Romania. 🤷♀️
Photo from Glyndebourne last weekend, gardens were looking wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFantastic performance of Tosca this evening at the Grange, lovely weather again.
So interesting to see your photo of Glyndebourne, as I have never been. But the building reminds me very much of my school, built in the same era I suspect, but not so much greenery in the gardens. Mostly those large Cedar of Lebanon trees under which we used to play.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo.
ReplyDeleteThink I might clean my shed out today and have a rest from digging out my herbaceous border. Got my crab apple tree planted. Got another tree coming tomorrow that I bought online from the website Roots. Very good reviews so 🤞it arrives ok and is a good specimen. It’s a ginkgo tree but a small columnar one.
Quite enjoying this warm weather as long as I’m digging in the shade under the garden parasol. Just a shame our bedroom faces south and that it’s like a sauna to go to bed in.
Mustn’t grumble.
Oh please do ptby 😂🤣😂 after all we are British!
DeleteI do congratulate you PtbY for deciding to plant a Ginkgo.
DeleteWonderful trees, but they do grow very tall, but I expect you know this.
Good luck with it.
A friend had one planted in his front garden by his mother.
A very small space and within a few years the tree was taller than the terraced house. It eventually had to be felled.
Ginkgos are SO elegant!
DeleteSarnia ✔️✔️
DeleteMISTRAL
ReplyDeleteIm sure we all hope your settling in to your new home.
I have some dates when I could come by coach to near you for the possibility of meeting up. No pressure as these coach trips and destinations in your area come up fairly regularly. And if it’s too soon, then it’s not a problem, you might want to be focusing on getting your new home in order before having days out.
The dates are Wednesday July 24th. Destination DARTINGTON
and Thursday 22nd August Destinations Dawlish and or Teignmouth.
I don’t need to book my ticket for the coach until nearer the dates, so let me know when / if your ready.
Remember my post about the gas main going on fire, a week ago tonight?
ReplyDeleteWell I was lucky as I was reconnected on Monday, but as of today, Friday, so nearly a week on, some homes still have no gas. I so feel for them.
The interesting thing though relates to my change of parliamentary constituency. This is that one prospective parliamentary candidate has been around supporting this area 2x this week.
What a great way to do an election campaign within this now new, and possibly marginal "seat".
Yes I am cynical, but no other candidates have made an appearance.
I am sure the previous MP for my area, would have been very much involved and helping out.
To add I have just seen the final "report" - 2500 homes were affected and the gas had to be slowly re-introduced into 18km of pipes, in the large affected area. Three schools, 3 churches, a large supermarket plus other retail outlets were in this area. All over now but it was a very wide-spread problem.
DeleteWell, that’s a great start to our long awaited French family visit for Mr A’s 80th this week.
ReplyDeleteThey sent me one of those happy “we’re off on holiday” photos from the car on the way to Toulouse Airport. Only when they arrived, the flight had been cancelled, they had to return home with no chance of flights today either.
Apparently something to do with an aborted BA take off at Gatwick which means all the Gatwick bound flights were sent to other airports around the country
Now waiting to here if, and when, they can get here. 😥
I really hope that your family are able to make it Archerfile and that you all have a lovely time.
DeleteAP. They will arrive, as it will be Third Time Lucky.
DeleteYour son will do his utmost to get to visit his Mum + Dad.
Now. What is planned for Mr. AP's birthday and when is it.
The birthday is on Wednesday Miriam, July 3rd. I have booked a table for lunch at a little Italian restaurant in a nearby village which has a great reputation. If the family do get here there will be 7 of us as my daughter has the day off from school.
DeleteThen we shall come back here for a cream tea and Birthday Cake under the pergola in the garden with various friends and neighbours joining us. Keeping fingers very tightly crossed that a) a flight is found and b) it doesn’t rain! 🤞
My reply has gone into the ether.
DeleteTo say again -
Your family will arrive, of that I have no doubt.
What a wonderful celebration is planned for Mr. AP.
They still have time to drive if necessary, be it via ferry of Channel tunnel.
DeleteHad to slam on the brakes when they'd alreadypassed take-off speed for emergency stop. Brakes overheat and melt the tyres. The aircraft can't be moved until everything cools down in case it catches fire. Terrible nuisance for all concerned.
ReplyDeleteAnd if only Gatwick had another runway, the sending of incoming planes all over the country might not have happened. Makes you realise how dependant on air travel the world has become, when a relatively simple incident can cause such problems
DeleteAnyone attempting to build a second runway at Gatwick would likely face armed insurrection from hundreds of local residents (sickles and pitchforks at the very least!)
DeleteYou are right Sarnia, they have been trying to get a second runway for years but face huge opposition from local residents. I suppose you can’t blame them really. We get fed up with disruption from Chinook helicopters flying over us day and night, never mind large jet aircraft!
DeleteAttached as I am to my Island turbo props, the airport as a whole was not my best friend while I was teaching. When FlyBe moved in my exam results suffered; I found myself trying to prepare candidates for aural tests with aircraft passing over the house every 2 1/2 minutes in a 30 minute lesson. 6.30pm - 8pm was their busiest time AND mine.
DeleteOf course, I gave that up long since, but telephone conversation and radio listening are blocked out by aircraft coming in to land, and it breaks up a mobile signal.
Saturday night and I am loving watching Glastonbury!!
ReplyDeleteNot a clue who the artists are, but I am really enjoying it.
Never too old..😆
Oh Archerphile another family holiday hitch, they just keep coming. Thankfully still time for the visit to come to the planned conclusion -I do hope so! Mr A 80 dear me where has time gone! Still a youngster though says Mr R 🤭
ReplyDeleteWeather a generally fine day bit breezy 18c although may feel a degree or two under this. So my MET OFFICE app says so 🤞🏼
AP. How about train to Paris and then Eurostar to Paddington?
ReplyDeleteAnother possibility.
They will arrive, of that I am 100% certain.
Many thanks for the suggestions Miriam.
DeleteThe problem has been partially solved by Son, D.i.L + youngest grandson getting a BA flight to Heathrow tonight where they will have to hire a car ( they were going to use mine). But there were only 3 seats left on the flight so oldest grandson has been left at home. He will travel on his own via an early Wed. morning flight to Heathrow, so son will have to go and pick him up. It will be his first journey travelling on his own so I hope he doesn’t get lost!
All this rearranging and expense has put a bit of a damper on the celebrations but they were determined to be here for Dad/Grandpa’s 80th which is lovely of them.
So they will make it for the birthday boy, and in time.
DeleteWell done all, and have a wonderful family celebration ARCHERPHILE
.??? no posts yesterday!! Archerphile I do hope your advanced family party have arrived safely to be joined by eldest grandson on the big day itself tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWe are busy right now on the medical front Mr R has the most intense rash everywhere except his legs and left foot. Huge red blotches and also raised red around the tum. Saw Dr last Friday and steroid cream given and also strong antihistamine tablets I think a slight improvement is occurring. So quite a time of it with medical cream and then moisturising after a certain time and an extra tablet 🤭 Bottom as always requiring similar treatment. Then meals to get etc but he is such a good patient which is a bonus ⭐️ How are you all? I love to hear all your news as I then feel apart of your lives. They don’t call me nosy for nothing 🤣😂🤣
Hello Lady R please pass on my very good wishes to Mr R. Being not well is an absolute dratted nuisance. I have been commenting less lately as I have had a lot of various appointments to attend, and am still very drained of energy which can apparently be normal even with ministrokes. Also they are still fine tuning the meds as have been having side effects from the Atorvastatin. I cannot fault the care i have been given even though i think the nhs is very understaffed at present.
DeleteNot a lot of news really, except that the rooks are in turmoil today. There has been a rookery down the lane at the Lodge for possibly hundreds of years. People from the city bought it a number of years ago, they stayed for a while then found it too quiet and now it just seems to be used as a very posh holiday home. They had some of the trees near the house cut down when they first came here which upset the rooks, and now since 8am this morning the sound of big saws have been heard ( Emma and Ed perhaps!😉) and clouds of rooks have been flying over us here. We have a couple of nests here in the sycamore trees and I suspect there may be more after this, but we don't have the amount of trees they had in the large grounds of the Lodge. We do have some nice Cornish elms along the hedge that escaped Dutch elm disease.
Wishing Lord R. a speedy recovery. What caused his rash?
DeleteWill just add to that for anyone interested in trees and plant life. My daughter finishes her Open University degree course at the end of August. Her last big project, which she chose with the help of her tutor, is a study of mosses and lichens in a temperate rainforest, a very pretty mainly oak and beech woodland area at Golitha Falls, about an hour from us.
DeleteShe has to mark out different areas about 6 x 6 feet, including by ash trees with dieback, and photograph and record all the mosses and lichens in each area to see how biodiverse and healthy the woodland is, and to find out how ash dieback affects the plant life in its vicinity. Someone else in her tutor group up in Yorkshire is doing a study of meadowsweet, an old herbal plant that like willow was used as a painkiller because of aspirin like compounds. Apparently, a bit like the Spanish bluebells, there is a Spanish meadowsweet that is crowding out our native variety.
We all drove down there on Sunday afternoon so she could begin taking photos and get an overview of the plant life there. I am not driving again yet but went along for the ride, and took a fold up chair for when the others walked a lot further than me. They say trees give off compounds that are beneficial for us, and it certainly was lovely just resting under the trees. A couple of other woodlands heard about the project and have asked if she would assess their wood as well, so when she has finished the course and when it begins to quieten down in the autumn at the holiday park, she might do them as well. It would be interesting to do the study again in 10 years time to see if climate change makes a difference.
Hope everyone who has health problems at present gets better soon.
Ooh, that sounds fascinating, Janice. I once assisted Mr S in a seashore transect when we were students and learned such a lot about my own shoreline.
DeleteI love trees and there are at least 20 small specimens in my garden. I would have loved meadowsweet such as grows on the banks of the streams in tiny Guernsey valleys, but I haven't the right setting and anyway it would grow too big.
I have planted it under an apple tree gambling on our coastal rainfall keeping it wet enough, but a stream would be much better. I really like the fragrance. It was apparently Elizabeth the firsts favourite strewing herb.
DeleteNo news from me to tell also, but always look in.
ReplyDeleteMy OZ family are enjoying a fabulous + idyllic holiday in Fiji and an Yasawa island resort. It is just palm trees, blue skies, sun, white sands and total peace.
The whole family are green with envy!!
Sounds so exotic but it is only a 3hr plane journey for them. It is shorter than we do, when fly to Greece, Turkey, Egypt etc.
DeleteARCHERPHILE.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day tomorrow with your family with you, to celebrate the birthday of Mr. ARCHERPHILE.
Enjoy all. 🤗
Happy 80th birthday for tomorrow Mr A. Hope you have a lovely day.🎂
ReplyDeleteI hope that all goes well for your celebrations tomorrow Archerfile and that everyone makes it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for good wishes, loved your posts Janice newsy and informative and so kind of you to reply to me when you are in recovery yourself. When we used to stay at a friends caravan in Durdle Door there were millions of rooks in the trees - noisy blighters - loved the ref to Emma and Ed 🤣
ReplyDeleteRegarding your statin I started on that particular one but had really bad muscle pain so it was changed to Rosuvastatin and that has been fine so it is often just a case of finding the one that suits.(Miriam nothing conclusive regaling Mr A rash so far!)
Thank you for the info about your statin Lady R. The doc has gradually reduced my dose from 80mg to 40mg and this week to 20mg to see if things improve, but if that doesn't work I shall ask him about changing it to another one. A statin that sounds like roses has got to be good!
DeleteMR A IS 80 TODAY 🤗
ReplyDeleteWith his loved ones gathered round happiness will surely abound
Throughout his years the happiness and tears there has been Mrs A his true love and stay
More memories to make so relax and enjoy being today’s SPECIAL birthday boy 🎂🥂
CONGRATULATIONS!
Wishing Mr Archerphile a very happy 80th birthday. 🎉🍰🍾
ReplyDeleteHope you have a lovely day.
Take it easy Janice in your recovery.
Hope the Archerphile gathering goes eve better than hoped.
ReplyDeleteAlso sending best wishes to MrR, skin rashes can appear really quickly and then take ages to recover as the body has to repair the damage.
Janice, I am glad to hear that you are getting out and about, don’t push yourself too hard and let others help.
Yesterday would have been my Mum’s 90th birthday, I was less upset than I expected.
Wishing a perfect summers day 80th to Mr ARCHERPHILE with his family gathered around him today.
ReplyDeleteAnd keep going until you have found the right statin JANICE.
Wishing you the best recovery.
I did an epic 270 mile round drive to my dying friend yesterday. At the end of the day he said he will make it till Christmas !
I’m lost for words Mrs P!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a star MrsP. Hope that you have had a good rest today.
ReplyDeleteI hope that all went well in the end for Mr Archerfile's birthday celebrations and that the weather was better than we've had.
I did sleep until one o’clock this afternoon !
DeleteThank you all so much for your birthday wishes for Mr A. He, and I, greatly appreciate your kind words and interest.
ReplyDeleteLast minute hitch with elder grandson James. He was taken to Toulouse airport by his aunt to fly here but passport control wouldn’t let him travel because the French authorities needed a special form filled in by his parents giving him permission to travel overseas on his own ! They had never heard of this new law, so poor James had to go back home again. The forms have now been filled in online today and *hopefully* he will be able to travel here tomorrow.
But the Italian lunch went very well, a lovely little restaurant we’ve never visited before. Super food, great attention from the staff and a special pudding with candle and HappyBirthday playing on the hifi system. We shall certainly visit again, and it was very reasonably priced.
Then back here for a real Cornish cream tea and Birthday cake. We’ve had a wonderful day and are just sorry James missed out on all the treats. That’s French bureaucracy for you!
Don't get me started on French bureaucracy Archerfile, I'll be here all day!
DeleteLady R…….so very sorry to hear about your poor husband, he really is suffering at the moment and so are you - such a responsibility for you looking after him. We both hope he improves very soon and you can have a rest from your nursing when he is better. Mr A still waiting for dermatology apt - it’s almost a year now and his lumps and bumps are getting worse but even a ‘expedite soonest’ letter from the GP has made no difference.
ReplyDeleteMRS P
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that I haven't replied earlier to your message on 27/6. My internet was cut off, Vodaphone have been charging me for old and new connection, when I queried the astronomical biil they then disconnected the wrong line! I will never use them again once my contract ends in January, it took me 7 hours over two days to sort it out.
Anyway, yes, I would love to meet you, Dartington on 24th sounds perfect. Is that the village or Dartington Hall? I will drive as it s only 7 miles away, so whichever is great. really looking forward to seeing you.
Oh good to hear from you Mistral, but very sorry to hear about your phone and broadband. Sometimes these things seem to go really badly and the customer is left feeling bereft for being so completely helpless in the hands of ‘others ‘. I’m glad it is now sorted.
DeleteI will book my ticket for DARTINGTON and get more information at the same time. I did think it must be fairly close for you. So me on a coach and you driving a short distance means little hassle for both of us.
I’m looking forward to meeting you too, and I hope your better than me at organising your new space.
I would think probably not!!
DeleteHello again MISTRAL
DeleteI’ve spent considerable time today trying to find exactly where the coach is going, having discovered that DARTINGTON Crystal is actually at Torrington, nowhere near you.
However I’ve now ascertained that the coach trip is to The Cider Press Centre which is in the middle of the village of DARTINGTON.
It is a themed shopping / gift type place, and not what I had envisaged at all. BUT it is part of the village and the ‘ proper’ DARTINGTON is a 15 minute walk uphill ( slowly I hope ) and there we will find the Dartington Hall and gardens and medieval parts of the site.
The name of the coach company is Ridlers and the car park that it will arrive at is the first car park on the right as you enter the Cider Press Complex.
If all this information is acceptable to you I will go ahead and book my seat.
If you are doubtful at all, the alternative destination is Dartmouth, which is the second option on that day. If you would rather Dartmouth I am easy about either, and the ticket is the same for either destination.
I will wait for your reply before I book and then I will also have a time of arrival.
Hope this is all acceptable to you. MrsP.
So it’s polling day, just been and cast our votes.
ReplyDeleteFor son visiting from France he will have voted three times by Sunday!
Once, in France last Sunday
Today he managed to arrange a vote in his old Bristol constituency by proxy ( old Uni friend)
Third time on Sunday, in the second round of the French election.
I never realised how interested he was in government or how assiduous he would be in sorting out his voting rights.
It's a bit of an anticlimax for us as we have postal votes which were posted a while ago. For the first time in the 48 years that we have been living here the result is not a foregone conclusion.
DeleteI voted at about 10.30am. The polling station, church hall for me, was quiet. When the page was found with my name on and then ruled off, I was the 1st one voting. Still it was quite early.
DeleteI nearly always vote, as is it my privilege to do so. If you don't vote, then you can't whinge, complain nor moan!
I had a minor argument with a work colleague once, who was sounding off about something. When I asked this person did they vote - answer was no..
You all know about the gas supply problem I had 10days ago 😴
ReplyDeleteA form has come through to claim compensation. This really doesn't bother me, but anything due will be greatfully received. Mine won't be much as I was in the 1st phase to be reconnected, but it should cover the cost of the full tank of petrol put into the car yesterday!!
I have recently bought a 500ml bottle of extra virgin olive oil, the cost of which was eye-watering.
I cannot believe the cost of things these days.
The dilemma is:- do I continue buying these at great cost, find inferior and cheaper products which will not be the same, or just do without.
The things I will not substitute are my coffee, tomato sauce and wash-up liquid, which have to be the branded ones!!
Keep with the premium products Miriam unless you really need to cut back on your pennies!
DeleteIf you are interested in the health benefits of olive oil Miriam you should buy the cold pressed ones. Heat treating it reduces the amount of polyphenols which have antioxidant properties which benefit cardiovascular and bone health and reduce cancer risk.
DeleteCC, I buy Sainsbury's Extra Virgin, which is described as being obtained directly from olives and only by mechanical means. Is this what you mean by cold-pressed?
DeleteI get the 1L size, which is now £8 something, but not being the most enthusiastic of cooks I only use about 2 teaspoons a day, so 1L lasts forever.
It grieves me that it should be Spanish rather than Greek, but Kalamata looked to be about twice the price for half the amount.
Yes, cold pressed is by mechanical means Sarnia.
DeleteThank you. I got that one right by accident, as it's also the cheapest!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHas Mrs P seen this yet? I suggest the post is deleted as soon as she has - while we're all friends in here, it is an open public forum, and not the best place to reveal your phone number.
DeleteI’ve just seen it OwiaS.
DeleteI intend to call and will most definitely ask for its removal pronto !
Mission already accomplished.
DeleteDeleted! I must say what a lovely morning I have had, talking live to TWO bloggers, thank you both so much for calling, it has been a pleasure :) :)
DeleteI do wish we hadn’t been pushed into a new constituency!
ReplyDeleteHad we not been shifted I should still be represented by the party I have supported for years and in which my daughter still lives
As it is, our new constituency has changed allegiance and we are now represented by the last party I would vote for. Not a happy bunny today. Think I shall have to move a few miles west, nearer daughter.
Complete reverse here. I've spent so many years of my life being represented by people I didn't vote for, making decisions I wanted no part in, there have been times when I felt it really wasn't worth the effort. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.
DeleteA little island of red in a sea of blue!
DeleteYou refer to Portsmouth, obviously. 😶
DeleteAccording to the BBC map, the area round The Triangle is also red.
DeleteI see the Isle of Wight is split down the middle - folk living on the constituency boundary have been marooned. 😉
Oh, I knew what you meant!
DeleteWhat upsets me about our change of party is that all the effort put into various projects around the constituency by our previous MP, the causes she fought for and the new projects she encouraged will probably be ditched by the ‘other’ party who will be representing us now.
ReplyDeleteI think there has never been more than one Labour MP in Cornwall in my lifetime. It is an incredible change, and helped by the fact our fishermen were betrayed after Brexit. The EU factory boats weren't stopped from coming into the 12 mile coastal zone. Our government weakly capitulated when the EU wouldn't agree to abide by the rules. Well of course the EU didn't want to give up coming here to what are very rich fishing grounds, and they have overfished their own zones. Our navy should have been patrolling the 12 mile boundary if that was what it would take. Broken promises left a lot of people angry i think.
ReplyDeleteAgriculture and Fishing both got a raw deal
DeleteAlthough the Gen. Election overall result and a new governing party, was as expected, I do wonder if the many constituency boundary changes have made a significant difference?
ReplyDeleteIt's strange for me, in that a short brisk walk of about 6mins, takes me into a different parliamentary constituency, with a different MP.
DeleteWimbledon moans 🎾
ReplyDeletea) I keep having to change channels or switch to i-player so to continue watching a match (Thanks to the football).
b) The highly paid commentators from across the pond, who witter on + on in a meaningless and pointless way, even talking over the umpire when giving scores.
I am still enjoying it though.
Poor MrNuts was a bit peeved this evening. He’d set the football to record & really didn’t want to hear the result while we were out, however he was thwarted by triumphant shots from people clustered around mobiles & then confirmation by a throwaway comment during the speeches at the end of the performance as tonight was the last of the Grange Festival for this year. Me, I’m more interested in the results than the game & would be perfectly happy if they went straight to penalty shoot-outs, at least I understand the rules of that bit.
ReplyDeleteMemories of “The Likely Lads” taking a bet they could go all day without hearing the result of a particular match even hiding in a church at one point, all turned out futile if I remember correctly and that was way way before the days of the Internet and mobile phones with same. Annoying for Mr Nuts though 😡 A penalty win - wow wasn’t too sure that would be the result but pleased for Gareth Southgate such a gentleman and never tries to pass the buck….
DeleteAbsolutely !!
DeleteWell that’s it. All that drama & delay over family visit. Now they are gone and the house is as quiet as the grave. But they managed to visit lots of interesting places while here; the Eden Project in Cornwall, Bristol, Salisbury Cathedral, Army Flying Museum plus a huge shop at M &S in Basingstoke, so they crammed lots into their few days and Mr A’s birthday was properly celebrated.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great few days you have had with your wonderful family all together.
DeleteMr AP and you, must have so enjoyed this special birthday event.
How proud you must now feel, to have made it such a memorable event.
Miriam Xxx
It's such a precious time when all the family get together. I'm so pleased that you were able to celebrate Mr A's birthday and that everyone had a good time. Time for a rest now I expect.
DeleteOur middle daughter visited this weekend with 10 Yr old grandson to pick up some plants that I had for her. 5yr old granddaughter had an invitation to her best friend's birthday party so stayed at home with her dad. Grandson brought his electric guitar to practise, we were surprised at how he has come on since we last heard him. He and Mr CC were bonding over rock music and grandson has now been introduced to some new bands and guitarists.
I took advantage of my new membership and went to Dartington Hall gardens. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat’s good. You will be able to show me the best bits.
DeleteMy daughter and family have been on holiday in Sardinia ( I think ) and there flight home was cancelled due to volcanic ash. They have had to travel by coach to Palermo and find some accommodation before flying back to the UK on Monday.
Travel disruption seems to be rife at the moment.
It's so stressful trying to sort out alternative arrangements especially when there are probably lots of others in the same situation. Hope they get back quickly. i didnt know there was volcanic activity in Italy, although it is on-going in Iceland I think.
DeleteJust had a text to say they are in a taxi from Gatwick to Bath.
DeleteI cannot imagine the extra financial burden on top of holiday costs.
I know nothing of this sort of thing, and wonder if insurance will pay.
Were they due back at Gatwick, Mrs P, or is that part of the diversion?
DeleteNo Sarnia, Heathrow. Gatwick was all they could get, or be given. I’ve only had the briefest of texts, not the full story.
DeleteThey were in Sicily not Sardinia - Mount Etna being the problem. It started erupting last week.
DeletePity that, Mrs P. If the original destination had been more local they might have been able to claim compensation for the taxi.
DeletePS I understand that volcanic ash does very strange things to aircraft.
DeleteI had a lovely meet up with Big Sis and Bro in Law yesterday. BIL had a pacemaker put in 3 weeks ago now, but not sure yet if this will be temporary or permanent (he is 75yrs).
ReplyDeleteWhat so annoyed me, is my Big Sis, and I hate to have to say this, is that she is just doing exactly what she wants to do which is mainly playing golf 3x a week, and moaning about how tired she is, as so busy with other activities also.
I did not rise to her bait about how the garden needed work, as I have to maintain mine as a single person.
I did enjoy my time with them though with gorgeous coffee + chocolate biscuits.
To add - I have today, sent off my age related driving licence renewal form, with my old pink, paper one and photo included.
🫰there won't be any problems, re my early stage glaucoma, as declared thus for the 1st time, but it is not affecting my vision at all yet.
Big Sis is only 71yrs. We are very close in age, so much so we were often mistaken for twins when kids. Mum dressed us the same as it was cheaper to buy material and make two dresses the same, at the same time and from the same pattern.
DeleteGorgeous coffee and chocolate biscuits 😋 yes well worth staying schtum Miriam 😃
DeleteTakes awhile to realise one is not in the 55 yr old’s club anymore - other than in ones own head 🫢
I am just a bit cross with Sis, in that she is not prepared to give up any of her "activities" to support her hubbie. He could not drive for 10days after his procedure, but he was left home alone, whilst she just carried on as she planned and wanted to do. It would not have been drastic to have cancelled something, and so to go out together for a nice lunch somewhere, and/or a cinema/theatre visit.
DeleteI obviously am very different.
I do though have a major niggle as have seen it before - she has a "friend with benefits"!!
As said, having known this before, I am recognising the same signs again, sadly.
I’m with you Miriam I willingly do all that I can for Mr R. Do you think B I L has now or in the past had any suspicions… not that I should judge I have not been an angel all my life 🤭 but now all in the mists of time!
DeleteRe aircraft delays. We found out that the family’s cancelled flight from Toulouse to Bristol last week was due to 2 aircraft being struck by lightening on their way into Heathrow. Other incoming flights then had to be diverted to other airports around the country, including Bristol which messed up their schedule and expected arrivals were cancelled to make way for the Heathrow diversions.
ReplyDeleteOn the way home on Sunday, their BA flight back to Toulouse left 3 hours late and they didn’t reach home until 3am, everyone exhausted.
It seems the norm these days that air travel is becoming unreliable and frustrating
I've always found air travel a tedious process which has made our decision not to fly for environmental reasons, unless we really need to, a very easy one. I'm certainly glad that we don't have to go to Singapore to visit our daughter now.
ReplyDeleteSince Covid the travel bug has left me. Also having our Mabel who is now 15 and too old for kennels, I am quite happy to stay at home and garden when the weather allows.
ReplyDeleteSo Gareth and team you did it ⚽️ ⭐️👏🏻 ⚽️ one more to go 🤞🏼
ReplyDeleteFirst half was good. Second half poor until the goal.
DeleteI think Spain will win on Sunday. They have more va va voom.
Spain will be a force to reckon with we agree ptby ⚽️
DeleteI shall be so relieved on Monday when Wimbledon and football will have finished and we can get back to normal programming on TV
ReplyDelete…..Apart, of course, for the Cricket which I shall be watching at 7pm on BBC2! 😉
Normal until the Olympics start Archerfile.
DeleteOh lor’ ! I’d forgotten about the Olympics. But at least there is a bit more variety with all the different sports that are covered.
DeleteWhat “cost of living crisis” - 50.000 fans off to Germany for the final! Just to be in the Country itself I guess while the final is being played unlikely to be (kosher) available tickets for sale. Even so travel, food and drink and maybe accommodation? Or am I just being a grumpy old woman. We will watch from behind the sofa🫢⚽️😂
ReplyDeleteNews for LadyR , others scroll on by, if preferred
ReplyDeleteMr A finally got appt to see dermatologist this morning (at 2 days notice)
Diagnosis of the lump on back of neck is a basal cell carcinoma which needs to be removed urgently before it grows any more - he’ll be sent an appt in 8 -10 weeks.
Pity they didn’t see him over a year ago when he was first referred by the GP!
While he was there she examined all the dozens of red lumps, scars and bumps on his arms, originally caused by hogweed, 40 years ago! But years of exposure to sun (gardening, gliding), have exacerbated them. Once stung by hogweed any exposure to sun will cause problems, even years later, but we didn’t know that. So she zapped all the scars with some electronic pen thingy and hopes that will get rid of them at long last. Only sleeved shirts for Mr A from now on!
Managed a trip to Avenue Nurseries for lunch yesterday first outing in 3 weeks - some fresh air 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteMr R still slowly battling his nerve rash syndrome now has 180mg antihistamine tablets and another tube of steroid cream it is very draining it has to be said. A week today since he saw his own Dr at her invitation and he had seen another a few days before who initiated the first meds. I wrote to the surgery expressing our thanks and quickly received a very grateful reply. Next Friday will be 2 weeks and if necessary we have to report back…..
I hope that Mr A and Mr R get all the treatment they need and start to feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you CC, that’s very kind of you. My husband is thinking of getting a season ticket to the hospital car park, he has been up there so often lately! The latest theory about his ‘heart’ problem is that it’s not his heart at all but something called pulmonary hypertension which causes symptoms very similar to mine. So we have turned into a couple of short-breathed, constantly tired, oldies. Lovely! 👨🏼🦳 👵🏼 ‼️
DeleteThinking of you all with the current burdens you have to bear. I've come to believe that fortitude is a vastly underrated quality.
DeleteMy thoughts are with Mr + Mrs AP, equally with Lord + Lady R. I am thinking of you and my thoughts are with you all.🤗🤗❤️
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting, which is so very much minor in comparison, for laser treatment for an eye complication on one eye after ohecataract op. 5 yrs ago now.
I have been waiting for nearly a year now, but one very hazy eye vision is so insignificant in the scheme of things.
PS My lovely man cut my hedges back today. As usual a wonderful job and well worth £90. This might sound costly, but he totally chopped back two very overgrown hedges, and took all the waste away. The garden looks so much better and lighter. It is spurring me on to get back to work on it again.
To add, whether a Wimbledon or Football fan or both, enjoy the final matches on this sporting weekend.
I though am miffed no Coronation Street tonight as the Lionesses are playing, but I do like them 🏴 🦁
Thank you Miriam, CC & Sarnia for you kind wishes they have lifted our spirits 🥰
DeleteMiriam we will be watching all the Finals. I would like Alcaraz to win on Sunday and have 🤞🏼for Gareth Southgate and his team on Sunday cheered on no doubt by William and maybe even George, although if a school day Monday probably not. However have Private schools broken up for Summer!? Then again I don’t think they are allowed to fly together anyway if not now it will be very soon be the case.
Archerphile I don’t know how I missed your earlier post regarding Mr A but we were both interested in your update and thank you so much for posting. It is odd how many similar conditions Mr A and Mr R have or have had. The Actinic Keratosis and weirdly also the basal cell carcinoma Mr R’s at the side of his nose (some years back now) when he finally got to his appointment the nice lady consultant asked if he had been on holiday as she had expected and had needed to see him sooner when he said no she was very cross that the appointment system had not been executed as requested. Thankfully all was well. Also now both of them advised long sleeved shirts only (and in Mr R’s case long trousers only also ie no shorts) Mr A ‘s hogweed scenario sounds awful too, such a lot going on let’s hope the saying that “Things can only get better” is a true one 🙏🏼🫢 sending our very best to you both!
ReplyDeleteLady and Mr R - 🥰 ♥️
DeleteOn a frivolous note:
ReplyDeleteBehold - the ROYAL Golden Guernsey Goat!🐐🐐🐐
I liked the two at Heligan, Sarnia. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.
DeleteVery pretty.
The king has just upgraded them to royalty! They used to graze on L'Ancresse common. We went there on a Sunday school picnic in the 1950s and one of them ate the minister's bathing towel while he was in the sea.
DeleteYes I saw the announcement.
DeleteI recently saw some at Jersey Zoo for the first time, beautiful animals.
DeleteMy favourite of all animals seen in a lovely natural zoo environment, has to be the Red Panda.
DeleteRemember Chester Zoo is just a 15min drive away for me. It is a great place to visit but it also does so much to conserve animals in their nearest and best possible home environment. There are also breeding projects, plus research as to animal welfare and diseases.
DeleteSadly, despite their help transporting meds etc to Dublin Zoo as an emergency, two young elephants died as to the herpes virus which affects Asian elephants both in zoos and in the wild.
Chester Zoo saved a young elephant struck down with this and are now forefront in trying to produce a vaccine.
I used to watch the Chester Zoo series on TV. I remember when they lost first Nandita ans then Aayu. I believe the next infected baby survived, but I can't remember the name.
DeleteIndali. She is still very healthy and the only one who has survived this virus. The newest young elephant Riva, now 4yrs, is a full sister to her, so it is 🫰
DeleteI seem to remember that Nandita was very special to the keepers because she was the first baby born to the herd for some time. They were all very upset and the herd was visibly grieving. One young male even developed behavioural difficulties.
DeleteI find it fascinating that a recent study is showing that elephants have individual names for each other.
DeleteNow can Spain win a second big and major, sporting event on this Sunday - I hope not 🏴 ⚽️
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. 😥
DeleteI am hoping for no more mention of football or Trump in every single news summary….but I expect I shall be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteSurely there are other things going on in the world?
Strictly come dancing is another contender AP professionals dropping like flies it seems for their cruelty to the celebs 🤔 One who I believe has been on Love Island at some point popped out of the woodwork to say so but not during or immediately after the series she
Deletewas in, I wonder if her story fee (s) are going to charity that would be a good call.
During the series all celebs say to camera “oh I have the best teacher he / she is wonderful I am having just the best time “ so which is it! Certainly Rose, Annabelle and Angela Rippon appeared to genuinely enjoy the experience!
I'm tempted to say Pity he missed, but that would have made Mr T even more of a victim and a martyr than he already thinks he is.
DeleteI was thinking the same thing at lunchtime Archerfile but, like you, I'll probably be disappointed. It was lovely to get away from it all to Teggs Nose and enjoy the lovely views from up there after having coffee and pastries in the cafe.
DeleteOh Sarnia 🫢🤣
DeleteMiriam I had a similar thought today with regards to the blog photo header 😂
I am having a slight hysterical giggle, as to KP's wonderful header - a Quintessential Summers Day.
ReplyDeleteWith the warnings out for torrential rain + possible storms overnight + into tomorrow, I hope this will become true again + soon.
Pusscat at vets this morning for vaccination and annual MOT. When I adopted her 2 years ago now, I knew there was a heart problem. It was not my usual vet today, who gave 🐈⬛ a good going over and I mentioned the heart situation. The vet did a much further + deeper listen, but still couldn't hear any heart murmur...🤷♀️
Just hoping the weather will be OK on Wednesday when we are at the Tatton Flower Show. It's the 25th anniversary this year but, sadly, the last one there for 3 years.
DeleteI went to the 1st Tatton Flower Show - it doesn't seem 25yrs though..🙀
DeleteHow times fly by and lives have changed in so many ways..
Best not dwell on this! 🙂
Quire so Miriam
DeleteJust having a lunchtime cup of coffee and thought as it is quiet here I would add a bit more about the displaced rooks. The lodge down the road has been bought by new people, the asking price was 2 and a 1/4 million so I wonder what new wealthy neighbours we have and if it will just be an upmarket holiday home again. I am tempted to practise my still a little bit wobbly walking down the lane to peep over the gate! It must have been them that had some, but not all, of the rooks trees cut down. Some of the rooks seem to be taking up residence in the sycamore trees on the hedge opposite the side of our track. I have for some time left bird seed on the ground for the hedgesparrows and rooks, as well as filling the bird feeders.They seem to know my time mid morning of coming out and line up in the trees waiting. Occasionally I find the odd stick/gift left which apparently rooks will do, but the strangest "gift" I have found left was not long ago and it just looked like a weathered old bit of cardboard but when I opened it up it was a wedding invitation dated 1937! Where on earth it came from I don't know, and I didn't recognize any of the names. There is an old half derelict farmhouse near us so I am wondering if it could have come from there. I should imagine the wedding invite has long outlasted the people it was given to, and of the young couple who were getting married. Something poignant about that really.
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting event Janice.
DeleteCould you pass the invitation - whatever state it might be in - to your local museum. You could accompany the piece with your account of finding it, which would also bring attention to your displaced rooks.
You describe your walking as still somewhat wobbly, I do hope you still have your physio appointments.
Keep up the good work of recovery.
Janice.
DeleteWhat an amazing find. It should be researched by some-one with the know how to do this via the various sites so available. I am thinking about Ancestry sites, local census info. as to who lived where + when, and registry sites as to marriage.
I have listened to a podcast called The Wedding Detectives. This was done by two person's who found + bought old photos from various sales. They had dates/names and enough info. to then research family history and if successful, passed these photos onto family many generations later.
It would be lovely if similar could happen, in that this invite ended up with hopefully a son or daughter, or a grand-child.
Thanks Mrs P. When I had another look at it just now the date was actually August 29th 1939, not 1937, and it was for a wedding at a church in Penzance between a Sylvia Williams and a Thomas Swan, but the outside was so worn if there had been the names of the recipients they were long ago gone. It would have been very pretty at the time as there were embossed swallows on it. It must have been just before the war started.
DeleteOur nearest museum sadly closed a few years back. A great pity as it was full of byegones, farming and otherwise, of times gone by, but it wasn't in a place where it got many visitors.
Just seen your message Miriam, so thank you to you too.
DeleteAre yes….. Miriam’s suggestion. Well done that woman.
DeleteThat was what was in the back of my mind…but I wasn’t able to bring it to the front of my mind. . The wedding Detectives.
Thank you Miriam !
That was a good idea Janice. You could get in touch with the programme, they might well be interested.
Janice, how exciting! Your news is always so very interesting - but then, in the days when I could get that far I always found Cornwall such an interesting place.
Delete...plus, of course, news processing ded by a lady with so many lively interests. So sorry that the walking is still wobbly.
DeleteAnother idea is to upload this invite onto an ancestry site and ask if anyone knows who these are.
DeleteWhen my younger sister was researching our family history, she used one of these sites. One day she saw the image of a photo, found when a family were clearing a home out after a death, asking does any one recognise this person.
It was a photo of our great grandfather, from 1900's in his uniform as a poliice sergeant. The family were enthralled and lived in East Anhlia where his wife my great grandmother came from
It was never known why this photo was tucked away in this person's drawer, as no family connection could be determined, bit there might have been one.
To add, younger sister still has an original photo of this, now well over 100yrs old and many others from this time. They are kept safely as are family heirlooms.
DeleteFurther to this topic:-
ReplyDeleteThe Wedding Detective series of 6 half hour episodes, is still available of Sounds. I found these fascinating, as to what was found starting with old wedding photos.
As always some episodes are far better than others.
We were really lucky with the weather at Tatton and had a lovely day. I'm now feeling sad that it will not be happening again until 2027
ReplyDeleteCheshire Cheese - did you visit the town centre during your visit? When I went into the town on Tuesday and Wednesday the shops and restaurants were working hard on their displays. I would like them to decorate the streets and businesses in the intervening years before the RHS returns in 2027. Hopefully the weather will continue to be good for the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteNo, we didn't visit the town centre Esscee, just drove through it.
DeleteAt last KP's header is true again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious day with continuous sunshine.
My washing dried in 2 hours, a record.
I did gardening this morning, but it is far too hot even now, to go out + carry on.
When it cools off watering is needed for the containers etc. as these dry out so quickly.
Oh well, storms forecast for tomorrow, again.
I hope all are well.
It's actually 4.00pm and 26C and that's inside with no direct sun, and all windows + doors open.
DeleteLots of watering to do here as well Miriam. Like you I managed a bit in the garden but too hot to do any after lunch. We'll be having salady stuff for our evening meal.
DeleteI couldn't believe how my window box and hanging basket plants had wilted so quickly. These have had a good drenching so should survive OK.
DeleteNow to eat - a salad, sort of meal also with some lovely crackers (a packet left over from last Christmas. Lidl's best!
I have just found the quickest way to cool off - bare feet on my kitchen floor tiles. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder though why my kitchen is cold in the winter, as the ceramic tiles are laid on a solid concrete floor/base.
Ditto Miriam! 🙂😫
DeleteWell on the hottest day of the year yesterday I barrowed and stacked 3 bulk bags of logs ready for winter. I was dripping! Also harvested my potatoes. Now I’ve got to find somewhere to cure them in the dark and coolish. Our downstairs shower room might be the place. Might have to put it out of bounds for a week. There’s more to this veg growing than I thought. Still got onions curing hung over the dog shower. Honestly I think it might just be easier to go to Lidl and buy them. I didn’t know you had to cure veg. Monty Don has never mentioned this on gardeners world.
ReplyDeleteOff to a friends this morning to watch GW from Tatton Park. Did you see any of the GW team there CC.?
Yes, we saw Adam Frost and Arit Anderson from a distance. We tend to keep away from the crowded areas when they are filming and go back when can get a better look at the gardens.
DeleteWhat are you curing them from?
ReplyDeleteHaha.
DeleteJust popping in to recommend a series of 3 plays I really enjoyed on Radio 4 this week.
ReplyDeleteRadio 4 (not extra) Tues, Wed and Thurs - “Almonds and Raisins”
The story of a Jewish family trying to settle in Manchester in the early 1900s having escaped from the pogrom in Russia. It is a delightful and warming story of this orthodox Jewish family trying to integrate with their neighbours. I realise I enjoyed it because the accents and words used reminded me of my childhood but I think anyone would enjoy the plays.
I have these subscribed and will listen to at a later date.
DeleteGlad you found it authentic and memorable.
I heard it being promoted and did think it would be interesting.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation AP and I will try to listen.
I've just finished downloading, sorting and filing all 214 of my Tatton Flower Show photos, I need a rest before I tackle Mr CCs, my brain will only take so much in one go!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful day you must have had and in good weather.
DeleteInteresting my gorgeous Lily is late flowering. The corms were bought at Tatton Flower Show but many years ago.
They are always in flower at the time of the show, except for this year.
The buds are there so 🫰I will have flowers soon.
Aha, CC, so you saw Adam Frost and Arit Anderson. But when I watched Gardeners' World, did I see you???
DeleteNo, we didn't feature on Gardener's World Sarnia, thankfully.
DeleteI have a lovely dark red hydrangea that I bought at Tatton a couple of years ago which is in full flower now Miriam.
DeleteI have seen myself in the background of a TV programme twice now.
DeleteThe first was a Tatton one when watched a chat with Monty Don.
The second was by the Blue Peter Garden at Salford Quays, when watched a recording relating to a couple who were going to stop half way round, to get married.
I was just a blurry background image both times, but knew it was me!
Missed a vital point, as it was a couple running the London Marathon and their wedding.
DeleteInteresting!
DeleteI've just listened to World at One on Radio 4. Two thirds of the programme was devoted to the USA and it ended with a woman asking asparagus who was going to be the next US president and the next leader of the Conservatives! I'm going to have to review my listening habits.
ReplyDeleteAsparagus with powers of divination? Fascinating.
ReplyDelete😆 I spotted that too, I love predictive text & spell check!
DeleteThe asparagus lady in question was apparently a guest on a bbc 2 radio programme last week and was asked will it be Biden or Trump and she sad neither it will be a lady! We shall see 🤔
DeleteHm. The US keyboard warriors seem to think she has even less chance of beating Trump than Biden had - especially not now he obviously has God on his side. Whet other reason could the Good Lord have had for saving him from an assassin's bullet?
Delete(Thinks....to experience being beaten by a woman? Just saying)
Apparently the asparagus lady is an "asparamancer", I could think of another word but it wouldn't be printable. According to her Michelle Obama is going to be the next US president and Kemi Badenoch the leader of the Conservative Party. I think it was meant to be a bit of fun at the end of the programme but this grumpy old woman was not amused.
DeleteBecause if he had died, his supporters would have expected immediate canonisation.
DeleteToo right!
DeleteAs far as our household is concerned the next American president should be “anyone but Trump”
ReplyDeleteI am not a feminist, but if that ‘anyone’ just happens to be a woman, all the better.
I have listened over the last couple of days to "Almonds + Raisins", which AP mentioned which I already had downloaded.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed it.
Glad to hear that you liked it Miriam. Some of the attitudes and especially the fear of anti-Semitism was very like that of my parents. I loved hearing the old speech patterns and Yiddish words, it brought childhood back for me, though fortunately my parents were relatively well off and not living hand to mouth like those in the play.
DeleteI learnt and understood so much more, as to something I was, and probably still am, unaware of.
DeleteIn my very wide and varied life, I can honestly say that at no time have I ever known, nor come across, anyone of the Jewish faith. This is surprising to me.
DeleteApart from you of course 🤗 🤗
One of my friends from my university days is Jewish. Having been brought up1 a Catholic and having no faith by the time I got to university, it was interesting to learn about their religion and way of life. My friend lived with her parents at university and her mum was really good to me. She is still alive at 100 years old, living in her own home and still managing well.
DeleteI did my teacher training in North London, within reach of Hampstead and Folders Green. A fair number of my compatriots were Jewish, especially the mature students, who would commute from home. We visited Orthodox homes where the separate washing up bowls were the norm and supported a girl whose parents had forbidden her relationship with someone outside the faith.
DeleteA boy in my education group taught me to play 'Hava Nagila' on his guitar. The steel strings blistered my fingers and then cut them. My own guitars have always had nylon strings!
That would be Golders Green. My phone doesn't know London very well.
DeleteNew thread opened
ReplyDelete