Life outside Ambridge
Life in Ambridge
Following todays news
Popular posts from this blog
Lif in Ambridge
Archer Family tree up to 2000, (pre Helen, Pip & Tom’s off-spring)
Life in Ambridge
Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
ReplyDeleteJaniceFebruary 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day ( today back to rain and a storm) and my son drove us to Watergate Bay with a picnic because there had been recent sightings of the humpbacked whales. For the last couple of years they have been appearing off the coast this time of year ( climate change has apparently been making our coastal waters warmer). The car parks of the beaches on the way down were jam packed and the National Trust was asking no more people to come to their car park by Bedruthan Steps. We ended up along the cliff path at Watergate having a picnic with hordes of other people with binoculars and telescopes at the ready. It was all very jolly but not a whale to be seen! A boat was out in the bay with sonar, and they thought the herring shoals had gone now ( perhaps all eaten!) and that the whales would be moving on now to their traditional Caribbean feeding and breeding? grounds. I did wonder though if both herrings and whales might have been put off by the sonar. Max had a nice play on the beach, with me having to find his little yellow car that he buried in the sand, in full of view of me but expecting me to look everywhere before eventually acting very surprised to find it. They are priceless at that age.
I’m sure i read that one had been seen locally out in the channel Janice.
DeleteThere have been a number of sightings here since late January, and we went on Sunday because they had been spotted between Newquay and Padstow just a few days ago, but I think we were maybe too late to see them.
DeleteMiriam - just read your post.
ReplyDeleteAm due for checkup at opticians but have put it off for a while now.
Thank you for your prompt.
I will make an appointment.
Ps - it’s not a silly suggestion.
Sarnia
ReplyDeleteHas now moved to a care home.
She has a ground floor room with a patio and leading to the garden I believe.
I’ve looked up the home on Google Earth and it is surrounded by trees in a pleasant residential area.
She seems to be very relieved to have a diagnosis that is enabling her to relax and accept the inevitable within a foreseeable time frame.
At the moment her emails are focused and coherent, although I am aware that this may well change over time.
She is exhausted and has asked me to give this information on her behalf.
Her son has now returned to Wales but will be taking on the task of organising paperwork and disposal of assets.
Her daughter has come over from NZ and is organising the home side of things.
She is feeling very proud of her children for stepping up to the mark.
Should any of our bloggers wish to know here is the address.
Rosemary Parrot
Oak Lodge Care Home
Fremantle Common Road
Bitterne
Southampton
SO19 7NG
MrsP on behalf of Sarnia
Mrs P.
DeleteThanks for the update as to Sarnia. This is so appreciated and means a lot.
Thanks.
Thank you from me also Mrs P, so good to know Sarnia is at peace
Deletein her new and lovely surroundings and that her family are so caring and supportive sadly not always the case.
Did Sarnia attend the Waterloo meet up all those years ago is that why you are able to be in contact.
Agree with your sentiments LadyR.
DeleteNo Sarnia did not attend either of the two meet-ups.
However her sister in law lives in a small town very close to Stroud, and through that connection I was able to sneakily give her my telephone number.
And nobody noticed !
We met up over a new years lunch some years ago now and we talk sometimes on the phone and email each other from time to time.
Ewehurst park near Basingstoke, a re wilding Estate have seen a mother and baby Beaver - report on BBC News.
ReplyDeleteThought the Hampshire contingent might be interested.
Not settled yet, unfortunately. The supplier couldn't deliver the oxygen and set it up until tomorrow morning, so I'm still here till tomorrow afternoon.
ReplyDeleteOoops - sorry for not checking before posting.
DeleteI hope that the oxygen is delivered as planned and that you are settled and comfortable by this evening Sarnia. Thank you for keeping us updated in spite of feeling so tired.
DeleteHopefully, Sarnia has been able to make the move this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHer new abode will be so much more comfy + relaxed.
She has indeed, Miriam, beautifully prepared by daughter and partner, who have just left.
DeleteI'm exhausted.
Thank you Lan Jan, Janice, Lady R and Mistral for your lovely cards.
DeleteI'm in room 17.
So glad you received them Sarnia and to know that you are now going to cared for in such a lovely place. Even when you will not feel like posting we will all still be keeping in touch 🥰
Delete👍
DeleteI hope you will be comfortable Sarnia. Lovely that your daughter can be there to help from New Zealand, not forgetting all the help your son has been too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the card, OWiaS and the positive vibes and feedback contained therein.
ReplyDeleteThank you also Mrs P for the beautiful flowers, which arrived at lunchtime. My, how you all spoil me!
💖💖
Delete👍
DeleteI think it’s rather lovely that you are being spoiled Sarnia, albeit rather late in life.
DeleteEveryone is rallying round.
Enjoy it while you are able to do so.
Sarnia, I hope you are comfy, and I also hope that Southampton is blessed with a heatwave, right now, so that you can get outside and enjoy the garden, perhaps have your delicious meals
ReplyDeleteoutdoors. It's time to get spoilt rotten.
Firstly Sarnia - it sounds as if you have found a lovely place, I hope you are looked after very well, can enjoy the garden as things come into bloom and will be fed like a King (or rather, Queen) You deserve to be looked after and spoilt after all the years that you were the one doing the looking after. I send love and a virtual hug. 🤗
ReplyDeleteSecondly, Mr AP - at long last, he had a telephone consultation with the cardiac surgeon at Southampton Hospital where he went through a multitude of tests and investigations last Autumn.
It seems that he has the same condition as me - heart failure, but with added pulmonary hypertension. Like for me, there is no cure, but management with various drugs (9 different ones in my case)
I think he was very disappointed to be told there is no operation that can put things right, like when he had his bypass op years ago. We are both feeing pretty down and need to have more of those conversations that he hates about staying or going!
Such a shame Mr AP did not want to make that probable move a couple of years ago but there many of us are guilty of such procrastinations be it moving, wills, LPOA etc at such times there is always tomorrow. Thinking of you both 💕how will your issues affect your gardening, maybe a gardener for the tough bits and enjoy the lighter jobs and sitting and enjoying it!
DeleteMaybe you could try saying to him, and it is admittedly a bit harsh, that if you don't move to somewhere easier to live in and manage now then he may leave it too late and then the only possible move will be to a Home, whereas he might be able to stay at home longer in a more convenient place. If later in life you need support/care workers it helps them too if the house is easier to work in. A bungalow with walk in wet room/ shower would be ideal, but my guess is that bungalows might be more expensive than in Cornwall. He must be very emotionally attached to your present home, maybe hoping one of your children or grandchildren will live there one day, and if that is so I know the feeling and sympathise.
DeleteAP - have you ever enlisted the help of your children in this problem ?
DeleteIf they were to talk to him firmly he might listen to them rather than just shutting you down, which I suspect is what he does.
Of course you may feel that it’s inappropriate to bring them onboard regarding this subject, but at the end of the day, if anything were to happen to you, THEY would be the ones having to sort out his life for him.
I think it likely that if ‘ anything ‘ were to happen to HIM, you would, in consort with your children sort out a solution for yourself.
I wish you luck !
And how is the situation with your grandson at Winchester and the prospect of a place at Oxford ?
There is another way of course.
DeleteYou could just take control into your own hands and get an estate agent in to value the house and then put it up for sale.
Get property details sent to you and simply put them in front of him.
It’s an idea……
But I doubt you would do it !
AP That's a shock for you both, which will take time to process.
DeleteMay I say something?
Try to have an honest talk, whenever that might be, with your family as to want they think is best for you both.
AP. I've just realised that I've just said similar to Mrs P.
DeleteIgnore my post.
Katy, Daughter of Ev, has got me watching The Chase again.
ReplyDeleteTonight's was good - a team of 3 beat the chaser. Prize pot, £45,000!
Replying to you all with your kind suggestions about what to do:-
ReplyDeleteYes our children are very much on board with the idea of downsizing and often tell their father what we should be doing - and offering to help with all the paperwork and the physical move.
We could decide to stay but be prepared to pay for indoor and outdoor help, which I would insist on.
Our lovely garden (that was my pride and joy) is going to rack and ruin and it really upsets me to see it declining so a proper gardener would be very important.
I have been looking at bungalows for sale in Hampshire and they range between 500,000 - 600,000 for something that would suit us.
Today we have had another shock - rain is not draining away from our roof and flooding the garden behind our kitchen. Apparently the Soak away it should drain into has collapsed and will have to be dug out and new pipes laid….. at an estimate of £4,500 pounds - and would involve demolishing our green house and garden shed.
I am feeling devastated.
But - the *good* news is that grandson Griff has been offered a place at Wadham College, Oxford to read for a Masters in Civil Engineering! He just has to get his 3 A*s. 🤞🏼
That is brilliant news about Griff. You must be very proud.
DeleteThe price of bungalows shocked me. Down here there is a very nice 3 bedroom one with garage and parking space and a nice but smallish garden and a lovely conservatory that is a sun trap for £360,000. I know it well because an older friend lived all her adult life there, and it was manageable even into her very late 80's. She was a churchwarden and had the conservatory built because she could sit there with her tea and look across to the church.
Well done Griff 👏
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the problems with your soak away Archerfile, you didn't need that coming on top of all your other news. I do hope that you find a suitable solution to the problems that you are doing experiencing.
I don't know where that "doing" in the last sentence came from!
DeleteArcherphile which area of Hampshire are you interested in? Not that any of it is likely to be less expensive I fear! As you are considering downsizing what would that mean in terms of rooms and garden? Of course most bungalows are expensive because of the amount of land the actual building requires. I do hope between you all a solution to your housing dilemma is sorted sooner than later and thank goodness you will have lots of help and support on hand.
ReplyDeleteSuper news regarding your grandsons achievement 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
What great news about Griff and his offer at Oxford. What an achievement. That offer is there as he's suitable and will get in.
ReplyDeleteThe price of bungalows is horrendous. I saw one with a For Sale board when going to hairdressers the other day. This is in an area I know well, but was horrified when looking it up on Right-move that it was under offer after just two days. It was £K450 for 3 bedrooms but it needed so much work. It was a probate sale and was stuck in a different era. and needed refurbishing.
ARCHERPHILE
DeleteI’ve been thinking about expensive bungalows around Hampshire.
Have you ever turned your thoughts to ground floor flats ?
A flat of course would be leasehold not freehold.
You might, along with your family members automatically think NO NO NO can’t possibly buy leasehold, waste of money. Many people do have that mindset, but if you could consider it you might find a property at a very affordable price allowing you to invest what you don’t need to spend on buying the property itself, and which allows for any ground rent and service charges.
As an exercise I’ve looked in the last half hour at flats in Basingstoke, as I believe that is one of the towns that you are currently near to.
There are of course many many retirement flats and blocks, but there are one or two properties that are stand alone and with their own gardens.
Just putting the suggestion out there for you to consider.
Once again, I must thank everyone for their ideas and advice. The part of Hampshire we would be looking in for a bungalow initially is North Hampshire, so as not to be too far away from daughter and friends. So that means villages to the west or south of Basingstoke. Not really interested in being near the coast, New Milton say, where they are plentiful and a little bit cheaper perhaps.
DeleteYou are right Mrs P, we would not consider leasehold at this stage - won’t go into reasons now, but involves family experience.
My other thought is to look for one of those lovely retirement villages which are becoming popular. One with beautiful maintained gardens and social facilities. A bungalow or apartment (with access to outdoors very important) which we would buy rather than rent. We might have to adapt to being in a different part of the country perhaps but not too far away for family to visit. I saw one in South Devon which looked really lovely and each home owner could have their own little patch of garden in a kitchen garden with all the rest being looked after by staff. So lots of thinking to do, but we can’t go to market until the wretched drainage problem is solved anyway.
Happy smile here. I've just brought my bedding in from outside. It's bone dry and so fresh.
ReplyDeleteNow to iron it 😕
Same here Miriam, apart from the ironing
DeleteI don’t iron either, tho’ I actually enjoy ironing.
DeleteI shake everything thoroughly before line pegging carefully only attaching pegs to seams and fold carefully then hand press and finish on radiators.
Perfect !
One lot on the line overnight and in late this afternoon, another on the line overnight at the moment and will be finishing off tomorrow evening.
I much prefer ironed bedding, but then I have hotel quality Egyptian cotton flat sheets. The chore is so worth it though..
DeleteArcherfile, a friend of ours bought an apartment in a retirement village after being widowed as both her children and their families live abroad. She downsized from a five bedroomed detached house to a two bedroom ground floor apartment with her own patio in the garden. It was a big change but she loves it.
ReplyDeleteIncluded in the purchase was £1,000 worth of help from a lady who works for a company called Senior Movers, which is a countrywide organisation. She was very grateful for the help having no family nearby.
Breakthrough!! A heart to heart this afternoon had us both admitting we can’t cope much longer & will have to move. A retirement village was agreeable to MrA , especially if it is one of those that help with selling of present home. So your post above CC is very encouraging and timely. Thank you
ReplyDeleteArcherphile….finally. Strike while the iron is hot. Get researching straight away.
ReplyDeleteLanjan still can’t post on the blog. In fact yesterday she said she couldn’t get onto it to even read it. Now she’s lost her emails and the ability to FaceTime. She’s a nightmare!!!
She sends good wishes to all that are ill and says to let everyone know that she has recovered well from her second cataract operation.
Very glad to hear that PtbY. Poor LanJan does seem to have technical problems, it must be very frustrating for her. Can’t stop to chat though, have to start researching!
DeleteGood Monday morning ARCHERPHILE
DeleteI wish you the very best in your research and well done in your perseverance in this matter to have finally reached this point.
I’ve had a brief look out of interest - into R villages in Hampshire myself this morning. They do all seem to be very large.
My limited experience is in the area around Stroud where there was one large village in Painswick, where local understanding was that residents were very happy there, and of a very small village just outside Nailsworth.
That one was without all the bells and whistles and seemed far more intimate.
Mr AP with his background of flying club social community might feel that a larger village with all the social benefits attached could suit him. Think about what YOU want in the future too.
You have a huge task in front of you, and I would urge you to take your time and visit as many different environments as possible.
And I’m sure your wider family will be delighted about your breakthrough and give as much help as possible.
Good luck….. MrsP
Well put Mrs P and I also wish you well with your search AP and Mr AP as well of course.
DeleteLook forward to hearing of your progress and views on visited properties 🤗
Thank you so much MrsP and Lady R. Your encouragement over the last few years has been keeping me going and everyone in our blog has been so understanding. So now the search begins, and deciding what to do with this cottage. I will try not to keep boring everyone with details but might seek advice/ opinions on areas we are unfamiliar with.
ReplyDeleteAP
DeleteDoes ‘ deciding what to do with this cottage ‘ mean that one of your options is to keep the property within the family without selling it ?
No reason to ask other than curiosity !
I am myself thinking about this possibility, but will need to take advice on the ramifications.
Although I suppose I won’t need to look too far for that advice since my daughters career has been in property and still is to all intents and purpose.
AP. Well done on making a decision. I'm sure in your area there'll be lots of the type of properties you're now focusing on, to find and look at, and hopefully at the price you want to pay.
DeleteGood Luck, but don't rush into anything until you both are sure + agree.
Do what I always do when making a big decision - a Pro's + Con's list, but this doesn't always work as I've often gone with my heart, not my head!
However, that has never failed me, well just yet! 😃
This talk of moving leads onto my niece in OZ. She was made redundant from her highly-paid job a few years ago now. She does have a job she loves and still in hat designing, but at a reduced salary (she is the main income provider).
ReplyDeleteAs such, although they can cover all house-hold expenses, there isn't much left in the pot at the end of the month. This is worrying them, so have made the decision to sell-up and move to somewhere more affordable. Their home is quite unique and they have completely re-vamped it whilst living there. All the photos are done, the video done, the first open day booked in for Saturday, and now today there is a cyclone heading their way. This is coming off the Coral Sea and it's expected to hit them on Thursday!
They are dreading any damage esp. as there is a large natural, nature area some of which is on their property, with the majority adjacent to it.
Interestingly it is on the market without a price, which apparently is quite common..🤷♀️
They won't be moving far, as the boys will still be going to the same school.
Apparantly all the beaches which aren't far away, have been closed due to high surf, or as we call it, rough sea + waves. 🌊
DeleteOZ just aren't used to this!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou mentioned heart over head Miriam. We've decided to replace my VW Polo with an electric car. I would like one the same size because it's easy to park. I have test driven one that fits the bill which was OK but had a test drive today in another, which is bigger. My head says the smaller one but my heart says the larger one which I really liked a lot more!
ReplyDeleteWe bought a Renault Zoe a year ago, on the advice of a friend who also has one. OMiaS fell in love with the make 30 seconds into the test drive!
DeleteMind you, our previous car was a Ka, aks Hairdryer on Wheels - I seriously doubt it had any rear suspension, I certainly wouldn't recommend travelling in the back seats!
I have a Renault Captur, which I love. I was trading in a Clio, supposedly like for like, but I made an impulse buy to the next range up. I've never regretted it.
DeleteReply to Mrs P. at 2.38 yesterday
ReplyDeleteYes, that’s it exactly. We are having a meeting with daughter and son in law on Friday to discuss the possibilities. I doubt they would want to move here themselves, though it would be a similar distance to their jobs. (And plenty of room for their beloved chickens). But there is also the possibility for eldest grandson who loves gardening, or even renting the cottage out for a few years until one of the grandchildren wants it. However we may have to sell to finance a new place in this area.
Is that your grandson Griff? Or do you have another older one.
DeleteI have a friend who moved to Finland where she had lived before. She was renting a place here but was there long enough to create a wonderful garden. Once she had decided to have one last adventure in life at 82 , she then set about moving heaven and earth to find a tenant who liked gardening and would take care of her precious shrubs etc. Some smaller ones she somehow dug up and decided here was the best place for them. I just hope they don't die on me!
On the subject of gardening I have changed my photo to one of a recent addition to the garden. Max saw a picture of a waterwheel mill , and I found a little jsolar powered one. The sound of trickling water as the wheel turns is very nice.
Eldest grandson is Max 26, teaching humanities (Geog + history) at the school in Basingstoke where his mum is the librarian. Next comes Rosie, 23, teaching English in Leamington Spa, the younger grandson is Griff, who you know about.
DeleteThen there are the 2 French grandsons, 17 & 13. So 4 grandsons but only 1 granddaughter.
Your last comment may well be the case AP. Any particular preference if able to move anywhere in the Hampshire area…
ReplyDeleteQuite like Alton, Lady R!
DeleteAP Are you prepared to look further afield to get what you really want?
DeleteThe Jane Austen Regency week sounds fun.
DeleteLots of building going on in Alton so a good possibility of finding something. Also train to London if that is important to you
DeleteQuick update. Niece is only 60miles South of Brisbane, where the cyclone will hit land. They're already getting very high winds + rains, have got their camping stove + lamps inside, plus bought new gas cylinders for them. They're now thinking of putting the tent inside the house just in case these might be needed in some way.
ReplyDeleteThey are prepared, as niece has batch cooked food to be reheated on the camping stove.
She is scared, as has been warned that her area will be hit the worst and electricity will almost certainly be lost for awhile.
She + family are on high ground, but are not far from the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Gosh Miriam, your post really brings it home as to how fortunate we have been on the whole living within the orbit of the calm seas around the British Isles.
DeleteWe too might find that we have to contend with something similar to the conditions you describe in your post in times to come.
ARCHERPHILE - thanks for slaking my curiosity.
As I thought, and I am already thinking ahead to similar possibilities as my G children become more established in their futures.
I shall have a look at retirement villages around Alton.
Good luck in your family meeting on Friday.
Errata - relatively calm seas around the British Isles.
ReplyDeleteMiriam what a worrying time for your niece and her family. I am thinking of them 🙏🏼 and keeping everything crossed. Very impressed with their preparations under such stress they certainly could not do more.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile as KP says much building is going on in and around Alton because The South Downs Country Park is so near and building very restricted there. Many Retirement complexes but not sure how near an actual Retirement Village would be. Also no infrastructure being added into the mix and as else where the Dr Practices are bursting at the seams. Although Mr R and I are still being supported well by his right now 🙏🏼 will be interested to hear about all that you follow up! Good luck (at least you re beginning your search at the best time of the year)
ReplyDeleteMiriam, Can understand how concerned you are as our granddaughter and her fiancé live in a ground floor flat in one of Brisbane's suburbs and have been preparing for the cyclone in much the same way as your niece. They spend most weekends camping, so are used to 'roughing' it, but this will be a whole new experience and we are also extremely worried.
ReplyDeleteI saw a photo of them settling down for bed, their Wed's night. They had mattresses on the floor in a hallway, as decided this was the safest place. Like a lot of OZ houses, they have floor to ceiling windows + doors everywhere as are open plan with a massive wrap-around veranda.
DeleteIt's a worry isn't it as I believe it's the same as a grade 1 hurricane.
The worry is, the probability of loss of contact.
Let's hope all stay safe, both our families + everyone in the area.
I hope that your family get through the hurricane safely Miriam.
DeleteThanks. They are very well prepared. The boys, ages 6 and 8 yrs now, think it's great fun! I doubt there'll be saying that in 24hours 😀
DeleteApologies to all, talking about the weather bomb in OZ. It's only of interest to a very few, which is so understandable.
ReplyDeleteAll I'm doing now is 🫰
Don't apologise Miriam. I am interested in things happening in both Australia and Canada. I have relatives living in Lochinvar but fortunately that is a long way from Brisbane.
DeleteI haven,'t got any friends or relatives in the area either Miriam but I am always interested in what goes on in the rest of the world. I live near Parma where they make the famous cheese. Luckily we don't have extreme weather conditions but I suppose that could change.
ReplyDeleteSOZ
ReplyDeleteHave you been following the beaver introduction on Purbeck.
Very exciting !
I would love to visit again that strange eerie landscape that I walked amongst daily for a short period of my life around Furzebrook.
The beavers are at the other end near to Arne I believe l
My daughter who lives in a village south east of Bath owns a small piece of land which they manage for wildlife. There is a river running alongside it and they once caught an image of a beaver on one of their camera traps.
DeleteHow very exciting CC? Certainly no beavers around there when I was living in Bradford on Avon in the nineties, when my dog was swimming in the river daily.
DeleteIt's now waiting patiently with OZ. Their power has already gone, so are now incommunicado which will be for days now. As the cyclone has slowed, it'll be at least another 24hours until really hits.
ReplyDeleteand they're already having horrendously strong winds + non-stop torrential rain. It sounds awful.
DeleteOh Miriam it sounds frightening already. Let’s hope the children are still thinking it’s fun and not realising the real enormity of the situation. Will be waiting for any updates 🙏🏼
DeleteYes, do keep us updated Miriam. It sounds pretty scary
DeleteWhat a lovely day it’s been. I’ve had a couple of hours pottering in the garden sorting out my water butts. The one that blew over in the storms has now apparently got a crack and leaks. Will attempt to silicon seal it tomorrow. 🤞
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t the springlike weather make you feel better……
Yes,it really does PtbY, we had a lovely walk this afternoon.
DeleteMrs P Many thanks for alerting me to the release of beavers into Little sea near Studland. I haven’t been following it at all. It probably is an ideal location for them. When I googled it, I found there has been a pair of wild beavers there since last year. Little sea is on the heath just behind Studland beach. Arne is a bit further west at the back of Poole harbour but it’s all similar landscape and yes it is eerie; Hardy uses it to convey that slightly edgy atmosphere in some of his novels. It’s good to know we’ll have beavers in that part of Dorset.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to that nature reserve just behind Studland during my summer there Soz.
DeleteI mentioned Arne because one of the articles I read described that area as Arne.
I will have to google it myself.
I’ve had a long conversation with my Gdaughter this morning. She has been promoted in her job at the Paul Smith Flagship store in Covent Garden.
She is now liaison person for PR and looks after the high profile customers.
This came about because she recognised ‘ Benny ‘ from ABBA when he came in to the store, but she was the only person who did so. She went to management to inform them and they then sent her to offer him a glass of champagne and that led them to put her in charge of looking after celebrities. She is obviously enjoying her work and is developing into a stylist for the company.
Any news from the beleaguered Australians Miriam ?
Mrs P. As to the OZ clan, no, and there won't be for days now, probably not until Monday.
DeleteIt is what is, but I'm following the latest on a couple of OZ news sites.
Thanks for asking.
There's another here who has family in Brisbane, so no doubt are similar.
Mrs P. Your granddaughter will be working in the same area as my neice No#3. She is an interior architect/designer working for a firm in Knightsbridge. She does homes for the rich + wealthy, both here + abroad, and when she goes out of the country, it's either 1st class or on a private jet!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds your granddaughter will be doing similar, and good on her. It will be a new and interesting adventure to embrace, and you must be so proud.
It's great to hear of such wonderful achievements from family, like AP's grandson getting into Oxford.
To add. There's never a hint of what she does and for whom - confidentially.
Delete👍
DeleteMiriam I’ve just looked at latest news from Oz and cyclone Alfred has been downgraded to a tropical low. It still sounds as though there will be severe winds, rain and flooding but maybe not the extreme conditions they were expecting. Fingers crossed this is so.
ReplyDeleteBasia, thank you for your kind and gentle words. Maryellen, no, Sophocles is not keeping me company. It seemed unkind to confine a little owl of Athens to a room, however sunny and pleasant, so we left him in his sumac glade, thinking wise thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJust seen my first Brimstone butterfly of the year in the garden. Before Mr A! That’s brownie points for me! 🦋 ( if only you could change the colour of the emoji butterfly)
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I am so sorry your family have been involved in the storms in Aus. I hadn’t heard anything about them untiI I read your posts. Then I saw some of the films on the news last night . Looked pretty frightening but hopefully all relatives of our bloggers are safe and have not lost their homes.
Global warming hits Australia as well as the Northern Hemisphere.
Thanks AP. It's the lack of communication which is hard. I've been following the Guardian.aus live feed, which has been so interesting and informative. To add it is done in OZ time, so know exactly the time where they are.
DeleteThankfully, the now tropical storm has landed north of Brisbane, is moving faster so the residual problems are just the torrential rain, and when the power supplies are restored. I believe it could be over a week in some areas.
To add. Today Saturday was meant to be the first open viewing day for their property, now it's been listed..🤣🤣🤣 🌧🌫
DeleteI've just melted the Antarctic today - I defrosted the freezer! Last week I think I didn't close it properly, it iced up and yesterday it was like perma frost. I need a new one I know, but I have a smallish upright one, which is in a cupboard under the stairs.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want is called, an under-counter one, but I cannot find one of a similar size or capacity, which is suitable for my needs.
I'll just carry on looking + researching, until I find one I think would be a good replacement. It might well not be long now, that I just have to buy anything that's available.
My problem is my freezer has a 120l capacity, but most now are only about 90-95 litre. It's trying to find one similar which is the problem.
DeleteMiriam have you entered the size that you require into dear old google? Will your next one have auto defrost do you think or not bothered?…..
DeleteI have a self-defrosting type and it’s the best thing I ever bought. No icing up, no defrosting needed, no puddles on the floor if you accidentally leave the door ajar. I got mine from ao.com the online retailer who keep loads of different brands and models & give lots of help choosing right one for your needs. They deliver very quickly and also took my old freezer away for disposal.
DeleteWith you Archerphile 👍
Delete