Life outside Ambridge
Yellow daffodils on a grey day
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Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
MiriamMarch 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
ReplyDeleteI am loveing having light mornings again, so that even at 6.30am it's almost light. Sadly though it's still beencold and have had frosty mornings not long ago.
I only hear the morning birds when the bedroom window open, as mine are so soundproof!
REPLYDELETE
SozMarch 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Spring has disappeared today - no sun and some rain. So no gardening, which gives my legs - which had started to protest at overuse - a welcome rest.
Lady R I know you are doing your very best for Lord R which must take its toll on you. It is important that you have some time to yourself as well , just an hour or two can make a difference. I hope there is someone who can relieve you at times.
Best wishes for Tuesday; I hope it’s a good day for you both.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and words Soz.
DeleteAll the support here on the blog helps such a lot when times get emotionally tough as I never feel alone for long as it is a tonic to read what you are all getting up to!
Niece in OZ has taken their home off the market, pro-tem. They are still trying to do the clear up in the garden, and have bonfires going so burning all the branches etc. which came down. The tree was removed by their local council, but only after they chopped it up with a chainsaw.
ReplyDeleteTheir problem now is mould, due to the humidity + warmth after the storm.
As she says, they don't need to rush into the move and any smaller property that they would be interested in, in the same area would also be in a simular situation.
She + Hubbie are so positive but I think they are missing family being close, rather than 1000's miles away.
What a lovely scene. I do enjoy spring. For me here in Italy summer is too hot and winter tends to be cold though we haven't had any snow this year.
ReplyDeleteYou can’t beat a daffodil. They cheer you up on the dullest of days.
ReplyDelete✔️✔️✔️ so very true 🌞
DeleteLove this time of year with all the beautiful yellow in the garden. Dozens of different types of daffodils in the orchard, primroses growing in the lawn and tiny, bright celandines in the cracks of the paving. All very cheerful to look out on, even if I can’t get down the garden to pick the daffs.
ReplyDeleteMy yellows are mixed with the blues of muscari, grape hyacinths poking through and the tulips I planted are coming into flower too.
ReplyDeleteI, and others, have noticed that this year the primroses - which I have in abundance - are brighter in colour and have more flowers to each plant than in previous years. I attribute it to the wet winter.
Here in Minehead including my garden, the magnolias are all flowering along with the very large mimosa trees in different parts of the town.
I went to the Eden Project on Saturday, they had huge magnolia trees in blossom, also a mimosa which I have never seen before, very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStill going to the Grade 2 listed gardens at Dartington Hall, but I am very disappointed with them for serving notice on a tenant there who has pioneered agroforestry - his lifetime's work will be demolished for , I don't know what... a better-paying tenent perhaps. Short-sighted.
That must be so demoralising for the tenant Mistral.
DeleteDuck mating season is happening. I live near to a lovely small nature park with ponds etc. Suddenly I have ducks flying in and landing in my cul-de-sac. It's fun watching their mating advances up + down the road, plus the duck couples then sitting on the rooftops!
ReplyDeleteThis still amuses me. 🦆🦆
Must add - the local ice-cream van has just appeared for the first time. This is a sure sign of Spring starting and it's doing well. 🍦
DeleteIn case I forget tomorrow - A very Happy Birthday to Lord R. in advance.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a great day, 🎉🎁
So much for our pretty spring garden. It now looks like the Somme in WW1! Deep trenches, a huge 2 metre deep hole and piles of earth like small mountains. The men came yesterday to sort out our drainage problems and dig a new soak away for all the rain that comes off the house. We are not on mains drainage like modern houses so it has to be disposed of in the garden. There’s a skip outside to dispose of for the earth eventually and mess everywhere. It’s costing over £5000 to have this done but we couldn’t sell with it in the state it was, so be it!
ReplyDeleteOh dear AP how heartbreaking your beautiful garden. May it bloom afresh before too long 🙏🏼
DeleteWhat a mess it sounds and at least the weather is being kind to you. As you've said, it will help with your eventual sale despite the cost doing it now.
DeleteHappy, happy Birthday to dear Lord R. We hope he has a lovely day and both of you can relax and enjoy lots of birthday cake and celebrate together.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Lord Lady R
ReplyDeleteMay you both enjoy this special day, whatever you may be able to do.
Happy Birthday to Lord R today!! I hope you both have a very happy day.
ReplyDeleteC.C. re Dartington Hall. There was an article in The Guardian about the agroforestry garden being closed because the governing trust want to let out the land and adjacent building as one lot, to make it more appealing to potential new tenants. Unfortunately the man who has devoted 30 years to building it up, can't just pack it up and find new premises, it is an on-going experiment in sustainable food production, and is internationally famous. I am a member of Dartington Trust, and knew nothing about it, they seem to be very picky about what they put in their newsletters. It really feels so short-sighted, a lot of people here are boycotting their enterprises, so local jobs will be threatened, possibly the beatiful gardens, who knows? It's all about grabbing the most money now, with no thought to the future. I find it very dispiriting, but am off there this afternoon for a sunny stroll, whilst I can.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of his Lordship (🤭) thank you all for your lovely 🎂 messages. Having a quiet day in but no cooking - Fish and Chips for me and sausages for the Lord. We know how to live the high life! I have to say though it was very fresh and tasty. When his chair is sorted we will go out then for a meal we can still have a ride in the car which we may do tomorrow a sunnier day I believe…..His Goddaughter is calling by tonight for cuppa and chocolate cake - yum!
ReplyDeleteDespite the set-back, it sounds you are having a lovely day, with much more to come.
DeleteWho can refuse chocolate cake? 😋
Hopefully his chair will be back with you soon, for a 2nd birthday.
Lady R, it's nice to hear that you have been able to enjoy Lord R's birthday.
ReplyDeleteLike you Archerfile, I like the combination of yellow and blue or purple flowers. I start with yellow and purple crocuses in the back garden, then daffodils and muscari in my herbaceous border. Outside the kitchen window is a raised bed with yellow and purple primulas in.
Yesterday evening we drove to the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester to watch a recording of "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue". On the way I had this years' first sighting of lambs in a field, which made me feel that spring is well and truly on the way.
We had an enjoyable evening which was, unfortunately, marred by me going over on my ankle when descending the stairs at the Bridgewater Hall. It's now shades of black and blue and very painful which is very disappointing as we had planned to go to Dunham Massey tomorrow to see the spring flowers in the garden. I'm hoping that it it won't be too late to see them when my ankle is recovered.
That sounds painful, at least you know what to do.
DeleteI'd love to hear about seeing a recording of such a radio programme. This is how long did it take, how many times did things have to stop due to laughter etc. and has it put you off listening to that episode after seeing how it was done?
We were there from 7.30 till about10.00pm (with a 20m break) to record two programmes. They just do the whole thing in one go then at the end the producer comes on and asks them to redo a few takes. I'll look forward to hearing the broadcast obviously minus the bits which were not broadcastable! Pippa Evans was amazing, she's a very talented lady.
DeleteAnd what does the lovely Samantha really look like? 😉😐
DeleteReading comments about drains in AP's post, reminds me of some-one else I know. They suddenly found a big wet patch in their front garden which turned out to be a water pipe leak. This person hadn't realised that water + sewage pipes once on a person's property, is the home-owners responsibility. Luckily they were able to claim some costs back on their house insurance.
ReplyDeleteI have all my drains/pipes covered on my house maintenence scheme, which gives me piece of mind with no excess payment.
Something similar was a priority for me last year.
DeleteI live in a converted building - looks like a house - built as a small hotel.
We have a management company and we have equal costs and responsibilities.
Last year it became evident that something was up with my plumbing. I worried about it until the day of our AGM when I mentioned it.
A response from my neighbour upstairs was immediate when she said that the previous owners of my flat “ were always having Dinorod in “
This suggested to me that my problem had a long back history that had not been declared, and that I had unknowingly inherited that problem.
When I arrived home after Christmas I could see that the closest drain head had lifted. I imagine my neighbour upstairs had many visitors over the holiday period. So in the first week of the NY I agreed for the management company to call in a drain clearance company. The drain closest to my bathroom is just outside my back gate. But thinking it through, I realised that there was another drain at the other end of my garden in line with the other. Also, almost all of the plumbing outlets for all four flats drained into a main sewer running the length of my property.
In the event both drain heads when lifted were full to the brim and it was discovered that the roots of an extensive shrub above a further run of drains had grown into the pipes.
Taking all of this into account was a worry. Did this mean that since all this was on my property, I was responsible for any problems ?
Fortunately the management company decided it was not, and so costs now, and hopefully in the future, were taken from the collective funds.
I took responsibility for removing that shrub though and making sure that no further roots could do any more damage.
Happy birthday Mr R. Hope you had a nice day. 🎂🎉🎈
ReplyDeleteHere is one of my daft christmas cracker jokes for your birthday:
How did Tyrannosaurus Rex feel after tripping over a tree trunk?
Dino sore.
Just what we needed Janice a dam good silly laugh thank you so much for that🤭 from both of us. Also your birthday wishes of course 🥰
DeleteHow was the chocolate cake Lady R ?
DeleteYUMMY Mrs P. It was an M&S one included in gifts from my niece, and then Mr R goddaughter arrived in the evening with another M&S sponge with jam and creamy topping with hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top Thankfully both small size but both rich….🤣😋
DeleteI've had an infestation of sciarid fly in my houseplants recently. I managed to catch a lot of them using yellow sticky traps but there are new new ones emerging form the eggs of those that I didn't catch. I've now put nematodes in the plant pots in the hope that they will reduce the number of larvae that hatch out in the next generation. I'm hoping that these two approaches will get on top of the situation eventually.
ReplyDeleteToday we had an email saying that our house is now registered with the Land Registry. We started this process two years ago, on the advice of our solicitor, when we were updating our wills and reviewing our inheritance situation. We were told that it would take up to a year, but it has ended up taking twice as long! After hearing that people have had their houses sold without their knowledge we decided to put a notification on our house on the Registry so that nothing can be done with it without our explicit consent and had to pay for the privilege! I think that should happen automatically.
I thought it was automatic esp. if you have the deeds of the property.
DeleteMind you who would want my little house/home 🤔
DeletePlenty I can assure you Miriam, by all accounts you have a cosy and immaculate home - apart from black balls of fur everywhere 🫢 🤣 at the moment of course.
DeleteI have black mohair carpets and beds at the moment. My lovely pusscat is losing her winter coat. As she's totally black, I have thick clumps of black fur everywhere which then just clog up my vacuum!
ReplyDeleteIt's continuing hoovering every day. 🐈⬛
To add my Big Sis also has a jet black cat, + hers is doing exactly the same.
DeleteCC you are very wise to make sure your house is registered with the land registry. I have been my sister’s executor for the last 9 years. I have had a few issues with them over lost deeds of 2 properties bought in early 1960s and land in the New Forest that had never been registered. I’m glad to say that everything is now as it should be but it has taken an age to sort out. I’ve learnt many things from the process: firstly do not keep important documents in the middle of a huge pile of old gardening magazines, secondly do not buy land jointly with someone you don’t know very well.
ReplyDeleteLoved the bit about not keeping documents amongst magazines. 😂
DeleteThat reminds me of when we had to sort out my parents estate. My father was a musician and he had an enormous quantity of sheet music. When we were sorting out the house we ended up having to go through it sheet by sheet as he had lots of other things mixed in them. It took ages but we found important documents as well as as letters from way back when he was in the RAF during the war.
DeleteAnd money !
DeleteI’m dreadful, with piles everywhere.
That reminds me. When we sorted out Mr.CC's parents estate we found several hundred pounds under the carpet in their bedroom!
DeleteUnder the carpet ?
DeleteWho was hiding money from the other ?
I don’t suppose you will ever know.
Eye problems again!!
ReplyDeleteOver the last 3 weeks, I noticed that my vision in one eye was suddenly not as good, and seemed to be getting worse. I know the hospital eye-clinic (don't forget I have glaucoma now) is in a total mess so went to my optician.
Brilliant service, got me in within two days after a quick chat face-to-face with optician.
For some unknown reason my cornea has changed shape so my astigmatism has changed and is affecting my vision. I have another appointment next week as the eyes need to be dilated so can't drive.
My prescription in that eye will have to be changed quite drastically, so I think I'll be back to be wearing glasses full-time again.
This has to be but I'm not happy, but needs must. I'm not going back to contacts again though.
It not as bad as it sounds, just upsetting and annoying.
Thankfully I go to a brilliant optician one of a two-shop firm and very close by. She is so wonderful + caring and treats you like a long lost friend, not a number on a computer.
Sorry to hear about that Miriam. At least it can be sorted out even if it means wearing glasses all the time.
DeleteYou must be very disappointed Miriam - I wish you all the best over the next few weeks, and in getting used to glasses again.
DeleteYes it will be. What I don't understand is why this has suddenly happened in just 3 weeks.
DeleteIt is what it is and it won't be a major problem as such.
I spent £430 on Oct.31st last year for new glasses, now lenses will need to be changed again!
I now know the tax I will be paying on my State Pension, as mine is again
Deleteabove the tax allowance level due to an extra payment I get added in.
All I know is my monthly income will be reduced as from next week, in comparison to last year.
It's much harder now, being an individual person with just one income.
Sorry about your eyes Miriam. Hope it gets sorted quickly.
DeleteIt will. Don't worry it's just my awful eyes (which I've had all my life), so completely different as to your upcoming cataract procedures.
DeleteDid any‐one view the partial sun eclipse this morning?
ReplyDeleteI did, as the sun was behind light + high light cloud, so with the right "film", it was perfectly seen. It was on 25-30%, but was still worth seeing.
Nothing can compare to the 1999 one. That was spooky, as it went so calm + still, and the light went so low.
No, we didn't Miriam. it was very cloudy here.
DeleteAt least it stayed dry enough for me to get some seeds sown, which I managed to do in spite of my ankle, although gradually improving, still being swollen, bruised and painful. There are a lot of other jobs that need doing in the garden but they will have to wait.
My garden is equally awful at the moment. So much to do + sort.
DeleteIt's never ending.
My lawns now need the first big mow, but I'll get my lovely bloke with his fancy mower, to do it!
I've had rain today, but luckily after the partial eclipse. It shows how weather can vary within close vicinities.
DeleteI hope all you Mothers here, have been treated + spoilt well, or at least have been acknowledged in some way.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult as times change, but a Mum is always a Mum, regardless.
A 💐 to all, whether a Mum or not - as why not?
Thank you Miriam that’s a kind message.
DeleteYes I had cards that both arrived on time and a phone call from both daughters this morning.
As is known I am not a mother but as always my niece kindly gave me a card “To A Special
ReplyDeleteAunt on Mothering Sunday” alongside tulips, chocolates and a small bottle of wine. She just needs to know I will not feel left out (even though I would not) but kind of her and her partner of course. 😊
Oooh is there anybody there 😱
ReplyDeleteYes Lady R, just listened to the Archers and now looking in here before a quick read and sleep.
DeleteThe trusty builder who always does any work here has been on scaffolding replacing roofing sheets from the big shed in the field, blown off in the storms, and I have been ferrying mugs of coffee and biscuits up to him. Two heaped spoons of coffee and two heaped spoons of sugar, don't know how he drinks it like it. He will be 70 in the Autumn but says he enjoys working, and I think he chooses his jobs and who he will work for nowadays. I had better make sure the biscuits are nice ones! He is also beginning the work to put in a new oil tank. Our old one put in about 25 years ago by dad-in-law has lasted really well but of late the drivers who deliver the oil have been saying they think it has had its day. The new one will be double bunded as this seems to be the preferred option nowadays to avoid spills, but they are only expected to last for about 12 years so they can't be as solidly built as the old type.
You have a nice thoughtful niece Lady R
What a lovely newsy post Janice I could see and smell everything like reading a good book!
DeleteOoh yes the quality of the biscuit is most important particularly if your man is an October birthday man and a Libran 😂 two sugars in coffee though urrgh with you there!
I’m having a quiet relaxing start to the week in preparation of going to London on Thursday. I’m going to the courtauld gallery in the afternoon followed by a visit to the American bar in the Savoy for a cocktail and a people watch. I mean it would be rude not to when it’s just around the corner.! 🤭
ReplyDeleteFriday I’m meeting Lanjan and her son at the Ivy for brunch then back to hers for the afternoon before going back into London to go and see the Mousetrap. Might go to the national gallery on Saturday morning then train to catch at lunchtime. Will be desparate to be back to Yorkshire by then. Really looking forward to it.
Wow good grief I’m worn out just reading about it all but sounds wonderful and really look forward to hearing all about your trip when you have recovered. Seeing dear lanjan please pass on very best wishes she is much missed here on the blog and I often think of her when Liverpool play, or I see broken biscuits for sale, or the reduced section of plants at a garden centre 🫢 😂 🥰
DeleteThat sounds enjoyable, if hectic, PtbY. I hope that you find lanjan in good spirits, such a shame that she isn't able to post on here.
DeletePlease pass on my good wishes to Lanjan. I miss her comments too.
DeleteA very sunny day here and we've been trying out charging my new car just on the solar panels. That got me wondering if the recent increase in road tax will make up for the reduction in income from fuel duty as more people use electric cars.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds an amazing car. I had a picture of a car with solar panels on its roof, but I guess you mean from stored energy from solar panels on your house roof? How does it work CC? Hope your ankle is better.
DeleteYes Janice, it's the solar panels on the house. Our charger can detect if we are importing current from the grid or exporting it to the grid from the solar panels. We can select a mode that tells it to only charge the car when exporting. It very slow, so only useful if we're in all day and it's sunny.
DeleteThe next job is to research which energy companies give the best deals on overnight charging for electric cars, then probably change our supplier.
Friends of ours are with Octopus on a flexible tariff. Energy is cheap at night but more expensive around tea time. They have solar panels and a battery so use battery energy during the peak period.
DeleteOn a windy night they charge their car for free. On a very windy night they get paid to charge it.
Our shoe, meanwhile, has no solar panels. And I've still not got around to getting a charger fitted. So our car gets charged at Sainsbury's. But at least OMiaS has finally worked out how to get Nectar points. (He told me for ages that it was impossibly complicated so I went with him and demonstrated it was pretty simple!)
I think my brain is not in gear today OWiaS, and I must be missing something but how on earth does the wind affect things?
DeleteAlso CC and OWiaS how does using electricity compare with the cost of petrol consumption ?
My son would like an electric car but will need to wait until they come down in price a bit.
The wind effect :
DeleteIs it because Octopus uses wind technology for some of their energy input and therefore if it’s windy or extra windy, they can offset usage ?
I am in no way technically minded, but the above occurs to me, in answer to Janice’s question.
Octopus uses renewable energy. So if it's a windy night, there's lots of energy being produced quite cheaply. And if it's very windy, presumably more than their batteries can store - so get the consumers to use it charging their cars etc, or let it go to waste.
DeleteOr perhaps the wind winds up Octopus's friends the electric eels and they get plugged into the grid too 😂
Clever! 🤣
DeleteI wrote a bit about Mother’s Day & my sister in law’s visit on Sunday but it has completely disappeared. I won’t go through it all again now, except go say we had a lovely afternoon in the sun and I didn’t have to do a thing.
ReplyDelete👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 what a shame your post disappeared. Has your drainage work finished yet? At least the weather has been fine….
DeleteThank you Lady R, yes the work on the drains has finished but we are left with a dreadful mess in the garden behind the kitchen. The hole & trenches have been filled in but the ground is now very uneven and covered in mud, the block paving path around the house is also caked in mud which has dried solid. It’s going to take quite a while and a professional cleaning team to sort out, so that will be another expense. I could cry when looking at the devastation where my greenhouse and raspberry bed used to be.
DeleteOh AP such a shame although 🤞🏼your lovely garden will rise again from the ashes or in your case mud but so disheartening right now and as you say even more expense to come regarding the clean up operation! Thinking of you both 💐
DeleteI was at the opticians again yesterday, as my eye had to be dilated (which I'm well used to) for a further exam.
ReplyDeleteWhat is so strange is that my actual vision in that eye is perfect ie neither short nor long sighted. As I've said before, the problem is far worsening astigmatism.
For some unknown reason and no-one knows why it happens, the cornea on my eye has changed shape so this is distorting my actual vision quite dramatically. I'm finding shopping difficult + as for watching TV I can't read whatss on the screen properly! It's infuriating when watching something, and a note or text is shown vital to the plot, but can't make it out.
As such I will have to wear glasses far more often esp. when out + about but not necessarily all the time. As such I decided on varifocals with yet differing frames!
I was sitting waiting and this pair of frames "winked" at me from a nearby display unit - SOLD with varifocal lenses.
All I can say, 24hours later my eyes are still watering as to the cost.
What a great optician I have, and said my glaucoma is extremely well under control.
At least if your eyes are watering you save money on dry-eye drops 😂
DeleteI think my biennial test is due next month. Having enjoyed above average vision all my life, I'm now on my 4th or 5th prescription and it has been downhill all the way. The last two prescriptions have been for vari-focals. I prefer metal frames to plastic ones so they tell me I need the ultra-thin lenses as the standard ones will be too heavy.
I'm trying not to think of the cost until the time comes ....
OWIAS. I know what you mean about suitable frames. That was the benefit of having cataracts so the eye lenses replaced, I can now choose lovely frames, not the heavy ones, I aso had to wear in my youth.
DeleteEven my contact lenses I used, were of a mega strength.
I understand your dilemma.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMy optician has now scheduled me in for 6 monthly appointments. I have no problem with this as it's reassuring that things are being monitored, esp. as my hospital glaucoma clinic are not issuing appointments at the moment. She can do the necessary checks and any problems, will refer as an urgent referral. I'm more than happy with this.
DeleteCan imagine the price Miriam 😱 but so pleased they will solve your problem 😊
ReplyDeleteArcherphile I am so sorry about the forced transformation of your beautiful garden to a muddy bare expanse. It is heartbreaking. Trying to think of positives - could it be an opportunity to create a new, easier to maintain area?
ReplyDeleteMy main concern at the moment is to make it look half decent before putting the house on the market. We have to buy a new shed to replace the one damaged, have the ground levelled and new clean gravel laid, and lots of pressure washing done. At least the larger main ugarden on the other side of the house is OK, but the damaged area is right in front of you when in the kitchen or laundry room and is all too obvious. And most annoying, I have lost my washing line!!
DeleteHave you thought about a plastic shed? These are wonderful, as no maintenance and in so many different shapes, styles + colours.
DeleteThese are also cheaper than traditional wood ones..
One other thought, do you need to buy a new shed just to sell? Who knows your buyers might not want it there...
Sat with Lanjan trying to get her on the blog and failing miserably.
ReplyDeleteEvery time she tries to sign in with google it just takes her back to the daffodils and she’s still not in.
Not only this she’s had trouble with her emails because apple have taken her off hotmail and put her on outlook.
Google reckons she’s signed in but nothing happens.
In other news we’ve been to the Ivy for brunch with Michael, her son, It was very nice. Sat on Richmond green before coming back to hers for a brew.
We’ve now given up with blog…..both peed off.
Will be setting off back into London soon. It’s been a lovely catch up.
Lanjan says it’s lovely to be missed and wishes you all well. She will try again another day. She realises I’m a useless help.
ReplyDeleteShe’s recovered her google account and can anyone advise any further.
I can so understand AP with no washing line- that's awful. There's nothing like seeing the washing blowing and drying in the sun, and as for that fresh smell, nothing beats it. I also find it means far less ironing - which is one of my all time hated chores!
ReplyDeleteIt's only beaten by cleaning the oven.
I have a fit of ironing from time to time. Then most of it sits on the spare room bed until it gets worn or knocked on the floor. The assorted Small People in a Shoe always seemed to struggle with the concept of cupboards....
DeleteOne Large Person Now in a Different Shoe sometimes attacks the oven at Christmas time. Very helpful - but they have a knack of transferring the grime to other parts of the kitchen instead.
I love it owias - a real home! I have a small room just like your spare bedroom 🤣
DeleteAP has a laundry room what bliss….
A Not So Small Person in a Shoe has recently bought a Slipper with a friend, not so far from our Shoe. When NSSPiaS's belongings finally manage to make it into a shoebox and get transported to the new footwear, the bedroom will begin its transformation into my craftroom/study. Now that beats a laundry room hands down! (And also means we might finally find the dining room table ...)
DeleteI've been way too vocal today, so All just accept my apologies.
ReplyDeleteAs such, I'm stepping back for a short while. Enjoy the upcoming lovely sunny weekend.
Says who? Just because most of the rest of us don't appear to have much to say at present, there's no need for you to keep schtum.
DeleteKeep going Miriam I need something to read 🤗 👍
DeleteHere is something for you to read Lady R.
ReplyDeleteI’m in the doldrums….. trying to make my living space reasonably tidy for my daughters visit tomorrow.
I put her off last Sunday, Mother’s Day, as I couldn’t achieve anything of note before she came, but can’t do that again. I’ve cleared some of the decks but not enough to make any real difference.
The choral society have a concert this evening and I really wanted to go, particularly as they are doing a piece that I sang in at Southwark Cathedral many years ago, but I can’t allow myself that time out.
All day I’ve been trying to tackle small jobs, but keep retreating to a puzzle game on line that I’m addicted to, instead of keeping going.
So now here I am distracting myself yet again !
I’ve now come to the conclusion that I will have to get up at six tomorrow to get more done before critical daughter comes.
Yes I too noted that AP has a laundry room.
Puts my little space that I turned the wet room into, into perspective, but I do make a lot of use out of that small space.
ARCHERPHILE - my thoughts on your ruined part of your garden - since it has now been decided upon moving, I suggest you tidy that space, level it and put down some membrane then gravel over it. When the time comes for people to view the house put some pots of geraniums or similar in a nice arrangement that can be seen from the kitchen window.
Oh and you could put a rotary clothes line in the space too.
Leave a new shed out of the plan. Let the buyers choose where they would like a shed when it becomes their garden.
That’s my two pennies worth today !
I am trying to do some work on the garden. I have planted strawberries, cabbage and flowers (geraniums in pots mostly) and have been cutting the shrubs back. The fence mum and dad had put in when they moved in the posts have rotted. I have some quotes and it is going to cost £375 to put in concrete posts and reinforce it. This is much less than the cost of a fence so I have agreed it and waiting to see when I will be fitted in. That was quite a lot of money and although I haven't found the missing family silver and not sure I ever will (mum packed it up and put it somewhere). I did have the silver cutlery from my dad's first marriage in a draw so I sold it this week and that paid for the fence with plenty over. I did have a little cry not at letting the silver go as such as it just sat in a draw and I never looked at it, but of the memories of Christmas and mum and dad's lovely dinner parties with dad's naval colleagues. Glamorous ladies and handsome men. The last one would have been about 1996. I have had several weeks full of dogs and I don't wish to add more days, but I have an interview for a little 4 hour per week job on Wednesday which would be ideal. For me my income is the grooming, exam marking, a small amount from union work and money from stock and shares ISAs which fallen this month/quarter with the world economic issues. We are doing ok but since going self-employed my car broke down beyond repair, the boiler broke and now the fence. I think that is the thing your base income may be ok, but the unexpected things in life are the strain. My neighbour Janet who is retired said she has had a new boiler put in, but now she can't afford to turn it on! One good thing fence man has a dog and I have agreed to groom him while they are doing the fence which will help a bit! Mrs P I hope your visit goes well. I will be back after summer (if not before) for tips with the shrubs!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your interview. The dinner parties must have been very special.
DeleteLovely to hear from you Katy.
DeleteHope you get the job.
They say things come in 3’s so 🤞your probs are now finished.
Re tidying up, or even harder getting rid of clutter, I have been to the funeral today of a lovely 98 year old Highlander, a relative by marriage. He was a farmer, a Methodist preacher, and loved tinkering around making things. He had a shed, a large one, filled with bits and pieces that might come in useful one day. When his sons would ask if he needed to keep it all, he would say : well I'll keep it for 7 years, then when the 7 years were up, he'd say well I might as well keep it for another 7 years just in case.
ReplyDeleteHe came down to Cornwall from Ross shire with a construction firm to build a reservoir when he was in his early 20's and had to find lodgings. He knocked on the door of my father's aunt and her 17 year old daughter answered. She apparently flew down the garden to her mother saying mum there is a handsome young man looking for lodgings, please please let him stay, so it was love at first sight, and with her parents help he started farming here.
His nephews came down from the Highlands wearing MacCleod kilts and sporrans, and the wreath was made of Heather and thistles, so it was a more interesting funeral then usual . I almost expected there to be haggis to eat afterwards in the Chapel but it was Cornish fare pasties and jam and cream splits etc. Sounds daft but because of his family's firm beliefs it was a joyful service.
That's my two pennies worth for the day.
I misread this as 'the wreath was made of haggis and thistles' - that would have made it even more interesting!
Delete(Mind you, what did poor Heather do to merit being tortured by thistles? Poor lass!)
😁
DeleteOh Heather 😂🤣😂🤣
DeleteThank you what interesting posts one and all, covering many aspects of life (and death)
ReplyDeleteDaughter of EV such a pleasure to hear from you I thought of your dear mum March 23rd birthday just 2 days before Mr R, please do keep popping in to let us know how you are doing and I wish you well. Mrs P I know how you felt trying to get organised for your daughters visit sometimes the focus required just won’t come 🤭 look forward to hearing about your day.
My day is not happening after all, my daughter phoned to tell me that she can’t come after all as her RSI in her wrist has flared up and she is concerned about driving.
DeleteI had about four hours sleep and was desperately trying to wake up and get up to continue my tidying ( not completed at all now ! ) so went back to fitfull and useless sleep for a couple more hours.
But the sun is shining and perhaps I will get some gardening done instead of the promised Sunday Roast at the Ship in Porlock.
Lovely to see another post from Ev’s daughter. So thoughtful of her to keep in touch.
And enjoyed the funeral story Janice.
Mrs P you and I know what you should do today and it’s not an outside job but would mean you would be ready for your daughter whenever she comes!!!! However we both know that the gardening will do you far more good. I do recognise the distraction technique of puzzles. For the last year or so I’ve been dealing with serious financial stuff to help my son and work as executor trying to close my sister’s estate. To keep myself sane I play a game or two which makes me concentrate on something else. It does calm me down.
DeleteJanice, I love your descriptions of Cornwall and the folk who live there. Definitely worth writing them down - maybe a book in the offing?!
Yes it’s the calming down of the brain isn’t it Soz.
DeleteConcentrating on the game in hand shuts out all the noise of ‘ should, could ought ‘ - and I’ve just spent/ wasted half an hour doing half a dozen more ‘games ‘. But I did eat my breakfast sitting out in the sun in the garden, and planning on what I can usefully do today in preparation of a man coming on Wednesday to make repairs to the veranda of the summerhouse.
No way could I venture outside to eat breakfast, as when I woke up at 7.00am and looked out, there was was frost on the car and to think I've turned the CH off!
DeleteEasy decision - downstairs to make a cup of tea, then bedroom curtains opened and back into bed to listen to TA omnibus. 🐈⬛ snuggled up beside me!
Now's the time to start thinking about downsizing, as to about what you'll actually need in your wonderful and new future home, whatever you decide to do.
ReplyDeleteThis was meant as a reply to AP, obviously.
DeleteDaughterofEV2.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see you giving an update. It's lovely that you're doing well in your chosen and suitable life. What is important is that you're doing things, which make you happy and content.
Do keep in touch - as I for one want to hear about your Spitfire flight.
To add, I believe that Hawarden airport/ Broughton so close to me, is starting similar this year.
DeleteI'll certainly be looking into this, as to fly over N.Wales in a spitfire, even for 15/20 mins, sounds wonderful.
It's lovely to hear from you DaughterofEV. Good luck with the job application.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you didn't get a your roast dinner MrsP. Hopefully it can be rearranged for another time. I do enjoy a roast dinner, especially when cooked by someone else!
Archerfile, I hope that it won't be too long before you are able to move somewhere that makes life easier for you.
I might live on my own, but I always do a roast dinner of sorts, every week. I buy the big joints of meat when these are on offer, be it beef, pork or lamb. These often get cut into half + frozen. I then do a roast with such a hunk of meat and then put portions into the freezer, complete with gravy + extras, such as apple sauce, stuffing, mint sauce etc.My weekly roast is often one of these defrosted and put into the oven, whilst cooking the roasties. It works for me.
DeleteMy latest bargain was a chicken - half price at, £2.65. When I finally roast it, I reckon it will do me about 9 meals, of varying sorts!
I do love my weekly roast dinner.
Miriam - if I had my breakfast at 7 am it wouldn’t be in the garden, but my sleeping regime is so out of kilter that breakfast time for me is anytime between 11.30 and 2 pm.
DeleteWhy are my posts being deleted? Two or three days running now I have answered questions and explained things like my ‘laundry room’ and the text has not appeared. I shall try once more and if this one does not appear I shan’t bother again.
ReplyDeleteOoh ARCHERPHILE……. Please do post again explaining about your laundry room.
DeleteIt’s definitely caught my attention and I doubt I’m alone.
I can second that Mrs P, mind you are about to have the “veranda of your summerhouse” repaired! Oh dear it’s all going wrong I am supposed to be The Lady around here 😂🤣😂
DeleteI too am intrigued by the summerhouse and wondering what it is like. We have a stone building with an open arched entrance that in the days there was an accessible seat in it was called the summerhouse. Now it is used as the logstore for the woodburner, and swallows nest in it. Won't be long before they are back.
DeleteTransgression Alert!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCotswold Gliding club doing 2kts at 583ft. NAUGHTY!
Great to hear from you Sarnia and that you are still keeping your beady eye on the skies 🤗
DeleteThis weekend MtNuts spotted a spitfire in D-Day colours flying overhead presumably being checked for the upcoming celebrations.
ReplyDeleteLast year we went to the aviation museum in Hendon’s, he had the opportunity to sit in a spitfire which he really enjoyed..
Good to see that Sarnia is still monitoring the sky, hope you’re enjoying the sunny weather.
So good to see you posting Sarnia as well as maintaining your passions .
ReplyDeleteSummerhouse - will give explanation later - very bad night, up late and must get on with the day. Singing in an hour.
ReplyDeleteAlthough actually quite frail re standing or any kind of movement, I'm told I look ridiculously well given the circumstances, for which I am immeasurably grateful.
ReplyDeleteManaged to finish illustrating two figures in pencil, which I never expected, so it's possible that I might be able to adapt the last few to coloured pencil style. I can only work in very short bursts because the concentration is a bit draining.
Publisher came on Saturday morning, layout all discussed and he went off with my folder of paintings and list of poems in running order. He's a bit of a speed merchant, so with this being a race against time, he's likely to get careless!
🤞🏼not so Sarnia, but wow good on you fantastic to have such talent and be published ⭐️
DeleteThat sounds amazing Sarnia. It's great to see you posting again and still doing all you love. ❤️
DeleteAP I find that when I write a post, press publish and it says publishe, and when I always check back, I then find Publish is still showing, so press again.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I have to Publish twice.
That happens to me sometimes Miriam, but not always. I use 3 devices to post, maybe I should check if it happens on all or just one of them.
DeleteMy Summerhouse may sound grand, but that wasn’t a deliberate ploy to create envy.
ReplyDeleteIt is a decent size, but it hasn’t been looked after for several years so it’s very shabby. It’s become a faded dark brown and it’s been full of my rubbish since I moved here. It’s recently housed friend Simons tools as well since he has become homeless for the second time in two years, but they have been cleared out now.
It also sits right under the overhanging fir trees so gets all the needle fallout and dust from them.
When the big storm came, the cats wicker chair which sits on the veranda was pushed against the rails and they were broken. Gavin is coming to reinstate the railings and then I hope to paint it. I’m thinking of a pale apple green.
So….. it’s really nothing to write home about Lady R.
And now what about your ‘ Laundry Room ‘ ARCHERPHILE ?
Dear Mrs P my remark was a very amused tongue in cheek one due to me using the name Lady R - for a while in the beginning I had quite a job convincing Lanjan that it was no more than being a female with the initial R - I felt I might have disappointed her a little at the time 🤣 🤭😂
DeleteYour Summerhouse will be such a lovely place to be once you have revived it and I wish you, puss and Lady many happy hours of relaxation there. I’m feeling relaxed just imagining it….😴
I remember that conversation between you and LJ Lady R.
DeleteIt was about the timetable I started reading the blog, or when I first joined in the conversation. Not sure which.
And here some of us still are !
We used to have a summerhouse which I spent many a happy hour in. Then it was taken over by guinea pigs when the children were little. It was replaced with my potting shed when the children fled the nest, which I enjoy even more (the potting shed not the children having gone)!
DeleteDid anyone get my (third attempted) post about the now infamous laundry room?
ReplyDeleteBecause I can’t see it anywhere here and I posted it yesterday afternoon.
Perhaps Google considers laundry rooms a banned subject?
No, didn't see it. I am now very interested in this laundry room, I hope that we do get to find out about it 🤞
DeleteI picked up my new vari-focal glasses today, along with my "readers" with one new lens.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to take awhile to get used to the new glasses, as to not only the vari-focal lenses, but to wearing glasses far more often than just driving.
I am so pleased I chose the new frames, as I love them.
Is it the shape or colour you like?
DeleteThese have the same shape + light eye frames as to the one's I only bought last October, The difference is the side arms. Styles are changing again and becoming more stylish and far less chunky. The frames I fell for, were from the new Spring/Summer seasonal range.
DeleteHow eye-wear fashions change so quickly. I've now got exactly what I wanted last year, but thsee weren't actually available then.
I'm pleased I went with my costly decision.
To add. I just want people to see me, rather than my glasses!
DeleteThis might sound silly, but I spent too much time as a teenager, having to wear heavy frames to support my "bottle-bottomed" glass lenses.
Message for Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteHow to put a photo on.
Click/or touch on your name on one of your posts. It takes you to your profile.
Click on edit profile.
At the images bit, click add image. I select add from computer. It then gives me an option to use photo library. (This is on my phone though)
Select photo. It loads it to the thumb nail pic area.
Go to the bottom of the profile page and save profile.
Then click on the blogspot image at the top and it takes you back to where you can select which archers blog you want.
Hope this helps. I’ve never done this on my laptop but I assume it will be the same.
That’s very useful PtbY - I’ll try it.
DeleteI use iPad and do it exactly as described 👍
DeleteThank you very much - I’ve done it .Picture of a favourite place - not far from where the beavers were recently released Mrs P.
DeleteThat works on my tablet too.
DeleteThank you for the information and help, PtbY
DeleteLady R - since you use an IPad, as do I, are you able to enlarge the picture attached to profile, as I have never been able to do so, and can’t now to see Soz’s picture. I can zoom in and make the picture bigger but it is still indistinct/ fuzzy !
I’ve changed the picture to one of the dunes - Little sea (where beavers were released) is in the dunes but some way back.
DeleteMrs P.
ReplyDeleteTouch Soz’s name and her profile comes up. Under the picture it says see full size. Then you can enlarge it more with your fingers.
Well thank you Ma’am
DeleteI’ve now seen all your photos…. In full size.
Thank you very much PtbY.
I will next attempt to put up a picture myself. But not right now !
When I click 'View full size' on the laptop, I get the same size picture as on the profile page. And no obvious way of making it bigger.
DeleteIt has only just occurred to me to go into the Firefox menu and look for the zoom in there. Doh!
Mrs P ptby has beaten me to it. Owias can you use your fingers on the screen to enlarge ? Or ask for Mr Googles help to do so…
DeleteLady R, if I try that on my laptop I just get fingerprints all over the screen! I can use that method on my mobile, but my laptop doesn't have a touchscreen.
DeleteRight folks, this is definitely my last attempt to tell you the exciting (not) sorry of our L room…..carefully not typing full name in case Google doesn’t like it. 😟
ReplyDeleteOur typical small, very low ceilinged, cottage kitchen didn’t have room for all the modern appliances.
So we had an extension built behind it around 10 years ago, which houses a sink unit flanked by Washing Machine and Tumble Dryer. The ironing board and iron also live in there alongside a tall upright freezer and ceiling height storage cupboards. Door at one end is to the cloakroom, at the other into the garden. There is a window over the sink looking out on our still muddy mess and a huge velux window in the roof which gives masses of light.
Most people might call it a utility room but I wanted to be posh and call it a laundry room because we had had one at my parents house. So I am admit I am being pretentious but everyone calls it the laundry room now and…..after all…… it’s what I do in there!
Success at last Archerfile! Thank you for persevering.
DeleteAP. At last and this was well worth another attempt.
DeleteThat sounds gorgeous and how I wish I had something similar..
… and why not AP it is said “ if you’ve got it flaunt it” I would it sounds great. I would also require a boot room if I were really a “lady” with a country house abode 🤭 oh well a girl (girl who am I trying to kid 🤣) can dream.
DeleteI guess your cloakroom is your boot room if so you have both amenities and you should be “Lady”Archerphile 🫢😄
DeleteBoot room: have you got a front porch in need of promotion, Lady R?
DeleteI guess we have a boot room - Various People Not All Currently Resident in a Shoe have dumped enough shoes, triners, boots, .. in my porch to satisfy Imelda Marcos. Some of them are even still in pairs. Fewer of them have managed to stay where they belong - in the shoe bench!
DeleteI'm still waiting for Not So Small Person Who Has Moved to a Slipper to clear their room so it can become my Craft Room.
It was actually your porch that prompted the suggestion, OWiaS. I remembered your suspicion that footwear was multiplying overnight because there always seemed to be more every morning
DeleteSadly not Sarnia we do have a porch with a wall on one side and an overhead covering but hardly country house 🤣 but it’s home,
DeleteRe having to press publish twice to post. I have now tried on all three of my devices. When I use the PC I only need to click on it once, but on my tablet and phone I have to click twice.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting there with the tech on my new car. I've finally worked out how to play my music whilst displaying Google maps on the screen.
You put me to shame. I just use the car radio these days which is fine, and the sat nav. Perhaps one of these days, I'll link things up.
DeleteTo D.E.B. in Pattersen, Germany:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your card with the glorious bouquet on the front.. and the anecdotes about your childhood move to Germany from the farm in Scotland.
Fancy Gary mentioning you being in Panama while at the conference!
I used the flightradar24 map to find your location in your town near Hanover. Such kind words from a stranger mean a great deal to me. I wish you many years of enjoyment from the Sunday omnibus edition of TA.
Well done Archerphile! I used to have a Utility Room, as you described, it is the thing I most miss now I have drastically downsized, mainly due to giving up my stuffed-full freezer. However, there were five of us once, later only me, I really didn't need it, (but I still miss it!).
ReplyDeletePhew! That’s a relief! I was beginning to think Google didn’t like me! 😉
ReplyDeleteARCHERPHILE - ………. I don’t think you need to feel pretentious about naming the extension to your kitchen ‘ the laundry room ‘ - and it sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI’m delighted that you were able to get your post up here for us all to at last understand what it is that we became so excited about.
Many decades ago, in our large Victorian house we inherited a bathroom of enormous size and I was able to have my washing machine in there. My present situation with my converted wet room is sufficient for me now.
I understand MISTRAL’S loss of her utility room though, although she is now compensated by her lovely porch, which might become a boot room in time ?
SARNIA - so lovely to see you still posting. And even lovelier that you are getting such nice messages from far and wide.
I find it very touching that while ‘we’ as a small group chatter away on here, we become aware on occasion that ‘ out there ‘ there are others who read us perhaps daily, or dip in to read from time to time, and perhaps are entertained by our chatter.
All without us being aware of them until they ‘speak up ‘
I suppose it’s a bit like sitting on a bus and overhearing a conversation going on behind us.
What a great description Mrs P 👏🏻
DeleteAnd reading others posts can trigger memories. Reading about Archerfile's laundry room, a much nicer name than utility room, reminded me of being a little child out in the steam of the "washhouse" which was just opposite the back door. It had a sink, a washtub that boiled the water, and a mangle for squeezing out the water in the clothes before going on the line ( or for squeezing water out of washed long hair, sometimes ouch!). My dad had a sturdy wooden workbench up the other end where farming tools could be mended.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if I could go out in the sunshine in the garden, and leave Bella cat by herself indoors for a while. She had a thyroidectomy on one side and three loose teeth out yesterday, and is supposed to stay indoors for 7 to 10 days, on wet food only, and definitely not out running around chasing mice. She was very woozy yesterday, but today is sitting by the door hoping to slip out when anyone comes. She had a check up with the vet nurse this morning and has to be checked by the vet in 10 days time. They keep an eye on them because apparently it is difficult for vets to remove a thyroid without damaging the very small parathyroid which regulates calcium, and then an animal may have to take a calcium supplement after that. Bella should be alright as cats have two thyroid glands and she just had to have one removed. All very expensive but she doesn't need to take medicine any more so that will save the cost of that.
Oohh get well wishes to Bella- bless her 🐈⬛ yes I’m sure keeping her in for such a long time will be a challenge Janice 🤞🏼
DeleteJanice. I hope your lovely Bella will soon be on the mend. Animals seem to heal far more quickly than us himans.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had a female cat neutered (my previous one), she managed to get her cone off within hours of bringing her home. This she constantly repeated. Day 2 - she managed to escape and went half-way up a tree, well out of my reach.
Don't worry if Bella escapes, she's just doing what she knows + wants, probably just pees + poos in her usual place.
I'm OK with my new vari-focal glasses, except for one thing. I have long eye-lashes and due to the fit needed, these are like wind-screen wipers on a car giving smearing vision.
ReplyDeleteI need to see if they can be adjusted to sort.
Adjustable eye lashes.... now there's a thing.
DeleteOnly you would say that Sarnia - good to hear your humorous observations.
DeleteHope you’re keeping your publisher on his/her toes so finished work is just as you want it.
I can personally sympathise with you in this matter Miriam, however Sarnia your take on it 👏🏻🤣⭐️ brilliant!
Delete