Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
G’day from down under!
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Life in Ambridge
Who will win the Tug of War?
Life in Ambridge
So Lily is off to Australia, she might see this.
A random roof garden
ReplyDeleteLady RMay 29, 2026 at 12:45 PM
ReplyDeleteHats off to Kings College Hospital for their rooftop garden designed for use by their Intensive Care patients to enjoy flowers and herb smells and scenery from their beds, and especially fresh air - their equipment can be hooked up to the units provided. This is a mental game changer 👏🏻❤️👏🏻❤️
Well done to all who contributed to the 2 million pound build be it by Will donations or via fund raisingwhich is why it took a decade (I think) to come to fruition.
REPLY
AmbridgesMrsPMay 29, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it.
When listening to the news I was imagining being up there and looking down onto the surroundings, particularly the very close by park and the trees wherein.
My eldest G child was born there and I went to school near by, so know the area well, and before I left London I was volunteering there too.
KPnutsMay 29, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Having grown up in that neck of the woods it was where I ended up after various scrapes & assorted out patients appointments. Not sure about the air quality though, although I thoroughly approve of the idea
AmbridgesMrsPMay 29, 2026 at 8:44 PM
ReplyDeleteThe idea, though is not so new.
I have memories of the open air hospitals, some of which were still functioning in the London area when I was young.
Though obviously this is a huge leap forward from those hospitals of old which i believe were mainly for tubercular patients.
Lady RMay 29, 2026 at 10:22 PM
As in Treloar Hospital Alton where patients used have their beds wheeled out onto the balconies! Those were the days.
AmbridgesMrsPMay 30, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Precisely Lady R
ArcherphileMay 30, 2026 at 9:59 AM
It reminded me of those old sanatoria they had for TB patients, where they could be wheeled out onto a verandah or garden for the fresh air. But as KP says, I'm not sure rising London air would be so healthy. A lovely idea for future hospital designs though.
Another lovely day but I got frustrated, as no gardening to be done. Things are just how I want them to be. The plants I planted just a week ago are thriving, established and growing fast. There's little colour but give it a couple of weeks or less, it will be different as there are flower buds on everything. The hollyhocks I planted last year did nothing but now are tall and should be great when they flower.
ReplyDeleteI swear the plants in my window box and tubs after a week, have doubled in size and are in full bloom. I used a compost enriched with sphagmum moss peat which is helping as it's much more water retentive.
What did I do instead - the ironing - which is up-to-date until I bring the washing in later, so more ironing tomorrow.
Never a dull moment!
Oh Miriam you should have sat out and enjoyed looking at all your hard work! It is a very hot day here again in Hampshire but it is the last one for now 🙏 Rain most days next week - here anyway, but needed and if too much we Brits will be able to moan about that instead 😂 🌦️
DeleteThe bees are prolific and such a joyous sight to see. 🐝
DeleteI'm listening to older Archers episodes + where I am at the moment, there're delightful scenes of Jill teaching Josh beekeeping. It's fascinating to hear about the care of the hives and the bees themselves.
PS Josh is 12yrs.
DeleteHaving been very upset by the loss of our green house last year & sad to think I could never grow tomatoes again (fancy having to *buy* tomatoes in Summer!), we now are growing some again.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a Tumbling Tom bush tomato to go in a hanging basket and put a grow bag with 3 outdoor Tom plants against the house next to the garden door. Both facing due south so warm and sunny.
I say 'we' but needless to say Gerald did all the work, under my supervision . I just sit on a bench and watch. I hated not being able to get down to do the planting but at least I can water with a hose and, hopefully, pick fruit
I'm pleased to hear that you are growing tomatoes again Archerfile. I don't grow them myself but understand how you feel, for me it's salad. I like to have a constant supply of lettuces and salad leaves to pick fresh from the garden throughout the summer.
DeleteIt’s good to hear that your able to get back out to the garden AP and enjoy some activity albeit supervision only. But having tomatoes to pick to look forward to must be a joy.
DeleteI really do feel for you AP. It is so frustrating to be unable to do something you took for granted. However, I’m so pleased that you are growing some this year even if it was mainly in a supervisory role. As you say, you’ll be able to water and eat them!!
DeleteThere is a world of difference between home grown tomatoes and bought ones
Tumbling tomatos are great. I grew them one year in pots, which sat on an old plastic small table in the sun. They gave a magnificent crop.
DeleteI'm not a massive tomato eater though, so I ended up making lots of tomato puree which took up too much room in my freezer!
It's lovely though to go out and pick them to put straight on a plate or in a salad.
As Soz says, what a difference this makes.
Ah, the smell of tomatoes ripening in the sun is enough for me.
Delete🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅😊
ReplyDeleteWe visited a 20 acre garden yesterday ( Lower Tor House) that was opened as part of the NGS scheme. This year was its first time of opening, in a nice setting on the other side of the moor. Several different parts to it including a wildlife area, a "secret" garden, and a greenhouse with among other things some nice tomato plants. They also kept Arab horses and one of the walks went alongside some fields so you could get a closer look at them. And wonder of wonders they had an outside room in the garden that was their library with floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with books, and a computer and table etc so it must have been a working space as well.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely Janice, especially the outside book room. I will look it up.
DeleteI miss my London summer Sundays visiting NGS open gardens. Few and far in WSomerset, and although the villages have open garden wknds they don’t seem to advertise them widely.
I had my early summer lawn treatment done today. The bloke from the firm who does this, I've known for years so always have a good chat. He said how good the lawns were looking and as I took him into the back garden down the side of the house,which needs levelling + paving, I casually mentioned in passing, that the weed treatment I'd a week ago, hadn't worked.
ReplyDeleteYes - he sprayed it all with his weed-killer. 😄
The weedkiller used on the lawns ,kills weeds in lawns, but doesn't kill the grass 🤷♀️
My ploy worked 🤣🤣
ARCHERPHILE
ReplyDeleteYour favourite biscuits are priced at £1 in TESCO at the moment.
I bought four packs.
I really thank you for mentioning them sometime back, I really like them.
Oh Do tell!
DeleteMy favourite are Hobnobs or Sainsbury's own brand equivalent, equally as good.
ARCHERPHILE did tell Miriam some months ago now. I had never heard of them but they sounded good. I found them at Tesco and bought two packets. Now they are at a good price with club card so bought more.
DeleteThe biscuits are by a French company called Lu. The name of the biscuit is Petit Buerre . They are really buttery, much nicer than the old petit buerre made by Huntly & Palmers years ago. They are made in Nantes, which is where my daughter in law is from. I have seen the factory!
DeleteThanks AP. I'll certainly look out for these on my travels.
DeleteApparantly you'd told me the name some time before, but I just couldn't remember what they were! 🫣
Thanks again.
Now I am an old disabled person officially! ....I have just ordered a stairlift!
ReplyDeleteIt was either that or move our bedroom into the dining room which would have been very inconvenient & I'd still have to go upstairs for a shower.
We had Stannah, a local firm, round some months ago to do a quote, but they were very expensive so I kept putting the purchase off.
Today we had a visit from Acorn stairlifts who were quite shocked by how steep & narrow our stairs are. But they can cope with that and by choosing a reconditioned one I save about £2000-£3000 over Stannah.
So I shall be gliding up & down in a couple of weeks & no need to move......yet.
Good for you for realising what will help you live your normal life with Hubbie, in the home you know + love and with your garden to enjoy.
DeleteI hope it has a speed limiter on it, otherwise your staircase will be like a F1 racing circuit! 🤣
My in-laws had a stairlift, all the grand children thought it was great fun. My grandmother had a lift between the dining room and her bedroom as the staircase was very steep and had multiple turns, it was a large Edwardian town house.
ReplyDeleteYes, the old charming houses often have narrow and steep staircases which I find difficult and even young people fall down them.
ReplyDeleteWell done ARCHERPHILE for finally making a decision. If you find that you cope well with it then perhaps the move will be put on hold for ever.
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful top floor flat with its two large balconies in Ilminster that I would have loved to buy had a stairlift on the communal stairs already, but even so, the thought of having to take the dog out in the middle of the night, albeit only occasionally, combined with a couple of other possible problems, was finally the reason I decided instead on my flat here in Minehead. But I still think about how I would have enjoyed Ilminster itself rather than here.
My daughters Victorian town house in Bath has four floors of stairs and my son in law fell down the steepest flight a few years ago.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhilst eating breakfast yesterday morning, I suddenly saw a lovely field mouse run across the lounge.
ReplyDeleteI knew where it was hiding but couldn't get it.
Later, it was seen changing it's hiding place, but again no rescue attempt was successful.
Sadly, it's just been found by the cat flap, deceased.😪
Pusscat is sitting on my lap purring away as if nothing has happened!
To add this is the 3rd mouse in a few days and a 3rd corpse. All are intact, as she just wants to play with them, gets bored and then leaves them to run around with me trying to get them back to where they belong.
I haven't been successful so far..😒
Good luck with the next one Miriam.
DeleteI know how you feel, Puss brought one in about three weeks ago and it’s still living here somewhere. I’m surprised it hasn’t died from starvation so far.
You might find it like I've found some.
DeleteOne was in a bag of nuts + raisins I'd put on the floor by my usual chair, where it was happily chomping away.
Another was found sitting in pusscats bowl of kibble, and so enjoying nibbling away on it!
Both these were released to live another day.
There is a U.K. directory of Open Gardens ( which are normally cheaper than the NGS open gardens) on www.opengardens.co.uk
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of gardens, our local paper has published a list of the ten best public gardens in the North West and Tatton Park garden came top. It's ages since I last went so a visit will be on the cards in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI too need a visit to Tatton, as it's ages since I was last there.
DeleteIt's definitely on my list of things to do again, as I remember it so well and is a wonderful day out.
I just love the Pineapple House + the Japanese Garden .
I'm loving the rain showers at the moment. Nothing heavy but enough to keep the garden watered (saves me a job) and in between, warm bright sunshine.
ReplyDeletePerfect conditions to keep garden thriving without plants being damaged.
Thank you Anrol.
DeleteI was not aware of that facility.
The showers and sunshine are great for the garden , but even better for the weeds 🫤
DeleteAnd not great for roses either……
DeleteDon't suppose there is anyone else who needs to know this but thought I would mention it. Ever since I was about 17 when I ate a mushroom that probably wasn't ! I haven't been able to eat them without getting an upset painful stomach for 2 or 3 days afterwards.
ReplyDelete( Not an allergy just a food intolerance.) Went shopping on tuesday and ate in their cafe. The steak and kidney pie looked good and I was told there were no mushrooms in it which there weren't, but I have had exactly the same symptoms afterwards as if there had been. On looking it up online some commercial manufacturers apparently add mushroom powder to the gravy in steak pies to give added flavour. So that is the last time I shall have one of those pies unless cooked at home.
It just goes to show how difficult it is for people who have allergies and intolerances to know what's safe to eat. One of my grandsons has an allergy and I'm always on tenterhooks when he and his sister come to stay with us.
DeleteJanice, I absolutely understand. There are many foods that don't agree with me and now I can only eat 'clean' food, ie basic ingredients, so only eat at home and occasionally at my sister's. Even with the ingredients listed people with dietary concerns should not eat out/take away food in my opinion. There have been some cases resulting in tragic consequences. Any packaged food that I have, except coffee and rice, has a warning that it may contain traces of nuts, soya etc, even the peanut jar label says it was produced in a place which uses nuts!
DeleteWhen I was growing up there was virtually no take away food, apart from cakes, and people generally didn't eat out. A few years ago I sat next to a man on a train who first asked if I minded if he ate his sandwiches and then took out some home made by himself.
So many hidden ingredients in processed food, it becomes very difficult to distinguish what is safe to eat.
DeleteIn my family growing up we never had mushrooms as apparently my father was allergic to them. In my very senior years I have managed to overcome my residual aversion and now have them regularly on toast but really dislike them in pies, though I do enjoy mushroom soup but leave out ‘ the bits ‘.
How strange some of our food dislikes are.
I do hope your tummy upset clears up soon Janice.
I try to avoid processed foods as such, but I do buy turkey sausages and also smoked bacon, plus occasionally ham for sarnis.
DeleteI also buy jars of curry + pasta sauces but only those I know + trust, with no additives just natural ingredients, well if the labels can be believed!
My favourite curry sauces come from Aldi, a jar of tasty sauce with a separate container of the spices on top of the lid.
These are delicious + make a chicken or turkey curry very quickly, with no mess and faffing about!
I’m severely allergic to celery. I have 2 EpiPens. The amount of times I’m told we don’t use celery and then I say but what stock do you use. They toddle off and come back and say, oh yeah there’s celery in the stock. I cannot eat soup when out because it’s always made with the wrong stick for me. Considering celery is one of the top allergens I don’t understand why cafes don’t use vegan bouillon stock as that is celery free.
ReplyDeletePtbY - I know someone who won't go anywhere near celery.
DeleteI used to like it very much, but earlier this year bought celery root and had a mild reaction.
Pity, because I like the smell and texture and used to eat the stalks too.
A strong memory of my childhood is, a Saturday night, sitting behind the sofa but peeking out, eating fish-paste sarnis whilst munching on sticks of celery. This was watching Dr. Who + the Daleks!!
DeleteIsn't it strange what childhood memories we keep.
I use celery a lot in cooking, and is always part of the base odouri I use for a spag. bol.
spelling - should be odori.
DeleteI had never heard of odori so googled it to find it is a Japanese dance???
DeleteEek! Dancing prawn dish
Delete???!
DeleteOh dear, sorry to confuse you.
DeleteAn odori in Italian cooking is finally diced onion, carrot, celery + garlic, slowly sweated in olive oil along with aromatic herbs until soft, about 20mins. This is the base of many an Italian dish.
To add, an alternative name is a soffrito.
DeleteSounds nice. I shall tell my daughter as it is the type of thing she would like to cook.
DeleteBasia…..careful, because after one mild reaction of swollen lips when a teenager I went to full anaphylactic shock response when I’d had some next time and had a quick trip to hospital.
ReplyDeletePtbY Thank you, but it was more that it caused indigestion which never happened before, I reduced the amount, but will not try again.
DeleteI know nature is cruel. An hour ago there was a male blackbird sitting on the fence at the bottom of the garden, giving a massive warning sound. I know there is a blackbirds nest in my beech hedge +where it is.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I've just found a dead, newly hatched blackbird on my kitchen floor It was totally bald, colourless and still had the embryo sac attached.
How pusscat found this to bring in, I've no idea, as no way could she have got to the nest, let alone get this!
There are loads of magpies around, but it's a complete and utter sad, mystery.
So sorry Miriam.
DeleteAs you say nature is cruel.
It is however very upsetting when your cat kills, whatever it is that is killed but a baby bird whose parents knew what was coming is dreading.
I understand how upset you must be.
Apologies- a bit garbled at the end there.
DeleteHowever I caught Puss clearly eyeing up a robin that had dropped down onto the earth near him this morning.
Vicious little tykes !
My cat didn't kill it. On thinking about it, she probably found it on the ground underneath the nest, about 4ft below.
DeleteI wish I knew how this newly hatched bird fell out of the nest.
Just listened to Conversations and found the ending hilarious, it was so well done, tragic and comic all at once, and the Archers and the shipping forecast, brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThat's my night-time listen in bed tonight.
DeleteI loved the end of series 6 thinking that's it over, and ending so brilliantly.
I was surprised to see a new series, as my thinking was it won't be as good.
How wrong I was, as it's as good as ever.
The music is still as wonderful and love how it fits in.
This was highlighted by what was played with the seagull saga, which I realised it was Albatross by Fleetwood Mac. How clever that was.
It did though take me a short while (about 30mins) to be able to name that music which recognised immediatly.
At least my brain cells still seem to be working in some way!
Yes, I thought it was the end when she went away and perhaps it was supposed to be and I'm glad they brought it back, but with their various friends dying, I wonder what they plan to do. The music is great.
DeleteI'm busy re-listening from the start. Still got a few episodes to go before I reach this season's finale.
DeleteI have been tuning into Radio 3 Unwind, especially if I cannot sleep. It's a selection of lovely music, some classical, some piano choral, without any commentary, designed to make you relax. I have heard so many new and unfamiliar works. Sometimes there is background sound between the pieces , could be sea breaking on the shore or the dawn chorus etc. I keep a little old iPod next to the bed and listen in with earphones. It helps me drift back to sleep. And unlike Classic fm, it's not repetitive, so you are hearing new tracks all the time.
ReplyDeleteWe're currently sitting in the conservatory with an almighty thunderstorm playing out directly above. It's quite dramatic! ⛈️
ReplyDeletePoor You.
DeleteNone here, just a few heavy showers but mostly sunny + warm.
R3U is my favourite station Archerphile, have it on most of the day, I am tired of listening to R4 after a lifetime of doing so, I find it boring a lot of the time, but still listen to drama on Sounds.
ReplyDeleteARCHERPHILE.
ReplyDeleteI've just seen on the other page, you've got your stairlift - Brilliant, but have got L-plates? 😆
I just listened to Alistair McGowan at the Hay Festival who likes that Radio 3 doesn't come with a trigger warning and if you've been affected by what you've heard: good.
ReplyDeleteHe was a guest on Poetry Please with Roger MCGough, I'm not into poetry but liked the programme.
I'm neither into classical music and no longer have Sounds, so only Radio 4 which I listen to less and less. I like the sound of the birds outside.
I download or subscribe to lots from Sounds, series, dramas, whodunits..
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I like R4ex, particularly with the "comedy" series going back years + years.
These are dated, but I rather like this type of "slapstick" humour and life-style of those eras. I always know that I have a warped sense of humour, which some of my family members join in with+ love.
Not long ago self, a niece + a great-niece were cuddled up on a sofa crying with laughter, yet Big Sis had no idea what we found so funny nor why. The more we tried to explain it, the more we laughed + cried 🤣😂🤣
Archerphile please see TA blog I have posted incorrectly 🤭
ReplyDeleteI've just seen this and thanks for the update.
DeleteI often think about you + how you're getting on. 🤗
🙏🏼
DeleteWhat a day of changing weather.
ReplyDeleteBright sunshine + blue skies and very warm, then dark clouds, torrential rain, large hail stones along with thunder + lightning, all intermixed. It's now a lovely sunny evening.
My big moan has to be the cost of food. I did my s/market shop this morning (avoiding the rain) and I was gobsmacked how prices have shot up in just a few weeks. One item I buy, perhaps every 4 weeks, was 25p more today, then another had gone up from £1 20 to £1.60.
Will this ever end?
I need petrol and I dread what a fill-up will end up at!
Off to vote tomorrow. Our ward didn't have council elections this year. However, sadly one of our councillors has died so needs to be replaced.
At least whoever gets voted in will only be in office until May next year. He/She will have to prove themselves in that time as to my area and their pledges!
To add my paper recycling bin is full of all the bumpf which has come through my door in the last few weeks. The best place for some of it, is definitely the bin!! 😄
DeleteDon't you have no publicity please stickers?
DeleteMost of us have them on our letter boxes and I give them new neighbours who don't know they are available at the town hall.
Sometimes letters can get lost among all the rubbish.
Has anyone been watching this series of Springwatch? I don't get any choice about having it on as it is one of Mr A's favourite series and he won't miss an episode. There has been some wonderful photography of the wildlife in Northern Ireland and especially the water birds on their nests.
ReplyDeleteBut oh! The juvenile presentation by Chris Packham & Michaela Strachan drives me to distraction. All the messing around, joshing and joking does the programme no favours. It's as though they were still fronting a show for children. The only serious but truly interesting presenter is Iolo Williams who does the job properly. As Lady R knows, he is one of my favourites!
Sounds like dumbing down, woking for genZ, I don't know what any of this is and don't intend to find out. Nothing can be straightforward nowadays, all "jazzed up"!
DeleteTennis this year will take place within the other sports event and here there's cycling which has France in its name, but now starts outside the country, this year from Spain.
We've been watching it Archerfile and enjoying the content. Presenters fall into categories for me. Those I like (very few), those I can tolerate and those I have t switch off. Iolo is in the first one and Chris and Michaela are in the second. I prefer them to Bill Oddie and Kate Humble!
DeleteI no longer watch these, as I just got so fed up with the presenters. To my mind, too much airtime was given to those in the studio with their silly, gimmicky comments + props.
DeleteIt might have changed now, but can't say as no longer watching.
I have not chosen to watch it for years.
DeleteI can’t remember why, but suspect your collective gripes are the reason.
I agree with your irritations and agree wholeheartedly with BASIAs comments.
Jazzed up hyperbole personified.
I’ve just turned off yet another shouty person on the 6.30. Comedy spot.
I heartily agree with CC about Bill Oddie and Kate Humble. There was a presenter called Martin Hughes-Games I liked but he was ditched. I really do think that Packham &Strachan have reverted to the Children's TV show they presented together, The Really Wild Show. It's time they moved on to more adult audiences.
DeleteI had my covid jab on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteFelt fine although with a sore arm.
Yesterday I felt low but managed to get through the day but was in bed by eight o’clock.
Today I’ve really struggled and have been in bed this afternoon.
No headache but feel as tho’ I have flue. Really wiped out.
Not helped by having two lads here doing work on my garden and having to be up and about and relatively on form.
Has any one else had a reaction this year. It’s the first time for me.
I think I've been very lucky with my Covid jabs, apart from the occasional sore arm I haven't had any problems.
DeleteToday has felt more like autumn than summer here. That meant I didn't have the excuse of it being too hot to give the conservatory its annual spring clean which we do after the pelargonium cuttings have been put out. With the wind and rain there haven't been any bees or butterflies about, here's hoping that the weather forecast is correct and it warms up a bit at the weekend and they reappear.
I’m pleased to say that I’m feeling bright and cheerful this morning.
DeleteNo lethargy or flue like symptoms.
Let’s hope the vaccination works as it should.
Sorry to hear that David Hockney has died at 88.
I don’t know if it was expected, or even if he was ill.
A message from my daughter after asking the same question of her, that the last pictures of him showed him presumably frail, in a wheelchair, and that he was a lifetime smoker, so pretty good to get to 88.
ReplyDeleteHeard this afternoon that ex rugby player Kevin Sinfield, who did so much to support Rob Burrow and publicise Motor Neurone Disease, is to be Knighted in the Kings Birthday Honours list tomorrow. So well deserved, he put his heart and soul into raising funds for MND and ran all those marathons. Congratulations Sir Kev!
ReplyDeleteWell deserved indeed 🙂
DeleteRIP David Hockney. He gave a lot of joy to many people. I found him an accessible artist; in true Yorkshire fashion he was blunt and to the point. I can remember going to his exhibition at the Royal Academy and being blown away by those huge landscapes.
ReplyDeleteJust watched the Trooping of the Colour - as I have every year since it was only on black and white TV. I love royal occasions and pageantry. Today's was exceptional with the fine weather, wish I could have been there. The only thing that spoilt it for me (moan coming up!) was the ever-present Clare Balding's commentary and Giles Brandreath joining in at the end with his "I am a friend of the Royal Family" stories, which he has told dozens of times.
ReplyDeleteYou all know I am not a fan of Miss Balding but she seems to be in everything these days, now even a quiz programme on books. I know she has experience of horses, but surely that doesn't make her an expert on everything. Grump, grump!!
I didn't find Clare Balding too bad today, but it's Giles Bandreth who I can't stand.
DeleteTo add, it was only after it ended, that I remembered there's a way to watch it with no commentary.
DeleteI watched the Trooping too and I like Clare Balding.
DeleteAs a child with a military father The Trooping of the Colour and The Royal Tournament were the highlights of our year. My father had been in the mounted cavalry as a young soldier and was passionate about horses.
As an adult I was once in the ticketed stands, pregnant at the time, my baby kicked in time with the big drum at slow March.
I do agree that the Luvvy G Brandreth can be rather irritating.
What a fabulous afternoon + early evening. It's sunny and very warm, almost hot!
ReplyDeleteIt's looking good for tomorrow, so cleaned all the downstairs ready for a day of gardening tomorrow.
I'm so disappointed as I planted 18 runner beans and only 6 have germinated!
I have some left from two different packs so will plant more with 🫰
If these germinate I'll have an early + then late crop.
I'm actually going to delve into the compost with my trowel, to hopefully look at what I planted, to try and found out if the beans rotted or were eaten, to work out what's gone wrong.
By the end of today we will be half way through June!!!
ReplyDeleteBe ruddy Christmas before we know it.
The summer starts officially on the 21st, we're heading for a heatwave here this week.
DeleteI can't believe that I went out with two sticks trying not to slip on the ice way back then...
I've just had an email advertising the Glow event at RHS Bridgewater, I really don't want to think about that before we've even had the longest day.
DeleteI've had - book now for Christmas Markets!
DeleteI found that our early raspberry (bushes, not canes) are now ripening fast. I'm itching to pick them but cannot manage, needing 2 sticks to hold me up. I need that third hand to pick with. Wondering if I could put a chair in amongst the bushes and, seated, pick those around me! 😂
ReplyDeleteAP. As the saying goes - Where there's a will, there's a way
DeleteGive it a go, I'm sure you can sort something out to suit you.
A couple of weeks ago MrNuts mentioned that there were quite a lot of gooseberries on the bush, when I went to check a few days later there was one, the next afternoon we saw the pheasant that comes up to the house almost daily for food cheerfully take the lat berry, I felt betrayed!
ReplyDeleteI caught a squirrel sitting in my Apple tree eating a baby apple yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI’ve seen him/her a lot recently, think it’s a youngster who is well aware of Lady on patrol, although thinking about it, I seem to remember Puss bringing a dead squidgel home once in his early days with me.
I bought myself a treat today, a bag of Jersey Royals, only because they were half price! Even then not el cheapo, but good enough for me to buy.
ReplyDeleteBeen busy in the garden today, and there's so many bees around, far more than I've seen for a few years, along with butterflies.
Mind you my garden is so much better now than a couple of years ago, so perhaps it's no wonder. I've gone for a cottage garden look and it's certainly really taking shape. The Hollyhocks are full of buds + tall, so not long now to come into flower.
I've noticed a lot of bees this year as well Miriam
DeleteI can't believe I've had to go out + water, yet again!
DeleteThe short, sharp showers over the last couple of days have made no difference
I knew it rained last night, as 🐈⬛ landed on me at some ungodly hour, soaking wet. When I got up at 7.30am all was dry.
We usually go to a pick your own strawberry farm this time of year but for the first time in 40 years they are only selling ones grown in their polytunnels. Apparently due to climate change and wetter weather at the wrong time.
ReplyDeleteHow is everyone coping with the heat. I’m in London Animal sitting and it is HOT already.
ReplyDeleteHating it! Sitting in front of a large fan, curtains closed, perspiring gently. Reduces my energy even further than normal & I cant even have a cold shower! 🥵
ReplyDeleteHere where I am it's 35°C and not going to get better for a while.
ReplyDeleteI'm not coping at all well, but remind myself that people in the war zones have no water or sanitation and it's much hotter there.
Very cool and drizzly in South Devon, wish it was hot here.
ReplyDeleteBe careful what you wish for, when hot it's always too much and in the cold you can move around and put more clothes on.
DeleteThe heat hasn't reached us yet. I've been out all day today but am hoping to get some gardening done over the weekend before it gets hotter at the beginning of next week.
DeleteLovely here in W. Cheshire as well. Temp still reached 25C but with only sunny intervals and a nice fresh breeze.
DeleteThe breeze has now dropped, it's cloudy and also heavy/humid.
Think a bad night ahead..
Cool and drizzly here too in Cornwall.
DeleteI’ve had visitors for a couple of days so busy out and about.
DeleteHeat not too bad and manageable though damp this morning.
Off to see them return on the heritage steam railway this morning.
Will write more later.
MrsP - telepathic - reading our thoughts.
DeleteMaryellen has asked on the other blog how MrsP and LadyR are, please let us know if possible.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me feel better knowing that some of you are not in the heatwave.
We had a violent storm in the night and the morning was fresh.
Otherwise there are heat warnings before the news bulletins about precautions to take.
Some schools are closed, end of year exams put forward.
On Sunday the annual Fete de la musique takes place, but some places have cancelled the events due to the extreme weather.
Stay cool and hydrated, eating is important too.
Thank you Basia I have just seen ME kind query on the other blog and replied there before realising the wrong blog really 🫢 The hammers and saws you will see there refer to my hip should you wonder when you see them!
DeleteMy water meter will have been whizzing round fast over the last hour. Have been out watering the garden again! - but as I've spent so much time, energy and cash, getting it how I want, I'm giving it a lot of TLC. The ground is already baked hard, but this doesn't stop the weeds growing, unlike my plants many of which are drooping.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lot of watering is going to be needed over the next week, my water butts will be emptying very quickly.
ReplyDeleteIt was sad news about yesterday's train crash, thankfully something that doesn't happen often in this country.
How I wish I had a water butt. I live in a semi- and the down-pipes back + front for both houses, are on my neighbours property, not mine...😵💫
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCould the down pipes be converted Miriam ?
DeleteIf it was practically possible, are you friendly enough with your neighbours to broach the subject. You would obviously have to pay for the work to be done.
Sadly no. My gutters have been replaced, so there is a join in them on the dividing line and are angled downwards from my property to theirs. Besides the cost of such works would far outweigh the cost of a water butt as their's would need to be upgraded. A good idea though.
Delete..Even if I just did the back, I'd need to put in a downpipe and the necessary drainage grate linking to a drain. £££
DeleteIt’s a shame, but sometimes we have to accept that some things cannot be remedied.
DeleteYou have clearly thought it through.
Do you have a shed, Miriam? We finally got a water butt last year when one of our lovely cast iron downpipes failed and was replaced with plastic. It only feeds from the flat garage roof, but still fills surprisingly quickly. A shed but wouldn't be as good as one fed from a whole roof, but it might help. Alternatively, how about an unattached butt? You'd simply need to remove the lid when rain was due.
DeleteMy water butts are filled from our three sheds. When we had our old shed replaced I decided to get separate ones for potting, tools and storage for that reason.
DeleteThis house, a former hotel has an outside tap, which happens to be in my garden. My hose is attached to it, and another hose feeds through to the adjacent garden which belongs to the flat above me.
ReplyDeleteWe pay, of course for this water.
I have a number of containers in my garden catching plenty of water and I have not used my hose once since I’ve been here. The other residents are free and easy with
the use of the hose, which can stretch to the other garden as well. The fourth flat has its own supply.
Two years ago I bought a water butt for communal use and it sits beside our bin area, and I fill it regularly from the rainwater in my garden. I did this in an attempt to cut down the use, and cost , of using the hose.
No one else can be bothered to fill a watering can so I am the only person using it.
I despair !
Yes, MrsP - there is an old "hippy" house in my neighbourhood being converted into two airbnb and three parking spaces in place of garden. The place is being gutted but the only remaining feature is an old green water butt which is still free standing. A former hippy lived there for many years and still paying rent even with no electricity or running water - he must have used it instead. He's now moved on and lives with his girlfriend and looks better for it. He has no voice box, so at first I didn't know why he just looked at me askance, but then we managed to mime and he can speak in a whisper, though carries a device in his pocket.
DeleteI assume you read LadyR's post above and are no longer mystified.
BASIA - 🤙
DeletePopped out shopping this morning, just for essentials such as milk, tomatoes, salad stuff + a top up of veg. which was some carrots + a lovely cauli.
ReplyDeleteI'm well stocked now until Saturday, after the heatwave subsides.
No way do I plan to go out + about until then.
I've plenty to do and I might just catch up with some reading.
My newest book, is an Anne Cleeves one, when Jimmy Perez from the original Shetland series of books, is now in Orkney.
Pusscat 🐈⬛ isn't doing well but seems to have found a cool spot in a back bedroom.
How are your pets doing, esp. with walking the dogs, as pavements etc must be hot on their feet.
Take Care All, as the temps start rising even more over the next few days.
PS I read a comment elsewhere today - fill a hot water hal-full, put in the freezer and then put into the bed at night - ie a cold water bottle! This also said, half fill a plastic container such as a milk bottle or similar. An interesting idea. 🤷♀️
OOPs . I've just realised the comnent about the cold water bottle was on the other page as posted by Janice..
DeleteSorry Janice...😪😪
It’s easy to keep my flat cool due to the position of the house, full sun at the front but none on the back of the building.
ReplyDeleteBut Lady and Puss are very obviously feeling the heat.
We’ve had a darkening sky, lots of lightning and rumbling thunder but very little actual rain.
Lady was very anxious. I think probably feeling the electrical effects rather than the bangs which were not that loud.
All over now and will take her for a walk after TA.
My car has been MOTd today and no more advisories than when the garage gave it a once over a few months ago.
Since posting the above I’ve heard tales of the storm - which for me was little more than rumbling thunder -but which was extreme just a few miles away.
ReplyDeleteHorrendous rain and local flooding.
Yesterday we had warm showers while paddling in a sea which was warmer than usual. In a minute I'm going to go out and empty the leaves out of the dustbin lid I dug into the ground and put fresh water in it. Have just looked out the window to see a young magpie trying to bath in one of the drinking bowls.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing electrical storm last night. No rain, no thunder, just the whole sky lighting up every few seconds. I kept waiting for the bangs and crashes but it was totally silent - like an incredible light show or an invasion from another planet. Kept thinking of H G Wells' s War of the Worlds!
ReplyDeleteNothing here AP just shows how localised the weather often is. It sounds as though you enjoyed it 🤔
DeleteIt sounds like quite a spectacle Archerfile.
ReplyDeleteI was sitting on the patio yesterday evening making the most of a fresh breeze before the heat hit us, I don't think I'll be doing the same this evening, it's 30 degrees in the shade now.
I was out in the garden at 2.00am this morning with a glass of ice-cold water, it was lovely and coolish.
DeleteI woke up (loo trip) and felt the cooler air coming in, so decided I had to go out and make the most of it.
All I can say is, that it's a good thing no-one can see into my garden, as my night-wear was a bit skimpy and not a pretty sight..🫣
DeleteSounds good to me Miriam let’s hope none was flying a night time drone 🫢😂
DeleteNo one
DeleteWhen I started my car this afternoon the temperature on the dashboard read 38 degrees but it had been in the sun all day and I’ve been told this isn’t accurate. Whilst driving it did drop to 35. Whatever the real reading was , in my opinion it was HOT. Fortunately my cottage is cool as long as I keep all doors and windows shut on the South side.
ReplyDeleteI think we will have to adopt the continental idea of siestas in the afternoons and work early mornings and evenings.
That's exactly what my son and family are doing in Toulouse. They had temps of 40C yesterday. Keep all the windows & blinds closed and work very early mornings, rest for most of day then open up in the late evening. They are having air conditioning fitted but it's not ready yet, but they really need it. Having all tiled floors & no carpet helps.
DeleteI did have a sleep this afternoon, on the settee.
DeleteAnd I’m about to take Lady out now and go to the supermarket, after a walk on the beach.
And I cancelled the only appointment I had for Thursday midday.
Fortunately it’s easy to keep my flat cool, and even parts of the garden are in permanent shade.
I’m quite enjoying this hot weather. I painted the side of my shed yesterday morning whilst it was in the shade and then did nothing all day. Stayed in and kept doors and curtains shut and I didn’t feel guilty for not working.
ReplyDeleteI’m going to do the same again today!
Will pop to Lidl for a watermelon though. Dogs love it and we are having it for pudding with kefir poured over it. Very refreshing.
Just an update from Daughter.in.Law in France. They are now having their 4th day at 40C and are coping as best they can. But at least they don't have the humidity that we have. It's dry heat, but dangerous to touch anything metal outside as you get burnt.
ReplyDeleteTheir cats are suffering and staying in the bathroom as it's the coolest place!
😱😱😱😱😱AP
DeleteWhen I spent a year living with my sister in the New Forest I realised how clever our ancestors were. Her cottage was thatched and made from mud, dung and straw - a cob cottage; the walls were very thick. There was no central heating or air conditioning but in the winter the cottage retained the heat and in the summer it was cool. There was no damp course , thick stone slabs were laid on sand and the back of the cottage was about a foot below land level. My sister had had a kitchen extension to the side which was lovely but was no where near as cool as the rooms in the old part of the cottage.
ReplyDeleteWell that says it all Soz!
DeleteOur heat warning was raised from amber to red today until end of week.
ReplyDelete35° - 40° with the sun factor. Our building is well insulated , with tight fitting white blinds, but this year it's not enough, so in the morning I lugged a fan across town, flat pack, so weight evenly spread. It took two of my neighbours to put it up, because I'm useless at such. I rang my neighbour from across the landing (she was at work as carer) and she had bought one two weeks ago. I told her that she's mad like me and she agreed.
40 people drowned in 5 days, always a sign of summer here and sadly the first deaths of children in a locked car. My sister said that no child is going to climb into a car and lock themselves in. There must be many cases of the same happening to animals but not mentioned.
It's market day tomorrow, I think they start at 6/7, I won't be there that early, but will try to beat the heat. If all else fails, my sister stocked me up with bottled water in the cellar, so I should get through it.
A different take on the weather, as it's mid winter in OZ and saw some photos of my two great-nephews (6 and 8yrs) off to their school Midwinter Extravaganza. They were done as Jack Frost with spiky white hair and blue face-painting, arms + legs.
ReplyDeleteThere were snowflakes, snowmen, lots of Elsa,from Frozen etc.
However although midwinter, they were still in shorts + tops. What amused me was that most of these school kids have never seen, nor experienced, snow + ice!
What a great event it looked though..☃️❄️
Too add. Well done their school for getting them to imagine + learn about different climates in different parts of our world.
DeleteAgree with your previous post Miriam.
DeleteWell done Australia !
Unlike the United States.
My washing dried in record time today but I won't be ironing any time soon in this heat.
ReplyDeleteI've been catching up on all the admin jobs that I keep putting off and doing the gardening instead, only the watering got done today out there today.
32 here now, 27 last night. Not even tempted to go to the beach today. Took my neighbour who doesn't drive for a g.p. appointment this morning and am sitting indoors in the shade now with watered down apple juice and chunks of ice in it. Just to say our neighbour who has until recently seemed very healthy has been diagnosed at 58 with diabetes and high blood pressure and also very very low levels of vitamin D. So as well as medication she was given a massive dose of vitamin D for a fortnight before going on to a maintenance dose. Her blood pressure shot up a lot more which worried her. Then she looked it up on line and discovered that big doses of vitamin D can increase blood pressure. I can't understand why doctors don't explain things like that. I'm not sure they even know. Today the doctor has discontinued the b.p. medication. I mention it just in case anyone else takes very large amounts of vitamin D and wonders why their b.p. is going up. The usual supplement level is fone.
ReplyDeleteFine
DeleteCar read 38c today but once on the move outside temp dropped to 36c 😱 and stayed there, I was so pooped yesterday I could not visit George only the second time in 8 months. Back today for a while and just awful there even with available fans and my own running .The staff are really being tested I feel for them so much but they are still smiling and caring dishing out ice lollies, ice creams, cold drinks as well as tea. 🙏🏼 for them ⭐️⭐️⭐️ George pretty good weather taken into consideration. Yesterday morning he was playing the xylophone during activities they passed on a video that they took. He is truly Mr Tambourine man though he uses one that has a solid side too and shakes and taps together and rocks his shoulders up and down he keeps going for the whole hour of the entertainment and often out sings the performer who has a microphone and a full backing band running on their iPhone/ iPad. He cracks us all up.
ReplyDeleteLadyR - what a joy to read your post, people together at their best.
DeleteLadyR it's so pleasing to hear that you have found such a lovely place for MrR. Nice to have a good news story for a change 😊
DeleteWonderful news of George and his ongoing development in his new home Lady R.
DeleteSo very pleased for you, as well as him, that you found such a suitable and supportive nursing home for him.
It must bring you such joy, and well deserved too.
But do tell us how you are coping in your new environment of living alone.
I agree with everyone else LadyR, re George's home. It sounds à wonderful caring place and it must be so difficult looking after the elderly in these heat conditions. I'd love to have seen him on the xylophone, he must have been having a great time!
DeleteSo many butterflies seen today and all on one plant, a lilac coloured scabiosa. It is obviously pure nectar for them.
ReplyDeleteThere were different sorts, but no idea what they were but just delightful to see.
Also - have flowers starting to appear on my runner bean plants so it's 🫰there'll soon be the start of this years crop.
As a non football fan, my watch tonight is the Glastonbury one, much more my taste.
Sadly I have no means to watch the cricket, except the highlights, but come Monday I'll be in my element with Wimbledon starting, so I can't moan about the football, which thankfully is later at night.
DeleteI've downloaded some plays/dramas today, so there's plenty to listen to as I snuggle down at night.
The only butterflies I've seen today are small whites desperately trying to get through the netting covering my brassica bed.
DeleteBeing cooler we managed to get some much needed gardening done. It was nice to have a fresh breeze this evening on our patio but it's still very warm indoors.
Haven’t seen many butterflies but the cottage is full of moths at night. Probably because I have all the windows open once the sun has stopped shining on them.
ReplyDeleteI've just seen that Penelope Keith has died. Another wonderful Dame, no more..😌
ReplyDeleteAnd only two years older than me !
DeleteA wonderful actress to remember.
Sad news Miriam
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThere have been other British actresses lost in the last year who also made an impact:-
DeletePrunella Scales, Pauline Collins, Patricia Routledge and now Penelope Keith.
I'm thinking about similar in a younger generation who have a similar profile, but can't think of many, Perhaps this is an age thing, or is it that TV is now so different and theatres too expensive to go to?
Any suggestions?
Penelope Keith ,one of my favourite actresses (or should that be actors?). My favourite of her roles wasn't on TV, it was as Agatha Raisin in the books by M C Beaton on Radio 4. Perfect characterisation and true to the author.
ReplyDeleteShe was perfect as Agatha, esp. as I've read all the books.
DeleteMy little Sis bought them all for me for a Birthday pressie one year.
The other thing about the radio adaptations was they weren't altered in any way!
A great actress and I will miss her 😕
ReplyDeleteThank you for recent comments after my recent post. Will update on myself hopefully at some point quite soon 🤞🏼 🤭
Penelope Keith was one of those actresses I expected to live forever. Her presence on stage and TV gave me much pleasure. I would like to listen to her performances on radio as well. Maybe the BBC will play some of them again.
ReplyDeleteOne actress who so surprised me recently was Ruth Jones, ie Nessa in Gavin + Stacey. I thought she'd be typecast due to this, but so wrong.
ReplyDeleteHer portrayal of Mrs.Bennet in the Other Bennet Sister was brilliant and so totally different, showing a completely different set of acting skills.
I went to the hospital for my neurological testing of my hand yesterday.
ReplyDeleteFifteen minutes of electrical shocks to each finger and thumb.
The clinician kept muttering ‘classic’ and at the end confirmed that yes, my problem is Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Just hope I don’t have to wait too long for the surgery.
On the return journey I called in to a nearby small resort where a local very small farmer, two cows, supplies milk and eggs in a small roadside shelter.
I bought a litre of milk from yesterday’s morning’s milking.
Sometimes they have Jersey, but not at the moment but I’m satisfied that I get on some occasions some milk that’s truly straight from the cow.
I had both hands operated on for carpel tunnel syndrome. The result is mixed - the hand which was severely affected is a bit better and the left hand which was not so bad is much better than it was. I did find the splint that I wore in bed helped to keep my wrist still.
DeleteThanks for that information Soz.
DeleteMy mother had the op, must be at least 40 years ago, so must have improved the surgery by now.
I’ve always considered myself to have a very high pain threshold but I’ve discovered that I have a low sensation threshold.
I can’t describe what I’m experiencing as pain, it’s a sensation, but it’s really really awful.
I found the splint at night useless.
When you say it’s ‘ a it better ‘ can you explain more ?
Thanks for that information Soz
DeleteMy mother had the surgery but that would have been at least 40 years ago, and I would assume it’s more successful now.
I have always considered myself to have a high pain threshold, but I’ve discovered that I have a very low sensation threshold.
I can’t call what I’m experiencing as pain, but it is a really strong and horrible sensation, and I’m not coping well with it.
I’ve found the splint at night useless.
Can you explain in what way your symptoms changed after surgery ?
You say ‘ a bit better ‘ - how ?
Sorry first post didn’t show as published
ReplyDeleteFor me and I think most people carpel tunnel is a sensation rather than pain; what starts out as pins and needles develops into numbness. Doctors will tell you that it takes a year after surgery to get feeling back as far as it will go. My left hand is virtually back to normal whilst my right hand, which was by far the worst, remains tingly - the pins and needles are still there but it is not as numb as it was. My ops for this were delayed because of my accident by about 1 and a half years. I would recommend the sooner the better if possible.
DeleteI did go privately in the end as the op had been delayed already by so long.
DeleteTalking about tingly and pins and needles - thats what I have had ever since my replacement knee operation. The left side of my knee and down my leg is sort of numb but also very prickly with pins and needles. Drives me mad at night and I can't keep the leg still. It was wonderful to have a new knee but could do without the after effects!
DeleteAnyone else bemused by Wordle today? I cheated and used a word finder app, MrNuts got there by logic & neither of us recognised the word & had to look up the meaning.
ReplyDeleteYes the word was new to me as was ‘emcee’ the other day
DeleteThere has been a lot of publicity today about the Gvt. formally apologising to mothers whose babies were forcibly removed for adoption back in the 40s-60s
ReplyDeleteAs you all know, I was born to a single mother in a far away mother and baby home, just one week after the war ended.I was adopted at about 7/8 months old. I have no idea whether I was forcibly adopted or whether my mother wanted me adopted and was relieved not to have to care for me. I do know my real father was not interested in me and I always assumed her family were against having an illegitimate baby in the family, so adoption was the obvious answer.
Luckily for me I was adopted by a loving family who gave me a wonderful childhood, (apart from keeping my adoption secret until I was 21!)
I simply cannot see the point of the Government Issuing an apology, now, after all these years. It was none of their doing. But the Governments of the time refused to grant single mothers any benefits, the church were concerned about morals and illegitimacy, doctors and nurses thought it was for the benefit of the child to be given away. They are the guilty ones not our present Ministers.
I simply do not see how an official apology after so long can repair any of the damage done to the mothers concerned.
I had know idea you were adopted. Have you at any time over the years, wanted to find out who you're mother was?
DeleteI always watch Long Lost Family and there have been a couple of episodes when this situation was shown. The now elderly mothers (well into their late 80's) were pleased to meet their son/daughter, to explain they had no choice, due to the times and attitudes, when the birth took place.
I believe in some cases, the babies were taken away at birth and the mother never saw nor held their baby, just told what sex it was. How traumatic that must have been.
DeleteArcherphile - yes, you told us you were adopted and now in more detail.
DeleteAs you say, you were one of the lucky ones.
This was covered on WH today and I found it really painful to listen.
There were two testimonies, one from a mother and the other from a daughter of such forced adoptions.
The events time took place from the 1950s to '70s.
The young women were treated appallingly and the word barbaric was used by one of them with which I fully agree. I was dismayed that they were often rejected by their own families, the fathers denied contact, simply because they were not married. I hate the word illegitimate, it sounds like illegal which it is not.
I suppose the apology, meaningless in itself is an acknowledgment of the wrong which cannot be undone.
I cannot comprehend that people behaved like that in our age.
I thought the same as you Archerfile but then heard on the radio that some of the mothers were there for the apology and said that the acknowledgement meant a lot to them.
DeleteI always do a big shop/stock up at the beginning of the month, and today was the day. As you know I always use a self scanner so goods are packed exactly as I want and then quick + easy to pay.
ReplyDeleteIt seems others were doing the same as supermarket was busy, and what I noticed was there was 4 manned tills open and the queues for these had at least 3-4 customers waiting with full shopping trolleys. It was nice to see just how manned tills are still needed +'liked and the supermarket still provides them.
My bargain today was toothpaste. On advice of my dentist I use Oral B ones, which I only buy when on special offer. I always keep an eye out if any are on special price.' Today's was one of the ones I use, normal price £7, today £2.75 so two went in my bag.
To add. I had a noisy drive home as I'd put the heavy bags on the bag seat but the silly car thought somebody was sitting there, so I drove home with beeps going off and the light showing no seat belt was being used on a rear seat! Luckily it wasn't too far and I wasn't going to stop to rearrange things .
DeleteI've just seen that pubs are going to be allowed to stay open till 5.00am on Monday morning for the England match.There's a pub which shows sport not far from our house and we can hear the noise when important matches are on, especially in summer. I wouldn't want to be a killjoy for football fans but I'm not looking forward to Sunday night into Monday morning.
ReplyDeleteMy initial thought is How Silly, plus what about the staff of the pubs. who have to stay on/brought in extra to cover, and the effect on their lives + families.
DeleteI wonder how many going to work on Monday morning, will still be well over the legal drink/drive limit..🫢🫢