Friday

Good morning!  It's still dull and dismal outside and we've had yet more rain; not as much as some parts of the country though where there's been flooding.  Not what one expects in 'flaming June', is it?
Having said that, today's forecast, according to the BBC, looks much more hopeful.  Wall to wall sunshine.  I can't see any sign of that yet but I live in hope!
The pollen count is going to be high but I am taking my anti-sneeze tablets every day at the moment and they stop the worst from happening!

Yesterday was a bit of a washout in more ways than just the usual bad weather.  On Wednesday, as I was lifting and carrying stuff about, sorting out the blue room, I was aware of something twinging in my back but, being busy, ignored it.  Overnight it was a bit uncomfortable and yesterday - ouch.  In the end I cancelled pottery as I didn't want to be bending over the clay, etc, as one has to do.  It's still a bit sore today but I'll keep taking the tablets and it should be OK as long as I'm careful.

I got half lucky with the bin collection.  They took one of the electrical items but not the other; I guess it was too heavy for comfort.  I now have to decide whether to sneak it into the bottom of the black bin for normal collecting in a fortnight and hope they don't wonder why the bin is so heavy or to be a Good Girl and take it to the dump (when my back's better).  One of the few disadvantages of living down a cul de sac is that we tend not to to get opportunists coming along to see what people have left outside and taking whatever they can use, sell or otherwise deal with.  I remember, when I was little, we had this wonderful man, the Rag and Bone Man, who came weekly through the village with his horse and cart, just like Steptoe and Son, and he would have taken something like that!  I can't remember when he stopped coming but by the time we left the village in 1966 he no longer came.
I think one of the many reasons I love the Miss Read books so much is that they remind me of my extremely happy village childhood, attending the village school and doing village-y things.  I doubt I will ever move back to a village now but there's still a yearning . . .

Beth has finished the memory quilt now and has laid it on one of my spare room beds to take some photos.  This is one I took (in rather bad light).

It looks absolutely gorgeous and I have decided I will use a bit more of my lump sum and ask Beth if I can commission her to make two for me, to go over my spare room beds when they are not in use (when they will have duvets).  It won't be a memory quilt, of course, and I will buy new fabric, but it will be something that can become a bit of an heirloom.  It's not quilted, it's patchwork, so it drapes nicely, which is exactly what I want.
So fingers crossed she will accept the commission.

Today I have to get the house tidy for the cleaners, pack, write a few things for school and then set off for a weekend with Dad, leaving my home in Beth's tender care.  This evening, Dad and I will be going out to the Millstream for dinner which is nice, and I guess I will be examining the ground I weeded a fortnight ago and getting going with the hoe!

In the time I've taken to write this, the sun has come out and gone away again.  I hope that's not it for the day.  :-)
Enjoy your day. xx