Good morning. The weather forecast is fantastic today, wall to wall sunshine with only a gentle breeze and the next couple of days will be warmer too. Bring it on!
At the allotment yesterday, I weeded around the edges of the covered and bark chipped areas where the fruit trees are planted, using a knife and plenty of gritted-teeth-ness. They will come back, of course they will, but it looks better for now. I strimmed the edges and a bit at the back which has got rather overgrown - you can't plant there but it looks messy!
Then I set to with the new garden canes to build the runner bean supports and a couple of wigwams for the gherkins. It's a task that's much easier for two than one and the resulting line of canes is a bit uneven but not to worry, as long as it serves its purpose. It seems steady so here's hoping.
I didn't take the camera yesterday but I might take photos today. The canes make it look much more productive, even though it isn't really!
Today I will weed the last chipped areas, around the compost bins and by the rhubarb. It's not too bad - yet - and if I deal with it today, it won't be so bad. Tomorrow will be grass mowing day and I'll probably need to weed around the fruit and the rhubarb!
I looked up when I can sow the runner beans and I have to wait just a week or so as the advice is mid May. You think I'd remember by now, wouldn't you!
Ther Zoom meeting for SW was fun. There were four of us again and we chatted about lots of things. So very nice to see other faces. Then it was almost straight into a chat with Chris which was also lovely.
Today is allotment early (about half past eight) and then, as midday, my half hour of personal training (the other half hour is Friday).
As the weather is so lovely, this afternoon I will set to with pots and potting compost and get my baby plants potted on - some of them, anyway.
But now, I must get the washing out. After getting it into the machine and washed yesterday, I totally forgot to get it out and on the line so it's had another short wash this morning and I'm putting it out NOW - well, in five minutes' time anyway!
Have a good day and stay safe and well. xx
Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Tuesday, 5 May 2020
Tuesday
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. It's dull right now but today is forecast to be a lovely, sunny day, albeit a bit chilly - which I noticed when I went out to the freezer to get today's food inside!
I got down to the allotment yesterday and stayed over an hour, weeding and forking, neatening some edges and talking to the emerging plants. As you can see from the photos below, the beans are looking happy and the potatoes need covering. Neither are particularly advanced but that doesn't matter in the slightest. They are what and when they are and will feed us in their own time.
It was sunny and warm and stayed like that until after lunch when the clouds came over and it was quite dull (and cool) for a while. Still, I got the washing dried and finished all the ironing in the evening so no complaints.
I'll need to take the strimmer and mower down soon and the potatoes need to be covered.
I had a lovely chat with Beth in the afternoon when we talked mostly about allotment stuff. She's longing to come down and see but doesn't feel 'right' about doing so yet. It'll be interesting to hear how they are going to start lifting certain restrictions and who will be affected.
I think I've pretty much finished the crocheting for now. I finished the banana yesterday, made a pear and started a carrot. After that, I will move on to some counted cross stitch. Looking through my stash yesterday to see if I had a certain pattern for someone, three of my kits jumped up and told me to make them up. One, in fact, is already half way through and the other two are, I think, freebies from old magazines. I'll look for something else that I can get on once the light goes as I find nowadays, I need good natural light for counted cross stitch.
Today is a sociable day. It's the Slimming World online meeting at ten (a pound off this week - yay) and then I have the weekly video chat with Chris over the road. I think she wants to talk tomatoes!
I'll then slot in my allotment visit (potatoes and runner bean canes!) before coming back to do some home gardening (maybe) and chill with the cross stitch. I do the 'chores' first thing so they won't get in the way.
Just an ordinary day now that the different has become normal. Stay safe and well, everyone. xx
I got down to the allotment yesterday and stayed over an hour, weeding and forking, neatening some edges and talking to the emerging plants. As you can see from the photos below, the beans are looking happy and the potatoes need covering. Neither are particularly advanced but that doesn't matter in the slightest. They are what and when they are and will feed us in their own time.
It was sunny and warm and stayed like that until after lunch when the clouds came over and it was quite dull (and cool) for a while. Still, I got the washing dried and finished all the ironing in the evening so no complaints.
I'll need to take the strimmer and mower down soon and the potatoes need to be covered.
I had a lovely chat with Beth in the afternoon when we talked mostly about allotment stuff. She's longing to come down and see but doesn't feel 'right' about doing so yet. It'll be interesting to hear how they are going to start lifting certain restrictions and who will be affected.
I think I've pretty much finished the crocheting for now. I finished the banana yesterday, made a pear and started a carrot. After that, I will move on to some counted cross stitch. Looking through my stash yesterday to see if I had a certain pattern for someone, three of my kits jumped up and told me to make them up. One, in fact, is already half way through and the other two are, I think, freebies from old magazines. I'll look for something else that I can get on once the light goes as I find nowadays, I need good natural light for counted cross stitch.
(apologies for the bad light)
Today is a sociable day. It's the Slimming World online meeting at ten (a pound off this week - yay) and then I have the weekly video chat with Chris over the road. I think she wants to talk tomatoes!
I'll then slot in my allotment visit (potatoes and runner bean canes!) before coming back to do some home gardening (maybe) and chill with the cross stitch. I do the 'chores' first thing so they won't get in the way.
Just an ordinary day now that the different has become normal. Stay safe and well, everyone. xx
Monday, 4 May 2020
Monday
Good morning, everyone. Fingers crossed for nicer weather today. It wasn't exactly bad yesterday, just cold and dull and we've had rain overnight.
As expected, yesterday was a nice, rambly day. By that I mean I meandered from one thing to another without any overall pattern or plan - and very nice it was too. My stroll around the allotment was great, exchanging a few words with other holders (safely at a distance, of course) and I took the netting off the beans and carefully hoed between the plants so that all looks better again, replacing the netting afterwards. It wasn't too muddy so I dealt with some of those nasty, pernicious weeds that had dared to show their head again after all my hard work and I noted, with extreme satisfaction, that the potatoes are now showing. I'll give them an earthing at the end of the week.
The other biggie was having a good old online vid-chat with my friend, Faith. Faith and I go back a long way. We were both involved in local music festivals in the day and she was my SEN cover teacher for several years, taking my class one day a week while I had SENCo time. She hadn't realised that one could chat via Messenger so I suspect it's opened up a social channel for her. We've agreed to chat again at the end of the week.
I finished the cauliflower (which looks OK) and started a banana, rather coming to grief half way through. I shall have to watch the clip a few more times, just to get my head round what she's doing as the instructions only support, not give all the information.
I've decided I'm getting more than a bit tired with those 'headings' I've been using so I'm going to stop using them. They've served their purpose which was to make sure each day was varied.
Today I'm starting with a trip to the allotment. I want to fork over the other prepared strip, the part that will be taking the courgettes, squashes and gherkins. When I've done that, I might set up the tall wigwams for the gherkins so they are ready and then count out the canes for the runner bean row. I'm umming and ahhing about whether to plant the runners in pots or straight into the ground. Decisions, decisions!
I'll probably be pretty muddy when I get home so a shower might be in order before breakfast. Then I must get some washing in - or maybe I will get it in before the allotment so, if the weather works, I can get it straight out. I have ironing, crocheting, a chat with Beth and sundry other things to do so the day should go quickly.
Thanks to Rachel for recommending magnesium tablets. I hope this isn't tempting fate but since I started them, I haven't had a bad night's sleep and - er - my 'system' is much better too. I tend towards being a bit bunged up, eating low fat as I have to (not because of weight loss but because if I have too much fat I get the runs) and they seem to have helped with that too.
(Apologies if this is TMI)
Well, I'm a bit later this morning so I'd better get going. Have a good day, everyone, whatever your plans (or non-plans) xx
As expected, yesterday was a nice, rambly day. By that I mean I meandered from one thing to another without any overall pattern or plan - and very nice it was too. My stroll around the allotment was great, exchanging a few words with other holders (safely at a distance, of course) and I took the netting off the beans and carefully hoed between the plants so that all looks better again, replacing the netting afterwards. It wasn't too muddy so I dealt with some of those nasty, pernicious weeds that had dared to show their head again after all my hard work and I noted, with extreme satisfaction, that the potatoes are now showing. I'll give them an earthing at the end of the week.
The other biggie was having a good old online vid-chat with my friend, Faith. Faith and I go back a long way. We were both involved in local music festivals in the day and she was my SEN cover teacher for several years, taking my class one day a week while I had SENCo time. She hadn't realised that one could chat via Messenger so I suspect it's opened up a social channel for her. We've agreed to chat again at the end of the week.
I finished the cauliflower (which looks OK) and started a banana, rather coming to grief half way through. I shall have to watch the clip a few more times, just to get my head round what she's doing as the instructions only support, not give all the information.
I've decided I'm getting more than a bit tired with those 'headings' I've been using so I'm going to stop using them. They've served their purpose which was to make sure each day was varied.
Today I'm starting with a trip to the allotment. I want to fork over the other prepared strip, the part that will be taking the courgettes, squashes and gherkins. When I've done that, I might set up the tall wigwams for the gherkins so they are ready and then count out the canes for the runner bean row. I'm umming and ahhing about whether to plant the runners in pots or straight into the ground. Decisions, decisions!
I'll probably be pretty muddy when I get home so a shower might be in order before breakfast. Then I must get some washing in - or maybe I will get it in before the allotment so, if the weather works, I can get it straight out. I have ironing, crocheting, a chat with Beth and sundry other things to do so the day should go quickly.
Thanks to Rachel for recommending magnesium tablets. I hope this isn't tempting fate but since I started them, I haven't had a bad night's sleep and - er - my 'system' is much better too. I tend towards being a bit bunged up, eating low fat as I have to (not because of weight loss but because if I have too much fat I get the runs) and they seem to have helped with that too.
(Apologies if this is TMI)
Well, I'm a bit later this morning so I'd better get going. Have a good day, everyone, whatever your plans (or non-plans) xx
Sunday, 3 May 2020
Sunday
Good morning. The start of Sunday is dull and gloomy but the forecast is good so it should all life and cheer up in the next couple of hours.
It's going to be my first every attempt at pulled pork today. Slow cooker, spicy, aromatic stuff, eight to ten hours. It won't be the authentic, over-the-charcoal-in-the-barbecue-pit affair but it's hard to see how it could go wrong, given tasty ingredients and a reliable slow cooker.
There's two more items to add to Speed Bunny's haul - apple and cabbage. I'm not convinced about the cabbage but I like the apple!Please excuse the photo - the light was bad.
Today might end up seeing a cauliflower and maybe a banana (I know, bananas aren't speed!).
Other things that will probably happen today are a trip to the allotment and I might also use the allotment for a nice walk around. It's quite a big space so should take around twenty minutes and a moderate pace and I can jump the puddles (there will be puddles!). Also gardening, crocheting, finding more patterns, catching up on recorded stuff, menu planning for the week, etc.
And maybe, just maybe, a chat with another friend, who didn't realise you could use Messenger for live chats.
I got to the shop at just before eight and was let straight in. Apart from hand gel and flour, the shelves were well stocked and I got everything on my list. It was a double shop, some for me and some for Beth, so when I got home I wiped everything over (I'm looking forward to not having to do that any more) before contacting Beth via Facebook to check that coming over at twelvre would be OK.
To my dismay, all I got of Facebook was as blank screen. Eeeek. Ditto with the laptop. However, the mobile got me in fine, but on 4G not my home connection. From that, I concluded that the problem could very well be with Virgin rather than my account or PC.
Sure enough, ten minutes later it was all up and running again.
Beth had had the same problem.
Talking of Beth, after the clap on Thursday, she wrote the below which I thought so good, I'm reproducing it here. She has a way with words, does my daughter. Please bleep over the occasional 'naughty' vocabulary.
'The Clap' down our street tonight was terribly terribly British. So terribly British I really felt quite patriotic.
So here is Beth's guide to the clap.
Note- I live in an urban, established area in Essex. Regional variations may apply.
1) Open door quarter way, poke out hand and check for rain. If reasonably dry, venture out. If wet, stay in with door quarter open. You don't want to dissolve. If in doubt, go out, but look dubiously at the sky every few seconds.
2) Have a furtive look up and down the street. Only proceed if others are also out. If in doubt you can pretend to be studying your chrysanthemums until others appear. Bonus points if you can get in a surprised 'oh, hel-LO!' to the neighbour who has done the clap every sodding week , like you have, and whose presence is about as surprising as the weather.
3) Continue to look a bit sheepish and listen intently for Someone Else to start clapping. Note: DO NOT CLAP UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE DOES. Do not be the person to start. It's just not cricket.
4) Forget that stuff upper lip and clap, cheer, bang pots and whoop like your life depends on this wonderful thing we have called the NHS. Because it fucking well does. Rule Britannia!
5) After roughly a minute of revelry, recommence peering up the road. This is the tricky part. You do not wish to be the first to stop clapping, good heavens, man, you must do your duty. But- horrors- you must not be the last to stop.
6) At this point it would be most acceptable to politely enquire as to your neighbour's health, comment on how dreadful the rain was earlier, or other such niceties. You may have to raise your voice a little- 2m away at all times, remember- but not too loudly. Remember you're an Englishman and shouting is vulgar, despite the fact that you made really quite a lot of vulgar noise just a minute ago. In public, no less!
7) Clear throat, take one final sheepish glance about, readjust that stiff upper lip and go inside. Jolly good show!
I had a jolly good chat with her yesterday afternoon. We get going and, ten minutes later, we find three quarters of an hour has passed!
Today, being Sunday (checks to make sure it really is Sunday) is a do as I fancy day so no categories today. In reality, it will be the same as any other day because that's life at the moment.
To my dismay, all I got of Facebook was as blank screen. Eeeek. Ditto with the laptop. However, the mobile got me in fine, but on 4G not my home connection. From that, I concluded that the problem could very well be with Virgin rather than my account or PC.
Sure enough, ten minutes later it was all up and running again.
Beth had had the same problem.
Talking of Beth, after the clap on Thursday, she wrote the below which I thought so good, I'm reproducing it here. She has a way with words, does my daughter. Please bleep over the occasional 'naughty' vocabulary.
'The Clap' down our street tonight was terribly terribly British. So terribly British I really felt quite patriotic.
So here is Beth's guide to the clap.
Note- I live in an urban, established area in Essex. Regional variations may apply.
1) Open door quarter way, poke out hand and check for rain. If reasonably dry, venture out. If wet, stay in with door quarter open. You don't want to dissolve. If in doubt, go out, but look dubiously at the sky every few seconds.
2) Have a furtive look up and down the street. Only proceed if others are also out. If in doubt you can pretend to be studying your chrysanthemums until others appear. Bonus points if you can get in a surprised 'oh, hel-LO!' to the neighbour who has done the clap every sodding week , like you have, and whose presence is about as surprising as the weather.
3) Continue to look a bit sheepish and listen intently for Someone Else to start clapping. Note: DO NOT CLAP UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE DOES. Do not be the person to start. It's just not cricket.
4) Forget that stuff upper lip and clap, cheer, bang pots and whoop like your life depends on this wonderful thing we have called the NHS. Because it fucking well does. Rule Britannia!
5) After roughly a minute of revelry, recommence peering up the road. This is the tricky part. You do not wish to be the first to stop clapping, good heavens, man, you must do your duty. But- horrors- you must not be the last to stop.
6) At this point it would be most acceptable to politely enquire as to your neighbour's health, comment on how dreadful the rain was earlier, or other such niceties. You may have to raise your voice a little- 2m away at all times, remember- but not too loudly. Remember you're an Englishman and shouting is vulgar, despite the fact that you made really quite a lot of vulgar noise just a minute ago. In public, no less!
7) Clear throat, take one final sheepish glance about, readjust that stiff upper lip and go inside. Jolly good show!
I had a jolly good chat with her yesterday afternoon. We get going and, ten minutes later, we find three quarters of an hour has passed!
Today, being Sunday (checks to make sure it really is Sunday) is a do as I fancy day so no categories today. In reality, it will be the same as any other day because that's life at the moment.
It's going to be my first every attempt at pulled pork today. Slow cooker, spicy, aromatic stuff, eight to ten hours. It won't be the authentic, over-the-charcoal-in-the-barbecue-pit affair but it's hard to see how it could go wrong, given tasty ingredients and a reliable slow cooker.
There's two more items to add to Speed Bunny's haul - apple and cabbage. I'm not convinced about the cabbage but I like the apple!Please excuse the photo - the light was bad.
Today might end up seeing a cauliflower and maybe a banana (I know, bananas aren't speed!).
Other things that will probably happen today are a trip to the allotment and I might also use the allotment for a nice walk around. It's quite a big space so should take around twenty minutes and a moderate pace and I can jump the puddles (there will be puddles!). Also gardening, crocheting, finding more patterns, catching up on recorded stuff, menu planning for the week, etc.
And maybe, just maybe, a chat with another friend, who didn't realise you could use Messenger for live chats.
It should be nice today. Have a good 'un too. xx
Saturday, 2 May 2020
Saturday
Good morning! It's nice to see that the sun is shining this morning after yesterday which was more April-like than April itself has been with plenty of gusty showers with hail mixed in with the heavy rain.
I decided that when the cleaners came I would go off to Morrisons to do my shopping. When I got there I parked, got out, looked at the queue and realised that it went right across the front, down the side along the car park and then up the walk through road that went through the estate. So I muttered something that might have been unladylike, got back in the car and went to the allotment to talk to the broad beans. I'm so glad I did because I was half way there when it started to rain and by the time I was surveying the broad beans (all good), umbrella in hand, the heavens suddenly opened and I beat a hasty retreat, thanking my lucky stars I wasn't in the queue.
The plot itself was still in good nick. Some of the potatoes are now showing above the soil so I'll give them a week for more to appear and then I will cover them again. I feel rather sorry for potatoes. They work hard at growing into the light and then some mean so-and-so covers them over again.
Potatoes are survivors though. The prepared strip along the front had potatoes there two years ago (and nothing last year) and still there are shoots coming up. I'll deal with them when it is less muddy.
I was looking forward to the concert on YouTube and I wasn't disappointed. Whether or not you like Lloyd Webber's music, it makes for a fantastic show. There were some stunning, star spangled performances from the likes of Elaine Page, Michael Ball, Glenn Close, Donny Osmond (and children's choir), Sarah Brightman and others including, to my great delight, Julian Lloyd Webber with his amazing cello.
It's only available until seven on SUnday evening so there's time to catch it if you missed it yesterday. Really great entertainment.
Now I am wondering what next week's is.
All the days seem to merge into each other at the moment. There are a few things that punctuate the week. Slimming World Zoom meetings and chats with Chris on Tuesdays, personal training on Wednesdays and Fridays, but apart from that I'm doing what I want when I want. It's great but does require a bit of mental 'push' to avoid just lounging about and neglecting daily 'duties'. I make sure I keep the kitchen clean and tidy, my work corner relatively uncluttered, my bed made and the bath/loo clean as well as the daily wiping down of the front door. Then, duties done, the days are my own.
Today . . .
Something energetic - well, I will probably be popping to the allotment because there's weeds around the broad beans and, as the beans are now big enough that I can avoid beheading them accidentally, the weeds' time is up! It's not going to be all that energetic though so I will probably do some step exercises later on in the day while watching telly.
Something for house/garden - apart from the usual, the sunflower seedlings need potting on, as do more of the other seedlings of various kinds, so I will open the first of the new bags of compost and get started with that.
Something social - I'll go to Morrisons at eight when, hopefully, the queue won't be too bad and then after sorting everything out and wiping it down, I'll take Beth's shopping over to her. We'll have a 'shout' while I'm there and then we have a webchat organised for this afternoon. We both like the 'every other day' structure but we know we can chat at other times, if wanted (or needed).
Something entertaining - I'm spoilt for choice here. I have recorded some programmes about English history seen through the 'life' of one village and am finding that very interesting. I have two episodes of Great British Menu to watch plus various other recordings. The problem will not be 'if', it will be 'what'.
Something creative - here's what I have so far:
The aubergine is the wrong colour but tough! I'm not buying yarn specially. I like the tomato though.
At the moment I'm working on a cabbage with leaves that curl round rather than folding out and, yes, I am making fruit as well so I'd better start with an apple! I have found a pattern for a banana too and then there's that cauliflower.
It'll keep me happily busy for a few days to come!
So that's my day and I'm looking forward to it. What about yours? What do you have on the list for today? xx
I decided that when the cleaners came I would go off to Morrisons to do my shopping. When I got there I parked, got out, looked at the queue and realised that it went right across the front, down the side along the car park and then up the walk through road that went through the estate. So I muttered something that might have been unladylike, got back in the car and went to the allotment to talk to the broad beans. I'm so glad I did because I was half way there when it started to rain and by the time I was surveying the broad beans (all good), umbrella in hand, the heavens suddenly opened and I beat a hasty retreat, thanking my lucky stars I wasn't in the queue.
The plot itself was still in good nick. Some of the potatoes are now showing above the soil so I'll give them a week for more to appear and then I will cover them again. I feel rather sorry for potatoes. They work hard at growing into the light and then some mean so-and-so covers them over again.
Potatoes are survivors though. The prepared strip along the front had potatoes there two years ago (and nothing last year) and still there are shoots coming up. I'll deal with them when it is less muddy.
I was looking forward to the concert on YouTube and I wasn't disappointed. Whether or not you like Lloyd Webber's music, it makes for a fantastic show. There were some stunning, star spangled performances from the likes of Elaine Page, Michael Ball, Glenn Close, Donny Osmond (and children's choir), Sarah Brightman and others including, to my great delight, Julian Lloyd Webber with his amazing cello.
It's only available until seven on SUnday evening so there's time to catch it if you missed it yesterday. Really great entertainment.
Now I am wondering what next week's is.
All the days seem to merge into each other at the moment. There are a few things that punctuate the week. Slimming World Zoom meetings and chats with Chris on Tuesdays, personal training on Wednesdays and Fridays, but apart from that I'm doing what I want when I want. It's great but does require a bit of mental 'push' to avoid just lounging about and neglecting daily 'duties'. I make sure I keep the kitchen clean and tidy, my work corner relatively uncluttered, my bed made and the bath/loo clean as well as the daily wiping down of the front door. Then, duties done, the days are my own.
Today . . .
Something energetic - well, I will probably be popping to the allotment because there's weeds around the broad beans and, as the beans are now big enough that I can avoid beheading them accidentally, the weeds' time is up! It's not going to be all that energetic though so I will probably do some step exercises later on in the day while watching telly.
Something for house/garden - apart from the usual, the sunflower seedlings need potting on, as do more of the other seedlings of various kinds, so I will open the first of the new bags of compost and get started with that.
Something social - I'll go to Morrisons at eight when, hopefully, the queue won't be too bad and then after sorting everything out and wiping it down, I'll take Beth's shopping over to her. We'll have a 'shout' while I'm there and then we have a webchat organised for this afternoon. We both like the 'every other day' structure but we know we can chat at other times, if wanted (or needed).
Something entertaining - I'm spoilt for choice here. I have recorded some programmes about English history seen through the 'life' of one village and am finding that very interesting. I have two episodes of Great British Menu to watch plus various other recordings. The problem will not be 'if', it will be 'what'.
Something creative - here's what I have so far:
The aubergine is the wrong colour but tough! I'm not buying yarn specially. I like the tomato though.
At the moment I'm working on a cabbage with leaves that curl round rather than folding out and, yes, I am making fruit as well so I'd better start with an apple! I have found a pattern for a banana too and then there's that cauliflower.
It'll keep me happily busy for a few days to come!
So that's my day and I'm looking forward to it. What about yours? What do you have on the list for today? xx
Friday, 1 May 2020
Friday
Good morning, everyone. It's Mayday so pinch and punch and white rabbits to you!
It was a funny old day yesterday. Some lovely sunshine but also some very heavy rain and strong gusts of wind too. It's none too bright this morning but the forecast is quite optimistic with sun all morning and showers all afternoon.
Here's the re-named Speed Bunny with the first of his speed food (Slimming World jargon alert), the cabbage that looks more like a lettuce so that's what it is, the carrot and a yellow pepper. I'm in the middle of a tomato now.
I had a good old chat with Beth yesterday afternoon. Alex's birthday is coming up in just over a week and we thought maybe we could have a little online party with wine (fruit cider for Al as he loves that) and do the cake, candle and Happy Birthday to you thing without needing to wash our hands!!
I'm finding I get quite a lot of little things done as I pottle around the house. Sometimes it is just automatic - pick up and put away sort of stuff which is kind of unusual for me and the messes I make are easily sorted out. Maybe it's a result of lockdown or maybe I'm finally growing up a bit.
Today, being Friday, is cleaners day, so I need to get it ready for their tender ministrations. No point them coming to clean if they have to spend half their time moving piles of junk around.
Something energetic - I have the other half of the personal training this morning. Half an hour of puff and pant and I always feel great afterwards. I'll probably pop down to the allotment when the cleaners come (assuming no rain) although there's nothing to do there. I could talk to the broad beans and encourage them on. I know they will be safe from predatory pigeons as they are covered with a netting dome thingy. I suppose I also ought to pud down some more anti-cat powder which seems to be working as there's no more signs of cat damage/activity since I started.
Something in house/garden - as mentioned above, plenty of tidying up and putting away and by mid afternoon the house will shine. I love Friday evenings for that reason. It's very satisfactory and one of the better ways I spend my hard earned pension!
Social - personal training, of course. Lindsey and I chat away as we work; it's one of the ways to check I am working hard enough as I should be able to talk but a bit breathlessly.
Something creative - I will finish the tomato and start an aubergine. I have the pattern! I might have a go at a pear too. The green I used for the lettuce will be fine for a pear or I have a pale yellow that will work too.
Something entertaining - It's going to be good this evening. As the bumph says:
"This Friday 1st May, join us for a tribute to compositions of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, live from the Royal Albert Hall. Featuring hit songs from Starlight Express, Evita, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many more..."
I've just checked my outstanding orders from the plant company and realised with relief that they are not postiplug plants (I've totally lost confidence in them) but in small pots. They will have a much better chance of survival and fingers, eyes and toes are crossed.
Have a good Mayday! xx
It was a funny old day yesterday. Some lovely sunshine but also some very heavy rain and strong gusts of wind too. It's none too bright this morning but the forecast is quite optimistic with sun all morning and showers all afternoon.
Here's the re-named Speed Bunny with the first of his speed food (Slimming World jargon alert), the cabbage that looks more like a lettuce so that's what it is, the carrot and a yellow pepper. I'm in the middle of a tomato now.
I had a good old chat with Beth yesterday afternoon. Alex's birthday is coming up in just over a week and we thought maybe we could have a little online party with wine (fruit cider for Al as he loves that) and do the cake, candle and Happy Birthday to you thing without needing to wash our hands!!
I'm finding I get quite a lot of little things done as I pottle around the house. Sometimes it is just automatic - pick up and put away sort of stuff which is kind of unusual for me and the messes I make are easily sorted out. Maybe it's a result of lockdown or maybe I'm finally growing up a bit.
Today, being Friday, is cleaners day, so I need to get it ready for their tender ministrations. No point them coming to clean if they have to spend half their time moving piles of junk around.
Something energetic - I have the other half of the personal training this morning. Half an hour of puff and pant and I always feel great afterwards. I'll probably pop down to the allotment when the cleaners come (assuming no rain) although there's nothing to do there. I could talk to the broad beans and encourage them on. I know they will be safe from predatory pigeons as they are covered with a netting dome thingy. I suppose I also ought to pud down some more anti-cat powder which seems to be working as there's no more signs of cat damage/activity since I started.
Something in house/garden - as mentioned above, plenty of tidying up and putting away and by mid afternoon the house will shine. I love Friday evenings for that reason. It's very satisfactory and one of the better ways I spend my hard earned pension!
Social - personal training, of course. Lindsey and I chat away as we work; it's one of the ways to check I am working hard enough as I should be able to talk but a bit breathlessly.
Something creative - I will finish the tomato and start an aubergine. I have the pattern! I might have a go at a pear too. The green I used for the lettuce will be fine for a pear or I have a pale yellow that will work too.
Something entertaining - It's going to be good this evening. As the bumph says:
"This Friday 1st May, join us for a tribute to compositions of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, live from the Royal Albert Hall. Featuring hit songs from Starlight Express, Evita, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many more..."
I've just checked my outstanding orders from the plant company and realised with relief that they are not postiplug plants (I've totally lost confidence in them) but in small pots. They will have a much better chance of survival and fingers, eyes and toes are crossed.
Have a good Mayday! xx
Thursday, 30 April 2020
Thursday
Good morning. Yesterday was a real mixture of weather. Heavy rain, drizzle, dull and dry and even some sunshine. Cold though - the heating clicked on again! The sun is shining at the moment but already the clouds are gathering so more rain might be on the way, you never know!
While I've been focusing on the allotment, my garden has been doing its own thing rather nicely. The clematis Ooh La La has shot up and is loaded with flower buds, way, way more than last year. It should be a picture soon.
The strawberries seem to be smothered with flowers too although they won't all turn into fruit, I expect. Nicely promising for June/July.
This is just one of the plants.
The middle bed has flowers and they are all doing well. Very little colour yet but lots of promising growth. It doesn't look great because of the bulbs dying back but the geranium, lupins, lavender, fuchsia, delphinium, irises and pinks should come into their own fairly soon.
And the herbs are doing great.
Personal training was very good. Because of the shoulder/neck issues, we are doing half an hour twice a week and taking things carefully. Very few problems yesterday, I was just starting to 'feel' it by the end but nothing sore. The other half is tomorrow.
Then I got a message from Val saying 'want a chat this afternoon?' to which, of course, I agreed. And just to cap that, the web-cam thingy I ordered over a month ago turned up so I was able to give it a test run on the PC. So much better than the laptop with a bigger screen and much better sound. I'm so glad I splashed out on it.
It was great to catch up on Val's doings and to hear about her family (all well so far). Her oldest daughter is a head teacher so, of course, she's working all the hours of the day and night, providing appropriate activities for the children in her care at the moment.
Today was the day I was going to Milestones Museum with Jackie. Obviously, that's not happening at all now and there's nothing else in the diary so I'm looking forward to a really slow and lazy day. I have a lengthening shopping list but it can wait.
Something energetic - well, I have a feeling this isn't going to be a particularly energetic day; the allotment certainly won't need weeding and it's too wet to faff around with weeding, putting support canes up, etc, etc.
Something in house/garden - not exactly the house but yesterday, because the bins are emptied today, I wheeled it round to the garage and started sorting out the rubbish inside. I might do a bit more today although perhaps put it into rubbish bags in a corner for a fortnight, just in case the bin space is needed for something else (it might be). The other thing is to make sure the house is ready for the cleaners tomorrow.
Something social - probably a chat with Beth, The new web-cam is very good although it doesn't always talk to the PC straight away and I don't know enough to know what to do about that. No worries!
Something entertaining - I have loads of stuff recorded so won't go short on entertainment. We should hear what the Loyd-Webber performance is today as well.
Something creative - I had big problems finding crochet fruit/vegetable patterns to actually download. There seem to be some on Pinterest but I find that place very, very confusing and can't work out how to actually get to them. However, good old YouTube came to the rescue and I'm half way through a cabbage! From what I can see, there are three or four basic shapes and then it's all about colours and little add-ons. For example, this cabbage can be a cauliflower with a white centre or a lettuce, the centre part, made a little longer, would be an apple or an orange, the longer shapes could be leeks, pears, aubergines, etc. I'm jotting down the pattern as I make it up from YouTube and I'd really like to work through some of them today.
It will be fun!
Here's a screen shot of the cabbage ( cute, isn't it?) and the link to the clip.
While I've been focusing on the allotment, my garden has been doing its own thing rather nicely. The clematis Ooh La La has shot up and is loaded with flower buds, way, way more than last year. It should be a picture soon.
The strawberries seem to be smothered with flowers too although they won't all turn into fruit, I expect. Nicely promising for June/July.
This is just one of the plants.
The middle bed has flowers and they are all doing well. Very little colour yet but lots of promising growth. It doesn't look great because of the bulbs dying back but the geranium, lupins, lavender, fuchsia, delphinium, irises and pinks should come into their own fairly soon.
And the herbs are doing great.
Personal training was very good. Because of the shoulder/neck issues, we are doing half an hour twice a week and taking things carefully. Very few problems yesterday, I was just starting to 'feel' it by the end but nothing sore. The other half is tomorrow.
Then I got a message from Val saying 'want a chat this afternoon?' to which, of course, I agreed. And just to cap that, the web-cam thingy I ordered over a month ago turned up so I was able to give it a test run on the PC. So much better than the laptop with a bigger screen and much better sound. I'm so glad I splashed out on it.
It was great to catch up on Val's doings and to hear about her family (all well so far). Her oldest daughter is a head teacher so, of course, she's working all the hours of the day and night, providing appropriate activities for the children in her care at the moment.
Today was the day I was going to Milestones Museum with Jackie. Obviously, that's not happening at all now and there's nothing else in the diary so I'm looking forward to a really slow and lazy day. I have a lengthening shopping list but it can wait.
Something energetic - well, I have a feeling this isn't going to be a particularly energetic day; the allotment certainly won't need weeding and it's too wet to faff around with weeding, putting support canes up, etc, etc.
Something in house/garden - not exactly the house but yesterday, because the bins are emptied today, I wheeled it round to the garage and started sorting out the rubbish inside. I might do a bit more today although perhaps put it into rubbish bags in a corner for a fortnight, just in case the bin space is needed for something else (it might be). The other thing is to make sure the house is ready for the cleaners tomorrow.
Something social - probably a chat with Beth, The new web-cam is very good although it doesn't always talk to the PC straight away and I don't know enough to know what to do about that. No worries!
Something entertaining - I have loads of stuff recorded so won't go short on entertainment. We should hear what the Loyd-Webber performance is today as well.
Something creative - I had big problems finding crochet fruit/vegetable patterns to actually download. There seem to be some on Pinterest but I find that place very, very confusing and can't work out how to actually get to them. However, good old YouTube came to the rescue and I'm half way through a cabbage! From what I can see, there are three or four basic shapes and then it's all about colours and little add-ons. For example, this cabbage can be a cauliflower with a white centre or a lettuce, the centre part, made a little longer, would be an apple or an orange, the longer shapes could be leeks, pears, aubergines, etc. I'm jotting down the pattern as I make it up from YouTube and I'd really like to work through some of them today.
It will be fun!
Here's a screen shot of the cabbage ( cute, isn't it?) and the link to the clip.
Have a great day xx
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