Monday

Good morning.  I was up before the lark this morning and I do love seeing the light change as the sun rises.  Yesterday was another beautiful day and it looks as if today is more of the same.  

I met up with Beth down the allotment and we tidied everything up with a good weeding session before watering everything well.  After a bit of healthy neglect, the veggies are all doing really well.  The baby cucumber has - er - babies, the broad bean pods are developing, the runner beans are climbing up the canes . . . oh, you get the idea.  The only thing that's not done well this year is the strawberries and we have a few plans for what to do about them.

I was quite weary when I got home, set up the recliner outside and within half an hour I was snoozing peacefully and happily!  Once I woke, the rest of the day was lazy and restful.  I had a small and leisurely barbecue which was great, the little bucket barbie doing a great job.  Here it is in action.

Today is washing day.  I have loads of whites and some colourds so I guess that's three wash loads.  If I start the first load soon, it's all be done and dried through the day, ready for ironing this evening.  Apart from that, there's watering and general fussing over the babies down the allotment and a bit of planting out to fill a few gaps.  Ditto at home too.

Between us, Lindsey and I decided to cancel the personal training again today and I believe that was the right decision.  It's starting to feel much easier again, didn't bother me at all through the night and there's no point troubling trouble!  We'll probably start again on Wednesday!

After a very busy last week, this week has very few things in the diary which feels nice given the expected generally good weather.   I'm looking forward to plenty of relaxing out in the garden with kindle to hand.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

Sunday

Good morning, everyone.  Around here, yesterday was just a really beautiful summer's day.  Warm, sunny, not humid at all.  Perfect bbq weather.

Today looks like being just the same - great!

Thank you for all the kind queries about that stupid shoulder.  It's stiff and a bit sore and I'm really glad I didn't do PT.  I'm umming and ahing about tomorrow's session but will make a decision tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, I took an early trip to the shops to get the last bits and bobs for later on after which I pottered gently around getting stuff ready and set up.  I always make sure I have separate utensils, etc, for Beth, being vegetarian, and it is worth it because she can be confident that things are fine for her and she doesn't have to bring a microwave ready meal with her in order to feel her food is safe.  She says so many people think it's OK to slap a veggie burger on the same grill as chicken or meat burger or to use the same brush and marinade for both, one after the other.

The little single person bbq bucket was perfect for her food and Alex and I used a bought instant bbq for ut sausages, burgers and chicken.  I always pre-cook chicken and sausages so they just need marinading, warming up and charring on the grill.  Burgers are fine, they always cook through.

Anyway, we had a great time and Beth and Al took most of the leftovers home with them so that was very helpful.

After clearing up (didn't take long), I settled to watch The Shows Must Go On performance for this week which was 'The Wiz'.  I've never seen it and I thought it was brilliant, very enjoyable indeed.  Looking forward to next week's one now, whatever it may be.

On to today and I intend to take things very easy.  It's a wonderfully bright start to the day and I've already been out and taken a few photos so show what's going on in the garden.

The flowers are looking decorative.

The clematis will soon be covered with flowers and while the later ones are still big, fat buds, the first ones are now fading and will seed soon.  I think clematis seeds are almost as attractive in their way as the flowers are.  It certainly brightens up a dark and otherwise boring corner.

The middle bed is a picture although I need to cut the geranium back as it's encroaching on the runner beans!!  We can't have that!

I don't know what these are but they're really very pretty and the actual blue is stunning.  It is a bit faded in the photo.

And a few photos of the more productive side.
The biggest baby cucumber (gherkin really)is about an inch long now.

A very productive fence - or it will be in a month or so!

I wonder how long before the birds discover these.  There aren't many, just three clusters and the other blueberry hasn't produced anything at all this year. 

I think that I will prune them right down and see what comes up again.  That means no fruit next year but there ought to then be some the year after.  If not - in the bin and try something else.

So - today.

A gentle start, I think.  Breakfast in the garden and a proper pot of coffee before meeting Beth down the allotment later on.  I will be careful and not put any pressure on my shoulder but a bit of weeding won't hurt.  We're taking lunch down there so it will be very pleasant.  I haven't been down for several days so I bet the weeds will be a bit of a shock!

I might bbq my dinner again as it was so very pleasant yesterday.  Chicken kebabs sounds quite good, doesn't it, and I have some marinade left over from yesterday.

I do love these gentle, summer days.

xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.

Yesterday really was a funny old day, a real mixture, with lots of high spots and nothing bad.

Hyde Hall was absolutely great.  I picked Jackie up at the arranged time and we got to Hyde Hall at about ten past twelve.  Yes, there was a queue to get in but it wasn't as bad as it looked because of the spacing, and the staff were processing people through quickly. 

The loo situation wasn't as bad as I feared.  I'd heard that there was only one loo block open but actually there were three, one at the bottom and two at the top.  My bladder (the only part of me that feels older than I am, rejoiced!

The gardens were just as lovely as we had hoped.  The narrower paths had been made one way but there was still scope to ramble and while there were plenty of people there, it was in no way crowded anywhere.

I took photos, of course.  Here are a few.

The difference between the grass that was off limits during the winter being treated and the grass that wasn't.  The contrast was even more startling in reality!

The day then took a bit of a dip which necessitated me doing quite a lot of driving.  As I said, nothing bad and it isn't my story to tell anyway, but more or less driving between home and destination six times was more than a bit tiring and annoyed my poor old shoulder which had tweaked rather painfully the day before.  It's now stiff and sore and I've cancelled personal training this morning.  

We were very lucky with the weather - most of the time it was bright with some sunshine.  Sitting at a picnic bench eating our packed dinners was lovely.  After a while it clouded over and by the end it was drizzling, exactly as the forecasts had said.  Still, thinking positive, no need to water the allotment today!

I'm definitely booking another visit soon.  Hyde Hall is a happy place.  It's peaceful and lovely and there's lots of scope for rambling.  Even in the few months of lockdown, they have opened new areas and there's a gorgeous and newly planted 'woodland' area that was awash with colour coordinated foxgloves and other foliage and flowers.  Give it a few years and it will be stunning!

In the end I didn't go to the plant shop.  It was raining by then and things needed to be sorted out.  I will definitely go next time.

Today should be easier.  I have to get to Morrisons first thing for just a few more things for the barbecue and then I can prep and rest the shoulder.  It should be a super day.  Hoping yours is too.  xx

Friday

Morning, everyone!

Here's the puzzle I'm going to start first - it should be comparatively simple because there are very clearly defined 'areas' to match up.  It's a bit twee but I like it.

Yesterday was the best day in a long while.  The journey over to Dad's was a good one with very little traffic (although there were still hold ups on the A120 around the roadworks for the new by-pass) and the journey back was just as good.

Dad was looking very well and was on top form, telling us all about how things are going and the way people have been so good at looking out for him and making sure he's OK.

I am now very much looking forward to next weekend when I'm resuming my fortnightly visits to stay over (now we're allowed to) and, just by chance, it is Father's Day so I will cook him some jolly good dinners!

Today is pretty busy too.  At around midday, I'm meeting Jackie at Hyde Hall and we will have a sensibly distanced stroll around, catching up on things and enjoying the plants.  I might even splash some cash on a plant.  A friend gave me a tenner for my birthday and I haven't spent it yet. 

Before then, I need to get the place tidy so the cleaners have a clear run.

And that's about it really.  It should be a super day and I hope yours is as well.  xx   

Thursday

Good morning, everyone.  It's dry this morning which is nice.  No sun though, not yet anyway.  Let's be optimistic!

This is next door's climbing roses which have been wonderful this year and look cheering, even when it is teeming with rain.

Yesterday was fine.  Alex finished his final exam and seemed OK about it.  Beth came over here, caught up on some sleep and had lunch with me while we chatted about this, that and the other.  She brought back my keys, still grovellingly apologetic, and they are now safe in the key bowl.

It chucked it down more or less all day around here which was odd because just forty or so miles away, Dad had very little wet stuff most of the day.  I can't say I was complaining though; the ground is well and truly wet to a reasonable depth, even under the trees.

Lindsey messaged to sat that even if the rain stopped, we'd do personal training as an online thing because the ground was a bit slippery and she didn't consider it 100% safe so we did that.

After Beth had gone, I sat in my chair by the window to watch the rain and saw that my bird feeder was being used by more 'little' birds (tits, sparrows, etc, nothing unusual), including several that were feeding their babies.  I'm so pleased it's being used more now, so glad, and don't care two hoots about the decimated strawberries.  I will sort that out for next year's crop!

I couldn't get any good photos, sadly, but here's the best.

Finally, a parcel arrived with a couple of jigsaws.  Everyone seems to be going jigsaw crazy so I thought I'd give it a go.  They're not cheap, are they, although one box had two puzzles in it which makes them more reasonable.  One has a Christmas theme which makes me feel happy (silly me!) and the other is the inside of an old fashioned shop, lots of detail that should make it easier to do.  Never, ever will I try to do one that is a plate of baked beans or the inside of a tin of quality street or similar.  It would drive me bonkers!

I now just have to persuade Dad to let me borrow Mum's jigsaw tray!

Today's the day.  We're off to Dad's today.  Alex is pleased to have a day to himself to chill after his exams so it's just the two of us.  AND - even better, it is now (or will be, anyway) 'legal' to stay overnight in a 'bubble' situation.  I'm so happy with that!

So I will stop now, get all my other social media stuff done and get going.  It will be a good day and I hope yours is too.  Be happy and stay well.  xx

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone.  After a warm and sunny day yesterday, the rain is back today.  Shouldn't complain, even if I do!!

Yesterday turned out to be a very pleasant day.  I got two loads of washing done and dried, the SW Zoom meeting was good, as was the chat with Chris, and the walk to the allotment was really pleasant in the warm sunshine.  As expected, the weeds are fighting back but we will deal with them at some point.  The veggies hadn't grown as much as I expected, perhaps because it's been quite cold.  It's milder now so fingers crossed!

The only not so great thing about yesterday was that I couldn't find my keys.  I know I had them indoors because if I'd lost them outside I wouldn't have been able to get back in, so it wasn't a panic, just a puzzle.

I searched high and low, took all the cushions off the chairs, emptied my handbag, checked the waste paper baskets, moved all the furniture - nothing.
So I fired off a text to Beth - did she, by any chance, accidentally take my keys with her on Monday.  No, came the reply.
Very odd.  I found the spare keys and did my walk to the allotment and back and when I got home again Beth sent another message.  Grovel, grovel, yes, she had them, she thought they were her own keys, she'd bring them over.  Well, what a relief.  No need for her to turn out so she's bringing them over this morning.

So that sorted that drama out!

In the garden, the tomatoes are coming on well, even if they haven't grown so much at the allotment.  So looking forward to being able to go out, pick and eat!

The next days are starting to look like the busy olden days before Lockdown.

Today Beth is round (Al's last exam) and I have personal training.

Tomorrow Beth and (I are off up to Letchworth to see Dad.  So looking forward to this.

On Friday, Jackie and I are off to Hyde Hall.

On Saturday it's allotment (hopefully), personal training and then straight into having a barbecue to celebrate Alex's end of exams.

Blimey!!!!  I will be exhausted by Sunday!

We were going to meet down the allotment this morning so Beth is coming here because of the rain.  It looks set for the day, more or less, so personal training will be online again rather than in Lindsey's garden.  Never mind, I'm glad it is still all happening.

Better stop now as Beth is about to arrive and I must get the kettle on.  Stay safe, stay dry and have a lovely day.  xx

Tuesday

Good morning, everyone.  Yesterday evening the sun was shining and it's shining again this morning.  Lovely!

I ended up spending yesterday inside, more or less.  Beth came round, had breakfast and a chat and then went upstairs to catch up on some sleep while I pottered around.  It was a Bitzer morning - bitzer this and bitzer that!

One of the bitzers was going online and definitely booking for Hyde Hall.  The RHS places (and also National Trust and English Heritage, I believe) are now open to members but you have to book in advance.  I booked two for later on in the week, arriving between twelve and one, and I'll meet Jackie there.  We might take a picnic as there won't be any eating facilities.  We both love Hyde Hall so I'm very much looking forward to this.

After lunch, Beth took herself upstairs again to hold a teaching session with a little friend online while I had a most enjoyable chat with Val, also online.

Beth went; I watched telly and read.

Today is rather busier.

I have a basket load of washing and, as the sun is shining, I'll get them done and out on the line nice and early.  I was holding off in the hopes of better weather and now it's here.

It's the Slimming World Zoom meeting this morning (2 lbs off - yay!) and that's always fun.  Then it's an hour for breakfast, followed by a chat with Chris, either online or in the garden, probably the former.

I intend taking a walk to the allotment after lunch.  Usually, I take the car because of tools, etc, but I'm not going to work much (except for the occasional, unlucky weed, maybe) but just to take a look, talk to the plants (!) and generally enjoy the vibes there.  I suppose I may come home with a few sticks of rhubarb and a few radishes.

The house needs a bit of a tidy up so I will probably tackle that at some point too.

So that's my day today.  I think it will be a good one.

Stay safe and be happy, everyone.  xx