Thursday, 28-05-26

Morning, all.  How are you today?  The sun is shining and, after a somewhat more moderate day yesterday, I gather the temperatures are due to rise again today.  More excuse not to do all that much - as if I need one nowadays!!

I've been playing with my new toy, still just on automatic.  It seems to do better close ups that the other one.  The first lesson in the YWMC course lands today which, of course, is a busier day so it might have to wait until tomorrow.

Here's some garden photos, lightly disguised as 'playing with my camera'.

First of all, several of the tomatoes now have flowers which is exciting.  I need to side shoot them and take of the lowest leaves, the seed leaves.  They all seem to have taken well and look pretty happy so that's great.

Close up of the basket (yesterday morning, before the sun hit, bit dark, I should learn how to deal with that)

A dahlia I haven't found a place for yet - it might go in a pot this year.  Isn't it pretty.

Finally, very exciting, a baby cucumber.  This is from the mini cucumber which only produces female flowers (quite right too!) so unless this shrivels and drops, this may be my first cucumber of the year.  Yay!!
(I've just noticed there's another at the top of the photo too)

Finally, the yarn did arrive yesterday after all and this is what I got.  I think I have found and sorted the few glitches in the pattern so off we go!  I'm happy to have a project again, even if it is a mini one.

Today, being Thursday, is a Chris and Joy Coffee and Chat Day.  It's here this week and I have the garden room doors wide open to freshen the air and it looks very welcoming.  It's the first time it's felt warm enough to sit out there for our chats and it keeps us in the shade which is good.  

Then I have about an hour to prepare for Val coming over for lunch.  We meet up pretty much once a month and always have loads to catch up on.

I will be all talked out by tea time, won't I?

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Stay cool, drink plenty of water and remember that sun block.  Be safe . . .  xx

Wednesday, 27-05-26

Good morning, everyone.
After a scorcher again yesterday, today has started very much fresher and temperatures are expected to nosedive by around ten degrees (Celsius) into a pleasant, summer day.  Hope so, the sunshine was lovely but it was maybe just a bit too much heat for comfort.  No complaints though, just saying.

My various deliveries arrived all at the same time so I had a fun afternoon unpacking and trying out.

The very nice delivery chap very kindly carried to two bags of soil around to the garden for me which I really appreciated.  He managed them both together where I would struggle with one.
They are now unboxed and stacked against the wall.

I was going to plant the rhubarb straight away but decided to order a couple of plant pot roller thingies.  This will be a heavy pot by the time it is filled and I am not 100% sure where it will eventually go so having it on castors seems to be a good idea - thanks, Sharon.
They're due to arrive on Friday.

However, the rhubarb doesn't seem to mind - it has grown considerably in the last week and it is proving very difficult to do the Right Thing and leave it this first year.
One thing though - those two old yellow leaves - do I just leave them or do I cut them off?  Anyone know?

I've started getting to know the camera.  Now, it really is pretty basic - I'd call it a beginners bridge camera. I didn't want one with too many bells and whistles and think that learning how to use the manual stuff will be more than enough of a challenge.
I said to Eileen that I read good reviews - now, of course, I've seen some not so good ones too but swings and roundabouts, I am no pro so my expectations are lower and I am sure I will learn what I need to learn with it.

I've found the A Year With Your Camera workbook and will find the website again - the link was on my old, dead PC.

The only thing that didn't arrive was some yarn.  Before you shout at me, hear me out.  Chris is expecting to become a granny for the second time in the next little while and I want to make something for the new arrival.  I found a free pattern for a simple cardigan/jacket but, having experience of free patterns, I made it up with some stash yarn and I think I have ironed out all the glitches, one of which was that it makes up way bigger than new born so I've ordered some nice four ply.  
Maybe it will arrive today.  Fingers crossed.

I suspect I will have no excuse to avoid sorting out the front today.  It shouldn't be too hot and it is brown bit collection tomorrow.  And I've neglected the housework these last three days so that also needs sorting out.

So definitely a busier day today but I'm looking forward to it - being idle is nice but can get a bit boring really.  Do you find this too?

Have a great day, everyone.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Tuesday, 26-05-26

Morning, everyone.  I'm a bit late with this but not to worry.  It's gloriously sunny again and it is already pretty hot outside although inside feels cooler with windows open and binds closed.

I am smalling very herby at the moment after pruning back the rosemary and the sage.  I have no idea if it is the right time but there's so much a bit of pruning shouldn't hurt at all.  I need to tackle the oregano too but that also requires some digging up.

I didn't go round to Beth's yesterday, nor did I do any front garden stuff.  And I got a message from Beth to not worry about the bread today either.  So I will slice and freeze it and get it to her as and when.

I have to stay in today as I have some deliveries, including the soil for the rhubarb.  It won't be too tricky to get it then planted out but I need to decide where I want it first because it will end up quite heavy.  I can drag but I'd rather not.
Now I am pondering about getting some of those coaster thingies that large pots can go on . . . does anyone know if they are worth it?

The other think I am expecting today is . . . if you remember, I've been pondering getting a bridge camera, just a basic one, for quite a while now.  I chose the one I fancied that had plenty of good reviews in various places not just Amazon, took a deep breath and ordered.  It is expected to arrive today so I will have fun starting to learn how to use it.  I expect YouTube will be very helpful here and I am sure I still have the 'A Year With My Camera' book somewhere.  I gave up last time because there was so much I couldn't do without a bridge camera; I found it so confusing.

So that's me for today.  Nothing energetic, nice and chilled, and tomorrow is supposed to turn into just a nice, warm UK summer day.  Fingers crossed.  xx

Bank Holiday Monday, 25-05-26

Good morning, everyone!  Welcome to a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday.  The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, there's butterflies enjoying the flowers and I have nothing, absolutely nothing, in the diary.  That doesn't mean I'm doing nothing, of course, but I'm not going out anywhere, I'm staying home and enjoying life (apart from one thing)

First, yesterday.
Beth drove me over to a holiday house that our friend, J, has taken for the week, not far outside Kelveden.  I honestly meant to take some photos but it was hot so we stayed in front of a fan and talked and talked and talked . . . and I forgot the photos.  Ooops.
However, it was a really lovely day, one of those times one remembers.

On to today and Beth's loaves are just finishing off in the oven.  Obviously, I couldn't make her bread yesterday.  I will be popping over to hers this afternoon, just to drop them off.

I didn't intend to bore you with garden photos today but . . . 

Eeeeek . . . these were hiding so I hadn't seen them before but I turned the pot round this morning and there they were.  The early  raspberries are starting to ripen.

I've picked three and will have them as part of breakfast.
The first fruits (literally in this case) are always exciting.

And I just had to take a snap of one of the hanging baskets - they're doing very nicely now and at £4.99 each, such a bargain.

After taking Beth's bread round this afternoon, I plan to work on the little front strip.  It will be hot but the front is in shade by then so it really won't be all that bad, I hope.  If it is, the front will just have to wait.

The garden room doors are wide open, the egg chair is ready to use and it all feels so nice and relaxed . . .

And, best of all, NO SCHOOL REPORTS TO WRITE!!  I know I say it every year and this is the tenth time, but it still fills me with joy.

Have a great day - see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday, 24-05-26

Morning, all.  

It's a lovely, bright, fresh morning at the moment after quite a hot day yesterday; I gather today is going to be more of the same so three cheers!

As mentioned yesterday, I put a bit of early time in the garden and now, while it's not amazing, things look pretty respectable.  It's just a case of keeping on top of it now.  All the new stuff has taken well, I've had to tie up the cucumbers a bit more although I'm still concerned that they will collapse like last year's did.  I don't think it was any problem with the soil because the replacement plants did fine but anyway, fingers crossed.  I've just done my first side shooting with the tomatoes - they're growing fast after only a few days really.  That's encouraging.

It was a good drying day - three loads washed, dried and folded or ironed by mid afternoon.  They're still sitting on the chair so I must get them up and away after I've finished this.

What else did I do?  Nothing else very much so I think it was just the usual, mundane, daily stuff that anyone does.

Today will be nice.  A dear friend of Beth and mine is staying in the area and we're going to spend the day with her.  She's a crafter too - knitting, crochet, sewing, etc - so I'm talking something to do and I believe Beth is too and we can sit in her garden and chat as we craft.  Sounds perfect!

That's about it.  A nice, gentle Sunday for me.  How about you?  xx

Saturday, 23-05-26

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to a warm and sunny start to the Bank Holiday weekend after a hot day yesterday when it was so very nice to have warm fingers and toes.

After SW group yesterday morning, I went to Morrisons and stocked up on healthy fruit, veg, lean protein, whole grains - all that Good Stuff - before getting it all away and doing a bit of garden stuff until it felt a bit too hot.
I dug out my fans for the first time this year, had a minor panic over where I put the controls, found them just where they ought to be, and now the fans are set up, one in the bedroom and one downstairs, ready for when needed.

This morning, it looks as if it is going to be another lovely day.  I've got a load of washing on the line already and I've moved a few things around in the garden.

I just wanted another foxglove photo - they are going to be so lovely this year!  As I took the photo, I thought the background wasn't as lovely - that egg chair does really impact, so I moved some stuff around.  I've also taken off the cover (about time) and need to give the cushion a good old scrub so that's in the list this morning.

So now, along the side, there's the egg chair and then my mini fruit trees ending with the blueberry and a couple of foliage pots in front.  It looks nicer in reality that it does in the photo.

No tomatoes in pots this year!!

I've moved the pot of bamboo in front of the garden room and the grey one to the right holds dead bamboo so I need to deal with that and then I think that pot is where I will plant the olive tree, when I get it - it is certainly heavy enough!.

The egg chair was hiding the mirror 'window'; I think it looks nicer when it shows, even when it needs a good clean!

I can't remember if I told you about the rhubarb pot but I don't think I did.  Chris and I have been talking for weeks about getting some rhubarb and we have both just done it.  Chris and Steve ordered a large pot (it says it needs plenty of depth) and then it came they had sent two!  They were told to just keep it so I have bought it off them for half what they paid so we each have a good pot at half price.  Excellent!

Another thing I did this morning was look up the price of John Innes no 3 compost which is recommended and have ordered some to arrive Tuesday.  So Mr Rhubarb will just have to stay in his smaller pot until then!

I won't get any benefit this season, of course.  All the advice says give it a year so the roots can establish.  But next year and subsequent years . . .

Anyway, it has just turned nine, the day started early and, when it gets really hot later, I can rest up in front of the fan, if necessary.  Or sit out in the egg chair.  Or in the garden room.

I have to admit, I rather miss the dappled shade that next door's birch used to cast in my garden but on the other hand, the light is so much better.  Can't have it all and our gardens are really far too small for such a big tree.

I've rambled on enough, haven't I  Time for what one of my favourite vloggers calls 'The best meal of the day', i.e. coffee.  Have a lovely day, everyone.  xx

A Trip to the Poppy Factory and a Boat Trip down the Thames

Hi, everyone.  Yesterday I went on another Broomfield Coach trip, this one to the factory that makes all the Remembrance Day poppies and wreaths, employing veterans from the armed forces who would otherwise not be able to find employment for various reasons, mostly linked to disability they incurred while serving.
(There's also a factory in Edinburgh that makes for Scotland - the poppies are different)

The factory is based on Richmond upon Thames so that's where the coach took us.
It was first founded in 1922 on the Old Kent Road to offer employment opportunities to wounded soldiers from WWI but the whole poppy idea began in Flanders.  It seems that poppy seeds can remain dormant in the ground for a long time and will spring into life if the soil is disturbed.  Trench warfare meant that large areas were churned up and turned over and in 1915, up they came. vivid and red.  Soldiers pressed the petals in their service book and some sent those pressed petals home in letters.  So poppies became associated with battle, death, injury and disability in the minds of families at home, helped by a short poem written by a soldier in the field, John McCrae which I think you will all recognise.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

We had a very interesting talk before enjoying a hot drink and piece of cake (delicious).  We were encouraged to explore the Visitor's Centre, read all the info on the walls and have a go at making poppies.  

The long stemmed poppies, slightly more fancy, are used for the thousands of wreaths made for groups and organisations all over the country.  We had a go if we wanted but were not allowed to take them home.  All these will be used this year.  It feels good to be a little part of it.

The poppies we all know and wear are made using a very simple shaped block of wood that enables anyone with dexterity issues to be successful.  We tried using our non-dominant hand - just one hand needed - and it really was easy.  I came home with two!!

We didn't go into the actual production areas - some of the people there are mentally unwell and lacking in any confidence and it would be cruel and distressing for them.

There was a shop by the entrance and, guess what - I got my fridge magnet!!  I also bought a poppy pen, a poppy plate and a poppy mug, both in bone china and a great way to support the work as well as a souvenir.

Here's a link to a YouTube video (there's quite a number on YouTube if you want to explore further.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1H54dnxCf8&t=40s

And a few photos I took.

This is King Charles' wreath.  I thought the wreaths were discarded after use but, no, after a time they are collected up and sent back to be repaired as necessary and re-used.  There was also the Prince of Wales' wreath and the wreath used used by the late Queen Elisabeth.

Wreathes used by some of the armed forces - all reused as much as possible.

Finally, posted with their permission, here's Ray and Jan Spiller, the lovely couple that started and continue to run the Broomfield coach trips, supported now by the coach company they use, Kevendys.

They truly are the loveliest, most generous and caring people I know.

When time was up, we set off down to the Thames (literally one road and some gardens away) to wait for the boat ride.  That's when people ate the sandwiches they had brought with them.

There's not  lot of info about the boat trip.  The Thames is the Thames, it is tidal for quite a distance and we had to wait for the tides to be right.  I had a great seat, right at the front, and clicked away merrily.

Here's just some photos, a few with comments but, really, they speak for themselves.

The view from where we were waiting.

Really wouldn't mind living in one of those - except for the low flying planes every five minutes or less!

I had a cheeky glass of wine on the boat - as did quite a lot of us!  It felt very luxurious!

The Albert Bridge

Been there on another Broomfield trip.

I wouldn't like to even begin to guess how much these apartments cost!

The old ILEA County Hall in the Olden Days.  I came here for my first ever job interview - not that you could really call it an interview.  You had to be stunningly bad to not get taken on by ILEA in them there days!

And the Eye. of course or, as one little reception pupil wrote, 'i went to the lun dun I' - such a brave attempt.

And the end of the journey.

The coach was waiting close by for us and home we went.

It was a really lovely trip.  We were so, so lucky with the weather.  It was warm, even on the water, but not hot and the whole day was very restful.

The next one is a week on Monday and it's back to London to see Paddington.  I am SO looking forward to that!

Living the best life right now and feeling so very blessed.