Friday, 10-06-26

Morning, everyone!

Some photos because it's nice to have colour in a blog post!

Blueberries starting to live up to their name

The Pear!

New in this year and looking very happy.

Loving the lavender

And, finally, the rhubarb trying take over the garden!

One of Seth's team came round yesterday, sorted a loose seal on the spot, took measurements for a new window (the current one is blown and anyway I would like one that swings open.  It's only a small window but the other two and French windows and sometimes you don't want to open them,just a smaller window.

Just waiting for the quote now. 

I popped out to the shops.  Hobby craft for some buttons to finish off a couple of jackets I have made for Chris' new grandson, a gift for the new big brother, some indoor plant compost plus a bigger pot for one of my plant sand I had a look around the outdoor plans.  My back bed dahlias are a non event but it's a bit late to buy bedding dahlias now, they only have the larger and very expensive ones.  I'll keep looking but might have to wait until next year now.
Fortunately, the confused dahlia round the front is growing fast!  There's no buds yet but it can't be long now.

Today I have Slimming World and then this afternoon I'm representing our Chair of Governors at some do.  I don't have to do anything, just watch.  I'm very happy with things like that.  When I took on the role, I said I wouldn't chair meetings but there were things I would be able to do and the other Vice Chair would do the Gov meeting stuff.  It seems to work fine.

Better go and get on with things before SW.  Enjoy the fine weather (if you have it) and stay safe and well.  xx
 

Thursday, 18-06-26

Morning, everyone.  Welcome to Thursday.  It's cool and dull right now but maybe it will do what yesterday did and morph into a beautifully sunny day.

Yesterday is turning out to be a bit busier than I though, one way and another.

I had a chat to Lindsey and we agreed to try the early morning PT for the rest of the summer and see how it goes.  She said it made no difference to her so why not?  
I'm an early riser and it just means I will need to be more organised with my social media stuff.

I made the most of the good weather to do two loads of washing, one being my bedding, and I gave my bedroom a good tidy and clean too.  That was satisfying, especially at bed time.  :-)

The webinar did happen; there was a link in my Google mailbox to take me there and it was about making the most out of your governor monitoring visit.  It was sort of helpful but maybe a bit vague in places but there were some very helpful bits.

The other training was one I have done before and which I wanted to repeat because there have been a few changes to the OFSTED framework since it started.  Also, as Inclusion is the big issue and I am the SEND link governor, it is very likely that inspectors will want to speak to me, if I can make it, so the more on top of it all I am, the better.

Today is lighter. 
Chris and I are having our usual coffee and chat.  We had scheduled lunch out together but now that Little Grandson has arrived, she and Steve are helping out with First Grandson and nursery pick ups, etc.  We'll find another time, I am sure.

And then I need to stay in as Seth might be round to look at some things that need doing.  

A few photos:  

Not a great photo but can you see the baby tomatoes.  It'!s difficult, I know, they are very camouflaged at the moment

Loads of mini cucumbers, two of which might be ready tom cut in a couple of days.

A big cucumber that is almost visibly growing now it is warmer.  I've also removed all those male flowers and there are plenty of cucumbers  starting off.
So much better than last year's efforts!

Oh, and the little pear is holding on.

Right, well, better start the day, I suppose.  Have a lovely Thursday, everyone.  Take care and stay safe.  xx

Wednesday, 17-06-26

Good morning, everyone!

Yesterday was such a nice day.

We started with Groove.  The air felt heavy and humid and we were all lacking in energy but we got there.  Later on the sun came out and things lifted quite a lot.

I had a really lovely catch up chat with M before dropping her off and coming home.

And the Chairs' Forum meeting was interesting as these meetings usually are.

On Saturday I'm on a coach trip to Southwold.  Long term readers may remember that I have had holidays in Southwold.  It's such a lovely place but I don't really want another week there so a day trip is just perfect and the predicted weather looks good.  So today I booked a distillery tour with Adnams - I've done this before and remember it was very good - especially the tasting session afterwards.  And the Little Fish and Chip shop is open all day - that's lunch sorted!  So that, with all the other things I want to do, will make for a lovely day, I am sure.

Today starts really early with personal training.  I need to leave at seven to get to Lindsey's by seven fifteen but I'm good with that because I'm an early riser anyway.  I think I might have said last week, I'm seriously thinking of making the time permanent, if Lindsey is OK with it.  She starts her day early as well.

I have something in the diary about a webinar but no other info so it may or may not happen.  And than I'm attending some more online training in the evening - something I have already done once but it is on quite an important subject and maybe more will sink in and remain if I do it again.  :-)

That's it really.  It's one of those weeks where things sound like a list - do this, do that, do t'other.  It'll be nice to have something a bit more to write about or to read on Sunday morning, won't it!

Have a lovely day.  xx

Tuesday, 16-06-26

Morning, all.  It's dull and damp again but seems to be brightening and yesterday we had some sunshine so fingers are crossed.

I have to show you this - the first cucumber.  One of the mini ones so this is the whole thing minus top and tail and it was absolutely lovely - so fresh and delicious.

There are more coming on but that's it for a little while.

Plenty of baby tomatoes and the one I beheaded accidentally is definitely producing a strong old side shoot so that's good.

Today is really busy.

We start with Groove and we're not walking today because I have to be elsewhere fairly soon after and time is of the essence.

The 'elsewhere' is that I am meeting a friend for coffee and a catch up.  M doesn't live here but has to come regularly for hospital appointments and the bus comes right by my road and also the pub where we're meeting.  It's a great opportunity.

After I've dropped her off at the hospital, I have a bit of time before an online thing, the Chairs' Forum.  A Governing Body thing and Liz can't make it so I'm representing her.  I have my report all ready so I just have to be there.  Hope it doesn't go on too long.  

After that, the evening is my own so I can chill and catch up with YouTube which is now working again after several days of not working and an update from Virgin Media.  Yay!

So I will love you and leave you - enjoy your day, everyone.  See you!  xx

Monday, 15-06-26

Good morning again, everyone.  Have you had a pleasant weekend?  The weather has been great round here so it was a bit is a surprise to wake to cloud this morning - and BBC predicts light showers.  Oh, well . . .

There's been a slight and unidentifiable whiff in the air inside for some days.  I'd sniffed, checked for forgotten food, etc, but nothing.
Yesterday I did all my washing and when I looked in the downstairs basket where I put tea towels, cloths and so on, I found the source of that smell.  Nothing 'nasty', they were just really pongy.  I gave them a hot wash and that sorted it.  Now everywhere smells nice again
In fact I got four lots done although, to be fair, one was a short one just for my gardening gloves, two pairs, that were pretty grubby.

So now I have a right pile of ironing and putting away to do.  That's the morning task after circuits.

OK, better get the day rolling.  Have a good day, everyone.  Take care and see you tomorrow.  xx

Sunday, 14-06-26

Good morning, all.  It's a lovely, sunny start, quite cool but that won't last for long, I am sure.  I've already gone out and given the pots a refreshing drink in anticipation.

After community garden work yesterday and with permission, I took some photos to show you.  

It's not a huge space and it's a mix of flowers and vegetables in raised beds/borders or pots.

One of the beds - In the middle there's potatoes with a row of sunflowers running down the middle - it's going to look really nice.

There are steps that go into the back of the church and either side there's pots - tomatoes, strawberries and various flowers.  I donated two lavendulas that I didn't need and they've both going into a pot.

The other side of the steps.

June harvested a couple of rows of onions . . . 

 

. . . while I picked some broad beans and I got to bring some home.  I'm having them with my Sunday dinner and very much looking forward to them. 

Rhubarb in a pot.  I felt a bit smug about this because it's second year rhubarb and isn't doing too well - the pot is way too small, I think, and R said maybe it would do better in the ground.  I wonder if that's what I will be doing next time.

Just a random ladybird . . .

And a random flower!

I have to admit that by the time I got home I was pretty wiped out, in bed soon after eight and asleep soon after.  I slept the night through, waking at my usual time of just before five.  

Lovely!

On to today and something exciting.

As I was giving my pots a drink earlier, I watered the pear from a different angle and look what I found hiding shyly behind a leaf!  One single, solitary fruit, growing nicely and my fingers are now crossed.
Do you think if I talk to it, it will be happy and stay around?  More seriously, as the other three dropped a week or so ago, maybe this one has escaped and will mature.

As for this, it's a tayberry and I have had it for ages, well before I retired and that's nearly ten years ago.  It's never been any good at all so I took to just cutting it right down to ground level each year because it was not a pretty sight at all.
For some reason I didn't this year and it's looking healthier than I can ever remember.  It fruits on the previous year's growth so I'm giving another chance, just to see.

More fingers crossed.

There's nothing in the diary today but I have a pile of washing to do and I need to have a dead heading session plus some weed scraping so there's plenty to keep me occupied.

Have a pleasant day, everyone, and enjoy the sunshine.  xx

Saturday, 13-06-26

 Morning, everyone.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the air is mild.  It's a beautiful summer morning here in Mid-Essex.  I'm glad about that because it's working in the community garden this morning.

I didn't do anything yesterday really except knock up a pot of chicken, bean and veg leftovers stew so I went out just now to take more standard views of the garden.

One of the hanging baskets on the garden room - they're all looking very pretty now.

The new rhubarb is still flourishing.

Now about 9cms in length and, I think, almost ready to cut.  It's a mini one so shouldn't be allowed to get too big anyway.

Maybe tomorrow.

I'm really happy with how these are doing.  There's loads of babies now and most of them have two trusses.  Really looking forward to these tomatoes!

And this morning's little picking.  Not loads but they will be nice in my breakfast fruit and yogurt.

As mentioned, I'm off to help in the community garden this morning.  I'll be careful, but at this time of year it's more weeding and generally keeping things going, nothing heavy.

Apart from that, it is an easy day again and I have no specific plans, I'll just see what comes up.

How about you?  Have a lovely Saturday and stay cool!  xx