Sunday evening, 15-09-24

 Evening, everyone.  I guess you could say we are officially half way through September - or will be in about four hours or so.  It felt a lot milder today, thank goodness, and the sunshine was lovely.

I popped out to Home Bargains to get (don't all shout at once) some more yarn.  Last time I was there, they had some big balls of yarn (300g) for £4.99.  I got some with the idea of making a jumper but, instead, watched a YouTube video showing how to crochet a lovely waffle pattern blanket with the edging incorporated into the pattern.  I liked it so much, I decided to use the yarn for that.
To be honest, it is not the best quality yarn anyway.  It was wound very badly and I kept having to detangle it (I like to draw the thread from the middle) and it might possibly have felt a bit uncomfortable against my skin (possibly, it seems OK so far)

I took a screen shot of the blanket (pumpkin not included!) from the video.

I'm doing it in bluey, pinky, mauvey variegated yarn so it will look quite different, but it's so lovely and will be warm as it is sort of three dimensional.  The stitch is surprisingly easy too and I just love that the border is an inclusive part, not made separately and attached afterwards.

Here's a link to the actual video if anyone is interested in taking a look.  It is US vocabulary, not UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLEAiezKYzg

Anyway, I thought I probably wouldn't have enough yarn so I went to see if there was any more.  There was but a different dye lot.  However, because of how it is, providing I alternate the dye lots, it should look absolutely fine and any differences won't show.  

And, bad me, they also had some little 'winter planters' for £5.99, each with some ivy, a variegated mini-shrub and some pansies.  I fell and bought two.  It's too late to take a photo now but I will try to remember tomorrow.

And - ooops - as I am doing my Twelve Days of Christmas thingy again this year, I've been collecting little things and I found a few there.

Finally - candles.  You have to have candles once the nights close in and the one that is burning right now is nearly down and out.

You might call it a profitable outing or you might raise eyebrows, tut and shrug shoulders!  I don't mind - I did myself, a bit.

Alex was round for lunch and afterwards I took him back and popped in to see Beth.  She's still feeling absolutely rotten with a temperature and is going to the GP tomorrow.  Poor love, she really is having a rough time.
I came away with a shopping list which I will do after circuits tomorrow and take over.

I'm going to send this now and then relax in my recliner, telly on, crochet on the go until it is bedtime.  All the best, everyone.  Stay warm and cosy and sleep well.  xx

Saturday evening, 14-09-24

Evening, one and all.  It's been a lovely, sunny day today round here, albeit a bit chilly early and late, especially early!

I decided to pop into town.  I just fancied a look around and I wanted to get some long sleeved PJs from M&S - I love their PJs and I'm finding the short sleeved ones don't really keep my arms warm now the nights are colder.
They had them in, cheaper than Primak and, I think, nicer.  Good old M&S.

I started by walking up to the market to visit the wholefood stall where I managed to get some things I have been looking for.  The yarn stall hadn't opened and maybe that's just as well.  :-)
I strolled around Primark and Next but wasn't really impressed, I went into Holland and Barrett and saw they do Buckwheat flour which I had been searching for before ordering from Amazon.

Then I hit M&S, of course, and got the PJs before going in to Grape Tree where I found some spice I had been looking for for ages (and got a couple more I am getting short of).
I spent some time in the Range where they DID have quite a lot of Christmas decorations.  I didn't fall but I can't say I wasn't tempted.  I got some storage jars instead.  :-)

Finally, I looked around the kitchen area in John Lewis before wandering off the the Jo Malone area.   A while ago, I had promised myself a specific recipe book when I hit my actual target weight again but now I am working to get the bad cholesterol under control, I don't need that book.  I'd like it but don't need it.  So I swapped up and bought the smallest bottle of my favourite Jo Malone scent instead - a nice way to celebrate and reward.

I was flaking out by then so headed back to the car.  I find that a couple of hours or so is all I can tolerate in town nowadays, but I did enjoy the time I was there.

Here we go - a picture update on the broad beans which are coming on nicely at the moment.  I need to put in some canes and string soon, just round the outside.

The runners have almost stopped for now.  There are flowers and there are babies but none to pick.

There's still some dwarf beans and some tomatoes, although they, too, are slowing down.  Inevitable really, isn't it?

Apologies for this being a bit late.  I was watching the Strictly launch.  Very enjoyable, quite 'careful' and determinedly upbeat but some interesting pairings and it is so lovely to have Amy back again.
Autumn has definitely landed once Strictly starts - in fact, one almost feels it is time for the tree to come out.  No, don't worry, I'm not, but it does make me feel festive.  It's all that glitter, I suppose.

And now it is bedtime so I will love you and leave you with wishes for a good sleep and very pleasant dreams.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Friday evening, 13-09-24

Evening, everyone.  A very quick one this evening because I'm pretty tired after a spell awake in the middle of last night.

Slimming World group was good, as always, and it was nice to be back after a couple of weeks.  When I got home, there was a message from Beth - please could I get her x, y and z; poor love, she is suffering from a couple of consequences of taking strong antibiotics and needed some stuff from the pharmacy.  So I got the necessary, took it over and had a very quick word.  She didn't look great but I gather she's feeling a bit brighter as the day has passed.

I'm hoping she will feel well enough to come over for lunch on Sunday.  Fingers crossed, anyway.

  

It's almost nine and I am off up for an early night.  Did you have a good day?  Take care and have a great day tomorrow . . .  xx

Thursday evening, 12-09-24

Good evening, one and all.  It's been quite a nice day today but mornings and evenings are getting chilly, aren't they.

I'm not turning the heating on yesterday but yesterday evening I re-connected the electric blanket and when I got into bed, it was so lovely and toasty warm.  Bliss.  And then, this morning, I woke early so I put on my oodie as a sort of bed jacket, turned on the blanket again and read in more blissful comfort.  
Definitely the way to go!

I took the car in this morning in hopes that the read window washer split pipe would, at last, be sorted.  I sat there for two and a half hours but, fair's fair, it is now sorted and I was charged a ridiculously small amount.  I was prepared to argue if they had added time onto that because it should have just been part of the annual service for which I had already paid, but it was a lot less than I had been quoted for the part - not that I argued, I just paid a ran (metaphorically). 

Then I popped round to Beth's.  With most unfortunate timing, her knackered boiler/pipework was scheduled to be done today and tomorrow and it wasn't possible to postpone so Alex was in charge and Beth asked me to pop over to help, if needed.  But it wasn't - Alex had it all under control and Beth was fast asleep in her room.

Tomorrow, the plumber will need access to her room but, hopefully, she will have slept well and will be OK in the living room with the cats who are all most disgruntled at the disruption to their cosy entitled lifestyle!

And then it was home and I got all the ironing done and the drying racks away.  That was a relief - I don't like the mess  made by damp washing everywhere.

So it has been a positive enough day.  Beth is feeling a bit better - still rough but not as rough.  Hopefully she will continue to improve.

And now it is time to chill and relax before bedtime.  Sweet dreams, everyone, and have a great day tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday evening - 11-09-24

Evening, all.  

It's been so cold here today.  A bit windy too with sudden, gusty showers so, after having to rush out and get in the washing, I set up my drying racks and the living room is full of drying clothes - well, it feels full anyway!

Poor old Beth has had another dental doing, ending up at A&E last night.  Chest pains, couldn't open her mouth, at one point couldn't swallow.  She said it was more than a bit scary but the conclusion (after testing - she has a strong ticker, they found) she came home with a huge swelling on one side, two lots of antibiotics and pain killers and a diagnosis of a nasty abscess.  Later on, I went shopping for her and went over with custard, various mash, ice-cream, soup, canned pears (mashable) - all stuff she can eat without opening her mouth - because she can't.

She has a dental appointment next week anyway.

I will go over again tomorrow and I hope she will have a good sleep overnight as things ease off.  She didn't sleep last night.

All rather worrying really so, please, send over good vibes, etc.  

I've done the ironing that was dry and will do the rest tomorrow.

Night, everyone.  Sweet dreams.

Tuesday evening, 10-09-24

Evening, one and all.  I'm sure I don't need to point out that we are now one third of the way through September.  How???  Mind you, checking my finances, I note that I am not a third of the way down so that's very pleasing!

Chris came round for coffee at nine this morning.  It is usually Thursday at ten but this Thursday the car is going in to have the work done that should have been done a fortnight ago and, thinking about it, that will deal with the 'I haven't spent so much this month vibe, won't it?  Oh, well.

And at nine because we both had things on later.

It was really nice.  It's nearly a fortnight since the last one so we had loads to catch up on.

A bit later, the lovely Sharon arrived and under an hour later I was all neat and tidy again.  We've set the dates until Christmas now which is great.

I did some housework, some cooking, bits and bobs and some knitting.  Actually, plenty of knitting.  The bright red jumper is coming on now and I might have finished it by the end of the week.

I know the light is bad but I thought how nice and colourful the middle bed is looking.  I've been consistently dead heading and it does make a difference as the plants throw up more flowers.

Even in the dull cloudiness, it brightens things up.

I'm looking forward to bedtime.  Yesterday I added a fleece to my duvet and I was lovely and cosy warm overnight.  Really snuggly and comfortable.  I might go up a bit earlier and read for a while - that would be nice.

Good night, everyone.  I hope your day has been lovely and you have a great night's sleep.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Monday evening, 09-09-24

 Good evening, everyone.

When I drew back my curtains this evening, my first thought was 'thank goodness I'm no longer teaching'.  
Those of you who have taught, especially the little ones will, I bet, remember those days when the rain hammered down and Welly Drill was necessary.
In they came and the first fifteen minutes or so were spent spreading newspaper on the floor, taking wellies off, finding their wellie peg (assuming they had one), checking their wellies were named (and naming them if they weren't), hanging up dripping wet clothes, finding PE shoes for those who had come in shoes which were now soaking wet . . . and then pretty much repeating the process in reverse at home-time - and playtimes if it wasn't raining too hard.
Chaos - organised, maybe, but still chaos.

It makes me shudder to think of it even now!

I found so many of your messages in my Spam folder.  Sorry; they are where they should be now and I have replied.  I checked spam on Sunday so goodness knows where they have been in the meanwhile.

The weather did cheer up after a while but it has been gloomy most of the day.  I had thought maybe I would drive over to Hyde Hall but I didn't - I did some shopping and cleaned downstairs instead.

I can't go tomorrow as there's a couple of things scheduled but maybe Wednesday.  We'll see.

Have you had a good day.  I do hope so.  Take care, everyone, and pleasant dreams.  xx

Sunday evening, 08-09-24 - The Wisdom of Beth

Taken from Beth's Facebook page and used with her permission.

How not to disgrace yourself at the dentist #391-400

1)Eeeeeeee! is not an appropriate response to having multiple injections into the gum. Adult humans usually say ow, ouch or ah. They do not squeak like a guinea pig.

2) Do not jerk away from the needle, because the anaesthetic will go down your throat.

3) Do not choke on anaesthetic

4) When one's mouth is numb, remember to account for this when rinsing. Otherwise you will spit water all down your top. And the floor.

5) Giggling about this is probably not the appropriate response.

6) In second appointment, handle the denture with care, lest a tooth comes off.

7) If a tooth DOES come off, do not say oops and drop it on the floor, so that dentist, dental nurse and apprentice all end up on their hands and knees, bums in air looking for said tooth.

8)  Giggling about this is probably not the appropriate response.

9) When you have LITERALLY JUST BROKEN SOMETHING do not grab the plaster cast of your mouth and go 'Ooooh is this my mouth? How cool' so the now haunted looking dentist has to gently remove it before you bloody break that too.

10) Giggling about this... well you know the rest.

Poor Beth - she really is dentist-phobic . . . far worse than her mum, bless her.

Saturday evening, 07-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  It's seven thirty and already I have the curtains drawn.  The nights really are closing in now and it's almost time for snuggle hood (oodie) curling up on my recliner, I think.

It was a good journey home.  There were all the expected hold-ups - the Wisley roundabout was busy and the traffic moved very slowly but the signposting is excellent and, as it is traffic light controlled, I got round without any hassle, just some stops and starts.
Then the Dartford Tunnel was also very slow - some poor individual had broken down at the exit to the left hand tunnel so that really did slow things down.

The A12 roundabout was busy and slow but, again, no real hassles.
And the rest was absolutely fine.

As I drove past the Clock Tower precinct on the way through Chelmsford, I stopped there and did my bit of fruit and veg shopping plus a few other bits and bobs like milk.  That's all done for the week now, I hope.

When I got home, I went into the garden and picked what had ripened while I was away.  Loads of tomatoes, a couple of portions of runners and some dwarf beans as well.  I'm going to have to make some pasta sauce, I think, for the freezer.

I'm all unpacked and settled in now.  Feeling a bit achey too as I do stay very tense on the M25 - it's not my favourite drive by a long way.  I'm sure it will ease and a good night's sleep will sort it all out.

I'll have some washing and some housework to do tomorrow but there will be plenty of time to chill so that's nice.

I'm trying to catch up with blogs that I follow.  Please forgive me if I miss a few out, the notifications don't always seem to come through.  I'll try to keep up now.

Have a good evening, everyone, a good night's sleep and a lovely day tomorrow.  xx

Friday evening, 06-09-24 - another visit to Wisley and more photos.

Evening, everyone.

We really didn't pick a good week for my stay with Suzanne but the rain did lift for a couple of hours while we were there.

We said - it's not a nice day, there shouldn't be many people there.  How wrong can you be?  It is Wisley flower show this week and the car parks were absolutely packed, despite the rain.  There were nice RHS people directing cars to spaces which was a great help so we didn't have to go round and round, thankfully.

We looked at some of the stalls but mainly we wandered around the bits I hadn't seen last week.   It was all lovely and I will pop on some photos without comments below because they're not needed really - comments, I mean!

We went to the World Food Café and shared a very tasty bean, avocado and tortilla chip sandwich with a black coffee (not shared!!) and braved the drive up to the Wisley roundabout, around and back home again.  I now know exactly how to negotiate it to get back on theM25 so no worries.

Here's the photos and tomorrow I will be home and back to normal again.  Goodnight, everyone.

05-09-24 and a soggy morning at Petworth

Evening, everyone.  And what a day of wetness it has been round here (on the South Downs).  I think it has stopped raining now (at half past nine) but iy didn't let up all day.  Even the plants looked fed up by the end of the afternoon!!

We did out visit to Petworth because apart from the walk from the car park to the house, it was all indoors.

Petworth is a late 17th century Grade 1 listed house in West Sussex, built in 1668 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset and for centuries it was the southern home of the Percy family, Earls of Northumberland.

Petworth is really famous for it's extensive collections of art of various kinds and that is what is showcased in the house.  There are works by Turner, Van Dyke, Reynolds, Gainsborough and there is a terrestrial globe believed to be the only one in the world in its original 1592 state.

There ae also extensive grounds, a deer park and various gardens although on a day like today, exploring the grounds was the last thing we wanted to do.

And, of course, being NT, there is a shop and, yes, I got a fridge magnet!  Yay!

Here's some of the photos I took.  The lighting was very low so the clarity isn't the best, sorry.

(and they have come up in random order - no idea why that happened, sorry.

Well worth a visit, even more so if you are interested in art.  Thanks for taking me, Suzanne.  xx

Thursday morning, 05-09-24

Good morning, everyone.  It's Thursday morning, it's been raining and it looks as if there's a lot more to come.  Great for Suzanne's beautiful garden - I'll try to take some photos later.

Going back to yesterday morning, I left home around ten forty five and set off down the road to the A12/M25/A3, a very simple journey really but with potential for major holdups as they all have Reputations!  As it happens, it was a really good journey with the only hold up at the Wisley roundabout and even that wasn't so bad really.  It was slow but traffic light controlled.

I was at Suzanne's house by five to one.

And we talked.  Oh, how we talked.  We talked over lunch, we talked over coffee, we talked through the late afternoon, while we were prepping dinner, through dinner and well into the evening . . . 

Well, we had a lot to catch up on.

Thank you all so much for your kind queries about the tooth - or, rather, the not-tooth!   It's fine, thanks, no problems and the actual socket (what a horridly vivid word that is 

in this context) has given me no problems and the jaw, while bruised and aching, of course, is OK and in no way have either stopped me eating or talking!!  It's going to ache for a while; I remember when I had those front teeth out in preparation for the implants - the bruising was far worse than the wound.

We're planning a visit to Petworth House today because rain is forecast and that can be an indoor thing.  I'll take photos, of course.

Here's a link to the web site.  It is a National Trust property; I'm no longer a member but Suzanne is so the parking will be free.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/petworth

We can, of course, always get wet!

And then tomorrow we plan to hit Wisley - yay.  Suzanne was very pleased because, like me, she visited recently and wants to go back.  The main problem is that on the way back we will have to get onto the A3, drive up to That Roundabout and go round it to head back down again.  However, Suzanne is OK with that and I can take careful note of lanes, etc.  

I'll love you and leave you here.  I may post this evening with some photos but it all depends on whether I have time so please forgive me if there's nothing!  It's not just writing the post, it will be uploading and editing the photos too.

Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone.  Stay dry.  ☔  xx

Tuesday evening, 03-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  Just a short one after a wearying day.

For those of you who haven't seen yesterday's comments, I went into the dentist expecting root canal work and a crown and left it minus a tooth.
It had cracked down one side into the root and that was probably why I had that trouble a fortnight ago.  As the dentist said, it would get easily infected and there was no point crowning it now.  So out it came and I have an appointment with Mr Clough to talk implants because I'm not having a denture, no way!

It's been sore but I've taken paracetamols and it's just a dull ache now, mostly the gum which is bruised and a bit swollen.

And, basically, that was my day.

Tomorrow I am off to stay with my friend, Suzanne, for a few days.  I'll be blogging but maybe not daily and maybe not in the evening, it all depends.  She lives off the A3 so wish me luck with the M25/A3.  junction.   I've remembered to pay the Dartford Crossing toll (both ways) so yay me!

Night everyone.  xx

Monday evening, 02-09-24

Evening!  How's the day been?

It's been quite busy here in Clark Castle.  I had a Little List and gradually worked my way round it although the first thing I did wasn't on that list.

It was one of the corner cupboards (there are two) - you know, the kind that you can only get easy access to on one side, the rest being in the corner.  I opened it to get something and something just snapped:  I started taking everything out and sorting it all.  There were some things I haven't used for ages.  They went.  I didn't have a clue what a few things were.  They went.  There were some things that I want to keep but they don't need to be in the kitchen.  I moved them.

Then I reorganised what was left.  There are things 'round the corner' (to the right) but I know what they are and where they are now.  And I found a few things that I know I will use regularly and something I used straight away - my electric vacuum pump.  It's so good, pumps the air out of a couple of pots (one is bottom right)  mostly useful for fruit and salad and keeps the produce fresh for much longer.  There's also some bags under the pot that work with the same system.  So now the strawberries and raspberries are vacuum packed and I'll do the leaves and lettuce too.

Looks organised, doesn't it?

I then started my list with a good old tidy up of the kitchen and I processed some cooking apples that had been given me.  They  are now blanched and open frozen and I will bag them up after I have posted this.

I did some washing.  The first load went on the line whereupon it started raining - wouldn't you know.  So they came in, put them on the drying rack and the sun came out.  They stayed on the rack.  The second load was whites and most of them went in the tumble dryer for once.

I did a bit of housework, topped up the water softener that was pretty low, sorted out the end of August finances (I never feel comfortable until I have done this), got everything up to date and walked to Morrisons to pick up some of my medication.  And guess what - it started raining again.  Fortunately, I had an umbrella and wasn't it lucky I hadn't put the washing out.   And I don't have to water that garden tonight.

The rest of the day was spent ironing what could be ironed and chilling.

A few garden photos:

The beans are now growing in the Blankety Bed!  There's two (far right) that seem to have just given up and decided to die which is a shame because they looked very healthy a few days ago, one in the middle that looks extremely unwell and three gaps.  Apart from that, all good!  They look happier in this cooler weather than they did in yesterday's heat.

And these bedding chrysanthemums should be a picture in a few weeks.

Tomorrow I have the dreaded dental appointment - an hour of root canal work.  Not looking forward to that one little bit.  Hopefully, by eleven it will all be over and I will be home with a numb jaw and a tooth that won't cause me any more worries - for a while, anyway.

Fingers crossed.

I'll post now.  Have a super evening and sleep well.  xx

Sunday evening, 01-09-24

 Good evening, everyone.  Phew, it has been a scorcher today.  A good start to September.

I forgot to say;  yesterday I treated myself to a drive over to Lathcoats.  I was looking for two specifics, neither of which the had, but their apple table is set up now.  They grow a wide variety of apples on the farm and in the autumn they have a table with labelled samples of each kind and a knife so one can cut off a bit and taste.
I now have an abundance of apple so it is just as well I love them!
They also had their plums for sale so guess what I bought.
I also stocked up on frozen cherries and blackberries from their scoop and bag freezers and some pumpkin seeds and nuts from their serve yourself thingies.
It was nice looking round, even if they didn't have what I was looking for.

And then today I went over to HomeSense, Matalan and Home Bargains (Or is it B&Q, I always muddle those two) deliberately to get autumnal rubbish.  Bad me!  I dug out the little pumpkins, etc, that I crocheted last year and now the garden room is all autumnified.

Unnecessary but nice, don't you think?

I also got some needed stuff too - a few storage jars and a couple of waist slips because mine were in danger of falling down!

I've done some pottering around, a bit of kitchen stuff and generally chilled again.  Tomorrow is busy enough to need a list and Tuesday is the next tussle with the dentist, hopefully the last for now.  The tooth has been fine since the emergency treatment but I am nervous about it.

I hope your September has started well.  Sleep well and sweet dreams, everyone.  xx

My visit to RHS Wisley. Very photo heavy alert!

I've been so lucky with the weather this past week for both the coach trips.  It wasn't baking hot and, to start with, it felt quite cool, but I'd rather that than too hot any day.

We all got on the coach at the usual time and, yes, Pam and I sat together again, much to our delight.  She's very easy to chat to and very pleasant indeed.

The journey there, in contrast to Tuesday into London, was an absolute doddle.  No real hold ups at all until the lead off to the A3 and even then it was only the usual queue, nothing untoward.  

We were so early, we had to wait for a while before we could get in.  Thankfully, there were loos on the outside.

Wisley is considered the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society and one of the UK's most visited gardens.  It's now two hundred and forty acres in size, more than one can take in during one visit, I think.

The original sixty acre estate was given to the RHS is 1903.

This beautiful Arts and Crafts house is open to the public, I believe.  Something to remember for my next visit (which might be next week - more info later).

Once in, I had a quick nosey round the shop before finding the cafe area for my coffee and to eat what I had brought for breakfast.

Pam was already there, enjoying her tea and we decided to first locate where the cream tea was and then to part company.  We wanted to see different things and, as she said, moved at different paces anyway!

 I'm not sure how clear this map is going to be but maybe you could scroll in.
I first headed off towards the Pinetum and the Heather Landscape before walking through the woods by the River Wey and Seven Acres up to the incredible Glasshouse where I stayed for quite a long time.  Then I carried on to the Viewing Mount (not much in the way of views really),  through the Adventure Playground (lovely equipment, all natural wood with carvings plus a little 'beach' with clean sand and running water - the children were having an amazing time) and the Jubilee Arboretum.  I stopped at the Hilltop with the orchards and the pumpkin and vegetable patches, took a peek inside the World Food place, then through the Wellbeing Garden, the Cottage Garden, the Mixed Borders (stunning) and the Trials Gardens where there were lots of dahlias before heading back to the shop and the cafe.

I took lots of photos and I'll just post some below without comment.  I can't guarantee but I think they will be more or less in the right order.

Of course, being an RHS garden, there was plenty of really lovely art work scattered around.

The journey home was nowhere near as smooth as the journey there.  For a start, getting on to the M25 from the A3 was a disaster - half an hour plus to go a very short distance.  It's a daily thing too - poor, poor commuters, not to mention the people who live in the area.

Once on the M25, apart from static queues for which we never found the reason and the usual slow traffic at the Dartford crossing, it was OK and we weren't too late back.

So there you go - a snapshot of my visit to RHS Wisley.  Definitely a place to re-visit and if you ever get the chance to go, grab it.  Just take your own food with you!