Monday evening, 30-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  When I checked the weather forecast this morning, it wasn't that encouraging, so I wasn't expecting much and wasn't disappointed.  Another day for indoor drying!  

So that's what I did - I have a neat little drying rack that is perfect for drying one load of washing and it tucks in beside a chair, out of the way, if not out of sight, and close to a radiator (which helps when it's on).  That means I have a little pile of ironing which I will do after I've posted this.

I woke at stupid o'clock this morning, wide awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed so I came down, opened up the PC and got my September finances sorted and 'closed'.

It's not been a great month for savings.  I've done the usual standing order into my non negotiable savings and there was a little left which I moved across to October's total rather than inso savings (for now).
I'm planning a No-Spend November.  It can't be October because I have various commitments including a short holiday but I think I might have an October ban on Amazon stuff apart from Christmas gifts.

As for November, all the bills will get paid, of course, as will the monthly normal spending such as food, cleaning products, petrol, etc, but no extras.   

We've agreed, Beth and I, to slimline Christmas this year anyway so that will help.

Anyway, moving on . . .

Thank you all very much for your feedback on the little tryout clip.  Much appreciated.  I'd left it as 'private' when I should have changed it to 'unlisted'.  Lesson learned!

I went out twice today.  The first was circuits.  There were four of us and Lindsey worked us hard.  I'm definitely putting in a lot more effort and seeing results in increased stamina.

And then, this afternoon, I was off to the dentist to see the hygienist and have my teeth scraped.  It was OK.  Not great fun but not bad either and I gather they weren't too bad - my teeth, I mean, not the hygienists!   

Well, I have an online chat coming up at seven so I will check this over and get it sent.  I really hope none of you have had so much rain that there are floods.  Stay safe, stay warm and dry and sleep well.  xx

Sunday evening, 29-09-24

Good evening, lovely people.  It's been a lot less sunny today but no rain so I'll take that with gratitude, especially in light of tomorrow's forecast - eeeek.

Last day of September tomorrow so there's a little list of Things to Do, the biggest of which is closing the month's accounts and opening October's.

This morning was a lazy sort of time, although I did do a loads of darks which are drying on the rack, but this afternoon I drove over to Beth's and we had a lovely time going over arrangements prior to our forthcoming break at Center Parcs.  We booked tenpin bowling, a meat at Hucks (Alex's choice) and talked about what we are taking, found where our lodge is on the village map and, more importantly, worked out how to get to it without getting lost.  It involves going all round the houses (literally) but is pretty simple really.  It's an adapted lodge because of Beth's wheelchair.

And that was about it really.  Tomorrow is busier.

I had a play with the camcorder part of my new camera which is a lot more user friendly than the older one.  More modern, I suppose.  I uploaded straight to YouTube without editing because I don't know how to yet and I wanted to check sound.  It's nonsense really, just a clip, but the picture/sound quality isn't terrible, I think.  What do you think?

(I didn't do any intro, etc.  I have to learn that.  :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwj07tHPO5k

(second go - is this better, Sue?  Anyone?  Can you access it now?

How has your day gone?  xx

p.s., after Strictly - no spoilers but that was a surprise.  

Saturday evening, 28-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  What a pleasant day it has been.  The rain has departed (temporarily), the wind has died down and we had sunshine.  Not warmth, that would be expecting far too much!  😉
I am hoping that none of you has had any issues with the poor weather today or yesterday.

Talking of warmth, today's the day I gave in and put the heating on.  I was hoping to wait until October at least but there's such a thing as being sensibly frugal and such a thing as being a Scrooge, isn't there?   I am after the former, not the latter.
It was only five degrees Celsius outside this morning.  That's cold without heating!  Or maybe I am just a wimp!

And on a totally different subject, big apologies to Jules.  There were four of her comments in my spam folder,  FOUR!!!  They're where they should be now and thank you for commenting.  

Here's the jumper I have finished.  I said it was chunky and slouchy!  It is also super warm and very comfortable to wear and looks nice with a roll top underneath and leggings or jeans..

I have some yarn left so I've dug out a child's jumper pattern and I'm making a jumper for Chris' grandson who is rwo soon.

The blanket is coming along really nicely too and it is really nice to chop and change from knitting to crochet as I fancy

(and it keeps my fingers warm too).

I haven't really done anything very much today really.  Just pottered, doing homey things in a homey sort of way.  It is, of course, Strictly this evening so I am very much looking forward to that.  It's the first elimination week and there's a little group of them who are jostling for that 'honour', I think, and I don't want any of them to go.
What do you think - who do you think will be in the bottom two and who will leave?

Well, I am going to get this posted now.  Do enjoy whatever you have planned this evening and stay warm.  xx

Friday evening, 27-09-24

Evening, lovely people.  Welcome to my Friday blog.

Absolutely shocking weather this morning but, by around midday, it had all cleared up apart from the wind and that seems to have died down now too.  I hope it's not been too bad your way and am thinking about the situation in parts of America where, I gather, it has been awful.

The tomatoes and beans survived though.

Slimming World was as good as it ever is this morning (excellent, in other words) and when I got home, I wrapped up warm and then spent most of the rest of the day finishing off my knitted jumper.  All finished now and it will be lovely and cosy warm.

I made myself a fakeaway chicken fajitas for dinner and now I feel exceedingly stuffed and getting sleepy.  What a piggy, eh?

And that's about it.  Short and sweet so I will love you and leave you to enjoy your Friday evening, whether you are chilling at home or out and about.

Take care, everyone.  xx

Thursday evening, 26-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  It's really not been a very pleasant day today, weather wise.  We did have sun from time to time but we also had some torrential rain and in the afternoon the wind got up and, to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the runners and the tomatoes are on the ground tomorrow morning.

The new camera and the card reader arrived and I managed to get the photos off the memory card using the reader.  It's obviously the camera that has stopped talking to the PC.  I'll try it again tomorrow but I don't hold up much hope.

A much better photo than the one the mobile took.  Oh, well.

In the meanwhile, the new camera charged up, I formatted the memory card (it is absolutely tiny!) and I've started browsing through the manual.  Much of it is the same as I am sure most digi cameras are and I will devote a bit of time to exploring what it does and doesn't do.  I was expecting it to be smaller than the old one but it isn't, it is bigger.  I think it's a bit lighter though.,
Sadly, the batteries are different so I can't re-use the old ones but this new one came with two batteries which is such a good idea.

I will keep the old camera though.  The only problem is that it's not talking to the PC but I can use the card reader so why not?  

As always, the online SET class was good although the internet (which has been very flaky again this week) went down just as Lindsey dialled so I accessed it on my phone instead.  Not so easy as the picture is so small but there were only two of us plus Lindsey online; everyone else was at the studio.  I managed - loads better than missing it entirely.

Diane came over for lunch - Diane is the friend I went on the cruise with last Christmas.  We had a really lovely catch up time and have set another date when we would like to go into town.  Diane is on another cruise soon and needs a few clothes.

And that was pretty much everything today.  A really good day.  Tomorrow is SW weigh in - so fingers crossed.
Sweet dreams, one and all.  Stay safe.  xx

Wednesday evening, 25-09-24

 Evening, one and all.  The week seems to be flying past and I almost forgot to put out my bins for collection early tomorrow morning.  I could have lasted out another fortnight but I'm glad I don't have to.

When I started using my mobile to take photos today, I found a few that I had taken on our walk last Saturday and thought I'd share one.  It was lovely weather.

And here's those broad beans . . . doing nicely!  Not a great photo though.

Today was another very pleasant day, what with a lovely chat with Christine, some more clothes sorting so I could take stuff to Lindsey for her next pop-up shop and then personal training when Lindsey said to come early and have a look through the jackets as there were some nice ones.  And there were - I came home with two new-to-me ones.

For the time being, I have ordered a very cheap, lightweight digital camera that seemed to have some very good reviews, despite the price.  I suppose cameras have moved on a lot since I got the one that's not behaving and what would have cost a lot then doesn't now.  I have also ordered a camera card reader so maybe I can salvage the photos I took yesterday.  We will see.
I went for the lightweight on because I think It will be much more practical on my coach trips when I don't want to be lugging weight around more than I can help.

All in all, a useful sort of day really.
And now it is chill, relax, wind down time so that's exactly what I'm going to do.  All the best, everyone, and stay warm.  xx

Tuesday, 24-09-24

Good evening, everyone.  The internet is playing silly sausages at the moment so, if this appears in the middle of the night or something, maybe that's why.  In fact, as I am typing, it's crashed again.  Just one of those evenings and it will probably be absolutely fine again tomorrow.

Sadly, my camera is refusing to connect to either the desktop or my laptop and I don't think it is connected to the internet issue.  Maybe it really is time to get a new one  I was thinking the same sort of thing this time last year and then it decided to behave itself, if you remember.  I had a couple of nice photos of the broad beans to show you  too.  Maybe I ought to just get a card reader for now, I don't know.  Or, perhaps, both?  :-)

Today was another quiet day.  Chris and I got our walk to Groove and back again before the rain started again and we did get a bit of sunshine - just a bit - which was nice.  Groove was great as usual.  I'm really trying to push myself a bit more and today I managed proper jumping jacks/star jumps rather than the half jacks I usually do.  I was super-pleased about this as, with my ankle issues, that sort of impact stuff has been difficult.  And the ankles are absolutely fine now so that's great.  I reckon star jumps at 72 isn't bad.  😊

Photo or no photo, the broad beans are really coming along well and absolutely no sign of backfly (yet).  Everything else is slowing down now.  I only picked one tomato - one!!! - today although I did find some beans, both runner and dwarf which were nice for dinner.  It really can't be long before the first frost though and then it is ho! for green tomato chutney as there's still quite a lot of green tomatoes.

Well, the internet seems to be back temporarily, so I will see if I can get this posted.  Fingers crossed.

Night, everyone, sleep well.  xx

Monday evening, 23-09-24

 Morning!  It's been a soggy wet old time for much of the day although we had enough of a sunny spell to get one load of washing pretty much dried outside which was unexpected.  The second load played hokey cokey and in the end I got out the drying rack!

After I had made my first coffee (getting priorities right), I gritted my teeth and settled down to get up to date with this month's finances.  I like it when all the standing orders, etc, have gone out so what's left is really there.
It's been a spendy month, what with this, that and the other, and this morning I paid out for a forthcoming trip at the end of November to the Musical Museum (I think that's what it is called) with a concert (cinema organ, I think - my Dad would have so loved that and it's just after his birthday so a nice way to remember him) and an afternoon tea (not just a cream tea!).
Now I have a clear run to the end of the month with, hopefully, minimal expenditure.
Next month is a holiday, new glasses and dental stuff but, in semi compensation, I won't have any fitness classes to pay for as the new block starts the beginning of November and it is the annual two State Pensions month, one at the beginning and t'other right at the end.  It comes every four weeks, you see; the other pensions are per calendar month.

I got a message from the lovely Victoria the other day and now I am booked for her now traditional Christmas wreath making workshop at the beginning of December.  I so enjoy these.

Other trips coming up before the end of the year are:
The Knit and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace (hoping maybe I can find a Christmas knit or crochet project to enjoy through December)
Rochester Christmas Market and Dickensian Festival
Into London for a fish and chips tea and a tour of the Christmas Lights.

Don't they sound so lovely and festive?  I'm so fortunate to have lovely things to look forward to.

Better stop waffling and get sorted for an online chat in a short while.  Have you had a wet day too or has it been nicer your way?  
Good night, everyone.  Sweet dreams and keep warm and dry.  xx

Sunday evening, 22-09-24

Hello, everyone.  Today has been so very different to yesterday, weather wise.  We didn't have rain all day but it started off wet, cleared up, sunshine for a few minutes and then it all started again.  Good for the garden and it doesn't feel cold so . . . could be loads worse.

I realised, after Janice's comment, that I didn't give you an update on Beth.  Sorry.
The big problem was an impacted wisdom tooth which was attempting to grow sideways, pressing on the jaw nerve and causing the lockjaw and the infection.  It is still looking rather nasty, said the dentist and the tooth in question will need to come out at some point soon - not something she is looking forward to with unalloyed delight but better than the alternative.

All the actual infections seem to have calmed down for now and she is feeling much better and also very glad to have some answers.  Back to work tomorrow.  

Today was gentle.  I did a bit of housey stuff, lots of crochet, watched rubbish TV, did some exercise stuff and thought about the week ahead.

I need to get up to date with finances at the end of the month and I need to sort out my clothes for Lindsey's next pop up shop as she's only accepting contributions until the end of the month.

Did you enjoy Strictly yesterday.  They were very careful about asking the celebrities whether they were enjoying the training, weren't they, and already you can see who is due for an early bath and who could last until after Blackpool.

And Craig was his usual truthful self - I do like that man.

Time to get this sent.  Did you have a good weekend.  I do hope so. Wishing you a good week to come and stay safe and well.  Night.  xx

Saturday evening, 21-09-24

Good evening, everyone.

I said I would post some broad bean photos so here they are - I did a montage because there are three . . .

No blackfly - yet!

After a bit of bustling around doing last minute things this morning,  I joined the other four at the car park and we had a lovely, autumnal walk along to the cafe for coffee, then round the lake and back again after which we all decamped to mine for lunch.  I was crossing my fingers a bit because I had popped the food in the oven and set it using the timer - and I had to find the manual because I couldn't remember how to do that.
It worked!  Phew.

Lunch was really lovely.  I don't mean the food (it was fine, mind you, hardly any left), I mean sitting in the garden socialising, laughing, chatting, just enjoying life.  Fab.  We must do this again!

Going back to the walk, suddenly we were overtaken by someone buzzing merrily along in a wheelchair and, lo and behold, it was Beth!  Surprise!!  So we had a little chat and I asked her if she could look in John Lewis because Jo Malone has brought out a new perfume, linked with Paddington Bear, called Marmalade.  It's gone viral so I didn't hold out much hope and I was right - no luck.  So I have registered with Jo Malone to be told when it comes back into stock.  Their Orange Bitters scent is also coming out again for Christmas and I dearly love that scent.

Maybe . . . or maybe I mean oh, dear

Just look at this!  It was in the BBC Good Food Mag as an ad for Aldi and it is a recipe.  Wensleydale and Cranberry Focaccia.

Ooooh - I really want to make this and have downloaded the recipe from the site.

Here's the link, should any of you be interested.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/wensleydale-and-cranberry-focaccia/p/000000809910600

There's another one that looks rather nice there too - orange and rosemary.

Oh, dear!! (again)

😋

Well, Strictly has started so I will have to rewind back to the start.

I hope your day has been as lovely as mine.  Night, everyone.  xx

Friday evening, 20-09-24

 Evening, everyone!

I meant to take a few photos of the broad beans this afternoon but forgot.  We have flowers.  So now I'm keeping a sharp eye out for blackfly!!
I'll see if I can remember tomorrow.

Today started, as always, with Slimming World.  All was well - half a pound on, still below my target weight and I've started back at fitness classes this week so I'm very pleased with that.

Then I went shopping - I mean food shopping - at Morrisons.  It's nice to have the fridge full again and, apart from maybe a bit of fresh stuff, I hope what I have will last out September now.

Once home, I did housework and some cooking.  I have my SW Saturday walk friends coming back to mine for lunch after our walk tomorrow and we're having chicken pasta bake with a salad and then fresh fruit.  Nothing posh or complicated and the pasta bake is all made and in the fridge so all I will have to do is warm it up, add cheese and melt the cheese.  Easy peasy.
(and make the salad, etc, but that's no problem at all)
I've made a Little List of what needs doing first thing tomorrow before I head off towards Tower Gardens Car Park for the walk.

Tomorrow looks like being OK.  Not as warm as today but quite nice so, hopefully, we can sit out in the garden.  With that in mind, I did just a bit of removing weeds from slabs and beds and sweeping up leaves, cobwebs, etc.
It'll rain now, you watch . . .

Right, well, it's chilling time and I have a crocheted blanking calling out to me so I will say goodbye, sleep well and have a great Saturday.

See you . . .  x

Thursday evening, 19-09-24

Evening again, everyone.

It has been quite a low key day today.

The blanket is coming on.

After getting the extra yarn, I had a good think and, because now I had enough, undid what I had done because I decided I really hadn't made it wide enough.  That was a bit of a pain but I'm very glad I did it because it will be loads more useful now.

Doesn't the edging look nice?  I really like it.  It looks very like a knitted rib from a distance.

It's so nice to have something to pick up when I sit down of an evening (or during the day) - I feel less 'guilty'.  😉

It is going to take ages to get it finished but, apart from sewing in the few ends from starting a new ball, it'll be all finished.

Did you know undoing crochet (and knitting, I think) is called 'frogging'.  I didn't until a few weeks ago when I heard someone use the word on a YouTube video.

I looked it up.

"Frogging" is a knit/crochet term for ripping out your knitting and starting over to correct a mistake. Why is it called "frogging" you ask? Because you "rip it, rip it" which reminded someone of "ribit, ribit" - the sound a frog makes. Yep, that's the history behind the term (and we don't know who coined the term).

So now I know.  You're never too old to learn!

OK, so - today.  

It started with an online SET class.  The connection was shocking the sound broken and the picture pixelated and I almost gave up but, while I was out of rhythm and didn't necessarily change movements in time, I did it and I put in lots of effort today (readers of my other blog will know why)

So that was good.

The coffee and chat with Chris didn't happen as she and Steve were asked if they could look after their grandson for a few hours.  Of course - no choice! So I grabbed myself a coffee, picked up my knitting and caught up with a few YouTube channels until breakfast.

I got housework done and now my bedroom is fit to sleep in again.  And that's about it really so I will say good night, pleasant dreams and see you tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday evening, 18-09-24

Good evening, everyone.

It's been such a lovely day today.  Yes, it started off a bit gloomy but once the sun broke through it has been a perfect autumnal day.   I hope it has been as nice where you are.

Remember I said I bought a couple of winter barrel planters from Home Bargains on Sunday.  I meant to post these on Monday but then didn't do a post so here they are now.  I think they were pretty good value for £5.99 and they seem to be surviving OK.  Once the pansies are over, I still have two nice variegated shrubs and two ivies - not that I'm too much in need of ivy but the shrubs can go in bigger planters and could last for years.

Personal training started again today so this afternoon I set off over to Lindsey's home and Shimmy Studio.  As always, it was great although it was hard work after a fortnight off.  It's so easy to lose just a bit of strength.  She's doing another of her pop-up shops in October and we were chatting about the donations.  There's loads and I'd love to have first dibs - or one of the first anyway.  We will see.

I'm feeling really weary this evening so will be going to bed by nine, I think.  Before then I just need to sort out the kitchen and then I can sit, read, crochet, watch telly - whatever.   Tomorrow, I need to sort out some clothes - Lindsey is accepting donations until the end of September and, while I don't think I have much, there's probably some stuff that can go.  Maybe I'll get that done tomorrow.

All the best, everyone.  Stay safe and warm and have a great day tomorrow.  Night!  xx

Tuesday evening, 17-09-24

Evening again, everyone.  Thank you for your understanding yesterday.  I was so very shattered - maybe because Lindsey's classes have resumed but also I was leading an evening chat on Slim Win (which went fine) and maybe I was brain tired.  So I went to bed, fell asleep very quickly and don't remember needing a necessary trip down the landing in the night, waking this morning just past seven o'clock, I think.  I must have needed it, that's for sure.

Thank you for all your messages about Beth.  The oral thrush has gone, the threatened cystitis has responded to gallons of cranberry juice and an over-the-counter medication, the abscess seems to be finally responding to the antibiotics and she has been feeling loads better and brighter today.  The GP visit was not helpful but I won't go into that because it's not fair.
I'm feeling less concerned for her now.

Lindsey's classes have restarted.  Monday's was circuits and she said she was starting us in gently which rather makes me fear for the last few session in the block!!  No, seriously, it was fine; there were five of us and we all enjoyed it very much.
Today's Groove was all new sequences and some different movement.  I really enjoyed it; ditto for the walk there and back with Chris in glorious sunshine.

The weather has been lovely, a two load drying day.  Overall not particularly warm but sunny and cheering.  So today was a two load ironing day!!

The flower beds continue to look lovely.  I just spotted this little group when I opened the curtains this morning and dashed out to snap it before they 'moved' (which they did).

And below are some of the bedding 'mums that I planted several weeks back and which now are just lovely.

The broad beans are also coming on a treat.  Not a sign of any blackfly yet - but I am keeping a close eye open, just in case.

I think that just about covers my exciting life!  I need to focus on housework tomorrow; I'm not out until personal training so maybe I can do upstairs (much needed) and downstairs (just needed).

Thanks for all the lovely comments - do keep them coming.  Alison, your comment hasn't appeared in Spam but I will keep looking.
All the best, everyone, have a great night's sleep and a fab day tomorrow.  xx

Monday evening, 16-09-24

Been quite busy this evening so won't post anything tis evening - hoping you have had a lovely day and see you tomorrow evening. xx

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!