Another seaside visit

On Monday of the week before last we went off to visit Mum in law. We try to go every couple of months, but were later this time, as we'd been North to see the new arrival. I asked husband to check the weather forecast, and he said it wasn't good. So I didn't pack a skirt, just trousers and long sleeved Ts. However as I rushed around doing stuff I got hotter and hotter. I swapped my long sleeved t shirt  was wearing for a short sleeved one, and just in case packed some short sleeved. It was overcast here. We left at around 11, and stopped for lunch at Pease Pottage.
We arrived at around 2.30 pm to brilliant sunshine! So much for weather forecasts. Later we had our usual wander around the village to get some exercise and blow away the cobwebs. Mum in law came with us as she needed to buy something. I had brought a casserole with me, and her favourite chicken dish. I had frozen both as the casserole travels better frozen.
Unfortunately the casserole took longer to defrost than I'd hoped, and Mum In law is a slow eater, so she had to push her plate to one side to make room for my laptop as we had booked a skype call to our son. However the call took place so she has now seen her great grandson, 'live' although not yet in the flesh.
Afterwards husband washed up and we settled down to watch Doc Martin, which we sometimes see on itv player. I don't know how he keeps a straight face. Mum in law hadn't realised it was on, and she quite enjoys it, so she said she would watch it the next week.  I read the Telegraph, and went to bed but didn't sleep too well, one of those nights when the bed seems harder than ever and the pillows like rocks.
Next morning we had a slow start and didn't leave for Eastbourne till late morning. We decided to call at the garden centre, as I wanted some more slug bells, and husband got some things for his Mum too, then we drove into the centre of Eastbourne to park. She had complained when we walked her from the station car park, on street parking isn't easy on week days.
We went to C&H as usual for lunch, but this time Mum in law insisted in paying. I bought some new slippers there, and went upstairs to get some more card toppers. I looked at the material, and the wool, but decided I have enough to keep me going. She needed some stuff from Boots, and  I needed to get some pictures printed of the baby and the other children to give to her. We also went in Marks as Mum in law had heard of some ready meals which she thought she might buy. An assistant directed us to where they were, and she decided to buy some. I was wandering around with a T shirt on and no cardigan,  it  was so warm.
We didn't go in many more shops, I find it quite tiring walking very slowly,so I rang husband and he came back to the car park. Later that evening we had the chicken breasts I had brought, and they went down quite well. Mum in Law didn't mind us using our laptops, and decided she would go to bed early as she doesn't always sleep well. As we were about to go to bed husband complained he couldn't find his new smart phone so he was up again searching for it. He ended up ringing the company to block the phone.
Next morning I wandered outside and looked as he had been in the shed for something. No joy. He has an app on his computer that could trace the whereabouts. He suddenly said 'it must be around here somewhere'. He began looking again, meanwhile I slid open the dining room door and went in there, there was the phone, where he had been sitting the evening before at dinner. I had asked him the previous evening if he had taken it to the table, but he said he hadn't heard me. It had been on silent, so that's why we hadn't heard it ring. Oh well, thank God, no visit to the shops in Eastbourne looking for it. He quickly phoned the provider, and got the phone unblocked.
Later we took Mum in Law to the dump, that is to say, we took some of her unwanted stuff to the dump, including the garden chairs, one of which tipped me over backwards last September. There were also odd bits of wood, and a broken kettle. I'd like to have taken more, but she needs to do a bit of sorting first. Really she had to come with us  as we are not residents. I can remember when we cleared my Mum's flat having to take I D to prove she had lived in the county. We also needed her to  direct us, but someone told her that the dump had moved, so we were almost in Hastings before I suggested that we turned back and checked the place it used to be. It was still there, but maybe the other side of the lane. She hadn't been there for at least 4 years, as she has no transport.
Then we took her into Bexhill as she needed a new battery for the speaking watch which we bought her a couple of Christmases ago. First we called in at Sainsbury's to get some lunch, and the soya ice cream which Mum in Law likes, then along the promenade, where we parked and ate the sandwiches, it was still very warm, but the seafront was shrouded in mist.

beach huts in the mist

boats in the mist

large cat in the De la Warr pavilion

Onion dome

Front of De la Warr pavilion

Art Deco Shelter

Then we went back to the town centre, only a few minutes spent browsing the shops, then back to the car and back to the bungalow. We packed, but didn't leave too early as husband wanted to avoid the rush hour on the M25.
As we were travelling along the road up from Brighton, there was a burned out bus in the Southbound carriageway. The traffic was backed up to the Pease Pottage services, we were so glad we weren't going that way. We stopped for a cuppa, and picked up a meal from the M&S there. We didn't have a bad journey and were home at around 7.30 pm.
On the Thursday I could feel a cold coming, so I got out the Vick's First defence, and by Sunday the sneezing and other symptoms had gone, just a dry cough remained and a bit of Sinus pain.
Friday I was at the doctor's as a 6 month review of my meds had been advised, possibly because my blood tests were slightly suspect. The Doctor decided she would repeat certain tests. On the Saturday we had a late start. but went to Berkhamsted where there is a large craft shop. I have now stocked up on card toppers. We had a late lunch in Waitrose, and did the weekends shopping. I love Waitrose, but if I shopped there regularly would have to leave husband at home, he sneaks things into the trolley.

A week of bits and bobs

Actually, the Saturday when we came back from Cheshire, the house seemed cold, so we put the heating on for the evening. The weather has been so changeable lately. The next week wasn't over exciting, I went out one day leaving a line full of washing, I went into town to buy wool, I had bought some in the wrong ply. Fortunately I hadn't needed it, the shop were happy to exchange it for me, so  have kept up the knitting I have to be careful though as I've overdone it in the past and ended up with RSI, and had to wear a splint. Of course because I had left  a line full of washing it poured down and husband hadn't noticed.
We spent more time cutting back fruit bushes, I managed to get the wall painting finished in the bathroom, although the bit I did has shown up some of the rest as perhaps needing a new coat. I managed to fit the shelving support together, and drill holes in the bathroom wall, and put the shelves up.
The garden is still looking good at the front, and at the back I seem to be winning the war against the slugs and all my salvias have recovered, enough for a second flowering.

Winston Churchill fuchsia kept from last year

Fuchsia in hanging basket

Close up of Winston Churchill

More tomatoes than we can eat

A salvia

Our 'star' fuchsia, originally grown from a cutting that came from next door

Another fuchsia

Begonias

On the Saturday of that week we went over to Berkhamsted,  as I wanted to look in the craft shop for some more card toppers. We browsed quite a few shops, including the High street garden centre, I still can't find an orchid to replace the dead one, I'll have to go back to the place I bought it I think.
We saw the grandchildren  a couple of times that week, and I also took a huge pile of ironing to be done. I still can't manage too much, although my shoulder doesn't give me too much trouble. I missed Weightwatchers again as I overslept,and couldn't get ready in time.
I also managed to miss Women's hour, my mobile had all but died, so we went into town to replace it, I don't know if the chap was new, but we were in the shop for three quarters of an hour. He told me that he couldn't download messages etc from my old phone, I know that the girl did it last time I had to have a new phone, so I've also lost my ringtones, and my Aragorn wall paper, Husband has managed to restore that, but not so far the ringtones. I could have got them online but they would have been almost £5. When we came out of the shop we decide it was lunchtime, a bus wasn't due, so we went into the new pasty shop for lunch. I had a  baguette, and husband of course a pasty. However, after we had eaten the bus was late, and when we got back home I was too late to get there in time.
Hmm, this post is a bit higgledy piggledy, and in the wrong order, but It was over a week ago and the memories came back in dribs and drabs.

The new boy, and the new born

I treated myself to some cream roses

So, behind again with blogging. The heatwave didn't last, I get annoyed every year when the media talk about Indian summers in September, when in fact the expression refers to hot weather in November, however as usual I digress. The weather has changed, cold and wet; the rain rarely came exactly when forecast, we took the cotton sheets off the bed and replaced them with sheet and duvet, to be kicked off when overheating.
I may have forgotten to mention the incident when daughter caught Nat sucking away at an orchid drip feeder, and the subsequent panic, and calls to NHS direct, and the nighttime tummy ache which necessitated a trip to A&E, 10 miles away in the middle of the night, an ECG, and blood tests. He was pronounced fit to go home, and comments from my family included, 'Was he trying to make himself grow?' and 'He's fine, he has a lovely bloom'.

Looking smart in his uniform

Nathaniel started at Nursery, with just an hour the first day. If we ask him what he did, he always says he played with Annie and Clarabelle, as Thomas afficianados will know are the carriages. Who can forget Ringo Starr proclaiming 'We feel so full, we feel so full' on the Christmas special tape? It was an oft repeated phrase chez nous after eating too much! Nat does seem to be settling well, and has also been enrolled in a gym club to hopefully work off some spare energy. What a pity we can't bottle it! Our week didn't start off too well, I had a bad night on the Sunday, it rained and rained on the Monday, we both felt tired and unmotivated. Our Son in Law was unwell, so we stayed away, not wishing to catch anything. It was also discovered that a child who attended the same Birthday party as our two, came out in Chickenpox spots, so more watching and waiting for the parents.
 I was up late on the Tuesday, having had a better night. I went into town and bought a small gift for the new baby. Actually, I've just remembered, after Nat's first full day, that day, he was asked if he had had fun, and replied, 'No I was too busy'.
For a few years we have had some metal shelving in the bathroom, but no matter what we did it kept going rusty, I had tried kurust, and spraying it with silver paint, but to no avail, and I'd got silver paint on the painted pine clad wall, so recently we had bought glass shelves to replace the metal ones, and hope that the metals supports won't rust.
I had bought the wrong brand of satinwood which was too shiny, so had a trip to B&Q to find the Crown, low odour one I had previously used. It needed two or 3 coats to cover the silver. I also made it to Weightwatchers I had stayed the same. I am pleased to report that my back is a lot better, and that I can walk ever so slightly faster.
On Thursday, we drove up to meet our new Grandson. The other Grandparents had visited, so to make sure that they were not overwhelmed with washing and changing bed linen, we had booked into a hotel a few miles away. Our poor son had caught a cold, not from work,as he was on paternity leave, but they were both so tired their resistance must have been low. The baby had started with the cold the previous day, so was snuffly, unable to feed properly, and giving them bad nights. We missed meeting the other Grandparents as they had gone off early to visit other family members.
The baby is lovely, very fair, more like the in laws than our family. We went off to book into the hotel, and found that we were booked into an old converted stable block.

baby Ethan

The receptionist was not very forthcoming, and told us very little about the hotel. There was only one hand towel, so I had to go and ask for a second, I also managed to find out where breakfast would be served. The en suite had a bit of a musty damp smell to it, the heating was on, but this made the room over hot.
We went back to Son's home, and he made us dinner, they also went out to buy some saline nasal spray to try and clear baby's nose. We didn't stay too late hoping that they might get a better night. Tom, the dog, doesn't seem too fazed by the appearance of a baby in the house, in fact when they had skyped us he was determined to get in the picture!
Back at the hotel, the heating had gone off, I had borrowed indigestion tablets from daughter in law, but the bed was too hard, and despite herbal tablets sleep did not come till 4 am. The next day we were late getting up, but breakfast was good. We set off for Son's home, had more cuddle time with Ethan. We were going to walk into town, and they said they would come with us as they had an appointment to register the birth. However, by the time they were ready baby needed feeding again, (I remember those days quite well) So we set off without them, saying they could meet us for lunch somewhere. We had a pleasant walk in, browsed a few shops and were in the antiques emporium when they phoned, I think. The place we wanted to go for lunch had trouble accommodating the buggy, so it was back to our standby Costa. The young people just about had time to finish lunch before it was time for their appointment. We went back to the antiques place, but upstairs was so dusty I had to come out and take my inhaler. I browsed the deli, and bought a couple of items, then told husband I'd had enough. My back is so much better, but I didn't want to risk overdoing it.
We waited for a bus, but our Son kindly came back into town to collect us, it had just started to rain. We stayed with them till almost 7 pm, then went back to the hotel, where they were meeting us for dinner. They were both so tired we didn't want them to have to cook for us. The meal was in the bar as the restaurant was being laid out for a wedding the next day. We had said we were bringing a small baby, but the waitress had put out a high chair; she was somewhat startled to see one so small, but in no time was cooing over him. The food was good and plenty of it. Son and his wife left fairly quickly, both in need of some sleep. I slept better the second night, but it was husband who woke me at around 4 am, padding around looking for indigestion tablets.
Saturday, we were up earlier, enjoyed a good breakfast, and went for more cuddles with Ethan. They had had a bad night. We left at around lunchtime, shopped in the local Waitrose, had a reasonable journey back, stopping at Watford gap, where, still too full of breakfast, we had crisps and a coffee.
Then after unpacking the car, had a fish pie from Waitrose. It was good to be back in our own bed that night.

A Birthday, a back problem and a baby.

I'm really quite cross with blogger, the other day I typed a lot on here, but blogger would not save it, giving me a daft message every time. In the end I lost all that I had written.
On Monday 19th August Daughter and I went over to Watford, as I couldn't find a nice Birthday card for Nat. Unfortunately, I had my legs twisted to one side a the nappy bag was in the footwell. I was a bit stiff on arrival in Watford, and was disappointed to find only one card shop in the shopping centre. There was a beautiful card which opened into a 3D pirate ship, but it was £5. There is also lack of big cards since the  postal rates were altered, as they cost more to post. I soon realised I was having difficulty walking, the disc problem had worsened, and I now seemed to have a pain in the right hip too. I tried pushing the buggy for support, but it was too heavy for me.
Daughter wanted to look in shoe shops, but I thought I had better keep moving. The reason for the lack of card shops seems to be that so many went down in the recession, so I set off in the direction of Smith's. On the way I took 2 paracetamol, as I had some in my bag, I found a reasonable card in Smith's with a digger and 3 on the front, and decided to add the word Grandson from my stock of letters in my card making stuff.
I decided to go into Boots to buy some heat pads, these are placed over the painful area, and bring comfort, except that in hot weather they can make one perspire rather, and they have a tendency to drop out. This happened to me once on Scarborough sea front, much to the bemusement of several people sitting nearby. Goodness what they thought, as I struggled to maintain my dignity, bent to pick it up and as nonchalantly as possible tossed it in the nearest bin.
So far so good, but I couldn't just hoick up my skirt or go down the elasticated waistband in the middle of the Harlequin centre, I might have been arrested, so I struggled up the escalator in J L to the ladies' room, where I managed to instal a heat pad over the r4/5 vertebral joint, and gained alittle comfort from the heat. I then nipped (well hobbled) into the mini Waitrose on the top floor to buy some potatoes,and ice cream. Then daughter, whom I had promised to meet me at Boots rang, I had to tell her that I'd had a slight change of plan. She said she would be waiting by the stop for the little land train, on which she had promised Nat a ride. However when she saw me hobbling over the little bridge, full of fear that my right leg would give way completely, she had to tell poor Nat that his train ride would have to happen another day.
This time, as we left, the nappy bag was stowed in the boot, and I managed to struggle into the passenger seat which is quite low, biting my lip all the way back, I couldn't help with the children much, and I don't know how I managed to drive down the hill home. I left my car out.
The difficulty with prolapsed discs is getting the balance right between rest and exercise, so the next day husband accompanied me on my trip to the local paper shop. I had my adjustable walking stick for reassurance. The trouble is husband cannot walk slowly, oh well at least he didn't tell me I sounded like Long John Silver this time.
The next day I made it to WW, where I had gained half a pound, but folk were sympathetic, then I managed to go round Sainsbury's, the trolley helped enormously, and husband helped unload the car and put stuff away. Late I went to Homebase for some plants to fill in the gaps in my pots where I had removed a few dying stragglers. I called in to see daughter who confessed she was right behind with Nathaniel's cake, hadn't even got the eggs, so I looked after the pair of them whilst she went off to buy eggs and a few other things.

They both climbed on the garden table, Lydia from my lap

there was a good moon that week too

I think she was glad of the break from them,and brought home 2 bags full of shopping. We had a further short visit to one of the local garden centres that week too,but didn't buy a lot. The Saturday of Nat's birthday dawned very wet, but they had made contingency plans. We called in with his card and gift, and didn't stay too long. Daddy took him to see a Thomas film, then they had lunch, and then on to a soft play area. We went up at about 5 pm for a Birthday tea, Nat had worn himself out again and was having a nap. The Thomas cake looked pretty good, I can't find the picture of the one I made for our son, but I think that the blue colourant I used may have been far more intense.

Nathaniel and his playdough set

Fun with balloons

Lydia  likes them too

The cake

Blowing the candle out

mmm, cake

Ooh, cake

The cake tasted pretty good too. It's nice to know that my Daughter has inherited some of my skills.
Last week was pretty routine, some good days some bad. I went to repot one of my orchids only to find that the roots had rotted, so we decided to go to a garden centre, further away. We had a good look around, had a cuppa in their cafe, then an ice cream. Their orchid choice wasn't huge, so I didn't buy. They have an EMW outlet there. Their check shirts were on offer, so husband bought 2. We also bought a hanging basket for the shepherd's crook hanger.
On the Thursday of that week one of our ladies invited some of us round, so I collected our German friend, and we had a very pleasant afternoon chatting, drinking tea, and eating cake. I only had a very small square of lemon cake, but the German lady had a large slice of Victoria sponge, lemon cake, flapjack, and shortbread. As I took her home, she asked if I could take her to the local shops. I did so, and as she came back to the car,she said 'Ooh, smell those fish and chips, I'm really hungry, aren't you?' I managed to splutter, 'No', and she insisted on me asking the price, when she found out the price she decided to have something at home, and mentioned salad and chops. I really think she must have something wrong with her appetite controller, unless she comfort eats.
I finished the baby second baby jacket, and decided to do a hat to match. I had contacted Daughter in Law on Friday, but she said that nothing was happening, but then she wasn't due till Sunday.
Sunday evening I was talking to Son by text, and I did have this feeling that there was something he wasn't telling me.
The next day we walked into town, as I had bought a dress online from M&S, but it wasn't really me. Well I say we walked into town, what actually happened was that I walked into town with a small shopping list, then realised I had forgotten the dress, so had to ring husband. I went into Dyas for something to clean out my iron,and something to make the sink empty quicker, then I called husband who had walked down with the dress.
I'd only had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, the pasty shop which has reopened under new management wafted out smells, so did the M&S cafe, I went into the food department, and the bakery wafted out smells. I began to get a sick feeling in my stomach, which indicates that my blood sugar has dropped, and I need to do something about it. I phoned husband and he agreed to met me at the M&S cafe. As I waited for him, my phone got a message. It read 'Ethan Gabriel, born 12.26 pm', from our son. Praise the Lord, I have another grandchild. I couldn't wait to tell husband and decided to have an iced bun after my snack meal to celebrate.
Then it was off to the card shop, and when I got home, wrapped the baby clothes, and off to the post office to send them.
Mum and baby seem to be doing well apart from lack of sleep, neither Mum nor Dad got any Sunday night. Son eventually posted a picture on Facebook, and we have seen the baby on skype. He was 7lb 8oz. I have been to Daughter's, she is still struggling a bit, but the nursery teacher came round to meet Nathaniel one day, he starts next week. He spent most of her visit hiding in the hall! She did however coax him into having a picture taken. I recognised her as being in the same year as my son at the same school where she now teaches. I first knew her when she was 3, so it's amazing to see how she had grown into a confident young woman. Lydia also took her first steps this week, only 2, but we all have to start somewhere, and at ten and a half months it's not bad going. I feel truly blessed. Husband came with me one day, and gave Nat some 'one to one', from which he reallyseemed to benefit.

We have had a mini heatwave this week, thankfully we still haven't got round to putting the duvet back on. Today, as I walked to post my Cousin's birthday card there was definite Autumn feel, and just for good measure, it rained before lunch. Oh well mustn't grumble, we've had a lovely summer for a change.

Lydia raids the toy box, standing alone

More Knebworth august 6th

Actually I got into a muddle whilst uploading pictures of our Daughter's Birthday, some were left out, so here are some more:

Mausoleum

ree sculpture of muses seen from maze

Daughter in maze

Another tree sculpture

figures on the roof

Lydia with Grandad

the two cakes

candle time

Birthday, baking, bouncy castle and busyness

So, still 2 weeks behind! On the Sunday when the family came we had quite a good day, except for no one being able to take a decent nap, apart from Lydia, and delayed naps leading to no one being ready enough to go to the evening service, so we had tea together, lots of nibbly bits from M&S, their feta and pepper in rolled up filo being especially tasty. I think Daughter enjoyed the break from cooking and 2 extra pairs of hands to help cope with lively children. Son in law's attempts at a nap were disturbed by his son insisting on going up to the spare room and chatting.
On the Monday, I walked into town to buy a Birthday card and a cake for our Daughter, her husband had said he would try and make a cake, but I thought, if he didn't get around to it....
Tuesday was our Daughter's birthday. We went up there, taking the cake and her present, a book, The Blue Door Venture, another in the series by Pamela Brown, which I had loved as a child, with a few bank notes interspersed in the pages for her to spend on something she likes. Son in law had made a cake a lovely chocolate cake with a ganache filling and topping; for the uninitiated ganache is pure chocolate mixed with cream! It was decidedly better than Nat's attempts at baking! (and it put the M&S offering n the shade!)

We were all ready to go out, but there was still the question, where to? I had looked up places to visit in Hertfordshire, and one that came up was Knebworth. A stately home and gardens, with a children's play area. I mentioned this,and apparently daughter had also looked at it, so Knebworth it was.
We piled into our respective cars and headed off for Knebworth. On our arrival we parked near the play area and decided to walk up to the house, quite an uphill hike. Nathaniel is at the awkward stage when he quite often doesn't know what he wants, so after a while of walking he began to be awkward,and one minute it was,'Want to ride in the buggy', immediately followed by, 'No buggy want to walk'. this rather slowed some of us down, but eventually we reached the House and the barns where the cafe was.
We were going to bring a picnic, but son in law's purchased picnic offerings had been  deemed unsuitable, and we were pleased to see that the cafe did a lovely variety of food. After our meal, we browsed the gift shop, then walked through to the gardens, and the dinosaur trail. We found the maze first, and all managed to find our way around it, Nat running excitedly with some older children, he obviously couldn't read the 'no running' signs. Then we did the dinosaur trail, but didn't feel we had enough energy for the woodland trail too.
Back in the gardens, daughter taught Nat the joys of rolling down slopes.  I went looking for husband who seemed to have disappeared, then I found a gap in an ornamental hedge, which led to another garden, then another. I felt a bit like Alice going after the white rabbit, but eventually I caught a glimpse of husband at the end of a fourth or fifth garden, and caught up with him. We both said how amazing it all was.
We found the family,and began the walk downhill to the play area. Nat was a bit young for Fort Knebworth, but there was lots more to play on. I was casting envious glances at the zip wires. Later I saw 2 mums, probably in their 40s having a go. Wish I'd had the courage! We sat with drinks in the under cover picnic area, then later had an ice cream. We also watched Nathaniel bouncing like a kangaroo on the bouncy castle.

'prehistoric' creatures

rolling down slopes

hidden garden

Birthday girl

s

Knebworth house

Centre of the maze

The family

One of the many tree sculptures

 sitting on a crocodile

scarey dinosaur

Daughter's plan was to go to a Pizza place, which also did salads,but she decided it was too early. So we went back to her home with the intention of going to the local pizza place later. Unfortunately Nathaniel fell into a deep sleep in the car in the way home, he was put to bed, but later couldn't wake up, so we had the birthday candles, and ordered a takeaway from the pizza place. They only did one salad, and there were dough sticks with it so it wasn't ideal, I just didn't eat much of them.
We had  a bit of cake for afters, then came home, Nathaniel slumbered on.
On the Wednesday I overslept, so skipped my WW meeting, I did the usual Sainsbury's run, then later that day caled in on Daughter. apparently Nathaniel had awoken at midnight, and his daddy had given him some food as he hadn't eaten since lunch.
On that Thursday I hired a carpet cleaner, I'd been promising myself that I would clean the carpets for a couple of years. It was a rug doctor, and I'd forgotten how heavy they are to use. I did the sitting room in the morning, the later did the hall. Friday I hoicked it up then stairs, did the landing and the visible bits of the carpet on our room, then came down the stairs with it. It was hot heavy work. you wouldn't believe the colour of the water which came out. Later, I went over the heavy traffic area in the sitting room and was quite pleased with the results.
So Saturday we had to return the carpet cleaner, then into town for our usual Saturday shopping trip.
Sunday was  a fairly normal Sunday. On The Monday we went up to Daughter's and helped her get ready for a trip to the big garden centre, where we had lunch. There were not many plants, I was looking for something to fill gaps in my front garden pots. We still managed to spend too much, we bpught a rather nice 'double shepherd's crook' for holding hanging baskets, bird feeders etc Husband commented that the garden is now is full that the only way is up!
On the Tuesday I set of to buy a couple of things in Sainsbo's, saying as I left, 'I won't be long'. Ha! it was one of these days when I bumped into 3 different people whom I haven't seen in ages. The first whom I have known since our Daughters were at school together had been very poorly, having had a brain tumour then a stroke. We shared an office for a while when I worked at the hospital.
The rest of last week wasn't exciting, I spent time in the loft looking for something which I must have thrown away, discovering other things which  had thought I'd thrown away. I say in the loft, but I was actually perched on the ladder twisting round. I found the storage from some old bedding had split, so I ended up washing 2 double blankets, I single duvet, and an old bright orange 'eiderdown' bedcover. I definitely need to start a new charity shop bag. We visited 2 more local garden centres, where I found reduced bedding plants,and dahlias,and husband found the stuff he needs to keep the water in the water feature unsullied. I also began to cut back the raspberries. As we walked into town on that Sasturday, I started to get back pain. My disc was playing up, probably I've been overdoing things again, humping carpet cleaners up the stairs, and twisting round on the loft ladder.
I really do need to learn to ask for help sometimes. There I'm almost up to the beginning of this week.

fuchsia hanging basket

back garden border

water feature

New dahlia