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longer off topic comments" - Episode 47 Life Outside Ambridge
longer off topic comments" - Episode 47 Life Outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments' - Episode 8 Life Outside Ambridge Beach Chairs
PtbY - I love the Charles Paris stories on the radio too, (I think of them as a cross between Ed Reardon & Miss Marple!) but the funny thing is I can't stand Billy Nighy in any film I've ever seen him in. There's quite a few actors like that I find.
ReplyDeleteFYI He is often to be seen wandering the streets of my neighborhood looking remarkably well dressed - he apparently loves Glasgow & stays at a very nice hotel just down the street from me when he's in town.
Ooh. What’s the name of the hotel. I must go and people watch there whilst having a leisurely cocktail.
DeleteHotel du Vin @ 1 Devonshire Gardens. Nice cocktails and the occasional superstar...
Delete👍 I’ll put it on my list.
DeleteI am with you on Bill Nighy,Gary.
DeleteTo me he always plays the part of Bill Nighy.
(I couldn’t watch much of the remake of “Far from the madding crowd “ because the actress playing Bathsheba wasn’t anything like as good as Julie Christie)
Why do they remake certain films?
The Jenny Agutter “The Railway Children” can never be bettered.
“Daddy oh my daddy,”
To reply to something you wrote on the closed blog ,Gary, fear my cycling days may be over but my bike doesn’t owe me a penny.
When we stayed on the Isle of Arran some years ago my sons hired bikes.
When I asked for locks I was told that they were not needed as a thief had nowhere to take them.
I did think “The boat” but said nothing.
I wonder if things are still the same there now?
I hope so..
I really didn't like Bill Nighy at first when I saw him in a play on TV as a serious actor but then I watched him as a 'Russ' type character in 'People Like Us'. He was an aging 'artiste' (a photographer I think) with a much younger girlfriend who was supporting him. He was hilarious. Since then there has been 'Love Actually' of course, my favourite feel good film for Christmas.
DeleteThe other voices I love and instantly recognise are Geoffrey Whitehead who appears in dozens of radio series and the lovely Anton Lesser. I have just finished listening to the latter, reading an Ian McEwan book 'Machines like Me'. I only heard three or four episodes and am sort of intrigued but really don't like McEwan so I am not sure whether to try and read the whole novel! The whole dislike of him stems from one (to me distasteful) scene in a Child in Time which I was reading and studying with an A level student at one time. Anyway Lesser's dulcet tones made the latest audio reading very enjoyable.
Last night when I got in from Cubs which had been a traumatic meeting as our super-hyper autistic lad had, before anyone could stop him, taken a flying leap off a structure in the park where we where last night shouting 'Watch this!' I literally screamed 'No!'
Luckily he landed safely and at the end of the meeting his Mum and I had to put him right about why thinking ahead might be a good idea!
Anyway I was sitting with a glass of wine catching up online while son and partner were watching Game of Thrones and whose lovely voice should I hear but Anton Lesser's? Very different role to his one in 'Endeavour!'
Can I join you PtbY ?
DeleteI love him as Charles Parish and anything else.
The best man to have come out of Croydon.
( along with a certain Mick Messenger )
second 'where' should be 'were' of course! Typo acknowledged!😵
DeleteI too am a great fan of Anton Lesser. I had listened to him for years in various radio productions and recognised his voice instantly. There was a particular series set in ancient Rome called ‘Falco ’ when he sounded like quite a young man. When I finally saw him on television I was shocked that he was much older in real life than his radio roles.
DeleteBut, sorry, I am not keen on Bill Nighy at all. As Lanjan said, to me he is always Bill Nighy whatever role he takes. The same rather lazy voice, drawling through the part, few gestures or facial expressions - I sometimes wonder why he is considered a great actor!
Give me Anton Lesser, Roger Allam or Hugh Bonneville any day!
Or Sean Bean
Delete😍😍😍 Lanjan!
DeleteWho is Mick Messenger ,Mrs P?
ReplyDeleteAargh !
DeleteNow that would be telling LJ !
Let's just say ...part of my past.
And a small town on the edge of London that spawned David Bowey.
( Have I spelt that correctly ? )
I did misspell it - sorry
DeleteDavid Bowie
That's OK MrsP, he won't be offended.
DeleteChelsea Flower Show next week.
ReplyDeleteI bet a pound to a penny that Joanna Lumley will be there as one of the “Celebrities”.
One “celebrity” I had never heard of said ,last year he wasn’t interested in gardening.
Why don’t they give the free tickets to ordinary folk who spend hours making their town’s beautiful for “Britain in Bloom”
Your mate Mick might be invited Mrs P!
And I would appreciate not only a change of celebrities but a change of commentators too!
DeleteI love Joe Swift but am bored with the sainted Monty Don (whom Mr A thinks can do no wrong). He dresses badly for Chelsea and is so laid back he almost falls off his sofa.
I got fed up with Alan Titchmarsh years ago when becoming a TV ‘personality’ took over from him being an expert, down to earth gardener.. His programmes with various members of the Royal family have given him ideas above his station in my opinion!
As for Nicky Campbell, who hovers around when the show gardens are being presented with their medals, her gushing makes me feel ill and I wonder what she has to do with gardening anyway?
My dream team of presenters for Chelsea would be: Joe Swift, Adam Frost, Chris Beardshaw and Rachel de Thame. But if only I could resurrect Geoffrey Smith and Percy Thrower should be entirely happy.
Won't be watching, but my choice for presenting almost anything would be Clare Baldwin - warm, engaging, enthusiastic, no gush, articulate, bright.
DeleteI feel sorry for those who interview any of the Royal family. All the protocol, playing down their own intelligence to meet the bland responses they get - so dreary, yet fascinating in a ghastly sort of way to watch.
Meant Balding
DeleteI agree with you Carolyn, about Clare Balding. She was brought up, not far from me in the racing stables at Kingsclere and is very knowledgable about the horse world in general.
DeleteWhich is why she was such a good commentator on any horse-related programmes, then progressed to other sports.
But I think she has suffered from the BBC’s tendency to find a competent broadcaster, then over-use them in dozens of different programmes - hence Clare popped up on our screens too often and fronting such things such as quiz shows. In the end I got a bit sick of the sight of her and wished the BC would find another new talent to take over occasionally. I think the same thing is now happening with Fiona Bruce who seems to be everywhere these days.
I agree with both your posts Archerphile and Mr LJ said “hear hear” when I told him what you said about Nikki Chapman.
DeleteThere is a young man on Gardeners’ World with nice twinkly eyes who I would add to your list.
( I don’t watch the programme as regularly as I used to now it is an hour long)
May I say that I wish someone would suggest to Carol Klein that she should clean her nails when she is showing us close ups of flowers ?
It isn’t as if she has just come in from the garden.
Clare Balding back on Ramblings this Thursday.
DeleteWonderful programme !
As for Carol Klein and her dirty fingernails.
They go with the rest of her, utterly unsavoury in all ways.
GG back on your bike today? I see your temps are in the mid 20’s today / tomorrow. Hope you still have plenty of factor 50 left 🌞
ReplyDeleteIf so enjoy!
No bike today LadyR! Prepping the soil for the planting of 17 million "things"...
DeleteIt is roasting here! Absolutely zero wind and blue skies all the way to the Highlands. (Which I can see from my back garden!!!)
Lanjan - you may remember me saying that I used to live on Arran a few years back. My friend was visiting for a month or two and DID have her bike stolen. She duly reported it to the police and lo and behold it was a story in the local newspaper! By which time the bike had been returned to her with a note attached from someone saying sorry, they had borrowed it to get home while drunk... When I moved house whilst there I couldn't find the house keys to return them because I hadn't locked my front door for six months! So many amazing memories from that place!
Last time I rode my bike drunk I ended up flat on my back in a ditch 😁 Never again!!
DeleteHave done that before too parsley! And hope I will do it again....☺
Delete😁
DeleteMy husband rode a bike to work and after a Pre Christmas party arrived home with blood on his face. When asked what happened he said nothing had! It transpired later when sober that he had been on the verge and had come to a sudden halt when he hit pebbles! As he usually rode on the road I don’t know how he veered to the verge! Drunk when in charge of a bike! Good job it didn’t hit the papers!
Delete😁
DeleteI Loving seeing the chat of Bill Nighy as Charles Paris. I love these stories. I will have to download them all, as I heard the first episode but no more.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy him in "The Exotic Marigold Hotel" though, as he played himself, which was correct for his role.
...I meant all the episodes of "Corporate Bodies", the latest Charles Paris Mystery.
DeleteI am also loving the new series of Ed Reardon (with Elgar) and The Unbelievable Truth.
ReplyDeleteThese appeal to me, as I have a very silly sense of humour.
Ruthy... You must be so bemused about these chats about these British radio broadcasts, which are being mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your normal radio listenings? It would be interesting to learn about the USA radio programmes, you might listen to, of which many of us, I am sure, are in complete ignorance.
When I was in the US I listened and watched Public Broadcasting. The radio was absolute rubbish, lots of bible thumping and dangerous quacky medicine.
ReplyDeleteWe are very privileged to have the BBC, even though I sometimes annoyed and grumble about some silly programmes.
Last night, I missed my pusscat. She was not sleeping on my bed as normal, so I assumed she was elsewhere, which she was!
ReplyDeleteOn getting up at 7.00pm, I went to the bedroom to empty my laundry basket, which is stored there, to then get a wash on.
I couldn't open the door, as the carpet was caught up behind it. I had to force it open, and then pusscat shot out!! Somehow, I shut her into that bedroom but the carpet is not good. Still she is absolutely fine and luckily no pees or poos were done.
She will have a real treat tonight with her food. 😻
Archerfile at 9:29 AM.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more about Monty Don, definitely not a favourite of mine. It was so refreshing when Adam Frost presented Gardener's World last week.
I like Monty and Nigel and nelly of course but got to admit Adam Frost would get my vote to replace them.
DeleteI too realised how bored I had got with Gardeners World fronted by Monty Don when we watched Adam Frost filling in for him last week. It was very refreshing to see around a different garden and watch Adam showing us his plants.
DeleteI find M Don’s garden quite claustrophobic with all its small enclosed spaces and him trudging up and down the narrow paths, always accompanied by his dogs.
It was a pleasure to see a more open garden with vistas for a change - more like Percy Throwers beautiful grounds at The Magnolias. Wonder who lives there now?
Last
Lovely weather here today. We had a very enjoyable walk in Lyme Park this morning followed by a tasty lunch. Back to watering the garden in the evenings now as everything is so dry again.
ReplyDeleteI have stopped watering my planters, window box + hanging basket, so winter plants are now dying down. This means I can replant soon and looking forward to doing so.
DeleteLyme Park must have been wonderful today, with sun and blue skies, in a beautiful enviroment. My nearest and similar is Tatton Park.
I must add that I am enjoying the radio programme - King Street Junior Revisted with the actors, Michael Cochrane + Paul Copley..
ReplyDeleteThese are now Oliver + Leonard, both together, in TA.
Is that on R4 extra Miriam ?
DeleteYes.😀
DeleteOh good 👏🏻
DeleteOne if my very favourite radio programmes, especially Paul Copley and the Headmaster, Mr Beeston!
DeleteSeveral steps forward for Lady today.
ReplyDeleteWent to a nearby village as told play field a good place to take dog to introduce to water as stream running either side of play area and area of shallows and gravel.
When we arrived there was a small group of adults and children with a very laid back and friendly Daschund. Lady and dog met, sniffed, circled, repeat. And no barking, growling or anxiety from Lady.
I would have joined them, but as conversation between them had not ceased, I moved on and sat on another bench table to eat my sandwich.
A while later a young woman arrived with a very pretty Jack Russell on a long lead.
He and the Daschund played for several minutes and I looked on in envy.
Eventually she took her JR off around the field and as she walked towards us I put Lady on her lead to be ready from any rough stuff from her.
The JR approached, they sniffed and circled and sniffed again, and then they both lowered their front ends clearly looking to play. I took L off her lead and for the next half hour they chased and played and rolled and had fun. And no barking or aggression from Lady. And then they went into the water together. No play, just testing and paddling, but in.
The young woman and I conversed and we have swapped mobile numbers and agreed to have doggy play dates. We live not too far from each other.
We then needed to go to a previously arranged dog sitting session, and I was able to leave her, do some shopping, and apparently after whining for a little while she was OK just waiting for my return.
A wonderful day !
That sounds amazing MrsP! Makes me wish even more that I could have a dog again. Lady seems to be coming on in leaps and bounds. Pun totally intended of course!!!
DeleteHow lovely Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteLady will know that she has certainly fallen on her paws!
She has made such progress Mrs P in so short a time, you must be very proud. I wish I could say the same of Misty, unfortunately we don't meet many dogs when we are out walking.
ReplyDeleteTerrific progress, Mrs P., so rewarding & heartwarming to read about.
DeleteMrs P, I am so pleased for you. You have made a cat and a dog very happy and I imagine it’s a great sense of achievement after all the searching and deliberating, to feel you made good decisions taking them into your home.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, did you decide to stay put or are you still thinking of moving?
Seasider, thanks for asking.
DeleteTold agents last Friday to take off the market as did not want young couple, interested, to maintain false hope.
Was called by head honcho Monday to discuss my decision.
She had failed to take on board my belief that I was not wedded to this town and that I anticipated another move within a few years, hopefully much closer to elder daughter currently buying large property in Cornwall.
So advised to stay put. But if still ' unsure ' ( and I am as there is another house available at much lower price) to keep sale on back burner until end of month.
P to be Y, when do you have your op ? must be getting soon now, or am I wishing my life away.
ReplyDeleteIt’s next Wednesday. Went for pre op assessment on Monday. The nurse said I’m booked in for deffo 1 night possibly 2 depending on how it goes......I’m hoping for 2, be like a mini break!!!
DeleteI thought it was the 20th. All the best, PtbY, & I hope you get the mini break !
Delete( I'll be away for a few days around then, but the more conventional sort of mini break, in a German city, exploring...but will also mean a break from TA, not unwelcome)
Bon courage!
DeleteThank you CowGirl for asking PtbYs op date. It's been on my mind too, to ask.
DeleteA mini break PtbY ?
Yes if you get a room or cubicle of your own, as I did when in for my knee.
Or alternatively if you are in with a small group and you all get on well.
I wish for you one or the other but not a large General Surgical Ward full of noise and activity.
What do you hope for ?
I thought I had added my good wishes to you P tb Y but can’t see where I posted it so all the best to you .
DeleteMake the most of your enforced rest..
P tb Y ,if it were me I would want my own en-suite room.preferably with a bath and then I could take some of that posh badedas bubble bath stuff in with me.
DeleteFailing that I would take some Molton Brown shower gel.
Imagine if you were in a general ward and someone interrupted you at 7.05 pm.?
There is nothing stopping you from going out of the room if you felt like doing so.
I visited a friend at St Thomas’s hospital ,London.she was in a room buy herself on an upper floor overlooking the Houses of Parliament.
Incidentally when we went there was a musical trio playing there
I don’t know if it is a regular occurrence.
You might have a Works brass band playing for you P tb Y. when you go in!
Got to admit I will be in a room with en-suite.
DeleteHence the feeling of a mini break ......an expensive one though.
My friend was in a room by herself
DeleteShe didn’t have to purchase it!
Good luck PtbY, will be thinking of you.
DeletePtbY, I like your mindset! A mini break Indeed!!
ReplyDeleteHarking back to Charles Paris - The role of the moody forklift driver Trevor is being played by Wilf Scolding who plays Chris in that there dreary Archers.
Lanjan - forgot to say last night. Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon/evening in our local Italian restaurant bar sat beside your beloved Stevie G & Gary McAllister! There was other Liverpool lads there too but couldn't quite place them. All very well behaved, mostly because each & every one of them seemed far more interested in their phones than talking to each other! But it was a fantastic days worth of eating and drinking for all...
ReplyDeleteMiriam I really enjoyed KS juniors last night! Seemed odd to hear Oliver & Lawrence together !
ReplyDeleteGlad of a gorgeous day as currently having furniture steam cleaned and wow is looking a treat.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand having these jobs done makes one feel terrible mid flow as you suddenly see the before and after 😱
Will probably have to buy some throws now to help keep to standard 😂
PtbY, thinking of you and wishing you all the best for next week. Great positive attitude! Hope your recovery is swift, allowing for some convalescent pampering of course.💐🛀😉.
ReplyDeleteLady R, enjoy your fresh upholstery and don’t think backwards. It wouldn’t have been worth doing if they hadn’t seen a bit of life.
Next week my new windows are going in, and the old rubble is being removed from the garden so I will be overrun by workmen. I am so excited (about the improvements, not the workmen😉).
You never know about the workmen- they just might be bit of eye-candy. 😂
DeleteMy last ones, definitely were, unlike the 'bloke who does my heavy garden work, who is just a big, cuddly bear!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGary,,do the Scottish Tourist Board realise what a gem they have in you?
ReplyDeleteYou do more for Scotland than anyone I know (except for younger son who will go up to Glasgow for any excuse like volunteering as a helper-usually a driver-for whatever International sporting event takes place there.
I hope Stevie G behaved himself.
I wouldn’t want him to let the side down.
He lives (ed ) near to where I used to live.
Now if it was Virgil Van Dyke whom you saw ,I really would be madly envious.
Used to see Virgil all the time! Remember, he played for Celtic...☺
Deletemmm...😊
DeleteI am so pleased that he decided to move to England ,Gary.
DeleteHe hadn't read all your posts about how great Scotland is !
Liverpool are a very good team but with Van Dijk we are really .great
What does the mmm mean,Parsley 16.?
😍! he can also play a bit..
DeleteToo right he can.
DeletePlayer of the year although Gary’s Country man Mr Robertson is no mean player either.
I don’t do ⚽️ 🏏⚾️🏉🏋️♂️🏇🏻 🏌️♂️But am looking forward to Wimbledon 🥎. Haven’t the foggiest about sport people.
ReplyDeletePtbY. Hope all goes well and you have a good recovering mini break.👍
Lady R - don't invest in throws, as you will be hiding all the good work, you have paid for. Enjoy and admire it, as it now.
ReplyDeletePtbY. I am so glad that your pre-op went well. It is an awful thought, that something, quite simple, could be found to postpone things.
I remember your hosp. date - as it's the same as my nieces C-section, so my thoughts and good wishes, will be divided into two, on that day.
My niece is in OZ, with a time difference of +9hours, so I could wake up to see 'photos of my new grand nephew.I have a lovely card + outfit (as said before) but daren't post, until I know all is well.
This is silly, I know.
Niece had an emergency C-section with No.1 son, in January 2018. Baby was fine, but she haemorraghed badly. She had to stay, under high sedation in the op. theatre, for over an hour. Only then, after the bleeding was under control, was she stitched up and then taken to her partner and new son.
DeleteI am sure that this time, it will be a textbook delivery, (🤞🤞) but it is still a slight concern.
Understand your concern Miriam and I also will keep everything crossed 🤞for you and your niece re much joy to come and will look forward to hearing all news 👶 🧸
DeleteI am doing 3 things at the same time- listening to TA via i-player + ear pods, cooking tea and watching The Victorian House of Arts + Crafts (BBC2).
ReplyDelete✔️ Multitasking 👏🏻
DeleteThanks to you all for the good wishes re the old thyroid op. Can’t wait til I can taste food and manage to swallow proper food again. The light at the end of the tunnel is an enormous fried bacon sarni with the fat dripping out of the sides. Mouth watering now!!!
ReplyDelete🍳🥪🐖🐓🙋♀️
DeleteThanks Miriam for mentioning the Arts and Crafts programme last night.
ReplyDeleteI caught up on Iplayer later.
The embroiderer lives in this town, and I have met the pushy older guy at some point in the past. He was very familiar. I suppose I must have met him on a course somewhere.
All you bird lovers out there can possibly help me with this one.
ReplyDeleteFor much of the year we rarely see starlings in our garden.
Today was different
Today there was such a racket .
They drowned out the parakeets .
There were several families of them having a conference in one of the trees.
I presume the babies(who are larger than the parents) have fledged.
I remember last year on one day ,the lawn being full of them .
It is quiet outside now (just gone a quarter to 4 in the afternoon.)
My question is.
Where do they go for the rest of the year?
Lanjan. These birds in the UK are resident and can be boosted in numbers by migrating starlings from N Europe. Most of these will return home in the early spring but some will stay. The first birds are currently fledging and are extremely noisy. I have been listening to their noise all morning, and much as I love them they can be irritating when in large numbers. They tend to congregate in large flocks and rest is bushes and leafy trees.
DeleteAs to seeing birds in my garden, I have seen so many more, and of so many different kinds.
ReplyDeleteI can only put this down to, the sudden disappearance of the many magpies which were very prevalent a year ago, but seem "now no more", this year.
No idea why.
I am not a bird fanatic, but I do enjoy seeing those who visit my garden. I have a wonderful bird feeder which has 3 spiral tubes in it, so that I can put 3 different types of bird feed/seeds into it.
I must admit that I spend far more than I should on bird food but do get rewarded with a lot of avian visitors.
DeleteThanks Stasia.
DeleteCheshire Cheese,we too spend far too much on bird food but as you say we get so much pleasure from them .
I am just so thrilled to see the tiny goldfinches eat the niger seed.
The parakeets go for the sunflower hearts and an assortment of birds for the fat balls-as do the squirrels.
They all ignored our bird boxes though.
The birds are my " television " so to speak, so I can justify what I spend, or so I tell myself. The feeder is right out side my French windows in my workroom. Varieties here are a bit limited, but still a pleasure to watch.
ReplyDeleteWorking in the garden today I had the constant company of a robin bobbing about investigating the soil as I dug it over. Tomorrow I am going to try to get it to feed from my hand... Like many of you, we seem to spend a smallish fortune on bird feeds of various kinds, but it's so worth it! We also get bats chasing insects in the back garden at dusk so Mr GG built a bat detector and it's actually quite fun tracking them looping through the sky. Next door but one have a little fox family living just over the fence at the bottom of their garden. I am incandescent with a burning, furious jealousy...🐈🐈🐈
ReplyDeleteWe have a sun bathing fox curled up in our garden most days. No young’uns though. Talking of which, the adult swans were swimming together on the lake in the park this morning, nest abandoned. Blackbirds have a nest in my garden and they are still busy going in and out of it.
DeleteThe swans nearest to us on the canal have built their nest on the "wrong" side! If they had settled down on the other side then they wouldn't have to contend with inquisitive dogs, children, cyclists and mad people (joggers!) annoying them every 2 minutes. There are sooooo many swans and cormorants and herons on the canal which is fantastic. Scottish Canals do an amazing job keeping it clean and weed free. And I often see kingfishers to boot! I loves my canal!!
DeleteThe local cormorants have a favourite tree up river from us - often see them drying their wings, not a welcome sight to the local fishermen. We have bats roosting above the big barn doors in the summer months - lots of little droppings on the threshold!
DeleteI had lots of frog spawn in my garden pond but haven't seen any tadpoles recently, I think most of them have been eaten by the dragonfly larvae and newts which are abundant in there.
DeleteBig Sis had loads of frog spawn in her pond, until a newt took over.
DeleteNothing has been left.
GG - what is a bat detector? We see bats in our nature preserve. Still waiting for the hummingbirds. I am now not very optimistic.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthy! It's a little hand held device that picks up the ultrasonic noises that the bat uses for echo location and transforms them into audible clicks. So even if you can't see the little cutie pies you can get a handle on where they are flitting about! Mr GG got a build it yourself kit online that cost about $30...
DeleteWe have a bat detector called Buddy! He spotted one in the garden one night. Not aware of where Mr Bat came from!
DeleteAfaik each bat species has a different frequency. A bat expert can identify species from the sound frequency on the bat detector. Bat expert may be able to work out area where a bat roost is. Species vary as to when each leaves a roost and flight speed. There'll be a formula to calculate all the information. Mothers leave their babies at home and return during the night to feed them and go out again later. Males stop feeding to have a rest while they are out. I've been to a talk by a local batman and have gone on a bat-walk.
DeleteI don't know if it was a small bat or a giant moth in my back garden one evening as I was closing bedroom curtains.
I thought there was a yellow butterfly in back garden this week. It flew away before I got a proper look. Then I saw one in front garden but it was a white with sun reflecting from it.
I've imprisoned a wasp in a honey jar on kitchen-sink. It was lying on its' back so I thought it was dead but it disappeared, reappearing on far side of sink. I clamped jar over it so it couldn't move somewhere else. I hoped it would be really dead next time I looked but it revived a bit. There is a bit of honey in jar.
PtbY - not sure when your ops will be. Will be thinking about you! Ruthy
ReplyDeleteBy the time you have your mid morning cuppa on Wednesday I should be all done and dusted.
DeleteBat detectors - I have had an experience of one.
ReplyDeleteImagine a warm evening in Norfolk, with many sitting around a pit fire, with a lot of booze being enjoyed.
Off went someone with it, staggering, and couldn't detect any bats - unkown to him they were flying about very close behind him, which all could see but he was facing the wrong way! It was one of those times, you had to be there to appreciate it, but it was so funny.
To add. I went to the opticians today and I am delighted.
ReplyDeleteMy sight after my cataract op. is almost perfect, but not quite, which I knew. As I thought, it is the astigmatism on that eye, which is causing the problem, with a slight tweak as to the new lens strength.
I have a pair of glasses on order, cost £94 and ready in 5/6 days, as a quick short-term, fix. I will never need a contact lens in that eye again and I only need my glasses for driving, shopping, theatre/cinema visits etc.
I am delighted.
I am also very pleased with the optician, who is not very far away (a small firm and found by chance, after needef drastic help after a radical vision change last year ), as she is so very attentive, treats me as an individual, and is very thorough. She told me, my surgeon did a wonderful job with a wonderful outcome.
I trust her.
For some reason, but I am not sure why, she thinks I am a very interesting case and wanted to know all my details, re eye pressures over the last year at hosp clinics, the cataract op. as to my experience and all my hosp.visits etc. and follow up hosp.care.
She sounds like a very caring person. You are lucky to be under her care. Happy to hear you are pleased with the results.
DeleteThanks Ruthy. I have found a good and very careing optician. As she told me today, I am in a transition period as to my vision,. This will finally be sorted after my 2nd op. Hopefully this will be by my 65th birthday in September
DeleteThat will be a good birthday pressie - 2 new eyes!
GG, I always enjoy your posts, very cheering. My daughter was at Glasgow University for four years, so I often visied. I loved the West End, Botanical Gardens,Mother India and the Kelvingrove Museum best.
ReplyDeleteBird-feeders: I had one hanging off an ivy branch about two feet from my kitchen window. A few days ago, I glanced up expecting to see the usual blue-tits/robins. What I actually saw was a dirty great rat, shining eyes and glossy coat. It liked Pets at Home premium wild bird seed.
I got rid of both immediately.
I miss the birds.
I used to feed the pigeons in my garden but one morning I looked out to see a rat enjoying the bounty. I stopped feeding and the pigeons survived and ratty disappeared. Lately my neighbour who feeds birds saw a rat in her garden. Trouble is that birds while feeding will drop food on the ground. I try to put plants in with berries that birds enjoy but it is sad not to put seeds out for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely time of year this is.
ReplyDeleteEvery day something new in the garden.
Today the first red opium poppy has flowered.
The small yellow Welsh ones have been in flower for a while.
Starlings still making a racket.
They have sent the parakeets who are usually the noisy ones, packing.
We have oubird feeders on a pole , a few years ago we had a rat shimmying up the pole, so we painted vegetable oil on the pole, which thwarted Rattus, and provided us with entertainment as he got halfway up then slid back down. He also brought his family along, the children gave them names, so Mr Nuts acquired an air gun. We are not violent people but my husband did enjoy taking out rats, they stay in our neighbours compost heap now😀
ReplyDeleteRats are a problem here living next door to a livery yard and of course my own chickens.
ReplyDeleteI do feed the birds, I found them ( The rats ) shimming up the pole so now have a dome on the pole that stops them. I only use suet pellets, they do fall to the ground a little , but the other birds pick them up.You can buy dishes that fix to the bottom of the feeders to stop it falling to the ground, though I personally didn't find them that useful. I stopped using seeds as the birds have a habit of wasting what that they don't like.
Changing diet and method may help. Good luck
Years ago when my brother stored his corn at this end of the farm he would have the local "ratman" (now retired) occasionally put down bait around the farmyard. He was supposed to put it in places where my chickens couldn't get it. These chickens were more like pets. We had a beautiful little bantam cockerel to help someone who had too many, and being a good cockerel he would find food for his little flock and let them feed first. Then my chickens started keeling over. Three died before I realised that the little cockerel was small enough to have got behind a slate where bait had been put and scratched it out for his hens. I took a fourth , a beautiful hen, that was looking ill into the vet. He said he would try a vitamin k type injection and directly after she dropped dead on his table. The vet looked quite surprised and said " well that didn't seem to work did it ?!" Our other cockerel was too big to get behind the slates so his hens survived. So did the bantam cockerel which we were glad about as he was a lovely little thing who would sit up in one of the apple trees with his long silvery tail hanging down. I was cheesed off with the ratman though.
DeleteThank you for the replies/hints. I will try again in the winter. I've got a big tub of fat balls (!) too, so will use them, but only in the furthest reaches of my garden, nowhere near the house. I didn't say earlier that I have an absolute phobia of rats/mice, I can't see/read/watch anything about them without stomach-churning, goose-bumps/panic. As a child, my mother had several cats which she prided on being 'good ratters', they somtimes brought giants in to the house. We lived next to a pig field, I suppose they might have come from there. My other problem is that my dog grew too big for the catflap, so I chopped out a bigger hole in the door, therefore no plastic 'anti-rat' flap, leaving my utility room/kitchen, whole house vulnerable to four-legged, disgusting intruders. Uggghh.
ReplyDeleteMistral, with regards to your earlier post - thanks! And I live in the West End of Glasgow only 5 mins walk from the Botanics - I walk through it almost every day to go to Waitrose. There are worse walks in the world.
DeleteJust back from a fete in a local church hall where we cleaned up at the tombola. We won a bottle of vodka, a bottle of whisky, a bottle of Merlot, a small bottle of schnapps, 2 bottles of beer and a large bottle of Fever Tree mandarin tonic! It was ALMOST embarrassing...
When we lived in Cornwall we used to take our border collie down to the pub in a nearby village. At Christmas they had a grand raffle and we bought tickets every week through to the December draw. We always put them in Dandy’s name as we were not lucky with draws. One year we went down to find a table loaded with his prizes, bottles and chocolates etc. Another time he surpassed himself by winning a portable colour TV! An American visitor enquired who had won the TV was told Dandy had. He said he hadn’t met him only to be told the lucky winner was a dog!
DeleteI used to have a phobia of rats and mice, I had to get a neighbour in if I ever found one. When I was about to move to an isolated farm a mile from anyone I knew I had to deal with it. The first time a cat brought one in I sat all day with my wellington boots on! At first I used to have to cover the bodies and then pick up the courage to go and pick them with a shovel, might take several attempts. Now I can pick rats and mice up, providing they are dead with out any bother, though still don't like it. I still don't like to hear them scampering about in the loft, so do use poison, but can happily watch a little mouse th otherside of the French windows trying its hardest to get into the cup with food in for the blackbirds. I must say though it has taken me several years to get to this stage.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind watching rats. The biggest colony I have ever seen was in a central London square garden, when the local authority was having many problems. All gone now !
ReplyDeleteMice I like. Have kept them twice in my life. White ones of course.
Husband and I many years later used to watch house mice running around our kitchen ( floor only ). The units were built onto a brick floor and mice can flatten themselves to squeeze through the smallest space.
My daughter had a rat in her kitchen in London. Husband closed every possible entry point, but the bugger kept returning.
One Sunday morning the three of us ripped the kitchen apart and cleaned everything and closed any gaps we found. Exhausted we went to the pub for lunch, but left a temptation.
On our return the bait had gone. In one and a half hours !
My daughter had suspected that it wasn't entering from the kitchen and this confirmed it. So the cupboard under the stairs was examined and lo and behold her suspicions were confirmed.
It was entering and leaving through the plastic pipe that removed the heat from the wash drier.
We had a little house mouse that I would catch in an humane trap and put out. Most mornings there would be a mouse in the trap and I thought it was the same one so I put a tiny dot of tippex on the end of its tail, and sure enough it was the same one. Then I experimented with how far it could get back from. The end of the garden was no problem, and neither was the bottom of the nearest field, but from three fields down it didn't come home again. We quite missed it.
ReplyDeleteI had a mouse in my, now previous, kitchen. I didn't know it was there until I found packets of grains ripped open and being eaten, electrical wires of appliances being stripped and droppings in cupboards. Pusscat must have brought a live one in, which escaped and lived under the kitchen cabinets. I have no idea what happened to it, as I never saw it, either dead or alive! Pusscat must have finally got it. This luckily, as never happened again. 🐀 😼
ReplyDeleteI can tell it's a Saturday - as my neighbours are at it again with their shouting + screaming at each other. I heard something being thrown against the dividing wall, which was not nice.
ReplyDeleteI think that they are a couple who can't live together, but can't live apart.
I have looked at For Sale properties on-line, in my price range, in various locations mostly nearer to my family members Sadly, there is nothing which suits, as all would need a lot of renovation/decorating. After doing up my own home, I will not recoup the money I have spent, when selling my own property.
I just have to "grin + bear" the situation, as it is.
The house market by me, is now very stagnant, and property values have decreased, since last year and are now not selling.
DeleteMiriam, if you were to sell your house new regs mean that you have to disclose any difficulty with neighbours.
DeleteCG I don't want to move, as I just love my home and where I live, but my life is being made awful, thanks to nightmare neighbours.
DeleteAlso the 30K which I have spent on revamping my home over the last few years, would not be realised in the sale value due to the current property market.
I'm really sorry to hear about the problems you are having with your neighbours Miriam. It's very sad that you the pleasure you get from living in that house is spoilt by inconsiderate people.
DeleteMy daughter says there is little you can do legally although she suggested you phone the police on 101 for their advice. Are any other neighbours disturbed or are you alone in this?
DeleteEv, Mrs P pointed out to Miriam in an earlier blog, that you can go through the council, who will assist.
DeleteYes, you are right. Maybe the police would suggest this or any other way she could go. I do feel for her.
DeleteAfter Miriam latest post about neighbours, I checked on line East Cheshires Authority Anti Social Policy. ( may be M lives in West Cheshire, but probably has similar policy ) Like most local authorities they can and will deal on a householders complaints re anti social behaviour.
DeleteOf course to embark on any complaint such as that which Miriam describes is daunting for anyone, but if life is so wretched, sometimes one has to bite the bullet, or put up with it.
living in France profonde we have mice attempting to gain entry on a regular basis - cat(s) abdicate all responsability assuming they're part of the household!
ReplyDeleteOf course they are! You surely don’t expect them to earn their keep. Mine don’t, they are ladies of leisure.🐀😽
DeleteI read that apparently in England (perhaps UK?) you are never more than 10 ft away from a rat!It's the pink hairless tails that turn my stomach over.
ReplyDeleteMy birdtable has mealworms, chopped peanuts (for the fledglings), various seeds in a mix with some suet pellets and suet balls/cake with insets. Like many others I spend too much on bird food.
The squirrels have peanuts (and yes I know they are rats with fluffy tails!). I thought that might be a bit boring so when I ordered my bird food online I also bought squirrel mix. It included peanuts in shells, sunflower seeds, dried maize. They only seem to eat the peanuts so I shan't bother again!
At last the starlings have flown the nest so a lot quieter now but yesterday I got the treat of a lifetime.
Mr and Mrs Robin, who accompanied me all day when gardening last Thursday bought three youngsters who lined up on the fence for mum and dad to feed them. Absolutely lovely. I wish I had had a camera with a good lens as I didn't dare move for disturbing them. A lovely memory though.
While working in the garden this morning I could hear the baby bluetits in our nest box. Luckily the parents didn't seem to mind me being there and carried on feeding them.
DeleteWe were amused when watching “The Yorkshire Vet” when a horse with a wound that wouldn’t heal was probed by the vet and he found a rat’s tooth in the wound. The lady owner declared “we don’t have rats! “ Well of course she does as rats always hang around where there is food. As Cowgirl said, living next to a livery yard and the fact you are never more than 10 feet away as Spicy says.
DeleteWe took the dogs to Quarr Abbey today. We had been going down to the creek but Gypsy wouldn’t walk as it’s Sunday and she likes to go in the car and have her walk at Quarr! We gave in for a peaceful life and enjoyed chips at the cafe. A bowl each for us and one between them. A blackbird hung around and managed to pick up two! He consumed them there and then so obviously not for sharing!
The Shih Tzu is in charge! Her DNA test came back and she is pure Shih Tzu right back to her great grandparents. She is very gone wrong though and the vet said “well, there are throw backs!!” We will not be taking her to Crufts!
DeleteI woke up to exciting news this morning. On switching my 'phone on, all my message groups were red hot - the reason being, there were photos of my brand new grand-nephew in OZ!!
ReplyDeleteI had tears of joy, in my eyes.
Niece went into early labour (proper due date was May 30th) late on Sat. night. She + her husband had to sort care out for their 16month, No1 son, for both overnight and for Sunday.
On arriving at hosp. she was soon prepared for the necessary C-section she had to have, and babe was born at 4.00am (Melbourne time).
Babe had to go into ICU for a few hours as he had fluid in his lungs - but all was OK very quickly. No name nor weight yet.
It was a gorgeous, Sunday morning, surprise.
PS First outing tomorrow, is to the nearest PO (sadly have to drive to it) to post my pressie + card. I am so glad I had already bought these.
My next grand-nephew is due in July.
2019 is turning out to be a good year, well so far.
DeleteOne new grand-nephew has arrived, another one is on the way, a Wedding in OZ has happened, when a niece married her long time partner. I have one "new" eye with a second on its way, and I will celebrate my 65th birthday. Also another niece + husband will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary (this is the alcoholic male, who has now been "dry" for 5 yrs and is the cricket coach) plus Big Sis celebrates her 5th wedding anniversary with hubbie No#2.
Lots to enjoy + celebrate.
🤗👏🏻🤗👏🏻🤗👏🏻 Miriam
DeleteThis day is getting even better. I have just learnt that my nieces husband has passed his final cricket coaching course, and is now a true professional cricket coach. He trained alongside many ex-professional national players, from all around the world. I am so proud of his success + percevierance, after all his problems.
DeletePerhaps I should give him directions to Ambridge - 😀😀
Lovely news, Miriam!
DeleteEnjoyable day! Visited a family owned (Countryside) Garden Centre for a late morning breakfast- totally delicious all local produce after a bit of a potter around purchased some pots of flowers and then we called into a small farm shop tucked away in the fields with a few other small private businesses.
ReplyDeleteOn return home realised Wimbledon Court 1 Celebration had started on tv so restarted that and superb “entertainment” matches played in great spirit, with lots of laughs.
Doubt such joy will abound in Ambridge tonight or at any point this week ☹️
I met a couple of friends late morning at a local farm shop/restaurant for coffee. They had a specialist plant fair there today so had a good wander round that and bought a couple of perennials.
ReplyDeleteGardened this aft. Then did all my ironing including super king sized fitted sheet!!!
A night of midsomer murders is calling at 8.
I iron double sized flat cotton sheets and they are bad enough.
DeleteNot sure if I could cope with super king size. At least crisp bedding is ready for when needed, after your op.
Lady R. I also watched the new
ReplyDeleteroof on Wimbledon No. 1 court inaugaration.
It was fun and true entertainment.
Sadly now behind on chores - but does it matter?? The answer is No.
My motto in life is doing something you enjoy everyday. Chores can always wait - there is always tomorrow.
DeleteSo, a quick update on the kitchen renovation. The old floor, part hardwood and part ceramic tile, have been removed and really for new wood flooring. When installed, new kitchen cabinets will be installed, then appliances and counter tops. Estimate 3 weeks to go for a functional kitchen.
ReplyDeleteStaying up to watch the last episode of GoT. I watched seasons 1 and 2, skipped 3 to 7, picking it up again Season 8. Finding it a bit boring actually.
Planted flowers on the deck, so hoping the hummingbirds will be back soon.
Keep us up to date with the kitchen project Ruthy.
DeleteI’ve never seen GoT. But by the sounds of it , dragons etc, it would not be my cup of tea.
I am ploughing through Mad Men on Netflix. Loving it.
Never watched GOT! - nearest I got was my cello ensemble performing the theme in concert back in the day..
DeleteWhat is GoT ? Please
DeleteGame of Thrones. Writing this on der Zug, going from Hamburg Airport to Central railway station, thence to Lubeck - solo trip !
DeleteVery daring Carolyn. Have a great time.
DeleteIt FEELS quite daring, PtbY ! Knackered right now, been such a long day, but have walked through the renowned Holstentor, medieval gateway to the old town.
DeleteHope all goes swimmingly for you on Wed., mainly that you're so out of it that you won't quite realize that it's all been done until Thurs....
My new grand nephew in OZ has been named - Rafferty Rex - to be known as Raffie.
ReplyDeleteIt is different, and is an Irish/gaelic name. I love it.
Poor babe has been in ITC again, with breathing problems due to a slight blob of fluid in a lung. It is all OK and nothing to be worried about.
Yes it's a great name Miriam and very Irish.
DeleteNot sure about the addition of Rex.
Both good, but together sounds like part of a dogs pedigree title.
My occasional gardener came today and as a clematis had died he took it down disturbing the nest box. To his surprise some bees came out, had a look around and then went back in. Instead of bluetits we have a bee’s nest. All to the good as they will pollinate the flowers notably on the broad beans and fruit trees. Not as horrid as a wasp nest and they don’t seem to be aggressive. 🐝🐝🐝🐝
ReplyDeleteRuthy. Good Luck with the new kitchen. 😀
ReplyDeleteWhen I had mine re-done 18 months ago, I could not believe how my home was disrupted, as the dining area also had to cleared out. Then there was the storing of all my pots + pans, crockery, food from the cupboards, etc. Also I had no cooker - just a kettle, toaster + a microwave on my dining table in my lounge.
It was well worth the upheaval and inconvenience, as I now have the kitchen I designed and love to cook in.
I had a momentous thought, when I heard Clarrie say in the Sunday Omnibus - I am 65, where has the time gone!
ReplyDeleteI will also be 65 later this year, but still feel 25. At least we both will finally get our SSP in 2020, after only a 6yr delay. Sadly we were both born at the wrong time in the 1950's.
There you go.
ReplyDeleteWhat did I say?
Just turned to watch the Chelsea Show on the TV and there she is,Joanna Lumley .
In fairness I didn’t recognise some of the other “celebrities “
I think HM Queen Elizabeth II is good enough for me, alongside the Duchess of Cambridge. 😀
DeleteLJ. Oops - sarcasm is never a good trait.
DeleteI apologise.
Well your expectations were rewarded LJ.
DeleteLook upon it as your far sighted opinion setter.
After resting my hand and wrist for three days, adding frustration to my list of complaints, I negotiated some help from a seventeen year old who turned up with his mum at 5.30.
ReplyDeleteHe and I worked together in perfect harmony for two hours and my dwarf wall is almost complete. He will come again tomorrow or Wednesday so that we can finish it. I will need to prepare one of the rotting beams removed from the walls of the cottage in the work done two years ago, to finish off the top.
I was very happy to pay him the rate per hour that he asked.
Well done that young lad.
I drove him back to his village then took Lady for a walk in the woods above his house.
She enjoyed sniffing out whatever she could find, until I heard her digging furiously then heard her tearing at something out of the ground. I couldn't get to her to stop as she was in a ditch that I couldn't get down to. Eventually she emerged with something still in her mouth. After a struggle I got it, but don't actually know what it was, other than realising that it was the skin of something. Very degraded but I could see the veins in the skin. I would guess rabbit.
Goodness knows what I might have to contend with in the coming years !
Dandy, our border collie of years ago presented me with a rabbit which obviously had that miximotosis thing. He liked to chase them but even though he was speedy could never catch a healthy one. I went off him for a day o r two and then realised he was just being a dog! We make a big mistake regarding them as mini humans!
DeleteI see that Hampshire are playing a County Cricket match at Newport Ev.
ReplyDeleteLooks to be a very nice Ground
Am not into sport, Lanjan but did enjoy going to a cricket match in Dorset where they provided lovely food! I’m glad it is a nice ground though. We are lucky on the island. Like everywhere there are drawbacks and goodness knows how many small shops have closed for instance but we are well catered for. I was happy to see Bright House closing in Newport as I don’t like their practice of feeding on low income people by offering goods on weekly payments with gigantic interest charges. It has only been there for about 3 years but they hardly had any customers.
DeleteJust popped in to say - apologies for not contributing to this blog much recently - I have so much work to do in the garden at the moment, and also making secret arrangements for a surprise family get-together for Mr A’s forthcoming 75th birthday that I haven’t had time to keep up with both blogs.
ReplyDeleteI expect my busy-busy situation will continue for a couple of months or so (until after visit from Dubai family in July, (where on Earth are the 2 boys going to sleep now they are too tall for Ready-Beds? Etc etc) so please excuse me for a few weeks.
Hope to be back in the Autumn when things have calmed down. In the meantime I shall still be logging into the Archers blog daily - couldn’t possibly miss out on reading everyone’s comments and adding a few of my own !
Shame Archerphile , we’ll miss you. Does sound like you are very busy. Are you interested in the September get together? It would be lovely to meet you.
DeleteIn theory, Yes I’d love to meet up, after hearing what a great time you all had last year.
DeleteIt will depend on where, and what the travelling would be like, as I am, despite the new hip, still not very mobile. My opposite knee is now very troublesome and makes walking, and especially getting up and down steps or stairs, very difficult. Another op is looming but timing is going to be difficult due to all the family commitments I have this year.
So the venue will be key for me. I’ll keep an eye on meeting developments!
Hope you will be able to make it Archerphil. It would be so good to meet you.
DeleteAll good wishes for your mini break tomorrow Proud t b Yorkshire !!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! And enjoy that bacon sarnie when it comes...🐷🍞
DeleteMay I mention Chelsea again as I know quite a few bloggers are gardeners.?
ReplyDeleteI really like Chris Beardshaw but why when he has won lots of gold medals and Best In Shows so why not give someone else a go?
One year he “only “ got silver gilt and was visibly upset.
Mind you the viewers still gave him their vote for their favourite garden.
Further to my previous comment ,when Chris Beardshaw and others do decide to let others have a go and I enter my Show Garden you all are now being given in advance the working title of my garden which is
ReplyDelete“A Pensioner’s cuttings garden “ because the garden like our garden will be made up of plants like pens ramens ,,salvias .erysimums etc which have all been taken from cuttings .and plants like foxgloves ,hollyhocks (mine originally came from the garden of a Church in Stratford Upon Avon over 20 years ago ) and nigella - all from collected seeds.
I might not get round to it though so if anyone else wants to use the idea please feel free to do so.
Lanjan, the hollyhock seeds you gave me have now been moved from their incubator into the greenhouse and are thriving seedlings now. And the poppy seeds are well and truly establishing themselves beside the bamboo. Thanks!
DeleteGary you are more than welcome.
DeleteJust let me know in advance of our next Archersfan get together if you need any foxglove seeds.
The foxgloves that have flowered so far are a lovely shade of apricot.
As I said the hollyhocks originally came from Stratford Upon Avon.
The poppy seeds came from Warrington.
I have a few yellow welsh poppies the seed of which came to me from Cleveleys near Blackpool.
I bought a verbascum from Hampton Court Flower Show many years ago and collect the seed each year so hopefully I will have seed from them at the back end too plus wallflower seed .
Original wallflowers were from Holmes Chapel , Cheshire.
My fabulous Patty's Plum poppy is just coming into flower, which it always does at the Whitson BH.
DeleteI bought it a plant sale at Arlington Hall in Cheshire, many years ago.
How do I collect viable seeds?
I ask this, as those I have collected on previous occaisions, never did germinate.
Ruthy what did you think of the last episode of Game of Thrones? I enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete***No spoilers please***
DeleteSorry Gary, my lips are sealed.
DeletePtbY
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is The day.
It will be totally successful, of that there is no doubt.
Try to sleep tonight and I will think of you. 🤗🤗
Do let us know how it all went, be it by yourself or Mr PtbY, using your identity here. 😀
DeleteDitto from me ptby 👍🏻
ReplyDeleteTake care ❣️
PtbY. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn. I am very envious, Lubeck is a fantastic town. Had a week there last Oct and was very impressed. I hope you get to see the organ in the church St Maria Kirche, Buxtehude was the organist and Bach also spent time there. The medieval hospital and its entrance are magnificent.
The walks around the town and river are very relaxing. I nearly decided to move and take up residence. Hamburg Gardener lives near in Hamburg (not too far away) and earlier in the year had said she would take me to see where I was born. Sadly she is no longer in contact with the blog and I do miss her contributions.
Have a great time.😃😎
Now I've been here one full day, Stasia, I can see how there's plenty enough to captivate & entrance for a whole week ! Never mind, I'll 'do' what I can on the two & half days, which doesn't leave much space for leisurely canal wanders, probably.
DeleteManaged 3 treats today, luckily before it started to pour down. Will bury myself in the Museumquartier tomorrow mostly as the skies continue to empty.
Favourite today was the Marienkircke - what a Gothic glory ! Soaring, spacious, painted pillars & ceilings, wonderfully restored after being bombed in '42. Got snaffled up by briefly by a nice guide after she'd shown me the (13 baptismal font & she explained a few other things. I so admire German craftsmanship in wood & stone.
Earlier, the Holstentor museum, very well presented & informative about Lubeck's mercantile gory days & Civic structures ( shouldn't grumble, it's good that it's happening, but visit somewhat impeded by a school party getting bored...I felt for their teachers..)
Buddenhaus, imposing facade, very interesting inside re the Mann brother's but I wished they'd had some English translations of Heinrich.
Oh, had a marzipan cake at Neidereggers - a must ! I anticipate taking home as much marzipan as I can carry for Mr C & others.
Oh Lubeck's 'glory days' !! Though there was a gory aspect too - one room devoted to instruments of punishment & torture, including the rack.
DeleteBuddenbrookhaus
DeletePtbY -
DeleteHope you get this before your early night.....
All the very best thoughts for you in the morning, and when you wake up tomorrow afternoon, ( not too groggy I hope ), a bit sore perhaps, but over the hump of worry of the last few months.
We are all rooting for you.
Indeed I we are!
DeleteAll the best P tbY.
Miriam re seeds.
ReplyDeleteJust harvest them at the back end and sow them in seed and potting compost.
When they are large enough plant them out.
I put out a request for a Silver Birch seedling on our Next Door forum, and went to collect what was offered today.
DeleteA very nice seedling in pot with a baby beside it.
A delightful lady and we got on famously for the few minutes I was with her, I would have enjoyed staying longer but was expected elsewhere at an arranged time. But she pressed me into taking a Tree Peony as well.
Any tips on how to grow them.
Never had any before.
Mrs P, I bought a tree peony years ago which if it didn’t flower in any one year I moved to another position.
DeleteThis year there have been two lovely blooms on it so it will stay there for the time being.
It is only about two feet high.
I have to say I just move things when I feel like it .
My tree peony hasn’t had any tender loving care.
It must be the year for the peony because two beautiful ordinary ones have popped up in my front garden.
I know I never bought them.
GG - so have you watched GoT, yet?
ReplyDeleteRuthy, I've never actually seen more than the first 15 mins on a plane! I kept meaning to get round to it but now that "everyone" says that the final series is crap I might not bother - will just watch the reboot of Battlestar Galactica again!
Deletecarolyn, one of the things I like about this blog is finding out about random places & things. Thanks for the info on Lubeck, I have Googled it to within an inch of it's life now! Carry on enjoying...
ReplyDeleteMe too GG - lots of very interesting buildings.
DeleteAnd Stasia, how far away from this city ( as was ) were you born ?
I have just heard the real truth, about my new OZ grand-nephew's birth. When 'A' went into hosp. they thought she could perhaps have a normal birth. A scan was done, to find that the cord was around his neck (it was already known that this was shorter than normal). It was an emergency C-section and Raffie came out a "blue baby". Emergency buttons were pressed - the neo-natal resuss team got him breathing + whisked him away. 'A' only saw + held him for the first time, 5hrs later. It was apparantly touch + go.
ReplyDelete3 days later, all is well and they are now back home with No1 son, who is still only 16 months old and doesn't realise it's his baby brother, who's crying and is a bit bewildered.
MrsP. Thank you for asking. I was born not too far from Lubeck in a very small town called Bad Segeberg, in a suburb called Klein Gladegrugge. It is a beautiful area and very scenic with lakes and lots of healthy walks. The. church is wonderful and has beautiful medieval artefacts. It also has a brilliant cake and coffee house. This area was not bombed in the Second World War as it is a mainly a rural area. Lubeck did not have too much damage as it was a strategic port, so it wasn’t in the interest of the Allies to destroy it like they did other towns. Of the same damage was done in reverse.
ReplyDeleteHamburg is the main city, but I didn’t have time to visit.
I have just watched a true classic episode, on the Drama channel, of The Likely Lads. It is the one where they hide out all day, to avoid hearing the score of an England football match.
ReplyDeleteIt is a gem! It still amuses me even after seeing it, so many times. 😁😂
Hope PtbY is awake and getting a nice cup of tea and perhaps a digestive.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you.........
Bugger the digestive - grab that bacon butty!!! 😊
DeleteHello all. Just listened to the archers with a mug of Heinz tomato soup and a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteI really would like to take this bed home, remote control , sit up, lie down. Fab.
Already got less pressure in my throat. Have a lovely drain coming out, sexy white stockings with inflatable wraps, and the most gorgeous paper knickers!!!
Must stop telling the staff I’m ok otherwise I won’t get my 2 night mini break and I’ll be chucked out tomoz.
Porridge for brekky.