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longer off topic comments" - Episode 49 Life Outside Ambridge
longer off topic comments" - Episode 49 Life Outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Ruthy. Yet another wonderful hummingbird.
ReplyDeleteHow are yours doing?
Hi Miriam. I only spotted it once last Saturday. It has been raining heavily and I haven't been outside to catch it again. I was ecstatic when I saw it!
Delete🤞🤞that they are still around in your garden. Do let us know - such a beautful bird which is never seen in the UK
DeleteI am very jealous.
In fact, is that YOUR bird, Ruthy ??
ReplyDeleteIt would be very exotic if we did see them here Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful that we have the parakeets.
( though we shouldn't have them )
On my way shortly to stay for the weekend at friends who support Liverpool ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️.
ReplyDeleteBoth of our sons are on their way to Madrid for the match.
Gary, one of us will be happy with the result.
Both teams have done well to get there.
Sons have tickets LJ? I hear that some people have gone by chance....
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the match your end and good luck to you and your friends for the result (or GG) as you say one of you will be triumphant but agree both teams have done so well to be there and making history too.
parsley 16. Re your request about stressed 🐱. I have two and when I take them to the cattery for their little holiday one always does something smelly. I had to take her to the vets recently and she (the vet) suggested a natural de-stressing remedy called Pet Remedy. It is a spray containing valerian, and essential oils, she suggested spraying a little on our hands and then apply therapy in the form of a loving rub. It has worked so far and I will use it again in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteI bought it at a pet shop. 😉.
Thanks Stasia - I'll investigate.
DeleteIt's Liverpool for me tonight.
ReplyDeleteIn the 70's I followed that team - Emlyn Hughes, Phil Thompson etc. They were a "dream" team then, and hopefully again. ⚽️⚽️
I am not sure, if any-one here is watching BGT. which I just love. It's just entertaining, on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteIf you know it, the wild card for the Final has been announced.
It is Libby + Charlie - the 2 wonderful young dancers, who so well deserve it, IMHO.
Miriam, when you mentioned the Victorian Arts and Crafts House I did watch one episode and have earmarked the others to watch atsometime.
ReplyDeleteThe girl who was the embroiderer was from this town.
I have been visiting gardens at a village nearby today and was for the last hour sitting in a lovely natural garden with a lady about the same age as me finding that we have many interests in common including TA, and that embroiderer is her granddaughter.
LanJan- 2-0....!
ReplyDelete⚽🏆
DeleteLast summer my son's cats were both suffering from over-grooming with one to such an extent he was causing bald patches and looked very sorry for himself. I got the plug in Feliway to take with me on the following visit. (Always fun bagging up liquids and creams for airline security!)
ReplyDeleteThis year my son remarked that both cats were now completely 'cured' No bald patched no frantic licking of fur. They have even returned to using their baskets. (we plugged the stuff in a plug near their multi-storey cat baskets/perching platform etc) which they had not used for months.
Feliway do a spray as well. I can confirm thoughthat this stuff works!
I too found it useful, though I had to stop using it as it gave me palpitations, which I discovered was the cause after I ran out unknowingly and then refreshed it somtime later. At the time this was and may still not be a known side effect.
DeleteMerry has also over-groomed in the past, OK for some time now. Mr P & I use a Bach flower anti-stress rescue remedy from time to time, may be a possibility, I'll investigate further.
DeleteYesterday was my first full day of exam marking and I sat in the garden under a parasol with computer, mark scheme and all the other junk from 9am till 6pm. Occasionally I got up and walked around, watered plant pots etc. But I got a lot done. When I got in youngest son laughed and pointed out I now had a 'trucker's tan!' My right arm obviously had not been in the shade and is *very* noticeably pinky/browner than my left. I'll have to face the other way today, although showers are forecast for this afternoon! 😄
ReplyDeleteWell, I admire your discipline & stamina, Spicy ! I hope some food trickled its way to you between 9am & 6pm ? Got to keep your strength up, but satisfying to know you'd conquered a good pile of varying quality papers/questions.
Delete😄
DeleteSARNIA
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Sarnia, particularly when passing ' please park respectfully and legally ' notices.
Your silence from the blog suggests your current situation and so am wanting you to know that my thoughts are winging their way to you at a difficult time.
Thank you, Mrs P. Too complicated to talk about and too tired to try.
DeleteSending you much sympathy Sarnia.
DeleteParsley-16,did you see the match?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was poor and the teams looked jaded but oh the result!
My son went out to Madrid yesterday morning and returned this morning on a flight leaving at 2.30 am!.
He had a good seat at the Ground and said it was fantastic.
I found it very emotional when the Liverpool Supporters sang “When you walk through a storm”
I think he did too.
My friend had decorated “my” bedroom with Liverpool scarves,shirts etc -presumablythe ones that hadn't been taken to
Lovely day.
On my way back a young man carried my case at Marylebone to the tube and we discussed football.
He is an Arsenal supporter.
It really doesn’t cost much to enjoy oneself.
I always end up, chatting to others on trains, planes, in supermarket queues etc. distracting kids when are playing up, and helping disabled persons, when out + about.
DeleteAs LJ has said - it doesn't cost anything to enjoy + help others.
SpicyC. I am jealous, not with the marking, but the sun. I haven't seen it for a few days. It is very warm, but definitely not hot. I just got the lawnmower ready, after the TA omnibus, and it rained - which it has done a few times. Still, I do have a sparkling kitchen instead.
ReplyDeleteOh Spicycushion.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you.
I used to do exam marking when I was still teaching so used to get up very early to do the marking.
I may have mentioned this earlier.
I marked maths papers and had to total up a lot of marks at the end of the paper so I employed my younger son to total them up .
He was paid 1/2d a script.
Generous to a fault I was
It was always better to do marking for foreign students because they did their exams in the winter
Incidentally ,maybe some folk do not realise the following.............
If a candidate makes a mistake and writes something like 4X5 =30 ,
the examiner has to work through the question using 30 instead of 20 and if the answer given is right (assuming 4X5 did equal 30) then the candidate would get the majority of marks given for the question because only one mistake was made.
Colleagues used to think that maths is either right or wrong.
Not so.
It is due to the methods + working out used, being accurate + understanding - not the actual answer?
DeleteExactly,Miriam.
DeleteIn a complicated question if a candidate just writes down the answer, no marks would be given.
Got back from Edinburgh yesterday. Daughter's wedding was last weekend and we then spent the rest of the week with the family which was just so wonderful as we are very rarely all together these days. The newlyweds spent time with us as they are deferring the honeymoon till my daughter finishes her PhD at the end of August. The weather was mixed but didn't spoil the wedding or any of the activities we had planned, the hot tub was well used!
ReplyDeleteSounds Wonderful. I expect you have very many special memories of the entire event, which will always be with you.
DeleteThe last time, my entire family were together, was also at a wedding, 5 years ago. I doubt that this will ever happen again - due to the rapidly expanding families and distances away from each other.
Sadly little sun today so still lop-sided tan! During one of breaks I take I watered my young runner bean plants and various pots with roses, bay tree, gooseberry bushes and other vegetables and soft fruit. Rain not forecast here until Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYesterday eldest rang on a video call to show me the progress of various plants we planted at Easter which gave me half an hour break. Then he asked 'What should I do next?" I told him to keep them watered and he said they had just had two weeks of rain every day!
I see that the temp. tomorrow in Frankfurt is forecast for 31 degrees. Bit hot for me!
carolyn - no that is not my bird. I tried to photograph them and not much luck. One day I will! They are about the size of a thumb!
ReplyDeleteLJ - no Sky so only skimpy highlights, sounds a disappointing affair, but pleased at the result! Do like Klopp. Disappointed in Spurs' performance..
ReplyDeleteMarylebone brings back memories of times in London at music conservatoire.. too many years ago..
DeleteSarnia
ReplyDeleteGood to see you are still up to reading, and accept and understand complications and tiredness prevent anything else.
Parsley ,to be fair I thought that Spurs played better than Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteNeither team played well.
The heat may have played a part.
However we have a really good goal keeper and some excellent defenders.
Apparently the police say that there were about 750,000 people lining the route yesterday.
Amazing.
Looking forward to next season now, but not quite yet!
ReplyDeleteR5 TMS England /Pakistan from Trent Bridge today..
At last, sun today, so lawns mowed + edges done, along with a lot of cutting down of shrubs. The hedges need doing, but I don't like using it, esp. when it is windy as it was today.
ReplyDeleteBig Sis has been in touch (after our difficult 'phone chat last week). We are off to a funeral together, tomorrow. When I grew up, there were 3 families who spent a lot of time together and went away every weekend, and in the summer, in the 3 family caravans. The 3 sets of parents were great friends. The funeral tomorrow is the last of that 6. She was 95yrs so did well but sadly had dementia. She served in the WRAF in W11, and was a lovely person.
It will be sad, yet lovely as will be meeting up with so msny I grew up with, and shared so many joint experiences with.
There was us 3 sisters, 3 brothers, and a brother + sister. We are all now in our 60's, but have known each other, for about 55yrs. We have always kept in touch and I will enjoy the "grand" re-union tomorrow, which might be for the last time...
Us eight "children" are now between 62 - 67 yrs of age, and as have said - first met 55 years ago.
DeleteFriendships like these, last a life-time, and still love + enjoy that cameraderie, which we've always had, + still share together.
Miriam so many memories to be shared tomorrow as you say goodbye to a special friend. Also the chance to meet up with big sis - in mysterious ways and all that 🤔
ReplyDeleteA really lovely day at “Mottisfont Abbey” today the start of the June 🌹🌹🌹 garden plus other blooms. Apart from a buggy ride from entrance to the garden Mr R did so well ( with his usual bright blue crutches) even making it into the house although he could only manage rooms on the flat.
I visited the maids rooms which was so interesting, for those like Mr R an iPad an iPad can be viewed with everything on it that visitors going upstairs will see. Similarly for the upstairs exhibition items (I did not visit this as by then we had done an awful lot) but how very thoughtful - most impressed!
Enjoyed a yummy scone/ butter/jam & pot of tea though which followed earlier ice cream 🤗
I have had an even worse experience with Lady and a cow today.
ReplyDeleteA new dog / woman friend offered to have her while I went to a physio appointment and she was joined by a dog behaviourist friend, and all was well, and I was given lots of information.
Took Lady on to the common for a run and parked near to a cow in an enclosure but walked her on the lead several hundred yards in the opposite direction.
As soon as off lead she haired back to the cow and started insistent barking. By the time I reached them she had got herself inside and was standing less than two foot from cow and very newly born calf, barking !
Eventually at screaming point with her totally ignoring me I eventually managed to open the enclosure and get inside to capture her.
It is definitely the afterbirth that she is after.
After getting her in the car I made sure that cow and calf were ok, making sure I had secured the enclosure properly and drove home.
I called the Hawarden and reported what had happened and my concern. He will check on the animals and I will not be taking this dog anywhere near calving cows again.
Over an hour later I am still shaking.
Please excuse my writing on this event, I need to get it out of my system.
Oh dear Mrs P what a shock for you. Nice quiet cup of tea now Nursy Spicy recommends!
DeleteProbably a lucky escape for Lady too as cows can get very aggresive ( as with most animals) when their young are around.
You seem to have done everything correctly and have informed the warden who will check on the cows.
Deep breaths now!
I was more concerned for Mrs P's safety. I hope the cow didn't have horns.
DeleteProof (should it be needed Ruthy) of how good your blog is for our mental health, a place to vent (or sometimes rant as needed.)
ReplyDeleteGlad it has helped you today Mrs P 🙂 an unnerving experience to be sure!
Sorry to hear of your experience. All is well and no one is hurt. It could have been so different.
ReplyDeleteMy dogs used to eat afterbirth if they could get hold of it from my calving cows , so you are right about Lady. She will still no doubt remember she had to scavenge. she has made such good progress, so don't be too downhearted at this little hiccup,
Where did my comment go!
ReplyDeleteIt read :-
Mrs P’s experience today shows how important your blog is to everyone Ruthy 😇 being able to vent or even rant on here when needed is so good for our mental health 👏🏻
Well it WAS there after all 🙄
ReplyDeleteThat sounds pretty hairy, Mrs P., but how well you handled the situation.
ReplyDeleteI so agree, with all.
ReplyDeleteI also, have had a couple of rants on this blog. I don't know why, but I always felt better afterwards. Is it that I don't know, or have met anyone personally - or is it that, I can say what I feel, without being interupted. I think it is a combination of the both.
Thanks to Ruthy, that this can be done + allowed. It is so very helpful and therapautic.
MrsP. Have a nice pot of ☕️ tea and try to relax. Lady, like my rescue cats, has had a difficult life and as you know it will take time to understand all her little behaviours. A very scary experience cows can be unpredictable. Brave of you to enter the enclosure. Well done getting the dog out.👏
ReplyDeleteThe funeral service today was lovely and very enjoyable. This is strange to say, but it was done in a light-hearted way with lots of laughter. Also, as she was Scottish a lot of the music was based on this - I could have been at a ceidligh dancing the night away. Apologies for spelling!.
ReplyDeleteThe 8 kids who grew up together, (as said we have known each other for 55years), have vowed that there will be a proper meet-up in a couple of months time, under very different circumstances.
It was like catching up with family members, and that is so important that this feeling has to go onwards. We all still have such a strong bond.together which must continue.
Lady no doubt perturbed the cow but at least she didn’t harm cow or calf. You are so responsible to have contacted the warden as so many dog owners just cut and run and I’m sure that was appreciated. Everyone has bad experiences with dogs but you do learn from them. Our border collie hated male Jack Russells with good cause as one attacked him when a puppy. If he saw one no amount of shouting from me would stop him. There were two around, the one who had attacked him and one who looked identical. I lived in fear of meeting them but didn’t want to keep him on the lead in open ground as ordinarily he was very well behaved. Now you know Lady’s thing with new born calves and can keep away. Yes, relax and try not to worry too much. Lady is just following her instincts.
ReplyDeleteThank you all.
ReplyDeleteYes a cup of tea then some bread cheese and radishes set me to rights.
Then off to see my 89 year old who I am regenerating who also enjoys conversation and the dog.
Took Lady into the woods and 40 minutes of walking, before home and a quiet evening in.
CowGirl, why the afterbirth, I know it's nutritious and probably smells divine but is there another reason ?
Yes agree about the scavenging and it probably won't change.
I don't know why dogs like it Mrs P., other than nourishment as you say. Cows do tend to eat it themselves, mainly as a deterrent to predators, it can though cause them to choke. I always tried to remove it if I was about.. Dogs seem to know what is good for them on the whole, mine liked sheeps poo, followed by calves and if neither available then horses. There is no accounting for taste.
DeleteI’ve had a dreadful last 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteWe are on holiday in Ireland. Charlie, golden retriever, had been poorly before we came away but had bucked up and went off to kennels with tail wagging on Sunday morning.
Kennels text yesterday tea time to say he wasn’t eating or drinking and was off his feet. On a drip in vets overnight. Got a friend to go see if he would get up when he saw her this morning, but no he didn’t. The vet advised that it was time to let him go. So she stayed with him whilst they put him to sleep. To say I am devastated is an understatement. He would have been 13 in two days time. I would never have come away if I thought this would happen. I will never forgive myself. I have always been there at the very end with all our animals over the years. He was my special boy, a real mother’s boy.
I could not have asked for more from my friend.....I hope you all have a friend as good as she’s been for me today. 💔😪
💔feel for you 😔
DeleteSo very sorry, PtbY. A sad, sad loss, & happening whilst you were away. Thoughts are with you
DeleteSending lots of sympathy. It was good that he had a friendly familiar face
Deletewith him.
Oh no. So sorry for you PtbY. It's hateful when pets pass and it hurts so much. Please don't feel guilty. He knew he was loved.
DeleteSo sorry to read of the loss of your beloved pet PtbY. You had no control over this and sometimes bad things just happen.
DeletePtby what an awful day you have had!
ReplyDeleteHead and heart situation of course - head would tell you you gave your dog a wonderful life and you both enjoyed unconditional love (all true.)
However to lose Charlie while you are away is so so tough for you and right now your feelings are totally understandable and it will be a difficult home coming for you. Thank goodness you had a good friend to call on this end.
Thinking of you 🌹
You must be devastated right now PtbY and I cannot imagine your emotions will change at all quickly.
ReplyDeleteOf course you would not have left him if you had any thoughts that he was near his end.
But you didn't have any idea. Nevertheless I can understand that those thoughts will not make you feel any less miserable.
The wonderful years you had together will be all the precious for his loss, and those memories will come to you in the future in unexpected moments.
Your friend is a gem !
You are very fortunate to have her.
I am so sorry and really do feel for you.
Helen Keller Said What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
ReplyDeleteYou would not be human if you did not feel the way you feel at the moment.
As others have said you have friends PtbY who feel for you and we are thinking of you.
So sorry to hear of your loss PtbY.
DeleteDon't chastise yourself, he went to the kennels wagging his tail. He may well have not wanted you to be there at the end and have chosen his time accordingly. Animals like humans can be very perspective and manage these things.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePerceptive is what I meant
DeleteSo sorry ptby and sending love. You gave him a good life and that’s worth so much.
DeleteThank you all for your kind words. They bring great comfort to me. I’ve now changed my profile photo to Charlie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely photo PtbY. Was he having doggy hydrotherapy?
ReplyDeleteI do sympathise, pets are family. The vet and your friend sound very compassionate, and Charlie had a kind, trusted human there with him. We all know how things will end, but still continue to cherish our furry friends.
Curiously, my son and I rescued a little lost shih-tzu today. She walked into his house through the open front door and jumped on his knee and settled down. He phoned me as was due to go to work, so I took a collar and lead and walked the pup around his estate hoping to see the missing humans. I took the very cute, beatifully well-behaved little dog to the local vet. She was identified through her microchip. The nurse phoned the owners and asked if they were missing a dog, they denied it - each person thought the dog was with the other person! I waited at the vets until the owner arrived, visibly upset and shaking, completely at a loss to understand how 'Fluffy' got out, finally thought through an open window onto a porch roof and a big jump to the ground. Such a tiny fur-ball for such acrobatics. They weren't out looking for her because they didn't know she was missing.
ReplyDeleteLovely account Mistral.
DeletePerhaps, as each family member thought she was with another, she thought that as none of them were actually aware of where she was, she would go to find somebody who took notice of her. And your son did !
Her adventure meant that everybody including you, did take notice and she was therefore rewarded by encountering many kind souls.
Clever girl.
Lovely! Glad her owners were found! Gypsy is a full blown Shih Tzu as recently proved through a DNA test. She is gone wrong somewhere but was interested in your account as blind though she is, there is no aversion to shimmying down the drive if given half the chance to do her own thing! In contrast Buddy who is half Yorkie goes nowhere as he knows which way his bread is buttered! Gypsy is fiercely independent! Great that your lady was found by kind people and thank goodness for microchips.
ReplyDeletePtbY. I send my commiserations losing your friend is heart ❣ wrenching. I would be sobbing into a pint 🍺 of The brown stuff and say Sláinta to your wonderful Charlie.
ReplyDeleteLanjan thank you for the reminder of the Helen Keller quote- both beautiful and true 💞
ReplyDeleteDitto 💕
DeletePtbY - what sad news, but don't feel guilty. You had no idea, that this would happen.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad and a shock for you, as you weren't there with Charlie - but your last memories are him happy + wagging his tail.
I hope you are recovering well after your op. and things are progressing in the way you perceived.
PtbY's sad loss of Charlie reminded me of my late father.
ReplyDeleteIt was a Sunday, 3 days before Christmas, big Sis + self visited him in hosp. (he had a broken femur) We took a big Christmas general knowledge crossword from a newspaper, and spent 2/3 hours doing it, with lots of laughter. It was great fun and we left after a fun afternoon. 12 hours later, I was woken up by my 'phone - to learn that he had been found, having passed away in his sleep.
My last memories are very happy ones, with laughter and Dad was just himself.
Miriam thank you for sharing your story and so glad the last hours you spent with your dad were such happy ones and thoughtful of you to try to help ptby in this way, which I’m sure you have!
DeleteTalking about D day on the other blog. My Dad was a driver in the army and had to endlessly practise driving into water beforehand. He was a non swimmer and had a lifelong fear of water so it wasn’t easy. He went over to France on about the 10th June and in the event drove straight off the landing craft onto the beach. He went on to be present at the relief of Belsen, went through France and into Germany. He said a lot of the people were hungry and the soldiers gave chocolate and what food they could to the children. He would have loved today’s celebrations. We owe his generation so much.
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law went over in the D day landings, what he witnessed during his time over there affected him for life. He didn't talk about it much but he did mention one episode to me where he narrowly missed being blown to bits, some of his friends weren't so lucky.
DeleteSuch stories of loved ones and their courage are appearing on this blog regarding D Day. Deep respect and thanks 🙏 to them all and to those of you sharing their memories 💕
DeleteBrilliant tv coverage of this event!
In & out of TV D-day coverage, impressed & moved by the memorial sculptures & gardens.
ReplyDeleteto add - by Gold Beach, unveiled this am.
DeleteMy younger sister, has resarched and drawn up a family tree, which goes back to the 1800's. She stopped there, as things were getting complicated. She has all the family letters etc. which were found after clearing my parents home out. She decided to look into Armed Forces records, to try and find out more, about relativies who served in WWII. This is proving very difficult and is not having much success.
ReplyDeleteShe is keeping and protecting, in our family archive, a wonderful letter from WWI. This was written to a great aunt, from the parents of her fiance, who didn't return. I only saw it for the 1st time about 8 years ago - and I just sobbed as I read it. Sadly, there is very little from those who served in WWII. Luckily all my family members, who were involved, survived, returned home, and began new lives, never talking about their experiences. I only know of two, which came from my Grandpa. He was an RN officer on HRH The George when the RN ship HRH The Hood was sunk. He was also involved in a RN + British intelligence op. which supplied false info. as to the D'Day invasion. I so wish I knew more.
Miriam, I 'do' family history and have done so since about 1998. It is difficult to get details of WWII activities because although they are old there are still survivors alive. Most family history websites do not publish trees of records of people for the last 100 years (as with the censuses) unless there is a registered date of death. There is the 1939 Register which was drawn up in order to prepare I D cards and ration books for the population at the outbreak of war. Even then those people who are not known to have died since then are redacted.
DeleteAnyway you can get details from the National Archives at Kew of troop movements during WWII. My friend has tracked all her father's movements out in Burma through diaries and log books of the regiment, kept at Kew. One day I will get round to getting my Dad's battery of Royal Artillery diaries etc. Apparently you have to know the service number and be, or have the permission of, the next of kin (I am the eldest so I am Dad's n.o.k) Then you can sit at a desk at Kew and photograph all the documents you want.
Thanks Spicy. I will pass this valuable info on, but I am sure that no service numbers are known, nor battalions etc. All this info. seems to have disappeared, but it is another avenue to explore. Thanks once again. Miriam 😀
DeleteAlso there are now no immediate next of kin, for the family members whose research is wanted. It is worth trying though.
DeleteNothing ventured, nothing gained.
I am not as assiduous as Spicy or Miriam's sister, but every now and again I have a stab at finding info about my father.i do have his service number, my mum knew it off by heart to the end of her life, and I have his tags too.
DeleteBut he was in so many regiments throughout his army career which was extensive and in two halves, but his soul belonged at Woolwich with the gunners. He was the Sergeant in the guardhouse when mum and dad were courting, she being a local girl.
But long before that he was in Northern Ireland as an eighteen year old and on the clippers as a cabin boy at fourteen, having been kicked out of home on Christmas Day.
It is possible to search the crew lists of the clippers, but I am not cutout for research. I need help.
Then there is my own history as a three year old which I am still trying to research. I did spend a few hours in the library in Exeter last year when on holiday.
Mrs P I am a member of Ancestry.co and Findmypast.co as well as having an account with Familysearch - the 7th Day Adventists (Mormons),(they are free but the others are paid for)
DeleteIf you email me and let me know your father's full name and date and place of birth, I can see what I can find and where any details might be stored.
Only if you want to of course!
Thanks Spicey, that's very generous of you.
DeleteI will.
I have, finally, bought plants for my window box, planters + hanging basket today. These I put onto my old gardening table, went in to have a coffee + prepare lunch in advance. The heavens then opened with torrential rain, and has been ongoing ever since. At least the new plants are well watered, ready for planting.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping it all quite simple this year, but it will be still be colourful, when the planting actually happens.
Snap Miriam, I finally bought my window box plants today too.
DeleteHope to get them done over the weekend.
Mrs P (and everyone else if you haven’t watched it) ,I can recommend 63 Up.
ReplyDeleteIt was in my opinion,excellent.
I don't agree with what the Jesuits said though particularly in one particular case.
I will get it on IPlayer LJ. And thanks for reminding me.
DeleteSome sadness.
DeleteI think of it like a class reunion; they are my contemporaries. "The series catches up with them in late-middle-age" according to a strap-line. From now on, if I'm asked my age I shall reply "late-middle-age"; that will suffice for a few years.
Ahhh, some much needed rain for the garden. I’m home today so time to catch up on chores domestic, so I’m reading this blog and watching a juvenile woodpecker working his way up a tree.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed 63Up this week.
Come on Jo (Konta) 🎾 👏🏻 hard against the high winds for both players though.....
ReplyDelete🎾 ☹️ still that’s life Jo - maybe another year ?
ReplyDeleteTo follow up on the skinny dipping story, I've received an email today from a walking holiday organisation offering wild swimming combined with walking in the Lake District.
ReplyDeleteTempting as it looks, I can't afford it.
Jo K made the semis - and that has to be applauded. She now has Eastbourne, followed by Wimbledon. I think that this year, could be one to watch. She has great potential.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Miriam - onwards and upwards 👏🏻 🤗 🎾
DeleteI think I am making an almost identical post, from last year.
ReplyDeleteMy wonderful poppies were in full bloom, but thanks to the high winds + torrential rain, they are now flat on the lawn!
I still haven't been able to do my planting, due to the rain, but plants, ready for planting out, are looking healthy. My gardening man appeared, just after I returned from a Friday supermarket trip. He was after work, so after some hard negotiations, a price was agreed. I now have brilliantly cut hedges, with all mess cleared up. Money well spent!.
He did try to con me - but he met his match. I might be a retired, single female, but I drive a hard bargain. He will be back, of this I am certain. He is a really nice person, who now knows that I am not a pushover, but I will pay for a good job, done efficiently. It will be regular + repeat business + income for him, if costs are kept sensible.
I pay my gardener £13 an hour but he achieves in a couple of hours what would take me 2 days!
ReplyDeleteI am at the Premier Inn at Gatwick ready for my flight to Italy tomorrow. I’m off to the same venue as last year so know what I am going to knowing the tutor and hosts and looking forward to a week’s uninterrupted painting watercolours of course! Also lovely food! The dogs are staying at home but with exams over Katy can go in a little later and come home early too. We have dog walkers taking them out late morning so hoping all will be well.
I suddenly realised I haven’t been off the island since Christmas so quite an adventure!
I so want to hear about The Mill when you return. You might remember, that I was very interested to go there, for an Italian language course. Due to waiting for my 1st cataract op. I couldn't book due to dates + vision. The 2nd one will be done in about August, so I am looking to book a similar one next year. I would love to hear your feed-back, on your return.
DeleteYes, I am envious, and I hope you have a brilliant time. Miriam.
PS Ev. Be cheeky and ask, if some-one else (me) makes a booking due to your reccomendation, will you get a discount, on a further booking. It's worth asking.
DeleteHave another lovely holiday Ev, and enjoy your painting.
DeleteI wonder how Ruthy is?
ReplyDeleteShe has not been making many comments recently, unlike the rest of us, who are so very profilic.
I am worried that she is getting bored, and this wonderful site, will soon be No More.
I think she said she is going to be very busy for a while but would supply blogs as needed.....(?) anyone!
ReplyDeleteI thought she said that she was also having a rest from listening to TA but would be continuing with the blog.
DeleteAt last a warm sunny day, though intersperd with shorp, sharp rain showers. The majority of planting has been done, the remainder won't take long tomorrow. At least the heavy rain, a short while ago, means no watering tonight.
ReplyDeleteI am off to work in the kitchen. I cooked a R.Chicken dinner last night - a large chicken bought (and put into the freezer) on a Sunday afternoon, for £2.19. I reckon I will get a least 8 meals (my portion size) from it, if not more. Off to create a chicken pie, a curry, a quiche of some sort, plus "box up" 2 basic R Chicken breast with stuffing + gravy, the majority of which, will go into the freezer. It is worth the effort, but I enjoy it doing it. At least when I defrost + eat one of these meals, I know exactly what's in it and how it was prepared.
I enjoyed the work in my front garden today, though it took much longer than i expected. I spent a lot of time talking to nearby neighbours. Sadly this was not with my immediate (adjoining) ones. When they came out, I said Hello. I was totally ignored - it doesn't bother me at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's their loss, not mine. 5 out of 6 home-owners all know each other, chat and pass the time of day - they are the only ones who don't - but others are their age.
It was sad, annoying + funny on Thursday night. A massive arguement started in the garden, over the cost of a new larger "LazySpa".. He went in, slamming the door. It rained a short while later, and she found she was locked out. The language, banging on doors + the ranting, were interesting!!
I don't need to watch a reallity/ soap TV programme, my neighbours provide a more realistic one.
If I wrote their antics, as part of an Ambridge s/l, it would be cast aside as rubbish.
I'm pleased you were able to enjoy your activities and your day today Miriam despite your troublesome neighbours.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could write a scenario of those antics and send it off to a ' soap '.
You might get a second career out of it.
The Jim party S/L has reminded me of an incident in my life: a group of friends and myself had arranged a suprise party for a friend. We were inside her house to surprise her when she drove up, saw the cars, and drove off leaving us bewildered. It was a complete disaster and we couldn't persuade her to return. I don't remember what we did with her birthday cake.
ReplyDeleteAnneVeggie ,the same thing happened some years ago when my neighbour had his 50th birthday which he thought he was celebrating by going out for a meal with his close family .
ReplyDeleteHis wife had decided otherwise and our house was piled up with food for his surprise party.
I can still remember his expression when a group of us turned up on the doorstep and he tried to tell us that they were just on their way out and when his wife said that they were not but he was having a party at home instead he had to pretend that he was pleased-but he wasn’t.
Where are you Ruthy ?
ReplyDeleteWe are way past the ' load more ' point on the other thread.
Getting a little worried !
Hope everything is ok Ruthy and that it’s just that you are flat out busy.
ReplyDeleteWe got home at midnight last night. This morning looking out my lawn looks like a field. The grass has shot up. So have many plants. Unfortunately it’s raining all day today so no grass cutting today. Could do with a couple of sheep!
I seem to be lucky. I have just had a thunderstorm, a short while ago and now have a clear, warm, sunny evening.
ReplyDeletePlanting is finished, the overgrown shrubs have been hacked back, so my garden is looking respectable, once again. This is before the torrential rain arrives, which is forecast for Tues. I will have to go out, due to an appoint.
I have just posted a simple idea on the other page/blog. This is getting quite full - so my simple suggestion is that, this becomes a single blog, with comments being kept short + concise, on all on + off thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAs said, a simple idea of mine only.
That is a very good idea Miriam.
DeleteHeavy rain all day hear.
Short and sharp, and hope Ruthy looks in soon.
PtbY, do you have Ruthy private email address ?
DeleteCould you be in contact that way ?
Yes a bit concerning now. (Although a new kitchen was being fitted I recall - and a busy time all round was mentioned) have often thought what would happen if any of us could not contact the blog ourselves, I know I would be very concerned if a really regular blogger did not post for a week or more without prior notice 🤔
DeleteMe too Lady R.
DeleteThink often of Hamburg Gardiner in this respect.
Because I was very ill in March it has prompted me to do things like making a list for my children of people to let know if I pegged it, so think I will add this blog to the list. I never sign out so my son or daughter should be able to access it if necessary. I also have organised power of attorneys, and even booked my plot in our local cemetery ( which originally was part of our farm) although I have no intention of using it for many many years yet! The less the children have to worry about later the better.
DeleteI too wonder what happened to both Hamburg Gardiner and Aum.
I would think that if Ruthy is working at the same time as having a kitchen fitted that she will be coming home tired from work to a kitchen in chaos, and then probably having to clear up after the builders. Very busy indeed.
DeleteI'd heitate to pester Ruthy when she's busy, wouldn't want to add to the stress, but, as Mrs P. says, if PtbY has email contact & thinks it appropriate, she might want to get in touch, on the basis of that niggling concern we have about whether Ruthy is OK ? Obvs., no pressure.
ReplyDeleteThis not a week when I can either listen or blog much at all, friends staying + Mr C.'s Big B-day over the wkend just gone, so won't be taking up much space ( apart from this post...)
I have researched how to start a blog, I am no computer buff, but it doesn't look too difficult, so it could be done if the worst comes to the worst.
ReplyDeleteDon't want to take over from you Ruthy, just looking at the alternatives as some here would be devastated to lose the blog. Hope all is well with you and the family.
Before Ruthy stepped up to the mark, I had asked a computer expert friend 'how to ' and posted that if anyone could, I could direct them to ' how to'.
DeleteI still have his email explaining what to do, so could pass that on if necessary.
If you can CG, that's good, and we must hope that we don't need to.
Hope all OK Ruthy, and we all realise that you must be very busy and very tired.
Checking back on here it was only 2nd June for Ruthy’s last post - haven’t checked TA as yet but I think she was going to take a break from the prog...? So hopefully just really busy but the number of posts well over the norm.
ReplyDeleteI recall Ruthy saying she wouldn’t abandon us.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t access the blog since yesterday and found when trying to reconnect that google has a mechanism for setting up blogs. I just glanced at it but did wonder if that was a route to creating a blog. I am not computer 💻 literate enough to venture into blog creation.
The weather here is cold, wet and windy. I have resorted to turning on the ce;trail;heating.🌨💧💦
Just a quick comment - do watch Great British Gardens tonight - such a lovely garden! It's just down the road from me (or canal) and his garden centre is wonderful.Never had a bad plant from there and the cakes are amazing! Best wishes to everyone, bon courage, b9b
ReplyDeleteHave just found it, Ch5
DeleteThanks for the info. - I will record it, as looks so inteteresting.
My only wish is, that Ruthy, her Mum + her Family, are all OK.
ReplyDeleteMy latest grand-nephew in OZ, only 3 weeks old, is back in hosp. with major breathing problems. It's worrying.
ReplyDeleteOh Miriam what a worry for everyone
DeleteThinking of you 😞🙏
He's in the best place possible, with wonderful peadriatic Drs. + nurses, to sort.
DeleteThanks.
I am angry. I worked hard (plus played hard - another story), paid full Income Tax, NI conributions - but why?
ReplyDeleteMy State pension is due to me in 18 months time, at the age of 66. I will not be able to claim a free buss pass, the winter fuel allowance + now a TV licence (in many years to come).
I am a 1950's born, single female person, who has paid in full contributions, alongside several pension schemes, and investing, so could "retire". This is now working against me.
Don’t be angry,Miriam when it would have been more than 10 years before you would have
ReplyDeletebeen able to get a free TV licence.
Maybe the BBC will change its mind again by then.
Surely bus passes are not being stopped as well or the winter fuel allowance .?
I am sure they will still be around when you retire.
Sadly, now are all being "mean tested", in my area. I can't claim, due to being sensible + saving all my life.
DeleteAs a single home-owner I get a 25% discount on my Council Tax. I believe, from my county council, that this also, will be no more as from April 2020.
DeleteYou will still get the Winter fuel Allowance as that is not from local Councils.
DeleteIndeed Lanjan, I do not get any 'benefits' (not even single person Council Tax) but I do get Winter Fuel Allowance. It is paid by the same people/department who pay the National Pension so is not at present means tested.
DeleteYou may feel justified in being angry Miriam, and feel that you have been and are being punished by not being poor enough to be eligible for the benefits you speak of.
DeleteBut have you thought how you have benefitted by being born a decade after the war which ravaged so many. By the late fifties Britain was beginning to brighten up and life became better for most of us. Some people had new houses with bathrooms. Dads had jobs and some mums were going out to work.
You were a pharmacist so I imagine that you benefited from a good education and were able to enter a good profession.
The people who are very old now and on those benefits that are being denied to you, went through the war and massive deprivation after it ended.
Many would have grown up in 'rooms' and if there was a bathroom it may have been shared. Outside lavatories in most terraced houses were not brought inside until the sixties and seventies. Educational opportunities for many were scarce and then off to work in a factory at fourteen.
That age range of citizens also worked hard and they saved, but times have changed and the amount of savings they had would not even cover funeral costs today. Life for many was very hard at the beginning, and many find it humiliating to be means tested which then allows them to have those benefits that you feel deprived of by not getting.
BLOG ALERT
ReplyDeleteGary G has opened a new thread, clever man.
Look for the BULLSEYE
I have been very sad in recent days.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest friend died a week or so ago, and her funeral was yesterday.
I have been ' employing ' a young woman for a number of weeks to help me with the dog. She has spent time here with me getting to know Lady, we have walked Lady together several times, and she has brought another dog to walk with her also.
This has taken time, effort and money, all to get Lady used to being with someone else so that I can get on with other parts of my life.
When I learned of my friends death I had well over a fortnight to arrange for someone to come and stay overnight, the funeral being in Canterbury, and had been arranging with the young helper about this.
Last Thursday she sent me an email saying that other ' projects ' needed to be prioritised and that she could not help me with Lady any longer.
I did not attend my friends funeral yesterday and was very upset that I was unable to pay my respects to a friendship of nearly sixty years.
I spent the time of the funeral in the churchyard with Lady and went into the church for a short time.
The best I could do.
💔 feel for you so much Mrs P and understand your sadness at not being able to attend your dear friends funeral, however a lovely gesture to spend that time in your churchyard and church in such a peaceful setting in which to be at one with her in spirit 🙏🏼
DeleteOh Mrs P I feel for you. My aunt died on Saturday, she was closest to my Mam in age, 3 yrs younger. She & her husband lived in S London & were there for me at various difficult times. Mr P has hosp visits so not sure I'll be able to make it across the Channel...
ReplyDeleteOh Parsley I do hope you can get to her funeral.
DeleteMany say that it's not important, that after all that person is dead and will not know.
That is not the point.
Funerals IMO are not for the dead, but for the living.
For us to pay our respects to that person and to reflect on what they meant to us.
And in my case to thank her, for all the help she gave to me when she was able.
So sorry for both of you. We share so many memories with family and friends that we have known for always, and it is very hard to lose them. Big hugs for both of you.
DeleteThank you Janice.
DeleteIt is good to see you posting, and I hope that you are coping well now with your enforced rest, and still reading.
Oh Mrs P that’s dreadful for you. What a thoughtless woman to email that to you. A nice compromise of being in the churchyard at funeral time. My thoughts go out to you at this very sad time. Xx
ReplyDeleteMrs P, coincidentally ,a friend was in a similar position to you .
ReplyDeleteShe wanted to go to herGodmother’s funeral but it was almost300 miles away and there was nobody to look after her dog.
At the time of the funeral she went to her local Church and sat there quietly remembering her.
As Lady R says ,you were with your friend in spirit .
Mrs P. how right you are, funerals are for the living. So sorry you were not able to go, you did the next best thing, although you were let down you still have your wonderful memories, no one can take them away, cherish them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support - my aunt was also my Godmother. Lit a candle in Dax cathedral on Monday, there on an exchange with the choir over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your thoughts and support, and so nice to know that P16 and me were both able to be in spirit with our supportive friend/ relative.
DeleteFor me the irony is that I chose church since I am pretty sure that my friend would have had a Humanist service.
But she had requested no cut flowers but a sprig of Yew to be placed in the ground. Yew trees were an interest of hers.
I spent some time under an enormous Yew in the Churchyard.
What did you sing P16 ?
DeleteI've looked at the Cathedral. Good acoustics ?
MrsP & parsley, my thoughts are with both of you after your sad losses recently.
ReplyDeleteThank you GG.
DeleteMerci GG, c'est très sympa
ReplyDeleteMrs P and Parsley, it is horrible not to be able to attend a funeral when you really want to be there. Nearly 7 years ago, my brother died. He had lived in Canada for, I think, nearly 50 years. I wanted to go for the funeral, but my daughter was about to sit important exams. Instead, I took my daughters to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was a special place for my brother (we live in Bristol, so it is local). We were there at the same time that his funeral was happening in Calgery. For a few years after, we went to the bridge on the anniversary of his death.
ReplyDeleteThat was a constructive thing to do Zoetrope, to find a place that was special to him.
ReplyDeleteAnd so sad for you that you had to prioritise one loved one over another.
I fear for my daughters in this respect.
Their father has lived in Australia since they were in their late teens.
He has been on daily dialysis for a number of years now but manages to visit each year.
But I live with a constant concern they when he dies as he surely will, they will have the awful journey to go through or may have to make a terrible decision because of some other major event in their lives.
Then again I often wonder if it would be better for him to die when over here on a visit. He would be with his wife and his son, who so far as a single young man, would be able to come here to be with both his parents.
I also live with the understanding that I will not be able to be there despite never having been able to move beyond my emotional loss at our marriage ending.
This is a very sad part of the blog.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you Mrs P and also for you Parsley 16 .
Zoetrope ❤️
ReplyDeleteCoroner is now involved (routine) so funeral will happen beginning July.
ReplyDeleteMr P's eldest brother (in WA, he'd lived S of Perth for years) died about 3 yrs ago. He was able to get over there to represent & speak on behalf of the other siblings unable to travel - 4 others still in UK.
ReplyDelete