Miriam - March 27, 2021 at 6:51 PM Don't forget the hour change tonight. I am looking forward to this, so I don't continue to surface at 6.30am, with the light + dawn chorus! Although I snuggle down and doze again, it's never quite the same as sleeping through.
Miriam - March 27, 2021 at 6:54 PM I am off to find my cooker manual, as I can never remember how to alter the time on it! Little things can become an issue.
Miriam - March 27, 2021 at 7:08 PM I always have a window or two slightly ajar overnight, regardless of the weather, as I just love fresh air, wafting through in a gentle way.
MrsP AmbridgeMarch 27, 2021 at 8:25 PM I think my earlier suggestion is the answer for the time being Miriam. A sheet of plastic covering the bathroom carpet.
Mistral - March 27, 2021 at 11:10 PM Ev, sorry to hear about Gypsy, but pleased that she is eating and enjoying the sunshine. All we can do for old pets is keep them warm, fed and as content as possible. It is horrible seeing an animal in distress.
Ev -March 28, 2021 at 10:31 AM The worst thing is that they don’t understand what is happening. She is an amazing dog and although sleeping a lot seems back to normal more or less. We really thought the end was approaching on Friday. She has a lovely temperament and I just regret not having her from the start as she wasn’t walked enough and had a rubbish diet which caused skin problems and was then put on too many steroids for that which probably accelerated the blindness. She copes well with that though and her navigation skills are wonderful. She was born in 2007 though and I was in a different place then with lots of traveling involved. It has been lovely over the last three years just to see her enjoying walks and being comfortable!
Richa - March 28, 2021 at 12:45 PM Getting Better? so cute
Thank goodness changing the clocks is not the performance it used to be. I have several gadgets which alter themselves and once Mr S was in the nursing home I had a new telephone system installed which is also changed automatically. Now all I have to do is saunter round next morning with a phone. This also means that all the clocks are accurate instead of each room having its own, slightly different time zone as he worked his way around the house.
We attempted to go a walk, but the weather was just far too atrocious. Sat on the sofa eating Quavers instead, watching 5 minutes of every single programme that's on TV!
Hula Hoops + cake, plus Earl Grey tea, when curled up + watching recorded "rubbish". That was my day. As I tell myself - tomorrow is another day π€£π and gardening will happen, sometime!
As I’ve said before, all the clocks in my house are now right. My better half only works on summer time so I have to subtract an hour during winter months. So now everything should be right. The milking cows escaped last night after milking - they lifted the gate off its hinges. It took a while to round them up but tomorrow they will be let out for the daytime. It is a heartwarming sight to see them find freedom for the first time; they leap and run onto the pasture full of beans. In the winter they are snug, bedded down on straw in the barn but they get very itchy feet at the sniff of spring.
We have a microwave and oven in a stack and Mr CC can't abide them them having different times on the clock. I keep well out of the way when he's resetting them!
To those who enjoy detective, psychological, thrillers and lawyer influenced books - I am reading one titled - "Fifty Fifty" by Steve Cavanagh (found in the supermarket). This is intriguing. I am 2/3 through and I am still flumoxed. I have an idea, but there are so many twists + turns, not sure. It is based around an american trial, with the lawyers, but there is far more to this. It is a book which is well written + gripping, a not can't put down read. As said, I am only 2/3 through, so it could become a "damp squib". I hope not.
I’ve read it Miriam. Thought it was really good. Will read more of his when I get time. I have about a dozen books waiting on kindle from choices of free books with my Amazon prime membership.
Just seen that there is a new Peter Robinson detective novel out, already in the top ten. it’s a DCI Banks book called ‘Not Dark Yet’. I didn’t enjoy his last Banks book, so many irritating references to music and whisky, that I’m not sure I’ll bother to try the latest. I think it’s about time DCI Banks retired
There was a full moon last night with a circle around it. The circle was mainly green but there were the colours of the rainbow faintly on the outer edge of the circle. I had never seen this phenomenon before. I took a photo but the circle appears mainly pale red.
Various early memories, typically taffled up, all from when we were still in our first house, we moved when I was 7, my sister doesn't remember it at all, she was born when I was 5 :
Standing at the pantry door, looking up at Mam who was pregnant with my sister. In the kitchen, head against Mam's tummy, listening to my sister kicking (she hasn't changed a lot..) Pretending to be a puppy, (we'd just got one, Trixie), burying a dog biscuit in the garden, ending up with a mouth full of mud...... Dressed in my smart coat & hat ready to go out, waiting by the front door, stuck my fingers in the hinge to pass the time, Auntie Joan (13 yrs old) tried to close the door & wondered why she couldn't... Standing by the front gate, waving to Grandpa as his train went past the bottom of our road (he was a fireman), it was the old main line from Cleethorpes & Grimsby down to Peterborough, it's now some ghastly road called Peak Parkway.
Ouch! My cousin shut his finger in the bathroom door the day before his army trumpet audition : ( One shoe-dweller got their finger caught in a hinge at school. Fortunately the finger was upright so the result was just a nasty skin bite. It did necessitate a trip to A&E and an xray though. Youngest shoe-dweller *nearly* got their finger caught in the hinge of our heavy wooden front door. Fortunately I spotted it before I started to shut the door!
I don't think we've ever had mouthfuls of mud. But we have had baked beans and paperclips up noses, and a Hama bead in an ear.
The stations are late today due to industrial inaction: 28. Canonical tree = Gospel Oak 29. The doll is able = Barbican 30. Babar and Babara Elephant and Castle
Arriving when the station master wakes up: 31. Hudson Bay 32. Oriental pig 33. Beehive
At least one tricky one this week! See how you get on. Tne next set should have been the last : ( But I've added two new stations. If I can come up with a third, you'll get an extra week : )
I did ask the Fat Controller to the awards ceremony but he tells me he's self-isolating. Besides, Thomas is worried about driving underground.
Parsley 16. You drew a wonderful picture of an earlier life. I loved the memory of your grandad, passing by in his steam train, which is not a small thing. It brought back some wonderful memories to me, of a walk done as a young family, crossing a bridge by the railway station. Seeing the steam trains in the station - was just normal then, but appreciate this memory now. Thanks parsley16.
I have seen the blackbird, yet again, sitting on the hedge, wash-line etc. along with a beak full of worms. I still don't know where the nest is, but must be nearby.
She’s doing well, eating and sleeping and back in full voice. She really is a remarkable little dog but we are still being realistic about her problems knowing we could lose her but just making her life as good as we are able!
Buddy had a home haircut today and is looking very smart although he is sporting a Mexican moustache! He kept getting his claws tangled in his hair but can now freely scratch without peril!πΎπΎπΎπΎ
I am using up the frozen left-overs, from my Christmas Day meal tonight. I am making a pie, with home-made pastry (it is resting in the fridge) with the contents of, chopped turkey breast, stuffing, cranberry sauce + rich gravy. It will be interesting! I have decided to use a deep enamel pie plate, to create this mess. π€
I am running my freezer contents down, and utilising up the contents. It badly needs replacing, but only when I can view a suitable one, in a show room. Only then will I be able to decide what I want. Not long now...π
Oh dear. I was feeling so cocky. I thought the Elephant and Castle one was brilliant and the Barbican one I didn't get Gospel Oak. Didn't know there was a station called that. Is it on the DLR? However what I did get was St John's wood which I think you might consider to be a good alternative,Old Woman. Canonical -back to basics .tree - wood Gospel St John . I would be grateful in the circumstances if you will accept that answer as I really do want that 100%! Yours grovelingly Lan Jan.
I could only think of St John's Wood too, Lanjan! Shall have to get the magnifying glass out again to search for Gospel Oak on my Filofax paper tube map which has tiny print!! I got Barbiacn and Elephant and Castle though. My total stands at a "could do better" 20/30.
At least your score is so much better than mine, which is still at 0%! I am enjoying reading this though, with how you all are doing. It is getting very competative, in a good + fun way. Love It.
Talking about thingys up noses, also shoved the small blue end bit of a yellow BIC biro up my nose, kept proddling but of course it just disappeared further up... Mam used the pepper trick, lo & behold out it shot...
Loads of blackbirds and collar doves, are around, but all the "tits" have disappeared along with the pesky squirrels. A frequent nightly visitor is the ice-cream van π¦but foxes have been seen again.
Tomorrow I will book my service for the boiler + heating system. This is overdue but after tonight, it is apparant that it is now well needed. A lovely sunny + warm evening, CH is not on but the radiators are red hot! This has to be a valve problem somewhere...
Lanjan & Hilary - Gospel Oak is on the London Overground and I only knew because the line ran at the bottom of my hill. Lanjan - I also want you to keep your 100% lead. It's like the Tour de France, towards the end the rest of competitors let the leading person win!
The judges would like to remind the contestants that the London Overground is included in this tour of the capital. Like the Common residents, we're Underground, Overground, Wombling free : )
Gospel Oak is on the London Overground, square B5 on the map. I consulted the Adjudicator for your St John's Wood; OMiaS agreed with me that it would be a very small wood with only one tree. But we'll let you have 1/2 a mark for St John, because we're nice like that : ) Sorry this stops your impressive full house to date - but parsely is hot on your heels and we're looking at a very close finish. Can't have any disputed results here!
To soften the blow a little, parsely gets zero for Dollis Hill. Now, if it had been Dollis Kill (Dolly's Skill) there might have been a case for more 1/2 marks. There again, this was one of my favourite clues, so probably no sustitute would pass muster.
By the way, 26. Des Res had two official answers, each worth one point. So scores should now be out of 31, not 30. Please check you totals, every point matters!
Miriam, don't give up yet. I'm expecting you to get at least one answer correct by the time this quiz ends : )
Parsley,I have just read your memories. Fingers in the door-ooh! I hope Auntie Joan made it up to you in some way . I watched House of Games this evening. Do you know that not one of them knew who the Duke of Lancaster is. Even Richard Osman didn't know. Clue It is a member of the Royal Family.
Hmm pretty sure I’ve got 31 & 33 of OWIAS’s clues, & a possible for 32, I’ve not kept an accurate total but I think I’m around the 22-3 mark. Lovely bright spring day round here. Good news, we’ve finally had approval for our Green Home Grant, having applied back in October, it will defray the cost of replacing our oil burning boiler for an air heat exchange pump, just all the upheaval of replacing our elderly heating system to look forward to nowπ€¨
Hmm pretty sure I’ve got 31 & 33 of OWIAS’s clues, & a possible for 32, I’ve not kept an accurate total but I think I’m around the 22-3 mark. Lovely bright spring day round here. Good news, we’ve finally had approval for our Green Home Grant, having applied back in October, it will defray the cost of replacing our oil burning boiler for an air heat exchange pump, just all the upheaval of replacing our elderly heating system to look forward to nowπ€¨
Hilary, why don't you get the map up on your screen. Much easier than your ancient paper one.
KPnuts - congratulations for getting your grant. And for going for the ground source heat pump. Had the scheme been run out a couple of years earlier I would have tried for it. And I would have thought ARCHERPHILE that you might be thinking about it for a benefit when selling your house.
OWIAS Full marks for last week. Loved the ‘Barber and Barbara’ clue. If I can count ‘Warren Street’ which I had as my answer though I needed ‘Warrens treat’ pointed out , my score is 29/31.
House update. The people in the house we want were successful in their sealed bid....so looks like we’re movingππ Only hope everything goes smoothly re surveys etc. I won’t count my chickens before they hatch but π€ I’d been waiting all day for news and assumed we hadn’t got it but the estate agent rang at 6 pm. Phew!!
Archerphile.... Just make an appointment to go and view a property you like and drag him along. He’ll come round to the idea. We hadn’t been looking to move at all but this certain one came up that was just right. Mr PtbY soon came round to the fact that yes it might happen. Up to the point of the estate agent ringing last night he still thought we would be staying put. Now he says he’s excited. Ruddy fellas....they need telling what to think!!! Soz Gary π€
About the circle round the moon, I am told that it happens quite frequently in Italy. I must admit that when it was pointed out to me the other evening, I thought at first that it was my eyes as I am still awaiting my cataract ops!
Thank you OWIAS for three more. I only got Elephant & Castle correct. I had Parsons Green for no. 28 but didn't feel it was right. For 28 I got Dollis Hill but knew it didn't make sense. Parsley - memories of doors slammed on little fingers ouch!!
PtbY Great news about the house move. Are you moving locally - just curious. I hope all goes smoothly and you have plenty of boxes. When I last had my kitchen done, which is very small, I was amazed at how many storage containers I needed. This was even after taking a lot to a charity shop. But you will be fine - just get rid of all those things you do not to take with you, first. The sooner the better, as will help.
What a lovely Spring Day. I am sitting, still in my dirty work clothes, will a well earned cup of Earl Grey Tea. I attacked the back garden today. The lawn, with the long grass, was still very wet and spongy. The top part of the garden, which is quite small, has not seen any sun for over 6 months now. Mowing it was very hard - it was long, but not too bad, but the mower kept jamming with wet grass. All I can say is that it is better than it was this morning. I also attacked a couple of the shrubs with the hedge-trimmer - talk about a lockdown, short back + sides!! I now realise, just how much work still needs to be done, but it is finally starting to happen. Better late than never! I am waiting eagerly to see, if and how the plants damaged by the fence fire, last year, will improve. I didn't cut a lot back then, except for the totally burnt bits, so it will be interesting to see what will sprout again. Remember, it was a fire in a shed in a neighbours garden, which caused the fence at the bottom of my garden, to go up in flames. At least I got a totally new fence out of it, from his insurance.
Puss Cat is worrying me. Normally on a sunny day when working in the garden, she comes out and joins in with me. Today, she was very different, but is showing no obvious health problems, as eating + drinking, absolutly fine. I am preparing myself, for an end of life situation. It is just being realisic, nothing more, just yet..π€
They do have off days, Miriam and you may find she is OK tomorrow. Dudley has been a bit off today but we think it may be the heat. He had a bath today and Katy will get the clippers out tomorrow. His coat is very thick and she gave them a longer cut last time because of the cold weather. The groomers will be back soon but we can’t leave it any longer. They actually get quite down when they need a haircut! I have resolved to have one myself as I am fed up with my lockdown hair getting in my eyes!ππΌ♀️ππΌ♀️ππΌ♀️ππΌππΌππΌ
There are 4 "singles: living close by, aΔΊl of differing ages, which is a bit strange. We have formed a good bond, along with the lovely couple who are, my new neighbours. They are just a delight, even though I am probably older than either of their Mums! They at least, respect me for who I am.
Hilary I belong to a group called The Cloud Appreciation Society. It is interested in all goings on in the sky. A newsletter with photos of spectacular cloud formations and other phenomena comes round every month. Today’s had a super colour photo of a rainbow corona around the sun - this one was in Arizona and was particularly clear. What a coincidence after your post yesterday!
How interesting, Archerphile, that there is such a thing as a Cloud Appreciation Society! As Gary said the other day, every day is a school day! I do love this blog of ours! Apart from giving reassurance and encouragement, support and inspiration, it is just so varied! Thank you, Gary!
I’m hoping my profile picture will now be of that corona in Arizona, if I have reduced it enough! The Cloud Appreciation Society was started by Gavin Pretor-Pinney who has written books about clouds, how they are formed, all the different types, how they got their names etc. People stared sending him photos of weird formations they had seen & he started the Society to share information with people all around the world. There have been some stunning photos of Northern Lights too. Mr A bought me membership for my birthday a few years back and is also very keen on cloud observation for assessing gliding conditions.
That's unusual, lovely colours. I don't know how many of you are able to watch the sun sinking below the sea, but on a fine day when light conditions are right the sun glows green just as it is dipping below the horizon.
Best wishes to Ev's Gypsy and Miriam's elderly pussycat. They can be a worry. Our Bella caught and ate her first young rabbit of the year about a fortnight ago, and after that began hacking as if she had furballs so I have been putting defurrum on her paws to lick off in the mornings and then butter in the evenings (she'll get plumper than ever). She wasn't eating as much as usual but on-line it said not to worry as long as food was still passing through her and to keep using the defurrum. Then what did she pass out all tangled up in very hard poo but some Christmas ribbon. She enjoyed playing with it so we never picked it up and then it vanished. So now we know where it went!
Mr R has just gone into The Hampshire Court Hotel for 2nd vaccine π π€ As ever very organised! No sun so far today - what happened to the forecast. Maybe breaking out for teatime....
I am now waiting anxiously, for an important 'phone call, which should come soon.
This is from my hairdressers! My Lockdown Locks are now annoying me, intensely. I hope that they haven't mislaid my 'phone number π€
More gardening today in the lovely + hot sunshine, and all is looking so much better. As usual, when out the front, wonderful chats + meet ups. This is the only positive Covid aspect for me. This is that, I know every-one around, so very much better. The theme around me - is fences. Many have been re-painted, and one has been completely replaced. It will be me next, but I want to go to a nearby firm, to talk to them face-to-face (which I prefer, an age thing) to discuss my requirements. It is not long now, until this can be done at last. I prefer to talk to a human person, and not a computer. This is the only I am able to judge, the sincerity, help + commitment. But then that's just me being quirky, or more like, old-fashioned.
Wonderful news from OZ this morning, with a link to a site, showing the new home my niece + hubbie are buying. They are moving in at the end of April. All I can say is WOW. It will be a wonderful home for them + the boys. I think they were succesful with their offer, as it doesn't have a pool, which for many is compulsary and is costly to install. These doesn't bother them, as never have had one. The boys (now 4 and 2) are quite happy in paddling pools and water in plastic buckets! The interesting thing, is how quickly sales take place in OZ. From the agreed sale to completion, this is just 4-6 weeks.
So like PtbY, the packing boxes are now very relevant. As they are still in a rental, a lot of their stuff is still in storage. I just hope all comes out, the same as when it went in, over a year ago...Just like Jennifer + Brian! I just couldn't resist the crossover, Naughty I know.
Katy gave Dudley a haircut today and found under all his fur a lump on his bottom which the vet had treated recently had opened up and must have been very painful which explains his off ness yesterday. She took him to the vet and they flushed it out and gave him antibiotics and painkillers. Shih Tzus are very brave little souls and he must have felt it yesterday on his long walk with the dog walker. Buddy will probably go alone tomorrow and we also rested Dudley today. What with that and Gypsy there is a big hole in their bank account! Instead of insuring I put away £25 each for them every month and it was building up nicely! Oh well, the main thing is that they are comfortable!πΎπΎπΎπΎπΆπΆπππΆ
Ev. At least all is now known. Well Done you both and Katy, for spotting the problem. Pet insurance is one of those, do I or don't I. I think you did best with a pet vets account, and all are back home + healthy.
My dilemma tonight, is cooking my sausage casserole. Do I rush it, ready for TA or wait until after? This hour change, I still have not yet adapted to it. I hope this posts, as google assistant keeps popping up, with so silly ideas. It's doing my head in...π£π€€π±
Wish the only thing I had to worry about was a sausage casserole Miriam!
Our Septic tank failed today and we cannot use any water, flush the loo or even have more than the scantiest hand wash. Just our luck the ‘Pink Lady’ (local sewage expert) can’t come until Friday go try and sort things out, lay a new drain and and repair pipe work damaged by tree roots. One of the joys if living in the country!
My son had to go quite a few miles away to get his first Covid injection because apparently since one can choose the place to go many people had cleverly chosen the Lake District where he lives so they could enjoy a day out at the same time and locals were having to go elsewhere.
The perils of living in scenic places! At least we have the expensive ferries to deter day outers! We lived in Dartmouth for a time and in the summer it was invaded by tourists in a very small area. I used to have to shop first thing before they poured into the small supermarkets and shops, families all abreast and endless queues! In winter everything closed including family rooms in pubs so there was no respite even then. At least on the island tourists are distributed around and very welcome for the local economy. That’s in normal times! The only time they encroach is for the festival weekend when you encounter very strange types in little Tesco!!ππ€π₯Έπ±π§π»π€π―♀️π¦⛄️π€Ήπ»♂️ππ
What is true, and interesting I think, is that one of the things President Trump did was to order the declassification of UFO sightings. They will be made public in June. I suspect most will be sitings of stealth planes, and anything really interesting will probably be redacted. A number of years ago my daughter out for an evening walk in the dark came home terrified because she had seen what she thought must be a UFO. It was huge, triangular in shape, flying not far above tree top level and virtually silent. She did a lot of research and came to the conclusion it was a stealth plane (possibly American) having a night flight from St. Mawgan. I expect now they have even more advanced ones.
Thanks CC , and KP earlier. Yes, it’s a pain. We now have to go round to the neighbours and ask to use their loo, if we run water to wash hands etc, we have to run it into a bowl and then tip it onto a flowerbed. And we are praying it won’t rain because all the water from the roof goes into the tank as well and would make an even worse flood. Hurry up Pink Lady! (She is actually called Caroline and runs her own sewage disposal business, driving a bright pink sewage tanker! Very odd job for a woman I think, but she is very knowledgable and capable.
Archerphile, that sounds a true nightmare! At least it will be sorted, so a big ✔ in a positive way, as to when you decide to move on. Rain is not the worry - but sleet, snow, hail - all possible in a few days, and this is Easter..
Panic this morning - when will the re-cycle boxes be emptied? I was surprised to learn that, it is the normal day tomorrow, even though it is on Good Friday. I am not relgious, but even so, why are the refuse workers having to work on, what is, a Public Holiday. These have worked throughout the Pandemic, so they need this day off + the break from work.
The last time I was at my Big Sis home, which was about June (I think) last year we sat, socially distanced in her garden. This was me meeting my latest grand-niece for the 1st time. It was lovely + sunny. Sis suddenly said about a smell, got up and opened a cover - the septic tank was blocked up! I understand the problems.
Quick extra. I finished the book I was reading - Fifty Fifty by Steve Kavanagh All I will say is, it was the best book that I have read, for quite a while. It will suit those who like - detective, lawyer, court-room, murder, thriller - type of books.
This book had my mind going all over the place! The new one, already started is simple, a lovely tale set in a cottage in Cornwall. A total opposite, which was meant to be read, on a chair in a sunny garden at Easter. It was a good idea at the time! π€£
I took Gyp for a walk today. She enjoyed it, got a bit tired towards the end so back in the pushchair! Dudley is doing fine but still a bit sleepy and hasn’t got his usual appetite. He has just started antibiotic tablets having been given an injection yesterday and he’ll be Ok! The lump area is healing nicely. Thanks for asking, Miriam and hope Pusscat is more herself by now. My sister in law had two cats which lived to well over 20 so she may have a few years yet. At least cats have a longer innings than dogs! πΆπΎπΎπΈ
Covid is still here + will be for a long while yet. What I would love to see, is the likes of the so-called Soap Dramas, to stop the silly masks on + off, in so scenes. I refer to the likes of Corrie, Emerdale etc. but it was important to begin with. This is just normal life now, and would prefer to watch TV, without this, but references should still be included.
Reporting back on your Yorkshire pudding batter ( see photo above!)
Wow, for the first time in my life I have made a super scrunchy, delicious, well- risen, well- browned toad in the hole! I followed your recipe, using a small glass jug that had American cup measures on it. One cup took about 4. 75 ounces flour, 4(!) eggs and the same volume of milk. I whisked like mad and left it while the oil in the pan got to smoking, put in the sausages, left for 10 mins then added the batter which immediately sizzled. 30 mins later I had the result you can see above. I was thrilled. But it was really too much batter for the size of tin I was using because, although risen and crisped, it was very thick and stodgy underneath. So next time I’ll either use a bigger tin or just use half a cup of everything as there are only two of us. So thank you for solving my problem so splendidly! It worked !
I've only just finished mine, and they are fine but I can never get them as good as my mum's "shiny" buns. This year I tried a Mary Berry idea of using golden syrup to brush them over with when cooked instead of the usual sugar water. Nice but a tiny bit too sweet for me.
Archerphile what rotten luck. I feel sure you must have cracked a mirror at the very least as the world has seemed to be out to get you in the last year or so. However you are both illness free which is the main thing (right now in particular) Mr R had his 2nd jab Wednesday and as before no effects from it whatsoever , he’s a tough old boy π€ bless him. Had tea and scones at our friends home (garden) on return journey it was a joy!
Glad to hear that Lady R. Give him our best wishes. Mr A returns to hosp on Tuesday to have his head examined. (You know what I mean!) . A report back on his treatment for the things on his scalp which all seem to have cleared up beautifully. I am now searching online for a UV protective hat to wear when gliding.
We used a firm called “Village Hats” not cheap but worth the money to get such high protection also at the time there was a sale on. For gliding a particular type/style probably required so would need to check out for that.... So glad Mr A has had his head examined π€£ yes I do know what you mean and isn’t it amazing how the Efudix cream works - on its journey the head can look like a horror movie but the end justifies the means π€
Archerphile, Hooray! Thanks for sharing the photo, glad it worked. The batter is very egg-heavy, but it works. If I use a big tray, mine are soggy underneath too, but I like that with gravy. In individual y.p tins they are crispier. So glad you told me :) Sorry to hear about your less good news though....
Our Pink Lady with her luminous pink tanker eventually turned up at 7.30 last night, just as we were sitting down to our toad-in-the-hole! So Mr A had to put his back in the oven while dealing with her. She managed to clear the blockage (hooray, we can use the loo again!) but will have to come back after Easter to replace the broken clay pipes and brick-lined chamber with plastic. It’s going to be expensive but we really have no option, sadly.
Sorry to hear about your septic tank problems Archerphile. You must be mighty relieved (in all senses) to have a working loo again. At my sisters cottage in the New Forest, the septic tank was probably a similar age. I was told that it allowed some seepage through the brick liner. There was never any smell but they did grow very tasty veg in that part of the garden!
Lovely posts today:- Archerphile has a working loo again, Gypsy + Buddy have had lovely walks, Succesful Toad in the Hole, meals, It seems a positive day.
What have I done today? The answer is simple, just a pile of ironing. I woke up, but it was quite early, (6.00am) to see ice on the car, which soon melted. Now a lovely sunny evening - talk about one extreme to another.
Enjoy this Easter, whether being able to meet up with family or friends, or then perhaps, not for some/many. I am finding it hard, that this is a 2nd Easter in a Lockdown situation so no big family get together, but it's life, at this time. My angst. is that I can't cross the English/Welsh border, to see family. It's - so near yet so far! Just 5 miles away ..
PS I hate Toad-in-Hole, but that's a personal taste. Perhaps, this is just due to bad childhood memories. It was often cooked, but I only ate the sausages and only the crispy bits of batter. My memory is only of, a "greasy, soggy" meal, but I loved the baked beans, which went it. I love cooking with sauaages though, in very many various ways.
Dudley was very eager to have his dinner tonight and polished it all off! He also galloped round his Quarr Abbey walk today so we are on the mend!
I was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy in 2002 at Hereford Hospital.but went to the optician yesterday and she told me it was Dry Macular Degeneration! Honestly, you don’t know who to believe! At any rate progression is slow. There is no treatment so I have to accept whatever comes. If Dame Judi can do it, so can I!! Have not driven for a few years but have surrendered my driving licence now as my distance vision is not good enough.
I planted my tomato seeds today, a bit late but with the better weather they should germinate quickly. I don’t know where this year has gone. Time flies when you’re getting old!!ππ
Well, I have my chauffeur i.e Katy! She drove me into Ryde yesterday for my appointment. We took Gyp as Dudley can be a bit funny with her and K waited in the car with her. In normal times we have buses every ten minutes each way to Ryde and Newport so I can get around. Of course at the moment I stay put! It is strange getting out and Ryde is very quiet and it is odd. Also, don’t know about everyone e lose but all these months of not getting out and about means loss of confidence and although it was fine once I was out there, I was apprehensive beforehand. Anyway, I think once all this is under control I will soon get back into the swing!ππΌπ
I just need eye drops at night. So far, so good as pressures are well under control. As said, I am diagnosed as pre-glaucoma at the moment. This doesn't worry me as such, as I go to the hospital eye clinic for scans + checks, so any problems will be found and hopefully sorted. I am so greatful to my optician, who referred me so quickly + efficiently.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteMiriam - March 27, 2021 at 6:51 PM
Don't forget the hour change tonight.
I am looking forward to this, so I don't continue to surface at 6.30am, with the light + dawn chorus! Although I snuggle down and doze again, it's never quite the same as sleeping through.
Miriam - March 27, 2021 at 6:54 PM
I am off to find my cooker manual, as I can never remember how to alter the time on it!
Little things can become an issue.
Miriam - March 27, 2021 at 7:08 PM
I always have a window or two slightly ajar overnight, regardless of the weather, as I just love fresh air, wafting through in a gentle way.
MrsP AmbridgeMarch 27, 2021 at 8:25 PM
I think my earlier suggestion is the answer for the time being Miriam.
A sheet of plastic covering the bathroom carpet.
Mistral - March 27, 2021 at 11:10 PM
Ev, sorry to hear about Gypsy, but pleased that she is eating and enjoying the sunshine. All we can do for old pets is keep them warm, fed and as content as possible. It is horrible seeing an animal in distress.
Ev -March 28, 2021 at 10:31 AM
The worst thing is that they don’t understand what is happening. She is an amazing dog and although sleeping a lot seems back to normal more or less. We really thought the end was approaching on Friday. She has a lovely temperament and I just regret not having her from the start as she wasn’t walked enough and had a rubbish diet which caused skin problems and was then put on too many steroids for that which probably accelerated the blindness. She copes well with that though and her navigation skills are wonderful. She was born in 2007 though and I was in a different place then with lots of traveling involved. It has been lovely over the last three years just to see her enjoying walks and being comfortable!
Richa - March 28, 2021 at 12:45 PM
Getting Better? so cute
Sorry for allowing the last blog to run over! Technical issues. (And by "technical issues" I mean a combination of laziness & too much Prosecco....)
ReplyDelete*** MY EARLY MEMORIES ***
ReplyDeleteparsley, Γ toi. Amusez-vous bien!
Crikey!! Γ tout Γ l'heure...
DeleteThank goodness changing the clocks is not the performance it used to be. I have several gadgets which alter themselves and once Mr S was in the nursing home I had a new telephone system installed which is also changed automatically. Now all I have to do is saunter round next morning with a phone. This also means that all the clocks are accurate instead of each room having its own, slightly different time zone as he worked his way around the house.
ReplyDeleteThis poem appeared in our Parish Magazine today. I thought I’d share it with you.
ReplyDelete( with apologies to Wordsworth)
I wandered lonely as a cloud
Two metres from the madding crowd
While all at once my turn was called
To enter Sainsbury’s hallowed hall.
This was the pensioners’ special hour
I’d gone to get a bag of flour
But I forgot, when through the door
What I had gone to Sainsbury’s for.
The Sainsbury’s staff were extra kind
I told them it has slipped my mind
They asked what else I had forgot
They clearly thought I’d lost the plot!
I phoned my wife again to ask
She reminded me of this special task:
“I need some flour to bake a cake
With all those eggs you made me take”
“Ah yes, I recall,” I had to lie
I dared not ask which flower to buy
But then I saw them next the tills
A bunch of golden daffodils!
Wonderful πΎπΎ
DeleteI laughed a lot.
I have passed this on, but others have not found it as funny as I did.
DeleteFor me - just brilliant, and thanks for sharing.
Brilliant!
DeleteThe only clocks I had to change were:-
ReplyDeleteThe microwave, the cooker, my wristwatch + my little clock on my bedside table. All done.
Strong winds all day today, but now getting much worse, almost up to gale force. Everything is batterned down, just in case.
ReplyDeleteWe attempted to go a walk, but the weather was just far too atrocious. Sat on the sofa eating Quavers instead, watching 5 minutes of every single programme that's on TV!
DeleteHula Hoops + cake, plus Earl Grey tea, when curled up + watching recorded "rubbish". That was my day.
DeleteAs I tell myself - tomorrow is another day π€£π and gardening will happen, sometime!
Evening meal is going to be a bit late, as I am still on "old time".
DeleteTwo of my clocks are spot-on twice a day, regardless of GMT or BST.
DeleteI really must get around to replacing the batteries ...
As I’ve said before, all the clocks in my house are now right. My better half only works on summer time so I have to subtract an hour during winter months. So now everything should be right.
ReplyDeleteThe milking cows escaped last night after milking - they lifted the gate off its hinges. It took a while to round them up but tomorrow they will be let out for the daytime. It is a heartwarming sight to see them find freedom for the first time; they leap and run onto the pasture full of beans. In the winter they are snug, bedded down on straw in the barn but they get very itchy feet at the sniff of spring.
Fantastic. It is so very enlightning, as to your life with your animals.
DeleteI feel very humble, as to what you do and acheive.
PS What beans?
DeleteIt is an expression meaning full of life and energy.
DeleteWe have a microwave and oven in a stack and Mr CC can't abide them them having different times on the clock. I keep well out of the way when he's resetting them!
ReplyDeleteTo those who enjoy detective, psychological, thrillers and lawyer influenced books -
ReplyDeleteI am reading one titled - "Fifty Fifty" by Steve Cavanagh (found in the supermarket).
This is intriguing. I am 2/3 through and I am still flumoxed. I have an idea, but there are so many twists + turns, not sure.
It is based around an american trial, with the lawyers, but there is far more to this.
It is a book which is well written + gripping, a not can't put down read.
As said, I am only 2/3 through, so it could become a "damp squib". I hope not.
I am just totally enthralled with this book, at the moment.
DeleteIt is far better than my expectations so I hope this continues, until the final page.
I’ve read it Miriam. Thought it was really good. Will read more of his when I get time. I have about a dozen books waiting on kindle from choices of free books with my Amazon prime membership.
DeleteJust seen that there is a new Peter Robinson detective novel out, already in the top ten. it’s a DCI Banks book called ‘Not Dark Yet’.
DeleteI didn’t enjoy his last Banks book, so many irritating references to music and whisky, that I’m not sure I’ll bother to try the latest. I think it’s about time DCI Banks retired
Soz - those milking cows knew a thing or two about the clocks leaping forward, they were preempting by a few hour, surely.
DeleteIt isn't a damp squib ,Miriam.
ReplyDeleteThere was a full moon last night with a circle around it. The circle was mainly green but there were the colours of the rainbow faintly on the outer edge of the circle. I had never seen this phenomenon before. I took a photo but the circle appears mainly pale red.
ReplyDeleteI have, Hilary. It's amazing.
ReplyDeleteApparently also known as the Worm Moon, last full moon of winter.
ReplyDeleteVarious early memories, typically taffled up, all from when we were still in our first house, we moved when I was 7, my sister doesn't remember it at all, she was born when I was 5 :
ReplyDeleteStanding at the pantry door, looking up at Mam who was pregnant with my sister.
In the kitchen, head against Mam's tummy, listening to my sister kicking (she hasn't changed a lot..)
Pretending to be a puppy, (we'd just got one, Trixie), burying a dog biscuit in the garden, ending up with a mouth full of mud......
Dressed in my smart coat & hat ready to go out, waiting by the front door, stuck my fingers in the hinge to pass the time, Auntie Joan (13 yrs old) tried to close the door & wondered why she couldn't...
Standing by the front gate, waving to Grandpa as his train went past the bottom of our road (he was a fireman), it was the old main line from Cleethorpes & Grimsby down to Peterborough, it's now some ghastly road called Peak Parkway.
That'll probably do!
Merci parsley!
DeleteOne of my best friends had the front door closed on his little fingers too when we were children. Ouch!
Ouch!
DeleteMy cousin shut his finger in the bathroom door the day before his army trumpet audition : (
One shoe-dweller got their finger caught in a hinge at school. Fortunately the finger was upright so the result was just a nasty skin bite. It did necessitate a trip to A&E and an xray though.
Youngest shoe-dweller *nearly* got their finger caught in the hinge of our heavy wooden front door. Fortunately I spotted it before I started to shut the door!
I don't think we've ever had mouthfuls of mud. But we have had baked beans and paperclips up noses, and a Hama bead in an ear.
Seen the first swallow today!
ReplyDeleteThe stations are late today due to industrial inaction:
ReplyDelete28. Canonical tree = Gospel Oak
29. The doll is able = Barbican
30. Babar and Babara Elephant and Castle
Arriving when the station master wakes up:
31. Hudson Bay
32. Oriental pig
33. Beehive
At least one tricky one this week! See how you get on.
Tne next set should have been the last : ( But I've added two new stations. If I can come up with a third, you'll get an extra week : )
I did ask the Fat Controller to the awards ceremony but he tells me he's self-isolating. Besides, Thomas is worried about driving underground.
Got the Elephant & Castle...
DeleteGG. That was one better than me π
DeleteParsley 16.
ReplyDeleteYou drew a wonderful picture of an earlier life.
I loved the memory of your grandad, passing by in his steam train, which is not a small thing.
It brought back some wonderful memories to me, of a walk done as a young family, crossing a bridge by the railway station.
Seeing the steam trains in the station - was just normal then, but appreciate this memory now.
Thanks parsley16.
π± all this talk of trapped fingers! π€£
ReplyDeleteThanks Owias, got all three which makes it 22/30, at first glance no idea this time.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the blackbird, yet again, sitting on the hedge, wash-line etc. along with a beak full of worms.
ReplyDeleteI still don't know where the nest is, but must be nearby.
Any news of Gypsy?
ReplyDeleteShe’s doing well, eating and sleeping and back in full voice. She really is a remarkable little dog but we are still being realistic about her problems knowing we could lose her but just making her life as good as we are able!
DeleteBuddy had a home haircut today and is looking very smart although he is sporting a Mexican moustache! He kept getting his claws tangled in his hair but can now freely scratch without peril!πΎπΎπΎπΎ
ππ
DeleteI am using up the frozen left-overs, from my Christmas Day meal tonight.
ReplyDeleteI am making a pie, with home-made pastry (it is resting in the fridge) with the contents of, chopped turkey breast, stuffing, cranberry sauce + rich gravy.
It will be interesting!
I have decided to use a deep enamel pie plate, to create this mess. π€
I am running my freezer contents down, and utilising up the contents.
DeleteIt badly needs replacing, but only when I can view a suitable one, in a show room.
Only then will I be able to decide what I want.
Not long now...π
Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteI was feeling so cocky.
I thought the Elephant and Castle one was brilliant and the Barbican one
I didn't get Gospel Oak.
Didn't know there was a station called that.
Is it on the DLR?
However what I did get was St John's wood which I think you might consider to be a good alternative,Old Woman.
Canonical -back to basics .tree - wood
Gospel
St John .
I would be grateful in the circumstances if you will accept that answer as I really do want that 100%!
Yours grovelingly
Lan Jan.
I could only think of St John's Wood too, Lanjan! Shall have to get the magnifying glass out again to search for Gospel Oak on my Filofax paper tube map which has tiny print!!
DeleteI got Barbiacn and Elephant and Castle though. My total stands at a "could do better" 20/30.
At least your score is so much better than mine, which is still at 0%!
DeleteI am enjoying reading this though, with how you all are doing.
It is getting very competative, in a good + fun way.
Love It.
Well, I got Gospel Oak & Elephant & Castle, could only manage Dollis Hill for 29....that's wiped out my bonus point , grrrrr π
ReplyDeleteback to 28/30 π
Talking about thingys up noses,
ReplyDeletealso shoved the small blue end bit of a yellow BIC biro up my nose, kept proddling but of course it just disappeared further up...
Mam used the pepper trick, lo & behold out it shot...
Thanks for the caption photo GG!!! yeuch..
DeleteIt is another suitable one.
DeleteHeard a woodpecker the other day. Not seen any swallows yet but the blackbirds are tuneful.
ReplyDeleteLoads of blackbirds and collar doves, are around, but all the "tits" have disappeared along with the pesky squirrels.
DeleteA frequent nightly visitor is the ice-cream van π¦but foxes have been seen again.
Tomorrow I will book my service for the boiler + heating system.
ReplyDeleteThis is overdue but after tonight, it is apparant that it is now well needed.
A lovely sunny + warm evening, CH is not on but the radiators are red hot! This has to be a valve problem somewhere...
This is one of those jobs which need to be done, but as a single home-owner, have often passed me by. I blame it Lockdowns.
DeleteI grasp any excuse..π
Lanjan & Hilary - Gospel Oak is on the London Overground and I only knew because the line ran at the bottom of my hill.
ReplyDeleteLanjan - I also want you to keep your 100% lead. It's like the Tour de France, towards the end the rest of competitors let the leading person win!
Thank you, Basia. No wonder I couldn't find it on my titchy (and ancient) UNDERground map!
DeleteThe judges would like to remind the contestants that the London Overground is included in this tour of the capital.
DeleteLike the Common residents, we're Underground, Overground, Wombling free : )
What's this, LanJan, trying to sway this judges?!
ReplyDeleteGospel Oak is on the London Overground, square B5 on the map.
I consulted the Adjudicator for your St John's Wood; OMiaS agreed with me that it would be a very small wood with only one tree. But we'll let you have 1/2 a mark for St John, because we're nice like that : )
Sorry this stops your impressive full house to date - but parsely is hot on your heels and we're looking at a very close finish. Can't have any disputed results here!
To soften the blow a little, parsely gets zero for Dollis Hill. Now, if it had been Dollis Kill (Dolly's Skill) there might have been a case for more 1/2 marks. There again, this was one of my favourite clues, so probably no sustitute would pass muster.
By the way, 26. Des Res had two official answers, each worth one point.
So scores should now be out of 31, not 30. Please check you totals, every point matters!
Miriam, don't give up yet. I'm expecting you to get at least one answer correct by the time this quiz ends : )
Parsley,I have just read your memories.
ReplyDeleteFingers in the door-ooh!
I hope Auntie Joan made it up to you in some way .
I watched House of Games this evening.
Do you know that not one of them knew who the Duke of Lancaster is.
Even Richard Osman didn't know.
Clue
It is a member of the Royal Family.
I didn't know about Duke of Lancaster either!
DeleteHmm pretty sure I’ve got 31 & 33 of OWIAS’s clues, & a possible for 32, I’ve not kept an accurate total but I think I’m around the 22-3 mark.
ReplyDeleteLovely bright spring day round here.
Good news, we’ve finally had approval for our Green Home Grant, having applied back in October, it will defray the cost of replacing our oil burning boiler for an air heat exchange pump, just all the upheaval of replacing our elderly heating system to look forward to nowπ€¨
Hmm pretty sure I’ve got 31 & 33 of OWIAS’s clues, & a possible for 32, I’ve not kept an accurate total but I think I’m around the 22-3 mark.
ReplyDeleteLovely bright spring day round here.
Good news, we’ve finally had approval for our Green Home Grant, having applied back in October, it will defray the cost of replacing our oil burning boiler for an air heat exchange pump, just all the upheaval of replacing our elderly heating system to look forward to nowπ€¨
Hilary, why don't you get the map up on your screen.
ReplyDeleteMuch easier than your ancient paper one.
KPnuts - congratulations for getting your grant. And for going for the ground source heat pump. Had the scheme been run out a couple of years earlier I would have tried for it.
And I would have thought ARCHERPHILE that you might be thinking about it for a benefit when selling your house.
Better be quick - it's being scrapped on Wednesday:
Deletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56552484
You're right, Mrs P, about the screen version! ππ
Delete29/31 it is then!
ReplyDeleteLJ,
ReplyDeleteAuntie Joan is the last surviving sister (& youngest) of the 4, of whom mam was the oldest. Still living in Cleethorpes.
OWIAS Full marks for last week. Loved the ‘Barber and Barbara’ clue. If I can count ‘Warren Street’ which I had as my answer though I needed ‘Warrens treat’ pointed out , my score is 29/31.
ReplyDeleteWell done Soz. If you got 'Warren Street' you get the points - I'm not going to check up that everyone got all the puns!
DeleteSo, a three-way race between LanJan, parsley, and Soz. Or do we have more contenders on almost full marks who are hiding their light under a bushel?
As I missed one week my score is 28/28
DeleteHouse update.
ReplyDeleteThe people in the house we want were successful in their sealed bid....so looks like we’re movingππ
Only hope everything goes smoothly re surveys etc.
I won’t count my chickens before they hatch but π€
I’d been waiting all day for news and assumed we hadn’t got it but the estate agent rang at 6 pm. Phew!!
Hurrah!!!
Deleteπ π¦π¦π¦ππ‘
(The boxes are bigger than the houses, and the lorry is going the wrong way. But I did my best!)
πππ₯PtbY
DeleteCongratulations on achieving everything so quickly PtbY! I do hope there are no hitches along the way and you have a successful and happy move.
Delete(Could you just come and have a word in Mrs A’s ear, please!)
Congratulations PtbY! Hope it's all plain sailing from here on in.
DeleteArcherphile....
DeleteJust make an appointment to go and view a property you like and drag him along. He’ll come round to the idea.
We hadn’t been looking to move at all but this certain one came up that was just right. Mr PtbY soon came round to the fact that yes it might happen. Up to the point of the estate agent ringing last night he still thought we would be staying put.
Now he says he’s excited.
Ruddy fellas....they need telling what to think!!!
Soz Gary π€
PtbY - well done..... far better than me.
DeleteAbout the circle round the moon, I am told that it happens quite frequently in Italy. I must admit that when it was pointed out to me the other evening, I thought at first that it was my eyes as I am still awaiting my cataract ops!
ReplyDeleteGot stations 31 and 32!
DeleteBeehive - hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThank you OWIAS for three more. I only got Elephant & Castle correct. I had Parsons Green for no. 28 but didn't feel it was right. For 28 I got Dollis Hill but knew it didn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteParsley - memories of doors slammed on little fingers ouch!!
Anneveggie, it’s true! With cryptic clues you know without any doubt when the answer is right.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Sarnia!
ReplyDeleteIn case anybody is interested.
ReplyDeleteThe Duke of Lancaster is Her Majesty the Queen as every Lancastrian knows!
In case anybody is interested.
ReplyDeleteThe Duke of Lancaster is Her Majesty the Queen as every Lancastrian knows!
I should have known then!
DeletePtbY Great news about the house move. Are you moving locally - just curious. I hope all goes smoothly and you have plenty of boxes. When I last had my kitchen done, which is very small, I was amazed at how many storage containers I needed. This was even after taking a lot to a charity shop. But you will be fine - just get rid of all those things you do not to take with you, first. The sooner the better, as will help.
ReplyDeleteOWIAS I have decided to be "Pointless"..π.
...but enjoy reading the questions + answers. Well Done All for getting so many right.
DeleteMiriam. We are just moving 4 miles down the road to the town we lived in before. I was born and bred there.
DeleteSounds amazing..and again Well Done. It sounds very exciting.
DeleteWhat a lovely Spring Day. I am sitting, still in my dirty work clothes, will a well earned cup of Earl Grey Tea.
ReplyDeleteI attacked the back garden today.
The lawn, with the long grass, was still very wet and spongy. The top part of the garden, which is quite small, has not seen any sun for over 6 months now. Mowing it was very hard - it was long, but not too bad, but the mower kept jamming with wet grass. All I can say is that it is better than it was this morning.
I also attacked a couple of the shrubs with the hedge-trimmer - talk about a lockdown, short back + sides!!
I now realise, just how much work still needs to be done, but it is finally starting to happen.
Better late than never!
I am waiting eagerly to see, if and how the plants damaged by the fence fire, last year, will improve. I didn't cut a lot back then, except for the totally burnt bits, so it will be interesting to see what will sprout again.
Remember, it was a fire in a shed in a neighbours garden, which caused the fence at the bottom of my garden, to go up in flames.
At least I got a totally new fence out of it, from his insurance.
OWiaS, I've got all three.
ReplyDeletePuss Cat is worrying me. Normally on a sunny day when working in the garden, she comes out and joins in with me.
ReplyDeleteToday, she was very different, but is showing no obvious health problems, as eating + drinking, absolutly fine.
I am preparing myself, for an end of life situation.
It is just being realisic, nothing more, just yet..π€
They do have off days, Miriam and you may find she is OK tomorrow. Dudley has been a bit off today but we think it may be the heat. He had a bath today and Katy will get the clippers out tomorrow. His coat is very thick and she gave them a longer cut last time because of the cold weather. The groomers will be back soon but we can’t leave it any longer. They actually get quite down when they need a haircut! I have resolved to have one myself as I am fed up with my lockdown hair getting in my eyes!ππΌ♀️ππΌ♀️ππΌ♀️ππΌππΌππΌ
DeleteAt least my garden is now good enough, to invite neighbours in, for coffee, cake + chat. Not sure when, but soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen the Easter Weekend forecast, this might not now happen as planned!
DeleteThere are 4 "singles: living close by, aΔΊl of differing ages, which is a bit strange. We have formed a good bond, along with the lovely couple who are, my new neighbours. They are just a delight, even though I am probably older than either of their Mums! They at least, respect me for who I am.
DeleteMiriam I hope when you can meet neighbours again in the garden that your four singles and you two new boys next door, all have a jolly time together.
DeleteI don't anticipate any meetups yet.
A mixed age group sounds great Miriam - enjoy π€ ☕️ π° π·
DeleteHilary
ReplyDeleteI belong to a group called The Cloud Appreciation Society. It is interested in all goings on in the sky. A newsletter with photos of spectacular cloud formations and other phenomena comes round every month.
Today’s had a super colour photo of a rainbow corona around the sun - this one was in Arizona and was particularly clear.
What a coincidence after your post yesterday!
How interesting, Archerphile, that there is such a thing as a Cloud Appreciation Society! As Gary said the other day, every day is a school day!
DeleteI do love this blog of ours! Apart from giving reassurance and encouragement, support and inspiration, it is just so varied! Thank you, Gary!
I’m hoping my profile picture will now be of that corona in Arizona, if I have reduced it enough! The Cloud Appreciation Society was started by Gavin Pretor-Pinney who has written books about clouds, how they are formed, all the different types, how they got their names etc. People stared sending him photos of weird formations they had seen & he started the Society to share information with people all around the world.
DeleteThere have been some stunning photos of Northern Lights too.
Mr A bought me membership for my birthday a few years back and is also very keen on cloud observation for assessing gliding conditions.
That's unusual, lovely colours. I don't know how many of you are able to watch the sun sinking below the sea, but on a fine day when light conditions are right the sun glows green just as it is dipping below the horizon.
DeleteBeautiful, Archerphile! I now want to learn more about clouds! Google, here I come!
DeleteI have just enjoyed a TED talk: "Cloudy with a chance of joy" by Pretor-Pinney. Really good!
DeleteBest wishes to Ev's Gypsy and Miriam's elderly pussycat.
ReplyDeleteThey can be a worry. Our Bella caught and ate her first young rabbit of the year about a fortnight ago, and after that began hacking as if she had furballs so I have been putting defurrum on her paws to lick off in the mornings and then butter in the evenings (she'll get plumper than ever). She wasn't eating as much as usual but on-line it said not to worry as long as food was still passing through her and to keep using the defurrum. Then what did she pass out all tangled up in very hard poo but some Christmas ribbon. She enjoyed playing with it so we never picked it up and then it vanished. So now we know where it went!
Mr R has just gone into The Hampshire Court Hotel for 2nd vaccine π π€
ReplyDeleteAs ever very organised!
No sun so far today - what happened to the forecast. Maybe breaking out for teatime....
The Sun is here, with me..
DeleteAnother sunny + hot day, which was not as expected. Sad it won't last.
Well Done Lord R.
Oh, jolly good! We can’t be far behind then.
DeleteI am now waiting anxiously, for an important 'phone call, which should come soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is from my hairdressers!
My Lockdown Locks are now annoying me, intensely. I hope that they haven't mislaid my 'phone number π€
More gardening today in the lovely + hot sunshine, and all is looking so much better. As usual, when out the front, wonderful chats + meet ups.
This is the only positive Covid aspect for me. This is that, I know every-one around, so very much better.
The theme around me - is fences. Many have been re-painted, and one has been completely replaced.
It will be me next, but I want to go to a nearby firm, to talk to them face-to-face (which I prefer, an age thing) to discuss my requirements. It is not long now, until this can be done at last.
I prefer to talk to a human person, and not a computer. This is the only I am able to judge, the sincerity, help + commitment. But then that's just me being quirky, or more like, old-fashioned.
Wonderful news from OZ this morning, with a link to a site, showing the new home my niece + hubbie are buying. They are moving in at the end of April. All I can say is WOW.
It will be a wonderful home for them + the boys. I think they were succesful with their offer, as it doesn't have a pool, which for many is compulsary and is costly to install. These doesn't bother them, as never have had one. The boys (now 4 and 2) are quite happy in paddling pools and water in plastic buckets!
The interesting thing, is how quickly sales take place in OZ. From the agreed sale to completion, this is just 4-6 weeks.
So like PtbY, the packing boxes are now very relevant. As they are still in a rental, a lot of their stuff is still in storage. I just hope all comes out, the same as when it went in, over a year ago...Just like Jennifer + Brian!
DeleteI just couldn't resist the crossover, Naughty I know.
ππ» For your niece and family Miriam and a good point re J & B a move never mentioned these days.
DeleteHappy moving everyone!
ReplyDeleteKaty gave Dudley a haircut today and found under all his fur a lump on his bottom which the vet had treated recently had opened up and must have been very painful which explains his off ness yesterday. She took him to the vet and they flushed it out and gave him antibiotics and painkillers. Shih Tzus are very brave little souls and he must have felt it yesterday on his long walk with the dog walker. Buddy will probably go alone tomorrow and we also rested Dudley today. What with that and Gypsy there is a big hole in their bank account! Instead of insuring I put away £25 each for them every month and it was building up nicely! Oh well, the main thing is that they are comfortable!πΎπΎπΎπΎπΆπΆπππΆ
Ev. At least all is now known. Well Done you both and Katy, for spotting the problem.
ReplyDeletePet insurance is one of those, do I or don't I.
I think you did best with a pet vets account, and all are back home + healthy.
Google Assistant is constantly popping up, whilst I am trying to write + communicate here. I thought I had blocked it, but can't shut it down.
ReplyDeleteHelp!!
My dilemma tonight, is cooking my sausage casserole.
ReplyDeleteDo I rush it, ready for TA or wait until after?
This hour change, I still have not yet adapted to it.
I hope this posts, as google assistant keeps popping up, with so silly ideas. It's doing my head in...π£π€€π±
Google thinging wants me to:-
DeleteFind night music to sleep to
Tell jokes
Find nearest coffee shop
Get google maps
Find nearest restaurant
and so it goes on.
How do I stop this intrusion, which is of no interest to me??
Suggest you ask Google how to stop Google assistant Miriam.
DeleteWish the only thing I had to worry about was a sausage casserole Miriam!
DeleteOur Septic tank failed today and we cannot use any water, flush the loo or even have more than the scantiest hand wash. Just our luck the ‘Pink Lady’ (local sewage expert) can’t come until Friday go try and sort things out, lay a new drain and and repair pipe work damaged by tree roots.
One of the joys if living in the country!
I feel for you Archerphile, we had a similar experience a few years ago. As you say the joys of country life!
DeleteMy son had to go quite a few miles away to get his first Covid injection because apparently since one can choose the place to go many people had cleverly chosen the Lake District where he lives so they could enjoy a day out at the same time and locals were having to go elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe perils of living in scenic places! At least we have the expensive ferries to deter day outers! We lived in Dartmouth for a time and in the summer it was invaded by tourists in a very small area. I used to have to shop first thing before they poured into the small supermarkets and shops, families all abreast and endless queues! In winter everything closed including family rooms in pubs so there was no respite even then. At least on the island tourists are distributed around and very welcome for the local economy. That’s in normal times! The only time they encroach is for the festival weekend when you encounter very strange types in little Tesco!!ππ€π₯Έπ±π§π»π€π―♀️π¦⛄️π€Ήπ»♂️ππ
DeleteInteresting news that the Cloud Appreciation Society spotted a spaceship over Stonehenge early this morning. Anyone seen it?
ReplyDeleteHa- ha! (sorry can't do imgojes as computer doesn't work!)
DeleteπππΈπΈπΈ
DeleteHappy April Fools Day everyone ~ especially Janice π€‘
ReplyDeleteWhat is true, and interesting I think, is that one of the things President Trump did was to order the declassification of UFO sightings. They will be made public in June.
ReplyDeleteI suspect most will be sitings of stealth planes, and anything really interesting will probably be redacted.
A number of years ago my daughter out for an evening walk in the dark came home terrified because she had seen what she thought must be a UFO. It was huge, triangular in shape, flying not far above tree top level and virtually silent. She did a lot of research and came to the conclusion it was a stealth plane (possibly American) having a night flight from St. Mawgan. I expect now they have even more advanced ones.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteForgot to say it was travelling very slowly and appeared able to hover, but apparently some stealth planes can do that.
DeleteJust read about your septic tank problem Archerfile, how awful for you especially in the lockdown situation that we are in.
ReplyDeleteThanks CC , and KP earlier. Yes, it’s a pain. We now have to go round to the neighbours and ask to use their loo, if we run water to wash hands etc, we have to run it into a bowl and then tip it onto a flowerbed.
DeleteAnd we are praying it won’t rain because all the water from the roof goes into the tank as well and would make an even worse flood.
Hurry up Pink Lady! (She is actually called Caroline and runs her own sewage disposal business, driving a bright pink sewage tanker! Very odd job for a woman I think, but she is very knowledgable and capable.
Archerphile, that sounds a true nightmare!
ReplyDeleteAt least it will be sorted, so a big ✔ in a positive way, as to when you decide to move on.
Rain is not the worry - but sleet, snow, hail - all possible in a few days, and this is Easter..
Panic this morning - when will the re-cycle boxes be emptied?
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to learn that, it is the normal day tomorrow, even though it is on Good Friday.
I am not relgious, but even so, why are the refuse workers having to work on, what is, a Public Holiday.
These have worked throughout the Pandemic, so they need this day off + the break from work.
The last time I was at my Big Sis home, which was about June (I think) last year we sat, socially distanced in her garden. This was me meeting my latest grand-niece for the 1st time. It was lovely + sunny.
ReplyDeleteSis suddenly said about a smell, got up and opened a cover - the septic tank was blocked up! I understand the problems.
Quick extra.
ReplyDeleteI finished the book I was reading - Fifty Fifty by Steve Kavanagh
All I will say is, it was the best book that I have read, for quite a while.
It will suit those who like -
detective, lawyer, court-room, murder, thriller - type of books.
This book had my mind going all over the place!
DeleteThe new one, already started is simple, a lovely tale set in a cottage in Cornwall. A total opposite, which was meant to be read, on a chair in a sunny garden at Easter.
It was a good idea at the time! π€£
AP, how awful, making life so complicated as well as inconvenient. I'll never feel quite the same towards pink lady apples again!
ReplyDeleteπππ€£
DeleteI prefer a Cox apple, British grown of course, along with local Bramley ones, when I can source them.
DeleteYes, Miriam, and they don't drive stink lorries.
DeleteEv. How are the dogs? πΆπ
ReplyDeleteI took Gyp for a walk today. She enjoyed it, got a bit tired towards the end so back in the pushchair! Dudley is doing fine but still a bit sleepy and hasn’t got his usual appetite. He has just started antibiotic tablets having been given an injection yesterday and he’ll be Ok! The lump area is healing nicely. Thanks for asking, Miriam and hope Pusscat is more herself by now. My sister in law had two cats which lived to well over 20 so she may have a few years yet. At least cats have a longer innings than dogs! πΆπΎπΎπΈ
DeleteCovid is still here + will be for a long while yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would love to see, is the likes of the so-called Soap Dramas, to stop the silly masks on + off, in so scenes. I refer to the likes of Corrie, Emerdale etc. but it was important to begin with.
This is just normal life now, and would prefer to watch TV, without this, but references should still be included.
Special Message for Mistral
ReplyDeleteReporting back on your Yorkshire pudding batter ( see photo above!)
Wow, for the first time in my life I have made a super scrunchy, delicious, well- risen, well- browned toad in the hole!
I followed your recipe, using a small glass jug that had American cup measures on it. One cup took about 4. 75 ounces flour, 4(!) eggs and the same volume of milk.
I whisked like mad and left it while the oil in the pan got to smoking, put in the sausages, left for 10 mins then added the batter which immediately sizzled.
30 mins later I had the result you can see above. I was thrilled. But it was really too much batter for the size of tin I was using because, although risen and crisped, it was very thick and stodgy underneath. So next time I’ll either use a bigger tin or just use half a cup of everything as there are only two of us.
So thank you for solving my problem so splendidly! It worked !
My god Archerphile. That looks bloody brilliant. I’m inspired. Think I’ll try it for tomorrow’s tea.
ReplyDeleteJust shows what a brilliant blog this is PtbY.
DeleteHave a problem,
Ask for help,
Help cometh!
It’s what friends are for, isn’t it ! π
Just baked my first hot cross buns, really pleased how they’ve turned out π
ReplyDeleteWell done KP - any going spare?
Deleteπ
I've only just finished mine, and they are fine but I can never get them as good as my mum's "shiny" buns. This year I tried a Mary Berry idea of using golden syrup to brush them over with when cooked instead of the usual sugar water. Nice but a tiny bit too sweet for me.
DeleteJust enjoyed one of mine with a cuppa. I still use the sugar water coating.
DeleteArcherphile what rotten luck. I feel sure you must have cracked a mirror at the very least as the world has seemed to be out to get you in the last year or so. However you are both illness free which is the main thing (right now in particular)
ReplyDeleteMr R had his 2nd jab Wednesday and as before no effects from it whatsoever , he’s a tough old boy π€ bless him. Had tea and scones at our friends home (garden) on return journey it was a joy!
Glad to hear that Lady R. Give him our best wishes. Mr A returns to hosp on Tuesday to have his head examined. (You know what I mean!) . A report back on his treatment for the things on his scalp which all seem to have cleared up beautifully.
DeleteI am now searching online for a UV protective hat to wear when gliding.
We used a firm called “Village Hats” not cheap but worth the money to get such high protection also at the time there was a sale on. For gliding a particular type/style probably required so would need to check out for that....
DeleteSo glad Mr A has had his head examined π€£ yes I do know what you mean and isn’t it amazing how the Efudix cream works - on its journey the head can look like a horror movie but the end justifies the means π€
Archerphile, Hooray! Thanks for sharing the photo, glad it worked. The batter is very egg-heavy, but it works. If I use a big tray, mine are soggy underneath too, but I like that with gravy. In individual y.p tins they are crispier. So glad you told me :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your less good news though....
Our stink lorry was green. We children called it 'Jumbo' because of the long, bendy silver hose that went into the septic tank.
ReplyDeleteOur Pink Lady with her luminous pink tanker eventually turned up at 7.30 last night, just as we were sitting down to our toad-in-the-hole! So Mr A had to put his back in the oven while dealing with her.
DeleteShe managed to clear the blockage (hooray, we can use the loo again!) but will have to come back after Easter to replace the broken clay pipes and brick-lined chamber with plastic. It’s going to be expensive but we really have no option, sadly.
Just what you could do without, AF! Sorry to hear about your problems but at least you have a loo now!
Deleteππππ½π§»ππ
DeleteSorry to hear about your septic tank problems Archerphile. You must be mighty relieved (in all senses) to have a working loo again. At my sisters cottage in the New Forest, the septic tank was probably a similar age. I was told that it allowed some seepage through the brick liner. There was never any smell but they did grow very tasty veg in that part of the garden!
DeleteTuesday 13th April a new series of “Our Yorkshire Farm” will start π€
ReplyDeleteLovely posts today:-
ReplyDeleteArcherphile has a working loo again,
Gypsy + Buddy have had lovely walks,
Succesful Toad in the Hole, meals,
It seems a positive day.
What have I done today? The answer is simple, just a pile of ironing. I woke up, but it was quite early, (6.00am) to see ice on the car, which soon melted.
Now a lovely sunny evening - talk about one extreme to another.
Enjoy this Easter, whether being able to meet up with family or friends, or then perhaps, not for some/many.
I am finding it hard, that this is a 2nd Easter in a Lockdown situation so no big family get together, but it's life, at this time.
My angst. is that I can't cross the English/Welsh border, to see family.
It's - so near yet so far!
Just 5 miles away ..
PS I hate Toad-in-Hole, but that's a personal taste. Perhaps, this is just due to bad childhood memories. It was often cooked, but I only ate the sausages and only the crispy bits of batter. My memory is only of, a "greasy, soggy" meal, but I loved the baked beans, which went it.
DeleteI love cooking with sauaages though, in very many various ways.
Putting 3 portions of a Cumberland sausage casserole, with mixed beans plus a lot more, into the freezer, tonight.
DeleteOff to make my favourite Friday fish dish - a lasagne made with lightly smoked, Scottish salmon steaks, asparagus and a home- made parsley sauce.
Apologies - as have just realised, that I have been a bit too vocal today. π
ReplyDeleteGG. Well Done. You both, can now venture outside, again.
ReplyDeleteSmall steps, but they mean a lot.
Enjoy. π€π
Dudley was very eager to have his dinner tonight and polished it all off! He also galloped round his Quarr Abbey walk today so we are on the mend!
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy in 2002 at Hereford Hospital.but went to the optician yesterday and she told me it was Dry Macular Degeneration! Honestly, you don’t know who to believe! At any rate progression is slow. There is no treatment so I have to accept whatever comes. If Dame Judi can do it, so can I!! Have not driven for a few years but have surrendered my driving licence now as my distance vision is not good enough.
I planted my tomato seeds today, a bit late but with the better weather they should germinate quickly. I don’t know where this year has gone. Time flies when you’re getting old!!ππ
Couldn't agree more about time flying Ev.
DeleteEv. Surrendering your driving licence...
DeleteI cannot imagine a life withought driving.
But then as a pre-glaucoma person, this might just happen to me.
Well, I have my chauffeur i.e Katy! She drove me into Ryde yesterday for my appointment. We took Gyp as Dudley can be a bit funny with her and K waited in the car with her. In normal times we have buses every ten minutes each way to Ryde and Newport so I can get around. Of course at the moment I stay put! It is strange getting out and Ryde is very quiet and it is odd. Also, don’t know about everyone e lose but all these months of not getting out and about means loss of confidence and although it was fine once I was out there, I was apprehensive beforehand. Anyway, I think once all this is under control I will soon get back into the swing!ππΌπ
DeleteEv - isn't it great when our loved pet feels better!
ReplyDeleteMiriam - I have eye drops twice a day for glaucoma which keeps it under control so far.
I just need eye drops at night. So far, so good as pressures are well under control.
DeleteAs said, I am diagnosed as pre-glaucoma at the moment. This doesn't worry me as such, as I go to the hospital eye clinic for scans + checks, so any problems will be found and hopefully sorted.
I am so greatful to my optician, who referred me so quickly + efficiently.
My next door neighbour has had glaucoma for many years and now has to go to hospital every few months for laser treatment as well as daily eye drops.
DeleteAnne veggie, ππΎ
ReplyDelete