Sorry to hear about the hay fever @Nenya - I used to suffer from it in my 20s and 30s, but Old Age seems to have got rid of it...other Stuff has been substituted, of course, but that's Life...
A Sun-Shiny afternoon in Arkland the Breezy, exactly as They forecast, and two Tasks have so far been carried out, to wit, the Paint Ing of certain parts of the wheelhouse - in bright Blue, contrasting with the red-oxide - and the assembling of a small model lighthouse for my planned seaside railway terminus diorama (00 gauge, for those interested, and based very loosely on the one-time Spurn Head/Point military line in Yorkshire). The kit is from a German firm, and, like others from the same source which I've assembled in past years, went together very easily.
Next Task is Lunch (SALMON FILLETS n'CHIPS), followed by hanging out the Shirt I washed earlier. O! the excitement !
There were several periods of rain yesterday evening, and very loud thunderclaps between 10pm & 11pm, but a wander round the garden this morning did not reveal evidence of a substantial amount of rain,
Of course, as the weather was coming on a strong SW wind, the rain would have mostly passed horizontally across our garden without making satisfactory landfall.
Enough sunshine during today which, accompanied by the aforementioned SWesterly made for a good drying day.
Elder Son called in to collect a few tomato plants, grown from seeds collected from plants I grew in 2023. I'm pleased with the germination rate, but have no idea what the fruit will be like, as the original plants might have been F1 hybrid - can't remember now.
We discussed him picking me up after my eye op (if the current date is not cancelled), and Eldest Grandson, bless him, volunteered to come with him so that they can use his blue badge if parking is difficult - the car parks are some distance from the eye hospital, which is on double yellow lines & bus a route!
Dinner this evening was slow cooked pork with Jersey potatoes, roasted roots & savoy cabbage. Followed by rhubarb from the garden with a crumble topping, and custard (Birds!)
Enough leftovers to have for lunch tomorrow, although broccoli might be needed to eke out the cabbage.
... based very loosely on the one-time Spurn Head/Point military line in Yorkshire.
Will you have a working model of the sail-powered trolley?
Here, it Brightened Up Nicely and we had a pleasant afternoon at Tafwyl, the big Welsh-language music and culture festival in Bute Park. It was busy but good and we heard an extremely interesting band who reframe long-forgotten hymns in a modern but not unsympathetic setting. It goes on into the evening, and tomorrow, and we're now watching highlights and live sets on TV.
We went for a walk this morning. I’m usually fine at six mile walks but I was really struggling today, maybe because it was so warm.
We all made various Middle Eastern things for tea. I contributed some flat bread. They tasted nice, but caused mayhem in the kitchen with sticky dough everywhere.
There was a Lord Mayor of Belfast was known for them: as in a discussion on redecorating the City Hall - 'sure all it needs is a few coats of Durex'
And the woman who'd bought one of them there coffee copulators.
It can occupy the minds of certain people. Back when we had secretaries type out our memos and reports, one of them transcribed a statement about an electronic control system into 'fast floating point copulations'. People who know about computery stuff will understand. I am happy to say that I still have a copy of it.
Today we are taking Mum to Five Miles from Anywhere, a fenland boozer that I suspect may be on @Heavenlyannie 's radar. This started as a family meal in commemoration of my late Dad's birthday hence why we are going to a pub 5 miles from anywhere (it is!), that doesn't take bookings, on Father's Day. It worked out well the last two years...
This year will be a somewhar different format as my younger nephew has brought ye plague back from uni, so my aister's household is flying the yellow jack, and my dear brother has gone shooting(!), while Mum's new man has excused himself as he feels it should be our day.
This means that Mum and I will be accompanied by @Celtic Knotweed, my brother's other half, and several of her family including a grandson. God only knows what the dynamic will be!
In other news, said dear brother had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, so for the second time in his life*, with exceptions for thickness and dickheadery, he really does have it worse than everyone else, instead of acting as though he does.
Serving at church this morning (just as well I looked at the noticeboard after choir practice yesterday!), followed by a BACON SANDWICH for brunch, some snoozage and the laundry that didn't get done yesterday due to outbreak of slothfulness.
Meeting some of the church ladies this evening for a takeaway curry in the church hall - BEER to go with it is chilling merrily in the fridge.
I haven’t been to that pub but Mr Heavenly has been there recently with a friend who lives in a village north of Cambridge.
Thankfully, it went OK - the grandson is charming, and parents very pleasant as well though I think the wee lad might end up a worse swearer than me, as dad keeps forgetting himself!
Followed by a trip to a local nursery where I failed to not buy plants.
I always stress over visiting Mum as there's been some v rough ones in the last, but this one has been ok.
Now we just need to get back, I need to get the allotments mown tomorrow, visit the House of Pain (osteopath) and squeeze in a game of cricket on Tuesday and then it's HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!
The group service this morning was led by the Archdeacon with guitar, so I mowed the lawn and did the ironing instead. Father’s Day lunch at my son’s house, and a plated up meal for tomorrow. Home now for a cuppa before choir practice then Evensong.
Warm, though sometimes cloudy, in Arkland the Toasty, but pleasant enough. A little more Paint Ing has been done, to be completed tomorrow - even an hour or so's worth of Work tires me out...
I have some nice Crusty Bread, along with HAM and CHEESE, on which to graze this evening.
Belated congratulations to Captain Pyjamas on his achievement. I came top of the class in Latin once (in the Third form), and, in the following year, came bottom of just about everyone in the country by being awarded 0% (yes! nought per cent) for Geometry...
As our son is visiting, I skipped church this morning and spent it doing some gardening with him instead. We dug up the onions and garlic and planted lettuces. The garlic is now drying in the greenhouse, and a lot of the onions were turned into an onion tart for tea.
In the afternoon we went for a very nice walk, finishing up with a drink in a pub, which I guess was traditional for Father's Day.
Got up this morning to the startling discovery that someone had pee'd in our bath. It wasn't me, and my husband assures me it wasn't him, so suspicion has fallen on the cat we are currently cat-sitting.
I don't know whether to be disgusted, or delighted that she chose somewhere which is easily to clean and disinfect.
We are off out to a friend's for coffee this morning, stopping off to photograph a gravestone en route. The gravestone is that of a "lady journalist" who was born in 1853. I did some research into her about twenty years ago but since then so much material has been digitised that it has struck me I could re-do and extend my previous research. It would just be for my own interest though.
Many years ago there was an occasion when we were each accusing the other of not flushing the toilet. Then, one day we both heard the clear sound of it being used... Rushing in, we saw our young cat, Hercules, standing on the seat and using it for its intended purpose. The conclusion was that he was intelligent and observant, though we taught him to use the litter box after that..
Another hot and heavy day. I had occasion to go into town for my annual hearing test (no worse than last year on the whole). Long bus home, from the west end of Princes St, up the Bridges, to south Newington, and it was packed. True what they say - in summer the population of Embra doubles, and they all get on your bus.
Hot and heavy in Arkland the Sultry, too, but with a light breeze from time to time. They say it will be Sun-Shiny and Warm for the rest of the week, which is a Good Thing, what with it being Summer and all...
More Paint Ing has been done (about three square metres of it! ), but enough is enough, and the remainder of the day will be spent in restage and snoozage. A quick Expotition to Tess Coe before the Paint Ing session has yielded some Essentials for a few days, with the exception of BEER. I shall have to visit the village Co-Op tomorrow, after Pilates, if I live.
I also (TBTG) remembered to renew my prescription by email, it being nearly two months since it was last done. Where on earth does the time go to?
It seems marginally less muggy here than it's been of late; a little Expotition to Tessie's at lunchtime was actually quite a pleasant amble.
Tomorrow is a sort-of* public holiday in Linlithgow, for Marches Day, so a wee bit of a lie-in followed by a pootle over the road to St Pete's, where we're offering sandwiches and coffee to passers-by for a small donation, and which is an excellent venue for watching the Marches procession. The forecast is Not At All Bad, so it should be a pleasant day.
I took a fancy to make a paella for supper, which will also be supper tomorrow.
* My work is closed; I'm honestly not sure what other places are. As the High Street will be closed to traffic for a good bit of the day for the processions, I shouldn't think many places along the street (except those that sell coffee and such comestibles) will be open.
27 degrees here. I had a lazy morning then a Teams meeting this afternoon (research group on antiracist assessment). I’m making the most of the academic year being finished to do some practice development that I don’t usually have time for - my contract is flexible and I am only paid to teach my modules so my summer is mostly free.
Tea is about to be baked gnocchi in a ready made tomato and aubergine sauce topped with Parmesan and a halved mozzarella. Accompanied by an IPA.
I made the most of the weather and drove to a country park for a walk this morning. On the way a police car came towards me, signalling me to slow down, but no explanation. I duly proceeded with caution, then passed a lay-by with another police car. Still none the wiser. After about a mile I saw a very wide load coming, filling the entire road. I had to reverse, fortunately not too far, until I could get off the road.
This afternoon I made final preparations for the arrival of scaffolding tomorrow, prior to repair of fascias and soffits. I trimmed a bit of foliage, moved the patio set, and made a clear path through the garage, which is the only way to reach the back, as the house is
“ link detached”.
My meal was a plate of roast beef etc leftover from yesterday’s lunch at my son’s house.
Very hot here and not only was I wilting, the plants in the garden were too, so I spent some time this evening watering them. I'm pretty sure I watered the chillies in the greenhouse this morning, but they too were a bit floppy by this evening.
As it was Monday I went to Pilates first thing, but since then I haven't done much apart from read some council minutes and fail to check the edited version of a story for our writer's group's next anthology.
Comments
A Sun-Shiny afternoon in Arkland the Breezy, exactly as They forecast, and two Tasks have so far been carried out, to wit, the Paint Ing of certain parts of the wheelhouse - in bright Blue, contrasting with the red-oxide - and the assembling of a small model lighthouse for my planned seaside railway terminus diorama (00 gauge, for those interested, and based very loosely on the one-time Spurn Head/Point military line in Yorkshire). The kit is from a German firm, and, like others from the same source which I've assembled in past years, went together very easily.
Next Task is Lunch (SALMON FILLETS n'CHIPS), followed by hanging out the Shirt I washed earlier. O! the excitement !
And the woman who'd bought one of them there coffee copulators.
Of course, as the weather was coming on a strong SW wind, the rain would have mostly passed horizontally across our garden without making satisfactory landfall.
Enough sunshine during today which, accompanied by the aforementioned SWesterly made for a good drying day.
Elder Son called in to collect a few tomato plants, grown from seeds collected from plants I grew in 2023. I'm pleased with the germination rate, but have no idea what the fruit will be like, as the original plants might have been F1 hybrid - can't remember now.
We discussed him picking me up after my eye op (if the current date is not cancelled), and Eldest Grandson, bless him, volunteered to come with him so that they can use his blue badge if parking is difficult - the car parks are some distance from the eye hospital, which is on double yellow lines & bus a route!
Dinner this evening was slow cooked pork with Jersey potatoes, roasted roots & savoy cabbage. Followed by rhubarb from the garden with a crumble topping, and custard (Birds!)
Enough leftovers to have for lunch tomorrow, although broccoli might be needed to eke out the cabbage.
Here, it Brightened Up Nicely and we had a pleasant afternoon at Tafwyl, the big Welsh-language music and culture festival in Bute Park. It was busy but good and we heard an extremely interesting band who reframe long-forgotten hymns in a modern but not unsympathetic setting. It goes on into the evening, and tomorrow, and we're now watching highlights and live sets on TV.
There's a thought - not a working model (the Ark isn't especially draughty), but no doubt a static version could be contrived...
I have one in stock, so to speak...
We all made various Middle Eastern things for tea. I contributed some flat bread. They tasted nice, but caused mayhem in the kitchen with sticky dough everywhere.
It can occupy the minds of certain people. Back when we had secretaries type out our memos and reports, one of them transcribed a statement about an electronic control system into 'fast floating point copulations'. People who know about computery stuff will understand. I am happy to say that I still have a copy of it.
This year will be a somewhar different format as my younger nephew has brought ye plague back from uni, so my aister's household is flying the yellow jack, and my dear brother has gone shooting(!), while Mum's new man has excused himself as he feels it should be our day.
This means that Mum and I will be accompanied by @Celtic Knotweed, my brother's other half, and several of her family including a grandson. God only knows what the dynamic will be!
In other news, said dear brother had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, so for the second time in his life*, with exceptions for thickness and dickheadery, he really does have it worse than everyone else, instead of acting as though he does.
*hip replacement at 39, 2nd at 49
Lazy day so far, I need to get dressed and got for a walk.
Meeting some of the church ladies this evening for a takeaway curry in the church hall - BEER to go with it is chilling merrily in the fridge.
Thankfully, it went OK - the grandson is charming, and parents very pleasant as well though I think the wee lad might end up a worse swearer than me, as dad keeps forgetting himself!
Followed by a trip to a local nursery where I failed to not buy plants.
I always stress over visiting Mum as there's been some v rough ones in the last, but this one has been ok.
Now we just need to get back, I need to get the allotments mown tomorrow, visit the House of Pain (osteopath) and squeeze in a game of cricket on Tuesday and then it's HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!
We’ve only had spits and spots of rain here, but next week is forecast to be scorchio!
Both daughters have visited Mr Bee on this Father’s Day.
Silent Meeting for Worship this morning, 16 men and 15 women, so fewer than usual. Unsure why I counted.
I have some nice Crusty Bread, along with HAM and CHEESE, on which to graze this evening.
Belated congratulations to Captain Pyjamas on his achievement. I came top of the class in Latin once (in the Third form), and, in the following year, came bottom of just about everyone in the country by being awarded 0% (yes! nought per cent) for Geometry...
Evensong was duly practised and sung, although the visiting priest forgot the anthem.
In the afternoon we went for a very nice walk, finishing up with a drink in a pub, which I guess was traditional for Father's Day.
I don't know whether to be disgusted, or delighted that she chose somewhere which is easily to clean and disinfect.
We are off out to a friend's for coffee this morning, stopping off to photograph a gravestone en route. The gravestone is that of a "lady journalist" who was born in 1853. I did some research into her about twenty years ago but since then so much material has been digitised that it has struck me I could re-do and extend my previous research. It would just be for my own interest though.
More Paint Ing has been done (about three square metres of it!
I also (TBTG) remembered to renew my prescription by email, it being nearly two months since it was last done. Where on earth does the time go to?
Tomorrow is a sort-of* public holiday in Linlithgow, for Marches Day, so a wee bit of a lie-in followed by a pootle over the road to St Pete's, where we're offering sandwiches and coffee to passers-by for a small donation, and which is an excellent venue for watching the Marches procession. The forecast is Not At All Bad, so it should be a pleasant day.
I took a fancy to make a paella for supper, which will also be supper tomorrow.
* My work is closed; I'm honestly not sure what other places are. As the High Street will be closed to traffic for a good bit of the day for the processions, I shouldn't think many places along the street (except those that sell coffee and such comestibles) will be open.
Tea is about to be baked gnocchi in a ready made tomato and aubergine sauce topped with Parmesan and a halved mozzarella. Accompanied by an IPA.
This afternoon I made final preparations for the arrival of scaffolding tomorrow, prior to repair of fascias and soffits. I trimmed a bit of foliage, moved the patio set, and made a clear path through the garage, which is the only way to reach the back, as the house is
“ link detached”.
My meal was a plate of roast beef etc leftover from yesterday’s lunch at my son’s house.
As it was Monday I went to Pilates first thing, but since then I haven't done much apart from read some council minutes and fail to check the edited version of a story for our writer's group's next anthology.
Of all the places a cat might pee....
25 here. That is hot. Worse later in the week. Talk there is of 27 which is needle off scale territory for me.