Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Rain at the moment and forecast for must of the day but as it’s a work day I don’t really mind. Would be nice if we could have a proper run of dry days to dry the garden out. Forecast looks good after today so fingers and toes crossed that it delivers.

We had a glorious sunny day yesterday so spent most of it outdoors. A long walk round Sutton Oark in the morning and then obelisk wrangling in the garden in the afternoon. Decided to swap around our obelisks with a slight tweak in location. Last summer we moved our large wooden bench which had sat at the midpoint between two large wooden obelisks . We much prefer the new bench position but the obelisks have been irritating me as their positions no longer mad sense, visually. All is now resolved. I’ve swapped one with a metal obelisk near the house, so the wooden ones now mark the top and the bottom of the longest border. A metal obelisk which was near to the house is now sat near the bench and is the new support for a lovely old Rosa Ipsahan, who thinks he’s a climber. It has a rust effect so almost disappears into the border, so works very well.

I’m hoping the forecast does deliver all the promised good weather as itching to get out and get properly started. Next job on the list is cleaning the greenhouse ready for the new season, which I will do Friday. Sister and bil are coming up to Brum tomorrow for a show, so we are meeting up with them in town for a canal walk and lunch.

I have read through but my mind is like a sieve this morning so will wish you all well and hope birthdays, lunches and all other activities are enjoyed.

 

Good morning all.

If it's a nice day I'll plant the rest of the violas and prune the last climbing rose. If not, I'll do the ironing. Haircut at midday, getting rather shaggy.

 

@Butterfly6 I love your description of your obelisks - they sound ideal. It is looking rather nice outside now so I'll see you all later.

 

Got woken by really heavy rain this morning, the patio is partly flooded, obviously just too much water for the soakaway to cope.
The sun has come out briefly, but not expecting it to last. I am visiting a friend this afternoon so we will stay home this morning. I’d better do some housework, all the tramping in and out to the garden has left rather a lot of debris on the floor. OH is supposedly in charge of the vacuum cleaner, but I might just give the floor a quick sweep ( I’ll leave the mess in a pile for him to deal with!)
I’m planning to move some more snowdrops, there are lots of thick clumps of them at the other side of the lawn, in the ‘scrubland’ area towards the trees. As we don’t venture very far from the house through the winter, it seems a shame not to have these early plants easily visible from the windows. I have my eye on a patch of sloping grass just by the French windows. I’m thinking that the snowdrops will be dormant ages before the grass will need cutting.

 

Morning. Dry but showers forecast later. I'll be in the greenhouse!
Alex did a superb job of digging over 2 borders and getting rid of a dilapidated cold frame. I can keep on top of it now, I hope.
We had to take middle dog to the vet yesterday as she had the squitz. She didn't seem any better, so we made the appt for 5 last night. Even with our healthy pet club discount, it was eyewatering. However, she greeted me joyously this morning - and no mess, so money well spent.
I am going to install the sky view app. Our van is in 'dark skies' and we love to sit out on deck, star gazing. We had fantastic Northern lights displays last year.
The forecast for next week looks excellent, so we are planning 3 nights there in the middle of the week. We'll have to air, clean and restock it first, though.
Happy night sky viewing, everyone!

 

Morning all, we had the good fortune to see three planets last night, at least we think that's what we saw. It was a very clear night and quite cold and it's not so warm now. Raining though so no gardening just yet which is fortunate as I think I overdid it yesterday. Hopefully some sunshine this afternoon which will enable me to potter around.
A quick trip to Screwfix this morning then to pick up some post brackets I'd ordered. I will have to drive the long way round as there are still treeworks taking place in the village with temporary traffic lights causing absolute mayhem. Of course in their infinite wisdom the Lib Dem Council installed a LTN a year or so ago which blocks off the only other route through.

 

Clear skies last night with 3 planets in view high enough to see above the trees and Venus in front of us all the way to Les Sables for dance class. Beautiful starry show when we arried home again in our dark zone but then we had a frost this morning. Winter is not done with us quite yet.

10C now and set to rain later this pm with local flood warnings in places not far from here. We're off to a tea dance this afternoon so aren't too bothered about wet stuff and then it's supposed to stay dry for the next week or so. Fingers crossed as I can feel tha gardening twitchies coming on strong now.

I found a piece of brisket in the SM the other day - first time since we moved here - so I gave it a good dry rub yesterday and it will do a long, slow cook in the oven while we're out. Hope it's good cos Possum and I don't like the texture of stewed meat and all the flavour ends up in the gravy anyway.

Have fun everyone, whatever you're up to.

 

I saw some planets and stars but there were a few clouds. I’ll set up a sky map tonight and try again. How fabulous that you have a dark skies area to view the night sky at the caravan @Penny_Forthem - I would love that! Hope all the dogs are better.

It’s my mid-week day off today so I’ve caught-up on some sleep and just planning the afternoon. Hoping that will include at least a cuppa outside.

Take care everyone and hope all your plans for the day go well.

 

Good afternoon all!!

Sunny and blustery today but I was up and out to do shopping in 3 different places - didn't get back til 12. Put on a load of washing as the solar panels said I could. Had a bit of lunch and then proceeded to freeze some bulk shopping into smaller meal sized freezer bags.

A tidy up - a bike run with Fizz - the washing will be dry - the day is almost done!!

Good news about tea @Ladybird4 - I only drink about 2 or 3 mugs of strong black tea in the morning and a cup of coffee after lunch (with chocolate of course!!). Neither with milk.

Glad you had a nice lunch out @Busy-Lizzie and Cedric.

I haven't sown any summer vegetables yet but will do so pretty smartly next week so that they will be ready to plant out mid-May. The last couple of years have brought us a cold spring which seem to affect the growth somewhat.

I hope you all have had an enjoyable day so far - may it continue!!

 

Tea dance not good so we're home early - 2 piece "orchestre" with one man playing an accordeon non too well and t'other chappy playing keyboards and a trombone, badly. To add insult to injury they played a tango as we arrived, a barely recognisable samba as we changed our shoes and then a solid hour of "social" dances which the French or mature years seem to love but which we never saw in Belgium.

It is now raining so I'm having a tisane - rarely drink tea - and will then go and start sorting seeds. Forgot to say earlier that I had my last session of physio this morning. Fingers and knees crossed I don't need any more for years.

Hope everyone's having a good day and that your sorting is going well @Tui34

 

We have had a rather successful trip to Ruthin, where we found a new gin distillery. They have gin making experiences, but I don't think I love gin enough to pay their prices.
Then we went to the GC, where I treated myself to a galvanised steel watering can for the greenhouse. Fed up of leaky roses, poor pourers and missing spouts!
Also bought early seed potatoes, shallots and seeds (though I was banned from any more chillies!)
Whilst waiting at the till, there was a conversation between staff on which ice cream they preferred. Vanilla, I said, jokingly, while hub said chocolate. Wait here, said one. The next minute, we were presented with a small tub each of Chilly Cow vanilla and chocolate. The were clearing their freezers, so we didn't say no! We sat in the car in the sun to eat them.

 

Good afternoon everyone. Needless to say the tap controller is at it again after a lovely day. I watched a man across the road power washing my neighbour's roof. He got it finished just in time. It looks lovely but why?
@Ergates, I think that is a good plan about moving some of your snowdrops so they are more visible for you. I am gradually building up my stocks but can't resist buying a few more in the green each Spring.
You have been a busy bee @Tui34. Well done you! Sorry that your tea dance didn't live up to expectations @Obelix-Vendée. I hope that the physio has worked its wonders. @Penny_Forthem, what a nice surprise to get a treat like that. Those lovely gestures really do give you a warm, fuzzy feeling.
I have a meeting tonight so I'm going to sign out now and wish you all happy evenings. I'll catch up on all your hot gossip tmorrow. Really missing seeing @Badly_Maintained and @Goldenlily26. I hope that they are both doing well and if they do peek in I'm sending all good wishes.

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Evening folks.

I managed a few hours outside today as we tackled the moss on the drive and had a general sweep-up. Went to Diddly-Dee as the hail started. Just prepping some jackets and sausages for tea then might watch a bit of TV. Really enjoying ‘The One That Got Away’ (iPlayer) but can’t believe I missed the Welsh language version last year, ‘Cleddau’. I do need subtitles but I would have happily watched it. Either way, if you like a good murder drama this ‘Welsh Noir’ is excellent.

Have a lovely evening all.

 

Italian week in Lidl starting tomorrow.

 

Rather a frustrating day weatherwise. Picked up my brackets at Screwfix and drove an alternative route home, lots of ducking and diving around housing estates. Put the first coat of varnish on my handrail (in the small bedroom on the ironing table!), too wet and not warm enough to do it outside. Had lunch, then it rained - hard, so watched ETTC and eventually got outside at 4 pm, very well wrapped up. Repotted the remaining pieces of hosta into 5 more pots and covered them over temporarily in case of more heavy rain/ cold temps tonight.

I am really pleased with all the 'tommy' crocuses appearing all over the garden this week, a really cheerful splash of bright purple contrasting with the yellow primroses. If you want a crocus to multiply without effort, then this is the one to get.

What a shame about the tea dance @Obelix-Vendée but good you've finished with the physio.

Some people just don't like moss on their roofs @Ladybird4, perhaps that was why it was being washed? We had our solar panels power washed last year which does help their performance.