Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

We had a good time last night at the gala dinner for the charities supported by www.opengardens.eu/visit-a-garden/

It was in someone's enormous, beautiful house. We were in the dining room at a table for 8 but the big dining room table seated 16. There were several more tables in the huge sitting room and a big table in the hall. There must have been over 100 people there, mostly English and a few French. I knew a few but there were a lot I'd never met before. First we had cocktails and canapés in an upstairs sitting room and a veranda looking down onto the garden. There were 6 courses, starting with cream of pea soup. The main course was fillet of pork en croute in a creamy sauce with new potatoes and green beans. There was a raffle with lots of prizes. We won a bottle of sparkling Saumur wine. The event raised over 1700€.

Yesterday I de-frosted the big upright freezer and today I will de-frost the utility room fridge which has a freezer section on it.

We are on an orange alert for thunderstorms this afternoon. It rained quite a lot last night. @Ladybird4 we are an hour and a half from Bordeaux. @Tui34 is quite a bit further south I think.

 

I haven't seen @Chicky for a while, hope she's OK.

 

@Ergates, sorry to read your OH is struggling - ahh but is he?? Could this be a cunning plan to avoid the decorating? I'm only joking @Ergates and I do hope he recovers soon. I sometimes wish I could just squirt WD40 into my joints when they give me trouble. Perhaps your female chaffinch is just attacking her reflection in the window - trying to scare off her competition! I love watching bird antics - so entertaining. I've checked my alpaca cages and I might have to do another refill

 

Your evening sounds divine @Busy-Lizzie and how nice to win a bottle of fizz. You and your OH will be able to enjoy that at leisure.

 

I have worked it out… this grey, rainy and uninspiring weather is a trick! It’s trying to force me to do housework! Well it’s not going to work. I’m standing firm on that. Absolutely no way. I mean yes I have plenty to do. I know that it won’t vacuum itself. There is definitely cat hair on the floors. Ok it will look better for a tidy. Oh dear… guess I’m doing that today.

 

Morning all. I was going to go out in the garden and do some planting and mulching but I've just seen somebody walking their dog down the road all togged up with woolly hat, gloves, thick coat etc etc and there are raindrops on the car so I might be going off that idea. Not as cold as @PatE though! Must speak to SisIL in Canberra and see how she's holding up.

Just seen that Yodel have put a parcel in the logstore (why don't delivery drivers knock on the door anymore???? grrrr) containing bare root erysimums. They were sent out on Tuesday so fingers crossed they're still ok. If not, I'll be asking for a refund - Hayloft have really mucked me about with this order.
First they said for delivery end of April then that was changed to September(!) so I cancelled the order and asked for a refund and bought the same plants elsewhere. Then suddenly I get an email saying the plants are on their way! I was reminded why I haven't bought from them for a number of years. Very hit and miss in my experience. We're only talking about £12 here so I can't get too vexed but it is bl@@dy irritating. Only used them because they were the only company at that time I could find selling Aconitum Stainless Steel.

See - I'm all tetchy now. Need to go and make some calming tea (maybe with a zen chocolate finger) and unpack these little plants. More babies to look after... SYL

 

PS Meant to say - your evening sounds wonderful @Busy-Lizzie and what a great sum to raise for a very worthy charity. I would very much have enjoyed that meal!
Are you packing up now to come back to Norfolk?

 

Good afternoon all.
It's very chilly outside, the sun is too intermittent ie it goes in as soon as I go outside! So I've been stuck indoors, like you @AuntyRach but I have dusted and polished furniture, mirrors and photos etc downstairs.
I'm wrapping up warm to go for a walk around the fields here soon, if the dog wants to go that far. He was looking very 'hangdog' this morning- I don't know what's the matter with him.
This afternoon I will examine the few houseplants I have, check the roots, freshen up the compost etc. I shall leave outside tasks until tomorrow.
A lovely report on your charity event @Busy-Lizzie. I'm pleased it was such a success.

 

We are going to Norfolk on Tuesday, @Topbird. Not much to pack, only going for 2 weeks and we just take a small bag on Ryanair. Mine will have a curtain in it to curtain off a sleeping area for my son. They are coming to stay with their 5 small children, which is why we are going

 

Tell them to bring their woolly vests @Busy-Lizzie brrr

 

Had to laugh, @Ladybird4! His ankle does look a bit swollen though, so he’s not faking it. However, as usual, won’t take a blind bit of notice of any useful advice. He has actually put his foot up on the stool now, but isn’t using the ice pack I’ve brought him. As for taking some painkillers, forget it. I shall grit my teeth and try not to show too much irritation.
Reminds me of my mother, who would complain of various ailments, but wouldn’t see the doctor ( back then when you could) I did once suggest that if it wasn’t bad enough to get it looked at, then it couldn’t be bad enough to continually complain about. Maybe I’m just unkind, but if I’ve got a problem, I do try some self help, and then seek professional advice if it doesn’t work. Doesn’t seem fair to burden others who can do nothing more than watch helplessly.
Sorry, rant over.

 

My mother was like that @Ergates.

 

I didn't know you kept alpacas, @Ladybird4 ?
Have I been missing something?

 

Hi all

Another cold day, but needs must and the g/h is overflowing, so various annual plugs that I have grown from seed are now planted out.
Hope the weather improves for our trip to York.

 

@RowlandsCastle, you might have missed something (or you are just winding me up )but no, I don't keep alpacas. I do buy alpaca wool to put in small cages for my little birds to take as nesting material and I'm already on the fourth refill.
How many more code combos have you managed today?