Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

Hooray! It's nearly stopped raining so I'll walk the mile to the polling station without getting soaked. Then, all being well, I should be able to get my Autumn Bliss raspberry canes planted before it gets dark. They were delivered this morning, a surprise because the suppliers were supposed to email me when the order was ready for despatch, and I'd heard nothing. The bed is ready for them though.

 

I think my brain would have exploded if I had been faced with that system for the first time @Liriodendron and @Obelix-Vendée. No rain here today thank goodness.

 

One lot of Christmas cards bought on eBay arrived today. They are Charity cards from the Barnardos outlet so I do have to say I am impressed with their service. That's Saturday sewn up then!

 

They have now found it in Scotland (you couldn't make it up!). It will be delivered tomorrow. Only 10 days after they promised. They don't think I'm due a refund.
I jolly well am.

 

Evening folks. I escaped a bit early today, although it rained on the drive home.

Leftover stew tonight - just warming some par-cooked ciabatta rolls to have with.

I hope everyone is doing ok and you all have something to look forward to this weekend- even if it’s just a bit of better weather.

 

I think I am getting withdrawal symptoms - no gardening programmes tonight! This is when I know its really Winter! On a cheery note I have seen lots of daffodils just peeking through the soil. I am signing out for today. Hope @Busy-Lizzie is not too shattered after her journey. See everyone tomorrow. Good night all.

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I’ve just started reading Carole Klein’s “Hortobiography” (clever title!) and was surprised to discover she went to the same Grammar school as me. Ten years before my time though!

 

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Good morning everybody. That must have come as a pleasant surprise @Bluejayway!

 

Good morning all!!

Sunny and bright and still again. Oh - when there is no wind down here, even in the cold, this weather is glorious!! Chilly this morning. I've just seen Fizz doing a zoomie to warm up the old spondoolicks no doubt!!

Busy day yesterday - but a great gardening afternoon - for the second consecutive day! Weeds out and vegetable garden dug over and looking pretty swish. I have a little to finish and will do that this afternoon by myself. The soil is like butter and a pleasure to work. Huge pile of weeds and cuttings to burn. Next is vine pruning in January. Then trimming of the olive tree in February. Always something to sweep up!! No, I don't use electric gadgets to sweep, blow or vacuum. I'll take a photo later and also those sticky grasses that my socks and gloves are covered in!!

I hope everyone has a pleasant day today and that your weather isn't too wet.

 

Good Morning @Ladybird4 amd @Tui34, and those who follow. What a lovely positive post and pic to start the day Tui - I can almost see and smell a freshly dug over veg patch! I would love to sacrifice a bit of my grass for a veg plot but there’s not really a suitable bit (plus it’s slug central so I know from experience that any edibles need pots or tubs in my garden).

I’ve not made any plans for the weekend yet. I wasn’t going to go near any shops today but I forgot to buy my monthly logic puzzle book this week so I might nip somewhere if I’m going out for anything else.

Have a lovely Saturday all.

 

Good morning from East Dordogne, France.

We've had an awful journey, M25 was a nightmare. Loads of crawling traffic and I hate the dark and the headlights. Took 2 hours longer than Google Maps said and we had to do a diversion as I was desperate for the loo and there was no loo on the A1M. Then we couldn't find the pub as the postcode didn't work on the satellite. Thank goodness we left Norfolk early.

The pub meal was nice.
Then on the ferry my bedside light didn't work and the wash basin leaked so the floor by the loo had a puddle. It started late. We went to bed, wanted to sleep but they kept doing announcements until nearly midnight. Then they wake you at 6.30, but that's French time, so 5.30 am UK.

It was an easy drive home on French uncrowded motorways. We stopped at an SM in Caen and got a few things for dinner and breakfast.

My French cottage was rather chilly inside so we lit the 2 wood burners. It was 16C outside when we arrived home at 3pm. A lot needs doing in the garden. Usually when we get back my handyman has mown, strimmed and raked up leaves. Unfortunately he can't anymore as he has a new job in a stables and he was getting too tired, he's getting older.

We are going out to the local SM for food for the week while it's misty. Should be sunny this afternoon so we'll work in the garden then.

 

I have contacted the secretary of my club re the covenant for the club land. Apparently the covenant was imposed by the National Trust. They have refused to give a copy of it to the club, the family selling the land do not have a copy, I thought covenants were part of the Title Deeds of the land or property, the solicitors are going to apply for a copy, at a price, so we just have to be patient. I do not understand why the National Trust are so shy about giving the club or family a copy. Interestingly, several years ago the landowner donated a 6 acre plot to a children's charity to enable them to build a purpose built hospice for children, on land adjoining the club plot, so how did they get around the covenant there, the club can only have semi permanent buildings, or do they take each individual application on its own merits? I had a look on the NT website and a lot of covenants are only for 20 years so ours may have expired.
In-ter-est-ing!

Does anyone have experience in open fronted kitchen cupboards where curtains are used instead of doors? French country style I believe. I am wondering if that idea would be an option in my kitchen to allow air to circulate inside the cupboards to combat the damp problem.

 

It was @Ladybird4! Even though I knew she lived just a couple of miles away from my childhood home

 

That's a good idea for your kitchen @Goldenlily26 if you don't want to change the whole lot

 

Hello everyone. It's grey and very misty here but should clear up soon - according to the forecast anyway. We're off out to an Xmas market in a village to the west of La Roche. It's a good one but parking is a nightare so we're planning to go early in th ehopes of getting a space that isn't 3 mile trek away along country roads. We'll stay till after dark so we get to enjoy the lights and hope to find some tartiflette for dinner.

Still no gardening here and this coming week is looking pretty soggy, tho warmish, so I'll carry on sewing and hope we get a good couple of hours for planting leeks, garlic and shallots. OH has a slight shoulder injury so has been taking it easy for a couple of weeks and I need him for the heavy lifting.

Glad you got home safely @Busy-Lizzie. Shame about your handyman.

Well done @Tui34 . Our veg plot is being cleared by the chooks.........

Have a good time everyone, whatever you're doing.