Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Good morning. Very cold here with a bright white frost after a clear night with a very bright full moon. Our two cats have been out to do the necessary but have come straight back indoors to snuggle on fleece throws.

Painting for me. I hope all the UK gardens have survived the snows and frosts and are thawing without flooding.

 

No snow!
I am taking Bryn to the groomer (my DiL's mum!) in a wee while. Then I resume my art group this afternoon. I have a pawtrait of a beagle puppy to keep me occupied.
The weather looks set fair for the next week, so I can get out into the garden at last.

 

The sun is out! Still chilly in the shade, but so bright and cheerful. We have headed down to the coast for a walk on the seafront. Need the exercise after a day at home, although I did process four loads of laundry and did the ‘washing up’ for OH, who is painting the en suite. I’ve identified some gardening jobs, just need to psych myself up to make a start. Also have some indoor plants to pot up. Most of the cuttings I took and put in water, have developed roots, so I’ll get them into some pots and see how they do.

 

Yes @Ladybird4 The weather has moved down here which is not a bad thing - hopefully it will kill some of the germs in the air and get rid of the flu epidemic!! Good for all flora too.

Fizz doesn't seem to know the difference in between heat, rain or cold. I wrapped up well with some hiking gear I bought whilst in Nepal. I enjoy the ride - in the sun, no wind - despite the cold. Fingers were rather difficult to get off the handle bars, though!!!!

 

If I weren't painting @Tui34 and @Ergates OH and I would have gone for a long wished for sunny walk on a nearby beach so I hope this weather holds a few more days so we can go later in the week.

Finished for today and now need to get cleaned up, have some soup and take the furry beasties for their annual jabs. No doubt Cosmos' weight will be mentioned - he's a fatty - but they are fed the same. Minstrel is far more sleek, agile and active than he is and never gets over 4.5kg even when plump in winter. He is always 2kg heavier and likes his comforts.

As we can't garden, I shall have to set off some washes so OH can do some ironing.

Be safe, warm and dry everyone.

 

Afternoon all. Gloomy here so probably won’t get to see the moon being at its fullest this week.

I’ve taken a dinner to Dad (and pampered his feet) and picked up a few shopping bits. Back is really aching now so it’s choccy bics and a chill for an hour or so now.

I hope everyone is having a decent day.

 

We've been shopping again, Watford this time. We needed a new duvet cover set as one of OH'S favourites developed a tear, she looked at a repair but realised that it was so thin in places that no amount of sewing would fix it. We've also given in and ordered a new kettle on clic and collect from Argos. Seems that everything is wearing out at the same time. Still waiting for the plumber to come and fix the rad valve, I've asked him to do boiler service at the same time to make it a more worthwhile visit, it's due soon anyway.

 

Hello all.

Husband returned safe and sound this morning, having travelled on the overnight ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare. (The Irish Ferries terminal at Holyhead is still being repaired after Storm Darragh.)

I can't understand why Irish plumbers are so reluctant to phone and say "Sorry, the part your heat pump needs hasn't arrived yet..." It's so much better to know where you are and what to expect. Actually, it's probably not just the Irish. And not just plumbers.

My Darlac secateurs, fully open in my size 6 hand, @Ladybird4 :

 

I really like the look of those secateurs @Liriodendron. Thank you for posting the picture. My hands are quite small too. I will hunt them out. I think your statement about plumbers is describing a widespread attitude.

 

The plumber's ears must have been burning. He's just rung to say someone will be with us on Thursday morning - a mere 9 days since the heat pump broke down, but at least we now know!

 

You watch your back, @AuntyRach! Don’t want to go back to square one!
I’m so glad we went out this morning. It was glorious down by the sea, and the sun stayed out until just when we were heading home, when it started to cloud over. I’ve spent the afternoon at a local women’s group meeting, with a very interesting speaker, followed by afternoon tea. Delicious and I ate too much! No dinner for me tonight, so I’ve made OH his favourite chips with a couple of poached eggs. After over 50 years of marriage and doing most of the cooking, I have finally mastered how to poach eggs in the last month. How did I do it? I read my ancient Delia Smith cookbook, and actually followed the instructions properly! What took me so long?

 

Hello folks, thankfully it was warmer today, such a relief. We didn't really wake up until 9. 30 so had a scramble to have breakfast and get out of the door. I went for a much needed massage so she gave my right shoulder a good 'going over'. I might ache in the morning. OH had a haircut at the barbers at the same time - dead convenient. It's a lovely little shopping street with even an old-fashioned ironmongers and a bakers, 3 hairdressers, dentist and about 3 coffee places plus the usual charity shops, a Spar and 2 delis. There's even free parking as well!

I had a quick walk round the garden to note the snowdrop clumps emerging and must remember that apparently I planted some pink and purple tulips last year in the long grass in the orchard - deep enough hopefully to deter the squirrels. There's more lovely blue Algerian Iris out in bloom including one in a clump on my 'Rough Patch' for the first time. Spring is coming!

 

Spring must be on the way - I've assessed my seeds and some have been found lacking! Mainly herbs. I did a big veg order last October. D. T. Brown to the rescue.
I have some redundant Haxnicks potato sacks, so I'm investing in some horseradish thongs. I used to be able to buy it fresh locally, but since the supplier closed, I've not seen it.
Been to art group. Much chat, little work. The room was cold, though.
I bought the cheepie Felco secateurs mentioned in another thread. They arrive tomorrow. Not only have I small hands, but through a genetic paternal connection, I have part of my right hand missing, which makes life tricky. I am naturally left handed, but my dear mum thought sinister was bad, dexter was good and forced me to write with my right hand. Difficult when part of it is missing!!

 

Hoorah @Liriodendron. So pleased to hear that. @lizzie27, you have an iris in bloom? Serious flower envy here! Having said that, I have had dozens of native primroses in bloom all winter. Bulbs all popping up now so I just have to wait for the flowers to appear.
p.s. the vampires extracted the necessary bloods this aft and I just need wait for results.

 

I had a surprise when I checked on the amaryllis today, the two outer leaves had completely bent over, 45 degrees and took all the inner leaves with them. Outer leaves had snapped off nearly fully across the leaf and were hanging on by a thread. Have cut those off now and put supports round the others, it now looks like scaffolding round Blackpool Tower. Really disappointed.,This is definitely the last indoor plant we buy as nothing ever flourishes for us so time to admit defeat.