Today I've been...

Was it in Edinburgh? If so we have missed it together.....

You busy bees really make me feel an idle slob. Apart from having a bath and getting dressed, my entire day has been given over to pleasurable pursuits. First a wonderful walk - if only the tech guys could fix it so I could post photos on my profile! I climbed up the ski slopes to the very summit, from where I could look North and see Lake Geneva sparkling in the sun and very blue. To the South I could see the snow-capped summits of the Mont Blanc Range. There were views down five different valleys, each with its little village.
They were getting the ski lifts ready for the walkers and it was quite eerie to watch the chair going overhead, completely empty and silent.
The only sounds were the drone of insects and the tinkle of cow bells - the bells here are as big as school bells. Not too many birds above the tree line, just some ground nesting types.
I must be acclimatised after nearly two years of Alpine walking because although I started at about the altitude of Snowdon and got up nearly as high as Ben Nevis I don't get breathless and my ears don't pop.
Nothing dangerous about today's walk - just peace and beauty everywhere I looked.
When I got home, I had a good lunch (crispy bacon with HP sauce on a little piece of baguette and a yoghurt) and settled down to watch The Weakest Link and Countdown. I love quizzes - I will be watching Pointless later.
Oh, I did wash up my breakfast and lunch pots (5 mins) and vacuumed the carpet (another 5 mins) so I haven't been completely idle!

I only wash up by hand when it's good glasses or china. I hate it with a vengeance.

Snap! Ariadne.

For many years now, on the advice of my MIL, I`ve been adding a little drop of bleach to my washing up water, plus I put a little in stained mugs as well, none of us has keeled over with it yet. But a little soil from the garden, rubbed in, will also remove tea stains from cups.

I wonder if wood ash would work? It takes burnt porridge/cheese sauce/custard etc off camping billies.

I should think anything abrasive would work but not a good idea on your best china!

Still chuckling over the antics of Rory's kitten. Rory off on a two day walkabout. Last night, placed dish of cat food for kitten in his apartment. Noticed that when the security light was activated, kitten was acting cautiously - unsure whether or not to have supper. We shone a light into the apartment, and discovered an intruder [a very round hedgehog] sitting in the cat dish. So, it seems, we now feed a small family of deer, father cat, ex wifelet and one kitten [the other has moved on] a flock of birds and a handful of canny crows, a rabbit and offspring...and a very fat hedgehog.

Could it be a very pregnant hedgehog, soop? If it is, your 'family' will be vastly increased!

Arrrgh!!!!
Thanks for the info' Annobel
Am about to upload latest photo of wee man at the play school. Don't you just love the dribbles down the T shirt? [frin]

Soop quite a menagerie and great fun to watch!
I'm now on a hilltop between Bradford and Halifax in the home town of the Black Dyke Mills band and would love to hear them play.
Anglesey was lovely, as usual. We drove down a narrow lane to a bay where a bank of shingle separated the sea from a lagoon where hndreds of terns had established a breeding colony. Standing on the shingle bank watching as they flew low over our heads to return with a fish caught skimming the surface of the sea.... magic... and the sun shone!
On our way back we saw notices pinned to the gates of empty properties, either side of the lane. Wylfa Nuclear Power Station will rise again, it seems. I suppose this means the lane will be closed and visitors will be denied the wonderful experience we had!
We saw our darling GD in her 'Leavers' Concert' she performed well as an Olympic committee member. She has had a superb final report, and we are justifiably very proud of her. Thanks for permitting me a little boast!
We are on GC minding duties for the 10 days. Any Gransnetters in the area fancy a coffee? [hopeful emoticon]

OGM ...love brass band music.

Soop never mind the dribbles, loved the harlequin pants! Well done for the certificate too!

OGM...don't you just love that look of innocent pride? He is such a little darling.

Today we have torrential rain. We also have a leak in the kitchen roof, which is causing a steady drip, drip, drip along the floor ending up over the cat-flap....Daisy the Cat is loathe to go out...... Phoned the builder, who is nursing a very bad hangover after having been at a funeral yesterday, and is unable to drive today.......oh well, such is life! He advised me that as the water is coming through the ceiling ok, then I don't have to worry.... He will come over tomorrow.

green Was the builder propping up the bar at Lil's? He left a right mess...I'm still trying to scrape the dried plaster off the bar stool. Seriously, hope things get sorted asap.

I thought he looked familiar, soop! Supposed to be better weather tomorrow .

green...for one entire day...

Soop, aw bless, he looks so innocent!
OGM, if you get a chance, you must go and hear Black Dyke, if you ask nicely, they may let you sit in on a practice night. We saw them in Boston Stump the other week, and in a hangar at the Aviation centre at East Kirkby last October, performing alongside a Lancaster bomber, both concerts were brilliant.
Today, we passed what looked like a bad accident, just outside town, 2 police cars and 2 ambulances. I saw something pink in the smashed up car, hope there wasn`t a child in there.

Babysitting so DIL could enjoy her 40th birthday. I feel dreadful because I went through the children's wardrobes and stole clothes and shoes. DS has arranged a surprise party at the weekend and she thinks the children are staying with me but I am going to dress them in stolen clothes and drive to Yorkshire so they can join the party. Hoping and praying I have the right things and they fit because I couldn't ask DGD1, she can't keep a secret

OGM - you are definitely allowed a little grandmotherly boasting for such a great achievement. I often use the M62 to go from Manchester to East Yorkshire and I love the view of the grey stone villages from the top. I have several cds of brass bands, especially Black Dyke Mills.
Lovely photos , soop - your closeness to the wee man shines through.
Good luck, green, I hope you soon get your leak fixed.

harri . A very Bertie Woosterish plan. Good luck!

Nothing so far apart from drinking coffee; done "The Times" codeword and simple crossword; checked Facebook; now chatting happily here.

Buyer has signed up for mortgage, so one more step along the road (cue for a hymn?)

Enjoying a cuppa ,looking forward to seeing the family next weekend and I think I will take myself off to the cinema to see 'Salmon fishing on the Yemen'. Why do I still feel a thrill of naughtiness at going to the cinema in the day time? It's ok to go with my grandaughter but by myself still seems decadent .

At least you know your buyer is genuinely trying to buy your house, Ariadne.
I think we should have a GN party when you exchange contracts.
When I had to sell my first house in France to help my daughter, I had to wait an agonising thirty days to give the buyers a chance to get their mortgage offer (they had had one 'in principle') and I had a cash buyer waiting and desperate to buy. The law in France is that once you have accepted a written offer you have to give them the thirty days grace. They got it with one day to spare.