Today I've been...

Hi Soop, lovely to see you back. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time, despite the horrendous journey down there. Your photo of Pepper`s portrait is better than mine, but never mind, eh? Your little grandson is absolutely adorable.

It's been a lovely warm summer day but suddenly it has gone very gloomy and started raining heavily. There's been some lightning, but the thunder has been far away.

..... enjoying the Hampton Court Flower Show. Went with my cousin, whose neighbours took us down the Thames to Hampton Court on their boat! A warm bright day and lots of ovely things to see.

or even lovely things to see!!!

I liked the sound-track tonight, too!

Yes nanaej ...I've just returned from a wonderful day at the flower show as well....manging to get sun burnt too!

Although I was surprised to have a close encounter with some of the search dogs ... they were out on training duty ...looking for explosives!!

Ooh! Jacey did not see the dogs! It was a lovely day to visit. I really liked the big urban garden and the Jordanian Garden..but so many lovely designs...I am bursting with ideas for my garden. At the moment it is full of sand, scalpings and paving slabs..hopefully the work will begin on the landscaping next week! Did you buy anything??

Like you came away with lots of ideas ...but didn't want to buy any plants until I've got my slug problem under control!!

But spotted some lovely roses ...have their catalogue and plan to buy later in the year! Will also be visiting the lavender nursery that was in one of the marquees once I'm back from my holiday.

Today in Bath I met with 9 other members ,lapsed members and would-be members of 'Growing Old Disgracefully'.We came from a wide area of SW.
I was a bit lukewarm about the idea but it turned out to be a great day.Lunch at Green Park Brasserie and lots of talking,remembering and planning -until after 4 p.m.We all wanted to repeat the experience and plan to meet again in Bath in Oct with maybe smaller spin-off gps.
Naturally I enthused about Gransnet to them all.

Good! any near us?

Not what I've been doing but what I will be doing - not much: sitting on a train to Oxfordshire to see DS2 and family. It's already raining steadily here and the forecast for the weekend looks positively scary. Do I sound jaded, pessimistic? Sorry - I don't fancy getting wet going for the bus and from the bus to the station, so I suppose I'll have to spend my pension on a taxi. It'll all be worth it when I see those little faces!

Have a wonderful time Annobel. I bet they're equally excited about seeing you!

The one thing I bought at the Flower Show was a new properly waterproof raincoat!! Sign of this summer when I was faced with a wealth of beautiful plants i could have bought!

I am sat here watching the heavy rain, we have had thunder lightening this morning and the forecast for the weekend is terrible. DGS1 should have been on his school trip to Gibside today but it has been cancelled so the whole school were sitting in the hall when I dropped him off all looking very disappointed to be in school.

I should not be sitting here, I should be packing as we are off to Cornwall tomorrow morning, but I think I am in a quandary what to pack winter clothes or summer clothes.

Enjoy your trip to see the family. annobel

..recovering from the drive from Fife to Wiltshire yesterday when I experienced 4 seasons in one day, the aircon in the car packed up and I got held up because of the 'incident' on the Toll road. Now relishing a short time with the 2 year old and the baby; gosh, isn't it hard work, I'm sure my girls were much easier or am I just getting old?

I'm taking the easy way, Gally, by train, but after it was opened I always used the M6 Toll. So much easier than struggling through Birmingham. At the moment, I'm avoiding long drives, so can't carry all the clobber I used to take. Makes packing a challenge! Was staggered to hear about the incident caused by an electric cigarette!

The rain woke me up at 6.30 it was torrential and house alarms were going off. My burglar alarm died while I was on holiday, engineer thinks the box was struck by lightning as the controls were fried. I think we got the edge of your storm glass

when...the cat on the window sill is marvellous. Love it. xx

And me. How clever!

I want one!

When - Your Trompe l'oeil is wonderful.

These paintings are famous for originating in Angouleme, where there are some superb ones painted on buildings. I live about 40 mins. drive away. Lovely city.

Thanks . Butty I've been to Angouleme but missed out on learning about the trompe l'oeil. I fancy having another one done, but first would like this one tarted up a bit as it's sparse on leaves and sunshine through the trees, and there's some Disney looking squirrels that the artist put in that look rather far-fetched.

Not a patch on soop's cat though!

I'm supposed to be making my strawberry icecream and a cottage pie!
So what am I doing?
The weather here is abysmal and getting me down.
I must get off GN and stir myself!
Why?

To-day I have been up since 6.30 because believe it or not the sun was shining through the window and I could not sleep any longer,the sky is a lovely blue and it is very warm,washing put out to dry before 7am the neighbours will think I have gone mad.
glass enjoy your time away I hope the weather improves for you and you have a good time.
jeni have you grown your own strawberries for the icecream,my favourite.
To-day is my day for charity shop work so after breakfast I will get myself moving I helped yesterday for 3hrs as they where short staffed and met some nice new ladies that also help out at the shop we had a good laugh and put the world to rights in the time we where there.

Hello to everyone! Good morning!

I was awake at 6 and it was raining - again. It has stopped now but the forecast is wettish. So no finishing the lawn mowing..........and my washing is still hanging on the landing where I put it yesterday because it was raining....
We have had one good day!

So far I have had breakfast and checked emails which have some up with various comments on my family history research including some on a (possible) cousin who I haven't found yet - actually I think she probably has died, but I will follow these up...
And my oldest friend who is in Australia is getting hearing aids. Time catches up with all of us.......I still see us as students in the 60s!

What I should do today is get back to the opticians and sort out the new glasses!