What I did today.

Am feeling somewhat overwhelmed at the moment with all the "stuff" we have still to unpack. The house is more or less OK, but the double garage is still piled with boxes and there are books everywhere, hundreds of them. So today is dealing with garage day, packing up books for charity, exploring boxes that I packed back in May and making sure Theseus takes regular breaks. We have lost a study and a bedroom, that's the problem, (though gained an extra garage...) so we will have to be ruthless. Heigh ho! meanwhile, enjoying my coffee.

You sound scarily efficient, ariadne . It took us months to unpack everything when we moved house six years ago. In fact, I've a feeling there's still an unpacked box in the cellar. Obviously we don't need whatever is in it so when I do finally get round to hauling it into the daylight, whatever the stuff is will be disposed of.

It might be ful of expensive jewellry or gold bullion ?

We all seem a bit droopy at the moment so I prescribe tea and cakes and taking it easy today!!

This morning I got.... no not the cold shoulder but the underlying feeling I am not the flavour of the months but hey ho she will get over it!!!!!!

I am off to the woods today with DGD Reception class, so I will come back all muddy great fun.

Oh that sounds fun glass hope the rain keeps off for you.

Morning everyone. Gloomy day out there, but I'm gong to enjoy having my friend, who I've known for 62 years, round here for lunch and endless chatter.

Have fun with the littlies glass. Nothing nicer than exploring with small children.

Bags I also have unopened boxes of doubtful treasure from moving here six years ago. Most investigate and donate to the dogs charity car boot sale that's coming up.

Enjoy your day when there is nothing like a good friend to share stuff with.

Last night saw Tom Conti in "Rough Justice" the subject matter was somewhat tough but I enjoyed the evening - the audience was asked to give a verdict at the end.

We don`t have anything left unpacked, after 25 years I hope not anyway, but at the very back of the cupboard under the stairs is a bag, known as "the big black bag", containing all sorts of bits and bobs from over the years, stuff that`s not really needed, but that we don`t want to throw away either. When we`ve both kicked the bucket, no doubt our offspring will take one look and bung it all in the bin!

I've got a loft and a garage like that. I have asked people to help clear them out but , as yet, it's fallen on deaf ears. So I've just shut the doors and they can sort it all out when I'm not around!

Bit better after a morning in the garage...books sorted a little bit, things discovered (e.g. Theseus' Mont Blanc retirement pen and his tiny collection of fob watches. Which, of course, he had carefully packed himself then forgotten where he'd put them. Did I make the most of this? You bet!)

And still it rains. I know we didn't move to Devon for the weather but.....ah well xxx

Just returned home from a really lovely trip to the borders with a friend. Went via Melrose and Jedburgh and stayed at Otterburn on tuesday and then proceeded up to Alnwick on wednesday - a beautiful drive in glorious sunny, autumnal weather. Spent most of the day oohing and aahing in the gardens of Alnwick Castle and did a tour of the Poison Garden which was fascinating. A little retail therapy followed in the charity shops of Alnwick - christmas presents this year for the family all have to be bought from charity shops!. Managed to get quite a few - if I can bear to part with them . It really does the heart good to get away and do something completely different - shame it's now raining cats and dogs.

Another first today! After doing some sewing earlier in the week, I drove my car for the first time in over nine weeks! The shoulder that I broke wasn't too sure it was totally happy but I was!! It felt like getting my life back with that independence of just getting in the car and taking myself where I wanted to go. Ok, so it was just down to the local shops today, but tomorrow the world!

A milestone, QuiltingGran

Gally did you go to the treehouse in the gardens?

Freedom, quilting,GallyYes, ariadne, weather has been grim here too, thick fog and drizzle. Went to check why the chickens were squawking and found them beating up a magpie that had got through a hole in the fencing.Had to let them all out to get rid of the magpie.Just hope I remember to shut them in tonight

That sounds good fun, Gally! Glorious and gentle scenery down in the Borders, isn't it! Like the sound of the charity shops...!

Elegran yes, we had lunch at the Treehouse; isn't it amazing - very Harry Potter!
Marelli - you are right to be . There was some amazing 'stuff' and I had to be very severe with myself

gally I love Alnwick Gardens, we were up in the summer with the DGC and they had a great time paddling in the fountains.

Been out this evening doing Heartstart and first aid demos for the staff of a local dental practice. Did some serious housework today too – what for most of you would probably be ordinary everyday stuff but I'm not houseproud.

soop sends her love to all.

quilting, it's good to hear that you are driving again and so happy about it .

Thank you, Bags, Elegran and Grannylin. I had a couple of weeks after my broken wrist mended enough for me to do a little driving late July/early August but that's been all since early April. So there'll be no stopping me now. I might wait a little bit before doing the 700 miles drive up to Wester Ross tho'!!

Just had an email from DGS1 to say that a string ensemble he plays with, (GU Pro Musica), is performing along with the Chapel Choir next Tuesday, playing Vivaldi's St Luke Magnifcat. It'll be in the Chapel, so the webcam www.chapelchoir.org/live-webcam.html will be on, so you can see him playing! He will be in the 3rd desk of the first violins, and in full-on dinner suit, white bow tie etc, (plus ponytail) which will be interesting.... He is now off out to get hinself a white bow tie.

They will probably also have the dress rehearsal there earlier in the day, so there are two chances to catch it.

Last February the Kelvin Ensemble, which he also plays in, gave a rousing version of Fingals Cave and Land of the Mountain and the Flood from the chapel. I managed to post about it just in time for several Gners to watch the webcam.

Unfortunately, both their concerts this year are being played elsewhere. However, it seems every Tuesday the Chapel Choir are doing 'Choral Contemplations' in the Chapel: www.chapelchoir.org/calendar.html

I think I will also copy this to a religious thread, as it is all sacred music.

Just reporting that soop is "home, happy, and hopeful" after her latest hospital visit, and will log onto GN tomorrow.

I've wasted most of today; fiddled about on the laptop on and off and have eaten 2 bars (admittedly small ones) of chocolate. Not done anything constructive and feel fed up about it all. Oh well, tomorrow's another day; hopefully the weather will be better and I will be invigorated and energised and get on with 'stuff'

I made some bread - without the machine! It's lovely...and now there's only half of it left . Also went to take some photos of the back of a house that's for sale in the village so that I can send them to my friend who has taken her grandchildren on a weekend holiday. The gardener was working in the back garden so DH wouldn't come in with me and stayed at the front of the house. He just shouted me at one point to tell me to hurry up, as I'd sneaked in and he wasn't brave enough . The gardener asked me how old he was, and I replied, '73'. The gardener said, "Oh, I thought it was your son, wondering where his mum was..." DH was suitably un-chuffed when I told him! Serve him right!