Today I have been mainly Vol. 6

Getting ready to go and catch a ferry to Inchmurrin for a special lunch and then being disappointed because the car wouldn't start. The AA man is here and says it's the battery which needs replaced. Never mind. Lovely day

We were eating lunch outside when four golden oriels came and sat in one of the cherry trees and sang their hearts out. They have now flown to one of the farmer's trees and we can still hear them - but they are starting to sound sleepy now.

Oh Bags what a shame - hope you find something equally pleasurable to do in the sunshine.
I love to be able to tick off two jobs at once, so this morning I gave my two (Afghan) boys their English lesson on (and about) the allotment whilst we were being visited there by the Britain in Bloom judges. I was very proud to show off our plot on my husband's behalf (on account of he does all the donkey work, so must take the credit). They seemed impressed by what has been achieved in only three years. And my boys now know the names of many more English fruits and vegetables.

How are the boys doing GA? Have you mastered all those veggie dishes yet?

I would have enjoyed that too, ga – your lesson I mean .

AA man has gone now and apparently the battery doesn't need replacing. DH has gone to buy a charger for us to keep at home.

I expect my Rotary pals will do an Inchmurrin trip next summer as well. I'll just have to be patient.

Off into the garden now. I always love garden work.

I've just looked up those birds, Bags. It must have been a real treat. Enjoy the garden. 30 degrees here. Only thing to do is read and relax.

Oops! I think you mistook Bez for Bags, mice. I love to see orioles in my garden but think it highly unlikely I ever will. Bez is in France, I believe.

Wrong tense... I'd love....

Doh. End of term senior moment I think.

Perhaps it's time I finally retired.....

Hot day moment, probably . It has even got above 25° in the shade here.

Yes - we are in France - and although I have not seen them again they have continued to sing in spurts this afternoon. Just lovely.

Today, I've been supporting victim/witnesses who were subjected to a tirade of racist abuse because they did/could not allow the defendant to come into the traffic lane in which they were travelling.

Why, when we live in the most ethnically diverse and also one of the most integrated and harmonious areas in the country, would you do that! The person who was convicted will now lose her job and have a criminal record.

I am proud of my community and shocked and saddened to see this sort of thing happening.

Drove DD3 and her 2 small children on a 130 mile round trip to visit my 98 year old aunt for 2 hours (M&S picnic in her garden) then managed 20 minutes on the beach before returning up the M23/M25. It was worth it to see the pleasure she had from seeing her great great niece and nephew.

Pottered about slowly in the heat - but the sun is so welcome. DGD (17) asked Grandpa for a lift to the beach, so he got out his classic MG and off they went - she was offering to buy him an ice cream!

Now watching that idiot councillor from Cornwall on the local news - however did he get re-elected?? (Only by 4 votes but still...)

Ventured to the shops in Stockport - Dunelm (no air con) where kitchen knives were hard to find but I replaced my very manky and very old oven glove. I 'discovered' the Home Bargains store (good air con) - looks fairly new - selling compost in manageable bags at a decent price. Then I went to JL (excellent air con) to look for a washing machine that doesn't look like the cockpit of a jumbo jet. Was there anyone available to help in the white goods department? There was not though I have to admit that this is unusual in JL. I'll just have to order it on line.

Anno what a brave woman! I walked into the village just to get a prescription and came back home by 10 before it got too hot. I keep venturing out side but its too hot. I will try again as the sun is now off the patio.

Don't imagine I was walking around town, Nellie. I parked close to the shops! Sometimes wish I had air con in my elderly car.

Today I went for a walk with NWR friends from two local groups at Dunham Massey - NT property in Cheshire. It was a fairly leisurely walk around the deer park where we saw dozens of both fallow deer and roe deer, grazing or just lying around, unperturbed by the visitors. However, one doe had two very tiny fawns (Bambis) and she quickly herded them away to the shelter of some trees. We had afternoon tea at a nearby pub after which three of us decided to go round the beautiful gardens at the Hall. There's a spectacular newly opened rose garden, the rival of the best I've seen in the past (in Christchurch, NZ). We also saw a large collection of the giant lily, Cardiocrinum Giganteum. I have been trying to get the pictures off my phone but have so far failed to work out how to do it! I may have to phone DS.

Putting apples out in the garden for a fledgling blackbird that has made it's home there. Doesn't seem at all afraid of me [I keep telling it it should be]. Garden is turning into something that Julia Donaldson would write a book about. Lining up for the apple are baby blackbird, the squirrel; possibly the pigeons [may just be eating the seed though] and [boo hiss] the bloomin' rat [yep; he's still here].

anno Dunham Massey sounds lovely DG would love to see the deer and I would so enjoy the gardens. Our last two NT visits have been to Quarry Bank Mill and we still haven't seen all of it yet.

DH is in the dog house as he has had free top soil delivered by a neighbour who has a business clearing sites etc for building. When I complained about who was going to shift it, he told me not to worry as sons would do it . Sons work full time and have two children under five each and they often work weekends. So no prizes for guessing who drew the short straw I have shifted twenty barrows full so far. It is only the vision of seeing DH buried up to his neck in the damn stuff that keeps me going.

Soil

anno JL on - line comparison thingy is really good for things like washing machines, I find, and gives you time to think!

Sook anno Quarry Bank Mill is going to be featured in a drama series about its history soon - saw it mentioned on TV a couple of days ago.

I go to Dunham Massey regularly, with my twin gandaughters and daughter's MIL, who childminds them 3 days a week. We saw the baby deer, too, anno. The toddlers love the open spaces there, where they can run and run. Tires them out!

Thanks when I literally had to drag DH kicking and screaming to Quarry Bank Mill but once he got insidel I couldn't get him out. We have visited the apprentice house and gardens and plan to visit the village on our next visit. I will look forward to the forthcoming programme.

*Dunham Massey is next on the list I'm all for tiring toddler out

when I saw all the production company vans when I was there a few months ago. They were taking up so much car parking space that overflow parking had been opened up in the next field. I am looking forward to the series. Is it Channel 4?

Don't remember which channel, anno. I'm looking forward to it. I hope Styal Country Park and the mill have benefited from it. They've done so much good restoration work there.