Today I have been mainly Vol. 6

Got back from work to find SIL has been rushed to hospital [tonsils gone yukky], so working out the logistics of everyone being in different places and both me and my daughter being nervous drivers on roads we don't know. Think we have a cunning plan if I can just remember what it is . Good job I cooked a load of sausages that were on their use by date last night as it means have grabbed load of sausages and scoffed them [s*d the diet]....

Blimey - it does sound hot in the UK but just think how lucky you are ladies - you can sit in the shade or have your windows open and if you do venture into the great outdoors you won't come in blowing black stuff out of your noses !
Thanks for all your good wishes and it really is worth being here in Beijing for the cuddles from both boys. Kamikaze taxi driver today going to the hospital (no 2 hr discharge here, 3 days is the norm) so I try not to think about it and just wonder how the h* they miss each other and the pedestrians and bikes and everything else.So far they have but it's scary at times!
I do worry at times about the boys living in such a polluted place but I have to say that Henry is the healthiest of the youngsters in our family. 2 live in Northumberland and 3 in Spain and they all seem to suffer from more sickness and bugs etc.
Congrats to all your graduates - seems ages since I got into my best bib and tucker for my two but well worth the effort !

Bags my friend (the one in Marple) did a recent OU course on mosses and lichens and subsequently bought that Philips book for about £30 second hand (over £120 new now). Every other book she had on the recommended list could have stayed on the shelves, she said, as Philips was the most comprehensive. What about taking a photo and asking Kew?

They'd get fed up of me pestering them, when . I have a lot of mosses and lichens in my garden to identify!

I'm surprised by what your friend says about the Roger Phillips book. I really haven't found it good enough. Some of the photos are not clear enough for my needs and there isn't enough further information. I have the same problem with his flower book. It's useful in conjunction with several others, but on its own not good enough.

Re the photographs of mosses. He's supposed to be a professional (or was) but some of the photos I've taken are better than his and I've only owned a camera for seven years.

I do like the way he went and found specimens of everything though. It must have been a fun job.

I decided to buy this one. It'd better be good at that price.

I wonder if the Phillips is out of print? I can't remember what my copy cost – £16 maybe? I will have bought it in the early eighties.

I've spent today mainly...............................working Thank crunchie it's Friday! I'm looking forward to enjoying the weather over the weekend.

At a funeral

Would you believe it - after I'd saved up my washing for the new machine, the fitter from JL has told me that the hose to access the cold water inlet won't reach it, because the hose is on the other side of the machine from where it was on the old one. A hole needs to be drilled further up. It was the same with my fridge - the kitchen fitters had put the cable neatly through a gap and then plugged it in the other side of a panel but didn't leave space for me to get the plug through the panel. I need a bigger hole and the joiner might as well do both at once. I doubt if I have made that at all clear but I am fed up.

Been clearing up after the decorators - amazing how much dust is generated. Took myself off for another swim at 5 o/clock then back for supper in the garden - not much as it's a 500 calorie day

Anno we find that we have to take the plug off to enable us to pull the fridge out to change the water filter!

Aka

I spent yesterday looking after DGD for the last, planned, time. I have looked after her and her brother once a week for 6 years. Now, I feel a mixture of emotions. I'm happy to have an extra day a weeek but I'll miss seeing them so regularly.

. . . .building up the energy to cope with the sun's rays although I believe we may be 'enjoying' just 25 degrees today. We have our Church Fete between 12 and 2 and I hope there won't be too many cases of heatstroke.

Me too Aka, the first of my really good friends. An emotional wreck made worse as I got a mention in the Eulogy
Told the OG I wasn't going to any more, he said I'd have to go to one more.... does he mean me [Hmm]

Sorry to hear that OGM

I am exhausted! Just seen OH off to drive 180miles for a holiday course.
He is away this coming week, me next week and him again the week after. Three weeks of calm unless I get home too early from my week away in two weeks time. I need the break.

He went to bed late last night and claims he nodded off on the settee, I don't know if I believe him. He faffed around this morning getting ready then decided he he ought to do something about the slightly achy ?waxy ear he has had all week. 9am he rang 111 and was advised to see a pharmacist. At 12am goes off to pharmacist who suggests he needs to see Dr on Monday. OH then suggested he could go to A&E. I say you can't do that after having left it all week. That is just the sort of thing you should not go to A&E about. There is a walk in centre 4miles away.

I said that if it was a classic ear infection he would know all about it. It wouldn't be just a "bit uncomfortable." I suggested some Mentholyptus.
3 hrs later and still packing he realises its too late for the Drop in centre.

All this is typical and why I can't face going on holiday with him. It was stressful enough just sitting here watching him faff about.

In addition to this, on Wednesday I said that as we are ships in the night for three weeks, I had thought about putting the budgies into boarding while I was away.
I explained that I was worried about his chaotic sleeping hours and lack of regular mealtimes and that I was worried that the birds could be left uncovered all day.
At which he denies he goes to bed late and has crazy meal times. He is often crunching around 4/5/6am getting ready for bed then getting up at midday etc.

When I challenged this, he says are you saying I am lying and I said yes!

Out of experience, the more loud stomping about and blustering his reaction the more I know that what I have said has hit a chord with him and he does not want to acknowledge it or talk about it.

I am so tired of this. it was relief when he drove off at 3pm.

I had already taken the action of booking the budgies into the "small pet" boarding facility for next Friday. Not bad at £3 per day. All seemed very clean indeed in the Birdroom .

I will need three weeks to recover.

Gosh Nellie, I'm exhausted too after reading that, sounds like you could do with a nice, peaceful holiday.

Nellie.

Nellie I feel for you. Make the most of your break

Ooh I have just eaten a large bowl of strawberries and raspberries. marinated in two tsps of Maple syrup with a good dollop of cream on top. Maple syrup on Strawberries is really good. Worth a try to anyone who hasn't already.

You go for it, Nellie! Now enjoy every minute of your peace and quiet. xxx

Nellie big hugs.... I call it the Albatross Syndrome!
You know, from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.... it's such a relief when the albatross no longer hangs around one's neck!
Enjoy your break.... I can hear your sigh of relief from here

Big hugs (((( )))) Nellie I know exactly how you feel.

Nellie. While the cat's away!

Thanks for the moral support! I know some of you have similar stresses.

I am having my last cup of tea and I have just finished washing the kitchen floor. I did my sluts method. Go over it with a very wet mop leave the floor wet so the dirt will soak and be easier to get off . Watch 2hrs of excellent BBC2. put the kettle on and finish off floor with another wash and a rinse in clean water. Made a brew and got onto GN in 20mins. All locked up. winding down over a nice cup of tea. Night Night

Oh this all sounds so familiar. Sympathy and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Don't you sometimes feel like packing up and just driving off into the sunset and telling no one where you are going. Ever!

Almost all of the time Aka