Today I have been mainly...

absent I've been watching the ravages of Lusi. My daughter lives in Waikatere, just outside Auckland and has lost several branches off her trees, but otherwise wasn't affected.

NanKate The South Island of New Zealand, which is a lovely place but not particularly exotic. It's actually quite miserable at the moment and the rain hitting the roof is very noisy but it promises to be sunny and 24° tomorrow – not bad for autumn. I hope the weather people are right as I am sure it will take all day for the garden chair cushions to dry out. More seriously, there have been floods and power outages in the North Island and some parts of the South Island, including Christchurch which is still recovering from its terrible earthquake over three years ago and from floods earlier this year.

Do you live somewhere exotic Absent ?

For once I can say we have a lovely day in prospect here in the UK. We are off for a picnic - love them !

We have been shut indoors all day while the tail end of tropical Cyclone Lusi lashed the trees and shrubs and the rain tanked down. However, it did ensure that I made a start on the filing which has been outstanding since October and I also got our ironing out of the way before absentdaughter arrives with hers on Monday or Tuesday. It's still going on out there now (the storm not the ironing) but the weather people promise that it will be gone from here by the morning.

How frustrating number..Still I'm sure it will look lovely when complete. It sounds as if a thorough job has been done.

Today I`ve mainly been watching our eldest son and DIL finish painting our living room. It was going to be a straightforward paint job...........No-o-o-o-o-o!! There was a wallpaper border to take down, and although it had only been put up with Polycell paste, it was like superglue, took nearly a week to get off, then all the filling and sanding, it`s ended up taking nearly 3 weeks. We now need the new carpet down, and new chairs ordering. I rang Carpetright yesterday to ask them to come and measure up, but when I told him which carpet we wanted, he told me it had been discontinued the previous day! Back to the drawing board to choose another.

Today I am getting ready for a big party tonight, and to go to look after the two youngest DGSs in Hampshire for a few days, as their nanny is on holiday. Both parents teach, so there was no chance they could get time off!

I am really looking forward to it, because they were due down here at half term, but the youngest got a severe ear infection. I had already done the necessary baking, so all I have to do is get it out of the freezer and take it with me. (I dare not arrive without the chocolate cake!)

It is a beautiful day here; Theseus is off on his bike on the Tarks Trail, and DD and grand dog are on their way round for coffee. Am so looking forward to walking on the beach with them again once this knee is fixed.

Granjura we pruned raspberries in autumn hope that was ok!?
We had such good crop last year so hope not. Essex them up starting to shoot.

Been out in the garden all day, weeding and pruning raspberries, making a bonfire (I live out in the sticks, and asked permission from only neighbour- and it's the first bonfire in 5 years...before somebody has a 'go' )...
and enlarging the raspberry row to put in a second row- cream crackered, aching but happy. Great weather too.

Dragonfly, could you please let me borrow some of your energy? I have so much de-cluttering to do before I can hire an agency to do a deep spring-clean of my rather neglected house and then get some decorators to give me quotes. Oh my poor bank account!

Hole in hedge now blocked. I hope.
Trying to wake myself up.

Dragonfly (lovely name!) I think my neighbour problems are with those who don't care. Thank goodness there are a few who do.

Now to prepare to run a family history meeting this afternoon....WW1 theme, and I shall tell them about my greatuncle Cecil...who I found having pneumonia in Archangel, Russia!

Finally getting out into the garden for some serious reorganisation and pruning, glossing the woodwork in the mutt's bedroom utility room, entertaining DGSs for an hour, knitting, and mainly trying to get through to Dyson on the phone to chase up my promised replacement hose that was going to be here by the end of last week. Didn't get through. Gave up.

Teaching a young friend how to ski in the warm sunshine- and first of all, having coffee with a lovely GN member and her very nice DH. A very nice day.

Today? Saga continues. Waiting for Dave, gardener/handyman who is apparently in Henley.....but is coming. Need the hole in my hedge blocked.

Meanwhile I have had time to change the dressing on the bite, which I have to do in a mirror, as it is just out of sight! Now that's fun. I am putting manuka honey on it - good antibacterial stuff I have used before.
I do NOT want to have to take antibiotics as the nurse mentioned - I have no idea what they would do to colitis which is lately improved!

Didn't sleep that well though.

I was answering Nellie ! But thanks both

That's what I said to the policewoman.
However, I was in their front garden....so I can't actually do anything legally.....this is why postmen get angry!
They did try to grab it when it ran out, but I don't think it had a collar on to grab....

Alie, you don't seem to be having much luck on the neighbour front! Do hope the bite wasn't too serious. Get well soon.

"AllieOxon" That is a dog out of control it seems. You need some good luck for a change.

Aw, thanks soop. May visit later!

AlieO A huge, warm hug winging it's way to you from me.

Thanks kitty . Hope you feel better soon!

Sorry to hear about your awful day Alie.

I am still suffering the after effects of the stomach bug I had over the weekend and I'm really fed up! DS1 really cheered me up by telling me that these things take longer to get over when you are older!!

Thanks Gill .
New meter on them, not you, I hope!

Sorry to hear your news alieOxon makes you feel a bit shaken up something like that, hope you feel better soon.

My day has not been so traumatic but started with volunteering to stay at home for an hour to let the gas engineer in to attend to our gas fire which keeps going out. 3 hours later he hasn't fixed it, not the part he thought it was, so decided I would 'phone manufacturer for advice. As he left, and turned the gas back on, he broke part of the meter. So, gas off, Transco called as emergency. Nice man from Transco here now, all safe, but have to have a new meter!

Thanks folks. Still a bit shaky.

Actually the police woman phoned me back just as one of the neighbours came to the door - and I left her on the phone to hear what was said. I did get an apology....and the info that they are getting a new fence.

NOT before time.
I suspect that was arranged after the WPC was at their door! She managed to give them the impression that I could take them to court......

I have the imprint of the dog's jaw on my hip. Luckily I was wearing tough jeans and its teeth didn't get right through them, (but did break the skin and it bled) - so although it is sore, the chance of infection is probably low.