Good morning Mick and all GN's on a bright sunny morning in North Yorkshire.
The tree is now full of leaves and the squirrel looks as though he is making an inspection as he is dashing up and along the branches right now. Cheering to see things looking good. Have the windows open while it is cool now as it says it will be very hot later so back to my ways from living abroad. Windows open with curtains closed and a bowl of water on the windowsills as it warms up, and if it really gets hot shut windows to keep cool air in. Find old hot water bottle and fill it with cold water and ice cubes. Great foot cooler! When I worked in an office and it was this hot, I used to do that and no one could see my feet under the desk , so just slipped feet out of shoes and onto lovely chilled bottle.
Yesterday turned out to be a bit of a disaster , as I had the usual physical hassle but then it was compounded by an upset stomach and dizziness. The dizziness got so bad I had to go and lie down and it was very frustrating, as it didnt improve so nothing got done.
Today a much better start to the morning, so I am grateful for that. While it is warm, I change the routine, and it is go out in the garden while it is cool and jobs inside can wait. So went out with the secateurs and done a little in my patch but then went for a bit of a walk round the communal part and have deadheaded the daffodils. The hopeless so called "gardeners" who come only race around on machines cutting the grass and they dont even do the edges but anything else is ignored. If you dont deadhead the daffodils, literally only taking off the flower heads , the plants waste energy trying to make seed rather than putting the efforts into the bulbs for a good show next year. So it is quite a big area and the daffodils are in various clumps, and some under the silver birches. Have done about half this morning, and shall do the rest tomorrow morning. A little job, but positive and it looks better too without the deadheads.
I am taking my chair outside and going to try and tackle the weeds in the border while it is dry and should be easier to do. Then late tonight or early tomorrow morning I shall give the borders a good soaking with the hose, which should help in the heat. Can see my iris coming up well, and have to find my sieve, as where the old buddleia was dug up all the soil is still in a bucket to return to the hole. It has stones etc in it so taking the opportunity to sieve those out and add whatever good stuff I can. So that is the priority for today. But will have to take it at my speed (slow slow quick quick slow!) Anyway good to feel more positive at least.
Only plan for tonight is to go to the games night. One of the gamers has invented a new game - seriously good at all the ones we have played - so I will be the total beginner, for once it should be useful for him to gauge how I am able to follow the rules and understand it. Then he can make adjustments on that level, and the experts will also be playing so he will see how they cope with it. I looked up some information about some of the games, trying to decide what would be the simplest game that I might get for myself. Gave up as the comments were so varied and decided to ask people tonight for their recommendations for a starter game.
The power cut in Spain and Portugal caused a lot of problems for people and they dont seem to know what caused it. The only good thing about it is it will focus their attention on the problem and hopefully work on ways to stop it happening again. I think many travellers were caught out if they were totally depending on their cards and phones. I tend to be rather on the negative side and think what if, so I choose to have paper tickets and visas and so forth. The thought of arriving somewhere and having problems with the phone does not appeal. I trust myself to have the paperwork with me more.
Mick Hope you enjoy watching your cycling, and have a good trip into Bicester
grandMattie How frustrating for you. with EE. Hope you find some whizzkid who knows how to sort it soon.
grandmabatty You have my sympathies. Your brother really does seem to go out of his way to be a pain. At best he is being selfish and not thinking how things are for you , at worst he is doing it deliberately. Cannot see what he gets out of causing further upset . If anything happened to the house while it is not insured he would be the loser too so it seems very strange. If he cannot do things properly , he would be better letting you do it all. Then at least , even if you have all the work to do you could arrange things in a much better manner. Hope things settle down soon for you
GrannyGravy Fingers crossed for a good flight home and no delays.
Wishing everyone a pleasant day
