🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

ixion

I love the bi-colour agapanthus, NS.
Does it have a name?

Sadly it's a white and dark purple/blue one too close to each other...
BUT we did have Agapanthus 'Fireworks' for a few years which was lovely!
I'll look for some photos...

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Here are some screenshot, ixion

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Where did they go???
Two from Dobbies one from elsewhere...

It was really lovely.

Oh. They are here now!!

Thank you for the info, NS.
I currently have tubs of Alba, Brilliant Blue and Black Jack. I must resist the temptation to expand!

I recall your sweet peas from previous years, Grammaretto. Always a joy!

Grammaretto those vases of flowers are lovely. So nice to see all your pictures. Sadly we don’t have any flowers in our communal gardens only shrubs.
Still very hot here. Anyone got any rain?

We've had quite a lot of rain Doodle and it's quite cold.
My next helper is coming from Australia and she tells me she spends every Summer in Europe and then returns to Australia for their Summer. So she never has winter.

I wonder what she'll make of the weather here in Scotland 😂

She's almost as old as me but sounds incredibly fit.

I've had a quiet day and nearly finished my knitting. I'm making a baby cardigan but the baby is already born. I had better get a move on. 😂

Still sweltering here at 9.30 pm . Doors open fan on. I wonder if the rain will make it down here . We need it.
I always had the feeling your helpers were young people Grammaretto. (Not meaning you’re old 😱 oops)
Hope she’s good company.
I’ve been dog sitting today. They were both good. Slept all the time….as did I 🤣

Has your helper arrived safely, Grammaretto? She sounds everything I would like to be - fit, and a traveller😩
I hope she can help you out with your back limitations, I am sure she will enjoy her stay too.

Still hot here, too, Doodle. One more day tomorrow then I think it's downhill all the way. Tho' we have had a significant period of rain over 24 hours way back when.

Magnums are lined up ready for the final curtain.🍦

Hoping Kaimoana is faring well at this busy time and hoping the NNs are resolving their work-life balance issues🌻

Would be good to hear!

Still hot here too Ixion I’ve got my fan on full blast and I’m still warm. Contemplating going to Reading shopping Thursday but the thought of bing in a bus in this heat putting me off.
Grammaretto hope you’re getting on well with your new helper.

My new helper arrived today and is settling in. We had some good chats but as she had been awake since 4am to fly from Ireland she was understandably very tired.

I parted with 3 more bikes today and a dozen stacking chairs. It feels good.

Sorry you poor people are so hot!
It's on the cool side here with plenty of rain. The helper hasn't taken her coat off yet 😂

I can't get to sleep again. Too much in my head. My back is definitely a lot better but I've booked half a dozen chiropractor appointments and am doing my exercises.

I too would love to know if NN has resolved her work/life balance.

Good Evening from a tinder dry Norfolk. Its still quite hot and no sign of any rain. A dark cloud went over a few minutes ago and managed to spit out about 6 drops! Its getting very serious now and we have had quite a few wild fires especially at Dunwich Heath which is actually in Suffolk! Its a nature reserve the size of 210 football pitches. Many rare habitats and countless wildlife decimated in minutes.
Our garden is virtually dead. Although we arent gardeners - well I used to be but cant do anything now since my stroke - we have always liked to see the garden looking tidy and colourful.
This is turning into a miserable post so think I had better go back to drinking my glass of wine!
So pleased Gramaretto has sold her house and here’s hoping you find your forever house very soon.

Grammaretto I’ve found it difficult to sleep recently too. I like a cool bedroom at night and it’s far from that. Also things going on in my mind like you have to i expect.
Hope you get on well with your new helper.
Jan those wild fires are scary. I hope we have some rain soon.

Thanks Jan. I hope my house sale will go through without too many hitches. It's not done and dusted yet.

I was shocked to see the fires near Dunwich.
My in-laws lived at Southwold for many years so we were regular visitors to the area.
I hope there's some serious rain soon.

You are allowed to grumble to us whenever you need to. You have such a lot to contend with.

My sciatica is easing a lot though I still begin and end the day with an ice pack.

My garden is a riot. Everything has gone to seed in the raised bed . It looks a picture. I will try to send one.

I hope to have a fairly restful day today.

My helper likes to be busy all the time so that could be difficult. 😂😅 I let her drive my car so she did 2 tip runs without me.
We got a lot done yesterday.

She bought a bus pass so yesterday she went into Edinburgh where she has a friend. She lived and worked in Edinburgh for a few years.

My neighbour is hosting a leaving party this evening for a couple who are moving away. She's the 3rd to move in the past year. It's not even to live near their children.
It's quite unsettling.

I hope you slept better last night Doodle
I'm going to yarn group this morning to catch up on the gossip and plan my next garment.

RAIN! Quite a good downpour but still need more please!!!

Jan please send it down here. It’s still hot. Fan still in even at this time of night.
Grammaretto your yarn group sounds fun. Ours is nice too. We sit there quietly ……..and gossip,🤣
These fires are awful. Not something we’re really used to in this country.
Went to church today and pleased to see it looked ok despite the break in. Lots of mess for people to clear up but apart from one broken window and all the doors and locks were broken the main church was ok it was the offices which took the brunt.

Doodle, you never mentioned the break in (did you?). I'm so very sorry, it must be dreadful for everyone concerned. At least the integrity of the church itself wasn't violated. I hope everything settles back down soon.

Dunwich holds a special place in our family's hearts too. My DF used to take us on trips out.
Apparently, according to my uncle, Dad's youngest brother, the boys were firstly evacuated there during the war. This I had sort of gathered at the time.
What I didn't know was that my Grandfather paid a check up visit to see how his boys were getting on. At the time, various sea manoeuvres were taking place off the coast, complete with mock battles and real gunfire noises.

'That's it', my grandfather announced. 'They're coming back to London with me. If they're going to be in danger, they can get that back home.'
They then went to Somerset...

Light rain here, much welcomed after a serious session of clearance gardening.
Decided to tackle the grandly named sundial garden, where many of the top up lavender plants had failed to survive the prolonged heat, despite copious watering.
Half way round the circle, I developed a real right sided lower back pain.
All resolved, just tackled the remaining by turning round and tackling the weeding in an anticlockwise direction.
Well balanced pain now!

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Ouch! ixion
But how lovely to have sundial garden. It suggests there's plenty of sun.

The wretched do-er upper has raised its head again and I'm viewing again tomorrow.
I don't know who to take with me to balance the architect and agents' enthusiasm.
The price has been reduced but it's still too much considering the condition it's in.

I didn't know about the break in at your church Doodle. That's so awful. As you say it was mainly the offices which suffered but any break in and attack is a violation and makes you feel vulnerable.

Sending 🤗 hugs.

My Aussie helper is hyperactive. She's had to stop indoors because I'm not ready to let her throw any more out until I am ready.

Here are some saws which are far too good to chuck 😅🤣😅

I am the self-proclaimed Queen of rehome, recycle, repurpose Grammaretto, but even your plentiful saws leave me flummoxed.
My final option is always, with some sadness, to throw out😩.

Congratulations to your DGD on her exam results.

I am sure that some guiding hand is leading you back to the fixer-upper. Spooky. Do you think it may just 'have your name on it'?

How is woofer, Doodle?

Sorry Ixion Im on a couple of groups and I can’t remember what I posted where. Yes church was broken into by youngsters we think. Definitely not professional thieves. Lots of damage to locks and doors and an upturned office but fortunately the main part of the church apart from one stained glass window stayed in tact.
Well balanced pain in deed. 🤣🤣
Grammaretto if the doer upper has had its price reduced then you’re not the only one who thinks it’s over priced. If you really want it and the work involved try giving them a much lower offer and see how keen they are to sell. Sorry I don’t know about the Scottish way of selling. I know things are different where you are .

The woofer is doing well ixion thank you. I dog sat for a few hours last Sunday and both dogs were very well behaved.

Please come back Naughtyneine with some good news.. 🙏
Thinking of you

How awful to have a break in - and was the stained glass repairable (without massive expense)?

Grammaretto That house is eant to be yours! It's obviously much smaller than yours so not so much to do - surely it can only be half The work??

What truly beautiful saw handles.
Can't they be restored by a group somewhere? Surely too lovely to bin 😮😮😮

Just had the video and photos done of my mother-in-law's house today ready for sale.
The people who put in an offer in February went away last week (or maybe the week before) for a few days and decided, out of the blue, they like another area more!

Oh no.
The video of my mother-in-law's home had a glitch - so we have to go back again on Tuesday! 🙄

Notspaghetti i think selling houses is so stressful. There ought to be an easier way of doing it, hope you get the video sorted soon.
Grammaretto your new helper sounds a bit of a whirl wind. I hope she is helping you clear some stuff.
I had a lovely lunch out with some friends today.

What a pest NotSpaghetti to have a glitch at this stage.

My Helper is a whirlwind Doodle she's gone to see her friends in the West today and possibly overnight so I can relax a bit 😉

The house viewing reviewing with some friends and the architect has left me just as confused.
It's in a dreadful state but not hiding any nasty things - they are all obvious. The architect isn't worried by any of it saying it's what he does every day. I may decide to make an offer.....

Other friends came for dinner. We had halibut which was delicious and good chats.
When they'd gone I baked my cake for today and realised the dishwasher is not working so unpacked it and washed up in the sink. Meanwhile my once a year for one night only flower opened.
It's collapsed this morning. An omen?

I hopeKaimoana is ok. Is anyone able to contact her?

What IS that beautiful flower??
😍