Black Dog 30

Yes I got here. There were hold ups on A 66 and M1 so it took 1 1/2 hours extra . . House is a mess but she doesn’t like me touching anything. I will do a bit when. She is away.

Thats a very long drive. You must be exhausted. Leave the house for a while. Have something to eat and drink, and have a good rest.

HVDY Oh you are blessed with lovely girls there. Bet they love being altogether. Is that a bowl of peppers LG is eating? She has beautiful coloured hair. They look so happy. What a lovely sunny day too - its actually been overcast here but it was just right for a little walk in the woods. Lots of people ,especially children, stopped to ask to stroke Fluff- she lapped it up , the little diva.
EllieAnne Oh dear ,your drive was long enough without traffic hold ups. You must be so tired now. Well done for that drive - you should be proud of yourself . Do leave the house for a while as HVDY says. We travel the A66 to the Lakes and traffic jams can be common though usually not lasting too long.

Hope everyone has had a decent day. I picked some more runner beans , blanched and frozen them . Never done them before.
Love to all.

Ellie Anne so glad you got there safely. You must be so tired tonight. I’d try for an early night.

HVDY lovely photos. Looks like a great day in the park.
It was my art friends I had lunch with today, such a pleasant afternoon we all got on well and had a nice meal.
Wyllow difficult question to answer to the recently widowed lady. Nice you were able to offer comfort with poems and just being there.
Sweetpeasue the cost of a slice of cake seems to be going up and up. Our local garden centre charges £4.50.
Hope you had a nice walk. Woodland walkway sounds lovely
Scaredycat have you been out today? I went with our walking group this morning. Managed a short walk but it really was too hot to go far, we settled for coffee and chat in the end.

SweetpeaSue Thank you. GDs are 15, 11 and 3. Yes, she loves peppers, raw carrots (she'll eat 3 whole ones), cucumber and raw broccoli. We took other stuff, too, of course. The girls ran around and played with LG for 3 hours. Several people made a fuss of the dog (she's very well-behaved and lovely). I can imagine how happy Fluffball must have been to have had all that attention. Nice that you grow your own runner beans and were able to blanch them. My dad used to grow them and do that.

Doodle Thanks. The park has a play area, a lake with geese, swans and ducks (the girls fed them), a cafe/ice cream place, a skateboarding part, and a sensory garden. There's a registry office, too, and a couple was having their wedding photos taken there today. It was very warm here, too warm for walking much (although Son1 walked the dog). Did you go to a pub or restaurant for lunch? It's great that you've got so many friends.

Hope evryone else has been ok today. Lazy day tomorrow - we've got the 2 girls all day Monday, then LG on Tues, and all 3 all day on Wednesday. x

Arrived after drive with holdups and I bet EllieAnne was the other side of the motorway at the time! but not so long, and it also was very safe, and I choose to take time out at the motorway station.

Things have been good with DiL! ☺️

Tired now, back into tomorrow, take care lovely BD's x

So glad youve arrived at your son's Wyllow.
Even better- and hope everything goes well- things good with DIL.
Rest easy.

Thank you, and you.

Wyllow3 Glad you got there ok. Hope things go well with your GD. I've learned to keep my opinions to myself around mine. Enjoy being with your grandchildren and son.

Been trying to sort out car insurance - I'd signed up (and paid for a year) with a different company, but they've since emailed me saying I hadn't declared a claim made by a 3rd person 3 years ago - I didn't know about that! They want an extra £180 now, so I've cancelled it. The existing insurers say the department I need to speak to doesn't work at weekends. Bloody hell. Back later x

Hi all
HVDY- your DS1 certainly knows his way round a BBQ- that food sounds so good. Sometimes I think a BBQ looks just like a pile of brown food!!We are of the same mind as you- never turn down a family invite even if we,re half asleep!!
What gorgeous ,happy GDs you have. Such lovely pics.
LG is adorable and the older girls look so relaxed and happy.
That park sounds a great place to go.Your days out are so special.
Good hunting with the Insurance- it’s a pain isn’t it.
Doodle- So sad that young people feel the need to do such mindless things. We,d have been too scared of our parents or the police to behave like that. There seem to be a lot of them nowadays who are so aimless and trying to look ‘hard’ . Their parents should come out from behind their phones and see what’s happening. I,m not a grouch and think young people are mostly great but it’s so sad to see.
Glad your lunch went well- you have certainly made some lovely friends- priceless.
Yesterday was a bit of shopping at Mand S and home Bargains. What a contrast. Food at one and all those things you didn’t know you needed til you get in HB.
Today it’s hot again and we have another heatwave to look forward to- get those ice creams in!!
SweetPeaSue- glad it was cool enough to have a woodland walk with Fluffball. She knows she’s gorgeous doesn’t she. She has a very big Fan Club.
Runner beans- they must taste so lovely straight out of the garden. Have you grown your SweetPeas this year?
Is the holiday you booked in the Lakes? I wish we were nearer there but it is a long old drive- well worth it though.
Hope you’re both enjoying another Fluffball trip today.
Wyllow. Glad to hear you have arrived safely after a pretty peaceful drive.
Yes I expect you’re a bit tired today but whatever you do today have a good one. Make memories.
DiL will be so pleased to share her lovely family with you.
EllieAnne- happy to know you too are now safe at your DD.
Don’t worry about the house - that’s how she likes it. Unless of,course she hopes you’re going to have a bit of a tidy.
Take time out to explore and just please yourself. Get some nice food and a bottle of something. Then cuddle a cat!!
Nadateturbe- as always thinking of youx

Love to all - mentioned or just reading

ScaredyCat Thank you. The girls are great with LG. Son1 has been off work all this week, but the mother didn't allow him to have GD2 until yesterday when she went to Tenerife for a week with her bloke, just the 2 of them. Son1 and DIL plus all 3 kids they share are going to Corfu next Sunday, for a week. Both of my sons love cooking and cook everything from scratch, 5 or 6 nights a week. I wish we had a Home Bargains nearby. We've got 2 B&M stores only a mile apart, which seems daft. I love that place. It's been very warm here today and is due to get worse next week. Have you been out today?

How has everyone been? x

Scaredycat We have a Home Bargains on the outskirts of the village with B&M too. Great offers in there.
Yes, I did grow Sweet-peas and they were lovely and scented- while they lasted, but the heat made them finish v quickly. No Fluffball on weekends as DIL off work then.
No the hol is not the Lakes - its Wales! We must be mad ( or DH is) . He says its probably the last hol we can travel so far and wants to do it. If we cancel well lose the money. Am excited but terrified in equal measure!
HVDY Its been nice here today though we're heading for another heatwave next week arent we. I lost another 2lbs ( big deal eh) but hoping to do better next week. Oh hope you get the car ins sorted - what a pain it all is- why dont they all just reward loyal customers anymore?
* EllieAnne** Wyllow* Hope things are going well for you both.
Doodle Hope youve been OK today. It must be great where you are in the winter though I dont envy you the heatwaves. Ive still got ice-cream in the freezer and trying to ignore the fact.

Bit of shopping. Picked and frozen more beans. Then just been in the garden and got so hot had an early bath. Nice n cool out here now though theres been the annual music festival for the young uns a couple of miles away. Its still going strong( and loud). DH tried a bit of Dad dancing in the garden earlier - at least I thought thats what it was - he said it was just the way he walks now!
Just seen a blackbird land on next doors apple tree and its pecking an apple.

Hope everyone has a peaceful night.

I let the cats out earlier as she said and they won’t come back. They go over a high fence to next door. I don’t know what to do. They don’t seem to be hungry. And run away if I go near them. I’m actually in tears worrying about them. What do I do if they don’t come in by bedtime?

I’m glad you arrived safely EllieAnnesafely.
She hasn’t said anything ever about wandering cats, has she? Cats do come home…and cause worries just like you have. Is there a cat flea so they can come in anytime at all, or do you have to let them in and out?

Keep posting, I’ll pop in later.

Top action on the blanched beans there, Sweetpeasue. I’ve never done it either. I’m sorry the heat has killed off the Sweet Peas. They are so fragile. Don’t knock yourself…2 lbs, is two lbs…bit by bit. Dad dancing, bless…and why not. A couple of moves. Cool do the evening after a hot day is a great pleasure.

What a swizz, HVDY. It’s like they draw you in and then find something to hit you with! And of course not even open on a Saturday either. I adored your photographs. I also am a big carrot fan. The posh ones dipped in mayo.

No, I wouldn’t turn down an invite either Scaredycat. If necessary bring own food…”Grandma’s tummy needs”…..goes down quite well. Going to M n S then Home Bargains is asking for it! Treats, then all that stuff one never knew one needed.

I’m having a time I never dreamed of. It’s all gentle and quiet. I am being gentle and quiet and it’s OK. DiL has a nice first evening and a chat and has gone up for 30 hours to see her sis who needs a hand, but she is actually leaving me and Ds to haves some space. The children dont ‘need” a lot now - little hugs and chats now and then, and it is great deal more quiet than previously. I was able to have an unimpeded sleep in the afternoon. After I threw myself into Krazy Kingdom not just supporting DGC L but having fun myself with the older DGD.

He he I only paid £1 on the door as an aging person but was diving through holes and sliding down slides. Not for too long, but better than the gym for me in some ways.

This stay, unless things go Topsy Turvey, are ..dare I say it..ground breaking?

Not a cat flea, EllieAnne, a cat flap xx

HVDY it was a pub/restaurant. Very nice. Just a country pub type thing. Yes I’m very lucky with my friends. They are very good to me. Went for lunch with another two friends today. But garden centre this time, meeting our sons at the hospice tomorrow. Can’t be
I’ve how old your granddaughters are now. It’s amazing LG is 3. Glad they get on together
Wyllow glad you’ve arrived safely and things are ok. Have a good rest now.
Scaredycat I’m another that wanders round a shop thinking oh that would be useful or I like that. As for m and s food. Well it all looks so tasty. Our m and s is in town so I don’t buy that much as I have to carry it back to the car park.
I do have some very lovely kind friends.
Sweetpeasue I love Wales. Such a beautiful place, where abouts are you going! Oh I envy your 2lb weight loss. I have been trying hard recently but going out to lunch makes it difficult. I mustn’t complain lots of different friends want to meet up for my birthday which is why I’m out so much over the next week or so. Playing havoc with my diet,
I’d love to see your DH dad dancing 🤣🤣
Oh Ellie Anne what more troubles do you need. Could you ask the neighbours if you could go in their garden to offer them treats? Does your daughter let them out?
Hopefully they’ll come back if they’re hungry. Big hug

Today sounds good, tomorrow after church sounds....just right, Doodle. May the weather be just right as you sit at the hospice.

No cat flap. And it’s starting to get dark. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can go to bed with him still out. I think the neighbour is away but if I go near the cat c he runs away .

Hi
EllieAnne- if your DD said to let the cats out it,ll be alright. Can you leave the door open for a while before bed and they might just walk in . It’s cooler in the evening so they are probably enjoying the night air. If she has Dreamies for them then you can tempt them in with them. If not get some tomorrow - most cats love them.
Please don’t cry or worry too much they are on familiar territory. Xxx

Still checking in you are bound to worry they have probably done this before but she didnt mention is is was usual xx

All the best for them returning soon to ease your mind.

SweetpeaSue 2lbs is great. Well done. My diet has been terrible - DH keeps buying nice food. He bought a Tiramisu last night (he doesn't like it, so I scoffed it all). When are you going to Wales? I've never been but Son2 and family were in Cardiff last weekend, for a few days, and loved it. Blackbirds are lovely, aren't they. We don't get many birds in our garden - I've got bird baths, and a feeding station thing that's full. I don't think it's because of Jaffa. Glad your DH has felt ok to do a bit of Dad dancing. What sort of music does he like?

EllieAnne Hope the cats came back ok. They must be used to going out, so will know their surroundings. They'll be back. Try to avoid "chasing" them.

Wyllow3 I'm so pleased to know you're having such a good visit. Those play centres are great for the kids- and agile adults . Enjoy your time with them.

Doodle It's great going out for meals. Enjoy your time with your sons today. When's your birthday?

ScaredyCat Most cats love Dreamies, don't they. Jaffa does, but can't have anything hard because it's no good for his Gingivitis. He loves Lick-e-Lix though. I bought some for Son2's 2 cats and GD2's cat & kitten as well.

It's very warm already. Another lazy day, ready for the busy 3 days ahead. Love to all x

Erm...not as agile as I fancied myself, HVDY. Pride goes before an ....extremely stiff start to the day. Never mind. I had a good time. Just be more cautious next.

Well it's rainy here, and sunny at home. Completely the wrong way round! Home needs the water....

I love St Davids, which is the far reaches of the SW in Wales, and gorgeous, but a long, long drive.

What are you up to today?

How are you EllieAnne x

later, all.

Hi all
HVDY- Who could resist a Tiramisu? One of our favourites.
Yes my daughters cats can’t eat dreamies either - they have about 4 teeth between them😸the boys love lickeys too. I keep them in the fridge for a cold treat - I love watching their little tongues polish them off.
I don’t think there is as many birds about as there was. It’s lovely watching them in the bath isn’t it.
Enjoy your lazy day- you,ve earned it. There is another heatwave on its way.🥵
Doodle- it will be lovely to be with your two boys at the hospice - a gentle place to remember a gentle man.
Our M and S is an out of town one with a car park etc. Its too close really cos it’s a continuous temptation.
When is your birthday? You deserve the best of days .
SweetPeaSue- You will love Wales it is so beautiful. Pembrokeshire is gorgeous such lovely beaches. I do hope you can go. Your DH is getting fit with his Dad dancing- a lovely mental picture.
Wyllow- that was such a heartwarming post and to hear the joy in your words was wonderful. I would have loved to see you whizzing about at the play place.
You can enjoy quiet time too with your Son and the GC- it’s such a special feeling days. I am so happy for you.
EllieAnne- I do hope the cats came back - their stomachs would have probably got them home. So sorry your first night was such a stressful one. Kept thinking about you.

Well everyone would you believe my nieces Op was cancelled on the day !! She was already at the hospital. It beggars belief
that after 2 and a half years they did that to her.
I don’t know why yet . Watch this space.
I,m dreading our next heatwave - today is hot enough but it,ll be in the 30,s again🥵
Wishing you all a peaceful Sundayxx