Hobbies and Crafts

No problem Kandj, all welcome! The garden is looking good isn't it? Must be great to have a blank canvas!

Yes not a nice day here either, humid and very drizzly most of the day, no sun at all. And the day not improved by the first of two dentist appointments this morning. Deep cleaned one side now (loads of injections first and a bone chart made apparently (wondered what he was doing in my mouth!) Next appointment is Friday.

Jane that was not a very nice experience in Greece in the 70s. Where were you working then?

Maryanna, sounds like you had a good party in the end then after all the mishaps and what have you. Glad you all enjoyed yourselves. Is that it for this year, I am quite exhausted reading about all your preparations so I am sure that you are ready for a rest.

Hello All

Sunshine and showers for us today and humid so not really very nice at all.

Just had a look at the make-over for Vera's garden. There has been a lot of hard work and it will be beautiful and worthwhile Vera when you get all the planting in place.

Thanks Ann for adding the photos to the blog.

Sounds like the party went well then Maryanna :-D.5 hours at the table is pretty good !!!.I think our longest was about 4 hrs.I bet the wine was flowing :-D
Had to laugh about you worrying about showing your 'knickers' when you fell.Shame on everyone not coming to your aid :-S.It reminded me of when I worked in Athens in 1972.I was wearing a mini skirt and just walking along one of the main roads in the city with my friend.An elderly Greek lady came up to me and told me that a man was taking photos of me as my skirt was hitched up in my pants :-S :-S..Shock ,horror!!!
I tackled the man (not physically) and got him to take the roll of film out of the camera . Turned out he was working for Paris Match Mag !!.I just remember threatening that I would report him to the police .(not that they would have done anything :-S )

Must have a look at Vera's pics now.

All I have seen in the way of Butterflies so far are loads of cabbage Whites on my Purple Sprouting and Kale some tiny blue ones and a few brown ones,not sure if they are Tortoiseshells but no Peacocks or Red Admirals at all.

M.

Kandj yes I remember that one too although I can't recite them off by heart.

We still have not had any butterflies on our buddleia, I am wondering if maybe there are not so many around this year.

Vera's garden photos are on the photo blog.

When the kids were small we had a Wendy House in the garden. Our daughter and her little brother used to like having honey sandwiches for tea, which they would eat at a little table and chairs in the Wendy house.

It had a clock on the front and the hands were always pointing to ten to three.

I have been chuckling over Ann's two piece bottom and the thought of Jane's behind in the air on a punt.

Recently a charity shop in town had a big sign outside offering, ladies bottoms half price. People were curled up with laughter as they walked past.

When we were in France last year, I was trailing along behind everyone else taking photos, as usual. The next thing I knew I was flat on my face, backside up in the air, by the side of the road. Oh and I was wearing a shortish sundress, just hope I wasn't flashing my knickers. I was just worried I hadn't damaged my camera.

A car driving by tried to stop but got hooted at by the one behind them so carried on. A man on the other side of the road thought it was hilarious and stood laughing at me and then called his son over, he was about eight, and they both just watched as I struggled to my feet, I had an enormous gash on one knee and grazed all down my left arm and leg. Luckily I had loads of plasters and wipes in my bag.

We then went to look at some cave paintings and I bashed my head on a stalagmite on the way in, himself then walked into it on the way out !!!

Yesterday went very well, twenty of us, one table in the dining room with the conservatory doors open and another in the conservatory, fortunately our dining table seats ten, twelve at a push.

I proved to Himself that three large chickens and a big leg of lamb were not too much although I possibly did too many new potatoes. Anyway we managed to stay seated for over five hours !!!

We had four different puddings and I made Himself the biggest birthday cake in the world. Well, nearly.


The only disappointment was that we couldn't get to sit outside although I did drag everyone out after pudding and before coffee and cheese for a tour of the garden.

Kandj both bumps are doing well and most of the Little ones spots have gone so she can go back to nursery for the last few days of term.

Vera, I am so jealous, the thought of starting a new garden ......... Enjoy !

M.

I can remember those lines from the Rupert Brooke poem from schooldays. We had an English teacher Mr Goddard who LOVED poetry and shared his enthusiasm with us all.
Another one by Rupert Brooke I also remember is The Soldier........

If I should die, think only this of me;
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped , made aware
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam.
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home.

Anyone remember this one too? Takes me way, way back!!

Ann, perhaps you have to be a certain age before knowing these poems???

Vera, thanks for the hug very welcome just now. Perhaps you should start a poetry thread? I'm pleased your workmen have gone and your frog left in peace again.
The birds should find you when all is back in order with feeders and new birdbath.

Maryanna, I hope the sun shone for your family get together later today and that everyone settled down so you could relax and have a great time together.

Jane, only the one red admiral butterfly briefly this morning. No others around yet.
I split a rather overgrown Buddliea bush and not sure I have done the right thing now, but time will tell and I'm hopeful the butterflies will be back very soon.

Not a lot of birds visiting here today either. See what tomorrow brings.

I quoted those two lines to my daughte in law and she didn't have a clue either :-D

The tea was provided on the boat. Tables nicely laid with white cloths, scone with jam and cream and a few blueberries and strawberries on our plates, and tea or coffee to drink.

As we were going towards Grantchester in the boat one of our group said "is there honey still for tea? " and I said something like "that depends on whether the church clock still stands at ten to three". I was surprised that hardly anyone in our group had a clue what we were talking about. We got some very strange looks. You could almost hear them thinking "Poor souls, the sun's frazzled their brains" :-D

From the poem The Old Vicarage Grantchester: By Rupert Brooke

Do hares come out about the corn?
Oh, is the water sweet and cool,
Gentle and brown, above the pool?
And laughs the immortal river still
Under the mill, under the mill? 135
Say, is there Beauty yet to find?
And Certainty? and Quiet kind?
Deep meadows yet, for to forget
The lies, and truths, and pain?… oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three? 140
And is there honey still for tea?

I love Grantchester although not had a cream tea there. When we used to go to Cambridge when we lived over that side of the country we used to walk from Cambridge to grantchester along the river.

Vera ,did you have your Cream Tea in Grantchester in the lovely Tea Garden there?
I'm so glad the Frog hasn't gone elsewhere with everything that has been going on in the garden.He must like it with you :-D
I bet you are itching now to get everything done .I like the sound of the birdbath .It is the Pidgeons that seem to make all the mess in ours,and of course they do big poos :-S :-S.We are always hosing our birdbath out.
I see the window feeder needs topping up..Better do that now.Keep the birds happy :-D

Jane, you have been giving me a good giggle at the thought of you head down and bottom up. A couple of years ago I went flying in Chelmsford High Strret and as I lay there sprawled across the pavement with the contents of my bag strewn around and my glasses damaged, all I could think was "thank goodness I'm wearing trousers" :-D We weren't on punts but a riverboat with an engine. It was a 2 hour trip with a cream tea. The boat is apparently licensed for 110 passengers. All I can say is it must be very cosy with that many on board. There were 20 of us and there was plenty of room but there was no way we could have had another 90 on board.

What a weekend you have had Maryanna. I hope you are at least enjoying today and that you are getting better weather than we are here.

Kandj, I hope you are feeling a little less tired now. A hug for you <3

Ann, I hope Luke had a whale of a day on his birthday. He looks such a poppet.

Our garden people finished Wednesday evening. I haven't seen any birds much since then though of course I have no feeders up yet. Haven't seen Humphrey the frog either though the garden men did say before they left that he was still around as they had kept moving him to a safe place while they were working. He is probably one very confused frog.

We had a look at bird baths while we were out yesterday. We have a spot that is just asking for one. Some of them were very ornate and I was imagining trying to scrub bird poo off all the fancy scrolls etc. I saw a plain one I liked, just a shallow bowl on a pedestal but it had a nice shape to it so I think we'll be going for something like that.

I want to get the planting under way soon so that I can sort out where to put feeders. I hardly know how to fill my time now I'm not constantly making fat cakes ;-)

It wasn't a pretty sight Ann :-S.I will be careful next time (if there is a next time lol)
Oh Maryanna !!!!!!..It sounds like a Sit Com (sorry :-D).Hopefully now things are going full swing with your 'do'.The sun is coming out here now ,so maybe it has with you.

Ann that sounded a lovely route home.Much prettier than the old Motorway.I went to Moreton in Marsh a few years ago to see if could find any record of my Mum's Brother who was killed in the war when his plane crashed there.

Kandj,I have told the Butterflies that you would love to see them.Did they arrive today?
We haven't seen so many ,probably to do with the rain :-|

Mens tennis getting very exciting now :-D..It is so close.I am up and down from my chair like a YoYo.OH can hear me and he is out in the Summerhouse lol...Looks like the roof might be closing any minute now.

Jane, I now have this vision of an upside down you in a punt! :-D Daughter in law and grandson got home from a couple of days in Cambridge as we arrived there on Friday.

Maryanna, sounds as if everything that could go wrong has done so hope all was well for the actual get together. Would also hope that youngest son now realises what overindulging results in. Or was it something he ate? Ugh sticky coke must be horrible to get off, especially as, no doubt you had been cleaning for the occasion. (I thought they had all left home now? yoyo children?

Kandj As far as I can tell Luke had a wonderful birthday. There are lots of children on his mum's side so he has a ready made party for occasions.

We had a lovely weekend in Milton Keynes, eaten far too much. DiL tends not to cook so we had takeaway chinese friday and quiche and slad Saturday then son took us all out for brunch this morning so we had a full English and I am NOT getting on the scales now!! Also went out for snack lunch where they do rather nice sandwiches and tea in proper tea cups yesterday (our treat that time, just 4 of us that time as son stayed home to watch cricket and grandson was working. Son had won yet another competition and had a gift card from BHS so treated me to a pull on type sundress for over swimsuit and a top to match the two piece bottom I already have. And Granddaughter also had a couple of things. :-) :-)

We then drove home via the country route over the Cotswolds instead of via the M40/A34 and A40 from Oxford. Drove through the lovely villages, one of which was Aynho, to Chipping Norton, the Moreton in Marsh, Stow, Andoversford and into Gloucester. It was sunny and showery until a cloudburst as we came into Gloucester but sunny again when we got home. :-)

Hello All

Cambridge sounds good with lady friends Vera, but not so good at all for those poor frightened dogs! What on earth was the horrible cruel man thinking of? I just wish someone had rescued the two dogs and then pushed the man into the water so that he had a taste of his own medicine!

Jane, would you believe I drew the blinds this morning and a beautiful red admiral butterfly was there, such a nice surprise, so please will you send others along today

Maryanna, please don't give up ha ha. Sounds like a typical family gathering so just go with the flow, it can only get better! I hope the sun comes out and your daughter's back becomes more comfortable and that everything will be great soon.
What was the family occasion please? Obviously someone's birthday.... more cake!!

Ann ,I love all the beautiful flowers at Hidcote gardens. Thanks for sharing them.
I'm sure Luke had a good 2nd birthday with lots of fun and pressies galore.
Now where did all those months go to??!! He looks as cute as ever bless him.

Do you know what, I give up !!!

The " do " is today, Sunday, typically after all the sun we have had recently, it has decided to pack in, no chance of getting the tables into the garden and sitting in the sun.

Yesterday, Himself went out for the day, on the way out of the drive he took out a gate post and dented his car. ( lucky it wasn't mine he was driving ) so he went off half an hour later than planned in a panic.

Soon after, daughter and little one arrived, so that meant getting out all her toys to show her Uncles....... Two of them then took her off the the local park to play and catch some fish in the stream they all came back soaked.

Daughter is suffering with a bad back so not able to do much to help and daughter in law was using a voucher she had for a spa day, eldest son went out on a twelve mile walk.

In the evening youngest son arranged to meet his friends in Guildford, missed the train so had to be given a lift.

Everyone disappeared to bed 10 ish leaving me to make a birthday cake. I went to bed at midnight only to be woken up 1ish by a loud bang and then the sound of scrubbing.

At 3am youngest son came home only to find his father had locked him out so had to ring the bell and bang on the door to be let in. He then spent most of what was left of the night throwing up in the ( newly scrubbed ) bathroom.

I went down this morning to find the hall covered in brown sticky stuff, whatever ???!!!

Turns out Himself had dropped a can of Coke on the mat as he came in, it had gone all over the outside if the front door, the carpet, doors to the living room, loo and study, the two side tables, the curtains....... Everywhere.

Thank goodness the new front door has been delayed so we haven't had the new carpet put down yet, phew !!!! But the new decorating has a few extra embellishments.

He tells me it will " be alright" and to stop going on.

Nothing like a nice family get together, they will all be here in a few hours, lunch is planned for 1pm.

Keep you fingers crosse nothing else goes wrong.

Sounds like everyone else has been having fun !!!

M.

What an idiot that man was Vera :-S :-S.Cruel comes to mind especially if the dogs were scared to go in.Plus nowhere to get out !!!!!!.
What kind go boat were you in?.2 years ago OH and I had a punt ride and as I was getting in I ended up head first in the bottom of the punt :-S..I can't begin to tell you embarrassed I was.I was just glad I was wearing trousers lol as my Backside was right up in the air.We are going to Cambridge on Monday,but not having a punt :-D.I need to change a handbag that OH bought me for my birthday.Bless him .It was a lovely thought but was really not my kind of bag.So rather than say it was lovely and not use it I was honest :-D.I hope he understood.

I saw a Mummy Duck today with about 8 or 10 tiny yellow chicks.But they were on the pavement on one of the busiest roads :-S :-S.I am just hoping that they got to the river at the bottom without trying to cross the road,because there was no way they would have survived that.

Kandj I think all the Butterflies must be here then.They are everywhere :-D
I hope you are having a good Weekend and that the weather has been as nice as it has been here today.

I expect the Family do will be in full swing at Maryanna's now :-D :-D

Morning everyone,

I spent yesterday in Cambridge with a ladies' group I belong to and in the afternoon we had a boat trip on the river. We saw lots of dragonflies, swans and ducks including a duck with 8 tiny ducklings. They were so small they must have been newly hatched. Later we saw another duck with just one duckling and think any others she had were probably taken by predators. I hope her one child survives till adulthood.

As the boat was manoeuvring by a lock gate we saw a man on the bank push one of his two dogs into the river. The dog was only a few feet from the engine of the boat and one of the crew yelled at the chap to get his dog out of the water. Then we realised that in that spot there was nowhere for the dog to get a paw hold to haul itself out and it wasn't wearing a collar for anyone to grab. The owner had to lean over the water and get hold of a chunk of skin and fur to pull the poor animal out.
As the boat straightened and moved away we saw the man push both his very reluctant dogs into the water again. I'm not sure if he was being deliberately unkind or if he just lacked common sense but they were not happy dogs. :-(

Good Morning All

A nice sunny day today. I have washed the bird baths and filled the window and ground feeders, so just sitting back to see who fancies putting in an appearance today

No butterflies here Jane, or none that I have noticed. Better go to Spe*sav*rs!
Andy Murray lost out to Roger Federer yesterday despite our two supportive efforts.

Maryanna, I hope that all is now good with your daughter's pregnancy and that you all will be able to relax and enjoy your families get together this weekend.

Hope everyone is well and will have a good weekend whatever you all have planned