Hobbies and Crafts

Wow Ann, I hope you were sitting down when you were presented with that bill....!!

Vera, we also have lots of starling here and they are very greedy too.
What is nice for past couple of days though is the fledgling sparrows come often to the window feeder and it's wonderful to see these tiny bird feeding all on their own now.

The bell for Thomas seems to be working well Jane in warning the birds of his approach

Maryanna that does seem to he an over the top price for carpeting your hall, stairs and landing......... back to the drawing board perhaps for a more reasonable quote?

Kandj it was several fairly big jobs, the car is 13 years old - I have had it for 7 and haven't spent much on it up unril now. I was sort of expecting it.

Yes we have the fledgeling sparrows too, sweet arent't they?

Carpet update........ We had another local firm in to quote, I told Himself it was a waste of time as the carpet was £8 sq m.more than the other one.

However, it just goes to show, and I have to admit that ( For once ) I was wrong.

Different carpet widths, obviously a different way of measuring and a bit of jiggling, a seam where it doesn't really matter and it was nearly £900 less !!!!!!

I really can't see how it can be so much less for a dearer carpet but they don't charge for laying or taking up and disposing of the old one or delivery like the other place did.

Himself went straight down and booked it, before they change their minds.

Loads of Starlings here too, we didn't have any at all during the Winter, saw a Red Kite again earlier too and there were some little fluffy Blue Tit babies on the feeders.

M.

Ooh so you are getting a nice new carpet and not having to go for cheaper. That is great Maryanna. What colour?

Big hole in the pocket then Ann :-S.But at least you know now all is done and hopefully running like a dream :-D

That is a good deal then Maryanna.When will you be having the carpet fitted? It is always such an upheaval though.When we had our bedroom one fitted the new bed arrived at the same time.But luckily the fitters had almost finished and were just clearing up.
Oh Vera underfloor wouldn't suit me then especially if it takes a long time to cool down.I can't stand being hot.

We have lots of Goldfinch about at the moment...They are lovely little birds .
Yes the bell seems to be working so far.Fingers crossed it continues that way :-D

It was nice to see that the Robin has been chosen as our National Bird :-D

We are having a new front door put in at the beginning of July so not until after that is done, just in case.

It's a sort of deep cream. / Light gold colour with a very slight fleck, it will look a bit different to the terracotta we have at present.

The old carpet matched the old wallpaper we had but when we decorated after the rain came in last Winter, we went for a more cream and caramel colour scheme.

Not too much furniture to move, a couple of chairs and side tables a wooden chest and a bureau. The study need doing desperately but moving that lot would be as bad as moving house. Books to the ceiling on three walls, desk, filing cabinet......

"Luckily " upstairs , well the bedrooms, were pretty much all done after last years rain damage as well.

Back to Somerset tonight, catch up with the goings on down there. It's funny not doing the weekly commute any more but it makes it more special going every other week or so. Not sure what we will do when I retire next month.

M.

Sounds lovely and light. It will look good and spacious.

I am chasing my tail this morning trying to get everything done before going away. Go to Heathrow this afternoon to stay in a Premier Inn, fly tomorrow, Cruise sunday. Back 21st. Not putting it on general as too many people read that, don't like broadcasting it.

Have a lovely time Ann. Where is your cruise taking you?

I think we might be going without holidays this year though I am still hoping for a last minute autumn break. Our garden work starts next Monday and is going to cost the GDP of a small country.

Then yesterday we went out to buy a cheapish piece of jewellery as a keepsake for granddaughter, 18 next week. We are giving her a cheque as her main present. Ended up paying more than planned as we saw the perfect piece for her. Then OH saw a very large round clock that was perfect for a blank kitchen wall. While in that shop I saw an odd chair that was just right for a spare bedroom and then we found a kitchen table and four chairs that was just what we wanted to replace our tatty old set! The final thing was looking for some wallpaper to do just one wall in the dining area of our kitchen-diner. Looked at all the cheaper ones in B & Q and ended up paying £52 a roll for one made by Sanderson that had to be ordered. Good job we only needed 3 rolls. Oh well, it's only the kid's inheritance we're spending :-D

It's an expensive month anyway as 4 of my 5 grandchildren have birthdays this month.

Your carpet sounds lovely Maryanna and at a good price.

Off now to make yet more fat cakes for the birds.

I am sure you enjoyed spending that money as it all sounded like things you really liked. Wallpaper is probably worth the extra too as if you are like us it has to last a while. Nice having days like that when everything falls into place.

we are flying to Miami and cruising the Western caribbean, not a holiday we'd choose but our son won it and gave it to us. Of course it has cost us a small fortune in extras!!! So not a cheap or free holiday. I am sure we will enjoy it once we get through all the beaurocracy and actually get on board. :-D :-D

That was nice of your son to give you the holiday he won.

A lady I know has just come back from a fly/cruise holiday that was paid for by her friend's boss as a retirement present for the friend. He paid all the costs, apart from spending money, for the two of them. There are still some nice people around :-D :-D

He found he was unable to take it vera and he also paid to upgrade the stateroom to a balcony one. We are at a premier Inn now. Traffic is horrendous out on the M4. :-)

Ann have a wonderful holiday.Nice to be given a freebie (even though as you say it is still costing you a fair bit LOL).It sounds wonderful.A balcony too is a real bonus on a cruise :-D Sounds like it is going be quite luxurious.

I hope you and OH have a brilliant time on the cruise Ann. It sounds amazing!

Vera, your granddaughter is sure to be over the moon with your 18th birthday gift.

Maryanna, you must be so relieved to have chosen a new carpet at a good price.

Jane I agree also that the Robin is a good choice for our National Bird.

A good day weather wise today but forecast to be a rain/windy weekend!
Usually our garden birds hide away when this sort of weather is about... ....
sensible birds, methinks.

It looks like something could be brewing here now.Just been outside and the atmosphere feels a bit strange :-S.Not too many birds singing either ,and they normally go on until at least 10 these nights.maybe they have all hunkered down .I think I will do that now :-D

Have a fabulous time Ann, the Carribean........ Just give us a thought or two in the cold and rain.

It seems our celebrations are to carry on a bit longer. Tonight we are having a meal in a very nice restaurant in Porlock Weir, just up the road from us. It has been paid for by my Husbands brother and sister in law. Yum yum.

As I walked in the house yesterday I was faced by another load of balloons, I had forgotten there were some here as well. I can't get over them all staying up for so long.

There is a little bird fluttering around the windows, he won't stay still for long enough to let me identify him.

Vera, sounds like you have had a right old spend up, my type of girl !!!!

M.

Maryanna that was a nice kind thought from your brother in law. Enjoy your meal out.

Heavy rain for most of today which put paid to all thoughts of the gardening plans that I had in mind for today. Tomorrow is forecast to be pretty much the same too.
Hey ho..... at least it will save me a job of watering the garden and all the tubs!

Hardly any birds today, so I guess they are hiding in the shrubbery to keep warm and dry. Sensible idea methinks. You wouldn't guess that it is June would you?
Ann and OH are sure to be enjoying their special cruise in the warm Med.

Hope you enjoyed your meal Maryanna. Also hope Ann is a bit warmer than we are. Had lots of rain and now it is grey, damp and cold. I'm waiting for friends to arrive at the moment. They are staying a couple of days so I'm hoping tomorrow will be better weather.

Just looked out of the window and there are 12 starlings and three fat pigeons on and around the feeder and the 6" square fat cake OH put out this morning has almost gone. A couple of them are having a right squabble over the remains of the fat cake. No wonder the little birds are keeping out of the way.

I think friends may have got lost - they have never been here before. If they don't arrive soon I'm opening the wine anyway :-D

:-D Vera I hope your visitors have arrived.....any wine left?
Another lovely meal out then Maryanna !!!!..You have done well haven't you :-D :-D.Your celebrations have gone on and on .What a year to remember :-D

Bet Ann is out at sea now with lots of sun and hot weather maybe on the balcony supping a cocktail or two:-)
I am cooking Roast Beef....and just caught 'the cat' lapping the beef juices out of the little cup I had drained it off into :-| :-| :-|.....so what was left has now been poured away :-(...I must remember cover everything.He has gone out with a flea in his ear now.

The meal was lovely, it was a fish tasting menu, so all fish.

I am not normally too keen on fish, it will usually be the last thing I choose to eat but this was four courses, fish soup, cured salmon, skate and Mullet all done differently and perfectly cooked. Along with a glass of fizz, of course, and a lemony pudding.

We then met our eldest son and wife in the pub next door for a few drinks afterwards. Bump coming along very nicely, she certainly is a fidget bum, bouncing about all over the place.

We have just come back from a picnic on the moor. There were two little grey Wagtails pottering about and at one point I looked up are there were NINE buzzards circling overhead. Looked like a load of Vultures waiting for one of to peg out !!!!

Lovely and sunny here but blinking cold.

M.

Hello All

The meal sounds good to me Maryanna as I love fish and the menu sounds delicious.

Jane, is your pusscat still in the naughty corner???!!!

A beautiful sunny day here today. I think that Summer has arrived at long last.

The usual birds at the window and ground feeders, it's lovely to see the fledglings now.