Friday, 1 July 2022
Unsurprising
Thursday, 30 June 2022
All Tired
Sharon - I sometimes feel that my attention span is like when you drip water onto a red hot pan and it hisses and sizzles and scatters everywhere. I will share if I find the secret of how to get things done. It sometimes seems impossible.
Eileen - that is great advice, and I feel incredibly hugged. Thank you.
I took another pic of the fuchsia. The rest of the garden is something of a fail, but this at least is glorious.
I dropped bear off this morning, then called in at Tesco. They had some frozen stuff that we like which they hadn't had for a while, so I stocked up. I thought that while I was at it, I would do one of the two 10% off shops that I get per month. I'm sure I forgot loads, but I remembered things like toothpaste and stock cubes. I also picked up some candles that were on sale for me and some fruit and nut mixture for DH. The candle that I started with is very disappointing. It's quite a large one, and if I had paid more than £3.50 for it, I would have been very upset. I also picked up half a dozen packs of cereal for bear. There are so many cheaper ways of getting breakfast into him, but this works and he finds Tesco own brand acceptable. All in all, with offers, Clubcard prices and the 10% off I got a total of around £15 off. There wasn't much fruit and veg - there is plenty of frozen veg in and I only buy fruit as needed, but there is enough of the frozen stuff to make family dinners for weeks. I need to make an ongoing list, so that when I come to the next 10% off (not until 20th July) then I can get all that I need.
I didn't get much done today. By the time I had got home from shopping, it was nearly time to leave for pick up. DH isn't well. He's had to go to the doctor today, and I'm quite worried. I'm trying to think of good ways to make a fuss of him. Then I picked up bear and, after he got changed at home, took him climbing. It's a new place that they have just opened and it's awesome. Bear spent an hour or so there, which I think is great for him. He didn't have any exams today, and he just has one tomorrow. Tomorrow's exam is quite long, so he may be late out of school, and then he has some sort of presentation thingy before the whole dratted thing is over by 6th July. I'm encouraging him to go climbing regularly, as often as he likes, because I think the exercise is good for him among the studying. He was doing a practice paper tonight for his exam tomorrow, so it's not as if he's neglecting his schoolwork.
Bear is exhausted after climbing and all the exams. DH is exhausted because he isn't well and they aren't sure why. I'm just exhausted. I'm going to make a list of things that I need to do tomorrow and then crawl off to bed. I'm hoping that if I make the list, even if I only tick one thing off, it at least makes it harder for me to forget things.
I think that will be my first step - to commit to making a rough list of things I should remember for the next day. I won't expect perfection, it's just a way of organising my thoughts.
Hugs and good health to all.
Leaf or Leaves
Wednesday, 29 June 2022
Blast from the Past
I haven't got anything decent for Jan 2014 in my photo reel, so here is one of my favourites from March 2020.
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
I Worry
Cherie - I'm considering a bin bag! Bear has not given me access, but hasn't complained of losing anything so I'll take it as a win. I can't remember whether it's the cheap one, the expensive one or what. There's three and a half weeks left until the end of the term and then we can work on getting something (inexpensive) that he wants.
Bless - thank you. I can walk but I'm not enjoying moving. I first had it when I had bear, and that pretty much crippled me!
Eileen - thank you!
Bear had Chemistry and Biology exams today. The poor kid is shattered. He thinks he did okay in them, but we'll have to see. He said there were a few bits that he didn't know from last school year when he was spending so much time at the hospital. He is so much better now that it's hard to remember how much time we spent going back and forth to the hospital. I asked him if he would be okay to catch up and he said he would be fine. There are loads of YouTube videos about the exams, he said.
And this is where I started to worry. Bear told me that there are dozens and dozens of sites that promise that they could get kids 9s in their exams. 9 is the top mark these days, with 1 at the bottom. A 5 is considered a reasonable pass and I think it's the mark that is the equivalent of a C and will get you into most basic 'needs half way decent maths and English' starter jobs.
There is so much pressure on kids, though, that I worry. I wonder how many of these sites are scams, or misleading, or just wrong. I haven't got a hope of telling which is which myself. How could kids of 15 and 16 be expected to know? I hope bear can find his way through this, and I'll do all I can to encourage him, but it's a worry.
I'm off for an early night now after failing at sleep last night. I did get a pic earlier about some strands of the healthy(ish) honeysuckle that have intertwined. I think I need to get some string over them and coax them along to the trellis that we bought for the dead honeysuckle. Sigh.
It's not brilliant, but it's the best I've managed so far.
Hugs and good health to all.
Monday, 27 June 2022
Thinking of Something Else
Friday, 24 June 2022
Out of the House
Deborah - I blame father. He planted a allegedly small fuchsia in the house where I grew up. It was massive, cracked a sewer pipe and had to be hacked back regularly so that the postman could get through. My mother took cuttings before we left during the divorce, but they never really did anything as it was her and not my father. This is just the same. I am absolutely stealing that tip about thread and socks. Currently, bear has grey socks for school, but that won't last and then it will be black socks all round!
Bless - Thank you. Lists are such a help. I love seeing pics from your garden.
Cherie - I may try rooting honeysuckle cuttings. Do you recommend rooting powder?
Eileen - I am definitely the shortest now. Bear is no longer a little lad. He hasn't been for some time. I am also the least intelligent of the three of us, and I don't consider myself particularly slow. You learn to keep up or switch off in this house. I am still annoyed by the bag. I hope I have learned my lesson - haunt the charity shops and be patient.
I spent most of the day out of the house. I dropped the car off at the garage for a full service and MOT. I got all the fancy add ons for the service. The poor car rarely goes above 40mph and spends a lot of time in queuing traffic, which isn't good for the engine. She is 7 years old now, and I hope to keep her going for a few years yet. She needed two new tyres and some parts for the suspension, which isn't surprising given the condition of the roads. I could have held off on these, but I thought I would get them done so I didn't worry.
I called into Leeds, but I was too hot and headachy to want to shop. I took a pic of the inside of the Corn Exchange (didn't get anything) and the Time Ball building (used to be a noted clockmaker).
As the buses to the garage are only one per hour, I got the bus back before they called me. They were happy for to sit in the waiting room where there is complimentary tea and coffee and no pressure. They were also fine with me sitting there and knitting for a few hours. They were really awesome. It's a chain called In n Out Autocentres, and they are described as 'female friendly'. They are also recommended by Which. I didn't bother with the tea or coffee, but I really enjoyed the chance to knit. I took a pic of the start, but forgot to take a pic at the end of the afternoon and I've knitted another inch or two since. This is the start.
And it's about double the length now. I'm knitting a lace curtain (King Cole's Opium in white, cast on 101 stitches, plain knit for the first three rows, then eyelet stitch to thread the curtain wire, then plain knit until it's long enough). I need two - one for each side of the porch and one slightly longer for the inner door. I'm hoping that they will provide some protection from heat and cold while still allowing light through.
Bear had a day at home pretty much to himself, as DH was working upstairs. He looked a lot more relaxed when I got home, and he was talking about the maths revison he had done. He said it was something about proofs and circles. I hadn't a clue.
Hugs and good health to all.
Thursday, 23 June 2022
Lists Continue
Wednesday, 22 June 2022
Making a List
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
£108 and Culture
Friday, 17 June 2022
Very Warm
Thursday, 16 June 2022
Drama Drama
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
Not Caught Up
Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Dashing Through
Couldn't leave it a second longer without saying thanks for the good wishes which felt like wonderful hugs and I have been so grateful.
I am also grateful that bear found his keys after a year of them being missing. It's a mixed blessing as he was actually looking for his gym kit which has apparently evaporated and he needs it tomorrow. Due to more than average chaos, I need to try and find it in the miscellaneous heap that is my ironing pile/textile heap/dining room so I will be gone for quite some time.
Writing stuff - and link to Unwelcome Instructions, next in the Under Dark Hills series is here.
Monday, 13 June 2022
All Clear
Bless - thank you!
Cherie - I may suggest that, though there may be a certain wastage along the way! I've always accepted that he would be a bottomless pit, and I swear he's grown an inch or two since Christmas. He needs the fuel. I'm just trying to work out the healthiest way to get that fuel into him.
I'll catch up more tomorrow, but I had to wait around for hours today between various consults and painful examinations. I didn't want to take the bulky blanket in to keep my hands busy while I waited so I started a few rows at home and took in a very basic triangle shawl - knit only and increase on the first stitch every row, but with King Cole's Opium, which looks very fancy knitted up. Look how much I got done!
It's about twenty inches long, or half a metre. Mind you, it was lovely and mindless knitting.
I got an all clear apart from a very slight question mark which I'll get followed up in a fortnight. Then I picked up bear (who had a late drama practice) and staggered home for dinner and now I am exhausted enough to collapse.
Hugs and good health to all.
Friday, 10 June 2022
Staggering On
Thursday, 9 June 2022
Bear is Not Happy
Sharon - I saw the pic of the hanging basket and it's awesome!
Cherie - for some reason, I decided to grow runner beans up the fan trellis. I hope that I do alright with that. The square trellis is east facing in a south facing garden, and between to central heating vents so it's quite a warm spot. Someone like you could grow anything there! I mainly manage honeysuckle that refuses to die and weeds.
Eileen - bear bought huge amounts of food, but I didn't see the exact details. All I know is that not only did he hoover up every crumb, but he wandered up to the car eating a bun from Greggs that he had bought on the way down from school. I take it as normal for teenagers.
I'm not sure whether it was Johnny or Amber Squirrel tap dancing on the bins this morning. However I see a lot of squashed squirrels on the roads at this time of year, and I saw one hit by a car earlier this week, so I think it's the time of year when the young leave the nest and try and find new territories. We may be a new territory. I'm not sure how long it will last, as there is a lot of rat poison around, but for now we have a cute, bushy tailed thug or two hanging off the bird feeder. DH said he watched one this afternoon going through all sorts of contortions to get to the bird food while being harassed by sparrows.
Bear got his exam timetable today. The exams are supposed to be spread over two weeks, but most of his are concentrated in one week. His head of year has protested, but I don't think they can do much.
Apart from that, I managed to dither to an Olympic standard today and I think I shall crawl off to an early night.
Hugs and good health to all.
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
An Improvement
Eileen - the honeysuckle is in a south facing garden and I don't always water as I should. It's doomed! I'll spend some time on the net and have a look for some ideas.
Sharon - thank you. The rose smells amazing as well. I bet your garden has a real sense of beauty in it, though. You have such an eye when you are taking pics.
I've still not got caught up with reading the blogs I enjoy.
Today was another 'off balance' day. We had to leave the house early as bear had a school trip. He needed a packed lunch. I thought about the days when I was sending him to primary school with the packed lunch and the absolute torment I went through. No matter what I packed, no matter what I suggested, he didn't like it. What is worse, he would never tell me something that he would like. That lad has driven me to the edge. This morning I put some ice packs in an insulated lunch bag and took him to Tesco. I told him to go to the sandwich counter and get whatever he wanted. He did. He took some time fitting everything into the lunch bag, which wasn't that small. I'm just glad if he'll eat.
The school trip was to Huddersfield University, where they spent some time with the Holocaust Exhibition and there was a workshop. I haven't had the full details as bear was shattered and fell asleep in the car home. They also got a tour of the university. Bear thought it was awesome.
After dropping off bear, I waited in for the man to come and replace the shower. This meant that I couldn't settle to much as I was up and down turning electricity off and on, then turning the stop cock off. Then there was an embarrassing moment when I had to ask the plumber to turn the dratted thing on again because I had been so enthusiastic turning it off that I couldn't turn it back! He was a sweetheart, really, and so patient.
Then the button didn't work, and he had to come back and jiggle things around, and then by the time he had gone and I had caught my breath, I was on my way out to pick up bear. Poor bear was shattered, but voluntarily practiced his music. I think that it relaxes him.
I snapped a few pics this morning. The fuchsia is really blooming
It's like a curtain of flowers. And the white rose looks like it will be full of flower, despite the black spot.
And I'm not sure whether it was Johnny or Amber on the fence this morning, but they were very disappointed that the pigeons had got to the peanuts first.
Hugs and good health to all.
Tuesday, 7 June 2022
Another Ditsy Day
Sharon - I've had a slow leak in the past, but they could patch the tyre so it wasn't too bad. I'll have to keep an eye on it.
Bless - I think a good prune may be in order. I don't want to use chemicals if I can help it as there are so many birds coming now. I've given the mechanics chocolates before now - my car has a very touchy set of sensors! Thank you for the compliments on the plants. The fuchsia is a thug, but the yellow rose is a miracle! I bought it for pennies from a garden centre when it was marked down because it was nearly dead. It's far older than bear, has survived aphids and the encroaching fuchsia and smells absolutely amazing. I think I accidentally got it right. Here is a pic of the rose.
Eileen - I've always left the berries for the birds. The sparrows are definitely in charge of that bush!
I wasn't meaning to buy a frying pan, but I have a new one. I popped into Morrisons first thing for some salad, and I saw a Tefal frying pan 32cm for £18. My frying pan, which has had some meals cooked in it, is starting to show a small amount of wear. As it is non-stick, I want to get rid of it as soon as it starts flaking. I've been looking around a little half heartedly, so when I saw a decent price, I got it. It's a decent depth as well, which is useful. I use the frying pan for chilis, pasta sauces, curries and mince. I practically never just fry something.
The little honeysuckle is looking very sad in the corner. I had a quick look at the big honeysuckle near the gate
And that has some poorly looking leaves as well. Even the white rose that father planted is covered in black spot.
This is quite frustrating because we arranged the garden around that dratted plant. We had honeysuckle in the tyres near the wall between us and next door but I wanted to get rid of them because they were becoming a rat run. I managed to get rid of the tyres, but I could not uproot the little honeysuckle for love nor money and when it started sprouting all over, I thought it ought to live and so we ended up getting the trellis. I was also planning to get rid of the big honeysuckle, but that also started flourishing. I think I'm going to have to spray them with something. The apple tree looks half dead as well. Really I should just dig everything out and start again, but I don't really want to. I love these plants.
Hugs and good health to all.
Monday, 6 June 2022
A Sort of Busy Day
I'm still catching up with the blogs, but I'm enjoying it when I feel able to dip in.
Sharon - I'm still getting used to the bag. DH is definitely getting more done working from home. Daughter's work sounds fascinating. Bear is practising hard, which is awesome. I'm enjoying the garden so much. There is so much to see if you just look. The sparrows are currently zooming in and out like Spitfires. Your garden sounds more active and a lot of fun! Thank you for the kind thoughts.
Bless - thank you for the hugs and the kind thoughts. They are so much appreciated, and you and your scan are very much in my thoughts as well. Thank goodness DH will continue to work at home, apart from the odd occasion. It makes life easier for him and he gets more done - a win all round! Bear's revision is carrying on, and thank you for your thoughts. I know what you mean about getting one the right size. It's so tricky to get one that fits all my stuff and yet isn't the size of a shipping container. As for peace in the garden - it is anything but! But it's so entertaining.
Cherie - squirrels can do so much damage, and I've pretty much abandoned the idea of growing much productive. Uncle loathed them. They used to fight on his roof, and it was a tin roof, so it wasn't exactly subtle. He put out rat poison in apples in his garden to try and thin the numbers. We had a huge stand of hazel trees and we never got a nut.
Hazel - I'm so glad that you are enjoying the books. As they are on Kindle Unlimited, I'm having a lot of fun dipping in when I am waiting for bear instead of knitting!
Eileen - I can't tell you how much I appreciate your good thoughts. Thank you.
Sarah - I know that squirrels and foxes aren't strictly urban but will try out city living, and I've even seen a squirrel in the trees in Leeds City Centre, years ago, but I always thought that it was too urban here. I may try the chili trick, as we are enjoying the birds but I know that squirrels are trouble. As for foxes, I am soft enough that I wouldn't stress too much if I saw one, as long as it kept a distance, but I've heard too much about the wanton havoc they cause to complain about a farmer going after them with a gun. I suspect that they don't flourish here because Matalan puts down a lot of poison for the rats, and foxes don't do well on a diet of poisoned rat.
Today was sort of busy. I dropped bear off and then drove to Kwik Fit to get the tyre check pressure light sorted out. Apparently there is nothing wrong, but we've been here before. They didn't want paying so I left a box of chocolates for them. Then I organised a plumber for the leaking shower and rearranged the time at the breast clinic as I needed it to be later. Normally I would let bear make his own way if I had something to do, but all the buses that go that way are on strike. The trains aren't too bad if bear walks two miles, but if the buses aren't running then they will be jammed to the fill line. The walk between his school and us is eight miles, with some very busy junctions, so I would rather drive him.
The small honeysuckle in the corner appears to be dying off and it looks like mildew. If I am going to spray it with something chemical then I need to pick my moments as there are a lot of bees in the big honeysuckle. Here are some pics
I've heard that milk could help get rid of mildew, so I may have a go with that.
The fuchsia is as robust as ever and overrun with sparrows.
There will be a lot of berries later on, but I won't have a chance to try fuchsia berry jam. The sparrows are definitely going to get there first!
Writing stuff - Today's flash fiction is the latest in the Under the Dark Hills serial and it's here - Something Hidden. And I also have a small piece, part 1 of 6, on the Three Furies website all about research - Researching, Writing and Rabbit Holes. I finished the series last week, and I'll share when the next one is posted. Three Furies Press are the wonderful people who published a couple of my novels, and they have a load of books on there as well as some lovely merchandise. I'm trying to resist the cute stuffed panda on there.
Hugs and good health to all.
Sunday, 5 June 2022
Our Garden
You are all awesome. I'm rushing to catch up with writing, but I want to keep posting here.
In our garden we have a senile rat (which we haven't seen for so long that I think that it may have gone to the great tunnel in the sky), a walking magpie and now we have squirrels.
I spotted one, and as DH went to look as I picked up some stuff, he said, 'and there's another one! How sweet! We have a Mr and Mrs Squirrel.' There was a pause, then, 'actually, we have the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp of squirrels.' Apparently war broke out and there was a massive squabble. The sparrow squad took advantage of furry backs being turned to dive in and raid the bird food, but the squirrels have been doing all sorts of gymnastics all day as they stuffed their furry faces.
If you squint at the pic, taken through our window, you can see two of the terrors.
Our area is urban enough that squirrels and a possible fox are a surprise, but near enough to rural areas and farms to make it plausible to be raided by squirrels. Later on I saw one fall off the Matalan roof.
Bear didn't have a long day out as his friend had to go home early which was a shame. He has had an extremely early night after a quiet evening. Mind you, the quiet evening may have been because the books on music theory were delivered today. He was intrigued.
I would also like to say that yesterday, the video of the Queen having tea with Paddington Bear was about the highlight of my year.
Hugs and good health to all.
Saturday, 4 June 2022
Failing at Inner Peace
Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Weird Sort of Wednesday
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Bear Had Fun
Cherie - the only other bag I fancied in TK Maxx was £105, and I daresay there were more expensive ones as well. I have no idea what a bag costs these days. I just have a sense of How much?!!!!!
Eileen - I'm not a fan of too many pockets myself. I can see me spending the next few weeks rummaging frantically through zipped partitions while I mutter darkly to myself.
I feel weary to the bone. I have no idea why. Perhaps it's the weather. I also seem to have been hanging around waiting for other stuff to happen, which is never helpful.
DH had to go in to work today. It's a shock to the system after working from home for over two years. He has a system, and he's used to it. His productivity has gone up amazingly and he is much happy now that his comute is a wander across a room instead of three hours out of his day. It was odd without him here.
Bear met up with a new violin teacher today. We were lucky to get a chance to meet as she has a very packed schedule. He'll be starting full time lessons in September, but he had a great time, and seemed to really blossom. The teacher seemed happy with bear and very much approved of his attitude. I am so proud of him. He was just so assured, playing in front of someone for the first time. He didn't get everything right, of course, but he listened, paid attention, made notes and is happy to work on stuff. The drive there and back, though, was grim. Lots of rush hour traffic, weird parking and awkward turns - and I took the easy route!
I am definitely feeling 'that way out', like a cat with their ears on sideways. I think I'll sit down and get some notes made while I'm in a reflective sort of mood. I need to start living up to bear.
Hugs and good health to all.
Monday, 30 May 2022
I Shopped.
Bless - there has been no sign of the rat. I feel like an evening of knitting wouldn't be a bad thing.
Eileen - I'm not sure I can cope with potholing. I find the climbing quite terrifying enough.
I found a hole in my handbag today. It cost £4 from a charity shop, and I got it well before the first lockdown. It's the only bag I use and I think it's worn well. I used it for the Winter Scavenger Hunt Photo Challenge as something I used everyday. And I do! This is it, looking less battered than it has any right to. The hole is in a corner - not yet big enough for my purse to fall out, but a threat to any coins.
Today I called in at Tesco to pick up cheese and on the way back called in at TK Maxx. I couldn't find the new handbag that I had got. My heart wasn't really in it. I ended up getting this. It was £29.99 and is rather over endowed with pockets. It will do, it's about the same size as the old one and will keep me going.
Bear is near a mental collapse with the dratted revision. I'm encouraging him to practice his music and he went for a walk which helped. There is a new climbing wall opening up soon, and I said that I would take him as often as he liked. The combination of music and exercise will hopefully help. He's making a lot of notes. School are really strict about the revision and bear is taking it very much to heart.
I'll keep the fuss coming for him. It's all I can do for now.
Writing stuff - today's installment is a little longer than normal, though I hope still a good, snappy length. You can find it here Company for Dinner
Hugs and good health to all.