Show Day.

Why no blog - Jan & I went to Hanson's Auction on Thursday for me to spend my £50 voucher & to see the "bargain Hunt" team in action, including the celebrity version with stars from "Strictly".
It was great fun & a really good day out, ending with a meal at the adjoining pub as we'd not really eaten all day, too engrossed in proceedings.
We both bought a few mixed lots & had the fun of finding out what we'd bought afterwards - some real gems.

A hectic weekend as it was the Shustoke & Whitacres show on Saturday.
the weather was glorious, perfect for a day spent in a field!
The show was a great success although the weather broke in the early evening which caused problems for the barbeque

We ran a bric a brac stall, which Keith erected early in the morning & then came to collect the boxes of goods on Friday evening, ready for the off early on Saturday morning.
I was a bit late & forgot the table coverings, so had to come home again.
We had a great day, making £155 for the church & selling some of our own auction bits & pieces for a nice profit.
The "icing on the gingerbread" was winning two third prizes - Victoria sandwich & chocolate cake - in the cookery classes.
My scones did nothing, but actually weren't that good - small & a bit moist, but we enjoyed the "make-weights" for breakfast, on the stall.

Yesterday, after church, I went to the NEC to "Antiques for Everyone".
Something of a misnomer as there were few people there & apparently, that was the busiest day.
I hopped a lift with Chris & learnt something about Japanese antiques - difficult as the language used is all strange.
I was tempted by a starburst brooch with a central pearl & diamonds on the spokes, a snip at £1300, if you're still looking for my b'day present!

I've done an hour in the garden, before 7.00am, tidying, feeding the hanging baskets & pots & deadheading anything looking droopy after the heavy rain.
J & Th to entertain us later, for the day - hopefully , some tennis, if the rain holds off  for a while. 

Home again

Back in Brum after a day out in Wetherby & Etwall.
Wetherby has some great small shops,  a Costa coffee & is a short drive from York, so a good place to stop for elevenses.
It has the best floral display I have seen - a mass of large pink & red geraniums, on the corner by the bus depot.
I had a potter & tried some posh frocks on  before setting off for Hanson's Auction House in Etwall, S Derbyshire - a 95 minute drive.
I viewed the sale which we are visiting tomorrow, at the suggestion of Charles Hanson, as Celebrity Bargain Hunt will be there, with the stars from "Strictly Come Dancing".
I left bids on 3 lots & have a card if I get carried away on the day.

The car was fully laden with things from aj & my shopping sprees.
It took a good half hour to empty, mainly due to the brass bedhead getting stuck.
Aj & I had difficulty angling it to go in.
Angling it to come out, on my own was almost impossible.
I was about to give up & have dinner when it just gave in & slid out - the power of prayer!

It has just started to rain very hard - good job as I forgot to water the hanging baskets, that Steve has looked after for me & which look fantastic.

Eboraceum

The last time I used that title, the post had over 700 hits over the next few months - a lot of disappoited/bewildered folk planning a trip up North, I guess.
So, here we go again, confusing the potential tourists.....
both yeterday & today have been overcast with the sun only emerging at tea time, then being very warm.
Yesterday we planned to visit Malton, but got no further than Haxby, as the electrician came early on to replace the xpelair & then we found too many interesting shops en route.
I found a Laura Ashley wallpaper that I had chosen for the bedroom, on sale at the Monks Cross L A shop with 60% off.
Brill - 12 rolls purchased for £194 & the search on for peripheral stuff in the same pattern - Summer Palace.
I love it!
Then we had coffee next door in M&S.
Haxby is a lovely village with some beautiful houses & a really good feel.

We made up by going to Malton early this morning, aj had to work this afternoon.
We had a potter then aj dropped me in York to spend the afternoon,sale shopping, then back home - walked part way then caught a bus .
I have some great bargains & a good selection of books bought at the book fair on Sat, to take home.
Perhaps the hanging baskets won't need watering tonight!

Not so hot in York.

Overcast again today, but warm - planning to go to the coast for a spot of sunbathing.
If the "sea fret" remains we will settle for tourism closer to home.
York has been a hive of activity over the weekend - Acomb had a festival on Saturday with poetry, drama, music & freebies going on everywhere.
We got no further, then back to tea with Jamie & baby Lily.
Yesterday we had an unsuccessful visit to McArthur Glen in search of wedding outfits - not a lot to see but millions of cars!
AJ had a tennis match, so dropped me in York to go to Evensong at the Minster - brilliant - even more music than usual as it was the "Reading Out of Choristers".
This is the last service for the year 8 choristers - three anthems, starting with Zadoc the priest, everything sung, apart from the readings & sermon.

York had a cycle race of mammoth proportions which slowed progress considerably.
There were barriers everywhere, people warming on up on stationary bike frames & TV pantechnicons, the main challenge was to find the gaps in the barriers to get to the Minster.
I walked home afterwards, which was great, took an hour & I'm sure did me good.

Presently there is an electrician in the kitchen, when he departs, so will we.

Why on earth are schools closing due to the heat?
Surely the kids will be just as hot at home - get real & prepare for the life of work.
Some work done is better than teaching them that you give up at the first sign of discomfort.

Thanks, Loch Fyne.

I spent the day pottering around York, having travelled there on a hot bus.
AJ was "doing a hall", so I sampled 4 different samples of brownies - none very interesting, witnessed by the fact that I just had a nibble of each.
I spent over an hour in Barnitts, looking at Morris & Sanderson wallpapers.
The only ones I like are Morris, which are expensive, which I can live with for the lounge, needing 4 rolls (not that small - panelling to shoulder height!), but a no no for the bedroom, needing 12 rolls.
Suggestions?

I stopped for a cold coffee & small strawberry tarts in M&S to chill for a while, then went as far as the Minster to check service times, which involved covering most streets in the centre of town.
We met up & went to Loch Fyne for an early meal - delicious - followed by free deserts - fill in the short questionaire & free deserts forever!
A fun day planned for tomorrow.

Hotter than Rome.

Amongst other places.
Apparently, our hottest weather since 2007 - it was very hot on Show day - last sat in July - in 2011, followed by the show being cancelled last year as the field was flooded.
Let's hope for a good day this year as I'm doing a bric-a-brac stall, which does really well as folk want something to do/spend their money on & we have some interesting stuff.

I spring-cleaned the laundry & porch this morning by default - I'd defrosted the freezer, then decided that it would be good to have the appliances out to clean behind them......
I meant to have an early start in the garden, but was then delayed until after lunch.
I did a lot of tidying up & put in 40 African marigolds & half a dozen perenials, but still far from finished.
I suppose that one of the joys of a garden is that there is always something to do.
In this garden there is always somewhere in the shade to work.

The chickens are laying two large eggs every day & following me around, scratching where I've just dug & dust bathing where I haven't.
Any suggestions?

We had a fund raising mtg here at 7.30pm.
I came in from the garden at 7.28pm & removed most of the dirt with a wet flannel before Jan, Keith & Michael arrived.
I've booked Charles Hanson for a "Valuation Lunch" in the village hall on Mon 28 Oct.
Should be fun.
I think I'll make cottage pies & green vegetables.....

The thing that went bump in the night was my tennis racquet onto the hall floor.
Why?
Must get more sleep tonight - falling asleep in an armchair is not good. 

How many scorchers make a summer?

This weather is amazing!
Hot, hot & hotter - tennis cancelled as too hot for the older ladies, which gave me more time to garden.
Tennis is kinder on the nails.
I have mown the lawns this afternoon - I use the term "lawns2 lightly, as they are vast areas of undulating grass & clover this year.
Clover seems to have displaced the moss, which may be good. at least the moss was green & didn't have a mass of white flowers to give away the fact that it wasn't actually grass.
I raised the blade over the higher areas & have got used to the rough ride - like riding a mule, I guess.
It's quite good fun apart from emptying the box which necessitates dismounting & manually lifting the box off, due to a modification to the lever that once did this whilst remaining seated.
I suppose G wanted more of a challenge.
Anyway, I am pleased with the results & plan to trim the edges & tidy the borders tomorrow, in leiu of tennis, then sit back & admire my handiwork.
The brochures for these mowers show a woman in white trousers, smiling as she glides round a well manicured lawn. How come I am jolted around an assault course, ending up covered with dust & grass cuttings, having dismounted a number of times to unblock the tunnel between cutter & box & manually removed the box & re-fitted it about 10 times.
I have to shower & scrub myself clean.

A successful family service yesterday, followed by the official opening of the church toilet - I did use it before taking the evening service & found it satisfactory!
The church was open all day in between, serving cream teas, so I was up before 6.00am to make 6 dozen scones & whip cream.
Hartleys jam is not a patch on M&S or Waitrose - no flavour.
How do they manage that?

Coffee this morning for a couple of hours with a couple of friends - head/deputy from school, combined with a little shopping.

I am up at this ridiculous hour due to banging downstairs, so waiting to be accosted by a burglar or two.
No-one has yet accosted me so I guess it was the house groaning due to the unaccustomed high temperatures.
That's a relief  as the only weapon I have is my tongue!

Whew, what a scorcher!!

This week I have moved mountains, with a little help from some friends, with brawn - furniture moved around, a new bed & linen, a full dustbin & a trip to the charity shop.
This all finished off with getting up with the chickens for the last couple of days to polish & vacuum everywhere & clean the windows.
This last task highlighted the fact that the wysteria was invading our space, so Itackled it from the top of the steps & cleaned out the guttering whilst I was up there.
I do still need to reach the highest bits, from a ladder, on a brave, well-balanced day!
I've managed to fit in tennis twice, a visit to the dentist to add sparkle, followed by lunch in Solihull &  sale shopping in John Lewis, with Jan - some amazing bargains in the household dept.
Great fun
Less fun was half  a day spent on the internet & phone trying to get my hacked btinternet e mail account put right - everything lost.
A fantastice guy at BT in Newcastle sorted out the account, resulting in a £19/month saving on broadband & all calls for £7/month - a total saving of about £30 /month, just by speaking to someone who cared.
Added to that, he sorted out my e mail so that it is now functioning.
Dave is my hero of the week!
Phone your supplier & ask for a cheaper deal if you haven't done so already.

British gas came out to service the boiler & heating system.
There had been no hot water for a few days, this was sorted, possibly an air lock, but no obvious fault, apparently.
Service back to normal, using the big shower in the bathroom, rather than the power shower in the spare room en suite, 

Added to all of this, the Lotus was checked out & MOTed by a local garage for £80, collected & delivered by another chap who cared.
I have been using the Lotus all week - brill.
The mechanic loved it, but not a good time to sell when I can be using it myself.
Perhaps he can have it next year.

Next for the decorator!  

Still Summer - phew, what a scorcher!

As they would have said in "The Sun", had Andy not been all over the front, middle & back pages today, with special supplements in the broadsheets.
I don't have a paper any longer - one of life's economies - so watched an hour long programme about Andy, this evening, my only viewing.
Apparently, he is a very nice guy.
His training regime - 5 hours of fitness training a day - is gruelling.

I played tennis this am, not bad, but the lack of the 5 hour training session yesterday did tell!
Home for lunch then an intended pm in the garden.
As it was I sorted paperwork, organised my life into a series of files & made phone calls.

A call to BT re broadband resulted in an immediate offer of a £4 reduction from the monthly £32 charge. Further discussion resulted in a "best deal" of £13.25 per month +  £7  for all calls.
Certainly worth a call to your supplier.

Whilst I remember - M&S soft butter is pure butter, no veg oil, much nicer than the alternatives.
I am living on tomato & basil salad with cheese of some persuasion & eggs - chickens are now laying two a day, which are delicious - large & brown with beautiful yellow yolks, & lots of fruit.
I ate the whole gooseberry crop today - 24!

Dentist tomorrow am, shopping, lunch with Jan in Solihull, then a J & Th school pick up.
Sounds good.
Some furniture moving whilst I'm out, so an evening of tidying up seems likely, otherwise, the lawns??

Any ideas as to why I have no hot water, even though the boiler is coming on twice a day - I have resorted to the power shower in the guest room, dusty with dirty knees after gardening!
 

Sir Andy Murray?

What a match!
I came in from the garden for a cup of tea & the score was 4-4 in the third set.
Amazing.
Some real summer weather forecast & a Wimbledon champion should herald a good week for the country.
I am using the Lotus whilst the sun shines & enjoying it - saves time on hairstyling!
An interested buyer at the tennis club on Saturday - I put the price up.

I arrived at church half an hour late yesterday (despite driving the lotus)
The service had been put back to 9.30am, only the Family Service on the second Sunday to stay at 10.00am.
How confusing.
This follows complaints from NW that M cannot get there in time to join the bell ringers &from the vicar that she has to rush to get to the next service at OW at 11.00am.
Next, I guess, they will cancel the family Service & the Evensong at 6.00pm & we shall be back to exactly where we were 6 months ago.
At that point I think I may well resign - nothing happens in our churches by way of growing faith, only fund raising & social events, Sh ones run by me alone, presently.

The garden is looking good - I am determined to weed the final two borders, this week, do some planting & then it is all done, apart from mowing, watering & tidying.
I do have to remove the tendrils from the wisteria before they take over the world - long handled croppers somewhere & a ladder, I think.

 

Come on Andy!!!!!

I shall go into the garden & find some weeding to do, in a shady spot, as I cannot sit on the edge of my seat for the next four hours - Andy is 4 - 3, A in set 1.
Amazing quality tennis.

I have been in Bicester, doing a couple of school pick ups & enjoying the company of the family  - T & KP in my bed by 6.00am, to chat/write stories.
I caught up up on e mails & enjoyed pottering in Bicester for a couple of days, before coming home via Solihull, on Friday.
I have replaced the old single beds in the spare room with a beautiful double bed, delivered yesterday. I trawled the sales in Beatties & J Lewis for lovely white cotton bedding & a mattress cover (BHS - bargain) then slalomed the old beds down the stairs & carried them to the old laundry, when I got home on Friday.
That  cost me a couple of nails as the mattresses have no handles!
The room looks good, just awaiting a headboard, the "Helen Bradley" repositioning & ice cubes on the dents in the carpet as the steam iron didn't quite do the job.

A sad note - one of the chickens - the older one, a loner, disappeared whilst I was away.
The fox that was seen sunbathing on the top lawn, near to where the chickens dust bath, is the main suspect.
Not a feather to be seen.
The good news is that there have been two eggs every day since her demise, only one a day before then.
Suggestions.........  

Andy's through

But he certainly made hard work of the second set - not that I would have done any better.
I watched some of the match with J & Th, having collected them from school, bribed them with a drink & snack & played football for a while.
I was explaining the scoring system, which takes a bit of understanding by a 6 year old.

Since arriving home I've been bombarded with phone calls - e mail defunct from hacking & visited the neighbours, R&A - so seem to have missed dinner altogether.
Perhaps I'll eat two  tomorrow.

Yesterday's Christian Aid lunch went very well, the lasagne was scrummy & the deserts went down well - strawberry trifle/steamed treacle sponge & custard.
Not a lot left. apart from £120 for CA
I was so well organised that I even had time to tidy the garden & sweep the yard before starting to cook.