Rain, rain go away

and take the wind with you.
A grim day weatherwise, wet and windy all last night and rough out the day.
The planned walk was postponed or perhaps cancelled.
K's family are staying so we have been relaxing and eating.
E and N went to the sales in Solihull this afternoon whilst we entertained B, home for roast beef and Yorkshire pud.
Scrummy.
The men playing "Attack" in the kitchen, E bathing B and I'm watching the Antiques Road Show

Cooking tomorrow in readiness for a grand lunch on New Year's Day.
Probably won't stay up to see the new year in.

Let the train take............

you into Brum - £3.75 return with a Railcard and at the fantastic new station in 14 minutes
We went in this morning on the 8.32 from Coleshill.
Hardly a soul about anywhere.
We breakfasted at Pret at Grand Central aka New Street Station then followed up the research into wheeled holdalls aka gwips, in John Lewis, Debenhams and Selfridges.
JL won the day, even giving a 10% discount, when asked, so we now have  red Eastpak luggage X 2 with a 30 year guarantee.
That's an incentive to keep travelling into my 90s.
Home by noon having beaten the crowds and delighted with the buys.

WHSmith have Thorntons Russian caramels which are just like the ones we ate as students.
2 bags for £1.60.
Scrummy.

Jobs all done and relaxing in the lounge with a small sherry and a mince pie.
No Xmas cake available!

Home alone!

A great couple of days with the extended family in Bicester.

Wonderful food and great fun all round, all made to look very easy.

We all went to Star Wars on Boxing Day afternoon, which was excellent.

I thought that I'd bought the family Star Wars T shirts, only B's turned out to be Startrek, but looked good anyway.

I don't suppose that I shall live that one down in a hurry.

Home today to open the Christmas presents as I left for Bicester straight after taking the Family Service on Christmas morning, having got to bed at 2.00am after helping at the midnight service, so no time before I left.

Lots of lovely presents, including a grand Georg Jensen tree decoration from AJ to go with the one I bought for K.

Other pictures are of the 2015 decorations, bought to complement GJ - red and gold.

7.35am train to Birmingham tomorrow, if up, to buy.......a wheeled holdall from Debenhams and, possibly, coffee and mince pie at Pret.

Withdrawal symptoms from not buying any luggage for a couple of years, so luggage presents on the horizon.

I rest my case.

From Illums Bollighus sale.....

Now the John Lewis addition....

Home and twinkling!

The Christmas tree is officially lit up though not yet decorated.

A fun job for the evening!

Not well shown, but the joy of having the tree in the conservatory is that it has numerous reflections, a room full of light and trees wherever you look.

Red baubles and George Jensen this year - I usually buy just one new decoration each Christmas, but, having had a couple of years off, I bought three magnificent red baubles in Illums Bollighus (bargains  this near Xmas) and they all arrived home intact!

We had a great day yesterday, DK on bike in the park then on to the Outlet for a treat and session in the play area at McDonalds, check that school was still standing, abandoned, around the park then home for lunch.

W took us to the airport on his way to a meeting.

We people watched, pottered around the shops and finally had coffee and shared a scrummy cake before boarding at 17.30.

The price of refreshments at CPH always impresses me - £5 for coffee in a paper cup!

Don't go there hungry.

Good flight home, met by K who had everything in order and even cooked dinner whilst we sat by a big log fire.

Beat that!

Teall rough weather here this morning, P dropping J and Th off on the way to work.

They can put the Santas around and do Christmassy things.

Perhaps a little baking?

The nights are round and really red.

These are poor photos, especially the last one, but have forgotten how to delete!

Good Morning.

The screens have it!

J swimming.

MK working.

W working.

AJ awaiting breakfast

DK gaming, in self defence.

I'm annoying, apparently!

An angel over Ringsted!

I guess that she has come to check out the weather, which is very mild.

10 degrees yesterday and feeling even warmer today.

We pottered on Friday, then pottered with the family yesterday, ending the day with a roast goose dinner at T and B's

MK and the boys went for a ride in a horse and carriage through the forest to choose their Xmas tree, which was then towed the mile home on the wooden cart.

It is now in it's stand and discussions ensuring as to whether it has been pulled through dog poo.

We ave all sniffed in turn.

I declare it clean.

W can always smell dog poo.

AJ has the casting vote.

The decorating is proceeding, G Jensen making a statement!

Going out for a special lunch shortly.

Trying to organise goods outward as home tomorrow evening.

Gløgg glug at Tivoli.

Just returned from a great day in Copenhagen with AJ and T.
Aoaáëua
This is a selection of the Danish letters that you can get on your keyboard merely by holding down the English letter.
J just showed me how to do it.
Oh to be 10 and know such things!

We went around the shops, drank coffee, more shops including Georg Jensen and zillions Bollighu, lunch, then Tivoli, which was wonderful as it became dark
Glug glug,  then the train home?

Ringsted

Relaxing with W and family along with AJ for a week.

Actually, relaxing without them as they have all gone to work/school, J having cooked us porridge for breakfast.

Waiting for it to get light before we burst into action/ walk down into town for a potter.

The Christmas Tree Festival went very well, the church looks brilliant, lit by the tree lights of 27 trees and the decorations are better than ever.

There were lots of visitors, which was the main aim, to encourage people to make a visit to church part of their Christmas.

Lots of tea and cake consumed with Cadburys' chocolate rolls for little people, still as yummy as ever.

There are always visitors whose families once lived in the village, were married in the church........who are delighted to visit again and have tales to tell.

We eventually left and locked the door at 5.00pm on Sunday, weary.

I tried to catch up on things at home on Monday morning before leaving for Solihull to shop for a couple of hours before meeting J and Th from school.

Home by 7.00pm ready for the quiz at The Griffin with AJ as our secret weapon.

We came last by one point.

We need a soaps fan!

Almost light- may not get any better, so up and at it!

Christmas Trees galore.

Yesterday morning should have been spent in church, doing the wiring for the 27 Christmas trees.

A challenge as there are only 6 sockets in the building!

As it was, I went to Solihull in the morning and did Christmas shopping - my first effort - before collecting J and Th from school, having calculated that I could do the wiring today, before we start decorating on Wed morning.

I still haven't done the wiring as I was invited to the Probus Christmas dinner at Maxstoke Golf Club.

This involved sprucing myself up, dress and heels, which took a while.

Not wanting to do dirty jobs, I settled for posting the e bay parcels, putting up the posters to advertise the Christmas Tree Festival, in the shops in Coleshill and visiting Phil.

The dinner was fun and relaxing, but I will now have to have a really early start tomorrow to catch up, and hope that it all goes well.

E bay items flying off the shelves, as it was so K is working hard at keeping up with the packing.

All good fun and some lovely messages.

No more leaves!

A very rough night weatherwise, which has seen the end of the leaves in the garden, apart fromthise caught up in odd corners.
The odd few twigs down but, surprisingly no damage.
Today has been mild, 11 degrees and very pleasant.
This was a bonus as five of us have spent the afternoon in church putting up 27 Christmas trees ready to be decorated later this week in readiness for our Christmas Tree Festival next weekend.
By then it will look stunning, the church just lit by the tree lights, the trees themed to match the sponsors.
This year I have cutlery for Tuckeys, the butchers, large regal purple baubles and crowns for the Dugdale family, light bulbs and electrical bits for the electrician........
All good fun.
Christmas teas served.
The main aim is to attract people in, away from the shops for a little while.
With luck we shall also make a profit.

A busy week with a great day in Welshpool on Thursday for K to visit his barber and to buy cakes from Sidolis, the bakers, to buy gorgeous gateaux to serve next weekend - ginger sparkle gateaux, carrot cake, cheesecake.......
I may make scones, but not too much pressure over refreshments.
B came on Friday to collect his Christmas tree, failed as the timing didn't work.
It's here now!
Having done so well today, I 'm taking tomorrow off to finish Christmas shopping before collecting J and Th from school.
I haven't really started yet so that may be wishful thinking, but I have to be organised before I leave for a week in Denmark before Christmas.

Eat going very well, people buying quirky presents.
Great fun.

Chicken, beans & chorizo a la James Martin.

We're now relaxing having served the above to 28 friends, followed by a selection of puds (steamed syrup sponge, blackberry & apple sponge, winter trifle, panettone, butter & chocolate pudding & chocolate cake)
We had a great time and, with the raffle, made £0260 for church funds.

Yesterday was spent tidying and then cooking the chicken-a lot of pictures inherited and bought recently were in the porch along with lots of boxes of exciting purchases from Winterton and Hansons , collected on Thursday.
Now well organised in shelves in the laundry, some already sold.

After the weekend in York with AJ, we went to Carlisle on Monday, for a couple of days.
We stayed at The Ibis, which was excellent, and were entertained by friends we made on holiday, in Tilos.
We came home via Manchester in order to meet W and DK, over for a hospital appt.
We spent Tuesday night at The Holidat Inn Express at Manchester Airport.
Vile.
Noisy and no food available worthy of the name.
An experience never  to early repeated!

The Lady in the Van.

Fantastic film which had the audience laughing out loud at times.
Maggie Smith & whoever played Allan Bannett were brilliant, actually, all of the cast were.
Really warm and touching with the real AB in the final scene.

This morning we were up early to go to Rufforth to the car boot sale and have a bag of bargains  for the effort - vintage China, flatware.......
Great fun.
We went on to Wetherby to stretch our legs and enjoy a belated breakfast at "The Gourmet" on the Main Street.
We have been before and rate it 5*.
The Wensleydale cheese on granary toast with apple chutney is divine.

We are relaxing and admiring our purchases before going into York to go to Evensong at the Minster.

Yesterday I pottered into Acomb whilst the tennis on TV was centre of attention.
Actually, I fled there and back as it was so cold, having warmed up in the St Leonard's shop and the Co op and bought 2 bottles of beer and one of ginger beer to accompany the evening meal.

We watched "The Bridge" before bed.
Two hours of drab scenery occupied by drab wierdos employed by the police forces of Sweden and Denmark, to keep them off the streets, and failing.
How many shots of the remainder of a leg should you anticipate before daring to open your eyes again.
What does this do for Swedish tourism?

The fun of the lathe.

It feels really cold today but I've now closed down for the night.

The Volvo is home, purred all the way from Witton without a grind from the wheel bearings.

The solutions were:

To the refusal to start, the butterfly valve letting air into wherever, was sticking.

Solution, a new valve

The noisy wheel bearing was actually an unevenly worn tyre with cracks between the treads & quite lumpy in places.

Solution, a new tyre.

All's well for a trip to Hansons sale room tomorrow then on to York.

Guess what and where this is.

Lots of boxes to go with it and it could all be yours!

Chipping Norton.......

almost perfect, apart from the parking ticket that was on the car when I got back to the car park.
I was parked neatly in a bay, which did have double yellow lines across the front, which extended across the front of the next car, which didn't have a ticket.
I really don't know why I had a ticket.

Anyway, we did a grand tour of the outskirts of the town, including Church Lane and the magnificent church, St Mary's, pottered around the shops, including a couple of charity shops and had lunch.
All that and back in Bicester in time to meet KP at school.

I have since sent an e mail to parkingwestoxon and checked e bay - 3 sales today, a silver bracelet, crystal paperweight and a bisque figure.
Hey ho!
Will cover the parking fine!

Superheroes!

I've just woken up in a very warm bedroom, which means that I'm not at home.
I'm on a week's "grannying duty" in Bicester, which is always a treat.
T is now at secondary school and so quite self sufficient although he does pop in for a chat and a snuggle before getting up.
K P's aim is always to beat him to it, this morning she has failed, still asleep.
Yesterday I took KP to school and then roamed the streets of Bicester until lunchtime, coming home laden with goodies to convert into "children in Need" costumes/sell on/ turn into an Egyptian costume for KP.
CinN almost done - a netted ball gown (£1) is now a "Superheroes Cape"!
Any ideas for the Egyptian?

A lazy day today, may even catch "Bargain Hunt"!
I'll probably walk into town for the exercise, no housework to do!

Burne Jones v James Bond!

I had plenty of mundane tasks to do today whilst getting over a cold, but then had the offer of a cultural day in.........Birmingham.

Not a difficult decision really.

We caught the train from Coleshill to New Street (3.60 return) and explored the new station.

It is fabulous, more like an airport, buzzing and welcoming.

After coffee at Pret, we went to The Museum and Art Gallery, I last visited with a school party from KS, perhaps 20 years ago, 

I remember a Ford Maddox-Brown painting from my first ever visit as a teenager, because of it's amazing light.

I now know/remember that it's called "The Last of England"

Even better than I remembered!

The whole place is brilliant so we had to limit the number of galleries visited.

We finished by seeing The Staffordshire Haul, 4000 pieces of Saxon treasure found near Lichfield, by far the largest haul ever found.

The workmanship is incredible.

We considered seeing "Spectre" later, but agreed to spend longer in the Art Gallery, visit the cathedral and the arcade opposite Snow Hill station.

We explored John Lewis in the station complex, bought books in Foyles and caught the 17.35 train back to Coleshill..

About to carve a steak off the gammon joint in the fridge to have with an egg for tea.

Moreton in Marsh

A day out today, having seemingly been very busy of late.
We visited Kenilworth, Shipston on Stour and Moreton in Marsh, which was brilliant.
We pottered around the antique centres, charity shops and drank soup, coffee, tea.......
I bought some odds and ends, including a delightful pair of Art Deco fan shaped EPNS vases, which will shortly appear on e Bay.
The mist did almost disappear and the sun shine through at one point, but pretty fair weather for November.
We have been spoilt over the weekend with summer temperatures.
Saturday was the final mow in the churchyard, I took food along and we had a barbecue to finish, in hot sunshine..
Yesterday, after two church services, we worked in the garden, clearing the remainder of the hedge cuttings, pruning the trees and bonfire building, again, in warm sunshine.

There must be some housework in the pipeline somewhere this week........

Goal!

Three hours in the construction, but a big hit!

Getting in practice for KP next week.

Autumn arrived whilst we were away.

We've spent three days in Shropshire, at The Bear Inn in Hodnet, which was great and an amazing bargain through Travelzoo, booked months ago.
Lovely staff, great food and ambiance, all set in a beautiful little village with Hodnet Hall, gardens and remains of a castle, 10/14 th century church and thatched cottages owned by the estate.
The Bear thinks it has a bear pit in the cellar, but this was actually built 30+ years ago by the local garage mechanic (who now restores vintage cars in a workshop opposite the pub) for a previous landlord, who upset the RSPCA by having live bears in crates on the car park for the grand opening..

We went to the auction at Halls in Shrewsbury on Wednesday but were limited in purchasing power as we were in the Lotus, the Volvo having refused to start!
Three e bay sales whilst away, just packed, Th and friend E here for the day, having a great time with the new goal post.
Three cheers for teacher training days!

Coffee and cake

A great way to spend a morning with friends.
This morning we had coffee cake, baked cheesecake and small, freshly baked scones with cream and jam to accompany the chat.

I collected the Volvo from Witton, cured!
Apparently the sunroof wasn't closed correctly hence the water in the foot wells.
This has got into "the electrics", causing the problem.
Fine and a joy to drive, again.
I delivered spare cake to absent friends, then it was dark.

I spent yesterday gardening, tidying and planting - mini daffodils on the rockery and pansies in the borders.
I swept the yard ......again, whilst being bombarded with acorns.
Another bumper year.
I have to keep having a look to appreciate them before they disappear under leaves again.

Some e baying to do tomorrow (free listing this week) then Solihull then J and Th school pick up, tea, etc".
Must find time and flexibility to do my toe nails, after the holiday.
No mean "feat" after a day gardening!

What's brown with red spots?

Me after nearly a month in the sun.
We spent a few days on Rodus/Rhodes, staying in a small hotel in the old town, exploring.
We took the ferry to Tilos, the next, small island for ten days, staying in an apartment run by a great young couple, in Livardia.
The weather was five degrees warmer than anticipated and too warm to do much walking, apart from round the bay along the promenade early in the mornings.
We made use of the local bus to visit the local sites and beaches, bathed, read and relaxed.
We hired a scooter one day to add to the excitement, visited the deserted village - every island seems to have one - and the capital (museum, two cafes and a shop)

We then ferried on to Nisyros, a larger volcanic island whose centre is the cauldron with bubbling hydrothermal pits.
We stayed in an apartment with resident large hairy spider in the bathroom, who only had to be evicted when he went walkabout - just about fitted under a tumbler
Some lovely small towns, high up, with typical narrow passageways, only wide enough for a scooter and more great beaches.
Buses didn't exist so we hired a car for  three days.
The nice tan had the red spots added, mainly during the one evening spent in a local bar next door to the shop, with fruit counter.

After a week we ferried on to Kalymnos, the sponge island.
The weather was a little cooler by then.
We explored on foot and used the local bus to travel from our green little valley of Vithi to the city.
On Monday we took the overnight ferry to Athens, spent a couple of hours in the Flea Market, a good lunch , then the long journey home.

Where were you when the Labour Party elected JC?

Having listened to "many more than a few words" from Tom Watson ( most of them a waste of air time -who stands for a prominent position without having a concise speech of acceptance prepared!)

we eventually heard the leadership results.

A shot in both feet for the party?

At least he can make a good speech, from the heart.

Could someone give Andy Burnham a hanky to cry into?

More good news, especially for J, Goldie the goldfish is thriving and almost twice as big as he was when adopted.

The sun's shining after a night of heavy rain so no watering needed today, apart from the tomatoes in the greenhouse - I ate the first one yesterday, delicious but small recompense for the energy exerted.

Autumn in the air......

A chill in the air this morning and a heavy dew.

Chutney then?

The greenhouse tomatoes are trying but none eaten yet.

Next year......

My birthday present, to be planted after harvesting, putting in the raised beds, erecting the netting......

A shrews' nest found under one of the tents in the field.

I watched them yesterday, gone this morning, by choice, I hope.

Not too bad for 7.00am really, a good couple of days forecast.

I hope that this temperature suits the Volvo, which wouldn't start yesterday, for the first time in about six months, after being declared to have nothing wrong.

Dentist this morning then M&S to spend my £5 voucher on something decadent!

My new little shopper......

Only joking.

An unsold item from the Yard Sale.

And a few more.......

It was a great success, lots of interesting people and plenty of sales in the sunshine.

Nearly £40 put in the Lifeboats box for "free" teas and coffee and healthy amounts for the church and school.

We worked from 7.00am to 7.00pm, fetched fish and chips, then crashed out.

A number of items will be adorning local pubs and a few decorators pieces will be in local houses.

Just been to Communion, taken the service at NW, back to Sh for a PCC meeting then home to make bacon ciabatta rolls and coffee.

3 e bay sales to wrap and an afternoon in the garden in the sunshine.

Hey ho!

And so to bed.

This has been a tiring week, or perhaps it's my age, as it was only a four day week, allowing for the Bank Holiday on Monday, when we planned a walk, but it rained hard for most of the day.
We did manage to go to a kenilworth to visit K's mum and explored the lanes on the way home.
J and Th came for the day on Tuesday, a wet day, but we did manage a walk around the village and half an hour in the playground before thumbing a lift home with K in his van as the heavens opened.
I went to Manchester to meet MK and DK for his hospital visit to have his plasters removed.
All went very well, he was such a brave little soul and walked across the room as soon as the plasters were off.
It did rain for most of the day, but was a good day.

Yesterday we started getting things sorted out for the "Huge Yard Sale" that takes place here tomorrow.
I did manage a trip to the hairdresser and toe nails painted, here, in the evening, along with Jan.
Fabulous!

Today has been spent preparing the sale and getting rid of those who wanted a preview.
All going according to plan, a really morning to get the rest out.
Just had steak for dinner, from Tuckeys as no lunch.
Brill!
Even had three e bay sales, packed and posted.

Party, party......

Not as wild as you may think, brother in law Peter's 80th birthday party yesterday, M and M's Diamond Wedding Anniversary party today.
I went down with P, A and family yesterday to Manningtree, which was great as it's a 3 hour journey which I would have found gruelling.
A lovely party with family and old friends, good to catch up and meet new people, some amazing 80 year olds amongst them.

Today was church followed by a rest then on to the next party.
Lots of great people and a good family party in the Tin Taberacle in Whitacre.
We helped clear up, as you do in village halls, then home for a nice cup of tea.
Now ready to watch "The Exotic Hotel Marigold", again - the best film I've seen in the last few years, as far as I remember.

What's happened to all of the e bay buyers this weekend?
Perhaps they're all waiting until tomorrow.
The little cutie was a great hit, soon to be off.

Tomorrow, we rest.

Isn't he a cutie!

Note the bit not yet "magicked"

Watch this space!

Fiat 126 for a wash and brush up!

A new family member, fostered rather than adopted as he will be on his way to the highest bidder after a good scrub behind the ears.
He arrived this morning and is really cute, really needing some TLC.
Hoping he will have a new home in a week or so, via my e bay account.

I'm then moving into bigger things with a vintage threshing machine for sale, to clear a space needed in a friends barn.

I see myself as connecting people with things that they want, but couldn't find.
Tomorrow, I see myself as mainly enjoying the delights of Lichfield - the Cathedral, Erasmus Darwin House and McDonalds lined up so far - with the grandchildren, before coming home to prepare an Italian meal together for the evening,  when B and E are coming to collect them.
Menus done, flags for decoration and the tree house decorated Italian style ready for aperatives - I hope they can manage the ladder before and after!
Lasagne and tiramisu to be constructed and the table laid before we go out.
Taking it in turn to be in charge.
Should be fun.

A Glitzy Birthday, again!

A houseful of grandchildren this week, two days spent mainly in the tree house, which has now been decorated, despite being a little lacking in walls and a section of roof yet to be fitted.

All great fun.

Elevenses and lunches served out there and dirties returned.

The girls have just had a pedicure - a visit from my friend Rosemary, a beautician, so very glitzy.

It's my birthday today, so relaxing in between times and wearing my new fuschia linen trousers, to feel good.

Two laying hide and seek, two writing book reviews, the cup cakes to be iced (two volunteers lined up)then afternoon tea.

K mowing the lawns.

AJ stopped off yesterday on her way back from DK via Luton Airport, so we did celebrate with a birthday breakfast together before she set off to relax before a tennis match this evening.

B joining us for dinner later, having made the cake!

Perhaps I'll make the icing, ready for the decorators, then watch "Flog It"!

St Alkmund's Vestry

Shrewsbury, has been an Italian restaurant for the last twenty years, apparently - La Lanterna.
We went there for lunch yesterday, which was brilliant!
A favourite of K's, tucked away under the church, as you may have guessed and a decorated vestry, so I felt "well at home"
We left here in blazing sunshine to deliver a heavy old haberdashery counter and kitchen figment to E's "soon to be opened" antique/retro shop in Shrewsbury.
There was a hefty friend there to help unload and my only help was in delivering a large chocolate cake to keep them going and to carry a few drawers into the shop.

By the time we had finished it was raining, a heavy shower that lasted all day.
Fortunately we had an umbrella, so pooled around, enjoying the architecture, a little shopping and a walk through the gardens/ where the remains of the Shrewsbury Show were being demolished.
Not home until 7.30, still full from lunch, so relaxed, tried to buy a pair of Ecco Off Road sandals, size 42 online as none in the shops.
Failed.
About to try again via Oxford shop.
Birthday cake to make and deliver to MW, Yesterday's "Royal Worcester Azure China supper service" e bay sale, to post, comestibles to buy, sermon to write and lunch to provide for team coming to build the tree house.
Please let the sun shine, or, at least, let it be a dry day.

Can one have too much of Marks and Spencer's?

I would have thought not, but, having spent yesterday having a fun day in Solihull with Jan and visited Ventura Park today, I may have seen enough of M&S for a while.
Then again.....
Yesterday we talked our way into Dugdale Court for a tour around the show retirement apartments.
Real wow factor and I was wearing the M&S T shirt bought with the £10 voucher they had given me for viewing last week.
I have since received another invitation through the post, but guess that they won't keep rewarding me.
Jan was very impressed and our friend Rosemary does the treatments in the Spa there, all very swish.

We went on to Solihull, coffee in Pret a Manger, then M&S, potter around, back to Pret for a snack, more shopping, M&S then home.
Pretty perfect day, talked all day, multi topics in every sentence and no complaints.
Why do men have to have prior warning of a change of topic?

I did somehow lose my M&S bag of clothes carefully selected and bought, Jan lost her wallpaper sample from Laura Ashley, but on return to M&S, they had been handed in.
Brilliant.
I did buy an amazing Max Mara silk suit, brown with poppies, now on e bay.

Today I eventually went to Dordon to return the wheel bearing to Eurocarparts, bought in Acocks Green last week, wrong ones supplied.
Sat av wouldn't take the postcode or street, so drove to Dordon and asked........ The one man who knew exactly where it is, right down to the third roundabout on Birch Coppice ....
I went on to Ventura Park to check if M&S there may have a Top to match the spicy brown patterned linen trousers I'd bought at M&S.
No luck, or in the other horrible dress shops that abound.
Obvious answer - I bought a pair of fuchsia linen trousers and will return the others.
Home via Jan & Chris'  to see Geoff the plumber and how the makeover's going?
It will be amazing......soon.

Chicken in oven, washing in and out, big mug of tea, what else could you need for complete contentment?

M1 roadworks.......

The journey to York took well over 2.5 hours due to the roadworks/50mph limit for most of the M1 bit that I needed, it usually takes 1.75 hours.
It was a joy to get onto the M18 and get a move on.
Arrived well before lunch, had coffee, lunch then AJ drove us to Acomb for a look around before catching the bus into York.
I spent my "Dugdale Court" M&S voucher +a bit, checked out shops and had tea in M&S to celebrate.
Back on the bus, dinner of steak and "New Tricks".
We guessed the end.
Dennis Waterman to be replaced by Larry Lamb.
Team of sad very old men who wouldn't worry anyone, being retired, one by one, and replaced with younger weirdos.

Today we went to Selby and pottered around the charity shops whilst enjoying the sunshine and listening to the foul language of the locals.
We visited AJ's favourite shops on the way home, having amassed a bag of bargains.
AJ went to play in a tennis match, I've gardened, clearing the side of the drive to make it about a metre wider and attacking the lawn, pulling out foot high plantains before mowing some of it.

Warning re automatic garage doors: AJ clicked the button to open the door before reaching the drive, unaware that I was just walking out of the garage, hence the door tried to close on me.
Shucks!
I did think that I'd cut my knee, having felt damp and seen a red stain on my shorts and leg.
On inspection, in the light, I had squashed a cherry.
Stain tasted OK.

Wether by tomorrow, then home.

Windsor 16.20

I have given up gambling.
Noble Peace came in second, costing me £10.
Otherwise, today has passed much too quickly with not enough done.
I didn't even get as far as putting my gardening clothes on.

Beautiful day, sheets and all towels washed, dried and back in situ, smelling wonderful.
Washing still on line and a swallow in the factory.
They are so good at swooping through doorways yet he ignores the big open door.
A robin managed to negotiate the passageways to get into the scullery for the second time this week, but let me open the window next to her.

Anything on TV worth watching or shall I have an early night and finish the Erica James novel that I'm finding second rate and very predictable?

"Noble Peace"

Whilst looking to see if today was the anniversary of anything noteworthy (I'm sure it is), I found this horse as favourite somewhere and feel that I should place a bid after perhaps consulting my accountant!

I've forgotten where and when it's running, so will need to check it out.

So today's big event will be me placing a bet on a horse.

Yesterday was filled with big events - Mary Sumner celebration, founder of The Mothers' Union.

This was a Godsend as I could preach on this rather than John 6, again and many of the congregations have been/are MU members and enjoyed the reminiscences and update.

It was also much less demanding than preaching on John 6, again.

This was followed by baptising the most delightful twin babies at church no 3.

They behaved pretty well, as did the church full of "those who love them".

A really uplifting occasion.

Home before 2.00pm to relax then prepare dinner, J and C coming, roast pork with stuffing, apple sauce, broad beans, baby carrots, purple sprouting, cauliflower and new potatoes, followed by B&j's cookie dough ice cream with fresh nectarines and wholemeal shortbread.

I'll work it off today, in the garden.

We then watched "Fake or Fortune", to see a wheeler dealer lose his £100,000 punt on a dodgy Chagall.

I was up early to enjoy the morning sitting in the conservatory and sorting out the calendar.

I have been pestered by a small fly, circling just above the floor around my legs, like a rampant shark.

It has bitten me three times and I now have murderous intent.

I know that they are necessary in the cycle of decay but, do they have to bite ?

With all of the world to fly in why do they queue up to fly around the conservatory the moment the door is opened and then head bang on the roof?

My lucky cat!

This is my lapis lazuli cat, a little damaged and short on ears but a beautiful colour - she doesn't photograph well!

I bought her in a charity furniture shop in Wales, on a shelf of tat, 4 items for a pound, and thought she may be old and certainly charming.

I have just sold her on an e bay auction for £12.45 + £3.30 p&p.

Not a great deal, but a very good return and good to know that she will be appreciated.

Since that sale , half an hour ago I have sold my roulette wheel with leather box of chips for more than twice what I paid for it at Hansons, and a Midwinter soup cup and plate, Mexicana pattern, if you are interested, for 4xcost, bought yesterday.

It may not make me a fortune, but is very pleasing.

Charitable recycling by connecting things of beauty with people who love them.

The following picture shows some other bargains from yesterday which I hope may have a similar future.

Can you recognise them?

I did buy six Stuart crystal sundae dishes (£2.99) that are so beautiful that I may have to keep them, at least for a while.

Yesterday was spent partly in Bromsgrove collecting car parts and breakfasting at a "greasy spoon"

Few spoons and little grease, but OK.

Today I visited Margaret in Coventry, we trained as Readers together 27 years ago.

After catching up on two years chatting we lunched at a local pub with her son, an archeologist.

Fascinating.

One chicken has gone awol tonight so have spent a while searching.

I hope she's in a tree.

Back to the grind tomorrow.

Answer to Q - 2 Stuart Woodchester and 2 Stuart Glengarry wine glasses, 80p each.

"Chicken Run"

Having been met by the chickens by the back door, I have to admit that they have made an escape route from the run.

The bricks are beating them at the moment, until the new wire goes in.

They see no barriers to their free ranging so I have to keep an eye on the porch at this time of year.

Yesterday I found them in the conservatory, freshly vacuumed and mopped, when I went in with baby Bethany and her Mum.

Bethany was enthralled, for the ten seconds it took to do the formal eviction!

A breezy Sunday morning.......

About to have breakfast before church, scrubbed up and ready for most eventualities.

My chickens do not realise that they are not elderly ladies in a senior living home.

Strange.

Walking by, up, on and over the Arrow.

Yesterday we planned a day off in Alcester, a very attractive little town with lovely walks down to the river, some interesting shops and a cafe by the church with good food.
K researched a walk by the river but neither of us could persuade the printer to produce a copy.
We went to the library and collected the brochures for walks in the locality before brunch in the cafe, then set off on a 4 mile walk across, along the river Arrow, past Cold Comfort Farm (really) and back into town.
Obviously, Alcester doesn't have a team of footpath volunteers as does Shustoke.
We saw only one sign all day, did a lot of back-tracking and covered well over the predicted mileage.
No problem really, Arrow church was lovely, but locked, with a well-maintained churchyard, and we found a beautiful mill pond, miles off the route.
We shopped at Waitrose and meandered home for plaice, new potatoes and sugar snaps.

I have spent nearly all of today preparing Sunday's sermon on John 6, 24 - 35.
I think it works, I hope so.
J and baby Bethany came round for a cup of tea, sitting in the sunshine in the garden, this afternoon, which may have helped.

I'm ready for bed!

Home Alone.

W, MK, J and DK left on Tuesday afternoon so the house seems very quiet.

DK had two orange legs after his operation on Sat, replacing the red and blue versions the previous week.

He was such a brave, cheerful little soul, racing J around the yard in his wheelchair, J on the bike, always flat out whatever the form of transport.

The whole family are now out of the country.

Today I almost finished the washing then started a blitz on the house, neglected for a couple of weeks.

I did' even finish downstairs as I cleaned the windows, buffed up the silver (having found that it really doesn't need more than a good rub, if not too tarnished) and put the odd thing on e bay, as I went along.

Very little e bay activity this weekend.

Is it just my things or is it that everyone's on holiday.

I've put my lovely oak chest of drawers on, which necessitated moving it to stand by the stable door, for a better backdrop, then washing it down.

Just had a bath and now in bed so I shouldn't be using this at all.

Some photos too post when I can find them.

Work in progress!

The tree house, just needs a floor, walls........

Visitors please come in work clothes!

Views from the Tree House.

And another.

The site manager/builder/designer had an accident yesterday so no progress.

He did not fall from the tree.

He kicked a solid chair leg whilst walking around the house barefoot and has a partially disconnected toe nail, now dressed and much less painful after a night's sleep.

Work will resume later.

The wood shed door, along with it's opening device (12 pulleys and 20m rope) are to be recycled.

A double whammy as anyone who has opened the wood shed will realise!

J and DK have both been up he ladder to check out progress, despite one of the four legs involved being in plaster.