Danger. Men at Work!

J and K have been hard at work on the tree house since 8.00 am - a glorious morning.

Full English served at 10.30 to keep up moral.

The roof is on, some fixtures and fittings and a pulley system for the ladder.

Of course, the sun went in as soon as I went out.

Sleeping bags next week?

The elixir of life!

Having spent all of Easter in bed with a chest infection, Coleshill Surgery closed for 3 days and not enough energy to go the 12 miles to a drop in centre, I took "Broncho Stop".

By Tuesday when I saw a doctor, my chest was clear.

I still have a cough but have lost over half a stone, so not all bed.

Mini has had a wash and will be leaving tomorrow after having won a lot of hearts.

Washing dried well and mostly in by tea time.

A new treasure with someone's name already on it - Lipcombe, I think, Temple Bar.

Little Toby jug is on his way to Canada, having sold very well.

Happy Birthday!

Well, this was a challenge, but I'm quite pleased with the result and well aware that it won't look like that for long.

I did have to test a bit of the off cuts.

Scrummy!

Party frock on soon.

I guess that Hammerite is edible?

Border biscuits

These are allowed even when dieting as they are the best chocolate ginger biscuits in the world and you can get away with just eating one!

I just ate the last one, but.......

there was another packet in the "goody cupboard".

B's bouquet from Mothering Sunday, still going strong, apart from the roses.

Beautiful colours.

Right Your Majesty, where would you like it?

I am hoping that the dustmen will take it all away this morning - two bags in the bin and four not in.

This morning we did the Griffin corner before cleaning the church and mowing part of the graveyard.

The Sanctuary got short shrift.

Now for coffee and off to Solihull to collect J & Th from school.

After cooking their tea and playing football with Th I may have time to peruse my mail and e bay.

After.

On loan, sadly, stained after living in a farmyard.

You have to smile at a winter pansy.

Another puncture!

Today I got a puncture, the third in as many weeks.

The first was in Wales, in a deep pothole, in the dark.

The new tyre was punctured within the week in Maxstoke, the wall slit in a very deep pothole.

Today, whilst driving carefully to avoid my newly valeted car getting dirty and to avoid potholes, I got another puncture.

The only good news was that the tyre was worn.

£300 on tyres in 3 weeks .

What on earth is our road tax spent on if not on making the roads fit to drive on?

I shall write to N Warks.

Having been into B'ham in the sunshine, after sorting out the tyre, we now have the roofing for the tree house (green Coroline, made from recycled tyres) and my bedroom dressing stool is at the upholsterers to be recovered in perple velvet.

I spent a couple of hours sorting things for the yard sale.

I rebound the following little gems in a box of China.

This one is W H Goss and is just 4cm high.

This one is Royal Doulton, a massive 7cm high, "the Falconer".

This clown has no marks, but looks interesting.

Anyone know what he is?

Clean for the Queen.

This afternoon we collected 4 large bags of litter, a floor standing fan, a tyre and a sack from Castle Lane.
We are expecting the Queen any day now and would hate her to see the locality not at it's best.
Maxstoke cleaned their lanes last week.
The litter is mounting up again already from the passing traffic and those who stop to have lunch in a gateway, then leave their rubbish behind, having enjoyed the countryside.
A gateway along the road has the cannabis bags left by the youngsters who park up there, the ditches and gateways have the bags of compost from cannabis plants.
The compost is no problem once you've split and emptied the bags and removed them.

Could we have an island somewhere far off where these anti social folk can all be sent to live together.
Just a thought.

Opposite of a manicure?

Polishing copper/brass/silver.
This cost me two nails and smelly hands, but......
It did start life as a silver plated tea service but has been laboriously polished back to the copper by someone in the past.
I love it.
The cake plare is Royal Winton, another star.