What I did today.

I was out in the garden this morning, dismantling the tomato frame and collecting finished plants for recycling bin. Also attacked the cucumber and pepper plants chopped those up. Some plants still had peppers on so I have left those. I have putting off doing it for days and now I am very pleased with myself.

Gracesmum now DO SOMETHING FOR YOU this afternoon!
glitabo me too, there was a frost here last night so it became essential work!

Ah, now you come to mention it, glitabo.....

OH has cut down a sprawling willow and I've scythed off loads of lovely green thin branches.What can I do with them?Wish I knew how to make butties willow baskets

Right lunch is finished and cleared away. My guest has gone off with another friend and her guests to see an old NT house near us called tyntesfield.
I'm sitting down with a bag of frozen peas on my ankle and a stiff drink.
She is very nice , but I'm so used to being on my own and not cooking meat and two veg type meals that I'm exhausted. Well at least I've made the soup and bread for tonight.
Only two more days to go as she goes back on Wednesday morning. That means I can stay in bed all day Thursday thank goodness.
The stiff drink is in my hand not on my ankle

Quite right, jeni relax and enjoy!

Delivered a couple of letters to other side of the village. I walked - fast - as I am trying to lose the rubber tyre which has suddenly appeared around my waistline (too much Oz wine methinks). Tried a phone conversation with DD3 but interrupted by much yelling and shrieking of 2 GCs so gave up. Relocated contents of knicker/bra/jumper/drawers - taking up the space vacated by the late Mr.G . Managed to get rid of quite a few items for charity bag. Made a disgustingly fattening pud (chocolate brioche) to take to a friend this evening. Dodged the showers to 'walk the boundaries' of my large estate - that took 4 minutes . So much for an exciting sunday.

Wow! You daredevil?
Are you now collapsed with exhaustion?

Yep Jeni. Think I may join you on your sofa for a snifter

Been speaking with ''almost-13 years-old DGD on phone. DGD, as some will remember, has been causing her mum and dad many problems with her behaviour. Especially her mum (my daughter). I suggested that as it's the school holidays, DGD, her mum and I could go shopping (Primark!) and a Chinese meal for lunch one day this week. The idea is to present a united front to DGD on a normal family outing, without her dad being there. I've a feeling I'd better not hold my breath .

Just got back from a lovely walk with an old friend down in the Chilterns. Beech trees were blazing. Sky blue.
On the down side we did see dead and dying ash trees (they have a disease )
and it turned out the pub where we met was the very one in which Dithering Dave and Sammy famously left their child.
They serve non-old-etonions as well, but don't have the chicken pie - disappointing indeed. We had a sandwich there once and it was much nicer (The Plough, Cadsden)

Hope the plans work out with your granddaughter Marelli, I`ll keep everything crossed.
It`s not what I`ve DONE today, but what I`m going to be doing. Tonight we`re off out to a small local theatre to see Gerry and the Pacemakers, at long last! Our daughter and her husband bought us the tickets as a joint present last Christmas, the show was to be in February. Then Gerry Marsden was taken ill, so it was postponed till June, then he had heart surgery, and it was put back till September, it`s finally going ahead tonight.

Marelli, since she was about 11, my GD has been my 'style adviser'. I don't always take the advice, of course, but often wish I had done! Maybe if you ask your GD's advice about what you are thinking of buying, it will make her feel like 'one of the grown-ups'. And you can perhaps give her a budget to buy something in Primark - though you might have to keep your opinions to yourselves. Just thought of something - next GD is 10. Should I ask her advice? Hmmmm.

Enjoy the show, number! We saw them at our local theatre a few years ago, and they were very, very good. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' always does it for me.

Just said goodbye to my baby dgd who was brought at 9.15am with a streaming cold (Anno's? ) and teething, while her parents and gs went to Sale rugby club for the day.

Now, totally exhausted but well cuddled, I intend to have a take away curry from Waitrose, and a glass of something exciting.
Then I shall slob on the sofa and watch Downton and Homeland before I collapse in bed!
My house looks like a bomb went off

Sounds like fun number - enjoy the evening and singing along maybe?

DD's birthday (12) in two days. She wanted clothes. I gave her a JohnnieB catalogue, and she has chosen two outfits that I might have chosen for her myself (but daren't any more) and a pair of denim shorts that I wouldn't have chosen. Oh well, maybe that fashion won't last very long.

You can't pin that on on me, Ella, I have been in self-imposed quarantine (apart from a flying visit to Waitrose) since Tuesday. I hope your GD will be better soon and hasn't shared the cold with you - GC are toxic!

I'm thinking positive thoughts Anno

Number enjoy the show.
Went to our local theatre last night and saw 'Sgt Pepper's only Dartboard Band' our 'local' Beatles tribute band who are great. They are the group who were chosen to walk across Abbey Road, photographs in all the papers, to celebrate the recent anniversary.
Marelli our almost 14 GS (at the moment) is a different lad from the one who caused so much angst last year, I hope your GD 'turns the corner' soon.
Grannylin make a living sculpture, stick them in the ground and they will take root (not sure about this time of year tho') perhaps in a circle to be tied at the top later, if they are suitable. Otherwise a loose weaving can look very effective. Decide on your shape, link a few key pieces and then weave randomly.

Decided to defrost the fridge-freezer today - I'd forgotten how long it takes! Had to resort to the hairdryer in the end and vowed (yet again) never to leave it so long until next time.....

Spent a couple of hours in the garden [seems ages since I last did so] but very concerned about the number of times I lost the trowel and/or my gardening gloves. Then repotted something that needed ericaceous compost only to think afterwards that I'd been taking compost from the wrong bag, so had to start again. Also, I have two keys to my shed [front and back door]. You'd think that I would put the wrong key in the lock 50% of the time, but I'm sure it's more than 90%. I KNOW I should label them front and back, but I'm curious about why I [nearly] always use the wrong one. They're tied together with a piece of string y'see.

Ana, I used to put a hot water bottle in my freezer (now have an auto-defrost one), and, inevitably, I once forgot to take it out. A very COLD water bottle! An electrician once took me to task when he heard me talking about using the hair dryer - but I still did it. Of course.

Ogm, the angst felt by DGD is accelerating daily - but it's good to hear that there might just be light at the end of the tunnel....eventually!

Had a family lunch to celebrate the Birthdays of DH,65 tomorrow, andGD 7 on Tuesday.Great fun but very noisy, am just wondering how early I can go to bed.
I want to be ready for tomorrow when I am meeting Notsogrand, and three other GNers in Guildford, I haven't met any other GNers, and am really looking forward to it.