You could market the surplus CDs as bird scarers. If you drill a small hole near the edge and suspend it on a wire over an outside light, it discourages robins from nesting on the light fixture. It solved a long-standing problem with our garage door light.
Very few people in our parish have garages, or outside lights...but it's a Good Idea, nonetheless.
Grey and fairly warm here but breezy.
Mr Heavenly remembered about 1pm that he was supposed to be at a lunch reunion with his ex-colleagues so he has disappeared off out for the afternoon. I have very generously unpacked the holiday bags and put the laundry on (the latter being my job anyway). I have also tidied the fridge of dodgy looking food and watered the garden. Mochi the cat is complaining that I have come back in the house playing with her outside.
Lunch for me will be feta omelette, once I remove the clingy cat from my lap.
The "choir" still being on our summer break, I had a lovely lazy morning, and then went to the nail bar along the road to have my piggies pampered (and my back and shoulders - they have a massaging chair).
It had been quite a nice day, but there were a few spitters of rain as I came home, so I postponed any forays to Tessie's or M&S; I don't relish getting soaked just for the sake of a few groceries. It seems to have brightened up a bit again now though.
Brunch of poached eggs, smoked salmon and TOAST has been had. What I have for supper may be determined by (a) if/when it's expected to start raining again; and (b) how exciting or otherwise the tennis is.
An excellent day of singing. Everyone worked together to make it happen, even if the conductor’s podium was forgotten and had to be sent for, from wherever it is kept. Our MD’s timings were perfect, as always. We covered a lot of material, with enough sense of achievement and enjoyment but no attempt at perfection - far from it.
As well as indulging in Cake at lunchtime, I bought a chunk to eat tomorrow. Tonight is kedgeree.
On a different note, this event was held in the parish church which I used to attend. One thing I was pleased to see is that visiting clergy during the interregnum are using the “proper” booklets for Holy Communion, rather than the highly truncated version introduced by the last incumbent.
An overcast and breezy day; I kept hoping we were going to get some Proper Rain but we haven't.
Coffee this morning with friends - our usual watering hole was full so we had to head to another one which we usually avoid as it's overtly dog friendly (you can actually take dogs into most of the cafes in town) and very echoey, so if you get dogs who keep barking it's hard to have a conversation. However, today the noise was down to lots of people Talking Very Loudly. It was Carnival Day in our town but so breezy and (relatively) chilly I think everyone had headed indoors for a coffee instead.
I then had some errands which took longer than I'd intended so I arrived home late for lunch and a touch frazzled.
We headed into town this morning to do a few errands and to visit the monthly artisan market. We ended up with Battenberg cake and some jewellery. The cake was really good, so I hope the lady is there again next month, but if not I have her details for if I ever need a cake.
I was all for not doing much this afternoon but was persuaded by my husband to go for a walk and I'm glad we did. A very pleasant stroll from one of the towns south of here, along the river round a village and back, including a stop for a drink in the village pub.
Still no rain, though the BBC claims tomorrow will be wet. Of course we have a garden party to go to in the afternoon so I guess its an example of sod's law.
As it was a glorious day* when I came out of church (several of us had our post-church coffee in the church garden, which was lovely), I went for a little amble by the loch, passing the time of day with the ducks.
Usual weekend lunch, and laundry is laundering. Then snoozage, Evensong and a Chinese takeaway for supper.
* it's clouding over a bit now, but it was glorious.
I went to both morning services at Our Place as the early service (which I don't usually attend) had someone I know quite well as the speaker. The second service had baptisms, followed by the monthly shared lunch. Because of the family and friends of the three people being baptised as well as the usual attendees the place was packed and there was only just enough lunch to go round.
For a few moments today we did have some Proper Rain, which was very welcome - slightly less so than it would normally have been as it chose to descend as I was walking home without coat or umbrella. It's not been enough to make much difference, however - everything is still dust dry apart from my clothes, which I had to change out of on arriving home.
We've had a lot of rain today, the first 'proper' rain since May 1st. Not great timing as it means my husband is not inclined to drive to city to the south to go to the garden party we've been invited to. It's sunny at the moment, but I know the rain is expected to return.
I am reeling slightly as in the space of the past half hour I've had some bad news about some friends and have also been reading this Observer article about the truth behind The Salt Path books. I read and enjoyed the first two and am a bit stunned.
In other news the washing machine is on its third load of the day; I'm having to keep on top of things for the next couple of days as midweek we head north for Nenlet2's wedding and I am not minded to come home to loads of dirty washing. Continuing the wedding theme, I am currently wearing around the house the new sandals I've bought for the occasion; sparkly flat ones. A few days back I unearthed the shoes I had for Nenlet1's wedding. They had heels, though not huge ones, and I had to have several weeks of training to walk in them. I managed all day 13 years ago without even thinking about it... I don't think I'd be able to take more than a couple of steps in them now .
@Nenya I’ve just read that article about Raynor Winn, sent to me by a member of my book group. I was the only one to enjoy the Salt Path and I was saddened by what I read.
We had a thunderstorm that passed directly over the Meeting House this morning. Very grateful for the rain. Less grateful that 2 of our men had to deal with overflowing gutters during the Meeting. I seem to be sensitive to a thunderstorm’s atmosphere and could feel the electricity in the air - strange!
I'm glad I've read the article before seeing the film or reading the book - both of which I will now pass on. Thank you for sharing that, Nenya. Having been interested in the film trailers and planning to watch it, I am not too bothered by The Observer's revelataions - the world is full of scummy con artists. But I can imagine it's much more saddening if one had read the books and felt some connection with "Winn" / Walker.
I've read the first two Salt Path books (now feeling very fortunate that I picked them up in a charity shop) and was toying with the idea of the film as a friend said how lovely it was. I confess I didn't ask too many questions about the bits of the books that weren't properly explained and was simply carried along with the story. One of the really painful things is that people with the same diagnosis as "Moth" (supposedly) had have been led to believe they can "walk it off."
Preparations continue for heading off midweek for Nenlet2's wedding at the weekend; I dislike going away and invariably go into a bit of a panicky tailspin about all that needs to be done, and packed.
As @Zoe says, the world is full of scummy con artists. Alas! some of them get to be Heads of State, or Prime Ministers, or whatever...
ION, a windy day in Arkland the Washed, after heavy Rain in the early hours of this morning, but the Big Yellow Face is occasionally peeping through the clouds. Forecast is for 80F+ temperatures later this week.
Lunch is a gastronomic Feast by my standards - slices of cold Cumberland Sausage (with Black Pepper and Herbs), accompanied by CHIPS, and a Baby Leaf & Rocket Salad garnished with French Dressing.
An Italian BEER (Peroni) is also on the menu, so to speak.
I've read the first two Salt Path books (now feeling very fortunate that I picked them up in a charity shop) and was toying with the idea of the film as a friend said how lovely it was. I confess I didn't ask too many questions about the bits of the books that weren't properly explained and was simply carried along with the story. .
I was going to go to the film with a friend. Not now. I haven't read the books.
Interestingly, looking at Google reviews now, there are some from before the story broke saying that the author / narrator of the books seems very self-centred, and indeed at least one questioning the lack of transparency / details about the couple's financial situation and how exactly they came to be "homeless" (if they actually were). Would be interested @Nenya and @Tree Bee as to what you made of Winn as a narrator before the Observer's allegations emerged?
Monday, so off to Pilates followed by a few half-hearted games of badminton with my husband. Neither of us were feeling very energetic.
A lazy afternoon, though I did do a bit of weeding as the ground is much softer after yesterday’s rain.
My husband is going to a bring your vinyl to play evening on Friday. We got rid of our LPs years ago but still have some 45s in the bottom of a chest. He’s just gone through them and we have some interesting records. Shame we have nothing to play them on.
Hummus , salad and flat breads for tea.
It's a bonny day here, if a wee tad breezy; it was lovely when I went out at lunchtime.
There's a STEAK marinating happily in the kitchen, which I shall try and cook as nicely as the one I did last week (I'm not holding my breath; I can't remember exactly what I did, but it'll have something to do with getting the timings right ...).
Would be interested @Nenya and @Tree Bee as to what you made of Winn as a narrator before the Observer's allegations emerged?
It's a while since I read them and while I can see them on my bookshelves from here I don't want to look at them again as I'd be reading in the light of the allegations. At the time, I felt very sorry for them in their situation and amazed at her determination and at what they did. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery (as did my friend who has herself walked the path - I'll be seeing her tomorrow and am looking forward to hearing what she made of the Observer's report). I thought Ray was quite tough and bullying to Moth at times but put that down to that being what he needed to keep him going and thought she was being honest about that side of her character.
I've read some of the reviews on Goodreads and a small number of them (written several years back) flag up that some of it doesn't seem credible and there seemed to be a glossing over of certain things.
Tea is underway at Casa Nen - roast chicken, as we didn't have it yesterday.
It's interesting to read about The Salt Path and the fallout. I read a review praising it some time ago, and, incurable cynic that I am, suspected that it was emotionally manipulative and not very substantial. Perhaps I should have given it a fair chance, but I am glad I didn't.
Last night fell into accustomed pattern of waking between 2 and 3, get up for loo, sleep until 6 ish, get up. Breakfast about 9, by which time I'm ready to fall asleep again. Prod myself into garden and weed - for as it is a small garden it has a lot of trackless wastes.
Grocery delivery came early, had a nap, watched tennis, read a bit. Dinner was saussies and colcannon.
My. MS has got worse, and so we’re having a staycation - l made Darllenwr take a week off.
On Saturday, we went to the American museum at Claverton. Manor just outside Bath. Independently, we were both saddened by the way not just black people but also the indigenous Indians had been treated 😥
.Darllenwr’s nephew from Australia has been over on a work related trip and came to see us on Sunday evening.
Today we’ve been to Laugharne. We were on holiday there 41 years ago, and spent quite a lot of the day trying to remember what we had done. The weather was pleasant but very windy, so not very warm.
We are planning to go Welshpool sometime this week, and hopefully, we’ll be getting our new cat.
All in all, a busy week ! Thankfully, Darllenwr enjoys driving!
Today I harvested 5lbs of blackcurrants from our garden, all of which are now in the freezer. Whilst harvesting and de-stalking I enjoyed a smogasbord of BBC sounds. Lady Swindlers about a French thief, Lives Less Ordinary about a man who lost 12 years of his memory, Witness History about Lonesome George the tortoise, the photo of the men eating lunch on a girder on the Empire State Building, Cecil the Lion, and Operation Tiger in WWII, the Archers, a Father Brown Short Story, and the Unbelievable Truth.
We have had a couple of cool and rainy days here, which has been a most pleasant change. It has also been excellent Weed Ing weather because the ground is soft, although I wasn't thrilled when the rain started again yesterday while I was in the middle of the job. It's my own fault for blowdrying my hair, I suppose.
It's predicted to be fairly cool again tomorrow, which I am pleased about, because my new jeans are now finished, and I'll be able to wear them. I'm pretty happy with how they've turned out, and they definitely fit my pear shaped self better than anything I could have bought in a shop.
My. MS has got worse, and so we’re having a staycation - l made Darllenwr take a week off.
On Saturday, we went to the American museum at Claverton. Manor just outside Bath. Independently, we were both saddened by the way not just black people but also the indigenous Indians had been treated 😥
.Darllenwr’s nephew from Australia has been over on a work related trip and came to see us on Sunday evening.
Today we’ve been to Laugharne. We were on holiday there 41 years ago, and spent quite a lot of the day trying to remember what we had done. The weather was pleasant but very windy, so not very warm.
We are planning to go Welshpool sometime this week, and hopefully, we’ll be getting our new cat.
All in all, a busy week ! Thankfully, Darllenwr enjoys driving!
I remember that museum, it has a lovely collection of quilts, as well as poignant indigenous artefacts among the folk art and domesticity.
I’m sorry your MS has deteriorated, I will pray for you.
Only light work here, just a meeting this morning and some admin. Tea was an Italian style stew of pork, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes and peppers.
@Nenya Radio 4's Front Row this week is about The Salt Path controversy.
The story made the national news this evening, 6pm on Radio 4 and 10pm on BBC1.
Very sorry to hear about the MS @Priscilla , but your staycation sounds good. We had a holiday in Laugharne years ago when our children were still at home. The house we rented looked out over the estuary and the incoming tide seemed to cover the car park every time which we found a tad discombobulating although the locals seemed to take it in their stride.
I relate to disturbed nights @Firenze . I am up at least once for a bathroom visit and it's touch and go how easily I get back to sleep. Everything looks very bleak at 3am.
You are very talented, @la vie en rouge to 1) make jeans 2) that fit 3) so quickly.
Boring day of admin but broken up by watching Wimbledon for a while, though I had vowed not to watch it this year.
I have yet another week of juggling, not knowing what’s happening when.
Will my son turn up to do the garden while my daughter is here? That would be interesting as they are not on speaking terms.
Will the scaffolders remove the scaffolding before Thursday when the decorator is meant to be painting bits of the front of the house? Will he cancel if so? Or maybe everyone will turn up on the occasions I need to be out for my two u3a groups.
Watching the tennis yesterday meant I failed to complete my targets on my To Do list. Today’ tasks are now postponed as my son arrived this morning, now gone, and my daughter is due any minute.
Still no news on the scaffolding.
Pilates has been satisfactorily accomplished, even though at one point the Torturer observed that I'd momentarily lost control of my pelvis . Post-session Brunch was duly indulged in - a proper Cooked Breakfast, accompanied by a large glass of red WINE - at my favourite bistro.
Arkland the Arcadian basks under blue Skies again today, so some Work on the shady side of the aft deck is called for, after a suitable siesta. The next few days are likely to be Hot (80F+), which means that I'll have to take things easy as regards Work...
We drive north tomorrow for Nenlet2's wedding on Saturday; accordingly, we visited Nenlet1, son in law and the GrandNenling this morning to collect the stuff we are taking for them, as they're coming up by train. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to fit ourselves into the car alongside all the stuff...
The GrandNenling was on fine form this morning and she and I spent some happy time playing together .
I got back in time to join my usual Tuesday friends for lunch, did a wander around on some last minute shopping and got very hot.
The rest of the day will be about packing, with tea thrown in at some point.
It's about a year since I went to my Cousin C's wedding party (the actual ceremony took place the week beforehand - in Crete). A good time was had by all, I don't think anyone fell out with/murdered anyone else, and the buffet (supplied by caterers) was Very Tasty Indeed.
It involved an overnight stay in An Hotel in Hastings, with my sister, our sister-in-law, and our niece (s-in-l's daughter - 25 last month, and still working on World Domination, though I wish she'd get on with it). Being a Pore, Lost, Lorn, Feak, Weeble, Disabled, and Male Humming Bean in the hands of three Alpha Females is an interesting experience...
I just sat back, and let them Do Their Thing, and I was (I think) all the better for it.
Interestingly, looking at Google reviews now, there are some from before the story broke saying that the author / narrator of the books seems very self-centred, and indeed at least one questioning the lack of transparency / details about the couple's financial situation and how exactly they came to be "homeless" (if they actually were). Would be interested @Nenya and @Tree Bee as to what you made of Winn as a narrator before the Observer's allegations emerged?
I’ve read all 3 of her books and took them at face value. I found their story inspiring as winning against the odds. I enjoyed the humour and her prose is at times poetic. They live now (I think, still) in an area of Cornwall that I love.
As I said, the rest of my book group disliked the way they were rule breakers, ie, camping where not allowed, or where they should have paid but didn’t. I saw that as desperation.
Now I feel silly and gullible. It’s interesting that Moth has always kept a low media profile.
It was a glorious day here, especially at lunchtime when I went out to meet my erstwhile bridesmaid (aka my boss's wife, but also my oldest friend) for a most excellent lunch: mine was a humongous warm salad with Brie, walnuts, apples and Stornoway black pudding and absolutely delicious.
I consequently didn't feel like eating much when I got home, so I watched the last Brit in the singles getting stuffed in the tennis and then just grazed on cheese, pâté and TOAST.
I did manage to do some Work on deck after lunch, and (if the weather isn't over-hot tomorrow) may attempt some Paint Ing. The part to be tackled is in the shade after midday - it makes sense to do what I can, where I can, and to avoid too much of the Big Yellow Face.
I shall, of course, in accordance with orders received, wear my Panama Hat.
This morning we took Captain Pyjamas to see some life size animatronic dinosaurs. Husband en rouge and I thought it was a bit overpriced, but the Captain enjoyed it at least.
This afternoon we finished the Weed Ing, and in between times, my sewing spree continues. The Captain has outgrown his school overalls and needs new ones. We're leaving next week, and I'd like to get them done before we go. I'm using this pattern, which I've used before, but in a different size, and now remember why I hated it last time. 1) It has no seam allowances, so you have to spend bloody ages adding them on. 2) the neck edgings aren't interfaced, and I can't believe it would wear well without it. Given that it's an asymmetrical garment, I may have cut the interfacing out two or three times before I got it the right way round... I now have two of them cut out, and hopefully the worst is done.
Interestingly, looking at Google reviews now, there are some from before the story broke saying that the author / narrator of the books seems very self-centred, and indeed at least one questioning the lack of transparency / details about the couple's financial situation and how exactly they came to be "homeless" (if they actually were). Would be interested @Nenya and @Tree Bee as to what you made of Winn as a narrator before the Observer's allegations emerged?
I’ve read all 3 of her books and took them at face value. I found their story inspiring as winning against the odds. I enjoyed the humour and her prose is at times poetic. They live now (I think, still) in an area of Cornwall that I love.
As I said, the rest of my book group disliked the way they were rule breakers, ie, camping where not allowed, or where they should have paid but didn’t. I saw that as desperation.
Now I feel silly and gullible. It’s interesting that Moth has always kept a low media profile.
Yes - I hadn't really thought that about Moth until you mention it; and I too saw their rule-breaking as desperation.
My lunchtime friend, who really has walked the whole path, did say that there was one part of the book that made her think, "Hang on, that doesn't sound like the place as I remember it" and also said (which I'd have agreed with at my first reading) that the fact that the financial situation was glossed over was because it was not really important for the story. She was keen to point out the Observer article is only allegations. The other friend, who's also read the first two books, was rather more scathing.
In other news, it looks as though all our things are going to fit into the Nenmobile ok, although it's a tight fit. Fortunately Mr Nen is a very good arranger and packer. I may have said on here before how it was a shock for me the first time we packed to go away together as I put my things into the suitcase and he promptly took them all out again and rearranged them.
Thank you for the good wishes @Bishops Finger ; I shall report back in the fullness of time.
Sewing patterns without seam allowances annoy me a lot. Many German patterns are like that and when I used to make children’s clothes to sell, they were the trendiest patterns.
Glad the scaffolding has gone @Puzzler. Safe travels @nenya, and I hope the wedding is an amazing occasion and you get a chance to catch up with friends and family. I stand in awe of your sewing prowess @la vie en rouge. Do they have to be in a school colour or can you use any material that you and the Captain like? Hope the Pilates doesn't make you ache too much tomorrow @Bishops Finger.
I had a lazy morning knitting while listening to podcasts (the joy of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids). This afternoon I went for coffee with a couple of friends. We met when we all volunteered for our local book festival. The festival is on this weekend so we'll be seeing quite a lot of each other as we're going to some of the same events. We're all doing a bit of volunteering as well but not too much as we actual want to enjoy what's on offer. This evening we went to a talk on one of the town's oldest buildings. The talk was interesting, but he wasn't the best speaker and I struggled to hear him even with my aids up to 11.
A lovely line, though I've only done half of it. Was your locomotive "Sir Drefaldwyn"? Many people assume it's named after a medieval Welsh knight, but it isn't.
Many years ago, when the Loon was at nursery, there was someone who made and donated overalls to the nursery. This person bought old duvet covers from charity shops and used the material.
Unfotunately, she spotted a duvet cover with the Playboy Bunny logo and thought that a nice rabbit print overall would be sweet for small children.
IIRC, she was thanked, and the Playboy overalls were consigned to the back of a cupboard.
Comments
Very few people in our parish have garages, or outside lights...but it's a Good Idea, nonetheless.
Mr Heavenly remembered about 1pm that he was supposed to be at a lunch reunion with his ex-colleagues so he has disappeared off out for the afternoon. I have very generously unpacked the holiday bags and put the laundry on (the latter being my job anyway). I have also tidied the fridge of dodgy looking food and watered the garden. Mochi the cat is complaining that I have come back in the house playing with her outside.
Lunch for me will be feta omelette, once I remove the clingy cat from my lap.
It had been quite a nice day, but there were a few spitters of rain as I came home, so I postponed any forays to Tessie's or M&S; I don't relish getting soaked just for the sake of a few groceries. It seems to have brightened up a bit again now though.
Brunch of poached eggs, smoked salmon and TOAST has been had. What I have for supper may be determined by (a) if/when it's expected to start raining again; and (b) how exciting or otherwise the tennis is.
As well as indulging in Cake at lunchtime, I bought a chunk to eat tomorrow. Tonight is kedgeree.
On a different note, this event was held in the parish church which I used to attend. One thing I was pleased to see is that visiting clergy during the interregnum are using the “proper” booklets for Holy Communion, rather than the highly truncated version introduced by the last incumbent.
Coffee this morning with friends - our usual watering hole was full so we had to head to another one which we usually avoid as it's overtly dog friendly (you can actually take dogs into most of the cafes in town) and very echoey, so if you get dogs who keep barking it's hard to have a conversation. However, today the noise was down to lots of people Talking Very Loudly. It was Carnival Day in our town but so breezy and (relatively) chilly I think everyone had headed indoors for a coffee instead.
I then had some errands which took longer than I'd intended so I arrived home late for lunch and a touch frazzled.
Stir fry for tea because Saturday.
Neither - Christian rock scares them into the next parish.
I was all for not doing much this afternoon but was persuaded by my husband to go for a walk and I'm glad we did. A very pleasant stroll from one of the towns south of here, along the river round a village and back, including a stop for a drink in the village pub.
Still no rain, though the BBC claims tomorrow will be wet. Of course we have a garden party to go to in the afternoon so I guess its an example of sod's law.
Usual weekend lunch, and laundry is laundering. Then snoozage, Evensong and a Chinese takeaway for supper.
* it's clouding over a bit now, but it was glorious.
SALMON FILLETS again for Lunch, because use-by date.
My Spy tells me that Mass was very sparsely attended yet again - Our Place seems to be running on fumes at the moment IYSWIM.
For a few moments today we did have some Proper Rain, which was very welcome - slightly less so than it would normally have been as it chose to descend as I was walking home without coat or umbrella. It's not been enough to make much difference, however - everything is still dust dry apart from my clothes, which I had to change out of on arriving home.
In other news the washing machine is on its third load of the day; I'm having to keep on top of things for the next couple of days as midweek we head north for Nenlet2's wedding and I am not minded to come home to loads of dirty washing. Continuing the wedding theme, I am currently wearing around the house the new sandals I've bought for the occasion; sparkly flat ones. A few days back I unearthed the shoes I had for Nenlet1's wedding. They had heels, though not huge ones, and I had to have several weeks of training to walk in them. I managed all day 13 years ago without even thinking about it... I don't think I'd be able to take more than a couple of steps in them now
We had a thunderstorm that passed directly over the Meeting House this morning. Very grateful for the rain. Less grateful that 2 of our men had to deal with overflowing gutters during the Meeting. I seem to be sensitive to a thunderstorm’s atmosphere and could feel the electricity in the air - strange!
Preparations continue for heading off midweek for Nenlet2's wedding at the weekend; I dislike going away and invariably go into a bit of a panicky tailspin about all that needs to be done, and packed.
As @Zoe says, the world is full of scummy con artists. Alas! some of them get to be Heads of State, or Prime Ministers, or whatever...
ION, a windy day in Arkland the Washed, after heavy Rain in the early hours of this morning, but the Big Yellow Face is occasionally peeping through the clouds. Forecast is for 80F+ temperatures later this week.
Lunch is a gastronomic Feast by my standards - slices of cold Cumberland Sausage (with Black Pepper and Herbs), accompanied by CHIPS, and a Baby Leaf & Rocket Salad garnished with French Dressing.
An Italian BEER (Peroni) is also on the menu, so to speak.
I was going to go to the film with a friend. Not now. I haven't read the books.
A lazy afternoon, though I did do a bit of weeding as the ground is much softer after yesterday’s rain.
My husband is going to a bring your vinyl to play evening on Friday. We got rid of our LPs years ago but still have some 45s in the bottom of a chest. He’s just gone through them and we have some interesting records. Shame we have nothing to play them on.
Hummus , salad and flat breads for tea.
There's a STEAK marinating happily in the kitchen, which I shall try and cook as nicely as the one I did last week (I'm not holding my breath; I can't remember exactly what I did, but it'll have something to do with getting the timings right ...).
It's a while since I read them and while I can see them on my bookshelves from here I don't want to look at them again as I'd be reading in the light of the allegations. At the time, I felt very sorry for them in their situation and amazed at her determination and at what they did. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery (as did my friend who has herself walked the path - I'll be seeing her tomorrow and am looking forward to hearing what she made of the Observer's report). I thought Ray was quite tough and bullying to Moth at times but put that down to that being what he needed to keep him going and thought she was being honest about that side of her character.
I've read some of the reviews on Goodreads and a small number of them (written several years back) flag up that some of it doesn't seem credible and there seemed to be a glossing over of certain things.
Tea is underway at Casa Nen - roast chicken, as we didn't have it yesterday.
Grocery delivery came early, had a nap, watched tennis, read a bit. Dinner was saussies and colcannon.
On Saturday, we went to the American museum at Claverton. Manor just outside Bath. Independently, we were both saddened by the way not just black people but also the indigenous Indians had been treated 😥
.Darllenwr’s nephew from Australia has been over on a work related trip and came to see us on Sunday evening.
Today we’ve been to Laugharne. We were on holiday there 41 years ago, and spent quite a lot of the day trying to remember what we had done. The weather was pleasant but very windy, so not very warm.
We are planning to go Welshpool sometime this week, and hopefully, we’ll be getting our new cat.
All in all, a busy week ! Thankfully, Darllenwr enjoys driving!
I do love BBC Sounds.
We have had a couple of cool and rainy days here, which has been a most pleasant change. It has also been excellent Weed Ing weather because the ground is soft, although I wasn't thrilled when the rain started again yesterday while I was in the middle of the job. It's my own fault for blowdrying my hair, I suppose.
It's predicted to be fairly cool again tomorrow, which I am pleased about, because my new jeans are now finished, and I'll be able to wear them. I'm pretty happy with how they've turned out, and they definitely fit my pear shaped self better than anything I could have bought in a shop.
I’m sorry your MS has deteriorated, I will pray for you.
Only light work here, just a meeting this morning and some admin. Tea was an Italian style stew of pork, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes and peppers.
The story made the national news this evening, 6pm on Radio 4 and 10pm on BBC1.
Very sorry to hear about the MS @Priscilla , but your staycation sounds good. We had a holiday in Laugharne years ago when our children were still at home. The house we rented looked out over the estuary and the incoming tide seemed to cover the car park every time which we found a tad discombobulating although the locals seemed to take it in their stride.
I relate to disturbed nights @Firenze . I am up at least once for a bathroom visit and it's touch and go how easily I get back to sleep. Everything looks very bleak at 3am.
Boring day of admin but broken up by watching Wimbledon for a while, though I had vowed not to watch it this year.
I have yet another week of juggling, not knowing what’s happening when.
Will my son turn up to do the garden while my daughter is here? That would be interesting as they are not on speaking terms.
Will the scaffolders remove the scaffolding before Thursday when the decorator is meant to be painting bits of the front of the house? Will he cancel if so? Or maybe everyone will turn up on the occasions I need to be out for my two u3a groups.
Still no news on the scaffolding.
Arkland the Arcadian basks under blue Skies again today, so some Work on the shady side of the aft deck is called for, after a suitable siesta. The next few days are likely to be Hot (80F+), which means that I'll have to take things easy as regards Work...
The GrandNenling was on fine form this morning
I got back in time to join my usual Tuesday friends for lunch, did a wander around on some last minute shopping and got very hot.
The rest of the day will be about packing, with tea thrown in at some point.
Hope the wedding goes well @Nenya (IYSWIM).
It's about a year since I went to my Cousin C's wedding party (the actual ceremony took place the week beforehand - in Crete). A good time was had by all, I don't think anyone fell out with/murdered anyone else, and the buffet (supplied by caterers) was Very Tasty Indeed.
It involved an overnight stay in An Hotel in Hastings, with my sister, our sister-in-law, and our niece (s-in-l's daughter - 25 last month, and still working on World Domination, though I wish she'd get on with it). Being a Pore, Lost, Lorn, Feak, Weeble, Disabled, and Male Humming Bean in the hands of three Alpha Females is an interesting experience...
I just sat back, and let them Do Their Thing, and I was (I think) all the better for it.
As I said, the rest of my book group disliked the way they were rule breakers, ie, camping where not allowed, or where they should have paid but didn’t. I saw that as desperation.
Now I feel silly and gullible. It’s interesting that Moth has always kept a low media profile.
I consequently didn't feel like eating much when I got home, so I watched the last Brit in the singles getting stuffed in the tennis and then just grazed on cheese, pâté and TOAST.
I shall, of course, in accordance with orders received, wear my Panama Hat.
This afternoon we finished the Weed Ing, and in between times, my sewing spree continues. The Captain has outgrown his school overalls and needs new ones. We're leaving next week, and I'd like to get them done before we go. I'm using this pattern, which I've used before, but in a different size, and now remember why I hated it last time. 1) It has no seam allowances, so you have to spend bloody ages adding them on. 2) the neck edgings aren't interfaced, and I can't believe it would wear well without it. Given that it's an asymmetrical garment, I may have cut the interfacing out two or three times before I got it the right way round... I now have two of them cut out, and hopefully the worst is done.
Yes - I hadn't really thought that about Moth until you mention it; and I too saw their rule-breaking as desperation.
My lunchtime friend, who really has walked the whole path, did say that there was one part of the book that made her think, "Hang on, that doesn't sound like the place as I remember it" and also said (which I'd have agreed with at my first reading) that the fact that the financial situation was glossed over was because it was not really important for the story. She was keen to point out the Observer article is only allegations. The other friend, who's also read the first two books, was rather more scathing.
In other news, it looks as though all our things are going to fit into the Nenmobile ok, although it's a tight fit. Fortunately Mr Nen is a very good arranger and packer. I may have said on here before how it was a shock for me the first time we packed to go away together as I put my things into the suitcase and he promptly took them all out again and rearranged them.
Thank you for the good wishes @Bishops Finger ; I shall report back in the fullness of time.
I had a lazy morning knitting while listening to podcasts (the joy of Bluetooth enabled hearing aids). This afternoon I went for coffee with a couple of friends. We met when we all volunteered for our local book festival. The festival is on this weekend so we'll be seeing quite a lot of each other as we're going to some of the same events. We're all doing a bit of volunteering as well but not too much as we actual want to enjoy what's on offer. This evening we went to a talk on one of the town's oldest buildings. The talk was interesting, but he wasn't the best speaker and I struggled to hear him even with my aids up to 11.
Unfotunately, she spotted a duvet cover with the Playboy Bunny logo and thought that a nice rabbit print overall would be sweet for small children.
IIRC, she was thanked, and the Playboy overalls were consigned to the back of a cupboard.