Very warm here again, around 27/28 degrees. Mr Heavenly chose today to dig the foundations for my office decking, very hot work.
I downloaded the Merlin app and recorded 12 different types of birds in the garden (including wood and feral pigeons, the latter of which the app gentrifies to its ancestor the rock pigeon). The surprise was the Eurasian blackcap.
Dinner will be sea bass and a tomato, avocado and mozzarella salad.
Looked after youngest grandson today. We bought loads of flower plants at the garden centre then went to the playground this afternoon. We both got hot and tired!
Relaxing with Britain’s Got Talent this evening, cheering on my choir leader who is conducting and leading the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir.
Beautiful day here: it got up to 20° this afternoon. I got my toes repainted after choir practice, and then decided on an amble along the street for a bite to eat, followed by an Expotition to the Gyle shopping centre, primarily to pick up my "spare" hearing aids (the charging cable of which has disappeared; I asked whether I'd left it with them but they said I hadn't).
Then a mosey round M&S to get some salads and such: if it's going to be in the 20s Celsius I don't really want to be cooking.
I splashed out on an Uber to get home: the schlepp from the station wasn't very appealing.
Ready-poached salmon and some of the aforementioned salads for supper.
I spent the morning cleaning- our house went on the market yesterday and we have a viewing early next week!
I love this house but working my round it as I cleaned, I could see all the faults 😬 so am now a bit stressed......
I know moving is the right thing for us to be doing but our resilience levels are not what they used to be so it's all a bit daunting.
It's been beautifully warm and sunny here and our little walled garden is a delight.
The bowls match was interesting, though neither husband or I really worked out what was going on. Later on we went for a walk round the local RSPB nature reserve. I have the Merlin App too @Heavenlyannie and though such things as oyster catchers have been spotted there I didn't pick them up on the App, it was mainly robins and black headed gulls. I did hear a Cetti's warbler which are rather loud considering they are quite small.
We came home and had dinner in the garden with a glass of wine brought back from last week's German adventure.
We had a good conference - like most things, some bits were a lot better than others but very glad we went and would definitely consider going again. We got back late afternoon yesterday and since then it's been about catching up on things here. The garden was gasping for water and the washing machine has been on pretty much constantly. I also did some baking. I commented to Mr Nen that the Kitchen Fairy and the Laundry Fairy seemed to be working overtime today and he agreed.
It was stir fry for tea because Saturday. Tomorrow we'll be eating at lunchtime as there's an afternoon event at one of the other churches in the benefice which we plan to attend.
The bowls match was interesting, though neither husband or I really worked out what was going on. Later on we went for a walk round the local RSPB nature reserve. I have the Merlin App too @Heavenlyannie and though such things as oyster catchers have been spotted there I didn't pick them up on the App, it was mainly robins and black headed gulls. I did hear a Cetti's warbler which are rather loud considering they are quite small.
We came home and had dinner in the garden with a glass of wine brought back from last week's German adventure.
If Merlin didn't pick up oysterctachers, they weren't there - they are noisy beggars, you can hear them for miles!
The concert was worth going to for the second half. The first half was singing - solos and duets- in various styles, jazz, opera, reggae etc, none of which appealed to me. The second half was a performance of a version of the Gloria by a local composer, each section introduced by a few words of reflection/ explanation. It certainly had merit ( that’s praise indeed from me) and was exceptionally well performed.
The vote of thanks from the Church representative said it deserved to be heard at The Proms, and I agree.
Out in the garden at 6:30 and spent an hour giving front and back gardens & pots a good soaking. Doesn't look like there will be any rain for a week, and was they got today will have to last them until then.
Still trying to decide about church this morning. There are large windows down the southern, coastal, side of the building and the pastor isn't keen on having them open because it is next to a busy road (especially on sunny weekends) and he doesn't like the competition from the traffic noise.
I don't cope well with the heat.
I don't doubt that Our Place - a huge Edwardian barn, costly to heat! - would have been refreshingly cool today.
Less torrid in Arkland the Mild, with a mere 79F on the thermometer, tempered by a light easterly breeze.
FatherInCharge and 2 or 3 of the Faithful are off to Walsingham tomorrow for the Natiional Pilgrimage. Hopefully, the easterly breeze will be present in North Norfolk, especially for the benefit of the numerous vested clergy.
What's a suitable collective noun for such a gathering? A Piety of Priests? A Conglomeration of Chasubles?
Pentecost and an adult baptism at St Pete's today - and I remembered to deck myself in red. As it was such a lovely day, I put on my new dress; I don't think they've ever seen me in a dress before!
Home for brunch of poached eggs, smoked salmon and TOAST, and now chilling out while the laundry tumbles.
I think I'll have a little amble beside the loch once it's done: it would be almost criminal to waste such a lovely day.
No church this morning - our little local place didn't have a service and we decided not to try going anywhere else. Mostly it's been about trying to keep cool although Mr Nen did head to a local car boot sale early this morning. As he did the same last Sunday (to a different one) I observed that he may soon be joining the Holy Church of the Car Boot.
We are out later this afternoon, however, to a tea at one of the other churches in the benefice. I confidently expect Cake. Then once it's cooler I can see an evening that at some point includes consuming a glass of something refreshing, and possibly alcoholic,* in the garden.
*We are fans of non-alcoholic gin as now in my Old Age ordinary gin gives me a headache. With plenty of tonic, plus ice and a slice, it really is Most Acceptable.
We are pondering heading for the pub later. While drinking alcohol in this weather runs the risk of dehydration, confusion and the like, after a rigorous assessment process, we think it's worth the risk.
Church at 9.15 followed by annual meeting.
Following the usual talk about needing more / new people to support the church financially, one guy spoke about not offering the right services to attract newcomers, but it was not the right time to say “ But the monthly Pancakes and Praise service does not attract newcomers and if all services were like that you would lose most of the congregation who attend on the other three weeks ie those who also give financially”. Sigh.
If only we had a vicar…….
Same chap as earlier was most put out that the one applicant was not immediately appointed. I kept my mouth shut rather than tell him about my previous church where that eventually happened. The Diocese is re-advertising in the summer. Communications from TPTB are almost non- existent.
A surprisingly good congregation this morning, although few children, considering that it's half-term and sunny. Several folk too have temporarily migrated to Away although one has just returned. This afternoon we went to the big park where we had excellent ice creams, it was busy but less so than expected. My wife sat in the shade watching the pedalos, which were doing excellent trade, while I walked round the lake.
We both managed to get to our usual places of worship this morning for the first time in a couple of weeks. This afternoon we headed to visit an open garden which was rather lovely if very hot. The cakes looked very yummy, but neither of us were that hungry and it didn't feel like the day for sticky cake so we headed to small town on the way home and went to an award winning pub for a shandy instead. I thought of @Baptist Trainfan as the pub is called The Final Whistle and is in an old railway station next to the disused line which is now a cycle/walking path.
A lazy evening is on the cards, though some watering will have to be done at some point.
Ambling has been achieved, and it was Really Warm (23° according to the Met Office). I may well repeat the exercise tomorrow, although at the moment I'm looking forward to not setting the alarm and having a lie-in.
We went to the tea event at Church In Nearby Village Same Benefice As Us and it turned out to be a family service with Activities followed by Tea and Things To Eat; good job we didn't arrive late.
It is still too hot to sit outside so we plan drinks and snacks in front of the TV catching up with Race Across the World.
It's really scorching here. After church we went to the creperie (Captain P's favoured eatery) and then to hunker down indoors with everything closed.
We entertained ourselves with cooking mostly. We made cherry and apple compote, and what is essentially cheese straws, but cut out in more interesting shapes. Last time we already made cheesy stars, but this time we used the gingerbread man cutter and made a couple of cheesy astronauts as well We went and watered the garden once it started cooling down a bit and now all is pretty quiet.
Tomorrow we intend to employ our Method for Keeping the House Cool which served us well in our previous house. Get up as early as possible and fling open all doors and windows to let cool air in. Close everything and draw all curtains as temperatures start to build (hatches battened down by around 8.30). Stay in house for rest of day.
Thank you. We are comfortable enough: not too hot. The main frustration is not being able to go into the garden - which is happily reverting to The Wild. But the chemo fatigue is so acute I can barely make stairs (we're on the first floor).
We are lucky because our garden faces South. We just just batten down the hatches at the back of the house, the front gets no sun at all - so it is much cooler.
I spent 2 hours gardening this morning from 6:30 to 8:30 as I was so frustrated yesterday. All seedlings now planted. I'll need to summon some energy for housework this afternoon. 🙂
Our house has the same orientation @Boogie, and the separate living room at the front of the house is wonderfully cool at this time of the year.
I want to go to a festival of knitting in the village which is basically a suburb of this town. Normally I'd walk there, but a nearly three mile walk along a main road in this heat doesn't appeal, so my husband has offered to drive me. He'll mooch around while I look at the exhibition, having no interest whatsoever in the craft.
Other than that I have a speech to refine and I need to sort out my notes for the philosophy group session I'm leading next week. Why did I offer to lead on the topic 'Is religion a force for good?' I'm fast coming to the conclusion it's going to be one of those sessions that leads nowhere.
I’m doing next to nothing in this heat, apart from staying cool in the front of my house. I leaped out of bed too quickly at 6 am for the loo and am still feeling a bit wobbly which is a further good excuse for doing very little.
I did what watering was needed first thing but both heat and wobble will put paid to plans to weed the front garden. I gave the porch mat its annual wash so I need to clean behind the shoe cupboard before I put it back.
We have a rehearsal this evening, the last one before a concert of mainly unfamiliar music by Holst, Parry, Wood, Elgar, Dove and Boulanger in the Minster next Saturday.
I’d better do some revision.
We like warmer weather, having lived in Mediterranean and tropical climes, but we are older and it isn’t so comfortable.
Last night for example was my worst night’s sleep ever. I’ve pulled the odd alnighter in my youth, but last night we went to bed at 11pm, I woke up at 1:40am, then I couldn’t get off until nearly 7am! Finally got up at 10:30. We have a four hour car journey this afternoon and it shall be Hot 🔥🔥🔥
The yarn festival was lovely. I’d not been to the church it was held in before and it was a gem.
We then went to the local garden centre and bought some marigolds, herb seeds and some strawberries to have with vegan ice cream later. Both the church and garden centre were busy so obviously everyone had the same idea to get out early.
If it isn’t too hot we’ll be gardening later.
Sending healing vibes to the Firenzes from sunny West Lothian.
I woke around 8, came through to the sitting room and opened the windows and went back to bed. Faffed around on Facebook and fell back to sleep, then got up and did some much-needed hooverage, until the hoover decided to run out of juice ...
Awake early, opened windows and doors and watered the gasping garden. Everything closed up by 8.30 and Mr Nen, on referring to his various apps, informs me that the house is some four degrees cooler than outside.
I shall shortly be making a Large Salad for lunch, of which I hope there will be enough for tea as well as I plan to make a version of the pastry swirls that @Heavenlyannie described in a previous post. Nenlet1 makes them with courgette (with the liquid squeezed out) and as I have said vegetable in the fridge which needs using up I shall be including that and seeing how it works out.
I'm going to have to use the oven this afternoon, having felt unable to tackle the planned weekend meals as a result of our outing in the sun on Friday.
I have managed to keep the bungalow comfortably cool so far today, so am not looking forward to to the additional heat, but must use up the ingredients I had ready.
At least Mr RoS is out for the afternoon, so I should be able to crack on in peace.
Up early (well, early for me), and at Tess Coe by 10am for Bread, Fish Cakes, Mushy Peas, and one or two other Essentials (alcohol-free Cider, and Dam Jonuts) out of which I had run.
I followed Experts' Advice, and closed portholes and curtains this morning, but it didn't seem to make a lot of difference - I suppose it wouldn't, living as I do in what is basically a Tin Box with ventilation holes - and the saloon/sleeping berth are at much the same temperature as Outside.
83F in Arkland the Parched, with a very light easterly breeze. It would be better coming from the west, and I have implored Them (on bended Face, with tears streaming down my Knees) to change it round, but my orisons have so far not been efficacious. 90F+ tomorrow .
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If the match has Tea and CAKE available, so much the better.
The gulls and pigeons divvy up the statues in Cardiff and Newport.
Has anyone not that pigeons go “pop” if you run one over? They really are stupid birds.
I downloaded the Merlin app and recorded 12 different types of birds in the garden (including wood and feral pigeons, the latter of which the app gentrifies to its ancestor the rock pigeon). The surprise was the Eurasian blackcap.
Dinner will be sea bass and a tomato, avocado and mozzarella salad.
Relaxing with Britain’s Got Talent this evening, cheering on my choir leader who is conducting and leading the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir.
Then a mosey round M&S to get some salads and such: if it's going to be in the 20s Celsius I don't really want to be cooking.
I splashed out on an Uber to get home: the schlepp from the station wasn't very appealing.
Ready-poached salmon and some of the aforementioned salads for supper.
I love this house but working my round it as I cleaned, I could see all the faults 😬 so am now a bit stressed......
I know moving is the right thing for us to be doing but our resilience levels are not what they used to be so it's all a bit daunting.
It's been beautifully warm and sunny here and our little walled garden is a delight.
I witnessed this a few years ago. The pigeon (if I anthropomorphise a bit) seemed to have a very surprised look on its face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY&list=RDyhuMLpdnOjY&start_radio=1
We came home and had dinner in the garden with a glass of wine brought back from last week's German adventure.
It was stir fry for tea because Saturday. Tomorrow we'll be eating at lunchtime as there's an afternoon event at one of the other churches in the benefice which we plan to attend.
Now for bed and book.
If Merlin didn't pick up oysterctachers, they weren't there - they are noisy beggars, you can hear them for miles!
The vote of thanks from the Church representative said it deserved to be heard at The Proms, and I agree.
Still trying to decide about church this morning. There are large windows down the southern, coastal, side of the building and the pastor isn't keen on having them open because it is next to a busy road (especially on sunny weekends) and he doesn't like the competition from the traffic noise.
I don't cope well with the heat.
Less torrid in Arkland the Mild, with a mere 79F on the thermometer, tempered by a light easterly breeze.
FatherInCharge and 2 or 3 of the Faithful are off to Walsingham tomorrow for the Natiional Pilgrimage. Hopefully, the easterly breeze will be present in North Norfolk, especially for the benefit of the numerous vested clergy.
What's a suitable collective noun for such a gathering? A Piety of Priests? A Conglomeration of Chasubles?
Pentecost and an adult baptism at St Pete's today - and I remembered to deck myself in red. As it was such a lovely day, I put on my new dress; I don't think they've ever seen me in a dress before!
Home for brunch of poached eggs, smoked salmon and TOAST, and now chilling out while the laundry tumbles.
I think I'll have a little amble beside the loch once it's done: it would be almost criminal to waste such a lovely day.
No church this morning - our little local place didn't have a service and we decided not to try going anywhere else. Mostly it's been about trying to keep cool although Mr Nen did head to a local car boot sale early this morning. As he did the same last Sunday (to a different one) I observed that he may soon be joining the Holy Church of the Car Boot.
We are out later this afternoon, however, to a tea at one of the other churches in the benefice. I confidently expect Cake. Then once it's cooler I can see an evening that at some point includes consuming a glass of something refreshing, and possibly alcoholic,* in the garden.
*We are fans of non-alcoholic gin as now in my Old Age ordinary gin gives me a headache. With plenty of tonic, plus ice and a slice, it really is Most Acceptable.
Today I'm a frustrated gardener - as our garden faces South it's far too hot to do any gardening.
All the seedlings are lining up ready to go in their places.
🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
I took Ted on an early walk this morning at 7:00. You couldn't see the reservoir. It was so misty.
We also skipped church as we had a late night last night with a theatre visit so we both woke up quite tired.
A Vapidity of Vicars (given the drivel some of them spout)?
We are pondering heading for the pub later. While drinking alcohol in this weather runs the risk of dehydration, confusion and the like, after a rigorous assessment process, we think it's worth the risk.
Following the usual talk about needing more / new people to support the church financially, one guy spoke about not offering the right services to attract newcomers, but it was not the right time to say “ But the monthly Pancakes and Praise service does not attract newcomers and if all services were like that you would lose most of the congregation who attend on the other three weeks ie those who also give financially”. Sigh.
Why do clergy persist in offering services which are palpably unsuccessful in attracting newcomers, or in retaining the regulars?
Same chap as earlier was most put out that the one applicant was not immediately appointed. I kept my mouth shut rather than tell him about my previous church where that eventually happened. The Diocese is re-advertising in the summer. Communications from TPTB are almost non- existent.
A lazy evening is on the cards, though some watering will have to be done at some point.
Supper was quiche and salads.
It is still too hot to sit outside so we plan drinks and snacks in front of the TV catching up with Race Across the World.
We entertained ourselves with cooking mostly. We made cherry and apple compote, and what is essentially cheese straws, but cut out in more interesting shapes. Last time we already made cheesy stars, but this time we used the gingerbread man cutter and made a couple of cheesy astronauts as well
Thinking of @Firenze and Mr F this evening.
Heading for book and bed shortly.
Thank you. We are comfortable enough: not too hot. The main frustration is not being able to go into the garden - which is happily reverting to The Wild. But the chemo fatigue is so acute I can barely make stairs (we're on the first floor).
We are lucky because our garden faces South. We just just batten down the hatches at the back of the house, the front gets no sun at all - so it is much cooler.
I spent 2 hours gardening this morning from 6:30 to 8:30 as I was so frustrated yesterday. All seedlings now planted. I'll need to summon some energy for housework this afternoon. 🙂
I want to go to a festival of knitting in the village which is basically a suburb of this town. Normally I'd walk there, but a nearly three mile walk along a main road in this heat doesn't appeal, so my husband has offered to drive me. He'll mooch around while I look at the exhibition, having no interest whatsoever in the craft.
Other than that I have a speech to refine and I need to sort out my notes for the philosophy group session I'm leading next week. Why did I offer to lead on the topic 'Is religion a force for good?' I'm fast coming to the conclusion it's going to be one of those sessions that leads nowhere.
I did what watering was needed first thing but both heat and wobble will put paid to plans to weed the front garden. I gave the porch mat its annual wash so I need to clean behind the shoe cupboard before I put it back.
We have a rehearsal this evening, the last one before a concert of mainly unfamiliar music by Holst, Parry, Wood, Elgar, Dove and Boulanger in the Minster next Saturday.
I’d better do some revision.
Last night for example was my worst night’s sleep ever. I’ve pulled the odd alnighter in my youth, but last night we went to bed at 11pm, I woke up at 1:40am, then I couldn’t get off until nearly 7am! Finally got up at 10:30. We have a four hour car journey this afternoon and it shall be Hot 🔥🔥🔥
Thinking of Firenze ❤️
We then went to the local garden centre and bought some marigolds, herb seeds and some strawberries to have with vegan ice cream later. Both the church and garden centre were busy so obviously everyone had the same idea to get out early.
If it isn’t too hot we’ll be gardening later.
I woke around 8, came through to the sitting room and opened the windows and went back to bed. Faffed around on Facebook and fell back to sleep, then got up and did some much-needed hooverage, until the hoover decided to run out of juice ...
Might have a little amble later, but now brunch.
I shall shortly be making a Large Salad for lunch, of which I hope there will be enough for tea as well as I plan to make a version of the pastry swirls that @Heavenlyannie described in a previous post. Nenlet1 makes them with courgette (with the liquid squeezed out) and as I have said vegetable in the fridge which needs using up I shall be including that and seeing how it works out.
I have managed to keep the bungalow comfortably cool so far today, so am not looking forward to to the additional heat, but must use up the ingredients I had ready.
At least Mr RoS is out for the afternoon, so I should be able to crack on in peace.
I followed Experts' Advice, and closed portholes and curtains this morning, but it didn't seem to make a lot of difference - I suppose it wouldn't, living as I do in what is basically a Tin Box with ventilation holes - and the saloon/sleeping berth are at much the same temperature as Outside.
83F in Arkland the Parched, with a very light easterly breeze. It would be better coming from the west, and I have implored Them (on bended Face, with tears streaming down my Knees) to change it round, but my orisons have so far not been efficacious. 90F+ tomorrow