@Piglet please feel free to send some of that rain down here - it's definitely been cooler and fresher the past few days but the drought isn't going away any time soon. I could smell the petrichor from what I think was a light shower late last night, but otherwise we've had no rain for the whole of July.
The house across the back from us set on fire - unattended BBQ. There were many loud explosions - I think from gas canisters stored in a shed.
I watched the smoke and flames from my bathroom. We have huge conifers behind us and if they'd caught fire our house would have been gone too.
I put the harnesses on the dogs. Put the grab bag by the door. Put the folders with our important certificates and deeds by the door. Put the dog's leads and food and dishes by the door.
I put some socks and sturdy sandals on and threw a jumper into the bag with a bottle of water.
Then I watched the fire from upstairs with my fingers crossed, while following our streets's WhatsApp ding and ding again with the latest news.
Two fire engines arrived quickly and they are still dousing the embers, the fire started at 6:00 p.m
As it is, the whole back of their house is gone. The sheds and their whole garden are gone too.
After that my neighbours and I had a cup of tea together and decompressed, if that's the right word. Mr. Boogs is away for the weekend.
My heart is only just stopped pounding too fast! I'm still shaking.
The dogs were brilliant, didn't react to the explosions and didn't make any fuss when they didn't get walks even though their harnesses were on.
That sounds very scary @boggie, the poor people who have lost their home. I hope they are all OK and the place can be re-built.
I had a fairly lazy day apart from heading off to Pilates this morning. I left my sunglasses in a shop on the way home, so I need to go and see if they are there tomorrow.
I have a busy weekend, opening our beach, a really great event when we have a giant sandpit in the market square and loads of events and then off to BBQ in our newest suburb. Then on Sunday I'm spending the day with some Polish scouts which sounds fun and involves another BBQ. I hope everyone takes every precaution as we have hardly had any rain for the last six weeks or so.
Back from the Great Lamb Hunt. Tracked down some chops in Lidl, in among the burgers and chickie bits. Tesco had some - not much - stewing and shawarma cuts. Weird.
Also picked up that presage of passing summer - a bunch of cheap gladioli.
Urk. We’ve just spent the morning dealing with mountains of tomatoes (turned into simple sauces for the freezer, the basis of many winter meals), courgettes (partly fried in olive oil, ditto), new potatoes, beans and cucumbers (largely foisted on complaisant neighbours), baby leeks (beginning to go home, despite how much we’ve tried to water) and the leaves turned into veg. stock (for the freezer), even a few raspberries, before we go away tomorrow and the hosepipe ban starts on Monday.
I know it’s worth it really, but just at the moment, I’ve had it!
What a scary experience @Boogie - you sound remarkably calm! The house that goes with my job is surrounded by trees and I’m actually putting together some emergency bags, just in case…. (It’s more for the animals than me; having an indoors-only cat is not ideal in an evacuation situation.)
Glad to hear all the humans and animals are safe, @Boogie - hope your neighbours have good insult and their house can be rebuilt.
After coffee, a BACON ROLL and a good chinwag with a friend from church, I had a mosey round the Artisans' Market and got a loaf and a steak. Then after some light snoozage, decided have an amble down to Tessie's (it was a nice, if rather blowy day, and I was getting low on essentials like bog roll and WINE).
A small matter in the Grand Scheme of Things: I'm rather partial to sugar-snap peas (they're nice for dipping in hummus), but for the last wee while they've been notable by their absence, so I've had to resort to buying small carrots instead.
Urk. We’ve just spent the morning dealing with mountains of tomatoes (turned into simple sauces for the freezer, the basis of many winter meals), courgettes (partly fried in olive oil, ditto), new potatoes, beans and cucumbers (largely foisted on complaisant neighbours), baby leeks (beginning to go home, despite how much we’ve tried to water) and the leaves turned into veg. stock (for the freezer), even a few raspberries, before we go away tomorrow and the hosepipe ban starts on Monday.
I know it’s worth it really, but just at the moment, I’ve had it!
MMM
Any spare veg (especially cucumbers) will be very gratefully accepted by your local animal rescue centre, especially a small animal/guinea pig rescue.
Re temperatures, for sunny weather I prefer lower temperatures so that it's not too hot. I love a foggy, atmospheric day, or a warmer humid rainy day. It's cold rainy days that are no fun to be outside in.
A rather busy day today starting with opening the rather wonderful beach in our Market Square. It's a free event for two weeks that the Town Council organises every year. Seeing the delight on the faces of the small children really made me happy. Then this afternoon to a fair in a rapidly growing local suburb then this evening to a local bowls club. Two members of the club are trying to break the record for a bowling match. They intend to bowl for 36 hours. They were a third in when we got there. The atmosphere was great and I had a go at bowling rather badly too. Finally to the local Pizza Express for dinner. A good pizza and a nice glass of wine, a good way to round off the day.
Sun high here, temp forecast to be above my tolerance level and not a cloud expected all day. Have done the necessary watering of salads, and apart from going to church will not set foot outside for the rest of the day
Same conditions forecast for tomorrow.
18° and partly sunny here today - Optimum Piglet Conditions.
I'm annoyed with myself: just before I left for church, the pocket on my dress got caught in a zip on my handbag, and I had to cut it free. It was the sort of thing you couldn't have done if you tried, and has left a big tear, so now I'll have to do some surgery on the dress.
The laundry it laundereth, and brunch will ensue shortly, followed by snoozage.
Guilt-driven couple of hours in the garden- plus it's brown bin week. I'm accustomed to using a little bench stool which is low enough to reach the weeds while remaining - obviously - seated. Trouble is, weakened leg muscles making getting up Not Easy; a fall would be a major problem. Think I'll have to leave it to untrammelled nature, and maybe get the tree guys in to cope with the worst of it (hedge, beech tree) come the winter.
Anyway, spice-rubbed swordfish and roasted courgette for dinner.
Yesterday I helped my daughter with her vintage stall at a fair held in the beautiful grounds of an NT property. I did not cope too well with the heat. The walled garden did what it is supposed to do and retained the heat with little breeze to diminish it. She had good sales and it was a pleasant day overall.
Church this morning. Only three choir and piano rather than organ so we sat together in the congregation. I was first to the coffee/ tea for once, as no robes to deal with.
My local parish church has just started serving cream teas on Sundays in August. I rustled up a friend to go with. The place was packed! We managed to find a table and enjoyed the cream teas (which neither of us needed). Even better, I chatted with a number of old friends.
Both churches are in vacancy. The one I attend is an attractive five church rural benefice, the parish church is a single church, but the diocese has plans to invest in several paid posts to potentially create a central resource church. Both are currently readvertising. I watch developments with interest.
The beach looks simply amazing! Does it get raked each night?
Yes, there are some really good staff who make sure it stays in good condition. It does annoy me when people say our Town Council never does anything. The staff work their socks off to provide over two weeks of free fun every August.
I spent all day at a Polish Scouts Jamboree. It was really interesting and I came away very impressed by the young people and the organising skills of the people running it. An added bonus was an outdoor Mass that was very enjoyable, with an excellent choir led by a very talented guitarist. I am now extremely tired, and pleased I don't have much in the way of civic events until the August Bank Holiday.
I had a suitably lazy afternoon, and a "board" supper: cheese, pâté, hummus, bread sticks, olives, tomatoes nice bread from the market and nuts and dried fruit.
Comments
The house across the back from us set on fire - unattended BBQ. There were many loud explosions - I think from gas canisters stored in a shed.
I watched the smoke and flames from my bathroom. We have huge conifers behind us and if they'd caught fire our house would have been gone too.
I put the harnesses on the dogs. Put the grab bag by the door. Put the folders with our important certificates and deeds by the door. Put the dog's leads and food and dishes by the door.
I put some socks and sturdy sandals on and threw a jumper into the bag with a bottle of water.
Then I watched the fire from upstairs with my fingers crossed, while following our streets's WhatsApp ding and ding again with the latest news.
Two fire engines arrived quickly and they are still dousing the embers, the fire started at 6:00 p.m
As it is, the whole back of their house is gone. The sheds and their whole garden are gone too.
After that my neighbours and I had a cup of tea together and decompressed, if that's the right word. Mr. Boogs is away for the weekend.
My heart is only just stopped pounding too fast! I'm still shaking.
The dogs were brilliant, didn't react to the explosions and didn't make any fuss when they didn't get walks even though their harnesses were on.
Yes, next door to the house had all their garden furniture destroyed.
Could have been worse! 😕
I had a fairly lazy day apart from heading off to Pilates this morning. I left my sunglasses in a shop on the way home, so I need to go and see if they are there tomorrow.
I have a busy weekend, opening our beach, a really great event when we have a giant sandpit in the market square and loads of events and then off to BBQ in our newest suburb. Then on Sunday I'm spending the day with some Polish scouts which sounds fun and involves another BBQ. I hope everyone takes every precaution as we have hardly had any rain for the last six weeks or so.
Indeed it could.
Also picked up that presage of passing summer - a bunch of cheap gladioli.
We have a painter coming round this afternoon to give us a quote for our landing and stairwell.
22⁰ and sunny during the day. Rain at night. Not too much to ask for, surely?
I know it’s worth it really, but just at the moment, I’ve had it!
MMM
Sadly, it is.
Just so glad you are OK but how terrifying for you all!
After coffee, a BACON ROLL and a good chinwag with a friend from church, I had a mosey round the Artisans' Market and got a loaf and a steak. Then after some light snoozage, decided have an amble down to Tessie's (it was a nice, if rather blowy day, and I was getting low on essentials like bog roll and WINE).
A small matter in the Grand Scheme of Things: I'm rather partial to sugar-snap peas (they're nice for dipping in hummus), but for the last wee while they've been notable by their absence, so I've had to resort to buying small carrots instead.
First world problems, eh? 🙃
Any spare veg (especially cucumbers) will be very gratefully accepted by your local animal rescue centre, especially a small animal/guinea pig rescue.
22° and at least 50% cloud cover or the sun is going to get too oppressive.
Same conditions forecast for tomorrow.
I'm annoyed with myself: just before I left for church, the pocket on my dress got caught in a zip on my handbag, and I had to cut it free. It was the sort of thing you couldn't have done if you tried, and has left a big tear, so now I'll have to do some surgery on the dress.
The laundry it laundereth, and brunch will ensue shortly, followed by snoozage.
Anyway, spice-rubbed swordfish and roasted courgette for dinner.
Church this morning. Only three choir and piano rather than organ so we sat together in the congregation. I was first to the coffee/ tea for once, as no robes to deal with.
My local parish church has just started serving cream teas on Sundays in August. I rustled up a friend to go with. The place was packed! We managed to find a table and enjoyed the cream teas (which neither of us needed). Even better, I chatted with a number of old friends.
Both churches are in vacancy. The one I attend is an attractive five church rural benefice, the parish church is a single church, but the diocese has plans to invest in several paid posts to potentially create a central resource church. Both are currently readvertising. I watch developments with interest.
Yes, there are some really good staff who make sure it stays in good condition. It does annoy me when people say our Town Council never does anything. The staff work their socks off to provide over two weeks of free fun every August.
I spent all day at a Polish Scouts Jamboree. It was really interesting and I came away very impressed by the young people and the organising skills of the people running it. An added bonus was an outdoor Mass that was very enjoyable, with an excellent choir led by a very talented guitarist. I am now extremely tired, and pleased I don't have much in the way of civic events until the August Bank Holiday.
All washed down with a nice glass of WINE.