On The Right Path.........

 
Our builder-friendP came early Saturday to help Hubby get the path done. His normal starting work time is 8am, it felt very early for us but so much better to try and get heavy manual work done before the main heat of the hottest day of the year so far. 

As with most builders starting with a mug of tea is essential. 

FriendP took the lead but they do work well together. 

Another mid way tea break then finished soon after so we could all enjoy an early lunch.

Hopefully some rain soon so the grass looks green again, otherwise so much better than it was. 

When our grapevines died and this trellis was bare we were thinking what to plant next and something grew that we didn't plant, obviously a gifted seed dropped by a bird or squirrel. Hubby left it and it grew into a strong little tree. 

The last few years it has blossomed in the spring and the app on Hubby's phone told us it's a plum. This year it fruited, the sweetest little plums that are no bigger than cherry tomatoes. 

Hubby successfully revived friendKW's laptop that he left here a few weeks ago. We returned it over a late pub lunch and a good catch up chat. Yummy. 

It's just over an hours drive each way to this pub (half way between us and friendsL&K) and we are so grateful for air-con as it was 29°C outside! The forecast for this weekend including next Monday could reach a high of about 34°C PHEW! Please take care, drink plenty and while you do that enjoy yourself.

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No Flies On Me......

 
It had to be on the Saturday not Sunday but Daughter and Son managed to get partners and our grandchildren all together for a pub lunch with Hubby and me for Father's Day. Everyone left there full apart from O who had been disappointed with his choice of pizza. Then all back here afterwards for cups of tea (although Daughter had swapped M for the dog).  

I haven't made fish pie for a while but I found a supermarket fish mix in my freezer and two boxes of ready made mash (always freeze leftovers) so a nice easy dinner once it all thawed, just made the white sauce with onions and constructed individual dishes for the oven. Mmmmmm

A few slabs were delivered. 

The next day was the cement and paving blocks. 

And Hubby has been working on it daily. Heavy lifting when he's not on his knees and this has been such a hot week, so I've insisted on plenty of long breaks. 

I've followed this lady on Instagram for a while now, she won bakeoff in 2014 (gosh didn't realise it was that long ago, so surprised when I just looked it up). She does some great bakes and also gives hints and ideas for a chemical free environment. 

Her response to annoying flies at home now doors and windows are open more is not to kill them with sprays or zappers or give them a slow death on sticky fly paper etc, Nancy prefers to deter them from coming in at all. Flies hate the smell of cloves apparently although when they are stuck into lemon it makes the room smell nice for humans. 

I've a 24 foot lounge with French doors open at the back and the window open at the front to get a through breeze while this week has been at its hottest. With these dishes either end we were amazed, no flies! Further proof was on the day we were dog sitting as the cloves are toxic to dogs so the dishes were removed and the flies returned! WOW

Any time I've tested another of Nancy's good ideas I promise to share it. 

  

It's going to be another scorching weekend, so drink lots, wear sunscreen and hats and stay safe.

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Sorting........

 
I've just come across this card while looking through my little stock of greetings cards for a friend's birthday. It was hiding inside its blank envelope.

I must have been really really efficient when I ordered this and hid it away well in advance of the occasion. Our 51st wedding anniversary was last October!!! Hubby received a beautiful card on the day that I had lovingly hand made for him which I often do. This one was completely forgotten which I don't often do. 

Out with friendsM, J & H for a meal in the same pub I'd been to last Friday lunchtime.  Us four girls try to meet for each birthday and this one was friendH's.

Also ate out with the usual Wednesday group (only four of us this time) in our usual pub (such creatures of habit hahaha).  This pub is the hardest to find a tiny meal or starter I like while these pills ruin my appetite, I hate sending so much uneaten food back each time. Turns out the second Wednesday each month is now a solo singer called Shane Baxendale. He's rock and roll with a very good voice, BUT FAR TOO LOUD!

Hubby has made a start on remaking our front path. We've been through so many options on-line and visiting builders merchants and nothing seemed quite right plus all very expensive for not- quite-right.

Having run the pressure washer over the existing paving slabs Hubby decided to add more of the same, after removing the concrete/pebble inserts, level the ground and add a border of brick pavers either side. 

New stuff all on order to arrive next week. He has prepped so far with the channel now dug both sides. I was worried someone(or me)  would turn their ankle so I asked him to make it obvious and the blue rope did the trick. I also made a couple of signs as a joke. 

Ever had a job you wish you'd never started? Underneath our stairs Hubby built this unit more than 30 years ago. I was thrilled to find very large baskets that fitted the spaces. The basket on the right filled with children's toys for our children, nieces, nephews, and visiting friends. Later that became grandchildren, great nieces, great nephews and the occasional visitor with a little one. The basket on the left is scarves, hats and gloves. Both baskets were overflowing so I tipped all the contents onto the table! 

Not the easiest heap to tackle with sentiment getting in the way of toy sorting and comfort and fit debates for the outer-wear stuff. Plus backache making it take extra shorter sorting sessions. 

Finally left with two very tidy baskets, a large black bag full for the charity shop, and rubbish in the bin. Now need to do further repairs on the baskets but they have done well for their age. I've even found the rest of the raffia I bought to repair with in the past. 

Beautiful daylilies

Lavatera in full bloom

Just had to share. 

Spectacular loud storm last night, went on for about two hours and felt right overhead. Very hot weekend forecast here in Suffolk so don't go out without your umbrella and sunscreen! Bye for now.

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Same Ole Stuff........

 
Oops didn't start writing this till Wednesday and can't remember what had happened at the weekend which I'm assuming means nothing much did. 

Monday was a comfortable temperature for an outside coffee morning, in the afternoon I went to my nails lady who was juggling her schedule and flapping a bit. 9:30pm I discovered my nails money was still in my pocket! A few messages back and forth and she told me my neighbour was going to her the next day so I gave my money to her to take. (I know that wasn't interesting, sorry).

Tuesday after lunch was dentist, as always I went with Daughter and O. I had to phone Daughter last minute as she hadn't arrived to pick me up, she thought our 2pm appointment was 2:30pm, so panic dash and just 10mins late, thankfully the dentist could still see all three of us. Next surprise was the dentist we had booked with and seen for possibly 18-20 years has now gone totally private (without any patient being notified) so we now see another one. Then back at the desk we were told our next appointment will be with yet another dentist as this one is a locum! AAGGHHH I really hate going to the dentist and hate even more not knowing who will have their hands in my mouth. 

Wednesday mid- morning we had a visit from friendsM&S. This was only the second time they'd come over since Hubby stopped being a blood runner more than three years ago so it was good to have a long catchup and they stayed for lunch. 

Mid-afternoon Daughter came over to leave her car and take mine, after a cuppa and chat of course. 

Wednesday evening was our usual gang. Sadly friendT wasn't well enough to stay so after we'd eaten F took her home. The four of us then went onto the snooker club and the guys played pool while M and I chatted. 

Early Thursday our mechanic took Daughter's car for its service and MOT. We are so lucky he is a neighbour and collects from our drive and delivers back plus he's always done a very good job. 

Friday was another lovely catchup lunch with old friendsS&R. R said he was paying as he always calls on Hubby for all his DIY help. I've had a really poor appetite on these pills and would hate to leave more than half a plate full when someone else is paying. I actually chose a starter instead of a main and that worked well. It was also S's birthday so we had taken a card and a house plant. 

Finally I have to tell this very long story which I'm hoping to make as short as possible, wish me luck! 
A very long time ago Hubby decided our water pressure is much lower than it should be, compared it to our neighbours and called out Anglian Water and the people on our Home Care contract (whoever they are). Drains were looked into and pipes were flushed and it did improve a little. 

When Hubby did a full refit on the kitchen in 2013 it did seem as if the hot water flow was even slower still. So Hubby started getting all the relevant people back again. I can't actually tell you why or what they did because I kept myself well out of the way and never really listened when Hubby told me about it after each thing. 

What did affect me was when the tap started leaking and after some fixes Hubby fitted a new tap. This was taller than the previous one which I got used to and did like the extra feature of a pull out spout so we could direct it to all parts of the sink. 

Because of the pull out feature it had to have all the extra flexible pipe under the sink. When lots more relevant people had been through the house and tested and suggested and flushed inside and outside down the street and measured and given up over quite a few years Hubby decided he needed to change to a tap without extra bendy pipe that has been taking the water on a longer journey. 

He ordered a new tap that was still flexible on top and under the sink he goes again.

We are now looking at this huge thing which makes filling the kettle quite awkward but I will not complain as Hubby has gained four seconds when filling the bucket to the two litre mark and is OK with living with it like that....... for now! 

That's about it for this week. 

Enjoy your weekend.

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