All true

 

Chrisxx

Hot, hot, hot!

The curtains are closed, the windows are closed, it's like the black hole of Calcutta!  We haven't been out, even to the garden. Its just so hot, our Trail Cam registered 30C on our SW facing patio!

When we said we were moving here to Wales, our neighbours in Suffolk, said, 'it rains a lot there'.. but actually in SE Wales there is less rain. But this heat wave is bad, I am not liking it at all.  My son, who still lives in Suffolk says there has been a sprinkling of rain and its been cooler the last few days.

We are watering our pots, but by evening the plants are drooping, and our herbs are suffering too. The only plants liking it are the lavenders! And my little self seeded California poppy in the front garden, and where did it come from, as we had none in the front? 

We do a little bit of cleaning in short spurts. I set out today to sort out some drawers, filled a carrier bag for a charity shop, and that was it! I sat in my cane chair while I sorted out my sock drawer. My favourite chair, free from my son when he had his furniture shop. He used to take away a bed, when a customer bought a new one and he was asked would he take the chair as well.

It's a big joke between Dh and myself, as I always say its my favourite chair and the most comfortable, even more comfortable than my reclining one!

I can't wait for some rain, our shrubs are showing signs of lack of water, and the grass is like dry straw, but it will all green up as soon as we have rain. 

How are you faring?

Chrisxx

Nature wins!!

It has be the right soil, not too sandy, not too heavy, not stony, doesn't flood and drains well. Rich in organic matter to support a healthy root system. Fertilization may be necessary to supply essential nutrients.

It has to be the right position, not too shady, not too open or hot and not to exposed to wind. Some plants may require 6 hours of sunlight while shade loving plants thrive best away from direct sunlight.

The temperature has to be right, Antirrhinums like a cool temperature to germinate, while Zinnias, Petunias prefer a warmer temperature. Daily temperatures also affect growth. In spring time gardeners will protect certain plants at night if a dip in temperature is forecast.

Water is essential, and it has to be consistent and adequate, as it acts as a solvent for nutrients and supports photosynthesis. But over watering can cause root rot, while under watering stresses the plants and reduces flowering.

So if your gardening isn't flowering, you got it wrong!

But ............ this California Poppy, arrived while the daffodils were dying down and despite the fact, it hasn't  been watered, is in a scrappy bit of soil at the edge of the grass, faces south, so in the heat of the day in these searing temperatures, it has survived and not only continued to flower, but the blooms have increased from 4 originally to these, 20 plus!.

I guess nature will always win! Isn't it extraordinary?

Chrisxx

Lazy days...

 I have posted about this rose before, but Tony in radio programme The Archers,' was proudly saying in an episode this last week that he was planting a 'Trotting by Gently'  rose. And ours is looking glorious, in spite of the heat. And its been 38C on our SW facing patio! 

Dh has been watering the pots each evening, but even with that some plants are drooping. 

But our cucumber plant we had from the Garden Group swap, is producing abundantly and they taste really good.

We've not done a lot, its been so hot, while it was early Saturday and a bit cooler,  we had a quick clean through, I did my share in my nightie and then showered, when we had finished.. then we put on the TV and watched the tennis. We've loved Arthur Fery, and was thrilled that he got through to the semis. Next to Sverev he looked tiny, but he really played well. We're looking forward to seeing more of him in years to come.

I 've started a crochet throw, to keep me occupied and not think of food!

How are you faring in this heat? However this morning there is a cool breeze!

Chrisxx

A hot sunny day

In a seaside town.

Chrisxx

A great life

 

There is probably many people who disagreed with Ann Widdecombe, but she was a great orator and wasn't slow in voicing her opinions.

I greatly admired her and like the way she spoke out and was not afraid to..

I was very sad to learn she had died, but then to learn she was murdered I was horrified. 

What a shock, I hope the police find the person responsible.

I feel so sad.

Chrisxx

Ups and Downs of Life.

 Another hot day, but we have sat outside underneath our big umbrella and with the gentle drift of a cool breeze it was very pleasant.

Having written about the loss of a friend in my previous post, the comments were so sad to read, all about lost friendships. It actually made me feel better, to know I'm not the only one, but sad as well, because I know how you all feel let down, hurt and betrayed.  Would you take that person back as a friend if they came to you? 

But then for reasons only known to my own hormones, that didn't give me knowledge of why!!! I was in such a rotten mood this morning!! I had to shrug it off and just get on with things and pull up my socks as it were!

Evidently that saying it originated from early 19 century, when athletes were advised to make sure their socks were snug and tight, so they were ready for action to make a better effort!  

Anyway all turned out ok in my day. I've had my hair cut and it is nearly like I wanted it, and in two or three weeks time it will be perfect! 

I've tried really hard this week with the food plan, and for the first time ever, when  I've been tempted I've stopped and thought, do I really want this or do I want to lose weight?? But the hot weather returning was saying..... ice cream! But none has passed my lips, even though I really, really wanted some!

For all our ups and downs in life and women seem to get it harder, at least we haven't just been stung with the hefty cost of a lost court case and no where in a Palace to lay our weary heads.

Poor little rich Prince Harry. 

What say you?

Chrisxx

Friendship gone, just like that!

The tennis had brought back some memories of a friend, who like me watched and cheered and yelled, especially when it was Andy Murray. We lived apart but emailed every day, more than once a day sometimes, for 20 years. And in Wimbledon we emailed 'yells' back and fro. But just before last Christmas she stopped communicating with me.

Something was said and I gave her an explanation, that implied she had the wrong end of the stick. And just like that she stopped, no explanation, just gave a message to someone else for me. There's no need to tell you, it caused me a lot of heart ache.

Why? I wanted an explanation, as to why, I wanted to know; I was chasing an explanation as though knowing why,  would lesson the pain I was feeling. If I could get her to explain herself, perhaps I'd feel better about it. But the truth is knowing why, wouldn't make it go away.

My lovely husband said at the time, let it go, there was no reason why she reacted as she did to me in particular, and it could have been anyone, and not me! It wasn't because I deserved it, not really because I caused it, not because I could have stopped it happening, once it had, that was it! Lesson learnt, when people step out of line, they don't want to be reminded that they have.. 

I've missed the daily banter especially now its tennis, but I've accepted now, that friendship has gone. But was it a true friendship, I think not, now that I've written about it. 

Would you drop a faithful friend of 20 years with no explanation? And as Dh said, she was no friend to behave like that!

Chrisxx

Tears and laughter!

 

A beautiful  photo from FB and it's calmed my mind because I've had an upsetting day.

Although I go to a hairdresser I take my own shampoo, Kerastase.  I buy it on line as you can't buy it in a shop.

Today I logged on, it did what firms that you use regularly do and it greeted me with 'Hello and my name.' 

I ordered my shampoo and as I started to fill in my name and address, a Bristol address flashed up. I changed it 3 times and paid.. went to check in my gmail to check it had gone through and yes it had, but with the Bristol address.. Grrrr I got back to the firm and yes I was speaking via chat to AI!!! So frustrating, you go round and round in circles. Anyway I've left it with them.. its not the £30,  it means I won't have the shampoo!

Dh was lovely about it, but what I can't understand why did another address come up? My details with them is my present address.

My eldest son phoned and the combination of lack of sleep and the wrong address I was a bit weepy, he said all the right things just like my lovely husband did and ended our conversation with..

'Nothing will matter in a couple of weeks Mum, when Andy Burnham gets in, because every body knows he's the messiah!' 

And I couldn't stop laughing!

Chrisxx

Living the Good Life??

I was very sad to hear that Penelope Keith has died, my children and I loved 'The Good Life' programme, and watched it regularly.

And as a 'newby' gardener I decided I'd try and grow some veg. I was given seeds by some friends and some compost, I didn't have any pots, but saved any food containers I thought suitable. That first year I grew some tomatoes, lettuce and radish. All grown on a window sill and planted out in our small garden. They grew but they weren't all that successful, except for the radish which my children didn't like, and neither did I! 

But my then husband ate them, although quite critical of the tomatoes (they had bottom end rot) and the lettuce were very small. 

But I didn't give up and got some gardening books from the library and read what I should have done, and the need for regular watering and the need for a 'feed.'

My then husband, to encourage me bought me some wellies for Christmas! I should have been more grateful. because they were a very good pair, bought from the Chandlers that sold all the sailing gear. I wasn't impressed and never wore them!

But even worse was his decision to grow veg, because of course he could do it better than me!

I did write about it in this blog somewhere. 

I got home from town one day, to find he had hired a rotovator and dug up my garden.. I didn't speak to him for days and in the May school holidays, I took the children and we came here to my home.. my aunt had sent me the train fare. I left a note on the kitchen table.

The garden was back to lawn and flower beds a couple of years later. He'd lost interest and the weeds grew!  

Then three or four years later, his work wasn't going to well, and he was having problems sleeping. He joined us to watch the 'Good Life' and thought we should move to a Scottish Island and live off the land I said NO!! I wouldn't even talk about it and stopped trying to grow veg, I never had enough money anyway for seeds anyway!

Why do we women live in a shadow life, controlled by a man.

The day I decided to leave was like a new life was waiting for me.. and its been amazing ever since.

Chrisxx