Nice catch up and phone saga

 Angie came to pick me up at nine this morning, had great difficulty finding a place to stop as the mums taking their children to the nursery school were parking everywhere! We went to The Harvester at Hampton and hd. Really nice breakfast and then we went to her place and she saw my photos and I looked at all her cards and presents from her retirement do. Then she dropped me off in the city so I could have a wander round. Niles’s girlfriend spotted me in Rivergate so I had drink in the cafe she works at. Then I went and bought some rubbers for Rachel in what is now TJ Jones. Saw a cow and an advert for the dinosaur at the cathedral.

Took this photo as the storm clouds were gathering!

I went into Queensgate and thought I would get a new screensaver for my phone. Vodafone didn’t have any so I went to another phone shop. The young man said he could do it but when I took it out of the case he said the battery was swollen(which it was) and it was dangerous, could catch fire and I would lose everything on it! Firstly he said they would have to order one but then realised that they had one. He asked if I could go away for forty to fifty minutes. So I wandered off, went in a couple of shops and then sat on one of the chairs dotted about. When I went back I got a bit of a lecture bout looking after my phone and he said that the screen had come away so he had to stick it down so could I come back in twenty minutes!

When I collected the phone and paid it had several elastic bands round it so I couldn’t actually use it and he said to leave then on for at least half an hour.. so I made my way to the bus station later than planned and when I got Rachel’s I took the bands off and I could get the phone open.

I bought an A6 sketch book yesterday, so a really small on and I did a drawing of Rachel’s flowers as Skip and Rachel were both out. I have given it to Rachel now.

As I sit here Rachel is working on my feet which is great.

Off to Rachel’s and a wet walk

 I got my case packed and Anya drove me to Rachel’s. Skip was in but working from home and Rachel had foot care appointments so she dropped me off at the Brotherhood centre. I had a nice wander round several of the shops, made a change to be going round big stores. I did stop for a snack and went to Morrisons and bought a new puzzle book. It was raining on my walk back to Rachel’s but I didn’t get too wet. Some great art work outside the gaming place.

I know Darren’s game cards have fantastic art work.

I have done some reading and a couple of puzzles, and since Rachelhas been in we have been having a good catch up.

Seeing Angie tomorrow.

Garden centre and quiet afternoon

 We went to Blue Diamond garden centre and had a good look round, they had a plant there that I would really like to get but checking on line it is only sold by Blue Dimond and you can’t buy it on line you have to get it from a store,  and they don’t have any in Scotland! It is a new hydrangea and won a prize at the Chelsea flower show this year.

I took some other photos too.

We had Aurora with us who doesn’t really like being around strange people so we came home for lunch.

Isobel has started growing some veg in the garden and showed me her pots and the raised planter she is going to use,

Louis’s parents came round this afternoon, it was good to see them, they send me quiz sheets that raise funds for  the Parkinson’s charity. Sadly Anya hasn’t felt too well today so we have had a quiet evening and I have been reading the Amy Dowden book I got last night. I will be going to Rachel’s for the rest of the week some time tomorrow,

Visit, dog park and great show

 I will endeavour to keep this short, although there are a few pics. This morning Anya took me to see Nora, a friend that I lived near when the children were small. It was lovely to catch up with her again especially as her husband has died since we last met. She has a cute dog now, so dogs are still the theme!

On Anya’s side this morning I spotted this plate, which I obviously painted and gave to her and I have no recollection of either! Yet another sign I am losing it!

Went to a different dog park with Anya and this one had a pool area. Aurora is not so sure of the water but she did go in.

There was a horse in the next field and a kite flying in another field.

We had the family call as usual and after dinner Anya and I went to the show with Amy and Carlos from Strictly. It was a fabulous show, great dancing and singer.

Two selfies as I couldn’t choose.

And Anya took this one at the end when everyone was on stage.

Tina for bed now.

Travelling and dogs

 Darren came with me to catch the 8.34am train to Edinburgh, and came into Edinburgh with me nd saw me onto my train to Peterborough. That was a nice way to start the day. The weather ws kind, not that I wa out in it much but good to see blue skies. Anya met me at Peterborough at 2.20pm, and we have had a quiet afternoon and I caught up with their news.  Isobel told me. Bit about her college work which was lovely.

After tea I went to the dog park with Anya, so will finish with lots of doggy photos. When we got back we had a game and then sat for a while before I was ready to get to bed.

Mother and son reunion day!

 Darren came up yesterday evening and today we have had a couple of outings which has been nice. Firstly I will post a picture of the mahonia which has lots of new growth which is great as hopefully it will be beautiful next spring.

We walked into Dunkeld along the river path but it was quite muddy today after all the rain. We went to the archive centre and Kit and Kat so that Darren could check out the souvenirs we had spotted. Then we went to a new cafe, The Clootie Dumpling, it was absolutely lovely in there, Celtic music and a waitress in traditional dress and lots of original paintings. We had a cheese scone and a drink. I bought some sweets for my journey and then we walked home the road way.  In the archive place I was tempted to buy a cd of Niel Gow music, he is famous in this area, even had things of his at the castle we visited. With him on my mind Darren took a photo of me standing by his statue.

I got packed and repotted two sunflower seedlings that had survived. This afternoon Darren drove up to Dobbies and at last he got to enjoy one of the huge cream scones, they have an offer after 2pm 2 for 1 and I had my monthly free drinks to claim today. We finished of the jigsaw when we got home, Darren is very good t fitting those last awkward bits in.

We have had dinner, my case is in the hall packed and ready to go and I have just watered all the indoor plants. It has been a good day, not too long now before Darren is back for good which will make it feel properly like home,

Odds and ends

 Tina headed off for Mirfield this morning, we got the stuff out of her car which was for the charity shop which wasn’t taking donations when we went. We put it in the small shed out of the way for now, 

I got the case out while Pandora was sleeping as she was lredy unsettled when Tina went. I have got most of the packing done and have checked my rail tickets and have the ready with the rail card. Sadly it seems I disposed of my English bus pass!

I have been to the shop a couple of time, it is the post office as well and I got a package sent off to America, that was a bit of a song and dance but we got there. I also went round for some ingredients as I made a cake as Darren is on his way up.

I have done some jigsaw as well, I wonder if  Darren will be tempted to do some, maybe not as I have done all the interesting bits!

It has rained on and off all day but it is still quite warm. Idid pop to the shop again a while ago as I needed milk, I’ll e to see the mist in the trees.

Hopefully Darren will arrive safely soon, he didn’t set off until this afternoon as he had some jobs to do before he left. It is later now as he arrived as was typing that sentence.