What’s that you said?

Today was the day to collect the hearing aids, and to say I have not been looking forward to it would be an understatement. The rain had arrived before I left and I had a bit of time to go for a coffee before going to my appointment. The lady was very nice, and patient as I rally couldn’t get the hang of inserting then to start. But did get there in the end! They are very discrete and I have kept them in all day. I have the tv on now and have the volume several notches lower. Can also hear okay on the phone.so, at the moment far more likely to stick with them than I thought I would be.

I had a bit of time after my appointment so I did go for a bit of lunch and then to a shop where I saw a sign that I liked last week. It made me smile nd most crafters would find it funny.

I caught the bus home and as it was still raining did a couple of chores. Tasted watchng some tv and using the telephone. So far so good.

The real test will be getting them in again in the morning,

Boot sale and a bit of gardening

We went off to the boot sale as usual, very chilly this morning but quite a lot of stall holders. I didn’t buy anything today except breakfast. Just as well as I have been getting a pile of stuff ready for boot sale or charity shop myself! We did enjoy wandering round as usual and Darren did get a few bits. Chatted to Anya and did a couple of chores when we got home.

Took a picture of the sky while we were there.

After lunch I went out into the garden to dig up some of the plants that I couldn’t shift the other day when it was so dry. They are brunera, which have a flower like a forget me not but very flamboyant leaves. They also spread like a weed, so I needed to remove some of the smaller ones as they were getting too close to the edge. I did dig over where they had been as the ground was full of root runners. Also dug up some bulbs so had to get them back in! That bit of the bed looks tidier now and I had a trug full of plants to pot up.

So then I went into the greenhouse and potted them. I have promised Sher some as she liked the leaves when she came to the open garden. I am sure I can find places or recipients for the rest.

Felt a bit tired when I came in and caught the second half of The Sound of Music Live. Lovely acting and singing, really enjoyed it.

Had a shower after dinner and watched the Strictly result show. Nothing else planned.

Hull and moving branches

I will start with a photo of the mummy mug that I finished for a man at the pottery on Wednesday. I asked Caroline to send me a photo as it is being collected on Sunday.

This morningI caught a fairly early bus into Hull as there were a couple of things I wanted that I can’t get locally or in Beverley. I took this photo when the bus stopped, it was at the side of a home appliance shop and I think it is a great image.

I was less time in Hull than the time I was on the bus journeys, but I got what I went in for  and was home by one. Darren had left early to collect  Tina from Manchester airport. They got home a bit before me but Tina had gone for a lie down as it had been a very long journey.  I did take another picture from the bus on the way home s there was a very nice classic car in one of the villages.

I have had a chat with Tina, she had a lovely time, and I got some pressies. The photo doesn’t do the colour of the cap justice as it is a very vivid orange!

I love the earrings and of course the cap is great, I have quite a collection.

This afternoon I moved the branches of the pruned filled tree into the back garden and onto the burning heap. It took four wheelbarrow loads!

Have enjoyed Strictly this evening and will hopefully go to the boot sale in the morning,

Bit of variety

I went to the banking hub early and had a laugh with the ladies there. They called out ‘what are you wearing today’ meaning what earrings. A man at the counter looked perplexed so they told him that I was their ‘not normal’ customer! Think he was even more perplexed then! 

I went off to see Bel this morning as usual, stopped to look at the folly on the way, just an usual thing to have on your doorstep. She was okay, but is definitely slowing down and finding things more difficult. She had got a lady to go and do a bit of cleaning for her now, and the first session went well.

When I got home the post had been nd my spider stamps and post cards had arrived. They are brilliant, I haven’t looked t the postcards yet, but there will be on of each of the stamps.

I had a letter to post but had to go to the post office as I had miss3d the only collection in the town. I came back via the sea front, and the sea was very foamy and lovely. The wind was gale force so it was pretty cold, had to hang onto my hat!

There are a lot of leaves down with the wind and also a lot of twigs down on lawn. The leaves in the walled garden make the weeds less obvious.

I gathered up the bigger twigs and put them on the burning heap.

I thought I would feed the cakes and then remembered I needed more brandy. As I walked up the drive I realised a tree that is part dead was uprooted and part of it was hanging over the drive. Luckily I have some strong loppers and cut the overhanging branches off. Quite a pile to take to the burning pile tomorrow!

Fed the cakes this evening as I am thinking of going into Hull in the morning.

Mostly indoor day

It has been a busy week so today I got up later, did my daily puzzles and went to the shop for a few bits. Then did a couple of loads of washing and changed the beds. I have used the burrito method for changing a quilt cover but last time couldn’t do it and ended up with the old struggle using pegs! Today I couldn’t do it again so got the video on the iPad and watched, I had been down no everything right so tried again. I eventually managed by flipping the end over, still hd to think about it the second time though!

I cooked up some veggies for lunch and then decided to make some of my healthy apricot slices as I have been having one for breakfast. I had also promised to make some vegan ones for Rosie, so another trip to the shop for some dairy free spread. The vegan ones didn’t cook so well, had to pop them back in for a bit, I hope they will be okay.

I read for a while and Darren drove us down to the front to have fish and chips, in the car as the weather was awful!so just one photo of a very wintry looking sea.

Just one visit tomorrow so another fairly quiet day in store. Tina will be home of Saturday.

Lots of pottery painting

I went and posted a letter early on and then did a couple of chores before walking up to the pottery studio. I got there before Caroline today which was unusual. We decided to start by painting the frogs that we made a few weeks ago.

That was fun to paint. The cup and saucer I painted as a sample because it had a chip had been fired, that worked quite well.

Caroline had made a highland cow a while ago, she didn’t fancy painting it so asked me. I could see why when I started, managed not to break too many strands in the process!

A couple had been in with their little girl on her birthday, the father started painting a mummy mug but hadn’t got very far when they were ready to go, so I ended up finishing it off for him. Of course, he wasn’t keeping the bandage all one colour, he had decided on three!

One of the plaques I made last week got damaged at the back in the kiln. The damaged area looked a bit like a butterfly so I painted it with some of my left over colours.

Then I decorated the front of the plaque with the underglaze pencils. Will be interesting to see how that comes out.

Caroline gave me a lift home and apart from getting dinner not planning to do much else.

Tina has been at a game reserve today so I will finish with the photos she sent.

Short and not so sweet

I was at the shop today. The alarm didn’t sound right when I put the code in and then it started to bleep, tried again and it bleeped more! Had to text Sher who told me to press a button for thirty seconds and then try again. No change. So intermittent bleeping all day. I was worried about closing the shop as I didn’t know if the alarm was on or off! Sher messaged to say leave it and just lock up, so I did. The shop was really dead for the first couple of hours and I had taken my pick up and cleaning stuff but forgot to take something to do. So back to my childhood it was, we used to see how many words we could find in Constantinople. So that is what I did but words with four letters or more. Managed about 280 by the end of the day!

Did get a few customers in the afternoon so it was worth opening. That is my days done now, but it means I will be able to je out again if they are struggling.

This evening I have visited Sarah and David and herd the tales of their latest trip with the usual traumas.

Bit heady tonight so just taking it easy, at the pottery tomorrow.

Back to Beverley

I had a couple of appointments in Beverley today. Eye test, not before time, several years since my last one. Some change but nothing too drastic, the eye health check was good. I had some lunch and did a bit of shopping as the other appointment was later. Ears this time as I have been needing the tv turnred up a bit and sometimes miss things in conversation. So another bit that needs some assistance. Very nice lady and both ears are affected. So now have hearing aids on order as well. The joys of getting older.

Rosie called by today with the pottery Tina and I painted when we went with them to a pottery painting place. Tina painted a dinosaur mug and I painted a plate.

Will finish with a couple of pictures from the traveller!

Autumn bugs

Went to the boot sale with Darren early as usual. It was very cold today and not as many stalls, and our usual  breakfast place was closed! I spent a grand total of £1.50! The pound was for poo bags, I use them when I clear the litter trays. The fifty pence was for this little cutie!

I had a chat with Anya and then went out to mow the lawns in the front garden. I wasn’t really in the mood but was glad when they were done.

After lunch I did get the weeding truck out to try using it. It will be helpful although made me use different muscles propelling it along! I couldn’t did the small plants up a I intended because the ground wA too hard, the Ron skipped us gain! When I was pulling it back to the store one of the wheels fell off! After a few minutes searching I hound a fixing on but thought I was missing a bolt. More searching , then looked t the wheel shaft again and realised it pulled out and had a hole on it for the pin!

The good part of going out was to see how the insects liked the fading alliums, I won’t pull them up for now.

Shop day

This morning the usual routine to start, go to the shop for rolls for lunch and feed the cakes. Then I got ready to go and get the shop open. Quite a lot of customers after a slow start, had a panic moment when I managed to lose the screen and could not fathom how to get it back! Luckily the lady is serving was very understanding and  said she would come back later as she really wanted the items. I did get the screen back but it did take the edge off the day a bit! One rather cute visitor this afternoon.

I had a walk round the garden while dinner was cooking and a couple of groups of autumn crocuses have appeared and some lovely geraniums to brighten the garden.

I am enjoying Strictly, so will finish with a couple of African sunsets from Tina.

Visit and parcel sending!

I did a bit of sorting indoors and dug put a jigsaw before going to see Bel. She was okay but is finding life a bit more of a struggle. She has a lady going to do a couple of hours cleaning for her next week so hope that turns out okay. 

I had forgotten my phone today and had a couple of messages when I got back which needed responses. Then I walked to the post office as I had a couple of packages to send. It was a bit long winded, I think the lady serving me was training, but all good in the end.

Have just pottered this afternoon as no visit from Jean. Have watered the bonsai trees this evening and taken in and unpacked the shopping, Tina is away andDarren had gone off to his club.

So, a couple of photos. I finished the jigsaw last night and I took a photo of a lorry parked across out entrance, it was there for bout fifteen minutes.

And a couple of crafty bits from four years ago!