Still plenty to do!

 I have been thinking how to pack the large plants as we don’t know how the removers deal with them. Then I remembered I had said to Tina that I would like the hamper baskets to come to Scotland if there was room. So I got them in to see how it worked. The eight year old poinsettia is very leggy and leans to one side, I couldn’t see how it could travel without the fragile branches breaking, but have managed to get it into a box so fingers crossed.

I have left them in front of the window as they will then still get daylight, it was a bright morning today.

I went to the shops to get the rolls for lunch and to buy a couple of cards. I bumped into Jacky who was on her way to give me a card. We had a chat and she said she is collecting the toy box after I have gone and that she has found homes for some of my art work.

I took some more bits across to Sher and saw her and Haley in the shop. Haley gave me a card and two little gifts, both really lovely. Sher said she wasn’t giving me a card because she wasn’t saying goodbye!

I was talking to Tina when I saw a butterfly settled near her door. I quickly got a glass and piece of card before Pandora headed that way. When I put it outside on the card it didn’t fly away so was able to take a photo!

Before lunch I started to reorganise the garden stuff that is go to the path rather than on earth and emptied the trays of water. I was going to try putting a tarpaulin over but think it would crush the trees so now going to drill holes in the trays tomorrow so that they don’t fill with water, if I can find the drill!

Darren drove me up to Freeport, saw Rob at the potteries briefly and gave him another  piece of painted pottery to use as a demo . We had a quick walk round Pound Stretcher but I only bought sweets for the journey!

I lacked a box of kitchen stuff before going down to get us fish and chips for tea, and have started gathering together what we are taking and hoping it will all fit in the car. Feeling weary now, and a little anxious!

More goodbyes

 I managed to get seven short letters written yesterday letting people know the new address, so I walked down to the post box early. It was cold, windy and wet, not a nice day. I went to see Bel as usual, her neighbour was with her when I got there, he was trying to sort out a problem with the tv. They are very good neighbours, phone her every evening and have  key so they can get in if they need to. They keep the garden in check and take her to Morrisons for a big shop occasionally. She spent Christmas Day with them. They couldn’t be more attentive if they were family.

I had a bit of time when I got back and decided to try and get the crow stickers off my window. I had tried yesterday and there way no way they were budging. Today I started rubbing them all over with neat washing up liquid nd bit by bit I started to lift them, an our later they were a heap on the side!

Tina and I went and had a light lunch at the parish hall community cafe, then I got a message from Sher saying the pottery mosaic I had done before Christmas was with Haley at the shop so I went to collect it. I should say that I did not particularly like the workshop and pushing out the little circles was a nightmare. I am not overly impressed with the result either but didn’t put it in the bin or take it to the charity shop!

Terry came to pick me up to go and see Jean. We had a nice chat as usual and Jean didn’t get too emotional. She gave me a couple of little gifts and a nice card too.

This evening I wanted some milk and went by the new salon that my hairdresser Carol is opening soon. She has ongoing problems with her daughter, has done in the eight years I have know her. I knocked on the window and we had a chat and exchanged addresses and then for the only time today I had an emotional and tearful friend to try and console. One out of three isn’t bad!

I have some nice hamper baskets which I was hoping there would be room for in the removal van, but then I thought they may be ideal for transporting the large house plants. Maybe photos of my attempts tomorrow?

Last walk to the front

 I was up early and helped Tina a bit in the laundry area and went and got more black bin bags before walking to the front to meet up with Linda for the last time. I called in at the pet place on the way to see if they had any litter trays. They did so I said I would call in on the way back, decided it was time to replace it for the move. I took some photos of old haunts as I went.

Had a nice chat with Linda and we have agreed to keep in touch I did call into buy a new litter tray on the way back, and some cream cakes as I fancied one! Worked with Tina for a bit before and after lunch getting some boxes packed. I also finished packing my last box, although I will still have a bag of last minute bits and pieces. Tina has some bits to take as well and we have a dog crate now so we will have to see how much room we have.

Tina is out and Darren and I had takeaway as usual. We had almost finished when a man came to collect the tv stand. Some more stuff is being collected tomorrow.

More final catch ups tomorrow. 

Fond farewells and last sightings

 It was frosty and quite cold when I went to post a letter before 8am but it turned out sunny nd reasonably warm during the day. I had counted my odd change which Ihad in different jars ready to pay it in at the banking hub. The lady on duty today is the one that I have seen most and shehadboughtme a present, earringwof course! When I was leaving she came out to give me a hug even though there were people waiting. I Ann wearing the shell earrings today andwill probably wear the herts tomorrow.

Back home Igot a few small plants into a bag to give to Sher and also the large plant which is not happy. Sher and Haley were both in Number Nine so we had a chat. Sher gave me the vintage plant pot that I have had my eye on for a while as a leaving present.

I gathered the small plants together in a washing up bowl, hopefully they will travel well in that.

I went to join Tina and Jo and Paul to have lunch in the parish hall cafe which was nice and then Tina said she had an hour before a zoom call so would I like to go to Mappleton. Of course I said yes, we did we down the slope and walked along for a bit.

Those rocks were lovely colours. On the way back Tina drove past the water tower which I have always liked, a beautiful example.

I changed my bedding and washed the ones I had taken off as they will be gong to the charity shop. I put some other charity shop stuff downstairs  as Tina and Jacky are going to do some charity shop and tip runs tomorrow.

Dinner is done and dusted so having a rest before starting what will hopefully be my last box!

Comings and goings

 I haven’t been out at all today, the wether was awful and Tina as out a lot of the day and we had some people coming to collect things. Tina had put a few items on line that were free to anyone ho wanted to collect them. She also had a box of books being collected. People collected the fireside chair and the wooden chair, a wardrobe is being collected on Friday and someone has asked about the rocking chair.

Friends came round first thing to see what may have to be able to the tip when the move is done, they have  a trailer and have said they will take them to the tip. While they were here they carried the rocking chair downstairs for us. The parcel was collected and someone else came to collect a box of children’s bibles.

Meanwhile I filled another box and took up me rugs and rolled them ready for the move. My room is definitely looking like I am on the move now!

There has been a new book for church that has been waiting for an inscription, Jean asked me bout it every week. So I did it yesterday but couldn’t find my double sided craft tape to fix it in. I ordered some that 

arrived today so now the book can go back to the church.

Haven’t done a lot this evening, may feel like doing a bit more later, then again,,,,,,,,,,,                               

Busy morning, final catch up and lovely meal

There was an electrician due at 8am today so had to be up at a reasonable time . No alarm tomorrow though. Tina and I got some boxes packed in the kitchen and then collected up stuff that needed a home and put them at the front of the garden. We added a couple more after this picture.

Only one item left outside now, so that’s good. I looked at the magnolia tree and it has lots of buds forming so it will look better than ever this year and I won’t see it.☹️ I bet the wisteria will flower for the first time this year as well!

After lunch I went to see Sarah and David and say goodbye. Sarah was sad but no tearful farewells.They have a lot of holidays so could well be travelling north again some time.

I started getting bits and pieces together that still need to be packed before getting ready to go out for a meal with Sher. We had a lovely evening and delicious meal as well. We went out of town and it made a real change.

Back home now and have my furry friend for company.

Good jobs done

 I was up later again today, it is becoming a habit and pretty unusual for me. I got the slow cooker on as it was stew for dinner and then had a shower to wake me up a bit. I got the steps upstairs and got the rest of the picture hooks off the walls before having a chat with Anya. After that I got a couple of small shelves taken down and then on the ladder again to get a display shelf down.

After lunch I collected the large vases that I am not taking and decided to try and clean the insides as they had all been used.

Couldn’t get my hand in a couple but did my best!

Then I put them on a couple of bags and took them to the charity shop.

The stew was smelling good and I decided to make dumplings! Seemed like a good idea but Tina had packed th scales, and I didn’t have self rising flower or baking powder. So guess the amounts and used some bicarbonate of soda and thought it would be a minor miracle if they turned out okay! They were pretty near what they should be which was a relief!

Will go done and watch Throw Down with Darren and Tina in a bit.

Plodding on

 I have had a fairly quiet day. I took a couple of storage boxes to the charity shop and was gong to have a chai latte in Mondo before doing a bit of shopping, it was very crowded and noisy so I got a take away one instead and drank it looking at the park and then did the shopping.

Jude is the lady who take the glass fusing classes and her husband, Stan paints and does pottery but recently he has put the cane birds in the shop. They are just £10 and look great on the wall and I really like them so bought one.

I managed to get all then picture hooks off the wall today, was extremely careful up and down the ladder! I then got another couple of boxes packed. I should say that I have packed a lot of boxes but they are quite small so it won’t be too chaotic when I am unpacking them. I have also written quite detailed notes on the boxes of what is inside.

Darren and Tina had been out today and I and after the family call I went with her to the church when she was setting up for tomorrows service. I did a little job for her and then wandered in the church. I thought these were interesting.

I am packed out for today so sitting watching the tv.

I’ll finish with a fairly well known quote from my She Said book.

‘I an not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes, because I know I’m not dumb…and I also know that I’m not blonde,’ Dolly Parton

Visit day

 Only a little packing today as I have visited Bel and Jean as usual. Bel was feeling a bit low today but she brightened up over a cuppa and a chat. Stan at the glass fusing place waved me in as I went by, he gave me back the cake container. He has been making some woven birds, I am thinking of buying one so there maybe a photo soon! I came in and sorted a few bits for another box before Tina came in and getting lunch. I got another box made up before Terry collected me to go to Jeans.

The day had been windy and it had started to rain just before he arrived. They live by these front and it was really wild by their house, it was a job to hang on to the car door! A friend of Jean who I know joined us this afternoon so we had a. good chat plus tea and cake!

I have started filling the box now, without too much enthusiasm. Tina is out with friends this evening but should be back just after eight so we will watch The Traitors together, it will be recording. It will be good to watch it together as it the final.

No photos today, I will make more effort tomorrow.

Almost forgot!

 Probably almost forgot as it was a day not worth remembering! I am really flagging with the energy levels and feel like I will never get very thing done. This Tina suggested we start of the kitchen and we did quite a bit before Jacky came to help. She collected some thinks still in the garden so the outdoor pile, apart from the tools is all together.

Jacky and Tina worked in the kitchen and I cam back upstairs to plod on for a bit.

Then they did several charity shop runs and a tip run. Jacky has taken my artwork away now, I have just kept some work stuff, covers on the Batsford books that I did the layouts for, and some map covers I designed for a competition, I didn’t get any printed but I was quite proud of them!

I think Jacky is going to take the toy box as her daughter is expecting a baby. If the daughter doesn’t want it she said she would find a home for it.

Have seen The Traitors which was good, it is the final tomorrow night.

Going to get my weary body ready for bed now. Visit day tomorrow so a bit of a break!

A disappointment and nice haircut

 I have done a bit more packing today, I managed one box of bits and pieces around my rooms with no particular place to go! I boxed up all the prop squad cuttings ready to take to Sher. We made sure all the stuff was ready for the guys from the reclamation centre, I needed to be sure what we were trying to get them to take in case Tina wasn’t back from church. Just one man came in the end and he arrived about the same time as  Tina but sadly didn't want to buy anything, which was a bit disappointing.

One of the men from church arrived the same sort of time and he dismantled the rotten large bench so that we could get it into the skip, so another job done.

I took the cuttings round to Sher at Botany and then prepared dinner as Carol was coming to cut my hair at four. She was feeling down about the latest trouble with her daughter so became very emotional when we said goodbye. Very nice cut again and a good thinning out.

Taking it easy now and looking forward to TheTraitors.

Deliveries and give aways

 Today we were moving things around as the auctioneers were collecting our items. We had it all organised and they were clearly surprised that everything was accessible. Early there was a delivery and it was my beg leg wellies, I can get them on with ease!

We also took the covers off loads of videos that are now in the skip and the covers in the recycling bin. We  put out quite a lot of stuff for free for people to take from the front of the garden.

We loaded the car with stuff for the charity shop and took it down, by the time we got back that wooden tree had already  gone!

When Tina was at a meeting the packing boxes arrived. A FedEx driver who was very helping and got these massive packages into the house.

Tina hd messaged me to say a lady was coming to look at the bookshelves we were giving away, they hadn’t been cleared so I got on with that quickly, in the end she didn’t want them so they went out the front s well.

Sher came by after work to collect the stuff that she was having. We have the local Antique and reclamation guys coming tomorrow, what they don’t want will probably go outside a well!

The house is looking emptier now!

Successful trip to Beverley

 I caught the bus into Beverley as I had an appointment with the hearing aid lady. I said that logistically and financially it would probably be easier for me to find someone who deals with the aids I have and pay them for my yearly checkup and hearing test. She agreed and was really helpful getting in touch with a friend who now lives in Scotland and said she would let me know when she heard. She also gave me enough filters and head to last me for a year. She did phone and told me that there is a company in Strirling that will take me on. After that I had about forty five minutes before the bus and wanted to get some new pull on jeans. I didn’t find jeans but did find some cords in the sales. I did take a couple of photos in Beverley as it might be my last visit.

When I got home Tina had been busy on the office and sorting stuff for packing so we went and had lunc in the parish hall cafe. I then went to Mondo and spent an hour with Julie and Jacky which was good.

I have done a bit of clearing and will do. Bit of an aching this evening. The auction house will be collecting some items of furniture and my Beatrix Potter ornaments tomorrow so we will have a bit more room for boxes!

There are snowdrops in the garden, can just about make them out.

I spent a while trying to delete things from my phone  as it take an age to take a photo. Got it down to less that half used so hoping it may speed up a bit!  Tina was at the school this morning and got some flowers, so will finish with that.

Not too much to tell

 I didn’t feel great yesterday and went to bed soon after nine. Then I was up late. I have done some sorting and filled a couple of boxes but I am not feeling the motivation at the moment. I did have a chat with Anya which always cheers me up.

After lunch Tina was resting so I suggested to Darren that we go and have a drink at Mondo. We actually had a drink and a cream scone, very naughty but nice. I did clear some sides and wanted to polish the trolley in case anyone would like it but have either disposed of or packed any polish I had!

I have some daffodils in but which Tina got with the shopping. They are a pound a bunch at the moment, I bet that will soar when Mothering Sunday comes along!

Will watch Throw Down and then probably get to bed early again. I have to go into Beverley in the morning, think I have binned th bus timetables too!

Short entry today, will try to do better tomorrow!

A lacking motivation day!

 I am not sure if it is being constantly tired, or being overwhelmed with how much I still have to do, but I have struggled to get stuck in today. Tina found some very small bonsai pots yesterday which were very mucky, so I spent a while cleaning them up and cleaning the path near the back door which was very muddy. We thought Sher would like the pots so when they were a little more presentable I took them round to the shop for her. She was happy to have them and we had a brief chat. It was trying to rain when I got back so decided against sorting out the garden stuff in the outhouse. I got some stuff ready for another box and took a lot of rubbish and recycling to the bins. It had brightened up outside so I did get sorting the stuff to move with us and what was going by the front wall for people to take away. I went down the garden to get a little hedgehog ornament that had been forgotten and took a picture of the flowering fatsia which has grown really well.

After lunch I thought I would mend a couple of ornaments with super glue and promptly had two finger sticking together, managed to get them apart but the glue isn’t going anywhere!

Have done a bit more half hearted clearing, will endeavour to be a bit more enthusiastic tomorrow.