Visits and a little packing

 I did a couple of chores before going to see Bel. She was fine and looking forward to having her hir permed this afternoon. Back home I gathered up my cookery books to look through later. Had an early lunch with Tina as Jacky was coming round at one to help Tina dismantle the plastic storage cupboards in the garden. I left just after Jacky arrived and called in to see Sher before walking to Jeans. Sher has had norovirus and has been really poorly. I went to Jeans via the sea front, a very grey day today.

Bit out of sync again, forgot to post the pictures of the curious cat!

Had a good chat with Jean, next week another friend is going to join us when we have our catch up.

When I got home the skip was full, Tina and Jacky had done a fantastic amount of clearance.

Yesterday when I met Anne she gave me couple pieces of artwork she had done which she thought I might like to put on the wall. I will probably frame one and have it on display as it was a sweet gesture.

The other nice surprise yesterday was my late Christmas present from my sister. It is a brilliant book and I will put quotes from it on the blog occasionally, starting now!

An election is coming.

Universal peace is declared,

and the foxes have a sincere

interest in prolonging the

life of the poultry.

George Elliot(Mary Ann Evan’s, 1819-1890)

Last trip into Hull?

 I got a few more things into the tip before we set off for Hull. Tina had appointments today and she dropped me in the city centre as I had arranged to meet Anne for lunch. She had been one of my residents when I ran a support house in the nineties. I had a couple of hours before meeting her so had a drink and did a bit of shopping. We had lunch and a good catch up over lunch it the cafe at the Ferens Art Gallery. Her mum will be ninety five this year, they have careers morning and night but .Anne gets their lunch each day and generally helps out. We did look at a few exhibits before she walked bag to the bus station with me.

I was nodding off on the bus but managed to be awake for my last ride down Dancing Lane. The shoes I was wearing made my bunions really hurt after a few hours so was very pleased to get them off!

After a rest I went to collect my prescription at the chemist.

Tina is out for a meal this evening so I got dinner for Darren and myself and I will watch Traitors in a bit.

Back to front photos now, a shot through the window this morning and a winter clematis that we have had for years had decided to flower for the first time.

A meet up and more stuff gone

 Iwas up quite early so got some washing on and took a few things out to the tip. Put some more stuff in the front garden with a free sign before heading to the hub to meet Linda.

It was very frosty today so I took it steady, don’t want to be having any accidents..

Nice pic into the sun.

Had a nice chat with Linda and we exchanged addresses. I had taken some expensive coins with me as Tina had thought there was a valuation event at the Floral Hall but when I went there it was closed. I walked back home, dropped off a bit of shopping then went to Botany to see if Sher was back at work. She was going but had a cuppa and a chat with Haley.

Back home I got another box packed then went round to the shop a couple of doors away with Tina as the owner had interest in a few of our bits. So got a bit of money for some stuff and she also had what was left of the stuff outside.

I got on with dinner and am getting the blog done before watching The Traitors with Tina.

Going into Hull tomorrow and meeting Anne who was one of my residents in a support house many years go,

Skip day!

 I was up quite early and cleared some of the stuff near the back door and added it to the pile in the front ready for the skip. Jacky arrived ahead of the skip and helped my get the bonsai trees into plastic containers and gather the stuff together that will be coming with us.

He skip arrived about 9.30, it amazes me that many drivers have trouble with out drive, especially when reversing but guys like the skip man make it look easy!

He was a delightful young man, couldn’t have been more obliging and thanked us for using the firm I did start putting things in, but Jacky ws on a roll and was in and out of it sorting the belongings. She soon banished me to go and pick a box as she was in her element and and didn’t want me overdoing it!

I made a sign and we put usable stuff at the top of the garden, everything had been taken by the end of the day and a couple of guys came down to see if they could find anything else in the tip!

On a different note Jacky got in touch with a friend to tell her about the sewing machine and this friend has offered to sell it for me and came and collected it. If the school hd taken up the offer more quickly I would have missed that chance.

After lunch I went to see Sarah and David, hadn’t seen them since before Christmas. We had a good catch up and David had decided he didn’t want to keep the rollator so I took it straight to the charity shop.

I intend to get another box packed this evening, it has been a pretty good day.

Parcel posting and garden clearing

 I had the pottery all packed nd ready to go and decided to get to the post office although I had had a rough night thought the fresh air and a walk would do me good. I actually found it quite tiring today so came back via the sea and had a drink before walking home.

I took this one while sitting inside the cafe, than another one before I walked home.

I felt really exhausted when I got back so sat in the chair for a while and joined by the cat. She was so happy that even her tail stopped wagging.

After lunch Tina and I went out to start trying to clear stuff from the garden. The walled garden took and age and Tina asked me to ring Jacky to see if she would come and help. She wa great and a couple of hours later we had mountain of stuff in front of the house. Tina has ordered a skip to come in the morning and Jackybis going to come and help. We have it for several days so we won’t have to go too mad at it. Tina got in touch with the allotment folk and some came to take stuff away.

Feeling pretty tired now, so no packing tonight!

More packing and parcelling!

The weather has been horrid today wet, so cold wet rain as well. Apart from putting stuff out in the bin I have stayed indoors. Chatted with .Anya his morning and we had dinner at one today as Tina had afternoon services. I had found suitable small boxes yesterday for Anya and family’s pottery pieces. So they are packed in boxes inside a bigger, well padded box! I taped that up today and then wrapped it in brown paper, so I am fairly confident Thayer will arrive safely. As long as the weather is reasonable tomorrow I will get them sent. 

I emptied the large storage box that Mike made and I painted many years ago, probably getting on for thirty years in fact! But still in pretty good shop so hopefully I will find a home for it.

The things that were in there are now mostly packed, although there was some sorting and discarding too. I seem to have done a lot of packing and still have some to do, where on earth did I keep it all!

I sent for a map of the Birnam which arrived yesterday. It is laminated and folds down to pocket size, so I will be able to find my way around in my new area.

I have packed another box and now I am trying to create some order in my rooms. Throw down is on later, we enjoy it but preferred the stand in presenter a couple of series ago.

Charity shops again and family pottery

 The weather has been better today although there was a patch of ice at the top of our drive. I went down for the usual Saturday morning shopping and then got another box packed. I went to the Botany again but Sher is still unwell but I had another nice chat with Hayly. I had a load of stuff on the landing for the charity shop, so I bagged some of it up and took two trips with a couple of bags each time to the shop. 

I had a message to say the pottery we painted when the family was here was ready for collection. There was still a lot of stuff for the charity shop so Darren and I loaded the car after lunch and dropped it off before collecting the pottery. We had a chat with Rob there and he gave us another box full of bubble wrap. One of the pictures got cracked in the car so we dropped it off at the tip on our way home.

I just have pics of the Peterborough family’s pottery, will take pics of ours tomorrow if I remember, I have been getting their pottery boxed up, I have been getting plenty of practice at packing! I will sent them off as I don’t want to take them to Scotland

Nothing to add today, I am looking forward to the return of Casualty on tv this evening.