Me Myself and I

..those odd few days between crimble and the new year. Too cold to garden, too lazy to sort the house out. That leaves basking in front of the log burner, knitting away, watching the birds on the feeders and laughing at the daft pigeons stumbling about on the conservatory roof.  Crimble was good, me and him and the hounds. A gentle day full of contentment......and grub! We decamped to daughter-the- elder for Boxing day, more lovely gifts, much giggling. A perfect day with our little family of six.   We resisted the temptation to camp for three days outside a sofa shop to buy a sofa we don't need. Plus the ones they were filling the tv ads with were all quite revolting. No wonder they were on sale.   The weather in the Shire has turned very cold, but beautifully sunny, my favorite winter weather. The birds have plenty of food and water supplied for them in the garden, I did notice the neighbours scabby cat was scoffing some of the food, If I was a better shot i...

Wow time flies when you're a lazy mare! It's nearly crimble! Where have I been? Mainly at home with a few days in bee-you-tifullll North Yorkshire. Mother in law is finally home after six months in assorted hospitals and rehab units, Thank you NHS. We had days when we wondered if she would come home, but thanks to  amazing staff, she has given her back to us. How do you put a price on that?      I have reduced my anti-depressant level, and it's very hard going. Combined with various vitamin deficiency issues (sounds small, causes huge problems), I've had a pretty grim few months. I'm not convinced I was given the right advice on anti-d reduction, Reduce by half over night? Well I'm not keen to up it again so I must keep going.   In more interesting news, the resident thrushes are back from where ever they've been. OMG the noise! it seems that all the other birds have thought " I can't compare with that bloody row!" and are quietly sulking on ...

Says it all. Mother-in-law still in hospital. Dad is getting over his heart attack, but not changing his lifestyle. I am getting older. The bloody leaves are doing my head in grrr!

Well ! summer has arrived, Hooray! At long last a chance to see people in badly fitting shorts and nasty tats, lolling outside pubs,screeching at their badly behaved brats-maybe that's just Northampton.  I am back from Belgium, it was fabulous. Very posh hotel, The Metropole, stuffed with glorious art nouveau design. We ate way too much lovely food, we walked and we people watched. We drank buckets of good coffee in pavement cafes and visited the tiny but splendid Grand Place. I can't wait to go back.  We also had a splendid time at Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland. Thirty-eight small gardens that were quite perfect, The scent of roses was giddying, The colour palettes were inspirational. The lovely Geoff Hamilton presented Gardeners World from here many years ago. The gardens also have a feeling of permanence unlike the "plonked down" stuff at Chelsea etc. There are seats and benches dotted about so you can sit and feast your eyes and take photos. They also have a sma...

Well, this blogging idea is dying on its arse. My enthusiasm is still afloat but my very boring life has gone a bit Titanic, Not in a big dramatic way, Just in a mehhhh sort of yawny way. Maybe it's because I will be 50 in 3 short days, 50!!! how the fuck did that happen? The lovely husband and daughters have promised, on pain of A BIG SULK, not to organise any shenanigans. I hate being the centre of attention ( my poor dad had to prime me with vodka to walk me down the aisle!), A nice family meal would be perfect.    I did think the world would make some sense at this great age I will soon reach.......it doesn't. The stupid, pointless shooting in America sickens me to the core. The fear and lies being peddled in the euro vote turn me into a ranting, tv shouting, swearing, sweating, bundle of fury.  I also thought  by now I would vote Tory, Have a liking for a nice beige cardigan or two, and know when to clap at the theatre. Oh well.    In other news, one...

...and shoulders and knees, in fact most of me seems to be getting a little soggy over the last few days. I listen faithfully to Tommy Shakermaker and the gang on Aunty Beeb, but lately they keep saying "The weather is difficult to predict at this time". Pardon me, but is that not their job? Although it's interesting to hear about global weather, it 'aint much use to me in The Shire. A little more U.K weather would please me greatly.  And another Beeb rant....WHY DOES GARDENERS WORLD GET CULLED FOR SOME SPORTING EVENT OR OTHER??? I am a GW nut, especially with a new pup to coo at, It is one of the few progs that I bother to watch. There are loads of sport channels, but no gardening ones. Maybe I should start one "Fatbirds guide to bumbling and bluffing your way around the garden". Catchy.  The blessed husband is winging his way overseas again, So the house is stocked with all the essentials; Food, Mags, Dod Food, Coffee and yarn. That's me sorted for a...

...Da Da Da Daa Daaah.  A good thing has happened, actually a really good thing. After popping the question at the Grand Canyon, My youngest daughter and her lovely girlfriend have had a faberoony engagement party. A meeting of two families can often be fraught, but this was such good fun. Lovely grub and fascinating young people, Teachers, a lawyer and a smashing new mum. I feel very privileged to have met such kind and funny people who wanted to share the simple joy, of two people finding their other half.     In other news, Husband has returned from Singapore with flu, not man flu- PROPER flu! This evil little germy beast has been working its way through his work colleagues and he has finally succumbed! He has lost half a stone in a week and looks, Frankly, like shit. I have realised that I would make the most appalling nurse, he is my favourite person on the planet.......but I could quite cheerfully kill him. When I ask how he's feeling, I want a simple " A bit bette...

Today the man who killed my friend has been found guilty of her murder. I didn't think I would care about the verdict, but I do. He was a serving police officer, someone who we trust and turn to in times of fear and danger. He didn't protect his wife, he killed her. She was tiny, slim and pretty. Funny and loyal. Since this awful crime, her dad has died, without seeing justice for his girl. I find this very difficult to deal with. Not having, or wanting, a religion there is no comfort of an afterlife. Feeling of inadequacy haunt me, so many if only's, but nothing will change the fact that he killed her and she is dead. Jill Davies my first best friend x