Let's have a natter

Hey my little bloggerettes, hows the money saving going? Have you stopped spending willynilly on stuff you don't need? I hope so. You won't get rid of your overdraft and your credit card bills if you don't pull your socks up and do something about it. You know you can't go on living the lifestyle you want if you keep bashing the plastic, because one day it's going to catch up with you. Best start now and make some decisions. Do you want to be in debt forever or get rid of it? 

I haven't talked much about frugal living, stop spending, living within your means, and money saving, for a while now. To be honest it slips my mind sometimes, I live that way naturally, and I keep forgetting that you are all at different stages with your finances. If you don't have any debt like me, just keep plugging away at keeping your head above water. Watch your spending, study your bank statements, and be careful when you open your purse. If you are in debt and need to make changes to get rid of it, take this as a kick up the @rse and get on with it. No whinging no moaning, that debt is not going to fade away. The quicker you put it at the top of your list of priorities the better. 

Now where was I after that little pep talk, ha ha. Yes, I went to town this morning to pay my credit card bill. Paid on the nail, every month, in full. I took a few books into the Age UK charity shop, and had a look round while I was there. Everything is £1, so there is a good chance I will pick up a bargain. Here I am modelling a pink fleecy, erm, sort of nightie come dressing gown. It looks almost brand new, and fits me like a sack. It will be lovely and warm over my clothes in the winter, not for going out in, silly, but for mooching round the house. I may of course cut it up and make something with it. 

Quite snazzy isn't it.

My friend Barry keeps waking up too early because his curtains are not thick enough to keep out the early morning sun. I thought I would look for some thicker curtains for him. I found these for £1, they are really big. I had to guess the size, these are fully lined. A bargain eh! Sadly they are not long enough. Never mind, I will make some shopping bags out of them.

Here is the pattern in detail. I have enough curtains for my own house, so they will get the chop. The bags will be doubly thick because I will use the lining as well.

Last night was a Tesco Dash night. Haven't been for ages after managing on bits and bobs, so I needed to fill my fridge. I was lucky with the yellow stickers, I saw a scrum halfway up the aisle as they brought them all out. I was in there with the rest of them, getting my share. I got loads of pasta and salady stuff. This is my lunch which I have just scoffed. A plastic box of Red pesto and piquillo pepper pasta salad. I suppose two people could share this but as I got three boxes I ate one in this meal. 

Here is the price, 22p, a bargain. Served with half a bag of salad leaves, five small tomatoes, and two slices of cheddar cheese. The cheese was cheap from the cash and carry as it is about to go out of date.

This is how I mark my receipt when I check all the items and prices. I will be adding this to the page above shortly. Yes, I did buy some Value crisps this time. Only because I haven't had any for months, and I just fancied some. I haven't any potatoes in to make my own, and 66p for a 12 bag multipack isn't too much. I also confess to buying a 4 pack of cider for £2.15, and a cheap bottle of wine for £3.99. Treats for the next few weeks. £11 was spent on cat food. They get what they need, and I have to make do with what I can get,  Ha ha.  

Just while I am in the nattering mood, I've had a letter from my doctor's surgery, inviting me to go for a pneumococcal vaccination. They recommend that all people over the age of 65 have this, as it helps to protect against pneumococcal infection which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis. Blimey, I didn't know I was at risk of catching such things. I suppose I ought to go and get this jab, has anyone else been invited and have you had it? I am wondering about side effects, hope I don't feel ill after it.

I'm going to be missing tomorrow, so may not post. Got some family business to attend to. Got to miss the Parkrun again. Last call to Louise in my home town. If you want to meet let me know your phone number in a comment, which I will not publish. That's all for now, have a nice weekend.
Toodle pip

Pardon, did you speak?

Wot's all this 'ear then? This ear is my good ear, the other ear is useless. When I lie with this ear on the pillow I can't hear very much at all. This can be a bonus. If I had a partner who snores I would still be able to sleep, but I haven't. Mayze cat doesn't snore, and she lies at the bottom of the bed on my feet. Well I don't think she snores, I can't hear her. 

The other ear, my rubbish ear, has been sore for a couple of weeks. The hearing aid is rubbing it a bit, so I have been leaving it out, and sticking some Germoline on the sore spot. I stick Germoline on anything that is a bit sore, it's great on blisters, and chapped lips.

I have been walking around without a hearing aid. Not good if I meet someone in the street and I have to explain that I can't enter into a conversation because it is too difficult to catch every word they say. Sometimes I try and keep up by lip reading, and imagining what the missing words might be. If the person rabbits on as normal, or talks to the side of my head, I have to give up and make an excuse that I have to go. Then there are people who will sympathize with my predicament and talk very loudly with their face six inches from mine. They talk very s l o w l y, emphasizing each syllable, and I get the feeling that they think I have a learning difficulty. This makes me feel uncomfortable because I don't like people in my face.

Not being able to hear very well can bring all kinds of frustrations and problems. For a start people don't know you have the disability if your hearing aid is covered up with long hair. It's not like wearing glasses that show you can't see very well. A lot of deaf people don't want to wear the National Health hearing aid, because it is rather obvious, and they pay a lot of money for a smaller discreet one which hides inside the ear. I personally would rather see the kidney shaped bit of plastic hooked over someone's ear, than have them struggle to hear what I say. I think, aha, another deaf person, I will modify my speech so they can understand me. And by modification I mean facing them, not too close, speaking in a normal voice, not shouting, and speaking clearly.

It's not all bad being deaf. There are times when I want things around me to be quiet, so I can retreat into my own little world. The retreating bit I have to do anyway when I am in a room with lots of people talking among themselves. Even with my hearing aid in, I find it impossible to engage in conversation when there is a lot of noise going on around me. If I am sat by myself and not speaking to anyone, as happened at the party I recently went to, I am happy just to sit on the edge and watch others have a good time. I can entertain myself with the thoughts passing through my head. Someone spotted that I was alone and asked me to join them. I felt it would be rude not to, so I went over to their table. Of course I could not resist joining in the conversation and felt I ought to make an effort. I enjoyed their company, but oh, it was hard work. When I am in this scenario I find it takes less effort to tell stories and entertain. It might appear that I am hogging the conversation but it is easier than trying to catch a few words here and there of others talking.

There are advantages of not being able to hear very well. I don't like loud noise, so I can choose to take my hearing aid out. I spend a lot of time daydreaming, getting lost in my own thoughts, and noise interrupts that process. When I can't hear it's as if I am in my own little bubble, and I can choose who to let in, or close the door. I have been wearing my hearing aid continuously every day from when I get up to when I go to bed, but now I have discovered the joys of switching off the world outside, I think selective hearing is the way to go. What was that? Did you say something?
Toodle pip.

Fun in the kitchen

Good morning from a sunny North Lincolnshire. A few clouds in the sky, lets hope that they drift on by and don't deposit their contents on our heads. Go and drop your rain elsewhere please, ha ha. I'm looking out of the front window as I write and see that the laurel bush needs a prune before it gets too big, got to keep on top of the job. Oh gawd, more jobs to do. I'll crack on with this post then, can't sit around here all day talking to you. 

What's a sultana, was the question yesterday. I keep forgetting that people from the other side of the world might not know what I am talking about. If that is the case, don't be shy, feel free to ask. I see lots of people have answered the question for me, but here is a couple of pics of sultanas. Dried fruit like raisins. These are cheaper than raisins for some reason, and as far as I can tell do the same job, add fruit to the cooking.

I have found this definition, taken from British Food.about.com

There is often great confusion on the difference between dried fruits used in British cooking - the 3 most popular being raisins, sultanas and currants. All three are used extensivley in some traditional British cakes and puddings including a Christmas Cake or a Christmas Pudding

• Raisins are dried white grapes. They are dried to produce a dark, sweet fruit. The grapes used are usually Moscatel.
• Sultanas are also dried white grapes but from seedless varieties. They are golden in color and tend to be plumper, sweeter and juicier than other raisins. Also referred to as Golden Raisins in the US.
• Currants are dried, dark red, seedless grapes. They are dried to produce a black, tiny shrivelled, flavour-packed the grapes were originally cultivated in the south of Greece, and the name currant comes from the ancient city of 'Corinth'. These currants are known as Zante currants in the States.

Moving on, there was another question yesterday. Elise asks, How do you do your curries? Well, for a start my curries are nothing like the ones you get from a restaurant or a takeaway. It's ages since I had one of those, I really couldn't eat one now. I see them as yucky mush, where it is not obvious what the ingredients are. A browny yellowy sludge which can set your throat on fire, not my idea of pleasurable eating.

No, I don't mush mine up, I leave the vegetables chunky so I can chew them and enjoy the taste, masked only by a mild curry flavour. I usually start off with cooking a chopped onion in oil, if I have one. This softens it. Then I add whatever veg I have available. If it's hard root vegetables I cut into smallish chunks and add them next as they need more cooking time. Also sultanas. I add the curry powder at this stage, usually a teaspoon or two. The Asian shop sells bags of all sizes at a reasonable price. I've had this one for ages, slowly getting down it.

What else do I put in a curry? I will add fruit juice, from a carton or concentrated lemon juice from a bottle. If more liquid is required I add water. When it has been simmering on a low gas for ten minutes I will add more vegetables which don't need much cooking. Tinned pulses, frozen peas, sweetcorn, and beans, leafy vegetables, fresh mushrooms if I have them.

I only simmer it for as long as it takes to soften the veg, because I want it to stay chunky. I sometimes add other spices. My cooking is very slapdash, chuck a bit of this and a bit of that in. I don't follow recipes, I use whatever I have in the cupboards, the fridge, and the freezer at the time. Just before serving I add some plain yogurt, gives it a creamy delicious consistency. I think the norm is to add coconut milk to curry, but I don't buy that.

The rice will be boiling in another pan. I only use wholegrain rice. I know how much curry powder to use to make it how I like it, so I don't bother tasting before serving. If you have made the curry too hot you can add a teaspoon of sugar to lessen the fire.

That's about it really. I sometimes make a big pan of curry flavoured veg stew, eat one meal out of it and freeze the rest in margarine tubs. Instant ready meals for when I don't want to cook. Saves time and gas.

If you are going to make curry, experiment, try different vegetables, there isn't anything you can't put in a curry. No fresh veg? Use tinned or frozen. Or you could soak dried pulses for the required time and use those. If your curry is too wet and runny, thicken it with porridge oats. If you don't want it chunky grate your hard veg and shorten the cooking time. You will have to experiment with different curry powders depending on how hot or mild you like it.

Have fun in the kitchen. The great outdoors is calling me to go out. Toodle pip.

Crazy weather

Looking at these photo's you wouldn't think that we'd had a lovely day. The sun was shining and it was hot enough for shorts. After a day helping Helen finish off the last few jobs on the house, I got home at 5pm and not long after the skies went black, the wind whipped through the silver birch trees, then lightening was  followed by a clap of thunder, and the heavens opened. The back garden was bombarded by millions of hailstones.... 

and the road at the front turned into a river.

 The cats came in through the cat flap at 90mph. This is what they see when they go out through the cat flap.

I found a couple of yellow stickers worth having at the little Tesco. A pack of bananas for 73p, reduced from £1.35. Not particularly cheap, but as I had run out of them I took them. Also a bag of root veg for 41p instead of £1. I have updated the 'Reducing the food bill' page, link at the top.

I fancied rice tonight so I made a curry. Cook a chopped onion in oil in a small pan, add sultanas, mushrooms, half a tin of baked beans, and curry powder. I have made enough for two meals so that's my dinner sorted for tomorrow. Simple food and easy to make.  

I'm a bit tired so I'll say goodnight. A nice mug of hot chocolate and a read of a book will send me off to sleep nicely. Toodle pip

Bag goes on a trip to the Lakes

Hello bloggerettes. It will be a short one tonight. I have spent the day putting my house back to normal, The spare room was a tip after dumping the stuff I brought back from the sale. It needed to be boxed up tidily and put away. Then all the stuff from the church had to be collected and put away as well. The art pieces are now back on my living room wall, and the bags are stored in a plastic box. The tables we used for the sale had to be put back in the outhouse. The carpets had to be dysoned due to oldie cat Bugsy shedding his hair like nobodies business. It's a wonder he is not bald by now. And now I am going to get a bath.

Before I go, thanks to Eileen, we have another bag photo for the gallery. Must update the page when I get a minute. This is what Eileen says....think she might be too shy to be in the picture.

Hi Ilona, I was the lucky winner of one of your bags in October 2011. It has been out on many trips with me since. It carries my flask and lunch and has often been admired.  The latest trip was to the beautiful gardens at Holehird near Windermere. I decided I must send you a picture for your gallery.

Best Wishes, Eileen.

Any more bags for the gallery?

Helping Helen tomorrow, she has some wood she wants shifting now. The house is almost ready and the tenant she has found wants to move in this week. Busy busy.
Toodle pip.

All's well that ends well. A fab day.

What a difference a day makes. Thank goodness we had a second chance because the weather was fantastic today. I was up at 6.30 this morning, getting ready, making the sandwiches, washing the grapes, and making up a bottle of diluted juice. Because our spaces weren't allocated I wanted to get down there early to make sure that we got a good pitch. I wanted to sell from all four sides so an end of line pitch was ideal. 

The four tables fitted in the space perfectly, with room for us to stand, or sit, in the middle. Janet brought her gazebo, which actually wasn't needed to keep the rain off us, because it didn't rain. But it was very useful to keep the sun off us so we weren't burnt to a crisp. There was a slight, but welcome breeze when the clouds came over, so I anchored the gazebo to the ground with ratchet straps, and used a couple of straps to tie one side to the pub sign.  

Squeals of delight were coming from the bouncy castle next to us. It was busy all day, and free to play on. The kids loved it. Boxes of books for people to browse through. Large thick hard back books £1, smaller and thinner ones 50p and 70p, paperbacks 50p.

I had a walk round for ten minutes and took a few snaps. It was so busy it looked like the whole village was out enjoying the sun.

The bouncy slide was popular also.

The ladies from the W I, sitting in the shade of a tree, selling their mouth watering cakes. 

The boat trips were popular again. People were queuing to get kitted out with a life jacket, prior to boarding the boat.

Only one military vehicle was in attendance this year.

The scooter enthusiasts were keen to show off their much loved pride and joy.

A few classic vehicles lined up against the pub wall.

It was great to see so many friends and neighbours. stopping by to say hello. I gave a wave to Joanna who lives in the 1939 house, as she was passing by She was dressed up to the nines in her forties gear. I saw her house was open to the public again. Although we were busy serving customers it didn't seem like work, it was good fun. Sales started dwindling at about 5pm so we decided to pack up, although the party will go on late into the night.

We are very pleased with the takings, I've just had a call from Janet with the good news. Everything we sold was donated, and a lot of it was what I found in the house clearance skip. Well worth the effort to dive in  and remove them, and bring them home to be sorted, washed, cleaned, and polished.

It was a quick home made ready meal of veggie stew in the microwave for me tonight, couldn't be bothered to cook. I don't know how it went in the church today, I was too busy to go and have a look. I am going in the morning to remove my things, before I go to craft club.

Hope you had a nice weekend. Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

It did rain on our parade.

There's not a lot I can say about today, except, what a washout. The outdoor fete was cancelled at 9am, it started raining, and continued to rain for most of the day. I spent time in church, in attendance to meet and greet visitors there, of which there weren't many. I can't blame people for not venturing out, best place to be was indoors. Even my efforts at making big, 'Church Open' boards out of old paste tables and standing them in prominent positions outside the church gates, was not enough to bring people in. There was hardly any  people about to see them.

We have a second chance tomorrow. Because it is a two day event, the stall holders who couldn't set their stalls out today have been invited to set up down at the bottom pub or the caravan park down the hill tomorrow. There are things going on on the river, boat rides, plus a hog roast, billed as a family day, so there should be a few folks about. We are going to give that a try, but it means loading the car up and going down there. The weather is forecast to be better. In fact the chuffin sun is out now and it's really warm outside, at ten minutes to eight. This weather doesn't make sense at all. I hope it's better where you are and you have a nice Sunday. Toodle pip.

PS. Did you know George Clarke's Amazing Spaces is back. Take a look at it here. The gorgeous William is with him again. I've just watched the first episode, it's on a Thursday night on Chanel 4.

PPS. We re-homed another cat this week. One that has been with us for a while. We have also taken in one that has been abandoned, found hanging around a housing estate, the owners are thought to have moved away. The poor cat is scrawny thin with a dirty coat, and has a poorly eye. Thankfully with some vet treatment it is getting better.
Toodle pip again.

Getting ready for the village fete

It's been a lovely day here, sunny and warm. The forecast for tomorrow is not so good though, heavy showers are predicted, but looking at the weather map it might be that the east coast will get off lightly. I'm hoping that's what will happen, trying to be optimistic. 

The church is ready for the visitors, I spent the afternoon setting my display up. It's about art and craft using recycled materials. The ladies from the Chat and Craft brought their items to show and set their tables out.  

I was able to hang four of the art pieces on the board, with the fifth one leaning against it on the table.  I thought the rug was worthy of a showing. I tried to include a variety of different materials and techniques. Hopefully to give people ideas and inspiration to have a go themselves. None of the items are for sale, they are for demonstration purposes only. 

I put my five cushions on the window ledge above the Chat and Craft tables, to fill a gap, and to show that I am a member of this group.

I will only have time to pop in the church tomorrow as I will be busy on our cat fundraising stall outside on the village green. I will be able to spend more time in there on Sunday, the church is open for two days. Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather, we have been lucky for the last two years, let's hope the rain does not come down and spoil our weekend.
Toodle pip.

Bricking it :o))

Go on, ask me what I've been doing today, you're dying to know aren't you. Here is a clue, a pile of bricks need moving from A to B, about three miles apart. I volunteered to be a skivvy, and get stuck into some hard graft. No, I don't shy away from physical work, I get on with it. I was the same on the wagons, handball we called it, shifting a load by picking it up and physically moving it to wherever it was wanted. No truck for this job, me and Helen used our cars. She wants to use these bricks to build a garden wall at her house.  

Here is my workhorse. Can't get the car close to the pile so it was a matter of carrying them. First her car was loaded, then swap places and load mine. We worked as a team. Brush off the excess dust and muck, stack neatly in the car. We did three journeys each. At the other end there was enough room to get both cars into the driveway together so we could both unload at the same time.

All done, six hours less one coffee break and one lunch break.

On the way home I did a quick scoot round Tesco and co op shops. Found a few reduced items. Seeded bread 23p, grapes 55p, nectarines 54p, iceberg lettuce 37p. Won't need to do a big shop this week.

Things planned for tomorrow. A dog walk in the morning, and setting up our craft stall, and my artwork, in the church in the afternoon. A busy weekend ahead. Won't be able to do the Parkrun on Saturday morning, we have to set up our cat stall on the village green. Got loads of stuff to sell, a lot of it is what I got out of the skip, and we are overrun with books, could start a library, ha ha. Got to go, need to sort stuff out for tomorrow. Toodle pip.

Have you got your bag?

I've got steam coming out of my ears here, should have asked Nellie to write this post. She isn't around so I will get it off my chest while I have a few minutes. It's in the news again, free plastic carrier bags are to be phased out at the checkouts. It's been in the pipeline for years, but we seem to be moving a step forward and there will be a charge of 5p per bag to be introduced next year. Read all about it in the Daily Wail.

While you're at it, read the comments following the article, that's the reason I have steam coming out of my ears. I am all in favour of reducing the amount of bags that are given away willynilly, and all in favour of re using what we already have, but a lot of people just don't get it. The whinging and moaning is pathetic. Here are some of the reasons why folks are angry, and my answers.

Just another ploy to make more money out of people. No. You can buy one bag for life usually around 10p, and when it is broken they will exchange it free of charge for a new one. 

Let's add to the already high cost of living. You don't need to buy plastic bags if you don't want to. Take re usable bags with you every time you go shopping.

These bags come in handy as bin liners, that's recycling isn't it? No, you throw them out in the rubbish, one use in a bin isn't recycling. 

Don't forget to launder your re-usable bag after every use, to kill the nasty organisms they pick up. For goodness sake !&?!@!+! cough splutter. !!! So all the food you buy is unwrapped?

I go to the supermarket after work, does that mean I have to go to work with a bag every time I go out? You can get bags that fold up very small, just put it in your hand bag, they take up very little space. 

Why should we pay to advertise the store? You don't have to. Buy a bag that doesn't have a logo on it, or make your own. 

I wouldn't pay 5p for a bag and will shop elsewhere. Your choice. You don't have to pay 5p every time you shop, just get a stronger bag for a one off payment and you can use it over and over again. 

I can't be bothered to remember to take bags with me when I go shopping. You can pay for them every time you shop then if you have the money to throw away. Your choice.

At this point I had to stop reading, it's doing my head in, ha ha. 

I've been looking for vids on the bag for ;life subject.

Here is one with a bit of humour.

An easy tutorial to make a tote bag. 

I do it slightly different to this. My handles are shorter, but you can make them longer if you want to sling it over your shoulder. I also tuck the ends of the handles into the top seams if the fabric isn't too heavy and bulky. I make a box bottom by stitching across the bottom corners. Have a go at this one if you own a machine and see how you go. 

One I made last week.  

Anyone up for making their first bag, do your bit for the environment, and your purse. If you don't want to pay for your bags every time you go shopping get into the habit now of taking them with you, putting them back into the car every time you empty them so the are always there. If you don't drive, keep a fold up bag in your handbag. You can fold up the 10p plastic bags for life very small, and put them in your pocket. Do your bit for the planet, please get organised, think, 'have I got my bag', every time you step out of the front door. Thank you.
Toodle pip.

My froggy family

Good evening. I did the usual craft club meet this morning. I hadn't got round to preparing something to work on, it was a last minute decision. I still have some fleece offcuts left, so I quickly pieced together another cat mat with just two colours, black and purple, then cut a piece of old curtain lining to sew them onto. We were making preparations for the display in the church at the weekend, our exhibits have to be delivered on Friday afternoon so they can set it up. I shall be there to help, as I have to take my art pieces for another display. 

My friend sent me an email with this photo, she took it last week, that's Bella the Labradoodle sat on my knee. She is gorgeous, endless energy, and gets so excited when she has a visitor. She loves cuddles, and playing, and treats. 

Here is another bag photo to add to our collection. I forgot I had given one to Carol. Here she is posing with it. She is standing in the garden of a stately home, but I've forgotten which one, she did say. It will come to me in a minute. I am pleased she is finding a use for the bag. 

Someone asked about my new strimmer, I bought an electric one. I already had an extension cable for the mower, and I didn't want to mess about with petrol. I've been tidying the garden tonight, it's nice to be able to work a bit later in the evening. I have no idea how many frogs I have. I don't have a pond but they do in the neighbours garden at the back of mine, so I suppose the frogs come from there. I spotted five tonight. This one is in the runner bean bed.

This one is in the long grass in the middle of the lawn. I keep a section of it long so the cats can lie in it in the sun. I sometimes have to rescue a frog from there and re locate it if a cat finds one. Mayze was looking at this one. 

Two more in the broad bean bed.

There was one in the potato bed but it hopped off before I could get a picture. It was getting dark by that time. Fascinating what goes on in the garden in the evening.
Toodle pip

Cheap as cheese

It's a glorious day in North Lincolnshire, I woke at 6am and rolled over for another hour's kip. After coffee and bran flakes with a banana, I went off to the car boot sale at the football ground. Not looking for anything in particular, just to see if I could snaffle a bargain. And I did. You know I have a boot fetish, in fact I was just thinking the other night, at the party, that I was probably the only female wearing boots. No I didn't have great big hob nail boots on, I had a pair of black, dainty, soft bootees on. They fit like a pair of gloves and are so comfy. 

Anyway, what did I buy at the car boot sale? I found a smashing pair of boots for just £5. Look, don't you think they are the bees knees, ha ha. Hardly worn, size 6, fitted me so well that I kept them on and brought my old tatty pair home in a bag. The old ones are not finished with yet, they have been relegated to gardening boots. 

Heidi getting in on the act. This brings my boot count up to eight, plus a pair of boot style trainers. Boots for all occasions, I love them. all bought from car boot sales or charity shops, except for those I walk long distances in. They have to be as perfect fit as I can get, if they are to stay on my feet for 12 + hours a day.

I spotted these judo belts on the Rabbit Rescue pitch, 50p for both. They will be useful for something, maybe handles for bags.

I have had it in mind to get a strimmer for ages, to make tidying the edges of the garden a bit easier. I get a bit fed up of getting down on my hands and knees with a pair of shears, or pulling weeds up with my hands. The whole job takes ages. The bank balance is healthy so I think I can afford to buy a gadget to make my life a bit easier. I went across the road to B & Q while I was in that vicinity. My friend Polly works on the checkouts there, at the weekends. I studied the range of strimmers on offer, nothing too technical, nothing too cheap, a mid range would suit me. There was an older male assistant wearing the standard orange apron, to help me out. I love the way they employ oldies on the shop floor on a part time basis. B & Q  recognise that a person is not past it just because they have hit retirement age. In fact they often prove to be more helpful, simply because they have the skills required and the knowledge they need for the products they are selling. Anyway, got my Bosch strimmer, so weeds beware, you're gonna get slashed. Must be careful though, I have froggies in the garden.

Here is my light lunch today. Salad - carrot, pickled onions, two kinds of tomatoes, cucumber, and a few salad leaves from the box. Need to let them recover for a few days before I pick again. Three kinds of cheese and three crackers, with dollops of tartar sauce. It's all gone, scoffed the lot. Well not all the cheese, that has gone back in the fridge.  

I took some pictures yesterday of these gorgeous flowers, I have seen them dotted about in various gardens. Aren't they wonderful. 

Right, lunch eaten, I'm off out into the sunshine, to play with my new toy. Weeds beware. I hope your Sunday is full of sunshine and fun. Toodle pip.