Z becomes over-confident

... and is inevitably caught out.

The last couple of days have gone really well. We were pleased with the work we did on the wall yesterday, and then in the afternoon all the china was put in order and the descriptions were written. Weeza started on the catalogue that evening and emailed the draft, and then arrived first thing this morning to start work again.

Actually, I didn't have the best start to the day. A bantam has been laying eggs outside the side door, cackling her achievement around midday each morning, but yesterday and this morning, I've been woken by a triumphant boast from a different hen, which has gone on for quite 20 minutes, at 6 o'clock. By the time she stopped, there was no hope of sleep. I told the Sage about it and he looked on the other side of the house (our bedroom in this narrow cottage has a window to east and west) and found 14 eggs in a nest. Hmm.

Dilly looked after Zerlina while we got on with the business. We were, simultaneously, photographing each lot, proofreading and doing the condition report. The photos are taken out of doors, which is also a good place to see any damage or restoration. We worked on, restored by cups of Earl or Lady Grey and Lapsang Souchong, and did well until it was time for lunch. Zerlina went for a nap and we cracked on - but the sun came out. We built up a supply of checked china until a cloud came over, started photographing again, the sun came out ... eventually it turned into a hot and sunny day and we enjoyed it for a bit before admitting retreat and going indoors for more tea and freezer defrosting.

Our fridge isn't that old, but the seal on the freezer doesn't fit too well any more, so it has to be defrosted regularly. Weeza decided we might as well do it now; basically because she thought that the odds were it wouldn't be done for a couple of weeks otherwise. She's right, of course. So that was done in between other jobs. We all agree that we really could do with a new fridge and would like it in a different place, but of course that means another turn-out...job for another day, let's not think about that right now.

The sun still blazed, but lower in the sky, so we moved the set-up into the shade and finished the job by 4.30. I rapidly downloaded the photos, put them on a disc (I've no idea where I left my memory stick lying around, and that goes for my brain as well as my *whatever the correct name is for a memory stick, can't remember - hah!* and Weeza and Zerlina left for home, with the happy knowledge that we've loads of time to finish the catalogue before it goes to the printers.

I started cooking dinner, did this'n'that, poured a glass of wine, did a bit more to dinner, poured more wine, noticed the time - squealed alarmingly - "what's the matter?" asked the startled Sage. "I'm late, I'm meeting, er, you know - oh, no time to explain" and off I shot on my bike for the appointment I was 20 minutes late for. Bless her, the lovely person was still hanging about hopefully and was entirely gracious as I apologised.

When I got home, the house was empty. Johnny had phoned to say he wanted to cut the field for hay (an aftermath) so could we unlock the gate please? When the Sage returned, he left at once again to take Johnny a glass of cider, which went down well, apparently. No 169 is to leave soon to have her calf, but another cow will come to keep Big Pinkie company.

This evening, I should be numbering the photos for Ro to put on the website. But there's no hurry. I think it'll keep.

I have made that doctor's appointment, for those of you who have encouraged me to Just Get On With It.

Bringing on the wall, Day 25 - we go Round the Bend

An event of some significance this afternoon - we reached the corner and Dave exuberantly went right round the bend. Actually, we had rather doubted that we'd get any building done at all today, when we'd looked at the BBC local weather forecast but, bearing in mind its usual level of accuracy, we decided to go for it. Indeed, the BBC still shows light rain right now, although there's been none all day.

Dave worked particularly hard, first laying one of the ornamental bricks and filling in all around it for stability as the mortar sets, and then moving down to the corner to start on the pillar so that I'd have something to build to. Afterwards, he took photos with his super-duper wide-angled-lensed camera, though he couldn't get far enough away with nothing in between to get the whole length of the wall either. He'll put up his pictures at his place - I may pinch a couple of photos and put here, as they will undoubtedly be better than mine.

Here are today's photos - I built from the hammer towards the corner, Dave did from the pillar on the left to beyond the ornamental brick, then the corner footings and the start of the pillar.



Dave being a man of charm and total good-nature, offered to come along on Bank Holiday Monday for a final go before he leaves for his holiday. I'm not sure how to tell Wink that some of her precious long weekend here will be spent bricklaying - wait, she reads this blog every day, so I already have. Wink, this will give you an opportunity to lay a few bricks yourself, and it'll only be until noon and then we'll stop for bacon sandwiches. Bring old clothes.

Of course, August Bank Holiday usually brings rain, so we're prepared for disappointment, but that doesn't stop us looking forward to Day 26.

Darling children

Weeza and Zerlina came over today. Little z has started walking on her own, as long as she doesn't realise it, since the day after her first birthday. Just a couple of steps at a time - mostly she crawls, though as likely as not on her hands and feet rather than knees. Recent photo I hear some of you request - okay, here you are.

Squiffany is also pleased with herself because she can now swim, with armbands, without wanting her mother to hold her. Pugsley doesn't try, but he will jump in, then plod round to the steps and come back to jump in again. The three children and their mothers are talking of going swimming tomorrow afternoon, while the Sage and I (and Dave) are bricklaying. I had an earnest talk with the Sage this morning - no, we don't generally row. As Dave discovered, to his startlement one morning, my explosions are usually brief and while the Sage isn't there, so I can be pleasant when he is. And I certainly appreciate how busy he has been; nevertheless I was able to cite similar projects where he has got to and beyond the point of no return and them left the job to finish at some time in the future. He took my point. Indeed, he's very fair in these matters, once faced with irrefutable logic and no chance of turning the conversation to a sideline. I don't underestimate that quality.

We'll be seeing a lot of Weeza and z this week - they're coming over in the morning and again on Thursday, and then the Sage is going over to her house on Friday and they're going to call on the Sage's sister as it's her birthday. She lives up in Cromer. My children are very fond of her - her own children are a lot older than they are, being 47 and 45, and she enjoyed having small children to do things with; and then hand back, I daresay. She'll be 77 on Friday. She really doesn't seem to have changed much in decades, still as much fun as ever.

I didn't say yesterday - I forgot to mention, that is - that it was Al and Dilly's wedding anniversary, five day's after Weeza and Phil's (though a year apart). Darling children.

Back to 'normal'

I'm home again - nothing much seems to have happened here, which is why half the plants in tubs and a lot of the jerusalem artichokes are wilted. Also, through no fault of Dave, no bricklaying has happened all week. Maybe later this week, the Sage is non-committal.

One evening, when we were having dinner with friends of Wink's in a pub, another woman, Pip, came to join us for a drink and a chat and Wink mentioned my hip and the conversation turned to hip resurfacing. Another couple were leaving and came and joined in, to tell me that their daughter had her hip done a couple of years ago when she was 32 and it was a great success. Having such a problem at her young age was far worse for her than my old-woman osteoarthritis, and it's transformed her life. Pip knows quite a lot about it too, and she gave very encouraging reports and likely prognosis - it seems that it could take over from hip replacements in relatively young people who have strong enough bones and last a very long time. I've said I'll definitely go to the doctor and talk to him very soon. Maybe this week if I'm not too busy. Not tomorrow, certainly - Weeza is coming over to start preparations for the next sale catalogue and, as well, I've got the children in the morning. All three of them it'll be, which will be amusing.

I had an email today which, after dealing with the matter we'd emailed each other about, welcomed me home. "It's not the same without you", it ended. I'm not at all sure how to take that. If it was a veiled dig, I'm actually rather impressed.

Z is back in the library

I don't normally blog when I'm away because I find other computers too distracting to use, particularly as they're usually slow and awkward - not necessarily awkward in themselves, but fingers are accustomed to a particular keyboard and another one may have slightly different spacing between the keys. This one does, in fact, and my fingers feel quite cramped in comparison to using my usual spacious keyboard. However, they are lovely new machines and so reasonably unfrustrating to use.

I had a lovely time with my friends and their daughter, who is home at present for her teaching job in Uganda. Later they were going to a funeral so, with a few hours to kill, I went to Glastonbury and had a peaceful wander round the Abbey ruins and then bought two of the few non-mystic or new-agey books in the bookshop opposite.

This morning we popped over to see Bod (Wink's fella) and his mum and I met Bod's brother and sister-in-law who were visiting on their way to stay with friends. Wink and the Bod are talking about visiting Portugal in November and wondered if I'd like to come too? - I was happy to look into the idea and later on browsed through the brochure. I said what the two likely options for leaving dates - "the second date would suit me" said Wink. She rang Bod. Unfortunately, the earlier week would suit him as he's go a lunch booked. So, which will prevail, his lunch or her concert? I didn't particularly agree when she grumbled about his intransigence as I'd cheerily said I'd cancel my trip to the opera in her week and didn't even mention, untl then, the two other social engagements I'd got, nor the one in the previous week.

Anyway, tomorrow will see a visit to Salisbury, so the old limerick will go relentlessly through my mind the entire day, and on Sunday Wink has invited friends to lunch. Afterwards, Bod may come round for a stroll round Stourhead, although Wink, who has had a very busy week, may want to put her feet up.

Z's on holiday

Just popped in to Wink's local library to check emails - not that I can't live without emails or blogging or anything like that, hem hem, but because I bought something on the Sage's behalf a couple of days ago on eBay and I wanted to pay. I spent some patient minutes talking the Sage through reading emails last night but we didn't quite get there - nevertheless, he was really trying (no, I only mean he tried hard) which is a first. It's only taken twenty years. I'm slightly anxious that he might actually persevere, however, and take over the computer. I said as much to Wink and she agreed - 'a computer is personal, you can't share' she said.

Anyway, all's going well here and I'm having a most jolly time. Just off now to see friends in Somerset. Toodle-pip!

Z has no time

Sorry, I must go in five minutes. I'm just finishing off half a melon - I know that the Sage will eat the other half, but if I leave the whole thing he won't even see it - and going to put washing on the line - again, he can be relied on to bring it in but not to empty the washing machine. I've recorded anything I might want to see on television in the next week - actually, that means the last of the 4th series of The Wire. I haven't seen any of it yet; that is, of that series. I think it's fabulous and wish that I still had a DVD recorder (that records onto discs, that is) so that I hadn't had to delete them. I think I'll buy the set, in fact - Ro will certainly be pleased if I do.

So, have a fabulous time while I'm away and don't feel that you have to be good. If I have a chance I'll drop in during the week but probably to leave a comment rather than a post as it always feels odd to blog away from home. See you next Monday.

Z has a long day

Okay, right, I couldn't not say what my concerns were, in the end. I pulled my punches, but I still raised the issues I felt should be raised, and ended by saying I'd endorse the decision if *this* and *that* had been considered and judged okay. But I did it in a friendly way and explained the reason for being relatively formal about it...that is, it's an area I've had a lot of involvement in, and I sort of can't help myself. Oh damn. Still, I will quit next year.

Anyhoo. Today started with birds yawning and wondering why I thought it was a good idea to wake them up so early. By 8 o'clock this morning, I was almost ready for lunch. Which I didn't have until after 2 pm because Dilly and Al didn't arrive home until 1.15 when we'd sort of expected them soon after noon. Still, didn't matter, and we had the jolly opportunity to give Zerlina her birthday presents two days early - the Sage will see her on Tuesday but I'll be several counties away by then. She was very pleased with her toddler Lego (does anyone actually call it Duplo?) and other toy and her parents enjoyed playing with it too.

Off to Snape again tonight for another concert, and it was a cracker. Really good. Oh, don't we love links. Here we go.. You may remember that I decided to get to grips with a composer I didn't know a lot about (new year's resolution, I think) and chose two - Mahler and Shostakovich. Mahler proved to be a bit hard to love. This concert contained music by both of them, so seemed ideal. Well, Mahler is The Man. Fabulous songs, sung by a wonderful singer to brilliant accompaniment. The whole evening was a great pleasure and I loved every minute. Well, that is, of the concert itself.

Supper was a different story. It's not as easy as one might think, providing food for people who are going to turn up - or not - and want hot or cold food depending on the weather, and whose, um, demographic profile will vary from night to night and influence what and whether they'll buy your food. Tonight, being a weekend and reasonably upmarket classical music, people were prepared to come and eat out. Sadly, the caterers had had to throw some food away during last week, so cut down on what they provided tonight (I discussed the matter with a member of staff). Frankly, I was disappointed.

I read the blackboard and was quite encouraged. Now, first mistake - if it's sold out, wipe it off the board. When I got to the food, I was instantly let down. Several mixed vegetable salads of various types with gloopy dressings. I made that mistake a fortnight ago - a Russian (or would it be Greek, pfft, who cares?) salad that was mostly cold potato, so ignored them. There was shredded cold pork with more potato salad, which didn't appeal. There were beef salad baguettes that looked a bit more than I wanted, and smoked salmon sandwiches which, in retrospect, I wish I'd had. I went for the prawn salad. £5.50 for a sundae glass containing some salad leaves - not easy to get out and eat tidily with a fork, some shredded raw onion, two thick slices of cucumber - not easy, as mentioned already - one eighth of an excellent tomato, not run of the mill tomato at all, one sixteenth, I should think, of a lemon, which was awkward to squeeze and not very juicy either, some prawns and a big prawn in its shell. I sort of bought it for this big and juicy-looking prawn. It had, however, been frozen, cooked. Well you know, you can tell - it had that wet and flabby feel and it was shedding bits over the rest of the prawns, which I fussily picked out. There was a Marie Rose sauce I could have helped myself to, but with that silly glass I could only have dolloped it on top, so if it had been merely jarred mayo plus ketchup, or worse a catering-size jar of pink mayo, I'd have been stuck with it, and my general principle is don't go there. I mean, it tasted okay but it was hardly eating-out food. If I'd taken a guest, I'd have been deeply embarrassed. I don't think the new caterers are going to cut the mustard, at this rate. It was a dispiriting experience. A good job that the music was so good.

If I have time, I'll write a short post tomorrow, just to bid you all a loving au revoir.

The unspeakable in pursuit of, apparently, the edible

Al has had almost as many cabbage white butterflies fluttering around the shop as he's had wasps. The butterflies happily settle on the cabbages and cauliflowers, though I'm not sure if it's a bit late in the season for them to be laying eggs. Yesterday, Al saw one of them struggling on the ground and, looking closely, saw that it had been caught by a wasp. Later, he looked again and its body had been eaten. An unexpected use for wasps - did any of you know that they could catch cabbage white butterflies? I trust they don't go for Red Admirals.

Tilly chased a rabbit today. It was in no danger, but she hasn't bothered recently so I cheered her on. She returned a few minutes later with something of a swagger in her gait. At least the Frontline seems to have dealt with most of the fleas.

You know how it is when, for instance, someone asks what you think of their new hairstyle or whatever and you really don't think it suits them, but you can hardly say so because it's too late? I've just been asked for my opinion about something that is obviously going to happen, but about which I've considerable reservations. It's obvious that my endorsement is being asked for and I'm not actually being consulted, and that it's going ahead anyway, and I'd really rather not have been asked at all. I suppose I'll think of something carefully disengaged to reply by tomorrow.

Tomorrow Al and Dilly are going out early to a car boot sale - as sellers this week, Dilly's been having a clear-out. They've asked me to mind the children. At 6.30. Hm. All well and good for Dave, but if I'm awake at that hour of the morning I lie there thinking how nice it is that I don't have to get up yet. I'll have to get the Sage to take over from me later, I've got several things to do before going out, as we're going over to lunch with Weeza and family. It's Zerlina's birthday on Tuesday, when I'll be away, and Weeza and Phil's 4th wedding anniversary the day after.

In fact, we've got 6 weeks of birthdays and anniversaries. Later this month will be Al and Dilly's anniversary and in September Dilly, Phil, I and Pugsley all celebrate getting another year older. I think it's Dilly's mum and dad's anniversary too, and possibly her dad's birthday - I'll have to check with her. A few happy Christmases over the years it seems.... (this doesn't count as a use of the C word, btw, as I'm not referring to the forthcoming one that it's far too early to mention).

The Sage is in bed. Time to take Tilly out and then join him.

Z is an Observer

The day started well when the post arrived, including as it did a second postcard from ILTV - hang on, you need a link there, well, a few of you do -- - here it is - LINK! and my new Nadfas programme for the next season, which gives anticipation of jolliness. Later, Simon - oh gosh, another link made me scurry upstairs for the Observers books I still have, many of them from my own childhood, in their original little bookcase. Birds is a replacement (can you assume italics or quotation marks please, can't be doing with them) but Wild Flowers, Wild Animals, Garden Flowers, Architecture, Mosses and Liverworts, Painting and Graphic Art, Music, Larger British Moths, British Insect, Dogs (2 copies of that) and Cats are all old. Fossils is a later addition.

Much of my childhood was spent reading. I was never discouraged - being equally obsessed with books themselves, my parents saw nothing odd about preferring to read than do almost anything else and there was no criticism for "always having your nose in a book". I liked the Observer's Book of Dogs best and knew every breed of dog in it. The one on cats was far less interesting, even if some of the pictures were in colour. There were fewer breeds and most of them looked much the same as each other - they had to be in colour or you couldn't have differentiated between Long-haired White With Orange Eyes, Long-haired Blue, L-h Cream, L-h Smoke, and they had to put in pictures of kittens to make up the illustrations. Rather charmingly however, many of the pictures named the owners. In Birds, I learned, though have now forgotten, to tell the difference between kittiwakes and herring gulls and I stared with a complete lack of interest at mosses and liverworts, something I now find far more interesting than then. It dates from 1955 but still has its original dust jacket, a mark of how little it was read.

This afternoon, we were meant to bricklay, but it had to be cancelled as the Sage was busy helping Ben at the shop. Al has splendid new cast-iron guttering, which cost many pounds, and it was fixed with brackets which the Sage was drilling holes in for attaching to the building. It was fair enough as the work needed to be done - after all, the wall is a hobby - though it is a disappointment that yet another week has slipped away. Earlier in the summer I was busy, now the Sage is.

Bringing on the wall, Day 24

I know these photos get a bit samey after a while - sorry. At least today I took a couple more photos of one of the more oddly shaped bricks for your amusement, and again to point out that when bits of wall look wonky it's the bricks at fault just as much as Dave or I. Anyway, you'll be glad to know, as I was to find out, that my back hardly twinged at all. In fact, it's hurting more now I'm sitting down.
So, a brick - side view
Top view, including Z's thumb, month-old burn scar from frying pan handle that had been in the Aga and toes -
The bit I did -
The bit Dave did, some of it on tippy-toes -
The Sage is going to put up scaffolding for the top bit next week

Progress so far -
A tilted photo comes naturally to me. The wall is not actually falling onto Dave and the Sage.

I'm going out for dinner tonight, so the Sage will be joining the ranks of Norfolkmen who are cooking for themselves. He's having sausages and bacon and whatever vegetables he picks from the garden. He will spend half the evening on the phone and be completely content. He won't miss me in the least.

Z knows how squirrels feel

That is, if there's any truth in the fact that they forget where they've buried nuts for the winter, so that when they find some they must be awfully pleased. The more superstitious among them may even think that a little miracle has happened every time a cache of nuts turns up when they really feel like a nibble.

In this case, I've spent a monumentally dull afternoon doing the next 3-monthly rota for the church readings, coffee making etc. It's early, but I'm going away on Monday for a week - have I mentioned this? I won't be able to blog, darlings, I'm so sorry. Well, probably not. Where my sister lives, she can't get broadband and dial-up is awfully slow and she spends much of her working day at the computer so she rarely bothers in the evening. So, I got the rota out early, and a depressing thing it was to do. Helpers have been diminishing in number for one reason and another, and I've had to put my own name down 24 times for the 12 weeks, as a reader, sidesman, coffee maker, musician or flower arranger.

Anyway, as I was nearing the end and just writing an email to go with it, I realised that it was coming up to 6 o'clock: ie time for a drink. I also realised that wine would not suffice. I wanted gin. I remembered using the last of the ice. Yes, I buy ice. Slap my wrist and call me extravagant and I will not care (unless the slap is very hard, in which case I will remove myself; I will not retaliate).

At about this time, Dave emailed me, so I remarked on just this sad situation. He wondered why I don't keep gin in the freezer (for a non-drinker, he's very astute and will make a good woman very happy one day). No, I hardly ever drink it, so it's not chilled. I mentioned, however, that the Sage has, sagaciously, bought steak. Pity I don't have any chips, I remarked.

Reader, I married him.

Ah no, forget that, that's a line from a book.

No, I was driven on a whim ('twas a whim that made us build a wall) to look in the other freezer. The big chest one in the porch. And there was a half-used bag of ice that I'd forgotten I had. It smelled ever so slightly fishy, but nothing that gin wouldn't cure. I went and put a good slug of it in a glass, added lots of ice and topped up with grapefruit juice, took a swig, and then decided to try my luck. I went back to the freezer, moved a box of big raw prawns and there was a bag of oven chips.

The superstitious might think that I was rewarded for being good and dutiful this afternoon, and doing the rota a fortnight early. I simply credit my bad memory but good instinct. I'd like it to be a little miracle, however, because it would indicate that Jesus approves of gin. I knew about the wine, but Mother's Ruin would be no end of a bonus.

Is it just me, or is it really warm tonight?

And today I've actually handed over the chairman's stuff - not much actually, I was given a load of out-of-date papers 4 years ago, so I binned them, and most of the newer stuff was on the computer, so I put them all on a disc, as I mentioned yesterday.

What I didn't mention was that the box of redundant papers was behind a chair which I could only push aside *so far* so I had to pick it up at arms' length and with my body twisted. I did it reluctantly, knowing it was bad for my back, but I seemed to get away with it and was still fine last night. When I got up this morning I had bad twinges for a bit, but I'd forgotten about it by the time I went to gather up everything remaining back into the box. I had to move the waste paper basket full of paper. Ow. And ouch. It got better - not well, but better - but I'll be careful for a few days.

I looked after Pugsley and Squiffany for an hour until their father got home from the shop, having left it in the capable hands of Eileen, and then left, with 45 minutes (plus a polite 5 to allow my hostess to be quite ready) to drive 35 miles, 10 of them on dual carriageway. This should have been fine, but a mile from home 3 huge bulk carriers, a lorry and a tractor towing a Land Rover pulled out in front of me. I was pretty indignant that they should use an unsuitable back road, for which they were far too big, but when we reached the main road I discovered that they were too wide for that too. All the oncoming traffic had to pull over on to the verge and a big queue built up behind me. It took nearly half an hour to go the first 6 miles. I'm not too bothered about farm traffic usually, but this was not acceptable, and should have had an escort. We'd all have been stuffed if an equally big vehicle had come the other way. I almost wished it would, for the entertainment value.

The Sage has gone out and I'm listening to the charming Hoagy Carmichael. A-Huggin' And A-Chalkin' made me chortle as ever. I looked for it on You Tube, but no joy - well, some grandad singing it in a home video, but that's all. It's the happy story of the chap whose lovely girlfriend was so big and fat that he got lost while hugging and kissing her, so took a piece of chalk and marked his way. Until he was A-Huggin' And A-Chalkin' and he met another fellow with some chalk in his hand coming around the other side. Hoagy, of course, was the pianist (he sang Hong Kong Blues) in To Have and Have Not, which is one of my favourite films, not least for the pleasure of watching the divine Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall falling in love. If you've never read the Hemingway story it's based (loosely) on, don't. It'll only depress you.

Later - Ooh! - I've found it -

Z intends to resign to spend more time with her family

Mm, sorry about yesterday. Having nothing to say normally doesn't deter me in the least, but after two attempts to write posts that bored even me quite witless, I thought that nothing was better than either of those.

The expected building didn't happen today; the Sage spent most of the morning running errands for a rather demanding old lady (not me, no) and ended up with a headache and a complete disinclination to spend the afternoon mixing mortar. Which was fair enough. So I went to visit Weeza and Zerlina instead.

Otherwise, I sorted out papers. And files on the computer. In doing which, I discovered that there are over 10,000 images stored on it, a great many of which are photos, some of them duplicates - well, lots of them I should think. I think I should sort out rather more. In fact, such is my control freakery that I have made copies of things I'm to hand over to the new chairman so that, if the disc gets lost, I'll still have the information. Just in case, several years from now, anything is needed. This may seem extreme caution on my part, but I've been asked three times recently - each from a different organisation - for information that I was the only person to have retained. One of the items in question dated from 2001. I'm not sure whether this is a good or a bad thing about me - though I think Dave will approve, or at least understand.

Nevertheless, I have decided to give up another committee next year. When I toyed with the idea last week, even the thought of it lifted a load from my mind. I'm afraid some people I like very much will be unhappy about it but, you know, I think I want to put myself and my family first.

Z has a good day

Indeed I did - I went into the dress shop I usually go into in town when I do go into a dress shop, which isn't all that often (second time this year, I think) and found the teenage daughter of a friend was working there for the summer holidays. As a result of our conversation, I'm quite hopeful that her mother might join the school governors - she's already a governor and I've worked with her, and she'd be absolutely ideal, quite apart from being lovely too.

And I found some clothes I liked - in the sale, furthermore - and bought them.

And then I went to a concert at Snape tonight, which was splendid although the chap talked too much. I've seen them before, several years ago, the last time they were there and, sad to say, him talking too much rather spoiled the show. It's not that he doesn't talk well but that the music is so good that chatter wastes good listening time. He talked about half as much this time, and when he cuts the chat by another half to two-thirds, he'll have it about right. Anyway, I did buy their CD.

I had a most delicious ice cream at the interval. Hang on, I'll google the company and see if I can give you a link. Here we go. I'd been pondering hopefully (not having known about this new supplier) and hoping there might be lemon or something refreshing - well, the choice was elderflower and gooseberry, blackcurrant or strawberry. I had the first of those, and it was absolutely yummy. I'll go back to the website tomorrow and see if there's a supplier near here. One small pot was really not enough. I mean, it was for tonight but not... oh, you get the picture.

I actually did some housework today and majorly cleared up cobwebs. Only in one room, but at least I moved all the furniture and cleaned behind the pictures and all that malarkey. It took a good couple of hours, which is a lot for me and housework. It isn't possible to clean this house all in one day, not to do it properly, that is. Even if it were tidy it wouldn't be*, and it certainly is anything but that**. It never will be while the Sage and I live here. We'd not like it.

Oh, and I found a library book that I've had to renew twice as I had lost it. Mislaid, that is, I knew it was downstairs somewhere. And, while looking for that, the Sage found two organ music books that I'd also mislaid. I even knew the room they were in. Yes, I know. Fortunately, you don't have to live with me (though you'd enjoy it really).

*possible
**tidy

Bringing on the wall, Day 23 - Z finds herself in the beer garden

We were unsure of the weather so Dave came in the afternoon instead of the morning - by which time it was pretty hot again. Not so humid so we had more energy. I went over to fetch Weeza (my daughter) and Zerlina because they were carless, Phil having taken the car because of the train strike. So the chaps were already working when we arrived home. Little z was ready for a nap, so Weeza joined in bricklaying.

Tilly (the dog) came past, limping heavily. I went to look at her leg, but couldn't find anything wrong - she was all right later so I think she'd just twisted it. She lay in the shade for a while. Later, Weeza found fleas on Tilly's tummy. I'd had a look earlier and she was all right, so she must have picked them up lying in the garden. The Sage sprayed her with stuff. I'll go back to the pet shop tomorrow and discuss the matter with Val.

Later, Weeza, z and I went for a walk round the village. As we rounded the corner towards the pub, Weeza wondered if it was open? "Not at 4 o'clock," I doubted. However, it was and its siren call was not to be resisted. z has a liking for blackcurrant juice and fizzy water, and we had John's home-brew. We didn't tell anyone - it was our girly secret, Tee Hee.

I had a little discussion with Weeza and Asked Her Advice - well, I knew what her advice would be but I wanted to run some thoughts past her. Anyway, she was very helpful.

I cooked dinner for everyone tonight, so that Dilly wouldn't have to bother as she was out all day and then tutoring - you'd think the children would be allowed their summer holidays but no, their parents make them keep up the maths throughout August. So she didn't have time to join us, but at least Al got a meal. Now, they've gone off to Norwich, she to see a friend and he to finish last night's work. The Sage is minding the children right now and I'll take over in a few minutes. I'm talking to Ro on MSN at the same time as writing. There is a highly annoying mosquito dive-bombing me as well.

Anyway, the wall. Here we go, progress to date -


Nearly Zerlina's first birthday, you know. Gosh.

Bringing on the wall, Day 22

I'm late, I've been babysitting again. I hadn't expected Al and Dilly home at any given hour, but by 11.30 I was rather anxious as I'd certainly expected them back before then - as I said before they were working, not having an evening out. I sent an enquiring text in the end, and received a phone call back to say they were on their way home and would be back by midnight. The job was a lot more tricky than they had anticipated. So I'm late writing and am a day out.

It was very hot and humid today and both Dave and I found it a bit of an effort to work for too long, so we made a fairly short morning of it. I tried to find the weather forecast this morning and looked on the BBC website, which is rubbish - at least, the weather forecast part of it is. The day's overall prediction for the Norwich area was "light rain" but when I looked at the more detailed 3-hourly forecast, it was dry with either sunny or white cloud all day. The line above which changed from local to national to world weather said that there'd be rain but not until the evening and overnight. And then the weather warning said there would be torrential rain overnight. Tonight's 10.30 TV forecast said it would rain overnight, as it does in the weather warning, but the 3-hourly forecast doesn't show rain until 7 am. I don't mind it being inaccurate so much as it contradicting itself on a single website. Bet-hedging incompetents, one suspects. If any part of it is right it should be cooler, whether dry or not, tomorrow - I think if it's as hot and humid as today we might be put off.
Anyway, we made progress, though not as much as usual. Here are the areas we worked on - I took the low road and Dave took the decorative one.


I went to sleep for a bit this afternoon.

Train of thought

The poor Sage was late home last night. I'd been wondering if he was back and hadn't come through to say hello, but when Al and Dilly came in at quarter past 10, they said his van wasn't there. I was just going to phone him when he arrived, three-quarters of an hour late. A train had broken down in the depths of Essex and so the 7.30 from Liverpool had been cancelled and everyone had to crowd on the 8 o'clock. He had actually left a message on the answer phone, but he'd had to borrow a stranger's phone to do so (so I suppose didn't like to ask to make a second call when I wasn't there) as his phone was out of credit. I apologised for not realising - dealing with that is my job and I didn't realise that he had used the thing much as he had several pounds on it when I checked last. Once, it went unused for so long that the SIM card was deactivated and I had to buy a new one. I've put £20, which should last months, even now he does quite like making calls on it.

Today, I went to visit a friend and seemed to stay most of the day. She works far too hard and needs to relax more, so I choose to believe that me enjoying myself so much that I hopelessly outstayed the most hospitable of welcomes was a Good Thing. I told her all about this blog, including its name - which I do still like, but which sounds so stupid when said out loud. If ever I changed it, or moved blogs I'm not sure I'd feel quite the same way about it. I say "all about", I didn't say that much about it - when she asked what I write about I said I just waffled and that I write it much as I speak. The subject arose when I told her how I met Dave - "an internet friend" is my usual vague description of each of you dear and lovely people, but I was inveigled into explaining further.

Al and Dilly were out again this evening - work, not play, unfortunately. Their children are remarkably good about bedtime. They get undressed and washed, have milk, choose books to be read to them, make a final visit to the loo and kiss me goodnight with no pleas for a final book, a drink of water, five more minutes play or anything else. It's remarkably relaxing and pleasant.

The weather forecast was rain, but we've had none although it has been very humid all day. Supposed to be dry tomorrow and I hope that will be more accurate, for we expect the reliable Dave at 9.30 for a constructive morning.

Z takes photo of dinner

Sorry it's not cake, Dandelion.

Z plans dinner

It's going to be an Indian meal, with prawns cooked with courgettes (yes, in India it would be squash), green lentils with garlic and onion, spiced Basmati rice and yoghurt with cucumber and mint. I've got some carrots and turnips too, and I haven't quite decided how I'm going to cook them.

What? Yes, this is all for me.