Hi Brian,

Well the neighbour has been at work all week and has shown no signs to returning to the fence work (understandably) so I decided to take the bull  by the horns yesterday.  Lovely sunshine so spent two hours cutting up the greenery/branches that were blocking my path to the garage and bagging it up ready for recylcing collection.  Very satisfying and mission accomplished in that at least I can now retrieve my gardening equipment.  I also moved the 'dumped' old fencing plus new fence panels left on my side so that they are leaning safely /tidily out of my way!

Glad all is good with the car again and that you dodged the rain.  It certainly came down when it arrived but very pleased that all  my new plants are now well watered in!  Also good news that all is going well at the Club.  Is your next event over the May bank holiday weekend?  Much to do in readiness but hopefully worth all the trouble and know you will enjoy catching up with members old and hopefully new.

No recent sightings of the fox in my garden but do occasionally see them along the street.  On the other  hand the cheeky squirrel has been 'burying' in my flower bed (obviously appreciative of the newly turned soil).  Have put an old bird table back into use (minus it's roof which was fallling apart) in a different area of the back garden and also planted up a leaky old birdbath which  has created a summer planter.  Sweet peas have begun to flower and also have white and red poppies coming out so colour is arriving to replace the last of the tulips.

Rather dull here just now so hopefully will get a longer walk in this afternoon.  Catching the underground to Hertfordshire is the plan to walk the 'three lakes' or the Grand Union towpath after watching the launch of their carnival week (sadly will  miss the  main event next weekend as will be childminding whilst family go to a 'no children allowed' wedding).  Hoping too that the warmer weather makes an appearance soon (I need to aclimatize before going on holiday ha ha).

Have a pleasant weekend and best regards sent back to you, Mrs B and the family.  Take care.  Jules

Good morning Jules,

Hope you enjoyed you walk yesterday if you went as it rained on and off virtually all day here yesterday. But today is bright and sunny all still not very warm as yet.

Had to make a visit to Specsavers yesterday as Mrs B lost her balance and broke my glasses. She wasnt hurt but I had to have a new frame as she had completely broken the old one. So after getting back, spent some time in the garden and planted a lot of seeds in my new mini greenhouse. Am still waiting for the lot I ordered last Saturday to arrive.  Picked a few radishes yesterday and Mrs B enjoyed them

Car is nice and quiet now; doesnt sound like a tank coming anymore ha ha. My grandson is as cheeky as ever and thinks his little quips up so fast. Dont know where he gets it from really!!!!!!!!

Have not done much writing lately but have just started yet another story. Must get round to putting some on Kindle. Will probably put a couple on for free first of all as it is recomemnded to get a new author started

Will be out in my garage later as I need to finish making those cats.

Hope you have a lovely day, Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

Hi Brian,

I did indeed get out walking and managed to dodge the one and only short shower (good excuse for a coffee stop).  I did a circular walk around one of the lakes just a couple of tube rides away in Herts.  It was lovely to see the new life appearing on the water/banks and blossom on the trees.  A few members of the local sailing club making the most of it too.[[]]  Quite warm too so had to tie my jacket round my waist. Just after lunch they held a parade in the town centre to start their carnival week so stayed for that before coming back home and managing some time in the garden.

Back in the garden after gym/shopping yesterday and enjoying seeing some colour coming into it now after most of the tulips have finished.  Outlook for this week is dry and warming  up so fingers crossed will get it tidy before visiting my daughter and family at the weekend.  They have harvested more radishes and the boys like them too! (not for me I'm afraid).

With the better weather I bet you managed to get some of those cats finished.  Glad Mrs B was okay after the loss of balance and that you managed to get the frames replaced nice and quickly.

Hope you have a pleasant week. Best regards  to you both and the family.  Jules

Hi Jules.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend with your family. When you mentioned about the sailing club members I'm not sure if you included the duck in that as they looked like they were having a good time too. Thank for sharing the photos

Mrs B asked me to take her for a drive yesterday We went through a place clled Billingshurst and were quite horrified to see the amount of houses thay are building there It looks like it will virtually double the size. We have the same thing going to happen to our town shortly, Thay are planning to build betweem 3 to 5 thousand new homes to the north of us. At the moment we are on the edge of the countryside but not for much longer I fear.

Anyway back to the drive. We ended up at a place called Haslemere. But the road I had used before was closed so had to take a detour and It ended up a very much longer drive than we had planed, Mrs B was very tired when we eventually got back home. But she did enjoy it which is the main thing.

Our rose bushes are loaded with buds so it looks like a good year for the roses as the song states ha ha. Its raing a nice gentle rain here this morning. The garden need it as the ground is so dry. Mrs B's Rhodedendron is just starting to flower. .The last of the bluebells I bought Mrs B are fully out now. and have started to pick the radishes now. Very crisp and tastey. 

Havent yet got the cats finished as the fishing line I bought is too thin and difficult to handle so have a thicker one coming on Monday. The trouble was they didnt give a size just the breaking strain

Hope you have a nice wekk ahead and am sending kind thoughtsbto you and your family, Brian

Hi Brian

How lovely that you were able to enjoy a drive out with Mrs B and I am sure that though a little tiring for her she really did enjoy the outing.  When hubby was alive we often used to just go out for a drive and enjoy the views and maybe a lunch by a river or in a little village pub (with and without the children over many years) - miss those times.

Had a good overnight stay with my daughter and family before travelling back so I could be nearby for Mum's birthday.  I went down after my gym visit and walk and delivered cards/gift/news etc.  The care staff came up with a homemade birthday cake complete with candle but sadly no interaction from Mum so I had the job of blowing it out!  They said they would try again at the next meal time bless them.  I actually felt quite tearful when I left so was grateful for the half hour walk home. After lunch I got stuck into the garden (always good therapy) and cleared more of the branches/ivy which my neighbour has cut back with the ongoing saga of replacing his fence. I am beginning to think he must be regretting have decided to do the full length which involves clearing a good fifteen years of growth (glad he is doing it!!).  I can but hope that he manages to finish it by August when my family come to stay.

The upside of clearing the back end of my side means that I had plenty of birds for company as they came down to retrieve bugs/worms etc as I dug another bed over too.  I was introduced to the latest member of the robin brood too. Such a delight to have them so close. [[]]

It is lovely having the flowers coming out and this morning I plan on mowing the lawn whilst it is dry as showers promised!

Fingers crossed that the re-ordered fishing line does the job you want and the cats will have their whiskers ready to go. 

Hope you and Mrs B have a pleasant week and that you all keep well.  Jules

Hi Jules,

The fishing line didnt turn up on time and as time was short. I went to a local fishing shop thinking I could see the line I wanted but found they were in administration. So tried Wicks to see if they had any clear strimmer line. They had every colour but the one I needed. So driving back home I had a flash of inspiration. I had bought some strimmer line some couple of years ago. But as usual when I wanted it I had problems finding it in my garage..I was just about to give up when I found it right in front of me ha ha.. So the cats now have their whiskers. Fishing line has now arrived now I dont need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i use my spare laptop to provide a continuse slide show at our exhibitions and hadnt used it since last year so yesterday I spent all day installing all the updates. Started at 9.00 am and didnt finnally finish until 10.45 pm. I was up and down stairs all day.

My son is really busy at work and has really built the business up to a point now where he is having trouble finding enough time. He has asked his manager for someone to help him as he doesnt have enough hours in the day. Very proud but knew he would do this as he is good at anything he turns his hands too.

I hope you have a good weekend. Sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.

I wont be on here much for the next few days as from Saturday I will be at Wakehurst Place for three days with our woodclub.   

Hi Brian

Just wanted to pop on before I go out and hopefully you catch this when you are able to take a breath. Wishing you and the Club a great event this weekend and hope the weather stays good for you and the surroundings are certainly splendid.   

What a palaver regarding the 'fishing line' but you cracked it in the end and so will have your cats on show too.  Wishing you all a successful show.

I am catching  up with a friend today and 'walking the route' of Chelsea in Bloom (free event). She did this last year and I could not make it so we are going back together.  Beautiful day forecast so really looking forward to a stroll/friendship.

Look forward to hearing all about the show in due course.  Take care and enjoy (though I know how much hard work and effort goes into this!).

Best regards to you and the family.  Jules

Good morning Jules.

We have had a very good show. The first two day were very quiet as they had a Science Fair next to the Milenium seed bank but yesterday was quite busy. Overall allthough our sales were down on normal, Most of our exhibiters were reasonably happy. My legs feel like lead today so will be having a restful day as far as possible ha ha while I recharge the old batteries

[[]]

Just another of the marvelouse trees they have there.

Will post some pictures of the exhibition tommorow, Brian.

. 

Hi Jules,

Just about caught up with everything since last weekend. Am just about to wire up two of my windmills. I have housed spaces out for the battery pack, motor and switch. Now all I have to do is to fit and wire all three together, Not so easy as it sounds as the connections are very small and will need a smaller soldering iron which is ude in on Thusday. Plus a stromg magnifying glas which Iallready have.  Next new thing I want to do is a model of a nodding donkey oil pump but thats for the future. I also have to glue some more timber up to make some more penguinsas I sold all I had made and have another 3 day show this month.  

Saturday I took Mrs B for another ride in the countryside which she enjoyed. Didnt go so far this time.

I am posting some more pictures of Wakehurst place and the trees etc. Glad to read your family have now recovered from the Bug.Thank goodnes it was over fairly quickly. My son and grandson came to see us at the show as he wanted to wind me up in front of my friends and he suceeded of course. He caused quite a laugh while he was there I might add bless him.

I hope you have a good week. sending kind thoughts to you and your family, Brian.