Wednesday 26 August 2020

The Distancing Diaries - Day 158 & 159


Tuesday (day 158) dawned, bringing with it Storm Francis. When I got up at 6.30am the rain, which had woken us in the early hours, remained torrential and the sky was so dark that I needed the light on for my Wii Fit workout. The irrigation system was working perfectly although hardly necessary. After our breakfast Jon popped out for a few bits & to do a post office run whilst I caught up with blogland.

When the weather's miserable I find it really hard to get motivated but with the incentive of a browse on eBay once I was done, I talked myself into sweeping the kilims in the middle room & the stairs and also to dust the frames on the Wall of Misery before joining Jon for a mug of tea when he got back from the shops.


While I cleaned our bedroom, Jon cracked on with tiling the bit of wall I'd been nagging him to do for weeks.




 Chores done, I checked into eBay and found a fabulous Zara fringed bikini, new with tags, at an tenth of the original retail price. The perfect antidote for a miserable day. Will I be wearing it on a Greek beach next month? I live in hope!

Stephen had been for a run out in the garden first thing but Frank, who hates the rain had stayed indoors with a plate of cocktail prawns. By mid-morning the deluge had stopped so he accompanied me into the garden so I could drag out the garden waste bin ready for collection in the morning.

The previous evening we'd taken the lids off our water butts and positioned every receptacle we could lay our hands on to collect the rain. Our houseplants will be happy.

 I bought this 1970s Anokhi pinafore from eBay last year. I'm quite high-waisted & the bodice was too long so I'd taken up the shoulder seams by a couple of inches which lifted the waistband to my natural waist. 

WEARING: Vintage Anokhi pinafore dress, 1970s Ayesha Davar cheesecloth blouse, Doc Marten oxblood Darcie boots (all eBay)

 A year later and I'd still not got round to cutting off the excess fabric and stitching the seams properly so after our noodles, I stripped off to my knickers and got it done. It took all of forty minutes. 

 By now the wind we'd been threatened with had arrived with avengeance. I heard a sickening crack & looked out of the window to see a huge branch from next-door's lime tree flying through the air. It missed Gilbert by inches but our poor garden lights weren't quite so lucky, bringing them down in a hail of broken glass. Once we'd recovered the lights and raked up the best we could, we drew the curtains, cracked up the heating and spent the rest of the afternoon reading.

After tea (half a quiche with a Greek salad and coleslaw) we watched three episodes of Diarmiud Gavin's Gardening Together (we'd watched three the night before) until Jon was hit by a bout of musical inspiration and had to lock himself into his music room composing a tune.

It was still blowing a gale when I got up on Wednesday (day 159) and I discovered that Storm Francis had claimed another victim, The Egg. 

At 6am I was outside staking my Delphiniums and Black Eyed Susans which had taken a severe battering overnight. 

 After my Wii Fit session and our fruit & yogurt breakfast the wind had finally died down so we popped into town as we needed a few things from Wilkos - new secateurs as ours had gone missing over the weekend, a lump hammer as the top kept flying off ours, a pack of replacement paint brushes and, after studying Lord Jon's gardening catalogue that had arrived yesterday, I fancied planting some Queen of the Night tulips.


We managed to tick everything off the list, deviating slightly by buying a pack of Black Parrot tulips instead of the Queen of the Night. The feathery petals won me over.

We called into the clearance charity shop spending a total of £4. We stocked up on books. I used to confuse Jodi Picoult with Jojo Moyes, mistakenly thinking she wrote chick lit (which I loathe), her books involve moral dilemmas or courtroom dramas and really make you think. I adore Harry Hole and haven't read Knife. We also bought another vintage egg poaching pan, 'cos two clearly aren't enough.

We drove over to Liz and Al's as we'd a birthday present for him. We sat in the garden chatting and eating homemade birthday cake for an hour or so before heading back home for lunch.


WEARING: Diya Studios maxi skirt with cotton camisole (new, retail buy), 1950s Tyrolean souvenir belt, Indian sponge coral beads.

I'd left the house wearing something entirely different but when I got back there was a parcel waiting for me. At the weekend I'd received an email from a lovely lady called Ellen who'd been stalking an Indian cotton maxi skirt in her local charity shop for weeks and, finding it reduced, she'd bought it, listed it on eBay but said that if I liked it to pop in an offer for the price she'd paid and it would be mine. 

Thanks so much, Ellen! I love it! 

A walk around the garden revealed yet more havoc wreaked by Storm Francis, with branches snapped off both the buddleia and the magnolia. And to think I spent a couple of hours on Sunday tidying up that area! 

Jon set to work with the hacksaw, assembling a pile ready for me to turn into mulch with the garden shredder tomorrow (weather permitting) and then got a bit carried away, lopping away until we'd got a huge gap in the border. I've been wanting to clear the area for a while and now he's started I'm excited.

Depending on what the weather throws at us - bearing in mind there's a Bank Holiday weekend coming up so rain is almost guaranteed - we're going to continue with the clearing and see what happens. Obviously no trees will be harmed on our quest, we don't want a fine of £2,500 per tree!

The Egg lives to see another day! We'll be having a cheeky Wednesday evening beer in there after our tea (pizza with salad, including lollo rosso, rocket, basil, parsley, Oriental leaves & chives from the garden).

Cheers!!

50 comments:

  1. Love your newest Anokhi skirt - that storm really gave your garden a battering, we had a lucky escape only one tomato plant down. Its going to be autumnal now for the next 10 days apparently so Im getting some warmer wear out. Nice that John is strumming his tunes and feeling creative :)

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    1. Thanks, Betty! It's not Anokhi but it's a very welcome addition to the block printed skirt collection all the same.
      I'm glad you escaped the wrath of Storm Francis. I've just checked the weather and it does seem very disappointing temperature-wise, I better get in the garden and work up a sweat! xxx

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  2. That was a hell of a storm. Mysteriously, we don't get them so badly here, in Auckland, New Zealand. We do sometimes get torrential sleety sidewayds rain, and the odd tornado. Another very nosy and highly important question: do you mend and alter your clothes by hand? Or?

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    1. Tornados and sleety downpours aren't the best! Here in the Midlands we usually miss the worst of the weather but certainly bore the brunt of it this week. Ah well, onwards & upwards.
      I alter most of my clothes by hand. The dress I took in last week I did on the machine but hemming, darning and the odd tweak are always with a needle and thread, in the spare bedroom sitting by the window with the radio playing. xxx

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  3. thanks goodness no serious damage at stonecroft from that storm!
    francis arrived here this morning - me running frantically around the garden to secure plants, deckchairs, pillows and pots..... and its still stormy, seems that francis is hooked on our mountains. will be a bad night with all the blowing & rattling. sorry for your garden lights!
    your newest skirt is gorgeous - light fabric and bright colors - will be fab in greece!
    i´m curious what you will do in that garden corner......
    xxxx

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    1. I know, it could have been a whole lot worse! I'm hoping you escape any major damage, too. Its as good as any exercise routine, running about staking plants & moving things away for safety!
      That skirt is a strong contender for Greece, bright and breezy.
      I'm not sure what we'll do with that part of the garden, we'll clear it first and then consider our options. I'm hoping it'll generate a bit more light. xxx

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    2. thankfully francis lost i bit of its power on the way.... no serious damage on our estate :-D xx

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  4. Oh Vix. I sympathise! Storm damage here too but not as bad as I feared. Thank goodness "The Egg" lives to see another day, days, weeks, months, years. My room of doom has been on hold with nowhere to offload but today I found a charity shop open. Bad news? I need to get back in there clearing again!

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    1. Oh dear, you too? It was a rough one this week, wasn't it?
      Great news about the charity shop, having a good sort-out and having your unwanted stuff stuffed in a bin bag in the cupboard is fatal, I'm forever tempted to rescue things when that happens.
      Good luck with the clearing, Catmac - but if it's dry you have my permission to play in the garden and leave it for a rainy day. xxx

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    2. You are such a wise woman, Vix!!! Thank you. I appreciate the advice.

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  5. Ugh, cleaning up after a storm is the worst, but it looks like you've made the best of it. Glad the egg is back in use.

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    1. It is! That tree branch disaster could have been a whole lot worse if it had hit Gilbert. xxx

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  6. That was some storm. I thought my gigantic Birch tree was going to come down but the most damage was to my Buddleia which I'd just pruned last weekend! I heard a really interesting article on Radio 5's 'Up all Night' programme about vintage clothing. The interviewee was a young lass from London who has a vintage shop and who reckons that the latest 'thing' is anything with the old 'St Michael' label attached.Apparently, it's the quality of the stuff that folk are interested in but as someone who used to avoid anything remotely Marks and Spencer back in the day (except their satin 'teddy' undergarments and nightwear - don't ask!)
    I can't quite understand its popularity but it seems to be fetching good prices nevertheless.Your nekkid lady in the garden could do with some warm clobber now that Autumn's prematurely upon us! xxx

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    1. Forgot to say, just discovered the Diarmuid Gavin prog this week and it's good to see him back on telly. I love his house.

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    2. Wasn't it a bad storm? We were watching our London Planes in absolute horror. Isn't it typical that the buddleia got damaged after you'd gone to the effort of pruning it, it's like nature's laughing at you.
      "Up All Night" sounds really interesting. In the olden days BC (before corona) when I used to trade at vintage fairs we had a few regulars who'd avidly buy St Michael! Like you, I quite like their 60s & 70s lingerie but there's none of their clothes in my wardrobe. In the absence of any fairs maybe I should raid the stock cupboard and clad my lady in a nice St Michael frock!
      Diarmuid's garden is amazing, isn't it? What a transformation to how both it and his house looked when he moved there. Loved that tiled sitting area, the tropical plant lined fire pit and his Florida Keys inspired pink clad walls! xxx

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  7. I'm o sorry all your hard work has to be rpeated. Broken glass is the worst-My foot found a piece a week after my husband dropped glass, even after multiple sweeps and a floor mop. Itis nice that reader and traders like Ellen look out for each other. I love that commaraderie. The skirt was meant for you. I hope your friend had a happy birthday.

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    1. Thanks, Sam! These things are sent to try us. I shall be back out there today, relinquishing my grasp on nature and trying to get the upper hand!
      You're right about broken glass, I find shards days later even after multiple floor sweepings. xxx

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  8. Oh my goodness, what a disaster with branches all over and the Egg crashing down! I'm glad only your garden lights were broken, and not a window in Gilbert or your house!

    Love your apron and your new-to-you skirt, Vix! Your style is so fab.

    I laughed at Frank - he's very much The Supervisor, isn't he?

    I read A Man Called Ove for our Book Club a few years ago and really enjoyed it (the movie is excellent too).

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    1. It could have been a lot worse, couldn't it?
      From a woman as stylish as you I take that as a huge compliment.
      Frank is the boss, there's no question about it.
      I didn't know A Man Called Ove had been made into a film, I loved the description on the cover and told Jon it sounded like him! xxx

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  9. Ohh omg I am so sorry to hear about the damage you suffered. The poor egg at least you got to repair it!! Normally things like that get devastated in our place. You should see if you can rescue the lights, I know jon is quite handy. What are you like with your pans, I am the same with rice Cookers and coffee pots!!! I don’t mind a bit of chick comedy it helps me if I am having a bad day. I am reading a book I read In the early 90’s . It’s like a cyber crime but really cheesy. I am really enjoying it. Love the skirt. Diet is going well I have discovered I really like goats cheese!! Take care and keep safe

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    1. Hi Allie! It was a bit scary! I was panicking over The Egg thinking that without it we won't be able to have any visitors if it rains. Thank goodness for Jon's handyman skills. Let's hope he can rescue the lights.
      We all have our weaknesses, me with saucepans and you with coffee pots. It's just as well we only go to one charity shop a week these days or the house will start filling up with tat all over again.
      I did read chick lit in hospital after my hip replacement, the Tramadol made me brain dead!
      Goat's cheese is really tasty, because it's got such a strong flavour you don't need to eat as much as you would with Cheddar. Loads of love. xxx

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  10. Those gale winds look terrifying, glad to see that they finally have produced just minor damage!. It's shocking to see that the branch missed Gilbert by inches!. Lovely to see that both The Egg and the lights are working properly again!.
    Love your Anokhi pinafore and your tip to take up the shoulder seams to make the waistband sits in its place. Brilliant!
    I always tell Mr.A. to have a look at the books you're reading and he's taking notes of them (shared interests!).
    The egg poaching pans look really 'exotic' for me (so amazing!), as poached eggs are not really popular in Spain. Different culinary cultures!.
    Love that you could visit Liz and Al once more, and Love Liz's patchwork skirt!. She's so fabulous!.
    And you look fabulous too in your colorful maxiskirt (isn't it lovely when people is that kind!?). You Totally Rock!
    besos

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    1. They were really scary, we're not usually affected by extremes of weather here but this week was bad!
      How funny that poached eggs aren't a thing in Spain.
      Loads of love to you! xxx

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  11. I know what you mean about the weather and motivation, when its windy I don't feel like doing anything, it makes me feel crap. It was a close call with the lime tree, maybe the council would agree to a tree surgeon now?
    The Anokhi pinafore looks great with Docs, that look is a favourite of mine.
    The poor egg! I'm glad it survived and you managed to respite it.
    I love Jo Nesbo but can't get into Jodi Picoult. We saw A man called Ove at the cinema, it was excellent.
    The wind has dropped and its sunny today, yay, hope it's good at your end. xxx

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    1. I loathe windy weather, it's the bane of our lives at festivals .
      We're hoping the council will agree to a tree surgeon but the bloke in charge is terribly strict so we'll have to wait and see what he says. I'd love for a few of the lower branches to be lopped off, it would make the garden a bit lighter and stop us being scared to death every time there's a storm.
      I didn't know A Man Called Ove was a film too, I'm so out of touch.
      I really enjoy Jodi Picoult, she used to be a regular panelist on The Wright Stuff a few years ago and her politics are bang on. I really like how she never has a central character and each has an entirely different viewpoint, the ending is always a surprise, too.
      No sun here - boo! It feels like November! xxx

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  12. Hello Vix, poor Egg and lucky Gilbert! I wonder who would have got charged if the branch had got Gilbert (insurance claim?). Some neighbours of ours had a massive dead tree in their garden, which used to drop branches and break glass panes on our greenhouse all the time. Luckily they cut it down. It was pretty wild here in Cornwall, but the only damage was a snapped off sunflower. Those textured blue kitchen tiles are just lovely. Lulu xXx

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    1. Hello Lulu! Yes, Gilbert had a lucky escape. I bet our poor neighbour would have been clobbered for an insurance claim, not that it's his fault, he's asked the council countless times for permission to trim that dreaded tree.
      I'd love a proper greenhouse but all these trees make me worry. xxx

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  13. Morning Vix! I agree with Sally may-be worth persuing about the tree? So glad Gilbert didn't cop it. Boy that skirt was meant for you. Liz and you certainly look like kindred spirits and liked what I could see of their garden. The poor "egg" like you I am still having people outside. I was made to feel a bit like I was being too protective or whatever on the week end but I will not apologise for looking after my family. Hey you deserved a play on ebay after dusting all those frames!! I am naughty and look at yours and Sheila's blog then get on . tchtch. Anyway have a great day. Shazxx

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    1. Hello Shaz! Yes, we're hoping to approach the council after the Bank Holiday and see if between us and the neighbour we can persuade that to let us lop a bit off the lime tree. It could be the house (or us!) next time!
      After almost 50 years of friendship Liz and I are very alike, she's even been known to unwittingly buy my cast-offs from the charity shop.
      I think we're the sensible ones, if we can entertain outside in our gardens then why shouldn't we continue just as we have been doing? The critics can keep their weird opinions to themselves! Loads of love to you. xxxx

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  14. My eyes gleam green at the sight of your second (!) egg poacher. I've been cheating by plopping eggs into holes cut into bread slices or even SPAM. I do appreciate your posting pix of your meals and shopping hauls, especially since you're doing such an inspiring job of combining fresh ingredients with prepared pizzas, etc.
    The storm damage is appalling! Glad dear old Gilbert was spared (and Jacob? Speak to us, Jacob!). Must say I'm surprised that the hothouse and grow tubes survived unripped!

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    1. I love the idea of eggs popped into a hole in bread!
      The storm was a horror, after the mishap with the branch we were on edge for the next twelve hours. Jacob's fine, not eating a lot as it's too cold. I'll have to photograph him for the blog next week in case he thinks I'm neglecting him! xxx

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  15. I'm sorry to hear that Egg was crashed by the rain but happy to see it has lived to see another day.
    It's wonderful that you enjoyed spending time with friends for their birthday.
    That maxi skirt you bought from Ellen is beautiful. Very nice of her to offer it to you first. It is as if it was made for you. I also like the Anokhi dress you wore. Have a lovely day!

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    1. Such a relief that The Egg was fixable, I was relying on using it to entertain visitors throughout the winter months as having people in our homes probably won't be an option if the government's predictions about a second Covid wave later in the year are anything to go by.
      Isn't that skirt pretty? Ellen was so very kind. xxx

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  16. Oh Vix what a horrible time you have been having, the Egg getting knocked about, Gilbert nearly getting squashed under a big piece of tree and loosing your garden lights, we had a big piece of tree come down in the next road to us, it even made a local Facebook page. Loved the skirt you got from Ellen, just my kind of thing, but I also love the mug you are having your cuppa out of in the garden, I’m a bit of a mugaholic, overnight my favourite one has gone missing, “not my Hubby” has looked everywhere for it, maybe I left it in the garden? but too cold and wet to go and look. Not got much get up and go to do much though have made a cake with some very ripe bananas so am now going to curl up with my latest jumble sale bargain, an immaculate copy of Nigel Slaters Kitchen Diaries. Keep warm and dry Brummie Sue

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    1. Hello Sue! It was a bit of a trial, I can tell you! We don't usually suffer with the extremes of weather round here, do we? Fancy a tree coming down, that happened in our avenue three years ago and the noise was sickening, I felt the house shake!
      That mug is from Wilkos, we treated ourselves a few weeks ago as all our chazza shop ones were starting to look very chipped and shabby after six months of being inside drinking tea!!
      I hope you've got some sunshine this morning. I'm out to play in a bit just as soon as the washing machine's finished.
      What a great find Nigel Slater's book must have been, I loved "Toast" and the TV adaptation was brilliant.
      Have a bostin' weekend. xxxx

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  17. We did have some stormy weather, but nothing compared to yours. One of the smaller pots at the end of the garden took a tumble but wasn't damaged. The only damage was caused by me, when I accidentally knocked a pot of a table, and it neatly broke in two halves! I'm glad there was no damage done to Gilbert and that the Egg lives to see another day. It's indeed hard to find one's get up and go in this kind of weather. I'm dragging myself through the week and cannot wait until Sunday. I'm glad to hear your eBay browse was successful and I'm keeping everything crossed for Greece. Lovely to see that gorgeous Anokhi pinafore dress again. It's looking particularly striking worn with the cheesecloth blouse and oxblood Doc Martens. Your new Indian cotton maxi is stunning too. Lucky you! xxx

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    1. Oh dear, I'm forever knocking pots off tables - just as well that I've got a decent stock of them.
      I bet that you're both on your way now. How lovely to have a change of scenery for a few days. The weather's been so cold here that I'm longing for Greece all the more. xxx

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  18. Crikey you got Storm Francis a lot worse than we did. That tree branch falling off is a bit scary, bet Gilbert was shaking on his wheels.
    Did you ever think you’d turn into such a domestic goddess Vix haha. It’s not happened here yet. Will have to pull my finger out tomorrow and get the spare room ready for our Jill’s visit on Saturday.
    The new skirt is gorgeous, I’m back in my Pilates gear today as the physio clinic have reopened the gym they have for us who have treatment there. It’s great because I have it to myself. I feel better already after one visit. I’m no gym bunny and wouldn’t dream of going to a normal one. You’d laugh if you saw me, the first thing I do is make a cup of tea heehee. Xxx

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    1. I hope you're having a lovely time catching up with Jill. I'm glad you're back to your physio and feeling good. xxx

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  19. Oh my goodness, Vix, what a storm you had! Sorry to see all that damage. We've had some strong winds that have battered the patio flowers a bit, but nothing like that... I'm always amazed how quickly and how well the flowers pick themselves up again after a storm. Quite a few apples fell, and my hubby has been busy chopping them up so I can cook them, and of course, bringing home all those gorgeous blackberries! I've started pureeing the latest batches because they are pretty seedy to eat. Love the clothes on show this week! And your boots!! I have been tempted on and off to get some Doc Martins and once was sorely tempted by some silver hologram Raw boots but couldn't afford them at the time! I do have a pair of multi-coloured Conker ones which I must resurrect this winter.

    Thank you for your visit. Fortunately the errors in my tiny carpet are pretty minor and not easy to spot! I should run a competition to see if people can find them!! So glad you enjoyed the fun we had with the raspberry. I've never seen our neighbour laugh so much!

    I have to admit to struggling with kale a bit too, but the black kale is better, and it's certainly improved with a good vigorous massage with some lemon juice for about 5 mins. It's definitely not my favourite veg but I do try to eat it because it's so packed with nutrients and antioxidants etc. We have a lot of baby spinach too, which is another very healthy dark green leafy vegetable.

    I've noticed all your gorgeous silver! I rattle too. I've collected my bangles over the years - several came from Totnes and I usually buy a new one each year at the Devon County Show when I make a beeline for the Mexican silver guy - he knows me now! It was cancelled this year because of Covid. I never take them off. I wear a mixture of silver and gold rings because I've got family gold ones. I wear 4 generations of wedding rings! My engagement ring is Victorian (my hubby's grandmother's) and I have Mum's as well, also Victorian because when they got married in 1947 there was no new gold because of post-war rationing. My rings have great sentimental value! Whenever I go into hospital they make me take them all off and I feel naked!!

    So glad you like the latest Romanian blouse. It's one of my favourites. I made a yellow midi skirt to take on our honeymoon but that went to the great wardrobe in the sky many years ago when I got too fat to wear it! I wish I'd kept it now... I must look out for some suitable fabric to make a nice yellow maxi. That's a good idea.

    Glad you like my pantry labels. The font is Handscript SF. I downloaded the frame design from a vintage designs site that has thousands of free images. I still haven't got round to sticking on these latest labels but I hope to have some photos of the pantry next week. I'm pleased with my new large jars.

    Nice to see the lads. Funny how one likes the indoor life and the other, outdoors! They all have their funny little preferences, don't they. Neither of ours are a bit keen to go out when it's wet and stormy, and prefer their home comforts and lots of sleep.

    Hugs,
    Shoshi x

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  20. Hello Vix. Oh my, looks like you've had quite a bit of damage done by all that storm activity. So glad Gilbert was spared a nasty fate. We had a day like that yesterday - Jess and I thought we were going to get blown away during our walk.

    Loved seeing your walls of art. You have some gorgeous pieces.

    How nice was that lady to offer you first dibs on that skirt! It's lovely, as is the patchwork one on your friend Liz.

    Keeping my fingers crossed you get to wear your new bikini on holiday. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Suzy! I loathe the wind, it's the bane of our lives at festivals and with all these trees is so scary here. xxx

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  21. I'm looking forward to getting my sandals out, warm weather will be awesome and it's looking sunnier and warmer each day.

    Love your front garden and your new skirt. You're living the dream!!

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    1. Sandals and the feel of the sun on your bare shoulders, nothing quite beats it, does it? xxx

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  22. Oh I'm glad to see The Egg actually survived, I thought it was a gonna in the first photo of it ... phew!! LOVE the skirt you got off Ellen :-)

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    1. Thanks, Sue! I thought The Egg had had it when I saw it on Wednesday morning, thank goodness it lives to see another day. xxx

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  23. Lots to comment on here!
    Hurrah for the Zara bikini! I won a dress on eBay this morning I really didn't need- I'd seen it full price on Joanie over a year ago, maybe 2, and it was called the Kezzy dress- I really liked it but wasn't sure about spending money on a dress that was so fancy but when I saw it on eBay brand new with tags for £8.50, I thought it was worth a punt!
    OOh, very excited re Jon's inspiration! Does he still work with artistes creating songs for them or is this for him? That skirt is gorgeous- I love the stripes at the bottom and how nice that lady thought of you! I would be super happy to get something like that!
    I did send you a DM on INsta about this but not sure if you get them or not, but I bought a pair of East Anokhi trousers in the Harrogate Oxfam last week and they are WONDERFUL! So comfy and my perfect shape- so soft- so I am so pleased you introduced me to Anokhi, even if it is the East version! I was very happy to pay £7 for them.
    Great minds think alike with the water collection- I just bought another bucket to fill! I have wanted another one for a while as when I collect water in the shower, the one I currently use leaves rust marks on the shower floor so it wasn't ideal! I went into town this afternoon and took 3 pairs of shoes into the cobbler for work doing (one new buckles, new polish, 2 others- stretching), returned a lovely vintage St Michael Paisley cotton circle skirt (£4 but too small for me) and then cycled home in the pouring rain with the bucket filling my pannier- I then precariously climbed over the railway line with my bike to the fields behind my house (sort of) to fill up a compost bag with horse manure (I went prepared with trowel). As I went back across the railway line (it was the proper gate and crossing but the bank up to it is super steep up and down!) - I had visions of slipping down the stones and being found there with my bike and a bucket full of S***!
    Why is it called the Egg? I've missed a lot recently!
    I am also fancying tulips for next year- I'm going to acquire a couple of ceramic pots from a Double bass player in the orchestra I play in which I'd like to put out the front with tulips in- I also have some Crocus corms which I pinched from my Mother in Law's kitchen cupboard as clearly I knew she'll never get around to doing anything with them and they are just cluttering up her very cluttered kitchen and she'll throw them away in a fit of tidying.
    We also lost secateurs as CBC was pruning the brambles of doom over over bamboo over the back fence onto the railway line and he dropped them as he was attacked by spikes! They'll be in the mire somewhere but it is too dangerous to retrieve them unless I wait for an engineering work weekend and attempt to walk along the line from the crossing to see if I can hike up the bank to find them but I suspect it will be classed as Trespassing and I am a scaredy cat!
    Ahrgrhghrg, I really loathe Jodie PIcoult- just the type of books I really can't stand! My sister loves them!
    Do your trees have preservation orders? My Grandad's Sequoia had one on it. I suspect the Eucalyptus should have done too as it was enormous!

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    1. Hello Kezzie - long time no speak!
      There's some real bargains on eBay at the minute, I didn't really need a new bikini but, like your Kezzy dress, it would have been a crime not to buy it.
      The trousers sound fab, East's Anokhi clothes are really pretty and cost an absolute bomb (which is fair enough as the workers got decent living wage). Trouble is once you start wearing Anokhi everything else feels a bit cheap and disappointing! Sorry, I haven't been able to access IG for ages, I hope you didn't think I was ignoring you!
      I had to giggle at the thought of you on your bike loaded down with shoes and trying to collect manure.
      The Egg's so called as its the colour of one and Jon writes for himself although he'd love to find a singer to work with.
      Get to Wilkos and stock up on bulbs, they've got some beauties and the prices are really good.
      How funny, you hate Jodi Picoult and I loathe that writer you like, Edward Marston, we can't agree on everything!!
      Yes, our trees have preservation orders, understandable for some but a bit of a nightmare when the wind's really scary! xxx

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  24. Your new kitchen tiles are LOVELY!
    I really enjoy making changes in the garden, it's so exciting to plant new things. Luckily we haven't lost any tress this time around. Our Eucalyptus was plucked from the ground at it's roots in the last high winds we had, I just happened to look out of the window at the right moment. It's scary to think the wind can upend a decent sized tree with very little effort. Makes us humans seem rather puny.
    I saw the bikini you mention in a later post, and wow it's lovely, and looks fab! I've got a few bargains on ebay recently, I'm not sure if people aren't selling much, or maybe not bidding for fear of germs but I'm trying to sell some items at the moment and not getting many bids, almost everything has sold for the starting price. Oh well, can't have it both ways :)
    xx

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  25. That skirt is lovely, and how nice it was of the seller to let you pay what she herself had paid for it. She knew you were meant to have it.

    Jon did an excellent job on the tiles in the kitchen - such a pretty shade of blue!

    I'm sorry to see all the damage the storm did to your trees and bushes, but I'm glad Gilbert was spared, and nothing was irreparably damaged. The Egg looks as good as new. We had a lot of rain on the weekend which was most likely the tail end of the hurricane in the United States.

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Lots of love, Vix