Yesterday morning turned into a busy time. At the Farmers' Market last week I'd bought a shoulder of pork. Ideally I would have bought it diced as I wanted it to make a stew. Unfortunately they only had the cut as a bone-in joint. So yesterday I had the job of boning & de-fatting it. Then it was on with the stew. From time to time I had a check of my washing that was hanging on the line to dry. By the time I was done, it was turned midday.
As the sun was shining, I decided to sit out & finish my novel. As I did, my eyes lifted from time to time to see who was coming for the pork fat. The first on the scene was a huge black-backed gull. surprisingly he didn't stay long or take much.
The next was a shyer creature, a blackbird. He tried to look oh so nonchalant, as though he really wasn't interested. He sidled along, grabbed a huge piece of fat & disappeared rapidly into the undergrowth.
Another gull appeared. This one stayed to make the most of his meal, but decided to go after a while.
The next visitor was a magpie, smartly dressed in navy & white.
It was good to see such a range of birds having a look-in for once, so many well fed.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Happy bathing
I finish the ironing - considerably easier this week now my hands have all but recovered from my fall. I toodle round to the laundry room to return my empty bag, when I hear a strange sound emanating from around the corner. I go to investigate. There, in the lake that's recently appeared by the greenhouse, is a blackbird having a grand bath. I almost expect him to be getting out the scrubbing brush to do his back or to start playing with his rubber duck. He's obviously having a great time.
Friday, 8 May 2009
On the up
Things are on the up.
We visited MK in hospital yesterday. He looked so much better, sitting up in his chair, without his oxygen mask most of the time. He's due to go home on Monday & clearly looking forward to it. Night care has been arranged so Helen will be able to have a good night's sleep to cope with looking after him during the day. Even during the day, there's going to be a bit more help for her.
We get home to see the answerphone flashing. The carpet has arrived. They're coming to fit it tomorrow. We'll soon be able to get our usual clutter back in the kitchen & get back to everyday living. There's only the blinds people to organise but I'll get on to that later this morning. It's finally coming together.
We actually cooked at home yesterday. It was great to eat, watching the antics of birds in the garden. The blackbirds are still squabbling, having mid-air fights. The tits are feeding ravenously - I suspect to regurgitate for young. As it was sunny & mild, we had the door open. The birdsong was particularly loud. They were obviously as joyous at having us back as we are to be back. (A bit of me says, they're only keen for the extra food scraps they get when we're cooking, but it's still a lovely sound.)
Things are definitely on the up.
We visited MK in hospital yesterday. He looked so much better, sitting up in his chair, without his oxygen mask most of the time. He's due to go home on Monday & clearly looking forward to it. Night care has been arranged so Helen will be able to have a good night's sleep to cope with looking after him during the day. Even during the day, there's going to be a bit more help for her.
We get home to see the answerphone flashing. The carpet has arrived. They're coming to fit it tomorrow. We'll soon be able to get our usual clutter back in the kitchen & get back to everyday living. There's only the blinds people to organise but I'll get on to that later this morning. It's finally coming together.
We actually cooked at home yesterday. It was great to eat, watching the antics of birds in the garden. The blackbirds are still squabbling, having mid-air fights. The tits are feeding ravenously - I suspect to regurgitate for young. As it was sunny & mild, we had the door open. The birdsong was particularly loud. They were obviously as joyous at having us back as we are to be back. (A bit of me says, they're only keen for the extra food scraps they get when we're cooking, but it's still a lovely sound.)
Things are definitely on the up.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Ours again
She's been and gone. The Lady Decorator finished papering yesterday, cleared up & left the kitchen to our tender mercies. She was certainly speedy &, on the whole, did a good job.
It's good to get the home back to ourselves. We still ate out last night - the kitchen still smells a bit. But this morning I set to & peeled some spuds. We're going have to do some food shopping today, so a quick meal is in order. PD gave us some tiny bantam eggs on Tuesday so I think it will be an omelette for dinner tonight.
We don't feel entirely free to move all our clutter back in yet. The new carpet is due any day, so it seems silly to move everything back in to move it back out again when they come to fit that.
After that the only things that remain are some new blinds, & we're thinking of looking for a round table. We feel it will fit the space better, making it easier for guests to get round the other side without sharp corners sticking into them. That, though, might take a longer hunt.
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting back to regular cooking, no more disruptions & invasions from workmen. And that will be the end of house renovation for this year. I dare say there will be a few minor repairs that will have to be done, like replacing the window where the seal has gone & fixing the curtain rail in the study, but that will be it.
There is just one more room in this house left that needs a lot doing to it. That's the bathroom. I want to get rid of the bath & just have a shower, possibly even a wet room. It will make life so much easier for me. We also both hate the avocado green of the present suite.
We moved here in September 2000, & ever since we seem to have been on the go, making it ours, reflecting our taste rather than the previous owners' taste. The end is in sight. After that there will be the routine maintenance to do. And the garden and ....
It's good to get the home back to ourselves. We still ate out last night - the kitchen still smells a bit. But this morning I set to & peeled some spuds. We're going have to do some food shopping today, so a quick meal is in order. PD gave us some tiny bantam eggs on Tuesday so I think it will be an omelette for dinner tonight.
We don't feel entirely free to move all our clutter back in yet. The new carpet is due any day, so it seems silly to move everything back in to move it back out again when they come to fit that.
After that the only things that remain are some new blinds, & we're thinking of looking for a round table. We feel it will fit the space better, making it easier for guests to get round the other side without sharp corners sticking into them. That, though, might take a longer hunt.
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting back to regular cooking, no more disruptions & invasions from workmen. And that will be the end of house renovation for this year. I dare say there will be a few minor repairs that will have to be done, like replacing the window where the seal has gone & fixing the curtain rail in the study, but that will be it.
There is just one more room in this house left that needs a lot doing to it. That's the bathroom. I want to get rid of the bath & just have a shower, possibly even a wet room. It will make life so much easier for me. We also both hate the avocado green of the present suite.
We moved here in September 2000, & ever since we seem to have been on the go, making it ours, reflecting our taste rather than the previous owners' taste. The end is in sight. After that there will be the routine maintenance to do. And the garden and ....
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
A whirlwind strikes
The whirlwind has arrived. The decorator arrived promptly at 9.30am - she doesn't believe in making her customers get up too early. She'd done for the day by 1pm. A short day you may say. In that time she's stripped off the old paper, prepared the woodwork, put the first coat of matt on the ceiling, undercoated the the door frames, skirtings etc, undercoated & glossed the dado rail. She couldn't do more until the paint dried. The kitchen already looks considerably brighter for her effort. A real whirlwind!
We had been expecting to have to eat out every day as I didn't feel I could leave prepared meals around & it would be too late to get started by the time she finished. As it turned out, we had plenty of time to make a simple prawn curry & eat at home.
I think we've finally found our decorator. No more Uncle Podgers or other disaster zones of previous experiences. And she doesn't even cost the earth.
We had been expecting to have to eat out every day as I didn't feel I could leave prepared meals around & it would be too late to get started by the time she finished. As it turned out, we had plenty of time to make a simple prawn curry & eat at home.
I think we've finally found our decorator. No more Uncle Podgers or other disaster zones of previous experiences. And she doesn't even cost the earth.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
New fashions
After much thought I've concluded this is not the day to go to church.The Mean Machine, my electric scooter, is designed to be used with one hand so in theory there shouldn't be a problem getting there. The prospect of all those handshakes as the peace is passed, & of holding heavy service books at a level to be read, fills me with dread. My hand just isn't ready for it. God has clearly come to the same conclusion as now it starts to rain.
Instead I think of a phone call I had yesterday from an old friend in Arnside. She & her husband have a dog, quite the biggest German shepherd I've ever seen. He's getting on a bit now, 12, which for such a big dog is old. As with many older creatures, including man, he has a tendency to not to pick his feet up well, to shuffle along, these days. The owners have recently bought him two sets of 4 red shoes to protect his feet as the shuffling was causing his feet to bleed. Andy, the husband, has taken up a new hobby, cobbling. He's already had to re-sole the shoes once. The dog may not be walking well but he still enjoys his daily walks of several miles at a time. The image of this huge dog, elegantly attired in red shoes, makes me smile.
These friends are really very good to their animals & very inventive. One of their previous dogs had its back end go, so what did they do? Andy, an engineer by profession, made a little wheeled carriage to put her back legs in & strap her in, so the dog could still go on her much enjoyed walks, using her front legs & pulling the little wheelchair behind her.
It's good to hear from old friends.
Instead I think of a phone call I had yesterday from an old friend in Arnside. She & her husband have a dog, quite the biggest German shepherd I've ever seen. He's getting on a bit now, 12, which for such a big dog is old. As with many older creatures, including man, he has a tendency to not to pick his feet up well, to shuffle along, these days. The owners have recently bought him two sets of 4 red shoes to protect his feet as the shuffling was causing his feet to bleed. Andy, the husband, has taken up a new hobby, cobbling. He's already had to re-sole the shoes once. The dog may not be walking well but he still enjoys his daily walks of several miles at a time. The image of this huge dog, elegantly attired in red shoes, makes me smile.
These friends are really very good to their animals & very inventive. One of their previous dogs had its back end go, so what did they do? Andy, an engineer by profession, made a little wheeled carriage to put her back legs in & strap her in, so the dog could still go on her much enjoyed walks, using her front legs & pulling the little wheelchair behind her.
It's good to hear from old friends.
Friday, 1 May 2009
Problems all round
I'm having a go at cooking today. Just a simple cheese pasta medley, a regular dish. It's taken just about all morning to prepare. But I've done it. It will just need to warm up in the oven this evening.
My hand is still sore but it is a lot easier than it was. No point asking me to open tight screw top bottles & jars. I just haven't got the grip. We stopped at a cafe after our hospital visit seeing MK (I don't know why but hospitals always dry you out!). The Coke came in a bottle. I suspect I'd have still been sat there now if the Fox hadn't opened the bottle! All the other bruises seem to be going a sickly yellow now.
Clearly we're not the only ones having difficulties at the moment. Our neighbour, Michelle, the one who recently lost her husband, has been rushed into hospital. No one's quite sure why.
But at least MK has had some good news. Next week there's going to be a conference about getting him home. The hospital has come to the conclusion there's not much more they can do for him, than could be done at home. Both MK & Helen are pleased, provided appropriate extra help can be given to Helen. If that happens, maybe this hospital trip has had some value. It's let Helen have a chance to catch up on her sleep &, at the same time, made the authorities realise just how much help MK needs these days. I hope it goes well for them.
My hand is still sore but it is a lot easier than it was. No point asking me to open tight screw top bottles & jars. I just haven't got the grip. We stopped at a cafe after our hospital visit seeing MK (I don't know why but hospitals always dry you out!). The Coke came in a bottle. I suspect I'd have still been sat there now if the Fox hadn't opened the bottle! All the other bruises seem to be going a sickly yellow now.
Clearly we're not the only ones having difficulties at the moment. Our neighbour, Michelle, the one who recently lost her husband, has been rushed into hospital. No one's quite sure why.
But at least MK has had some good news. Next week there's going to be a conference about getting him home. The hospital has come to the conclusion there's not much more they can do for him, than could be done at home. Both MK & Helen are pleased, provided appropriate extra help can be given to Helen. If that happens, maybe this hospital trip has had some value. It's let Helen have a chance to catch up on her sleep &, at the same time, made the authorities realise just how much help MK needs these days. I hope it goes well for them.
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