Different

My Girl is still working on her hat - she hasn't lost interest YET, so that's a good sign!

When I was sorting the chickens out this morning - I noticed this growing;-

It's a little tomato plant which has appeared to the Ex Batts run - I must be self seeded from one of the tomatoes fed to the chix - amazing how things grow like that!  It will be interesting to see if it will develop any tomatoes,  but being right next to the run like that I don't suppose they will last very long!  Flora is already keeping a beady on it!

Its been a bit quiet on the Freecyle front recently, but today I had a good result a bag of red and yellow playballs! 

Now I expect you are wondering what they are for..  especially as there are no little ones in our house...  well  have a look;-

Home made Cane Toppers!! Different I know,  but they were free, the Lottie will look cool  and they work!!  And with everyone in our house being accident prone I think they are a must!! :)

Busy Hands

I had a call today from My Girl the conversation went like this

My Girl  - "Mum - where is your Crochet folder?"
Me - "I'm not sure - what are you looking for?"
My Girl -"I want to make something,  I was going to do some cross stitch but can't find a pattern"

So tonight after driving back from Colchester we have some crochet patterns out, the  crochet hooks, various balls of wool and My Girl is crocheting a hat!  OK I know it is possibly the wrong time of the year for making a hat, but crocheting without an aim does seem completely pointless and not very motivating.  My Girl becomes bored VERY quickly and I am hoping by tackling something easy and quick to make it will keep her interest and it will get finished!

It is an interesting experience showing her what to do - I use my right hand and she uses her left, 2 hats are currently been made as I crochet as a rightie and she copies  as a leftie!!

Just a flavour of the Milly's house tonight,  Me and Mr Girl are doing the mirror image crochet explaining and checking patterns as we go,  My Milly is trying to sort out a holiday and asking a zillion questions,  I'm trying to write the blog,  the dog has just been through the bin in the kitchen as someone has forgotten to shut the door and the Portuguese Housekeeper has just arrived and wants to chat as we haven't seen her for a little while  - It is good to be home!!  :)



Mirror image!



Bed and Breakfast

I'm away tonight in Colchester and am staying in my favorite B&B.  I found this place about 2 years ago and have been staying here ever since.  I was looking for a friendly B&B at the outset as I knew I would be in Colchester at least 4 nights a month, and hotels are so very soul-less I thought  I would try to find somewhere friendly and welcoming.   I struck gold with this one!!  Jane and Jonathan run the B&B with Bertie the Bassett hound and Benji the black lab,  for me it's like home from home with Jane and I becoming friends over the 2 years and exactly what I was looking for.   With just 3 rooms it is very quiet and relaxed and very very comfortable.  Each room is different and has its own charm,  there is the Four Poster Room, The Mulberry Room and the Green Room.

It is a funny quirky little place, a listed building which in a former life was a iron mongers shop.   All the floors lean,  the ceilings all slope and there are beams in every ceiling and wall.   It is on the corner of a fairly busy road,  but the sound doesn't both me and I always sleep well when I'm here,  I think it is because I feel safe and at home.

Outside there is a very pretty smallish courtyard garden - It really is a lovely place to sit for a while.    And when I am feeling fed up at being away from home, it is good to to be welcomed by a friend, to chat and catch up about our families,  our holidays, and  our news in general. 

Some pictures of the B&B,  but I don't think my little camera has really done justice to how lovely it is.

Welcoming Tea Tray,  fresh milk and iced water in the fridge

The Four Poster Room - my favorite room!

Another angle of The Four Poster Room



The B&B over on the right hand side

I've just popped downstairs and had to rush back upstairs for my camera - Bertie  is laying on the sofa, he arranges the pillows himself and only settles when they are just right!!    :)

 WARNING - cute  picture alert!!!!!

Monday Blues

That's me today - I definately have the Monday blues.   Work was tough,  not particularly busy, but long and not interesting and I was hot sitting in my little office.   I'm away tomorrow off to the East back on Wednesday and I am definately only staying away one night this week

My Girl has not been happy either today - Monday Blues for definate in our house!  We popped to the Lottie, just to water really and I had a bee in my bonnet about the 2 newest beds - I don't think they are straight, so My Girl and me moved them a little - I still don't think they are straight, but think I am going to have to live with them for now.  I was also bothered about the massive compost bin -- so have had a discussion with Mr Milly, had my drawing pen and paper out and have decided how I want it to be - so poor Mr Milly now has the task of deciding how to make that happen!!

               

No Lottie pictures today, but to cheer me up I have taken some pictures of  nice bits in the garden and my lovely hanging baskets,  I plant them every year, but this year I have some new baskets and they have grown lovely and I'm really pleased with them.

                                

 


Strawberry pot with the runners pegged and
waiting to become new little strawberry plants



Bug box under the honeysuckle - I think it looks pretty.



June at last

Wasn't today a glorious day!  Really hot and lovely blue skies,  brilliant for lounging around in,  not so good though for gardening!

I made lunch to take with us,  egg mayo as we have a glut of eggs at the minute - boiled the eggs then realised we had no mayonnaise - isn't that annoying!  So out with the olive oil, mustard power and egg yolks and whipped up some mayo to go with the eggs - the sandwiches were yummy  we really must make our our mayo more often!

Anyway we packed the car with all the bits and pieces we needed for today and headed off.   It was hotter than a hot thing today - My Girl does not do well in the heat, so today everything was an effort.   Simon and the girls came to visit and inspect the work, so a couple of extra little hands to help - no-one comes to the Lottie without helping - its my new rule,  but the littlies wanted to help so that was great!   And the first job they started with - filling the water butt!!  LOL - not quite the idea filling it with a watering can, but hey they had fun and at least we know the tap is in the off position!

Next onto the beds,  the next 2 went in and were planted - pumpkin, squash and courgettes in one and the other planted with the brocolli plants My Girl snapped up from Freecyle.  New protection netting our the brocolli and over the cabbage - the other support was a little flimsy and 6 beds in total now in and planted and no 7 in place ready to be cleared, dug and planted - Woo Hoo!!

Massive compost bin at the back on the right

Four beds in a line

The last job for today - My Girl and cleared a space at the back of the lottie and using our 'discovered' pallets we constructed the compost bin - it is absolutely massive and not very pretty - but it will do the job and who knows it could end up the same colour as the shed - just to co-ordinate!

And at the end of the weekend a couple of things to say - Get Well soon to the Portugese Housekeeper,  she was taken into hospital yesterday with appendicitis,  op today to remove the pesky thing - I hope you are feeling better soon!  My biggest niece completed a very long walk and overnight camp for her Duke of Edinburgh award - Well done you!!

And finally a  huge Well Done to My Bro and littliest Niece - they completed the 26 mile Bikeathon today,  cycling in this heat around the Centre of London.  They were raising money for Myeloma and in memory of our Mum - they both did great, and we are all really proud of you! x x

Saturday

Another Saturday been and nearly gone and as usual I'm exhausted!   We had a good day today me and My Girl,  went to a car boot sale this morning we came home with a book and some boots for My Girl,  then we went to the hardwood store and bought some more wood for making raised beds,  popped home to see Mr Milly who has not been feeing too great today,  he decided to stay home whilst me and My Girl

went to No 95.

A clearing and tidying up day today,  we cleared the area behind the shed - this is the first piece we cut down when we got the Lottie and there was still a pile of cut brambles it took us a while, but we cleared them and cut a few more down, just to make everything look neat!  We laid a few slabs and spread some Wood chip and then we put the water butt back together again and set it up - My Girl wanted to  test it,  so watering can in hand she stood first pouring water into the guttering and then onto the roof - we were thrilled to hear the water hitting the bottom of the water butt - such simple pleasures!!

We stopped for a cup of tea - I have a new toy, so now we have fresh tea for me and fruity tea for My Girl - so much better than out of a flask and a little bit of fun too!

I had to persuade My Girl to do some more today - I don't think she was really in the mood for the Lottie  today,  but she is such a brilliant help!.  We marked out the side of the plot  - I like to know where I am working, then we marked out a couple more beds and dug these over.  I think we did really well today - tired though!



Waterbutt and tidy shed area.




Another tidy view,  bamboo canes now have a home too..

  



A quick reminder of this area just a short time ago.........

Roots

After a long week, finally I managed to go to the Lottie tonight how lovely to spend sometime out in the fresh air instead of inside a stuffy office and all is well!  The net over the cabbages is holding and no birds have munched them - I was a bit worried about that!

My Girl and me decided to tidy the shed,  everything gets dumped in the doorway and it is very annoying, so today My Girl had the drill out and put up all the hooks and fittings and we arranged and tidied everything away - much better!

We then thought we should do something more productive so we started digging - again - surely we must be getting to the end of the digging!!

My Girl as able to dig now and went at it full steam,  we do make a good team and dug out masses of roots today......  My Girl found one that was not going to beat her,  I think it must have taken 20 minutes at least just to get this one out - but it was huge.........................................................

Thats my purple glove next to the huge root!





A long week

It has been a long week. Monday in Colchester and home for the night, then in the morning off to Bristol, I should have been there just Tuesday and Wednesday, then had to extend my stay for another night and have just got home - thank goodness!

The hotel in Bristol doesn't have WiFi access, so no Internet or blogging for me! :( And nothing particularly interesting to write about, no Lottie, no family, just work, and a very ordinary hotel room!

I had my lovely Kindle for company and have managed to read a couple of girlie books. I didn't even have the TV on in my room, in fact it could have been broken for all I know!

I went for a little walk yesterday - Bristol is quite an interesting place, the hotel is near the river and there was a school of canoeist (is it a school????) pottering about, the cider boat as usual was busy -I do love to visit the cider boat - its just different! But I didn't visit on my own I think that treat is best with company.

And what have Mr Milly and My Girl been up to whilst I have been away? They travelled to London to watch the Alan Carr show - so watch next week and you never know you might see them in the audience!

East and West

I've been working away today, 96 miles drive East this morning and 96 miles drive back again, no chance to visit the lottie. I'm away again in the morning 106 miles drive West this time with an overnight stay, at least it will spread out the driving! And my little lottie will have to fend for itself for a couple more days.

But to cheer my up I've had a few more donations to the self sufficient life (in my dreams at least!);-

Courgette, Cape Gooseberry, Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Onions, Cabbages and Potatoes

More digging to get their beds ready for them. My joints are aching just thinking about it :)

Two more

Two more beds went in this weekend. It has been hard and tonight I am completely exhausted!

My Girl and me visited the Lottie yesterday, we cleared some of the rubbish, bramble twigs and branches and then I started to dig. I used my Azada and popped out lots of bramble roots, at least 2 big trugs worth. My Girl was busy up and down the plot with the wheelbarrow - not her favourite past time clearing the lottie, but she did well. After about 2 hours, we had had enough, plus Mr Milly needed some help at home getting ready for the BBQ.

Today, just Me and Mr Milly at the plot, more digging for me! Our friend Simo offered some help and he spent a couple of hours with the Azada popping out bramble roots - he was puffing and panting getting them out, and as always it is a massive help having an extra pair of hands. It did secretly make me feel better though - I thought it was only unfit me who puffs and pants getting the roots out - obviously not, it really is hard work!

So after all the digging and digging and digging over the last couple of days - the result was - 2 more beds dug, framed up and planted.
Now growing in the Lottie;-

Peas
Mangetout
Sweetcorn
Courgettes
Runner Beans
French Beans
Winter Cabbages

No 95 is really starting to look like a proper allotment!

And to Mr Milly and My dear Father-in-Law - wishing you both a very very Happy Father's Day, Love you both and hope you had a lovely day x x

Rain rain go away.....

Aargh - so much to do and its raining and raining and raining!  Popped to the Lottie to drop off the water butt and water bottles (to become mini cloches),  My Girl has had her toe re-dressed today and I didn't want her getting it wet, so much to her disgust I made her sit in the shed out of the rain - (She can do that now the roof is on!)  I spent about 10 minutes trying to do a bit of raking to clear the ground ready for digging,   I had to admit defeat  though when the  rain was dripping from my hair -  how very tedious and frustrating!

I have another list of jobs to do this weekend, but the priority is to try and clear as much as possible and get digging - at least the rain will make the digging easier!

Mr Milly has arranged a Bar-be-Que for Saturday- hopefully the rain will hold off,  my contribution to the BBQ carrot cake and lemon cake.............. yummy!



Naked carrot cake straight from the oven and waiting for its cream cheese topping

Carrot cake dressed and ready for eating - yummy!!



Water tight

Mr Milly had a puncture this morning and he was not happy! :(

So today just me and My Girl visited the Lottie,  the original plan was to clear a bit more and maybe do some digging,  but My Girl had visited the nurse today and had her toe newly dressed, so I didn't want her to be doing anything too dirty or heavy,  so a swift change of plan and we decided to tackle the shed roof instead.

We make a good team My Girl and me,  I think we have taught her well!   I was up the ladder,  she was passing  the nails, drill, screws, whatever I needed to help me,  when I was well underway with putting the roofing felt on she measured some battening, sawed it to the right length then used the drill to fix it to the inside of the shed  ready for some hooks for the tools- I don't suppose there are many 18 year old girls that would tackle something like that!

And finally it was done - the roof is complete and shed is water tight.

My bill for the Lottie arrived today,  the year runs from October - October, so it was a part year bill from 16th May to the end of September it was a staggering £8.51!  The whole year will be £22.50 - what a bargain!

Hot and Sunny

Now isn't that just typical - back to work today and the weather was glorious!!

My Boy popped in for a visit,  its lovely to see him and I do miss him.  He was at a bit of a loose end today, so he offered to help at the Lottie,  me and Mr Milly jumped at the offer and Mr Boy set off with his dad for a couple of hours and look what happened.........

The veranda was laid - whoohoo!!  My Boy also dug out the next bed for me, so after work My Girl and me went to inspect the work, armed with our next little plants and high hopes of being able to get them in the ground.   My Girl still has a very very poorly toe - it looks like it is going to take an age to heal,  she is really struggling with footwear  and the only shoes she can wear are a thong type of sandal  (even flip flops are painful to wear) - so no hard work for her just very cautious walking!  She concentrated on prettying the Lottie with wigwams, plants, plant labels and bird scarers!

I managed to turn over the new bed and helped by Mr Milly the new bed was born....  My Girl planted it up and prettied whilst I started on the pathway and the result;-

Our Allotment is taking shape!!

And to top it all off we had 2 gifts at the Lottie today - a tray of Savoy cabbages had been left on our plot  from Clive at No 108 and Keeley at 96 left us a courgette plant  - How brilliant is that!

Lovely Weekend

Home from our long weekend now and we had a lovely time.   But what was the weather like on Sunday???!!  In the middle of June and it poured and poured all day, absolutely non stop....

We were not letting a little thing like a torrential downpour spoil our day,  so into the car and off to Bath we went.   It is such a lovely and interesting place, we couldn't really explore as much as we would have liked as it was so cold and wet,  but we spent a couple of hours doing the tour of the Roman Baths.  There is a new lift to the lower levels now so Mr Milly was able to visit almost all of the place which was a real treat and what a fascinating place the Roman baths are.

Mr Milly at the Spa - Can you see the steam from the Hot Spring!

Today we visited Stow on the Wold and the Slaughters - I love their names - it would be funny to say I live in Upper Slaughter!  Upper and Lower Slaughter are 2 incredibly pretty Cotswold villages, all the buildings made of traditional honey coloured Cotswold stone with little streams running through the village centre, a true feast for the eyes.

Lower Slaughter Manor.  How beautiful! Just like a picture postcard.



Stow-on-the-Wold
This picture - just because its a great name for a shop!

 And now we are home a weekend to remember for a long time, and I loved spending time with My Bro, Sister-in-Law and Mr Milly.

And I've inspected all the animals, checked all the hanging baskets, tended the herbs, watered the salad table and visited the Lottie.  My Girl did a good job of looking after everyone and everything whilst we were away and all is well.

Mr Bro was playing with his camera - what a funny weird photo at the end of our weekend.

Bourton on the Water

The day started beautifully this morning, the sun was shining at 7.30  and not a cloud in the sky.  We all met for breakfast and then headed out for the day.

Mr Milly enjoying the morning newspaper.

We travelled to Bourton on the Water and what a pretty place that is.  We arrived at 10.00 so it was quite quiet,  My sister-in-law likes all the little nick-knack shops so we visited quite a few!  I was very pleased with myself as today in the middle of June I bought my first Christmas present - that really does have to be a record!

We stopped for coffee,  wandered about for a little while,  visited the model village (probably the worst one I've ever been to!)  stopped for a beer and wandered back towards the car - just in the nick of time as the heavens opened and it poured!   It was good timing for us really as we were thinking of leaving at that time so we headed off. 

Bourton on the Water is about 25 minutes from the hotel,  on the way back we decided to find somewhere for lunch,  we travelled past the hotel for about 10 miles - nothing, turned around and headed to a pub mid way to Bourton on the Water, by this point we were all hungry.  On the way we joked about the pub probably not serving food mid afternoon,  My Bro said they probably would be having a private function,  ha ha we said and  eventually we arrived.  All now really hungry and been in the car for about an hour were ready to eat.  Got to the door and was told - main restaurant was closed for a Private function AND the smaller restaurant had stopped doing food for the afternoon  aargh!

We turned around and headed in another direction and another pub - not serving food at lunchtime,  we headed for another - closed for the day (On a Saturday!), phoned another and asked about food - sorry no food on a Saturday...  What kind of time warp place  is this and by now we are starving, been in the car for nearly 2.5 hours and I think I had driven about 60 miles!!!

I think I was a little fed up.......  so decided to head back towards the hotel and rethink - then spotted a sign for Tunnel Inn - food served all day!!  Yippee we were on a winner,  and what a brilliant little place,  tucked away at the end of a tree lined lane with horses grazing along the side,  a Traditional little pub, lovely menu,  pretty beer garden overlooking rolling hills and a band playing in the garden - idyllic  and possibly worth the very long 2.5 hour drive to get there.    We put the sat nav on to return to the hotel and we were 10 minutes away!!  Possibly the biggest circle in history to get lunch!

Bourton on the Water

Coffee in the sunshine

Even Better

The hotel is lovely, even better than we thought it would be.  We arrived early afternoon after an uneventful journey here,  the weather was a bit iffy on the way - some sun and some rain.

We checked in and asked if it was possible to have lake view rooms and no problem we were told.  Our room was not ready when we arrived so we all went to have a look at My Bro's room and it is lovely, crisp and clean with lovely bedlinen, flat screen TV and plenty of space and best of all a lakeside view with a door to a veranda,  so we dropped all the bags and the 4 of us went out to have a look and admire the view - we didn't realise that the door from the room to veranda had an automatic closure, until My Bro was launching himself across the veranda with his finger nails clutching the very edge of the door to keep it open.  He was too late and the door slammed shut with no way to open it from the outside!! We were marooned, keys and phones all inside.... I hope you are laughing as much as we did,  his face was an absolute picture!! LOL! :) 

After we had managed to pull ourselves together and reign in some of the laughter,  we sent him off to try and find a doorway in and someone to open the door for us,  it took him a little while!

Our room was then ready,  but I didn't like it!     Lakeside view - yes,  disabled room -yes,  door to veranda - NO and I wanted one!!  Back to reception and a gentle plea,  we now have the room next to Mr Bro with the veranda,  but not disabled - Mr Milly is coping (to make me happy!) and all is well!

The naughty door, the veranda and My Bro

We didn't venture out of the hotel for the rest of day,  went to the bar and sat on the veranda for a couple of drinks watching the birds, swans and ducks on the lake,  took a look at the pool and spa, had coffee on the veranda of the coffee shop, dinner and bar again and the day is over.  A lovely and funny start to our long weekend.

View from our rooms

     

Swans and Cynets on the lake



Yuk!

I decided this morning that I was worried about My Girl's toe,  it did look terrible with a little white lump sticking out next to her toe nail.  I took her to the doctors first thing,  even he had a little chuckle when we explained it was the same foot injured twice in a week!

Anyway he sent her off to the hospital (the 2nd time in 4 days!) for an Xray and to have the toe cleaned up - Mr Milly went with her this time. And the result -  she has chipped a bone in her toe - the little white lump next to her toe nail is the bone on its way out - EEeeeewwww YUK!!

Anyway with all the tooing and frooing to the doctors and  hospital,  I had to work late today and haven't been able to get to the lottie.

Tonight me and My Milly are packing,  we are off for a long weekend to the Cotswolds for a grown up relaxing weekend with my brother and sister in law and NO children.   We are off in the morning and back on Monday - so no Lottie this weekend, I'm looking forward to chilling out, relaxing and spending time with lovely and the best company!

A couple of pics of the hotel,  I hope it's good as it looks!

Big boys toys

I must have caught My Boy in a good mood on Monday he offered to  collect the rest of the paving slabs  for me,  the last  24 were collected in the truck and delivered to the lottie- so in total that was 45 freebie paving slabs!

My Boy is very pleased with his new toy,  so just a little picture of his 2 favorite toys to share with you;-

I was away yesterday,  I arrived home tonight about 7.00pm after a 3 hour drive home, My Girl had been to visit her friend and obviously feeling better as she had taken her bike.  10 minutes after arriving home Mr Milly had a call from My Girl,  she had fallen off her bike, cut her toe and was crying - she is 18 years old remember!  I honestly despair - she is so like her dad!!  LOL!

Mum to the rescue....  off to Walton to pick her up,  My Milly called me on the way,  her friend had gone off to get her some water and a plaster, I did chuckle!

One damaged daughter collected,  bike loaded into the back of the car, we did have a little chat on the way home - it went something like -  Now My Girl, what have you learnt from this?  Not to wear flip flops when riding my bike.  Is there anything else you've leant - Yes Mum not to ride a bike when the brakes aren't working!!!

The bruising is from earlier in the week - the very nasty cut toe is today's injury......