Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 11 August 2019

Talking of cataracts, my opthomologist spotted the start of one on my left eye and referred me to see an eye specialist, finally after 6 months the appointment came through so am off to see someone next Wed 21st so will see what they have to say.

Been a much better day today so did the bedding and put it out, Dau's washing yesterday but had to leave it indoors as we had rain all day. Never mind, it should dry in the conservatory.

AQ - my sentiments, too.

Harelady - enjoy your nanny duty, at least you can hand them back afterwards. Seriously though, precious moments with them. Glad to hear you got your cataracts seen to quickly as indeed those who have had the ops.
Lets hope they do something with me before it gets a hindrance.

Talking of dentists, Lindybird, ours do the same but usually ring up either the day before or a couple of days before. For the past 4 years I have had a clean bill of health and only go once a year, so am pleased. Its usually OH that has to have treatment. Lovely pics of the flower displays.

HeatherB - that sounds fun with Katie and the other two. Hope they made some nice things to eat.

By the way , thanks for all your news, always interesting to read what's been happening.

HEATHER — In my first year at secondary school, Home Economics was compulsory for girls. I was not a natural homemaker (then). I even failed the boiled egg day. <sigh> I forgot to look at the clock when the egg went in. I learnt cooking & housework later when flatting with a friend. Yes, she survived my early efforts.

ROSY — I can remember using salt before toothpaste.

LINDA — Somewhere in England I dragged an attendant down the length of the garden I was visiting to identify the huge pompoms growing. Aliums. Oh really! I was continually amazed at the size of blooms UpOver. Must be the cool damp weather?

DIANE — I do wish someone like you had edited some of the books I have read in recent months. Very sloppy. Them, not you!

Good Morning. Raining gently. My OH has gone out on a full day's golf and it looks as if it will rain the whole day :-(

AQ, We sat in the garden a week ago admiring our various colourful blooms from around the world, and I pointed out to my OH that British gardens look the way they do because our climate allows all kinds of plants to thrive, from all over the globe and from all kinds of other environments - its just that some of the tropical ones need protection in the winter. Thus, we are a nation of gardeners, mostly, and Flower Shows are popular so that we can feed our addictions and drool over the wonders of nature and mans efforts to improve them (Here endeth the lecture!)

Diane - I do so agree, sometimes being an editor/proof-reader is a distinct disadvantage! Give me a whole page of close-typed text and I'll spot the spelling/grammatical errors immediately. Sometimes it does give me a giggle, though. On every holiday I have a special folder for photographs of what I call 'Silly Signs' - and there are always plenty of them!

Lindy - I'm not a gardener, but enjoy looking at flowers and plants, and visiting beautiful gardens. I can always admire other people's hard work!

One granddaughter still sleeping, the other has had two soft boiled eggs and toast soldiers, done some French homework with Nana and is now happily drawing. One is 10 and one is 14 years old. Any guesses as to which one is still in bed?!!!!

Raining enough to need to build an ark.......

My OH rang to say that the golf day was called off, and he was coming home. I dashed off anyway, to visit sis-in-law with her birthday present, for the weekend, as she is going away for her celebrations. Had a nice cuppa and commiserated with her on her fraught plans of trying to buy a new sofa which had hit several problems - too long to describe here. She also showed me some new tricks in the fancy smartphone I've bought, as she already has one.

Must get on with various chores now, plus my usual baking of some cakes to take with us tomorrow, when we go to Youngest's for the day to see dear little Rosie again before she grows too big for me to cuddle! (gosh, they seem to grow quickly these days!)

Here are the final pics from the Flower Show:

Liked this show garden, which was a sitting area surrounded by beauty.

This was one of the entries in the budding Young Designer category:  I'd already seen it on the TV, and knew that he had had great problems with his idea of having a huge urn buried in the middle of his water feature, and the water continually overflows down into it, which was most effective (he had obviously overcome the problems)

Another view of it.  I loved the planting scheme, which was restful. Don't think he won the overall prize, though.

This garden in the same category, was made by a young woman who loved to lie in a warm bath surrounded by nature!  She had rather a jungle like garden, though.

More:

This was one I specially wanted to see:  it was raining hard at the time, though.  It had been made in memory of a young presenter on our North West News, Dianne Oxberry, who sadly died this last January of cancer, leaving a husband and young family.  She was much loved by the viewers, and this garden is going to a Hospice to be rebuilt for the residents to enjoy. A fund has been set up in her memory also, and has already raised thousands for the charity in her name for families affected by this cancer.

A corner of Dianne's garden, with her photo on a bench, and a pink rose nearby which has been named after her.

I really liked this garden, it looked as if the bench was inviting you to sit down.

The same garden from the side:  last picture, as my camera and I were so wet by then that I feared for its safety. After that, we had a chocolate ice cream from a farm display (!)  and wandered around until we could stand it no more, then went home and put on the fire to sit by.  My OH had to take a hot shower as he couldn't stop shivering. We won't forget this year's outing!