My heart goes out to you Christine. On one breath I want to tell you not to feel that way and why you are so worthy of having a future. Of course I am a hypocrite as I have times of feeling exactly the same. It isn’t easy (understatement)!
Let’s wind it back to one day at a time. We don’t need to be thinking ahead, ahead will come we just need to go one moment at a time right now.
Beki x
Hi Christine and everyone
Just thought I’d pop by before it gets late.
I’m on my own now for a week. Praying that Zoe doesn’t come to harm or I’ll be chopped up in pieces and end up in tins of cat food on the shelves in Morrisons ! Zoe got bought a paddling pool but prefers a washed out emulsion bucket to play with. Can’t credit it can you.
Tidying up is keeping me occupied as I can’t go in garden as I’m getting a bit panicky over the heat.
Strawberry plants are starting to produce some nice strawberries now but I think I’m going to lose a few shrubs even with watering.
Anyway, good to hear you’ve got your “game-face” back on Christine and we all always look forward to your garden updates.
Hi Neil. Nice photographs again. Do you print your photos out at all? Remember taking pictures and then sending them away and waiting a week at least! Those were the days, at least there was an anticipating involved!!
Take care all xx
Hi Neil,
Much Ado about nothing is one of my favourites but find it hard to see Katherine Parkinson in Shakespeare so that will be interesting (unless I’m thinking of the wrong person…Jen from IT Crowd?) x
But yup three hours on hard seats….good luck lol xx
Better head to work now and will answer Christine more later but meanwhile take care of yourself in this forecast heat and do as little as you want x
Take care and much love xx
Hi Tina
I back all my photos up so they are automatically saved to One Drive. Still got tons of space left for more .
Thinking of us all today in the heat . Loving the media scaremongering once again . This morning one of the papers calling us ‘blowtorch Britain’ !
Was always tough looking after Mum and Dad in hot weather but it’s all about using common sense .
Sending love and best wishes to you all
Neil x
Hi Suzanne
Yes that is the same Katherine Parkinson. She has got a large CV of stage work as well as TV and by what I’ve heard from previews( opening night tonight) she is great in the role. The National will be far more comfortable than the Globe plus I’m a member there so an ideal place to see my first Shakespeare .
Speak soon.
Love and best wishes
Neil x
Hi Everyone
BlowTorch Britain! just to think someone gets paid somewhere to think up stuff like that!
Hope we are all ok. Will it be as hot as they predict I don’t know. It’s always cooler in the North with you southerners bearing the brunt. Let’s hope there is no reports of people that have been taken off guard whilst cooling down in water. It’s always so sad to hear of that happening.
Keep safe all xx
Hello Christine
What is it with this Virginia Creeper. The heatwave just won’t kill it off. Not like my other shrubs that are positively wilting. The shoots of this creeper go underground and pop up all over the lawn. Don’t mind it but invasive greenery can sometimes do a lot of damage. Are you in your garden today Christine?
xx
The stories we can’t pass on get to you don’t they. My Husband was a great “Believer” and spent a lot of time with his Bible. He’d often say that we were “in the last days” and prophesies were now coming true about the state of the world and society, and that was before COVID and this heat, so I’d have loved to see his interest now.
On the other side Mum used to fret like mad over my Brother refusing to use use Sun Cream and I can just hear the words she’d be saying now whilst frantic with worry over over Skin Cancer. He is a Windscreen Technician working outside and don’t think he’s slapped any cream on in the whole 30 years he’s been doing it, so at least she’s spared that great anxiety.
xx
I saw Katherine Parkinson in Dead Funny a few years ago - amazing actress. have you ever watched the series of Taskmaster where she was a contestant - absolutely hilarious. It will be on Channel 4s watch again channel, highly recommend if you need something lighthearted.
Beki x
Hi Beki
Seen her in several different things and yes she is a terrific actress. See what she can bring to Shakespeare. Dont envy her having to perform on press night tonight x
Hello to you lovely peeps. I am outside now but had to wait for the creep to leave at lunch time after doing diy in the garden. Don’t know what’s worse. Him knowing I’m watching him so he saunters up the garden with just shorts or not being able to see anything when my fence goes up (delivery Wed). Rain forecast like last time so will have to paint between showers. But at least I’ve finally gone forward with the decision to get a fence up.
Feeling a tad better with all your encouragement. Massive wobble and still not feeling myself but plodding on. I thought the tears had dried up but they’re back. Just have to get through it like I have been doing. It’s soooo hot! And all I can smell on the patio is a tom cat (beautiful thing). Been mooching around Porscha for a while but she’s not entertaining him at all, thank goodness. I also found where the rats were coming from with the clearing of the hoard next door so rat wee too. So not the best backdrop to enjoying the garden. I still can’t sit still for too long. Have been inspired to remove sections at a time of the wooden plynths I had built with the raised patio. Nasty job but I’m determined. Will look so much better when done with potted plants and more path space. I was inspired by your wall Tina. Will have to be on the look out for bricks when I’m out and about. There is a section of wall which has collapsed by the main road so hoping to scavenge that if I can pick it up (probably not!)
So I’ve taken new pics to update you all. Lots of work before I got ill so a mish mash. Here they are:
Porscha in her fave chair
Hi Christine
Love all the pics. Thank you for posting
You’re never alone on here. We all get those wobbles every so often . I had one last week and it is perfectly normal to do so .
Sending lots of love and best wishes
Neil x
What a haven Christine. Beautiful!
Beki x
Hi Christine,
I want to come and live in your garden! I could be your living ‘live in’ garden gnome! It’s such a lovely haven and I love seeing it all come together. So beautiful.
Love Nic xxx
Hi Christine
Love the garden. How one person can achieve such magic is amazing.
Love the orange flames (as I call them)! I used to grow Nasturtiums. They are so easy but would always find them covered in black spots and caterpillars.
Hardly been out myself today. Other than it being too hot I can’t risk Zoe getting ill so I’ll have to wait till Wednesday.
You’ll feel sooooo much better when you get your fences. A little bit of privacy goes a long way when it comes to peace of mind.
xx
Hi Tina,
Now I can understand why you asked me about my faith before. I read my Bible most days too and also use an app from the Bible Project and podcast of books of the Bible in 30 minutes.
Your husband was talking about the book of Revelation, easy to see why people get concerned about what is happening in the world today and compare it to what this book says.
I see it as a book of hope, of a new better world to come where good overcomes all the wrong in the world.
I would have loved to have had a discussion with him about it.
As for your brother lack of sun care, mum’s tend to nag their children, I’ve messaged mine several times today telling then to take care in the heat. Two of my grandchildren answered me, one in a maths lesson and one in geography, told both they will be in trouble if the teacher catches them using their phones.
My mum concern, goes to you and Zoe and hope you are both coping with the heat today.
Speak to you later
Love Debbie X
Christine …your photos have made me very happy and have asked my friend if she knows what the furry thing is attached to your climbing rose 
x
Hi Neil,
I saw that headline this morning when I was getting lunch and burst out laughing at it as it was so ridiculous x
I’ve seen her in a couple of things but I just don’t see her as anything else other than Jen lol x I think I saw she was in Waitress a while ago but could have got that totally wrong lol x
As you say don’t envy anyone having to perform in this weather…total professionals imo x
Got in the car after work today and even with the window open it was 40C!! I have never had a temp like that in all the years I’ve been driving x
You keep cool and do as much or as little as is safe x
Will check on you tomorrow and see how you are 
x
Hi Christine,
When I look at your photos from your garden it reminds of France’s Hodgson Burnett’s book The Secret Garden. I sure you must have read it but if not it’s a good read, one of my favourites.
Your garden is lovely with all its different rooms connected by arches and pathways. You have some beautiful flowers and I admire that you are able to turn your hand to anything in the garden including all that hard landscaping you do.
Once you get your fence up it should give you more peace with next door.
What I most pleased is to hear you seem more positive today. I hope when you see your therapist tomorrow she can allay some of your fears and stop you worry about things you cannot control.
Your dad and sisters problems are theirs, you just have to concentrate on you and what you can control in your life.
I pleased to see you are still swimming, in fact you have encouraged me to start swimming again. When I retire next year I intend to do it more regularly.
Sorry I have no idea what has made its home on your roses, looks like some type of caterpillar curled up.
I hope you are remembering to keeping drinking while out in the garden and stick to the shaded areas and not for too long at a time. Tomorrow is going to be even hotter so you and Porscha look after each other.
Speak to soon
Love Debbie X X
