Hi Neil,
I love the photos from the Portrait Gallery - fabulous. Is that all you took? Or did you take more? I have not been there for, or London, for years. Not sure I will ever go again now. I miss going to galleries - it was one of the things my hubby & I used to do together. We holidayed in Venice for many years and loved going to the galleries, went to the Academia & the Peggy Guggenheim, along with many others.
Also enjoy looking at the photos your theatre outings. I have recently booked tickets to see The Merchant of Venice with Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shylock & And Then There Were None at my local theatres, Not West End like you enjoy by any means, but trying to get back out there to enjoy some culture.
Best wishes, Alison x
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Morning all
Alison Iām sorry to hear your Friend didnāt make it home last night, or at least hadnāt when you last wrote. Hope itās not long now. Will she be up to doing something nice with you today to cheer herself up?
Take care in the heat today.
xx
Christine How are you doing? I heard my Brother having some TV battle at 6.15am as next door has his TV blasting and so he is reciprocating the same. I feel like telling my Brother to turn it down considering its Mums birthday but it wouldnāt be a wise move. I can make out from the sound he has got āThe Billā on which just just brings everything back as my Husband and I had started a mammoth task of watching the complete series rerun and only had a few left before I lost him.
I hope you get to do something nice, weekends can be difficult as other people often already have plans made donāt they.
xx
Neil your photos are really great. It is fantastic to have an interest that encompasses as much as yours does and takes you to all these places as well. Does your mind ever wander to breaks abroad for theatre experiences?
xx
Need to go and buy some flowers soon to take to Churchyard for Mum, but they donāt deliver to the shops so early so Iāll have to wait a bit I think. Will take some of these roses from the garden as well I although they dont last long that long unfortunately.
Will catch up later and I hope the heat is manageable for us all.
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Hi Tina.
She is still in the hospital, her blood pressure has skyrocketed. So not sure when she will get home. Not sure she will be up to doing anything for a few days as she is on morphine. I will go & see her next week. She has managed to retain her sense of humour somewhat, she is in a ward with 2 much older ladies - 1 talked all night & the other snored really loudly. The snoring lady is now singing! Not ideal when you are trying to recover.
Sounds like you have a bit of a sad day to get through. I hope you manage to get some lovely flowers for your mum.
Take care in the heat & I really hope you have the best day you possibly can.
xx
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Hi Alison, I feel for your friend. I was lucky I was in a room on my own with a bathroom . Hospitals are not good places to sleep without other patients talking and snoring. I hope she can come home soon.
Take care in this heat, Iām really getting fed up with it now .
Debbie x
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Hi Debbie,
Hospitals are dreadful for sleeping, it is not only the patients it is the staff as well. Lucky to get your own room, I had my own room when I had my hysterectomy - but still could not wait to get home. Fingers crossed she will get home today.
I hate this heat, not my cup of tea at all. Iām an autumn person. I was in bed for 9.30 last night - totally shattered with the heat.
Your take care too & hope you have a good day.
Alison x
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Hi Tina.
When you are fortunate to live near London I have no need to go to elsewhere in the country or abroad for culture. Just thankful I have been able to get to these places after losing Mum. Literally saved my life!
Hope you donāt get too hot this weekend.
Sending love and best wishes
Neil x
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Hi Alison.
Did take loads of photos but only posted a few of them in here. Some of the portraits I have photographed several years ago. Nice place to pop into when going to a show.
Next show is a play at the National where I am a member and is always special to see productions there. Much cheaper ticket prices compared to a lot of West End shows!
Saw Merchant of Venice advertised so might look into seeing that if possible.
I like to post my culture pics to try and take our minds off the devastation we have all faced.
Hope you have a peaceful weekend.
Sending love and best wishes
Neil x
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Hi Tina,
You have a beautiful play on words. I love your description of Zoe as the āsilence of a wispy shadowā as she slips past you to get outside. Keeping your windows closed might feel like there is no air but I have mine closed too, apart from the sitting room where Iām sitting next to the open window (between jobs!) and itās so much cooler walking back in after hanging the curtains out to dry. Making my way through them as I have so many but Iām getting there. Must get the front curtains back up before dark or the neighbours will be opening watching and gossiping about my house. Probably making a list of what to steal! Just have the bedroom curtains and rug left to do now. It was meant to be 33 today so making the most of it unless we get the thunder storms promised.
Have been so busy this morning, taking the 4 curtains down and unpinning them to wash. Did an online shop for tomorrow evening. Ordered online stuff for the fish and sorted emails. I went swimming yesterday after my blood test and stayed about 50 mins in the outdoor pool. So boring on my own. Wish I could just transport myself there now. Imagine having a garden pool you could lounge around in. Would make life so much more bearable. I have to do a bit and then sit down again. Have the floors to sweep before the rugs go back down but will have to do it over the day.
The creep isnāt home but I canāt face going out there to do garden jobs. Might try later. Onslow is far more like Mr T than the creep. He reminds me of a version of King Charles, but clearly with problems. I knew as soon as I saw him that he wasnāt right, before any of his deviant behaviour. When he first moved in he would literally stand at his open door watching me if I was at the car with my dad (checking oil or whatever) and he couldnāt contain his excitement with a massive grin from ear to ear. As usual dad took no notice of me telling him what was happening. And so that was the start of him watching me. He clearly has never been taught how to behave around women and that to be ārejectedā should put a stop to his outright leering. Can you imagine what he was like around the girls in school? Makes my skin crawl that he has been in my house, rummaging through my stuff, probably stealing pants from the wash basket (stole my passport and birth certificate but of course I didnāt have cameras and so cannot prove it).
I love that Porsch is telling me to get back out in the garden! I have the little mamma cat from along the doors fiddling about now that Porsch isnāt here to keep an eye on her. Sheās loving the freedom to pop in and see me in the house. Sheās so very hot though. She had made a bed in the plant pot with the climber to keep cool so I added mams sun brolly but she moved. And she wonāt drink the water I put out for her (in the garden and in the kitchen). Sheās quite wild so very different from Porscha. Itās lovely hearing the water from the fountains in the background. I do hope you are drinking lots. Wish I had some ice cream!
Iām always so well jel of your bargains. Makes going to the shops worthwhile. I miss the pound shop with all the plants. Not even sure if they do them now. Itās just not the same shopping online. I loved going to B&Q before it shut down and was replaced by flats (thatās London for you). Homebase as well. I loved the challenge of coaxing the bargains back to life. Missed a lot of Monty last night but did see the beautiful lush garden that was created in a short time. Iāve decided to stop trying with flowers and stick to what I know will grow. Going to continue with the woodland / Eastern theme. Will order more bamboo, climbers, spiky palms.
Now that Iāve rested a bit and cooled down Iām going to start on the lawn seed. A big job I can do in bits as I need to cover each section with compost before doing the next so the birds donāt see it. Theyāll be watching me so Iāll have to do about 2 inches cover. Wish me luck!
Will pop back again with pics. If I can use all the compost in tubs I can clear the patio and then it is ready to grout. Driving me mad that Iām getting none of it done. Keep drinking and resting in the shade. Staying still to cool down is key.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Neil
Your photos are fabulous, and I look forward to seeing them. Thank you for that.
The Merchant of Venice is on in York 14th November - 18th November. It is set in the 1930ās, so sounds different. So assuming it will be on in your area before it comes to York, would love to hear your review if you go & see it.
Have a lovely weekend.
Alison xx
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Hi Alison,
I am so very sorry to hear your news. I remember my wait to get the results to see if it had spread. It was like living in limbo. Plus I didnāt tell my family. Didnāt want my parents worrying unless they needed to. I went with a support person from the charity who were helping me when I was housed here because of my agoraphobia. She was more concerned about her boyfriend than what was going on with me. So not supportive at all. I was lucky, twice. Your daily support cards will mean the world to your friend. She will be very frightened and will need you to just be there for her. All you need to do is be your lovely yourself. You must be very shocked. It will bring back all the horrors you have endured watching Rich go through. Chemo is brutal. Not sure Iād go through it again. Iād rather join mam and Porsch.
I didnāt realise Iām a day out in catching up with you all. I slept all afternoon yesterday after going swimming after therapy. And I dropped off Porschaās renal foods to the pet shop. Was trying really hard to just do it and not get upset. But as soon as I started explaining, and the woman was so lovely and kind to me, telling me about her puppy who had just died, I started crying and had to leave. But I have my hallway back clutter free! Got my blood test done by a very rude woman who had a right go at me for sitting in the wrong place. She couldnāt even pronounce my name. I always find being extra nice to someone like that annoys them even more! So I continued chatting away and not getting anything back. Bitch!
Iāve been at it again today with my washing of curtains. Itās getting them down and then back up on the silly hooks from Ikea that is the worst job. Drenched afterwards! But Iām getting through it and no thunder storms yet.
Creep came back. Didnāt know when I was up the ladder right next to where he sits attaching the netting. But I got it finished and Iām now drowning out his Frank Sinatra with some very loud Kiss FM. Will go back out there in a mo and take some pics. Also mended some large pots which had split. Hoping to get another plastic sheet up at the back gate to stop the nosy buggars watching me in the garden from the street. Itās a never ending battle to demand some privacy.
I love your misty morning pic. And your old reg plate on the old shed panel. I wish Iād kept one of the life buoys from dadās boat before he sold it. Would have looked good on the fence by the pond.
Glad you spotted your hedgehog. I was delighted to hear a plop in the pond when Iād gone out there last night in the dark to bring my washing in. Didnāt think I had any wildlife in the pond now. When I first created it there would be frogs and toads with loads of babies hopping between the two ponds. The cats (I had my Mercedes then too) loved watching and playing with them.
Your dress is very pretty. I love green, especially emerald (my birthstone). Just checked the weather here. 31 now and 30 tomorrow so I hope you are able to get some shade, otherwise youāll be passing out in the heat.
Sounds like you get all the best jobs (trousers!) but the payoff is worth it when you get a new pancake maker. The camping bloke makes lovely food as part of his you tube clips. His pancake, bacon, blueberries and syrup makes my mouth water! Kent Survival if you wanted to check it out. Such a happy man. Always manages to make me smile and relax for sleep. Could imagine camping with him, helping with the firewood.
It was lovely and peaceful before the creep got back. I hadnāt even been out there that long. Makes me wonder if he watches me when he isnāt at home because he seems to get back very quickly when I get out there. But at least he canāt see me now through the sitting room windows. Such freedom not being trapped in the bedroom.
Might try doing the lawn seed. He wonāt hear me with the music on. Will pop back later.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Alison,
I canāt quite believe that family would include pictures for charity shop clearance. Brutal. I love that your shop helps women who have had the courage to leave abusive relationships. So many stay for all sorts of reasons, mostly because they are so scared and can see no way out because they have no means to support themselves. My ex was stalking me and had his mates doing the same while I was still with him! It continued after Iād left and I became so afraid of being outside that I couldnāt leave my old bedroom at my parents home. I am so angry that I cannot stop my anxiety and panic all these years later. But at least Iām not still with him. Probably wouldnāt be here now. He used to say if I got cancer again (had it before I met him) he would leave me. So Iām pleased cancer waited until Iād already left him.
xxx
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Hi Christine,
Glad to hear you were lucky twice, that is good luck. Bev is back home now, but in a lot of pain & uncomfortable with the drain. Donāt think the heat is helping. I will go & see her next week when she is feeling a bit better, will check with her first. It has shocked me, we went through such a lot with Rich and she came to see him the day he died & brought gin; which was much needed at the time - in fact I think she came every day of that last week. I have not even been for my mammogram, could not go through the chemo after what I witnessed. Anyway I sent her another card today & will send one tomorrow morning.
Wow - you were so lucky to sleep all afternoon yesterday, too hot for me to sleep. Normally have a sleep on Saturday afternoon when at home - but too hot. Well done you for dropping Porschaās food at the pet shop. Glad that the woman was lovely, but such a shame for you that you started to cry. Great that you have your hallway free again.
I love that you were super nice to the rude woman who took your blood. My dad always did that when people were rude, I am afraid that I get super rude back. Not got much tolerance nowadays sadly.
Sounds like you have had a full on day today & been really busy, I admire your energy. I have none today. 1 load of washing, dusted, hoovered, made a jelly (which has not set yet) & not much else - too hot for me. Sold some stuff, a bit of cash for the races tomorrow.
The old reg plate is my dads, Nev. One of my ambitions is to win the lottery, enough to buy a racehorse & have it in training, and name it either Rich Nev or Nevās Rich. My dad & Rich were the best of mates, so lovely to see, think dad thought of him like a son. It was lovely & misty yesterday morning, & so cool - loved it.
Went out last night but did not see the hedgehog. Do you think you have a frog/toad in your pond? I noticed this morning how many berries my hawthorn bush has, is it a sign of a bad winter? None on my holly though. Took a photo, but camera is playing up - so will post it tomorrow.
The dress is actually a size 10 maternity dress, it was brand new & tagged - could not believe it fitted me, lost so much weight over the last 2 years, I was a size 16. Cut the belt off it & took out the labels in case I drop dead suddenly and they are questioning if I can be pregnant at my age.
Your birthday must be May then, same as me, 14th.Not tried the pancake maker yet, hoping it works - it is in the box & looks brand new; so optimistic. I always have a disaster with pancakes in a pan. Too hot at the moment to fancy any. Love them with lemon juice & sugar. Not a fan of camping, like my comforts - proper toilet & shower.
It is a brutal world Christine, families nowadays are not interested in family photos - too busy on their mobile phones. When we get photos like that I always look at them all, cannot bear to just throw them away - they always look so happy. Mine & Richās photos will just be binned.
We help all sorts of people who need help, at the last shop we used to have a cafe & entertained all sorts of groups: knitting group, jigsaw group, menās cave, scouts, brownies, etc. Cafe needs to be built in the new shop as well as meeting group rooms. I was in an abusive relationship before Rich, so sympathise with anyone in that terror, as well as stalking. Mine said he would kill my mum & dad if I left him, for years I believed him stupidly. Awful how human beings can behave.
Good luck with the lawn seeding.
Going to have a shower & get a bit tarted up. Mum, Alan & I are going to the local tonight for an Italian & a couple of drinks for me. Then tomorrow races, praying it is not as hot as today.
Have a lovely, relaxing evening.
xxx
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Hi Christine
There were so many little nuggets in your posts to us that I canāt remember the ones Iād have liked to comment on! What I will say is no-one will be nicking any of my pants unless itās of course itās someone wanting to make a spare tent for camping purposes!
We managed to get to the Churchyard however it was not without mishap, miscommunication and bad feeling. As is usually the case, but that is nothing new and to be honest donāt expect anything different. I am so terrible at picking flowers to buy and Iām torn by what looks the prettiest and compared to what will last the longest. I canāt say Iām entirely happy with my combination of yellow roses and yellow carnations with orange petal trims on the carnations but they looked cheerful. The churchyard is so peaceful and serene, like a country back garden. It was so long since Iād previously been because I was getting scared of going so I may go again on my own. So then we came back and I have to confess to eating 2 wagon wheels, and a chocolate dessert with my afternoon coffee.
You seem to be thriving in the heat. I just want it to dip a bit now. As unappreciative as that sounds.
Remembering something you said about charity shops earlier. There are a few things that have made me sad but one that sticks out Iād seeing a glass jar of different buttons, obviously some older person had been saving them like how the thrifty older generation did. Of course then you get the stuff that people simply want to get rid of because their tastes have changed. It is quite a concern in a way thinking of the sheer amount of stuff bought, sold or simply trashed. Society can be so throwaway these days. (I think Iām on a whinge again!)
Iāve come in from the kitchen now, itās just so hot and with all the activity it sounds like Benidorm UK!
I hope Creep has gone out, does the other guys till come round as often to the lady next door. Maybe the novelty will wear off soon and his visits will wear off, I do hope so.
Speak soon and have a nice quiet evening!!
xx
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Hi Tina,
I didnāt realise I was a day behind so you might be at the Church Yard now. I know how upsetting it is for you visiting there, but also even more so it being your mamās birthday. Hope you celebrate with a cake and maybeās some flowers? Hereās some from me with lots of kisses for you all.
Makes me hungry!
Itās a shame you couldnāt all visit together but I suppose this is the world we now live in with the threat of new covid strains. Your bro will have to be careful not to catch anything.
Bet your mam is smiling at your rainbow beach towel! If we lived nearby you could use it at the pool! I was saying to the children when we were swimming how wonderful it would be for dogs to be able to go too. So many people would do that. I can just imagine Zoe cavorting about in the sun. Sheād defo give you the guilty face if you went swimming and left her behind!
I was really sad to hear about your mamās friend selling her home to pay for the fees for the care home. I suppose that is what everyone does. Itās just not something that we generally talk about. Old age is a hidden world. I hope she has friends who will visit her. And I hope the carers are kind to her. Will you go to see her? I wonder if my sisters children would bother to visit me. My niece ignores my texts about swimming when she has something else to do.
Here are some pics of my jobs so far: Camoflage netting, looks so like ivy I might do it all along the trellis tops for extra protection.
The new planted area has exploded over the summer.
Earth has massive cracks in it with the heat and a lack of watering over the summer.
Got the plastic sheeting up at the back gate area to stop the nosy buggars watching me on my garden. Looks awful and need a new fence but the council didnāt do it like they promised. And because it has to be on the new neighbour side I canāt really complain.
I hope today hasnāt been too upsetting for you. I know how horrific I find any calendar event for Mam.
I see you are here so Iāll post now and come back after a bite to eat.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Alison
Iām sorry your friend didnāt get home, what a shame. I suppose as disappointing as it is at least precautions are being taken by her staying in.
This heat seems to be intensifying, not a single bit of breeze. I love a good downpour at the end of a hot spell but also worry about potential harm and damage.
Did get to the Churchyard. So serene and peaceful and it puts all into perspective really.
Anyway, hope you survive what sounds like the last hot night one way or another.
xx
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Hi Christine
Just seen the pictures youād posted after Iād been posting. They are brilliant, also the birthday pictures thanks for thinking. We all went to the Churchyard but in separate cars and kept our distance once there. The distance wasnāt far enough as you could sense a bit of tension but if Princes Wills and Harry have disagreements and fall outs Iām sure we all can have.
Iām inside now but can hear next door in his garden with his power tools. Give a guy a power tool and they turn into Rambo. Love the camouflage, itās so versatile and light.
Thanks for sharing Christine.
xx
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Hi Tina
She is back home now with her family looking after her. In a lot of pain though. But it is better to be at home and to be able to rest in a peaceful environment.
I hate this heat, cannot bear it. I think I am melting. Think it is going to rain here tomorrow, what about your area?
Glad you got some flower & went to the Churchyard, you are right it does put it all into perspective. I had my husbandās ashes buried at our local graveyard, very small & a lovely spot in the countryside, with room for me when I die. I go & talk to him every Saturday morning.
Going to have shower now & try to tart myself up a bit to meet mum & friend for an Italian meal & a couple of drinks. Then will come home & have another cold shower before bed. I go to bed with wet hair, it seems to cool me down.
Hope you have a cool, calm & easy evening. Take care.
xxx
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Hi Neil
Yep, good point. Why would you need to go further afield with all that on your doorstep. In that respect you are really fortunate.
xx
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Hi Neil,
Hello! Lovely to see you and Iām so pleased you didnāt pass out/need a doctor in this heat! Love your pics in the Portrait Gallery. I loved history at school, especially the portraits and the significance of the objects included in the scene. I remember copying the portrait of Queen Elizabeth with the intricate lace collar.
Hope the choral concert was beautiful. I am always moved to tears listening to āpureā music. It is such an emotional thing, transporting you to another world. I always used to think it was being in church that moved me, but listening to the tv at xmas has the same effect.
Shame Jason Donovan didnāt join the others at the stage door. You must have been thrilled to see so many of them there. A great end of summer / start of Autumn for you. You will have read that Iāve started my swimming again. Didnāt go today as I wanted to get through my curtain washing. The joys of being middle aged! Never thought it would happen to me!
Hope you pop in a bit more often. I miss not seeing you here. I was looking round the garden today and realised how neglected it is. I have lots to do in the Autumn, tidying and cutting back. Hope to get my lawn seeded and covered today, though it gets in quite dark by 7.30 / 8. Iām still blasting the creep with my music as I canāt bear to hear his. Never thought I could dislike Frank Sinatra! Itās all he seems to play.
Do you have anything booked again? And is your chats with your pal still getting you through the week? Iāve only just started seeing my niece and nephew again, having had no contact at all over the summer hols.
Still feeling very fragile about Porsch. Got very upset taking her food to the pet shop (donating to the rescue centre). Took me 3 weeks. But itās another thing done now. Iāll be planning my trip to the Remembrance Garden soon. Iāll have the same memorial statue for her there in the garden as well as at home in the shrine. My gallery has started dropping off the wall so I have to redo it all with extra sticky tabs. Being busy is getting me through the day, as it was before. And now Iām doing garden jobs again Iāll get stuck in and tidy it up for Autumn. Should keep me going during the day.
Hope you are coping in this heat. Itās so unbearable. Feel sorry for Suzanne having to work with no air con. My car is always like an oven as I needed to get mine done but didnāt really go far so left it.
Will see if the creep has gone in so I can crack on with that lawn. Not looking forward to it as Iāll be carrying loads of compost to cover the seeds. Wish me luck!
Lots of love xxx
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Hi everyone,
Itās been so hot and muggy this week I havenāt done much at all. I would like it to be cooler now Iāve had enough heat. With my knee still swollen and aching itās a job to get any sleep at night.
Two weeks ago today, that has gone quick, Iām doing okay but I think Iām expecting too much of myself, running before I can walk so to speak. I am down to using one crutch now, but havenāt ventured out unless itās been a doctorās appointment. Has my staples out yesterday but still put steri strips on to stabilise the wound and itās still being covered in a dressing. Itās doing well, but I wonāt post a photo as looks a bit gruesome.
My son in law bless him has been today to do all my hoovering and water the flower pots in the garden, and my daughter in law brought my fruit and veg shopping for me this morning, so with our two children I am being well looked after.
Had loads of cards, flowers, chocolate and fruit all brought by many visitors. Donāt think one day has last when someone hasnāt popped in, and they all make me a cup of tea rather than the other way around.
I did think about going to church tomorrow, but I still wonder if itās a bit to far to walk, so probably watch it by zoom again this week.
Iām sad my granddaughter dances at Shaftesbury Theatre tomorrow and I canāt get to watch her. I just know she will be brilliant, Iāll be cheering her on from home. She also started rehearsals for Cinderella panto today, a very busy young lady.
Itās official, my notice is in at work and I have received the acknowledgement letter and been on line to do my exit questionnaire. Iām am really glad I not at work this week working in this heat. By the time I return from sick leave I will only have about 7 weeks left.
How have you kept up all that washing drying and gardening in this heat Christine, I marvel at your energy. I would love to go swimming in an outdoor pool, all swimming for me is out for about six weeks. I hope you get to visit the pet crematorium soon with your niece. I see your still having issues with both neighbours. Iām so lucky my back garden is very private, only overlooked by one house, but where my garden seat is they canāt see me.
Have a good day at the races tomorrow Alison, I like your dress. My daughter and granddaughter are big charity shop visitors, they always searching out a bargain. I see your friend is home, hope she makes a quick recovery and gets plenty of rest.
Sending love for your mumās birthday Tina, I just wish your brother was a bit more amenable to you and your sister. The flowers you choose sound lovely. I like visiting our local cemetery even though Doug is not there it so peaceful and a good place to think.
You have been quiet recently Nick hope all is okay with you and you have settled into your brotherās house.
Hi to Suzanne, Palou, Neil and Nic.
Going to be another hot night, no sign of rain.
Sending love to all
Debbie xx
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