Flying solo

*Robin*

Back again.

Hello Piq, thanks for popping in. :hello:

Piquant wrote:

Hopefully there's no damage to the nest dearest robin, fingers crossed here for you. You have put a new spin on living with your head in the clouds for me! Very grey and miserable here today, although the clouds are where they are supposed to be rather than on the ground.

:rotfl: Indeed! One could say it's an accepted hazard of living half way up a mountain?
But then there are also mornings when the Nest is above the clouds; as if the shore of a mystical luminous white lake laps just below, hiding all evidence of 'civilisation' down in the valley.. Those days make all the rest of the wild weather worth it.

Can't see anything too awful outside, although a roll of cane fencing [2 x 6mts; heavy stuff] had blown on to my potting table so there were a few scattered, somewhat bent plants in need of rescue.
A metal cloche framework [aka up-cycled bed frames ] was lying in a tangle, but the glass is stored inside so no real damage done to that. The wood-store doors fell off, the wheelbarrows blew over - again easily fixed - and one of the solar path lights has vanished, it's probably bobbing along in the Med by now, lol.

But Nasty Neighbour's greenhouse roof has been shredded, and the sound of a chainsaw just out of sight along the track [coupled with no cars having gone past yet today] suggests that a tree has come down and is being dealt with.
There is precious little blossom left on the almond trees.

CD came out for a quick look around the garden, then bounced back up to the Nest ahead of me and retired to bed once more. The wind was catching our breath, and blowing patterns in her fur which can't have been a pleasant sensation.
Gave her a jolly good tickle and cuddle from you, Piq, which also served to warm up my hands, lol.

missrlr wrote:

Briefly enjoying the sunny interlude in stormy down pours here to sit with some tea in the bay window (ignoring the damp cloths soaking up water!)

Missrlr do hope the latest storms have not brought more water into your house - wish that chap who built ramparts round his home in Somerset could be appointed the new Minister Against Flooding; he'd do a much better job than any politician!
And am sure all our prayers go out to the poor man who thought installing three diesel pumps inside his house was a good idea. Do hope he can find solace after losing his child because of such a tragic mistake.

grannyx2 wrote:

Its blowing a gale here and so as OH is working all day, I'm staying wrapped up under my throw, reading and playing on my laptop.

Think we've got opposite ends of the same swirling storm, Granny; that terrible wind cuts right through all protection, doesn't it? Well done on staying snuggled up, and resting before The Day!
Going to find m'self jobs to do inside today, and keep the stove alight (a rare luxury ).

debtfreewannabe321 wrote:

Glad your lungs are feeling a bit better with the inhalers. I didn't use mine for nearly 6 months because of the lovely dry summer we had last year (compared to the winter months anyway) and just recently i've been having to use them every day without fail otherwise I end up walking the kids to school/taking the dog out and having to turn back because I can't breathe at all. My lungs hate damp air and I can't wait for the spring weather to break through!

Sorry to hear you need inhalers every day, DFw, that's a pain and I hope Spring arrives in a rush sometime very soon..
Am still trying to minimise using mine as have a terror of becoming dependant on the steroids (they clash with another problem).

Fudgefund wrote:

Good luck on the trip out, makes me glad of the oceans of concrete which comes with city living. Not a thought that's ever struck me before.

Oh yes there are some advantages to city living, Fudgie! :rotfl:

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote:

Hope you had a more restful sleep last night and no more upsetting dreams

No more bad dreams, thanks Lucky - but must admit I dozed fully-dressed on the sofa last night. With an 'essential kit' of documents, money, torch, laptop, 'phone and chocolate in a rucksack by my hand.
..Idea being that if the roof started to go, CD and I would make a dash for the bathroom which is more robust (heavy concrete, flat roof).
It was an unnecessary precaution, thank goodness. But best to be prepared..

debtfreewannabe321

I'm glad that there wasn't any bad damage to your garden/house. Weather is bad here but i'm thankful like many others that i'm not in an area that has flood warnings. I hope it all dies down for you soon xx

Sun_Addict

Glad to hear there's no damage from the storms that can't be put right by a bit of tidying up Robin. We are lucky in that although we live on top of a hill (which makes it much windier than lower levels) the rain runs down the hills so we don't get flooded. It was really windy yesterday, enough to take your breath away. What a horrid dream! I hate it when I have bad dreams like that, they stay in my mind for ages! Some dreams are so horrid it makes you wonder what you have in the back of your mind!

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Friends, :hello:

Thanks for popping in, DFw and Sun.A. :T
Today we have carrot cake to enjoy with our cuppa; result of Divo Four entering a baking competition (had to make one m'self in order to remember the tips he was asking for). Perhaps luckily, DS failed to get through to the next round by one mark - he really was being a little arrogant to think he could compete with bakers who have decades more experience than he does.
But he had a wonderful time, got great feedback from the judges and been invited back another year, so was in no way discouraged. :T say I.

The wind has dropped here thank goodness, although it's still cold and grey. Must get someone in to look at the roof asap, because some panels above the kitchen were definitely lifting [just a bit] when the strongest gusts hit yesterday. :eek:
Nice Neighbour has lined the lower edge of his roof with huge rocks which he 'borrowed' from the King, who owns all the riverbeds where such rocks can be found - that may be the cheapest solution (don't stand underneath during gales of course!).

Forgot to mention that the last trip out incurred spends of £60, including a cheap pair of work trousers to replace m' favourite jeans which ripped across the knee last time I did some weeding. New trews don't fit very well as they're much too big, but they were the smallest size available, great quality yet only £8, and DH's belt stops 'em falling down so am satisfied.

Have lost all UK TV; the signal has moved to a new satellite. If I can't get it back, will cancel BBC licence DD - but have more regrets because the system was the last present DH gave me before he died, than that my viewing is once again restricted to terrestrial local channels; only found one programme worth watching besides the news.
Lots of expats are streaming via the internet, which is hammering the speed of local networks. Hoping I will not be affected by that as am not part of a group supply (but don't really understand how the various systems work so ?? must wait and see what happens).

Feels like a gardening afternoon; weeding, spud and garlic planting.

debtfreewannabe321

Enjoy the gardening this afternoon, and hope the weather holds out for you . I've seen so many pictures on my FB newsfeed of friends stranded in their homes because of floods I don't remember it ever being this bad, but perhaps I just wasn't paying attention .

P.s I love carrot cake, I'll have a slice please xx

chevalier

Hi Robin
Glad you survived the storm damage.
That was a very horrid dream. When I had PND I had lots of horrible dreams like that. In the end it was what drove me to the GP as I was afraid to go to sleep....
Out of interest would you have HAD to sell the heirloom if you hadn't helped out so much with your DSs finances this last year?
What I am trying to say is that they seem to come to you for help with financial problems, when you are not really in the position TO help still. I understand eg about the car, but why hadn;t that DS got money put aside for these bills, ie had a budget? Could it be because he and they know you will bale them out?

Don't get me wrong I am sure they all appreciate the way you help out financially, but I don't think they understand the sacrifices you make TO help them out. They just assume that you will find the money.

Sorry if this comes across as a bit grumpy, but it is a recurring pattern in your diary. Another example is the rent for DS4, you mentioned that it would deflate the pots by 500 pounds a month. Why? Surely he will get a loan like everyone else and pay his rent money out of that?

chev

*Robin*

Hello Diary and MSE Mates, :hello:

Hardly like to mention this on the same day FB friends are posting pics of snow, flooding, etc., but CD and I woke up to a pleasantly warm morning at 18'C! :eek:
Can already see the river rising, presumably due to rapid snow-melt higher up in the mountains?
Looking South it's a lovely day at the beach, but turn to the North and the sky is black! Guess our agreeable temperature has something to do with the next storm-front approaching?

Thanks for popping in, DFw and Chev - still have a few spudlets to plant before it starts raining again so ought to do that before writing a long post.
Thank you for giving me plenty to think about, Chev.

HeadAboveWater

Carrot cake? Did I miss it?!

Hello Robin! Just about caught up with all your posts. Glad you're doing well and the storms haven't caused irreparable damage.

Get your planting done ok?

*Robin*

Hello World,

Feeling very sorry for m'self today. Valentine's Day is never a great occasion for widow[er]s.
Oh am doing very well at distraction techniques; spuds all neatly planted and the new flower bed is coming along nicely..
But still ignoring the necessary 'phone-call to THEM, not to mention other legal stuff which stalled months ago.
It's stupid, but losing access to UK TV feels like the last straw. Am used to having it in the background when I feel lonely, at night when wakeful, and just for some structure to my evenings I suppose. Pathetic isn't it?

Chev's comment brought the issue of ££ resources to the front of m' mind again too; am spending too fast in several directions, although for the best of reasons.
Could pass the next couple of hours explaining why I'd like to help DS4 avoid the worst pitfalls of the student loan trap, but tbh the wider argument is so depressing I can't bear to think about it now.

Problems faced by fellow MSEers also strike deep - sorry but need to run away, turn off the internal voice for a while..

Something to be grateful for: There is no rain or howling wind here today; I can meditate outside.

DFw and HAW - please help yourselves, finish off the carrot cake (you'll be doing me a real favour - have put on 1kg this month ).

Sun_Addict

Hello Robin - sympathise about Valentine's Day. There for the grace of God go I this year. Valentine's Day is thrust at you all over the media and they don't think that it's going to be a sad occasion for some people. Same with Mother's and Father's Day. It's not stupid to let the loss of TV get to you, little things matter when all's not well in your world, it's just another thing going wrong.

Hope things look better very soon.