5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3

Frith

DD - damn you, potential coffee man!

villagelife

Hope all travels for sons to France and Nepal are enjoyable and drama free.

1. Visited a garden with a friend. It was lovely and we could take her dogs with us. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.

2. Lunch was good and reasonably priced and free coffee refills.

3. Had coffee at her house in way home as I gave her some tomato plants. Her husband was then asked to make a raised bed for her for the tomatoes.

4. Home and more gardening done. Managed a fair bit and the sun came out.

5. Messaged a friend who is enjoying half term with her children. She is going through a tough patch at the moment.

6. Had a drink in the garden with DH.

Broomstick

Morning all

Frith, it's probably too late to suggest this now but sometimes it's worth trying Google maps with the little yellow person (don't know the technical name) and wandering the streets as if you were walking them for real to discover if things like gates will be problems. I find it really useful to do this if I'm driving somewhere new and need to see what landmarks look like from the road since I don't have a satnav and map reading while driving can be difficult. Hope son has a fab trip and that London is fun.

Five recent pleasures:

1. A mega long sleep last night - needed it.

2. Spending time with parents again.

3. Going through the 1920s and earlier family photos with my mother again. Sometimes previously unheard family stories get remembered when we do this which is lovely and I'm only too aware that time to capture these is limited.

4. New potatoes for supper last night were scrumptious.

5. DS1's car was fixed by the superstar local garage a week earlier than planned saving a ton of logistical problems next week

Have a good Saturday
Bx

LaineyT

Bon voyage to all our young travellers.
Glad it went well DD but gggrrr on coffee man.

Friday pleasures,

Finally gave up trying to sleep and came downstairs to read, pleasure to be found in the light mornings and wandering around the garden first thing.

Trip into horsey town, admired the glossy coats on the strings of racehorses bouncing their way up to the gallops, couple of chores completed and picked up some of Capt S’ fav beers in anticipation of tonight’s game.

Our hedge is growing at an alarming rate but we are holding off cutting it until baby birds have all fledged, fav spot for feeding seems to be along the garden path.

Equine girlie brought in and cleaned up, I often sing to her as I work and today’s offering was the theme song to much loved childhood programme, appropriately White Horses!

Simple tea of burgers in buns with coleslaw.

Depending on result of big match tonight our house will either be giddy with delight or down in the dumps, for that reason alone COYS!

[Deleted User]

Bees busy on the newly opening Pyracantha bushes on the footpath.

The sound of the brook bubbling beside the footpath as I walked into town.


The smell of Elderflowers heavy in the sun but I love them.


We made it to the garden centre for coffee, it was just lovely being out in the countryside again not on the bus! coffee was good as it always is.


The yellow irises (flags) open around the margins of the lake, the sleepy mallards who have taken to sitting in bachelor gaggles on the grass banks and the laughter of small children having a lovely time in
the playground.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Was at the kite shed this morning, we had dog burgers and a spitfire. NMow is the roar of the merlin! Wizard prang I say!

PM2DD Not watching the tinpot! OMG LT? Gosh, Totteringham's coming out of the ...

Just did fillet steak for tea, served with tom and mushrooms. BoPsie is beside herself over hers, and to thinks we has wine inn for her as well!

Wes weres out inn town last nite with the red paint. Had thai Chinese next to station, and a few wobbleades. Missed the Big Warster train home, and caught the bog hopper!

On weigh back to Palais de BoP, on the path fence, Raffles was waiting for us. How does the cat know when we are due home and which weigh! He does not like the main road, soi we has to walk round the back path.

Raffles was treated later!

Thins morning BoP had his snorkers and best back with trimmings and bits.

Right, enuffs from BoP!

We are our own in our thoughts, we think what we become?

ampersand

1. At SRUFC, having a think and a feels-just-right time, after all-day 7s tournament.
Thoroughly enjoyable, lovely greetings always a surprise. Many families staying on, children running free, safe. Dogs ditto. A few birthday barbecues going on. Just a good, good way to be.
Paid next season's sub. way in advance, then I know it's done. Also add some for strugglers, upped it this year. It's so important that children can play if they want. Obvious, but so much is unlike &'s all-day NZ native bush early days, anything that gives free rein to activity and imagination(den-building, river swings, all sorts) and learning self-reliance, co-operation, limits.

2. We have some stunning young players coming on, in physique and character. Both are heartening.

3. Over the road at Scotsdales, nice boy ferried another 2x120 sacks of compost out.
&'s 6 potato sacks have suddenly gone mad, need big topping up. & has hopes��! Haven't grown them thus before. Very encouraging.

4. Beautifully marked leafy green/black frog, another new one, made itself known. They're prospering in potato sack nursery land.

5. Blutty Saracens result. Even &'s love of Maro Itoje is insufficient to wipe out my utter loathing of the dirty, vile Farrell.... Oh, is there some round ball game soon to start?
Will head back now, anticipating 2nd use of new mower. Haven't extracted old cooker yet, but have unloaded new one from boot, manoeuvred it near. Pleasure is in thinking about these things, knowing they are not feared expenditures.
& has never bought a new cooker before.
#
Elsewhere, 'waved' to family Frith on stroke of noon Heathrow take-off:-)
Hope London afternoon and Science Museum has been great for younger son and you.
Safe journey home.

DigForVictory

Staggers back in. RL has it's own little ways some days.

Mrs LW, delighted to hear HWK is back up & functional! Bonus that grandpickle scans glorious. Bring treated to a fish supper - eyes sons hopefully but they need time to mature. HWK powering without stick! A dinosaur garden sounds like So Much Fun! An Eastex skirt for £1! Nothing wrong with being on the receving end of fresh veg galore as your new to you garden settles in. Cheltenham? Oooh wonderful. Baby sparrows... Irises, mallards & children giggling - So clear!
mhagster - hurrah new baby here, drat work attire black. You **heroine** taking baby for stroll so mum can shower & dad can nap. This is treble Olympic gold level help. Well done on being a family that votes together! Stunned at all your hard work - really hope this boss cherishes you! "He had milk. We had fajitas & chocolate eclairs!" win-win, I think. Parrots & pomegranates? But whyever not? Someone will rehome those bees shortly. Wax & honey in eaves are inconvenient. Facetiming Australia on a family walk - some days tech is the bizz. Chive flowers are glorious & coax our local bumblebees over. Hoping your family are helping with the waffle testing?! The reason for the Diet Coke may emerge later, but enjoy anyway? En France - ooh-er & best of luck!
Frith - at least your exams are *going*! My lad seems to be revising for the next thing interminably. Hurrah Elder Son's unconditional & excellent both Messers Uphill & Downhill so cooperative in matters of garden. Very glad your voters were polite & that you could have Friday Off! Nepal imminent, ulp. Doing little is a good thing! Yikes Elder Son's nasty scrapes, but hurrah for antibiotics & youthful healing. A distraught ex is fine, over 10 miles away. Hogging the village gossipnet is not on. A good gammon joint is a reliable ally!
Broomstick - I should not covet an allotment but yours sounds a glorious escape. Parents are an unexpected treat after a certain age. Drat the grotty bug but hurrah lemon ginger & honey. An unexpected collection of photographs - well done DS2! Feeding omnivorous parents & seeing poppies - well done! Remembering family stories - yes. Almost literally while the sun shines.
Suffolksue - hurrah only the one fall [may that stay the tally for another month!] & yikes multi-generational choices of literature (may I commend Pride & Prejucice by Jane Austen as robust escapism?)
Mrs Salad Dodger - the delight of the whirligig is wondrous! DSis.. just over a year - let me know if you need a good alibi? A long friendly phonecall is a wonderful thing.
LaineyT - "vegan meatballs"? That they were even OK is surely a triumph? Medicinal mint choc chip sounds exactly the right thing for recovery after as nasty surprise! Some days only the full length of leather does the job. Hot clothing is not for the weak of arm but gosh the coat comes up a treat - although one yard holds by white vinegar for greys & malt for all other colours... Small birds anticipating are a lovesome racket. Horses & time not really compatible. (Those with money on races may disagree!) Fresh Aspargurus sound wonderful... Some expressions really do unleash the inner warrior princess... Absolutely right to leave some gardening til all young occupants have moved out!
BoP - just imagining you & colleagues in a wobblefizz emporium has me gurgling happily. Pure cotton sheets & kites - some people made B out of A. Steak & bits - nom... Chicken dippers - is this wise? Likewise a three in one scrub also for socks - nurture that epidermis! Please keep Raffles happy?! Much appreciating the Yellow Stuff when spotted.
DundeeDoll - if you must walk to work, through an arboretum is Definitely the right path. In nice weather. DD2 away ethical hacking? Awed! Well done all round! Lovely colleagues yet still leaving dos. (Riveting hearing common denominators...) Why does the really good music leap out of speakers on school nights? I had to look up arial hoop. Plus ethical hacking - strewth! Then undoing the last financial ties, ulp. We know you leap tall buildings with single bounds - DIY & Sewing As Well would leave me feeling a complete idiot. Keeping onwards. Not always easy but essential. Idiot coffee man. Miword Phoenix pal living up to location's name!
villagelife - hurrah boss realising some cause & effect & yippee longed-for lad making 1! Happy belated birthday & virtual roses... 'child labour' & bricks hurrah! New trees - excellent. Risotto?! Awed - mine still reach for packets & cheat (my fault, so do I). There is a particular cheer to a free coffee refill.
Purple kitten - sounds a wondrous brak, and splendid on a new to you Pratchett, cherry cider & sharing strawberries with a field mouse! Steam fairs sound glorious & I'm very happy to learn its the female ferret in season that's "aromatic". (Scout quiz material!) One of the joys of bright colours is people can find you. Lined dried washing has a something that machine dried hasn't.
ampersand - yippee mower, cooker even car tax(?!) & all the very best with surgeons. Four boxes from NZ & all arrived whole bar 1 pot? Love "grateful generally, though frustrated politically" - yes. Oh, that catch. Made getting a couple of lads to focus in class frankly nigh on impossible, so we had a break & then tried again! Yes to paying subs & to adding a bit for strugglers. Hurrah spuds & beautifully marked guardians thereof. Never bought a new cooker? Life is filled with intriguing new experiences!

OS Pleasures recently
Chuckling with Boy Scout over found muddy pound coin - is it dirty money?

“I do not have hay fever. I just go bleuch quite a lot.” He is definitely snuffly.

Reversing “don’t let me hit anything” “I think ne’er do wells and tatteredemalions require a license” - some days driving with the chaps is hazardous...

Not watching DrStrange as not fully stabilised epileptic son vehemently opposed “too trippy”, but watched a minute’s finger tutting on you tube & awed at the balletic grace possible.

I was going to be pleased at thin son eating up but he overdid it. Youngest, helpfully wrapping the remains of the pizza, stood up & beaned himself on the triangle with a melodious ding & an unfortunate epithet.

My family are planting herbs without my saying Anything! The garden is looking very green & ready for all the bolognese demands...

“What we do in the shadows” - hilarious vampire movie set in New Zealand. Family happily whooping & gurgling... not certain ampersand would wholly approve but my less discerning chaps definitely cheering.

Car park guys agree with me “there’s something in the air” & that carrying the waterproof is therefore reasonable!

Lad back from first A level looking reasonably unscathed “it was a weird one though” - just the reassuring words a mother longs to hear...

Husband playing send blood pressure widget berserk by suggesting Boris might be fun. Along with Nigel... I swear he loves to be entertained - by politicians, by me fuming, by the lad head butting hung furnishings.

In a house of republicans, I do love the RHS photos of a young family having fun.

Husband has spent uncharacteristic doting moment recalling a baby in the bus, which had its blanket in a solid grip & was playing peekaboo with its mother. No question the young person was in charge of the game & gurgling delightedly, so apparently the entire bus was awash with smiles.

Godfather collected a swarm! Fingers crossed the queen will like his broodbox & settle.

Lad’s best mate off doing DofE, borrowed much kit from us (and why not) and I see son sent him with a little morale booster - one of his cigarillos! Well, flying insect repellent & so forth. [Back, beaming - all benefits you might hope for!]

Showed off photos of my parents - car park guys crooned over them!

Love watching husband fail to find the stuff he swore blind anyone could find when I failed last time. Shamefully petty, but satisfying.

Some film “Captain Hunt is dead.” “No!” Came the cheerful squawk from beside me, “he’s trapped in a black hole”. (Different Captain Hunt, child thinking of Andromeda SF TV series!) Struggling to make sense of film now....

I may be one of about three people in the county that looked out into the garden & smiled at the rain on a Bank Holiday. Somehow the rain is comforting.

Reading of DundeeDoll’s mrsflute’s son & his piping income has given me a Pepys moment “have resolved to learn flute & have wife go the same” only bagpipes & a son!

Having mopped up two Cornish pasties & rolls, youngest has “gone to be alone” with the cheesecake. I do not think it is going to be a long term relationship.... or that he’ll stay under 6’ for much longer!

Inflatable cushion arrived at Ma-in-law’s & eldest pumped diligently & pump *broke*. He finished blowing & is now letting air out as it is adjusted for comfort!

Whoops! Husband thought ‘Amazon Echo’ was a foreign newspaper until the “set up” bit got mentioned.

Stuff the female of the species - the teenager is a blinking hazard! We bought ready meals to spare mother-in-law, who decided she wanted fish & chips, so 4 ready meals ended up in our fridge. Son #2, peckish, cleared one so when sons #1 & #3 wanted to eat, there wasn’t enough for everyone & their father is going without. Just son #2 & his revision partner will be ordering takeaway to “keep the focus”...

Lass at Starbucks did me the free filter coffee refill. I’m the first person to ask, but we both know the rules & hurrah! Me caffeinated for the rest of the day.

Co-trainer also a Mah Jongg player & we crooned at sets online. His family one has drawers, & definitely ivory as well!

Not just me struggling with navigation: “I’m on the Not-Tesco side”.... [Eavesdropping is a shocking vice, but also relatively innocent fun.]

Queuing behind an array of thirsty youths, a lady & I observed one lad clutching a bottle of Lenor. Designated driver, we agreed, plus every girl’s crazy for a sharp dressed man. Trying to keep a straight face got harder but the affection & good humour as they tidily queued & politely paid was lovely.

Sharing Ampersand's "waving" to all offspring in flight, wishing them safe & happy travels & landings & that the gaps left behind are not too perilous.

Once again health, strength, love & courage to all who have need, strong backs & knees and sufficient water to all whose gardens & allotments might benefit thereby & hurrah Raffles for the Yellow Stuff

mhagster

Shall catch up on your pleasures tomorrow. I'm so tired and just want to sleep!

Busy day!

Did my inflatable labyrinth challenge and I've raised over $500 for OH oncologist's research. I hated every single moment of it. 1km of an inflatable labyrinth filled with water so you were soaked. Bits to climb then steep slopes to slide down. Much swearing. Much struggling for breath but whether out of breath or panic or just a mix of both. Was in tears before I even went on. But it was all about the challenge. And I knew it would be extremely and it was. But it's done and I ain't ever doing it again.

Had a wee team of cheerleaders. DD and niece and great niece and baby. OH friends wife there too. All very encouraging.

Went to supermarket cafe for brunch.

Quick home and the dog much prefers the seven year old to the baby.

Then into work for another 7 hours of so much done but still more to do.

Knackered but enjoying it!

Home. Bed.

Son has called me three times. First at 00.45 to say he was at Folkestone, second this afternoon en route and stopping for a snooze then third to say he'd arrived at Chamonix !

DundeeDoll

love your comment dfv 'idiot coffee man' - it made me smile, as did & going to scotsdale. Well done mhags on your fund raising - fantastic job
1) waved goodbye to xoh (she made it back on her bike ok to liverpool)
2) lovely brunch with ex phd student who was up in glasgow for work and came over to say hello
3) then met friend for lunch. fret not, i just had a salad
4) then home for a snooze but bgf phoned just as i was dozing off. had a great laugh (haven't told him about idiot mr coffee - he knows him)
5) found BT sport showing tinpot for free bop so stayed in and drank mrpiano's wine. very mse.
Now time to walk the dawgs and then bed. at the tender age of 55 i have my own bank account. life is sweet