And now we go again...

Sun_Addict · 5 May at 9:20PM

Also been wondering if you’re ok and missing your updates. I assumed you were away but perhaps not.

foxgloves · 6 May at 10:42AM

Same! Big absence from you @EH so am hoping due to nice reasons (i.e holiday) or just everyday busy-busy reasons & that all is OK down in that there Essex.
F x

TallGirl · 6 May at 10:57AM

Ditto that hope you are ok.

EssexHebridean · 19 May at 1:32PM

Hello you lovely lot - I am indeed fine, thank you for checking in! We are now back from what amounted to pretty much a full month of gallivanting about, with two and a half weeks in the Hebrides, back home for just a few days and then a week on Alderney as BC recalled! Absolutely stunning time - incredibly lucky with the weather particularly last week which was almost wall-to-wall sunshine with just one heavy shower which naturally we were out in and got utterly soaked!!

The finances have taken a bit of a battering but pleasingly our budgeted funds for both adventures proved up to the task, with a tiny bit of slack left in each fund. We returned from the Hebrides with a stack of cheese, smoked salmon, some of the nice local water biscuits and tattie scones and of course the obligatory stornoway black pudding! Last week was steep on spending due to a lot of eating out but again that was planned for and expected - it is SO nice to return from holiday without that lingering sense of dread about what the CC bill will reveal, isn't it!

the return from the Hebrides was naturally affected by yet more ferry disruption - our planned sailing back was affected by weather, and what would usually be a seamless transfer onto the boat from further north was limited by sailings being full thanks to an issue with the boat affecting her capacity. We had out first experience of joining the standby queue and thankfully got on the boat we wanted, although our lovely accommodation providers at the campsite we use for our final night were on standby to let us have the glamping pod we had been in for an extra night if needed! we did have to abandon plans to drive straight back through on the sunday in favour of using a thankfully already booked "just in case" overnight stay part way back.

As is typical MrEH's car started making an odd noise within a few days of arriving in the Islands - we have nursed it through but it hasn't moved since we returned from that trip and will be heading off to see our lovely mechanic this week so he can sort it out. I suspect it isn't going to be cheap!

Since returning on Friday our focus has been almost entirely on the garden - trying to salvage some stuff that has suffered from the lack of attention (my Mum popped round and watered a few times, and we did what we could in the few days between the trips, but still) and also get a whole heap of stuff sown as well - the mini greenhouse is now packed out, and anything whatsoever that will stay outside is gathered on the ground around it. We also did a tidy up including collecting and emptying any pots where the contents have not survived - and I tracked down a couple of thyme babies that have been repotted and will hopefully go on to grow into useable plants. 4 sweet peppers have been potted on into their final containers, there are 4 more as well but they aren't quite sturdy enough yet. There are chillis which also probably need to be potted on, and although MrEH is holding out hopes for the second sowing of sunflowers popping their heads up I think he's over-optimistic and we will need to re-sow again.

Sure there is more to say but just wanted to pop in and reassure you I am still alive!