Living it up by the sea

uralmaid

Bit of a mixed bag this week.  Last Friday we went to a quiz being held for Red Nose Day in the village pub. It's not that often they hold events so we try and support it. Wonder of wonders, our team won.  One of our team had been suffering with an itchy throat that week.  Hubby started with a sore dry throat on Monday.  Still suffering this morning.  We had been getting the motorhome ready as we were due to do to Brother in law's in Cambridgeshire this Friday to help him dismantle a large shed ready for his house move.  I got hubby to do a Covid test - and he was positive. I have a bit of a scratchy throat, so will probably end up catching it too.  Today the two friends we went to the quiz with both tested themselves after I told them and they were both positive too.  Needless to say, we are not going to see B.I.L. as it is a 100 mile trip and we don't want to feel rough or pass it on.  I bought a small seed propagator the other day in Lidl. It came with growing medium and 4 packs of seeds for Dill, Chives, Cayenne peppers and Basil. Have sewn them today so will see how they come on.  My daughter bought me a lovely wax covered Amaryllis bulb for Mothers Day which arrived in the post.  We have been measuring its growth each day.  The flower on on of the stems is nearly in full bloom.  I am really glad it is thriving as I was not sure as you don't water it or anything.  Also I checked on the website she bought it from and the price was £24.50 which is a bit expensive.  My geranium seeds which I planted just over a week ago have all sprouted.  All small things, but things to gladden the heart.

Humboldt

Morning @uralmaid well done on winning the Red Nose Day quiz.  The Covid result is not so good.  Hope that your DH's symptoms are not too bad and that you do not catch it. Shame about having to miss out on your trip; there is never a good time, but these things always seem happen at the worst time.  Wishing your DH a speedy recovery. 

What a wonderful Mother's Day gift, Amaryllis flowers are stunning. Lovely to hear about your seed sowing. I have two old wooden crates filled with herbs under my kitchen window which I intend to relocate over the next few weeks.  Given that I am emptying them, I thought I would paint them too. I am moving one to a sunnier position and replanting it with some Mediterranean herbs that are currently in pots.  The other one has mint and chives in it so can be moved to a less sunnier spot in the garden. A lovely job that I hope to complete over the next couple of weeks (weather permitting). Simple pleasures. 

uralmaid

Thanks Humboldt.  I am secretly pleased that we didn't have to go to Cambridgeshire.  It was going to be very hard work with a lot of heavy lifting involved.  Hubby hates letting anyone down and although he felt rough was still making preparations to go until he got the Covid result.  Also my niece has some health issues so it wouldn't have been good for us to mingle with her.  The wooden crates sound a brilliant idea.  I already have a small herb garden located in an old tin bath but some of the ones in the propagator pack from Lidl were different ones.  I bought it for the actual propagator as much as anything as it was quite sturdy with a rigid lid and is an ideal size for the windowsill in the utility room.  Last year I bought a small glass growhouse which I will move the seedlings to when they are ready.  We do have a polytunnel but it seems to have ended up being a useful storage facility for garden furniture over the winter together with many many plantpots and tools.  I bet the crates will look lovely once they have been painted and planted up.

bluenose1

Congrats on the quiz and sorry  for the Covid diagnosis Uralmaid, but glad it meant you didn’t have to go to Cambridgeshire if you didn’t want to go.
I haven’t bothered with any gardening plans at all this year yet, need to get my act together.
We are dealing with the death of my auntie and one of her children  is unfortunately causing a lot of unnecessary pain to their siblings. Not sure why anyone would say cruel things especially at a time like this, ironically she is the person who did least for her mum.

Had a lovely walk in woods earlier, think we heard squirrels in the trees but unfortunately didn’t see any. Going to sort finances out this weekend and put the £2,880 into my husbands SIPP for the £180 return. Will do it for both our SIPPs from next year now I have finished work,

uralmaid

Sorry about your Auntie Bluenose.  Unfortunately death often brings out problems within families at a time when everyone should pull together.  Glad you got to walk in the woods - calming for the soul.

Humboldt

@bluenose1 I was so very sorry to read the sad news about your auntie.  Such a shame that you are also having to deal with family issues at this difficult time. Remember to give yourself a bit of TLC.

@uralmaid I hope that you are enjoying the weekend whatever you have chosen to do, and that your DH is recovering well.  Clear blue skies, sunshine and a bitterly cold wind here today. Washing drying nicely outside (simple pleasures).

uralmaid

Thanks Humboldt.  I have to confess to having a very lazy weekend.  Apart from making meals not done much at all apart from lots of reading.  I just feel shattered for some reason (but still clear of covid).  It has been quite cold here today although the sun is shining. Yesterday morning the sun was out and a bit of breeze so I got my towels all washed and put them out on the line. Within 2 minutes of coming inside the sky had turned black and it was raining hard.  Went out and took them back in and straight into the dryer.  Couldn't be bothered with the though of in and out every time the weather changed. Not very MSE I know  - I am a rebel. lol.

bluenose1

Thanks for your kind thoughts uralmaid and Humboldt, you definitely get to see worst side of people when money involved. One of my relatives has previous form for this so no surprise really, just sad the family will be split again, as unfortunately that person regards you as either for or against them. Anyway enough of my moaning.

Haha Uralmaid a bit of rebellion is good for the soul.
Been sunny and breezy here today, enjoyed my daily walk in woods and chatting to the regulars. I know more of the dogs names than the owners
Been looking for a new fire and surround, so much choice!!! Not helped that my husband has now decided he wants a media unit which I don’t think I want as I like the traditional marble mantlepiece etc etc.
Looking forward to the long BH weekend as nice when my youngest son who lives with us is off as well. Just making a Gousto Fish Rice  Curry for tea, only takes 15 minutes to prep and it’s a one pot pot meal  so hardly any tidying up. 

Love that the nights are getting lighter.

uralmaid

I am with you. Love a fireplace. It's the one thing we can't have here as there isnt a outside wall which we could have a woodburner on. The flue would have to go up through the bedroom as two bedrooms are dormers.  Also on the outside a flue would have to have numerous elbows to avoid windows.

Dizee123

We are lucky to have a chimney in our 30's bungalow and had a log burner put in 2 years ago.  This was mainly as an alternative source of heating when the gas boiler gave up the ghost in a January cold snap .
I think my best simple pleasure is sitting in front of it of an evening stroking the dog as he toasts himself nightly.  He is not going to be happy when it is too hot to light it anymore!