A Cold Lazy Saturday

I had a much better sleep last night and have felt more refreshed today. I think I'm finally beating the jet lag at last. I haven't ventured out today though except for a brief dash out into the garden, It's dry sunny and very cold outside with a harsh Artic wind. The sunrise this morning from my bedroom window was a n unbelievable brilliant red, not a good omen though if you believe the 'Old Wives Tales'

We're told to expect snow next week by the Met men. Since we had so much snow while we were in Canada I fully expect we'll have more dumped on us again. The early spring flowers below are defying the cold weather. They certainly cheer me up when I look out into the rather bleak garden. Well the flowers and the birds. The little robins been foraging for food around the garden. I see little flashes of his orange/red breast darting in and out of the bushes and I hear his loud, solo song during the night on my trek to the bathroom.

My lovely double snowdrops and wild self seeded primroses.

I decided today I should sort out my yarn stash. Pants (Nancylee) had packed it in a vacuum bag to make the pile smaller in my luggage.I tipped it all out onto the spare bed and added the stash I'd already accumulated. What a pile! It took a while to sort and packed it into ziplock bags to protect it. Now I need to make room for it in my office as it takes up three draws in the guest room. We've had a log fire today to insulate us from the creeping cold and save on gas of course. The resident 'log splitter' braved the chilly weather this afternoon and split another pile of logs ready to burn. You can't beat a log fire for warmth and ambience. Just a pity about the mess it can make.

Nearly Canadian Dave, the wood cutter!

The Jet Lag Continues

When I said yesterday that the jet lag was subsiding. I lied. Last night I managed just a measly three hours sleep. I did want to go swimming this morning but decided to go home after dropping Dave at work. I thought I could read and nap but I went the whole hog and went back to bed. And slept for another three hours. It's got me through the rest of the day though.

Unpacking two months worth of 'stuff' from suitcases takes a little time. The cases are now stowed away in the attic once more. The big problem that's troubling me now is finding room for all those new acquisition's (read clothes!) It's rather like stuffing a quart into a pint pot. They wont go. We need a radical rethink of wardrobe/draw space. I had a drastic turnout to charity shops a few months ago so that's not an option. We should have listened to me before we went to the 'shop till you drop' capital. I said we shouldn't buy more new clothes! Why didn't we listen? I still think the small bedroom should become a walk in wardrobe. Sorry G but you haven't been to stay with us for absolutely ages now and if you did you'd have to sleep in the 'big peoples' room. You don't mind. Good. Now what do I do with a spare bed? Oh I cant think this out now. I'm off to bed.
Goodnight.

The Jet lag is beginning to subside and I've not been quite so tired today. Got to get back into the thick of it tomorrow so I must set my alarm clock tonight as my bio clocks still not quite on British time yet!

We had the roofers in today so hopefully no more rain leaks now in our bedroom. Apparently there's a probability it had been leaking for a long time and maybe even since the house was built as the leak was due to some shoddy building. The felt on the roof where the window apex joins the roof was not wide enough. Or something like that!

We've been out furniture hunting today as we both need new comfortable chairs and a renovation in the lounge. I can't tell you how many chairs we tried out, but we eventually made a preliminary decision. The purchase will be delayed until I have the kitchen renovation well in hand. I think project managing that will be quite a challenge. The 'other half 'has fancy ideas and we only have a limited budget. Should be fun though. Mmmm........... or will it!

Haven't had the camera out today but was looking through the album. Thought you might like this one from ..............oh so long ago...............too long. But maybe I wasn't such a bad looking bird then. What was that about age and withering.........

Oh and I found this piece in the International News...............................

+Seven diners in northern Japan fell ill after eating blowfish testicles prepared in a restaurant not authorised to serve the poisonous delicacy.

The owner of the restaurant in Tsuruoka city, who is also the chef, had no license to serve blowfish and was being questioned on suspicion of professional negligence, police official Yoshihito Iwase said.

Blowfish, while extremely poisonous if not prepared properly, is considered a delicacy in Japan and is consumed by thrill-seeking gourmets.

I cant say I liked sushi when I tried it................... I like the idea even less now, Ive eaten Sharks fin, birds nest soup squid, Chickens feet, and all sorts of other dubious food considered delicacy but ............Poisonous blowfish testicles Uggg.. No way man!

Home Sweet Home

Well I'm back, not quite into the old routein yet. We needed a meal out last night. I'm very badly jet lagged today. I slept most of the afternoon but was still tired when I managed to pull myself back into the land of the living. I just hope I'm not up roaming the house again at three o'clock in the morning again.

It was bright sunshine when I arrived back in Heathrow, but this morning, Oh dear, grey skies and pouring rain. There's been quite a bit of rain recently as well as very cold temperatures. The pond is almost brimming over but the fish were up and swimming this morning , not skulking away at the bottom as they do when the weathers cold. The temperature this morning was about 6 degrees but it felt colder to me.

The warm snuggly coat I bought in Vancouver to cope with all the weeks of snow and below freezing temperatures (which the Canadians insist they never have on the lower mainland of Vancouver!) wasn't coping keeping me so warm for some reason this morning in the horrible cold rain.

Well I got my wish of a white Christmas. We had snow from December 12th and there were still heaps of unmelted snow lying when I left yesterday, or was it the day before! Apparently Nancy woke up to another sprinkling of the white stuff yesterday. That would be when I was in the air flying home.

Dave took me grocery shopping across at Hampton this morning. Needs must. The fridge was bare as I found out at 3am when I was starving hungry. A mug of horlick had to suffice.

My orchids are flowering their little socks off! The green cymbidium has three flower spikes with three more coming. The red one has three flowering spikes. There are snowdrops and crocus out in the garden. The daffodils are shooting up as well and the lenten roses are flowering away. Springs definitely on the way.
One thing I missed when I was in Canada were the little garden birds and their singing. The blue tits, great tits gold finches and green finches were all at the feeding stations this morning twittering away. Even the cheeky squirrel put in an appearance.

The wet weather has played havoc with our house roof. We've small damp patches on our bedroom ceiling where rain has penetrated. Dave hadn't noticed it as it's across my side of the bedroom. We've a Roofer coming tomorrow morning to look at the damage. Hope it's not too bad, but I've also notices long hair line cracks in the ceiling that were not there when we went away in early December. I suppose houses have to show their age as well!

One year of Bloging

Today is the first anniversary of my blog I started it exactly one year ago today. Soon we will be saying Bonn Voyage to 'Blighty' again for a couple of month When we fly off back to Vancouver for yet another extended vacation.

Last year after I came home from Canada they had several snowfalls. I'm hoping well get some when we're over there this Christmas. That would just make it for me a White Christmas. I think in 44 years of marriage we've had about 3 White Christmases. One of them was the first year we married. Perfect.

Kobe

Alot of people have asked me what sort of dog I have when I buy large sacks of dog food. None I reply . It's my son's dog. He's a Neapolitan Mastiff. A what.............?

Well 6 years ago No. 2 son, Darrin, needed a dog. We suggested a rescue dog. No....no way. It had to be a large dog. He wanted a Neapolitan Mastiff! So several weeks later after an intensive internet search we drew up at an isolated farm house in deepest Essex. As soon as we emerged from the car this large six week old puppy bounded up and Darrin was hooked.

Bon-e-part his pedigree Kennel club name was the most boisterous of the litter. His father weighed in at 18 stone. Nothing disturbed us, the puppies were all so cute. We all were doggie novices although Darrin had some experience with a girl friends dog and he had 'jenned' up on the breed and dog care.

So Bon-e-Part now renamed Kobe, (after the Japanese City) came home with us. He cried, he was car sick and he (sorry) farted all the way home! Kobe (the city) had suffered a massive earthquake a few years before. Kobe (the dog) grew to cause earthquakes. Never never never buy the alpha dog in a litter!!!!

At 6 weeks old he looked so cuddly and soon settled in Darrin's large flat. Carpets were out of the question.

At 3 years, and still not fully grown he had to be banned from our sofa when he came to visit.
Now at 6 years old he's now a fully grown mature dog with teenage attitude problems. He's so soppy and friendly and likes allot of fuss but he's smelly, slobbery and constantly moults. He's had a few spell when he's had to come and live with us. Nightmare! I'm sure dog slobber could be collected and sold for glue! Once it's on the walls or window it's a really, really tough job to get off. On the last visit he was banned from the house but was quite happy in my studio with the patio door open so he could roam outside when he wanted.

He loves the walks around here and sniffs the base of every single tree so its a gentle walk until he realises we're on the way home then there's no stopping him. He gallops home dragging poor me behind him!

In the garden he drinks from the old washing up bowl. He slurps and splashes the water so much it has to be outside.

Oh and despite being car sick he really loves my car. Its an estate car but he will not stay in the back though. Oh no, he jumps in the rear door then, over onto the back seat and and sits there breathing in my ear as I'm driving. Just what you need, smelly breath and slobber in your neck when your driving.

Winter Flowers

Our orchids will soon need to be repotted. They're bursting out of the plastic pots they are confined in. They do like their roots confined but when they crack their pots it's time to upgrade. They've been sitting outside all summer, shaded from the little sun we had and exposed to all the rain. It must have done them good as the flower spikes are shooting up and the buds already opening.

This red orchid refused to flower last year but is making up for it this year. It was Dave's birthday present about four years ago.

Dave loves these waxy flowers but I must admit I'm not so taken.

Out in the garden the deep purple leaves of the Cotinus or 'smoke bush' have turned pinky red and orange. Soon the branches will be bare but I can enjoy these brilliant colours for a few more days yet.

This little pink ground cover rose has always lived in this pot so doesn't always flower as prolifically as it ought to but despite the cold and frosts its still flowering it's socks off.

The buds of the Christmas roses or Lenten roses are poking through the ground and will soon be out in full flower. I have several clumps of these plants dotted around the garden, most self seeded, and they make a cheerful display in the bare winter garden. I usually have a table arrangement of these lovely winter flowers on the Christmas table. This year I'm going to miss the best of their display. I wonder could I pot some and smuggle them with me to Canada. Perhapse not. I tried to find some plants over in Canada a couple of years ago when I was doing some planting in Nancy's garden.