So Guernsey was a success and it was even sunny which makes a nice change, as I have now come back to rain and cold again - what is going on!
Me rehearsing Papageno. Look at my poor broken finger but I've now removed the bandage, hooray.
and the same bit in performance - attempting suicide because I didn't get the girl yet - don't worry, I do in the end.
The garden looks happy enough though even with the poor weather. I have been out tying up the climbing rose at the front - I always dreamed of a cottage with roses growing up it and now I seem to have my dream as a reality. I think I will shop for some more roses because I love them so much, will grow another climber up a different wall.
I did a rather dubious looking soil test before I went away and it seems my soil is very acidic (although not sure how much I trust the b and q test as it just looked soil coloured for a long time). I think if this is the case I am supposed to add lime to the soil so I will do some research this week, sounds good for some azaleas though and I do love those.
My broken finger is now without bandage and although it is a bit stiff it seems just fine, it seems I will play the piano again!
This week is going to be all about laziness and enjoying myself. I hope we have a bit of good weather because I would really like to spend some time in the garden.
The Elderflower champagne is coming on nicely. I let a bit of gas out when I came back today because I believe exploding bottles is a big problem with it and it seems to be fizzing up nicely. Elderflower is still out here so when we have a dry day I will collect some more and make some cordial. It is delicious and great for presents too. I think it is lovely on a dark cold winter day to have a nice taste of summer elderflowers. Can't believe how much it goes for in the shops when it is so cheap to make, but I am glad not everyone makes it because it leaves more flowers for me.
Will catch up with all your blogs now. Bye for now.
I have just seen something on the local news programme about making elderflower cordial - they are encouraging people to collect them in bin bags in return for money from a commercial producer - my guess is that the flower heads are so light you would have to collect a helluva lot to make any money out of it.
ReplyDeleteSounds a bit cheeky to me!
DeleteJohn anders away singing "match maker match maker" from Fiddler on the roof!
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteHi Dan
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week off and I pray for good weather for you and for me as I live in the North West as well. I also love roses, they are so timeless and they smell gorgeous when you walk past them. Glad the finger is mending. Take care xx
Thank you, we seem to be alternating between sunshine and torrential downpours today. Last night saw me outside with emergency canes and string tying up my poor windswept lupins. One got snapped and I was not going to lose any more!
DeleteI just found your blog and became a follower (: Can't wait to come back for more posts! May you have a lovely week of holiday...enjoy, treat yourself and bask in the glow of relaxation (;
ReplyDeleteMichele
xoxo
Hello, thank you for joining! You are very welcome. I am doing all of those things and feel very relaxed.
DeleteHi Dan - Wood burners - they cost a lot but will increase the sell a bility of your house, keep you really warm for less and save you money when you've got one. We have a franco belge - £800, the chimney adaptation and chimney lining, baffle plate ect cost about £1000 and the fitting was £750. Our son rebuilt the chimney breast for us and we had to buy a hearth for another £150 (including the cutting and the dressing of the slate)including materials for the rebuilding of the chimney breast and chimney it was about £3000 - to heat my house to the temp that the fire can get the house, would cost £50 a week and we're still using it at the weekends as it's still only about 11 degrees in the evening. It is expensive but a good investment - I marked exams twice in one year to buy it but I'm glad I did
ReplyDeleteYes, I had a quote for £3000 so I was expecting that. Will take quite a long time of saving, but I do, also, think that it would be worth it. The central heating is on rarely because it is so expensive and so I am cold quite a lot of the time. i think it would be lovely to have the wonderful heat of a wood burner. One day for sure!
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