Week 14

Week 14 I think and still blogging - not sure how I've managed it and how much longer I will do my weekly round-up.  The last 2 days have been blooming hot - over 30 degrees both days and the overnight rain and thunderstorms lasted about half an hour I think.  Not really enough to clear the air and dissipate the heat.   I've been out for a walk this morning - only a gentle stroll across the local park but it's uphill and hot and sticky and I'm now stuck to the settee!

Only news this week is that I've actually been into town shopping - that must be 15 weeks since I last went.   I only went as Shoezone are shutting down and I wanted some new sandals to slob around the house in and some new exam shoes should we ever do any exams.  Some nice comfy shoes to stand in for 6hrs and with nice soft soles to not make a noise and disturb the students. Also useful for sneaking up on the misbehaving ones and catching them in the act!!

Next week my daughter has taken the week off work so I've booked for us to go to Nymans NT gardens - another local property.  I was trying to get tickets for Sheffield Park but the only slots available had only 1 ticket - not much use for 4 of us.  Sheffield Park is renowned for it's autumn colour so we tend to visit in October and sometimes in the Spring but have never visited in the Summer - they've had a waterlily festival the last couple of years but not seen them so that would have been nice. Never mind a walk will be good no matter where.

So next week I'll have photos to cheer this up - until then, stay safe and well.

Elaine xx

Week 13 - Still counting

Good morning one and all.   Yet again I've not done much exciting so I'm going to be a true Brit and talk about the weather.   Whilst it's been quite warm, we've had some short spells of thunder and torrential downpours.   The white rose on the front has been battered and to be honest, it looks like snow outside with all the white petals on the ground.

Other local news - we live about 10m from Gatwick Airport so are used to seeing planes skirting round town on their way to land.  However planes have virtually stopped - we've seen the Spitfire on VE Day and the odd light aircraft.  Lately it seems the RAF have been practicing their circuits and bumps at Gatwick so the highlight of people's days are the big freight airbuses going overhead.

Last Thursday we booked to go to Standen, our local NT property and whilst the forecast was for rain, it stayed dry and sunny.  There was a one way system so we sauntered and really didn't see many people. I did bump into a friend who was sat with 2 others - they all work in the house, but have no idea when it will open again.  Also they were saying a lot of the house stewards are well over 70 so can't go out either.  Hopefully everything will sort itself out shortly and we can all go out without worrying too much.   Having said that it has made most people more polite in the shops and park so that's a good thing.   Anyway I will leave you with more photos......

Stay safe everyone

Elaine xx

Week 12 - Staying in

Well this is going to be a very short post - I've stayed in and done nothing much exciting.

I'm at the pottering stage, in the garden, round the house tidying bits, across the park and painting down the Rifle Club.  The majority of the painting has been done - it was bright yellow with blue panelling below.  Whoever painted it previously made it look like a kid's playschool.  It's now magnolia at the top and a pale green below to match the dark green carpet tiles.  These colours were chosen about 4 years ago (nobody did any painting) and were to match the curtains which have now been replaced with blinds.  However it is nearly done, all the rammel has been thrown out, windows cleaned etc ready for re-opening who knows when.

After crossing all our events off the calendar, tomorrow I have booked to go to Standen which is our nearest National Trust property so we will go for a walk, in the rain.  My daughter who has been working from home hasn't been outside for nearly 13 weeks - hope she remembers where she left her shoes!!

Well that's it.  No photos.  Nothing exciting.  Just staying in, keeping safe!!

Elaine xx

Week 11 Lockdown (sort of)

Another week has gone by and nothing much changes - the TV pictures and news gets worse by the minute and today Boris has said he is taking direct control of the crisis.   It does make you wonder who has been in charge over the last 11 weeks.

Rant over.  The weather has been glorious but is set to change.  As I said to the lady in front of me in the supermarket queue (only 6 of us so not bad) look at the positives, we haven't had to stand out here in the rain at all.   We are now starting to get drought warnings here in the south-east - blamed on all those people who never washed their hands before!

Yesterday we actually drove out of town - one mile, to the local nursery to get some bedding plants.  So I spent a couple of hours digging out my tulips and daffs and planted all my pots up again - it was blooming hot !!  My garden news for this week - I put some old grapes on the bird table and a jackdaw had them all.  Never seen one in my garden before and he was too quick to get a photo.  I stood very still on the patio with my camera, he was watching me, as soon as I looked away, he nabbed them!

Today's photo is the Kiftsgate Rose on front of the house.  It usually flowers for my daughter's birthday next week.  When she was born, the midwife refused to come in the house as she was admiring the rose.  We hadn't noticed in our chaos and that was the first time it flowered so we always remember.  This year it started coming out about 2 weeks ago, it smells gorgeous and is humming with bees.

Anyway, that's my ramblings for the week.  Stay safe everyone.

Elaine xx