[Insert standard disclaimer about frantic busyness here...]
K&K are off to Midsomer Norton (in Ken's case, to hunt for pink balloons. Long story involving a project where groups of people have 15 seconds on film to produce a story...) so I have a little time to myself...
I've lost track of what happened when, so will just note the things I remember.
Watched Battleship Island by myself. It's a very good, if grim film, not casual viewing at all but compulsive.
Last Fri I was all set to do a little more painting in the hall when Kim arrived. We'd talked about going out that day but not confirmed it... well, Kim had, earlier that morning by text, but I hadn't yet turned Sideswipe on. But it was fine - I hadn't started the painting and it only took me a couple of mins to change.
We had a lovely day out. I asked if we could go the easiest way to Almondsbury Garden Centre (which involved navigating the Cumberland Basin interchange: I paid close attention to the entire route). It takes us past the Riverside Garden Centre, which is also a favourite, so we stopped off for a quick look and for me to ask if they could supply us with large holly trees: they can't, but Chew Valley Trees can, and at a reasonable price too. (It's a 'last resort' contingency plan in case he causes any more damage. One or two of these behind the greenhouse would provide serious protection. That the shade they'd cast when they get bigger only allows moss to grow in their shadow is not my problem: I checked the bye-laws and one is permissible, at least!) I did find a little glass bauble for Ken to put his airplant in though, at £3.99, much cheaper than any others I've found, so picked one up.
The it was off to Almondsbury. The easiest route avoiding town is not that easy to memorise, so will have to give it a go once we have the car. Had a delicious lunch - bacon, Brie and cranberry panini, the best I've ever had there - then a slow wander (because hot) around. Found nice planters for my bamboo, and the washing basket with extendible legs I saw last time - so much easier that having to bend right down, which makes my back hurt (like this but fawn coloured and a lot cheaper!) It was so good to catch up on all the news too - really great day!
Over the weekend we repotted Rosa, shopped, tidied, and watched A Walk in the Clouds... It's nicely made, if very predictable, and Keanu is good in it, but it's hardly compulsive viewing. Pleasant enough to sit with while resting legs.
Phone call on Mon arranging police visit - 10 am on Friday...
Paul the builder came to measure the front to work out a price for the drive we want. It's a bit too pricey for us at the moment, but I reckon we'll have enough in a couple of months. In the meantime K&K have started levelling the raised grassy area to the left of the gate: they've removed the stone steps we had from the patio up to Kai's railway and levelled it into a much gentler slope - much easier for me to manage. Kai's using the turves and the rest of the soil for his project at the top of the garde: he's thinking of extending the railway, which will be fun!
So, yesterday, Friday 13th, usually a lucky day for me. Gareth the police officer arrived at 10.30 - half an hour late (he'd been at another 'incident' but the guy involved hadn't turned up). Was sympathetic and very helpful - but the police won't be able to press charges as, thanks to Kai's shady nook, which hides the greenhouse from the house pov, we didn't see who actually did the spraying (and BND says it was the lad he had helping him as due to his poor health he can't use the sprayer. Yeah, right. Ken took photos of him using it the following day). He couldn't say it wasn't his responsibility though, as even police could see it was deliberate. He has to arrange to have it cleaned.
It's not the outcome I'd hoped for, but it's a lot better than nothing, and at least proves I WILL NOT be bullied. I headed off to meet Ken from work to get a little shopping (hadn't decided on Fri and Sun dinners), and Ken suggested dinner at the Lodekka to save me having to cook. Between the stress and the heat I've had buggerall sleep this week. Rang Kai at home to let him know and get him to lock everywhere up, then Ken took the shopping back home while I went to reserve a table.
It was just after 4.30 pm, and not at all busy, so finding a nice seat in their 'conservatory' was easy: normally we'd avoid it in summer as it gets very hot, but we had clouds and rain - and thunder and lightning while we were shopping: wonderful! - and it was the coolest place in the building. And while waiting I scoured the menu and discovered a couple of new things: Friday is BOGOF day on burgers, (and I was fancying a burger too), and they have an informal 'over 60's club' (Mon-Fri Golden Years), with smaller portions (which I need as I just can't eat that much any more - between that and swimming I've lost half a stone in the last couple of months) at two courses for £4.99 (additional course for £1.50) which is really really good value! Shall give that a try next year...
They make up for it with their drinks though - £2.19 for a large diet Coke (and they only do large these days). I suppose that with less people drinking alcohol these days they have to recoup costs somehow.
K&K arrived - Kai had a double burger, I ordered a southern fried chicken, one of the tastiest burgers I've ever had, on BOGOF, and Ken had his usual fish and chips - and Kai told me that while I was gone, a woman came to the door and asked if it would be OK for 'them' to come round on Mon, 10.30 - 11, to clean the greenhouse. With hot soapy water.
...
Yeah, good luck with that. The first time he did this to my old greenhouse, it took me two hours of careful dabbing with nail varnish remover - the only thing I found that would remove it. It's not paint, it's coloured wood preservative, a completely different substance. So unless they've changed the formula, nothing else will work.
Will let you know what happens.
Dinner was very nice, most enjoyable. When we got back we watched Green Zone, which was interesting but a little too cerebral for me, knackered as I was. Will have to watch again when I'm more awake.
And so to today. I'm currently trying to get next!Poppy sorted, working on a small series of Animal Avatar articles that Soul and Spirit might be interested in (I've written for them before), and wrestling with a synopsis for a wip, Freedom of Flying Horses (not at all keen on title but it'll do for now), as a companion book to Wisdom of Unicorns. Not likely to ever be as popular, but I want to write it for my own satisfaction, so if a publisher is interested... we'll see.
And that's about it. Ken and I are planning to go to Hurrans tomorrow, via Pet@Home for crickets for Rosa and Halford for P plates. The hunt for the car is proceeding slowly: at the moment my instinct is to go with Motorzone (Tiley have some dreadful reviews), or see about another seller elsewhere in the city. But I liked Motorzone. Like the feel of the place and their attitude was great. Again, we'll see!
Time to put a DVD on - Wimbledon is about to start - again. Have had Lord of the Rings on in the background last couple of days: time for Return of the King!
Labels: Almondsbury Garden Centre, days out, films, garden
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Joules *Dances with Haddock* Taylor
pontificated this at 12:04 pm
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