Things have been or have they?

Things have been quiet at home, the garden has been quiet too.
On tuesday some scaffolders appeared we had no warning of this. One of them knocked on the door and told Tony he needed to move his car so they could get the wagon in to put up the scaffolding. Now note I said told not asked. Tony did not take too kindly to this as you can imagine, but he politely asked the man where he expected him to put it. The man said " well if your going to be like that" and began to walk away. Tony pointed out to him outside our property we already had two cars parked that belonged to builders working over the other side of the road that runs along the bottom of ours, who used our street as a car park, and there really was an issue with parking. If he wanted us to move the car he would first have to get those two cars moved so we had somewhere to put it.
After much chunttering and phone calls to his boss, another workman was sent down the road and returned with builders from the site who were also chunttering, the two cars were moved, then Tony and Peter from next door moved their cars the scaffolding wagon plus two more that had appeared while all this was happening could get closer, the scaffolding was erected it took about three hours and that was the end of that. Now we had to wait for the council workmen to come to do whatever work it was they needed to do on the roof because still nobody had told us.
Tony and I decided to go to do a bit of shopping, yes you guessed when we got back we couldn't park outside because the council wagon was parked outside.
Tony asked what they were doing and why nobody had let us know. To which we were asked "did you report it? if you didn't you wouldn't be told, the person who reported it would". Well we had spoken to the lady down stairs who had reported a ridge tile in the garden weeks ago during the bad winds, but she had  not heard any more about it. So the council had not warned any of us they were coming, the work was finished the same day, which remember was tuesday!
 The scaffolders returned today, knocked on the door and said "please is it possible for you to move your car so we can get the wagon in to take down the scaffolding?"  Well they must have remembered from the last visit that a few manners help.

I was looking forward to a visit from Lynsey today but she texted me to say she couldn't make it, not to worry She say's she will be here next week. Emma had a stomach bug earlier in the week hopefully that will have cleared up, we don't want it passing on to the grandchildren.

So I suppose things haven't been that quiet really!

The singing Robin...

It was a cold crisp morning when I ventured down to the shed. I filled the feeder, the trays and the water bowls, now all I need is the birds and squirrels to photograph.
I have my flask, a cheese bagel, some ginger biscuits, an orange and my sony walkman, so I am prepared for a long wait!
I also have a book, at the moment I am reading "Secret Whispers" by Virginia Andrews. I have read all her books before but I am re-reading them, this is one of the up sides to having a bad memory you can never remember the end of a book you have read before. It also works the same way with films and television programmes, which comes in quite handy with all the repeats.

The first visitor to the garden was a Robin who posed very nicely for me then flew away. I didn't have to wait long before the garden had plenty more birds to occupy my time with.
I have noticed the Dunnocks have begun a bit of wing waving but I am just not quick enough to catch it on camera.

The snowdrops are all in flower now and the crocuses are budding, the daffodils look as though they will not be far behind Tony said earlier he will have to trim the bush soon, it does look a bit straggly.
The Robin has returned to sit on the fence at the side of the shed, he/she has been singing for 10 minutes or more and has just flown over to the bird table to eat.

 I am going in while the garden is quiet, no visit from the squirrels today it must be too cold for them.

I need a holiday...

The last few days have been lazy ones. In fact they have included at least one pyjama day, lots of hot chocolate, hot water bottles and watching TV in bed.
I have not felt like doing anything my get up and go, got up and left. My body ached from top to bottom, my mind didn't want to work either, so I just gave in and gave them both a rest.
Today Tony took us to Ikea to return a lampshade, we were not there long. It was full of screaming children and stressed parents, not a great place for an outing for someone who has a phobia about crowded noisy places and has just come out of hibernation. However I held my head up closed my ears to the noise and battled through, I survived the trip to Ikea.
When we arrived home a hot chocolate and a sit down soon had me back to my normal self.
I need a holiday...

My son knows how to make me proud...

The t-shirts were finished and delivered to the shop, the staff appeared pleased but then another disaster...
A spelling mistake, jewellery was misspelt. I had only put in one l (b*gg*r).
It was passed over with "it doesn't matter" so if they didn't mind why should I?
The next thing they wanted was photos taking, well I suppose I had to didn't I?
Tony and I both arrived at the shop cameras in hand, then we saw Christopher in the Cat cash suit, well laugh I had to.

I took some pictures, inside and outside the shop, he just makes me so proud! The best bit had to be when the lady walked up behind him pulled his tail, grinned at me and walked away.

We left for home to watch the rugby after that England won again.
Unfortunately the match due to be played between Ireland & France at Paris was postponed due to bad weather.
There was some great country music to replace it on the TV though so things were not too bad.

Good news for a change

I am pleased to be able to say Tony has been to see the spinal surgeon today and all is well.
Although Tony has to be careful, not turn any cartwheels or back flips he can lead a full and pleasureful life. Surgery is not needed (or not for the foreseeable future) he can relax and carry on. So it's about this staircase that needs decorating...
Tony was extremely interested in the photo's from the MRi he had done a while back, the surgeon showed him the discs that had moved, explained how one had moved back and a piece had broken off. The doctor explained that Tony's body will have scavenged this and this meant that the body would have healed itself  which was why the symptoms has subsided. You can imagine how impressed Tony was with that.
So being microwaved had been worth it he had been cooked just enough for his body to scavenge the bad bits and make him good again. (or something like that)

I promised to print some T-shirts only 3, a doddle I thought (oh yes!) but of course I should have known better. The first one fine no problem, the second oops thats not right, and of course it always happens when you have just enough paper to do the amount you needed.  I haven't attempted the 3rd yet.
So tomorrow I have to go for more paper, another T-shirt and of course it's my fault, so I can't charge more.

Next time think before you speak and say NO!

Shame about the car...

I ventured down to the shed this morning, it was freezing.
 The squirrel appeared soon after I had put out some food. She didn't bother with the nut's but went straight to the sunflower seeds and dried fruit I had put down for the birds.
Squirrel isn't greedy she eats enough but always leaves plenty for the birds.
It wasn't long before the birds started to appear, the sparrows first, followed by the starlings, the blackbirds and then a pair of robins.
A second squirrel came to the garden, I knew it was a different squirrel because one had a split in it's ear and the other one didn't and had slightly larger ears.
I had some live meal worms and had been a bit worried about how they would deal with such cold weather, I had no need to worry as the robins and starlings didn't give them long enough to care.
I stayed in the shed for about 2 hours but then the cold got the better of me and I had to return indoors (I usually have a portable gas heater but haven't had time to get a bottle yet). I have a few photo's which I will share with you once I have sorted through them and decided which are the best.

 We have snow forecast for tomorrow.
 Except for a quick visit to the supermarket for a few essentials we will not be going out, the Six Nations Rugby starts and it is  France against Italy first then, England playing Scotland  so we will be watching the match's, hopefully Tony will keep the noise to a minimum (and the swearing).

I have just received a phone call from Christopher (the son) to say him and his girlfriend were going to call in this evening but they have run into the back of a van so will not be coming. The important thing is they are both OK. Shame about the car...