WOYWW #586

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top to the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.
The Desk . . . . .

Not much going on round here at the mo . . . .Just the laptop and a bottle of water . . . Having spent yesterday at our local hospital being cared for by all the angels and saints, I am 'resting' today.  I had awoken in dreadful pain, which had every indication of being a kidney stone so it was fast tracking to the local!
After administering painkiller (Thank you Phillip) examinations and CT Scans, it was decided it was not kidney stones, although I may have passed them during the day as I was encouraged to drink water . . . .  and drink water . . . .and drink  . . . . .
They hoped that it was just a pulled muscle or two after I had helped DDN move some furniture around . . . . . in my effort to get the house sorted.
So here I am, updating paperwork, clearing old paperwork and, at times, painting patterns  . . .  and watching the wind blow the bamboo almost horizontal . . . . in between the showers of course.

Hope your weather is better than ours but if it isn't then button down the hatches and sit tight . . . . I understand Gin helps!

Lego Day!!!

We have always been big Lego fans in this family, we have two rather large containers full of the bricks and instruction pages up in our loft.
PJ had made his mind up that Little Soldier (no longer a little soldier but DX!) was able to have a go . . . . .
Now it just so happened that we had to go out over to the Northside so we made a detour to Smyth's (the toyshop!!) and managed to find some Lego that made us all happy.

Once we were home and settled, we started to open the boxes . . . . we decided on the Spider-man Robot and were suprised to find three bags of bricks inside.
We sorted the 'map book' and opened the first bag.

Now 'we' have a routine for building with new Lego kits so of course Dx was taught this way. 

He found page one, sorted the bricks he needed and started to fix them together. 

Grandad needed to help as neither Dx or I could push them together tight enough.

The first page completed!!!


Dx was hooked on Lego!!!  Yeah!!!



Concentration was full on . . . . . . just a check now and again . . . .



Something was being built . .


. . and then the second lesson of the day . . . .  you can't break Lego . .

. . if you play rough it dismantles and you have to build it again!!

After two hours we have Spider man nearly completed . . . . to be finished next visit!!!

What a brill day!!

Can't wait to see his face when, eventually, the Lego tubs come downstairs!

It takes a lot of patience to let a child begin a new adventure and not show the way,  just to tell him what to look for, what to do, but it is so worthwhile when they see what they have achieved.

WOYWW #585

In the cool, using Legacy Blogger and hoping I remember to publish and . . . . link up . . . Hello to fellow deskers!
There's been a lot going on round here and I really was so disheartened by the 'New' Blogger that I have not been using the old laptop until this last weekend.  There has been reports by fellow bloggers that the 'new' Blogger has some amendments so I came back . . . no different to me so I have reverted to Legacy . . .
But you are here to see the desk . . .

I am working my way through the box of magazines.

It's a very interesting time I must admit, although very discouraging to see how much MORE stash I have!!





I break while the rain stops and go pick some beans . . . .  our first pickings.


I am not allowing them to grow to a 'reasonable' size as I tend to leave them to grow on and then they are stringy and get wasted.

We have lots more waiting in the wings or should I say atop the nasturtiums!


I had a little walk round while out in the fresh air and notice that the 'Arrow Head' plant in the pond has come into flower . . .  rather pretty . . .

Just for your information, if you happen to visit Buckingham Palace, we had our 'Wind Anemones' before the Queen!!  

They have spread themselves all along the wall under the Pieris and look as though they will be exceptional this year.

We are still self isolating somewhat as neither of us has much confidence in going out.  We have managed some outings for the necessities, not crowded small places except for Castle out at Studley.  I just love their fruit and veg, reasonably prices, no plastic and fresh, FRESH!
My Bite (The one on my back where I thought some monster was hanging on for grim death sting) is starting to go down now after DDN gave me some cream and PJ's bruises are starting to appear . . .  we have to laugh at ourselves sometimes.   We are using the wet weather as an excuse to stay indoors, not that we are any safer inside . . .  lol

Flump is two!!

We are still not going out very much, just for necessities and to places that we know won't be crowded.
Flump's birthday cannot be missed!
So here we are all gathered . . . .socially distanced in the garden!



The birthday boy wore his own special birthday suit to open his presents and this duck was the best!!!

There was lots of food, it kept appearing until everyone declared they were almost full and only had room for some cake.




The cake was duly brought out with candles ablaze and then, only then, could the cake be inspected . .


. .   and it was agreed it was the perfect cake!!

The Birthday Boy had the first slice and said it was really good!

Of course we all agreed!!!

Helped the Aged

PJ has made a start on replacing the roof on the Chicken Ranch.  He has put up the new, long pole so that the tarpaulin can form a pointed roof, no rain staying in pools any more.
The pole stretches across the top at an angle, lower at the rear of the ranch, and the tarpaulin should drape over this.
The next day, PJ started work on putting the tarpaulin up and managed to fall off the ladder.  He is fine but we think he has hurt the ligaments in his left leg, along with the usual cuts and bruises . . . .
The roof will have to wait.
I happened to mention this to DDN when she came to drop my shopping off and Help the Aged went into action!!!

DDN and her partner AJ appeared back here a few minutes later and whoosh!!!


Out came the tarp, ladders and rope.


AJ at the rear and DDN at the front and the tarp was soon pulled into place




The chickens had to come and have a moan, they just don't like upset  . . . .


AJ put the ropes through and tied it down at the corners while DDN managed to tie the sides.



Within the hour, they had cleared up and returned home leaving two happy people here.

The chickens will like it if they did but know!


 Two hours later and  . . .  just look at that rain . . .  happy chickens, happy me and happy PJ!!

I have reverted to legacy blogger for this post . . . . . I cannot cope with the new version

Over to the North side for scaffolding . . .

We really need a new roof on our Chicken Ranch.
We think that the fox has been trying to get in as the heavy duty plastic is torn in a couple of places, could be a pigeon as it bathes in the puddles I suppose, but whatever . . . .  a new roof is called for.
PJ ordered the Tarpaulin and then we went over to fetch some new scaffolding 'stuff' (a technical term!)
We picked up Little Soldier on the way over and set off for the northern climes . . . . . PJ has more knowledge of this area than me, it's all foreign and they talk Black Country so I can't understand most of them . . . . .

We found the scaffolding firm after much time spent in traffic jams and the boys went to find 'someone who knows'.
We had to go park the car round the back and so the fun began . . .

Piles of boards, steel poles etc.









. . . . even a truck, the driver of which told us about a park not too far away . . . .


The car was duly loaded and the 'flag' tied on the back end of the pole.





After some refreshment off we went again to find the park.

On the way we came to a place called Barr Beacon. 




I haven't been here since my children were young, I won't tell you how long ago that was!!
This place did not fail us.


There was the War Memorial at the highest point of the hill. 
We could park the car quite close so there was no long walk to reach it.

In the centre was the dial, photo bombed by some peanuts . . .

. . . anyone find the squirrels?




We looked out in the direction of where we live, away on the horizon. 

We did see some other landmarks. . . .  they appeared very tiny . . . .

The dial told us what we were looking at . . .





Time to go find those pesky squirrels and then head back to the car.


The squirrels never made an appearance so back in the car we went to try and find the park.

We drove round for some time and then magic granddad found the playground, just by some more woods  . . . but the playground, with ice creams (of course!!), took precedence.

After the icecreams, we left all our belongings with 'bag sitter in chief' and went off to play . . . .


Eventually we went for a wander into the woods, deep inside we went by alas! and alack!  no squirrels . . . . we left the peanuts spread around just in case they came later.

Time to go home now, to unload the scaffolding and return Little Soldier to his house!!

Althorp House 2019

Last year I was treated to a day out at Althorp House.  I can't recall ever hearing about it but DDN was very interested in going.  We started out early and, being us, arrived before it opened.  

No problem as it was nearly coffee time and we had just passed a super little pub, Althorp Coaching Inn.

The pub dates back to the 16th Century and is gorgeous!  The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Althorp House is a magnificent building.  Think Versailles (before it was tarted up!) and the grounds spectacular. 

We traversed round the house, in an orderly fashion and with very helpful and informative staff at every corner, amazed at the furniture and . . oh! well! you know what these old houses are like!!!  

The Library was particularly amazing.  I am not showing photos of inside the house as you really need to visit or 'google' it.

We came out of the house into the gardens and started our walk round.  

The gardens were laid out so that you could visit along walks, view all the trees which were magnificent or go straight down to 'the lake'.

I was not prepared for the view as we entered into this part of the grounds.

                               

                              

The lake itself is so natural, very large, and the Memorial to Dianna just off to the side.

We walked all round the lake, there are benches at regular intervals so that one can sit and rest or survey or ponder. 

I cannot put into words how this part of the grounds made me feel.  

I was overcome with all the memories, as were several others also walking the lake, and it was good to just sit at times  . . . .

Dianna's resting place is perfect, her plinth can just be seen above the greenery under the trees on the island.  

There is a small jetty with two cushions of flowers which I thought was a nice touch.

We left this area and walked back to the house by a different path until we reached the formal gardens which enabled us to visit the cafe in the stable block.  

Such a friendly (expensive but so naice) place, we sat actually in the stables which was brill.  

The area round the courtyard houses the toilets and an art gallery and the inevitable shop. 

 I was treated to a new hat which naughty DDN bought while I sorted through the postcards for sale!  I am in love!!! and yes, I have worn it . . . . on special occasions of course!

All too soon it was time to come home but what a lovely day.  The sort of day that stays with you and pops into your mind now and again and makes you smile and feel all warm inside.

Here's a few more photos of the day . . . . . 

 Stupid layout by kind permission of 'New' Blogger