October ...

... 31st and it's hot out there - I mean, HOT!  Phone app told me it was 17c - it lied.  

Then it said it was 18c.  It still lied.  Car tells me it's 19c ... in the shade and that's nearer the truth *shock*.  

(Just realised I've not changed the car clock following daylight saving change at the weekend - oops!  That's actually 13:02)

Put a thermometer on one of our garden chairs on the patio and .....15 minutes later it read 28c  That I believe - ROFL!  

Beautiful day.  Better than some we had through the summer.  Could our seasons be changing gradually?  Leaves are brown and dropping and we've some beautiful autumnal colours but temperatures like this, this late in the year???  It's November tomorrow, for heavens sake!

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What a week ...

... weatherwise!  Monday we had the worst storm, wind and rain wise, for many a year.  Winds of 99mph were recorded not that far from us but the storm passed over the North Sea to Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands were the winds were recorded at around 120mph.  There was a bit of damage in our area but not that much.  Hubby's shed lost some of it's roofing felt, which is now being dealt with, and a fence panel, which was already loose, became looser and that has been dealt with.  Other than that there's not been a lot going on of any note.  

I did sell my bow again and for a LOT more than it sold for originally.  Quite a bidding war went on at the end.  An American was after it and he was determined but not quite as determined as a Brit was.  Good to know there were people out there that new the worth of the bow and I know, because of that, it's gone to a good home :)

We've found the guys that did most of the work in our house back in the early to mid 90s.  We have been more than pleased with what they did and we've called them back to deal with what we want doing now.  Just wish we'd found them last year when we were after having the bathroom remodelled.  They did the bathroom in the first place and we would have been more than happy to have them redo it.  Didn't happen but now we've found them again they're not getting away again!  We have a long list and they can deal with it all ..... new floors, new woodwork, decorating .... a complete transformation.  We've made a start as we've had a new boiler and a new gas fire with surround fitted over the summer.  Don't think it will be complete by Christmas but we're in no hurry.  Would rather time and care was taken as it has to last ... at least, the flooring does.  I can go shopping for wallpaper and then furniture.  Excited!

Now, what photos?   Way back in August 2012 a group of us went to a beading class in Fareham.  Squished into a very unsatisfactory space as a workroom with access to an old outside loo we were given beads, needle, Fireline and an instruction leaflet and pretty much left to get on with it. Fine for those experienced in this type of thing but pretty much useless for those of us that weren't.  Anyway, with a little lot of help from our friends, for some of us, we produced a beaded necklace that was actually quite pretty.  Could see ways it could be improved but I was pleased with my effort ....

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Seems as though ...

... there's not much going on in my life at the moment :0(  I've been having some bad nights of late and can't blame it all on the weather - which has been very hot and oppressive the past few days. The sleeplessness started last week before the heatwave hit. There's been a definite drop in temperature over the last couple of hours though so reckon it'll be back to more normal temperatures for this part of the world tomorrow.  Hoping so *grin*.

India is looking even more likely for mine and Jackie's next jaunt although but still got quotes to gather for other parts of the world.

Dad seems no worse for his fall on Friday. He had a visit from a physio yesterday morning. A really nice young guy. Did I say young? I think I'm getting old 'cos I opened the door to him and he certainly didn't look old enough to be a qualified physio but he obviously is. He had Dad grinning quite soon into the visit so that's a good thing. He had him doing a few simple exercises which Dad seemed to enjoy. He was left with a sheet to remind him what to do and the physio is coming back in 3 weeks to see how he's getting on. He has been warned not to hold his breath 'cos I can't see Dad doing the exercises when nobody is there. He's supposed to do them 3 to 5 times a day ...... ! Seems that the main problem, although it started with the osteoarthritis in his knees, is now really the tightness of his muscles. He's to work on stretching and softening them, especially behind his knees. That area feels rock hard! I've to go and buy him an adjustable foot stool so that he can put his feet up and allow gravity to help straighten his legs ... over time. He's supposed to help by pushing gently on his knees while his legs are stretched out but don't think that's gonna happen. The why's and wherefores have been explained to him so we're hoping, when he's had a chance to think about it, he will understand and remember to do the exercises.

Dad, on my visit last Tuesday, with head in his daily - *lol*

 Dad, on Friday, after his fall and the paramedic visit, waiting for the paramedic practitioner to come and deal with his head wounds.  Love the hat Dad - bless!  Fortunately it was discarded once the pp had been but was replaced with the stitches on the lip (his top left) after the hospital visit.

I've done a bit of sorting of some crafty stuff and I've found bits I no longer want, or need. I've decided to have an 'Items for Sale' page on here but separate to the main blog so, if anyone's interested then look for the tab at the top of the blog, under the header, and go see what goodies I'm offloading - *LOL* As and when I add new stuff I'll post to say I've done so 'cos I don't think page updates feed through like blog posts do to Reader or any other subscription.

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Not a lot ...

... going on today.  Should have been but there wasn't!  Cleared away the loads of CDs I'd spread all over the lounge (yep, we used to take the Daily Mail - *lol*) 

then decided to sort out some more photos .... 

Sunday 26th June at the House Party weekend.

The microlight flights never happened.  We never got a phone call :0(  They were flying from early in the morning as I heard them before 8am but guess either they didn't think we were serious, the insurance etc. wouldn't allow or the person themselves had other things to do.  May be worth looking at arranging something in advance for future visits .... mmmmmmmm! Anyways, the weather was beautiful and, although I'm sure some crafting went on I can't find any evidence of it amongst the photos I took during the day :0) 

Think I'll let the photos do the talking for the rest of this one - *ROFL* 

He's still there - just a little bit less than before.  He's lost a little bit more every visit :0(

The access lane looking towards the main road - it's a long way, especially as I was about ¼ of the way down it.

 From the south, through the crop fields (cottages on right of photo)

One airstrip at bottom of the path above.  I saw no microlights :0( but I did see ...

... a plane!  I watched it taxi for some way, turn round and take off then ...

... I walked where I saw it taxi.

South-west cottage view ... from the runway.

Cottages from the west

Spent what seemed like hours trying to get a good photo of some of the many swallows and their nests - and failing miserably!

Sun worship ...

 ... and the end result - ooops!

Can you relax any more than this?

Sunday evening BBQ - excellent!

 The whole shebang, en masse!

l-r:  Lynn, Cal, Chris, Jennie, Debs, Cally, Pam (me), Toni, Greta, Kim (partially hidden), Cathy (doing her best to hide), Trace, Jackie, Nita and last, but by no means least, Susan.

SAD!

A visitor - Bella, who came to meet her Mum, Toni, who had to leave us Sunday evening.

I was told I wasn't to socialise *grin*

A sunset ...

 ... and a seranade?  Debs had gone to bed *LOL*

And so our weekend came to an end and we all packed up and were on our way by 10am the following morning.  Looking forward to the next one now but I think I really should get the unmade shoebox cards I bought home, made!

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Bliss ...

... my hot crystal massage this afternoon. It was a Christmas pressie - well, the voucher I paid with was - from eldest and his partner.  Only just got round to using it but it was much appreciated.  

Weather's not too good at the moment.  Sunshine and showers for the past few days and, although the showers have been few and far between, they've been quite heavy when we've had them.  Think we've been lucky again compared with most parts of the country but then I guess that depends how you look at it.  If you're a gardener or farmer perhaps they don't feel the same way :0(

I've spent the afternoon converting WMA files into MP3s. I ripped a few CDs a while ago for my MP3 player, which successfully downloaded to it and it's been listened to. My new car has a facility to play MP3 music discs as well as ordinary CDs. I'm assuming that the files for that will definitely need to be MP3, hence the conversions. In future I shall be ripping in MP3 format - *LOL* I found some really good free software that's converted them all for me though so it's been pretty easy, peasy :0) Anyways, the idea was that I could get hundreds of tooons onto a DVD and have hours of music medley, from rock to classics (I have a very broad taste in music *grin*). Now I'm gonna find some more CDs to rip :0)

House Party Weekend  ... 23rd to 27th June

Crafting, walking, reading, therapies, hairdressing, chatting, eating, loadsa laughs and chillaxing!

Thursday - arrival day.  Last arrival around 7pm and an evening spent eating, drinking and laughing! Cally and I had a different room again this time.  We've now occupied all 3 bedrooms in the Barn, working our way along in orderly succession - *lol*

The view from our room this time.  

There were swallows flying past on a regular basis as there were babies in a porch under the window.

A bit of furniture removal to 'customise' a couple of lounges - lol!

Friday - therapy day for those that wanted and .... Cal opened her hair salon for those wanting a haircut/restyle/colour.

Jackie was Cal's challenge for the day (in more ways than one * hehe*). 

Didn't she do well :0)

Some crafted in-between the other things on offer or just chilled with their books and Kindles.  

Others took instruction on making basic chain maille jewellery - like me - after I'd had my hot stones massage - bliss!  

All 3 cottages were well used this time.  Jewellery tuition in the Barn's kitchen and it's lounge became the 'quiet' area.  Two of the Barn's bedrooms became the therapy rooms (hot stones back massage in one, Indian head massage in the other *sigh*) There was a hairdressing salon in the Granary's lounge/kitchen.  The Hayloft lounge/kitchen was the IT area, reading room and general meeting place.  The Refectory maintained it's status as the craft room, cleared for the evening meal if we were eating in.  As I say, well used *grin*

Friday evening?  Takeaway of choice, chatting, drinking, laughing and just a liddle bit of singing! Not always appreciated :0(  Had a door shut on us at one point - can't think why - *ROFL*

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