Wednesday 8 September 2021

Guests for lunch.

Guests for lunch today.   I changed the menu at the last minute because of the beautiful weather.   We had salami, smoked salmon, cheese and onion quiche, crisps, potato salad, celery , raisin and walnut salad, coleslaw, salad, cheddar, brie, cheese biscuits and coffee.  And we ate it sitting in the dining room with the patio doors open on to the patio and all at a nice, leisurely pace.   Now my guests - niece and great nephew- have driven round to see my son for an hour so I am here alone,  the dishwasher is merrily swishing away and I thought it a good opportunity to read my e mails and catch up on my blog.

My great nephew is a whizz on the computer and has confirmed that my ink cartridge is just not compatible with my printer.   He has typed out the reason why and given me an e mail which I have just forwarded to the company concerned.   These days everything seems to be an uphill task. Not sure whether it is me and my age or just a struggle with life in general.   Whichever it is at the moment everything is hard work.   Does anyone else go through patches like this?

A walk round my garden (both are keen gardeners) has made me feel a bit more 'normal' (whatever that is) and has also confirmed that the garden is more full of the pollinators - the bees, the butterflies than it seems to have been all Summer.   Even just a couple of sprigs of lavender on a plant which is dying back should be enough to leave the plant until those two sprigs have also finished.   The bees need it, the butterflies need it and we need both bees and butterflies.   Would that we could recall these beautiful days in the middle of winter when the weather is throwing everything it has to offer at us.   But somehow with the summer these memories fade.

My visitors return - we will have another pleasant hour together before they toddle off for Harrogate, where they are spending the night.   Until tomorrow.

 

24 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

I was saying the only day, it was just so perfect I wanted to bottle it and save it for those dire winter days when everything is grey, cold and miserable and we long for colour and warmth again.

I am glad you had a good lunch with your guests (it sounded wonderful). I am just doing Spag. Bol. for Tam and I (Keith having had mince, peas and mash - his preferred sort of meal).

Sorry you have the wrong printer ink. I have found a cheap version which is compatible with my printer so I only need to spent £10 or so to replace all instead of the ridiculous prices charged for the "proper" one. That's where the companies make their margin, having sold the printer so cheaply.

I have had a return of the Brick Wall from last year, when we just could NOT sell our house, and everything seemed to be a brick wall of Not Happening. Part of it is with my husband's health - 5 months before he gets a brain scan because it's not urgent. He still hasn't had a proper diagnosis for the health problems of the last 18 mnths.

Then the bathroom fitting - I have been calling out plumbers for quotes since April - they promise all and then you never hear from them again - they just won't answer your messages. It's a complete bathroom refit - not just a small job. Finally the one who knows our house and its pecularities in the plumbing department has come back with his quote and had it accepted. Yeesh.

I hope you're not too tired after all the preparation for the lunch and the nattering.

John Going Gently said...

A feast !

The Weaver of Grass said...

Glad about the plumber BB - now just hope he comes when he says he will.

John - wish you lived down the road - plenty left for your tea.

Carol Caldwell said...

Sounds like a wonderful spread.

JanF said...

What a lovely lunch you prepared and what a wonderful day you have had. I am so glad.

CharlotteP said...

What a feast - I will be round tomorrow to share the leftovers!
Yes, everyone has patches like that, Pat (even if they don't admit it). My computer is still on the blink, my kitchen fitters have made a hash of things, my Mom is refusing to eat anything but cake. I miss my Dave as you miss your Farmer, and suspect that we would glide through these patches easily if we had the someone who cares about us most to share them with. Still, I am grateful to have had the good times, and there are lots of good things to be thankful for, (not least the kind friends who help us sort our problems out!).

julie king said...

i agree with you, nothing seems straight forward anymore and it's sometimes hard to get help x

Anonymous said...

There seems to be a consensus about tradesmen not turning up at arranged times and not returning calls as to why - happened to me recently so have gone with the completely professional chap for replaced reverse cycle air conditioning and Spring here is a good time to do that before our fierce summers when the demand is high.
It was the most beautiful Spring day yesterday and sadly, the day to farewell my beloved cat. I remember your dear Tess. One of the hardest things to do.
A walk along Adelaide's North Terrace boulevard revealed that someone had put an occasional mask on the faces of the bronze statues that line the pavement...as someone said on your last post, one would add to the cheeky character of Mr. Winkle.
Your day sounds wonderful. That's life isn't it - good days, great days, difficult ones, and sad - yesterday was quite the challenge but the wonderful sun brightens things somewhat.- Pam, Aust.

Heather said...

A perfect day for you and your guests to enjoy each other's company and that lovely lunch. Hang on to your lovely memories to banish the winter blues when they appear.

Minigranny said...

It sounds like s good day for you! Perfect weather, guests and a lovely meal. Harrogate brings back memories for me. My nearest town in my youth and I worked in Harrogate library for quite a few years. Happy days.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Now it is bedtime and in spite ofsleeping three quarters of a t v programme through after my guests had gone I am still more than ready for bed so see you all in the morning

The Furry Gnome said...

I think technology companies aim their market at everyone under 30. We're so far off the chart that nothing is made to be easy for us.

Bonnie said...

I agree with Furry Gnome above. It often seems like they don't even try to make easy-to-read instructions these days. Many things don't even come with instructions now and you have to look it up online!

It sounds like you've had a lovely day with your visitors!

Librarian said...

Wow - it sounds like you could have fed an army with what you put on the table!
It must have been very nice for you to have company for good part of the day, and they loved seeing you, too.

Debby said...

I'm glad you had such a wonderful day, even if it wore you completely out in the end. Hope your batteries are recharged when you wake up.

Technology? I believe that if I had the least interest in them, I'd manage nicely. I simply don't care to sit down and learn the stuff knowing full well that I'd have to force myself to learn every change as it comes along. I'm not as patient as I should be. There are things that require my attention. The latest technology does not.

Share my Garden said...

What a feast and a lovely, sociable day.
We are all expected to be fully conversant with modern technology these days as more and more essential information, banking, utilities and so forth are only available online. All very well when everything goes smoothly but that is not always the case and then it is VERY frustrating!

The Weaver of Grass said...

When things go wrong with my computer or printer I get very easily frustrated and almost get to a state where I think I will stop using it. Then I think of the pleasure I get from blogging and I know I have to get it sorted.


Thanks everyone. It is now Thursday morning, I am back from the Hairdresser and back to my normal routine.

Crafty Green Poet said...

That sounds like a lovely lunch!

It's always good to see the pollinators around, specially at this time of year.

Brenda said...

Get an iPad
So easy

Rachel Phillips said...

I expect your niece was pretty tired too. You don't do so badly with your laptop. Just keep on going with it. I do. Play down the troubles and all is much happier in ones life.

Susan said...

Your visit with your niece sounds wonderful and the meal was fantastic. Your garden sounds like it's really thriving and it gives you much pleasure. Just take each day as it comes and overlook the complications. Complications resolve in a bit of time with or without intervention.

The Feminine Energy said...

How lovely to have lunch guests. Good company, good food, good weather... those 3 things make life perfect! ~Andrea xoxoxo

ellie k said...

I am a new reader of your blog. I am loving the day to day life you write about. I am in Florida, south of Tampa. We are in our hot part of summer now, over 90 most days but have had much needed rain. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life through this blog, I found you through Life's funny like that, with Debby.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Welcome Ellie. When my husband was alive we visited US and Canada many times on holiday - never gott to your part though.

Rachel you are absolutely right with your advice.

Thank you, as usual, to you all for carrying me along with you