Thursday

Not a lot happening today other than a Tesco delivery between one and two (toasted crumpets for tea!)   It is still chilly but 'my' baby blackbirds are now pretty well feathered and are out and about in the garden this morning, still- yellow bills either open for food or cheeping reminding frantic mum and dad that they are hungry.

Most of the daffodils are now dying - flowers going brown and in need of cutting off when the gardener arrives- and leaves flopping all over.   Some folk cut them off because they are unsightly but the goodness in the leaves needs to go back into the bulb first.   Some folk bend them over and fasten them with an elastic band - I hate that - I would rather have floppy leaves.   Tulips are still giving a good show but two or three warmer days would finish them off.   Grape hyacinths with their brilliant blue flowers are popping up everywhere reminding me just how invasive they can be (but how beautiful).   But the kings in the garden at the moment are undoubtedly the various clumps of purple Aubretia and a huge mass of Asperula odorata. 

My eyesight is very poor and I can't  identify the plants at the top of the garden by their flowers (that means all the clumps of herbaceous geraniums - already good green clumps - will be  working   hard this year to put on a good show. )  As for the osteospermums, Derek has lost all of his to Jack Frost sadly,  I think mine have all survived - plenty of clumps which I am pretty certain are them but only when flowers appear, as they surely will after a day or two of warmer weather, will I be certain.

I have been invited to a Coronation Party higher up the road.   They had a Jubilee Party which I went to.   I have said this time that I will see how I feel.   I am walking out with Priscilla every day - I am going shortly- and will judge later how far I can get before deciding; might 'see you later' if anything momentous happens that is Newsworthy.  Well it has been (for me) a busy day and now, at seven o'clock I am very tired (my gardener came this afternoon and said how tired I looked).   My friend phoned to cancel a visit - he phoned yesterday and I was too busy to answer the phone and never had an opportunity to ring him back.   Today he called again just as my Tesco delivery and my gardener arrived at the same time.   All small things for the able-bodied but very tiring when every step is a huge effort.   Now my evening carer has gone after getting me crispy toasted crumpets (just how I like them) and a cup of tea.   I am signing off now and returning with a glass of apple juice to the sitting room to take my seven o'clock drugs.   Hopefully see you tomorrow.

I did manage to walk 'round the block ' slowly.   Anyone who has regularly read my posts might remember my resolve to try and speak to six people each day.   Well today I did myself proud:

1.  Two men lopping trees on the estate as I passed.

2.   A man walking a young Labrador bitch - I see him regularly passing my bungalow every day but this is the first opportunity to chat.

3.  The gardener and his assistant - firstly as he told me what he intended to do today and then again when they came in to be paid and to have a coffee and a two finger Kit Kat each.

4. D - a passing handyman and friend of my gardener who came up to us to discuss possible changes to my hedge if the frost has really killed it.

5. Both my morning and evening carers both of whom are cheerful and helpful.

 

So a good day all round.