Drought

 

We  are officially in a drought. Most of the village grass has turned a straw like yellow and shallow rooting plants in the garden have withered and died. The Gop hill looks like any hill in Southern Spain and the fields below it resemble a beige tapestry, of scorched grass and gorse bushes

In my flower beds the buddleja has suddenly flowered and butterflies of all shapes have appeared from no where to pollenate them.

         

Driving through the village I noticed several women on the green chatting in the shade of the surrounding trees, which is another nod to our Mediterranean cousins, it’s nice to see outside spaces used, I love the social meet ups in public areas , we don’t use them enough.

I came home to find a gift on the kitchen wall

A mug from a villager I had tea with the other day, I had commented just how nice the mug was

Now it’s mine

People are very kind. 

The Odyssey

 

It’s a curate’s egg of an epic, with some impressively creepy bits to it ( the Cyclops scenes for example) and I must admit that Matt Damon is very good in the lead. But it’s a bloody miserable and ultimately boring reworking of an overlong tale of war and bad decision making. 

I would have walked out at the 3/4 time mark but was with a friend so couldn’t 

The best bit

Himesh Patel as Eurylochus grrrrrrrrh

I was a Student Nurse Once

 

Shopping

 

I got paid a little more than I expected so bought myself some lightweight trousers and two pairs of canvas shoes . I also had a haircut. So I feel groomed 

I seldom treat myself to new clothes ( so fuck off troll before you think of opening your gob) 

I took a neighbour for a hospital appointment, booked Roger in for his haircut and cleaned the bathroom

Yes it’s been one giddybitch of a day for sure.

Enjoy Jennifer Nettles and the cast of Giulia The Poison Queen of Palermo singing Higher

It’s a real tonic

I’m off to water my laburnum in the churchyard , we have had nearly a month without rain

Mexican Stand Off

 On opposite sides of the living room they watch each other like strangers 

One on the couch

One on the floor. 

One returned on Saturday 

Saturday seems like return day.

I’ve left them to it. 

I didn’t watch the football last night, even if King Filipe was there but favoured The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society instead

Michael Huisman is adorable in it

Beeturia

 I woke up with a start this morning , Bun or was it Weaver jumped off my hip as I checked my leg bag for drainage.

There was blood in my urine.

Blood in urine can be frank ( ie blood red) which is a sign of a serious bleed or as nurses often state , it can be rosé , like a weak sangria. 

Mine was a clear rosé, 

Right what to do? Sunday morning is not the day to have a urological medical emergency 

Think man think? 

Well panicking never helped anyone

I showered, and dressed and sat myself at the kitchen table with a coffee.

Then I saw my unwashed supper plate and sighed in relief….I ate healthy last night

A salad with boiled eggs…..

And a large packet of pickled beetroots! 

Afternoon Tea

 Another success for the Trelawnyd Community Association 

Ma Manley channelling her inner Amish ( she made the hat herself )

Cloudy but still warm 

A beautiful backdrop to a house……

The Manleys history table

The Rectory looking proud

The band was the icing on the cake 

Mrs Trellis wondering to have a Pimms

Village leader Ian , is behind x

Rectory Tea

 We meet at the Rectory later today to trouble shoot any problems before tomorrow’s tea party. The weather, I’m told will be glorious, so we have conscripted more gazebos for shade traps and the band has kindly requested ice cold beers instead of any monetary payment which is kind. 

For most of the villagers Pippa and Tom seemed to have lived in Trelawnyd forever. 

The house is the biggest in the village and has the most impressive grounds as well as an adjoining Glebe, which has housed ponies, alpacas and sheep over the years. 

The Rectory also had fields in front of it, on which the rector kept cattle and Auntie Glad grazed sheep, but these now house the bungalows of Rhodfa Arthur, where Merv Price keeps his pigeons and Anne Hindle keeps her eye on the church she regularly worshipped at. 

I’ll share more after the meeting …….

The tables are ready, and the gazebos are erected. We have Procecco, Pims and Cider chilling and Lugubrious Loraine from the garden centre is sorting out the sandwiches and strawberries and her hubby will bring more tables and chairs in the morning. The band’s beers have been bought by me and I’ve stocked up up with more ice just in case.

……..hey ho