TARRAGON & THYME

I have a million and one things to do as usual and as my memory is not as good as it used to be short term here rather than long term I thought it might be useful if I put things down as I think of them and then get them actioned so that they are not floating around in the ether. NO ITEM ACTIONED BUSINESS 1 Business cards for Reiki and Mediumship Sorted 2 Insurance 3 House 4 Reiki Leaflets 5 Website and Email address 6 Bank account HOUSE 1 Sort the front garden so everything is nicely sorted, tidy and looks presentable. Sorted 2 Bathroom.   Needs stripping out, new sink, new bath.   Needs tiling.   Needs shelving.   Needs a couple of storage units and needs painting.   Also needs an extractor fan/fans.   Needs new flooring.   Bathr...

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/fears-more-crops-will-rot-as-workers-move-abroad/ar-BBLeRRA?ocid=spartanntp I was a bit taken aback by this article as in my mind's eye it raises a number of issues. There are many parts of the world that are starving and cannot for one reason or another grow their own crops.  So why are we a particularly wealthy nation compared to many not prioritising food.  Just because of the lack of labour and possibly having to dig in a crop or crops because of the lack of workers. In all honesty I can understand that the fruit workers that deal with the crops now want security for their families especially in light of Brexit and if they are not being given that reassurance then there are other options as I see it. Prior to the War years we had workers in this country that used to do this work on a regular basis.  If the fruit workers presently in place will not stay then train up teams in different areas so that the food ...

Rain!  Especially when I had planned to do the Herb garden today - which will still g o ahead have just arranged to do it later this morning and have slotted in a couple of other jobs to do first including going back into town.  I have some supplies to get so if I make use of the time now, that means I should be able to concentrate on the garden later on.  I need that extra grow house so I am off to get that and also some new net and blinds for the back of the house.  Well that is the plan anyway.  Just waiting on my phone to charge and Missy and I to have our constitutional cup of tea and then hopefully should be ready to roll. I am a bit shattered today especially after yesterday's Herculean efforts in the front garden but I am very pleased with the results thus far.  Once completely sorted will pop up a picture. Its not much but its a big start and should be easier to keep tidy in the long run.   One of the problems is that with having su...

I had a lovely lunch with my friend and a good catch up.  I know I said I would not wander into town afterwards but I did and ended up buying some new undies, socks, pjs etc. which were sorely needed. I then went to Waitrose for a few bits on the way back and the afternoon had gone. We walked Missy.  When we came back we nipped off to B & Q and got some more gravel.  Came back and added some of it and then started hacking back a very large cotoneaster which has been resident in the garden since before we arrived here some 32 years ago.  Got that all sorted bits of twig and holly leaves ouch all over but managed to get them all up.  Dustbins/Wheelie bins all three of them are now in situ in the front garden. Windows were washed, door washed, we just have to do the privet hedge and add the new post box and that is the garden (apart from some hangers and planters) all done and dusted.  Must say even though it is not completed at the moment it ...

I have acquired another item to go with all the other bits and bobs I have collated together for my sea themed bathroom.  This is a vintage buy of a shell chest.  It is something I have had my eye on for ages but I had never found one that I quite liked the look of and this one fitted the bill very nicely.  I did not think that it was a particularly large one but it is bigger than I anticipated.  It needs a bit of a clean but that can be achieved.  Because of its age some of the shells are missing on the lower rows but that may be corrected in due time if I manage to find any of the mother of pearl shells to add to it.  I think I have some on a hairbrush that I have of right size and colouring. This will go very nicely with the ships in bottles, shells, coral, shell ladies, shell mobiles, shell mirrors, picture frames etc. as well as the fishing net, pebble heart, lighthouse etc.  Think it may be ideal for storing in particularl...

Good morning everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend.  Here in Peterborough it is a brighter morning not so many grey skies and also the promise of the sun as it is trying to break cover so a much brighter day all told.  It has been raining again overnight, and we have had some showers this morning but after all the heat we have had recently I would consider that a blessing even though my joints have seized a little.  Ah well we need the sun and we need the water. It is just Missy and I  - OH has gone off to work.  Her tea is made.  Missy knows the word tea and if she is ready for a cuppa gets all excited.  This morning she is choosing not to indulge straight away but it will be drunk by the end of the day if she has not had another one besides before then.  She does not get this every day - she would if she could though. Bit shattered still after yesterday's Herculean efforts but that is par for the course  - it is not just what...

As the saying goes.  I am absolutely shattered.  Got a little way on with the kitchen but it will have to wait for tomorrow now I am absolutely whacked out.    We went off to the tip for a third trip as well. Early night tonight me thinks.  It is still raining.  I have not been able to get out into the back garden today hopefully will for a little while tomorrow but I have so much to do including sorting the fridges out, doing some more planting, carrying on with the kitchen and some washing and ironing.  I am also meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow so it will be no dilly dallying around  straight in have lunch and straight out this week.  I normally go window shopping! If I manage to get an early night I am hoping to do a little crochet for an hour or so before I settle down.  With one thing or another I have not for the past week been able to do any crochet.  Will at some point have to do an update. It is slowly growing and ...

We were up before 8:00am and I managed to get all the rubbish re-bagged.  It had rained overnight quite heavily and is still raining and there looks as though there is more to come.  We did not want the van wet.  It has since been taken down to the tip.   I have been in the front garden and have cleared the holly leaves up.  The hedge and the tree and the bushes will get sorted out sometime tomorrow and then the rubbish also taken to the tip.  We have added more gravel and have more to get tomorrow as after 30+ years in living here the gravel that was there has got a little thin.  It is starting to look a lot tidier.  I have two big planters to put into the front garden and a post box to go on the side wall.  Our letter box is in the bottom of the door and I am going to close it off as we get an awful draft round our ankles when sitting in the lounge.  Once all that is done and the dustbins put in their new position that will be the...

…….following on from early on! We nipped off to the butchers at Willowbrook Farm.  Ended up buying some steak, a topside joint for tomorrow, a whopping chicken, a cooked ham hock, and one or two other bits and bobs for meals during the week. On the way back I was taken for a drink - just a bitter shandy but it was very refreshing.  We went to my favourite pub The Fitzwilliam Arms (also known locally as The Green Man).  We were even allowed to take Missy in with us and all the bar staff were making a fuss of her. We have had a series of about three heavy duty storms from mid afternoon through the evening.  The storms have been rough, plenty of lightning, hailstones, flooding in the garden as the rain was torrential and the gutters and pipes could not cope with the ferocity of the rain. We do so oh need the life giver rain and indeed we have received it.  It  will do much good which is the main thing. Tea was delicious we had steak, with fres...

After last night's storm its freshened everything up a bit thank goodness.  We had rain on and off all night and a shower this morning.  It is comfortable now even though the sun is still out. This morning has been quiet.  We went off for breakfast at Ferraris Café something we do every weekend.  See link here:   Ferraris . It is under new management and has been for approximately six months.  I would not go in before as I did not feel comfortable, it did not feel clean and was very Clique!  You did not feel welcome when you walked through the door.  However under the New management of Laura and Johnny the place is clean the food is very good value for money and tasty.  The place is buzzing especially on a Saturday morning.  Everyone is made to feel very welcome and it is now very much a place of community. Since coming back OH has gone to fetch the van which is now running perfectly.   I have been to the charity shop...

I saw this earlier on and it didn't half make me chuckle. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/the-nanny-state-panic-over-britain’s-heatwave-makes-my-blood-boil-says-janet-street-porter-they-know-how-to-cope-with-the-sun-down-under…-so-it’s-time-to-send-for-the-aussies/ar-BBL7JJJ?ocid=spartanntp Catch you later. Pattypan x

that is the storm that has just burst upon us.  The heat has been unbearable, the wind got up suddenly and then the rain appeared short sharp and fast.  I am hoping that there will be enough wetness so that I do not have to water up this evening. There is thunder and lightening and Father Christmas chucking his toys across the workshop, thump, bang wallop.  If there is not enough rain then I shall go out and water up.  I was right out there up until it started to rain which is a big first for me as I hate thunder and lightening with a vengeance and tend to hide away. I have been pottering on and off in the garden again.  I have managed to get those plants potted up into the growing houses however in reality I need a couple of more of the growing houses to accommodate everything.  The cabbages, cauliflowers and kales have all come on a bundle since I first got them and they are all due a feed tomorrow evening when I water up.  I am very excited ...

Was up as normal at 6:00am in readiness for the day and whilst it is cooler.  Got OH sorted out with pack up etc (he is keeping my step-son company on a diet) and they are eating a lot of salad at the moment!   Went downstairs and found a disaster in the little room.  OH put a new toilet in but it needs concreting down.  Somehow or the other it had fallen over and was pouring water everywhere.  PP then wrangling the toilet and getting it stable and stopping the water spewing out everywhere.  Texted OH to let him know of position.  I then went and sat down for a minute and whoa and behold 11:05am and I am late for my hair appointment.  Oohps!  Got up in a bit of a two and eight had my hair done and whilst under the drier I fell asleep.  Bit of a slow start to the day.  I missed meeting friends as well unfortunately due to the fact that the hair appointment took longer than anticipated.  Has anyone got the impressi...

OH drinks an awful lot of water - he does not have lots of tea or coffee preferring a cold drink so it is more sensible to have something he wants and can have.  This leads to an awful lot of water bottles over a short period of time and for the bigger bottles at least at the moment I am recycling them in the garden as cloches for vulnerable plants.  Ideally I really don't want anything plastic that ends up in the oceans affecting our wildlife, but until they ban it all or get off their backsides and stop it with immediate effect rather than two or three years down the line when further damage has been done we either recycle it or bin it.  Not an ideal situation.  Because I am a cheap skate as well if I can utilise something that is then classed as "rubbish" I will do. The labels on these bottles come off relatively easily after just a good soak in some hot water and washing up liquid I believe that if suppliers offered an incentive i.e. return bot...

spent predominantly pottering in the garden in the sun.  Still got a heck of a way to go but gradually bit by bit we are starting to get there. Later I have some garden shelves to sort out and pop some of my potted plants on to so that I can create further room for potting up plants and displaying them.  It is a case of do a little rearrange it and then do a bit more.  Should be okay in the long term just slow whilst I get things sorted.   I have been out all afternoon so the Doctor should not complain too much I think I have had my quota of vitamin D for today at least. The plants potted up are nice, healthy and strong and depending on whether I manage to do what needs to be done they should make some very good plants indeed.  All look very healthy.  They are going to get their first feed this evening. So plodding ever onwards or as my father used to say slowly, slowly catch a monkey. I am off to carry on and try and locate the cat who sta...

The washing facilities have moved on a peg since my Grandmother Bagley was a young woman.  A copper, a dolly tub and posher and mangle/ringer were all that she had at her disposal and you thought that you were the bees knees if you had these facilities. Apparently because there were 10 children in the family plus two adults she used to start the laundry at 6.00am on a Monday morning and not stop until about 6:00pm.  One of the older girls used to set about making a meal for the rest and the others also helped but it was very hard work. Move on to when I was a little girl in the early 1960s.  Twin tubs had come in and if you had one of those then you really were the bees knees.  It made life so much easier.  I had a habit of following my mum or dad or my young uncle everywhere and on one particular occasion I ended up putting my fingers on the side of the hot tub and scalding them badly.  Apparently my hands blistered up and were in a real mess. -...