What are you all up to
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Off to the Malvern (3 Counties Showground) Flower show tomorrow, so I thought we’d have a few days away. We’re pitched up at the C&CC club site, Blackmore, right next door to the C&MC site, nice site. We look set for a dry, sunny and warm day, so should be a good day, although it could be expensive 😳🙂
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Thanks each for the comments on the photos. We have been very fortunate with the weather so far and hopefully it will continue. Sunny again this morning and although it did cloud up for short periods the sun won through in the end. We drove down to Oban and up to see the McCaig's Tower which overlooks the town.
We then drove round to Ganavan Bay for a walk and our lunch. Essential shopping at Tesco's, which was very busy, and Aldi, which was surprisingly quiet, before we head up to Glencoe, on the way back to the site
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Enjoy your stay at Blackmore. @Freddy55 we prefer the C&CC site, as it has a much better layout than the CC's one in our opinion.
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@Freddy55 Enjoy the RHS show I did it last year and OH just dropped me off and picked me up again later in the day as garden shows not his thing, we stayed in a cottage not far from the both club sites and had great views of the Malvern Hills.
Enjoying the photos folks and have a good weekend.
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What a change in the temperature, on Thursday we popped into Stratford, I wore a long sleeved T shirt, thick jumper and a coat, I still shivered. Yesterday short sleeved T shirt, perfect as the sun shone all day. We visited Hidcote, the perfect weather, it looked lovely as did the countryside on the drive there. We took a packed lunch as have been many times before and know the cafe queue, it was even worse than usual, snaking a long way back, felt sorry for those queuing so long in the sun, I can never understand why they don’t build a bigger restaurant, many potential customers were giving up and leaving.
Then we went on to my favourite place for a pit stop, we sat outside the Broadway Hotel in the sun for a welcome relaxing cuppa and watched the world go by. All the time that I was recovering at home I was looking forward to sitting there in the sun and it didn’t disappoint- yes I’m easily pleased with normal things. Then back to sit on our decking for a an aperitif. Another lovely day today but it is pack up time, a good clean around, sort the car out and work out how to get all the newly purchased
plants in it, yes of course I purchased a couple more at Hidcote.2 -
Early start today as Margaret had an early appointment at the hospital, 8.30am! She has now been discharged from both Physio and the Hospital, six and half weeks after the operation. He did say there were no restrictions on what she did. However he did recall a patient that wanted to get back to yoga quite soon after the operation and when he saw the positions she wanted to do, advised against it!!! He did point out that the other hip also has Arthritis in it and said that it was probably only a matter of time before that will also need doing. It's not causing a problem at the moment. His suggestion was that Margaret sees her GP to get put on the waiting list for the NHS. Given that currently there is a 40 week wait to see a consultant and then a minimum of another six months to get the operation it would put her in a good position when the other hip starts to cause a problem.
David
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@DavidKlyne Good to hear that Margaret has made such good progress. @milliehull I have developed a nasty cold, I’ve obviously caught it from you by reading your posts, who’d have thought. 😂1
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Six and a half weeks already @DavidKlyne , that’s flown by! All that waiting and now it’s behind you, must be quite a relief. Regarding getting the other hip done, let’s hope they don’t leave it too long before they (the NHS) take it seriously, given what happened in the past. One would hope that it can be managed in a timely manner.
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Thanks @RedKite . I’ll be on the lookout for some tall variety grasses, something that garden centres don’t seem to stock, generally. Trouble is, we always get tempted by plants that catch the eye, without much thought about where on earth we’re going to find space in the garden for them. Every now and then we have to carry out a cull, get rid of plants that either don’t perform, or just don’t fit in visually. Worst of all, plants that when I look at them, I think to myself, “why on earth did I buy that?” 😳😃
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@DEBSC We went to the Broadway hotel almost every night and for a drink when we were staying at Broadway club site a couple of years ago it was nice sitting out on a summers night with a cold beer watching the world go by. We would like to get back down that way at some point lovely area.
We had an excellent night last night as SWMBO had a significant birthday (never reveal a woman’s age but you will see a clue below) we hired a room in one of the posher hotels near us and had 37 family members join us for a lovely meal then a little quiz. Great night and good to get all the family together which doesn’t often happen. Spot the little caravan on the cake hehe (second youngest son arranged that cake) Lovely warm sunny day here this morning so we are thinking of heading out to get some things to put on the BBQ later.
Hope everyone else has a nice weekend
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Freddy
It does seem to have gone quickly. Hopefully knowing what we know now and having got the information from the "horses mouth" so to speak hopefully a referral can go straight to the NHS hospital. I don't think some of the early decisions made by our GP practise actually helped the situation and by the time Margaret did get referred to the NHS she was in so much pain. How this surgeon seems to work is that he agrees that you need something done but leaves it up to you when you to decide when you feel its bad enough. So probably it would be a six month wait rather than a 15 month wait? Despite what the x-ray shows Margaret is not in any pain from the other hip and I suppose that situation could go on for years or it could suddenly flare up?
David
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@Francis Happy Birthday to OH, congratulations. Glad you had a great party.
@DavidKlyne “” So probably it would be a six month wait rather than a 15 month wait? Despite what the x-ray shows Margaret is not in any pain from the other hip and I suppose that situation could go on for years or it could suddenly flare up? ””.
Really pleased to hear of Margaret’s progress, good job. Yes I would watch out for a flare up David. I saw a consultant about my other hip early March, at which time I was ok with it and managing quite well, I felt it didn’t need an operation just yet. About 4 weeks later I regretted that decision as I have been in pain and, at times, really struggling with it unfortunately. Sitting down seems to be the most painful mostly and on standing it feels like it’s stuck. I am going to try to write directly to the consultant soon as he did say ‘come back if things change’ but he probably meant through the GP but I’ll try it and see what comes back.1 -
@Freddy55 grasses……..
This is lovely and colourful
Another one we have is a Stipa Gigantica (Golden Oat) it can reach 2.5 metres.
Nice photos and posts from folks out and about👍 Weather is very nice here again. Cannot remember when we last had any rain, it must be going on two months now.
I am still putting together a wedding outfit for a posh June wedding. OH is pondering about a new suit, he loathes shopping, so will need a lot of getting sorted if he does decide to go for one.
Popped to see BIL yesterday, one of his working terriers has got a litter of puppies, lovely little dogs. Only three weeks old….
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@heddlo Sounds like a bit of "Sods Law" with your hip? I wonder if people (generally) are a bit worried about going straight back to a consultant rather than via a doctor? Knowing what we know now I don't think we would be reluctant in the future. I suppose they have already agreed that someone needs a hip replacement, its just a question of when. The decision has already been made and all the surgeon needs to know is that you are ready. Some years ago I was having problems with my left knee and had minor key hole surgery on it. I went back several times to see the surgeon (same one that did mine and Margaret's hips) He said to me that as nothing was changing, either to the knee or me wanting more treatment, he said he would discharge me which meant the whole process would have to start again. That is a bit different to being on the list and the surgeon adjusting when its done according to how the patient is managing. I hope you get sorted soon.
David
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Another sunny day here, though not as hot as yesterday. Rest of the holiday washing now completed, and more stuff put away, car now empty.
Sounds like our proposed trip in caravan in late July / early August may well be out as DD is waiting to get substantial landscaping done in her garden and I will have to be around to relocate part of the temporary fence she had me put up a couple of months back, so the landscapers get enough space for laying the slabs.
She has a provisional starting date of last week of July, but that that could change if their other jobs run over. Difficult to arrange anything when dates are uncertain. We can always go later, and the idea of Callum coming along has not been mentioned to him, fortunately.
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Why not move the fence before you go or let someone else do it?🤔
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Because there is nobody else she trusts to get it right, and it cannot be done before the work starts as that would leave the whole back garden open to the street.
I already agreed I would move it when necessary, so would not go back on that. We can holiday once the project is completed.
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Madge!🤣🤣
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If she is anything like my MIL used to be you had definitely watch out! She used to go down one way streets the wrong way and also used to go at great speed. My friends used to say that they had seen her in town but didn't have time to day hello because they were too busy jumping out of her way! She loved it though because it gave her independence so she could do to do her own shopping and also go to the library on her own.
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Looks like a grand party @Francis and belated birthday greetings to your OH.
Hope you find the grasses you are looking for at the show @Freddy55
Have a safe trip tomorrow @Wherenext, and a good time while you are away.
Popped to see BIL yesterday, one of his working terriers has got a litter of puppies, lovely little dogs. Only three weeks old. Tempted Tda?😁
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I have finished yet another jigsaw puzzle. This one is by Gibson and is a mélange of London landmarks. It's a busy puzzle but once the main features were in place it wasn't too difficult. I usually take a week out between puzzles as I tend to get carried away doing them late at night!
David
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Thanks TtDA, they look promising 👍
Unfortunately @nelliethehooker , I wasn’t able to see any grasses that caught my eye, very few to choose from. Quite surprising really.
The show itself was very good, weather perfect, with the Malverns as a backdrop, much better than Chelsea AFAIC. Yes, it was crowded, but at least one could get around, unlike Chelsea. It was nice to get Chelsea off my bucket list, but I’d never go again, it must have taken an hour just to get through the gate! And as for getting to see the show gardens, very difficult to even catch a glimpse.I did pick up some decent tomato plants, a few geraniums and a Hozelock timed drip system for when we’re away. As we’re away for a month, I wasn’t going to bother with tubs/hanging baskets etc this year, but this now means I can keep them watered while we’re away, nifty 🙂
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Nice one @DavidKlyne, guess it looks harder than it actually was.
And still the sun shines, at least for most of the day. We drove over to Bonawe, hoping for a good walk along by Loch Etive but the track was very dusty as it was used by quarry wagons. We then had a quick look at what was the ferry across to Taynuilt before stopping off to see Ardchatton Priory, where there was a 10C crossed carving.
Spotted this sculpture made from driftwood in a garden by the ferry.
A warning to anybody coming to Scotland and walking with their dogs in vegetation of any sort. There are thousands of ticks about, as we have found out, having had to remove somewhere in the region of 40 from Fltye today!!
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@nelliethehooker ugh, ticks😱 Loathe them, would have us hot footing it out of the area in a flash. Trouble is by time you find out, it’s too late.
No, gorgeous as they were, not tempted at the moment, too many trips to do, places to see. Plus I am not keen on anything smaller than knee high. They have a tendency to disappear down holes. These are working dogs, proper terriers. Mind, we’d never see another rat🤣
Litter of nine pups, currently around 3 weeks old. About the size of a Guinea Pig at the moment, feisty little things.
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@Takethedogalong ohh how cute, that must be tempting but I understand what you are saying, one shouldn’t be tempted by cuteness without full thinking. @nelliethehooker horrible things, we are also plagued with them in Devon. Went to Hunters Inn last year and people were getting tens of them off their dogs at the end of the walk. Even after thorough searching I found one on me the next day and I had boots and thick socks on as a precaution. Always concerned about lymes disease. We did see adults and kids in sandals doing the same walk. Seems anywhere there are deer or livestock.0
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@DEBSC - Lymes disease worries me as well. I will never forget at our last house, our neighbour had a beautiful Golden Retriever. He became ill and died within a few days. Our neighbour was a microbiologist and, suspecting a tick bite and Lyme's disease took a blood sample to work and examined it only to confirm that it was Lyme's.
I may be tempting fate here, but I have never found a tick on Meg. I use Advantix spot-on treatment and apply it, religiously, once per month. I have it set up as a recurring event on my Apple calendar to remind me.
Our vet is advising that I switch to Bravecto which is a three-monthly tablet. Don't know if anyone else has experience of it, but I'm a bit hesitant about changing.
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@richardandros we use Bravecto tablets for our Dora. So far so good 🤞. It's quite a big tablet, that's allegedly chewable. Not in our case! I cut into 4 and hide in various things. Liver pate or peanut butter is best.
Another glorious day here. But we are more than ready for rain! Was it Easter Monday we last had some? Friday I planted some veg my neighbour gave me a few days ago. Our ground is so dry I had to bury the hosepipe in the soil for a couple of hours. I have lots flower plants to get in the borders. Also popped out to a local grow your own nursery this morning, so have added to our stock... Just heard from my friend in Somerset to say its raining. None forecast for here for at least another 10 days........
I have lots of veg seed to sow but I'm not sure when it'll be suitable to do it.
Lovely to read other folks news, especially of those recovering well. @DEBSC hope you get your dates and somewhere to stay for some if not all of the duration. Great photos to look at too.
Very little to report here, touch wood just jogging along 🤞. Learned yesterday our son has signed up for the Peterborough marathon, East of England?, as well as applying for next year's London marathon......
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