What are you all up to
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After a more reasonable temperature yesterday, low 20's we are back to 29. Its been overcast with a breeze but still hot!
Day started with one thing, dog groom, this morning on tge calendar. She's very glad to been pampered. Gone a bit shorter in view of temperatures this early in the year. I'm sure the weather will pay us back for such a bold decision! I pottered off to an out of town shopping centre, Peterborough has plenty!, I've not been to for ages to buy more hedgehog food, I know they stock it. Managed to put other items in to make it worthwhile ๐. Collected prescription and picked up the dog.
Got a text saying my new curtains, finishing touch to the kitchen, ready after alteration along with a dress I had shortened. Collect tomorrow. Quick conflab and could get this afternoon, grandson tomorrow, so combined that with charity shop drop off - same village, fuel and food top-up another mile on whilst out.
Spent the last hour and a half with my feet up on the sofa in the relatively cool lounge ๐. Off to see what lurks in the fridge and cupboards for dinner. Concentrated on snacks etc for grandson and forgot I'd not lifted dinner from the freezerโฆ. I blame it on the heat.
Unsure how I'll entertain grandson tomorrow, might be the cathedral again ๐๐คฃ if this heat continues.....
Stay cool folks
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It has been grey and cloudy for most of the day, not very warm either, but dry and we have had no thunderstorms. Drove down to Arbroath to visit the Abbey. Founded around 1178 by King William the Lion, and consecrated in 1197 this had once obviously been a most impressive structure although now it is mainly a ruin. Unfortunately parts are still closed off but well worth the visit all the same. There is a good exhibition area telling the story behind the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath which asserted Scotland's independence and defended Robert the Bruce as king.
Filled up with diesel at the Esso garage there and using my Nectar points got a 5p per ltr discount, so paid 175p as against 190p+ in Montrose, and gained more points than I used. Win win situation! Stopped off for a short walk at Lunan Beach on the way back to the airfield.
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I am still not getting email alerts for posts on here so have not caught up with everyone's posts - sorry. @Rowena is on the case but is away from work for a couple of days this week.
I am so sorry to hear about your OH @DEBSC Hopefuly he might feel a bit better once the weather cools down and hopefully the cardiology team will give him medication to help. Best wishes to you both. Your family are having a very rough time.
Lovely photos @heddlo Our son was at York Uni for a number of years and then married and lived in the area for a while until they moved to N. Ireland. We used to visit York Minster a lot when he was there - you didn't have to pay in those days! It is such a beautiful place and your photos brought back some happy memories. More great photos from @nelliethehooker as well.
Tuesday was VERY hot here but luckily I was on duty in the Cathedral shop so it was beautifully cool in there. Wednesday was a bit cooler so I got come jobs done in the house and garden. Yesterday was hot and humid again. Our local son and 16 year old grandson popped round on their way to play golf. Grandson is in the middle of GCSEs but son decided an afternoon off revision with some fresh air and excercise would be good for him. We have 3 grandchidren doing GCSEs and 2 doing A levels so it is all getting a bit stressed. I am keeping out of it as much as I can! Today looks as though it might be a bit cooler. I am meeting a friend for lunch so I hope the restaurant has air conditioning! The weather looks as though it is all change next week - 'unsettled' which usually means rain (hopefully)
As soon as our roses started to bloom the flowers wilted and died in the heat so I decided to pick some and bring them indoors
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Decided to replace the microswitch in the M/Home bathroom tap yesterday - big mistake! Needed to dismantle 1/2 the bathroom under sink cabinet to reach the pipes that had been clipped using 2+ boxes of cable ties every 5cm or so to expose the separate conduit for the switch wires, but this felt quite promising; until I tried to remove the minute grub screw at the back of the tap base [somewhere between a 1.5mm and 2mm Allen key or probable Torx screw - nothing would fit, even tried an Imperial Allen key set from Toolstation on the basis that 1/16th inch is some 1.57mm, but the extra 0.07mm was insufficient. Ordered a '152 in 1' Sockets/Torx/Allen Keys and sundry other screwdriver bits and related paraphenalia on overnight delivery - according to a fellow Motorhomer, there is bound to be a Torx or similar fitting that will work, and then I should be able to remove the tap body to remove the failed switch and wiring, and replace the microswitch โฆ
The actual job of old switch removal, new switch installation is probably no more than a cautious 1 hour, even allowing for time to take before & after pictures for reference, and 'measure twice, cut once' prudence and prevarication; but the stripping down and dealing with delights that have lurked in literal darkness during our 5 years of ownership, make it a tour de force - or do I mean tour de farce, because I clearly do not know my farce from my elbow [ack to Brian Rix for using the title of his autobiography as my final phrase] ๐ค
Steve
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@marchie - commiserations - I know from bitter, first hand experience what a job it is๐ฅ. I did the kitchen tap about 4 years ago - having bought a miniature screwdriver set similar to what you got. That one, actually wasn't too bad - but when I came to do the bathroom tap a while later, it was an absolute pig to get out and then I couldn't find out just how to take the tap to pieces to get at the microswitch! I ended up buying a new tap (ยฃ65) as opposed to about ยฃ10 for a new switch. Finally, when the shower mixer valve failed a few weeks ago - I didn't mess about - just bought a new valve which a friend changed for me and it took less than 15 minutes from start to finish.
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Thank you! The M/Home looks like an Airfix kit at present, and the bill is mounting up! ยฃ19.50 for the microswitch, ยฃ7.99 for the Imperial Allen Keys, and ยฃ28.73 for the new, en route toolkit. Good job the blood pressure pills are already on my prescription โฆ Kitchen Tap was replaced some 2 years ago in Spain, so I hope that we can avoid the shower tap replacement, because that will be a true silly money job!
Steve
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Iโm just writing because Iโve got a weird message on here saying permission denied and I want to see if I can actually post. I have a confession to make Iโve never been able to post a photo. Thought Iโd try again but then this message came up, Iโm not good at technology.
@milliehull lovely roses. Our previous next door neighbour planted a white rose in the woods behind us itโs now grown all over the trees to about 30ft, it looks beautiful.
OH is a little better, the cooler weather helps. The diuretic tablets are clearly working because he has shrunk a bit, and his legs have gone down, must have been carrying a lot of water. He wants to go to the caravan next week, as we had planned to go a week ago, we have all sorts going on here soon so not sure when we will get there again otherwise, but Iโm not too keen even though heโs a little better, also the forecast says it will be very wet all week. Flipping weather just a nice warm day, would be nice, no excessive heat or a week of rain. Cardiology say his appointment could be a while as a long waiting list.
Iโm looking forward to him getting the mobility scooter and us being able to get out more again. I love walking and itโs good for me, but sometimes it gets a bit lonely as OH has never liked it. Walking groups are ok but itโs nice to go just when you feel like it rather than have it all planned. We have the Tarka Trail quite near by so Iโm planning lots of walking routes so Iโm hoping he will be happier scooting along more than he ever was walking.
Iโve spent all day gardening I think Iโm nearly done and something else needs attention but I suppose gardening is always like that. Iโm getting very proficient at squeezing excessive garden waste into our green bin and still being able to close the lid. ๐คญ
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Trip to Newby Hall and garden today. We didnโt do the house as we have already done that a couple of times. The weather was a bit overcast at times but warm, so just perfect for me!
The Laburnum path was our main reason for going as it doesnโt last too many weeks and next week looked a bit โiffy weather wise. It was really lovely to see.
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Early start for me tomorrow - 6:30 coach to the capital and tube to Wembley for the challenge cup final. Bit nervous about the way Wigan have hit top form lately but hoping for another Hull KR success. Mrs M and Ralph will be keeping their fingers/paws crossed, but I've already told them it'll be the ref's fault if we don't win! It'll be a great day out whatever!
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Had some small vositors today, Mila and Noah, who are I suppose tecnically, step grand children? Mila has just got a runners up position for one of here paintings, not bad for an 8 year old? Mind you Mum and Dad are both graphic designers so not so surprising she is good at art? Rob, her Dad has had one of his creations on a billboard in Time Square, in New York. Noah was rather pleased that we pulled out of storage a large box of lego. I was even more pleased they took it away with them!!!
David
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Funnily enough, the roofers are due to start our replacement on Tuesday of next week - 4 x new dormers including new UPVC Panels to replace the old felt 'tiles' on the face and sides, plus complete rest of roof, new lead flashing + fascia boards and new guttering - well into 5 figures, and my M/Home is still resembling an Airfix kit, though the new precision toolkit did have the necessary torx fitting for the grub screw - about 1.7mm or so, but other torx fittings inside the tap body, plus angled water supply pipes that will require additional or different connectors - Burstner intended to deter/prevent owners from replacing the tap themselves, I fear!
Decided to buy a new tap and wire it with Wago connectors to the microswitch so that future replacements can be more straightforward โฆ
Steve
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Hope you have a super day out @moulesy and you get the result you want. It will please @richardandros too if Hull are victorious.
Lovely photos @heddlo there are lots of Laburnum out in bloom up here too at the moment.
Pleased to read that your OH is getting better @DEBSC as the weather cools down and his medication takes effect. Hope you make it to your caravan and the weather isn't as bad as forecast.
Fingers crossed that all your hard work is not in vein and you have fixed the tap problem @marchie
That is a smashing bunch of roses @milliehull
It has been sunny, warmer than yesterday and rather windy. We took the canopy down before heading out, just to be on the safe side. Went to House of Dun for a couple of walks, but gave the house tour a miss as we have been round a couple of times previously.
A view down the Time Keeper walk
Inside the Walled Garden.
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An expensive business indeed @marchie. Yours will be a lot more expensive than ours. The trouble I had with my bank doing a BACS transfer was frankly embarrassing. If you've answered that you've seen the work, satisfied with it and the invoice and workmen have personally handed the invoice to you then that should be the end of it but ours wanted a conversation with me!
@heddlo - I just have to say that your last photo looks like someone has made a huge Hop Scotch play area under the Laburnum. Great photos. I always liked the Sarcophagus and the story of they got it to Newby House.
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The BACS transfer has been agreed as the payment method. My approach [I am an ex-Banker but am better now โฆ] is to set up the Payee and transfer a nominal ยฃ50-ยฃ100 before work starts, so I can say 'Yes' to the crass 'Can you afford to lose ยฃ100 if this is a scam?' question, and then, ideally make 2 or 3 phased payments around the ยฃ5,000 mark, and these tend to go through relatively smoothly. I explain to the Contractor my reasoning, and usually make at least one payment whilst they are still on site, so that they can see that I have sent the money; I ask that the Contractor phone me after 2 hours if the funds have not arrived, so that I can trace the payment through the system [and I use the word loosely]
The Roofer replaced our Bathroom Contractor and Electrician's roofs, respectively, and all 3 tradespeople are really solid, reliable workers who insist on doing the work first, and then requesting payment, so I really do not want to mess them about. I believe strongly in the 'takes years to build a reputation, but only moments to destroy one', and, being retired, my reputation is one of my few remaining assets!
Steve
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What always puzzles me about online payments is that you can set one up on the banking app on your phone with the minimum of fuss but try setting one up using online banking on your computer and you seem to have to jump through all manner of hoops? I appreciate that data sent from a phone is more secure but it does seem that banks prefer that method over online banking. If I set up any large payment I tend to send a ยฃ1 test payment and then ask for confirmation its been received.
David
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Beautiful photos all. Keep them coming.
I have to agree with Wherenext about hopscotch under the laburnum. I would have had to use it if I physically saw it.
@Wherenext I'm glad that the banks are checking up on large transfers or withdrawals. I think they have had to pay back too many times when red flags should have been clear. Better safe than sorry. There's been several police warning locally about scams.
Had the grandson yesterday, we set off to Huntingdon for grandads barber pamper ๐ ๐คฃ. Quite a queue so we left him to it. There's an international supermarket almost nextdoor that sells HUGE oval water melons, so they had to be investigated as did the store. Absolutely fascinating produce fresh frozen - very different fish to our usual, lots of other items including frozen banana leaves as well as lime leaves. Food for thought in more ways than one. Butchery counter with different 'cuts' chicken feet and sheep's heads trays were empty i was relieved to see..large queue so had to negotiate our way through, checking shelves opposite. We have a packet of water melon sweets, unopened so untested still, I think he forgot, a large sluce of one if the water melons, very nice, and a packet of dried Caribbean soup. He liked the packaging and ingredients - i had to read him those. I'm to offer it when they all come to dinner apparently ๐ that could prove interesting - it serves 2 and they'll be 6 of us including 2 children, we'll either be disappointed or relieved.......
Then I remembered new pe trainers needed, so we got those and headed back to grandad. Either they got through the queue quickly or we lingered longer as grandads head was just being unwrapped from a warm towel. Grandson's face was a picture.
All took longer than I thought so we found some grass and seat to eat our picnic rather than heading to the park for it. It wouldn't have been an issue if I'd put his cricket stuff in the car, but the dog would have been alone for too long.
Home and grandad caught up on missing zzzz's.... We amused ourselves in the garden,, grandson found hosepipe which hasn't been rolled up ๐ค and made mud, a pond and fairy garden.....๐. Fed him.again and he and I went off to cricket, with snacks! Thought we'd take the old road, but very nasty accident lots of emergency vehicles so we turned around, warned mummy and daddy and headed to the motorway for alternative route. Mobile speed camera on the bridge before oure turn off - interesting to see drivers reactions.
As yesterday, its cooler but already 21c.
Enjoy your day folks
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We have a big Asian/oriental supermarket in town as well @Bakers2 huge variety of fresh fruit and veg of lovely quality. We eat a lot of veg, and like to try different things. I donโt go anywhere near meat counters of any kind๐ซฃ
Still warm here, OH seems smittled with some lurgy, coughing and snuffling very unlike him to be not healthy, and he even put off a bike ride yesterday, so itโs definitely unusual. Just hoping he keeps it to himself ๐คจ I can hear my weeds calling to me in the garden, but it will need to be a shady spot.
Brake part for our Jeep (orange one) arrived, managed to get it else where than USAโฆ.bought from Germany, sent from Spain, arrived via Netherlands, took around three days, so a good bit better than sending a letter via Royal Mail! Booked into our trusty local garage to be fitted soon.
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Anyone in South Yorks, Brodsworth Hall has a beautiful Laburnum archโฆโฆrest of gardens gorgeous as well. @nelliethehooker you have been to some fabulous gardens this tour, really enjoying all the colourful photos.
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@Bakers2 @Wherenext must admit I didnโt try hopscotch, the path is pretty uneven anyway so just walking on it takes all my concentration!๐คฃ.
I had to chuckle about the international supermarket @Bakers2. Our DIL is Filipino and she often uses our international supermarket near York when they visit, we still have an enormous bottle of soy sauce she bought last year to make a meal or two here. I do use soy sauce for stir fries etc but wouldnโt ever get through as much as she does! Donโt know how long itโs safe to use for, but takes up a lot of shelf space in our fridge. You mentioned chicken feet, she loves them ๐คข and our little granddaughter will eat almost anything including some of the more unusual stuff, at 3 our little grandson is not as adventurous- yet!! I have a memory of granddaughter at 2/3 years old eating mussels out of their shells and advising her Dad how to eat them using the empty shell as a pincer! ๐คฃ Fortunately when we visit Macau we arenโt asked to eat anything too unusual (for us anyway!) although our son, who as youngster was pretty fussy about his food will also now eat most things, not chicken feet though!! They are in the process of moving at present, their previous place was on the 18th floor, the new place is on the 42nd floor ๐ฃ it gave me vertigo seeing the picture of the view he sent.
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I hope @moulesy that you enjoyed your day at Wembley even if the result was not the one you wanted.
I wonder how @Goldie146 is getting on, and that perhaps she has been allowed back home.
Your OH must be not feeling well if he has missed a chance of a cycle ride @Takethedogalong hope he doesn't pass it onto you, and he is soon better and ready to get out on his bike again. With regards to the gardens, both of those we visited this week were new to us and are free to HHA members.
It sounds as if it was a very interesting but tiring day @Bakers2 you will certainly need a rest after all that.
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The day started off bright, sunny and warm but it clouded up through the morning and we have had a few short rain showers after 2:00. Left the THS and drove on to our next location, a CS not too far away that we used last year. The site is full tonight, with 3 caravans, 2 M/S and a tent. Since our last visit they have installed a first class toilet and shower room. There is small wood attached to the property, with numerous interconnected footpaths, who during our afternoon walk through it I saw the resident Roe Deer.
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Well, I don't think anyone saw that coming! No complaints from me, on the day we were completely outplayed. Everything that's worked so well over the past 24 months went missing - too many missed tackles from a normally solid defence and too many handling errors from a normally precise attack meant it was a very disappointingly one sided game. Not helped by an early injury and some very dodgy refereeing decisions ( well I would say that, wouldn't I? ๐) but the better team certainly won. Just wish is wasn't Wigan whose fans are, I think, the most ungracious I've come across. And again it was a shame how few spectators turned up for the women's game - those girls are tough and extremely skillful too. It was bakingly hot sat up in East stand, can't imagine what it must have been like down on the pitch. Anyway, it's always a great day out - have to start planning for 2027 now!
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Tough luck @moulesy. That Jack Ferrimond looked a great find from what I saw of the game.
Its been too hot to get out and clean the roof the M/home last week but todays cooler temperature meant there was no further excuse for me. It's higher than the last one but I managed to avoid the nosebleed.๐ Have to try and get away soon and get it dirty again. We were hoping to for a night or two next week but can't get the carer so it will have to wait.
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@Wherenext - I think one thing Wigan do excel at as a club is bringing on youngsters in their academy and Jack Ferrimond is just the latest example of that. Mind you, he probably won't get much game time now Bevan French is fit again!
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We drove the short distance to Cortachy and did the riverside walk through part of the Airlie Estate. It was the perfect time of the yearfor it too. These are few photos from along the first part of the walk.
The start of the walk, then some along the way.
Looking back down the River South Esk
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Stunning pics @nelliethehooker ๐
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