Red and white

My cactus in our downstairs bathroom is full of blooms again, I love this plant, the shade of pink is very striking, I feed it twice a year and water it when dry, it loves this sunny window sill. I have another small white blooms plant and a few cuttings in the greenhouse. 

I got a couple new plants, a second white blooms cactus and a white Christmas rose (hellebore), these are for my Christmas greenery display, I will mix a couple fake items here as well, I try and change things around each year.

 I knew I was going to get this book, I follow Charlie Mackesy on Instagram, he is a gentle soul, I have his first book, I love his style, I hope to be able to give both books to Molly in years to come.

This was a strange plot, a lady working for a charity answering calls to help souls struggling with their lives, what type of help, it quickly became about just one man, what had she done to him, the story unfolded with twist. It kept going with additions to the plot, when you think it's done another level is added. Book 76 read this year.

You move to a new house make friends with two unlikely neighbours, you can't work out why they are friends, as always the story unfolds in layers with a back story. I guessed by half way who's backstory it was, then it twisted into an even better plot. Brilliant book. Book 77 read this year.

I have been shopping a couple of time in the week, Wednesday with daughter, she helped me choose the final bits for the children's gifts, I also got a few craft things for them to do the week before Christmas, it should help with their excitement. On Thursday I popped out with hubby we each chose our main gift, he had slippers and me PJ's, not exciting but what we wanted, we agreed we would get one smaller surprise gift for each other, but as yet I have no idea what to get him, we are not doing our stockings this year, they were becoming full of chocolate and sweets, not good for the waist line. 

I have had an email from the printers I use hinting they are giving a big discount for Black Friday, so I have been reading 2023 again, I'm almost half way through, it will be ready to print.

I have found a 10 stitch crochet blanket to make, I will use my double knitting yarn from my stash, it's using Tunisian stitch which I do love and should be a simple task, I have no reason to make it, just to use my time and stash. I have also got a few needle felting things to make, these need to be done by the end of the month, which is plenty of time.

The force of  storm Claudia missed us on Friday, it was cold, wet and windy, nothing too bad, we stayed inside all day, Saturday was blue skies and bright, laundry dried outside, I picked up leaves again, did a bit of housework, nothing exciting, these are dull days. We did walk to our monthly craft market, I got a gift for my brother, its nice to see different things.

November garden

My daisy bed is still stunning, this simple planting has worked perfectly, I do very little to this bed, hubby loves it as well. I love how the blooms tumble to the lawn, I am hopeful of a few seedings next spring. These are evergreen and if our winter is mild we will have daisies for months.

A couple of my fuchsias are still  in bloom, both are not in the ground, being raised they do flower longer. My hosta tub is a mass of colour, the begonia is full of flowers, all the cyclamen are in pots, placed there for colour.

A quick check on my veg beds, everything is growing well, I have a fine pea net over both beds to keep the birds away. The veg in these beds requires no work, they will grow over winter giving spring harvest.

I managed to pick up all the leaves, I got 4 tubs, my acer is bare, so just the last of the huge magnolia leaves left to drop, both black dustbins are full, they will supply me with leaf mulch next autumn. I have piled loads of leaves over my rhubarb crown, I did the same last year. My composters are both full, the levels will drop, I don't plan to dig the compost out until the spring, when I should get enough compost for my needs.

Everything is looking good in the greenhouse, I will soon sow my sweet-peas, they were a success this year, so I'm going to do exactly as I did last year. I will plant my tulips in pots, hopefully with Molly on Sunday, she loves the garden, I have an amaryllis bulb to plant as well, in hope to have a flower before Christmas, I have 5 other bulbs which I have put outside in hope the cold weather will stimulate a bud instead of just leaves.

Our fake grass helps keep the garden looking good, it has brilliant drainage which is necessary in our wet winters, I get as much pleasure looking at our winter garden as I do in summer, the structure is enough to give interest. 

I spent Wednesday with daughter, I have finished all the children's gifts and George's birthday present, I'm out with hubby on Friday to choose our gift to each other. I did get a pair of green cords from Next, I have always loved cord trousers, they are not often on sale, so I grabbed a pair when I saw them.

Weekend

 Daughter and children sneaked into the house on Friday and decorated for our home coming on Saturday, it was a lovely surprise, the last time I had balloons was 10 years ago, we took a few to their house so they could play with them. The '70' balloons are in our office Lilly was getting herself tied up in the strings. 

I did get a lovely bunch of flowers, I've not received fresh flowers in ages, they do brighten up the sitting room, I stopped buying fresh flowers a few years ago, the cost and the fact they are not grown in UK, being the main factors. 

Sunday we all went out for a meal to a local pub where George is comfortable, they do a lovely roast dinner, which I had, afterwards we had chocolate birthday cake, daughter got a 'freefrom' dairy so both George and Molly could have some, we left the rest of the cake for them. 

We have done very little since we came home, Lilly behaved at the cattery and came for a cuddle when she saw me, she has been in luxury, there is underfloor heating in the cages, she was snug, I tried to keep her in on Saturday night, there were loads of fireworks, she yowled so hubby let her out, later she slept on my lap for ages.

No plans for the coming week, rest and relax, I have a ton of leaves to pick up, my acer is almost bare and the magnolia is slowly dropping it's huge leaves, the rest of the garden is looking after itself. We are off to Lidl's this morning to fill the fridge, it's raining hard so rest of the day will be inside, probably chatting on the phone with my sister. Laundry is all done, cases are packed away, it's just memories now, and what great memories I have. 

Last look

 From the top of Battersea chimney, the old power station is now a shopping complex and newly built up area, there is a glass lift inside one chimney, we were lucky only 6 people in our's loads of room to view London..

Inside 

loads of the old mechanics of the building on show.

Iconic view, 

old and new

Fun on Tower bridge, 

we walked across the two towers under the top section.

Uber water taxi,

a great way to get around.

Millennium bridge, we walked across twice.

The Golden Hinde

Poppies at Traitors gate, 

Tower of London.

My birthday lunch was in China Town.

Liberty's

This is my final London post, I took so many photos, we made so many great memories, we planed our day to walk away from our hotel and then jumped on the underground to get back, its much easier now you don't have to purchase tickets, just tap your card at beginning and end of every journey. 

We do love to walk everywhere, we again found lovely spots, things not always in any guide, different places to eat, our hotel has a brilliant restaurant, we did not use it preferring to find different places when out and about. Nothing beats turning a corner and finding a treasure, we stumbled on The Golden Hinde.

Thanks to Steve

Our trip to London was brilliant, 4 days gave us plenty of time to wander, we averaged over 16,000 steps each day, Steve on his blog Shadow and Light found this statue on his walks, situated close to St Paul's cathedral. Well worth the walk to find it, a friendly local told us it's only here for this year, afterwards it will be replaced.

On another post Steve took an evening cruise, we have had many lunchtime cruises, the night cruise was much nicer, so many landmarks lit, here is just a few. This was just after 6pm, so not too late.

So thanks to Steve, we had two different adventures, its good to see a different side to the capital city. We caught the lunch time National express coach home for a much needed rest, no plans for the rest of the day, my knees and feet are happy to be still, a takeaway for tea and an early night. More photos next time. 

Thank you everyone for my birthday wishes, it been a fun week, I know I am blessed to be able to have such a good time, the weather was kind, we did not use our coats at all, my scarf and gloves were not necessary,  just a few spots of rain on Friday. It was cool enough to walk around in just our fleeces, sadly most of the Christmas things were starting next week.

70

 The date on my birth certificate states this month I reach my 70th year on this planet, I'm a Septuagenarian Bloody hell (sorry if you don't like swear words), I could not think of another way to make my thoughts vocal, how quickly this milestone has snuck up on me.

What to do when you are this age (note I did not say old), much the same as before. I'm sure all of you will agree with me as I say I feel no different in my mind, I do have a slower fatter body, which changes how I do some things (or not do many things), I'm still me, just with more memories, less items on my bucket list, not forgetting the ability to poke fun at myself.

    

I'm very blessed, we have a good family, siblings are well, most are older than me, our children have good lives, grandchildren are thriving. I have a warm home, food to eat a loving husband, too many people in this world can't say those few words. Health helps, being mobile and able certainly makes each day easier.

We are on a midweek break in London, my choice, hubby wanted to go somewhere hot and sunny, I didn't want to go near any airports, so we hopped on a National Express coach, read for just over two hours, staying at the same hotel near the south bank, very central.

Sunday we have a lunch time meal booked with daughter and children, last Sunday we went to see a Tribute band, ELO, which we loved, so a whole week of celebrations, I had already asked for no gifts, hubby paid to get my emerald ring strengthened, I had been told the stone settings were weak, I will be happy to wear it again, he also got tickets to see Adam Frost next year, he is my favourite gardener, something to look forward to. 

and for fun......

Show time

 I do love silk flowers, these poinsettias stems were purchased last year when I used them in a bigger pot to look like a plant, this year I have them out earlier, I got some silk honesty to break the solid red, I think they look better. This display gives colour to a dull corner, they will be moved in December as my tree is placed here. 

This is my glass cabinet, I made this display at the beginning of October, mainly pumpkins, I have decided it can stay longer, the tall vase has lights in, as does the glass mushroom and my hand painted mushroom, again light in a dull corner. 

I love this photo, daughter went to our favourite garden centre (without me) and snapped this photo, taken on 31st, so Molly had her costume on, she does love to dress up. George has a love for Crocs and wears them everywhere, again lovely colour. 

Sunday we went to our local venue to watch a show, I have always loves ELO from the very beginning back in 70's, both hubby and I loved everything about this show, they played and sung to match what we expected, there was enough humour in between songs, the laser light show was brilliant. We both agreed it's one of the best tribute bands we have seen. 

We are away, Lilly was not happy to go back to the cattery, she does not like to be inside, I think we need to rethink her care when we are next away, our previous cats always stayed at home, but they kept each other company, it's something we need to decide what's best for her. 

George had a very early birthday party, his best friend Dixie's birthday is close to his, sadly the venue they wanted was booked both weekend near their birthdays, they are in the same class so they knew everyone, plus all the siblings, it was a loud afternoon, we did not go. Dixie and her family are moving much closer to daughter, they will be able to walk to each others house, daughter does not normally allow George to houses on his own, but he has been to Dixies a few times. Children went back to school OK, daughter has a chance now to sort all their toys and pack up loads they don't play with anymore, she had a lazy Tuesday, the little ones had an inset day on Monday. 

November colours

 We walked through our local park, the leaves are carpeting under the trees and looking good, these are at the end of the park by a main road, and make a perfect backdrop.

The flower beds still have colours, this central bed always looks good, I do love the crown structure in the middle, perfect for plants to grow up. The bed in the bottom corner of the photo has roses blooming again, there is another identical bed, other than the roses are a different shade. 

I have always adored our tiny bandstand, the twin rose beds have a third shade of blooms, often you find young children on bikes or scooters going around on the path, there is a bench where I am standing, so adults can sit and watch them.

Back in our garden the acer is stunning, with the Virginia creeper over the fence this corner is very colourful, we are enjoying it as soon it will be bare.

Not as bright but still lovely is my olive tree, this is an evergreen. 

Finally our neighbours pyracantha, this is in the corner of their garden behind our garage, beautiful orange berry's, the top is almost bare, the pigeons have been feasting, along the fence is my red berry plant, much smaller, I hope eventually it will cover the whole back fence.

I have very little to do outside, both veg beds are full and growing strong, I don't cut back the flower beds until spring, I do have tulip bulbs to plant, all the other spring bulbs are in pots already. The flower plants in my greenhouse are doing well, I have seeds growing, some plants which I potted up as they were seedlings in the wrong place and a couple of huge plants I have split, some could be outside, but our clay soil in winter months gets water logged and things rot. I am collecting leaves for making mulch and both composters are full.

I am reading, I started two books by new authors, which I discarded, but as yet no crafting, I really want to knit, I have loads of 4ply wool (yarn), a pack of cotton yarn for toys, and some double knitting wool (yarn), plenty of patterns,  just no inspiration. I have been looking at cross stitch I have two unfinished designs. Will loves our red cushions, I have promised him I will make one for him, he chose the cushion with the badges, hubby ordered the one badge, I will make the stripes myself.