Splat

 I saw something similar on Instagram recently and thought it would be great for the little ones, we stopped using water balloons years ago, so much wasted plastics, I cut the sponges up into strips and tied them together with a small cable tie, add to a bucket of water and let the fun begin...

As you can see Molly and George loved playing, and got me very wet, we each had our own bucket of water, we slipped their shorts off before play, I can see them wanting to play every visit, mummy remembered to bring dry clothes. Lilly just kept out of their range, Grancha hid in the sunroom, mummy and Will stayed inside. So much laughter. 

My grapevine is growing, it's probably the only plant enjoying this extended heat wave, it's nice to know it's settled into its growing space. In the same bed my cucumbers are ripening, I get a couple each week, the tomatoes are behind, too much shade from the magnolia tree. 

All I do outside is water and deadhead the flowers, my gladioli are already going over, they are in a sunny spot, I want to move my 2 snowberry plants from the daisy bed, they can't be seen and are wasted in their current spot, hubby has given me a nice pot for them, later in the year I can add spring bulbs. Hubby has an hydrangea in his from garden suffering from the heat, he does not water his garden enough. I have cut back the thyme and sage in my big herb pot next to our seating area, I will move them into individual pots, I can then add to the compost in the big pot and replant the hydrangea, in hope I can save it, it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, I have a geum I can separate and underplant. I'm just waiting for rain before I start moving things.

My runner-beans are still rather ropey, they have started climbing up the poles, hopefully with the slightly lower temperatures they may catch up. I have tried a couple of times to sow lettuce, nothing is coming up, so I will get some small plants this week.

Today will be much the same as yesterday weather wise, just 26°, sounds hot, we have had over 30° for the past 10 days, so it does feel less oppressive, still no rain, now almost 6 weeks, we have had a few cloudy days, I've been looking online for pagan rituals to call for rain just joking. My waterbuts are all almost empty, I try and keep enough for the few plants I can't use tap water.

After the tennis

 Another great book, it hints at a secret 3 friends have from school, with flashbacks filling in details, the school grounds are sold for development, which is a deep worry to one of them, what should they do. Book 47 read this year.

I do like this author, he has interesting plots, you meet your ex girlfriend and have become a couple again, she has a huge secret and you are drawn in, loads of twists, a very clever written plot, I could not put it down. Book 48 read this year.

Another brilliant plot, very different, you are abducted and forced to live in a hut in the middle of a huge forest, already there is another woman, terrified of the men, how to escape and find your way home. Book 49 read this year.

Sunday we had the last slice of lemon cake, Monday we had a red velvet cupcake from Molly's batch. Midweek we had scones for a couple of days, I only have cream on one half. Hubby then made a marmalade cake, we do love home made cakes with our morning coffee.

Just 3 gladioli blooms this year, they are beautiful, sadly in this heat wave the flowers are not lasting long.

Hubby has always cooked from scratch, we eat very few process meals, I enjoy a slice of cake, it's rare we have scones and cream, I don't eat bread, we are eating salads everyday, often with my homegrown new potatoes and lettuce, the cucumbers and tomatoes are slower. 

I picked the little ones up from school on Tuesday, daughter was at Will's school, it was review day, his work as always was so good, it's a shame he's not enjoying school. Wednesday daughter and I had a day together, she wanted to thank me for helping recently, I don't need thanks, I believe it's part of being a mum, and I will help whilst I am still able. Today hubby is out all day, so I am home alone, a quick flick of the duster, as my mum would say and then reading, still too hot for much gardening, I do have a couple of small jobs I want to get done, once the temperature drops, it's almost 5 weeks without rain here, and none in the forecast next week. 

I have already received my all clear from the mammogram last week, I got an NHS text with a link to the electronic letter, such an easy way to get results, I checked my NHS portal and my blood and stool tests are no yet back, I do like being able to see my data, I don't always understand everything, a quick chat to practice nurse always fills in details. I do keep and eye on my cholesterol and pre diabetes status.

I'm 5

 So our youngest grandchild is 5, her birthday was last Thursday, we all popped to see her after school, she had cake and presents, a very happy little girl. All we heard was 'I'm 5 now'. Here wearing her KPop demon hunters outfit, it's all the rage for her and her peers.

Her first birthday cake, on her birthday with us, grandpa and grandma, a proper family event. Hubby and I surprised the little ones, we collected them after school, both were happy to see us, it was a hot day Molly does suffer in the heat.

Molly had a few friends over on Sunday to play in their garden, daughter had been busy to ensure it was as neat as possible, and added balloons and bunting to make it pretty, it was chaos the whole time, George joined in, Will stayed in his bedroom. This lady was hired to visit, Rumi from KPop, she was wonderful with all the children including younger brother and sisters, George loved her as well.

Molly had asked hubby to make a red velvet cake, he makes them dairy free so she can eat them, he decided to make cupcakes, they do look lovely and as normal they tasted great.  Below is half the batch, the children loved them.

For some nostalgia. 

I had a sleepover on Saturday night, daughter went out for an early evening meal with friends, so I did bedtime, the little ones were so good. Will asked if he could watch the England football match starting at 10pm, he was so happy to see them win and went to bed no problem. Daughter had prepared everything she could on Saturday, so Sunday was an easy start, we did have the pool out, loads of bubbles and inflatables, happy children. Parents sat around keeping an eye on their children, having a lovely chat together.

I was home in time to watch the gentlemen's final, what a match, so close, Sinner winning in 4 sets, sets 1 and 2 were nail biting, sadly it's all over for another year. Now we can get back to normal life, still in this relentless heatwave, no rain here for over 4 weeks, most of Hampshire is on a hosepipe ban implemented by Southern Water, we are OK  as our fresh water is provided by Portsmouth Water, so I can water a few times a week.

This week

We popped to town on Tuesday and met daughter, I had already been to the local hospital for a mammogram, it was hot, so we stopped for a rare treat, just too hot for coffee, mine is lemon, it was wonderful, hubby had pistachio.

Sam one of my older grandsons, when a toddler was worried about me being lonely in my car, so these teddies have sat in the child seat, when not in use, Sam is now 16, George does not like these teddies, they are thrown around the car, so sadly this week they were adopted by a lovely lady, who promised to keep them together and love them, she collects teddies.

I have read this author before, it's another good plot, your first role back to work after being at home with your daughter, it's with your dream company, strange things keep happening all around one co-worker, is she the problem, I felt the plot was leading in the wrong direction, the twist when it came was brilliant.  Book 46 read this year.

Tennis has been excellent, both ladies and gentlemen's matches has been spellbinding, I don't enjoy the doubles matches, I do love to watch a long rally where the players work to outplay their rivals. Sadly Arthur Fery ended his run, I hope he is proud of himself, I'm sure most everyone watching enjoyed his tennis. Jannik Sinner dispatched Djokovic in three straight sets, 

I did manage to deep clean the en-suite and our bedroom this week, so that's the whole house done in the last couple of weeks, the dust is the issue, it gets everywhere. Today I am home alone, I will drive to daughters later for another sleepover.

I have done all the medical retest this week, hoping for the results to help my doctor to work out why I'm not so good, my diet is still very restricted, which is helping, I would rather not stay on such limited foods. I have always been on restrictions due to an early high cholesterol discovered at age 19, which was kept in place for over 20 years. Restrictions on dairy, animal fats, plus issues with refined white flour and watching sugar intake, add a couple of allergies and things I don't like.