Gala day.

On Saturday it was our village gala held at Portchester castle, it was a beautiful hot sunny day, normally our gala is held in June, our last gala was June 2019, so everyone was pleased to go to the event, the parade through the village did not go ahead this year. 

 Inside the castle grounds are all the vintage cars, loads of stalls run by local groups, youth organisations, and local charities. There is a huge show ring in the centre and loads of things happening through out the day. Outside the walls are loads of things to try, archery, huge blow-up spheres which you get in and roll around, bumper cars and a fun fair. 

Out side the castle walls on the coast side, the tide is in, so perfection, we could have been anywhere along the Mediterranean sea, we are very lucky to live here, almost everything we need is at hand. So many times we have enjoyed this view and the castle grounds. 

Looking back towards the castle, we walked home along the shoreline, passing loads of people walking towards the castle, it was a perfect time. 

We have only missed the gala once, one year when my sister visited, its a good family fun day, normally we take Will, but on Saturday he was with grandpa and grandma, we did not stay too long, just a lovely walk around. 

Earlier we both had our flu jabs, our doctors surgery is on the ball with getting everyone done early, giving time later for getting our covid booster jabs, which they are hoping to start in October. 

On a separate note last week the castle was closed to public, the car park taken over by huge vans, antiques road was filming, so look out for Portchester Castle location, coming on BBC1 soon. 

Both Friday and Saturday evenings I got a M&S too good to go bag, both had a great mixture of things, we love these bags, for their value as contents are worth £12, and the treats we have, we are able to walk to the shop within our local garage. 

Thank you for your comments in my last post, I am feeling better, so many of us are worriers, and these days we have so much more to deal with. I always find the end of summer hard, I love the autumnal colours everywhere, but I do love being outside in our garden, sat inside watching is never the same. 

Today is a lazy day at home, not seen daughter for a while, she is settling into their new routine of school everyday, Will is busy, he went to a starters marshal arts class and wants to join, Friday night he camped out in garden with daddy and loved it, he is growing up so fast. Everything changes once they start school. We have had a short sharp storm this morning, the garden would like a couple more. 

Books

I had seen a few reviews on this book, youngest daughter passed it to me, not my favourite style of narrative, but I stuck with it, not sure how to review it, the, a storyline around mental illness, love and families. It would be hard to say I enjoyed it, but it was a really good read. Book 40 read this year.  

 

I was passed this book, I had read Virginia Andrews way back, everyone loved Flowers in the Attic, Family Storms was a exceptional read, well written, a brilliant story, told by a 14 year old girl, book 41 read this year. 

I love Peter James crime novels, always set in and around of Brighton, this is a totally different storyline, I enjoyed it from his first word to the last, great read. Book 42 read this year. 

It can be difficult when you are part of a book swap, loads of my friends know I am a huge bookworm, so I am often given books to read, luckily for me most are to my taste. It's a fantastic way to find new authors, and ones you have not read for years. I rarely give up on a book, a few I have read I have been pleased to get to the end of the story.

I have lost myself in books this week, just a bit of gardening as everywhere is looking good, with no projects, I have nothing to think about, and I am a thinker, so thoughts turn to what's happening all around us, the upcoming winter months, family, Will has now his date for his operation. I have been feeling gloomy, hubby keeps asking what I would like for my birthday in November, it's a huge one, I officially retire and get my pension. I have never worried about my age, we are who we want to be at any age, but these days being older with this virus around us is worrying, Oh did I say I worry as well as overthink things. With the changing season showing and summer coming to an end, its just another level which has all got together to bring me down, I do have a loving family, hubby, daughter and siblings, so it's a case of working through it, I'm not complaining as I know people who really suffer with mental health issues, mine will pass it always does.

We have been out, a lovely afternoon on Monday with youngest daughter, it was her birthday, so I took cake and flowers, she had already had her gift, dentist and shopping on Tuesday, Wednesday we had a walk around our park and through our small market, Thursday lunch with friends at a garden centre. I've seen Will, George and Molly loads, sadly Will started full time school this week so days playing together have been replaced with desk, teachers and different fun for him. 

Changing seasons

These are the rest of my bulbs for next spring, Saturday I spent the day outside, sorting untidy pots and planting the new seasons colours. Hubby was out in afternoon, so an enjoyable time on my own. It was sunny and warm, a perfect day for being outside. 

The bigger pot had a dahlia plant, which I have popped into a plastic pot to over winter in my greenhouse, it is now full of a mixture of bulbs, my metal pot, had a daisy in, which again is in a plastic pot in greenhouse, I love the mixture of colours in the violas, such tiny beautiful flowers. The Cyclamen I purchased in the village the day before.  My pots of Begonias are in full of blooms, they will last until the frost arrive. 

The long pots infront of the raspberries now have pansies in, limited colours, loads of white flowers, which I love, these will soon grow and fill these tubs. I have replanted some of the plants from these tubs into my raised bed, I probably have a 50/50 chance they will come back next year. 

Now for something completely different, I was reading a blog where the lady was using Sphagnum moss, and getting good results for her cuttings, she was experimenting with moss and Perlite. I already knew Perlite was great for some cuttings, but not everything, only time will tell if this works. I've made my 1st garden prop box, I have done 2 cuttings from the same plant, one each in the 2 growing mediums, time will show which is best. 

My 39th book read this year, a very light predictable story line, I almost did not read it, another new to me author I won't look for another of her books. 

I am aware Sphagnam Moss is grown under licence, mine was grown and sold here in northern England, I did alot of reading before making the purchase, it has loads of uses, so far I have used it with my air-plant, carnivorous plants, succulents and orchids. I don't intend to purchase more of it, one bag should be enough, it can be added to potting compost, but I would rather not do that, I want to cherish it for it's water retaining properties, the rest of the bag is laid on top of compost in a huge plant pot saucer, in hope it stays alive. My air-plant is not looking too good, I have cared for it since May 2018, I am hoping I can keep it alive. 

Saturday was a really late night to bed, we decided to watch the US open tennis tournament, Emma Raducanu has stormed the tennis world, coming through the qualification rounds, making her the 1st ever person to qualify and then go on to win the tournament, and she is only 18. It was a great match, Leylah Fernandez was not going to give her an easy ride, truly stunning to watch, they both have so many great years of tennis ahead of them, and we have loads to look forward to watching. 

Sunday was another sunny blue sky day, these days are always a bonus in September, the temperatures are never normally as hot as August, but everyone loves the sunshine as summer is closing.  After all the housework, more time outside, I am starting to put things inside the greenhouse, then more reading, blissful weekend. Loads of laundry dried on the line, we washed all the bathroom floor mats, these are thick and takes load of time to dry. 

Today is youngest daughters birthday, Will is at school, George is not well, so no nursery, we will spend the morning with them, and then, well I don't know, if I'm feeling creative I hope to get my sisters sewing machine out and have a play.

Little bites

I'm working on the back of this jacket for George, I separated the 3 parts at the armhole shaping, like the body, I need to add extra rows, he is a tall boy, it's all stocking stitch now. I love the button bands are made as I knit and not added later. I've not done so much on this, but it simple knitting from now on. 

I am also working on Molly's dress, this yarn is so soft, I am now at the point to shape the armholes and will work separate front and back pieces, I am past the part I got stuck on last time. I have enjoyed knitting this in the round, the yarn colour mixtures makes this beautiful. The design had the lace work on the back as well as the bodice, but I knitted in stocking stitch, in hope it's flatter and won't be uncomfortable. 

Will's 1st day at school this week, he has visited a few times and a couple of his best friends are in the same class, so a happy little boy, with his book bag. He has got up and dressed every morning happy to go. 

My lovely friend has made me another wooden pot, this time he has left some bark on the side, there are a couple of natural cracks in the wood as well. It's stunning, I love the colours and it's so tactile to touch. 

For once I popped in place without showing hubby, he's not so keen on all my wooden pots, I have shown him since.

Another book finished, a new to me author, she has loads of titles but I won't want to read any more, it was not my best read, book 38 read this year. 

Wednesday I went with mummy to pick up Will from school, the school grounds look fantastic, so many places for the children to have fun. He only attended the morning so we picked him up at 12, he was happy hungry and a bit angry, once fed he was himself and told us everything he did. I got cuddles with George and Molly, and time to chat with mummy.  Later another quiet time at home with hubby.

Thursday I was at daughters before the school run, George was sick in the night, mummy had no sleep, so Will was taken to school, George went for a nap, Molly slept after here feed, mummy was sent to bed for the morning, I had a lazy few hours. I stayed much later daughter had her own medical appointment, George did not attend his, Will came home happy another good day, he had a sticker on his shirt, stating he had ate all his lunch, it was so much fun to have a play afternoon with them.

Today, Friday, we have again nothing on, it's raining which I am pleased about, I am tired so happy not to do much, I hope to walk to the village for a couple of things, I have a greenhouse project to try, then I think loads of reading time, luckily for me hubby is a book worm as well.