After Sophie’s birthday at the start of last week, this week ended (on Friday) with Becky’s birthday. The weather, though, was terrible, with biblical rainfall (which led to bad flooding in Monmouthshire.) On Saturday she went to Bristol to meet Sophie and see Mamma Mia, before rendezvousing with Sam and all of them coming home on Saturday evening.
The weather has been unseasonable pretty much all year, and that has continued with a very warm week, certainly it hasn’t felt like mid-November. Plenty of my plants are in still in full bloom, although next week the weather is set to turn, with the cold arriving and the possibility of overnight frost – and snow if you believe the hype. So today I took some time to move my geraniums from the front to behind the gate in the hope that I can over-winter them.
On Wednesday evening, Sam was sat outside and had company:
and the ‘hog returned again on Friday night:
I didn’t run today as I have a “tight calf” (left leg). I first noticed it whilst refereeing last weekend, and it was quite sore on Wednesday evening (having ref-ed that afternoon) Yesterday it wasn’t too bad until about 20 mins into the second half when my right leg slipped and I felt a stabbing pain in the back of my left calf. I probably could have run today but wisely chose not to (and went for a haircut instead!)
My war on the fungus gnats has definitely swung in my favour – too early to claim total victory, but certainly far fewer of the little buggers.
On Monday it was Sophie’s birthday – 26! I do find that hard to believe: that I am a father to a 26 and 23 year old! Sophie and Becky went to London to see Benson Boone, and by the sounds of it, it was an excellent show! Brian May was a guest appearance at the end, accompanying the boy Benson in a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.
For me, a far more mundane week, with a return to school, and dark evenings to walk home in. It does, however, remain remarkably warm – still no need to break out the winter clothes and coats. In the garden, my geraniums remain in full bloom, ably supported by the Bizzie Lizzie’s that keep on doing their thing, and offset by the lush green growth of some nasturtiums (which are also sported the odd orange flamed flower). There is a general dampness to the weather (and we’ve just had a quick downpour, soaking me as I rushed to retrieve the washing) but its not been too wet this week, although that is due to change in the coming days.
Progress is being made in the fungus gnat problem, the sticky traps are showing a much reduced incidence of the annoying insect, although I did give up on my avocado plant today, and took it to the compost bin: it had suffered through my reduced watering regime, with leaves curling and blackening, plus it still seemed to have a significant infestation, as manifested by both the the number of gnats on the yellow sticky trap, plus you could still see the little blighters crawling around the surface. For recording purposes, I took some photos of some of the yellow traps in my room before I replaced them today, after a week. (The one’s in Sam’s room I changed on Wednesday)
Today, I refereed on the Bridgwater District League – was aske by Keith to do so on Wednesday as they were short of refs, so I agreed. First ten minutes I was doubting my decision, but once I’d established myself on the game, and everyone recognised my levels and tolerances, I did come to quite enjoy myself. Of note was when one player commended me on a good advantage played, another when, with only about 10 mins to go a player from the losing side (8-0 down at this stage, ended 10-0) asked if I was a new ref. I explained I used to do this league, but hadn’t done for a while – he was very complimentary, him and his mate agreeing that I hadn’t got anything wrong. I’m not going back to doing this every week, but I am enjoying my refereeing at the moment, at whatever level.
On Friday we headed up to see ABC at Cardiff Arena. I’m not really sure if Becky enjoyed it, but I did.
We travelled up to Cardiff that day, dodging (well, not really) the showers, crossing the bridge, and meeting up with Sophie, who very kindly was hosting us for the evening.
We had a nice meal at Honest Burger, before she left us to head to the show, and was waiting for us in her nice warm flat afterwards – was good to be “home” before 11pm having been out to a concert!
On Saturday, after breakfast of Lidl’s pastries (delicious!) all three of us headed back over the bridge to Bristol, Becky & Sophie going to the theatre to see the Book of Mormon (coming out after the show, they both said how good it was) and I was left to do some shopping on a Saturday afternoon in Bristol. The first couple of hours were fine – purchasing from Primark, and the perusing a few other stores, but then my enthusiasm began to wane and I wandered aimlessly before rewarding myself with coffee and cake, and then just sitting on a cold stone bench in Cabot’s Circus waiting for the show to end. It wasn’t tooo bad, but I don’t think I shall be rushing back to a shopping mall any time soon!
Before we went to Lisbon I dug up the front bed, so that on our return from Lisbon I was able to plant up all my spring bulbs, now we just need to batten down the hatches, endure the dark, cold winter to come, and await their colourful arrival next year.
Inside, I’ve been waging war against a legion of fungus gnats that have been plaguing the house – bought in, I think, when I re-potted all my Monstera plants. Although harmless, they are a bloomin’ nuisance, buzzing around your head. I’ve employed a three pronged plan to eradicate them: I have bought a load of yellow sticky traps -it is quite amazing (not sure that is the right word) to see how many of the little flies get stuck to these, I’ve applied a physical barrier of gravel on the tops of each worst affected plant, in an attempt to stop the adults reaching the soil and laying their eggs, and, most recently, I have tried biological control by watering Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensisonto the plants in an attempt to kill the lava in the soil. I think I’m winning with the plants in my room, the verdict is still out on the infestation in Sam’s room.
On our trip to Cardiff, we had hoped to dovetail in a visit to the house she is buying, but we couldn’t be accommodated on that day. However, the day before, she had had her info back from the solicitor, and it stated that the garden was at significant risk of flooding, so after much heart ache and discussion, she is pulling out of the purchase. That does leave us with a big box of loo paper that she had purchased and delivered to our house – I do like the picture above of Sam taking delivering!
Late on Monday night/early Tuesday morning, Becky and Sophie returned from Corfu, and then, during the day on Tuesday, Sophie headed home to Cardiff. Whilst travelling along the M4 near Newport, she heard a rumbling, followed very swiftly by feeling something very amiss, and seeing her rear right car tyre disintegrate.
She made it to the hard shoulder and called the AA. Fortunately they came within the hour, put a spare (of their own) on her car and drove with her to a nearby tyre shop. She got a new tyre for £65, and was on her way. A drama that fortunately didn’t become a crisis.
The weather continues to be predominantly wet, the temperature has fallen and it does feel definitively autumnal. After a few chilly nights in bed, the lightweight summer duvet has been taken off, replaced with the heavier winter one, and I shall be turning the heating back on this evening.
The garden, however, has enjoyed the almost continual rain. My sole surviving pumpkin* – a small self seeder in the front trug – is shaping and colouring up nicely.
(* I have, today, spotted another fruit, from the plants I planted in the front, where the box tree was, that does seem to be swelling. But this has been a season of false dawns as far as pumpkins are concerned, plus its late in the season. Will watch with interest and hope, but I don’t think that hope will amount to much)
Sunflowers – both in the front and back – are continuing to flower
which, along with my geraniums, lobelia and Bizzie Lizzies (bought late in the season) continue to provide interest and colour against the drab grey skies.
And it seems to be a good year for cyclamen, with swathes of pretty pink flowers carpeting the borders, particularly in the front. Knowing that late autumn and winter are not too far away, I’m keen to extend the colour in the garden as long as possible, and so far my plan seems to be working …
I think, sadly, it is time to say “so long” to summer. Since Tuesday I’ve been spending an increasing amount of time in school. and this has been coupled with a marked turn in the weather, and a return to rainy days.
But its been a magnificent summer. Greece was great, Nice was nice, Sam’s graduation was fun, and all of that before August, a hot, dry, month that just stretched out in front of us. (Almost) every day was dry and warm and I think the consistency just made it so magnificent – no thinking I must do that on Tuesday as it will be the only dry day. Although I’ve not done a lot, I don’t feel I wasted a day, sat inside, bored and with nothing to do but watch the rain outside the window. I’ve read a lot, and enjoyed being immersed in a good book; I’ve run quite a bit: 83 km in August (that will be pushed to 90 if I run tomorrow morning); I’ve refereed a number of games, mainly at Ashcott, but including a return to the Bridgwater Sunday league (albeit in a friendly) and I’ve enjoyed all the games I’ve done. My garden has been magnificent all summer, a source of joy, wonder and contentment at all times. I’m writing on a Saturday as tomorrow afternoon I need to go into school to meet and greet new Year 10 parents, and the term proper starts on Monday. I’d rather still be on holiday, but I do feel ready for the new school year, in part to see what it holds, I think it could be pivotal to my thinking for the next few years to come.
Sam has started work at school, working in the kitchens. It will be good for him to have some structure and routine, and to start earning some money. Sophie has had an offer accepted on a house, so that is really exciting; as a family it does seem like we are on the cusp of a new chapter in all our lives.
The weather has continued to be dry – I can’t recall the last significant rainfall – although it has been a little cooler this week, although has heated up again over the last couple of days, and tomorrow, to, promises to be a scorcher. But come Tuesday onwards, we are forecast rain at times for the rest of the week, so, whilst everything is still nice and dry, I decided to take the strimmer to the lawn and cut everything back. It does now look very barren and brown, but I’m sure it will green up again come some rain, and it (the lawn) has done its job since February, when the first daffodils gave us a splash if colour, through the flowering of the Love in a Mist in June, followed by the form of their seeds head providing some interest in driest of summers, when lawns have been less than green!
And with GCSE results published on Thursday, resulting in a very busy day or two at school, the sense that the wonderful summer is coming to a close was magnified.
But summer’s not yet quite done.
We’ve been out blackberrying again, and I am enjoying a few each morning on my cereal.
Sam is home, his jury service completed this week, and his future beginning to look a little more settled. He’s got himself a job at Millfield as a catering assistant, which will tide him over for a while whilst he works out what he wants to do.
We are getting used to having him back home – the washing machine seems to be in constant action. One morning a mountain of white socks appeared in the was basket. Duely washed and hung out to dry, there were to many to count, instead I decided to measure them – over 3 metres of socks!
I’ve also taken the opportunity of time + dry weather to clean all the guttering at the back of the house – a job I am pleased I have got done, so worth recording as I wonder when it will next need doing.
Thursday was Sam’s birthday, and it was nice to have him home for the day (and Sophie was home, too). I do struggle to believe that he is 23 – that means I must be old!
The weather continues to be dry and warm – and its heating up again today, the start of a forecast heatwave. I include the above photo not so much for the majestic sight of a hot air balloon over the tor, but instead to document and record how dry the tor is. I am surprised that we are not subject to a hosepipe ban – I can’t remember the last time we had any meaningful rain – but I am taking advantage of the lack of a ban to keep my garden watered.
The garden is looking lovely, it is a haven and sanctuary and it has been wonderful to have the weather to “use it” every day this summer. I did buy some extra geraniums and bizzie lizzies from the garden centre at the bottom of the road to fill a few “holes” – a bargain at £1 for a tray of annuals. Hopefully the weather will continue long into September and beyond and they will continue to provide colour for a long time to come.
In this heat (and wind – it has been quite breezy on occassion) the sunflowers have needed a mid-day watering (not much, but some) to stop the looking all dried up and shrivelled.
I have a couple of pumpkins that have “taken” and are beginning to swell, the one above is the one out front and leading the way.
I spent a while yesterday repotting monstera plants, first the four that Dani from school gave me at the end of term, and then, having practiced on them, I tackled the monster monstera in Sam’s room.
I am quite pleased with the results, it looks much more “organised” and plant like in its new (bigger) bowl and suitably supported.
In the early hours of this morning we made it home from a wonderful week in Nice. We flew out last Saturday evening, and spent the week based in a small resort: Cros de Cagnes about 15 minutes from the centre of Nice. The “town” we stayed in was lovely, 5 minutes from the train station giving us access up and down the coastline and we had a wonderful view from our apartment: across the road to the sea.
Breakfast everyday was a real treat: we found a boulangerie on the sea front 50 metres from our apartment and we soon settled into a routine with everyday beginning with a two coffees (each) and sharing three pastries, all for just a little over 10 euros.
I took the opportunity to swim daily, the water quickly deepening of a pebble beach. It was rarely flat calm, and on a few occasions, when the wind strengthened, the waves would crash against the shore, enough to deter Becky from swimming much. Both this week, and our fortnight in Greece, have reminded me just how much I just enjoy being in the (warm) sea. My happy place!
We hunted for heart shaped stones
and used the train to explore the coastline, visiting Nice (very Nice), Menton, Antibes, and even a day trip to Italy: Ventimiglia.
It was hot, perhaps at time too hot for exploring the towns and cities we did. We both loved the holiday – an extra, or add on, to our two weeks in Greece, and Becky, in particular, enjoyed trying to recall and use her schoolgirl French from 39 years ago (I struggled with the language – defaulting to Spanish, the realising this was wrong. Once I even found myself using Italian (arrivaderci) – no idea where that came from (this was before we had been to Italy for the day)) But, despite the wonderful art, clean streets and “typically French” architecture, I don’t think it did enough to knock Greece off our number one summer holiday spot.
Whilst we were away, Sam (& Poppy) had stayed at home, so my plants are well watered and the flowers beginning to bloom. After four very different weeks (2 in Greece, Sam’s graduation “week”, and a week in Nice) we are now home know for the rest of the summer, what feels like phase 2 of the summer holidays.
On Thursday we went to Cardiff for Sam’s graduation – a 2:1 in History and Economics from Cardiff University. If truth be told, there were times when we thought this day would never come, so particularly proud of his achievement.
Joining us for the day of celebration was Sophie, Poppy and Smithy,
It was a great day – a “fun day” rather than a day of pomp and ceremony.
We’re very proud of him.
I’m posting a bit of synch, on a Saturday, as we’ve been away for two weeks to the Sporades (Alonnissos, Skopelos, and Skiathos) and had a wonderful time, and later today we head to Nice for a week.
We enjoyed lovely weather whilst away, it was also hot and dry here. Sophie came home to escape the heat, and helped keep the garden watered – its looking good.
Not sure how it will fare with another week of neglect, time will tell.
On Friday school finished for the (academic ) year. To be fair, as Head of Year 11 all of “my students” had finished and gone home in the previous week, so if I’m honest I had pretty much checked out myself for the last week or so. But I don’t feel guilty about that – its been a tough year and I have, at times, questioned why I do it. The almost complete lack of emails in the last 10 days or so has been a real treat, and a reminder that there is life beyond school. But the money is good – I am conscious that I am at the peak of my earning power and I will never earn as much again, so its a bit of a balancing act to fill the cofers in readiness for slowing down and, ultimately, retiring. Something had to change, and that change is my year group – I pick up a new cohort in September, I hope that they will be better than the group I have just waved goodbye to. One more cycle – ie year 10 and then into year 11 – as Head of Year is the plan, but plans can always change …
Sam (and Poppy) came home on Thursday, having finally vacated his Cardiff house, and today they have travelled up to London. Early doors tomorrow, Becky & I head of to Greece – flying to Skiathos, then on to Alonnisos followed by six days in Skopelos, so my blog will continue for the next couple of weeks on https://hap-pea-travels.co.uk/ Am looking forward to submersing myself in the Greek sea, and having it wash away all my cares and troubles. Yamas!
