Having a late lunch/early tea before I set off for the airport…..it’s my Edinburgh weekend this weekend. Fingers crossed for some sunshine ☀️. Had to dust off my suitcase (literally - it’s that long since it’s been used) and replenish my wash bag. Feeling very excited.
I really don't like donuts. Of any kind - ring, iced, cream, jam. Horrid.
As you will gather, I'm home. Got back late last night and shattered. Long trips, heat waves, biblical storms (tornadoes in Rochefort and environs) plus loads of sorting, cleaning, packing, labelling, stacking boxes, dismantling shelving, wardrobe and bed, more cleaning, 2 PCR tests, 8 days of quarantine and a major problem with Sally Zafira.
She had loss of power near Amiens on the way to Namur so we took those last kms very gently. I took her to an Opel garage for a diagnostic which said she needed a new "electro vanne" which governs the turbo. 250€. Fine. Fitted and tested. No, not that. Needs a whole new turbo. 1750€. They could do it on the 25th. Nope, going home on the 23rd. Can I creep home carefully and get it done in France? Much sucking of teeth as the mechanics conflabbed. No, not advisable, we'll do it on the 23rd.
So here we are a day late and much poorer but Sally is running well and came home full to the gunwales plus roof box. OH is going up on the 6th with a van to fetch the furniture and the rest of the stuff in a 20cubic metre van. Going to be fun finding homes for it all here but I'll get a large fridge freezer out of it.
Exhausted today so all I've managed is a PCR test and SM run then a snooze.
OH has been having fun chook wrangling in my absence as they keep going off piste. He has bought rolls of finer mesh fencing to put inside our stock fence mesh to stop them going to see Luc and his cattle. They've also been next door to see Bruno and Fabienne's horses but they have a greyhound/retriever cross with a high prey drive so that's not a good idea.
He's built a stockade of bamboo canes round the compost heap corner in the potager to keep them from hopping out there and put planks under the gate to stop them sneaking out but I still found 2 following me from the house to the potager when I went to see them this morning. Clever girls! Good job their hen house is bolted from the outside all night.
Over 400 posts to wade thru here since I left - but only 5 on the RTBC thread! - so I can't remember it all but happy birthday @Pat E, happy hols @Yviestevie and @punkdoc. Sorry yours didn't go well @Hostafan1. Maybe best for now for you to have visitors than to to go visiting.
Glad you got there safely @Busy-Lizzie and hope all goes well for OH. PCR tests here and in Belgium are free but not fun. Rapid results online or by text. Track and trace in Belgium called us every 2 days to check status. Impressed.
Hope results are good @chicky and the long wait not arduous. Hope Dad and younger chicklet are both OK.
Hugs and greetings to all.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Oh my goodness @Obelixx that sounds a bit grim. Glad you’re home safely. 😊 Your OH seems to have been most inventive with the chook-wrangling. Probably deserves a 🏅
Welcome back @Obelixx, sounds quite a trip! Good to know the chooks didn't do a Great Escape while you were gone, OH must have had his hands full. 10,000 racing pigeons have gone missing here apparently. Hope you enjoy your Edinburgh break @chicky and @Yviestevie, thank goodness you got the washing machine fixed. I find long driving trips very tiring now @Dovefromabove so you're not the only one. It's good your car got fixed as well. My physio went well yesterday, very thorough and I've now got a set of exercises to do every other day from hip rolls, to 'Superman' stretches. I must have looked very blank when she mentioned those as she had to explain what she meant. I didn't relish being on all fours on top of the examining couch trying to do those - wobbled alarmingly all over the place. No room on the floor though! @Busy-Lizzie, it occurred to me this morning that if you have to drive for an hour or so to the test place, there is not much stopping you and OH going for a short drive together is there? I know it's stretching the regs a bit +but they're pretty barmy anyway.
I was expecting to be phoned by Test and Trace or the like @Lizzie27, I know some people have been, but not even an SMS. Going for Day 8 test in the morning.
Welcome back @Obelixx. The troubles with Sally Zafira on a long trip like that sound very stressful. Think I would have had a panic attack.
After a day of taking it easy my back feels a lot better.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I think the only reason Test & Trace would’ve contacted you @Busy-Lizzie, would be if you’ll brought some old rope with you … that appears to be what Dido Harding gets paid for 😡
Good morning all 😊 ☕️
It’s overcast and cool out there … OH is whizzing down to W’rose to get mozzarella … it’s Pizza Day chez Dove 😉
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
. morning folks. Been up some time got the washing done,as forecast is rain for next 3 days.went first to no 2 son,no reply,left text, went to no 2 daughter,who had jab previous day was feeling rough,THEN realised after telling son on Sunday o would be over in the week, completely forgot to confirm WHICH DAY!! Then no I son. He is also on long term DLA,and very worried,HA were replacing windows on the flats. Stopped at his block,they are 1940s,he's been contacting them for 2 years because they birch tree in the garden of the garden in the garden of the ground floor flat has grown so tall and large,he can't open his window. Nothing bring done,then they saw surveyor,had letter saying internal survey being done. That's turned him into a frenzy,and he reckons they are going to be sold off.
Posts
As you will gather, I'm home. Got back late last night and shattered. Long trips, heat waves, biblical storms (tornadoes in Rochefort and environs) plus loads of sorting, cleaning, packing, labelling, stacking boxes, dismantling shelving, wardrobe and bed, more cleaning, 2 PCR tests, 8 days of quarantine and a major problem with Sally Zafira.
She had loss of power near Amiens on the way to Namur so we took those last kms very gently. I took her to an Opel garage for a diagnostic which said she needed a new "electro vanne" which governs the turbo. 250€. Fine. Fitted and tested. No, not that. Needs a whole new turbo. 1750€. They could do it on the 25th. Nope, going home on the 23rd. Can I creep home carefully and get it done in France? Much sucking of teeth as the mechanics conflabbed. No, not advisable, we'll do it on the 23rd.
So here we are a day late and much poorer but Sally is running well and came home full to the gunwales plus roof box. OH is going up on the 6th with a van to fetch the furniture and the rest of the stuff in a 20cubic metre van. Going to be fun finding homes for it all here but I'll get a large fridge freezer out of it.
Exhausted today so all I've managed is a PCR test and SM run then a snooze.
OH has been having fun chook wrangling in my absence as they keep going off piste. He has bought rolls of finer mesh fencing to put inside our stock fence mesh to stop them going to see Luc and his cattle. They've also been next door to see Bruno and Fabienne's horses but they have a greyhound/retriever cross with a high prey drive so that's not a good idea.
He's built a stockade of bamboo canes round the compost heap corner in the potager to keep them from hopping out there and put planks under the gate to stop them sneaking out but I still found 2 following me from the house to the potager when I went to see them this morning. Clever girls! Good job their hen house is bolted from the outside all night.
Over 400 posts to wade thru here since I left - but only 5 on the RTBC thread! - so I can't remember it all but happy birthday @Pat E, happy hols @Yviestevie and @punkdoc. Sorry yours didn't go well @Hostafan1. Maybe best for now for you to have visitors than to to go visiting.
Glad you got there safely @Busy-Lizzie and hope all goes well for OH. PCR tests here and in Belgium are free but not fun. Rapid results online or by text. Track and trace in Belgium called us every 2 days to check status. Impressed.
Hope results are good @chicky and the long wait not arduous. Hope Dad and younger chicklet are both OK.
Hugs and greetings to all.
Have a really lovely time @chicky 😎
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hope you enjoy your Edinburgh break @chicky and @Yviestevie, thank goodness you got the washing machine fixed.
I find long driving trips very tiring now @Dovefromabove so you're not the only one.
It's good your car got fixed as well.
My physio went well yesterday, very thorough and I've now got a set of exercises to do every other day from hip rolls, to 'Superman' stretches. I must have looked very blank when she mentioned those as she had to explain what she meant. I didn't relish being on all fours on top of the examining couch trying to do those - wobbled alarmingly all over the place. No room on the floor though!
@Busy-Lizzie, it occurred to me this morning that if you have to drive for an hour or so to the test place, there is not much stopping you and OH going for a short drive together is there? I know it's stretching the regs a bit +but they're pretty barmy anyway.
Welcome back @Obelixx. The troubles with Sally Zafira on a long trip like that sound very stressful. Think I would have had a panic attack.
After a day of taking it easy my back feels a lot better.
Good morning all 😊 ☕️
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
More drizzle here this morning.