Very nice cab driver took me to the physio and back again - he was telling me about his former life in Sierra Leone - he has a BSc and MSc in Agriculture and other qualifications too and worked as an agronomist with the UN, but life became too dangerous for him there in the early 90s and he had to flee - he said that the war coupled with China's not always benign influence had led to a lot of problems and the government was not always able to stand up to pressure from China - he says that he would like to return one day and help his country but at the moment he will be arrested if he goes back, as he tried to stand up against corruption to do with food supplies. He says he has a good life here in Norfolk, even if he has to work as a cabbie rather than an agronomist, and his daughter plays football for the local women's team and dreams of playing for England. Absolutely fascinating. I hope he is able to go back one day and help his country as he wants to.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Dove , your story about the taxi driver reminded me of a friend whose Dad was , erm, a spymaster!! She was living in Vietnam when it was all kicking off and her Dad was involved in getting out those who had helped, Doctors, laywers, solicitors etc etc.
They were all given new identities and taught to cook and ended up running Chinese takeaways in UK.
My friend said she spend about the last year there in the kitchen with the cook and her daughter ( as Dad was always "in meetings" ) and when she came back to England had forgotten how to use a knife and fork.
We've got a batch of new drivers in our store, one of them is a former Detetctive Chief Inspector, another was the policeman in charge of security at Windsor Castle. We get all sorts in Waitrose now you know.
Hopefully sleep later tomorrow than the 6am this morning when I woke. ggrr.
Thanks for good wishes re cough etc. Am feeling a bit better this evening having had an afternoon snooze...
Fairy, I'm with you on yews for vertical interest (for Dove's problem bed perhaps). Taxus baccata 'Standishii' is a fastigiate golden-leaved yew which I planted as an accent near the corner of my shed. It's been in for 6 years and is now around 5ft tall - but prunable, of course.
Good to see you, RB! And Lantana; hope your poorly friend was able to take comfort from your visit. Also SolentWind - good to hear you've recovered.
Bedtime... must try not to snore or OH will move into the spare room...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Fairy - thanks for the ideas - a lot of thinking going on here. Liri - would Taxus stand. 'Aurea' keep it's colour in that much shade do you think?
Hosta I thought of you when in the Waitrose checkout queue earlier .... an elderly lady had forgotten her PIN. The chap on the checkout was so kind and patient and stopped her from feeling anxious and soon her confusion passed and she remembered and all was well. When it was my turn I talked him through my recipe of Coronation Chicken - he's going to give it a go
Well Zebedee says it's time for bed. Sweet dreams all ((hugs))
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hello all. My phone line has been repaired! Hurray!
I couldn't get through to France Telecom on the phone, lines always busy, so I sent them an SMS to say that I am an elderly lady living alone in an isolated house in the middle of a forest without phone or Internet and I was scared. Well, most is true, not too elderly, just a bit and OH was in the UK so only temporarily alone. Anyway, they repaired it yesterday. OH is now back home. Didn't post earlier today as was out at a meeting in Bergerac a lot of the day.
Amazing how much one can do when no Internet! House is a lot cleaner, even cleaned some of the windows, and I've been emptying pots of summer bedding and adding new compost for my violas and Bellis daisies that should arrive this week.
Spent Saturday with a friend and went to the GC on Friday and bought lots of tulips and alliums. Tried on loads of clothes without OH giving resigned sighs, but didn't buy any. Why are all the dresses above the knee at the moment? Doesn't suit 27 year old knees. And why are the jeans all on the hips so they fall off when I walk? And why are most of them very skinny leg which doesn't look good on short ladies?
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Welcome back online Lizzie. I find the Internet is responsible for my messy windows too
As for all the dresses... I thought it was just me! Every time I drag myself out your get more clothes all the dresses I find are either all about thrusting my boobs into everyone's face or flashing my inner thigh gap. I mean I have amazing boobs but I don't want them catching a chill and while having bare knees cuts down on the washing... it's not really practical for protecting from the brambles!
Chicky: we're getting some amazing sunset and rises at the moment. Yesterday's sunset was worthy of pulling over the car to watch. But it was far too early!!
Posts
Hello everyone - welcome back SWind
Clari
((hugs))
Physio diagnosed Shoulder Impingement Syndrome http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/impingemen ... drome.aspx and at the moment we are trying exercises to see how far that will take us - another appointment next Wednesday.
Very nice cab driver took me to the physio and back again - he was telling me about his former life in Sierra Leone - he has a BSc and MSc in Agriculture and other qualifications too and worked as an agronomist with the UN, but life became too dangerous for him there in the early 90s and he had to flee - he said that the war coupled with China's not always benign influence had led to a lot of problems and the government was not always able to stand up to pressure from China - he says that he would like to return one day and help his country but at the moment he will be arrested if he goes back, as he tried to stand up against corruption to do with food supplies. He says he has a good life here in Norfolk, even if he has to work as a cabbie rather than an agronomist, and his daughter plays football for the local women's team and dreams of playing for England. Absolutely fascinating. I hope he is able to go back one day and help his country as he wants to.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Makes you wonder just what talent is sat bubbling away unnoticed.
Evening all.
Dove , your story about the taxi driver reminded me of a friend whose Dad was , erm, a spymaster!! She was living in Vietnam when it was all kicking off and her Dad was involved in getting out those who had helped, Doctors, laywers, solicitors etc etc.
They were all given new identities and taught to cook and ended up running Chinese takeaways in UK.
My friend said she spend about the last year there in the kitchen with the cook and her daughter ( as Dad was always "in meetings" ) and when she came back to England had forgotten how to use a knife and fork.
We've got a batch of new drivers in our store, one of them is a former Detetctive Chief Inspector, another was the policeman in charge of security at Windsor Castle. We get all sorts in Waitrose now you know.
Hopefully sleep later tomorrow than the 6am this morning when I woke. ggrr.
Night night all.
Hi RB, good to see you. Hope all ok xx
Hi Solentwind, sorry to hear you've been poorly. Hope you're much better now. Good to see you.
Dove, I don't think I'm infectious
Could fit your linen cupboard sorting in tomorrow afternoon 
Hope you had a lovely hols Lantana.
Time for a cuppa, SYL
Evening all!
Thanks for good wishes re cough etc. Am feeling a bit better this evening having had an afternoon snooze...
Fairy, I'm with you on yews for vertical interest (for Dove's problem bed perhaps). Taxus baccata 'Standishii' is a fastigiate golden-leaved yew which I planted as an accent near the corner of my shed. It's been in for 6 years and is now around 5ft tall - but prunable, of course.
Good to see you, RB! And Lantana; hope your poorly friend was able to take comfort from your visit. Also SolentWind - good to hear you've recovered.
Bedtime... must try not to snore or OH will move into the spare room...
Fairy - thanks for the ideas - a lot of thinking going on here. Liri - would Taxus stand. 'Aurea' keep it's colour in that much shade do you think?
Hosta
I thought of you when in the Waitrose checkout queue earlier .... an elderly lady had forgotten her PIN. The chap on the checkout was so kind and patient and stopped her from feeling anxious and soon her confusion passed and she remembered and all was well. When it was my turn I talked him through my recipe of Coronation Chicken - he's going to give it a go 
Well Zebedee says it's time for bed. Sweet dreams all ((hugs))
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hello all. My phone line has been repaired! Hurray!
I couldn't get through to France Telecom on the phone, lines always busy, so I sent them an SMS to say that I am an elderly lady living alone in an isolated house in the middle of a forest without phone or Internet and I was scared. Well, most is true, not too elderly, just a bit and OH was in the UK so only temporarily alone. Anyway, they repaired it yesterday. OH is now back home. Didn't post earlier today as was out at a meeting in Bergerac a lot of the day.
Amazing how much one can do when no Internet! House is a lot cleaner, even cleaned some of the windows, and I've been emptying pots of summer bedding and adding new compost for my violas and Bellis daisies that should arrive this week.
Spent Saturday with a friend and went to the GC on Friday and bought lots of tulips and alliums. Tried on loads of clothes without OH giving resigned sighs, but didn't buy any. Why are all the dresses above the knee at the moment? Doesn't suit 27 year old knees. And why are the jeans all on the hips so they fall off when I walk? And why are most of them very skinny leg which doesn't look good on short ladies?
Pink sky here this morning
a small compensation for the fact that I have to put the lights on when I get up now
How about some structures to give some height in the shady border Dove - a pair of obelisks that you can grow things through maybe?
Glad you are finally back online Lizzie, and welcome back to Solent
Welcome back online Lizzie. I find the Internet is responsible for my messy windows too
As for all the dresses... I thought it was just me! Every time I drag myself out your get more clothes all the dresses I find are either all about thrusting my boobs into everyone's face or flashing my inner thigh gap. I mean I have amazing boobs but I don't want them catching a chill and while having bare knees cuts down on the washing... it's not really practical for protecting from the brambles!
Chicky: we're getting some amazing sunset and rises at the moment. Yesterday's sunset was worthy of pulling over the car to watch. But it was far too early!!