We’re off to Northumberland for the coming week – back home again in the middle of next week, I think. We’ve completed a number of tasks – both Penelope and I have had our flu and Covid jabs with no ill effects, we’ve netted the pond to catch most of the leaves which will fall in it and I was able to give the lawns a quick trim. Wouldn’t it be nice it that was the last mow of the season? Not a chance – the weather is still unseasonably warm and, naturally, while it’s warm the grass keeps growing!
I was speculating last week on what impact, if any, the successive heatwaves and drought might have on the depth of our Autumn colour this year. We generally have relatively muted colour and I was wondering whether the conditions might enhance this years’ show. So far, it’s difficult to tell so the jury is still out. Here are a few of the more colourful examples in our garden.
I’ll be interested to see how the colour plays out in Northumberland.
Nick and his friend Miranda came for lunch last Sunday – Penny cooked a magnificent Sunday roast (chicken) for Miranda and me and produced some sea bass for the two pescatarians. Delicious!
Afterwards I was clearing up and loading the dishwasher when Daisy arrived to perform her usual job – giving the items in the bottom tray a prewash. Generally, she is very proficient at this particular task. Her tongue gets to parts that one would never think she could possibly reach.
Unfortunately, whilst carrying out her responsibilities her collar accidentally got stuck on the tray. As she attempted to withdraw from the tray, she clearly felt a bit of resistance and therefore, quite understandably, jerked herself clear only to take the fully-laden tray with her. Firstly, she sprinted into the main kitchen scattering plates and bowls along the way. That didn’t shake it loose so she next shot out of the open kitchen door and sprinted up the path, pursued closely by the dishwasher tray and Penny and me. Eventually, it came loose but we had a traumatised Daisy for much of the rest of the afternoon as well as the loss of three dinner plates and two dessert bowls. I wonder if she will be as keen to carry out the prewash cycle when I next use the dishwasher?
We’ve been having some discussions regarding the future of Chlamydia, the campervan. What with our Northumberland distractions, we’ve not used it this year and it is an expensive asset sitting doing nothing. So, we’ve decided to put a few feelers out – anyone want to buy a really nice campervan?
As part of the process I took it into Banbury the other day to have some tyres swapped out. I had been given a set of four tyres (and wheels) by the chap who originally converted the van and who has carried out all the maintenance tasks, MOT tests, etc. He suggested that they might be in better shape than the ones which were currently on the van, even though they’re all still within legal limits.
So, on Monday I telephoned KwikFit in Banbury and asked if they would be able to (a) take the “new” tyres off their current wheels and (b) swap them out for the ones on the van. “No problem,” I was told so on Tuesday I loaded the tyres into the van and drove to KwikFit. When I got there, however, the manager (the person I had spoken with the previous day) told me he wouldn’t be able to do it after all! He had misunderstood what I was asking and said that they were unable to take tyres off one wheel and put them on another. WTF? That’s exactly what I asked you the previous day and something you do all the time! He said he couldn’t do it because, if he damaged the tyre in removing it, he would have to pay for it. I told him “No,” these are my tyres and I would happily absolve him from any responsibility. He then said he still couldn’t do it because if was against policy. Hey ho, it would have been helpful to have been told that when I phoned – it would have saved me a wasted couple of hours which I’ll never get back again.
Meanwhile, keep breathing, keep happy, keep smiling, keep exercising, be good, be careful, and keep safe. And, be gentle to wasps and bees – we need all the pollinators we can get. And, hold your loved ones close.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg