All alone

On Tuesday the family met the Ukrainian liaison officer and he sorted out the problem with the pre payment meter, so they were good to go. They packed up their last belongings and left Wednesday. I cleaned the house on the Thursday, and went over rooms I had ignored that  were accumulating frightening amounts of dust. Everything is back where it was, the car back in the garage. I do miss them, and I really appreciate how my lodger helped me be able to stay safely in this house when my friend from Sifnos went back there. But having the whole family here, added a different dimension, it was more difficult. But they are in their new place, I will go and visit them. 

I made a second Simnel cake, this time I baked it just right, and it was very good. I gave quite a lot to friends around here, and they all enjoyed it too. There is one last piece to go to the Cosy Nook owners for them to try. There has been lots of discussions about how many balls should be on the top, whether you count Judas or Christ. 

I have been to see quite a few people this week, which has been nice. Later on today I am looking after the Frenchie who lives in the village. I gave the dog a walk that I am going to dog sit soon, again she was a bit reluctant, not wanting the walk, but when she got to St George’s field she was happier and we met a lady with her two dogs. Sunday I am going to cook a whole chicken for a Sunday roast for myself and a friend on our road. I also plan to make a meal for my two dog owner friends that I promised  a while ago. Today I am starting to look after a cat for a lady and her son, as they are away. She used to have two, sadly one disappeared. On the pet front it’s the second anniversary that Neville left us, he was a little rascal and I still miss him, but the house has a new Cocker installed and I know he brings me and the owners joy, he is just as naughty as Neville was. 

The garden was left alone last year and one of the worst invasive weeds Ground Elder took advantage of me being away. It has these spaghetti like roots, leave a small bit in the ground and it will come back. So the area behind the pond is infested with it, my plan is to clear the area, again and again until no more of its little leaves reappear. It tangles around everything in sight, so it’s best to go have the ground empty until you are sure it’s all gone. When the bulbs have finished I will dig them up and remove all the plants I want to keep and plant them in pots for now. I have removed the big salvia, “hot lips” it was getting too big, but I saved a bit of it to put in another part of the garden. There are some rocks that will all need removing as well. I was going to garden vacuum the gravel, but it’s going to be super windy tomorrow I think, so that would be a waste of time!



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