A Nice Weekend

Hello my friends,

I hope you`ve been having an enjoyable weekend so far. I for one have had a particulary nice couple of days though I have to work on the Bank Holiday tomorrow. Yesterday was hot and sunny, just as you`d hope an August day to be and in the afternoon Jim and I went car hunting.  I was only looking and wouldn`t have been too bothered had I not found anything suitable...but not only did I find something but I found the perfect car for me and I collect it on Friday afternoon after work. It`s another Renault Clio but much newer with more creature comforts than the old one. When I took it for a test drive I fell in love with it and decided there and then it had to be mine. After some hard bargaining I got a very good part-exchange price deal on my old car, good job too or there would have been no deal, so I signed on the dotted line. I can`t wait to collect it so I can spend all afternoon driving it around, it`s just like a new toy for me.

Afterwards Jim suggested we go to a nice little pub not far from here for a celebratory drink. We went to the Red Lion and sat outside in the shade of the ancient oak that dominates it`s front garden. I say we had a drink buy although Jim had a pint I only drank cranberry juice, because I was driving and because ice cold cranberry is very refreshing on a hot day. It was nice because we managed to spend some quality time together, something that we get precious little of these days and it made such a difference.

Today I did a huge pile of ironing before Jim came home from work, had lunch and then went out together with Jake to Black Park. Again because the weather was so nice I took the camera and took photos of whatever took my fancy at the time. Jake had a great time swimming in the lake and at one point he even tried to outrun a young greyhound.....silly boy, he had no chance and almost wore himself out trying...lol! At the cafe there Jim bought us an icecream each, I had coffee flavour and Jim had choc chip...it was scrummy.

When we got home we found Slava and Roman waiting for us in the back garden. Roman came running up to me with a big smile on his face when he saw me...he melts my heart when he does that...bless him. For those of you who don`t know, Jeannette`s young grandson isn`t very well and is in hospital. It would be lovely if you would pop in to her journal and and leave a message of support, I know she`d really appreciate it.

I forgot to say that Jim spent Saturday morning in the garden mowing our extremely jungle-like lawn. It had become so long after all the rain we`ve had and it`s been far to wet to cut it. We were begininning to wonder what was lurking in the undergrowth...lol! My summer bedding flowers are all but finished, especiallt the petunias that haven`t enjoyed the wet weather. One of the magnolias however is in flower for the second time this year and the hellebores that flower in winter are also flowering now, as is one of the roses that should have finished in July. I just hope the magnolia will get back in sync and flower properly in the Spring.

Our roof is finished and the roofers have done an excellent job. A friend of ours was surprised at what it cost too, which apparently was very reasonable. I`d have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who needs any work done. The only downside is the mess in our loft and that`s after they cleared up too. Mind you a bit of mess didn`t hurt anyone, especially Jim who has to do it...lol!. There`s no way I will ever go up there until we have floorboards laid, with my luck my foot would go straight through the ceiling!

Anyway, my friends that`s all for now. I`ll be reading journals until 9pm when I`m going to watch the new series stariing Martin Clunes. Bye for now and have a lovely Bank Holiday...even though I have to work...lol! ;o))))