Weekend and Monday

I've got a few days to update you on today, and then there'll be a pause in updates as the men are having a few days off.

Bed disassembled to get to Xena vomit

Checking out the new flower bed

The plastic fence did not work in the end

Angela proud of her new flower bed

The glass room is nice and clear

Rosie having a rest after a busy morning

Xena on her way to the vet

The tree frog, back in the tree

Me and Rosie about to camp out

Saturday early morning I was woken by Xena being sick on the bed; she then proceeded to be sick in the lounge and then, twice, under the bed. I had to take everything apart to clean it up. That made up our mind that she should go to the vet on Saturday. It was a busy start to Saturday with lots of stuff done in the garden before it got too hot. I helped Angela with breaking up the soil for her new flower bed and then Rosie helped her plant some lovely flowers while I went and cleared out the glass room and gardening room that were a total mess. Rosie helped a lot in this task as well. Such a satisfying thing to get things done like that. Afterwards she had a little rest on the swinging chair. We then headed to the vet with Xena who had some blood taken, two injections and some pills were prescribed as she has a tummy infection. Poor little thing. We had time for swimming in the pool (and the tree frog was visiting again) before a call with Grandma and Auntie Nods and then another pool time with the grandson from next door. Finally I pitched the tent in the back garden and Rosie and I camped out again. It was great fun. A really busy day but very much fun.

Rosie and Angela doing more planting

Almost ready for eating

Angela and Rosie in the pool

Pumping water out so we can repair a tear

Sunday was another busy day, but more so for Angela, as Rosie and her did some more gardening before heading off for the big shop. The garden really is coming on well and the tomatoes in particular are very close to ready. When they got back we had a lovely time together in the pool and then later on the grandson for next door came over and so I got back in with Rosie again. When that was done we started to pump some water out so we can repair the slight hole that was seeping water a little bit. It hadn't quite reached the level we needed by the time I went to bed so I turned the pump off for the night.

Bekir starting on the column

Finishing off the base of the fence

All the cement work done

Taking the shuttering off

A small fire to clear some rubbish

Tomatoes for my lunch

Nicely mowed back bank

And so we reach today. I took Rosie to school this morning, having started the pump again, and when I got back the water was at the correct level. I fixed the patches in place then started the hoses to filling again but our water pressure is very low so it hasn't filled very much as of yet. The men were in and said that today was their only day working this week which is fine; they finished off the cement work, including putting the pillar up for the gate and then they did a load of clearing and tidying up. I had a lovely cheese and tomato sandwich at lunch with tomatoes fresh off the vine - superb, then got Mo out and cut the grass on the top bank.

Rosie off to have fun in the playground

Baby birds in their nest

After school today I took Rosie to our favourite restaurant for food and play and she had a great time; it really was very hot and she was very good about coming into the shade, wearing her hat and drinking lots of fluids. Where we were sat there was a nest full of baby swallows which fascinated her indeed.

And there you have it; there'll be somewhat of a pause now as the men are not back until next Monday. Thanks for reading.

Pool up

Here we are at the end of another day and what a hot one it has been.

Bekir taking the chainsaw up to start work

Pool spread out ready for assembling

Angela shelling peas

Getting started on the pool

Nearly all up

Bekir pushing the floor out flat

This morning the men were in on time and were up continuing to fit the shuttering all along the top of the wall. This is a slow old business but by the end of the day they had all but finished it I think. I was out so I missed that but more on that later. Mid morning I helped to drag the insulation panels out onto the patio as our pool covers had finally arrived. Halil and Bekir carried the pool out and then it had to wait until my lunch break. Angela spent the morning in the heat harvesting peas and then spent ages shelling them and now we have an awesome bag of home grown peas, and she's only half way. At lunch time I helped Bekir and Halil to assembled the walls of the pool and then we started filling it, Bekir hopping in to smooth the floor out.

Bekir harvested tea from our trees

The shuttering continues

It is a two person job

Setting out the new pool cover

It's on, but very loose still

Dramatic clouds after dinner

After helping with the pool Bekir grabbed a ladder and harvested a load of the Linden blossoms off our trees and then lunch was over and they got back to shuttering. Mid afternoon I headed off back to collect Mo from the shop and was told that the problem was "too much oil" except I hadn't added any oil between buying the machine and having the trouble on the Thursday lunchtime. I don't know what to think to be honest but he does seem to be working so tomorrow I'll try to get the last bit of the lawn mowed and see how he acts. When I got back the three of us all pitched in to put the new cover on the pool (though just now Angela and I have had to go out and secure it a little better as it was flapping a lot; not ideal) and the water is still filling into it. After dinner time Rosie demanded I take a picture of the sky again as she loved what it looked like so I did.

The clouds have all cleared now and it is a lovely evening. Thanks for reading again, back tomorrow.

Mo to the car doctor, then more progress

Where is time flying to; it is crazy how quickly these weeks are whipping by. Anyway, Monday again so let's get to the weekend and then today.

Rosie insisted on this morning photograph

Rosie bouncing high

She just loves any form of drawing

Angela and Rosie take the scenic seats

Saturday was overcast but Rosie was insistent that I take a picture of the sky as she could see purples and blues and oranges in it and who am I to refuse. After some nice time outside we had a bit of bounce time then a bit of art time before I hitched Thomas up to the trailer and Rosie and I headed off to get him to the shop to get fixed. Angela and Rosie rode up to the top of the village in the trailer and she was bouncing around and loving it. The journey up was easy but then as I tried to reverse into the carpark at the shop not a single driver on the road would wait; sometime the people over here are so rude and it is almost always when they are behind the wheel of a car. I managed it eventually, left him for repair, and drove back. I was pretty exhausted but after a nice chat with my mum and sister we had some more time outside, then nap time and bed time shortly after; Rock and Roll!

Sat in the morning sun sieving sand. As you do

Rosie back to drawing

More stuff from last week

Sunday I was super busy with my hobbying as I've a few deadlines for things coming up - first thing in the morning I sat out by the sand pile and sieved a load of sand (I use it for texture on my models) which was a super peaceful way to start the day with the birds singing and bees buzzing. Angela had Rosie for most of the day and they again went to the Fayre by Kaufland which was great fun. Later on while Angela was cooking I had fun with Rosie and she did a load more art time. Superb. I also found out that last week the men had built a column for beside the far gate which will have cement poured this week I reckon.

Making a start in the morning sun

Starting to build the shuttering

Front bit all done

Removing the old post

Filling in gaps by the pillars

Halil trimming down the overgrowth

Cutting the leaves off

And so we get to today. It has been absolutely beautiful today, but very hot for outside working. The men basically spent today putting more shuttering up for the concrete that will be poured on top of the wall; Angela had the idea to put the bottom of the chain link inside the concrete which is a brilliant one so they are going to do the shuttering, then pour the concrete for the pillars, then mount the chain link and then do the rest of the pour. Very exciting times. On top of this Halil did a bit more scything and also trimmed down the walnut branches that I cut last week. It has been a hot and slow day but with how fiddly shuttering is, I'm pleased with progress.

Tadpoles in the water

So much cardboard to shred

Rosie drawing in her book

Today Angela has been on a cleaning mission and has made a huge difference in the kitchen, library and lounge. It's amazing what you can do when you don't feel sick. While I was out with the men one time I spotted tadpoles in the water container and showed them to Rosie who was very excited indeed. After work while waiting for her to get home I was able to attack some of this huge pile of cardboard for shredding, a task I've been putting off for weeks as well. Finally Rosie did lots of drawing and stickers and painting before we had a lovely curry for dinner.

So there it is; this week is set to be a hot one so more of the sunshine shots to be expected. Thanks for reading, back tomorrow.