Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

Well... I did go for a Radox bath half way through! We are both a bit stiff and sore after spending the afternoon tiling and preparing kitchen walls for glass splash backs. Real life goes on...

[Tripps]

I read today that a good reason for persisting with the monarchy was that it protected us from President Blair - after watching this wedding, I'm not so sure. I am cringing, and keep turning the sound down when I can't stand any more.

It would be a bit more convincing if she hadn't made all the vows before.

[Marilyn]

I've had a bath and been for 3 "wees" during the service! I'm afraid I would be no good in the congregation. They must have deprived themselves of fluids for days to be able to withstand it.

[Cathy]

I loved the wedding, but I was half expecting Whoopi to come in when the gospel choir sang Stand By Me.

[Big Kev]

Give her my love Kev and tell her that life begins at 80!

I certainly will. She's fed and watered now and back home admiring numerous gifts and flowers.

[Sue]

Flight times were changed at 10.30 pm, so the taxi came at a civilised 6.09am just arrived at the hotel in Vancouver....not impressed with Lufthansa, we were packed in like sardines and the food was awful. So glad we are eating again this evening. Its 4.25 local time 12.25 am your time.

[Stanley]

I must have missed something Sue, I didn't realise you were touring the Empire!
I avoided 95% of wedding coverage. Normal routine.....

[Sue]

I must have missed something Sue, I didn't realise you were touring the Empire!
I avoided 95% of wedding coverage. Normal routine.....

We are with our friends Wendy and Keith in Vancouver for 4 days then a cruise to Alaska and back for 7 days, followed by 5 days in Washington DC staying with their daughter Anna and family. We watched CNN. News on the plane for wedding coverage, what a load or rubbish was said by the presenters there. Euronews was a more sensible coverage but the images kept dropping out. By the time we were online in the air the deed was done.

I like a good wedding anytime no matter who and thought this was tasteful and beautifully thought out. I am neither Royalist nor anti Royalist and prefer to judge them as people but I do like Prince Harry. Its a happy ending to a life that has been plagued by media hype. Now we will have the endless comparison between Kate and Meghan.......poor Kate, already receiving negative reviews from the press

[Big Kev]

Give her my love Kev and tell her that life begins at 80!

I certainly will. She's fed and watered now and back home admiring numerous gifts and flowers.

I'm back and glad to see Barlick basking in sunshine, it was foggy in Gravesend (Kent) this morning

[Stanley]

Nice one Sue! Have a look at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington... far better than the Lincoln I reckon. If you go to the museums, Bob would like the Smithsonian Arts and Industries, lots of steam in there!
I shall be pottering in the shed with my chucks!

[Sue]

I have mentioned it to Bob,i think some of our itinery in Washington is already planned out. After a good 10 hours sleep last night I think our clocks have reset

. Yesterday we did the tourist bus round Vancouver, today we shall take a normal bus to revisit some of the places. Wendy can’t walk far so what we do will be limited.

The weather is good, much the same as home. Today is a national holiday and more good weather is expected

[Marilyn]

Cabinetmaker returns today to place a new kickboard under the new stove.

[Stanley]

Have you ceremoniously thrown the electric frying pan out or saved it just in case....?
My main job this morning is going to see Dracula at the surgery......

[Marilyn]

It went in the bin. Rubbish man comes tomorrow...

[StoneRoad]

Currently; major gardening efforts have been taking place.

Have just built - and filled - the new small, secondary greenhouse.
Cut the grass (still not up to calling it a lawn)
Planted out a boatload of pretties !

Workwise - attempting to organise the arrival of a new restoration project ... whilst working on the current project.

[Stanley]

Well done Maz!
Not sure what I'll be doing, I need to write articles I think..... Amazing how fast they melt away off the stock pile.

[plaques]

Cut the grass (still not up to calling it a lawn)

My advise is to keep the area of grass to a minimum. There is probably about five times the work goes into a lawn as into a border. I know people who have resorted to artificial grass rather than spend endless hours keeping grass tidy.

[StoneRoad]

Cut the grass (still not up to calling it a lawn)

My advise is to keep the area of grass to a minimum. There is probably about five times the work goes into a lawn as into a border. I know people who have resorted to artificial grass rather than spend endless hours keeping grass tidy.

I've certainly been tempted by the idea of the artificial variety ... most of my grass clippings go onto the compost heap, to get it as hot as possible.
The areas of grass are basically converted fields. Currently I'm cutting with the box off and only taking the tips off, mainly I need to get the two best areas much more towards level.
The other reason for open space is we have an energetic dog !

[Wendyf]

Same here Stoneroad, when we moved here 19 years ago there were no fences or walls and the sheep would graze around the house. Eventually we got fed up of them sheltering against the door and having to pick our way over the poo to get out and put a fence round. Now I have to cut grass almost continuously from April till October, but after about 15 years I'm down to a shorter cut.
We planted a hedge beside the fence, and though it's lovely that the bird population has increased I now face a massive hedge trimming operation.

[Stanley]

Ever considered a Camomile Lawn? They take very little maintenance....
I wrote two articles yesterday, probably do another two today to get some breathing space.

[Wendyf]

Ever considered a Camomile Lawn? They take very little maintenance....

I have tried that in the distant past when we lived in North Wales and love the smell of chamomile but I think the nettles, dock and dandelion would quickly take over here.
(Enjoyed the book as well... )

[Stanley]

But spot treatment with Glyphosate works wonders for them and is not a desperate blight on the environment.

[Stanley]

Another couple of articles written. Not sure what I'll be doing today apart from shopping and house work.

[Stanley]

I'm covered for articles until the 6th of July so my mind turns to other things. The Design committee has been hard at work and I think I am going to make a door knocker.... Then there is F1 qualifying at 14:00. Chuck in some veggie cooking and that's going to be about it!

[Big Kev]

...wandering into town to listen to some live music. It's Bands on the Square 2018 this spring bank holiday weekend. The main stage is named the Allan Parkinson Stage following the tragedy last year and there's a tribute to Allan's original music at 5:45pm on Sunday