That reminds me of a song from waaay back when : Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha sung by Cliff Richards. The minute the music starts I can remember all the words, but cannot always remember why I walked into a room 🤦🏻♀️. Good morning folks both near and far, for those in South Africa, enjoy the last day of long weekend and for those everywhere else, I hope you are ready for the new week and month ahead.
April was a good month here in our abode. The curtains are now hanging and look stunning as well as keeping the bright sun off the deck. Let no one ever say that eyelet curtains are easier or cheaper than the normal tape ones, they are not ! So now we have a finished deck, curtains up and just cushions to make. 'Our' next big project which is due to be started now is to retile our shower and refloor the bathroom as well as paint the roof. We have a very real challenge down here with the bathrooms (particularly the showers) not drying properly and growing mould. This being despite the actual shower having a window directly in it.
On Saturday after MUCH searching for a sock pattern, knitted on two normal needles, I began a pair of socks for Jelly Bean. We bought some really lovely sock wool last Monday and eventually I found a pattern in a Vintage Pattern online. Once I got going it became enjoyable although it must be noted, we have a much simpler way of writing patterns nowadays haha. I am working downwards towards the toes of sock one currently.
Diamond paintings are coming along and we are both about two thirds completed with an extra waiting to be started. My next one is going to be very different from the first three in that it is an abstract design 👏🏻.
There have been a few trips into SW throughout the month, which have turned out to be mostly enjoyable. We discovered an Asian grocery store, right next to Geldorf's Chocolates (oh dear that is definitely a shop to be avoided as much as possibly). JB and I went looking for material for the cushions and after months of indecision, finally found exactly what we need and I envisioned.
Hubby has delivered the bulk of clocks and watches he was working on and received a very sad little cuckoo clock this week. It is missing the 'lady' who comes out, a decorative mushroom, the pendulum and the weights. So , a little bit of a challenge to track down the requisite spares.
Yesterday Poppet came over with Humphrey, Princess is in Pretoria for the weekend. I made a big pot of beef curry and we had that with naan bread and samoosas. Followed by a delicious rainbow cake, all three supplied by Poppet. It was a lovely, lazy, quiet day where everyone was laid back and chilled. I managed to squeeze in a batch of gluten free cheese muffins just as she arrived, so that takes care of snacks for a day or three. Warmed up in the microwave with melted butter ... Nom nom.
I must confess I think I may have inadvertantly killed my bamboo plant. It is a few years old and it has done really well. Earlier this year I bought a tall vase for it (the cats broke my other one) and not being sure if the vase was going to rust I decided to coat it with a waterproof lining. After much serious discussion with the hardware store and reading numerous labels we settled on a product which seemed perfect. Eco friendly, coated well, waterproof etc. I followed all the steps and left it for almost two months to make sure it dried properly, before putting my bamboo into it. After a good few weeks I noticed the lower leaves had turned yellow and took it out to investigate (it is a water bamboo). Shock and horror, my bamboo's leaves were all coated in grey. As I emptied the vase all the 'waterproof sealer' washed down the sink together with the water. It had just absolutely dissolved 🥺. Immediately I gently rinsed off the roots and placed it into a clear container where I can monitor it. First of all it looked ok but in the last week or so I have seen more yellowed leaves. I was so proud of my bamboo and am going to have to start all over again from scratch. Grrrrr.
Health wise my 'month off' was enjoyed and greatly appreciated. My Bone Density tests and breast Sonar were last week and went without a hitch. Bone Density has improved but I will still need the Six monthly Calcium Drips. The Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy are scheduled for the 8th then I am done for a couple of months 👏🏻🙏. I have had very intense reactions to something which we initially thought were mosquito bites, now not so sure. The 'bite' becomes incredibly sore and itchy, they also feel a bit like a cigarette burn. Then a large area of cellulitis appears which can last for two to three weeks, Fibro is such fun ... NOT !!! 🤷🏻♀️
Weather wise it is absolutely glorious. Warmish days and cool nights, we are even in winter pyjamas already 😀. We have had some lovely rains and some pretty hectic gale force winds. You never know what you will find in the garden after a night of crazy wind, thankfully apart from a few broken branches nothing unusual has been found. My heart does go out to the birds trying to get to the water feeder, they fly towards it but end up going backwards even quicker, eventually they figure it out. Currently we are having our 'annual' bee suicide event where they wiggle their way into the bottle and then drown. For the next few days I will leave the water feeder empty in the hopes that they go somewhere else.
Have a wonderful month folks, stay safe and stay healthy. Ciao Ciao.
From a glorious Betty's Bay
Sleeping pals.
