And TuesdayTwirl
Dear friends. August turned out to be another scorcher, and a busy month. There were 2 art exhibitions, a David Bowie extravaganza, a trip to the Lake District, a seaside excursion, a meet-up with a blogger friend, and, yes, an unexpected police drama.
Saturday 1 August
Awoke in John O'Groats after our marathon 3 week cycle odyssey. Seems strange not to be cycling. After breakfast did short walk. JOG was v quiet. There was a steady stream of cars turning into the Mey Highland Games where preparations were underway for the King's visit. We were collected by minibus at 8.40. Pic shows the bikes ready for loading.
Had a long wait at Inverness airport for our flight. Bought a small lime bag as my yellow pouch is now a disgrace. A Milton tablet dissolved inside the bag and turned some pound coins (for loo stops) a strange colour!
Home by 6.40. Rushed round to Tesco. Did pasta meals with salad. Bliss to go into AC chilled room and sleep on decent mattress and pillows. The garden irrigation system went haywire while we were awa but the neighbours switched off the water at the mains. Started Lucky, Apple (not impressed).
Sun 2 Aug
Long sleep. Did 4 loads of J's washing and 2 of mine. Did shopping at Sainsbury's. Made salad for lunch. Weeded and watered. Most plants were resuscitated. J sorted out the irrigation system. Started The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (Prime) (very good). Pretty exhausted after the gardening. And probably the cycling!
Mon 3 August
Did a walk, 4. 5 miles. Garden looking ok. Trying to rescue 2 parched dahlias at the front. Wrote part 1 of LEJOG blog. Salad for lunch, curry for dinner.
Tues 4 August
Cloudy but very sultry. Did short walk. Absolutely exhausted. Had planned to do ironing. Booked train tickets for Whitstable and Lewes. Did nothing except read and prepare dinner.
Weds 5 Aug
Feel fine today. Windy today not quite so hot.
Had hair cut at Richard Ward Medispa for the first time. The last cut I had (different salon) wasn't good, it made my hair difficult to style. Not much was taken off by Fiona but it took a long time, and I was pleased with the result.
Thurs 6 Aug
Not so hot, yippee. On spur of moment decided to go to gym for weights and Pilates. Quiet. Had good session. Updated my Oyster card (you have to supply proof of your address once a year) and did online identity checks for the sale of mum's house. Booked my first ever cruise. Going with Annemarie from Southampton in December, going to France and Belgium and seeing two Christmas markets at Rouen and Bruges.
Fri Aug 7
Sunny but normal temperatures. Sorted car parking for cruise. I love to have things to look forward to in winter. It's my favourite time of year!
J and I did did running club Pilates. Wrote my 2nd blog post about the cycling trip. Needs polishing and more pictures.
Saturday Aug 8
Sunny and reached 30 degrees. Went to the James McNeill Whistler exhibition at Tate Britain, followed by lunch for 8 at the Morpeth Arms. I was a little unmoved by Whistler. I was impressed by the range of media on display, and by his broad repertoire. But I found a lot of his work a little dingy and rather unfinished at times. BTW Whistler's mother was 67 at the time he painted the famous portrait (bottom right). I'm afraid I always think of Mr Bean whenever I see it!
Sunday August 9
Sunny and hot. Went to High Beach in Epping Forest or a walk. Somehow we went the wrong way so it became a longer walk. Saw the aftermath of a forest fire and the remains of one of those evil illegal ebikes. Also saw a herd of young longhorns in a field. This is where they're born. Some of them are selected to join the small herds which graze in Epping Forest.
Had lunch at the Royal Forest, beefburger and dark choc mousse. Spent the afternoon leaving comments on all the posts in this week's link up. It's a time consuming job. Plus sent out my email to subscribers, first for about a month.
Monday Aug 10
About 25 degrees today. Heatwave about to return. Went to gym which was v busy. J dropped his car off to have the hitch replaced. Did a little weeding. Finished tomorrow's blog post. Applied to join the Kettlewell influencer prog. Seeing Penny tomorrow (Conversations with an Older Woman), haven't seen her for nearly 2 years I think.
Tuesday Aug 11
Sunny. Wore a preloved Kettlewell dress dating from 2016 to meet Penny in Lewes. Had coffee first in a lovely cinema/coffee shop, then visited some shops followed by lunch, which was delightful. I love the fact I've met so many wonderful women through blogging, and made firm friends.
Weds Aug 12
We were up early today - 4.10am - with departure at 5 for the long drive to Cumbria where we're collecting our ebikes post LEJOG. Arrived at Saddle Skedaddle around 11 30. J loaded the bikes quite quickly - practice makes perfect - and we set off to the Borrowdale Gates Hotel. Had sandwiches for lunch and then did a walk around Derwentwater, 5.5 miles. Hot! Below: I reprised a photo from a few years ago. I couldn't hoist myself up this time....!! I blamed it on the trousers.
Had good room with balcony. Dinner at 7. Had 3 courses, delicious. Didn't bother with eclipse, was too cloudy and didn't have the special glasses.
Thurs Aug 13
This was the view from the dining room.
And this was my breakfast - Eggs Benedict. No lunch for me!
Left 9 30. Home by 4.50. Horrible drive. Car was playing up. To make matters worse, our burglar alarm went off twice, and the monitoring station told us that the second alarm had indicated an intruder, so the police were on their way. We were at Cambridge at this point, so still a long way from home.
J's brother-in-law went round and saw no fewer than 4 police cars arriving at our house, with sirens blaring. Nothing was amiss. It later transpired that the hallway sensor is too sensitive and picks up on packages being delivered through the letterbox. (Now remedied).
Fri Aug 14
Last day of the heatwave apparently. Went to the gym, quite busy this time.
Sat Aug 15
The highly enjoyable annual Whitstable meet up. I went by train and met of the others. It was a fabulous day, slightly cooler than recently. I passed on the swim, the waves were too rough for any swimming as such. A few of the others went in. I took photos.
Here are the friends who attended.
Sun Aug 16
Still hot but cloudy, 26. Did first bike ride since LEJOG. Hills and Lee Valley. My legs were energetic, the effects of the holiday still there.
Mon Aug 17
Very sultry, overcast. Spent a while calendaring. Then weeding the lane, brambles and nettles. Prepared 2 blog posts, one published immediately and another for tomorrow.
Tues Aug 18
Sultry, overcast, still hot. Did bike ride 36 miles. Chipping Ongar. Didn't enjoy the stint after coffee, had the wind in our faces. Did book admin in the afternoon.
Weds Aug 19
Shower in night. Otherwise sunny intervals and 25 degrees. Did a walk 5 miles. Determined to get more done, so wrote a list. Ticked off ironing and Mum's estate admin. More blog work in afternoon.
Thurs Aug 20
Still hot at 27 and sunny. Breezy. Bike ride to Blackmore, 42 miles. Getting there was a breeze, full of energy. But as always, the ride of 25 miles afterwards was a bore. There was a strong (bad) wind as well. I just hate the section from North Weald to the big roundabout.
Friday Aug 21
Lunch at The Lighterman followed by the wonderful David Bowie production at Lightroom (my second time), with 7 ladies. I had a St Ives dressed crab, which I adore. Service a bit slow at the pub, had to pay the bill myself to save time. And as you know, somehow the bills never tally once everyone sends you their payment, probably to do with the service charge. Lightroom was crowded, lots of youngsters, good to see.
Saturday Aug 22
15 degrees when I came down for breakfast. J had the heater on! Did pleasant bike ride at LV. 27 miles. Went to B&Q and got a few plants to fill gaps. 3 sedum, 2 Scabiosa, 3 cyclamen. Planted 3 and moved another. More tomorrow. Football season started. Spurs were on TV against Brentford away (lost).
Sunday 23 Aug
Turned out to be a nice day weather-wise. Went to the gathering for Finley's 3rd birthday with a barbecue. An old-fashioned gift where you "grab" the sweets with a mechanical gripper was the star of the show.
Monday 24 Aug
Bike ride 27 to Lee Valley, slightly different route. Not much energy today
Tuesday 25 Aug
Went to my favourite gallery, The Courtauld, with Brenda to see Barbara Hepworth in Colour. Bit of a convoluted route to get there as the Piccadilly Line was suspended.
Had a lovely lunch at one of the restaurants in Somerset House, Aram by Imad. Service was excellent and the menu full of things I love. Had shakshuka. Delish.
Dolly Parton's death was announced. Very sad. Her books project sent several books to Olive, some of which were her favourites.
Weds 26 Aug
Not too keen about cycling today after a very poor sleep. Went to Chipping Ongar. We came back the same way, a little less stressful than going via North Weald and Epping, where the roads are very busy and the drivers can't wait to overtake cyclists, even if it isn't safe. Did a fair bit of cleaning.
Thurs 27 Aug
Rain overnight and in the morning. Wow! Decided to have a proper rest day. Booked my cruise excursions. Sue and Don came round to get Skiathos tips. They are off next month.
Fri 28 Aug
Woke briefly at 5, looked out the window but too cloudy to see the red moon which had been advertised. Still not feeling great, constantly running a temperature. My watch is reporting that all my body stats have taken a dive, so I must be fighting something off.
Intended to walk to the supermarket but got the bus after 1 mile. J extended the irrigation scheme in the garden to include the new plants I bought.
Sat 29 Aug
Feeling a lot better. Did a short Lee Valley ride, 20 miles. Bit of a surprise on the path: a turtle. Unfortunately I was over-excited taking its picture, and my 4 photos are out of focus. J snapped this less than flattering rear view.
Drizzle turned into heavier rain, although it didn't last for long. My legs got very dirty, as did the bike. I don't know how I do it because J's legs were clean!
Did ironing while watching Sewing Bee. Spurs played Newcastle at home and lost 0-2. Started my Kevin Costner season with Let Him Go. Tried to go cold turkey on my portable AC unit. Lasted 5 mins. Still too hot.
Sun Aug 30
Pleasant weather. Did a walk, 4 miles. Did roast chicken for lunch. Long time since I did a roast, I kept forgetting to do things! Started new series of Vigil (iPlayer). Not very impressed. The problem for Suranne Jones is that her character is badly written and appears humourless and dull. Watched Coroner, which is an old series but right up my street.
Mon Aug 31 (Bank holiday)
Temperatures in the low 20s, cloudy at times. Did a bike ride to Chipping Ongar (30 miles) after checking that the coffee shop was open. Spent some time on the blog.
That's it for August. Yet another month with hardly any rainfall. How was yours? Do tell in the comments if you went somewhere new, or tried something different. Bloggers - do share your monthly review posts in the link-up!
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LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES
65 Years. 65 Days. 5 Countries. Next Stop: France by Debbie at Deb's World, Australia. Below: Luminescence at Bayonne. Coincidentally, we are going to this event in Westminster RC Cathedral this week.
H is for Hat by Nicole at Huisvlijt. I love hats and Nicole wears this one so well.
Can Math Solve the Packing Problem? asks Rena from Fine Whatever. A welcome return!
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