This morning we had the builders come back from VW to look at the fan in our bathroom which was still not working correctly, they arrived and very soon decided to replace the item with a new one. After a certain amount of drilling and scraping and huffing and puffing the new fan was finally installed it seems as if it is better than the previous one we really hope now that it will do the job more efficiently.

Lee had not left very many minutes before there was another knock on the door and Declan arrive to replace two damage tiles which he had promised to do a couple weeks before much to Genny’s disbelief that he would not return, the job is now done, the bathroom is complete and looking very nice indeed.

The family then decided as it is really gorgeous and beautiful day about 22° probably the warmest one we've had so far this year that we should go have a picnic, but, first we need to shop of course, later I am to drive to somewhere where we will enjoy our lunch, I am torn between going to the canal at Thrupp which is a very favourite spot of ours or an equally favourite place which is near St John's Lock at Lechlade on the Thames. Right now I am sitting in the car park at Waitrose waiting for the family to arrive before deciding which place to go, I cannot make up my mind both have things going for them. I am sort of torn about going to Lechlade we have spent a considerable amount of times this past few days near Thrupp because that is where the garage is from where this new car came,and so I think a change of scenery is needed.

A Busy Friday

This morning we had the builders come back from VW to look at the fan in our bathroom which was still not working correctly, they arrived and very soon decided to replace the item with a new one. After a certain amount of drilling and scraping and huffing and puffing the new fan was finally installed it seems as if it is better than the previous one we really hope now that it will do the job more efficiently.

Lee had not left very many minutes before there was another knock on the door and Declan arrive to replace two damage tiles which he had promised to do a couple weeks before much to Genny’s disbelief that he would not return, the job is now done, the bathroom is complete and looking very nice indeed.

The family then decided as it is really gorgeous and beautiful day about 22° probably the warmest one we've had so far this year that we should go have a picnic, but, first we need to shop of course, later I am to drive to somewhere where we will enjoy our lunch, I am torn between going to the canal at Thrupp which is a very favourite spot of ours or an equally favourite place which is near St John's Lock at Lechlade on the Thames. Right now I am sitting in the car park at Waitrose waiting for the family to arrive before deciding which place to go, I cannot make up my mind both have things going for them. I am sort of torn about going to Lechlade we have spent a considerable amount of times this past few days near Thrupp because that is where the garage is from where this new car came,and so I think a change of scenery is needed.

Nice one Helen

Yesterday we went to Swindon looking for laminate flooring and another chair for the kitchen.
Finishing up at the outlet centre, I was sitting in the coffee shop having first of all had a bit of a chat with the staff. As I was waiting for the family to return Helen one of the girls asked me if I like teacakes I said “is the Pope catholic?” she said “well my colleague and I both made a tea cake for the same person and I have a spare would you like it”? it would have been churlish to refuse I said “well thank you very much” it was gorgeous warm and oozing with butter yummy yummy I am sure if my darling Jennie had been there she would have disapproved very strongly.

Another beautiful day

Today I gave into my worst fear using a mobility scooter which was the first time in Banbury, walking Has become increasingly difficult over the past few months my doctor seems to think that it will improve once the chemo stops and maybe my eyes get better and generally I will feel more like my old self but as of this moment I don't know.

Irina drove us to Banbury this morning she is getting in as much practice as possible, driving the car on the opposite side of the road from the one she is used to. They drop me off and I wander around the shops which I have not been able to do for sometime and finally finished here seated at my favourite table and chair in the Castle Quay museum cafe.

Back at the car the family have not arrived, I sit very comfortably on the scooter by the canal chatting away to a young couple about the tennis and the forthcoming F1 GP,they like me are looking forward to the finals and race tomorrow. As ever there is movement of boats up and down, their wake lapping the banks making the moored craft sway and bob about the motors a gentle gurgle as they pass. Soon Genny appears 

My further adventures with Ira.

Today Ira has taken us to Yarnton nurseries where she wants to spend a load of money and Jenny is quite happy to let her, as usual I'm sitting in the cafe with a very large and very nice cappuccino in front of me Another gorgeous day, the sun is hot temperature is outside at the moment about 21° virtually no cloud in the sky, our plan later is to go to Kidlington for abit more food shopping and then possibly go down to the canal at Thrupp for some lunch.

Failing this we will go home and have lunch in the garden under our very large umbrella with the fountain murmuring away in the background very restful.

Well we are at it again.

The girls decided as it was another gorgeous day today Saturday, we should go to Swindon for some retail therapy. The first big store we get to I am patted on the head and sent to, guess where? Yep the coffee shop actually I don't mind the coffee turns out to be very nice.

The reason for all this shopping is because Genny a few weeks ago said to me that the carpets in our flat were getting old and dusty, her spine is playing up and using a vac is difficult for both her and myself,we sort of discussed having a wooden floor installed but didn't take it any further. Fast forward to 10 days ago, Something must have been said to the family because before I new what was happening we were looking around carpet and tile shops at wood floor samples, it transpires they had offered to help with the cost of the project. 

We chose Windrush Flooring for the work. Luke the company boss came out last Saturday measured up and quoted a not unrealistic price,we selected the floor we wanted and gave him the go ahead, if he could get the work done quickly, we knew once the family left Genny nor I would be able to cope. Luke said if we could spread the work over 2 days he could fit us in from Wednesday of this week, that sounded fair enough to me, so the order was placed. Wednesday morning bright and early Genny and Irina started clearing the hall and lounge, the guys arrived and started attacking things,bits of carpet edging strip and underlay were soon flying out the window. The guys didn't stop until they had finished the Hall and the Lounge,the same thing happened on Thursday, by mid afternoon the bedrooms were complete, their muddles tidied up leaving our muddles to be sorted and reinstalled, finally by about 8-30pm the house was finished, it looks terrific the girls and Genya were knackered, took an early night.

Genny waked with a plan, we go to Swindon and look for curtains for the lounge,Ira wants some stuff, Genya and I don't have a say in the matter, so that's how I come to be sitting here drinking cappuccino and writing this. Later I am told we go look for BBQ tools, will this excitement never end? 

Fields of Yellow

Today is Saturday May 25.

We are due to have a new wet room built starting on Tuesday May 28, this requires the bathroom being stripped to bare walls,the removal of the bath and toilet giving easy access for the workmen to easily do their job. We are taking this opportunity to look at a new hand basin and cupboard unit, the present one being so small, it's almost useless.

A trip to Homebase in Swindon appears to be a good start, besides Genny can have a poke around the outlet centre.
Before ŵe start I get to have good cup Costa cappuccino.If there's one thing I appreciate in their coffee shops, is that as I now use a stick and can't walk so well the staff always asks can I take your drink to a table for you? Just a small courtesy but vey much appreciated.

Anyhow we set off from home in good time,it's been a few days since I ventured out doors, it's been cold and wet with little or no sunshine, today however looks much more promising, as we pull up the hill. Out of the village the fields are ablaze with yellow flowers from the oilseed rape, the trees are a palette of green, so many shades,they have leafed up so quickly, I remark to Genny that in a short time as the summer approaches these will mellow and meld almost into one colour as the heat,dust and age kick in. This is weird to me it's only now in my twilight that I have even noticed the subtleties of Mother Nature.

Along the road through Shipton under Wychwood to Fulbrook and Burford up to Highworth, fields of yellow rape shimmering in the early sun, soon the air will be filled with its heady perfume,not to everyone's taste. Elsewhere green shoots of wheat and barley are valiantly pushing their way skyward helping to fill in the patchwork of fields their borders bounded by Cotswold stone walls glowing golden in the morning light. Stationery for a few moments the car window down the hedgerows are all a twitter,nests being built,eggs being hatched, above Red Kites are kiteing, it finally feels as though Mother Nature is on the move at last.

Our bumble around Homebase proves fruitless, later a smurf of the Internet showed plenty of what we would like but all at a price to far. The upshot is we are going to leave it to the judgement of the contractor with some input from us.

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What a difference a day makes

What a difference  a day makes. Yesterday sitting on the canal side at the Jolly Boatman Pub eating roast beef sandwich in the glorious sunshine, today dodging raindrops and wrapped up against the cold.
The day before Genny had asked me if we should finish lunch and go shopping, my reply, too nice a day to be trailing round a supermarket, lets stay sitting here in the sunshine watching the birds and the boats go by, besides tomorrow is another day and a further adventure, and so it is.

I am doing my usual thing of sitting in the cafe drinking Cappuccino whilst Genny spends an hour or so sorting out the food shopping. Why don't I help? Well I'm not to keen on the idea and Genny prefers to take her time not being harassed by impatient husbands, she is just the same if it were a Daughter or Son in Law so I don't feel any guilt I am there at the till to push the cart to the car, a perfect partnership.

Driving through the Wychwood Forest toward Leafield, I am astonished how in just a few days of warm weather, the trees are now almost in full leaf, all except the Oaks, they're  still only now beginning to awaken, so be interesting to see how the old saying works this summer,”Oak out before the Ash in for a splash, Ash out before the Oak in for a soak”

Through the trees glimpses of Bluebells valiantly straining for the sunlight, and golden splashes of Primrose in the clearing left by the foresters, with Cowslips filling the roadside verges. Spring maybe late but still glorious.

Got up this morning feelin fine?

Got up this morning feeling fairly okay had a reasonable nights sleep after chemo which always makes me stupid for a couple of days. Decided that is sitting at home on a beautiful morning was not an option, and Genny said to me  “shall we go out" I said “yes I reckon that would be good idea, "what about the trip to down to Cheltenham"?  "No she said  I'm not liking shops very much in Cheltenham, you don't like the parking is very expensive, I suggest we go to Swindon".
It's a beautiful morning and we chugged our way to Swindon, Genny has gone shopping I have had a small walk around shops that interest me and awaiting her return.

One of the conditions for our visit out today was that we should go to the Riverside Pub in Lechlade for scampi and chips Lunch, this means that we only have one and a half hours in Swindon to look around that's plenty for me but there are things we need in town so will keep Genny busy.

It's a beautiful afternoon we have found a spot out of the breeze the sun is hot we are by the Thames at the Riverside Pub eating an old favourite Scampi and chips Genny has pint of Arkles best ale I am relegated to drinking tea, Ah Me my penance for driving.
The Thames looks gorgeous the gentle breeze ruffling the surface, Willow trees are whispering to each other as they dip their boughs in the water, a couple of cruisers are bobbing to the rhythms of the swell, Majestic swans swim serenely by paddling against the current, some turn raise their wings onto their backs these act like sails and blow them downstream, is there a reason for this or are they doing it for the shear enjoyment I wonder.

Across in the little docking area builders and painters are getting the boathouse and cafe ready for the season, a painter is standing precariously in a dinghy stretching upward with a long handled brush trying to reach that last elusive bare patch under the guttering, his mate is holding onto a rope attached to the craft, trying to steady him, what he hopes to achieve by this I can only speculate, could be amusing though.

Lunch over we meander home taking the scenic route, the late spring has only just allowed the trees to begin to leaf, fields of rape are coming into bloom, soon the air will be filled with its heady perfume, not to everyone's taste, shoots of barley and wheat are pushing their way upward turning the fields from brown to green, some hedgerows are white with May blossom looking as if strewn with frost and snow, set against a clear blue sky the larger bushes can be mistaken for little white clouds (okay that's just my imagination).

Now home full of scampi and memories of a good day out I am content.