£5.00

 I was sorting out my loyalty cards and found a garden gift card amongst them. I checked it out online and had £5 left on it, card was valid for 30 months and end date was 4 September 2021!!! Checked which local companies still took them and so I have been to Capel Nurseries which is close to me and spent a happy time  chosing plants for the new bed I am creating in my back garden. I chose Delosperma (pink), Jasioner(Blue)  and Sedum(White). Posh names aren't they. Pity I still haven't learned how to attach photos. they will all help to edge the new retangular bed. Had to buy 3 as one would not have used the £5 up and 3 were on offer!! win win situation. Happy gardening from Poppy and Val.

 Almost Normal

We are slowly getting back to normal I think. August is a busy month for birthdays as both my daughters and my grandson have them in the space of a week! and now Poppy has been added to them as she was born on the 1st August. For her first birthday with me my daughter bought her a cat house for the garden, painted blue and white of course. She is not quite sure what it is is but a trail of Dreamies led her into it to find a familiar cushion to sit on. so far she likes sitting  on the top and surveying the garden in comfort. we combined 2 birthdays and the news that my grandson is engaged with a meal at our favourite Chinese resteraunt in Ipswich.First time I have been in town for 2 years. 

Last Saturday Ipswich Town played their first home match with a crowd for 2 years. I do not believe I chose not to see my beloved ITFC play, but I do not feel comfortable with a crowd of 21000 people. Will I ever go again?? I hope so.   Our W.I. has had its first meeting  in the village hall! it was lovely to see about 35 of us there. the president said she was not sure if we should sing Jerusalem but had brought a tape of it for us to listen to. (don't tell anyone but there was a lot of humming going on and we all laughed at the end!)   Lots of laughter and a great deal of chatting made it a lovely evening. Time for breakfast in the sunny garden for Poppy and me so have a lovely Sunday and stay safe,xx Val and Poppy

Happy BIrthday

 Today is my rescue cat Poppys birthday. She is 10 years old, and has been  with me for 11 months now. we are in a routine now and it works well. She hops on my bed at about 7am  and gives me a gentle hint by pushing me with her head. When I take the hint and get up she leads me into the kitchen where she has her breakfast before I get my coffee!! then out into the garden. She usually spends most of the day pottering about wherever I am indoors or out in the garden and if any windows are open she has to get out of them rather than out of the door. She is very quick and has bought me the odd present of a dead bird. Evenings she will hop onto my lap and push either my book or my knitting until I put it down and we concentrate on having a cuddle and stroking. We are both happy with our lives together and she loves to be fussed by family and friends.

Happy Birthday Poppy, lots of Dreamies and chicken for you today. xx Val

Pingdemic

 Iv'e been pinged!!! N.B. not that sort of pinging but at 3.45am this morning my smoke alarm started pinging every 2 minutes so there I was with a broom and poked it the middle and it stopped thank goodness. Poppy thought as I had woken her up she deserved a late midnight snack so before I fell into bed she gobbled down some  meaty food totally ignoring the cat biscuit. Thankfully no more pinging as I don't want to be isolated today as I am due at the hairdressers this morning. (if you don't tell Boris then neither will I!!) Have a happy weekend , it's going to rain in Suffolk I think so less watering and more reading. Hugs from Poppy and Val xx

A lovely day out.

 On Friday my daughter and I took a lovely country drive to Helmingham Hall. They were opening there gardens in aid of The Blossom appeal, which is fundraising for a new breast care unit at Ipswich hospital. It was a very good day for a wander round these wonderful gardens as it was not too hot or windy and I took several pictures. (I must learn how to post pictures here.) A favourite with me and also my mother was the magnificent sweetpea walk with them growing over  the whole walk, breathing in was a joy  as the perfume was overwhelming. After walking round the vegetable and rose gardens, and photographing the topiary we had a quiche lunch in the cafe and then explored the sunken garden. An icecream, I had Eton Mess and Roast Coffee (you can't mix them my daughter said) but I did, and together they ended a perfect visit. How I love it that now I can spend more time with my daughter doing things we both like.

Have a lovely weekend, Come On England. I'm  saving a Magnum Icecream to have when we win!!!!! hugs to all from Poppy and Val xx

A bit quieter this week

 Things have settled down this week except for the sport on TV. I have been feeling a bit more active except for Wednesday morning when I was so laid back I didn't get dressed until 12 miday!!!just pottered around but then realised it was Zumba afternoon and as usual we had a great time . It makes me feel more energetic and after our usual coffee and chat I attacked my back garden which has shot up since we have had some rain this week. Will have to have  another go soon as yesterday afternoon we had a tremendous storm for about an hour including thunder and lightning, the noise in my conservatory  was deafning so Poppy and I retreated into the lounge to read or snooze. All waterbutts are full and pot plants are standing in water so todays job is to save that water on buckets for later. It was very humid all day so I was pleased that I had walked down to the river early in the day.

Sport has been great this week England beat Germany 2-0 and then got through to the semi finals winning 4-0 against Ukraine. My lucky football socks have done the job again, I shall not wash them whilst we are winning!!! felt sorry for Andy he looked shattered most nights and I think he needs think hard about his future.

It's cool this morning so I am attacking my wisteria which has put forth lots of waving tendrils. This evening I am joining my family for a meal out so no cooking for me today. Hurrah. Happy Sunday to all my blog friends. Hugs from Poppy and Val  

It's been agood week

 Nothings gone wrong so thats a good week. I went on line to check my house insurance, dcovered I could get it cheaper and after a phone call got £60 off the original total ,That started my week off well! Tuesday England scraped through to the knock out stage, then on Wednesday the best day of all. I was dishcharged from Ipswich hospital Breast Cancer FREE. How grateful I am to them all, so kind and caring. That afternoon I went to my Zumba  Gold chair exercise class, I just had to tell them all my good news and they cheered and clapped and we had a happy energetic time finishing off with a coffee and chat ** Thursday my friend V and I drove to Woodbridge on a sunny day, had a lovely jacket potato lunch in the shade outside the Whistle Stop Cafe at the station. I climbed the steps over the railway (haven't done that since before lockdown) my bungalow knees don't like steps!! and strolled around the harbour to the watermill and relaxed in the new square that was Whistocks boat yard. we enjoyed every moment of this warm sunny time.  Friday I shopped at Morrisons and my daughter Dawn came for the afternoon and sorted out my tech issues with my fitbit and computer. Today is warm and sunny so I bought local fruit and veg from our farm shop,  weeded my front garden and planted the last of my pots up with begonias. think I'll have a lazy reading day tomorrow. Poppyhas spent her time lying in the sun, then shade, then sun again, She follows me around all day and is sleeping on the chair  next to me, probably dreaming of Dreamies, I'm sure she is as addicted to them as I am to chocolate!!! Hugs to all my blog friends, hope you have a lovely weekend,  Val and Poppiexx