100/365 Baskets

So there I was, standing in the dining room, doing my ironing, and gazing out at the rain, wondering what the heck I was going to blog about today, when suddenly the theme of the day dawned on me.
This morning I had to take Cassie to the vet, to have her annual jabs and deworm tablet, it was a bit of a struggle, but with Rog's help and an old towel wrapped over her head, we managed to get her into her carry-basket. No photo of her in it though, you'll just have to take my word for it.



Next, of course, as I already mentioned, I was doing my ironing, and as there didn't seem to be too much today, I actually got it all finished in one hit, so the unironed basket is empty and the ironed basket is full.




Then there was the parcel that arrived for Rog, he said I could open it for him, and guess what was inside the box? Yes, you've guessed it, a basket. This is to fit inside the door to catch the post as it drops through the letterbox. For historical (and hysterical) reasons, we dont have a letterbox in our front door, instead it's in the side door into the garage, and for nearly two years now we have just had a big cardboard box on the floor to catch the post, which we then have to move each time we want to go in or out through the door.




And by way of a P.S. and nothing remotely to do with baskets, as its slightly cooler today Oli decided to wear jeans instead of the floral beach shorts he's been living in since he arrived. He came downstairs and accused me of shrinking his jeans, as he couldn't do them up round the waist - and I have to put my hands up and admit, yes I have shrunk his jeans. But not with the washing machine. I have been feeding him decent meals for the last three weeks, and Rog has been buying him beers, and he has done little or no exercise apart from down and up the stairs for food and trips to the fridge, so its no wonder his jeans are too small, or rather he's now too big for them!

99/365 Its all happening today

Over the weekend we spent a couple of hours scrubbing the floors in Traps A & B, ready for the carpet layer, who is out there carpet laying at this very moment.



He's due to finish early this afternoon, and we're hoping he'll cross paths with the (Peter Crouch alike) electrician, who is due in at about half past three.




The postman popped by this morning and brought me my 4th giveaway prize of the year so far, the lovely niftyknits has sent me a couple of CDs - The Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland (the grandchildren will love them) - and a meerkat fridge magnet, which you should be able to pick out at the front of my fridge. Thanks Nifty.

98/365 New

I've just treated myself to a couple of new books from Amazon, so you may be able to guess what I'll be doing as the seasons change and we are forced to spend more time indoors..







Today I picked the first ripe fig from our tree, the figs are a bit late this year, due in most part to the dry season.





And here is the first listing in my new Groovy Cart shop.

97/365 Wet feet

I was slightly too late to see why these two fellas are paddling in the canal, my guess is their canoe capsized.

96/365 Nationwide Building Society

For historical reasons, both Alex and Oli have bank accounts with Nationwide.
Alex and Oli have both recently moved, Alex from a student flat into a private rented house, Oli from student accomodation back here with us.
Alex and Oli both separately advised Nationwide of their change of address.
Alex and Oli have both had their cash cards and accounts frozen within the last week.
Can you see a pattern emerging here?
Yesterday Oli went into the Devizes branch (where he found [his words] a gorgeous blonde behind the counter), and after a couple of winks he managed to uncover what had occurred.
Apparently - presumably in both instances - Nationwide had written to the OLD address asking for confirmation of the NEW address, and as both the old addresses are empty for the duration of the summer vacation these letters weren't forwarded, so dear old Nationwide, having not received confirmation of the new addresses froze the accounts.
So, Nationwide, we suggest perhaps you ought to rethink your procedure with regard to student accounts?

95/365 Devizes White Horse

Yesterday I went out on my bike to deliver a few supplements to a new housing estate just round the corner from where we live, the road was called "White Horse Drive" and this is why.



The Devizes white horse faces in the opposite direction to all the other Wiltshire white horses, because it is a millenium horse rather than an old one. You can read all about it here.

94/365 Pauline's Candles

I find it hard to believe thats its still only about 10 months since I discovered the wonderful world that is handmade crafts. It is huge, there are thousands and thousands of lovely people all over the planet who are beavering away at their crafts, be it dressmaking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, bead and jewellery making, handmade cards, candle making, soap making and many, many more.
Since I discovered MISI (make it sell it), an online shop for crafters in the UK to sell their goods I have used it time and again to buy birthday and Christmas gifts for my friends and family, and, I might add, for myself too!
My friend Kate, who so generously gave me my Chelsea Flower Show ticket for my birthday, recently had a birthday of her own and one of the gifts I gave her was from Pauline's Candles. Pauline makes the most beautiful scented candles from soy wax, you can see them in her shops by clicking here and here. So if you are a candle fan, or need to buy someone a thoughtful and pleasantly scented gift, please pay Pauline's shops a visit.