Monday 12 April

[Kath Mulligan]

What a glorious Spring day it is here today, warm sunshine and cloudless blue skies so I am garden bound in a moment to give my lawn its first cut of the year. Think I will need to strim it a bit first before the mower can tackle it. Mum and I have been to Marple Garden Centre this morning and I have come back with quite a few pots of sweet peas, a deep rose pink lavatera (have only had the paler pink ones before so fancied a change), some first early, second early and main crop potatoes, a tray of sugar snap pea plants, some carrot plants and some red onion sets. I also got 4 large bags of multi-purpose compost and was struggling to haul them to my car when a very nice gentleman came along to help me. I wondered how I would manage when I got home, but there are some workmen at the house next door and they came rushing to help as soon as they saw me trying to drag the first bag out of the back of my car. Their kindness put an even bigger smile on my face than the sunshine had done! Just need some dwarf French bean plants now, then I am all set, but apparently it is a bit too early to be planting them out yet as they are frost tender. I've already got some garden fleece so will cover the carrots and peas at night once I have got them planted as we are forecast a few frosts later this week.

Still on the Spring theme, whilst I was stacking all these plants on the patio, the blue tits were in and out of the nest box with grass, moss etc so they have obviously decided that our box is this year's des. res! Mr Blackbird was perched on the fence singing his heart out and the robin came along and sat on the wheelie bin watching what I was doing. It felt so good to be out there again after this long horrible winter.

Kath

[Linda]

I have been out on our patio oiling all the chairs ready for summer, did the room divider too and the BBQ, and have been clearing and cleaning out the sun room...boy isnt it funny how a bit of sun gets us all outside pottering and working...but what a beautiful day its been. Kath- off to pick Jeff up- hes got to go to the Golf Club first re a little task....so am hoping it goes well...

Went up to the pond as well and we have dozens upon dozens of frogs...its so noisy up there! Also saw a Great diving beetle...it was huge!

[Liz]

John and I spent the whole weekend working in the garden in beautiful sunshine - wonderful!

I've finally caught up with all the planting and apart from runner beans and courgettes which will go in after the frosts have gone my veg patch is complete.

I also rescued and put together the swing seat from its winter hibernation so I can now sit back and enjoy just looking - the easy part of gardening!

[Kath Mulligan]

Kath- off to pick Jeff up- hes got to go to the Golf Club first re a little task....so am hoping it goes well...



Fingers crossed. Have you told him yet that I think he should set up his own website-building business? I'm sure everyone on here would agree with me that he is more than capable of doing it, especially with you to help with the artistic and presentational side. You would make a formidable team - and you could do that job just as easily in Cornwall - see, all your problems solved!!! Come on, Jeff, how about it?

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Just come back in from the lawn cutting, sweeping and clearing up etc, and have come on here for a rest since my back is now killing me! What a wuss, I am so unfit it's disgraceful!! My little robin friend hopped around the lawn, getting perilously close to the mower on occasions, tugging up juicy worms that I had disturbed. At one point he was almost sitting by my feet, but when I came to get my camera he got all shy and refused to pose nicely for me! Perhaps he will be helping me again tomorrow when I strip the black polythene off the garden and start turning it over ready to plant.

Kath

[jane jackson]

You all sound very industrious! We went to Porth Kidney Sands this morning with our friends who've been staying with their 2 dogs so we all had a great time. It's been so lovely to have such great weather for their visit. We had coffee in Wyevale before they drove home to Minehead and we bought some fuschia plugs ready for the hanging baskets so I've been potting those on and planting courgette seeds. My sweet peas are ready to go out but will leave that until I have more time. Bryan needed me to do some typing for him for his Coastwatch committee. Glad everyone's been enjoying their gardens.

[gloria townsin]

Kath - what did I tell you about your back?? I've had to wheat bag on mine today after yesterdays allotmenteering.........I don't know whether to put much work into replanting the strawberry bed or not........I mean if we sell up soonish we won't get the benefit on the other hand I don't want to miss out on our own strawberries if we are still in between. The step-over and the minarette are both bearing shoots and blossom so they are alive and kicking after the winter, they will both go to Cornwall with us. The Blueberries are also showing signs of coming back into action, the raspberry canes are well on the way to leaf as are the black-currants. And so much rhubarb - I picked a large bunch and left some on the bench for others to take as there was way too much for us. Hot water bottle on back Kath and take it easy.

[Liz]

Isn't it so annoying that when you reach a certain age everything you do that's slightly different HURT'S!!!

I now have what I call my summer shoulder - a painful condition which means every time I rotate my arm to any degree.... ouch! And my hand gets pins and needles and feels numb. I know what causes it - weeding with a hand fork but every year I think maybe it wont come back - I should know better by now! :ohwell:

[Kath Mulligan]

Isn't it so annoying that when you reach a certain age everything you do that's slightly different HURT'S!!!

I now have what I call my summer shoulder - a painful condition which means every time I rotate my arm to any degree.... ouch! And my hand gets pins and needles and feels numb. I know what causes it - weeding with a hand fork but every year I think maybe it wont come back - I should know better by now! :ohwell:

VERY annoying Liz! I've had a lower back problem since I was in my mid twenties so you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but it still irritates me when it prevents me from doing tasks that I reckon I should be able to manage easily.

Your shoulder problem sounds as though you have a trapped nerve somewhere. I've recently been having treatment from a sports therapist for shoulder and neck problems and he has very cleverly sorted out the similar problem I was having with the two outer fingers on my left hand being numb and tingly. He did a bit of manipulation around my wrist and the outside of my elbow, then pressed hard on a particular point between my shoulder and collar bone. It hurt like the devil while he was doing it, but it worked because I now have full feeling restored in both fingers.

Am typing this with one wheat bag wedged in the small of my back and another slung around my neck! I think this topic is turning into a geriatrics' convention!!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

What would I do without wheat bags and hot water bottles? I've also been sitting with heat on my lower back. Happy Days!!

[Gill Bilcliffe]

I injured my shoulder twelve years ago when decorating. The injury was termed as repetitive strain and after an xray oesteoarthritis. Two years ago the pain subsided. This year however the other shoulder has been painful I called this a winter shoulder blaming the cold weather for my discomfort. The summer shoulder(s) is in both shoulders now due to gardening and compulsary excercising each day for another complaint! Arms above the head ~ ouch!

Yes it does all hurt when we reach a certain age but being out in the garden on a lovely sunny day helps the aches and pains go away.

Gill

[Kath Mulligan]

Yes it does all hurt when we reach a certain age but being out in the garden on a lovely sunny day helps the aches and pains go away.

Gill

Lol, it's being out in the garden on a lovely sunny day that has caused my aches and pains today, Gilly!!

Kath

[adesmith]

We went to Porth Kidney Sands this morning

Have they fixed the carpark up yet Jane? We will be definitely spending some days there in July and August! Glad that you had a good time with your friends. I was thinking about the Wyevale at Lelant the other day. Last summer holiday we arrived too early to get into the bungalow and we were desperate for the loo and a drink etc so we stopped there. We had that '2 lovely weeks of holiday in Cornwall ahead of us' feeling. Dont know what made me think of it!

[Gill Bilcliffe]

It will be a relief then Kath when all the hard work and pain we have endured when gardening is done and we sit back on glorious summer days and enjoy. :cheer2:

Gill

[jane jackson]

At least we're all still in the land of the living even if we do all suffer from all these aches and pains ~ growing old certainly isn't easy! I do so agree with how frustrating it all is.

We used to grow strawberries out in one of the fields at Exford after the horses had gone. Picking fresh juicy slightly warm strawberries ~ wonderful. That was something that my back didn't like though with all the bending down to find the hidden ones under the leaves. We used to sell them to a local hotel/restaurant as well as at the gate. Any strawberries that had to have bad bits sliced off or any getting a bit over ripe, I put them in a bowl, sprinkled some sugar on and added some port, sherry or cherry brandy ~ really yummy with icecream. B&Bs who had an evening meal loved them.

[jane jackson]

Have they fixed the carpark up yet Jane? We will be definitely spending some days there in July and August! !

No Adrian they haven't fixed the car park. We haven't seen anything in the paper about what's going on but we parked by St Uny church and walked down the steps to the beach. On looking towards the car park there were no cars and a great big heap of something like sand or maybe gravel or something similar so presume work is in progress. Hopefully it'll be finished by the summer season when you come down again.

There were 3 swans looking stately on the Estuary and a sparrow hawk trying to frighten off a jackdaw from the top of the cliff by the dunes, perhaps it had a nest near there. Do they nest on clifftops?

[Kath Mulligan]

Didn't get my planting done yesterday since my back was screaming "don't even think about it" at me, and having read the paper this morning and seen that a return to yet more wintry weather is forecast from the weekend and early next week, I am now wondering whether to go ahead and get them into the ground before the cold weather returns, or whether to leave them until afterwards. Having no greenhouse I shall be stuck for somewhere to put them, so may end up planting them and then covering with fleece and hoping for the best! The sweet peas and sugar snap peas are supposed to be hardy so hopefully they will be ok, not too sure about the carrots, and the spuds will be underground so they should be ok too.

Why can't Spring come and stay, instead of teasing and tantalising us with glimpses, then plunging us back to Winter again!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

What about covering the ground where you are planting the spuds now with fleece or whatever for a day or two then plant them earth them right over and cover again. Not sure how they would fare in very cold ground, though it's usually exceptionally wet ground the hate. And they aren't good if the tops are struck with frost but that won't be a prob. as they haven't got any leafy tops yet. Mine are still shooting on the windowsill, I must get them in the ground though, so will do a bit of covering first. Or you can cloche them, I would err on the side of keeping them a bit warm for a kick off. The same with the other veg. If Winter doesn't go soon I'll.......well.........I'll do something.

[jane jackson]

:behindsofa:We're going to attempt to put up the Norfolk Greenhouse we bought (which is still behind the sofa) on saturday and sunday if the forecast stays dry with no strong winds. This isn't something we're good at and there looks to be lots and lots of metal parts ~ could be a few choice words flying around! If it doesn't get done this weekend it'll have to wait until the middle of May as we have more friends coming and other committments. The dread is getting started beyond a point of no return and not being able to continue as we need to move it back against the fence after fitting the polycarbonate at the back section before we can secure it to the ground.
what fun it will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kath Mulligan]

Shall I send the girls down to you, Jane? Both of them are a whizz at flat pack furniture. I kept right out of the way, Vin thought he could do it but used to end up cursing and swearing, then they came along and showed how it should be done!!

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

If Winter doesn't go soon I'll.......well.........I'll do something.

Scream maybe?!!! That's what I did when I read that headline in the paper this morning!

Cloches - a good idea, thank you. I used to have some but suspect they got thrown out some time ago, will have to get some more. The ground I am planting into has been covered with black polythene since last Autumn so hopefully may not be too cold and soggy.

Kath

[colleen]

I have friends who live in Malaysia although it is hot and humid they have sunshine 365 days of the year. Some rain but not that bad. When they were here and fall came he thought the trees were all dying because they dont have the four seasons. He is a very positive person but said the weather bothered him when he was here.

[adesmith]

Isnt it funny. I love the seasons and how they change although this winter was a bit too cold and a bit too long! Its what you are used to I guess. It certainly does cheer you up when we have a bit of sunshine like we have had. Hopefully there wont be any more cold weather in South Wales!

Good luck with the greenhouse, Jane. I hate putting things like that up and it made me laugh when you said about getting to the 'point of no return' - I know that feeling! Hope that it goes well if you attempt it. Just think of all the lovely tomatoes etc.

[gloria townsin]

Eddie has built and made so many things from scratch, he's built three kitchens, a pine dresser and many other such things........but when he came to put together our Ikea bookshelf a couple of years ago......well.....those choice words you mention Jane, were spoken here. How it didn't end up on the front lawn I have no idea. I think it might well be staying when we move. So I can but hope you manage to get to the end of the job without to much angst.
Kath if you've had the ground covered with black polythene I would think the ground would be warm enough for planting, jut re-cover for a while longer. And yes, scream is what I will feel like doing.
I like our seasons but would like a much shorter Winter and longer Summer that would be better.

[jane jackson]

:thank_you2:
Shall I send the girls down to you, Jane? Both of them are a whizz at flat pack furniture. I kept right out of the way, Vin thought he could do it but used to end up cursing and swearing, then they came along and showed how it should be done!!

Kath
Oh yes please Kath, how I wish they were nearer!

The smilie went in the wrong place.

[jane jackson]

I like our seasons but would like a much shorter Winter and longer Summer that would be better.

Same here!

[colleen]

If I didnt know different would think I was in another planet wake up to news "Flights cancelled due to Volcanic Ash" I hear its good for the garden soil

[gloria townsin]

Yes I know Colleen I'm wondering if it will affect Nina and Jeff's flight to Germany in the early hours of tomorrow morning. They did say on the news some flights are affected. As they are going for a weekend birthday celebration time counts, they don't need it cut back due to delayed flights.

[jane jackson]

Hope they're ok for their flight Gloria especially when it's for something specific. It does sound as though there is a big problem. We're getting an awful lot of natural disasters recently aren't we?

[Kath Mulligan]

Apparently Manchester Airport is closed too. All this ash must be quite high in the stratosphere because we have cloudless clear blue skies here this morning.

Hope Jeff and Nina manage to get away ok, Gloria.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I hope so too but it didn't sound very good on the lunchtime News report with all UK flights cancelled in and out. Hope it blows away in the right direction for Jerff and Nina

[adesmith]

Oh dear, so many peoples holiday plans and trips have been affected. I hope that Jeff and Nina manage to get away but I guess it wont be in the early hours tomorrow morning. I suspect that the cancellations may continue a bit longer, apparently they are deciding whether the airspace will open again at 7am, at 8pm this evening.

I noticed a lot of dust on my car and other cars on my way home from work. I think that must just be down to the dry weather because they said the ash is only coming down in northern Scotland. Rachel and I have decided to turn it into a positive and we have put some sparkling wine in the fridge and we are going to look out at the sunset which it is predicted to be spectacular.

Its quite scary really when you hear that this is only a minor eruption and if it were a bit worse it could have meant 6 months of air travel disruption and causing problems with the weather!

[gloria townsin]

Hmm....at pres. it all looks a bit shaky, no flights before 7am tomorrow at earliest and their flight was sheduled for 7.25am so hardly reassuring. I am waiting for a call to let me know what the 8pm update says. I hate last minute problems, you have no time to sort out a contingency plan, if indeed there could be one. But my poor friend's mother ......... how awful to have happened again.

[gloria townsin]

Next update for flights will be 2am tomorrow morning and the news has just said no flights before 1pm tomorrow.........but I reckon they are guessing at the moment and no-one will really know until tomorrow. The thought of travelling with small children under these circumstances is horrendous and there will be plenty who are.

[Janet Swan]

I am, of course, so sorry to learn of travelling plans having to be abandoned but obviously safety is of the utmost importance, hence the decision to stop all flights.

But I'm also dwelling on other things connected with this. How Nature is really in charge of this planet - not us - and there is another volcano adjacent to this one which could blow at any time too, so unfortunately the crisis may go on for quite a while longer. And how grim it is for those who are living in Iceland. I was feeling a bit concerned about what will happen when all the dust finally comes down, but the lunchtime news today said there wouldn't be any serious health risks. And, living under a flight path to Luton airport, it really has been rather nice not to see any planes for a day or two :behindsofa:.

Janet

[jane jackson]

I bet it has Janet! There's a school trip from this area stuck out in Capetown. One of the mothers who was speaking on Radio Cornwall said she's left a sarcastic comment for her son on Facebook as he's not replying to her 'phone calls or texts ~ I think they're all well into their teens so probably very happy to be having extra time over there and not thinking of how parents may be concerned. She was assuming the teachers in charge will have everything under control ~ what a responsibility for them when something so unusual like this happens and they have to find accommodation etc and occupations for their charges.

One business man from here said he should be on a flight to Singapore but he'd rather have his meeting abandoned and lose the contract than go up in a plane before it's safe to do so.

Agree with you Janet in how Nature is in charge, not us!

[gloria townsin]

Jeff and Nina have given up hope of going to Germany this weekend and my friend has booked her Mum on a flight next weekend. In her case her Mum had gone to the airport as this was only in the beginning stages and was advised not to join the queue waiting for refund tickets as it would take her four hours to get to the front of it. Still it could be worse. One of our Bryher electricians is stuck abroad.......should be working at Bryher........still I won't go into the latest right now, suffice it to say Eddie thought the drive would be empty and arrived to find three vehicles in the drive and the plumber greeted him with "do you want the bad news, or the really bad news?"

[jane jackson]

the plumber greeted him with "do you want the bad news, or the really bad news?"

Oh Gloria, there just can't be any more bad news regarding Bryher! By this time next year you'll have been settled in Bryher for so long that you'll have forgotten all the troubles you've had. Keep smiling!!!!!!

[gloria townsin]

It could have been worse, in fact the butler sink that has been there for months waiting to be fitted was found to be cracked when the plumber started to install it, of course Eddie wondered if B&Q would exchange it after all this time, fortunately they will, however they can't send us a new one until some time in June..........thankfully we have a sink in the utility room...........electrian, plumber and wood burning stove man were all supposed to be finished this week but they will be at Bryher for at least three days next week, and so it goes on.......will they all please finish the job and GO HOME, so that we can!!

[adesmith]

Glad that they will exchange the sink. You are so close now Gloria! When the men finish next week, is that the end of the major stuff? As Jane said you will be looking back at this time next year and just thoroughly enjoying living in Cornwall.

People were emailing the radio this morning (Radio 4) to say that they were worried about the people that are stuck in Britain and asking whether anyone was doing anything to help them (visitors to this country). One of my friends was saying lucky people being stuck on holiday but you know how it is when you just want to get home after a lovely holiday (I even feel like that about Cornwall sometimes). It must be really awful. I was really shocked when I heard on the news that the airspace is going to be closed until Sunday. It really is extraordinary that all of this ash is above us and we are basking in beautiful weather.

[Janet Swan]

From the news I've seen, I don't think anything much is being done for poor travellers stuck at airports waiting to continue their journeys. I did once hear that some have been given blankets, but looking at the pictures nothing else seems on offer. In Europe, some airports have installed loads of camp beds so people can at least lie down in comfort to sleep. I am quite shocked that nothing seems to be being done in this country. Surely some "emergency" measures could be put into place, particularly as some poor souls may be almost out of cash to buy even food and water. What a to do.

Janet

[adesmith]

I just saw the tail end of an interview with Dan Snow on BBC News 24. Apparently he has just finished filming programs to commemorate the evacuation of Dunkirk (I guess its because it is the 70th anniversary) and he has been inspired to take a fleet of 'little boats' across to France to help British people stuck in Calais. He said the conditions there are terrible. The news reporter asked why other people couldnt get involved (they are taking 10 boats which take 10 people each) and he said that lots of people with boats on the south coast had offered. However they cant get involved because they dont have public liability insurance! Its a good job that they didnt have that kind of red tape when Britain faced her darkest hour!

[gloria townsin]

he said that lots of people with boats on the south coast had offered. However they cant get involved because they dont have public liability insurance! Its a good job that they didnt have that kind of red tape when Britain faced her darkest hour!

Too true Adrian.........makes you wonder what happened to common sense.

[Kath Mulligan]

I have just finished planting out all my veggies, sweet peas etc in some lovely warm sunshine and it got me thinking that I am so very glad that I am not one of those unfortunate folk who are stuck abroad unable to get a flight home. Sorry as I am for people like Nina and Jeff who have had their weekend plans ruined, on balance I would rather be stranded in this country, than overseas. It must be a real nightmare as people run out of money and places to stay, since I should imagine that anyone who has been in a hotel or apartment will have had to vacate it for incoming guests. Not a situation I should like to be in I must say. And reading reports today, it sounds as though this ash cloud could continue for some time yet. Manchester Airport reckon that even when flights resume it will take them at least a fortnight to get back to normal again since all the planes and staff will be out of position, plus the backlog of passengers to contend with too. There is much to be said for holidaying in this country!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I am wondering if my friend was a bit hasty in re-booking her Mum for next Sat. I also wonder if it will all be sorted by then - somehow doubt it. I now know of four lots of people who haven't been able to travel due to this - which I think is quite a lot really for one person to be aware of. I am wondering how people living under flight paths are feeling.......it must make such a sharp difference to their usual day to day lives. When the flights start again it will possible be worse than ever for them having realised what life would be like without the flights.
Imagine if you had a wedding booked and couldn't get there..........all those plans and the expense.......comes to mind more readily to me today as it's our 46th wedding anniversary, in fact 46 years ago almost to the minute we were saying "I do"..........time has flown by.

[Kath Mulligan]

Happy anniversary Gloria and Eddie. Hope you manage to start getting things put to rights at Bryher next week.

Kath

[Brenda]

Happy anniversary, Gloria. This massive disruption to flights because of the volcanic ash drift almost had an impact on Peter and me - about a week and half ago, he said, 'Maybe we should just take off for England right away instead of planning a fall trip.' And I was all for it, except that I had signed up for a drawing course which is beginning later this week. So I suggested to him that he put off calling about a timeshare exchange until I had confirmation that my course was going ahead. A day or so after that, I found out that it is indeed going ahead, so we have been spared the disappointment of booking a flight to England and having it cancelled because of Iceland's volcano. It would have been just an inconvenience for us, but I really feel sorry for all the people who had significant and non-moveable events to attend, new jobs to begin, family to get home to, etc.

[Linda]

Happy Anniversary Gloria...I adored that photo of you and Eddie, really were a beautiful bride!!! 46 years wow!! thats wonderful..!!!...well if I may so...you dont look as though your old enough to have been married those years! :)

[jane jackson]

Happy Anniversary Gloria and Eddie, hope you've enjoyed your day.

[Linda]

Brenda, that was a a close call.......second sight?

[Brenda]

Timing is everything.

[Barbara]

Happy Anniversary from me too, Gloria - I loved that photo as well.
A friend of ours is over in England at the moment and was due home yesterday but has been delayed because of the volcanic ash. She has family over there though so she will be okay. Up until recently she used to spend six months in Yorkshire and six months here every year - so it will be nothing for her to have an extended stay. I do feel sorry for anyone that is stranded and at the end of their funds after a holiday, though.

[Kath Mulligan]

My friend's son and his girlfriend are stranded in America at the moment. He works for the PGA and had been officiating at a tournament over there so they are being looked after by the American PGA but his girlfriend is a headmistress who should have been back at school yesterday, so they are hoping they can get back soon. Manchester Airport is supposed to be re-opening around now, but I have just read that the volcano is erupting again and sounding out more clouds of ash, so who knows how long planes will be able to fly for before they are all grounded again. What a nightmare for all involved!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Thank you for Anniversary Greetings, unfortunately Eddie was travelling back from Cornwall for most of the day........anyway we are now back in Mullion. I don't know how he does the long drive so many times.
We might have hot water by tonight..........oh wow!! I have decided it is one thing I am not good without. I know I said I don't care how much cleaning I have to do, but to tell the truth when we arrived yesterday it looked exactly the same as it did when I left it a month ago after Memorial Weekend. I was more than flabbergasted. Anyway having had a fit of hysterics.......poor Eddie........I set to cleaning enough to make the dogs their dinner and something for us..........the cooker was manky the fridge the same, no clean surfaces and scrunching through building leftovers on the floor. Feel a bit calmer now. Trouble is with plumber and electricians still here I am limited to how much cleaning I can do. The cloakroom loo is about to hit the dust, it stinks not having water to flush it for months..........even though I have tipped half a bottle of bleach and loo cleaner down it, sorry environment, but when I could smell it in the bedroom this morning I thought that's it matey you will have to go.
There are a few things that will need altering, as I suspected, the patio is not to my liking and the steps to it are not as safe as they could be, Eddie says he can alter that but he has plenty to do indoors.
Mowed the even more bumpy lawn and fed the hungry fish, they have only just started wanting food after winter, but they have all survived and look fat and well. They have grown quite a bit since we got them at Carnon Downs.
Was thrilled that the little azalea shrub I moved last year is alive and well and blooming. I had a horrid feeling I had done for it, as it was quite well established but it is very pretty. The garden has got a bit wild though and needs attention, the builders have thrown rubbish over some of it and the scaffolding didn't help so it needs to recover.
Hoping to walk the bulb fields tomorrow but haven't heard from Ron and wonder if he is stuck abroad, he was away until Sunday but I don't know where he was headed. I can see us choosing daffodils from the pictures he sent.
It is over 5 months since I last stayed here..........the builders began in November.

[adesmith]

Belated happy anniversary from me, Gloria! It will be good when you have finally been able to clean up and tidy properly at Bryher. It wont be long now. I am sure that you will soon be able to get things how you want them. Hope that you get chance to walk the bulb fields tomorrow. What a lovely way to spend a spring day!

We have some friends that are now stuck abroad, I believe in Tenereife. They were due to travel today but I cant help thinking that the last few days of their holiday must have been a bit spoilt worrying about getting home. I wouldnt like to be stuck but I wouldnt mind being brought home on battleship! At least we dont have to worry about flights when we holiday in Cornwall (those of us that live in the UK).

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Belated anniversary greetings from me also Gloria and good luck with cleaning up at Bryher. This time next year you will look back on this adventure and smile although maybe not about the cloakroom toilet!!
It will all come together in time and then you can sit back and enjoy!
Gill

[Mary Young]

Belated anniversary greetings from us to gloria. Sounds like you are getting nearer to moving to Bryher permanatly as things are getting put in their rightful places ie sinks woodburner stove etc. It sounds like it will be a lovely place to live when finished. Dont envy you with all the cleaning and tiding up but wow wont it be worth it in the end. You know we will all be envious on moving day and thereafter.

Mary

[gloria townsin]

Well we will always hope to have a working kettle for FOMS'ers...........
The promised hot water miraculously did happen, the dishwasher is working and my dogs, as per usual bless them, have adapted to their Cornish home.....kind of....Oh right now we're here again!! We have them snoring away in the bedroom with us, the only room there is to sit and watch TV in any kind of comfort and warmth, Faith can snore for the country.......they both had a nice bath before coming down and I should think will both look as though they need another before the week is out. But the thought that by the end of this week we might well be workmen free is pretty wonderful. Yes there will be other things to do at some point but to have the main work finished will feel very good indeed. It will all be putting things back together instead of taking them apart.
Thanks again for the anniversary messages, you are a wonderful group of people.

[jane jackson]

At least the sun is shining for you both so do hope you enjoy your time in Mullion now you're back in Bryher again even if it's still a bit like camping!

I don't know how I missed your wedding photo but I did manage to find it this morning and thoroughly agree with all the comments on how lovely it is and what a great couple you made and still do of course.

We've been busy with more friends arriving this afternoon, it's all go but great fun.

[Kath Mulligan]

Chin up, Gloria, nearly there now. :dance3::coool!: Can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the phone call that says "yeah, the workmen have all gone"!!

Hope you have managed your bulb fields walk today, especially if your weather is as glorious as it is up here.

I am seriously thinking of unearthing one of the garden chairs from the back of the cupboard and sitting out on my patio this afternoon with my Cornwall Today and Cornwall Life magazines. If I can't actually be in Cornwall, at least I can read about it while sitting in the sun. And I can keep an eye on my little robin who, as I suspected he would, insists on uprooting my onion sets at regular intervals. So far, I have had to replant at least half a dozen every morning, bless him. I wonder which of us will tire of the game first?!

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Jane, if I remember correctly, you are off to the Scilly Isles this week, aren't you? If so, hope you have a great time, you should do if this weather stays as good.

Kath

[Sybille Weber]

Haven't had much time to log in recently (overtime work and health problems plus family staying with us). Thus missed your anniversary, Gloria. So here's a belated Happy Anniversary to you and Eddie. Lovely to hear there now seems to be light at the end of the tunnel (does this expression exist in English? The German equivalent does) as far as Bryher is concerned.

Kath, I wouldn't want to sit out in the sun over here today. Although we have a mixture of sun and cloud, it is rather on the cool side, just 9 degr. C, and there's a cold wind blowing. We are back to frost at night, too, and snow (!) is forecast for the higher reaches plus hail where we are. Dry so far though. The temperature is really up and down at present for it was hot and sunny all weekend (24 degr.).

Hope the weather will be lovely for you Jane, when you go to the Isles of Scilly.

[Kath Mulligan]

I changed my mind about sitting out too, Sybille. It was nice if you kept moving but not really warm enough to sit and read. Anyway, it meant that I was on my computer chatting to you on Facebook instead, so that was very nice!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Yes Kath I'm off to Bryher on saturday with my very long time friend Penny from Berkhamsted, Herts (we've always known each other and as we're both only children we're more like sisters) so we'll be chatting away while Bryan stays at home with the "girls". Mim says she's having a word with the goddess for dry weather for us! Tomorrow morning we're walking at Sennen ~ sorry Kath!!!!!!!! before going to St Ives where a mutual friends Mum is in Residental Care.

Just been to The Navy Inn for a lovely meal before seeing Penny's friend John off home on the Sleeper.

Kath, the Gardenier has it's first bloom of spring ~ lovely snowy white with a great scent and loads of buds to open yet. Must go as Penny is waiting for me!

[Kath Mulligan]

Joan, Colleen and I had a meal at the Navy Inn on the Friday evening of Memorial Weekend. It was very busy so service was very slow that night. Joan was very disappointed as she and Robert had enjoyed meals there previously. We still had a good time though, plenty of chatting going on and Jane and Graham Walker came in and sat at the next table to us, so were talking to them as well.

Glad the gardenia has survived the winter. Will think of you walking at Sennen tomorrow. They are having the official naming ceremony of the new lifeboat this coming Saturday, but you will miss it since you will be en route to Scilly. Have a great time.

Kath

[jane jackson]

They are having the official naming ceremony of the new lifeboat this coming Saturday, but you will miss it since you will be en route to Scilly. Have a great time.

Kath

Yes I saw that I'll miss the Lifeboat ceremony but can't be in 2 places at once so I'll just have to miss that one. St Ives was glorious today, we parked in a residential road and walked into the town via the coastal route. The seagulls were out in force and one visitor had his pasty stolen which fell to the ground and there must have been at least 30 gulls who swarmed looking like a fountain as they followed it to the ground and ate it. I wished I'd had my camera in my hand and it would have made a good picture but it was all over in a moment.

The meal at the Navy Inn was very good as was the service so I think you must just have been unlucky the evening you went, perhaps they were short of staff for some reason.

[adesmith]

Have a great time on the Isles of Scilly, Jane. Hope that it is nice and sunny for you!

[Kath Mulligan]

Yes I saw that I'll miss the Lifeboat ceremony but can't be in 2 places at once so I'll just have to miss that one. St Ives was glorious today, we parked in a residential road and walked into the town via the coastal route. The seagulls were out in force and one visitor had his pasty stolen which fell to the ground and there must have been at least 30 gulls who swarmed looking like a fountain as they followed it to the ground and ate it. I wished I'd had my camera in my hand and it would have made a good picture but it was all over in a moment.

The meal at the Navy Inn was very good as was the service so I think you must just have been unlucky the evening you went, perhaps they were short of staff for some reason.

Oh, I can sympathise so much with the person whose pasty was stolen in St Ives! Wonder if it was the same evil bird that pinched mine a couple of years ago. He had his posse of friends at the ready too to help him devour it on the beach in front of me, while my caring daughters fell about almost crying with laughter!! I have learned my lesson since then and now keep the pasty almost totally covered in its paper bag and have my hand over the top of it shielding it from view.

I'm sure we were just unlucky at the Navy Inn on that particular evening since Joan said she and Robert had often eaten there and not had any problems. They were certainly short staffed - just one young man on the bar who was run off his feet and two young girls waiting on the tables. But it didn't really matter since we weren't in any hurry and found plenty to chat about while waiting for our meal.

Kath