Gosh I feel as though I have really milked my birthday this year.
Through happy accident and clever planning I have been able to claim so many freebies and keep on enjoying them until almost a month after my birthday. This final treat saw me getting two free coffees and two scones via my Dobbies Plus card. So we both managed to celebrate in style ... although Alan wanted jam so he had to pay 75p for the privilege. SEVENTY FIVE PENCE for one of those tiny jars of jam ... wow!!
Two scones and two regular drinks would have cost £12.75 usually, so definitely well worth having ... and very tasty.
It has been SO hot over the last few days, I am currently praying for rain as the garden and all the pots are bone dry ... and we have just had a water meter fitted, sod's law isn't it.
I was sat on the patio drinking cold water and saying how hot it was so Alan put the Booths magazine on my head, and then had the cheek to take my photo.
So I took his while he was doing a little job for me.
Those of you that now follow me on Instagram will know that he was making this little raised bed out of a plank of wood that we've had lying around for ages.
I soon filled it with compost and then after seeing Ginger eyeing it up, I covered it with a metal grill over night while the compost settled .
The the next morning I planted out a couple of Petunias and a Pelargonium ...
... and sowed a few seeds.
Now they are all drying to a crisp in todays blazing hot sunshine and warm breeze.
Oh well, I'll be watering the garden again after it cools off a bit here.
Sue xx
The lack of rain is unsetting - I am so used to it constantly being damp here that this feels really strange. We have already received the first salvo from United Utilities about reservoir levels, I suspect hosepipe bins are being considered.
ReplyDelete"Apparently" this is the driest start to the year since the 1950's, so that means in yours and my lifetime - eek!
Yes, I saw the 'driest day' info somewhere yesterday, it's scary isn't it. I think my next years garden will be filled with cacti just for good measure ... then of course we will have the wettest Summer since records began. :-)
DeleteYou have done well with your birthday freebies. I bet you've snaffled tat 75p jam jr for your collection, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo with your magazine hat, love the print on your top! xxx
Oh you know me so well, it is now washed out and in the cupboard ... with it's little friends. :-)
DeleteYour patio looks a lovely sun trap.
ReplyDeleteIt's great when a birthday lasts for several weeks.
The whole garden is a set of sun traps that start at first light and the sun works it's way around until early evening. The actual patio is beautifully cool by late afternoon ... the only time you will usually find me out there on a hot day.
DeleteWe are already saving water from the kitchen to top up one of our empty rain buts, most of the garden can survive, but my veg will need watering.
ReplyDeleteI am very good at always using water very contentiously, I always have been, but I am having to educate Alan. He's taking it on board now that it affects his pocket.
DeleteFifteen shillings for a tiny pot of jam!?! (Showing my age again)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, if you put it that way!! My Nana would have been horrified, she hit the roof when a sliced loaf went up to 1 shilling!!
DeleteI emptied a water butt so I could level it up - and of course it hasn't rained since.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's always the way isn't it. Alys Fowler shared a clip of torrential rain in her garden last night and I was completely jealous.
DeleteYou have made the most of your birthday. Best of luck getting rain and planting.
ReplyDeleteI need to see if I can do even better next year. :-)
DeleteI bet you can!
Delete🤞
DeleteWater meters scare me, and we'll have one soon!
ReplyDeleteThe photos are great
Alison in Wales x
We were sent a water bill for almost £800 for this year, or the option to have a water meter fitted and it being a LOT lower, so we took that option. They do say if you have less people than bedrooms in your property, it will be much cheaper with a meter. We have five bedrooms and only two people. The changeover went very smoothly.
DeleteIt's really dry here too. Rain was forecast yesterday (with thundery showers) but it never arrived. We had literally a sprinkling which did no good at all. It's very worrying because our allotment is suffering. We only have dip tanks so it's very hard work to water everything adequately. We have a water meter at home but our bill is still quite high. We need to be even more diligent and use kitchen water in the garden now the butts are empty, I think.
ReplyDeleteWell done on your freebie! But 75p for a tiny jar of jam? Ouch!
Love your photo :) Lovely hat!...lol...
Angie x
I remember not so long ago the little jams were just 30p, then they jumped to 45p.
DeleteI rock a good magazine hat don't I. 😄
We leave an old washing up bowl in the sink and it is surprising how much water we collect from hand rinsing, vegetable/salad washing and draining cooked veg. We fill at least 2 watering cans a day and we are careful with our water use, which we then use on the garden. Like you, we have changed to a water meter this year, as our bill was going up from £97.00 a month to £127!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do that too, I'm now trying to train Alan to do it too. I also have a large 2 litre jug to catch the cold water when I'm waiting for the hot to come through in the kitchen sink, and a bucket in the bath to do the same when I'm washing my hair with the tap attachment. I use it all to water the pots and troughs. 😀
DeleteLovely photo - you are usually hidden behind big green leaves!
ReplyDeleteWendy (Wales)
I love my cabbage, but it's nice to step to the side sometimes. 😀 I stopped using the cabbage photo for a while once and I was inundated with requests for it to come back. 😄
DeleteGreat photo Sue 🌞 We've had more rain than normal this year 🌧️ Fingers crossed for rain soon for everyone 🤞
ReplyDeleteGosh, I bet you are getting our rain ... give it back, my Lupin is drooping. 😄
DeleteNice sun hat! Well done with extending your birthday over the month. :) I hope it rains soon for you. I have to water my garden at least once a week during the winter, when it rains, and three times a week during the summer when we don't get any rain.
ReplyDeleteWe've not had any rain for weeks now, and it's just as everything is growing and pushing through the soil needing moisture. It's getting a bit worrying. Just one overnight downpour would be amazing. 🙂
DeleteWe are finally getting a good soaking here starting today. Now the people in the know say there could be flooding.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Gosh, from one extreme to another. 🫤
Delete