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I'm running out of adjectives to describe the unseasonably warm weather the UK is currently experiencing but the endless sunshine is utterly fabulous.
On Thursday we took Stephen to the vet to start a monthly course of injections for his arthritis, something we'd discussed with Becky, our vet, when we'd taken him for a check-up a fortnight ago. Although the manufacturer claims that effects may not be visible until the second jab, he perked up almost immediately and was back to his usual vocal and crazy self by mid-afternoon.
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Home from the vet, Jon set about making some platforms for Stephen's food bowls so he didn't have to bend to eat. Our mate Kev popped round and we sat on the garden wall in the midday chatting. After lunch I spent the afternoon in the garden, stripped down to a bikini and grabbed my Philippa Gregory novel, losing myself in the court of Elizabeth I and the paranoia and seething jealousy which was part of everyday life within the Tudor dynasty.
We watched the incredible Writing With Fire, a documentary about India's only newpaper run by Dalit (untouchable) women. A wonderful and inspiring watch if ever there was one. If you're in the UK you can find it on the BBC I-Player HERE.
On Friday morning we were dressed and on our way to our second favourite Black Country town before 9am and by 11.30am we were back at home and inspecting our finds with the first (and, in my case, only) coffee of the day.
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What did we find? A vintage NATO issue quilted coat, a Coast mustard wrap dress with the tags still attached, two watches to add to Jon's collection, a 1980s suede waistcoat, a 1950s broderie anglaise top, a 1980s cotton leisure shirt, an Indian all-wool waistcoat, another Philippa Gregory novel (I think I've got almost all of her books now), a planished silver bangle, a 1980s green suede bomber jacket, some 1980s "Africa" shorts, made in Harare, three unused Barry M nail paints, some 1970s Fred Perry shorts and an Italian made Paolo de Ponte calf leather belt which I later found online for £82!
Buoyed up by a couple of large glasses of Pinot, I popped into the hairdressing training academy in the next street and booked an appointment for a cut and blow dry. It's been a year since I last had a trim and my ends are starting to look a bit wispy, although I shall insist it is only the very ends they cut, I like having hair long enough to get caught in my waistband.
Back at home I pegged the laundry out on the line, washed our swimming gear and wrapped the eBay sales leaving Jon to repair a couple of loose bricks on the outside steps. Later we drank rum and watched The White Tiger. Aravind Adiga's Booker Prize winning novel of a poor man's murderous ambition is one of my favourite books ever and I was excited to discover that it had been made into a film. I'm always slightly worried about beloved books becoming films but this was beautifully done.
On Saturday morning, I stripped the bed and hung the washing on the line to dry alongside the load I'd done the previous day and had left out overnight. After our veggie sausage sandwiches Jon dropped the eBay parcels off at the post office and did a grocery run for Tony, who is still testing positive and feels very weak and feeble.
I took the recently charity-shopped Victorian japanned cabinet outside and touched up the rough bits with the gloss paint we'd bought from Wilko on Sunday before doing some pruning and shifting of plants. When Jon got back he suggested we go for a walk in Merrions Wood, a 12 hectare wildlife reserve so I grabbed my camera and dashed out still dressed in my gardening gear.
Despite living less than two miles from the entrance to Merrions Wood my entire life I'd never been there, I always say that I know Mumbai better than I do my hometown!
Dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch, the church was founded in 1677 but rebuilt in 1862. The tower is original 17th century but is hidden by the Gothic revival red sandstone casing which was added in 1893. The spire is 18th Century. St Margaret's is Grade II listed and its war memorial, described by Historic England as "a lantern cross in the medieval style" is also listed meaning both are protected from unauthorised alteration or demolition.
Merrions Wood supports important populations of birds, bats, social and solitary bees and wasps, saproxylic invertebrates and fungi. Grant-aid has funded a bat box scheme in conjunction with Birmingham and Black Country Bat Group.
I also painted my nails with one of the Barry M paints I'd found on our charity shopping trip the previous day. Butterscotch isn't a colour I've used before but I rather like it.
