Getting more organized

 

Sunday saw me at the car boot sale at Clyro.  I shan't bother with that again - hardly any people through and I sold just four things!  Yet that netted me £50, so that will cover groceries for much of a couple of weeks.  I have a good store-cupboard and plenty in the freezer.   It was a lovely spot though - I had a view of the Black Mountains and Hay Bluff, and actually got inside Baskerville Hall (now a Hotel).  It has the most magnificent staircase which splits into two on a landing, and reminded me of Scarlett and Rhett's house in Gone With the Wind.

I was able to stow boxes of stock away tidily when I got back, though I did it with an overnight break.  The Utility floor is now largely visible again!  I have decided to get rid of a lot of the pre-Covid stuff on a £5 each table  at the Antiques Fair next month.  What's left I will probably give to the Charity Shops.

Tam and Rosie were here Sunday afternoon - Monday afternoon, which was lovely.  I got lots of Rosie cuddles.  She is very fractious at the moment and finds it hard to settle and her sleep pattern is all over the place.  Poor Tam is desperate for longer than one hour's unbroken sleep at night . . . 

I got busy with housework yesterday morning, and also baked a Dorset Apple Cake as I had my friend Nia visiting after lunch.  It was good to see her and catch up on her news.  I sent her home with a good hunk of the cake (it saves me from myself!!)  

Then I sat outside with the Elizabeth Chadwick book The King's Jewel, which Nia had loaned me on her last visit.  It's set in and around Carew Castle, Cenarth and Ceredigion area in the 11th C and is such a good read.  I can heartily recommend it.

I am hoping the Bonsai Hollyhocks will decide to grow now.  They were certainly looking more cheerful outside the greenhouse, so we shall see.

I took a few oddments to the Red Cross in town yesterday - some drinking glasses of Keith's mum's, which I thought had gone years ago.  A few books and some heavy denim jeans of mine which were never comfortable or flattering, and bits and bobs.  I think the two strollers Keith had may have to go to Landfill, which seems a shame, but the Red Cross said they'd had them in the past but they didn't sell.  I will leave them in the car and drop them off at the Tip today as I have an appt. with the Physio in Llandod, and will get the cat food and other bits of shopping I need whilst I'm there.  

I have culled a few more books from Keith's bookshelves for the charity shop.  I would like to have one bookcase less in there, ultimately, but that's a lot of books to shift round.  Half of the bookcase has some overflow cookery books of mine and Tamzin's and she's got no room for them so I'm stuck with them here.  The room desperately needs a new carpet, but it also needs less furniture in it before I can buy that.  My dear friend D is buying a grandfather chair and the lovely old coffer, and I am pleased it is going to the perfect home.  Then I will be stuck with 4 large bags of Tam's stuff to try and find a home for . . . The Utility could well become cluttered again!

My dear friend A has sent me the most beautiful DA rose - Scarborough Fair.  It is very like the Lark Ascending in form, only a soft pale pink fading to white.  It is gorgeous and I am going to plant it in the little square of garden by the drive, so I can see it every time I go out or come into the yard.  She chose perfectly of course, as Keith's ashes will be going to Scarborough.

Well, nearly 3.30 a.m. here.  I should go back to bed.  Danny and Gabby arrive tonight.  I am dreading tomorrow and our final farewell to Keith.  He wanted a no-fuss send off - he told me to put him in a black bin bag and leave him out for the rubbish men to collect!  Typical Keith!  Then I was talking to his cousin, who's also in her 80s, and she more or less said the same thing :)  A family trait then.  

Right, back to bed with Pippi and Lulu.