I decided my lovely dole cupboard needed "dressing up" - so here is my favourite battered old jug - repaired with tin strapping after the handle broke off because it was someone else's favourite old jug too . . .
I went to the Unit yesterday, and put some new stuff in, and took a few things out. Ingoing were some more personal effects, including the last of Keith's militaria. I took a chunk off the price of the Windsor chair in there, as it lives in the kitchen here and takes up a lot of room.
In my mind, my intention is to draw out at the end of Sept, though I have to give a month's notice so it will be end of Oct. I go. Unless there is a huge radical change, this is not working for me. I have sold two pieces in two months, the expensive one a piece from my home - and now some more personal collectables have gone into the Unit. I am considerably out of pocket. It is a loooooong drive when nothing is moving at the Unit. Pleasant enough in the summer but not in the wintertime. If I was selling jewellery, I'd be laughing. My girls have the expertise with jewellery, but I have not and with the price of gold and silver right now, no way can I afford to start again.
Ah well. Such is life. I stopped off at my other friend Pam's house for a natter and to pick up some jam jars. Some have been soaking overnight to get the labels off. It feels a bit like being given money, as they cost £1.50 or so each to buy. I did go in Charlie's yesterday (country store) and bought 4 of the nice hexagonal jars for special gifts.
We have had a little rain but not enough to really matter. The big fires at Rhandirmwn and near Rhayader are now under control/out, thank heavens. The ones above and around the Valleys not put out but more controlled, and there are now Military helping out (looked like the Ghurkas from Brecon).
Autumn has definitely arrived early - the heat and lack of rain has caused plants to sacrifice their leaves and the Beech, Hazels and bigger-leaved trees are suffering. It is 14 deg out at present (19 or so later). I am planning an early walk and then try and get my head around the dress for Rosie. I have nothing planned now until the very end of the month. No excuse not to clean the windows!
Yesterday's podcast was The Rest is History - 4 (out of 6) wondrful podcasts about Elizabeth 1 and the political shennanigans of her reign, plus a wonderful one about Sir Francis Drake - I'd loved to have met him. I am now a lot more informed about this, one of my favourite periods in history.
That's disappointing about the unit...do they just not get enough foot traffic through? It was definitely worth the try, though. Perhaps things will pick up in the autumn?
ReplyDeleteWe've had some lovely rain this morning, though could use with a whole day of it. Our cherry tree in the front looks like it's thinking of dropping some leaves..and has done...and one of the elderberry shrubs I planted in the spring has already dropped them all (I'm telling myself it isn't dead, just in early dormancy :/). This is the second droughty summer in a row for us and it's making me really conscious of what kind of planting I want to do from now on. Great news on the fires being out/under control! ~melanie
He said they'd been really busy at the weekend . . . Ah well, you can't win 'em all. Either what I am selling or how it's priced deters them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually seen it rain yet, because it has happened at night. Not a good deal I don't think but anything is better than nothing.
I think if you are planting cacti now, you are in with a good chance of it surviving! This Super El Nino they are predicting looks like we are set for an unpleasant winter though.
I think the economy is so worrying right now that people just can't justify 'extras' right now. It makes it tough for people like you.
ReplyDeleteWith all the other distractions which impact on just staying alive - since the Data Centres seem to be more important than humans, solar farms, wind farms, wildfires/arsonists at work, it is one extra worry I don't need.
ReplyDeletePeople always have the money for something they really want, hence jewellery always sells.
Beautiful jug and I just love the tin handle. A good honest repair. It would have been such a waste to have thrown it away when the handle broke. Part of its story. If the unit is not working for you, you are right to stop. You gave it your best shot. The winter here is concerning me a little with the El Nino effect. I have sent off for thermal curtains but I have a huge bay window ( old sash ones, single glazed! ) and simply could not afford thick heavy ones. I have all the usual i.e. electric blanket, heated throw, hot water bottle and thermal underlayers so keeping my fingers crossed. Seeing the yellowing and falling leaves on the trees saddens me. I hope they survive. T.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it too and the honest repair.
DeleteBig bay window - purchase a big roll of bubble wrap - the larger bubble sort. Fix that across your bay windows, individual windows. It acts like double glazing. OK, it will cut down the light, but also keep the cold air from the glass from going into the room. Some friends of ours who live in the mill near old home, had to do that every winter as the river valley was sometimes 15 deg below freezing in the winter when it was a bad winter.
I think that's the best solution. Let's hope it doesn't get that cold!
ReplyDeleteSorry the Unit isn't working out. I guess food and fuel have to come first for many people.
ReplyDeleteThe weather really has changed although we still haven't had much rain here in Suffolk.
It's a shame the unit isn't working out, perhaps if it was closer it would have been better over Winter when a lot of the fairs and car boot sales are over. At least you have given it a good go, you would've always wondered if you hadn't tried it out.
ReplyDelete