British Summertime Begins!!!

Hope today is not a taste of what we have to come this summer!! Mad March winds meets April showers and more to come!!!

This weeks training: Several miles of corridors at the Royal United Hospital, running up the stairs to the first floor, no the lifts weren't out of order, it was one way of get some training in during a very busy week!!!! Mum hopefully will be home in the next couple of days, physio tomorrow will check she can manage a couple of step-ups and a care package with the Reablement Team and it should be all go. 

 Staying at Mum and Dad's does have it's benefits the dear are quite often in the garden first thing in the morning and they are not disturbed by me going out and taking photos.




In fact I think they're posing!!





Unfortunately Mum only enjoyed her Mother's day flowers for 1 day and we've all had the beauty of them instead but they are still going strong so maybe she will get to enjoy them for a while.

They are now 2 weeks old and still doing well.


Popped in to see Bill today he's been into Southmead for tests and will know next week what treatment they can offer him so everything crossed for a positive prognosis.

 

Life is turned upside down!!

Well the week started with a trip to A & E with my Mum, 6 hours later and Mum's being taken up to a ward awaiting a partial hip replacement op! She had been diagnosed with a trapped nerve 8 days before but it was getting worse and she was virtually immobile so called the doctor again this time he decided it might be an idea to send her for an x-ray. A fracture to the top of the femur so they operated on Tuesday with an epidural! She's doing very well and has now been able to walk a few steps but they won't send her home till she can do a lot more for herself and until we sort out Dad's care as well. A bit of a fraught time but we'll get there. Between me and my sister we'll keep an eye on Dad as he needs someone there overnight so we're taking it in turns.

Juggling work and Dad has not been easy so fitting in any training has been very difficult, my workout this week has been 2.5 hours mowing  Mum and Dad's lawns on Thursday followed by Zumba Gold, then 2.5 hours mowing my lawns Saturday! Then walked the mile and a bit down into Keynsham for a curry and a well earned glass of wine or 2 or 3!!!

This was taken on Friday morning in the car park at The Bath Clinic just before my physio appointment. The cloud thinned just enough to be able to see the Eclispe it was quite a spectacle.

My dear friend Su took me to Wells today as there was a Rare Plants sale on at the Bishop's Palace. It was a lovely day and a much need distraction at the end of a difficult week.

We had a lovely lunch and the sun was shining although it was a bit nippy out of the sun. The ground are stunning and the trees are beautiful in their bare state with all their branches exposed. Signs of spring are everywhere now with the tiniest green shoot on the trees and a Magnolia just coming into flower. The Rare Plants sale was very tempting but resisted buying too much!!





An uncertain week ahead trying to fit in work around Dad's needs and visits to Mum. Trying to keep everything on track with fundraising but will have to rethink a couple of things.

The Charity Auction booked for 3rd of May I have postponed and will now try and rebook for July.

Training on hold this week!!!

The whole week has gone pair shaped!!

A dear friend has been rushed into hospital with a possible brain tumour, will know more results on Wednesday.

My Mum has got a trapped nerve and can barely walk, it takes her half an hour to get to the loo and they only live in a tiny bungalow!! But Dorothy House again have stepped in and got things moving and Mum is getting some help with aids, they're now a two Zimmer household! (Believe me that is not easy in a tiny bungalow!!!)

This week was also a sad week for a very dear friend who lost her son last year so lots of big hugs for her. Dorothy House were also a great help and comfort to her and her family.

And I was really looking forward to going to visit my lovely friends in Guildford next week but I've had to cancel that as well. Hay-ho that's life.

So today I was looking forward to having lunch with Mum and Dad and then going to the Cinema!! No it didn't happen. Did manage lunch but never got to the cinema and by the time I got home the fire had gone out!!

Next week has got to be calmer?????

Thursday I'm having 3 legged Ted for a few days (he's a black lab in case you were wondering!)

Will make sure I get some good photos for next weeks blog.

Spring is definitely in the air! Everything is showing signs of coming to life even the birds are making preparations.

 Well if everything carries on growing this fast it won't be long before the lawns need mowing and gardens will need attending to. Busy time of year but still having to be careful with my back so going to have to ease in gently. Think the strimming and hedge- cutting might be a bit optimistic at the moment.

These are some of the flowers in my garden, lots of work to do so guess that will help to keep me fit! At least I can do a little at a time and go and have a rest when I over do it. Did a gentle bit of pottering in the green house today potting on lots of cuttings ready for planting out or selling at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in May.

Barnie went home on Friday morning to be replaced by Archie for the weekend. Archie only likes short walks as he's a bit arthritic.

Mothering Sunday at the end of this week so I'll be doing a bit of floristry, think I can remember how!

Out with Walkers are Welcome today, met in Keynsham Park and walk over the fields to Willsbridge Mill and on to the Bitton Railway for refreshments then back to the park.

Lovely crowd and despite a bit of rain it was a great walk. The days are getting longer and warmer so more time to fit walks in.



Still in the planning stages for the next events, will report with full details as and when there's some more to report.

Hello Spring! & Happy St David's Day

Daffodils seem to be a bit behind this year and only the very early varieties are flowering. But there are also other signs of spring the Snowdrops are still going strong but the Crocus are hot on their heels. Green shoots are emerging and the grass is growing so mowing will be a must before long.

 

The Lichen on the left was the most beautiful grey and contrasted with the bright green Spagnum moss made a lovely show. The Snowdrops are especially abundant this year and seem to be lasting well too.

 

 

 The photos are from Ashton Court Estate this morning went early enough to beat the showers, it was lovely a touch windy in exposed spots and obviously a favourite with dog clubs (unfortunately I forgot the spare batteries for my camera!) including the Golden Retriever Club, no that Barney was in the slightest bit interested he took more notice of the Boston Terriers (they were quite adorable) also the Dalmation Club it was like '101 Dalmations 5 years on'!! 

 

 And of course Barney had to get in at least one photo!

 

 

 

Have now registered for the training weekend in July thankfully I had it all wrong and it's actually in the Yorkshire Dales, 3 of the peaks in 2 days so really looking forward to that. It's now only just over 6 months before I go to China I cannot believe how quickly the time is going already!  

More fund raising to do so one event is provisionally booked for Sunday 3rd May (Bank Holiday weekend) so pop the date in you diary and watch this space.

 

Possibly a couple of Flower Demos for March and April just working on the venues before I confirm dates.