Summer seems to have arrived

Gypsy enjoying the sunshine

Although I haven't heard any cuckoo singing, lhude or otherwise, summer seems to have finally "comen in".  It's coincided nicely with my being mid-cycle with medication, so just when I'm feeling limp and lethergic I have something else to blame it on.  I sat on the bench in the garden, with my feet up on a box, doing a little gentle knitting while the cat sought out the real hotspots.  We have a path of round stepping stones which heat up nicely so she tried out a couple of those before finally settling on a quiet spot by the bird bath.  The birds kept out of the way, but she gave a couple of flies the run around for a bit of light relief, returning to her station to meditate.












The heat was positively Mediterranean, with the sky providing a background to the Honey lilies that I couldn't resist.  This photo really was taken yesterday in my garden in Gloucester.

Nectaroscordum siculum ssp. bulgaricum
(Allium bulgaricum):
Sicilian honey lily

I could have included the garage wall behind it for context, but it just wouldn't have the same impact would it? But the garage wall provides a useful service by casting shade over our garden bench in the late afternoon so I can enjoy sitting in the garden without getting scorched.  In spite of not having slept at all the previous night I continued to not feel sleepy, but the warmth was soothing and last night I slept like a log.
Didn't make it to the knitting group this week because of feeling ropey, but feeling more relaxed now.  Amazing what a couple of days of sunshine can do.  I can feel a barbecue coming on this evening, I may even treat myself to a beer.  Who needs to go on holiday?  As Seth Godin said “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from”. I've been watching the evening programmes on the Chelsea flower show and enjoying the different garden designs. I was rather taken with the little dog kennel with a downspout to fill the water bowl in the caravan garden.  And with Doris, the 1950s caravan!  And what a pleasant surprise that the Furzey Garden, with lots of not very fashionable rhododendrons, won Gold.   A just reward for all their effort and hard work fundraising for their first time at Chelsea.  Furzey Gardens making news

Spring has sprung a leak

Long time no blog.... circumstances and all that.  Partly because I was feeling rather better than for some time, so spending more time away from the laptop.  Even made contact with and attended a local knitting group; quite a novelty having a social evening out. First solo social excursion for quite a long time.

And then last weekend it decided to rain rather a lot just when I developed a bit of a sniffle.  But there was no way I was phoning the helpline on Sunday in case they wanted me to hike over to Cheltenham in all that pouring rain. I'm sure it would have been worse for me to go out in that.  So I waited until Monday, when I was advised to leave out Tuesday's chemo meds and phone on Tuesday if I was worse.  And I was, so spent nearly 4 hours on the ward, donated another blood sample, and was allowed home (just) with antibiotics.  Hooray!

I can smell wonderful food being prepared by ace wife, so had better be ready when it arrives - not that I'm reluctant about good food of course.