26/06/2009 by Aileen.

When I was cutting the grass yesterday I heard the kingfisher for the first time this year. This morning I was wandering around the garden and heard the cuckoo. Seen one a few weeks ago, but this was the first I have heard from home.

Who would have thought, six years ago, that I would be cutting the grass accompanied by the sounds of kingfisher and a noisy little reed warbler hidden yards away from me. (Might be a sedge warbler. It’s the one with the more varied song.)

Also, I forgot to mention that John did most of the power washing, and he cleaned the oven yesterday. Today he is going to clean the brass letter box. Not sure what else.

I didn’t mention the death of Michael Jackson either. It wasn’t my kind of music, but I can recognise that he was a great and talented performer. My most vivid memory of him is hanging his child over the balcony. Acting God, with power over life and death. He must have been so insecure.

Anyway, 11am and all is well. I have the sleeping quarters and bathrooms done and am waiting for the coffee to perc. Life is good.

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26/06/2009 by Aileen.

Yesterday was a really really good day.So varied. I got up without knowing the time but because I wanted to. It was 7am so that was fine.

After our muesli I marzipanned John’s cake. I discovered it shouldn’t be iced for at least a day, so that was fine too.

Made carrot and coriander soup minus the fresh coriander as I have learnt to my cost it turns the soup green. Put in some coriander seeds and will add fresh herb later. Fine.

Cut all grass except front so it would be short for Saturday. It hardly needed cutting so was easy. Fine.

Strimmed and halfmooned all relevant bits. Not much to do. Fine.

Made John’s card. Wrapped second pressie. Fine.

Watered bits of garden I am taking care of (Veg and herbs) Fine.

One bad bit - I had planted some colourful petunias or something. And I strimmed the heads off. Not so fine.

In the evening Andrew (Viewfinders) had a photo exhibition of his Everest trek in a Hull wine bar. (No, the trek really wasin Nepal) Was really too busy to stay long, but it was good. Great photos, and he had a good crowd there. Fine.

Brought home takeaway chilli burgers and chips from local pizza bar. Had interesting chat with the two men who run it about where we come from. Fine.

Nice meal with a good red wine, watching Trial and Retribution and I actually concenrated. Fine.

Ali rang. Also chatting to FIona in the morning. Fine.

Finally got round to looking at the requirements for Dig Phot final assignment, and it’s not too bad. Have put possible photos into a file and earmarked the questions I like the look of. Fine.

Today is action stations. To Tip. To Charity shop. Last minute fresh food shopping. Turning ‘Swinton’ into a bedroom.Cut John’s hair. Tidy house. Martin and Fiona, Ali and Eric and the kids are coming this evening. Kev and Mags, Don and Chris, coming tomorrow.

Fine. Fine. Fine.

Just hope the weather stays fine and we can eat outside. Twelve sitting down.

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