SEPTEMBER

The view from my back door yesterday morning was so colourful. Because we've had so much rain recently, the grass has taken on such a gorgeous deep green colour and the plants have gone mad and had a growth spurt.

By blog has taken a back step since the end of August for an assortment of reasons, some I feel I can write about and others that I'm having some difficulty to even understand let alone write about.

PARENTS!

It is so difficult to help parents who at 90+ are so independent. Even though they do need an element of help they are adamant they don't need it.

The other weekend, we had a phone call from my dad to say that my mum had been taken to a&e by ambulance during the night. After the paramedics and mum had left him, dad went back to bed and back to sleep, waking at 9.15am. It was only then that he decided to ring me as he had neither any idea of mum's condition nor even 100% certainty of where she was.

After a few minutes of phone calls, we'd located mum and sent our daughter off to their house to check her grandad was ok. My dad would never admit to it but we know he was shocked to find my mum wasn't their beside him when he woke up.

We headed off to Broomfield Hospital to find my mum who thankfully having had a thorough check up had been discharged with a course of antibiotics for a water infection. She was sitting there, waiting for an ambulance to take her home (the nurse had explained to her that there would be a long wait) because she had no one who they could call to go and collect her.

Yet here we are, we live just 20 minutes from mum and dad and about 30 mins from the hospital, what can you do?

Their neighbours on both sides were equally as frustrated when they heard. 

We are so lucky that they can do lots for themselves but sometimes...............!

When we left them, that day they both looked tired and in need of some rest. They both said they would have a lazy day and for lunch they would cook the lasagne I'd made for them, a couple of days previously.

The very same lasagne that my mum had taken under protest and had told me that I wasn't to make for them anymore because they didn't need them.

I rest my case!

September has brought another change to my week days. Kate has returned to work and I'm going to be looking after baby Alfred on Mondays and Wednesdays, I already have Jack on a Monday so it's 

going to be a busy day but now we've done a couple of weeks, I'm more organised and beginning to plan things that we can do when they're here.

I'm looking forward to Yarndale this weekend and I thought as I'm bound to be buying more yarn (oh yes!) I really should make some space and knit up some that I bought last year. 

I bought this as a kit

and I'm very happy how it has knitted up and how it looks.

It was a lovely sunny day here yesterday, so I was able to wash it and lay it outside.

Me and washing wool, don't usually go well together but now dried it still looks the same size and shape.

All ready for my weekend!

WAISTCOATS FINISHED

I am really pleased with both of these waistcoats, now finished. I crochetered the little ties and was amazed how quickly crochet came back to me. Charlotte & Jessica have their birthdays soon so I think I'll give them to them then.

I took this picture yesterday as it rained - again! The new garden furniture has hardly seen the light of day since it arrived. Tomorrow, I'm collecting the base for the new umbrella which is hidden in the garage - just to keep it dry!

On a brighter note last Sunday Michael and I went out for a cycle ride along the seawall to test out our new tyres, new comfy seats and in Michael's case, new pedals. Our son in law in waiting does seem to have the ability of snapping at least one of these off when he's borrowed the bike in the past.
Pleased to report all working well, no having to stop on the way home due to  excessive pain in the posterior.
The tide was out, so the muddy shores were at their best. I believe this wreck to be the motor torpedo boat Platonia and we've watched it slowly deteriorate over the last 14 years since we've lived in the area. In the early days I did wonder if someone would try to restore it but alas no.
Hoping to get out and cycle quite a lot from now on, now we're better prepared, I'm quite keen.
Watch this space!!

JUBILEE WEEKEND!

Our family was away on holiday last weekend, so we felt quite, "home alone!"

Even though we live alone anyway, it was strange not getting the odd phone call or having one of them or all of them dropping by. Despite the most dreadful weather, we still managed to enjoy the jubilee weekend. 

                                       

Whilst watching some of the royal festivities on the tv I completed knitting Jessica's waistcoat and nearly finished Charlotte's. Once they're done, I've just got to crochet the ties for both of them.

The yarn for the waistcoats and the new yarn here was purchased from Yarn Therapy in Chelmsford, discovered by Diane. I bought this yarn to crochet some granny squares, I also treated myself to a new crochet hook as well. Haven't started yet but will be very very soon!

I managed to dash out in the garden for a short time to prop up my drooping plants. Drooping not because of lack of water but because they'd been battered by it along with the help of gusting winds. I took the picture of this clematis because I didn't think it would last. Amazingly it did and has, still looking stunning today.

We spent a lovely evening with Miriam and Dave. Miriam cooked korean lamb on the bbq, which was really nice and for dessert I rolled out yet another chocolate swiss roll with raspberries.

And we also managed, when the weather did try to brighten up, to take an evening stroll along the seawall to Mill Beach.

A very relaxing weekend!