I found a little bit of news about the builders who are looking to do the drive work on their website.

Someone at Wrekin College was horrified when his beloved Banjo a macaw flew out of the window and settled on a tree.

The man climbed up the tree to rescue Banjo but the ladder fell and so he was stranded. The firefighters came and rescued the man but left Banjo up the tree. The man decided to hire a cherry picker and was offered the services of the operator (one of the people at the builders) who was happy to help out and didn't charge the man for his time.

And sp the man and Banjo were reunited:

El, I'm glad Banjo was rescued and reunited with his owner. I like happy endings.

evening Squiggle, your family are so lucky to have you, you're such a wonderful lady When I lived alone, but g'ma would insist I buy myself a few groceries when I did her shopping. I used to buy cereals & milk, and it really helped too! I had a lovely day, I got some new (posh) wellies, they should last well and keep me warm & comfy. We walked in a forest, brambled loved it and is exhausted tonight bless her lol I hope you all had a good day El- mr summer recommends block paving, but the prep work must be done properly for it to last

I didn't sleep very well last night, so I am attempting an early night tonight.

Goodnight everyone, sweet dreams. Night owl hug for Summer.

Pops back to say the forest walk sound great, Summer. Goodnight again.

I hope you sleep better tonight yogi, try some lavender, it really helps Sweetest of dreams

Good morning everyone. A very frosty morning up here. Brrrr!

Thank you Summer, I had a good sleep and feel much better.

I used to use L'Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath and found it was good for relaxing me. I need to get some more.

Good morning everyone

 

Cold here but dry. Some snow showers are forecast here on Saturday.

 

I'm sure that the builders would do a proper job of the prep work. They do a variety of work covering commercial and the likes of hospices besides domestic work. And they are known by the father of the girl next door.

 

Yogi, I hope you had a decent night's sleep overnight.

I did have a good sleep (10hours) thank you, El.

Do you know where Bill Turnbull of BBC Breakfast has disappeared to? Maybe I just keep missing the shows he presents, but every time I watch, it is Charlie who is on?

Yogi, according to Bill Turnbull's Twitter page he's been off on other work commitments but was supposed to return yesterday.

Thanks El. 

Good morning overcast and cool here, but no frost. Yogi I'm pleased you had a good sleep and feel better for it I haven't tried the L'Octaine bath products, but I've heard they are lovely. I like the champneys one El I think that if you can see work already done by the workmen, then you can't go wrong

Good morning everyone, Yogi I'm so glad you slept well, it makes all the difference and with the flare ups that you suffer a good night's sleep is vital.

 

EL I agree, if you can see work done by the workmen it will put your mind at rest. I guess we have all seen block paving work where they didn't prepare and the result is a nightmare.

 

That must have been quite a walk if you managed to tire out your little birthday girl, did she sleep well after that Summer?

 

Skylark you are in our thoughts   - oh and Joyron too in case you are looking into the forum today

It was a 5 mile walk squiggle she could easily do 10 now, but because we drive a good while to get there, she didn't get any sleep. She was still sleepy this morning bless her lol How's your knee? X

It's not been too bad.  Still a bit painful with the first step, as it takes the weight.  But I have stopped taking the chondroitin for now, and I think it works better without.  I did quite a bit of walking yesterday so it's certainly better than 2 weeks ago when each step was horribly painful. 

 

Hope you have a good day, there was ice on the pond this morning but looking out of the window now there's a lovely pale blue sky, it really makes you feel better.  I hope to hose down my drive today and I have ordered the weed killer to keep down the moss and grass which creates all the mud and slippy bits.  I love where I live now but I do miss my beautiful crazy paving garden and driveway which was a breeze to keep spotless.  I live in the country now and what with all the rain making muddy puddles and huge pine trees shedding like mad it's not so easy nowadays

Glad your knee is a bit better, Squiggle

Pine trees do make a lot of mess when they shed their needles, do you have more than one? Try not to overdo it when you are clearing and cleaning the driveway today, as you don't want to cause extra pressure on your knee.

 

Summer, I have just ordered some L'occitane lavender products, including a pillow mist spray. I haven't tried the Champneys' products yet but I might give them a go when I next run out.

Well said yogi, yes squiggle, please don't over do it I always imagine your home as a beautiful country setting! I love the countryside, if only it cleaned itself though. Luckily for me, bramble will wait at the door while I sort out my muddy wellies before letting her in, my house would be a terrible mess otherwise Ooh lovely yogi, I hope the lavender products make you sleepy I've just popped into boots to get some photos printed, and seen the champneys is all on a 3 for 2 offer. I may have to go back and get myself some lavender bath stuff now Bramble is giving her gran a birthday present tomorrow; it's a lovely framed photo of herself I printed off several different pictures so that she can change them from time to time if she feels like it. It's MIL's 80th!

That pillow spray especially sounds lovely Yogi.  I do think they will work beautifully and you will float off to sleep on a cloud of lavender.  Thank you ladies Yogi  and Summer I'm in again and I was very careful, I just wanted to do a final wash down and a sweep up.  I have an old asphalt drive and I use rubber brooms which are brilliant on it and don't jump as much as bristle, if you know what I mean.  I have even washed the brooms under the hose.  When the sun shines even though it's cold it makes you feel better to get some outside jobs done doesn't it?

 

I have just ordered some Autoglym polishes for my little car.  You should see her, she looks a picture, straight off the showroom floor, for an old girl of 24 she is looking pretty good, so I am going to gild the lily now   I like her to look her best when the mechanics are going to be looking at her innards.  Grandson and me went into all her nooks and crevices yesterday and pulled out all the winter muck.

Aww, I'm sure your little car will look a picture when she is polished, Squiggle.

I remember you posted a pic of her once before and she was in immaculate condition.

 

Summer, that's a good offer from Boots, I think you should treat yourself.

Your MiL will love Bramble's present. Some of my favourite gifts ever, have been photo related ones.

I know what you mean squiggle, it does feel so good to get those jobs done I know someone who works for autoglym, they are great products and I bet your car looks beautiful! Does she have a name? My car is called Jasper I desperately need to clean him out, I'd be embarrassed to let anyone get in it at the moment

I haven't given my car a name, my friend who names everything would like me to.  My hubby used to call every car Betsy, dunno why.  Yogi she still looks as good as new, I am very conscious that her previous owner kept her looking good so I feel I owe it to him.  Did I tell you that one of the guys who delivers the groceries wanted to buy it from me?  I told him there was a queue (and there is).

Some things are worth much more than money, Squiggle.

I think Mr Squiggle would be very happy with the good care you take over the car.

I've never named the cars I've had but my first car was called Baby by my mother, and the vicar at that time called it (based on the registration plate) GALJ

 Mr Yogi calls his car, Vicky (the Vauxhall).

This photograph was posted on my local news website showing a sunrise in a location within walking distance of where I live.

What a beautiful sunrise. It would make a lovely framed pic.

That's a stunning sky! Yes you do mr squiggle proud, 24 years is superb! I love my current car and will run it as long as possible, he's lovely to drive We're off to the vets shortly, bramble has a little problem that needs checking over, hopefully it's nothing but I won't be happy unless she's checked over

That pic makes me feel warmer

What a beautiful sunrise EL.

 

I should mention I got the car after my hubby died.  We had a Motability car because of his stroke and of course this goes back within 6 weeks which would have left me without transport.  Some wonderful friends found the car for me, it belonged to an elderly uncle who could no longer drive.  He had never intended to part with the car (his baby, he was an engineer and used to service it himself) but when he heard of my plight he very generously agreed to sell it to me and my friends drove it from Bristol to North Devon for me too.  Some other friends even paid for it until I was able to repay them.

 

I am thrilled to have seen a bird at my feeders which I have never seen before, turns out it is a Siskin.

A clip of some siskins:

 

Summer, I hope Bramble's OK

Ah, I misunderstood, sorry Squiggle.

Kind people have kind friends and I'm sure yours must have thought a lot of you to help you out.

Better to be safe than sorry, Summer. I hope she's okay.

I missed the bit of your post about Bramble Summer.  I do hope the vet will be able to put your mind at rest

We're back it's most likely Colitis, which she got after eating horse poo! It would have had bacteria on which has infected her colon, which is why she's been pooping blood. They gave us some medicines and said it should clear up within 5 days, but to keep an eye on her. Other than that she's a very normal, healthy, good looking border terrier Definitely better safe than sorry, and it was only £35 for everything. Poor Bramble has taken to a disliking of the vet now though, she does everything they ask but shakes like a leaf bless her. Understandable considering she's been poked, prodded, made sick and shaved lately. She still won't understand that if she stops eating things she shouldn't, these things wouldn't end up happening to her I'm relieved Mr summer just showed me a pic of a Siskin, it's adorable! I hope it comes back regularly Squiggle. That's a lovely story about the car, I think it was meant for you Squiggle your friends must think very highly of you, and quite rightly too xx

Isn't she talented..

Hi all x
Havent read back yet, just saw though that Bramble not too well. Poor thing, she will probably take the huff with you Summer, mine does after a vet visit! She is very good at wrapping up gifts! 

Aww, poor Bramble. Dogs never seem to get the message that eating dodgy stuff can upset their stomachs. Hope it all settles down quickly for her.

I agree with Skylark, Bramble is very good at gift wrapping.

Wish your MiL a very Happy 80th birthday tomorrow.

Hi skylark Thanks ladies, hopefully she will be all better in a few days. I'm going to keep her closer to me on walks now, she hung back in the dark last week and returned licking her lips so I presume that's when she did it

Don't worry about it too much, Summer. Keira has even managed to eat dodgy stuff which found its way into our garden - presumably via cats or foxes dropping it as they passed through.

Its hard keeping track of what they eat Summer, mine would eat anything. i am sure she will be ok x
A very Happy Birthday to your MiL x
Signing out, very tired. Just changed my bed and Kia got herself in! The cheek of her! Bribed her out with a Jaffa cake 
Goodnight and sleep well all