My Garden in September

We haven't done much to the garden in September, it's just been left to do its own thing. 

Some watering has been needed and a bit of weeding, but otherwise, all has been good.

There seems to be a lot of tidying up to do. Odd projects to finish off and it won't be long before I have to think about getting the garden ready for winter, with wrapping up some of the more delicate plants in fleeces and sorting out space under the covered area for the pots of herbs.

These 3 trees purchased from Gardeners' World back in June will need to be placed under cover, but in a fleece.

The table and chairs were purchased in South Africa and are on their 4th winter in the UK, they all survived 7 years in Dubai, outside all year round in temperatures up to 50c. They have been our best purchase for the garden ever and will hopefully outlive us.

The compost bin has been finished.

The fuchsia and bougainvillea have been moved under cover as the winds have picked up.

The fig tree survived the move to the front of the garden and there have been more fruits than ever this year.

The Thai basil is rowing well out the front also.

The nasturtiums flowered beautifully in the old dustbins this year. I'll be saving the seeds for cooking.

The slugs and snails had a right old feast this year, but the cold frame protected some of the plants.

The tomatoes are still going strong.

Little pots of basil and parsley are dotted around the garden.

The side of the house still remains clear. But there are still parts of the garden that need tidying.

The dumping ground. We're storing old scaffolding planks, parts of the old shed and old pallets on the opposite side of the house that we are slowly using that have been earmarked for jobs. This should be cleared by the end of November.

The contents of the old compost bin has been transferred to the new one and the old plastic bin needs to make its way to the tip. The scaffolding planks will be used to make a retaining wall in the front garden and this soil will be used to level the ground.

The wagon wheel will be set on a circle of bricks and will be planted with herbs.

We visited the Three Counties Autumn Show on the weekend.

Heaviest and wonkiest veg.

World record largest and longest.

And Pumpkins.

Grasses, fern, palm eucalyptus and an apple tree ready for planting.

2024 Week 39 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

I was nominated as Colleague of the week by the Head Teacher in my new role as Alternative Provision and Academic Tutor for my Proactiveness. It's a completely new role and whilst I have a line manager and I'm working with Attendance, I am just getting on with things. There is no clear defined route to be followed, I'm making it up as I go along and so far, it's going VERY well.

267  Monday Woke with a headache, it's been going on for 4 days now, along with a chronic stomach ache. Where did all this rain come from? I got soaked through all day, popping in and out of departments. Met Peter in town for a coffee. Home for dinner, a bath, watched TV and did some blogging. I went to bed early.

268  Tuesday Car in for its annual service. Long day in work for me sorting out tutoring. Peter picked me up and straight home for dinner, a night win front of the TV, blogging and some planning.

269  Wednesday Dropped at work, Peter collected me after I finished art club. I dropped him home then off for coffee with work mates. Home at 7pm to watch TV, write up some work notes and sort through some photos.

270  Thursday Half day for the students as there was an open evening. I left at 4pm to get my nails done. Home to read and chill out and an early night.

271  Friday I've had a pain in my stomach for over a week, Popped out of work for GP appointment. I was diagnosed with gall stones back in 2019, medical notes were emailed over from Dubai but hadn't been out on system. GP reviewed scans, had blood tests, urgent scans booked, examined and most likely gall bladder will have to be removed asap. Came home to an empty house as Peter was visiting Stephanie in Gloucester. I spent a couple of hours tidying the garden. Evening spent watching the end of Ludwig.

272 Saturday Up at 6am in pain. Did some blogging and reading. Off to the Three Counties Autumn Show for the day. The rain stayed away, I bought an apple tree for the garden and a few other plants, grasses, a fern and a palm.

273  Sunday It's a year today since we lost Bob the Dog. I've really been struggling this month with his death. One minute I tell myself off for being silly, the next I remind myself, he was my dog and with me every day for 10 years. I wanted to do something nice for myself today but couldn't think of anywhere to go that didn't remind me of him. So it was a normal day, a few tears, a day of cuddles with the cat, reading and coffee with a friend. I bought myself flowers and spent the afternoon in front of the TV.

Books read this week: 2. Re read of Lord of the Flies - William Golding for Year 11. 

Tutor reads (in school) The boy who steals houses, the girl who steals his heart - C.G Drews.

Words written towards book: 0 

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: A year without Bob the dog

What's made me happy this week:

The Three Counties Show, Pumpkin Carvings, getting the garden sorted at last, the cat, our grandson, my little corner of happiness.

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27th - 29th September 2024 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

We're off to The Three Counties Autumn Show this weekend. I'm looking forward to just walking around, looking at the stalls, the plants, drinking coffee, having lunch and just chilling out for the day. We visit all 3 shows every year. Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Over the past few years, we've purchased a summer house, an extension and a camper van from the shows. This year the only items I have on my shopping list are some dwarf fruit trees.

It's been a year on Sunday since we said Goodbye to Bob. I want to buy something for the garden in his memory.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

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A year without Bob The Dog

From the first moment we saw you, we knew you were the dog for us and we called you Bob.

You put weight on very quickly, maybe a little too much.

You loved life in South Africa, your home. You loved rolling in hippo poo a little too much, you loved barking at the crocodiles and chasing the monkeys.

You didn't complain when we left South Africa. You jumped in the box off on a new adventure.

You loved your early morning trips into the desert and swims in the lakes.

The indoor dog parks and swimming pools, refusing to go home until every ball had been thrown.

You were just as happy with your move to the UK, with your cat by your side.

Your first walk on a street made you jumpy, the noise of the traffic, the sirens, the pelican crossings. Going in coffee shops had you over excited, the fuss from other people overwhelmed you, but you soon got used to it all. 

You enjoyed trips on the ferry to Northern Ireland to spend time with your other family.

But most of all, you loved the freedom of the long walks and the sunny days. You never really got used to the cold and the rain in the UK. The missed the heat of Dubai and South Africa.

You were my best friend Bob. It's been a year since you left us. A year that we've thought about you every day. You were more than just a dog Bob. You were there throughout our expat journey, you got me out of bed on some of the hardest of days, because you wanted a walk, you wanted to play, you wanted to be with me. You got me through covid when I couldn't get back home to Dubai.

Run free Bob.

14th February 2010 - 29th September 2023.

2024 Week 38 - One Daily Positive, Project 365 and A Selfie a Day.

260  Monday A hectic day in work. There's an awful lot of paperwork and meeting running Alternative Provision in a secondary school. Home by 4pm and holiday booked for Christmas. Long soak in the bath, blogging and commenting done and watched Birmingham win.

Video call with granddaughter on her birthday.

261  Tuesday Work then into town to post a Halloween parcel to child 3 in Australia, a coffee with a work mate and some reading. Home for dinner, bath and more reading and a win from Birmingham.

262  Wednesday Work and Art club till 4.30pm, Peter picked me up. I dropped my work stuff off then back out to meet two work mates for a coffee. By the time I'd done a bit of shopping it was 7.30pm when I got home. We watched the finale of Race across the World.

263  Thursday Work and Art club till 4.30pm, home for an early dinner. We watched The Grand Tour while I sorted through some resources and lesson plans. It's been a while since I've had to plan a lesson and I'm teaching Maths, English and Science from year 8-11.

264  Friday Work, home, dinner and out with work mates for the evening to the pub. Peter picked us up and dropped a friend home. Sat and watched the end of Jumanji, bed at midnight. 

265  Saturday A lie in and off to Cwmbran to visit Great Niece ahead of her 1st birthday. Home to go through the Christmas box to sort through cards, gift wrap and a few bits and pieces I'd bought for Grandson last year to get ready for taking over in half term. Also started son's Christmas box in Australia for posting and gifts for friends in Germany who are visiting end of October. We visited the crematorium to leave flowers for my father and grandmother.

266  Sunday Planned lie in ended at 5.30am. Early morning chat with son in Australia and checked other son's plane had landed. Drank tea, blogged and read. Out for coffee with friend while Peter did a food shop. Home to  put the Christmas stuff back and the camping gear in the loft and did some planning for tutoring of 'The Christmas Carol' and 'Of Mice and Men' at some point I will have to tackle the Maths tutoring.

Grandson wants Granny and Grandad to come and visit Nanny and GaGa.

Books read this week: 0

Words written towards book: 0 but lots of reports written for work and planning

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: Birthdays no longer celebrated.

Things that made me happy this week:

A night out with work mates, a visit to see our great niece, eating home grown tomatoes and figs and Birmingham winning (twice)

Things I struggled with this week:

Memories:

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20th - 22nd September 2024 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

Last weekend we visited MIL in Keynsham and took her to a local garden centre. They were Christmas ready. We weren't. It was way to much, way too early.

As much as I love Christmas, I think it should wait until after the autumn half term. What are your feelings on it?

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter