This aged fence should be the miracle, hanging on as it did!
It was literally held together by ivy and once that was removed it began to fall down!
Is it just me, or does that ancient, source of all ivy, to the left of this pic, gnarled branches and all, have an eye? Be there druids present???
In those patient, hardy, resilient, and just waiting to become triffid branches, I see the shapes of a man, woman and child. Anyone else see that???? Love to know!
I wouldn’t take my chances re cutting that down, it’s far older than me. I’ll cut it back, but never kill it.
This area of the courtyard looks like it’s been struck by a hurricane, all the pots and other paraphernalia have been moved here from the main courtyard.
The chaps spent four hours with pick axes and chain saws trying to remove tree roots and huge ivy stumps. I was doubtful that they’d finish in a day, so kept a regular supply of coffee flowing.
Finally, they sorted all fifteen panels, these twelve, and three to the right turn of this pic, and, as promised in just one day!
This is a beauty shot, believe it or not, you should have seen this area after they left, every flag was six inches deep in mud and large pebbles. I should have taken a before picture, but was so stressed looking at all that mud that I just got stuck into clearing it. Mud and dogs do not bode well, despite having a steam mop!
It’s all been a race against time.
Y’see, we’re off on holiday, for over a month, in a couple of days, and that means the entire house needs cleaning, the type of deep cleaning you only do when you see everything through the eyes of another.
Windows have been washed, well, the worst ones, and furniture has been pulled out and hoovered behind, along with skirting boards being scrubbed free of dog mud. Of course the cupboards needing sorting, along with the oven, microwave, freezer and fridge.
I’m back to utterly loathing housework with a vengeance, on and on it goes! How do things get so darn grimy!!!
Now, all that remains in the courtyard is to put all the pots and other items back and hose everywhere down….is there enough time? Planting will be commence once I’m home.
Over a month’s supply of pet food/bird seed still needs buying and there’s packing and printing off to do….sighs….you should see the endless to do lists that just keep getting longer.
The builders who were due to sort the rotten floors, remember the flood…. have been put on hold until we get back, apparently the house needs dehumidifying for two weeks once the floors are up. That sounds such fun….NOT!
The miracle?
Drum roll please! It actually stopped raining/sleeting for a few hours recently, and the wind dropped, allowing hubs and I to enjoy lunch outdoors, AND, the sun came out, cold and bright, but still, it came out!
Oh….and my vegan spag bol is nothing short of miraculous too, btw….just saying! Melts in the mouth it does.
A few hours later it was back to sleeting!
The poor front garden needs clearing but that will have to wait until I get home. I’ll miss all the spring bulbs, but I certainly won’t miss our dismal, grim, spirit-sucking weather! I still haven’t had my one day of snow, bet that happens while I’m away!
And Finally….
So, where are we going? Well, we fly into Vietnam, then, two weeks later we’re off to Cambodia, after that nothing much is planned yet, apart from our flight back from Singapore. This time I shall hopefully blog while travelling as I never get around to posting much about holidays once home.
One thing I will be doing is travelling light! One suitcase only, I swear on my mothers’ thimble!
So guys…I shall catch up with you all when I get home, until then, my friends…..xxx
You’ll have needed your holiday after all that cleaning and tidying! My niece and nephew went to those countries late last year and had the best time, so much to see and do. It will be an amazing experience but it will also be lovely to come home to your lovely newly fenced courtyard – and your beloved dogs! Have a really fun trip! xx
Wow you are such a whirlwind of energy Dina ! You have reminded me that I need to get my fence replaced too. Must get onto that.
That vegan spaghetti bolognese does look good. I have noted your recipe and may give it a go. It will make a change from my usual recipe.
I do find your posts very motivating and after reading them it gives me a boost to get cracking on my own projects.
Have a great trip – you will probably be gone by the time I write this. Look forward to seeing the photos when you get back.
Thanks for another uplifting and lovely post. X
Thanks so much Keggy, I don’t feel like a whirlwind of energy though, it was just a case of having to get on with things. I’m hoping to get really stuck in when I get home as the garden needs planting out and lots of decorating needs doing. Also back in the rescue then, that’s a full-time job in itself! Spring is a great time for getting on with new projects for sure. I do hope you enjoy my version of spag bol!xxx
Enthralling! Even if the new fence looks great… I don’t know, the old one with the horizontal axes was some kind of “mysterious” look. If I was you, I would have it polished and cleaned a bit, but I guess it was rotten to the core and needed to be changed.
Now, the new one will soon be recovered with ivy? Or can you paint some ancient triskele or druidic drawing?
You happy girl! I never visited Vietnam and Cambodia both are still not so touristic destination and definitely, you will enjoy it. Oh yes, the rest of the work (and the very well dehumidifying) may wait. Better when the weather is milder…
Hugs and enjoy the trip :-)claudine
I loved the old weathered fence too but it was so thin and rotted that it was becoming a worry re keeping the dogs in. I shall certainly plant climbers along the new fence, not ivy though, it brings everything down in the end. We are having a really interesting time, VN is certainly different, a great experience. Thanks Claudine.xxx
I’m going to have to do some deep research looking for the meaning of vegan spag bol. Aside from that, there were quite a few things I did understand. The project of getting your home into shape… would be enough to break me in half. I can understand that you’re going to south east Asia. I might go to the moon or Mars. Yet… I have a feeling that soon everything will be in very good shape. Enjoy the trip!
Hi Shimon,
I suspect that Dina will have gone off on her travels already so I will explain about the spag bol. It is short for spaghetti bolognese. I notice that she has written the recipe in one of the other comments. And I am sure you know the term vegan. Israel has one of the highest proportions of vegans per population in the world.
I just wanted to say I am glad that you have commenced writing your own blog again after a hiatus. I do enjoy reading all about the culture and wildlife (I love those rock badgers) and seeing the country through your eyes.
I see Keggy has explained, it really is a lovely tasty vegan version, even hubs likes it! I have forgotten about all the repairs for the present, hopefully when the time comes all will go smoothly. We are really enjoying travelling around at the moment, even better, it’s warm. It was strange seeing the sun again. Thanks my friend.xxxx
The new fence looks great! Enjoy your trip to Cambodia! You are quite the adventurer.
Thanks Jason. Really enjoying our travels to date. It does feel like an adventure.xxx
All that work and cleaning makes me tired. You do have exciting adventurous trips. I am looking forward to reading all about it and seeing the photos. Have fun and take care.
Hahaha, yes, it makes me tired too, and BORED! The reward I suppose is getting to visit wonderful countries, really looking forward to that. Lots more planes, trains, boats etc. Thanks Chloris.xxx
It’s never easy to get things ship-shape after a mucky upheaval, yet you do it even though you’ve not long recovered from your ortho op. A M A Z I N G!
Your planned and informal explorations around the globe sound exciting. Am I right in thinking you have been in those general directions before?
You’ll have a great time and benefit from some warmth that we’re not getting here. Your home weather sounds as if it has similarities to ours. You don’t want our blizzards though, regretfully, we’ll have to keep those to ourselves.
Bon Voyage to both of you. I Look forward to hearing about some of your glorious adventures. xxx
Thanks Menhir, I am so pleased to be able to get on with things again, sometimes I throb afterwards but it’s all good! Yes, we have been to these parts of the world before, but never Vietnam or Cambodia, I have always wanted to visit these countries, we always end up or start in Singapore, it’s a lovely relaxing place. I can’t wait for a little warmth, but I don’t like it too hot….sighs… I’d go with too hot over your blizzards though, you have had utterly appalling weather, here’s to that improving! xxx
Wow….the garden fence looks great and I do see human form in the trunk, You have done so much work……and off to Cambodia…fabulous. By the way I will also be doing a deep clean before I go to the States for the month of May. Nothing worse than coming home to a grubby house.
I will be e mailing soon re your coming to kent….still haven’t had a chance to check out B & Bs etc., but will. I am definitely looking at Canterbury in September.
Have a fabulous trip and I for one will look forward to receiving your blogs. janet xxxxxxx
Thanks Janet, good to see that ancient fence sorted, at least I’ll have peace of mind re the dogs while away. Lucky you going to the States for a month….that will be interesting for sure! Count hubs and I in re September, he’s wanting to stay in Leeds Castle! What fun we shall have, really looking forward to it!xxxx
You have been so busy, your new fences look so smart and they will keep your dogs nice and safe while you are away. You certainly have deserved your holiday, have fun and a good rest! Will look forward to your posts.
Thanks Pauline, it’s such a relief knowing the dogs will be safe, ancient fences do not inspire confidence! xxx
What an amazing amount of work you do ~ the prep work for your fence, and for travelling takes some much energy and time. Well done! I hope you have a most wonderful vacation and do look forward to see how you are enjoying yourself, if you blog as you go.
Thanks Glo, I’m hoping to blog as I go as I’ve never managed that before, and then once home, forget so much. It seems to have been all go here, one way or another, for months, I suppose our trip will be busy too, but the kind of busy I like. xxx
I had to laugh at your cleaning, and your mention of seeing your place through the eyes of another. I know that well. It’s related to my dear, late mother’s caution to always wear nice undies, just in case I landed in the hospital! Wouldn’t want people tsk-tsking, now would we?
Happy travels to you! It looks like everything will be safe and secure while you’re gone, and we’ll look forward to hearing from you now and then — at least a word, so we know all’s well.
Your mother sounds very similar to mine! Especially re the undies! Thanks Linda, I’m very much looking forward to travelling, I hope to blog as I go this time! xxx
Thanks Gerrie, looking forward to an adventure. That is certainly the way to do it….moving out! I’m with you there.xxx
Have a lovely holiday …. You deserve it after all the massive clearing and cleaning you’ve had to do. We moved out when our house was getting painted & when we got back it looked like heaven!
Thanks Gill, I do feel like I’ve been on the go for the last few months. There have been some strange months too. I’m thrilled that I am able to walk pain free again, this trip would have been impossible without my hip operation. It’s like a distant memory now. I hope it warms up here for you all, I’m looking forward to a little sunshine, I can’t seem to get the cold out of my bones. Roll on spring eh?xxx
My goodness, what a marathon effort, well done Dina, you must have worked non-stop! You’ve had some very difficult months – enjoy your holiday, and duck the bugs, and come back fighting fit with some irreplaceable memories. Bon voyage and hugs xx
What a huge amount of clearing and cleaning you’ve accomplished, Dina! Whew, girl, are you sure a month’s holiday will be long enough for your raveled spirit to knit itself back to wholeness?!
It all looks beautiful, and how grand it feels to get it done before you go! I love coming home to a reasonably clean home.
Have a wonderful, safe, merry, and surprising (but all pleasing) time, with enough rest and adventures to gladden your most deserving spirit!
There is always so much to sort out before going away isn’t there? I’m glad the new fences are in, I would have been worrying non-stop about the dogs if we hadn’t sorted them. That is a relief. I am looking forward to our travels, but I do miss my fur babies something awful. Still, I know they love Laura and are in their own home enjoying their usual routines.
It is good when the house has had a spring clean isn’t it? I should be grateful I’m able to do it, how soon we forget surgery eh? Thanks Kitty. Hugs and love to you all.xxxx
It’s all starting to look really good. Enjoy your travels. xx
Thanks Flighty, it will be good seeing a warm sun again!xxx
I bet you’re glad you’ve tackled the fence before you go away, that’s one less job to do once you’re home. Have a wonderful time, I look forward to hearing all about your travels.
I am glad the fences are sorted, I was worrying about Laura keeping the dogs secure, it’s a relief knowing it’s now secure. Thanks Jo, looking forward to our travels.xxx
Fencing looks great….job well done.
You will need that holiday after all that cleaning.
Holiday sounds wonderful.
Have a fabulous time. Look forward to your posts.
Thanks Cheryl, it’s good knowing that the dogs will be secure, that old fence was waiting to fall down! I am looking forward to our travels!xxx
Your new fence panels look wonderful and well done on clearing all that mud! The ivy stump definitely looks magical! I’m so envious of your impending holiday. L had the best time there last year; you’re in for a treat. Any chance of that melt in the mouth veggie spag bol recipe on your return? xx
Thanks Veggiemummy, it was good to see the back of all that mud, the dogs would have run that everywhere! I remember L going to those countries, and having a marvelous time. I am looking forward to visiting.
Re the spag bol, I use the Tesco’s vegan soya mince, a jar of red sauce, and fresh tomatoes.
The sauce, vegan mince and chopped fresh tomatoes go into a large pan with a mug of water, along with a tin of kidney beans. I then fry garlic, mushrooms and a large onion and add them to the pot along with a mug of peas. I add dried herbs, a splash of Worcester sauce, chili flakes and salt and pepper. I simmer the lot for 30 minutes. I always toss the spaghetti in a little chili olive oil after cooking. It’s really simple and sooooo tasty! Hope you enjoy!xxx
Have fun!! You go to the best places!
Thanks Casa, I am looking forward to seeing these countries, they have been on my wish list for a long time.xxx