Where i live.

There are six flats here that are empty and five of them are up for sale. The sixth was the managers flat when there was a live in manager. We have one resident in hospital who will possibly not be able to live independently again and one resident is visiting relatives and also may not return.

The external stairs to the upstairs flats are narrow, some have stair lifts fitted which makes it really difficult for people to walk up and down stairs.

I'm wondering what will happen and if the managing company will decide to cut their losses at some point. There must come a time where this site is no longer economically viable. We residents have already been asked to do some of the small jobs around here if we have the skills. I have no skills so I won't be doing any maintenance. Surely that's the idea of moving somewhere like this, you don't have to worry about the maintenance.

Back to reality.

I had a lovely time staying with Cass, I stayed in her annex as Beano finds the youngest two children a bit scary.

I spent my time walking Beano, sewing and reading, I kept out of Cass's way as much as possible as she is very busy. I'm welcome to visit again whenever I wish and Cass has suggested I join a couple of local clubs next time I'm there. I just need to win the lottery and then I can buy a property in her village.

Steve has a Drs appointment on Thursday but he says his knee problems have already been diagnosed. He says it's arthritis and he's been told to give up gardening! I'm assuming the diagnosis has been provided by the x-ray technician!

Taking a break.

I'm staying at my daughter's for a couple of days. She has a little annex that the foster children move into to get them ready to live independently. It's just two rooms and a bathroom, I brought my own kettle so I can make a cuppa.

I've had fun as it needs a bit of a clean and there is stuff that previous foster children have left behind when they moved out. So I've been sorting and cleaning, interspersed with reading my kindle and doing some sewing.

Beano is quite content, he's currently snoozing beside me. I can take him for a walk around the streets or we can go to the park without risking the busy road where I live. It's very quiet here with only a few cars. Beano's a bit confused by the lack of food, just his standard two meals. No endless treats from Steve.

Cass is happy for me to visit again to have a break from Steve and his endless complaining. We went to the local village fete, I bought some smelly candles and lip balm. I'm going home tomorrow, not particularly looking forward to it but the break has done me good.

It's an ill wind!

We've had almost no rain here for a while now so the grass is dry and yellow.

I know it will recover as soon as we have rain.

The good news is that the lack of green grass, that Beano is allergic to, means that Beano's stomach isn't red and inflamed.

Stil here.

It been too hot to do anything, even to post on here. Beano is being walked very early when it's still cool and mid morning when we go to the nearest patch of grass for him.

Apart from that we've just lazed  about doing nothing.

We have a few cooler days coming up which will be better for him. I don't mind the heat  but I do try to keep Beano cool. 

Unfortunately he hates water so I can't put a paddling pool out for him or use a cool coat. I've tried many things and he does have a couple of cool mats to lay on, but he'd rather sleep pressed against my legs.

I have a toerection!

One of my big toes has been red, hot and very stiff.

It happens occasionally and it is only my big toes that are affected and it can be either big toe. It slows me down when walking Beano and is uncomfortable, I don't take painkillers very often by I did over a couple of days, take two ibuprofen and two paracetamol. I assume it's arthritis and I shall just keep buggering on.

Steve has managed to mess up the TV, he can't tune it in to the channel he wants. He phoned his friend Bob so many times that Bob has agreed to come over to sort it out. I am extremely grateful as I'm sick to death of Steve's constant stropping around.

Sewing again.

I've purchased some quilt wedding and started making a lap quilt. I'm using long strips of fabric and hand sewing them onto the wadding. The fabric I'm using is dress fabric, from a couple of my dresses that had developed rips.

It is most definitely not the proper way to quilt but I don't care, it keeps me busy. I'll potter along with it over the next few weeks.

It's a distraction from Steve's endless ranting and swearing, what with his bad knee, the neighbours who are getting on his nerves, his bad shoulder, the TV not tuning in correctly and the rest of the world not doing as he thinks they should. His complaints are endless.

Part of the problem with me sewing is that he knows there is a craft group here. If I join he will have to spend time getting it closed down, and he'd much rather spend time drinking himself into a stupor!

Rant over, I shall return to my sewing.