I tried to post this last Friday, but the internet signal via my phone just wasn’t strong enough, for some reason. So I’m posting it today instead. Today’s post was supposed to be a book review anyway, but that’s not ready. Hopefully, the book review will appear next Monday.
Today’s illustration is the cactus shelf just inside the door to our new house.
‘Our Jud’ is the money plant/jade tree on the left-hand side. It’s followed us around over the years and is a cutting from a much larger plant that sadly died. The three cacti in the middle were all babies when we bought them about five years ago. The plant on the right was a house-warming gift from Son #1 and his partner.
When the first four came over with us, they all looked very sorry for themselves indeed, and when we went to water them, they were all standing in old water. So we’ve left them to dry out and they’re all about ready for a big drink. Especially in the current heat. (It’s only hit 32/92 today, thank goodness!)
When they were all sitting on the draining board we didn’t really know where they’d go. But we think they look quite at home here.
The poet had to run a couple of errands first thing Friday morning, and last thing on Friday a new joiner came to measure up for the doors the other joiner ghosted me over. We nipped out to get shelving for the airing cupboard and a curtain pole and rings for the office window. The poet also did quite a lot of work, including a Teams meeting.
I, on the other hand, appear to have been a complete waste of space. It was way too hot in every single room in the house. I hope we can rectify this with blackout blinds and curtains. It was too hot for me to setup anywhere. So I did nothing all day, other than make food and hose down the dog.
We thought it was going to be a lot cooler from Saturday and towards the end of the week we have rain forecast. However, now we’ve seen that the temperatures are on their way up again. I ordered a cooling mat for the dog (not gel but silk) and the blackout curtains we already have may go up in the office.
Today. the carport is coming down and the fridge/freezer is coming. Tomorrow, the external blinds are coming down and the new oven is coming. I’m looking at beaded fly curtains for the front door for when the carport is down, and I’ll ask the blinds man if he can service the roller shutter door on the garage.
It’s all go, still. But we’re getting there.
This post appears on Words Worth Writing, Medium and Patreon.
Ugh, that’s a lot, especially in the heat. Are the small personal coolers (sometimes called “swamp coolers”) available in the UK? Other than being annoying because they work through USB and charging squares rather than direct plug-in, they work pretty well for the immediate area. You can set it up on a side table and have it cool you (and the computer) as you work. I mean, the minute you stand up to get something/do something, you feel the difference, but it helps. I hope you get some relief soon. Tomorrow, we’re supposed to get slammed again, although it was a very lovely summer weekend.