Well, we're into the Bank Holiday season.
The weather for the week has been seasonably inclement. Although, when the skies do clear, it remains light until late, certainly later than I remember it staying in the South East. I've celebrated with a haircut. I've gone down to a number one.
I forgot to mention that, last week, I attended a lunchtime concert at the Philharmonic Hall comprising Haydn/String Quartet The Fifths and Ravel/String Quartet. 'Twas a lovely way to spend a lunchtime.
What else has been happening? Well I've received a quote for the carpeting of my stairs and landing. It's more than I wanted to pay so I need to call in and see if there's another carpet I can choose that it slightly less expensive. I've also had a man call in about the central heating. I think we can do business. He surprised me by saying that this is their quiet time of the year. I'd have thought they would be rushed off their feet in the summer months but no. Unlike me, who thinks it's a good idea to have your central heating fixed when you don't need it, it would appear that most people wait until the first cold weekend in September before stirring for action.
I've also watched The Cell with Jennifer Lopez which was exotically weird. I've been fairly constantly listening to the score from American Beauty with Thomas Newman's haunting, gamelan influenced music.
Ross came up on Friday. We've chilled quite a bit. Watched The Hollow Man. It's always a pleasure to see Kevin Bacon's but. But the rest of the film wasn't up to much. Astonishing special effects. True. But I can understand why the film wasn't liked. There's no way that we felt anything for the characters.
Ross got his leather jacket back. It wasn't ready when we called in to the cobbler's. So, he dropped it in at home on his way back from work. You don't get that sort of service in the Metropolis. It's why I like putting money back into the local economy.
Out in the garden, I'm continuing with my clearance policy. I shifted one of the big cotoneasters on Sunday. And gradually, I'm clearing the overgrown crap and shifting all the daffodil bulbs down to the bottom end of the garden area. The onions which I planted a little while ago are beginning to sprout. I've not yet done anything about the carrots because I don't have a rake or a hoe. I also need something to combat greenfly and ants.
Albert and Grace came to lunch on Saturday. They were in desperate need of seeing my new tiles in the kitchen. Phil stayed for a meal and some wine on Sunday night. I say some. We managed to consume four bottles between the two of us and we were up to 3am listening to music. In fact, I stayed up later and, I think, just caught the first glimmerings of dawn. It's a long while since I stayed up the night through.
Today's been a bit delicate. The sunshine's been glorious but I've been judicious about not sitting out for too long. There's be many red shoulders and knees in work tomorrow. Also, I've been dealing with the alcohol poisoning. Interestingly, this morning, the taste in my mouth was not of wine but of nicotine. And, I hadn't been smoking at all.
You'll be pleased to know that I did manage to buy myself a hoe for the garden but not a rake.
I've always thought of myself as a bit of a rake. I suppose that must make Ross the... Ouch!! Stop kicking me.