Catchin' up.....

Some weeks ago now, and after religiously watching every episode of Poldark since the very start of the series, I missed an episode....one single episode (our reader may remember that there was a Sunday night, not so long ago now, that I had to spend driving around the Metropolis in search of fish and chips for her who was in hospital....another story from a previous blog). Anyway, the week following the "missed programme" I just couldn't find time to catch up on BBC iPlayer, and so found myself resolving to watch 2 episodes in the coming days, so I could be "caught up" before the next week. Inevitably I just never found time to bring myself up to speed.....and consequently got to the end of the last series with 6 complete episodes missed! Over the last week or so Bex and I have been trying to "do the Poldark catch up" while eating together...and this evening we have got to the last programme. With 10 minutes left I only have one observation to make.....and that is that we've heard nothing about Ross' be leagued tin mine for 4 whole programmes! What's going on?.......surely the programme makers realise that we don't want to see all those gushy romantic close ups, or those dramatic Cornish coastal views, or even those intriguing political sketches....what we want is to see how the mine is doing....how far have they dug? How many tons of tin have they mined? What's the output per day? What's the price of tin? How many are now employed? When are they opening the next new seam? These are all crucial questions.....how can the Beeb leave us with all these questions unanswered? I might consider withholding my licence fee if these issues are not resolved soon. In some sort of strange coincidence, the EV (electric vehicle to you petrol-heads) may well be responsible for the rekindling of Cornish mining. Tin is once again in demand, but it is Lithium (the metal so important for those EV car batteries) that could bring about the Cornish mining revolution. If they are right and there is Lithium to be mined in Cornwall then we may get all those ancient Poldark mine workings reopened.....yes, I know, it's a fictional drama....but Cornwall does have a huge number of mines.

Enough of that..... I've been most of the day in the garden, and dog walking. Fruits and vegetables picked and harvested included blackberries, raspberries (the last 3 of the season!!), pears, apples, beans, courgettes tomatoes, and (finally) the dreaded beetroots. Isn't it uncanny how the veggies I really don't like always manage to grow the best...and I just can't bring myself to like beetroot. The other "job" in the garden was to erect the new flagpole.....but I'll let Jill tell you all about it. I'll only say that, as so often, your friends use their many and varied skills and come and help out.

Dan's been boating today...trying to catch up on some cancelled trips....and Jack and Stephe have taken Lady J and gone to Carteret this evening. They're hoping to get a few days away, and with a friend's car available over there I'm sure they'll have a good time in La Belle France...can't say that I'm not a little jealous.

As for her ladyship....she's still in good spirits, but her cough isn't getting any better. I suspect (hope) that we will be back in hospital this week for some more draining works. I'm sure that there will be a link between her (still) extending stomach and her cough. The fluid pushing up on her lungs must be having some effect. Let's hope we can take some of that fluid away, and help to ease off some of those other symptoms. Despite having to still dress her legs 3 times daily, I think that her knees and calfs are ever so slowly improving, and becoming less swollen....with luck we can keep those improvements going. I'll hand over now and let her tell you herself.....as usual, I'm sure I've got something wrong!!! 




Very proud of our new flag pole... and our "St Martin" flag!! Thank you to our good friends MR/JR ...

 Cows, swallows and our flag !!

My girls hiding in the washing......

Steve and I enjoyed lunch at Wayside cafe in St Brelade... beautiful views ....

 Sorry guys, a little tired tonight now, all the excitement of flag pole erection, and walking around the garden! I've had a good weekend, and once again, count each day as a blessing.

 “When you count your blessings, count life twice.” 
― Matshona Dhliwayo