08-Oct to 14-Oct 2011

Sat 08-Oct: Off to the Oliver Cromwell pub in St Ives for an evening pre pre allotment association AGM meeting. The gardening club was only formed a few months ago so we met (me, Richard the Chairman & Robin the Gardening Club founder) to agree how the combined allotment association/gardening club would operate in the next year so that could be put to the committee meeting on Monday in advance of the AGM on the following Monday. Still with me? Good. Fortunately it wasn't terribly complicated and not too much to do ~;o)

Sun 09-Oct: First Christmas present bought from the local garden centre, a calendar with images of New York for Connor. He'll like that since he loves New York. Purposefully didn't get the vast Christmas displays into shot... still over two months to go but in some shops it's like we've already hit December. Bah, humbug!

Mon 10-Oct: Time for the annual Michaelmas Fair, which occupies the whole of St Ives town centre for three days each year. I had an allotment meeting at 19:30 but it had to be Monday for us all to meet up since Izzy had been religiously marking off her '100 days to Christmas' calendar Linda does for each of the grandchildren and knew from this the fair started today. No one diverts Izzy once she's made up her mind and she was going to the fair today! Managed to fit in a mad dogems session with the grandsons... slightly less mad than the allotment meeting where there were raised voices and one committee member resigned and stormed out of the meeting!

Tue 11-Oct: Been meaning to tidy the garage for ages... since John moved & deposited his excess belongings with us I've not been able to garage the Fiat Panther. Took about three hours but much roomier again even with the car in there, no more goose stepping over everything to get anywhere. Might have been quicker if I hadn't taken my usual detour to Planet Farce and locked myself out. Had locked the back door from the inside because it was windy and when I'd finished I pulled down the main door without thinking. That doesn't open from outside 'cause I need to fix the broken wire to the mechanism. And the other door as been wedged into a closed position for 20 years since one of David's friends warped it by doing a Tarzan act. Had to squeeze myself through the wedged door and then force it shut again, making so much noise (which fortunately drowned the noise of cursing) a next door neighbour came to see if all was OK and Linda was afraid to come out to see what was happening. Maybe it's time to fix those doors!

Wed 12-Oct: Had the original hen party this morning at the allotment. During a composting session on went the apples I'd strained from my apple wine. Much interest from a couple of the hens... the apples are alcoholic so was looking for some interesting effects. Noticed later they were lying in the sun with their wings fanned out, usually a sign of them trying to cool down. Maybe I'll started a new trend in alcoholic hard boiled eggs?

Thu 13-Oct: On the guide bus to Cambridge today to find Linda a plum coloured cardigan for our trip to Scone in a couple of weeks for my 60th birthday dinner. After a snack peering at life going by from our favourite first floor seat in the Cafe on the Round we wandered past the entrance to St John's College. It brought back special memories... it was 10 years ago as part of my 50th birthday celebrations I stood in the chapel with my mum and dad listening to the magical sound of organ practice.

Fri 14-Oct: Up at the crack of dawn to take Becky to Addenbrooks to see about her achy jaw... well, just seemed like that since we arrived an hour early for the appointment. So popped to Costa Coffee for a drink. Thought Beck was offering to pay... actually she was getting out her Costa points card to take advantage of the points I was about to earn... just one of about fifty points cards bulging from my canny daughter's purse!