It's already halfway through the month and we've still had no rain to speak of. Yes, it's May and despite the lush growth in the hedgerows, as well as my burgeoning tree (who would have thought it looked like a skeleten three years ago?), the grass is brown and there's virtually nothing to mow.
 |
| My very healthy lime tree |
 |
| And the not so healthy grass |
The farmers must be getting quietly desperate although they still manage to look cheerful enough as they thunder along our dyke in their tractors. Mind you, I think I'd be looking pleased up there in those cabs as well. I've long had a yen to drive a tractor, but so far, that wish hasn't come to fruition.
Of course, while we were away, the petunias in my little garden fried, so I've now replaced them with begonias, which are tougher. Hopefully, I'll have some joy from them before we go away for the summer. I've also been back to Vereeniging, working on the steering issue, but there's not much progress to report there yet. I'm having to make temporary blocks from pine until I can find the self-greasing hardwood recommended by my friend, Tom. Otherwise, I've read that maple wood (esdoorn in Dutch) is used for bearings, so I'll try and get some and oil it well. It'll get there eventually, but it might take some time. Meanwhile, we'll get the old girl ready for her spell on the slipway on the 26th, which will hopefully be a short one as there's no inspection planned.
Tomorrow, we'll fill up all her oily bits and get her running. We only have a short way to go to reach the yard but it's along the busy Gent-Terneuzen canal where we've had problems in the past, so it's always as well to double check everything first and to know she's fit to fare next week. It will be so good to be out on the water again.
Otherwise, the only news to speak of is the family get together we had yesterday to mark a special birthday. The concept was so clever. My daughter organised a cocktail afternoon at the 'Memoir Bar' and my other daughter created a menu of special drinks based on the titles of my books. It was a lovely afternoon full of laughter, sun and relaxation and we all enjoyed ourselves no end.
 |
| The menu for the 'Memoir cocktail bar' |
That's it for this week, then, allemaal. Although we need rain, please send up a plea that we don't have any for the last week of the month. I could do with dry weather for painting Vereeniging's bottom!
Happy birthday 🥳 what a wonderful idea Val, your memory cocktail bar looks such fun and the menu quite inspired, and so beautiful, bet that was Jodie!
ReplyDeleteHopefully the rain will come soon …. and you can paint the old lady’s bottom 😂Lally xx
Thank you, dear Lally! But I never said it was my birthday, haha. 😉 However, you are right about the menus being Jodie’s. Mo thought up the whole idea and organised everything. She’s such a great ‘event manager’. It was a truly lovely day.
DeleteYour tree looks very healthy and lush, but we do need rain and fairly soon. I hope you have a dry spell for your boat painting though. Take care, David and Popcorn.
ReplyDeleteThank you, David. Yes, we really do need the rain, you’re right!
DeleteGood luck with the rain, Val. Notjing to speak of here althoyugh I expect it to throw it down on Saturday and Sunday when I'm at markets and events. Hoping not!
ReplyDeleteGood luck also with Vereeniging's oily bits!
Thanks for the good wishes, Aidan! I’ll need it for the coming week! I hope it stays dry over you at the markets. Good luck!
DeleteWeather patterns have all gone awry. Here in Bengaluru in south India we are getting rain almost a week before schedule. The southwest monsoon has just set in over the peninsula. Now it will slowly make its way to the north.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was a cheerful birthday party. Nothing like a good family get togther to energize us.
Hi Pradeep. You're right about the weather, but we are more or less back to normal May conditions now. It's pretty changeable and at last, we've had some good rain. The family get together was fantastic!
Delete