jo4eyes

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Not sure how much work will need doing. The bathroom has recently been upgraded, but kitchen will need doing, although bet it's newer than mine! The garage is pretty derelect, but daughter doesnt think can get even her car down the side of the house, so as has a good front drive plus gates, not a problem.

She's budgeted for a new kitchen, appliances, fitting an alarm & knows that some replacement dble glazed units will be needed, but can wait. Carpets looked newish she said & all neutral.

I suspect the back fencing may need replacing too. Also noticed the leaning front fence with a privet hedge pushing at it at the the front. No footpath at front though, just a verge, so no liability problems, I hope.

There seems to be some confusion, even contradiction about the damp proof course. The usual really. We need to find a decent builder in that area & also someone to do any roof repairs, clean out guttering etc.

She's got it at a very good price & the chance to really add value. This is what her savings are for! Let's hope no real horrors turn up, as so far the report isnt that bad. Understandably she panicked a bit, but OH will talk her through it over the hol. We shall see.

Right off to cook. J.

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Windows done & yes they did need doing! I havent done these inside for months & whilst have some energy just got on with it.Have no intention of doing any more til spring maybe?

Dont be daft Geoff, OH clean.... Am too much of a control freak anyway. If he did do anything I would grumble & end up doing it myself. So yes own worst enemy.

We've just read the surveyor's report on house daughter buying. Cosidering house is 60+yrs old, all to be expected & actually a lot of it what daughter has budgeted for anyway. Heaven knows what a report on this 40+ old house would be..... Her solicitor needs to earn his fee doing some searches etc.

Am flopping, well sort of, now. Will make the soup soon, vegs all prepared. Then remaining present wrapping later. J.

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We've eaten too much, t'will be soup for tonight.....dishwasher on, listened to most of GQT.

Now to clean windows in here the sun having moved round. If you hear a crash tis me falling off stepladders.... J.

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Holly branch cut & trimmed- ouch! There are berries on the boring normal one, but have left those for the birds.

Geoff- fancy flying up here to hoover? & no your eyes did not deceive you.

Not sure the washing will stay on the line......very windy out there, not cold for December though.

Off to find the gold stems I use with some of the holly. Then need to start meal so that daughter actually eats properly before she goes off to do a long shift. J.

What's the weather like in your area?

Dry, sunny & windy out there today. I watched the outside temperatures rise last evening!

I just cant imagine how awful it must be for some folks. Take care everybody. J.

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Poor Dove, take care.

I need to go & cut a holly branch for the decorations- well dumped into a pot that daughter made at school. Noticed a branch was smothering the Mahonia beneath -so that's the one for the chop! Keep walking past a tatty clump of alchemilla too & that might just get attacked whilst am out there.

Just remembered where the rest of daughter's presents were. Knew hadnt got enough last night, but never thought to go looking. Needed a new emery board earlier & thought 'didnt I buy her some' ? Yep, & some other litle bits.

Oh & my jasmine has produced 1 solitary flower already! How did it do that? J.

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Choc of day- star.

Jean dont panic re the jasmine, mine doesnt flower until late jan/feb. OH bought my original for a valentines' card! Eventually i managed to kill it, after many yrs & lots of cuttings, so got replacement & that's fine so far she says, crossing fingers.....

I got to watch SCD after all!! I got the remote & insisted on watching the last hr, which even OH grudgingly admitted was better than what else was on. He owed me anyway as I wrapped all daughter's little bits.

Right, need to go get dressed, doing a Kit as I say, & hang out the washing to probably blow away & then redirect a card for down the road.

OH has already been spotting fingering through Christmas food mags for new recipes! This is when I tell him to go 'b' shopping for the ingredients himself!!

Be back later, enjoy the day if already celebrating. J.

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Drat! OH doesnt want to watch Strictly! I almost got away with it too......

Present wrapping now. J.

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That's nice Flo.

I've just realised that the card holders are still somewhere upstairs. Hmm, nearly all the available space has already been used up & now OH has handed me lots from his work.... Oh I know, get the steps & OH, or me probably, can put them on top of the pelmet. Ok they sometimes fall down, but so do the wall mounted holders, which saves the searching upstairs. J.

Broad beans and sweet peas

Broad beans are hardy, so if/when this rain stops, they can be planted out. BUT because they have been started off inside, they MUST be hardened off first- ie gradually used to being outside.Allow about a week or so & dont plant out if frosty.

If you've no coldframe or suchlike, then you could try putting their pots next to a sheltered house wall & possibly cover with a leaning piece of glass/polycarbonate to start with. That way they get used to colder temperatures, but will get more light which they will need.

Sweetpeas also will need hardening off,. but not planting out until spring. J.

Care & maintenance of elderly Bramley apple trees.

Suggestions for planting in a sunny, boggy site.