'ave you seen the muck in here?

Poor blog room unvisited and unread for about a month. Thick dust and cobwebs forming, abandoned coffee cups, unemptied wastepaper bin. Oooh she's a stranger to bleach, this one.

Fling open the windows and rush around with feather duster and marshal thoughts. That's better. Now where to begin?

Have had a bit of bother involving a spot of surgery that is well documented in the PC private forum but will just mention that if you're ever poorly in N.Devon rest assured of the best treatment at the NDDH. Lovely friendly people and the best of care. Even got to choose my own music in the op theatre and was invited to tell a few jokes during the procedure. Of course couldn't think of one at the time.

Following the rush of energy redecorating the stairs, hall and landing, posh new carpet and light fitting OH had another rush of blood and I found him chipping away at the foul Bradstone fireplace that extended into two alcoves and has driven both barmy since we moved in . He wanted to get all the muck out of the way before the hall carpet arrived. So we are living in a bomb site but the end is nigh. Managed to find a lovely fireplace on Ebay at a bargain price and am having a lovely time thinking about wallpaper and curtains. The room is quite small so I'm keeping it very plain with just colour and pattern from the pictures. Talking of pictures why is it that none of my prints and posters fit my existing frames? I have always collected posters especially from the art exhibitions that take place every summer in France and I have some beauties, alas none fit my existing frames. I have also got my mitts on two lovely Edward Hopper prints of New England. Roll on getting it all finished - I really only like doing the pretty bits. Trouble is I've now got a fancy for a new kitchen but haven't told himself yet.

Gardening has been keeping me busy and at long last I've got L interested. Had a plea last Saturday to go plant shopping - no arm twisting required - so that they can get their front garden tidied up. No great problems as it's not very big so we got five easy growing shrubs to start her off. On Sunday, with bossy mother hat on, I supervised the digging over of the bed, removing very long rooted dock plants, insisting that every last scrap of tap root was removed. Planted up, watered and covered with woodchip. She's tickled pink with the result. I'll make a gardener of her yet.