Saturday/Sunday 12th and 13th September

I was awake at half past four in the morning on Saturday,  which did not please me, but then I noticed the stars in the sky, and, could that possibly be a planet? I found my glasses and opened a curtain and twisted my head up to stare at Orion's belt and other stars until I became too uncomfortable and went back to bed. It's rare to be able to see the stars here, but the streetlight outside the window goes off at about 1am and there was no moon. 

I left the curtain open, although I couldn't see any stars when I was lying down. It was just nice to know they were there.

A thought that has come back to me today, a day of clouds and drizzle. We were very late going to bed because we watched the totally brilliant Last Night of the Proms right to the very end, and I've felt tired and bleh all day. 

We haven't been able to go out as I don't have any full oxygen cylinders left until after the delivery on Monday, so I have to stay home and use the mains powered oxygen supply. Otherwise a change of scene might have helped... but there's always the scenery in tv programmes, especially Paul Murton's gentle meanderings around Scotland. 

That's a good thought though about the sun and moon and stars always being there even when you can't see them. 

Like God, always there, no, I should say he's always here...

Thursday 10th September - it's quiet around here today

 We've no builders here today... no pots of tea to make...

BB had a trip to the dentist (prep work for a crown) and I taught two piano lessons, with lovely pieces as well.

His appointment was for 1145, which meant leaving at 1045 and not getting back until after 230... that meant a very late lunch. Luckily I had a COOK lamb tagine lurking in the freezer, which would microwave from frozen. I guess it was gone 3pm before we had lunch, both very hungry!

Do you remember when the illustrations in children's books often only had 2 colours? Like this!

Minimalist journalling today. 

Next-door's cat is very sad to find he is shut out of the new extension now that the doors and windows have all got glass in them.

I've been un-knitting and reknitting the square I finished yesterday.  I found a Serious Error in the final pattern row. Luckily this wasn't too far down, so it's finished again now. 

It's a good job I like knitting. And reading, which is also filling quite a lot of the day...

Wednesday 9th September - too much...

1Well, too many contractors, too many questions, too many decisions, too many unsatisfactory answers...

Our usual two hup! installers arrived, and continued doing whatever they were doing. I hadn't understood that the wrong size glass was delivered for two remaining glazed roof panels, so now we wait for delivery of the correct items, promised for Monday... 

They removed two fence panels so that they could finish the cladding on that side. They have replaced them with temporary screws as they will have to be removed at least twice more. I would have thought it might have been better to leave them out, but hey... they've gone back in now.

Now they've done all they can until the roof glass arrives so that's that until Monday. More delays...

Meanwhile the builder in charge of the next phase rolled up with a plumber to sort out underfloor pipes to connect a new radiator and the new sink in due course. Plus the new shower room...

Much perusal and head scratching over the plans... I want a shower that I could be wheeled into, if it comes to that as my lung function decreases, which does complicate things. There's time to sort this out.

At one point I was wondering out loud if it this was all a great mistake, but James-the-builder gave me a big grin and assured me that come Christmas I'd be thinking it was a really really good idea. 

Well, that's some kind of an end date to aim for...

More chocolate needed...

I had three, yes THREE separate knitted squares for the collaboration with Ang lying forlornly waiting for their partners. Today I finished knitting the twin for one of them, so that's a win...

And I'm trying to finish one of the several books I am reading before getting stuck into another Tim Sullivan (but I have started it, so that resolution has rather gone by the bye!) 

Tuesday 8th September - losing weight

 That's weight off my mind, not so much off my hips...

I got very little done yesterday and and today. Sue in Suffolk is partly responsible for this as she recommended a new-to-me murder mystery writer, Tim Sullivan. I went onto the libby library app, and borrowed one of his books, 'The Teacher', and that was the rest of the day gone. I didn't want to stop until I had finished!

Then, in response to yet another email from HMRC about sending in a self-assessment tax return, I took a grip on myself, pulled myself together, nade a pot of tea (actually BB made it for me) and knuckles down. (I think that's probably enough clichés for the moment).

It took an hour, but I managed it. And felt a weight off my mind... it was worth getting it over and done with. 

.....

No new photographs of the extension. After all, how can you photograph glazing in the windows? All the windows, apart from the two remaining rooflights and the big triangular end window. So I'm hoping they will be finished, as far as possible, by the end of the week. We don't have any idea of when the fireproof opaque end window will be delivered, so they will most likely have to come back sometime.

Monday 7th September - last night's Prom concert

 Last night's Royal Albert Hall Prom concert on BBC 4 was amazing. It actually took place on Saturday 5th, but was broadcast on television on the Sunday. After a delightful  overture by Louise Farrenc (born 1804, died 1875), Martha Argerich performed  Beethoven's 2nd piano concerto with such flair, expression, clarity, delicacy, brilliance, and control that it was mesmerising. 

Hard to believe she is 85 years old, giving her first performance (Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto) 77 years ago when she was very young. She must have played all Beethoven's  concertos hundreds of times, and  she made it sound completely fresh.

...

More progress on the extension, mostly some kind of external cladding and fascia boards. On Wednesday they will want to take down the garden fence so they can finish they can work on that side. Luckily our neighbours are quite happy about it. They just have hard-standing and flower pots so we don't have to worry about tramplng in their flower beds.

I'm sure my gladioli shouldn't be drooping downwards like this! Perhaps I should have changed the water...

Sunday 6th September - Living water

 This was the theme of today's zoom church service. 

We've experienced both drought and downpour these past weeks, although in a very minor way compared to the serious killer droughts and downpours elsewhere in the world.

I counted; we have seven taps in our house delivering hot or cold fresh clean water whenever we want; another privilege not to be taken for granted.

One of my husband's twice daily jobs from as soon as he was strong enough to work the handle was to pump the water from the spring to the water tank in the house. They were blessed with a reliable source of fresh water filtered through acres and acres of peat Moor above the house.

This was one of the pieces of music in the service;

.....

I've spent the afternoon sitting at a garden table in the shell of the new extension enjoying the fresh, if slightly chill air. I can't wait for the time when I can meet our friends for coffee, or tea, or meals even, properly protected from the elements and at the same time with good through ventilation to avoid any risk of respiratory infection. 

Or just sit, with the windows open, and look at our garden... 

(Very wobbly drawing on my tablet using free bamboo app and the stylus that came with the tablet)