Never mind about ants, it would just be a grumble and it’s generally better to deal with a nuisance and move on.

I had a meeting this morning to hand over the Safeguarding Governor paperwork and info, which was fine.  And we were just finishing when a number of governors, including the Head, burst into the room.  I was too startled to do anything but gawp.  And darlings, it was a stitch-up.  I had missed the final governors’ meeting, so they ambushed me anyway and gave me a present, card and hugs and so on.  I nearly cried.  I was given a present last year, when I stood down as chairman, and a lunch and nice things were said, I had no thought of anything more.  Apparently, I caused some consternation when I gave my apologies for the meeting as they had planned lunch and cake.  They know the way to my heart, clearly.

Later, LT and I finished weeding the flowerbed by The Wall and then drove to the tip, then finished clearing the bedroom where Stuff from the clearing of the attic had been put.  Then Roses’ Boy carried some heavy things for me, I phoned people to tell them I needed stuff shifted, in two cases, and to ask nicely for help in a third.  JFDI really does work.

I also gave all the tortoises a bath and Natasha ate lots of mallow afterwards, both flowers and leaves.  I don’t know about the other two, they disappeared into the undergrowth.  I haven’t seen much of the Tots recently, it’s got a bit overgrown – which is fine, it means I don’t have to feed them as they can forage, which they prefer on the whole.  But they do love eating flowers.

It’s been a memorable day, but I’ll say more about that another time.  What we’ve mostly done has been to get ready for the delivery of many tons – or, rather, tonnes – of gravel next Monday. I’ve got an area of gravel outside the house and outbuildings that, on measurement, turned out to be absurdly large and requires 40 tonnes of the stuff to add five centimetres to what’s there already.  I don’t even want to mention the cost of it, delivered.  But we may manage with three, rather than four, lorryloads.

It’s quite difficult to get reliable help, as I’m sure a lot of you know.  Young Stevo had a job until last week, when he was between jobs, and he did a great amount in a few hours on Friday.  But now he’s back at work again.  And another young man worked for me a few weeks ago and said he’d come back but didn’t – so I’m a bit pushed now for things that need muscle.  Wince is very helpful, but when I’m away he does watering and less actual gardening, because there isn’t time for both.  So weeds are growing hugely and – well, that’s that.  I’ll try to cut things down before they seed, I’ve got both flowers and vegetables and I can’t worry about it.

Ro and Dora came over for lunch yesterday with young Rufus.  Here he is.  
Totes adorbs, obvs.  And awake, finally.  Phil also arrived with Zerlina, just in time for chocolate cake and raspberries, as they’d brought stuff over for the bonfire.  You can’t leave DIY leftovers at the dump nowadays without paying a sizeable fee, not over a very small amount.  Al and Dilly removed the previous owners’ decking from their garden and were dismayed to discover they’d be charged 60 quid or so to get rid of it.  So it became our Guy Fawkes bonfire last year.  Weeza and Phil’s chipboard flooring, which is being replaced from the master bedroom, has been reduced to ashes now, taking some old tree stumps with it.

Tomorrow, I may talk about ants.

That is very peculiar.  I wrote a post about the blog party, posted it, linked to it on Facebook and, later, Liz, Kippy and Helen left comments.  And I came to reply to them but now it’s vanished and so have their comments.  I haven’t deleted it, but it’s gone.  Tim says that google is showing him a cached copy, however, so he’s going to copy and email it to me.

And he has and so I’ll repost it – with apologies if you’ve read it already.  I wondered why more people hadn’t replied.

Blog Party preparations.

It’s just a fortnight to the blog party.  I’ve started by buying wine and ordering some of the food – after all, food and the people are all that really matter – but I also need to plan where stayers-over are going to sleep.  If I haven’t already promised you accommodation, I think I can only offer a place to put a camp bed or a tent, but I’ll know better once I’ve confirmed numbers – the odd sofa may be brought into play as it is, I think.  I’ve got large bedrooms, but only five of them.

I can’t put a full list of guests up  because I know some of you are concerned about home security and don’t want it known you’ll be away.  So please will you confirm, and also remind me about any dietary needs?  I think I’ve got it all fairly clear, but several people are coming who haven’t visited before, so I want to get it right.  Also, of course, a few of you need my address!  My email is on the sidebar, or write to me on Facebook.  If I don’t hear from people I think are coming, in the next few days, I’ll contact you if I can, but I don’t have everyone’s email.  And, if you haven’t yet said but would like to join us, you’re very welcome.

For anyone who doesn’t know the background, the first party was held to celebrate the building of the garden wall by Dave East, my late husband and me.  It had been constructed over two summers and I took a photo every day we worked on it and wrote a blog post about it.  Most of the guests were blog friends whom I hadn’t met in person, there have been new friends come every year since – not everyone has been every year, of course – and, though blogging doesn’t have the pull that it used to, it still has its community, even among those who don’t actually blog any more, or who never did but sometimes read them.  And I’ve ‘met’ more people on Facebook, too.  Several new guests are coming, some of whom know each other, but I promise you that everyone is really friendly and it truly doesn’t matter if you don’t know a soul.  Nor if you’re not normally outgoing and are quite reserved, this is just a place to meet and make friends and I hope there’s no pressure.  And to eat, of course.  There’s always vast amounts for lunch.

There’s no need at all to bring anything, you’re most welcome just as you are, but if anyone does want to bring food, I’m doing a whole ham and a salmon, a side of smoked salmon (all these are ordered), other dishes including vegetarian and vegan provision and salads.  And cheese and puddings, of course.  If you’d like to bring anything, please let me know what, more or less.

Looking forward to seeing you!