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What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

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30 years ago today I was in a medically induced coma with a 4% chance of survival which goes some way to explain why I have little tolerance for the woke and Calvinistic and all they stand for. Whew that’s a bit heavy for me.
Thanks for sharing Alf x
 
Glad you got another 30 years and a hope for many more. That there John Calvin - they still argue about the shape of his hat over the pond.
 
Fbg 6.6

Yesterday Midnight is following me the entire time I am doing something whether outdoors or indoors. He lies by my feet if I am standing still doing a task. He is most contented. If I am swinging on the swing he sits by my feet, but if I pat the space next to me, his eyes widen as if to say "You're inviting me?" And he promptly jumps up, snuggles into my leg and purrs like a tractor engine.

This morning Jade was sitting on the other side of the swing to Midnight, but Midnight seemed to be in the middle of the swing, nearer to Jade. Jade did the slow blink thing, and wasn't skittish this morning as she usually is. She stayed on the swing until I came out, and then jumped down and hid behind the wormery bin. But her head kept peeking round, Normally she stays out of sight until I get back in the bungalow. Give it a few days and I might be able to touch her.

My vegetable garden. I do not have a hosepipe, but water it with grey water (so that takes effort to gather), I put a bowl in the wash basin etc to collect any water. I don't have a water meter, so I don't need to do this, but I choose to. It is hard work to do all this with my hands and arthritis etc. I designed this vegetable garden, by stacking it a bit, and on chairs with a container underneath, so that water goes from the top container down to the next, and any excess water goes into the container underneath (to be reused) instead of being wasted and dribbling away on the concrete. So, my vegetable garden has survived the hot weather, even on days when it was too hot for me to physically water.

But we have another hot few days, and I am no good in heat. Last night I had the idea of putting up those parasols that I bought for 'protection' against Mr Insensitive Xmas Lights neighbour who was having intrusive (to me) work being done on his bungalow, roof, garage, driveway on a constant basis, and the scallies he employed spent a lot of time sitting on his roofs smoking and not working. So, I had no privacy in my garden for months and months and months in end. That was when I bought these parasols as a privacy screen. It worked. And last night I thought, why not use them as a screening against the hot sun drying out my vegetable garden. I managed to get two up. They are big and unwieldy. I'll get the other one up today. Hopefully these will help my vegetable garden. I haven't lost anything in my vegetable garden from the heat and drying out yet. Although in the rest of my garden I have lost some bushes (leaves have all died), parts of trees have died, and the ground which normally has green ground cover, is a barren wasteland now.

I am working on microgreens for indoors, and I have a hydroponics system going (and a second one to start when the colder weather is here). But this is basically for winter. I am sourcing seeds and stuff for the microgreens. Doing well with that. There is just me to feed in this bungalow, I don't know how viable something like this would work if you had a family, you would need a room for it.

Creative today is one of my colourful pillowcases as a kaleidoscope in Laboscope. Recognise the fabric? Laura Ashley. A couple of decades or so ago, I loved her materials. And I bought a length to make a long skirt out of it (I can't wear long skirts now, I trip over them!). But there was never enough time. I am over Laura Ashley materials now (does she still exist?). But I like these pillowcases I made out of the fabric.

Coffee now, stuff to do, a parasol to wrestle with...
Be good...
Or not...


 
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Good morning everyone and it’s another Death Star invasion of a day here in the dark and dangerous (and also arid) north. Not as arid of course as the Anglian Desert where double glazing production as drawn to a halt due to glass not fully solidifying. Rose bushes - we do seem to have inherited quite a few and Mrs Miggins’ garden design means that eight of them need moving to pave the way for a Chelsea contender. Not this week though as the BIL who will be doing the heavy stuff has tested positive. I do hope that it’s only mild. Off to pick up Mrs Miggins’ now mended under warranty IPhone in a while, hopefully before the sun reaches it’s zenith. Art bit - my finished tree in the moonlight. Have a great day if you can. I shall of course now go and make Koffy.


 
Wow! I love the moonlight sky with this!
And the amazing moon @dunelm

Better get moving to pick up that iPhone, before you melt in this heat...
 
Smart move with the parasols. When I worked in East Africa, our house vegetables were grown on the top of mounds with each plant having a little moat round it to conserve water and some under tall canopies made out of whatever was available. Quite labour intensive mind. Laura Ashley closed (one of my sister in laws worked in one of the shops) but the brand is back and can be found in shops called Next. Smashing kaleidoscope.
 
Thank you for all that information on the plants, and Laura Ashley @dunelm
And thanks for the kaleidoscope compliment.
 
Before we, that is me, me’s and myself start today’s written verbal rambling a special mention for @gennepher and @dunelm for today’s posting creativity on all levels.
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Good busy Morening ladies and gentlemen, well it is busy here in Tilehurst Towers.
A 5.8 on that meter, a -ve covid lft result, 30 minutes plinky plonky and more to do before today’s lesson and finally slurping safety koffy. Why is it safety koffy? Simple, it preserves life, just don’t annoy me before I’ve had my koffy.
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It looks very much like the BBC’s work of science fiction and fantasy known to all as the weather forecast is predicting another hot few days, I shall dig out my cold weather clothing. Call me sceptical if you like, but not before I’ve finished my koffy.
Stay safe and cool all.
 
Hello everyone at the start of another stretch of extreme heat here and widely across England. and Wales. @gennepher thanks for the creative and more details of your ingenuity and ability to re-purpose things. I hope your vegetables continue to flourish and the micro-greens crop prolifically. @dunelm sorry to hear about your BIL but good news on the repaired iphone. Thanks for sharing your art which I find up there with those most to my personal taste. @alf_Josiah well done on the musical practice. Am I correct in assuming that tomorrow is a very significant date in your calendar? I have it as something to remember in my own google diary. Just two grandchildren here today and one of those for half a day after collection from nursery/preschool. How much per hour do fans cost to run? 4p to boil a kettle for a pot of tea for 2, 3p for a 1 cup pot. I have no liking for water as a drink outside of during exercise but corporation tax is obviously a clear and present danger so I'm glad to make a few sacrifices. I will admit to being confused between a handout and a bung. Do stay as (cheaply) well hydrated and cool as possible.
 
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I love your cat and garden tales . We have a ginger and white cat that isn't ours but has been coming round for several years now . I was never very fussed about cats until this one turned up it's not a stray but clearly likes our house and garden ( my garden is a bit on the wild side , she also sleeps some nights on our swing .
 
5.6 this morning. Was pinged today as a close contact for Covid on Saturday. Someone must have put their phone close to mine in the class. Tested negative today and no symptoms but being very careful and am keeping well away from the upstairs office while sister is doing her part the admin. We all stay socially distanced in the classes so hopefully I should stay negative.
 
Thank you @ianpspurs, pleased that it pleased you - so to speak.
 
Thank you Ian for all your blessings!
I hope your day was a good one...
 
Cats seem to like swings!
And wild gardens @mojo37
 
Thank you @ianpspurs, pleased that it pleased you - so to speak.
On reflection I could have worded that less ambiguously. What I meant was that even though I always hold your art in high esteem and it is always pleasing, I found today's piece especially to my liking.
 
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That is such a good idea to use the parasols to shade your veggies. Also it is really environmentally friendly to reuse the water - but hard work.

Midnight is so happy with the way his life has turned out in his new hone.
 
Lovely artwork. Hope your BIL is OK.
 
That is such a good idea to use the parasols to shade your veggies. Also it is really environmentally friendly to reuse the water - but hard work.

Midnight is so happy with the way his life has turned out in his new hone.
Thanks @Krystyna23040
The shading veggies is working very well!!!
It is hard work, but once something is a habit, it is less hard work. Although I do rebel from time to time!
Midnight is truly contented at the moment.
 
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