It's been a while.........

Well! You can stop writing in the dust for a start! I am beset with dust, there is an industrial sized sander suddering it's way up and down the bedroom, I've just emptied the bagless, all singing all dancing upright cleaner into the bin and cleaned out the flter thingy all over the aspidistra I put outside for a good draught hoping to clean that up a bit after spending most of its time in the vicinity of a dusty log burner. So that was a waste of time because it now looks worse than when I started. The bedroom floor however looks gorgeous and will hopefully varnished during this next week. Another job done.

I haven't been idle in my absence - far from it. A new local history book entitled Once Upon A Hill will be gracing local bookshops and numerous other outlets by the begining of December. What it won't show on its pages will be the tears of frustration that became rather the norm when we were using at least three incompatible computers, the day the computer ate a whole chapter, belched and lost the lot - 7 days work gone in an instant. If it hadn't have been for the computer assistance of Junior Shepherd who waded in, ordered us off to make strong tea, and took 3 hours to put everything back together again we would still be sitting wailing. It was frightening when he disappeared back to Uni and left us sailing alone in unchartered waters but we got there in the end.

So the end is in sight for the house renovations - it has only taken 14 years - big sigh and rolling of eyes heavenwards and in the words of Victor Meldrew - I dont belieeeeeeeeeve it. It has taken far longer than envisaged because what started as a renovation and tart up project ended up as the whole of the back of the house being rebuilt, the middle of the house being replastered after the heating sysyten leaked into the cavity wall space, a complete new heating system and at last we reached the bedroom last weekend! Yesssssssssssssssssssssss!

I have lost count of the street parties that we have partaken in over the summer months - any excuse puts the well oiled wheels in motion - the last one being November 5th, the next one being New Years Eve.

Sadly we have lost Dudley our little cat with the huge character. He was 14 and without warning his back legs went, he purred his way to sleep at the vets, that was a first for Dudley PURRING at the vets - usually they needed welding gauntlets to deal with him. The house seemed empty without his chirruping and growling, he followed me like a little dog and would sit by me for hours at a time whatever I was doing.

Meanwhile Skye had had her 2nd litter of puppies and I have to say they are the most cuddly docile puppies I have ever seen. They love people, love fuss and attention, and Weetabix - dont forget the Weetabix - I use 24 a day at the moment - yuk. They are all going to loving homes over the next couple of weeks with mum and Aunty Lucy heaving a huge sugh of relief I should imagine - except that they aren't all going ...........one is staying this time. A young lady who may be named Gwyneth - or something else female and Welsh. This will mark the end of puppy production because Skye will now be booked in to be speyed in the new year. I shall miss 'the Puppets' as I call them when I go out with their numerous trays of steaming weetabix.

So with book finished, house finished, knitting finished...what shall I do with myself? Hmmmm I'm sure I will think of something ........just watch this space!