What are you all up to

They say the average oak tree has 200,000 leaves, 2 oaks drop their leaves in our garden so I reckon I have another 300,000 leaves to go before they are all down.

Oh dear DEBSC, you have just really cheered up my OH, finding how many more leaves he has to go!!!  He has spent half the day doing the same as you today, we have 2 really large oak trees at the end of our garden and another one just over the road so, as much as we love trees, Autumn can be a real challenge.  🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Yep, I've enjoyed leaf spotting whilst away but we do know what a pain they can be to ones garden as we back onto a mature woodland, some trees of which overhang the garden. Any sort of westerly at this time of year will mean several trips to the tip along with full brown bins. We tend to leave the ones that fall on flower beds but collect the ones on lawns, which is bad enough. Collection starts tomorrow.

So, DEBSC and Heddlo I feel your pain. Doesn't stop me loving trees though.

Sorry to hear of your OH's glaucoma, Kjell, and hope that the DVLA allow her to continue driving.

It has been a fine sunny day after a clear sky last night which enabled a great view of the Milky Way. We followed the recommendation from heddlo & tda and visited St Gregory's Minster at Kirkdale. We were fortunate to be there when the organist was practicing, which leant a grand atmosphere to the Saxon church. Then followed a very pleasant walk through the woods up the dale. After lunch we drove back to Appleton-le-Moors, a lovely little village to see the remains of two roadside crosses and the church, built in the 1860s in the French Gothic Revival style. 

Home after a straightforward drive. Some mizzle all morning with the odd 5 minutes of proper rain. We were quite lucky with the weather whilst away, it was best described as quiet.

A few photos of the 2 days. The Wicker Bee was great, with information boards around the outside describing different types of Bee. A lovely educational structure.

Enjoyed the break but as mentioned yesterday we're home to a garden full of leaves. Have to wait until tomorrow to get stuck in. I'm sure they'll still be there.

Sorry to hear about your OH's eye problems - hope it all gets sorted out OK and she can keep her licence.  I dread to think what I would do if I couldn't drive anymore.

All this talk about leaves makes me smile - I was walking Meg in the park, yesterday and there was this town council guy with a leaf blower, trying to blow wet leaves off wet grass Needless to say, he wasn't having much impact and everything that he had cleared yesterday was covered again this morning. All seems a bit pointless to me 

The leaves are coming down here but a lot later than later than last year, I usually put them in one of my compost bins, from next year our local skip area will not accept leaves or grass cuttings so that will be interesting  to see what happens as the locals will still take them.

OH has got all the H supports in for car port so a dummy run with posts today as he wanted to check all his measurements were ok once an engineer always a engineer, one of our friends is coming around next week to help him so hopefully by end of next week it should be done.

Warm weather this last week and more for next week lovely as last year was wet and windy.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks.

Sorry to hear about your OH's eye problem KjeNN. It must be a worry for you but from what others have said it could all work out OK. I wonder how long it will be before you hear from the DVLA. Best wishes to you.

Lovely photos nellie and WN. You both look as though you have had/are having good trips and visiting some interrsting places.

We have had a lovely week as our son and grand-daughter have been over from N. Ireland. So lovely to see them both. They have visited various universities for grand-daughter and we have had various family gatherings includin a trip to the bowling alley for the grandchildren when a great time was had by all. We finished with a lovely visit to Peckover House in Wisbech (NT). I hopefully attach a photo of their Halloween display.

Good to read that you have had a grand time with the family, millie. The pumpkin photo has come out well.

Nice shots too, WN, pleased to hear that you enjoyed decent weather while you were away, and that you got home without any trouble. 

The work seems to be progressing well, RK, fingers crossed that all will line up correctly and that the job will soon be completed. 

Today has been the dullest that we have had so far this trip, but we had no rain and it was still reasonably warm. Just a couple of walks up in the forest above Sawdon for us, keeping out of the way of the busy areas. Tonight is our last night here before we head towards home tomorrow, with just one more new site to visit en route. 

Thanks all for the good wishes for OH, she is remaining optimistic that all will go well.  As Richard said, not being able to drive would be a big worry.

We are now nearing the date, 8th November, when the sale of DD’s flat should be finalised.  We were down there yesterday removing some stuff from the outside store room.

  None of it is anything to do with any of the residents as none of them even know about it.  So DD is trying to dispose of everything so the factors (managing agents) do not ask anyone for any money for clearing the room.  Some neighbouring shop owners have broken into the room and left stuff in it,  but strangely do not want to claim it!

There are still a few bits and pieces of interest……wood etc…..so we are going back there tomorrow to pick that up, fix a few things, and for the boys to say bye bye to the flat.   DD says it will be strange not to have it any more, she has owned it for 21 years, but will be glad not to have the extra responsibility.

No doubt the money from the sale will be useful to them too.   And we will get back the money we loaned her towards it.   Need  to find a decent account to place the money in.

Weather still dry but we haven’t seen the sun for days, thick cloud. I keep hanging the washing out but it comes in almost as wet as no wind, so we have purchased a Pod from Lakeland. Quite pleased with it, it’s got a heater at the bottom and a cover which holds the warm air. I’m still putting the washing out and then in there 34p an hour to run. I have a tumble dryer but only tend to use it for finishing off bedding and towels.

Front gardening yesterday, looking very tidy all round now, ready for real winter. Apart from the fallen leaves! This dry weather is a bonus. The Avon is very low for the time of year. I’ve turned into a river watching expert, even when we are not there.
Our new next door neighbours were also out gardening, well they have pulled up every plant in their front garden and a tree, ready to have their drive made wider, can’t blame them. We widened ours enough for 4 cars and fortunately still have room for grass and plants. They have not stopped working since they arrived. All redecorated, new bathroom and told us yesterday of a planned extension next year. Nice people, glad they are making it their own. Now think that we may have to get on doing some DIY …or maybe get someone in.