FALL CLEANSINGS 38

Here is a reminder of the situation in the spare room - ugly wallpaper of at least 35 years of age, filthy carpet of circa 45 years of age, and piles of junk for the tip. Here follows a shot of the mucky carpet under the furniture once the 3 charity men had removed the two old brown cupboardy structures and some other hoarded junk of my late parents - and a certain vacuum cleaner that ate the muck up for me.

Among the junk to be tipped are 2 former floor runner vacuums - not as good as the new Henry model. These two lasted less than 2 years each, one had filter problems and a loose brush and the other wouldn't suck without cutting out - both were made in China, so it is only to be expected. The new vacuum is made in Britain and of a higher quality.

This shot shows the stuff I am retaining - which should easily fit in the center of the room so I can redecorate with a rug over it. In fact, apart from the chair there is really only some family photos, cds, videos, a backpack, and few bags of diapers...photos can be scanned/given to son, other stuff sold - though noone seems to want the chair, so I might keep it.

My next task was to dispose of the settee. Purchased in 1953 by my parents when they first moved into this house after it had been built, it had been in situ more than 60 years. However, I did not like it, prefer modern furnishings, felt it a dust trap, and do not even use a lounge...but the charity couldn't take it due to fire hazard restrictions.

SUMMER SLOSHING 14 & FALL CLEANSINGS 37

August ended with my re-tidying the pantry. As you can see, there is still plenty of food in situ -

This shot is some stuff from the shed going to the allotment shed. Having had a professional gardener as a father, there are plenty of tools - mostly good quality. This bucket is now sited at the plot for carrying horse muck and sieving soil. The following photo shows my late father's fork - now also at the plot, ready to get the soil in perfect condition.

This is my first attempt at making cider. I have two wine-making bottle jars and this one is now filled and gurgling slightly. I aim to make a second shortly - and have just been offered two more from a friend.

Now we get down to some serious autumnal work. The spare room... I called out a charity to remove whatever they wanted and was then awaiting a friend to take me to the tip with the rest. I need the room cleared and clean ready to strip the paper and repaint. These shots show the junk on the left and good stuff on the right.

GARDEN GLIMPSES 22

As you can see from the above pair of shots, I have continued to empty the back fence of my father's debris. The back fence is now looking fairly bare - finally. I had not planned to do this task until such time as I dismantled the poly tunnel, but - tis now done.

My father had several layers of fencing in situ, albeit iron posts, metal, plastic, glass, and wire sheeting, along with one fence panel rather than a real fence. I have let only one layer in situ, as the land is risen above the neighbors by a few foot and needs some support so as not to collapse.

I am now awaiting a lift to the tip from my friend L, so as to clear the rubbish from my yard shown in the top two shots - and this former coal bunker.

Apart from that hard work, I have been cropping my two apple trees. 4 crumbles PLUS the following two shots worth of apples constitute one half of this years produce - the second half remaining in situ for the time being.

GARDEN GLIMPSES 21

The first weekend in July arrived and I took the following shot to show the passionflowers and clematis outside the front door. A week later I took another shot of the view from the doorway, looking down the garden path.

The above shot is of four plants my friend gave me from her garden. I was worried about having to clear too much of my wildlife inspired overgrowth and decided to make a friendship patch using plants friends had given me to do so and these are what she gave me. As you can see in the next shot, they are sited next to my mint/chives.

This shot shows that I have been taking action clearing the yard. It ended up that I needed to clear the back end and this shot shows about half of the stuff I cleared. Yes folks, my Dad the super hoarder did not only store a load of junk in the house I inherited, but in the yard at the very back...

In the front yard, a scene of contrast was erupting as the usually darker roses burst into a show of pale pink second flowering. This brightened up the yard considerable, as the aquilegias and azaleas are done flowering.

SUMMER SLOSHING 13

Here is the latest shot of the drinks closet, which had a tidy up at the close of June. Also at the end of the month I completed the painting of the toilet door trim as demonstrated in the second picture above. It was not long before the door itself got my attention, and by the close of the first weekend in July, the upstair hallway painting was completed.

While I still have the view, I will share a shot of the 'overgrown' back yard. neighbors have accused me of having rats and household garbage in situ as well as being overgrown, and although I don't, I am supposed to clear my vegetation. THIS shot shows the habitat I love - as do more than 4 species of butterfly, 6 of bee, multiple of bird - http://birdaugb.blogspot.co.uk/ , and various other creatures including hedgehogs and frogs.

Alas, this may not be the view I have while cooking for much longer due to heartless ignorant neighbors and bureaucratic council ponces.

Continuing into July/August, I placed out a brand new, clean duster and the polish bottle for my son...

...to get these back. I think he actually used it! I was hopefull that the lemony scent might make him realize that his room stunk - as whiffs issued out into the hallway everytime he opened his door, and indeed it appeared to be that way for a few days as he began to open his windows. However, it appears it is the lemon scent he dislikes, as he soon stopped and has trapped the 'yukky' smell back in his room again, since.

GARDEN GLIMPSES 20

We start from the middle of June with a shot of a lemon balm plant that a friend of mine gave to me the previous year. I split her offering into two pieces and this half is doing well. I am uncertain where the other half is - it may have died, or be covered by something else.... only winter will tell!

In the front yard, much blooming is occuring - the azalea, fuchsia, valerian, rose, and sea bells are all going well. Friends who took me out noted on dropping me off that I had 2 different colors of one plant - which can be seen in the second of the following pictures. The clematis is JUST flowering - as the third week of June begins to expire.

July began and much blossoming is occuring. I took a few shots in the front yard once more. This first shot shows the 2 colors of valerian and the azalea, which has just finished blooming and is begining to lose its flowers.

The second shot portrays the mixture of proper plant and weed. The fuchsia and pieris on the one hand with the blue weed and columbine/bindweed on the other.

SUMMER SLOSHING 12

I then began to paint the trim, with the last of the second pot of Tibetan Gold gloss. After the initial trim and window frame, I began on the windowsill and blanket box.

A brief detour from paint to dust brings us to the arrival of a new vacuum cleaner into the household. Flashing back, I had a Vacstream in Aussie with which I was more than happy. HERE is a picture of the model I had. It lasted five years, and was still going when I left the country to come to England to take care of my late father. My father had an upright vacuum, and as I do not like those very much, as soon as it failed a little I got rid of the thing and purchased a small floor-runner, or 'cylinder' as they are called here.

That model lasted a little over 1.5 years, before the filter was not replaceable and the head wore out. I invested in a Hoover shortly after my father passed away, due to my mother having had one that lasted many years in my childhood and my assumption that this model might also last a long time. Alas, within 2-3 months of the 1-year guarantee expiry, it began to have its faults - I could not really expect better - it was only 'made in China' after all, and such models don't last long or work well.

It was time to buy a new vac. Payday arrived in June, and within minutes of checking my pay had arrived safely into my bank account, I ordered a Henry. Henry is the name of a red/black vacuum that is made in England, works properly, and has a 2-YEAR guarantee so if this one carcs it as have the last two, I won't need to fork out another £50-£100.

Although the face is somewhat 'childish' in my view, I might keep it on rather than remove it - as it smiles. I also wear a smile, knowing it is likely to last me the 5-10 years I 'expect' a vacuum to last.