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04 July 2026

Random 'Stuff' on the First Saturday in July.

 Bit cooler earlier in the week so we managed to get through the  exercises at Keep Moving Group. I led some and thankfully another lady stepped in to lead the second half. I just get so hot - my internal temperature gauge is hay-wire!

About 5 months ago the neighbours behind me had scaffolding put up and some guys came along and took down the chimney and then put it back up again. They also took off some of the tiles in various places and replaced felt and batons underneath. They came back weeks later and took off the ridge tiles and then cemented them back on again, took off tiles in another place and then put them back. Then they vanished for months. This week in the heat they (or someone else) came back and took down the chimney and rebuilt it Again. With my living room windows open to keep cool I had a continuous background chat from up on the roof....it wasn't very entertaining but I was glad they didn't have a LOUD builders radio like last time.

It might not seem like it but I have done some housework in between the tennis watching. With windows open so much the window sills get really dusty and lots of flies come in leaving their mark on the windows. The window cleaner only does the outside so it's up to me to do inside.

Another week of hot weather is forecast for next week - no rain. Water butts were all empty again and I've filled up the biggest from the mains. I'm glad I've not grown so much in the greenhouse this year, watering cans seem to be getting heavier as I get older.

Finally.................What's happening at Wimbledon? Last man standing - Arthur Fery  plays this afternoon and the Dimitrov/Berrettini match should be good. Djokovic and Sinner are in the same half of the draw so will meet up in the semis next week? maybe? if they both win Sunday and their quarter finals. I'm so missing Alcaraz and Jack Draper!

I've looked to see what events are on over the weekend but seems to be mainly music festivals, so probably just car boot sales for me then. Oh, my library books finally got to Stowmarket library so I need to go and pick them up today or tomorrow. 

Have a good weekend I'll be back Monday.

(Happy 4th July to readers in the USA - some sort of celebration for 250 years I hear - hijacked or not?!)  

 


03 July 2026

Had to Choose From The Shelves.

 I took my last two library books back to the library in town and thought my reservations sent on from the mobile would be there, but they hadn't arrived, don't know why as it's a week ago. Instead I hunted the shelves and picked up five books in the hope that maybe a couple might be OK.

BERJAYA

Dorothy Sayers - The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, Ian Samson - Essex Poison, The Woman in the Wardrobe by Peter Shaffer; Black Sheep by Susan Hill and Death on the Norwich Express by Heather Peck. I've tried Ian Sansom's books before - he wrote a series of crime on mobile libraries which might have been good but the one I tried was dreadful!  and the one by Heather Peck is one of those printed on demand books from Amazon, it looks like a short quick read. The Crime Classic didn't ring any bells but yes, I'd read it already.
It was very hot and stuffy in the library and by the time I got out it felt just right to go in the Osier Cafe in the Church  which is just across the churchyard from the library and get a cool drink.......and a cheese scone of course. 

I read 13 books during June - due to the hot weather and the week feeling ugh. I don't think the July list will be so long. I read three from my shelves after running out of library books but then abandoned three others before I could find one to get into. I've started a collection to go off to World of Books or Ziffit or whatever they are called now - just need to find a suitable cardboard box. I've obviously not been ordering enough 'stuff' from Amazon!

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 Arthur Fery was the only Brit getting through to the third round in the Men's Singles, sadly Jacob Fearnley  and  Jan Choinski were knocked out as was Katie Swan.

 

02 July 2026

Another Bundle of Someone's Leftovers!

 I fished these things out of the boxes of one of the house clearance people who were at the nearest car-boot sale on Sunday - they are always at Needham Market but not often at Stonham.

BERJAYA

There are two packs of small freezer/sandwich bags - handy for keeping things like an opened pack of cheese in the fridge. Two part used packs of scourers and a new and sealed box of 100 Twinings Breakfast Teabags. I paid £2.50 for the lot.

All useful although I've gone right off tea while the weather is so hot......I'm OK with coffee (and lots of water). It's a good thing teabags keep for years because this is the second lot I've found this year and I already had a big box in the cupboard.


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The only Brits playing yesterday at Wimbledon were in the Men's Doubles. I watched Dan Evans and Henry Searle  lose and but missed the other pair winning then saw Sinner win although I wouldn't say he won comprehensively. Decided to be patriotic and watch football instead, except England were so bad I gave up at 70 minutes and went back to tennis. Then I heard huge shouts and cheers from somewhere in the houses behind me and knew England had scored and then again a few minutes later - a win then................ eventually. I see they play Mexico at 1am our time next Monday, actually in altitude in Mexico City - it will be deafening and England have no chance! 
Back to tennis and geared myself up to watch moany Djokovic play in the hope he would be beaten by the Greek Tsitsipas.............He wasn't.


My latest Pet Hate (and there are many!) is the interviewer after the matches saying "sum up your emotions!" .....Every.........Single........Time.......Grrrrr.