Corn and a cob on with the painters

It's been a frenetic week, particularly as Fifi Babitt was away which always renders me even more uncertain of my capabilities. Aunty Shirl has now been in Poppies for a week and is gradually beginning to settle in. She loves it despite being a poorly sick Aunty, but we're taking care of her - as much as she'll let us! Penny and Val have departed somewhat exhaustedly. They said they had a good time.....I think they were being polite.

Boosh Barn is now fully carpeted. It looks fantastic, though we say it ourselves. There's now only the kitchen to finish, apart, of course, from the still-appalling decorating. The big boss of our construction company is bringing the big boss of the decorating company to show him just what a bad job it is. We were asked to put post-it notes wherever there was a problem. Three packs later......and these pictured are just two small corners of two rooms! Multiply these by a lot and add 90% of door and window hinges with paint marks and 95% of the window and door handles with paint splats on. Not to mention the toilets and bathroom units. Pity they didn't get any paint behind the radiators. The reclaimed beam looks good though.

Fiona came up with a great analogy for my brain go-slow. Everyone's digital except me - I'm still analogue....this was in response to several instances of slowness and perceived stupidity, including one very embarrassing fall slap bang in front of big tough Terry, Robbie and Dad. It was a real exercise in self-restraint not to let the tears fall and I've still got the lumpy shin and bruised knee to show for it. You see although it's not apparent in an Inspector Morse type way, my left leg doesn't respond to instruction too well, indeed it sometimes doesn't respond at all for a few seconds, so it tends to catch on things and threaten to send me A over T. Just something else to remember. But it's particularly annoying when I'm trying to put my wellies on to go to the Happy Place.

The Happy Place is growing abundantly and has today been extended to make space for the sweetcorn, now planted with each stem accompanied by a bean. Apparently the Mexicans or the Red Indians, I don't remember which but may be getting confused as I made wigwams for the runner beans yesterday, used the corn stems for bean poles so I'm trying that out. The tomatoes are tucked up in their gro-bags and the peas are absolutely burgeoning with pods. Just the sprouts, leeks and courgettes to go out now. Oh, yes, and we've got walnuts on the walnut tree for the first time since it was planted 10 years ago
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And finally for this week, UR Penetrators, the band our boy Tom is in, are about to release an album in Japan and will be visiting there very soon. Looks like they could be big in Japan - well they will be, Tom's 6'2".