The most beautiful purple poppy (I will ask for some seeds) has just come out this morning.  Totally wow!  I am bewitched by it.  I have never seen one that colour.

I am enjoying taking photos of the roses.  At every stage of their brief blooming, they are beautiful.  The colour, the shape.

“Pheasant”

“Pheasant”

“Eden Rose”

“Parade”

“Felicite Et Perpetual”

Parade

A very fast bumblebee hard at work.

And the mighty brick tower – well, I walked around it and tried to work out how it was made.  Mum and I think there are three bricks on each layer and she remembers some cement being used too, possibly on the middle edges of the bricks, where you can’t see.

I hope that makes sense.  Lay three bricks with the inside corners touching and then place the next layer exactly opposite and keep going up, up, ever upwards.

Little Tedworth followed me around too.  A dear little companion.

This morning, I woke up with a tick biting on my belly.  So, stupidly, without thinking, almost a reflex, I ripped it off and the head was still left in.

Mum, with some sterile tweezers and needle, tried to get it out but we failed and it was fairly obvious that the head was still left behind.

I phoned 111 and spoke to someone, repeating myself at least twice, and I was told to go to Frimley Park Hospital immediately.

So off Mum and I trotted.

When we got there, it was quickly apparent that children over the age of 18 could not bring their parent in with them so Mum went back and waited in the car.  I felt bad for her.

Meanwhile, I sat for nearly 4 hours listening to “hospital radio” (in between the greatest hits of 1990, I had a lecture on IBS and not taking unnecessary antibiotics).  I was eventually seen by a doctor who did more prodding and poking.  When I squawked (cried), she then used local anaesthetic and we hope she got the whole thing out.  The doctor was optimistic although I am not so convinced.  I will keep an extra careful eye on things.  I have a dressing on the area, plus a spare.

Encouragingly, the doctor said that Berkshire was low in incidences of Lyme Disease.   I am now praying that I haven’t caught it.  That is all I need.

I am feeling a bit shook up after all of this.

Anywho, here are a few films of the Mr Fox (and I think we can all agree he is a Mr).  We think he is one of last year’s cubs.  He still has a baby face and is a bit scrawny.

As ever, Mum’s garden is looking beautiful.

There are a few new additions – a very useful pair of chairs and table.

Today, I spent this afternoon sat outside wandering around with my new camera.

I particularly liked the roses – sorry, many photos ahead.

It is very hot in this neck of the woods.

Mum is very keen on growing hosta’s and they seem to like her.  This one is enormous and, although there are slugs around, Mum is very good at keeping them flourishing.

Ted was following me around…..

He loves his garden and races about doing a circuit repelling the borders.  He is very keen on that.

I have seen glimpses of Mr Fox so I am off to look at my camera, which has been secretly hiding on the garden gate.

We arrived this morning at Mum’s.  She lives a couple of hours away from Bristol.  For me, that is a huge phew!  Last time the car died and it was all very stressful.  Although, it has been a long journey, having Floss with me made it all much easier.

Amongst many things, we brought Ted a present – a squeaky toy sloth.

We all think he is a sloth.

And Ted loves his toy.

Obviously the squeak has gone!  It only took him under half an hour.

And now for the unstuffing!

This is Ted’s party trick.

Yes, you are a very clever boy, Ted.

And then I fed him his tea because it is The Law.

So, that’s us. We did it. We are here for just over a week.

We left Tebay after an excellent breakfast that hit many spots perfectly.  The Twat-Nav took us on a scenic tour of the Lakes before putting us on the motorway again.  I highly recommend the village of Orton – utterly beautiful.  I would love to see more of this area.

A quick lunch stop somewhere – I actually have no idea where we are.

Once a year, just once a year I have a Burger King and secretly, I do quite like it (not the chips, though).

And finally, Bristol where we cleared out Floss’ rented room which she stayed only a few months in but was forced to pay a whole year’s rent for.  Hmm… More student debt.  Thanks, Boris.

We packed up the car which is now bursting at the seams, ate a Krispy Kreme doughnut (we have two boxes – gosh, they are yum) for energy and set off to find our Guest House for the night.

I will not be sorry to see the back of Bristol.  Their roads are shocking but some of the houses are pretty.  Onwards to Mum’s tomorrow first thing where we will stay for a week and I get to hug the luscious Teddy (and my Mum!)