A couple of weeks ago we went to a garage sale at Brenda and Francis' house in Aldwincle . Then last Saturday we went to a boot sale in Brigstock, Northamptonshire . That was quite entertaining and quite a large sale. The sale was on a Saturday, and Brenda was not quite sure about the timings., they turned out to be 06:30 to 12 noon, so quite early then. Brenda was a little shocked when we said we would meet at their house at 07:00, she used a rude word! We did make it to the boot sale just after seven and were about the fiftieth car there, quite a good sign considering the overcast and cool weather. We did a steady business, selling mainly books, although I think jackets and scarves would have done better, it got progressively cooler as the day went on, so much for global warming. The village was quite picturesque and the sale was on the local cricket field. The 'do' was quite well attended so we had no chance of being bored. We were parked behind an old boy from Corby, who originally came from Bo'ness in Scotland about three miles from Linlithgow, so we had a quiz on the pubs etc from Linlithgow which helped fill the time. Brenda eventually arrived at about 08:30 and brought us a few of her things to sell. After the boot sale we went to Brenda's house for lunch and that was the weekend taken care of. Sunday rained all day, so that was a write off.

It has been a bit quiet recently with my contract expiring at the end of March. I have done a few odd jobs around the house and garden. I have now completed the outer shell of the pond I have been building.This should have made Louise happy as it now means there is now a bit more neatness to the garden. I will be testing the pond liner this weekend, once the cement has had a chance to set, or is it dry? The cats seem to be fascinated by it, although I feel they may be disappointed when it gets filled with water.The weather warmed up a bit this week, so I turned off the heating for the season, ha, I had to turn it on again today. The cats were having a look at the fish in the old pond and I noticed the fluffy one leap backwards into the air, as they do, so one of our vicious fish must have 'charged' her. Sooty, the black one,'rushed to help her fight off the vicious attack. You will notice, of course, that she is sneaking up from behind a huge plant pot.

Louise is starting to get warmed up for her wedding she says she is starting to feel like a ' bridezilla' we are having a quiet wedding reception and braai for a few family and friends, not a huge wedding at all, about 30 people. We will be catering here at home in our own back garden. She has told me to buy a new braai for the occasion. We shall, no doubt, be braaing lots of boerewors and maybe even a few lamb chops. The wedding will be on the 26th July, we hope this summer is better than last year, not too much rain. She and Mat are planning to honeymoon in the USA, Mat wanted to hire a Mustang for a trip across the country. Louise and Mat took us someplace on the A1 to look at gazebos, somewhere near Scotland it seemed, although it was just outside Birmingham, it did feel like a long way. The place was selling 'antique' furniture, including a 'genuine antique ' wooden wine case for a mere £12,50! I think we must be doing something wrong, just think what we could get for an old Chateau Libertas case. We went slightly astray on the way home and missed our turning, so as I said to Liz we got lost fast, as all the traffic on the dual carriage way around us was doing a steady 70mph, oh well. We did manage to get home ok, via Leicester. Liz is on a diet to lose weight for this event.

Robyn has got other things on her mind, as usual. She is heading for SA on the 8th May, so can't think about anything else. She has borrowed one of our books on Afrikaans and set her current amour the task of learning it all on the flight over, what a clever guy. I gather they have paid deposit for a Corsa while they are there. They have only got seventeen days over there, so everything will be a little rushed. Robyn is hoping to go to Brooks university in Oxford to do a hospitality course, in spite of advice to the contrary, hopefully with assistance from the government.

Ah well another rainy day outside