it looks like the view from the back of the boat that the person is waterskiing behind (still probably not a great description :P). I found it eventually - it's which explains why I couldn't find it when I was searching "sea" instead of "lake" :P

Niamh was bugging me for a change of outfits ;) I thought an autumnal kind of colour scheme would work to match out weather.... but this week it's meant to be 28C again so I think Niamh might need a more summery look for the week! ;)

ooh! that one! and now you can do an ha with it. :P Ooh like todays new one

Niamh decided that lake one looked like it was a bit too advanced for a beginner waterskier :P

lol well it looks great. I love the oranges in it. Brightens it up

Niamh did think of using all different shades of blue, but she thought she might end up blending into the water too much :P

How are you healing? Pets doing better? Pollen allergies makes sense. :nods: Read under if you want to know about my trip. :)

How have you been?

To both: The trip was awesome. We had beautiful weather. Sunny and blue skies. I got to be at the top of Matterhorn (well pretty close!) and watch the Alps.. from above 3000 meters over sea level. Hope that makes sense. English is hard with a tired mind. We got to be in Italy a bit too. Switzerland is absolutely beautiful! So I am very glad I got to experience it.. and the amazing train trips through the Alps. We travelled from west (starting in Geneva) ending up on the other eastern end (in and out of the border to Italy). We took the plane hom from Milan. A lot of places we visited are well known for their ski resorts.

The people in our travel group were very nice, even though all older than me. Did not buy that much since every thing is very expensive there. A lot of designer stuff like Prada and expensive watches. Even the tourist shops were really pricey. But I got magnets for my fridge, Swizz chocolate, handbag and a small backpack. Enjoyed a lot of good food. It will be boring to get back to my own cooking and no hotel breakfasts.

I've had a busy week (nothing overly exciting, just finally got my hair cut so it isn't annoying me with having to be tied back now) ;)

Whoa that sounds like an epic trip! :D The train trip sounds brilliant too :D I'm not surprised you didn't buy much - that definitely sounds like a pricey place! hehe it's never the same coming home to meals you have to get for yourself ;)

It always feels nice to get a hair cut. :D I was thinking earlier today that I should make an appointment, since I have not had one in a good while.

Switzerland is known for being expensive, but even with knowing and coming from a stupid expensive place myself I was surprised. :P So worth a visit tho! I never liked to cook anyway, so my meals are usually pretty basic. :P

and given our unusually hot weather this week (28C today) it was the perfect time to do with a pixie cut laughs :D

I suppose 'expensive' can vary depending on what you're used to (especially if prices are high normally for you), but designer stuff would always be mega expensive unless you find an outlet / end of season kind of store :P I've never got into cooking.... the most I've done recently is just cook down the blackberries from the allotment (Gran always used to just cook them in some sugar with a small bit of water, so you'd end up with a thick kind of sauce, so I've done much the same) 😇

We have had 26c today at the most.. which is super warm for September! My friend from Canada had temps that felt like 42c. O_o

Hehe.. true! But things were stupid expensive at tourist shops too.. Like basic t-shirts, magnets and other things. I would love an outlet that sold designer stuff. 👼 We only have outlet stores for sports/outdoorsy clothes mostly.

Blackberry sauce sounds so yummy! They taste really good if you make jam out of them too. There are tons of blackberries around where I live that you can pick. :)

they're forecasting 29C for Saturday.... I think I'll just be a melted puddle after that! I don't know how your friend copes with temperatures that feel like 42C though! 😊

That's never helpful with the tourist places are all mega expensive as well :K I think the outlets are a bit hit-and-miss with what stores you get - you might get lucky and find a designer shop there, or it might all be sports things :P

I've never actually made jam.... mainly because the fruit doesn't last long (it's in the fridge for a day or two before it's all eaten!!) 😇

She is staying inside for the most part with air conditioning, so that helps. :) I wish I had AC for my flat, but have not had any need for it this year. :)

To be fair, I don't need to be wearing designer stuff. :P But it is nice to have quality clothes that can last you while. Rather than the fast fashion stuff.

Hehe. I can't say I blame you. I have been munching on plums these days, enjoying them while they are still in season. Mom told me she had made jam out of some apples she was given for me to take home with me when I visit tomorrow. :D She will sometimes buy frozen berries and make jam out of those as well. That way you can control how much sugar and stuff you add. Or even do artificial sweeteners if you prefer that.

I've got the windows flung wide open and it's still 28C in this room melts They're forecasting thunderstorms for tomorrow, so hopefully by Monday the weather will be more like it should be for early September! :P

I like quality clothes, but I'm hopeless when it comes to something I know was more pricey - I'm always scared to wear it in case I mess it up (silly, I know!) 😊

I've never come across apple jam before - you'll have to let me know what that's like :D Being able to add your own amounts of sugar is definitely a huge reason to make that yourself! I'm hoping that the strawberry plants I bought this year will produce loads of fruit next year.... I've completely redone the raised bed they're grown in on the allotment, so as long as the winter isn't too cold for them, it should work well :D

it really works well :)

sounds like you had a good trip :) pets are doing alright. I'm healing okay, I guess. lol I mean I still have an infection on my left heal and had to go back on antibotics so that was "fun" but the right leg seems to be okay. I just had the first post op appointment.

our odd week of heatwave (well, hotter than you'd expect for September :P) has finally ended, so Niamh thought it was time she went with an autumnal look instead of being on the beach ;)

They were forecasting thunder and lightning for us as well yesterday, but I never heard or saw any of the sort. Just some rain. :) Maybe autumn will finally be here soon? :)

I know what you mean. If I really like something, even if it is not too expensive, I am worried about wearing/using it. I know I am accident prone. :P And stains just seem to jump on to me!

Hmm... apple jam is mostly made like other jam.. with little pieces of apple in it. You can also use it to make desserts. :D Or you can use it on bread. For what I like to call a dessert sandwich since it is sweet. lol I tried growing strawberries on my balcony, but both times the plant got infested with lice and it was a mess. I gave up in the end. Hope yours do better. :)

I'm hoping that the strawberry plants I bought this year will produce loads of fruit next year.... I've completely redone the raised bed they're grown in on the allotment, so as long as the winter isn't too cold for them, it should work well 😀l

Oh, I hope the antibiotics take care of the infection. It sounds more than uncomfy being on the heel and all. Glad your right leg seem to be doing better. :hugs: I have completed all temples in ToTK now and 100 shrines. And loads of side quests. O_O Still not done with the game tho!

we missed all the thunderstorms, but looking at some of the photos online maybe we were better off without them - one area had such intense lightning, the thunder was rumbling constantly for about 15 minutes! o.O We're down to 20C this afternoon, so that's better for this time of year.... still warmer than 2 weeks ago though (that was chilly enough then to need warmer shorts & a hoodie indoors 😊)

Aww that stinks on the plants getting infested :( I get a lot of woodlice around the plants on the allotment (mainly because the plants are under a net cover, so the badgers and other animals can't get to the insects to eat them), but generally speaking they don't do too much damage apart from eating the odd berry ;)

hehe I love the idea of a dessert sandwich! :D

it's a lovely ha :D We're still in the heat. I hope it starts cooling soon.

right? It's so uncomfortable. Totally not nice place to hurt.
Wow. that's awesome progress. LOL I've not played it much. Haven't really felt up to it. Kinda been down. Trying to get back into things.

Niamh says 'thank you' ;)

We've got 21C (a smidge under 70F) today, so that's much more bearable! Although they're saying it might get warmer again on Saturday, with the potential for more thunderstorms on Sunday.... but we missed the thunderstorms last weekend so I'm not convinced we'll get any this time round either :P

I find it hard to get into gaming and other things too when I am feeling down, so I feel you. :hugs: It can be hard to muster up the energy and motivation. I hope you have still been able to find some stuff to do to keep your mind of the bad stuff.

Probably is for the best that you missed the thunderstorms. That sounded a bit scary. O-o More fall like weather for us now. Loads of rain and cooler temps. Not too cold tho mostly. So I am very comfy in my wool shirt and pj bottoms.

Of course the badgers and birds want a taste of the yummy berries. 👼 With my strawberry plants being infested by lice two years in a row, I doubt I will bother to try again. Bought a large hortensia instead this year which has been doing well.