Felt cacti instructions

My mother thinks my cats destructive plant eating habits are so amusing that she's sent me this from a magazine.

I'll probably have a go at them next time it rains...

Melon farming

It's so hot outside that I've been growing my watermelon in the back garden and they're doing so well!

Most watermelon.. or melon actually.. are sterile, so you can't grown plants from the seeds. So last year when I first tried this I had no luck for ages and then suddenly, loads of luck.
This year I started- my first water melon on the season- was a giant moroccan one and they seem to work.
I planted all the seeds from the melon and ended up with 10 viable plants.

I also planted the middle from a honeydew and ended up with one viable plant.

I posted last week that my honeydew plant- which is a monster now and as tall as the breakfast bar, had loads of flowers on it. Now the watermelon plants have flowers too. I was a bit weirdly disappointed that all melon flowers are yellow. and daisy sized. I think I was expecting them to be more epic, like a courgette maybe.

 I really don't know how I'll keep them alive through winter, but if i do manage I might have fruit!

Suggestions for over wintering are very welcome. we don't have a greenhouse and whilst our house is really lovely it can be draughty in winter because of the chimney. add to that a cat with a need to sit in any container and our plants don't stand much of a chance. She even ate one of my cacti.

Cycling for Mind

I'm pretty sure I wrote on here that I'd started this challenge, and during the second week I received a parcel.

I had a lovely letter of encouragement and a tube-style scarf to wear to keep bugs out of my mouth (tbh, I think I've consumed more protein during this challenge than ever before. I have swallowed so. many. insects.)

I think I might try wearing the scarf for roller derby, as my helmet keeps meaning my forehead all spotty as the fabric is super lightweight, but at the moment it's just sat on the coffee table as I feel it's first use should really be on my bike.. but it's too hot for any additional fabric!

I will wear it before the end of the challenge!
I am determined!

I realised after receiving this letter that I've never actually taken part in a formally organised sporting event before. So this is all new.
I'm so pleased and excited about a scarf... imagine what I'll be like with a medal...

SUP

sorry, I've been a bit hopeless at updating this lately. To be honest I've been so bust that I always think "yeah, I'll do that tomorrow" and then never quite get there- So, this afternoon is dedicated to updates!

Last weekend Traff and I went paddle boarding at Brogborough Lake. I love paddle boarding and it makes me sad that there aren't any really good places around here to go. So every now and then I force Traff to accompany me to the other side of the UK.

We were so lucky, the weather was perfect, the water was warm... It was so relaxing.

After paddle boarding I wanted to try an opportunity that I saw advertised on the way to the lake- One of the fancy hotels in Middleton Stoney (The exit off the A34 before the M40, directly after BP)
This hotel:
https://www.themanorweston.com

Has an offer to "dine and dip" so for the cost of a £10 bar snack you can swim in their pool all afternoon (that's pretty good as most lidos are £5 or more each to get in). I was totally psyched for swimming because it was so hot, even thought it meant putting my wet swimming things back on. but when we got there there was a wedding and the pool is right by the wedding lawn. So we chickened out and just ended up going to the chequers for food. We ended up there once before, I cannot remember why but their food is incredible.
So, if you do "dine and dip" dine on something small so that you can gorge yourself senseless at the chequers just down the road.

We both ended up hideously sunburnt, but it was definitely worth it!

Thomas's 1st birthday

Bbq

Bike adventures week 1

I'm taking part in the 'challenge the norm' cycling challenge set by Mind.
No sponsorship required, you just pay £20 to enter and it's done.

I was going to sign up to do 120 miles but ended up chickening out and only signing up for 60. Which is pretty much 100k.

This week I've managed 25 k between Monday and Thursday afternoon. So I'm 1/4 of the way to my target.

In the end I'm a bit grateful I'm only doing 100k. The weather is so hot it makes me feel like I'm melting!

If I can do 200k as an unofficial target then I will and I'll know for next year to up my game.

Making the most of the heatwave

I've moved my melon plants outside as they're quickly getting far too big for the kitchen window sill.

So I've potted them all up with some garden canes to grow up and left them outside to soak up some sunshine.

It was all too much for the honeydew. It's gone all wilty but the watermelon are loving it!

New basket

I was going to reattach this to my bike, but it looks like Marley has different plans for it.

Hand embroidery course at the Makery

A polite recreation of a subversive cross stitch!

I enjoyed making this much more than I had expected!
It wasn't easy but I learned lots of handy tricks.

The bike crèche

I cycled to the station today. Partly because I needed to be there before 7am but also because I was seeing if I could stick cycling to work every day.

There is a cycle challenge for mind starting on the 1st July. The shortest distance you can do is 60 miles.
I figured work and back is a mile. So that's 21 miles in the month... Just another 40 to factor in...

Although, I probably won't do those with a flat back tyre!

Netball

Yesterday we played an inter-parliamentary research council netball tournament.
We can last.

But it was fun and good exercise.

We were the only team without printed t-shirts and without a clipboard full of game plans.

Dippy on Tour!!

I went to see Dippy on tour! I typed my notes up from my work meeting at the Birmingham Natural history museum Because it's close to the station (and museums have nice toilets). As I was leaving to catch my train I realised the Diplodocus from the London natural history museum was there.
I didn't have a pre booked tickets or anything so I begged the lady as I had literally 10 minutes and she let me in 😁😁...and I didn't miss my train because it was delayed..

Birmingham

Adventure to the INI

My latest work adventure was to the INI in Cambridge.
A great day for it!

Jenni's job interview

Traff and Jenni both had research council job interviews this week.
Traff's was at a hotel but Jenni's was with me!
This was our 'walk to work selfie'.

They'll both find out at the end of the week so keep your fingers crossed people!

The incident

Today I was working in the museum running a 1940s workshop for school children.
Setting up always takes a little while and collecting bits and bobs from several cupboards.
The workshop partly takes place in a steam train carriage. The carriage is usually locked.

Whilst I was in the carriage settings up and checking all the gas masks and resources a helpful member of the public locked me in the train!
Because they're train carriages the doors are designed to be locked from the platform, not unlocked from inside.
It was rather inconvenient.

Avocados!

Yesterday Ellie, Laura and I made sushi.
Ellie brought avocados to use as a sushi filling as I am seeing if I can get the stones to germinate.
Apparently they're fussy so this may not work very well.

Fingers crossed.

Although, the watermelon plants are doing really well! And the honeydew melon is massive. So I have been a little successful.

Guess who's the most excited about their holiday...

Lille day 4

Last day!