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Pennie's avatar

I haven't contributed much over this last 5 months, my mother passed away and it has left me in a funny odd place. But. yesterday -I went to the Hampton Court Flower show-sat in the wind and the sun, spent some money and soaked the atmosphere up, It was a real treat

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Sarah's avatar

So sorry for your loss Penny x

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Frances Ray's avatar

My condolences to you, Pennie. It's important to take moments of joy amid the sadness.

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Aster's avatar

So sorry for your loss. Glad the wind, sun, and flowers brought some solace to,your aching soul.

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Debra Nicholson's avatar

Sorry for your loss..I lost my mom 2 years ago today. It's never the same..but you take them with you. God bless

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Rosamund Saunders's avatar

Nature and taking time to reflect, so glad you had a lovely day.

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Anne's avatar

I’m glad Hampton Court did you good, Pennie. It sounds lovely. And sorry to hear that you’ve been going through a difficult time x

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Sarah Spencely's avatar

The heady scent of lime trees in flower filling the air on my evening strolls.

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Carol Whittaker's avatar

Well, at last I have had my long awaited for operation! Post op pain, yes, leg pain, no! The operation , up to now is a great success! Thanks to all of you for your best wishes, they worked! I have 40 clips holding my back together! When they come out next friday.........life begins again!

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Sally Ann's avatar

Wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

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Anne's avatar

So glad to hear that the operation was successful Carol. It certainly sounds like major surgery. Is it ok to ask what you had done? Wishing you all the best as you start the recovery process.

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Carol Whittaker's avatar

Good morning Ann, It is definitely ok to ask! . I will tell you what has been done in layman's terms and then the medical term. I have had back pain for some time and just given pain treatment. Last May I suddenly got severe leg pain which resulted in me seeing a Neurosurgeon. In September last year I had an operation which solved my back pain but not the leg pain. Further investigation showed that I had fractured vertebrae and a trapped nerve in my spine. The fractured bones were removed and I had two metal pieces screwed to my spine. The operation lasted three and a half hours. I am home now, and have forty clips in my back holding me together! They will be taken out next Friday.. The lag pain has gone! It is just post operation pain I have now, but that will soon go.

The medical term for the operation is: Excelsiius GPS-navigated L2/L3 posteria instrumented fusion and L2/L3 facetectomy.

Quite an operation!

Have a great day Anne, and thank you for your support.

Carol x

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Anne's avatar

Blimey Carol, what a thing to go through! So glad they worked out what it was and that the surgery was a success. Life without constant pain is going to feel wonderful x

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Carol Whittaker's avatar

It certainly is Anne, not looking forward to those clips coming out though! I imagine it will be less painful when there gone. xx

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Sally Ann's avatar

Feelings of joy, nervousness and sadness for me this week;

History made as I watched Mark Cavendish break the record and reach 35 Tour de France wins. Legend. 🚴‍♂️

I always get nervous at general election time hoping whoever wins will do the right thing for our children’s children and the planet 🌍

Sadness today as I pay my respects to someone who was an inspiration and fought hard to the end.💖

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Art Vandelay's avatar

I had to supplement the glorious light bedding with a wool blanket, but the weekly veg bag came with an option of squashy tomatoes which needed to be cooked down immediately for a sauce which tastes and smells like concentrated summer.

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Cathryn Thompson's avatar

It’s been so chilly and drizzly this week, hard not to be fed up with no sun. Blackbirds making the most of my strawberries, haven’t the heart to move the pot. Although a bit brighter this morning, both literally and metaphorically maybe…

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Andrea Rayner's avatar

Going out into the meadow at 4:30am after sitting up watching Election Night and watching pink clouds scudding across the sky: it felt refreshing and hopeful.

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Andrea Rayner's avatar

Oh, and we did #dogsatpollingstations, of course.

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Anne's avatar

Sitting in my usual spot by the pond yesterday (are we doing usual spot photos on Sunday?) in glorious sunshine with a cool wind, watching the clouds tear across the sky. The garden is starting to relax and there are goldfinches on the fading flowers and seed heads. And yes, the election. We have indeed been through a lot. A family trip to the polling station, everyone able to vote, followed by a trip to the pub.

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Aster's avatar

🍻

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Lou B's avatar

A wet cold and gray polling day. No sweets for me on the way home but hopefully a positive result 🙏🏻

The mute swan cygnets have trebled in size since I saw them two weeks ago.

29°C last week, heating back on this week.

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Melanie Mackie's avatar

Four roses in bloom side by side called ‘My Lovely Dad’ the shade of parma violet’s and the scent of sherbet. And eating delicious raspberries plump and gorgeous with nectarines. And noticing the lily pads on the water. Not quite the summer weather we’ve hoped for but still the season rolls on.

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Sue's avatar

Mixed feelings today about the weather because nature needs some rain but the school fete doesn't! But the wind of change is blowing with talk of service and hope in the new Prime Minister's address

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Jes's avatar

July first - just bought a new to me jumper and wearing it to work today. Californian poppies bringing sunshine that the sky isn't.

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Gill Bourbage's avatar

Buds are forming on Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' a plant I grew from a small cutting given to me several years ago by a friend. There will be beautiful cone shaped flowers starting green before turning cream then pink. There will be stems picked for drying. I have last years flowers in a cream jug, they still look stunning.

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Sarah A's avatar

Feeling accomplished after an early morning vote and feeling excited having felt our tiny baby move for the first time this week. Emotions as changeable as the weather.

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Mo's avatar

My garden path is white with fallen flowers from the jasmine arch.

9.30 pm, the crows called goodnight to me as they flew to roost

Fuchsia flowers just starting to dangle their deep redness, almost ready to make a granddaughter crown.

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Tamsin Frost's avatar

Noticing the grasses and some wild flowers in the fields and hedgerows have started to fade and die off, which is a bittersweet moment. I have to keep reminding myself we are still in the middle of summer - not that the weather is showing it! Also, Wimbledon is constantly on the TV which brings me lots of happiness! I'm not into tennis any other time of the year usually 😅

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