Trust is everything.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Grey.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 5.
Tears: Yes.
Pancakes (Yes/No): It's Easter - let's just say eggs!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Whatever.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): No clue!
Overall day:  😊

Once Furry Mama had dragged number one out for a walk, accompanied by a very happy, bouncy Minty Mutt, it took a while for Baggy to warm up. Clever Bird realised that it's extremely easy to forget that it's only April with all the glorious weather there's been. But it is! And the bite in the wind confirmed that fact. That, and of course, Baggy is a very big wuss, always has been. She can't cope with the cold, she's not too great in the heat either. Number one calls her his lizard; reckons she's cold-blooded. Today on the walk, as she was shivering and muttering how cold she was, Calum said, "Are you okay my little bearded dragon?" Hmmmmm. A Baggy could take offence, but then since Hormonal Hannah joined the gang, it is a fairly apt description of Baggy!

But before she settled down and got all cosy in the house, Grotty Groom was determined to get Baggy to take her to see her beloved boy. Number one however didn't seem too keen. This time Grotty was not giving up, she'd talked Hormonal Hannah out of stopping her from going, so she decided to do the same thing to Calum, she also decided that if he really didn't want to go, she'd go on her own! But he was persuaded. On their way there he said, "I think you're rubbing off on me".
"Why? What do you mean?"
"Your anxiousness".
"Oh?"
"As soon as you said, 'Let's go to the yard', I started to ache and my arms went weak".
"Well that's no good. If it makes you feel any better I'm a gibbering wreck".

The boys were out when they got there, but as soon as they saw Calum and Grotty, they trotted to the gates to see them. They were quite happy to come in, even though they were enjoying munching in the sun. Today, Wessles showed Grotty none of the grumpy, sulkiness he showed last time she deserted him. He just wanted to be with her. Baggy was touched. They set to grooming them. After an hour or so, Wesley, who had been nodding off while Grotty plaited his mane, decided that he needed a lie down. Grotty decided to join him.

He chewed his leg, so Grotty scratched it for him, then settled down to the most amazing twenty minutes she's ever had with him. Grotty has previously been and sat with Wesley when he's been lying down in his stable, but he has always got up again after a minute or so. Today was the first time he's gone and laid down with her in the stable though, so she just went and sat with him. After a minute or two he fell asleep on her lap. Grotty laid Baggy's head on his head and started to nod off too. As Wesley dozed, Baggy was completely at peace, even Hormonal Hannah was relaxed, then she started to cry - tears of "wow", "how special is this?", tears of pure joy at how much she loves her horse, tears of happiness.

Around twenty minutes later Baggy's leg had gone to sleep, so she got up. After a minute Wesley got up as well, did a massive stretch and went back to his hay. Calum suggested a quick ride! Baggy's heart rate went up, but Clever Bird pointed out how much trust her boy had just shown in Grotty; time she returned the favour.

Ten minutes of walking around the indoor school was enough for everyone. The Boys were totally relaxed, Calum was totally relaxed (and no longer aching!), Baggy was ecstatically happy.......

Easter Sunday.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Blue.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 1.
Tears: No.
Pancakes (Yes/No): Irrelevant!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Baggy gives up.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): 12st 9lbs!
Overall day:  😼

Change of plan. Baggy and number one furry were just so exhausted when they woke up this morning that they decided that they wouldn't go back to the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage today after all. Number one is supposed to be on holiday, but has been worked into the ground (or so he insists), by Baggy and at this rate would be going back to work for a rest. Clever Bird agreed with Calum that they needed a proper day off. Calum also decided that Minty Mutt needed a treat. Off to Orford they went.

This was partly because Clever Bird is beginning to question the wisdom of finishing off the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage. It's so much work, as these days nothing short of perfection is required for holiday cottages. It's also going to require quite a lot more investment. Freda Fretter has set Clever Bird off on the "Is it worth it?" route. Maybe they should just rent it out instead. Decisions, decisions. Mind you it might be academic if the council refuse them "change of use" anyway. But renting is such a risk, as they found out when they finally moved into their new house. Maybe Baggy needs to wait for fate to decide - if the council says "no", then the decision is made.

But today they tried to forget about it. A day out, walking the mutt and taking in the area, in the icy sea breeze!

Freda worried about the ground! It's only April and it's totally dried out!

A few April showers are definitely needed in little Suffolk. They did quite a large circular walk then decided to pop over to Orford castle.

By now Baggy's back was burning, Calum's feet were hurting and Minty Mutt was desperate for a drink, so they headed back to the Quay.

And the tearoom for an Easter holiday lunch! Crab sandwiches for Cal. Quiche for Baggy. Sausage roll for Minty Mutt - well you can't have lunch out and not feed your kids can you baggees?

By the time they got back to the car, Minty and Baggy were ready for a siesta. They went home via a couple of antique centres, so that Creative Clara could do a bit of comparative shopping. They managed not to buy anything! A small miracle.

Once home the plan was to take Grotty Groom and Cal over to see the horses, who they've severely neglected for the last week. But they're so contented and being so well looked after that it's very reassuring to know that they don't have to go over to see them every day. Still, Grotty is missing her boy terribly. But when they got in Baggy just didn't have the energy to go out again, so they sat and ate Easter egg instead. Tomorrow boys........

Doing nothing is difficult.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Grey.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 5.
Tears: A few secret ones.
Pancakes (Yes/No): Yorkshire pudding!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Quite a lot.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): 12st 6lbs!
Overall day:  😼

Clever Bird decided that Baggy and number one furry needed a day off today - a day of doing nothing. Well, at least a day of not going over to the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage! They still got up pretty early though, and Hormonal Hannah was sitting on Baggy's back. A black cloud was looming. Clever Bird instantly decided that a day of doing nothing would play into Hormonal Hannah's hands. So The Domestic Goddess decided to send number one furry off to the shop to buy some bread and vegetables, while Furry Mama took Minty out for a walk. Just as they were about to leave, one of their friends turned up, so Cal stayed and made him tea. When Furry Mama got back they were nowhere to be seen! Clever Bird checked the garden. They were in the man shed, discussing man stuff. So Gloria Gardener decided to do a bit of pootling.

Soon all three humans were doing things in the garden while the featheries and furries watched on.

 

It's funny, but at the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage, even on a lovely day, Baggy and Calum would sit inside watching the telly rather than going out. At this house they spend most of their spare time in the garden, even on a not very nice day. It's just so lovely. And the featheries are so tame! Which is exactly what happened today! They have been outside all day and far from doing nothing, have worked their little socks off again. Calum is currently cooking a roast lamb supper as they wait for friends to join them to eat it. Tomorrow, it will be back to the grind stone at the soon-to-be-a.............

Twenty two down, twelve to go.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Yellow.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 1.
Tears: Nope.
Pancakes (Yes/No): Might as well have!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Oh well.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): Given up checking!
Overall day:  👀

As Baggy and Calum stayed over at the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage last night, this morning they were ready to rock-and-roll early! Furry Mama took a very sad-looking Minty Mutt for a wander around his old terrain. The place was like a ghost town; no one around, the little shopping complex all closed up for the day! Why shops and cafés choose not to open on one of the most lucrative days of the year is entirely beyond Clever Bird. She could understand it if it were for religious principles (that would be entirely reasonable), but it isn't. The stuff Freda Fretter worries about!

When they got back, Calum was attacking his floor again, so The Domestic Goddess decided to stay in the sitting room (out of harm's way), and start to paint the ceiling. Not a big deal you think baggees? Well you would be very wrong about that! A normal ceiling probably isn't a big deal, Clever Bird would agree with you there, but there's nothing normal about the soon-to-be-a's ceiling!

Apart from the fact that it's timber-framed, between every beam it has been papered! The paper is over very uneven, ancient, horse-hair plaster, that seems to have been attached directly to the upstairs floorboards.

When any pressure is put on the paper, dust, grit and old plaster falls out from the edges of it. Baggy was being choked and blinded by it every few minutes. One piece of grit had Baggy's eye watering for the next five hours, so number one furry found her the very attractive mask to wear! But at least it did the trick. But oh boy was it hard work! It would be hard anyway, arm in the air, neck bent, balancing on a stepladder, trying to see what's been painted and what hasn't, but with all Baggy's old broken bones and surgeries, it was a proper struggle. She also merrily forgets that she's not actually getting any younger! But in spite of the pain, and the ridiculously shaking hand after half-an-hour's work, it was helping Hormonal Hannah's frame of mind no end.

After four hours of painting, The Goddess had completed twenty two sections. Only another twelve to go. Except that they are all big sections, and of course, that's not counting all the ones in the kitchen, of which there are another twelve!

Baggy's hoping that the exercise might help with bingo-wings. But although there is still a ton of work to do, and it doesn't always feel like it, they are now getting pretty close to having the inside of the house ready to receive all its new bits - beds, bedding, towels, cutlery, oven, rugs, throws, cushions, shower, stair carpet, DVD player, microwave etc etc etc. Eeeeek! However, Clever Bird will be buying none of these items until and unless, they get the go ahead for "change of use" from the council.

She has also realised that Creative Clara's first vintage fair for her Realuv shop is only three weeks off! Freda is trying to work out how Baggy thinks she's going to share the gang out to get everything done in time. Ah well, Bit-at-a-time Betty is trying to see it in little chunks of doability.

Clever Bird has also just discovered how to put a button on this blog, so that you can "follow" it, if you so choose baggees. Well, she thinks she has anyway, so if you'd like to officially follow Baggy please click the button on the top right of the blog. As she has zero followers so far, it would be lovely to have lots of you! Baggy is now off to collapse in a little heap! Happy Easter baggees................

Retreat to a safe distance!

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Blue.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 4.
Tears: A few.
Pancakes (Yes/No): No!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Oh well.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): 12st 9lbs!
Overall day:  😳

It's not been the easiest of days! Baggy, Calum and Minty Mutt headed to the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage for the third day in a row. This is how the floor looked first thing after Cal's efforts of yesterday.

Unfortunately, the "floating-floor" had floated a little over night, under the fridge area and the only way of fixing it was to take up all these pieces and start again. If Clever Bird thought that Cal's language was blue yesterday, she's not quite sure how to describe it today!! The floor kept fighting back. Freda Fretter and Minty Mutt made regular retreats to the front garden to get out of the way of flying tools and lino! But after a very hard day for all concerned, the floor lost the battle and is almost finished!

Just skirting to add and sealant to put around the edges, then The Domestic Goddess can repaint all the skirting boards (without getting paint on the floor!). Clever Bird is not sure who's the most pleased that it's almost done, Calum or Hormonal Hannah, who couldn't cope with the angst. Put it this way, Baggy's sister calls Calum "Bear", and today he wasn't so much a Teddy Bear as a very angry Grizzly one. But Furry Mama realised that it was partly because the poor love was in pain from crawling around the floor for two days; bruising his hands trying to fit the panels and slicing a chunk out of his thumb which required a plaster. Of course there are no plasters anywhere in the house, so electrical tape it was. When Furry Mama asked if it was a bad cut and did it need stitches? The response was "Even if it does it won't be ******* getting any". Hannah and Minty went back to the garden.

Meanwhile, in between avoiding flying objects, painting walls and vacuuming, Clever Bird decided to phone the council about getting a "change of use" for the cottage. She expected a, "Yes, of course, all you need to do is.....". But no, what she actually got was, "A planning officer will look at the history of your house and will call you back to discuss the situation". Hmmmmmm! Clever Bird told Freda Fretter not to panic and will now wait to see how long it takes to get a phone call. That would be about right though wouldn't it baggees? Do all the work, spending a fortune in the process, only to be told that they cannot change the cottage into a holiday business. Number one furry won't be the only one using a lot of Anglo Saxon words if that happens.......

Progress is slow but sure.

Note to readers (my lovely Baggees): For the avoidance of any doubt - every character in this blog is me!!! No Baggy was harmed in its writing.

Baggy's daily state!

Depression (Black = really bad/Grey = not great/Blue = okay/Yellow = sunny day): Yellow.
Anxiety (From 1 = barely any to 10 = gibbering wreck standard): 1.
Tears: No.
Pancakes (Yes/No): That's a bit irrelevant frankly!
Syns (Baggy is allowed 8-15): Sigh.
Weight in her terrifying naked state (Stones and pounds): Daren't check!
Overall day:  😛😛😛😛

Even though they were exhausted from yesterday's antics at the soon-to-be-a-holiday cottage, Baggy and Calum got up relatively early-ish, (well an hour after the alarm went off). Furry Mama dragged number one furry out for a walk with Minty Mutt. Then once again they headed to the other end of Suffolk.

Calum set to on the kitchen floor. As it was decidedly chilly Baggy decided that she wanted to be inside, so she set The Domestic Goddess off with her paint brush. It took a few hours but she managed to finish both bedrooms off - all the bits she couldn't reach before, and to paint the tiny high-up windows. Upstairs is now fully painted. Yay. She was interrupted quite a lot, by the blue language emanating from downstairs, so Furry Mama had to keep zooming downstairs to mutter encouraging words, kneel on boards and make cups of tea, but progress was being made downstairs as well.

Sadly Hormonal Hannah made Creative Clara forget to take her camera, so no progress photos are available, but she'll try to remember tomorrow when they return to the soon-to-be-a once again! As Calum carried on with the kitchen floor, Gloria Gardener loaded all the flower pots from the front garden onto Dodgy truck, to take them home. Then she lifted the rug in the sitting room and replaced it with a smaller one. Although lots is being done, there is still so much to do that it's scary, but they're determined!

Creative Clara's latest sale from her little Etsy shop, Realuv at least paid for another expensive can of paint! This lovely Pastille Burner is on its way to Texas. Baggy's off to bed.........