Where were we? Flipping those darn flat pancakes again

[BeachysSandyFlipflops]

Hello, damn quick work there by MNHQ

This weekend has been an endless round of indulgence. Marvellous. Saturday massage then delicious tapas, yesterday lovely Italian lunch plus far too much champagne. Glass at friends' beforehand, glass bought by head chef at the restaurant as he knows friend (oooooh), wine with meal, then a few hours of champers quaffing back at friends'. I don't really remember getting home. Shirt dress remained unsullied, and was hanging in the wardrobe this morning. Hanging up clothes is something I only do when very drunk.

Today, neighbours coming over for afternoon cake, then going to some other friends (who we haven't seen for YEARS) for dinner.

We were supposed to be sanding and painting the bathroom floor.

Ooh let me have a think MsM.

In bird news, NU, I'm with you on the magpies. Hate them with a passion, and their eternal clacking. We seem to have a pair of collared doves in the garden which are also terrorising the poor ickle birdies. Just by being bigger. Spotted a pair of goldcrests in the pine trees 🌲 yesterday which delighted me. The housemartins haven't returned to their old nest this year however. And the baby robins are so loud we had to turn up the telly.

Dh took one look at the weather this morning ( chucking it down) and went in to work, damn him. So am left with
A) chores like ironing
B) cooking stuff for the freezer
C) booking the damn holiday flights and presenting as a done deal later to dh
D) snoozing
E) jumping on flight and taking nocureforLove for lunch

Excellent idea Crem! Hurry up, I'm hungry already...

Oh NU - similar situation here this morning - magpies sitting on neigbour's roof and very distressed blackbird this morning. I may go and investigate - I hope the blackbird's nest is intact - I suspect it's not. .

No bank holiday today as we've just had a long weekend. Two of our school cocoons, which were not supposed to hatch over the weekend have hatched prematurely in the hot weather - we have butterflies with deformed wings - I'm so sad - we still have two cocoons left so keeping fingers crossed.

Good luck with jumping on a flight, Crem .

Sorry you are still grounded Mrs K.

Ok Margarita (Pracatan? )
I wrote this down last time we were in Portugal 🇵🇹

*For views
Rabelos Bar (view of river ) or *
Bareo de Fladgate ( also for tasting Port, this is the place!)

oportocool.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/pateo-das-flores/
Pateo das Flores is a cosy and cool wine bar, modern in style but with old Portuguese dishes. Lots of fish and seafood with an excellent wine list.
oportocool.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/galeria-do-largo/
Galeria do Largo
Now part of a luxe hotel, but the restaurant is in a converted art gallery. Small plates to share at lunchtime. Quite upmarket but busy and with good atmosphere
Merceria Das Flores
www.merceariadasflores.com/en/index.php
This cozy little deli, with wooden tables and chairs and homemade food perfect brunch place if you felt more informal eating better.

Ok that was a complete mess;
Once again
*For views
Rabelos Bar (view of river ) or *
Bareo de Fladgate ( also for tasting Port, this is the place!)

oportocool.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/pateo-das-flores/
Pateo dad Flores is a cosy and cool wine bar, modern in style but with old Portuguese dishes. Lots of fish and seafood with an excellent wine list.
*
oportocool.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/galeria-do-largo/
Galeria do Largo
Now part of a luxe hotel, but the restaurant is in a converted art gallery. Small plates to share at lunchtime. Quite upmarket but busy and with good atmosphere*
*
Merceria D'as Flores
www.merceariadasflores.com/en/index.php*
This cozy little deli, with wooden tables and chairs and homemade food, is a perfect brunch place if you felt more informal eating better.

Crepeys, let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time there was a concrete shed base, lonely and unloved. For many years hidden beneath a decrepit shed and behind an overgrown yew tree, but then recently exposed in all its ugly glory. Its owners were reluctant to remove it, harbouring dreams of a future man-shed being built there (well, one of the owners....the other was just too lazy). As they sat drinking their morning coffee on their shaded patio (no sun until 11am) the owners pondered what to do.....until a shaft of sunlight illuminated the unlovely shed base, and the dream of a Breakfast Patio was born....

Here are some "before" pics.

Ta Dahhh!

It's not perfect - DDad would probably have a few things to say about the quality of construction. We used decking tiles rather than proper decking, which simply fit together in sections, perfectly easy. We had to leave the little paved patio in front because there's a path leading to and from it, which would have been a major task to remove/re-route. And we need to plant more "stuff" in the bed where the yew tree once was. But I'm chuffed to bits - it has given an unloved and grotty part of the garden a bit of purpose!

< applause! >

Fabulous, CV!

Thank you so much, Crem. Will go off and dwell on pleasure once finished a few chores.

That's lovely CV - you are v impressive indeed on the DIY / home improvements front and your projects always look good.

Wow, so impressed, CV. Decking tiles eh? Who knew?

CV looks fab! Our (minuscule) garden is a pit - needs someone to do some serious chopping....

Those decking panels look good CV - and what a difference a day (or two) makes! Are they easy to lay? I have a few square meters of them outside the back door of our rental house, which are decaying and will need replacing when the tenants move out.

I am a widow (again) today to DHs hobby, but at least have DS eating me out of house and home with me for company today.

I can now move normally after my extreme over exertion on Friday, and semi paralysis on Saturday. Got my lovely friend coming round for a Pilates session later. Having a free lesson a week from her has been fab.

I will be gutted when she finally qualifies later this year - I will have to pay

Yes, the tiles are pretty simple to fit - you just join them in sections underneath, using mending plates, the flip over. You can also get types that click together like flooring. It's thanks to the MN DIY threads that I discovered this marvellous shortcut. As I said, you wouldn't want to hold a disco on it, but there won't be much footfall.

Discovery of the day/week/year: if you don't drink much alcohol you don't get a hangover. Who knew?????)

I am knackered and having a kip with a novel but that is lack of sleep, not booze. Have made it back from skool reunion in one piece.

Once again, who knew???!

Looks lovely CV

Well done, MI! I keep dropping off in this muggy weather without needing any booze.

in S&B news:

DS40 will get you 40% off any Lands End dress or sandals today.

However, I think most of us are now sorted for sandals, eh?

Oh yes. Tho I have just had a look and the Land's End sandals make Hotter look like [insert name of cool sandal maker cos I don't know any]. And I am big Land's End fan (for fleeces and sports wear).

I'm still looking Fluffy. Not hot enough or me in Hotter. Only lukewarm. Thanks for the linky.

I too am snoozy today. Had to have a lie down earlier. Feeling distinctly Crepey as it is cold and damp today.

I've had a good day today; hardcore gardening this morning, pulling out, hacking stuff, getting muddy, then pub lunch with returning festival girlies and then curled up with crap film on Netflix......I even had a pint of cider at lunchtime

In other S&B news: I bought a bra, full-price, with fitter's advice in Bravissimo recently. A few wears on I realise it just isn't completely the right size (how much bigger can my knockers get, ffs? I'm not particularly putting on weight!) or comfortable. I do want to drop a few pounds - I suppose this could be my wake up call - but also should I just consider ditching it? Rather then continuing with sunken costs fallacy?

Good work CV!

I have had a busy day with a lovely family walk with friends this morning plus picnic, and then a garden party with DD this afternoon - adults and teens so she is still there...