Autumn flowers

And foliage. At Trentham Gardens, I love the colour combinations, yellows and purples, reds, oranges and greens. Really rusty beautiful sculptures are inserted into the borders to add to the joyous jumble. Giant bees jostle metal flowers, knopthalia (red hot poker plants) and crimson and variegated Coleus add their foliage flames to the fire. Makes you feel warm on a dreary day.

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George

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George was a good cat. If he climbed on windowsills he would carefully place his paws so he didn’t knock over the vases. If he climbed to the top of the bookcase, somehow he would not knock the books down. Even if paint was spilled on the floor he could avoid walking through it. Oh George was a clever cat. He could be seen in the window of the house. Not looking out, but looking into the room. A twinkle in his eye.

George had one bad habit. He chased the goldfish in the bowl. It would hide behind the plastic castle in the corner. Waiting for George, who could stare for hours, to get bored and go away.

One day it was cold and grey, the weather was stormy, and George decided to look out of the window and watch the trees waving in the wind. Suddenly a bolt of lightening struck one of the tallest trees. There was an almighty cracking noise, and a huge branch came down hitting the window and smashing it. George jumped out of the way just in time, his paws softly landing on the carpet. But then he saw the goldfish, it’s bowl had been knocked over. He sniffed it as it lay flapping on its side. But, instead of eating the fish he carefully gripped the tip of its tail in his mouth and ‘plop’, dropped it back into the half full bowl. Then he placed himself next to the bowl and watched the fish swim.

He likes his coat.

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Boy cat likes hubbies coat. If he gets a chance he will jump up and poddle it, (knead it with his front paws).

My hubby was in the garden earlier then left his coat on the armchair. Up comes uss catand jumps up. Now he’s curled up, snuggled. Must be a boy thing, scent and all that. He never sleeps on my coat (mind you I do hang mine up!). The trouble is when hubby comes in to sit down, cats snaffled his chair. They stare at each other. Will boy cat move? Hubby looks at him, he looks at hubby. I say ‘are you wanting to sit on your seat?’ Hubby lifts cat up, claws attached to coat! Cat comes and poddles my knee!

Singing

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I’ve missed singing for the last couple of weeks, one choir I’m in breaks up for the summer and the leader of the other is away on holiday. I love the boost singing gives me. It releases endorphins which improve your mood and helps lower stress. What prompted this was hearing an item on a radio programme where choirs who have a complaint about something ( like the price of fuel?) get together and write a song about the issue then sing it out. The idea is you sing cheerfully but express your complaint. Apparently this is happening all over the world. The item was on BBC radio 4 and may be on the BBC sounds app.

Cats chasing

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He looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, but two minutes ago he and his sister were chasing each other up and down the stairs, up on bookcases and rushing in and out of the kitchen and bathroom. 15673777863805383340281126178247

Now his sister is playing with a cat toy and is ignoring him! Does anyone else have cats that have mad half hours? Pouncing and chasing. Basically getting up to mischief and having fun. I wish I’d got some photos! 

Colouring in

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It’s doing it again, saving to draft failed. Buy I’m hoping that if I just post this without editing it, perhaps it will post?

Anyway my hubby has been having fun colouring this cat in. I guess it really doesn’t matter that it’s green, as long as he is enjoying doing it. Adult colouring books seem to be the in thing these days. They are good to take your mind off things, they give you the relaxation you need, using enough concentration to give you ‘flow’.

More people could use this technique to help themselves to calm their minds. Life is too stressful, and maybe something gentle like this, taking your mind off things, could help?

Anyway it has posted x. I still don’t understand the draft posting warning I’m getting. Anyone know why?

Learning the trumpet

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This is the finger positions fit the New world symphony that Im trying to learn. I can get the lower notes ( I still need to learn which notes are which). One thing with loud music being played outside is that no one can hear the notes I’ve been murdering in here!

I need to get my lips stronger to get a good embouchure. Practice is the only way to do it. At the moment the air escapes from the side of my mouth instead of going down the trumpet. Then there is the moisture from your breath. That’s why you have drainage holes to let it out.

Anyway maybe I will learn it well enough to play to people? We will see.