As we have had quite a few periods of hot weather here in the UK, which is unusual for us, our gardens and more particularly the land has become very dry. The last time it was like this in the UK was 1976 which I remember very well. I was at Senior School and I remember walking to and from school and everywhere looked like a desert, especially our school playing fields where the grass disappeared and the ground started to crack through lack of water.
It has certainly been brown and dry but not quite ground cracking yet. It has also meant that around the country our Fire Services have been dealing with a lot of Moorland fires and fires that have started on land which is very dry. Eldest was out a lot with his Station on a big Moorland fire in the Peak District and then just before we all went away, at a big farm where their entire hay and straw bales went up.
Around the country there have been a few other Moorland fires and sadly one fire got out of hand and did destroy some homes which is, of course, devastating for the home owners. Several farmers have had crops set on fire too and of course this is their livelihood. Some of these fires have been from careless use of BBQ’s and discarding of rubbish. If they are caught they are now being fined.
So Thank You to all Firefighters, Forestry Workers, Mountain Rescue Teams, Land Agents, Farmers and people who have provided support be it with help fighting the fires, food and drinks and clearing up afterwards. In a normal year Eldest’s call outs are pretty steady but they have been doing double duty this summer.
It just shows you how different our weather can be, because at the start of 2026 we had fifty days of rain from January into February. We thought then that we would never see the sun again!!!!
It has just been announced that the great Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80. I think we all have one of her songs that we like and mine was “9 to 5”. In my early career I was a secretary so this song was very apt.
It is a lot cooler than it has been recently and so Mom sent me for a Spa day! It always happens as soon as I have all the floof cut off it goes cold!! Mom says I look and smell a lot better though.
You know how I love to jump up at the window to look out, well when Mom and Dad came to fetch me from my holiday I was busy looking out. Mom suspects I spent all my time outside doing this!!!
Here I am waiting for my clean collar after my bath.
It has been cool the last few days too but I have been spending lots of time outside. This weekend is a long weekend so I have Mom and Dad all to myself and they are going to be doing jobs at home.
I hope you are having a lovely summer Woofy Week. Coco xx
We are back from our holidays and we had a lovely relaxing two weeks. The first week Eldest and crew were with us and we got to do some fun things and then it was just DH and I the second week. On the way back with got to see Youngest and crew as well which was lovely.
Last week I spent the week getting on top of all the work and also Eldest’s work, as well as jobs around our home and of course the washing!
Coco and Honey went for their Spa day on Friday and Coco now looks very skinny instead of fluffy. The heat has got a lot less in the last few weeks but it is around 21°C which normally would be really warm here but since we have been experiencing 35°C, 21 is cold!!! We have had some rain which has helped the gardens a lot, although our lawn is still brown and dry. I will get some pictures.
I did get to read a few books whilst away so I will be showing you those in a week or so.
Last weekend was Eldest’s Birthday so we had dinner at home which was great and this week is a little quieter work wise. This coming weekend is a long weekend for us in the UK and am hoping that the weather will be kind as I would like to get some jobs done at home and in the garden too. We did have to get the engineer out to repair our tumble dryer and of course it needs a part which is on order. They are hopefully coming on Friday to sort it out. Friday is going to be a little manic as DH’s truck needs a service, the engineer is coming, I also have a hair appointment and grocery shopping too!!! We also have to go over to Eldest as it is one of the Girls Birthday so that will be fun.
There has been a shake up at the swimming club and with one thing and another I am now back doing the Quality Standard work and the submission needs to be done by the first week of October so I need to get my skates on to do that. We will also be doing the Membership renewals again in November which has come round quickly!!!
I have seen quite a few people talking about Autumn already. I know that we are in the last few weeks of Summer but I always feel that people are rushing into the next thing, especially as I am also seeing a lot about Christmas already! Now you know, if you have followed me for a while, that I love to be organised for Christmas and get things done early but this year I have decided that I am not going to do it! It seems that from the start of September it is ALL Christmas and nothing else happens and it is then a head long rush to the Big Day on December 25th!!! Well I have decided I am not going to get sucked in to this, this year. In fact I have decided that I am not going to do anything about Christmas until AT LEAST November!!! I will see how that plan goes!!
Years ago before the Boys were born DH and I did not do Christmas until middle or end of November and we would choose one Saturday and go out and shop for all the gifts we needed to buy and we had a lovely day. So that is the plan this year. We are going to pick one Saturday and do the Christmas shopping then.
I do not want to rush through Autumn and all the things that happen during then in this mad rush to get to Christmas. We have quite a few nice things happening, there is Goose Fair at the beginning of October, Halloween at the end, Bonfire Night at the beginning of November and several other things we have on too. DH and I are away for a week in November over our Wedding Anniversary (Coco is coming too) and a couple of dinners too. Christmas Day this year is going to look different for us as well so that does mean a bit of re-arranging. We also have Little Man coming to stay for the week at the beginning of September as well so that week will be busy!!!!
I hope you are all having a wonderful Summer and enjoying the last few weeks before we step into Autumn. Where has this year gone to?
Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx
Because it has been so hot this year in the UK, our Farmers have been harvesting the wheat and other crops in July and early August a lot earlier than most years. This means that the ploughing matches are earlier too.
This day always falls when we are away on vacation and it is great for me as I can read to my heart’s content!!! Despite the middle shelf above being one of three of my TBR shelves (!) I have bought, while we are away, three more books to add to the growing list!!! Being away also means that I can actually go the Bookshop, which the last few months I have not had the time to do so!! Of course they also had a “buy one, get one half price” so I had to take advantage of that.
I have so far read Jayne;s and my Book Club book for August, a Clive Cussler book, I have just started a Riley Sager book and I have my book that DH bought me for Christmas which Is very long and I want to start before we head back!!!
I hope you have time to read today and this week and I will see you all when I get back next week.
Hugs & Love Susie xx
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