Lupin the Loop

After yesterday's black mood, the picture has stayed b&w, but the day was altogether brighter. Despite a largely sleepless night with all the worries in the world nudging me in turn for their share of my nighttime, it was a nice day all round.

Some shopping in the morning persuading an electrical wholesaler that he really did want to sell to us (though I fear if we'd told him the use to which we were going to put the cable protector he might have changed his mind - it's to frost protect a water pipe...) and looking for a birthday present for Katherine. And also a chat with our favourite DIY store staff member (and neighbour) who confirmed that her son would be delighted to water our garden while we're away in summer (the expansion of our 'one week in Scotland and maybe a few days with my folks' trip to a four week Grand Tour has made this gardener grumpy). So I invested in some more plants, of course!

After lunch, off to Castres for more shopping - including a trip to a Troc (second hand/junk shop) where we were tempted by all manner of gothic sideboards before settling on a very sensible mirror and some cups. With a big van I could do a lot of damage to my credit card in that place... More shopping and we finally chose Katherine's birthday present - which will be revealed on the big day in case she chances on this page...

On the way home we stopped at a very fancy looking wood place - that sells the kind of wood you build a house with - and managed to convince the man there that he could sell to us even though we were clearly not a business. I think explaining that Mr B's dad used to build houses in wood helped, as well as Mr B's obvious knowledge of all things wood. So we may have found a supplier for our decking and for a few new beams needed to, erm, hold the house up... Now, all we need is a job/lottery win/bunch of cash to fall out of the sky...

The lupin's coming out. And, grudgingly, the geraniums are looking quite pretty. Still can't bring myself to like them though. Must earth up the potatoes tomorrow...