Mid afternoon 31C in the garden.

I had an appointment this morning at 10.30am. As Stephen took the car into the garage in Lichfield for its yearly service, I knew I would have to walk up to our local shops.
As it happens, it was a good thing!
I found I managed it very well.
There was a song the children used to sing in Primary school years ago in Assembly, “One more step along the world I go……
From the old things to the new
Keep me travelling along with you”.
I was elated by the fact that today, having rested a bit more recently, I made it with only one or two twinges in the usual places.
I treated myself to a coffee after my appointment, before walking back once more.
I met someone I knew, accidentally, from my 5 years with the Sutton Coldfield Choral Society, when I used to sing with them. I love Choral Music.
We had a good chat before I set off back.
She looked at me amazed when I explained I’d had two new hips! She’d spotted my folding walking stick. (I didn’t need to use it!)
When I said I was setting off back home, as she knew my address she said “That’s a bit of a tidy step!”
Altogether there and back it was 3,868 steps for that particular walk.
I’ll take that then!
It was so encouraging.
Since then, as I’ve been pottering about, it’s gone up But that doesn’t matter really.
I cleaned the bird baths first thing, and just watered a couple of big pots in which I am growing some sunflowers. The water butt is full.
Then after lunch it has been too hot to do much else, so here I am in the garden under the patio umbrella.
All the blinds and curtains at the front of the house are closed.
I’ve finished my book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written.
I’m now about halfway through my French one. I like the author Patrick Modiano. It suits me.
Our friend is coming for her tea again as usual after work. We’ll be eating out here.
Yesterday I so enjoyed the visit to the Fairy Garden. I cannot post photos of our grandchildren on Social Media, or I could have shown them at work, after we got back,drawing windows and doors on some wooden offcuts with special pens you can use on glass, wood and plastic, from the new sleepers we had to repair the edges of the flowerbeds. They were each roughly the shape of a house.
Pebbles were gathered from around the garden. Our soil has lots! These were to make garden walls. They decided this all by themselves.
Now the houses are both sitting underneath the old Apple tree I will have to look for some accessories, like toadstools and little doors to attach to the tree.
They stayed for lunch as their mum is not too well, and their dad had to take the two lads to a booked activity and would be back by mid afternoon.
He called in to collect them a bit later on.
I had an exchange on Messenger a bit later this afternoon, with someone we know who has just had her first baby, a little girl.She and her husband live in Minneapolis.
I’ve now managed to order something to be sent via Amazon US.
I know folk don’t like the company, but it is so much cheaper than sending it from here.
I use Amazon Aus when sending stuff to my nephew and family in Sydney.
Well it’s still roasting here but there is a bit of a breeze wafting around as I sit in the shade.
I had my breakfast out here too around 7:30 am.
Making the most of it.
It does come with consequences, however, reservoirs are so low, and lots of places have hosepipe bans. Our son remarked on our top lawn being so dry.
Tomorrow is going to be just as hot. Phew!