Awake and up all night

My favourite programmes in the early 60s were Andy Pandy, Fireball XL5 and the Outer Limits.

My eldest girl's, when a toddler, were Mosschops, Stop, Look, Listen and all the School progs that were aimed at older kids.

My youngest girl loved all things girly and music related. Mister Men were a big favourite with them both, and all three of us loved cartoons.

I wish they'd put Looney Tunes on again xxx

This isn't our tree, as it belongs to the bloke who lives over the way, but the ivy is ours. The weeds that also belong to us have been cunningly left out of shot xxx

I'd forgotten about Bill and Ben! I loved those too...and the Wooden Tops!

Nice colour. There's a large Hawthorn tree in the corner of my garden which is covered with whitish blooms. Very pretty until I start sneezing. Last week when my son removed the honeysuckle which had become a tangled mess along the fence, smothering other shrubs and a young Magnolia tree, we thought the Magnolia tree would appreciate having some room but it seems to be dying. Do trees suffer from shock?

 They might do Ray, but you could also have broken up a long-term relationship xxx

Ok.  I'll go out there and try my hand at tree counselling. On a different subject, someone just knocked on my door. 9 times out of 10 it will be cold callers but sometimes it is a neighbour. However, it takes me so long to gather my sticks and tuck my catheter bag and tube in my clothing before slowly shuffling to the door that every caller has gone by the time I open the door. I therefore do not react at all these days. One or two cheeky cold callers will tap on my bay window but I act stone deaf, do not look round, and carry on reading or gazing at the Mac's screen. I need a "No Cold Callers' sticker or a drum of boiling oil for more persistent knockers (inspired by medieval castle antics). Family have their own keys to let themselves in when visiting.

I'm with you on the cold callers Ray, and especially like your boiling oil solution. To add to the mediaeval theme, a bow and a quiver of arrows could be thrown into the mix - rubber tipped, of course.

We're quite lucky in a way, living off the beaten path, as that often deters trick or treaters and their ilk. The downside is parcel deliveries are a complete nightmare! 

None of my relatives live remotely close, so no need to dish out keys. OH's mother isn't getting one just because xxx

Just throw a spear at them.

That made me laugh. 

I need two sticks to stabilise myself because both hip joints have very little movement (osteoarthritis), making it difficult to shift my feet to maintain balance, so spears although appealing would not work too well with me .  Trapdoors I like. A moat and drawbridge would be nice but not sure if the neighbours would approve. 

Just to prove I'm really a softy at heart, yesterday my son put the heavy wheelie bins out but I brought them almost all the way back to my house when emptied. Next door's large tabby cat was lying on the narrow pathway close to my back gate. It looked up as I approached with each bin as if to say ' I'm warm, comfortable and would like another 15 minutes here.'  I smiled, left the bins until 30 minutes later when he had gone, then parked them back in the garden. I feel we are developing a good working  relationship i.e. I fit my plans in around his.