I have taken to using the train for my commute into Fleet this year; and the time had come to renew the insurance on the X-registration (2000) Honda Civic, plus we had to pay a hefty repair bill to get it to pass its MOT in February.

We decided after a bit of ‘what if’ scenario playing that we can manage with just one car. (One of friends thinks we should be able to manage with no car…but one step at a time!)

So, onto AutoTrader it went last Sunday.  This Sunday it was bought by a lovely couple who drove 3.5 hours from Devon to see it.  After a test drive out to Overton and back, we agreed on a discount because a cambelt was due for replacement.  We sat down outside to enjoy some coffee together, to celebrate the exchange and to fill in the V5C paperwork.

We’re going to put the purchase price towards our summer holiday, and a possible Brompton for me in the future…

Sunflowers almost as big as the fish we caught in the River Test!

We’ve never had sunflowers in our garden that are this tall!

Katya measured one of them to be about 3.1m high (its an estimate because she didn’t get the ladder out of the shed to reach the exact top).

Heck, they were so tall, that they didn’t fit in the frame of the photo!!

Re-building fences

We spent Saturday replacing the old wooden fence along the northern side of our back garden. There’s still a few pieces to go – how on earth will we get behind the shed and green house to put the bolts through the metal upright frame, though?

©BBC

For a while, we have known that our house is haunted by a black cat.

Today, though, I read that drinking coffee can cause visual and aural hallucinations.

So, maybe it wasn’t “real” after all.

Now, what on earth does tea cause?  I definately drink too much of that.

Colourful Acer Tree

Our Japanese Maple (Acer) tree is turning a lovely set of colours this autumn, just like so many trees in Hampshire, and likely all of the UK.