Anyone know if @tangocat.bsky.social is okay? She hasn't posted anything in a while.

Happy Gotcha Day, Miss Hettie. A whole year of slovening with us at Sloven Gardens. My little almost-toothless darling,

Just read an article about a man who suffered "rhabdomyolysis, external, a life-threatening medical emergency caused by rapid, extensive skeletal muscle breakdown, which can be brought on by extreme exertion." Taking no chances. A morning in bed, I think. Hettie agrees and is lolling beside me.

My body is a temple. Ruined. In danger of collapse. With warnings to keep people away from the wobbly bits.

Sloven's tip of the day: If you're right-handed, get yourself a pair of left-handed nail scissors. Then, when your gardening-battered right hand nails break, you can cut them easily. No need to thank me.

One of the things I love best about Bluesky (and Twatter) is seeing the chats between people who've known each other on social media for a long time. I find them rather heartwarming. Keep it up, you lovely lot.

Who was it? Come on, own up. Who put us on to the French drama about a wartime village? Hooked. Thank you!

Morning, gang. Can someone tell me where the warm weather has gone? Heating back on last night and it's not much warmer this morning.

Today has been sh!t. But in a good way: 8 bags of well-rotted horse manure for the garden. Now we just need some rain, please, Mother Nature. A little this afternoon, but even I could dodge the drops, so sparse were they.

@doodleslave.bsky.social Hello - was it you who recommended Un Village Francais? We are loving it!

In other news, my OH is using cable ties to tie cables. Is this a first? I have never known them to be used for this purpose.

Such a relief: East Surrey goes to the Lib Dems, even with a few seats still to count.

Is anyone taking bets on how soon the first Reform councillor will resign or be sacked?

Wonderful wisteria at Wisley this afternoon. A therapeutic wander with my oldest pal. The scent was glorious - of the wisteria, that is.

I have a flowering cactus. It flowers in October and April/May. It says it identifies as non-binary, refusing to be categorised as a Christmas cactus or an Easter one.

You were all so lovely and reassuring. But I had a panic attack on the table in theatre and was shaking too much for them to do the op so Mission Abort. They'll do both eyes under general anaesthetic later in the year. What a neurotic idiot!

Two little long-tailed tits in the crab apple tree have made my morning. My favourite garden bird. Feathery lollipops.

Cataract op this afternoon. I know from OH's experience and other people's reassurances that it's painless and worthwhile. The rational part of my brain is reassured. The irrational part of my brain says it'll hurt like stink, it'll go wrong and I'll be blind in that eye and won't be able to drive.

"I'm really, really, really hungry!" said Hettie. I put down beef flavour Felix. "Well, not THAT hungry, obviously," said the contrary little madam. #BlueskyCats

Off later for a family bash to mark the 11th b/day of g/child no 3 later this week. I have made koeksisters to take, for I am a goddess.

"I'm cooking for 6," I told him. "Fine," he said, distractedly. To test whether he was listening, I added, "and as there are only 2 of us, that should leave us plenty." "Okay," he said. Knew he wasn't listening.

Thanks to the wise and wonderful @fdb.graphics , here is my skircle. What a fabulous lot you are.

Here goes, in no particular order. Bluestone 42 The Bridge Blue Lights Blue Peter Humans Giri/Haji Hill St Blues Champion the Wonder Horse Gardener's World The Thick of It House of Cards Would I Lie to You Have I Got News for You The Tunnel Prime Suspect

The perfect accomplice for a sloven: Hettie, licking the buttery fingerprints off my laptop. Well done, that cat.

Home. Five and a half consecutive days of childcare, 3 with animal care too. Frankly, the animals were more of a challenge than the children this time. Miss Hettie is suitably delighted to have me back. Tomorrow will be a day of proper slovening.

I don't know who wrote the King's speech but they hit just the right tone and he delivered it spot on. Bravo. And I'm not even a royalist.

Valuable lesson learned by the 13yo: when the young cat appears to need a poo, better to bring his tray to him rather than pick him up. I have cleaned up the scattered poo, washed the various soft toys and crocheted blanket that got caught in the crossfire and cleaned the carpet. I want to go home.

"I need a poo," Cally-collie announced at 3am, standing pointedly by the bedroom door while the other dogs & I bathed in the miasma from her rear end. So down we went, the dogs went out one by one (at my insistence) to relieve themselves, and we all trooped back upstairs. The kids? No trouble.

Poor Hettie's start to the day was a ding-dong with Scrawny Black Cat who came in to eat her breakfast. Tufts of hair in the laundry, frightened Hettie's piddle on the doormat, wailing and batting to-and-fro of the cat flap. The bloody creature is getting more bold and more aggressive. My poor baby.

Not only was I fashion designer and seamstress but also an orthopaedic surgeon. The porcelain doll was dropped on the hard kitchen floor, necessitating back surgery. I managed not to superglue my fingers together (which I've done in the past) and she'll only have a small scar. I amaze myself.

And here she is. Just under 6" tall. The smallest clothes I've made.

And now I must get up and make a crop top and jeans for the newest dolls' house doll. The 8yo and 6yo have stayed the night and have been politely insistent.

Loropetalum - my latest indulgence. Absolutely glorious! (Not my pic, but it looks just like this.)

"What are you doing?" I asked Hettie as she thundered the length of the house. "Found some Big Boots," she said, "and I'm working up an appetite for my supper." And with that she threw in a little circuit training, leaping onto then off an armchair mid-thunder.

Right. I'm going to de-scale the kettle. Cover me, guys, I'm going in...

While I read at night, squashed at the edge of the bed, Miss Hettie sprawls across the middle (or lies on me). As soon as the light goes off, she heads off to spend the night in her own bedroom.

The 13yo's b/day pres t-shirt "Am I perfect? No. Am I trying to be a better person? Also no." has been well received. It's the truth, he says.

Morning, gang. Up far too early, though I haven't opened the curtains yet so may slide back into sleep. Meanwhile, may I offer you: Nominative determinism of the day - chef and food historian, Dr Neil Buttery.

Is the tide turning? My brother in SAfrica, a big fan of Trump hitherto, messages: "He's lost the plot...needs a straightjacket." There must be others turning away from him, too. We can but hope.

Today's Sloven's top tip: Ensure that you put the tea bag in the MUG, rather than the milk jug, before pouring in the water.

Gift from my daughters was to have my DNA done. No surprise: mainly Scots/Irish on both sides; English and Indian on mother's side. Big surprise: bit of Icelandic (father's) and bit of Netherlands (mother's).

Woo hoo - well done, Hungary!

I'm pleased to report that Miss Hettie has upped her game and spent the night on my bed, despite my moans and groans and occasional shrieks as I attempted the painful process of tossing and turning. Well done, that cat.

Sloven's top tip for today: When your ribs are bruised from a tumble earlier in the week, do not engage in energetic weeding of the driveway. No need to thank me.

If pain relief lasting 24 hours was available for Hettie when she had cystitis, why isn't it possible for humans to have pain relief lasting even 8 hours? All the over-the-counter stuff, and even prescription meds, are 4 hours only. This doesn't permit an undisturbed night of sleep.

Pass me the blue beret. Off to daughter's for peacekeeping duties while she goes to a funeral. Dogs, cats, children (14, nearly 13, nearly 11) and sundry other creatures.

The man from Plumbs is back to do the proper, final measurements. I've shut him in the sitting room to keep out Miss Hettie, after her disgraceful behaviour last time.

“The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.” Well said, Spain.