08-07-25

Good morning, everyone.  Yesterday started a bit damp but cheered up as the day went on.  It wasn't particularly warm but no complaints - it's going to be maybe a bit too hot by the weekend, say the weather people.

My shoes and my bag were still pretty damp yesterday morning so, as soon as I could, I put the line up and hung them out.  Worked a treat.  My bag is now ok again and my nice running/walking shoes are proper day.  They might feel a but stiff at first when I put them on, but it will be OK, I am sure.

And the camera is now fine.  It went through a spell of not talking to the laptop yesterday but that has righted itself now, thankfully.

I had to take this photo - there are so many cucumbers coming on now - they do seem to grow quickly once they are pollinated so by the end of next week I might be able to start picking.

There's also two more tomatoes ripening, both yellow.  Things are getting exciting!

Diane turned up for lunch and we had a lovely time catching up.  She is such a lovely lady.

Today starts with Groove and later I have another friend popping round for lunch.  Like me and Diane, she is watching her weight so I won't be breaking my healthy eating thing.

I ought to do something about my bedroom again.  How do bedrooms get so messy and out of sorts so quickly?  I know I sleep better in a tidy bedroom so it's worth the effort.

Before I even think about the bedroom, mind, I MUST get to grips with the paperwork for the last governors' meeting of the year tomorrow evening.  I won't have much time to do it tomorrow.

So it's a busy-ish day today but, as long as I keep going, it isn't too much at all.

Better go - it is time for the first coffee.  Have a lovely day, everyone.  Take care and stay safe.  xx

07-07-25

Morning, all.  I've woken up to a thoroughly wet garden (three cheers) that looks a bit dismal in the early morning light but it also looks cheerful and well hydrated.  No need to water for a few days now, that's for sure.

I don't know about here, but over Hampton Court way, there were two horrendous downpours, accompanied by lightning and high winds in the afternoon and I bet there was more later too.  Round here, the roads were soaking and puddly so I am presuming much the same.

Anyway, back to yesterday morning.  I got to the picking up point nice and early, as I always to to make sure I get a spot handy for getting out afterwards!

Such a coincidence - the lady I sat next to lives in the house backing onto mine (with a walk through between) and her children were at the school at the same time as mine - I remember the names and I think the girl might have been in my choir but it's a very long time ago.
And on the coach was a couple, the lady of whom was a dinner lady and another lady whose son I taught in Y1.

On to the photos:  I'm glad to have them because . . . well, I'll explain that later.

There were a number of display areas that were not proper garden setups, just garden centre displays.  As it was last day, display plants were for sale, to be picked up at 4:30 - no good for us as we were due to leave at that time.

I won't inflict too many plant/flower photos, but there were some stunning ones.  These were part of a huge display of lilies and the impact was stunning.

One of the many entertainments was a children's singing group called We Are The Voice.  

https://www.wearethevoice.org.uk/

They sing about climate, the environment and caring for the planet and they were lovely.  I grabbed a chair and listened to them for ages.  Not choir-y voices, just honest to goodness children's voices, singing from the heart.
Memorable.

 

You can see that it was a pretty cloudy morning, comfortably cool.  People were picnicking along the Long Water and there was even a posh stall selling Fortnum and Mason picnic hampers.  I didn't even ask the price!!

There were loads of interesting looking food stalls of all kinds, street food rather than purely fast food.  I didn't - but I did enjoy a very nice (and very expensive) double scoop ice cream!  Naughty but nice.

There were some very interesting planted 'gardens'.

This one was really pretty .

People were queueing to go in and look round so I didn't bother.

Of course, I hit the Home and Lifestyle area good and hard, of course.  There were some lovely stalls; nothing craft based in the sense of make-it-myself stuff, but there was some beautiful stuff.

All these flowers are crocheted, would you believe?  They were just amazing!

A close up.  Wow.

I did ask if there were patterns for sale but no such luck!

This is all hand embroidery.  It almost looked like a photograph.

Unsurprisingly, it was well outside my price range - £4,500!  Eeek.
Mind you, fair enough - there was some extremely skilled and detailed work going on.
If I ever win big on my premium bonds, that's the sort of thing I will indulge in.  Things like that and there was also some lovely garden sculpture sort of stuff, stone carvings in organically flowing shapes.  I'd be concerned about leaving them in the garden, the value of some of them.  They're the sort of thing you design a whole garden around.

Not hand sewn, I think, but so detailed.  This was a bed cover - beautiful but too heavy for me.

There was also some very lovely jewellery on a number of stalls. 
I was looking for something nice for my friend, Diane, who is eighty this month, and I found my main gift to her.   I won't show it here in case she sees it but I so hope she likes it.

There were food and drink stalls in abundance, mostly with nibbles to try (one reason why I didn't go for any kind of lunch) and they were very popular indeed.

I indulged!

There were loads of garden equipment stalls and I was greatly tempted by a composter that makes your garden compost in eight to ten weeks.  You know what I mean - it's a kind of barrel that you rotate now and again to accelerate the composting process.  I am seriously thinking about it.  Do any of you have one?  How do you find it?

(photo borrowed from the Amazon site)

And then there was the weather.
We had a very sudden and severe downpour around lunch time.  I was under an avenue of trees so it wasn't so bad, even when the wind got up for a brief time.  I was lucky.

Then the sun came out again and all was lovely.

Until . . .

As we were queueing for the shuttle bus to take us out to the coach park, it started again, a proper storm with high winds that our macs and brollies could not completely protect us from.

My jeans were soaked, my shoes were like fish ponds (minus the fish!), my bags got drenched but my top half was almost dry so I suppose they did offer a bit of protection.  It's not nice squelching along in sodden shoes and socks!

Along came the shuttle bus, we got back to the coach park and out came the sun again.  Typical!

When I go home, I sorted out my wet contents.  Fortunately, the gift seems to have been well protected but everything else was wet - the wrappings, I mean.  Inside my back bag was very damp although the phone worked OK.  Not so the camera though and earlier this morning it was still not opening properly.  As it happens, my laptop has a card reader so I was able to get the photos off.  I've just tried again and it has opened so fingers crossed.

Apart from the rain, it was absolutely lovely at the Flower Show.  I'll go again next year, if there's a trip organised.  Next time, I will probably take my fold up trolley for plants because there were a few I would have bought.  They had those trolleys for sale but I already have two that I used for school and really didn't want another.

So - fingers crossed re the camera and I'm considering the compost maker - or something similar; I know there are cheaper ones.  Any advice?

The next coach trip is at the end of July to Brighton.  Fingers crossed for good weather - please . . .

Edit:  I got my fridge magnet.  Not a Hampton Court one, a RHS flower show one.  Perfect.

05-07-25 - evening

Good evening, everyone!  I'm posting this now because tomorrow I will be out on a coach trip to Hampton Court Flower Festival, leaving home quite early so it seemed sensible to post this evening instead.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow although, of course, it would be the weekend that the fine weather breaks.  However, it means we won't have to endure baking heat or fight for the shady spots as we go round - that's a plus, for sure.  It looks interesting and there's loads of talks and demos going on .I've looked on the site and it doesn't seem that they have to be booked so it's a case of what you know, you know.  With that in mind, I will be shelling out a tenner on a programme that should tell me everything I need to know.

I've got my bags packed - the bag I leave on the coach and the bag I take round with me.  I wonder whether I will spend any more than the programme and a few souvenirs (fridge magnet, perhaps?)

I had another round of bread making in Thermione.  Same recipe, different end product.  I wanted a roll for my packed lunch tomorrow and plus one for my burger this evening and I though 'why not.  The diagonal scoring worked much better for these rolls, I think.

The recipe made nine and the others are in the freezer for other times.

I had an interesting communication the other day.  Longer term readers might possibly remember that I took out a funeral plan after I retired but, unfortunately, the company went bankrupt as a result of much higher than expected Covid claims and we were given to understand that there was nothing left for repayments/compensation.  I was a bit miffed as I had paid in full but it is what it is and no-one could have foreseen the catastrophe that was Covid.

However, since then the liquidators have been at work and it seems that there will be some sort pay-out after all, pro rata, I believe, around November time.  I needed to confirm a few details (not bank details or anything personal) so I did that and sent it straight back off again.
So that was a bit of positive news.
I found another way of making sure Beth, Dave and Alex don't have to shell out anything before probate is granted or take out any expensive loans.  No more funeral plans for me, thank you!

Yesterday the fan arrived and I am very pleased with it.  It's more neat and compact than a pedestal fan, sends out plenty of cool air, has six (I think) speeds and a night time setting and is controlled by a gizmo (which I had better not lose!).  And it oscillates.  Oh, and yes, it is a lot quieter too.
I've ordered another one for my bedroom!

And finally -

I asked would this be red or orange.  The answer is 'yellow'.  Of course it is!!  :-)

The chillies can be seen quite clearly now.

Despite my reservations regarding how there are planted, they seem to be going great guns.  No baby corns yet though.
Fingers are crossed.

That's all folks.  Have a great day tomorrow and I'll be back Monday, maybe with some photos of my trip.

xx

05-07-25

 Good morning, everyone.  We've had another nice, cool night round here; it's cloudy at the moment and predicted to stay so all day.  No hint of rain though but not to worry, cool is good however it presents.

I had fun making the baguettes and this is how they turned out:
The yeasted dough . . .

What they looked like pre baking and before the sprinkle and score. It's a half and half dough, hence the specked-ness.

And oh, yes!!

OK, so different sized (not a problem) and I needed to slash them deeper as there was great oven-spring and they split along the sides but that's OK too.

But how did they taste?

This was how the sourdough worked.  Again, great oven spring and inadequate scoring - see how it has blown out at the side - although I did try.

Neither baguette was proper crusty.

I gave two to Beth and Alex, enjoyed some for dinner and the rest is in the freezer now.
As for the taste - delicious!  Not authentic - thet were half and halfs for a start, but that's fine, they tasted great which is the most important thing.

I'm going to have another try today but the yeasted version, not the sourdough, because I don't wand anything hanging over until tomorrow.

This was how I enjoyed them.  :-)  Oh, it was good.  Home made bread, home made chutney, home churned butter (from the leftover Christmas cream) and see how good I was just having one of those mini bottles of wine.  😇

Naughty but nice!

The cookery 'class' wasn't plain sailing in that there was obviously a problem with the batter - far too much milk to flour and egg so it simply wouldn't cook, it just made a splurgy mess in the pan.  Embarrassing.

I tried another pan and it was the same so it wasn't me.

So I quickly knocked up a batch of ordinary pancakes and on we went.  Alex took to ladling and swirling the batter round the pan like a pro, bless him.

The filling was a tomato sauce with cheese and spinach and it was absolutely delicious.  Adaptable too.  The photos is my portion.
It was a shame about the pancakes though because the 'splurgy mess' tasted fab.
I wasn't going to waste the batter without a fight so, after Alex had gone, I halved the failed batter and to one half I added another egg and 40g plain flour and it worked perfectly.  So it was the recipe, not my lack of skill!!  I did the same for the other half and now there's ten big carrot crepes rolled and wrapped and in the freezer.  I'll take them over to Beth and Alex at some point.  He also took home a dish with three more filled pancakes to freeze and have at a later date.

Tomorrow is totally filled so today I will be mostly chilling, just doing things I want to do and prepping for tomorrow.  I won't be able to post tomorrow so I'll probably do an early one this evening instead.  However, if I don't, I'll be back Monday.

Have a wonderful day, all!  xx

04-07-25

Morning, my lovelies.  How are you all today?

I woke super-early this morning and have been downstairs making dough!  Daft?  Probably, but it makes me happy so . . . why not.

The mandatory garden photos for today:

Great excitement - I have a ripening tomato.  Just one.  It's a Tumbling Tom, not sure if it's the red or the orange one; I suspect the latter.  Once one gets the idea, the others soon catch on too and this feels pretty early for me.
Nice!!

And the runner beans are coming on a treat.  I'm starting to see some little flower stems emerging, which is great.

Yesterday started with the SET class online - always good - and then I did some vaguely helpful housework in dribs and drabs.  This has been a very lazy week for housework but I will back to get my act together because I have people round for lunch on several days next week, not to mention the lovely Sharon coming round to do my hair so the kitchen needs to be see-able.

I need to plan some meals too, don't I?
Better get going with that.

Groove in the afternoon was brilliant but, sadly, this block is the last block and it won't resume in September.  There's very good reasons which I will share another time but I'm sad about it.

I've just popped into the kitchen and now my first attempt at baguettes, using a Thermomix recipe, is all shaped and on the new tin, covered with a damp cloth and in around forty five minutes it should be ready for the oven.
I followed Veronica's advice and looked up how to fold and shape baguettes.  Different bakers have different methods, of course, but I got the general idea so fingers crossed.
The other dough, the sourdough, is slower and will need to go into the fridge when I go to Slimming World.
I'll take a few photos whether the outcome be successful or less so.  Got to try in order to learn!

It's Alex's Cookery Club later and he sounds really quite excited to have a go at carrot crepes with a tomato sauce.  Apparently, last week's sausage and bean casserole went down so well with both of them that he went out and bought a new set of ingredients to make it again.  That's what I call a win every time!

Well, I just have time to shower, wash my hair, etc, and get dressed before the baguettes should be ready for baking - so I will love you and leave you with my hopes that you all have the best day.  Jackie and Chris - I hope you can stay cool and fresh in the summer heat.  

See you!  xx

03-07-25

Morning, everyone.

(photos taken yesterday morning)

Great activity going on with the cucumbers.  I looked at a few videos and have started pinching out as many side shoots (or suckers) as I can, as I do with the tomatoes although it always amazes me how many I miss and how quickly they grow.

One or two are rather too big to cut out so I am training them up a cane instead.

The females now have flowers so I have dug out a soft bristles brush (from my make up drawer!) and am helping the pollination process along, as suggested on one of the videos.  

So far, so good!

There's loads and loads of tomatoes now but not much sign of ripening - yet.  Maybe this hot weather we have had will make a difference in the next few weeks but I believe outdoor tomatoes ripen later than greenhouse ones anyway.  We will see.

I'm picking loads of blueberries at the moment and plan to make a batch of blueberry discard pancakes for the freezer.  There's also a few rogue raspberries but not too many.

The Premium Bonds have come up trumps again; this month I am drawing it down to cover the cost of a new fan as one of my old ones has rather given up and isn't pushing out the air very much.  I've ordered a bladeless one, just a cheap version and nothing like a Dyson, but, if it's good, I might go upmarket a bit.  Do any of you have bladeless fans - are they good?

I've also ordered a baguette baking tray so I can make different loaves.  Sourdough isn't quite the same as a baguette dough but that's OK, it's the shape that's so useful.
One of these days, I might look up the authentic recipe but I believe that involves a specialist flour that's quite expensive.  Does anyone know?

While on the subject, I have a great pot full of discard but have read that it's great for the compost heap so, rather than draining it and risking a blockage, all that lovely yeasty stuff can feed my compost instead - all that I don't need for the blueberry pancakes, of course.

The SEND meeting with J was really helpful and informative.  Plenty to write about, for sure.  Afterwards, I went to Morrisons as Alex would like to use Thermione on Friday to make carrot crepes in a tomato sauce.  It may sound off but they recipe looks great and he should be able to just work through it while I watch.  Anyway, I got what was needed so am now all set up and ready for that.

It's surprising how tiring extreme heat can be.  Monday and Tuesday evenings I was fighting to keep my eyes open beyond eight and was asleep well before nine, sleeping badly and waking often.  Last night I was fine, bed near ten, slept well and feel refreshed this morning.  It almost felt chilly and I have a dressing gown on for the first time in what feels like ages.

It is sunny though, at the moment, and is supposed to be pleasant - sunny, light winds and a high of 24.  It sounds really nice.

Today is another easier day.  I'm doing two sections of SET this morning and Groove in the Garden this afternoon.  Between them, it is homey stuff.  Chris is away so no coffee and chat today.

I've started a smaller sourdoughs in Thermione, just to see if it works that way, and I want to start making yogurt again.  I gave away my yogurt maker but I can use Thermione and a flask - worth a try as I am finding I throw out so much milk that has gone off in this warmer weather.

Finally, I have to write the report of the meeting and send it off for approval.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Enjoy the cooler weather and stay safe.  xx

02-07-25

Good morning, everyone.  
I am so thankful - we have a much cooler day predicted today and, right now, it is cloudy and raining slightly while the top temp today is predicted to be around 22C.  I am so grateful.
Round here, yesterday was a real scorcher, must have been well into the 30s and stepping out to hang out washing felt like stepping into an oven.  It was a very uncomfortable first half of the night too, very sweaty and nasty, even with the fans on.  It didn't help that my tum went on me a bit too - the heat, I assume.

Enough grumbling!  The heat was good in one respect:

The best white sourdough I think I have ever made and, because it was so warm, the starter was very active and so was the dough - you could see the bubbles forming in it and I just hope there aren't too many holes.
This one is for Lindsey, not for me.  As most of you know, I have promised her a loaf a week for her birthday present, although she will be away most of August.

Groove was baking though (like the bread but not so active!!)

Lyndsey did her hot weather class - a steady beat and 'nothing too energetic' (her words).   It may not have been as energetic as usual but it was quite enough, thank you, and we all ended sweaty and a bit drained.  I'm very glad I did it though - and also very glad I took the car.  I wouldn't have enjoyed walking back in that heat.

Housework?  What housework?

Today has two things in the diary.  I'm off into school for the termly SEND meeting, paperwork to hand, this morning.  It shouldn't take that long, hopefully.  Then, later on, I'm off to Lindsey's for personal training.  It should be do-able as it's cooler today.  
And housework.  Must get housework done too.  The place is becoming a tip.

What's it like your way?  Comfortable, I hope.  Have a lovely day.  xx

01-07-25

 Morning, everyone.

So here we are in July, entering the second half of 2025 with a beautifully sunny early morning.  It will hot up and become less comfortable but, right now, it is lovely.  I've prepped quite a lot of my food for today and I've started this week's sourdough for Lindsey - a while one this time.  I should be able to get it all done today; after all, it is warm enough!

All those plans for yesterday - well, I did manage to get some ironing done but the housework got left and I couldn't do the finances because my phone was out of data - note to self: do NOT send big photos to friend.  SO I tackled them early this morning.  It was a bit more complicated what with some of July's stuff already out and the Eddie money hanging fire until tomorrow but I was able to work it out OK, I think. 

Today is going to be hot again.  Getting ready for fitness classes is a bit more complicated what with making sure I have a towel, the wet flannel is cooling in the freezer and there's really cold water to take with me in my flask.  It's worth it though - it makes a big difference.
I'm not walking to Groove and back again.  Going would be OK but by the time the class is over, it will be pretty hot - and so will I.

I'll see how it goes today.  I really ought to do some dusting, etc and it's not too energetic, is it?  I have a meeting tomorrow to prepare for and I can always recipe hunt - I enjoy that.  Not to mention finishing off the banket and a sourdough loaf to get on with.
Actually it should be quite a pleasant day.

I hope yours is good too.  Stay safe and well.  xx

Spot the babies - how many baby chillies can you find in this photo 
(I have no idea but there are loads)!

30-06-25

Good morning.  So, here we are at the very end of June.  Half way through the year, pretty much, and in the middle of a 'heatwave'.

Yesterday worked out fine.  The Thermo cooking demo worked out fine.  I was just looking to learn (there's always something new to find out about Thermione) and it is an opportunity for a free meal too.   The consultants made sticky chilli beef, devilled eggs, potato salad (including the mayo) and sous-vide apples.  All delicious and I will make them at home.

Before then, I had worked up by making some caramelised onion chutney and some lentil and veg bolognaise sauce in Thermione.  I must use her more, given how much I am shelling out on TM7!

I used the bus as the timings worked out well and got home well in time for Eddie who came round with the precious external hard drive continuing pretty much all of my lost data.  There's a few files that are incomplete but nothing crucial and I have my precious family photos and recipes, etc.  Phew.

Today begins with circuits and that's it as far as the diary is concerned.  Downstairs could do with a good clean and tidy - I've done the bits that show but it's time to pull things out, etc.

As it is the end of the month I will also read the gas meter and finalise the finances for June - a bit more complicated as I paid for the computer thingy but the money from my Premium Bonds account is being paid after tomorrow's draw (my choice, you never know) so I have to take that into account.

Well, time to love you and leave you.  Have the best day and stay cool, everyone.  xx

29-06-25

Hello again, everyone.  It's Sunday, day of rest, day of doing not-a-lot.  Mine is sort of like that; self-chosen nice thing and making progress in sorting out the PC issues.  That's all good.

Garden photos:  I took a couple of views across the garden a few minutes ago.   Not great light - the sun hasn't properly come out yet, but you get the idea.

While it is a kind of old fashioned layout nowadays, it is one of my happy spaces at the moment with everything growing and promising tasty things or looking pretty.

And one daring runner bean is reaching for the stars.  The others are not that far behind.   It is amazing how quickly they grow once they get going.

Yesterday's walk was very pleasant.  We took it slowly as one of our number has been quite ill, but that meant more time for chatting.  
When we started at around 10:30, it was delightfully fresh.  Not cool but really pleasant.  By the time we finished it was a lot hotter and I think we were all glad to get into our respective transport and turn on the fan!

I had my online chat later and it was very helpful.  It is easy to forget how amazing technology is and how much it has come on.  Being able to chat to someone, face to face, me in Essex and her in New York is something we just take for granted and it is incredible really.

Today I have already been pretty busy in the kitchen knocking up a batch of lentil and veg bolognaise sauce in Thermione.  It was supposed to be to portions but it's come out as three of my sized portions.  All I have to do now is cook the spaghetti and make a little side salad and that's dinner sorted.

Lunch will be at the Thermomix centre, of course, as I'm going to that demo, catching the bus at eleven.

Then, later on, Eddie is round with my retrieved data to see what can be done.  Exciting stuff.

So that's my Sunday.  How about yours - what do you have on the timetable today?  Whatever it is, I hope it's good and enjoyable.  

Stay cool.  xx

28-06-25

Good morning, welcome to Saturday and another weekend!  It was a bit of a scorcher yesterday afternoon, wasn't it?  And supposed to get hotter today and ongoing although right now it is delightfully cool and fresh.  The windows and French doors are all open, of course, and my extra, smaller fan has been brought into use.  It may be small but it is quite powerful and quieter thasn the pedestal fans.

As planned, Alex turned up for the cookery session around midday.  I had found a good, straightforward sausage and bean casserole recipe but for meat eaters and I didn't have all the veg in so we sat down and talked about how to adapt a recipe.  Really useful.
Then he followed the recipe more or less by himself and did very well indeed.  He's getting the hang of it, for sure.  I must remember to write what he did out as a recipe and let him have it.

Eddie got in touch.  The company he used has retrieved pretty much all of the data from my defunct C drive, put it all onto alternative storage and has sent it back.  Eddie's coming round Sunday afternoon to go through what to do, talk about what my laptop needs, etc.

Eye wateringly expensive but I've pulled them money out of medium term savings and count myself very, very fortunate.

Dave and Anna turned up in the evening, bearing wine!
I had kept things very simple - a lovely creamy feta dip with some toasted buckwheat soda bread and some seeded crackers, both gluten free so Dave can have it, and mains was just a cold meat salad.  Dessert was a selection of fruit with some cream to dunk into if wanted.

There's not an awful lot left so, obviously, it went down well.  What's left will feed me nicely today without much need for cooking.

Today's garden update is a goodie.  We have babies!

It's one of those situations when you spot one baby and then, suddenly, they are popping out all over.  They are all on one plant but I expect the other won't be far behind.

I didn't have any choice of variety, getting them so late (the first ones collapsed and died), and these are an old variety called Telegraph.  I looked up about it and all the info seems to indicate that as long as the insects are  doing their duty, I don't need to pinch male flowers out or assist the pollination in any way.  
They're outside and the insects are obviously getting their act together so I will water, feed and let them be.

Yesterday, I made some comment about looking forward to an easier weekend.  Famous Last Words.
I suppose it's not not-easy, but now there is stuff in the diary.

This morning it's the SW friends walk which will be really pleasant.  Then, this afternoon, I'm having an online chat to a friend in the US which should be nice.

Then tomorrow I am back to town to the Thermomix Centre for a class entitled 'A Toast To TM6'.  

The bumph says:

Welcome to a very special A TOAST TO TM6 Class!

Join us at the THERMOMIC COOKING STUDIO IN CHELMSFORD for a carefully curated class by our Thermomix Advisors in Essex to showcase our favourite TM6 dishes.

You’ll see how easy it is to create beautiful, healthy food quickly and easily - a homemade menu everyone will love whilst saving money and time.

We’ll talk you step-by-step through some delicious recipes and show you how easy they are to make at home with a Thermomix®. We will be looking at a range of recipes on Cookidoo®, our recipe subscription platform and you’ll be able to learn even more about the amazing things you can do with a Thermomix®. And what’s more, you’ll be able to ask any questions as we go along and taste some great food.

Now, my current one is a 6 but, when my 7 arrives, some time in September, Beth and Alex will use my 6.  I want to see what these classes are like because Beth and Alex might like to go to one.  Best thing - they are all free!!

Then, later on, Eddie is over, as mentioned above.

So, nothing very stressful, just not as much crochet time as expected!  :-)

Right now, though, I am avoiding looking to my right because yesterday evening I was so shattered that when Dave and Anna left, I went up to bed without clearing up (I never do that normally) and now it is shouting at me.
So guess what I have to do first thing . . .

Happy Saturday, everyone.  Stay chilled, don't forget the water and apply the sun cream.  xx

27-06-25

Morning, everyone.  We've had rain overnight (great) but the sun is shining now, the forecast is OK and the garden looks happy.

A few garden photos:

The chilli has wee peppers popping out all over.  No sign of turning red yet, but they will.

The baby corn is coming on surprisingly well, considering . . .

This was labelled as a 'novelty' tomato and the fruit certainly is an odd shape, like one of those old fashioned Christmas tree baubles.

Sungolds - yay!!

And, finally, I am so glad I decided to plant some hanging baskets.  They are starting to look very pretty.

Yesterday was lovely.  I had a good old chat with Chris and when Val arrived I had a good old chat with her too.  She loved her birthday gifts which was a relief and we both enjoyed the lunch.

Today is another busy but nice one.

It's Slimming World first, of course.  Then Alex is over for his cookery lesson.  Today I'm going to show him how I adapt a recipe to make it vegetarian and to work with what I have got in before we make sausage casserole.

Once I have taken him home, I will be busy getting everything ready for Dave and Anna coming over for dinner.  I'm keeping it pretty simple with salad and starter is dips but things still have to be prepped, don't they?

I dusted and swept yesterday so won't worry about that.

It will be lovely today but I'm quite looking forward to a few easier days over the weekend.

Have a great day, everyone.  xx

26-06-25

Morning, everyone.  It's cloudy at the moment and feels cool but not that fresh, if that makes sense.  

Yesterday was busy, busy busy.

I'd been hoping that the petrol would hold out until Tuesday but on the way home from circuits (very good, as usual) the warning light came on, darn it.
So I went home, finished baking the sourdough loaf for Lindsey and then drove out to fill up before driving on to Longacres as it is Val's birthday on Sunday and I wanted to get her gift.  I came home with a lovely potted geranium, the outdoor and perennial kind to go with a rather nice piece of pottery in the blue she loves so much.

While I was that way, I decided to stop off at Sainsbury's to get a few things that only they do like their own dishwasher powder.  It didn't stop there, of course, I got some other stuff too and, apart from a few things for Friday evening, that's my shopping done for this coming week.

I had a lovely time cooking stuff.  Val's here today and I made a pasta bake that just needs reheating and cheese-ing, some seeded crackers to go with the baker and a salad and a jug of not-quite-gazpacho (I didn't have any green peppers).

That last wasn't difficult - it was just a case of shoving the ingredients into Thermione and blending it all with some ice cubes.  It was very nice but will taste loads better once I can use garden tomatoes.  

I will serve it in a glass with ice and a glass 'straw' to drink it - like a cocktail but, obviously, not . . .

Today's another busy one.
I'm doing the first two sections of SET online with Lindsey, then Chris is over for our usual coffee and chat and, finally, Val is over for lunch.  

In the evening, it is our Slim Win online chat, always good fun.

I've started the border of the blanket and, while I like the actual border, I don't like the corners at all.  They feel clunky and just not right although, to be fair, that might be just the way I am working them.  I think I am going to frog back (not difficult, just tedious) and rework it.  

Today, I remember my lovely Dad who passed away today, four years ago.

Miss you, Dad.  

Bye, all.  Have a lovely Thursday - any exciting plans?  xx

25-06-25

Hello again, everyone.  How are things?

Today's garden photos - it looks like the runner beans are here to stay, doesn't it?  Excellent!

Really looking forward to runner beans for dinner an maybe a month's time.

Thank you all for your lovely comments about the blanket.   Here's the link to Anita's site so you can see what else she has created.  

https://madebyanita.co.uk/

I really love 'Grace' but it would take so much yarn - I suppose I could make it totally random with scraps and rename it 'Graceless' instead!  In other words, quite a different vibe but it would be nice, all the same.  Or take the basic idea and adapt it - I've long wanted to make something with flower grannies of various kinds.  Now that's a thought!!   Hmmmm . . .

I had a lovely time yesterday.  The time was put back a bit which was great because it gave me more time after Groove to freshen up, change and then catch the bus instead of taking the car.  It worked in so many ways, including giving me a walk there and back to the bus and an opportunity to get a few things in town.

Leonie took me through the new features of the Thermomix 7 before cooking lunch (chicken, pepper and mushroom risotto, absolutely delicious) to show case one of the main new features.  We also had some gazpacho, made earlier and I am making that again, often, especially when the garden tomatoes are glutting.

And yes, I did order a new machine.   No, I don't need it and am in full self justification mode now - you know what I'm like!  I don't go for the latest in things like phones, games, cars even but I'm afraid I am a sucker for my Thermione and always will be.  So there you go - as the plaque I have says, 'Retired, happy and spending the kids' inheritance.
And it's making me very happy - what a frivolous girl I am, to be sure!

(there's a ten week waiting list so September is the month!)

On the way back to the bus stop, I went to Grape Tree to stock up with mixed seeds and extra pumpkin seeds because Beth and I both love them.  I found a really nice top, reduced, in the Quadrant (aka co-op) and the superb herb and spice and all things nice stall (not its real name but it should be) gave me some dried apricots, some oats and a jar of preserved lemons.

What is also making me happy is that I have a double dose of classes today.  Circuits this morning and personal training this afternoon.  Yesterday, I was bouncing my way through Groove and enjoying it very much when the realisation came to me that even a year ago, I would have been feeling somewhat worn out by then and clock watching a bit.  Now - not at all.  It's nice to see concrete signs of progress.

Right, well, I have some sourdough that needs its second slap and fold (I always want to say 'slap and tickle'!) so I will close this down and get going.
Wishing everyone a very happy Wednesday.  Stay cool!  xx

24-06-25

Morning, everyone.
Oh, what a lovely night's sleep!  It was cool enough to snuggle under the covers and warm enough to stop my feet getting cold.  Wonderful.
And, as if that wasn't enough, I've woken to rain.  Not loads, admittedly, but better than nothing at all and everything looks greener.  Lovely!

Done it!  It needs a light steam press (must read the ball band instructions) along the seams and there is one more mistake that I just didn't notice until it was all joined together and I'm not going to unpick all of that, I really am not!!!  Look upon it in the same way that those lovely Eastern carpets have an error woven into them because only Allah is perfect (I've always liked that one).  Admittedly, my mistake is not deliberate or so swell motivated but we won't talk about that, OK!

I think my crochet tension must be very loose.  Not only did I have to buy more duck egg blue for the border, I'm also down to the last scraps of cream and won't have enough for the one more round that is needed.  Fortunately, I have cream upstairs.  Not the same cream but that won't matter as it's a separate bit.

No harm done (I hope).

Today is busy.

Groove first and I'm driving there today, partly because it's wet and partly because I need to hurry back, freshen up, change and rush out again because I'm due in town for a demo of the new Thermomix TM7.  

These demos used to be done in homes but now the local group of consultants has a little place where they can demo various things.  Leonie will (I think) show the new machine, demo the new and changed features and then cook a meal which we can enjoy.  I haven't seen Leonie for years so it will be nice to meet up again - she has always been 'my' Thermomix consultant.

Well, time is tight so I need to stop waffling and get going
Have a great day.  xx

23-06-25

Morning, all - and I am breathing a heartfelt sigh of relief.  It's cooler, we have a breeze and the stuffiness is dissipating.   I don't think we're done with the heat yet - BBC says Wednesday might be a scorcher - but as long as there's a breeze and the humidity is low, that's OK! 

Just a pretty sight to brighten up the post - aren't pansies a lovely flower?  This plant survived the winter and is now blooming its little heart out.  So lovely!

We had a very pleasant time yesterday, thank you for all the kind comments.  To be fair, it wasn't really a 'meet the mum' thing; as I said yesterday, I've known Ree for a while online.  Annabeth, it's Rita Wlliams - I'm sure you remember her.

I now have lots of leftovers to make my meal prep an easy thing today.

That was the main event yesterday, of course, but I did settle with some more crochet and, just as I thought I was on the last lap of the last square, I discovered mistakes in previous squares.  So the evening was spent carefully unpicking and redoing.  A bit frustrating but at least discovered now, not during the joining or, even worse, after finishing.  I'm hoping to get the last square finished this evening and also the joining.  Then I can start the border which looks complicated so I will watch the video a few times before starting and then crochet along with it - which is what CAL means - Crochet ALong.

I have a busy morning.  No circuits for me today as I am off into school wearing my governor's hat to discuss phonics with the relevant member of staff.  Oh, the joy!!

Seriously, I enjoyed phonics teaching and felt it a very worth while area of the teaching of reading/spelling.  I think I will be talking to the staff member about how the school approaches it, going through the objectives on the School Improvement Plan (must check what they are!) and then observe some phonics teaching in Y1.
I think it's going to be fun.

Then I will get straight down to writing my report while things are fresh in my mind.  I don't want it hanging on as I have the SEND one next week.

I'll be going to the Wednesday circuits class instead.

After that, it's the usual Monday housework before chilling.

Better go and deal with what's left of yesterday's chicken, get the slow cooker going to make stock and generally start the day.  What are your plans for today?  I hope they are nice.  
Take care and have a great day.  xx

22-06-25

Hi.  Welcome to Sunday, last day of the week and tomorrow begins the last week of June - how is that possible.

Yesterday was hot but, for me, not terribly oppressive until later afternoon when it turned a bit gloomy and the humidity descended.  You could almost touch it; my skin turned all prickly and it really was uncomfortable.  We had a few drops of rain, so few you could almost count them, the worst of the humidity lifted and the sun came out again.  I guess somewhere close by got a downpour.  Not us though!

Today's garden photos.

Both cucumber plants have flowers but they look like males.  I looked them up - Cucumber Telegraph is the type - and gather that if the insects are not around, it might be a good idea to pollinate them by hand but we will see.   The original ones I bought would have produced all female flowers but not these - oh well, as I said, we will see. 

Just a few blueberries and I plan to have them this evening to go with maple and bacon pancakes (how American!)

I've been busy this morning.  Beth and her 'new' girlfriend, Ree, and Alex are over for Sunday lunch.  I have known Ree online longer than Beth as we were both on FirstClass, the OUSA conferencing site.  However, this is in the nature of a 'meet the girlfriend/mother' type thing so I'm a bit nervous.  I expect Ree is too.
Anyway, I've prepped all the veg and it's roast chicken so no worries and easy once the prepping ia done.  I just want to tidy up a bit and sweep the carpet and that's it.  

Right, well, I'd better go.  I want to feed the tomatoes as they are now producing babies galore, and that's going to take time.
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  See you tomorrow.  xx

21-06-25

Morning, all, and welcome to another Saturday, lovely, sunny and fresh right now and the pollen seems lower - at least, I've been out watering, tying up, etc, and haven't sneezed once.  It won't last but I'm loving it while it's here.

It looks like they have decided to stay - this was taken yesterday and I swear they are at least an inch taller today, happily winding around the canes.

I'm definitely not trying seeds again.  Sorry, real gardeners, but buying babies in the amount I need is much more economical and less stressful!

And looky-look!  Tomorrow, do you think?

Question:  eat or freeze?

Answer:  What a very silly question!!  😁

I love this time when everything is growing but still looks 'tidy'.

Even my ornamental grass is just starting to send up its flowers - not that they look like flowers but you know what I mean.

Yesterday was, as almost always, a lovely day.

It was nice and cool when I walked to SW, the hall wasn't hot (it can be awful!) and the walk home was OK too.  I made a 100% rye sourdough loaf - solid, of course, as rye bread is, but it looked and smelled lovely.  It's in the freezer now, out of temptation's way!

I also soaked and then slow cooked some chick peas - they are also now in the freezer apart from one portion that I'm going to make crunchy chickpeas with, for Beth.

There's nothing in the diary today although I will probably join Lindsey's 9:15 SET class online.  Then I can tick today's exercise target off.
I need to do some freezer sorting, I have a drawer to tidy and I want to make some seeded crackers, also for Beth (and Alex, if he likes them).
I have Beth and co over for lunch tomorrow so I want to give downstairs a bit of a clean up

Then I can chill.  Nice!!

Stay cool, everyone . . . have a wonderful Saturday.  xx

20-06-25

Good morning. - and guess what - yup, we have sunshine.  Very hazy, early morning sunshine.  It's not hot yet but the air is completely still and it doesn't feel fresh this morning.  Oh, well, what will be, will be and the garden seems happy enough.

The fifteen minutes of Strike I did yesterday morning was comfortable enough but by the time we got to the afternoon, it was hot and Groove was sweaty and tiring.  But we did it and I'm very glad we did.  Even Lindsey was a little bouncier than usual, bless her.  How she does it, I'll never work out!

I'm working out timings for my loaves now.  I know that if I get the leaven started in the evening, it will be ready in the morning and, in this heat, the whole loaf will be done by early afternoon.  It would be slower in cooler weather, of course.

I've just mixed a rye leaven and will be interested in the timing of that - Chris and Steve really like rye bread after living in Germany for a number of years.

The white I made for Lindsey worked out fine and I took it over yesterday.  
I'm so glad I have friends who like sourdough bread - it means I can practise more.

Getting there!  3x3 and it will be 4x4.  I've actually got five more to finish, having done the centre and white sections of them all.  That was the easy bit!

I really don't like carrying the yard across the back, either in crochet or in knitting; it's very fiddly and frustrating and the yarns tangle but it has to be done.

Today, there is very little in the diary.  Slimming World first thing, as always, then I am going to have a go at one of Adriene's yoga videos, a really 'easy' one, and then the day's my own.  I think some meal planning and I am going to buy one of the new recipe books out from SW as lots of people say there's some great recipes.  It's called Street Food which sounds tasty.

And I have a rye loaf to have a go at - if it takes longer, there's always the fridge overnight.

Since I started this, a breeze has picked up and it feels fresher - lovely!  I'd better stop rambling and get on with my morning Facebook duties.   Have a lovely day, stay cool and remember to refill the water bottle.  :-)  xx

19-06-25

 Morning!  More sunshine, yay!

Something very nice happened a few days ago. I was sent a photo that I couldn't share and one that I could but it wouldn't really work on its own.

To go back some years, after Dad died and his estate was all sorted out, I made a donation to the school that was for something that would benefit the staff.  Time passed, the project was decided but other work had to be done first and that needed funding so, one way and another, nothing was done for quite a while.
But now it is completed and is being used . . .

And here it is - a private area where staff can rest and relax, just at the back of the staff room. 

I couldn't show you the first photo because it has people on it but I was in school yesterday afternoon for that OPAL training so I snatched a photo.

Knowing it was done and people like it and are using it has made me very, very happy but this was what brought a few tears to my eyes.  Look what they have called it . . .

Isn't that nice.  

Lindsey did circuits inside as it really was very hot and she has said Groove will also be inside today.  It's still sweaty but the studio is a cool space so it will be much more comfortable.

So the day has started with a bit of dough stuff, I will do a short section of SET online with Lindsey before coffee and chat with Chris and in the afternoon I'll be off to Groove Not In The Garden!!

A nice day.

How about you?  xx