28-04-25

Morning, one and all.  A new week starts, the sun is starting to shine, all the washing and most of the ironing is done and I have just started a loaf.  All is well in my little world!
(Actually, of course it isn't, there's always something, isn't there, but the things I can manage or control are all well).

I managed to get load after load of washing out on the line yesterday, one load being dry by the time the next was ready.  Only the very last lot, pegged out quite late, was just slightly damp when I brought it in and the bits that need ironing will take just a very short time.  That was  the highlight of the day, getting the washing done - oh, and clean sheets.  Getting into a bed with fresh, clean sheets is always a pleasure.

Today is a usual Monday.  
Circuits, first, then home for breakfast followed by the usual downstairs housework, finishing off the ironing, possibly witnessing a signature in the afternoon and making a loaf of sourdough for Beth and Alex.

I fed both starters on Saturday afternoon and then again Sunday morning and evening.   They both had a strong aroma of paint stripper (normal for a hungry starter, I gather) so a good feed or two sorted that out (and I made crumpets with the discard).
This morning I used 200g white and 100 each of wholemeal wheat, rye and spelt flours plus 60g starter to start off the dough so it is not quite half and half and we will see how the dough reacts to that on a warm day.

I'm pretty sure all the payments are now made for April so it will be good to get that all finished and closed.

And that's about it at the moment.  If I have the time and the inclination, I will do stuff in the garden but it is more likely that I will get on with some reading and crochet.  At the moment, I am re-reading Katherine by Anya Seton (yet again)q so it will be nice to get on with it.

Happy Monday, everyone.  Have a lovely day.  xx

Sourdough stuff

 In comments, Carole wrote:

You have inspired me to try making sourdough again unfortunately I’ve made a couple of loaves but not good I looked at Elaine Boddy and bake with jack and I’m doing what they say but my bread doesn’t seem to rise enough ..any tips please.

A caveat.  I'm a beginner, right at the start of this whole sourdough thing.  I know hardly anything but I'm learning and happy to pass on anything that might be helpful.

Do you mean it doesn't rise during bulk fermentation, during the second rise or in the oven?

1.  Has the ambient temperature been a bit on the cold side?

2.  Is your starter strong and activated?

3.  Have you over or under proved during the bulk fermentation?

4.  How about the shaping?

5.  Are you scoring deep enough?

6.  Is the flour you use strong (look at the nutritional info on the bag - does the protein bit say around 14%?)?

I've learnt to ignore the clock and just go with the dough.  I have found it tends to take longer to ferment/proof than the recipe says but that's the nature of the beast really.  Give it all time.

I could expand on each of the above but you know what I am like when I get going and too much info is as bad as too little.  However, I am happy to give more if needed.

However . . .

What is the flavour and the crumb like?  If everything else is lovely but the baked loaf just doesn't have the height, I wouldn't worry too much.
The bottom line is, if we end up with a delicious product, that's all we want.

(And finishing this reminds me - I need to give Bubbles and Squeak their weekly feed!)

27-04-25

Morning, everyone.  Sunday has started a bit misty but the sun is breaking through and it looks as if we have a glorious week of sunshine ahead of us so no complaints whatsoever!

Apologies for yesterday's non appearance.  I slept badly Friday night and didn't feel 100% through the morning of Saturday and just didn't get down to it.  

Back to Friday which was had one up and two downs.

The up was that I lost two pounds through the week and now I'm right back to target again, where I intend to stay (more or less).  They all sang happy birthday to me (it was Thursday) which was nice and slightly embarrassing in equal measure and a good old clap for getting back to target.

The first down was that I was right to feel unsure about the meds review blood tests because, while everything else came out fine, sadly the LDL cholesterol readings hadn't changed much.  The info hadn't been put on my NHS app (it's there now).  

Ho hum.
Having said that, it was a good session with a very pleasant man who answered all my questions and asked sensible ones himself - I thought they were sensible anyway - regarding diet and lifestyle.  He understood my reluctance to take more meds, showed me the potential for this impacting via a stroke or heart attack in the next fifteen years (about four percent up from the expected for my age) but said that it was offset to a great extent by my good weight, fitness regime and very good diet.
We discussed my blood pressure meds and, as my readings are so very good and give plenty of wobble room, I'm going to trial cutting down on what I take and monitoring regularly, unofficially at first (it's recorded but they will not change my prescription for now) with the option of making it 'official' if there are no negative effects.  I was pleased about that.
As for the statins, no pressures at the moment but I'm not daft; I will look into it all a bit more and, while I don't want to take more meds, I'm not ruling statins out.
And I'm sticking with the Mediterranean style diet because it is delicious and I love it!  

Still - disappointing.  

I am very glad I checked my phone messages before going to M&S because Anna wasn't well on Thursday night so they wouldn't be coming for dinner.  That was the second down.  So instead of M&S for posh veg and nibbly bits, it was Morrisons for a usual (cheaper) shop.  Anna is now feeling OK again and we have fixed another date.

I have just remembered a mini-up - my bags of potting stuff arrived and I managed to carry six 50l bags (one at a time, obv.) from front to back without doing my back in of needing a rest.
Go me!!!  😉

That was Friday.

On to yesterday and Doctor Who was good, wasn't it?  

I took things very easy because I wanted to feel better by the evening.  I did, thankfully, and very, very much enjoyed the Phantoms concert in town.  Some wonderful singing and amusing banter between the three of them, all of whom have performed leading roles in West End theatres.  It was around two hours, plus interval, and it could have gone on much longer and still been fantastic but they did look weary by the end and this tour looks more than a bit unrelenting - all over the country too, so lots of travelling.

I'm so glad I got a ticket . . .

After all that, today is washing day because I have a right pile plus bedding and the weather is good.  In between all of that, I have a kitchen to sort out (when don't I?) and some meal plans to put together.  My mind is a bit blank at the moment so I need to look in a few of the many recipe books I have for some ideas.

First of all though - coffee . . .  I need coffee.

Happy Sunday, everyone.  Have a lovely day.  xx

25-05-25

Good morning, one and all.

Firstly, thank you so very much for your lovely comments yesterday.  I've just done one reply at the bottom rather than individually and I send much love to any of you who have lost a dearly loved pet.

Yesterday was very pleasant.  The chat with Chris was, as always, great fun - how we manage to keep going non-stop is beyond me, but we do and it's great.

A bit later I set off to Val's - very easy journey - and she drove us further up to Halstead where we had lunch and then visited Sconch, the yarn shop that used to be at Blake Hall Craft Centre.

We went to the Little Book Café for lunch.  I thought it was a book shop with a coffee corner but it wasn't, it's one of those lovely cafes in a very old building, offering wonderful meals and, as a plus, second hand books that one can borrow, read there or buy.

http://www.littlebookcafe.co.uk/

These were the cookery books and, yes, I was sorely tempted but I do NOT need any more books, I really don't.

And this was my lunch (I nearly forgot to snap it) which was lovely!  Their own salad with leaves, tomatoes, onion crispy bits, olive, avocado, mozzarella and goodness knows what else with a honey and mustard dressing on the side.  MUST look up honey and mustard dressing - it was scrummy.

It was all washed down with a very nice coffee.  Perfect!

Then we wandered round the corner to Sconch.

https://www.sconch.com/

Of course I did - I'll show you what for when I make it, OK.  
It's a really lovely shop and if you live near Halstead, well worth a visit, assuming you like that sort of crafting.
It's a bit further than Blake Hall is but I am already planning a return visit to Halstead.  I know where to park now and there were several interesting looking shops and a church that might be worth a visit and I can combine it with a return visit to Hedingham Castle.

Val also gave me a wonderful bunch of flowers - thank you so much, Val, they are beautiful.

Once home, I chilled for a while and, in the evening, joined an online chat with friends from the Slim Win group.  It was a laugh.

Today, it is Slimming World, of course, and then I am off to the surgery for my medication review.  I know all is well but I'm still nervous and very glad that they won't be taking my blood pressure (results already send to them) because it will probably be way up - white coat syndrome!!

Once that is over, I will stop off at M&S on the way home to get a few bits and bobs and, once home, I have a meal to prepare for Dave and Anna.  Shepherd's pie (gotta use those leftovers) with fancy veg (hence the trip to M&S) and, probably, nice fruit.

It's all go today.

What are your plans for this Friday?  xx

Goodbye, Fred, and rest in peace . . .

 Fred had cattitude.  He was the most friendly and generous cat who loved a good fussing and tickle.  He would sit on my lap, upturn himself and guide my hand to where he wanted me to scratch or stroke and, when he had had enough, he would gently push my hand away again.  He had a purr so loud that even I could hear it and absolutely loved having his chin tickled.

I loved Fred and, as Beth said below on Facebook, his passing was a real shock.  As far as I know, he was OK over the week, wasn't well over the weekend, Beth took him to the vet on Tuesday and he was lovingly put to sleep on Wednesday morning, the last and kindest thing that Beth could do for him.

We're going to miss him so very much.

This is what she wrote on Facebook with some photos.

Goodbye Freddie, aka Indikon Friedrich, Freddie boy, Teddie, Ted-Teds and a host of other pet names. Fred passed away today after a short and unexpected illness. We are all shocked and sad at his passing.

Fred was born at our home, second born of Indigo's second litter of Tonkinese, seven kittens all named after the Von Trapp children from The Sound of Music. Fred experienced an injury to his leg, possibly while being born, which was not picked up for a week or two, by which time it had set, wonkily. Nature is very clever though and it was amazing his well he adapted, with very powerful, muscular front legs, to make up for the weakness in the back ones, and when it was cold, or when he was tired he walked a bit like John Wayne. It didn't slow him down any, and he could run about with the best if them. He was super friendly from the start, even for a Tonk who are known for their sociability anyway, and would greet everyone as though they had come especially to see him.

A special cat needed a special home and we found one; a foster family where Fred's insistent but nondemanding friendship helped several children in distress find peace. He was happy there but inclined to wander, on one occasion getting stuck in a greenhouse in a heatwave, and rescued by some intelligent person responding to a search with 'Ooh, let me just look in my greenhouse' and there was a very thirsty Fred who leapt away immediately to come and shout about his adventures at home. That was not the first or the last time Fred would get shut in somewhere; they say curiosity killed the cat and Fred certainly went through all nine of his lives. 

When he was 5, through no fault of his own or indeed his family's, he lost his home. The time wasn't right for us to take on a loud, dominant boycat; we had just lost Sofia and Theo had been unwell, so I found another home. This was pretty disastrous for poor Freddie, within weeks he was missing and there was some suggestion he may have been sold to fuel a Christmas drugs bender as the person I rehomed to also stole off my friend, and indeed did not reregister Fred's papers, despite me giving them the money for this. Whatever happened, Fred was AWOL and extensive searching proved fruitless and it was assumed he had passed away. 

He turned up six months later, having been living in a barn in the countryside and raiding nearby houses for food. He befriended an older lady, who brought him in for scanning, and I made the long trip to pick him up, then weeks of integration with my other cats. He was a bit wild, had a lot of food trauma, was worryingly  underweight and hypervigilant, but in one piece and I told him he would never need to find another home again. He also struggled with the other cats but over time he and Theo became besties, with Fred's sleek grey frame often followed about by Theo's fluffy white bottom

In time, it became apparent he wasn't going to be happy with an indoor only home, so my cats became outdoor cats. Fred was still a wanderer, and he needed options and he had several further episodes of being missing for days where we think he got stuck in a garage- he returned dusty and shouty, and was soundly thwapped round the head by his Mum Indigo. He also found his sister Lucy when she got lost/ stuck in a hedge... its fair to say Lucy does not have the street smarts Freddie had, nor the intelligence- you couldn't fool Fred, he was three steps ahead at all times.  

For some years we think he had several homes he would spend time at, but in particular the two elderly gentlemen next door and, in time, after Theo had passed, he pretty much moved in there, only coming home for a quick cuddle and - thanks Fred - to use the litter box. It used to upset me a little bit, but Fred always needed more freedom than the others do, and I loved him so gave it... but I didn't like it.

When one of the gentlemen next door passed, during Covid, Fred moved back in and over time became more settled, a portly older gentleman quite content with life. When Peter came to join us, he was incredibly patient with him, and they built a strong bond. Until a few days ago they were having their nightly tussle up and down the cat tree. Fred made peace with me being his person and started to upend himself in my arms as he did when he was a baby, while I sang Lennon's Beautiful Boy, as well as other Fred songs to him. He became a bit of a peacemaker between the scuffles of the other cats too and settled down to indoor life again. He met Ree and adored her- Fred's girlfriend, obvs. And when my mother came over, Fred was on her lap within minutes of her sitting down. 

And now he has gone. I don't think any of us have absorbed it yet. Thank you, Beautiful Fred. I hope we were able to add to your life as you did to ours.

23-04-25

Morning all - I've just drawn back the curtains and it is rather miserable out there.  Dark skies and rain, rain, rain.  On the plus side, the garden is looking green and happy so let's not complain!

I goofed a bit yesterday - I went to Groove which was good, as always, before coming home, rushing around to get the first load of washing out and another load in before going for the bus to get into town.  When I got there, I went straight to Specsavers only to find that it was 12.30, not 11.30.  Doh!
No worries, I asked and they were able to adjust the arms of my new glasses and then I went a-shopping.  I had a good nosey around the Range (and bought some varnish - I must start finishing off those two tables) before popping in to M&S where I got some summer pjs, some undies and a plain white basic T shirt (needed).  So that was good.  The aids are now fine, no feedback/whistling whatsoever.  A great relief; it is such an annoying and irritating sound.

Then I came home, sorted out more washing and did some housework before settling down with my reading and crochet.  And that was that.

Today I have two classes with Lindsey.  I'm going to circuits today because there wasn't one on Monday and then I have my usual personal training this afternoon.  Between times - bit more washing, ironing and other housework.  Definitely back to normal again now.

Have you got rain your way?  I know Jackie has snow which makes me shiver just thinking about it.   Whatever the weather, have a good day, everyone.  xx

22-04-25

Good morning, everyone. The weekend of doing-not-very-much-at-all is now over and real life starts again.  At the moment, the sun is shining (just starting to shine anyway) and we had some sun yesterday sandwiched between two bouts of rain, very heavy late afternoon.  Great for the garden and I bet the farmers were happy.  It feels cold this morning though.

The apple blossom is now out and looking very pretty indeed.  It doesn't last long so I'm appreciating it while it does.
I've ordered a codling moth thingy to see if  that will help.  If I do have fruit this year (you never know), it might help to keep them good and wholesome inside.  It is worth a try anyway.

Here's the results of the focaccia dough.  I did dimple but they mostly rose out again.  No complaints; with the spelt flour and the cheese, it was quite a heavy dough. 

The seeds and the salt crystals on top mostly fell off when I cut it so I won't do that again.  Maybe I will add seeds to the dough next time but that won't be for a few weeks or so now.

Not as bubbly inside as the previous one but still a great crumb and the taste - mmmmmm, so delicious!

Definitely a success.

I have Groove this morning.  Chris can't come today so, as it's a full morning, I will take the car.  I have to drop into Morrisons chemists on the way back and then I'm taking the bus into town to see if they can be doing anything with the low level feedback I am getting from one of my aids.

Once home again (I will have a little shop wander because why not?), there's housework to do and washing to sort out.  Just a usual day, really.

It has been a pleasant weekend, for sure.  It was great to play around with the crochet and to create delicious stuff in the kitchen.  I do like going out and about but I also love staying at home and being domestically creative.  Simple pleasures are the best.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Stay warm and dry.  xx

21-04-25 - Bank Holiday Monday

Good morning, lovely readers all.  Thank you for your comments yesterday - feasting was obviously in order for many of us.  Aren't we fortunate?  I slow roasted my lamb over stock and red wine with garlic, oil, rosemary and seasonings rubbed in and it was so delicious after several hours in a slow oven (thank goodness for solar sunshine!!).

After a lovely day yesterday, the weather seems to have turned temporarily.  We've had rain, more is forecast with the possibility of a storm at some point.  Drat - I had designated today as washing day.  Oh, well, c'est la vie!

I finished the amazing technicolour hexicardigan and Beth took a photo (ignore the silly pose).  Maybe I should have made it longer and I do just have to steam press the bottom of the ribbing to get it to lie flat.  The neck isn't right - I know what I should have done and next time (yes, there will be) I will probably treat myself to some toning yarns for another one so it's not quite so random and I will border the hem and the sleeves with the squares to give it a less 'accidental' look.

But, for what it is and despite the mistakes, I am really pleased.  It is bright and cheerful and cosy and has made really good use of my stash.  Over my polo tops next winter, it will work very well.

As I mentioned to Catriona on Facebook, I have a bagful of granny squares I made ages ago.  I was wondering if I could make that by first joining some of the squares together.  Worth a try anyway.

And here's the hot cross loaves.  Haven't they come out well.  I love them.
Now all sliced and frozen - what didn't disappear down my throat, I mean - and, yup, my brain is now thinking of ways to adapt.  Maybe more tropical spices and dried fruits.

By the time the focaccia dough had fully risen, it was just too late to start the rest of the process so I tapped it lightly on top to deflate it and bit and left in covered on the side.  It worked - I have a lovely baking tray of dough sitting in a poly bag, and in about half an hour I shall top it with sea salt and mixed seeds, poke in those essential dimples and bake it.  Photo tomorrow.

I had a lovely time with Beth and Alex.  I know I keep saying it, but I feel so very fortunate to have both my 'children' living in the same city and within about 15 mins drive at the most.  I will never stop being grateful for that.

Today is another 'doing nothing' day.  By that, I mean there's nothing in the diary!

However, I have the dough to bake, the washing, drying and ironing to start in on, I need to pay the balance for the coach trip to London for Tutankhamun, the Shard and fish and chips (never thought I would link those three together) and various other bits and bobs sort of stuffs.

And Carole, as promised in my reply to your comments, I will do a separate post.

Happy Bank Holiday Monday, everyone.  Have a lovely day.  xx

20-04-25 - Easter Sunday

Morning again, everyone.  Welcome to Easter Sunday, the day of hope and new life for millions.

Yesterday was such a lovely day.  No pressure, no 'must do' stuff, just plenty of kitchen pottering and crocheting, ready, etc.   So good.

I had fed Bubbles and Squeak the night before as well as first thing so had loads of discard.

I started by making crumpets.  I love the moment when, having mixed the discard, salt and sugar together, in goes the bicarb and the whole thing grown under my very eyes.  Look at that - it was half full a few minutes before and you can almost see it moving!

The crumpets are in the freezer now, for Beth and Alex to take later.

I then made something I've wanted to try for a while - discard flatbreads.    

One cup of flour, half of discard and half of yogurt, plus salt and I added some garlic granules, mixed, kneaded, left for ten minutes or so, rolled into flat circles, brushed with oil and cooked in a pan (the same pan I did the crumpets in).

They are also now in the freezer and will be great for pizza bases as well as the usual.

Bubbles was very strong and lively yesterday so I used her to make this half and half loaf which, again, is for Beth and Alex.  The wholegrain part is spelt and rye.  And, yes, if you discount feeding the started the night before, this took just a day.

I think it's rather a lovely thing . . . 

Finally, I started off the dough for a hot cross loaf.  Because of all the fruit, the spices, the egg, etc, it is a slow dough and, after left to bulk ferment overnight, it looks like this.

And now it's in tins (wouldn't all fit in one tin) and rising again in the warmer kitchen where the lamb is slowly roasting for when Beth and Alex come round later.

That was yesterday and it was all topped off with a really good (I think) Doctor Who.

Today, I have just one more bread project, a spelt and cheese focaccia.  Sounds good, doesn't it?  Hopefully, I will do things in  the right order this time and there will be proper dimples!  I think I might top it with some pumpkin seeds.  Depending on timings, maybe half for me and half for Beth.

It's going to be another really pleasant day, isn't it?  I need to do a tidy up (just my corner really!) and prep some vegetables and then I can chill until it's time to start lunch (the lamb is already in) and, joy of joys, there's enough mint in the pot to make fresh mint sauce.  Lovely!

I'm going traditional with roasties, roast parsnips, carrots, cabbage, broccoli and, perhaps, some sweet corn because Beth and Alex love it.

What are you having for Easter Sunday roast - or do you do something totally different or not at all?

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  xx

19-04-25 - Easter Saturday!

Morning, everyone.  I'm a bit late with this because I have been Doing Things in the kitchen and having a great time!

Back to yesterday.  SW ended up being a full length meeting after all because enough people wanted to stay to make it a good session.  We also had people from Heidi's Saturday groups who were going away or had special family plans for today - it made the weighing in busy but they didn't stay for the chat.
It was a pound and a half off for me so that made me very happy.

Once that was all done, I set off for the bus stop, got on the bus and, half way there . . . the flippin' bus broke down.  Some light came on, there was a screechy warning sound, the driver stopped, of course, phoned for advice and they sent a replacement bus with a mechanic.  I was still sitting in the broken down bus when my Specsavers appointment time came and went, I couldn't find any info about possible early closing on Good Friday, nor could I find a contact number to let them know.  Grrr.
The new bus came, I went straight to Specsavers (which was open, no early closing), explained to a very sympathetic girl who basically said 'no worries, of course we can fit you in' and ten minutes later I was walking out with my new glasses.

I can now see my screen quite clearly again!

I walked on to the Grape Tree to get some things like pumpkin seeds, etc, before getting the bus home.

So that worked out great!

Later on I did my bit of Morrisons shopping and that's me all set up for the week ahead now.

The hot cross bun with strawberry chia jam was absolutely gorgeous.  The Easter egg I bought myself was not so great.  I think I've gone off chocolate really.  No complaints about that!

On to today.  Apart from Beth and Alex coming over for Sunday dinner, I have three completely free days.  I've decided I'm going to have fun in my kitchen with my sourdough starters - in fact I've already started.

I had so much discard in Squibbles, I have made some crumpets and, a new recipe to me, discard flatbreads using discard, flour and yogurt.  More about them tomorrow.

I've started a half and half loaf for Beth (as are the crumpets) and try to make it a one day affair rather than stretching over two days, and I want to use the hot cross bun recipe again but this time to make it as a loaf that I can slice and freeze.  

Last of all, I want to have another go at focaccia, using mixed flours and remembering to finger dimple properly.

I'll let you know how it all goes.

There's my crocheting, there's Doctor Who, there's a garden that needs some attention - I may have an empty diary but I really won't be bored, will I?   Not at all.

You have a lovely time too, whatever you have planned.  xx

18-04-25

And here we are at Friday again, end of the working week for most and the start of Easter.
Yesterday was gloriously sunny all morning and, while the clouds did gather a bit, the sunshine persisted.  Just lovely.  I think we were really lucky with the weather - other places in the UK have not had it so good.  And it did get chilly come the evening.

Plans to the contrary, I didn't really do all that much yesterday in the end.  Well, I did, but not as planned.

I had a really lovely chat with Chris over a delicious coffee first thing.  It beats me how we always find things to talk about, but we seem to manage it!

I came home, made breakfast and noticed that there was an odd smell in the fridge so time to do some veg sorting.
I got creative with stuff that was going off.  I made some watercress pesto that was actually really rather nice; I don't like basil but will make this again.
There was a lot of veg just on the cusp of manky but not quite.  I chopped all that was useable in Thermione, froze most of it for soup and casserole bases and used the rest with a can of chopped tomatoes, etc, to make two portions of really delicious soup for quick lunches next week.  That's not in the freezer too.
The bits that really were unsalvageable (shame on me) went into the compost bin so I guess you could say nothing was totally wasted.

I enjoyed doing all of that and now the fridge smells fine again..

After lunch, I sat down to crochet and then realised that, to my great annoyance, I had totally forgotten about Groove so I fired off an apology to Lindsey and sulked for around a minute or so (I enjoy Groove) before carrying on with my crochet.  😁

That was it really.  Low steps and a bedroom that remains in need of attention.  Oh, well, not the end of the world, is it?

I looked up that shrug pattern (thank you so much) and it is on The List.  Then, on YouTube, I found another Granny stitch jumper, worked from the neck down, that looks rather nice so I've saved it for thinking about.  I believe there is also a version with a V neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD7G9qY2eys&t=1253s
https://www.mjsoffthehookdesigns.com/easy-crochet-granny-stitch-sweater/

What do you think?

While on the subject, thank you so much for your lovely comments about the technicolour coat on yesterday's post.  So encouraging and I really appreciated them very much indeed.  

Today has to be a little bit busier.  It starts with Slimming World (will I lose a pound or so this week?) and then, depending on the time, either I head straight to the bus stop or I come home for a short time.  Usually, it would be the former but, given it is Good Friday, Heidi is just doing a weigh and go so SW will likely be much shorter than usual.

Either way, then I am off into town to pick up my new glasses and I may wander around a bit or I might just come straight home.  It depends how busy it is and the weather.

Once home, Easter starts with a hot cross bun and a bit of Easter egg - I treated myself to just one and my halo shines bright because I haven't had any Easter chocolate or other food whatsoever so far this week.

I need to do a bit of a shop  and I need to sit down and think about my meals this coming week.  In that order because I want to use what I already have rather than getting new stuff as much as I can.  Beth and Alex are round for Sunday lunch and Dave and Anna are here for dinner next Friday so that will be really nice.

Happy Easter, everyone.  Have a wonderful weekend, however you celebrate or enjoy.  xx

17-04-25

Morning, one and all.  Happy Thursday!

The skies are clear, the early sun is shining and the cars have an almost-frost on them.  Maybe it was a proper frost earlier, I can't tell.  It certainly does feel pretty chilly.

Yesterday felt really quite busy.  It was very satisfying to give my downstairs a really good tidy up and then a clean, not that it was all that grubby really.  After I'd finished and with the sun shining in, it was cheerful.
I drove over to Beth's with the hot cross buns which they are having this morning for breakfast.  I couldn't stay because Sharon had asked could she come an hour earlier.
After she had gone and I'd done a transfer payment, there was time for lunch before going off to Lindsey's for personal training.

Phew.

Once home again, it was nice to just sit and chill with what I realised was the first coffee of the day.   Having a hot water and lemon drink first thing has somehow helped me to cut my coffee intake to a much more sensible amount.  I don't have a problem with caffeine, I just felt I was having too much.

I'm getting on with my amazing technicolour hexicardigan.   It really is totally random so I am working through all my stash apart from moving a yarn from one container to another once I have used it to ensure I use every colour.  I'm sure I will never dare wear it outside the home but it will be great as an extra layer in colder weather, like a snuggle hood thingy.  In fact, I wonder if I could put a hood on it - might give that a go and see.  I can always unpick it if it doesn't work, can't I?

  

Those holes trap the warm air rather well, like those old fashioned cellular blankets - do you remember them?  I wonder if you can still buy them?

By the very nature of the thing, there are an awful lot of ends to sew in so I stop the crochet now and again and sew them in.  That's the first thing I'll be doing when I sit down with it this evening.

I'm not sure how long it will be - pretty long, I expect.

Today is a much easier day.  I'm having my coffee and chat with Chris and I am going to Lindsey's for Groove in the Garden (hopefully) later but apart from that the diary is clear so I think I will do what I did yesterday for upstairs and then I will have a clear conscience for the Easter weekend - for housework, anyway!!

Time to love you and leave you.  Have a fab day and enjoy this sunshine (if you have it).  xx

16-04-24

Good morning, everyone.  Haw has life been treating you?  Can you believe we are in the second half of April already?   It's lovely to have the longer days and now I wish for warmer early mornings and evenings - never satisfied, am I?

After a rather wet morning yesterday, it dried up and bit and we even had a bit of sunshine.  Not much and not for long but it was very cheering.  Right now, it is dry but cloudy and there's quite a stiff breeze blowing.   BBC says it's going to end up nice and sunny so fingers crossed!

Two very disgruntled pigeons sitting on the fence wishing the rain would stop.  Poor things!

It was raining quite hard first thing so Chris and I drove down to Groove instead of walking which worked well for me as it gave me a bit more time between finishing Groove and leaving for the bus.  The rain had stopped by then, luckily, so I didn't have to dodge raindrops.

Although I got to Specsavers a bit early, I didn't have to wait;  I went straight in to the audiologist (can't remember her name) and there they were - my lovely, serviced hearing aids, all reprogrammed for my hearing changes and ready to try out.

I checked and there's one more year and one month of warrantee left so, as long as I book the annual check in April next year, that more or less gives me two years (barring accidents/breakdowns) before I have to start paying, by which time I will be thinking of new aids.  Technology moves on so very fast and each set of new aids I get has been significantly better than the previous set.
Two years is plenty of time to save.

She also reprogrammed my other aids - not that it made any significant difference but at least it's done.  And didn't charge me a penny - all part of the warrantee, she said.

There's just one flip side to it.  She warned me that my TV gizmos and my phone app would need to be relinked.  The TV gizmo was dead easy but the phone and app . . .

First I had to unlink the aids from the app, then uninstall and reinstall myPhonak, then go through a whole palaver to get them linked back up again.  I've not done it before because they've always done it for me but, annoyingly, my phone was out of charge and, anyway, I would need passwords which I didn't have with me.  Ho hum!

I got there, eventually, after much to-ing and fro-ing and I might have uttered a few naughty words under my breath, so I can control the aids from the app but I couldn't work out how to get the Bluetooth connection to the mobile itself which is more than a bit frustrating and which, I guess, means another trip into town at some point.  I will have another go today - perhaps Google can help with info.

It can't be that difficult, surely?

Edit:  done it!  No idea why it wouldn't yesterday but it took moments (after asking Google).  All is now well in my world! 

Here we go!  Second lot of sourdough hot cross buns and don't they look nice?  The only thing I did differently is I briefly soaked the dried fruit in hot water before draining them and adding them.

I made one mistake - I forgot I needed to heat the honey and water before using it as a glaze so they are very, very sticky on the outside.  

I'm taking them over to Beth and Alex late morning.  

It's a busy day.
I really have to have a good tidy up this morning.  It's a puzzle to me how untidy things can get so quickly.  Then I will do another dust and sweep just because.

I'm taking those buns over to Beth and then the lovely Sharon is here to work her six weekly magic on my hair - so I need to wash it before she gets here.

And then I have to head over to Lindsey's for my personal training session.

Oh, well, keeping busy also keeps me out of trouble, doesn't it?  :-)

Wishing you all a great day, packed with good stuff.  xx

15-04-25

Morning, all.  It's still dark but I can see we have had rain and it seems to be raining lightly right now.  That's good; we needed some.  Yesterday might not have been quite as sunny as Sunday but we still got a fair amount of the solar stuff and a load dried on the line so I'm not complaining at all.

I took this photo Sunday evening but hadn't uploaded it in time yesterday.  It was beautiful and I was lucky to catch it really.

In the end, the focaccia worked out really well - inside.  I made a mistake, however.  I didn't create the 'dimples' with my fingers before popping it in the oven (I did it too early) so it didn't look focaccia-like externally but I think the crumb is pretty good and it tasted awesome - I think it did anyway.  It's now cut up and in the freezer.

And I have made a note in my sourdough journal and intend having another go in a few weeks' time.

Then I decided to make some more hot cross buns using Bubbles, this time for Beth and Alex.

The dough for that has been bulk fermenting overnight and I'm really pleased that because, as with the first lot, the rise is very slow.  I can't bake them until this afternoon because . . .

. .  after Groove class this morning, I'm taking the bus into town because, three cheers, I got a call to let me know my hearing aids are back so I'm picking them up, which involves testing and adjusting and checking and that sort of stuff.  I'm going to be cheeky and ask if my fall-back aids can be re-programmed to my new prescription too.  I'm pretty sure they are also programmable but, if they say no, I'm no worse off.  If you don't ask, you probably won't get, after all.  It'll probably cost but worth it.

I might have a little wander around town but if it is damp I'll probably come straight home, just taking in a few shops in the mall as I head back to the bus stop.

That is today, more or less, apart from baking those hot cross buns.  Generally, after my lunch (which is around 2:00 pm), I tend to sit and chill, knit, crochet, read, watch something interesting on YouTube (they have a lot of historical factual stuff there which I find interesting), etc, and today should be no different, especially if it is still raining by then.

Do you find your days tend to follow some sort of regular pattern.

Have a great day, one and all; stay dry and be safe.  xx

14-04-25

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Monday's blog.  Did you have a good weekend?  We have had some beautiful weather here apart from a very brief shower yesterday early evening and I was expecting to wake up to rain but, no, the sun is shining and it looks to be dry all day.  No complaints for me, although a bit of rain might be a Good Thing for the parched ground.

Atter years of sitting in their pots, leafing but doing little else, at last I see some blossom on my  mini fruit trees.  Just two clusters on the pear - the - photo shows one of the two - but the mini apple looks as if it will be smothered in blossom, hopefully earning its space in terms of beauty, if not in fruit.  I'll take a photo when they are out.

Fingers crossed.

I'm not terribly sure about the focaccia - I had to leave it overnight in the fridge because, although it did rise in the bulk fermentation stage, it was so, so slow.  Maybe Squeak needs a bit of TLC to become stronger.  I think I might do some more regular feedings although, to be fair, I never get the hooch that indicates a hungry starter.

Or maybe it needs to get a bit warmer?

I finished the hexa-cardigan.  I'm not sure it's the right length but I think that is because I usually have longer ones that cover the bumpy bits and I need to get used to the fact that a) bumpy bits are OK and b) I don't have so much in the way of bumpy bits nowadays.

Anyway - I am on another mission to use up more stash bits and bobs and I am making a 'Joy and her Amazing Technicolour Hexa-Cardigan' which I will probably only ever wear at home when the weather is cold or when I need cheering up because - well, I'll probably look more like Elmer than anything else.  Maybe I should call it my Elmer Hexa-cardigan instead.

It will be good way of finding out how muck DK yarn (in weight) I actually need too.

I have a load in the washing machine as I type and, hopefully, I will get it dried outside.  I will be off to circuits in a while, there might be a focaccia to bake and, as it's Monday, I have housework.

There's enough there to keep me busy, isn't there?

Also, fingers crossed, I might possibly hear from Specsavers about my aids being ready for collection.  I do hope so anyway.

Have a lovely Monday, everyone.  Stay safe and be happy.  xx

13-04-25

Morning, all!  The weather might be about to turn but, right now, it is very pleasant outside and I've some downstairs with my thin dressing gown on.  Very pleasant indeed.

First of all - a goof-up.  Yesterday afternoon I got ready to go into town, changed stuff over from bag to bag, generally smartened up and grabbed my printout ticker so I was already to enjoy an evening of music - and ooooops, it wasn't last night, it's in a fortnight.  What a wally!!

Oh, well, at least I know what I'm going to wear and I was able to watch the first in a new season of Doctor Who adventures.

I did feel silly though!

Generally, yesterday was lovely.  I managed to get two loads of washing dried on the line and enjoyed the sunshine.  It was so lovely and warm, wasn't it?

I'm trying the focaccia today, having started the dough off.  I've also made more discard crumpets to take over to Beth at some point.  

I have ironing to finish and I think that is about it really.  A pleasant and easy day.  xx

12-04-25

Good morning, everyone.

Absolutely first of all, thank you so much for your ongoing kind and supporting comments over these last few days,  What a lovely lot you all are - I am so fortunate.  It is an ongoing and very worrying situation and your kind words are a help.  Thank you all.

What a glorious day it was yesterday. Bright sunshine and temperatures in the twenties C - a perfect summer day and I had to water my pots in the evening.  Today is supposed to be nice too before a change on Sunday/Monday.

Here you go - a selfie of the three of us in the Horse and Groom - and I hasten to say that there was nothing stronger than Diet Pepsi in that glass.  Beth took it on her phone, terrible light but you get the idea.

It was lovely.  I had a chicken and bacon sandwich in ciabatta with chips and what was hopefully called 'salad'.  Er - no comment there but the whole thing was tasty.  
I haven't been buying bacon since I started cutting out UPFs and trying to lower the cholesterol so I enjoyed this as an occasional treat.

When we came out, I dropped Beth and Alex home and then went to the Clock Tower (close by) to do my shop.  Then I went home a slightly different way to fill up with petrol as the red light was showing - I went to that one because it was the cheapest in town at 135.9p per litre.  It's awful to think that's 'good' - I remember the fuss when petrol broke through the £1 barrier - it doesn't seem all that long ago!

Anyway, I filled her up so now I am hoping it will see me through until the end of May.

By the time I got home, it was late afternoon so I unpacked and put away the shopping and then I chilled in the sunshine with my crochet.  I had two big balls of Aran in my stash, one left from Beth's Christmas cardi and one from the cardigan I have just finished.  They seem to go together so I am turning them into another hexa-cardi , a stripy one, and making it shorter and more boxy as a summer thing.  Well, that's the theory anyway.  This time, I know what I'm doing a bit more which helps so I haven't had to frog much.

So today is a day at home with, hopefully, more lovely weather.  I've watched an Elaine Boddy video on turning her master sourdough recipe into focaccia and I'm going to give that a go, first with all white to start with and, if it works as it should, with mixed flours.  I have plenty of good stuff to go on top, rosemary and oregano in the garden, olives, sea salt, sundried tomato - just thinking about it tingles my tastebuds.

Actually - I've just remembered I will have to start the focaccia early or do it tomorrow as it's the Lee Mead concert this evening.  Not a problem, I'll see how Bubbles and Squeak behave after their feed and in the warmth.  xx

Better stop waffling and get on with my Facebook duties and then the day is mine.  Such a nice feeling!

Wishing you all a lovely Saturday too with lots of lovely weather and good things happening.  xx

11-04-25

Good morning!  It's Friday and the skies are clear after days of cold and cloudy mornings.  Fingers crossed.

Thank you all for your good wishes for Beth.  Surprisingly and thankfully, she got an appointment straight away so that was good.  Now there are tests!

The sourdough loaf behaved perfectly until I turned it out of the banneton when it flopped rather and I didn't get as much rise - oven spring, I believe it is called - when it baked as expected.  Who knows, eh, but I  expect I should have moved things around in the fridge for the final rise.  It creates a firmer dough.  Or maybe the scoring wasn't deep enough.   I don't think it was over fermented and I think - think - it was shaped well enough.
However, the crumb is lovely and the flavour is great (I chopped a bit off as you do) so that's OK.

By the afternoon it was lovely and sunny so Groove in the Garden went ahead and it was just lovely!  There's two others in the group who are also part of the Tuesday morning gang so that was nice.

Just checking my diary and I have Slimming World followed by a small (I hope) shop and then I'm over to Beth's to pick her and Alex up and we're going for our Mothering Sunday meal out, assuming Beth feels up to it, I mean.  Fingers crossed.
Actually, I might leave the shopping until later - I hate a mad rush.

Again, thank you for your kind comments and I hope you all have a lovely day.  xx

10-04-25

Hi, everyone.  It is Thursday and it's about half past five so too dark to see if there's another frost this morning.  The heating has clicked in so it can't be that warm but it's nothing like yesterday when it really was cold first thing and then through the morning too.  I don't think my fingers warmed up properly all day.

It was a bit of a day yesterday.  After I had posted yesterday's blog, I checked Facebook and messages to discover that Beth had been taken into hospital overnight with a very high pulse and some pain.   After some messaging and at her request, I drove over to Broomfield Hospital to find her in what I mentally call the 'walking wounded room', officially the 'Ambulatory Majors'.   She'd had tests, hadn't slept, was now off her drip and waiting to be 'seen' before being discharged.  Long story short, her heart rate had gone dangerously high so she dialled 111 and was taken to A&E.

She was given a prescription for antibiotics, we had to wait for the pharmacy to open (we had a very nice coffee from one of the coffee outlets there), then we had to wait while they made up the prescription and I finally got her home around ten fifteen-ish.
No idea why this happened but, obviously, it's being followed up.

So that was 'exciting'.

I really couldn't settle to much after that and, as already mentioned, it was soooooo cold!

While we were chatting over our coffee, she said how much they had enjoyed the sourdough loaf I gave her and would be quite happy for more to come her way.  Yay.  You see, I want to practise and play around with different flours, etc, but there's only so much bread a Slimming World person can possibly manage and my freezer is full.  This way I get to practise AND do a good deed at the same time.

So guess what I am looking at right now . . . yup, a half and half having just had its long fermentation and looking remarkably healthy - in fact, it has grown since I started typing this and I must get it shaped and into the banneton - hang on . . .

. . . oh, yes, that's a nice dough!  It ought to now go in the fridge for the final rise but there isn't room so it will just have to go into a cool spot - behind the curtains, maybe. 

As for today, it's another quiet day.  Chris is round for coffee and chat and this afternoon I will go round to Lindsey's for Groove in the Garden (hopefully).

The rest is the usual stuff and I must start thinking about varnish, etc, for those tables.  And I will have a loaf to bake in a few hour's time.

I think it will be a nice day and I hope yours is too.  See you tomorrow . . .  xx

09-04-25

Good morning, everyone.  Guess what - the sun is shining.  Isn't that a surprise!!

(edit:  no it isn't - I thought it was but it is cloudy and cold this morning.)

Yesterday was definitely a Good Day.

Groove was great and, this time, I had plenty of energy, unlike last Tuesday.  That was  better.

I caught the eleven o'clock bus into town after a rather rushed breakfast and went straight to Specsavers to see if I did have an audiology check or not.
I did, so I pretty much went straight in and it was a very positive experience indeed.  A very thorough physical check and plenty of questions to answer - I think some of them were just to check how  - aware is perhaps the best word - of my hearing levels and difficulties and some were regarding any noticeable deterioration, exposure to loud noises.  All that sort of stuff.
Then I had the in-the-box-headphones thing and  the bone conductivity check as usual.
Turns out my left ear is the same as last time (good) but my right ear shows some deterioration (which I had noticed) but not that much.  So that was good too.
I said about the aids occasionally refusing to charge up and, in fact, as she was reprogramming them to match my current prescription, the right one did cut out and she couldn't get it started again so that was fortuitous.
They've gone off to be 'serviced' and, as they are still in the guarantee period, that will be free.  They should be back in a week and, in the meanwhile, I have my backups, which I took with me.

Then it was into the vision and eye health checks which took absolutely ages.  She spent so long doing the eye health stuff, I was starting to get a bit worried but, like my ears, it seems that my eyes are very healthy.  Phew.  Yes, there's that 'freckle' at the back of one eye and yes, there's early cataracts but the first is 'nothing' and the cataracts have not grown (or whatever the term is) since my last check so no worries at the moment.

As far as vision is concerned, one eye is the same, the other had changed a bit so I walked out having paid for two new pairs, one sunglasses and the other ordinary and the advice to get a pair of night vision lenses that I can wear over my normal glasses for night driving.  Amazon, it seems, does them.  Interesting.

What the glasses cost is what I more or less expected and had budgeted for and no, I certainly didn't need new hearing aids; I was really pleased about that

I had a good wander around town and found a nice (and cheap) dress in Primark so, all in all, a most successful time.

Come the evening, I was shattered.

I plan to get my housework done today . . . and some gardening too.  Hopefully.  There's nothing in the diary until personal training this afternoon so I have a clear run.  

Have a lovely day and stay safe and well.  xx

08-05-25

Morning - it's Tuesday and it is just tiptoeing out of darkness outside so I can't waffle on about more sunshine - but I bet there will be some.  It will probably still feel chilly but I am looking forward to our walk down the the hall for Groove in around three hours.

I was shockingly lazy yesterday and didn't really do all that much.  I didn't do the usual Monday housework and I didn't do anything in the garden either.  I did, however, sit and make great progress with my knitting which is now almost finished.  I did both sleeves at the same time and I'm doing both fronts the same way although I have had to work one side at a time at the very top because of shaping the collar being just a bit too muddling to do together, me being a bear of very little brain.  I should finish it in a few days, including the sewing up and then I will need to find a nice button.
And while I sat and knitted, I pondered what I want to try next with the sourdough thing.  Given that I have enough in the freezer to keep me going for weeks, whatever I make will have to be gifted on to someone.  As often with me, the fun is in the doing, the making.  Do you find that?

As I'm being so lazy with the garden at the moment so I have decided to adopt the tried and trusted strategy of half an hour a day.    By the end of the week, everything should be done.  Fingers crossed, anyway.  Having said that, I can't do today.  Oh, well.

What's on today?  Well, first of all, being Tuesday, Chris and I will be taking our usual sunshine walk down to St Andrew's hall for out Groove class and walking back.  Then I will have a very quick breakfast before catching the bus into town for my hearing and vision checks and a good nosey around the shops. 

Actually, I have a slight doubt about the hearing one because I have received no notification of my booking, unlike the vision test but no worries, I can book another one and, with a bus pass, going into town really isn't a hassle. 

I have a nice list of Shops To Visit so maybe I will find a summer dress, you never know.

So no gardening and no housework today.  Isn't that a shame!  😉

Right, well, better get going with the Facebook stuff for the day.  See you all again tomorrow and have a great day!  xx

07-04-25 and success!

Morning, everyone.  Another week starts and, guess what, the sun is shining.  That means circuits will be in the garden again this morning - lovely!

I have to admit, my heart sank when I came downstairs yesterday to a bowl of hot cross bun dough that hadn't risen at all.  Thank goodness the recipe did say that it was a heavy dough what with all the fruit plus the spices, etc, so I decided to just let it be and hope.  

At around half past two, seventeen hours after I did the last stretch and folds, it was ready, doubled in amount, lovely and relaxed.  I got six little buns and one mini loaf (it wouldn't stretch like focaccia and maybe I should have scored it, I don't know) from that half amount of the recipe.

I even did the flour and water crosses - I wasn't going to bother but then thought 'just give it a go'.

Obviously, I had to try one so I picked out the smallest one to have for my dinner dessert and wow, it was absolutely delicious.  I've made yeasted buns before and never had that much success but this is going to be an annual regular from now on.

It doesn't look all that fruity but it was, the spices were just right and the texture was gorgeous.

I now wish I had had the courage to just wait with the 100% wholemeal loaf instead of just rushing ahead.

The others are all in the freezer now with the mini loaf which I sliced.   One a day over the Easter period and I'm really looking forward to it.

And the lesson learned is - go with the dough!

If you're interested, this is the recipe I used, no adapting!    I did the white flour version but used Bubbles, the rye starter.

https://foodbodsourdough.com/hot-cross-buns-and-loaf/

Today the diary is empty apart from circuits first thing but Monday is usually housework day so I will have plenty to do and it will be nice to have a clean and shiny home come this evening.

Have a lovely day, everyone, and take care.  xx

06-04-25

Good morning again, everyone.  It's almost getting boring saying the it looks like we have a lovely day to come but I go with that kind of boring any day of the week.
How has your week been?

I forgot to tell you some happy news.  My friend, Diane, has definitely decided to do the Crete holiday with me and has booked it too.  Yay!!

I had a lovely morning at Braintree Shopping Village.  David picked me up at around ten and once there we parted company for an hour to do our own thing and then met at Pret for a very nice Americano before coming home.  I could have stayed for much longer but David was kind enough to take me so I wasn't going to hold him up - he is going to a wedding in a few months and wanted to get some things for then.

I looked at dresses, of course, and there were some nice ones but mostly more evening wear which is not what I want.  I want light summer dresses that are good for day wear but pretty enough to do for evenings as well.  I was tempted by a dress with beading but it was just a bit too dressy and 'heavy', if that makes sense.  I'm really glad I am starting to look a year ahead - just imagine having this with only two weeks to go!

I did, however, get these . . .

I went into Pavers because I know their shoes are very comfy, like Hotter and Sketchers and saw these.  Perfect for summer evenings and for more idle days too.  I tried them on and they are so, so comfortable.  

There were four different colours and I couldn't decide between the white and the black so - as you can see - I got both.
Now to keep them nice (as well as wearing them) until next year!

I wore them yesterday and they wouldn't be much good for a proper walk of course but I have some really good Hotter walking sandals for that - I wanted something lighter, pretty and that didn't make my feet look huge and these fit the bill.

Come the evening, after activating Bubbles earlier, I started the sourdough hot cross buns.  I came down this morning and saw that the dough hasn't risen much but that's OK because a) it is a heavy dough that needs time (said the recipe) and b) it's been a cold night.  The bowl is now stood beside a radiator and it's starting to move.  As we have said before, sourdough anything requires patience and working with the dough, not with the clock.

And it smells gorgeous!

I now have to decide whether I want it as buns, as a loaf or as a sort of focaccia type shape in an oven tray and sliced into rectangles.  I'll probably go for buns but make them smaller so the mixture makes eight rather than six.
What would you do? 

Today there's nothing in the diary and I plan to give the garden some much needed attention.  Things like dead heading the daffs, clearing some parts of the middle bed, scraping those weeds and, definitely, mowing the grass at the front.  My lovely neighbour did it for me a couple of weeks ago but everything is growing well now.

In between talking to the hot cross buns, of course!  😊

Have a great Sunday, everyone.  Enjoy the sunshine (assuming you have some, that is).  See you tomorrow.  xx

05-04-25, a bit of a garden tour and a bit of luck.

Morning all - it's Saturday and the start of the school Easter holidays - well, I suppose you could argue that really it is Monday, but I bet that sense of freedom is already bouncing around.  Two weeks until the Easter weekend - it really is very late this year - and then one week (I think) until the bank holiday weekend and four weeks after that it is half term again.    By then, my tomatoes will have started growing, maybe a few will be flowering . . . I can't wait!

I've just gone out to take a few photos:

The mints are coming up well again.  I'll give them another year and then I think they will need repotting with fresh soil.

The sage has been looking dreadfully scruffy and unwell but it picking up nicely in the warmer weather,  That's good.

The other herbs are doing fine too - the bay and rosemary thrive on neglect, I have to ruthlessly curb the oregano every autumn and the chives are coming up - potato salad ahoy!!

The thyme is looking very, very woody and I think I will replace it - it just doesn't look that good really.

This is the nicest part of the fig, which is two longish stems, one straight up and the other at an angle, with baby leaves at the top.  I am hoping that there will be growth further down as it really is most unattractive as it is.

I wonder about pruning it back to the lowest leafy thingy in the autumn and seeing if that encourages side growth.  Anyone reading this who knows - please advise . . .

The clematis is doing the usual thing, even though I forgot to cut it back at the right time.  I'll remember next Spring but this time I didn't have the heart to cut off all that lovely growth although there were some dead stems that I managed to trim.  Will the flowers be more/less/better/worse?  Watch this space.  

The lupin - and, yes, those are slug pellets, sorry.  The lupin in the pot had been nibbled to death when I looked this week so out came the pellets.  Hopefully it will recover - fingers crossed.

And finally - up come the raspberry canes again.  They are autumn fruiting so fruit on this year's growth, not last year's.  They were not great last year so I have planted some new canes.  It was a bit late so fingers crossed they will send up some new shoots too.

OK, yesterday - lovely warm, sunny weather after a bit of a misty start, a two load drying afternoon.  

SW was great and I am now back in my happy zone after losing two pounds.  

I did was I hopefully called a 'small shop' - ooops.  Oh well.

What I didn't do was plant out the pansies so that's on the weekend list.

I did feed Bubbles and Squeak so now have discard to use at some point.  This was with a view to having a go at hot cross buns today but I'm not sure it will fit in with some last minute plans - I need to re-read the recipe to decide.  Maybe tomorrow . . .

I glanced rather casually over what was coming up at the Civic Theatre in town and saw that one of the shows I was interested in but had shown as 'sold out' now had a 'limited availability' tag so I clicked on and there was one seat - just one - left in a really good position so I grabbed it!

It's the Saturday after my birthday so I'm calling it a birthday present to myself and here's some bumph I have copied. 

Celebrate the most beloved musicals of all time

In this spellbinding night of music celebrating the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantoms take us on a magical journey through iconic shows such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera.

Featuring former Phantoms direct from the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera alongside West End and TV star Lee Mead, the sensational cast take you on a journey through the best of the West End, Broadway, and beyond from modern day smash hits to unbeatable classics.

Plus, discover how Lee Mead went from the dressing rooms of Phantom to the living rooms of the nation on his way to winning BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.

With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony as well as stand out solo performances you certainly won’t want to miss the music of THIS night!

Disclaimer – The Phantoms starring Lee Mead is in no way connected with and/or endorsed by Really Useful Group or Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Do you remember the programme 'Any Dream Will Do' when the prize was the lead role in the new 'Joseph' in London?  I absolutely loved it and voted for Lee week after week.
I am really excited to be going to this, parking isn't a problem in the evening if you allow plenty of time and I'm so glad I decided to take a random look . . .

I seem to have rambled on far too long so it's time to stop - I need another lemon water anyway and I think I will add a bit of mint too.  :-)

Bye, all, and have a great day.  xx