Tuesday:

Morning, everyone!  How are you all today?

" 'The time has come', the walrus said, to talk of many things.  Of . . .' "

. . . sending friends home with bags of tomatoes.

Yes, it is Tomato Time.  The time when every stroll out into the garden means a few more picked tomatoes and they build up and build up in the bowl for me to make soup or pasta sauce or . . . that sort of thing.

I dearly love Tomato Time.

So isn't it lucky that my dear friend, Diane, is coming over for lunch today.  I've just taken some chicken out of the freezer for lunch and, while she has the most beautiful garden, I don't think she grows tomatoes.

Thanks for all your good wishes yesterday.  I think that, as well as general tiredness, I have been fighting a mini summer cold-like virus.  Yesterday was headachey and achey and sore throat-y but nothing too bad and I had a few good long catch up sleeps in my comfy recliner plus a good night's sleep so I've woken feeling loads better again.  So much better.

And it was lovely to not have to worry about housework!

I went to Circuits and I'm I glad I did because two of us had brought their children, as happens during school breaks.  Truly, the youngsters are fantastic, love doing circuits and work off their surplus energy in a way that puts us to shame.  It is a genuine pleasure to have them on board, it really is.

And that was about it really.  I had meant to research Rye, seeing as I will be there on Thursday, but didn't and that's OK - there's time.  And last week I had expected to pop into town to pick up a couple of patterns but that will keep too - Franklins holds on to them for about four weeks and I told them it might be later rather than earlier.  I paid for them so that's OK.

Today is Groove - again, the last class until September - and then I just need to give the carpet a quick sweep and get a meal prepared before Diane turns up and the chatting begins . . . Time to start the day with, Facebook, shower and hair wash before Lindsey's loaf goes in t'oven (it's been slowly proving in the fridge overnight) and I empty the dishwasher.  It's all go in the early mornings!  😇

Bye, everyone.  Have a great day and see you tomorrow!  xx

Monday.

Morning, everyone.  I've had a rotten night, sleeping very badly and, having been nibbled by something yesterday, horrid and itchy too.  Urgh.

Still - not to worry because today is easy.   

I can now say that yesterday's meal out was a 'surprise' meal for my lovely friend, Diane, who hit eighty last week - not that you'd know from looking at her, would you?  We went to a pub near hers and Lindsey picked her up.  Oh, it was such a lovely time and, seeing as this has been posted on Facebook, I'm sure it is OK to post it here too.

I didn't like to say earlier because, while I don't think she reads in here, you never know.

I took a few 'pretty' photos yesterday morning, before the sun went away.  This is the dahlia I bought earlier in the season.  After an initial flowering, it got nibbled to death by snaily sluggy things and I nearly had it out but remembered that they are perennials.  And it has recovered and giving me beauty again.

And, for an afterthought, the hanging baskets are doing very nicely too.  I've been good at watering them - it does help, surprisingly (imagine tongue in cheek emoji here, please).

Because Beth and others were coming round in the evening, I tidied downstairs and did the dusting/sweeping so today I don't have to do it - yay.
Of course, there is always upstairs and I do need to change the sheets anyway but there will be time to catch up on some sleep, which will be nice.

I think the very worst and hardest thing about dress making is cutting out the paper pattern in the first place.  These multi-sized ones can be so fiddly and take ages as I don't want to spoil their multi-sized-ness.  I haven't quite worked out my size yet anyway.

so I can get on with that, can't I?

Better go and start the day - it's the last circuits class before September and I'm not really feeling up to it but don't want to miss it.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  See you here tomorrow.  Bye.  x

Brighton

Good morning, everyone.  The sun is shining and it feels fresh and 'clean' in the morning air.  Very pleasant indeed.

First of all, a very, very big thank you to Annabeth.  We met in front of the pier and she made sure I had the best day, taking me here and there, explaining things and giving me nuggets of info while we got to know each other a bit.  She was so generous with her time and I think - I hope - we both feel we are proper friends now.  I felt so lucky to have someone who knew the place well.

Thank you, Annabeth.  Here's to the next time and I hope your bus journey home was easy.

At 7:30ish. I left home to arrive for the coach with plenty of time to park.  I don't like a last minute rush and the car park does fill up when there's a coach trip.

The journey there was great.  No hold ups, not even for the QE2 bridge; in fact the slowest point was once we were in Brighton.  There's a lot of works going on and, as one would expect for a Saturday, the place was teeming with people and traffic.

A bit of history.
Brighthelmstone was documented in the Domesday book although there is archaeological evidence of settlements in the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods.  Later on, it became known as a health resort through sea bathing.

Then the Prince Regent (later King George IV) discovered the place and it became THE in place to see and be seen.  He constructed the Royal Pavilion and anyone who was anyone made tracks to the town from time to time.

Now, of course, Brighton is famous, not only for its history but also as a seaside holiday resort and a safer place for various communities who have helped to create an energetic, vibrant and happy place.

I met up with Annabeth outside the Pier entrance and we headed straight for the Brighton Pavilion where we had a 'comfort stop' (well, I did!) and a coffee before going into the Pavilion.

You could take photos so I did, but flash photography was not allowed so the quality is debateable.  Never mind . . .

The Royal Pavilion was built as a seaside retreat (some retreat!!!) for the Prince Regent and remained so through the reigns of William IV and Victoria until the last decided to make Osborne House her holiday home.  In 1850, the city of Brighton bought the pavilion but not the contents which were removed and shared around other royal residences.  Some pieces have been returned since but some of the contents are not originals - but they work anyway.
As Annabeth said, really it is a fake, but a fake that has grown its own authenticity over time.  

The whole effect is of pseudo Indian/Islamic influences, very ornate, very lavish and very fanciful.  Mirrors, lights, glitter, colour - it's quite overwhelming really and I will definitely have another look round at some point in the future because it's easy for memories to become confused.

A fireplace in the long gallery.

Lights . . . originally candles, of course.

This chandelier was very impressive.  My photo in no way does it justice.

It was in the banqueting room over the table and is about nine metres high, suspended from the ceiling in the claws of a dragon.

This curved section of the ceiling is painted leather - absolutely beautiful.

The great kitchen was, sensibly, not very far from the banqueting hall and was typical of that sort of thing.  It was huge and I am very glad I didn't have to clean all the copper pots and pans, not to mention the solid topped stoves and the ovens.  Can you imagine the dust?

I think the next few photos were taken in the suite of rooms containing the Saloon.  Lots of lights, some very intricate wallpaper and rich floor to ceiling curtains.

More lights . . .

. . . and more!

There were some amazing coloured windows at ceiling height.

Most of the lower windows were blocked off the preserve the furnishings and artefacts, of course.

This one was interesting.  At first glance it is 'just' a painting, a portrait of the Prince Regent in his glad rags.

However, on reading the information below, we learned that it is really . . .

. . . a mosaic.  You can see the tiny painted glass 'tesserae' in this close up.
I forget how many tiny fragments were used but it is very, very heavy and stands on a ledge rather than hung on the wall.

Upstairs, there's what are called Queen Victoria's apartments.  These were restored in 1990 to reflect what they probably looked like when she used them.

They consist of the Queen's bedroom (lavish), the maid's room next door (very plain but still comfortable) and this - the Royal Bum must have rested itself upon this more than a few times.

I've copied this information from the Wiki page.

[the outside] is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century. The current appearance, with its Mughal inspired features such as bulbous domes, chhatri-topped minarets and cusped arches, is the work of the architect John Nash, who extended the building starting in 1815.

So now we know!

Annabeth and I wandered through the gardens - nothing too fancy but plenty of grass and there were plenty of people enjoying the sunshine.  It looks a great place for a picnic or a get-together.

There were too many people to take a photo, sorry.

Once we had finished with the Pavilion, we stopped off at Pret for lunch (very tasty) before heading for the Lanes and some fabulous little shops.

Annabeth had, bless her, asked about fabric shops and, yes, I found one lot of fabric, a summery patterned viscose with a nice drape to it so I need to think carefully about what to do with it that will make the best of its qualities.

There were some lovely shops, all independent, different, boho type places, but the narrow lanes were jam packed and I was very careful to hang on to my bag very firmly indeed.

We stopped off in a very pleasant quadrangle for a most welcome cuppa - I can't remember what it was called but maybe Annabeth can.  It was good to sit down, chill and chat.

We headed back to the coast and just meandered along the beach for a short while before heading back to were the coach was picking me up and, conveniently, where Annabeth caught her bus home too.

While waiting for the coach, I took this one of a zip wire and, to the right, the pier (below).

Not a great view as it was over the roof of the Sealife place which I visited decades ago and which was really good then.

I bet there will be another trip organised next year and I really want to come back, maybe look at the sea life, take another nosey at those shops, maybe get the electric train to the Marina and back . . . there's so many things to do.

The coach trip back was just as trouble free as the one there, except for the inevitable slow traffic around the Dartford Tunnel.  We were home just after six, the sun was shining and I was shattered.

I came home with a length of fabric, a stick of rock and, you will be glad to know, my Memory Magnet.

And some really good memories of a great place visited and a friendship developed.  Thank you again, Annabeth.  xx

What a lovely day!

Well done, Alex

Morning!

I know I said no post today but I really had to come on to say how very well Alex did yesterday.

I had made a batch of dough beforehand which I had split into four and into four bowls to rise.

When Alex arrived, we watched several videos showing how to shape the base and then set to.   He shaped one and I shaped one, both of which we part baked.

Then we watched a video showing how to shape a stuffed crust base and he decided to make one that could be warmed up for dinner.  And wow.

Very simple - just seasoned passata, grated cheddar and mozzarella with that stuffed crust edge and it really didn't take too long to bake at all.

And the house smelled amazing.

The fourth ball of dough just made another flat base - they are now in Beth and Alex's freezer for future meals.

I messaged him in the evening and he said it tasted absolutely great.

Next time we're going to make a curry sauce to which could be added cooked meat (for him) or something like chickpeas (for Beth).
And then - the sky's the limit - a full roast dinner come the autumn.

What a star!!!

25-07-25

First of all and while I am thinking of it, there won't be a post tomorrow - I have to leave earlyish to get the coach and I will be tired come the evening.

Also, Sunday's will perhaps be a bit late because of uploading and editing any half decent photos I take, not to mention stringing a few words together about Brighton!

Good morning, one and all.  It's sort of sunny right now but whether that will last remains to be seen.  I haven't checked the forecast yet.

What I have checked, obviously, is the garden and there's two happy things this morning.

Firstly and at long, long last, I have baby runners that are not just a random few that haven't gone anywhere or gone anything.  Excellent - really looking forward to runner beans with every meal and bags of them in the freezer, not to mention pestering the neighbours.  

I can dream . . .

And . . .

One of the baby corn has flowered and another has a long hard spike that will open soon.  I guess the rest are not far behind.

I got it wrong, you know.  Remember I thought I needed to plant baby corn in blocks for pollination.  Well, you certainly do for big corn but babies have to be picked just as the tassels are emerging from the top and before pollination.  So now I need to keep eyes open for babies because if you leave them too long, they are not nice.

So I could have planted them around the runners but I'm glad I didn't - there really isn't the room.

Anyway - exciting stuff.

Yesterday, being Thursday, started off with the coffee and chat over at Chris' this week.  Always good, always enjoyable, always lots of laughter.  Always a happy time.

Then I drove over to Val's and ditto.  She made a delicious soup for lunch - lentils and vegetables - and had toasted sourdough bead to dunk.  Perfect, thanks, Val.  And, of course, we had a good old chat too.

Most of the rest of the time was spent looking for fabric online with not much success.  I found a gorgeous fabric on Temu, would you believe, but it was sold out.  Thing is, I don't want to spend an awful lot until I've re-skilled myself - it's been a while.

I wonder if there are any cheap fabric shops in Brighton.  Annabeth . . .  ???

What I am going to do is buy some very cheap sheets and practise with a toile (I had to look that up) which basically is a mock up of what you want to make for fitting purposes.  All the patterns I have are multi sized and I have no idea at the moment.  So I guess it is back to Temu and I will also look elsewhere.  

Anyway, enough of that.  Today is Slimming World and then Alex is over.  At his request, we are practising shaping pizza dough because we really made a right mess of it last time.
Should be interesting!

So when I get home, Thermione will make a full batch and I will pop small amounts into bowls to rise separately.  Then, when he gets here, we can watch some YouTube videos and then have a go.

Wish me luck!!

Time to go!

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Stay safe, be happy and be good but maybe not too good.  Bye.  xx

24-07-25

Morning.  Another very dull start, more rain and another humid spell overnight which may or may not have been a storm.  Light rain and a breeze is on the cards for today.  I'm now starting to be concerned for my tomatoes and the dreaded blight . . . not that there is anything I can do.

A bit random and lurid but I did enjoy making this and I've learned how to make half hexagons and triangles that fit round the edge.  If I were to make it again, I would change lots of things about it but it was fun to make all the same.

I  got the bus into town and spent a most enjoyable time looking through pattern books.  I just looked at dresses but when I go back to collect the ones that needed ordering, I will take another look and more widely - skirts, tops, etc.

And I must learn how to do a concealed zip.  The way I know is very old fashioned nowadays.  YouTube, here I come.
I also had a good look at some very gorgeous and lavish sewing machines.  Oh, my!

I had a good browse through the fabrics on offer but, like many places, they have gone over to craft cotton fabric which isn't really suitable for what I want which is something more drape-y and soft really.

However, I did NOT go upstairs to the yarn section.  I didn't need that temptation.

On the way back to the bus I popped into Boots for a few things I needed and I went to Bon Marche where I found two nice tops.  No, I don't need tops.  Oh, dear.  There was one nice dress but it wasn't in my size.  I tried the 12 on and it was too big.  Yes, I could have taken in the sides but I didn't love it THAT much.

Then I looked for my nice herbs, spices and all things wholefood stall in the market and, much to my distress, it has been taken over by a junk, pre-packaged, ultra processed rubbish stall.  That's a tragedy.  Where else could you ask for 20h turmeric or 100g steel cut oats . . . ?

One fabric stall was open and I nearly bought some nice polka dot fabric but decided to wait until I have all the patterns and take my time.

PT was fun, as always.

Today I have the usual coffee and chat with Christine and then I am off out round to Val's for lunch, bearing a gift of a cucumber.  lol!#

Better go and get the day started.  Have a good one, whatever the weather.  Jackie, I hope your air quality improves soon.  

Bye, all  xx

23-07-25

Morning!

Well, St Swithun knew what he was talking about, didn't he?  Another damp night and dull start with rain predicted this afternoon.  Ho hum.

Yesterday went well.  I baked a sourdough loaf for Beth and took it over to her, I did two loads of washing, got them fried using the hokey cokey method (in out, in out, depending on the weather!) and even got it all ironed during the evening.  I'm happy about that!

A nice, domesticated day.

Today, I'm thinking about getting the bust into town and walking to Franklins (the only proper fabric/haberdashery/patterns/yarn/sewing machines shop in town, I believe) to look at some paper patterns for dresses.  I know they are sold online but the information is minimal and I want to see what's on the back of the envelope as well as the picture.  I also want to look at fabric there and in the market (if the stall is there - it might not be today) and look over the sewing machines, just out of interest.
There's a few other bits and bobs I want to get too in other places.

So I'm going to aim for the 9:30 bus.

Lindsey has asked if we can have PT a bit later today: as a result, I have plenty of time for pottering so I might make another loaf - for me this time, my wholegrain seeded (yeasted) loaf because sourdough is great but sometimes one wants a different kind of loaf.

I tried to watch Sewing Bee as it was on but fell asleep so I need to catch up on that too.

All in all, a pleasant day; hoping yours is too.  xx

22-07-25

Morning, lovely people.  How are you all today?  

Sorry about yesterday.  There's heavy stuff going on in the background and I just felt a bit overwhelmed, that's all.  Thank you for understanding and for your kind messages.

The weather certain has changed, hasn't it?  We had rain, we had wind and we had sunshine.  It felt humid but also a bit chilly at times.  No complaints, it is what it is, but isn't it typical just as the children break up for their summer holiday, eh?

Not exactly a challenge - spot the one ripe chilli pepper!  I have been using a few green ones and wow - very chilli!

I went over to Lindsey's for circuits - inside as it kept raining - and enjoyed it, as usual.   There's only one circuits class left now before Lindsey goes away and all classes will resume again in September.

I made some bread - yeasted bread this time but baked like sourdough - and will take it to Lindsey this morning.  It came out really well for once.

I am so looking forward to Saturday - meeting Annabeth, seeing the Pavilion and having lunch and a nice wander around.  It will be so good and fingers are crossed for the weather.  

I've caught up with Sewing Bee.  What a good start and I could see the elimination coming a mile off, could you? As for that garment of the week, wow.  
(no spoilers in case anyone hasn't seen it yet).

And, better late than never, I got round to booking my car's MOT and service.  Another expense but that's what the monthly savings are for.  I don't do separate sinking funds or whatever they are called, but the money is there when needed.  I'm rather hoping I can manage it from income but. if not, it's OK.  I am so fortunate.

Tomorrow is the last day of the school year for 'my' school.   Bless them, I hope everyone had a really good rest.

I will be going to Groove first thing and then it's housework day because I didn't do any today.  Has to be done, doesn't it?
Hoping you had a lovely day yesterday.  All the best, stay safe and stay dry.  xx

21-07-25

 Sorry, no blog today.  Back tomorrow.  Have a lovely day.  xx

20-07-25

Good morning, everyone.  Well, the weather has broken with a vengeance.  While we didn't experience much in the way of storming, we have had good amounts of moderate and steady rain to soak everything through and through and to fill the water butt again.  Some storms are predicted today which indicates that humidity will yoyo up and down but everything is getting just what is needed - ongoing, steady, soaking rain.
No complaints from me!

I'm feeling loads better this morning after a really good night's sleep.  Yesterday was a gentle day with plenty of reading, crochet, working out how to crochet a bit of a hexagon, learning how to crochet half a hexagon (thank you, YouTube) and generally chilling.  I popped over to Beth and Alex's for a couple of hours.

It was just a quiet Saturday.  

Something really nice - I had a message from Annabeth (one of you lovely readers and a longer term online friend) suggesting we meet up when I am in Brighton next Saturday.  Such a lovely idea and I'm looking forward to it very much indeed - thanks, Annabeth.  xx

Today looks like more of the same.  I have a pile of recipe print outs to go through and organise, I need to meal plan for the week and I must update my finances and see where I am for the last third of July - it won't be amazing because I paid for the September holiday and I'm hoping I won't need to move anything out of savings.

Just a few rain soaked photos to brighten up a dull day's blogging.  :-)

Wishing you a fantastic Sunday, packed with lovely things.  Stay dry!!  xx

19-07-25

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to a very damp and humid Saturday morning here in Mid-Essex.  I'm really not sure if we had storms overnight, I slept badly because it was very humid and I might have had a tad too much prosecco yesterday evening and there was no lightning but there might have been and it might have contributed to the bad sleep.  Thunder? - not at all, not once the hearing aids are out.  Ditto for any super-heavy rain/hail.  They just don't register.

However, everything is lovely and fresh and green this morning, everything looks really happy and well watered, so we have had a pretty good rainfall and it is continuing through the morning.  Steady, more than drizzle - just perfect.

I took a few photos standing at the French window and going round.

The herb and foliage bed with the cucumbers to the left and some of the tomatoes along the fence.  And while on the subject, I am now picking a small handful of tomatoes each day and, for the first time since last Autumn, tomatoes were not on the shopping list.  They taste amazing!

Straight down the garden, over the flower bed, to the garden room.  I am so glad I put the cover on the egg chair.

Right again and it is the blankety bed and you can see how happy the tomatoes and runner beans are in that bed.  You can't see the chilli; it is well camouflaged and the fruit is still green but slowly lightening.  To the right of that is the baby corn.  Still no baby corns but time will tell.  :-)

Finally, I braved the rain to grab a photo of one of the hanging baskets.  Very pretty.

OK, moving on . . .

It was so hot yesterday but the hall we use for Slimming World was pleasantly cool.  A nice session and it is so nice to have someone on the weighing desk with me.

After SW, I did my food shop for the week (very ouch, as usual) and then pottered at home.

Chris and I popped over for J's 18th Open House party thing and it was really nice.  I met up with some former year one pupils, heard I was their favourite teacher of all time (I suspect that was politeness and beer speaking but, all the same, how nice) and caught up with their lives and doings.  It was fun.

Today, I have woken with what I suspect is a prosecco supported headache although the poor sleep and the humidity won't be helping.  Fortunately, I have a blank day in the diary so I can take it easy, get a few messy corners sorted (that always helps) and catch up on my sleep.
I also want to catch up on the first of the new Sewing Bee series.  

I've realised that October is my double pension month so that's the Center Parcs holiday covered and the Edinburgh one too.  Isn't that nice!

Well, I will stop rambling and get on with my Facebook duties.  Have a lovely day, whatever the weather.  Take care and be safe.  Bye.  xx

18-07-25

Morning, all.  The sun is trying to break through and it's supposed to be quite hot today but a change is afoot and there's a weather warning for storms and heavy rain tomorrow and Sunday.  I'm good with that, especially the rain - the ground is parched, despite my best efforts.

Yesterday was lovely.  Chris and I had a lot of laughs during our chat and we swapped produce - she took a cucumber home and left me with some plums which are now stewed and in the freezer.

I did groove online with the fan on as it turned humid.  Then, in the evening, I had a lovely online chat with some friends.  

Today is SW and weigh in and then there's nothing in the diary until late afternoon when I'm popping over the road to a neighbour as it is her son's 18th and she's having Open House.  That should be lovely.

So that's me for today.  Nothing special but all very pleasant, I think.
You have a good day too.  xx

17-07-25

 Good morning again, everyone.  No sun this morning and the forecast seems to indicate a very dull day ahead of us round here.  Not terribly hot though, thankfully.

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I got a lot of little things done, personal training was, as always, useful and fun, and I went to the open evening at school and saw several old friends.  I don't know any of the children now though - it's been nine years, or will be at the end of August, since I retired.  Would I go back now?  Not a chance.  It was lovely looking round but I'm over that kind of life now, well over.

Confession time, folks.  I've booked another break - a Monday to Friday at one of my favourite places, Center Parcs, Elveden.  As always, I've taken a self catering apartment by the lake; they are so very comfortable and smart and then have balconies overlooking the lake so fingers crossed for nice weather.  Early morning coffee on the balcony is lovely!
Surprisingly, it wasn't that expensive.  I mean, CP holidays aren't cheap but it seemed to be quite a lot less that a couple of weeks later.  Maybe the end of September is a less busy time there.  Anyway - done, dusted and paid for.   It's put the clappers on any extra savings this month but I'm OK with that.

Round the front, the confused dahlia is cheerfully doing its thing.  I chopped off a load of dead heads yesterday and this morning there were loads of new flowers.  This plant really does thrive on neglect.

Today, being Thursday, starts with coffee with Chris.  Then I have various bits and bobs to do, a loaf to make, a batch of curry sauce for the freezer and Groove online at two, finishing with an online chat with friends this evening.

Such a nice day!  

I hope yours is too.  Stay chilled and safe and be good but maybe not too good, OK?  xx

16-07-25

 Good morning, everyone.  It is a fine, sunny start to the day but we had some rain yesterday evening and overnight.  Not loads, not enough, but it all helps.

The runner beans must have appreciated it and maybe the insects heard what I wrote yesterday because here's the first baby runner bean (that I can see).  There's loads of flowers though so I really must start making more gaps in my freezer so I can freeze bags of runners for the colder weather.

Such a shame you can't freeze cucumbers!!

The Lakeland order arrived and now I have proper parchment, super strong foil and enough freezer bags.  I also have a pizza peel thingy (impulse) and some useful bottle pourer things.  

I was looking through my diary for the Broomfield coach trips, all day trips apart from Edinburgh, that I have booked.
This year (from here on):
Brighton
Rye
Evita
Knit and stitch show
John Rutter concert
Norwich
Edinburgh
Kew Gardens (lights
Thursford (maybe)
Harrods and then carols at RAH

And in 2026 (so far)
Leeds Castle
St Albans
Paddington, the Musical
Stratford upon Avon.

Plus Crete and Spain - not Broomfield coach trips.
A really nice mix of interest, shows, specials and visiting interesting places
I don't think my children can argue that I'm not enjoying my money in my 'old age', can they?

So why am I pondering on a short break in September?   lol

Today starts nice and easy as I don't have to get out for a class.  The first scheduled thing is personal training this afternoon and then, early evening, I am into school because it is Open Evening and the governors are all invited.  It's a good excuse to wander round, be nosey and see some old friends again in their natural environment.  :-)

So - after the necessaries, I should have time to play with some hexagons - and puzzle out how to do the middle.

Have a great day.  Bye.  xx

15-07-25

Morning, all.  We're pretty much halfway through July already.  Time is really flying.  

It was quite a nice day yesterday - not too hot, cool morning (after some early light rain) and evening.  Today we are supposed to have rain but not until the afternoon so I have an early load of washing in to get out on the line before I leave for Groove and the other load (the darks) should be ready to put out when I get home from Groove.

Today's rather samey garden photos are . . .

Definitely ready for cutting.  I think cucumbers are going to feature strongly in my salads for the next little while.
The one I cut yesterday was proper nice, no bitterness at all.

I wonder if Chris would like a cucumber.

The first Sungold to begin to ripen.  Thought of Dad when I saw it.

And others.  They are definitely on their way now.

By the way, I looked up the type that has blossom end rot and it said they are super delicious so I'll keep it for now and see if I can get some fruit from it.
I wonder if I forgot to add crushed egg shells to the soil in that pot.  All the others are fine  . . .

(Hoping that is not Famous Last Words)

Better up my intake of spicy foods!  So many chillies!  

A bit hard to see but I've picked loads of blueberries and there's still loads more.  I am now putting some in the freezer.  Blueberry jam, maybe?

There are loads of flowers on the runner beans but, as far as I can tell, none have set yet.  Come on, insects, do your worst!!

I made another loaf yesterday.  No problems with sticking this time but it didn't rise nearly as much as the disaster one.  No idea why now and it was frustrating although the loaf is perfectly presentable, just a tad flat.  

I've got another one on today - for Beth this time.
I've decided that next week's loaf for Lindsey is going to be my first go at a cheese and chorizo one.  I'll use the recipe I got from the course and guess at the amounts of cheese and chorizo.  It was such a delicious loaf.

I didn't do nearly as much housework as I had planned so guess what I'm doing today.

Yup!

Have a good day, all.  Enjoy whatever fine weather you have and, if it rains, we can be thankful on behalf of farmers and gardeners everywhere.  

Bye.  xx

14-07-25

Morning, all.  Happy new week to us all.  It's definitely cooler round here, thankfully.  Long may it continue.  And it's raining right now, just a little bit and nowhere near what we need but it does freshen the atmosphere.

I had a really pleasant day although not everything went to plan.

That sourdough loaf - it cooked beautifully with a great oven rise and looked perfect - except that what I thought was baking parchment obviously wasn't, it must have been greaseproof paper and it stuck fast to the bottom of the loaf.  There was no way I could get it off.  Aaarrrggghhh.  So I had to cut off the bottom before cutting it roughly into chunks as it wouldn't slice at all well and now it's all in the freezer labelled 'sourdough wedges for soup, dips, etc'.   Such a shame as it was a lovely loaf.

And I have made an order to Lakeland to include parchment and also a big roll of their strong foil which is absolutely the best foil on the market - there were several other things I needed so it was worth doing.

I made some pumpkin seed 'butter' (like any nut butter) in Thermione.  It was a bit blend, scrape down, blend, scrape down, ad infinitum, but it has made a delicious paste that will be good as a spread but also in pasta as a sort of sauce.  I have to use it within a fortnight.

The cucumber pickle was really nice.  I think I used a tad too much salt and the apple cider vinegar turned the cucumber murky coloured but wow, the taste!

Here they are on toasted muffin, ham and the rest of the broad bean hummus - another recipe I will be making again!

As I started on a water melon, I thought about making watermelon rind pickles.  I looked it up and found that you have to cut the white part away from the hard outer skin and it's that white part you use.  I was surprised how easy it was to cut away.
So there's a bag of rind in the freezer (which might have been the wrong thing to do but we will see) and when I've finished the rest of the water melon, I will have a go.
Has anyone made this pickle before?  How did it work out?  Was it nice?

And I had a few tomatoes from the garden.  Lovely!  They are starting to ripen quite fast now; just a few each day at the moment but it won't be long before they are coming thick and fast.

Today is Monday and Monday means downstairs housework.  I have some washing to do and there's circuits first thing.

If it clears and is a fine rest of day, I might wash my bedding too.  Make the most of the fine weather.

So that's today.  I hope your day is going well.  Stay safe and well and have a great day.  Bye.  xx

13-07-25

Hi, everyone.  Welcome to Sunday - a  rather dull and, thankfully, cooler and fresher Sunday too.  The sun is supposed to break through at some point but they think it will be cooler round here.  Not cool, just cooler!

I slept better though, even after naps on and off through the day.  Phew.

As I suspected, maybe I did cut the cucumber a bit too soon so it was a little bitter, but it was OK chopped, added to chopped tomatoes (also from the garden, yay) with chopped preserved lemon, a tiny pinch of sweetener and some apple cider vinegar.

I think I will peel and slice the rest and add some pickling stuff that I have just knocked together - apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, bit of salt, bay leaf, fennel seeds, black peppercorns and a bit of preserved lemon - that mix being decided by what I am able to lay my hands on.
Goodness knows how it will turn out but I just want a quick something to try with a quick turn around!

Oddly enough, this morning it isn't bitter at all anyway so there you go!  I've done it anyway (since writing the above) and will have a taste for lunch.

Today is the second day of an easy weekend so, obviously, I have started off a sourdough loaf and will start another one later on - one for Lindsey and one for Beth.  

Apart from that, I have nothing planned apart from finishing off the ironing so I will see where the day takes me!  :-) 
Bye - see you tomorrow!   xx  

12-07-25

Morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday.
I don't know about you but it was so hot here that I have not slept very well at all.  It's fresher now so windows are open, etc, but will get hot again.  I'm trying to keep the vegetables watered but it's hot work!  :-)

Photo taken yesterday - this cucumber is now chilling in the fridge and I will try it for lunch sliced on some toasted olive sourdough with broad bean hummus and some chopped tomatoes.  Sounds posh, will probably look a right mess but will taste great!
I just hope I haven't picked it too soon - if I have, it will taste a bit bitter.  I guess that's how you find out.  It did snap off its stem very easily so fingers crossed.  However, with several snapping at its heels, I felt I ought to pick it.

Remember what I said about the colour of the runner bean flowers - well the ones I sowed are definitely white (the pack says so) and it looks like the plantlets I bought are red so won't they look lovely when they are all out.  
I'm trying to keep them well watered - runner beans need so much water - and there are plenty of insects around so maybe the early flowers will set and give me beans in a few weeks time.  That would be great.

Not the slightest hint of a baby corn yet but, my word, I will do this again for the sheer beauty of the leaves.  Very 'architectural' and attractive and I will choose a more prominent place for the pots next time.  It's as good as a posh pot plant!

I had fun with Alex yesterday.  It turned out he really did mean just the dough although we got as far as rolling it out and giving it a first bake so the toppings could be added at home.

Turns out we are both totally naff at rolling out pizza dough so, afterwards, we watched a few YouTube videos  and maybe we can have a session trying out the different recipes.  I think pizza dough is very robust!

YouTube is so good for this sort of thing - I've learnt so much from that service and get my money's worth from the Premium membership, for sure.

On the crochet front, I am playing with hexagons at the moment but I am also crocheting poppies for Southend Pier.

https://www.southendpier.co.uk/poppies

One of you mentioned this a while ago.  The site provides a pattern for both knitted and crocheted poppies or you can use your own pattern.  It takes just scraps of yarn and I have both red and black so I'm on the poppy trail!!

I'm not sure I ever showed you the finished Trellis CAL.  Here it is, is situ, draped over the back of my sofa   The colours are just perfect.  

If you enlarge the photo, the mistake is somewhere there, rather more easily seen.  I don't mind, it was definitely not worth taking the thole thing to pieces for.  It doesn't spoil the 'flow'.

After such a rotten night, I am going to take life very easily today.  The diary is empty, there's a bit of housework but I might or might now do it, I'll see how I feel.  I have various bits and bobs I want - not need - to do in the kitchen and, all in all, it's going to be a gentle weekend.  Because why not?

How about you - what plans or non-plans do you have for this hot weekend.  Take it carefully, anyway, and stay as cool as you possibly can.  xx

11-07-25

Good morning, everyone.  It seems to have been a warm night but I stayed comfortable with one of my new fans.  I can recommend bladeless fans; they seem more efficient and definitely quieter than my old ones.

It feels lovely and fresh outside right now but the heat will build through the day so it's curtains/blinds closed, windows open, fans on and I have plenty of ice cubes in the freezer.

I've just taken a few garden photos.  Poor light quality but not to worry.

The cucumber I was measuring (front, right) is now 19cms.  I want it to fill out now!

There's three teenagers in this photo and another three higher up plus a fair number of babies.  I've looked up bread and butter pickles and will be hunting out my bigger preserving jars in the garage.  Yay.

Also, some of the tomatoes are showing colour.  I give them a week, maybe ten days, and I'll be picking enough to stop buying them.

The runner beans are sending out plenty of flower stems now.

The ones I sowed are white flowering (some did finally come up) and I am wondering if the plants I bought are also white as there's not a red one in sight.  Yet, anyway.

The hanging baskets are pretty - I'm glad I went for them after deciding I wouldn't bother!

Yesterday was a nice, restful day.

Chris and I had a great old chat in Chris' garden - we always have plenty to talk about.  It started during covid as neighbours looking out for each other and just went on from then although we had always had brief talks when we met in the cul de sac and we were colleagues at school, Chris being a TA although never my TA.

I did Groove online and had the fan blowing so it was quite manageable.  Lindsey showcased the Groove routines she has developed for August as pre-records.  She is pre recording one of all her classes - Step, Groove, Circuits, Strength and SET (I think that's it) and is making them available through August for a very reasonable £20 for the lot as many times as we want to access them.  She's going to be away all month for a well earned and deserved extended break.

That means no sourdough making for her.  Sad.

I exchanged messages with Alex yesterday.  I had popped several tasty looking recipes in his Cookidoo folder and guess what he chose.  Pizza dough!!  Classic!

Mind you - maybe I can get him bread making in the future.  That would be good.

Sadly, these lessons are having to stop as Alex has a work experience placement.  I have suggested that we find another time as I don't have fitness classes through August and he will see what spaces there are.  He desperately wants to work though and no way would I want to complicate matters for him.
And, talking of the whole Alex and work situation - here is something Beth posted on Facebook so it's not private or anything.  It's quite long and please excuse the language . . .

To best meet the needs of the people they serve, especially given the recent discussions around supporting disabled people into work, jobcentres must become more worker friendly. Sounds obvious right? After all it's the jobcentre... isn't that what they do?

I am Alex's appointed person, which means I deal with his job centre stuff for him, attend meetings with him etc. Alex may need support but he wants to work. With the help of a specialist organisation and the agreement of his job coach he has applied for and been accepted on an interesting course. He doesn't currently have any job centre obligations in this sense; he is not obliged to do the course but he is doing the course because he Actually. Wants. To. Work. 

This has caused some difficulty though! I called today to rearrange an appointment that we have been summoned to unexpectedly next week. An appointment that Alex won't be able to make, obviously, because he is doing a course. 

I assumed there would be no issue, after all he is Doing A Work Related Course, but I was treated to a lecture on how it is vital he attends all appointments, that only one cancellation is permissible, whatever the reason, and we would have to accept whatever alternative they sent with serious consequences meted out for not doing so should we be unable to attend the second summons. This has meant I have needed to rearrange a working day- because yes, I work actually- to accommodate the dwp... my own work activity being apparently as unimportant as Alex's!  

Had I less control over my timetable, or a less sympathetic team lead, and unable to make the second summons, Alex would have been sanctioned. Had Alex's work experience been two weeks, not one, thus missing the second summons, he would have been sanctioned. For missing a meeting to talk about what work activity he can do. Because he was doing work related activity. No exceptions, apparently. Neither of us are allowed to be ill!

Do you know what would suit the dwp OK though? If we were both sitting on our heineys waiting for jobcentre summonses but not actually working or taking steps towards work. Because then we would be available to talk about what we could possibly do to find Alex work. 

Facepalm.

Yes, if I can rustle up any spare energy- unlikely, I'm struggling- I will make a proper complaint but I'm fucking tired and I really shouldn't have to. He's doing a *work related course* . And I work full time. We are both doing our best. Come on jobcentre-  get it together... this really isn't good enough.

You really couldn't make it up, could you?

On to nicer things - today is Slimming World.  I will weigh, I know I have gained and I do care but will try not to worry or feel bad.  In our Slim Win chat last night we were talking about this same thing and encouraging each other.  I always come out of these chats feeling better about things.

Then Al is over and I realise I don't know whether he means he wants to make just the dough or a whole pizza.  Better ask via Facebook.

Time to go and get other things done.  Thanks for reading, everyone.  Have a lovely, safe, hydrated day and a good night's sleep.  xx