Monday, 20-04-26

Morning, all.  Welcome to Monday.  I hope you had a good weekend and feel well refreshed for the week to come.

Yesterday felt quite busy what with this and that.  It started with a bread making session for Beth and Lindsey and, for ponce, I was able to bake all four together.  I can pretty much say how long the yeasted bread will take before baking but the sourdough is different and it's unusual to be able to bake them together.

And while on the subject of sourdough, Bubbles had a good feed yesterday and is now fast asleep (I hope) in the fridge for a week and a bit.  I'll wake her up when I get home again.

I managed to get pretty much everything done that I had planned.  Downstairs is now tidy and ready for Kay.  It doesn't LOOK completely tidy because of cases, etc, but it's OK.
I got the washing and the ironing done.  I will change my sheets today and get them done with any random bits and pieces so I won't have any more than holiday washing when I get home.

I decided to finish the packing.  Some things will get a bit crumpled, I know, but the rooms have iron and ironing board so anything too crumpled can have a quick smooth.
And I weighed - first me, then me and the case and then do the maths.  I nearly had a panic at first, thinking I'd gone well over until I realised that I weigh in lbs and the allowance is in kgs.  A quick Google conversion later and phew, well within with ample room for any little gifts and souvenirs.  I wonder if you can get fridge magnets in Crete.  😊

I saw some good news too - it popped up on my feed.  I wasn't looking forward very much to the EU entry-exit biometric thingy, just because there are queues and it can take a while but it seems that Greece has just cancelled this requirement for British travellers, happy tourists and ease of entry being pretty essential to their economy (and also because it would seriously hold things up, especially, I gather, the exit part where people have missed their flights because it all took so very long).  That sounds like good news to me.

I popped over to Beth with her bread and for a little chat and relax, did the last bit of tidying and then chilled.

Today starts, as always on a Monday, with Circuits at Lindsey's, then Kay is round and I have a list of last things to do.  Things like watering the indoor plants, checking the garden room is locked (it should be but must check), unplugging everything that needs unplugging (that's partly a task for tomorrow morning too), etc.
And I will check countless times that the passport, money, cards, etc are all safely tucked away in my bag because just checking one isn't enough, is it?  At least I don't have to worry about travel documents - One Traveller deals with all of that.

A friend will be staying over from time to time, just to check on things.  She can reconnect anything she wants to use.  Thanks very much S, very much appreciated.

Less than a day to go now.

I won't be posting tomorrow morning, of course, but fingers crossed that I can post later on, once there and unpacked and accessing the hotel wifi.  There should be photos too.  :-)
Have a lovely Monday, everyone.  xx

Sunday, 19-04-25

Good morning, everyone.  How are you today.  It's so nice that the sun has come out to play this weekend.  I'm waiting for a load of washing to finish so I can take full advantage of the lovely weather.

Getting there.  I think everything is now either in the case or around it.  It all looks very messy at the moment but will easily be tidied up.

(I asked - there's no gym at the hotel, just a spa, so the leggings will be going back upstairs again!)

And the cabin bag, far from full but there are some things still to go in.
It's surprising how much it can take.

In other news, I have Lindsey's bread in loaf tins, doing its last rise and Beth's dough on its first rise so that will all be done and dusted by lunchtime.

Today's travel prep is to get everywhere tidied up and looking nice.  I don't want a mad rush tomorrow and, anyway, Kay is coming and I like to give her a clear run.  She comes to clean, not to tidy up after me.

Does anyone else get this feeling of mild panic that they've forgotten something vital.  I do.  I'm sure I haven't but . . . 

The washing has finished so I must get it on the line.  Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.  xx

Saturday, 18-04-26

Morning, everyone.  It's a beautifully sunny day here today; I'm not sure how warm though as I haven't gone out yet.  However, I'm comfortable in my lightweight dressing gown rather than my snuggle hood so I suspect it's quite nice.

Yesterday was a this and that day.  I went to SW group (half a pound off) and then on to do a very small shop in Morrisons.
I did a fridge check and planned my meals for the next three days to use up as much as possible.

I had a phone call from One Traveller - one of the group managers has changed.  No worries.  And they confirmed that the hotel provides room towels as well as pool towels - the list only said pool towels.  So that's a space saving.

Getting there!

I've just popped out to get something from the freezer and just look at the buds on my clematis.  It's obviously happy there.  I remember its first year when I counted about five flowers and the next year was about eleven.  It is quite mature now, of course.

The blueberry isn't doing too badly either.  Not as smothered as last year but there should be a decent amount of fruit, all the same, fingers crossed.

On to today which is definitely 'getting the rest of the clothes ready' day.  I know what I will be taking but I need to get it all out and, probably, draped all over the sofa!

I also have Lindsey's loaf to start and some carrots and parsnips to get into the freezer.

And I need to walk round to Morrisons to pick up my prescriptions.  I asked yesterday but they weren't ready.  

If it is really nice and warm later, I might sit out in the lovely sunshine for a while and read.  Bliss.

All the best, everyone.  Take care and have a lovely day.  xx

Friday, 17-04-26

Good morning, everyone.  We have had rain overnight and it's a very dull start to the day.  The forecast isn't great but it isn't bad.  We will see.

Yesterday was great!
Chris came over as usual and we chatted non-stop.

Then I drove to Val's.  She decided to take me to Cressing Temple (I LOVE Cressing Temple) for lunch at the Tiptree cafe there after which we wandered around the grounds and sat in the walled garden in the warm sunshine for a good chat.  It was just lovely and I wished I had my camera with me.  I will go back again soon, it's not that far away really.  Ditto for Hyde Hall.

The online chat didn't happen so I had the evening to myself which was very nice.

Today starts with Slimming World Group, then I have just a little bit of shopping and a little list of stuff to work through.  I suspect a lot of the day will be spent chilled though.

Have a lovely day, everyone.  Stay safe and keep smiling.  xx

Thursday, 16-04-25

Hello again, everyone.
Just a short one today because there's not much to talk about really.  Life plods on, you know!

I enjoyed Groove online very much although I prefer face to face when possible.  
A couple of things arrived - I have bought Alex a cabin bag like mine because he needs one and his birthday is coming up and I got one of those RFID card holder things.  It struck me as sensible.

That was about it apart from all the usual stuff.

Today is busier.  After coffee and chat with Chris, I am off to Val's home for another chat and more coffee, probably.  And in the evening there might be an online Slim Win chat, I'm not sure yet.  I would also like to start putting clothes that I'm packing on the spare room bed.

I have a recurring bad dream about not packing before a trip to go alongside the one about not being ready for an exam or doing the wrong syllabus and the one about Alex as a little boy getting lost . . .
What does that say about me, I wonder?

Do you have any recurring dreams.  Not nightmares, just a bit not very nice?  Do share in the comments . . .

xx

Wednesday, 15-04-25

So, here we are, half way through April already.  Time is flying past!  Yesterday was sunny but cold, today (so far) is a lot milder but it very much looks like rain.

Yesterday started with a jolly good Groove session down at the hall plus the walk there and back with Chris.  I'm doing another one live online this morning instead of personal training.
You see, I'm at the end of one block of PT sessions but wont be going for the next two weeks so we thought it made sense to start the new block in May.  As I have a few catch up sessions, I'm joining the Wednesday session but online as Shimmy Studio is full.
Actually, it suits me fine because I have a clear run of the rest of the day.

Kay came, worked her magic and went again.  She is coming again next Monday (it's usually fortnightly) because she won't be coming the following week so that's worked out nicely really.

Today, after Groove, I want to go through my packing list, get together what I can and acquire anything that's missing.
The other day I decided I needed a . . .  well, not exactly a jacket but something light to throw on when I'm out if it's not that warm in Crete.  I have a couple of zip up hoodies but they are rather showing their age now.  I found a denim overshirt, nice and loose but not too baggy and made of soft fabric.  It's just perfect for what I wanted.

My toe seam-free socks have arrived and are lovely, just what I needed.

I really don't think anything is missing but I should know by the end of today.  I've sorted out my medication and, fortunately, have a new prescription in the offing so, as recommended by One Traveller, I can take unopened boxes.
Apart from the meds, there's loads of bits - blister plasters, sun cream, anti-bug spray . . .  etc.
I'd like to get most of it done by the weekend and everything bar actually closing the case finished by Sunday evening so I have a clear day on Monday.

Right, well, time to wrap this up and get the day started.  Have a lovely one, everyone, and maybe you will get some sunshine,  xx

Tuesday, 14-04-26

 Morning, all.  Tuesday lands and this time next week I'll probably be at Gatwick.  Woo hoo.

Life is just plodding on at the moment.  Circuits was good, I did some housework and Kay couldn't come.
Now, just to say, Kay is going through a very difficult time and I totally understand if she needs to reschedule.  She always lets me know and I have every sympathy for her at the moment.  She's a very reliable person but sometimes Real Life gets in the way.
And if she can't come this afternoon, I will understand that too.
(Just in case anyone was thinking she cancels a lot)

Today is Groove day.  Chris feels her back is much better so, as the weather is good, we will  be walking down to the hall and back again.  
I'm trying to keep up with the washing this week so I will do a small load.  It's OK because my solar panels will be providing the energy.
And then Kay comes this afternoon, I hope.
I have a little list of things to sort out/do so will work through that.  Nothing major.

Just a very normal sort of day really.
How about you?  xx

Monday, 13-04-26

Good morning, everyone.  It's a bright start to today after some rain yesterday so fingers crossed.

Thank you for your lovely, understanding comments regarding decluttering the possessions of loved ones.  I think with all decluttering, there's a sense of loss - after all, I must have wanted it at some point.

I try to think . . 

Why did I get this in the first place?  Does that reason still hold water?

Do I really love this - if so, why?  Is it the attached memories or is it something else.

Is it beautiful?  If so, why?  Would it be better if someone else could find it beautiful too.

Do I use/wear this.  Will I ever use/wear it again.  Do I have something else that fulfils the same purpose?  If so, which one do I prefer?

It's still not easy but it helps to apply a bit of reasoning.

Yesterday I . . .

made four loaves, two for Beth and two for Lindsey

got the ironing done and everything put away

tidied a superficially very untidy kitchen

weeded a bit (before the rain came)

took Beth's loaves round to her and had a good old chat

the usual reading, telly and crochet

boxed and wrapped a parcel for posting today - it took longer than I expected

Today is Kay-day.  Excellent.  I need to sort a few things out before popping over to Lindsey's for circuits and Kay will arrive shortly after I get home, all being well.
I have a load of whites to wash and, hopefully, line dry but I haven't looked at the weather forecast yet so we will see.

And a bit more sorting things out for Crete.  Woohoo.  Eight days to go!

Have a lovely Monday, everyone.  xx

Sunday, 12-04-26

Hello, everyone.  Welcome to a pleasantly sunny Sunday morning.

I got quite a lot done yesterday as well as eating out with my SW friends (Caesar salad - delicious).
I sorted through my shoes and have some to take to Lindsey for her next pop-up shop.  Ditto for summer tops.
I've been watching back episodes of 'Sort Your Life Out' and am trying to be more ruthless and less emotional about stuff - for example, I brought a lot of stuff back from Mum and Dad's when the house was sold and, yesterday, realising I had no use for them and that they weren't good enough to donate, I binned them.  
It actually felt better than I thought it would.  I suppose there's a time for that sort of thing.

I got going early today and now I have the dishwasher and the washing machine earning their keep, two loads of dough (yeasted and sourdough) doing their thing and rising - I hope - and veg ready for my Sunday dinner.
The sun's shining and there's a breeze so the clothes should dry nicely outside which feels lovely!

Just an ordinary day, really.  Nothing terribly exciting or different but it will be nice, I hope.

Take care and all the best.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Saturday, 11-04-26

Morning, everyone, welcome to Saturday.  Will I ever, no matter how long I am retired, ever stop feeling a sense of release on Saturday mornings?  I wonder . . .

It's very dull outside.  No sunshine this morning which is a shame, but no rain (yet)!  

Yesterday was pleasant.

I may not have lost any poundage at group but I did win the raffle - nothing exciting but very useful!  

Then I pottered - decluttering, sorting things out for the holiday, dealing with finance stuff, all that sort of thing, and I've started looking at what needs using up in the fridge.  I can always offload stuff onto Beth and Alex but I'd like to use as much as possible.  I need to plan some meals to work with what I have, don't I?  For example, I have a pak choi (from Oddbox) which is something I don't usually use so I need to look it up.
Any ideas?  

Remember the Temu shorts that made me look like Lofty?  Well, I re-ordered and they arrive yesterday and they are fine.  The only thing is that two pairs are rather thin but it will be hot and I wear longish T shirts anyway so I'm not worrying too much.  The third pair are fine.

Today will be nice.

I'm starting with more sorting and decluttering before being picked up for a meal out with my Slimming World walking friends.
We're going to a community pub in Roxwell where I lived for two years four decades ago.  It's a lovely village but I wasn't very happy there as my marriage and life was slowly and steadily falling apart.  So no worries and it IS a pleasant village, somewhere I would have been happy to stay had circumstances been different.  Still, I am fine and well settled here.

The pub has a story -  here's the link.

And then I will be home for some more sorting.  :-)

It must be the time of year!

Well, better stop waffling and get moving.  Have a lovely day, everyone, whatever the weather.  xx

Friday, 10-04-26

Hello, everyone. 
It's cold and dull and I'm glad I didn't put away my warmer coat.  Also we are a third of the way through April.  How???

AND - counting today and travel day, just twelve days to go.  Eeek.

I decided to pop into town yesterday, while it was still nice, rather than today so I hopped on the bus after a lovely chat with Chris.
I got stuff done.  
I didn't find what I was looking for but I got an alternative.  I remembered to pop into the bank to check that my debit card was OK for Crete and I got some stuff in Boots - Imodium (essential) and other bits and bobs including a new blood pressure monitor.  I recently had to do a week of readings and my old monitor was really playing up.  I think I might do some more readings, just for reassurance, because can I rely on the old readings?  I don't know.  I sent them off anyway but if the new readings are significantly different, I will send them off too.

When I got home, my cabin case was on the doorstep and it is perfect, just what I wanted.  Yay.

Today starts with Slimming World group and then the day's my own - apart from all the usual stuff, of course.  :-)

Have a lovely day, stay well and be happy!  xx

Thursday, 09-04-26

Morning, everyone!  It's Thursday and the sun is shining brightly.  Lovely!

Yesterday was great.  I popped out to a few places but didn't find what I wanted which was a pain.  I think I need to take the bus into town tomorrow after group and see if Lakeland still has it.  It's not on the site so - well, fingers crossed!

It was such a gorgeous day, wasn't it.  Well to wall warm sunshine although it did cool off come the evening.  I know it will change but let's enjoy it while it lasts.

Today is the Thursday chat with Chris and then, thinking about it, I could take the bus into town, couldn't I?  Might do that instead.

A quick one today because I've dawdled and now time is shorted.  Have a lovely day and all the best.  xx

Wednesday, 08-04-26

Hello again, everyone.  It's another sunny start to the day today and I already have some washing on the line that I did overnight (I live dangerously, OK) and there's a second load in the machine right now.   They say it will be summer-warm at times today so I will be getting out a garden chair, I think.  

A questions first.

I found this in Aldi and was intrigued.
Has anyone tried this pasta?  If so, what did you think and how did you use it.
I'm trying it in a tuna pasta salad today.  Fingers crossed.  xx

Yesterday, I went to Groove on my own as Chris couldn't come.  New block, new playlist and new sequences and I really enjoyed them although there's just one I need to practise as I (and several others) couldn't quite get it right.

Once back home, I went online and ordered my euros from M&S, picking them up later so that's all done and dusted.
I looked around (online) for a cabin case/bag because I don't have one and need one.  I think I have found what I want and will be ordering that today. 

I've started a to-do list because you have to, don't you.  This time in a fortnight I will have spent one night in Crete.  Where is the time going?
I ordered some comfortable trainer socks.  I am finding that socks with toe seams are pretty uncomfortable so fingers crossed these are better.

It was a spendy day but I've been saving for it so that's fine.

Kay and David came over, measured for boxing in the bottom of the boiler in the kitchen and I'm glad to get that started.  

And I did a bit of gardening.  I'm doing just a bit every day.  

Today I will be popping out to the Riverside retail park for various bits and bobs, getting the washing done and, hopefully, ironed and put away again and this afternoon is personal training.  I think that's probably enough for one day.
Have a good one and I hope the sun shines on us all.  xx

Tuesday, 07-04-26

Good morning, everyone.  The sun is shining and it looks like we have a few days of pretty much wall to wall sunshine.  And warmth during the day.  Perfect.

Yesterday went fine.  It was very lazy but that's OK.
I have finished another stash blanket and . . . 

This is it.  All pinks, blues and purple/lilacs.  Just simple old granny squares, nothing more.

And here's the concentric circles one.  The flexibility of the crochet makes it look more Kandinsky as his concentric circles were far from proper circles.  In reality, mine are perfect circles - or as perfect as you get with crochet.

They're both bordered with black because, for years, I have had several balls of black dk that I find too eye straining to work with much.  As edging, it was fine and it's pretty much used up now.

Both will be donated one way or another.

Back to normal today.
Classes restart with Groove and, as it's beautiful weather, Chris and I will walk there and back.  This afternoon, Kay and husband are coming round to look at some work he might be able to do for me.  Between those to, it is downstairs housework day!  Has to be done, doesn't it?  

Have a great day!  xx

Easter Bank Holiday Monday, 06-04-26

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Easter Bank Holiday Monday.  The sun is starting to shine and the forecast for today round here is absolutely amazing, perfect bank holiday weather.  

First of all, thank you so much for all your helpful comments to yesterday's post.  It is all very much appreciated.

Our Easter roast was delicious.  The lamb went down a great for Alex and me and I have just finished dealing with the leftovers - I was just too tired yesterday so shoved it all in the fridge.  So now I can have another roast dinner this evening as everything, veg and all, is leftovers, plus five more portions of meat for roasts and lots of shreds for pasta, soup, etc.  The bones and other bits are just simmering gently in the slow cooker - the stock won't be amazing but it's all flavour and I can reduce the results down and freeze them as ice cubes.

I thought you might like to see the finished 'hampers'.  I forgot to take a photo so I've nicked Beth's.

And thank you, Annabeth, for sending me that alternative pattern.  

(By the way, those brown lumpy things in the middle are a couple of home made not cross buns).

Beth gave me this.  She belongs to a craft group that meets online.  She chooses what she wants to make, pays her dosh, receives everything needed and at a set time everyone piles in to one of those online meeting places and makes their thing together.  What a lovely idea!
The little box should have mini eggs but we're both avoiding chocolate so she put pretty pens in instead.  Just perfect.

I was so tired by the evening, went to bed early, slept through and woke at around half six this morning.  Perfect!

So - today.

Lindsey's loaves did fine yesterday but I knew I could stay awake long enough to bake them so I shoved them in the fridge overnight and will bake them this morning.
There was a load of whites in the machine but I left them there overnight because ditto and they're just going through a super quick wash to freshen them up before they go out on the line.  Must make the most of the sunshine!

Apart from that, the garden is crying out for attention so, given the good forecast, that's on the list for today too.

And I have books to read, TV to watch and crochet to work on.
Sounds perfect, doesn't it?  
Have a great bank holiday, everyone.  xx

Easter Sunday, 05-04-26

Good morning, everyone, and a very happy Easter Sunday to you all.
It's a sunny, still start to the day and I have no idea whether any of storm Dave crept as far this way.  I think it must have been windy because my front door area is a bit of a trap for blown rubbish and there were three boxes and some polystyrene cluttering it up earlier!  Plus my Oddbox, of course, and last time's flattened box that they should have taken but didn't.  Oh, well.

It was exciting to get the final info from One Traveller regarding the Crete holiday yesterday.  I now have to get some Euros - what's the best way of doing that, please?  I think the last time I did any currency exchanging was when I went to France with Suzanne and, actually, I think she might have done the necessary and I just paid her.

Not so exciting but expected was a letter from the tax people telling me that they would be taking back the winter fuel payment.  I would much rather pay it back as a lump sum given that I just chucked it into savings but it will be added to my income tax payments over the tax year, thus swallowing up some of my cost of living pension increases.  Swings and roundabouts, I know, but . . .
It's a shame there's no choice.
Even better, not to get it in the first place - it must be costing a fortune to claw it back from everyone not entitled to it.
End of grumble! 

I also got my voting card!  Yippee-doo!

On to today and I've already been busy in the kitchen prepping the veg for the roast lamb dinner I will be having with Beth and Alex.  The lamb is in a slow oven as Al and I both prefer slow roasted lamb and for dessert I will be getting out some of my not-cross-loaf slices.
I've just realised I haven't done potatoes.  I'll do them when I've posted this.

Beth and Al's Easter hamper is all put together.  The crocheted chicks don't really look like chicks but it's the thought that counts, isn't it?

Apart from that, Bubbles is bubbling so I will be starting Lindsey's sourdough load off and I need to do a load of whites.  That's about it really - a very nice day, I think.

Have a very lovely Easter Sunday, however you celebrate it (or not).  See you tomorrow.

Easter Saturday, 04-04-26

 Good morning, everyone.  It's a fine morning at the moment, the sun is trying to show and there's a pretty tint to the clouds - we all know the saying about red skies in the morning but I'm just enjoying the moment.

After SW Group yesterday morning (two and a half off, yay!!), I popped into Morrisons and came out with more than I had planned.  As we do!.
I went in because I wanted to get Beth and Alex something for Easter but not chocolate.  I thought a little hamper of healthy goodies might be just the trick - things like olives, sun dried tomatoes, that sort of thing, with a less healthy addition of a mini bottle of red wine for Alex and a can of pink gin for Beth plus some nice fruit.  I have a couple of shoeboxes I can use and will crochet some little chicks to tuck in here and there.

However . . .

I've never seen something like this in Morrisons before - a 'Crocket Kit with Yarns and Accessories'.
Do I need a crochet kit - no, of course not.
Did I get it - what do you think!!
There was a list of contents on a cardboard wrap-around with a photos but it couldn't be opened.  Fair enough.
I was intrigued.

This was the contents - some I don't need but I am sure they will be useful while other things are definitely worth having and the little case itself will be just perfect as a project case when I go on coach trips to give me something to do with my hands.  It has a little carrying handle too.

The yarn is not great but useful for practising a new hexagon granny I have my eye on.  I will need something - I'm on the last round of the current blanket and there's the Easter chicks but by tomorrow . . . 

And the whole thing was £10 which I think is quite a good price, even when the quality is not the best.

My little pear tree is doing its annual 'look how lovely I am' thing.  I know it is unlikely to translate into fruit - I don't think there's many other pears in the neighbourhood and I don't think it is self pollinating which was a big mistake on my part.  Every year it looks gorgeous and then nothing - not even babies that drop off.
I guess I ought to get another in the same pollination period.  Maybe I will sometime.

Today there is absolutely nothing in the diary but I have some cupboard sort outs planned plus some crafting and some weeding, weather permitting.  There's a storm heading this way but it's forecast to bother the south west, up Wales and N Ireland and then Scotland.  Hopefully, it won't be too damaging.

Enough of my rambling.  As I have an empty diary, I think I will treat myself to another coffee and try to get the last round of the current blanket finished.  
Have a lovely day, everyone, and I hope storm Dave doesn't have too great an impact if you're in its way.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Friday, 03-04-26

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to Good Friday, probably the most important day in the Christian year.  

Yesterday was a really lovely day, packed with friends.

We had a good old chat, Chris, T and me, with plenty of laughs between cups of coffee.

A bit later Diane came over and it was lovely - we talked a lot about Crete and next Christmas - how we are looking forward to it all.

After I had cleared up, I rested with crochet and Sort Your Life Out.

A simple, very enjoyable day.

Today is Slimming World and then the day's my own.  I think I will do some gardening, if weather permits.  And I have one load of washing to do.  And that's that really.

Have a lovely day, whether you are spending it alone or with family and enjoy that Easter egg if you indulge.  xx

Thursday, 02-04-26

Morning.  There's a big old moon low on the horizon as I type and a distinctly chilly feel to the air this morning.  I didn't hang around outside when I went to the freezer in the shed.  Welcome to Thursday, everyone.

I decided not to wander very far yesterday (petrol, etc) but to pop round to Morrisons for the few things I didn't get earlier in the week and to have a look at what they had in the way of cheap veg for Easter.  I was pleased to see swede, carrots and parsnips, all at just four pence each.  Now that's what I call value.

What with what I got there plus the Oddbox contents at the weekend, I will be fine for vegetables for a few weeks and will need to eat plenty in order not to waste any although, to be fair, I intend prepping and freezing some.  Very healthy!

I think it is the same all over.  It's almost like a Dutch auction where they all vie to match each other so when Aldi said 4p they all went the same way, like duckings following mama duck.  Fine by me and it is a loss leader so farmers don't suffer.

The rest of the day was just ordinary stuff really.  I haven't mentioned crochet recently because I'm just doing granny squares again.  I bought yarn for the maple leaf blanket and the quiet skies blanket and wanted to use some up so I chose a blue, pink and purple colour theme and I'm now on the border.  It does look nice.
I have no need of any more blankets but I need to have something to keep my hands busy in the evenings and grannies don't take too much thought.  Thankfully, I have had no more trouble with my thumb, wrist or shoulder so that's a relief.

Today is busy but in a nice way.
Chris is home again now so she will be over for the usual coffee and chat and today my neighbour, T, is joining us.
Then I will bustle around getting things ready for lunch before Diane turns up.  I expect we will talk a lot about Crete which is less than three weeks away now.  My fingers are still crossed because things are so very volatile at the moment.

Once Diane heads off home I expect I will make a cuppa and relax.  

A nice day in store, I think.  How about you?  Doing anything exciting or enjoyable today?  Take care and stay nice and warm.  xx

Wednesday, 01-04-26

Morning, all, and welcome to April.  I love April, it is my favourite single month.

I've been buying a few more clothes for both my hot weather holidays and last week I ordered some shorts from Temu because - well - cheap!
They came yesterday and I got them too big; you never know with Temu, do you?.  They're knee length (what I wanted; I am getting on a bit now) but I fear that when I wear them I will bear more than a passing resemblance to Lofty from 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'.  Remember that oldie?
To be fair, after I ironed them, they looked a lot better but still too big, I think.

So I went back online and ordered the size below and fingers crossed.  
They were so very cheap that it's not an issue and I'm not going to bother to return them - they will do me at home - assuming we actually do get some warm weather, of course!!

I pottered in the kitchen yesterday and made some not cross bun dough using a Cookidoo recipe.  In the end, the amount made two small cake sized loaves and three not cross buns.  There's nothing meaningful or statement-like about the not cross bit, it's just an extra hassle I can't be bothered with, making the flour and water stuff to form the crosses.  I did make a glaze though!

I also started Diane's sourdough and it's been slowly fermenting overnight in the fridge.  It's out now and warming up before I carry on.

I got an email from Readly.  They are amalgamating (or being taken over???) and are 'excited to welcome you to a new reading experience and a new Readly app very soon.'  In other words - it will change.  Grrrr.  

It means I will lose all my bookmarks so, yesterday, I went through with my camera and photo-ed each thing I wanted to keep because I don't know if you can copy or print from Kindle Fire.  They're now all uploaded and I need to go through and give each file an appropriate name - they're mostly recipes.

Sharon came and worked the usual magic with my hair.  I read the gas meter and checked the boiler pressure (fine) but will do the knives today. 

The diary is empty so I think I might look round a few shops just for fun.  Maybe I could get the bus into town - I'll see how I feel.  I have the loaves to finish and I have just sliced and frozen the not cross bun loaves to get them out of arm's reach.  They are just too delicious!

I  hope your week is going well.  Have a great day, everyone, and take care.  xx