Good morning (just) everyone.  Better late than never as the saying goes.

Yesterday was busy but I got plenty done.  I went to Personal Training, went on to Longacres and B&Q and found some bedding plants and some rhubarb but the tomatoes looked newly pricked out, minute and no way plus there weren't any cucumbers.  

So later on I drove out the Grenville's which is a proper nursery, rather than a garden centre.  They had some excellent tomatoes plus some cucumbers, four for a fiver so I came home with a tenner's worth.

I spend the rest of the afternoon in the back garden and things look a lot more organised now.

Two cucumbers.  One should produce minis and the other should give me the usual sized ones.  Fingers crossed.  I took off the top half of the soil in the pot and replaced it with some chicken manure pellets (phew) and good stuff from the bottom of the compost bin so they have no excuses.

There's eighteen tomatoes, all in the blankety bed around the edge so the cane supports look quite Heath Robinson-ish at the moment but in four to six weeks' time, it should look good and productive.
I've got Shirley, Gardener's Delight, Honeycomb, Sungold, Roma, Alicante, Rapunzel, Red Plum and Sweet Millions.  No fancy pants types this year and, in fact, I don't remember seeing any 'heritage' types.  I've had them all before and I know they are tasty and prolific.
I've always had them in pots before so it will be interesting to see how well they do with deeper roots - the few I had in the bed last year did really well so fingers crossed.

As for the rhubarb, I need to get myself a big, big pot and some good soil - I think the RHS suggested John Innes no 3 (does that sound right?) and I will also add chicken manure and some compost soil.  I've never grown rhubarb before but I gather I just leave it this year for the roots to establish and cut the stems back at the end of the fruiting season.
More fingers crossed!

Today I have had a good old chat with Chris and now I'm off on a coach trip.  A tour of the Poppy Factory followed by a boat trip from Richmond to Westminster where the coach will pick us up and bring us home again.  It should be very interesting and the weather forecast is OK
the poppy factory

Have a lovely day, all, and see you tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday, 20-05-26

Morning, everyone!  How are you all?

I was super chuffed with myself yesterday.  As you may know, if you are a customer, Virgin Media has a new router that they are distributing and mine arrived yesterday (I ordered it last week while on holiday and was getting a bit concerned as there was a five day window to get things all set up).
Simple, it said, very easy.  Ha!

Now, I have skills.  I make a mean loaf of bread.  I can knock up blankets galore.  I can read music.  However - technology is not a skill I own.  It terrifies me when they say insert the doofah into the whotsit and press the thiggumybob button for 3.258 seconds precisely . . .

(it feels like that anyway)

I looked at the back of the current router and aarrgghh!  I turned into a Corporal Jones for a few moments before calming down, tracking back all the many wires connected to the back - only to find that most of them were things I no longer use.  My 'land line', a storage thingy, the old PC that no longer works - that sort of stuff.  

After dealing with all that, it WAS easy.  There's even a button you can press to connect without having to put in a long and random password and also a QR code to get the password if needed.

However - my TV box wouldn't connect so I had another 'don't panic, don't panic' moment before Steve reminded me about settings for the TV box.  So when Thermione wouldn't connect, I knew what to do.  
He also told me there would have been an easier way and that was just to change the new router password to the old one online.  Why didn't the instructions just say that, eh?

My blood pressure is back to normal again now.  Just!

Then I worked off some of my aaarrrggghhh on the garden - moved some pots around, got the tomatoes in and did some weeding and tidying up.
So that was good.

Today is a day of changes.
Lindsey asked me could I change the time of P T to either the morning or later.  As I had a meeting in the morning, I chose the later option.  Then I had an email telling me that the person I was meeting with couldn't make it so I was able to change the P T time to the morning which suits me so much better.

So after P T I think I will go on to a garden centre and seek out some more tomatoes because why not?

Phew!  xx

Tuesday, 19-05-26

Morning, everyone.  As seems to the the way with the weather, yesterday started sunny but clouded over by midday and come the evening it was raining.  At least today is different - it's already raining!!

I got my first lot of tomato plants (I never have any luck growing from seed and anyway I like a variety) yesterday.  I headed straight for Abercorn's as they were the only place that did sungolds last year and, yes, they had some so that was good.
I left them sitting out overnight intending to plant them today as soon as I have worked out how I will arrange them.  They're going in the blankety bed this year although I am sure some will go in pots too.

I want to move some of the containers around - that's the joy of containers, they can give a new look just by being in different places.

The herb/foliage  bed has gone a bit rampant!  I need to cut things back somewhat.  That sage was nearly dead a year ago and it only stayed in because I couldn't be bothered - and now look at it.  As for the oregano behind, it's quietly taking over the whole bed!

And, finally, the foxgloves Val gave me are doing really nicely.  I pulled up a whole load of babies earlier in the season and can see I will have to be ruthless.  There's one I want to move to the centre.  It's come up at the edge in totally the wrong place.  You'd think it would know better!

Oh, well.

(photos taken in the rain, apologies for the dull colour!)

I really do want to get those tomatoes planted out so, rain or no rain, that's on the list today.  I'd also like to look for a few more tomato plants and I also want some bedding stuff as there's quite a lot of gaps.

It's Groove first though but not the walk.  We are fine weather walkers!

Better get ready and start the day.  Have a great time, whatever you have planned.  How's your gardens coming along?  I know some of you are very experienced gardeners with wonderful gardens.

See you tomorrow.  xx

Monday, 18-05-26

Hi, everyone!  Hoping you are all doing well.  The sun is shining again after overnight rain and I suspect Lindsey will have circuits outside today.  I hope so anyway.

Yesterday was a bit of a lazy day.  I did some clearing out, some tidying up and got up to date with my finances.  April and May have been spendy months because of holidays but I did anticipate that and saved so that's good.  I would like the rest of May and all of June to be more frugal as long as nothing goes wrong, needs replacing, etc.

I didn't get that online training done and I didn't get my tomato plants so that's on the list for today/tomorrow.

Today starts with circuits, as already mentioned, and then it is a Kay-day so by lunch time I should have a shiny home.  While Kay is here, I'd like to take advantage of the sunshine and do some gardening.  It shouldn't take long, it just needs doing.

So that is me!  How about you?  Do you have a good day planned for today?

Stay safe and well.  xx

Sunday, 17-05-26

Good morning to you all.  Hoping you are all well and enjoying the weekend.  Yesterday started really sunny and that lasted while three loads of washing dried on the line.  Sadly, it then clouded over and started raining later on but good for the garden, I guess.  Today has started the same but maybe it will last.  It would be nice if things warmed up a bit too - I had the heating on again.  

I got a fair bit done yesterday.  All the washing, drying and ironing, started the sourdough, tried a new recipe for wraps (lovely, will use from now on, more below) and did some clearing up, etc.  The holiday is now just a memory! 

My fortnightly Oddbox arrived overnight - now I have lots of lovely produce to work my way through over the next few weeks.  I doubt I will need to do much shopping, if any, for a while although you never know with fresh stuff and, thinking about it, I'm a bit low on carrots.

Because it was rather chilly, I left the sourdough out overnight for its bulk ferment.  I won't be able to do that for much longer; it almost over-fermented although it's OK as I use loaf tins rather then free form as Lindsey prefers it.

They're now shaped and in the tins for the last bit.

I found the wrap recipe on a vlog I follow closely.  I am sure some of you know Ali from Ali Lives Well on Less.  She used to have a blog - still does, I think - but has mostly moved over to vlogging on YouTube and I really enjoy her posts.
For her Foodie Friday post she demo-ed making simple wraps and I had a go, cutting the amounts right down.  The process was so easy and the results were so tasty that I'm making more today, using other kinds of flour and trying oil instead of butter.  I wonder if I will ever buy another pack of wraps.

Well, it is almost nine and I ought to get myself bathed and dressed ready for the day.  Have a great Sunday, everyone.  xx

Saturday, 16-05-26

Good morning, everyone.  Welcome to the second half of May!  The sun is shining and, while it's none too warm right now, it should be lovely later on, I hope.  The washing line is out and the first load is just finishing!

I did rather disappear for the last few days - I think the thing about Center Parcs is that we have been so often now, you've heard it all.  However, here's some photos from the week, some mine and some from Beth.

The pathway to our lodge - you can just see a bit of Beth's blue car at the bottom of the path to the right.  Because it is an adapted lodge, we didn't need to take the car back to the big car park, the adapted lodges have their own designated slot .
It makes a bit difference at the beginning and end of the holiday.

The kitchen area.  (I think I've already posted this, but not to worry).

A fairly typical photo of our evenings.  We ate out twice and ate in twice and always finished with a log on the fire and a glass of wine.
THAT has to stop!!  :-)

Spot the muntjacs!

This made us laugh.

There were loads of water birds and the ducks and geese passed the back regularly, wandering onto our patio and looking expectantly through the window.  We didn't feed them - you're not supposed to - but it was evident that they are accustomed to getting tasty bits and bobs.
I never had my camera to hand when they appeared!

Spring at Center Parcs is so lovely and green.

We went on the electric boats . . .

. . . and bowling is always fun.
I came a very poor third!

The swims were lovely!  Paddling about, the wave machine, the lazy river and the spa pool - bliss!!

And the journey home was very trouble free.  It was so nice to be driven rather than doing the driving - most relaxing.  
Here's to next year now.

When I got home, I had a wander around my estate - er - little garden!

The clematis is looking its best right now.

One of three (I think) surviving pears.  Fingers crossed!

And the hanging baskets are looking very promising, thanks to Tracy next door watering them.
At a penny under a fiver each, they were great Home Bargains value.

So pretty.

I do need to get the rest of the garden sorted.  I will probably be off to the garden centres tomorrow to get my tomatoes and then I can bore you with photos all summer.  

So, the annual Center Parcs holiday is over and normal life resumes.

In the coming week, I have

three fitness classes

a Kay-day (yay)

a meeting in school

the usual social things

Slimming World (oh, dear!)

a get together with Beth and Jen (SO looking forward to this

and . . .

the next coach trip with is a visit to the factory that makes the poppies and then a river cruise.  That should be nice and restful.

As for today - I have washing, drying and ironing, a morning online thing, a governors' training thing (which is a recording so I could do it tomorrow), finishing the unpacking, sorting out the garden and working out some meal plans.   I need to get right back on it again because I have gained far too much weight recently - that's the flip side of lovely holidays!
I almost forgot; one of the first things I did yesterday was get Bubbles out of the fridge.  I need to feed her and start Lindsey's sourdough.  Beth doesn't need bread this weekend so that's crossed off the list.

Have a lovely Saturday, everyone.  See you tomorrow.  xx

Friday, 15-05-26

Morning, everyone.  Apologies for the last few days - it's been a very pleasant holiday and I have taken some time off, not intentionally, it just happened!

We've not had much luck with the weather but we have manage to dodge the showers quite nicely really.  We've had it all - almost anyway.  Rain, sun, warm, chilly, an occasional clap of thunder and even several hail showers.  No snow though, thankfully!

We've swum a lot, we've walked, we've eaten out, we went bowling and we had a very peaceful time on the lake in an electric boat.  It's been a very pleasant holiday indeed but it's all over now apart from the packing and even that's almost done.

I shall miss the peace and quiet here (apart from the planes from RAF Lakenheath that rage their way over from time to time) but I think we are all looking forward to getting home as well.  Holiday's are wonderful and we are so very fortunate but home's best!.

See you again tomorrow as I get back into routine again, and have a lovely day.  xx

Tuesday, 12-05-26

 Morning.  So here we are, safe and sound at Center Parcs, Elveden, after a surprisingly easy drive up.  Well, it would be easy for me anyway as Beth was behind the wheel but it was good.  No holdups of delays and we arrived in perfect time to be at our lodge bang on one o'clock.

After a quick unpack, we had a toast and cheese lunch and then off we went for a food shop and then a swim.  The food shop was delivered while we were in the pool and all the fridge stuff was put away - such a helpful service.

The first swim of the holiday is always really lovely.  Alex and I got back to the lodge about five thirty and Beth trundled back at six - she wanted a bit longer in the pool.

The kitchen area.  Compact but very well put together.  

Part of our walk to the village centre.

In the swimming dome - that bridge is the exit of the lazy river.

Beth provided a lovely dinner.  No, we didn't eat it all, there's plenty left for lunch today and, most likely, tomorrow as well.

We started a log off in the fireplace (another CP tradition) and had a cosy evening, not that it lasted long because I was tucked up and fast asleep before nine!

Everywhere is quiet now - both Beth and Alex are fast asleep and the ducks and a muntjac have both wandered past.  The ducks all but knocked at the window; they are obviously used to being fed although we're not supposed to.  I tried to take photos but I wasn't in the right place and they aren't good.  Not to worry, there will be more opportunities.

When we get going, after breakfast we will pootle down to the pool again.  It is Alex's day today as it was his birthday last Friday and I think he wants to do the electric boats this afternoon, weather permitting.  In the evening, he has chosen Hucks Diner so that's where we are eating.  
It will be a lovely day!  xx

Monday, 11-05-06

Morning, all.
A short one today as I'll bee off later on and want to get the last jobs done and dusted.  It's time for our annual jolly to Center Parcs - me, Beth and Alex - and I'm so looking forward to it.  It's a home from home and has been ever since we first went when Beth and Dave were still at primary school and we went to Sherwood in the Autumn of their first year open in the UK.
As soon as Elveden opened, we changed from Sherwood as Elveden is so much closer and have been going ever since except for a gap when we spent several happy years holidaying at Streele Farm.

Streele Farm is no longer available which is a shame, but Center Parcs goes on and on and on.

This time we are just taking one vehicle (petrol prices, etc) and as Beth's is adapted to hold her wheelchair, she is driving and I'm sitting in the back relaxing.  Nice!!

That's about it really.  We should be able to access our lodge from one o'clock and then we plan lunch, a swim, a shop and a chilled evening, maybe with a log on the fire.   Nice.

Have a lovely day, all.  xx

A day trip to Leeds Castle - as always, photo heavy

On Friday, May 9th, I went on a Broomfield Coach Trip to Leeds Castle, Maidstone
(which is exactly how my children used to start their class visit recounts, poor things).

We left in bright sunshine that promised a lovely day to come and the journey down was, I assume, straightforward - I don't know because I fell asleep around the time we approached the QEII bridge and woke about ten minutes before we arrived!

Just a bit (bit?!) of history.  The foundations of the castle date from 1119 and it existed further back than that since 857, but very little remains of the original now.  It was a modest Normal fortification built on a series of small islands on a lake formed from the river Len.  
In 1278, the castle was acquired by Eleanor of Castile, the same Eleanor that I went on about after my visit to St Albans, much loved Queen Consort to Edward I and a driving spirit of the age in her own right. She remodelled the castle and this can be seen in the Gloriette, a D shaped building on its own island and in the courtyard, the only surviving elements of the original medieval castle.  
The castle continued to be owned by medieval queens - Eleanor herself and then Anne of Bohemia, Isabella of France, Joan of Navarre, Catherine de Valois and, finally, Catherine of Aragon -  and it remained a royal residence until it fell into private hands.
After that, it passed from pillar to post, family to family, and it all gets a bit tedious, until it was finally bought by a young heiress, the Hon. Olive Wilson Filmer, the sale being completed in 1927.
They took on a considerable amount of necessary renovation to make the castle merely habitable, let alone acceptable to their wealthy 'modern' standards but Olive worked hard to create her own personal vision of a marriage between medieval and elegant modern.
The interior of the castle reflects the changes she made but are not jarring and I feel it was a highly successful (albeit costly) work.  
The marriage didn't survive though and Olive married for the third and final time to a British MP and Baronet (she was American), Sir Adrian William Maxwell Baillie and she became known as the Hon Olive, Lady Baillie, a title she kept until her death.  She became a renowned hostess and held many house parties, etc, attended by many notables of the day.

She left the castle in trust to be open to the public and so it has remained ever since.

Further info

OK, now the photos.

There's quite a walk from the coach and car park to the castle itself but it was so pretty, through woodland, by streams, past water birds and with tantalising views of the castle from certain points.  Just as you thought you were getting there, off you went in a different direction!

I loved this view.  

Al along the paths were plaques commemorating key dates.  Very clever.

So many baby birds, so fluffy that, in photos, their bodies look out of focus.

Magnificent trees.

The oldest surviving remnants - the mill and barbican

The library

The dining room - very smart and elegant and not at all fussy as some can be.

This was interesting.
They are focusing on Eleanor of Castile this year and had an AI 'thing' .
You approached, said 'Greetings, Queen Eleanor' (in the way of 'Hi, Siri', to wake the AI up) and then asked a question.  After 'thinking about it' the AI answered your question.  Some answers came out oddly - such as 'I was thought to . . ., but it was really good.  You had, I think, two questions and then you were dismissed.

One of the better uses for AI, I think and one of the staff told me that next year they are doing Catherine of Aragon.

As you went round the house, there were special displays with more information about Eleanor and her life.

I loved this - all around the house there was info embroidered onto cushion covers.  Very clever!

Lady Baillie's boudoir

Her bed.

(the bedroom was lovely)

And a marble bathroom that would still be considered luxury today.

This is the courtyard that is one of the few remaining early parts.

I just liked this - an unusual brolly and walking stick stand!

For the Castle tour, there were headsets and recoded information.  I was a bit concerned about this as I don't have good experiences of how these things work with hearing aids but they were top notch, fitting above the ear rather than on so that the actual speakers hovered over the ear, preventing any feedback issues and also enabling differently placed aid pickups to pick up the words clearly.
Also, as you walked round, the information started automatically.
Very impressive - ten out of ten.  It shows it CAN be done!

After a slow stroll round the castle, I sat outside to read the guide book and then headed off to an area where they had a restaurant, etc and I treated myself to a very nice fish and chips.

It also has a more snacky food place, some shops that were not yet open and . . . 

. . . this.
All I can say is poor dogs!

I meandered through the Culpepper Garden and  past the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Gardens (both very lovely in their way), past the maze and children's area to the Birds of Prey centre where I saw part of a falconry display.

Why on earth do these display places have such very uncomfortable seating - high benches with no back and, when seated properly on them, your feet don't touch the floor.  I'm afraid I gave up as my back was starting to give me some trouble.  I found a more comfortable seat and heard, rather than saw, the rest of the display.

I didn't use the children's things, of course, but they looked really good.  A beach (sandpit with deck chairs round in which younger children were playing happily), adventure golf, a Knights' Stronghold Playground, an obstacle course, the aforementioned maze and grotto . . . so much for families!

It was time to start heading back so I took it slowly and the old back was fine.  

More views and birds on the way back to the coach.

  There was just time for a visit to the shop where I got my fridge magnet (I have to get a fridge magnet, don't I?) and to have a sit down before Andy, the coach driver,  came back and opened the coach.

I'm assuming a good drive back because, again, I fell asleep and woke just outside Chelmsford!  It does make for a very easy journey.

Leeds Castle is lovely.  There's loads to do, the staff are so helpful and informative and it's all just so beautifully cared for and attractive.  If you can, do give it a go.  You won't be disappointed.

I have just had a quick glance through the diary and it seems my next trip is a visit to the poppy factory and then a cruise down the river.  Quite a contrast but equally interesting.
After that it is Paddington - something I am really looking forward to.

So nice to have things to look forward to.  Thanks for reading.  xx